For as long as I live, I will never understand the reason behind letting the 2nd best Corner back on the team, to stand on the sidelines of the biggest game of the year. And the only person who has that answer, is not talking. He's being Bill. In other words, he doesn't feel it necessary to explain to us mere mortals, his thinking behind the benching. We don't need to know.

And as much as he wished it didn't, the question still remains.

Why did Coach Belichick not play Malcolm Butler, the corner back who has played 97.8% of the time in the regular season and the last two play off games? Why? His replacements Rowe, Richards, and Bademosi were getting torched. Lit up. Completely outplayed over and over and over again. It makes no sense. I mean, it was the Super Bowl. It was title number six. And all you needed was one stop. Just one stop. That was the difference.

Not that I am at all comparing myself to Bill Belichick, but I was a youth coach. Both in Hockey and in Football. I let all the kids play so mom and dad would be happy. But I must say, in the two championships that our team won, after I played all the kids, I only played the best kids at the end of the game. Why? Because every single kid on those teams wanted to win. They wanted to be champions. Had I played the other kids in the fourth qtr in Football, or the 3rd period in hockey, we would have lost. And our team wanted to win.

Just like the Patriots wanted to win. You play the best players to win.



The look on his face tells the story. Yeah Coach, you messed up. Your QB had the best game in Super Bowl history. Brady threw for over 500 yards, including three TD's, and no interceptions. Yes there were other reasons why we lost. Stephen Goskowski missed an extra point and a Field Goal. That's 4 points right there. There was that trick play where Brady was to catch a pass, but let's face it, Frankenstein can't run. And he can't catch. Maybe a younger Brady could have. Not the 40 year old Brady.

Our defense as a whole was full of holes. They were a patch work Defense at best all year. Matt Patricia heard that leak in the backfield and did nothing to stop it. Talk about deflate gate. Our defense was flat. All except Gilmore. He was the glue that held the secondary together. Foles did not throw at Gilmore. He threw at the Three Stooges. Like we would have done.

For a coach who always makes adjustments, he didn't adjust. Not this time.

And please stop with Foles being a back up QB. Brady was a back Up QB when he won his first Super Bowl. How soon we forget people. Did the eagles deserve to win? Absolutely. They outplayed us and more importantly, they out coached us. That's gotta hurt the Hoodie. Outcoached. They were aggressive and creative. The same play that Brady blew was executed to perfection by the Eagles. Yup. Foles became the first QB in history to catch a pass for a TD. That's how it's done boys.



The sad part of TB 12's performance that night was, he walked off the field without shaking hands with Foles. That's poor sportsmanship. And dare I say? Very un-Brady like. I get that you were upset Tom. But come on.



And if the Super Bowl loss was not enough, the most bizarre week in Patriots history was just getting started. Gronk says he's thinking about retirement while sources say he wants to get into movies. Not for nothing Rob, but you have to be shitting us right? You in Hollywood as an actor? Look, you can barely get through a press conference. You are not Hollywood material.
You're the best TIGHT END in the business. And the team needs you.



The next day the newly groomed Matt Patricia took over as head coach of the Detroit Lions. Too bad you lost the last game you coached in. But, the new look and new status should suit you well. You coached under the best coach in NFL history. I'm sure you learned a few things.

But this fiasco? Josh McDaniels? Nobody saw this coming. He's in! He's out!



I guess karma is for real. The Colts who were behind the "Deflate Gate" saga got burned this past week. Josh McDaniels was supposed to be their new head coach, backed down at the last minute to stay with the Patriots. Turns out he and his family would rather live in New England. Can't blame him for that. Plus, we all think that when Bill does retire, Josh would be the new head coach. Too bad he doesn't have this guy when Brady retires...



But we couldn't afford him. Jimmy G is now the highest paid player in all of the NFL. $137.5 million for 5 years. Gulp!



Enough of football. Cory and I went to the Cabot Theater in Beverly, MA
last night to see the BEST BIG ROCK BAND in all of New England. Mike Girard's BIG SWINGING THING. If you haven't seen them you're stupid. Seriously, you need to go and check them out. If they are within a two hour drive it's worth it. Click on the photo above for the complete review and huge photo gallery.

"Playing The Right Players, and Seeing the Right Band, Heals All Wounds"

The last few weeks I've been posting empty wave pics of this particular break. And as much as I liked my own pics, I admit, they fall short of Ed's pic of this same break. All photos of that break must be measured against this photo. Photo by Ed O'Connell
*Click the photo above to see a larger version of Ed's Pic.


Now for Some Local, National and International News
OK the latest news from 45 is the latest brunt of many jokes on late night TV and beyond. It seems that President Trump wants a military parade. It would cost millions to run one, but that has not deterred Ole Flop Top. He wants the parade.



Like this one in North Korea!



Like this one in China!



Like this one in Russia!



That's right folks. The man who did everything he could to get out of going to Vietnam, wants a military parade? It would cost millions to put this on. Millions. I say, spend that money on Veterans in need. This whole "pomp and circumstance" parade to feed some childish ego, is a waste of money and time. I hope they deny him this selfish request. What a joke.

KSM Photoshop of the Week
Not sure how he manages to get into some of these photos. Wait, yes I do. I photoshop him every week. When I saw the news clip of the Eagles celebrating in Philly this week, that big man in the Genie suit looked to perfect to pass up. So...I put our boy in the suit and on the podium. Hey, it's the least I can do to make him look like a fool.



So my friends, please take advantage of this weekly photo shop of the mastermind who planned 9-11 and resulted in the deaths
of 3,000 innocent civilians by KSM (Khalid Sheik Mohammed).

*Note to self -must pick up a case of "Bird Food" at Home Depot this week.

GET WELL Brylee "Peanut" who was diagnosed with pneumonia today, exactly one week after I was. She did NOT get it from me.
GET WELL Max Malila in your recovery!
GET WELL JoEllen Bunton Sending positive thoughts and prayers to you!!
REMEBERING my dad. Passed February 7th, 2000!
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY February 14th, 2018!

FYI Lenny Nichols is looking for someone or someones to take
over the ESA-NNE District. Please contact Lenny Nichols by calling his cell (603) 944-2418



* I wrote this in the sand back in 2011 during my MOLLY campaign. Still one of my favorite Valentine's Day messages to my baby. Is it wrong that I recycle my own pics and cards? Nah.

THE NEW GRANITE GIRLS poster!




Please Support ALL The photographers who contribute to
Ralph's Pic Of The Week every week for the last 13 years.
** BUY a HIGH RES Photo from any of the weeks on RPOTW.

Remember my friends... Surfing Heals All Wounds.
Pray for Surf. Pray for Peace. Surf For Fun.

Ralph

(Above) I shot this as I was driving away. Tuesday February 6th, 2018.
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) I saw this tidal pool and thought it was a mirage.
Thursday February 8th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) The shoals at sunset. Thursday February 8th, 2018.
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) I grew up on a pond. These glassy conditions were always a special treat for us. Wednesday February 7th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery









(Above) Dougie Fresh rubbing it in. Oahu February 2018.
Photo by Fresh *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery