One of the great Super Bowls of our era is over.
Goliath has been slain and a season of butt-kissing (which was earned, pending cheating allegation validity) will be followed with an offseason of scrutiny and questions.
New spying alligations have been raised, and sportsmanship and character issues are a hot topic, along with critics already questioning player and coach’s abilities alike.
Yes, that fast. A one-game 180.
The biggest game was not won, and the achievement of perfection was lost. In all probability, with the NFL's parity, nobody will be this close to perfection for generations to come. This one hurt bad for the Patriots.
For the players, speaking after the defeat looked to be about as enjoyable as stabbing oneself in the face with an ice pick. Coach Belichick has never been a man of many words and almost at times seemed to enjoy the stigma that he has earned with brief responses. He even seemed to force himself to crack smile at times, looking to be amused by his own comments, or lack thereof.
Coach wasn't much different in his post-Super Bowl interviews but Vegas odds on Belichick cracking a smile weren't very favorable on the side of a cheese or two.
When asked about the game, he said, "Congratulations to the Giants. They made plays, we didn't, it's disappointing."
Very Belichick.
He was hit with a question in regards to rumors he had someone tape the Rams' final walk-through before a game.
"I haven't heard them" said Belichick.
Yeah, I bet you haven't. Can't wait to slip into the offseason and dodge that one for a while, huh?
I think reporters should have kept hammering away on that. I doubt you would get much out of him, but he should be forced to squirm a bit on that issue—especially if it's true.
- B/R Ticket Guide
That is a big time no-no, and the timing allows him to avoid answering questions on it for some time.
Three different questions were asked in regards to what the Giants did on defense, the Giants did on offense, and the Giants' ability to have an effective pass rush—nothing earth-shattering in response.
"They are a good team, they played well," was really the gist of all three answers.
Tom Brady was asked a few questions, although his answers being much longer only really translated into more of the same, "they played well, good team, they deserve it." Blah, blah, blah.
Seau was asked what he was thinking when laying on the field after the Giants go-ahead score, "It was disappointing and it was something I didn't want to feel." Yes, we know.
I ask my pessimistic self sometimes about Junior. He is an older player that is still performing at a rather high level for his age. I don't know that it's my fault in this day in age that I question the reasons.
Unfortunately, whether guilty or innocent I doubt I am the only one who wonders if older players are getting a little "shot" of youth at times (if you know what I mean).
Obviously, there's no factual information, nor has there even been speculation, but I wonder. I think we've seen that the organization isn't very concerned about bending the rules a bit now and then, and again I just wonder.
In the wake of baseball's discoveries that it's a fairly common thing—I can't see football being much better. Better at hiding it and keeping alum from snitching—yes, but using, I would bet no.
Again, speculation. And as Bleacher Report's Ryan Alberti would put it: "Just saying, is all."
But I have been thinking about something in this tricky world of performance enhancing, and I think a have a way to help detour it a little, at least.
No grown man's feet or head should be growing. HGH is a performance enhancer that is known to cause this to happen, yet this substance is next to untraceable. I think shoe and hat or helmet sizes should be documented and watched over. If a guy wants to squeeze his head into a helmet or shoes that don't fit anymore to hide use, he will be taking away from his game by playing in equipment that is too small.
In essence, this make a guy cut down on whatever's causing himself to be comparable to a circus freak. It's not unreasonable to make a guy wear the same shoe or hat size. I mean, flat out—once grown, your head should be grown with you. Not inflating in size year by year because you put "extra time in."
Patriots have never been accused of having players that used HGH anymore than any other team. But with a leader that allegedly cheats, it's not out of the realm of possibility.
So in closing, when you're the Patriots, and you win like you do (running up scores) and lose like you do (running off the field early) and now allegedly cheat like you do; you can expect a rough offseason. Whether it be an aspiring writer questioning how far your cheating goes, or others turning up the volume in obtaining dirt on you, eyes will remain.
Now in one loss, there's a lot more negative than positive.
All the discussions of greatest team ever and genius coaching turn to speculation of cheating and poor sportsmanship in one quick modern-day immaculate reception and fade route.
No question they will be back next year ready to play, but by that first kickoff I find myself wondering how much mud they will have been dragged through, and how much more villainized they will be after this offseason.
