Sports of Boston » Patriots

Should the Patriots Make a Big Splash and Sign Randy Moss?

Ying Tao — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:04:57 +0000

Randy Moss, one of the most prolific receivers of all time, spent last season with the San Francisco 49ers. Now a free agent, the 36-year-old Moss is on the precipice of retirement and contemplating his future in the league. Having already established a Hall of Fame career with astonishing statistics comparable to receivers like Jerry Rice and Cris Carter, Moss can now shift his focus away from money and numbers and on one last push of chasing the ring with the right team.

His former team, the New England Patriots, could arguably be the perfect fit for Moss this season. Having spent four seasons with the team, Moss proved to be a desirable target for quarterback Tom Brady. In a record setting season back in 2007, Brady and Moss helped each other set single season records for touchdowns thrown and caught, respectively. With several years passed, could Tom Brady and Randy Moss pick up where they left off?

Why Take the Risk on Moss?

The Patriots are the organization that takes risks on veteran players, such as Chad Johnson and Donte Stallworth, who they feel would be make an instant impact on the team’s production. If the Patriots were willing to take a risk on Stallworth, who was another Patriot that was brought back to the team, why would they not take a risk on someone who set the touchdown record with Tom Brady?

The Patriots should consider signing Moss to at least a one-year contract because Moss would come at a cheap price, something the Patriots can always appreciate. Moss is also already familiar with the system and has established a good relationship with Brady on and off the field. Learning the system is one of the hardest obstacles for new players to overcome. Moss has proven he can easily pick up the system and the chemistry between he and Brady is undeniable. This will be beneficial for the offense because in the first time in many years, Brady will be starting from scratch with his receiving core. With a fresh start in that position, it might be nice for Brady to have a familiar face in the line up.

Moss is Still a Playmaker

Although his numbers have declined over the past seasons, Moss has proven he is still a playmaker. He demonstrated last season he still has the speed, agility and leaping abilities to be a valuable deep threat in the league. Moss would be the perfect candidate to fill a much needed void in the deep game for the Patriots offense, something the Patriots desperately lacked last season. In order to best utilize Moss’ talents, the Patriots should not expect Moss to be a number one receiver. Instead, give Moss the opportunity to come off the bench on certain downs and flourish in his deep threat game role.

Back in 2010, Moss and the Patriots parted ways because Moss wanted a new deal during the season and became an issue. With Moss more humbled now playing for the 49ers for less money last season and having spent all off-season as a free agent, the two sides can put the money issue on the back-burner and focus their attention on winning a championship.

If all works out with the Moss acquisition, it would balance out the mistake that was Tim Tebow and all would be good again in Patriots Nation.

Report: Police Question Patriots Tight End Aaron Hernandez in Potential Murder Investigation

Evan Bleier — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:20:14 +0000

Details are beginning to emerge about a possible connection between New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez and the body of a 27-year-old man that was found in an industrial park not far from the player’s home in North Attleboro. Sources have told ABC news that a 2013 Chevrolet Suburban with Rhode Island plates that was recovered near the scene led investigators to Hernandez. According to ABC, investigators are seeking a warrant to search Hernandez’s home in connection with the death and he has been uncooperative with police up to this point.

Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter said during a press statement that the body was found around 5:30 p.m. Monday in a clearing near John Dietsch Boulevard. Due to the “nature and circumstances” of the body, Sutter indicated that the investigation would be handed over to Massachusetts State police detectives. Sports Illustrated is reporting that Hernandez was questioned by Massachusetts State police on Monday and echoes ABC’s claim that law enforcement officials were interested in possibly searching his home. SI says that Hernandez “is not believed to be a murder suspect, according to a source, but a vehicle rented in his name has emerged as a key piece of evidence in the investigation.”

Yasmina Serdarevic, a spokesperson for the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, declined comment on Tuesday afternoon when contacted by Sports Illustrated. A lawyer who Hernandez has allegedly been in contact with did not return a call from SI.

The Sun Chronicle of Attleboro has some more information about the vehicle in question. According to the paper, the Suburban is registered to Enterprise car rental and detectives were hoping to analyze it for fingerprints. The paper also reports that the body of the possible murder victim was discovered by a jogger and that it may have been there for over a day. At this time, it is unknown whether the victim died where he was found or whether his body was dumped there.

Hernandez has been spending the offseason recovering from a shoulder scope. The former Pro Bowler caught 51 passes and scored five touchdowns for the Patriots last season.

