Catching Up With Brandon Meriweather

by Cro-mags on Oct 11, 2011 10:26 AM EDT

So watching Chicago play Detroit on Monday night, last night I couldn't help but focus in on our former safety, the Partystarter himself, Mr, Brandon Meriweather. I don't really wish ill of the guy, but anytime there's roster movement like that I like to feel my team came out better for it in the end. I'm not at all surprised he's no longer a Patriot after some of his antics the last few years, but at the same time I was kind of shocked the Patriots couldn't get anything in return for liquidating him (a la Seymour, Cassel etc.). I mean, he certainly had his flaws, but he was a former 1st rounder, 2X Pro-bowler (on paper that is), and he was snatched up off of waivers without hesitation. The 1st round draft pick spent on him is water under the bridge, but surely we could've gotten something in return.

In Bill we trust, right?

Anyway, I watched about 3 quarters of that Lions/Bears game last night, and I don't care that the Patriots defense is the most permissive in the league. They are still better off without him.

There are 3 plays that stand out to me as quintessential Meriweather, that just made me cringe. These plays should bring a familiar (sinking) feeling to any Pats fan.

1. On 3rd and 8 Megatron scores a demoralizing 73-yard TD.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/09000d5d82305864/Megatron-goes-the-distance

This is signature Meriweather

-out of position

-takes a horrible angle

-knocks his own CB out of the play

-misses the tackle

All on a key 3rd and long no less.

2. He came in very late during an INT return and threw a real cheap block that practically ignited a fight

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d82305b90/Give-me-Moore-please?continuous=true

Now, in his defense, I didn't really hear the whistle and he wasn't flagged, but it's not worth the risk of a 15yard flag to take shots like this. And it's just not good football, it's a knucklehead move.

3.Jahvid Best 88yard TD scamper. I felt sick to my stomach when I saw this one having flashbacks of Ray Rice's 1st play from scrimmage in the playoffs.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d82305eb4/Best-bests-Chicago-s-D-for-TD

It's not all on Brandon that Best sliced right through the first two level untouched, but again, Meriweather so far out of position, can't take a good angle...good night Irene! Not the first time we've seen him chasing a runner down from behind, and getting burned.

I'm not trying to slag the guy, but if any Pats fans were looking at the stat line on our D and feeling remorse about Meriweather being gone and wondering why we got nothing in return. Well, after what I saw last night, I have to say we're better off without Meriweather back there.

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The Chicago Tribune agrees with you

This morning they had an article lamenting the Bears defense giving up big plays, and refers to Meriweather’s play in unflattering terms.

The Bears proved in 2010 they can win with an inept offensive line that remains an embarrassment. But a Bears team with a defensive head coach like Lovie Smith cannot win with safeties who make every lead unsafe.
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Harris blew coverage on Johnson’s TD and neither he nor reckless Patriots reject Brandon Meriweather filled adequately on Jahvid Best’s 88-yard touchdown run that broke the game open.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Oct 11, 2011 11:02 AM EDT reply actions

Belichick again proves he can get more out of a player than anyone else.

When he was here, Meriweather did his share of freelancing, but I don’t recall it ever being this bad. I don’t think anyone could correct his bad angles or penchant for taking out his own teammates, but Belichick did seem to keep him in check with respect to the risk-taking, for the most part. Lovie Smith is no slouch of a coach, but so far he’s only eliciting the very worst that Meriweather has to offer, whereas while he was here, he was named to two Pro Bowls*** DESPITE the inherent flaws in his game.

This just confirms for me what I already knew: if Belichick gives you a shot and you don’t make anything of it, you’re not going to make it anywhere else, either.

by nbradley07 on Oct 11, 2011 11:43 AM EDT reply actions

Did you have to put three asterisks?

I get enough of that from Steeler bandwagoners.

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by ISN on Oct 11, 2011 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions

I think he was the third alternate each time.

So three is an appropriate number.

by nbradley07 on Oct 11, 2011 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions

And on what grounds are Steeler fans playing fast and loose with asterisks?

On the Pats’ trophies? Sooooooooooo 2007.

by nbradley07 on Oct 11, 2011 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions

They throw them around.

I generally respond with asterisks of my own querying physical augmentation and official aid.

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by ISN on Oct 11, 2011 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh yeah, they love it when you bring up their "physical augmentation" LOL

Deep in enemy territory

by JeffyB on Oct 11, 2011 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not a Meriweather fan, but...

the 73 yard TD was not Meriweather’s fault. Johnson was released by the cornerback and then had a one on one with Chris Harris, the Bears starting Strong Safety. Meriweather came across the field to try to help make the tackle and Calvin Johnson just out ran him. That play was in no way caused by Meriweather’s bad play, though his pursuit angle was crap.

by Ghu55 on Oct 11, 2011 12:37 PM EDT reply actions

Bad angle and wrong tackle. He could have saved his team 15 yards before the end zone.

At least he did not try to tackle his own guy

by frogfromthemud on Oct 11, 2011 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions

It's always the little things that mean so much.

The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
Some people can learn from the mistakes of others, while some people need to pee on the electric fence themselves.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Oct 11, 2011 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions

To be fair on the Best run

When Best is one on one with any safety, chances are he gets by him.

I’ll take 11 players with heart on the field over 11 guys with just talent. Talent is fleeting, it goes away over time. Heart is what drives you to be better. To push yourself beyond what you think your capabilities are. To show us that when you strive, all things are possible.- SMP

by Jack'sAxe on Oct 11, 2011 3:26 PM EDT reply actions

so you'd cut him the same break and say Rice beats safeties regularly?

GFY

by TFBismywingman on Oct 12, 2011 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions

When BEST is one on one with a safety, the safety has no chance.

But you want my opinion on Ray Rice? Yeah, pretty much any safety is screwed when Ray Rice is one on one with a safety. Occasionally they stop him, but one on one in an open field, its most likely a TD unless that safety can run faster than rice and trip him or something.

by Jack'sAxe on Oct 13, 2011 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions

It's one thing to miss an open field tackle

Although Meriweather missing a tackle is more than likely going to be because he sucks not because of the RB’s skill. It’s another to not even be in the area to slow the guy down.

by indy pats fan on Oct 15, 2011 6:27 PM EDT up reply actions

now it appears he is demoted

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AjpvD4ytlxv073VA7xa5tV9DubYF?slug=ap-bears-safeties#mwpphu-container

Thad Castle: Which one of you assholes stuck his finger in my asshole?

by cruelangelT on Oct 13, 2011 9:40 PM EDT reply actions

Speaking of the Pats throwaways....

What ever happened to Adalius Thomas? Everyone thought (myself included) that he would instantly sign with the jets. Not only did that not happen, it doesn’t seem as though he has garnered much interest at all. Weird…..

by STBadly on Oct 15, 2011 2:09 PM EDT reply actions

Still looking for work

According to his agent, it was surprising that no team wanted to bring him in after he left the Patriots. Bus Cook didn’t think it was because he wanted too much money, or because of anything to do with Belichick – it was because of “bad film.” It seems he still wants to play if any team is interested.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Oct 15, 2011 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks again Marima.

I had googled the question and had no luck. The guy was healthy and not far removed from when he was actually good. It was weird to me that even Ryan didn’t pounce on him (Ugh! The image that produced! >_<) or that even the crappiest of teams didn’t take a flyer. Meriweather and Butler were picked up before they hit the floor! AD has been waiting nearly two years! The whole thing is crazy to me, maybe some behind the scenes stuff we haven’t heard or something……very odd…..

by STBadly on Oct 15, 2011 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not too surprised Ryan didn't pick him up.

There’s a reason he was allowed to hit FA rather than staying with the Ravens, after all.

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by ISN on Oct 16, 2011 12:26 AM EDT up reply actions

That "bad film" was pretty indicting

Coaches and teams can forgive mistakes of any degree when evaluating at a player, but a pattern of giving up and listless play added to being a public locker room malcontent, is a reason to stay away.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Oct 16, 2011 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions