Sounds like a bunch of crap to me. They aren't being disrespected at all. Tom Brady was 3rd in voting for MVP. As you said, lots of people still pick them to win the SB.

Silliness.

I totally think this is an attempt at faux motivation.

When a team does that, I can smell the desperation. They've gone soft after 3 SBs and can't figure out a way to get keyed up and hungry.