Cut scene.
Chalk up another wacky week in Foxborough: 53 man roster finalized, Josh Kline traded, not traded, cut, Eric Rowe officially brought on board as the 12th cornerback, and the addition of a fresh banner draping over he home lighthouse:
On that note, in case you didn’t hear, Brady’s suspension has officially kicked off under Pontius Pilate. Yup, every time Tommy wants to brush his teeth or cuddle with his wife, he has to get permission from Dictator Goodell.
Some people spend hundreds of dollars a year on pre-workout, I just google image that fuckin’ guy. But I digress…
Julian Edelman gave his opinion on the suspension here. There are guys that say they’ll run through a brick wall for TB12, and then there’s Julian Edelman, who would run through the brick wall, absorb a head shot from Kam Chancellor, and take it 12 more yards for a first down for TB12.
Believe it or not, one of the best pieces of the week was by ex-Dolphin journalist and current Globe Pats critic Ben “Trollin” Volin, who has certainly raised the ire of more than a handful of Pats fans for his at times comical local coverage. Look, we all get it. You’re supposed to be objective, but there’s a fine line between objectivity and antagonism. He’s a hell of a writer, but if he spent more time on pieces like this and less time trying to be Dan Shaughnessy, he’d probably be more well received by his colleagues (Jeff Howe for one can’t stand the guy) and readers alike. We love to hate on Shank for stirring the pot, and he’s earned that. Volin still needs to.
As far as the piece however, brilliant. Ben takes a deep dive into the dynamic and relationship between Belichick and Brady, and examines why the combo has had such a great deal of success. There are some fascinating quotes in there that really stuck out to me by none other than Tom Brady Sr. He states:
“To my knowledge, he (Belichick) and Tommy have never been out to lunch. That’s perfectly time with Tommy, because he has a whole bunch of great friends. He doesn’t need to be personal friends with his coach.”
It baffles me that even as serious as the two of them are about their craft, they haven’t had even one opportunity to grab one sandwich? Or an avocado ice cream or something? Anything?! Crazy. The amount of mutual respect the two have is obvious, and boy would I like to be a fly on the wall for a weekly football one on one of theirs, but I’d much rather be the fifth wheel in a double date with them and their wives. Now that’d be something.
Speaking of Volin’s old employers, earth quaking news out of Miami this week. I’m talking double digits on the richter scale news. Get a load of this optimism. If you don’t want to read the whole thing, here’s the sparknoted version: “The Dolphins are absolutely correct in believing that Tannehill still has a chance to become a clear-cut top-15 quarterback. There are no assurances, obviously.” WOW. Not only top 15, but clear cut?! I would hope so! There’s about a dozen (tops) decent (at best) signal callers out there, and you paid this kid an obscene amount of dough. The fact that they’re not even certain he can be average is, in my opinion, a cry for help. It could be now or never for Ry guy in Miami.
Let’s move to something a little more relevant to this week, good old Carson Palmer running his mouth about Deflategate. You can read more here.”You get busted, you suffer the consequences.”
Carson, Carson, Carson. My man, what is going through your brain? Is it the fact that Brady won’t be out there Sunday? (Ya) With a team with hopes as high as yours has, I’m talking Super Bowl aspirations, you really want to slight, albeit probably overblown, the guy you very well could end up seeing in February. He doesn’t forget, and he doesn’t forgive, and you, my friend, will suffer the consequences of your words.
But for now, it’s the Jimmy G Tour Part 1.
We’re on to Arizona.
