I believe much of the blame has to go to the media.  Can we stop saying the Boston media is tough?  The media (WEEI) pays athletes and coaches to appear for 'interviews'.  Do we really exspect them to ask tough questions when they are in business with the Patriots (tickets and tents)?  The media needs to be our window to the team.  They need to dis-associate themselves with the team and becom journalists again.

Until a player comes in and is able to change how the Patriots operate, columns like this are foolish. There is a way they go about their business and if a player steps out of line he's gone. We saw that with Adalius Thomas when he was splitting the locker room. Talib is a product of his environment, from everything I've heard. He grew up in tough circumstances. His college coach praised him and said he behaved well in a structured environment. He loves football but needs a good structure to operate in. I'm glad the guy's getting the chance to show what he can do with the Patriots. If he can't fit the Patriot Way he'll be gone and the Pats will be left with a seventh round as opposed to a fourth round draft choice. It's a risk well worth taking.   

Another waste from Shaughnessey. Bedard foolishly tried to sell bs last weekend. Dan: You are the most boring sports writer in America.

The Patriots do have a consistent approach.  It's about performance and behavior *here*.  Different teams and locker rooms have different expectations.    If a player isn't helping the team, he's gone.  If a player's behavior is affecting the team's performance, he's gone.   Set expectations, expect results, changes made if those results aren't met.  Nothing new to see here.

Why not give the player the benefit of the doubt? Others have come here with so-called "problems" (Randy Moss, Corey Dillon) and were no problem in Foxboro. Others ( A Haynesworth) were gone when they didn't do it Bill's way. Let's see what happens before you try and knock down a sucessful coach and ownership. As usual, you always look to stir things up and go to the negative in all of your reporting.

What would Myra do? WWMD?

It's all entertainment, guys.  If Talib gets through the year without another incident, everyone's a genius.  If he doesn't, nothing ventured...  Meanwhile Shaughnessy continues to make himself feel better by finding fault with the other guy.  That's not entertainment, news, or even reporting.  Its someone dealing with their own issues.  Shaughnessy must have had a dsyfunctional childhood.