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Pats loss seals comparison to past dynasties
Lombardi’s Packers still reign supreme
By Ken Ryan
Yes, the New England Patriots and their arrogant fans got exactly what they deserved: a knockout punch in the mouth courtesy of the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII, denying the Pats a 19-0 record. Bill Belichick haters everywhere rejoice.
Somehow he was able to win the NFL Coach of the Year Award even after he was responsible for $750,000 in fines and the loss of New England’s 2008 first-round draft choice due to the Spygate scandal. More allegations have come up in the past couple of weeks.
Members of the national media were ready to crown this the greatest dynasty of all time as the Pats were poised for their fourth title in seven years, ahead of the 1960s Green Bay Packers (five championships in seven years), the 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers (four titles in six years), the 1980s San Francisco 49ers (four rings in nine years) and the 1990s Dallas Cowboys (three championships in four years).
But give it up. None of these teams, most notably New England, hold a candle to the Vince Lombardi-led Packers of the 1960s.
First off, we’ll start with the coach. It’s funny how everybody forgets Belichick was a joke with the Cleveland Browns, leading them to four losing seasons in five years. Lombardi, in his first job, took a team that went 1-10-1 the year before he arrived, to the 1960 NFL Championship game in his second season where the Pack fell just short, losing at Philadelphia.
It would be the only postseason game Lombardi would lose as the Packers rolled on to NFL titles in 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966 and 1967. All without the help of videotaping opponents’ signals.
At quarterback, Bart Starr was just better than Tom Brady. No quarterback in NFL history has been as efficient as Starr, who holds the league’s all-time record in yards per passing attempt and five times led the league in quarterback rating. Brady has only started putting up huge passing statistics this season.
Furthermore, the rest of the ‘60s Pack roster is filled with Hall-of-Famers that grab most of the space on the Lambeau Field Ring of Fame. Along with Lombardi and Starr, running backs Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung, offensive lineman Forrest Gregg and Jim Ringo, defensive linemen Henry Jordan and Willie Davis, linebacker Ray Nitschke and defensive backs Herb Adderly and Willie Wood are enriched in Canton.
New England? Only Belichick and Brady are sure bets. Receiver Randy Moss, linebacker Junior Seau and safety Rodney Harrison will end up in Canton too, but Moss could go in as a Minnesota Viking and Seau and Harrison as San Diego Chargers.
Don’t get me wrong, New England has been terrific. But there will never be another team like the one that put their head coach’s name on the league’s premier trophy: Lombardi’s Pack.
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