Ty Law on Wes Welker (it's not just Bedard)

[BananaRepublican]

Ty seems pretty confident that we're seeing the result of a discipline problem.

Law: Looks like disciplinary problems with Welker

He didn't mention it but I thought it was odd to see Rowling benched for the entire game at the same time.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Well, at least he (unlike Esiason) actually has some basis for thinking that, since he certainly has a good idea of how Belichick handles players/the locker room. And let's not forget the 2010 playoffs, either. I still kinda doubt that it's the case, though.

 

[Kontradiction]

As mentioned before, if that's the case then it's a gigantic mistake by the coaching staff.

 

[Off The Grid]

Who the #$%& is "Rowling"??

 

[Patriot Missile]

Who the #$%& is "Rowling"??

They signed her to field punt's. Lot of trouble getting her from the mansion in England but she finally arrived. Claims she wants to get away from children's books and do something new and invigorating.

 

[SVN]

Ty seems pretty confident that we're seeing the result of a discipline problem.

Law: Looks like disciplinary problems with Welker

He didn't mention it but I thought it was odd to see Rowling benched for the entire game at the same time.

Well..Bedard isnt saying its a disciplinary issue either..he lays out all possibilities...

Role of Patriots’ Welker further in doubt - Patriots - Boston.com

 

[Ring 6]

As mentioned before, if that's the case then it's a gigantic mistake by the coaching staff.

Wait. Are you saying if it is discipline it is a gigantic mistake when you don't even know the actions he is being disciplined for?

 

[BradyManny]

I doubt it's discipline, no offense to Ty. Belichick might've benched Wes for one series b/c of the foot comments - which I think was a huge mistake - because he felt it was best for the team to set that precedent.

But overall, Belichick has a high threshold for judgement when weighing those softer issues (discipline) versus production on the field. We went out and traded for a pretty questionable character in Haynesworth last season, who did some pretty iffy things on and off the field. Belichick weighed those issues vs. his potential upside as a player, and felt the production would be more important.

So, I doubt, suddenly he's benching Wes because of something internal. We've gone over this in several threads - there's a lot going on here that is factoring in, and you can't make one general assumption. A changing offense with a new scheme, new emphasis, new plays; an offense that loses arguably its best weapon in the second series of the game - I mean, there's just too many moving parts.

 

[12ClutchFactor]

Wait. Are you saying if it is discipline it is a gigantic mistake when you don't even know the actions he is being disciplined for?

It's hard to judge if it's based on a violation committed by Welker obviously. But if it's a retaliation stemming from the contract talks and lack of agreement, thus leading to them phasing him out, then it is most definitely a big mistake.

 

[jah]

To me it just looks like Welker and Hernandez swapped positions on the depth chart. That became even more apparent when Hernandez went out and Welker played way more.

 

[condon84]

Law said. "All we can do is speculate ...

Thanks Ty.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I hope all this crap does not break apart locker room unity.

That would be critical to this teams success this year......an unhappy team is a losing team.

This time it might be more coaching involved then just player (Thomas,Moss)

Both coaches and team hopefully focus on the season ahead and not dumb things like punishment or spite.

 

[UK_Pat37]

As mentioned before, if that's the case then it's a gigantic mistake by the coaching staff.

If that truly is the case, great job by the coaching staff. If Welker is being a spoilt brat over money or a change in philosophy, what example would you be setting in starting hm? This is a DISCIPLINE sport. Lack of discipline on or off the field is detrimental to the game and your team.

 

[Deus Irae]

If that truly is the case, great job by the coaching staff. If Welker is being a spoilt brat over money or a change in philosophy, what example would you be setting in starting hm? This is a DISCIPLINE sport. Lack of discipline on or off the field is detrimental to the game and your team.

Good point. Using your parameters and assuming it's a discipline issue, pissing away wins because you'd rather act with vengeful spite towards a player who is not happy with lousy decisions you've personally made is the best way to run a team. Why look at your own actions when you can just wield your power against a relatively helpless underling?

 

[Jackson 2]

So, are we supposed to believe that Bill Belichick would pay a guy 9+ million and then sit him out of spite? The same guy who put up with Law's insults, Mankins' insults, Seymour's insults and played all of them to the hilt is now getting pissy over Welker being franchised and is sitting him because he's pissed over that? BB is going to jeopardize the success of him and his team over that? Anyone buying that is an idiot. Just my opinion.

 

[ATippett56]

It's hard to judge if it's based on a violation committed by Welker obviously. But if it's a retaliation stemming from the contract talks and lack of agreement, thus leading to them phasing him out, then it is most definitely a big mistake.

One can only wonder if that is the case with Brian Waters, as well.

 

[UK_Pat37]

Good point. Using your parameters and assuming it's a discipline issue, pissing away wins because you'd rather act with vengeful spite towards a player who is not happy with lousy decisions you've personally made is the best way to run a team. Why look at your own actions when you can just wield your power against a relatively helpless underling?

If you're not happy you put up, shut up and lay it all out on the field. Football is all about channelling your feelings and emotions on the field and turning it into something positive.

Football is a dictatorship and the HC is the dictator. You fall in line or, to put it pretty bluntly, ***** off.

 

[Kontradiction]

Wait. Are you saying if it is discipline it is a gigantic mistake when you don't even know the actions he is being disciplined for?

Judging by Welker's history of discipline (or lack thereof) since joining the league, it's hard to see an event that has the Patriots disciplining him for anything major, in the mold of a T.O. or a Joe Horn. If it's due to the contact negotiations, we just sacrificed a potential win due to one of the factors being Welker being kept out of the starting line-up. The only time that I can ever remember Welker being formally disciplined by any team was when we did it on the first series of the 2010 AFC Divisional Playoff. Oddly enough that game was a loss as well with Brady throwing an INT on the first drive of the game. It was a mistake to discipline him for that kind of action before, and it would be a mistake to do so now.

With that being said, I don't believe that Welker didn't start due to disciplinary reasons. Belichick obviously isn't a stupid man and I don't think that he'd be dumb enough to bench his best player for the start of a regular season game against a good defense again.

 

[RayClay]

Good point. Using your parameters and assuming it's a discipline issue, pissing away wins because you'd rather act with vengeful spite towards a player who is not happy with lousy decisions you've personally made is the best way to run a team. Why look at your own actions when you can just wield your power against a relatively helpless underling?

You'd prefer to follow the example of teams that do the opposite?

Maybe we can get Santonio Holmes in here as Captain.

 

[Deus Irae]

You'd prefer to follow the example of teams that do the opposite?

Maybe we can get Santonio Holmes in here as Captain.

I prefer that teams acknowledge when they've erred rather than blaming the underlings, yes. That has nothing to do with Holmes, but thanks for the red herring.