Aside from the Murder Hornet invasion and snow in May, the past week saw the birth of Tesla and SpaceX CEO/founder Elon Musk and Canadian singer Grimes’ first child together. After much consternation, the couple settled on the name “X Æ A-12.” Grimes explained the name on Twitter but her explanation only created further confusion. Musk told Joe Rogan that “A-12” is the precursor to the couple’s favorite aircraft, the SR-71.
Keep an open mind.
X Æ A-12’s mind is very much a blank slate, an empty easel on which genetics and experience will manifest themselves. Stidham likewise has seen very little action aside from a potential Hall of Fame safety jumping a route during a low-stakes blowout. Until there is an extended sample size on Stidham, we won’t know what he is. Even then, if this roster is as bad as everyone seems to think it is, are we truly getting an accurate representation of Stid’s potential with a competent supporting cast? It may be two years until we know for sure.
Don’t over-commit to any option.
Musk and Grimes are going to need a backup plan, given that California State Law abides by draconian internet character rules and only allows the 26 letters of the English language in names. Hopefully, they aren’t head over heels for the name X Æ A-12.
Likewise, the Patriots need not overcommit to Stidham past this season. If the operation goes south, for whatever reason, and the Patriots are in a position to get a blue-chip prospect like a Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields, that’s a chance you have to take. Stidham could perform well enough and the team could go 5-11. Both can happen, but that doesn’t mean the team shouldn’t move on from Stidham if they have the chance at a top QB prospect.
This moron just wrote that a QB can play well and the team can go 5-11? What an idiot.
Don’t do anything halfway.
Musk told Joe Rogan this week that Grimes picked the first half of X Æ A-12’s name (“X Æ”), while Musk picked the second half (“A-12”), the billionaire tech version of finishing each other’s sandwiches.
Bill Belichick or Josh McDaniels being replaced is not the question at hand. What the Patriots shouldn’t do halfway is their plan, whatever it may be. They have to give Stidham the full season; he can’t be pulled halfway when there’s no clear better option. Likewise, they can’t start the season with Brian Hoyer. That would be like handing Stidham the X and the Æ and telling him to come up with anything that will make the final product look somewhat redeemable. Stidham could write “-vier” at the end and the result might still be a top-10 draft pick, in which case the Patriots have to choose between rolling the dice on another season of quasi-unknown or grabbing one of the slam dunk prospects.