Ice_Ice_Brady

I loved many of the teams, and the '09 version was really the only one I had trouble liking because they were front-runners who obviously had no leadership and veterans who rested on their laurels. Anyway, of all the seasons I can remember, I've never enjoyed watching a group as much as this. These were my thoughts tonight in contrasting them to the Jets, and why this is truly the best win I can remember during the regular season.

QB- Our quarterback walked on to his college team and was the sixth-string quarterback his rookie year. He struggled for playing time because there was another kid who had all the hype but none of the heart that Tom had. Our quarterback was then drafted 199th overall and came to the Patriots as a third-stringer who would never ascend the depth chart to surpass the face of the franchise. He has played through numerous injuries and never complained; he was told two years ago that he might never play again after having his knee blown out at the height of his career.

Their quarterback was a top high school prospect who I'm sure got every girl and every new car from his parents. He went to the best football school in the nation and was handed the starting job, surrounded by all the best talent. He was drafted third overall, despite not playing that well in college and facing no adversity. He was handed the keys to NYC before taking a snap, given a $50M contract, and the starting job. The team brought in numerous talented stars to promote him.

WR- We have two wide receivers that are both extremely humble. One of them is a former Super Bowl MVP, and while I can't commend the way he left, I've always loved the way he plays the game. He fights on every play; he comes up with the crucial play when it's needed; in many games he runs his route and receives no attention, but he never complains. Our other wide receiver is probably my favorite player in the NFL. He went undrafted, was cut by several teams, told he was too small to play in the NFL, and has managed to lead the NFL in receptions over the last four years. Oh, he also suffered a torn ACL, which was supposed to sideline him for a year, but he cut the recovery time in half and still goes 110% on every play.

The Jets have two wide receivers that are basically the same person. Both of them are extremely gifted physically and were drafted in the first round. Despite being handed all of the tools to succeed, both of them got involved in juvenile off-field antics and were shipped out of town, as they embarrassed their franchises. The Jets picked them up because they can catch a football. Both look like complete jackasses on the field, celebrating constantly and dancing all over the place. They are me-first players who always want to grab the spotlight. They are basically what I hate about professional sports.

RB- Our running back started the season as a third-stringer. He always came to practice and worked hard for years, despite playing behind "more talented" guys. This guy is not the fastest or strongest guy on the field, but he doesn't leave any yards on the field either. He scratches and claws for every first down. He has ten touchdowns this season, despite being underestimated by virtually everyone who don't care to pronounce his name. Our other running back is 5'7", if even that, and also has not been "talented" enough to find a stable role anywhere in the NFL. The Jets cut him because they didn't think he could cut it compared to an underachiever they drafted this year. Despite the fact that he has all the heart and talent to succeed in the league, he has finally gotten his chance and is putting together an incredible year.

Their running back is the epitome of selfishness, self-promotion, and front running. He wears a visor in night games because he thinks he's cool. Throughout his career, he has always been regarded as a future Hall of Famer, yet he has never won anything. He calls himself classy and points the finger at other teams, yet his own franchise couldn't handle his ego. He scores touchdowns and celebrates with his dancing, yet when the stakes are high, he always seems to disappear.

This annihilation tonight made me really proud to be a Pats fan, especially in contrast to the Jets. I love that this team has a collective heart of gold; they are a bunch of castoffs like the misfits from summer camp who beat the rich jocks at the end of the movie. But then again, these guys are goddamn good football players, too.

ALP

that was almost poetic...bravo

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Last time I lived in New England the Pats became a Dynasty

Then I moved away and they haven't won since

...now I'm moving back, and a Lombardi I predict

SoonerPatriot

I think the best thing for me is that it's all been so unexpected. I had this year pegged as a 10-6 (maybe 11-5) transition year. I think a lot of people probably did.

So when expectations are exceeded (by a lot) that makes it more special, more enjoyable etc.

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Celebrating the wonders of the ignore list.

Joker

I would have taken 8-8 and the promise of this draft class to mature into strong team next season...I was WAY off in my meager expectations and I'm surprised by the team unity that has developed so quickly

TheRealMcCagh

I love the pats this year too. I never thought I'd say it but I'm pretty glad moss is gone. It was super interesting to watch, but it made our offense pretty one dimensional. Not to mention how is off field antics may have mislead the rookies. Woodhead has turned into quite a breakout star. BB tends to have an eye for that though, since basically the same thing happened when Miami cut Welker. Our whole receiving core seems to be really mature, perfectly content to run the routes perfectly when they know they won't see the ball. And Crumpler is fine with pretty much only picking up blocks.

ausbacker

The scariest part... perhaps of all is that the Patriots own the 2011 draft.

Ice_Ice_Brady

It is scary to think about this. They have six players over 30 and only two notable free agents next year (Light and Mankins.) I'm guessing they use this draft to build the trenches.

NEGoldenAge

This next draft will put the finishing touches on BB's masterpiece.

Uncle Rico

That's one thing that I think isn't being noticed nationally. For a lot of folks, it's just a continuation of being, you know, the Patriots. But so many of the pre-season forecasts had them maybe squeaking into the play-offs at best. And that didn't even account for the early-season overhaul of their offense (Moss and Maroney trades, Faulk injury). It wasn't really count for anything in the standings, of course, but it should be considered in weighing votes for MVP and Coach of the Year and talking about what is being accomplished.

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"If they sought to intimidate us, to terrorize us, to shake us from ... the values that make us who we are, as Americans -- well, it should be pretty clear by now that they picked the wrong city to do it. Not here in Boston. Not here in Boston."
—President Barack Obama, April 18, 2013



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Palm Beach Pats Fan

slight correction: Brady wasn't a walk-on at Michigan. He had lots of guys to beat out and considered transferring to Cal, but he was always on scholarship.

Welker had zero scholarship offers and was considering walk-on offers before a Texas Tech recruit got homesick and backed out of his scholarship at the last moment. A Texas Tech assistant had heard of Welker (who they had not recruited) and got premission to offer the unused scholarship to the little bitty guy from Oklahoma who had torn up all of the high school record books.

Wes Welker's Lone Scholarship Offer STACK TV

Danny Woodhead went the division II route, with not a single division I offer, just a OK from Nebraska that he could walk on and compete as a kick returner. He instead used his good grades to get a partial academic/partial athletic ride to Chadron St. He was 3rd string but outworked the others, started his second game as a freshman, and people kinda took notice when he rushed for 307 yards and five touchdowns.

nice article on Danny: How Danny Woodhead went from small school star to Patriots playmaker EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA

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