NoSaint

Is it that hard to believe that either: A) some don’t care to get involved, or B) simply didn’t hear it Or are you picturing Ritchie screaming slurs at the top of his lungs at a quiet moment?

He was a good, not great, player. he is perhaps a better person I don’t know that he’s a wall of fame talent but wish him all the best and glad he found this in an exam instead of via a bad hit.

Sooooo I think there is reason to be optimistic but likewise cautious with that. Making the playoffs isn’t near the accomplishment that it feels like this January.

Im not seeing a whole lot of flesh being taken i am seeing a lot of twisting and turning to avoid acknowledging Ritchie likely messed up even after Ritchie publicly acknowledged he messed up without adding any caveats. im still trying to figure out if its fear of losing the player from our team — or fear we may have said similar ourselves. I’ve not been perfect, and I don’t think we need to banish the guy... I think we can say “sounds like he probably made a racial comment and I’m not down for that”

Without a doubt. Likely known today, which is why I should take my own advice and not just throw names.... I was guilty of just immediately picturing cordy when I saw it as he’s an established guy at a key position with multiple injury issues and a presser sounds like retirement for someone well known

Unfortunately it’s also a tweet on what is at best a second tier source- so it hard to hang on every word... but I do agree. If it’s a new thing though, it’s legit throwing darts blindfolded at 11+ names (maybe fewer as the guys at the game seem fine)

I mean if speculating - cordy, clay and KB are the three that have major long term stuff that may be uglier than expected when docs opened them up Maybe getting loose with the words starter and injury and it’s Henderson but it doesn’t seem right Otherwise we’re just throwing darts at names if it’s new. the probowl guys are and will continue to be visible so probably not them

Could be cordy? Some lingering health stuff there. Process of elimination should remive any probowl guys

Im curious what some of the folks that were adamant he said nothing will say here... but I’m guessing it’ll be mostly silence with a few chirps about football being a mans game and anything goes.

So long story short - the dude that hadn’t previously made stuff up probably didn’t make this up and the guy that’s said dumb stuff before probably said dumb stuff here... and its not the end of the world either? Crazy.

I mean we see good players start with hand injuries that would prevent grabbing. So in theory this kid could still play at a high level- and he’d be totally comfortable in the technique. Its an interesting situation

Lets be real, if it was an accusation against any patriot player, doc would be passing out pitchforks. He’s not suddenly super principled- he just likes this one disappearing

Or he realized that he didn’t actually want that distraction for himself and his team so he put the lid back on. Ultimately, we don’t know much of what happened. I think it would be strange to fabricate it completely, but I’m not going to riot against incognito either We don’t even know the first part. Just that no one was motivated to expose it if he did. But with the bills on offense, there’s a chance it was while it was loud - and who knows how loud it may have been said. maybe it happened, maybe it didn’t - no need to rush to say one way or the other. Doesn’t hurt to simply leave it as we don’t know.

Frankly, as should we. There’s a reason a lot of us were upset we didn’t take more shots. Catch- good pi- good interception- not bad (like a punt) at some one point you have to create chunk yardage. Especially when putting up only 3 points like a quarter of the weeks you play

I think it’s dicey. But also a guy that joined the firm 10 years after the contract finished and the league almost 10 more years later, right? It’s not like a guy that directly worked on the deal In any way shape or form? of the conflicts out there I thought a former falcons player reffing the saints falcons game was a worse example. the league would be well served to avoid these optics even if there’s no documented issue.

This honestly doesn’t bother me as long as there are some boundaries. I don’t want Tom to be playing golf with the guy 3 times a week all offseason- but these are humans in close contact with other humans and ideally all with a shared passion for the game. I don’t mind a “good game” moment or chatting pregame, or throwing a comment after a big play. i likewise don’t get fired up when coaches or players are friendly with opponents. but I get how it all can run people the wrong way.

