The Swamp

brian wrote:(And on a more cynical note, I'm kinda sick of the people on Twitter saying "There's no excuse to assault a 2-year-old child." Geez, you think doctor? Is that something that even needs to be expressed? "I'm gonna stick my neck out here and insist that taking another life is wrong." Strong take.

In a similar vein, I give you a paragraph from the Pioneer Press - a Twin Cities newspaper - this is from their story about this horrifying event:

The news resonated all across Twitter as fellow athletes and entertainers expressed their sympathies to Peterson and his family. LeBron James, Tim Tebow, Kevin Love, Adam Sandler and Josh Duhamel were among those posting messages.

Maybe this belongs in a different thread, but Twitter is a cesspool. Expressing sympathy on twitter does nothing but say "Look at me!"

And is this what is considered newsworthy? Celebrity reactions to an event?

I'm just waiting for Ja Rule to weigh in before I make up my mind on what to think.

can they fire Kubiak yet? (repeat weekly)

He's making the Rams look like world beaters.

Texans are taking a beat down.

Amazing how a team can lose at home to both the Seahawks and the Rams in the same season. Those must be the 2 worse road teams ever.

Sam Bradford has 3 TD passes.

Texans just called a timeout because they can't figure out whether to go for it or not on 4th and 5 at the STL 18.

They're down 31-6.

Trying to figure out whether to punt or kick the FG. Merits to both from a coach's point of view. But which will best set you up for a cushy high school coaching job after this season ends?

Lions show what they're made of in a comeback win against Cleveland. Someone I'll never hear about again was playing QB for the Browns.

It's like one of those WWII submarine movies.

Captain: "Dive, dive!"

But a W for the Lions nonetheless. And we have our universal excuse: Calvin wasn't 100%.

2 picks in two weeks? Manning needs to hang up the spikes.

Holy shit that Pats game was a roller coaster.

How is Brandon Weeden in the NFL?

Gillette was literally half full for the Pats winning TD. Best fans ever.

this game is pretty intense. Both the Redskins and Cowboys have been charged with bench minors.

Bizarre call after the Patriots game winning touchdown. Makes me remember how much I don't miss living in Boston WRT sports.

The Sybian wrote:Bizarre call after the Patriots game winning touchdown. Makes me remember how much I don't miss living in Boston WRT sports.

That's former Patriots' backup QB Scott Zolak with that bizarre call. He's an unabashed homer when it comes to the Patriots, and is consistently brutal. In my opinion, the Boston media is far more annoying when covering the Patriots than any other local team. Even though it's been 9 years since the Patriots' last Superbowl win (and every other local team has won a title more recently), they still act like Belichick and Brady are infallible. Even when the Patriots make a decision that's just plainly wrong (e.g., letting Welker go and signing Danny Amendola), a good portion of the media (and Pats fans) will just assume that because Belichick made the decision, by definition, it was correct. Even though Welker already has 8 TDs for Denver, and Amendola's done nothing but get injured, people will probably still claim that Belichick had some masterful plan.

The Cowboys will find a way to lose this one, like they always do.

brian wrote:Gillette was literally half full for the Pats winning TD. Best fans ever.

Well it is different, Lions fans usually leave in the first half.

(and the fans are much different then they where at Foxboro/Sullivan.)

Unicorns. Show Ponies. Where's the Beef.

I smell a Barstool Sports T-Shirt coming...

Joe K wrote:Even when the Patriots make a decision that's just plainly wrong (e.g., letting Welker go and signing Danny Amendola), a good portion of the media (and Pats fans) will just assume that because Belichick made the decision, by definition, it was correct. Even though Welker already has 8 TDs for Denver, and Amendola's done nothing but get injured, people will probably still claim that Belichick had some masterful plan.

Since rush missed this last night, we'll hit up the time machine:

rush 3/13/13 wrote:10 million guaranteed for Danny, for a younger player that isn't oft-injured, but hurt in sort of freak instances.

and

Welker’s 11 drops last season were second-most in the NFL. Amendola’s drop rate (2.1 percent of targets dropped) rated second-lowest in the NFL.

Was just going to go and look up that thread myself, Rass.

Have we discussed Von Miller and why he's not suspended for at least a year for trying to pay a drug tester to clean up his positive result? Should A-Rod hire his PR people?

rass wrote:

Joe K wrote:Even when the Patriots make a decision that's just plainly wrong (e.g., letting Welker go and signing Danny Amendola), a good portion of the media (and Pats fans) will just assume that because Belichick made the decision, by definition, it was correct. Even though Welker already has 8 TDs for Denver, and Amendola's done nothing but get injured, people will probably still claim that Belichick had some masterful plan.

