Originally posted by LifelongNiner:
Originally posted by genus49:
Originally posted by LifelongNiner:
Wouldn't the bolded mean that the 49ers (or any other team from previous eras) had tougher competition, since the top teams were able to be so deep in terms of talent?
Sure pre cap era allowed some really strong teams to exist for extended periods of time but like I said it was a great boost to teams like the 49ers who were able to draft well and bring in talent and then keep that talent.
The reason I'm so impressed by what the Pats and Brady have been able to do is because despite their teams changing over the years so much they've kept winning. It's something no other team was able to accomplish in the same era.
I totally get it. What I'm saying is, the although the 49ers could keep talent, so could the Bears, Redskins, Giants, etc. Tougher teams, better coaches, definitely tougher defenses, etc.
I think Belichek, much like Walsh, knew the importance of the QB, and where to spend in players to keep a team on top. I don't think other teams have figured that out OR can make up for that in the Xs and Os to topple NE.
The Giants and Eagles both figured out how to beat the Patriots without elite QB's. The Patriots can be beat; they're not an unstoppable machine like the Niners were when they got to the Super Bowl during their run.