Super Bowl LV: What is Your Current Rooting Interest?

What is your current SB rooting interest?

  • Rooting for Tampa/Brady and have never wavered from this position all year

    Votes: 153 49.8%
  • Rooting for Tampa/Brady now but had been rooting against them during season

    Votes: 44 14.3%
  • Rooting for Tampa/Brady but driven by hatred of Chiefs more than support of Brady/Tampa

    Votes: 51 16.6%
  • Rooting for KC because I'm a Chiefs fan

    Votes: 2 0.7%
  • Rooting for KC because I like watching Mahomes play and that's about it

    Votes: 3 1.0%
  • Rooting for KC because I'm a salty Patriots fan that doesn't want to watch Brady win elsewhere

    Votes: 23 7.5%
  • Other rooting interest (please specify)

    Votes: 8 2.6%
  • Don't really care who wins

    Votes: 16 5.2%
  • I'm not watching

    Votes: 7 2.3%

  • Total voters
    307
  • Poll closed .

BigSoxFan

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May 31, 2007
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Tampa vs. KC.

GOAT vs. Potential GOAT-in-Training.

Good vs. Tyreek Hill.

Fat, stupid coach vs. Fat, smart coach.

So...how would you describe your rooting interest? The poll choices won't be perfect but hopefully most people fit into one of these buckets.
 

Mooch

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Jul 15, 2005
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Once the Pats turned into a bumbling mess of mediocrity, I've been Brady or Bust all the way. Really want him to get #7 and vault into the Jordan/Gretzky/Ruth pantheon (if he wasn't there already.)
 

CreightonGubanich

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Dec 13, 2006
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I've been rooting for Brady all year, and just don't think I could ever bring myself to do otherwise. Still, it's complicated...I have some conflicting feelings about him winning another Super Bowl outside of New England. I don't have a rational reason for it.
 

Hendu for Kutch

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I'd be rooting for Brady anyways, but the uber-douchiness of the Chiefs takes it to another level. I'd have been OK with Buffalo winning the SB, but not KC. I'm rooting against them as hard as I'm rooting for Tommy Boy.
 

jsinger121

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Jul 25, 2005
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I'm rooting for KC. I don't like the way Brady ended in New England and a lot of that was on him and the way he acted the past few years.
 

rodderick

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I've been rooting for Brady all year, and just don't think I could ever bring myself to do otherwise. Still, it's complicated...I have some conflicting feelings about him winning another Super Bowl outside of New England. I don't have a rational reason for it.
Yeah, I'm rooting for Tampa in this one mostly because I hate the Chiefs, even if I did want Brady to succeed all year. If they were playing the Bills, I'd back Buffalo. The thing is Brady winning this title makes the Patriots dynasty a part of Tom Brady's story, flipping it from Tom Brady's story as a part of the Patriots dynasty. Somehow that bothers me.
 

cshea

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Early in the year I rooted against Tampa Bay,. It was largely due to some bitterness towards Brady leaving. But I've been all in on Brady and the Bucs in the playoffs. Go Bucs. KC is a detestable team, I'd root for the Ravens against them.
 

tims4wins

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I still waffle on Brady and the Bucs, but I don't want to see the Chiefs and Mahomes win. I like Mahomes, but I don't want to see him start catching up to Tom.
 

Ralphwiggum

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Still love watching the guy play, and what he's doing at age 43 is amazing. I mentioned in the game thread yesterday, when he threw that first TD to Evans I fist pumped like it was the Pats. Have been all-in on Brady since the start and haven't moved from that position.
 

CapeCodYaz

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For Tom and Gronk (why they don't throw to him more baffles me) even more after watching soem of the KC cheap shots towards the Bills--hiope they are not turning into the old Ravens
 

Mystic Merlin

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Still love watching the guy play, and what he's doing at age 43 is amazing. I mentioned in the game thread yesterday, when he threw that first TD to Evans I fist pumped like it was the Pats. Have been all-in on Brady since the start and haven't moved from that position.
I am kind of jealous of fans who hold this position, which I cannot get myself to. I can’t get all in on Brady playing for another team, emotionally. But sometimes I wish I could because the folks who have seem to be having a blast.

