The laws of logic, nature, and physics don’t always apply to Bill Belichick’s Patriots. They’ll try to convince you that two plus two equals five. That the cloudless blue sky you’re looking at is actually a purple haze. That what goes up stays aloft in perpetuity. That Julian Edelman is as good a wide receiver as Wes Welker.
You’re expected to just nod in the affirmative, utter “In Belichick We Trust,” and walk in lockstep off a cognitive cliff. Understandable. The guy is unquestionably the greatest football coach of his generation, probably of any generation. He always has his reasons, even if he rarely presents them for public consumption.
Comments
Could it be that BB just doesn't want a predictable offense? How sneaky!
Only to the baseball first media, who would love as much controversy with the Patriots as they can MAKE UP.
This is a "sports talk" generated issue. I think this was put to bed by one of your collegues recently when Welker's playing time over the past several season's was detailed year by year. There is no controversy, Chris. Give it s rest.
Excellent article on the where in the world is wes welker controversy. Thank you for saying so well what so many Pats fans have been wondering out loud. This situation has been a major distraction with a coach who preaches no distractions.
I agree that Belichick is a master coach and one of the best, that doesn't mean that he doesn't make mistakes. And he's made them with players. The abrupt change in the play time for Wes this season does not give me a lot of faith in McDaniels vision for the Pats offense.
For all the reasons listed in this article and more- I want to see Wes start and stay on the field. He's a major spark plug for a team and QB who feed off his drive and ability to get open. One of the best pf the best the Pats have had in the past decade and one of the best of the best in his position. Let the MAN play or tell us why he's not. Truth.
Hey! Mr. Gasper..deadlines suck, eh!...(yawn)
Chris, You must be new to Boston, although I thought I saw your byline a couple years ago... my mistake.
So you want BB to share with you and Patriot nation why he is using WW less. Maybe tip his hand to his personnel decisions. You want BB to tell you and anyone within earshot why he is using one player over another player. You want him to air his thoughts on, essentially, game planning. I would call you an idiot but since you are new to Boston and the Patriots you can be forgiven.
BB does not, and has never, shared information that goes into his thought process. For those fans that have been following him for years this can be frustrating or it can be challenging in a fun way. You see, we get to read between the lines.
There are a myriad of reasons BB may be using WW less. It's nobody's business but the team's. And BB is the de-facto boss of the NE Patriots. Your job, as this reader sees it, is to come up with the most logical of the myriad of reasons and report them, not to whine about BB not divulging personnel issues and game planning.
But since you are new to Boston, I shall forgive your ignorance.
I can't stand Belichick. He is much to smug for me. He has the personality of a fish. Sometimes I think he out smarts himself. That goes for Bradey too! I hope the Pats get their butt kicked this year.
I am a big fan of Bobby Valentine. I hope he refuses to leave voluntarily and stays on for his 2.5 million dollars. If they let him go he can laugh all the way to the bank.
Hope springs eternal, and your condition is nothing a little SSRI can't help.
Yeah, Chris, you are absolutely right. After all, it isn't like the Pats went out and got a speedy, deep-threat wideout with great hands to stretch the field... Wait, who's that guy over there waving hands? Brandon Lloyd? When did we get him? After all, during this Welker playing-time controversy, no Boston writer seems to acknowledge we acquired him, giving Brady the first true deep threat he has had since Moss and would presumably takeover the number one receiver position, moving Welker back to what he is... a true slot receiver. Yea gods. Let's call this controversy what it truly is: The Boston media manufacturing controversy because they all fail to believe Welker would be professional and not get screwed over when he and the Pats failed to come even close to terms on their contract negotiations (despite nearly every national reporter saying the Pats are right in not paying Welker the sum he wants given his age and him really being a slot receiver who just happens to get high production due to the system he plays in). Does he catch a lot of balls? Absolutely. Is this likely the product of playing in a system with Moss for the first three seasons and then our two great tight ends for the past two? Absolutely. And I could have told you his time was being reduced due to the system switching to more tight ends by just looking at the roster prior to the beginning of the season. We had as many tight ends as receivers on it, and one of those receivers (Slater) was definitely on the squad more for his special teams ability than his receiving skills. And this was before Ridley emerged as the beast he is. The killer for me is how you mention Edelman is taking away playing time from Welker, and yet you point out he spent nearly triple the time on the field as Edelman in the first game. Yes, Edelman saw more time in the second game, but the fact Edelman is a better blocker played a big role against that front four of the Cards. Yes, Slater probably the best blocker of the three, but it serves the Pats system to have the receiver who is the best blend of the two (receiver/blocker) since that skill set most resembles a tight end and can at least make the defense wonder which way you are going. Besides, once the Pats went pass-heavy in the fourth to catch up, Welker was the one in the game more than Edelman. Hardly seems like they were trying to kick him to the curb at that point. So please, Chris, unless you want me to add you with Mazz to the pile of local columnists I refuse to read because they come up with the laziest type without any true attempts at insight, let's write about the true issue this with for the local boys, which is their seive of an offensive line having to keep Brady's butt off the turf against the Ravens front seven. Somehow, making sure the right guard position isn't less effective than a turnstile is more of an issue to me than Welker's "phasing out".
