Nice bit on Dane Fletcher: Almost Retired; Brady, Nink, Mayo Changed his mind

Can I get them to talk to my son? I just need him to put some solid effort into his homework.

convertedpatsfan said:

Just thinking about this further, but it makes even more sense beyond just good team leadership.

Think about Ninko, 5th-round pick, doesn't do much as a rookie, gets waived, hooks onto the Dolphins for a bit before getting waived again, moves around the practice squad to the active roster back to the practice squad back to the Saints back to being waived before finally hooking on with the Patriots, where he was a back-up contributor. He didn't become a full-time starter until his 5th year. He knows better than most what Fletcher was going through.

And before Tom was the GOAT, he was the 6th-round, 4th-string QB on a 5-11 Patriots team. He has a healthy respect for every single guy on the team, because he knows what it's like to be near the bottom.

So we should always be mindful of the late bloomers and the under-rated guys who become stars. Jules was next to nobody 4 years ago. Chung had to leave before he could come back and become an effective starter. There's a ton of these guys throughout the recent history, from Lawfirm to Arrington to Asante and waaaaaaaaaay back even to former 8th-round pick Troy Brown, who didn't become a full-time starter until his 8th year in the league.

For all we know, Fletcher could be the next Ninko.

I don't mean to go on about this. But it just hit me that those two guys especially would reach out. Mayo is a leader, and Fletcher was his backup so they must have also been close.

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It's about learning and belonging. Great to have that ready to go talent from the draft, but it's really not about that and results, and busts, show it. Especially on defense, accumulated learning and reps with your team mates is what makes an outstanding unit.

Fletcher is from Montana.
Brady went to Montana to train this off season.
Brady needed someone to protect him from bears.
Brady encouraged Fletcher to continue playing football.
Fletcher protected Brady from bears.

VrabelJr said:

Fletcher is from Montana.
Brady went to Montana to train this off season.
Brady needed someone to protect him from bears.
Brady encouraged Fletcher to continue playing football.
Fletcher protected Brady from bears.

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It worked. Da Bears stayed in Chicago.

Now, if we can just get them to talk Payton Manning into retiring, we would be good.

Bruins29 said:

Now, if we can just get them to talk Payton Manning into retiring, we would be good.

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No, I think he is helping us more where he is.

The Brandon Five said:

No, I think he is helping us more where he is.

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Uhhhh I meant convince him to play forever lol

He actually looked pretty good the other night. Of course its pretty apparent since the sports mediots cant stop gushing about it. It shouldnt last

Off The Grid said:

It's not even remotely surprising that Brady, Ninkovich, and Mayo ~ 3 guys with the Hearts of Lions ~ would passionately solicit one'f their own ~ Dane Fletcher ~ to stride Once More Unto The Breach.

Dane Fletcher has long been an enormous Favorite of mine, for he commands a tremendous Fusion of Power, Agility, Intelligence, and Heart. It's no wonder at all that he inspired his Brethren thus.

And I don't hold it against'm that he was ready to put up'is Spikes after not one but three ACLs. Christ.

Fanatical Yankee's Recovery Year Rule applies, though: Don't expect naught but Flashes until 2016.

But if he ever stays on the Field for a few Years running ~ and this's's Last Chance ~ his Impact could be huge.

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I've been wondering for years and I finally have to ask -- do you talk in the same manner you type?

Froob said:

Guess he left quite an impression on these boys. Didn't think he was relevant enough to get this kinda boost.

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Sports, unlike anything else I've experienced, is a true brotherhood. Fletcher may not be significant to fans because he's not in Pro Bowls (whatever), making All Pro teams, etc., but to the men in that locker room he's very relevant. All 53 guys are relevant to each other, especially in a locker room like NE's. I've been in situations where I have fought teammates (LOL) and we we would go out there and bleed for each other on game days. It's really just like being a part of a family.

Interception said:

I've been wondering for years and I finally have to ask -- do you talk in the same manner you type?

