2001 Super Bowl Champions Halftime Ceremony

[patfanken]

STILL the most impressive thing about that reunion was how many guys came back loving the fact they were Patriots, even guys like Milloy Seymour and Bledsoe who left under less than ideal situations. The return rate would have been even higher if guys like Izzo, Vrabel and a few other who were coaching that day.

Usually gettin 20 back would be a success, but over 40? Say what you want about Kraft. There was a LONG time where former players used lie about where they played pro football, and NO ONE wanted to come back to visit the Sullivans (not that they Sullivans invited any of them) Now even our "expendables" relish the opportunity to come back. It's a great look.

 

[italian pat patriot]

B E L L I S S I M O

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

STILL the most impressive thing about that reunion was how many guys came back loving the fact they were Patriots, even guys like Milloy Seymour and Bledsoe who left under less than ideal situations. The return rate would have been even higher if guys like Izzo, Vrabel and a few other who were coaching that day.

Usually gettin 20 back would be a success, but over 40? Say what you want about Kraft. There was a LONG time where former players used lie about where they played pro football, and NO ONE wanted to come back to visit the Sullivans (not that they Sullivans invited any of them) Now even our "expendables" relish the opportunity to come back. It's a great look.

Far from wallowing in self-pity over their owner's shortcomings (news flash: he wasn't the only one), just a few players conducted themselves with dignity, professionalism and honor for their entire careers, and remain(ed) proudly loyal to the Patriots and grateful for their time here, including those from the 60's (see the HOF) and 80's (ditto), and some marking the fortieth anniversary of the single team that was clearly the best, and deserving, of the world championship, whom Kraft did not deem fit for any acknowledgement, reunion or ceremony: Grogan, Johnson, Cunningham, Vataha, Francis, Morgan, Hannah, Hamilton, Zabel, Nelson, McCray, Hunt, King, Haynes, Fox, Smith, Patrick, Phillips, Brock, Barnes, Beaudoin, Bishop, Briscoe, Calhoun, Chandler, Conn, Forte, Howard, Lunsford, McGee, Owen, Neville...just the ones I think are still with us today. Courage, humility and class are how their response to what happened to them can be described. But that's only 32 guys after 40 years. Not counting the ones who've passed away.


NFL Films' production still in process: Stolen Rings: The 1976 New England Patriots

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

That's just not something you can know unless you are close to the team. To suggest that Hightower, Butler, McCourty, Long...the list is long of current players who don't do "me first" but instead show up everyday and do what the team needs them to do. "Team guy" is all about what you do, and very little to do with how much you put your face out in the public.

We can honor Bruschi and other players from another era without trashing the current ones.

Further, we can do it without trashing players from past eras, too.

Nice little bit today on FOX with an old Lombardi tape, then a shot of his statue outside and then the team playing the game today.

News flash: there's nothing 'wrong' with being proud of and honoring your football team's past history and heroes. In fact, it's fun and classy. Specifically it's something that SHOULD separate the Patriots from the Ravens, for example; except Kraft won't allow it.