International Series Announcement Tomorrow

[UK_Pat37]

The Announcement on the International series game (or games if they decide on two finally) will be made tomorrow.

Patriots are a rumoured contender of four names going around right now...the others are Jags, Jets and Rams.

 

[Uncle Rico]

Why on earth couldn't they wait til after championship weekend for this?

 

[UK_Pat37]

Why on earth couldn't they wait til after championship weekend for this?

It's usually announced before, in December. It could be they deliberately timed it this weekend with one of the potential teams playing, or it could even mean it's not the Patriots at all. I'd find it hard to believe the Pats would want this hype on top of the Championship game.

Surprised this wasn't announced sooner to be honest, but I think it had a lot to do with the Jags wanting to make a late application for a spot.

 

[Uncle Rico]

It's usually announced before, in December. It could be they deliberately timed it this weekend with one of the potential teams playing, or it could even mean it's not the Patriots at all. I'd find it hard to believe the Pats would want this hype on top of the Championship game.

Surprised this wasn't announced sooner to be honest, but I think it had a lot to do with the Jags wanting to make a late application for a spot.

I see. I'd think it would be more a distraction if one of the teams playing this weekend is involved. And it seems like a good "bye-week" publicity opportunity.

I failed to notice also that you're a fan from the UK ... I'm sure it would be pretty exciting for you to have the (Super Bowl Champion) Patriots come on over.

 

[BritPat]

They've been before

It would be the first time it's happened though IF the stars align correctly.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Hopefully the Pats are picked. Getting more fans internationally is definitely a good thing, and hopefully some of them will find their way here!

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

I don't want the game moved from J'ville. I already have about ten of my peeps coming down for it! I got screwed 4 years ago because the put the game on Christmas Eve, so I couldn't go. The Pats have played in J'ville 3 times since I've been down here: The Philly fans were scooping up everything in sight for the SB, no ticket, then Xmas Eve, no ticket, I can only hope that I don't get screwed again......

 

[Deus Irae]

Hopefully it will be the Jets against a team other than the Patriots.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

I see. I'd think it would be more a distraction if one of the teams playing this weekend is involved.

I am not sure how it would be much of a distraction, unless players decided to skip practice to apply for passports.

Its not like BB would cancel film study to spend the day on priceline.com looking for a cheap hotel.

 

[Leemo]

Its been leaked that the Rams are the 'home' team and they will play either the jets our ourselves

 

[UK_Pat37]

I see. I'd think it would be more a distraction if one of the teams playing this weekend is involved. And it seems like a good "bye-week" publicity opportunity.

I failed to notice also that you're a fan from the UK ... I'm sure it would be pretty exciting for you to have the (Super Bowl Champion) Patriots come on over.

It would be...being a moderator on UKPatriots.com I was heavily involved in the planning of the pre game party held the night before the game and the flag football game which got a lot of coverage. It was the best weekend of my life!

They've been before

It would be the first time it's happened though IF the stars align correctly.

So had the Buccaneers.

Hopefully it will be the Jets against a team other than the Patriots.

It won't ever be a divisional game. Also the Jets and Patriots both respectably sell out all their home games...the home team would realistically need to be a team which struggles to sell out every game and it would be most beneficial to.

 

[Calciumee]

I am not sure how it would be much of a distraction, unless players decided to skip practice to apply for passports.

Its not like BB would cancel film study to spend the day on priceline.com looking for a cheap hotel.

Well there is a Premier Inn sale starting tomorrow morning, including London, so you never know

 

[Uncle Rico]

I am not sure how it would be much of a distraction, unless players decided to skip practice to apply for passports.

Its not like BB would cancel film study to spend the day on priceline.com looking for a cheap hotel.

All you true; yet I'd bet if you asked BB his preference on timing of the announcement, he'd pick after Sunday.

 

[Leemo]

It won't ever be a divisional game. Also the Jets and Patriots both respectably sell out all their home games...the home team would realistically need to be a team which struggles to sell out every game and it would be most beneficial to.

He said he hoped that jets were against someone else not that he hoped it would be pats vs jets.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

All you true; yet I'd bet if you asked BB his preference on timing of the announcement, he'd pick after Sunday.

Doubt that.

Lets say a reporter does ask him about the timing of the announcement during the next presser....

The more likely reponse from BB is....

A) I would prefer that they would have waited until after Sunday.

Or

B) I am not concerned about that. My focus is the Raven's. They are a good team in all three phases of the game. That is my focus. I am not concerned with next season. Just our next game. The Baltimore Ravens.

My vote is B.

 

[UK_Pat37]

He said he hoped that jets were against someone else not that he hoped it would be pats vs jets.

Yes, I know, I was putting his mind to rest. No need to get jumpy

 

[jmt57]

Its been leaked that the Rams are the 'home' team and they will play either the jets our ourselves

Interesting; I've been confident that it would be a Jacksonville home game for some time now.

Though on a personal note I would much prefer it to be a team other than Jacksonville; living in Florida the 2012 season gives me two opportunities to see the Pats live rather than the usual one annual trip to Miami.

If it does end up being the Pats "at" Jags game then that would make it the second time in four years that Pats fans living in Florida missed out on seeing the Pats play locally, or at least relatively locally; the UK game against Tampa Bay was a home game for the Bucs. The last couple of games at Miami have been Monday nighters, which makes it a lot tougher to attend if you don't live in the immediate Miami area.

 

[Uncle Rico]

Doubt that.

Lets say a reporter does ask him about the timing of the announcement during the next presser....

The more likely reponse from BB is....

A) I would prefer that they would have waited until after Sunday.

Or

B) I am not concerned about that. My focus is the Raven's. They are a good team in all three phases of the game. That is my focus. I am not concerned with next season. Just our next game. The Baltimore Ravens.

My vote is B.

Belichick's not stupid enough to say A) and that's not what I'm saying. I'm talking about closed-door discussions.

But the league also has to be smart enough to know that, if they announce it and the Pats are one of the teams, then BB is asked about the news, your "B" will be his answer. Not a great time to ask Belichick to help generate excitement for next year.

 

[UK_Pat37]

Its been leaked that the Rams are the 'home' team and they will play either the jets our ourselves

Greg Brady, who calls plays for BBC Radio Five Live, said that on his twitter...said he had heard from multiple sources.

We will soon find out. I've been liaising with Ian Rapoport as he asked me to send him some links via email and as far as I'm aware he's going to let me know what he finds out whilst he does some digging later today.

I';m hoping patsfans.com can be one of the first to break it if it is the Pats on my blog.

Don't rule out potential for two games this year though...widely been talked about....by the NFL and numerous pundits over last couple of years. It was rumoured to be this season we saw two games, but he lockout got in the way of less important things and they stuck with the one.

 

[italian pat patriot]

i really really hope the Pats will be in London again - it would be fantastic