Felger: 2016 Patriots not an "all-time Pats team", just winning during a "bad year for league"

[A Defiant Goose]

Maybe it's just me but I feel like if we had Chandler Jones and Jamie Collins still on the team, people would be more willing to give the defense respect than they are now. Names like Van Noy and Mclellin and Mingo are not sexy. Doesn't sound like a scary team. If they win their next game they will most certainly be an all-time Pats team

 

[doesntmatter1]

Its simple really. Last year wasn't a down year for the league and the 2015 pats were good enough to win it all. If you agree with that, then it is also safe to assume most would agree that this year's team is significantly better than last years therefore this is a great Pats team regardless of who we played.

 

[Gwedd]

I dunno. I watch Felger's lips moving, but instead of words, all I hear is one long, rasping, farting sound.

 

[XLIX]

This year, there were two teams with a cumulative DVOA > 20%:
Patriots - 25.3%
Cowboys - 21%

Last year there were 7 teams over 20% (2016 Pats would've ranked 4th, if we could hypothetically insert them into that year and not disrupt DVOA data*).
In 2014 there were 5 teams (2016 Pats would've ranked 3rd).
In 2013 there were 3 teams. (2016 Pats would've ranked 3rd).
In 2012 there were 6 teams (2016 Pats would've ranked 6th).

Here's a list of 12+ regular season win teams over the past several years.

- In 2016, we had 1 team with 14 wins, 1 with 13 wins and 2 with 12 wins
- In 2015 we had 1 team with 15, 1 with 13 and 3 with 12. Who was the dominant team that year? The 15-1 Panthers? How'd that work out for them?
- In 2014, there were 5 teams with 12 wins (not a single team with more than that). Who's the dominant team when 5 teams all have 12 wins?
- In 2013, there were 2 with 13 wins and 3 with 12.
- In 2012, there were 2 with 13 and 2 with 12. - none of whom made the Super Bowl

Just not seeing anything this year that is ridiculously out of whack from previous years, and I won't care what DVOA says until they start assigning playoff seedings based on DVOA.

The Patriots finished #1 in points allowed, but they just didn't feel like a wrecking crew defense.

- the 2015 Broncos felt like a dominant defense (they had a -22.1% in adj. defensive DVOA, #1 in the NFL).

2016 NEP points allowed: 250
2015 Denver points allowed: 296

I sure am glad our coaches are more concerned with silly things like points allowed instead of the serious stuff like DVOA.

 

[PatsBoy12]

Maybe it's just me but I feel like if we had Chandler Jones and Jamie Collins still on the team, people would be more willing to give the defense respect than they are now. Names like Van Noy and Mclellin and Mingo are not sexy. Doesn't sound like a scary team. If they win their next game they will most certainly be an all-time Pats team

Any team that wins a SB should be considered an all time team when you think about it... they all do go down in history because there can only be one per year. The only exception would be 2007 because the Pats still made history that year, just not the ultimate history we (and they) had hoped.

 

[GodBrady]

I sure am glad our coaches are more concerned with silly things like points allowed instead of the serious stuff like DVOA.

So, to borrow a phrase from your playbook, you're just going to "ignore the stuff that doesn't fit your pre-conceived notions".

 

[JJR4884]

I gave this some thought and well kinda true, our team is great but the AFC was pretty bad compared to recent years. I think this is a better description of the 2011 team that I think many felt was not a great team. This team has great offense and defense.

Agreed. In no way would I discredit the Pats or any other team that did well this year, but there have been a ton of big name injuries and a lot of good teams that fell off. Regardless of how the season ended, lets look at it from start to finish.

Steelers and Packers, typical powerhouses, had a terrible disgusting start to the season
Baltimore didn't play well
Indy has been on a constant decline
Seattle is just one of the many teams that were truly effected with injuries
Carolina fell off a cliff
Denver fell apart

A quarter of the league mentioned above had some serious issues at some point in the season, if not throughout the entire season. When you look at the mediocre teams and the crap teams, well nothing really changed for them. They played as expected.

The problem here is that more teams went on a decline than the teams that went on an incline (DAL/MIA for instance did great)

This was a weak season for the NFL with exception for a couple teams rather than say closer to a dozen. Lets not forget. This league tries to be built for equality where every team is as close as possible to 8-8 for the season. I wouldn't be surprised if this season had a closer median to a .500 record compared to others.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Felger owes his career and livelihood to the athletes he routinely disrespects .... and I think it explains why he hasn't interviewed any in years. They dont like him, and want nothing to do with him.

He's lame, and the Boston media should be embarrassed that he has such a large platform, despite knowing so little about the sports he covers

"I dont know what the Falcons do that makes them special. Atlanta is boring, and it's not worth my time even trying to discuss them"

WTF?????

The problem is, Felger-and others-are presented to the world as sports analysts with substantive points and opinions, and they are taken seriously by everybody. A simple solution would be to introduce the show as follows: "And Now, Useless Idiotic Ranting About Sports For Four Hours!"

I do not think there is a disclaimer at the start, such as "The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect ComCast SportsNet's views"

There should be one that says: "Warning: The Following Program Consists Of Inane, Inflamatory Blathering For Entertainment Purposes Only. Any Attempt to Discern Truth Or Logic From It Will Be Futile"

 

[JarOfMayo51]

The problem is, Felger-and others-are presented to the world as sports analysts with substantive points and opinions, and they are taken seriously by everybody. A simple solution would be to introduce the show as follows: "And Now, Useless Idiotic Ranting About Sports For Four Hours!"

I do not think there is a disclaimer at the start, such as "The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect ComCast SportsNet's views"

There should be one that says: "Warning: The Following Program Consists Of Inane, Inflamatory Blathering For Entertainment Purposes Only. Any Attempt to Discern Truth Or Logic From It Will Be Futile"

Yea and its funny because as soon as football is over, Felger will magically become a know-it-all expert on Basketball... and then Hockey.. and then baseball.. etc.. In his world, he knows more about each sport than the Bill Belichick equivalent for each of the sports.

Bottom line, he will continue this type of charade until people stop tuning in and stop posting his drivel in threads like this that hit 6+ pages

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

He rips them because it riles up all the mouth breathers and makes him money.

Unfortunately it's working, which makes him respect the fanbase even less and go to more extremes with his opinion.

The way you stop slimey slugs like Felger is to STOP TUNING INTO HIS STATION, STOP WATCHING HIM ON TV! It's been over 2 years since I've ever tuned him on the radio.. other than the 2 seconds it takes my car radio to auto scan past the channel, I have not listened to either of those 2 idiots for even 1 second

The problem is, their ratings soar and they pat each other on the back and keep going (downward) unstoppably.

I know a lot of folks on this site disagree with me, but the toxic, noxious flying elvis is another good example of something entirely wrong with no redeeming qualities that is perceived by its owner to be beneficial due to financial profits, despite the fact that those profits would double were the previous, legitimate product, in this case, restored.

 

[Pessimistic Pete]

How the hell can you listen to that crap for two hours?!? Sigh...

Like others, I have an unhealthy addiction to sports talk radio.

 

[reflexblue]

Why the hell does anyone listen to felger, hes just a troll.

 

[Anteros]

He's right, you know.

The audacity of Brady and Belichick to win against the teams on their schedule has reached biblical proportions. No self-respecting GOAT would have tried to win this year. As soon as it became apparent there were no great teams, Brady should have just taken a year or two off and come back when the the quality of opposition was agreed by the media to satisfy their standards.

I, personally won't even watch the SB, what's the point of winning it when you don't have the appreciation of supreme masterminds of the game like Felger. I'm sure Brady and the team feel the same. Don't be surprised to hear in the coming days that the Pats have forfeited the game.

Dude, stand up and take a bow, man! I laughed out loud but changed it to winner.

 

[dafoe2016]

I can't believe people still fall for that Felger ********. He is a professional moron. He gets paid to go on the air and say moronic things. This is what sports media has become. Garbage like First Take. You can't have a debate if both parties agree. So one of them has to say something stupid and the other person disagrees with them. It is Felger's job to be the turd in the punchbowl. There is no way he would have made it as far as he has if he were dumb enough to believe half the things that come out of his mouth.

I stopped watching that **** when they started having Borges on. At first I would fast forward through his appearances. But eventually it got to the point where he was on so much that I just stopped recording. The fact that they would allow an absolute piece of **** like Borges, someone who is a known plagiarist (and whom carries zero credibility) to represent their network is sickening. That they would so drastically underestimate or discount the hatred Boston sports fans have for this piece of garbage tells me that they are tone deaf or simply don't respect the people paying there bills. I see no reason to support a company that does not respect me. I could give several other examples, but I've made my point. I cut the cord years ago. I don't miss those clowns a bit outside of Tom Curran- 0ne of the few decent journalists in Boston.