Ill buy the “Jordan effect” or other subconscious biases. I don’t think it’s a league directive by any means though. Yes, I think they are favored to a degree though. I also think theres some truth to various other factors though. I think they are a well coached team that gets its players prepped for situations as well as any team in the league. I think that fans here are eager to remember the calls the pats get and forgot the calls that go against them. Yes, some go against them and I’d venture most flat remember none. Part of that is they are a good team and still win. Part is people want to believe in the conspiracy. i think people have started pointing at good calls as proof of bias. When you are so riled up that every call is proof even when it’s the right call — it certainly feels like they are always getting the breaks. When you add up a natural bias from refs towards stars, bias of our fans against them, and also them just being really good— things start feeling really skewed when they are probably just a little off kilter

Meh. I’m not denying pride and work ethic are big. But I think it’s hard to get 53 high talent, big, fast, smart, healthy, self motivated guys under the cap. So do you get less talent? Or take risks elsewhere? I tend to think the best teams keep some rough around the edges guys and count on the fact that when you are in the big moments they will show up. A guy that’s a trouble maker on a 6-10 squad can be a super bowl mvp on a 13-3 team kind of thing. ultimately there is a balance though. If the EJ pick worked, I don’t think we run into as much trouble with motivation. You’d have guys winning, in a scheme they were suited to play in for coaches they signed up to play for... im hoping that McD finds his couple of explosive guys that come cheaper than they should because of trouble but drink the kool aid while they are here

It’s a long shot, but any given Sunday. I always like to put these in perspective with looking at it like a playoff series almost If they played a full 7 games head to head — i think I put the over under at 4.5 pats wins, and likely bet the over still? Really I think 5 out of 7 would be the magic number.

Ha! I’m sneaky like that. Im not even sure our pick will be better, but we have to take a shot. Find a guy and go get him- however is needed. Hopefully what appears to be a more stable franchise will help be a better foundation for whoever that pick is.... but we need to go hard for someone the coaches/scouts think have a shot

I think it’s fair. I think you have to acknowledge the coaching dynamic- but that doesn’t excuse him. His inability to obtain the power one needs to succeed is as much of a strike against him as picking the wrong coach would be. When the guy that is supposed to be in charge is willing to be complacent and defer major decisions instead of making the case to his boss for how things need to be— that’s a failure. but I think that it’s hard to argue that outside of qb the marrone/schwartz team had a fantastic 50 other players assembled. Likewise, for as often as we switched scheme- we kept talent levels high. i will always be curious about the discussions about qb (draft and free agency) that happened behind closed doors.

I don’t think you understand my opinions on Tyrod any more than you understand QB play. Ive long said a Tyrod (or Orton, or fitz) could get a team there. I don’t believe the playoffs are some insurmountable accomplishment - which makes the last two decades all the more frustrating. I’ve even argued Tyrod could win some playoff games but that I don’t think he has much of a shot to string together the type of run that a super bowl requires... or the type of play that gets you to the playoffs year in and year out. i likewise think there’s a good chance that Tyrod plus a first rounder would make the most sense unless we get a good deal or surprise opportunity. I am capable of reconciling that he’s not good enough with the fact that he’s better than many and there are cap implications to a move. But we need to open up the offense and have him make plays. As was, the situation made little sense moving forward. With the new oc- maybe. yup, I too think the peterman gang is crazy But alas, it’s your whacky obsession with him where we diverge. I find it amusing and will throw a joke your way now and again. No real harm or animosity meant- but I’m going to occasionally tease you for starting so many threads about him or pointing fingers at the third string TE when we score 3 points. Our offense needed a change and production at qb has been a major problem. That’s several factors contributing but the biggest is qb.

Cheers to that, and wasn’t meaning to hit you with the melt comment as much as a general tone from many — enjoy your evening!

Foles is going to get the over on yards, and win, I think

Schwartz runs a very similar defense. Invest in the front 4. Have a disrupter inside.