2015 -- S 0143

========

LC000684

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

____________

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS ON THEIR EXEMPLARY 2014-

2015 NFL SEASON THUS FAR, AND WISHING THEM CONTINUED SUCCESS IN SUPER

BOWL XLIX

     Introduced By: Senators Jabour, Picard, Felag, Ottiano, and Sheehan

     Date Introduced: January 22, 2015

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     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 quite successful season. The

Patriots easily won the AFC East Division with a sterling 12-4 record. They were led by an

explosive offense, a stingy defense, and a solid kicking game. The Patriots will be playing in the

Super Bowl for the 8th time in the franchise's illustrious history; and

     WHEREAS, Tom Brady, arguably the greatest quarterback in NFL history, once again

had an outstanding regular season. He threw for more than 4,000 yards, with a superb 64.1

completion percentage. He also threw 33 touchdown passes with only 9 interceptions; and

     WHEREAS, The Patriots were once again led on the field of battle 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 three of them thus far. He has taken the Patriots to the playoffs

twelve times in a fifteen year period and has compiled a phenomenal regular season record with

the Patriots of 175 and 65; 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 this game, the Patriots became the first team in NFL playoff history to come back twice

in one game from fourteen point deficits to win the game. 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 the

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. 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; now,

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby congratulates the New England Patriots on their championship NFL season thus far, and

we wish them continued success, and victory, in the upcoming Super Bowl against the Seattle

Seahawks; 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.

========

LC000684

========

LC000684 - Page 2 of 2