Patriots Football - "We're on a mission"

Originally Posted by icantbejon

I'd love to say the Bills stand a chance, but I have to be realistic. Oh well.

I think you guys will have a better record than the Pats will...

I just don't think the Pats are the team they were. They lost a lot of talent on the defense. Brady still looks gun shy. And now that teams know what the weakness is, flushing Brady out of the pocket makes him fold, I just don't see them being the threat to the league that they once were.

Sorry Joe, but I think you are not giving this team the respect they deserve. First two games they certainly did not look too good. However, there is a reason they play 16 games and the season is not decided after the first two games.

Originally Posted by dogface_313

Sorry Joe, but I think you are not giving this team the respect they deserve. First two games they certainly did not look too good. However, there is a reason they play 16 games and the season is not decided after the first two games.

I give them the respect that they were a great team. They aren't the same team this year. That's a fact. You don't have Bruschi, Vrabel or many others. You defense is a shell of what it was in previous years that's a fact.

Brady is a great QB but only when he's in the pocket. He is a pocket passer and crumbles on the scramble. That is a fact. Look at the numbers.

Teams change sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worst, unfortunately for the Pats fans the Pats lost a great deal of solid players.

Talk to me in December... NE will win the division.

[icantbejon]

It will be interesting to see. I don't think the AFC East is the strong division that it was in the past. I think it will be a tight race within the division, but I remember the glory days of the East where we always sent two to the Playoffs and could have gotten away sending three. Remember when the Dolphins and Bills were actually competitive? And Bledsoe was throwing for you guys? Those were the days for the East.

[Gargoyle]

Let's not forget that even though the Patriots D lost 5 starters from last year and Mayo is out 6-8 weeks... they held the Bills offense to 17 points and the Jets to 16. That is pretty respectable and the new faces on D will improve and improve their communications with each game.

We expect better things on the O side. It will take Brady a few more games to get his timing back and to work out the chemistry with the new players. You had a rookie QB starting a WR and Galloway is still learning the offense. Things will improve with some more games here as well.

Stick a fork in them.

I called this a couple of years ago, an old, fat slow defense just kept getting older, fatter and slower. Belechik sealed their fate this year by trading one of the only capable playmakers on D, Seymore, to the NFL equivalent of Siberia. Not sure what he did to piss Mr. Ego off, but I'd love to hear the story which I'm sure we will eventually

Originally Posted by Resipsa

Stick a fork in them.

I called this a couple of years ago, an old, fat slow defense just kept getting older, fatter and slower. Belechik sealed their fate this year by trading one of the only capable playmakers on D, Seymore, to the NFL equivalent of Siberia. Not sure what he did to piss Mr. Ego off, but I'd love to hear the story which I'm sure we will eventually

So, they have lost one game and they are done?

I can't wait untill next week when Tom Brady turns it around and takes a dump on the Falcons(too bad, I really like Matt Ryan, him being a BC grad). I understand that there are a TON of Patriots haters out there, but it is one thing to hate them, and a completely seperate thing to think that they are a garbage team. They will have atleast 12 wins this year, quote me on that!

Originally Posted by dogface_313

So, they have lost one game and they are done?

I can't wait untill next week when Tom Brady turns it around and takes a dump on the Falcons(too bad, I really like Matt Ryan, him being a BC grad). I understand that there are a TON of Patriots haters out there, but it is one thing to hate them, and a completely seperate thing to think that they are a garbage team. They will have atleast 12 wins this year, quote me on that!

Sounds like a bet in the making to me...

[icehog3]

Simmer down now.

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by icehog3

Simmer down now.

Masshole fans, regardless of the sport, and "simmer down" do NOT go together, my friend.

I tend to get heated over my sports teams. The hatred towards the Patriots has grown exponentially over the past few years. People like to claim it is because of the taping episode, but I would venture to say it has more to do with the fact that people hate a winner. I was raised on NE sports teams that were jokes, but they were our jokes. Now that they are legit teams I often get defensive about them.

