The Five Stages of Patriots Grief
posted at 1:36 pm on February 4, 2008 by Bryan
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It’s funny and true, especially the line about sports fans drawing their own sense of self worth from whether their teams win or lose. It’s stupid, but we all do it to some extent. Calling Tom Brady “Nancy Boy” made me laugh out loud. And reading the whole piece made me wonder: What’s this guy doing with himself today? We know what he’s not having tattooed on his melon.
If you want a Super Bowl exit question, here goes: Was choosing to go for it rather than attempt a 49-yard field goal in the 3rd quarter in perfect indoor conditions the worst Super Bowl coaching decision ever? I say it was.
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On 4th and 13? Yes, it was an extremely stupid decision.
packsoldier on February 4, 2008 at 1:40 PM
I hope he lets himself cry and not hold it in…..the idiot.
BL@KBIRD on February 4, 2008 at 1:43 PM
Considering an incomplete pass or a missed field goal resulted in the same field position for the Giants….. uhhh yeah, that may have been the worst offensive call evah.
brain fart
natesnake on February 4, 2008 at 1:43 PM
Actually, natesnake, a missed field goal would’ve given the Giants about eight more yards. It was still a stupid decision though. On 4th and 1 it would’ve been arguable. On 4th and 13 it was simply foolhardy.
packsoldier on February 4, 2008 at 1:46 PM
And if they had converted it would have been hailed as the greatest decision of all time. How about a little credit to the Giants defense?
I had no dog in this fight, bad thing for somebody from GA to be saying in light of the Michael Vick shenagians. Just remember Vick played in ATL but he lived in VA.
Just A Grunt on February 4, 2008 at 1:46 PM
At least the poor guy can wear a Red Sox cap to cover himself.
Bigfoot on February 4, 2008 at 1:47 PM
Coaching Genius (TM.)
Bill Belichick: How many downs do we get again?
Gerard on February 4, 2008 at 1:47 PM
I have several tattoos, but I’ll never understand the above the neck-line thing. It basically says, “I’m fine making minimum wage for the rest of my life.”
Natesnake’s Tattoo Tip of the Day: If it can’t be covered with a T-shirt and shorts; don’t ink it.
natesnake on February 4, 2008 at 1:48 PM
I’m a huge Patriots fan and I’m disappointed they lost but I’m actually relieved we can go back to a normal season next year without all the undefeated grief.
The Giants kicked our asses last night. They dominated our offense like no other has all year. Our Defense put up a hellova fight through the first half.
I’d be singing a different tune if we’d have won but whatever, there’s always next year and the Pats will still be a dominant team.
In Bellichick we trust.
As for the Tattoo? What a dope.
Geronimo on February 4, 2008 at 1:51 PM
Listen to the guy talk. He has two brain cells left and one’s giving CPR to the other.
packsoldier on February 4, 2008 at 1:52 PM
True, but 1st & 10 at the 30 verses the 38 would still have been roughly the same. At least at the 38, they would have had a decent shot at 3 points.
It was a desperation move.
natesnake on February 4, 2008 at 1:52 PM
The happiest guy on the planet is Don Shula. I feel worst for Randy Moss.
I don’t understand why they never rolled Brady out. I know monday morning and armchair quarterback jokes aside, they were killing Brady. He got sacked and knocked down more that game than he had total the whole season.
They came out the second half with more play action which worked a few times, but they still set up Brady in the pocket like a sitting duck for the blitzing linebackers. Surely had they put Brady on a roll out, he’d have had more time to find Randy Moss. They never once rolled him out. I was surprised.
Sad to not be able to see history, but it just goes to show how special a perfect season in the NFL really is and how difficult it is to achieve. It was a GREAT game though. . .
Plus, I’d have kicked that field goal earlier if I had the chance rather than go for it on 4th down. That came back to bite them in the end.
ThackerAgency on February 4, 2008 at 1:55 PM
I can’t imagine how the “12th Man” on the Giant’s punt return team would have felt if the Patriots pulled out a win.
The guy probably still feels sick to his stomach.
natesnake on February 4, 2008 at 1:56 PM
Not really. The Patriots lived and died with momentum. They needed momentum.
