This year's ESPN hit piece

tims4wins

PN23's replacement
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
37,059
Hingham, MA
It's crazy how Simmons has fallen off the map. 10 years ago he would have been the first person I wanted to read for his take on the ESPN piece.
 

Auger34

used to be tbb
SoSH Member
Apr 23, 2010
9,275
I'm only a few paragraphs in but it seems he actually looked in to the salary cap implications (after someone he knows "was with Kraft last weekend"). THANK YOU BILL. A week late but at least you put in some effort. And it pisses off Deadspin? That's just a bonus
His piece was good until he veered into his stupid ass theory about the locker room siding with Jimmy G over Brady. Simmons seems to have forgot that maybe the primary rule in any locker room mutiny is that the back up has to be performing a lot better than the starter......not if the players like the back-up more because he relates to them and is in their age bracket
 

Reverend

for king and country
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jan 20, 2007
64,033
He was better than so-so in the win at Buffalo. He was pretty damn good. Remember that pick came on the Gronk play and was clear illegal contact / holding / DPI, and the game's outcome was not in doubt at that point. Simply remove the pick and his passer rating is 96.3 and his TD:INT ratio improves.

70% with 8.6 YPA is excellent regardless of opponent and venue. That would have ranked #2 in the league for completion % and #1 in the league for YPA. To do it on the road, late in the season in a place like Buffalo, against a playoff team with a good defense (Buffalo ranked #9 in YPA against, and #6 in passer rating against), was an excellent performance.

Edit: they also put up 26.6 PPG in this stretch which is pretty good generally, and even better when taking into account 3 of the 5 were road games, and the two others were late December in Foxboro. Also, no Hogan for most of it, and no Gronk for Miami.
The whole issue is approached in shoddy fashion anyway. Basically, a bunch s stats doesn’t automatically make it solid analysis absent a framework.

For example, a possible alternative explanation for at least some of the observed statistical “decline”:

The uptick in Lewis’s usage coincides with the improvement in the Patriots’ run game late in the season. New England tied for the league high in rushing touchdowns over the final six weeks, a stretch in which the Patriots ranked second in rush yards (829) and third in yards per carry (4.66)
https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2018/1/10/16870638/dion-lewis-patriots-x-factor

Everyone’s atwitter over a meeting at Gillette running a bit long and wondering what it means. Meanwhile, the Patriots are installing a more versatile offense.
 
Last edited:

InstaFace

The Ultimate One
SoSH Member
Sep 27, 2016
21,765
Pittsburgh, PA
I love Magary, and I love any world-weary, condescending attempts at Fire Joe Morgan'ing a poorly-written sports article.

I disagree with him pretty strongly here but I have nothing but love for that hateful, hateful man.
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
53,847
Also, for the record, I probably wouldn't take the Indy job,
Honestly, I think you should. You can't do worse than they last 2 guys.

"The Colts are proud to announce tims4wins as head coach. Honestly, 4 wins with this roster, would be awesome, and it's right there in his name!!"
 

tims4wins

PN23's replacement
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
37,059
Hingham, MA
Honestly, I think you should. You can't do worse than they last 2 guys.

"The Colts are proud to announce tims4wins as head coach. Honestly, 4 wins with this roster, would be awesome, and it's right there in his name!!"
I can't see how they would do worse with me than Pagano, honestly.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 24, 2002
48,207
Magary's red hot hatred of Simmons is a glorious thing to behold. The fact that he is more talented than Simmons and nowhere near as popular makes it even better.

