Benching Welker - Setting the tone

Re: Benching Welker- Pathetic

Benching Welker to start the game was the only part of this game that I felt proud of.

He should have shut his mouth this week. His comments were kind of funny, but that isn't the Patriot way. Bill told the team to shut up. Wes disobeyed. It wasn't that big a deal.

No impact on the outcome of the game. Big impact on the outcome of following Bill's rules in the future.

Re: Benching Welker- Pathetic

Ice_Ice_Brady said:

Benching Welker to start the game was the only part of this game that I felt proud of.

He should have shut his mouth this week. His comments were kind of funny, but that isn't the Patriot way. Bill told the team to shut up. Wes disobeyed. It wasn't that big a deal.

No impact on the outcome of the game. Big impact on the outcome of following Bill's rules in the future.

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As much as I liked WW's comments, I think the fact he crossed a "personal" line changed the nature of the trash talk. It was subtle and witty, but more is expected from our players.

Re: Benching Welker- Pathetic

I guess I'm alone here, but I thought the benching of Welker was warranted. I don't like players talking through the media the way Welker did and he knows damn well that Belichick doesn't like it either. Some punishment was to be expected though, to be fair, I thought it would be done behind scenes in the way of a fine or something else.

Re: Benching Welker- Pathetic

KontradictioN said:

I guess I'm alone here, but I thought the benching of Welker was warranted. I don't like players talking through the media the way Welker did and he knows damn well that Belichick doesn't like it either. Some punishment was to be expected though, to be fair, I thought it would be done behind scenes in the way of a fine or something else.

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you get the same message across by making him run a few extra laps around the football field after practice. By benching him that series you basically fall into the hands of Rex Ryan and the Jets. I mean, they come out and initiate all this trash talk and wes bites and we lose him for the opening series in this big game. If your Rex, it was all worth it.He actually GAINED SOMETHING by all that crap he pulled and we fell right into his hands.

Re: Benching Welker- Pathetic

PatriotSpy said:

you get the same message across by making him run a few extra laps around the football field after practice. By benching him that series you basically fall into the hands of Rex Ryan and the Jets. I mean, they come out and initiate all this trash talk and wes bites and we lose him for the opening series in this big game. If your Rex, it was all worth it.He actually GAINED SOMETHING by all that crap he pulled and we fell right into his hands.

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Not sure how you can make that argument when the first drive, until the errant throw by Brady, was one of the best drives of the game.

Re: Benching Welker- Pathetic

There's a lot of overreaction to the benching of Welker. It was only for one series and certainly had nothing to do with the outcome of the game. This is a total non issue except for those that like a philosophical debate on how BB disciplines those who break team rules.

Re: Benching Welker- Pathetic

KontradictioN said:

Not sure how you can make that argument when the first drive, until the errant throw by Brady, was one of the best drives of the game.

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maybe we don't go to that play in that instance. Maybe we go to wes.Who can say really but the fact of the matter is that rex got wes to bite and subsequently benched for an entire series. Pats actually made Rex's trash talk all worthwhile.

Re: Benching Welker- Pathetic

reflexblue said:

Benching Welker had nothing to do with the loss. Benching him proves BB plays no favorites, if you go against orders you sit no matter who you are.

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BS. Benching him proves that BB was trying to make a statement about the way his team is run, as opposed to the way the Jets are run. Statement to the players? Give me a break. These are grown men and this is a goddamn sudden death tournament. At first I agreed with the move, but I do think it set a bad tone for the game now (duh).

Just so freakin sad that all the Jets buffoonery and trash talk had its intended strategic effect and not only got into the heads of the Pats players, but into their coach's as well.

That said, I agree that Welker's actually actual absence on the playing field the first series had zero impact on the game.

Re: Benching Welker- Pathetic

sanvara said:

There's a lot of overreaction to the benching of Welker. It was only for one series and certainly had nothing to do with the outcome of the game. This is a total non issue except for those that like a philosophical debate on how BB disciplines those who break team rules.

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I wouldn't give fat man anything.NOTHING. We gave him the satisfaction of getting one of Brady's binkies benched for the opening possession. Rex must have been laughing his but off when he found out wes was on the sidelines to start the game.

that just doesn't sit well with me at all.Don't want to give a guy like that any small victory.

want to punish him?Make the team do a few extra pushups or laps during practice. sends the same message and doesn't hurt the team/reward the instigators.

Re: Benching Welker- Pathetic

Keyser Söze said:

and if they made it you'd probably call it gutsy. There was a lane.

