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Who said no one would want to play in New England? Bill Belichick still makes it an NFL destination for free agents

Turns out Bill Belichick is reason enough to come to New England.

Contrary to popular belief, Brady’s departure for sunnier skies in Tampa Bay did not stem the flow of free agents to the snow-covered Boston streets he left behind. As the dust of a manic opening to free agency finally began to settle, this much was clear: The Patriots remain a premier NFL destination.

The theory making the rounds this past season, when the Patriots struggled to a 7-9 record and missed the playoffs for the first time in 11 years while Brady was busy winning another Super Bowl, took all of 48 hours to be roundly debunked.