Pats prove parity works

The 2001 NFL season will be remembered for a variety of things.

Perhaps we will remember the controversial sack record, set by Michael Strahan of the New York Giants.

Some will remember the Chicago Bears winning back-to-back overtime games on interception returns -- by the same player.

Still some will remember the Saints' Kyle Turley protecting his quarterback and ripping the helmet off of Damien Robinson of the New York Jets and throwing it downfield.

But, we will definitely remember the Super Bowl, with the 14-point-underdog New England Patriots somehow upsetting the St. Louis Rams. This game proved once and for all that parity has overtaken the NFL -- and it's wonderful.

There are some that will claim that the absence of the traditional dynasty hurts the integrity of the league. They recall the days of the Pittsburgh Steelers' Steel Curtain defenses and four Super Bowl Championships during the 1970's.

The presence of a dominant, seemingly impenetrable team can lend a new angle to every season.

That's how most people viewed the 2001 Rams' team. An overpowering, fast, and accurate offense couple with an overhauled defense that was supposed to make that team a lock to win the Super Bowl.

I've heard just about every argument against parity, but the one fact no one can dispute is that it makes every game more interesting. No longer is it just about the elite few who can afford big name players and/or coaches. Anybody can beat anybody on a given day, and that can only reap benefits not only for the league but the fans too.

When the talent level is fairly even, games are decided by execution. Theoretically, this is how all sporting events are supposed to be determined.

However, they are usually decided by whichever team has the bigger payroll and can afford to go out and get the most prime time players.

If you watched Super Bowl XXXVI and did not at least applaud Adam Vinatieri's 48-yard field goal to win the game, you were either a Rams' fan or had been deceased for quite some time.

For a team left for dead by many before the season began, to travel the road they did and believe just long enough to do what they did, was truly inspiring.

Remember this was the same team that had to deal with the enigma of Terry Glenn all year. They held their breath when QB Drew Bledsoe was injured and the offense was put in the hands of the then green Tom Brady.

These are the same Patriots who were forced to scramble to find a decent running back after it became clear Robert Edwards wouldn't be able to come back, and took a chance on Antowain Smith, a player discarded by the Buffalo Bills.

They faced a good Raiders' team in the snow in Foxboro and did what they had to do to win.

They handled the NFL's top-ranked defense in Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship Game, and once again executed their way to a victory.

And still they received no respect as they were listed as 14-point underdogs by odds-makers before the game.

From kick to kick -- from Adam Vinatieri's kickoff to his game winner as time expired -- the Patriots proved to the world that it takes more than statistics to win a championship. It takes preparation, execution, and most of all -- heart.

No, they didn't have the flashiest offense or the stingiest defense. All they did was go out and win.

And that's enough for them to be my champion for 2001.