What this Colts/football fan appreciates about the Patriots (1 Viewer)

[pizzatyme]

Most on these boards would think I can find nothing about the Patriots that I admire.

That's just not the case. Beside Patriot's fans, who knows better what is admirable about the Pats?

Here are just a few things that I've seen and appreciate about the Patriots. I feel now is as good of a time as any to pay respects to a team that went undefeated.

Belichick asking in the Giants game who got flagged for Unsportsmanlike Conduct, then finding it was Rodney Harrison and he told them to get him out of the game. BB is no-nonsense and I admire that.

BB knowing the history of the game and doing what he could to secure his team's legacy within it.

BB getting Randy Moss motivated enough to bust his hump to get downfield to block for Maroney on a long run.

BB knowing that, while unpopular, he wanted to step on the throats of his opposition, both literally and figuratively, on the field and off it.

Brady is a winner, a great playmaker, and the ideal teammate.

BB can prepare a team like no other coach I've ever witnessed. The NFL Network had a story about his preparation of the team and it was just amazing to see his mind at work.

Bob Kraft offers the means necessary to field the best team possible. He stays out of the limelight. And any owner that gets stone cold drunk during a game is a winner in my book.

The way BB gets the most out of every player, by using them in different positions shows the creativity and stones necessary to be one of the best coaches ever.

For the Patriots many faults that are evident, these are just a few of their positives that outweigh the faults.

What strikes you about the Patriots that you admire? It's okay to admit them, even if you dislike the team.

Let's celebrate what makes them great. Like it or not, their legacy is set, regardless of how this season ends.

 

[twitch]

I appreciate you taking the time and thought to create this thread, PT. There's nothing more satisfying as a fan then to simply receive some simple praise from fellow and particularly rival fans. And while debates surrounding our respective teams get heated, I always respect the passion. So, big time kudos to you here on this day to praise a serious rival and its fanbase. Much respect. Which brings me to what I like most about my team. And its pretty simple. That they respect each team they play. Without fail or discrimination.

 

[pizzatyme]

No one can bring themselves to show the love for the Pats?

 

[dawrecker]

I appreciate quite a bit from the patriots, mainly their drive to play hard every play but I will show more appreciation to them when some of their fans actually show appreciation to any of the other 31 teams. I mean if you asked them they have the best QB ever, the best coach ever, the best WR ever, the best defense in the league, the greatest team of all time. I find it a little hard to believe that they are the best at every position but they will let you know they are if you argue against one of their players. Why should you show too much appreciation to a teams fans that doesnt appreciate anyone else?

 

[twitch]

No one can bring themselves to show the love for the Pats?

Pretty telling, no?

 

[jscout]

I appreciate quite a bit from the patriots, mainly their drive to play hard every play but I will show more appreciation to them when some of their fans actually show appreciation to any of the other 31 teams. I mean if you asked them they have the best QB ever, the best coach ever, the best WR ever, the best defense in the league, the greatest team of all time. I find it a little hard to believe that they are the best at every position but they will let you know they are if you argue against one of their players. Why should you show too much appreciation to a teams fans that doesnt appreciate anyone else?

You are incorrect. Not every Patriots fan thinks they are the best ever across the board. You're letting a few blowhards confuse you. This is no different than the fanbase for any other successful team during any season. In case you haven't figured it out, those types of idiot homers are no worse than all those idiot haters. It's not too late, save yourself from being an idiot.

 

[dawrecker]

I appreciate quite a bit from the patriots, mainly their drive to play hard every play but I will show more appreciation to them when some of their fans actually show appreciation to any of the other 31 teams. I mean if you asked them they have the best QB ever, the best coach ever, the best WR ever, the best defense in the league, the greatest team of all time. I find it a little hard to believe that they are the best at every position but they will let you know they are if you argue against one of their players. Why should you show too much appreciation to a teams fans that doesnt appreciate anyone else?

You are incorrect. Not every Patriots fan thinks they are the best ever across the board. You're letting a few blowhards confuse you. This is no different than the fanbase for any other successful team during any season. In case you haven't figured it out, those types of idiot homers are no worse than all those idiot haters. It's not too late, save yourself from being an idiot.

