Quiet, efficient Patriots reflect region’s values

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Has ever a team epitomized its region and its fans better than the New England Patriots, who will face the multi-dimensional and explosive St. Louis Rams in the Super Bowl on Sunday?

The Patriots are the construction workers on The Big Dig, the lobstermen in Jonesport, the dock workers in Portsmouth.

No-name individuals who quietly perform their jobs with the utmost proficiency.

Can anyone outside of New England name one starter on the Pats’ offensive line other than Damien Woody? Would they even guess Damien Woody?

For that matter, could anyone name an offensive starter other than Tom Brady, Troy Brown, or Antowain Smith?

Doubtful.

The defense is equally obscure.

Do people know Lawyer Milloy or Ty Law by their reputations or unique names?

But that’s what makes this team special.

It is a team of role players who have accepted their roles and executed them. Coach Bill Belichick and his staff have kept the game simple and, by properly identifying the strengths and weaknesses of each player, have put them in positions to succeed. They haven’t asked them to do things they aren’t capable of doing.

The players have made it work by putting the team ahead of themselves, a rarity in this age of inflated salaries and egos.

The man who epitomizes New England’s unselfish attitude is quarterback Drew Bledsoe.

After being injured and replaced by Brady, Bledsoe could have sulked and been a detriment to the team.

Instead, he helped tutor the young quarterback while keeping himself ready in case he was needed.

He was needed against Pittsburgh and he came through. And Brady was his biggest cheerleader.

During the offseason, the Pats signed a lot of veteran players who didn’t create much of a stir in the media when acquired.

But they provided the locker room with character and leadership and created a team chemistry that has been essential to the team’s success.

The Terry Glenns of the world weren’t welcome.

Teams with strong leadership and chemistry tend to overachieve, regardless of talent level.

Belichick came to New England with the reputation of being a defensive genius and a no-nonsense kind of guy.

You played hard every play or you didn’t play.

You tackled with ferocity and made opposing quarterbacks, ball carriers, and receivers pay the price.

Those hits add up, create a tentativeness, and take their toll: similar to a boxer in the 15th round of a title bout.

And Belichick and his assistants have confused opposing offenses with a multitude of imaginative and diverse schemes.

The Patriots don’t have big-name game-breakers like Rams quarterback Kurt Warner and running back Marshall Faulk, but they do have the most underrated player in the NFL in Brown and exceptional special teams.

People talk about the amazing turnaround from 5-11 to 13-5, but if you remember back to last season, the Patriots lost several games in the fourth quarter because their turnover-prone offense was anemic and that forced their defense to spend way too much time on the field.

The defense simply wore down.

This year, thanks to Brady, Brown, and Smith, the offense was able to sustain drives, eliminate turnovers, score points, and give the defense some needed rest.

The most deserving benefactor of their success is generous owner Bob Kraft, who fought to keep the franchise in New England and get a new stadium.

Here’s hoping the sign outside of CMGi field will say “Home of the Super Bowl XXXVI champions” next fall.

Larry Mahoney’s column appears every Wednesday. He can be reached by calling 990-8231 or by email at lmahoney@bangordailynews.net.