Brandon Lloyd: 'We're not playing against Joe Namath'

[jmt57]

Not unusual that one line from the response to the reporter's question makes the headline and twists the context of the conversation. And we wonder why the Pats' coaching staff instructs the players on how to react to the media and watch what they say?

I'm sure this will be twisted so that the Jets can play the disrespect card.

Lloyd: 'We're not playing against Joe Namath' - Extra Points - Boston.com

For Lloyd, it'll be his first taste of the Patriots-Jets rivalry. He was asked if he knew much about the heated history between the teams.

"No, I don't," Lloyd said. "Do you want to enlighten me?"

Told that it likely resembles any kind of rivalry game Lloyd has played in, he was able to put the game in the proper context.

"I think the best thing is just approach it like a normal game," Lloyd said. "As a player, I think the build-up is more so for the fans and the history, but these are current teams, current rosters. We’re not playing against Joe Namath or anything like that.

"It’s a game, it’s an important game, but from our standpoint, we’re just going to prepare for it like it’s a regular game."​

In Lloyd's defense the last time there was so little buildup for an upcoming Pats-Jets game Rich Kotite was their coach and Bill Parcells had not yet left the Pats for greener pastures.





By comparison another player that has been here for a few years, Matthew Slater, sees it completely differently:

Patriots-Jets has the feeling of a college rivalry, says Slater - Extra Points - Boston.com

"The rivalry here, it doesn't really matter what the records are,'' Slater said. "It just so happens that we're 3-3 at this point, but they want to beat us and we want to beat them. We don’t have too many fond feelings towards them and the same goes for them; they’re not too crazy about us, either.

"I think in the spirit of the game it’s good to have rivalries like this – for the popularity of game – to see two good teams get after it. I’m sure it’ll be no different this week.''

Do rivalry games have an amazing restorative effect on injured players, pushing them to get back on the field?

"Oh definitely,'' Slater said. "You don’t want to miss this one, if you can help it. We know what it means to our fans, to this city, and this organization. The same goes for their fans and their city. It’s a big game, especially with the division as close as it is right now. It’s big for both of us. I expect it to be a very competitive game on Sunday.''​

 

[Uncle Rico]

probably weren't going to throw to him the first series anyway ...

 

[fnordcircle]

I think it's pretty clear that he is saying that it is about the here and now not in previous seasons.

I don't read that as him saying 'Sanchez is no Namath'.

Though, to be fair this board would be rip**** if the names and teams were swapped.

 

[Froob]

I think it's pretty clear that he is saying that it is about the here and now not in previous seasons.

I don't read that as him saying 'Sanchez is no Namath'.

Though, to be fair this board would be rip**** if the names and teams were swapped.

Yeah no kidding. Although Brady is no Grogan

 

[Salva135]

Good. Lloyd's a vet who hasn't spent much time dealing with the AFC East, and is less likely to tighten his sphincter if the game is close. Just another game. I don't think it is for many other players involved in this game, as professional as they are.

 

[Haley]

Lloyd has had less time here to develop the Belichickian dialect of null speech as Slater. But I think what this says most is that Lloyd isn't yet emotionally invested in this rivalry (for better or for worse). To him, it is just another team ...for now.

 

[LivinLovin&Breathin_Brady]

I like Slater's answer better, it's closer to the truth.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Namath right now in a drunken stupor could pass for 300 against this secondary

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

What would the Jets counter that statement with?.....

'We're not playing against Steve Grogan'?

 

[FCB02062]

Mark Sanchez: "It's not like we're playing against Hugh Millen or anything"

 

[IllegalContact]

so what happens wif brady get hit during the jets game, gets hurt, and mallett comes in and wins the game and then 6 in a row while brady is out healing?

all you karma people who are so smitten with past successes translating to future ones.......do you keep rooting for mallett?

 

[DaBronxPats14]

What would the Jets counter that statement with?.....

'We're not playing against Steve Grogan'?

No they wouldn't 'caus Grogan owned them in 70's & 80's I personally witnessed most of those games.

 

[BananaRepublican]

I'm sure this will be twisted so that the Jets can play the disrespect card.

How much energy can you divert to worry about disrespect? Sometimes I wonder if the drain isn't worse than the disrespect.

So I don't give a crap. Let Lloyd say nice things like that. I loved it. I am sure that Joe Willie White Shoes loved it too because it's true. Joe Willie could play.

On a serious note, I don't think Sanchez is as bad as most people think he is. If you listen to Jaws' analysis you'll find that he makes a lot of good throws that are not caught. Lack of support. But for the Patriots it will be their SB.

If the Patriots are a SB team then they have to man up to the Jets without worrying about who insulted whom. Piss 'em off and fire 'em up and make 'em as big and bad as they can be. Then punk their asses.

 

[Wolfpack]

Joe Namath is the single most overrated athlete of all time. You could argue than Sanchez is no Namath because, statistically speaking, Sanchez is actually better. Namath threw something like 50 more INT's than TD's.

 

[nekromantique]

Lloyd has had less time here to develop the Belichickian dialect of null speech as Slater. But I think what this says most is that Lloyd isn't yet emotionally invested in this rivalry (for better or for worse). To him, it is just another team ...for now.

pretty Much. dennard was asked the same question and gave the 'just another game' response. if people expect first year players to care about a rivalry they're just silly.


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[Gumby]

yeah, need to prepare like it was a regular game.

after all, if Namath isn't on the team, they aren't all going to show up to play drunk or anything.

 

[NSPF]

Boy was this a misleading headline.

 

[Teapot]

BB should bench him alla Welker.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

Namath right now in a drunken stupor could pass for 300 against this secondary

He couldn't even connect with Suzie Kobler, though -admittedly- she played good defense on that particular pass. He'd pull an elway and try to take the ball from under the guard .

 

[Patjew]

BB should bench him alla Welker.

You spelled "Allah" wrong.