Trevor Matich: Fake spike "heinous"
 

I get a Washington TV station, and former player Trevor Matich called it "heinous" that Brady and the Pats did the fake spike play (for the Moss TD). His explanation: When the D-line "mushes" upon seeing a spike coming, rather than rushing hard, they are extending a "professional courtesy" to the other team --- and to the QB in particular (sparing him injury). By doing what they did and taking advantage, the Pats showed they cannot be trusted to return this professional courtesy. In future, whenever there's a spike situation, he says, defenses should try to dive through the Pats O-line at Brady's legs. Ditto for when the Pats go into the "victory formation" to take a knee at the end of a half or a game.

I see his point, but have always thought the fake spike was a clever play.

P.S. Matich also called Brady "the best quarterback ever to suit up," so I don't think he just has an axe to grind against the Patriots.

Re: Trevor Matich: Fake spike "heinous"
 

Marino's done it before. Didn't the Jets do it earlier this year?

Beyond that, quit *****ing.


Interesting that when Vrabel was playing to the whistle he got lambasted by the Browns and some of the media because he was doing his job. Now the Patriots start to take advantage of players not playing to the whistle and people ***** about that. GFY. G-F-Y.

Re: Trevor Matich: Fake spike "heinous"
 

Until this year I had never seen Brady try a fake spike - Now its 2 trys in a row

The best fake QB spike I had ever seen was Marino on MNF against the Jets
That was a masterpiece fake that had EVERYONE confused except the Dolphins offense.

Re: Trevor Matich: Fake spike "heinous"
 

All this trickery and domination eventually comes with a price. We can dish it out and if things get ugly I bet we can take it. I just don't want to see any whining in hear if things get to that. Had the D line tried to" dive through the Pats O-line at Brady's legs." honestly, how many people would be climbing all over this board wailing about 'cheap/dirty' shots ?

Re: Trevor Matich: Fake spike "heinous"
 

Honestly, the play makes me nervous for the reasons he cites -- for the rest of the season, every time the Pats spike the ball the defenders will dive at Brady. Though the fact that they did it 2 weeks in a row almost makes me wonder whether they're courting that, looking for future penalties?

Re: Trevor Matich: Fake spike "heinous"
 

I think the only reason he did it tonight was he wanted to give Moss a chance at a TD grab. That seems to be what his comments after the game indicated.

Re: Trevor Matich: Fake spike "heinous"
 

I was amazed at how quickly the Pats got to the line and started the fake spike play. It seemed as if they must have planned it the day before. There wasn't even a huddle, right?

Re: Trevor Matich: Fake spike "heinous"
 

Diving at a QB's legs is illegal no matter the play. I have 0 problem with an NFL defense trying to break through the O-Line during a spike, before the whistle. Play to the whistle, play to the rules.

Re: Trevor Matich: Fake spike "heinous"
 

Trevor Matich was the player the pats chose with the pick they got in a swap with SF.SF got AHH let me see, oh yeah Jerry Rice. Anyways where was Matich when Marino did it, or the Jets? When ever we do something its horrable or heinous,when other teams do the same thing its alright.

Re: Trevor Matich: Fake spike "heinous"
 

If the defensive line is intent on jumping at Brady's feet, maybe we try to draw them offsides or call a three step drop on the next 'fake spike' situation so that they fall at our O-line's feet and we have an easy touchdown. World of possibilities.