New England Patriots

New England Patriots
Current season
Established 1959 Play in and headquartered in Gillette Stadium Foxborough, Massachusetts
Helmet Logo
League/conference affiliations
American Football League (1960–69) Eastern Division (1960–69) National Football League (1970–present) American Football Conference (1970–present) AFC East (1970–present)
Current uniform
Team colors	Nautical Blue, New Century Silver, Red, White
Mascot	Pat Patriot
Personnel
Owner(s)	Robert Kraft
Chairman	Robert Kraft
CEO	Robert Kraft
President	Jonathan Kraft
General manager	Bill Belichick
Head coach	Bill Belichick
Team history
Boston Patriots (1960–70) Bay State Patriots (February 1971 – March 1971) New England Patriots (1971–present)
Team nicknames
"The Pats"
Championships
League championships (3) Super Bowl Championships (3) 2001 (XXXVI), 2003 (XXXVIII), 2004 (XXXIX)
Conference championships (6) AFC: 1985, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007
Division championships (13) AFL East: 1963 AFC East: 1978, 1986, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010
Playoff appearances (17)
AFL: 1963, NFL: 1976, 1978, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010
Home fields
Nickerson Field (1960–62) Fenway Park (1963–68) Alumni Stadium (1969) Harvard Stadium (1970) Foxboro Stadium (1971–2001) a.k.a. Schaefer Stadium (1971–82) a.k.a. Sullivan Stadium (1983–89) Gillette Stadium (2002–present)

The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The team changed its name from the original Boston Patriots after relocating to Foxborough in 1971, although Foxborough is a suburb of Boston, 22 miles (35 km) away.

An original member of the American Football League (AFL), the Patriots joined the NFL in the 1970 merger of those leagues. The team advanced to the playoffs four times before appearing in Super Bowl XX in January 1986, losing to the Chicago Bears. The team also appeared in Super Bowl XXXI in January 1997, losing to the Green Bay Packers.

Of late, the Patriots have become one of the most successful teams in NFL history. They are currently tied for second with 6 appearances in a Super Bowl, and have the most appearances in the last 25 years. Between 2001–2010, the Patriots set a record for most wins in a decade (126, different from conventionally bounded decades, 2000–2009, 1990–1999, etc; this record references any 10 year stretch; 2nd is the 1984–1993 San Francisco 49ers, with 120 wins). Between 2001 and 2005, the Patriots became the second team in NFL history (after the Dallas Cowboys) to win three Super Bowls in four years (Super Bowl XXXVI, XXXVIII, and XXXIX), and the eighth (and as of the present time, the last team to date) to win consecutive Super Bowls. The Patriots, however, were defeated by the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII, after winning the first 18 games of their 2007 season. Under quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick, the Patriots have also compiled the longest winning streak consisting of regular season and playoff games in NFL history, a 21-game streak from October 2003–October 2004.

Franchise history

Main article: History of the New England Patriots

"Pat Patriot" logo, used through 1992.

On November 16, 1959, Boston business executive Billy Sullivan was awarded the eighth and final franchise of the developing American Football League (AFL). The following winter, locals were allowed to submit ideas for the Boston football team's official name. The most popular choice—and the one that Sullivan selected—was "Boston Patriots". Immediately thereafter, Boston Globe artist Phil Bissell developed the "Pat Patriot" logo.^[1]

The Patriots' time in the AFL saw them struggle most years as they never had a regular home stadium. Nickerson Field, Harvard Stadium, Fenway Park, and Alumni Stadium all served as home fields during their time in the American Football League. They did play in one AFL championship game, following the 1963 season. They lost to the San Diego Chargers 51–10. They would not appear again in an AFL or NFL post-season game for another 13 years.^[1]

When the NFL and AFL merged in 1970, the Patriots were placed in the AFC East division, where they still play today. The following year, the Patriots moved to a new stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, which would serve as their home for 30 years. As a result of the move, they announced they would change their name from the Boston Patriots to the Bay State Patriots. The name was rejected by the NFL and on March 23, 1971, the team officially announced they would become the New England Patriots.

