Month: December 2020

Kiddie Pool 20/12/03

Family fun for whenever

Holiday happenings

See Santa Claus at Greeley Park (100 Concord St., Nashua) for a socially distanced visit on Saturday, Dec. 5, from noon to 2 p.m., featuring photo opportunities, free gifts and more. Visit nashuanh.gov.

Join the YMCA of Greater Londonderry (206 Rockingham Road, Londonderry) for its annual Great Candy Cane Hunt on Saturday, Dec. 5, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Santa Claus will hide hundreds of candy canes around the YMCA for you to look for during the event. Start by receiving your candy cane hunt bag at the check-in table, then venture to the field for the hunt. Santa will also be there for socially distanced photo opportunities. This year there will be groups of 32 people per 30-minute time slot to help with social distancing (bring your own flashlight). Masks or face coverings are required for all participants. Visit graniteymca.org.

Chunky’s Cinema & Pub’s Manchester location (708 Huse Road) will convert a theater to an evening of family-friendly candy Bingo on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m., featuring movie theater-sized candy boxes as prizes and the big screen as a bingo board. Tickets of $4.99 per person will get you a box of Chunky’s theater candy that you’ll turn in to get your bingo cards. Once all the candy is collected, Chunky’s staff will divide it up and start playing the rounds. Visit chunkys.com.

The Derry Public Library will host a virtual holiday gift making workshop on Tuesday, Dec. 8, from 4 to 5 p.m. The library will post tutorials for Sharpie mugs, hot chocolate kits and gift bags on its Facebook and YouTube pages. Register in advance to pick up a Take It and Make It bag in the library’s lobby. If registration is full, you can still complete the projects with materials at home. Visit derrypl.org.

Join the Manchester City Library (405 Pine St., Manchester) for a virtual Polar Express bedtime event on Wednesday, Dec. 9, from 6 to 7 p.m. Goodie bags with treats and crafts are now available for curbside pickup. The virtual program will include Christmas carol sing-alongs and demonstrations on how to make the crafts found in the goodie bags. Visit manchester.lib.nh.us.

Stellar!

Have a Super Stellar Friday with a virtual program from the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive, Concord), on Friday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. This month, learn about Nor’easters, including what they are, how they form and how they impact us. This event is free, but registration is required at starhop.com.

Featured photo: The Polar Express. Courtesy photo.

