Pensive Pigskins

Time is a difficult concept. On the one hand, it’s fixed and rigid, a finely measured, Morgan Freeman-narrated countdown to our utter and final oblivion; on the other hand, it feels like I’ve got way too much of it right now, almost like time wasn’t an arrow but an unmeasurable amorphous glob of viscous, vibrating goo. And I’m stuck hip deep in it.

 

Apparently, time slows down due to the gravitational pull of Drake Maye. 

Or more specifically, Drake Maye’s mighty right shoulder. 

I actually didn’t think about it too much at first. The human shoulder wasn't created to throw overhand, yet, humans insist on hurling objects at each other with rotator cuff shredding rage at every opportunity. Naturally, there's going to be some soreness as a result, an inflammation, some kind of "-itis" affecting the soft tissue (not a doctor, obviously). Besides, with a "bye week" in between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl, there'd be plenty of time for rest and rehab.

No worries.

Nothing to see here.

My thoughts turned to Tom Brady's early career issues with soreness in his throwing arm (though I think that was more elbow than shoulder pain), and had to manage reps in practice, until he found a throwing coach - Tom House - who helped him with the mechanics that allowed him to throw pain free.

Because why should I worry now when - wait! What’s that you say? 

Drake Maye is on the Injury Report? 

Questionable? 

But just a few days ago Daddy Vrabes said “No boo-boo!” 

And what is all this sticky, gooey stuff on my Patriots hoodie? Has the Patriots Pigskins of Destiny timeline goo bucket sprung a leak? 

Have I jumped timelines?

This is not good. 

Based on the consensus of the gridiron cognoscenti, there weren’t that many timelines where the Patriots could win SBLX. And now, somehow, I find myself on the “Drake Maye refuses to use shoulder injury to excuse humiliating Super Bowl loss; will have surgery on Friday” timeline. 

What the actual… football?

Suddenly, I'm on Pigskin Death Row; counting down the days until my pigskin heroes are left bloody and beaten on the field turf of destiny.

Maybe that's how it'll all go down. 

But I've got another way to think about this, I guess, because I don't have any other choice.

It's ride of die time. 

Let's ride, Patriots Nation.

Go Pats!