didn't the Pats let go of Aquib Talib, and Asante Samuel in the past? Good and bad teams both keep decent players, and let them go. In fact, the Pats might be the worst example to pick of a team that retains its star players. Jamie Collins, Chandler Jones, Vince Wilfork, Martellus Bennett, Lawyer Milloy, Wes Welker, are just a couple of difference makers for the Pats that they separated from. You can't keep everybody... No one ever does. and the Pats haven't been flawless in their FA acquisitions either. The main factor in their storied success is BB and the GOAT.