What's the old phrase? Those who control the media control how the story is told.
In the case of the New England Patriots, AppleTV+'s The Dynasty documentary detailing the rise and fall of the 2000s and 2010s run to dominance for the Patriots has seemingly shed a bigger light on quarterback Tom Brady, while other seem to believe major parts are hit pieces about the Patriots old coach.
Bill Belichick may not be the head coach of the Patriots anymore, but he's been at the forefront of some of the major discussions in each episode.
Whether it was throwing Brady under the bus during "Deflategate," his handling of the Aaron Hernandez saga that saw the former tight end arrested and charged for murder before ultimately taking his own life in prison, response to his hard-style coaching, or the reason for the end of the Brady era in New England, "The Dynasty" does not paint Belichick in the light of someone that was a part of one of the most impressive runs in sports.
Set to be something that rivals Michael Jordan's "The Last Dance," Belichick is painted in a light similar to that of former Bulls general manager Jerry Krause. People who ended up getting in the way of greatness and having their legacy built on the coattails of others.
Belichick may not be the kind of executive that Krause was, but he's as important to the Patriots dynasty as any other singular person. Many fans have voiced their displeasure for the former coach's portrayal throughout the episodes believing the series was more of a hit job for those that wanted to protect their own legacy.
Does that make someone like Belichick underrated in the Patriots dynasty story?
Among the more underrated parts of New England's run of six Super Bowls was the fact that in each championship season - his defense (the calling card for Belichick) ranked in the top 10 for points allowed. The Patriots' defense was such an important part of their path to success in the AFC that during their first dynasty run in the 2000s, the group held opponents to under 20 points in six of their nine playoff games - an unprecedented mark of dominance.
It should come as no surprise that the founder of the company putting forth the documentary, Brian Grazer, has a personal friendship with both Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Brady - one that has grown since starting in 2014.
That's what seems to be the case throughout the story, though. Kraft and Brady are seen as sympathetic figures to the Patriots dynasty run while Belichick is portrayed as the mean, old grinch who got in the way.
It's why years after their dynasty has actually concluded, we might actually get to a point where Belichick could be the most overlooked reason why the Patriots even had their championship run in the first place.
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