The New England Patriots are gearing up for one of the biggest events in the franchise's 20 years of the Bill Belichick era. While nine Super Bowl appearances in that time span have given them incredible moments, the will-he-stay-or-will-he-go conundrum they face with their quarterback, Tom Brady, will determine where the Patriots will go the next few seasons.
Brady has been with the Patriots for the entirety of the Belichick reign. He rose from sixth-round back-up QB to the greatest player in NFL history. His accomplishments and work ethic, have become synonymous with winning. In essence, he's to the NFL what Michael Jordan and the late Kobe Bryant were to the NBA.
But if Brady were to chose to leave, believe it or not: the Patriots will survive. Why? Because of Belichick's systematic approach that will allow for their system to withstand.
Belichick has the Patriots operating with an approach that's centered on the team coming first. And to get to that level, it takes dropping the egos at the door, and a dedication to their craft/task at hand. While Brady has been the flagship player of the Patriot Way, the Patriots philosophy will carry them on to another playoff birth.
While their system is one thing, Belichick's personnel mastery is another. Belichick has adapted or even advanced past the times, leaving his General Manager eye sharp. If Brady leaves, Belichick can maneuver his way into drafting a quarterback in this quarterback-rich upcoming draft.
And if he can't do that, there are plenty of free-agent QB's to choose from. Some available names? Teddy Bridgewater, Drew Brees, and Phillip Rivers. Even Jameis Winston could be seen as a gamble that Belichick could go for.
The Patriots defense will still remain-intact as well. The unit ranked first in total yards allowed and turnovers forced in 2019. Belichick knows he will have to retool and reload on offense to make his team balanced. Whether its backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, a hot-shot rookie or a veteran free agent, the Patriots are primed for a playoff run without Brady.
Make no mistake: if Brady leaves, his presence will be missed. He matched wit with Belichick in terms of work ethic and team-first philosophy. But the environment in any culture determines its success in the long run. The Patriots environment IS success. Their culture has allowed for players to come in and out with success still following.
Brady, although the game's greatest player, will be a blow if he leaves. But Belichick has built his franchise to withstand the rain and storm. In the end, everything will be okay in Foxborough.
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