AD talks, says he called in advance that he would be late, watched film at home

[emoney_33]

As for how far away he lives, as Synovia pointed out, there have been times that its taken people 2-3 hours to go 5 miles in similar weather conditions.

DaBruinz, can you just stop right now? Please! You are using hypotheticals to defend someone lol. Very rarely are things known for 100% certainty to have happened, but the evidence far outweighs your strawman "well he COULD have gotten stuck for 3 hours". That thief COULD have been sleep walking! The next time I oversleep I'll tell my boss that I COULD have been saving a kid from a burning building!

 

[eagle eye]

I have no idea why you have these deep love for AD.

First off, they are 100% excuses.

Second off, no one ANYWHERE is asking for AD to get fired because he was late. Burgess, Guyton and Moss were late, not a single one of them went whining and *****ing to the media. Not a single one of them are stirring up ****.

It's also quite f'ing hilarious that you can sit there and tell us all to shut up because we don't know all the facts, yet you have no idea how many warnings they had or what was said to the team about arriving early. I'm damn sure if my boss told me to be early next week and I showed up late that I'd at least get pulled into the office.

Most of us want him benched for continuing to talk **** in the media and not setting a good example for the rest of the friggin team. And keep your hypotheticals to yourself, I really don't give a rat's ass of what COULD have happened to him. He was told to arrive EARLY, and it's his responsibility to check the weather. He arrived late, and MOST LIKELY it is his fault for not leaving early enough rather than some freak accident or incredible unforeseen traffic.

Can you please show me quotes from the interview that have upset you so much?

As I said earlier and to both sides of this stupid childish argument over a player being late. None of us have a clue if this was a first late or if the player had been late before. Anybody is entitled to be late once with no penalty. There has to be more to this that we are not aware of, but anyone coming on here berating a player for being 9 minutes late is mentally well, just not right.

 

[MassPats38]

The disrespectful quotes to Belichick I see from the interview would be as follows:

"That's a personal thing, you know he's the head coach, he makes all the calls. And so whether you agree with it or not, you just roll with him. So that's why they pay him to be the head coach, he has that title. So you know he doesn't have to have a reason to send me home, you just have to abide by it. I was told to go home, I went home enjoyed my day off, put my toes up in the air, and relaxed"

"I think it's more than what it should be. So, you know, focus should be on Carolina, but instead it's on this whole topic of being late or not. It will be determined on Sunday after the game, if we play well, it will be the whole great thing and if he doesn't than you guys are kind of come back to this whole thing and say it was a distraction, so you might as well write it now what you think it is, so 20/20 eye sizing, don't do that now."

Q: Do you think Bill used you guys as some sort of a message?
"You'll have to ask, I don't know. Teaching tool, I don't know. I can't figure out what Bill thinks and knows. I don't know that. I promise you I don't."

Q: What happened to you yesterday, for you personally does that serve as motivation?
"Motivation is for kindergartners. I'm not a kindergartner. Sending somebody home that's like you're expelled and come back and make the grades. Get that **** out of here, that is ridiculous."

 

[emoney_33]

Can you please show me quotes from the interview that have upset you so much?

As I said earlier and to both sides of this stupid childish argument over a player being late. None of us have a clue if this was a first late or if the player had been late before. Anybody is entitled to be late once with no penalty. There has to be more to this that we are not aware of, but anyone coming on here berating a player for being 9 minutes late is mentally well, just not right.

There is more to this, but some of you keep ignoring it. BB just told the team on Monday it's time to step it up and come in early and stay late and show a commitment to improving the team. 2 days later you are late for a meeting... yea 100% I blame Moss, Burgess, Guyton and Thomas for being late. It's really simple, none of them should have been late. It would have ended there, a little discipline to hammer home the point. But NO, fat-trap had to run to his media.

But I mean someone like Tedy saying that AD shouldn't have gone to the media is also meaningless. It seems that you guys want so desperately for AD to succeed because of his amazing raw and sometimes freakish talent, that you go out of your way to forgive him for his transgressions.

DaBruinz has gone off the deep end with his anti-logic. Oh man he could have travelled a different route or maybe he was getting his kids ready or maybe he fell in a ditch or maybe he has a sleep disorder or or or or...