I don’t hold much animosity for Tom himself, but I definitely begrudge Tampa winning a title with him. Tom is our guy, not theirs. That’s obviously a bit juvenile because these are professionals who get paid millions and are ultimately - and justifiably - looking out for themselves and not the fans, but I would be lying if I denied it.
 

McBride11

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I'd be rooting for Brady anyways, but the uber-douchiness of the Chiefs takes it to another level. I'd have been OK with Buffalo winning the SB, but not KC. I'm rooting against them as hard as I'm rooting for Tommy Boy.
Yup, I was rooting for Brady since maybe 5-6 games into the year. And now that he is going against the Chiefs who I abhor, the rooting interest in TB has gone up dramatically.
 

Scott Cooper's Grand Slam

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Jul 12, 2008
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My rooting interests:

1. The Patriots

big gap

2. Brady
3. Gronk (I wish for his sake that he'd retire, but if he's gonna play I hope he wins and has fun)

bigger gap

4. Andy Reid
5. Mahomes

....

105. Chad Henne
106. Another remake of The Longest Yard
107. Antonio Brown
108. Tyreek Hill
 

amRadio

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Feb 7, 2019
798
Rooting for KC because I am a salty Patriots fan. If Brady wins in Tampa they'll retire his number, build him a statue and he'll never retire here on the one day contract as a nod to his time as a Patriot. After spending 20 years rooting for him, his legacy here means a lot to me as a fan. The country will pretend the NE dynasty never happened if he wins in TB. We'll just be the cheaters he used to play for and as a Pats fan if you think that doesn't bother you, you're just good at lying to yourself.
 

epraz

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Oct 15, 2002
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I've been rooting for Brady/Gronk/the Bucs all season. Watching the Bucs' offense is eerily familiar. Having Brady as the NE QB for so long makes watching him run another offense feel like watching vintage Pats, and it's easy to root for.

I do have some reservations about Brady winning another ring, especially in his first year outside NE. I'm not sure why--maybe it feels even more like the end of an era, and makes it seem like Brady was more responsible for NE success, reducing the likelihood of a quick turnaround for our franchise's current situation?
 

RedOctober3829

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Jul 19, 2005
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I really want to see Brady win this SB not for any other reason other than he's my favorite all-time athlete. The ultimate stupidity of talk radio right now is the "Brady or Belichick" debate. It's for the absolute lowest of the lowest on the intelligence scale if you ask me. Just appreciate what we had as Patriots fans for the last 20 years and also appreciate the greatness of both Brady and Belichick. Tom Brady, to me, is everything what an athlete should be. Great at his job, makes others better, and is humble and appreciative of what he has and what he's accomplished.

For those who worry about his legacy, stop. He's won 6 titles in New England. No amount anywhere else is going to take that away. He's going to forever be known as a Patriot.
 

Saints Rest

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I've been rooting for Brady all year, and just don't think I could ever bring myself to do otherwise. Still, it's complicated...I have some conflicting feelings about him winning another Super Bowl outside of New England. I don't have a rational reason for it.
Yeah, I'm rooting for Tampa in this one mostly because I hate the Chiefs, even if I did want Brady to succeed all year. If they were playing the Bills, I'd back Buffalo. The thing is Brady winning this title makes the Patriots dynasty a part of Tom Brady's story, flipping it from Tom Brady's story as a part of the Patriots dynasty. Somehow that bothers me.
I still waffle on Brady and the Bucs, but I don't want to see the Chiefs and Mahomes win. I like Mahomes, but I don't want to see him start catching up to Tom.
I am kind of jealous of fans who hold this position, which I cannot get myself to. I can’t get all in on Brady playing for another team, emotionally. But sometimes I wish I could because the folks who have seem to be having a blast.

I don’t hold much animosity for Tom himself, but I definitely begrudge Tampa winning a title with him. Tom is our guy, not theirs. That’s obviously a bit juvenile because these are professionals who get paid millions and are ultimately - and justifiably - looking out for themselves and not the fans, but I would be lying if I denied it.
The above echo a lot of my feelings. I would add that I am rooting against KC because I want the Pats of 2003/2004 to be the last repeat champs (until the Pats do it again in 2022/2023).

