NFL New England Patriots

15 Things No One Told You About Being a New England Patriots Fan

Fresh Videos

By @petahrahgas

15 Things No One Told You About Being a New England Patriots Fan

New England Patriots
Getty Images

Being a fan of the New England Patriots is a pretty good life. But it’s not all just model quarterbacks, landslide victories and Super Bowl wins. Who am I kidding, it is mostly that. That’s why being a Patriots fan is the best. Here are 15 things to know about being a Patriots fan.

15. Patriots Used To Be Bad

New England Patriots
Getty Images

15. Patriots Used To Be Bad

New England Patriots
Getty Images

The Patriots haven’t always been the dominate team that we now know and love. Before Robert Kraft bought the team in 1994, the Patriots had only made the playoffs six times in 35 years. During the late 80’s and early 90’s, the Patriots didn’t make the playoffs for 8 years and in 1990, the Patriots had the worst record in the NFL at 1-15.

14. Foxobrough Gets Really Cold

New England Patriots
Getty Images

14. Foxobrough Gets Really Cold

New England Patriots
Getty Images

If you attend a game in Foxborough in the middle of winter, prepare to bundle yourself up. The stadium is constructed such that one of the entrances acts as a wind tunnel, funneling cold air directly out onto the field and through the stands. However, cold winter games are when the Patriots are at their best and these games are awesome to attend.

13. Scott Chandler Is The Best Tight End In Football

Scott Chandler
Getty Images

13. Scott Chandler Is The Best Tight End In Football

Scott Chandler
Getty Images

Or at least it seems that way every time the Patriots play the Bills. Chandler has never been a dominant tight end in the league and rarely has huge games, but for some reason it seems every time the Patriots face the Bills, Chandler goes off for seven plus catches and over 100 yards. I have no idea why, but Chandler always plays out of his mind against the Patriots.

12. Drafting Receivers Never Works, Unless They Used To Be A Quarterback

Aaron Dobson
Getty Images

12. Drafting Receivers Never Works, Unless They Used To Be A Quarterback

Aaron Dobson
Getty Images

While the Patriots seem to have the greatest luck in the world when it comes to drafting quarterbacks, they have a horrible track record at drafting wide receivers. Recently it’s been Aaron Dobson disappearing from the team altogether, but he hasn’t been the only failure for the Patriots. Julian Edelman is the only big name the Patriots have had success with and he used to be a quarterback.

11. Bill Belichick Is Actually A Fun, Talkative Guy (Relatively)

Bill Belichick
Getty Images

11. Bill Belichick Is Actually A Fun, Talkative Guy (Relatively)

Bill Belichick
Getty Images

It’s easy to hate Belichick when the only thing you’ve ever been exposed to of him are his press conferences. But Belichick is actually a relatively talkative guy. And funny too, at times. He’s not going to take your ear off, but he certainly is a lot more talkative and friendly than his press conferences make him seem.

10. We No Longer Hate The Jets, We Think They’re Hilarious

Geno Smith
Getty Images

10. We No Longer Hate The Jets, We Think They’re Hilarious

Geno Smith
Getty Images

The Jets and Patriots rivalry used to be terrific and the blood feud was enormous and real. And to a certain extent it still is. However the mentality towards Jets fans has changed. We fans used to hate the Jets with all of our fiery hearts but now we treat them more as comic relief. The Jets’ failed quarterbacks and coaching and ideas are all hilarious, especially that butt fumble.

9. Expectations Are Always High

Tom Brady
Getty Images

9. Expectations Are Always High

Tom Brady
Getty Images

It comes with the territory. Being one of the best teams in the NFL year in and year out, fans expect greatness from the Patriots every year. And we’ll all be very quick to freak out when things are running smoothly. Take for instance the Kansas City Chiefs game this past season -- that didn’t sit well with Patriots fans.

