Lombardi weighs in on team's moves and motives

[DonBlackmon55]

As a manager it's my responsibility to have people under my position to be part of the team concept. When one isn't I have ways to change that because it benefits the whole. Not everybody is going to be a good dog because of their personality make up. It's not the job of the employer to cater to the demands of the employee, but a good employer will be responsive to the desires of the employee. Maybe BB did go out of his way to appease Thomas, maybe he didn't. We'll likely never know. Not knowing what takes place behind closed doors, I'll sit on the fence regarding this. I do know one fact. Right now there is a wasted 11 mil of future moneys sitting in Foxboro.

Its not like Adalius had been a malcontent throughout his career.

Its amazing to see people on this MB ready to run him out of town, and in the same breath welcoming the the thoughts of bringing ***wipes like Antonio Bryant or TO, both of whom have a history of being cancers.

 

[Ring 6]

As a manager it's my responsibility to have people under my position to be part of the team concept. When one isn't I have ways to change that because it benefits the whole. Not everybody is going to be a good dog because of their personality make up. It's not the job of the employer to cater to the demands of the employee, but a good employer will be responsive to the desires of the employee. Maybe BB did go out of his way to appease Thomas, maybe he didn't. We'll likely never know. Not knowing what takes place behind closed doors, I'll sit on the fence regarding this. I do know one fact. Right now there is a wasted 11 mil of future moneys sitting in Foxboro.

I agree. There have to be rules. Using this example you cant run a football team by players demanding to only do what they like to do if it isnt best for the team. In your analogy, if one employee is being insubordinate (publicly) and challenging authority it is a bigger loss to appease that employee in order to get them to stop because you win the battle, lose the war, and have begun to lose your authority, which all that separates a supervisor from their direct reports.
It goes with the old saying respect isnt given its earned, and in reality it is tested every day. Those that do not take charge do not remain in charge.

 

[Ring 6]

Its not like Adalius had been a malcontent throughout his career.

Its amazing to see people on this MB ready to run him out of town, and in the same breath welcoming the the thoughts of bringing ***wipes like Antonio Bryant or TO, both of whom have a history of being cancers.

In all fairness, anyone wanting to bring those guys in (not me) and run Thomas out of town (I dont want to because of his actions but because of his play..if this wasnt all a result of him sucking to start with I'd feel differently) are looking at AD quitting on THIS team, and those guys havent. The offense that hits close to home is more grave than the one commited out of town.

 

[Frezo]

Its not like Adalius had been a malcontent throughout his career.

Its amazing to see people on this MB ready to run him out of town, and in the same breath welcoming the the thoughts of bringing ***wipes like Antonio Bryant or TO, both of whom have a history of being cancers.

The best case senario for the Pats is Thomas getting on board with the team while the team utilizes his pass rushing ability if he still has it.

 

[Frezo]

I agree. There have to be rules. Using this example you cant run a football team by players demanding to only do what they like to do if it isnt best for the team. In your analogy, if one employee is being insubordinate (publicly) and challenging authority it is a bigger loss to appease that employee in order to get them to stop because you win the battle, lose the war, and have begun to lose your authority, which all that separates a supervisor from their direct reports.
It goes with the old saying respect isnt given its earned, and in reality it is tested every day. Those that do not take charge do not remain in charge.

Agreed. Yet there are ways to manipulate a situation towards a beneficial outcome without sacrificing leadership. In fact, this is exactly what a good leader does.

 

[Ring 6]

Agreed. Yet there are ways to manipulate a situation towards a beneficial outcome without sacrificing leadership. In fact, this is exactly what a good leader does.

A good leader also does the right thing and accepts the consequences. No leader can make someone do something they just don't have enough commitment to do, and the biggest mistake most managers make is trying to fix people who dont want to be fixed.

 

[Frezo]

A good leader also does the right thing and accepts the consequences. No leader can make someone do something they just don't have enough commitment to do, and the biggest mistake most managers make is trying to fix people who dont want to be fixed.

Every organization will have the ultimate malcontent. He will be that one person that will never accept compromise and needs to be thrown away ASAP. This is the person that never should have been hired in the first place and was a mistake from day one. This person flits from employer to employer and always stands out as the troubler maker. He rejects authority and can divide the work place. I don't think you feel Thomas fits this description. If so then BB has some explaining to do. I don't see it this way either. With a little give and take from each side, Thomas can be a valuable and productive member for the remainder of his contract. Of course there is the chance that he has physically regressed to the point where competitiveness is lost. I can't make that determination.

 

[D-cleater]

Yeah, because that's where the Patriots got [by far] the two best players whom they've obtained in the last 4 years.

In terms of long term value (more than 3 seasons), I think Mayo and Vollmer are easily the best two players they've obtained in the last 4 years. Definitely better than any FA's we've picked up.

The only better players the Pats have obtained that are better than those they've drafted in the last 4 years are Welker and Moss, IMO. You could make the argument that FA signings like Bodden and TBC have had more of a short term impact, but that too is debatable.

