A Trip Down (PatsFans) Memory Lane

[Kontradiction]

What's funny is that the homers have joined the dark side and really dislike the current state of the Pats.

My theory was that there were “fans” there who were just there for BB, “fans” who were just there for Brady, and the authentic fans. For all the shit that most of us got for living out of state (I got it a ton), we sure are going strong in following the squad. It’s just that, now, I’m rooting for us to lose out so we can target Travis Hunter or Will Campbell.

I’d prefer to build around Maye from the inside-out, so I would go with Campbell or whomever is the top-rated tackle. This draft is top-heavy and a significant falloff after that. I want an absolutely fucking dominant OL and DL with a nice rotation of DTs (someone who can play the 0 and the 3, please). Have that OL blow the defense off the ball, get the ground game going downhill, and force those safeties to cheat up, opening up play action. The tough part is that, after that, it gets pretty barren. It’s a down year for receivers, too. We could probably trade up into the late first round and get Tyler Warren out of Penn State. 6’6”, 261lb TE out of Penn State. Pair him with Hunter Henry and lean on Maye’s care with the ball and a solid running game to sustain drives. At least until we can find that WR1.

 

[TheRainMaker]

My theory was that there were “fans” there who were just there for BB, “fans” who were just there for Brady, and the authentic fans. For all the shit that most of us got for living out of state (I got it a ton), we sure are going strong in following the squad. It’s just that, now, I’m rooting for us to lose out so we can target Travis Hunter or Will Campbell.

It's very weird how certain fans will be gatekeepers of others if you don't live in the state the team plays. I started seeing Pats games on local TV living in southern CA or see them and Parcells press conferences on ESPN in the mid 90's and became a fan.

Remember the mass exodus on Patsfans when Brady left? I think those posters either knew dark days were ahead or they were only Brady fans. I was a huge Bledsoe fan and it was an adjustment getting used to Brady being the QB of the team. However, they still had Law, McGinest, Milloy, Bruschi and Ted Johnson who I was a fan of. This current team is really testing how I move forward as a fan. Maye has them on life support with me. I just don't trust the front office or Mayo - I want a franchise reset.

After Bill was fired, more posters either had left or have joined us on the "dark side" that wouldn't ball wash every move that is made by Bill/Patriots. Back in the day, you'd lose your membership card if you hinted you wanted the Pats to lose for whatever reason. Now they are on board. There's a very small minority of posters that back Bob Kraft and Mayo/Wolf/Groh which is absolutely wild.

 

[Beers]

My theory was that there were “fans” there who were just there for BB, “fans” who were just there for Brady, and the authentic fans. For all the shit that most of us got for living out of state (I got it a ton), we sure are going strong in following the squad. It’s just that, now, I’m rooting for us to lose out so we can target Travis Hunter or Will Campbell.

I’d prefer to build around Maye from the inside-out, so I would go with Campbell or whomever is the top-rated tackle. This draft is top-heavy and a significant falloff after that. I want an absolutely fucking dominant OL and DL with a nice rotation of DTs (someone who can play the 0 and the 3, please). Have that OL blow the defense off the ball, get the ground game going downhill, and force those safeties to cheat up, opening up play action. The tough part is that, after that, it gets pretty barren. It’s a down year for receivers, too. We could probably trade up into the late first round and get Tyler Warren out of Penn State. 6’6”, 261lb TE out of Penn State. Pair him with Hunter Henry and lean on Maye’s care with the ball and a solid running game to sustain drives. At least until we can find that WR1.

I agree with most of this. On the fandom part, it's worth noting that even for us older pre-BB/Brady fans it's still an unprecedented situation.. 20 years of dynastic football with the duo.. How the hell do we go back to being a regular fan that have to root for tanking and shit? It's been an adjustment.

 

[Lord Chevy]

Hypothesis

When a team does well, misses on players mean little and overall the fans root for the laundry. There are debates as to who did what, but they are even keeled for the most part. Only when the team falls back to normalcy do arguments between who did what during the good years rise up. Any little miss is MMQB'd to death, and individual contributions are magnified, requiring other contributions to be minimized.

