The Nation's Tears: Pink Stripes

[Ralphwiggum]

What a fucking dunce. I suppose he also had the ability to see the future and know that Peyton would never get hurt. If you thought Brady was going to be that good, then by the third or fourth round you have to pick him as insurance against a Peyton injury if for no other reason.

 

[rodderick]

What a fucking dunce. I suppose he also had the ability to see the future and know that Peyton would never get hurt. If you thought Brady was going to be that good, then by the third or fourth round you have to pick him as insurance against a Peyton injury if for no other reason.

Or even to develop and showcase him in preseason to try and get a high draft pick. I mean, the Patriots obviously didn't have anywhere near a first round grade on Brady, but even with 3 QBs on the roster they picked him in the 6th because he was the best player on their board. If what Polian says is true he comes off looking like a dunce, not a visionary.

 

[MuppetAsteriskTalk]

Does Polian think he's making himself look smart by telling these stories? Aside from the fact that he's full of shit, he's a dunce for thinking those stories make him look smart instead of stupid.

 

[kelpapa]

Banner raising ceremony
 
http://www.patriots.com/video/2015/09/11/pregame-super-bowl-xlix-championship-banner-raising-ceremony?utm_campaign=PFZ&utm_medium=email&utm_source=20150919_E_PFZ_EA_BillsPreview_ACTIVES_ES

Hadn't seen this yet. Thanks!

 

[dcmissle]

Does Polian think he's making himself look smart by telling these stories? Aside from the fact that he's full of shit, he's a dunce for thinking those stories make him look smart instead of stupid.

Oh, but he's a genius. Just ask Mike and Mike and the rest of the ESPN crew. They would offer a full throated defense of Polian's claim, and somehow square it with a sane drafting strategy.

If he really believed it, he'd have drafted Brady, developed him, and then flipped him for high draft picks. Unless, of course, he isn't very smart.

 

[dcmissle]

Ps ... The comments on the PFT.com link to this story are creative and hilarious

 

[johnmd20]

Ps ... The comments on the PFT.com link to this story are creative and hilarious

 
They are enjoyable to read.

 

[snowmanny]

The Patriots also had a quarterback when they drafted Brady, of course.

 

[E5 Yaz]

The Patriots also had a quarterback when they drafted Brady, of course.

 
And didn't they keep 4 quarterbacks during his first season?

 

[MarcSullivaFan]

Polian was obviously a talented personnel guy. I think his fatal flaws were (1) an inability to be self-critical; and (2) being a total dick, which is not unrelated to number 1.

Indeed, he was fired from all three of his jobs for being unable to get along with people.

Towards the end of his career in Indianapolis, I used to ocassionally listen to his call in show for shits and giggles. He couldn't have been more poorly suited to the format. He is incredibly thin skinned and his contempt for the fans was palpable. I remember him arguing with one caller during the 2011 season about his failure to draft a legitimate backup QB in previous years. His argument was essentially that the QB wouldn't be ready to start anyhow, so it would have been a waste of resources. Which made approximately zero sense. I mean, the use of resources argument makes some sense, but the rest of it was insane. Isn't your job to draft and develop competent players at all positions?

 

[Omar's Wacky Neighbor]

Ps ... The comments on the PFT.com link to this story are creative and hilarious

If there was even one that even semi-defended his statement, I didnt see it.

 

[snowmanny]

Oh, but he's a genius. Just ask Mike and Mike and the rest of the ESPN crew. They would offer a full throated defense of Polian's claim, and somehow square it with a sane drafting strategy.

If he really believed it, he'd have drafted Brady, developed him, and then flipped him for high draft picks. Unless, of course, he isn't very smart.

Actually, if he really believed it and was as smart as he thinks he is he would have kept Brady and flipped the other guy for draft picks.

 

[nighthob]

Actually, if he really believed it and was as smart as he thinks he is he would have kept Brady and flipped the other guy for draft picks.

 
I mean he could have built a Belichickian dynasty on the return he'd've gotten for Peyton Moaning.

 

[Ed Hillel]

If there was even one that even semi-defended his statement, I didnt see it.

The best comment was something along the lines of "imagine if they had drafted Brady, they could have played Manning in the regular season and benched him for Brady in the playoffs! Unstoppable!"

