This is rarified air

[FrontSeven]

I don't know if I agree, but then again I have no idea of what you said.
Welcome to our planet and one of its major languages!

He said, "I know I'm watching the current incarnation of Larry Bird with a helmet but I'm going to remain skeptical, and I'm not going to enjoy it until the worry is all gone."

 

[ALP]

He said, "I know I'm watching the current incarnation of Larry Bird with a helmet but I'm going to remain skeptical, and I'm not going to enjoy it until the worry is all gone."

front seven...damn, that pretty good...i think that is rit on, like COMPLETELY rit on

 

[mgteich]

We should all savor the moment. Dynasties don't come to a team very often.

As much as I appreciate every player on each of the SB teams and on this one, I can't help believing that it is the organization that has made the difference.

Consider if the chargers and the patriots had switched coaching staffs, management and ownership the day after the 2007 SB. What would the two teams look like now? After the last SB, it was said that the chargers had the best talent in football. Maybe they did. Maybe not. But they were one of the three elite teams. With our front office, their team would be improved, their game plans would be improved and they would be leading the league. And where would be with their front office for these past few months?

For me, the patriots changed forever the day Kraft bought the team. And yes, I do think that we would have won SB's with Parcells and Bledsoe. But with Belichick and Brady, we have become one of the best of all time.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

We should all savor the moment. Dynasties don't come to a team very often.

As much as I appreciate every player on each of the SB teams and on this one, I can't help believing that it is the organization that has made the difference.

Consider if the chargers and the patriots had switched coaching staffs, management and ownership the day after the 2007 SB. What would the two teams look like now? After the last SB, it was said that the chargers had the best talent in football. Maybe they did. Maybe not. But they were one of the three elite teams. With our front office, their team would be improved, their game plans would be improved and they would be leading the league. And where would be with their front office for these past few months?

For me, the patriots changed forever the day Kraft bought the team. And yes, I do think that we would have won SB's with Parcells and Bledsoe. But with Belichick and Brady, we have become one of the best of all time.

Parcells didn't even believe we would have or he wouldn't have left. And I don't think BB had any delusions either when just 3 years later he took over essentially the same team Tuna walked away from and 18 games into his 5 year plan (working on a 4 year contract...) Bledsoe had them at 5-13 and Bill was facing the reality that he might not have 5 years to work with. Game planning and system and scheme are all well and good but absent players who can execute, and are willing to in a system that often asks them to sacrifice individual accomplishment, Belichick can be stymied. There are still a lot of entitled finger pointers and excuse makers on the SD roster. Bill and Scott would likely face a year or two of reshaping that roster before they would have a shot at fielding a SB team in part because intangibles wise Phillip Rivers is no Tom Brady.

Having watched this team evolve over the last several seasons, I often wonder what some other teams fans are smoking when they passionately insist their team presents as a championship contender. Then I read a post here that makes me realize that to some extent most fans are just incredibly predisposed towards and susceptible to wishful delusion. Including the revisionist variety.

Absent Mo Lewis Bill would have decided to bench Bledsoe at some point in the 2001 season. But it would have been far too late, and happened far too acrimoniously, to salvage that season. How that team would have performed in 2002 absent a Lombardi is anyone's guess, but it quite possibly would have taken more than a 9-7 third season to salvage Bill's career here. Because sometimes in spite of the best laid plans it takes a healthy dose of good fortune or fate to intervene to even allow those plans to come to fruition. Belichick and Brady (not to mention Mo) was a little bit of both that has allowed this organization to go a long long way towards exceeding their stated goals of fielding a perennial contender and winning A Superbowl in 5 years.

But back on point, instead of criticizing and kvetching and obcessing and nitpicking, Patriots fans would be well served to somewhat graciously enjoy it while it lasts. The only thing harder than getting to the top is staying at the top, which is why so few fan bases ever get the chance to breathe this rarified air. Unfortunately I think too many here are so intent on worrying about what their fan life will be should this ever end, and it will, that they can't fully enjoy living in the present while it does exist.

 

[Fahrenhype]

I've appreciated every moment of what they've done over the past few years. I'll continue to enjoy it until the eventualities of pro football knock them back down to where the rest of the league is.

I think the only thing that causes people to nitpick or worry that a team is being over-admired is that unlike any of the previous dynasties we live in the internet age and excessive TV coverage of any minute topic. Lately I'm just watching the game, the 5th quarter show on WBZ, listening the weekly interviews on WEEI, and browsing here three or four times a week.

PFT, all the pre-game analysis shows, endless columns from every dolt with an axe to grind... don't need it, doesn't add any enjoyment to the experience.

 

[Tunescribe]

How that team would have performed in 2002 absent a Lombardi is anyone's guess, but it quite possibly would have taken more than a 9-7 third season to salvage Bill's career here.

I think the Krafts really liked BB; otherwise, they wouldn't have gone to such pains to bring him here. So if we at least had a winning season in 2001 without the Super Bowl appearance and the 9-7 third season, I believe he would have stayed, no problem.

But back on point, instead of criticizing and kvetching and obcessing and nitpicking, Patriots fans would be well served to somewhat graciously enjoy it while it lasts. The only thing harder than getting to the top is staying at the top, which is why so few fan bases ever get the chance to breathe this rarified air. Unfortunately I think too many here are so intent on worrying about what their fan life will be should this ever end, and it will, that they can't fully enjoy living in the present while it does exist.

Very true, and the reason for my original post. Most of this kvetching, criticizing and nitpicking is just conditioning/force of habit that becomes hard-wired into the sports fan's psyche through years of disappointment and frustration. What's going on now represents a great lesson for being in the moment and learning how to enjoy something that is precious and fleeting. Folks get so caught up in fretting over what's next that they miss out on the joy of what's now. Oddly enough, the ability to fully enjoy something this rare and positive can take a bit of adjustment!

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Absent Mo Lewis Bill would have decided to bench Bledsoe at some point in the 2001 season. But it would have been far too late, and happened far too acrimoniously, to salvage that season. How that team would have performed in 2002 absent a Lombardi is anyone's guess, but it quite possibly would have taken more than a 9-7 third season to salvage Bill's career here. Because sometimes in spite of the best laid plans it takes a healthy dose of good fortune or fate to intervene to even allow those plans to come to fruition. Belichick and Brady (not to mention Mo) was a little bit of both that has allowed this organization to go a long long way towards exceeding their stated goals of fielding a perennial contender and winning A Superbowl in 5 years.

Playing what if is interesting, but there are too many variables to know for sure. For example--would Brady still have needed offseason surgery after the 2002 season if he hadn't started until November in 2001? What would have happened to the Pats' drafts in 2002 and 2003 if the Pats didn't end up with the 32nd pick in 2002? etc.

 

[livinginthe past]

Great post.

Its important to live the moment - with higher achievemtn comes higher expectations - such is the nature of sports (and probably most things).

Drink it up fellow Patriots fans.