 

[Ring 6]

Every organization will have the ultimate malcontent. He will be that one person that will never accept compromise and needs to be thrown away ASAP. This is the person that never should have been hired in the first place and was a mistake from day one. This person flits from employer to employer and always stands out as the troubler maker. He rejects authority and can divide the work place. I don't think you feel Thomas fits this description. If so then BB has some explaining to do. I don't see it this way either. With a little give and take from each side, Thomas can be a valuable and productive member for the remainder of his contract. Of course there is the chance that he has physically regressed to the point where competitiveness is lost. I can't make that determination.

I see it ver differently. I think Thomas' play declined, BB responded appropriately and Thomas became a whiner.
I don't want him back because I don't think he is any good (or doesnt care to be any good, hard to tell lack of effort from loss of skills) not because of his attitude. He has no choice but to fly right if he is kept, or sit on the bench and cllect a check. Feelings arent as important when there is a consequence.
My point was just, you don't blame the boss when the employee decides to loaf, and you absolutely dont blame the boss because he asked the guy to do the jo he has for him, not the one the employee would like to have.

 

[Frezo]

I see it ver differently. I think Thomas' play declined, BB responded appropriately and Thomas became a whiner.
I don't want him back because I don't think he is any good (or doesnt care to be any good, hard to tell lack of effort from loss of skills) not because of his attitude. He has no choice but to fly right if he is kept, or sit on the bench and cllect a check. Feelings arent as important when there is a consequence.
My point was just, you don't blame the boss when the employee decides to loaf, and you absolutely dont blame the boss because he asked the guy to do the jo he has for him, not the one the employee would like to have.

So what's the best way for BB to handle this?

 

[VJCPatriot]

I think that BB is probably exploring trade possibilities for AD, we're just not hearing it yet. Might be a draft day trade. If we can get even a 4th for AD, I'd be happy.

 

[Ring 6]

So what's the best way for BB to handle this?

IMO, you confront the problem, discipline the person, and they ultimately shape up or chose not to. BB is not accountable to handle it in a way that works out, he is accountable to handle it properly and if it doesnt work out find another player who will be part of the program.
BB said almost exactly that in his preSB 42 interview with Jimmy Johnson, btw.

 

[Frezo]

IMO, you confront the problem, discipline the person, and they ultimately shape up or chose not to. BB is not accountable to handle it in a way that works out, he is accountable to handle it properly and if it doesnt work out find another player who will be part of the program.
BB said almost exactly that in his preSB 42 interview with Jimmy Johnson, btw.

I'm skeptical that a trading partner will be found given his two year price and new reputation. He can't be kept if he's a problem. I suppose he gets released to the Jets. He's already demonstrated a strong reluctance to commit to BB's system last year. Is there really a possibilty that he changes his ways if everything remains the same? 11.8 mill is a nice figure...from his point of view. Not from Kraft's if he doesn't shape up.

 

[Ring 6]

I'm skeptical that a trading partner will be found given his two year price and new reputation. He can't be kept if he's a problem. I suppose he gets released to the Jets. He's already demonstrated a strong reluctance to commit to BB's system last year. Is there really a possibilty that he changes his ways if everything remains the same? 11.8 mill is a nice figure...from his point of view. Not from Kraft's if he doesn't shape up.

Because its an uncapped year you can bring him in and let him compete for a job.
Today I dont see him as one of our eventual best 53, but he should be one of the best 80 to come to camp.
If he gets his out of his hindquarters and shows some rejuvination, perhaps he can earn a job, if not, nothing was lost, and an example could be made if the opprtunity presents itself.

 

[Frezo]

Because its an uncapped year you can bring him in and let him compete for a job.
Today I dont see him as one of our eventual best 53, but he should be one of the best 80 to come to camp.
If he gets his out of his hindquarters and shows some rejuvination, perhaps he can earn a job, if not, nothing was lost, and an example could be made if the opprtunity presents itself.

It's too bad. I like him as a player and feel he has plenty left. It's a shame to see it go to waste, whatever the reason.

 

[Ring 6]

It's too bad. I like him as a player and feel he has plenty left. It's a shame to see it go to waste, whatever the reason.

Yeah, but he was not good in 08 and flat out bad in 09.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

May I ass-ume that you're referring to the Chris Baker release? And if I'm correct, do you happen to have a link to that story?

I second that request. 1st I'm hearing of Baker being Mr. Negativity.

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...t-good-locker-room-guy-page2.html#post1745210

 

[Patspsycho]

I Is there really a possibilty that he changes his ways if everything remains the same? 11.8 mill is a nice figure...from his point of view. Not from Kraft's if he doesn't shape up.

There is an "I" in the word Adalius, but there is no "I" in team.

The answer is no.

 

[DarrylS]

Peter King was on EEI yesterday, and made an interesting comment something to the effect that none of the teams in the past 2 superbowls have made any signings in the FA market during the opening weekend in the past two years..

If you agree with Las Vegas the big 4 today.. Pats, Saints, Indy and San Diego have not done anything significant so far...

 

[vyrago]

I'm skeptical that a trading partner will be found given his two year price and new reputation. He can't be kept if he's a problem. I suppose he gets released to the Jets. He's already demonstrated a strong reluctance to commit to BB's system last year. Is there really a possibilty that he changes his ways if everything remains the same? 11.8 mill is a nice figure...from his point of view. Not from Kraft's if he doesn't shape up.

Can football teams do what baseball teams do and offer to pay part of a player's salary--e.g. Julio Lugo--to facilitate a trade?