Huge offseason ahead...

[ATippett56]

From the reports, it was a Random shooting, though they do live in a less than ideal part of Miami where they are paying the bills for their apartment. Sometimes people have to make do with what they can afford. Not everyone can live in a 4 br. house over-looking the ocean in Miami.

Why was he carrying a concealed weapon? Because its his right as an American Citizen to do so.

Its pretty stupid to judge someone on a situation you don't have any information on. You have no idea what the situation was that he grew up in. You made comments about someone else's bias clouding their judgement, yet it seems that you are the one who has some serious bias in this case. You've made some pretty big assumptions that you just can't support.

1) You've assumed he's a gang banger
2) You've assumed that because he has a LICENSE for a concealed weapon and has one, that he's some kind of bad person.
3) You've assumded that he was at fault for the attack on himself and his friends.

You decide whether his action was warranted:

http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/9691498

According to reports, Meriweather was inside his house (with teammate Willie Cooper) when they noticed a suspicious car outside. Where I'm from, that's when you lock the doors and call the police. But these two guys -- non-thugs, we'll call them -- decided to go outside and see if anybody was stepping to them, which is when Meriweather pulled a gun from his pants and returned fire on a man who shot Cooper in the buttocks. So is Meriweather really the guy you're defending, the guy who grabbed a gun and went outside at 6:30 a.m., to apparently confront a suspicious car? You say he saved his friend's life. I say he endangered his friend's life by grabbing a gun and saying something to the affect of, "Yo, let's go out there and see what's up with that suspicious car." But whatever. All I know is that if a suspicious car comes outside my house, I'm not walking outside. Ever. But then again, I have very little street cred.

 

[PATRIOTS-80]

You decide whether his action was warranted:

http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/9691498

According to reports, Meriweather was inside his house (with teammate Willie Cooper) when they noticed a suspicious car outside. Where I'm from, that's when you lock the doors and call the police. But these two guys -- non-thugs, we'll call them -- decided to go outside and see if anybody was stepping to them, which is when Meriweather pulled a gun from his pants and returned fire on a man who shot Cooper in the buttocks. So is Meriweather really the guy you're defending, the guy who grabbed a gun and went outside at 6:30 a.m., to apparently confront a suspicious car? You say he saved his friend's life. I say he endangered his friend's life by grabbing a gun and saying something to the affect of, "Yo, let's go out there and see what's up with that suspicious car." But whatever. All I know is that if a suspicious car comes outside my house, I'm not walking outside. Ever. But then again, I have very little street cred.

You can only get shot in the umm, "buttocks" if you are running away..........

 

[ATippett56]

This topic was brought up in the draft forum as well....

The short answer to your question is that unfortunately, gang-drive-by-shootings are not a rare occurence in the big city, like L.A. (or Miami) for example....

How many football players from USC within the last year have been involved in shootings?

 

[cstjohn17]

This topic was brought up in the draft forum as well....

The short answer to your question is that unfortunately, gang-drive-by-shootings are not a rare occurence in the big city, like L.A. (or Miami) for example....

Let me fast forward, if the Patriots draft Merriweather he is a spirited young man full of passion who has made some youthful indiscretions. If the Bengals draft him he is a thug and a disgrace to the game.

From what I heard the kid can play, if he checks out in interviews and background checks and he can help the team then I have no problem with us drafting him. We have a need for a long-term answer at FS and apparently he is an on field leader and versatile enough to play CB if needed.

 

[ATippett56]

Let me fast forward, if the Patriots draft Merriweather he is a spirited young man full of passion who has made some youthful indiscretions. If the Bengals draft him he is a thug and a disgrace to the game.

Given the choice between Griffin and Meriweather, I would rather have Griffin.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Belichick obviously likes quickness over size in his DBs. I'm hoping that leads to Brandon Merriweather coming here

I don't see why this is a huge off season. We have a few needs but we can let the off season come to us, we have cap money and draft choices.

Belichick fan,

In the "Desiderata", it says to hold your head when all about you are losing theirs.

You are quite Correct. This is a relatively straightforward off season. We have lots of CAP money, no Coaching losses, few potential player losses, lots of draft choices and only a few openings to add to a very young team, that went 14-5. After signing the big three of Asante, Dan and Tully to franchise level contracts, should they desire to do so; they would still have almost $20 million to spend, on FAs, and add the draftees.

 

[cstjohn17]

Given the choice between Griffin and Meriweather, I would rather have Griffin.

LOL, Andre I think you have some man love going for Griffin! 10 posts in the last week all about Griffin.. we get it!



