The Fall Back To Mediocrity

[RunOut]

I'd still be a fan. I don't see it happening until Brady leaves, and maybe not even then, so I'm particulary worried at the moment.

 

[Tunescribe]

With it being the slow part of the year and all, I've been thinking of something and thought I'd get you all to chime in on the topic.

With the Patriots being so great the last decade, and the expectations so high, how will the fan base react when the time comes that we fall back to mediocrity or worse? Who knows when it will happen, and I don't want to predict it or jinx this year or anything, but I'm just saying, when Brady and Belichick move on from the game or we just start to lose the pieces and can't compete at such a high level... how will all of us react? Will you able to handle it?

Screw this line of thinking. I suppose 49ers fans thought they'd be screwed when Walsh and Montana left as well. The world could end tomorrow. Enjoy what we have right here, right now.

 

[fgssand]

99% will head for the door...even in good times the current gang of Patriot fans is average at best...listen to a Pat's game on TV and the fans are dead wood...

Average?? KMA....

And you can tell this from listening on TV? Have you ever been to a game at any of our home stadiums?

Maybe we aren't the loudest (stadium design), but Pats fans may very well be the most rabid fans found in the NFL.

I have seen it ALL with this club and I sure do like what I have seen since 1993 and fully expect it continue long after Brady and even Belichick.

 

[PittPatriot]

We'll likely be competitive as long as Brady is around. Once Brady hangs them up, I think I'll about be ready to accept the inevitable decline. I expect a rebuilding period once Brady leaves - and I think it will be fitting and almost welcome. What I mean is that this is an amazing team to watch and we may never see such a team in any local sport anytime soon - but competing year in and year out and having such high expectations is also emotionally exhausting. Not that I'd ever get tired of that, but in some weird way, sucking for a while once Brady leaves will probably feel about right.

I think we need to find a 'Steve Young' to Brady's 'Montana.'

 

[PittPatriot]

I am not sure that the "inevitable decline" will happen to this organization. I base that on the following:

Greatest owner in sports history

BB doesn't look anywhere near "burned out". I remember last year Troy Aikman talking about how amazed he was that BB was even more energized. What exactly will BB "retire to"? Is McDaniels being groomed?

Scott Pioli is in his early 40's.

Continual buildup of draft picks.

About 7 years ago, Tom Brady wasn't exactly a household name.

The week 1 loss 2003 in Buffalo was the low point of the decade.

What is interesting to note is the Pats have won in the playoffs the last 3 years without a ring. The Dolts/Giants/Squeelers have won SB's without any playoff wins the other 2 years.

Maybe the occasional playoff miss might not be bad. It didn't hurt after 2002.

All great points. I can't agree that 'missing' the playoffs helps in anyway...the losses we've had have been close and painful. But missing the playoffs would be worse.

 

[SamusAranX]

When the Patriots run ends someday, you'll have the memories, always. You guys should consider yourselves lucky. Its not a common occurence for a team to win three SBs in 4 years.

I've been with the Jags for thirteen years now and its been one heck of a roller coaster. I like it, the highs and lows.

 

[Water Boy]

I think I'll be fine with it. They've given us a lifetime's worth of great sports memories. They're not even close to done, but when this cycle of awesome is over, I'll still be cheering.

We have yet to even comprehend how good the Kevin O'Connell era will be. Brady/ O'Connell will be right up there with Montana/Young. ; )

 

[Wildo7]

We have yet to even comprehend how good the Kevin O'Connell era will be. Brady/ O'Connell will be right up there with Montana/Young. ; )

except far more Irish sounding

 

[jmt57]

99% will head for the door...even in good times the current gang of Patriot fans is average at best...listen to a Pat's game on TV and the fans are dead wood...

When Gilette is no longer the trendy place to be - i.e., when Super Bowls are unlikely - the wine and cheese non-vocal minority that sits on their hands and doesn't show up if it's too cold out will disappear. And they will be replaced by loyal fans who are more than happy to see the Pats play in asnowstorm or freezing cold weather; who know when they need to be loud and when they need to be quiet; and that a pass thrown out of bounds may have been a smart decision by the QB rather than a reason to call for him to be benched.

 

[Deus Irae]

When Gilette is no longer the trendy place to be - i.e., when Super Bowls are unlikely - the wine and cheese non-vocal minority that sits on their hands and doesn't show up if it's too cold out will disappear. And they will be replaced by loyal fans who are more than happy to see the Pats play in asnowstorm or freezing cold weather; who know when they need to be loud and when they need to be quiet; and that a pass thrown out of bounds may have been a smart decision by the QB rather than a reason to call for him to be benched.

Sadly, those loyal fans will be ejected and banned when they dare to stand up and yell something other than "Go Team!" and "Goodell is a God!".

 

[jmt57]

Sadly, those loyal fans will be ejected and banned when they dare to stand up and yell something other than "Go Team!" and "Goodell is a God!".