Just look at their season. Every win had the momentum moment to carry them to victory. When they played the Chargers Tom Brady had a mini coniption when we got a first down late in the game after they had scored. Brady knew that the momentum shift the Patriots needed could have come on a 3 and out. They eventually got a stop but it was not the momentum shift that the Patriots defense was used to giving to Brady.
A field goal would have not have stopped the bleeding. A field goal would still have been a victory for the Giants defense. Judging by thier play for the remainder of the game they would have still beaten the Patriots.
Theworldisnotenough on February 4, 2008 at 1:58 PM
Maybe someone canhelp him remove that GIANTS boot sized imprint on his butt ……
William Amos on February 4, 2008 at 1:58 PM
I do not feel bad for him at all. They blew teams out just for the heck of it, let them feel the pain.
Theworldisnotenough on February 4, 2008 at 1:59 PM
Incorrect… the happiest guy on the planet is Mercury Morris.
Why didn’t Brady roll out? Because the O-line let him down and the Giants D was all over him. He had no time to throw the ball due to the intense defensive pressure.
What I lost sleep over last night (literally) is the vision of Eli breaking out of that scrum and throwing a hail mary down field for a completion. And the image of the play before that when the Patriots missed an interception that would have sealed the game.
I HATE to see the Patriots lose this way.
cannonball on February 4, 2008 at 1:59 PM
Also, you have to give credit to Bellicheck for maintaining possession during that earlier punt when the Giant’s had too many people on the field. That was brilliant and perfect use of the red flag. Great, great challenge. That doesn’t make up for needing to kick the field goal, but still you can’t say the coach didn’t help his team last night.
ThackerAgency on February 4, 2008 at 2:01 PM
…a field goal would still have been a victory for the Giants defense.
Good thing he didn’t chance it.
Gerard on February 4, 2008 at 2:05 PM
Points is points.
The whole point behind rolling the QB out is to get him time without having to block straight up. If the D line doesn’t get to him, he doesn’t need to move. If he only has 2 seconds in the pocket, and he rolls out, he buys about 5 seconds to make a decision even with poor blocking.
They probably didn’t have a roll out in their offense. I was expecting to see it. It would have given Brady more time even though the Giant’s defense was awesome last night. I’d have rolled him away from Strahan and called the appropriate routes.
ThackerAgency on February 4, 2008 at 2:05 PM
You know this sort of reminds me of the Jets win back in Super bowl 3 (Been their fan since then. Its easy you expect them to lose and can never be disappoited !)
Namath and their crew was expected to be wipeout by the colts. Even though Namath didnt play well in the game he still got MVP even though it really was the defense and running game that got the win.
Interesting that its another NY team that pulls that feat off.
William Amos on February 4, 2008 at 2:06 PM
In retrospect, it was stupid. But what Giant fan out there didn’t expect the Patriots to pick up that first down?
rivlax on February 4, 2008 at 2:08 PM
And the Giants won on a helmet catch. As if the Boston Globe 19-0 jinx wasn’t bad enough. I remember when Atlanta was 2-0 over the Yankees and the AJC’s Bradley started waxing on and on about “dynasty.”
Beagle on February 4, 2008 at 2:09 PM
It’s just Belicheat. When he had to make a decision based on ability, he blew it. Of course he should’ve tried the FG. In a game like this ALL points are important. The Giants didn’t lay down in front of his ‘awesome’ media pumped up team. The game proved that Boston is just an ordinary team when left to their own abilities. Apparently they didn’t study their bootleg illegal tape of the Giants ‘walk thru’ from Saturday as always. They got their collective asses handed to them. The Giants’ brute force and determination beat ‘em. Congrats to the Giants and their organization.
countywolf on February 4, 2008 at 2:12 PM
Our local columnist, Nick Canepa, in San Diego compared it to Schottenheimer going for it on 4th and 11 last season in the divisional round against New England in the first quarter, rather than take what would have been a 40 yard try.
Perhaps it wasn’t quite as boneheaded a move as that one was, but the results were the same.
A three point loss.
Hawkins1701 on February 4, 2008 at 2:13 PM
A very bad coaching decision. And by very bad I mean horrible.
