The ruthlessness of Bill Belichick came into focus for all of America to see in 2003, when the New England Patriots got rid of Lawyer Milloy, a hard-hitting safety and beloved team captain.
So much so that when the football reaper came years later for Richard Seymour and Ty Law, two other Hall of Fame-worthy, “Capital P” Patriots, it hardly came as a surprise to anyone.
But the ending for Tom Brady, we can all agree, was supposed to be different.
He’s the certified G.O.A.T., an NFL icon for two decades. And unlike the other guys, he played quarterback, the most important and recognizable position in football.