Thursday, December 31, 2009

Tweaking With Bill Polian

Bill Polian, the GM of the Colts, has always been a thorn in the side of the Pats. He was criticized, along with Coach Jim Caldwell, for pulling their starters in the third quarter during last Sunday's loss to the Jets. The defeat left the Colts 14-1 and spoiled their chances to tie the Pats and the 1972 Miami Dolphins for an undefeated regular season.

Polian went on to point out that the Colts had beaten the Pats 21 regular season consecutive win record by two games and edged them out with 115 wins for the decade. Those were the most important records according to him.

He tweaked the Pats by mentioning their 16-0 regular season record in 2007 and their eventual loss to the Giants in Super Bowl XLII. Therefore, he feels the 1972 Dolphins are the only "undefeated" team as they also won the Super bowl. Polian always makes it a point to stick it to the Pats whenever he has the opportunity.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Who Will Play on Sunday?

It's a good thing a local radio station did their daily poll with their question asking whether the Pats should "rest" their starters when they play Houston on Sunday. Naturally, there were strange results with 62% saying no resting, 21% saying rest and 17% undecided. These undecided based their decision on the circumstances for the game.

What does that mean? I'm not sure. The Pats have won the AFC East and face a playoff game in less than two weeks. The offense is starting to come together. There are some players who are hurt such as Vince Wilfolk and Ty Warren. Nobody is 100% this team of year. That holds true for any team in the league.

I don't agree with the decision of the Colts to pull their starters in the 3rd quarter against the Jets on Sunday. They saw a 15-10 lead slip away resulting in a final 29-15 win by the Jets. The Colts lost a chance at being 15-0 with a shot at history next week. QB Peyton Manning was visibly angry on the sideline, but he spoke the company line in agreeing with the coaching decisions.

This brings us to next Sunday. Does Tom Brady play? Of course he will. I can't imagine him sitting. Maybe he plays into the 3rd quarter. With a 45 man roster, there are only so many "healthy scratches". Someone has to play. Injuries can happen on any play.

Coach Belichick has been asked this question repeatedly about resting players. I agree with his response of " Whatever decisions I make will be made in the best interest of the team". This doesn't address the question, but there is no simple answer.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Dropping the Ball

The Pats had everything going during yesterday's 35-7 win over Jacksonville. They piled up 194 yards on the ground. Who would have thought they would do it without Laurence Maroney for most of the game.

The Pats mounted a big opening drive. They moved the ball down the field at will with Maroney carrying the ball for big chunks of yards. It appeared he scored on a 1 yard run, but fumbled the ball for the 4th time this season. Three times have been at the the goal line.

This may have been too much for Coach Belichick. He pulled Maroney from the game, never to return. Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulke and Fred Taylor pounded the Jacksonville defense with big runs. Taylor took over in the 4th quarter, allowing the Pats to burn the clock with key runs for first down.

Where does this leave Maroney? Was this a one game thing? They need him for the playoffs, but turnovers are not acceptable.

In his post-game press conference, Coach Beichick did his usual deflection and said that all of the backs contributed to the win by running the ball. He never mentioned Maroney's gaff.

In the past, he has said that whoever has the ball in their hands carries the fate of the team. One turnover can cost the team the entire season.The stakes are getting higher. Coach Belichcik is walking a fine line. As much as the teams needs Maroney, he can't let one player cost the team a possible trip to the Super Bowl.

Friday, December 25, 2009

A Tale of Three Backs

The Pats will need to deal with RB Maurice Jones-Drew when they face Jacksonville Sunday. He is tied for the lead league with 15 rushing TD's and is third in rushing behind Chris Johnson and Steven Jackson. He has caught 49 passes for 33 yards this season. Since he entered the league in 2006, his 56 TD's rank 2nd only to LaDainian Tomlinson's 71.

The 5'7" , 208 pound back from UCLA shared carries with Fred Taylor when he first arrived in Jacksonville. Taylor acted as a mentor and friend. They trained together in the off-season. As Jones-Drew began to emerge, his carries increased at the expense of Taylor. Prior to this season, the Jaguars released Taylor and the Pats signed him for his 12th season. Taylor and Jone-Drew continue to remain close friends.

Back in 1998, Taylor and former Pats RB Robert Edwards were both first round draft choices. Both enjoyed great rookie seasons and were constantly compared. Edwards was Offensive Rookie of the Year and lead the Pats with 1,115 yards rushing.

