Bruschi: The ring can be a burden
 

Nice insight from Tedy on why it is so difficult to repeat. Basically the weight of expectations. Both underscores how special our doing just that in 2003-2004 was and why it was so unlikely a repeat let alone a threepeat (or winning every year as some here seemingly demand) could ever have happened. I imagine the weight of expectations following an undefeated season was similarly draining. So in some way it's probably a good thing that the weight or burden all of that, kind of like the pictures, is well out of sight in the rear view mirror this time around.



New Orleans Saints feel burden of being defending champ - ESPN Boston

Re: Bruschi: The ring can be a burden
 

Injuries are a key reason why teams are unable to repeat. The Saints and Colts had key players placed on injured reserve prior to and during the course of the regular season. The 2005 New England Patriots is a good case study with regard to injuries:

Matt Light - injured reserve
Dan Koppen - injured reserve
Ted Johnson - early retirement (concussions?)
Tedy Bruschi - stroke prior to the 2005 NFL Season
Gus Scott - injured reserve
Rodney Harrison - injured reserve
Randall Gay - injured reserve
Tyrone Poole - injured reserve
Duane Starks - injured reserve
Chad Scott - injured reserve

Nick Kaczur - DNP against Denver in the playoffs. The New England Patriots offense was down to Ashworth at left tackle and Gorin at right tackle against the Denver Broncos.

Re: Bruschi: The ring can be a burden
 

I think that one actually helped the team, not trying to be mean but seriously.

Re: Bruschi: The ring can be a burden
 

is Tedy Bruschi Frodo Baggans?

Re: Bruschi: The ring can be a burden
 

IMO Teddy touched on the most relevant part of this which is the target on your back.

Sure there is the mental burden of having attained your goal and needing to mentally prepare to do it again which is naturally you might let down a little for the second one.
Sure there is the burden of a shorter offseason.

But to me the biggest challenge is that every team pretty much brings their A game vs you. And on this note I think the success we have had the last 10 years has left that bulls eye on our shoulders. Teams come in vs us the same as they do the defending champs which is they come in thinking they can prove themselves vs us.

Re: Bruschi: The ring can be a burden
 

BB has mentioned several other reasons.

Chief among them being the much shorter off season.

Some teams have already started focusing on the April draft, team needs in the off-season, available FA worth perusing, etc. For two teams such thoughts will have to wait until the second week of February.

Re: Bruschi: The ring can be a burden
 

That makes the dynasty and even post-dynasty years all the more impressive. How many teams in history have won 3+ rings in a short span and continued to contend year after year. People try to crap on us for the chokes in '06 and '07 but really to me it's amazing that the team was still good enough to be in that position. Just proves how little they understand the game. This is with FA and salary cap that past dynasties didn;t have to deal with, along with losing 4 top notch assistants to HC jobs.