I am not sure if I understand the NFL anymore
 

What I hate about this is the pats could not beat the giants but could beat Seattle. Eli was not deserving more than Brady in 11. But now the fact that a immature "live it up" like Gronk is the gold standard to winning a sb is just sad. There will never be someone like this on the saints because Payton and Brees do not want that kind of character. And it sucks if this is what it takes to win now.

Re: I am not sure if I understand the NFL anymore
 

Not sure if I understand you. But patriots deserved this win. They deserved it the first time against Eli as well, but the giants got on a roll at the right time. Plus that lucky catch also helped the giants win that game.

Brady and belichek's Patriots have been the epitome of consistency.

Re: I am not sure if I understand the NFL anymore
 

I do think the Pats have benefitted over the Brady era by being in the AFC East and the AFC in general. The east has sucked for years with only the Jets giving any fight for the majority of the time. The AFC put up a fight but kill each other hopes of home field by having a dog fight for the title each year. Look at most years in the AFC and you'll have 2-4 teams fighting it out. The NFC has so much more depth

Re: I am not sure if I understand the NFL anymore
 

It helps when you bend the rules as much as possible. ..

Depending on the investigation they should have the title stripped. .. it will never happen because Goodell is in Krafts back pocket.

I really can't look at the patriots as champs now...

Re: I am not sure if I understand the NFL anymore
 

Excellent point! I've often wondered the same thing, not just with New England but with many an AFC Champion, at how they would rate if they played in the NFC ... IDK if it goes back to the NFL/AFL days, but it just seems as if the NFC side of things has always been the more "smashmouth" league ... other than maybe those Pittsburgh teams of the '70s and maybe a couple of those Ravens teams ... ouch! :).

Re: I am not sure if I understand the NFL anymore
 

pats superbowl record

Super Bowl championships (4)
2001 (XXXVI), 2003 (XXXVIII), 2004 (XXXIX), 2014 (XLIX)

Conference championships (8)

AFC: 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2014

Sorry says it all. say what you want 4-2 in the Bill and Brady era against the best the NFC has to offer. ok give credit were credit is due.



They are not done yet either

Tom says he will be back for more.

Re: I am not sure if I understand the NFL anymore
 

Oh yeah, just those first three SB's gave 'em 'dynasty' status for that decade, IMO ... and yeah, scary thought, but Brady'll certainly be back for more, :neutral:. Him & that offense ... I couldn't believe how they controlled the ball on the Seahawks, especially in the beginning of the game.

Re: I am not sure if I understand the NFL anymore
 

WTH?!? Gronk plays hurt and still gives it his all - and he BLOCKS!!!

Love that the Pats took out the Seahawks...

I may not like the Pats owner Kraft, nor Belichick and the way he has been two-faced with some of his veterans in contract negotiations...

But the Pats win with a Team Mantra, and even Brady gave credit where credit was due at the Victory dias and said a rookie free agent cornerback stepped up and won the game...

What more could you ask as a football fan?!?

And they beat a no class team like Seattle who added another chapter to their classlessness with that fight at the end of the game...

It wasn't the Saints nor Peyton Manning riding off into the sunset, but I'll take it...

Re: I am not sure if I understand the NFL anymore
 

truly Gronk is a beast. Jimmy is just not built like him. He tries but he is just not there. heck of a boobie prize still.


Two faced? players know they will not see the mega deals in NE and they refuse to be held captive by large long term contracts like the saints. They will let you walk or trade you away as soon as they make the move to replace you.

they save their cash for solid short term contracts to players they know will make a difference. Draft is all about throwing as many darts at the board as you can.

unlike the saints they do not over rewards players for a flash in the pan season or a super bowl victory. you have to produce year in and year at accept the team is about winning and if you want that you will not try to hold the team hostage. they will gladly let you walk and chace your money else where.

Your backup should be ready. If not draft a replacement and sign two solid mid level FA to replace you. one of the three will probably work out as long as the scouting is done correctly. if not you save cap and improved a position depth. need to be creative with play calling and player rotation thats all. then in a year or two you can sign that mega short term deal to plug the holes with a proven player (ie Reeves Moss ect.) to put you back on top.

I admire the attitude. Even Brady said his contracts are the Patriots way of doing business and he could go else where and make more money but he knows if he wants a chance to win every year his best bet is to stay in new england.

saints front office could learn a thing or two from them. been saying it for years but they always prove it falls on deaf ears.

Re: I am not sure if I understand the NFL anymore
 

Where there's smoke...

You've had more than one player that left New England embittered toward Belichick...

