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Seth Wickersham is not a household name James White Color Rush Jersey , but those that do know of him and his work — at least in New England — probably do not hold him in too high of a regard. Wickersham is a senior writer for ESPN and co-authored the infamous From Spygate to Deflategate: Inside what split the NFL and Patriots apart story from September 2015, one that relies mostly on speculation based around accounts from people outside of New England.But when not piecing together a vague at best story built on hear-say, Wickersham is actually one of the better NFL reporters out there. His latest piece on the Cleveland Browns — The clash of the Cleveland Browns: How Hue Jackson, Jimmy Haslam and Baker Mayfield collided — is an interesting story about the continued fall and possibly coming rise of one of the league’s most storied franchises.The story is well worth taking a look at, but it is something else that draws our attention to it: an image Wickersham shared that did not make it into his story but was rather shared by its author via Twitter. It shows a basic plan of the do’s and don’ts of the Browns organization between 2016 and 2017 — a time frame over which the club won only one combined game — and how the club’s staff wanted to approach the task:At the first look, most of the points seem rather reasonable and not unlike some of the points the Bill Belichick-led Patriots also would stress: from clear organizational structures to the identification of key positions to acquiring players and picks through the draft. However, it is the left upper corner — one titled “Talent Acquisition - Free Agency” — that illustrates philosophical differences between New England and Cleveland.The points are defined as follows:Don’t Pay for DepthIdentify Difference Makers; Be Cognizant of Scheme ProductionFactor in Leadership and ToughnessBuild Your Roster and Use FA’s Less and LessAge is importantIt can be seen that the Browns did not view free agency as equal to the draft when it came to roster building. While the idea is a sound one in theory — use cheap players on rookie deals instead of veterans whose prices are shaped by the open market — it is a difficult approach to use in the real NFL world. Too risky is relying on rookies to develop, too important depth at every position.Take the Patriots: while they may not have the peak talent other teams have at certain positions, they are usually well equipped to handle with injuries at starting positions. Investing in free agency is a key pillar of this strategy, and one reason why the team is competing for at least the AFC title basically every single year. New England doesn’t handcuff itself to good drafting, but instead explores all avenues to add roster.Just look at the current team. While a lot of the key contributors have been drafted by the team — Tom Brady, Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski, Shaq Mason, Trey Flowers, Dont’a Hightower and Devin McCourty, just to name a few — others have been brought in through free agency to fill starting roles (Stephon Gilmore https://www.patriotsfanstore.com/Stephen-Gostkowski-Jersey , Lawrence Guy) or rotational depth spots (Albert McClellan, Adrian Clayborn).This approach might not be “sexy” but it certainly is effective and allows New England to build a deep roster that has quality down to the third string. The Browns’ “guardrails” as outlined above, put more pressure on hitting the draft, meanwhile. When looking at the last few years, it can be seen which method wins. Welcome to your safe space.How’s it feel having the Patriots at 7-2, with a two-game lead in the sinking AFC East, and ranking not only number two in the Conference, but between two and three over all?New England has settled into a winning groove, knocking off the Chiefs and the Packers during their six-game win streak — but for some that 2-2 start is hard to shake off. For those who still have nightmares from Detroit or who had checked off the Chiefs and Packers as automatic losses when the schedule came out back in April, its okay to breathe just a tad easier now.I’m not buying into the analysts who “yawn” or “ho-hum” at how the Pats fought back up standings, but I am buying that Belichick won’t take his foot off the gas until the end, so it’s no jinx if fans relax and enjoy where the team is right now.Really... it’s not a bad place to be and the season is flying by already.What’s ahead? The second-half schedule is plenty meaningful: Four division games, six out of seven conference games, three home games (Minnesota, Buffalo, NY Jets) and four away (Tennessee, NY Jets Matthew Slater Color Rush Jersey , Miami and Pittsburgh), with a Week 11 Bye. Sunday at 1:00 the Pats face the ‘Patriots-South’ in Tennessee with many familiar faces, including oldies Mike Vrabel and Dean Pees plus recent former players, Dion Lewis, Malcolm Butler, Logan Ryan and Josh Kline.No doubt they’ll be pretty hyped for this game but the Patriots will be steady and ready.Pats win by 17.GO PATS!Around the AFC East:(7-2) New England Patriots at (4-4) Tennessee Titans(5-4) Miami Dolphins at (3-4-1) Green Bay Packers(3-6) New York Jets vs. (2-7) Buffalo BillsAFC Matchups:(8-1) Kansas City Chiefs vs. (2-6) Arizona Cardinals (5-2) Pittsburgh Steelers vs. (6-2) Carolina Panthers (6-2) Los Angeles Chargers at (1-7) Oakland Raiders(5-3) Cincinnati Bengals vs. (7-1) New Orleans Saints(3-5) Jacksonville Jaguars at (3-5) Indianapolis Colts(2-6) Cleveland Browns vs. (4-4) Atlanta FalconsBye Weeks: (3-6) Denver Broncos, (4-5) Baltimore Ravens, (6-3) Houston Texans****************************************************2nd - Pete Prisco (CBS Sports): Ho-hum, it’s November and the Patriots are getting better. Haven’t we seen this script before?.2nd - Elliot Harrison (NFL.com): Before you pick at this ranking, realize that the Patriots won -- by multiple scores, no less -- without Rob Gronkowski, Sony Michel and Shaq Mason. Tom Brady picked at the Pack’s defense most of the night, being quite familiar with the scheme’s czar, Mike Pettine. Then Brady hit the Joshpot with that odd-looking intermediate throw to Mr. Gordon -- a ball that Julian Edelman initially elevated for ... before bringing his hands down in a move that made him look like a red, white and blue PEZ dispenser. Michel’s absence meant more was required of James White, who was obviously gassed after that trick-play beaut of a screen. What a well-planned, well-timed Ryan Allen Jersey , well-better-than-anything-the-Packers-showed play call from New England. Edelman delivered calmly and coolly. Again.2nd - Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News): The Patriots made the Tom Brady-Aaron Rodgers showdown more about their running game and defense, and that’s exactly why they remain the best team in the AFC.2nd - Mark Maske (Washington Post): Tom Brady actually seemed confused at times Sunday night by the looks given to him by the Green Bay defense, but he figured out a way to win. Isn’t that how it always goes with Brady and the Patriots? This is resembling another one of those seasons in which a 1-2 start for New England gives way to a Super Bowl appearance.2nd - MMQB Staff (SI): Remember when the Patriots were outside of our Top 10? One of these years we’ll learn not to write them off after a slow start. The Patriots not only jumped the Rams this week, but also the Chiefs.2nd - Expert Consensus (Bleacher Report): There are three constants in life—death, taxes and the New England Patriots hitting the halfway point in the season with a stranglehold on the AFC East.2nd - Joshua Schrock (NESN): The Patriots continue to get better and better with each week. New England’s defense stole the show in Week 9, holding Aaron Rodgers and the Packers to 17 points in a 31-17 win at Gillette Stadium. Tom Brady and Co. now have won six games in a row and have done so with key members of the offense missing a number of games. There’s no telling how good the Pats will be come January.2nd - Staff (AP Pro32).3rd - Rebecca Toback (SB Nation): The Patriots and Chiefs both moved down one spot, but more because of the Saints’ recent dominance than anything else. Those three teams along with the Rams are clearly separating from the pack and the 6-2 Chargers aren’t far behind...3rd - Nate Davis (USA Today): Bill Belichick has to be wondering if former prot茅g茅 Matt Patricia will provide any potential cheat codes to fellow rookie HC Mike Vrabel this week.3rd - Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk): They may not lose again, playoffs included.4th - Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports): Josh Gordon had 130 yards and it looks like he’s going to be a dominant force down the stretch. Who could have ever guessed that the Patriots paying nothing for a player of Gordon’s talent in a trade could end up being a good deal? Never saw that coming.4th - Experts (ESPN): A 1-2 start wasn’t entirely unexpected, in part because Julian Edelman was serving a four-game NFL suspension and the Patriots have had some early-season struggles in past years, but that is the main reason the club has had a two-spot dip from preseason expectations. But credit also goes to the Rams and Chiefs, two teams who have far exceeded projections, even though the Patriots dealt the Chiefs their lone loss of the season.4th - Joe Giglio (NJ.com): How impressive is New England’s success? Sunday’s win over the Packers barely registered here on these rankings. It was expected. Another 12-or-13-win season a bye week is on the way.4th - Bryan Fischer (Athlon Sports): Even without Gronk, that was quite an impressive effort against the Packers on both sides of the ball. That slow start seems like it’s a thing of the past as the AFC favorites have another clear path to the Super Bowl.4th - Russell S. Baxter (Fansided): The Pats own a two-game lead in the AFC East and the only other team above .500 are the erratic Miami Dolphins. Belichick’s club has now won six consecutive games after that 1-2 start and appears on course to capture a 10th straight division title. There’s still a lot of football ahead but this team has found its stride.Week 10 Average Rank: 2.8 (+0.3)