That was then: Celebrating what was

bradmahn

bradmahn

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Does anyone have Vinatieri's first FGA from XXXVIII cued up? I was curious if his poor start with the aforementioned miss and the blocked FG were impacted by poor snaps. On the block, the snap was a direct line to Walter who seemed to get it down okay.
 
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pedroia'sboys

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Random thought I've had this week maybe someone older can help I was 12 in 01. Did BB have full control of the team from day one? I can't imagine BB handing Bledsoe a 10 year contract after two mediocre seasons. Seems like that was a kraft decision.
 
Hoya81

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bradmahn said:
Does anyone have Vinatieri's first FGA from XXXVIII cued up? I was curious if his poor start with the aforementioned miss and the blocked FG were impacted by poor snaps. On the block, the snap was a direct line to Walter who seemed to get it down okay.
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Snap was ok, not very crisp, but on target.

upload_2017-2-4_15-31-40.png

I recall reading an article years ago that the field conditions in Houston were poor, in particular where the field was painted. Looks like AV may have had some trouble with the plant foot here:
upload_2017-2-4_15-37-43.png
 
Dollar

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BB had pretty much complete control at that point, but the Bledsoe contract wasn't exactly as it appears on the surface.

But, according to the Patriots, the only part of the contract that is guaranteed is a four-year portion worth no less than $14 million and possibly a little more than $30 million. Bledsoe will be 32 when the team must decide to pick up additional years.

The team does have several options. After year one, the team could pick up an option for the entire 10 years by paying Bledsoe a $7.2 million bonus. But because the current collective bargaining agreement is only in place through 2006, bonus money can only be prorated through that year. That, along with the fact that 10 years is a long time to lock up a 29-year-old quarterback, makes picking up that option unlikely.

The team's next option comes in November of 2004, when the team can pick up the option on years 5-7 by paying a $7 million bonus.

If the team picked up that option, Bledsoe's cap number would climb into double figures during year four and approach unmanageable numbers in the $13 million-$15 million range after year four.
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http://articles.courant.com/2001-03-08/sports/0103082886_1_bledsoe-s-record-deal-patriots-salary-cap
 
bradmahn

bradmahn

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Hoya81 said:
Snap was ok, not very crisp, but on target.

View attachment 14348

I recall reading an article years ago that the field conditions in Houston were poor, in particular where the field was painted. Looks like AV may have had some trouble with the plant foot here:
View attachment 14349
Click to expand...
Thanks. Lending credence to that theory: Adam went 3/5 in HOU earlier that season. Notably, it was a down season for him.

Walter was also in the midst of a bad season. Both he and Vinatieri had probably been roasted hard during the year, too.
 
Papelbon's Poutine

Papelbon's Poutine

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This was like taking the entire 04 ALCS and condensing the emotional roller coaster to a four hour window. Only not having to take another step after that to seal the deal. Jesus fuck.
 
KenTremendous

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After the Rams Super Bowl I declared that this team never had to win anything again for the rest of my life. That game was so unexpected and beautiful, it felt like a lifetime's worth of happiness.

I have now repeated that same thought four more times after Super Bowls, seven more times after AFC Championship games, 25 total times after playoff games, and probably 50-60 times after amazing regular season wins. It's the greatest run in football history, obviously, and now (because of the difficulty of winning in the NFL) probably bests any other team's run in any other sport. It's been so incredible for so long it's hard to remember a time when I didn't just feel like the luckiest sports fan in the world.
 
Stitch01

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pedroia'sboys said:
Random thought I've had this week maybe someone older can help I was 12 in 01. Did BB have full control of the team from day one? I can't imagine BB handing Bledsoe a 10 year contract after two mediocre seasons. Seems like that was a kraft decision.
Click to expand...
Not day one but fairly quickly.
 
patinorange

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KenTremendous said:
After the Rams Super Bowl I declared that this team never had to win anything again for the rest of my life. That game was so unexpected and beautiful, it felt like a lifetime's worth of happiness.