During the 1970s, the Patriots had some success, earning a berth to the playoffs in 1976—as a wild card-team—and in 1978—as AFC East champions. They lost in the first round both times. In 1985, they returned to the playoffs, and made it all the way to Super Bowl XX, which they lost to the Chicago Bears 46–10. Following their Super Bowl loss, they returned to the playoffs in 1986, but lost in the first round. The team would not make the playoffs again for eight more years. During the 1990 season, the Patriots went 1-15. They changed ownership three times, being purchased from the Sullivan family first by Victor Kiam in 1988, who sold the team to James Orthwein in 1992. Orthwein intended to move the team to his native St. Louis, Missouri, but sold the team two years later to current owner Robert Kraft in 1994.^[1]

Though Orthwein's period as owner was short and controversial, he did oversee major changes to the team, first with the hiring of former New York Giants coach Bill Parcells in 1993. Also a change was made that same year to the Patriots uniforms, changing their primary colors from their traditional red and white to blue and silver, and introducing a new logo.^[2] Parcells would bring the Patriots to two playoff appearances, including Super Bowl XXXI, which they lost to the Green Bay Packers by a score of 35–21. Pete Carroll, Parcells's successor, would also take the team to the playoffs twice in 1997 & 1998 before being dismissed as head coach after the 1999 season.^[1]

The Patriots' current coach Bill Belichick was hired in 2000, and a new home field, Gillette Stadium was opened in 2002. Under Belichick, the team won three Super Bowls in four years, and finished the 2007 regular season with a perfect 16–0 record, becoming only the fifth team in league history to go undefeated in the regular season, and the only one since the league expanded its regular season schedule to 16 games.^[1] After advancing to Super Bowl XLII, the team's fourth Super Bowl in seven years, the Patriots were defeated by the Giants to end their bid for a 19–0 season. With the loss, the Patriots ended the year at 18–1, becoming only one of three teams to go 18–1 along with the 1984 San Francisco 49ers and the 1985 Chicago Bears. Those teams, however, won the Super Bowl.

Season-by-season records

This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Patriots. For the full season-by-season franchise results, see List of New England Patriots seasons.

Super Bowl Champions (2001–present)

Conference Champions

Division Champions

Wild Card Berth

Season	Team	League	Conference	Division	Regular Season				Post Season Results	Awards
					Finish	Won	Lost	Ties
2006	2006	NFL	AFC	East §	1st §	12	4	0	Won Wild Card Playoffs (Jets) 37–16 Won Divisional Playoffs (Chargers) 24–21 Lost Conference Championship (Colts) 38–34
2007	2007	NFL	AFC *	East §	1st §	16	0	0	Won Divisional Playoffs (Jaguars) 31–20 Won Conference Championship (Chargers) 21–12 Lost Super Bowl XLII (Giants) 17–14	Bill Belichick (NFL COY)[3] Tom Brady (NFL MVP)[4] Tom Brady (NFL Off. POTY)[5]
2008	2008	NFL	AFC	East	2nd[k]	11	5	0		Jerod Mayo (Def. ROY)[6]
2009	2009	NFL	AFC	East §	1st §	10	6	0	Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Ravens) 33–14	Tom Brady (CBPOY)[7]
2010	2010	NFL	AFC	East §	1st §	14	2	0	Lost Divisional Playoffs (Jets) 28–21	Bill Belichick (NFL COY)[3] Tom Brady (NFL MVP)[8] Tom Brady (NFL Off. POTY)[9]
Total						401	362	9	(1960–2010, includes only regular season)
						21	15	—	(1960–2010,[l] includes only playoffs)[10]
						422	377	9	(1960–2010, includes both regular season and playoffs)

Records

All-Time Patriots Leaders

Leader	Player	Record Number	Years on Patriots
Passing	Tom Brady	36,907 passing yards	2000–present
Rushing	Sam Cunningham	5,453 rushing yards	1973–1982
Receiving	Stanley Morgan	10,352 receiving yards	1977–1989
Coaching Wins	Bill Belichick	131 wins	2000–present

Rivalries

Main articles: Jets–Patriots rivalry and Colts–Patriots rivalry

Super Bowl banners at Gillette Stadium

The Patriots have maintained a rivalry with the New York Jets, who have also been members of the AFC East since its inception in 1970. Prior to that, both teams competed in the American Football League since both teams' foundings in 1960. The rivalry between the Jets and Patriots has escalated since 1996, when Patriots head coach Bill Parcells left the Patriots under controversy to become the head coach of the Jets. Four years later, Parcells' assistant, Bill Belichick, resigned the day he was named the Jets' head coach to become the head coach of the Patriots. Six years after that, Eric Mangini, an assistant under Belichick, became the head coach of the Jets.

