Debunking the hot takes from this weekend’s “surprising” win. So many takes, so little time.
- The Patriots are playing mind games with Jimmy Garoppolo:
Teammates praised the young QB’s ability to execute within the gameplan and the offense, which sounds fine. But many in the media following the game, thought that this was a sign of the team downplaying what they saw as a herculean effort. It was a sign that Belichick had gotten to them and wanted to keep the little guy down.
A small relevant side note: according to Mike Shanahan, Robert Griffin III, a young emerging QB, didn’t want to watch his negative plays after wins or losses. He didn’t want to see the flaws in his game; he only wanted to focus on things he did right. This is one educational point of view, called “positive behavioral assessment”, but it’s not the one Bill Belichick subscribes to.
Belichick is not playing mind games, he’s preparing his player for success (and failure) in the NFL. Belichick likes his players to understand that they wouldn’t win without the guy next to him and the guy next to him and the guy on the Practice Squad replicating a defensive tendency of their opponent. Then when the game is over, he wants them to try to learn from their mistakes and move on. It’s very easy to ride the roller coaster, but good teams don’t do that. They never get too low, never get too high. Yes, good win. We’re onto — Miami. Just a reminder, RGIII is a disaster of a QB and his teammates after the game this week praised his rookie opponent as if he were the next coming.
