Good vs. Evil in the NFL -- which are the Patriots?
By: Ian Van Anden
Editor-In-Chief
Bluntly, I hate the
New England Patriots. But this is widely true about teams that
dominate a league for as long as the Patriots have, lets just
sight the last true NFL dynasty, the Dallas Cowboys of the mid
90’s.
However, my hate
is not about the relentless winning of the Patriots, but it is
about how they go about it. I cannot simply bring myself to
respect the New England franchise. “Spygate” aside, the Patriots
continue to act like God’s gift to the NFL.
The way the
Patriots have chosen to close out games this season makes me
simply turn the channel. I will not argue that the Patriots are
the best team in the NFL because that goes without saying, but I
do not want to watch their games.
I understand the
point that teams should have to stop the Patriots, and they
should not have to stop themselves. But there is also a certain
amount of class that comes with being in the NFL. Most teams do
not go for it on 4th and 1 when up by 42 points, like the
Patriots did against Washington. Nor do they pass or use fake
kneel downs to run the score up.
What are you
supposed to do when a blow out presents itself (which it usually
does when the Patriots are playing)? RUN THE BALL, and the
Patriots NEVER do that. In the one close game they played all
year, against the Indianapolis Colts, the Patriots finally
closed out the game the right way: stingy defense and running
the ball.
But still this
made me go, “huh.” Through the first 10 weeks of the season the
Patriots said the reason they had been running up the score was
because it was the NFL and teams can strike back quickly at
anytime. As decimated by injuries as the Colts are, they are the
biggest threat, save the Patriots, for quick strike scores, and
all of a sudden the Pats go conservative.
I understand the
idea that this is the NFL and that the Redskins and, for that
matter every other team the Pats have faced, simply need to stop
the Pats if they do not want to get walked on.
But you must
understand that this is the NFL and more class is or at least
should be demanded of its players, coaches and organizations.
The Pats are simply not displaying that; they are a great team
that simply has egos that will not allow them to do anything but
try to embarrass their opponents. Which I think extends from
being embarrassed by the whole “film-gate” incident earlier in
the year. This is an entirely different story.
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By: Tobias Gibson
Sports Columnist
Let me
begin by expressing my surprise at being asked to write in support
of the New England Patriots. The Pats are the “evil” team? Come
on now! It was just a few short years ago that the nation was in
love with the upstart Patriots, and now success has led to a
backlash.
There
are three reasons why the Patriots are better than every team in
the NFL, and not just on the field (which they are). Number one:
the quarterback. Not only is Tom Brady the best quarterback on the
field (look to the rings, and this year he even has the numbers),
but he is the best quarterback off the field. Peyton Manning, the
second best NFL QB, is focused on advertising revenue for himself.
Has he met a commercial does not like? Brady is much more
discerning about what he advertises. And, when he has advertised
in the past, he has required that his offensive linemen be
included in the commercial. Imagine a QB who recognizes those who
toil in anonymity to protect him.
Second,
the Patriots are green. In this age of global warming, the Pats
recycle. Look at their team: Mike Vrabel; Randy Moss; Junior Seau;
Rosevelt Colvin; Wes Welker. All of these players are playmakers.
Trade or free agency pickups. And, Randy Moss was a cancer in the
locker room, a quitter, and was essentially run out of two
franchises. When New England traded for him, all the football
pundits were concerned about the negative influence he would have
on the cohesion of a team. Not anymore. He is model citizen in New
England. Maybe the Patriots are a good influence. Maybe they are
like a support group that helps Moss overcome issues.
Third,
the Patriots are frugal. Moss cost them a fourth round draft pick.
Wes Welker, not much more. Tom Brady was a sixth round draft pick.
Unlike most NFL teams, the Patriots rarely over pay for free agent
or traded players. Even their drafts have been extremely
effective.
Yes,
the Patriots have been caught cheating. They have been punished.
They don’t collect thugs like the Bengals. They don’t ruin draft
picks like the Texans (here I am speaking refusing to get a
quality offensive line to protect the broken David Carr). They
don’t trade for receivers that often continue to short arm catches
and successfully run Hall of Fame coaches out of town like Dallas.
They don’t leave town breaking the hearts of longtime fans like
the Browns, the Oilers, the Rams, the Cardinals or the
“Indianapolis” Colts.
And now
people don’t like the way they win? Seriously? The end goal of the
Patriots this season, and any season, is to win the Super Bowl.
They don’t have to squeak to a victory like they did when they
beat the Rams. They are a juggernaut, using all of their weapons
not only to win, but to dominate. Now, they intimidate. Football
is a game of precision, speed and power. The Patriots are simply
running on all cylinders, using every advantage they have, toward
what they hope is their destiny. As they continue to roll, they
will certainly continue to upset the parity fanatics. Guess what?
There is no parity. Using superior skill, coaching, drafting,
trading, and resources, the New England Patriots rule the league.
And every week they will remind you of that. It’s a date with
destiny.
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