 

[dcmissle]

I think Marc's take above is really good. Talented, but a complete dick.

 

[soxfan121]

Indeed, he was fired from all three of his jobs for being unable to get along with people.

 
Minor quibble: He was fired in Indy because of his awful run of drafts, starting in 2005 and featuring several draft classes completely washed out of the league within three seasons. He may have also been a dick, and unable to get along with people, but had he hit on any number of players in 2010 who've gone on to be superstars instead of taking Jerry Hughes (who was a "bust" in Indy and has resurrected himself in Buffalo), Polian might still be the Colts GM.

2010 draftees taken after Jerry Hughes: Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Graham, Geno Atkins, NaVorro Bowman, Kam Chancellor, Antonio Brown, TJ Ward, Greg Hardy, Emmanuel Sanders, Alteraun Verner.

 

[Granite Sox]

He also installed his son in a high-ranking position in Indy, and if you think Polian Pere is a jerk, Polian Fils was considered a colossal douche canoe. No one could stand either of them at the end.

After the Ty Law 3-pick AFCCG, Polian had an absolutely epic meltdown on his weekly radio show in Indy. One of the few times I've actually pulled off the road to concentrate on the radio because it was so incredible. Patriots got away with murder, callers were know-nothing idiots, criminal that the league allowed it to happen, etc. It is Exhibit A for lack of accountability from an NFL front office. Rivaled the Doug-Flutie-"break-his-fuckin'-legs!" rant. I almost couldn't believe my ears.

 

[J.McG]

Draft classes that deteriorated in quality post-'06 SB, along with some pretty bad trades thrown in the mix, certainly helped to lay the groundwork for Polian's 2011 dismissal in Indy (e.g. traded future 1st rounder to move up for Tony Ugoh in RD2 '07, after drafting Anthony Gonzalez RD1; adding insult to injury, literally). The cherry on top of all that that was Polian's failure--or perhaps refusal, based on SI interview cited above--to acquire/develop a competent backup QB as Peyton approached his mid-30's, or at any point during his Colts tenure for that matter (can't recall a single Manning backup who had a legit chance to compete for a starting job in the NFL after leaving Indy). That was probably the straw that broke Irsay's back, especially after Irsay witnessed Matt Cassel lead the Brady-less Pats to 11 wins in '08, and fetch Belichick the 34th overall pick the following year to boot. 
 
Polian was either far too optimistic or just plain ignorant of the concerns regarding Manning's health/availability for the 2011 season following major spinal surgery, and he got caught with his pants down once Manning required an additional procedure on his neck just prior to the start of the season. Whatever contingency plan Polian had in place, assuming one even existed, failed miserably. He stubbornly refused to place Manning on IR for 17 straight weeks as he continued to peddle false hope for a potential late season return, wasting a valuable 53-man roster spot in the process.
 
Curtis Painter was woefully unprepared to assume the starting job, forcing a desperate Polian to sign washed-up Kerry Collins to a 1-yr $4.0MM contract just 2 weeks before the the Colts' first game of the season. Collins didn't even last a month before landing on IR. Painter was even more dreadful than anticipated in relief, going winless over 8 starts until he was mercifully benched in favor of journeyman backup/UConn legend, Dan Orlovsky, who valiantly led the Colts to their only 2 victories of the season, and the rest is history...
 
Here's Belichick throwing some well-deserved shade at Polian/Indy back in May 2014, soon after drafting Jimmy G:
 

Fast forward a couple years and the Patriots selection of Jimmy Garoppolo this week in the second round of the draft brought about talk of a Tom Brady succession plan among media and fans. But while Belichick acknowledged that theory to some degree talking about the Hall of Famer’s age and contract length, he also made it clear the early quarterback draft selection was also simply about having as talented an overall roster as possible. 
 
And in making that point in his final draft press conference Saturday night at Gillette, Belichick chose to the Colts as an examples of exactly what he’d never want to see with his own team. 
 
