tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812670776373470303.post3794820916033759281..comments2024-03-11T15:46:13.155-04:00Comments on In The Arena: Ruminations About Competition: We Play to...Get Reggie Wayne the Receiving Yards Crown and Then Lie Down Like DogsDavid Friedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08444347475303187373noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812670776373470303.post-12900411649563142072007-12-31T17:59:00.000-05:002007-12-31T17:59:00.000-05:00Vednam:I said in the post that the Colts are clear...Vednam:<BR/><BR/>I said in the post that the Colts are clearly entitled to do whatever they want--but the way that they went about it in this particular case strikes me as a bit unseemly. Couldn't Manning or Wayne have gotten hurt while they were chasing individual milestones? It's like the Titans let them get their records because they knew that they would have a chance to win the game. I'm not saying that the teams actively colluded to do this but that was what it looked and felt like. It is pretty clear that if Manning and Wayne had even played for just a half that the Colts could have taken a big enough lead to win the game with their reserves in the second half. If I were a Colts fan, I would not have enjoyed watching that game. <BR/><BR/>I know that other teams have rested players before but I prefer the Patriots' approach of treating every moment of every game like it is meaningful. Imagine if the Giants had played that game like the Colts did; that would have "tainted" the Patriots' 16-0 season. Instead, the Giants tried their best and we saw one of the most entertaining games of the year.David Friedmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08444347475303187373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812670776373470303.post-4972667617562127182007-12-31T16:36:00.000-05:002007-12-31T16:36:00.000-05:00I think you are being a bit too harsh here, David....I think you are being a bit too harsh here, David. I have no problem with the Patriots' pursuit of perfection, but I also have no problem with a team in any sport taking it easy a little bit so that they are fresh come playoff time (if that's what they think will serve them best, which is of course debatable).<BR/><BR/>The Colts are hardly the first team to employ such a strategy and they won't be the last. In a violent sport like football where a severe injury can occur at any time, resting starters is easily justifiable in my mind. Veteran teams in the NBA (from today's Spurs to the Doc-Moses Sixers to Russell's Celtics) have taken similar approaches. I would not accuse them of violating the integrity of the game or lacking as competitors. <BR/><BR/>I do think that critics are taking it too far in looking for ways to criticize the Patriots, and it is inconsistent of them to not go as far in criticizing other teams (like the Colts). I don't think the Patriots or the Colts should be criticized in this case.vednamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08144638228173993116noreply@blogger.com