Tom Brady: Target on his back

Dr. Giganto

Well, I'll just rewrite what I posted in the shoutbox before...

Maybe the Pats are running up the score, maybe they aren't. If they are, it shows a serious lack of class and respect. Wins and losses are what matters...It doesnt matter if you win by 1, 10, or 20, or 30...it's all just one win in the "W" column.

If you can win without going out of your way to embarrass your opponent, you should. Do you have to? Of course not. But it's the right thing to do. What do you gain from running up the score?

I could go to the local high school and beat up a 14-year old kid if I wanted to. Does that mean I should do it? Of course not. I'm obviously at such an advantage, that doing so makes me look like nothing but a pathetic bully.

Now, let's say hypothetically (in other words, not a real-life example...just a potential game situation) the Patriots are up by 35 points late in the game and they decide "Fuck that, I'm going to embarrass this team, let's throw a deep bomb" What exactly do they accomplish? Other than making themselves look like a pathetic schoolyard bully. They're obviously the better team, and they proved it through the first 55 minutes of the game. The only thing a late TD does is make the other team feel worse about themselves. It certainly doesnt improve your chances of winning the game all that much.

You want to know another reason why you dont run up the score: Week 3 last season, the Seahawks took a 35-0 lead on the Giants. Not only did they keep Alexander and Hasselbeck in the game, they had Hasselbeck continue to throw deep. And even after he banged his hand on a Giants player's helmet and seemed to injure his hand a little bit, HE STILL CONTINUED TO THROW THE FUCKING BALL!!!

And you know what the outcome of that game was? Shaun Alexander broke his foot and missed the next 6 games, Hasselbeck was ineffective for much of the season (missing 4 games int he process) and the team lost 3 of their next 4 games, and had a losing record in the final 13 weeks. They only made the playoffs because the NFC was so god-awful last year.


If you have the game won, dont rub it in. Show a little class and respect.

Dakstang

WC's Resident Redneck

The difference is that Brady has typically been on the bench in the 4th quarter for most of the season.

If the second team still scores on them what should they do?

3rd string, 4th string,....practice sqaud?

That is ridiculous.

Jayman

Super Moderator

If the Patriots REALLY wanted to embarrass the Skins, they would have kept Brady, Moss, and the rest of the first-stringers in the entire game and racked up 100 points on them, not 52.

It's pretty pathetic for people to whine when the Patriots second-string quarterback ran in a TD on Washington's PRIMARY defense, and the third-string QB was running circles around them.

So what exactly should the point difference be before the Patriots should stick to just running the ball and then punting it away after 3 plays?

Here's another thing to consider: say the Patriots were up by 40-something like they were. Brady keeps handing it off to his RB, who pounds through the line and gains 5-10 yards per play. Why wouldn't this equally piss off Washington as well? They could just as easily gotten a late hit on the RB, or a cheap shot that would have breaken his leg.

It's pretty sad to alienate Brady in all this. Why, because he's the "face" of the team? Sounds like a pathetic way of rewarding him for his talents.

All it will take is some sore loser to act unprofessionally and take someone like Brady, Moss, or whoever out of the game. And then we can sit here and talk about "lack of class" or "lack of respect" or whatever I was reading earlier. You have to think of this on both sides of the coin.

Dr. Giganto

Well, if they're not running up the score, then it shouldnt be a big deal. And, after looking at the play-by-plays from a bunch of games, it doesnt really seem like they've been running up the score.

I just hate the "if you dont want them to run up the score, stop them" defense. It's an excuse for people to act classless and to disrespect their opponents. And you should never disrespect ANYBODY, especially not your own peers

Twist of Lemon

MMA Moderator

Like I said to drunk before if you can justify going for it on 4th and 1 In the fourth up by well over 30. Good for you and if you probably can then You can got right in the same bandwagon as everyone else is. Fact is that Bellichek isn't helping matters by bullying other teams, the fake spike when ahead by loads, the 4th downs, the passing when YOU should be running the ball.

