[LOCKED] 2019 AB Watch: Non-legal Views Only

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dcmissle

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I think there's a good chance he just has Dillon- Blount syndrome and Foxboro is the cure.

Hope this works out for the season but could last a day.

If this means the pats lose The Gun Show to another team in the process, that's sad.
I now think that if BB has a chance to get a player of this ability for no capital — no draft picks, no players, no nothin’ — and he can fit him to a salary, he gets him. Period, full stop.

And he looks at it big picture: 6 times out of 10, maybe 7, it works out. When it doesn’t, you cut and run quickly.

Apart from ABs talent and work ethic, it really couldn’t shape up worse. His social media addiction and self absorption. What he did week 17 last year — beyond the pale unprofessional. And that “I’m free” video — there are two possibilities: he is fucking crazy; this whole thing was a work. I’m rooting hard for the latter.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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I understand the Gordon concerns in theory but there is no evidence that he isn’t already on a knife’s edge at any given moment under any given set of circumstances—I’m sure many here would be shocked at what little might be considered a stressor or trigger, and I would be disappointed if BB didn’t explore any possible avenue of putting the best possible team on the field just in case it adversely affected a short-term Patriot who already relapsed once because it was a bye week.
 

JokersWildJIMED

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For an addict everything is a possible trigger. Gordon is a red herring for those who simply don’t understand addiction or are looking for a “reasonable” take
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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I would guess there are more intense feelings rooting for Gordon in that locker room than most other places in the universe. I’m sure there is also a lingering sense of fear about whether the season could hinge on whether or not a person with addict brain chemistry might relapse. Signing another receiver is just being realistic but I guess if he pereceives it as a vote of no confidence that’s a worry.
 

lostjumper

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I wonder if the AB signing could actually be a benefit to JG. He’s already posted about how he wants to focus on the future not the past. Maybe the AB circus coming to town will help keep some unwanted attention off Josh.
I was listening to the radio this morning and that was their take. This may help Gordon because all of the pressure and the spotlight are now on AB. Media will go talk to AB after a game, not Gordon. I hope it works out that way.
 

mr_smith02

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Pretty funny, if true. Also why BB is the GOAT. Would have no qualms trading anyone to a rival if it was in his best interests and I feel pretty safe in saying it since he did that exact thing before.
Trading Brown to the Patriots in no way whatsoever would have been in the Steelers' best interest.
 

Jimbodandy

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around the way
There are growing suspicions
People are saying
I heard from a league source

Love it

Somewhere Red Auerbach is laughing that Kareem was sure that Red turned up the heat in the Garden in the 1984 finals. If you spent five minutes in the Garden back then, you knew that the climate control not working wasn't a conspiracy. Being in people's heads is good business.
 

DJnVa

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There are growing suspicions
People are saying
I heard from a league source

Love it

Somewhere Red Auerbach is laughing that Kareem was sure that Red turned up the heat in the Garden in the 1984 finals. If you spent five minutes in the Garden back then, you knew that the climate control not working wasn't a conspiracy. Being in people's heads is good business.
Somehow the devious Patriots made every other team not claim Blount on waivers.
 

Ed Hillel

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Blount went through waivers and Pats were, I believe, the 31st team to have dibs. Tampering.
 

BornToRun

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I honestly hope it’s true. I hope his offseason of “what the fuck?” was a calculated ploy to get cut so he can sign with the Pats. I think it would mean we’re less likely to have any problems if this is what he was gunning for all along. The tear soaked tinfoil hats of the other 31 are a nice bonus.
 

Al Zarilla

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The guys on NFL Gameday Morning, Mariucci, Warner and Irving, asked by moderator Eisen “was this a good move by the Patriots”...overwhelming YES. OK, but sometimes/usually on these things one guy will go contrarian just to make it interesting. Not this time.
 

Harry Hooper

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I honestly hope it’s true. I hope his offseason of “what the fuck?” was a calculated ploy to get cut so he can sign with the Pats. I think it would mean we’re less likely to have any problems if this is what he was gunning for all along. The tear soaked tinfoil hats of the other 31 are a nice bonus.
If it's true that Brown essentially refused to play for the Raiders, will any NFL commentators note that John Elway and Eli Manning refused to play for the teams that drafted them?
 

lambeau

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I liked Tony Gonzalez' take, that this is a manifestation of players taking control. He says AB never liked Oakland, wasn't impressed by Carr, and orchestrated the whole thing from the beginning of camp. When you think about it, he made himself a free agent after the Steelers refused to trade him to a contender--
not so crazy, really.
 

DJnVa

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ESPN just showed AB arriving at TF Green airport and getting into a car. LOL
 

BornToRun

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If it's true that Brown essentially refused to play for the Raiders, will any NFL commentators note that John Elway and Eli Manning refused to play for the teams that drafted them?
I just feel the need to say that Elway and his dad come off as massive douchebags in the “Elway to Marino” 30 for 30. I don’t care if they ended up being right about Baltimore, they were still assholes.
 

