Enough with the Brady excuses (1 Viewer)

[jurb26]

We can debate what could have happen if Welker comes down with the ball on that play, but I have seen him catch that ball countless times on similar throws. I would guess 3 out of 4 times. IMO, he should have caught it . . . but Brady certainly didn't help Welker's cause any. And like every other game, if you have to point to one or two plays that impacted the outcome, your team fell short in other areas or other drives. If the Pats got into the endzone when they were deep in the red zone earlier, that one non catch would not have loomed as large (just as an example).

I agree with you, David. I don't know why so many people try to always isolate a single play in games like this and fixate on them as if they are they "difference." There is no way ONE play can theoretically be that big of a difference. The fact of the matter is NE caught some serious breaks in that game (not saying NYG didn't only pointing it out as this is the side of the argument that it's relative too). NmE got away with IMO a blatant PI on Manningham in the 2nd half and got lucky that Manninghamn didn't come down with his 1st long pass that carried him out of bounds. That play was just as critical as the Welker drop. If that play is made the Welker drop is not even a factor, or maybe it is...

 

[Boston]

Football. more than any other sport, is a team game. Yet the QBs get the credit for most wins and get accused of choking when their team loses. That's the way it goes, I'm afraid.

I agree with most of the last few replies, but I have to tell ya, I am not hearing Brady get much of the blame for this loss. As a Giants living in the heart of Patriots land I've had to listen to how great Brady was in the first Superbowl. Never mind that 145 yards passing is a pretty weak way to earn MVP honors. It was all about how great Brady was and little credit given to the D which I felt really carried them to that win. If that is the standard, then Brady should be wearing the goat horns for this most recent performance. From what I've heard he hasn't been wearing them. Welker has been given them instead. Next in line has been Branch, Hernandez and the D. It seems like (some) Brady fans want to have it both ways.

The worst is the abuse Welker gets over this, and Brady just let him take it. Welker has put himself out there, doing whatever it takes, and playing through and beyond his own short comings. Its disturbing that he is the one taking the heat. His catch would not have sealed the deal, or promised any chance of a win for sure. It was a very tough catch, one that not many people his size even adjusts to put their hands on that ball. You could VERY EASILY say Brady's dumb safety or his dumb INT, or his inability outside of that pass, to lead his team down the field to put the game away was the cause of the loss. I dont see how Welker is even close to being the goat, but he takes it and puts it on his shoulders. I have some serious respect for him after that. He didnt call out Brady, (nor did anyone related or in relations to him) he didnt complain about the throw or the defense not making a stop, and he didnt go dancing away the pain. He took it and is probably going to come back even harder next year.

Where are you getting this info? Locally everyone is taking the blame...from Brady having some bad throws (especially on the safety and the int) to Welker not making that tough catch to the D for not making the stop to Ninkovich going offsides to BB the GM not having enough horses on D...this was a team loss but Brady is definitely taking his fair share of the blame...not sure what you're looking for here...the guy is an all time great but he's not perfect and has made more than his share of mistakes but at no time as he not shouldered his share of the blame or pointed a finger at any team-mate...

 

[Andrew74]

biggest thing IMO, something that gets overlooked far too easily, is that they haven't won anything since both Crennel and Weis left after the 2004 season...

I think this is oversimplified. You can say the same thing that NE hasn't won anything without Pioli and Dimitroff.But the real reason the Pats haven't won anything lately is they don't have a defense filled with the likes of Seymour, Law, Samuel, Bruschi, McGinnest, Vrabel, Milloy, Harrison, Seau, etc.

People can say that Brady is the cause of them not winning, but echoing Giselle, he can't play defense.

Since their last SB victory, it's not like the Pats have been deplorable. They've advanced to 2 Super Bowls and an AFC Championship. That ties them with the Steelers in terms of conference championship games in that time.

Put another way, how many other franchises would cut off their right arms to have been in 3 championship games in that time?

Exactly...it seems some non-Patriot fans just don't understand how many big-time players were on that D...many of them were playmakers as well which they are totally devoid of now...what exactly could Crennel do to make that D any better...play Edelman at MLB...the curve the Pats are being graded on is getting a little silly...they were a play from winning the AFC in 06 (and probably beating the Bears) and winning a Super Bowl in 07 and 11..they were a #1 seed in 07, 10 and 11...they have not been an 8-8 team for the past five years...they are a top-tier team that due to poor personel decisions have not put a complete enough team together to get over the hump...that is not an excuse but reality...personally I am not overly happy with how they are currently built and how imbalanced they are and I totally believe that until they get a legit pass-rush and some defensive play-makers they are not going to win another title...

To extend this further, the Pats have still been the team to beat in the regular season since "their last title." Granted, having a good regular season record ultimately doesn't mean much, but they have won the most games by a decent amount in 2005-2011, even with no rings to show for it.NE 86

IND 77

PIT 74

SD 72

BAL 68

NYG 68

GB 67

CHI 66

DAL 65

NO 65

PHI 62.5

ATL 61

TEN 58

DEN 57

JAX 56

NYJ 55

SEA 55

CAR 54

MIN 54

CIN 53.5

ARI 50

SF 50

TB 50

HOU 49

MIA 47

WAS 47

KC 46

BUF 42

CLE 38

OAK 36

DET 33

STL 29

Honest question - what's the SOS for these teams? All I hear is the Pats have an easy schedule. 2008 was a cupcake; they get #1 seed this year without beating a team with a winning record; etc. just trying to connect reg season dominance with all the recent flameouts in the playoffs.