Tree talk

Help yours survive and thrive

I’ll have to admit that I see many fewer volcanoes of mulch snuggling up to trees in public places. I think the word is out, at least with municipal workers, that trees can be damaged or killed by over-exuberant mulching. Among homeowners? I’m not so sure. Let’s take a look at the problem.
Tree bark is wonderful stuff: No matter the weather, bark protects its tree from rain, snow, cold or drought. But it is only rated for above-ground use. Bury tree bark, or cover it with mulch, and microorganisms will break it down and attack the green layer of cambium beneath the bark.
So what is this cambium layer? It is an active, growing layer of cells that produce the phloem and xylem tissue that provide for the transportation of necessary liquids and that provide mechanical strength. If the cambium layer is destroyed, the tree will die — but not right away. Most experts say that if the cambium layer is compromised, it can take six to 10 years for a tree to decline and die. First signs of the problem include tip dieback — top branches losing leaves — and earlier fall color than previously seen.
When you mulch around a tree, you should leave space between the tree trunk and mulch. Some say, leave a doughnut hole around the tree. How much? Four to six inches is good, depending on the size of the tree. Bigger tree, bigger space. And even if you have started with a mulch-free space around the tree, don’t assume there is still a space. Go look. Gravity works 24/7, and rain and wind can move mulch a little.
Don’t get me wrong: I am not against mulching around trees. It serves two important functions. It keeps down weeds, and it keeps away exuberant guys (usually) with weed whackers. No mulch? That guy with ear protection and a raging string trimmer can girdle your tree in a heartbeat. And that would be as bad as letting mulch slowly rot the bark.
By pulling away the bark mulch, you can save the tree. I have removed mulch and seen damaged bark. But if the cambium is still functioning, the tree can recover, and I’ve seen that, too.
There is another way that the cambium layer can be compromised: covering the trunk flare with soil at planting time. Burying the portion of the tree that should be above ground will lead to a slow death.
Growing trees is an industry. Americans buy hundreds of thousands every year. They are sold at local family-run nurseries and big box stores, but they’re often started in nurseries in the warmer regions of the United States. Trees are often grown in fields, like corn, and then lifted and potted up to be sold to your local nursery.
If you ask how deep to plant your little tree, the most likely answer (from my informal survey of homeowners) is “Plant it just like it is in the pot.” But that is generally bad advice. The process of taking a field-grown tree and getting it into a plastic pot is not precise. Time is money, so trees are often plunked in containers with little regard for the depth they were growing in the field. The trunk flare (that part that should be above ground) is often buried.
To recognize the trunk flare of a tree, go outside and look at a tree planted by Mother Nature. You will see at the base of a tree that there are above-ground roots heading away from the tree, and that the base of the tree widens just above ground level. That wider portion is the trunk flare and must be above ground.
Before planting a tree, take your fingers and pull away the soil from the tree trunk at the surface until you can see the trunk flare. If the tree has been in the pot for a few years (often the case for larger trees) and the flare has been covered, little roots have started to grow out of the trunk flare and should be cut off.
Larger trees for sale at nurseries have often been moved from their original pots or bags to larger ones. At that juncture, soil is added, and it often covers the trunk flare. I have planted trees that came from the nursery with four to six inches of soil over the trunk flare. By removing that, I saved the trees.
What should you do if you planted a tree without regard to trunk flare? Take a look at it carefully. If your tree trunk is as straight as a telephone pole at the soil surface, you need to do some digging. You need to expose the trunk flare.
I like to use a single-tine hand tool called the CobraHead weeder (CobraHead.cm) to expose the trunk flare. I gently and slowly loosen soil and pull it back with my hands. In fact, I use my fingers as much as possible, as I don’t want to damage the bark on the trunk flare. Once you see the flare, re-grade the soil around the tree trunk. It is not as scary a proposition as it sounds.
Trees are our friends. You have to be sure they are properly planted and tended, so go look at yours. You may have to do some work on the next warm day.

Featured Photo: Don’t create mulch volcanoes like this. Courtesy photo.

The Art Roundup 20/12/03

The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities

“This My Joy,” an oil painting by Brittany Soucy, featured in “This Merry Moment.” Courtesy photo.

• Festive art: The New Hampshire Art Association hosts its holiday exhibition, “This Merry Moment,” online and at the NHAA’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (136 State St., Portsmouth) now through Jan. 2, with an opening reception to be held virtually on Zoom on Friday, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m. The exhibit and sale features a variety of artwork and greeting cards created by NHAA members. Gallery hours are Monday and Tuesday by appointment; Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Call 431-4230 or visit nhartassociation.org.

A Christmas Fable, illustration by Susan Monty. Courtesy photo.

The Warner Historical Society’s online holiday shop at warnerhistorical.org/store features hand-painted holiday ornaments, calendars, mugs and drinking glasses, T-shirts, books, jigsaw puzzles and more, plus a holiday raffle. Curbside pickup on Saturday, Dec. 5, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 12, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Upton Chandler House Museum (10 W. Main St., Warner). Call 456-2437 or email [email protected].

• New reads: Peterborough-based literary journal and media company Monadnock Underground is releasing two new anthologies on Friday, Dec. 4: Spiritus Oppidum, Vol. 1, a collection of spiritual writing, and Demiurges and Demigods in Space, Vol. 1, a collection of science fiction, fantasy and speculative fiction. The books feature 24 stories, essays, reflections, abstract prose pieces, poems and a mini play from 21 local and regional authors. Paperback copies and Kindle versions will be available at the publication’s website. Visit monadnockunderground.com or call 978-257-5328.

