TheBostonStraggler
Experienced Starter w/First Big Contract
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- May 21, 2006
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Re: Brandon Spikes news: late for team meeting, was going to be released; could've pl
Fair enough (I appreciate the link, Fence). While I wouldn't call it a confirmed endorsement of the story, Reiss did appear to tacitly accept it (at least that's my take). What I'd now be curious to see is if Spikes is at the Practice facility throughout this week's practice at the facility. I assume if this story is true Spikes is persona non grata on BB's side, and Spikes is probably happy to go home and start rehab in (Florida is it?).
I hadn't read the story from Mort until now. As a rule I avoid reading stories like this due to how frequently it's mere yellow journalism born of the Boston Sports Media Slug Brigade. But Mort's story and the sense I was getting from reading this thread don't necessarily match up (surprising??).
First, in Mort's story I do not see that Spikes "could have played". He only references Spikes has been "hobbled all season" but still had been playing. We know nothing of whether his knee issue had become worse after the Buffalo game (in which Spikes was markedly and visibly hobbling, and appeared to be a negative presence in the game presumably because he was so hobbled).
Second, it also does not say Spikes was IR'd for an individual act. missing Friday's meeting. It says BB "already had fined him for multiple incidents" and the IRing was based on a pattern, with Friday being the latest -- and that was coupled with the fact that his knee is/has been a problem.
What I am having trouble computing is the indirect claim by Mort (with him cleverly not outright saying it) that BB was going to cut Spikes, yet BB-Spikes sat down and mutually agreed to an IR. BB would cut a player who is supposedly healthy enough to play, is a proven starter, is a proven run tackler?? And just hand him over to our upcoming opponent(s)? That just can't be a serious belief.
The other thing that struck me was the picture from Spikes car coupled with Mort saying that all the fining/incidents, including Friday's, "the linebacker believes <are> practically explained". IF (a big if) all of this is true, I'll bet the mortgage payment Spikes knew the ramifications for not being where he was supposed to be on Friday, and he was paving his "practical explanation" with the picture. I'll tell you this, I was a supervisor of warehouse crew in my former life. The rule of thumb is when you have a guy who is late/doesn't show up/similar stuff on multiple occasions but he always says there are "practical explanations" for everyone, expect the meaning of "practical" to get entertaining.
Lastly, it's disappointing to hear the suggestion that Spikes has not bought into the Patriot Way......and I mean the real Patriot Way -- where you're rabid about winning and you have the highest professional approach toward your preparation to winning/responsibilities. 4 Years under BB and around Patriot Way players like Vince and Nink and McCourty and Mankins et al, and he just didn't swing into the fold. Too bad because his sometimes nastiness can have a positive effect at times. But bye bye to Spikes if this is true, that he is having to be fined to try to get him to that high professional approach to preparation. As if we needed another lesson in it, 2013 is showing how crucial it is to have players approaching their preparation The Patriot Way.
Fair enough (I appreciate the link, Fence). While I wouldn't call it a confirmed endorsement of the story, Reiss did appear to tacitly accept it (at least that's my take). What I'd now be curious to see is if Spikes is at the Practice facility throughout this week's practice at the facility. I assume if this story is true Spikes is persona non grata on BB's side, and Spikes is probably happy to go home and start rehab in (Florida is it?).
I hadn't read the story from Mort until now. As a rule I avoid reading stories like this due to how frequently it's mere yellow journalism born of the Boston Sports Media Slug Brigade. But Mort's story and the sense I was getting from reading this thread don't necessarily match up (surprising??).
First, in Mort's story I do not see that Spikes "could have played". He only references Spikes has been "hobbled all season" but still had been playing. We know nothing of whether his knee issue had become worse after the Buffalo game (in which Spikes was markedly and visibly hobbling, and appeared to be a negative presence in the game presumably because he was so hobbled).
Second, it also does not say Spikes was IR'd for an individual act. missing Friday's meeting. It says BB "already had fined him for multiple incidents" and the IRing was based on a pattern, with Friday being the latest -- and that was coupled with the fact that his knee is/has been a problem.
What I am having trouble computing is the indirect claim by Mort (with him cleverly not outright saying it) that BB was going to cut Spikes, yet BB-Spikes sat down and mutually agreed to an IR. BB would cut a player who is supposedly healthy enough to play, is a proven starter, is a proven run tackler?? And just hand him over to our upcoming opponent(s)? That just can't be a serious belief.
The other thing that struck me was the picture from Spikes car coupled with Mort saying that all the fining/incidents, including Friday's, "the linebacker believes <are> practically explained". IF (a big if) all of this is true, I'll bet the mortgage payment Spikes knew the ramifications for not being where he was supposed to be on Friday, and he was paving his "practical explanation" with the picture. I'll tell you this, I was a supervisor of warehouse crew in my former life. The rule of thumb is when you have a guy who is late/doesn't show up/similar stuff on multiple occasions but he always says there are "practical explanations" for everyone, expect the meaning of "practical" to get entertaining.
Lastly, it's disappointing to hear the suggestion that Spikes has not bought into the Patriot Way......and I mean the real Patriot Way -- where you're rabid about winning and you have the highest professional approach toward your preparation to winning/responsibilities. 4 Years under BB and around Patriot Way players like Vince and Nink and McCourty and Mankins et al, and he just didn't swing into the fold. Too bad because his sometimes nastiness can have a positive effect at times. But bye bye to Spikes if this is true, that he is having to be fined to try to get him to that high professional approach to preparation. As if we needed another lesson in it, 2013 is showing how crucial it is to have players approaching their preparation The Patriot Way.
