Jonas Gray has good attitude about sitting out

Mack Herron said:

I am just saying I don't understand.

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Neither do I. But I don't expect to not being in the building.

robertweathers said:

This is Gray's 3rd year in the league. He went to college. Hes 24 years old. The Pats are a strict environment. We'll see if he "gets it".

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That's fair. Gray's certainly not a glass doll or an 8 year old kid who just got told Christmas was cancelled. As an admitted softie on something like this, I believed BB could have given him a snap or two yet still made his point thoroughly to Gray.
But, my own sentimentality aside, "we'll see if he "gets it"" is the key point. I hope Gray uses this experience as motivation to want to kick ass even more.

Grey was only going to get a few snaps today - tops - anyway. They weren't going to heavy run against the Lions, especially with Fleming out.

I'm ready for the Jonas Gray dogpile to end. A lot of airtime and ink devoted to the fact that he ran for 200 and then showed up late for practice. WE GET IT.

Interesting that this is being interpreted as a punishment. I thought there was a general rule that if you don't practice on Friday, you don't play on Sunday.

shmessy said:

I'm not a fan of this.

BB unecessarily and very publicly screwed with Ridley's head about the fumbles. Right up until his ACL, Ridley was never the same runner - - yes, he didn't fumble, but he no longer was a deep gain threat either. He ran scared.

Gray got the message with the public leaking of being sent home from practice (which is a discretionary thing - - Reis today intimated that Ayers had the same thing and it wasn't made public - - and he wasn't benched the next game - - neither was Revis).

I'll never forgive BB for the way he treated Seymour when the kid's grandmother (who practically raised him) died.

So now, BB is holding Blount up to be a paragon of virtue and this kid up to be the miscreant? That's an irony. BB is a great coach, but sometimes one has to shake one's head at his actions.

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I agree with you in terms of not being a fan of this. It's probably one of the thousand reasons why I'm not a Head Coach or even have a job remotely like George Clooney in the movie Up In The Air. But I'm also not a fan of having a root canal. Is my dislike of root canals relevant to what is necessary??
BB's method has continually produced results that are largely unparalleled in the modern NFL era. So if he thinks it was best for Gray to be sent a message, chances are good that decision is based in the interest of winning football games.

As far as different standards? BB's policy says if you are late to practice it means you're not playing in a game??? That's not my understanding about BB's policy. My understanding is if you are late for practice you are sent home. Anything beyond that appears to me to be discretionary. And I'd bet the discretionary part is heavily dependent on how the player fits into the game plan and who else is available to employ that aspect of the game plan.

Regarding Seymour, I didn't follow the story well enough to know the factual details. Are there facts that show Seymour requested the day off to attend the funeral of the woman who raised him, BB said no and then sanctioned him specifically for attending the funeral? Even for the feeling-less, 'must win football games' automaton BB it seems a bit unlikely there isn't more to the story.

BB just wanted to put something new on tape for future opposing teams. Lessons the Packers will learn during the week while watching film: concentrate on the 2nd TE, the 3rd RB, and the kick returner. Those are the guys that will beat you.

It's how he jedi mindtricks teams into forgetting about Gronk every other game.

Don't see why this is such a big deal. Last week he did a great job, with the help of 6 linemen, Gronk and Develin against a crappy run defense.

Next week, great run defense, but he was active. Turns out, by the time they needed to run it was more favorable for Blounts style. Anyone complaining about Blount's performance?

BB has rules and he has game plans. Doesn't really care about hurting people's feelings, he's trying to win the game. If someone, especially a young player, doesn't like it, too F bad.

Schmo said:

BB just wanted to put something new on tape for future opposing teams. Lessons the Packers will learn during the week while watching film: concentrate on the 2nd TE, the 3rd RB, and the kick returner. Those are the guys that will beat you.

It's how he jedi mindtricks teams into forgetting about Gronk every other game.