I think I need sports fan counseling. "Hi, I'm Ryan, and I am a CeltiRedBruPat fanatic."

[Gargoyle]

Originally Posted by dogface_313

I tend to get heated over my sports teams. The hatred towards the Patriots has grown exponentially over the past few years. People like to claim it is because of the taping episode, but I would venture to say it has more to do with the fact that people hate a winner. I was raised on NE sports teams that were jokes, but they were our jokes. Now that they are legit teams I often get defensive about them.

I think I need sports fan counseling. "Hi, I'm Ryan, and I am a CeltiRedBruPat fanatic."

No kidding! I remember suffering on the freezing aluminum benches many years ago when the "Patsies" were getting nuked 45-3 by the Falcons. Then the balance of power shifts and people get pissed that we are percieved to run up the score... I remember this game and want more blood!

I enjoy the moment now, because as we have seen with the Bruins and Celtics a few years ago, things can fall apart and you are bottom dwellers quickly.

[TheTraveler]

Originally Posted by Gargoyle

Then the balance of power shifts and people get pissed that we are percieved to run up the score... I remember this game and want more blood!

I say show no mercy in ANY sport. It's a field of play/combat/glory, not a place to play pat-a-cake.

Seriously, though, I think running up a score is the only way to play. If you're not going to give it 100% don't step on the field. Besides, a lot of players in the last 1/3 of their careers depend on the stats they've built and the reputation they've earned. Hitting cruise at the end of blow-out games could cost them a couple of hits/20 more yards/another 5 baskets/etc, and over a couple of years that makes a difference in their stats.

On the flip side - I realize that with the physicality of these games it's possible a player may get a terrible injury by NOT slowing down at the end of a blow-out game. You take your chances either way ... I say go down fighting.

/threadjack Sorry about that.

Back on topic, I root for the Pats any time they play unless they happen to play the Steelers or the Bears or the Browns - those are the teams I really root for. I've always been a fan of most things NE - football, furniture and maple syrup top the list. After all, you guys pretty much fathered this nation's rebellion against the jolly old Brits. (nothing against the Brits, you guys make FANTASTIC pipe tobacco and Pusser's Rum is out of this world! ).

Geez, am I rambling? Where are my meds? Oh, there's that cigar ... good, I can calm down now.

One final note ... I've never seen a hockey game hit cruise control. Those guys are fighters!

GO PATS !!! (unless you're playing my teams)

there's a difference between hating a team (hey I hate the Jets, see how easy that is) and just thinking a team is on the decline and not very good anymore.

Just because people don't worship at your altar doesn't make them haters.

Apparantly Im not alone......

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/1...ime-has-passed

[RJK18]

Originally Posted by dogface_313

I tend to get heated over my sports teams. The hatred towards the Patriots has grown exponentially over the past few years. People like to claim it is because of the taping episode, but I would venture to say it has more to do with the fact that people hate a winner. I was raised on NE sports teams that were jokes, but they were our jokes. Now that they are legit teams I often get defensive about them.

I think I need sports fan counseling. "Hi, I'm Ryan, and I am a CeltiRedBruPat fanatic."

I think the hatred comes from that @-hole coach. Wow what a jerk. He doesn't even show mutual respect for an opposing coach and player coming to shake his hand after a game.

Originally Posted by RJK18

I think the hatred comes from that @-hole coach. Wow what a jerk. He doesn't even show mutual respect for an opposing coach and player coming to shake his hand after a game.

That is the main reason for my dislike, I'm mean other than the bad blood rivalry that the teams have.

[The Poet]

Speaking of Superbowl wins, two words - David Tyree.


Sorry, couldn't resist that.

Joe and Rob, like I said before everybody hates a winner.

I can't wait to see the Pats play next week. It is going to be like a Prize fighter that has tasted his own blood for a first time in a long time. They are going to come out in the first half like Mike Tyson answering the opening bell!