Are the Pats the greatest sports team this decade?

[carolinatony]

I see more fans jealous of us than any team in any sport including the Yankees. All I ever here is the Pats just keep winning and I wish my team was more like you guys.

If you don't think so, please tell me What team is?
We get more National coverage daily than you think. Here are some examples.


1 The Bills play their most emotion game in years since maybe Jim Kellly was QB on opening week.
Have they showed this since that game? No

2 The Rats came out in week 2 and called this their SB?
Have they called any other game this big since? No

3. The SB champs last year the Squeelers have played like chumps this year.
Has their been much talk about them? No

4 You have 2 undefeated teams going into the end of the year?
Has their been much talk about them? No
Not as much as when WE did it.

5 The NY football Giants in the greatest city in the world( or so we are told) New York are slumping badly and may miss the playoffs.
Much talk about Eli or their defense? no

6 New Orleans plays us and City workers get to go home early that day?
Is this normal? NO

7 The Titans go from best record to worst in the first half of the year?
Much news on this? No

8 Lord Farve leads the Viking into the playoffs?
Much coverage? no

9 Cowboys due their Dec dive?
Any news outside Dallas? No

10 Skins continue their losing ways?
Much coverage on a new coaching change? No

11 Bear miss playoffs with new star Cutler?
Much national coverage? no

12 Chiefs continue losing ways?
Was Pioli wrong on Cassel, any coverage on this? no

13 Critical game coming up Bengals @ Chargers.
Much coverage this week? No

14 Jag's may be moving due to lack of fan support?
Much coverage? no

15 The most important issue for any fan is the Collective Bargaining Agreement which covers salaries, free agency and the draft.
Much coverage on this? No

16 Read any NFL team forum.
Do they want the Pats to win? no

17 Their was some Tiger Woods talk.
Will this be main news in a few weeks? No


So what is the Media talking about ?

1 Is Moss dogging it?

2 Was BB arrogant for going for it on 4th down.

3 Why can't the Pats rush any QB?

4 Did the Pats lose too many veterans?

5 Was trading Seymour a big mistake?

6 Was BB right to send 4 players home?

7 Brady is no longer a Elite QB

8 The Pats don't scare anyone anymore.

Personally I take this as a compliment to the Pats organization.

 

[Ice Cold Bruschi]

Its just that the Patriots have more larger than life personalities than any other franchise. Brady Moss and BB have been staples of the NFL for a decade. The fact that those three are stone cold locks to be 1st ballot HOF'ers makes the microscope that much more intense.

 

[Itsallovernow]

I see more fans jealous of us than any team in any sport including the Yankees. All I ever here is the Pats just keep winning and I wish my team was more like you guys.

If you don't think so, please tell me What team is?
We get more National coverage daily than you think. Here are some examples.


3. The SB champs last year the Squeelers have played like chumps this year.
Has their been much talk about them? No

4 You have 2 undefeated teams going into the end of the year?
Has their been much talk about them? No
Not as much as when WE did it.

7 The Titans go from best record to worst in the first half of the year?
Much news on this? No

8 Lord Farve leads the Viking into the playoffs?
Much coverage? no

9 Cowboys due their Dec dive?
Any news outside Dallas? No

13 Critical game coming up Bengals @ Chargers.
Much coverage this week? No

15 The most important issue for any fan is the Collective Bargaining Agreement which covers salaries, free agency and the draft.
Much coverage on this? No

17 Their was some Tiger Woods talk.
Will this be main news in a few weeks? No

All of the things I left above are discussed with far more vigor in all the forms of media I receive sports information and opinion from. My guess is you're just only paying attention to the Patriots and are assuming such is the case with everyone else.

 

[supafly]

All of the things I left above are discussed with far more vigor in all the forms of media I receive sports information and opinion from. My guess is you're just only paying attention to the Patriots and are assuming such is the case with everyone else.

Yeah, I agree with this statement. Pretty much any Pats news this year has been negative, kind of like the media enjoys their perception of the 'downfall.' The media have been hating for a while now, and are just enjoying the negative coverage, but I don't think it has outweighed most of the important stories you have listed.

The Steelers received a bunch of coverage for NFL team of the decade last yr, which I felt was an absolute crock due to having multiple losing seasons this decade also. In the beginning of the year I felt that NE was the NFL team of the decade, due to their SB appearances, and many AFCCG's. When you coupled that with the 21 game winning streak, it seemed like many felt we were at least in the discussion involving 2 or 3 teams.

Now with the Colts setting the record for most consectutive regular season wins, also winning past 4 out of 5 vs. NE, and having the most wins out of any team in the NFL this decade, it seems they will be the popular choice with many fans and media. When you figure in their possibility to add another SB title, and their possibility to run the table and tie or surpass our perfect regular season and 18-0 record--they certainly are heavy in the discussion.

It seems to be a 'what have you done for me lately' type of thing with many fans and media, and many feel that we have not played the same after blowing the perfect season at the end of 07, not to mention our titles coming at the beginning of the decade. While we are certainly in the discussion of a couple/few best NFL teams this decade, we may not even be the best in football, let alone 'all of professional sports' as you say. It is however, debatable, but I'm not sure you'd find an agreeing consensus.

 

[Patspsycho]

It could well go to the Lakers. They won 3 titles earlier this decade and another just last year, and may repeat this year seeing that they are 18-4 and 9 of their last 10. If they win this year, it will match their run of 5 titles in the 80's.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

Pats are the best team this decade in any sport.


Baseball doesnt have a Cap like Football so it's different. You can't give as much props to an owner who just buys a team.