Perfect example of how to run out a game, Houston at Chargers. Chargers ahead at the half by 35, end the game at 35 and run most of the half with Turner and LT up the middle. Patriots toke a shit on any sort of respect to the Redskins and told them to fuck off in the process during that game. Mark my words if they keep that up Dwight Freeney has no problems taking a couple of late hits if there down by tons. Im sure Bob Sanders dosn't give a shit who Randy Moss is either. If you show disrespect, your going to get hurt sooner or later.

Suntan Superman

WC's Resident Samoan

It's like the unwritten rules. MOST teams will try to run out the clock, not continue to pass the ball, run to the outside/out of bounds, etc. From what I've heard, the Patriots did not do either. I've never heard anyone complain about a team scoring late in the game because they continued to ween the clock and run the ball up the middle

Danny Diamond

Founder/Admin

Right. A Win is a Win. So again. Why does it matter if you score as many as possible. Doesnt scoring more points give you a better chance of winning? Hmmm remember last year the Bears were down by 3 scores to Arizona with less than 5 minutes to go and THEY LET THEM OFF THE HOOK. THEY WERE WHO THEY THOUGHT WE WERE.

Or perhaps the Houston Tennessee game this year where Houston scores 27 points in the 4th quarter?

Street Cred

So you are saying that the Patriots are a high school bully and the rest of the league are akin to 14 year old boys? Because thats what that analogy seems to imply.

But did that happen? No.

Danny Diamond

Founder/Admin

Also. I hate to bring actual facts and statistics into this but.............

Please note the time of possesions for each team I highlighted and also the fucking ridiculous failed 3rd down conversions that lead to punts by the Skins. Sorry, but the Skins have only themselves to blame for not saving some face in this one.

Washington Redskins (4-3-0)

1st Quarter
Start Time	Time Poss	Drive Began	# of Plays	Net Yards	Result
15:00	4:00	WAS 20	9	36	Punt
03:44	1:41	WAS 15	3	6	Punt

2nd Quarter
Start Time	Time Poss	Drive Began	# of Plays	Net Yards	Result
14:51	1:34	WAS 12	6	15	Punt
08:08	1:26	WAS 22	3	-1	Fumble
05:45	1:19	WAS 28	2	-4	Interception
04:18	2:29	NE 45	7	18	Fumble
00:17	0:17	WAS 40	2	33	End of Half

3rd Quarter
Start Time	Time Poss	Drive Began	# of Plays	Net Yards	Result
07:14	1:27	WAS 20	3	-9	Fumble
05:47	3:45	WAS 40	7	48	Downs

4th Quarter
Start Time	Time Poss	Drive Began	# of Plays	Net Yards	Result
09:06	0:36	WAS 12	3	0	Punt
05:53	2:53	WAS 37	8	63	Touchdown
01:06	0:44	WAS 3	3	-1	Punt

That's 6 Punts, 3 Fumbles and 1 INT for those keeping score at home.

New England Patriots (8-0-0)

1st Quarter
Start Time	Time Poss	Drive Began	# of Plays	Net Yards	Result
11:00	7:16	NE 10	14	90	Touchdown
02:03	2:12	NE 34	5	15	Punt

2nd Quarter
Start Time	Time Poss	Drive Began	# of Plays	Net Yards	Result
13:17	5:09	NE 33	9	67	Touchdown
06:42	0:57	WAS 21	4	3	Field Goal
04:26	0:08	NE 40	1	0	Fumble
01:49	1:32	NE 27	8	73	Touchdown

3rd Quarter - please note this is when the game was well in hand
Start Time	Time Poss	Drive Began	# of Plays	Net Yards	Result
15:00	7:46	NE 15	13	85	Touchdown
02:02	7:56	NE 12	14	88	Touchdown

4th Quarter
Start Time	Time Poss	Drive Began	# of Plays	Net Yards	Result
08:30	2:37	WAS 45	6	45	Touchdown
03:00	1:54	WAS 41	3	-9	Punt
00:22	0:22	WAS 35	1	-1	End of Game

Twist of Lemon

MMA Moderator

I'd like to add that you still havn't justified going for it on 4th and 1 when your ahead by more then thirty points or passing it deep downfield during the fourth. Just that Redskins have a young QB

Suntan Superman

WC's Resident Samoan