Watching Greatness (Online Magazine article for class)

Watching Greatness: The links between the Patriots of today and a dynasty from the past are only growing stronger.



If you've followed the Patriots since 2001, odds are that you've heard the following: "Tom Brady is this generation's Joe Montana." There have been other comparisons, too.

They're both defined as being cool under pressure. Montana won 4 Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers in the 80's, while getting named MVP in 3 of those. Brady won 3, getting 2 game MVP's. Both had success at an early age. Both have been accused by critics as being 'system quarterbacks'. Again, all that's been said.

However, as the 2007 Patriots continue to dispatch opponents with ease, the question has to be asked: Just what other similarities are there between the 49ers of then and the Patriots of this millennium?

The 49ers became kings of the NFL in the 1980's. But it sure didn't look like it would be that way early on. How rough was the outlook? In the 2005 best seller "The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game", Bill Walsh revealed to author Michael Lewis that he was set to retire after the 1981 seasons. Walsh was convinced the franchise could not be turned around. Thankfully, the team went on to win the Super Bowl that season, and the rest is history.

Belichick may be regarded as the best coach in the NFL now, but he too was on the hot seat in 2001. After starting 0-2 in Belichick's second season in Foxboro – after a 5-11 season - Patriots fans were getting anxious. Luckily, a young QB by the name of Tom Brady won his first NFL start, and hasn't stopped winning since.

Speaking of Brady, the Patriots finally managed to team him with a weapon that is on his level: wide receiver Randy Moss. As a result, the veteran signall caller is on pace to set new career highs in every major passing category. He's already played at a Hall of Fame level without great skill players around him; now we're seeing what he can do with great skill players around him. It kind of reminds me of another duo. Before the 1985 season kicked off, Joe Montana had already won 2 Super Bowls. In the draft, the 49ers selected a receiver from tiny Mississippi Valley State. Maybe you've heard of him? He went by the name of Jerry Rice. Rice would team with Montana to make the west coast offense a thing of beauty.

The old saying goes, “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery’”. It’s no different in the NFL, where teams copy others’ blueprints for success. The famous “Bill Walsh Coaching Tree” illustrates this point, as several of Walsh’s understudies have gone on to became prominent head coaches themselves. The list includes Super Bowl winning coaches Mike Holmgren, Brian Billick, Tony Dungy, George Seifert and Mike Shanahan. Belichick? His tree doesn’t branch out nearly as much, but other NFL franchises and Universities have certainly taken notice, and will continue to do so. Long-time Belichick disciples Romeo Crennel and Eric Mangini have head coaching jobs in the league. Nick Saban, Charlie Weis, Al Groh and Pat Hill have been successful at the college ranks.

A great team isn’t nearly as fun to watch unless they have an opponent who is a perennial challenger. In the 1980’s, the New York Giants were one of the few teams that could contain Bill Walsh’s high-octane offense. Their physicality and ‘tough-guy’ demeanor of coach Bill Parcells made them the prefect contrast to San Francisco’s creativity and the intellect of Walsh. The teams would meet 5 times in the NFL playoffs, with the winner usually going on to win the Super Bowl.

You would have to be living under a rock to not realize that the Patriots’ chief rival is the Indianapolis Colts. The disdain the two teams have for each other can be felt from the front office down to the equipment guys. The Colts think the Patriots are a bunch of bullying, dirty players that bend the rules to win games. Many Patriots players and fans feel like the Colts are an organization full of whinny, finesse offensive stars. Sound familiar?

Win or lose, the NFL hasn’t seen an organization like the New England Patriots since the 49ers were kings of the league two decades ago.