Patriots Pregame Thread Pre Game Thread - Pats @ Bills

[jimnance]

You realize they don't work in the ICU? I mean they can't do anything about his condition. He seems to be making slight progress so hopefully that will continue or accelerate. But either way, preparing to play the game to the best of their ability or sitting around waiting on every minor update isn't go to change anything for Hamlin. He's in the care of medical professionals. Football players play football. It'll probably go them some good returning to their normal game-preparations as much as possible.

And that might well be the decision the Bills will make. But it's their decision,not anybody else's.
The news today was slightly encouraging. But I think they need to see even more stabilization before they decide to play.
Fans wanting their Sunday football fix are irrelevant. So is the $ issue. I'm good with whatever Bills decide. Just extend the season long as you need to.

 

[archstanton543]

And that might well be the decision the Bills will make. But it's their decision,not anybody else's.
The news today was slightly encouraging. But I think they need to see even more stabilization before they decide to play.
Fans wanting their Sunday football fix are irrelevant. So is the $ issue. I'm good with whatever Bills decide. Just extend the season long as you need to.

The League sets up the games. It's not feasible to keep extending the season.

The Bills are scheduled to play the Pats on Sunday. If they can't meet that obligation, they have the right to forfeit.

 

[TheRainMaker]

You realize they don't work in the ICU? I mean they can't do anything about his condition. He seems to be making slight progress so hopefully that will continue or accelerate. But either way, preparing to play the game to the best of their ability or sitting around waiting on every minor update isn't go to change anything for Hamlin. He's in the care of medical professionals. Football players play football. It'll probably go them some good returning to their normal game-preparations as much as possible.

It's for the same reason they didn't resume playing Monday Night. This is only a damn football game that isn't going anywhere. They can push it back until we get more clarity on Hamlin's situation. If the players around the NFL stand by the Bills and don't want to play either, they aren't playing. They hold all the power in this situation and Goodell can't do a damn thing about it.

I don't think many of you are grasping how much of a PR nightmare this could be for the NFL if he passes away. They were already dealing with enough scrutiny for concussions, now this. We'll see what the players end up doing.

 

[RobertWeathers]

The League sets up the games. It's not feasible to keep extending the season.

The Bills are scheduled to play the Pats on Sunday. If they can't meet that obligation, they have the right to forfeit.

Why isn't it feasible? All they need to do is push everything a week and the sacrifice would be the week between the CCGs and the SB.

Whether they should and the justifying supporting reasons are the real question.

 

[jimnance]

The League sets up the games. It's not feasible to keep extending the season.

The Bills are scheduled to play the Pats on Sunday. If they can't meet that obligation, they have the right to forfeit.

Wrong. As usual.LMAO. It's not your decision. You're obviously not paying attention to what the NFL has been saying. They are leaving the decision mostly up to the Bills. If you don't like it,go cry in your Cheeries.

 

[Calhoun44]

Its great that people are being sensitive about this situation, but if the Bills choose not to play next week, thats a decision they make for themselves. Bereavement leave, even for family members, is very rarely more than 5 days. We've seen many NFL players play within days of their parent/sibling dying. Thats not to say that that should be the expectation. In an ideal world, everyone should be free to take as much time as they need. Unfortunately, thats just not possible in a world of schedules and responsibilities.

I would get behind this idea if they didn't need to practice leading up to the game. The other thing that no one is mentioning (at least I haven't seen it) is that this is a very physical and complex game, if the Bills are not practicing their assignments and completely focused on those assignments during the game then there is more risk of injury to players. If the Bills don't feel ready to play, they should take the L and use the time off to mentally and physically recharge. It is probably in their best interest to forfeit the game(s) and just focus on the playoffs.

 

[sb1]

intentionally?

Don’t know if this was intentional but probably should be a flag.

Suggs launching himself at Brady’s surgically repaired knee- that was intentional.

 

[moosekill]

Too f'n bad

Go f yourself. This is their damn job. It sucks to have someone seriously injured but the rest of the world moves on with their lives. This isn’t their child or wife or parent, he is someone they work and travel with. Almost everyone on this board would be back at work the next day if one of their fellow workers was INJURED! He isn’t dead he is in the hospital. Some of you hold these athletes to some special god like place. A guy at work had a heart attack a few years ago. He lived but almost died. Work didn’t close down

 

[The Trickster]

Too f'n bad

Relax
Take a pill if you need to.
People (including, but limited to, you) are entitled to their opinions.

 

[crawhammer]

It's for the same reason they didn't resume playing Monday Night. This is only a damn football game that isn't going anywhere. They can push it back until we get more clarity on Hamlin's situation. If the players around the NFL stand by the Bills and don't want to play either, they aren't playing. They hold all the power in this situation and Goodell can't do a damn thing about it.

I don't think many of you are grasping how much of a PR nightmare this could be for the NFL if he passes away. They were already dealing with enough scrutiny for concussions, now this. We'll see what the players end up doing.

