Belichick's Best

Gil Brandt's getting a lot of attention here and pretty much everywhere. It must be the middle of July. Brandt has seen so much football that his opinions deserve notice. He recently posted an All-Time Bill Belichick Team. A curious yet interesting exercise. To keep it simple Brandt kept it to players who played under Belichick as a head coach. So no Lawrence Taylor.

Quarterback
Tom Brady, Patriots, 2000-present

Running Back
Corey Dillon, Patriots, 2004-06

Wide Receivers
Randy Moss, Patriots, 2007-10
Julian Edelman, Patriots, 2009-present
Wes Welker, Patritos, 2007-12

Tight End
Rob Gronkowski, Patriots, 2010-present

Left Tackle
Matt Light, Patriots, Patriots, 2001-11

Left Guard
Logan Mankins, Patriots, 2005-13

Center
Dan Koppen, Patriots, 2003-11

Right Guard
Steve Neal, Patriots, 2002-10

Right Tackle
Orlando Brown, Browns, 1994-95

Defensive Linemen
Richard Seymour, Patriots, 2001-08
Vince Wilfork, Patriots, 2004-14
Willie McGinest. Patriots, 2000-05

Linebackers
Tedy Bruschi, Patriots, 2000-08
Mike Vrabel, Patriots, 2001-08
Dont'a Hightower, Patriots, 2012-present
Jerod Mayo, Patriots, 2008-15

Cornerbacks
Ty Law, Patriots, Patriots, 2000-04
Asante Samuel, Patriots, 2003-07

Safeties
Rodney Harrison, Patriots, 2003-08
Eric Turner, Browns, 1991-95

Kicker
Adam Vinatieri, Patriots, 2000-05

Punter
Tom Tupa, Browns, 1994-95

Kick Coverage
Matthew Slater, Patriots, 2008-present

Kick Returner
Kevin Faulk, Patriots, 2000-11

Some thoughts: 
The first thing that jumped out at me when I scrolled through Brandt's picks was the absence of cornerback Malcolm Butler. Brandt included Butler on the his recent list of Best All-Time Cornerbacks, a list that Samuel didn't make. So why isn't Butler included among the best to play for Belichick? Besides I never much cared for Asante Samuel. I always felt that he gave up more plays than he made.

For the first decade of his career Tom Brady sure was well protected. The Patriots offensive line in those days might not have been loaded with all-star talent but they were good, tough blockers. It didn't hurt to have Dante Scarnecchia as the line coach. He's one of the best to ever do it.