The End of an Era in New England?
January 5, 2018 12:12 AM Subscribe
For Kraft, Brady and Belichick, is this the beginning of the end?
Seth Wickersham of ESPN writes about the unraveling of one of the most successful franchises in modern sports history.
Considering they're the number one seed and favorites to repeat a Superbowl championship, this smacks of wishful thinking and an unsubstantiated hit-piece. After deflate gate and the Cheatriots hit piece that followed in ESPN, they're not exactly trustworthy. If there was any actual meat there, the soap opera obsessed local sports media would be all over it, but they're finding thin gruel beyond "Brady's personal trainer is weird, but it seems to work for Brady, so IDK? Also Bill doesn't like distractions heading into the post season, film at 11"
This is probably going to be used as "everyone hates us, they think we're finished!" Motivational material for the locker room bulletin board in any event, so thanks.
posted by Slap*Happy at 1:51 AM on January 5, 2018 [12 favorites]
This is probably going to be used as "everyone hates us, they think we're finished!" Motivational material for the locker room bulletin board in any event, so thanks.
posted by Slap*Happy at 1:51 AM on January 5, 2018 [12 favorites]
Yeah, speaking as head cheerleader for the “fuck the Pats and their cheating, sleazy, Trump-loving owner” party... this is some pretty weak sauce, and ESPN of all places hasn’t earned the right to make unsubstantiated claims that the top-seeded reigning champs are coming unraveled. There’s some interesting stuff here, but why not just run with what you can prove, like “Brady’s personal trainer is a snake-oil peddler who is driving a knife into Belicheck’s back,” rather than trying to make it sound like the team is imploding when it demonstrably isn’t?
posted by Mayor West at 2:50 AM on January 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Mayor West at 2:50 AM on January 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
Brady is old as shit and shows no signs of slowing down. His personal trainer can't be that bad.
posted by fshgrl at 2:52 AM on January 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by fshgrl at 2:52 AM on January 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
Or his personal trainer is really really bad.
posted by JPD at 3:32 AM on January 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by JPD at 3:32 AM on January 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
Like many nuggets of pure evil you can’t just sit back and hope they fade away, you have to embarrass them publically like the Spurs did the Lakers in 2013.
Go Eagles I guess.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 4:53 AM on January 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
Go Eagles I guess.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 4:53 AM on January 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
I am a non-combatant in the popular sports culture, only aware of the events that are unavoidably omnipresent in the news stream, but I have a shameful contempt for Brady. He appears to have worked hard even in his success which is a trait I admire, but still I despise. I am trying to be a better person, really I am. No favorites for you Gooch for making me face my flaws so early this morning!
posted by mumblelard at 5:46 AM on January 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by mumblelard at 5:46 AM on January 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
While it seems like wishful thinking to dream that infighting will destroy the Evil Empire, there's definitely something going on behind that Garropolo trade and the continued presence of Brady's "this snake oil will literally cure cancer!" personal trainer.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 5:54 AM on January 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 5:54 AM on January 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
Even if everything in this article is true, it's pretty thin gruel. Guerrero is almost certainly a piece of shit, Brady has always had literally zero personal convictions that don't relate to pliometrics or nightshades, Belichick and Kraft appear to be pretty unpleasant people, even after correcting for standard rich white male unpleasantness.
The problem this article has is that these "tensions" have been a thing for over 10 years now, and there is nothing presented here that makes be believe that things have changed at all recently. Brady has repeatedly signed absolute bargain contracts with the Pats, most recently in 2016, and Kraft has said this year that Belichick can coach the Patriots for as long as he wants to. The "fish or cut bait" backup QB issue has been a point of contention since they traded Bledsoe to the Bills in 2002. Matt Cassel and Ryan Mallett say Hi.
Do I think that Brady, Belichick and Kraft get along? No I do not, but I believe that has been the case since my teenage daughter was in diapers, so I really don't think it is worth talking about anymore.
posted by Rock Steady at 6:02 AM on January 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
The problem this article has is that these "tensions" have been a thing for over 10 years now, and there is nothing presented here that makes be believe that things have changed at all recently. Brady has repeatedly signed absolute bargain contracts with the Pats, most recently in 2016, and Kraft has said this year that Belichick can coach the Patriots for as long as he wants to. The "fish or cut bait" backup QB issue has been a point of contention since they traded Bledsoe to the Bills in 2002. Matt Cassel and Ryan Mallett say Hi.
Do I think that Brady, Belichick and Kraft get along? No I do not, but I believe that has been the case since my teenage daughter was in diapers, so I really don't think it is worth talking about anymore.
posted by Rock Steady at 6:02 AM on January 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
Garrapolo was going to be prohibitively expensive to retain in 2018 and they needed to get something for him before they were forced to let him walk. The surprising thing was that they didn’t trade him earlier. The fact that they waited until midway through the season suggests that they were waiting to see if Brady could still play.
posted by chrchr at 6:02 AM on January 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by chrchr at 6:02 AM on January 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
538: Tom Brady is Drowning In His Own Junk Science Advice
posted by chrchr at 6:43 AM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by chrchr at 6:43 AM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
"We're on to Cincinnati."
posted by TWinbrook8 at 7:03 AM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by TWinbrook8 at 7:03 AM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
I have a very, very difficult time believing that TB12 continues to perform at this level solely on on his/Guerrero's version of "a pan y agua". If there isn't a drawer full of Tijuana pharmacy receipts somewhere, I'll eat my hat.
posted by the painkiller at 7:10 AM on January 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by the painkiller at 7:10 AM on January 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
Every year the media says that Brady is done, and eventually they'll be right. So what?
posted by Beholder at 7:34 AM on January 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Beholder at 7:34 AM on January 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
The "fish or cut bait" backup QB issue has been a point of contention since they traded Bledsoe to the Bills in 2002. Matt Cassel and Ryan Mallett say Hi.
At a certain point, you need to start looking to the future as well. As the article points out, Brady isn't recovering like he used to, which means that if you're Belichick, you're looking for a new franchise QB, because you just saw Peyton Manning walk off a performance cliff not too long ago.
posted by NoxAeternum at 7:37 AM on January 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
At a certain point, you need to start looking to the future as well. As the article points out, Brady isn't recovering like he used to, which means that if you're Belichick, you're looking for a new franchise QB, because you just saw Peyton Manning walk off a performance cliff not too long ago.
posted by NoxAeternum at 7:37 AM on January 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
As a Dolphins fan in Patriots land, I'd love nothing more than for one or both of these guys to retire. But I don't see it happening this year. Everything in this article has been floating around for a while now, none of it is entirely revelatory. The Guerrero stuff is well known, and the theory has long been that Jimmy G turned down extensions because he wanted to start rather than hold a clipboard for two more years. So it's well-reported, but nothing all that new.
