Breer disrespects Patriots by saying they can't use the disrespect card

[BradyManny]

Q: Bill Simmons says people are sleeping on the Patriots/Tom Brady this year. Do you think people are underestimating how good they'll be next year?
Thursday July 22, 2010 12:19 Greasy Window
12:21

Albert Breer:
No ... I think that's a little over-the-top. Most folks pick them to go to the playoffs, and for a team that hasn't won a postseason game in two years, I think that's justified. The "disrespect" card is a little ridiculous.

Discuss.

I disagree with him. I do respect his opinion and this title is purposely convoluted/ironic and not an indictment of him - but I do think he's off-base in this instance. One needs to take a look at the circumstances surrounding the last two seasons.

Expectations should be high again this year for the Patriots. I expect a run at the SB, just as we have every year since Brady took over.

 

[BlueThunder]

Put down the Kool Aid and step away for a look....

LOTS of new faces...POTENTIAL...yes


Not sure anyone has an idea how good/bad they will be....

They could finish anywhere from 1-3 in the AFC East....

Having Brady,Moss and Welker makes them dangerous, but unless 2nd year guys make a leap, and a rookie or two contributes nicely..along with a couple of vets.....they could easily finish 8-8. ( or maybe 10+ wins)

Have to trust that BB has the right guys with the right chemistry and leadership...

Go Pats !

 

[Sivy]

Put down the Kool Aid and step away for a look....

LOTS of new faces...POTENTIAL...yes


Not sure anyone has an idea how good/bad they will be....

They could finish anywhere from 1-3 in the AFC East....

Having Brady,Moss and Welker makes them dangerous, but unless 2nd year guys make a leap, and a rookie or two contributes nicely..along with a couple of vets.....they could easily finish 8-8. ( or maybe 10+ wins)

Have to trust that BB has the right guys with the right chemistry and leadership...

Go Pats !

ITs kind of stupid when people say "put down the kool aid" when they say they expect a superbowl run from the patritos this year..I expect nothing BUT a superbowl this year..why? beacuse of 2 reasons, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick..thats all this team needs to already be favorites to go to it, and win it all. Sorry, not every year is as clear cut as 2007. This isnt a team, with new players that has guys like Trent Edwards, or Mark Sanzchez leading their team, they have one of, if not THE BEST qb in the history of the nfl. Give me Tom Brady, and WR from my home towns flag football league and I'd expect them to make a superbowl run.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Discuss.

I disagree with him. I do respect his opinion and this title is purposely convoluted/ironic and not an indictment of him - but I do think he's off-base in this instance. One needs to take a look at the circumstances surrounding the last two seasons.

Expectations should be high again this year for the Patriots. I expect a run at the SB, just as we have every year since Brady took over.

My expectations are not quite as high

We are going to rely on a decent number of rookies in IMPORTANT positions to help this team win games and without seeing them to play one down yet,I hardly think we can put this team in a Super Bowl run at this time.

Like the other person said,We can be as easily 3rd in this division as we could be 1st - I hate to have to worry about more than 1 rookie making an impact but if we are to go anywhere in 2010 it will have to be that way,this team has gotten younger and more inexperienced in big games very fast in the past 2 years.

As far as just having Belichick and Brady on the team making them SB worthy is not enough IMO,It takes quite a bit more than those 2 to go the distance.

Rookies will play a big role as to how far this team goes in 2010,especially on the defensive side

 

[Deus Irae]

The Patriots won 10 games last season, and they got waxed by the Ravens. The team didn't add anyone of "star quality" via free agency or trade, and they drafted a bunch of players who'll probably need time to develop. Welker is currently an unknown, nobody knows what Holt/Tate will be able to do to help take pressure off of Moss/Welker/Edelman, and Mankins is roping cattle.

I don't know why anyone would think that expectations should be particularly high nationwide.


Also, claiming that they've made a Super Bowl run every year since Brady took over is incorrect.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I don't respect his opinion much at all because like the majority of mediots he is totally unaccountable and he hasn't been around long enough to have earned it. He did some interesting amateurish work on gmae breakdowns off of tv film when he was a mere cub blogger for the Metro West back in 2006. But so did Box and Pats1 at the same time. His act didn't play well in Dallas. His stint at The Sporting News was even briefer. Then he landed at the Globe, which used to stand for something decades ago but not so much in the internet age, as a so-called NFL expert...pahleeeese.

His pick for the division is the Doofins... based seemingly on their 9-7 record under injury induced duress last season and anticipating their QB will emerge and their HC and new DC apparently will too. I suppose that will depend in part on how many of their players remain un-suspended by the time the season unfolds... Personally I think this could be the year Tuna departs, lockout or not, since he's getting paid either way and this is his third season of a four year deal - which is generally his last because he gets bored win or lose at that juncture.

