Silly spending season continued today in New England as Bill Belichick’s Patriots splashed into the second day of the NFL’s “legal tampering” period by signing former Chargers tight end Hunter Henry.
Henry continues Belichick’s “uncharacteristically aggressive” (h/t NBC Sports Boston) March madness spree through free agency that’s never before been seen in New England, one with few comps in modern NFL team building.
The additions of Henry, fellow tight end playmaker Jonnu Smith, Pro Bowl edge defender Matthew Judon and seemingly endless others on big-money deals in less than 24 hours has left fans of Patriot Nation happier than pigs in you know what.
Clearly, after a playoff-free season in the first year without Tom Brady under center in New England and a roster with more holes than your lucky underwear, Belichick decided he no longer wanted to try to make tasty football chicken salad out of chick you know what talent.
Like that ever-present social media meme of Belichick strutting onto the field a couple years ago for a game in Detroit, the GOAT coach clearly wanted to confidently swagger onto every field this coming fall like he and his team were the you know what once again.
Despite what Lane Johnson said, the NFL fun is flowing through Foxborough these days faster than Robert Kraft’s money if flowing from his well-stocked checking account.
But all those basking in the glory of Belichick making the money rain down on the incoming talent, also need to admit the hypocrisy of their emotions.
Sure, the Patriots had plenty of holes to fill, plenty of money to fill them with and plenty of options on the market to go after. That’s obvious.
But aren’t they just doing what endless other bad teams across the NFL have done over the last couple decades?
Washington built an infamous history under Daniel Snyder with its annual free agent spending.
The Jets won March like no other under Rex Ryan.
The Eagles built a Dream Team.
The Bills, Browns, Jags, Raiders and so many others have previously gone down this road paved with free agent fool’s gold.
And when they did Patriot Nation – including many media members, not just fans – was there to mock the process from afar, sitting atop their high horse named Brady.
Now, though, with Belichick’s value-based philosophies apparently out the window and replaced with a desperate spending approach that would make a Powerball winner take pause, suddenly March spending is the way to get the job done in the NFL.
Right?
Winning with a wallet in March after failing to win the previous season with touchdowns and tackles is now worthy of celebration! Cue the Duck Boats.
Maybe like so many other things in his NFL career, Belichick will find a way to win via free agency spending better than other, lesser counterparts in the front office and on the sidelines across the league.
Of course he’s also the same Belichick who some have said should not be the GM anymore and should not be allowed to pick offensive skill position talent. But I guess we’ll ignore that for now.
Maybe March money will indeed equate to fall glory in a way that has many fans on social media now pondering a Super Bowl battle between Belichick’s rebuilt Patriots and Brady’s still-there Tampa squad dreaming of an undefeated season to defend its title.
Maybe.
Or, maybe a team that still doesn’t have franchise quarterback in a sport where continuity and consistency matter – remember back when the Patriots didn’t collect talent but tried to put together the best team? -- will add its name to the long list of NFL franchises fooled into believing March victories at the negotiating table equate to on-field success.
The last 12 months were not fun in New England. Brady left. The team lost and was boring to watch many a week.
Fun has returned to Patriot Nation in March, the most unlikely of times given Belichick’s history.
Will the fun continue into September, October and beyond?
Will the Patriots and their fans be more fortunate than so many offseason “winners” of the past that were so universally mocked in these parts?
Maybe.
Or maybe Patriot Nation is about to learn another tough NFL life lesson after years of supremacy.
But hey, for now enjoy winning March because it is kinda fun!
For now.