Bill Belichick Wins the 'Best GM' Ranking Previously Won by Bill Belichick

Funny that I compared “Jeopardy’s!” Big Brain James Holzhauer to Bill Belchick this morning, considering what came across my online radar later in the day. Especially given that as I wrote it, I was thinking strictly of Belichick the Coach. First of His Name. Designer of Gameplans. Caller of Plays. Keeper of the Red Challenge Flag. Breaker of Rules. Master of Timeouts and all that.

I wasn’t even thinking of Belichick the Lord of General Managers. Fortunately, somebody at Rotoworld was:

NFL’s Best GMs 2019

1. Bill Belichick, Patriots
How did Bill Belichick celebrate his sixth Super Bowl victory as head coach? By letting his left tackle and top pass rusher walk in free agency. Neither time nor winning have softened Belichick’s heart. He continues to do the things no other coach or general manager will do. Belichick found Trey Flowers in the fourth round, but he does not overpay for sacks. He pulled Trent Brown off the scrap heap, but he refuses to let bargains become boondoggles. He lets someone else spend the money. If it proves worth it — like Chandler Jones in Arizona — then so be it. There is always another find to be made. Whether it is the restricted free agent market or compensatory pick process, Belichick scours all available avenues for talent, playing the longest, most patient game. He is completely unbeholden to sentiment. This may not be a recommended personality trait in a normal human being, but Belichick has never pretended to be normal. The only game he plays is on the field. The rest is unrelenting logic. Perhaps that leaves you cold. It also keeps the trophy case warm.

2. Howie Roseman, Eagles

And when I read this, I immediately searched my own recent posts because I felt like I’d seen this and probably written about this not long ago. But nope. Then it hit me why it sounded so familiar. From the same source:

NFL’s Best GMs 2018

1. Bill Belichick, Patriots

There is no separating “Bill Belichick, head coach” from “Bill Belichick, general manager.” Those desperate to ding Belichick’s peerless reputation often look to his sometimes questionable personnel acumen. … If a general manager’s job isn’t to provide his coach with the right talent, then what is it? Belichick does it, and by every available avenue. Draft pick accumulation, trades, tactical strikes in free agency, mining restricted free agency and even claiming injured players. No general manager is as creative as Bill Belichick. No general manager is as ruthless as Bill Belichick. No general manager is as successful as Bill Belichick.

2. Kevin Colbert, Steelers

And while we’re breaking out the scrapbook and waxing nostaligc:

NFL’s Best GMs 2017

1. Bill Belichick, Patriots

Last Year’s Ranking: 1

Belichick the coach will always get the accolades, but Belichick the talent evaluator has done a lot more than simply stumble into Tom Brady. Belichick’s record-breaking Super Bowl victory came 98 days after he traded Jamie Collins, arguably his most-talented defender. A stunning move anywhere else, it was routine in New England. Belichick couldn’t see Collins’ Patriots future so he dealt him. He still finished with the league’s No. 1 scoring defense, a fifth Lombardi and third-round draft pick. Belichick couldn’t be nostalgic or sentimental as a general manager even if he wanted to. Those feelings aren’t part of his emotional presets. That might leave you cold, but it keeps Belichick winning.

2. John Elway, Broncos

Last Year’s Ranking: 2

That’s as far back as I could find. And it’s enough. Point made. And I don’t know what entertains me more, the fact that you still hear it said, week in and week out, that Coach Belichick gets no help from GM Belichick. It’s such a trope now, especially on Boston radio every time other teams dive right into free agency and some Patriots player gets paid a pirate’s treasure, while our GM is diving into other things:

… you hear it repeated over and over. Without being challenged. Like it’s settled science. Meanwhile the neutral analytics sites continue to stand before all this great man has accomplished in disbelieving awe.

But that’s not what I like best about this particular find. I’m used to it by now. The most fun part of this is reminiscing about the GMs who used to be No. 2. Howie Roseman. Kevin Colbert, who’s team missed the playoffs and disintegrated into civil war.  And John Elway. John freaking Elway! Who’s now on his third franchise QB since 2012. Who’s whole career is depending on Drew Lock getting him to the franchise’s first postseason since Peyton Manning’s last HGH refill ran out. He was the hotness for two straight seasons.

But the one true front office GOAT just keeps winning this ranking, letting pieces go, adding others, retooling on the fly and giving his head coach all he needs to be Super Bowl bound. You know what my favorite “NFL’s Best GM” ranking is? The next one. #KisstheRings