In all of that, the fact that the NFL is the last true TEAM sport is lost, forgotten, or conveniently ignored,

 

[Beers]

I’d prefer to build around Maye from the inside-out, so I would go with Campbell or whomever is the top-rated tackle. This draft is top-heavy and a significant falloff after that. I want an absolutely fucking dominant OL and DL with a nice rotation of DTs (someone who can play the 0 and the 3, please). Have that OL blow the defense off the ball, get the ground game going downhill, and force those safeties to cheat up, opening up play action. The tough part is that, after that, it gets pretty barren. It’s a down year for receivers, too. We could probably trade up into the late first round and get Tyler Warren out of Penn State. 6’6”, 261lb TE out of Penn State. Pair him with Hunter Henry and lean on Maye’s care with the ball and a solid running game to sustain drives. At least until we can find that WR1.

I agree here too, similar to what the Lions have done, and the Chargers to a lesser extent. Get the OT, take another shot at WR, and that's why I wouldn't mind signing one of the old guys, Allen, or Hopkins to round it out.

 

[mgcolby]

What's funny is that the homers have joined the dark side and really dislike the current state of the Pats.

I know I was considered a homer. But I have always been a football fan first. And because of that I watch(ed) just about every game every week. I saw the vast difference in coaching and play between the Patriots and every other team.

Far too many chicken littles were watching a few highlights and assuming that team x was playing excellent football and because we didn't score on every drive and we didn't shut out our opponents every game that we were doomed. That shit was annoying.

With that said being an honest observer. The Pats organization is a shit show of an embarrassment wrapped up in a wet paper bag. And it is all of our duty to point that out as often as possible where it counts - viewership, tickets sales, merchandise etc... It's the only leverage we have.

 

[mgcolby]

Well that was quite a read. Didn't know this forum was essentially created by exiles makes it even better.

Yep. But there are a few of us Switzerland's around.

 

[Lord Guts]

I won't shy away in admitting I'm a player over team type of fan. When Brady left part of my Patriots interest waned. I don't even get mad when we lose anymore lol

 

[LordSensei1958]

I won't shy away in admitting I'm a player over team type of fan. When Brady left part of my Patriots interest waned. I don't even get mad when we lose anymore lol

You'd offer up your gaping asshole to Patty Mahomes.

 

[Dingleberry]

You'd offer up your gaping asshole to Patty Mahomes.

@Lord Guts thought he had the shits. When he looked, he realized he was just leaking the most recent deposits.

 

[Lord Guts]

You'd offer up your gaping asshole to Patty Mahomes.

Nah Pats 4 life but either way the GOAT is gone

 

[Kontradiction]

I won't shy away in admitting I'm a player over team type of fan. When Brady left part of my Patriots interest waned. I don't even get mad when we lose anymore lol

Mine started to wane watching Deflategate unfold. I was already sour about the rules changes favoring the offense and Spygate, and that finished me off. The product today is also… mediocre at best.

 

[tabmixer]

Yep. But there are a few of us Switzerland's around.

I'm definitely a Switzerland

 

[Kontradiction]

I'm definitely a Switzerland

Where did you get booted from?

 

[TheRainMaker]

I won't shy away in admitting I'm a player over team type of fan. When Brady left part of my Patriots interest waned. I don't even get mad when we lose anymore lol

After the way the 2007 season unfolded, that took me several weeks to get over. I talked so much shit to my friends during the season saying the Pats were going undefeated. After the circus ending to SB42, I couldn't talk to my friends for a few days. I was 25 at the time and I realized there's no need to behave like that as the Pats winning or losing won't make my life any better or worse. Since then, that's how I approach watching the Pats play. However, I was a nervous wreck again in the final minute of the Seahawks/Pats Super Bowl.

 

[Lord Guts]

After the way the 2007 season unfolded, that took me several weeks to get over. I talked so much shit to my friends during the season saying the Pats were going undefeated. After the circus ending to SB42, I couldn't talk to my friends for a few days. I was 25 at the time and I realized there's no need to behave like that as the Pats winning or losing won't make my life any better or worse. Since then, that's how I approach watching the Pats play. However, I was a nervous wreck again in the final minute of the Seahawks/Pats Super Bowl.

Superbowl 49 to this is the greatest superbowl ever and not just cause the Patriots won there was a lot of good football played that day from both teams

 

[TheRainMaker]

Superbowl 49 to this is the greatest superbowl ever and not just cause the Patriots won there was a lot of good football played that day from both teams

The hype was there as the Seahawks were the returning champions and everyone knew who the Pats were.

Casual fans probably liked the Eagles Pats Super Bowl in 2017 with all the scoring.