I am very curious if the Patriots do what they never do and trade up to grab one of the many talented QBs in the first round of this draft. As durable as Brady is, they're skating on thin ice. I think it's less likely that Brady's talent slowly fades to the point where he hangs it up (though he's clearly a little diminished), and more likely he suffers an injury he can't easily come back from (broken collar bone, ruptured achilles).
posted by schoolgirl report at 7:49 AM on January 5, 2018
I am very curious if the Patriots do what they never do and trade up to grab one of the many talented QBs in the first round of this draft. As durable as Brady is, they're skating on thin ice. I think it's less likely that Brady's talent slowly fades to the point where he hangs it up (though he's clearly a little diminished), and more likely he suffers an injury he can't easily come back from (broken collar bone, ruptured achilles).
posted by schoolgirl report at 7:49 AM on January 5, 2018
I think it's less likely that Brady's talent slowly fades to the point where he hangs it up
The thing is that it won't happen slowly. Again, Peyton Manning was an elite QB - and then, very quickly, he wasn't.
posted by NoxAeternum at 7:53 AM on January 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
The thing is that it won't happen slowly. Again, Peyton Manning was an elite QB - and then, very quickly, he wasn't.
posted by NoxAeternum at 7:53 AM on January 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
I have a very, very difficult time believing that TB12 continues to perform at this level solely on on his/Guerrero's version of "a pan y agua". If there isn't a drawer full of Tijuana pharmacy receipts somewhere, I'll eat my hat.
That'll also be true for literally every professional and Olympic level athlete (maybe not the curlers).
posted by leotrotsky at 7:55 AM on January 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
That'll also be true for literally every professional and Olympic level athlete (maybe not the curlers).
posted by leotrotsky at 7:55 AM on January 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
I'm no fan of Brady or Belichek, but I've had to develop a grudging admiration for what they've built and done together; it's gotten easier as I've pretty much stopped watching football altogether, so I feel less emotional invested in things.
That said, this article feels kinda weak and an attempt by ESPN to get the jump on a story that may not exist? There may well be problems inside the Pats organization, but to write an article like this when the Pats are coming off what appears to be another great season - 1st in the AFC east, 13-3 on the year, and the odds-makers current favorite to win it all...well, geez, whatever might be going on behind the scenes isn't slowing them down on the field. And I suspect there's a lot of other teams who would be happy to trade places with them, whatever the problems are.
The Pats have some interesting decisions ahead, but that is football.
posted by nubs at 7:59 AM on January 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
That said, this article feels kinda weak and an attempt by ESPN to get the jump on a story that may not exist? There may well be problems inside the Pats organization, but to write an article like this when the Pats are coming off what appears to be another great season - 1st in the AFC east, 13-3 on the year, and the odds-makers current favorite to win it all...well, geez, whatever might be going on behind the scenes isn't slowing them down on the field. And I suspect there's a lot of other teams who would be happy to trade places with them, whatever the problems are.
The Pats have some interesting decisions ahead, but that is football.
posted by nubs at 7:59 AM on January 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
Every year the media says that Brady is done, and eventually they'll be right. So what?
Pretty much this.
Brady isn't recovering like he used to
Cite?
The nuts and bolts of it is that the Patriots (and Boston sports teams more generally, maybe excepting the Bruins) have leveraged business operations strategies better than most other franchises.
Because of the physicality of football and the financial structures of their revenue sharing and collective bargaining, it's a league where parity and cyclical performance are the norm...except for the Pats. The high turnover and rapid change in 'asset' values makes this approach even more effective.
If you look at large parts of the Pats' success it's not just superior talent, it's that they just 'fail' less than their opponents. Along with the operational advantage, they've cultivated a culture of winning and commitment to performance. These are not easy things to do in a league full of so much media attention and ego.
Oh and Brady. His performance this year only looks like 'falling off' compared to what was basically an MVP caliber year in '17. The last few games have been middling, but a lot of that is game script, weather and injuries not to Brady*, but the rest of the team. He's also the favorite for MVP this year.
If you look at their injuries this year, the only good stories are really Gronk and Brady. Every other part of their squad (even special teams) has taken a beating.
And they're still 13-3, waiting for the divisional round. Like others have said, it's an astounding level of success.
*You can look at his play the last 5 games and maybe make the case that he's fighting a nagging injury, but there's no hard info on this and we'll never really know.
posted by Reasonably Everything Happens at 8:05 AM on January 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
Pretty much this.
Brady isn't recovering like he used to
Cite?
The nuts and bolts of it is that the Patriots (and Boston sports teams more generally, maybe excepting the Bruins) have leveraged business operations strategies better than most other franchises.
Because of the physicality of football and the financial structures of their revenue sharing and collective bargaining, it's a league where parity and cyclical performance are the norm...except for the Pats. The high turnover and rapid change in 'asset' values makes this approach even more effective.
If you look at large parts of the Pats' success it's not just superior talent, it's that they just 'fail' less than their opponents. Along with the operational advantage, they've cultivated a culture of winning and commitment to performance. These are not easy things to do in a league full of so much media attention and ego.
Oh and Brady. His performance this year only looks like 'falling off' compared to what was basically an MVP caliber year in '17. The last few games have been middling, but a lot of that is game script, weather and injuries not to Brady*, but the rest of the team. He's also the favorite for MVP this year.
If you look at their injuries this year, the only good stories are really Gronk and Brady. Every other part of their squad (even special teams) has taken a beating.
And they're still 13-3, waiting for the divisional round. Like others have said, it's an astounding level of success.
*You can look at his play the last 5 games and maybe make the case that he's fighting a nagging injury, but there's no hard info on this and we'll never really know.
posted by Reasonably Everything Happens at 8:05 AM on January 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
I'm no fan of Brady or Belichek, but I've had to develop a grudging admiration for what they've built and done together;
I don't, because a lot of it is simple economics - Brady takes a cut rate contract, which frees up money that can be invested in other positions. It's easy to build a strong team when you're getting a top QB at significantly below market rate. It will be interesting to see what happens when Brady retires, because I doubt whoever replaces him is going to be interested in such a deal.
posted by NoxAeternum at 8:07 AM on January 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
I don't, because a lot of it is simple economics - Brady takes a cut rate contract, which frees up money that can be invested in other positions. It's easy to build a strong team when you're getting a top QB at significantly below market rate. It will be interesting to see what happens when Brady retires, because I doubt whoever replaces him is going to be interested in such a deal.
posted by NoxAeternum at 8:07 AM on January 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
At a certain point, you need to start looking to the future as well.