8. The Ravens Are Patriots' Biggest Rivals

Joe Flacco
Getty Images

8. The Ravens Are Patriots' Biggest Rivals

Joe Flacco
Getty Images

Yes, whatever team Peyton Manning is on is a rival and if the AFC East ever gets really good, any one of those teams could be a rival. But for right now, the Baltimore Ravens are the Patriots' biggest rivals. The Pats have faced them almost every year in the playoffs and each game promises to be a brutal fight to the death. Plus, both teams straight up hate each other which adds plenty of fuel.

7. Wes Welker Is Dead To Us

Wes Welker
Getty Images

7. Wes Welker Is Dead To Us

Wes Welker
Getty Images

Once the chosen one, Welker is no longer a beloved Patriot. Instead he is a traitor who left for the Broncos and then talked ill of the organization that made him who he is. He also took out Aqib Talib in the playoffs back in 2013 and that didn’t rest well with Patriots fans. Once Welker retires, Patriots fans will put down their pitchforks and accept Wes, but until then, he’s the enemy.

6. Every Offseason We Hope The Patriots Give Brady A Weapon

Larry Fitzgerald
Getty Images

6. Every Offseason We Hope The Patriots Give Brady A Weapon

Larry Fitzgerald
Getty Images

Just image what Tom Brady could do with someone like Dez Bryant or Larry Fitzgerald or Andre Johnson. It would be amazing! Alas, it never happens and Patriots fans are left with just their hopes and dreams. While the acquisition of Brandon LaFell has turned out well, Pats fans always hope the team signs some big name receiver, only to be disappointed when it doesn’t happen.

5. Patriots Organization Has No Emotions

Bill Belichick
Getty Images

5. Patriots Organization Has No Emotions

Bill Belichick
Getty Images

There’s no such thing as a sentimental thought in the Patriots organization. They have been notorious for trading away fan and team favorites, seemingly out of the blue (Logan Mankins, Richard Seymour, Mike Vrabel) as well as not breaking the bank to re-sign Patriots staples (Wes Welker, Vince Wilfork, though he was ultimately brought back).

4. The Helmet Catch Still Haunts Us

Eli Manning
Getty Images

4. The Helmet Catch Still Haunts Us

Eli Manning
Getty Images

Watching Eli Manning escape three tackles and then chuck the ball up to David Tyree who somehow caught it with his helmet was one of the worst things I have ever seen. Patriots fans are still haunted by the image of that catch (so haunted I couldn’t use it) and what it took away. That catch prevented Brady from winning his fourth, the Patriots going undefeated and solidifying the franchise’s legacy.

3. In Belichick We Trust

Bill Belichick
Getty Images

3. In Belichick We Trust

Bill Belichick
Getty Images

What ever Bill Belichick says goes and Patriots fans trust every move he makes. Even some of his most questionable moves turn out to somehow to be magically right. I think if you asked most Patriots fans, they would tell you they’d trust Bill Belichick with their life. I know I would.

2. SpyGate Wasn’t As Criminal As People Like To Believe

SpyGate
Getty Images

2. SpyGate Wasn’t As Criminal As People Like To Believe

SpyGate
Getty Images

While recording the opponent’s sideline signals is technically illegal, every team in the NFL did it. It got to the point where the NFL had to send out a memo asking teams to please stop. The Patriots didn’t so they were punished. That’s the story. The Patriots weren’t the only team doing this, nor were they even the worst offenders. They just didn’t stop when the boss man said to.

1. If You Don’t Think Tom Brady Is Greatest Of All Time, We Will Fight You

Tom Brady
Getty Images

1. If You Don’t Think Tom Brady Is Greatest Of All Time, We Will Fight You

Tom Brady
Getty Images

Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback to ever play the game. That’s fact. Bring up whatever stats you want, whatever situation you want, whatever else you want to make your point, but Patriots fans believe in Brady so much, we will go to extreme lengths to protect his title. Six Super Bowl trips and four Super Bowl wins? It’s hard to say no to the facts.

Peter Rogers is a featured NFL writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @petahrahgas, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google

Share Tweet
Trending Now on