Were Simmons to address Magary (which would never happen because Sprtsguy33 doesn't answer letters... or criticism) he would likely quote his favorite show that he never wanted to watch - The Wire:

"You want it to be one way, but it's the other way..."
 

lambeau

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 7, 2010
1,175
Connecticut
So Willie McGinest is reporting JG was agreeable to a 4 year below market deal, but Don Yee wouldn't do it--or a team-friendly extension for TB to complement it.
 

dcmissle

Deflatigator
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 4, 2005
28,269
I love how Drew Magary and Bomani Jones lose their shit when one team or another lets the Pats “off the hook.”
 

edmunddantes

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 28, 2015
4,737
Cali
So Willie McGinest is reporting JG was agreeable to a 4 year below market deal, but Don Yee wouldn't do it--or a team-friendly extension for TB to complement it.
If Jimmy wanted the below market deal, Jimmy would have signed the below market deal. Players tell their agents what they want or they get new agents.

People need to stop with the belief that these agents are all running around forcing players to sign/not sign/make requests etc... the agent that did that would quickly find themselves out of a job.

My favorite version of the genre was the "boras is forcing player X to not sign"... there's a reason players pick certain agents.
 
Last edited:

dcmissle

Deflatigator
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 4, 2005
28,269
So Willie McGinest is reporting JG was agreeable to a 4 year below market deal, but Don Yee wouldn't do it--or a team-friendly extension for TB to complement it.
He is?

Count me very skeptical. The agent works for the player, not vice versa. This would tend to make TB look bad, as he sure as hell doesn’t take orders from Yee.

Reinforces that the agent sharing is not a good idea in these circumstances.
 

OurF'ingCity

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 22, 2016
8,469
New York City
If Jimmy wanted the below market deal, Jimmy would have signed the below market deal. Players tell their agents what they want or they get new agents.
Yeah, I guess it's possible that Jimmy said something like "I kind of want to stay with the Patriots, I'm ok not making as much the next couple years" and then Yee sat him down and explained how much money he could be leaving on the table if he did that and won Jimmy over, but in the end it was Jimmy's decision.
 

Mystic Merlin

Member
SoSH Member
Sep 21, 2007
46,769
Hartford, CT
JG calls the shots (after all, Yee is called an 'agent' for a reason), and why the hell would he want to sit another 1-4 years anyways, so I call bullshit.
 

Reverend

for king and country
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jan 20, 2007
64,033
How much is a below market deal for a franchise QB though?

Like, even if he gave them like a huge discount—call it 20%—that still wouldn’t be a small contract.

So we’re back to: look at the numbers. Again.
 

lambeau

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 7, 2010
1,175
Connecticut
The argument BB possibly made was two contracts of 4/60 were affordable.
Worst case for JG being he takes over a dynasty at the same age as Steve Young.
It's unclear whether the 49ers can realize their dynastic aspirations under arguably the worst owner in football.
 

joe dokes

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 18, 2005
30,242
Magary's red hot hatred of Simmons is a glorious thing to behold. The fact that he is more talented than Simmons and nowhere near as popular makes it even better.

Were Simmons to address Magary (which would never happen because Sprtsguy33 doesn't answer letters... or criticism) he would likely quote his favorite show that he never wanted to watch - The Wire:

"You want it to be one way, but it's the other way..."
I read the first bit of simmons and yawned. I laughed at magary's.

One difference between them is that Magary is self-aware. He'll agree with you about all his biases. He also knows that he's not the only over 40-year old guy with kids who has to wipe up vomit and go to the mall, like Simmons appears to think he is.

Magary is also just a better writer. He has his tropes, but he puts more thought and effort into the 4 paragraphs that open up his Funbag than Simmons puts into 100000 words on the karate kid. And if you email Magary polite criticism or disagreement, he responds like an adult.
 

Dotrat

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 11, 2002
2,135
Morris County NJ
Magary’s piece had as much spittle as humor, but Simmons deserved every bit of it for writing one of his all-time worst. Praising Halberstram—or any journalist—for not using quotes is like praising Blake Bortles for not throwing TDs.
 

Hagios

New Member
Dec 15, 2007
672
Halberstam is the GOAT though. I’ve never read many sports books so I’m now systematically working my way through SoSH recommendations and The Breaks of the Game clearly stands out even among an excellent lot.

