For those who wanted Justin Fields

RobertWeathers said:

I really don't get the Fields love

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Name recognition

People who don't watch football outside of highlight reels but recognise the name

DaBruinz said:

The core of this team is a lot better than many want to admit. Are there questions on some players? Sure. But every team has them.

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Agreed on the roster, but the issue is their weakness is at the three most important positions.

I know there is a draft, but Brissett is the QB, and there is no one for LT or #1 WR.

It's like a solid basketball team from players 4-12, but missing a big three.

And the premise of this thread is ridiculous.

The 3rd pick will either make or break this franchise.

Its going to be a QB and Wolfe better know what the hell he is doing.

Username said:

Name recognition

People who don't watch football outside of highlight reels but recognise the name

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It's also like a relationship rebound. You ever have a friend who's dating someone for a while, then they break up, and the next person they date is the polar opposite? Like, they're still pretty awful, but they're such a different kind of awful that the friend is convinced it's going to be better this way?

That's Justin Fields after Mac Jones. They're both not good quarterbacks, but Justin fields is athletic! And fast! And ZOMG did you see that run!? Mac is a statue, this is SO MUCH BETTER! Except it's not. They're both bad, Fields is just bad in a way that is kind of refreshing.

Sam Bam Cunningham said:

(Like Me)
Patriots never stood a chance. He wanted to go to Steelers.
Bears were committed to send him where he wanted to go.
Another example of Wolfe being hamstrung.
I bet Wolfe explored this but was turned away.
Probably Wolfe has done the best he could with limited options due to a weak roster

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Agree completely. The idea that they aren’t trying makes no sense from either a business or competitive standpoint, They are smart not to overpay in free agency, and when you are at the bottom that’s what you need to do sometimes to win battles for players. They need a strong draft, and to play their asses off next season and show they are turning it around, then they will have another full offseason where things should go better in the market.

One-If-By-Sea said:

You previously said that the Pats should give up a 2nd for Fields. Now you say the Pats never stood a chance. Which is it? What you said previously or what you say now?

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Never stood a chance.
He did not want to come here and Bears were not going to trade him somewhere he did not want to go

I did not know he did not want to come here when I suggested the Trade

jimnance said:

Fields = Mac

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Fields can run better than Jones but that's who he is. A RB playing the QB position.

Some of us wanted to trade up for Fields.. say what you will about Jones but at least we didn't have to cough up any assets to pick a guy who is now a backup QB on another team.

RobertWeathers said:

I really don't get the Fields love

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I just think there is a large number of fans who want them to win now, and throw all their resources at it to achieve that. Then there’s another large number of fans who believe they need a big reset, primarily on offense, and the be patient and build a long term contender. That’s the only way I can explain the desire guys like Mayfield and Fields etc…, because neither made sense other than short term options.

RobertWeathers said:

I really don't get the Fields love

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No quarterback is more attractive than the one We haven't watched fail yet. That's probably also heavily involved in the forearms fascination with Rourke. We haven't seen him crashing burn yet so obviously he's better than The guy we've seen fail

Simpelton said:

No quarterback is more attractive than the one We haven't watched fail yet. That's probably also heavily involved in the forearms fascination with Rourke. We haven't seen him crashing burn yet so obviously he's better than The guy we've seen fail

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Note the board excitement for the JAG pieces recently signed.

"Brissett is an upgrade!.................................and a wonderful and caring mentor"

borg said:

Note the board excitement for the JAG pieces recently signed.

"Brissett is an upgrade!.................................and a wonderful and caring mentor"

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He IS an upgrade, he's a massive upgrade over what was left of Mac after we broke him, and he's got a proven track record as a good fill-in guy who can cover the job while the rookie understudies him and gets ready to take over. Or, more often in Brissett's own case, when the starter goes down and you need a guy to go out there and play out the string without hurting you.

why won't people get it into their heads that Brissett isn't in our long term plans? We're on year 1 of at least a 3 year rebuild, and if we didn't have Brissett we'd have to use Bailey Zappe to do the same thing. I don't hate Zappe as much as many here but would you care to sit there and tell me that Brissett is NOT an upgrade over Zappe?

so yeah we got a below average starter to replace our objectively terrible starter at less than 1/3 the money of an actual starter, and you're sitting here whining about it when it objectively made the team better.

And for God's sake, it's not like we needed the cap space right now anyway!

The Seven Most Important Takeaways From the First Week of NFL Free Agency

I'm happy he is not here. One of the worst QB's in the league. Even Tommy Hodson 2.0 was better.

Last season, Fields finished 28th out of 32 qualifying quarterbacks in dropback success rate. He was 27th in expected points added per pass play. If we zoom out to the last three seasons and look at quarterbacks with at least 25 starts, Fields ranks 28th out of 29 in success rate and 27th in EPA per pass play (ahead of only Davis Mills and Zach Wilson). Over the past three seasons, Fields has the highest sack rate (12.4 percent) in the NFL, and his 38 fumbles during that span are the most in the NFL and five more than any other player.

RobertWeathers said:

I really don't get the Fields love

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People get in love with the athleticism. You'd think after watching Tom Brady for 20 years, they'd know there's more to being a great QB in the NFL than being a great athlete.

Steve102 said:

People get in love with the athleticism. You'd think after watching Tom Brady for 20 years, they'd know there's more to being a great QB in the NFL than being a great athlete.

