OT: 1972 Dolphins or 2007 Patriots

[Enigma869]

Interesting article on espn.com about "The Tale of Two Cities", talking about Boston and Miami. One excerpt from the article is:

"Of course, winning comes with a whole new set of problems. To wit: Everyone hates you.


The Red Sox are dangerously close to becoming the Yankees -- a financial empire with unlimited resources for whom winning becomes so routine that it becomes joyless. The Patriots, tarnished by the still-smoldering Spygate, have engendered national ill will from opponents to pundits. For some, they have become too good for their own good.


And should the Celtics continue their renaissance, it won't be long before Spike Lee feels compelled to hate them again. Then, and only then, will they have arrived."

As I've said in the past, everyone only hates you when you have success! You definitely haven't arrived until the world hates you! When I was a kid growing up, there wasn't anyone on the planet who hated the Patriots, except their own fans, because they sucked so bad! If I had to pick one over the other, I would definitely choose all the hating, across the country

If anyone from Boston or Miami cares to read the article, it's on the front page of espn.com.


John from Boston

[X factor]

Okay...this is funny. I got home and picked up today's edition of NFL Live off of my TiVo. They had a 07 Patriots versus 72 Dolphins discussion. They went on to play the game on screen (EA's Madden Football), and the Patriots won the game in a shootout...31-27. Earl Morrall threw a bomb to Paul Warfield at the end of the game, but he was tackled on the 10 yard line! I know the results mean NOTHING, but it was just humourous to me that this was their topic of the day. For what it's worth, I think the main reason the Patriots of today would beat the Dolphins of 72, somewhat easily, is the sheer size difference of football players, in today's game. The heaviest guy on the entire 72 team was a whopping 275lbs, which is downright tiny in today's NFL!


John from Boston

The Pats FRIGHTEN me, they're so good. Those old teams wouldn't stand a chance head to head with these guys...

Deano has a point on the JAGS, though- they're mighty dangerous. However, my TITANS did beat them in one of the two meetings this year- now if THOSE guys could only get on track....

...and yes, the TUCK rule was the right call!


...as was the MUSIC CITY MIRACLE, BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[larryfromnextdoor]

The Pats FRIGHTEN me, they're so good. Those old teams wouldn't stand a chance head to head with these guys...

you mean like Ali vs Tyson , both in their prime?

[Rockindeano]

And we are completely forgetting the fantastic 49er teams. They were as good as anyone.

I would say NE will have done it going 17-0 but look at the piss poor division they play in. They get 8 free wins against the Jets, Fins and Bills.

[Rockindeano]

...and yes, the TUCK rule was the right call!

I think the Raiders got fucked in that game, but hey, I wasn't complaining. They fucked over everybody else, it's payback forever I hope. I hope they always get fucked over by the refs.

[squirt1]

Deano- Tell me about San Fran !!!! 2 Superbowls of agony! Montana was precision. I remember watching Griese, Czonka, Kick and Warfield at Miami. They were amazing with Sr Don Shula as coach. I am just not up on if there was as much competiton as they would have to face today.

[X factor]

And we are completely forgetting the fantastic 49er teams. They were as good as anyone.

I would say NE will have done it going 17-0 but look at the piss poor division they play in. They get 8 free wins against the Jets, Fins and Bills.

Good point...NE does have a crappy division, but they just look more dominant to me than any team I've seen in awhile...

and yeah, those 80's niner teams WERE pretty friggin good. I also think the old Steel curtain Steelers were mighty potent too...

[Enigma869]

I think the Raiders got fucked in that game, but hey, I wasn't complaining. They fucked over everybody else, it's payback forever I hope. I hope they always get fucked over by the refs.

Dean...

This is the ONLY place I hear people saying the Raiders got jobbed in that game. I know from listening to you, that you're a very knowledgeable sports fan, so I'm even more baffled that you're saying this. The NFL "tuck rule" is what it is. That same call has been made in NFL games 50 times since the playoff game against the Raiders, and guess what...It's called the same way EVERY TIME! As I've said in the past, if you want to make to argument that it's a stupid rule and changed by the NFL, FINE! Make the argument and change the rule! Saying the referees got the call wrong, is simply sour grapes by Raiders fans. The NFL is THE ONLY professional league in existence that comes out ALL THE TIME and publicly admit when they fuck up a call. The head of officiating is on "Inside The NFL" on HBO twice every season, and is VERY candid about blown calls. Hell, they issue press releases when the screw a call up! They simply didn't mess that call up, in spite of the six years of whining that Raiders fans have done! The reality is that according to the way the "Tuck Rule" is written...the play against the Raiders is used as an example to the officials, in their training, of exactly what the tuck rule is, because it was so textbook!


