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Two weeks and two killer mailbags. Nice job, folks.
Between the web and the radio, two topics dominated this week: The Pats backup quarterback situation and J.D. Drew’s fragility.
I know a lot of you think I’m a contrarian and say things just to be different. But when I said the backups suck and Drew is soft, I was honestly trying to be obvious, not different. I thought those statements were self-evident. But it turns out a lot of you feel differently, and the resulting vitriol was truly impressive. Call it my special gift.
In case you haven’t noticed, your input here is crucial. So keep those emails coming. Also, I obviously take some emails from my on-air appearances and include them here, mostly because they are so damn good. The preference, though, is to receive them here at my inbox at mfelger@weei.com.
Here we go for Round 2. As Apollo Creed said famously in Rocky III, Ding. Ding….
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Hey Felger,
What qualifies you to write a "Patriots Report Card?" Did you go to some kind of special football school? Did you attend NFL coaching seminars? Seriously, how did you become a Football Professor? You must have had some special training. Please don't tell me you just watch games on TV. Because, ya know, I do that. Tell us how you became a "Football Expert."
Drew,
Middletown, RI
A: My credentials are the same ones you have to critique the media, Drew. Nada. I guess my one credential is that I’ve covered the league for a decade and have seen, in person, every single Patriots regular season and playoff game since 1999 (161 straight and counting). I also talk to players, coaches, scouts and agents. But, in all honesty, who gives a rat’s ass? The only things I truly have to offer are my eyes and an objective opinion. In other words, we’re all in same boat, babe.
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Mike,
The Patriots’ organization must be embarrassed about their poor play this pre-season. Not surprising they've lost games, but it is shocking how inept they've looked at times, and yet they seem content to shake it off. I'm not saying the sky is falling, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them at 6-2 or even 5-3 come midseason, until they can work out the kinks. Disappointing to date, hopefully they'll turn it around.
With kind regards,
Paul Casassa
Worcester
A: I made sure to include the "kind regards" line because I’m going to need it later on. As for the Pats’ organization being embarrassed with the preseason results, I would categorically disagree with that. The embarrassment comes if this happens in the regular season. I do agree with you on one front: No one cares if the Pats win or lose these games, but I’m not sure if enough people are aware of just how bad they’ve looked in the process. The scrubs have been making the scores respectable in garbage time. The starters are the ones getting smoked.
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Hey Mike,
Go back and take a look at Tedy Bruschi's performance against the run. He is over-running plays, guessing instead of reading his keys, really struggling. The pass he deflected in the end zone (against Philadelphia) was a nice play but that was just about it. He has not looked good this season and I don't see this situation improving during the season.
Thanks
Brian
A: I don’t know if I agree, Brian. I think Bruschi has been okay. I do know this: I feel much better about Bruschi this year with Jerod Mayo next to him than I would if Junior Seau was in the mix again.
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Subj.: Felger, Mr. Doom and Gloom
Felger,
The backup QB being important??? I don't give a damn who you bring in at backup QB, if this team loses Brady, they are sunk. I don't care if we have Brady Quinn, Kurt Warner, or Gandhi backing him up. Do you think Kelly Holcomb is going to lead us to the Super Bowl? What kind of moron are you? Get a freaking clue, Felgy!!!!!
Bob
Saugus
A: Here’s a question for all you people who think it makes absolutely no difference who the backup quarterback is: Why did the Patriots bother drafting Kevin O’Connell in the third round this year? If it’s Brady or nothing, why waste that pick? Why in years past did they sign Damon Huard, Jim Miller, Doug Flutie and Vinny Testaverde? Obviously, it’s my opinion that having depth at the position is important, so I think all those moves made sense (even Flutie). But if you think depth at QB is inconsequential, then why don’t you criticize the O’Connell pick? I don’t remember any of you saying the Flutie or Testaverde signings were a waste of time. Let’s try and be consistent, people.
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Subj: Felger the joke
Felger,
Have you applied for any front office positions? Man, you are so smart, I figure you would be hired in a second. How many Super Bowls have the Patriots won without #12? The Patriots would probably squeak into the playoffs because of the JV division they play in, but they would be the wildcard and likely be done after that. Who was behind Elway, Favre, and Aikman when they were dominating the league? If they went down would have those teams been contenders?