Since rush missed this last night, we'll hit up the time machine:

rush 3/13/13 wrote:10 million guaranteed for Danny, for a younger player that isn't oft-injured, but hurt in sort of freak instances.

and

Welker’s 11 drops last season were second-most in the NFL. Amendola’s drop rate (2.1 percent of targets dropped) rated second-lowest in the NFL.

Do concussions in the NFL count as freak instances? Likely no

Brontoburglar wrote:

rass wrote:

Joe K wrote:Even when the Patriots make a decision that's just plainly wrong (e.g., letting Welker go and signing Danny Amendola), a good portion of the media (and Pats fans) will just assume that because Belichick made the decision, by definition, it was correct. Even though Welker already has 8 TDs for Denver, and Amendola's done nothing but get injured, people will probably still claim that Belichick had some masterful plan.

Since rush missed this last night, we'll hit up the time machine:

rush 3/13/13 wrote:10 million guaranteed for Danny, for a younger player that isn't oft-injured, but hurt in sort of freak instances.

and

Welker’s 11 drops last season were second-most in the NFL. Amendola’s drop rate (2.1 percent of targets dropped) rated second-lowest in the NFL.

Do concussions in the NFL count as freak instances? Likely no

Don't forget that he just came back from an injury he suffered in week 1.

FWIW it is still the right personnel decision. Of course, we could use Welker now post Hernandez but at the time it was the right move. More importantly... THE PATS ARE 5-1!!!!!!!! Yall shit talkers should post the record of your teams before your future comments.

Gunpowder wrote:Was just going to go and look up that thread myself, Rass.

Have we discussed Von Miller and why he's not suspended for at least a year for trying to pay a drug tester to clean up his positive result? Should A-Rod hire his PR people?

I have to agree. As a Bronco fan, I feel fortunate that they only added two games for that. Glad he's coming back. The Denver defense needs help.

Is it just me, or does Robert Griffin the 3rd suck this season?

He was absolutely brutal down the stretch last night, exhibiting the pocket awareness of Rob Johnson and the touch of Jeff George.

If it is his knee that's causing this, shouldn't the Skins think about shutting him down and starting Cousins?

Gunpowder wrote:
Don't forget that he just came back from an injury he suffered in week 1.

Actually happened Week 3 of preseason IIRC and was aggravated week 1. As for the Amendola/Welker discussion, I've said elsewhere I don't think the Patriots actually could have kept him. There was some backroom slight, real or perceived, that led Welker out the door. Perhaps it was the contingency negotiations with Amendola, the previous franchising of Welker, or the lack of a long term deal previously. He took less money to go to Denver.

As for calling out Amendola for getting hurt this week, I'm pretty sure that Welker would have had the same injury if he had taken a vicious hit helmet to helmet.

Joe K wrote:That's former Patriots' backup QB Scott Zolak with that bizarre call. .

Zolak is horrendous. His "show" that he does/did(?) with Andy Gresch was unlistenable. I used to like to listen to Gil and Gino call the games but Zolack and Socci suck worse than Dan Dierdorf.

HaulCitgo wrote:FWIW it is still the right personnel decision. Of course, we could use Welker now post Hernandez but at the time it was the right move. More importantly... THE PATS ARE 5-1!!!!!!!! Yall shit talkers should post the record of your teams before your future comments.

No, because that would be insane and also suggest that the Patriots should trade Brady straight up for Alex Smith.

My team is 1-4, therefore I clearly have no idea what I'm talking about because I made all of their moves as GM.

Rush2112 wrote:

Gunpowder wrote:
Don't forget that he just came back from an injury he suffered in week 1.

Actually happened Week 3 of preseason IIRC and was aggravated week 1. As for the Amendola/Welker discussion, I've said elsewhere I don't think the Patriots actually could have kept him. There was some backroom slight, real or perceived, that led Welker out the door. Perhaps it was the contingency negotiations with Amendola, the previous franchising of Welker, or the lack of a long term deal previously. He took less money to go to Denver.

As for calling out Amendola for getting hurt this week, I'm pretty sure that Welker would have had the same injury if he had taken a vicious hit helmet to helmet.

But he doesn't and Amendola always does. You can keep clinging to "all of these injuries to Amendola that happen basically weekly are freak injuries" thing, but nobody else sees it.

