Getting their due: Ex-Patriots say 2nd dynasty every bit the equal of the first

ATLANTA — Some of the Patriots who were part of the group that ended up winning three titles in four years — the teams that laid the groundwork for the start of the New England dynasty — say this group of New England players that have now won three in five years (2014, 2016, 2018) now deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as their forebears.

There are a handful of players who have made up the nucleus of the roster since 2014 that now have three rings to their name. It’s a group that includes (but is not limited to) Julian Edelman, Matthew Slater, Stephen Gostkowski, Devin McCourty, Rob Gronkowski, Dont’a Hightower, Duron Harmon and James White. It’s an impressive list, one that should likely be classified as the second Patriots’ dynasty.

“Every one is so special,” said team president Jonathan Kraft when asked if his group now has a right to stand alongside the great teams from the early days of the 21st century. “Every one is so special.”

In fact, Ted Johnson, who won rings with the Patriots in 2001, 2003 and 2004, says this group should maybe even be held in higher esteem because they don’t have the benefit of being able to sneak up on anyone like they did when New England won its first title.

“With three in five years, this group has every right to be thought of the same way our teams were viewed. In a lot of ways, you might even argue that what they’ve done is more impressive. There are times when I look back and say there were times when we snuck up on people, especially in that first year,” Johnson said.

“With these guys, they have a bullseye on their back all the time. There are teams in the division and in the conference that have been trying to find a way to knock them off every week, every year. And no one has been able to do it consistently. They deserve all the credit for being able to rise to the occasion on a consistent basis.”

Kevin Faulk, another player who won three rings in the early days of the Patriots’ dynasty, echoed Johnson’s point.

“Exactly,” he said when informed of what Johnson said. “They can’t sneak up on anyone. Everyone is coming for them all the time, and they still win. That’s the real measuring stick of success.”

Antowain Smith, another running back with three rings, says it’s tough to measure one era against another, especially when you consider the myriad of rule changes the league has undergone since the 2001 season. But he says this group deserves to be mentioned as “every bit the equal” of the teams that won three rings in the early days of the 21st century.

“The game was so different when we played. Back then, you could hammer the quarterback — now, you can’t touch him, especially if you try and go low,” Smith said. “A lot has changed since then, but the ability of the coaches and players to be able to adapt from one generation to another and still manage to win, that makes them every bit the equal of the teams that won rings back in those early days.”