Bill Belichick was winning Super Bowls before Tom Brady became Tom Brady. Maybe no one else remembers. Belichick certainly does.
Is that Belichick’s motivation for New England’s free agent spending spree this week? Does he want to reprove himself, especially after Brady bounced to Tampa Bay and promptly secured his seventh career Lombardi Trophy, and first without Belichick?
Perhaps.
Belichick also might just be dusting off his old blueprint for success — constructing and coaching up a strong defense while surrounding marginal quarterback play (in this case, a fading Cam Newton) with enough easy-access weapons that game management is enough.