It's interesting, but I'm not sure that you do if you are the Patriots at this point. If Belichick had 5 or 6 more years of coaching in him, I think there would be a ton of pressure on him to succeed with a new QB, and I think that is what everyone expected to happen 5 or 6 years ago. Brady would wind down at 35 or so, and Belichick would try and prove his genius with Matt Cassel (or someone else). The thing is that now that Brady and Belichick appear to be on track to end their careers at about the same time, (Bill will be 66 in April and is the second oldest coach in the league after Pete Carroll(!)) I think Belichick no longer feels the pressure to groom Brady's replacement.
I think ownership is fine with not having an immediate successor in place, as they know that benching Brady would be an extremely hard sell to even the most "In Bill We Trust" fans, and they have enough of a cushion of goodwill and season ticket sales and real estate development that a few years of subpar on-field performance will not put too much of a dent in the bottom line.
posted by Rock Steady at 8:24 AM on January 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
It's interesting, but I'm not sure that you do if you are the Patriots at this point. If Belichick had 5 or 6 more years of coaching in him, I think there would be a ton of pressure on him to succeed with a new QB, and I think that is what everyone expected to happen 5 or 6 years ago. Brady would wind down at 35 or so, and Belichick would try and prove his genius with Matt Cassel (or someone else). The thing is that now that Brady and Belichick appear to be on track to end their careers at about the same time, (Bill will be 66 in April and is the second oldest coach in the league after Pete Carroll(!)) I think Belichick no longer feels the pressure to groom Brady's replacement.
I think ownership is fine with not having an immediate successor in place, as they know that benching Brady would be an extremely hard sell to even the most "In Bill We Trust" fans, and they have enough of a cushion of goodwill and season ticket sales and real estate development that a few years of subpar on-field performance will not put too much of a dent in the bottom line.
posted by Rock Steady at 8:24 AM on January 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
I don't, because a lot of it is simple economics - Brady takes a cut rate contract
If that were so very simple, it would be an easy enough tactic for other teams to adopt, don't you think?
posted by praemunire at 8:25 AM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
If that were so very simple, it would be an easy enough tactic for other teams to adopt, don't you think?
posted by praemunire at 8:25 AM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
top QB at significantly below market rate
Yeah, but that's only 5Mish a year. It's certainly an advantage, but it doesn't explain the difference between them and other teams.
posted by Reasonably Everything Happens at 8:26 AM on January 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
Yeah, but that's only 5Mish a year. It's certainly an advantage, but it doesn't explain the difference between them and other teams.
posted by Reasonably Everything Happens at 8:26 AM on January 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
The other big difference is that the Patriots have clearly the best coach in the league.
I want to believe that it's true that Brady was upset that he hasn't been named "Patriot of the Week" yet this year. It's the type of thing that's so minor, but I could see getting under someone's skin.
posted by drezdn at 8:31 AM on January 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
I want to believe that it's true that Brady was upset that he hasn't been named "Patriot of the Week" yet this year. It's the type of thing that's so minor, but I could see getting under someone's skin.
posted by drezdn at 8:31 AM on January 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
Brady's deferred money has finally started catching up to him. His cap hit this year is $22M, which is in line with the rest of the league's elite QBs.
posted by Rock Steady at 8:31 AM on January 5, 2018
posted by Rock Steady at 8:31 AM on January 5, 2018
I don't, because a lot of it is simple economics - Brady takes a cut rate contract
Brady choosing to take a little less than he could otherwise get is what then? The Pats somehow creating an uneven playing field? Brady is a big boy and can make his own decisions - if he’s decided to take a little less in order to have a better team around him - well, some might call that a decision motivated by a desire to win more than anything. I’ve seen players do that in other sports and it is usually hailed as a selfless move and being a team player.
Look, I’m no fan as I’ve said before - but if part of the Pats success is a star player taking less money than he could then I think the Pats have found a way to get an advantage that is perfectly legal and above board and isn’t taking advantage of anyone that doesn’t know what they are doing. Pro sports is about the ability to manage the budget as well as the on field performance and as I said, I have to have a grudging admiration for what they’ve done over the past decade plus.
posted by nubs at 8:51 AM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Brady choosing to take a little less than he could otherwise get is what then? The Pats somehow creating an uneven playing field? Brady is a big boy and can make his own decisions - if he’s decided to take a little less in order to have a better team around him - well, some might call that a decision motivated by a desire to win more than anything. I’ve seen players do that in other sports and it is usually hailed as a selfless move and being a team player.
Look, I’m no fan as I’ve said before - but if part of the Pats success is a star player taking less money than he could then I think the Pats have found a way to get an advantage that is perfectly legal and above board and isn’t taking advantage of anyone that doesn’t know what they are doing. Pro sports is about the ability to manage the budget as well as the on field performance and as I said, I have to have a grudging admiration for what they’ve done over the past decade plus.
posted by nubs at 8:51 AM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Part of the reason Brady takes lower pay is that he is part of a winning team. Would anyone take $5 million less than they’re worth to play for the Browns?? Never! It wouldn’t win you a Super Bowl. There’s basically no chance it’d pay off. Taking a pay cut to play for the Patriots is a smart bet. Brady’s low salary is another consequence of the Patriots’ organizational competence.
posted by chrchr at 9:08 AM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by chrchr at 9:08 AM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
It will be interesting to see what happens when Brady retires, because I doubt whoever replaces him is going to be interested in such a deal.
QFT. The argument that the Patriots succeed because they have players willing to play for below-market rates seems kind of weird to me, because that's actually Step 3 in the process. Step 1 is "make the playoffs every year for a decade to establish a de facto reputation as a winning team that players want to play for." Step 2 is "have your best player marry someone so fabulously wealthy that the marginal value of $5 million a year is lower to him than the heightened probability of winning another ring." The Patriots might be able to recreate Step 1 when they acquire their next quarterback, but it's unlikely the stars will ever align in exactly this way again for the team.
posted by Mayor West at 9:18 AM on January 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
QFT. The argument that the Patriots succeed because they have players willing to play for below-market rates seems kind of weird to me, because that's actually Step 3 in the process. Step 1 is "make the playoffs every year for a decade to establish a de facto reputation as a winning team that players want to play for." Step 2 is "have your best player marry someone so fabulously wealthy that the marginal value of $5 million a year is lower to him than the heightened probability of winning another ring." The Patriots might be able to recreate Step 1 when they acquire their next quarterback, but it's unlikely the stars will ever align in exactly this way again for the team.
posted by Mayor West at 9:18 AM on January 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
He's also the favorite for MVP this year.
No disrespect to Brady, but it's also been a really shitty year in the NFL. He's pretty much one of two or three really good players left standing.
*You can look at his play the last 5 games and maybe make the case that he's fighting a nagging injury, but there's no hard info on this and we'll never really know.
He kept showing up on the injury report with some unspecified achilles thing, though I haven't seen him favor it in a game. He's just been off lately, and not all of it can be pinned on his receivers. I'm still pretty sure they'll will it all again, unless Kansas City can make a run.
posted by schoolgirl report at 9:28 AM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
No disrespect to Brady, but it's also been a really shitty year in the NFL. He's pretty much one of two or three really good players left standing.
*You can look at his play the last 5 games and maybe make the case that he's fighting a nagging injury, but there's no hard info on this and we'll never really know.
He kept showing up on the injury report with some unspecified achilles thing, though I haven't seen him favor it in a game. He's just been off lately, and not all of it can be pinned on his receivers. I'm still pretty sure they'll will it all again, unless Kansas City can make a run.
posted by schoolgirl report at 9:28 AM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
My piping-hot take on this stuff is that if a sports franchise wins 3 championships in the span of 15 years, it should be immediately disbanded, replaced by an expansion team, the owner permanently barred from ever owning a team again, and all the players released from their contracts (unless they'd prefer to take the money and not play for their duration). Every team that reaches that level of sustained success has had most of the joy sucked out of it by that point and every season becomes a grim slog where even a high level of success is unacceptable, media and the fans lose their minds about even the slightest minutiae, and everyone else in the league completely hates hearing about those assholes. The team I'm the biggest fan of would have been hit by this, and frankly I would welcome it. The first championship was incredible, the second was even better, the third was OK, and now that a few years have passed the things that I loved about the team are mostly gone, the things I didn't love became things I hate, and almost nothing about following them is fun.
And on the player/team side, this is what means Tom Brady, a man who has achieved more success in his field than almost anyone who's ever lived, and received more public praise for it than even most of his peers at that level of success, not only gets pissed about not being named Patriot of the Week, but complains about it enough that it makes its way to a reporter and becomes national news. It's all incredibly stupid and I honestly think that team sports would benefit from more occasionally successful teams and fewer dynasties that are hated by 90% of fans.
posted by Copronymus at 9:52 AM on January 5, 2018
And on the player/team side, this is what means Tom Brady, a man who has achieved more success in his field than almost anyone who's ever lived, and received more public praise for it than even most of his peers at that level of success, not only gets pissed about not being named Patriot of the Week, but complains about it enough that it makes its way to a reporter and becomes national news. It's all incredibly stupid and I honestly think that team sports would benefit from more occasionally successful teams and fewer dynasties that are hated by 90% of fans.
posted by Copronymus at 9:52 AM on January 5, 2018
No disrespect to Brady, but it's also been a really shitty year in the NFL. He's pretty much one of two or three really good players left standing.
*Pours one out for Carson Wentz's knee, and the Eagles' season*
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:53 AM on January 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
*Pours one out for Carson Wentz's knee, and the Eagles' season*
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:53 AM on January 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
Most other quarterbacks won't take the deal Brady takes, partially because most of them will be the primary breadwinners in their household, and not trophy husbands to highly-paid models like Gisele Bündchen.
posted by explosion at 9:58 AM on January 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by explosion at 9:58 AM on January 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
I don’t have strong opinions one way or the other about the Patriots (I don’t like them but respect the record they’ve achieved this century), but this jumped out at me from chrchr’s 538 link:
...Alex Guerrero, a man twice investigated by government regulators for misrepresenting himself as a doctor (he’s not) and falsely asserting that one supplement he was shilling had been clinically tested and proven to cure cancer, Parkinson’s, AIDS and other diseases and that another, which Brady once endorsed, could prevent concussions.
He sounds like a dangerous charlatan and it seems like a bad decision to let him within 100 yards of professional athletes at that level. Or anyone, really.
posted by TedW at 10:06 AM on January 5, 2018 [5 favorites]
...Alex Guerrero, a man twice investigated by government regulators for misrepresenting himself as a doctor (he’s not) and falsely asserting that one supplement he was shilling had been clinically tested and proven to cure cancer, Parkinson’s, AIDS and other diseases and that another, which Brady once endorsed, could prevent concussions.
He sounds like a dangerous charlatan and it seems like a bad decision to let him within 100 yards of professional athletes at that level. Or anyone, really.
posted by TedW at 10:06 AM on January 5, 2018 [5 favorites]
Bellichek is pissed because he thought that Garrapolo was a legitimate heir to Brady (and current results suggest was right), and he wanted to do whatever it took to keep him around until Brady moved on. Brady can talk about playing for five years as long as he wants, but at this point, the first time he has a serious injury or even a mediocre season, I think he's done.
Then, if he had Garrapolo waiting in the wings, Bellichek would have the chance to win with a different QB, and getting even one championship without Brady would alter his legacy dramatically. Now if he wants to do that, he's going to have to find a new QB. Which means he's probably better off doing whatever he can to keep Brady around longer. Which probably pisses him off because he is a huge asshole.
posted by skewed at 10:18 AM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Then, if he had Garrapolo waiting in the wings, Bellichek would have the chance to win with a different QB, and getting even one championship without Brady would alter his legacy dramatically. Now if he wants to do that, he's going to have to find a new QB. Which means he's probably better off doing whatever he can to keep Brady around longer. Which probably pisses him off because he is a huge asshole.
posted by skewed at 10:18 AM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Now if he wants to do that, he's going to have to find a new QB. Which means he's probably better off doing whatever he can to keep Brady around longer. Which probably pisses him off because he is a huge asshole.
And if the article is correct that Kraft has decided that the succession plan for Brady is to "find the best QB in the draft and develop him," Belichick's right to be pissed. New England made the best draft pick of all time in selecting Brady, then they (apparently) struck gold again with Garoppolo, and his boss throws the second win in the garbage and tells Belichick to make lightning strike thrice?
