Feb. 12—There are many possible dates that could be construed as the beginning — i.e. the Immaculate Conception — of the Patriots Dynasty.
From the hiring Bill Parcells, or the drafting Drew Bledsoe, or Bob Kraft buying the team, or the unexpected Super Bowl berth against the Packers, or the hiring of Bill Belichick, or the drafting of Tom Brady, or my favorite, the Adam Vinatieri's kick in the Snow Bowl.
All legit.
But I got another, unheralded date, near the end of that long, legitimate listing of "igniting" greatness:
April 21, 2001.