Play of the Year: The Pass vs. The Pick

Ice_Ice_Brady said:

I thought the pass would refer to Brady-LaFell against the Ravens.

My vote is for the pick and not much of a competition in my opinion.

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Agreed on both counts.

Speaking of LaFell, I was watching this video a few days ago and it was eye opening how quick Brandon was earlier in the year. I suspect his ankle injury was a lot worse than he was letting on.

tombonneau said:

I think both plays should be obvious as to what they are. I've spent some time thinking about it, and while The Pick obviously won the team the Super Bowl and is a Top 10 All-Time Super Bowl Play, I have to go the Edelman-Amendola pass as the Play of the Year.

It was a play we had all been waiting for six years, called at the perfect time, executed to perfection, and even though it didn't win the game, I think every Pats fan knew at that moment the game was ours. When I think back to 2014, that is the play I will think of.

Can't go wrong with either, and would be curious to here any votes for Other explained

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I appreciate your enthusiasm in starting this thread, but, given the choices as you envisioned them, my answer was easy because of the simple fact that I didn't have to think more than a nonosecond to identify the play to which you were referring as The Pick but couldn't isolate one "Pass" after the the many clutch passes that Brady threw all season and in the SB, as others have observed.

Like every Pats fan, I went nuts when Edelman threw that perfect spiral to Amendola in stride, but, let's be honest, it was a trick play that worked and was very much needed at the time. I would put Brady-LaFell in the Ravens game above it.

As my "Other," I also would put above it the collection of passes, viewed as a whole, that Brady threw in the fourth quarter of the SB. Taken together, those throws represented two of the greatest drives in NFL history.

The pick is the greatest play in NE sports history.

If you put it into context:

• it came after a miracle catch by Kearse
• SB about to end much like the previous 2 losses
• the 2 week $h!t storm leading up to the game
• the "no SB wins since Spygate" since 07 argument about to live on

and all in a flash, when EVERYONE was expecting the inevitable TD, Butler, an undrafted FA from freaking West Alabama, changes history.

There will never be a swing of emotion in anyone's lifetime that will match that moment.

Fu(king amazing.

Top 10 All Time Super Bowl Play?

I think you can make a pretty damn good argument that it's the best ever Super Bowl play and, by extension, the best play in the history of the NFL, at least the Super Bowl era.

The Edelman pass was awesome, but The Pick was All-Time greatness.

Pretty much everybody and their dog is going with "The Pick."

The Pass deserves Offensive Play of the Year, though.

The Pick is the best play in NFL history and I can't see anything better coming along.

One play that I keep thinking back to is what I'll call The Recovery during the Ravens' playoff game. How the heck did Edelman recover his fumble that fell behind him as four Ravens converged on the ball? That was incredible.

italian pat patriot said:

no doubt: the pick

i saw it i think 50 times

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why so few?

Well it is the INT obviously. Definitely the greatest play in Patriots history when you take into consideration the play itself and the impact it had on the game and legacies.

In my twenty years watching the Patriots, I think the Edelman pass may have been the best play call I've ever seen from the Patriots. It was brilliant despite the fact that we've been wondering for a couple years when they'll break out an Edelman pass. It was a matter of time. Perfectly executed at a crucial point in the game.

DarrylS said:

,
What Tom Brady did almost seems to be somehow undervalued..

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Edelman, too. He had a productive, gutsy 4th quarter to help the team overcome a 10 pt deficit AND score the game winning TD with two minutes left.

The problem (though not sure it's a real problem) is that no one thinks of him as scoring the game winning TD. People only talk about the game winning interception (and for good reason). It has to be THE PICK, but I agree it's almost unfortunate how much it overshadows performances by Brady and Edelman.

convertedpatsfan said:

I like Cuban cigars too, but c'mon Mike...

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Euphemism?

Butler's pick is a play that will be immortalized for about as long as the NFL exists. You will see it replayed until you die.

It will be remembered as being a greater play than Vinatieri's kick against the Raiders and his kick against the Rams.

It's, like, not even a competition.

The pick is an instant classic that will still be viewed when we are old and long gone. Believe it. Havilcek/Bird stole the ball, Pesky's pole, Carlton Fisk hr, Dave Roberts stolen base, Ortiz 04 dramatics, Bloody sock game, Orr going superman, AV's 3 kicks, Hagler/Hearns.

Malcolm Butler has a place in Boston sports for all of eternity. One of the greatest plays to end a game in any sport all time.

Brady has been there for awhile already. The Mount Rushmore of New England sports for consistency,excellence,clutch and beloved son and athlete.

1960Pats said:

The Pick is the best play in NFL history and I can't see anything better coming along.

One play that I keep thinking back to is what I'll call The Recovery during the Ravens' playoff game. How the heck did Edelman recover his fumble that fell behind him as four Ravens converged on the ball? That was incredible.

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Now that you mention it, I remember that. I think I recall seeing the closeup/replay and still not having a clue how he got the ball back.

Horace's Ivories said:

why so few?

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Yeah, i've passed 50 no doubt. Not even a contest, it's the best ever in any category.

The pass was exciting. A offensive play to turn momentum. Since we hardly ever use deception on plays the success rate was high. The Pick on the other hand won a SB. Player's success rate to execute it was through the roof. Edleman's play will fade in memory. Butler's will be sport's folk lore forever. Havelcheck stole the ball, Tuck rule with Amazing field goal by Adam, Bird stole the ball, Orr's goal etc.

supafly said:

Nothing beat the pick.

Not sex, expensive liquor, Cuban cigars, or filet mignon. None if it.

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A waitress once asked me how I like my filet mig-non and I told her "I like it a lot!"

I'm with the pick!

KamikazeKnight said:

Now that you mention it, I remember that. I think I recall seeing the closeup/replay and still not having a clue how he got the ball back.

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He ended up in a sitting position with the ball behind him on the ground and 4-5 Ravens players pouncing on him. He has to be a very strong young man to win in that situation.

The Edelman play was sweet, but The Pick was monumental. Arguably the best play in the history of the Superbowl.

I also agree with the sentiment about Brady/LaFell's winning TD against the Ravens, that was pinpoint precision. Much more difficult than the Edelman pass.