Michael Felger: Debunked

[JDSal45]

In an effort to twist the story today that the Patriots are acting different than they did in the past, Felger writes a story pointing out two situations from one game, and then proceeds to ignore facts which do not fit his case (including from that same game). Here are some:

2006:

1.) Leading 31-7 last year against the Vikings, with Brady still in the game with 8:38 left, the Patriots go for it on 4th and 5 at the Minnesota 32 rather than attempt a 49 yard field goal.

2.) Leading 28-0 vs. Green Bay with 10 minutes left last year, Brady (still in the game) throws a 19 yard TD pass to make it 35-0.

3.) Felger points out certain things from the Houston game, but conveniently ignores that while leading 40-7 with 4th and 4 at the Houston 33 with 2:38 left, the Patriots pass for first down rather than try a 50 yard field goal or punt. Funny Felger pointed out certain plays from this game, but not this one. That is unethical.

4.) Leading 33-23 vs. the Titans with 1:58 left, the Patriots go for it on 4th and 7 on the Tennessee 36 and convert by throwing. They then throw a touchdown pass on first down when they could have run out the clock.

Going back to 2005:

1.) Leading 35-7 against Buffalo with 31 seconds left, the Patriots go for it on 4th and 4.

2.) Leading 28-0 versus Tampa Bay with 3:05 left in the game, the Patriots go for it on 4th and 2 with Tom Brady still in the game rather than attempt a 49 yard field goal.

Going back to 2004:

1.) Leading 42-7 vs. Cleveland with 10 minutes left, the Patriots go for it on 4th and goal on the Cleveland 5 yard line rather than try a chip shot 22 yard field goal.

2.) Leading 23-7 with 5:31 left versus the Jets, the Patriots go for it on 4th down rather than try a 42 yard field goal. Tom Brady is still in the game.

3.) Leading 21-7 versus San Francisco with 1:12 left in the game, the Patriots go for it on 4th and 4 on the San Francisco 9 yard line, rather than try a 26 yard field goal with Adam Vinatierri.

4.) Leading 34-20 with 4:30 left vs. the Steelers in the AFC Championship game, the Patriots go for it on 4th down rather than try a 41 yard field goal.

Going back to 2003:

1.) Leading 27-13 with 51 seconds left, the Patriots go for it on 4th and 2 with starting running back Antwouin Smith rather than attempt a 50 yard field goal.

So Felger's evidence includes two plays from one game, while ignoring other situations from the same game and also ignoring situations like in 2004 when they went for it on the Cleveland 5 up 42-7. Felger wants to put forth the theory they are acting different than in the past, then proceeds to ignore situations where they acted the same. That is dishonest and horrendous reporting. He should expand on his article and post the facts which don't suit his case if he had any ethics at all. The Herald even claims in the headline the two isolated cases he points to (and that is his sole evidence) makes a "convincing case" they are acting different. Funny, if I wanted to build a "convincing case" I'd look a hell of a lot further than one game (and ignore situations in that one game). No wonder why the Herald is such a horrible rag.

J D Sal

 

[patsox23]

well done... Thanks for posting.

 

[SVN]

send this to his email and see what he says.

 

[JDSal45]

send this to his email and see what he says.

I just did. I'll let you know.

J D Sal

 

[sieglo]

The media is so disingenuous it's absurd.

 

[NEGoldenAge]

You also might want to add that, at that time, Gostkowski really needed gametime reps, both to build confidence, and likely to see if he was even worth keeping. Given his amazing kickoffs, I think they weren't putting as much weight on the accuracy as they might otherwise, but he did struggle for much of last season.

 

[QuiGon]

So Felger's evidence includes two plays from one game, while ignoring other situations from the same game and also ignoring situations like in 2004 when they went for it on the Cleveland 5 up 42-7. Felger wants to put forth the theory they are acting different than in the past, then proceeds to ignore situations where they acted the same. That is dishonest and horrendous reporting.

Ouch.

 

[letekro]

I appreciate the effort, but....can't we just accept that sports media are the laziest, stoopidest, most pathetic subsection of a larger news media that is not exactly the avatar of journalistic integrity?

At some point, we have to choose to read for entertainment purposes only, or choose not to read....I mean don't we?

 

[Michael]

On WEEI this afternoon Steve Diosi pointed out at least 1 of the "facts" in his article was patently false. Felger has taken Borges's place and like I did with Borges I just don't listen to or read Felger if it can be avoided at all.

 

[JDSal45]

On WEEI this afternoon Steve Diosi pointed out at least 1 of the "facts" in his article was patently false. Felger has taken Borges's place and like I did with Borges I just don't listen to or read Felger if it can be avoided at all.