While participating in a Pro Bowl touch football game on the beach for rookies, Edwards suffered a devastating knee injury which curtailed his career. Taylor is now facing the beginning of the end of his career. Jones-Drew has the future ahead of him wondering what it holds for him.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

It Didn't Look That Bad

It looked like a play where WR Randy Moss would take the brunt of it. He was leaping in the air to catch a 16 yard pass early in the 3rd quarter during last week's 17-10 win over the Bills.

CB Terrence McGee attempted to break up the play by crashing into the hip of Moss while leading with his right shoulder. These collisions can be especially devastating for the receiver because he is off his feet.

Moss caught the ball and both players fell to the turf. Moss went on to have a great game. McGee had a torn rotator cuff and will be placed on IR. He will need surgery and undergo a long rehab process to return to the field.

Two players during one play both had different results. Fans of the game often don't realize the fragility of the player's careers. One play can change everything. One play can end a career.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

One More Chance

When WR Joey Galloway was released by the Pats on Oct 20th, it appeared that it might be the end of the line for the 15 year veteran. He was signed by the Pats in the off-season and was expected to battle for the 3rd receiver position. Thing never worked out. He caught only 7 balls for 67 yards and was inactive during his last three weeks with New England. He was on the receiving end of some yelling by Tom Brady during one of his last games.

The Steelers signed him this week after placing WR Limas Sweed on IR. Ironically, the Steelers had tried to sign Galloway during the off-season, but he thought he had a better future with the Pats. Galloway has 689 career catches for a 15.6 yard average.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Winning Spoils the "Fans"

After yesterday's 17-10 win over the Buffalo Bills, the post-game talk shows got some real interesting calls. One "fan" complained that the team is "boring". I guess it wasn't good enough that the Pats won.

I agree that the team could have played better. Coach Belichick says that every week. An onside kick at the end of a game is never a way to close it out.The caller indicated that he felt it was boring because the Pats showed no enthusiasm. He mentioned the days of Tedy Bruschi and Rodney Harrison yelling and screaming on the sidelines. He said the Pats were too business-like and methodical about the way they have played this season.

Maybe this guy should take a trip back to the late 80's and early 90's to the Dick MacPherson and Rod Rust era. This was when the old Foxboro Stadium had 20,00 fans, lousy teams and a local tv blackout. He obviously had no clue about what happened in year's past.

Winning spoils the fans. It makes fans out of a lot of people who go along for the ride. The real fans stay with the team during losing seasons. The Pats have been an exceptional franchise since the purchase of the team by the Kraft family. So many people have no clue about what this team use to be.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Too Much on Moss

There has been way to much talk on the play of Randy Moss. Here are two interesting items that came up this week.

ESPN analyst Merrill Hodge participated in a study of the play of Moss with the Vikings during a season 10 years ago. The purpose was to determine if Moss was in fact loafing on plays. The study concluded that Moss was dogging it at times. He reviewed the game against the Dolphins last Sunday and found the opposite to be true. He said: "Moss played one of his best games in terms of not having the ball in his hands. He made 5-10 important blocks during the game." Interesting comments from a respected analyst.

During the week, Coach Belichick reviewed some of Moss's plays as part of his X's & O's with Patriots All Access. Using his Belistrator, he showed Moss getting double and triple coverage on many plays. Moss also threw important blocks on runs.

People will say that Beichick is biased. Moss will be under a huge microscope Sunday when he goes up against the Bills and Terrell Owens. It should make for some interesting pre-game chatter. Both wear 81 and have been accused of being selfish players during their careers. I would take either one of them on my team.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Running With It

Last Sunday during the Pats victory over Carolina, the Pats ran the ball for the most times this season accounting for more than 50% of their plays. This season when they have run the ball at least 45% of the time, their record has been 5-2. They ran the ball for a season high 40 times and gained 185 yards. This was 8 yards less than their best against Tennessee. Both games were played in wet and slippery conditions with snow against the Titans and rain with the Panthers.

Last Sunday, the Pats were in shot-gun formations for only 25 of 72 snaps. Tom Brady's injuries to his shoulder, finger and ribs may also have played a part in the game plan.

They ran mostly an I-back formation , with Sammy Morris playing full-back. Morris has emerged as a viable blocker clearing the way for Kevin Faulke and Lawrence Maroney. Faulke ran out of the I-back in 5 of his 10 carries. Maroney lugged it 22 times.