I will add that I appreciate how hard Moss has played this year and it is a lot of fun watching one of the best WR's in the history of the game, dont think this is the best WR season ever, I will leave that to Rice but it was a heck of a year and has turned a very good pats team into a great team. I will also say they have had a great defense for the last several years and pretty much every year their defense ranks in the top 5 they win a SB bowl and their defense has been grossly understated in the past, especially by Patriots fans themselves. There ya go, so now go ahead and admit to me which one of those areas above arent the patriots best at since all pats fans dont think this way allegedly.

 

[nerangers]

I appreciate quite a bit from the patriots, mainly their drive to play hard every play but I will show more appreciation to them when some of their fans actually show appreciation to any of the other 31 teams. I mean if you asked them they have the best QB ever, the best coach ever, the best WR ever, the best defense in the league, the greatest team of all time. I find it a little hard to believe that they are the best at every position but they will let you know they are if you argue against one of their players. Why should you show too much appreciation to a teams fans that doesnt appreciate anyone else?

As a Pats fan, I do appreciate the accomplishments of others in the NFL (most likely from playing FF and watching the individual efforts of players). Both Manning and LT come to mind. I was glad that the Colts won the SB last year, if the Patriots could not. I have the upmost respect for Tony Dungy. I think it is funny that you want a fan to show appreciation of other teams though before you can show appreciation. You start supporting multiple teams here, and people will label you a band-wagoner.

As for the Patriots this year though, they had the top scoring QB and WR this season...and went 16 - 0, so that might say something about the coaching staff. I think for this year, that gives the fans something to be happy about. I don't think they have the best defense, especially over the last few weeks. I think they battled tough this season, and the fans have a right to brag about their team! Isn't that what a fan is?

Fan: [n] an ardent follower [n] an enthusiastic devotee of sports

 

[Pittsburgh United]

Let's celebrate what makes them great. Like it or not, their legacy is set, regardless of how this season ends.

Great thread. Despite the reluctance of most commentators to admit it, this really is the best football team we've ever seen. Their coach is a genius, they've got the best QB and best WR who have ever played the game, and everyone on the team knows his role. The thing I admire most about them is that they are never out of a game. As we saw last night, they are always just a play or two away from getting back in th lead. I never doubted for a second that they would find a way to win that game, and they did. There is no quit in them. That's what I admire most.

 

[Tanner9919]

No one can bring themselves to show the love for the Pats?

I admire the Pats, Brady is the best QB of all-time, and we might never see another one better than him."Cheating" or not, players still need to execute, and Brady is the best at doing just that..and, the coaching staff in NE has been and will continue to be the best in the NFL, as long as BB is HC in New England.that being said, I do believe some team will pick them off in the playoffs this post-season, and Indy is the likely culprit ..

 

[Pat Patriot]

Bob Kraft offers the means necessary to field the best team possible. He stays out of the limelight. And any owner that gets stone cold drunk during a game is a winner in my book.

I have to admit that Kraft has learned from his mistakes. Kraft was actually pretty medling with Parcells was running things. That and having the inept Bobby Grier run the Pats draft is what drove Parcells out of town.When he hired Belichick he took a step back and let BB bring in his own personnel guy (Pioli) and gave Belichick final call on the draft. The best move he ever made.

 

[Road Warriors]

I appreciate quite a bit from the patriots, mainly their drive to play hard every play but I will show more appreciation to them when some of their fans actually show appreciation to any of the other 31 teams. I mean if you asked them they have the best QB ever, the best coach ever, the best WR ever, the best defense in the league, the greatest team of all time. I find it a little hard to believe that they are the best at every position but they will let you know they are if you argue against one of their players. Why should you show too much appreciation to a teams fans that doesnt appreciate anyone else?

You are incorrect. Not every Patriots fan thinks they are the best ever across the board. You're letting a few blowhards confuse you. This is no different than the fanbase for any other successful team during any season. In case you haven't figured it out, those types of idiot homers are no worse than all those idiot haters. It's not too late, save yourself from being an idiot.

I will add that I appreciate how hard Moss has played this year and it is a lot of fun watching one of the best WR's in the history of the game, dont think this is the best WR season ever, I will leave that to Rice but it was a heck of a year and has turned a very good pats team into a great team. I will also say they have had a great defense for the last several years and pretty much every year their defense ranks in the top 5 they win a SB bowl and their defense has been grossly understated in the past, especially by Patriots fans themselves. There ya go, so now go ahead and admit to me which one of those areas above arent the patriots best at since all pats fans dont think this way allegedly.

