Negativity 101 . . . by Michael Felger.

[E Belichick Unum]

You know, I hate to just drink the koolaid. I want to know that Dante has been late for meetings and that some of his team mates thought he wasn't all that committed to being the best he can be.

Felger is a good writer and has some pretty good sources. I know some of the people he has mentioned in his writings ad he is spot on most of the time. The whole Patriots thing is based on chemistry and if this guy has a chance to screw that up, all Felger is doing is letting us know. Fore warned is fore armed.

 

[PromisedLand]

He also claimed that Philadelphia did not want him back, when in fact they made him an offer before anybody else did. Apparently it was Stallworth who didn't want to stay in Philadelphia, not the other way around.

 

[Rob0729]

Felger grew up a Packer fan. I wonder how he feels that the team that he roots for growing up has had a QB with character issues like Brett Favre. What do both Brett Favre and Donte Stallworth have in common? They are both in the substance abuse program. Has anyone ever heard people question Favre's character for being in the program?

 

[scout]

I read the article then read these posts, I didn't think the article was that bad. He made some valid points about overpaying and questionable behavior. I do not want to read any raw-raw sports writer, go team go. Maybe I'll have to drink another cup of coffee and re-read his article.

 

[Matt H.]

Why is it so important for some people that every writer, every fan, every person still breathing must love everything the Pats do all the time? I am a big Pats fan but I don't need constant validation that my team is good. I don't agree with everything Felger says, but he makes some good points. I think Borges sucks, but it doesn't mean everything he writes is wrong. If you think the Stallworth signing doesn't come with some legitimate questions you're delusional.

 

[BelichickFan]

Why is it so important for some people that every writer, every fan, every person still breathing must love everything the Pats do all the time?

It's not but when they finally do what Felger has been screaming for for 12 months - upgrading the talent by spending money - I don't expect his reaction to be 90% negative.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

He also claimed that Philadelphia did not want him back, when in fact they made him an offer before anybody else did. Apparently it was Stallworth who didn't want to stay in Philadelphia, not the other way around.

The trade from New Orleans to Philly included a codicil that if Philly signed Stallworth to a long term deal, then the pick that New Orleans got from the Eagles would esculate fropm a 4th to a 3rd. And yet they still tried to sign him. That little tidbit, should have been included in any honest discussion about Stallworth. SO for all the belly aching over the Welker deal, Philly spent a 4th round pick for one year of Stallworth. (makes you feel a little better about the Gabriel deal).

 

[NYCPatsFan]

I read the article then read these posts, I didn't think the article was that bad. He made some valid points about overpaying and questionable behavior. I do not want to read any raw-raw sports writer, go team go. Maybe I'll have to drink another cup of coffee and re-read his article.

I agree. I read this thread first and then had a quick look at the article, more curious to see how he wrote about Bethel Johnson.

He mentions Bethel more like a reminder that this was a guy cut by the Pats earlier and still preferred by the Eagles over Stallworth, who could have been signed by the Pats six months ago at a significantly lesser cost. I think that is a point worth noting.

Now, do I trust Felger and the media more than BB and Pioloi? Nope. I follow the motto "In Bill We Trust" and have faith that our FO have done a due diligence on Stallworth (that's in relation to his substance abuse issues) and re-evaluated our future offensive strategies - which could be quite different from what was planned six months ago (when they declined to sign Stallworth).

So, the article is not that bad and Felger does not go overboard with any negative remarks in my opinion.

 

[Willie55]

Felger grew up a Packer fan. I wonder how he feels that the team that he roots for growing up has had a QB with character issues like Brett Favre. What do both Brett Favre and Donte Stallworth have in common? They are both in the substance abuse program. Has anyone ever heard people question Favre's character for being in the program?

Actually Felger cant stand Favre and thinks he should have retired long ago. He used to say it on his show. I'm not sure if he still says it because I dont listen to his show anymore because he's such and ass.

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/03/12/patriots_sign_wr_stallworth/

Here's Reiss' take on why the Pats didn't pull the trigger on Stallworth last August. The Saints wanted a LB and as we all know the Pats were thin at LB. With that the Eagles sent Simoneau and they had Stallworth.

 

[Brady'sButtBoy]

Um, is Solman actually Felger in disguise? Seriously. We know these guys all check out Patsfans.com now, and a little bit of anonymous self-defense on behalf of his latest work seems quite logical. Go back and read Solman's first post in this thread and tell me it's doesn't sound like it could be right from Felgie's mouth but for a tiny bit of deception near the end...

 

[DefenseRules]

I don't care what Stallworth did in New Orleans or at Philly. The few Philly fans that I've spoken to are not happy with their FO today because they didnt' try hard enough to bring him back. According to them, Stallworth was NOT an A-hole like TO. He didn't try to bring the team down and blow up their locker room. He was NOT a CANCEROUS DISEASE that infected the locker room and Organization like TO did. That's what the Philly fans that I've spoken to think of Stallworth. They are not quite sure where the Substance Abuse reports are coming from because they didn't hear anything about that when he was traded or while he played there. But what do they know? Felger and them are all knowing and all seeing. The fans only saw him play.

Again. I don't care what he did while he played for other teams. I only care what he does for MY TEAM. IF he suits up on Sunday and Produces, and keeps his nose clean off of it. I'll be happy.

Felger and them have WARNED US. Thank you Felger and them. I will make note of your warnings.
You warned us about Dillon too. How did that work out?

