Everyone is a sucker for a good redemption story. Tom Brady’s career was evaporating before our eyes when Kansas City delivered a drubbing of a lifetime on that fateful Monday evening sending the Patriots back to the east coast with a 14-41 branded into their memory banks.
The first thing I could remember after the game was when Brady professed earlier in the season that he would retire when “he sucked”.
There was enough evidence to support the notion that he sucked, and he should just hang up the jersey and cleats, and call it a career.
And then Sunday came…
The Patriots came home to Foxboro Stadium with a warm welcome for Brady and company whilst they ran a clinic on the previously undefeated Cincinnati Bengals. Thunderous cheers rang from the stands, “BRADY! BRADY! BRADY!” They left it all out on the field that day, and emotions were reverberating throughout the stands.
It’s clear. Mr. Perfect may not be perfect, but he’s back and ready to show the world that he doesn’t suck.
Tune-up Tuesdays: Redemption Stories
I’d like to take this to a personal level. In these first five weeks, I have zero teams with winning records. ZERO! My opponents tell me to hang it up, but we must persevere! We must make our mark! We must win!!! Are you with me? Let’s go!!!
Here are your warriors in the waiver wire for a tuned up Tuesday.
Bye Week: KC, NO
Mike Glennon, TB QB- I believe Lovie Smith is inserting foot in mouth at this point. We’re watching Glennon assert himself back into the starting lineup as Josh McCown recedes into backup oblivion. Although the Bucs couldn’t close on Sunday against the Saints, Glennon played markedly better than McCown ever did in his time in Tampa. The sophomore should be good for 250 passing yards and a couple of touchdowns per week. Factor in an interception or two and you have your weekly stat line. Glennon should elevate the level of play across the board, especially for you Vincent Jackson production sufferers.
Michael Vick, NYJ QB- Rex Ryan has already tabbed Geno Smith as the starter next week and has proved to the world that he is committed to misery. At some point in time, Ryan will have no choice but to turn to Michael Vick. We all know who Vick is; a veteran with an injury report record a mile long, but when he is at the helm fantasies come true. Vick is a long shot because of the lackluster cast the Jets have on the depth chart currently, but a returning Eric Decker may be the cure to what ails them.
Odell Beckham Jr., NYG WR- OBJ has Giants fans buzzing. He had four receptions for 44 yards, a touchdown, and a ringing endorsement from Coach Tom Coughlin. They intend to increase his workload from this point forward. We have words, but we need action. The fact that Jr. didn’t suffer any setbacks on his hamstring and that he reeled in four of his five targets, are reassuring. Stash him now, reap benefits later.
Allen Robinson, JAX WR- I’m not crazy about the rookie, but I do like him more than comrade Allen Hurns. Through the past three weeks, with Blake Bortles commanding under center, Robinson has 28 targets, 17 catches, and 168 yards. There is an obvious blooming connection between the two rookies and I look forward to the garbage time they’ll spend together.
Ronnie Hillman, DEN RB- The Broncos have rammed their head against a brick wall time and time again with Montee Ball’s painful inefficient run game. They will get reprieve. Although unfortunate, Ball has been relinquished from starting back duties for the time being as he sits back and ices a groin injury that could have him out of commission for a few weeks. Hillman seems to be the obvious option at tailback, but CJ Anderson and Juwan Thompson look to muck up the backfield. We may be looking at a timeshare here, but if I’m betting on any certain back, it’s going to be Hillman.
Branden Oliver, SD RB- After Donald Brown went down with a concussion, Oliver filled in and did what many backs failed to do against a stout Jets run defense… run. He thrashed them with 19 carries for 114 yards and paired it with four receptions for 68 yards, registering a touchdown in both categories. Oliver has another chance to display sheer dominance when he faces the terrible Oakland defense this coming weekend. Brown? Forget him. Mathews? Better watch his job.
Andre Williams, NYG RB- Another back that benefits from injury. Rashad Jennings stated that this current injury is much like the MCL sprain he suffered back in 2012 which had him sidelined for two games. Williams totaled 83 yards and a touchdown on 22 touches. Expect him to get a major volume of touches for the next couple of weeks. I would imagine once Jennings returns from injury he should immediately take the reins again.
Benny Cunningham, STL RB- This is more of a precautionary measure. Zac Stacy strained his calf in the Philly contest, but is expected to return for week 6. Cunningham was effective in his relief (71 yards, 1 TD), and with the mysterious ways that muscles heal from injury I’d keep him handcuffed to Stacy should he suffer any setbacks or re-injury.
Tim Wright, NE TE- This was just an example of what Wright can offer to this team as a second tight end. He racked up five receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown. The only downfall to this statistic is that he played only on 19 of 85 snaps. It’s hard to guarantee repeat satisfaction for fantasy owners with that kind of time on the field, but if the Patriots needed a body to keep those Brady stats padded, they found a weapon in Wright.
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