Lane Johnson calls Patriots a “fear-based organization”; doesn’t think players have any fun

[CEN-CAL17]

Patriots suck! From the outside looking in, especially if they didn’t have Brady, I’d want nothing to do with that team.

 

That scheme and how well Brady runs it is what wins... as much as you guys would like to think it’s all Belichick and how he runs things cause it’s not.

 

No Bias... I’d rather play for McD than Belichick. Take out all the history and make a decision on the person alone... yep i take McD all day!

 

 

 

 

Edited February 11, 2018 by 1ZAYDAY1

[LA Grant]

To be honest, I wouldn't want to be the Patriots. I wouldn't switch places.

 

Yes, they have how many rings, how many appearances, etc. I get it. But it all feels hollow, and when Belichick leaves, and Brady leaves, okay, they're the GOATs. Good job, guys. But the way they've won is boring. All of their SBs have been close games which generally will make for an exciting game, except the way they play isn't exciting at all. They've had great players over the years but unless you are Brady or Belichick, the 'team' is expendable. Add to that the multiple cheating controversies, Aaron Hernandez, all of the weird creepiness of Brady & Belichick as people... I wouldn't want the peak of my team's success to involve all of the extra crap.

 

Ideally, you want to watch teams. This year's Eagles were a great and fun team. The Bills of the early 90s, or late 00s, or even this year's. The early Kurt Warner Rams teams. But when have the Patriots ever really been about more than Brady & Belichick? Was it ever really about Randy Moss or Corey Dillon or Troy Brown? Of course not. They were cogs. 

 

"Do the players get paid to have fun?" I think they do. Obviously it's a job. But they're professional athletes, which is to say, entertainers. When you see a live band, you're paying for them to play the music in the same room, but you're having a much better time if they're having fun on stage. Frankly, I'd be more embarrassed as a fan hearing players calling the team a "fear based organization" than I am if, say, Sammy or Marshawn doesn't like the city's nightlife. 

 

The Patriots have run up the score, maybe not with cheat codes, but in a clinical way that sucks the fun out of football for everyone except two people and Bob Kraft. For everyone else, The Patriot Way is a blackhole of joy.

 

3 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

I would argue Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers are/were just as good as Brady and their teams didn't come anywhere near what the Patriots have done.

 

I'd be happier as an Aaron Rodgers/Packers fan, than a Brady/Pats fan. I wouldn't trade "X more SB rings" for their reputation and overall sliminess.

Edited February 11, 2018 by LA Grant

[Paulus]

Reign in hell or serve in heaven. 

[WhoTom]

12 minutes ago, LA Grant said:

"Do the players get paid to have fun?" I think they do. Obviously it's a job. But they're professional athletes, which is to say, entertainers. When you see a live band, you're paying for them to play the music in the same room, but you're having a much better time if they're having fun on stage.

 

[blacklabel]

Last summer on the JM Show, Donald Jones, who was with the Patriots for a minute, discussed how he advised Stevie Johnson against signing there when Johnson was a free agent. We all know Stevie does what he does and Jones said he wouldn't have liked it or been able to be himself there. Just all business all the time. It works but it's also nice to see a team like the Iggles who seem to be a tight group that has a lot of fun and wins. 

[nedboy7]

one man's fun is another man's......?

[Buffalo03]

I remember Wes Welker saying the same thing a few years back when he went to Denver. He said he never had a whole lot of fun playing for them and he enjoyed playing for Denver more. I also remember Reggie Wayne saying that as well when he got cut after a preseason with New England right before he retired

[Buffalo Barbarian]

10 hours ago, YoloinOhio said:

 

 

I'd rather win 5 super bowls. Besides if you do your job how is that not fun? These kids have no idea what it's like to work a real job where it's rarely fun. I hate when players say let's have fun out there. You're not there to have fun, you're out there to kick ass  and take names. If your playing for fun you don't really care how you play because it's just for fun.

 

Wonder what Chris Long thinks?

 

 

Edited February 11, 2018 by Buffalo Barbarian

[Buffalo Barbarian]

5 hours ago, jimmy10 said:

 

No, they’re paid to play a child’s game. Is finding some joy in being that lucky so wrong?

 

It not a child's game. Football is extremely complex and difficult and not just to have fun.

