Okay, I know I’m going to get a lot of flack here for even writing about this, but I’m not doing it to set up tension or start serious controversy. With the whole “deflategate” and “spygate” issues spanning the media, the Patriots have become the team to hate and to route against. I can almost see why because the media has made it so easy to hate them. They don’t have a perfect track record and they have made some mistakes in the past, so it’s easy to pin more things on them. But, so have the Seahawks (remember the Adderall issue, anyone?).
I rooted for the Seahawks last year because I couldn’t stand the thought of the Broncos/Manning winning. I really don’t mind them as a team (except I can’t stand Richard Sherman and his attitude). But to me, a born and raised New Englander, the Patriots will always be my boys and I will always be their number one fan.
Why I Cheer for the Patriots:
I want redemption for Brady:
Everyone thought Brady was done for at the beginning of the 2015 season. People were calling for the backup quarterback to replace him. After being blown out of the water by the KC Chiefs, every article and every sports station was saying Brady was done. And then, he rose to the challenge and won the Superbowl! I believed in Brady the whole time and I want him to prove everybody wrong. And then, deflategate blew up and once again, I wanted redemption for him, especially after Manning had many allegations rise against him and the league didn’t throw a fit about that. I’m sorry, but I feel like sexual assault should be a bigger deal then a deflated football.
The Patriots Are Classy
The Patriots are classy players. They don’t throw crazy tantrums or trash talk pointedly. They lay low and keep focused on the next thing coming. I couldn’t believe that some Seahawks cornerback said that Gronk wasn’t that good. Um, hello? He’s got the best record for a tight end in the league. But I was more mad then Gronk was, who just said that those comments “may piss him off.” Nice, Gronk. I’m sure you’ll show him on the field when you turn into a human bowling ball and knock everyone down.
GRONK!
Speaking of Gronk, how can you not love that guy. I know he has had a sketchy past, but let me tell you how much he’s changed. He is the personal face of a dear friend’s non-profit One Mission, which focuses on providing support to pediatric cancer patients and their families. Every year, he shaves his hair at the annual Buzz Off for Kids and he visits the cancer floor at Boston Children’s Hospital frequently to bring autographs and to take pictures with the patients. What a guy.
THEY ARE TALENTED
Regardless of what the NFL decided about deflategate, the football weight had little to do with the stomping the Patriots gave the Colts in the 2015 AFC playoffs. As a Colt player so aptly said: “They could have played with a bar of soap and still beat us.” Half of the players on the football team don’t even touch the football and they still trampled the Colts with interceptions, sacks and man to man coverage. That’s talent, and that is why they are the best AFC team and why they are going to the Superbowl.
One More for the Haters
We need one more. The Patriots have made it to the Superbowl 7 times in the last ten years, but we lost the last two times (to the flippin’ Giants, of all teams). Not a fond memory. It’s a nightmare that haunts all Pats’ fans. When we lost the Superbowl back in 2008, I seriously almost didn’t make it to school the next day, I was so sad (and yes, that pathetic). We want number four after the last two trips ended with such a disappointment. Yeah, I understand why everyone else is tired of hearing about the Patriots because they are so good and they have already won a ton of titles and Superbowls. Number 4 would be the icing on the cake. Number 4 would solidify their legacy.
The Patriots have been a part of my life ever since my dad let me stay up late to watch the games with him. And sure, you can hate them if you want, because it’s easy to hate a team that has won so much and has been accused of so much. But I’ll always be cheering for them because they are my boys and represent my home and I’m proud of that!
Who are you routing for? And what snacks are you planning on making for Game Day? I gotta get planning for our Superbowl Party!
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