Meanwhile, the rise of quarterbacks Tom Brady and Peyton Manning in the early 2000s led to an increased rivalry between Manning's Indianapolis Colts and Brady's Patriots. The teams met three times in four years (2003, 2004, 2006) in the playoffs, with the winner going on to win that season's Super Bowl each time.

Strategy

Further information: New England Patriots strategy

Under head coach Bill Belichick, the Patriots have employed specific on-field and off-field strategies. On the field, the Patriots have typically utilized an "Erhardt-Perkins" offense and a "Fairbanks-Bullough" 3–4 defense, referred to commonly as a 2-gap 3–4 defensive system.^[11] Their philosophy in making personnel decisions and in game planning has focused on the "team" concept,^[12] stressing preparation, strong work ethic, versatility,^[13] and lack of individual ego.^[14] This approach, which led to three Super Bowl victories under Belichick, was analyzed in the 2004 book Patriot Reign.

When owner Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994, he did so for $175 million. Since then, the Patriots have sold out every home game in both Foxboro Stadium and Gillette Stadium. By 2009, the value of the franchise had increased by over $1 billion, to a Forbes Magazine estimated value of $1.361 billion, third highest in the NFL.^[15]

Stadium

Main article: Gillette Stadium

Since 2002, the Patriots' home stadium has been Gillette Stadium, a $350 million facility privately financed by Kraft. It houses all administrative offices for the team and its owning entity, The Kraft Group, as well as the Kraft-owned Major League Soccer team, the New England Revolution. The field, which was originally natural grass, was replaced with a FieldTurf surface during the 2006 season. The area around the stadium was developed, beginning in 2007, into a $375 million "lifestyle and entertainment center" called Patriot Place.

Prior to 2002, the Patriots played in Foxboro Stadium dating back to 1971, the team's second year in the NFL after the AFL-NFL merger. During the team's days in the American Football League, the Boston Patriots were hosted by a number of fields in or around Boston.

Notable players

Main article: List of New England Patriots players

Current roster

New England Patriots rosterview · talk · edit
Quarterbacks 12 Tom Brady  8 Brian Hoyer 15 Ryan Mallett Running Backs 33 Kevin Faulk 42 BenJarvus Green-Ellis 22 Stevan Ridley 34 Shane Vereen 39 Danny Woodhead KR Wide Receivers 84 Deion Branch 11 Julian Edelman PR 85 Chad Ochocinco 17 Taylor Price 18 Matthew Slater 83 Wes Welker Tight Ends 87 Rob Gronkowski 81 Aaron Hernandez		Offensive Linemen 63 Dan Connolly C/G 72 Matt Light T 70 Logan Mankins G 77 Nate Solder T 64 Donald Thomas G 76 Sebastian Vollmer T 54 Brian Waters G 62 Ryan Wendell C/G Defensive Linemen 95 Mark Anderson DE 97 Ron Brace DT 93 Andre Carter DE 96 Jermaine Cunningham DE 71 Brandon Deaderick DE 94 Shaun Ellis DE 74 Kyle Love DT 98 Gerard Warren DT 75 Vince Wilfork DT		Linebackers 52 Dane Fletcher MLB 59 Gary Guyton OLB 90 Niko Koutouvides MLB 51 Jerod Mayo OLB 50 Rob Ninkovich OLB/DE 55 Brandon Spikes MLB 53 Jeff Tarpinian OLB 58 Tracy White OLB Defensive Backs 26 Phillip Adams CB 24 Kyle Arrington CB 31 Sergio Brown FS 25 Patrick Chung FS 44 James Ihedigbo SS 32 Devin McCourty CB 27 Antwaun Molden CB 29 Sterling Moore FS/CB 35 Ross Ventrone FS Special Teams 48 Danny Aiken LS  3 Stephen Gostkowski K 14 Zoltan Mesko P		Reserve Lists 30 Josh Barrett FS (IR) 61 Marcus Cannon G/T (NF-Inj.) 47 Christian Cox MLB (IR) 21 Ras-I Dowling CB (IR) -- Kyle Hix OT (IR) 67 Dan Koppen C (IR) -- Bret Lockett FS (IR) -- Rich Ohrnberger G/C (IR) 91 Myron Pryor DT (IR) 99 Mike Wright DE/DT (IR) Practice Squad 49 Markell Carter DE 68 Matt Kopa OT 65 Nick McDonald G/C 45 Garrett Mills TE 47 Mike Rivera MLB 69 Alex Silvestro DE 28 Josh Victorian CB Rookies in italics Roster updated November 12, 2011 Depth Chart • Transactions 53 Active, 10 Inactive, 7 Practice Squad → More rosters
AFC East: BUF  · MIA  · NE  · NYJ • North: BAL  · CIN  · CLE  · PIT • South: HOU  · IND  · JAC  · TEN • West: DEN  · KC  · OAK  · SD NFC East: DAL  · NYG  · PHI  · WAS • North: CHI  · DET  · GB  · MIN • South: ATL  · CAR  · NO  · TB • West: ARI  · STL  · SF  · SEA