Grafted on February 4, 2008 at 2:29 PM
And I gotta say, I never drank the “Belicheat” kool-aid or the “classless” organization one. This, after the Pats beat my Chargers three times in the last year, mocking us on our own field.
But Belichick’s behavior last night at the end of the game was maybe the worst I’ve seen from a losing coach. I expected better of him. Do you really have to start jogging off the field when you know that another play needs to be run to end the game? And that postgame interview made him look like a spoiled sourpuss. “What do you tell your team after coming so close to history?” “I don’t know what to say, it’s just a terrible loss.” Way to rally the troops there, after what had been a magnificent season. Was it really that long ago that you lost a game that you don’t know how to take it gracefully?
San Diego in general, and myself included, has no love for Eli, but I’ll take his winning as the lesser of two evils. I’d rather have to never stop hearing about this upset than really NEVER stop hearing about 19-0.
Hawkins1701 on February 4, 2008 at 2:30 PM
The Patriots kicker put one out of bounds on a kickoff a bit earlier in the game… might that have given them pause about trying a field goal?
Great offensive teams like New England have a much higher chance to convert fourth-down plays like that… but 13 yards is much different than 5, especially in the face of the Giants pass rush. The field goal was probably the wisest course of action, but because of Brady-Moss-Welker I would not call going for it there the worst decision in Super Bowl history.
When the Pats lined up for that down, how many thought “bad move” and how many thought they had a better-than-even chance to convert? They were so good this year on offense they they could do things other teams could not. That confidence helped get them to the big game… and perhaps it contributed to them losing it.
Graybark on February 4, 2008 at 2:34 PM
The went for it out of pure ego and hubris.
And they were still stinging from when the Jags did it in their opening drive against the Patriots. Go jags.
tlynch001 on February 4, 2008 at 2:35 PM
Dear God in Heaven, please restrain this tattooed pin-head from registering to vote.
And if he is registered to vote, then on election day please inspire him to avoid the voting booth and instead return to the tattoo parlor to have the phrase “Suck this, Brady” tattooed on his penis.
Thank you, Lord.
NemoParticularis on February 4, 2008 at 2:38 PM
cheaters dont win.
daileyck1 on February 4, 2008 at 2:40 PM
Kicking the field goal is a much better play when you assume they make it.
Beagle on February 4, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Maybe he could ink “18-1″ where he was going to put the Lombardi trophy.
Blacklake on February 4, 2008 at 2:53 PM
Most definitely; it seemed their primary focus all season was breaking records; ahead 30 points? Don’t sit Brady, we have to get him one and Moss one more TD.
Belichick had the benefit of having a TV-timeout in order to make his decision; rather than having to do it prior to the offense trying to get the ball snapped quickly. He deserves no credit.
dalewalt on February 4, 2008 at 2:55 PM
Giants played their hearts out and deserved to win. I’m a season Patriots ticket holder too!
But just remember one little thing. If Asante Samuel had held on to that ball and got the interception, then Eli Manning would be a chump today who blew upsetting the Pats… that’s how close of a game it was.
Belichick didn’t have a good game plan, since he knew they Giants Defense was going to come after Brady from play one.
Bob on February 4, 2008 at 2:56 PM
Now that the Pats have lost, he’ll have room there to place a horse’s ass where the Lombardi trophy would have been.
Lane on February 4, 2008 at 2:58 PM
Aw I feel sorry for them……sorta like I felt sorry for Frank Miller when Will Kane shot him down.
Limerick on February 4, 2008 at 2:59 PM
Mike Golic was right about the Giants getting pressure with their front four, and the occasional blitz. I don’t think he picked them to win, but that was what finally made Brady look human.
Beagle on February 4, 2008 at 2:59 PM
YES – how could going for it on 4th and 13 be the better decision? Go for the points everytime. At that point in the game, the Giants had only mustered 3 points. The Pats obviously felt comfortable enough with their defense to go for it – therefore, they should have felt comfortable enough with their defense to go for the FG and risk missing it (10 yard difference).
Rick on February 4, 2008 at 3:00 PM
Rick,
Just that missing the field goal isn’t better than not making it on fourth down. The cliches are for a reason. Execute whatever and you win.
