Have many Patriots fans become spoiled brats?

[DarrylStingley]

This is precisely the reason for the stigma. 5 years. There are 31 other teams and only 1 happy ending. We don't really deserve to be unhappy for 26 more years!

Let me point you to the Vikings fans once more. This year, they lost their starting QB. Lost their secondary QB. Lost their head coach. Lost Randy Moss. Lost a 3rd round draft pick. Lost their division and the wildcard race. Lost their STADIUM.

And when the call went out for help clearing snow from the TCF stadium, the fans responded.



Granted, some people came for the money I'm sure. But many didn't. And frankly, there are a lot of easier ways to make 10 bucks an hour than shoveling snow at 7am in frigid temps.



And here they are at the night game ... outside ... in Minnesota. Cheering their 3rd string QB. Adrian Peterson not in the game. Losing 40-14 to the Bears at "home".





With my extended family fans of that organization, I am having trouble making the case that I should be upset with my team's performance this year.

I don't see the relevance of any of this. I love the Pats as much as anyone I know. Been a massive fan since the Plunkett days.

But would I spend my Sunday morning shoveling the stadium? No. I have my reasons but that's not what I would do.

So freaking what? That has nothing to do with how much I love the team, how much I cheer, the time I spend reading about them and the effort I take in sharing them with my kids and others here in the NJ area.

As to wanting a SB crown every year, of course we don't DESERVE it. The odds are such that we really only DESERVE a title once every 30 years or so.

Still, if your team is in the hunt, it is natural to want a title and to be disappointed if you don't get one.

Now if Pats fans gave up on their team if and when they didn't win it all, then I would say that they are spoiled.

Another thing: It is a fact that going to games at Gillette is a pain in the ass. The Stadium is in the middle of nowhere and there's only limited ways to get there. The public transportation options are not good as there is no guaranty that you will get there on time.

Now I still go to one or two games every year from NJ, and I still LOVE going there. And many fans go every week.

But the point is that whoever goes to games there makes a pretty big investment in time, effort and money. Much more than, say, going to a Sox, Bruins or Celtics game. So when things go badly, or not even perfectly, it's easier to get annoyed. Or more understandable.

If the Sox lose, fans hop on the T or get in their cars and are home relatively soon. Or they go out to dinner or get drinks in Boston.

And last, the fact that the Pats have raised the bar and expectations so high makes it natural human nature to want a lot. And to be disappointed when things don't work out. Sure, a fan of the SF Giants is nothing but happy and appreciative right now. But if those Giants go on to a string of near misses, their fans will be a little less happy go lucky.

In any event, Go Pats, and Go Pats Fans. I love all of you, even the ones who think we're spoiled.

 

[Haley]

I don't see the relevance of any of this.

This point is simple. There are some thing more important than winning. Coming together as a community in a difficult time is one of them.

Rather than complaining about their situation, ranting that they have never, ever won a Superbowl, or crying about their lost stadium, they grabbed shovels. They could have said, "nah forget it, they will probably just move to LA anyway".

I'm sure there are many Pats fans that would have done the same. I have no doubt there is "heart" in us as well. But I think it is important to remind some of the more angry, negative posters of one thing: We as Pats fans are truly blessed.