The Patriots’ new (old) clothes

Good Morning, Boston.

On this day in 2018 … Tom Brady solidified his GOAT status once again, breaking Peyton Manning’s all-time passing touchdown record with this quick strike to Julian Edelman for TD No. 580. Sadly, no one remembers that record-setting performance because the Patriots lost to the Dolphins on this highly unfortunate play. Like Bruno, we’re not going to talk about it.

WHAT’S ON TAP TODAY:

Bill Belichick’s new scheme?

Marcus Smart comes home

A Bruins championship reunion

LET’S GET INTO IT…

LEADING OFF

Dressing for success

Today, we remember the Patriots’ winningest uniform. While reminiscing on our IG page about New England’s snowy shutout of the Dolphins on Dec. 7, 2003, Pats fans got nostalgic about something else, too: the silver alternate jerseys the team wore from 2003-2007. Those threads were yet another piece of what we call the “Dynasty” uniform — the look that defined one of the greatest runs in NFL history. Here’s the story of how these suits became legendary.

The “Dynasty” unis started as a new style for a new millennium … When Robert Kraft bought the Patriots in 1994, he originally kept previous owner James Orthwein’s royal blue jerseys, which coincided with No. 1 pick Drew Bledsoe’s arrival. But in 2000, Kraft ditched the royal blue for navy home jerseys on silver pants. That style, along with the road white tops on blue pants, stuck for 20 years.

… And became synonymous with winning. Two seasons into the switch, the Patriots won their first Super Bowl in franchise history. By the time these jerseys were retired in 2020, they’d seen 15 division titles and six Super Bowl wins. Was it the uniforms? No. But as we’ve seen with the Red Sox yellow City Connect jerseys, you don’t change clothes when you’re winning. Maybe that’s why Tom Brady’s departure marked the perfect time to change things up to the current style.

Fans are growing tired of the current colors. The present-day blue-on-blue style first cropped up as a “color rush”-style alternate in the early 2000s. (Bill Belichick reportedly despised them.) It became a regular alternate in 2016 and eventually became the standard uniform during the post-Brady rebrand in 2020. Though they were fun in limited doses during those waning second-dynasty years, their every-week wear has exposed how, well, boring and monochromatic they are. No wonder fans are constantly begging for the “Pat the Patriot” alternates. Speaking of … 

Will Patriots switch it up again? We’ve seen New England rock the wildly popular red throwbacks twice this year, which is no surprise. But they’ve also brought back their “Dynasty” silver pants over both their home and road jerseys. Coincidence, or might we be seeing the makings of a “Maye days” rebrand to spark some excitement in Foxborough? Changing up the threads won’t guarantee wins, of course. But hey … “look good, play good,” right?

POLL

🤔 Which design would you choose for the Patriots’ primary uniform?

BOSTON SPORTS

Quick hits & headlines

👋🏽 The Red Sox lose Juan Soto sweepstakes. Soto will reportedly be a New York Met after signing a monstrous 15-year, $765 million deal that apparently features no deferred money. You got it, Steve Cohen. Now the Sox can take the cash they would’ve spent on Soto to revamp their rotation and (maybe) sign Teoscar Hernandez. At least he stiffed the Yankees on the way there.

🤝 Bill Belichick channeling his inner Logan Roy? The Hoodie apparently has a motive besides winning in his rumored pursuit of the UNC head coaching job: locking in his son Steve, who now coaches for Washington, as his successor. One wonders if Belichick made the same request of Patriots owner Robert Kraft and if that’s part of why Bill’s no longer here.

🫡 Marcus Smart wins in his TD Garden return. Smart helped the Memphis Grizzlies beat Boston at home for the first time since 2013. But the ex-Celtics guard made sure to remind everyone how much he loves the team, even bringing his two-month-old son to meet former C’s teammates and staffers. The Celtics faithful returned the love with a standing ovation.

🏒 Patrice Bergeron’s apparently still got it. The former B’s captain took the ice Saturday alongside his 2011 Stanley Cup teammates in an alumni charity game benefitting military veterans and promptly set up ex-teammate Mark Recchi for a goal. The Bruins might be able to use a guy like that …

🏆 North Attleboro’s special Super Bowl. Watching the southern Mass. school win their first Div. 3 Super Bowl in 22 years with a 35-0 stomping of Mansfield was cool. Watching the kids celebrate with offensive line coach Bill Kummer, who won a state title with the Red Rocketeers  50 years ago, was even cooler. How can you not be romantic about football?

🤣 Mac Jones wins … we guess. The Jaguars winning a game 10-6 when Jones threw two interceptions, including this complete disaster, and making their draft position worse is hilarious. Even when he wins, his team loses.

ASK A FAN

Who stays, and who goes?

“What do you think the Celtics do after the season given new CBA rules probably won't allow them to keep Jrue and/or Porzingis?” — @grumpy_veteran, X.

Thanks for the question!

Extending Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis before the NBA’s stiff new tax penalties fully kicked in was brilliant by the Celtics. But with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum soon to make about $120 million a year combined, both Holiday and Porzingis could be cap casualties. If you could keep one … let it be Holiday. Porzingis is a cheat code when available, but his unreliable health will make him a luxury the C’s can’t afford — unless Jeff Bezos buys the team.

Prince Tatum

GAME … SET … MEME

Three Pats-migos

🥹 They’re the three best friends that anyone could have ... and they’ll never, ever, ever, ever, ever leave each other. Also, maybe Gronk and Jules can hit Brady with some throat lozenges because Brady’s voice was gone by the end of that Bills-Rams game.

🗞 That’s a wrap. I’ll be replaying Brady’s impression of Belichick’s pitch to college recruits in my head on loop.

📲 Keep up with us @BSideSports on IG, TikTok, and X. Send comments and suggestions to [email protected].