Now every team is going sit out the weekend? At least. Maybe longer if they don't get enough positive feedback on Hamlin's condition. This I believe is now taking it too far. I agree Buffalo should be able to determine if they're emotionally able to play football this Sunday but they should have that answer by now. They can't directly impact Hamlin's condition by practicing, playing or doing nothing. Like everyone keeps repeating, Hamlin's condition is THE priority, but whether or not the Bills and Patriots play on Sunday isn't going to effect Hamlin's progress. If they're still too distraught, understandably, then call the game now and come up with plan B. Or get back to as much of your normal preparations as possible and aim toward getting back on the field this Sunday. Again, if Hamlin passes between now and gameday, then absolutely cancel the game, totally understandable.

 

[jimnance]

Relax
Take a pill if you need to.
People (including, but limited to, you) are entitled to their opinions.

Oh,I am relaxed.
Im not the one whining about not getting to watch my team play this Sunday.
Like I said before,I'm good with whatever they decide.
Sounds like you need that pill.

 

[archstanton543]

Why isn't it feasible? All they need to do is push everything a week and the sacrifice would be the week between the CCGs and the SB.

Whether they should and the justifying supporting reasons are the real question.

Money, for one (quite a bit of it too).

The other 31 teams, another.

It sucks that that happened but the world should not stop because of it.

 

[XLIX]

It's for the same reason they didn't resume playing Monday Night. This is only a damn football game that isn't going anywhere.

Those "damn football games" provide a financial living for a large number of people - and I don't mean just the rich folk. I am talking everyday people who work at the stadiums, for the networks, cops doing security, etc, etc.

They can push it back until we get more clarity on Hamlin's situation. If the players around the NFL stand by the Bills and don't want to play either, they aren't playing. They hold all the power in this situation and Goodell can't do a damn thing about it.

While I am sure the rank and file NFL player is very saddened by what happened, and sincerely hoping Hamlin gets better, I just don't see any movement whatsoever on behalf of the players on other teams to not play their games this weekend. I haven't heard a single player come out and say the League shouldn't be playing.

And while you say "Goodell can't do a damn thing about it" I have to think that if all the players decided not to play this weekend, they wouldn't get their game checks.... so it isn't exactly a consequence-free decision....

 

[RobertWeathers]

Money, for one (quite a bit of it too).

The other 31 teams, another.

It sucks that that happened but the world should not stop because of it.

There is plenty in the NFL and team's coffers to make those involved whole.

Money always has another day to be made.

 

[sambam94]

crazy how 1 injured player can cause such an uproar. How many youths were shot dead in Chicago this past weekend? How many are praying for their loved ones or donating some $$$? This country has gone bat crazy. Hamlin is still alive people.

 

[Nikolai]

I see the sentiment that people in the military crack on, even after seeing the death of our fellow soldiers. And yes, that's true. It's how things are done...at war. But it still costs something, even if you don't feel it right away. It's a price worth paying when you're talking about war and probable risk to life and limb if you fail to perform your duties.

That's not what's on the line here and it's a bit reckless to discount these things. We've got enough people walking around with mental issues borne out of grim necessity. I am not so certain we need to generate more for a football game.

 

[Nikolai]

crazy how 1 injured player can cause such an uproar. How many youths were shot dead in Chicago this past weekend? How many are praying for their loved ones or donating some $$$? This country has gone bat crazy. Hamlin is still alive people.

That scene in Dark Knight with the Joker and Harvey Dent in the hospital is tragically accurate

 

[Jlaff]

I don't know about that. I love our chances in this one. Buffalo's defense has some key injuries this season, especially on the backend. Their entire secondary is in critical condition. Josh Allen has still yet to defeat a healthy NE defense. Unlike last year's Wild Card round game, he will have to deal with a healthy Barmore and Judon. If we can get some guys back and healthy in the secondary, I expect an easy win.

Lol, seriously?

 

[archstanton543]

That's not what's on the line here and it's a bit reckless to discount these things. We've got enough people walking around with mental issues borne out of grim necessity. I am not so certain we need to generate more for a football game.

We all have to come to grips with our own mortality. It sucks that they had to witness a guy having a cardiac event but they should have it together enough to soldier on. When people say "take as much time as you need", they expect you to get yourself together in a reasonable amount of time. You can't keep postponing games indefinitely. When are they going to play the Super Bowl? Baseball's Opening Day?

And as another poster said, he's still alive and in stable condition.

 

[Boomer B]

And that might well be the decision the Bills will make. But it's their decision,not anybody else's.
The news today was slightly encouraging. But I think they need to see even more stabilization before they decide to play.
Fans wanting their Sunday football fix are irrelevant. So is the $ issue. I'm good with whatever Bills decide. Just extend the season long as you need to.

There's more than just the Buffalo players that are affected by postponing the game. There are employees at the stadium, the parking lots, surrounding businesses, restaurants, etc.. that are scheduled to work and need money to pay their bills and provide for their families. There are people who paid good money for tickets who travel and have paid for hotels and flights.

What happened to Hamlin sucks, but life doesn't stop. He's still alive. My wife lost her brother way to young a few months ago. She got 3 days bereavement and then went back to work.