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The Patriots have set the platinum standard over the past 20 years when it comes to building and maintaining a competitive team. It’s not going as well this year, which raises some pointed questions about the recent history of the player collection team.
Tom Curran of NBCSportsBoston.com asked Belichick a specific question on Friday regarding the team’s failure to develop draft picks in recent years.
“Over the past four years, drafted players, do you have any idea why you more difficulty in achieving consistent production and development of the guys you selected in the draft? Curran asked, via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com.
Belichick paused for at least 13 seconds before saying this, “Well listen, every time you bring a player on your team, you put them in a role or a situation that you feel is right for them.” Sometimes you have to tweak this a bit as you get to know the player. Then you work with him to try to develop that. He competes with other players for whatever position, or whatever role. At the end of the day you pick, or we pick, I pick, the best player in this competition. So that’s really the process. I don’t know how to answer the question otherwise. Obviously, each player is different, each player competes with different players, the positions are different. So I don’t know if there is a general answer to this.
Curran followed suit, focusing on the success (or not) of players acquired through draft picks.
“I know how much you put into the draft,” Curran said. “I know how much each team is putting into the draft. I guess there is a disconnect between injuries, development, competition. So not asking about it and continuing to write or spit on it is no use to us if we don’t ask the person responsible for it.
Belichick, in response, got a little defensive – and a little check-the-scoreboard-y.
“Well, Tom,” Belichick said, “I would say the most important thing for me this week is winning games. I will not apologize for our record of the past 20 years. I have seen much worse. So ultimately we try to put the best possible team on the field to be competitive, and I don’t really see that changing. So regardless of those players or not, it’s the responsibility I feel towards the team. It is that the competition is being played and that better players are playing, whoever they are.
Curran had one more for Belichick: “I know you referred to ‘over the past 20 years’. But now, in the last four, or really since 2014 or so, do you think the writing and production you get from draft players is where you hoped?
For Belichick, that was the end of the conversation.
“Yeah, you know, honestly, Tom, I’m focusing on the Ravens,” Belichick said. “Right now, writing a scorecard, that I understand you want to write about that, which is great – but really trying to focus on preparing for the Ravens. So I think I’ll let my attention be on that.
Of course, Belichick could have just said that in answer to the first question, and not after Curran finally checked Belichick down and checkmate on the subject.
What Curran definitely did.
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