NFL Breaking News The Juice is dead.

[Deus Irae]

Interesting you say that. Over at Pats Fans, the posters that start the conversations are hit with instant criticism most of the time by the real complainers of the forum. Those complainers rarely start conversations and don't have much to say other than defending the criticisms towards the Pats. Without those posters creating conversations, it's a ghost town.

I just looked at the first page there, because you mentioned it. I hadn't been over there, even to check messages, for a very long time.


Those thread post numbers are mostly very low, as you noted. I wonder what the drop off has been since TSHTF.

 

[TheRainMaker]

I just looked at the first page there, because you mentioned it. I hadn't been over there, even to check messages, for a very long time.


Those thread post numbers are mostly very low, as you noted. I wonder what the drop off has been since TSHTF.

There was an initial exodus after Tom left as they knew deep down it was going to be the beginning of the end for Bill. You were still there, so you probably noticed that first wave. It was very quiet in 2020, but Bill stans had risen from the dead after the Pats went on that run in 2021 at 9-3. Those posters went back to their graves following the Buffalo playoff loss and rarely returned until Bill's firing put the nail in the coffin for good. There are some posters that are trying hard to keep things alive. There just isn't anything to talk to about.

 

[LordSensei1958]

TSHTF

That took me a minute to figure out. Eventually it sunk in though.

 

[Lord Chevy]

There was an initial exodus after Tom left as they knew deep down it was going to be the beginning of the end for Bill. You were still there, so you probably noticed that first wave. It was very quiet in 2020, but Bill stans had risen from the dead after the Pats went on that run in 2021 at 9-3. Those posters went back to their graves following the Buffalo playoff loss and rarely returned until Bill's firing put the nail in the coffin for good. There are some posters that are trying hard to keep things alive. There just isn't anything to talk to about.

What gets to me a bit is the hatred.

Tom left - no matter the reason we had 20 years of dominance. BB is gone - yeah, see those 20 years of dominance? Doesn't matter how or why - it was going to end anyways!

Now - the beef many have with Kraft (especially since the hatchet-job documentary) - that I kind of get. It's not like a coach or player reaching the end. This is an owner that ran an old-school Soviet Union propaganda project. That is pathetic.

But the 20 years of success? It was everyone, and everything, working together. Go buy a Ferrari drive train, and shove it into a stock Malibu. Yup - it will be exciting as hell. For about 30 seconds. Then it's off the road - meet the tree.

Do the same, but put it into a new Corvette. You'll have a lot of fun, but still will have to work harder than ever to keep it on the track. Eventually, it too will introduce you to the nearest tree.

But take that entire Ferrari package, fill it with a top flight driver, and you've got something special. Kraft/BB did that for 20 years. Parts wore out and were replaced. Parts were upgraded. Redesigns were done. For nearly 20 years (the disbelief of most, including us fans, until Lombardi 2 was brought home stymied that) the rest of the NFL was looking over their shoulder wondering if New England had solved the brake fade issue. Then they saw the Pats come around the corner and realized (most seasons) that yes, Virginia, the Patriots still own the track.

Because all the parts worked together, were designed together. Sure, the A/C vents rattled a bit, the seat rubbed against the cabin and made an annoying sound. Still, the whole package worked.

Well, supply chain issues and some self-inflicted wounds means the company is going through a reboot. Fine - we've got some new bosses, designers, and parts. Embraced the journey - the process. Especially this season - I feel this is the most exciting Pats draft since 1993.

Gonna be an interesting ride.