Rush2112 wrote:

Gunpowder wrote:
Don't forget that he just came back from an injury he suffered in week 1.

Actually happened Week 3 of preseason IIRC and was aggravated week 1. As for the Amendola/Welker discussion, I've said elsewhere I don't think the Patriots actually could have kept him. There was some backroom slight, real or perceived, that led Welker out the door. Perhaps it was the contingency negotiations with Amendola, the previous franchising of Welker, or the lack of a long term deal previously. He took less money to go to Denver.

As for calling out Amendola for getting hurt this week, I'm pretty sure that Welker would have had the same injury if he had taken a vicious hit helmet to helmet.

The backroom door moves were, in my mind, done because the Patriots thought like you, that they could easily replace him and they made him and Amendola's a clone and yada yada whatevs. I think they were wrong. So the semantics don't really mean much to me in this particular case.

Gunpowder wrote:The backroom door moves were, in my mind, done because the Patriots thought like you, that they could easily replace him and they made him and Amendola's a clone and yada yada whatevs. I think they were wrong. So the semantics don't really mean much to me in this particular case.

Would I have liked to have kept Welker? Sure. Yes, Amendola missed 3 games and Welker and the guy in the stands are scoring touchdowns in Denver.

I think they did those moves because they knew that Welker wasn't going to resign and they needed to get someone to play in a very important position in their offense. So far it looks like it wasn't a great move but who knows?

I actually think Talib's injury is more important to the current team than Amendola. He's been the defensive and team MVP by a wide margin so far.

5-1 with the injuries we've had is fantastic. Do I think we're going to win the Super Bowl? Probably not, but I do think we're one of the better teams in the league.

Rush2112 wrote:

Gunpowder wrote:The backroom door moves were, in my mind, done because the Patriots thought like you, that they could easily replace him and they made him and Amendola's a clone and yada yada whatevs. I think they were wrong. So the semantics don't really mean much to me in this particular case.

Would I have liked to have kept Welker? Sure. Yes, Amendola missed 3 games and Welker and the guy in the stands are scoring touchdowns in Denver.

I think they did those moves because they knew that Welker wasn't going to resign and they needed to get someone to play in a very important position in their offense. So far it looks like it wasn't a great move but who knows?

I actually think Talib's injury is more important to the current team than Amendola. He's been the defensive and team MVP by a wide margin so far.

5-1 with the injuries we've had is fantastic. Do I think we're going to win the Super Bowl? Probably not, but I do think we're one of the better teams in the league.

5-1's always good but I don't know how that or Talib being awesome applies to Amendola. I think they knew Welker wasn't going to resign because they dared him not to resign. Could have signed him a few years ago.

I guess we can move on.

Gunpowder wrote:I think they knew Welker wasn't going to resign because they dared him not to resign. Could have signed him a few years ago.

He turned down multiple multi-year offers prior to his being franchised, so it was his choice not sign.

What were the offers?

Can't do in depth research as I'm at work but a quick google reveals:

"Welker prefers a longer-term deal which would provide even more financial security, but the sides have been apart in negotiations.
The Boston Globe previously reported that the Patriots offered Welker a fully guaranteed two-year, $16 million contract during the 2011 season."

He signed 2 yrs /12 million with the Broncos.

The deal with Denver, after the bridges were burned, doesn't really carry much weight to me here. He was pissed and probably wanted to go there. I vaguely remember Welker wanting a long term deal, not wanting to be franchised, and being pissed at what he thought were lowball offers.

Another theory I have is that maybe none of that is the case and he just wanted to get away from Belichick's team.

Gunpowder wrote: I vaguely remember Welker wanting a long term deal, not wanting to be franchised, and being pissed at what he thought were lowball offers.

Another theory I have is that maybe none of that is the case and he just wanted to get away from Belichick's team.

Well two of those things didn't happen when he signed with Denver. Maybe Brady was hitting on Miss Hooters and he got pissed.

I just think that there really wasn't any way that they were going to be able to resign him and they had to get the next best thing. Whatevs.

We've got one loss they have none...but we have a defense that can actually stop a team from scoring.

This discussion isn't about the Broncos, you fixated boy. They'll play later this year and we can get our digs in after that outcome.

He wasn't slighted by the Broncos (or didn't feel slighted) and so the contract they offered is meaningless in this discussion.

James Harrison took less from the Bengals because he felt slighted by the Steelers. A lot less.

The Bucs have scored 19 points total in the second half of their 5 games this year.