I hate the New England Patriots. I think that's obvious by now. But, unlike most sports fans, I don't hate them just because they are statistically "the best team." I mean, if they are the best team, why don't we just cancel the season? Why not just hand them the Superbowl rings, huh? I know why. The reason we shouldn't is that they don't deserve it.
The New England Patriots get lucky. They get lucky all the time. There must be someone up in heaven rooting for them. (I think it may be my Uncle Pepi, a priest and long-time Patriots fan who died in August). Regardless, the Patriots have won a lot of games they should have lost. May we please refer to the Patriots vs. Ravens game on Monday, December 3rd?
Everyone thought the game would be a bore. The Ravens had lost five straight and were no match for the undefeated Patriots, who were 19-point favorites. Why even bother watching? The Patriots did win, 27-24, but the Ravens outplayed them. Oh, indeed, they did. The Ravens had 166 rushing yards vs. the Patriots' 90. In the fourth quarter, the Patriots were down 24-17. Only a late touchdown with 44 seconds left in the game saved them. The thing that hurt the Ravens? The ref's bogus calls. Even Mr. Brady admitted, "We made enough plays at the end. A lot of questionable calls and we made some plays." Even I, a Steeler fan and therefore a division rival, felt sorry for the Ravens.
Earlier this year, the Patriots were caught cheating. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell charged them with videotaping the New York Jets' play signals. The Jets say they had suspected the cheating for years. Do the Patriots lose their Superbowl titles? Nope. And, oh yeah, the Patriots still got the "win" against the Jets, keeping their undefeated season going. Head coach Bill Belichick was fined half a million dollars. The team was fined a quarter million, and lost a first round draft pick.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Drunken Dane
Comments like these are like sweet wine(whine?) to my ears. If you pick enough into any NFL teams history you will always find things worth criticizing or even label as cheating.
Seeing as the OP is a Steelers fan, lets NOT discuss the rampant steroid use of the great Steelers teams of the 70s, which contributed to their many victories, all of which are celebrated by Steelers fans then and today. It was widely known back then, and still is amongst the more than casual NFL fans, yet today it is merely brought forth when illustrating the hypocrisies of certain parties. In other words, at times like this.
Blinded by emo-rages, people turn to the obvious targets when a team is doing well: the referees. Somehow thinking that by emphasizing the borderline calls that went the Pats way, in addition to the blatantly wrong, and ignoring the ones that didn't (or were blatantly wrong against the Pats) they can somehow prove that their success is not down to ability but merely a product of luck, conspiracies or other crackpot theories. When presented with the only sane solution to this (stop following a sport they think is fixed) they usually opt instead to fly into another emo-rage, thus starting the cycle again.
Having lived through the hard years of the patsies jokes, let me assure you that it is BY FAR better to be hated than ridiculed, because at least this means that your team is doing something worth talking about.
2 - Dan
Bogus call? You mean the defensive holding call where the replay clearly showed that there was defensive holding? The only bogus call was the time-out by the Ravens coaching staff. You can't win games if the coaches aren't 100% in it like the Patriots' coaches always are.
3 - Chris
"Because I think if they win the Superbowl again, I might puke."
Sweet, I hope you have a bucket ready.
4 - Charlie
In the interest of full disclosure, I am definitely a proud Patriots fan
Maddy, I appreciate your honesty here, but just for the record, there weren't a lot of game the Patriots "should have lost." That Baltimore Ravens game was the only one they did just about lose - but as luck would have it, the Ravens called a timeout just prior to what was looking like a fatal Patriots fourth down play late in the game. Brady took advantage of that new life...and the rest was history.
The only other games that were really close or somewhat close were the Colts, Jets, and Philly Eagles games, but the Pats certainly earned those victories, by playing their best football late in each game.
And about Spygate, remember (and track down the official statement) that Roger Goodell determined that the New England Patriots broke NFL rules, NOT that they "cheated."