Learn some damn personal responsibility and accountability and you will understand the point here. You were late, regardless of anything else, be accountable and move the hell on.

 

[mgteich]

Thank you for posting the firing offenses.

To me, Thomas is beiung punished for telling the truth, as he sees it, to the press. This is not acceptable to Belichick, especially in a season where he needs scapegoats ( or at least examples) so badly. After all, isn't it 60% of THIS board that just a few days ago agreed that it was the coaching that is the problem with this team (which team BTW is still likely to win the division and have a chance at the Super Bowl).

I would not have done what Thomas did. He knows that he won't win pi$$ing matches with the boss, perhaps with other coaches, but not with Belichick. But, in the end, I do not disagree with anything he has said over the past month. And yes, it is understandable for him to essentially say that if Belichick thinks it better for the team for AD to sit home and relax, that is a coach's decision. This is similar to the situation when he was benched for questioning his role.

Surely, all of you would be just fine watching your relacement Burgess perform so well! Perhaps should just accept belichick's evaluation????????? Or just do the best at what Belichick give him to do. Many, many players would be very upset, feeling strongly in their own minds that they could do better than the guys in fron to fo them.

Sometimes frustration shows up in press interviews. It is the right of the coach to send the player to the corner for a timeout. And it is the right of the player to state how much this seems like kindergarten instead of the NFL.

The disrespectful quotes to Belichick I see from the interview would be as follows:

"That's a personal thing, you know he's the head coach, he makes all the calls. And so whether you agree with it or not, you just roll with him. So that's why they pay him to be the head coach, he has that title. So you know he doesn't have to have a reason to send me home, you just have to abide by it. I was told to go home, I went home enjoyed my day off, put my toes up in the air, and relaxed"

"I think it's more than what it should be. So, you know, focus should be on Carolina, but instead it's on this whole topic of being late or not. It will be determined on Sunday after the game, if we play well, it will be the whole great thing and if he doesn't than you guys are kind of come back to this whole thing and say it was a distraction, so you might as well write it now what you think it is, so 20/20 eye sizing, don't do that now."

Q: Do you think Bill used you guys as some sort of a message?
"You'll have to ask, I don't know. Teaching tool, I don't know. I can't figure out what Bill thinks and knows. I don't know that. I promise you I don't."

Q: What happened to you yesterday, for you personally does that serve as motivation?
"Motivation is for kindergartners. I'm not a kindergartner. Sending somebody home that's like you're expelled and come back and make the grades. Get that **** out of here, that is ridiculous."

 

[MassPats38]

Thank you for posting the firing offenses.

To me, Thomas is beiung punished for telling the truth, as he sees it, to the press.

Sometimes frustration shows up in press interviews. It is the right of the coach to send the player to the corner for a timeout. And it is the right of the player to state how much this seems like kindergarten instead of the NFL.

That is just my guess at the offending quotes.

This is not a free speech problem. Players play, coaches run the organization. Going with your school metaphor, if a student is suspended and thanks the principal for the day off, that is not an expression of gratitude - it is that student flipping the bird to the principal. You cannot reasonably read that quote as Thomas honestly saying "thank you for the opportunity for rest and recuperation." That response is infantile, and disrespectful.

A team is not a democracy. A team without a strong head coach fails. Just ask Norv Turner or Wade Phillips. The Patriots hold team meetings and player meetings to resolve internal problems. This team has never been known for its media circuses, so this is not a good thing at all. Thomas was punished for breaking a rule, and told to do something by the head coach directly. Belichick's motivation or rationale for doing so, as head coach, should not be presented from a soap box by Thomas. The issue here is why Thomas felt the need to publicly voice his issues, which sound like his issues, rather than simply accepting his role as a player on the team and moving on. If the members of the team start criticizing the decision of a head coach, this team will fail, plain and simple. It is of no consequence that you disagree with Belichick's decision as his decisions should not be presented to the world for review. Everybody has opinions, which is why only one opinion should matter as to the best way to manage and run the Patriots. Otherwise, Belichick becomes Wade Phillips or Norv Turner and the Patriots enjoy long offseasons.

