Bill Belichick is smarter than everyone, and the end of Thursday night’s Green Bay Packers-Detroit Lions matchup proved it again.
Belichick has pressed the NFL to make every play — even penalties — reviewable. The Packers were able to beat the Lions with a last-second hail mary because Detroit was incorrectly called for a face mask on what should have been the last play of the game. If the Lions were able to challenge that penalty, the officials clearly would have seen Detroit defensive end Devin Taylor’s thumb merely grazed the face mask of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. A player must grab and twist a face mask to be penalized.
It’s a bad sign that NFL refs are are stealing headlines from players. Perhaps the league should try to address this issue.
Let’s get into this week’s mailbag:
@DougKyed Do you think the refs let up on Gronk,or will they double down?
— @MrQuindazzi
I think the officials pretty much have to let up, and I think this tweet from Rob Gronkowski actually helps much more than it could potentially hurt, because it draws attention to the ridiculousness of the situation.
Stats like this help, as well:
Gronkowski’s offensive pass interference penalties have become such a big deal that the next one, even if it comes in the playoffs, will be national NFL news.
There’s just absolutely no way Gronkowski is committing offensive pass interference at a higher clip than 29 other NFL teams. It makes no sense. Officials need to begin picking their spots when flagging Gronkowski.
@DougKyed would rather keep Gronk out for the rest of the regular season or let him play last couple games to make sure he won’t be rusty?
— @t00bahhero
I think it depends on the situation. If the 10-1 Patriots beat the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans in the next two weeks, there’s no reason to rush him back for their game against the Tennessee Titans, which they’ll likely win, regardless. And if the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the 9-2 Cincinnati Bengals in Week 14 and the 9-2 Denver Broncos in Week 15, that gives the Patriots even more wiggle room for a No. 1 or 2 seed, because the Bengals and Broncos play each other in Week 16 — one of those teams is guaranteed to have at least three losses.
The Patriots have much better odds to win out than the Broncos or Bengals, regardless of injuries.
The Patriots can afford to lose one more game, and if the Steelers beat the Broncos and Bengals, they can afford to lose two more games.
I don’t think there’s much risk of Gronkowski being rusty either. He didn’t play a single preseason game and still caught three touchdowns in Week 1 against the Steelers.
If the Patriots can get a No. 1 or 2 seed without Gronkowski, they should hold him out. If they lose a game they shouldn’t, and are at risk of losing home-field throughout or a first-round bye in one of the final two games, they should bring him back when he’s 100 percent.
@DougKyed If you had to play a position for the Patriots on Super bowl Sunday which one would it be and number would you have. D. KYED 00
— @Tav2real
This is in no way an insult to any NFL linebackers — I’m on record as saying Dont’a Hightower is the Patriots’ most important defensive player — but I think I would do the least damage to the team at linebacker. If I played cornerback, I’d get burnt on any route. If I played free safety, a QB could throw it over my head, and if I played defensive line, I’d be blocked into oblivion.
On offense, if I played on the line, I’d give up a sack or run stuff, and I probably wouldn’t be able to gain any separation as a wide receiver. I could probably pick up a couple yards at running back if the blocking was perfect, but getting hit by a defensive lineman doesn’t sound very fun.
So, I’d probably play weak-side linebacker and wear No. 55. If I missed filling a gap or blew coverage, it could probably be cleaned up by another linebacker or on the back end by a safety.
@DougKyed which patriots reporter has the best hair? (can’t pick yourself)
— @patsfan120
Second place is the first loser. I wouldn’t want to insult anyone.
@DougKyed Doug, since Devlin went down earlier in the season, why haven’t the Pats looked at a blocking fullback? Worked well last year.
— @MortDiFaim
I think fullbacks are a little bit like quarterbacks and NBA centers: It’s hard to find a good one.
Fullback isn’t exactly a necessary position in the pass-heavy NFL, though, and the Patriots have got by using either Shaq Mason or Michael Williams in the role. The Patriots need some versatility out of their fullbacks, either in pass-catching skills or special teams.
