everlong
Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2007
- Messages
- 9,493
- Reaction score
- 5,878
1. While I was certainly bummed after the game this one made me more melancholy than pissed or upset. While I certainly hoped they would catch fire I didn't expect it.
2. Before the game I said to a friend besides the usual stuff like turnovers the two biggest keys to the game to me are Harry emerging and the defense being able to contain the run with the front 7. Neither happened and they lost. It's not really Harry's fault. He got hurt and was expected to come in and be a front line performer in half a year. The kid still has potential. If Tom is staying I hope they hang out and practice together. If he's gone I hope he and Stidham do the same. Would Samuel, Brown or others have been better at that draft spot? Hard to really say. One thing for sure he isn't getting it at least yet.
3. While it's not Harry's fault it is Bill's.
5. Will Tom be back? I still think they work it out but nobody can be certain. I'll root for him almost anywhere he goes. Of the even remotely likely landing spots I just can't do it if it's the Dolphins or Colts. Growing up when Shula was winning and so smug I still loathe that franchise and if Tom goes to the team (or one of) that caused deflategate......WTF?
6. Other FAs.
7. This team owes me nothing. 6 Titles. If I lived to 190 they still beat the odds without another title. I'm sure there's going to be a lot of smack talk from other fans and the media proclaiming they knew the dynasty was dead. When you say it every year for a decade even a broken clock is right twice a day. I wore my Pats hat into Starbucks this morning and was greeted by the Vikings fan (originally from MN) who said you still wore the hat? Where are your six titles? Crickets.
8. Here's the best thing....as much as they want it to be it's still not over. If Tom comes back and they load up at the skill positions they would easily make a few more runs. If Tom moves on then there's Stidham. Admittedly we don't know a lot about how good he'll be but Bill did move on from Hoyer in year one. The only other time he's done that was Jimmy G. I think Bill thinks he can start in this league and that's good enough for me.
9. I wonder with all the NFL 100 stuff if Bill can grab somebody like Fitzgerald for one year on the cheap to win a title. I know he's not the player he was but he's smart, blocks like a MFer and knows how to get open over the middle. Suddenly he and Jules make a powerful 1-2 combo and Fitz can help train Harry. Throw in an Austin Hooper and maybe Brady returns.
10. IF Brady does move on I hope it's to an NFC team. I also hope he wins another title and the Pats win won without him. That would make both Bill and Tom's legacies that much stronger. I'd still much prefer he stay here and they win one or two more together but if that's the only option then I hope they both win another title.
11. If Tom does move on I wonder if the Patriots hate will transfer with him or if he gets a reprieve? Obviously wherever he does will embrace him but beyond that. I think one factor will be people tend to hate Bill even more than Tom outside of Pats fan.
12. Of the possible landing spots the Broncos and Dolphins play at NE next. Seeing him wearing either of those two jerseys would suck ass. If he did go to the Broncos Shannon horse mouth Sharpe would suddenly be his biggest advocate, fraud.
13. If the Pats were going to lose at least the Titans are a tolerable loss compared to almost any other team and fan base. I really didn't want to lose to the Ravens again.
14. Speaking of the Ravens......ANYONE else, please. I'd prefer 49ers, Titans or Texans. I'd throw the Vikings in except they have no shot. Everybody else is a different level of tolerable compared to the Ravens. Two most hated teams of my childhood: Raiders and Dolphins. Of Adulthood: Steelers and Ravens. Broncos a general pain in the ass throughout the years. Colts a bunch of rule changing, can't beat you so we'll say you cheated frauds. Pump in that crowd noise.
15. The league needs to change that 25 second run off for multiple penalties at the end of games. Good for Vrabel exploiting it just like Bill has but the optics are awful and it makes the games such much less exciting. I thought this when Bill did it as well so it's not revisionist history and I'm not blaming the loss on it.
16. I fear Bill gave Harbaugh a template for keeping the Titans under control and they have a better DL to control the gaps while the secondary lays off play action fakes. If Baltimore beats Tennessee I'll have to root for the Chiefs to beat the Texans because they have a better shot at taking out the Ravens than the Texans.
2. Before the game I said to a friend besides the usual stuff like turnovers the two biggest keys to the game to me are Harry emerging and the defense being able to contain the run with the front 7. Neither happened and they lost. It's not really Harry's fault. He got hurt and was expected to come in and be a front line performer in half a year. The kid still has potential. If Tom is staying I hope they hang out and practice together. If he's gone I hope he and Stidham do the same. Would Samuel, Brown or others have been better at that draft spot? Hard to really say. One thing for sure he isn't getting it at least yet.
3. While it's not Harry's fault it is Bill's.
- No real TE threat.
- 34 year old receiver as your one real option at wide out.
