The pendulum starts swinging back

[spacecrime]

http://www.boston.com/sports/footba...17/players_hand_it_to_embattled_coach/?page=1

Nice of her to point out that just because a team plays well doesn't mean they have signals. Someone explain this to Bettis and Ward.

Excerpt:

The contrast was striking. One team looked ticked off, focused, and motivated. The other looked dazed, confused, and overwhelmed.

It didn't get much better for the beleaguered Rivers and his boys. In the waning minutes of the second quarter, with his team already in the hole, 17-0, Rivers wisely began handing off to LT (18 carries, 43 yards).

San Diego desperately needed a score, and, with 5:28 left until halftime, Rivers was staring at third and 1 from the New England 31-yard line.

His plan was to dump it off to Malcolm Floyd, but his floater was immediately intercepted by a leaping Thomas, who sprinted 65 yards for the score.

It was a devastating play. It almost looked like Thomas knew what Rivers was doing before he did it.

But then, that couldn't be possible. There were no Patriot cameras in sight, only a bunch of football players hell-bent on silencing their critics.

 

[patsox23]

Yes, that's one of those things that has continually frustrated me about the media coverage - and, admittedly, part of why it was a stupid thing for the Pats to do in the first place - players, pundits, etc... acting like this team's (or any team's) ability to suss out what the opponent is doing, or about to do, could ONLY come from stealing signals. As though legitimate advance-scouting or player's film-study, preparation, intuition, intelligence and instincts don't also play a HUGE (far more pivotal) role in "reading" a play and reacting to it.

It's intellectually dishonest and intellectually LAZY - of the players/coaches ESPECIALLY - to not comment on this, and give a nod to reality.

 

[patriot lifer]

Rivers was read like a book...a picture book.