NFL's "fake" season 2020

[XLIX]

Brady chose to leave. That’s a fact.

No, it really isn't "a fact". They could have signed him to a long term deal at any point over the past several years to keep him here.

By the way this has to be the most bizarre statement ever.
why would the facts about brady be “delusional”? Why would anyone want to be deluded?
Why would someone sleep or not sleep at night depending upon whether the qb chose to leave or was forced out?
It sounds like you have some kind of agenda you are trying to push for some unknown reason

Ah yes, the old Andy Johnson personal insults get underway.

You want facts? Here's your facts: They could have signed him to a long term deal at any point over the past several years to keep him here. All they had to do was show the guy a little respect and he would still be our QB, and we wouldn't be 2-4.

 

[Patriot Missile]

If we lose next week, we're in trouble. Oh well, we have great memories. I can deal with a bad season

That’s the problem. I don’t think a lot of fans can deal with a bad season. We all knew this was gonna come someday.

Hence, save the “ I can take losing, but not this way” reply. Bad football is bad football and thats what bad teams do.

 

[Doctor DDS]

BB rebuilds the team every year and has been brilliant up until this year balancing the now with the future from both a talent and cap perspective. I really think that due to a couple weak drafts and after the AB move and subsequent cap hit he looked at the team this off season and realized the better long term play would be a more substantial rebuild. He probably felt that he had enough talent to compete for a playoff spot but did not want to do significant cap manipulations to postpone the inevitable. With a major league wide cap reduction in play if the Pats can make 3 or 4 good moves (no easy task) they can jump right back into serious contention. A lot hinges on getting that next QB and hopefully this draft can produce one.

 

[Ring 6]

The players I’d move on from, specifically :

Gilmore
Thuney

That is based both on salary and the likelihood they return to the team in 2021.

I’d listen to offers for :

JMac
DMac
Edelman

don’t think they’d bring much in return (DMac would, perhaps). They are approaching mid 30s.

Why? Aren’t we a better team with Gilmore and thuney?
why trade Gilmore and then turn around and sign another free agent who isn’t as good to replace him. Are you giving up on next year? The year after?

What do you expect to get for a player on a franchise tag half way through the season? A 6th? We would be weakening the team did no real reason. Thato assuming you find a team that can take his cap hit.

Same with the McCourtys and Edelman. You aren’t getting anything for them, why weaken the team for no reason?

I would rather see this team fight to right the ship and worst case find positives to build in for next year. There are no positives to build on by dumping 4 of your best players.

This team should be focusing on improving and beating the bills not getting worse.

 

[Ring 6]

No, it really isn't "a fact". They could have signed him to a long term deal at any point over the past several years to keep him here.

[/QUOTE]
They did. Many times. They could have again this offseason, he demanded a no tag clause and he chose to leave.

Ah yes, the old Andy Johnson personal insults get underway.

You want facts? Here's your facts: They could have signed him to a long term deal at any point over the past several years to keep him here. All they had to do was show the guy a little respect and he would still be our QB, and we wouldn't be 2-4.

The f#ck? He left that’s a fact. As far as the rest YOU called stating that fact “delusional” and imply people make delusional statements about whether it is the coach or the players fault when a player leaves as a free agent “so they can sleep”.
I called that bizarre because I cannot fathom at any level how “deluding yourself” about why a player left “helps you sleep”. Someone who thinks that clearly had an agenda, as does someone who tries to mask that agenda by calling a discussion about your view point a personal attack. You seem to be on tilt here. We can stop the conversation if it makes you feel better.

 

[PatsDeb]

I think the team just stinks. Other teams adapted.

Unfortunately, I agree with this statement. We're lucky if everyone considers it a fake year, because we are woefully bad. I'm not sure what BB and Kraft were thinking back when they didn't give Brady the two year deal he wanted, didn't replace Gronk, and didn't replace whomever they employ to evaluate WR talent. It is shocking what we are rolling out there on Sundays right now on offense.

 

[Bill Lee]

Actually what I wrote was he had no plan or the plan sucked. Take your choice.

Sorry not sorry, but I don't subscribe to blind homerism excuse making. I have no problem calling out my own team when they make a mistake and Lord knows, they've been making plenty of 'em.