I see Griffin as going around pick 40, too much of a reach at 28. Unless he falls to 60 or the Pats trade back I don't see him as a Patriot. A lot can change with the combine and Pro Days but Merriweather seems to be rising and is around 30 depending on whose list you like.

 

[AzPatsFan]

I'm not advocating we draft a WR #1. I'm for best player available coupled with our needs. That's the best policy.

But make no mistake, this whole team suffers with "acceptable" wide receivers. Our WRs are the exact reason we looked so inept against the Colts and Chargers. That position is still our biggest need, and a WR that puts fear into the defense is going to have a much more dramatic impact on the patriots next season than a solid and speedy rookie linebacker. That's all I'm saying.

You know, if BB were convinced that Calvin Johnson were going to make it in the NFL, I'd be all for trading our 2 #1s for him. That's how big a whole we have at that position. It's the biggest hole on the team.

No i'm afraid its not, by a longshot. The ILB position has no depth. A new WR has to displace, Caldwell, Gaffney, Brown and CJ to even get on the field.

 

[DaBruinz]

By speculating.

So, you don't address the Samuel situation and just throw darts at a board for everything else. Got it.

The one in which an unnamed Patriot player called Branch and said the Patriots would pay him what he wanted if he dumped his agent.

Could you provide a link to this because all I remember is fan speculation on this one. In fact, many fans called for Branch to fire his agent.

Drop down on the ground and start laughing. Because I have NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER seen a team put 9 men in the box against Brady. The Jets did it, the Dolphins did it, the Colts did it. Yeremiah practically lived over Koppen that game. 9 guys in the box during the AFCCG. No QB on the planet could have moved an offense like that. The difference was lack of a threat on the outside. With Branch here, teams played their safeties back. That's undeniable. OK, maybe the Steelers didn't, but that's why Branch had a field day against them. Cladwell and Gaffney are nowhere near the threats that Branch was, not even close.

They weren't playing 9 in the box. 8 maybe, but not 9. And that is generally beaten with short passes that get behind the drawn up defenders. And its also beaten by going to a 3 WR set and hitting the man that is open, generally on a slant pattern.

While Caldwell and Gaffney aren't the threats, yet, that you claim Branch was, I think that you don't give them enough credit. You're perfectly willing to speculate on what the team needs are, but you do so by totally writing off players currently on the team.

BTW, in 2001 and 2003, the Pats didn't have any WRs that were "respected" threats either. Branch wasn't that much of a threat in 2003. Yet the Pats still won both those years.

 

[PATRIOTS-80]

Okay, I somewhat agree with you Tippett, but here is the counter-point to your argument.

"Tampa Bay running back Errict Rhett was making a career of fearlessly confronting 300-pound linemen and rock-solid linebackers, but his first encounter with real, heart-thumping fright came the day he faced a .45-caliber muzzle.

That was a decade ago — on a day when the NFL's 1994 offensive rookie of the year needed a car wash and a haircut. He pulled into a neighborhood shop that provided both.

His uniform of the day: a stylish linen shirt and white pants. When he rose from the barber's chair, he looked sharp. So did the freshly washed and shining red Lexus waiting for him outside the door. Maybe too sharp. He stood out in the crowd.

A car wheeled in front of Rhett, blocking access to his car. The driver, a menacing stranger, challenged him — then reached under his seat.

"I know that motion there," Rhett recalled in an interview. "Where I'm from, the inner city of South Florida — Carver Ranches — whenever you see that motion, everyone knows that damn motion."

And, as Rhett rightly sensed, in another instant he was staring at a handgun. It was pointed at his head.

"My heart started beating so fast it was uncontrollable," he said. "I've never been so scared. The whole world got quiet."

That moment changed him. Rhett, like a lot of other professional athletes, decided he would never again leave home without his own concealed handgun."

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-guns17dec17,1,6697211.story?track=rss

I seem to think Gaffney owns a gun, but failed to register it in New Jersey or something like that....

 

[DaBruinz]

You can only get shot in the umm, "buttocks" if you are running away..........

Don't confuse him with facts. He doesn't like that.

 

[ATippett56]

LOL, Andre I think you have some man love going for Griffin! 10 posts in the last week all about Griffin.. we get it!



I see Griffin as going around pick 40, too much of a reach at 28. Unless he falls to 60 or the Pats trade back I don't see him as a Patriot. A lot can change with the combine and Pro Days but Merriweather seems to be rising and is around 30 depending on whose list you like.

If somehow safety Reggie Nelson falls to the 24th selection in the 2007 NFL Draft, this all becomes a moot point.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Let me fast forward, if the Patriots draft Merriweather he is a spirited young man full of passion who has made some youthful indiscretions. If the Bengals draft him he is a thug and a disgrace to the game.

