The New England Patriots enter the 2015 season in a position not many defending Super Bowl champions have found themselves.
Just seven months ago, they won one of the most unforgettable Super Bowls of all time. It would be understandable if they came into this season just a little bit fat and happy, and also a little sluggish after a shorter-than-normal offseason filled with celebration. That’s how things go for the defending champs in a normal offseason, at least.
The Patriots’ offseason was anything but, of course. And thanks to the never-ending saga that was Deflategate, New England enters this season with no shortage of motivation and no shortage of foes to take out its frustrations.
The Patriots’ offseason wasn’t the joyous time it typically is for defending champs. Instead, it was consumed with bickering with the NFL both on and off the record, while usually sneaky-clean quarterback Tom Brady attempted to prove his innocence and defend his reputation.
That battle, in a court of public opinion, essentially was unwinnable. That’s especially true when you factor in the football world’s apparent unwillingness and/or inability to actually read a document or two. The Patriots never were going to be looked at as winners, no matter how many reports in context they issued or even no matter how many times they won in court.
Even after Brady’s four-game suspension was lifted last week, the damage already had been done. The Patriots, no strangers to dubious behaviors, were labeled repeat-offender cheaters. They were labeled frauds. They were labeled liars.
Coach Bill Belichick tells his players to “ignore the noise” when they leave the team facilities. But what about during the offseason? It likely was impossible for anyone in the Patriots’ organization to ignore what transpired over the last seven months.
The Patriots’ accomplishments have been questioned at every turn. It started just hours after the AFC Championship Game win over the Indianapolis Colts, and here we are, just two days before the season opener, and it’s still ongoing. On Tuesday, just days after Brady’s suspension was vacated in federal court, ESPN (and indirectly, the NFL) fired more shots at the Patriots. Sports Illustrated tacked on, too.
Just add them to the list that just keeps on growing. Whether it’s the Colts, Indianapolis media, NFL office, Ted Wells, Roger Goodell or ESPN (to name a few), one thing is clear: Belichick will need a bigger bulletin board this season. The Patriots will say their motivation for 2015 success remain in the moment. Heading into Thursday night, the focus will be on the Pittsburgh Steelers. After that game — and only after that game — they’ll be on Buffalo. And so on and so on.
While one of Belichick’s biggest strengths is focusing on the task at hand, he’s also a darn good motivator. The NFL very clearly picked a fight with the Patriots, lasting through the spring and summer. It might not be the worst thing in the world for him to remind his team of that every so often. The Patriots have fought it tooth and nail, but wouldn’t the sweetest revenge be having Goodell hand the Patriots yet another Lombardi Trophy in front of the entire world this February?
Maybe the Patriots’ 2015 motto should be “Embrace the noise.”
Thumbnail photo via David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports Images
