BB rips Welker

[supafly]

It's more than obvious that Welker isn't attempting to get out of the way whatsoever. All you have to do is watch the play a couple/few times to realize that he could have clearly gone in front/behind Talib at any given time.

That said, I don't believe that he was necessarily attempting to cause injury--just take him out with a physical nature. They got a BIG bonus in the meantime, however.

Yes--I imagine that Belichick was plenty pissed, and I do believe that he would have said something if it were other players too. This may not have been quite what some are making it out to be, but it certainly wasn't "unintentional" either. Welker was looking to put a pretty intense hit on Aqib Talib, nothing more.

I also am a bit disappointed that Talib couldn't shake this off, because he does seem to be a bit weak to me, particularly when the team needs him at the biggest points of the season. Watching him stand on the sidelines last year with that stupid condom looking hat tilted to the side and that big puffy jacket, pissed me off to no end last AFCCG.

 

[supafly]

Re: Wish BB was this vocal when Spygate came out....

That's a question that we'd all love to know the answer to. One possibility is that Belichick saw past infractions for salary cap problems, uniform violations, etc and did not think that this would be much different.

In other words, many felt that this was tremendously overblown, and it'd make sense that Belichick was one of those guys. Another line of thought is that he felt that the less he said, the better. I don't necessarily know for sure if he'd have handled it any differently now as you suggest.

As much as we wish he'd have talked more, it seems like it was the plan for both he and Kraft to say as little as possible. There are many NFL higher ups who respect him and appreciate the fact that he didn't say anything else though, I can tell you that much.

 

[TonyTucker]

Re: Wish BB was this vocal when Spygate came out....

Yeah, thanks Bill, for letting us have to deal it everywhere we go outside of Gillette and Patriots message boards. The least they could do is openly dispel the Rams walkthrough tape, so I don't have to correct the spygate truther morons about it all the time.

 

[Joker]

I'm angry about the two passes Brady missed in the 1st half that could have easily been 10 points. By the time of the Talib injury the Pats frustration was already well under way. I'd like to take the high road and say I wouldn't want a Pats player illegally picking an opponent but I'd be lying.

 

[Joker]

Re: Wish BB was this vocal when Spygate came out....

The only person in the world that can ever straighten out the spygate boolshyt story is Roger Goondell...and he ain't ever talking about it as evidenced by his silence ever since.

 

[Sciz]

It's more than obvious that Welker isn't attempting to get out of the way whatsoever. All you have to do is watch the play a couple/few times to realize that he could have clearly gone in front/behind Talib at any given time.

That said, I don't believe that he was necessarily attempting to cause injury--just take him out with a physical nature. They got a BIG bonus in the meantime, however.

Yes--I imagine that Belichick was plenty pissed, and I do believe that he would have said something if it were other players too. This may not have been quite what some are making it out to be, but it certainly wasn't "unintentional" either. Welker was looking to put a pretty intense hit on Aqib Talib, nothing more.

Yeah, this is where I'm. I don't think the team or Welker or anybody went in with the goal of knocking Talib out of the game, but when Welker makes that cut to his left, sees Talib coming straight at him with likely no idea Welker is there, apparently Welker decided in that moment to just go for it. It was pretty clear that he didn't care if he was committing OPI or not, because he never looked back at the ball, and even a timing play has some element of error. Depending who you ask, the hit came either right before Thomas touched the ball or in the same instant that he did. Welker's only real concern was running straight into Talib.

A good comparison might be Chris Jones on the infamous field goal push play. He described it as this idea of "what if I did this" as he was lined up, as opposed to anything designed by the team or planned by him in advance. I think it's a lot easier to rationalize a bad decision in a split second like that than it is to go in with a plan for it to happen. Enough time to think about the benefits, not enough to think about the consequences.

All that said, it's a pretty crappy time for Welker to "just go for it," and he ended a player's season because of it. I think it was a garbage move, and I don't really see any reason to not be upset toward him for it. This doesn't really make him any better than Bernard Pollard in my book.

 

[JMC00]

Now, why aren't you the one asking Mike Periera about these 2 plays?

Seriously---I'd love to hear that explanation.

What makes you think I didn't? I mass tweeted it to him and got no response for hours so I just deleted the tweets because I didn't want to look like a nut on my twitter page.

I figured he wouldn't respond. Just like the hacks Prisco and Breer didn't respond when I linked them the gif of Edelman making a legally block when they were going on and on about Edelman launching and it being a dirty hit.

 

[Sciz]

I figured he wouldn't respond. Just like the hacks Prisco and Breer didn't respond when I linked them the gif of Edelman making a legally block when they were going on and on about Edelman launching and it being a dirty hit.

