Willie Mac

[Slagathor]

I was listening to Perillo and Curran this morning.

They said that while he was with the Pats, the perception was that he was a team leader. But in actuality his popularity in the locker room was split 50-50 as many didn't care for him much.

This was news to me. Can anyone elaborate?

 

[Rob0729]

I know that Larry Izzo isn't a member of the Willie Mac fan club. I am guessing the image of Willie McGinest clocking Izzo on the sidelines during the playoff loss to the Broncos was indicative of a bigger problem in the lockerroom. I assumed all along that this incident was the reason the Pats chose to cut McGinest outright rather than try to redo his deal.

 

[BionicPatriot]

Um, I seriously doubt we cut Willie friggin McGinest cuz he yelled at that Izzo *****. Izzo is trash. He has become average n special teams, Willie asks him to make NE tackle and Izzo kills us. I think Willie has every damn right and more to be pissed. I dunno who else would dislike him. I know he was good friends with the core (Bruschi, Brown, Law, Seymour, etc.)

 

[Rob0729]

Um, I seriously doubt we cut Willie friggin McGinest cuz he yelled at that Izzo *****. Izzo is trash. He has become average n special teams, Willie asks him to make NE tackle and Izzo kills us. I think Willie has every damn right and more to be pissed. I dunno who else would dislike him. I know he was good friends with the core (Bruschi, Brown, Law, Seymour, etc.)

McGinest clocked Izzo in the head so hard that Izzo nearly fell to the ground. Who said anything about yelling at him? He punched him in the face. When you yell with your fists, it is different than yelling with your mouth.

I am sure Belichick definitely didn't appreciate McGinest getting into a physical altrication on the sidelines which ended up being caught on national television.

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

I'll take a page out of the BB playbook on this one.

He don't play for us.

 

[SmokeShowin]

All I know is I liked the guy. I'm sure he had people that didn't like him, don't we all? He appeared to be a great guy and he got the job done.

Great pic from after the game:

 

[BTTA]

Izzo is trash.

And you have accomplished so much in your life that, by comparison, an All Star football player is "trash"?! Wow, you must really be cool.

 

[scout]

All I know is I liked the guy. I'm sure he had people that didn't like him, don't we all? He appeared to be a great guy and he got the job done.

Great pic from after the game:

Yea, the picture kind of looks like Bum Phillips Jr. running out on the field after the Cowboy win, looking for a hug and not getting one. This picture shows Willie Mac with half a hug.

 

[SmokeShowin]

He's prolly saying "I didn't mean to clobber Larry, there was a hornet flying around and I swatted it." lol.

 

[BionicPatriot]

I said Izzo was trash to McGinest, not myself. So don't come at me with such a pitiful post. I did not know Willie ever hit Izzo, I just heard they had an altercation. Is that really true?

 

[Fencer]

McGinest was widely reported to be sarcastic and harsh in demanding that players work out as early and hard as he did.

Maybe some thought he went too far, especially ones who recalled his own injury problems?

Between the USC stardom and the high draft pick and the music side business and so on, Willie does have a pretty high opinion of himself.

 

[SmokeShowin]

I said Izzo was trash to McGinest, not myself. So don't come at me with such a pitiful post. I did not know Willie ever hit Izzo, I just heard they had an altercation. Is that really true?

From Patriot-Ledger newspaper article:

And, yes, that was proud veteran Willie McGinest doing a very un-Patriot-like thing by sticking his hand into Larry Izzo’s mug on the sideline. Ask Marshall Faulk how much a McGinest shove can put you off your game.

The Patriots were sloppy, which they never are at this time of year. And the McGinest-Izzo tiff was more us-against-us than us-against-the-world, which is the prism through which the Patriots usually see the playoffs.


http://ledger.southofboston.com/articles/2006/01/16/sports/sports01.txt

 

[spacecrime]

I said Izzo was trash to McGinest, not myself. So don't come at me with such a pitiful post.

Umm, actually you said, "Izzo is trash." Whether you meant it or not, you said it. But it's good to know you are telling us what WMG feels, not what you feel.

 

[BionicPatriot]

From Patriot-Ledger newspaper article:

And, yes, that was proud veteran Willie McGinest doing a very un-Patriot-like thing by sticking his hand into Larry Izzo’s mug on the sideline. Ask Marshall Faulk how much a McGinest shove can put you off your game.

