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Patriots' trade for Josh Gordon triggered a million shots, varying according to heat levels, in all forms of media. Peter King's deal, which he dropped on the world during an interview with WEEI in Boston, may well be the hottest …
"I was not very strong at all," he said. "Josh Gordon's story is not just about off-the-job issues, drug addiction, constantly leaving the team that has recruited him, and repeatedly, repeatedly showing confidence and bringing him back . . The Patriots could get something good from him, and if they do not get anything good then there is almost nothing risky.
"The patriots are a proud franchise and I realize that what I'm saying is a bit of idealistic crapola, but the patriots should not do business with Josh Gordon. He is not worthy of this franchise.
He is not worthy of this franchise.
Yes, it is an "idealistic crapola". It's a lot of things, not just a "little one". I'm not one of those who think Patriots are evil cheaters. I respect the success they have had on the ground over the past two decades. They were really good at football. But off the field, they had their fair share of problems. No more than any other franchise, but the reputation of the franchise is not irreproachable. Sign a guy with addiction problems is not below them.
In August 2005, Randy Moss admitted to using marijuana. Two years later, with his reputation in the land and people who openly challenge his dedication to football, he joined the Patriots.
The Patriots were fined for cheating. Two times. The question of whether or not these fines were fully justified must be debated, but they are undoubtedly related to the legacy of the franchise. The best receiver in New England is currently serving as a suspension for performance enhancing drugs. Former team captain Rob Ninkovich was also suspended for PED. Rob Gronkowski recounted racist jokes that were so bad that the NESN had to cancel the broadcast of David Ortiz's roast. The team did not bother to look at Matt Patricia's past before using it for 14 years.
The "crapola" here is that the Patriots' victory is the result of an amorphous "culture" rather than unparalleled coaching genius coupled with a ruthlessly effective QB. Many tend to put themselves in place when you have that. And again the Patriots are barely immaculate.
You can create a similar list for each team in the league. The owner of the late Steelers, Dan Rooney, said James Harrison was accused of assaulting his girlfriend in 2008.
Via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
"What Jimmy Harrison was doing and how the incident happened, what he was trying to do was well worth it," he said about Harrison's initial intent with his son. "He was doing something good, wanted to take his son to be baptized where he lived and things like that. She said that she did not want to do it.
The Steelers are still considered a model franchise.
The Giants have extended Josh Brown's contract after inquire about allegations of domestic violence against him, and are still considered a class organization.
The fact is that every franchise in the NFL has warts. Some teams have just enough Lombardi trophies to cover them. Patriots are not different.
The way of the patriots does not exist. Or, at least, not in the sense that we usually talk about it. Bill Belichick does not even use the phrase that says he does not know what it means. The Patriotic Way has never had anything to do with the behavior of the character or out of the field, nor with the virtues that people like Peter King attach to it. There has always been talk of winning football games. Belichick seems to think that the negotiation for Gordon will help New England to do so. For this reason alone, he is "worthy of this franchise".
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