Hall of Famers and retired numbers

The New England Patriots feature 17 former players and one contributor in their team hall of fame, established in 1991. A committee of media and staff selected 11 players for enshrinement between 1991 and 2001, before a six-year span of no selections. In 2007, in advance of the 2008 opening of the Hall at Patriot Place, the Patriots introduced a new nomination committee to select three candidates, with the winner of an internet fan vote being enshrined in the hall of fame.^[16] In order to be eligible, players and coaches must be retired for at least four years.^[17] Beginning in 2011 and meeting every five years, a senior selection committee has the option of voting a player who has been retired for at least 25 seasons into the hall of fame.^[18]

Former owner Billy Sullivan was inducted by owner Robert Kraft in March 2009, the Patriots' 50th season, as a contributor.^[19]

Additionally, four former Patriots players have been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Patriots have officially retired seven uniform numbers.

New England Patriots Hall of Fame
Players
Number	Name	Positions	Seasons	Year elected	Number	Name	Positions	Seasons	Year elected
73	John Hannah	G	1973–1985	1991 (Pro: 1991)	56	Andre Tippett	LB	1982–1993	1999 (Pro: 2008)
85	Nick Buoniconti	LB	1962–1968	1992 (Pro: 2001)	78	Bruce Armstrong	T	1987–2000	2001
20	Gino Cappelletti	WR-K	1960–1970	1992	86	Stanley Morgan	WR	1977–1989	2007
89	Bob Dee	DL	1960–1967	1993	87	Ben Coates	TE	1991–1999	2008
79	Jim Lee Hunt	DL	1960–1971	1993	35	Jim Nance	FB	1965–1971	2009
57	Steve Nelson	LB	1974–1987	1993	39	Sam Cunningham	RB	1973–1982	2010
15	Babe Parilli	QB	1961–1967	1993	56	Jon Morris	C	1964–1974	2011
40	Mike Haynes	CB	1976–1982	1994 (Pro: 1997)	11	Drew Bledsoe	QB	1993–2001	2011
14	Steve Grogan	QB	1975–1990	1995
Contributors
Number	Name	Positions	Seasons	Year elected	Number	Name	Positions	Seasons	Year elected
–	Billy Sullivan	Owner & founder	1960–1988	2009
Also enshrined in Pro Football Hall of Fame
Uniform number officially retired by team

All-decade teams

1960s (AFL)

In November 1971, fans voted on a 10-year Patriots anniversary team, which coincided with the team's 10 years in the then-defunct American Football League:^[20] Additional selections for returner, special teamer, and coach were added in 2009:^[21]

1970s, 1980s, 1990s

In March 2009, as part of the Patriots' 50th anniversary, a group of local media and other team figures selected all-decade teams for the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s:^[21]

2000s

On March 16, 2010, the Patriots Hall of Fame selection committee selected an all-decade team for the 2000s:

Anniversary teams

35th anniversary (1994)

In 1994, a group of local media selected a 35th anniversary team:^[20]

50th anniversary (2009)

In 2009, the Patriots Hall of Fame selection committee selected a 50th anniversary team:^[20]

