Here’s a look, in One-Liner fashion, of the developments from the first day of the Pats’ rookie minicamp.
The Patriots devoted two draft picks to guys who might contribute right away by returning kicks.
One of them, CB Terrence Wheatley, looked to be the best player on the field, showing off a higher gear when he had the ball in his hands.
Wheatley is wearing Asante Samuel’s No. 22.
QB Tom Brady passed along some words of wisdom to the rookies. (Hopefully he didn’t share with them any advice on curing a chronic right shoulder injury.)
The relationship between Brady and rookie QB Kevin O’Connell already reminds us of Tony the Mimbo and George.
Playing offense, defense, and specials teams in his first practice, fifth-round pick Matthew Slater could be the next Troy Brown.
Shawn Crable lined up at defensive end and linebacker on Friday.
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MarkB, a Head Coach, on 5/3/08 at 1:03 pm
Kevin O’Connell: “Tom Brady is spongeworthy!”
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JoeSixPack, a Super Bowl Champ, on 5/3/08 at 1:03 pm
OK let me get the ball rolling here…
“Cheaters!!! Patriots are cheaters!!!!”
“They’re the only team in the NFL that cheats (with the exception of the Broncos, and the Bears, and the Chiefs, and the Dolphins, and the Bucs and… pretty much everyone else) and we can’t stand them!!!”
Ahhh! That’s good football analysis!
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someidiot, a Passionate Fan, on 5/3/08 at 1:19 pm
Did Brady’s advice included how to knock up actresses and supermodels?
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brian_21, a Pro Bowler, on 5/3/08 at 1:46 pm
Nah someidiot, the advice ought to be how NOT
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brian_21, a Pro Bowler, on 5/3/08 at 1:47 pm
Nah someidiot, the advice ought to be how NOT to have a child out of wedlock.
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brian_21, a Pro Bowler, on 5/3/08 at 1:47 pm
P.S. And JoeSixPack, why did you include the Bears in a list of teams that cheat?
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roofdog, a Cheerleader, on 5/3/08 at 2:01 pm
piss and moan all you want we rock we win your teams dont we contend you dont please get used to it for the next 5 yrs
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wingnut, a Hall of Famer, on 5/3/08 at 2:08 pm
Are they showing rookies how to record opposing teams walk throughs.
-Kurt Warner
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wingnut, a Hall of Famer, on 5/3/08 at 2:13 pm
Joesixpack, you get the ball rolling and we’ll get the camera rolling.
-Patriots
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brian_21, a Pro Bowler, on 5/3/08 at 2:56 pm
roofdog, that was quite the sentence. I’m glad that in your world there are no such things as periods. Those would be annoying and confusing!
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Tom Brady Is Awesome, a Cheerleader, on 5/3/08 at 3:48 pm
Shawn Crable will be the new Willie McGinest in a few years.
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josereyes0, a Division Champ, on 5/3/08 at 4:15 pm
roofdog, as a Patriots fan I say: shut up, you’re an idiot.
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JoeSixPack, a Super Bowl Champ, on 5/3/08 at 4:51 pm
brian_21, a Division Champ, says: “P.S. And JoeSixPack, why did you include the Bears in a list of teams that cheat?”
Well, because the Bears set the bar for spying going back about 50 years ago! Do other NFL team fans really not realize what hypocrits they are regarding their righteous “Spygate” rhetoric?
http://www.thesportgallery.com/sport-stories/1967aug-nflspy.html
Here’s just one excerpt about Halas’ spy tactics:
“…in 1955 I was scouting the Rams for Halas. . . that’s when Gillman was head coach for the Rams and Jack Faulkner. was handling the defense . . . they were all zone, but I wanted to make sure. . . so I had this kid watch their practice–he was kind of a hero worshiper. I told him just what to watch for. The Rams were practicing at the old Hollywood Park. This kid hid under the scoreboard, see–he didn’t know what time the Rams started practice so he got there early–took his lunch and a thermos of coffee. Turns out he had to stay all day because they didn’t start till late afternoon. . . He was so close to the players and coaches that he could hear ‘em talkin’. He confirmed that they were still all zone by watching for what I told him. When I was sure they were still all zone, I got together with the offensive coach, Luke Johnsos, and told Luke how he could beat the zone– Force ‘em out of the zone by going to a double-wing set, which would necessitate man-on-man coverage. We killed ‘em with it . . . every third-and-long situation we just killed ‘em. . . and it was all from the information I gave ‘em by us in the spy.”
