Dave Damoshek

It now stands to me if on either side of Tom Brady, he was a mediocre coach, mildly successful, I guess, with the Browns.

But in total, yeah, Belichick has really done some damage.

And obviously, people want to genuflect to him, legend and all of that.

But the stuff with the woman is weird.

And that also dents his legacy.

That is exactly what I am saying.

The magic of Tom Brady is hard to put your finger on what exactly he figured out about pro football that made him thrive and win over.

I'm not saying Belichick was a passenger along for the ride, but he was really playing at the fringes when the bulk of the work was being carried by Tom Brady.

When they didn't make the playoffs.

Yes, I do remember that one.

Ah, the dolphin's ear.

And absolutely, quarterbacks, when you have the man and he's still on his rookie deal, as has been often discussed, you can really load up on defense, and that's what's going to carry the day.

There have been a number of guys in the 21st century who are high-end QBs who won Super Bowls.

More because of the defense.

Russell Wilson, Ben Roethlisberger, the first one against the Seahawks, and Tom Brady, that first Super Bowl against the Rams.

Of course, that one is stained by the Spygate stuff.

And there's Deflategate.

And there are a number of, you know, the TB12 stuff and everything else.

I think there's all a stink on that entire Patriots era.

As glorious as it was for Boston sports fans, I think it will loom.