There hasn't been a more polarizing team in recent NFL history than the 2007 New England Patriots. It was a culmination of things, I think: their recent success (three Super Bowl titles in seven seasons), a dour head coach sometimes characterized as a poor sport in defeat, and the wall-to-wall coverage of their run to perfection this season amid allegations of cheating.
This created two distinct camps: Patriots followers (mostly confined to New England) and a nation of fans who couldn't wait to see New England lose. Even if that meant, for example, a Redskins, Eagles or Cowboys supporter swallowing their pride long enough to pull for the Giants. Apparently, this dichotomy wasn't restricted to just fans.
Osi Umenyiora, the Giants' only representative at the Pro Bowl, explains:
I get the sense that a lot of them really wanted to see the Patriots lose," the defensive end said after the NFC practice. "For some, it was like they had won. They were so happy ... I don't know what the Patriots did [to deserve that], but I'm just glad we won."As Hashmarks' Pro Bowl correspondent Mike McAllister writes, "... [T]hat us-against-the-world mentality that Bill Belichick used to help fuel the Patriots to near-historic proportions also works in reverse." The Redskins' Chris Samuels offers some details on his dilemma, presumably the same one many NFC East fans faced last week:
"It was so tough at first because I didn't want either team to win," Redskins tackle Chris Samuels said. "I hate the Giants. They're in our division. They're a cocky group.Samuels might regret that decision in seven or eight months, but for now, he doesn't seem to have any regrets. We can all thank hooded sweatshirts, dreamy quarterbacks and hubris for that, I guess.
"I kind of thought New England should win because of what they had done this season. But after awhile, I just got sick of hearing their story. So you know what: I'm rolling with the Giants."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-06-2008 @ 2:00AM
jonnathan said...
i live in pa and a patriot fan you can change your post and as for michael strahan no funerals here well be back next year . and by the way go find a dentist with them teeth pal. i had nothing aganist the giants until i saw some of those comments at there parade. i been to the patriots parades they didnt trash the eagles or panthers. as for the patriot haters at least were being thought of i dont hear jack about the cardinals or lions etc. because they suck
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2-06-2008 @ 2:18AM
Bill Belichick said...
Hey jonnathan, You will be remembered for a long time as CHEATERS and the best team ever that never was!
I'm glad to see that you are so angry that you have to resort to making fun of someones teeth! Actually it's pathetic!
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2-06-2008 @ 2:22AM
brandon said...
yeah its also funny that brady got angry that plax said they would score 17 points. looks like plax was being generous. ya'll lost to a quarterback that looks like he is 17 years old.
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2-06-2008 @ 2:32AM
jonnathan said...
to be a patriot fan today you got to defend yourself a lot its nothing personal im only a fan . but that guy got some bad teeth with all that money he makes he shouldnt look like that
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2-06-2008 @ 3:11AM
jonnathan said...
michael when you retire you can play for the rangers or i mean the devils with those teeth since the giants are actually in nj i had to correct myself. people chill im only havin fun here. how do the ny fans decide to root for the giants or the jets did they flip a coin and decide to be a giant fan?
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2-06-2008 @ 9:40AM
Biebs said...
If I remember correctly the first two Patriots Super Bowl contained loud "Yankees Suck" chants. Notice no "Red Sox Suck" chants here.
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2-06-2008 @ 9:41AM
ian johsnon said...
I am a lifelong Redskin Fan as is my brother and father. I grew to hate 2 team - Dallas & NYG. However, I have a profound respect for the Giants(more so than the Cowboys).I see the Giants in the same realm as my skins - a proud organization with a long history and tradition. I cheered for the Giants as if they were the SKINS in that Superbowl, and went crazy when they beat the Patriots. It will remain one of my favorite Superbowls - along with the 3 Redskin Championships. WAY TO GO G-MEN!
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2-06-2008 @ 2:10PM
Bill Walters said...
Damn! I think I'm gonna move to NY.
Belicreep is a cheating creep
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2-06-2008 @ 3:41PM
tobrien28 said...
Hey jonathan we choose based on this: For a LONG time the Giant played in the Polo Grounds and then Yankee Stadium. Why does Conneticut support the Foxboro Patriots?
