The 15

Tom Brady.  The greatest quarterback of all time.  As clutch as they come.  Ice water in his veins.  The baddesst MFer in the building.  GOAT. 

              There is absolutely no denying the greatness of Tom Brady, or the joy he has brought to so many Patriots fans for the past two decades.  In a team sport where the Xs and Os can go toe to toe with the Jimmys and Joes, Brady excelled in both situations.  Brady’s 2001 campaign started earlier than expected, due to an incumbent quarterback meeting Mo Lewis early in the season. 

              The ’01 season was something out of a Hollywood movie.  Although built mainly around its defense, there was something about young Tom.  He was cool under pressure, he had the “it” factor.  Weeks went by, and the team became an even more cohesive unit.  Former University of Kansas head coach Charlie Weis brought Brady up in a system developed by non member of the Patriots HOF, Duane Charles Parcells.  Dink and dunk was born.  Brady’s favorite receiver: the open one.  Although not filled with the heardahim weaponz on offense, the team was productive offensively, and more importantly, ended up on top when time was expired.  Former 98.5 fill in, and current WEEI morning show shock jock played TE.  Everyone rooted for the kid from Eastie.  Now, they want him off their radios.  A sad fall from grace.  Yet I digress.  After a brief scare, Walt Coleman grabbed victory from the jaws of defeat for the Patriots, and they were on to Pittsburgh.  I imagine Irons Mike is triggered already thinking about Drew Bledsoe having to complete the game which sent the Steelers home, and caused numerous hotel and flight cancellations that day.  Introduced as a team prior to the Super Bowl, I imagine Brady is still concussed after smashing his helmet against Drew Bledsoe in the tunnel for what seemed like 20 minutes.  Hopefully that water works out on past concussions, Tom.

              2002 proved to be a let down.  CMGI Field came and went.  A banner year, but soon forgotten.  Much like a white trash employee working at Dunkin’ on #NationalCoffeeDay, the Patriots still made it through.  There was speculation that it was less a Super Bowl hangover year, and more of an adjustment as to going deep into the playoffs, leaving the team less prepared for off season business. 

              2003-2005:  Regular Season 28-4.  Absolute domination.  In the nostalgia bias vs. recency bias debate heard on a local podcast, many point to these teams as the gold standard.  The ’03 team was anchored at LB coach by Rob Ryan, a little known fun fact.  2 more rings, and we can still see Willie asking the national media if they thought it was a dynasty.  Like Q himself said, the best was yet to come.

              2006 was a throwaway year in most people’s eyes.  But if we look at what Coach Belichick said about 2020, we might see some comparisons here.  Reset so to speak in regard to the salary cap.  Reload the following year.  Enter 2007.  Huge offensive adds in Kelley Washington and Kyle Brady.  The Patriots steamrolled their way to a 19-0 season, and I have the tshirt to prove it.  Thank you, Salem Sportswear.

              Much like the Star Wars series, the middle part (the non Super Bowl years) brought some excitement, some disappointment, but will be judged unfavorably when the book is written.  Enter the 3^rd installment of the Patriots dynasty.  3-1 in Super Bowls, including the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history.  Brady simply elevated the majority of his offensive players to the next level.  The championship level. 

              With all the chips and trips to the yoffs, we are left here today.  Brady added a 7^th Super Bowl last year.  Even the biggest fans were at a crossroads.  Some members of the 15 found themselves drowning in their own urine last year.  Just like McDaniel may deal with in the future, you never want to be the guy after the guy.  You want to be the guy after, after the guy. 

              Brady the player, as it were, never disappointed.  Off the field, people had issues.  Some justified, some not.  Brady’s ties to almost-a-doctor Alex Guerrero bring up questions, but hard to put down the idea of pliability in regards to his aging.  Brady with the MAGA hat got some buzz, but as soon as it did, it seemed to go missing faster than a former Patriots Post Game caller from Route 1’s very same hat at a bachelor party.  Was he weepy in 2019?  Probably.  Human nature.  The relationship, like most, with his teacher ebbed and flowed. 

              But it brought a lot of great football.  Something we will never see again.

