JDSal45

In an effort to twist the story today that the Patriots are acting different than they did in the past, Felger writes a story pointing out two situations from one game, and then proceeds to ignore facts which do not fit his case (including from that same game). Here are some:

2006:

1.) Leading 31-7 last year against the Vikings, with Brady still in the game with 8:38 left, the Patriots go for it on 4th and 5 at the Minnesota 32 rather than attempt a 49 yard field goal.

2.) Leading 28-0 vs. Green Bay with 10 minutes left last year, Brady (still in the game) throws a 19 yard TD pass to make it 35-0.

3.) Felger points out certain things from the Houston game, but conveniently ignores that while leading 40-7 with 4th and 4 at the Houston 33 with 2:38 left, the Patriots pass for first down rather than try a 50 yard field goal or punt. Funny Felger pointed out certain plays from this game, but not this one. That is unethical.

4.) Leading 33-23 vs. the Titans with 1:58 left, the Patriots go for it on 4th and 7 on the Tennessee 36 and convert by throwing. They then throw a touchdown pass on first down when they could have run out the clock.

Going back to 2005:

1.) Leading 35-7 against Buffalo with 31 seconds left, the Patriots go for it on 4th and 4.

2.) Leading 28-0 versus Tampa Bay with 3:05 left in the game, the Patriots go for it on 4th and 2 with Tom Brady still in the game rather than attempt a 49 yard field goal.

Going back to 2004:

1.) Leading 42-7 vs. Cleveland with 10 minutes left, the Patriots go for it on 4th and goal on the Cleveland 5 yard line rather than try a chip shot 22 yard field goal.

2.) Leading 23-7 with 5:31 left versus the Jets, the Patriots go for it on 4th down rather than try a 42 yard field goal. Tom Brady is still in the game.

3.) Leading 21-7 versus San Francisco with 1:12 left in the game, the Patriots go for it on 4th and 4 on the San Francisco 9 yard line, rather than try a 26 yard field goal with Adam Vinatierri.

4.) Leading 34-20 with 4:30 left vs. the Steelers in the AFC Championship game, the Patriots go for it on 4th down rather than try a 41 yard field goal.

Going back to 2003:

1.) Leading 27-13 with 51 seconds left, the Patriots go for it on 4th and 2 with starting running back Antwouin Smith rather than attempt a 50 yard field goal.

So Felger's evidence includes two plays from one game, while ignoring other situations from the same game and also ignoring situations like in 2004 when they went for it on the Cleveland 5 up 42-7. Felger wants to put forth the theory they are acting different than in the past, then proceeds to ignore situations where they acted the same. That is dishonest and horrendous reporting. He should expand on his article and post the facts which don't suit his case if he had any ethics at all. The Herald even claims in the headline the two isolated cases he points to (and that is his sole evidence) makes a "convincing case" they are acting different. Funny, if I wanted to build a "convincing case" I'd look a hell of a lot further than one game (and ignore situations in that one game). No wonder why the Herald is such a horrible rag.

J D Sal

patsox23

well done... Thanks for posting.

SVN

send this to his email and see what he says.

JDSal45

I just did. I'll let you know.

J D Sal

sieglo

The media is so disingenuous it's absurd.

NEGoldenAge

You also might want to add that, at that time, Gostkowski really needed gametime reps, both to build confidence, and likely to see if he was even worth keeping. Given his amazing kickoffs, I think they weren't putting as much weight on the accuracy as they might otherwise, but he did struggle for much of last season.

QuiGon

Ouch.

letekro

I appreciate the effort, but....can't we just accept that sports media are the laziest, stoopidest, most pathetic subsection of a larger news media that is not exactly the avatar of journalistic integrity?

At some point, we have to choose to read for entertainment purposes only, or choose not to read....I mean don't we?

Michael

On WEEI this afternoon Steve Diosi pointed out at least 1 of the "facts" in his article was patently false. Felger has taken Borges's place and like I did with Borges I just don't listen to or read Felger if it can be avoided at all.

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JDSal45

The only fact I can see which he cites that are patently wrong is he says the field goal that made it 40-7 came "midway" through the fourth quarter when actually it came with less than 3 minutes gone in the fourth quarter. Or in other words, with less than 1/5th of the fourth quarter gone....hardly "midway" as Felger falsely claims.

J D Sal