OT: Pats-Colts

[superjohn]

And your conclusion that no one rooted for the Patriots pre-Brady comes from the fact that you don't remember hearing about it. That's pretty rock solid.

Obviously they had fans and die-hard fans but I can't remember any that lived near me, now many of these same people talk about how they have always been huge Patriots fans. It's the whole pink hat phenomenon you see with the Red Sox, I know my Sox friends who are die-hard fans since birth can't stand these kind of fans, I don't know how the die-hard Pats fans from birth feel about it because I never knew any.

 

[Hoophound]

Obviously they had fans and die-hard fans but I can't remember any that lived near me, now many of these same people talk about how they have always been huge Patriots fans. It's the whole pink hat phenomenon you see with the Red Sox, I know my Sox friends who are die-hard fans since birth can't stand these kind of fans, I don't know how the die-hard Pats fans from birth feel about it because I never knew any.

Where did you live? I felt that northern Connecticut had plenty of Pats fans to go with an almost equal number of Giants fans and a smattering of Jets fans.

Fairfield and New Haven counties were decidedly NY Giant country in my time there.

 

[mauconnfan]

Obviously they had fans and die-hard fans but I can't remember any that lived near me, now many of these same people talk about how they have always been huge Patriots fans. It's the whole pink hat phenomenon you see with the Red Sox, I know my Sox friends who are die-hard fans since birth can't stand these kind of fans, I don't know how the die-hard Pats fans from birth feel about it because I never knew any.

I live in Wes Mass and there are plenty of Pats fans who still like the Giants, that's screwed up. Actually most say as they grew up the Giants were on TV a lot more than the Pats as the NFL had the main stations even here. Hell i grew up in Meriden CT and the Pats were so bad I kind of rooted for them to win because I like extreme underdogs, Let's not pretend the Pats rise to the top and the Sox 2004 comeback vs the Yanks hasn't brought a TON of new fans (nations) to the forefront and many are really out of control. The next time I hear any of them say "NY fans are a**holes" I will laugh yet again. I didn't HATE the Pats until the Sox beat the Yanks in 2004 and at that point the reason is obvious, they're all the same!

 

[superjohn]

Where did you live? I felt that northern Connecticut had plenty of Pats fans to go with an almost equal number of Giants fans and a smattering of Jets fans.

Fairfield and New Haven counties were decidedly NY Giant country in my time there.

I'm from Litchfield County but now live in Chicago. Even see it out here, have several friends who have zero connection to Boston or the entire east coast and they consider themselves die-hard Red Sox and Patriots fans and always refer to themselves as "Nation" and talk about "Dirty Water." As mauconnfan alluded to it's great marketing but the whole nation/pink hat thing is so incredibly lame to me. If you consider Neil Diamond and Fever Pitch as iconic Red Sox things then you are a tool.

 

[whaler11]

In Connnecticut, there were more Dolphins and Cowboys fans than Patriots fans in 80's and early 90's.

They just didn't exist.

 

[Hoophound]

Good call on the Cowboys. I forgot about them. There were plenty of Pats fans though. They were a quiet and humble people back then, but they were around.

 

[whaler11]

Good call on the Cowboys. I forgot about them. There were plenty of Pats fans though. They were a quiet and humble people back then, but they were around.

If you say so. I went to high school with 1,500 kids and college in Connecticut and the first Patriots fan I met was in 1998 when I was 25.

 

[Cheeky]

If you say so. I went to high school with 1,500 kids and college in Connecticut and the first Patriots fan I met was in 1998 when I was 25.

I have to agree with this. I went to HS in Danbury and was at UConn from 86-90 and I don't recall anybody being a Pats fan. Giants, Jets, Cowboys, mostly.

 

[upstater]

35, I honestly can't remember any Patriots fans from my childhood through teen years. I get that they sucked during this time but it shouldn't mean you don't root for your team. I just hate it when people claim they were die-hard fans when I never heard them say one thing about the Patriots until they won it all and all of a sudden their whole wardrobe is Patriots gear, they are flying a Patriots flag outside their home and they name their dog Brady.

I was a huge long suffering Patriots fan from the 1970s. I have 10 years on you. I could hardly watch (and couldn't and didn't) but the Patriots had Dick McPherson and Rod Rust as coaches. They had Hugh Millen and Tommy Hodson as QBs. I can't even begin to describe to you the absolute level of total suckitude of that period. I'm not sure that any team was ever that bad with the exception of the 78 Buccaneers. The Patriots were horrible, not on TV, the owners (Kiam and Orthwein) were absolute disasters, the GM was U Miami's old AD and he was clearly out of his element. So yeah, it was perfectly understandable why you would be unaware of Patriots fans from 1988-1993.

