Power rankings are always interesting. They're just a guess and a snapshot in time, but it's a curiosity to see how teams are viewed by others.
Former boss Peter King is always a sort of bellwether around the league. I mean, he's not the most astute analyst of the game itself — he'd admit that — and can be turned by headwinds, but he talks to a lot of people around the league and often draws his observations from those conversations. So, to me, King's thoughts are worth more than the proverbial grain of salt.
So when I read that King had the Patriots 21st — behind such annual heavyweights like the Bears, Cardinals, Dolphins and Broncos — I just about spat out my coffee. A few of my thoughts:
Peter does know Bill Belichick is still coaching the team, right?
He does remember 2008, when the Patriots lost Tom Brady in the first game and went 11-5 with Matt Cassel, right? (Yes, you can point out the strength of schedule and that this was the year after the Patriots went 16-0, but it's also the year before they were 10-6 and blown out at home in the playoffs, so...).
The Dolphins?! ... So the Patriots, who have finished at least tied for the best record in the division since 2000, are suddenly going to finish behind the Bills AND the Dolphins?!
Look, I get it. Brady's gone. The offense was bad last year and on paper shouldn't be improved. Lost some defenders. Tough schedule. And here's King's reasoning:
21. New England (12-5, lost AFC wild-card game to Tennessee 20-13)
Well, Bill Belichick and the Patriots are set up to answer the age-old question: Can Belichick win without Tom Brady? In regular-season games in his coaching career, Belichick’s teams are 219-64 with Brady starts, and 54-63 when he doesn’t. Without Brady, Belichick’s won at a .462 clip. With Brady, it’s .774.
This year reminds me of Belichick’s first year or two in New England, when he and Scott Pioli got the cap right by making do with lesser players and the highest-paid player in football, Drew Bledsoe. By 2002, it was Brady’s team, and he flourished. Now, after jettisoning Brady, Rob Gronkowski, center Ted Karras, kicker Stephen Gostkowski and keystone linebackers Kyle Van Noy, Elandon Roberts and Jamie Collins, Belichick and Nick Caserio can clean out the cap and rebuild.
The reviews on the 133rd pick in the 2019 draft, Jarrett Stidham, are good, but the shadow of the 199th pick in 2000 will always be a long one for anyone who plays quarterback in New England. There is no book on Stidham, a tough kid who will not be afraid of the hot seat, but his goal is to keep New England in games and leave the Patriots with a decision to make on a quarterback in the 2021 draft. Whatever happens, America will be watching: Four of their final nine games will be in prime time. I think this season breaks the Patriots’ 11-year stranglehold on the AFC East, but I’m pretty sure everyone in that building wants to rub our faces in such predictions, and that’s a great motivator.
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So I have the Patriots fifth in the AFC, first in the AFC East (in a close race). What do you think?
[democracy id="38"]
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NICKEL PACKAGE
1. Good reporting by Mike Reiss on the Patriots' voluntary workouts. But I don't consider this a show of leadership by Jarrett Stidham because, a) I believe Brian Hoyer was just as involved, if not more so, and b) this is what a possible starting quarterback should be doing as part of his job. No bonus points.
2. Bruce Arians said Tom Brady has been a fantastic leader so far for the Bucs. How does he know that unless he's getting reports from the workouts? And that's great and all, but leadership really won't kick in until it's for the entire team in the locker room. Not that I don't doubt he'll answer the call.
3. In case you were still wondering who the top free agents are, one man's list: QB Cam Newton, DE Jadeveon Clowney, CB Logan Ryan, DT Mike Daniels, LT Jason Peters, DE Everson Griffin, CB Darqueze Dennard, S Tavon Wilson. You could start a pretty good team with those guys.
4. PFF has Jarrett Stidham ranked as the 34th-best QB. Yeesh.
5. I've stayed quiet during the protests that have taken over the country, not because I don't have an opinion (I do) or don't care (I do, I just keep my actions private). But when we started BSJ, we said this would be an oasis away from the often crazy outside world. I believe it's OK to be that. And, more importantly, I don't think people should be listening to me on this. We should be shutting up and listening, and trying to understand each other. I encourage you to read all sorts of different viewpoints, not just those that align with your worldview.