“The one exception to that rule,” Bill Belichick cites Lawrence Taylor’s example for NFL teams to curb expectation with adjustment period for drafted players

Belichick had the privilege of coaching Taylor in his rookie year.

“The one exception to that rule,” Bill Belichick cites Lawrence Taylor’s example for NFL teams to curb expectation with adjustment period for drafted players

Lawrence Taylor and Bill Belichick (via IMAGO)

The NFL Draft is just a few days away. It marks an opportunity for players to bring aboard a new generation of players with immense potential to turn the fate of their franchises around.

However, the rising expectations of franchises from the players to have an immediate impact may seemingly be unreasonable. Bill Belichick, former HC of the New England Patriots dubbed this as unreasonable.

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The eight-time Super Bowl-winning coach said via the Pat McAfee Show that teams across the league ought to be ready for an adjustment period once they draft players. In his career, he has hung around the most diverse group of players and he admits that the only player that he saw come pro-ready out of college was the legendary Lawrence Taylor.

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Brady didn't play his rookie year, you judge Tom Brady after his first year and you have literally nothing. You're talking about the greatest player that's every played. Lawrence Taylor was a different story. Lawrence Taylor was a different story. Lawrence Taylor from Day One impacted the team, showed he was the best player on the field, way better than everyone else and built a defense around him from that point going forward...it's usually not Day One of his rookie year. I would say Lawrence Taylor would be the one exception to that rule.
Belichick said citing the example of Tom Brady.

Bill Belichick coached Lawrence Taylor in his rookie year

Bill Belichick got the opportunity to draft and coach Lawrence Taylor in 1981 when he was the linebackers coach for the New York Giants. So he has witnessed LT from his first day as a pro-athlete. He went on to become the greatest defensive player of all time, a ferocious athlete who instilled fear within his opponents’ souls from the moment he took the field.

Bill Belichick
Bill Belichick (via IMAGO)

Belichick mentioned how Tom Brady needed a year to get used to the NFL and how he spent that time making a transition from college ball to the professional league. That transition period is necessary for players, his perspective is right that teams cannot hope to see immediate results from their rookies. The focus must be on grooming and developing the rookies into great players.

However, recent trends do dispute Belichick’s comments. Players such as C.J. Stroud, Micah Parsons amongst others have managed to make an immediate impact on their teams in their rookie year. These players did not require the transitionary period and proceeded to elevate their respective franchises. But again, this applies to a select few players with exceptional talent, it cannot be generalized for all players in the Draft.

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