From what I heard the kid can play, if he checks out in interviews and background checks and he can help the team then I have no problem with us drafting him. We have a need for a long-term answer at FS and apparently he is an on field leader and versatile enough to play CB if needed.

Lots of the Bengals gangsta have athletic ability too. They have proven that are still a buinch of losers, that don't react properly in pressure situations...

 

[ATippett56]

That moment changed him. Rhett, like a lot of other professional athletes, decided he would never again leave home without his own concealed handgun."

Touche. You made your point.

 

[cstjohn17]

Lots of the Bengals gangsta have athletic ability too. They have proven that are still a buinch of losers, that don't react properly in pressure situations...

If the Patriots draft him I will give their track record the benefit of the doubt and assume they know what they are doing. The odds have to be at least 100-1 that they don't draft him so it is much adeu about nothing at this point.

 

[ATippett56]

Don't confuse him with facts. He doesn't like that.

At least, I'm willing to admit when I'm wrong!

 

[DaBruinz]

At least, I'm willing to admit when I'm wrong!

Sorry Chumly. Barking up the wrong tree there. I've admitted to being wrong PLENTY of times. But, thanks for trying.

 

[upstater1]

No i'm afraid its not, by a longshot. The ILB position has no depth. A new WR has to displace, Caldwell, Gaffney, Brown and CJ to even get on the field.

Oh, I forgot that Bruschi, Vrabel, Seau, Alexander retired. Apparently, Caldwell and Gaffney have proven themselves more than those guys.

 

[upstater1]

So, you don't address the Samuel situation and just throw darts at a board for everything else. Got it.

You need a better schtick, because this one ain't working. Very bad metaphor. Assuming the team's makeup with Samuel on it is like throwing darts? Pretty bad comparison. Let me make it easier for you. Assuming Samuel on the Patriots next year is an either/or proposition. You see, that's how you do it. So, either way, we have to speculate what the Patriots needs will be. Because, when you come right down to it, that's what this entire board is about, speculating. Otherwise known as "using our brain." I see you posted in a mock draft thread. I see you're discussing the possibility of Merriweather being on the Patriots. I'm pretty amazed that you're capable of doing that kind of work without speculating. Kudos to you.

And for your benefit, I will now perform an amazing feat. I will show you the Patriots' needs without Samuel:

#1A CB
#1 WR
#2 ILB
#3 S
#4 ILB
#5 WR
#6 RB
#7 CB
#8 OLB
#9 WR
#10 S

Maybe there's a 3rd possibility other than Samuel being off the team or on the team. Maybe it's possible that he's both off and on the team. I'll leave that up to you to consider, but I believe I covered all the bases.

Could you provide a link to this because all I remember is fan speculation on this one. In fact, many fans called for Branch to fire his agent.

http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/morrisseyweb/tag/NHL
Read down to Sept. 12.

While Caldwell and Gaffney aren't the threats, yet, that you claim Branch was, I think that you don't give them enough credit. You're perfectly willing to speculate on what the team needs are, but you do so by totally writing off players currently on the team.

I didn't totally write them off. They are decent receivers, maybe #2s but more likely #3s. And yes, go back and have a look at the AFCCG, I guarantee you that you will see 9 men in the box on several occasions. I was actually counting them a lot of times, and it was true. And I'm not talking about short yardage situations.

BTW, in 2001 and 2003, the Pats didn't have any WRs that were "respected" threats either. Branch wasn't that much of a threat in 2003. Yet the Pats still won both those years.

I'd say Branch and Givens were much bigger threats in 2003 than our wideouts were this year. Much bigger. I agree with you about 2001, but our offense wasn't that great in 2001. In any case, respect means the safeties come off the LOS or out of the box when it's not a clear running play (ie. short yardage). Deion had that respect. Reche doesn't. It's really as simple as that.

 

[patsox23]

I agree 100%, if Patriot fans believe that the Patriots are going to the Superbowl next year with Gaffney, Caldwell and Brown they are mistaken.

Perhaps they're mistaken next year, 'though I don't know why it would be so outlandish. The Patriots just came within one minute of going to the Super Bowl and that's with a gifted WR like CJ making NO IMPACT due to being a rookie who missed all of TC. Not only that, but the adjustment period between Brady and Caldwell/Gaffney is OVER. It's been made. So why again are we all up in arms about the allegedly still crappy receiving corps?

The frantic hysteria is an F-ing JOKE on this site. We did not lose to Indy because of the WRs. Some sanity. Please?