By John Ingoldsby | Engagement Insider
It was just like the good old days at Gillette Stadium Sunday as the former Patriots who each won three Super Bowls were in the house, and fittingly, Peyton Manning and some snow were there as well.
Best of all, the 17 Triple Crown winners waited together in the tunnel at halftime while their individual names were called and accompanying video played, choosing again to be introduced as a team, exactly like they were in 2002 when they won their first Super Bowl.
That signature moment in the New Orleans Superdome endeared them to many and launched a dynasty that is still going today, even though only one player was still in uniform Sunday in Foxboro from that Super Bowl XXXVI team and the two other championship squads.
Not surprisingly, the lone holdover is the forever-young Tom Brady, who became the face of the franchise that day in New Orleans and remains so today, which is why he was in the locker room at halftime rather than in the tunnel.
But it was still a tunnel full of familiar football names, particularly in New England, including Joe Andruzzi, Tom Ashworth, Troy Brown, Tedy Bruschi, Matt Chatham, Je’Rod Cherry, Kevin Faulk, Ted Johnson, Ty Law, Matt Light, Willie McGinest, Stephen Neal, Patrick Pass, David Patten, Lonie Paxton, Roman Phifer, and Richard Seymour.
Four others from the field of 22 could not be in attendance, but for all the right reasons.
Adam Vinatieri is the only other player still on an NFL roster as the placekicker for the Indianapolis Colts, and Larry Izzo (New York Giants), Adrian Klemm (UCLA) and Mike Vrabel (Houston Texans) are currently coaching and had weekend games.
But for those who were there, they were greeted at midfield by Patriots Owners Robert and Jonathan Kraft, as well as the full house that stayed in their seats at halftime to pay homage to their heroes.
And as he did that magical evening when they upset the St. Louis Rams, Bob Kraft re-uttered his famous post-9/11 line that “we were all Patriots” that day.
Additionally, the owner cited statistics on how amazing their accomplishment was by pointing out that approximately 19,000 players have worn NFL uniforms since that first Super Bowl win, but only this select group of 22 possess three Super Bowl rings.
Then it was time to bring out the ultimate hardware that displays their achievement, as the three Super Bowl trophies were brought to midfield and placed on pedestals.
Lofty perches that recalled for all the two additional Super Bowl victories, the second over the Carolina Panthers in Houston and the third with a win against Philadelphia Eagles in Jacksonville, coming back-to-back in 2004 and 2005, setting up Sunday’s Tenth Anniversary Celebration.
Those earned them the distinction of being the only NFL team ever to win three Super Bowls in four years, thereby creating a bond that has created the Patriots’ family atmosphere in Foxboro.
An atmosphere that Kraft reinforced further over the weekend when he had a family gathering at his Boston home for this band of brothers, just one of various activities held during the past few days.
All of which was captured perfectly by defensive line anchor Richard Seymour in a stadium-wide video message midway through the second quarter, in which he said, “I love you all, and glad to be back home.”
A home that once again yesterday brought back to life the still-breathing rivalry of Brady versus Manning, which got going with this group of 22 more than a decade ago.
Back then, the road to two of those Super Bowls featured celebrated AFC playoff games with the Manning-led Colts, remembered as snow-on-demand duels.
Ironically, Sunday morning started with a surprise snowstorm to everyone waking up anywhere near Gillette Stadium - including Manning - setting the stage for those who made history to see their legacy still playing out on the same frozen field they made famous.