Beagle on February 4, 2008 at 3:02 PM
Forgetting where you left your helmet and missing the first 2 plays of the game is still the biggest bone headed move in Super bowl history. Which remind me of a joke I heard after SB XXVIII. Buffalo was having their area code changed to 044.
clghitis on February 4, 2008 at 3:07 PM
I’d say Dan Reeves letting Eugene Robinson out of the hotel room to solicit an undercover hooker before Super Bowl 33 has to rank up there. The fact that Reeves then started Robinson who got burned on two big plays made matters worse.
I don’t think there should be field goals in football. Having games (almost all games) decided by guys who can’t play any of the 11 positions on either side of the ball seems arbitrary.
Belichik knows his kicker. I give him credit for taking a shot. If it were a 30-yarder you could say he was taking points of the board, but not at 49 yards.
I’m more curious about the inability to establish short passes or get Brady out of the pocket. It seems like Brady was holding the ball too long on plays that weren’t drawn up to take advantage of the Giants over-pursuing.
dedalus on February 4, 2008 at 3:07 PM
I’m a Giant’s fan who recalls Bill Belichick, as defensive coordinator, coaching masterfully against a more talented Buffalo Bills team in Super Bowl 25. If you tried to come up with a list of more brilliant and successful coaches in the NFL, you could maybe put Bill Walsh on that list. I’m not sure who else.
The Giants have a really talented Defensive Coordinator in Steve Spagnuolo–who really worked wonders with a banged up secondary through the playoffs. I hope the find a way to keep him, though he’ll probably be a head coach somewhere else soon.
dedalus on February 4, 2008 at 3:34 PM
Defense!
The first play of the Pats’ last series put more pressure on Brady than he’s felt all season. He choked. I think he was awestruck by Eli Manning’s composure. Even with 3 timeouts to the Giants’ zero timeouts left, the Pats choked.
I expected a Patriots win, but I am soooo glad NYG handled their business.
I know at least a dozen guys with above the neck tattoos making six figures. Although the majority of guys I know with ink on their neck, head or face are pretty salty characters, a lot are gainfully employed.
That’s Cali for you.
The Race Card on February 4, 2008 at 3:36 PM
ROFL from Stage 2 in the ESPN article in reference to Arlen Specter:
clghitis on February 4, 2008 at 3:54 PM
No – that was a completely prick move that just about epitomizes the Patriots and explains why people hate them.
The irony of a team of admitted cheaters – who probably cheated their way to their last 3 Super Bowls – actually being that hypocritical at that moment had a whole roomful of people here laughing out loud. Of course he was right by the letter of the rule. But for somebody now infamous for violating those rules to pull that stunt … just classic.
The football gods were watching and they were displeased.
The Cheatin’ Asterisks got what they had coming. The irony was priceless and wonderful to see.
The fact that Belichick and his bunch of spoiled thugs ended the game with a perfect display of pissy bad sportsmanship made it even better.
Eternal asterisks. That’s all they are. And their clueless fans think their (losing) behavior is “brilliant.”
Priceless.
Professor Blather on February 4, 2008 at 3:55 PM
As a Stillers fan, this ass whooping of the Pats was so, so, so delicious and tasty, as tasty as the wings and Bell’s two Hearted Ale we consumed while watching the Golden Boys fall apart.
Maybe they shouldn’t have been inviting the Gints players to their SB parties afterwards.
I love it. Those bastards are just cheap shotters, all of them. Rodney Harrison is the worst.
Football karma was back in order last night.
benrand on February 4, 2008 at 3:57 PM
“I feel awesome. I feel like I’m part of the Patriots now!”
“I’m a loser… The Patriots are losers… See? It all fits!”
gridlock2 on February 4, 2008 at 3:58 PM
Considering Gostkoswki’s success from 40-49 in his career was 5-9 and the FG would have been from about 49 (at the farthest limit of his range) and the Patriots could not keep the Giants pass rush off Brady, I’d say it was a good decision to go for it and bypass the good risk of the FG getting blocked. The only thing better would have been to pooch kick.
Worst case scenario with the FG was a block and great field position for the Giants at around, most likely, the 50. And great momentum shift.
