2014-15 NFL season thread

[Moyank24]

You could always jump to the Blue side of the fence. We have beaten the evil hoodie a few times.

My entire family are Giants fans (you know the Giants/Yankees thing), but for some reason as a kid I wanted to buck the trend and not root for a front runner, so I started rooting for the Jets. Obviously, I cursed myself for life.

That said, except when they're playing the Jets, I've always rooted for them. I have an OBJ jersey in my closet as we speak, thanks to my cousins in NY.

 

[MacNut]

My entire family are Giants fans (you know the Giants/Yankees thing), but for some reason as a kid I wanted to buck the trend and not root for a front runner, so I started rooting for the Jets. Obviously, I cursed myself for life.

That said, except when they're playing the Jets, I've always rooted for them. I have an OBJ jersey in my closet as we speak, thanks to my cousins in NY.

So there is hope for you yet. I haven't decided yet between OBJ or Cruz jerseys.

 

[Queen of Spades]

I literally laughed out loud...

I hadn't seen that, but i did see a report about the Seahawks issuing an apology about a deleted tweet. Apparently they didn't intend to compare football to the civil rights legacy of Dr. King.

Excuses, Excuses....

Also, you know that my loyalties prevent me from actually rooting for the Pats, but I'm psyched (and extremely jealous) for you and the rest of the nice Patriots fans! Enjoy it! I fear I will never know the feeling.

Thanks. I really do think the NFL is cyclical and the Jets will (unfortunately ) have their day at some point. Then you get to be all crotchety toward the inevitable bandwagoners since you were there through thick and thin.

My great grandfather was actually a Giants fan, and my grandfather stubbornly went Patriots when the team was incorporated in the AFL. He took lots of abuse when they were the Patsies, which I think has made it sweeter for him.

Any thoughts on Rex and the Bills?

 

[MacNut]

I think the Bills will become the new thorn in the Pats side. Sexy Rexy might have a better chance with the Bills, I think they are almost there. That and they have owners that understand football.

 

[Moyank24]

Thanks. I really do think the NFL is cyclical and the Jets will (unfortunately ) have their day at some point. Then you get to be all crotchety toward the inevitable bandwagoners since you were there through thick and thin.

My great grandfather was actually a Giants fan, and my grandfather stubbornly went Patriots when the team was incorporated in the AFL. He took lots of abuse when they were the Patsies, which I think has made it sweeter for him.

Any thoughts on Rex and the Bills?

And this is why I keep rooting for them. It's all about hope...

Regarding Rex, I'm happy he got another shot to be a head coach because I really think he was handed sh** over the last few years. He deserved a second chance somewhere else.

I'm just confused about the choice, though. I'm sure the potential on D (and staying in the East to feed his obsession with the Patriots) had a lot to do with it, but I can't imagine why he would put himself in another situation where there was instability at QB. I thought he would be a good fit in Atlanta, where he wouldn't have had to worry about who was going to be taking snaps.

 

[Queen of Spades]

And this is why I keep rooting for them. It's all about hope...

Regarding Rex, I'm happy he got another shot to be a head coach because I really think he was handed sh** over the last few years. He deserved a second chance somewhere else.

I'm just confused about the choice, though. I'm sure the potential on D (and staying in the East to feed his obsession with the Patriots) had a lot to do with it, but I can't imagine why he would put himself in another situation where there was instability at QB. I thought he would be a good fit in Atlanta, where he wouldn't have had to worry about who was going to be taking snaps.

I know! Atlanta was absolutely perfect for him. Franchise QB in place with offensive weapons to compliment in Jones and White. Great draft position and a GM that knows what he's doing. Their defense is what needs lots of work and that's his specialty. I know Blank and company took awhile to get rolling, but man...that's walking away from a much better, almost tailor-made situation.

The Bills, meanwhile, already have an elite defense. They have no franchise QB, and are hamstrung draft-wise due to the trading of their first for Sammy Watkins. Unless they trade for Cutler or something (Sanchez reunion?), I don't see them making the leap to the playoffs - the AFC is loaded with teams on the cusp. You absolutely need a QB and Ryan hasn't shown he can develop one. I guess he'll get credit for the Bills defense, but it was already good.