 

 

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

My work isn’t all that fun either- but a paycheck seems worth it 

[BuffaloDave55]

It's called work for a reason.  Yes, many times people excel when they like what they're doing, but you get a paycheck for a reason.  Should we examine other jobs... see who has fun?  As noted in another post, professional sports.. the fun is for the fans.  If the owners and athletes have fun it's a bonus.

[T-Bomb]

16 hours ago, WhoTom said:

I have a colleague who's a workaholic. He moonlighted as an engineer at a high-paced aerospace company while teaching college full-time. He has a patent. He wrote a textbook and he's working on another. He's got lots of money. By most "traditional" measures, he's more successful than I am.

 

But I have more fun, and I wouldn't trade places with him for anything.

 

Everyone's different.

 

 

 

 

 

I'm more of the former type, engineer with patent's etc.  I'll take personal accomplishment/achievement/financial gain over fun any day. Fun is too subjective and when it's over it's over and looking back on fond memories of "fun" is quite useless IMO.

 

 

[CA OC Bills Fan]

56 minutes ago, BuffaloDave55 said:

It's called work for a reason.  Yes, many times people excel when they like what they're doing, but you get a paycheck for a reason.  Should we examine other jobs... see who has fun?  As noted in another post, professional sports.. the fun is for the fans.  If the owners and athletes have fun it's a bonus.

 

I disagree. Perhaps “fun” is going too far, but you should enjoy your job. People leave well paying jobs all the time because they don’t like their boss, their colleagues, the company culture, etc. We spend most of our waking hours at work, ͏y͏o͏u should not be miserable their. Now, I also think part of enjoying your job is being successful, so, if the rest is great but the company is consistently doing horribly, that can take much of the enjoyment out.

 

The original premise was 5 rings (I.e. consistent success) in a fear based organization vs. 1 ring (I.e. some success) in a fun organization.

 

I think it still depends on the person as many likely don’t consider the one fear based as much as driven to succeed. But, I think if as am employee you believe it’s fear based, you’d prefer to be in the occasional success environment.

[Mr. WEO]

So because they don't put on dog masks in interviews, they are robots?

[Sammy Watkins' Rib]

13 hours ago, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

And most of that is the Cassel year when they had an extremely easy schedule. The Dolphins went 1-15 the year before, then 11-5 that year against the incredibly nice AFC East schedule, and then 7-9 the year after. That year was a fluke. 

 

And as you know, turns out the NFL thinks Garoppolo is pretty good too, even without being in Foxboro.

 

And Brady could have had that 2008 team finish 15-1 possibly. They just went 16-0 the season prior. So while 11-5 is generally considered good. It's still a 4-5 game drop off compared to what Brady likely could have done.

[WhoTom]

1 hour ago, T-Bomb said:

 

I'm more of the former type, engineer with patent's etc.  I'll take personal accomplishment/achievement/financial gain over fun any day. Fun is too subjective and when it's over it's over and looking back on fond memories of "fun" is quite useless IMO.

 

 

 

I have my share of personal accomplishments, and I'm proud to look back on them, but I prefer a life of balance. Many of my fondest memories are the good times I've had with family and friends.

 

As people approach the end of their lives, I doubt many of them are saying, "I wish I had spent more time at the office."

 

 

 

[Boatdrinks]

1 hour ago, Mr. WEO said:

So because they don't put on dog masks in interviews, they are robots?

 

 No, but they generally act like tools in interviews and media interactions. What is being lost on many in this thread is that the vast majority of Pats players in the Brady era likely have 1-2 SuperBowl  rings, not 5. That is only a select few such as Brady himself.  Johnsons comments are from a players perspective , not a fan's. Many ex Pats say it is a horrible environment to work in up in Foxboro. So it's not surprising for a player to say he'd rather get a ring and have fun doing it. He's likely not getting 5 rings in New England anyway. Also, it IS a virtual certainty that BBs Gestapo would have been shut down LONG ago if not for the incredibly fortunate drafting of one Tom Brady. 

20 minutes ago, WhoTom said:

 

I have my share of personal accomplishments, and I'm proud to look back on them, but I prefer a life of balance. Many of my fondest memories are the good times I've had with family and friends.

 

As people approach the end of their lives, I doubt many of them are saying, "I wish I had spent more time at the office."

