Bill Parcells: Patriots have spoiled New England with their success

If you think that the Patriots have become a finesse team that can’t win big games anymore, Bill Parcells thinks you’re crazy.

The Big Tuna was among seven elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. Before learning of his good fortune, he gave an interview to Dan Shaughnessy of The Boston Globe. Parcells reportedly scoffed at the suggestion that the Patriots have become a finesse team.

“No!’’ said Parcells when told the Pats had been labeled a finesse team. “Who says that? They ran the ball good this year. I don’t know what happened in the playoffs, but here’s what I say to you guys in New England: You guys are spoiled. Really, you are. You’ve got to remember how the other half lives. You forgot. I was there for it, so I know. Just remember, you could be like some of these other franchises that you see. You got a couple of ’em in your division.”

When Parcells told people in New England that they have been spoiled, he was probably talking about fans and media alike.

The Pats have won double-digit games in every season since 2003. The only year since then they didn’t make the playoffs was in 2008 when Tom Brady got hurt. They still went 11-5 that year and only missed the postseason because of a tiebreaker. Because of their success, they’re expected to win a Super Bowl every season, but they haven’t since 2004. The fans care more about the team because it is successful, and that leads to a lot of nit-picking.

In the big picture, the Patriots have been wildly successful and spoiled New England, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t had flaws that should be discussed.

One thing we do know is that Tom Brady agrees with Parcells.

Helmet smack to Pro Football Talk
Photo credit: Scott Rovak-US PRESSWIRE