Browns @ Pats won't be until the 2nd half of the season

[JMC00]

 

[BelichickFan]

You have a 50-50 chance of being right but this "league is against the Patriots" stuff is stupid. There's zero evidence that the league schedules, refs, anything different for the Patriots.

 

[Joey007]

You have a 50-50 chance of being right but this "league is against the Patriots" stuff is stupid. There's zero evidence that the league schedules, refs, anything different for the Patriots.

I’m not sure what happens in the league offices.

All I know is we look like petulant babies whenever we do this whining. We’ve won SIX Super Bowls. We are not the ones to complain about anything at this point.

 

[SBLIII]

I hope you are wrong. Hunt is a Patriots killer.

 

[Froob]

I bet it's the opener. It's an easy choice.

 

[sb1]

Pats by 20 no matter when it’s played.

 

[Joey007]

I bet it's the opener. It's an easy choice.

It’d be crazy ratings.

I think Patriots fatigue is really setting in, but everyone wants to see the Browns right now. It’s the perfect storyline.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

You have a 50-50 chance of being right but this "league is against the Patriots" stuff is stupid. There's zero evidence that the league schedules, refs, anything different for the Patriots.

I’m not sure what happens in the league offices.

All I know is we look like petulant babies whenever we do this whining. We’ve won SIX Super Bowls. We are not the ones to complain about anything at this point.

But Deflategate is a glaring exception to the idea the Patriots are treated equally, and probably Spygate. When it comes to these “scandals” there is clear, undeniable evidence of not just bias but active participation by the league office to bury them. In other areas, reffing, scheduling, etc., no evidence.

 

[Simpelton]

With the way the Browns have loaded up, assuming Baker Mayfield doesn't take a step backwards Pats-Browns could be the AFCCG matchup.

 

[JMC00]

You have a 50-50 chance of being right but this "league is against the Patriots" stuff is stupid. There's zero evidence that the league schedules, refs, anything different for the Patriots.

Except this isn't a "league vs Patriots" thing. This is a "nfl trying to get the best game" thing

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Little bit of a leap to assume the Browns game won’t happen until the 2nd half. The Browns still have a damn good team and would make a compelling Thursday night opener.

 

[Simpelton]

But Deflategate is a glaring exception to the idea the Patriots are treated equally, and probably Spygate. When it comes to these “scandals” there is clear, undeniable evidence of not just bias but active participation by the league office to bury them. In other areas, reffing, scheduling, etc., no evidence.

That's directives coming from rival owners, has nothing to do with officiating or scheduling. I've never had a particular issue with either of those, the rest of the league thinks that the refs are biased in our favor, which is pretty good evidence that they're one part of the NFL infrastructure that at least isn't overtly biased against us.

For the record -- bring on Cleveland. I always want this team to play the best possible competition. Anything else dulls the team's competitive edge. I want this team to have the toughest schedule possible, because that's the best way to get the team ready for #7. So I'll expect the team to take the Browns on anytime they show up, and as a fan of the game I want that matchup, won't be the first young hotshot to try to take the reins of the league from TB12, won't be the last either.

Other good watches that I'm looking forward to are Mahomes vs Mayfield and of course, the AFCCG rematch. All should be quality football, Mahomes impressed me in the prior 2 matchups, both of which were of the highest possible quality. he's not ready to do it yet but I honestly think he's the one who will eventually kick Brady off the pedestal and make it his own.

 

[Joey007]

But Deflategate is a glaring exception to the idea the Patriots are treated equally, and probably Spygate. When it comes to these “scandals” there is clear, undeniable evidence of not just bias but active participation by the league office to bury them. In other areas, reffing, scheduling, etc., no evidence.

Very fair. The NFL reacts overly harsh to many scandals, and always reacted to anything about us the worst since we’re the Patriots.

Deflategate is what it is now. It was a terrible by all means, but it’s way in the past now. Most of the other conspiracy theories about refs, scheduling, pretty much stem from that.

 

[venecol]

I hope it's TRUE, Pats are better in the second half and Hunt will still be getting game ready if say games 9-10. Anyway game is at Gillette so not sure it matters much when they play.

 

[Wheelman]

$$$$$ over morality. The owners are sending the message that if you have value on the field, it don't matter if you kick a woman while she's down...

 

[Froob]

Why is it eight games? Isn't the punishment for domestic violence incidents six?

 

[Steve102]

Who cares?

They play who they play. BB and staff will scheme based on who's playing that week. Hand wringing in March that the league and the world is against them... stop. Six freakin' rings. The league is against them? The fans hate them, and us? Let me cry while I put the DVD in for the 2018 season recap.

Six rings. Six.

 

[jah]

But Deflategate is a glaring exception to the idea the Patriots are treated equally, and probably Spygate. When it comes to these “scandals” there is clear, undeniable evidence of not just bias but active participation by the league office to bury them. In other areas, reffing, scheduling, etc., no evidence.

The NFL is biased when it comes to sanctions against the Patriots organization in events of alleged wrongdoing.

The NFL has never, does not currently, and will never use the scheduling formula (more of an optimization problem than anything subjective) as a weapon against the Patriots.

 

[Triumph]

David vs Goliath

You can bet your axx is going to be prime time and I would not be shocked if the Browns won. They damn near took down the Saints at their house.

 

[Triumph]

Hunt was going to receive 16 games until Bob Kraft got caught at the hand relief store.