 

[deroc5050]

Felger is the same guy who picked the Steelers to win the AFCC. And the Falcons are a really good team so this is utter nonsense. He is just salty that his little Binky Aaron Rodgers got knocked out of the playoffs. He was getting all wet when someone asked him if he would like a GB vs NE Super Bowl.

Dallas was a good team
Giants were a good team
Seattle was a good team
The Patriots obviously a good team
Falcons are a good team
Steelers are a good team
KC was a good team

Just that most of these teams are not as good as the Patriots.. so its a down year according to Felger. Instead of giving the Patriots credit for blowing most of the teams out by multi scores.. everyone sucks. according to Felger. I will agree with him that the Pats didn't have the hardest schedule this year but thats not there fault.

Quite frankly I am not taking the Falcons lightly at all, they are a really good team and a worthy Super Bowl team.

 

[deroc5050]

Felger owes his career and livelihood to the athletes he routinely disrespects .... and I think it explains why he hasn't interviewed any in years. They dont like him, and want nothing to do with him.

He's lame, and the Boston media should be embarrassed that he has such a large platform, despite knowing so little about the sports he covers

"I dont know what the Falcons do that makes them special. Atlanta is boring, and it's not worth my time even trying to discuss them"

WTF?????

He is a troll for the most part, but sometimes he brings up sensible things and talks rationally.. but his tone .. is sort of , I don't know.. condescending?? I don't listen to him that much, if I am in the car I will switch between EEI and during NFL season I will switch over to the hub if I am in the mood to tolerate his nonsense.

They also always rag on Patriots fans and categorize us as a bunch of ****ing morons. There are always blind homer fans but most hardcore fans for lack of a better term will be honest about the teams assessment.

 

[Joker]

NSFW...continue at your own peril.

Felcher...Felger...see the symmetry? read the definition and it's crystal clear Webster had Mike the Moron in mind with THIS dictionary entry...

A Felcher is a male who has anal sex and when he releases semen into the male/females anus then licks the semen with or without a spoon out of the anus

Yes sir...THAT'S our FELGER!

 

[MrNathanDrake]

B-b-b-b-but the Steelers are the one team that can and will beat the Patriots in the playoffs!

The Pats can't win in Denver! That all time great defense will take Denver to another Super Bowl!

This is the year the Dolphins win the AFC East and Brady declines!

Aaron Rodgers is the Michael Jordan of football! He's going to prove he's the bestests QB once and for all! He's doing things we've never seen before! GB is going to run the table

etc etc etc.... we've heard it all at this point. **** THE MEDIA

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

The Patriots' road schedule was not a meat grinder but the accomplishment itself is very noteworthy and telling. It speaks to how well prepared, how mentally tough, how balanced this team is. There is a reason why undefeated on the road has happened only 9 times in the long history of the NFL.

There is some truth to the writer's points ('broken clock being right twice a day' rule). The Patriots were not the utterly #1 dominating offense and were not, IMHO, the most potent defense. Also, the overall competition was not as fierce this season. Further, the Patriots didn't have a long list of quick destructions of opponents (though many clear cut victories). Yet excepting the Bills loss where we, literally, did not have a QB healthy (not to mention even experienced) enough to throw the football, the Patriots were 'convincing loss'-proof. Their lone loss by a 7 point margin they were inside Seattle's 5 at the end of the game (the playcall to Gronk still perplexes me).

Atlanta's offense is better than the Patriots. Who knows, maybe Atlanta's D is better than the Patriots (doubtful but even if it is? It isn't by much). But what the blowhard media like Felger is missing is the strength of totality of the 2016 Patriots' team. Whatever the opposition can do successfully over spans of a game, over 4 quarters the Patriots have the kind of team that is mentally tough and possesses the kind of across the board solid capability that it has shown it can and will adjust to keep any win plainly in sight.
If Atlanta's O comes out and is able to march on through the Patriots like they did to GB, and their D is able to effectively shut down/slow down like they did to GB, congrats to them. They've earned it and deserve it. But if they do I'll be very surprised based on that demonstrated strength of the Patriots to change strategy in-game yet still be well above average effective.

 

[TennisBallHead]

NSFW...continue at your own peril.

Felcher...Felger...see the symmetry? read the definition and it's crystal clear Webster had Mike the Moron in mind with THIS dictionary entry...

A Felcher is a male who has anal sex and when he releases semen into the male/females anus then licks the semen with or without a spoon out of the anus

Yes sir...THAT'S our FELGER!

That's ****ing disgusting, but I could see Felger doing that.