The Belichick Era Patriots Team: Fullback – Since NE is going back to the future, so are we

Since there isn't a whole lot going on, I had a BSJ member in a chat suggest doing an all-Patriots team from the Belichick era, and I tucked it away for when things really slowed. Thinking now is the time.

This is going to be a real team, not some participation trophy team like the Patriots' official All-Decade squad. The offensive positions so far:



We have four positions in the books (QB and TE1 will have no debate). Next up: fullback, which is a very limited group and, let's face it, none of them are Mosi Tatupu.

NOMINEES



 

Patrick Pass (2000-06): Considering his stints on defense and also as a kick returner, you could make the argument that during the Belichick era, Pass was the best all-around fullback even though he was closer to a running back than most on this list. A three-time Super Bowl champion.

Marc Edwards (2001-02): By far the best receiver out of any of these players, it's kind of a shame we only got two years of Edwards, because he could have been the best of the bunch given his career numbers. Part of the first championship team.



Heath Evans (2005-08): In the grand scheme of things, very similar to the same player as Edwards and he was the best runner of the bunch, plus he gave you something receiving. Did not win a ring but was on the 16-0 team.

Covered him closely with the Dolphins when Nick Saban suddenly cut him out of nowhere (Saban may have suspected Evans was a source for me, at least Evans thought that). I remember coming back here a day early before a 2005 matchup against his former team — specifically to get Evans on Saban — and he wouldn't bite because Belichick forbade it. Evans apologized for not being able to talk, but he said, "Bill said, 'We're playing Miami this week ... don't even think about talking to the media.'" Not germane to this discussion ... just a funny story.



James Develin (2012-19): By far the best blocker of the group. That's not even debatable. What's funny is Develin wasn't much of a runner or a receiver, but he's the only one of the bunch with a postseason touchdown. Weird (14 games might have something to do with it). Could still be going if it wasn't for last season's neck injury. As with all these guys, a great teammate and leader. Three-time Super Bowl champion.

DISCUSSION/PICK

I may be a contrarian when it comes to this stuff – I despise recency bias and go out of my way to avoid it — but I still don't think this is a cut-and-dry case for the most recent players.

Develin absolutely is a central part of the discussion but, really, this is about the type of fullback you want on your team because, as we've laid out, all four were different.

And I have this question: since the Patriots are obviously, with Dan Vitale and Dalton Keene, moving toward a more athletic fullback — which would be more in line with Edwards, Evans and, certainly, Pass — should that count against Develin? I think it might.

(I also don't like how there was no FB on the 2000s all-decade team, but there was in 2010s. That's some millennial participation-trophy BS if you ask me.)

I like all-around players — the Patriots also, we're told, value versatility — so I'm going with Pass. He has three matching rings to Develin's and Pass was the better runner and receiver. That seems to be valued by the Patriots again.

BEDARD'S PICK AT FB: Patrick Pass.

Well, that's my opinion ... who gets your spot on the team?

[democracy id="41"]