Patriots Pregame Thread Pre Game Thread - Pats @ Bills

[Grogan14]

Remember that Roger comes from PR. So he's going to deal with this like a PR issue. I think because of that, Roger is going to do the thing that has the best optics. The number one thing is he can't be seen punishing the Bills (so I think them forfeiting the Bengals game is off the table). I think everything else is on the table. He can declare it cancelled and doesn't count. He can declare it a tie. He can hold it later. He can declare them both winners. And because he comes from PR, he knows that ultimately precedent doesn't matter, because he'll decide the next situation that's even remotely similar in the way that has the best optics then.

100% agree with this. It's a huge PR issue for Goodell and the NFL. They have to be very careful how they handle this and not be perceived as "insensitive" and/or not caring about patient safety.
This tragedy comes on the heels of the Tua concussion injury and major questions about the sport from a safety perspective in general.

THe short term business considerations are of course important to the owners....BUT I bet the longer term ramifications about player safety and the danger of the sport will be top of mind priority for the NFL.

I suspect the NFL will bend over backwards to accommodate player concerns (as they should) and take a hit with one, two or three teams getting slight playoff seeding disadvantages in terms of favoring player mental health and safety concerns.

If a couple of teams get hosed in a minor way in terms of playoff seeding....too bad..it's a unique situation.

As far as the playoffs go, lets be quite honest...Pats do not deserve to be in the playoffs and would not be if they hadn't added a 7th team. So if Pats or any other team gets a slight scheduling disadvantage...tough luck..move on

 

[venecol]

 

[Jlaff]

Remember that Roger comes from PR. So he's going to deal with this like a PR issue. I think because of that, Roger is going to do the thing that has the best optics. The number one thing is he can't be seen punishing the Bills (so I think them forfeiting the Bengals game is off the table). I think everything else is on the table. He can declare it cancelled and doesn't count. He can declare it a tie. He can hold it later. He can declare them both winners. And because he comes from PR, he knows that ultimately precedent doesn't matter, because he'll decide the next situation that's even remotely similar in the way that has the best optics then.

I wouldn't say Goodell's arts degree in communications gave him a baseline qualification of any sort.

 

[Jlaff]

100% agree with this. It's a huge PR issue for Goodell and the NFL. They have to be very careful how they handle this and not be perceived as "insensitive" and/or not caring about patient safety.
This tragedy comes on the heels of the Tua concussion injury and major questions about the sport from a safety perspective in general.

THe short term business considerations are of course important to the owners....BUT I bet the longer term ramifications about player safety and the danger of the sport will be top of mind priority for the NFL.

I suspect the NFL will bend over backwards to accommodate player concerns (as they should) and take a hit with one, two or three teams getting slight playoff seeding disadvantages in terms of favoring player mental health and safety concerns.

If a couple of teams get hosed in a minor way in terms of playoff seeding....too bad..it's a unique situation.

As far as the playoffs go, lets be quite honest...Pats do not deserve to be in the playoffs and would not be if they hadn't added a 7th team. So if Pats or any other team gets a slight scheduling disadvantage...tough luck..move on

They will also bend over backwards to ensure that any resulting advantage/disadvantage does not shake out in the Pats' favor.

 

[Jlaff]

"I decided to postpone last night's game..." This guy epitomizes the Dunning-Krueger effect.

 

[Steve102]

I’m feeling similarly. My own 11YO son decided not to play next season, and while I was already honoring that, I had hoped maybe he’d change his mind…not anymore to be honest.

I wouldn't hesitate to let my son play, if I had to do it all over. He's 24 now, and he coaches with us. We've been very lucky as a program, haven't seen anything remotely close to this. While freak things happen at any level, the speed and power that the game is played at in the NFL is mind blowing. It's not the same game that we experience at the local level. I really feel we are on borrowed time for some young guy to get hit in the NFL and not get up.

 

[venecol]

So the word that the "5 minutes" may be implemented comes down. Diggs, being a leader, starts leading then rather than wait. The medical pros do their thing, Hamlin is transported to the hospital. During this, the coaches meet, decide to go to the locker room, and then start talks with each other and the league office. They, the coaches, decide to call it.

I'm not sure the timing of all of this but assume it was after the ambulance left the field since all the players were crowded around it while it was on the field. Then, the Bills players knelt in a circle for what looked like a prayer once it left. There were a lot of commercial breaks but we saw after this Burrow warming up. I think this is when the 5 min. statements happened, probably one before this time. There were players traumatized over what they witnessed and it was clear 5' wasn't going to cut it so they headed to the locker rooms. I'm sure we'll hear from the players and the truth will come out.

 

[sb1]

Can imagine the whole country other than Pats fans is gonna be cheering for Buffalo. Probably would be anyway I guess.

 

[dtbrks]

My son played D1 at a small school in college. I was glad when he decided it wasn’t for him anymore. I love watching football but always hated when he went down with an injury.

