(Mock) OUTRAGE (sorta): Pats to issue Troy Browns # this season?

[Mogamedogz]

Say it isn't so.

The Patriots managed to keep Troy Brown’s number out of circulation last year, but with six tight ends currently on the roster, and that position required to wear numbers in the 80s, they finally issued the familiar No. 80.

It will be worn by tight end Alex Smith, who was acquired on April 30 in a trade with Tampa Bay. Today, Smith was asked if he knew the significance of the number he was wearing, and what it meant to him have Brown’s number.

”By no means am I trying to fill Troy Brown’s shoes. He was a great player for this organization. Unfortunately, I have to follow in the same number,” Smith said earlier today, as he spoke with a small gathering of media at Gillette Stadium. ”But Troy left his mark on this team, and I’m going to come in and try and make my own mark. But by no means am I trying to fill Troy Brown’s shoes or replace Troy Brown. I just want to continue playing, and hopefully represent the number well.”

 

[CrazyDave]

Re: OUTRAGE: Pats to issue troy Browns # this season?

I saw that earlier. It's kinda messed up.
But, they are running out of #s.
If they were to have some kind of "Ring of Honor' in the stadium, maybe they could release a bunch of #'s.

 

[Dirk3601215]

Re: OUTRAGE: Pats to issue troy Browns # this season?

despicable. after everything troy has done he is betrayed like this.

 

[letekro]

Re: OUTRAGE: Pats to issue troy Browns # this season?

Assuming he makes the team, can't they reassign him another number in the 80s once they get down to 53?

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: OUTRAGE: Pats to issue troy Browns # this season?

I love Troy as much as the next guy but the standard for retiring numbers has to be very high. Tom Brady high.

 

[NEPatriot]

Re: OUTRAGE: Pats to issue troy Browns # this season?

Who currently wears #99 jersey? Can they put 3 digit numbers on uniform?

 

[CrazyDave]

Re: OUTRAGE: Pats to issue troy Browns # this season?

All non HOF #'s should be released.

 

[primetime]

Re: OUTRAGE: Pats to issue troy Browns # this season?

I love Troy as much as the next guy but the standard for retiring numbers has to be very high. Tom Brady high.

If anyone deserves to have their number retired, it's Troy Brown.

They probably shouldn't have issued it. They haven't issued a #56 since Tippett retired or a #14 since Grogan despite the lack of official retirement.

 

[DSal]

Re: OUTRAGE: Pats to issue troy Browns # this season?

I don't think it's a sign of disrespect. Reality is there are only a limited amount of numbers available. 80 was one of them.The organization knows and respects what Troy Brown did and what his value was, the fans know the same. Obviously so does Smith:

"By no means am I trying to fill Troy Brown’s shoes. He was a great player for this organization. Unfortunately, I have to follow in the same number,”


A ring of honor would be great. He's a sure bet for the Patriots Hall of Fame. There's no reason to get all twisted over this.

 

[aurakilla]

Re: OUTRAGE: Pats to issue troy Browns # this season?

what happens if they retire all the numbers

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Re: OUTRAGE: Pats to issue troy Browns # this season?

If anyone deserves to have their number retired, it's Troy Brown.

They probably shouldn't have issued it. They haven't issued a #56 since Tippett retired or a #14 since Grogan despite the lack of official retirement.

But that's because they've been able to avoid it. The numbers simply didn't allow it at WR/TE right now; in any case, I expect that since at least one of the TEs currently on the roster won't be in a few months, he won't have 80 when the season starts. (Somehow, I don't think they're printing up the Alex Smith jerseys in bulk numbers right now.)

 

[reflexblue]

Re: OUTRAGE: Pats to issue troy Browns # this season?

I love Troy as much as the next guy but the standard for retiring numbers has to be very high. Tom Brady high.

Maybe not quit Tom Brady high but close.

 

[WhoaDirty]

Re: OUTRAGE: Pats to issue troy Browns # this season?

I know everything is relative, and this is mostly semantics, but wouldn't you be better off saving your "outrage" for the guy down the street who abuses his wife rather than what jersey number your favourite team gives the new guy?

The fact of the matter is, there are only a certain number of numbers available to use, no matter how great of a NE Patriot you think Brown was (and I think he was great).

 

[Deus Irae]

Re: OUTRAGE: Pats to issue troy Browns # this season?

I know everything is relative, and this is mostly semantics, but wouldn't you be better off saving your "outrage" for the guy down the street who abuses his wife rather than what jersey number your favourite team gives the new guy?

The fact of the matter is, there are only a certain number of numbers available to use, no matter how great of a NE Patriot you think Brown was (and I think he was great).

Given that this is a football message board and not the abuse hotline, I'm going with "No" on this one.

 

[PATSNUTme]

Re: OUTRAGE: Pats to issue troy Browns # this season?

I think that we should hold out "outrage" until we hear what Troy has to say about it, if anything. If he is not "outraged" by it or even a little hurt, why should fans be?

 

[WhoaDirty]

Re: OUTRAGE: Pats to issue troy Browns # this season?

Given that this is a football message board and not the abuse hotline, I'm going with "No" on this one.

Haha, that is why I threw the term relative in there.

It never fails to amaze me how worked up people can get over their NFL team in May. And my friends say I am over the top.

 

[Deus Irae]

Re: OUTRAGE: Pats to issue troy Browns # this season?

Haha, that is why I threw the term relative in there.

It never fails to amaze me how worked up people can get over their NFL team in May. And my friends say I am over the top.

Well, while I personally don't think they should retire any of the numbers because of the way the NFL rules limit alternatives, I'm just noting my opinion that, on a football board, this is far more worthy of outrage than anything short of Obama and Bush being caught together beating up one of Sally Struther's "starvation kids" while taunting him with a cookie.

 

[supafly]

Re: OUTRAGE: Pats to issue troy Browns # this season?

Who currently wears #99 jersey? Can they put 3 digit numbers on uniform?

First of all Mike Wright wears 99, I'm not sure of the relevance of why you're asking, because a TE couldn't be issued that number, but it's Mike Wright.

Second of all, no they certainly cannot use 3 digit numbers. The main reason is because there is no need to, not to mention it would look ridiculous, and you probably wouldn't be able to read it very well etc.

Troy Brown probably does deserve to have 80 set aside FWIW, and I agree with whomever suggested that Smith most likely won't keep 80 once a TE or 2 drops off the roster. At least I hope not.

 

[Sicilian]

Re: OUTRAGE: Pats to issue troy Browns # this season?

With a 53 man roster, more than half of the available double digit numbers HAVE to be used. This is twice as much as hockey or baseball, and EIGHT times as many as basketball. There's no outrage here, just mathematics.

 

[Mogamedogz]

Re: OUTRAGE: Pats to issue troy Browns # this season?

For those getting all batchit crazy over the "OUTRAGE" part of the thread title... I was being half-satirical with it.

My point is...Although a necessary evil, it still sucks that Troy's number is being assigned. Hopefully we won’t see anyone wearing it during the regular season anytime soon. Just seems wrong.