Kyle Love released

[DocHoliday]

Not at all. NE's safety rotation was solid during that playoff run and there is no reason to think that Sanders or Meriweather would have made any difference.

The implication is that either of them being there would've pushed Pat Chung and Ihedigbo down the depth chart and more importantly, Sergio Brown off the team.

With no Brown, we could've avoided the backbreaking 12 man penalty that gave the Giants offense another set of downs after we stopped them.

They scored the TD - lob to Ballard I think.

 

[primetime]

The issue with Love gone is that there's no viable replacement for Wilfork if he goes down with an injury as a big-body gap-eater. Kelly and Armstead (presumably) are gap-shooters. The Patriots might want to look to a Sione Pouha type to fill the hole.

 

[primetime]

Not at all. NE's safety rotation was solid during that playoff run and there is no reason to think that Sanders or Meriweather would have made any difference.

Ihedigbo and Sergio Brown were complete dumpster fires and both played in the playoffs. Meriweather was bad, but not nearly as bad as either of them. Sanders, on the other hand, would have easily been that team's best safety, if not its best defensive back.

 

[patfanken]

Some comments on the comments:

1. Count me among those who were surprised at his release.

2. My initial reaction to the allegations that the sole reason for his release was his type 2 diabetes was negative, as there have been a number of professional athletes who have successfully controlled this disease.

3. I think the smarter thing all around would have been to wait until camp and see how he functioned with it. Given the cut of Deadrick, we aren't exactly teeming with DT's and "big bodies" at the moment. By waiting we lose nothing but the 90th slot on the TC roster. Instead we are left open to the slings and arrows of the mediots who relish the idea of taking a shot at the Pats.

4.I am also a victim of type 2 diabetes. For the past 6 years I have been taking an insulin shot every day and have the kind of neuropathy to my feet that when I am in my bare feet, it feels like have socks on. I'm lucky that its not painful (to this point) and not debilitating (though my athletic life is limited to scuba, golf and walking these days)

5. Understanding what I know about the disease, I can fully understand why the Pats might not want to deal with the negatives that could pop up in a player they might see as marginal to begin with. Football is a very intense sport. Lots short bursts of frenetic activity. It would be hard to monitor his levels within a game, and it wouldn't be ideal for him to spike either up on down on a critical 3rd down play. Better to let him get well first and THEN see what he can still do as an NFL player. I wish him all the best, and would love to see him back here someday

6. Clearly I think we will add at least one veteran fatty before TC. Casey Hampton comes immediately to mind as some who would AT LEAST be Love or Deadrick's equal, even at this late stage of his career. Other familiar names to consider, Corey Williams, Sione Pouha, Sean Cody, Amobi Okoye, and Vonny Holliday

BOTTOM LINE - There are certainly enough "professional run stoppers" out there to fill any need for a low cost player to replace the skills of Love and/or Deadrick. There's not need to panic, even a little bit.

 

[Kontradiction]

Not at all. NE's safety rotation was solid during that playoff run and there is no reason whatsoever to think that Sanders or Meriweather would have made any difference.

Sure they would have. Safety play was a problem, particularly during that game. The Giants were taking aim at them all day long. Sanders was solid during his run here and there's no reason to think that he wouldn't have been an improvement. Field position ultimately cost us that game. The Giants were gaining ground primarily through the air. So naturally, improved safety play would have helped, particularly on that final drive.

 

[Oswlek]

The implication is that either of them being there would've pushed Pat Chung and Ihedigbo down the depth chart and more importantly, Sergio Brown off the team.

With no Brown, we could've avoided the backbreaking 12 man penalty that gave the Giants offense another set of downs after we stopped them.

They scored the TD - lob to Ballard I think.

I understand the implications, they just aren't accurate. Meriweather was a disaster in Chicago, possibly the worst safety in the entire league, including NE's mash squad.

McCourty/Chung/Iggy performed fine in the playoffs, sans two plays when Chung let Smith get past him, neither resulting in a catch, IIRC.

The Ballard catch was in the regular season, and I completely agree that Sanders would have helped a great deal in that game. If someone wants to make the case that had NE won that game it would have knocked NYG out and made the path easier, be my guest. Not sure I'd buy it, but it is there for the taking.

Ihedigbo and Sergio Brown were complete dumpster fires and both played in the playoffs. Meriweather was bad, but not nearly as bad as either of them. Sanders, on the other hand, would have easily been that team's best safety, if not its best defensive back.

You didn't see Meriweather in Chicago, did you? He was a basket case. By the end of the year, McCourty had moved into the FS on nickle and he was a mega-upgrade over both Meriweather and Sanders, whom you vastly overrate.

Iggy was terrible in the regular season when injuries forced him to start. By the time the playoffs arrived and he was a 3rd safety who only came on the field in dime situations, he was decent. And Brown was stapled to the bench for the playoffs.

You guys are remembering the safety play in the regular season, not the playoffs.

 

[Oswlek]

Sure they would have. Safety play was a problem, particularly during that game. The Giants were taking aim at them all day long. Sanders was solid during his run here and there's no reason to think that he wouldn't have been an improvement. Field position ultimately cost us that game. The Giants were gaining ground primarily through the air. So naturally, improved safety play would have helped, particularly on that final drive.

I have to disagree. NE's safeties in that game were decent. If you want to point to a group that really got abused in coverage it was the LBs.