That said, he's kind of fun and I'm sure he'll make the AFCE dogfights interesting as usual.

 

[Moyank24]

I know! Atlanta was absolutely perfect for him. Franchise QB in place with offensive weapons to compliment in Jones and White. Great draft position and a GM that knows what he's doing. Their defense is what needs lots of work and that's his specialty. I know Blank and company took awhile to get rolling, but man...that's walking away from a much better, almost tailor-made situation.

The Bills, meanwhile, already have an elite defense. They have no franchise QB, and are hamstrung draft-wise due to the trading of their first for Sammy Watkins. Unless they trade for Cutler or something (Sanchez reunion?), I don't see them making the leap to the playoffs - the AFC is loaded with teams on the cusp. You absolutely need a QB and Ryan hasn't shown he can develop one. I guess he'll get credit for the Bills defense, but it was already good.

That said, he's kind of fun and I'm sure he'll make the AFCE dogfights interesting as usual.

Exactly! And in that division, with an improved "Rex" defense and Matt Ryan, he could have been playing in the playoffs next season.

 

[63dot]

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[/COLOR]

God may have been a Patriots fan in 2001, but I think that hasn't been the case since then (FWIW I don't believe in God, I was simply speaking in hypothetical earlier).

I think you will be in the minority in rooting for the Patriots. Even though Seattle could potentially go back-to-back, which is always horrible for fans of every other team, the Patriots are still probably the most hated team in the NFL. Most thinking New England fans have long accepted it and even embraced it. We had our fun with everyone rooting for us in 2001.

Truthfully, Russell Wilson's post-game was far more annoying to me than Richard Sherman. I don't see the big hoopla about Sherman. He talks smack, but it seems to mainly be because he's emotional and is trying to get a rise out of people. I thought he and Earl Thomas did way more talking on the field via playing with busted wings. I prefer the Belichick style of keep your mouth shut, but the Seahawks have their own style and it's fine.

I had to laugh a bit at the Wilson comparisons to Brady, though. All I can say is uhm....nah.

First I hope the Patriots win, and better yet I hope by two or more touchdowns.

But being the most hated team? Why, you don't have guys like Sherman who shoots his mouth off. Granted when he shot his mouth off he backed his claims, and whether due to his play or not, people don't like a braggart and Sherman is as high profile as any of them. Is Sherman the best? Yes, probably, but I would respect him playing his position and taking a Seattle win as a team win, not another soap box from where he can taunt from. Sherman is exactly the type of jerk who was a bully as a kid (most likely). Look how he went off on Crabtree of the Niners. Look how he went off on Brady. Instead of respecting that Crabtree and Brady are great at what they do, and many others, Sherman only gets off in criticizing them, and not being a good sport.

The Pats lost Super Bowls before Brady so in those years they didn't rack up a lot of hate. If you wanted to hate somebody it was the Cowboys then, and Niners the decade before that, and Steelers before that in the 1970s. Sure, people hated the Pats from 2001 into 2005 when they were a dynasty, but after that they lost in playoffs and Super Bowls and it wasn't as if they were racking up the Lombardis after February of 2005. I would say there was no reason to hate them in the last ten years.

But Seattle, even though they have the Super Bowl title of last year, has seen enough of the loud fans and Richard Sherman to make up for at least half a decade of pent up hate. The Cardinals were red hot this year and somehow Seattle got the NFC West. The year before the 49ers were on fire and Seattle took the NFC championship. Russell Wilson did what no QB did before him and scored better than 100 QB Rating in each of his first two years. And then you have beast mode. This is all fine and dandy but it makes for the smuggest fans I have seen of any team in any sport, ever.

