Major Patriots bashing in The Sporting News

[PATSNUTme]

Get ready to be pissed, Patriots fans. If another dumb ass writer can get you pissed, this should do it. Paul Attner article in this weeks print version of the Sporting News is a gem. I can't post it all so I'll quote from the first and last paragraphs and you will get the point.

"I never want to hear again about the Patriots wanting players with high character. Just like virtually every franchise in the league, it is all about winning for them, nothing else. Trading for Randy Moss says volumes about the priorities of New England and Bill Belichick"

"Forget how this reflects on the integrity of the organization. Forget all this stuff about making locker room chemistry and bringing in players of the highest moral integrity a priority. It's all rubbish. No surprise, really. And this is sad."

I guess this guy is either a Jets or Colts fan.

 

[pats1]

Did he actually spell "Belichick" "Belechick?"

 

[PATSNUTme]

Did he actually spell "Belichick" "Belechick?"

No he didn't- Mr English Teacher:singing:

 

[pats1]

No he didn't- Mr English Teacher:singing:

Just checkin'...'cause tat wuld be cause fo concernn.

 

[Crazy Patriot Guy]

"I never want to hear again about the Patriots wanting players with high character. Just like virtually every franchise in the league, it is all about winning for them, nothing else. Trading for Randy Moss says volumes about the priorities of New England and Bill Belichick"

We traded a 4th rounder for a guy with incredible talent and told him that he won't be getting out of line if he plans on staying here.

We occasionally takes chances on guys. Moss is the latest. He acts like suddenly we're just like the Bengals having 8 players arrested in a year or the Vikings and the whole boat scandal.

 

[Remix 6]

doesnt bother me if people think we want high character or not..we never said it..

 

[SeanBruschi54]

We dont say it we make it and show it.

If he doesnt, see you later.

 

[Bella*chick]

LOL, it's SAD that our football team is all about winning?

What an idiot!

 

[unoriginal]

Here's the stinky linky for y'all: http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=201871

Attner is one of those "human interest" sporting writers; doesn't really understand the game he's covering, but he does know what makes a good soap opera. To wit, here's his analysis on Monk/Irvin: http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=173890

I just don't get it. Michael Irvin goes into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Art Monk doesn't. It's ridiculous.

Monk has the resume of a Hall of Famer. And his conduct as an NFL player was as good as it gets. Never one misdeed to smudge his reputation. He was the anchor of some great Redskins teams and made up for a lack of flamboyancy with steady, pressure contributions.

Irvin? Flamboyant and very good. But a model citizen? Hardly. Often, he was an embarrassment to the league. For him to be voted in and Monk not by a flawed selection committee of 40 is outrageous.

The rest of his archives are filled with blogs about cleaning up the league image, how classy Rex Grossman is, as well as praise for every quarterback to ever play the game, including Joey Harrington.

I think the following quote most accurately sums up how in-tune he is with the players of the league: http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=161376

It has been fascinating to follow the reaction to Terrell Owens' spitting incident. The most emotional and critical reaction has not come from what I would call the mainstream media. Instead, the strongest fallout has centered on ex-NFL players now serving as television analysts.

(...)

Spitting in someone's face is, in the eyes of these ex-jocks, a massive assault on a player's manhood. There is no forgiveness, no explanation, no defense for this action.

The natives grew vary excited when I showed them how to make fire, etc. etc.....

His archives don't go back far enough what he thought when the Pats traded for Corey Dillon, or drafted Cedric Cobbs and Antoine Womack.

 

[marty]

This is all so laughable! To my knowledge the only quote of note the Kraft's have said is "just don't bring any thugs or hoodlums in" with regards to instructions to BB and Pioli. This whole moral character image, while I think embraced by the Kraft's, was created by the media based on the Pats team first attitudes, hard working vets like Brady, Tedy, Troy et al. Never has it been suggested that we didn't have a few tough nuts(Washington, Cox, Dillon, and that guy with the scalding water). IMO they simply ask ego's to be checked at the door and teach the value of a team first attitude. A lot of teams do the same. The Patriots and their locker room leaders just do it better than most.

 

[spacecrime]

doesnt bother me if people think we want high character or not..we never said it..

This flabbergasts me. I keep hearing over and over that the Patriots say character is the most inportant thing in a player, and they only want high character players.

That is what the media has been saying. BB said two years ago that Moss could play for him. They took in Corey Dillon and Rodney harrison, the most fined player in the NFL.

The players BB says he wants are players to whom football is important, and to whom winning is important. He has also said many times that he is willing to give people another chance.

These news stories are just stupid.

The one good thing is that we can't lose. Moss will either shape up or he won't.

If he shapes up, the news stories will be how the Patriots shape character and make losers into winners.

If he doesn't shape up, and we cut him, the stories will be how the patriots will not stand for any nonsense. That won't be true, either, but the media must have back and white, all or nothing, stories.

In the meantime, it is just four grapes among some media types.