From your above list of bests:Best QB ever: Not yet. He'll have to continue on this pace for another 5-8 years, IMO to get into the debate of best QBs. Best in the NFL today? Arguable. Manning/Brady are 1A/1B in no particular order. Put a gun to my head and make me pick one, I'll take Brady,, mostly because I've seen most of his games, and far fewer of Mannings games. Best WR ever: Not sure where you heard Pats fans spouting this, but anyone that doesn't have Rice at the top of this list is Best Coach ever: Certainly in the discussion. Its hard for me to compare era's in coaching. Best D in the league: Nope, but I don't see a dominant #1 D to call out, and I'd put them in the mix with PIT, IND, TB et al. Top 5-7.Greatest team of all time: If they pull off 3 more W, they'll be in that converstation, too. Any of the SB dynasty teams, Pitt, Dal, SF, and that '85 Bears team all enter the mix. For the most part, the topics you call out as Pats homers being homers really do look to me like they're worthy of a discussion. Do you think they're not? P.S. I understand that the occasional "Brady is Best! /thread" type posting taints the pool a bit, but it sure looks to me like we're watching a few all-time greats playing right now ( not just on the Pats, BTW ) I, for one, find it pretty cool to watch.

 

[Pittsburgh United]

Best QB ever: Not yet. He'll have to continue on this pace for another 5-8 years, IMO to get into the debate of best QBs.

That's ridiculous. With what he's accomplished already in his career (3 SB titles, season record for TD passes), he could retire today or he could suck for the next 5-8 years and he'd still be "in the debate." And I'll bet he's not going to suck. Ever. Who else has done what he's done in an 8-year career?

 

[pizzatyme]

Keep it positive! This is a "what I appreciate about the Patriots" thread.

No room for claims of this or that and subsequently debates of such.

Appreciate the positives.

TIA

 

[Sulla]

I applaud the Pats' commitment to excellence. What a season!

 

[plinko]

With the Skins in the playoffs, it just makes what the Patriots have done that much more impressive

Obviously they have to win the SB for any of it to stick, but if they do, I don't care what anybody says, they are the best team in NFL history.

Look at who they've beaten: The 2, 3 and 4 seeds in their own conference (KILLED the 3 & 4). The 1st seed in the NFC (Killed them on their turf), as well as the 5 & 6 (killed the 6).. not to mention on the same note.. swept the best division in the NFC.

I don't care what Crybaby Mercury Morris says, I don't care what Ditka says, and I certainly don't care what anyone else says. This is the best team ever. I hope they somehow fall apart in the offseason, but I'm enjoying the history making for what it is now. And the odds of them losing in the playoffs are pretty much nil, seriously.

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

Most on these boards would think I can find nothing about the Patriots that I admire.That's just not the case. Beside Patriot's fans, who knows better what is admirable about the Pats?Here are just a few things that I've seen and appreciate about the Patriots. I feel now is as good of a time as any to pay respects to a team that went undefeated.Belichick asking in the Giants game who got flagged for Unsportsmanlike Conduct, then finding it was Rodney Harrison and he told them to get him out of the game. BB is no-nonsense and I admire that.BB knowing the history of the game and doing what he could to secure his team's legacy within it.BB getting Randy Moss motivated enough to bust his hump to get downfield to block for Maroney on a long run.BB knowing that, while unpopular, he wanted to step on the throats of his opposition, both literally and figuratively, on the field and off it.Brady is a winner, a great playmaker, and the ideal teammate. BB can prepare a team like no other coach I've ever witnessed. The NFL Network had a story about his preparation of the team and it was just amazing to see his mind at work.Bob Kraft offers the means necessary to field the best team possible. He stays out of the limelight. And any owner that gets stone cold drunk during a game is a winner in my book. The way BB gets the most out of every player, by using them in different positions shows the creativity and stones necessary to be one of the best coaches ever.For the Patriots many faults that are evident, these are just a few of their positives that outweigh the faults.What strikes you about the Patriots that you admire? It's okay to admit them, even if you dislike the team.Let's celebrate what makes them great. Like it or not, their legacy is set, regardless of how this season ends.