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm going to relax and see how things work out with Stallworth. I didn't feel good about the Dillon trade after I read what Felger and them had to say about him. All Dillon did was come in here and PRODUCE on the field and KEEP HIS NOSE CLEAN OFF OF IT.
I won't be sucked in by their negativity again.

 

[BelichickFan]

I don't care what Stallworth did in New Orleans or at Philly. The few Philly fans that I've spoken to are not happy with their FO today because they didnt' try hard enough to bring him back. According to them, Stallworth was NOT an A-hole like TO. He didn't try to bring the team down and blow up their locker room.

Yeah, I have a friend who's a huge Eagles fan, lives in Philly, who said the same thing. That there were no problems with Stallworth, that he was a good team guy.

 

[Rob0729]

Actually Felger cant stand Favre and thinks he should have retired long ago. He used to say it on his show. I'm not sure if he still says it because I dont listen to his show anymore because he's such and ass.

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/03/12/patriots_sign_wr_stallworth/

Here's Reiss' take on why the Pats didn't pull the trigger on Stallworth last August. The Saints wanted a LB and as we all know the Pats were thin at LB. With that the Eagles sent Simoneau and they had Stallworth.

Well, maybe him and Brett Farve is a bad example. But Favre is an example of the double standard with the substance-abuse program. Both Stallworth and Favre are in the same program, but because Favre is considered a good guy by the media it isn't a knock. Stallworth has a negative media image (injury prone, underachiever, etc.) so the substance abuse thing is huge.

 

[BelichickFan]

Stallworth has a negative media image (injury prone, underachiever, etc.) so the substance abuse thing is huge.

It's weird why he has that repuatation too. He was drafted the same year as Branch and has very similar career numbers in both production and games played. He also played with crappy QB in New Orleans (Aaron Brooks, anyone ?). As opposed to Branch who had Brady. Then last year they had similar situations of late team changes, starting QB getting hurt, etc. I think there's a good argument that Stallworth has done the same with less than Branch; and, yet, Branch was an insurmountable loss yet Stallworth is an unreliable, questionable character underachiever.

 

[Rob0729]

It's weird why he has that repuatation too. He was drafted the same year as Branch and has very similar career numbers in both production and games played. He also played with crappy QB in New Orleans (Aaron Brooks, anyone ?). As opposed to Branch who had Brady. Then last year they had similar situations of late team changes, starting QB getting hurt, etc. I think there's a good argument that Stallworth has done the same with less than Branch; and, yet, Branch was an insurmountable loss yet Stallworth is an unreliable, questionable character underachiever.

Stallworth was with the Saints when everyone there seemed to be out of control underachievers. I think anyone let go by Sean Payton from that era is going to have that rep until they prove otherwise. Even Joe Horn's name has been tarnished because he is being labelled a lockerroom lawyer. Other than Stallworth's injury last year, I have never heard any negative stories about Stallworth's behavior in Philly.

 

[PromisedLand]

Why is it so important for some people that every writer, every fan, every person still breathing must love everything the Pats do all the time? I am a big Pats fan but I don't need constant validation that my team is good. I don't agree with everything Felger says, but he makes some good points. I think Borges sucks, but it doesn't mean everything he writes is wrong. If you think the Stallworth signing doesn't come with some legitimate questions you're delusional.

You're new around here, aren't you?

You make a very good point, of course, but that's just the way a lot of the posters are here. Dare say anything negative about the Pats and prepare to be flamed for it. On the other hand there are a bunch of posters who are ALWAYS negative - the Chicken Little's. So I just try to tune out the bad and take the good here. And there is a lot of good. Best bunch of Pats experts on the planet, I would say, even though there's another Pats board with "planet" in the name!

 

[PromisedLand]

Felger and them have WARNED US. Thank you Felger and them. I will make note of your warnings.
You warned us about Dillon too. How did that work out?

For that matter, they warned us about BB too ("duplicitous pond scum" and other assorted crap) and how did THAT work out?

IMHO if we let the media (excluding the former NFL types in the media) run an NFL team that team would go 0-16 even if they played their entire schedule against the Raiders.

 

[Willie55]

You're new around here, aren't you?

You make a very good point, of course, but that's just the way a lot of the posters are here. Dare say anything negative about the Pats and prepare to be flamed for it. On the other hand there are a bunch of posters who are ALWAYS negative - the Chicken Little's. So I just try to tune out the bad and take the good here. And there is a lot of good. Best bunch of Pats experts on the planet, I would say, even though there's another Pats board with "planet" in the name!

I think most people look for fair reporting. Which is what Felger used to do. At times he would give credit when credit was due, but he wouuld also write the negative things. Now its not like that. He has turned to the Borges school of writing.

IIRC, everybody here was lambasting the Beisels, Browns and Starks of the team. And when the Boston media was saying it like it was, everybody here was agreeing with them. But when things are thrown out there just to be controversial, he's going to be pointed out.

 

[solman]

Um, is Solman actually Felger in disguise? Seriously. We know these guys all check out Patsfans.com now, and a little bit of anonymous self-defense on behalf of his latest work seems quite logical. Go back and read Solman's first post in this thread and tell me it's doesn't sound like it could be right from Felgie's mouth but for a tiny bit of deception near the end...

Since I disagree with him all the time, that seems an unreasonable conclusion.

Then again, maybe he just disagrees with himself. [Cue evil music]

 

[BelichickFan]

I think most people look for fair reporting.

Correct, I wasn't looking for some outrageous PR bull in favor of the move. But I also wasn't expecting not so subtle hints that the Eagles prefer Bethel to Stallworth either.