It's the way the Pats fans I know that act in a much classier way than the Seahawks fans I know. While Russell Wilson had the best two year start of any QB, it's a stretch to compare him to Peyton Manning or Tom Brady who have been great for 15 years. While beast mode is great there's a long time yet imho that he should be favorably compared to Emmitt Smith. Pats fans know that Brady is one of the best and will also include Peyton Manning as one of the co-greats of his generation of QBs but also mention the great work of guys like Aikman, Favre, Young, Warner, and Montana. But to Seahawks fans I know the work "quarterback" is synonymous with Russell Wilson. If the Pats have a great running back, he's one of the best and a team player but Seattle's beast mode has to always be called the best ever when compared to any other running back. And then Richard Sherman, he's not God however much the advertisers want to boost up his already overinflated ego. Look at that recent car commercial and the world would crucify a Manning or Brady if they acted in such a self pleasuring commercial. WTF.

The Seahawks are today's bad boys of the NFL, much the way the previously winning Raiders or Steelers were. People loved to fear them and to hate them and from there they got their respect. But great teams like the Colts, Packers, and Patriots get respect from playing well and that's enough for what it is and should be.

 

[Queen of Spades]

First I hope the Patriots win, and better yet I hope by two or more touchdowns.

But being the most hated team? Why

I'll turn that question over to the other football fans in this thread that hate the Patriots. But trust me, they are.

Sure, people hated the Pats from 2001 into 2005 when they were a dynasty, but after that they lost in playoffs and Super Bowls and it wasn't as if they were racking up the Lombardis after February of 2005. I would say there was no reason to hate them in the last ten years.

Logically you are correct. The Patriots have also lost some real heartbreakers since their last SB victory (2006 AFCCG, 2007 SB, 2009 WC, 2011 SB), which people have really enjoyed. It's not like it's been all glory and champagne. But they basically have a realistic shot at the Super Bowl every year as long as Brady is QB and Belichick is coach. This will be their 6th Super Bowl appearance in 14 seasons. They've had a stranglehold on their division forever. The QB is a handsome millionaire who married a supermodel who is even richer than he is. Our coach is a surly bastard who pushes the limit, ignores the unwritten (and sometimes written) rules and has no problem expressing his disdain for dumb questions and a large portion of the media. He's also smarter and better than almost all the other coaches. There's Spygate, obviously. There's the Patriots using every kind of play and advantage to win games (hurry up offense, quick snaps, unusual formations). There's the fact that they never let up on an opponent until the clock strikes 0.

The fans are from a city that went from being joked on (Red Sox, 1918, Who's Your Daddy, etc.) and irrelevant for the last 25 years (Celtics post-1986, Patriots always, Bruins) to winning championships consistently across all the sports. It's created its fair share of obnoxious, entitled fans that seem to stand out loudest among the crowd. Not exactly a recipe for everyone to love the Patriots, you understand. To an extent I really do get it.

If you're a fan of the team, you just have to accept it and realize it's just noise and it comes with the territory of utterly unprecedented winning over a long period of time. Some people are never going to like the Patriots, and they'll latch on to whatever far-fetched reason to discredit or disrespect them. If you give me the option of the Patriots success of the last 15 years and being hated vs. the Browns last 15 years and being lovable losers...well, the choice is simple.

 

[63dot]

Logically you are correct. The Patriots have also lost some real heartbreakers since their last SB victory (2006 AFCCG, 2007 SB, 2009 WC, 2011 SB), which people have really enjoyed. It's not like it's been all glory and champagne. But they basically have a realistic shot at the Super Bowl every year as long as Brady is QB and Belichick is coach. This will be their 6th Super Bowl appearance in 14 seasons. They've had a stranglehold on their division forever. The QB is a handsome millionaire who married a supermodel who is even richer than he is. Our coach is a surly bastard who pushes the limit, ignores the unwritten (and sometimes written) rules and has no problem expressing his disdain for dumb questions and a large portion of the media. He's also smarter and better than almost all the other coaches. There's Spygate, obviously. There's the Patriots using every kind of play and advantage to win games (hurry up offense, quick snaps, unusual formations). There's the fact that they never let up on an opponent until the clock strikes 0.

