For two decades, Bill Belichick has put the New England Patriots ahead of any single player on the roster. Virtually every veteran who contributed to the greatest dynasty in modern sports has been shipped out or allowed to leave once he was no longer useful or willing to contribute at the right price tag. Mike Vrabel was traded to the Chiefs. Randy Moss was shipped to the Titans. Vince Wilfork finished up with the Texans. Adam Vinatieri had a whole second career with the Colts.
If there was going to be one exception to that rule, I always figured it was going to be star quarterback Tom Brady.