I think it could help improve the Patriots’ running game if they brought in a fullback or if they signed Joey Iosefa off their practice squad, however. Perhaps they’re just grooming Iosefa until they think he’s ready. A player like James White could really benefit by having a lead blocker take out linebackers.
@DougKyed How many times do you plan on watching Home Alone this holiday season? Also, what’s the most underrated moment of the movie?
— @June__NYC
I’ve already watched it once. I’ll watch it every time it’s on TV, and I’ll probably watch it at least once more on DVD. So, in total, depending on how many times it’s on TV, I’ll probably watch it six or seven times.
The most underrated part of the movie is definitely when Gus Polinksi is talking about leaving his kid at the funeral parlor. I also like the part where both of Kevin’s grocery bags break at the same time and when Santa gives him a Tic-Tac.
Quick question, though. Is that just like, a neighborhood Santa?
Santa’s cottage appears to be in the middle of a neighborhood. Is this normal in Chicago?
@DougKyed What is your opinion of the fanbase’s current mentality of Us v the World? Do you think it is warranted, silly, realistic?
— @shumway20
I think part of it is silly. For example, I don’t think there’s anything to read into the NFL punishing Pete Morelli’s crew by moving them from the Monday night game to Eagles-Patriots. They moved them out of a national game and to the game with the lowest stakes (because the Patriots are favored by two scores) that’s not a divisional game. That’s logical.
I think some of it is warranted, though, like when everyone made a giant deal about Mike Tomlin complaining about the headsets after the Patriots beat the Steelers in Week 1. Any other team, and that’s not a big deal.
The Patriots are 10-1 and have won six one-score games, though. If the NFL really, desperately wanted them to fail, they’d probably have a worse record.
@DougKyed Hi big fan. Why do some football players – or one football player, specifically – choose to wear only underpants to practice?
— @michaelFhurley
Michael, are you asking why Bryan Stork wears cut-off #gamepants to practice?
David Andrews does too, and he explained it’s because it’s more difficult to snap a football in baggy shorts when the Patriots practice in sweats and shells. That doesn’t explain why they cut off the #gamepants rather than just wearing regular #gamepants, though.
if you were going to wrestle for the tag team title what Patriots player would you chose as your partner ?
— @TMurph207
I’ll take Hightower and Jamie Collins. I’ll just be the manager.
@DougKyed who will have a bigger impact: Damaris Johnson or Trey Williams?
— @jdeitz94
That’s a difficult question. Williams has a more direct route to a role, because the Patriots’ running backs have struggled so much. It wouldn’t be shocking to see him take over the third-down back role if he plays well. That being said, it also will be much more difficult for him to learn the offense. Johnson played under former Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien last year and already knows the basics of the offense.
Johnson will only have a big role if he serves as a returner, if Amendola doesn’t come back right away or if he can beat out Keshawn Martin for a role.
Williams could return kicks, and the Patriots rotate their running backs much more than their wide receivers.
I’m excited to see what both players can do, though. They’re both very athletic and could be dangerous in open space, which is what the Patriots need right now.
Could there be a worse choice for the SB 50 halftime show than Coldplay?
— @JumboHart
I’m definitely not excited about Coldplay, but here are five worse possibilities:
1. Nickelback
2. A Coldplay cover band
3. Puddle of Mudd
4. A player piano
5. Train
How crazy is it that this happened? In 2004, no less.
@DougKyed what’s your favorite Coldplay song?
— @brentustick
The one with Chris Martin walking backward in the music video.
@DougKyed WHO SUCKS LESS, REIGNS OR SHEAMUS?
— @Sudikoff
Reigns definitely sucks less.
Looking at the WWE roster, here are the worst possible WWE World Heavyweight Champions:
10. Erick Rowan
9. Curtis Axel
8. Jack Swagger
7. Ryback
6. Los Matadores Fernando
5. Either Ascension member
4. Los Matadores Diego
3. Braun Strowman
2. Big Show
1. Sheamus
Thumbnail photo via Chris Humphreys/USA TODAY Sports images
