On Wednesday, the first morning following the opening of free agency, Patriots fans were in a tizzy about the loss of No. 1 cornerback Aqib Talib.
One day later, New Englanders are collectively rejoicing in the reported signing of All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis.
One day saw the seemingly appropriate despair of disappointment, while the next has brought borderline Super Bowl-bound excitement.
[
](/node/47411) BEST OF DARRELLE REVIS
Check out a selection of the best images of free agent CB Darrelle Revis. VIEW
At the middle of both feelings was Bill Belichick.
In the matter of less than 24 hours, Belichick reestablished his "In Bill We Trust" status among Patriot Nation. Forget any fading genius or aging, out-of-touch philosophy, Belichick is once again the unquestioned leader of the New England football operation and seen as one step ahead of the rest of the league.
What began seemingly as an internet-driven, talk-radio-fueling pipedream with Revis ends in the stark reality that Belichick added the only available option he could have brought aboard to replace, check that, to improve upon Talib.
Better yet, he got Revis at a far better price than anyone could have fathomed even just a week ago when the Revis Island dream was being bandied about.
A one-year deal for a reported $12 million? What's the catch?
There is no catch.
It didn't take a trade of a first-round pick? It didn't require assuming Revis' previous $16 million contract? No contract restructure was necessary? No redoing of other contracts on the roster to create immense cap room.
Nope. Simple contract. Simple result.
The best cover cornerback in the game for the better part of the last decade, the former hated Jets rival, is now going to be roaming the back end of the defense at Gillette Stadium. He makes the pass coverage better. He he'll make the pass rush look better. He makes the Patriots clearly a better team with his talent and impressive durability.
And Belichick's genius has added another notch to its belt.
Once again, as the cliché goes, the Hoodie was simply playing chess while the rest of the league's decision makers were seemingly kinging themselves in an expensive game of free agent checkers.
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