In slightly more cheery news about the tight end position for the team, “it is believed” that Rob Gronkowski’s Tuesday back operation was successful. It remains unclear if Gronk will be ready to suit up for Week 1 because of concerns about his health. Hopefully Hernandez will not have any issues -health or otherwise – preventing him from stepping on the field either.

UPDATE:

Bristol County state police are checking IDs of 2 males attempting to leave Hernandez’s house. Searching vehicle pic.twitter.com/L6oavVvCbE

— Greg A. Bedard (@GregABedard) June 18, 2013

Police have taken the 2 males into separate cruisers and have left the area

— Greg A. Bedard (@GregABedard) June 18, 2013

Why Bring Tebow Mania to New England?

bwebber — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 22:28:28 +0000

With the New England Patriots signing QB Tim Tebow on Tuesday, many are wondering why the Patriot’s would be willing to sign a player that is still a work in progress and that also brings a huge media circus. The quick answer is simple, the Patriots do not get distracted, regardless of the situation or player. They simply never get flustered by the media or their opponent. The Patriots also love the fire, passion and leadership qualities he would bring to the team. In the recent past, the Patriots have taken on players that other teams were reluctant to sign, players such as Corey Dillon and Randy Moss. Both Moss and Dillion went on to have some of their best seasons in New England.

ESPN.COM‘s Tedy Bruschi believes the Patriots signed Tim Tebow because they love taking on projects. Bruschi goes on to speak about some of the Patriots most recent projects, including WR Julien Edelman and OT Stephen Neal. During college, Edelman was a QB and Neal was a wrestler.

The Patriots believe that this will be another successful project and that they can make Tim Tebow into a good QB, something the Denver Broncos and the New York Jets could not. “In Bill we trust” is a popular motto in New England, and Patriot fans will have to trust coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots organization on this signing. Regardless, the Patriots have nothing to lose as the salary hit is minimal. If the Patriots can take the time and develop Tebow, then who knows how great Tebow could be.

Many forget that Patriot great Tom Brady was once a project. Brady was drafted by the by the Montreal Expos in the 18th round in the 1995 MLB draft, then more notably Brady was drafted by the Patriots at 199th overall during the 6th round of the 2000 NFL draft.

Patriots Signing of Tim Tebow is Ludicrous – Here’s Why

Ying Tao — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:14:00 +0000

Someone forgot to tell the New England Patriot’s April Fool’s Day passed two months ago. No, this is not a bad joke, quarterback Tim Tebow is really bringing his talents to New England. One of the most polarizing players of our generation will be wearing a Patriots jersey this season to back up Tom Brady and Ryan Mallet.

The former Heisman trophy winner led a struggling Denver Bronco team to the playoffs before being traded to the New York Jets last season where he warmed the bench for Mark Sanchez. Despite his so-called success in Denver, questions still remained about his debatable football mechanics and IQ. With the Jets, Tebow only completed six of eight passes for 39 yards the entire season. Over his three year career, Tebow has a QBR of 34.3 and a completion percentage of less than 50. Why would the highly disciplined Patriots take such a big risk, and all the media attention, on a player with such inconsistencies and no chance of ever becoming a starter?

Why the Patriots signed Tebow

As one of the most questionable off-season moves thus far by the Patriots, the only plausible explanation for the the signing of Tebow, besides giving us a much needed good laugh, would be to use him as a practice decoy. The only thing he has ever succeeded in the league as a quarterback is executing the wild cat scheme. In Patriot’s fashion, they will maximize that one skill and use it to their advantage by having Tebow run the wild cat during practice to give the defense a better understanding of the scheme. This will give the team an opportunity to defend against a legit wild cat during the week before facing their opponents. This will help give them an advantage, especially against their divisional opponents, given both the Bills and Jets both have running quarterbacks in EJ Manuel and Geno Smith, respectively.
Another reason the Patriots took the risk and acquired the media circus associated with Tebow is because he came at a cheap price. According to the Associated Press, the Patriots signed Tebow to a 2-year, minimum salary contract with no guaranteed money. If things do not work out, there would have been little financial risk involved.