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Of course he does. Have you not seen Braveheart?

Off The Grid said:

It's not even remotely surprising that Brady, Ninkovich, and Mayo ~ 3 guys with the Hearts of Lions ~ would passionately solicit one'f their own ~ Dane Fletcher ~ to stride Once More Unto The Breach.

Dane Fletcher has long been an enormous Favorite of mine, for he commands a tremendous Fusion of Power, Agility, Intelligence, and Heart. It's no wonder at all that he inspired his Brethren thus.

And I don't hold it against'm that he was ready to put up'is Spikes after not one but three ACLs. Christ.

Fanatical Yankee's Recovery Year Rule applies, though: Don't expect naught but Flashes until 2016.

But if he ever stays on the Field for a few Years running ~ and this's's Last Chance ~ his Impact could be huge.

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Interception said:

I've been wondering for years and I finally have to ask -- do you talk in the same manner you type?

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Ha ha!! Great Question, Brother Interception!!

I actually had to think about this one...

01 ~ I assure you that I employ far far many more F Bombs in Conversation than hereabouts, and would do so here as well, were it not Forbidden. I am generally quite happily Vulgar.

02 ~ And I readily confess that the quality of my Conversation is undoubtedly inferior to that of my Writing: Given the leisure of Time and Editing that Writing allows us, I can of course craft my thoughts precisely as I wish to convey them. But of course it's different when caught in the RealTime of an active Conversation: Processing Speed is a characteristic that I admire in others, but possess scarcely little of, myself. I will, consequently, often enough fall short, in Conversation, of the Eloquence that I aspire to.

But other'n that: Yeah!! The Italics and the Contractions that I make such liberal use of are in fact part of my attempt to convey my thoughts as authentically as possible ~ to convey them as I would say them.

Short answer: I read a lot of Steven King but a lot of Jane Austen, too...So yes: I actually do use words like "whence" and "whither"...and "phuckery" in everyday Conversation!!

Froob said:

Guess he left quite an impression on these boys. Didn't think he was relevant enough to get this kinda boost.

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If one makes the New England Patriots- which includes the practice Squad -then one is relevant from a real team perspective. Just another thing that sets them apart from the pack.

I love Dane

Went to college with him, and he grew up in my city. Don't really know him, but not often we Montanans get to root for a home grown guy on our favorite team.

Off The Grid said:

Ha ha!! Great Question, Brother Interception!!

I actually had to think about this one...

01 ~ I assure you that I employ far far many more F Bombs in Conversation than hereabouts, and would do so here as well, were it not Forbidden. I am generally quite happily Vulgar.

02 ~ And I readily confess that the quality of my Conversation is undoubtedly inferior to that of my Writing: Given the leisure of Time and Editing that Writing allows us, I can of course craft my thoughts precisely as I wish to convey them. But of course it's different when caught in the RealTime of an active Conversation: Processing Speed is a characteristic that I admire in others, but possess scarcely little of, myself. I will, consequently, often enough fall short, in Conversation, of the Eloquence that I aspire to.

But other'n that: Yeah!! The Italics and the Contractions that I make such liberal use of are in fact part of my attempt to convey my thoughts as authentically as possible ~ to convey them as I would say them.

Short answer: I read a lot of Steven King but a lot of Jane Austen, too...So yes: I actually do use words like "whence" and "whither"...and "phuckery" in everyday Conversation!!

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I have to say, no matter what you're talking about, there's always substance and character in your posts!

Interception said:

I have to say, no matter what you're talking about, there's always substance and character in your posts!

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Man...Thank you, Brother. Thank you.

OTG, I want to know how you still get some of the old smiley thingies to still work here (I think you explained it a while ago but I didn't keep it around for reference). I miss :bricks:, that one would be appropriate for this post.

AQPE said:

OTG, I want to know how you still get some of the old smiley thingies to still work here (I think you explained it a while ago but I didn't keep it around for reference). I miss :bricks:, that one would be appropriate for this post.

