Why All The Hate Toward The Patriots?

I think it all stems from Belichick. Belichick has done a pretty good job of establishing himself as an asshole in the public's eye. Short tempered with the media, shoving cameramen, a sordid personal life, and add to that the latest cheating scandal and you have a guy that a lot of people find it really hard to root for.

I can't stand Tom Brady, but like someone else here said, that's more for an indefinable quality of "douchebagedness." Honestly I've never really heard him say anything too crazy, he just strikes me as an arrogant pretty boy. Some people like that, some people don't, I just happen to not like it.

I'd say Belichick's character is seriously in question, whereas Brady is just kind of a douche. Like Sheriff said, some people care about character, some don't.

Quite often football is more than "just a game." If it were just a casual game, then yeah, I can see not caring as much. Football has always (to me, at least) been about more than that.

The Patriots play great football. There is no question about that. Does that mean we should like them? No. You want to know why people hate them, but have you ever thought about why we should like them? The success of a team is no reason to like them, and I know you aren't saying that. I just thought I'd talk about the flip side of the coin.

So, let's think of the reasons to like the Patriots ...

...

...

... sorry, I can't think of any.

As for Belichick: there are several reasons to dislike him.

1.) He doesn't present himself well. He looks like a slob on the sidelines. You might say, "big deal, it's football." I would say, do you remember when coaches wore suits on the sidelines? What has happened to looking professional?

2.) The only emotion he shows is anger or discomfort. He very rarely shows any happiness. I don't know about you, but I generally don't like people who are always angry, or just never happy.

3.) He was caught cheating. He has a blatant disregard for the rules, and that makes him seem arrogant (along with other things).

4.) He humiliates his opponents -- just another example of his arrogance. A humble person does not think he or she is better, or more important, than others. Bill Belichick is not humble.

All week leading up to the Steeler's game all you heard about was this punk from the Steelers that was shit talking about how they were going to win and this and that. If the Patriots are guilty of anything, it's winning. And if we don't like them winning and the way they win games, then let's just say that. Tom Brady had a brilliant quote in response to Anthony Smith's guarantee, "well done is better than well said."

For the record, I think Anthony Smith is as much of a dumbass as Brady and Belichick. And for that matter, so are idiots like Joey Porter and the like.

And I'm willing to say I don't like the Patriot's winning and the way they win. I'm fine with that. I have a problem when classless people who lack character seem to continually succeed. It bothers me.

The Patriots play great football. There is no question about that. Does that mean we should like them? No. You want to know why people hate them, but have you ever thought about why we should like them? The success of a team is no reason to like them, and I know you aren't saying that. I just thought I'd talk about the flip side of the coin.

So, let's think of the reasons to like the Patriots ...

...

...

... sorry, I can't think of any.

As for Belichick: there are several reasons to dislike him.

1.) He doesn't present himself well. He looks like a slob on the sidelines. You might say, "big deal, it's football." I would say, do you remember when coaches wore suits on the sidelines? What has happened to looking professional?

2.) The only emotion he shows is anger or discomfort. He very rarely shows any happiness. I don't know about you, but I generally don't like people who are always angry, or just never happy.

3.) He was caught cheating. He has a blatant disregard for the rules, and that makes him seem arrogant (along with other things).

4.) He humiliates his opponents -- just another example of his arrogance. A humble person does not think he or she is better, or more important, than others. Bill Belichick is not humble.

That's always bugged me too. I guess one could argue his style represents a no-nonsense, all business approach. But I just think he looks like a slob and it's almost like he does it to snub his nose at the league. Hey look at me, I don't give a F and you can't do anything about it.

The Patriots play great football. There is no question about that. Does that mean we should like them? No. You want to know why people hate them, but have you ever thought about why we should like them? The success of a team is no reason to like them, and I know you aren't saying that. I just thought I'd talk about the flip side of the coin.

So, let's think of the reasons to like the Patriots ...

...

...

... sorry, I can't think of any.

As for Belichick: there are several reasons to dislike him.

1.) He doesn't present himself well. He looks like a slob on the sidelines. You might say, "big deal, it's football." I would say, do you remember when coaches wore suits on the sidelines? What has happened to looking professional?

2.) The only emotion he shows is anger or discomfort. He very rarely shows any happiness. I don't know about you, but I generally don't like people who are always angry, or just never happy.

3.) He was caught cheating. He has a blatant disregard for the rules, and that makes him seem arrogant (along with other things).

4.) He humiliates his opponents -- just another example of his arrogance. A humble person does not think he or she is better, or more important, than others. Bill Belichick is not humble.

Excellent points. It always HAS bugged me that he dresses like a slob.

Anyone who wants to argue that the first two points don't matter probably has their head in the sand. Those two go a LONG way in making people hate him, even without the cheating.

Appearances matter, it's the way the world works. If you don't think it matters, try walking into your next job interview wearing wrinkled pants and a cuttoff hoody and scowl the whole time and bark answers at people. Let me know how it goes.