John from Boston

[Enigma869]

And we are completely forgetting the fantastic 49er teams. They were as good as anyone.

I would say NE will have done it going 17-0 but look at the piss poor division they play in. They get 8 free wins against the Jets, Fins and Bills.

The 49'er teams were GREAT teams! Montana was my favorite QB growing up. Marino had all the stats...Montana had all the rings. Hmmmm...Sort of sounds like Brady and Manning to me! I also thought Steve Young was a GREAT QB, on some pretty solid SF teams! I think the major difference between the 49'er teams that won and the Patriots teams that won are that the 49'er teams had FAR more talent (and I'm not talking about this year's Patriots team, because they haven't won anything, yet)! Joe Montana was throwing the ball to Jerry Rice (the best receiver EVER), John Taylor, Dwight Clark, Roger Craig, etc. Brady won his Super Bowls with Antowain Smith, Patrick Pass, David Patten and Deion Branch! In my opinion, Brady didn't have half the talent Montana had. I'm not diminishing Montana's greatness, because I thought the guy was the best QB I had ever watched (yes, better than Marino, Elway, and Favre, by a long shot). I just think Brady did far more with far less talent around him. I can tell you this...On the three championship teams Brady has been on, he's the only hall of fame player (not counting Vinatieri)!

As far as the "8 free wins"...I think you probably meant to say 6. I certainly agree with you that the AFC is DREADFUL, and I'm bored to tears with the lack of competition in the division. That said, as I posted earlier, the Patriots' opponents have a much better winning percentage this season than the 72 Dolphins' opponents had (about 49% versus 35%). The Patriots have played 5 teams with 10 wins this season, and beat all five of them quite easily! If they beat the Giants next week, that will be team number 6 they beat with 10 wins this season (assuming the Giants beat the Bills this weekend, which I think they will)! Regardless of whether they go undefeated or not this season, they will definitely go down as one of the best teams, ever. I know this...two weeks from now, they will own EVERY offensive record a team can own in one season, so at least on the offensive side of the ball, they've been quite dominant!


John from Boston

[Rockindeano]

I think the Raiders got fucked in that game, but hey, I wasn't complaining. They fucked over everybody else, it's payback forever I hope. I hope they always get fucked over by the refs.

Dean...

This is the ONLY place I hear people saying the Raiders got jobbed in that game. I know from listening to you, that you're a very knowledgeable sports fan, so I'm even more baffled that you're saying this. The NFL "tuck rule" is what it is. That same call has been made in NFL games 50 times since the playoff game against the Raiders, and guess what...It's called the same way EVERY TIME! As I've said in the past, if you want to make to argument that it's a stupid rule and changed by the NFL, FINE! Make the argument and change the rule! Saying the referees got the call wrong, is simply sour grapes by Raiders fans. The NFL is THE ONLY professional league in existence that comes out ALL THE TIME and publicly admit when they fuck up a call. The head of officiating is on "Inside The NFL" on HBO twice every season, and is VERY candid about blown calls. Hell, they issue press releases when the screw a call up! They simply didn't mess that call up, in spite of the six years of whining that Raiders fans have done! The reality is that according to the way the "Tuck Rule" is written...the play against the Raiders is used as an example to the officials, in their training, of exactly what the tuck rule is, because it was so textbook!


John from Boston

John, NO ONE hates Oakland more than I do, but there is NO way that was a tuck and you know it. That was payback to Al Davis for being the cocksucker he is. Oakland definitely was robbed. Again, I was overjoyed, but that game was bullshit. Oakland deserved better. That game was as bad as Super Bowl XL. Seattle was so much the better team than Pittsburgh and outplayed them easily. That game was rigged. Even Steeler fans know this. The NFL needs to hire officials that aren't 76 yrs old and blind.

[Enigma869]

John, NO ONE hates Oakland more than I do, but there is NO way that was a tuck and you know it. That was payback to Al Davis for being the cocksucker he is. Oakland definitely was robbed. Again, I was overjoyed, but that game was bullshit. Oakland deserved better. That game was as bad as Super Bowl XL. Seattle was so much the better team than Pittsburgh and outplayed them easily. That game was rigged. Even Steeler fans know this. The NFL needs to hire officials that aren't 76 yrs old and blind.

Sorry Dean...You're flat out delusional on this one. Listen, I think Al Davis is a clown and has always been one. The guy hasn't had a clue in more than 25 years. That said, nobody was out to get Al Davis. I'm telling you that I've personally seen the tuck rule called at least 10 times since that play, and every single one of them has looked exactly the same! Please tell me you don't buy into the theory that some moron advanced here, that it was that play that made Brady's career, and is the reason he's about to break the all-time touchdown record??? That may be the single most moronic statement I've ever read, as it relates to sports!


John from Boston