New England Patriots Links 12/15/09 - Patriots Have Randy's Back; Adalius Thomas Ratted Out The Story
by Marima on Dec 15, 2009 9:54 AM EST
in News/General
27 comments
Matt Bowen (Nat'l Football Post) Defends Randy Moss' character.
So, yes, the Panthers did take Moss out of the game. And, yes, he did look lethargic on a certain number of plays. But to say that he quit on his teammates? No, I’m not buying that.
Did he play poorly? Sure he did, and just like the other members of that team, he will be corrected when they turn on the film today in their meeting rooms—but that is all that I see in play after this story has come out. And, I am going to listen to Brady and Belichick when it comes to judging his character as a teammate because, like you, I am not in those meetings, on the practice field or in the locker room with a player that still demands respect from a defensive standpoint—and causes opposing players to mouth off to the media even after a loss. Because we can’t pretend to know what is being called in that huddle, just as we can’t pretend to know what route is supposed to be run as told on the chalkboard in the Patriots meeting rooms.
Ty Warren was asked by WEEI's Michael Holley how the news about the discipline got out, and Warren replied that Adalius put it out there himself (at the 6.35 min. mark). Warren also mentioned that fellow-late-comer Gary Guyton returned to Gillette Stadium that night to watch film.
Bill Belichick talked about what happens when a guy like Sam Aiken is out of the lineup.
If you lose a core player in the kicking game, like Sam was inactive yesterday - he’s really a starter on four teams. It isn’t always the same person that replaces him on each team, it can be a combination of different things and that was the case yesterday. That’s always a challenge on special teams; if you take one guy out, you’ve lost him on at least four teams. Sometimes if he’s involved in the field goal and field goal rush situations, it could be more than that.
It’s a lot different than on offense or defense where it’s just that position on offense or that position on defense. It rolls into multiple positions in the kicking game and then you usually don’t have the same person where you just can’t do it, you don’t have enough people. It’s just like offense: you can’t have a backup right tackle, a backup right guard, a backup center. You’ve got to have one guy that backs up multiple positions and that’s true in the kicking game, too. One guy is out, that means 'you’re in on this team’, 'he’s in on that team’, 'you’re in on another team’ and it really challenges your depth.
That’s one of the real challenging parts of being the special teams coach and even as a head coach - trying to put the roster together when you have a player like that who has a role on offense and is a core player in the kicking game. That’s a lot of jobs.
TEAM TALK
- Erik Scalavino says Wes Welker was the spark plug in Sunday's win, plus Monday notes from Gillette.
- Monday Presser: Bill Belichick (22:18 min. video)
- WEEI Patriots Monday: Tom Brady (24:15 min.), Chris Baker (6:30 min.), Sammy Morris (9:20 min.), Ty Warren (13:35 min.), Bill Belichick (11:10 min.) Q&A Transcripts: Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.
- Patriots Today: Overcoming Carolina, highlights and analysis. (13:05 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Karen Guregian writes Randy-bashing was all the rage yesterday, but his coach and his team are staunchly in his corner.
- Mike Reiss reports a feisty Bill Belichick came out swinging at his press conference Monday morning. It's memorable because Belichick is the anti-Ryan 99.9% of the time, either showering praise on the opposition or simply taking the football high road.
- Mike Reiss points out how Tom Brady and Kevin Faulk both defend Randy Moss and deflect criticism of effort.
- Christopher Price reports the consistant locker room support for Randy Moss, his character and his effort.
- Bill Reynolds says Moss can answer critics with a return to All-Pro form.
- Gerry Callahan feels Bill Belichick gave Randy a pass because he has no other choice besides hoping the real Randy Moss shows up for the last three games of the season.
- Ian Rapoport notes ESPN analyst and former Minnesota WR Cris Carter feels something happened to Randy Moss mentally to be on the field in that state.
- Ian Rapoport notes WR Jerry Rice rips Randy Moss. What a surprise.
- Robert Lee reports rookie Sebastian Vollmer has improved to where he is already arguably just as good, if not better, than veteran tackles Matt Light and Nick Kaczur.
- Ian Rapoport says LB Pierre Woods is happy with his role on special teams, but enjoyed getting the start on defense Sunday against the Panthers.
- Mike Reiss looks at the snaps played by offensive skill position players and the positional groupings utilized by the Patriots in their 20-10 win over the Panthers.
- Mike Reiss looks at and analyzes the snaps played by Patriots defenders in the Panthers win, noting Banta-Cain, Meriweather and Mayo played every one.
- Mike Reiss breaks down the three-man rotation at OT in Sunday's win.
- Boston Herald Patriots Notebook: Adalius Thomas ready to move on from a bad week; Belichick admitted Brady’s availability really was a gametime decision; Rob Ninkovich filled in for Thomas on passing downs against the Panthers and was rewarded with a contract extension; Matt Light will only play Left Tackle, Sebastian Vollmer can rotate; Patriots gained 185 yards on the ground Sunday with Baker and Watson blocking.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Eric Edholm (Pro Football Weekly) Brady, Belichick appear firmly in Moss's corner.
- John Czarnecki (Fox Sports) The day after: What's eating Randy Moss?
- Charles Chandler (Charlotte Observer) Patriots question Panthers, not Moss.
- Scott Fowler (Charlotte Observer) Belichick can't handle the truth.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Big move: Belichick stands up for his boys.
- Charles Robinson (Yahoo! Sports) 'Fragile' Moss threatens to set back Patriots.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Jerry Rice rips Randy Moss for zero effort. (26 second video clip)
- Michael Silver (Yahoo! Sports) Thanks to New England's run at perfection two years ago, we're no longer bombarded by the '72 Dolphins.
- Dennis Dillon (Sporting News) Super Bowls don't matter, Colts are team of the decade. Ask any Colts' player if he'd trade a few of those regular-season victories for another SB win and you'll have your real answer.
- Judy Battista (NY Times) With a chance at undefeated records, the Saints and Colts must weigh the value of perfection against resting for the playoffs.
- Pro Football Weekly Steelers in midst of Super collapse.
1 recs |
27 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
Cris Carter's words carry a little more weight
but he is discounting injury in his analysis. “Something happened”, I’ll buy, but tying it to “maturity” I don’t. Carter can call Moss anytime and chat. I’d expect better from him.
Also Belichick’s quote:
"Stats are for losers. Final scores are for winners, and that’s really what it’s about, Belichick said. "That’s the bottom line."
Sort of tells about the game plan. It says Moss is a decoy, we didn’t expect him to get stats. They fell for it, and that’s how we got the win. Moss took one for the team.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Dec 15, 2009 10:25 AM EST reply actions
And if Chris Gamble & Co really didn't "Fall for the decoy",
then why did they give up 10 catches to Welker?
That's what crossed my mind too!
If they weren’t “paying any attention” to Moss, then who the heck were they paying attention to out there?
Keep the faith!
Character?
Warren also mentioned that fellow-late-comer Gary Guyton returned to Gillette Stadium that night to watch film.
Hmm…
Blogger at SBNation's Patriots blog, Pats Pulpit
Read that too.
I really like that kid. He’s sideline to sideline, sort of a close in safety and somewhat of a ballhawk. He probably had to share the film room with Mayo, though.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Dec 15, 2009 10:45 AM EST up reply actions
I really want him to keep playing well.
We need players like him.
by Richard Hill on Dec 15, 2009 12:36 PM EST up reply actions
Simile for the day:
Randy Moss is like a well executed hop (or slide) side-kick. It can hurt you, it’s tough to defend against if it’s fast, and once you’re hit by it you’re thinking about it the rest of the match. Anytime you throw a kick that looks even remotely like a side kick (hook kicks and round kicks can be thrown from virtually the same stance and with practice, you can twist a crescent out of it), your opponent looks to block that hard shot in the side and is open to the other kicks (you’ve trained him). Hit with it once, and you never have to use it again. Randy Moss is just like that.
The threat of Randy Moss makes teams cringe, but if they don’t respect him he’s a pain in their sides all day long.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Dec 15, 2009 12:06 PM EST reply actions
AT, not Moss, is a problem
That AT leaked that they were sent home shows just how much of a problem HE continues to be. That is the story that should be running, not trouncing on Moss for an admittedly horrible game. He looked frustrated, but you didn’t see him pull a TO and yell at Brady or anyone else.
I suspect he’ll light up the Bills. Bill & Tom will show Randy some love. AT continues to show it is all about him and to undermine the team.
"simul justus et peccator"
Ditto
I agree, Thomas is becoming a distraction. He and his Jet Car will be finding a new solar system asap. To not perform and to run the yap is a ticket out of town.
Those of you who think you know everything just annoy those of us who do!!
Vince Wilfork has Spock-ears?
I guess they’re meant to be the faceguard strap things, but I laughed when I saw it. Having Vince say convoluted Spock-isms would make my day.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Dec 15, 2009 7:11 PM EST up reply actions
just a question
there are people who will complain that we only got team of the decade simply because that we have 3 SB wins/4, forgot how many playoff appearances, and the 16-0 regular season. Is that how team of the decade is always based ff of, or is there more to it?
The comments by Bellichek about Aiken
make me wonder if that (Aiken’s absence) also didn’t hurt Moss.
Not having Aiken opposite gave the defense even more incentive to cheat towards Randy’s side of the field.
But personally, I think Moss’ back is probably still bothering him.
Ron Borges on Mohegan Sun Sports Tonight
last night spewed his usual bile. Among other things, he very snidely offered his oh-so-worthwhile opinion that Randi Moss “has a weak mind”.
This, from a guy who was caught red-handed committing blatant plagiarism.
He probably just copied that opinion from someone.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Dec 15, 2009 5:08 PM EST up reply actions
I don't honor Borges in saying this,
but on-field history shows Moss to be a front-runner. That said, if you let him get in front you may as well kiss the thing good-bye, ‘cause you’re not catching him.
The best you can say for that is during his time with the Pats, it’s been a game-to-game question, rather than a season-to-season one.
Get him involved early, and you’ve got something.
As Mr. Sloan always says, there is no "I" in team, but there is an "I" in pie. And there's an "I" in meat pie. Anagram of meat is team... I don't know what he's talking about. --Shaun of the Dead
by JohnHannahRules on Dec 15, 2009 5:45 PM EST up reply actions
I'm thinking in hindsight
That they did get him involved early and often. Just not as a target. With no Aiken on the other side, the Panthers look in review to clearly be cheating to take out Moss. Welker was facing single coverage all day and murdered it. Moss obviously laid out some nice blocks for both Welker and Maroney that we all saw.
I’m betting Brady and Bellicheck knew going in that Moss probably wasn’t 100% and probably regret even throwing the 5 balls they did throw in his direction. But they HAD to line him up out there – no one else on the roster to split wide. And he has value as a decoy and a blocker. If they didn’t throw SOME balls at him, then his value as a decoy would be less.
Oh good god – conspiracy theory time – how do you give Moss a day off of practice without revealing an injury? You send him home for being a few minutes late to a meeting! Hee hee!
Careful..
you’re going to run out of tinfoil.
As Mr. Sloan always says, there is no "I" in team, but there is an "I" in pie. And there's an "I" in meat pie. Anagram of meat is team... I don't know what he's talking about. --Shaun of the Dead
by JohnHannahRules on Dec 15, 2009 7:12 PM EST up reply actions
Coathangers from the ceiling work, too
Eric Mangini is a good coach. There’s just a Government conspiracy against him.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Dec 15, 2009 7:29 PM EST up reply actions
Heh - Just ran to the store and bought a case of Reynolds Wrap!
Bellicheck is obviously beaming mind-control waves antennae atop Patriot Place!
I do believe that Moss is injured, though.
colts...the team of the decade...r u kidding me???
SB wins matter….not stats and most wins in the decade…
Pats are 14-3 in the playoffs this decade….
whats the colts record in playoffs??
we have 5 afc championship appearances, colts have 2!!!
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Media requests: Please email patspulpit at gmail.com
Related FanPosts on Pats Pulpit
Related FanShots on Pats Pulpit
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
