The Patriots head to London this week to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and it was British historian Lord Acton who said, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.’’
No one is suggesting that Belichick is doing anything untoward with the power he wields in the Patriots organization, but make no mistake, it is absolute. Nick Caserio has the title of director of player personnel, but not a single roster decision is made in Foxborough without Belichick’s fingerprints on it.
So when an established veteran such as Galloway becomes a move “that just didn’t work out,’’ as Belichick said, it was either a coaching or personnel miscalculation.
“Any time you sign a player, you expect that he’ll come in and be a productive player for you,’’ said Belichick. “[Galloway was] inactive the last three games, and it just really didn’t work out for us, unfortunately. Sometimes that happens.’’
There is a natural push and pull between the roles of coach and personnel czar. There are conflicts and conflicts of interest.
That’s why Galloway, who will cost the Patriots nearly $1.8 million, lasted this long even though it was clear he had lost the trust of both his quarterback and the coaching staff following the Falcons game Sept. 27. In that game, he cost them a touchdown by carelessly stepping on the end line and dropped a Tom Brady pass in the red zone, after which the agitated quarterback rolled his eyes.
It’s also one reason that Thomas, who had started 29 of his 30 games as a Patriot prior to Sunday, can be inactive against the Tennessee Titans, while outside linebacker/defensive end Derrick Burgess, who was brought on at the cost of third- and fifth-round picks and has one sack, can be active.
If Burgess is inactive, the Patriots made a bad trade. If Thomas, who signed the most lucrative free agent contract in team history in 2007 (five years, $35 million, $20 million in guarantees) is a healthy scratch, he is being sent a message by his coach.