I think opening with Halberstam is a bit like that metal band that used to demand a bowl of green m&m’s before concerts. It wast because they were divas, it was a way to quickly find out which venues actually followed the contract and which ones were screw ups.

In any case after hours of reading articles and sports talk radio it seems pretty clear that are only two data points - JG trade, and Guerrero lost access. Everything else is spin or (motivated) hearsay. You can’t create a meaningful theory out of that.
 

johnmd20

mad dog
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 30, 2003
61,996
New York City
Please stop calling it Minny. Nobody calls it fucking Minny. Or Minnie. Or Minni. Or Mini. Or Minne.

If you’re referring to the whole metro, and you’re into the whole brevity thing, say “the TC”. Or MSP. If just Minneapolis; MPLS. If just St. Paul; SP.

But here’s the thing: it’s the Minnesota Vikings. So saying Minny is like saying “Boss” when referencing the Patriots. It doesn’t even make sense. An acceptable abbreviation is simply “Minn”. Or MIN. Or if you want to be all cutesy and like to say things like “chowda”, you can say ‘Sota.

Thank you.
Lighten up Francis.
 

Mystic Merlin

Member
SoSH Member
Sep 21, 2007
46,769
Hartford, CT
Please stop calling it Minny. Nobody calls it fucking Minny. Or Minnie. Or Minni. Or Mini. Or Minne.

If you’re referring to the whole metro, and you’re into the whole brevity thing, say “the TC”. Or MSP. If just Minneapolis; MPLS. If just St. Paul; SP.

But here’s the thing: it’s the Minnesota Vikings. So saying Minny is like saying “Boss” when referencing the Patriots. It doesn’t even make sense. An acceptable abbreviation is simply “Minn”. Or MIN. Or if you want to be all cutesy and like to say things like “chowda”, you can say ‘Sota.

Thank you.
As soon as folks stop calling the White Mountains the 'Whites'
 

SumnerH

Malt Liquor Picker
Dope
SoSH Member
Jul 18, 2005
31,893
Alexandria, VA
Please stop calling it Minny. Nobody calls it fucking Minny. Or Minnie. Or Minni. Or Mini. Or Minne.

If you’re referring to the whole metro, and you’re into the whole brevity thing, say “the TC”.
They're both awful, but few people outside the area have any clue what “the TC” means, whereas pretty much everyone understands what “Minny” refers to—even out in Frisco.
 

djbayko

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 18, 2005
25,895
Los Angeles, CA
Please stop calling it Minny. Nobody calls it fucking Minny. Or Minnie. Or Minni. Or Mini. Or Minne.

If you’re referring to the whole metro, and you’re into the whole brevity thing, say “the TC”. Or MSP. If just Minneapolis; MPLS. If just St. Paul; SP.

But here’s the thing: it’s the Minnesota Vikings. So saying Minny is like saying “Boss” when referencing the Patriots. It doesn’t even make sense. An acceptable abbreviation is simply “Minn”. Or MIN. Or if you want to be all cutesy and like to say things like “chowda”, you can say ‘Sota.

Thank you.
To be fair, the Patriots are kinda boss.
 

Rusty13

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 3, 2007
5,351
Magary’s piece had as much spittle as humor, but Simmons deserved every bit of it for writing one of his all-time worst. Praising Halberstram—or any journalist—for not using quotes is like praising Blake Bortles for not throwing TDs.
They were both brutal reads really. I don’t read much from Magary, so this didn’t exactly endear me to reading anything more from him in the future.
 

dcmissle

Deflatigator
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 4, 2005
28,269
They were both brutal reads really. I don’t read much from Magary, so this didn’t exactly endear me to reading anything more from him in the future.
He is an asshole with a fan club. Illuminati all.

It’s going to be adorable when B.B. goes on to coach lacrosse, and Drew says, “just kidding ... you didn’t REALLY think I was serious, did you? I’m too fucking clever.”

