I don't understand the logic...

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

I have seen it said by Patriot fans and Patriot haters that the reason the Patriots are 15-0, is because they are on an Eff you mission post-spygate.

The logic continues that had spygate never occurred the Pats would not be 15-0, and Brady and Moss would not be knocking on several records.

So Brady, Moss, Belichick didn't give two hoots about winning before spygate?

Belichick didn't really put much effort into game planning in prior years?

This is the first year Brady cared about winning?

Moss first decided he wanted a SB ring, after spygate, not when he agreed to take a paycut to play for the Patriots?

Welker wasn't motivated for a SB ring, when he left the Dolphins, it wasn't until after spygate?

By this logic had the Jets lost a first round draft pick for stealing a laptop from the Patriots, they would be in the playoffs?

Are you insane?

The reason why the Patriots are 15-0 is because they are more talented than the rest of the NFL.

The reason why BB got Randy and Wes in the off season wasn't to piss off Eric Mangini, it was because he didn't like losing to Tony Dungy in the RCA in 110 degree heat.

Yeah, Spygate provided some bulletin board material. But if it wasn't for spygate BB would have found something else to motivate the team, be it misquoted second year safety or simply every professional athlete's desire to win.

This season was not motivated by spygate, it was motivated by the Colts pumping in noise and heat into the RCA last year.

 

[ClevTrev]

Re: I don't understand the logic....

Good post, and I'd add that the Pats' sole motivation is that they didn't accomplish their primary objective last season. To say that they're mad because of spygate has got to be the most naive reasoning ever, and it's proof that very few really understand this team. That's a good thing! I laugh at the talking heads like Kornheiser, Wilbon, and others who've jumped on the spygate "mad as hell" bandwagon. How long can something like that last? Not long.

To win the Super Bowl is really what's at stake for this team. Perfect season records are fine, but winning it all is all that matters.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Re: I don't understand the logic....

I don't get it either. If there was no spy-gate there are still a numer of major motivating factors.

1. Losing to Colts last year.

2. Marquise Hill tragedy

3. Moss doubt

4. Harrison HGH incident

5. Brady fatherhood

6. Seymour not active for first part of season

7. we could still find other motivating factors.

 

[aluminum seats]

Re: I don't understand the logic....

I have seen it said by Patriot fans and Patriot haters that the reason the Patriots are 15-0, is because they are on an Eff you mission post-spygate.

The logic continues that had spygate never occurred the Pats would not be 15-0, and Brady and Moss would not be knocking on several records.

So Brady, Moss, Belichick didn't give two hoots about winning before spygate?

Belichick didn't really put much effort into game planning in prior years?

This is the first year Brady cared about winning?

Moss first decided he wanted a SB ring, after spygate, not when he agreed to take a paycut to play for the Patriots?

Welker wasn't motivated for a SB ring, when he left the Dolphins, it wasn't until after spygate?

By this logic had the Jets lost a first round draft pick for stealing a laptop for the Patriots, the would be in the playoffs?

Are you insane?

The reason why the Patriots are 15-0 is because they are more talented than the rest of the NFL.

The reason why BB got Randy and Wes in the off season wasn't to piss off Eric Mangini, it was because he didn't like losing to Tony Dungy in the RCA in 110 degree heat.

Yeah, Spygate provided some bulletin board material. But if it wasn't for spygate BB would have found something else to motivate the team, be it misquoted second year safety or simply every professional athlete's desire to win.

This season was not motivated by spygate, it was motivated by the Colts pumping in noise and heat into the RCA last year.

Football is an emotional game. Questioning this team's past achievements definitely lit an additional fire under them for this year. Would they still be great? Of course. Would they be undefeated? No way of knowing. But the ongoing slights have provided additional focus for the team over these months, for sure.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Re: I don't understand the logic....

Football is an emotional game. Questioning this team's past achievements definitely lit an additional fire under them for this year. Would they still be great? Of course. Would they be undefeated? No way of knowing. But the ongoing slights have provided additional focus for the team over these months, for sure.

Problem with that theory is nobody was questioning the past achievements of many of the players including Moss, Welker, Stallworth, and Adallius Thomas. None of them had been their long enough to be motivated to win for BB's honor.

I doubt BB really even played Mangini as the devil, because of the potential to split the team with Ventrone and Moore along with others who came from other teams also questioning if past achievements are in fact tainted.

No, I believe this team wanted to win for the same reason every team want to win. Because winning is a lot more fun than losing.

 

[aluminum seats]

Re: I don't understand the logic....

Problem with that theory is nobody was questioning the past achievements of many of the players including Moss, Welker, Stallworth, and Adallius Thomas. None of them had been their long enough to be motivated to win for BB's honor.

I doubt BB really even played Mangini as the devil, because of the potential to split the team with Ventrone and Moore along with others who came from other teams also questioning if past achievements are in fact tainted.

No, I believe this team wanted to win for the same reason every team want to win. Because winning is a lot more fun than losing.

Of course not, but I think you're missing the point. Football is a team game--it's not necessary for say, Donte Stallworth specifically to be attacked for the spygate BS to collectively heighten the team's focus. And it wouldn't be for "BB's honor" but rather for the team, which all are a part of. There are more than enough pissed off veterans--leaders of the team--to infuse the entire team with that spirit.

