Why New England Patriots’ fans will never care what the NFL thinks
The New England Patriots are a behemoth of a football team. This goes without saying, and denying it is simply ignorance. New England Patriots’ fans have had a long history of frustrations with the NFL and particularly Commissioner Roger Goodell. Simply put, New England Patriots’ fans don’t care what the NFL thinks of their team and for good reason.
AROUND COVER32
QB Rankings: Rivers rises and Keenum cracks
Power Rankings:: No surprises at No. 1
NFL Mailbag:: A Browns win, overtime rules and Foster to the HOF?
Patriots’ News: Gronk goes for franchise record in Buffalo
Patriots’ News: Celtics’ legend taught Belichick valuable lesson
Patriots’ News: Good Lord, Brady has learned how to run!
Let’s start back in 2007 with the Spygate scandal. With Bill Belichick labeled as a “cheater” and not the great coach that he truly is, New England Patriots’ fans got there first taste of bitterness and anger from the NFL. Sure, there were whispers of jealousy and suspicion towards the New England Patriots prior to the Spygate scandal but that was really the coming out party for the whole “New England Patriots vs. the NFL” battle.
With the so-called “cheater” of a coach, the New England Patriots went undefeated in the 2007 regular season and have since gone on to win another Super Bowl, in addition to the three titles won in 2001, 2003 and 2004.
Much more recently, the Deflategate saga began to unravel and, once again, New England Patriots’ fans found their beloved team labeled as cheaters. The deflated footballs in question were supposedly linked to New England Patriots’ quarterback, Tom Brady. So what does the NFL do? Without any hard evidence, Commissioner Goodell goes out and suspends Brady for four games to start the 2016 season. A stiff penalty indeed for a shaky case at best.
So, New England Patriots’ fans, the NFL and Commissioner Goodell cut off one arm and the team grows another. Instead of dwelling on the loss of Brady for Deflategate, the Patriots approached the first quarter of the season with a specialized game plan for the backup quarterbacks and went 3-1 in the process. Not too shabby if you ask the average NFL fan.
Commissioner Goodell’s vendetta against the New England Patriots has caused New England Patriots’ fans to lose what little respect may have remained for the man. With Tom Brady and Bill Belichick leading the team, I think New England Patriots’ fans will take a “New England Patriots vs. the NFL” matchup any day.
The post Why New England Patriots’ fans will never care what the NFL thinks appeared first on Cover32.
