Now it’s their time
Contingent of Patriots looking to extend championship legacy
HOUSTON — Because of the Patriots’ historically dominant run of success over the past decade and a half, their legacies will almost exclusively be defined by the weight of their jewelry boxes.
Prominent leaders and clutch performers such as Devin McCourty, Dont’a Hightower, Matthew Slater, Julian Edelman, Nate Solder, Malcolm Butler and Rob Ninkovich are among the 26 players who have a chance to add a second Super Bowl to their credentials. They’re currently in the building with some of the Patriots’ recent greats, but another ring would give them a seat at the table.
“It’d mean a lot,” Butler said. “Not too many players see the playoffs or even make it to the Super Bowl. I’m very blessed. It’d be an honor, but you’ve got to work for anything you get. We’re working right now, and Sunday will tell it all. I’m just blessed to be part of a great organization.”
To date, 206 players have gotten at least one Super Bowl ring with the Patriots, including those on the active roster, practice squad, injured lists and the suspended list (Terry Glenn). Fifty-two players have won at least a pair of rings, including 21 three-time winners and a four-time champion in Tom Brady.
Some of those winners obviously commanded a greater spotlight than others, as Tedy Bruschi, Troy Brown, Kevin Faulk, Matt Light, Willie McGinest, Richard Seymour, Adam Vinatieri and Mike Vrabel were on the 53-man roster for three Super Bowl victories while Adrian Klemm was on injured reserve for a trio of wins. Meanwhile, Ty Law was on the active roster for a pair of wins and on injured reserve in 2004, but that doesn’t diminish his worth to the organization.
There are parallels to the current roster. Rob Gronkowski, for instance, is on injured reserve but would earn a second ring if the Patriots defeat the Falcons in Super Bowl LI. But if it weren’t for Gronk’s contributions earlier this season, maybe the Patriots wouldn’t have had such a favorable playoff seeding. It would be bittersweet for him, but he is one of the reasons why they’ve gotten to this stage.
This is an important game for their individual legacies, too. With a second world championship, McCourty, Slater and Edelman would be slam dunks as Patriots Hall of Famers, and the same will likely be said for Hightower and Butler if they reach contract extensions this offseason. Adding to that, a second ring and an extension for Logan Ryan and Duron Harmon could greatly enhance their careers and standing in Patriots lore.
Whatever the case, Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick have set up such a strong alliance between Patriots generations that there’s no need to compare titles. That’s a credit to the family atmosphere at Gillette Stadium.
“I don’t think our legacy has anything to do with what they’re accomplishing now,” said McGinest, whose voice carried as much weight as anyone in the first Super Bowl generation. “Once they got that first ring, they kind of broke that mold of what all the old Patriots did. They’re creating history, and everything that they’re doing for the team now, which we’re all a part of. Every time they win a game, all the ex-Patriots win a football game. We kind of look at it as a family like that. We don’t compare how many rings this team won during a certain amount of years versus what they’re doing now. I’m happy for the guys. They sacrificed. They worked hard. They deserve the right to be here.
“As far as comparing legacy and rings, I don’t do that.”
The current crop didn’t want to get carried away with that, either. They respect the tradition and would cherish the opportunity to be among the Patriots legends, but they’ve got to put their pants on one leg at a time.
“First and foremost, the Patriots have always been a winning organization — Ty Law, Vince Wilfork, Tedy Bruschi and guys like that who have multiple Super Bowls,” Hightower said. “But in all honesty, I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’m more focused on (the current team) than conquering individual goals. I think that would open up great things, but I’m more concerned about the future than the past right now.”
Plus, in a week of distractions, the Patriots don’t want to bring one upon themselves by lending any bulletinboard material to the Falcons.
“I’m not going to walk down that road,” Edelman said. “It’s tough to, as a competitor, to undermine the team as good as the Atlanta Falcons and go in and answer questions like that. This is going to be a battle.”
Solder added, “I’ve not thought about that very thought. I think right now you’ve got to kind of minimize the distraction. I think that would be a little bit of a distraction to think about who won it, who didn’t win it. It’s kind of energy wasted.”
If the Patriots finish the job, their rings will do all the talking for them. A legacy echoes louder than any word.