In 2021, Belichick went on a wild spree, spending like an OPEC oil sheik on Rodeo Drive.
Then came last year.
And in doing so made the classic mistake of over-promising and under-delievering.
What we got was the roster-building version of lighting cigars with $1 bills.
The Patriots goal last year was to sign receiver Calvin Ridley and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins.
They were also turned down later in the summer by receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
Top free-agent tackle Tyron Smith also didnt want to come to New England.
Which makes all the sense in the world.
A rookie head coach, presumably with a 21-year-old Drake Maye coming with the No.
The reason for optimism boils down to Maye and Vrabel.
Last year, the Patriots had a rookie head coach and no quarterback on the roster.
Now, Maye looks like a future franchise quarterback and Vrabel is a well-respected coach.
In the same way Belichick called Vrabel in 2001 the very minute Free Agency opened.
Williams is a former 3rd round pick who has improved every single season of his career.
What the Pats hoped Dominique Easley would be, Williams has become.
Last season he was 15th in overall Pro Football Focus defensive grade among DTs, No.
Pete Prisco of CBS has him listed as his 6th best free agent.
And tomorrow is his 26th birthday.
Sure, Brown and Jalen Hurts have had their issues.
Brown was distraught that he didn’t land with another franchise in the 2019 NFL Draft.
32 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
“I got a phone call and I was like ‘This is it.’
But it wasn’t it, it was my agent.
And he was like ‘Just sit tight.’
And I’m like ‘OK.’
He was like ‘They finna take a receiver.’
…
“So they end up picking, it said the pick was in.
I know I ain’t got a phone call by now.
So I’m like ‘This s*** is over.’
So I told my brother, I told D, I said ‘Bro, let’s go.’
And I left everybody at the house and went home.
I went in the closet and cried my eyes out.
Only to now give us hope that he still feels that emptiness in his heart.
A hole that only pulling on the Pats uniform can fill.
Which brings us back to what makes New England a destination once again.
The chance to become Maye’s unquestioned WR1.
But also to be reunited with the coach who drafted him.
No question about it.
That’s a tall order.
But then again, no one could’ve imagined Randy Moss coming here in 2007 either.
Stranger things have happened.
We’re in for a wild couple of months.