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That thought struck me during the game too.
It certainly makes some strategic sense. In two games the Patriots just gave DC's two more and very pronounced things to think about/watch on film.
But at the heart of this, I believe, this is BB not only enforcing a policy but is also tied into a young unheralded guy suddenly being told and retold and retold and retold he is incredibly amazing.

TheBostonStraggler said:

That thought struck me during the game too.
It certainly makes some strategic sense. In two games the Patriots just gave DC's two more and very pronounced things to think about/watch on film.
But at the heart of this, I believe, this is BB not only enforcing a policy but is also tied into a young unheralded guy suddenly being told and retold and retold and retold he is incredibly amazing.

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Absolutely. I'm guessing Belichick let out an audible sigh when gray was credited with those extra 2 yards. Kinda worked out perfectly that Jonas gave him an excuse to bake a little Thanksgiving humble pie. Tastes delicious!

He probably just wanted to rest him. Plus maybe since he missed the walk through he was unsure if he knew what to do.

Blount only had like 5 carries.

kennyb said:

He probably just wanted to rest him. Plus maybe since he missed the walk through he was unsure if he knew what to do.

Blount only had like 5 carries.

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Oh, c'mon. This is much more entertaining if it is based in third-hand speculation and interpretation. Where will the clicks come from for the second tier web journalists otherwise?

Gray will have plenty of opportunity to clear his name against GB's lousy run defense.

We don't even know why Gray sat out. Belichick just dodged and said "it's what we thought best for the team". This is all just speculation.

Seems to me that BB is consistent in his application of this rule?

If football is your priority (which is central concept to understand as a potential starter on this team), then "the dog ate my homework"/"accidentally overslept" isn't going to work.

Besides, as much as I love Gray's game, his compact size/strength. Blount with another 20 pounds was probably a more effective RB against the Detroit defense and running wasn't the main part of the offensive game plan. Or maybe, BB wanted to show the Steelers/fans the error of their ways in releasing Blount by having him be productive after his release.

RelocatedPatFan said:

. Or maybe, BB wanted to show the Steelers/fans the error of their ways in releasing Blount by having him be productive after his release.

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LOL, I know you didn't mean it the way it came out.
BB is great, but not THAT great. Blount was productive because he played well. BB could not have automatically known Blount was going to dominate the Lions D in the 4th quarter. If he had gone 12 carries for 15 yards we would not be writing 'BB wanted to embarrass Blount by having him be nonproductive after his release'.

Good on LaGarette for plowing great yesterday. Good on Bb for going out there and bringing him back. I look forward to the Chameleon Offense screwing up the lives of many more D Coords the rest of the way!

Bruschi :

Hey Tedy, a learning lesson for gray or just phased out of the gameplan? How does BB justify Revis not really being punished where gray was? Can something like this create locker room divide?

Tedy
(9:12 AM)

I don't think you can create locker-room divide at all. I think it solidifies the message the head coach tries to send. One thing you end up learning in the NFL is that there are instances where players are treated differently. There is a difference between a veteran player who has a career/body of work to fall back on and a younger player that doesn't. Certain messages need to be sent and in my opinion, that's especially true of younger players. This is a great example of it.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/boston/chat/_/id/51387

without rules, there is chaos...rules for certain players divide a team.

Coach did the right thing.

We now have two bruising backs, just what we need for the upcoming real football (post Thanksgiving) season...

shmessy said:

LOL, I know you didn't mean it the way it came out.

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Yeah, I should have said that part with a cheeky emoticon -> .

BB is just doing what he thinks is best for the team.

shmessy said:

...

I'll never forgive BB for the way he treated Seymour when the kid's grandmother (who practically raised him) died.

...

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Aren't you rushing to judge considering that none of us know what exactly happened? The media conjures up so many things based on sound bites that might not fully or accurately convey the reality.

Well, guess we are all entitled to our opinion because it struck me that I will never forgive BB for cutting off the sleeves of new Pats hoodies that I would love to wear. Sorry bud, I am not mocking you, just couldn't resist adding that genuine dismay I feel when seeing those sawn-off sleeves.