Two local women, Debbie Ryan of Sandown and her mother, Alice Duston of Hampstead, have published a children’s holiday book called A Christmas Fable. In the book, Saint Nicholas tells the story of the birth of Jesus to all the animals of the forest. The story was originally written by Joan Carter, Duston’s mother and Ryan’s grandmother, who read it to the family every year on Christmas Eve until she died at the age of 92. Watercolor illustrations for the book were done by Derry artist Susan Monty. Find A Christmas Fable on Amazon.

• Sounds of the holidays: The Dana Center (Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester) presents a concert, “Joyful Christmas,” with fiddler Eileen Ivers, live on Friday, Dec. 4, at 5 and 8 p.m. Tickets cost $40. Then, also at the Dana Center, the New Hampshire School of Ballet presents “Songs for the Holidays” on Sunday, Dec. 6, with performances at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets cost $18. Call 641-7700 or visit anselm.edu/dana-center-humanities.

The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) presents its Holiday Spectacular concert from Dec. 4 through Dec. 20, with showtimes on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at noon. Inspired by the golden age of television variety shows, the concert features more than 30 classic Christmas songs and a visit from Santa Claus. Tickets cost $39 to $46 for adults and $25 for kids. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.

In place of its annual holiday pops concert, the Manchester Community Music School will host an Outdoor Holiday Stroll on Saturday, Dec. 5, and Sunday, Dec. 6, from 5 to 7 p.m. Attendees will be escorted in small groups around the holiday-lighted school grounds, where students and faculty will perform live. Tickets cost $25 per person or $225 for groups of 10 and include holiday treats. Registration is required. Call 644-4548 or visit mcmusicschool.org.

The Winter Wonderettes perform iconic ’60s versions of classic holiday tunes live at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) now through Dec. 19, with showtimes on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 6, at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $30 to $48. Select performances will also be livestreamed for $20 per viewer. Call 433-4472 or visit seacoastrep.org.

Tooned in

Yellow Submarine, classic cartoons animator visits Manchester

Relive the golden age of Saturday morning cartoons with legendary animator Ron Campbell, who has planned a three-day stop in the Granite State as part of his Beatles Cartoon Art Show Tour.

Campbell will be at Creative Framing Solutions in Manchester from Friday, Dec. 4, through Sunday, Dec. 6, exhibiting and selling around 70 original works of art he has created during his retirement from his 50-year career in television cartoons.

The collection of watercolor and ink cartoon paintings is largely focused on Campbell’s work as an animator for The Beatles’ 1968 animated feature film Yellow Submarine and as director of The Beatles’ Saturday morning cartoon, The Beatles, which aired on ABC from 1965 through 1969.

“You can buy all kinds of Beatles [fandom merchandise], but it’s very rare to be able to get a piece of artwork by one of the people who helped present the [Beatles] cartoons you watched when you were a child,” Campbell said.

In addition to The Beatles paintings, the show will feature paintings inspired by some of the other cartoons Campbell contributed to, which include Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, Rugrats, The Smurfs, The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, George of the Jungle, The Yogi Bear Show, Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels, Ed, Edd n Eddy and more.

“This isn’t a serious art show; it’s not Picasso or Rembrandt,” Campbell said. “These are bright and colorful paintings that are very fun to look at and bring back a lot of nostalgic memories for people.”

Each person who purchases a painting will receive a certificate of authenticity along with a custom drawing done by Campbell on site.

“I’ll do The Beatles, Fred Flintstone, Scooby-Doo — whatever cartoon character the customer would like,” he said.

Originally from Australia and now residing in Arizona, Campbell has been bringing his Beatles Cartoon Art Show to cities across America for several years now, but has been exhibiting and selling his artwork in some capacity since he retired in 2008. Only when he started meeting his audience in person, he said, did he realize the “enormous impact” that his cartoons had on the American citizens who grew up with them.

“I’ve learned now from my experiences talking to people that those Saturday morning cartoons were some of their happiest memories from their childhood,” he said. “They would rush down the stairs on Saturday morning, screaming, because it was the one time where they had total control of the TV. It was a special, magical time for them.”

Campbell, who turns 81 years old this month, said he “never gets tired of meeting the audience” and has no plans to stop touring. He’s bringing the show to Kennebunk, Maine, next weekend and hopes to return to a more regular tour schedule once Covid restrictions are loosened.

“Sometimes, when I’m just sitting in my chair, I get a bit drowsy and grouchy, but as soon as I know I’m going to be leaving and doing a show, that gets me up and working and planning,” he said. “It keeps me young.”

The Beatles Cartoon Art Show with Ron Campbell
Where: Creative Framing Solutions, 89 Hanover St., Manchester
When: Friday, Dec. 4, from 4 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 5, from noon to 6 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 6, from noon to 4 p.m.
Cost: Free; RSVPs recommended
More info: Call 320-5988 or visit creativeframingsolutions.com or beatlescartoonartshow.com

Art

Exhibits

• “SLEIGHBELL STUDIO” Exhibit features a curated collection of fine art and crafts affordably priced for holiday gift giving. Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen). On view now through Dec. 12. Gallery hours are Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com or call 975-0015.

• “MOMENTS IN NATURE” The New Hampshire Art Association presents oil paintings by BJ Eckardt. Concord Chamber of Commerce Gallery, 49 S. Main St., Concord. On display now through Dec. 17. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• “UNSEEN LIGHT” The New Hampshire Art Association presents infrared photography by Mark Giuliucci. 2 Pillsbury St., Concord. On display now through Dec. 17. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• “AN EXTRAPOLATION OF CLOSE OBSERVATION” The New Hampshire Art Association presents prints and paintings by Kate Higley. 2 Pillsbury St., Concord. On display now through Dec. 17. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• “SMALL WORKS – BIG IMPACT” Creative Ventures Gallery’s annual holiday exhibit featuring small works of art in various media, priced affordably for gift buying. Virtual. On display now through Dec. 31. Visit creativeventuresfineart.com or call 672-2500.

Fairs and markets

• VIRTUAL HOLIDAY SHOP The Warner Historical Society presents an online shop at warnerhistorical.org/store featuring hand-painted holiday ornaments, calendars, mugs and drinking glasses, T-shirts, books, jigsaw puzzles and more, plus a holiday raffle. Curbside pickup on Sat., Dec. 5, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sat., Dec. 12, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Upton Chandler House Museum (10 W. Main St., Warner). Call 456-2437 or email [email protected].

• “HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: AN ART SHOW & SALE Features all kinds of art, including oil and watercolor paintings, ceramics, tapestry, woodworking, wearable art, book making and more, created by local artists and artisans. Up now through Dec. 20. In person at the Bates Building (846 Main St., Contoocook; masks required) on a drop-in and by-appointment basis and virtually at shop.twovillagesart.org. Show hours at the Bates Building are Tuesday through Friday from noon to 4 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Visit twovillagesart.org.

• THE CRAFTWORKERS’ GUILD HOLIDAY FAIR Virtual shop features seasonal decor, photography, fine art and prints, cards, gourmet treats, woodworking, fiber and fabric, stained and fused glass, mixed media, jewelry and more by more than 40 juried artisans and craftspeople. Now through Dec. 22, with curbside pickup at the historic Kendall House (3A Meetinghouse Road, Bedford) daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit craftworkersguild.org.

Special events

• NHAA 80TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY New Hampshire Art Association hosts a silent art auction fundraiser. Bidding runs through Dec. 11. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• PAINT NITE a 21+ event featuring the creation of a “Starstruck Snowman” light-up wine bottle at Chunky’s Cinema Pub (707 Huse Road, Manchester, chunkys.com) on Sat., Dec. 5, 7 p.m. On Sat., Dec. 12, at 7 p.m., Chunky’s Nashua (151 Coliseum Ave.) will feature a “Birch Buddies Wine Bottle With Lights” project. Tickets $37 and $35, respectively (follow link through Chunky’s website to buy).

Featured photo: Ron Campbell. Photo by Alex Lowy Photography.