Ed Hillel

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Yeah, he’s basically the Dwight Howard of the NFL. Other superstar players are going to see how this shook out and try their hand. Let’s see if the CBA negotiations can come up with something, unlike the NBA.
 

bsj

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Why can't AB be on the sideline? I see people on that sideline all the time that are not official members of the team but rather, guests? Regardless, gotta think he'll be a guest of Kraft in his booth or something
 

BornToRun

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Why can't AB be on the sideline? I see people on that sideline all the time that are not official members of the team but rather, guests? Regardless, gotta think he'll be a guest of Kraft in his booth or something
I know it isn’t how the Pats do things but I would love some sort of mention of it in the pregame ceremonies just to rub it in. Fuck the Steelers.
 

RedOctober3829

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Why can't AB be on the sideline? I see people on that sideline all the time that are not official members of the team but rather, guests? Regardless, gotta think he'll be a guest of Kraft in his booth or something
That is exactly what he's doing per Peter Schrager of FOX. AB is going to be in Kraft's box tonight. Vince McMahon would be grinning if he even thought of this.
 

The Needler

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The guys on NFL Gameday Morning, Mariucci, Warner and Irving, asked by moderator Eisen “was this a good move by the Patriots”...overwhelming YES. OK, but sometimes/usually on these things one guy will go contrarian just to make it interesting. Not this time.
The Fox studio knuckleheads were in 100% agreement he wouldn’t make it through the season. In fact, I have never seen an NFL partner network so universally trash a person and his character like they just did. Terry Bradshaw just said, and I quote, “I don’t like people like him.” Unreal, considering all of the criminal issues players have been involved in that go without significant discussion.
 

E5 Yaz

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I’m not sure how Jules will ever not be wide open if both Brown and Gordon are on the field. He’s usually wide open as is.

From a strictly football perspective, AB is more or less a perfect WR for Brady. Impeccable route runner, great hands, amazing ATC ability, master of the 15-20 yard downfield routes.
Except for those times where he goes off script, improvises, then blames the QB for not seeing that he was open
 

ifmanis5

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Finally, a good take: https://deadspin.com/the-steelers-specifically-didnt-want-this-to-happen-wh-1837965658
And so, at the final tally, the Steelers ended up with a third-round pick, a fifth-round pick, and the hope that rookie receiver Diontae Johnson will eventually make everyone forget about AB; the Raiders ended up with nothing; and the Patriots ended up with one of the best receivers in the NFL on an absurdly team-friendly contract, playing across from Josh Gordon. What did we all learn from this fiasco? It’s unclear, but to quote J.K. Simmons’s character in Burn After Reading, “I guess we learned not to do it again.”
 

mr_smith02

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The Fox studio knuckleheads were in 100% agreement he wouldn’t make it through the season. In fact, I have never seen an NFL partner network so universally trash a person and his character like they just did. Terry Bradshaw just said, and I quote, “I don’t like people like him.” Unreal, considering all of the criminal issues players have been involved in that go without significant discussion.
The dude has fucked with two storied NFL franchises and is making his way on to a third. The segment was about AB, not the many other morally-flawed players in the league. Brown fully earned these aspersions and has work to do to change a lot of people's minds. It is an exciting move for the Pats but let's not create a narrative in which AB is the victim now.
 

The Needler

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The dude has fucked with two storied NFL franchises and is making his way on to a third. The segment was about AB, not the many other morally-flawed players in the league. Brown fully earned these aspersions and has work to do to change a lot of people's minds. It is an exciting move for the Pats but let's not create a narrative in which AB is the victim now.
He’s a prima donna WR, the latest in a long and illustrious list. He’s not like...a serial murderer. Spare me the breathless morality.

By the way, in one storied franchise, he battled with its multiple sexual assaulter QB. The other franchise is storied mostly for being disfunctional.
 

pedro1918

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I have a dumb question. I know AB is a diva and all, but he hasn’t been arrested/accused of anything, right? There is nothing on his wiki-page. I don’t really care if he has a pot charge. All of these folks taking shots at him and the Pats when the Chiefs just gave Hill a new contract is just pathetic.
 

E5 Yaz

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I have a dumb question. I know AB is a diva and all, but he hasn’t been arrested/accused of anything, right? There is nothing on his wiki-page. I don’t really care if he has a pot charge. All of these folks taking shots at him and the Pats when the Chiefs just gave Hill a new contract is just pathetic.
If he had signed with the Eagles, there would not be so many talking head talking
 

RedOctober3829

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dcmissle

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He’s a prima donna WR, the latest in a long and illustrious list. He’s not like...a serial murderer. Spare me the breathless morality.

By the way, in one storied franchise, he battled with its multiple sexual assaulter QB. The other franchise is storied mostly for being disfunctional.
If you judge him as a teammate ... it does not get much worse than this.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/antonio-brown-refused-to-practice-in-week-17-after-heated-dispute-with-ben-roethlisberger/amp/
I get it that Andy Reid would get a free pass, that arguably the Fox crew would go easier on another team — but JFC, there ARE issues with this guy.
 

bosockboy

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I now think that if BB has a chance to get a player of this ability for no capital — no draft picks, no players, no nothin’ — and he can fit him to a salary, he gets him. Period, full stop.

And he looks at it big picture: 6 times out of 10, maybe 7, it works out. When it doesn’t, you cut and run quickly.

Apart from ABs talent and work ethic, it really couldn’t shape up worse. His social media addiction and self absorption. What he did week 17 last year — beyond the pale unprofessional. And that “I’m free” video — there are two possibilities: he is fucking crazy; this whole thing was a work. I’m rooting hard for the latter.
And if it’s the latter it puts him in a category of being an atrocious human being. Neither one is a win. Hey pulled NBA level star trade shenanigans and upped it many levels.
 

DJnVa

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And if it’s the latter it puts him in a category of being an atrocious human being. Neither one is a win. Hey pulled NBA level star trade shenanigans and upped it many levels.
And NBA guys get props for controlling their destiny.
 

DJnVa

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Didn’t see a lot of props for Anthony Davis around here when he bludgeoned his way to Los Angeles.
Yes, you're correct that *we* didn't like it, but we're fans. But others did--players and commentators.

And NFL guys don't have guaranteed contracts. I'm not going to complain too much.

To me, this is all entertainment. And yesterday was highly entertaining.
 

singaporesoxfan

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And if it’s the latter it puts him in a category of being an atrocious human being. Neither one is a win. Hey pulled NBA level star trade shenanigans and upped it many levels.
Being able to control where you want to work is much more rare in the NFL compared with MLB or the NBA, and if that was what’s AB was doing I don’t consider him atrocious.

The system is so stacked against that level of choice and control that sadly the only way to get it is to behave atrociously.
 

dcmissle

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Being able to control where you want to work is much more rare in the NFL compared with MLB or the NBA, and if that was what’s AB was doing I don’t consider him atrocious.

The system is so stacked against that level of choice and control that sadly the only way to get it is to behave atrociously.
If he had plotted his way to the Chiefs, this place would have burned to the ground. Laundry.

With the commentators too. Bradshaw is a Steeler. The Patriots tried to trade for AB per Schefter, Giardi and Mort (who says they offered a first rounder). Steelers said no. Now they have AB on the Pats, for a third and fifth rounder.

Wait till the Steelers outrage machine hits full throttle.
 

E5 Yaz

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the idea that Brown wanting to control his destiny like NBA players is not a comparison that fits,

He was traded from Pittsburgh and signed a new contract with the Raiders ... and before playing a game with them apparently worked at getting himself "free" from a contract he willingly signed.

That's a helluva lot different than nearing the end of a deal and using your leverage to get traded to where you want to play. Anthony Davis played years for the Pelicans before exerting his will.
 

bankshot1

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I can understand Oak/Pitt/KC fans being upset at AB, but they'd also be jumping for joy, if the situation was reversed. If AB gamed the system, and orchestrated this craziness, maybe the system should be changed.

As for the Lakers, fuck them a million ways with a jackhammer. They've stolen more stars than BB can ever dream of.
 

Captaincoop

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He’s a prima donna WR, the latest in a long and illustrious list. He’s not like...a serial murderer. Spare me the breathless morality.

By the way, in one storied franchise, he battled with its multiple sexual assaulter QB. The other franchise is storied mostly for being disfunctional.
So unless someone commits a murder, everyone on TV has to like them? I'm missing what you're going for here, but I am sure it was okay in this forum to dislike AB 24 hours ago.
 

snowmanny

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I have my doubts about how the AB experience will go, but the idea that the Patriots suddenly did something shady is laughable. They let Rosenhaus know they were interested? Yes they did, months ago when they made - AFAIK - the best trade offer for Brown, or at least one of the best.

Brown, on the other hand, was pretty much an ass who shot his way out of town after signing an extension. Not a big fan of his recent, or distant, behavior.
 

dcmissle

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I have my doubts about how the AB experience will go, but the idea that the Patriots suddenly did something shady is laughable. They let Rosenhaus know they were interested? Yes they did, months ago when they made - AFAIK - the best trade offer for Brown, or at least one of the best.

Brown, on the other hand, was pretty much an ass who shot his way out of town after signing an extension. Not a big fan of his recent, or distant, behavior.
There will be no investigation, and if there is, it will lead nowhere. But the Pats will get the PR blowback nonetheless. Had he gone to Cleveland, lavish praise would have followed; Seattle and the talk would be how college Pete could reinstate ABs love for the game.

I hope AB did shoot his way out of town. The evidence seems to be mounting.
 
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