Pats board with Jags’ trash talk
Bulletin boards. Useful everywhere they’re hung. Offices, homes, schools, NFL team locker rooms.
Now what about that Patriots bulletin board.
THE BET BOX Jim Lazar
Lots of talk this week about the main piece of information being pinned up there. This Jalen Ramsey cornerback in Jacksonville became Bulletin Board material No.1, and you got to figure there’s this life-size head shot of the brazen mouthie dead center on the board with darts, spit balls and Tasers, all weapons of choice, laying about to fire at Ramsey’s mug.
You know, fun stuff. Juvenile, too.
But no. Inside info says not so! Ramsey’s pic, his words of disrespect and ragging on Rob Gronkowski, are nowhere to be seen on the Pats board.
There are the regular postings — team meetings, film study, game-planning, Gronk talk. All routine stuff for a place where everything routine is oh so normal.
So, is this bulletin board stuff nothing but crap? Has anyone ever seen this Patriots bulletin board and the effects it has on the emotions? Are Ramsey’s words of insult about Gronkowski penned out in capital letters?
Seems to be no such thing in Foxboro. In fact we learned that just up on the board is the bus’ departure time for the airport trip to Jacksonville. (Got an Instagram. Noon on Saturday, if curious, and hopefully the source is correct.)
Anyway, is bulletin board material overrated — whether it be Ramsey’s rants or anything Richard Sherman may blather this year? Do the Patriots get all riled up and pumped even higher for a game they should be all riled up and pumped even higher for anyway?
Doubt it.
But first play Sunday: Brady to Gronkowski if Ramsey’s covering. Don’t be surprised. Feud In Foxboro:
Patriots (pick) at Jacksonville — Only one thing more overrated than bulletin board material and that’s the revenge game. How does beating the Pats this week make the Jags feel atonement for blowing the AFC title game?
Pats, 23-16.
Indianapolis at Washington (-6) — Alex Smith wins a lot of games, and the ’Skins will find out how many are truly meaningful.
Redskins, 27-19.
Carolina at Atlanta (-6) — Matt Ryan, the $30 million man, thanks Falcons owner Arthur Blank(check) for the generous overpayment of salary. Falcons, 23-20.
Minnesota at Green Bay (off) — Aaron Rodgers limps into battle and crawls out of it against these Vikings. Vikings, 16-13.
LA Chargers (-7) at Buffalo — New kid in town, old skid in tow. Good luck Josh Allen. Got any life insurance? Chargers, 28-17.
Houston (-2) at Tennessee — What to say about this Old Pats reunion on the coaching sidelines: Mike Vrabel vs. Bill O’Brien. Well, we know what O’Brien can’t do! Titans, 26-24.
Kansas City at Pittsburgh (-41 ⁄2)— Nice going, Steelers. You got the Browns rolling with that tie last week. Unstoppable now.
Chiefs, 32-28.
Miami at NY Jets (-3) — The Jets are back! Jets, 21-16.
Philadelphia (-3) at Tampa Bay — Never doubt a man who walked the precious grounds of Harvard Yard. Except this week, please.
Eagles, 27-10.
Cleveland at New Orleans (-9) — May the Saints go 0-16, you stiffs, and show the Browns that ‘we can do it, too.’ Browns, 35-34.
Arizona at LA Rams (-13) — All it took was a couple years back in Los Angeles and everyone’s talking Super Bowl. Rams, 31-13.
Detroit at San Francisco (-6) — Jimmy G’s offense faces Matt Patricia’s defense. Belichick’s taping it.
49ers, 26-14.
Oakland at Denver (-6) — Jon Gruden will be eyeing that broadcast booth again very soon. Broncos, 21-17.
NY Giants at Dallas (-3) — Colossal early NFC East matchup. Can they both go 0-2? Cowboys, 22-15.
Seattle at Chicago (-31⁄2) — After sitting out the second half last week, the Bears got drilled on the 60-minute approach to their jobs. It works. Bears, 30-20.
Last week: 7-8-1