Quality of Life 20/12/03

Local projects get Moose Plate Grant funds

The Conservation Moose Plate Grant Program has awarded $431,901 in grant funds to 21 projects aimed at protecting, restoring and enhancing the state’s natural resources. According to a press release from the New Hampshire State Conservation Committee, several local organizations received funding, including the Audubon Society of New Hampshire ($23,534 for Urban Habitat Restoration: A Community-Based Approach for Wildlife and People); the Town of Chichester Conservation Commission ($23,156 for the Valley View Conservation Area); the Five Rivers Conservation Trust in Warner ($22,000 for Pletcher Farm (a vegetable ranch) Conservation Easement); and Hillsborough County Conservation District ($14,953 Siergiewicz Lot Reclamation and Wildlife Restoration Project in Hollis).

Score: +1

Comment: To everyone driving around with a moose on their license plate, the environment thanks you!

Good news for Great Bay

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced last week that it has issued a Clean Water Act general permit for wastewater treatment plants that discharge to New Hampshire’s Great Bay estuary. According to a press release, the permit will protect water quality and the health of ecosystems in the estuary by limiting nitrogen discharges from the 13 wastewater treatment plants in 12 communities that are eligible for coverage. “Over the past decade, the state and communities around Great Bay have been asking the EPA for flexible, adaptive management to control nutrients in the estuary. This permit delivers that approach and paves a way forward that will be guided by science and community action,” Bob Scott, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services commissioner, said in the release.

Score: +1

Comment: The Great Bay estuary, which is an estuary of national significance under the EPA’s National Estuary Program, has had water quality problems for years, including algae blooms and declining eelgrass habitat — all because of excessive nitrogen discharges, according to the release.

And in even more happy nature news…

The New Hampshire Audubon has announced that its Nature Store at the McLane Center in Concord will be opening its doors for the first time since March. According to a press release, the Audubon will host a Holiday Shopping Series from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the weekends of Dec. 5 and 6, Dec. 12 and 13, and Dec. 19 and 20. “We are so excited to finally open safely to serve our community for all its nature needs and holiday shopping,” education coordinator Shelby Morelli said in the release.

Score: +1

Comment: In the past this has been a one-day shopping event, but it has been extended to six days in order to limit the number of shoppers in the building at one time, according to the release.

… but not so great news for Bambi

More people are hunting and fishing this year, with the New Hampshire Fish & Game Department processing more than 87,600 resident fishing licenses through September (35 percent more than last year) and more than 7,700 resident hunting licenses this year, which is 18 percent more than last year, according to a Nov. 25 report from NHPR.

Score: 0 (Because although this is probably unwelcome news to forest creatures, game birds and other wildlife, it’s a good thing for the state’s hunting and fishing industry.)

Comment: Despite travel restrictions and intermittent quarantining rules, New Hampshire also saw about a 20-percent increase in non-resident permits for both hunting and fishing, according to the report.

QOL score: 65

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 68

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at [email protected].

NFL enters December

The Patriots enter December in the very unfamiliar position of being on the verge of elimination from playoff contention. We haven’t seen that in 20 years, which is so long ago I can’t remember much from that year besides that it was Coach B’s first year, they finished 5-11 and weren’t must-watch TV at that point. Since, they’ve only missed the playoffs twice, and that was only on tie-breakers after for the lead jn the AFC East in 2002 and 2018 when Tom Brady missed all but 10 minutes of the season.

That won’t be the case this year, as after Sunday’s win over Arizona they’re three games behind division-leading Buffalo and, at 5-6, two games behind in the race for the last playoff spot. That makes this year a little different, so here are a few thoughts on how it’s shaking down.

At 10-0 as I write this Pittsburgh is the latest to make a run at an undefeated season. After a couple of down years and question marks about Big Ben’s arm, few saw this coming. They have what look to be tough games with Baltimore (which may have happened by the time you see this), and the Bills in Buffalo, before finishing with the 7-4 Colts and surprising 8-3 Browns who’ll likely be playing for a spot in the playoffs, or a home field game. So we’ll see.

