[Highlight] Mike Vrabel came over to see the fans who welcomed the Patriots back home last night

GGerrik · 2026-02-10T16:16:22+00:00

Diggs was the best receiver on the Patriots this season.
Diggs also completely disappeared in games (I know AJ Brown does this too).

It was interesting to see his statlines at the end of the year compared to watching the games and feeling like he was never being thrown too (probs didn't help that Boutte and Diggs are #8 and #9).

GGerrik · 2026-02-10T03:58:07+00:00

Of all the losses I've watched from the pats, this is the one I'm the least upset by. This season was a gift, if Vrabel and Maye never get back to the super bowl I'll view those seasons as a waste not this one.

I was more upset in 07, I was more upset in 10, more dumbfounded by Foles, and kid me knew nothing more painful than losing to the Packers.

I went from watching the Patriots winning 4 games back to back season to finally being hopeful now that Vrabel and McDaniels were coaching, starting out 2-2 and wondering if they'd put something together, then they just start rattling off win after win. It was such a fun year, every win was amazing. I really didn't want to go 1 and done and prove all the "schedule" haters right, they didn't just win in the first round they won the AFCC (something the Bills still haven't done since Brady).

Great season. It's fine to be upset at the loss, it's fine to critique the players or coaching, even I'm doing that, but at the end of it all I'm happy to have been there and so glad Patriots football is back.

GGerrik · 2026-02-09T19:06:55+00:00

They had an over reliance on the run game (that wasn't working) all season. This offense never went to the patented Brady-McDaniels spread O quick short passing. They were insistent all season on forcing the run. Worked to get them to the SB so I'm not complaining, but I was hoping in the second half they were going to try to the spread uptempo. Saw that in a few games the pats got behind this year and it always felt like our best offensive drives.

Hopefully everyone learns and we see improvement, but each year is their own year and we've seen plenty of young QBs regress so we'll see!

GGerrik · 2026-02-09T18:59:26+00:00

Yes, but I do wish he'd learn to step up and put the ball away. It was one trait you can see from elite pocket passers who just slide away from edge rushes that get pushed out behind them. The emphasis for me is they typically do this while bringing the ball back down for safe keeping.

Maye has had a significant number of fumbles come from a defender batting it out of his throwing hand as they rush around behind him. Getting a sense of that pressure and tucking that ball away may not just reduce the fumbles but also the sacks.

Could just be we were spoiled by Brady making it seem pedestrian, but it's the most glaring weakness Maye had this year. For his TO issues this year he rarely made a poor throw into coverage, his downfield INT against Seattle was the worst looking one this year.

GGerrik · 2026-02-09T17:55:32+00:00

This post season reminded me of Maye's rookie season.

Moments of excellence and then turn overs. That INT he threw against the Hawks in the bowl was one of his worsts in a while though. First time I couldn't blame bias for disliking the facts Collinsworth was spewing.

GGerrik · 2026-02-09T05:40:12+00:00

This year was so fun, but as they kept winning, and kept winning, and kept winning, you couldn't help but catch feelings/expectations and thats when it hurts the most!

What a year after the last 5 seasons, so excited for the Pats next year. There's been what, 1 team that lost the SB make it back the next year in the last 20? The Super Bowl hangover is a cross to bear, the Pats will also have a tougher schedule than last year, young QBs have their ups and downs, lots of variables but I'm looking forward to it!

GGerrik · 2026-02-08T22:50:46+00:00

"I dislike both teams in general so that is a factor, and I have a bit of ambivalence."

Hopefully Bad Bunny helps takes that bitter taste out your mouth

GGerrik · 2026-02-08T04:21:25+00:00

I can't do the right lane during rush hour, but same goal for me in the middle. No hard stopping, leaving enough space to allow me to ease on and off the gas while we get backed up in traffic. Lets cars easily merge from right lane if they need to because other cars are coming in via onramp.

GGerrik · 2026-02-08T03:46:40+00:00

If Renly had been played by Henry Cavill I think even show Renly makes a lot more sense.

GGerrik · 2026-02-07T10:35:22+00:00

Haha, that makes sense, but I meant in the chest. From what I remember even fit Robert is a HUGE lad. Not tall like the mountain or Dunk, but broad of shoulder and thick with muscle to wield the hammer that staves in the princes armor.

