LarryFinFan said:
WHEN they fall apart, I'll believe it...
Exactly.
It's time fans START appreciating the REAL story in NE. What they have done admist the FA and Salary Cap Eras is NOTHING SHORT OF BRILLIANCE.
Hate them as you may, THEY are 3 time Champs. Once might be a fluke. Twice might be lucky. Three times is by design.
The Patriots have a PHILOSOPHY. This is not a statement on the Locker Room Wall. It's not a statue named "Touchdown Jesus". It's not a motto on the Corporate logo. This is something more.
It happened years ago. It started with the owner. It was mandated to the Front Office. Required of the Coaches and desired by ALL who joined the team.
When they step onto the field, they step as one. When they win, they win as a team. When they lose, they lose as a team. And, when they're spoken of, they are addressed as a team.
This is not about one player, one coach or one season. This IS the New England Patriots brand of football.
I'm sorry, but you can't JUST copy that. You build it.
It's changed how I look at the NFL.
I used to be like most guys growing up, I watched a team because of a player. My player was Dan Marino. Then, Dan left. I had no player. FA and the Salary Cap were really changing the landscape. But, I stayed a DolPhan.
Enduring the loss of Marino was hard. Having no Elite icon to associate my team loyalty. Then, Ricky came to town. For a brief 2 years, I was reunited with the feeling I once had with "Marino".
Last year, humbled me as a fan. I think most of us could say that. As I relunctantly watched Sports Center on WEDNESDAYS - SATURDAYS (never watch on Monday or Tuesday, they're still talking about the Phinz loss!), I started to pay attention to how LITTLE attention NE was getting. How "underexposed" they were in the media's eye. Then, once it was obvious the Pats would again be SB contenders, they started talking more and more about them.
That's when it hit me. All the years of hearing "No 'I' in TEAM" just scratched the surface, I finally realized why they win. It's not a motto for them, it's a way of (football) life. They are ALWAYS doing the same things. It's US who fails to notice it (like the media).
And that's why they won't "stink" this year or next year or the next year. Oh sure, they may have a bad year from time to time. But, they have a philosophy in place. And, it works.
Once you truly realize what is important, you'll stop worrying about one player... and start worrying about one team. Because, as always....
PHINZ RULE!
(I need a tissue)