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This is my favorite Patriots team


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Ice_Ice_Brady

I heard 10,000 whispering and nobody listening
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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.
 
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that was almost poetic...bravo
 
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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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
The scariest part... perhaps of all is that the Patriots own the 2011 draft.
 
The scariest part... perhaps of all is that the Patriots own the 2011 draft.

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.
 
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.

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.
 
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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2001 is still my boo.
Though if this team wins it all too I may have to reconsider :cool:
 
2001 is still my boo.
Though if this team wins it all too I may have to reconsider :cool:

If this team wins it all, it will tie the 2001 squad for me. If they win it all by way of beating the Giants in the Super Bowl, it could leapfrog 2001 in my mind.
 
The scariest part... perhaps of all is that the Patriots own the 2011 draft.

I never understood the value of Carolina's 2nd rounder until I read this in Peter King's MMQB. Great stuff:

"With four regular-season weeks left in the 2010 season, we may be about to see the rich get quite a bit richer. The Carolina Panthers, 1-11, have a one-game edge over Detroit, Cincinnati and Buffalo for the top pick in the draft, and for the top pick in each of the subsequent six rounds. This year, for the second time, the NFL Draft will be held over three days, with the first round on a Thursday (April 28), the second and third rounds the next day, and rounds four through seven on Saturday. That means the 33rd pick in the draft, the first pick of the second round, will hold inordinate value -- because teams will have most of the day Friday to haggle with the team holding that pick to try to deal for it.

Carolina's second-round pick in 2011 belongs to New England.

That could give New England, in essence, three first-round picks to use as currency next April. The Patriots always wheel and deal on draft weekend -- they made eight trades on draft weekend 2009 and seven on the three-day draftathon in 2010. New England already has Oakland's first-round pick from the 2009 Richard Seymour deal and its own. If Carolina picks first overall, that would give New England three in the top 33, and the most desirable, tradable pick after day one."
 
Their quarterback was a top high school prospect who I'm sure got every girl and every new car from his parents.

NY Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez was shaped by his father, Nick, and the firefighters of Station 6 | NJ.com

Sanchez's dad was a firefighter and still is so you do have to respect that. I doubt he got his own new car from his parents.

Your argument i think though that the team takes the identity as the coach. Rex Ryan is a diva so he probably promotes talking ****y and that diva attitude. Rex Ryan wants divas on his team.

Belicheck is the opposite "say little when you win, say less when you lose". He got rid of moss and when Moss was here for the most part he was kept in check by veterans was very quiet before this year. Same with Corey Dillon
 
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The first time is still the best time for me. The 2001 team will always be memorable for being the underdogs and taking out the 'Goliath' Rams team aka 'The greatest show on Turf'. I really love the 2010 edition of the Pats though. They are growing up before our very eyes. Really don't mention this but I think they have a shot at outscoring the 2007 team the way Brady is playing. At least there is no onus of a 16-0 start to bring unbearable expectations.
 
Love the thread, Ice, Ice.
 
2001 will always be my favorite season to watch, but this year is really fun. I personally thought this team would have been at least a little better than the previous year because of all the draft picks. G force and Hernadez.. I didn't realize Mcourtey was going to be an all pro corner back his rookie season. Danny Woodhead has probably done more as far as production than Kevin Faulk would have given us this season.. A couple nice suprises plus Tom Brady is making it look easy again.. like he did in 07'. This team just reminds me of the patriots of old.. that have it. We landed a couple nice suprises + MVP season from TB and now we go from being a good team to the favorites to win the Bowl.
 
2001 will always be special, but I had 2 kids under age 2 then so I wasn't always able to follow each Pats move with obsessive attention. :)

This team is peerless to my draftnik side. Every April, every fan dreams of an impossible draft, one that will yield a bunch of instant starters who totally transform their team. This April, that dream actually came true. I so love watching these guys become the players we imagined.
 
This team does not even make my top 5.

1) 2001
2) 1985
3) 2004
4) 2003
5) 2007 - up until SB 42.


Even if this team went 14-2 I would not be shocked if they were one and done in the playoffs. One win does not solve our 31st ranked defensive problems.
 
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This team does not even make my top 5.

1) 2001
2) 1985
3) 2004
4) 2003
5) 2007 - up until SB 42.


Even if this team went 14-2 I would not be shocked if they were one and done in the playoffs. One win does not solve our 31st ranked defensive problems.
Are you serious? What lack of a run game? And our defense isn't the 2nd worst in the league. The numbers don't mean anything.

And how does losing the Super Bowl in 85 beat winning it two years in a row?

Edit: Oh, I see you cut out the criticism of our running game. Maybe you'll come around on the defense by end of the season, too. You claim we'll be one and done in the playoffs with this defense, even though we're 10-2 with the same defense.
 
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