So they wererebuildingin order to make way forfuture success, you see.
That sort of visual metaphor is what separates me from the regular journos.
That’s the Old Balls Difference.]
Let me begin by objecting to my own word choice in the headline.
“Demands” are something you make when you’re holding hostages after a bank robbery gone terribly wrong.
And I’d get less traction if I’d said, “Polite Requests.”
Whereas “demand” is a good, solid buzzword.
A call to action that produces clicks.
So thanks for the pageviews.
By that I mean, who care how they’re received by the media and fans.
So they play up to the cameras.
take a stab at come up with clever, memorable witticisms.
Or bend over backwards to sound profound.
Or go out of their way to demonstrate they’re tough, non-nonsense hardos.
Football seems to particularly draw those kinds of personalities, but it’s not the only sport.
Just look back to Rick Pitino’s time in Boston.
There was no other agenda.
If the media and the rest of the world hated him for it was irrelevant.
Be nice to these people.
Treat them like hot garbage.
We won’t care.
Just be yourselves and not some fake image you’re trying to project and everything will be fine.
Like a sofa and loveseat.
(And as I list these, I realize I’m creating a Family Feud category.
Which begs the question: Has anyone actually ever been part of one of their surveys?
By now they should’ve talked to every person in America, but I’ve never met one.
Now back to the post.)
It’s perfectly fine to have two separate humans doing those superhuman jobs.
But they have to be of one mind.
Here’s an example I like to cite.
Going into 2012, the Vikings had a good, young, Pro Bowl tight end in Kyle Rudolph.
But the front office went out and signed John Carlson from the Seahawks anyway.
So when were two tight ends going to be on the field at the same time?
The answer was never.
Carlson rotted away and barely saw action, with just 8 receptions in 14 games.
A total waste of resources.
At cross purposes, I’ll add.
Whoever works above Mayo has to workwithhim.
Only not horrible like that trash is.
This past year, the most glaring need was tackle.
Highly regarded tackles were available in the draft.
Instead Belichick traded down, went defense with his first three picks, and ignored the position altogether.
Then opted for Dollar General off-brand tackles for the franchise on a budget.
Does anyone else remember the Calvin Anderson era?
You don’t have to get a tackle with the No.
But it can’t be neglected another season.
At the very least, we need next Matt Light or Sebastian Vollmer Round 2 home run.
To do anything less would be dereliction of duty.
This offense always ran through an elite slot receiver and a 3rd down back.
Demario Douglas may very well be the former.
No one on the roster is positioned to be the latter.
They went through the better part of the season with just two running backs.
Wasted seasons for guys drafted at a position where careers are short as it is.
Meanwhile they carried a ton of offensive lineman, a rotatingCha-Cha lineof ineffective receivers.
And one position group that was grossly over-represented.
Ask your average Pats fan to recount for you one play that Chris Board made all season.
We all should be able to, because he took 406 snaps.
As did Brendan Schooler.
Matthew Slater belongs in the Hall of Fame.
But his 377 ST-only snaps were a luxury a bad team can’t afford.
Mack Wilson added 312, but at least he contributes on defense as well.
Going forward, keep a long snapper, a kicker, a punter, and Schooler.
But train him up as a goal line defender, the way they did Nate Ebner.
Mostly just recognize that the NFL has deemphasized special teams and get with the times.
And while we’re at it, fire whoever gave a passing draft grade to Chad Ryland.
He’s like the movie critic who have a good review toPixels.
I get that the professional draft guru class and the mock draft sites don’t have it right.
But I’m done with off-the-wall, way-too-early selections no one could’ve possibly seen coming when they did.
But the kickers who would still be available on the final day, if not as UDFAs.
Again, that sort of game is cute when it produces some hidden gem.
None of this seems to big an ask.
Just meet all my demands and this will be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