The fans are from a city that went from being joked on (Red Sox, 1918, Who's Your Daddy, etc.) and irrelevant for the last 25 years (Celtics post-1986, Patriots always, Bruins) to winning championships consistently across all the sports. It's created its fair share of obnoxious, entitled fans that seem to stand out loudest among the crowd. Not exactly a recipe for everyone to love the Patriots, you understand. To an extent I really do get it.

If you're a fan of the team, you just have to accept it and realize it's just noise and it comes with the territory of utterly unprecedented winning over a long period of time. Some people are never going to like the Patriots, and they'll latch on to whatever far-fetched reason to discredit or disrespect them. If you give me the option of the Patriots success of the last 15 years and being hated vs. the Browns last 15 years and being lovable losers...well, the choice is simple.

Those are all good points.

I don't hate the Pats for winning when they did but the two high profile losses made even me feel bad for a team on the other side of the country from me.

But if you want to hate somebody for winning in general, then for professional sports the last years since 2000 have belonged to Boston (uncontested professional sports title town in those years), and not the usual New York.

New York was always weird, win or lose, with those Madison Square Garden Knicks fans. Why, I don't know but there's some ego mojo going on over there. Then you had the LT era NY Giants and their larger than life image. There was Favre and overinflated hopes with the record setting QB. There was the Yankees core four dynasty not to mention too many WS wins in that 20th century. I think in the '80s and '90s, at least for me and everyone I knew, New York was the city to hate, hands down.

But I don't think amazing post-2000 wins from Bruins, Red Sox, and Celtics are going to erase the Pats 2007 and 2011 heartbreaking seasons for me and start hating Brady. Yes, he's good looking and reportedly prettier than his Victoria Secret wife, but how do you lose two Super Bowls to a mediocre Giants and less than elite Eli Manning? That has to hurt and I think a lot of newly minted Pats fans from other areas of the country, like me, will really be pulling for Tom to get those two monkeys off his back which are just as unsightly, even with pretty looks and a pretty wife.

And then there's the aging America who will be pulling for a QB many deem past his prime to take out the young, and full of (well, you know what) Seahawks who come across as bullies too new to know the concept of respect. Experience and patience can win over the fastest 40 and youthful stamina.


And for "...I'll turn that question over to the other football fans in this thread that hate the Patriots":

You may find Pats haters on this board, OK Jets fans, but wait until you start seeing what stupid stuff Seahawks fans and Richard Sherman himself start saying before the big game.

If Seattle isn't already hated more than anybody, what they say in coming days will make even the most pro-Jets fans take up sides with the Patriots. I think one of the Jets fans here already said they will be rooting for Patriots and that alone shows there's no hate, these days, against New England. I think a national poll the day before the game will show a country behind the Patriots and there will be this little part of the map showing Washington state being for the Seahawks. Trust me, Niners fans in Calfornia and Raiders fans (who were victims too many times of the then AFC West Seahawks) will guarantee that the biggest state will be a Patriots state.

 

[63dot]

Anyway, fan hate? Team popularity?

Acutally a lot of people like the Pats (http://deadspin.com/5980852/who-is-americas-favorite-nfl-team-facebook-data-offer-a-clear-winner) and here's a map of hates (Seattle wins):

 

[rhett7660]

Acutally a lot of people like the Pats (http://deadspin.com/5980852/who-is-americas-favorite-nfl-team-facebook-data-offer-a-clear-winner) and here's a map of hates (Seattle wins):

I am surprised the hate for phily in Texas. I would have thought the Skins would have taken the cake there! I know I hate them more than any other team in the league...... next to the Giants, Phily, and 49ers!

 

[AustinIllini]

I am surprised the hate for phily in Texas. I would have thought the Skins would have taken the cake there! I know I hate them more than any other team in the league...... next to the Giants, Phily, and 49ers!

Cowboys fans hate Philly. A lot.

 

[bigjnyc]

If Belichick gets caught cheating a second time and gets fined again, does that hurt his legacy and chances to get voted in to the hall of fame? Or is it just baseball that punishes cheaters?

 

[iLog.Genius]

The problem I have with the Seahawks is how much they talk. They win one Super Bowl and act like they have been good as long as a team like the Patriots. A perfect example is the post-game interview with Kearse. He went off about never giving up, this and that. I'm pretty sure the cameras caught him on the side lines after each interception and towards the end of the game where the Packers all but wrapped up the game - he looked dejected as hell. Never giving up? Bulls--t.

I for one will be backing the Patriots. One, just to see what the loud Seahawks players say if/when Brady methodically picks them apart all game and two, how often do you get to witness a QB win 4 Super Bowls?

 

[AustinIllini]

If Belichick gets caught cheating a second time and gets fined again, does that hurt his legacy and chances to get voted in to the hall of fame? Or is it just baseball that punishes cheaters?

No.

 

[63dot]

If Belichick gets caught cheating a second time and gets fined again, does that hurt his legacy and chances to get voted in to the hall of fame? Or is it just baseball that punishes cheaters?

Where and how did he exactly cheat?

Yes, Belichick may not come across as the most media friendly guy, but read this defense of the Pats:

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/01/...ck-cheating-accusations-to-new-absurd-levels/

 

[AustinIllini]

Despite initial reports he would take the job in Washington, Vic Fangio has been hired as the defensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears.

 

[bigjnyc]

Where and how did he exactly cheat?

Yes, Belichick may not come across as the most media friendly guy, but read this defense of the Pats:

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/01/...ck-cheating-accusations-to-new-absurd-levels/

I didn't say he cheated, but the NFL did open an investigation.... So I am asking if he is found to have cheated again.

 

[63dot]

I didn't say he cheated, but the NFL did open an investigation.... So I am asking if he is found to have cheated again.

If he cheated, then kick him out of the NFL.

But using odd formations on the cusp of breaking the rules is not cheating as some suggest. If what he did is not legal on the field, then the refs have to intervene and penalize the Pats however many yards. If the rules are not clear, then fix them for next season.

As for the giant TV screen Belickick is said to be watching, come on do you believe that?

And underinflated footballs? Brady didn't pass effectively during that game and what he did sucked (read attached cbs article).

 

[Peace]

Acutally a lot of people like the Pats (http://deadspin.com/5980852/who-is-americas-favorite-nfl-team-facebook-data-offer-a-clear-winner) and here's a map of hates (Seattle wins):

Am I looking at the same map you posted or do you not know the Northeast and Florida have more people than California and Nevada ?

Looks like a map of rivalries more than a hate map.

Using Facebook as a gauge for liking a team is just. wow. Very scientific.

And one last thing to think about.

ALL last season everybody here was talking trash about Seattle and PED's.

Well guess what people.

BRANDON BROWNER is on your team.
The same team that has produced a murderer,been busted for spying and now accused of illegally deflating footballs.

Bilicheck , Brady and the Patriots can ..
You read the rest.

 

[63dot]

Am I looking at the same map you posted or do you not know the Northeast and Florida have more people than California and Nevada ?

Looks like a map of rivalries more than a hate map.

and using Facebook as a gauge for liking a team is just. wow. Very scientific.

I put up a love and hate map.

Seattle is hated by largest area and largest population, but that's not uncommon for any defending Super Bowl champ. You did put the brakes on some big teams last year and this year and they, like my Niner household, will be sounding rooting for New England.

If anything I think this shows the nation that you are the juggernaut dynasty that Richard Sherman saw a year and a half ago and it's everybody vs. Seattle.

You are in a sense the New York Yankees of football and even though you don't have all the rings, you are the only team who has all the weapons of offense, defense, and special teams. Your QB is among the best of the young lot, you can run the hell out of the ball, your D is the legion of boom, and you have one of the best coaches. There's no doubting that you are the best team this year, and last year and that's why (the way it is supposed to be) that you are the most hated team in the NFL. BTW, the Yankees with a lot of help from their 5 rings in the Jeter years, is the most hated in baseball.

Smart money says that your multi-dimensional team should be able to easily beat the Patriots and again the Super Bowl is yours to lose. The Pats really only have a huge offense but you took care of even a more productive offense in last year's Super Bowl so nothing has changed. You don't have to out throw Tom Brady, but only have to have an average Seattle Seahawks day (if last half of season is any indication of your condition) to beat New England. A mediocre day will yield you a one point win, but with all cylinders clicking you will win by more than 10 points.