He thinks Rex has earned the trust of the FO after showing what a great motivator he was last season...his apparent genius fully displayed when telling the team they were mathmatically eliminated before the Bungles and Dolts decided to lay down in the last two weeks they vaulted into the playoffs against...the same teams.

He just doesn't see where the choker rap against Norv and the Superfrauds comes from... Assumes Manning's team will be there, as well as the flavor of the month thanks to us Ravens.

Readers need to realize when it comes to Boston mediots offering their opinions, by and large you could gain as much Patriots insight questioning a telephone pole or NFL football enlightenment throwing darts at a board.

 

[BlueThunder]

I hope the Pats make the SB also....but how did it work out last season?

Maybe with a healthy Brady,Moss and Welker for the full season.

Pats should be a top 5-6 team if all the pieces work.....nobody can guarantee all pieces fit with any team....


Can they stop the run this year? Can they pressure the QB ?? Will Butler make the leap from rookie to sophomore?

Can McCourty,Spikes,Gronk.Hernandez, Cunningham, Price make the leap from college to NFL and contribute?

Can Tate and McKenzie make an impact?

Lots of ???

 

[Ron Sellers]

The Jets being so over hyped is probably what is leading some to think the Pats are being overlooked. So in relationship to the Jets, I suppose you could say the Pats are not getting the attention they deserve - but you could say that about all thirty other NFL teams too.

I would say the amount of publicity the Pats are getting, how they are being predicted to do, and what the perceptions are about them is about right. There's plenty of reason for fans to be hopeful, and at the same time there are plenty of unaswered questions also. Declaring them favorites to return to the Super Bowl is not very objective and probably overly homerish. Opposing fans who gleefully declare the Pats to be dead are equally unobjective and just as guilty of wishful thinking rather than rational thought.

 

[Rob0729]

First, the Pats were playing the disrespect card when they were considered one of the best team in the league and winning Super Bowls. So I don't get why they can't use it now.

Second, Breer's logic is faulty. Talking about not winning a playoff game in the last two years is weak. The Pats went 11-5 without Brady in 2008 and might have won the Super Bowl for all we know if it wasn't for a fluke season that occurs about every 20 years where a team that has 11 wins don't make the playoffs.

I say if it works for them, let them play the disrespect card.

 

[BradyManny]

Also, claiming that they've made a Super Bowl run every year since Brady took over is incorrect.

Sorry, my post should have been more clear - my expectations every year since Brady has taken over is that they will make a run at the SB. I wasn't trying to imply they've been in the mix for the SB every year.

Though, if I think about it, I'd say only 2 seasons where Brady was healthy was SB not really within sights (02, 09). We made it to at least the AFCCG in all other seasons, save for one, and that was the god-awful Denver game. Had we beaten them, I think we could've won it all. We were no more flawed than the Steelers team that ended up winning what should go down as one of the most lackluster SBs in history.

 

[MassPats38]

I think that the best that can be said of any team is that the team will be competitive and in the hunt for a championship. The Patriots have done that, year in and year out, ever since 2001. It would be disrespectful to claim they are not a team in that hunt.

As far as sports and favorites go, the media and most fans have a short memory, only dating back to the prior season. 2007 stats and accomplishment mean little in 2009 and even less in 2010. The core of that 2007 team that remains is older, and much of that team has moved on. The disrespect card only works if you aren't appreciated for your accomplishments and others are held in high regard lacking similar accomplishments (like regard for the pre-2006 Colts). Right now, the accomplishments in terms of playoff wins and titles are ancient history in NFL terms to everyone but Patriots fans.

Frankly, I would prefer to hear less of the disrespect card and more of the whimper of opponents flattened like roadkill after underestimating the Pats on the road to the title. At this point, there are a ton of question marks in new additions that first must be answered. I will be happy to see the Pats competing every game and see how that plays out in the end.

 

[hgelpke]

The disrespect card was always Rodney's fuel. Who even cares at this point? There are a lot of ifs on this team right now so who can say how good the team is at this point. Do they have playoff potential? The the rookies step up, they do. Right now, we're not a dynasty that people forget about. We're a team in transition.

 

[RayClay]

I'm very happy, because I've been looking for an infusion of talent on the defense for years. Nevertheless, when you're in the predicting business, you have to rate proven veterans playing well first.

We have a lot of question marks, but a lot of talent too. We'll likely start off inconsistent, but end up great, which is more the pattern of our Super bowl years, than recent years.

I could see some bandwagoneers jumping off the cliff early season as our new receivers and defense get worked in. However, that's what cliffs are for.

