Patriots: 5 Bill Belichick roster moves that cut fans the deepest
47. . DE. New England Patriots. Richard Seymour. 2. player
The Patriots wanted Hall of Fame defensive lineman Richard Seymour badly when they selected him with the sixth overall pick in 2001, and they wanted him to stay as he won three championships for four Super Bowl-bound teams. But as soon as Belichick was done with him, he was banished to the Oakland Raiders in 2009 in exchange for a 2011 first-round pick. Seymour reportedly felt “blindsided” by the trade, failing to attend camp in his first few days on the team.
While Pats fans heralded the success that came from first-rounder Nate Solder, it was a cruel move to the legendary defensive lineman that gave his best years to New England. Injury-riddled and aging, Seymour continued to make Pro Bowl teams in Oakland but never saw another Super Bowl — but his former team did in 2011 with Solder.
Like Milloy, Seymour eventually understood that as cold as it may have been, he understood why Belichick made the calculated decision to cut him. Seymour has said there are “no hard feelings” between him and his hardened former coach. In fact, Seymour was honored to have even been considered by the defensive genius.
“You look at Coach Belichick and what he’s meant to defense, and to be drafted by him says a lot,” Seymour said.
Randy Moss. 1. player. 47. . WR. New England Patriots
Who would trade away the greatest wide receiver of all time during his fourth season with the team?
Bill Belichick would, and he did in 2010 when he sent Randy Moss packing back to the Minnesota Vikings. To add insult to injury, the Patriots sent the Vikings Moss and a 2012 seventh-rounder for a 2011 third-round pick that turned into Ryan Mallett.
What possessed Belichick to move on from Moss mid-season was a nasty mix of Belichick’s two peeves: Moss wanted to be financially rewarded for his talent, and he went so far as to publicly air his grievances with his contract negotiation.
“When you have done so much and put so much work in, it kind of feels like I am not wanted,” Moss said in September 2010. One month later, he was on the Vikings.
Perhaps if Moss had played the final year of his contract without voicing his concerns to the media, he may have made the 2011 team and potentially earned the Super Bowl ring he rightfully deserved.
Moss left the league two years and three teams later, a shame for a player that Belichick holds in high regard to this day.
According to Belichick, Moss was “one of the smartest players” he has ever coached. “Certainly the smartest receiver. He taught me more about receiving and the passing game than, by far, anybody else.”