Please give me a little slack for RANT NUMBER TWO… So this morning Bill Belichick spoke at length about the inflation controversy. For those of us who are followers of NE it was surprising to actually hear him talk so long about anything. Me,…Do I think this is a big deal? Yes and No. No its not a big deal… because all other 31 quarterbacks have inflation preferences and manipulation of footballs is common (Aaron Rodgers’ over inflation, Brad Johnson in the Super Bowl, Minnesota and Carolina warming the footballs on the side line, Frozen footballs for kickers, etc.), and the complexity and return on an endeavor like this is minimal. In other words, did it truly make a difference? No way. Its like taking a history exam with ‘1776’ written on your arm…. The reward for that scribble is minimal. The primary reason we are hearing about this is because the Patriots are over achievers, who are more successful than any other team. To quote the great modern prophet Taylor Swift; ‘Haters got to hate, hate, hate.’ Regardless of it coming via the real world or football, we have become a culture that has learned to hate the 1%, and believe that they only way one makes that vaunted position is to stab others on the way up. And that is what makes it a big deal… because 53 players, 18+ coaches, 10 practice squad players waged an incredible battle to get this point. This team has been once in a lifetime in regards to both talent and effort. Some experts argue that they are better than the team that went to the trio of SB’s in the early 2000’s and one of the top teams to take the field in the modern era. To tarnish what they did, whether a freak of nature or intentional shadiness, and put that asterisk next to their accomplishments is a shame and something that we will have to deal with as fans for another decade. It hurts how history looks at the Pats and how football is perceived in general. That said,…regardless of what comes out of the league over the next few days…. There is only one response… Whether it was a grand conspiracy, Tommy or Bill going all dark side, a rebel ball boy, freak of nature, or broken gauge, the only response is to stand up and say (pardoning the bluntness); “Screw You”. In the end, this team is a once in a lifetime team. Whatever happens from this point to Arizona is simply extra. This team went from an ugly start with TB being washed up, to being on the cusp of history. This didn’t come because of cheating, it came because the organization from top to bottom sets the standard for professional sports. I will wear my Pats Jerseys proudly and I will claim that stupid ‘Asterisk’ as the price of greatness.
Posted on: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 17:16:16 +0000
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