 

[reflexblue]

I'm very happy, because I've been looking for an infusion of talent on the defense for years. Nevertheless, when you're in the predicting business, you have to rate proven veterans playing well first.

We have a lot of question marks, but a lot of talent too. We'll likely start off inconsistent, but end up great, which is more the pattern of our Super bowl years, than recent years.

I could see some bandwagoneers jumping off the cliff early season as our new receivers and defense get worked in. However, that's what cliffs are for.

I agree just wait till the first pre-season loss, the sky Will be falling, the Pats will Never win another game...ever.

 

[RyanP421]

The Patriots won 10 games last season, and they got waxed by the Ravens. The team didn't add anyone of "star quality" via free agency or trade, and they drafted a bunch of players who'll probably need time to develop. Welker is currently an unknown, nobody knows what Holt/Tate will be able to do to help take pressure off of Moss/Welker/Edelman, and Mankins is roping cattle.

I don't know why anyone would think that expectations should be particularly high nationwide.


Also, claiming that they've made a Super Bowl run every year since Brady took over is incorrect.

So for the Patriots to have improved their team from last year to this year, they had to add "star quality"? what a dumb thing to say.

The good young players from last year gained experience and WILL be better this year. They had a hell of a draft. Addressed the 3rd WR problem the Pats faced all of last year. To say they arent improved because they didnt add stars is laughable AT BEST.

Man, for someone with so many posts, you would think that some of them wouldnt be pure garbage...I've yet to find one.

 

[RyanP421]

People that say there are lots of questions to be answered may be right, but it's a convenient way to avoid disappointment by not having high hopes for the team you root for.

EVERY. SINGLE. TEAM. in the NFL has lots of questions that won't be answered until the season starts so to count the Pats out for that reason is just as dumb as calling them early SB favorites.

 

[Deus Irae]

So for the Patriots to have improved their team from last year to this year, they had to add "star quality"? what a dumb thing to say.

The good young players from last year gained experience and WILL be better this year. They had a hell of a draft. Addressed the 3rd WR problem the Pats faced all of last year. To say they arent improved because they didnt add stars is laughable AT BEST.

Man, for someone with so many posts, you would think that some of them wouldnt be pure garbage...I've yet to find one.

1.) Perhaps if you were reading posts for content instead of looking for reasons to attack anything non-homer, you'd be able to grasp the meaning of the posts. The issue raised by the O.P. was about expectations, and it was in reference to media expectations. I was not "How does RyanP421 feel the Patriots will do this year?". The team's free agent additions, such as Gerard Warren, Damione Lewis, Torry Holt and Alge Crumpler aren't going to set toes tingling across the country. Nor, as older players who are all on the back 9 in their careers, should they.

2.) "The good young players from last year" are countered by "the aging older players from last year" every season. We don't know if Butler will be significantly better, just as we don't know if, for example, Neal, will be significantly worse.

3.) I didn't say that the team was, or was not, improved, as you should know since you quoted my post. I This is an excellent example of what I'm referring to when I mention reading for content.

I don't know why anyone would think that expectations should be particularly high nationwide.

Vive la difference.

4.) I'd have thought that the Reiss thread would have helped your wisdom when it comes to you making this sort of silly post. Sadly, that obviously was not the case.

You're a homer. That's fine for you. Most people around the country aren't Patriots homers. Media, even local media, will generally not be getting paid to serve as Patriots homers. Nationwide expectations will not be based upon the ridiculously biased rantings of Ryan the Patriots homer. That's just one of life's realities.

 

[PYPER]

Also, claiming that they've made a Super Bowl run every year since Brady took over is incorrect.

You're right. That guy was way off base. They only made five trips to the AFC Championship or better in seven seasons with Brady before his injury.

Then Brady came back from his injury last season and they missed again. So now he's only five for eight. Clearly they don't make a Super Bowl run "every" year.

);p


(please note sarcasm)

 

[Deus Irae]

You're right. That guy was way off base. They only made five trips to the AFC Championship or better in seven seasons with Brady before his injury.

Then Brady came back from his injury last season and they missed again. So now he's only five for eight. Clearly they don't make a Super Bowl run "every" year.

);p


(please note sarcasm)

The poster was able to clarify his position and acknowledge an error while reinforcing his point. Also, getting smoked in the wild card round isn't really "making a Super Bowl run", unless your definition of "Super Bowl run" is simply making the playoffs.

 

[Nikolai]

I take this year's expectations with a grain of salt. Everybody seems to be lauding the Jets and Ravens because they squawk the loudest. Even if some of you downers want to exclude the Pats, the fact that there is almost no mention of the Colts tells me the groupthink isn't working this year...again.