For those of you who remember John Stephens RB for the NEP..

Actual Pats Fan said:

Before it all unraveled, he did get it right to be with her mom, and her and her daughters' is an inspiring and happy story.

I was at his first game (9/4/88), and from his first carry he was clearly a horse.

He and Flutie were the catalysts in an offense and on a team that legitimately could have won that Super Bowl, if not for Berry being stuck on Eason like Kraft ("I too prefer the old logo") is stuck on the flying elvis...until death, apparently.

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I don't think the 88 team was SB caliber.

robertweathers said:

I don't think the 88 team was SB caliber.

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Well, they beat the Bengals and were very competitive with the Bills, and had the refs take away a game at Indy...the defense was solid, with veterans and holdovers from '85-'86.

But Stephens was simply the real deal. A difference maker, with power and speed.

And Flutie was the key, not only to that season but for the team's immediate future. He did not meet the criteria of NFL coaches (sound familiar?), but he won. And he made the biggest plays, with the game on the line. He had his best years ahead of him.

But it was necessary for a team to commit to him. Unfortunately, Jack Bicknell was not coaching the Patriots. Berry dismissed Doug's success and ability as a total fluke and benched him, and the Patriots would not have a winning season again until 1994.

Loved him as a player and will choose to ignore his faults, which I never knew about. Apparently they are many. Keep in mind that this country puts murderers in the HOF. I wish the present team had a RB who ran as hard as he did back then.

John who?

The 88 team had its issues early, but had that Indy game taken away by refs and 2 games with the Bills given away, one due to horrible field kicking (2/3 extra pts and 0-3 FGs at Buffalo) New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills - October 23rd, 1988 | Pro-Football-Reference.com
The other was a 14-16 4th qtr letdown at home after leading 14-3 in the 3rd. Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots - September 18th, 1988 | Pro-Football-Reference.com
I loved that team though, top 5 defense and ran the ball more than anyone in the league.

denverpatsfan said:

Loved him as a player and will choose to ignore his faults, which I never knew about. Apparently they are many. Keep in mind that this country puts murderers in the HOF. I wish the present team had a RB who ran as hard as he did back then.

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So because you loved him as a player, you'll ignore his history as a sexual predator and irresponsible procreation machine?

SammyBlueCat said:

That truly is sad.

On a happier note Stanley Morgan Jr. looks good. (WR Nebraska)

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Sign the beast

Remember what happened with Lofa Tatupu

Actual Pats Fan said:

He and Flutie were the catalysts in an offense and on a team that legitimately could have won that Super Bowl, if not for Berry being stuck on Eason like Kraft ("I too prefer the old logo") is stuck on the flying elvis...until death, apparently.

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You seriously might want to consider taking Something for that.

robertweathers said:

So because you loved him as a player, you'll ignore his history as a sexual predator and irresponsible procreation machine?

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I don't think John was doing all that his rookie year, but it's obviously not something to ignore...I don't think I consider Antonio Cromartie a criminal, or a menace.

There's nothing wrong with remembering someone fondly for the good things they were able to do, and the vast majority of terrible things John got into were self-destructive. I don't think he's exactly Ted Bundy.

Actual Pats Fan said:

I don't think John was doing all that his rookie year, but it's obviously not something to ignore...I don't think I consider Antonio Cromartie a criminal, or a menace.

There's nothing wrong with remembering someone fondly for the good things they were able to do, and the vast majority of terrible things John got into were self-destructive. I don't think he's exactly Ted Bundy.

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I liked Stephens too. I have good memories of him as a player also but lets be clear..

Cromartie is just an irresponsible,selfish, morally corrupt idiot.

Stephens is that plus a rapist.

Ted Bundy killed dozens of people.

All 3 are different.

fnordcircle said:

I was more of a Leonard Russell guy myself. I like hard running RBs who don't rape. Just a personal preference, I guess.

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Time to put your personal preferences aside and do what's best for the t-e-a-m team.

1960Pats said:

Time to put your personal preferences aside and do what's best for the t-e-a-m team.

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Bill's famous - and important - statement to the press about "T - E - A - M" really comes to mind when seeing what happened when Berry did the opposite, in putting Eason in there over Grogan in the '86 SB and again in '88 over Flutie...what happened afterwards is what would have happened had Belichick put Bledsoe back in there in '01, and today we'd still have zero Super Bowls.

I had seasons tickets back in the 80's. I remember Jon well. His short careeer was great I wish his daughter well. He was one of the 80's bright spots during that era...