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I guess we should forgo punts and go for it on every fourth down. If we make it, BB is gutsy and a genius.
The point is, it was a 7-3 game at that time, a fake punt was not needed.

Re: Benching Welker- Pathetic

JFK said:

Man. This fire talk is overrated. When you are not playing well, you can't just bring out fire.

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Sorry this is just a ridiculous statement. I'm trying to be nice, so I'll just assume you're a troll.

Did you happen to watch Brady in the Pitt game?

Re: Benching Welker- Pathetic

PatriotSpy said:

maybe we don't go to that play in that instance. Maybe we go to wes.Who can say really but the fact of the matter is that rex got wes to bite and subsequently benched for an entire series. Pats actually made Rex's trash talk all worthwhile.

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Regardless of what play we *COULD* have chosen, the drive was going swimmingly without Welker in and ended on a horrible throw by Brady that probably wouldn't have been prevented even if Welker was in. After all, it's not like Brady wasn't familiar with any of the other options he had available to him at that point.

Re: Benching Welker- Pathetic

KontradictioN said:

Regardless of what play we *COULD* have chosen, the drive was going swimmingly without Welker in and ended on a horrible throw by Brady that probably wouldn't have been prevented even if Welker was in. After all, it's not like Brady wasn't familiar with any of the other options he had available to him at that point.

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This, although Brady was off today, just not himself, bad decisions, poor throws. Who knows why

Re: Benching Welker- Pathetic

SoonerPatriot said:

It was the wrong time to make a point. Can't believe anyone could think otherwise.

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It's not "making a point". It's following the strict rules and procedures that have been in place and have been at the foundation of the most successful post-cap franchise in the NFL. That nobody is above the system, that you do what is best for the team even if it means sacrifices.

Getting involved in the media circus was what caused me the most consternation leading up to the game. It was like a repeat of the leadup to the dreaded Game. The suddenly leaked BS video of the "sideline trip". The ridiculous attacks. They should have stayed out of it and use it as motivation like they usually do.

In my opinion, this team wasn't ready yet to win; they were too young and it was inevitable they'd have a game where the opponent was game, the breaks wouldn't go their way, they'd make mistakes, pressure builds and they wouldn't have the mental toughness to overcome it.

I think the Jets won by having a good gameplan and executing it very well with more intensity. They borrowed a page out of the Patriots-Rams playbook and chipped our receivers a lot at the line and disrupted their timing. That throws off the offense completely. There were several times Brady threw to the spot and the receivers just weren't there. The Jets were able to disrupt the protection a lot without blitzing, and their rare blitzes worked great, getting sacks or hurries. Patriots lost discipline and focus because they were getting beat in individual battles, took a lot of stupid penalties, pressed.

This will be an important lesson for a young team that will grow. We're built for the long haul and you just can't win every year. Who here thought we were ready yet? It would have been amazing if they won it all, but completely unexpected.

Re: Benching Welker- Pathetic

Potstickas said:

I hate to say it, but the team came out unfocused and sloppy. I have to point my finger at BB benching welker throwing off the focus of the team and bringing in a big distraction right before kickoff

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Except you have no idea if that is what happened. In fact, I'd put money that BB let Welker know not long after that presser that he'd miss the first series.. So, that just doesn't fly with me.

When had BB ever done anything just willy-nilly? Never. His moves are always well thought out. One just had to look at the Randy Moss trade to see that.

It's amazing how people don't bother to think about things other than from their narrow-minded point of view.

Re: Benching Welker- Pathetic

Brady coming up on weei. I wish he would give a real answer about Weis being benched to put the speculation to rest. He will not. He always gives BB like answers.

Re: Benching Welker- Pathetic

My opinion on this whole matter is thie. I feel Welker made a big mistake taking a shot at their coach.

Don't get me wrong. I can't stand Ryan.

But Welker's comments gave the Jets some SERIOUS bulletin board material. And if you think that's overrated then ask yourself why BB does everything possible avoid trash talking any opponent. I'm not implying this is the reason the Pats lost. But once a game comes down to a dog fight, every little advantage helps.

Re: Benching Welker- Pathetic

The benching set the tone for the rest of the game...if anything it exuded arrogance that BB thought they could beat the Jets without Welker

Re: Benching Welker- Pathetic

One of our more successful drives was that first drive without Welker.

Would of scored a TD with or without him there if Brady didn't throw that awful pass.

Re: Benching Welker- Pathetic

R_T26 said:

He cut the teams Balls off.

Rodney would always talk sh*t back

Now we bench guys. Pathetic.

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Rodney was a champion and EARNED the right to talk smack back at opponents.