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Dan Wetzel
After every game, whether winning or losing, the head coach hugs his players. News conferences begin with a friendly greeting and then, as a sign of respect, the first question is put to an experienced female reporter.
The quarterback is often described as “polite” and “respectful” and has attended local high school football games for fun. “I found virtually no looting,” he said recently. His wife has become a successful social-media influencer because of her recipes. (What, you haven’t tried Apple Cinnamon Oat Crumble Bars?)
The team has 13 wins but almost no big-name stars, being mostly an overachieving collection of up-and-coming vets. He continues to surprise the NFL and maybe even himself.
America is used to it new England Patriots To be great.
How about them…likeable?
This franchise dominated football for almost two decades (2001–19). There were 17 division titles, nine Super Bowl appearances and six Vince Lombardi trophies in 19 years. He married a supermodel and dated Miss Universe.
Bill Belichick. Tom Brady. Such an immovable force that spoiled fans claimed the season didn’t start until the AFC Championship Game. This can be annoying. They were also not wrong.
With it came a reputation, a personality, a greed-is-good ethos that left the rest of football as a wonderful villain. Irritating answer to journalists. Torn hoodie. Dispute with league office. Accused of spying and defamation.
The quarterback took the NFL to federal court. The owner testified at Strict End’s murder trial. It involved fines, suspensions and having draft picks taken away.
Visiting teams, overcome by distraction, scoured their locker rooms for listening devices (never found anything). During one round, when the Patriots turned over 19 of the 25 coins, some wondered if Belichick had somehow hacked heads or tails. The tuck rule is still being announced, bashed, and debated.
The Patriots were not merely a plains dynasty. They were a soap opera, a conspiracy theory, a TMZ special.
It was a lot of fun to be either for (if you lived in New England) or against (if you lived somewhere else).
They were really, really great, but often critically focused on the pursuit of perfection, which they almost achieved in 18-0. The team’s slogan was clear and demanding, more military than celebratory: “Do your job.”
Ultimately, it collapsed, as all castles do. Rival fans enjoyed this failure as Brady went on to win a title in Tampa, Belichick and owner Robert Kraft’s relationship completely broke down, and for five years the team suffered from bad recruiting and poor coaching just like everyone else.
They won only four games in 2023 and had won the same number the year before.
However, now they are back. Kraft, who took considerable hit from the pro-Belichick crowd for trying to claim a larger share in the team’s success, has led a reboot of the franchise. However, they are not only winning again – they are behaving like upstarts and vulnerable people.
Kraft’s best move was the hiring of Mike Vrabel, who spent eight years in New England as a blood-and-guts linebacker and played parts of three Super Bowls. Vrabel had proven himself as a coach at Tennessee before being foolishly fired by the Titans. (Since then they have been 6-26 years old.)
He combines Belichick’s toughness, innovation and focus with a smiling, upbeat personality. He wears a stylish vest instead of BB’s old hoodie, takes time to thank each player after the game and seems genuinely excited to connect with fans.
Tracking a tradition he started as coach of the Titans, he begins each press conference by saying hello to a veteran female reporter, in this case Karen Guregian, who has covered the team for decades. This is a move that is an equal recognition of women in the media and respect for the work they have done for a long time.
Belichick’s growls, groans and eye-rolling were often amusing — “We’re on Cincinnati” — but hey, a little humility never hurts.
The Patriots have won 12 of their last 13 games based on a collection of smart draft picks and reborn veterans. their leading runner is a newbie traveyon hendersonTheir leading receiver is 30-something stefon diggs And hunter henryThe defense is weak and opportunistic,
Eating dinner together every Thursday night has bonded the offensive line. Drink of choice? Shirley Temple.
Then there’s Maye, a second-year quarterback from North Carolina, who is already being showered with “MVP” chants. It doesn’t seem fair that the Patriots, after enjoying Brady’s GOAT run, could acquire another franchise QB so soon. (We’re sorry, Cleveland.)
Yet it’s hard to find fault in a man who is talented, respectful of opponents and (at least not yet) has been in seven million commercials. He and his wife, Ann Michael, are a new-wave NFL power couple. May be out of red carpet appearance. A southern vibe is present.
Since middle school in the suburbs of Charlotte, Ann Michael’s social feed began creating from-scratch dishes from her kitchen. She has earned a nickname: Beck May.
Of course, Drake also has a nickname. Its origins are partly a mystery, yet because of her discerning sensibilities, it somehow makes sense… drake may,
Yes, Drake “Drake Maye” Maye.
“I couldn’t even figure out six-seven and now it’s ‘Drake Drake Meay Meay?’ Is.” Vrabel laughed on WEEI Four weeks ago.
For two decades, the Patriots were the football equivalent of death and taxes; Relentless, unforgiving, a series of feuds, feuds and championships forever. Now they are a winning lottery ticket, unexpected fun and frivolity; All hugs and cookies.
No, America doesn’t suddenly need to be cheering for them. He is still a patriot.
However, they certainly find it hard to hate.