 

[mgteich]

I agree that AD was flipping Belichick the bird with his comment. And since Belichick needs someone to make an example of, he will probably will do so. Belichick has run out of ways to improve the team with improving the quality of work by his coaching staff and he has failed to find other ways to motivate players. He has a team that cannot protect leads, cannot score in the second half, is ineffectivew in the red zone, and cannot win road games played in the US. He has run out of options. Making an example of Thomas might work. I think that Belichick is grasping at straws with his tactics this week, but I do understand his frustration and desparation.

Belichick KNOWS (or thinks he knows) that if this team were more motivated, and if his staff's coaching were bit better, then we might have won a couple of more games. Bewlichick KNOWS (or thinks he knows) that this team is talented enough to not only have won a couple of more game, but also to be competing for the playoff bye.

And the sad, sad thing is that I also believe that the issue has been coaching and finding ways to motivate the players (with 60% of you in a recent (poll) and I also believe that better coaching and leadership would have us competiting for the bye at this point. ANd leadership does start in the front office.

That is just my guess at the offending quotes.

This is not a free speech problem. Players play, coaches run the organization. Going with your school metaphor, if a student is suspended and thanks the principal for the day off, that is not an expression of gratitude - it is that student flipping the bird to the principal. You cannot reasonably read that quote as Thomas honestly saying "thank you for the opportunity for rest and recuperation." That response is infantile, and disrespectful.

A team is not a democracy. A team without a strong head coach fails. Just ask Norv Turner or Wade Phillips. The Patriots hold team meetings and player meetings to resolve internal problems. This team has never been known for its media circuses, so this is not a good thing at all. Thomas was punished for breaking a rule, and told to do something by the head coach directly. Belichick's motivation or rationale for doing so, as head coach, should not be presented from a soap box by Thomas. The issue here is why Thomas felt the need to publicly voice his issues, which sound like his issues, rather than simply accepting his role as a player on the team and moving on. If the members of the team start criticizing the decision of a head coach, this team will fail, plain and simple. It is of no consequence that you disagree with Belichick's decision as his decisions should not be presented to the world for review. Everybody has opinions, which is why only one opinion should matter as to the best way to manage and run the Patriots. Otherwise, Belichick becomes Wade Phillips or Norv Turner and the Patriots enjoy long offseasons.

 

[eagle eye]

There is more to this, but some of you keep ignoring it. BB just told the team on Monday it's time to step it up and come in early and stay late and show a commitment to improving the team. 2 days later you are late for a meeting... yea 100% I blame Moss, Burgess, Guyton and Thomas for being late. It's really simple, none of them should have been late. It would have ended there, a little discipline to hammer home the point. But NO, fat-trap had to run to his media.

The four of them were sent home. Of course the media are going to be looking to speak to players in the aftermath. I see nothing wrong with anything he said to Mike Reiss. Some people are reading what they want into it. I read it from a neutral standpoint and came to the conclusion that AD was doing what he always does and saying nothing about anything. He always comes across as very uncomfortable and almost irritated when talking to the media. When Reiss mentioned if this would motivate him, I think he was annoyed that his motivation was being questioned by Reiss, I don't think that he was having a go at Belichick, but more attacking Reiss for asking the question.

And I read this whole comment as an attack at the media. He is saying that the media should be concentrating on the Carolina game and this is no big deal. I thought it was very funny, he tells Reiss to make his mind up now how big this is and not be coming back to it as having been a crucial factor in a win or a loss against Carolina on Sunday.

"I think it's more than what it should be. So, you know, focus should be on Carolina, but instead it's on this whole topic of being late or not. It will be determined on Sunday after the game, if we play well, it will be the whole great thing and if he doesn't than you guys are kind of come back to this whole thing and say it was a distraction, so you might as well write it now what you think it is, so 20/20 eye sizing, don't do that now."

The comment he made about not being able to figure out what Bill thinks or knows is not an attack on Bill, its just honesty. How is he supposed to know what BB is thinking? I mean really, you try and read Belichick, its impossible, he gives nothing away.

But I mean someone like Tedy saying that AD shouldn't have gone to the media is also meaningless. It seems that you guys want so desperately for AD to succeed because of his amazing raw and sometimes freakish talent, that you go out of your way to forgive him for his transgressions.

I'm not taking either side on this thing. I believe he was punished for not being on time. I don't think he said anything wrong to the media. I think people are making a mountain out of a molehill.

