New England Patriots: The key ingredient for success in 2020
Tom Brady is not walking through that door, but the New England Patriots have plenty of leadership to continue their winning ways in 2020.
Can the New England Patriots win without the services of Tom Brady?
As long as Bill Belichick is the head coach and the team still has some veteran leadership, former Patriots safety and current NBC Sports analyst Rodney Harrison believes so.
While many NFL pundits are pretty much counting the Jarrett Stidham led Patriots out, Harrison is predicting a winning record in 2020 and it is hard to argue with him since he spent quite a bit of time playing for the organization coached by Belichick himself.
Appearing on NBC Sports’ Lunch Talk Live on Monday, Harrison backed up his prediction by highlighting one key ingredient the team still has even with the loss of Tom Brady and several others via free agency.
"“The last thing they’re worried about is leadership,” Harrison said, as transcribed by WEEI. “you’ve got so many leaders on the defensive side of the ball. You’ve got quiet leaders on the offensive side of the ball, and of course, you still have (head coach) Bill Belichick. I think this is a team that’s looking at a 10-6 record, maybe 9-7 at the worst-case scenario.”"
Sounds much better than that 3-13 record prediction by Chowder and Champion contributor Jack Cote doesn’t it?
But, given the question marks the Patriots have on offense even aside from Jarrett Stidham, a winning record could be considered a stretch given the difficulty of the team’s 2020 schedule. That’s where the veteran leadership Rodney Harrison is talking about comes in to play.
More from Chowder and Champions
- 3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox
- 10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster Deadline
- MLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return
- 3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 Season
- Red Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win
When you have players like Devin McCourty, Matthew Slater, Julian Edelman and Stephon Gilmore ready to step up and be leaders both vocally and their actions on the field, a winning attitude becomes very contagious even when a virus like COVID-19 is slowing down many of the processes across the NFL.
Keep in mind Harrison was also on the team in 2008 when a less talented quarterback in Matt Cassell led the team to an 11-5 record. Though Cassell had playmakers like Randy Moss and Wes Welker to throw to, he also had that veteran leadership that took the pressure off him.
The New England Patriots have plenty of leaders
The veteran leaders I mentioned above are obvious, but like Rodney Harrison continued to say during his appearance, there will be new leaders who will step up.
Some of those players will be younger players who will have to grow both on and on the field.
In players like defensive lineman Lawrence Guy, offensive lineman David Andrews and running back James White, a lot of that next level of leadership has shone through. They will certainly come more to the forefront, but younger players like Sony Michel, Chase Winovich and N’Keal Harry will have opportunity to morph into leaders.
Whether it’s through breakout seasons or just doing the little things in helping the team win, those are players with the talent to turn into the next generation of stars under Bill Belichick.
dark. Next. Lawyer Milloy the first star player to be Belichick’d
The New England Patriots also have player like Mohamed Sanu Sr., quarterback Brian Hoyer, cornerback Jason McCourty, linebacker Dont’a Hightower and newcomers Beau Allen and Adrian Phillips with playoff or Super Bowl experience.
In summary, even without Tom Brady there is plenty of winning attitude left for the Patriots to contend in the AFC.