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Pain but no Blame


Pain but no blame

We all feel the pain. It was right there in front of us. We made it all the way to the one yard line and the second SB championship was just one Beast run away and then suddenly it was gone. It will hurt for a long time just like the Atlanta game hurt 2 years ago.

We want someone to blame so we can covert this pain into a more manageable anger.

It might make us feel a little better but the painful truth is that no one on this brave and wonderful team deserves to have our anger and bitterness added to what is probably a much deeper pain they will need to live with till next season starts.

It's so tempting to put is all on "THE CALL".

Why were we on the field with the wrong personal to attempt a power goal line run play?

Why of all possible passing plays we went for a quick and risky timing slant pass into the highly populated middle of the field instead of a safer bootleg or rollout that would give Russell the time to make sure the pass is safe or get rid of the ball easily outside the pocket?

Why didn't Lockette notice the incoming CB and faught to kill the pass rather then risk an interception?

Why, why, why….Hindsight provides countless pointed questions.

Why did we allow NE to complete 2 long drives all the way into the end zone in 4th quarter? (Missing Lane and Avril to injuries during the game had a lot to do with it)

Why didn't we use more read option run plays for RW? Where was Luke Willson? Why did Kearse drop that long bomb that forced our 3 and out? Are we sure that Simon is really the best next man up? Why didn't we blitz in the 4th when the pressure on Brady evaporated with Avril's concussion?

I can't answer every "why" that burns a hole in our gut. The only answer I can give is the following:

Two great teams got on the field to play their heart out and give everything they have to win this game. They put on an epic fight. It was one of the best SBs we have seen in a long time. One team had to win it. It was not us. It hurts but it should not take away from a wonderful season.

Most of the guys will be back next year with the fire burning in their guts to wipe out this pain and win it all. New guys will join the team and it will, once more, be a ferocious and physical team that has every chance to make it to the big game again and win it.

Let us each deal with our pain the best we can and shower those guys with the love they deserve rather then heap our pain and bitterness on them. I'm sure they are agonizing over it more then we do.

I love this team just as much today and I believe in them more then in any other group of guys in this heartless league.

GO HAWKS. Heal, prepare, and make us proud.