I thought what the Patriots did in Super Bowl XXVI, beating "The Greatest Show on Turf," was something special.  I rooted for the Pats then, not as a fan, but you have to root for someone in the SB, and I would have rooted for any team from the AFC to knock the Rams from their perch.  But now even that accomplishment has come into question.  

But this year, the Patriots hopped on a perch, and disrespected the entire league.  They broke numerous records en route to a 16-0 season, but the only reason that they achieved most of those records is because the other teams which set the bar had too much respect for the rest of the teams and players in the league.  They didn't run up the score when it was obvious that they would win.  Ever hear of the mercy rule?  I know it is not an official rule that can be enforced in the NFL, but most teams will bring out their second string players to finish up the game when their is no chance for the opponents to win.  Not them Pats.  

And what about Brady's breaking Peyton's TD record?  Brady would have had no chance at the record if Peyton had played the last game of the '04 season.  But Peyton is a class act.  He did what was needed to ensure his team achieved the # 3 seed in the AFC for the playoffs, and then he sat.  The Chargers were right on the Colt's heels, and Peyton had to play in week 16 and get a win vs the Chargers, so they would be guaranteed that # 3 seed regardless of the outcome of the game vs Denver in week 17.  But as soon as the Colts were locked in for the 3rd seed, Peyton took a seat.  He could have played the last game of the season, but no, he only threw two passes so he could continue his consecutive games started streak and then he handed the reins over to Sorgi.  That's the difference between a record seeking disrespectful player like Brady and a true sportsman like Peyton.  Winning and losing are important, but how you play the game is especially important.  Brady is arrogant when he wins, and disrespectful when he loses.  Brady beat out Peyton's record because Peyton wasn't worried about setting a record, and he wasn't trying to diesrespect Marino by thrashing Marino's TD mark.  Frankly, I truly believed Peyton when he said that it did not matter to him if he (Peyton) broke the record in 2004.  I saw him doing what it took to ensure a win, and many a time that meant handing it off to Edge to get the touchdwon when Peyton could have just as easily thrown a TD instead.  As a matter of fact, Edge had 334 carries in '04, compared to the 185 of Maroney this year.  And, Peyton threw 41 less passes in the last 8 games compared to the first 8, while Brady threw 44 more passes in the last 8 games this season than his first 8.  Seems that Brady was dead set on breaking that record, while Peyton was quite the opposite.  Too bad it took Brady 81 more pass attempts to achieve what Peyton did.  Too funny.

On the Super Bowl
What an awesome result.  I was hoping and praying someone, anyone would bring the Patriots down from their pedestal.  It should have come a lot sooner.  The Patriots got very lucky that they faced the Bolts in the AFC Championship.  Had the other Manning managed to overcome a very poor showing by the Colts defense, then it woulda been a Manning vs Manning Super Bowl.  The Pats played just as horrible a game against the Bolts as they played in the Super Bowl, but the Bolts had no chance.  Their offense was in shambles, and watching Rivers hobble around was just pathetic.  Any pressure on the pocket and there he'd go, hobbling off and then end up throwing it away or tossing an interception.  They probably woulda been better off with Volek.  

Thanks to the powers that be which ensured that even though the Patriots ended up playing one of the easiest post season schedules they could have hoped for, they still got beaten.  They had it in the bag.  The '72 Dolphins were sure that they would finally see their record matched.  But lo and behold, unlike the 4 other teams that had the Patriots right where they wanted them, the one guy who everyone can count on to choke when it counts took it down the field and took the lead.  Thanks Eli for not choking.  Thank you.  Thank you for doing what your brother and the Colts, the Eagles, the Ravens and the Chargers failed to do, put up points and shut down that BS stacked team when the opportunity showed itself.  Thanks so much.

The other Manning brother and his team did what others failed to.  When you have the Patriots where you want them, by slowing down their offense, you have to score points.  Winning defensively will not usually win a game if you do not produce offensively, and that is what I saw all year.  It wasn't the Pats winning every game, it was other teams failing to produce when they needed it.  Trading field goals for touchdowns due to poor play calling and/or execution.  Thanks for a team finally playing the whole game out, and making the Pats show if they can win a game when the other team doesn't hand them the victory.   The team I least expected to be in the Super Bowl made the Pats have to earn a victory, and it was in that game that it was shown that the Pats couldn't get it done.  And that is that, my friends.  Sorry to the real Pats fans out there.  But the bandwagon fans can s_ck my kumquat.  Ya'll need to learn some loyalty.  Stay with a team, win or lose.  Stop hopping from one band wagon to the next, ya groupies. Good job NY.  I am definitely not your fan, but good job for stickin' it to the man, taking down Goliath with your slingshot.  All I ask is you keep beating those Cowgirls, America's team my arse.  Laters.