PATS16N0

I wish as fans (supporters) of the New England Patriots we had a `Patriot Way` - a culture of appreciation and loyalty. I believe for some of us we have this but we are, unfortunately, a silent majority (or perhaps minority, I don't know). I'm from Massachusetts, born and raised, and I know exactly where the hostility towards Patriot players comes when we lose. It doesn't come from Patriot fans aka Football first fans - it comes from Boston sports fans.

It's a mentality I really just despise...

After every loss these people are quick to pack the phone lines of local sports radio, eager to spit their venom at the heart and soul of our beloved football team - Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. They did it after an 18-1 season that was for the most part nothing short of magical. They did it after the Ravens loss when Brady was still rehabilitating an injury. They did it last year after the Patriots went 14-2 with a team largely in a state of rebuilding. They did it after the Giants loss in the regular season. They're doing it now.

I wish they would save their venom for the Boston Garden and Fenway Park. If they want to treat their own sports teams heartlessly after a heart breaking loss they should do it there. The Patriots aren't a Boston team, they're a Foxboro team. It deserves a Foxboro approach and mentality, not a Boston one.

Those of us whose love of sports begins and ends with football season are sick of hearing it.

Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are the heart and soul of the New England Patriots - of New England football. It is through them and only through them that all of us can say as sports fans with a certain pride that we have a very special football team. They have given us more magical moments in ten years than most football organizations get in their entire existence. It is through them that we, as Patriot fans, know we are always in the hunt. It is through them that we can say during any game, no matter how much we may be down, that we are not out of the game and it is through them that we can say it with confidence.

Their victories are our victories and therefore we should accept their defeats as our own, too - not accept victory and eagerly throw them all under the bus or call for all of their heads when we lose. They should have our support in either outcome. I think they've earned it.

I normally hate the Colts but this year I have to appreciate their fans. I envy them, even. They have loyalty. They have Peyton Manning and through a sincere sense of loyalty and appreciation they want to stick with him for what he has done for Indy football rather than throw him aside like yesterday's garbage for a hyped rookie praised as the next big thing.

I hope in 5 years we can say the same for ourselves.

When we're deep into the fourth quarter and down by 10 points, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick make us believe.

There is nothing more you can ask out of a coach and a quarterback. That is the greatest aspect of our Patriots and it is one that is not replaceable - it's something I wouldn't trade for one or even two grinded out Superbowl wins with any other pair. That's the beauty of having the New England Patriots and being a Patriot fan - an ever present reason to believe.

We may not always get the outcome we want every football season, but what the Patriots give us better than any other is the journey to that outcome, whatever it may be. Whether we are with friends and family watching the birth of a new Dynasty on television or driving through a snow storm listening to Gil Santos in an excited state of absolute awe as Brady wraps a 6th touchdown pass around the throat of our rivals, the Patriots, Brady and Belichick, give us a journey through the football season better than any other.

Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are not immortal. These years are not going to last forever. We should be enjoying and appreciating the time we have with them, not throwing them to wolves and hyenas every time they come up short.

Football fans all around the nation wish they had a football organization like our own. It would be great if football organizations all around the nation could look to New England and say "I wish we had fans like them."

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IllegalContact

Oh jeez......

I wonder if anyone who embraced the 'patriot way' would ever sound like you.

I do believe that way of which you speak requires very high expectations. To be satisfied with whatever ending befalls you is unacceptable.

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“ I think good coaches will coach with the personnel they have, and if you only have one (good) linebacker, you’re not going to play a 3–4. ”
—Hank Bullough, who installed one of the first 3–4 defenses with the New England Patriots.

PATS16N0

It's one thing to be disappointed with a loss. It's quite another to have to listen to caller after caller on local sports radio demand the head of arguably the greatest quarterback and head coach in the history of football because of a lost Superbowl. One can be disappointed without also having to be asinine, ungrateful and ignorant.

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NEGoldenAge

There are a lot of bitter people out there who lack empathy and understanding. They lash out whenever something doesn't go their way, and are uterly convinced that they can do a better in almost any field with their mighty keyboard and mouse.

Fortunately, not everyone is afflicted by that righteous sense of entitlement. Many of us appreciate what Mr. Kraft and BB have done for this organization. Although we are disappointed in a SB loss, we are appreciative of the effort, toughness and character of this young team and what they have accomplished.

p8ryts

I wanted to say you missed the point but I guess you are the point.

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Stan the Man the Patriots Fan from Wareham

strongside

Mr. Madison, what you've just said ... is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

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“We'll do the injury report on Wednesday.”

RhodyPatriot

What pinkhat crap!!!!!!

Taking personal shots at any of these guys is out of bounds. Justifiable critique and criticism is 100% appriopriate and that's what 99% of Patriot fans have been doing. Grow up!!!

Sean Pa Patriot

im just dissapointed they cant find a way to beat eli manning.. all they had to do i make one or 2 plays and the parade is in boston.. but they didnt the giants made the plays once again give them credit... its allthe media now with the nonsense... no titles since spygate, brady is no montana... we are past there prime... .. its all this nonsense.. but that said i hope we get the pieces to make a run at new orleans... and when the pats have belichick and brady.. anything is possible..

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We going to take it one game at a time

j109

Exhibit A.

And hear hear PATS16NO! I'm currently enjoying the ignorant bliss of a sports media blackout (this site my only excpetion), so I've mostly missed what others are saying on radio, tv.. Heard about 15 seconds of Rome yesterday...until he mentioned James Harrison's tweet about (I can't bring myself to type it) and I sprang for the "off" button.

I think Aruba should offer free vacations to depressed Pats fans. Maybe just members of this board. Keep guys like Strongside in a separate hotel with likeminded "fans" who can listen to feeds of WEEI and nod in agreement with the grumblers while sipping their whiskey sours. I'll be partying at the Marriott with my shirt off. (I'll spare you the pic.)

Aruba offers the New England Patriots a consolation vacation - USATODAY.com

strongside

also, there is a fact that the sports radio stations throw out occasionally. I don't know the numbers exactly but its along the lines of the callers on sports radio only represent 1 or 2% of the listeners. They are really not a great representaion of how fans feel.

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“We'll do the injury report on Wednesday.”