DaBruinz has gone off the deep end with his anti-logic. Oh man he could have travelled a different route or maybe he was getting his kids ready or maybe he fell in a ditch or maybe he has a sleep disorder or or or or...

He is not the only one that is very irritated in this thread. I can understand why he is annoyed with some posters. I have to be honest, I think the koolaid drinkers have made this what it is here. I don't think it warrants this sort of attention. I think that AD was trying to make that point in his interview with Reiss.

Learn some damn personal responsibility and accountability and you will understand the point here. You were late, regardless of anything else, be accountable and move the hell on.

Anybody can be late, the fact that four of them were late says something about the conditions that day.
The fact that Bill wouldn't accept that says something else too, I think he had to make a stand with all the young players in the team right now. You have to crack the whip when things are not going well on the field. I have no problem with Bill doing what he did. I do have a problem with people on here making a villain out of AD.

 

[DaBruinz]

If there had been a car accident on Rt. 1, a lot more than 4 guys would have been late. Do I have to actually check the traffic reports to prove how asinine your 'point' is, or can you actually handle it like an adult for a change? If there had been an accident, BTW, I'm fairly certain that Thomas would have mentioned that in the rambling explanation where he said he almost crashed, then *****ed about how Belichick didn't care if he was in a ditch (he wasn't in a ditch), etc. Why would he resort to such hypothetical would-be excuses if he actually had a legitimate one like a car accident?

But no, instead, in a virtuoso display of Glenn Beck-inspired 'logic', you'll continue to insist that there MIGHT have been an accident that mysteriously went unreported and didn't impede the progress of anyone else. That's definitely it.

Why would a lot more guys than 4 have been late? Are you saying that they ALL would be traveling the exact same way at the exact same time? I hope not because there are plenty of ways to get onto Rt. 1 south of the stadium and depending on how far away they lived and what they planned on doing prior to the meeting would vary the time they would depart to get to the stadium.

The only one being asinine is yourself. I gave a very legitimate plausible explanation as to why he could have been late and all you have done is go out of your way to lambaste the guy.

 

[DaBruinz]

I have no idea why you have these deep love for AD. There is no "deep love" for AD. It's a disdain for the exaggerated and irrational vitriol on this site.

First off, they are 100% excuses.

No, they aren't. It's called reality.

Second off, no one ANYWHERE is asking for AD to get fired because he was late. Burgess, Guyton and Moss were late, not a single one of them went whining and *****ing to the media. Not a single one of them are stirring up ****.

There have been plenty of people saying to "cut his ass" today. Cutting him would be firing him.

Thomas wasn't "whining and B1tching" to the media. But to each their own..

It's also quite f'ing hilarious that you can sit there and tell us all to shut up because we don't know all the facts, yet you have no idea how many warnings they had or what was said to the team about arriving early. I'm damn sure if my boss told me to be early next week and I showed up late that I'd at least get pulled into the office.

I didn't tell you to shut your trap. Just said it was laughable for you all to be lambasting Thomas with so little information.

BTW, I've never said BB was wrong in sending AD home.

Most of us want him benched for continuing to talk **** in the media and not setting a good example for the rest of the friggin team. And keep your hypotheticals to yourself, I really don't give a rat's ass of what COULD have happened to him. He was told to arrive EARLY, and it's his responsibility to check the weather. He arrived late, and MOST LIKELY it is his fault for not leaving early enough rather than some freak accident or incredible unforeseen traffic.

He's not talking sh!t in the media. That's just it. As for my hypotheticals, They are perfectly legitimate. You don't like it, that's your tough sh!t. Go play in fantasy land somewhere if you don't like reality. BTW, what I mentioned were two scenarios that have happened. Not some BS pulled out my rear end like some of the crap posted by people. It's called REALITY.

 

[DaBruinz]

DaBruinz has gone off the deep end with his anti-logic. Oh man he could have travelled a different route or maybe he was getting his kids ready or maybe he fell in a ditch or maybe he has a sleep disorder or or or or...

Learn some damn personal responsibility and accountability and you will understand the point here. You were late, regardless of anything else, be accountable and move the hell on.

Anti-logic. WOW. Nothing like calling REALITY the "anti-logic."

As for personal responsibility and accountability, people like YOU don't give a flying leap about it. You just want someone to treat as your scapegoat because you can't fathom the issue being bigger than AD. You need something to whine and complain about that isn't named Bill Belichik because, god forbid, you call out the coach for his transgressions.

