FINER PATS
FIVE YEARS AGO, for the SPORTS ILLUSTRATED Football's Greatest book, SI polled its pro football experts to determine the Top 10 in more than 20 categories, from best quarterback (Joe Montana) to best game (the 1958 NFL Championship) to best stadium (Lambeau Field). This week, SI is releasing a new edition of the book ($34.99, available wherever books are sold), with updated poll results that have propelled new names onto the lists—running backs Adrian Peterson, LaDainian Tomlinson and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald are new entrants at their respective positions. The voting results of the panel also confirm what you already knew: The last five years have been very good for the Patriots. New England's wins in Super Bowl XLIX and LI were voted into the 10 greatest games; Rob Gronkowski was the only new name to appear on the greatest tight ends list; Bill Belichick (far left) now has only Vince Lombardi ahead of him on the best coaches list, after ranking seventh in the last edition; and a certain 40-year-old has overtaken Montana as SI's GOAT at quarterback. More bad news for those outside New England: now 5--2 with their romp over Atlanta on Sunday, Tom Brady (12) and his Pats look as if they're on their way to another storybook season.