The Patriots are 4 games worse than the same point last year. The Bucs are 3 games better than the same point last year. Some people think this is just a coincidence.

And the opposite of blind homerism is childish impatience, unrealistic expectations, and bandwagoning. Congrats, you tick all the boxes!

Hurray, you rode the Patriots wave while it was the thing to do, then you find a team like Tampa that has finally got its act together after years of suckage and have jumped on their bandwagon as gracefully as a stripper sheds her underwear.

Being good for more than a year or two is hard. Lucky for you two years from now some other team will be the bandwagon to hop on, and you'll get to be all righteous and take shots at the fans who chose to stick with Tampa while you go after the next cheap thrill.

You want facts? Here's your facts: They could have signed him to a long term deal at any point over the past several years to keep him here. All they had to do was show the guy a little respect and he would still be our QB, and we wouldn't be 2-4.

These aren't facts, these are suppositions.

 

[Kontradiction]

How many starters/key reserve contributors have they lost to the pandemic for the season and individually for games, including quarterback? I'm sure you know.

Outside of Chung and HT, who have we lost of any consequence? Cannon was not good last year and is on his last legs and Bolden is a STer. Furthermore, we were just celebrating this OL 2 weeks ago as being among the best in the league. Vitale may have been an improvement on Johnson, but that’s not a certainty. The problem on offense is the skill position players, which are the worst in the league, and a QB who is no longer what he once was. Chung has effectively been replaced by the combo of Dugger/Wilson/JJ Williams when needed. HT hasn’t been replaced, but he isn’t the reason this team sucks right now. The issues are on the offensive side of the ball. You’re using Covid as a convenient excuse. Covid isn’t the reason the team is 2-4. You can point that finger straight at the head coach. That’s what happens when you whiff on one high pick after another for 7 years and lose the security blanket that covered your ass for two decades.

 

[aluminum seats]

I agree with the OP in the sense that this season wasn't inspiring the same interest from me, even before it started. It's such a weird time in all sports, and that coupled with the 20-year run at a minimum becoming a very different thing with Brady leaving...felt like, eh, not a bad time to let it ride, see where we land in the draft, etc.

I differ on the excuse for play in that while it obviously has an effect, as others have said they're all in the same boat. I would have been behind not paying Thuney (unless there are long-term plans for him), going with Stidham, etc...not "tanking," but just seeing what happens and either be pleasantly surprised or position themselves well in the draft. Not sure what this bizarre hybrid team is supposed to be.

Oh, and Nick Cesario can leave anytime. I'm starting to think Harry's 8 catch, 122 yard game might not be arriving anytime soon. Season stats, maybe.

 

[XLIX]

And the opposite of blind homerism is childish impatience, unrealistic expectations, and bandwagoning. Congrats, you tick all the boxes!

What unrealistic expectations? I said they'd go 6-10 this year. Sounds like my expectations were very realistic.

This is a team that let the greatest QB in the history of the NFL - one who is clearly still capable of performing at an MVP caliber level - walk away when they could have kept him with a long term deal. I am not going to apologize for criticizing the team for that decision, especially when you consider what we are currently left with.

 

[XLIX]

They did. Many times. They could have again this offseason, he demanded a no tag clause and he chose to leave.

The f#ck? He left that’s a fact. As far as the rest YOU called stating that fact “delusional” and imply people make delusional statements about whether it is the coach or the players fault when a player leaves as a free agent “so they can sleep”.
I called that bizarre because I cannot fathom at any level how “deluding yourself” about why a player left “helps you sleep”. Someone who thinks that clearly had an agenda, as does someone who tries to mask that agenda by calling a discussion about your view point a personal attack. You seem to be on tilt here. We can stop the conversation if it makes you feel better.

Looks like I triggered Andy again.... all too easy....

 

[Ring 6]

Looks like I triggered Andy again.... all too easy....

You didn’t trigger anyone you made stupid statements. Which of course you know which is why you are deflecting.

 

[Bill Lee]

What unrealistic expectations? I said they'd go 6-10 this year. Sounds like my expectations were very realistic.

This is a team that let the greatest QB in the history of the NFL - one who is clearly still capable of performing at an MVP caliber level - walk away when they could have kept him with a long term deal. I am not going to apologize for criticizing the team for that decision, especially when you consider what we are currently left with.

You are left with... The Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The only thing less dignified than jumping on another team's bandwagon is to dump all over your old team as you do so. Go enjoy Tommy and the Creamsicles while the rest of us get on with living through the bottoming out and upcoming reboot of the Patriots.

 

[Kontradiction]

You didn’t trigger anyone you made stupid statements. Which of course you know which is why you are deflecting.

What do you think of Fields as a pro prospect? You watch him as much as anyone else here. I like his movement in the pocket and he looks like he can make all the throws, but I’m not sure how much of that is on OSU’s weapons and how much of it is the competition in the Big 10.

 

[Ring 6]

What do you think of Fields as a pro prospect? You watch him as much as anyone else here. I like his movement in the pocket and he looks like he can make all the throws, but I’m not sure how much of that is on OSU’s weapons and how much of it is the competition in the Big 10.

I like him as a Buckeye but don’t see him making it on the next level. He would have to be a run first guy in an offense like Jackson. OSUs system puts as little pressure on the qb throwing as possible. They set up the passing game to have guys wide open, run on 3rd down and use the run to create the passing game.

 

[Triumph]

You are left with... The Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The only thing less dignified than jumping on another team's bandwagon is to dump all over your old team as you do so. Go enjoy Tommy and the Creamsicles while the rest of us get on with living through the bottoming out and upcoming reboot of the Patriots.

Its going to be a very long time before any reboot happens with no QB.

If the Jets land Trevor Lawrence, its likely that NE will have the worst QB in the AFCE.

 

[moosekill]

So you can't name any names. I didn't think so.

This is simply a stupid argument, I can list 10 people who might or might not want Brady to beat BB if they played. How the heck am I supposed to know. I can list 10 people who certainly seem more excited with the Bucks then they are with the Patriots.

 

[JetFan79]

From the cancellation of preseason games to key players opting out and beyond, I knew this would be a season not to be taken seriously. Roster and lineup holes from guys testing positive for Covid-19, teams getting shut down and shut out from practicing, games rescheduled, travel altered, team meetings held virtually ... Also no fans in most stadiums where recorded cheers and boos go over the PA -- pretty much EVERYTHING about this season seems slipshod or half-assed. And the Patriots have become poster boys for why pro football doesn't work well during a pandemic. Would New England still be 2-4 without the virus? Maybe, but I doubt it.

What I do know, speaking as a 27-year season ticket holder, is that too many pandemic-related compromises have hampered this team and the league overall to where we more or less have a "fake" season happening. It just ain't the real McCoy out there regardless how the NFL dresses things up for TV. I suppose it's better than nothing but the passion I normally feel isn't there -- not because the Patriots aren't doing great, that was pretty much expected. More because the virus and accompanying institutional complications have forced them to do it with one hand tied behind their collective back.

So, whatever happens the rest of this season and until some semblance of "normalcy" returns, the Pats get a pass from me.

Yup. Jets get a pass from me as well.

 

[moosekill]

Unfortunately, I agree with this statement. We're lucky if everyone considers it a fake year, because we are woefully bad. I'm not sure what BB and Kraft were thinking back when they didn't give Brady the two year deal he wanted, didn't replace Gronk, and didn't replace whomever they employ to evaluate WR talent. It is shocking what we are rolling out there on Sundays right now on offense.

BB and Kraft didn't give Brady the extension because eventually Tom was going to leave. Maybe this year, maybe next year, maybe in two years, but eventually he was going to leave. Was it better to do it a year to early or a year too late? I don't know. Eventually Brady is going to retire, if he had stayed with the Pats for 2 more years we would have been going through this all again then.

 

[moosekill]

Give it up will you? Why is it you cant stand the fact that a lot of people still root for Brady? Buc fans? No one and I mean no one here would be a Bucs fan if our Goat wasnt on that team....and in a weird way his success so far this year has made the Pats woes a little more bearable.

He isn't our goat, he is the Greatest Quarterback of all times who plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, not the Patriots. Why is it hard for you to understand that? I wish him no ill will, wish he was still our QB but since he isn't I don't care about him.