Worst case scenario with a pooch kick was a touchback and Giants ball at the 20. No momentum shift.
Worst case scenario with going for it was not getting it and giving the Giants the ball at the 32 yard line. And a small momentum shift. (note that there’s only a 12 yard loss of field position between a punt touchback and not getting the 4th down conversion)
Best decision seems to be to pooch punt.
But FG was still the worst decision to make there. Biggest risk.
Safe decision was punt, most aggressive was go for it on 4th Down. Belichick coached aggressively. The Giants stepped up and stopped them.
Michael in MI on February 4, 2008 at 4:05 PM
The Patsy’s F’ed with Karma all year by humiliating teams even when up by many points late in games. Their loss yesterday was another perfect example of hubris and unsportsmanlike conduct being rewarded with a last minute, heart breaking defeat at the hands of an inferior oponent.
Karma; she’s a nasty lady.
DrW on February 4, 2008 at 4:34 PM
It is amazing how a game is making most on this site look like little kids. All the players did an awesome job out on the field, the Giants did a little better and won. The rest of the 97 million + watched. The players got paid, how did you do?? LOL.Bellacik still will make $30 milllion a year for his coaching ablities, how you doing??? LOL I haven’t seen anyone on here step up to the plate and even tryout let alone play. A TV clicker is about the most I see of anyone on here.LOL I watched a fantatic game, which is what it is all about anyways.
bones47 on February 4, 2008 at 4:43 PM
The call to go for 4th and 13 was more arrogant than stupid.
The pressure of the perfect season, that and about 20 hits on Brady, finally got to them. They were dominated physically on both sides of the ball, but still almost won.
But they didn’t. Belichick isn’t quite the genius he’s cracked up to be when he doesn’t have tape of the opponents game plan. The cheatin bastards had their long-deserved commew-uppance last night, and most of America smiled.
Couldn’t have happened to a nicer bunch of fellows, those on the Pats without criminal records, that is.
awake on February 4, 2008 at 6:39 PM
And another thing. The NFL has to stop this crap about throwing the challenge flag after the next play commences.
Throw it earlier. If the ref doesn’t see it and whistle it before the next play, too bad.
awake on February 4, 2008 at 6:42 PM
Yes, not only was it the worst coaching decision ever it was also said to the Giants “we know we’re better than you and we don’t respect your team.”
This decision not only cost the Patriots 3 points (the difference in the game) but it likely helped to stoke an already fired up Giants defense to play to an even higher level of intensity.
Also, as for those that feel sorry for Moss all I can say is the only thing that makes me happier then the Giants beating the arrogant Patriots is seeing Moss still not get his Superbowl ring! The guy is an overpaid, lazy a-hole that is reaping what he sows, and in my opinion will fall the way of Micheal Vick…just wait and see.
If you want someone deserving of your compassion may I suggest Junior, he is a class guy that has now had to endure two Superbowl losses, one yesterday and one to the 49ers, now Junior is someone deserving of a Superbowl ring, not Moss!!
Liberty or Death on February 4, 2008 at 8:02 PM
Why didn’t Brady roll out?
Because he went to the University of Michigan. Their quaterbacks just stand there and throw, thats the way Bo wants it.
deadbackpacker on February 4, 2008 at 8:50 PM
I’m a Patriots fan living in Seattle. My boss’ first comment to me this morning was that “its only one game.”
Very funny.
Greenhorn on February 4, 2008 at 9:10 PM
Couldn’t he just buy a replica helmet and wear it around the house sometimes?
“I feel like one of the patriots now”… I was gonna make a crack about nobody on the team having man-boobs, but thought better of it after remembering the offensive line is a part of the team too.
wahhaw on February 4, 2008 at 9:27 PM
Maybe he’s the reason they lost. What an idiot. I love pizza and boobies–doesn’t mean I’m gonna shave my noggin and tattoo a deep dish with ariolas on it for heaven’s sake.
And people talk about us Southerners as dimwitted NASCAR lovin’ simpletons.
robblefarian on February 5, 2008 at 1:07 AM
Three words by Mike Holmgren: “Let them score”
This was not even close
Sinner on February 5, 2008 at 9:04 AM
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