So keep the hate coming. Bring it the hell on. I wouldn’t have it any other way. There is no American cultural institution I’d rather be emotionally attached to, no fan base I’d rather be a part of, and no post I’d rather stand. I am undeterred. Go Pats. #StillNotDone
Acknowledgments
Back in my first “career” with Barstool Sports, when we were still not much more than a bimonthly free newspaper with a small but fiercely loyal cult following, we had the worst email system ever devised. I would sift through it once a week or so, just to delete the mountains of spam for male-enhancement products, messages from the Nigerian royal family, and notes from “Local Girls” who “Want to Meet” me. And maybe once in a great while I stumbled upon an actual human being who actually wanted to communicate with me.
All of that sifting through all that trash was made worth it by the one nugget of unobtainium I found in there. It was a message from one of those loyal readers, named Alec Shane of Writers House in New York. He was reaching out to me to see if I’d be interested in writing a book.
Through Alec’s support, patience, input, monumental effort, and more patience, the result was From Darkness to Dynasty: The First 40 Years of the New England Patriots. And its publication was the culmination of a lifelong dream that simply would not have happened were it not for Alec and his agency. As I told him, it’s a book I always wanted to read, and it’s gratifying to be the one who finally wrote it. I have Alec and his friendship to thank for it.
Fortunately, FD2D (its droid name) sold in a matter of hours thanks to Stephen Hull of ForeEdge and University Press of New England. Steve’s belief in our little project, as well as all his work designing, promoting, and distributing it, is something I’m eternally grateful for. And Five Rings is his inspiration, from concept to finished product. I deeply appreciate the way Steve does so much heavy lifting, sorting through the mountains of terabytes he receives from a new author with way too much to say about football and other nonsense and turns them into coherent English.
I’m also happy for the chance to acknowledge the staff at University Press of New England, particularly Susan Sylvia, who organized the book presentations it’s been my pleasure to give. I have not made it easy on her, but she has made arrangements and kept me on schedule with kindness and professionalism. It’s given me the chance to meet literally thousands of like-minded Patriots fans, the most engaged, motivated, and passionate fan base in all of sports. It’s an honor to speak to all who have Defended the Wall. I am proud to serve as your Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch.
I’m deeply grateful to all the sports media people who have welcomed me onto their airwaves and their websites like a member of the club. It’s been amazing to get opportunities like I’ve been given, coming from outside the traditional media. To all the WEEI people who took me into their metaphorical home and gave me a seat at the table: Michael Holley, Dale Arnold, Ben Kichen, Andy Massaua, Phil Zachary, Kevin Graham, John Dennis, Gerry Callahan, Kirk Minihane, Glenn Ordway, Lou Merloni, Christian Fauria, Joe Zarbano, and Pete Sheppard. Thanks to the 98.5 The Sports Hub guys who gave me time on their airwaves: Mike Felger, Tony Massarotti, Rich Shertenlieb, and Fred Toucher. And to Patriots beat reporters whose work I respect and who have treated me like one of them, Tom E. Curran, Christopher Price, Mike Reiss, Mike Giardi, and Ryan Hannable, and to national guys like Ian Rapoport, Gary Myers, and Kerry Byrne, who contributed to FD2D.
Thanks to everyone in the Patriots organization I’ve had the pleasure of meeting for their hospitality, especially Robert, Daniel, and Jonathan Kraft. Bill Belichick was always gracious on and off the air, even on days when the last thing he felt like doing was answering questions. And to players Troy Brown, Ty Law, Tedy Bruschi, Vince Wilfork, and Matthew Slater for being so forthcoming and helping a curious football outsider understand the game a little more. As I have said personally to Mr. Kraft and to Coach Belichick, “Thank you for saving my football team.”