The only fact I can see which he cites that are patently wrong is he says the field goal that made it 40-7 came "midway" through the fourth quarter when actually it came with less than 3 minutes gone in the fourth quarter. Or in other words, with less than 1/5th of the fourth quarter gone....hardly "midway" as Felger falsely claims.

J D Sal

 

[Michael]

The only fact I can see which he cites that are patently wrong is he says the field goal that made it 40-7 came "midway" through the fourth quarter when actually it came with less than 3 minutes gone in the fourth quarter. Or in other words, with less than 1/5th of the fourth quarter gone....hardly "midway" as Felger falsely claims.

J D Sal

Yes, that's what Diosi started with and since I was busy with other things while listening I didn't know if he pointed out any others. That's why I prefaced it with "at least 1".

 

[mac]

Both your posts make a strong case. Thanks for doing the research. I sent an e-mail (lightly researched) to Felger on the very same subject.

 

[bpeter17]

interesting research, felger is an idiot. The Bruschi quotes are interesting.

 

[NYCPatsFan]

Wow! Thanks for that nice research. Did he get back to you?

Maybe you should forward this data to other columnists covering the Pats and see if they would like to do more research rolleyes: but wait, there are a few good one there right??) on the subject and maybe write something about it.

Out of curiosity: can't Felger use such kind of information and go bat for the Pats against the ESPNs and other national media? Wouldn't that get him more attention if he strikes out as one of the rare guys defending the Pats in the national media and backs it up with adequate stats?? (not sure how many of you remember but Felger was one of the most ardent supporters of Brady, BB and the Pats in the 2001 season when the Globe reporters were quite determined to trample them.)

 

[PonyExpress]

Great work. When Farrah Fawcett submits his application for "worst sports reporter in Boston", he can add your seal of approval to his resume.

 

[DarrylS]

Very good job, Felger has morphed into Ron Borges as the resident contrarian, sadly his work interprets into good ratings for him on his radio show. What if no one listened??

 

[bigjunk1]

It's good to call any reporter when he is wrong on something. But I don't get all the venom toward Felger. I listen to his show everyday - and it's the best Boston based sports radio available.

I know that he sometimes says things about the Pats that aren't popular around here, but the majority of his stuff and commentary is very pro-Patriot. I think at times we Pats fans have such a chip on our shoulder that we jump on anything that doesn't fit in with exactly how we feel about our team.

And there is no comparisson to Felger and Borges. Borges hated the Patriots, and more specifically, despised BB.

 

[Brarrell]

It's good to call any reporter when he is wrong on something. But I don't get all the venom toward Felger. I listen to his show everyday - and it's the best Boston based sports radio available.

I know that he sometimes says things about the Pats that aren't popular around here, but the majority of his stuff and commentary is very pro-Patriot. I think at times we Pats fans have such a chip on our shoulder that we jump on anything that doesn't fit in with exactly how we feel about our team.

And there is no comparisson to Felger and Borges. Borges hated the Patriots, and more specifically, despised BB.

The fact is its all about his ratings every week he throws crap out there and see if it sticks. He is so quick to call players a bust such Jackson and Maroney. Just remember who the negative people were when they traded for Moss same ones now who are crying about running up the scores mainly fat boy John Dennis and Michael Felger or as Ordway calls the soccer moms.

 

[FrontSeven]

If somebody is going to do analysis that is supposed to "rock the world" it should at least be impartial-as-can-be and as thorough as can be. Cherry picking don't be makin' it.

Felger is a smart guy, but I think sometimes smart isn't quite all it's cracked up to be. Smart can be smarty-assed, clever, and even disingenuous, but that is not being actually smart. Smart would avoid that stuff. Smarty-assed would walk right into it.

 

[marty]

It's good to call any reporter when he is wrong on something. But I don't get all the venom toward Felger. I listen to his show everyday - and it's the best Boston based sports radio available.

I know that he sometimes says things about the Pats that aren't popular around here, but the majority of his stuff and commentary is very pro-Patriot. I think at times we Pats fans have such a chip on our shoulder that we jump on anything that doesn't fit in with exactly how we feel about our team.

And there is no comparison to Felger and Borges. Borges hated the Patriots, and more specifically, despised BB.

Felger just loves to think that the negative feelings toward him are because he's "sometimes" negative or contrarian in his views toward the Pats and that's just not the case IMO. He's not well liked, in this posters view, because he doesn't research, writes things just to get reactions and overall has proven to be an idiot, thinking that his average viewer just will swallow his cr@p. I think most of the Pats fans have pretty much outgrown Felger, and unless he wakes up soon and realizes that he's going to have to dig a little deeper, he'll loose even more viewers. He's no Borges, but he continues to loose credibility.