When the Patriots were bad under Ron Erhardt (2-14 in 1982), they still maintained the average fan's interest. Because the team was ultra-talented with all-pros at many positions Julius Adams, Joh Hannah, Ray Clayborn, Stanley Morgan, Sam Cunningham, etc.) But the 1988-1993 crew was horrendously bad.

 

[upstater]

I have to agree with this. I went to HS in Danbury and was at UConn from 86-90 and I don't recall anybody being a Pats fan. Giants, Jets, Cowboys, mostly.

Danbury isn't even in Connecticut.

 

[upstater]

Check this out donyell: (yeah I took it from one of MY posts not anyone else's)

Pats are really good. Their defense is a bit underrated and it won't be all that tested vs the Seahawks offense. This game is all on the Seattle defense and how well it plays vs a 2 week prep from Bill B and staff. The Seahawks cannot start like the did vs the Pack because it will be 21-0 and not 13-0.

Just guessing I have the utmost respect for the QB and the coach because of this statement unless of course you can find something else within my prediction? Brady, Bill B and all would be included in this if you dig deep. Your call but I've been fair I think. I just haven't been to the party where upstater is the pivotman in the Brady circle jerk, that's all.

Mau, you must be tortured up there in Mass. It's the only explanation for the level of hate. Let it roll off your back, man, life's too short. I live in Bills territory all the time, and it makes me laugh.

 

[tzznandrew]

I'd say this about Pats fans in high school: often times kids pick teams that are winning (lots of Bulls-Cowboys-Yankees fans in my generation) as their primary team, and then ease into whatever their parents' teams are. My dad was a die-hard Celtics fan, but as an elementary school kid in the early-90s, I identified more as a Bulls fan: Jordan posters in my room, all that jazz. As I began to watch more games with my father--and as the Bulls waned--I slid more comfortably into a Celtics fan. They were always a team I liked (both parents loved them), but most kids are front-runners.

I think in the 90s, in particular, there were a slew of Cowboys fans (not me...first football memory was the Giants-Bills Superbowl) that I'd wager now--as adults--more readily identify as Jets or Pats fans...maybe even Giants.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Sure. Those points hold water this year. But it doesn't erase the fact (FACT) that it's been easier for them get to 6 Super Bowls because of that automatic division title and homefield advantage plus a bye and only 2 games to get there. You seem to gloss over that and it's simply true.

The Jets were in back to back AFC championship games a few years back. They had to win 3 road playoff games, 3 weeks in a row to get to the Super Bowl. That's harder than winning 2 home games. Period.

Being in an easily won division for the majority (if not all) of his career definitely has a LOT to do with Brady's Super Bowl (and AFC championship) appearances.

The only reason it seems to be easily won, is because the Patriots are in it. No other team over that time, not one of them, would have won it all those times. No other team has been as consistently good, and it isn't even close. You killed your own argument by mentioning the tough road the Jets had to the AFC championship team, and yet the Pats had to play that Jets team twice. And Buffalo twice this year...which would have gone 13-3 in the NFC South!

Because they win, the Patriots never get an easy schedule, never. They always have to match up against the best and year after year they beat them. The AFC East hasn't been weak in several years. It was probably one of the strongest divisions this year.

 

[upstater]

http://nesn.com/2015/01/reports-dqwell-jacksons-interception-sparked-deflated-ball-controversy/

Deflated ball controversy origination

 

[HuskyHawk]

Where did you live? I felt that northern Connecticut had plenty of Pats fans to go with an almost equal number of Giants fans and a smattering of Jets fans.

Fairfield and New Haven counties were decidedly NY Giant country in my time there.

I grew up in Manchester CT in the 70's. People rooted for the Pats (mostly) or Steelers or Cowboys. I never met a Giants fan until I got to UConn in 1984. East of the river was pretty strong Patriots territory. And anybody who thinks they sucked then doesn't remember history correctly. Some very good, entertaining teams with Steve Grogan, Stanley Morgan, Russ Francis, John Hannah and many others.

 

[UConn990411]

http://nesn.com/2015/01/reports-dqwell-jacksons-interception-sparked-deflated-ball-controversy/

Deflated ball controversy origination

So a team that lost to the Pats this season by an average of 30 points is accusing them of cheating.