My main reason for rooting for the Bucs, is actually why I have rooted for them for the past few years in that Ali Marpet, starting LG for the Bucs, is the son of a friend of mine. Fun sidenote about Ali: according to his Dad, Dante spent a lot of time with Ali during the Combine that year. They really thought the Pats might draft him. He (the dad) also told me that if the Bucs didn't extend Ali, he was hoping he would sign with the Pats. Then Shaq signed the big deal and the Bucs resigned him, so it all became moot.
 

EL Jeffe

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Early in the year I rooted against Tampa Bay,. It was largely due to some bitterness towards Brady leaving. But I've been all in on Brady and the Bucs in the playoffs. Go Bucs. KC is a detestable team, I'd root for the Ravens against them.
This is essentially where I am. I started off the year wanting the Patriots to be "right" about moving on but I gradually accepted that it was always going to end somehow, someway and I want Brady to further cement his legacy.

That said, I really hate Arians and wish he'd stop talking about NE. Also, the "Brady's never been happier!!!" stuff stings a bit. But alas. It was the greatest 20 year run you could ever hope for as a football fan. Go get #7, TB12.
 

Ralphwiggum

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Rooting for KC because I am a salty Patriots fan. If Brady wins in Tampa they'll retire his number, build him a statue and he'll never retire here on the one day contract as a nod to his time as a Patriot. After spending 20 years rooting for him, his legacy here means a lot to me as a fan. The country will pretend the NE dynasty never happened if he wins in TB. We'll just be the cheaters he used to play for and as a Pats fan if you think that doesn't bother you, you're just good at lying to yourself.
This is an absurd take. Root against him all you want, but nothing he does can ever detract from what he accomplished here unless you are determined to let it. Newsflash: most NFL fans hate the Pats and will refer to them a cheaters regardless of whether Tampa wins in two weeks or not.
 

BaseballJones

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I still waffle on Brady and the Bucs, but I don't want to see the Chiefs and Mahomes win. I like Mahomes, but I don't want to see him start catching up to Tom.
To me, this SB will have a huge impact on Mahomes' chase for Brady's greatness.

First, there's a big difference between the scoreboard reading Brady 7 - Mahomes 1, and Brady 6 - Mahomes 2, at Mahomes' young age. Brady being up SIX as opposed to FOUR is enormous.

And second, in what is likely their only ever head-to-head SB matchup, it would be Brady over Mahomes. That would mean that in their two playoff matchups against one another, an aging Tom Brady would be 2-0 against Patrick Mahomes (AFCCG in KC and SB 55 in Tampa).

Mahomes winning would put him, as much as anyone ever could be, in a good position to catch up to Brady.
 

NJ_Sox_Fan

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I am rooting for the Bucs, and would be regardless if Brady was there or not. However, Brady there makes it easier to actually root for the Bucs versus just rooting against KC. Which I would be, because I have an irrational hatred of Reid, and a very rational hatred of Hill.

I was sort of indifferent on Brady all year. Some games I watched, and laughed when he looked bad, or cheered when he looked good, but I had no investment on whether he won or not. Yesterday I was rooting for him, because how can you not. His 10th super bowl.

That being said, he was not great yesterday at all, and GB really should have/could have won that game.
 

azsoxpatsfan

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May 23, 2014
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I was rooting for Brady to do well all season, and once it became apparent the Pats were ass, I've been pulling extremely hard for him to win it all. It would not tarnish the Patriots dynasty for Brady to win--IMO, the Pats dominance was always going to be part of the Brady story, not vice-versa. I want him to keep on winning, until it is undeniable that he is the greatest winner in sports history. He's my favorite athlete of all time, and it's not particularly close.
 

tims4wins

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To me, this SB will have a huge impact on Mahomes' chase for Brady's greatness.

First, there's a big difference between the scoreboard reading Brady 7 - Mahomes 1, and Brady 6 - Mahomes 2, at Mahomes' young age. Brady being up SIX as opposed to FOUR is enormous.

