Wilfork: Meriweather Illegal Hit Sparked Patriots

[MoLewisrocks]

The meat of my argument, not the opinion part at the end that everyone is focused on: This. Now that Maroney and Moss are gone, the board needs a new whipping boy. Meriweather is a perfect target because people still get hung up on his made up "character issues" from 2007. Meriweather stomped on a guy wearing football pads on the back a couple times during an rivalry game brawl.

You know who else stomped on someone? Randy Moss. And Moss put a guy in the hospital when him and his friend beat the crap out of someone. However, no one runs around on this forum calling him "Stomper Moss" (they'd rather name call from the safety of there homes things like "Dog Faker").

People on here stupidly rip Meriweather for everything he screws up, and give credit to the other 10 people on the field when he does stuff right. Breaking up the play at the goal line yesterday (The penalty was supposed to be called on Arrington) and two of the plays he blew up in the backfield against Miami are the two I can think of off the top of my head. The guy never gets credit on this forum, and really hasn't since he came in and didn't start his first game against the Jets.

So why did Bill bench him to start the season, and bench him again yesterday until he ran out of healthy safeties? Racism? No, lack of discipline and refusal to take coaching and freelancing.

 

[51Hits]

Julian Edelman. This guy gets hurt just as much as Maroney. Mike Wright has been mediocre at best (just as good as Ron Brace, who got CRUCIFIED on this forum for over a year).

Brace suffers from Patsfans.com unrealistic expectations. They do this to EVERY player that does not have a ROY award or go to the pro bowl in their first season.

I think everyone knows Wright is what he is, and they have criticized Belichick (a white guy) for not replacing Seymour, and leaving us suffering with Wright (a white guy) starting. But you're right, everyone loves Wright.

I'm sure people do attacth themselves to a white guy because hey, most people think nowadays a white kid is useless in football. So excuse anyone for being happy to see a white guy who literally is an underdog make it. How many people had Julian Edelman as an expected contributor going into his 2nd season?

However, you're right he never gets criticized maybe it's because people give him a little more rope because he's a 7th rounder and not a 2nd rounder like Brace? I am dissapointed that he seems to have a case of the injury bugs, but I'm not giving up on him and I never gave up on Brace yet either.

 

[The Brandon Five]

I thought maybe you were referring to the Steelers game in 2008. I don't remember who did it though.

Ryan Clark. F'ing Tomlin was smiling on the sideline. It was by design.

 

[WelshPat]

The meat of my argument, not the opinion part at the end that everyone is focused on: This. Now that Maroney and Moss are gone, the board needs a new whipping boy. Meriweather is a perfect target because people still get hung up on his made up "character issues" from 2007. Meriweather stomped on a guy wearing football pads on the back a couple times during an rivalry game brawl.

You know who else stomped on someone? Randy Moss. And Moss put a guy in the hospital when him and his friend beat the crap out of someone. However, no one runs around on this forum calling him "Stomper Moss" (they'd rather name call from the safety of there homes things like "Dog Faker").

People on here stupidly rip Meriweather for everything he screws up, and give credit to the other 10 people on the field when he does stuff right. Breaking up the play at the goal line yesterday (The penalty was supposed to be called on Arrington) and two of the plays he blew up in the backfield against Miami are the two I can think of off the top of my head. The guy never gets credit on this forum, and really hasn't since he came in and didn't start his first game against the Jets.

If Brandon himself admitted he put himself in a bad situation at that time why do you have to defend him? He himself admitted he was wrong!

Has Brandon done anything illegal as a Patriot? No. This has NOTHING to do with any thing off the field. It's all to do with his play on the field. He's inconsistant. He doesn't tackle well. He blows coverages. His play yesterday was a dumb and in my opinion, a dirty play.

I haven't seen anyone here mention anything about his character issues, other than me in the draft thread when someone compared Brandons stuff with Robert Quinns NCAA violation, which was just an awful comparison.

