TC - In Case You Forgot

In case any of you has lost track of time with busy lives and those of you who are still steaming over the verdict and Brady's subsequent kneel down, I just wanted to remind you all that training camp is a little over ONE WEEK away! How exciting is that?! I struggled to get through June and most of this month. I'm itching for football like Tyrone (Chapelle Show) right now. I don't even know how I made it this far without losing my mind.

Let's get ready for another journey and never forget, despite what BS anyone has to talk about the Patriots, that this is truly special. We are going into year 17 of Brady and BB, and the ride has been fantastic! No other football fan has enjoyed a run like this in HISTORY. Think about that. It's easy to take something for granted when it lasts as long as this run, but we need to remember it won't last forever and Brady is clearly closer to the end than the beginning. And who knows how much longer BB will want to endure the grind at his age (though I don't see him slowing down at all at this time). So family, please enjoy it. I know the game threads will likely still be crazy and we'll all engage in the occasional (some of us not so occasional) disagreements, but we are truly blessed to be fans of the best organization in sports (IMHO) and we should take advantage of every ounce of that enjoyment and privilege.

So without saying much more, let's get ready for another ride, ladies and gents. WE ARE ALL PATRIOTS and I love this team, this board and I still love football, no matter how much the powers that be seem to be trying to infringe upon that right now.

Going on 7/30 and 8/1. Excited to see some of the rooks especially Cyrus and Mitchell.

I'm happy for you that you are still able to get excited about the upcoming season. I can't. The magic is gone and it's never coming back. The only reason I would ever go to training camp now is the opportunity to heckle Kraft in person. Even that is more effort than he's worth, though.

ReverendMaynard said:

I'm happy for you that you are still able to get excited about the upcoming season. I can't. The magic is gone and it's never coming back. The only reason I would ever go to training camp now is the opportunity to heckle Kraft in person. Even that is more effort than he's worth, though.

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I hear you, Maynard. I just can't see letting them take that joy from me. I wonder if your feeling will change when things kick off September 11. Remember, friend, that we still have the best coach in the league, the best roster and, after week 4, the best QB. We'll be fine, buddy. Don't let them take anything away from you. If anything, Tom needs your support now more than ever because if you're this upset, can you imagine what he feels like right now? I hope that'll be a little encouragement for you on this day . . . as far as football is concerned anyway.

PatsBoy12 said:

I hear you, Maynard. I just can't see letting them take that joy from me. I wonder if your feeling will change when things kick off September 11. Remember, friend, that we still have the best coach in the league, the best roster and, after week 4, the best QB. We'll be fine, buddy. Don't let them take anything away from you. If anything, Tom needs your support now more than ever because if you're this upset, can you imagine what he feels like right now? I hope that'll be a little encouragement for you on this day . . . as far as football is concerned anyway.

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Those things are all well and good, but they are only relevant in the pursuit of something I now find completely without worth, namely accomplishment in the NFL.

I'm pretty sure September 11th won't be any help at all, since TB12 will not be there, and I won't be watching.

See, it's not about "letting" them take anything away from me. The damage is done, and it is irreparable. No amount of appeasement from the owner, or camaraderie with fellow victims is ever going to un-part the curtain now.

With that said, I'd like to apologize for posting in this thread. I should have left you to your revelry without being a downer for you. Carry on...

For the last 5 years, I've been taking my nephew to TC. He plays football and will be in 8th grade this fall. Football is everything to him and he cannot wait to go (my daughters think it's boring so they stay home LOL).

As jaded and ticked off I am at the politics and crap that swirls around this league and team, it's a breath of fresh air to hang out with him for a day and just talk about the rookies, the players, etc. Kinda brings me back to why I watch and follow the team. Lord knows the last few years I've needed it.

robertweathers said:

For the last 5 years, I've been taking my nephew to TC. He plays football and will be in 8th grade this fall. Football is everything to him and he cannot wait to go (my daughters think it's boring so they stay home LOL).

As jaded and ticked off I am at the politics and crap that swirls around this league and team, it's a breath of fresh air to hang out with him for a day and just talk about the rookies, the players, etc. Kinda brings me back to why I watch and follow the team. Lord knows the last few years I've needed it.

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It does make me feel good for you that you get to enjoy that time with your son. I am not a father yet, so I can only imagine the thrill of taking in a ball game, or even just training camp, with a son. I never got to indulge with my father for reasons that I won't talk about here. Enjoy that time, Rob, though I'm sure you don't necessarily need me to tell you that. Here's to another TC with your boy and another season with the Patriots. F the politics.

PatsBoy12 said:

It does make me feel good for you that you get to enjoy that time with your son. I am not a father yet, so I can only imagine the thrill of taking in a ball game, or even just training camp, with a son. I never got to indulge with my father for reasons that I won't talk about here. Enjoy that time, Rob, though I'm sure you don't necessarily need me to tell you that. Here's to another TC with your boy and another season with the Patriots. F the politics.

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Hes my nephew but a good kid nonetheless.

ReverendMaynard said:

Those things are all well and good, but they are only relevant in the pursuit of something I now find completely without worth, namely accomplishment in the NFL.

I'm pretty sure September 11th won't be any help at all, since TB12 will not be there, and I won't be watching.

See, it's not about "letting" them take anything away from me. The damage is done, and it is irreparable. No amount of appeasement from the owner, or camaraderie with fellow victims is ever going to un-part the curtain now.

With that said, I'd like to apologize for posting in this thread. I should have left you to your revelry without being a downer for you. Carry on...

