Comments on: NFL Week 9 Picks and Analysis

By: Nate Barlow

Nate Barlow — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:38:26 +0000

I agree with you there, especially when it comes to player psychology. No better example than Randy Moss. Self-absorbed malcontent into team leader when Brady went down last year. His talent was unquestioned but prior to coming to the Patriots his attitude raised serious doubts.

Understanding that psychology can be even more important than recognizing playing ability. And with talent it's as much about what works with the system as pure ability. Too many teams only look at the raw talent.

By: Gairzo

Gairzo — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:22:08 +0000

Good call on Eli. He has the look of a snot nosed, spoiled kid–even when he wins.

To clarify: Me liking Belichick…not the issue. He could have cemented a place in history with Lombardi, Noll without cheating. BB and his team got off easy–and the league let it happen.

Without beating that horse into reincarnation, there probably are no better coaches than NE's in evaluating players to fit their system. On draft day NE raises the most eyebrows about trades and picks being "reaches".

Then 2-3 years down the line those players are making Pro Bowls.

I give them their due in the next Game Plan column I'm working on for next week.

By: Nate Barlow

Nate Barlow — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:57:34 +0000

And we need a nomination from the first week of the month for the November Tampy. My vote goes to Eli Manning for his pathetic performance against Philly and for his lack of urgency in the late third / early fourth quarter when a good, quick run could still have put the Giants back in the game.

By: Nate Barlow

Nate Barlow — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:52:38 +0000

I agree with you about the Broncos. They don't fall into my bottom rung of NFL contempt (that is reserved for the likes of the Dolphins and Raiders), but never been fond of them.

Knowing how much you dislike Belichick, I was amused by your nod of approval in regards to his complete disregard of criticism for running up the score. As far as I'm concerned, running up the score should not even be a term in the NFL or any other professional league. These are the pros! You are being payed to play, and your job is to win. It has nothing to do with the other team's feeling. Please. Embarrass them so they are afraid of you next time.

The ironic thing is, in the college game, where it's supposed to be about the spirit of the game and not about the money (yeah, right), running up the score can be an integral part of improving your rankings. And that's a level of the game where the argument about "consideration" ostensibly would hold water if we didn't know the truth of the matter. So how anyone can make the argument that you shouldn't score as much as you can, however you can, at any point of the game is beyond me.

Pansies.