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Thanks for the feedback. I am in no way saying TT and Mac are perfect or can't do better. I also agree having one of the best qbs ever helps. I will say it isn't black and white anf there are many shades of grey on this topic. Outside of NE I would be hard pressed to pick a different guy to run our team. I really think we have a solid roster as any this year. Injuries can always change that.
To the point of trading 3 sbs and then having a dark period of 10 years. I would choose that if possible but then again that a not the norm. The pats arent the norm. Many teams do go all in, maybe get that 1 title then fade away. SF (though no title) Balt and even sea have all got to the top and have not since.
I really like the spped we added to the d this year. I think we cN be good enough to get us to glory
Heck, this is no fun - hard to get fired up over a reasoned response. My counterpoint was primarily aimed at the "in TT we trust" crowd who (maybe not so much here, but certainly on other forums) will tolerate no criticism. Certainly, he (and MM) have provided us with very good teams and seasons, and therein lies the rub - expectations. From where I sit, they're a victim of their own success. In virtually everything we experience, but it economic status, parenting, or even sports, we tend to expect that we'll maintain our level of success, and move up from there. I often make the point that I was not nearly as down in the dumps during the Gory Years, as many point to when the current team is criticized, because I knew, going in, that they weren't going to do much. Hence, the overall record didn't mean much, every win was a joy, especially those in which we beat a hated rival or kept a top-rated team out of the playoffs.
And, of course, there are many factors at work on anything from a particular play to a season. The 2014 debacle certainly can't be put on TT, as it was the same 53 guys in the last five minutes that he'd provided in the first 55. On the other hand, while injuries are pointed to, ad nauseum, as the reason for many of the team's failures, TT's inability to provide quality depth can certainly be considered, as can the rotating "position of concern" that seems to take forever to get fixed - safety, LB, CB, etc.
One last point, about the Pats "dark period". Perhaps it's just semantics, and if it refers to their lack of SB wins, it certainly applies - all I'd ask is that you aren't one of those who uses the Packers run of playoff appearances alone as justification for the TT/MM adulation. Following their early 2000's run, the Pats were in the playoffs 11 of 12 years, missing only in the year that Cassel was running team (and finished with an 11-5 record).
Well, maybe it doesn't have to be a verbal slugfest to generate a lot of discussion - I'm pretty sure this is one of my longest posts.