 

 

 

  So true. Most of us here in the USA spend way to much time worrying about being overhoused, overfed and " keeping up". I mean, we all need jobs and money but not at the expense of enjoying the ride. 

[Beast]

I wonder how the late 80’s, early 90’s Bills would have done under a more structured enviroment.

[Kemp]

To some, being a Bills fan means bashing the Pats in any way possible, every chance they get. It's a loser's mentality, in my opinion.

 

That we have literally had hundreds of threads about the Pats is pathetic.  

[CEN-CAL17]

3 hours ago, BuffaloDave55 said:

It's called work for a reason.  Yes, many times people excel when they like what they're doing, but you get a paycheck for a reason.  Should we examine other jobs... see who has fun?  As noted in another post, professional sports.. the fun is for the fans.  If the owners and athletes have fun it's a bonus.

BS... I’ve served in the Military for 13 years now. We are professionals, it is work, hard work, Ive deployed in hostile areas etc, but it’s also fun and I enjoy what I do every single day.

 

We are encouraged to have fun as long as we take care of business, to say you can’t have both is crap. I think people here are confusing fun with having enjoyment in what you do... Lane was basically saying he’d rather be somewhere where he can be himself and enjoy himself vs a place that tries to control every faucet of your day including your personality.

 

Why is it people here disagree with him? I wouldn’t work anywhere I had to act like a robot, and that’s exactly what he’s saying.  Even when you hear posts of Welker and Chris Long stating similar thoughts... fans here still want to say “it’s their job, it’s not supposed to be fun, they are professionals” etc. BS if you don’t like what you do, or don’t think it’s fun and enjoyable or you can’t be yourself maybe you’re in the wrong business or like Lane is saying, on the wrong team.

Edited February 11, 2018 by 1ZAYDAY1

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

25 minutes ago, Boatdrinks said:

 

 

  So true. Most of us here in the USA spend way to much time worrying about being overhoused, overfed and " keeping up". I mean, we all need jobs and money but not at the expense of enjoying the ride. 

 

One thing I’ve learned as a victim of the family courts is just how lean a budget you can survive and even thrive on

[3rdand12]

27 minutes ago, joesixpack said:

 

One thing I’ve learned as a victim of the family courts is just how lean a budget you can survive and even thrive on

Can be eye opening once you realize what you do not need !
 

Work hard and Have fun in life. they can easily go hand in hand.

 There is more than one way to achieve success. there is ..more importantly , more than one definition of success !

[WhoTom]

45 minutes ago, 1ZAYDAY1 said:

BS... I’ve served in the Military for 13 years now. We are professionals, it is work, hard work, Ive deployed in hostile areas etc, but it’s also fun and I enjoy what I do every single day.

 

We are encouraged to have fun as long as we take care of business, to say you can’t have both is crap. I think people here are confusing fun with having enjoyment in what you do... Lane was basically saying he’d rather be somewhere where he can be himself and enjoy himself vs a place that tries to control every faucet of your day including your personality.

 

First, thank you for your service.

 

Second, to the part in bold:

 

 

 

 

[CEN-CAL17]

11 minutes ago, WhoTom said:

 

First, thank you for your service.

 

Second, to the part in bold:

 

 

 

 

I’ve always been told there is a time and place. Most people know when to turn it on, when to focus and when to have fun. The coach can always reel it in if needed.

 

But I’ve always despised watching anyone from the Pats during a news conference... then to hear ex players speak as if it’s was less than the best place to be.  For some people winning is the only thing. I’m not one of those guys, there’s more to it than that. Seems as if the Eagles had that this year, but everyone still thinks New England is the place to be, nope!

Edited February 11, 2018 by 1ZAYDAY1

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

20 hours ago, Zebrastripes said:

But yet free agents keep signing with them for discounted rates because it seems winning fixes everything.

 

 

...EXACTLY.......why go there or better yet for less money if it is "Hell's Kitchen"?.............didn't we have "Club Med" with Dickey Jauron?........Belichick runs a tight, no nonsense ship and has PLENTY of hardware to show for it..........

[reddogblitz]

16 hours ago, jimmy10 said:

 

No, they’re paid to play a child’s game. Is finding some joy in being that lucky so wrong?

 

Did I say it was wrong? I said I don't care if they have fun or not. So of course there is nothing wrong with them having fun if they win. Winning is fun.

