I’ve spent much of my life to date in the tri-state area, and thusly have acquired quite the distaste for all New England professional sports teams. However, that dislike is being challenged by Patriots receiver Donte Stallworth, who apparently is an awesome weirdo.

But after catching a pass from Brady along the right sideline, the receiver said he failed to break away from Mathis because he spent too long watching the video monitor so he could find the defensive back.

“I was too worried about where he was,” Stallworth said. “I was looking up at the JumboTron. Instead of actually running and kicking in my little extra turbo. I didn’t do that. I’ve already gotten grief from the guys. They didn’t spare me. They didn’t say good play or say anything. Instead, (I got) ‘I thought you were fast?’ I’m like, ‘Hey dude, I’m trying. I’m just trying.’”

Stallworth’s friends and teammates were relentless.

“I’ve already got like 15 texts from guys back home and guys in the locker room have been killing me,” he said.

But no one was harder on Stallworth than himself. Immediately after Mathis made the tackle, Stallworth pounded the ground and then started punching his legs as if they were defective.

Stallworth said that was punishment from his alter ego, Nicco, whom Stallworth has described as an extra terrestrial being that resides on Mars when the receiver is off the field.

?!??!

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