* It’s sad to think that this is how the Bill Belichick Era may come to an end: in a half-empty stadium — due in equal parts to the weather and circumstances — facing the (Irony Alert!) Jets, in a game that most fans are hoping the home team will lose.
There’s a certain Back to the Future aspect to Sunday. Playing out the string with little riding on the outcome other than draft position used to be an annual occurence Before Bill.
Belichick deserves much of the criticism he’s gotten over the performance of his team post-Brady. He’s made poor coaching hires, bad personnel decisions and has long seemed unwilling to accept some of the wholesale changes that have taken place in the game. While the rest of the NFL adapts to the fact that the game is now played outside the numbers with speed as the coin of the realm, Belichick, famously stubborn, focuses on special teams and field position.
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This season has served as a painful reminder that teams can’t win on defense alone: the Pats have lost four games this year in which they’ve allowed 20 points or fewer.
And yet, Belichick’s accomplishments should never be forgotten. Nine Super Bowl appearances in 24 seasons — at a time when free agency resulted in more parity than ever before — is a ridiculous achievement, one that almost certainly will not be equaled.
Not long before Belichick arrived, the Patriots were a league laughing stock and largely irrelevant in the region. Today, even after no playoff victories in the last five years, they remain, inarguably, the most popular franchise in New England.
That, even allowing for six Lombardi trophies, will be Belichick’s lasting legacy here.
* When Chris Sale was traded to the Atlanta Braves, much was made of the fact that the deal left Rafael Devers as the only member of the 2018 Red Sox who is still with the organization.
But the turnover in the organization runs deeper than that. Take a look at the roster from the 2021 ALCS, the last time the Red Sox enjoyed a winning season and a trip to the postseason. Among position players, only Devers and Bobby Dalbec remain, and Dalbec is little more than a spare part stashed at Triple A. Three pitchers — Tanner Houck, Garrett Whitlock and Nick Pivetta — are still with the Sox.
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Think about that: just three seasons ago, and only four players — assuming none are dealt in the next month or so — will be part of the 2024 Opening Day roster.
This isn’t meant as an indictment of the Red Sox; the numbers would be similar for other franchises, successful or otherwise. Throughout baseball, there’s little continuity, making it hard for fans to connect to their favorite teams. There’s something wrong when major league players turn over at roughly the same rate as those playing college ball. Staying put for longer than four or five season now represents the exception rather than the rue.
It’s not all about free agency, either. Players were granted that right almost 50 years ago, and roster turnover was never this tumultuous. Driven by analytics, teams now shuffle players constantly, willing to move on from Player A in favor of Player B if it means a measly three percent improvement in performance. The infatuation with prospects (read: cheap labor) is also a factor.
The notion of “rooting for laundry” was once part of a comedic bit by Jerry Seinfield. Now, it’s a sad reality.
* The Bruins would be wise to look into extending Trent Frederic. At a time when players with a strong physical presence seem like an endangered species throughout the NHL, Frederic gives the Bruins someone who plays with an edge, but is skilled enough to contribute offensively in the bottom six.
A year ago, Frederic scored 17 goals. This year, he’s on pace to finish with more than 20. Who says the Bruins never hit with a high draft pick?
* The NFL will have its work cut out for it next weekend to match the excitement and intensity of the two college playoff games on New Year’s Day.
* Did Teoscar Hernandez win the Triple Crown or something and nobody noticed? The Red Sox sure seem willing to move a lot of pieces (and money) around in order to free up money to sign a guy whose OPS has declined in each of the last three seasons. Could they use a righty power bat to balance out the lineup? Sure. But some perspective, please. Hernandez is a 31-year old who’s an average defender — not some foundational piece worth upending the roster.
* Can’t wait to watch Michael Penix Jr. in the championship game Monday night. Patriots fans can do so, knowing that the Pats will have access to him net spring, regardless of where they select in the draft. Of course, one must keep things in context — Penix Jr. is working with much better offensive talent than Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe have this season.
* With games against Minnesota, Milwaukee, Denver and the L.A. Clippers before the end of the month, I suspect we’ll know a lot more about where the Celtics stand by Feb. 1. The loss to OKC the other night, while hardly reason to panic, may have served as cautionary tale.
* The Trevor Bauer Image Rehabilitation Tour is going about as well as you might expect.
* The Holdovers is as good as everyone says it is. See it and marvel at another great performance from the brilliant Paul Giamatti, easily the best actor to have a parent who once served as a commissioner of a major sport.
* Will Flemming, as talented a play-by-play voice in the Red Sox radio booth in some time , deserves better treatment.