[BADOLBILZ]

 

Eagles have all of the makings of that talented SB winner who doesn't even make the playoffs the following season.

 

NFC is gonna' be jacked next season.........Falcons found out this year what happens when you don't stay focused all year in a good conference.........they were clearly the hottest team at the end of the regular season but homefield advantage allowed Philly to squeak by them...... and the Falcons didn't even party all offseason like this Eagles team will.

 

"Lane Johnson can't stay off the juice"...........that was hilarious of Kelce to say in his leprechaun suit at the parade............more like they were saying "Lane Johnson was too stupid to be able to hide his cheating".   

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

7 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

Eagles have all of the makings of that talented SB winner who doesn't even make the playoffs the following season.

 

NFC is gonna' be jacked next season.........Falcons found out this year what happens when you don't stay focused all year in a good conference.........they were clearly the hottest team at the end of the regular season but homefield advantage allowed Philly to squeak by them...... and the Falcons didn't even party all offseason like this Eagles team will.

 

"Lane Johnson can't stay off the juice"...........that was hilarious of Kelce to say in his leprechaun suit at the parade............more like they were saying "Lane Johnson was too stupid to be able to hide his cheating".   

 

Its a mummers suit. Me I thought he came dressed as a genie 

Edited February 11, 2018 by joesixpack

[Mr. WEO]

2 hours ago, Boatdrinks said:

 

 No, but they generally act like tools in interviews and media interactions. What is being lost on many in this thread is that the vast majority of Pats players in the Brady era likely have 1-2 SuperBowl  rings, not 5. That is only a select few such as Brady himself.  Johnsons comments are from a players perspective , not a fan's. Many ex Pats say it is a horrible environment to work in up in Foxboro. So it's not surprising for a player to say he'd rather get a ring and have fun doing it. He's likely not getting 5 rings in New England anyway. Also, it IS a virtual certainty that BBs Gestapo would have been shut down LONG ago if not for the incredibly fortunate drafting of one Tom Brady. 

  So true. Most of us here in the USA spend way to much time worrying about being overhoused, overfed and " keeping up". I mean, we all need jobs and money but not at the expense of enjoying the ride. 

 

Act like tools?  Can you give some examples?  Sitting down for an interview and just answering questions without wherein a funny hat or a mask or badmouthing an opponent is now "acting like a tool"?  What a country!!

 

Wow, the vast majority ONLY have 1-2 SB rings??  Isn't the goal...the dream...of every player to win a SB ring?  So "only" having 2 SB rings is evidence of some sort of negative work environment?  Wow, that's a unique theory for sure.

 

"Gestapo"?? ( you must be right out of college to use such a poor analogy).  Tell me, how long would Lombardi's "gestapo" have lasted without Bart Starr?  You think he was easier to work for than BB?

 

No, you really don't.

 

As for Lane Johnson, he's giving an opinion--his.  Not anyone else's.  If he was honest, he would say he would surrender both ofnhis steroid shriveled testicles to be wearing 5 SB rings on his hand right now.  Every player would.

Edited February 11, 2018 by Mr. WEO

[Elite Poster]

Brady 

[Utah John]

Patriots players see their teammates cut or traded a lot, usually when they're still playing well.  The Pats make it a priority to get rid of players too soon rather than too late.  This keeps everyone focused and working hard, but not many of them stick around for very long.  They're mostly temp employees brought in to fill a particular role in a scheme, and when that scheme is discarded, players who aren't the best fit for the new scheme go away.  It's tough but players all want to get that ring so they put up with a lot to get a chance. 

 

All that said, I try to keep in mind that this is fundamentally a game.  People who lose sight of that and get too far into the business end forget why they started playing in the first place.

[BuffaloBillsGospel]

5 rings would be fun for me. 

[Boatdrinks]

1 hour ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

Act like tools?  Can you give some examples?  Sitting down for an interview and just answering questions without wherein a funny hat or a mask or badmouthing an opponent is now "acting like a tool"?  What a country!!

 

Wow, the vast majority ONLY have 1-2 SB rings??  Isn't the goal...the dream...of every player to win a SB ring?  So "only" having 2 SB rings is evidence of some sort of negative work environment?  Wow, that's a unique theory for sure.

 

"Gestapo"?? ( you must be right out of college to use such a poor analogy).  Tell me, how long would Lombardi's "gestapo" have lasted without Bart Starr?  You think he was easier to work for than BB?

