I can't believe we're still talking about this. The Patriot win two straight games, including one over the Ravens — a power in the AFC, and Hector Longo's response is to whine about how the Patriots should have lost those games.
Why, because the Patriots would be in a better position to draft Trevor Lawrence — which isn't even a guarantee — or hold Justin Fields for ransom? Sounds foolish, and like somebody's been at home by himself for too long during Covid.
I'm not even going to get into Hector's so-called "points." And let's just put aside the fact that the Patriots could make a serious run to the postseason where the teams to beat are the Chiefs — who the Patriots nearly beat with Brian Hoyer — and the Steelers, who the Patriots have the postseason deed on.
Let's just deal with two indisputable facts.
No. 1: You don't get championship quarterbacks from tanking.
Let's just deal with the Super Bowl champions since the Bucs won with their defense in 2002, shall we?
Tom Brady: Drafted in the sixth round.
Peyton Manning (Colts): First overall pick in 1998 after a 3-13 season.
Ben Roethlisberger: Drafted 11th overall after a 6-10 season.
Drew Brees: Signed as a free agent after a 3-13 season.
Aaron Rodgers: Drafted 24th overall after the Packers went 10-6.
Eli Manning: Drafted first overall after the Giants traded up with the Chargers after a 4-12 season.
Joe Flacco: Drafted 18th overall after a 5-11 season.
Russell Wilson: Drafted in the third round after a 7-9 season.
Peyton Manning (Broncos): Signed as a free agent by the Broncos after a 12-4 season.
Carson Wentz/Nick Foles: Wentz was drafted 2nd overall by the Eagles, who traded up with the Browns after a 7-9 season. Foles was a third-round pick.
Patrick Mahomes: 10th overall by the Chiefs, who traded up with the Bills after a 12-4 season.
I'm sorry, I must have missed the part where any one of these teams were good, lost on purpose for one season and then were set up for decades of success.
What's that ... that's never happened? Oh, you don't say ...
Yeah, the Colts certainly had a master plan. They tanked for Manning during the 1997 season ... just to win that Super Bowl title ... in 2006! Genius!
Oh, but they got it right in 2011 when Manning was hurt, right Hector? That got them Andrew Luck who helped win them ... a whole four playoff games in eight attempts in his six years ... and this banner ...
Ah yes, the sweet smell of sucking success. I totally see your point now. It's so obvious that's what the Patriots should do.
Please, yes, let's bring that to New England.
No. 2: You don't build a championship culture like New England has by tanking anything.
I'm surprised by you, Hector. You've played team sports. You've coached team sports. The next time you tell one of your best players to stand down for the rest of the season while his teammates literally put their health on the line, let me know. I'm guessing it will be the first time. Why is that? I'll hang up and listen.
It must be so simple just to sit there and think up this crap in the abstract. Meanwhile, Bill Belichick has to look these grown-ass, paid professionals in the face every day and send them onto the playing field where people routinely suffer season-ending injuries that adversely affect them for the rest of their lives.
Let's just say that Belichick did what you were suggesting against the Jets. Explain to me exactly how this would have gone down with the veterans on this team.
"Cam Newton, I know we're paying you in rocks, but despite being down 10 points here, you're not going to throw the ball. Don't ask questions why. Just take the L. Do your job."
"Devin and Jason McCourty, this could be your final season and despite all you've done for us, we're going to put you out there with a bunch of practice squad guys, so you're probably going to need to tackle a lot more, but don't worry about it. It's part of a plan."
"Matthew Slater, this could also be your final season, make sure you cover those kicks at a high rate of speed despite us punting 15 times. That's how we need to win. Trust me."
"David Andrews, you had to go to the hospital last year for blood clots and came back just to play football with your brothers on the offensive line. Don't worry about having to run block all the time, or when we put Jarrett Stidham at quarterback — make sure you tackle when he throws the inevitable interception — this is going to be much better for you next season."
Pardon my French, but seriously ... WTF?
This franchise has become the envy of every team with a salary-cap structure across all sports because of the sustained success they've achieved year after year. Do you think that happened by accident? Was it just Tom Brady? (Worked real well last year, by the way.)
It happened, largely, because Belichick created a monolithic atmosphere where players are required to Do Their Job all the time, in every respect. Everything is about the team. You don't see anybody asking for the damn ball around here, or openly demanding trades because they're not being paid enough in their minds. It's not about you, it's about the team. And every single once of effort goes into the next game, practice and rep.
There's no looking ahead to the next day, let alone the next season. Belichick spent 20 years building a certain mentality that teams in other sports would die to recreate. You can't toss that in the trash and expect it to be the same the next year. You can't pick and choose when you're going to foster a winning mentality. It has to happen every single day.
I mean, look at what Mike Reiss wrote just the other day about the 2000 season.
Belichick, on the first day of 2000 training camp: "I know everyone comes to camp with their own personal expectations and team expectations, but there's going to have to be a significant price we're going to have to pay to get those things done. There's a lot of blood, sweat and tears ahead. That's what players need to focus on. The dessert comes later on."
Scott Pioli, vice president of player personnel: "That year was about installing a culture. If you weren't all-in, you were out."