- Joined
- Nov 14, 2006
- Messages
- 49,635
- Reaction score
- 28,361
I just wish that the less sanguine among us could tone down the disproportionate sense of outrage and scorn a bit.
One can be pessimistic about the team's prospects without declaring things "inexcusable" or "unacceptable." You can be disappointed by the team's performance without declaring it "pathetic" and casting aspersions on the team's heart and character (which are never here nor there anyway.)
It's one thing to have criticisms and doubts, but the amount of anger and indignation heaped on a team that's given us an unprecedented decade of consistent excellence is more than a little ridiculous.
For example, since Rodney Harrison, the team has not gotten much return on investment at the safety position, and this has been a big part of the problem for the Pats' defenses in recent years. Merriweather and Chung did not develop as we'd hoped, and our free agent acquisitions have failed to pan out.
That is a fair criticism of the team. It doesn't mean that BB or the front office is incompetent. Player acquisition is always more hit than miss, and on the whole they do a better job of it than any other team. It also doesn't make Merriweather or Chung punks who don't care about football or even just "pathetic" football players -- they may just be better suited for another scheme, and even if not, they're still better than 99.99% of the people who'd want their jobs.
I understand wanting to vent when the Pats lose, it's possible to be angry with being angry at someone. Learning that distinction is generally considered part of developing from adolescence to adulthood, and not too much to expect from each other, isn't it?
The difference is most people don't question the return on investment on the safety position, they start to question if the game has past Belichick by or Belichick wasted a year of Brady because they cut James Sanders and Brandon Meriweather. There seems to be far too little rational criticism.
Same thing happened with Brian Waters this offseason. Many of the same people killed Belichick for insulting Waters and destroying the offensive line when indications are the Pats made a real faith effort to get him back in and Waters would rather retire than be away from his family.
Belichick and the Patriots are not perfect. He makes mistakes. That said, he does make individual mistakes with personnel, but he rarely if ever makes the mistakes that stops this team from being a contender. And even when he makes the mistakes, he tends to figure out how to minimize those mistakes or correct them all together.
All you have to do is look at the Jets. They are paying for and will pay for boneheaded personnel mistakes from Tannebaum. Belichick would never put this team in that position. Many coaches and GMs do.
The problem on this board is overreaction to everything. I am guilty of it at times myself. The negativity tends to be more dramatic. Just look at any game thread when the defense gives up some yards on a a drive.