Thanks always to the place I began and came back to, Barstool Sports, and especially David Portnoy. It’s not often a total stranger changes your life forever and for the better, but back sometime in the mid-2000s Dave did exactly that. What began as column space became a job, led to a career, and now, fortunately, brought me back to the Pirate Ship. He’s built an empire I was always proud of, even when I was away. And I couldn’t be happier to be manning the guns again. Thanks to Barstool CEO Erika Nardini for welcoming me back on board and taking us to the moon. To the other Stool writers, podcasters, and staff who have brought us this far and all the Stoolies I’ve heard from over the years and who took our content and turned it into a lifestyle, Viva. And I especially want to offer my appreciation to Pat McAfee and AJ Hawk, my cohosts on the little rocket ship to the moon we call the Laces Out podcast, for being hilarious and a pleasure to talk football with.
Possibly no one invested more time and energy into Five Rings and FD2D than former Barstool legend and my closest buddy in the Stooliverse, Adam “Uncle Buck” Cormack. His notes, archival footage, and encyclopedic knowledge of events borders on being metahuman. And he’s been as generous with his time and feedback as he is with his friendship.
Lastly, I need to thank the people without whom all this would not be necessary. To all the Thorntons, especially Jack and Bill and our cousin Phil, who took me to Pats games back when they were the Shemp of Boston sports and let them imprint on my soul in a way that’s never going away. To Janice, for being an assistant mom to me. And to Jimbo, for finally being able to accept Tom Brady after years of remaining loyal to Drew Bledsoe. Thanks to you all for making me care during the decades where the team didn’t give anyone much to care about. We all get to enjoy this run in a way not many do.
And that goes for the Irish Rose, Anne, who always understood she was not only marrying into a Patriots family, but raising one as well. Thanks to our boys for sharing the great moments and suffering through the bad with us. Seeing Anne and Jack pursue their music and theater and Nick live his dream of serving in the United States Marine Corps is all the inspiration I could ask for on those nights huddled over a laptop trying to produce something that will make you nearly as proud of me as I am of you.
Tonight, we are all Patriots.
Index
Adams, Sam, 71
Addai, Joseph, 144
Ainge, Danny, 172
Alexander, Eric, 144–45
Alford, Robert, 292, 298, 299
Al Jazeera, 269
Allen, Eric, 32
Allen, Ray, 149, 172
Allen, Ricardo, 298, 299
Alonso, Kiko, 281
Alt.com (website), 190
Amendola, Danny: and 2014 divisional playoff, 232, 234; and 2014 season, 224; and 2014 Super Bowl XLIX, 246, 249; and 2015 season, 270; and 2016 season, 280–81, 282, 284; and 2016 Super Bowl LI, 292, 294, 296, 298; and 2017 AFC championship, 311; signing of, 209
America’s Game (film series), 169
Anderson, Walt, 261–62, 265, 272
Andruzzi, Joe, 15, 22
Arizona Cardinals, 104, 204, 280–81, 284
Arnold, Dale, 227, 229, 239
Arrington, Kyle, 246, 247, 248
Arroyo, Bronson, 106
Atlanta Falcons, 25, 115, 285, 289–300
Bailey, Champ, 133
Baldwin, Doug, 247–48, 283
Baltimore Colts, 169
