The cracks in Belichick's armor are beginning to show and very soon, Brady won't be able to cover those mistakes.

He's had the greatest QB in NFL history for the past 16 seasons, which has made it easier to create a roster of "JAG's" as opposed to truly talented offensive and defensive players. He can get away Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola and players of that ilk but once they have a non-HOF QB, he'll need to invest draft capital and free agent money into talented offensive and defensive players.

The game will change completely for the Patriots at that point and it'll be interesting to see if Belichick can adjust. Based on his recent trades and dumps (Kony Ealy, Jamie Collins and Chandler Jones), his arrow is pointing down.

Plus Brady's contract has always allowed him to add free agents he normally wouldn't be able to

Yeah, there are all kinds of factors in play but from my perspective, Belichick has made some mistakes the past few years and those will only be magnified when Brady's play inevitably declines and/or he's traded or retired.

There's no way that the current Patriots roster wouldn't be better if they had kept Chandler Jones and Jamie Collins. They have a lack of edge rushers which will likely lead to their downfall.

Bill is one of those coaches that likes to think he's better than everyone else and loves to do it with questionable moves.

He has done it with Kosar and Bledsoe before, both big fan favorites. Sure they aren't Tom Brady, but I don't think he's afraid to make the move at all.

I don't think that people cared that he moved Bledsoe because the Patriots had just won the Super Bowl with Brady.

Fans were irate about cutting Kosar but he was right. Kosar was done.

Should of clarified. When they kept playing Brady after Bledsoe was healthy. Some people were extremely pissed.

When they traded him finally to Buffalo? Nah lol

Another consideration - Andy Dalton could easily be traded. He has 3 years left on his deal at below market value for an average starting QB. He may well have burnt out in Cincy and they could be looking to blow it up.

He's more accomplished, younger, cheaper and under control for longer than Smith is.

So unless Smith kills it this season, why would a team prefer Smith to Dalton if they're looking for a veteran bridge to a younger QB? If you're the Jags and you can have Smith for a season or Dalton for 3 (with no guaranteed dollars still attached).

I don't think Smith will have much trade value.

Won't it take a team that's got one of Dalton's coaches being the more-likely option to try and acquire him?

But yeah. Smith has pretty much insignificant trade value.

You're insignificant

Andy Dalton is a younger Alex. They are both the definitly average, just different flavors.

Andy is only as good as the talent around him while Alex is Alex regardless of talent.

If he plays as well as some of the homers are claiming he will?

1st round pick. Minimum. Maybe we throw some change at the team, ala the Trent Green deal years ago.

If he plays no worse than he did in 2015, Smith gets a contract extension unfortunately.

For what ****ing reason?

Yeah I don't agree with that.

Smith's future with this team is entirely dependent on how he performs in the playoffs.

His last three playoff games have been 'meh' at best.