Welker injury vs. resting players

[Gerk]

If Welker is out for the playoffs, does it change anyone's mind about Caldwell's decision to pull players and not go for the perfect season?

Absolutely no reason for any of the Patriot players to play any real time today, especially with nothing on the line

Welker a Top 5 Patriot player, maybe even Top 3

I can kind of understand the perfect season excuse, but think the Saints got it right here and Belichick made a bad decision, Just my opinion

Would be interested to hear what Patriot fans think

[ConstantColorUpor]

Im a Pats fan, I agree with playing the starters for the 1st couple series, but not the entire game. Welker injury in my opinion was just bad luck. What I dont understand is taking out Brady,putting him back in 2 series later and then taking him out for the final drive down a td. Its either take them out or dont in my mind didnt understand the decision with bringing him in and out.

[Steel]

You never know when someone is going to get hurt. To now say that Belli was wrong for playing him is crazy. Some coaches believe you go into the playoffs playing strong finishing the season. To each their own but to blame or call out Belli after the fact is crazy.

[Gerk]

Originally Posted by Steel

You never know when someone is going to get hurt. To now say that Belli was wrong for playing him is crazy. Some coaches believe you go into the playoffs playing strong finishing the season. To each their own but to blame or call out Belli after the fact is crazy.

I think it's wrong to play any important players in a meaningless game, no matter who the coach is. If you don't refine the system, there is no reason to. I think it's a huge mistake if any important Cincy player plays tonight also

Also think as Constant Color states, there is no rhyme or reason to how Belichick does it. Either play them or not, but his Brady stuff made absolutely no sense at all

[Romanowski]

no rhyme or reason, exactly

only explanation that makes sense is belli wants poster pap gone

bill doesnt like his posting style and he has a soft spot for bisket, feels sorry for him

[ConstantColorUpor]

By taking Brady out for half a quarter then putting him back in,you have only increased the odds of getting injured. Why let him cool off on the sideline to put him back in, if clearly you have no intent on trying to win because he took him out with a chance to tie the game on the final drive. I was really confused and couldnt think of any rationale for Bellichecks decisions today

[Gerk]

The fact that Brady even saw the field today is complete lunacy, and he didn't get injured

[ZoomVT]

im a believer you play hard every game.if welker didnt get injured this game, whats not to say he doesnt get injured on the first play of the playoffs? does it make a difference?

what if colts/saints lose in 1st round? do you change your mind?

[Gerk]

Originally Posted by ZoomVT

im a believer you play hard every game.if welker didnt get injured this game, whats not to say he doesnt get injured on the first play of the playoffs? does it make a difference?

what if colts/saints lose in 1st round? do you change your mind?

No, because if the Colts/Saints lose in the first round, I wouldn't blame it on them resting players. Saints haven't played well in a few weeks and Colts decision to play any of their players today at all was bad too

Why can't teams just lose because they don't play well? When the Colts and Saints lose and both will before the Super Bowl, it is because their weaknesses were exposed, nothing more and nothing less

[teddystally]

personally i can never ever blame a team for wanting to win a game. its what theyre paid to do. thus they should play their starters imo

[Slammer]

Wade Phillips leaving Romo in this game seems like an even worse risk. This game has been a done deal for awhile now.

[Gerk]

Did Larry Fitzgerald actually get a TD down 33-0 in the 4th quarter?

[Dr. Jack]

How many times has Bellicheats arrogance cost them this year? It seems all his moves backfire

[tomek30]

players, fans, coaches should accept that theres no reason to play starters in meaningless games, home or away, now without Welker this team has no chance to get to the sb.

[springjk]

Here is my take on this:

The goal of a team each season is to win the Super Bowl...at worst make the playoffs. If u have a guaranteed seed and are in, there is no way ANY guy you can't easily replace should be playing that game.

Honestly, aside from Tom Brady, Welker is probably the most important offensive guy on that team. He gets like 12 RPG. Those guys had no real business playing today...ANY of them!!

And at what cost was it to the Pats??? Welker done for the year!!

Look at it this way people...they don't play these guys in preseason games. And why don't they play them? Because they don't want them to get hurt and ruin their season.

If you are already in the playoffs, same mentality should apply. Because if someone important should get hurt, it ruins your playoffs!! Welker being gone ruins the Pats chances for sure!! And even though it was warmups, there was no need for Ocho Cinco to play today...and not only did he play, but he obv played hurt because now HE'S out with a knee strain as well.

Love the Ravens now even more!