Baltimore Ravens: and 2006 season, 143; and 2007 season, 157; and 2009 playoffs, 182–83; and 2010 season, 187; and 2011 AFC championship game, 196–97; and 2012 AFC championship game, 206–8; and 2012 season, 204; and 2014 divisional playoff, 232–35; and 2014 Wild Card playoff, 232; and 2016 season, 284; and Adalius Thomas, 146; complaints against Patriot plays, 233, 234–35, 269; and Deflategate, 235–36; as Patriots rival, 207–8
Banks, Carl, 66
Barstool Sports, 1, 2, 76, 140, 147, 149, 150, 152, 156, 163, 167, 168, 183, 202, 208, 214, 227, 252, 290, 303
Beasley, Vic, 299
Beisel, M
onty, 129
Belichick, Bill: and 2000 preseason, 14–15; and 2001 AFC championship game, 39; and 2001 preseason, 15–16, 43–44; and 2001 season, 24, 26, 27–29; and 2001 Super Bowl XXXVI, 41, 42, 48, 54, 56; and 2002 preseason, 57–60, 63–64; and 2002 season, 63, 64; and 2003 AFC championship game, 87; and 2003 preseason, 65–69; and 2003 season, 72–73, 74, 77–78, 82, 83; and 2003 Super Bowl XXXVIII, 90, 91, 93–94; and 2004 divisional playoff, 111, 112; and 2004 preseason, 98–102; and 2004 season, 98, 103, 107, 108; and 2004 Super Bowl XXXIX, 117–18, 120, 121, 122; and 2005 preseason, 127, 129; and 2005 season, 132; and 2006 preseason, 134, 136, 138; and 2006 season, 139–40; and 2007 preseason, 146, 147; and 2007 season, 151–55, 158; and 2008 preseason, 171–72; and 2009 preseason, 175, 176; and 2009 season, 180, 181; and 2010 divisional playoff, 190–91; and 2010 preseason, 183, 184; and 2010 season, 188; and 2011 preseason, 194–95; and 2011 Super Bowl XLVI, 199–200; and 2012 AFC championship game, 207; and 2013 AFC championship game, 217; and 2013 season, 212, 215; and 2014 divisional playoff, 232–33; and 2014 preseason, 220, 221, 222, 223; and 2014 season, 225, 226; and 2014 Super Bowl XLIX, 246, 248, 251, 252–53; and 2015 AFC championship game, 273; and 2016 divisional playoff, 286; and 2016 preseason, 277; and 2016 Super Bowl LI, 295, 300; and 2017 AFC championship, 310–11; and 2017 season, 308, 309–10; and Brady, reliance on, 60; on Bruschi, 177; and Cleveland Browns, 20; coaching philosophy of, 28; death of father, 131; and Deflategate, 239, 240–41, 260; divorce from wife, 140; early career of, 12–13, 127; on Hernandez murder conviction, 211; hiring by Patriots, 13–14; on his lack of fear, 180; Law on, 127–28; love of metaphors for winning, 87–88; Mangini’s betrayal of, 135, 138, 139–40; McDaniels and, 314; and media, 56–57, 94; Moss and, 188; NFL Films documentary on, 180, 181; and preparation for any situation, 77, 252–53; and Pro Bowl of 2006 season, 145, 146; resentment of, 5; and Ryan foot fetish video scandal, 190–91; spare-time social justice work, 57; and Spygate, 151–55, 169; and staff changes, 107, 127, 135, 202–3, 223, 277; strategy for building Patriot team, 14–15, 69–70, 71–72, 138, 147, 171–72; success of, 5; on swagger, 63; and tensions in 2017 Patriot organization, 312; and thorough preparation of team, 77, 107, 162, 253; on Troy Brown, 174; and Trump, 278; WEEI radio interview, 229; and White House visit after 2014 Super Bowl XLIX, 259
Belichick, Steve, 108, 122, 131
Bell, Le’Veon, 230
Benedict, Jeff, 99
Bennett, Drew, 86
Bennett, Martellus, 278, 281, 284, 292, 293, 295, 299
Berman, Chris, 94
Berman, Richard, 266
Berry, Eric, 271
Berry, Raymond, 9
Bettis, Jerome, 113
Biekert, Greg, 32
Birk, Matt, 196
Bisciotti, Steve, 218–19
Blakeman, Clete, 262
Blecker, Robert, 264
