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They’re quick to cite the “Patriot Way” in New England as the reason for three Super Bowl championships and six division titles in the 21st century. It’s a catchphrase that would seem overly pretentious if it weren’t for a trophy case full of hardware to back up the notion.
Then there is the unprecedented 18-0 record that stands to remain unblemished Sunday if the Patriots complete the anticipated season sweep and defeat the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII.
The textbook Patriots player, as defined by owner Robert Kraft, coach Bill Belichick and vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli, is hard working, dependable, accountable for his actions. He must have good character. You don’t see a Jerramy Stevens on the Patriots roster.
There is an occasional blip – safety Rodney Harrison, for example, served an NFL-imposed, four-game suspension at the beginning of the season after admitting he had obtained human growth hormone. The safety is among the team’s most respected leaders.
Rather than blame the bust on a tainted supplement, a popular line of defense for such embarrassing infractions, Harrison held himself accountable by publicly apologizing for being a poor role model.
During Super Bowl week, he has expanded on his contri- tion. “My message to young kids basically was, ‘Hey, you make a mistake, own up to it, accept your consequences and move forward.’ We, as people, have to do that,” Harrison said. “I mean, we all have skeletons in our closet. No one’s perfect here. The way you make amends is by becoming a better person.”
This is the type of player the Patriots covet. They are not perfect. But they try.
Pioli, the media-shy architect of so many of the team’s brilliant personnel moves, made himself available the past two days and the question of how New England built an 18-0 team via the “Patriot Way” was at the forefront.
“We know what we’re looking for in terms of, there is a certain type of person that Bill wants to coach, and that wants to be coached by Bill,” Pioli said. “Ultimately, it comes down to the players being able to do that.
“Bill is looking for people who are professionals, people who are just like him ... getting people who care about football. When we talk about finding disciplined football players, it has nothing to do with how long their hair is or how much jewelry they’re wearing.
“It has everything do with how disciplined they are about their job and being committed. Showing up on time, paying attention, working hard and being accountable to people that you work with.”
How does New England get it right every year and other teams tend to make one expensive mistake after another and fail?
“You know there are a lot of different vehicles to build a team. There is the draft, free agency, it’s the waiver system, it’s trades,” Pioli said. “You try to build a team using all the vehicles available to you.”
Here’s how he spent the 2007 offseason: After losing the AFC championship game to the Colts last January, the Patriots signed top free agents such as linebacker Adalius Thomas, tight end Kyle Brady and wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth. They swung trades to acquire wide receivers Randy Moss and Wes Welker.
You figure that Welker, a hard worker who evolved from an undrafted Dolphins’ free agent into one of the NFL’s most versatile receiver/returners, was a no-brainer fit for the “Patriot Way.”
But Moss?
That sullen guy who appeared to mail it in for two seasons with the Raiders?
“We know a lot of people (who) spent time with Randy, we know a lot of people (who) played with Randy, who coached Randy. We know Randy and we were comfortable bringing him here,” said Pioli. People in the Raiders organization told him that Moss still had his legs and still could run.
“Perception and reality sometimes are two completely different things.”
Pioli, Belichick and Kraft convinced Moss to play for them for $2.5 million in base salary, a $500,000 signing bonus and promises of other riches (about $2 million more) if he made the Pro Bowl and the Pats made the postseason.
Moss, who caught an NFL-record 23 touchdown passes, is now celebrated for being the perfect teammate and model employee.
“In his case,” Kraft said, “he came to us and wanted to be part of a team that could win and he said to me, ‘Mr. Kraft, I have made a lot of money, more money probably than I need. This is about winning.’ ”
On Wednesday, Moss said it’s his hope that he and the Pats can come up with a deal once his one-year contract expires Feb. 29.
Said Kraft: “He’s lived up to every commitment that he has made, and he also treats people very well in the organization. Everything that I’ve seen, he has conducted himself very well.”
It’s the “Patriot Way.” Randy Moss bought into it. Thrived under it.
The rest of the NFL can only hope to do the same.