Then his acolytes will insist here, “Yeah, Drew is way too fucking clever. The joke was on us, and you are a “deplorable’ if you were not in on the joke.”
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

Found no thrill on Blueberry Hill
SoSH Member
Sep 9, 2008
42,282
AZ
Halberstam is the GOAT though. I’ve never read many sports books so I’m now systematically working my way through SoSH recommendations and The Breaks of the Game clearly stands out even among an excellent lot.

I think opening with Halberstam is a bit like that metal band that used to demand a bowl of green m&m’s before concerts. It wast because they were divas, it was a way to quickly find out which venues actually followed the contract and which ones were screw ups.

In any case after hours of reading articles and sports talk radio it seems pretty clear that are only two data points - JG trade, and Guerrero lost access. Everything else is spin or (motivated) hearsay. You can’t create a meaningful theory out of that.
Van Halen. They demanded no brown M&Ms. But they also were divas, just not about that.
 

edmunddantes

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 28, 2015
4,737
Cali
Jimmy G did catch some shit for calling it San Fran. Probably the first thing he did wrong in the eyes of the sports talk sector.
 

bsj

Renegade Crazed Genius
SoSH Member
Dec 6, 2003
22,774
Central NJ SoSH Chapter
In the video the Patriots just released, anyone else see the moment that Belichick greeted Kraft in the locker room post game? Awkward in comparison to the way nearly EVERY other interaction looked in the video. Sort of looked like Belichick meeting Rex Ryan at midfield post game and wanting to get the hell out of there. Sort of surprised they left that clip in the video.
 

Ed Hillel

Wants to be startin somethin
SoSH Member
Dec 12, 2007
43,559
Here
In the video the Patriots just released, anyone else see the moment that Belichick greeted Kraft in the locker room post game? Awkward in comparison to the way nearly EVERY other interaction looked in the video. Sort of looked like Belichick meeting Rex Ryan at midfield post game and wanting to get the hell out of there. Sort of surprised they left that clip in the video.
It looks perfectly normal to me. What am I missing? Kraft not getting a butt slap like Eric Lee?
 

Dogman

Yukon Cornelius
Moderator
SoSH Member
Mar 19, 2004
15,181
Missoula, MT
I don't see anything different than how BB usually greets non-players.

This was a locker room celebration and BB is always very quick to ensure the players are getting the credit. My guess is Kraft and BB met/meet today and talk more about the win. I think you are making something out of nothing based on that BS Wickersham "report".
 

lexrageorge

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2007
18,099
In the video the Patriots just released, anyone else see the moment that Belichick greeted Kraft in the locker room post game? Awkward in comparison to the way nearly EVERY other interaction looked in the video. Sort of looked like Belichick meeting Rex Ryan at midfield post game and wanting to get the hell out of there. Sort of surprised they left that clip in the video.
I don't see anything unusual.

He shakes Kraft's hand, but then starts to look around so that he can gather everyone up and give folks the brief "post-game/pre-next-week" pep talk. His work isn't done. BB doesn't seem like one to spend a lot of time on celebrations and hugs until the Super Bowl is over.
 

bsj

Renegade Crazed Genius
SoSH Member
Dec 6, 2003
22,774
Central NJ SoSH Chapter
I don't see anything different than how BB usually greets non-players.

This was a locker room celebration and BB is always very quick to ensure the players are getting the credit. My guess is Kraft and BB met/meet today and talk more about the win. I think you are making something out of nothing based on that BS Wickersham "report".
I dont know that I am making anything. Maybe there is nothing there. The tone just looked different from the rest of the video. It was a "matter of fact" moment in an otherwise highly celebratory video. The way Kraft greeted every other person he approached, and Belichick too, just seemed different from how they greeted each other.

I still I think he's back next year and Wickersham is an idiot.
 

Dogman

Yukon Cornelius
Moderator
SoSH Member
Mar 19, 2004
15,181
Missoula, MT
It is different but I don't think out of the ordinary for how they usually greet each other. I'll ask you this: If the Wickersham BS piece never was published, would you have even commented on their greeting?