S. Tzu-Pei is an Intern and Lead NFL Writer for The15.

The following takes place in the present.  2021, days before Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit New England for a Sunday night matchup which is sure to bring buzz to the area, and the nation.

These are their stories (cue Law and Order dun dun)

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

              From humble roots, William Stephen Belichick grew up with coaching in his DNA.  The son of a collegiate head coach, Bill admittedly never had the makings of a varsity athlete.  Still, he was able to make a name for himself under then Giants head coach and non-member of the Patriots HOF Duane Charles Parcells.  Known for being the architect of the vaunted Giants defense in the mid 80s, Belichick was destined for larger things, especially stepping out of the tuna sized shadow he would be associated with. 

              When Belichick landed in Cleveland as head coach, you could be assured that all the little chicks with the crimson lips were as excited as Mimi Bobeck was about setting her makeup to the “BSP” setting.  Still, he built his system.  Brought in veterans who understood what he was trying to accomplish.  The team mantra had the building blocks of success.  He made controversial decisions, cutting regular KMS caller, Bernie Kosar. 

              Coach Belichick’s career heads to the AFC East after being fired by Cleveland even though he was told he would be the Baltimore Ravens new coach.  Back riding sidecar under the aforementioned non member of the Patriots HOF, Belichick went to his 3^rd Super Bowl as assistant coach.  Parcells coached the game in a New York Jets hat, and the Patriots just couldn’t get moving offensively.  Belichick followed, and at one point was named HC of the NYJ, but we’ve already heard this story ad nauseum.  He would eventually be released from his contract, and came to Foxboro in 2000.

              The rest is not history.  Well, part of it is.  6 Super Bowl wins, 3 more appearances.  Absolute domination of the league the last 20 years.  Until 2020.  Cam.  Covid.  Crying.  Fake season?  Sure; that was a factor.  Cut it off too early?  Hard to argue Belichick’s past judgement, letting players go “a year too early instead of a year too late.”  Also very difficult to commit long term to a QB in his early 40s.  even if the QB was a former 6^th round pick, who could have been picked by any other team in the league.

              Sunday will come and go, much like the red tide at Easton’s Beach.  The Patriots may win; Bill knows Tom almost as well as Tom knows himself.  They may also lose.  One important note is that margin of victory has no effect on the win loss number: still one.  After Sunday, there will be 13 games left, and the Patriots will be on to Houston.

to be continued..

S. Tzu-Pei is an Intern and Lead NFL Writer for The15.

Just like Coach Belichick, I try to find a silver lining in losses.  He uses it as ways to bring his team up, and instill confidence, beating them down when they win games.  15 point home losses are something that only a mother would love, or that “John Irons” would vouch for, but all is not lost in Norfolk County. 

              For anyone worried about Mac Jones and the Patriots being a run only team, we’ve clearly not paid attention to game plans as it pertains to the Owl.  Week in and week out, teams evolve, as does preparation for opponents.  What may be a run heavy playoff game vs. the Chargers might be followed by a track meet against the Chiefs.  How quickly we forget. 

              The defense continues to make plays, relying on its disruptive front.  Matthew Judon has been outstanding, registering another 2.5 sacks on Sunday.  Christian Barmore was effective in situational football, which was surprising, considering there were some media outlets who did not think that he should have even been playing professional football.  Glad he wasn’t outed, or otherwise he’d be unemployable.  Maybe he’d join the #work force on 9/28 as well if he wasn’t playing professional football.

              Sunday’s loss wasn’t an issue of not enough skill.  I still think New Orleans is overrated.  It was more a situation where nothing went right.  Interceptions (not all the fault of Matt Jones), dropped passes (flashbacks of Wes Welker in the Super Bowl), kickoffs out of bounds; all parlayed into a loss worse than anything the Bankroll Boys have ever seen.

              Fortunately, the fan base, as well as the local media already has the season declared over.  Tampa by at least 21, says a local finance manager.  RIP 2021 New England Patriots.

              This is just how the Owl likes it.

S. Tzu-Pei is an Intern and Lead NFL Writer for The15.