I wonder if the Jets are going to lose a draft pick or big money for videotaping the Patriots during last year's playoff game! They apparently lied and said they got permission to videotape the game from one of the endzones because no one in the Patriots camp verified that claim.
My point is that BOTH teams videotaped each other, and if you think they are the only teams that have done this in recent years, you (meaning everybody) are naive.
What the Patriots were guilty of was ignorance or arrogance, not cheating. Instead of videotaping from somewhere in the stands, press box level or end zone area with permission from the opposition, the Patriots just went ahead and faced the tape toward the Jets defense coaches.
And all they got was about a half quarter's worth of the game. It just wasn't worth the effort, in the end and the Pats got harsh punishment because of it. Besides, with several Jets coaches acting as decoys and the Patriots not knowing which coach is calling the real signals, any value from this videotape would've been redeemed long after the game finished because NFL rules state that the videotaper can't be anywhere near his team's staff during the game.
Even then, what the Pats learned (or would have learned had they taped that Jets game in full) would likely have been useless during the late season rematch, since any smart, professional team changes their signals throughout the season (like MLB teams do, especially if they suspect opposing teams stealing their signs).
In other words, you don't automatically gain any competitive advantage from videotaping the opposition, even if it's for coaching and game-studying purposes (which is what I believe the Pats, Jets and any other team does this for).
Like I said, the so-called "Spygate" wasn't worth the cost to the Pats (losing a #1 draft pick, which is unprecedented), but they've long since put that incident in the past and proved they didn't need no stinkin' sideline videotape to succeed. Love 'em or hate 'em, this is a very special and historic run the Patriots are on, and (knock on wood) hopefully they will keep it that way for the rest of the season.
5 - Ron
You know you really don't make a very good case, in that you just come off whiney on this one.
Someone just needs to beat them. Sounds like you're just angry since no one has been able to do thus so far(and not like to for a while). If no one can beat them all year, then they are the best. Simple, really simple.
Stop the hate and participate. You're watching history unfold before your eyes on so many levels, don't miss it with your hate glasses on. Sit back grab a beer and enjoy it for all it's splendor.
6 - Matthew T. Sussman
"that Roger Goodell determined that the New England Patriots broke NFL rules, NOT that they "cheated." "
Deliberately breaking rules is cheating.
But the penalty was a fine and loss of a draft pick. Roger Goodell's series punishments have proven to be far from consistent, but he calls 'em as he sees 'em. If someone thinks the Patriots should have lose the game against the Jets, Goodell's the man that person should be pissed at.
7 - CallmeMaddy
Ron--
I'm upset that the Pats think they are so great, when they are great, because they are built on lies.
I forgot when they cheated in the Tuck game.
Oh, and I'm sixteen. No beers for me. Just cream soda. :)
8 - Melanie
Maddy,
While "spygate" will always be a footnote (mostly for haters) to the Patriots unprecedented season, it isn't a reason for them not to be written into the history books nor is it a reason to justify losing. Mangini blew the whistle on a practice that many coaches, players, and officials have admitted doing for years. Mangini took personal knowledge from having worked under Bill Belichick's tutelage. Mangini's whistle blowing smacked of desperation. Should the Patriots have videotaped? No. Are they the only team to have done such a thing? No. Are other teams still doing it? There is a good chance.
Good calls, bad calls, luck, spygate, the direction of the wind, and the correct seasoning to the chicken strips at Gillette have nothing to do with the level of play that the team has brought each week. Has it appeared more than once that the Patriots would, could, should lose a game? Yes, but they always reach deep within themselves and pull out the effort it takes to overcome and win.
Love the Patriots or hate the Patriots there is something to be said for not only the athletic talent on the field, but the intelligence of all involved.
9 - Steve
Another jealous football fan heard from....
10 - Charlie
I'm upset that the Pats think they are so great, when they are great, because they are built on lies.
I forgot when they cheated in the Tuck game.
