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James Ihedigbo: Patriots can’t blame Wes Welker for loss 02.06.12 at 4:45 pm ET
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FOXBORO — The Patriots arrived Monday at Gillette Stadium and promptly left, though defensive backs Antwuan Molden and James Ihedigbo were available to the media Monday afternoon.

Much has been made about Wes Welker‘s drop with the Patriots leading and use over four minutes to go in the Super Bowl. Even Tom Brady‘s wife, Gisele Bundchen, ripped the team’s receivers for not being able to hold onto passes. While many likely have that line of thinking, Ihedibgo said none of the Patriots do.

“You can never point fingers at anyone,” Ihedigbo said. “You look at the plays that [Welker]‘s made all year long to put us in this position an dhow he played that game, how hard he prepared that game, and across the board. Look, we wanted it just as bad as they did. They just made some key plays there at the end and came out on top, so hats off to them.”

Added Ihedigbo: “You win as a team. You win and lose as a team. We lost to a good football team.”

Ihedigbo just wrapped up his first season as a Patriot. A native of Northampton and a graduate of UMass, the local product said that the 21-17 loss didn’t take any time to sink in.

“It hit us last night,” Ihedigbo said. “It’s a tough loss against a very good opponent. They made some plays there and put them in position to win the game, and they did that.”

While the loss was disheartening for the Pats, Ihedigbo said that the experience of playing the Super Bowl and coming so close to winning has only increased the team’s desire to win.

Said Ihedigbo: “God willing, we can get back, but it definitely makes have that hunger and desire to get back and really bring the Lombardi trophy where it belongs.”

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  • Anonymous

    He’s a class act.

  • Kelly272

    Agreed boyo, he sure is. That’s the way to do it.

  • JoePatFan

    No finger pointing leave that to us fans.  It was a bad play and our team couldn’t finish it.  It happens.  I just hate it was the Giants.  They made the least mental mistakes and won. 

    The only thing I do have to say is Tom Brady needs to reinvent himself and start running to get faster.  The coverage from the Giants left Tom wide open for running against that defense.  Just a thought.

  • Close but no cigar

    They fumbled twice due to great defense by the Pats stripping the ball. One they had twelve men when they recovered. The other just did not get. Dropped passes and the game still close.

    Defense played great for one that is 32.

    Gronk being hurt caused the interception and made him a non factor in the game.

    All went right for NY no TO’S that they lost.

  • Kern

    I hope Ihedigbo makes the team next year as the third safety. Dude exemplefies the Patriot Way; not the most talented, but intelligent and a great work ethic.

    The plays were there…The Giants made the ones that counted…we didn’t get the breaks. Next year the Patriots should utilize all their draft picks(yeah, yeah, I know), use all cap space (free agents will want a piece of that action)….another tight-end (maybe Solder, because Light should be back at LT), a wide reciever (a six foot plus Jimmy Graham type); plus a running game with Ridley and Vereen, how sweet would that be?

    GO PATS!!!!

  • Flyfisherman05

    Blame Belichick .What was wrong with the old game plan of score early and often.Where sre the R.Moss & T.O. deep threats that could score three td’s in 4 min.This 5 yd.,ten yd pass plays are a recipie for disaster and it happened.Sure you eat up the clock,but,you don’t score a lot of points.Theold way a team would need 2 or three scores to come back.Not just 1.This current game plan sucks!!!!!!!

  • Roberthoden

    think this guy needs to hire an editor yesterday. 

  • mg

    Yards matter. The giants never had a three and out. The Pats average starting point was the 16 yard line. Defense wins championships. Yes, Wes could have caught the ball, but the defense needed a couple of 3 and outs. And Brady never seems to improve in the off season. Bird, Jordan worked hard in the off season to improve. Brady has not. He is too slow to sidestep in the pocket.
    He could have ran it on the safety, but choked. Reminded me of Chris Weber calling a timeout, with none left. Biggest blunder ever to start a Super Bowl.

  • pobrepaco

    The PATS don’t get the breaks or calls that they did before, the pendulum has swung a different way, but you still have to make that catch!!!! I believe that GRONK’S injury had a lot to do with the out come of the game!!!!  WIN TOGETHER–LOSE TOGETHER is a great premise, but they can’t keep losing these games!! I’M DONE!!!!!!!!

  • Jsm7370

    I love the pats, but really? ” the Patriot Way; not the most talented, but intelligent and a great work ethic.”

    Why can’t Bill draft intelligent, great work ethic, but also talented??? Yes, we were a drop from this being a moot point. But if we had better talent on the defensive side of the ball, maybe this wouldn’t have been a down to the wire game. Bill needs to start using his picks this April to draft talent. Not good guys.  

  • Byebye

    the digger  – biggest disappointment since gablingers beer.

  • Anonymous

    Obviously if they can all three then they will.   But when you can only have two out of three hard-working and intelligent will always trump amazing talent on this team.   Talent’s no good if you’re lazy (Randy Moss, Haynesworth) or unable to grasp the playbook (Ochocinco). 

    Any example of a team that drafts talent first is the Dallas Cowboys.   Heck, a lot of people say that they have the most raw talent in the league.   They also finished 7-9.

  • blinding glare

    Well said Mr. Ihedigbo!  What a class act! I too hope that he sticks around for a few years, he’s definitely a Patriot through and through.  

    I’m as disappointed as the next guy, but this team had a great season and they were maybe one great play from winning this game.  At any point, just like 4 years ago, a defensive stop or a great catch would’ve changed the outcome.  Yes, the Pats lost another Super Bowl, but they played their collective hearts out and came up a little short…   what a ride!  How many Jet fans can claim to have enjoyed the last 11 years as much as we Patriot fans have?  

    I’m proud of this team, and I’m sure they will come back and have another great season next year too.  You can’t win ‘em all, nobody does, but the Pats will be back in the hunt again, and I’ll be there routing for them, and I won’t be alone. 

  • WhaleBelly

    Here’s what haunts me about the Super Bowl. The Giants were the more talented team; the Giants played very well for pretty much the entire game and had several breaks go their way (recovered own fumbles); the Pats played very well for 2 long stretches; the Pats played poorly for 2 long stretches and made several boneheaded plays at critical times and failed to convert at critical times….. Yet given all that the Pats damn near won.

  • Bhdyer20

    Their offense doesn’t score a lot of points?   What team were you watching this season?

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/37DAQ7K4QZ6JSLBW7XFKDGUTBA Politicouple

    Ahhhh…..a voice of reason and sanity from Mr. Ihedigbo.   Thank you, thank Wes Welker, and thanks to the Whole Patriot organization for a great season.

  • giants+lady luck= sb

    Bottom line… Brady isnt playoff clutch. The bottom line. Its his fault. -Patriots kicked off and stopped them… brady took a safety first play for them and the pats defense is on the field the entire 1st quarter – Pats had 1st and 10 with the lead early in the 4th qtr at the 50 and he threw a (pointless ravens game) hail mary that was picked off – 2nd and 11 late in the game with 4 minutes left, welker was wide open up the seam for a TD and he threw it 3 yards high and behind him for a incomplete. – Last drive of the game, brady had time in the pocket, branch was coming over the middle 20 yards up field with 30 yards of space ahead of him, and brady throws it right at the linebacker, gets tipped and is behind branch for a incomplete. Brady isnt clutch. Send brady somewhere for draft picks and sign peyton manning. I want a guy that doesnt make stupid decisions and can hit WIDE OPEN guys

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