I can't imagine BB playing a player he doesn't think gives the team the best chance to win over something like allowing a vet player to meet playing time incentives. If it was really an issue, there is nothing preventing the team from adjusting the contract to pay Cam an extra $500k. Not exactly the same, but there have been instances where the Pats have guaranteed playing time bonuses to vet players they chose to rest late in the season (Wilfork jumps to mind).
If they think Stidham is the better option, and the main reason for sticking with Cam is an escalator bonus that, at this point, amounts to roughly $500,000, there's nothing stopping them from guaranteeing that amount now and strapping him to the bench
I'd think losing multiple games because your QB can't throw would cause more of an issue with the team, particularly the guys on defense, than what Bedard is speculating.
Well...they are 6-6 with Cam at the helm. If he thinks Stidham "doesn't give them a shot at winning at all", then yeah, he has to believe Cam is, in the aggregate, a MUCH better QB option for them.
When they win, it's easy to be optimistic about the future and point to the encouraging signs moving forward - especially the young players. When they lose, it's easy to be pessimistic about the future and see everything that's wrong with the team.
And also, isn't the goal to win games and not hold onto the locker room? How many guys in that locker room will be there next year?
That is an interesting topic....as many believed that Bill really wanted to keep Jimmy G over Brady, but wasn't there also some talk that Jimmy couldn't play through his injury in 2016? I could be wrong.
The two are linked. Look around the league and the most unsuccessful teams are ones where the players have lost trust in the coaching staff. As to how many guys in that locker room will be back? Most, in fact. You just can't turn over an entire roster, given contracts, cap issues and the like. Changes will be forthcoming but the belief in BB by the players is paramount.
Also, why would he keep coming in to get development reps? I think the simple answer is that they're slow-playing his development and it actually may be the smart- yet frustrating play. To my eyes, he's looked so much better in his last couple of (admittedly short) stints than he did earlier in the season and last season. Despite BB's quotes, I won't be surprised to hear that Stidham starts getting first team reps in practice sooner than later. I'd bet he gets the final two games to showcase his skills with Cam starting this next game to make those performance bonuses. I don't buy the losing the locker room stuff or the Stidham didn't man up in training camp and grit his way through an injury crap. Is BB gonna lose the locker room when he welcomes back the guys who opted out? Yeah maybe he frustrated the coaches and teammates by playing it safe, but you don't bury a guy for it.
This is overly simplistic. It's quite easy to be concerned about the future of this offense with so many question marks. I have zero concerns about Belichick fielding a competent defense next year.
I'm talking about fan reactions from week to week. It's what I see from what people post and what they say on talk radio, etc. And yes, it's pretty simplistic, but it's also what I observe about how fans respond week-in and week-out.
I don't think Edelman and Harris cancel out, at all. Edelman is their best receiver, and they really struggle to pass the ball. Harris doesn't move the needle on that even a little, even if he looks much better at running between the tackles than Sony did. They're completely one-dimensional now. The goal line sequence summed everything up; they ran it up the middle four straight times and gained nothing. That's the only club in their bag and when it's not working, forget about it. They can't run outside, they can't throw anywhere, it's ugly.
That's fine. But sometimes fan reactions are right. There is a lot to be worried about here. Fortunately, they have far more to work with this offseason than they did last offseason with respect to draft capital (much better pick), cap space, etc. Like SMU, I won't really get concerned unless I see them completely whiff in FA/draft at key positions.
Are they one-dimensional because of lack of receiver talent or because they have a QB that can't throw? I do know that it is probably a combination of both, but the issues in the passing game seem a lot more related to QB performance than receiver.
Totally agree with that. A WR1, a legit QB, and a couple of nice draft picks would change this team's outlook considerably. There's talent here. Honestly, they probably even now should be like 8-5 or something.