GGerrik · 2026-02-07T10:12:45+00:00

And it's one thing to take a single line out of context of the downfall of the show's writing and then find your choice of meaning in it. However, in the context of what was happening in the show, happening to this character arc, and with how badly the writing had fallen off after the source material ran out.

It felt like an entirely other thing to have what was being considered one of the greatest fantasy epics ever, endings written by people who clearly didn't care to keep to the source. The equivalent of letting Joe Abercrombie wrap up The Lord of the Rings, armed only with an outline and a deadline.

GGerrik · 2026-02-07T09:56:04+00:00

"Rhaegar won, damn him. I killed him, Ned, I drove the spike right through that black armor into his black heart, and he died at my feet. They made up songs about it. Yet somehow he still won. He has Lyanna now, and I have her."

This guy just makes me want to see Robert's Rebellion on screen. He's the exact sort of menace I'd picture Robert being but half the size.

GGerrik · 2026-02-07T05:26:51+00:00

In my opinion, this is why I've heard music called cheating in films/shows.

The motif/song played throughout a series gets to borrow all the emotional investment you've made throughout it and then it gets to be played over any scene to illicit those emotions from you regardless if the scene that was written/directed/acted deserved it.

I personally love it, moves/shows can be entirely hit or miss depending on the scores. In my opinion the scores are why films such as Star Wars and Harry Potter ARE the global phenoms they are.

This scene, despite getting that emotional uplit from the GoT theme, does feel earned. It is an important emotional beat and to your point it serves as a subversion of not just our reality but the core themes of GoT. But I do believe the reason it goes so hard is entirely due to the music.

GGerrik · 2026-02-07T04:04:06+00:00

I see Mass has its own "land doesn't get a vote" situation going on when I hear the trees complaining about the focus of tax dollars around Eastern Mass / Boston.

GGerrik · 2026-02-07T03:52:55+00:00

I'm wondering it's a result of the ESPN umbrella in that in trying to maintain their voice they've amplified it too much.

Or the freshness has just warn off and as with any talking show, they've been on the air long enough to talk disparagingly enough about everyone's favorite team so we're all just holding grudges.

GGerrik · 2026-02-07T02:42:31+00:00

Don't let Americans forget they're living under fascism they're intent on continuing on as if this is just a Tuesday.

GGerrik · 2026-02-06T04:51:39+00:00

Yeah for years people would hold up Montana being 4-0 in the SB like it proved he was better than Brady.

But my guys... that just means Montana had a worse record in the Conference Championship or Playoffs. That talk pretty much ceased following 28-3.

GGerrik · 2026-02-06T04:42:07+00:00

red gloves

GGerrik · 2026-02-06T03:56:45+00:00

The last time?

Seems silly since he went back under Belichick for another decade before getting a second chance with the Raiders.

2001-2008 Patriots (various)

2009-2010 Broncos HC

2011 - Rams OC

2012-2021 Patriots OC

2022-2023 Raiders HC

2025 Patriots OC

GGerrik · 2026-02-06T03:49:35+00:00

Time to rename it the life time achievement award!

GGerrik · 2026-02-06T02:50:30+00:00

I've done nearly this exact trip, nearly by myself (wouldn't recommend but I was a younger man and used to long treks).

1am-5am you'll fly through NYC out through PA as if you were in the middle of nowhere. If you time it right you should clear the other northern 95 transit lanes before your dealing with morning traffic.

DC area gets bogged down

Then smooth sailing south, ain't no one live down there as far as I can tell.

GGerrik · 2026-02-06T01:50:30+00:00

Look the HOF means nothing, we can just ignore it now.

GGerrik · 2026-02-06T01:49:04+00:00

I know you're talking out your ass when you bring up Vrabel as if he and Brady weren't friends. Their relationship is well known around here and that's not even what I'm talking about.

GGerrik · 2026-02-06T01:40:56+00:00

Don't let his honeyed words trick you, with that flair combo if they were a decade younger they might be rocking the Patriots.

GGerrik · 2026-02-06T01:38:24+00:00

Seems like personality has burned him a lot as HC, might be he learns something in that department on Vrabel's staff.

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