With the weather in Buffalo looking to be windy and cold, the Pats may take advantage of their stable of backs. Fred Taylor is a hoping to return to action after missing a large part of the season. A fresh back could really help the Pats much like it did last year when Lamont Jordan returned after a several week absence.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Another Country Heard From

It was just a matter of time before former CB Asante Samuel jumped into the Pats controversy. He had some rather scathing comments about Coach Belichick and urged members of the current team to speak up against their coach. This is not the first time that Asante has trashed his former coach.

Samuel was a 4th round pick in the 2003 draft. He left the team as a free agent after the 2007 season. The slapped the franchise tag on him in early 2007. The Pats agreed not to do it for 2008 if they won 12 games or if he played in 60% of the defensive snaps. He met both guidelines after the team's 16-0 record in 2008 and signed with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Samuel is best known for the plays he didn't make in the Super Bowl loss to the Giants. His name will forever be associated with "what if ".

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Everyone is Piling On

The "experts" jumped on the quotes by Carolina defensive backs Chris Gamble and Chris Harris who claimed that Randy Moss quit on the Pats during the game Sunday. They felt that Moss could not take the physical play of being double-teamed and quit as he has done so much in the past.

This has become the staple of talk shows. Coach Belichick was quick to note that the comments were coming from players on a losing team. In an effort to downplay their comments, Carolina coach John Fox said that his role was not to critique the play of Moss.

I've never been into fantasy football. It's based too much on statistics. People judge players by how many yards they get and touchdowns scored. There are too many "fans" out there who base all of their football knowledge on the fantasy game.

Coach Belichick indicated that he evaluates the offense overall, not just looking at one player. When asked by a member of the media to address the recent statistics of Moss, the coach replied "statistics are for losers".

Monday, December 14, 2009

Taking Shows Off

I usually enjoy listening to the post-game and daily sports shows discussing the Pats. Now it's getting ridiculous. There is some type of anti Randy Moss campaign going on out there. Caller after caller is accusing him of "taking plays off ".

Nobody seems to recall that Moss suffered from back pain during the Atlanta game. As one who has experienced back problems, this is not some type of injury that goes away over night. Moss has been hung out to dry since he has not been talking to the media and the team has a policy on talking about injuries.

Maybe Moss is getting frustrated from getting doubled team every week. While he getting coverage, this has opened the floodgates for Wes Welker and others. Nobody ever mentions this.

I heard two really stupid callers. One was from a guy who works at the stadium as a beer vendor. He said: "I've been around the team a long time and never heard the crowd boo like they did at Randy Moss." The caller went on to say he's been selling at games since 2005. I don't exactly consider this guy to be a long time observer. He wasn't even around during the Super Bowl run!

Another caller blamed everything on Brady. He said that Brady needs to step it up and be more of a leader. He suggested benching Brady and starting Brian Hoyer.After the season, he suggested trading Brady for a bunch of draft picks. No wonder I turned off the talk shows.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Who Plays?

Coach Belichick is faced with some big decisions for the biggest game against the season. He must decide whether to play LB Adelius Thomas who went before the media yesterday to address his problem of being sent home Wednesday. It's plain to see that he is at odds with the coach. He clearly disrespected Belichick. He is the team's big-priced free agent, handpicked by Belichick. It hasn't worked out and it's getting nasty.

Tom Brady missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday due to shoulder, finger and rib injuries. He will be a game time decision. If he can't practice, he must be really hurt. He left the Dolphins game for the locker room after throwing a TD pass during the first series. He returned with heavy padding under his jersey. If Brady doesn't play, Brian Hoyer will step up. Who will be his back-up, Julien Edeleman or Isiah Stanback?

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Turning Point of the Season

Yesterday's snow storm seem inconsequential at first, but it might be the turning point of the season for the Pats. WR Randy Moss, LB's Adelius Thomas, Gary Guyton and Derrick Burgess were sent home after showing up late for an 8am meeting. Tom Brady was on time in spite of his wife giving birth the night before.

Talk shows and blogs have been buzzing over rumors that Thomas is very unhappy with his role on the team. During an interview broadcast over WEEI today, Thomas was trying his best to be diplomatic, but it's easy to see that there is a crack in the team chemistry.

Brady called out the team after the loss to the Dolphins saying that players needed to be more focused and dedicated. Thomas said he never listens to weather forecasts and seemed unaware that a huge storm was covering half the country.

