I don't think you can separate the two. You simply have no idea of what one would have done without the other. You can speculate all you want, but the combination of the two is what made it work....not necessarily the contributions of one over the other.

I liken this debate to the Phil vs Michael debate. The factor that favors Phil is Michael played 5 years with the Bulls before Phil and no titles. Phil becomes head coach and within a couple years the title run starts.

Let me add my two-cents worth. I don't know. :bag:

I voted for Tom. Based upon Bill's losing record at Cleveland along with playing in the East sure helped.

I lean towards Bill as more important. I don't think either of them have 6 without each other. Can we look at the 6 seasons, playoffs and Super Bowls and say confidently - the Patriots don't win that one without Brady.

 

I liken this debate to the Phil vs Michael debate. The factor that favors Phil is Michael played 5 years with the Bulls before Phil and no titles. Phil becomes head coach and within a couple years the title run starts.

 

So wouldn’t that mean you favor Brady then in this instance? Before Brady, Bill was being fired from the Browns, having more losing seasons than winning. Including losing to a horrible Bengals team the first year they won the Super Bowl, before Brady took over two games later due to injury. Before Brady, Bill was known as a fired Head Coach who was known more for possibly being one of those guys who was a better assistant coach, than a Head Coach.

 

Brady becomes the starter due to injury, not because of Bill making a change on his own.

There is a very real possibility Brady never starts a game for the Patriots if it wasn’t for Bledsoe getting hurt to give Brady a shot.

So wouldn’t that mean you favor Brady then in this instance? Before Brady, Bill was being fired from the Browns, having more losing seasons than winning. Including losing to a horrible Bengals team the first year they won the Super Bowl, before Brady took over two games later due to injury. Before Brady, Bill was known as a fired Head Coach who was known more for possibly being one of those guys who was a better assistant coach, than a Head Coach.

 

Brady becomes the starter due to injury, not because of Bill making a change on his own.

There is a very real possibility Brady never starts a game for the Patriots if it wasn’t for Bledsoe getting hurt to give Brady a shot.

 

If we look at success in New England from when Bill arrived and when Brady arrived, yes that favors Brady.

 

The Phil and Michael success story favors the coach, Phil.

It's important to state that people do become better at their trades the longer they are in it. Brady's first title run let's be honest... he was along for the ride. I don't think he had 100 yards passing before the game winning "drive" in a game the offense put up a total of 13 points, just like last year's Super Bowl. Ty Law deserved MVP of that game, but I digress. Brady got better the more he played. As did Belichek.

 

And it is not fair to point out one of them coached or played in the AFC East and act as if the other didn't. They both benefited from annually playing against three poorly run organizations twice a year.

Terry Bradshaw with his take today.

 

I know Belicek can win without Brady. I don’t know if Brady can win with Belicek.

 

He thinks Brady’s on an ego trip.

Terry Bradshaw with his take today.

 

I know Belicek can win without Brady. I don’t know if Brady can win with Belicek.

 

He thinks Brady’s on an ego trip.

 

Do we know Belichek can win without Brady? Because thus far, he really hasn't.

Do we know Belichek can win without Brady? Because thus far, he really hasn't.

One season is all I can remember.