 

[IllegalContact]

I posted this notion here shortly after it happened

 

[The Brandon Five]

Ryan Clark. F'ing Tomlin was smiling on the sideline. It was by design.

He did it again that year to McGahee in the AFCCG.

 

[IllegalContact]

Brace suffers from Patsfans.com unrealistic expectations. They do this to EVERY player that does not have a ROY award or go to the pro bowl in their first season.

I think everyone knows Wright is what he is, and they have criticized Belichick (a white guy) for not replacing Seymour, and leaving us suffering with Wright (a white guy) starting. But you're right, everyone loves Wright.

I'm sure people do attacth themselves to a white guy because hey, most people think nowadays a white kid is useless in football. So excuse anyone for being happy to see a white guy who literally is an underdog make it. How many people had Julian Edelman as an expected contributor going into his 2nd season?

However, you're right he never gets criticized maybe it's because people give him a little more rope because he's a 7th rounder and not a 2nd rounder like Brace? I am dissapointed that he seems to have a case of the injury bugs, but I'm not giving up on him and I never gave up on Brace yet either.

there is nothing unrealistic about the expectations of a 2nd round draft pick. both pryor and deaderick have passed him by. deaderick showed more yesterday than brace has shown his entire time here.

edelman will wind up disappearing because in every aspect, there is someone who does anything he does better.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

Meriweather has been a negative all season? How so?

He got a penalty that has affected all five games.

Seriously, it appears that Meriweather is taking heat because so much of the scold that should have been heaped on the offense since 2009, has been directed to the defense.

Also, since Meriweather is suppose to be the "leader" in the secondary, he gets the flack.

This site will never be truly rationale until it realizes that the opponent on occasion will

Make a stop
Get a first down through positive yardage
Score points

 

[Deus Irae]

Brace suffers from Patsfans.com unrealistic expectations. They do this to EVERY player that does not have a ROY award or go to the pro bowl in their first season.

No, Brace suffers from having been beaten out by Pryor and, now, Deaderick.

I'm sure people do attacth themselves to a white guy because hey, most people think nowadays a white kid is useless in football.

I don't know of a single person, from the north or south, who's ever said or even implied such a thing to me in the general sense of "football". Now, I have heard cracks about white CBs and HBs, but that's based upon decades of recent history.

However, you're right he never gets criticized maybe it's because people give him a little more rope because he's a 7th rounder and not a 2nd rounder like Brace? I am dissapointed that he seems to have a case of the injury bugs, but I'm not giving up on him and I never gave up on Brace yet either.

Not giving up is different from refusing to offer valid criticism. Brace should be beating out Warren for that NT spot when Wilfork is moved off the nose, for example.

 

[KoolAid]

I actually LOVE Big Vince. It cracks me up how huge he is and how fast he moves! I also thought it was touching that he teared up about Moss being traded. Did you see him whooping it up when the Ravens FB got called for the unsportsmanlike in OT? He was giddy because he knew the Pats had forced the chippy Ravens into a huge mistake. You go Vince!

I was cracking up about this and I actually rewinded that on my DVR when Vince was celebrating that 15 yard penalty. There was just something really comical about how he was clapping his hands so jubilently.

 

[51Hits]

The meat of my argument, not the opinion part at the end that everyone is focused on: This. Now that Maroney and Moss are gone, the board needs a new whipping boy. Meriweather is a perfect target because people still get hung up on his made up "character issues" from 2007. Meriweather stomped on a guy wearing football pads on the back a couple times during an rivalry game brawl.

You know who else stomped on someone? Randy Moss. And Moss put a guy in the hospital when him and his friend beat the crap out of someone. However, no one runs around on this forum calling him "Stomper Moss" (they'd rather name call from the safety of there homes things like "Dog Faker").

People on here stupidly rip Meriweather for everything he screws up, and give credit to the other 10 people on the field when he does stuff right. Breaking up the play at the goal line yesterday (The penalty was supposed to be called on Arrington) and two of the plays he blew up in the backfield against Miami are the two I can think of off the top of my head. The guy never gets credit on this forum, and really hasn't since he came in and didn't start his first game against the Jets.

