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- Dec 22, 2005
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Re: Isn't it all just so aggravating?
Impassioned and articulate, but wrong.
There's a reason that great teams with great coaches and/or QB's top out at three or four rings...it's hard to do any better over a ten year period in the NFL. There are always other great or very good teams.
The Belichick/Brady Pats? Sure. Five trips to the AFCCG and a couple of disappointing other seasons from 2001 to 2010. But four trips to the big dance and three Lombardis... Not too shabby.
The Landry/Staubach Cowboys? Seven trips to the NFCCG from 1970 to 1978. Five trips to the SB but "only" two Lombardis. Ran into the Noll/Bradshaw Steelers on the way to "history."
The Walsh/Seifert, Montana/Young niners? Nine trips to the NFCCG from 1981 to 1994, five trips to the SB and five rings. But...14 years...two coaches and two HOF QB's. Belichick and Brady are "only" ten years into their adventure and we don't know what the next few seasons might hold.
The Madden/Lamonica/Stabler Raiders? Seven trips to the AFCCG from 1969 to 1977, but just one trip to the SB and one ring (which Pats fans believe is tarnished).
The Reeves/Elway Broncos? Four trips to the AFCCG from 1986 to 1991, three trips to the big game and no rings.
Don Shula? Six trips to the AFCCG from 1971 to 1985. Five trips to the SB and, what?, only two rings.
Bud Grant? Five trips to the NFCCG from 1969 to 1977. Four trips to the SB, including three with Fran Tarkenton. No rings.
Marv Levy and Jim Kelly? Two of the greatest ever to grace the NFL and now Canton. Four consecutive but fruitless trips to the SB from 1990 to 1993, unfortunately running into HOF'ers Bill Parcells (next year), Joe Gibbs and Troy Aikman.
Chuck Noll? Yes, four rings with Terry Bradshaw in six seasons. But Bradshaw retired after only eight years as starter and Noll coached another nine years after that retirement, for a total of 23 seasons.
The Patriots have had to contend with opposition that now feels totally eclipsed by their juggernaut. Dungy and Manning? Cowher and Roethlisberger? Andy Reid? Kurt Warner? These are all great players and coaches, some of whom will be in Canton, who feel that their day in the sun was eclipsed by the Patriots. Let's count our blessings...and realize also that the Brady/Belichick era still has a few years to run.
Impassioned and articulate, but wrong.
There's a reason that great teams with great coaches and/or QB's top out at three or four rings...it's hard to do any better over a ten year period in the NFL. There are always other great or very good teams.
The Belichick/Brady Pats? Sure. Five trips to the AFCCG and a couple of disappointing other seasons from 2001 to 2010. But four trips to the big dance and three Lombardis... Not too shabby.
The Landry/Staubach Cowboys? Seven trips to the NFCCG from 1970 to 1978. Five trips to the SB but "only" two Lombardis. Ran into the Noll/Bradshaw Steelers on the way to "history."
The Walsh/Seifert, Montana/Young niners? Nine trips to the NFCCG from 1981 to 1994, five trips to the SB and five rings. But...14 years...two coaches and two HOF QB's. Belichick and Brady are "only" ten years into their adventure and we don't know what the next few seasons might hold.
The Madden/Lamonica/Stabler Raiders? Seven trips to the AFCCG from 1969 to 1977, but just one trip to the SB and one ring (which Pats fans believe is tarnished).
The Reeves/Elway Broncos? Four trips to the AFCCG from 1986 to 1991, three trips to the big game and no rings.
Don Shula? Six trips to the AFCCG from 1971 to 1985. Five trips to the SB and, what?, only two rings.
Bud Grant? Five trips to the NFCCG from 1969 to 1977. Four trips to the SB, including three with Fran Tarkenton. No rings.
Marv Levy and Jim Kelly? Two of the greatest ever to grace the NFL and now Canton. Four consecutive but fruitless trips to the SB from 1990 to 1993, unfortunately running into HOF'ers Bill Parcells (next year), Joe Gibbs and Troy Aikman.
Chuck Noll? Yes, four rings with Terry Bradshaw in six seasons. But Bradshaw retired after only eight years as starter and Noll coached another nine years after that retirement, for a total of 23 seasons.
The Patriots have had to contend with opposition that now feels totally eclipsed by their juggernaut. Dungy and Manning? Cowher and Roethlisberger? Andy Reid? Kurt Warner? These are all great players and coaches, some of whom will be in Canton, who feel that their day in the sun was eclipsed by the Patriots. Let's count our blessings...and realize also that the Brady/Belichick era still has a few years to run.
