By Stephen M. Hague ProfessionalSportsCommentary.blogger.com
No one can question the chutzpa in Bill Belichick. Always ready, willing, and able to do what it takes to make his football team better.
Some times he wins (Randy Moss from Oakland for a 4th round draft pick), and some times he loses (Monty Biesel and Chad Brown starting linebackers in 2006).
But with 9 days to go in a highly anticipated 2009/2010 season, he trades away his best defensive player and a stalwart of the defense for 8 seasons. Richard Seymour is (maybe) on his way to Oakland for a first round pick in 2011.
A risky move that has made this 2009 team weaker in order to make the 2011 and future teams possibly better. One can argue the merits of the trade for or against, but look at the players that are no longer part of this defense in less than a year. Where is the leadership going to come from?
Sure the chemistry piece is overrated, but the Patriots teams that have been successful recently, have had players who could inspire and motivate by their mere presence on the field.
Tedy Bruschi stopped being Tedy Bruschi after 2007, but the leadership he showed on the field and in the locker room was still ever present.
Rodney Harrison may have taken a second or two longer to smash an opposing player with the full force of his body last year, but the intimidation was still there for all to see.
Do you think Mike Vrabel's stellar play on the field alone was what made him a Belichick favorite? His locker room presence and natural leadership ability were also heavily favored.
Even Junior Seau the first ballot hall of famer who was called in off of the San Diego surf last Fall was an inspirational player.
Admittedly, Richard Seymour isn't a great leader off the field or in the locker room, but his play on the field was at times dominating.
So where will the leadership, motivation, and inspiration come from this season? Jerod Mayo? Maybe, but he's still just a 2nd year player, though a mighty talented one.
We're still waiting for Brandon Merriweather to play at a high level consistently and Adalius Thomas and the rest of the front line while talented, seem to do all of their talking by their play on the field.
Maybe what I'm looking for will appear early in the season. Maybe it doesn't exist and never did. I'm just not sure that this defense has the heart of a champion as it has shown so many times over the last 8 years.
