Scott Cordischi On Sports: Enjoy It While It Lasts Pats Fans

Scott Cordischi On Sports: Enjoy It While It Lasts Pats Fans

Now that the Patriots have put the Tim Tebow hysteria to rest for the time being, it’s time for all of New England to put their football focus back where it belongs – on the Patriots.

Sunday’s convincing win in Denver was just another in a long line of great wins by this now great franchise which has been on a great run. The question is: how much longer will it last?

We tend to take for granted the greatness of the New England Patriots these days because we have been spoiled by their success. In the last 15 years, New England has played in 5 Super Bowls and won 3. They had a 16-0 regular season in 2007 and have set all kinds of records. But how long will it last?

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The Patriots recent success has to do with many different factors, but three stand out as the most important. Great owner, great coach and great quarterback. It has been the formula which has made New England the model franchise in all of pro sports.

We assume that Bob Kraft will be around for quite some time. But what about Bill Belichick and Tom Brady? Brady’s current contract runs through the 2014 season when he will be 37. Will that be it for the future hall of famer? He claims he would like to play until age 40. But what type of player will he be by then?

Belichick seems genuinely content with what he’s doing and no signs of calling it quits. Beyond the x’s and o’s, the Pats’ coach is a great competitor whose inner fire is fueled by both his desire to win and his hatred of losing. Belichick also loves to teach the game of football which is why, at age 59, he doesn’t appear to be ready to retire full time to Nantucket just yet.

Still, their shelf life here is finite which means that this great run has to come to an end sometime. I hope that we are prepared for it because that sure doesn’t seem to be the case.

The advent of sports radio and the internet has given everyone a forum to share their opinions on the Pats. The defense stinks, they don’t have a deep threat, their drafts have been horrible in recent years, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah!

It’s not that we shouldn’t be allowed to share our opinions about the team or be critical of areas that are weak, but do we understand how lucky we are to have witnessed this historic run they are on?

Since 2001, the Patriots have won the AFC East title 9 times. The only two times they did not (2002 & 2008) they finished tied for the lead in the division race but lost out on tie breakers. That’s 11 straight years and counting that they have finished with the best record in their division!

If you think that this kind of thing is sustainable, think again. The Miami Dolphins are the perfect example of a once great franchise which has fallen on hard times and can’t seem to get back on its feet.

From 1970-1995 under Don Shula, the Dolphins were always at the top of the heap. But following his 26 year reign, Miami has gone through 7 coaches and countless quarterbacks over the last 16 years.

Maybe that won’t happen to New England when Belichick or Brady decides to call it quits. But there’s a good chance that it might. This is why we should relish every second of this franchise’s success even if it doesn’t always result in a Super Bowl title. Because success can be fleeting.

-If the man upstairs is, indeed, pulling for Tebow and the Broncos, he didn’t pull hard enough on Sunday.

-Speaking of teams we take for granted, can you believe the way the Bruins have played for the past month and a half?

-B’s-Habs was good stuff at the Garden Monday night.

-If the Pats win their last two games against Miami and Buffalo they get the first round bye.

-Not that it helped them last year when they were the #1-seed in the AFC and lost in the divisional round of the playoffs at home to the Jets.

-NBA commissioner David Stern can say what he wants but he clearly did not want Chris Paul to go to the Lakers under any circumstances.

-Rex Ryan’s act isn’t as funny when the Jets are losing.

-Jim Harbaugh has done an amazing job with the 49ers this year.

-Somebody tell Al Gore I’m loving this global warming thing!

-“The Year Without A Santa Claus” with Heat Miser and Snow Miser is still my favorite Christmas claymation special.

-“Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer” with Yukon Cornelius and Hermie the Dentist is a close second.

-Barring an overtime tie, the good news about Saturday’s Jets-Giants game is that a New York team will lose.

-Jon Gruden’s facial expressions on Monday Night Football are outstanding!

-Am I the only one who finds it ironic that Candlestick Park went dark Monday night? C’mon man!

-PC Friar fans, circle January 4th on your calendar because #1 Syracuse will visit the Dunk that night.

-Although, don’t be surprised if Seton Hall gives the Orange a run for their money at the Carrier Dome December 28th.

-The Patriots will miss DE Andre Carter.

-Saturday Night Live’s skit on Tim Tebow was timely and good but it could have been funnier.

-Wes Welker will be wearing a Patriots uniform next season either because of a new contract extension or the franchise tag.

-If I were the Red Sox, I’d keep Daniel Bard in the bullpen and move Alfredo Aceves into the starting rotation.

-Bobby Valentine won me over with his, “I hate the Yankees” comment.

-I don’t know about you, but I was more surprised with Green Bay’s loss to Kansas City than I was with Indy’s win over Tennessee.

-How about that Gronk-like spike by Brady on Sunday?

-A reclining sectional sofa and a 46” HD TV to watch football in my man cave. What else does a man need?

-Happy Holidays to you and yours this season!