Nickell Robey-Coleman, the cornerback for the Los Angeles Rams and beneficiary of arguably the greatest officiating blunder in NFL playoff history, is not content to go quietly into that good night and into the biggest game of his career. You would think that the man who not only committed a blatant helmet-to-helmet infraction on Saints' receiver Tommylee Lewis, and at the same time got away with the most egregious pass interference call in a postseason game that anyone can remember, would shun the spotlight instead of seeking it. But oh no, you obviously don't know Nickell Robey-Coleman, or NRC as we shall call him — short for Not Remotely Contrite.
Just because he looked like the cat that ate the canary after searching his immediate vicinity for a flag that was never thrown, it didn't stop him from posting bulletin board material for a man who thrives on any chip in which he can sink his shoulder. And prior to his rant against Tom Brady, the best online sportsbooks like YouWager (all found at Sportsbook Review) were dealing the Patriots as 2 ½ point favorites, but after this little tirade, they may want to reconsider and push that number to north of a touchdown.
Here are a few snippets from NRC's interview with Bleacher Report:
“We have to stay connected. And he (Brady) will slowly start to reveal himself.”
“Age has definitely taken a toll. For him to still be doing it, that's a great compliment for him. But I think that he's definitely not the same quarterback he was.”
“He still can sling it, but he's not slinging it as much. Whatever he was doing — because of his age and all that — he's not doing as much of that anymore. He's still doing the same things; he's just not doing as much of it. And sometimes, it's not the sharpest. But it still gets done.”
And apparently NRC also knows exactly how to defeat the Patriots and he intends to make it hurt.
“Stick a dagger in them. They're not a team that you want to play around with. Stick the dagger in them and don't leave it in them! Take it out! And let them leak. Let them leak slow. Put the dagger in them, pull it out, and let them leak slow. Just kill 'em slowly. That's how you do them.”
All year long Brady has endured the slings and arrows of those declaring the New England dynasty was, if not dead then in immediate peril, and inferring Brady was a shell of his former self.
Julian Edelman was caught yelling at Brady on the sidelines after TB12 launched a touchdown pass to Phillip Dorsett in the Patriots' AFC title win over Kansas City, “You're too bleeping old. You're old.” It was a sarcastic comment meant to remind Brady of all the detractors and naysayers who proclaimed the king dead.
In order to appreciate Brady's mindset, one has to understand that he has never forgotten that he was a barely talked about kid coming out of Michigan without the alluring pedigree of a Peyton Manning or the dazzling skills of an Andrew Luck. Brady may be a living legend now but, by all accounts and in his mind, he is still that sixth-round pick trying to get a little playing time to prove he's worthy.
The man thrives on challenges and proving people wrong who publicly deride him. This time it's a 27-year-old cornerback who is daring Brady to throw his way in the biggest game and on the NFL's grandest stage. Well, we don't know about you but our money's on Brady and when the dust settles, Nickell Robey-Coleman will be guilty of another penalty, only this time he won't get away with it.