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This ^

Passing and protecting the football is everything at the QB position. Teams have other people to run the ball.

Defenses can easily shutdown running QB’s in the playoffs where defenses are superior to the regular season. At which point they better be able to pass from the pocket.

Casual fans overrate running at the QB position. A great QB barely has to run, and don’t tell me the league is changing… it’s been changing for three decades since Randall Cunningham and Mike Vick entered the league… it’s a load of sht.

Passing is the job.

Sam Bam Cunningham said:

(Like Me)
Patriots never stood a chance. He wanted to go to Steelers.
Bears were committed to send him where he wanted to go.
Another example of Wolfe being hamstrung.
I bet Wolfe explored this but was turned away.
Probably Wolfe has done the best he could with limited options due to a weak roster

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The Patriots never had a chance because they didn't have the slightest interest in him.

Wozzy said:

This ^

Passing and protecting the football is everything at the QB position. Teams have other people to run the ball.

Defenses can easily shutdown running QB’s in the playoffs where defenses are superior to the regular season. At which point they better be able to pass from the pocket.

Casual fans overrate running at the QB position. A great QB barely has to run, and don’t tell me the league is changing… it’s been changing for three decades since Randall Cunningham and Mike Vick entered the league… it’s a load of sht.

Passing is the job.

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You don’t need a running QB, but you do need one that can extend plays, and pick up a 3rd down when everything breaks down, especially on 3rd downs. Mahomes isn’t a running Qb, but he’s able to do what they need him to in those situations.

Simpelton said:

Brissett IS an upgrade, he's a massive upgrade over what was left of Mac

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It puzzles me why folks believe Brissett will seamlessly ease into the Patriots offense and instantly be an upgrade over arguably the worst QB room of the NFL last season.

Let's review Brissett's first year performances with each of 3 teams he previously joined.
Like this NE situation....new teams, unfamiliar rosters..........JAG results

2017 Colts (year 2 of his career)
15 starts, 4-11 record, 58% passer, 13 passing TDs, 7 INTs

2021 Miami (year 6)
5 starts (11 appearances), 2-3 record, 62% passer, 5 passing TDs, 4 INTs

2022 Cleveland (year 7)
11 starts (16 appearances) 4-7 record, 64% passer, 12 passing TDs, 6 INTs
-------------------------------------------
Cumulative first year stat highlights:
Record 10-21
0.97 passing TDs/game

Brissett's lone positive is he doesn't throw picks.
Yippee
Who needs points
Tell the punter to keep his leg fresh

He doesn't throw TDs either............or win

And setting these stats aside and instead relying on the eye test.......
Like Mac, Brissett does not possess a single physical tool necessary to elevate an NFL offense.
Lack of QB tools has become a foundation principal in NE since 2020.

Simpelton said:

he's got a proven track record as a good fill-in guy

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Proven record of substandard

Simpelton said:

why won't people get it into their heads that Brissett isn't in our long term plans?

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Not a single person believes Brissett is NE's long term plan.
Hint: The 1 year contract is a dead give away....as is his lack of discernible skill.

Simpelton said:

We're on year 1 of at least a 3 year rebuild

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Correction: Year 5 lasting at least till year 7 based on the Simpleton timeline.

Simpelton said:

, and if we didn't have Brissett we'd have to use Bailey Zappe

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Or, if the team had any ambition, sign a vet QB at least one notch above the worst FA QB in this year's market.

Simpelton said:

I don't hate Zappe as much as many here but would you care to sit there and tell me that Brissett is NOT an upgrade over Zappe?

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Zappe is 4-4 in 8 starts with 11 passing TDs
Is the goal scoring and winning....or is it minimizing INTs at the expense of offensive production.

Simpelton said:

so yeah we got a below average starter

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Correction: NE hired a sub-pedestrian backup to be starter.

Simpelton said:

to replace our objectively terrible starter at less than 1/3 the money of an actual starter

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Is this how we're keeping score now?

Simpelton said:

And for God's sake, it's not like we needed the cap space right now anyway!

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Weren't you just celebrating having a budget terrible starter?

borg said:

It puzzles me why folks believe Brissett will seamlessly ease into the Patriots offense and instantly be an upgrade over arguably the worst QB room of the NFL last season.

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THAT puzzles you? I mean of all the things that might strain the limits of human credulity the idea that a mediocre QB is an upgrade over, in your own words, the literal worst QB room in the NFL -- THAT's what you struggle to believe?

Really, your gripe is actually that he's not enough of an upgrade for your liking. That's not unfair, but pretending that that means Brissett isn't an upgrade at all is either ignorant and dishonest, I'll give you the privilege of deciding which one.

Simpelton said:

That's not unfair, but pretending that that means Brissett isn't an upgrade at all is either ignorant and dishonest, I'll give you the privilege of deciding which one.

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'Or' was probably the word you were meaning to use there. Although I'm not sure why. By letting his predetermined narrative always drive the bus the poster you were responding to routinely displays both traits

Steve102 said:

People get in love with the athleticism. You'd think after watching Tom Brady for 20 years, they'd know there's more to being a great QB in the NFL than being a great athlete.

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You would think after 20 years with the GOAT QB and GOAT HC/GM we might have learned a thing or two about how to win football games.

Furthermore putrid QB play made this team a 4-13 club when average QB play makes it around .500