The Great Debate

0 Comments | USA TODAY, February, 2008 | by Tom Weir

PHOENIX -- Sunday at the Super Bowl, the New England Patriots face a formidable opponent in the New York Giants. But should the Patriots win, they will face a far tougher slate of rivals come Monday morning.

That's when the debate will hit full stride about whether the undefeated Patriots have earned entitlement to make like Muhammad Ali in his young, ultra-precocious days, staring dead-eyed into the cameras and proclaiming, "I am the greatest!"

From all across America, loyalists of other historic NFL teams will shout back their dissents.

Those who saw the Chicago Bears pummel their way to an 18-1 record in 1985 know their fans might be the most dangerous element in this brigade. Advocates of the 17-0 Miami Dolphins of 1972, the gang who is...