Maybe they should try sucking less?

 

[upstater]

So a team that lost to the Pats this season by an average of 30 points is accusing them of cheating.

Maybe they should try sucking less?

The interesting thing for me is that the refs handled the same ball after each play.

Whereas Dqwell Jackson noticed something different immediately after his interception.

How could the refs not notice it and yet Dqwell did?

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Good call on the Cowboys. I forgot about them. There were plenty of Pats fans though. They were a quiet and humble people back then, but they were around.

I was a Niners fan in the early 80's in southern CT because they beat my cousin's team, the Cowboys. There were a few more Cowboy fans in the family, too. The Jets are my second team and the same for most of my family because my great Aunt has season tickets. Everyone else was a Giants fan. No Pats fans whatsoever. Was the same through high school in the early 90's.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

http://nesn.com/2015/01/reports-dqwell-jacksons-interception-sparked-deflated-ball-controversy/

Deflated ball controversy origination

ESPN is reporting that the Colts equipment manager who took the intercepted ball (to save it?) was the person to notice it, not the Colts player.

 

[StoweD210]

The interesting thing for me is that the refs handled the same ball after each play.

Whereas Dqwell Jackson noticed something different immediately after his interception.

How could the refs not notice it and yet Dqwell did?

There's a couple of contradictions in the stories now. Kravitz wrote yesterday that D'Qwell Jackson told him he didn't notice anything different about the ball he intercepted. Others claim he did.

Pagano said he wasn't aware of any irregularities with a ball during the game. The Lynch/Glauber report says he was informed.

Of course, no asks if the Colts did anything to the ball while it was in their possession.

 

[Hoophound]

I grew up in Manchester CT in the 70's. People rooted for the Pats (mostly) or Steelers or Cowboys. I never met a Giants fan until I got to UConn in 1984. East of the river was pretty strong Patriots territory. And anybody who thinks they sucked then doesn't remember history correctly. Some very good, entertaining teams with Steve Grogan, Stanley Morgan, Russ Francis, John Hannah and many others.

A couple of my best childhood friends are longtime Giant fans so that my sway my perception. I agree that east of the river was definitely patriots territory. Traditionally people north and east of Hartford identify themselves much more as New Englanders than people in southern and western portions of Connecticut

 

[Deepster]

You are so off your rocker on this one, you're embarrassing yourself. The Patriots this year played every team that won their division in the AFC, four teams that finished above .500 and the NFC North, that put 2 teams in the playoff. By winning 12 of those games, they got home field in the playoffs. They were not GIFTED home field as you certainly imply. and just so you have your facts straight, do you know the first team in history to ever win 3 games on the road to make it to the

Again, you're pointing to this year. I clearly stated (and you need to pay closer attention) that this has given them an advantage over the Brady era.

 

[Deepster]

Why are Pats fans so ticked off at the deflated ball allegations?

Listen. When a husband gets caught sleeping with his secretary, the next time he unexpectedly comes home late from work, the Mrs has a right to ask questions. The Pats were caught cheating before. It makes perfect sense to question them and get to the bottom of the inquiry.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Why are Pats fans so ticked off at the deflated ball allegations? Listen. When a husband gets caught sleeping with his secretary, the next time he unexpectedly comes home late from work, the Mrs has a right to ask questions. The Pats were caught cheating before. It makes perfect sense to question them and get to the bottom of the inquiry.

Who's so ticked off? I'm on to Seattle. I love the handwringing and complaining by fans of sh__ty teams with incompetent owners.

Speaking of the Jets, "spy gate" is nothing more than a device fans of teams like the Jets use to tell themselves that if their team cheated like the Pats did they'd be successful too but they do things the "right way." Putting to the side the fact that the Jets were kicked off the roof of Gillette for illegally taping in 2006. The reason that hasn't become a meme is (a) the patriots understood that literally everyone was doing it and (b) who would care about rule breaking by a team that never wins?

This is all just noise.

 

[upstater]

Why are Pats fans so ticked off at the deflated ball allegations?

Listen. When a husband gets caught sleeping with his secretary, the next time he unexpectedly comes home late from work, the Mrs has a right to ask questions. The Pats were caught cheating before. It makes perfect sense to question them and get to the bottom of the inquiry.

I don't see many ticked off. All my friends are laughing at you guys.

By the way, your team got caught filming signals months before the Patriots did.