Patriots finally get their 18-1 rings

[jranieli]

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/arti...__or_18/?page=2

 

An imprefect solution

There was the journey toward a 16-0 regular season and the AFC championship, then the bitter ending of a crushing defeat in Super Bowl XLII. When top Patriots officials gathered this offseason, they pondered the best way to celebrate a season that had such exhilarating highs and one crushing low.

 

In the end, after declaring the season the fourth-greatest achievement in team history, they elected to have a private ceremony to commemorate it last Monday at Gillette Stadium.

 

Owner Robert Kraft and team president Jonathan Kraft presented the players with rings. On one side of the ring, it reads "16-0 -- perfect season." On the other, it reads "18-1, AFC Championship."

 

In addition, a banner was made to commemorate the season, and it was unveiled at the ceremony, with Kraft pulling a rope as it came down from the ceiling. It will be displayed at Gillette Stadium, next to the team's Super Bowl banners.

 

"I think there were two things going on from last year - and one was that it was an extraordinary year that I don't think we got to savor and enjoy," Kraft said. "We accomplished something special as a team and organization last year, under tremendous scrutiny, more scrutiny than any team has ever been under.

 

"We went 16-0, we won 18 straight games, and then the 19th game ended so abruptly that all of us have had a sick feeling in our stomach. "I think in 10-15 years from now, when people look back and start to realize what happened here, it probably will never happen again. I can't say it won't, but you have to have a confluence of so many things coming together. We wanted to congratulate the team and the coaches for what they accomplished."

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Added coach Bill Belichick, "It was a very special and historic year, and I want them to look back with pride when they look at the ring and remember the week-to-week approach.

 

"When you're in a season, you're always moving on to the next game, the next challenge, and because there is always something ahead, you never look back. I thought it was a good time to talk about it and acknowledge it, and also talk about how I appreciated their approach and superior performance they gave throughout the year."

 

Check the header, I am not sure if the editor missed the spelling or am I missing something. The article is funny. I wonder if the Cowboys received their NFC East rings yet.

[Virginia Giant]

A ploy to fire the team up, not to celebrate last season. Give the team a ring that basically mocks their accomplishments of last season (imo of course) and try to get them pissed and motivated.

[fringe]

to answer your question, i think he misspelled imperfect to make a point.

[Treehugger]

A ploy to fire the team up, not to celebrate last season. Give the team a ring that basically mocks their accomplishments of last season (imo of course) and try to get them pissed and motivated.

I have to agree. They didn't need to put "18-1" on there, just "AFC Champs".