- You're relying on the likes of Gordon, AB and Harry all with issues.
5. Will Tom be back? I still think they work it out but nobody can be certain. I'll root for him almost anywhere he goes. Of the even remotely likely landing spots I just can't do it if it's the Dolphins or Colts. Growing up when Shula was winning and so smug I still loathe that franchise and if Tom goes to the team (or one of) that caused deflategate......WTF?
6. Other FAs.
- 7.Thuney - Best and most consistent offensive player. Between blocking Donald one on one in last year's SB and the deserving 2nd team all pro load up the money trucks. After paying Mason over 10M/year will they pay a second guard even more? Honestly I would. Brandon Brooks and Zack Martin top the guard market at 14M/year. I think Thuney is worth that. Will Bill pay it? TBD but I'm also wondering if much like Flowers last year somebody blows him out of the water with an offer topping what any of us are expecting. The Fins have a ton of cap space. UGGGG.
- KVN - Lavonte David is the 10th highest paid OLB at just over 10M/year. Hightower is 11th at 8.8M. Is KVN worth this range? I really like him but I'd say no.
- Karas - Given his position flexibility and how he came on at center he's going to get overpaid as well. If Thuney walks it will be interesting to see if they can sign him and move him to LG.
- Chung - Legal issues and starting to show some weakness in coverage I'm not sure they release him but they may try to restructure and draft some guys and have him try to coach them up.
- DMC - Retire? He's still playing at a high level. Will both sides do a 3/30 type of deal?
- Slater - 2.6M but the best special teams player in the league and a great leader.
- Ebner - 2.6M, he's really good but I don't see it.
- There are some others like Dorsette but I don't think they really add up to much. Shelton played better but again not a huge loss. I'm sure Detroit or Miami will offer him something.
7. This team owes me nothing. 6 Titles. If I lived to 190 they still beat the odds without another title. I'm sure there's going to be a lot of smack talk from other fans and the media proclaiming they knew the dynasty was dead. When you say it every year for a decade even a broken clock is right twice a day. I wore my Pats hat into Starbucks this morning and was greeted by the Vikings fan (originally from MN) who said you still wore the hat? Where are your six titles? Crickets.
8. Here's the best thing....as much as they want it to be it's still not over. If Tom comes back and they load up at the skill positions they would easily make a few more runs. If Tom moves on then there's Stidham. Admittedly we don't know a lot about how good he'll be but Bill did move on from Hoyer in year one. The only other time he's done that was Jimmy G. I think Bill thinks he can start in this league and that's good enough for me.
9. I wonder with all the NFL 100 stuff if Bill can grab somebody like Fitzgerald for one year on the cheap to win a title. I know he's not the player he was but he's smart, blocks like a MFer and knows how to get open over the middle. Suddenly he and Jules make a powerful 1-2 combo and Fitz can help train Harry. Throw in an Austin Hooper and maybe Brady returns.
10. IF Brady does move on I hope it's to an NFC team. I also hope he wins another title and the Pats win won without him. That would make both Bill and Tom's legacies that much stronger. I'd still much prefer he stay here and they win one or two more together but if that's the only option then I hope they both win another title.
11. If Tom does move on I wonder if the Patriots hate will transfer with him or if he gets a reprieve? Obviously wherever he does will embrace him but beyond that. I think one factor will be people tend to hate Bill even more than Tom outside of Pats fan.
12. Of the possible landing spots the Broncos and Dolphins play at NE next. Seeing him wearing either of those two jerseys would suck ass. If he did go to the Broncos Shannon horse mouth Sharpe would suddenly be his biggest advocate, fraud.
13. If the Pats were going to lose at least the Titans are a tolerable loss compared to almost any other team and fan base. I really didn't want to lose to the Ravens again.
14. Speaking of the Ravens......ANYONE else, please. I'd prefer 49ers, Titans or Texans. I'd throw the Vikings in except they have no shot. Everybody else is a different level of tolerable compared to the Ravens. Two most hated teams of my childhood: Raiders and Dolphins. Of Adulthood: Steelers and Ravens. Broncos a general pain in the ass throughout the years. Colts a bunch of rule changing, can't beat you so we'll say you cheated frauds. Pump in that crowd noise.
15. The league needs to change that 25 second run off for multiple penalties at the end of games. Good for Vrabel exploiting it just like Bill has but the optics are awful and it makes the games such much less exciting. I thought this when Bill did it as well so it's not revisionist history and I'm not blaming the loss on it.
16. I fear Bill gave Harbaugh a template for keeping the Titans under control and they have a better DL to control the gaps while the secondary lays off play action fakes. If Baltimore beats Tennessee I'll have to root for the Chiefs to beat the Texans because they have a better shot at taking out the Ravens than the Texans.