“I think organizationally, in our organization I don’t think we would put together a team the way Indianapolis did it when they lost [Peyton] Manning and they go 0-16, 1-15 or whatever it was [2-14]. I don’t think that’s really what we’re looking for,” Belichick said in an unsolicited reference to the Colts. “Unfortunately when we lost Tom [Brady] in 2008 – we had a player that could step in and we won 11 games. We want to be competitive even if something happens to a player at any position. I think depth is always important. You never know when you’re going to need it. But I don’t think we’d be happy going 1-15 if we had an injury at one position. But other people have different philosophies. I’m just saying that the contrast to that example. I don’t think that’s really what we’re trying to do.” 

 


Patriots Football Weekly: Belichick focused on success more than succession  (2014-05-11)

(added emphasis mine)

 

[Ed Hillel]

He also installed his son in a high-ranking position in Indy, and if you think Polian Pere is a jerk, Polian Fils was considered a colossal douche canoe. No one could stand either of them at the end.

After the Ty Law 3-pick AFCCG, Polian had an absolutely epic meltdown on his weekly radio show in Indy. One of the few times I've actually pulled off the road to concentrate on the radio because it was so incredible. Patriots got away with murder, callers were know-nothing idiots, criminal that the league allowed it to happen, etc. It is Exhibit A for lack of accountability from an NFL front office. Rivaled the Doug-Flutie-"break-his-fuckin'-legs!" rant. I almost couldn't believe my ears.

This is amazing to hear, particularly given the 20-3 ass-kicking that followed the next season. Beating those ESPN-darling Colts teams may always be the thing I look back upon fondly the most.

It's also illustrative that shitbags like this routinely lead/participate in the Competition Committee. That's how Spygate and all that follows is born. What a whiny bunch of losers.

 

[staz]

Guys, per Sportscenter, there is a "different vibe" in Orchard Park today.

 

[Omar's Wacky Neighbor]

Guys, per Sportscenter, there is a "different vibe" in Orchard Park today.

Having read the stories about Rex Ryan and his wife.......

 

[Salem's Lot]

It's basically "College Game Day" in Buffalo on ESPN right now. It sucks when you're at the gym and can't change the channel.

 

[MarcSullivaFan]

 
Minor quibble: He was fired in Indy because of his awful run of drafts, starting in 2005 and featuring several draft classes completely washed out of the league within three seasons. He may have also been a dick, and unable to get along with people, but had he hit on any number of players in 2010 who've gone on to be superstars instead of taking Jerry Hughes (who was a "bust" in Indy and has resurrected himself in Buffalo), Polian might still be the Colts GM.

2010 draftees taken after Jerry Hughes: Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Graham, Geno Atkins, NaVorro Bowman, Kam Chancellor, Antonio Brown, TJ Ward, Greg Hardy, Emmanuel Sanders, Alteraun Verner.

Yeah, no doubt he would have lasted longer if he had performed better. I do recall several reports here in Indy around the time of the firing that Irsay had had enough of Polian's imperious attitude and did not like the way he treated people in the organization. Irsay, for all his kookiness (and putting aside his vendetta against our favorite team) seems like a pretty decent guy who cares about the fans.

 

[tims4wins]

Seattle, Indy, and Baltimore on a 9 game losing streak. The Nation's Tears, indeed. What a glorious day.

 

[Ed Hillel]

People keep lumping Seattle in, but I'm not sure why. All my karma energy is pointed at Baltimore and Indy, with a bit of residual energy floating towards the Giants, Panthers, Cowboys, and Texans.

 

[tims4wins]

People keep lumping Seattle in, but I'm not sure why. All my karma energy is pointed at Baltimore and Indy, with a bit of residual energy floating towards the Giants, Panthers, Cowboys, and Texans.

 
Mainly because The Nation was definitely rooting for Seattle to take down the Pats

 

[wibi]

 
Mainly because The Nation was definitely rooting for Seattle to take down the Pats

No there weren't. You are feeling that way as a function of the echo chamber you live in.
Amazingly enough there are quite a few people who hated Seattle and wanted NE to win.

 

[tims4wins]

I haven't lived in New England since 1999. I moved from Colorado to NC last year. I don't know of any non- Patriots fan who rooted for them last year, although I am sure there were some NFC West fans who did, maybe some Packers fans, etc. But I would wager that 90% of neutral fans were rooting for Seattle because of deflategate spygate etc

 

[Ralphwiggum]

No there weren't. You are feeling that way as a function of the echo chamber you live in.
Amazingly enough there are quite a few people who hated Seattle and wanted NE to win.