Other reports speculate offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels may have convinced Coach Belichick to sign Tebow. It was McDaniels that traded up in the first round to draft Tebow in the 2010 draft and coached Tebow with the Broncos. Aside from the McDaniels connection, it is also well known Belichick loves him some Florida Gators and has a great relationship with Gators coach Urban Meyer. Belichick is not a man to be swayed by others but he might see potential in Tebow given he was bred under two professionals he trusts in Meyer and McDaniels. Everyone that has worked with Tebow agree he is a hard worker and always willing to learn, two qualities Belichick believes will help him elevate Tebow’s game to the next level.

Tebow Will be the Perfect Bench Warmer

There is one reason, and one reason alone that Tebow will never assume the starting, or even back-up, quarterback role with the Patriots. To quote ESPN analyst Stephan A. Smith who puts it best, “The man can’t throw. He just can’t throw.” No matter how hard McDaniels attempts to work on throwing mechanics with Tebow, he cannot teach what is not there. Tebow just cannot throw. To make matters worse, he does not consistently possess any of the requirements necessary to be a successful quarterback. He lacks the ability to drop back, read a defense, account for all the defensive and offensive players on the field and with such flawed mechanics, make an accurate pass. He lacks talent in the quarterback position and does not have the intangible qualities, like Tom Brady, to excel in the league.

Tebow will be a mediocre third string quarterback whose only purpose during the games is to come off the bench for two-point conversions. He will serve as nothing more than a practice quarterback decoy to help the team defend against the wild cat scheme. With the Patriots hush hush attitude with the media, Tebow will be a mere afterthought to Patriot fans once the season begins.

Tim Tebow will find himself joining the likes of other former disappointing Patriot free-agent signings such as Albert Haynesworth and Chad Johnson. The only difference between Tebow and the other players on the list is that we never expected much from him from the beginning. During the In Bill We Trust era, this is one of the most ludicrous acquisitions the team has made. If things do not work out with Tebow, all there is to say to owner Robert Kraft, Coach Belichick and the rest of the Patriot’s organization is “COME ON MAN!”

Chad Johnson Spanks Attorney in Court, Gets 30 Days in Jail

Kevin MacPhee — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 11:59:51 +0000

The artist formerly known as Ochocinco is at it again. This time, however, his antics aren’t costing his team 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct but rather landing the out-of-work wide receiver in jail for 30 days.

Chad Johnson was in court Monday hoping to make a plea deal to avoid jail time in his probation violation case. Johnson sought community service and counseling but his demeanor in the courtroom prompted Judge Kathleen McHugh to angrily change her mind.

When asked if he was pleased with his attorney’s work, Johnson patted attorney Adam Swickle on the backside, a commonplace and congratulatory act on the gridiron. McHugh, on the other hand, felt insulted by Johnson’s actions, stating that this was not the first time he had misbehaved in her courtroom and questioned if he was taking the situation seriously.

Last August, Johnson was involved in a domestic dispute with his wife Evelyn Lozada, resulting in Lozada filing for divorce after a month of marriage.

Johnson apologized and claimed sincerity but it was to no avail. The former All-Pro was sentenced to 30 days in jail and removed from the courtroom in handcuffs. His detaining did not prevent him from taking to Twitter though, asking that his fans remain loyal.

The former Patriot has not played in the NFL since his time in New England and Monday’s proceedings may have marked the end of his career. If we have seen the end of Ocho, football fans will remember Chad Johnson as a standout receiver and professional end zone dancer with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Unfortunately, nearly 70 touchdowns, 11,000 yards, and a season of quietly following the “Patriot way” will likely not be enough to cleanse the legacy of Chad Johnson. He will always be the guy who got cut on Hard Knocks after headbutting his wife and then went to jail for slapping his attorney on the rear. A man who built his name(s) through celebrating will always be synonymous with the penalties that ensued.

Done Deal? Tim Tebow to the Patriots

Evan Bleier — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 22:44:56 +0000

With the Red Sox leading the American League and the Bruins about to enter the Stanley Cup Finals for the second time in three years, the beginning of Patriots minicamp was on the backburner of Boston’s hot stove of sports stories. That all changed on Monday evening when it was reported that Tim Tebow had signed with the Patriots and is expected to be at camp on Tuesday.

Although it’s not immediately clear what position Tebow will play – ESPN’s Ed Werder said on SportsCenter, “I have confirmed that the Patriots signed him with the intent of playing quarterback,” while CBS Sports’ Mike Freeman reported Tebow will “study a great deal at tight end” – his signing automatically creates a level of distraction that seems out of touch with the Patriots usual no-nonsense approach. Still, if any organization can put a stop to the circus that Tebow usually creates, it’s probably New England.