Some "experts" have been waiting for this Randy Moss moment. There are many people who still dislike the guy, based on his prior time with the Vikings and the Raiders. They are coming out of the woodwork saying it's just a matter of time before he goes into one of his classic melt-downs. There are rumors of his frustration of being doubled-teamed the last few weeks and Wes Welker getting most of the balls thrown by Brady. He has always considered himself as a deep threat as opposed to being a slot receiver.

Coach Belichick gave his usual answer of "between me and the players". He said there would be no more discipline. Does this mean they will all start on Sunday or will they have to sit out a series as punitive measure?

With the season on the line and playoffs being tenuous, it will certainly be an interesting pre-game show on Sunday.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Sending a Message

It's snowing heavy outside as I write this. A news report mentioned that Randy Moss, Gary Guyton, Derrick Burgess and Adelius Thomas were late for an 8am team meeting today. They were told to go home and skip practice and other meetings.

Coach Belichick refused to discuss the topic during his morning press conference. Tom Brady and Wes Welker voiced concerns after Sunday's loss to the Dolphins that the team has not been totally focused.

After losing three of their last four games, this could be one of the boldest moves of the season. The season is on the line Sunday when they host Carolna.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

One Game Season

Coach Belichick has declared Sunday's game against Carolina to be " a one game season". He has used this term in past seasons to stress the urgency of the game at hand. The Pats face a precarious scenario in light of their 22-21 loss to the Dolphins. It's one thing to lose, but they are not playing well. They have lost three of their last four games. They have been unable to "finish the game" in the second half. The loss against Miami was no exception.

Time of possession, third down, red zone and turnovers are often the deciding factors in the outcome of a game. After increasing their lead to 21-10 early in the third quarter, the offense suddenly froze. They had another 6 possession, but had 4 punts and 2 interceptions.

The lengths of their drives contributed to their loss. They included times of 1:14, 3:18, 3:14, 1:37, 1:00, and 0:27. Their drives were throttled by the inability to convert on 3rd down. They had a chance to run the clock down with less than 5 minutes, but they went three and out.

The Dolphins got the ball back and kept their game winning drive alive with a pass completion on 4th and 6. That one play most likely saved the Dolphins season and kept them alive at 6-6.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Things Went Wrong

It's hard to say what exactly went wrong with the Pats during their 23-21 loss against the Dolphins. They started off fast with two quick scores and a 14-0 lead. Tom Brady took a huge hit on his 58 yard TD throw to Randy Moss and had to leave the filed for the locker room. Although he missed no playing time, it appeared he had some protection around his ribs.

The Past had huge problems on third down throughout the game. They were 0/6 in the 2nd half. Late in the 3rd quarter, with the score 21-13, the Pats faced 4th and inches on the Dolphins 5 yard line. Instead of taking a chip shot field goal, they ended up turning the ball over on downs.

Miami drove the field for a score to shrink the lead 21-19. They continued to convert on crucial third downs.

The Pats came back with a drive that lead to 2nd and goal on the Dolphins 4 yard line. Brady threw an interception to kill the drive.

In the Dolphins final drive, they faced a 4th and 6 with 2:02 left in the game. The season was on the line. They were able to convert and get within field goal range.

In the final analysis, the Pats failed on both sides of the ball for third down conversion, red zone and turnovers. They now face an uphill battle with nothing being certain in games with Carolina, Buffalo, Jacksonville and Houston.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Dolphins/ Pats Thoughts

The Pats need to find a way to contain Ricky Williams who has done a great job in the Wildcat offense since the loss of Ronnie Brown. He has gained 234 yards in the last two games and scored two TD's.

With the double teaming of Randy Moss and Wes Welker last week, the Dolphins may try to do the same. The Pats need to get their tight ends more involved in the offense. They rank next to last in the NFL for throwing to the TE's. Chris Baker has 10 catches for 91 yds and one TD. Ben Watson has 22 catches for 321 yds and fours TD's. Overall, Brady has thrown 46 times to them for an average of 4.2 attempts per game.They are used primarily in blocking situations, but the game plan must involve them more.

The defense of the Pats must stop the big play. Against the Saints, the Pats gave up 7 plays of greater than 25 yds. The Saints gained 292 yds of their 480 total yds on those seven plays. They were able to gain 188 yds on 43 plays for an average of 4.4 yds. This is a recipe for disaster and a potential way to lose the game.

