If Mayor Menino were to give the key to the city to a member of the Patriots today, which player would deserve the honor?
What a tough question. Troy Brown, I think. It has to be. All year long, MVP.

Where do the 2001 Patriots rank in Boston sports history?
It's gotta be close to the top. It's the first championship I've lived through since '86 that I can't remember. So, this has gotta be up there.

Who is your favorite: Antowain Smith or Antwan Harris?
Smith, no doubt.

Edward Delaria, 47
Boston

If Mayor Menino were to give the key to the city to a member of the Patriots today, which player would deserve the honor?
Ty Law.

Where do the 2001 Patriots rank in Boston sports history?
I'd put them second behind the '86 Celtics, because the Celts were one of the greatest teams of all time.

Who is your favorite: Antowain Smith or Antwan Harris?
At this moment, Smith.

Rebecca Butler, 39
Wayland

If Mayor Menino were to give the key to the city to a member of the Patriots today, which player would deserve the honor?
The whole team. It would have to be the whole team.

Where do the 2001 Patriots rank in Boston sports history?
I think this is the best ever, because it's been so long since we had any championship. Plus, it has just been such an incredible season, how they came out of nowhere and won it all. So I think this is the best because no one expected it at the beginning of the season. There's been such a drought in Boston, that it's great to have a winning season.

Who is your favorite: Antowain Smith or Antwan Harris?
Boy, I can't choose, they're both so great that I don't want to choose. I can't choose anybody on the team, but we met Tedy Bruschi and he gave my husband a signed ball so that's why we have a special sign for him. But I love the whole team, so I don't want to say one guy's better than another.

Claude Williams, 47
Arlington

If Mayor Menino were to give the key to the city to a member of the Patriots today, which player would deserve the honor?
Law. Actually, he should give it to Belichick. I think he's the guy that created all of this, and without him there would be no team. As you've seen in the past, [a championship] was never done, so Belichick has a lot to claim, even though he doesn't want to take the compliments.

Where do the 2001 Patriots rank in Boston sports history?
I thought that was the best Super Bowl game that I've ever seen, and I think that's number one.

Who is your favorite: Antowain Smith or Antwan Harris?
Antowain [Smith].

Eric Carlton, 22
Vermont

If Mayor Menino were to give the key to the city to a member of the Patriots today, which player would deserve the honor?
Tedy Bruschi, number 54.

Where do the 2001 Patriots rank in Boston sports history?
Hell, the best football team in 42 years. In Boston sports history, probably below the Red Sox, because the Sox just rule, even though they haven't won in, like, 87 years.

Who is your favorite: Antowain Smith or Antwan Harris?
Antowain Smith.

Tricia Cruczynski, 38
Chestnut Hill

If Mayor Menino were to give the key to the city to a member of the Patriots today, which player would deserve the honor?
Really hard to say. I think the greatest thing about this team is that they are one team. There was no player, just outstanding players and a big team effort. So it has to just go to the Patriots. I think Coach Belichick did a great job, and maybe he's the guy.

Where do the 2001 Patriots rank in Boston sports history?
You look at the '86 Celtics, and that was such a tremendous year. But this is totally unimaginable, what's happening today. It's almost like a dream for the team. The stadium wasn't even supposed to be there [at Foxborough], so I think that if you dream big, things can happen. It'll be historical, this team will go down among all the greats. Way up there with the Celtics.

Who is your favorite: Antowain Smith or Antwan Harris?
Antowain Smith.

Jonathan Field, 32
Allston

If Mayor Menino were to give the key to the city to a member of the Patriots today, which player would deserve the honor?
I think the team. I know that's a clichéd answer, I think also maybe Bob Kraft, to reconcile the differences from what happened with the stadium in South Boston.

Where do the 2001 Patriots rank in Boston sports history?
I've lived here all my life, pretty much. I was at the Bucky Dent game in '78. Emotionally, it's hard to process it, because we're used to being bitter and defeated and stewing over things that happened. I mean, I can tell you about games that happened before I was even born, like the Red Sox in 1946, so it's a new feeling to be victorious. Yeah, the Celtics won in '86, but I mean this is a lot bigger than that.

Who is your favorite: Antowain Smith or Antwan Harris?
Smith, definitely.

Rich Jenkins, 33
Warwick, RI

If Mayor Menino were to give the key to the city to a member of the Patriots today, which player would deserve the honor?
Tough question. I guess you'd have to give it to Brady. But there are a lot of guys who deserve it: Vrabel, Troy Brown, Vinatieri of course, Ty Law, and the whole team.

Where do the 2001 Patriots rank in Boston sports history?
Number one! What's better than this? Hockey, basketball, baseball, I think it's all minor compared to football. This is the best thing that's ever happened.

Who is your favorite: Antowain Smith or Antwan Harris?
Smith.

Issue Date: February 5, 2002
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