No surprise what I'm going to be ranting about in this opinion piece. Apparently the entire staff and team that resides in New England don't have the time for kids. And not just any kids. The kids that signed up to participate in the Fuel Up to Play 60 program.
Now, if these poor elementary school kids in Connecticut weren't actually expecting anyone on the team to show up, then I can see how they would be disappointed, but it wouldn't be the fault of the Patriots. Well, apparently the team was actually supposed to show up and play football, or run around with these kids. I mean you see the commercials with the various players, looking ecstatic to be with kids. Apparently the Patriots hate them. Because no one but an intern showed up. So instead of playing with Patriot's players, the intern brought some exercise videos.
"I was willing to give the Patriots the benefit of the doubt and believe that there was an honest mistake here ... until I read that they gave the kid a Fred Taylor jersey. Fred Taylor? Fred Taylor and his 269 yards last year? That's really the best you can do for the kid? What, was Zoltan Mesko(notes) too busy to sign a jersey?"
Listen, you may not be the reigning NFL football team in the world at the moment (Go Saints!), but that doesn't mean you can be dueschbags, especially to children who look up to you and idolize some of you.
Jaclyn Kahn
P.S. I see the update on the article, but I don't buy it. The Patriots have that "we're better than you and can get away with anything" air about them, so I still say it's their fault.
