Rick Gosselin, NFL writer for the Dallas Morning News, says that Bill Belichick is the reason that New England is his favorite heading into the next NFL season:

"The return of Tom Brady automatically makes the New England Patriots a Super Bowl contender in 2009. But it's the off-season machinations of Bill Belichick that again make the Patriots the favorite.

If quarterback alone could deliver a championship, the Miami Dolphins would have six Lombardi Trophies to show for the Dan Marino era. Instead, they have none.

That's what makes Belichick the best in the business right now. Tom Brady takes up only one roster spot. It's what Belichick has done with those other 52 roster spots that have forged the Patriots into the NFL's team of the decade. ''