R-E-S-P-E-C-T the P-A-T-R-I-O-T

Aikman, Irvin and Smith. \nRing a bell?\nOf course it does. These are recognizable names from the dominant Dallas Cowboys squad that earned the label of America's Team, but Brady, Bruski and Law?\nAre most people aware these are names representing the AFC in this year's Super Bowl?\nOr the 2002 Super Bowl? \nThere's no question they are part of a team making a strong case for the new calling of America's team. \nBy beating the Colts, the Patriots are heading to their second Super Bowl in three years and their third, in nine. But their stunning suffocation of what seemed to be the unstoppable Colt's offense had many Colts fans wondering not how, but who?\nTheir unflashy, business-like conduct might cost CBS some Super Bowl ratings -- and isn't that a shame? It's this team-oriented, frustrate-you-until-you-crack-and-crumble approach that continues to land the Patriots in the big one. \nThe 2002 team, but especially this year's Patriots, lack the respect and attention they deserve. They lost in week four, and haven't lost since! A 14-game winning streak -- the second longest in NFL history -- in a league full of parity still cannot convince their skeptics they are elite. \nThe Patriots got as much consideration at the beginning of the season as the Indians did in the movie Major League, like one fan in the movie said, "I've never heard of half these guys." \nBut just like the "Sons of Geronimo," the Pats now have people's attention, appearing in their fourth overall Super Bowl.\nWhile Bears fans are still talking about their crown by pummeling the Patriots in '86, the Patriots have since won one, and soon to possibly be two, but have been back to the Super Bowl three times. \nBrady, who was 14-2 this year, finished third in the MVP voting. His stats may have been a smidge below Manning and McNair, but the 'V' is for valuable, and you can't make a better case for value to his team than Brady. \nHe won at Michigan and continues to win since the day he took over for Bledsoe, but how much more will he need to win to quiet his critics? \nWhy do I like Brady? Because he really doesn't care.\nAnd neither does the entire team. Day-in, and day-out, they work hard, fight for every inch, but most of all, they play hard for the name on the front of their jerseys -- not the back. \nWhat other team would carry the title of America's team with more honor and pride then the New England Patriots?\nDue to the first Gulf War in 1991, America was looking for a team, an icon or an idea to grab onto to and call it theirs. With our freedom being fought for overseas, the Cowboys became the team for fans across America to call their own. \nPeople latched onto the symbol of the blue and silver star and now I wish people will let go and see America's new team forming in front of their eyes. And what better team for our country to love at uncertain times like these, than the Patriots. \nYet, a loss to the Panthers in the Super Bowl will destroy any hope of becoming America's new team. See, the Cowboys won three Super Bowls, but more importantly, they did not lose any. They were a perfect three-for-three in the big game. Just an appearance in the Super Bowl is not nearly enough. Ask Buffalo.\nBut even with one loss in Super Bowl XXXI to Favre and the Packers, the Patriots can still do it. It was far enough back, and few players still play on the team to incorporate that loss into the forming of this dynasty. \nBesides, Nate Newton, a member of the old America's team was arrested for two separate occasions for possession of 173 pounds and 213 pounds of marijuana. Is that past the point of intent to sell and now intent to roll a blunt for the entire National Football League -- and the Portland Trailblazers? \nEither way, it's not the ideal representation of America's team -- meaning, it's time for a change. \nUncle Sam needs a new team. The Yankees are too fun to hate and the Lakers are full of hall of famers. \nA victory in next week's Super Bowl should shut up even their darkest critics and disbelievers. \nWell, hopefully they'll be saying, "How 'bout them Patriots"