Look for LB Joey Porter to have a big game. He was shut out in their last meeting , but has been playing well in his last few outings.

Trying to Put A Finger On It

It was reported around 3pm last Wednesday afternoon that Las Vegas bookmakers stopped taking action on the Pats & Dolphins pending the release of the team's injury report at 4pm. There were rumors that QB Tom Brady has some type of injury in addition to his weekly shoulder issue. Brady's shoulder status is a weekly entry on the report and has caused considerable eye rolling among football "experts".

The latest injury report indicates that Brady has a finger injury. Nobody knows to what degree or if it will effect him, but the Vegas odds makers though it was enough to suspend taking action on the game for a short time. This is unheard of in Sin City.

It might be related to the team activating WR Julien Edeleman as the team's emergency QB last Monday against the Saints. That move makes it appear that the finger injury isn't something new.

Maybe after Brady retires and writes his memoirs, we will learn about injuries that were never disclosed.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Trouble on Offense?

The loss against the Saints on Monday night showed a few of the weaknesses of the Pats. Wes Welker and Randy Moss were doubled-teamed the entire game with the result being a total of nine catches between them for 99 yards. In the 25 games Brady, Moss and Welker have played together, teams have only been able to do hold them to fewer than 10 receptions and 100 yards on four occasions. The game saw the emergence of Sam Aiken as a dependable third receiver.

The rotation of 3rd and 4th receivers was impacted by the designation of Julien Edelman as the emergency 3rd QB. This kept him out of the game, except for an emergency. The team has been trying to find their 3rd receiver from the likes of Aiken, Edelman and Isiah Standbeck. Although the Pats deployed a double and triple tight end scheme, they were used primarily as blockers.

The designation of Edeleman as the 3rd QB raised concern that Brady might have some type of injury that is effecting his play.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Just Say No To Aging

There are not a lot of great things to say about the 38-17 loss at the hands of the Saints last night. One story I found quite inspirational is the career of 45 year old kicker John Carney who is in his 21st season.

Undrafted out of Notre Dame, he sat out the 1987 season. He was signed by the Bengals in 1988, but was cut during training camp. He was signed by Tampa Bay and played five games between 1988 and 1989. The L.A. Rams picked him up for 1989, followed by 11 years with the Chargers from 1990-2000. He would have been a teammate of LB Junior Seau.

The Saints signed him as a free-agent and he spent 2001- 2006 with them. He was released after the 2006 season . He was a 2007 injury replacement for eight games with the Jaguars and five for the Chiefs.

Another stint at free-agency landed him with the Giants in 2008 where he made his second Pro Bowl appearance after his first one in 2004.

He was unsigned by the Giants and landed back with his old team for the 2009 season. He currently holds the NFL record for most games with 5 field goals ( 11) and 4 field goals ( 29 ).

All this from a guy who went undrafted and sat out his first season.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Brady Should Thank Him

Wes Welker has proven to be a reliable target for Tom Brady, catching 76% of the balls thrown to him this season. Going into the Saints game, he has 79 receptions for 854 yds. for a 10.8 yd. average.

From the line of scrimmage he averages 5.3 yds. The telling stat is his yards after the catch. He has piled on 435 yards on his own. He leads the league in this category. In fact, during his three years with the Pats, he has more yards after the catch ( 1,833 ) than at the point of reception ( 1,361 ). This is the best in the NFL over the last three years.

Tom Brady is one of the beneficiaries of his tenacious running skills as he has already passed for 3,049 yards this season with six games to go. Welker's value to the team can never be underestimated.

Don't Cry for Charlie

Former Pats Offensive Coordinator Charlie Weis was fired by Notre Dame after leading their football program for the last five years. He finished his 2nd consecutive 6-6 season. He was under contract through 2015.The school will reportedly pay him a buyout of $18M. His immediate plans are unclear, but leaving the Pats after their 3rd Super Bowl win was a great move financially.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

They Drafted the Wrong Guy

Coach Belichick is quick to sing the praises of Wes Welker. At a press conference the other day, he admitted that he could not defense against him when Welker was with the Dolphins. He said he traded for Welker for that reason. He mentioned about"if you beat him, then join him".

Pointing out that Welker went undrafted in 2003, the coach admitted that the team made a mistake in drafting his team's QB instead of him.

