Gunner needs to sit a game

He's had to do so many things right to make this roster. He had 8 returns in the game, 1 went awry and had no affect on the outcome. He will dissect it over and over in his mind tonight, no need to further penalize him over it.

Best to have him play, he's really good at his job.

I think Gunner knows it was catastrophic and fill in the blank if he fumbles again the rest of the year.


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MassPats38 said:

By that logic, we never would have a Kevin Faulk. He had some rough games in his early years, but somehow turned it around.

Benching a player who needs to be a little crazy for the role is likely the worst thing you can do.

I'll trust BB. Rookies will make mistakes, and learn. I'd rather have him returning than adding one more position at which Jules can take damage.

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We had more than a few wanting to run him out of town ...

Kevin Faulk

Anybody think Faulk is in trouble?

It's a given that you need to secure the ball as a punt returner, so I'm not sure what he really needs to learn or how being benched would teach him how to do it better. That's like saying that benching a kicker will teach him how not to miss kicks.

Simpelton said:

He's a rookie. A work in progress. I do get it. I'm not done with the guy forever. But Gunner Olzewski had a terrible game today and made a big error that lost us 7 points, and I'm sure Bill doesn't take that sort of thing lightly, even in a blowout.

I don't think he needs to be benched forever but he made some mistakes today and I'd sit him a game and let him work on whatever he was struggling with, and give James White or Phillip Dorsett a look as a kick returner until he's in a better spot. If Bill just thinks it's a fluke that Olzewski needs to work out in live games I'd be OK with that, but in that situation I'd give the kid a mental break

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It's funny everyone disagreeing with you when you know if this was a tied playoff game or something he would be person non-grata

farn said:

This board has a major misunderstanding of the word “need”. In another thread, I got two dislikes for stating that next week’s (September) game, NE doesn’t NEED to win.

There are no “needs” this early when you are 3-0 with a lights out D.

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End of the world.... Ghost needs to sit..

Simpelton said:

He's a rookie. A work in progress. I do get it. I'm not done with the guy forever. But Gunner Olzewski had a terrible game today and made a big error that lost us 7 points, and I'm sure Bill doesn't take that sort of thing lightly, even in a blowout.

I don't think he needs to be benched forever but he made some mistakes today and I'd sit him a game and let him work on whatever he was struggling with, and give James White or Phillip Dorsett a look as a kick returner until he's in a better spot. If Bill just thinks it's a fluke that Olzewski needs to work out in live games I'd be OK with that, but in that situation I'd give the kid a mental break

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Actually I thought a firing squad at dawn more appropriate

Family said:

I think he needs a timeout in the corner.

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That's not enough. He needs a sheet detailing his mistake to be signed by his parents and returned to Bill. If he muffs another punt, I expect Bill to have a nice little talk with his folks.

It's about time he owns up to the failure that he is, both as a player and as a human being.

IcyPatriot said:

This thread is rather simple ........
A teaching moment ......

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Reason 8,080 why you are a kinder gentler person than me. Cause the first thing that came to my mind was...

Sometimes it’s embarrassing here. The guy made a physical error. Everyone who returns punts has muffed a catch. Sitting him out so he can think about it and fix it has to be as ignorant of an idea as I have ever heard in my life.

Simpelton said:

I'd rather risk one of our better players than put this kid in position to hurt us again.

Like I said, I'd sit him. Let him learn in practice with no pressure on him for a week. Not the end of the world.

If people disagree, that's fine. One thing I know is that I'm not Bill Belichick, so in Bill we trust.

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He needs to play.

Need to see how he responds.

Once you fall off the bike you need to get back on

Simpelton said:

He's a rookie. A work in progress. I do get it. I'm not done with the guy forever. But Gunner Olzewski had a terrible game today and made a big error that lost us 7 points, and I'm sure Bill doesn't take that sort of thing lightly, even in a blowout.

I don't think he needs to be benched forever but he made some mistakes today and I'd sit him a game and let him work on whatever he was struggling with, and give James White or Phillip Dorsett a look as a kick returner until he's in a better spot. If Bill just thinks it's a fluke that Olzewski needs to work out in live games I'd be OK with that, but in that situation I'd give the kid a mental break

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He definitely takes too much risk receiving punts. If a guy is bearing down on you, ALWAYS take a fair catch. Especially this early in his career.

I think he’s trying to make big plays. And that goes against everything the Patriots are about

AndyJohnson said:

Sometimes it’s embarrassing here. The guy made a physical error. Everyone who returns punts has muffed a catch. Sitting him out so he can think about it and fix it has to be as ignorant of an idea as I have ever heard in my life.

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Unless Bill decides that’s what he needs. If Bill benches any player, I’ve stopped questioning it

Not concerned.... Stidham's Int though? Gunner is fine and will improve as the season progresses.

As I mentioned the GDT, somebody should have told him to take a fair catch once in awhile.
I was worried about that, and sure enough....

I like the kid. He's a fighter.

I don't think he needs punishment, he just needs some patience.

My issue isn’t the knee jerk reaction to his botched punt. I was texting my dad before that happened questioning why he is on the team. He is a punt return specialist, so you’d think he’d be elite if that alone justifies a roster spot. I just don’t think he is fast enough, shifty enough, or has great awareness. What am I missing here?

Gunner has made one mistake, you only had to see his reaction to see how disappointed he was. Up until then he has been very secure and assured at the catch, on the replay it looks like he took his eye off the ball for a second, he’s a rookie! He will learn. After the play look at all the old heads surrounding him. I’d rather have Gunner there than anyone else. I’m not risking Dorsett, Jules or anyone else whose a key starter. BB won’t bench him for that mistake, as it’ll ruin his confidence. He will make it a teaching point to gunner and that will be that. Now if he was doing it regular like Cyrus Jones did then yes I would say sit him or whatever, but he’s done his job apart from one snap.

Ice_Ice_Brady said:

My issue isn’t the knee jerk reaction to his botched punt. I was texting my dad before that happened questioning why he is on the team. He is a punt return specialist, so you’d think he’d be elite if that alone justifies a roster spot. I just don’t think he is fast enough, shifty enough, or has great awareness. What am I missing here?

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You may be right, but we’ll only get one chance to have a Gunner we can root for....

What he needs is a verbal ass ripping from Bill Belichick in the meetings and then he needs to get right back out there next week and play better.

Elijah said:

My favorite GDT post today was definitely the one calling him "cooked" in his third NFL game.

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Yeah, i remember gronk fumbling three times early in his first year, some posters here were screaming for his release. Same with edelman early on he muffed a punt.