Patriot_in_NY
Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2007
- Messages
- 8,785
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- 426
WE FINALLY GET TO PLAY IT AGAIN.........
I've been cruising around the web a bit these past few days, and what I'm seeing is almost remarkable. I certainly expected a fair bit of biased favoritism towards the Giants based on the last SB, but I was totally unprepared for level of vitriol aimed at this team. From everything from the link above (which is basically an interview with that moron Eddie George where he out and out says... The Patriots are one of the WORST TEAMS ever to make it to the SB) to that silly NY Post splash page pronouncing the Giant win 2 weeks before the game is played. There are A LOT of other examples out there too.
It's hard to imagine that after a decade of continued excellence (we are always in the hunt even if we don't win), 5 bowl appearances in 11 years, the #1 seed in the AFC on the heels of a 13-3 season that we could legitimately use the "Disrespect Card" to lather this team into a frenzy headed into super bowl to meet a team with a 9-7 record ........ BUT WE CAN.
I know some don't believe in the whole concept of the "bulletin board", but there is no doubt that almost all coaches will try to create that "us against the world" feel in the locker to help jell and build team unity. The whole "nobody believes in us, but we believe in each other" mojo. They would not do it if there was nothing to the concept. The Patriots used it to great effect in the early years 2001..... and the Giants admitted they used it against us in 2007. We long ago lost the ability to play that card, because it get a little harder after sustained success, because it kind of losses it's effect and the material to use gets pretty thin.
Looks like negative national vibe is definitely against us right now (and to a major level too) and I for one in happy as hell about it. I absolutely think that all this negatively will help the team's resolve, particularly coupled with the whole "season dedicated to Myra" thing.
This feels like 2007 all over again........ except we're the team that "can't beat the mighty "opponent" we face. I NEVER liked that feeling of being hailed as the kings prior to victory in 2007 and this position is much more comfortable for me.