And of course the Broncos, back in the days when Tagliabue was going easy on teams (unlike Goodell who’s making an example of the Patriots and even taking away draft picks of teams caught tampering) got hit with a monetary fine that makes the Patriots $750,000 look light in comparison.
And of course the Dolphins lost their 1st round pick back int he 70s for cheating as well… (also got caught audiotaping playcalls a few years back) and the Chiefs are also referenced in the above article, and there’s countless other instances of cheating, but most NFL fans would prefer to stick their heads in the sand when it comes to such things
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JoeSixPack, a Super Bowl Champ, on 5/3/08 at 6:16 pm
The silence is deafening
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CaptainFantastik, a Super Bowl Champ, on 5/3/08 at 7:31 pm
And the list of justifications continues. One key distinction: nobody outside of the bandwagon New England fanbase looks back on those teams and thinks “cheaters”. On the other hand, just about everyone thinks “cheaters” when the Patriots are mentioned. And that’s the way it will always be.
2000-2006 New England Patriots***
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bradyswingman, a Passionate Fan, on 5/3/08 at 8:33 pm
Its deafening because the ones that spew hatred towards the Pats are all jealous haters who would give up their left nut to get a QB like Brady, a coach like Belichick and a front office man like Pioli. Nuff said.
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FloriosPhillyFan, a Head Coach, on 5/3/08 at 9:06 pm
In other news, Bill Belichick was seen today sporting a purple hoodie.
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JoeSixPack, a Super Bowl Champ, on 5/3/08 at 11:53 pm
CaptainFantastik, a Cheerleader, says: “And the list of justifications continues. One key distinction: nobody outside of the bandwagon New England fanbase looks back on those teams and thinks “cheaters”. On the other hand, just about everyone thinks “cheaters” when the Patriots are mentioned. And that’s the way it will always be.”
You got it. Most fans were outraged at first when then heard the Patriots were stealing signals. Then, slowly, fans began to figure out that stealing signals wasn’t the issue in Spygate - that “stealing” was “legal” in the NFL - condoned and encouraged by the Commissioner.
You’d think that might have been a wake up call to some team fans, but those fans have done such a good job of denying that their own teams have been cheating for over 50 years that if they don’t decry the Patriots as the only “cheaters” in the NFL, their perception of the NFL begins to crumble.
When Bob Kraft got a standing ovation at the winter meetings I interpreted that as all the other owners thanking him for taking a bullet for the rest of the NFL when MangIdiot decided to undermine the entire NFL by putting this issue before the media instead of before the commissioner.
But if this circus continues, I can’t help but think that Belichick will decide to show everyone just how deep the rabbit hole goes… with that Sporting News article documenting the cheating of teams like the Bears and Chiefs going back 50 years just the tip of the iceberg…
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subzero2401, a Rookie, on 5/4/08 at 1:37 am
Patriots’ draft grade, D- and that’s being generous. This team is on the way down.
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onanygivensunday, a Head Coach, on 5/4/08 at 11:20 am
Well, I’d rather have a team that cheats like all the rest of the NFL teams in this league do, than to have crazies on my team who try to kill… beat up wives and fans… a Jesus junkie of a coach who hasn’t learned yet that HE is not God. What’s worse? To have some crazy, idiot on your team who will pull out a gun in a split second and start mindlessly shooting even if a two year child is in the area, and now is a victim of your shooting, or a coach who taped defensive signals of another team? The previous year that teams coach stole their playbook as he was leaving to become the head coach of the Jerks…oops I mean Jets.
I don’t think people who shoot guns, especially 7 rounds try to hurt you…they’re trying to kill you.
I’m sure the Colts will come up with grand excuse as to why Harrison has, strangled (Jets ball boy), beat up (fans seeking autographs), and tried kill. I say change the Colts footballs uniforms from puke blue to black and white jail stripes, with hand cuffs and leg shackles as their logo on their helmets.
And speaking of draft grades… flunky Colts got an “F”
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PFT Planet Idiot, a Water Boy, on 5/5/08 at 9:57 am
Will Kevin bring sandwiches to the next practice?
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