Greatest Team Vs Greatest Season

[lamberts-lost-tooth]

Since about week 7, we have had the term "Greatest Team of All Time" shoved down our throats in regards to the 2007 New England Patriots*. It seems that the media outlets have thought it necessary to "proclaim" this to the obviously less-informed masses, to the point that each and every talking head is tripping over themselves to bow at the golden throne upon which Bill Belichick resides while the Holier-than-thou Brady splashes them with Holy Water that strangely reeks of Stetson cologne.

I hate to interrupt a good worship service, but if I can disagree with such mensa candidates as Chris Collinsworth and Emmitt Smith...I have to call B.S.

Yes, it makes for good headlines...yes, it irritates other teams fans to the point that the WILL watch in the hopes of seeing them lose...yes, its a cheap call since it is an arbitrary title. But NO!!! the 2007 New England Patriots* are not the greatest team of all time.

What they have accomplished is begrudgingly impressive but I think that in all the hype, sportscasters have confused the terms...greatest team...with greatest season.

If the 2007 New England Patriots* win the Superbowl they will in a very rare, but not unpresidented category. They will have finished the season undefeated just as the 1972 Miami Dolphins(without an asterick) did, but when mentioning the Greatest Teams of all time you would be hard pressed to mention this team with the likes of the 70's Steelers...the 90's Cowboys...the 80's 49ers..and the 1985 Chicago Bears.

What is the difference? Lets compare the Steelers and the Patriots. Compare how many of those great Steeler players are now enshrined in the Hall of Fame ..(and note this)...are enshrined as PITTSBURGH STEELERS.

How many of 2007 New England Patriots* played the majority of their careers with the team they took to the big game? Other than Brady, who among this 2007 New England Patriots* team will be headed to the Hall of Fame? Who among them will be enshrined as a Patriot?....
Moss?, Probably not since this time last year he was a Raider, and not long before that he was a Viking, and who knows how long he will stay with this team since the "One Huge Ego Per Team" quota has been reserved for Belichick.
Junior?, nope...he spent the majority of his career as a Charger and considers SanDiego his home town.
Harrison, nope, also a Charger, and not a sure bet for the HOF.


This team is a one season wonder that will be dismantled faster than a lego model in the hands of a two year old.

Greatest Team implies the players who made up the team..and what they were able to accomplish....The 2007 New England Patriots* only meet half that reguirement.

You want to know where the Patriots fit in the scheme of what they have done? Simple. Look at the 72 Dolphins (without an asterick). Who among us have ever heard them mentioned in the same breath as Bradshaw's Steelers...Aikman's Cowboys...and Montana's 49ers?

The Dolphins legacy is that of having the perfect season....period. The 2007 New England Patriots*, with their store bought talent and one season merriment, deserve no less credit....but certainly no more.

[kmsteelerwr15]

AMEN!!!!!!

[Rhee Rhee]

How many of 2007 New England Patriots* played the majority of their careers with the team they took to the big game? Other than Brady, who among this 2007 New England Patriots* team will be headed to the Hall of Fame? Who among them will be enshrined as a Patriot?....
Moss?, Probably not since this time last year he was a Raider, and not long before that he was a Viking, and who knows how long he will stay with this team since the "One Huge Ego Per Team" quota has been reserved for Belichick.
Junior?, nope...he spent the majority of his career as a Charger and considers SanDiego his home town.
Harrison, nope, also a Charger, and not a sure bet for the HOF.


agreed with much of what you said except this... just because you have a lot of HOFers come from your squad does not mean your the greatest team... i feel that team greatness and sucess is measured in superbowl wins and obviously the pats have done just that... just cause they can't produce their own players does not mean they aren't the greatest... the fact is they get players to come to NE to win championships and thats what they've done..

[lamberts-lost-tooth]

agreed with much of what you said except this... just because you have a lot of HOFers come from your squad does not mean your the greatest team... i feel that team greatness and sucess is measured in superbowl wins and obviously the pats have done just that... just cause they can't produce their own players does not mean they aren't the greatest... the fact is they get players to come to NE to win championships and thats what they've done..

So you agree with the post...except for its content?:hunch:

...and as for team greatness being measured by Superbowl wins...I think that the Buffalo Bills of the early 90's is one of the greatest teams of all time time...according to you, the fact that they went to 4 Superbowls in a row means nothing.

The Pats are a no more a "team" then throwing food into a grocery cart constitutes a "meal".

...nuff said:wave:

[BlastFurnace]

I have a hard time believing that Emmitt doesn't think privately that the 1993 or 1994 Cowboys would have torn these 2007 Patriots a new one.

The 1994 team was better than all three SB teams that Dallas had...kind of like the 1976 Steelers are said to be our best team, but didn't win it either.

The 1993 or 1994 Cowboys would have beaten these Patriots. It's just not politically correct on ESPN to say anything bad about the Patriots. That's why I don't listen to that station any longer.

[Godfather]

One point about the Patriots* that isn't discussed: They haven't played anyone at full strength. They bear the Colts with Harrison, Ugoh, and McFarland in street clothes. Baltimore and Philly had backup quarterbacks. LT went out of the AFCCG game early with an injury. They shredded a Steeler secondary that was missing two starters. The great single season teams like the '85 Bears and '72 Dolphins, as well as the dynasty teams like the '78 Steelers, were never that lucky with opponents' injuries.

If the Patriots* had been 15-1, they would get no consideration at all in the greatest-ever discussion.

[Rhee Rhee]

So you agree with the post...except for its content?:hunch:

...and as for team greatness being measured by Superbowl wins...I think that the Buffalo Bills of the early 90's is one of the greatest teams of all time time...according to you, the fact that they went to 4 Superbowls in a row means nothing.

The Pats are a no more a "team" then throwing food into a grocery cart constitutes a "meal".

...nuff said:wave:

To me going to the big game means nothing... winning the big game is somethin... look at my own college team.. hawaii... they went undefeated and cruised into New Orleans... made it to the game and lost to georgia... or even ohio state they went to two BCS championship game themselves... do u think the past two years the ohio state teams are worthy of even a top 20 college team of all time?

coach cowher put it best himself... "no one remembers the loser of the super bowls (unless u lose 4 times in a row)"

ps. i do agree with u that the patriots are filled with store bought talent... :smile: