ST. PAUL, Minn. – There were decades, long before Bill Belichick and Tom Brady came to town, when nobody cared about the New England Patriots.

That’s not the case anymore. Duke basketball can move over because the Patriots have become the most hated team in American sports, and it’s probably not close. Of course, that wouldn’t be the case if they didn’t have five Lombardi Trophies. It’s better being hated than ignored.

“If they hate you, you’re doing something good,” Patriots running back Dion Lewis said with a grin at Monday’s Super Bowl media night.

View photos What’s there not to love about Patriots head coach Bill Belichick? (AP) More

“They’re good every year, always have a target on their back,” said linebacker David Harris, who spent 10 years with the New York Jets trying to beat the Patriots before joining them this season. “I’m pretty sure everyone hated the Bulls and Michael Jordan, because they always won.”

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Make no mistake, most of the country wants the Patriots to lose in Super Bowl LII. It’s hard to turn everyone into Philadelphia Eagles fans for a couple weeks, but New England has done it. The Patriots seem to know that’s their role in this Super Bowl.

When players were asked what it’s like for them that everyone is rooting for the Eagles, it usually drew a chuckle or a nod.

And the Patriots being the sometimes robotic team they are – it’s one reason America won’t embrace them outside of the upper Northeast – they just don’t care about your hate.

“It’s one of those things that no matter how many people root against us, we’re all we got,” defensive end Trey Flowers said. “We understand that. We do it for the people in the locker room, the fans in New England, and each other.”

Imagine that. Most of the country is rooting against you, and it rolls off your back.

“You understand it,” Flowers said. “You don’t make it a big deal.”

There aren’t any other teams that evoke passionate responses like the Patriots. Casual NBA fans don’t appear to really hate the Golden State Warriors. The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees make people angry when they’re great, but they’ve combined for one World Series appearance this decade. Alabama football is too machine-like to evoke any feelings whatsoever. But the Patriots? People hate them with a passion and tune in to see them lose.

Probably the only recurring character in sports that people love to hate this much is Duke basketball. If you see someone wearing a Blue Devils shirt, either they’re Duke alums, grew up in Durham, N.C. or have lost their way. Nobody roots for Duke basketball without a reason. The same goes for the Patriots.

As Super Bowl LII kicks off, the theme of the week is probably that everyone is sick of the Patriots.

“It doesn’t bother me,” running back Brandon Bolden said. “I don’t think it bothers any of us.

View photos It’s probably safe to say most of America is pulling for the guy on the left, Nick Foles. (AP) More

“It doesn’t matter who is for us or against us. We’re here for each other.”

Nobody is in the middle of the road with the Patriots. Fans in the upper Northeast (mostly) love them. Everyone else dislikes them and spends an inordinate amount of time trying to discredit their dynasty. Ask a friend, or go on social media. You’ll hear that officials favor the Patriots. You’ll probably hear that they’re cheaters. That will never die, even through the deflate-gate controversy with Tom Brady was flimsy at best and Spygate happened more than a decade ago. Still, on Monday Steve Spangnuolo, who most recently was the New York Giants’ defensive coordinator and interim coach, said when he was Eagles linebackers coach in Super Bowl XXXIX against the Patriots they felt the Patriots had their signals. The reputation is set.

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