 
If you google "who are you rooting for in Super Bowl XLIX" you can navigate yourself to a map that shows that outside of the New England states there were only 7 other states where more people were rooting for the Pats than the Seahawks.  Unscientific ESPN poll of course.
 
Anyway, if you are a Seahawks fan why are you even clicking in the "The Nation's Tears" thread?

 

[chief1]

How glorious is it to listen and watch the Colts and Ravens implode? The Colts are turning on themselves and the leadership on the team are non too happy to allow the bus to get pointed at their 4th year QB at his first sign of adversity. Great leadership lesson for hum huh. Throw someone else under the bus when things go upside down.
 
The Ravens want to blame the schedule makers for their plight. This after requesting to have the two west coast trips bunched together. Give them credit for copying the Pats and staying out there except they forgot one important piece. Bonding as a team with one common goal of being totally prepared to beat the opponent. Win or lose you take the team building with you and do not make excuses. .

 

[wibi]

 
If you google "who are you rooting for in Super Bowl XLIX" you can navigate yourself to a map that shows that outside of the New England states there were only 7 other states where more people were rooting for the Pats than the Seahawks.  Unscientific ESPN poll of course.
 
Anyway, if you are a Seahawks fan why are you even clicking in the "The Nation's Tears" thread?

 
You mean the same poll that had 47% of the nation rooting for NE?  And the same poll that had 62% of respondents answering no to the question "If the Patriots win the Super Bowl, will you look at their championship differently because of the underinflated footballs situation?"
 
And I read the thread because I try to read most threads on SoSH irregardless of what the subject matter is

 

[Myt1]

 
You mean the same poll that had 47% of the nation rooting for NE?  And the same poll that had 62% of respondents answering no to the question "If the Patriots win the Super Bowl, will you look at their championship differently because of the underinflated footballs situation?"
 
And I read the thread because I try to read most threads on SoSH irregardless of what the subject matter is

You don't understand that Superbowl rooting interests are determined by the Electoral College?

 

[Leather]

Oh cripes, who gives a shit if some 12 year olds or housewives or janitors in North Carolina or Utah or Nebraska wanted Seattle to win?
 
Are we still holding it against the Smith family of Clearwater, FL because they rooted for the Rams back in 2002?  Or have they *learned their lesson* to never root against the Patriots again, or something?

 

[pedro1918]

Oh cripes, who gives a shit if some 12 year olds or housewives or janitors in North Carolina or Utah or Nebraska wanted Seattle to win?
 
Are we still holding it against the Smith family of Clearwater, FL because they rooted for the Rams back in 2002?  Or have they *learned their lesson* to never root against the Patriots again, or something?

 
 
Do you have a street address for the Smith Family of Clearwater, FL? 
 
Thanks in advance.

 

[moondog80]

People keep lumping Seattle in, but I'm not sure why. All my karma energy is pointed at Baltimore and Indy, with a bit of residual energy floating towards the Giants, Panthers, Cowboys, and Texans.

 
 
What did the Cowboys and Texans do?

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

 
 
What did the Cowboys and Texans do?

 
Jerry Jones and Bob McNair mouthed off in the media?  It's so hard to keep track of these things, but the minor slights against the Pats are so numerous that it's ridiculous to pay any of them any heed at this point.  Personally, I think the ire should be reserved for direct competitors/rivals and principle participants in the various -gates.  Who gives a shit about the Texans or Cowboys.

 

[weeba]

 
 
Do you have a street address for the Smith Family of Clearwater, FL? 
 
Thanks in advance.

 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l1_8wefR7c

 

[bankshot1]

 
 
What did the Cowboys and Texans do?

pissed off Arya Stark

 

[Jimbodandy]

Wibi is right.  We should leave Seattle out of this.  That team and those fans handled things with class, by all indications.
 
Nothing bad that happens to the Colts or Ravens will be enough for me, however.  If they went 0-16 this year, I'd still wish a nasty case of crabs on both of their houses.