Best Regards,
Matthew P. Sellinger
A: Here is a partial list of quarterbacks the Packers drafted and developed while Brett Favre was their starter: Mark Brunnel, Ty Detmer, Aaron Brooks and Matt Hasselbeck. All went on to start and have success as starters elsewhere. All those guys would have won games for the Packers if called upon. Bad example, Matthew.
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Hey Felger,
The Pats need a back-up QB now. I hear the rump swabs on the Big Show reiterate the fact that no one has a great backup in the league. My point is to sign a veteran who can fill in for a few games if Brady re-injures his ankle and needs a few weeks off. Every game is important when it comes to home-field advantage and if that makes a difference, then the Pats will be a better team for it.
Thanks,
Mike
Lakeville
A: Here’s another thought: If the Pats pick up a veteran at the end of camp or trade for a more established name (Damon Huard, Chris Simms, etc.), won’t that settle this debate? Wouldn’t that be an admission by the Pats that what they currently have needs upgrading? Just a thought.
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Felger
Did it occur to you that maybe Bill & Co. knew that there would be veteran options at QB available once people have to cut down their rosters. Teams like Tampa are going to have to cut some decent veteran talent at the position. Belichick knows the Byron Leftwichs of the world aren’t the answer and that the talent out there (after final cut downs) is going to be better than that stiff? Not to mention the fact that Huard could also be a possibility. Get a clue and move on!
Sean O’Brien
A: See, this is exactly what I’m talking about. Sean and I are actually on the same page. The current backup quarterback situation isn’t good enough. It’s an important issue. And the Pats should/will do something about it. Why is this so hard?
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Mr. Felger,
Don’t you understand? Once Tom Brady leaves this team, the Krafts might as well just fold up the franchise.
Joe
A: I honestly can’t tell if this guy is being sarcastic or not. Is he saying the only thing the Krafts and Belichick have going for them is the quarterback? Or is he saying that that notion is ridiculous? I, for one, think it is ridiculous.
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Felgy,
Seeing as Tom Brady’s baby’s birthday is Aug 22, isn’t it possible he was in California Friday night and wasn’t expected to be in Foxboro?
Daniel Doyle
A: This email is in response to the question I raised in the report card: Was Tom Brady even in the building Friday against the Eagles? The television broadcast never showed him on the sidelines. I have no idea where he was, but if he was given the night off for his son’s first birthday, how would you feel about it? For me, all these preseason questions about Brady and the team come down to how they perform in the regular season. If the Pats continue to play at a high level, the questions are mute. But if they falter, isn’t all the stuff we’ve seen this offseason fair to look at?
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Mike,
What scares me more then Tom's injury is his absence from the sidelines during the games. (Brady also didn’t make the trip to Tampa the week before.) He should be there giving advice to his young inexperienced back-up QBs. Has he lost the fire that drove him to where he is? Manning has been on the sidelines for the Colts games. That is what scares me most. No more parking spot, no playing, no support for his teammates. Just not the same old Tom Brady. Go Tommy! Go Pats!
Mike Johnson
A: I’m going to ignore that last line, Mike. Meanwhile, the premise you raise is the secret fear of some fans out there. But I think that group is in a minority. The vast majority has full confidence that Brady and the team will be at peak performance come the regular season.
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Hey Mike,
Now that TMZ, the Globe and other mediot outlets have had their fun with innuendos of all kinds regarding Brady, maybe someone like you should put the truth into the equation? Knowing Brady as he is, don't you think this was the personal issue he took care of?
An excerpt: ``Tom Martinez is lucky to be alive. And he knows it. In late May, the former College of San Mateo multi-sport coach went into a coma and didn’t come out of it until 10 days later. Martinez has had various health issues in the last five years. He came out of a coma but his kidneys shut down in the process and as a result, Martinez has to do dialysis three times a week….Martinez (is) most famously known as Tom Brady’s longtime mentor.’’
Frank Sandler
A: It’s every bit as likely a scenario as his being in California to buy a house or visit his son. Thanks for the link.