You, sir, are a class act.Thank you.If the Colts beat the Pats in the AFC Championship this year, we have a Cowboys / Steelers rivalry on our hands.If not, the 07 Pats, and 2001 - 2007 Pats, have a shot at being considered the GOAT.Many will find that quite irritating, which is simultaneously understandable and entertaining.

 

[jscout]

I appreciate quite a bit from the patriots, mainly their drive to play hard every play but I will show more appreciation to them when some of their fans actually show appreciation to any of the other 31 teams. I mean if you asked them they have the best QB ever, the best coach ever, the best WR ever, the best defense in the league, the greatest team of all time. I find it a little hard to believe that they are the best at every position but they will let you know they are if you argue against one of their players. Why should you show too much appreciation to a teams fans that doesnt appreciate anyone else?

You are incorrect. Not every Patriots fan thinks they are the best ever across the board. You're letting a few blowhards confuse you. This is no different than the fanbase for any other successful team during any season. In case you haven't figured it out, those types of idiot homers are no worse than all those idiot haters. It's not too late, save yourself from being an idiot.

I will add that I appreciate how hard Moss has played this year and it is a lot of fun watching one of the best WR's in the history of the game, dont think this is the best WR season ever, I will leave that to Rice but it was a heck of a year and has turned a very good pats team into a great team. I will also say they have had a great defense for the last several years and pretty much every year their defense ranks in the top 5 they win a SB bowl and their defense has been grossly understated in the past, especially by Patriots fans themselves. There ya go, so now go ahead and admit to me which one of those areas above arent the patriots best at since all pats fans dont think this way allegedly.

From your above list of bests:Best QB ever: Not yet. He'll have to continue on this pace for another 5-8 years, IMO to get into the debate of best QBs. Best in the NFL today? Arguable. Manning/Brady are 1A/1B in no particular order. Put a gun to my head and make me pick one, I'll take Brady,, mostly because I've seen most of his games, and far fewer of Mannings games. Best WR ever: Not sure where you heard Pats fans spouting this, but anyone that doesn't have Rice at the top of this list is Best Coach ever: Certainly in the discussion. Its hard for me to compare era's in coaching. Best D in the league: Nope, but I don't see a dominant #1 D to call out, and I'd put them in the mix with PIT, IND, TB et al. Top 5-7.Greatest team of all time: If they pull off 3 more W, they'll be in that converstation, too. Any of the SB dynasty teams, Pitt, Dal, SF, and that '85 Bears team all enter the mix. For the most part, the topics you call out as Pats homers being homers really do look to me like they're worthy of a discussion. Do you think they're not? P.S. I understand that the occasional "Brady is Best! /thread" type posting taints the pool a bit, but it sure looks to me like we're watching a few all-time greats playing right now ( not just on the Pats, BTW ) I, for one, find it pretty cool to watch.

That about sums it up for me too.

 

[Tau837]

Good thread. There is obviously a lot to be impressed with.

I think Belicheck is the best coach in the NFL and one of the best ever, though I find it hard to compare coaches across eras. (Just like players.)

The Patriots organization is the best in the NFL overall. The Pats' ability to handle off field activities so well (i.e., consistently manage their cap well, draft well, win trades, and sign valuable free agents) is unmatched. This perfect storm of a season has been building for years and has deep roots. Very few organizations can approach all of these activities so effectively and for such a sustained period, and ultimately most of them undermine themselves somehow.

Brady and Moss have had amazingly impressive single season performances, amongst the very few best ever at their positions. And they have made it look so easy. But it isn't just them. They have gone 5 RBs deep and yet have the 10th best running game (or at least they did entering the final week). Welker, Stallworth, Gaffney, and Watson have all performed well. The OL is dominant. The defense is dominant. All of this of course goes back to the great organization and coaching, but also speaks to the extremely high talent level. The team is truly a complete team.

As for their current players, my favorite is probably Seau. If they win the Super Bowl, it will be nice for him to get that ring.

Like I said, there is obviously a lot to be impressed with... though I'm not sure I would say I "appreciate" it.

 

[malice]

Although I am impressed at what they've done, I'm concerned about what it could do the sport and league that I've grown to love since the downfall of the 49ers/Cowboys regimes of the past.