Lakers have been good but it's not nearly as team oriented as football. Two man show with Kobe and Shaq. Many previous teams have had 2-leats or 3-peats in basketball as well.

 

[BadMoFo]

Pats are the best team this decade in any sport.


Baseball doesnt have a Cap like Football so it's different. You can't give as much props to an owner who just buys a team.

Lakers have been good but it's not nearly as team oriented as football. Two man show with Kobe and Shaq. Many previous teams have had 2-leats or 3-peats in basketball as well.

Championships mean everything, so I'll say the Lakers. They won rings in the beginning of the decade and now at the end of the decade.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

If you're including all sports, the Lakers have us beat easily. More titles, and they lost twice in the finals too.

 

[aluminum seats]

Greatest as defined as dominance within the team's given sport? Then as other posters have said, probably the Lakers--most championships.

But talking about sports in the United States, the Pats have clearly dominated the decade. Football is far and away the most popular sport--basketball is a niche sport by comparison. And the Pats have been THE story for this 10-year period. Yes, they'll have won more championships than any other team, regardless of what happens this year. But beyond that, they have simply dominated every aspect of the sport--their coach, their quarterback, everything about them. Might as well call them the greatest--it's been an amazing run.

 

[JR4]

Lakers ( who I hate as much as the Jets) have been the most dominate
and probably the best team this decade depending on how you measure that.

For anyone to claim Basketball is less a team sport than Football is way off
base. Someone said it was just Kobe and Shaq. So every very good
football team has a few great stars. Try to be a dominate football team
without an outstanding QB. Very hard to do. Precision basketball often
requires split second timing by all team members. Split second
read/react decisions by team members are just as important as they are
in football.

Taking off rose colored glasses, the Lakers have been the best team
of all team sports this decade. IMO

 

[aluminum seats]

Taking off rose colored glasses, the Lakers have been the best team
of all team sports this decade. IMO

2 things. First, it's not rose-colored glasses to point out that basketball simply does not have the same stature in this country that football does. And that matters--otherwise someone could find some Lacrosse team or something that's won every year and say they're the greatest. Obviously basketball is a popular sport, but it's not football.

Second, I think we're conceding to the Lakers a little too quickly, just based on the merits:

--Depending on when you start the decade, the Lakers have three titles, same as the Pats. That would exclude the title the Lakers won in 1999-2000.

--The Lakers had multiple mediocre years. They finished 34-48 in the 2004 season, and had winning percentages of .549 and .512 the two years after that. That's a prolonged period of lameness that the Pats managed to avoid--the Lakers made the playoffs in those latter two years, but everybody makes the playoffs in the NBA. As we saw with the Pats last year, even a strong season in the NFL doesn't guarantee the playoffs.

So forget the Lakers--the Pats win no matter how you slice it.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I hate to say this but if the Colts win the Super Bowl..or more importantly if the Colts go 19-0 and win it all then they certainly deserve the shot to be considered team of the decade...even if they would still trail NE by one SB.

No team has had better regular seasons the past 5 years.

And I hate the Colts so saying this hurts

 

[aluminum seats]

I hate to say this but if the Colts win the Super Bowl..or more importantly if the Colts go 19-0 and win it all then they certainly deserve the shot to be considered team of the decade...even if they would still trail NE by one SB.

No team has had better regular seasons the past 5 years.

And I hate the Colts so saying this hurts

Use a smaller picture, man--that thing takes up a lotta space.

 

[Lansdowne]

Los Angeles Lakers. 4 NBA titles, 6 NBA Finals appearances.

As a Boston Celtics fan, it pains me to say it.

 

[NEPatriot]

NO because of 08 and 09 season.

 

[aluminum seats]

Los Angeles Lakers. 4 NBA titles, 6 NBA Finals appearances.

As a Boston Celtics fan, it pains me to say it.

I don't think a season that starts in 1999 is part of this decade, so I wouldn't count that first title. Did this decade end in June?

 

[Itsallovernow]

I don't think a season that starts in 1999 is part of this decade, so I wouldn't count that first title. Did this decade end in June?

THERE are the rose colored glasses.

 

[tajapandu]

don't laugh me off here, but what about the San Antonio Spurs?

 

[JR4]

....... Obviously basketball is a popular sport, but it's not football.

Second, I think we're conceding to the Lakers a little too quickly, just based on the merits:

.......

So forget the Lakers--the Pats win no matter how you slice it.

Hold on there.

"Obviously basketball is a popular sport, but it's not football."
If this a question about which is the most popular sport then this has
some relevance otherwise it seems to be not relevant to the question
asked.


There is one more thing to consider. Suppose it comes down to a vote:
Patriots vs Lakers.

Does Patriots tainted history have any bearing? Of course as PATs fans
we know PATs would have won with or without the video tapes.
And we know all teams record play calls.
BUT
.... thanks to BB there is a shadow that has been cast and if you got to
vote a team for the HONOR of "Greatest Sports Team of the Decade"
wouldn't you choose in a close race the team that played by the rules?

Now I know Basketball has had some problems with the refs in regards
to cheating but the Lakers were not calling the shots there like BB did.

 

[RobertWeathers]

don't laugh me off here, but what about the San Antonio Spurs?

Its a close call. Spurs have 3 titles this decade and the LAL have 4. (they won it in 1999-2000- that counts for this decade.) titles. As mentioned earlier the LAL have been to a total of 6 finals.

The whole spygate/Mangini taping does add a little tarnish to the legacy, but the on the field performance is what matters...

1. Lakers 4 titles, 6 app
2. Pats 3 titles, 4 app
3. Spurs 3 titles, 3 app
4. Yankees 2 titles, 3 app
5. Red Wings 2 titles, 3 app


My .02$