How the New England Patriots Success is Bad for the NFL
We've seen dominant, dynastic runs before in the modern sports era.
The entire decade of the 1980s was owned by Magic Johnson 's Lakers (nine Finals trips in 12 years) and Larry Bird 's Celtics (five Finals trips in seven years).
Michael Jordan 's Chicago Bulls won six titles in eight years.
The Dallas Cowboys won three Super Bowls in seven years.
The New York Yankees, from 1996-2003, dominated baseball, going to the World Series six times in eight years and winning four titles.
But we've never seen a dynasty like the New England Patriots under Bill Belichick , which has gone to eight Super Bowls in his 18 years . And the length of their dynasty is why fatigue is setting in, and the NFL has a stale situation on their hands.
The Super Bowl between the Patriots and Eagles could be great. In fact, it probably will be, as all of New England's seven Super Bowl games have been very competitive. The problem is New England's unprecedented run of sustained success has pushed the NFL's best stories the last two years - Dak Prescott , Ezekiel Elliott at the Cowboys; Deshaun Watson and all the talented young QBs - to the backburner again, and the media's forced to reheat warmed-over leftovers.
The Patriots are a stale storyline.
Tom Brady , Bill Belichick - the public has heard all of the angles. Yes, they're the best. There's nobody to compare them to. They're in their own galaxy of GOAT greatness. Who is likable on this team? Rob Gronkowski and … that's it?
Many stars who have enjoyed prolonged success have had to struggle before reaching the top of the mountain. Michael Jordan languished in the East for years before breaking through (at a fortuitous time when Larry Bird was a shell of his former self, and Isaiah Thomas had retired). LeBron had to leave Cleveland to find success in Miami.
There's been no struggle for the Patriots. Tom Brady filled in for an injured Drew Bledsoe and won a Super Bowl. Then won another. And now he's got five. Sure, he was a 6th round draft pick, and that narrative is well-worn.
The Patriots are embroiled in scandals. They get all the calls. How's this - in the two biggest games of the year, the Patriots were barely flagged for penalties in a season when referees were (unfortunately) a recurring theme. In Pittsburgh: Two penalties for four yards; vs. Jacksonville: One penalty for 10 yards.
Absolutely best-case scenario for the NFL: The Eagles shock the world and win the Super Bowl, it sends the Patriots into an offseason tailspin, Belichick retires or goes to another team, and Tom Brady finally loses his battle with Father Time.
It's time for the focus of the NFL to be the new blood. New storylines. New stars.
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I personally think Brady needs to go out while he is on top. Unless he intends to pull a Brett Favre.
Absolutely best-case scenario for the NFL: The Eagles shock the world and win the Super Bowl, it sends the Patriots into an offseason tailspin, Belichick retires or goes to another team, and Tom Brady finally loses his battle with Father Time.
This just goes to show you. People hate a winner.
I hope the Pats win only so that POS NFL commissioner has to hand Brady the Trophy again. That my friends, would be more poetic justice.
Other than, i could care less who wins. I'm a Loins fan. I don't ever expect to see my team in a SB before i die.
I am a Saints fan. When they won the superbowl some were saying that it was only because of hurricane Katrina.
Well, fortunately (or unfortunately as the case may be) we can't count on that in Michigan.
Few NFL fans have felt the pain Loins fans have felt. The Browns maybe but that's about it.
We're hoping William Clays old lady will do a better job. Things are looking up with the head coach hire it looks like we made. Time will tell.
I miss Barry Sanders!