Nice analysis. They were like the Patriots of today in terms of always keeping an eye on impact players
I often call the Patriots this generation's Cowboys of the 70's.
The Patriots use a specific strategy that encompasses a diffeent dynamic associated with a cap. In fact, they are geniuses at it, in much the same way as Schram and Brandt had their system for the draft.
Here is the Patriots system in a nutshell:
Keep "superstars" to a minimum, only those guys that you absolutely need to stay successful. For them, that was really only Brady. Anybody else was expendable and you saw how so many Pro Bowlers ended up somewhere else. The Patriots refused to overpay and loyalty was never considered. The reserved loyalty for their fans and winning for them.
Their contracts were proportionaly equal to a player's perceived contributions to the team. The cap was like a pie and each player only recieved the size slice they were entitled to consistant with thier importance to the team. The Patriots rarely competed in a free agent acquisition with other teams. If any player didn't accept their contract then they could go elsewhere.
So how could they continue to restock their team with so many departures? There were the compensatory picks, of course but that didn't yield the talent level required of most starters.
The answer is that
the Patriots loved 2nd and 3rd round picks.
They felt that these rounds yielded sufficient talent without the salary, entitlement and egos that accompany many 1st rounders. Plus, this lessened the liklihood of 1st rounders feeling they should get bigger contracts after the first one expired.
The most admirable part of it was their philosophy before the league voted to change the cap to include a rookie salary cap.
Before this, the Patriots surmised that a top tier 1st round rookie's productivity simply couldn't match the value paid through his contract. They considered the time to adjust to the NFL and become a legitimate contributor. No sooner has a player reached that stage when their first contract is up. Essentially, what has the Patriots or any team paid for? Well, only the opportunbity to train him well enough to earn big bucks from another team or seriouisly impact their own cap.
So
they would consistantly trade out of the first round. They would get another 2nd or 3rd rounder combined with the other team's 1st or 2nd rounder for next year. Then they would simply continue this practice the following year.
In the combined three drafts of 2009-2011 the Patriots had 9 2nd round picks and 5 3rd round picks, courtesy of their system.
Additionally,
whatever 1st round picks they kept, they used on their secondary and their lines.
The skill players typically came in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. They got more bodies, less elite players demanding bigger contracts. Don't forget that even elite players can get hurt, how could we forget? Their system gave then far more depth.
Both the talent and cap money was distributed around a larger number of players. If there was a serious injury or if there was a draft bust, no big deal. Plenty more where that came from.
This is why fans and media are deceived into thinking that the Patritos are weak as a result of their injuries. Yes they are, but many of their backups have starting capability.
Jason Garrett had a system that he explained back in 2011 but it has not been followed consistantly. In fact, it has been comtaminated by Jerry Jones to the degree that it is now a nonfactor.
