Nick Kaczur should be able to practice today....

[PATSNUTme]

OK. Well, as I said, optimism is fine with me. Personally -- call it temperament -- I'm not so much of an optimist. But I wouldn't dream of nit-picking, second guessing or being negative. And the optimists have been proved right time and again. It doesn't mean that I don't think that Duane Starks was a disaster (and fear that Monty Beisel is not much better), though.

I think that the staggering achievements of the team put them massively in credit. I've been a fan (admittedly not the hottest or most knowledgeable fan) since 1981, so I know what you're talking about. It also makes a difference to me that I'm pretty sure that if a BB/Kraft team had a disastrous losing season it would do so with dignity -- which certainly wasn't always the case with the Pats in the past.

So at what point does the optimist become a homer?

Everyone differs, but here's an example. Last season, I happened to read a Browns message board and noticed a thread about the Patriots, speculating about Patriots -- particularly DG and Willie -- might become Browns. A couple of the biggest homers on this board (I won't name them, because they are fantastic posters whom I respect immensely) dismissed the very raising of the idea as absurd. Willie was under contract and would certainly retire a Patriot.

It doesn't thrill me at all that they were completely wrong (which doesn't make me "right", by the way -- I hadn't speculated that it would happen, just reported that Brown fans wanted it) but I do think that it's a pity if the homers on the board jump on anything that isn't wildly optimistic as disloyal and the product of a moaning, negative, bandwagon fan.

I think the Wilie thing caught many of us by surprise. Not becasue we are "homers". But, becasue we never though that any team would offer Willie more than 2-4 mil.

I think that many of us thought that Givens would be the most likely to go. And, almost none of us thought that our former kicker ( dead to me) would actually sign with the f'ing Colts.

If I saw something on another teams board about one of our players,I would also report it here. If others disagree with what I report has been said, I wouldn't think that the were unreasonable homers.

Unless they attack me personally, then "homer' would be the last word that I would use in response.

 

[hwc]

You guys kill me. After last year when 3 out of 5 opening day starters got injured, I'm just hoping that we have three or four NFL caliber players starting on the O-line in any given game.

I have no doubt that both of these RT's will see plenty of action over the course of the season.

 

[Mike the Brit]

I think the Wilie thing caught many of us by surprise. Not becasue we are "homers". But, becasue we never though that any team would offer Willie more than 2-4 mil.

It's one thing to say it's not likely, another to dismiss it as absurd.

I think that many of us thought that Givens would be the most likely to go. And, almost none of us thought that our former kicker ( dead to me) would actually sign with the f'ing Colts.

If I saw something on another teams board about one of our players,I would also report it here. If others disagree with what I report has been said, I wouldn't think that the were unreasonable homers.

Depends if they give some argument for their disagreement.

Unless they attack me personally, then "homer' would be the last word that I would use in response.

I haven't used it to attack anyone.

On the contrary, I greatly like and respect the posters in question who are among the most passionate, knowledgeable and loyal on the board. What's more, it's fine with me that people let their judgement get skewed when it comes to football. I would be worried if my doctor was letting passion get in the way of diagnosis, but this is FOOTBALL -- sport, relaxation, fun!

It's just a personal thing, but I appreciate objectivity when I see it and I'm disappointed when posters who show it are attacked as negative, whining, bandwagon-jumpers.

ten characters

 

[PATSNUTme]

ten characters

Some people come on this board and they are negitive from day one. They like to disquise their constant negitivity as being "objective" and therefore not a being "homer".

That does not apply to you or others who may honestly disagree with the majority on a certain topic. You shouldn't be attacked for it. If people disagree they with you should state why.

I don't remember the thread that you are referring to. Could it be that you may have mistaken the strong disagreement with the Browns fans as people jumping on you?

 

[Mike the Brit]

Some people come on this board and they are negitive from day one. They like to disquise their constant negitivity as being "objective" and therefore not a being "homer".

That does not apply to you or others who may honestly disagree with the majority on a certain topic. You shouldn't be attacked for it. If people disagree they with you should state why.

I don't remember the thread that you are referring to. Could it be that you may have mistaken the strong disagreement with the Browns fans as people jumping on you?

Actually, no one was jumping on me. What they did was to dismiss as impossible a negative possibility that in fact came true. That was striking to me and what makes it an example of people being "homers".

sretcarahc net

 

[PATSNUTme]

sretcarahc net

Wow! I can read that clearly.

But everything else is backwards.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Gorin and tucker were traded and Ashworth was allowed to sign elsewhere in ?FrE Agegency because the patriots have a lot of very good and energeging talent on their Offesnive line.

They have four tackles all of whom look ot be above average in Light, Kaczur, O'Callaghan and Britt.

They have two very good Guards and a acceptable backup in Mankins, Neal,and Hochstein. They have a good center and a more than adequate backup in Koppens and Hochstein.

I graded the AZ RT performances; and O'C on occasion was better in the run game, but made at least a couple of rookie pass protection errors that could get his QB hurt. Britt was more consistant in pass protection, but not as dominant in the run game. He was far from poor though. Kaczur is probably better than both when healthy, did not play, but he is past the PUP stage.

The question is who is the ninth O lineman now? I am not impressed with Mrucz or Stevenson and Yates is just a JAG, I think. So who is your ninth?

 

[T-ShirtDynasty]

Wow! I can read that clearly.

But everything else is backwards.

I'm so stupid, I Googled it. Even put a 'dot' between the sretcarahc and the net.


Kid you not.

 

[PATSNUTme]

I'm so stupid, I Googled it. Even put a 'dot' between the sretcarahc and the net.


Kid you not.

Score one for Mike!

Although at first I thought he was posting in French or Italian as he has in the past. But it came to me in about 30 seconds.

 

[jczxohn1]

It will be interesting to see how Kaczur handles coming back from what apparently is his first injury playing football at any level. In his lockerroom interview he sounded tentative, taking it a step at a time, doing what the trainers advise, but tentative. Hope everything goes smoothly. Not starting anytime soon, IMO.