Highlights
The New England Patriots are a professional football team that has enjoyed varying degrees of success throughout its checkered history. Under owner Robert Kraft and coach Bill Belichick, the Patriots won three Super Bowls during a four-year period (2001-04). The team originated when Boston businessman William H. "Billy" Sullivan Jr. was awarded the eighth and final franchise in the upstart American Football League on Nov. 16, 1959. Originally known as the Boston Patriots, the team played home games at several venues during the 1960s, including six years at Fenway Park. The Patriots were one of 10 AFL teams that joined the NFL when the two leagues merged on Feb. 1, 1970. The following year, t...
The New England Patriots are a professional football team that has enjoyed varying degrees of success throughout its checkered history. Under owner Robert Kraft and coach Bill Belichick, the Patriots won three Super Bowls during a four-year period (2001-04). The team originated when Boston businessman William H. "Billy" Sullivan Jr. was awarded the eighth and final franchise in the upstart American Football League on Nov. 16, 1959. Originally known as the Boston Patriots, the team played home games at several venues during the 1960s, including six years at Fenway Park. The Patriots were one of 10 AFL teams that joined the NFL when the two leagues merged on Feb. 1, 1970. The following year, the team was renamed the New England Patriots and started playing home games at newly built Schaefer Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. The venue would be renamed twice, first as Sullivan Stadium (1983-89) in honor of the man who founded the franchise and later as Foxboro Stadium (1990-2001) after Sullivan sold the team to Victor Kiam, owner and CEO of Remington Products in Bridgeport, Conn., in 1988. In 1992, Kiam sold the controlling interest of the team to James Orthwein. The ownership changed hands two years later when Kraft, who strategically purchased Sullivan Stadium in November 1988 with the hopes of buying the team some day, fulfilled a lifelong dream when he became the fourth owner in Patriots history on Feb. 25, 1994. The following day fans responded to the sale by purchasing nearly 6,000 season tickets, a single-day sales record at the time. The Patriots have come a long way. At his introductory press conference as head coach in 1969, Clive Rush was shocked, literally, when he grabbed a microphone that wasn't grounded and received a jolt. With the team headed to the postseason in 1978, fans were stunned to learn that coach Chuck Fairbanks had accepted a job to be the University of Colorado coach. The team suspended Fairbanks for the final game of the regular season but reinstated him for the playoffs and the Patriots played like a distracted team in a 34-14 loss to Houston. In 1985, the Patriots won three playoff games on the road for the team's first trip to the Super Bowl. Days after getting hammered by the Bears 46-10, six Patriots players were identified as drug users. The next time the Patriots played in the Super Bowl, there was more dysfunction. A power struggle between coach Bill Parcels and Kraft resulted in Parcells quitting shortly after a 35-21 loss to the Packers. He was replaced by Pete Carroll, who lasted three seasons. The Belichick era began in 2000 and coincided with the opening of Gillette Stadium two years later. In Belichick's first eight seasons, the team won the AFC East six times and three world championships with Tom Brady as quarterback.
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NFL power rankings: Dolphins climb despite lackluster win
Newsday1. Giants (11-1) (1): At some point, the Plaxico Burress situation has to have some effect on this team … or does it? Jints pound 'Skins a day after Burress shooting incident. 2. Titans (11-1) (3): After lay-up win over Lions on Turkey Day, Titans are...Tags: National Football League, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Colts, Jack Del Rio
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Dolphins coach: Not looking ahead a 'ridiculous statement'
Associated Press WriterFor the Miami Dolphins, the improbable has become awfully hard to ignore. The Dolphins, who set a dismal franchise record by going 1-15 last season and haven't reached the postseason since 2001, are now toying with the possibility of a playoff...Tags: Chad Pennington, Baltimore Colts, New York Jets, Baseball, Major League Baseball
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Tony Sparano's comments from Monday's press conference
South Florida Sun-Sentinel(On the injury to G Justin Smiley) – "Justin is; he's going to be done." (On if there is something more with Justin Smiley than a broken leg) – "Not sure, but it's not good." (On how new acquisition OL Al Johnson fits into his plans now) – "Al is a...Tags: Lousaka Polite, Joey Porter, Bono, Football
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Ravens get another shot to prove they're ready for prime time
There was linebacker Bart Scott throwing the official's flag into the stands.
There was Steve McNair setting an NFL record for futility.
And there was the worst loss in the nine-year Brian Billick era.
When it comes to playing before a national...Tags: Corey Ivy, Samari Rolle, National Football League, Chris McAlister, Pittsburgh Steelers
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Jets disappointed by poor showing vs. Broncos, lost chance to seize control in AFC East
AP Sports WriterFLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) _ Eric Mangini spent the afternoon watching film of the New York Jets' loss to Denver, still unhappy with just about everything he saw. "I really don't feel much differently than I felt after the game," Mangini said Monday. "I...Tags: Eric Mangini, Alan Faneca, Laveranues Coles, Brett Favre, David Bowens
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Patriots to play Buccaneers in London in 2009 NFL season
LONDON (AP) _ The New England Patriots will play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next season at Wembley Stadium, the third straight year the NFL will stage a regular-season game in the British capital. The game will be played Oct. 25. The Bucs will be listed as...Tags: Roger Goodell, National Football League, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl
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New Steel Curtain? Steelers setting the gold standard for NFL defenses
AP Sports WriterPITTSBURGH (AP) _ Fittingly enough for a team that wears the color predominantly on its uniforms, but the Pittsburgh Steelers are the new gold standard for NFL defenses. The cast of characters has shifted from Mean Joe Greene, Jack Lambert and Mel Blount...Tags: National Football League, Philadelphia Eagles, House and Home, Baltimore Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers
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Burress appears in court on weapons charges
The Associated PressTaken to court in handcuffs, Plaxico Burress posted $100,000 bail on weapons possession charges Monday as a frenzy grew around the case of the Giants star receiver who accidentally shot himself in a nightclub. Authorities said teammate Antonio Pierce was...Tags: Dining and Drinking, Antonio Pierce, Personal Weapon Control, Interior Policy, Gun Control
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GOLDBERG ON FOOTBALL: Some teams will make playoffs, but advancing is another problem
AP Football WriterThe New York Jets still lead the AFC East and are likely to win it. But a team that a week ago was being put in a New York-New York Super Bowl by the local tabloids is now being buried, replaced on the front and back pages by a receiver on the other...Tags: National Football League, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baltimore Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers
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No. 1 'Bama unbeaten, untied _ and underdogs against No. 2 Florida
AP Sports WriterTUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) _ Alabama has pushed aside all comers on its way to a perfect regular season, climbed to the top of the rankings and stuck around for quite awhile. Now, it's back to Square One for team No. 1: As an underdog in the Georgia Dome....Tags: Florida Gators, Tim Tebow, Baltimore Ravens, Percy Harvin, Football
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Burress appears in handcuffs, posts $100K bail
Associated Press WriterTaken to court in handcuffs, Plaxico Burress posted $100,000 bail on weapons possession charges Monday as the frenzy grew around the Giants star receiver who accidentally shot himself in a nightclub. Authorities said teammate Antonio Pierce was being...Tags: Dining and Drinking, Crimes, Antonio Pierce, Philadelphia Eagles, Firearms
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Dolphins creep back into thick of AFC East race
SunSentinel.comDolphins coach Tony Sparano tried to wake up his sleepwalking players at halftime, punctuating his pep talk with: "Who wants it?'' Because for most of Sunday's sloppy 16-12 victory over the St. Louis Rams inside a library-quiet Edward Jones Dome, it...Tags: Vonnie Holliday, Marc Bulger, New York Jets, National Football League, Miami Dolphins
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