Hypothetical: Would you trade the first 3 SBs for the last 2?

[Pessimistic Pete]

It's the middle of July, so time for hypothetical history questions.

Would you trade the first three Patriots championships (2001, 2003, 2004) for the last two (2007, 2011)? Meaning, we would have lost those three, but won the last two.

Pros

19-0
-That team is, without a goddamn doubt, forever known as the GREATEST team of all-time, period. Something that would never be surpassed and most likely never equaled either.

18-1 gone
-Naturally, in turn, being on the wrong side of the biggest disappointment ever is now gone.

We are no longer one team's b****
-We would have lost to three separate teams, instead of getting beat by the same team twice, a team from NEW YORK at that. In turn, the Giants also become our b****. It sucks that no matter what, the Giants will forever have 18-1 on us.

Everything is post-"Spygate"
-Yes, we all know Spygate is insanely overblown and misunderstood, but the reality is most opposing fans still consider us "cheaters" and those informed seemed to be in the minority.

Cons
3 > 2

I'm sure this will be one star'd, but I thought it was at least interesting enough to think about.

 

[naF staP]

Yes I would. A perfect season plus my son wasn't old enough to care about the first 3. We would have celebrated together all night had they won the last two.

 

[ausbacker]

No. 3 superbowls for 2? In what universe is 2 greater than 3? There is no reasonable opinion that can be put forth to exchange 3 for 2.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

No Goddammit, 01,03,04 were righteously earned. 07 and 11 were passively given away by poor game plans and Pats players coming up small in big moments. They earned the first three titles, should of had six but it is what it is. You can't wish away bad performances or switch one championship for another. And the reason they won the first three was because of the players they had on defense.

 

[Deus Irae]

Patriots rookies report to camp on the 19th.

 

[NSPF]

No. 3 superbowls for 2? In what universe is 2 greater than 3? There is no reasonable opinion that can be put forth to exchange 3 for 2.

A team wins a Super Bowl every year. It can't be helped. No team has ever managed to win all 19 games. IMO, going undefeated and being the best team EVER is more impressive than winning 3 Super Bowls. However, the Patriots didn't just win three SBs, they won three SBs in four years, which is extreme dominance in itself. So what's better, 19-0 or three out of four?

I don't think you can go wrong either way honestly. Add in the 2012 Super Bowl and you REALLY can't go wrong.

 

[UK_Pat37]

Not really. Yeah 19-0 would have been great and all that, but we still had arguably one of the best teams...definitely offence...in NFL history.

2001 was just special; the circumstances, the odds...everything. 2003 and 2004 was domination on defence and I love to see that.

Is it getting frustrating, having to make excuses for two Super Bowl losses to the Giants? Yup, absolutely. But the fact remains that it is unbelievably hard in today's NFL to make the big game and we have made 5 in 11 seasons and won three of them. It would be remarkable if we had won all 5 in that span because it just doesn't happen.....especially with the structure today.

I'm not going to complain with what we have got. We should be competetive for another 3 odd years at least...and more if Mallett pans out. We have a very young defence with a good mix of veteran leadership...the future is pretty bright!

Don't dwell on what could have been but celebrate a rare form of success

 

[brdmaverick]

I'm not sure I'd be able to mentaly handle the Patriots losing three Super Bowls in four seasons.

Sure, losing the past two Super Bowls four years apart is disheartening as well, but the pain of that is mitigated by the fact that we at least won 3 of 4 earlier.

 

[brdmaverick]

The original poster does raise an interesting point about the 19-0. I mean, that is something special in itself. I'm sure we would all love 19-0, so let me take this hypothetical a step further. If you could trade a SB 42 win for one of our actual SB wins, which SB would it be?

 

[UK_Pat37]

The original poster does raise an interesting point about the 19-0. I mean, that is something special in itself. I'm sure we would all love 19-0, so let me take this hypothetical a step further. If you could trade a SB 42 win for one of our actual SB wins, which SB would it be?

That's a much more interesting way to look at it..2004 for me without a doubt. As I said in my previous post, 2001 was just special. 2003 was one of my all time favourite seasons (since I started following in 1999) and I wouldn't trade that game in a heartbeat...what a Super Bowl that was to watch even if it was an absolute nail biter. One of the best Super Bowls ever played.

 

[1960Pats]

I wouldn't trade 2001 for anything. After suffering with a stolen SB by the Raiders in 1976, it was the sweetest revenge of all to have our dynasty jump started by a controversial win over the Oakland Raiders 25 years later.

Btw, I personally put a 25 year curse on the Raiders after that win, and if you ask me it's holding up pretty well so far.

Free at last. Free at last. Thank Walt Coleman we're free at last.

 

[ausbacker]

A team wins a Super Bowl every year. It can't be helped. No team has ever managed to win all 19 games. IMO, going undefeated and being the best team EVER is more impressive than winning 3 Super Bowls. However, the Patriots didn't just win three SBs, they won three SBs in four years, which is extreme dominance in itself. So what's better, 19-0 or three out of four?

I don't think you can go wrong either way honestly. Add in the 2012 Super Bowl and you REALLY can't go wrong.

Your record doesn't mean diddly squat if you win the Superbowl. I'm sure the Giants are crying into their silverware and rings.

 

[PatsSox363804]

There is not one sports related thing and very few non sports related things I would trade superbowl 36 for.

 

[signbabybrady]

The original poster does raise an interesting point about the 19-0. I mean, that is something special in itself. I'm sure we would all love 19-0, so let me take this hypothetical a step further. If you could trade a SB 42 win for one of our actual SB wins, which SB would it be?

I voted yes to the original question but somehow when its one for one I can't pull the trigger. I guess I was wrong in voting yes. I mean I would trade anything for 07 to end right but individually those 3 wins have to many memories to actually give them up.

Let's worry about the next one!

 

[fgssand]

The original poster does raise an interesting point about the 19-0. I mean, that is something special in itself. I'm sure we would all love 19-0, so let me take this hypothetical a step further. If you could trade a SB 42 win for one of our actual SB wins, which SB would it be?

Its a fun question as we all pine for the season to begin.

I think it comes down to trading that special 2001 season and all that came with it for a 19-0 team.

I can't do it........to remove 2001 and all those sweet memories would maybe be something like not marrying the mother of your children?

 

[signbabybrady]

Its a fun question as we all pine for the season to begin.

I think it comes down to trading that special 2001 season and all that came with it for a 19-0 team.

I can't do it........to remove 2001 and all those sweet memories would maybe be something like not marrying the mother of your children?

Which I guess begs the question would you trade that for 07?

 

[fgssand]

Which I guess begs the question would you trade that for 07?

Nope - will not trade away 2001 for 2007!!

Going to have to get that 19-0 dream season, this year, then, that's it.

Done!

 

[Steve102]

I was at SB36 in New Orleans, and I would in no way give up those memories. 100% no. That was a fabulous trip to the mountain top, a pre-Red Sox WS win that will forever be my favorite championship.

As Vinatieri lined up the winning kick, I remember distinctly looking down at Adam, thinking he might as well have been kicking from Mississippi, and saying there was no way, NO WAY he could do it. All that Red Sox disappointment had trained me to expect the worst. In one cathartic moment, it was washed away forever. Two 70-somethings in front of us cried. We partied till dawn on Bourbon street.

No way, no how...no matter how nice 19-0 would be.

 

[everlong]

I wouldn't trade the bitterness that Marshall Faulk, Jerome Bettis or Joey Porter have.

 

[Boomer B]

I wouldn't trade the feeling I had on Feb 4, 2002 for anything