Reader React
Each week, the Observer-Reporter asks Facebook friends to respond to a question about an issue in the news. This week, we asked: “Hey, Steelers fans, with Sunday’s Super Bowl win, what are your thoughts on the New England Patriots being considered the greatest franchise in NFL history?”
Tracy Nelson Horne: Legacy? Theirs will be one that is tarnished with accusations of cheating! They are not the greatest! It has been made easy for them, and Brady is a cry baby!
Bun Patterson: Not to Patriots fans and no one else matters.
Jason Cadež: I’m going to give an opinion without black and gold blinders on (unlike most comments here). It’s a very good possibility. Brady and Belichick are both the greatest of all time in their respective positions. They’re without a doubt the greatest franchise of the past 20-25 years. Scary thing is they’ll probably be back in it again next year.
Denise Luzadder: The STEELERS won fair and square, no cheating or cheaters. Players said it all on the field. Enough said!
Eric Miller: Although we won our 6 first, football is a “What have you done for me lately” sport! Congrats to the Pats, the second greatest franchise!
Jim Douglas: The Steelers had NINE Hall of Famers (and many more who should be) on one team that stayed together for over a decade! Four Super Bowls in six years. Probably the best Steeler team (1976) didn’t even play in the SB due to massive injuries, but posted SIX shutouts during the season. UH, how many HOF’ers were on the field for the Pats Sunday night? One? The Pittsburgh Steelers are overall, the greatest franchise in ALL of sports. Ever. BTW, number two? NY Yankees.
Ryan Richmond: You can’t really compare two different eras when the game has changed so much from one to the next. I doubt that many of today’s players could survive the physical nature of the game of the ’70s and ’80s
Julia Vernau: That franchise statement would not have been made if the Steelers hadn’t become a bunch of cry baby players!! Get rid of the cry babies and move on!
Vina McLeod Rudolph: Seriously, you want to ask that question within Steeler Nation?
Lois Beatty: Unfortunately the Steelers never get the credit they deserve. Even our Ben. And I remember that 1976 team. They made us proud to be part of the Steeler Nation.
Tony Jacobs: The Green Bay Packers are, so…
Frank Ryan Jones: As great as one can be once you’ve been proven to be known cheaters, from coach to QB.
Eric McGrosky: We have six Super Bowls and they have six Super Bowls …
John Bruno Sr.: Different era, different way the game is played!
Jonathan Miles: The only thing that matters is next season.
Karen Walt: They are a joke. They cheated their way to the top, spy gate, deflatgate, and there have been more software, their games questioned and have been proven they have done wrong ..I admit it is not the whole team but the coach and quarterback are always involved they should have been gone a long time ago.
Pat Leonard: Greatest team in football history
Aleisha Nickole Bell: Let’s just see what they do AFTER Brady and Bill are gone … that will determine their legacy. You can’t say “history” when their winning and dominance only goes back 18 years.
Ronald R. Richards: Remember America’s team (Cowboys), (Steel Curtain) and all the other era names the teams had? They won the game, so they go into the history books. As far as the greatest franchise, I don’t think so, not with all the controversy on the team. Based strictly on talent, they are good at what they do as a team. Anyone notice when the coaches started to cover their mouths during the games? By now you probably know why, but when did it start? I don’t watch NFL games anymore since the owners threatened to move the team unless we built them a new stadium, unless my girlfriend is here – she still watches.
Mary Lou Haney: The Steelers didn’t have to cheat to get their six rings.
Patrick Cooper: The Steelers never had the refs winning the game for them.
Raymond Charles: I will give them the title of the second greatest team … But how many titles were won without cheating during that season or needing the refs help…
Rich Burgess: There is no spy gate, no deflate gate or any other cheating with the Steelers of the ’70s. Bradshaw was never suspended involving cheating. The ’70s Steelers would eat these guys for breakfast, wouldn’t even be a close game after Mean Joe got a hold of Brady and finish him off with a little Lambert and a slice of Hamm.
Andrea Caldwell: It’s premature.