How I Came to Root for these NFL Teams
I decided, since I have some time to kill before working out, to sit down and explain why I root for certain NFL teams. I am definitely not a one team kind of guy, I just think its more fun to spread your love around....and mostly the team I like the best is usually always terrible. So by a fusion of various things, I have come to support these different NFL clubs and there may or may not be more in the future.
Cleveland Browns
I inherited this team from my Dad, the consistent, though consistently bad, Cleveland Browns. In a way, this team has shaped how I like the rest of the teams in my life. I always go for defense focused, blue collar, underdog teams; barring one exception. I have heard several stories where my Dad might have accidentally ended my life due to the Brown's playing. The Browns history is mostly littered with famous plays that go against them, like the Elway Drive's in AFC championship games. Te Browns are one of the few teams that drafted a player I really liked in college, Brady Quinn, and that went....south. The Browns have been real bad since returning to the league in '99, though maybe the future is looking brighter. While brighter, this year has been disappointing with the offense regressing from a rather eh level last year. They really can't seem to find a quarterback to lead that team, every year we seem to have a QB question.
Chicago Bears
The team I inherited from my Mom, because everyone from Illinois roots for the Bears. Once again, the Bears represent the things I like in a football team; defense, blue collar attitude, and a bruiser mindset. Even if Jay Cutler can be a love or hate kind of guy, the team always does best when it leans on a defensive play or a running game. Brian Urlacher is an amazing player, even if he is possible...possible..past his prime as a linebacker. The Bears seem to always fly under the radar for some reason even though they have been rather good the past few years, with a Superbowl appearance and then playoff appearances. Before Cutler went down this year, I thought they would be the one team that could beat the Packers. Nothing against Hanie but...they will need some kind of great QB play to overcome the Green and Yellow.
Houston Texans
This is an odd one, I am not going to lie, I live no where near Texas and the most popular NFL team from the Lone Star is the Dallas Cowboys. I began to grow attach to this team back in 2009, because I love Brian Cushing. He is just a beast, and pretty hot....to me anyway. And then you get to learn about the Texans, and they have a very diverse cast of characters. Arian Foster, undrafted RB super star, who is some kind of mix of a modern day philosopher and gladiator. Andre Johnson, one the best NFL receivers, who usually plays kind of calm and steady....and then beats down Cortland Finnegan in a game. Matt Schaub is a great, not the elite, but good quarterback who never gets any credit because he plays in the same division as Peyton Manning. Texans are always an underdog, no one gives them much credit, and are the only team in the NFL never to get to the play offs...well until now. Even with Schaub out, the Texans have an easy path in their terrible division to get to the post season. And to add to the cast, we get Matt Leinart, former Heisman winner and first round draft pick, who was cut out of Arizona and looking for redemption.
New England Patriots
I like how they do business, simple as that. They are a standard of excellence and professionalism. They don't really fit the mold of a team I normally like, at least not anymore. Now in the beginning of their dynasty run, they were a defense focused, underdog team but they have slowly morphed into Colt's like team that is annoying me. The Patriots have come to lean far too heavily on Tom Brady because their defense is not good enough to win games. No matter how this season ends, I hope they do a better defensive draft this coming draft season. They need to get some kind of linebackers for damn sure, they've not replaced the talent they had in the earlier 00's. It is kind of funny to talk to Patriots fans and how they get all annoyed with being one and done in the playoffs when some fans, like Texans and Browns, would be happy to just get in.
Denver Broncos
As a Browns fan, I should not root for the Broncos. If it wasn't for John Elway and the Broncos, the Browns would have been to two Super bowls in the 90s. I root for Tim Tebow, and for as long as he is on the Broncos, I'll root for them. Being a fan of college football, you do get attached to certain players and follow them wherever they get drafted. I was hoping Tebow would go to the Patriots, which was the rumor in the '10 draft, until McDaniels surprise move to get him in the first round. And of course, there is a now a constant battle over whether Tim can be a QB in the NFL or not. I am pretty sick of it myself, and I like the guy, but I think is future will wind up being as some running back/quarter back hybrid to help offensive challenged teams. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets traded next season, outside of the Broncos winning the Super Bowl, and go to the Bills, Rams, or Patriots.
Teams I hate...
Indianapolis Colts
I hate them for what they have done to football, making the game more about one person than a team. The Colts are Peyton Manning, and nothing else, which is obvious with their 0-10 record this season. The Colts' tossed out the things that make football football; defense, running game, and a team focus. The Denver Broncos with Tebow are sort of the anti Colts, because they win as a team not because of one player. Until the Colts shift their philosophy, which I doubt will happen anytime soon, I will continue to hope they lose.
New York Jets
I only hate them because they are rivals with the Patriots, other wise I would like this team. I find Rex Ryan to be rather entertaining even though his act runs thin when he isn't winning.