The Dynasty Will Live On

It is what it is.

The New England Patriots have built their dynasty throughout the 21^st century. They have won 4 AFC titles and 3 Super Bowls this decade. People point to the outstanding players as the key. Others applaud Robert Kraft’s stupendous ownership. But, in the end one man holds the blueprint for the Patriots’ success. That man is Bill Belichick. His history and future as a coach are now brighter than ever.

In 2001, he led a team with the 199^th overall pick from the 2000 draft to a Super Bowl victory over the “Greatest Show on Turf”. He repeated his team’s championship glory in 2003 and 2004. In 2007 scandal rocked the Patriots franchise and the NFL with “Spygate”. Without flinching, he looked past the media distractions and gave the rest of the league a whooping it wouldn’t soon forget with the first 16 and 0 regular season.

Last season the Patriots looked to overcome a disappointing loss in Super Bowl XLII.

Bill Belichick coached the Patriots to an 11-5 record with a second string QB that shouldn’t have made the squad based off his lack luster performance during training camp and the pre-season, and had not started a game since high school.

Yet, the Pats still put the franchise tag on Matt Cassel. On the surface it would appear as though the team may be concerned about Brady’s recovery from re-constructive knee surgery. Could they really be looking for the second coming of Tom Brady?!

Not even close.

Cassel is no Brady. Number 16 made the team because Belichick saw something in the young quarterback that the rest of us failed to notice. Love him or hate him, there is no denying that the man in the torn up hoodie knows the value of a player.

Bill Belichick is acutely aware that his backup quarterback is not worth 14.65 million dollars. He knows the position is secure with Brady waiting in the wings to make his return in time for the ’09 kickoff. Cassel is the Patriots’ 4^th franchise tagged player for two reasons. 1: Nothing is free. 2: Belichick now controls where Cassel will play next season.

The Patriots understand more than any other team that football is a business. It was a business decision to trade Drew Bledsoe to the Bills in exchange for a first round pick in 2003. They used the pick to move up and draft defensive end Ty Warren…not a bad move. If a team wants to sign Cassel they’re going to have to dig deep and cough up some draft picks. There are teams right now that need a quarterback (I’m looking at you Minnesota!), and they will do what it takes to get a Belichick coached and Brady mentored player. Simply giving him away would be a waste of the coaching staff's hard work with Cassel over the last few seasons. The lesson for the rest of the NFL? You don't get something for nothing.

If New England did not place the franchise tag on Cassel, I would be willing to personally guarantee he’d now be wearing a green and white Jets jersey. Patriot fans should be breathing a sigh of relief over Cassel’s new lable, especially now with Brett Favre’s most recent retirement. This tag gives Belichick the competitive edge over New York in what is without a doubt the most storied rivalry in the AFC East. Who needs cameras and super secret spy gear to gain an advantage when you can simply dangle a franchised player over your rivals’ heads before sending him off to the middle of nowhere? The AFC East was surprisingly close last season. This move and what I ultimately expect will be a Cassel trade to an NFC team will keep the Patriots the dominant team in the division next season.

In 1975, Coach Belichick graduated from Wesleyan University with a degree in economics. It is his business like approach to the game of football that has built the Patriots’ dynasty. His latest move with Matt Cassel will be the economic stimulus needed to get New England back into championship form for the seasons that lie ahead. This football dynasty will only continue to grow in Foxboro as long as Bill Belichick is the head coach of the New England Patriots.