Fool's Gold: Patriots Severely Overrated

It's ok to make the statement. People will not write you off as crazy anymore. The 2007 New England Patriots were severely overrated.

All season and especially in the past two weeks, the football "experts" and national media would have you believe that the Patriots were the greatest team of all-time and Super Bowl XLII would not be close. An 18-0 team with the highest-scoring offense in NFL history heading for a perfect season as a 12-point favorite, failed in the end...in the biggest game of the year. Turns out, the "greatest team of all-time" wasn't even the greatest team of 2007. As Todd pointed out earlier this week, the Patriots had not won anything yet and this is the reason why you play the game.

Hats off to the Giants. How quickly things can change in the landscape of the NFL. Seven weeks ago, Eli Manning was a joke and never going to lead his team anywhere. At the end of last season a lot of people (me included) said Tom Coughlin should be fired. Now, they are both World Champions. Eli was always in the shadow and never going to be as successful as his brother...well there's one way to shut your critics up and have your name remembered and that's winning Super Bowls. On the other hand, all the records the Pats piled up this year mean absolutely nothing at the end of the season when they are not holding up the Lombardi trophy.

With everything surrounding this game from an undefeated season and a 12-point line...you have to say this is one of the greatest upsets in NFL history. Even though when they played in Week 17, it was a three-point game and even though the Giants were the hotter team in the playoffs. Despite all of that, still nobody gave the Giants a chance. Just like when nobody gave the Chargers a chance against the Colts this year or when the Steelers had no chance against the Colts in the 2005 playoffs. I've said it before...the worst thing a team can do is underestimate their opponent. Because that's when the upsets happen and become memorable.

STUNNED

If anything else, this game reminds me of why I love sports. While history was on the line for a season of perfection, a cast of unlikely players emerged to steal the show and make their own dent in history. Despite trailing in the fourth quarter, despite only scoring once in the entire game, you had that sick feeling deep down that the arrogant Patriots would somehow pull this game out. Their late score seemed to prove it as they took the lead. But the Giants moved the football, made an unbelievable catch that will go down as one of the greatest in Super Bowl history and pulled off the stunning upset.

Some will say it was just a game. But us sports fanatics know better. This game proved that anything can happen and that's why we continue to watch sports. You never say never.

Super Bowl Called Off- Patriots To Receive Rings Wednesday Afternoon At Ceremony Attended By President

With the 17th pick overall in this year's NFL Draft the the Minnesota Vikings are projected to select Calais Campbell, a junior defensive end from Miami. Sure, the Vikings could use someone to actually catch the football, but it's thought that they'll go defensive end to help shore up their pass rush.

How do I know all this? Well, thanks to an article on Fox Sports, which was posted on the MSN homepage Saturday January, 26th, I know all about the coming draft and how the Cowboys will be looking hard at Mario Manningham at 22.

I don't know what is more ridiculous, the fact that someone took the time to write this prognostic drivel, or that the lead NFL story on MSN is talking about a draft that won't take place for another three months. Hey, do you know what NFL event takes place even sooner than the draft? That's right, the Super Bowl. Maybe we could talk about that for a little bit.

Of course, despite everything on the line in the “Big Game,” there's not a buzz around this championship. The paparazzi has written more about this game than has the sports community, as they follow Tom Brady around Manhattan with his chick.

Another thing before I stray too far from Tom Brady. Have you ever heard of the starting quarterback of one Super Bowl team spending the bye week before the championship in the city of the team he's playing? I don't recall Ben Roethlisberger spending a week catching fish at that market in Seattle, or John Elway scoping out the Atlanta nightlife. What the hell is that about?

So, next week at this time we will have crowned a new NFL champion. That is, there will be an official crowning, the informal one took place in October when Chris Collinsworth called the Patriots the greatest team ever.

I guess it's just a forgone conclusion, the Patriots are going to win, and there's nothing anyone can do about it. It's such a lock, we can start talking about the draft. Don't worry about the Pro Bowl, the Patriots are going to win that too.

The Countdown crew over at ESPN agrees. Today, rather than actually talking about the Super Bowl and how the teams matchup, the guys batted around the idea of calling the Patriots the greatest dynasty of all time, and Bill Belichick the greatest coach of all time. Four championships in seven years certainly is impressive, considering the nature of the game- injuries, free agency, age. Yeah, that is a remarkable feat.

There's only one problem: the 2007 New England Patriots haven't won anything yet.

Maybe Super Bowl XLII isn't the match up the NFL wanted. Brett Favre will be at home, and the Giants are far from what could be called, “America's Team.” Still, this is the game that will be played, and the Patriots are going to have to convince the only 53 men in the NFL who haven't bought the hype, and don't think their win in a forgone conclusion.

This week, as the discussion revolves around comparing Brady to Montana and Belichick to Noll, could we maybe mention that on Sunday night there's a game to be played, and that maybe there are a few guys who call themselves the New York Football Giants who might have something to say about all this Patriots talk.

That's why they play the game.