 

[Devine Intervention]

Football. more than any other sport, is a team game. Yet the QBs get the credit for most wins and get accused of choking when their team loses. That's the way it goes, I'm afraid.

I agree with most of the last few replies, but I have to tell ya, I am not hearing Brady get much of the blame for this loss. As a Giants living in the heart of Patriots land I've had to listen to how great Brady was in the first Superbowl. Never mind that 145 yards passing is a pretty weak way to earn MVP honors. It was all about how great Brady was and little credit given to the D which I felt really carried them to that win. If that is the standard, then Brady should be wearing the goat horns for this most recent performance. From what I've heard he hasn't been wearing them. Welker has been given them instead. Next in line has been Branch, Hernandez and the D. It seems like (some) Brady fans want to have it both ways.

The worst is the abuse Welker gets over this, and Brady just let him take it. Welker has put himself out there, doing whatever it takes, and playing through and beyond his own short comings. Its disturbing that he is the one taking the heat. His catch would not have sealed the deal, or promised any chance of a win for sure. It was a very tough catch, one that not many people his size even adjusts to put their hands on that ball. You could VERY EASILY say Brady's dumb safety or his dumb INT, or his inability outside of that pass, to lead his team down the field to put the game away was the cause of the loss. I dont see how Welker is even close to being the goat, but he takes it and puts it on his shoulders. I have some serious respect for him after that. He didnt call out Brady, (nor did anyone related or in relations to him) he didnt complain about the throw or the defense not making a stop, and he didnt go dancing away the pain. He took it and is probably going to come back even harder next year.

Where are you getting this info? Locally everyone is taking the blame...from Brady having some bad throws (especially on the safety and the int) to Welker not making that tough catch to the D for not making the stop to Ninkovich going offsides to BB the GM not having enough horses on D...this was a team loss but Brady is definitely taking his fair share of the blame...not sure what you're looking for here...the guy is an all time great but he's not perfect and has made more than his share of mistakes but at no time as he not shouldered his share of the blame or pointed a finger at any team-mate...

Just watch ESPN or read on this forum. Im sure its different locally but it seems like Welker is getting it the hardest and on these forums everyone is making excuses for Brady.

 

[David Yudkin]

biggest thing IMO, something that gets overlooked far too easily, is that they haven't won anything since both Crennel and Weis left after the 2004 season...

I think this is oversimplified. You can say the same thing that NE hasn't won anything without Pioli and Dimitroff.But the real reason the Pats haven't won anything lately is they don't have a defense filled with the likes of Seymour, Law, Samuel, Bruschi, McGinnest, Vrabel, Milloy, Harrison, Seau, etc.

People can say that Brady is the cause of them not winning, but echoing Giselle, he can't play defense.

Since their last SB victory, it's not like the Pats have been deplorable. They've advanced to 2 Super Bowls and an AFC Championship. That ties them with the Steelers in terms of conference championship games in that time.

Put another way, how many other franchises would cut off their right arms to have been in 3 championship games in that time?

Exactly...it seems some non-Patriot fans just don't understand how many big-time players were on that D...many of them were playmakers as well which they are totally devoid of now...what exactly could Crennel do to make that D any better...play Edelman at MLB...the curve the Pats are being graded on is getting a little silly...they were a play from winning the AFC in 06 (and probably beating the Bears) and winning a Super Bowl in 07 and 11..they were a #1 seed in 07, 10 and 11...they have not been an 8-8 team for the past five years...they are a top-tier team that due to poor personel decisions have not put a complete enough team together to get over the hump...that is not an excuse but reality...personally I am not overly happy with how they are currently built and how imbalanced they are and I totally believe that until they get a legit pass-rush and some defensive play-makers they are not going to win another title...

To extend this further, the Pats have still been the team to beat in the regular season since "their last title." Granted, having a good regular season record ultimately doesn't mean much, but they have won the most games by a decent amount in 2005-2011, even with no rings to show for it.NE 86

IND 77

PIT 74

SD 72

BAL 68

NYG 68

GB 67

CHI 66

DAL 65

NO 65

PHI 62.5

ATL 61

TEN 58

DEN 57

JAX 56

NYJ 55

SEA 55

CAR 54

MIN 54

CIN 53.5

ARI 50

SF 50

TB 50

HOU 49

MIA 47

WAS 47

KC 46

BUF 42

CLE 38

OAK 36

DET 33

STL 29

Honest question - what's the SOS for these teams? All I hear is the Pats have an easy schedule. 2008 was a cupcake; they get #1 seed this year without beating a team with a winning record; etc. just trying to connect reg season dominance with all the recent flameouts in the playoffs.

Across the past 7 years combined . . .

Giants	        0.521714286Colts	        0.520285714Jaguars	        0.518Texans	        0.516571429Eagles	        0.516428571Titans	        0.516142857Cowboys	        0.512857143Panthers	0.511857143Bengals	        0.511285714Dolphins	0.507428571Browns	        0.507285714Bills	        0.506142857Steelers	0.505714286Buccaneers	0.503Jets	        0.502571429Redskins	0.502142857Saints	        0.501428571Ravens	        0.501142857Lions	        0.501Falcons	        0.500857143Broncos	        0.498857143Chiefs	        0.497142857Patriots	0.496142857Raiders	        0.494428571Vikings	        0.494285714Rams	        0.483285714Chargers	0.482142857Packers	        0.480714286Bears	        0.477Seahawks	0.47485714349ers	        0.469Cardinals	0.466428571