I think Gasper adresses legimate questions regarding Wes Welker's reduced role- and this is not only a Boston media story- many national sports media, columnists, reportes arre wondering and speulating what the h is going on with how the Pats are playing Wes.
I disagree with you that Wes is a product of the system. Wes is brilliant in the system- and also one of the best slot receivers if not the best in the NFL. It's very odd to say the least that to bench player like Wes. His stats spea for themsleves.
So you disagree with Gasper's breakdown, and I'm sure disagree with me. The offensive game plan and play calling last Sunday was beyond sub par. Hern was a huge loss- bt they have the talent and the depth to respond. Too little- too late. I now Wes can only help when he's on the field.
I am looking forward to Lloyd being the deep threat he's advertised as. Defintely an upgrade on Ocho- but that doesn't say much yet.
Edeleman is lliterally not the same league as Wes. I think Gasper's assessment of Edelman vs Welker is accurate and shared by many who know the game inside and out.
We'll literally see how this continued expeiment plays out Sunday night. I want to see Wes on the field for most of the snaps. You know the Ravens will come ready to play. Go PATS.
What do you mean the strategy is unfathomable? You list several reasons yourself... Weak article.
User: If you are referring to the title of the article, then Gasper is off the hook. The writers don't title any of the articles. That's done by someone else. Maybe the editor.
I think the reason why Welker isn't playing as much is because you have a new offensive coordinator in Josh McDaniels who's looking to change the offense. More balance with the running game. More use of the tight ends, as you noted. Brandon Lloyd to stretch the field. As great of a quarterback as Brady is, he tends to fall in love with certain receivers, Welker clearly being one of them. The only way to change what Brady does is to remove his binky, Welker. They're not going to say this publicly since you'd be calling out a negative of Brady. The sad part is that Welker's being questioned by fans who either think he's being a problem in the locker room or he's dropped too many balls. It's the team's prerogative to change the offense but this is a case where their secrecy hurts the player. He deserves better.
A distraction to whom? You? The media? The sports talk radio people? You didn't cite any Patriot team members who think this is a distraction. I'm guessing that it's business as usual at Foxboro.
You must now that Patriots team members are under strict gag orders. So fans are left to specuate, and Wes's reduced role IS huge distracion for a lot of fans. I am specualting- sincechnces are we won't hear the real deal from any Pats player let alone coaches- that not having Wes as a go to reciver for large parts of game has been a distraction for Tom Brady. Benching the best for no "pass the straight face" test reason is not business as usual.
darwk: are you kidding? a huge distraction for a lot of fans? go eat your vegetables.
Good colummn, Chris. You wrote that the handling of the Welker case "is one in which Belichick's brevity and secrecy are doing him a disservice." I'd argue that Belichick's handling of this is doing the team and the fans a disservice too. Yes, we don't know if other behind-the-scenes factors are influencing Belichick, but, otherwise, this is all about Belichick and his controlling approach. Think about this: Wes Welker is one of The Best athletes to come through this town - period. His performance has been consistently outstanding. I think most fans believe the Patriots should find the money to pay this player. Yet, Belichick is saying to all of us: "I don't care how good Welker is, his record, his standing - I'm going to treat him just like another guy on the roster..." Belichick supposedly preaches that no player is above the team. Wello, Bill, the coach is not above the team either!
the media is fabricating this "Distraction," and it's rediculous. It then becomes a distraction because you and all the other media people out there are making a fuss out of Wes Welker not being used 90% of the game. We have a rediculous arsenal of weapons, why not test the other ones out. We're 120 minutes into the season and the Media is freaking out. It's not like Wes is dropping the balls, fumbling the balls, etc! Brady is the MASTER of spreading it out, using many many weapons and just because Welker isn't on pace to have 100+ catches yet, doesn't mean he won't. CALM THE HECK DOWN!
According to Jimmy Toscano of Metro News, "The Patriot's coach Josh McDaniels may be trying too hard to establish the running game to get Brandon Lloyd involved." This situation appears to have evolved due to the bond between McDaniels & Lloyd. But if McDaniels is trying to force linkage between Lloyd & Brady- and the result was a mish-mash played out on Sunday - then it is not too soon for Belichick to haul McDaniels into Belichuyks office and get an explanation for the fiasco!
Boring. There's nothing new here. Write about this when you've got something original to report.
Gasper: I just listened to your three keys to a Pats victory over the Ravens.
#3: Stick to the run game. Won't this continue the unfathomable strategy with WW? Is WW the best blocking receiver? Doesn't WW do best when he is being used to get 4 - 6 - 8 yards a pop, in lieu of running the game.
My mother told me I can't have it both ways. Didn't you mother tell you that?
hyperbole...
You use the example of him actaully getting more snaps as proof of him being used less? And for the other game 66% vs. 74% isn't exactly an off the cliff variance.