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2-06-2008 @ 3:42PM
tobrien28 said...
ian johnson
If Spagnuolo goes to the Skins i might have to root for them for a year. He is a great guy and i don't want Snyder to fire him.
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2-06-2008 @ 8:07PM
primrod said...
Bill Belichick is incognito-
that is such a cool name dude, you're like at home typin'on your computer "incognito", LAME. Just because I don't know who you are cause you're "incognito" I can still figure out that you are the left clown shoe to SAL's right.
I gave my props to the G-men and I still say the Pats would win 18 out of 19 games against the Giants and the rest of the teams in the league as well. That's called bragging with back up you fu*king Bozo.I suggest you pack that ridiculous small car with the rest of your haters posse and have Walters drive you all off a big fu*king cliff.
And for the record,yes the Superbowl loss was painful but overall this was one of, if not the greatest seasons to be a Patriots fan. Looking forward for continued domination of the league next season. No doubt I will hear from all you bitch a$$ haters whinning next season as well, Thanx for the memories haters, you made all those wins tha tmuch sweeter. GO PATS!!!
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2-06-2008 @ 9:47PM
south carolina steeler said...
jonnathan said it all when he said "to be a patriot fan TODAY" !!! what about the years when the patriots didnt make the playoffs? band-wagon ride is over.get off. steeler fans are forever, not year to year like patriot fans!! by the way, did i mention the STEELERS are 5 TIME CHAMPIONS, not the patriots!!
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2-07-2008 @ 10:08AM
rrm12 said...
Some of you jokers make me laugh, He did go across the field and he did shake hands and hug Tom Coughlin, so what the hell is the big fuss about????? There was one second left, get it one second left on the clock and the Giants had the ball and the Patriots were out of time outs, what the hell is the big deal even I thought that the time had expired. You want to be a Patriot hater then go ahead and have a blast. But you want to talk about class, then let’s talk about all the remarks and comments made by some of the players at the Parade & Rally. There wasn't a whole lot of class there, now was there????? You can tell Strahan that we are not wearing black as he claimed, we couldn't be prouder of the 2007 Patriot team, sure they lost the Super bowl but for 18 straight weeks get that eighteen straight weeks we enjoyed the fun of a winning team. And for those of you who are still immature enough to believe that they are the only ones that stole signals, then my guess is that you also still believe in the Easter Bunny and the Fat man in the Red Suit. I don't even know why I bother to read these blogs anyway, all I read here is hate & profanity. For those of you who accuse the Patriot fans of arrogance and poor sportsmanship, then you should read your own comments and listen to the comments of some of the Giant players at the rally. I never heard any of the Patriot players down the Giants, but one victory does strange things to people, even to the Giant players.
Come back and talk to me when the Giants win 18 straight regular season games, then maybe, just maybe you will have something worthy to say and hopefully with some class.
A Patriot Fan Win or Lose
Richiemac
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2-07-2008 @ 10:03PM
Lee said...
Bill Belichick is a thug. He deserves no respect. He got what he deserved on Sunday evening.
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2-07-2008 @ 10:38PM
kerry said...
Bill Belichek is a great coach and the PATS ARE A GREAT TEAM
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2-09-2008 @ 12:53PM
Richiemac said...
To #12 by south carolina steeler; This fan has been a Patriot fan since their first game at Fenway Park, and what makes you think that the Steelers don't have band wagon fans??????? The Steelers may be five time champions, but they "Never" got their championships by going through the Patriots, a team they just can't beat. Is that why you are so angry and anti Patriot???????
Richiemac
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2-11-2008 @ 10:13AM
Bobby said...
Hey maybe Strahan can now use his super bowl money to get that driveway gap between his teeth closed....he did alot of talking before the season of possibly retiring...obviously to elude the preseason hurt....get your faced fixed Strahan
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2-11-2008 @ 10:20AM
Bobby said...
Hey as for Letterman...as skinny and frail as that idiot if...im sure he took more ass whippings growing up than any kid in his school....never mind play sports....hes a guy that couldnt get laid in a whore house with a fist full of fifties as ugly as he is....
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