Let me break this down.

People criticized BB (white guy) including me, for trading Moss (black guy) I never once heard a NE fan ***** about Moss's stomping incident. People didn't start getting skeptical of Moss until last season, wondering if the offense became too dependent on him. Obviously, Bill feels the same way. I just don't remember many people saying they dislike Moss in 07 or 08, but maybe I missed sometimes?

You're saying Merriweather is our new whipping boy? No, although I do agree NE fans always do find a whipping boy. Merriweather is it, but no it's not because he's black. Let me break this down for you.

When the defense struggles, I perfectly understand listening to guys who have been with the team for like 2 years who need to learn, develop, and earn their place among the vets.
But what's the excuse with Meriweather? He made the pro bowl as a sub last year, and he's not making any plays this year but fluke INTs. It's frustrating as hell to see, because if he dosen't get it now, if guys don't look up to him now than when?

I'm starting to give up on Meriweather. As frustrating as it is seeing Chung out of position a lot, I want to throw my fist through a wall seeing Meriweather mess up time and time again. You'd think a smart, hard working, studying player would get **** down by year 3 no?

Mayo was struggling last season, and many including myself were skeptical of him this season. But watching him this season, he's hardly ever out of position, he's putting guys in position, and he's making more of an impact than Meriweather. Our D is dependant on good safety play. Seeing the leap Chung made from year 1 to 2, I have hope he'll become a play maker for us by years end. Meriweather, not so much. Why? Because he has been here 3 years and improved a bit but not much else. He's far from a playmaker.

 

[51Hits]

Meriweather has been a negative all season? How so?

He hasn't started.

He's not leading. He's not putting Chung in position, he's not making an impact.

But let me guess, you think him making jump ball INTs at the end of games means he's having a good year?

 

[IllegalContact]

if this hit happens when the pats are up and comers (which they are) like they were in 2001, nobody complains.

again, who cares if its cheap or not. the pats need more physicality across the board. watching the ravens OL push through the whistle and not doing it after the meriweather hit says there is still room for plays like that. maybe he will be fined.....maybe he should have been benched, but somebody had to do something to stop from getting pushed around all the time.

in the end, the pats defense forced a 3 and out on 4 of the last 5 drives. whatever these guys have to do to garner that kind of success late in a game, I am very much in favor of.

I have no complaints about anything the defense did yesterday.

 

[Lockdown06]

If Brandon himself admitted he put himself in a bad situation at that time why do you have to defend him? He himself admitted he was wrong!

Has Brandon done anything illegal as a Patriot? No. This has NOTHING to do with any thing off the field. It's all to do with his play on the field. He's inconsistant. He doesn't tackle well. He blows coverages. His play yesterday was a dumb and in my opinion, a dirty play.

I haven't seen anyone here mention anything about his character issues, other than me in the draft thread when someone compared Brandons stuff with Robert Quinns NCAA violation, which was just an awful comparison.

I don't want to speak for Blackglass, but I was another person who defended Meriweather earlier in this thread, and at least for me - it's not defending this mistake, in particular, but its the fact that lately people have been trashing this guy non-stop and basically insinuating that the patriots would be better if we just played with 10 men.

The fact is, Meriweather is inconsistent. No one denies this, i don't think i've seen any Meriweather supporter argue otherwise. HOWEVER when the guy comes to play he impacts the game more than any other player on our defense, outside of big Vince.

Think about those plays he made against miami where he knifed through the line of scrimmage and to practically murder Davone Bess or Ricky Williams, or back to the Ravens game last year where He locked down one receiver (I believe it was Mark Clayton) to force Flacco to his second read across the field (Derrick Mason) and then got over there in time to break up the play. I would say Ed Reed, Polamalu, and a healthy Bob Sanders make those plays. Other safeties might be able to make some of them, but few possess the talent to do it all, and do it so well.