Shrewed sports management? Sure...

But leading guys on to risk future health "for the team"?!?

That's not right and there are a few bodies laying around to suggest Belichick's motivational tactics are less than scrupulous...

Re: I am not sure if I understand the NFL anymore
 

Yep, like it or not (and it's not for me).
But you gotta respect that.

Re: I am not sure if I understand the NFL anymore
 

I dunno what it is about the AFC that sucks in general, the last 15 years its been the same 5-6 teams in the AFC in the SB, that is Pats, Ravens, Broncos, Colts, Steelers, and 1 lonely Raiders team. The NFC in the last 15 years has sent a good many teams there, almost everyone in the South, GB, Chicago, Philly, even everyone in the NFC West has gone.

Re: I am not sure if I understand the NFL anymore
 

I think you're also missing that this is a different Pats team that faced the Giants also.

Re: I am not sure if I understand the NFL anymore
 

I think its funny that it took 4 SBs for Brady to win because of him and not the kicker. Not to mention 4 pt victory the biggest of the 4 SBs.

Re: I am not sure if I understand the NFL anymore
 

OP reeks of envy and jealously. Why do you care how Gronk lives his life?

Re: I am not sure if I understand the NFL anymore
 

if you want to talk division titles then i have to admit the AFC East is one of the marsh mellow divisions. just look at the rotating door at QB for all the other teams over the year.

that was the biggest knock i had on the Byrd signing besides the dollar amount. he was coming out of the AFC East. 4 games a year against subpar QB play ever year with in the division and always get a couple thrown in outside the division. now he does not have the supporting cast he had in buffalo either so i am not hammering him completely here. the saints did a bad job of getting him the help he needed so we get the biggest bang for the buck. just like they have done to Drew.

back on topic. winning the AFC East has been pretty much a cake walk for the pats.

Re: I am not sure if I understand the NFL anymore
 

whatever it is they do and post in front of me explains it; why it works; look at the roster and name 10 on that team that u no about, there blue collar hustling to the ball players that do it every play, every play. payton wants that and he gets it , but every other play. we had it in 09 people we dominated 13 weeks in a row and then let the hammer off for 3 before finishing the job.

Re: I am not sure if I understand the NFL anymore
 

It's kinda fitting in terms of the Patriots' team philosophy that the guy who actually won the freaking game for them, was an UDFA rookie that nobody had ever heard of....

(Meanwhile, in that department, the Saints have SJB, but that's another story.)

Re: I am not sure if I understand the NFL anymore
 

I'm not going to lie. They very well could win next year to break the record for Brady. And their schedule is too damn easy next year too.

I really don't care for the NFL more than I do fantasy. Just how it is these days. Even if we do get it together, are we meant to stop Brady from passing Montana and Bradshaw?

Re: I am not sure if I understand the NFL anymore
 

Actually 2. Brees did not start week 17.

Re: I am not sure if I understand the NFL anymore
 

Someone also mentioned it on here, their hustle on both Seattle and NE. I don't see much give from neither defense. How many times have we seen our D-line just give up on the play and stand around while the qb makes a play.

And ppl talking about the afc being weak. Or NE's division being weak. It's not their fault and they still have to face the best nfc team in the Superbowl. So that argument is kinda null.

Hate to say it but we need more players that don't mind getting into a dog fight.

Re: I am not sure if I understand the NFL anymore
 

? What? Some guy pops a FG, but it is still Brady driving the bus.

Re: I am not sure if I understand the NFL anymore
 

Im surprised how little attention or money is paid to sports psychology in the NFL.

Re: I am not sure if I understand the NFL anymore
 

Interesting analysis.
I wonder what the equivalent analysis of the Conference championship games show.

Re: I am not sure if I understand the NFL anymore
 

the conference title games has had more teams, like the AFC seeing Jets and Chargers in them.

I think what is more troubling is the amount of teams in the AFC that has failed to make it to a playoff game or win a playoff game in the last decade or more. That is what stands out to me, big reason you can send the Patriots to the SB so often and eventually win one, most of their success in the early 2000's was more based on the fact the whole league was weak, sadly enough it was weak this year also and they won it, it might be weak again for years to come with Manning and Brees aging.

Re: I am not sure if I understand the NFL anymore
 

The whole league week? Or how about the Pats are that good?

When you can plug a player in and he performs as you need you can't blame other teams for that.

Re: I am not sure if I understand the NFL anymore
 

Weak or saturated?

Re: I am not sure if I understand the NFL anymore
 

The NFL sucks. :roll: