2015 -- H 5272

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LC000939

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING ROBERT KRAFT, BILL BELICHICK AND HIS COACHING STAFF,

AND THE ENTIRE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS TEAM AND ORGANIZATION ON

WINNING SUPER BOWL XLIX

     Introduced By: Representatives Marshall, Phillips, Keable, DeSimone, and Newberry

     Date Introduced: February 03, 2015

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The New England Patriots, a dominating fixture on the NFL scene since

2001, have once again provided their loyal fans with a thrilling and incredibly successful season.

Led by an explosive offense, a stingy defense, and a solid kicking game, the Patriots easily won

the AFC East Division with an outstanding 12-4 record; and

     WHEREAS, The Patriots were led on the field by their head coach, Bill Belichick, who

has thus far compiled an NFL coaching record that easily rivals the greatest coaches in NFL

history. In his fifteen seasons as the Patriots Head Coach, Belichick has led his team to six Super

Bowls, winning four of them. He has taken the Patriots to the playoffs twelve times in a fifteen

year period and has compiled a phenomenal regular season record of 175 wins and only 65 losses;

and

     WHEREAS, The Patriots began their latest Super Bowl run by prevailing in their opening

playoff game over a determined Baltimore Ravens squad by the score of 35-31 in a thrilling game

that many experts have deemed to be one of the NFL's greatest playoff games of all-time. In

winning that game, the Patriots became the first team in NFL playoff history to come back twice

in one game from 14 point deficits. The Patriots' comebacks were led by the always cool, calm

and collected Tom Brady, who completed 33 of 50 passes for 367 yards and threw his 46th career

playoff touchdown pass, breaking Joe Montana’s record of 45, for most in NFL history; and

     WHEREAS, In the AFC Championship game, played in Foxboro, the New England

Patriots put on a professional football clinic as they thrashed the Indianapolis Colts by the score

of 45 to 7 to earn a berth in the Super Bowl. Tom Brady once again played a superb playoff

game, throwing three touchdown passes and completing 23 of 35 passes for 226 yards. The

Patriots were also aided by a tough running game with most of the yardage being provided by

running back LeGarrette Blount, who rushed for 148 yards, scored three touchdowns, and set a

Patriots' franchise record with 30 rushing carries. Finally, New England’s ferocious defense

completely stifled the Colts offense and shut down their highly regarded quarterback, Andrew

Luck; and

     WHEREAS, In one of the greatest Super Bowl games ever played, the Patriots once

again displayed a knack for coming from behind in high pressure situations. With his team down

by 10 points to Seattle in the fourth quarter, Tom Brady twice led his offense on long touchdown

scoring drives against a defense widely considered to be the best in the NFL and one of the best

in NFL history. He was ably assisted by his sterling offensive line and some great plays made by

wide receiver Julian Edelman and tight end Rob Gronkowski. Tom Brady's clutch performance

under great duress earned him his third Super Bowl MVP Award and gave the Patriots their

fourth Super Bowl victory in franchise history; and

     WHEREAS, The Patriots' Super Bowl victory epitomized their "Play 60" and "next man

up" philosophical approach to the game. Whether it is an underrated defense stopping the Seattle

Seahawks offense when it had to, the team not panicking when falling behind, or having Malcolm

Butler, an undrafted defensive back, make a crucial game-saving interception to clinch a Super

Bowl victory, the Patriots have shown that professional football is a team game and that every

single person on the team and staff is a vital component to their success; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby congratulates the New England Patriots on winning Super Bowl

XLIX. We congratulate Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick and the entire New England Patriots team

and organization for their successful season and wish them continued success next season and

beyond; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and

New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick.

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