OT: Wonderful Boston Globe Article - New England Patriots Forums

***Mike the Brit*** · 10-21-2006, 04:14 AM

Every Friday in the Globe Jim McCabe has an article called "Pro Picks" previewing the weekend's games. I find them very funny. This week's, though, is not just very funny but has a really powerful point to make:

"Yet another annual meeting of PUPPOB (People Using Power to Pass On the Blame) was about to get underway and there was a buzz in the air. Usually one new member is accepted, but this was a festive occasion, for three candidates had been nominated -- and for accomplishments within a 24-hour time frame, no less.

``It's a thrill to be a member of this club," said Brian Billick, the coach of the Baltimore Ravens. Asked what clinched his nomination, he gushed.

``I won a Super Bowl with a retread quarterback named Trent Dilfer in my second year with the Ravens, but I got rid of him," said Billick. ``I've personally chosen 17 quarterbacks since then, but we've gone just 46-40, made the playoffs just twice, and gone 1-2 in those games. We haven't made the playoffs since 2003, however, and because we're averaging 18.3 points per game this season after averaging 16.5 under my watch in '05, I'm doing what a PUPPOB member should do -- I'm firing the offensive coordinator [Jim Fassel]."

The crowd roared, then in unison chanted the group slogan: ``The buck stops somewhere below me."

It was a perfect way to usher Dennis Green onto the stage. A venomous froth formed as he referenced the debacle his team had been involved in a few nights earlier. Chicago had stunned Arizona and capitalized on two turnovers and a punt return to win, 24-23.

``The Bears are who we thought they were and I am who I know I am -- someone who can pass on the blame," Green shouted. ``I said the other night that `we' let them off the hook, but I was `wrong.' I was blameless. `He' let them off the hook, which is why I fired his butt."

``The buck stops somewhere below me," roared the crowd, approving Green's treatment of Keith Rowen, the former offensive coordinator.

``Remember two years ago? I fired the offensive line coach. No one fires the offensive line coach, but I did," Green screamed. ``I made the decision to cut our best offensive lineman, Pete Kendall, but if you delegate blame efficiently, you keep a step ahead."

The crowd was ecstatic, even more so when the third new member walked onstage.

``I did not take off my helmet and fight anyone from that other school, whomever they were," said Donna Shalala, the president of the University of Miami. ``But I will not sit by idly -- at least not after 48 hours or so. I will be a leader -- after I wash my hands clean of any blame, of course, as I did with last year's Peach Bowl and all those other sordid affairs."

http://www.boston.com/sports/footbal...sk_management/

***gomezcat*** · 10-21-2006, 05:15 AM

, great article. I suspect it is going to be very difficult to get to the bottom of the Green v his OC argument. He fired the OC, the OC apparently Green for the playcalling in the second half....

Krugman · 10-21-2006, 07:41 AM

The Cardinals OC seemed to be instrumental in scoring points against a very good Bears defence,two players cough up the ball and the Bears score on those turnovers...seems the offence was fine for a while....not many teams are going to score that much against the Bears....Dennis Green will be history after this season.

***shmessy*** · 10-21-2006, 09:28 AM

Don't forget, Billick fired Jim Fassel two days after the Ravens offense scored 28 points against arguably the best four man D-Line on earth. Fassel did this while losing starting QB Steve McNair in the 1st quarter to a concussion and bringing in second teamer 1st round bust Kyle Boller.

BTW, I live in Maryland and have to endure listening to the INSUFFERABLE Brian Billick every 20 minutes or so when listening to the radio in my car. What a gasbag........the only term for this guy.

I know we all complain about how dry our BB is, but one can really develop a tremendous like for the guy when you put his persona up against the Baltimore BB.

***mtbykr*** · 10-21-2006, 10:15 AM

Seeing those two knucklehead's in action makes me thank God everyday that we have BB running the show in NE.

This was posted a while ago in the "charlie weis book" thread, but it just shows another examply of why BB is sucessful:

Quote:

One interesting story Charlie tells is that as a low level assistant with the Giants, BB asked if anyone had any suggestions for the defensive game plan for that week. So Charlie mentioned an idea he’d seen someone use against the run and BB put it into that week’s game plan. The Giants won and successfully shut down the other team’s running game. At the press conference afterward, the media asked BB how he came up with such a great game plan. BB said, “I didn’t. It wasn't my idea, it was his” and pointed at Charlie. Charlie was impressed that not only had BB listened to the idea of a low level assistant but he refused to take the credit.

RayClay · 10-21-2006, 11:44 AM

Great article.

You really think thuggery in Miami started with Shalala?

It might not be appropriate, but since it's out there now what in the third case has anything to do with the very similar cases of the first two?

***Box_O_Rocks*** · 10-21-2006, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayClay

You really think thuggery in Miami started with Shalala?

Of course not, but an essential part of the job description for being a Miami President is a deep rooted approval of thuggery.

RayClay · 10-21-2006, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Box_O_Rocks

Of course not, but an essential part of the job description for being a Miami President is a deep rooted approval of thuggery.

Certainly a tacit acceptance.

Problem here is, the third example is very unlike the first two and obviously put in there as a political jab.

I suppose if one hasn't followed Presidential politics closely it wouldn't be apparent, but it is to me.

By the way, you know those "quotes" aren't actual quotes, right?

***Mike the Brit*** · 10-21-2006, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayClay

Certainly a tacit acceptance.

Problem here is, the third example is very unlike the first two and obviously put in there as a political jab.

I suppose if one hasn't followed Presidential politics closely it wouldn't be apparent, but it is to me.

By the way, you know those "quotes" aren't actual quotes, right?

They seem similar enough to me -- the University authorities don't take responsibility for condoning a culture of bestiality and thuggery and, when it becomes impossible to ignore it, do nothing that might actually have an effect. In a half-way decent world, she'd have thrown everyone involved off the team, fired the coach and resigned herself, in my opinion.

I know that Ms Shalala was a long-time member of Bill Clinton's Cabinet, but I don't have any evidence that Jim McCabe has an agenda against her for that reason. Do you?

RayClay · 10-21-2006, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike the Brit

They seem similar enough to me -- the University authorities don't take responsibility for condoning a culture of bestiality and thuggery and, when it becomes impossible to ignore it, do nothing that might actually have an effect. In a half-way decent world, she'd have thrown everyone involved off the team, fired the coach and resigned herself, in my opinion.

I know that Ms Shalala was a long-time member of Bill Clinton's Cabinet, but I don't have any evidence that Jim McCabe has an agenda against her for that reason. Do you?

No I'm sure it was a coincidence.

Are you saying that she changed the culture of this school from what it was previously and is responsible for the fight?

Did she fire someone as a scapegoat?

There was bestiality involved?