I have now repeated that same thought four more times after Super Bowls, seven more times after AFC Championship games, 25 total times after playoff games, and probably 50-60 times after amazing regular season wins. It's the greatest run in football history, obviously, and now (because of the difficulty of winning in the NFL) probably bests any other team's run in any other sport. It's been so incredible for so long it's hard to remember a time when I didn't just feel like the luckiest sports fan in the world.
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You know, six would be really, really special. Just saying.
 
ifmanis5

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A few of the SB records broken tonight:

■ Most games by a player: 7, Tom Brady.

■ Most games by a coach: 7, Bill Belichick.

■ Most games won by a coach: 5, Bill Belichick.

■ Most points in a game: 20, James White.

■ Most passes in a game: 62, Tom Brady.

■ Most completions in a game: 43, Tom Brady.

■ Most passing yards in a game: 466, Tom Brady.

■ Most receptions in a game: 14, James White.

■ Largest deficit overcome by the winning team: 25 points, New England.

■ Most points in overtime in a game: 6, New England.

■ Most first downs in a game by a team: 37, New England.

■ Most first downs passing in a game by a team: 26, New England.

■ Most offensive plays in a game by a team: 93, New England.

■ Most completions in a Super Bowl career: 207, Tom Brady.

■ Most passing yards in a Super Bowl career: 2,071, Tom Brady.

■ Most touchdown passes in a Super Bowl career: 15, Tom Brady.
 
Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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These last few years (post 2011) I've really just been hoping for one (or two ) more Super Bowls before the window closed. I never really let myself entertain the possibility that we'd have a team that could rival the 2001-2004 dynasty in my feelings about them. It was more a matter of tacking on championships to the established legacy of excellence. But holy fucking shit. This team stands shoulder to shoulder with that older squad. Hightower stands shoulder to shoulder with Bruschi in my book, Jules with Troy Brown, etc. Biggest complement I could give and they earned it 100%.
 
BigSoxFan

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Morgan's Magic Snowplow said:
These last few years (post 2011) I've really just been hoping for one (or two ) more Super Bowls before the window closed. I never really let myself entertain the possibility that we'd have a team that could rival the 2001-2004 dynasty in my feelings about them. It was more a matter of tacking on championships to the established legacy of excellence. But holy fucking shit. This team stands shoulder to shoulder with that older squad. Hightower stands shoulder to shoulder with Bruschi in my book, Jules with Troy Brown, etc. Biggest complement I could give and they earned it 100%.
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I mean, the 2001-2004 dynasty missed the playoffs in Year 2 and this team was a 2 pt conversion away from tying the game in the AFCCG in their "down" year. Right now, the young'ns are ahead of the curve.
 
luckiestman

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Btw whenever one of these tools that critique TB12's diet can do THAT, I'll listen to them. Until then, I'm off tomatos!
 
JimD

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I've been living and dying with Boston sports teams for over 40 years. I'm old enough to remember firsthand what a joke the Sullivan-era Pats could be, my teenaged disappointment at the Roughing the Passer travesty, and the bitter comedown of how the '85 Pats finally Squished the Fish only to get blown out in the team's first Super Bowl appearance and have to deal with a drug scandal.

This ... this run, words cannot describe this. These players. It's so hard in routine daily living to keep your wits about you and not to get caught up when things go against us - I can't imagine what was going through this team's heads when the Falcons went up 28-3. How many teams would have folded at that point like wet tissue ... 90%? 95%? And yet, they battled one play at a time, being ready when each pivotal moment arrived. I cannot even begin to articulate how much I admire the players and coaching staff of this team for the example they set every game.

Five Lombardi trophies. It would be ridiculously excessive if it were the Patriots alone doing this, but to be blessed as well with three World Series titles, another Celtics banner and a Bruins Stanley Cup victory in the past 15 years... Good Lord.
 
8slim

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Two years ago I was able to share the greatest moment of sheer joy with my kids when Butler made that pick.

Tonight I was able to tell them *that* is why you can never ever lose hope, no matter how impossible things might look.