Agree with this. It's not crazy to think that even if they think Stidham has a chance at being a starting-caliber NFL QB they don't think it would be best for his development to make him the starter late in an ongoing season without many offensive weapons, in a system that this year is mostly tailored to Cam's skills (or whatever he has left of them), and going against some good to very good teams (minus the Week 17 Jets game, obviously).
They couldn't pass down the stretch last year with Brady either, and the receiving weapons have only gotten worse since then with Edelman's injury. I think it's mostly receiver, though Cam has had some awful stretches, and to be honest I thought last night the biggest problem was brutal pass protection, which hasn't really been an issue in previous weeks.
Yeah, the passing game wasn't great down the stretch last year, but still better than what Cam is doing. Also, I am not sure if a hurt Edelman, Sanu, and rookie Harry is any better than a healthy Byrd, Meyers, and 2nd year Harry. It may be a bit better, but not by a lot. That is why I blame QB mostly.
His completion % and Y/A were probably worse than Cam, no? And he wasn't giving you the running ability Cam does.
That makes a lot of sense. Yeah, on a whole I believe you are right (with regards to the running game) and that Cam had better completion % and Y/A, but on a much lower volume. I guess it may all come down to how one views Edelman. I love the guy, but drops have definitely been an issue the last two seasons.
Edelman is on the decline, but he's still someone defenses have to account for. Who is keeping D-coordinators up at night with this group? It's Cam running, really, and I guess middle runs in general. They can't run outside, they don't have consistent passing weapons, they have no tight ends.
One thing that also seems clear... it's not just the coaches who don't believe in Stidham. If he were looking better than Cam in practices there would be rumblings in the lockerroom, no matter how popular Cam is. Guys want to win, and when a QB is playing poorly and there is a real bench option you start hearing about it, usually from some snide anonymous comments from defensive players, or an emotional post-game blowup. We've heard nothing. That makes me think that the guys who are on the field and in the rooms think Cam is better than Stidham too.
I think the situations are different. Jimmy G started several games before separating his shoulder against Miami. I would presume he did everything to prepare for the season knowing Brady was suspended for four games. Stidham got hurt overtraining in the offseason and never really made it back.
Miami was the second game of the season; Jimmy G couldn't make it six quarters without getting hurt. He missed the Texans game (which was a Thursday game, so tough to bounce back), but then Jacoby broke his thumb in that game and still started the Bills game 10 days later. Brissett was terrible, as you'd expect with a broken thumb on his throwing hand. Could Jimmy have gutted it out and played vs Buffalo? Maybe, maybe not. We know Brissett did gut it out.
Yeah, that is what I meant. From all reports, BB loved Jimmy G. It would seem inconsistent (at least to me) to complain about Stidham for not gutting it out when he (apparently) gave Jimmy G a pass.
We basically never saw Jimmy G again after that, so we don't know whether Belichick held that against Jimmy or not.
Except that we heard that Belichick really wanted to keep JG, and went out of his way to praise him after he signed with the 49'ers. So I think it's safe to conclude that Belichick never held it against him.
So we can safely rule out the Pro Bowl and All Pro bonuses, which saves them a million bucks.
I forget - sore shoulder?
Yup, looks like that ship has sailed.
Let/hip was the speculation. I remember someone like Bedard implying that the Pats were annoyed that Stidham had put himself in that position in the first place, but it quickly became clear that Cam was better. I’m starting to wonder if it was more of a “presence” thing with Cam winning the media narrative, but whatever.
Agree. A .500-ish finish considering the losses to FA, opt outs, Brady era ending, Gilmore/Cam missing games, and a hellish schedule is quite remarkable. Plus they are a couple of plays and Cam’s health away from 10+ wins and serious contention.
Of course, QBR is also a shit statistic that should never be quoted even when it agrees with your opinion.
I honestly never follow QBR or quarterback ratings ... why do you say this?
This article from 2015 does a good job of summing it up. Basically, it's a black box that often outputs a lot of really weird results.
And since it’s a black box and because it’s ESPN they have probably tweaked the formula over time. The black box aspect of it drives me nuts.
