GG Hot Trend: Patriots : Patriots lost in the chaos

The Patriots blew a nine-point fourth-quarter lead. The Ravens kicked a last-second field goal for the 31-30 win. The play was not reviewable. Esteban Garza, the lowly replacement official, knew the rule. Belichick, apparently, did not. The NFL will soon fine him $50,000, maybe more, for his actions. The Patriots lost their cool and their second straight game, and it is, of course, all the refs’ fault. As Brandon Spikes tweeted after the defense gave up 503 yards, “Can someone please tell these (expletive) Zebras foot locker called and they’re needed back at work!!!” If you’re keeping score at home, that’s three more exclamation points than sacks of Joe Flacco. In fact, Flacco dropped back 41 times and the Patriots did not record a single QB hit. Not one. Bleeping zebras. Why don’t you go back to Foot Locker? Now we all agree the officiating has been a disaster. No debate there. The game is too fast for these guys, the rules too complicated, the players and coaches too intimidating. Clearly, Roger Goodell should have either made a deal with the real refs long before the season began, or fired the whole entitled bunch of them. You don’t want to switch to a 401(k)? Fine. Get lost. We’re moving on to Plan B. Then he could have lured away the best college refs in the country — and for $10,000 a game (which is about what they’re offering the old refs), it wouldn’t have been that hard. The players and coaches would have understood that the new refs were permanent and weren’t returning to Division 3 or to Foot Locker. Instead this is what we get: eight substitute teachers and more than 100 large, violent men trying to intimidate them. One question, Mr. Commissioner: Did you really think this was a good idea? What was your second choice — to let some guy make the calls from his table at Buffalo Wild Wings? It is such a foolish plan that it’s hard to believe Bud Selig didn’t think of it first. Ed Hochuli had a tough time with the NFL pass interference rules. Did we think some guy from the Lingerie League was going to grasp them? The chaos should come as a surprise to no one. The Patriots’ performance amid the chaos? Stunning. Upset of the year so far. On Sunday night, the Patriots briefly found themselves in a shootout with Flacco and the Ravens. For those new to the NFL, this should give the Pats a big advantage. Their quarterback is the best in the game at spreading out his receivers and picking apart a defense. He did some of that Sunday. He also did a lot of handing off to Danny Woodhead, which is like Michael Jordan looking for Will Perdue on the break. Woodhead carried nine times for 15 yards in the second half. When it was clear the refs were ready to throw a flag on any and all contact by pass defenders, what did the Patriots do? Ran 18 times in the second half. Brady threw just 19. With the aging remains of Ray Lewis patrolling the middle of the field, Rob Gronkowski was targeted just once in the second half. He did not make a catch. The Patriots blew the lead. They lost. They’re 1-2, tied with Miami for last place in the AFC East. Maybe it’s not Josh McDaniels’ fault. He’s been gone a while. Someone has to remind him: He has a great quarterback and some dangerous receivers. He also has some skittish, flag-happy officials. Take advantage. Spread them out. Run to the line. Throw and keep throwing. More Gronk, less Woodhead. More pressure on the defense, fewer huddles. Ignore the noise. Enjoy the chaos. We don’t know when it will end, but we know this: Only the losers will blame their failures on the substitute teacher.

GG Hot Trend

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Patriots : Patriots lost in the chaos

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