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:23 AM on January 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
And if the article is correct that Kraft has decided that the succession plan for Brady is to "find the best QB in the draft and develop him," Belichick's right to be pissed. New England made the best draft pick of all time in selecting Brady, then they (apparently) struck gold again with Garoppolo, and his boss throws the second win in the garbage and tells Belichick to make lightning strike thrice?
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:23 AM on January 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
But that is a more realistic plan than "Pay two starting QB salaries and still have enough cap room for a championship caliber team".
posted by Rock Steady at 10:42 AM on January 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Rock Steady at 10:42 AM on January 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
Don't forget Betteridge's law of headlines. As a Pats fan, this is clearly a lot of speculation based on a few disparate facts, and this writer has a history of these types of speculative articles on ESPN. Some of his conclusions are easily disproved while others are clearly just "I bet he's thinking this and so it's gonna end bad" even though history tells us these guys have gone through much harder situations in the past and were able to work through them.
I guess I have a hard time believing there is a "lingering sadness" in Foxboro for a #1 seed with a 13-3 record when there are no quotes or any actual facts to back up that claim.
posted by lubujackson at 10:56 AM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
I guess I have a hard time believing there is a "lingering sadness" in Foxboro for a #1 seed with a 13-3 record when there are no quotes or any actual facts to back up that claim.
posted by lubujackson at 10:56 AM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
There is no evidence at all to indicate that Kraft interferes with Belichick's decisions on personnel, especially on specific personnel.
posted by kuroikenshi at 10:57 AM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by kuroikenshi at 10:57 AM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
As a 49ers fan, I’m pleased as punch with the way things turned out, since it was nice to have a less than soul crushing season for the first time in several years. Also, I can understand the reactions some have had to this article - the idea that the core premise of “The Patriots Are Coming Apart At The Seams!” would be a lot stronger were the team not coming off yet another outstanding season and possibly on their way to another Super Bowl.
That said, the Garoppolo trade was mind-boggling. Given that Tom Brady is in the twilight of his career, the Patriots had a guy waiting in the wings who could take them into the next era and traded him away for practically nothing. It’s baffling. Because I think it is mostly unconfirmed rumor, ESPN didn’t include it in the story, but one of the theories going around is that Tom Brady went to Robert Kraft to force the trade
posted by The Gooch at 11:05 AM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
That said, the Garoppolo trade was mind-boggling. Given that Tom Brady is in the twilight of his career, the Patriots had a guy waiting in the wings who could take them into the next era and traded him away for practically nothing. It’s baffling. Because I think it is mostly unconfirmed rumor, ESPN didn’t include it in the story, but one of the theories going around is that Tom Brady went to Robert Kraft to force the trade
posted by The Gooch at 11:05 AM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
I want to believe that it's true that Brady was upset that he hasn't been named "Patriot of the Week" yet this year. It's the type of thing that's so minor, but I could see getting under someone's skin.
The problem is, this isn't a thing. There is "Practice Player of the Week" which usually goes to somebody on the practice squad and is awarded to the player that best helps the team get ready for their opponent. No surprise Brady hasn't won that, but it's just one of the slanted things in this article that make it not very reliable.
posted by lubujackson at 11:08 AM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
The problem is, this isn't a thing. There is "Practice Player of the Week" which usually goes to somebody on the practice squad and is awarded to the player that best helps the team get ready for their opponent. No surprise Brady hasn't won that, but it's just one of the slanted things in this article that make it not very reliable.
posted by lubujackson at 11:08 AM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Hindsight is 20/20. I'm glad that Jimmy G proved himself capable in the games that he's played so far, but keep in mind that the best offer was a second round draft pick. You'd think that teams would be clamoring for Jimmy but apparently not.
Also, Don Yee is the agent for both Brady and Jimmy G. So if you think Brady went to Kraft directly, I've got a bridge to sell you.
posted by kuroikenshi at 11:22 AM on January 5, 2018
Also, Don Yee is the agent for both Brady and Jimmy G. So if you think Brady went to Kraft directly, I've got a bridge to sell you.
posted by kuroikenshi at 11:22 AM on January 5, 2018
The first championship was incredible, the second was even better, the third was OK, and now that a few years have passed the things that I loved about the team are mostly gone, the things I didn't love became things I hate, and almost nothing about following them is fun.
Personally, I've really enjoyed being a Patriots fan all through the terrible Sullivan era, the threats of moving, the promise of the Parcells/Bledsoe years, the incredible underdog story of 2001, becoming the new "America's Team" and being the darlings of the league, the rest of the league becoming weary and eventually hateful, the transition to the Evil Empire. I've fully embraced the Dark Side, all of the anger and hate just makes me stronger. I'm actually looking forward to the end of the Brady/Belichick era, to see what new phase we enter into. Can we reload like the Montana/Young Niners or the Favre/Rodgers Packers, or will there be a prolonged struggle where we get to see who the real fans are?
Even as my level of passion for sports in general as faded since moving away from Boston, it's still fun to watch, even though we have become arguably the most successful sports city of all time over the past 20 years (don't @ me).
As an aside, I love y'all, MeFi Patriot Nation!
posted by Rock Steady at 11:28 AM on January 5, 2018 [7 favorites]
Personally, I've really enjoyed being a Patriots fan all through the terrible Sullivan era, the threats of moving, the promise of the Parcells/Bledsoe years, the incredible underdog story of 2001, becoming the new "America's Team" and being the darlings of the league, the rest of the league becoming weary and eventually hateful, the transition to the Evil Empire. I've fully embraced the Dark Side, all of the anger and hate just makes me stronger. I'm actually looking forward to the end of the Brady/Belichick era, to see what new phase we enter into. Can we reload like the Montana/Young Niners or the Favre/Rodgers Packers, or will there be a prolonged struggle where we get to see who the real fans are?
Even as my level of passion for sports in general as faded since moving away from Boston, it's still fun to watch, even though we have become arguably the most successful sports city of all time over the past 20 years (don't @ me).
As an aside, I love y'all, MeFi Patriot Nation!
posted by Rock Steady at 11:28 AM on January 5, 2018 [7 favorites]
As an aside, I love y'all, MeFi Patriot Nation!
Love right back atcha!
I already saw on my Facebook feed a joint statement from Kraft, Bill, and Brady refuting all this, so like Slap*Happy said above, this is just going to make them angry, and unlike the Incredible Hulk, I like them when they're angry.
I do think we've had a weak season, and I acknowledge that's a very luxurious thing to say when we're still the #1 seed. But that's cool, because I hate Eli Manning like the rest of the country hates us, and having him get benched was delicious.
posted by Ruki at 12:28 PM on January 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
Love right back atcha!
I already saw on my Facebook feed a joint statement from Kraft, Bill, and Brady refuting all this, so like Slap*Happy said above, this is just going to make them angry, and unlike the Incredible Hulk, I like them when they're angry.
I do think we've had a weak season, and I acknowledge that's a very luxurious thing to say when we're still the #1 seed. But that's cool, because I hate Eli Manning like the rest of the country hates us, and having him get benched was delicious.
posted by Ruki at 12:28 PM on January 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
Jimmy G was worth a 2nd rounder, because a second-rounder was on offer. Garoppolo played well in two games, and was injured in a third. You'd be nuts to offer a first round pick on that small a sample, especially as high in the first round as Cleveland and the New York Giants will be next year. (Those three teams were rumored to be the only teams even interested.)
More, the Pats were over a barrel - trade now for a low 2nd-rounder, or let him walk for a high third rounder at the end of the season.
There are other non-obvious business strategic reasons - if he does pan out (and it looks like he's gonna), you'll only have to play against him once every four years in the regular season, as opposed to far more often, perhaps as a perpetual playoff rival, if he's in Cleveland and they somehow build a team around him. Also, if you're going to recruit a malcontent QB who's intent on shooting his way out of town (you'd need a lot of Luck for that to happen. Get it? Luck? Well maybe not him but someone in his position), a proven track-record of "doing right" by the QB will help sign them at an even steeper discount than the sweet smell of a championship ring alone would. Ditto when it comes time to sign any drafted QB - the Patriots can offer more than just stacks of cash, and have paid out to Brady, Garoppolo and even Brissette (who was traded with the understanding he'd get a shot as a starter.)
posted by Slap*Happy at 1:25 PM on January 5, 2018
More, the Pats were over a barrel - trade now for a low 2nd-rounder, or let him walk for a high third rounder at the end of the season.
There are other non-obvious business strategic reasons - if he does pan out (and it looks like he's gonna), you'll only have to play against him once every four years in the regular season, as opposed to far more often, perhaps as a perpetual playoff rival, if he's in Cleveland and they somehow build a team around him. Also, if you're going to recruit a malcontent QB who's intent on shooting his way out of town (you'd need a lot of Luck for that to happen. Get it? Luck? Well maybe not him but someone in his position), a proven track-record of "doing right" by the QB will help sign them at an even steeper discount than the sweet smell of a championship ring alone would. Ditto when it comes time to sign any drafted QB - the Patriots can offer more than just stacks of cash, and have paid out to Brady, Garoppolo and even Brissette (who was traded with the understanding he'd get a shot as a starter.)
posted by Slap*Happy at 1:25 PM on January 5, 2018
You'd be nuts to offer a first round pick on that small a sample
Yeah, the market for young QBs with potential isn't as high value as you'd think. Maybe they could've gotten more around the draft or last season, but they took that difference and bought ten games worth of insurance for Brady.
Also, Garoppolo may be a really good quarterback, but it's a small sample and he may fizzle yet. You don't roll the dice when you have a generational talent like Brady, even if he falls off in a year or two.
posted by Reasonably Everything Happens at 2:09 PM on January 5, 2018
Yeah, the market for young QBs with potential isn't as high value as you'd think. Maybe they could've gotten more around the draft or last season, but they took that difference and bought ten games worth of insurance for Brady.
Also, Garoppolo may be a really good quarterback, but it's a small sample and he may fizzle yet. You don't roll the dice when you have a generational talent like Brady, even if he falls off in a year or two.
posted by Reasonably Everything Happens at 2:09 PM on January 5, 2018
It will be interesting to see what happens when Brady retires
I assume, like Steven Gerrard, he will take a job folding towels or something so he can keep going to work at the Patriots every day. I don't think Tom Brady is a genius or a hero but you have to admire that level of dedication to and enjoyment of a sport and one organization. It's kind of adorable.
posted by fshgrl at 5:03 PM on January 5, 2018
I assume, like Steven Gerrard, he will take a job folding towels or something so he can keep going to work at the Patriots every day. I don't think Tom Brady is a genius or a hero but you have to admire that level of dedication to and enjoyment of a sport and one organization. It's kind of adorable.
posted by fshgrl at 5:03 PM on January 5, 2018
I often listen to the Westwood Radio Monday Night Football broadcast as I'm preparing dinner, and they have this tired shtick they've been hitting me over the head with for several years now in which a nauseatingly sycophantic host puts some Pop Warner level question about that week in the NFL to Brady and gets back the blandest platitudes you'll hear this side of Scientology, but when asked about the Garoppolo trade, Brady might as well have been choking on one of his super-jumbo vitamin capsules he had so much trouble getting his answer out, and the emotion I sensed behind that was anger and outrage.
But why? Garoppolo was a rival, and his very presence on the team could have shortened Brady's career.
I don't know -- maybe Brady sees himself as Belichick's logical successor, and wanted to inherit the QB he'd made in his own image, and the trade means not only is he not going to get that QB, but that Belichick has decided not to retire as soon as Bady thought he would.
posted by jamjam at 5:23 PM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
But why? Garoppolo was a rival, and his very presence on the team could have shortened Brady's career.
I don't know -- maybe Brady sees himself as Belichick's logical successor, and wanted to inherit the QB he'd made in his own image, and the trade means not only is he not going to get that QB, but that Belichick has decided not to retire as soon as Bady thought he would.
posted by jamjam at 5:23 PM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
@Rock Steady: Can we reload like the Montana/Young Niners or the Favre/Rodgers Packers
One common factor in those two scenarios is the older guy getting pushed out the door before he was ready to go to make room for the successor. I'd guess that if you hooked Belichick up to an IV drip of truth serum he'd admit that he wanted to do the same thing.
posted by HillbillyInBC at 5:39 PM on January 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
One common factor in those two scenarios is the older guy getting pushed out the door before he was ready to go to make room for the successor. I'd guess that if you hooked Belichick up to an IV drip of truth serum he'd admit that he wanted to do the same thing.
posted by HillbillyInBC at 5:39 PM on January 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
I'd guess that if you hooked Belichick up to an IV drip of truth serum he'd admit that he wanted to do the same thing.
No. He'd want another ring. His current QB is indisputably the league MVP, despite everyone trying to dispute it as hard as they can, and Darth Hoodie has once again pieced together a top-five defense from used-up sewing-macine bobbins and felt penguins in the shape of bowling pins, under the dread gaze of the Man With The No. 2 Pencil. He's going to get another ring, this entire story and narrative is bogus.
The only real intrigue is which HQ position Matt Patricia winds up in (DETROIT coughcoughcoughthey'retheonlyonewithagoodQB-andbetterowner-coughcough), as Josh stays put and inherits a fully operational Patriots Battlestation in a year or three.
I will take this moment to note that Tim Tebow won a playoff game in his first year leading the team Josh McDaniels built at Mile High, which is more than could be said for Peyton Manning himself the year after. Lil' Josh is the new Pats HQ after Bill rides off into the sunset. Just is. I'm OK with this. He's proven he can build a winning team around Tim Tebow. Nuff said.
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:23 PM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
No. He'd want another ring. His current QB is indisputably the league MVP, despite everyone trying to dispute it as hard as they can, and Darth Hoodie has once again pieced together a top-five defense from used-up sewing-macine bobbins and felt penguins in the shape of bowling pins, under the dread gaze of the Man With The No. 2 Pencil. He's going to get another ring, this entire story and narrative is bogus.
The only real intrigue is which HQ position Matt Patricia winds up in (DETROIT coughcoughcoughthey'retheonlyonewithagoodQB-andbetterowner-coughcough), as Josh stays put and inherits a fully operational Patriots Battlestation in a year or three.
I will take this moment to note that Tim Tebow won a playoff game in his first year leading the team Josh McDaniels built at Mile High, which is more than could be said for Peyton Manning himself the year after. Lil' Josh is the new Pats HQ after Bill rides off into the sunset. Just is. I'm OK with this. He's proven he can build a winning team around Tim Tebow. Nuff said.
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:23 PM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
maybe Brady sees himself as Belichick's logical successor,
I doubt it. I can't see him in that job and no-one else can either. Especially if he doesn't retire from playing till he's 45. He'd have no experience at all compared to his peers.
Brady sees himself as the QB. The guy with one job. I'm sure he'd sell his soul for 10 more years at the pointy end of the stick.
posted by fshgrl at 9:09 PM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
I doubt it. I can't see him in that job and no-one else can either. Especially if he doesn't retire from playing till he's 45. He'd have no experience at all compared to his peers.
Brady sees himself as the QB. The guy with one job. I'm sure he'd sell his soul for 10 more years at the pointy end of the stick.
posted by fshgrl at 9:09 PM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Also, Garoppolo may be a really good quarterback, but it's a small sample and he may fizzle yet. You don't roll the dice when you have a generational talent like Brady, even if he falls off in a year or two.--Reasonably Everything Happens
Garoppolo was traded to the 49ers in October. He started in December, his first game of the year because he never took the field for the Patriots in 2017. He started for the next 6 games, winning all 7 games, the first time any quarterback has done that in the NFL since 2004.
posted by eye of newt at 9:58 PM on January 5, 2018
Garoppolo was traded to the 49ers in October. He started in December, his first game of the year because he never took the field for the Patriots in 2017. He started for the next 6 games, winning all 7 games, the first time any quarterback has done that in the NFL since 2004.
posted by eye of newt at 9:58 PM on January 5, 2018
drezdn: “The other big difference is that the Patriots have clearly the best coach in the league. ”If Gruden is getting $100 mil, anyone who wants to hire Belichick will have to offer a deal that will make Goodell's embarrassment of riches seem modest.
Goodell delenda est.
posted by ob1quixote at 11:18 PM on January 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
I am saddened that the dynasty had to end this way, riven with strife between owner, head coach and QB. The out-of-his-gourd Tom Brady, with his sway-toothed lunatic Rasputin, demanding they trade a backup QB who had three starts, one of them he was injured and couldn't complete, for a very high second-round pick, when they'd get a third round pick letting him walk at the end of the year by hanging onto him.
That was the ego-diva Brady, sneak-thiefing to ownership behind the Coach, and not a reasonable football trade made by Belichick ahead of the trade deadline, nooooo surrrrrr.
Also, as 538 showed in their made-up-for-this-hitpiece stats, Tom Brady is a very average 40yo QB. It was blatantly apparent in this game, where he could only reach the line of scrimmage with his "Rascal" personal mobility scooter. He was sacked an amazing eight times, no wait, that was the other guy, none times, which shows he should hang up his cleats.
* * *
The one silver lining of the Age of Trump - actual agenda-driven Fake News is easier to spot than ever. ESPN and 538 have no-kidding soiled their reputation almost beyond repair by refusing even the most basic journalistic integrity. Nate needs an apology piece, and quick.
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:26 PM on January 13, 2018
That was the ego-diva Brady, sneak-thiefing to ownership behind the Coach, and not a reasonable football trade made by Belichick ahead of the trade deadline, nooooo surrrrrr.
Also, as 538 showed in their made-up-for-this-hitpiece stats, Tom Brady is a very average 40yo QB. It was blatantly apparent in this game, where he could only reach the line of scrimmage with his "Rascal" personal mobility scooter. He was sacked an amazing eight times, no wait, that was the other guy, none times, which shows he should hang up his cleats.
* * *
The one silver lining of the Age of Trump - actual agenda-driven Fake News is easier to spot than ever. ESPN and 538 have no-kidding soiled their reputation almost beyond repair by refusing even the most basic journalistic integrity. Nate needs an apology piece, and quick.
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:26 PM on January 13, 2018
Also, JAX beats PIT, as they have a top-tier defense known for rattling elite QBs, and a tepid offense that doesn't mess up enough to lose essential games. Which will make next week's Jagwires vs. Patsies game reaaaaaal interesting. Unless you're a Pats fan, in which case you're laying in stocks of paper bags to breath slowly into, and piles of comforting satin-edged blankets to cuddle. No-one will judge if you suck your thumb.
If it's PIT vs. PVD, well... Farewell and adieu you fine Spanish ladies...
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:39 PM on January 13, 2018
If it's PIT vs. PVD, well... Farewell and adieu you fine Spanish ladies...
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:39 PM on January 13, 2018
The things I tell you will not be wrong. A sham offense against a sham defense, an elite offense against an elite defense...
If JAX's D-line can get to Brady early and often, and if Blake Bottlebrush can get lucky with a lead TD or two, it will be a dark day in Foxboro.
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:39 PM on January 14, 2018
If JAX's D-line can get to Brady early and often, and if Blake Bottlebrush can get lucky with a lead TD or two, it will be a dark day in Foxboro.