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9 months ago
yay! so excited to see the picture I took at the Super Bowl made it to your column :)
9 months ago
wow! i can't believe how stupid and ignorant can you be...
from 9 months ago
Pats fan huh? I know,that was a tough one. I'm a Cleveland fan,so I more then understand... hahahahahahahaha PS. When questioning ones intelligence,its usually a good idea for your comment to atleast appear like you completed a grade or two in high school. Just a thought.
9 months ago
Jeffrey:
First, a declaration: I'm not a Patriots fan and I'm pleased the Giants won.
That being said, you should have just plainly stated "The Patriots are winning consistently so they must be cheating." When the 49ers, Redskins, Steelers, Cowboys, etc., were enjoying years of huge success, opposition fans and "scribes" like yourself expressed objections or criticisms in bitter, harsh, or abusive language. You're doing the same thing only, thankfully, a bit more subtly.
I assume you refer to yourself when using the phrase "aspiring writer." During this offseason, how often will you drag the Patriots through the mud and villanize them in order to make a name for yourself?
You've started off well, reviving allegations of cheating (video recordings) as well as HGH performance enhancement, claiming "we've seen that the organization isn't very concerned about bending the rules a bit now and then." You also snipe about poor sportsmanship and lousy or evasive interviewees.
"Wondering" to yourself is fine; wondering that is borderline slander, on a public forum, is not fine. I don't like Junior Seau. I have never liked Junior Seau, yet I find it repugnant that you would, on a whim, suggest he performs "at a rather high level for his age" through the use of performance enhancing drugs.
You acknowledge the use of performance enhancement drugs within all the NFL as likely but it seems New England is your only focus. Why didn't you mention the Giants defensive line? They performed magnificently and yet you didn't wonder that they might be taking performance enhancement drugs. Why do you concentrate on the Patriots?
The only other thing I want to comment on is your reply to the anonymous one, where you advise him/her to make his text appear as if he completed a couple of years of high school. That's like the pot calling the kettle black, Jeffrey.
ledryno2000
from 9 months ago
You aren't understanding the underlying message of the article. I actually might have been one of the only ppl I know that had the Pats winning and covering the spread. The msg in the writing is what a diff one game made. Nat. perspective is going to be harsh all off-season in a year they could do no wrong. They had a place locked into history forever,and now ppl are questioning the coaches ability and I have even actually heard ppl question this years Jesus Tom Brady. I went over the top with the performance enhancing and other issues such as post game interviews to show an example of the swing in media perspective and many everyday fans thoughts with just 1 loss in an amazing season that came to an end with allegations,bitterness,and in many ppls eyes poor sportsmanship. They were probably the greatest team I have ever seen with my 27 year old eyes and them not winning it all was almost unfair. I wanted them to shut Mercury Morris up for good. It didn't happen. I WANTED them to win,but I was far from heartbroken. The Browns are the only ones that can do that to me. Allegations and negativity is all I have seen on the Pats since they have lost. What a difference a game makes,and the article was meant to show that.
9 months ago
Interesting point of view. I won't be like the anonymous folk who browse this site, leave brash comments on something that required time and effort, and then scamper into the night never to be seen again.
However, I'm surprised both you and the editor of the article spelled Belichick incorrectly. Also, if you're going to bring up Seau then why did you avoid mentioning a guy like Strahan. I mean he's an old-timer and been performing at an even higher level than Seau for a long time and you glossed right over him.
That's the thing with Belichick and the Pats: They are under such scrutiny for illegal tactics (which numerous nfl coaches have admitted to doing), they "run up the score" as you put it (eventhough this is a dirty league with dirty players and not peewee football), and they rub everyone the wrong way because of their vague answers in post-game press conferences (Would you feel like answering redundant questions after rattling off 18 straight and losing the SB? This is nothing new, they've always been a private team.)
Bottom line: They can't win in the eyes of anti-Pats fans and the media. Writing about all the media-fueled Patriots missteps is beating a dead horse and taking away from the Giants SB victory. If they had gone 19-0 all the haters would find something else to bitch about in a split second. The problem is everyone who's on this Patriot hate bandwagon has decided long ago that they don't like Belichick, Brady and the Pats unbelievable success. As a result, they put them under an intense microscope and begin to nitpick about things that are prevalent in the NFL as a whole.
I'm not in any way bashing you and what you wrote, but I feel the need to put the Pats and their dynasty in perspective since the media has collectively dumped on them since week 1.