I totally agree BB didn't paint Mangini as the devil, or really say anything about him at all. Of course winning is more fun than losing. But if you think all teams are equally motivated by that fact, I disagree. I mean, man, just look at the leader of the team--Brady's--face every week. You think he just wants to win because it's more fun than losing? The guy is posessed, and spygate played a part in that. Believe it.

 

[Razor's Edge]

Yep, the sole reason for the "Play 60 mins" is because he feels they let the Colts slip by last year, he's determined to not let that happen again, a full 60 minutes of ball.

 

[thebooradley]

Not they really needed more motivation, but I think the spygate incident provided motivation in the respect that they now feel like they have to protect their legacy.

Say they had gone 7-9 this season and missed the playoffs, everyone would be saying that without cheating they are nothing, and their 3 Superbowls would have been tarnished in most peoples eyes.

It could have taken years to regain trust in people that they can win without any of that nonsense, but with their amazing 15-0 start I think they have blown that argument out of the water in the most resounding way they could have.

 

[mgteich]

Re: I don't understand the logic....

Perhaps the much higher motivating factor is simply to be the best, and to demonstrate that on the fiel, individually and as a team. If Brady's fatherhood, Harrison's drug use and the death of a player who wouldn't ahve made the team are our motivators then we are a sad team indeed.

Kraft, Pioli and Belichick have been about developing excellence in all phases of the game. This team has been pushed for 5 years by another organization that would be among the best ever, except that they play in this decade of the patriots. Yes, the loss to the colts is indeed a motivator, as the loss to us will be if we face San Diego.

To me the best motivator is to win, as a thank you to the front office for bring us Thomas, Moss, Stallworth, Welker, Morris and Washington. Consider if these players went to San Diego, Indy or GB instead of here. Would we be the best ever?

I don't get it either. If there was no spy-gate there are still a numer of major motivating factors.

1. Losing to Colts last year.

2. Marquise Hill tragedy

3. Moss doubt

4. Harrison HGH incident

5. Brady fatherhood

6. Seymour not active for first part of season

7. we could still find other motivating factors.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Not they really needed more motivation, but I think the spygate incident provided motivation in the respect that they now feel like they have to protect their legacy.

Say they had gone 7-9 this season and missed the playoffs, everyone would be saying that without cheating they are nothing, and their 3 Superbowls would have been tarnished in most peoples eyes.

It could have taken years to regain trust in people that they can win without any of that nonsense, but with their amazing 15-0 start I think they have blown that argument out of the water in the most resounding way they could have.

I agree if they went 7-9, people would have said that.

But I won't buy the logic that had not been for spygate motivation they would have gone 7-9, because they would have lacked the motivation to win. Nah, I think they would still have been motivated.

Another poster talked about Brady "is posessed, and spygate played a part in that." I will agree he is possessed to win this year, but he seemed just a possessed in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 & 2006.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Re: I don't understand the logic....

Perhaps the much higher motivating factor is simply to be the best, and to demonstrate that on the fiel, individually and as a team. If Brady's fatherhood, Harrison's drug use and the death of a player who wouldn't ahve made the team are our motivators then we are a sad team indeed.

Kraft, Pioli and Belichick have been about developing excellence in all phases of the game. This team has been pushed for 5 years by another organization that would be among the best ever, except that they play in this decade of the patriots. Yes, the loss to the colts is indeed a motivator, as the loss to us will be if we face San Diego.

To me the best motivator is to win, as a thank you to the front office for bring us Thomas, Moss, Stallworth, Welker, Morris and Washington. Consider if these players went to San Diego, Indy or GB instead of here. Would we be the best ever?

I'd agree with the "to be the best". The team is made up of individuals who have that trait and it starts at the top(coach and qb) and trickles down. I suspect the team would still be very good minus spygate or anything

 

[aluminum seats]

Re: I don't understand the logic....

I'd agree with the "to be the best". The team is made up of individuals who have that trait and it starts at the top(coach and qb) and trickles down. I suspect the team would still be very good minus spygate or anything

I agree, of course--but spygate did ratchet things up a bit. It's another meat in the competitive stew. Football's a tough game, every edge helps! If anything, this team has taught us that over the years, from the "respect" card played repeatedly, to even, yeah, using a video camera on the sideline. But of course it's been a bit more fuel--I don't even know why we'd debate it.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Re: I don't understand the logic....

I agree, of course--but spygate did ratchet things up a bit. It's another meat in the competitive stew. Football's a tough game, every edge helps! If anything, this team has taught us that over the years, from the "respect" card played repeatedly, to even, yeah, using a video camera on the sideline. But of course it's been a bit more fuel--I don't even know why we'd debate it.

very true, but it is fun watching them steamroll people and thus starts Dynasty Part 2.

 

[FrontSeven]

I have seen it said by Patriot fans and Patriot haters that the reason the Patriots are 15-0, is because they are on an Eff you mission post-spygate.

It's possible, likely, and even highly likely that many fans don't know what the **** they're talking about.

A lot of peripheral fans just regurgitate headlines that they see on ESPN. That's about the depth of their depth - headlines that try to sum up an entire body of work by isolating one sexy feature of the season.