As details about the story continue to emerge, here are a few things to consider:

- Josh McDaniels drafted Tebow with the 25^th pick of the first round of the 2010 draft. He clearly saw something in Tebow that no one else saw at the time and no one else has seen since. McDaniels was believed to be behind last year’s signing of Bradon Lloyd and he clearly has a lot of say in the organization. Based on Lloyd’s mediocre level of success with the team, it remains to be seen whether McDaniels’ influence is a good thing.

- If Bill Belichick is somehow able to get anything out of Tebow at quarterback, tight end or any other position, he’ll be hailed as the mad genius who was able to tap into Tebow’s talents when no one else could. If the whole thing ends up blowing up in his face and Tebow continues to be a bust, Belichick;s reputation remains intact. Much like when the team brought in Chad Johnson, it’s a no-lose situation if things don’t work out.

- Even with Tebow in town, there will be no quarterback controversy in New England. When Tebow was with the putrid New York Jets last season, he was playing behind butt-fumbler extraordinaire Mark Sanchez. If Tebow ends up making the team, the quarterback ahead of him on the depth chart will be Tom Brady. Even the most diehard Tebow backer (and there are plenty) couldn’t expect him to play instead of one of, if not the, best quarterbacks of all time.

- Related to that point, Tebow last played for the Jets and head coach Rex Ryan. Although the rivalry between the two teams has cooled somewhat because the Jets have been so terrible, Ryan’s team did knock the Patriots out of the playoffs two years ago and they weren’t exactly humble about it. If you don’t think Belichick would love to be able to succeed where Ryan failed, you’re underestimating his competitive nature (and his ego).

- Last week Belichick went out of his way to clear up media reports that he hated Tebow as a player. “I wouldn’t get into the probability of us pursuing any free agent. Every single player has strengths and weaknesses but regardless of that, for anyone to have represented that is the way I feel about Tim Tebow is completely untrue, baseless and irresponsible,” Belichick told ESPNBoston.com. “It is unfortunate that something so inaccurate was reported.” Belichick hasn’t made his disdain for dealing with the media a secret, so is it possible that he brought in Tebow just to prove the report wrong? Probably not, but you never know. This is the same guy that benched Wes Welker for foot jokes.

Foxboro Home to a Future Super Bowl?

Ying Tao — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 14:10:29 +0000

Gillette Stadium to host Super Bowl LII in 2018? It does have a nice ring to it. That is an idea Patriots owner, Robert Kraft, and many Patriot fans, is entertaining.

Generally played in warmer climates and indoor stadiums where weather is not a factor, the Super Bowl this year will be played in New Jersey in MetLife Stadium during the cold, bitter winter season. Depending on the condition and outcome of the game, it could set a precedence for other outdoor stadiums to host the championship game. Kraft has already mentioned he would be interested in the idea, and with him playing such an influential role in helping facilitate the end of the NFL lockout, it would be hard to imagine the league would not consider his bid.

Opponents may argue against the unfair advantage of cold weather games for some teams, but the league is taking a chance with this year’s Super Bowl. Besides, unpredictability has always been a part of the NFL and is part of what makes the games so exciting. Taxpayers in the state may argue against having to fund the bidding and renovating process. Despite these arguments, the benefits of hosting the Super Bowl far outweigh the negatives. Could the most anticipated sporting event of the year and most important day of the football season be coming to Foxboro or are those chances as slim as Tim Tebow starting for an NFL team?

Here are the top 5 reasons why Foxboro will benefit from hosting a Super Bowl.

