I've changed my mind on Boutte

I decided to compartmentalize my feelings about him and I've decided I'm being overly critical of his play last night.

I put all my feelings about how he handled himself this off-season as "just business". I really can't begrudge a guy for trying to maximize his earnings. Unfortunately (for us fans), the threat of transfer is the single biggest bargaining chip that players have, so we shouldn't necessarily take it personally when a player uses the leverage afforded to him.

I removed those feelings about the business side from the equation, and focused just on the football game.

There's no sugar coating how he played. He didn't play well at all. But let's remember this was his first game back after a major ankle injury, that I believe required two surgeries. It stands to reason he might have been a bit rusty and tentative.

Maybe what I saw as checked out or apathetic was really just him being tentative in his first live game action in 11 months.

Hopefully he can get his head right and bounce back.

Random positives about him from last night...I liked how he was one of the first guys to try and pick up Nabers after his second muff. I also appreciated his effort on our final drive.