Roll call - all true Pats fans

This is the last time I am answering this question.

I am, have been and will be a New England Patriots fan.

Period.

AND I am flying down to the game in the Meadowlands this weekend and I WILL be heard.

I have not been following for as long as others on this board but I am 20 years into being a Pats fan.

I will criticize them, I will voice my opinion when I think they did a bonehead move, but I support them.

Period.

.

Im in I aint leaving any time soon although I am begining to think my big screen might be cursed as far as football is concerned. Anyone got a live chicken??

I think we can still be a thorn in the side to many teams ,who fear the Patriots with or without TB.I'm always in!

Canada represent!

A true fan not only shares in the joy, they share in the pain.

I'm happy to see the bandwagon lose fans, more tickets for the true fans of the team !

Check out my screenname. You think I'm going anywhere?

Also, where's the "Predict the Score" thread for this week's game. I'm taking the Pats!

It's in my blood since 1981, and it wont ever change. This team has so many good players, several who will go on to the HOF; they deserve our undying support and I am more than willing to give it.

Bad things tend to come in threes and I think that Brady's injury is the third big negative over the last 12 months, the first two being shh<Spygate>shh
and shh<Superbowl XLII>shh. These have been difficult but not impossible to bear especially with such a gifted and dominant team. History will gild them far better than current commentary.

There is another positive out of all this I believe. Roman emperors often used gladiatorial games as a means to appease discontent in the citizenry. Throwing people to the lions assuaged the public's lust for blood and quelled their resentment. The Patriots have been on top for so long that the NFL fan base to a large extent was becoming frustrated and venomous, cheering anything that was anti-Patriot. I remember Wilbon and other media churls calling for opposing defenses to go for Brady's knee less than 9 months ago. Well their calls for blood have been answered and the best QB of modern times will miss one of his peak years. Let us hope it quells the resentment and bitterness that other fan bases have built up over the last few years.

The positive behind this is not that the other fan bases have been placated, but that the media blood lust might abate. More importantly because of this the spotlight should have moved somewhere else (Dallas or the Jets) and now they can wear the targets on their backs for a while.

I am still looking forward to the season and will tape every game. As for Cassel, I dont believe he will ever come close to equalling TFB, but he doesnt have to. While many are complaining about the lack of planning for backup QB's by the Patriots, I only ask the queston would you have any of the starting QBs below Pennington (and I have him around 16th in the league at the moment) instead of Cassel. Perhaps I might add them in to back him up (as O'Connell is not ready yet). Cassel will surprise a lot of people, and hopefully they wont realize what he can do until deep into the playoffs.

If anything i have become a BIGGER Patriot fan now than before Tom's injury. GO PATS.

Miami, FL here ... not over for the team, not even close ... if nothing else will make it more interesting to watch my pats ... i just hope my heart doesn't give up in the process ...

abdul7 said:

If anything i have become a BIGGER Patriot fan now than before Tom's injury. GO PATS.

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I agree wholeheartedly.....die hard fans, fair weather fans, and any other types of fans are now awaiting to see what this organization will put out this season, I cannot wait and I am looking forward to it!!

Considering that Rodney Harrison and Richard Seymour are my 2 favorite players on the team, losing Brady is not going to stop me from watching every week and cheering on the defense!

I'm all in.

I'm absolutely 100000000% on board all the way. Tom is the greatest, but he's one (albeit a big hugemungous ONE) of 53...and I really like our other 52.

Also: Lets not forget the schedule...looks pretty easy on paper. Playoffs are very much still possible.

Prediction: They lose a couple of games here...everyone completely writes them off....the fly under the radar...defense motivated by complete lack of respect...they win ugly..chug along and finish up 11-5

My expectations for the season have taken a huge hit - and they should for everyone. I'm expecting a long season - However, I'm also hoping to be delightfully suprised.

As usual I will go to my four home games to this year and I will also be making tHE trek to the Meadowlands this weekend. I'm no fairweather fan, I'm just realistic. I'm also certain I will get in to many verbal altercations this weekend. The meadowlands is a breeding ground for idiot drunks and many of the Jets fans are gloating about Brady's injury - classy folks, obviously.

NovaScotiaPatsFan reporting for duty sir!

Lets get those Jets!

This is probably the most excited I have ever been for a Patriots season. Cheering for goliath kind of got old.

I think we now have our mission clearly in front of us. It didn’t take long in the ’08 season for the assignment to come into focus: win without Tom Brady. The sharks are starting to swarm, so it’s time to circle the wagons. I think it will give the players even added incentive- show how deep and resourceful the team really is. The fans can rally around this also – and I’m feeling it already big time. I’m pissed. So, can’t wait for Sunday down in the Meadowlands. It begins…

Count me in! If I have learnt one thing about Pats, is that they never fail to amaze me. Like BB said - Tom is just one player, plays one position and plays it really well.

IndyKen said:

I think we now have our mission clearly in front of us. It didn’t take long in the ’08 season for the assignment to come into focus: win without Tom Brady. The sharks are starting to swarm, so it’s time to circle the wagons. I think it will give the players even added incentive- show how deep and resourceful the team really is. The fans can rally around this also – and I’m feeling it already big time. I’m pissed. So, can’t wait for Sunday down in the Meadowlands. It begins…

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Major points for the oddest combination of metaphors I've seen on this forum, hehe.

I'm here with you all. I trust in BB to do the best he can with what he has to work with. I love TB. Ultimately, I'm a Patriots fan...have been since long before TB and will be long after. I wish him the best and a quick recovery.