Maddy, Maddy, come on now, there was no cheating in the "Tuck Rule" game either. Maybe you were too young when the "Tuck rule" game between the Pats and Raiders happened, but the referee in that game - Walt something - went strictly by the letter of the law, even though the law was stupid to begin with.
We all know a fumble when we see it, but NFL rules have changed so much over the years - it never used to be a rule that the ground could not cause a fumble, for instance - that the definition of a fumble is a lot stricter now than it has ever been. The Tuck rule call - in effect an incomplete pass because of Brady's arm going forward when the ball came loose - was the RIGHT call, strictly speaking.
And Matt, sorry but breaking a rule is not necessarily cheating; you have to know you are violating a rule in order to be considered a cheater. Did Belichick know he was breaking NFL rules when he had Estrella videotape from the sidelines? I guess we'll never know.
And Melanie, there's nothing I can add to your comments. Well said.
11 - chris
ok maybe the pats almost lost to the ravens they came back thats what superbowl teasm do they win games and maybe they go got cheated they didnt cheat aginst the other 14 teams they beat so maybe they had some close games every tema is undefeted or not none is giong to stop they beat some of the best teams pittsburg,colts,chragers and enythi9ng else in there path maybe they should juts hand ova the rings it will save the other teams from humiliation every has to stop using the excuse oo they cheated they tokk away the tape befre half the didnt even get 2 see it so all u other peolpe have to shut ure moulth becase there the best team the nfl have sen sence teh 84bears,72dophins and the rest of the best dynasty aand there going to keep winijng until somone stops them and that could take years and remember records are made to be broken so im looking forwasrd to 19-0 everyone know thats going to happend i just cant wait ti win it this year then win it agin next year
12 - Ben
As far as the whole snowplow thing goes, how can it be cheating if at the time the incident took place, there was no rule against it? That was simply a case of a smart head coach having a good idea at the right time.
As far as the whole "deliberately breaking the rules is cheating," oh please. If that's the case then there is cheating going on during every single play, namely the offensive line committing holding violations with deliberate intent.
Deliberate breaking of the rules does NOT equal cheating.
13 - Jay McGillicuddy
Patriots broke the rules and were punished for spygate. Were they wrong "yes"
Tuck Rule; did they Cheat? Of course not the official made the call.
Snow Plow incident was soley done by the snowplow driver. Those are the facts. There was no rule against it at the time. Therefore no penalty or cheating involved. Just innovating thinking by an employee of the stadium.
The Ravens should have won that game no doubt. The blame is on the Ravens coaches not that the Pats are lucky.
Maddy you need to get your facts straight before mouthing off. It does not give you any credibility whatsoever.
Just another young sports fan who doesn't seem to like her team losing as the Steelers are on the way down. Injuries are going to be the demise of this team this year. More excuses I'm sure.
14 - CallmeMaddy
People can say I'm jealous of the Pats success, but I'm not.
I rather be a fan of a team who didn't win a single game all year than the New England Patriots.
I hate those Patriots.
15 - Matt
The Baltimore game was called fairly, despite what Ray Lewis and other Ravens said.
If you want to whine about New England getting the benefit of the doubt from refs, then you need to rewatch the NE-Indy game from this year.
Asante Samuel on a BS pass interference call, Kevin Faulk clearly being hit before the ball gets there...no call, and a HUH? offensive pass interference on Randy Moss.
You call the Patriots lucky, not realized that Luck is just Preparation + Opportunity
16 - Dr Dreadful
I'm not a football expert by any means but in any sport, a team that wins every game it plays is a very, very good team.
And I think that despite her denials, jealousy does play a part in Maddy's dislike of the Patriots. Any team as dominant as the Pats have been over the last few seasons is likely to incur that sort of resentment.
I follow English Premier League soccer, where Manchester United has been the dominant team now for the last fifteen years. Those of us who aren't Man U fans absolutely love it when they lose - which because it doesn't happen very often is all the sweeter when it does.
