Monday, February 07, 2005

[The New England Patriots] were already a dynasty.

Now we can confirm these Patriots as the greatest team in NFL history:

Best. Team. Ever.

Why? It's the "Era," stupid. "2-in-3" qualified as a dynasty; "3-in-4" is the most impressive run in NFL history. Come on: In this age?! Witness:

60s Packers? Lombardi had it easy. Jim Haslett could have won titles with those 1960s Packers teams.

70s Steelers? Noll, too: Any team with nearly a dozen Hall of Famers should win multiple titles.

80s 49ers?Walsh had better players, and in an era before free agency and before smarter copycat opposing coaches shredded "hip" offenses.

90s Cowboys? Put it this way: Even Barry Switzer won a ring with Jimmy Johnson's team.

That leaves these Pats. Most brutally competitive conditions. Weakest roster. Toughest scrutiny. Translation: Most impressive.

The Pats sweep the arguments: Who, What, When, Why, How?

Like last February, when I tagged the "2-in-3" Pats as a "dynasty" and was mocked as an Instant Historian (until today), I have no doubt that everyone will some day come around to this biggest of SUPERlatives.

Try it on: Best. Team. Ever.