 

[Brady to Brown]

The four of them were sent home. Of course the media are going to be looking to speak to players in the aftermath. I see nothing wrong with anything he said to Mike Reiss. Some people are reading what they want into it. I read it from a neutral standpoint and came to the conclusion that AD was doing what he always does and saying nothing about anything. He always comes across as very uncomfortable and almost irritated when talking to the media. When Reiss mentioned if this would motivate him, I think he was annoyed that his motivation was being questioned by Reiss, I don't think that he was having a go at Belichick, but more attacking Reiss for asking the question.

And I read this whole comment as an attack at the media. He is saying that the media should be concentrating on the Carolina game and this is no big deal. I thought it was very funny, he tells Reiss to make his mind up now how big this is and not be coming back to it as having been a crucial factor in a win or a loss against Carolina on Sunday.


The comment he made about not being able to figure out what Bill thinks or knows is not an attack on Bill, its just honesty. How is he supposed to know what BB is thinking? I mean really, you try and read Belichick, its impossible, he gives nothing away.


I'm not taking either side on this thing. I believe he was punished for not being on time. I don't think he said anything wrong to the media. I think people are making a mountain out of a molehill.

He is not the only one that is very irritated in this thread. I can understand why he is annoyed with some posters. I have to be honest, I think the koolaid drinkers have made this what it is here. I don't think it warrants this sort of attention. I think that AD was trying to make that point in his interview with Reiss.


Anybody can be late, the fact that four of them were late says something about the conditions that day.
The fact that Bill wouldn't accept that says something else too, I think he had to make a stand with all the young players in the team right now. You have to crack the whip when things are not going well on the field. I have no problem with Bill doing what he did. I do have a problem with people on here making a villain out of AD.

Several players called out their team members prior to the whole LATEGATE thing. Brady has a problem with certain members of the team based on his comments after the Miami game. The facts in front of us are Bill told the team after the Miami game to come in early and leave late. AD and several others did not care enough to leave early and get to work on time. Any reason for being late is an excuse in Bills eyes. He's the boss.

I expect there is more to this than we know, Brady was not talking about 4 players being late in his presser as that had not happened yet. Maybe Belichick was waiting for AD to screw up based on actions from earlier in the year. Bottom line is its all speculation. IMO those players were sent home because it was the straw that broke the camel's back. Again this is speculation, just like every other post on this situation.

 

[DaBruinz]

Several players called out their team members prior to the whole LATEGATE thing. Brady has a problem with certain members of the team based on his comments after the Miami game. The facts in front of us are Bill told the team after the Miami game to come in early and leave late. AD and several others did not care enough to leave early and get to work on time. Any reason for being late is an excuse in Bills eyes. He's the boss.

Please provide your proof that they didn't care enough to leave early. So far, I've not seen anything that supports this supposition on your part.

I expect there is more to this than we know, Brady was not talking about 4 players being late in his presser as that had not happened yet. Maybe Belichick was waiting for AD to screw up based on actions from earlier in the year. Bottom line is its all speculation. IMO those players were sent home because it was the straw that broke the camel's back. Again this is speculation, just like every other post on this situation.

Most posts have been speculation. Including my own. Many people blew them out of proportion because it suited their agendas to make AD a scapegoat. So be it.

 

[Brady to Brown]

Please provide your proof that they didn't care enough to leave early. So far, I've not seen anything that supports this supposition on your part.



Most posts have been speculation. Including my own. Many people blew them out of proportion because it suited their agendas to make AD a scapegoat. So be it.

Let me be clear, I don't care if he left at 3:00 am to get to his 8:00 am meeting. I don't care if he left at 7:30 am to get to his 8:00 am meeting. Only one person knows when he left and the bottom line is, it does not matter.

He was late, two days earlier in a similar meeting he was told not be late.

The team is in a slump and Belichick wants everyone to buy in and work harder, as a Patriot fan I have no problem with that.

When my daughter gets home at 11:00 pm after I told her 10:00 pm was her dead line she is punished. The next time she must be home at 9:00 pm.

Rules are rules, I make them for my daughter, Belichick makes them for the Patriots. Why have rules if no one is going to follow them?

