After watching the Patriots win the 1st game of the 2015 season, and listening to all the whining after the game, I started thinking of various things Patriots fans need to get used to.

Some are good and some are a pain in the arse (early English phraseology), but they all come with being a fan of the most dominant franchise now playing in the NFL. I know that will be referred to by the naysayers as an arrogant statement, but it’s a fact!

That said, here’s my short list:

• Get used to winning football games in the NFL (Check that off under the good category)
• Get used to going to the playoffs every season and having a legitimate chance to go to the Super Bowl.

Other owners, coaches, players and fans may hate the Patriots for consistently beating up on their team, but hey, it’s a fact they need to get used to (you’d think they would already be there, wouldn’t you).

• Get used to someone finding something in every game to claim the Patriots cheated and their team would have won if the game was played on an even playing field (Pick one: Coach, Owner, ESPN, Sportswriter of opposing team).

There are hundreds of examples available to choose from, but here are the most laughable:

1. The always whining Colts complaining about deflated footballs after losing to New England 45-7 in the AFC Championship game last January. I’m sure they would have been more competitive if the Patriot’s hadn’t deflated their balls (pun intended).
2. This week’s “two fer” special: Pittsburgh’s multiple excuses for losing the opener despite trailing the entire game.

(A) Head Coach Mike “The Tripper” Tomlin going off after the game about the headset issues in Foxboro

(B) Ben (I don’t know the rules, but this has to be illegal) Roethlisberger complaining because the nasty Patriots shifted while he was calling cadence on the 1-yard line causing his teammates to jump offside. We all know quarterback’s never try to draw teams offside with their cadence, right!

Don’t you just love Big Ben’s intelligent, well thought out, quotes after the game

“I thought that there was a rule against that,” “Maybe there’s not. Maybe it’s just an unwritten rule. … We saw it on film, that the Patriots do that. They shift and slide and do stuff on the goal line, knowing that it’s an itchy trigger finger-type down there.”

So, let me get this straight, the Steelers watched it on film prior to the game, knew it was coming…yet still fell for it. Damn those “cheating” Patriots.

So, did this respected franchise apologize for their lack of knowledge about who controls game time communications (the NFL) and their QB’s lack of knowledge on NFL rules…hell no! This is all they said:

“We have provided information to NFL representatives regarding issues that occurred Thursday night at Gillette Stadium with our coach-to-coach headset communications system,”  “The problem was addressed during the game and we did not have further problems in the second half. We did not file a formal complaint, nor do we plan to do so.”

3. Philadelphia owner Jeffrey Lurie’s statement that the Patriot’s 24-21 Super Bowl XXXIX victory over his inept team was “suspect.”

You know, he’s right, about that. His QB, Donovan McNabb, barfing during the game was obviously because the Patriots injected him with “sick stuff” prior to the game. And his Eagle coach’s terrible clock management at the end of the game just had to have something to do with the Patriots filming them…right!

Lurie’s comment, “there’s always been talk about (cheating) from the time the game finished and continued on until now. But I’ve moved way on since then.” Moved on? Moved on? Sure doesn’t sound like anyone’s moved on to me.

I’m sure you readers can come up with many more. John Harbaugh’s lack of knowledge of the NFL Rule Book immediately comes to mind when he accused the Patriots (inaccurately) of using illegal formations in last years Raven’s playoff loss to New England. Tom Brady hit the nail on the head when he replied “Maybe those guys gotta study the rule book and figure it out…”

This is just a small sampling of the ridiculous ones, I’d like to hear your favorites. Drop them in the comments box and I’ll be sure to check them out.

So, Patriot’s fans, the excuses will continue as long as New England wins and other teams lose. GET USED TO IT. The big question is, would you rather have no complaints and the Patriots lose (you’ll notice none of these complaints arise when the Pats lose) or continue to win-win-win and just shrug it off when the losers whine and complain about how they didn’t really lose?

To me, that’s a no brainer. I’ll always be happier with a win, despite all the sore loser’s comments.

Disclaimer: This article is written by a lifetime Patriot fan, through the good years and the bad. Please hold off on the hate mail. Thanks

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