As for the final drive, the 2001, 2003 and 2007 defenses all allowed similar results on their opponent's last possession. Fans have given that group far too much grief, they played more than well enough to win the game.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

I completely disagree. Belichick and / or the Patriots dont owe you or anyone else an explanation. They felt he was unable to do his job due to his medical condition and recent weight loss. PERIOD!

NFL players are employees at will and can be cut at any time for any reason. End of story.

Yes, they are employees at will, but subject to the conditions of their individual contracts and the CBA. In this case, there is no dispute that Love's contract allowed for his release; it does, however, seem to be an open question as to whether the CBA is relevant.

If you read my posts, you will see that I say that it is a fair question as to whether he was released for Football reasons or for medical reasons that might be such as to constitute a violation of the CBA.

I don't see how that can be construed as a challenge to the Patriots' prerogatives; it is just a question that deserves an answer.

I'll stand by my statement.

 

[Oswlek]

Yes, they are employees at will, but subject to the conditions of their individual contracts and the CBA. In this case, there is no dispute that Love's contract allowed for his release; it does, however, seem to be an open question as to whether the CBA is relevant.

If you read my posts, you will see that I say that it is a fair question as to whether he was released for Football reasons or for medical reasons that might be such as to constitute a violation of the CBA.

I don't see how that can be construed as a challenge to the Patriots' prerogatives; it is just a question that deserves an answer.

I'll stand by my statement.

By this logic every player who ever tore up a knee and lost that half step of speed would have a case against the league. Or Pennington should have sued NY when they cut him because his arm was nearly falling off.

Virtually every NFL player is released because they become "disabled" by something or another. The fact that this is a disease instead of an injury is hardly relevant.

 

[belichick010405]

Pouha? If we could get him for vet min and let him compete for a backup role.

Ah ha.......Sione Pouha come on down! June 1 cuts are right around the corner as well......

 

[primetime]

You're assuming there's a downgrade in performance. If there's not, your analogy doesn't work.

 

[primetime]

June 1 cuts are right around the corner as well......

June 1st cuts are a thing of the past. You can cut guys before that date and designate them as post-June 1st cuts nowadays. Most cuts will come in camp. I think Pouha is the guy to look at - surprised he hasn't been signed yet. Maybe his back is just too screwed up.

 

[belichick010405]

Patriots gave Love two options: Retire or be released | ProFootballTalk

Kopelman also explained the communications that resulted in Love’s release. From the moment the team’s doctors made the diagnosis, the team adopted the “retire or be released” stance. Kopelman told the Patriots that “it’s far too early to make a decision as to whether [Love] can perform his job in September, or even July,” and that “all indications are that Kyle should be fine in a couple of weeks.”

 

[BadMoFo]

Patriots gave Love two options: Retire or be released | ProFootballTalk

 

[Kontradiction]

I have to disagree. NE's safeties in that game were decent. If you want to point to a group that really got abused in coverage it was the LBs.

As for the final drive, the 2001, 2003 and 2007 defenses all allowed similar results on their opponent's last possession. Fans have given that group far too much grief, they played more than well enough to win the game.

Eli went 30-40 in that game Oswlek. That doesn't exactly scream that the safety play in that game was even "decent". But you do have a point in that the entire pass defense sucked that season. Second worst all time.

 

[BTTA]

Patriots gave Love two options: Retire or be released | ProFootballTalk

Great. More of the same quality journalism. Interview one individual, someone with a huge conflict of interest regarding the truth, and the run the story as if what he says is all the investigation necessary to develop the final story: that there was unfair discrimination.

There's no objective evidence anywhere that this happened. None.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

The implication is that either of them being there would've pushed Pat Chung and Ihedigbo down the depth chart and more importantly, Sergio Brown off the team.

With no Brown, we could've avoided the backbreaking 12 man penalty that gave the Giants offense another set of downs after we stopped them.

They scored the TD - lob to Ballard I think.

Doesn't Sergio Brown have a Super Bowl ring?

 

[Oswlek]

Eli went 30-40 in that game Oswlek. That doesn't exactly scream that the safety play in that game was even "decent". But you do have a point in that the entire pass defense sucked that season. Second worst all time.

When Mayo is in the midst of one of the worst games he's had and Tracy White is another starting LB, 30-40 with only 13 points allowed before the offense craps the bed is decent performance.

Certainly nothing that a godawful Meriweather or OK Sanders could have improved on.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Not altogether sure of the law side of it. If Deus wasn't on hiatus, he'd be able to shed more light on it. But, as an armchair lawyer, I would think that the Pats did Love a favor. Nobody ever wants to lose their job over a health condition, of course. But if Love was ordered to lose weight by his doctor to improve his health, he would no longer be useful for what the team needed him to do. Thus, an early cut to help his chances to latch on with another team that may be able to use him better than the Pats would at this point. Of course, that's just a best guess on my part though.

Speaking of Deus on hiatus, what about MoLewisRocks missing for 3 months?

I really miss BoxORocks.

Glad to see Oswlek posting again.

 

[belichick010405]

Great. More of the same quality journalism. Interview one individual, someone with a huge conflict of interest regarding the truth, and the run the story as if what he says is all the investigation necessary to develop the final story: that there was unfair discrimination.

There's no objective evidence anywhere that this happened. None.

Questions and Answers About Diabetes in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The primary question is about providing Kyle Love with a reasonable accommodation. If the Pats provided Kyle with a "reasonable accommodation" then they should be fine.

I called the Patriots Radio Show and asked if this was provided and according to the reports that they have seen they said yes and Love turned it down.