Super Bowl Champions 2004
New England Patriots
 

Bill Belichick joined a select company of coaches with three Super Bowl titles

The Patriots victory parade rolls down Boylston Street
 

New England fans welcome home 2004 Super Bowl champions

BOSTON -- Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and owner Robert Kraft hoisted twin Super Bowl trophies amid a shower of confetti Tuesday as hundreds of thousands of fans celebrated the team's second championship in three years.
"We're baaack!" Brady told a shoulder-to-shoulder crowd in City Hall Plaza, standing with Kraft, Coach Bill Belichick and dozens of teammates at the victory rally.
Kraft and Belichick praised the players' "no-stars" work ethic that led to a season-ending streak of 15 straight wins and Sunday's 32-29 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Houston.
"For a team to accomplish their goals, everybody's got to give up a little of their individuality, and that's what these players did, and that's why they're champions," Belichick said.
In a repeat performance from the 2002 Super Bowl celebration, Kraft, Brady and Belichick did a victory dance for the crowd, egged on by All-Pro cornerback Ty Law.
No starting quarterback has ever won two Super Bowls faster than Brady, 26, who said he's looking for more.
"One was nice, two's a lot nicer, but I need number three," said Brady, the two-time Super Bowl MVP.
The Patriots seem well-positioned for another title run with seven draft picks in the first four rounds of April's draft, including two first-rounders. New England also expects linebacker Rosevelt Colvin to return from injury next season and bolster one of the league's toughest defenses.
Fans weren't shy about predicting more success Tuesday. Chris Cashen, 34, a painter from Rockland, said he's already asked his boss for time off for next year's celebration.
"This team was a joke for so long," he said. "(Now) we're frustrating the rest of the league. I think we'll see another parade next year. That's my plan."
Jason Scheinbart, 34, of Burlington, Vt. said Sunday's win proves the Patriots first title against the St. Louis Rams, in a game in which they were heavy underdogs, "wasn't a fluke.
"Now every team in the world that wants to win the Super Bowl has to go through Foxboro, Massachusetts," he said.
Boston police estimated a total crowd of 1.5 million. Police made seven arrests, most for disorderly conduct. Eighty-seven people were injured, but all the injuries were non-life-threatening, Boston EMS Chief Richard Serino said.
The party started early for thousands of revelers, who began streaming into City Hall Plaza before dawn, some wearing face paint, wigs and Revolutionary-era militia outfits. By midday, the plaza was jammed and restless. Some young women bared their breasts or kissed each other to the cheers of the crowd; plastic drink bottles were thrown; and some scuffles broke out. But the crowd settled down and cheered as images from the parade were broadcast on huge screens.
Patriots players waved and videotaped the crowd as they traveled the 1.5-mile parade route from Copley Plaza to City Hall in "Duck Boats," Boston's famous amphibious tourist vehicles. Spectators were stacked 10 deep along both sides of Tremont Street by Boston Common. Some fans stood on mailboxes and others leaned out of office windows, holding signs and screaming. The rally even drew Carolina fan Craig Whitney, 19, of Hampton, N.H., who wore his Panthers cap boldly.
"Even though we lost, it was still the greatest football game I've ever seen," he said.
High school students Sheila Gill and Dena Norton of Medfield waited for a glimpse of Brady and receiver Troy Brown.
"We skipped school," Norton said. "But we'll do anything to support the Patriots."
Jenny Callahan, 20, a Wentworth Institute of Technology student from Florida, came with about 10 friends. She had "Go Pats" written in blue on one side of her face, with Brady's No. 12 on the other.
"I love him a lot," she said.
It was about 32 degrees and overcast in Boston on Tuesday, but the goodwill warmed the chill for some. John McCoy, an 18-year-old high school student from North Attleboro, said he arrived at City Hall Plaza on Monday night to wait for the parade to begin.
"I can't even feel the cold," McCoy said. "There's love all around."
 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Patriots strong safety Rodney Harrison likens himself to running back Corey Dillon. The sentiments are mutual.

"Me and Rodney Harrison are the same person. The only difference is he plays defense and I play offense," said Dillon, labeled as a problem child before joining New England. "If it wasn't for that guy, I wouldn't even be here. He didn't have to go to management and stick his neck out for me the way that he did."
Harrison, known for his big hits and overall rough play that have led to fines before and since joining the Pats, shook off an early injury and was once again a standout among the defensive playmakers for New England during Sunday's 24-21 victory over the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX.
"Luckily, it wasn't anything too serious, but even if he was seriously injured, he would be out there," said Patriots cornerback Randall Gay. "Actually, he had an ankle injury that bothered him last week, but he would never let anyone know."
This time around, a hip injury threatened to affect the performance of New England's defensive leader. With the Eagles driving and trying to break a scoreless tie in the first quarter, Harrison dove for a Donovan McNabb pass and made the interception at New England's 3-yard line.
"Turnovers really change the complexion of the game and anytime you get one, it's huge for the team," said Harrison, who finished the game with seven tackles.
However, the veteran safety banged his hip against the ground and needed assistance from the trainers. Yet when the Eagles got the ball back less than two minutes later, Harrison was back on the field and making plays. He sacked McNabb for a one-yard loss on second down. On the next play, the Patriots forced a fumble, the second of four Philadelphia turnovers.
 “ You make them go out there and know your name. I bet you [Eagles receiver Freddie Mitchell] knows our numbers now. ”
And even as moments of anxiousness set in with the game on the line, Harrison saved his best for last.
After a three-and-out by New England's offense, the Eagles got the ball back at their own 4 with 46 seconds left in the game.
"I was nervous with 17 seconds [left] and Donovan back there with the ball," Harrison said of the game's second-to-last play.
But Harrison turned concern into a catch. His second interception of the game ended Philly's hopes and clinched the Patriots' second title in as many seasons during Harrison's tenure.
"He's just a great player. He's clutch," said teammate Tedy Bruschi, who had New England's other interception. "It was good that the game ended with the defense making a play. The other two [Patriots' victories in] Super Bowls ended with the offense scoring, so it was good for him to end the game like this."
And the game also resulted in some redemption for Harrison and his secondary mates. He tried to downplay the minor controversy that began about 10 days ago, when Eagles wide receiver Freddie Mitchell claimed he didn't know the names of New England's defensive backs and specifically said he had something for Harrison. But the safety admitted the comment provided a little more motivation.
"Of course it did …," said Harrison, who received a T-shirt from a Pats fan that read: "Who's No. 25?"
And through his play on the field and postgame comments, Harrison had the last words.
"You make them go out there and know your name," Harrison said. "I bet you [Mitchell] knows our numbers now."