It can sometimes seem that whenever United are in trouble, they always manage to win that crucial last-minute penalty or have a goal against them disallowed. And of course there's the infamous phenomenon known as 'Manchester Standard Time', whereby if United are losing by one goal, the injury time added on at the end of the game will last until they score.
Let's face it, referees are human and can be pressured into favoring the strong. But that doesn't happen as often as we think, and we all forget those occasions when a decision didn't go Man U's way.
The same applies to the New England Patriots. Football is a funny old game (to borrow a favorite saying of that great old English soccer player Jimmy Greaves), and although 16-0 would be an incredible achievement, it all counts for nothing if they don't negotiate the postseason. I have a sneaking feeling that they will get their 'perfect season' and then come to grief in the playoffs in a quite unexpected way.
17 - Joe from Maine
You don't like the Patriots. That's OK. You should root for the team you have a connection with anyway. I grew up here in Maine where most where Pats fans and some Giants fans sprinkled in too. When I was 16 the Patriots went 1-15. We fans have suffered with terrible teams all of those years the Steelers and Cowboys were dynasties. In the last 10 years I've been fortunate enough to see my team get a good coach, Bill Parcells. He made some great changes and then the team was sold to a man who has been a fan, a season ticket holder, most of his life. His name is Bob Kraft and he made even more positive changes. He brought in a coach that is a real football historian, Bill Belichick. Now BB is not nearly the fun personality that Bill Parcells was, but he has literally read every book ever written about football, having recently donated thousands of them to the library at the US Naval Acadamy. One thing that Belichick has been doing since he was ten years old is look at film of football games and break down the action on big pads of paper. His dad was a collage football coach and taught him how to predict what was about to happen based on what he saw on film before the ball was snapped. After watching the same team for several years he could correctly predict what a coach would tell his team to do before it happened. When he became a head coach the natural progression of systematic prediction is to watch what the coach calls and then tell your team what to do. That's why you see so much movement of players before the snap to disguise what is about to happen, right? The historian in Belichick wants to build a library of football situations. For example if he is coaching against the Steelers in a game, what is Mike Tomlin most likely to call for a play when facing a 3rd down with 8 yards to go inside the red-zone, with a three receiver set and the tight end located on the weak side of the formation and the quarterback in the shotgun with an empty backfield and a rookie receiver in the slot? Oh and what about when it's raining and the ball is slippery? What are the Steelers most likely to call in that situation? As an average fan would have absolutely no idea what is about to happen, what if you were a coach that had over 200 games Mike Tomlin had coach on video to look at the week before you played the Steelers? You could quickly build a set of situations and make a list of the plays called in those specific situations. Bill Belichick is a "genius" because he has mastered the concept of "Situational Football". Just because he wanted to use a camera to record signals that can can be seen from every seat in the stadium doesn't make him a cheater. It makes him an innovator. The fact is that Belichick didn't think Eric Mangini would shine a light on a practice he himself uses. Stupid? Yes. Cheating? No. That's a word Patriot haters use but the NFL commish never did. The progress of sports is marked with innovation and forward-thinkers. Anyway I'm sorry you don't like the Patriots. I do and I know there's a lot to like with this team. The more you learn about this organization the more you like them. I don't much care for the Steelers because they once stacked all of their player's luggage outside the Patriot's locker room before the AFC Championship game was even played. The luggage was there so that the Steelers could leave for the Super Bowl as soon as they finished with the Patriots. They went home losers instead. I was never more happy! Have fun with your blog and good luck. I hope you can find room in your heart for all the Patriot fans that are enjoying a season to tell the grandkids about in 30 years...