Oh, and another good thing to come out of this: BB will use all these news stories as incentive to Moss and more importantly, to Meriweather. "See what they are saying about you? We know it isn't true, we drafted you, we have faith in you. We are the only ones who believe in you. Get out there and prove them wrong and validate our faith in you."

 

[spacecrime]

This is all so laughable! To my knowledge the only quote of note the Kraft's have said is "just don't bring any thugs or hoodlums in" with regards to instructions to BB and Pioli. This whole moral character image, while I think embraced by the Kraft's, was created by the media based on the Pats team first attitudes, hard working vets like Brady, Tedy, Troy et al. Never has it been suggested that we didn't have a few tough nuts(Washington, Cox, Dillon, and that guy with the scalding water).

Kenyatta Jones, I think. One of the things the media doesn't notice is that while we do have players that get into trouble, they aren't tolerated long. Jones went, and so did his room-mate JR Redmond. Never did understand the connection there, but there was more to it than was in the papers. Remember Chris Sullivan? Gone.

The only decision we haven't had to make was a superstar getting into trouble. Closest we came was Ty Law and his cousin.

 

[Remix 6]

This flabbergasts me. I keep hearing over and over that the Patriots say character is the most inportant thing in a player, and they only want high character players.

That is what the media has been saying. BB said two years ago that Moss could play for him. They took in Corey Dillon and Rodney harrison, the most fined player in the NFL.

The players BB says he wants are players to whom football is important, and to whom winning is important. He has also said many times that he is willing to give people another chance.

These news stories are just stupid.

The one good thing is that we can't lose. Moss will either shape up or he won't.

If he shapes up, the news stories will be how the Patriots shape character and make losers into winners.

If he doesn't shape up, and we cut him, the stories will be how the patriots will not stand for any nonsense. That won't be true, either, but the media must have back and white, all or nothing, stories.

In the meantime, it is just four grapes among some media types.

Oh, and another good thing to come out of this: BB will use all these news stories as incentive to Moss and more importantly, to Meriweather. "See what they are saying about you? We know it isn't true, we drafted you, we have faith in you. We are the only ones who believe in you. Get out there and prove them wrong and validate our faith in you."

I never heard BB come out and say: We only want high character guys..we wont ever risk and theres no chance an attitude guy will make it here.

I've seen him bring in players with troubles..media makes too much out of the high character deal saying: they want Bruschi's..Brady's..Vrabel's

Obviously we want a high character guy..what team doesnt? But that doesnt mean we dont want a guy whos a baller. Every team wants great guys on their teams..we arent different..they arent different. We've just controlled our team very well so media assumes the locker room is full of high character guys already before we bring in someone else they say he doesnt fit in. We've been fortunate but i dont think were much different than any team..besides Bengals. Players with attitude problems here are on short leashes so they control themselves and the leaders control them. Thats what some teams dont have. BB is just like any other coach really..he wants a player who can play hard..work hard..push himself..be a leader..be smart..be a role model. Thats what teams want because thats what makes a players good. BB doenst overpay for anyone based on his value chart and if he doesnt feel a player can be controlled in New England..he wont risk it

 

[PatsSteve1]

I live about 25 miles from Oakland. For his 2 years out here Moss has not been a team first player. So writers saying something like that isn't ridiculous.
I'd be real curious to know what many here would be saying if Moss has gone to the Colts or Dolphins for a 4th round pick and he'd redone his deal like he did here. The same things? -
I don't know what Moss will do as a Patriot mainly because unlike Dillon or B Cox, they weren't quitters. Moss has been a quitter on his team. Maybe he'll turn it around and be a fine player for the Patriots. But I can't fault anyone for doubting that.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I live about 25 miles from Oakland. For his 2 years out here Moss has not been a team first player. So writers saying something like that isn't ridiculous.
I'd be real curious to know what many here would be saying if Moss has gone to the Colts or Dolphins for a 4th round pick and he'd redone his deal like he did here. The same things? -
I don't know what Moss will do as a Patriot mainly because unlike Dillon or B Cox, they weren't quitters. Moss has been a quitter on his team. Maybe he'll turn it around and be a fine player for the Patriots. But I can't fault anyone for doubting that.

They've had a team in Oakland for the last two years? I thought what they had was a joke. My cousin who has been a diehard Raiders fan for 20 years gave up on them two years ago too, and told me most Raiders fans realized what the problem was and understood that short of wishing someone dead there was nothing to be done about it until he is.

Similar dynamic in Minnesota. They were a winning playoff contending football team for the first 3 years Randy was there, and he was a big part of that success. Then McCoombs started hording cash and cap in anticipation of a sale, including hiring the lowest paid HC in the league - a guy who supplemented his income by scalping his organizations and players allotted Superbowl tickets. The team Randy was drafted for went from 36-12 to 28-36 over 4 miserable seasons under Tice. And after Randy shot his way out of town, as lots of players do, the QB he apparently had some harsh words for and the teamates he reportedly quit on proved to be bigger a-holes on and off the field than Randy ever was.