And second, in what is likely their only ever head-to-head SB matchup, it would be Brady over Mahomes. That would mean that in their two playoff matchups against one another, an aging Tom Brady would be 2-0 against Patrick Mahomes (AFCCG in KC and SB 55 in Tampa).

Mahomes winning would put him, as much as anyone ever could be, in a good position to catch up to Brady.
Well, if Russ Wilson had won 49...

Or if Mahomes had won the 2018 AFCCG...
 

azsoxpatsfan

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Well, if Russ Wilson had won 49...

Or if Mahomes had won the 2018 AFCCG...
Meh. Wilson doesn't even have as many playoff wins against NFC opponents as Brady. (I get the point youre making, I just love that stat)

I have nothing against Mahomes, but fuck the Chiefs, and I would love to see Brady crush another potential dynasty. How many would this be?
 

bankshot1

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I've rooted for Tom for 20 years and he gave me (and I suspect "you") more fun as a football fan than "we" have any right to expect. And barring a conflict of interest (Pats v Bucs) I'm riding the Team Tom Train until the end of the line.

We're going to Riverside!
 

Boston Brawler

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I haven't rooted against Brady, and wouldn't unless his losing benefitted the Patriots. Have rooted for his success all year and really hope he gets #7.

Same with Gronk. I know he left the Pats on different terms than Brady did, but the guy killed himself for us for a while. Really want him to win again as well.
 

cshea

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I don't care much for Arians either. He seems like stooge, and the comment he made recently about Tom's time in New England is irritating. Beyond that, I really wish Tom wasn't so all in on Antonio Brown. Those are the only real sags on rooting for the Bucs.

Andy Reid seems like a good guy and Mahomes is an incredible talent. But I just can't get past Tyreek Hill and the free pass he's been given. It bothers me every time I see him on the field. I never root for injuries, but I wouldn't shed a tear if he broke an arm during a game. Kelce also seems like an ahole, but maybe that's just me. Frank Clark is also a scumbag.
 

azsoxpatsfan

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I don't care much for Arians either. He seems like stooge, and the comment he made recently about Tom's time in New England is irritating. Beyond that, I really wish Tom wasn't so all in on Antonio Brown. Those are the only real sags on rooting for the Bucs.

Andy Reid seems like a good guy and Mahomes is an incredible talent. But I just can't get past Tyreek Hill and the free pass he's been given. It bothers me every time I see him on the field. I never root for injuries, but I wouldn't shed a tear if he broke an arm during a game. Kelce also seems like an ahole, but maybe that's just me. Frank Clark is also a scumbag.
Kelce seems obnoxious for sure and I root against him. I don't hate him the way I hate Hill and Clark, obviously, but he seems sooooooo douchey
 

tims4wins

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Meh. Wilson doesn't even have as many playoff wins against NFC opponents as Brady. (I get the point youre making, I just love that stat)

I have nothing against Mahomes, but fuck the Chiefs, and I would love to see Brady crush another potential dynasty. How many would this be?
This always rubbed me the wrong way (1:55:46 of the video, Collinsworth talking about how Russell Wilson wanted six titles like Jordan... I bet Collinsworth never imagined Brady could even get to six at that point)

View: https://youtu.be/0RFXLwZV_fA?t=6946
 

Caspir

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The above echo a lot of my feelings. I would add that I am rooting against KC because I want the Pats of 2003/2004 to be the last repeat champs (until the Pats do it again in 2022/2023).
This is the main reason to cheer for Tampa if you're a Pats fan. Going back to back is so tough, and being the last team to do it is really cool. I'll also cheer for Tom, but that thought has been on my mind since the playoffs started.
 

kelpapa

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Feb 15, 2010
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Rooting for KC because I am a salty Patriots fan. If Brady wins in Tampa they'll retire his number, build him a statue and he'll never retire here on the one day contract as a nod to his time as a Patriot. After spending 20 years rooting for him, his legacy here means a lot to me as a fan. The country will pretend the NE dynasty never happened if he wins in TB. We'll just be the cheaters he used to play for and as a Pats fan if you think that doesn't bother you, you're just good at lying to yourself.
Why do you care about the one day contract?