All-time first-round draft picks

Main article: List of New England Patriots first-round draft picks

Coaches

Head coaches

Main article: List of New England Patriots head coaches

Current staff

New England Patriots staffv · d · e
	Front Office Chairman/CEO – Robert Kraft President – Jonathan Kraft Senior Football Advisor – Floyd Reese Director of Player Personnel – Nick Caserio Director of College Scouting – Jon Robinson Director of Pro Personnel – Jason Licht Assistant Director of Pro Personnel – Bob Quinn Assistant Director of College Scouting – Brian Smith Football Research Director – Ernie Adams Head Coaches Head Coach – Bill Belichick Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line – Dante Scarnecchia Offensive Coaches Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks – Bill O'Brien Running Backs – Ivan Fears Wide Receivers – Chad O'Shea Tight Ends – Brian Ferentz Offensive Assistant Coach – George Godsey			Defensive Coaches Defensive Line – Pepper Johnson Linebackers – Patrick Graham Defensive Backs – Josh Boyer Safeties – Matt Patricia Defensive Assistant Coach – Brian Flores Special Teams Coaches Special Teams – Scott O'Brien Strength and Conditioning Strength and Conditioning – Harold Nash Assistant Strength and Conditioning – Moses Cabrera → Coaching Staff → Management → More NFL staffs
AFC East: BUF  · MIA  · NE  · NYJ • North: BAL  · CIN  · CLE  · PIT • South: HOU  · IND  · JAC  · TEN • West: DEN  · KC  · OAK  · SD NFC East: DAL  · NYG  · PHI  · WAS • North: CHI  · DET  · GB  · MIN • South: ATL  · CAR  · NO  · TB • West: ARI  · STL  · SF  · SEA

Cheerleaders and mascot

The Patriots Cheerleaders performing a routine in 2007

The Patriots NFL Cheerleaders are simply known as The Patriots Cheerleaders. In 2005, cheerleader Kristin Gauvin won Miss Massachusetts, in part from her local commitment with the Patriots.

The Patriots' mascot is Pat Patriot, a revolutionary minuteman wearing a Patriots home jersey.

During each game, about 10 men dressed as minutemen line the back of each end zone. When the Patriots score a touchdown, field goal or point-after-touchdown, the militia behind the opposite end zone fire a round of blanks from flintlock muskets. ESPN writer Josh Pahigian named this one of the top ten celebrations in the league in 2007.^[22]

Radio and television

Main article: List of New England Patriots broadcasters

The Patriots' flagship radio station is WBZ-FM 98.5 FM, owned by CBS Radio. The larger radio network is called the New England Patriots Radio Network, whose 37 affiliate stations span 7 states. Gil Santos and Gino Cappelletti are the longtime announcing team.

Any preseason games not on national television are shown on CBS affiliate WBZ-TV. These games were broadcast on ABC affiliate WCVB-TV from 1995 until the change to WBZ in 2009. Don Criqui has been the play-by-play announcer the last several years, with Randy Cross as a color commentator and Mike Lynch as a sideline reporter. Lynch was replaced by WBZ reporter Steve Burton in 2009.