 

No, you really don't.

 

As for Lane Johnson, he's giving an opinion--his.  Not anyone else's.  If he was honest, he would say he would surrender both ofnhis steroid shriveled testicles to be wearing 5 SB rings on his hand right now.  Every player would.

No that's not the " theory" you idiot. The rings are not evidence if any environment. The point is that most players don't stick around long enough to be on all or most of those SB teams. Those who say " I'd rather take the 5 rings" are making a huge assumption that has little to do with the facts. Most players on the Pats ( and other teams) come and go rather quickly. They aren't looking at their job the same way that a Tom Brady would. Many ex Pats players have said it's a horrible environment over there, I'm not making it up. This thread is discussing what that work environment is like from a players perspective , not a fans . There is little chance that Lane Johnson or any other player would be accumulating 5 rings in their time with New England because they wouldn't be there long enough. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has referred to Foxboro with that term, because I've heard it used before. Oh, and if you need examples of Pats players acting like tools in interviews you may have never seen one. Or their curmudgeon dickhead coach. 

Edited February 11, 2018 by Boatdrinks

[MJS]

I could sign up for a fear based organization in Buffalo if it means we win.

 

Not like I have to play for the team. I just watch them.

[Boatdrinks]

3 minutes ago, MJS said:

I could sign up for a fear based organization in Buffalo if it means we win.

 

Not like I have to play for the team. I just watch them.

Of course, but it doesn't mean that. They win because they have Brady. The " Patriot way" wouldn't exist if they had an average QB. 

4 hours ago, Binghamton Beast said:

I wonder how the late 80’s, early 90’s Bills would have done under a more structured enviroment.

Probably the same. They won 11-12 games a year. They played more talented teams in the Super Bowl except for one, which they screwed up in their own. A better NT would have helped more than any structure. Ask the 70's and 80's Raiders SB champs how much " structure " they had . Their partying during SB week was legendary. Didn't matter. 

[Beast]

1 hour ago, Boatdrinks said:

Of course, but it doesn't mean that. They win because they have Brady. The " Patriot way" wouldn't exist if they had an average QB. 

Probably the same. They won 11-12 games a year. They played more talented teams in the Super Bowl except for one, which they screwed up in their own. A better NT would have helped more than any structure. Ask the 70's and 80's Raiders SB champs how much " structure " they had . Their partying during SB week was legendary. Didn't matter. 

 

I’m pretty much not buying the Bills got beat by better talent in the last 3....especially the Redskins, who pretty much had the same team before and after that year and did nothing.

[Boatdrinks]

45 minutes ago, Binghamton Beast said:

 

I’m pretty much not buying the Bills got beat by better talent in the last 3....especially the Redskins, who pretty much had the same team before and after that year and did nothing.

I'll concede the point about that Redskins team. They were the classic " team of destiny" that just had a miracle year by the QB and others where everything went their way. They did exploit the Bills inability to stop the run , and I'll still maintain that a space gobbling NT would have went further toward bringing the Bills a title than any kind of structure or change in way of doing things. They were a soft D that was erratic with occasional big plays thrown in. It was an Achilles heal vs the tough physical NFC style of football. I think the Bills might have won a SB if they had played the 49 ers twice and not the Cowboys. 

[Freddie's Dead]

Winni...er, cheating is fun!

[TigerJ]

The incentive to sign with a winner is pretty powerful.  I think there are veteran free agents out there who are more than willing to put up with Belichick's military like discipline to get a few rings, and then if they are young enough to sign a big money deal elsewhere.   Now, if Philly can win a few more Super Bowls over the next five years,other than the ones the Bills are going to win.  They can say to potential free agent recruits, "Not only can you have a good chance or earning a Super Bowl ring, you can be a part of a team where we really care about each other, and we have fun too."  I imagine they can land some top notch veterans and maybe not have to pay quite as much as a bottom dweller.  Come to think of it, so can Buffalo LOL.

[BillsFan692]

At this point, are the patriots fans even having fun?They seem entitled more than anything, so used to just winning now they expect it will happen. In order to appreciate the winning you have to do some losing.

 

Since the pats have been winning for the past couple of decades I can't see their fans sitting on the edge of their seats on Sunday quite like us bills fans do.

 

Honestly, that makes me feel sad for them.