When I first started reading the article, I said to myself "Don't say we're contenders." But, as you read the article, you start understanding his logic: win not compete. Why shouldn't there be playoff expectations? After all, Sparano has them. Click for Article
Really puts an end to that whole rebuilding mentality doesn't it. The world thought we were rebuilding, and all of our FO and i'm sure now players think, no such thing. Win now.
We are rebuilding, a 1-15 team doesn't turn into a playoff contender without rebuilding. We just have such incredibly good people in charge of the rebuilding process that we can now actually be considered contenders. That IMHO is one of the greatest feats I have ever witnessed in the NFL. It even out shines the NO Saints turnaround from 4-12 to 10-6 in 1 year. Imagine what this team is going to be capable of next year! And BTW, sorry to go off topic, but I don't think this deserves its own thread, but: can there be any doubt that Bill Parcells has with this turnaround guaranteed himself to be a first year/ballot HOF'er?
So what does rebuilding mean? New QB? New HC? and new system? Do you have to have a certain number of new players on your roster for it to be said that you're rebuilding? Is it okay to say yeah we were rebuilding this past off season - but not now? Due to FA and the salary cap every team has a bit of a different look every year.
I don't think it's that cut and dry. We lost two big names over the summer and cut a whole bunch more. We have a new GM, a new HC, a new system and certainly a bunch of new players, rookies included. To me it comes down to durability. There are some teams who haven't changed that much from last year to this year and while I agree that "each team looks a bit different" teams usually don't look this different.
Let me preface my post with; I'm not trying to be argumentative here. But it sounds to me like "rebuilding" is subjective. It's really a nebulous term that people kind of toss around sort of like "product of the system". In other words it can mean whatever you want it to. Me I think that with the FA system in place there is no such thing as rebuilding in the classic sense. Everyone reloads with a "win now" mentality. Some do so cautiously so as not to mortgage the future in the process - ie: our own FO. But, nonetheless I don't think any team disassembles with a "no expectations" year in sight.
The thing is you got to always have hope to strive for better. What good coach or any coach honestly would go to his players and go. "Guys, play hard but we are not good enough to make playoffs..." You got to always strive for better and right now we are in the mix and until we are not. Then we do have shot at the playoffs regardless of who says what. We can play with anyone out there and we have proved it. We just need to stay consistent.
rebuilding is a bad way to put things. its an overused word that is pretty antiquated. and if anything, we're rebuilt, with much room to improve. but the majority of changes are done...yet we will always change more and evolve. i just want to take it one week at a time, and enjoy the wins....savor them like a nice steak. no need to rush ahead.