Speaking of the Steelers, why can they keep coming up with speedy and productive wide receivers while the last receivers of note the Pats have drafted were David Givens and Deion Branch in 2002? Technically Julian Edelman was taken in 2009, but he was a wishbone QB and picked to be more of a return guy. Patriots flunkouts in that time include Bethel Johnson (2), P. K. Sam (5), Chad Jackson (2), Brandon Tate (3), Taylor Price (3), Aaron Dobson (2) and Josh Boyce (4). Malcolm Mitchell (4) wasn’t bad, but pre-existing knee conditions said he was not likely a long-timer, N’Keal Harry trending that way. Meanwhile Pittsburgh’s draft room has picked Hines Ward (3), Plaxico Burress (1), Antwaan Randle El (2), Santonio Holmes (1), Mike Wallace (3), Emmanuel Sanders (3) and Antonio Brown (6) in the same draft, Martavis Bryant (4), Ju-Ju Smith-Schuster (2), James Washington (2), Diontae Johnson (3) and Chase Claypool in the second round this year. Am I the only one who finds that galling?

One final thought on Pittsburgh. With the Lakers tying the Celtics for most NBA titles at 17 in October, it’s already been a bad year for franchise legacy in Boston. But if Pittsburgh wins the Super Bowl it breaks their tie with New England for most SB wins with seven.

However, my money is on Kansas City to win because with all due respect to Russell Wilson they have the best quarterback. And the weird thing about Pat Mahomes is he doesn’t really look that good — until you see more and more of him. He doesn’t appear to have great arm strength but makes ridiculously on target deep throws off his back foot, on the run and from so many different angles that he reminds me of Luis Tiant doing that out of his corkscrew delivery. I wouldn’t call him fast, but he was fast enough to get two critical first downs with his feet Sunday vs. Tampa Bay. He was Larry Bird-like there in seeing things two counts before everyone else to bolt from the pocket early because he knew he could make it to the sticks and that was more valuable than any larger play down field. Which is what his real edge is — his brain. Which is what he has most in common with vintage Tom Brady.

Incidentally those two are 1-2 in passing yards in the NFL.

Fox broadcaster Kevin Burkhardt isa dead sound-alike for Red Sox TV guy Dave O’Brien. Spent the whole game on Sunday wondering if it was O’Brien till they showed a booth shot that showed it wasn’t.

Bill Belichick Coaching Tree Updates After Sunday: (1) Brian Flores improved 7-4 Miami playoff chances with a win over the Jets. (2) Ditto for Mike Vrabel, whose Titans won their battle for first in the AFC South over the Colts behind a punishing 178-yard rushing day from Derrick Henry. (3) After an 0-5 start Joe Judge has been picking up fans by getting the 4-7 G-Men into first in the moribund NFC East. (4) Matt Patricia didn’t make it to Sunday as he and fellow Pats alum GM Bob Quinn got fired after being Houston’s meal on Thanksgiving Day. (5) Romeo Crennel is now 4-3 as interim coach in Houston after consecutive wins over Matty P. and Coach B. (6) Bill O’Brien is on vacation after being fired in Houston.

Who can forget David Caldwell saying upon getting the GM job in Jacksonville that signing hometown hero Tim Tebow would only happen over his dead body? Well, owner Shahid Khan should’ve taken the dead body, because with the Jags a complete mess Caldwell got fired on Sunday.

So what’s the problem in Tampa Bay? They’re looking good for the playoffs, but there’s still a lot of yacking going on. TB-12 has made his share of key mistakes, but I put it on Bruce Arians’ stubborn unwillingness to adapt his system to the talent he has at QB. When Brady went there I predicted his interceptions were going up to at least 15 (he has 11) after only being in double digits twice (11 each time) the last 10 years. That’s because TB throws deep down field and that’s never been his strength. It’s incumbent on the coach to adjust to reality, rather than making a 43-year-old do something he can’t do.

Plus, Arians stupidly laying it all on Brady in public brings to mind the other thing I said when he left Foxboro: The grass often isn’t as green on the other side of the fence as it may seem.

Email [email protected].

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