Are we here to win or are we here to spite?
“You play to win the game.”- Herm Edwards
Coach famously had this quote when he was the head coach of the New York Jets and since then has been a meme or something friends quote to one another. But one group of friends is in desperate need to hear this rallying call, Matt Patricia and Bill Belichick.
It’s the dark days of Boston sports, after 20 years of success we are now back in the 80’s where all the teams suck except the Celtics. But, can one of these teams be better than what they are right now? Are they being held back by a 350 lbs bearded man that holds grudges? Is he playing one player over another even though the benched player is the preferred player by the franchise QB? The answers are all yes.
Matt Patricia has to be a non players coach. Taking credit for Malcolm Butlers interception in the Super Bowl agains the Seahawks, going to Detroit and being hated by 90 percent of the players to have Matt Stafford agree to go to any NFL team except the Patriots because Matt was here, and now benching Kendrick Bourne because when explaining the Shanahan offense, Kendrick told Matt he isn’t coaching it right. For that Bourne, who has great chemistry with Mac Jones especially at the tail end of last season, has been benched the first game and the second game played the least amount of snaps out of all the wide receivers (Matthew Slater doesn’t count).
One of the big trades for the Patriots was going out and getting Devante Parker from Miami, a division rival looking to get rid of some cap after loading up on Tyreek Hill. Parker, known to be a Patriots killer with the Dolphins, was suppose to be the guy that when Mac threw it up in coverage Parker would go up and get it. Well after two games he was the target on two of Mac’s interceptions because he looks to cradle the ball and not go up and get it. He also looks a little lost and not on the same page as Mac. One play in particular Mac wanted him to run a come back and instead Parker just ran a stop route and the ball was under thrown. Parker didn’t record a reception in the win, however, when Bourne was out for 24 snaps he was targeted 3 times with 2 receptions for 16 yards. One of the two receptions was over the middle in coverage to help gain a first down.
The way the AFC East is shaking out all ready we can’t have coaches holding players out for spite, put the best play maker out on the field even if it means you messed up a trade and got a player that doesn’t fit the system. Huge home opener for the Patriots this weekend against the Ravens and I would love to see Kendrick Bourne getting more snaps than Parker and see what shakes out from it. Remember Matt, we play to win the game!