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To: Dale and Holley,
Please, please, please. No more Felger. I've been a football fan for over 40 years (38 as a Patriot season-ticket holder) and does he say things just to be confrontational? Dale, I’ve listened to you since the Eddie days and Mike Felger is the one person on WEEI that can get me to listen to music during the day. Please send him back where he came from, preferably back to Milwaukee.
Mal Goldenberg
A: Mal, can you please tell Dale to book my ticket for a Friday, when the Brewers wear their classic, 1982-era uniforms and hats, or a Sunday, when they have the sausage races at Miller Park? Thanks.
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To: Dale and Holley,
I can’t figure out why Felger is on the show when he obviously has such disdain for the station and the callers’ opinions. What is the reason he is on again? I usually love to listen to the daily banter but he is getting on my last nerve. Shut up, Felger.
Kim
Florence
A: How awesome is this? Someone in Italy took the time to email us from halfway around the world just to tell me to shut up. I told you I had a gift ….Wait. There’s a Florence, Mass? Never mind.
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WEEI,
Someone should let Felger (sp?) know that he doesn't need to invent mythical sports worlds full of injured players (Brady) or scared pitchers (Buchholz) to find interesting topics in Boston. For the record the pre-season is for p-r-e-p-a-r-a-t-i-o-n, not victories. The Pats will be ready when the time comes. Oh yeah, and anyone who calls the Pats’ Superbowl performance a ``choke job,’’ as Felger has, has clearly never done anything of value in sports.
Jim
Westhampton
A: This guy may not be sure how to spell Felger, but he’s got preparation down cold. Super Bowl – not so much. And let me help him with exactly what the Pats did in Glendale last February: G-A-G. Or, if you prefer, C-H-O-K-E. Thanks for the email, Jim (sp?)
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Felger,
I’ll make this short. I listened to you down the dial, loved the show. Now get your own time slot on WEEI. Fresh, irreverent, and always challenging the status quo. Full-time or no time pal.
Jeff McLeod
Marshfield
A: I think Dale would prefer the latter, Jeff.
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Hi Mike,
I'm sure I am one of many who like hearing you on the radio again. It’s just the yahoos out there who pick up the phone who make it seem like people hate you.
Johnny Malibu
A: So you’re saying that if we just eliminate the people with phones I’d be popular? Damn technology!
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Congratulations Dale,
You now know what it feels like to be us (listeners) from 6-10 a.m. the last few weeks. If you can make it that far with Felger in the car with you, will you drive him out into the country, open the car door and drive away?
Alex Griffin
Ipswich
A: Alex, Dale already has me booked to Milwaukee. If that’s too expensive, can you have Dale drop me off at the dock to the fast Nantucket ferry in Hyannis? I’ll be out of your hair either way.
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Felger,
Since you are on your high-horse about asking players what they think of Dale’s comment about Brady going down and the season being over, why didn't you ask Rodney Harrison face to face (during Patriots Monday) about him failing to rip the ball out of David Tyree's hand? Why didn’t you mention that the Rodney Harrison of a couple of years ago makes that play? He was right in front of you, right?
Ben,
Merrimac
A: The answer is simple: I much prefer to rip players when they aren’t in my presence.
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Mike,
I love you Felger, and I love how people want to kill you for speaking your mind. No one really knows about how hurt someone is, it's all speculation. But at least you have the balls to speak your mind and you're not afraid of pissing people off when you do it. Ned Flanders would rather fall on a sword than say something that might piss someone off. Speak your mind, Felger, and continue to enrage the masses! I'm loving it, anyway.
Matt
Burlington
A: This one is the aberration.
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Felger,
Will you please go away? Call in sick the rest of the week, hell, at this point, I'm sure ALL of New England would even be willing to take Dickerson instead -- just as long as you're not there to throw around your stupid takes on things, change Dale’s comments to what you think he said or meant, and piss off everyone day after day after day. I mean, really. Why are you there Felger? Doesn't Metaparel play the role of ``skeptic’’ who must throw random opposition to everything that makes sense to 99% of the rest of regular sports listeners? Do we really need two of you?! Where are the pictures of WEEI's bosses doing God knows what that you must have? And are they the same pictures that you have of (Comcast’s) bosses? Peoria called. They need a sports writer for their local Peoria Express. Readership level: 127. Said the pay is commensurate with experience. So that means you should start at about, what, $20-30,000?
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