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Actually, they're not from here. I poach them from around the InterNet and am actually so frighteningly obsessed with getting just the right Emoticon for just the right moment that I have a SubFolder of Emoticons in my BookMarks!! So when I want to deploy one'f'm, I just pop'm in the "Image" Option that PatsFans provides us in its ToolBar for our Posts, right next to the "Smilies" Options!!

Here's the one you're looking for: http://www.puppstheories.com/forum/html/emoticons/bricks.gif

And here in Live Action!!

Off The Grid said:

Actually, they're not from here. I poach them from around the InterNet and am actually so frighteningly obsessed with getting just the right Emoticon for just the right moment that I have a SubFolder of Emoticons in my BookMarks!! So when I want to deploy one'f'm, I just pop'm in the "Image" Option that PatsFans provides us in its ToolBar for our Posts, right next to the "Smilies" Options!!

Here's the one you're looking for: http://www.puppstheories.com/forum/html/emoticons/bricks.gif

And here in Live Action!!

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YOU DA MAN!!

Seriously, thanks OTG!

Off The Grid said:

Ha ha!! Great Question, Brother Interception!!

I actually had to think about this one...

01 ~ I assure you that I employ far far many more F Bombs in Conversation than hereabouts, and would do so here as well, were it not Forbidden. I am generally quite happily Vulgar.

02 ~ And I readily confess that the quality of my Conversation is undoubtedly inferior to that of my Writing: Given the leisure of Time and Editing that Writing allows us, I can of course craft my thoughts precisely as I wish to convey them. But of course it's different when caught in the RealTime of an active Conversation: Processing Speed is a characteristic that I admire in others, but possess scarcely little of, myself. I will, consequently, often enough fall short, in Conversation, of the Eloquence that I aspire to.

But other'n that: Yeah!! The Italics and the Contractions that I make such liberal use of are in fact part of my attempt to convey my thoughts as authentically as possible ~ to convey them as I would say them.

Short answer: I read a lot of Steven King but a lot of Jane Austen, too...So yes: I actually do use words like "whence" and "whither"...and "phuckery" in everyday Conversation!!

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I suspect that your high self standards are far more of a factor than processing speed. You take great care about the accuracy of what you say.

Most (not all) of those who are "good talkers" rely on many other factors than pure processing. They tend to rely more on their social intelligence skills, sensitivity to others' nonverbal feedback and a "feel". These people tend to be less focused on conveying a message accurately than on the effect their speech has on others. Your communication style is more genuine and precise, much more focused on the topic of discussion rather than manipulation. I have a much greater respect and appreciation for your style of communication.

Processing speed is valuable, but there are intelligence skills that I consider far greater. I know many people that can process very quickly, but the narrow breadth of what most can process at one time severely limits their ability at deep, abstract thinking. Sure, they appear quick and super smart, but when they have to process a complex subject, they have to break it into many small "chunks" to analyze. The greater the breadth of the "chunks" that one can process at once leads to much deeper and more subtle insights.

Although perhaps more wisdom than intelligence, flexibility of mind is also more important than raw processing speed. Many "intelligent" people are so set in their ways that they discount factors or ideas without giving them sufficient thought. These types of people are so tied to their self image, that they really struggle to see things from alternative perspectives. Most reach a point where they hardly ever even try. The ability to remove "self" from abstract thought enables a flexibility of mind that is ideal for deeper understanding and personal growth.

Although I can't get an accurate bead on your processing speed from written word, I'm confident that you possess a tremendous processing breadth and flexibility of mind. It is strange to me that someone so strong in both skills would have such an admiration of processing speed. Sure, processing speed is a valuable, helpful skill, but without breadth and flexibility, it doesn't lead to greater understanding.

AQPE said:

YOU DA MAN!!

Seriously, thanks OTG!

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You're very welcome indeed, Brother...and thank you!!