 

[gitgronked82]

I don't think they could have done anything different, based on how the game is played today. It's 100% how I feel about it as a fan, a coach and a father. I don't want to watch these young guys die. I never thought I could walk away, but I can see me maybe being able to do it. Maybe. Some day.

I’m feeling similarly. My own 11YO son decided not to play next season, and while I was already honoring that, I had hoped maybe he’d change his mind…not anymore to be honest.

I don’t know, guys. I get it after seeing head injuries like Tua’s, but this really didn’t seem to be a football-specific injury that occurred due to the violence and brutality of the game. This type of injury happens more often in baseball and softball from the impact of the ball. I wouldn’t use this incident as the motivation for not allowing a kid to play.

 

[notex]

Regarding the forfeit(s), it sounds like people are suggesting Buffalo would be making that decision. Which as I said, seems extremely remote. But no, Goodell isn't imposing an L on Buffalo, or he may as well resign simultaneously and then go into hiding.

The only solution that will satisfy all football fans is completing all of the games in some order. Let's say Goodell announces that he's declaring the game a tie (even with the joint agreement of Buffalo and Cincinnati). How do you think Baltimore (Ravens and their fans) are going to take that? Effectively that decision eliminates their chance at the division and potentially makes their playoff road much tougher.

The NFL should just proceed with week 18 as currently scheduled. See where things are at that point, likely schedule a Thursday or weekend game (1/14 or 1/15) to conclude the Bills-Bengals week 17 matchup, and adjust the playoff schedule accordingly (there's maneuverability because of the two weeks before the SB).

That would be so backwards if he did haha. He admitted in his letter that HE decided to postpone the game. Can't see any way he then hands Bills the L after that. It was also very early in the game, tough to call the game after a quarter and give W to Bengals based on score when game ended. Its either finish the game, or somehow wipe it from standings.

 

[notex]

I don’t know, guys. I get it after seeing head injuries like Tua’s, but this really didn’t seem to be a football-specific injury that occurred due to the violence and brutality of the game. This type of injury happens more often in baseball and softball from the impact of the ball. I wouldn’t use this incident as the motivation for not allowing a kid to play.

I think they are referring more to the head injuries than this one. Look up the concussion rates in football vs. some other sports. Its actually crazy, with exception of Ice Hockey/Rugby there aren't any other sports even close and those two sports have far less participants at a youth level even combined. I also think there is a culture of ignoring/covering up concussions in football more than other sports...so who knows how many go unreported...

I am no brain expert, but there is also the repeated hitting of the head in football. Every play. Argue all you want, but there is no way that is GOOD for your brain. I love the sport, but I'd think twice about letting my (non-existent as of now) kids play.

I agree that this particular injury was a freak accident, had nothing to do with player safety (unless something went unreported/ignored by team staff - which I highly doubt).

 

[sb1]

Regarding the forfeit(s), it sounds like people are suggesting Buffalo would be making that decision. Which as I said, seems extremely remote. But no, Goodell isn't imposing an L on Buffalo, or he may as well resign simultaneously and then go into hiding.

The only solution that will satisfy all football fans is completing all of the games in some order. Let's say Goodell announces that he's declaring the game a tie (even with the joint agreement of Buffalo and Cincinnati). How do you think Baltimore (Ravens and their fans) are going to take that? Effectively that decision eliminates their chance at the division and potentially makes their playoff road much tougher.

The NFL should just proceed with week 18 as currently scheduled. See where things are at that point, likely schedule a Thursday or weekend game (1/14 or 1/15) to conclude the Bills-Bengals week 17 matchup, and adjust the playoff schedule accordingly (there's maneuverability because of the two weeks before the SB).

By rules the commissioner doesn't have the power to make a team forfeit except in very specific circumstances and this isn't one of them. There's no provision in the rules for teams to agree to a tie either. The Pats-Bills game will be played this weekend unless the players decide otherwise and probably the Bills-Bengals after that if it matters.

 

[Steve102]

I don’t know, guys. I get it after seeing head injuries like Tua’s, but this really didn’t seem to be a football-specific injury that occurred due to the violence and brutality of the game. This type of injury happens more often in baseball and softball from the impact of the ball. I wouldn’t use this incident as the motivation for not allowing a kid to play.

I would not have changed what I did as a parent. I would still let my son play, knowing how much the game changed him for the better as a young boy.

 

[RobertWeathers]

"I decided to postpone last night's game..." This guy epitomizes the Dunning-Krueger effect.

LOL.....or the Al Haig effect.

 

[notex]

Closest thing I can remember to these circumstances was the death of Sean Taylor.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Closest thing I can remember to these circumstances was the death of Sean Taylor.

...and the Skins played 5 days later.

Whether it was right decision to do so is another question,

 

[Patjew]

Who is that?

My brethren?

 

[jdlboot14]

couldn't be a worse situation for the Patriots now.
It's going to be an eerie start to the game. We'll see if the Bills players are mentally prepared to play.

 

[sb1]

couldn't be a worse situation for the Patriots now.
It's going to be an eerie start to the game. We'll see if the Bills players are mentally prepared to play.

If they're playing they will be. Guaranteed.