Find new things to enjoy hating about the NFL

Watching the classic rivalry of New York Jets vs. New England Patriots as I write this column on a Thursday night, I’m struck by one thing. It’s just no fun hating the Patriots anymore without Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.

When Brady retired, then unretired, much like myself a few short months later, he went on to lead Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl win. Hating Brady then, without Belichick wasn’t the same, even when he beat my favorite quarterback Patrick Mahomes for the honor.

Sure Mahomes has a whole lot of cockiness but Brady always seemed to have all the cockiness plus a generous dose of arrogance that I just couldn’t stand. Never mind that even I have to admit he is probably the best to ever play quarterback in the NFL, even better than my beloved Bronco favs John Elway and Peyton Manning.

Stay tuned to Mahomes. I think he’s just getting it cranked up if the machinery around him holds together against the strain of greatness.

Watching the Patriots get whacked soundly by the Jets would have been a real downer if it hadn’t been for the opportunity to watch Jets’ QB Aaron Rodgers. He demonstrated to a raucous Meadowlands crowd that he was back from what many thought a career-ending injury. Yessiree, Aaron was his old, calm, collected self and he was rolling out like he was 24 again instead of nearly 41.

Watching Belichick fade into retirement after Brady left almost made me cry a little bit — nope it didn’t, it was time.

It was always rumored that he knew all the ins and outs of every position and every situation in football but I could never tell for sure. The guy never said more than three words to any reporter; sometimes they were not kind words.

But Belichick as a (supposedly) retired coach is a kinder, gentler football analyst. His explanations make a lot of sense, a lot more sense than everyone else with a podcast or network microphone. It makes it pretty hard to keep hating the guy.

I guess I could hate the 73-year-old horndog for dating a 24-year-old cheerleader. But ickiness aside, on some level another guy is going to admire him for winning a cheerleader over, especially when she’s 50 years younger.

For the last few weeks we’ve all analyzed Tom Brady’s start in the broadcast booth at Fox. In Brady fashion he found himself in controversy from the start as his bid for a minority ownership in the Las Vegas Raiders had the NFL throwing a flag before the play ever developed. They said if he became an owner his role in the booth would have to be restricted. We suspect that if push comes to shove the record $375 million deal from Fox will win out. How could it be that he of all people is seeking to align himself with the only other thing within the NFL I hate — the Raiders.

His broadcast debut went off like a rookie but he threw in enough of that Tommy-boy charisma that I expect he’ll pull this off too. I’ll get back to you soon, I suspect he’ll be in the booth today as my Broncos take on Tampa Bay. Oh that oughta be just great.

Karl Terry writes for Clovis Media Inc. Contact him at:

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