The Patriots play great football. There is no question about that. Does that mean we should like them? No. You want to know why people hate them, but have you ever thought about why we should like them? The success of a team is no reason to like them, and I know you aren't saying that. I just thought I'd talk about the flip side of the coin.

So, let's think of the reasons to like the Patriots ...

...

...

... sorry, I can't think of any.

As for Belichick: there are several reasons to dislike him.

1.) He doesn't present himself well. He looks like a slob on the sidelines. You might say, "big deal, it's football." I would say, do you remember when coaches wore suits on the sidelines? What has happened to looking professional?

2.) The only emotion he shows is anger or discomfort. He very rarely shows any happiness. I don't know about you, but I generally don't like people who are always angry, or just never happy.

3.) He was caught cheating. He has a blatant disregard for the rules, and that makes him seem arrogant (along with other things).

4.) He humiliates his opponents -- just another example of his arrogance. A humble person does not think he or she is better, or more important, than others. Bill Belichick is not humble.

Just be clear, I'm not trying to be the defender of the New England Patriots, and I'm not in love with Bill Belichick or Tom Brady.

*Ghetto, Belichick's sideline appearance is a product of the NFL lowering the bar, not his personal preference in attire. The league simply states that you must wear NFL approved "gear". Granted, he seems to be at the very bottom of the ladder when it comes to appearance, but so what. It almost took an act of Congress for the NFL to permit Mike Nolan to wear a stinkin' suit on the sidelines. Even that is tailored by Reebok or somebody!

You see, the NFL is all about two things: Imagine and money. And whenever someone or a team crosses that concept, then "we" have a problem Houston.

*Humilating opponents? Please, this is football. That argument has been talked about ad nasuem (sp) in another thread. But I hear what you're saying.

*Yes, they did get caught cheating and from what I've seen this season, it didn't mount to a hill of beans because they are still whupping everyone's ass. Do we really think they were the first - or the first caught?

Just be clear, I'm not trying to be the defender of the New England Patriots, and I'm not in love with Bill Belichick or Tom Brady.


I also feel the need to say this when I play devil's advocate for the Pats. Why? I think the answer to that question could be the answer to your thread.


*Ghetto, Belichick's sideline appearance is a product of the NFL lowering the bar, not his personal preference in attire. The league simply states that you must wear NFL approved "gear". Granted, he seems to be at the very bottom of the ladder when it comes to appearance, but so what. It almost took an act of Congress for the NFL to permit Mike Nolan to wear a stinkin' suit on the sidelines. Even that is tailored by Reebok or somebody!

You see, the NFL is all about two things: Imagine and money. And whenever someone or a team crosses that concept, then "we" have a problem Houston.


Yeah, I know it's all about marketing, and I think it's lame. It's nice to see guys like Nolan and Del Rio stand up for professional appearance. Why not Belichick?

To be fair, Belichick has dressed well in the past. Look at this picture from a pre-season game just last year:

http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/34/342656.jpg


*Humilating opponents? Please, this is football. That argument has been talked about ad nasuem (sp) in another thread. But I hear what you're saying.


I know, I know, this argument will never end. But, just the fact that there is a question about his humility could be reason people dislike him. Even though some people don't agree that he's humiliating, or think it's justified because of his job, doesn't mean that people who feel otherwise are wrong.


*Yes, they did get caught cheating and from what I've seen this season, it didn't mount to a hill of beans because they are still whupping everyone's ass. Do we really think they were the first - or the first caught?

I'd be willing to bet that they weren't the first to cheat, and aren't the only ones cheating now. That doesn't excuse the behavior.

I also feel the need to say this when I play devil's advocate for the Pats. Why? I think the answer to that question could be the answer to your thread.



Yeah, I know it's all about marketing, and I think it's lame. It's nice to see guys like Nolan and Del Rio stand up for professional appearance. Why not Belichick?

To be fair, Belichick has dressed well in the past. Look at this picture from a pre-season game just last year:

http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/34/342656.jpg



I know, I know, this argument will never end. But, just the fact that there is a question about his humility could be reason people dislike him. Even though some people don't agree that he's humiliating, or think it's justified because of his job, doesn't mean that people who feel otherwise are wrong.



I'd be willing to bet that they weren't the first to cheat, and aren't the only ones cheating now. That doesn't excuse the behavior.

points well taken.

I rooted for them over the Rams in 2002. Was sick of that cocky Martz. At the SB, the Pats were one of the first to ask to be introduced "as a team" unlike other teams who have players announced individually who then dance out onto the field (like Ray Lewis). Also loved the way they drafted and acquired smart ball players who could play both offense and defense (Troy Brown, Vrabel, etc.). My favorite Pats play came against Denver a couple of years ago when Ben Watson chased down Champ Bailey's 100 yd INT return and foiled a TD.

Now, its time for another team to win. I'd like to see them go 16-0, but lose in the playoffs to another gritty team. It could happen.

I dislike Brady immensely as I said before but he has at least earned the right to be a douchebag if such a thing is possible. Belichick, on the other hand, has a lifetime record of 41 -55 as a HC of teams on which Tom Brady is not the starting QB.