Mike Reiss Take on why Meriweather got limited reps last week..

He has so much potential but just keeps doing stupid ****

DarrylS said:

Do you that that is somewhat of a stretch??? Coaches can only coach players up so much.. he was benched at the beginning of the season for freelancing, and now he showing up late to meetings.. players can only be molded if they allow themselves to be molded, some never get it..

Really like his game, but his lack of maturity cannot be coached.. my concern is if he is not getting it now, he probably never will..

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Agreed 100%. BB hasn't put him in the doghouse so much as tried to get him on-board. He punishes him when he makes mistakes, but then gives him a chance to come back and learn from that mistake, yet he keeps repeating the mistakes over and over and over.

The coaches have certainly been trying, but at some point, Meriweather has to get it or pack his bags.

Wait till dbag, er Felger, gets a hold of this...#31 was one of his favorite whipping boys, post Moss leaving....He's laid off #31 lately because the team's been playing great. If they should throw a stinker tonight, tomorrow it will be Merriweather's fault....

FCB02062 said:

Wait till dbag, er Felger, gets a hold of this...#31 was one of his favorite whipping boys, post Moss leaving....He's laid off #31 lately because the team's been playing great. If they should throw a stinker tonight, tomorrow it will be Merriweather's fault....

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Can't wait, the resident contrarian fave target is now #31 after #81 left town..

JackBauer said:

I hope he grows up before his contract runs out, because I'd hate to see him leave.

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Exactly.

I'm guessing he will, too. I don't have a lot of evidence, but I do note:

A. He has played well enough to be a low-end Pro Bowl selection.
B. He hasn't engaged in behavior that embarrasses the team.*

*Certain on-field decisions perhaps excepted.

On the pessimistic side, safety is one of those positions that calls for particularly astute players. E.g., if Meriweather had the same brain and personality but a CB's body, I don't think we'd be worried about him.

Please do not attack me for asking:


Didn't Meriweather play some CB at Miami? Could he become a "big" CB...someone who plays on 3rd down. I don't think he'll be like the Jets' Cromartie, but surely there is some place for a guy who is not bright enough to call signals but is talented enough to warrant #1 draft choice status from an excellent scouting team.
He is not Chris Canty, at least!

robertweathers said:

My take is that he is the defense's version of LoMo.

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That's a fantastic analogy IMO. Though, I think Merriweather has been a more consistent player than LoMo throughout thier Patriot careers.

I'm not sure what kind of salary a player like Merriweather will command as a FA. I'm sure other teams will be more willing to look past his mental make up than the Pats.

That is really bad news IMO. Even though the safety depth is very good it's still a huge disappointment given his potential to help the D. It's never too late till it's too late but unfortunately that's what I kept saying with AD/Springs. I don't wanna have to spend another high pick on DB, let's hope he gets it together.

kurtinelson said:

That's a fantastic analogy IMO. Though, I think Merriweather has been a more consistent player than LoMo throughout thier Patriot careers.

I'm not sure what kind of salary a player like Merriweather will command as a FA. I'm sure other teams will be more willing to look past his mental make up than the Pats.

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No question BM has been more productive than LoMo. My comparison is based on the heresay on "not quite conforming". LoMo seemed to clash with the coaches re: running style. My perception is that BM likes to freelance a bit whereas the coaches want him to execute what they ask.

Don't know if I'm right- just my perception.

PittPatriot said:

Please do not attack me for asking:


Didn't Meriweather play some CB at Miami? Could he become a "big" CB...someone who plays on 3rd down. I don't think he'll be like the Jets' Cromartie, but surely there is some place for a guy who is not bright enough to call signals but is talented enough to warrant #1 draft choice status from an excellent scouting team.
He is not Chris Canty, at least!

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Yes i think he did. I remember that when he was drafted i read that he could play both safety and CB.

robertweathers said:

No question BM has been more productive than LoMo. My comparison is based on the heresay on "not quite conforming". LoMo seemed to clash with the coaches re: running style. My perception is that BM likes to freelance a bit whereas the coaches want him to execute what they ask.

Don't know if I'm right- just my perception.

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He may be better served playing in a system that gives him the freedom to freelance. Freelancing doesn't work well in this defense, especially from the safety position. His tackling has been sub par this year also.

Ochmed Jones said:

I don't think Merriweather is the lone clueless DB in that locker room. I think he has a buddies in Butler and maybe Wilhite. After a loss in Miami, they were seen clowning around in the back of the locker room.

I suspect that if Chung was 100%, Merriweather would be a full time backup.

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You mean like earlier this season, when Chung was healthy and Meriweather was a full-time backup?

Oh, wait.

Meriweather's minutes were being limited until Jarrad Page got hurt. Page is back and now Meri's minutes are going down again. Belichick didn't quite clean out all the malignancy on this team. Look for the Pats to draft a safety and cut Tinkerbell loose.

RhodyPatriot said:

Meriweather's minutes were being limited until Jarrad Page got hurt. Page is back and now Meri's minutes are going down again. Belichick didn't quite clean out all the malignancy on this team. Look for the Pats to draft a safety and cut Tinkerbell loose.

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That's simply not accurate.

JackBauer said:

That's simply not accurate.

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It sure it.

RhodyPatriot said:

It sure it.

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Nah, it really isn't, as the defensive snaps affirm.

Best defensive Patriots performance are always without him , its like play with 10 players, he is always close to the play BUT NEVER makes the play, its frustrant .



And he is like Dmitri Patterson, in the endzone he seats at the 3rd row waiting for the TD

JackBauer said:

That's simply not accurate.

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Don't confuse them with facts.

Simkin said:

Best defensive Patriots performance are always without him , its like play with 10 players, he is always close to the play BUT NEVER makes the play, its frustrant .



And he is like Dmitri Patterson, in the endzone he seats at the 3rd row waiting for the TD

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I'm sorry, but that's not quite accurate. Meriweather brings a lot to our defense as our deep, center-field safety - however most people don't notice because if Meriweather does his job right (given his responsibilities this year) his name shouldn't get called.

The patriots defense is first in the league at preventing deep passes (passes over 40 yards). They have let up one pass over 40 yards all year.

Since deep passes don't get completed on us, teams are forced to go for intermediate or short-length passes, which allows us to play the bend-but-don't-break defense BB loves.

Considering Meriweather's job back there is to provide deep coverage, I'd have to say he's doing a pretty solid job. In fact, considering the number of snaps Meriweather gets despite his maturity issues, I would say that BB would probably sit him a lot more if he didn't think he was an indispensible part of the defense.

Lockdown06 said:

I'm sorry, but that's not quite accurate. Meriweather brings a lot to our defense as our deep, center-field safety - however most people don't notice because if Meriweather does his job right (given his responsibilities this year) his name shouldn't get called.

The patriots defense is first in the league at preventing deep passes (passes over 40 yards). They have let up one pass over 40 yards all year.

Since deep passes don't get completed on us, teams are forced to go for intermediate or short-length passes, which allows us to play the bend-but-don't-break defense BB loves.

Considering Meriweather's job back there is to provide deep coverage, I'd have to say he's doing a pretty solid job. In fact, considering the number of snaps Meriweather gets despite his maturity issues, I would say that BB would probably sit him a lot more if he didn't think he was an indispensible part of the defense.

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Agree completely, the comments about Tinkerbell are completely uncalled for, somethings you cannot change, the voice that God gives you is one of them..

I am a big fan or his, when he wants to play and his head is in the game...