See also

American football portal

• The Kraft Group

Notes and references

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Official New England Patriots History". Patriots.com. New England Patriots. http://www.patriots.com/history/index.cfm?ac=History. Retrieved 2008-01-13. 
2. ^ Article by Bill Plaschke on Kevin Loh's design of the new Patriots' logo. LATIMES.COM. Accessed January 20, 2008.
3. ^ ^{a b} "Belichick wins 3rd Coach of Year honor". The Associated Press. February 2, 2011. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gLRirhrbgla4QzsnYzSxpSY_yVtw?docId=0f2901943f0846dab09ef3c5059ef28f. Retrieved February 16, 2011. 
4. ^ "Brady romps to MVP after record season". Toronto Star (Torstar). January 6, 2008. http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/291342. Retrieved February 21, 2011. 
5. ^ "Tom Brady adds AP Offensive Player of Year to MVP". KXMB-TV (Bismark, North Dakota: Reiten Television, Inc.). January 8, 2008. http://www.kxnet.com/custom404.asp?404;http://www.kxnet.com/Sports/196054.asp. Retrieved February 21, 2011. 
6. ^ "Mayo is AP's top defensive rookie". ESPN.com. The Walt Disney Company. January 1, 2009. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3801728. Retrieved February 16, 2011. 
7. ^ Kilgore, Adam (January 6, 2010). "Brady Wins Comeback Player of the Year". The Boston Globe (The New York Times Company). http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/extra_points/2010/01/brady_wins_come.html. Retrieved February 16, 2011. 
8. ^ Farmer, Sam (February 6, 2011). "Patriots' Tom Brady selected NFL MVP". The Los Angeles Times (Tribune Company). http://articles.latimes.com/2011/feb/06/sports/la-sp-newswire-20110207. Retrieved February 16, 2011. 
9. ^ Manza Young, Shalise (February 1, 2011). "Brady Wins AP Offensive Player of Year". The Boston Globe (The New York Times Company). http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/extra_points/2011/02/brady_wins_ap_o.html. Retrieved February 16, 2011. 
10. ^ "New England Patriots playoff history". ESPN.com. The Walt Disney Company. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2009/news/story?id=4785768. Retrieved February 24, 2011. 
11. ^ Borges, Ron (2000-09-01). "Coming to terms with the system". The Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/sports/packages/nfl2000/plays.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-06. 
12. ^ Guregian, Karen (2009-01-15). "Scott Pioli starts life as lone boss in Kansas City". Boston Herald. http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/other_nfl/view/2009_01_15_New_Chief_in_charge:_Scott_Pioli_starts_life_as_lone_boss_in_Kansas_City/srvc=home&position=also. Retrieved 2009-10-06. 
13. ^ Long, Mark (2005-02-06). "Versatile Vrabel vaults into Super Bowl lore". San Diego Union-Tribune. http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/nfl/20050206-1920-fbn-superbowl-vrabel.html. Retrieved 2009-10-06. 
14. ^ Bell, Jarrett (2005-01-24). "Patriots all about the rings". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/patriots/2005-01-24-team-concept_x.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-06. 
15. ^ "Forbes: Patriots 3rd Most Valuable NFL Franchise". Associated Press. WBZ-TV. 2009-09-02. http://wbztv.com/sports/most.valuable.franchise.2.1160694.html. Retrieved 2009-10-09. ^{[dead link]}
16. ^ "Ben Coates elected to Patriots Hall of Fame". Patriots.com. 2008-07-07. http://www.patriots.com/news/index.cfm?ac=latestnewsdetail&pid=32516&pcid=41. Retrieved 2008-07-08. 
17. ^ "The Hall at Patriot Place Presented by Raytheon Hall of Fame!". Patriots.com. http://www.patriots.com/history/index.cfm?ac=halloffame. Retrieved 2010-06-14. 
18. ^ "Patriots Hall of Fame Senior Selection Committee formed". Patriots.com. 2011-03-25. http://www.patriots.com/news/index.cfm?ac=latestnewsdetail&pid=48047&pcid=47. Retrieved 2011-03-27. 
19. ^ Finn, Chad (2009-03-24). "Sullivan inducted into team's Hall". Boston.com Reiss' Pieces. http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2009/03/sullivan_induct.html. Retrieved 2009-03-24. 
20. ^ ^{a b c} "Patriots Anniversary Teams". Patriots.com. http://www.patriots.com/history/index.cfm?ac=anniversaryteams. Retrieved 2009-03-30. 
21. ^ ^{a b} Barboza, Scott (2009-03-31). "Patriots All-Decade teams announced". Patriots.com. http://www.patriots.com/search/index.cfm?ac=searchdetail&pid=36746&pcid=41&rss=1. Retrieved 2009-03-31. 
22. ^ ESPN.com It's a Celebration: Best NFL Touchdown Celebrations, Josh Pahigian, 12/3/07

Further reading

• Hlydburg, Bob (2009), Total Patriots: The Definitive Encyclopedia of the World-Class Franchise, Triumph Books, ISBN 1600780997 
• Holley, Michael (2004), Patriot Reign: Bill Belichick, the Coaches, and the Players Who Built a Champion, William Morrow and Company, ISBN 0060757949 
• Price, Christopher (2007), The Blueprint: How the New England Patriots Beat the System to Create the Last Great NFL Superpower, Thomas Dunne Books, ISBN 0312368380 
• Lavin, James (2005), Management Secrets of the New England Patriots: From Patsies to Triple Super Bowl Champs; Vol. 1, Pointer Press, ISBN 0976203952 
• Lavin, James (2005), Management Secrets of the New England Patriots: From Patsies to Triple Super Bowl Champs; Vol. 2, Pointer Press, ISBN 0976203987 
• Glennon, Sean (2008), The Good, the Bad & the Ugly New England Patriots: Heart-pounding, Jaw-dropping, and Gut-wrenching Moments from New England Patriots History, Triumph Books, ISBN 1600781187 
• Felger, Michael (2004), Tales from the Patriots Sideline, Sports Publishing LLC, ISBN 158261525X 
• Donaldson, Jim (2009), Then Belichick Said to Brady: The Best New England Patriots Stories Ever Told, Triumph Books, ISBN 1600782396 
• Donaldson, Jim (2005), Stadium Stories: New England Patriots, Globe Pequot, ISBN 0762737883 

External links

• New England Patriots official website
• New England Patriots on Twitter
• Sport E-Cyclopedia.org

Achievements
Preceded by Baltimore Ravens 2000	Super Bowl Champions New England Patriots 2001	Succeeded by Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2002
Preceded by Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2002	Super Bowl Champions New England Patriots 2003 and 2004	Succeeded by Pittsburgh Steelers 2005