I've tried point out to people that there's absolutely nothing wrong with Edelman's hit, but people can't seem to understand. It was a 100% legal play. DRC was chasing the ball carrier and was not defenseless, and Edelman went shoulder to chest. There's nothing remotely dirty or illegal about it. That is essentially the definition of a hard legal block.

 

[supafly]

I'm angry about the two passes Brady missed in the 1st half that could have easily been 10 points. By the time of the Talib injury the Pats frustration was already well under way. I'd like to take the high road and say I wouldn't want a Pats player illegally picking an opponent but I'd be lying.

I agree that it's a shame that Brady has missed some throws in big games at times, but if you want to see someone who probably shouldn't be blamed, check out the other thread regarding Brady's failures in recent big games.

Not claiming that you're suggesting anything, but I thought I'd point it out since you brought up your comments. For the record, I obviously was pissed too.

 

[supafly]

Re: Wish BB was this vocal when Spygate came out....

Yeah, thanks Bill, for letting us have to deal it everywhere we go outside of Gillette and Patriots message boards. The least they could do is openly dispel the Rams walkthrough tape, so I don't have to correct the spygate truther morons about it all the time.

The league heavily investigated those rumors and found them to be completely unsubstantiated.

Don't you remember the Boston Herald coming out and dedicating a huge full page ad in apology after the John Tomase article the day before the 2007 SB was proven to be incorrect?

 

[supafly]

Re: Wish BB was this vocal when Spygate came out....

The only person in the world that can ever straighten out the spygate boolshyt story is Roger Goondell...and he ain't ever talking about it as evidenced by his silence ever since.

That's because that idiot had no idea that it would blow up in his face like that.

I don't think anyone involved had any clue that it'd be 1/4 of the story that it became, and within the initial 48-72 hr period from that Sunday in week one, there were a boatload of false rumors spreading like wildfire.

I fully agree with you that Goodell had/has the power to have made that issue much smaller by telling the truth and elaborating on certain aspects, but he was too busy making a name for himself as a new commissioner.

 

[robbomango]

It's more than obvious that Welker isn't attempting to get out of the way whatsoever. All you have to do is watch the play a couple/few times to realize that he could have clearly gone in front/behind Talib at any given time.

That said, I don't believe that he was necessarily attempting to cause injury--just take him out with a physical nature. They got a BIG bonus in the meantime, however.

Yes--I imagine that Belichick was plenty pissed, and I do believe that he would have said something if it were other players too. This may not have been quite what some are making it out to be, but it certainly wasn't "unintentional" either. Welker was looking to put a pretty intense hit on Aqib Talib, nothing more.

I also am a bit disappointed that Talib couldn't shake this off, because he does seem to be a bit weak to me, particularly when the team needs him at the biggest points of the season. Watching him stand on the sidelines last year with that stupid condom looking hat tilted to the side and that big puffy jacket, pissed me off to no end last AFCCG.

I don't think BB was making this a personal issue either, he hated what he watched on film like the rest of us and called it out. A receiver running top speed and slamming into his best CB, Welker braced himself for the impact, Talib was taken by surprise. It was disgusting IMO.

Talib was geared up for this game and it was just an unfortunate incident. BB's not going to put someone on the field if he thinks there going to be ineffective, cracked ribs and a messed up knee? he would'v been useless I'm sure. I don't think playing was an option for him, felt bad for the guy, wouldn't call him soft personally.

 

[supafly]

I don't think BB was making this a personal issue either, he hated what he watched on film like the rest of us and called it out. A receiver running top speed and slamming into his best CB, Welker braced himself for the impact, Talib was taken by surprise. It was disgusting IMO.

Talib was geared up for this game and it was just an unfortunate incident. BB's not going to put someone on the field if he thinks there going to be ineffective, cracked ribs and a messed up knee? he would'v been useless I'm sure. I don't think playing was an option for him, felt bad for the guy, wouldn't call him soft personally.

I don't take issue with anything that you say, and a lot of it is good. I just also see a physical collision that targeted the top half and nothing near the knee, and wonder how notoriously "tough" guys would have reacted in terms of coming back onto the field.

I do question Talib's toughness at times, right or wrong. I don't like the fact that out of his 6 full NFL seasons, he has yet to complete a season at the end with his team.

I agree that it's certainly unfortunate, but I also wonder how some tougher players would have done just the same. We all know of a ton of players where they'd have to be half-dead to miss ONE AFCCG, let alone two in a row; especially coming from a team that didn't sniff the playoffs previously.

 

[robbomango]

I don't take issue with anything that you say, and a lot of it is good. I just also see a physical collision that targeted the top half and nothing near the knee, and wonder how notoriously "tough" guys would have reacted in terms of coming back onto the field.

I do question Talib's toughness at times, right or wrong. I don't like the fact that out of his 6 full NFL seasons, he has yet to complete a season at the end with his team.

I agree that it's certainly unfortunate, but I also wonder how some tougher players would have done just the same. We all know of a ton of players where they'd have to be half-dead to miss ONE AFCCG, let alone two in a row; especially coming from a team that didn't sniff the playoffs previously.

Talib is no different than Gronk or DA IMO, for whatever reason he's had some injury issues. Not sure it's about toughness as much as it's about effectiveness. BB makes those calls, if Talib had played he'd of sucked and we'd all be just as PO'd lol.

Just my 2 cents...

 

[supafly]

Talib is no different than Gronk or DA IMO, for whatever reason he's had some injury issues. Not sure it's about toughness as much as it's about effectiveness. BB makes those calls, if Talib had played he'd of sucked and we'd all be just as PO'd lol.

Just my 2 cents...

I agree with your thoughts, with the exception that Talib is indeed a bit different than Gronk or Amendola, in the sense that he has a chronic injury that is 3-4 years old and has caused issues in ALL of those past 3-4 seasons. That is going to be an issue for him/us/both one way or another moving ahead.

Even worse, historically, Talib is missing about 21-22% of each season over the course of his 6 year career and has yet to successfully finish out any one of those six seasons with his team at the end. That is another issue that coincides with the thinking that he gets hurt more often than many others.

As we've seen during his short time here, that hip injury can flare up at any given time at a moment's notice.

 

[robbomango]

I agree with your thoughts, with the exception that Talib is indeed a bit different than Gronk or Amendola, in the sense that he has a chronic injury that is 3-4 years old and has caused issues in ALL of those past 3-4 seasons. That is going to be an issue for him/us/both one way or another moving ahead.

Even worse, historically, Talib is missing about 21-22% of each season over the course of his 6 year career and has yet to successfully finish out any one of those six seasons with his team at the end. That is another issue that coincides with the thinking that he gets hurt more often than many others.

As we've seen during his short time here, that hip injury can flare up at any given time at a moment's notice.

Agreed that hip injury sucks, I'm sure he hates more than us lol. It will most likely effect his contract no doubt.

 

[supafly]

Agreed that hip injury sucks, I'm sure he hates more than us lol. It will most likely effect his contract no doubt.

I'm not nearly as concerned about Talib's contract for his personal standpoint, as he just made more in one year than I'll ever see in my entire lifetime--and I'll be done with my 4th college degree by the end of the year. Talib will be just fine, money-wise, and if he's not, shame on him 100x over

From our team's standpoint, yes--it makes the negotiations that much more difficult, as you cannot even consider for one second backing up the Brinks truck for him. You have to limit your gamble and risk, and since he's been here, he's been nothing but a risk.

 

[RhodyPatriot]

Re: Wish BB was this vocal when Spygate came out....

I actually like the fact that BB is very open about his feelings on the Welker hit on Talib but he remained mum when all the Spygate fracas was going on. I am sure he would react differently if he had to do it again.

The same exact thought crossed my mind yesterday. Because Belichick refused to address the Spygate accusations and explain what that was all about he allowed his enemies/those who don't like him to define the issue and it spun out of control.
Belichick is his own worst enemy.

 

[RhodyPatriot]

From that angle it's clear Welker wasn't running a route, he was running to deliberately crash into Talib.

He's looking at him the whole time.

Hope they try to do it to the Seahawks and they see it coming a mile away and Cam Chancellor or Earl Thomas drops the boom on him.

I hope one of those guys on Denver's first drive knocks Welker senseless. And don't think they won't do it either.

Yes, it was a designed play and that's why Welker wasn't looking for the ball.
So??????
The only thing that makes the Welker/Talib collision a penalty is if Welker hits him before the Denver receiver touched the ball. It's very close and the refs could have gone either way.
This nonsense about Welker trying to hurt him and take him out of the game is pure folly.
Btw has Belichick ever said anything about Bernard Pollard???? Hmmm........

 

[Jackson 2]

Re: Wish BB was this vocal when Spygate came out....

In my opinion, the person responsible for responding to those allegations was Robert Kraft. My guess is that Belichick was very likely muzzled by Kraft. The common procedure with most organizations is that when they're under fire, there is one spokesperson and that's nearly always the CEO. I've expressed my opinion many times before that, regardless of who was responsible for responding to Crygate, we, the fans, were left holding the bag forever in terms of defending the team.