What a game.

What a team.

What a 15 years.
 
scottyno

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It just hit me right now that the Pats (tonight) Bs (4-1 g7 vs toronto) Cs (down 21 after 3 quarters vs nets east finals) and sox (either 2004 alcs or 2008 alcs game 5 down 7-0 in 7th) now all have arguably the best comebacks in playoff sports history in their respective sports.

Insanity
 
Papelbon's Poutine

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Pretty sure the Bruins blowing a 3-0 lead in the series against the Flyers pretty much blows that argument up on the surface without even getting into debating your celtics citation.
 
54thMA

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Not sure if this has been mentioned or not, but CSN just showed a stat; all time in the NFL playoffs, teams entering the 4th quarter down 17+ points were 0-124 prior to tonight.

Make that 1-124.

This is just incredible on so many levels.

In many ways, I still haven't processed the win two years ago vs Seattle, I continue to watch replays of the game, shows about the game and that season and still can't believe Malcolm made that interception and they won the game.

This; I can't even begin to comprehend the magnitude of this.

Can't speak for anyone else, but for me, the demons from the 2006 AFCCG, the game that shall not be mentioned and the 2012 Super Bowl all died tonight, dead and buried, gone forever.

It's 2:42am EST and the adrenaline is still pumping, I can't even think about going to sleep right now.

I'll need to watch this game several times so I can wrap my head around what just happened.
 
Adrian's Dome

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This hasn't yet sunk in for me.

I'm still trying to decide what has more weight between the 2004 ALCS or this game. I know, it seems like sacrilege that I even ask the question, but somehow I feel like this comeback is comparable, if not heavier. Brady's legacy, the whole deflategate angle, the Pats being frauds, etc...all of that just came crashing down and all of the arguments became undisputed with the sheer late-game domination. I'm not going to lie, I conceded defeat earlier, but it only kept me grounded as they fought the necessary two-point conversions.

5 rings.

Let that sink in. Five fucking rings. And the greatest Super Bowl comeback of all time, after the single greatest Super Bowl turnover of all time. I'm not sure how we can all let this one sink in.
 
uk_sox_fan

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ifmanis5 said:
A few of the SB records broken tonight:

■ Most games by a player: 7, Tom Brady.

■ Most games by a coach: 7, Bill Belichick.

■ Most games won by a coach: 5, Bill Belichick.

■ Most points in a game: 20, James White.

■ Most passes in a game: 62, Tom Brady.

■ Most completions in a game: 43, Tom Brady.

■ Most passing yards in a game: 466, Tom Brady.

■ Most receptions in a game: 14, James White.

■ Largest deficit overcome by the winning team: 25 points, New England.

■ Most points in overtime in a game: 6, New England.

■ Most first downs in a game by a team: 37, New England.

■ Most first downs passing in a game by a team: 26, New England.

■ Most offensive plays in a game by a team: 93, New England.

■ Most completions in a Super Bowl career: 207, Tom Brady.

■ Most passing yards in a Super Bowl career: 2,071, Tom Brady.

■ Most touchdown passes in a Super Bowl career: 15, Tom Brady.
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How about 'most points scored without a PAT'?
 
uk_sox_fan

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scottyno said:
It just hit me right now that the Pats (tonight) Bs (4-1 g7 vs toronto) Cs (down 21 after 3 quarters vs nets east finals) and sox (either 2004 alcs or 2008 alcs game 5 down 7-0 in 7th) now all have arguably the best comebacks in playoff sports history in their respective sports.

Insanity
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Sanity check. I'd call the Bills - Oiler Frank Reich game a better comeback. Down 28-3 at half, the Bills start with the ball. On their opening 2H drive they lose Thurman Thomas for the rest of the game and Reich throws a pick-6 to make it 35-3. Reich, the backup to Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, leads them to a 41-38 OT win.