By and large players seldom appreciate the opportunity that playing with a top shelf organization and teamates provides more than when they are coming off a frustrating stretch of being mired in a lousy situation surrounded by idiots. That's what Randy's been dealing with for the last 6 years. He probably could have handled it better, but at the end of the day, would it have made any difference? Not likely, because there was nothing he realistically could have done to compensate for the colossal incompetance and ineptitude he was surrounded by.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

And then these same guys will praise the Pats after the storm out the gates with a 6-0 record.

 

[PatsSteve1]

They've had a team in Oakland for the last two years? I thought what they had was a joke. My cousin who has been a diehard Raiders fan for 20 years gave up on them two years ago too, and told me most Raiders fans realized what the problem was and understood that short of wishing someone dead there was nothing to be done about it until he is.

* If you don't think Moss has been a quitter you're ingnoring reality. Coery Dillon was considered a malcontent yet no one ever accused him of being a quitter or not trying on every play. There's no excuse for that I don't care who owned the Raiders. Every player on that team did not quit.

 

[sum1]

They've had a team in Oakland for the last two years? I thought what they had was a joke. My cousin who has been a diehard Raiders fan for 20 years gave up on them two years ago too, and told me most Raiders fans realized what the problem was and understood that short of wishing someone dead there was nothing to be done about it until he is.

Similar dynamic in Minnesota. They were a winning playoff contending football team for the first 3 years Randy was there, and he was a big part of that success. Then McCoombs started hording cash and cap in anticipation of a sale, including hiring the lowest paid HC in the league - a guy who supplemented his income by scalping his organizations and players allotted Superbowl tickets. The team Randy was drafted for went from 36-12 to 28-36 over 4 miserable seasons under Tice. And after Randy shot his way out of town, as lots of players do, the QB he apparently had some harsh words for and the teamates he reportedly quit on proved to be bigger a-holes on and off the field than Randy ever was.

By and large players seldom appreciate the opportunity that playing with a top shelf organization and teamates provides more than when they are coming off a frustrating stretch of being mired in a lousy situation surrounded by idiots. That's what Randy's been dealing with for the last 6 years. He probably could have handled it better, but at the end of the day, would it have made any difference? Not likely, because there was nothing he realistically could have done to compensate for the colossal incompetance and ineptitude he was surrounded by.

The only thing that was a joke was the pats 2nd half play vs the colts during last seasons' playoffs. And your cousin was never a diehard fan if he quit on his team, regardless of who his team was. The truth about Moss is that nobody knows what the outcome is going to be. Will the pats organization be enough to change Moss's attitude?? Or will Moss forever be the player with the tools to become great but will never achieve greatness because he lacks the desire and dicipline?? We'll see how this plays out.

 

[patfanken]

The thing that most of these media A**holes don't take into account is how players WHO ARE HERE comport themselves that matters. NOT what they have done in the past. AND that is how Moss SHOULD BE judged, not on is past actions, but what he does here, and how he comports himself in this enviroment.

None of those "morally superior" media pukes would ever survive some of their OWN past escapades. Denis SHOULD NEVER throw stones at ANYONE with his adulterous, drunken past. Freddy Smerlas was a ledgend at Mary Ann's in Cleveland Circle during his BC days, and its not for gentlemanly behavior. .... and the Bobby Orr and Derick Sanderson stories I could tell......

The fact is that Moss DID quit on that Oakland team. Its understandable, but not something that shouldn't be acknowledged. Moss SHOULD be on a short leash here in NE. He has more to prove than just his talent. I honestly believe that being here is going to be more of a benefit to him than to the Patriots. Corey was reborn as the loving but cranky crumdgeon who challenged the media and fans when they wrote him off because of his age, but did it withing the team concept and wasn't nasty. Randy has a chance to show that he is more of the playful immature prodigy and let THAT can be his legacy, instead of the pouting selfish, spoiled brat image he has now.

Don't forget the there are 2 things that the media LOVES to do. The first is to build up a team/player/organization beyond reason. The other is to tear down the very thing they have built up. The Media has built the Pats up to unreasonable standards and now feel free to take unfair shots at the same organization.

Believe me if the Pats are lucky enough to win another championship you'd better be prepared for a few sancamonious media types who will want to put an * next to the record, or claim illogically that the Pats lowered their standards and bought a Championship

 

[PatsSteve1]

None of those "morally superior" media pukes would ever survive some of their OWN past escapades. Denis SHOULD NEVER throw stones at ANYONE with his adulterous, drunken past. Freddy Smerlas was a ledgend at Mary Ann's in Cleveland Circle during his BC days, and its not for gentlemanly behavior. .... and the Bobby Orr and Derick Sanderson stories I could tell......

The fact is that Moss DID quit on that Oakland team.

* I'm looking at getting Moss with an open mind, I just can't ignore his past.
If I had to bet I'd guess he'll be a good Patriot. But had the Colts traded a 4th for him and he took a paycut, I expect the media would be saying similar things. Afterall Dungy says they did it god's way. But I wonder what most here would be saying if Moss were a Colt instead of a Patriot.