Reiss: Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher

Belichick's use of quarterbacks Tom Brady and Brian Hoyer was puzzling - ESPN Boston
Reiss also said on ESPN that one of the pats players said that they were confused if they are trying to win the game or not...

Re: Reiss:Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher

Mike is a good reporter. He's not one of the two or three great minds in universe...

It was pretty clear they were playing Brady to work with Edleman. And whichever Patriot didn't know whether they were playing to win the game is probably on the wrong team. Bill always plays to win the game. He doesn't generally play to tie the game and go to OT in week 17 unless that's his only shot at the playoffs.

Re: Reiss:Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher

I'm the last person to question BB, the man has won 3 SB's, he deserves the benefit of the doubt.

I was confused however. I've heard that he did not want Brady in 2 minute drills because those are pass heavy situations in which pass rushers would be gunning for Brady. If that is the case, seems like a little bit of overthinking. Brady wasn't hurt last year during a 2 minute drill.

Either play him or not. I would have been fine with seeing Hoyer for the entire 2nd half, the kid looked good. But I was perplexed to see Brady come back out.

Re: Reiss:Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher

The "In-Bill-We-Trust" kool-aid has now been completely flushed from Reiss' system, replenished with the espn "let's-create-a-story" Bristol brand of kool-aid.

Re: Reiss:Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher

Specifically at the end of the game, this didn't seem to be the time to do that, not after Brady had been in throughout the second half, at which point it seemed clear that the Patriots were going full tilt for the victory. Receiver Randy Moss was also kept on the sidelines for the final drive, when the Patriots needed to move the ball 66 yards for a game-tying touchdown.

"We didn't really have anything set," Belichick said. "We just went out and played."

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Re: Reiss:Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher

Deus Irae said:

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"game tying TD" as opposed to game winning TD. Last thing Bill wanted in that situation was a tie and OT. The game wasn't meaningless, just not that meaningful with a playoff game looming in 6 or 7 days...

I think Mike is struggling to grasp this in part because he'd decided days ago that BB wasn't going to play any starters for just that reason...

Re: Reiss:Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher

MoLewisrocks said:

"game tying TD" as opposed to game winning TD. Last thing Bill wanted in that situation was a tie and OT. The game wasn't meaningless, just not that meaningful with a playoff game looming in 6 or 7 days...

I think Mike is struggling to grasp this in part because he'd decided days ago that BB wasn't going to play any starters for just that reason...

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I understand where people are getting the "game-tying TD" argument. But aren't we forgetting the XP. If you want to win but avoid OT, score a TD and try for a 2 point conversion...

Re: Reiss:Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher

MoLewisrocks said:

"game tying TD" as opposed to game winning TD. Last thing Bill wanted in that situation was a tie and OT. The game wasn't meaningless, just not that meaningful with a playoff game looming in 6 or 7 days...

I think Mike is struggling to grasp this in part because he'd decided days ago that BB wasn't going to play any starters for just that reason...

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I was thinking the same thing. At that point I didn't want over time. Either keep the starters in and go for 2 if you get a TD or put in the backups and see what they can do. I didn't want any part of OT.

Re: Reiss:Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher

MoLewisrocks said:

"game tying TD" as opposed to game winning TD. Last thing Bill wanted in that situation was a tie and OT. The game wasn't meaningless, just not that meaningful with a playoff game looming in 6 or 7 days...

I think Mike is struggling to grasp this in part because he'd decided days ago that BB wasn't going to play any starters for just that reason...

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There was an option for a 2 point conversion, just like in that Miami game a few years back. I'm sorry, but the "BB always plays to win" argument is just not going to hold up on this one.

Re: Reiss:Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher

Today was the one time I wanted to kick BB's *** for that bizarre decision to put Brady back in for all but the last series. There is a time for "situational football experience" and there is a time for a moral victory.

Re: Reiss:Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher

At times it looked like BB was treating this like a PS game, people rotated in and out in different situations

Re: Reiss:Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher

Thought it was as simple as getting Hoyer ready for the postseason, all game they were switching O linemen around and trying different combinations...

Re: Reiss:Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher

reflexblue said:

At times it looked like BB was treating this like a PS game, people rotated in and out in different situations

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I agree. It certainly didn't look like he was all out going for the win, certainly in the last drive. Other then saying to Hoyer and whoever else was on the field "see if you can score".

Re: Reiss:Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher

MoLewisrocks said:

Mike is a good reporter. He's not one of the two or three great minds in universe...

It was pretty clear they were playing Brady to work with Edleman. And whichever Patriot didn't know whether they were playing to win the game is probably on the wrong team. Bill always plays to win the game. He doesn't generally play to tie the game and go to OT in week 17 unless that's his only shot at the playoffs.

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Brady threw to Edelman a grand total of 5 times in the 2nd half. 5 times. WOW!! I could feel the mojo coming through the TV screen.
You do not risk your already injured franchise QB so he can get in some practice with a new receiver. Brady had a bad game yesterday and took more than one big hit on his already injured body. Whatever good came from the Jags game went down the drain yesterday.

Re: Reiss:Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher

MoLewisrocks said:

Mike is a good reporter. He's not one of the two or three great minds in universe...

It was pretty clear they were playing Brady to work with Edleman.

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Um, no it wasn't. You're certainly not one of the "two or three great minds in the universe" either.

Re: Reiss:Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher

sorry, but i did think it was clear that he wanted to give Brady game time with a receiver corps minus Welker; and, i think there were some benefits to doing that.

Re: Reiss:Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher

Bill said the QB shuffle was done the way it was to get Hoyer situational work in a real game. Since his 3 drives were backed up on his own 1 and the final drive of each half it seems like a good explanation to me.

Re: Reiss:Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher

jmt57 said:

The "In-Bill-We-Trust" kool-aid has now been completely flushed from Reiss' system, replenished with the espn "let's-create-a-story" Bristol brand of kool-aid.

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I'm sorry but I think that's BS. I was confused as well, and I'm sure others here were too.

Re: Reiss:Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher

A little incident like this might just prompt Brady to ask for a trade

to finish out his career at Oakland or San Francisco.

Re: Reiss:Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher

jmt57 said:

The "In-Bill-We-Trust" kool-aid has now been completely flushed from Reiss' system, replenished with the espn "let's-create-a-story" Bristol brand of kool-aid.

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Unfortunately, I think you've nailed it, re Reiss. If he wants to stay at bspn, he's got to dig and throw a little bs of his own. In that regard (favorite phrase of his) he's coming along quite nicely.