The Top Three Best Free Agent Signings by Bill Belichick
Since the Free Agency is upon us, I decided it would only be appropriate to rank the three best New England Patriots signings in the history of the Bill Belichick era. Before I jump into it, I would like to point out that there is a comment section and I would love to hear everyone's thoughts. Let's get to it:
Honorable Mentions: Danny Woodhead, Ben-Jarvus Green-Ellis, Joe Andruzzi and Rob Ninkovich.
Third Place: David Patten
David Patten was signed in 2001, and although he never put up incredible numbers, he was a great role player on all three Super Bowl teams. To put it in perspective, when Patten was healthy, he was putting up numbers similar to Brandon Lloyd but on a much tinier salary, so he was a lot more appreciated. He was injured for the 2003 run and only had two receptions in the 2004 run, but in 2001 he was a key contributor. Even though I was young for the 2001 Super Bowl upset win over the Greatest Show on Turf, I can vividly remember David Patten's touchdown catch in the corner of the endzone. David Patten will forever be a Patriots legend for his performance in the 2001 Super Bowl.
Second Place: Rodney Harrison
Another Patriots legend, Rodney Harrison was signed prior to their second Super Bowl victory of the decade against the Carolina Panthers. Rodney met heartbreak in 1994 when his team at the time, the San Diego Chargers lost in the Super Bowl in a blowout to the San Francisco 49ers, so he went into the 2002-2003 season with revenge on his mind. He did just that two years in a row finishing with two tearful Super Bowl celebrations. In the 2003 playoff run, he did not have a single "bad" game. In the divisional playoff he had an interception, in the AFC Championship he had one interception and one forced fumble, and in the Super Bowl he had a sack and eight tackles. In the 2004 playoff run, he led the team in tackles every game and had an interception in every single one. That is a New England legend, and I felt like the team really meant something to Rodney. Thus, I will forever be proud that Rodney Harrison finished his career as a Patriot; in addition, I think he should be put in the the Patriots Hall of Fame.
First Place: Mike Vrabel
The group of players that really stands out to me on the defense of the Patriots Dynasty is the linebacking corps. Tedy Bruschi, Willie McGinest, and Mike Vrabel. Hard-nosed, prototypical New England Patriots players. Vrabel seems like the ultimate glue guy on a team, a leader in every sense of the word. From all accounts, he worked his ass off, but he was able to joke around as well, and even in front of Bill. He not only was a great leader off the field, but also on the field. He led the team in sacks in multiple years so his propensity for great defensive play was great, but he probably is most remembered for his touchdown catches. His versatility was unmatched, and he was just an outright athlete (so much so that NFL Network ranked him #7 on the most versatile players top ten list). In the last two Super Bowl wins that the Patriots had, Mike Vrabel caught a touchdown pass in each. It was not a surprise that he could do this which is what is so astounding! He was held by Jevon Kearse in 2004 Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles and he still made the touchdown catch. I remember seeing Vrabel in the backfield and was just amazed that the defense let him get loose for the touchdown passes because I thought if I was expecting it every time, then the defense should too. I hated seeing Mike Vrabel in a Chiefs jersey, but along with Rodney Harrison, he needs to go into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame.
Nostalgia. There is nothing like the Homeland Defense of the Dynasty years. There is nothing like remembering Adam Vinatieri's heroic kicks and not being surprised when he was the first kicker to ever sell jerseys (which also reminds me that Patriots fans who boo him make me sick). I am lucky enough to be at the tail end of a generation that got to watch Mike Vrabel, Tedy Bruschi, Willie McGinest, Ty Law, Troy Brown, and all of the other greats. I cannot wait until I get to have that joy once again, and I cannot be happier that we have a coach and quarterback who put us in that position EVERY SINGLE YEAR. People can say all they want about Brady not performing, but they cannot deny the fact that this is the only guy left on all three of those teams. The trend is Brady, and we just need a few more glue guys to get us back to being World Champions. I say us because I am a part of the Patriots family, and I am a damn proud member. Go Pats.
Honorable Mentions: Danny Woodhead, Ben-Jarvus Green-Ellis, Joe Andruzzi and Rob Ninkovich.
Third Place: David Patten
David Patten was signed in 2001, and although he never put up incredible numbers, he was a great role player on all three Super Bowl teams. To put it in perspective, when Patten was healthy, he was putting up numbers similar to Brandon Lloyd but on a much tinier salary, so he was a lot more appreciated. He was injured for the 2003 run and only had two receptions in the 2004 run, but in 2001 he was a key contributor. Even though I was young for the 2001 Super Bowl upset win over the Greatest Show on Turf, I can vividly remember David Patten's touchdown catch in the corner of the endzone. David Patten will forever be a Patriots legend for his performance in the 2001 Super Bowl.
Second Place: Rodney Harrison
Another Patriots legend, Rodney Harrison was signed prior to their second Super Bowl victory of the decade against the Carolina Panthers. Rodney met heartbreak in 1994 when his team at the time, the San Diego Chargers lost in the Super Bowl in a blowout to the San Francisco 49ers, so he went into the 2002-2003 season with revenge on his mind. He did just that two years in a row finishing with two tearful Super Bowl celebrations. In the 2003 playoff run, he did not have a single "bad" game. In the divisional playoff he had an interception, in the AFC Championship he had one interception and one forced fumble, and in the Super Bowl he had a sack and eight tackles. In the 2004 playoff run, he led the team in tackles every game and had an interception in every single one. That is a New England legend, and I felt like the team really meant something to Rodney. Thus, I will forever be proud that Rodney Harrison finished his career as a Patriot; in addition, I think he should be put in the the Patriots Hall of Fame.
First Place: Mike Vrabel
The group of players that really stands out to me on the defense of the Patriots Dynasty is the linebacking corps. Tedy Bruschi, Willie McGinest, and Mike Vrabel. Hard-nosed, prototypical New England Patriots players. Vrabel seems like the ultimate glue guy on a team, a leader in every sense of the word. From all accounts, he worked his ass off, but he was able to joke around as well, and even in front of Bill. He not only was a great leader off the field, but also on the field. He led the team in sacks in multiple years so his propensity for great defensive play was great, but he probably is most remembered for his touchdown catches. His versatility was unmatched, and he was just an outright athlete (so much so that NFL Network ranked him #7 on the most versatile players top ten list). In the last two Super Bowl wins that the Patriots had, Mike Vrabel caught a touchdown pass in each. It was not a surprise that he could do this which is what is so astounding! He was held by Jevon Kearse in 2004 Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles and he still made the touchdown catch. I remember seeing Vrabel in the backfield and was just amazed that the defense let him get loose for the touchdown passes because I thought if I was expecting it every time, then the defense should too. I hated seeing Mike Vrabel in a Chiefs jersey, but along with Rodney Harrison, he needs to go into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame.
Nostalgia. There is nothing like the Homeland Defense of the Dynasty years. There is nothing like remembering Adam Vinatieri's heroic kicks and not being surprised when he was the first kicker to ever sell jerseys (which also reminds me that Patriots fans who boo him make me sick). I am lucky enough to be at the tail end of a generation that got to watch Mike Vrabel, Tedy Bruschi, Willie McGinest, Ty Law, Troy Brown, and all of the other greats. I cannot wait until I get to have that joy once again, and I cannot be happier that we have a coach and quarterback who put us in that position EVERY SINGLE YEAR. People can say all they want about Brady not performing, but they cannot deny the fact that this is the only guy left on all three of those teams. The trend is Brady, and we just need a few more glue guys to get us back to being World Champions. I say us because I am a part of the Patriots family, and I am a damn proud member. Go Pats.
