I can't stand Bob Ryan and Shaughnessy - Page 4 - New England Patriots Forums

***MoLewisrocks*** · 11-20-2012, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatsDeb

I believe that they made him a reasonable offer to stay, and even wanted to try to match any offer he got, and he didn't give them a chance and jumped ship. That's fine, his prerogative, and people have laid out the reasons here why he made the right move. I'm pretty sure it was a tweak at the Pats and Indy got the added bonus of replacing their "liquored up" kicker with one who didn't choke and shank it in crunch time. Remember, AV has one more SB ring than TB.

I don't hate AV. I appreciate what he did here, and if I ran into him in the street I would shake his hand and thank him for what he did here. But when he lined up to kick that long FG on Sunday, towards the EZ where I was sitting for this game, did I boo lustily and long? Hell, yes! It's called situational football, folks. Remember our friend Bill plays it all the time? I am a Pats homer. I am not a knuckledragger or a Red Sox whiner, thank you very much.

You believe incorrectly. They only ever offered him essentially a series of one year deals with ZERO guaranteed or signing bonus money.

They reportedly were chagrinned when ten days in he garnered serious interest in Indy after the GB visit didn't result in any offer. Because they believed everyone knew they were playing hardball with him and believed he if not they would cave eventually. Parcell's wanted him bad but held off persuit as a result of the whispers and expressed regret at being played after the fact.

Turns out legacy aside, and believe me it mattered to him - he's got considerable ego, they had tried to squeeze the wrong guy one too many times. Then they quickly became upset when he didn't offer them a shot to match, although he had to reach an understanding with Polian before they even met that he would not use their offer as leverage or it was off the table (and probably denied), it was take it or leave it we're going out on a limb extending you an offer your own team hasn't come close to...

He's been to the same number of SB's since and actually won one which he again kicked his team into...so his legacy survived. Only guy to leave here and prove he wasn't a product of the system...damn him.

***Deus Irae*** · 11-20-2012, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoLewisrocks

You believe incorrectly. They only ever offered him essentially a series of one year deals with ZERO guaranteed or signing bonus money.

They reportedly were chagrinned when ten days in he garnered serious interest in Indy after the GB visit didn't result in any offer. Because they believed everyone knew they were playing hardball with him and believed he if not they would cave eventually. Parcell's wanted him bad but held off persuit as a result of the whispers and expressed regret at being played after the fact.

Turns out legacy aside, and believe me it mattered to him - he's got considerable ego, they had tried to squeeze the wrong guy one too many times. Then they quickly became upset when he didn't offer them a shot to match, although he had to reach an understanding with Polian before they even met that he would not use their offer as leverage or it was off the table (and probably denied), it was take it or leave it we're going out on a limb extending you an offer your own team hasn't come close to...

He's been to the same number of SB's since and actually won one which he again kicked his team into...so his legacy survived. Only guy to leave here and prove he wasn't a product of the system...damn him.

Several Patriots have moved on and proven that they weren't a product of the system. Outside of that last line, though, I think you've got the gist of it down pretty well.

Bhelmet · 11-20-2012, 10:38 AM

How is ANY kicker a product of the system?

***MoLewisrocks*** · 11-20-2012, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tunescribe

Interesting factoid re., Adam: He no longer kicks off, yet they had him try a near-60-yarder at the end of the half Sunday. I don't know how long he's been on FG/PAT duty exclusively, but it's a pretty sure bet the Patriots wouldn't keep a kicker like that.

If I recall correctly, didn't New England make him a reasonable offer to stay, only to be outbid by Indy? Seems to me that Polian inflated his worth to tweak the Pats.

Another incorrect recaller. They offered to make keep him the highest paid kicker in the league absent a contract that stipulated for how long or guaranteed a dollar. Had he taken them up on their generous offer and slipped on the soap prior to week 1 of season 1 they'd have owed him bupkiss... The Colts offered him $3.5M in signing bonus which is fully guaranteed and the cap driven implied guarantee he'd see $7.5M in the first 3 years of a 5 year deal. Which he did even though he missed half a season to have a nagging hip injury repaired. That's the same year they drafted a punter who is as adept at kickoffs as punts. (The NEP showed similar loyalty to Gostowski when he missed half a season right after he signed his deal, beinging in a series of replacements in the interim, although that loyalty was age and cap consequence driven, they ha no real choice whereas Indy did).

Fans believe loyalty is a significant component in their own lives, just doesn't apply to the players they adore until they don't play for them anymore because the team didn't choose to persue them as if they mattered.

***MoLewisrocks*** · 11-20-2012, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bhelmet

How is ANY kicker a product of the system?

Same way any other player is when winning or even an opportunity to is largely attributed to the system.

patsox23 · 11-20-2012, 10:47 AM

Setting aside any opinions on Ryan or Curly haired Girlfriend, I hate that fans booed AV on Sunday. It's stupid and embarrassing. They're pink hat-level retard fans.

Bhelmet · 11-20-2012, 10:47 AM

Sorry, kicking is a skill that has nothing to do with anyone else except, perhaps, the holder. They are pretty much awesome or suck on their own - no other player/coach can help.

Bhelmet · 11-20-2012, 10:48 AM

The "clutch" label may be a product of the system - getting him in position to be so, but he still has to kick and NO system makes/misses FG's. Still a reach IMO calling a kicker a product of the system.

FirstAndGoal · 11-20-2012, 10:51 AM

I think a lot of people (me included) don't give a crap about the contract or that he left. That he went to the Colts made me a little bit pissed but that was for a day or so. I'm booing in the hopes he misses....for the pure simple hope he misses....if that were my mother up there, I'd be booing her too..

It's the connection we have with Adam that makes us boo him in the hope he misses because of our booing. We don't feel connected to any other kicker we face so the booing isn't as personal...Adam gets it. He knows why it's done.

***Deus Irae*** · 11-20-2012, 10:56 AM

All the righteous indignation about the righteous indignation does lead me to a question:

Outside of Ray Bourque, why would/should any former Boston player be immune from booing when he returns on another team?