A business can occasionally bring out products that are too popular for its own good. Such a product is the New England Patriots football team. Such a business is the National Football League and specifically its pay-television spin-off, the NFL Network.

It has dawned on American football fans in recent weeks that they may be watching the greatest team in the history of the sport. The Pats (as they are sometimes called) are a fascinating collection of people, too. Tom Brady, who has just completed the best season any quarterback has ever had, dates a Brazilian supermodel. The team’s toughest tackler, Tedy Bruschi, is recovering from a stroke. The Patriots’ coach, Bill Belichick, is reviled as a cheat by some football fans (for the zealous videotaping of other teams) and revered by all for his savvy.