9 months ago
Why hasn't anyone commented on the officials ,to look the other way and not call blatant penalty's is wrong in a game of such magitude. Is this cheating? If your answer is the calls or the non calls go both ways rewatch the SB ,if just one holding call actually got called during that last scoring drive the results might have been different.Something must be done ,talk about the integrity of the game.Why are these calls made all season and then at the SB they are overlooked with the mentality ,let them play the game, please that is ridulous. These are potential game changing calls or non calls! Why doesn,t Goodell eliminate the holding penalty all together let the stronger man win the battle regardless of how he does it. I emphasized the holding calls but there were others the fumble recoveries,roughing the passer ect. but it is done deal, Congrats to the Giants. I only hope the NFL addresses this in the future why have rules all season and not follow them in playoffs and SB. Imagine if we took this approach in life!
9 months ago
Jeffrey:
I understood your point about losing one game creating such a stir but, really, wouldn't those same questions come up had the Patriots WON?
My issue was you went beyond mentioning existing allegations. You joined in maligning them, treating allegations more like facts:
"He was hit with a question in regards to rumors he had someone tape the Rams' final walk-through before a game. 'I haven't heard them' said Belichick. Yeah, I bet you haven't. Can't wait to slip into the offseason and dodge that one for a while, huh? I think reporters should have kept hammering away on that... he should be forced to squirm a bit on that issue—especially if it's true."
"I ask my pessimistic self sometimes about Junior. He is an older player that is still performing at a rather high level for his age.... Unfortunately, whether guilty or innocent I doubt I am the only one who wonders if older players are getting a little 'shot' of youth at times (if you know what I mean)... I think we've seen that the organization isn't very concerned about bending the rules a bit now and then..."
"Patriots have never been accused of having players that used HGH anymore than any other team. But with a leader that allegedly cheats, it's not out of the realm of possibility."
The Patriots were found guilty of making unauthorized tape recordings of that one game and were punished for it. Does that mean they have been cheating all along for several years? "Yes" is one possible answer, but "no" is the other possible answer.
I don't care about the Patriots. If evidence is brought forth proving the Patriots are guilty of additional cheating then they deserve whatever appropriate measure of league punishment handed out. But you, or anyone else, convicting them in public forums based on rumors? That's not right.
ledryno2000
9 months ago
C'mon now - why do you think Juiceski had his stroke?
9 months ago
THIS IS NOT A NIT PICK CASE WIN OR LOSE....IF THE PATS WIN THEY STILL ARE CHEATERS AND PART OF A RIGGED OFFICIATING MEDIA MADE DYNASTY WITH KRAFT AS THE 30 BILLION DOLLAR WING MAN FOR REF CONTRACTS, AND LEAGUE INCENTIVE INSIDE DEALS THAT WERE TO BE PAID BACK BY RINGS......JUST ASK THE TEAMS THAT WERE SCREWED OUT OF THEIR CHANCE AT THESE CHEATERS.....THE RAMS AND RAIDERS SAW THE NON CALLS, PHANTOM FLAGS , THE "TUCK RULE" AND THE" TY LAW RULE" THOUGHT UP BY THE NHF FRONT OFFICE,TO LEGITIMIZE A RIGGED CALL ON THE FIELD THAT MOVED THE BELECHEAT TEAM DOWN THE FIELD, GAME AFTER GAME, YEAR AFTER YEAR! TO THIS DAY , NO ONE CAN EXPLAIN THESE RULES AND WHY THEY WERE NEVER USED IN THE ENSUING YEARS.
BILL AND BOB DESERVE THE ORANGE JUMP SUITS , US MARSHAL ESCORTS AND SHACKLES TO THE FIRST SERIES OF CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS IN D.C.
EVEN IF THEY WALK WITH MINIMUM HEAVY FINES AND SUSPENSIONS FORM THE LEAGUE....THIS TEAM WILL ALWAYS BE PUNKED, CLASSLESS,AND FAR FROM A SUITABLE EXAMPLE FOR THE YOUTH OF AMERICA AND SPORTSMANSHIP......CANDY ASS DYNASTY IN PERFECTVILLE JUST OUT SIDE THE SMALL EQUALLY CORRUPT STATE OF RHODE ISLAND!
9 months ago
Derek ,are you angry you must be a Jets fan.Why watch if you are going to be so bitter !
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