WHY YOU SHOULD ROOT FOR THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

With recent talks of deflating footballs (otherwise known as “Deflategate”), this was no small task. Telling people why they should cheer for the Patriots in the midst of all this controversy is obviously difficult. In fact, the cheating talks have probably helped the Seahawks temporarily procure a few more supporters in their already large fan base. No one likes a cheater. However, I think if we look hard enough and dig deep enough, there is plenty there to get people cheering for the boys in red, white and blue.

The first reason is No. 12, Tom Brady. People tend to enjoy a good underdog story. Granted, this week, Brady is not considered an underdog. But there was a time when he was.

One hundred and ninety-eight. This is the amount of people who were drafted before Brady in the 2000 NFL Draft. He could have moped around and pouted. He could have quit. But instead, he grew. He focused on improving his game so when his number was called, he would be ready. Eventually, his number was, in fact, called. In September of 2001, Brady made his first start after the Patriots fell to an 0-2 start with Drew Bledsoe at the helm. Brady’s first test was against the Indianapolis Colts, led by a fellow by the name of Peyton Manning. You may have heard of him.

The Patriots lost that game. But losing was a habit Brady soon dropped.

As a rookie, he did not have the greatest start. But out of nowhere, one win turned into two wins. Two turned into four. Four into eight. Then … BAM! Brady led his team to a Super Bowl Championship. How great of a story is that?

Much like the wins in his career, the championships began to multiply. Brady went on to win two more championships. His story tells us “while we may be overlooked, we can still make our way to the top.” That is who Brady is. That is the kind of man Brady is. He went from being a sixth-round pick to one of the greatest quarterbacks in
our generation.

Compare that to a guy like Richard Sherman. Sherman, the star cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks, is easily one of the best defensive backs in the NFL. He sits at the helm for the Legion of Boom (the self-titled nickname for the Seahawks defense) with his big plays in big moments. The only thing that can rival the size of his plays is the size of his ego.

“You suck … you’re a waste of my time.” “I’m intelligent enough and capable enough to understand that you are an ignorant, pompous, egotistical cretin.” These are a few quotes from Sherman. This is how he does it. Granted, most athletes talk a little trash to each other, but it stays on the field. He jaws about people to the media or even on social media. Do you really want to cheer for a guy who tweets insults like a high school kid?

And the more he wins, the further his tirade will go. He already ignites Twitter wars only to end them with tweets about his championship ring. Someone needs to bring this team back down to earth and the Patriots are more than capable of being that team.

Sure, this ball deflation scandal does not look good. But who knows how those balls got deflated. What ever happened to “innocent until proven guilty?” The Patriots are still the same team that is all about playing football. If you want to hear Sherman and his teammates tell the world why they are better than us, then go ahead and root for the defending champions. But if arrogant millionaires are not your cup of tea, then GO PATS!

NATE HAYWOOD is the asst. sports editor.

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