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Sorry to hear that. I certainly can't tell you how to feel, besides saying (with respect) that it's a bit of a defeatist attitude. You can't control certain things in life, and you can either become extremely mad, irritated or depressed (I have struggled with it off and on) or you can decide to enjoy the things you've always liked. I do find it hard to believe that seeing the Pats bring home another SB wouldn't mean anything to you. But then again, I don't know that for sure, now do I? So all that's left for me to say is I hope that maybe you make it back to enjoying the sport and the team, and I hope you don't let uncontrollable things impact other areas of your life the way you seem to be letting this situation impact your love of the game.

robertweathers said:

Hes my nephew but a good kid nonetheless.

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I read that and still put 'son' for some reason. DOH! That's what I get for trying to multitask. My apologies.

PatsBoy12 said:

I read that and still put 'son' for some reason. DOH! That's what I get for trying to multitask. My apologies.

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No worries, man. I have all daughters and he allows me to pretend I have one every now and then.

robertweathers said:

No worries, man. I have all daughters and he allows me to pretend I have one every now and then.

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I hope to procreate a basketball team when I start dropping little ones. All boys, PLEASE! LOL But first I have to get the girl in HR to realize I'm her future husband. She's been a challenge, but progress is being made. LOL

Excited for TC this year.

Particular the DB battle. The IOL should be fun to watch to as all 3 spots are open really. 3rd OT will be fun to watch. As much as i am curious about WRs I am not as invested in it cause afterall we are talking mostly about spots 4-6 though the outside WR will be interesting to watch (for the plays they put Edelman inside and sit Amendola).

I can't wait to see Foster in preseason game 1. I think he will be absolutely electric and will force a hard choice somewhere else as i see him as a true back up to Lewis.

BobDigital said:

Excited for TC this year.

Particular the DB battle. The IOL should be fun to watch to as all 3 spots are open really. 3rd OT will be fun to watch. As much as i am curious about WRs I am not as invested in it cause afterall we are talking mostly about spots 4-6 though the outside WR will be interesting to watch (for the plays they put Edelman inside and sit Amendola).

I can't wait to see Foster in preseason game 1. I think he will be absolutely electric and will force a hard choice somewhere else as i see him as a true back up to Lewis.

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I'm really zeroing in on the OL. To me, that and injuries are the only two things that can stop this team once Brady returns. TB12 will be 39 and cannot, and should not, take the amount of punishment he took last season. It was both frustrating and extremely scary to watch. That hit he took in MIA in week 17, when Suh rolled up on his leg, almost had me in tears. That line needs to be better.

Aside from that, I'm just interested to see the different battles and the rookies. As much as I like defense (it's really my favorite thing in football and basketball), I find myself a bit more intrigued by the offense, particularly Bennett and Malcolm Mitchell. I also want to see if Hogan plays the way people have prognosticated. How Lewis bounces back should be another interesting story line, though I think we should expect a bit of a dip compared to how he played last season. We've seen more examples of players needing two years to look like their old selves than the contrary at this point, so that's what I'm trying to prepare myself mentally to see with him.

Just bring it on!

ReverendMaynard said:

I'm happy for you that you are still able to get excited about the upcoming season. I can't. The magic is gone and it's never coming back. The only reason I would ever go to training camp now is the opportunity to heckle Kraft in person. Even that is more effort than he's worth, though.

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Every year I can't wait for TC, but this year the OP reminded me that I'd forgotten.
Every year I salivated over binky late draft picks and UDFAs. This year I can't remember a single name.
If I attend it will be the scrimmage and an opportunity to watch GOAT Brady. I hope I go.
I am shocked at how quickly my over 50 years obsession with all things Patriots is evaporating

Thanks NYJFL

PatsBoy12 said:

I hope to procreate a basketball team when I start dropping little ones. All boys, PLEASE! LOL But first I have to get the girl in HR to realize I'm her future husband. She's been a challenge, but progress is being made. LOL

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Daughters are a blessing. My 3 all play sports and you don't cheer for them any less than boys.

The dance recitals were brutal. Thank god they quit.

My wife is a fmr HR exec but I met her in college so that doesn't count but she did play hard to get. That means they want you to win but you've gotta earn it.

I'm mixed. Football is no longer an escape. I now know that it is lead by greedy and corrupt leaders. Hell, because of deflategate I no longer have the same faith in our Supreme court. Was deflategate a representative microcosm of our real world or nation? Wow if yes.

PR > Truth and People choose sides based on the color of their horse. (If that makes sense)

Anyways on the positive side I now view Brady/BB as more than a Superstar athlete or coach.

PatsBoy12 said:

I hope to procreate a basketball team when I start dropping little ones. All boys, PLEASE! LOL But first I have to get the girl in HR to realize I'm her future husband. She's been a challenge, but progress is being made. LOL

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Dude! You want to have a daughter. Trust me. My daughter is my little defender. She won't let my wife chew my ass over something stupid. "Mom, you're being ridiculous" which is priceless. And the only investment for that protection is watching a few princess movies and sipping a few cups of imaginary tea.

Jokes aside, I have one of each and both are awesome in their own way.

Is there a thread/URL/anything to read up on what to expect, and the facility, if attending training camp? ( i.e, hours, location, handicapped facilities, what to bring, what to wear,etc.)

PatsWickedPissah said:

Every year I can't wait for TC, but this year the OP reminded me that I'd forgotten.
Every year I salivated over binky late draft picks and UDFAs. This year I can't remember a single name.
If I attend it will be the scrimmage and an opportunity to watch GOAT Brady. I hope I go.
I am shocked at how quickly my over 50 years obsession with all things Patriots is evaporating

Thanks NYJFL

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I understand PWP, but I find myself more fired up every day. I want blood and vengeance and I want to see every ***hole from The Dope on down, i.e. Kensil, Grigson, Harbaby eat crap. I can't wait for TC and the season. It's gonna be glorious.