Bledsoe, Drew: and 1997 playoffs, 15; and 2001 AFC championship game, 38–39, 40; and 2001 season, 21, 22–23, 25, 26–28; and 2001 Super Bowl XXXVI, 41–42, 47, 58; and 2003 season, 82–83; with Buffalo Bills, 62–63, 71, 108; signing of, 10; trading of, 58–59, 67
Blount, LeGarrette, 216, 230, 236–37, 239, 283, 288, 291, 295
Bolden, Brandon, 271
Boldin, Anquan, 196
Borges, Ron, 16, 128, 139, 146–47, 211, 242, 262, 314
Boss, Kevin, 166
Boston Bruins, 6, 53, 69, 193–94
Boston Celtics, 6, 46, 53, 126, 149, 172, 194
Boston Globe, 72, 128, 140, 146–47, 164, 210, 292
Boston Herald, 72, 140, 164, 169, 170, 171, 187, 211
Boston Marathon bombing, 209–10, 214
Boston Red Sox: and ALCS comeback win, 104–6; ceremony honoring Boston teams (2011), 194; long period without World Series victory, 45, 46, 73–74, 75; signings in 2007 preseason, 149; trading of Babe Ruth, 59; World Series victory (2004), 6, 106–7; World Series victory (2007), 156; World Series victory (2013), 213–14
Bradshaw, Ahmad, 200
Brady, Tom: and 2001 AFC championship game, 37–38; and 2001 divisional playoff, 31–32, 34; and 2001 season, 22–29; and 2001 Super Bowl XXXVI, 42, 43, 47–48, 54, 58; and 2002 season, 62–63; and 2003 divisional playoff, 85; and 2003 season, 71–73, 76–80, 81, 82–83; and 2003 Super Bowl XXXVIII, 90–93; and 2004 AFC championship game, 112–13; and 2004 divisional playoff, 111, 112; and 2004 season, 104; and 2004 season Pro Bowl, 125; and 2004 Super Bowl XXXIX, 119; and 2005 divisional playoff, 133; and 2005 season, 132; and 2005 Wild Card playoff, 132; and 2006 divisional playoff, 142; and 2006 season, 138, 139; and 2007 AFC championship game, 160; and 2007 division playoff, 160; and 2007 season, 150, 155, 157–59; and 2007 Super Bowl XLII, 165, 166; and 2008 season, 173; and 2009 season, 178–81; and 2009 Wild Card playoff, 182; and 2010 divisional playoff, 191–92; and 2010 season, 186–89; and 2011 players’ lawsuit against NFL, 194; and 2011 Super Bowl XLVI, 198–99; and 2012 AFC championship game, 207, 208; 2012 salary renegotiation, 203; and 2012 season, 204; and 2013 AFC championship game, 217; and 2013 season, 213, 215; and 2014 AFC championship game, 239; and 2014 divisional playoff, 232–35; and 2014 season, 223–28, 230; and 2014 Super Bowl XLIX, 245–47, 249–53; and 2015 AFC championship game, 272, 273–75; and 2015 season, 271; and 2016 AFC championship game, 287; and 2016 divisional playoff, 286; and 2016 season, 279–80, 282–85; and 2016 Super Bowl LI, 291–303; and 2017 AFC championship, 310–11; and 2017 season, 307–10; and 2017 Super Bowl LII, 313; and Boston environment, 172; celebrity following Super Bowl XXXVI, 55; celebrity following Super Bowl XXXVIII, 97; child by Bridget Moynahan, 140–41; children by Bundchen, 178, 181, 312; coolness under pressure, 43, 47, 112; and Deflategate, 4, 236, 239–42, 261, 263, 264, 266, 267, 279–80; fans’ dislike of, 5; and fifth ring TV ad, 300–301; Garoppolo and, 309–10, 310–11, 314; Hayes and, 64; illness of coach Weis and, 60; injury (2008 season), 173; marriage to Bundchen, 178; mother’s cancer, 280, 300; and NFL Golden Anniversary celebration, 275; records set by, 25, 159, 179, 189, 247, 313; rivalry with Manning, 81, 87, 112, 158, 180, 217, 228, 272–73, 275; The TB 12 Method by, 307; and Tom vs. Time (documentary film), 312; women dated by, 97, 140; workout routine of, 80