If Sherman is hurt, and Wilson is off his timing like Sunday, and they don't recuperate then you may find that there's no way to go into this game expecting a 35 point rout. You may most likely win, but the Seahawks legacy will be based on how big you win by.

If you are known as a team that took out Manning then Brady the next year, your D will rightly be compared to the Steel Curtain as was suggested on Sunday and your team will rightly be called a football dynasty (usually reserved for 3 SB wins in short order) and "dominant".

 

[Queen of Spades]

If he cheated, then kick him out of the NFL.

But using odd formations on the cusp of breaking the rules is not cheating as some suggest. If what he did is not legal on the field, then the refs have to intervene and penalize the Pats however many yards. If the rules are not clear, then fix them for next season.

As for the giant TV screen Belickick is said to be watching, come on do you believe that?

And underinflated footballs? Brady didn't pass effectively during that game and what he did sucked (read attached cbs article).

This is the only time I'm even going to address this, because I find the whole thing laughably dumb. Deception is the POINT OF FOOTBALL. Play action? Pre-snap movement? Disguised blitzes? You are trying to confuse and deceive the other team. Period. The NFL has said the Patriots formations were legal. Harbaugh made himself look bitter and outcoached. The idea came from the Detroit Lions (and college teams do it) - but again, that doesn't fit the Cheatriots narrative so people ignore it. It's easy to be salty when you're outsmarted again and again.

The underinflated footballs...god, I can't believe people actual think this stuff is legitimate. My dad and I had a good laugh about it. Again, the ONLY reason this is even a thing is because it's New England. Aaron Rodgers talking about overinflating footballs? No biggie, that's just Aaron! He's a competitor! 500lbs of people/linemen/piles on a football is going to cause some variation. I'd be shocked if anything came of this other than collective boners from Patriots haters.

ALL last season everybody here was talking trash about Seattle and PED's.

Well guess what people.

BRANDON BROWNER is on your team.
The same team that has produced a murderer,been busted for spying and now accused of illegally deflating footballs.

Bilicheck , Brady and the Patriots can ..
You read the rest.

Stop trying to play the moral card with regards to a football team. And this is for everyone. ALL NFL TEAMS EMPLOY PED USERS - at some point, now, in the future, in the past. ALL. If you think your team is saintly/exempt, you're incredible naive about the game of football.

ALL NFL TEAMS EMPLOY *******s - men who could be violent in their personal lives, who drive drunk, who get arrested, etc. What matters to me as a fan is how this stuff is handled by my team when it comes out. I can say personally I think the Patriots handle these things appropriately. Others can decide for themselves with regards to their own teams. But no team can claim some dumb ass moral superiority about never employing jerks at some point.

Finally, for the millionth time, if you're going to throw around Spygate at least know what the **** it refers to. The Patriots got bopped for the *location* of where they filmed. Not filming, because guess what - all the other teams did/do the same thing. People hate facts because they derail the Cheatriots narrative people can't live without. But it's just dumb. What Bill Belichick did was get caught for not following protocol that had changed the previous year, which all teams had been made aware of. Yes, he broke the rules and was deservedly punished. All this hyperbole about the Patriots filming walkthroughs and everything else is just uniformed and ignorant - but clearly helps people sleep at night. You didn't get your butt whooped, you lost because of cheating!

Like most Patriots fans, I ignore it. Trying to convince people that something they wholeheartedly believe as gospel is incorrect or flawed is always a pointless task. I am still tempted at times to try, but it is a fruitless endeavor. I almost enjoy the Cheatriots stuff now, it just reminds me of how many smack downs the Patriots have laid over the last decade and a half. No one would care an iota if the team stunk.

