Good morning!
A few random thoughts while I wonder if Andy Dalton actually tries in these games...
- The Patriots did what they were supposed to do by eventually blowing out the Bengals.
- Of course, that was mainly because of the defense and special teams. Seems like the season is coming full circle in that regard. Stephon Gilmore was spectacular.
- The offense made some baby steps mostly went backward in the passing game, but the only thing I care about is whether or not Julian Edelman can finish the season and be effective. Yesterday was not a great day for that.
- Speaking of that, make sure you read Doc Flynn on what Edelman is dealing with. It scared me to death.
- The Chiefs are going to be coming to Foxborough, unless things get crazy. How's that look?
- As I predicted on Felger & Mazz, Fox's Jay Glazer got some of the footage of the Patriots' taping incident.
He broke the original Spy Gate story in 2007, and now @JayGlazer comes through again with EXCLUSIVE footage of Spy Gate II.pic.twitter.com/4o69oV2Lcc
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 15, 2019
- I have no interest in giving you an opinion that is anything other than my honest take. To do anything other than that goes against who I am and it does you absolutely no good. Just like how I told you Tom Brady would get suspended by the league because of his and the team's reaction to deflate-gate. I'm giving you my honest opinion from covering the NFL and the people in it for nearly 20 years.
- I didn't think this was a big deal until I saw Glazer's footage. If that's representative of the entire tape — and I've heard from league sources the entire film is much worse, but who really knows? — then I expect them to be docked a mid-round pick and fined, at the minimum.
- I was hoping, for their sake, that it was going to show a wider angle of the field and both teams, and nothing tight. That would be easily explained. That video was the worst-case scenario and it explains why the Bengals are so pissed. It's entirely focused on the area of the bench where the Bengals were making substitutions. I texted a few NFL sources yesterday to get their opinion and they were all ticked off and agreed that it was bad.
- Even if it was a total accident and just terrible, terrible timing, and that video guy is a complete jackwagon Masshole, they're still guilty by association even without the prior offenses. You can think that was nonsense too, but the NFL and its members absolutely do not. And that's all that matters.
- This isn't about signals. It doesn't matter what the Patriots may or may not have gotten out of the tape. We all know Spygate didn't give the Patriots that much of an advantage, but they didn't keep a library of film and notes for nothing. Every NFL team is obsessed with information. They want as much as possible. This appears to be an effort to further that. Unless you can prove intent, that's how it will play in league circles.
- Ultimately, we need to see all the evidence so we can know the whole truth, but this does not look good for the Patriots. I'm not saying they're guilty. I'm not saying they were definitely trying to tape the Bengals. I'm telling you how it looks to the league. And it's not nothing.
Time to hit the links...
PATRIOTS
CELTICS
BRUINS
RED SOX
________________________
ON TAP
7 p.m.:
8 p.m.:
8:15 p.m.:
PARTING THOUGHT(S)
2 + 4 = 6. @BumpNrunGilm0re PICK SIX. pic.twitter.com/GDYGBQf7ih
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 15, 2019