18 - bob from ma
obviously you never really follow the nfl
or you would say those things about everyone involved.
life ain,t fair and neither is the nfl
get over it
19 - Melissa
Maddy, the fact that you are 16 and still ignorant in MANY ways, is reason enough to not say anymore, and just laugh!! I hop eyou grow up and become a true fan of the sport and your team (who lost to the pats - hence you being jealous) and live with the fact that anything can happen; like last year for me, the team I 'hate' the most beating the Pats in the AFC championship game and going on to win the SB... but I don't dare think they suck. (and also, keep in mind any time that yellow flag is thrown, someone CHEATED!)
20 - Rick
Any Steeler fan saying the refs made bogus calls during the Baltimore game needs to watch Super Bowl XL again. Seattle clearly got hosed on several occasions. The fact of the matter is to have a perfect season a lot of things have to go right and that includes a little luck. Just like a pitcher throwing a no-hitter or a perfect game. Nine times out of 10 you'll see some defensive gems happening behind the pitcher. As I lifetime Pats fan, I'd much rather see them lose in December rather than January or February. A perfect regular season means nothing if it isn't followed up with a Super Bowl win.
21 - CallmeMaddy
Don't use Superbowl XL. I was at that game, and saw it in person. The Steelers rocked that season. If the Seahawks were in the AFC, there is no way they would have made it to the Superbowl. That's obvious.
I'm not ignorant. I believe in honesty. I don't care how many people think the Patriots wrong. I used to have respect for them. Before I was made aware of the "Spygate" incident.
I can't wait for the AFC champ game when the Steelers will smack the Pats silly. (Of course, this would require not losing to the Jets...) Historically, Steelers play better as the underdog. And they are not going to be happy to see the Pats in the champ.
It doesn't matter if the Pats are good. The fact that they are a team built on lies means they don't deserve anything.
At 5 (Pacific), my radio show will be discussing this topic. Feel free to call in.
22 - Rick
You were at the game? Awesome! I'm sure seeing it live at a distance was a much better vantage point than all the camera angles we saw on TV. My bad. You're right.
As for the Seahawks being a lesser team than the AFC, I agree. You still can't change the fact they won their conference. This year is a different story. I think Dallas, Green Bay and even Seattle can beat Pittsburgh or New England.
As for meeting the Patriots in the AFC Championship this year? You're forgetting something. As it stands now the Steelers would have to get through Jacksonville, then beat the Chargers or Colts. Not gonna happen.
If they are a good underdog, why did they lose to New England this year? Seems I remember a guaranteed victory for that game too. Hmmmm.
Anyway, I wish your team luck getting through the first two rounds. It's a tall order for a team with the most over rated QB in the NFL.
23 - ollie from Florida
I feel sorry for a 16 yr. old girl to have so much hate in her over sports. You have to remember that you don't have to watch anything that you wish not to. You know & I know the pat's are an excellant team. Tom Brady is a real gentleman & never takes full credit for anything. These players are worked very hard at practice & let's face it, It shows!!Sometimes it's best to keep opionions to yourself as everybody has a job to do.They are going to WIN & all you attackers should hide. Remember unless you can do a better job or know a better way than don't tear people apart. By the way I am much older than you,sick with cancer so my problems are much worse than your, dear.
24 - Jamie
The Patriots are an awesome team! The only difference between the Patriots and many other NFL Football teams is, they got caught and the rest haven't got caught YET! Come on, lets be real about this. They are an excellent team and I hope they go all the way! I am proud to wear my #12 Jersey!!!!
25 - wolfmom
Maddy,
Do you realize that when you say and/or feel 'hate' you generate that energy into the universe which will in turn foster more 'hate'. Perhaps you may want to take an in depth look into your long 16 years on this planet and admit to yourself how childish your article really was. The Patriots are, for this season, the most awesome team because they TRAINED to be the best! Their continued WIN status has or had nothing to do with what you call cheating. Good luck growing up. One becomes wise and capable of thought through Life's experiences and how one acts or re acts to given situations. I hope you learn to control your anger and your finger pointing...admit it Maddy, I am certain you have also broken a few rules. Drink your milk and say your Prayers. Good night
wolfmom in wisconsin