MONEY- The Super Bowl is a money-making machine. The game itself brings hundreds of thousands of spectators who spend money on hotels, restaurants, entertainment and retail stores, all of which significantly impact the local economy. Numbers vary greatly depending on the source, but according to one study, the Super Bowl in Indianapolis generated approximately $384 million in revenue from game-related expenses, including more than $25 million in entertainment revenue including casinos, museums, and movie theaters (Indystar.com). In terms of making money, $384 million is not bad for a hard week of work and for simply showing visitors a good time. Boston, let’s make it rain like Aaron Hernandez in the end zone!
JOBS- The influx of hundreds of thousands of fans would not just boost the economy by providing millions in revenue, but it would also create thousands of jobs for those in the Boston/Providence area. According to the same study, the Super Bowl in Indianapolis created thousands of jobs related to the planning, execution and post-game phase of the game. Although temporary, these jobs would provide relief for thousands of individuals and their families and boost the economy by increasing spending.
EXPOSURE- The Super Bowl is perhaps the biggest sporting event of the year in terms of advertising, marketing and television viewership. Although Boston is not a city that needs any more media coverage since it already has such a rich history and big name colleges, the coverage would remind people of why Boston is such an awesome city and attract visitors throughout the year. Let’s be honest, who would not want to explore Boston in duck boats or climb the 294 stairs of Bunker Hill. Increased tourism equals more money for the city!
RIVALRY- With such an intense rivalry between and New York and Boston sports already established, New York would have bragging rights over us in this situation. The prideful city of Boston and its citizens may not be able to swallow that pill. After all, anything New York does we can and will do better! New York may have done it first but we will do it better.
ADVANTAGE- Last but not least, the Patriots would have the opportunity to not just be the first team in NFL history to host the big game as the home team but win it in their own stadium. To be able to have the most loyal fans in the world, unpredictable weather and familiarity of the field is the epitome of home field advantage and would almost guarantee a victory for the Patriots.

In a city synonymous with championships, it only makes sense for the Super Bowl to come to Boston. As we all anxiously await the outcome of this year’s Super Bowl, let’s just hope Mother Nature cooperates and leaves the rain, snow, hail, and/or sleet at home that night.

Wes Welker will Stick it to Belichick This Fall

Ying Tao — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 14:00:52 +0000

The countdown has already begun! Patriots nation, mark your calendars for Nov. 24 as it marks the much anticipated return of our beloved Wes Welker to Gillette as a Bronco. In the fall, Welker will get his chance to, as he so eloquently stated last year during an interview, “Stick it to Bill.” Not only will he do just that, but he will be doing it with Brady’s longtime rival, Peyton Manning, slinging the ball to him.

Why did he make the move?

It is hard to believe the move by Welker was just business and not personal. Perhaps he felt betrayed by one of his best friends Brady, who could have, and should have, fought harder for him to stay with the team. Maybe he felt betrayed by an organization that dispenses players whose names don’t end with Brady. Whatever the reason, he decided to take his skills to a team with a quarterback that we will most likely face in the playoffs. He decided to stay in the division to remind Belichick what an asset he is to a team and to remind the Patriots that given the right tools, there are other powerhouse teams in the AFC.

The Matchup

This will be an epic match-up to say the least. Not just because of the always entertaining Brady vs. Manning rivalry, but throw one of the best receivers over the last several years in the mix on the other side, and the stakes are amplified. As a Patriots fan, I am obviously rooting for the Patriots to win but secretly hoping Welker puts up career high numbers against our not so stellar defense.

Let’s be honest, who in our secondary will be able to defend him? Mayo, Arrington? I just laughed out loud. Since Belichick prides himself on defense, the best way to “stick it to Bill” would be to completely demolish the defense, catch for over 100 yards, and make the Patriots regret ever undervaluing him. Unfortunately, this could have all been avoided had Belichick simply swallowed his big pride and paid the man the money he deserved.

Sadly for Welker and the fans, that is just not the Patriot way.

More Surgery Scheduled for Gronk

Jared Smith — Fri, 31 May 2013 16:40:44 +0000

The New England Patriots started their OTA’s recently, but a big presence was missing for these practices. Rob Gronkowski, who recently had a fourth forearm surgery on May 21, was handed some more bad news recently, which has Patriots fans worried. Gronk will have to undergo another surgery in mid to late June, only this one isn’t on his forearm, it’s on his back.

Gronk has had a history of back issues dating back to college when he missed his entire Junior season to a back injury. That very back issue is the reason he fell to the second round and the Patriots were able to get the steal of the draft. With multiple surgeries on his arm this offseason and now an upcoming one on his back, many people are doubtful for the future of the NFL’s best tight end.

The news of a possible back surgery came out last month, but many people said that it doesn’t seem to be serious and the back should recover in a similar amount of time as the forearm, which means Gronk would not miss any additional time with the back.

Super agent Drew Rosenhaus, who represents Gronkowski, addressed the media recently saying ”In Rob’s case, it’s not a serious back surgery, it’s unrelated to the original surgery that he had as a junior in college.”

