Hey OP, it sad but I guess it's the Patriots way to be like this around fans. I don't mean to be a jerk or anything but I will share a little story with you to help you feel better about the situation.
Long story, sorry for the FRAT!
I traveled to SF with my young son to watch the Pats play. Since we were going to need a hotel for a night I thought why not find out and stay where the Pats are staying. I called the Pats offices, talked to a lady who was over their travel arrangements and she told me where the Pats were going to be staying, I was kind of shocked she gave the info out. So I called the place and booked a room.
We get there, my son decked out in his Moss jersey and patriots hat. There was security everywhere. Both team security and local law enforcement. A local officer asked to speak to me in private. He noticed my son wearing his Pats gear and told me he wanted to warn me beforehand so my son wouldn't have a bad experience. Apparently the night before a young kid seen and asked Moss for an autograph. Moss shouted at the kid to get away and didn't sign. Really upset the youngster. The officer said the Pats players won't talk or sign anything and if you go up to them then team security will usher you away. I thanked the officer for the heads up, let my son know that we weren't allowed to approach the players or talk to them. My son wanted to just sit in the lobby and watch the players come and go to meetings.
As we sat there it was cool to see all the players. However, the players would not make eye contact with anyone, local officers, hotel employees, or anyone else. Some players had their headphones on so nobody would bother them. They werent acting like this because of a ton of fans being there, as the whole time we were there we were the only fans there.
The couches we were setting in the players had to walk by us to get to the elevators. Nothing! With the exception of Rodney Harrison nobody else said a word or looked in our direction. I thought seriously?? One young Pats fan and they couldnt acknowledge him for a second? Put a pretty bitter taste in my mouth as a Pats fan. I downplayed the whole thing so my son wouldn't get the same feeling I had for his favorite team and players. In the evening we did see Moss walk by us with his hood pulled over his head to hide his face as he walked by. At the stadium Mr Kraft walked around and said hello to the Pats fans and signed autographs. Pretty cool of him to do that at a visitors stadium.
Still it was kind of neat to see all the players but pretty sad how they treated their fans, the whole two of us!!
On a side note, Wes Welker attends a local golf tournament. 3 years ago was the first year he attended. Not many Pats or Welker fans were there so when my son went and asked for his autograph Wes was more then happy to sign. Wes was even kind enough to stand with my son for me to get their picture taken together. My son followed him around for several holes and must have got his autograph on 6 or 7 different items. Hat, football card, etc.. At this years tournament Welker was more in a hurry, there were more Pats and Welker fans but still my son got his Welker jersey signed and another photo taken with him. Wes seems like a good guy.
So that's my Pats player experiences!! While I enjoy to watch them play and continue to support them as a team I will always have this experience stuck in my head.