The Patriots were sloppy, which they never are at this time of year. And the McGinest-Izzo tiff was more us-against-us than us-against-the-world, which is the prism through which the Patriots usually see the playoffs.


http://ledger.southofboston.com/articles/2006/01/16/sports/sports01.txt

Well damn, I don't know how I let that one slip under my nose. Thanks for correcting me a tad there.

Anyways, I still think McGoo was a good guy. I think perhaps like a poster above suggested, McGinest held himself and others to high standards. He came from a prestigous program, had high demand of his production due to draft selection, came on strong and began a music career. The guy has accomplished a lot through hard work and I think he just wanted everyone around them to push themselves. Wether they like him or not, it's players like that that made this run possible. How else would they have managed such amazing focus?

I remember reading an article once. Mcginest kinda *****ed out Bethel Johnson when he was playing in the locker room. BJ was playing baseball with Patrick Pass instead of studying his plays. McGinest apparently went up to him and told him sit your ass down and study. Again, I can see where grown men don't like being told what to do, but is he wrong? BJ had amazing speed but couldn't run a route to save his life. Studying plays would've helped him tremendously. I can see where McGinest tried to push his teammate further, I admire that.

 

[BionicPatriot]

Umm, actually you said, "Izzo is trash." Whether you meant it or not, you said it. But it's good to know you are telling us what WMG feels, not what you feel.

Did I ever say he was trash to me? Damn man shut it already.

 

[363839]

I couldn't find the clip on youtube but as I recall it, Willie had grabbed izzo
by the face mask and threw him back rather viciously but I don't
recall seeing any punches.

 

[Terry Glenn is a cowgirl]

I thought he was a very good player for the Pats... yes, he was demanding... but any player that wanted the best for his team did this.

I would have prolly done the same thing.

The heat of the moment... if he was really classy, he would have stepped Izzo aside afterwards and apologized. I'm sure that Izzo would have understood.

 

[Gainzo]

All I know is I liked the guy. I'm sure he had people that didn't like him, don't we all? He appeared to be a great guy and he got the job done.

Great pic from after the game:

Willie was the man. He was drafted in '94 and will always hold a place in my heart as a true New England Patriot.

I like Izzo, but he is no Willie.

 

[skspikex2]

Well damn, I don't know how I let that one slip under my nose. Thanks for correcting me a tad there.

Anyways, I still think McGoo was a good guy. I think perhaps like a poster above suggested, McGinest held himself and others to high standards. He came from a prestigous program, had high demand of his production due to draft selection, came on strong and began a music career. The guy has accomplished a lot through hard work and I think he just wanted everyone around them to push themselves. Wether they like him or not, it's players like that that made this run possible. How else would they have managed such amazing focus?

I remember reading an article once. Mcginest kinda *****ed out Bethel Johnson when he was playing in the locker room. BJ was playing baseball with Patrick Pass instead of studying his plays. McGinest apparently went up to him and told him sit your ass down and study. Again, I can see where grown men don't like being told what to do, but is he wrong? BJ had amazing speed but couldn't run a route to save his life. Studying plays would've helped him tremendously. I can see where McGinest tried to push his teammate further, I admire that.

That is great and all, but remember how would BJ feel if a defense guy come up to him and talk about his offense? It's like having AD telling Randy Moss how to run route.
There're leaders in offense and defense for this matter. If Mcginest want to encourage BJ, he should talk to other leaders in Offense like Brady or have another WR talk to him.
Sorry but to me, defense should stick with defense and offense stick with offense. That way they wont interfere with each other.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

That is great and all, but remember how would BJ feel if a defense guy come up to him and talk about his offense? It's like having AD telling Randy Moss how to run route.
There're leaders in offense and defense for this matter. If Mcginest want to encourage BJ, he should talk to other leaders in Offense like Brady or have another WR talk to him.
Sorry but to me, defense should stick with defense and offense stick with offense. That way they wont interfere with each other.

Happens all the time on the Patriots, D pushing O and vice versa. Read Patriots Reign, Pepper's book, Bruschi's. It's done in a positive, challenging sense.