Giardi: Parker part of the Patriots' problem, not part of the solution

When it's going wrong - and I'd say for the Patriots, one win in six tries qualifies - you find out who cares about the team and who cares only about themselves, their numbers, and who knows what else (money? health? endorsements?). I heard many players say the right thing in the aftermath of Sunday's latest defeat, 21-17 in Las Vegas, to the Raiders, but also wave a warning flag. 

"You want to be able to control the outcome, but all you can control as an individual is what you do day in and day out," said Ja'Whaun Bentley. "We're going to work as hard as we can, as detailed as we can … but we gotta move forward. That's the only thing that's going to work is us moving forward as a team."

And therein lies the risk facing Bill Belichick, his coaching staff, and the leaders in that locker room. They've not been in this position before in Foxborough. Even the Covid-season of 2020 saw the Pats still in the playoff hunt until the final two weeks of the year, improbably. But here, in mid-October, with the Bills and Dolphins next up on the schedule, it could be over before Halloween. This must be a trick because that sure as hell ain't no treat.

"If we choose to respond the right way, then it will be really good. But if we don't, it will go the other way," said Mac Jones. 

"it's up to us to look ourselves in the mirror and see who we are individually and what we're going to bring every day," said Kendrick Bourne. "Are we just going to quit, come to work to just work, or are we going to come to work to really work and put in effort so we can change this thing around?"

Perhaps Jones, Bourne, and whoever else gives a damn about the rest of the season could pull DeVante Parker aside and have a word or two with him? After another game in which Parker was relatively useless, lolly-gagging his way through one route in particular like no one was rushing the passer, he had a chance to give the Pats a chance in the game's final minutes. Jones delivered his best throw of the season, a 40ish-yard bomb from a congested pocket that hit Parker in a bad spot - his hands. Both of 'em. It's right there on tape. Catch it, and the Pats are about 10 yards away from a game-winning field goal attempt—instead, clang. A delay of game followed, then a safety, then a third straight loss. 

Postgame, Parker didn't want to own his "moment."

Question: What happened?

Parker: "I don't know…pause…what did you see?"

Question: It looked like you got behind coverage.

Parker: "Yeah, I guess that's what happened. I was behind coverage. Next."

Question: Did you get your fingers on the ball?

Parker: "My fingertips, I think. But I didn't get a full grasp of it."

Question: Is that a ball you can catch?

Parker: "I think so. Fingertips. I don't know."

Look, none of us are perfect. We don't always do the right thing, say the right thing, or even think the right thing. There's a high level of frustration with what's been happening this year, and that can get the best of anyone competitive. But Parker is the same guy who got irritated this summer when he was asked questions about DeAndre Hopkins, doing his best Drew Rosenhaus imitation - "Next question" - then showing out for a day in practice only to be seen or heard from since rarely. He knows that Hopkins is probably headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, right? The only way Parker will get there is if he buys a ticket.

Internally, the Pats talk about Parker like he's an essential cog in a successful passing attack. Externally, every team the Pats have played told you precisely what they think of the former first-rounder- not much at all. He doesn't draw special attention. He hasn't earned it. Parker's a one-trick pony, and that trick is no good - a 50/50 target who has yet to win many 50/50 balls this year. 

Parker is a player who got a contract extension (albeit one that lowered his cap number) for what, exactly? He's played in 5 of 6 games this year and has 13 catches for 136 yards and zero touchdowns. Is that all on Parker? No. The offensive line stinks. The QB is hanging on by a thread and probably would have been replaced if they had a playable option behind him. But Parker can't duck and run for cover, either. His postgame act was Belichickian, only he doesn't have enough rings to think about attempting that, let alone do that. Parker has yet to earn any (and whatever you buy from Kay Jewelers doesn't count) and likely won't. He's never proven to be a winning player, and his postgame attitude was that of a losing player. But that's where you are now as an organization, teetering on the brink of becoming one of those teams that makes news week after week, not for how well they played but for the nonsense that comes with being a bad team with a murky future. Anyone having fun yet?

FROM BILL'S MOUTH

We heard from Belichick twice Monday morning - once on WEEI and then again in his usual way-to-early Zoom call. The Patriots head coach looked surprisingly refreshed. Or my eyes weren't working yet, making anyone look better than the reality. 

Belichick's team once again proved to be slow starters despite talks of "starting over" in the previous week. That's a pattern that dates back to Thanksgiving of last year and shows no sign of abating.,

"If I had the answer to that question, maybe it wouldn't be that way," said Belichick. "We've tried a number of different things. We'll keep working on it.

"But you're right, it's been hard to play from behind. That's not the way you want to play in this league or really in any competitive sport that I can think of. We have to do a better job. There's no doubt about that."

The penalties continue to be unsightly and untimely. There were three in the final two-plus minutes of the game, down two, with a chance to drive the length of the field for a game-winning field goal. I mention patterns with regard to slow starts, but what about this? The Pats are now the team their fans (and them) made fun of. They repeatedly do dumb things. Where's Forrest Gump when you need him: "Stupid is as stupid does."

"The calls are the calls," said Belichick. "This crew calls a lot of penalties. They called a lot of penalties yesterday, but that's out of our control other than trying to do things as fundamentally as we can. Some of the penalties obviously were all our fault. False starts, things like that. Some of the other ones, we have to play good fundamental football, and that's what we're trying to do."

Belichick seemed to take issue with the DPI called on J.C. Jackson late in the game. Maybe it was a bit soft, but you've lost that right you had for two decades, where you might get the benefit of the doubt. Sorry. That's how this goes, and has been since December 2021. It may be time to try something different. What that is, who knows? It's not like the cupboard is chock full of options. But if you shop for the groceries, Bill, maybe figure out better ways to utilize them.