Murphy's Patriots II 

Tremendous Spirit Comes With A Price

The Patriots choose to play their starters, as we all knew they would, and the gamble extracts a terrible price: the loss of MVP Wes Welker. As Welker goes down  clutching his knee in agony, images of last season's opening quarter replay themselves in the heads of loyal fans througout Patriots Nation.  Only now, our valiant QB is strong and healthy and hovering with concern over the player who has unquestionably been the team's most valuable asset this season.

The controversy over Bellichick's decision to sit or play the starters is moot, now.  We as fans all knew the starters would play; it's who they are, it's who Bellichick is.  We certainly did not complain about that competitive spirit and enormous heart when they pushed for 16-0 two seasons ago.  We can't have it both ways.  Two seasons ago that spirit helped us achieve something no team but the 1972 Dolphins has ever accomplished.  This season, it cost us one of our key players just before we enter the playoffs.  It's a case of taking the good with the bad and remembering that the great moments of football are built around these types of risks.

All that being said, we will miss Wes terribly should this turn out to be  (as looks likely) a season ending injury.  No player in the history of the Patriots has ever played with more toughness or heart.  He has carried the team on his shoulders many times when the chips were down, kept games close, and helped pull out wins that seemed impossible. He has been a work horse AND a play maker.  His ability to take a mind blowing hit and bounce right back up, ready for more, makes this injury right before the playoffs all the more heart breaking. 

Whatever happens from here with the season, we must all remember that it would have ended for us long ago if it wasn't for number 83.  May his recovery time be much shorter than it appears  it will be at the moment, and may he know that every win the team gets this season from here on in (should they get any more wins) will still be largely  due to the enormous heart and soul with which he infused his teammates.  We love you, Wes! Get better and come back to us soon.  Every moment of your absence will be sorely felt by all of Patriots Nation!

The Colts Game

All right everyone, it's that time! One of the most anticipated games of the season is coming up next Sunday at 8:20 pm.  It's time to show the Colts that they may be able to run rough shod over virtually every other team in the league, but us? Well, "We're not gonna take it!" *grin*

 What a great  game to see in the company of other fans.  They may not be our division rival, but the Colts have been our arch nemesis for years and every season we have to listen to all the talk about Peyton Manning and how unstoppable his offense is! We know for a fact, though, that this is a match up that keeps Peyton up at night.  Win or or lose, he never has it easy when it comes time to play New England.  So, if you don't want to choke back your animosity or spend the game listening to Colts/Manning worshipers predict the demise of your favorite team, then grab your jersey and head on out to the only place outside of Foxboro and Boston where you can expect to find other fans who feel just as strongly as you do.  I know it's a Sunday night game, and we all have to work the next day, and the comfy couch is calling, but do you really want to watch this one alone?

If you don't go, you know you'll just lay there wondering what it would have been like if you'd made it down to Murphy's.  So, resist the call of the couch. Go order some good comfort food, and maybe  a Sam's or two (remember the Boston Lager and seaonal drafts are always on special for Pats fans), sit in front of the big screen, toast yourself by the fire, and treat yourself to  a luxurious viewing of what promises to be one of the best games of the season! Don't forget to cheer! To read up on the Murphy's cheers, take a look at our "Become a Murphy's Fan" page.  Then, get ready to bring the house down as we hopefully hand the Colts their first loss of the season.  Hope to see you there! Go Pats!

Why Murphy's is Better Than Your Couch!

"This is one of only two chances this season to cash in on some great  door prizes! All you have to do to have a chance to win is be there! And remember Sam Adams drafts (Boston Lager and Sam Seasonal) are  on special every Sunday all season long! It's guilt free beer! You won't spend a lot and you can work it all off by jumping around!"

Ok, so last week's game certainly was easy on the eyes.  There's nothing better than watching your team romp all over the opponent, and everyone looked pretty good.  We have Junior back of course, leading the defensive charge with Mayo and Tully Banta Cain by his side.  And all our offensive staples (with the exception of Matt Light) appear to be solidly in place.  So, this week coming up we have nothing to worry about right? Some of you might be thinking it's time to kick back and relax.  Why go to Murphy's when the game is  on National T.V.? Heck, why watch at all this week? After all, we're facing another winless team. Maybe we should all just sit this one out, right? WRONG!

One of the main rules Tom and the team has always lived by is "respect your opponent."  Last week, we had the weather and home field advantage working strongly in our favor.  This week, the Pats and Bucs have to meet on a neutral London field, both teams coping with jet lag and the aftermath of a long journey.  Even if this was not the case, one winless team is not the same as another, one game, one day is not the same as another.  We all know anything can happen when two teams take the field on a Sunday i.e.; Oakland beats Philadelphia! :O Who would have predicted that? That's why we love the game;  we learn to expect the unexpected.  So, don't be lulled into complacency, now! Keep to your game day traditions this Sunday as you would any other, whether it's  eating a certain food for breakfast, donning a particular jersey or hat, or whether it's taking off for Alexandria, VA to watch the game in the company of the best Pats fans anywhere!

I know, I know, the game's  on T.V. Ok, need some more incentive? How about give aways from Murphy's and the fine people at Sam Adams? You can't get free suff just by sitting at home can you? This is one of only two chances this season to cash in on some great  door prizes! All you have to do to have a chance to win is be there! And remember Sam Adams drafts (Boston Lager and Sam Seasonal) are on special every Sunday all season long! It's guilt free beer! You won't spend a lot and then you can work it all off by jumping around! Who can beat that? There is a large screen for those of you who prefer to recline in comfort and watch the game and for those who can't stay still (like me), you can catch the game  wherever you happen to be standing at the time.  So, come on down everyone! You never know what might happen on Sunday and, regardless, there's nothing better than watching the game in the company of other fans who are as passionate about the Pats as you are. Hope to see you there!  Go Pats!

In Bill We Trust

We do still trust the coach, don't we? Ok, so the game didn't go exactly as planned.  We all hate to lose, especially to NY, and especially when we weren't bringing our 'A' game.  If we're frustrated and upset, though, think how the team must feel.  Then think about what happens when Bill Belichick and Tom Brady get frustrated and upset.  All, I can say is, I wouldn't want to be the Jets on November 22! Anyone remember what happened to Buffalo the last time they enjoyed an early season victory over us?

That year there was a big shake up too.  Lawyer Milloy had just been cut and before the Pats had time to adjust, they found themselves facing their old teammate in the camp of the enemy.  It wasn't pretty.  It didn't take us long to get ourselves together, though, did it? And by the time we faced Buffalo at the end of the season, we gave them a whole different game than what they were expecting. 

So, here we are, several years later and we've been through another shake up of sorts.  The team was of course planning around the losses of Rodney Harrison, Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel, Ellis Hobbes, and Richard Seymour. (That doesn't mean those losses don't hurt, all the same).  No one expected, though, to lose Jarod Mayo or Wes Welker.  Hopefully, Wes will be back soon, but the absence of Mayo on our already depleted defense is huge. 

I have faith, though, that we can recover.  "In Bill We Trust", right? We'll see Gang Green again in November and if they come in expecting to play the same team they played yesterday, they are going to be in for a very unpleasant surprise.  Keep the faith, Pats fans! It's early in the season, and all is not lost.  There's still plenty of football left to play.  Atlanta is next on deck. Go Pats!