How the Patriots roster overhaul led them to a 14-2 record… and links!

For this morning’s paper, I began a three-part series taking us back over a few developments that led the Patriots to a 14-2 record and a first-round playoff bye. The first topic was the major roster overhaul coach Bill Belichick engineered following the ugly loss to the Ravens. Think about it. Of the 53 players who were active for last playoff game, 25 have been cut, traded, allowed to walk away or placed on injured reserve. That’s a whopping five offense starters and five defensive starters. During that time, Belichick traded Randy Moss and Laurence Maroney, allowed Adalius Thomas to walk away, and welcomed in a whole bunch of free agents and rookies we’ve never heard of and plugged them into key roles. But how does he do that? First, as Belichick explained to me recently, he tells the team, “There’s fair competition here.” Then, with his credibility on the line to uphold that promise, he makes sure it happens. (more…)