Patriots Pregame Thread Week 18: Dolphins at Patriots, 4:25 on Fox

[TheRainMaker]

Ted Johnson had and has an interesting take on this that during his playing days the organization purposely kept players from Reaching their incentives and he said last week he expected the Pats to limit Diggs in the Jets game so he would not reach his incentives, guess he was wrong. if the Pats purposely did this, well, wow.

I would've liked for him to have gone into detail over which players specifically and which era. Was it the Parcells era, Carroll era, BB era or all of them? Samuel is the other player that said BB was trying to handcuff him. The story he told of celebrating an INT during the 2006 Bears game and let Bill know about it was something else.

 

[raduray]

When do we find out who's at practice and their status this week?

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Manyana is good enough for me

 

[FCB02062]

It's early yet, but Weatherbug says lows "around" 15 once the sun goes disappears. Get up two touchdowns in the first quarter and Miami will have the buses running

 

[Huckleberry1]

I would've liked for him to have gone into detail over which players specifically and which era. Was it the Parcells era, Carroll era, BB era or all of them? Samuel is the other player that said BB was trying to handcuff him. The story he told of celebrating an INT during the 2006 Bears game and let Bill know about it was something else.

I'm pretty sure it's Belichick Johnson holds a grudge against. Johnson had a concussion and Belichick made him practice full tilt to " see if he could hold up" in coming games. This was in the days when there was no concussion protocol and most coaches didn't treat it as seriously as they should have. Johnson ended up in really bad shape for years after this, and most likely holds Belichick responsible for it, although we have never known if Johnson was pushing to get back on the field, or if Belichick pushed him into it. I don't think Johnson's grudge pertains to Vrabel's Patriots.

 

[Huckleberry1]

When do we find out who's at practice and their status this week?

Diggs has been playing with this hanging over him, he denies it completely, and the Patriots have made it clear they support him fully. I have no idea if it happened as she claimed, but I don't see any way she can win in court given the description given to the authorities.

 

[obgod3]

I would've liked for him to have gone into detail over which players specifically and which era. Was it the Parcells era, Carroll era, BB era or all of them? Samuel is the other player that said BB was trying to handcuff him. The story he told of celebrating an INT during the 2006 Bears game and let Bill know about it was something else.

Oh he did, it was on the live afternoon show, he was talking the BB days for certain. Now I dont know that it did or didnt happen I was just saying he was talking about it on several shows and anytime the Diggs incentives came up in conversation. He said during one of the shows last week that Diggs would not get the incentive against the Jets because the Pats dont want him to. Not the first time he has gone down this path this year. It sounds like sour milk every time.

 

[mgteich]

I am not sure that Vrabel is going to sit the starters with several key players with bonus incentives within reach on Sunday. I think Vrabel is the type of coach who will allow them to try to get these incentives.

SO, you think that Vrabel is money first and the good of the team second? Nonsense!

 

[Gumby]

Ugh. I hate 5:15/25 games (That's what they are in my time zone since I live in the future!)

Piker; you are further in my past….

I hate 22:15 (10:15 pm) games even more.

 

[Rob0729]

SO, you think that Vrabel is money first and the good of the team second? Nonsense!

Never said that. He may not feel that sitting players is the best thing for the team anyway. But he let Diggs get his incentive last week when he could have sit him a series earlier.

He will balance the player incentive with other things. But he will give them a shot to get them. Doesn't mean he won't shut them down at half time if the Chargers are down by three TDs and playing like crap and the players cannot get their incentives in the first drive of the second quarter.

 

[jmt57]

I just heard an interesting stat about Dolphins QB Quinn Ewers.

Last week he threw for 172 yards against Tampa Bay.

Of those 172 yards, 109 were yards after the catch.

If not for very shoddy tacking by the Bucs, he would have passed for less than 100 yards.

 

[mgteich]

I guess this should be simple for Vrabel.

We want to be the #3 seed and play LAC at home instead of BUF.
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BTW, I think the "reward" for LAC beating DEN is to play them again the next week, in Denver.
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Let's see if BUF can find a way to lose and get to play us.

For BUF, that is preferred to playing in Jacksonville with temps in the 70's against a well-rested JAX team playing at home.

 

[Stu Pidassle]

Oh he did, it was on the live afternoon show, he was talking the BB days for certain. Now I dont know that it did or didnt happen I was just saying he was talking about it on several shows and anytime the Diggs incentives came up in conversation. He said during one of the shows last week that Diggs would not get the incentive against the Jets because the Pats dont want him to. Not the first time he has gone down this path this year. It sounds like sour milk every time.

Ted Johnson is so biased against the Pats, especially BB, that he loses all objectivity on a regular basis. He is so bad that I find myself listening to Felger. The only way the WEEI afternoon show could be worse is if they brought in Asante Samuel as regular part of the show.

 

[BTTA]

Ted Johnson is so biased against the Pats, especially BB, that he loses all objectivity on a regular basis. He is so bad that I find myself listening to Felger. The only way the WEEI afternoon show could be worse is if they brought in Asante Samuel as regular part of the show.

I agree but give him a pass because of the years of inescapable misery that he went through with the brain trauma. It really can't be overstated how horrific that is. If he's still mad, I get it. If he still has impulse control issues with that anger, I get it.

 

[DaBruinz]

Patriots make a small change on the PS:
Released RB Jashaun Corbin
Re-Signed TE Marshall Lang.

No news on Williams, Campbell, Battle, or Jaimes yet.

 

[p8ryts]

I guess this should be simple for Vrabel.

We want to be the #3 seed and play LAC at home instead of BUF.
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BTW, I think the "reward" for LAC beating DEN is to play them again the next week, in Denver.
=========
Let's see if BUF can find a way to lose and get to play us.

For BUF, that is preferred to playing in Jacksonville with temps in the 70's against a well-rested JAX team playing at home.

We play who we play. In the AFC, I don't see any team we can't beat or any team that can't beat us.

 

[mgteich]

We play who we play. In the AFC, I don't see any team we can't beat or any team that can't beat us.

Is it totally unimportant to consider whether to rest players for future games?
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Our Week 19 opponents LAC and BUF will likely be resting several players this week.

Should we ignore that fact and focus on doing all we can to win this game?

 

[mgteich]

I think one reality is that the league and the TV stations would like to see Maye play this game so as to increase ratings for the game. They can give Kraft a call if necessary.
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As far as what is best for the team, I suspect that is for Maye, Diggs, Henry, Henderson and Stevenson to play a series or two and then let the ret play the rest of the game, at least on Offense.

We can perhaps afford to lose the game but not get one of those players injured. In any case, we probably still beat MIA.

 

[n1997y]

We want to be the #3 seed and play LAC at home instead of BUF.

WTF? Why do we want a worse seeding? Give up home field advantage?

In the playoffs you need to be able to beat any opponent. Trying to pick your opponent is a waste of time, especially if you give up HFA to do it.

 

[Uptown]