Personally, I see that talent, and I appreciate it, and I root for him because if he can ever harness it consistently, there are very few safeties in the league that can give the patriots what that type of versatility.

 

[51Hits]

No, Brace suffers from having been beaten out by Pryor and, now, Deaderick.

We'll see, I hope Deadrick becomes a good player.

I don't know of a single person, from the north or south, who's ever said or even implied such a thing to me in the general sense of "football". Now, I have heard cracks about white CBs and HBs, but that's based upon decades of recent history.

Have you ever played football? Was it before the 00s? I've played high school football in Florida, where it's religion around here.I've also played recently, I know how the highschool system genrally works and I know how recruiters are. I find it hard to believe anyone playing ball nowadays thinks what I'm saying is wrong. I've seen it done many times. I'm not going to get into it, because god knows if I say one phrase the wrong way or something everyone will be calling me racist. I'm just going to ask you this question, if you see how many athletes are coming out of FL, how many are white?

Not giving up is different from refusing to offer valid criticism. Brace should be beating out Warren for that NT spot when Wilfork is moved off the nose, for example.

All I have ever said is I don't think Brace is a proven bust, soon to be Publix employee. He is in his 2nd year afterall. Because people have said such things. You're not wrong in your criticism, it's just not as extreme as people make it out to be.

 

[JackBauer]

He hasn't started.

He's not leading. He's not putting Chung in position, he's not making an impact.

But let me guess, you think him making jump ball INTs at the end of games means he's having a good year?

1.) So what? He still plays a substantial amount.

2.) You know this how?

3.) You know this how?

4.) He has made an impact, both positively and negatively. I still believe his positives outweigh the negatives.

And to answer your last point, no. But I'm not really one to irrationally hate on random guys and not give them any credit no matter how they accord themselves. That would seem to be more your wheelhouse.

 

[blackglass3]

Very well put, Lockdown. I am not defending his hit on Heap. He has been bashed on this board since he didn't start weeks 1 or 2 (he's started the other 3 weeks if I recall). He knows what the problem was, he owned up to his mistakes and it trying to fix it, but no one wants to give him a chance and find it easier to rip the guy.

He's not consistent. That has been said over and over again by just about everyone. But is he still one of the better safeties in the league. Who is a better safety? Laron Landry, Ed Reed, Troy Polaumalu, probably a few others. He doesn't deserve nearly half the criticism he gets on this board.

 

[Deus Irae]

We'll see, I hope Deadrick becomes a good player.

I'd expect that almost every Patriots fan does. That's not the point, though. There's this notion being put forth that the bashing is racially motivated. I'm responding to that.

Have you ever played football? Was it before the 00s? I've played high school football in Florida, where it's religion around here.I've also played recently, I know how the highschool system genrally works and I know how recruiters are. I find it hard to believe anyone playing ball nowadays thinks what I'm saying is wrong. I've seen it done many times. I'm not going to get into it, because god knows if I say one phrase the wrong way or something everyone will be calling me racist. I'm just going to ask you this question, if you see how many athletes are coming out of FL, how many are white?

Again, I don't know even one person who's said or implied what you were claiming. And, for the record, I lived in Florida for more than 15 years.

All I have ever said is I don't think Brace is a proven bust, soon to be Publix employee. He is in his 2nd year afterall. Because people have said such things. You're not wrong in your criticism, it's just not as extreme as people make it out to be.

I've been one of Brace's defenders, because I understand that you don't generally want to give up on early round picks for 2-3 years, especially at certain positions. That doesn't mean that people criticizing him are doing it because of his race.

 

[JackBauer]

Eh. LaRon Landry is massively overrated.

 

[LetsGoPats36]

Meriweather is a middle of the road safety at this point. He sometimes plays like a top ten safety and other times performs like he has no business on the field. This has been evidenced by a garden variety of good plays, forced turnovers, benchings and endless attempts at making the big hit.

To pull the race card is ****ing hilarious though.