Meriweather and the Return of the Swagger

Patriot Missile said:

I was suprised that he had any reaction at all. For him to show any means BB wasn't pleased int the least and there was probably more to follow.

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There have been many times that ive seen BB start yelling at a player when he came off the field for something he didn't like. He usually rips his head phones off and starts jawing at the player.

The one area that we have been attacked all year has been the secondary...and with good reason.

I've lost count of how many times on long 3rd down situations, we have given up 1st down yardage because the secondary has played soft so they don't give up a long gain....I know, its the "bend but don't break" philosiphy.

Even if BM (ironic initials for the moment) did play dirty...can anyone name a team that has great pass defense that doesn't have at least 1 player in the secondary that isn't an intimidator? Bottom line is, you HAVE to have one to succeed.

I love Merriweathers killer instincts....hope he doesnt' hurt anyone, or get suspended, but no doubt, players will not run freely through our secondary if they know that BM is coming theyre way.

NYCPatsFan said:

I am curious how BB reacts to BM's comments that his (Meriweather's) individual action resulted in a change in the D's attitude (as confirmed by Vince and in an interesting related article on CHFF).

After all, BB didn't look that pleased when the hit occured. But again, if BB was really unhappy, he wouldn't have let him back in the game.

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Unless of course he was out of safeties after the guy he replaced him with went down...

I rewatched that game last night and if Vince and Brandon think the defense turned it around after that hit they're probably both concussed... Things didn't truly change until the 4th quarter and the 5th quarter. Something Tedy noted in his analysis yesterday. And a lot of other guys including some thoroughly unheralded ones stepping up and in some cases merely executing and doing their jobs at that juncture was the reason it finally clicked.

Baltimore scored 10 points in the only two possessions they had in the third quarter on a 3 play 36 yard drive following the INT and then on a 13 play 84 yard drive. As for any changes in Baltimore's approach, they took what they were given and according to that Belichick guy NE switched to playing mostly zone D after Heap's TD.

The defense as a unit didn't begin to make consistent stops until midway through the 4th quarter. A lot of guys began making heady plays, particularly at or close to the LOS, none of whom were named Meriweather - although he may well have been doing his job in coverage. From that point on what Baltmore was given was nothing...

Like Bill is fond of saying, stats are for losers. Kerry of late often falls victim to the urge to use them out of context to support an agenda or emotionally charged opinion.

PatsFanSince74 said:

What I want to know is, where were all the mediots who are now on the "anti violence" bandwagon when Tom Jackson was running his weekly "Jacked Up" segment on Monday Night Countdown, celebrating the most vicious hits of the week. You remember how the group of morons around the table would shout "He got J-a-c-k-e-d U-p."

God, I love the smell of hypocrisy in the morning...it smells like...like ESPN.

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What don't you understand?

"Vicious" is fine.

Illegal is fined.

It's incredible how adults can actually read all this and believe that if the league is cracking down on helmet to helmet hits against defenseless receivers in the air, then that means they are making hard hitting illegal.

So does that mean because there is a 65 mph speed limit on the MassPike that the goevernment has outlawed driving?

Some of the hysterical conclusion jumping has been hilarious.

Grizzafted said:

I think its possible that Raiders pick could wind up turning into a safety. I've never been blown away by Meriweather, even last year I thought his Pro Bowl selection was iffy. If he is expecting any kind of payday when his contract is up (next year?) I think he's got another thing coming. I think it's probably more likely that there will be a defensive lineman or offensive linemen taken with that pick but if there's a top flight safety on the board it might be a good move. Meriweather is an idiot.

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You'd want to spend another 1st rounder -- quite possibly a top 10 pick -- on a safety?

Good lord. If BB did that I'd say he'd need his head examined.

MoLewisrocks said:

Like Bill is fond of saying, stats are for losers. Kerry of late often falls victim to the urge to use them out of context to support an agenda or emotionally charged opinion.

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Wow. You just can't help yourself, can you?

Go Back To Leather Helmets - or the one bar punter helmet

I'm not even kidding. If these guys had less protection on their heads they would have to stop leading with their heads. I like the game tough and fast...and players should try and 'lay the opponent out' but there is no need to lead with your head. What the hell happened to hitting with your shoulder and wrapping up?

Other suggestion is the old one bar helmet that punters wore. If a player does what Merriweather did he doesn't get suspended but he has to wear that old school helmet for 4 games. Maybe I'm wrong but I think he will stop leading with his head.

MoLewisrocks said:

Kerry of late often falls victim to the urge to use them out of context to support an agenda or emotionally charged opinion.

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Kerry?????

Re: Go Back To Leather Helmets - or the one bar punter helmet

Nail, head there. Get rid of the helmets, players have to tackle properly and not lead with the head, making the pads out of foam instead of plastic would be safer too...who thought using plastic for pads & helmets was a good idea seriously?

Re: Go Back To Leather Helmets - or the one bar punter helmet

shatch62 said:

I'm not even kidding. If these guys had less protection on their heads they would have to stop leading with their heads. I like the game tough and fast...and players should try and 'lay the opponent out' but there is no need to lead with your head. What the hell happened to hitting with your shoulder and wrapping up?

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I agree. But I would also get rid of shoulder pads, etc. Let them play it like rugby.

shmessy said:

Kerry?????

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is the individual at CHFF who wrote the column that I referred to in my post.

Here's the link:

Cold, Hard Football Facts.com: Fines be damned: law of the jungle rules NFL

51Hits said:

I love BM's hitting, just not his field smarts. That's great he had a big hit on Heap. He also was out of place, like his whole career, a lot of the day. I'm not as impressed with him as others.

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Also, it should be pointed out that the hit Meriweather inflicted on Mason on the sidelines was a pure result of Chung being out of place. Chung should have been there to make that hit... not Meriweather.