 

[Al Zarilla]

 
You mean the same poll that had 47% of the nation rooting for NE?  And the same poll that had 62% of respondents answering no to the question "If the Patriots win the Super Bowl, will you look at their championship differently because of the underinflated footballs situation?"
 
And I read the thread because I try to read most threads on SoSH irregardless of what the subject matter is

53 - 47 sounds close except it could be like during elections, where with a 53 - 47 split in a state and just 5% of the vote in, a winner is declared. In other words, the Seahawks could well have scored a high majority on a preference by state basis. FWIW, I live in the South Bay (Silicon Valley) and nobody I run into hates the Patriots. Could be just a lot of indifference to the NFL around here though.

 

[Old Fart Tree]

Everyone in SF was rooting begrudgingly for the pats. We should leave the Hawks out of DFG, they had fuck all to do with it.

 

[SidelineCameras]

This is what happens when the mods close the threads with the whitelists and blacklists, we all get confused about who's on which.

 

[soxfan121]

Anyway, if you are a Seahawks fan why are you even clicking in the "The Nation's Tears" thread?

 
Probably because Patriot fans can't resist trolling the Seahawks (and other team) threads, so those fans are looking to give a little back, and the cycle continues. Lather, rinse, repeat.

 

[nighthob]

Wibi is right.  We should leave Seattle out of this.  That team and those fans handled things with class, by all indications.
 
Nothing bad that happens to the Colts or Ravens will be enough for me, however.  If they went 0-16 this year, I'd still wish a nasty case of crabs on both of their houses.

 
I won't be happy if they go 0-32 and end pu picking #1 and #2. Now, if they get docked their first round picks for being assholes, I will cheer heartily. Aside from that I'd like to see 8-8 finishes from both squads while their fans weep at the unfairness of it all.

 

[tims4wins]

Eh Grigson would probably trade the pick for like Larry Fitzgerald

 

[NortheasternPJ]

 
I won't be happy if they go 0-32 and end pu picking #1 and #2. Now, if they get docked their first round picks for being assholes, I will cheer heartily. Aside from that I'd like to see 8-8 finishes from both squads while their fans weep at the unfairness of it all.

 
Going 8-8 or 9-7 and barely missing the playoffs and breaking fans hopes, getting a shitty draft pick is a hallmark of the AFC East for the last 15 years. It's perfect. I wish the same on the Colts and Ravens.
 
Who gives a shit about the Texans or Cowboys? If anything I'm rooting for the Texans to do well due to O'Brien, Wilfork, Vrabel etc. 

 

[Ralphwiggum]

For the record, I don't really give a shit about the Seahawks either way. I don't think Pats fans should be trolling the Seahawks thread, but I also think it is strange for a Seahawk fan to be all "Point of Order! You Patriot fans aren't getting your facts straight!" in a discussion about which of the teams the Pats beat in the playoffs people enjoy seeing lose, in a thread called "the Nation's Tears".

 

[NortheasternPJ]

The only thing I don't like about the Seahawks is the horrendous "12s" thing and its as dumb as BC SuperFans, Fireman Ed and the stupid ass bald guy wearing the beads at Patriots games. Superfans (and groups who call themselves superfans) are the worst.

 

[Myt1]

For the record, I don't really give a shit about the Seahawks either way. I don't think Pats fans should be trolling the Seahawks thread, but I also think it is strange for a Seahawk fan to be all "Point of Order! You Patriot fans aren't getting your facts straight!" in a discussion about which of the teams the Pats beat in the playoffs people enjoy seeing lose, in a thread called "the Nation's Tears".

Yeah. Why on earth should anyone interrupt the herd with an independent thought?

Wibs, stay out of the thread so people can be wrong together.

 

[Leather]

 
Probably because Patriot fans can't resist trolling the Seahawks (and other team) threads, so those fans are looking to give a little back, and the cycle continues. Lather, rinse, repeat.

 
It's not necessarily even trolling, in some cases.  It's that some posters cross the line where they make a thread about another team about the Patriots, even if it's without any ill-intent.  
 
This for example.   
 
And then we have people in this thread that are *angry* that some otherwise-neutral fanbases are rooting against the Patriots, or who relish it when Patriots fans have a hard time of it.   
 
Gee.  I wonder why that is?