I don't want to see a bunch of players leave their average teams to take a pay cut to play for the Pats for a better chance at a ring. Moss doing that this year with impressive results will likely make a number of agents in the offseason try to get their players to do the same (CJ, I'm looking at you). I'm also disappointed that a team as downtrodden as the 49ers have to watch the pick that they desperately need for a QB go to a team that could be looking at a 20+-game win streak by draft day. Sure, they gave up that pick voluntarily, but having the Pats lose what could be the 32nd overall pick when they have a top 10 still rubs me the wrong way.

I suppose this falls under 'don't hate the playa, hate the game', but as a die-hard football fan, I don't think the NFL needs a dynasty to be successful. Pats fans may want their own NY Yankee-style franchise, but for me, the overblown coverage and incessant talk of going undefeated since the Colts game has really made this season tedious (and I'm not a Colts fan). It's almost like the discussion of any game/player ended up being tied back to the Pats some way.

 

[Das Boot]

I appreciate that the Pats are willing to do whatever it takes to win, including cheating that results in record fines and draft pick losses - this shows that the Pats are 100% dedicated to winning and are not bogged down nor bothered by moral dilemmas, and that the Pats can make shrewd decisions about the benefits of cheating vs. the possible ramifications if caught.

I appreciate that the Pats were willing to sign an immensely talented WR who literally quit on his team the previous year to force a trade - this shows that the Pats are an astute judge of talent and are more than willing to overlook a player's past history and instead focus on what a player can do for the Pats.

I appreciate that the Pats play a full 60 minute game, looking to score the maximum number of points possible against all opponents, regardless of the score disparity in the 4th Q. This shows that the Pats realize that that other great scoring teams in the past who didn't run up the score against hapless opponents didn't have the "killer instinct" that all great champions have.

They are truly, truly, an admirable team and the youth of America would be well served in striving to emulate the ideals the Patriots have displayed this year.

 

[pizzatyme]

I appreciate that the Pats are willing to do whatever it takes to win, including cheating that results in record fines and draft pick losses - this shows that the Pats are 100% dedicated to winning and are not bogged down nor bothered by moral dilemmas, and that the Pats can make shrewd decisions about the benefits of cheating vs. the possible ramifications if caught.I appreciate that the Pats were willing to sign an immensely talented WR who literally quit on his team the previous year to force a trade - this shows that the Pats are an astute judge of talent and are more than willing to overlook a player's past history and instead focus on what a player can do for the Pats.I appreciate that the Pats play a full 60 minute game, looking to score the maximum number of points possible against all opponents, regardless of the score disparity in the 4th Q. This shows that the Pats realize that that other great scoring teams in the past who didn't run up the score against hapless opponents didn't have the "killer instinct" that all great champions have.They are truly, truly, an admirable team and the youth of America would be well served in striving to emulate the ideals the Patriots have displayed this year.

Wow, thanks for the post. Some people just don't get it.

 

[Das Boot]

I appreciate that the Pats are willing to do whatever it takes to win, including cheating that results in record fines and draft pick losses - this shows that the Pats are 100% dedicated to winning and are not bogged down nor bothered by moral dilemmas, and that the Pats can make shrewd decisions about the benefits of cheating vs. the possible ramifications if caught.

I appreciate that the Pats were willing to sign an immensely talented WR who literally quit on his team the previous year to force a trade - this shows that the Pats are an astute judge of talent and are more than willing to overlook a player's past history and instead focus on what a player can do for the Pats.

I appreciate that the Pats play a full 60 minute game, looking to score the maximum number of points possible against all opponents, regardless of the score disparity in the 4th Q. This shows that the Pats realize that that other great scoring teams in the past who didn't run up the score against hapless opponents didn't have the "killer instinct" that all great champions have.

They are truly, truly, an admirable team and the youth of America would be well served in striving to emulate the ideals the Patriots have displayed this year.

Wow, thanks for the post. Some people just don't get it.

I couldn't agree more.

 

[Tremendous Upside]

I posted it in another thread, but I will add it here also...

I feel about the Pats (as a huge Jets fan) the way I felt about the Bull sin the 90s (as a Knicks fan)...

I hate them, but I respect how good they are...

They are the gold standard right now when it comes to NFL organizations...

 

[Footballg]

I appreciate the way the Pats are all about winning instead of running up meaningless personal stats.