Ha Ha, thanks for the laugh - though sad but true.

I can envision state of the art NFL stadiums circa 2030 being 90% suites, with one small area reserved for the TV cameras to focus in on, filled with studio actors to stand in bleachers with faces painted by network makeup artists and signs being held up promoting whatever show is on that network after the game ends.

 

[WhiZa]

As long as the Kraft family owns the Patriots, one can assume smart decisions will be make and the winning will continue for a long while

 

[NovaScotiaPatsFan]

I'll handle it the same way I handled Jordan leaving my Bulls, and my Avs starting to blow in the NHL, or my Blue Jays hiring a moron as their GM and then even worse not firing him.

I'll stick with my team, because I'm a firm believer that you can't truly saivor the good times unless you've been there for the bad times. And the times don't get much worse than this past February, so I'm looking forward to my future saivoring.

 

[Deus Irae]

Given current medicine and technology, I've got no shot at living more than another 60 years or so, so I should never have to worry about this.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Given current medicine and technology, I've got no shot at living more than another 60 years or so, so I should never have to worry about this.

Darned pessimist. :snob:

 

[spacecrime]

With it being the slow part of the year and all, I've been thinking of something and thought I'd get you all to chime in on the topic.

With the Patriots being so great the last decade, and the expectations so high, how will the fan base react when the time comes that we fall back to mediocrity or worse? Who knows when it will happen, and I don't want to predict it or jinx this year or anything, but I'm just saying, when Brady and Belichick move on from the game or we just start to lose the pieces and can't compete at such a high level... how will all of us react? Will you able to handle it?

I was a fan when the Pats absolutely sucked. There were many years when mediocrity was something I yearned for with all my heart.

They call me a homer now, but I'm a geezer and harken back to the day when being a fan was rooting for your team, win or lose. Nowadays we have metrofans or pseudofans or whatever you call them, where you are not supposed to like your team, and are supposed to carp and complain when your team goes 18-1, and make fun of people who like their team and support it, win or lose.

So, yeah. I can handle mediocrity.

Not that I think that mediocrity is coming anytime soon.

 

[PatsFan24]

With it being the slow part of the year and all, I've been thinking of something and thought I'd get you all to chime in on the topic.

With the Patriots being so great the last decade, and the expectations so high, how will the fan base react when the time comes that we fall back to mediocrity or worse? Who knows when it will happen, and I don't want to predict it or jinx this year or anything, but I'm just saying, when Brady and Belichick move on from the game or we just start to lose the pieces and can't compete at such a high level... how will all of us react? Will you able to handle it?

go red sox?

 

[Ungeheuer]

I was a fan when the Pats absolutely sucked. There were many years when mediocrity was something I yearned for with all my heart.

They call me a homer now, but I'm a geezer and harken back to the day when being a fan was rooting for your team, win or lose. Nowadays we have metrofans or pseudofans or whatever you call them, where you are not supposed to like your team, and are supposed to carp and complain when your team goes 18-1, and make fun of people who like their team and support it, win or lose.

So, yeah. I can handle mediocrity.

Not that I think that mediocrity is coming anytime soon.

The problem with rooting for this team is that there's nowhere to go but down. Fulfilling expectations is a lot less exciting than surpassing them by a mile, a la 2001.

Or at least that's what you think, until the team starts losing over and over again. Then you start to appreciate how fun this has been. And still is right now.

 

[Questfor31]

My Buffalo Bills were spectacular in the 1990's, running through teams on the way for four straght Super Bowls ... that they lost. The fall from grace was steep and continues to this day. A decade without a playoff appearance, a quarterback carousel that includes Todd Collins, Billy Jo Hobert, Doug Flutie, Rob Johnson, Drew Beldsoe, JP Losman, Trent Edwards, watching the Patriots steam roll over us year after year - its embarrassing. However, I remain a die hard Bills fan ... looking forward to the day when we are competitive again. It's gotta be alot like being a Celtics fan ... you remain loyal and hopefully you are eventually rewarded. Best thing you can do is enjoy success while you have it.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I was a fan during the absolute worst Patsie years. I went to games then and I'd go again in a worst case losing future assuming tix and parking didn't cost over $200 in 2008 dollars.

What the Patriots have going for them is an excellent ownership and football management culture. Once BB and Brady depart, students of business management know that there is a very good chance that capable successors will be found. The team would likely have a few middling seasons but it's unlikely they'd return to the "Patsys" era and likely they'd contend. The Bills for example did not have such a culture. Old man Wilson is a dinosaur and never adapted to the salary cap era. Pats ownership and management has shown a decade of remarkable adaptability to the evolving NFL climate.

All that said, even a fine future staff's performance will likely pale against this unprecedented era of QB, team and coaching excellence. I'm enjoying every game, every season.