For most of us, wintry weather often comes too soon. Winters in New England often do. While some bask in the picturesque quality of a snow-covered bridge, others lament the sound of shovels and machinery removing that snow from their roads and driveways. Living with winter precipitation is a love-hate relationship that native New Englanders know all too well. However, for one night in January 2002, the snow was every New Englanders friend. The falling of the flakes in Foxboro, Ma sachusetts provided more than just arctic weather conditions for an impending playoff game between the New England Patriots and the Oakland Raiders. It would come to symbolize the genesis of one of the most succe sful eras in profe sional Corey Seager Jersey sports.On January 19, 2002, an NFL dynasty was born, along with a two-decade love affair between the Brady-Belichick era New England Patriots and their fans. The Beginning of a Beautiful FriendshipFor this particular sportswriter, the story began a bit earlier. During the summer of 1996, a visit to Patriots training camp led to a chance encounter. It would be an experience which would come full circle during one of the most memorable nights in Patriots franchise history. It would also spark my desire to make a living through telling the stories of profe sional sports. At that time, Patriots training camp was held on the campus of Bryant College (now, Bryant University) in Smithfield, Rhode Island a mere fifteen-minute drive from my house. As we did each summer, my grandfather and I would visit Bryants nearby campus, hoping to catch a glimpse of some of the regions star players such as quarterback Drew Bledsoe, running back Curtis Martin, tight end Ben Coates, among others. As a young high-schooler at A. J. Pollock Jersey the time, the task of seeking autographs seemed a bit past my age. However, my grandfather was adamant about keeping tradition intact. Despite some previous (and futile) attempts, he remained steadfast in extending our junior-sized football, in hopes of obtaining the signature of a player on his route to practice.With nearly the entire roster having found its way to the practice field, it appeared that my grandfathers signature streak had come to a close. However, making his way along the outer end of the Bryant campus, came a seemingly youthful player, mostly unrecognizable to the crowd in attendance. Carrying his helmet, the player approached with a slight jog, indicating a greater sense of urgency than that of his teammates to reach the field. Despite a clear need to beat the clock, my grandfather once again extended his arm, holding a football and seeing a signature for his somewhat embarra sed 15 year-old grandson.Oh man, I cantI have to be on time, Coach Bill Parcells is gonna kick my butt if Im late. the player replied as he slowed his jog to a pace.Cmon, Paisanone minutefor my grandson, my grandfather once again asked. Okle s than a minute, let me have that pen, the Patriot hopeful said as he granted the request. He scribbled a signature on the blank side of the ball before hastily handing it back to my grandfather and taking off in a slow sprint to the practice field. As my grandfather handed the ball to me, I attempted to make out the signature; unfortunately to no avail. To be honest, the name looked le s familiar to me than the players face. Knowing we were struggling to Andre Ethier Jersey determine his identity, a member of the security staff came over holding a roster card. Able to make out a capital A and V from his signature, the security guard pointed to the corresponding name on his roster sheet. Its this guy, he said. Hes a rookie kicker out of South Dakota Statesupposed to be pretty good, he remarked with a shrug before returning to his detail. My grandfather then looked back at me saying: Keep this one as he handed the ball back to me I got a good feeling about him.The players name, as you probably gue sed, was Adam Vinatieri.The Quarterbacks Arm Was Moving ForwardDespite having enjoyed a solid career to that point, Vinatieris legend was about to blanket the New England landscape as the falling snow on January 19, 2002. The then 29-year-old had put New England's first points of the night on the Foxboro Stadium scoreboard, a 23-yard field goal with 8:39 remaining in the fourth quarter, cutting the Raiders lead to 7-3. After a pair of Sebastian Janikowski field goals gave Oakland a 13-3 lead, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady led the Patriots on a 10-play, 67-yard drive in the fourth quarter. Brady completed nine consecutive pa ses for 61 yards; finishing it with a 6-yard touchdown run with 7:57 left that made the score 1310.With le s than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Brady was hit during his pa s attempt on his right side by Raiders cornerback Charles Woodson. The ball came loose and was recovered by the Raiders. Though it appeared that Brady had tucked the ball back towards his body, the officials were unable to definitively rule whether or not his arm was moving forward at the time. They ruled it a fumble in an attempt to review the play.The Patriots 2001 season was hanging in the balance. Scroll to ContinueWith the exception of the fortunate few holding a ticket in the final Patriots game at Foxboro Stadium that night, I remained glued to my television, alongside my father and grandfather. Three generations Logan Forsythe Jersey of Patriots fans who, to date, had known nothing but disappointment. Between the three of us, there was little knowledge of a scarcely-known rule that was about to change the fate of the franchise forever. Like most fans watching that night, we had a sumed that the Patriots season had just come to an end. Suddenly, New Life!Amidst the triumphant reactions of near-euphoric disbelief in the DAbate household that night, the officials would offer an explanation of what was to be forever known as the Tuck Rule. Brady did not fumble the ball. Because his arm was moving forward, the play was ruled an incomplete pa s. Russell Martin Jersey As such, the Pats would retain po se sion of the ball, with a chance to tie the game. Despite the frustrating decree of legions of silver-and-black wearing fans, the officials made the correct call, based on the written rule at the time, enacted in 1999: When an offensive player is holding the ball to pa s it forward, any intentional forward movement of his arm starts a forward pa s, even if the player loses po se sion of the ball as he is attempting to tuck it back toward his body. Also, if the player has tucked the ball into his body and then loses po se sion, it is a fumble.With a new lease on their playoff lives, the Pats would not be denied in their quest to even the score. Brady completed a 13-yard pa s to David Patten, advancing to the Raiders' 29-yard-line. After two pa s incompletions and a Brady scramble, Vinatieri was about to seize the moment, which would make him a folk hero. He hit a ga
