Getty Images

Former Patriots coach Bill Parcells thinks the folks in New England should think about how lucky they are to have a team so good.

Asked by Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe about criticism that the Patriots have become a finesse team, Parcells answered with an emphatic, “No!”

“Who says that? They ran the ball good this year,” Parcells said. “I don’t know what happened in the playoffs, but here’s what I say to you guys in New England: You guys are spoiled. Really, you are. You’ve got to remember how the other half lives. You forgot. I was there for it, so I know. Just remember, you could be like some of these other franchises that you see. You got a couple of ’em in your division.’’

Parcells didn’t leave New England under good terms, but he says he has buried the hatchet with Patriots owner Bob Kraft and wishes the team well.

“That’s over with,’’ said Parcells. “It’s been over for a long time. We’re both at the age where we don’t have time for these things. There are a lot of things that I would do differently. I was very sad to leave New England. I put a lot of blood in that team. That was a Super Bowl team and we were young. Come on. We had a pretty good club there. We had a good group of players.’’

Parcells also said he had dinner with Patriots coach Bill Belichick on Tuesday, and that he has no doubt that Belichick is going to keep winning in New England.

“He’s obviously disappointed in this year, but not despondent,” said Parcells. “He’s determined, like he always is. They have a good team. They’re going to be good for a while longer, I can tell you that.’’

An NFL team that’s been good for more than a decade, and is set up to be good for a while longer, is something everyone in New England should appreciate.