Gunner needs to sit a game

[TommyD4207]

There aren't nearly enough red Xs on the OP, for this nonsense.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

It's a lot tougher to return punts against NFL players, as opposed to UPS drivers.

True, but he did have punt returns of 20 and 15 yards against the Steelers.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

You guys still talking about this?

I thought I settled this with you all by page 3?

 

[luuked]

Or because he looked better than average in the preseason, particularly for someone with limited experience and who offers other special team value.

This doesn't absolve him of being average so far (I'd say he's actually been below average to this point), nor does it diminish the clear desire to keep Edelman safe. But "desperation" is several steps too far.

?????????????

What ? Apart from one bad moment that unfortunately cost the team 7 points he looked damn good so far given where he is as a football player. Decisive, not dancing around or retreating, dynamic..

Seriously exactly what was below average so far ? Maybe the issue is you comparing his returns against third stringers in the preseason compared to how he looks against a NFL level ST group ?

 

[Oswlek]

?????????????

What ? Apart from one bad moment that unfortunately cost the team 7 points he looked damn good so far given where he is as a football player. Decisive, not dancing around or retreating, dynamic..

Seriously exactly what was below average so far ? Maybe the issue is you comparing his returns against third stringers in the preseason compared to how he looks against a NFL level ST group ?

Decision making with when to return, taking some unnecessary shots, one fumble in 20 tries, slipped on one return that helps suppress the average

"Below average" /= "bad" nor is it a commentary on his skill set or how I think his next returns will be. It's just what I think about this particular sample. IMO, an average PR could have accomplished the same results without the fumble or the kill shots.

Trust me, I'm much closer to being president of Gunner's fanclub than I am being his critic.

 

[Sicilian]

Just for fun, here's JEII his rookie season and BB picking on Welker:

I love that the assistant coach was coming over to ask him a serious question about the game, and Belichick gives him the verbal stiff-arm because he's asking Ernie Adams who played before Lou Gehrig so he could use it to dig on Welker

 

[Tb12goesinya]

OP's premise isn't as bad as 48 disagrees would indicate lol. But the fact is NEP needs him to perform in his role right now. Edelman should not be returning kicks early in the season at this stage in his career. He had a bad game but he made the team for a reason, if it becomes a trend then they sign someone else down the road.

 

[Clonamery]

OP's premise isn't as bad as 48 disagrees would indicate lol.

Yeah, it is...even BB disagreed publicly.

 

[Tb12goesinya]

Yeah, it is...even BB disagreed publicly.

No it's not. Undrafted free agents who muff a punt and dont show much flash otherwise would tend to deserve an inactive. BUT this is a case of KR/PR not being a depth position and we need him to handle the role.

If a RB can fumble and see the bench or jonas gray can rush for 200+ and be cast away( I know I know not a perfect analogy). And if Brandon Bolden can be inactive some games, then certainly Gunner can be inactive after a bad game. It's clearly a case of return specialist being a non depth position and would put him in a situation to be cut or play. Play is the right call.

 

[TommyD4207]

OP's premise isn't as bad as 48 disagrees would indicate lol. But the fact is NEP needs him to perform in his role right now. Edelman should not be returning kicks early in the season at this stage in his career. He had a bad game but he made the team for a reason, if it becomes a trend then they sign someone else down the road.

Should be 148.

Belichick put him back in on the very next punt return. He had other punt returners on the sideline, and chose to put in Gunner.

It's a stupid premise.

 

[aluminum seats]

Looks like Bill made up an injury for Gunner to give him the break the OP suggested. Looks like a lot of you owe him an apology.

 

[Ring 6]

OP's premise isn't as bad as 48 disagrees would indicate lol. But the fact is NEP needs him to perform in his role right now. Edelman should not be returning kicks early in the season at this stage in his career. He had a bad game but he made the team for a reason, if it becomes a trend then they sign someone else down the road.

Yes it was exactly as bad as 48 disagrees would indicate.
Cut him would be a more logical (still wrong) post. Sitting a guy out a game because he muffed a punt is just totally ignorant to the game of football.

 

[TinhWoodhead]

Should be 148.

Belichick put him back in on the very next punt return. He had other punt returners on the sideline, and chose to put in Gunner.

It's a stupid premise.

its for confident reason obviously. BB didn’t chose the knee jerk reaction att.

 

[Simpelton]

Looks like Bill made up an injury for Gunner to give him the break the OP suggested. Looks like a lot of you owe him an apology.

We all know how that's actually gonna work out.

 

[Zuma]

I don't see Gunner lacking in confidence. He wants to do a great job at PR and should have fair-catched a few instead of trying to do to much. That's a learning opportunity.

 

[Simpelton]

There aren't nearly enough red Xs on the OP, for this nonsense.

What nonsense? That a guy who is entirely replaceable be given a game off after a terrible outing?

I get disagreeing with me and I'm fine with that but the level of backlash was ridiculous. If BB did sit him this afternoon nearly every one of you would have been praising it as a brilliant move.

Honestly you guys are acting like I said he should never play again. The groupthink here is similtaneously amazing and pathetic.

Oh, and it's not like our only other option on PR is Edelman. If I recall right Rex Burkhead has PR experience and has looked pretty good at it in the past. I believe Bolden also has PR experience, although not that recently. Sure, we've got a specialist PR guy, but if he's having trouble getting it done, we DO have alternatives

 

[holyredeemer]

No it's not. Undrafted free agents who muff a punt and dont show much flash otherwise would tend to deserve an inactive. BUT this is a case of KR/PR not being a depth position and we need him to handle the role.

If a RB can fumble and see the bench or jonas gray can rush for 200+ and be cast away( I know I know not a perfect analogy). And if Brandon Bolden can be inactive some games, then certainly Gunner can be inactive after a bad game. It's clearly a case of return specialist being a non depth position and would put him in a situation to be cut or play. Play is the right call.

But you’re wrong. He has shown plenty, as his stats have proven. Top half of the league in PR avg. Not bad at all. He had one muffed punt in a blow out win, big ****ing deal. Edelman almost blew the win in KC last year on a PR. Where he was drafted doesn’t matter. What matters is that he plays several ST’s roles and can play DB and WR in a pinch if need be.

 

[holyredeemer]

What nonsense? That a guy who is entirely replaceable be given a game off after a terrible outing?

I get disagreeing with me and I'm fine with that but the level of backlash was ridiculous. If BB did sit him this afternoon nearly every one of you would have been praising it as a brilliant move.

Honestly you guys are acting like I said he should never play again. The groupthink here is similtaneously amazing and pathetic.

Oh, and it's not like our only other option on PR is Edelman. If I recall right Rex Burkhead has PR experience and has looked pretty good at it in the past. I believe Bolden also has PR experience, although not that recently. Sure, we've got a specialist PR guy, but if he's having trouble getting it done, we DO have alternatives

I don’t think it was so much group think as you would like to believe. You made a post that came across as a knee jerk reaction and it was an absurd idea. You got slammed with disagrees because of it.

 

[moosekill]

I think Gunners main problem was trying to run back too many. He has to learn when to fair catch and when to run the ball back. Against the Jets he was trying to run back some he shouldn’t have. If you get blown up enough you are going to fumble the ball eventually. Hopefully he learned that and will be fine from now on. I also don’t think being a punt returner, even an average one, is as easy as some here think it is.

 

[patfanken]

Fifty of ANYTHING is notable on this site. Fifty "disagrees" is one step greater. Simp, take pride in that "achievement" because no one has come close to it before. But above all, DON'T take it personal. It was just an OPINION, though at least 50 people (so far) think it was a bad one. I am among them, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't have made it. I've seen far worse. I think we all have.

But just remember this. Gunner didn't have a "bad game", he had a bad PLAY. The results might have be tragic, but it still was only ONE bad play. Edelman has had 12 such plays over the years. It happens.