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:39 PM on January 14, 2018
Since it's not worth it's own thread, can I just say "holy fucking shit" here about the end of the Vikings - Saints game yesterday? I didn't watch most of it, but turned on the TV to catch my local news and saw the last couple of minutes of game play (and the 15 minutes of utter insanity after the touchdown before they could declare the game over).
That was something.
posted by nubs at 11:42 AM on January 15, 2018 [4 favorites]
That was something.
posted by nubs at 11:42 AM on January 15, 2018 [4 favorites]
That was bonkers, and speaking as an Eagles fan I am very glad Sunday's game will not be played in Minnesota. That crowd was on another level.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:17 AM on January 16, 2018
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:17 AM on January 16, 2018
I watched the beginnings of both Sunday games and 1) fell asleep and missed the crazy scoring exhibition at the end of the JAX-PIT game, and 2) had dinner and played board games with the fam and missed MIN-NO. We could do the Championship games on FanFare, if y'all want.
posted by Rock Steady at 12:03 PM on January 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Rock Steady at 12:03 PM on January 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
+1 for fanfare, the threads usually do pretty well, it just takes the initiative of someone to make a post.
posted by skewed at 8:25 AM on January 17, 2018
posted by skewed at 8:25 AM on January 17, 2018
OK. Scuttlebutt is that Brady's thumb was dislocated and sprained - again - in the last game. He did not practice today, nor was he available to the press. Scott Zolak, former backup to both Bledsoe and Brady, and current radio colorman for the Patriots is convinced Brady is out for the game against the Jags.
Others are predicting he'll be in, but in a vastly diminished capacity, as a wounded Brady is better against the opportunistic Jags than a turnover machine like Hoyer.
High drama not involving imagined sidelines shenanigans for once...
posted by Slap*Happy at 5:34 PM on January 18, 2018
Others are predicting he'll be in, but in a vastly diminished capacity, as a wounded Brady is better against the opportunistic Jags than a turnover machine like Hoyer.
High drama not involving imagined sidelines shenanigans for once...
posted by Slap*Happy at 5:34 PM on January 18, 2018
Mind games to try to confuse the defensive game plan for the Jags? I'm always suspicious of the Pats.
posted by nubs at 6:04 PM on January 18, 2018
posted by nubs at 6:04 PM on January 18, 2018
I can't imagine that the mind games would be worth a day of practice without their quarterback.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 6:23 PM on January 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 6:23 PM on January 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
Its Tom Brady! I'm sure a day of stretching and deep tissue massage and TB12ing will make him even better than if he had practiced.
posted by nubs at 6:27 PM on January 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by nubs at 6:27 PM on January 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
Drew Bledsoe once played with a surgical pin in a finger on his throwing hand. It was put in on Tuesday, and he was playing the no-kidding good "Greatest Show on Turf" St. Louis Rams on Sunday. They lost 18-32, but he still had 11 completions for almost 200 yards before Pete Carroll pulled him. This is one of Brady's mentors and role-models, a typical pre-Belichick, pre-Pioli Patriots QB, greatness surrounded by mostly tapioca, striving and achieving regardless.
Tom is playing the Jags, for good or for ill. Drew would, so he will. Expect a lot of "Greatest Blocking Tight End" Gronk while the lil' scat-backs scoot all over the place, rather than "haul in this ludicrous throw" Gronk is all I'm saying.
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:55 PM on January 18, 2018
Tom is playing the Jags, for good or for ill. Drew would, so he will. Expect a lot of "Greatest Blocking Tight End" Gronk while the lil' scat-backs scoot all over the place, rather than "haul in this ludicrous throw" Gronk is all I'm saying.
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:55 PM on January 18, 2018
Also! If you happen to follow the live FARK.com NFL threads, you will see a lot of bunny rabbit gifs and memes in the Jaguar games. This is due to Bunny DeVille, the nom de guerre of a woman who's been a Jaguar's fan on the notoriously rude FARK threads since forever, and is very popular because she is relentless in being nice and supportive of other teams and their fans while being unapologetic in standing by her team through thick and thin. Which is kinda indicative of Jaguars fandom on the whole.
So the trolls quiet, and the sarcastic regulars stick by her, and revel when her team wins one. This year, tho! Wow!
Bunny DeVille has the particular pleasure of seeing the Pittsburgh Steelers dismiss her team as a speed-bump, and being made to pay for it, and now a full week of the New England Patriots greats, from Darth Hoodie to Tom Terrific, take her Jaguars with the grave seriousness they deserve.
Go Pats! But if they should falter, I, too, will be shit-posting funny rabbit gifs on the Superb Owl game thread.
posted by Slap*Happy at 7:17 PM on January 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
So the trolls quiet, and the sarcastic regulars stick by her, and revel when her team wins one. This year, tho! Wow!
Bunny DeVille has the particular pleasure of seeing the Pittsburgh Steelers dismiss her team as a speed-bump, and being made to pay for it, and now a full week of the New England Patriots greats, from Darth Hoodie to Tom Terrific, take her Jaguars with the grave seriousness they deserve.
Go Pats! But if they should falter, I, too, will be shit-posting funny rabbit gifs on the Superb Owl game thread.
posted by Slap*Happy at 7:17 PM on January 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
Its Tom Brady! I'm sure a day of stretching and deep tissue massage and TB12ing will make him even better than if he had practiced.
I'm thinking more in terms of the rest of the offense losing a day of practice with the guy who'll be under center on Sunday. Obviously I'm not on the team, but with the way the Pats change up their offensive strategy from week to week depending on their opponent, you can't rely as much on "it's the postseason, they all know what they're doing by now" as other teams might.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:20 AM on January 19, 2018
I'm thinking more in terms of the rest of the offense losing a day of practice with the guy who'll be under center on Sunday. Obviously I'm not on the team, but with the way the Pats change up their offensive strategy from week to week depending on their opponent, you can't rely as much on "it's the postseason, they all know what they're doing by now" as other teams might.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:20 AM on January 19, 2018
for anyone interested: Fanfare NFC/AFC Championship post
posted by skewed at 1:34 PM on January 21, 2018
posted by skewed at 1:34 PM on January 21, 2018
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This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
p.s. The situation with Brady’s trainer Alex Guerrero reminds me of Metallica and their “performance-enhancing coach” in the wonderful movie Some Kind of Monster.
posted by LeLiLo at 1:04 AM on January 5, 2018 [8 favorites]