Great points DC, confirmed what a good decision it was for me to re'up with the Bounce for another year! Although a longtime NFL fan (Bears), I haven't watched the Patriots doco but can imagine that there will be a degree of credit claimed by all parties - in reality it took them all. Robert Kraft to appoint Bill, and then effectively give him the keys and stay out of the way (good strategy) and enjoy the reflected glory. Bill's best decision was benching Bledsoe that first year - he was the highest paid player on the team at the time I think so a big call. Bill had form for getting rid of expensive QB's like Bledsoe - see his time in Cleveland (with the real Browns before they were moved to Baltimore! - the current Browns are an expansion team) and exiting long term local favorite QB Bernie Kosar.
Tommy's best move was never forgetting he was 199 in the draft; all the great ones need that fuel and then use it efficiently - and he almost perfected it during his run.
Sadly, as the Bears success has been limited in my lifetime, I have stronger memories of the runs of others - that first Patriot playoff run under Bill with the snow game against the Raiders, Bledsoe on in relief of Brady @ Pittsburgh, and Vinatieri's kick at the gun against the self-proclaimed 'greatest show on turf' St Louis Rams - great theatre and almost made me a follower - point being that great teams do pull in the casual fans though which I think is an underrated legacy of the Patriots run of excellence.
However, as the great Francis Urquhart (the original F.U!) said - nothing is forever!
On the theme of coach/player partnerships, my observation is all the modern (Superbowl era) great NFL coaches have had a great QB at some point in their careers, not many coaches win either 1 or multiple without someone really good under center - Joe Gibbs (Washington) was an outlier winning 3 x SB's with 3 different QB's - and it's even tougher to do now in the free agency era meaning Bill/Tommy's achievements are even more outstanding in my opinion; Bill's best trait was his absolute ruthlessness when it came time to let a player go - harsh in the saying but most of those players were well compensated.
I can see the similarities in other sports I follow; the influence of the NFL is quite pervasive in my view across NRL, AFL, SRP be it the coaching, the games rules, the marketing, the language etc etc.
Personally, I think Bill will get a shot somewhere that's either ready to win (Buffalo is my pick) or a return to the NY Football Giants (which will be a rebuild) but I suspect it will be a short leash wherever he goes as Father Time remains undefeated!
The Reid/Mahomes combination has a chance to emulate the Belichick/Brady partnership's success - the Hunt family ownership of KC is unbroken and on a par with the Rooneys in Pittsburgh and Mara's in NYG so they will give Reid and Mahomes room and resources to keep winning, then reflect in more glory!
If their arc of success continues, that will be worth watching over the next few years. I hope they do it - Mahomes is a special talent - it will drive up ratings and $$$. All competitions need that type of needle mover; a reason to watch - and the Swifties are certainly another factor!
Last point I would offer is the NZR+ could do worse than spending some time with NFL Films - the most influential part of the NFL machine in terms of content we see on screens; if you want to know how to package up a sport and sell it to the casual fan, look no further than there.
Great points DC, confirmed what a good decision it was for me to re'up with the Bounce for another year! Although a longtime NFL fan (Bears), I haven't watched the Patriots doco but can imagine that there will be a degree of credit claimed by all parties - in reality it took them all. Robert Kraft to appoint Bill, and then effectively give him the keys and stay out of the way (good strategy) and enjoy the reflected glory. Bill's best decision was benching Bledsoe that first year - he was the highest paid player on the team at the time I think so a big call. Bill had form for getting rid of expensive QB's like Bledsoe - see his time in Cleveland (with the real Browns before they were moved to Baltimore! - the current Browns are an expansion team) and exiting long term local favorite QB Bernie Kosar.
Tommy's best move was never forgetting he was 199 in the draft; all the great ones need that fuel and then use it efficiently - and he almost perfected it during his run.
Sadly, as the Bears success has been limited in my lifetime, I have stronger memories of the runs of others - that first Patriot playoff run under Bill with the snow game against the Raiders, Bledsoe on in relief of Brady @ Pittsburgh, and Vinatieri's kick at the gun against the self-proclaimed 'greatest show on turf' St Louis Rams - great theatre and almost made me a follower - point being that great teams do pull in the casual fans though which I think is an underrated legacy of the Patriots run of excellence.
However, as the great Francis Urquhart (the original F.U!) said - nothing is forever!
On the theme of coach/player partnerships, my observation is all the modern (Superbowl era) great NFL coaches have had a great QB at some point in their careers, not many coaches win either 1 or multiple without someone really good under center - Joe Gibbs (Washington) was an outlier winning 3 x SB's with 3 different QB's - and it's even tougher to do now in the free agency era meaning Bill/Tommy's achievements are even more outstanding in my opinion; Bill's best trait was his absolute ruthlessness when it came time to let a player go - harsh in the saying but most of those players were well compensated.
I can see the similarities in other sports I follow; the influence of the NFL is quite pervasive in my view across NRL, AFL, SRP be it the coaching, the games rules, the marketing, the language etc etc.
Personally, I think Bill will get a shot somewhere that's either ready to win (Buffalo is my pick) or a return to the NY Football Giants (which will be a rebuild) but I suspect it will be a short leash wherever he goes as Father Time remains undefeated!
The Reid/Mahomes combination has a chance to emulate the Belichick/Brady partnership's success - the Hunt family ownership of KC is unbroken and on a par with the Rooneys in Pittsburgh and Mara's in NYG so they will give Reid and Mahomes room and resources to keep winning, then reflect in more glory!
If their arc of success continues, that will be worth watching over the next few years. I hope they do it - Mahomes is a special talent - it will drive up ratings and $$$. All competitions need that type of needle mover; a reason to watch - and the Swifties are certainly another factor!
Last point I would offer is the NZR+ could do worse than spending some time with NFL Films - the most influential part of the NFL machine in terms of content we see on screens; if you want to know how to package up a sport and sell it to the casual fan, look no further than there.
Keep up the great work!
Definitely nothing to worry about for the Warriors yet. What they have done poorly is dissapointing but fixable.
What they have done well is only being replicated by 2 or 3 other teams.
The only concern is starting 0-2 puts unneeded pressure on.
Canberra and Newcastle visit NZ the next two weeks - we must (and I think will) beat both to be 2-2 after 4 weeks.
Is global warming turning the basin pitch into a bunsen burner for spinners hahaha
Maadi Cup - is it true Rangi Ruru didnt take part in the parade of teams at the start of the regatta, in order to rest for their races? Serious stuff.