With the Richard Seymour Trade, Bill Belichick Puts All the Pressure on Himself

The offseason in New England is always good for one or two surprises.

While Tedy Bruschi's retirement didn't exactly stun a lot of people, I had assumed that would be it.

Then, today, the New England Patriots announced they have traded Richard Seymour—arguably their most talented defensive player—to the Oakland Raiders for a 2011 first-round pick.

The Patriots' roster is loaded with talent, but nobody has the depth to simply cut ties with a three-time first-team All-Pro defensive end who doesn't turn 30 for another month.

Of course, there are many ways to spin this. My fellow B/R writer Samer Ismail is correct in pointing out that, with the impending free agency of Matt Light, Logan Mankins, Vince Wilfork, and Tom Brady in the next two years, there simply had to be some movement somewhere.

But when we look back on this offseason—Belichick's first in New England without Scott Pioli—will it be remembered as a summer of savvy trades or bold moves that didn't pan out?

Either way, without Pioli, the responsibility for the success of this team's personnel moves falls squarely on Belichick's shoulders.

While Belichick has always maintained the final say on personnel moves, Pioli has largely been given the credit for building the foundation with which New England has won three championships.

Now, this season's success or failure will be seen, to an even greater degree than ever before, as Belichick's doing.

This isn't to say the move doesn't make sense. Seymour hasn't produced quite to the degree his first five years in the league promised, though last season was—in my opinion—a vintage performance by him.

I know that, for my money, I was excited to see what he could do in a contract year.

While the possible switch to the 4-3 defense reduces his value, this move is also, in some ways, a judgment upon Vince Wilfork's ability.

It's not just that the two players playing shoulder-to-shoulder in the three-man front invites comparison, but they both also epitomize the qualities a 3-4 defense requires from its linemen.

It's nothing but a tremendous compliment that Wilfork, maybe only by virtue of his age (just 28 in November), is probably the better bet in the long-term, assuming the Patriots still plan on running the 3-4.

Now the Patriots have flipped Seymour for a first-round pick in 2011, which is, to my mind, a smart move.

Looking at the Raiders, I see a team more talented than people think, but one that seems to have already jumped the tracks before the regular season has even begun. Will they turn it around and win a good share of games in 2010?

Most likely not. The pick then has a pretty high inherent value, since it could very well be a top-10 pick come 2011.

But, then again, couldn't they have tried to get a 2010 first-rounder from another team so that they actually see some return for Seymour this decade?

Of course, my first reaction is that the Patriots treat drafting in the top 10 like Belichick treats sleeves.

But, with the uncertain labor negotiation situation, it's a strong possibility that the owners will finally insist on a rookie wage scale.

Since the union doesn't yet represent any player that would be affected by that scale, and since the only people upset by that change who have a voice are the agents, I envision that being something the union will be willing to bend on in order to preserve some of the other benefits they'll seek.

The NFLPA isn't dumb; if it can preserve a larger share of the shared revenues or secure better benefits by conceding something that won't cost a single player they currently represent a dime, it's going to do it.

Assuming that labor contract does eventually get finished, that pick will have the talent value of a top-10 pick but will come at a fraction of the financial cost that a 2010 top pick would demand.

We don't know how these moves will ultimately work out, but if the Patriots' defense winds up being mediocre once again, we know right where the blame will land.