Sep 9th 2008 1:33PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Giants, Patriots, AFC East, NFC East, NFL Fans
Tom Brady is done for the year, which means the Patriots are just another team trying to make it to the postseason. The injured New England quarterback still likes the club’s chances, but I’m convinced that’s the Percocet talking.

And while those New England fans not busily jumping off the bandwagon are understandably despondent over the news, there were plenty of people outside the region celebrating the prospect that the Patriots’ window had abruptly slammed shut. Specifically, those classy New Yorkers.

From The ‘ Fifth Down Blog: A Times editor who used to work in our department told this tale Sunday night: He was watching N.F.L. games at the ESPN Zone in Midtown Manhattan when Tom Brady was injured. Most of the people in the restaurant roared with delight. Hardly surprising, I think. Particularly since the perception is that the Patriots are a bunch of egotistical cheaters, and their head coach is an arrogant jerk. And, obviously, winning three Super Bowls this decade has a lot to do with it. If this had happened to, say, Peyton Manning or Carson Palmer or Ben Roethlisberger, the schadenfreude-fueled vitriol wouldn’t be there. None of those players engender the hatred directed toward Brady, his teammates or his coach.

That’s not to condone the behavior, but to just point out why even the idea of the Patriots evokes such visceral reactions from opposing fans. But as you read through the comments, it’s amazing to see how many people admitted to cheering Brady’s injury as it happened. A sampling after the jump.Continue Reading