Here's how I feel about this whole thing:

 

[Peace]

This is the only time I'm even going to address this, because I find the whole thing laughably dumb. Deception is the POINT OF FOOTBALL. Play action? Pre-snap movement? Disguised blitzes? You are trying to confuse and deceive the other team. Period. The NFL has said the Patriots formations were legal. Harbaugh made himself look bitter and outcoached. The idea came from the Detroit Lions (and college teams do it) - but again, that doesn't fit the Cheatriots narrative so people ignore it. It's easy to be salty when you're outsmarted again and again.

The underinflated footballs...god, I can't believe people actual think this stuff is legitimate. My dad and I had a good laugh about it. Again, the ONLY reason this is even a thing is because it's New England. Aaron Rodgers talking about overinflating footballs? No biggie, that's just Aaron! He's a competitor! 500lbs of people/linemen/piles on a football is going to cause some variation. I'd be shocked if anything came of this other than collective boners from Patriots haters.



Stop trying to play the moral card with regards to a football team. And this is for everyone. ALL NFL TEAMS EMPLOY PED USERS - at some point, now, in the future, in the past. ALL. If you think your team is saintly/exempt, you're incredible naive about the game of football.

ALL NFL TEAMS EMPLOY *******s - men who could be violent in their personal lives, who drive drunk, who get arrested, etc. What matters to me as a fan is how this stuff is handled by my team when it comes out. I can say personally I think the Patriots handle these things appropriately. Others can decide for themselves with regards to their own teams. But no team can claim some dumb ass moral superiority about never employing jerks at some point.

Finally, for the millionth time, if you're going to throw around Spygate at least know what the **** it refers to. The Patriots got bopped for the *location* of where they filmed. Not filming, because guess what - all the other teams did/do the same thing. People hate facts because they derail the Cheatriots narrative people can't live without. But it's just dumb. What Bill Belichick did was get caught for not following protocol that had changed the previous year, which all teams had been made aware of. Yes, he broke the rules and was deservedly punished. All this hyperbole about the Patriots filming walkthroughs and everything else is just uniformed and ignorant - but clearly helps people sleep at night. You didn't get your butt whooped, you lost because of cheating!

Like most Patriots fans, I ignore it. Trying to convince people that something they wholeheartedly believe as gospel is incorrect or flawed is always a pointless task. I am still tempted at times to try, but it is a fruitless endeavor. I almost enjoy the Cheatriots stuff now, it just reminds me of how many smack downs the Patriots have laid over the last decade and a half. No one would care an iota if the team stunk.

Keep rationalizing. Just like last year right ?

I personally don't think the Hawks will beat the Patriots but if they do I hope its the same score as last year.


I do agree about the eligible linemen. Seattle did the same thing when they kicked that fake field goal. They had a rookie lineman as an eligible receiver line up on the left. Then he just ran into the end zone.

 

[63dot]

The underinflated footballs...god, I can't believe people actual think this stuff is legitimate. My dad and I had a good laugh about it. Again, the ONLY reason this is even a thing is because it's New England. Aaron Rodgers talking about overinflating footballs? No biggie, that's just Aaron! He's a competitor! 500lbs of people/linemen/piles on a football is going to cause some variation. I'd be shocked if anything came of this other than collective boners from Patriots haters.

From the Boston CBS link, it pretty much shows the throws Brady made weren't on a par with what he usually does and there weren't unusually weird catches. The ball was normal and there's nothing to suggest they were under inflated.

The Pats won fair and square and against Baltimore they were all tied up beginning at 4th, then NE went up slightly and it's Flacco who threw that stupid pass right into the hands of the Patriots defense to end the game. Game over. Pats won that one and the difference was their D, not under inflated balls.

And against the Colts, the Pats smeared them on every level and no under inflated, regular, or over inflated ball would have helped the Colts offense do any better. The Colts imploded and simple as that. Game over there, too.

I don't know why the NFL is doing an investigation. Sure, if found guilty then the Pats should be sent home and have runner up Colts play in the Super Bowl but even the allegations don't help a team that played well and didn't cheat. It's not as if there were a lot of passes and catches to show an unusual NE win. CBS Boston (link) pointed out that Brady threw for only 226 yards so this isn't a case of any altered ball. Hmm, did somebody put some special air into the insoles of Blount?