Rooting for Brady/Gronk. Have been all year.
 

Deathofthebambino

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Apr 12, 2005
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This is what I wrote in September, and nothing has changed:

I'm 44, and I attended every single home game, except 1, from 1996-2014, including the playoffs. Tom Brady could literally shit on my front steps every day for the next 20 years, and I would leave the light on for him, and a box of wet wipes (because toilet paper is for heathens, and Tom Brady definitely knows this). Gronk would only be allowed to pee.
 

reggiecleveland

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If it wasn't for Arias I would be rooting for Tampa. But his big mouth, especially how he was not doing things like New England, annoy me.

Countless Pats players have had greater success in NE than their previous team. BB never said unlike (insert previous team) we use him (insert new usage).
 

bsj

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Leaning toward not watching but maybe checking in from time to time. If someone held a gun to my head and forced me to take a side it would be TB but barely and I just really don’t care
 

azsoxpatsfan

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May 23, 2014
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Leaning toward not watching but maybe checking in from time to time. If someone held a gun to my head and forced me to take a side it would be TB but barely and I just really don’t care
Is the hesitancy due to saltiness at Brady?
 

CantKeepmedown

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Been on board with Brady and TB all year. Won't stop now.

I've actually quite enjoyed these playoffs and the TB games. You get the nervous excitement for the games without the constant doom and gloom leading up to it. And if they lose, I'll shake it off as I'm not emotionally attached to TB like the Pats. It would take days/weeks to get over Pats SB/playoff losses. If Tampa loses? I'll sleep just fine.

The other factor here is that they are playing KC whom I've developed a hatred for that's up there with the Jets, Ravens, and Steelers. I like Mahomes just fine. But Hill and Clark are deplorable. Kelce is incredibly annoying. And their fans are heinous. They've wanted to be called a dynasty since they lost the AFCC to us. Let alone potentially winning back to back. Brady needs to save us all from that.
 

Ralphwiggum

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I've actually quite enjoyed these playoffs and the TB games. You get the nervous excitement for the games without the constant doom and gloom leading up to it. And if they lose, I'll shake it off as I'm not emotionally attached to TB like the Pats. It would take days/weeks to get over Pats SB/playoff losses. If Tampa loses? I'll sleep just fine.
This is an underrated aspect of this year's playoffs. I'm watching and rooting for Tom but I was not queasy and losing my mind during the 2nd half when GB was coming back as I would have been if it had been the Pats. I want Brady to win and play well, but it's no big deal if he doesn't.
 

Hendu for Kutch

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the way too early coronation of Mahomes
I saw an article this morning saying this game will be a tiebreaker in the GOAT conversation and just casually stating that there were pretty good odds that Mahomes would win 4 more after this one. Like tacking on Joe Montana's entire career to the rest of Mahomes' is just fait accompli. He actually called them old GOAT and young GOAT.

It's mind boggling. Words (acronyms?) just don't have meaning anymore.
 

Kliq

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Not super relevant; but it's crazy to think that 8 years ago, a Kansas City Chiefs player killed his girlfriend, drove to Arrowhead stadium and then killed himself in front of a bunch of coaches and team officials, and then THE NEXT DAY, they played a football game as if nothing happened.
 

bsj

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Is the hesitancy due to saltiness at Brady?
indirectly I guess. I was very conflicted and ambivalent entering the season. Just when I was starting to find a comfort level with supporting him on the bucs he very publicly advocated for the signing of Antonio brown who I just think is an incredibly big POS. I despise the guy. It bothered me that he advocated for bringing him in despite having a good group of weapons (I know some were hurt but the cupboard wasn’t barren). Anyway, it’s really hard for me to root for the outcome that ends with that buffoon celebrating with a ring
 

azsoxpatsfan

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Mahomes is incredible and Reid is a great coach. I can see a lot of people, even most people, rooting for the Chiefs.
I assumed he meant any patriots fan rooting for the chiefs. Of course plenty of fans as a whole will root for them