I'm struggling to maintain my hatred for the Patriots...

[KB_fan]

Maybe if I'd been a Panthers fan back in 2003 I'd feel differently, and still "hate" the Patriots with the passionate emotion I currently feel towards Denver...

But I have to confess fellow Huddlers that I'm struggling to maintain my Patriots hatred. 

Looking at what Belichik has done this season, going 3-0 with Garoppolo and Brissett at QB and without Gronk.... it's just so dang impressive, and it's hard not to have mad (if somewhat grudging) respect for a coach and organization that can handle adversity so professionally, who can truly tune their game plan to the strengths of their players, who can make rookies look like legitimate starters...

You'd have to think that Belichik is currently a shoo-in for coach of the year, and it's only week 3.   SMH.  The man is a genius.

I've been predicting a Panthers - Steelers SB this season, but I may have to change my prediction to Panthers - Patriots at this point...  and really, I guess that what I'd want it to be, because I think that would be a matchup of the best two teams in the league.

[Dex]

fug the Patriots and all of their spoiled fans.

[jbland]

The fact they recorded our walk throughs(speculation) prior to the Super Bowl and cheated their way a Super Bowl victory, I can not and will not forgive them. However, they have and do look impressive this year. 

[Ricky Spanish]

No I agree. I still don't like them and I actively root against them, but at this point I just shake my head and laugh when they continue on with the success that they always have. Bellichik is the GOAT coach and Brady is probably the GOAT QB. I'm not even mad anymore, I'm impressed that they've been able to maintain this level of success over the past 15 years through scandal, getting caught cheating, then coming back after the fact and being even better. Like they were just cheating to be lazy, then they get caught and go "oh well poo, time to buckle down", and then ball out harder.

It's gotten to the point now where I'm just in awe. 

[Khyber53]

I can look at the Patriots and see them as the team you have to beat to legitimately considered great. Belichik has become our generation's greatest coach and will be remembered among the greatest ever sometime, probably with an award or a trophy named after him.

Watching the game last night, I realized how the assistant coaches and below have changed on such a regular basis, but Bill remains. That says a lot for his methods and organizational abilities that he can turn these coaches into valuable commodities and that he can maintain his system in all of that turnover.

He's also got one heck of a scouting team working for him. That organization can evaluate talent like no other in the league and they are about the only ones who can find diamonds in the dirt at a higher rate than we do. Good scouting and player evaluation is how you build a dynasty in this day and age. Get your franchise QB and then spend the rest of your time finding good players who can execute consistently.

I'm still mad about 2003, though.

[d-dave]

I still have a deep level of completely irrational dislike for the Pats and their fanbase.  

But, I do respect the success they have had.  Belichik is truly one of the great football minds and coaches we have ever seen.  It doesn't hurt having Tom Brady as his QB, but look at how he's won when Brady went down?  Good lord.  You have to respect that.

Though I still want to shoulder check obnoxious Pat fans.  They have only known the current Pats, and they try to rub that success in everyone's face.  Douche-canoes!

[Your GFs favorite huddler]

Goes to show you what consistency breeds...they carryover consistency at key positions and have key players who master their systems....their coaches do a masterful job of putting players in positions to maximize their individual strengths....they are the most prepared team week in and week out and are rarely caught out of position....it truly is artwork in the form of Football....

[the_philosopher]

48 minutes ago, jbland said:

The fact they recorded our walk throughs(speculation) prior to the Super Bowl and cheated their way a Super Bowl victory, I can not and will not forgive them. 

It helps me (at least a little) to remember that our o-line was on roids. 

[ncfan]

Dont like them much mainly because of there history.  Fans are spoiled but that just Boston fans nothing like Cowgirls fans.

 

Have mad respect for the Pats though.  The system they have is crazy.  They can find anyone and make it work.

[Bartin]

8 minutes ago, the_philosopher said:

It helps me (at least a little) to remember that our o-line was on roids. 

And punter!

[L-TownCat]

Most of us here can plainly (painfully) see that the Pats are a well coached, uber prepared team.

This fact does not change the smug air of superiority they conduct themselves with nor does it excuse their willingness to push the boundaries of sportsmanship.

Cheat your way to a dynasty, fine.

Celebrate your success with fun and team building, outrage and disgust.

 

So without waxing poetic, fug em.

[Darth Biscuit]

Part of my Patriot hate is irrational, they beat us in the Super Bowl and all of that...

 

But part of it is legit hatred of a system of cheating, same with the Saints.  With Bounty Gate, Deflate Gate, Recording other teams, this was institutionalized cheating by the TEAM.  Sure individual Panthers have been busted for PEDs along with players from lots of teams... but the Saints and Patriots had organized cheating scams.

 

Yeah, I hate them.

[Jangler]

KBF, don't confuse respect with hate.

[nctarheel0619]

1 hour ago, Cracka McNasty said:

No I agree. I still don't like them and I actively root against them, but at this point I just shake my head and laugh when they continue on with the success that they always have. Bellichik is the GOAT coach and Brady is probably the GOAT QB. I'm not even mad anymore, I'm impressed that they've been able to maintain this level of success over the past 15 years through scandal, getting caught cheating, then coming back after the fact and being even better. Like they were just cheating to be lazy, then they get caught and go "oh well poo, time to buckle down", and then ball out harder.

It's gotten to the point now where I'm just in awe. 

I don't think you can say Brady is the GOAT QB anymore.  I mean, if Montana goes down do the 9ers keep on trucking like this dude?  Cassell got 11 wins with the Pats organization.  Jacoby Brissett just beat a 2-0 team 27-0, and Jimmy G was 2-0 versus the Cardinals and Phins.  I just can't say Brady is the GOAT when it feels like their whole system is plug and play.