Jeff Howe: The Patriots haven't been this angry since 07'....expect them to be aggressive

[Soul_Survivor88]

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/...ots_are_the_villains_of_the_nfl_and_theyre_ok

A really well-written, extremely insightful article with quotes by Donte Stallworth and Kevin Faulk. You should read this before the game starts tonight.

IMO, I'd love to see the Pats play as angry as they did in 2007. But I hope Bill doesn't push them too hard the way he did that year, and expose them to injuries late into blowout games. And if they manage to ride this wave of emotion late into the playoffs, I'd be concerned about players getting worn and feeling drained in critical, crucial moments (remember Super Bowl 42?)

 

[FourierSeries]

This is going to be a fun ride.

Let's hope it ends with #5.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

This is going to be a fun ride.

Let's hope it ends with #5.

Yes! One for the middle finger!

 

[FourierSeries]

Yes! One for the middle finger!

What do you mean? They already have 4 for the middle finger.

 

[Nunchucks]

I love the sentiment, but in reality, the Patriots work extremely hard every year. I am not quite sure that they can ratchet up the intensity any more than they already do.

 

[Ross12]

I think Bill got some invaluable perspective from that year. I don't think there's any way he pushes them too hard, he knows what can happen if he does.

The pieces definitely line up, though - they've got a ton of leader-type guys in the locker room and plenty of motivation. Consider how many players could be captains for this (or any) team:

Defense:
-Ninkovich
-Chandler Jones
-Mayo
-Hightower
-Butler (IMO)
-McCourty

Offense:
-Brady
-Edelman
-Gronk
-Solder
-Vollmer
-Amendola

Plus Slater and Gostkowski. Lots of leadership on this team.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

Check out the sig

 

[juny]

Isn't hard to compare the two teams when there are only 2 people left over from 07?

 

[Ross12]

Check out the sig

Nice!!

Noticed something about the schedule, though - after week 5, the team only travels further than New Jersey 3 times in the remaining 11 weeks. That'll really be great for making sure everyone is well rested.

 

[oldrover]

You gotta understand something about Brady...












...he's always angry.

 

[scott99]

I'd like to see them be a physical team that on defense hits REALLY hard. That would make me happy. On offense, hopefully they will be ok on the offensive line, Stork is a huge loss

 

[Ross12]

You gotta understand something about Brady...












...he's always angry.

I would love it if we could somehow just slap Brady's face over Hulk's, and make him Hulk-smash a giant NFL shield. Or Goodell's face. Either is fine.

 

[The Gr8est]

Pats FANS, are MUCH angrier than they were in 2007.

For what it's worth.

 

[Mack Herron]

"Members of the league office advised Kraft not to hire BB..." source? Have people heard this before?

 

[JJC]

"Members of the league office advised Kraft not to hire BB..." source? Have people heard this before?

It doesn't surprise me that the NY contingent wanted BB blackballed after quitting the Jets.

 

[DefenseRules]

It doesn't surprise me that the NY contingent wanted BB blackballed after quitting the Jets.

Seriously, who the fk are the Jets? What do they have to do with anything? If the man wanted to leave he had a right to leave. GET OVER IT.

 

[JJC]

Seriously, who the fk are the Jets? What do they have to do with anything? If the man wanted to leave he had a right to leave. GET OVER IT.

You know all those azzwholes have been sitting down there in NY for the past 16 years thinking that the 4 rings belonged to them, if only BB had stayed there. They feel betrayed and like a scorned GF, they have no limits to their vengeance.

 

[The Gr8est]

You know all those azzwholes have been sitting down there in NY for the past 16 years thinking that the 4 rings belonged to them, if only BB had stayed there. They feel betrayed and like a scorned GF, they have no limits to their vengeance.

Yup, when the Rats tampered with Bill Parcells they thought they had stolen BB, as part of the package, fair and square.

 

[tombonneau]

Isn't hard to compare the two teams when there are only 2 people left over from 07?

Crap who is even on the team still other than Brady? Was Ninko on that team? Or was Vollmer a rookie? Man, doesn't seem like it was that long ago but I guess it is.

 

[juny]

Crap who is even on the team still other than Brady? Was Ninko on that team? Or was Vollmer a rookie? Man, doesn't seem like it was that long ago but I guess it is.

I think Brady and Gost is it.