Outsiders, Insiders, and the Operations of an NFL Team
Many thought the Patriots pick of Cole Strange was a reach. In his Monday NFL Column, Krebs explores the process of unique thought that separates the New England Patriots from the rest of the NFL.
Unremarkable picks make complete teams what they are. NFL executives use the funnel, or the draft (and undrafted free agency), decide which collegiate players they want to compete for a chance to play for their NFL roster. People make mistakes that ridicule teams for years to come. It says more about the overall team rather than the lone player. Or they could make their weather and draft a legend while the entire league scratches their head wondering what they missed. Through the complex, multi-layered process of the NFL draft, teams create their future identity, while media narratives shape fan perception about team decisions rather than through the organization itself.
Unique thinking allows for teams to emerge from the middle of the pack. When there is an abundance of constituents, most are going to follow a set path. There will always be one, or a few, that deviate from that path and shape their own identity, through which they define their successes, rather than the mainstream. These niche teams find happiness and success, while everyone else wonders why they cannot do the same thing as the others. It was always written for these teams, while those unique teams make their own future in the words of Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) in Zack Snyder’s Justice League.
In the current NFL landscape, there is top-tier Quarterback talent on nearly every AFC team or a young player the team believes is the future. This makes for one of the most wondering times in the NFL, in which some will find success and others will fall, or there will be complete parity in the league, which some could argue would hurt the nature of the sport itself. Teams will be exposed, meaning there will be more pressure on departments to field a complete team rather than just a Quarterback driven roster. Or, the team will look complete on paper, and the pressure goes to the coaching staff. Either way, the rise of the Quarterbacks has unforeseen consequences and more pressure driven through all areas of the organization, creating an unhealthy working environment, which will translate to the field.
The media pushes narratives to create perceptions. Even though everyday people may not realize it, media influences everyone. It could be as small as seeing a tweet or as large as binge-watching a drama-filled show. With great power comes the ability to mislead (sorry to all Spider-Man fans for purposefully butchering the quote). Some organizations are willing to push false information on the average consumer, creating lies through which other organizations make satire. It’s a stream of misinformation. The only way to keep the media in check is to keep themselves in line. Self-control is difficult, but most organizations are not balanced and are willing to misinform instead of educating. Therefore, organizations must use outsiders to create a team that sees the facts and has the right intentions. The mainstream deludes insiders.
Now on to the 2022 NFL Draft. The New England Patriots drafted Guard Cole Strange at pick 29, a reach by many in the NFL world. The Patriots found a guy they liked, traded back to pick up a few assets, and chose Strange despite what everyone thought of his projections. Talk about sticking to your guns. It was bold, and the NFL depends on boldness. NFL insiders should hesitate when grading picks when not all factors are considered.
The New England Patriots are the rare team not willing to do the obvious and choose to believe what they want to believe. That has led them to develop the greatest Quarterback of all time (Jarrett Stidham obviously), and deserve their book of all the “captains” that define New England, not what a random UCLA linebacker has to say. Teams have to stay true to their processes and make their own decisions. Education must be prioritized over control. Teams must operate independently if they are serious about making winning football decisions. Teams that win in the building when nobody watches them are the teams that make NFL history.
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