 

[PMENFAN]

While some individual records fell, this coach preaches all aobut team. I love that.

It's why they traded for Moss, which wasn't forced, but the best value the Raiders could salvage. They did the same for Corey Dillon years earlier. Salvaged Rodney Harrison off the FA list. The way he has 3 of the Best D linemen in the league, yet they play their role instead of whining about being able to go after the QB. The way the team is so disciplined, rarely finding a player out of position.

(For the record, to a poster above, the forced tradw was for Welker. They put into a ridiculous contract that Welker would earn the full terms of the contrace, paying him about $5 million a year, if he played more than 4 games in Miami in any season. As a UFA, the 'Fins had to match or let him go. They salvaged a 2nd round pick out of the deal, so fair enough.

 

[Jercules]

A lot of teams can get a good collection of talent, decent coaching, and have a great season or two. What sets these teams apart from dynasties is something more basic, something new or innovative in the way the team is built or coached. The 49ers had the West Coast offense for instance, and when everyone started using it, and defenses started getting smaller and smaller to stop it, the Cowboys came with a power running game and 300+ pound lineman. Later on, when defenses got bigger again to combat this, Denver achieved 2 SBs by countering with that zone-blocking, 1 cut running game with athletic lineman (that left guys like Reggie White and Gilbert Brown gasping on the field in one SB).

In the salary cap era there's been kind of a new emphasis on younger players - get a group of stud young players and lock them up to long-term contracts, since that's a better way to collect talent than getting into free agency bidding wars for older guys. As a result, older guys started getting shafted - the moment an older player has a down year and underperforms his contract, he's cut loose. Year after year you start seeing older players that are still talented and able, and better than a lot of guys in the league that still have jobs, but are FAs because teams are overly scared of overpaying someone possibly on the downside of his career.

Antowain Smith was a good example of this. So was Brian Cox and Roman Phifer. Anthony Pleasant. Ted Washington. Tyrone Poole. Rodney Harrison.

Also, with the salary cap you get imperfect teams. Everybody has to sacrifice something because the money isn't there to build a thoroughly dominant roster. Nonetheless, everyone tries, collecting as many stars as possible and hoping that they mask the neglected parts of the team. The thing is, take WR for instance; a star would be a guy who runs routes well enough to be a possession receiver but is still fast enough to be a deep threat. To get a guy like this you pay a premium, and thus that one guy is more expensive than getting 2 guys, one that can be a possession guy and one that can go deep. A top LB can stuff the run and cover, and because he's a star you pay him more than you would 2 guys, one that stops the run and one that covers.

So instead of Terrell Owens, pay even less money to have Troy Brown and Deion Branch. Instead of Ray Lewis, pay less to have Ted Johnson and Don Davis. Instead of Tony Gonzalez, pay less to have Ben Watson and Kyle Brady. If you get enough versatile guys that can back up several positions, you can still keep your roster size within 53 players.

You build a team that does nothing great (because you have no "great" players), but everything well (because you have "specialists" for every situation), and has enough veteran experience and suppressed egos to handle intense gameplanning from your introverted, football geek of a coach. You can hold a quick strike, no huddle offense one week to 3 points (20-3), go toe-to-to with a smashmouth team the next (41-27), and then knockout a West Coast offense in the SB (24-21) - all without having more talent than any of them.

Nobody values veterans like the Pats and nobody values specialists like the Patriots, and I think this is what sets them apart beyond the fact that they're shrewd with free agents and the draft (you could add the significance of the 3-4 defense, as it makes it possible to get talent more cheaply because 3-4 players are less in demand. It's a big reason Pittsburgh is always so good).

Now they're 16-0 because they've stayed true to the formula, but on top of that they've actually been able to acquire some super-talented guys as well. They're reaping the benefits of being a first-class organization; guys like Randy Moss and Adalius Thomas, (and Corey Dillon before them), are willing to leave some bucks on the table to join them (not to mention Tom Brady, who willingly took less money than he could've gotten on the open market, unlike Mr. 22% of His Team's Salary Cap, Peyton Manning).

So anyway, all that stuff above is what I appreciate about the Pats, and I find it strange that nobody around the league is copying them the way any other "3 of the last 6 Championships" team would, and should be copied.