not all #s are created equal, he had 10 sacks most in garbage time. That doesn't impress me, I want guys to step up when needed most. Do you think NE gives up on a guy like that after a year if they thought he was some great pass rusher? NE has a pretty good track record of knowing when to let a player go.
I have never once praised Sparano, I have said over and over I'm not sure what to expect but when people bash him I correctly point out he had a top 5 O int he one year he called plays- what is wrong w/ that? Tony wasn't the DC of a team that allowed 55 pts in a playoff game.
If a team never let go their best players for any reason free agency wouldn't exist.