One area in which Saban doesn't seem to be like Bellichick.

[LarryFinFan]

The difference here is that back then, it was easier to continue your success once you got there because there wasn't as much turnover as there is now. Furthermore, Belichick has won 3 SB in 4 years while Shula only went to 4 out of the 6 but only won 2. Also, I put the "as the DC" in quotes. I realize that he doesn't get credit but his coaching genius was evident even then. If you think about it, up until about 1999, everybody talked about how great a coach Parcells was while no one said anything about Bellichick. Since then, Bellichick has won 3 SB and Parcells hasn't done squat without him. I know you couldn't prove it but you can make a case that Parcells was successful because of Bellichick. In a couple years, we may be saying that Bellichick was successful because Weis/Crennel but right now, I would say that he is the greatest coach in NFL history.

But in your analysis, you are neglecting the longevity of Shula and the longevity of his success. When BB days as a coach are over, we'll see if he compares to Shula, Paul Brown, Vince Lombardi (not as long a tenure as the others though), Mike Noll and Tom Landry... Also, most ratings of "best ever coaches" will not include a guys Asst. coach tenure...

All I am saying is that before you anoint BB as "best ever", let his career play out...

 

[PYPER]

As far as it being easier back then, thats debatable, one could make the argument that the league is much more mediocre now as a whole and that its easier for a good team to keep winning.

That argument is silly. It's simply untrue and not supported by anything of value.

One could just as easy make the argument that pigs can fly and have more credibility.

See for yourself.

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&ned=us&q=flying+pigs&ie=UTF-8&lr=&sa=N&tab=ni

 

[BlueFin]

That argument is silly. It's simply untrue and not supported by anything of value.

One could just as easy make the argument that pigs can fly and have more credibility.

See for yourself.

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&ned=us&q=flying+pigs&ie=UTF-8&lr=&sa=N&tab=ni[/QUOTE]

I was around to watch those games, and while there is certainly more parity today than there was then, there were more contenders then that were high quality football teams.

While you may have had more gimme games, you also had more games against teams fully capable of winning a championship that did not have as many weaknesses as the average team today.

My point is the playoffs involved higher quality overall teams then than todays playoffs do.

My point is if you do put together a quality team today you will face lesser competition in the playoffs to repeat and win championships than you did then.

It is not a silly argument at all, and you can produce no facts to dispute it.

 

[cnc66]

That argument is silly. It's simply untrue and not supported by anything of value.

One could just as easy make the argument that pigs can fly and have more credibility.

See for yourself.

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&ned=us&q=flying+pigs&ie=UTF-8&lr=&sa=N&tab=ni

I was around to watch those games, and while there is certainly more parity today than there was then, there were more contenders then that were high quality football teams.

While you may have had more gimme games, you also had more games against teams fully capable of winning a championship that did not have as many weaknesses as the average team today.

My point is the playoffs involved higher quality overall teams then than todays playoffs do.

My point is if you do put together a quality team today you will face lesser competition in the playoffs to repeat and win championships than you did then.

It is not a silly argument at all, and you can produce no facts to dispute it.

so you are suggesting that the talent was concentrated ? I could go with that.

 

[BlueFin]

so you are suggesting that the talent was concentrated ? I could go with that.

Right, because everybody could keep their players (except for the WFL stealing Csonka, Warfield and Kiick) you had several powerhouse teams every year, where today were lucky if there are really one or two, everybody else is mediocre with major weaknesses.