Par4QC No memory loss here. My point is that no 1 person makes any team. And even after Brady is long retired for good, the Patriots will continue to win games, have winning seasons, and win championships. They did it before he came, they are doing it after he's gone.
And, I did say a 'historically' winning team. They average almost 10 wins per season, through 56 yrs.!! Yeah, including that 1-15 year. And the 16-0 year.
They are winners. They will continue to be. After Brady is dead and buried.
Let's not rewrite history. lol
They made it to one championship game prior to the NFL - AFL merger in 1970. That was in 1963 and got creamed by the San Diego Chargers 51-10. They won 4 Division Championships before Brady. 1978, 1986, 1996 and 1997.
They won two Conference Championships before Brady in 1985 and 1996. Both times they went to the Super Bowl and got creamed.
They had 9 playoff appearances before Brady. 1976, 1978, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1994, 1996, 1997 and 1998. Plus the one in 1963 prior to the merger of the AFL and NFL.
7-10 record in the Playoffs before Brady with no Super Bowl wins.
As was stated their record was 280-323-9 from 1960-2000. That's a losing record. They won diddly- squat before Brady.
With Brady their record was 219-64. That's a 77% win percentage. Brady went 30-11 in the Playoffs. That's a 73% win percentage. 10 super Bowl appearances with 7 wins. That's a 70% win percentage.
Belichick's record with the Patriots without Brady is 77-84. One guy can make a difference and the record is clear. Another Boston sports legend that made a difference was Bill Russell.
Check out the Celtics record before he arrived. Russell won 11 Championships in his 13 year career with the Celtics including 8 in a row (1959-1966). Won every Championship in the 1960's except for 1967.
One player can make a difference. Tom Brady and Bill Russell are examples of just that.