Brady v. NFL, 272
Branch, Deion: and 2003 season, 78; and 2003 Super Bowl XXXVIII, 91, 93; and 2004 AFC championship game, 112–13, 114; and 2004 Super Bowl XXXIX, 119, 121–22; and 2005 divisional playoff, 133; 2006 season contract dispute, 138; and 2010 season, 187, 188; character of, 99; signing of, 58; success in Patriot organization, 63–64; trading of, 135–36, 138
Brees, Drew, 180–81
Brenkus, John, 243
Brissett, Jacoby, 278–79, 281–82, 305
Brooks, Aaron, 148
Brooks, Derrick, 100
Brown, Antonio, 287
Brown, Chad, 129
Brown, Jim, 57, 99
Brown, Kris, 37, 39
Brown, Sergio, 205
Brown, Travis, 83
Brown, Troy: and 2001 AFC championship game, 37, 39, 40; and 2001 season, 25, 29; and 2001 Super Bowl XXXVI, 43, 44, 47, 48; and 2003 season, 74, 76; and 2003 Super Bowl XXXVIII, 93, 97; and 2004 AFC championship game, 113; and 2004 season, 108; and 2004 Super Bowl XXXIX, 119; and 2005 divisional playoff, 133; and 2006 divisional playoff, 142; and 2006 season, 138, 139; and 2015 season, 271; and Boston environment, 172; career after football, 208; Chad Jackson and, 137; character of, 99; retirement of, 174, 177
Browner, Brandon, 221, 250, 251
Bruce, Isaac, 41, 43, 44
Brunell, Mark, 139, 242, 270
Bruschi, Tedy: and 2001 AFC championship game, 39; and 2003 season, 80, 82; and 2004 divisional playoff, 111, 112; and 2004 season, 107, 108; and 2004 season Pro Bowl, 125; and 2004 Super Bowl XXXIX, 122; and 2005 season, 130–31; on Adalius Thomas, 178; character of, 99; on cutting of Milloy, 70; effort to replace, 128, 129; as fan favorite, 125–26; retirement of, 176–77; signing of, 10; stroke suffered by, 126
Bryant, Dez, 172, 184
Buckley, Terrell, 26, 44
>
Buckner, Brentson, 90
Buffalo Bills: and 2001 season, 29; and 2002 season, 62–63, 64; and 2003 preseason, 70; and 2003 season, 71, 82–83; and 2004 season, 104, 108; and 2005 season, 130–31; and 2007 season, 155; and 2014 season, 228; and 2015 season, 268; and 2016 season, 282; trading of Bledsoe to, 58–59; trading of Hogan, 278
Bundchen, Gisele, 140, 178, 200, 280, 302–3, 312
Burgess, Derrick, 181
Burress, Plaxico, 159, 166
Bush, George H. W., 62, 290
Bush, George W., 22, 90
Butler, Adam, 306
Butler, Darius, 171–72, 183
Butler, Malcolm, 248–49, 250, 251, 252, 268, 294, 305, 306, 312–13, 314
Cafardo, Nick, 72
Caldwell, Reche, 136, 139, 142
Callahan, Gerry, 140, 184
Cannon, Marcus, 270, 274, 281, 299
Carolina Panthers: and 2001 season, 21, 30; and 2003 playoffs, 89; and 2003 Super Bowl XXXVIII, 89–94; and 2005 season, 129; and 2009 season, 181–82; and 2013 season, 212–13; and football tampering, 243
Carpenter, Keion, 29
Carroll, Pete, 14, 15, 221, 245, 246–47, 251
Carter, Tony, 215
Caserio, Nick, 222
Cassel, Matt, 128–29, 132, 173–74, 175–76, 178
CBS Scene restaurant billboard, 5, 267
Chancellor, Kam, 245, 249
Chandler, Chris, 25
Chatham, Matt, 92
Chatroulette (website), 185
Cheever, Gerry, 193
Chernin Group, 290
Chicago Bears: 1985 team, 9–10; and 2006 Super Bowl XLI, 145; and 2010 season, 187; and 2014 season, 228
Childress, Brad, 188
Chung, Pat, 178, 191, 200, 221, 234, 251, 292
Cincinnati Bengals: and 2001 season, 21; and 2004 season, 108; and 2007 season, 155; and 2010 season, 186; and 2011 trades, 194–95; and 2013 season, 212; and 2014 season, 227–28; and Corey Dillon, 99–100, 109
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