If this is true, that is great news for the Patriots. When reports first came out about a month ago, this was the belief about the back. It was said that it is more precautionary and has nothing to do with his injury from college. Patriots fans are holding their breath hoping that Gronk will be healthy once the regular season is here. If he were to miss the first few weeks, that is not a huge issue, as the team needs him to be healthy late in the season, where they have missed him in the last two years, including in the Super Bowl against the Giants. With Aaron Hernandez’s injury history as well, the Pats are hoping their two best offensive weapons can stay healthy to help this Welker-less offense put up big numbers.

With Gronk’s status for the season being uncertain, Aaron Hernandez is going to need to step up this year. Hernandez has been plagued with injuries over the course of his short career too, but it sounds like he will be ready to go once training camp starts. Second year Patriot Jake Ballard, who missed all last season recovering from a torn ACL, is also going need to step up in his first action with the Patriots after beating them in the Super Bowl with the Giants. Ballard, who is 6’6″, is another big target for Tom Brady to throw to, and will be a nice weapon especially when Gronk does come back.

The dark horse in all this is Aaron Dobson, the second round draft pick out of Marshall, is a big target that can stretch the field. Many people anticipate him having a big year with one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Players like Dobson and Ballard will have to step up in Gronk’s absence, but if Gronk can fully recover and come back as the tight end we know, the Patriots offense could be better than ever.

Everyone will be keeping a close eye on Rob Gronkowski’s surgery and status over the next couple months. Gronk, who is notorious for his partying, is going to have a close eye on him during this recovery. Many people are not happy with his antics in the offseason, and are hoping he smartens up and lays low while he recovers.

The Patriots and their fans are hoping that he can come back to help the team win games and hopefully make it back to another Super Bowl. Everyone in the NFL will be on Gronk watch over the next couple months, and hopefully he will have a successful recovery and this will be the last we have to talk about it.

Bill Belichick No Longer NFL’s Highest Paid Coach

Kevin MacPhee — Thu, 23 May 2013 23:09:59 +0000

Sometimes you don’t realize how valuable something is until it’s gone, or, in the New Orleans Saints’ case, suspended for an entire season. Sean Payton did not coach a game in 2012, as he was serving a year-long suspension for his role in the Saints’ locker room bounty scandal.

Without Payton, the Saints fell significantly short of expectations and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008. The offense, which has been controlled by Payton, performed well in his absence, averaging the second most yards and third most points per game. However the defense finished as the worst statistical defense in history, just months after the infamous bounty system was exposed.

Payton’s 2011 contract extension was never approved by the league, making him a “free agent” at the end of his suspension. However, in December 2012, Payton and the Saints reached a five-year agreement that would make Payton the highest paid coach in the NFL.

Payton’s new contract dethrones Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick from atop the league’s wealthiest coaches list. Payton will be making an estimated $8 million per year on his new contract, whereas Belichick brings in $7.5 million annually.

Some may look at this and question if Payton is actually worth such a salary, and rightfully so. He has been coaching for a fraction of the time Belichick has and his resume is not as impressive. Valid, however, Payton is still very accomplished. Before going any further, let’s consider a blind comparison of the two coaches:

Coach A: .646 regular season winning percentage; .625 playoff winning percentage
Coach B: .649 regular season winning percentage; .692 playoff winning percentage

Both post fairly comparable and very successful numbers, but which is which? Coach A is Payton and Coach B is Belichick.

It’s tough to compare the two because the sample size for Payton is significantly smaller than Belichick’s, but wins and losses and postseason success are essentially the only measuring sticks that matter for head coaches. And Payton has achieved quite a bit in his six years at the helm. The Saints won the Super Bowl in 2010 and have won the NFC South Division three times.

It is somewhat humorous how similar Payton and Belichick are though. Other than winning percentages, both have coached under Bill Parcells and won Super Bowls with future Hall of Fame quarterbacks. Plus, they have had to deal with organizational scandals cleverly tagged with “-Gate” by the media.

It must be said that the argument is not being made that Sean Payton is a better coach than Bill Belichick, far from it. Rather, Payton’s contract can be justified based on what he means to the Saints and New Orleans as a whole. He took the reins of a beloved but historically dismal franchise and reached the pinnacle of professional football. Now, following the bounty program and his suspension, Payton has the chance to rebuild and do so again.

The whole situation may be a nonissue for Patriots fans, but there are those who may grumble about the most decorated coach of this generation not earning the largest paycheck. As far as internal thoughts on the matter go, it’s safe to assume Bill and Co. aren’t too bothered. Either that or the Dark Lord will simply use this as motivation come Week 6 when the Saints march into Foxboro.