Happy to move into 2nd place as I'd put last night ahead of Colts-Chiefs a couple years back even though that one was 28 pts.
 
grsharky7

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I'll admit I was mentally protecting myself the last ten minutes of the game, I kept saying no way they can do this. How many times was a play made by Atlanta and everyone said it was over? My wife kept saying to me do you think they can comeback and I kept telling her I had made my peace with this game when they were down big. When they made it 28-26 with :57 seconds left I really thought those two XP's were going to bight them. In overtime I was fully onboard and there was no looking back. I still can't believe what I saw last night. 04 is still the best for me but this is about .00000001% behind it. These are truly the good old days.
 
snowmanny

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If Archie Manning had worn tighter underwear we'd be thinking about rings on toes.

But at least Tom Brady Sr's children have more titles than Archie's.
 
Otis Foster

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Ralphwiggum said:
Just waking up . . . Did that really happen?
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Falcons 28, NEP 26.
Brady pass for 2 falls incomplete and onside kick recovered by Falcons.
Alt facts. Everyone is entitled to his or her own truth.
Trust me
Sincerely, Kelly Ann
 
Dollar

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The best 11 minutes you'll spend this morning (an emotional Belichick jumps onto ESPN and breaks down the game as only he can):

 
Dotrat

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So happy, so spoiled.

Like many of us on the Board, I can remember when this franchise was a cruel joke season after season after season. I can still recall how bitter and frustrated I felt when Parcells ditched us--and for the Jets, no less. To go from those years to this, to last night's incredible comeback, to five rings, to having an unrealistically extended run for the greatest QB--greatest player--in league history, coached by the greatest coach in history, it is all so surreal, so wonderful. And it never, ever gets old.

So spoiled, so happy!
 
Toe Nash

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scottyno said:
It just hit me right now that the Pats (tonight) Bs (4-1 g7 vs toronto) Cs (down 21 after 3 quarters vs nets east finals) and sox (either 2004 alcs or 2008 alcs game 5 down 7-0 in 7th) now all have arguably the best comebacks in playoff sports history in their respective sports.

Insanity
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Bruins are also one of the only teams to blow a 3-0 lead in a series, and were up 3-0 in game 7. I think that is a bigger comeback in terms of overall series win expectancy than the 4-1 game.
 
Import78

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Bill is amazing in that video. He remembered just about every play, the situation and could talk about them coherently that close to the end of the game. I probably couldn't have told you much more than who played and who won at that point, my brain was mush. Bill said "we must have run 90 plays" (93 iirc) he also pegged it with "about 60 passes". He really is Mona Lisa Vito.
 
DJnVa

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rodderick said:
It's hard to put into words how much I love Randy Moss. I wanted him to get a ring with the Pats so bad.
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It's interesting to see the kind of guys that become "Patriots guys"--Moss, Blount, etc. Just awesome.
 
MuppetAsteriskTalk

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For me, one of the best parts is after this all sinks in, is the offseason is just so much fun as current champs. Watching them build the team for next year, the draft, the Jimmy G sweepstakes - it's going to be amazing.

Those cocks tried to ruin it after 2014, and I'm going to enjoy every second this time.

Take all your muppet asterisk talk and shove it up your ass America!
 
RIFan

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scottyno said:
It just hit me right now that the Pats (tonight) Bs (4-1 g7 vs toronto) Cs (down 21 after 3 quarters vs nets east finals) and sox (either 2004 alcs or 2008 alcs game 5 down 7-0 in 7th) now all have arguably the best comebacks in playoff sports history in their respective sports.

Insanity
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Papelbon's Poutine said:
Pretty sure the Bruins blowing a 3-0 lead in the series against the Flyers pretty much blows that argument up on the surface without even getting into debating your celtics citation.
Click to expand...
.

How soon we forget about the Bruins. Game 7 in 2013 vs Toronto. Down 4-1 with just under 15 to play and looking dead. Got it to 4-2 to have some life with just under 10 to play, but were still down 4-2 with under 2 to play. Scored two goals in 30 seconds with under 1:30 to play to send to OT and then won it just over a 1:00 into OT to advance.
 
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