Then he said he enjoyed his day off, went home and put his feet up. Can you imagine if you were the boss and sent someone home for being late then the next day you hear him tell a co-worker he enjoyed the day, went home and put his feet up. Does that sound like he learned anything to you?

 

[emoney_33]

He's not talking sh!t in the media. That's just it. As for my hypotheticals, They are perfectly legitimate. You don't like it, that's your tough sh!t. Go play in fantasy land somewhere if you don't like reality. BTW, what I mentioned were two scenarios that have happened. Not some BS pulled out my rear end like some of the crap posted by people. It's called REALITY.

How the hell can you tell me to go play in FANTASY land when you are giving FANTASY hypotheticals? YOu act like your ******* hypotheticals are damn truths. ALL of the evidence points to a lack of care on AD's part, not on some crazy ass unforeseen deadstop traffic or major accident. PERIOD. End of discussion, quit trying to make it more than it is.

You are fighting the wrong fight. If you few that are in love with AD so much see nothing wrong with his comments in the media, then fine you can have your opinion. But it's pretty clear when AD speaks to the media that he does not respect the coaching, and he basically disses the coaching every time he opens his mouth. Even if I agree that some of his disgust is warranted, opening his mouth about it to the media is NOT THE PATRIOT WAY. And like Terry Glenn, I don't give a damn how much skill he has. I rather players on the PATRIOTS that work hard and commit to winning. AD's words to the media does nothing to help this team at all, it only hurts them.

 

[emoney_33]

Anti-logic. WOW. Nothing like calling REALITY the "anti-logic."

As for personal responsibility and accountability, people like YOU don't give a flying leap about it. You just want someone to treat as your scapegoat because you can't fathom the issue being bigger than AD. You need something to whine and complain about that isn't named Bill Belichik because, god forbid, you call out the coach for his transgressions.

WTF are you smoking on? I don't give a flying leap about personal accountability and responsibility? Do you ******* know me? I never once blamed AD for all of the losses or poor season we are having. Why the **** can't you get that through your thick little head that most of us don't like his attitude and would rather not have that on the Patriots DOES NOT ******* MEAN WE BELIEVE HE IS THE REASON FOR EVERYTHING THAT HAS GONE WRONG THIS SEASON!

He's not a damn scapegoat, he's just got an attitude and seemingly a desire issue. I know we are NOT as good with a talent like him compared to our other options, but that's not the damn point, but maybe we could play a little better as a whole in the future with more team comraderie and fire.

I used to have some respect for you around here, but goodness the way you are attacking people on this board as if you know them to defend AD like he's your brother is making me lose a little respect for you.

 

[jmt57]

It's funny the way this is being reported, and therefore perceived, outside of New England. I live outside of Massachusetts in an area with people who grew up as fans of many other teams, and also talk to customers from all over the country. Outside of New England the incident is being reported like Belichick is on a power trip and over-reacting, he's lost control of the team, etc.

Not one person that I talked to this week was aware of the meeting Belichick had with the team Monday about commitment, emphasizing the need to arrive earlier and stay later. When I tell people that I get one of two reactions: either 'oh, that completely changes everything', or 'that can't be true; if that really happened how come nobody is mentioning it?'

Now here's my question: if Adalius Thomas has such a problem with Belichick's decision to send him home, why doesn't he talk to Belichick about it, rather than the media?

 

[NYCPatsFan]

...

Many people blew them out of proportion because it suited their agendas to make AD a scapegoat. So be it.

DaBruinz, did you read the thread that contained Tedy Bruschi's chat? That had a lot in it - not on what AD said or didn't say but on the impact of his recent issues within the locker room and how BB might act. Reading that indicated that AD is more at fault in this issue than being a scapegoat.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Outside of New England the incident is being reported like Belichick is on a power trip and over-reacting, he's lost control of the team, etc.

Does this actually surprise you?

 

[jmt57]

Does this actually surprise you?

No, not at all. I've come to realize that anything at all to do with the Patriots is going to be overstated. Just found it funny that while they feel this story is newsworthy, to the best of my knowledge not one single columnist, sports talk radio host, etc., outside New England brought this piece of information into their discussion. To me it (Belichick talking about commitment with examples of arriving early and staying late in the team meeting Monday) is the most important fact in the whole story.