Kliff Kingsbury was drafted in the 6th round, the 201st player selected. While playing with Welker at Texas Tech, he set 39 school, 16 Big 12 and 17 NCAA records, including a 83.05% career completion record.

At the Pats 2003 training camp, Kingsbury was Brady's 3rd backup behind Rohan Davey and Damon Huard. He was placed on Injured Reserve before the end of camp with a "shoulder injury".

Released in 2004, he was signed to the New Orleans Saints Practice Squad. After the season, he did the same with the Denver Broncos in 2005. He got a break when the New York Jets signed him to their 53 man roster for the end of the season.

Onto NFL Europe in early 2006, he was later signed by the Buffalo Bills where he served as a back-up, but saw no action.

A stint in the CFL in 2007 ended his career after being traded from Montreal to Winnipeg.

He is currently in his second season as the Offensive Quality Control Coordinator for the University of Houston football squad.

Meanwhile, his former undrafted target fought his way into the NFL and is a vital cog of the Pats offense. He also gets paid pretty well.

So much for making the right draft picks.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

The Train Wreck

As the season gets to its most crucial point, the injury reports get rather bleak. QB Marc Bulger of the Rams is a case in point. In Sunday's loss to Carolina, he sustained a broken leg and had concussion symptoms. He also underwent two MRI's for groin and hamstring injuries, as well as a swollen knee.

In spite of this beating, the team feels he will only be out 3-6 weeks and decided not to place him on season ending Injured Reserve. I wonder what it would take to put him out for the season.

Nunn More

It's always a risky venture when a team attempts to keep a player on their practice squad with the hope that no other team signs them.

WR Terrence Nunn of Nebraska went undrafted in 2008 and subsequently took the year off from football. He came back in 2009 and impressed the coaching staff enough to earn an invitation to training camp. He was able to survive the final cut and was signed to the practice squad.

Under league rules, teams can acquire players from another team's practice squad as long as they are signed to the 53 man roster. Tampa Bay exercised that right and signed Nunn.

This is a great break for Nunn who was passed over by Branden Tate when the team was low on receivers a few weeks ago.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Upset Rex

Coach Rex Ryan of the Jets is quite unhappy with the Pats for driving for another score late in Sunday's game. He thought the long toss to Randy Moss, with Tom Brady working out a shotgun formation, was an attempt to run up the score of 31-14. There was less than 30 seconds left in the game.

Apparently, it angered Coaach Rex enough to shout obscenities on the sidelines and take a time out with 5 seconds left in the game for one more pass by QB Mark Sanchez.

As long as I've followed the NFL, its teams and players have placed great emphasis on the issue of "respect". It's nothing new and it won't change. Piling up points is one of Coach Belichick's trademark beliefs. You can never have enough points. Tom Brady often compares his coach with a driver with his foot on the gas pedal to the floor.

Coach Rex and others must realize that teams put the offense on the field to score points. With the fast and violent nature of NFL play, anything less than full speed would be a hazardous way to play the game.

This is not youth football. Everyone doesn't get a trophy at the end of the season. There is only one trophy. Maybe the Jets might need to wait at least another year to make their trip to the White House.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Post Game Thoughts on the Jets

RB Laurence Maroney fumbled the ball in yesterday's win against the Jets. It was the second consecutive week where he fumbled. Prior to this season, he had only coughed up the ball once in his time with the Pats.

The TD reception by Randy Moss gave him 144 for his career and tied him for 5th all-time. He continues to make his personal assault on NFL receiving records. He had a challenging day with CB Darrell Revis. Late in the 4th quarter, he was called for offensive pass interference. The replay showed that he had his arms around Revis.

Leigh Bodden enjoyed a career day with three interceptions. I heard an interview with him on Friday. He appreciates his time with the Pats as he spent last season in Detroit on a team that went winless.

WR Julien Edleman continues to emerge as a Wes Welker clone. His gritty reception and run after the catch on 3rd and 4 kept a drive alive. Maroney subsequently scored on a 1 yard run.

Safety Brandon Merriweather continued his emergence as a force on defense with a critical interception in the 4th quarter.

LB Tully Banta-Cain recorded his 5th sack of the season, stripping the ball from QB Mark Sanchez with Derrick Burgess recovering the fumble.

As expected, Coach Belichick was a different person in his post-game press conference. He even made the memebers of the media laugh.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

A Bad Gamble

When the Pats face the Jets today, Gang Green will be without RB Leon Washington. He was lost for the season after breaking the lower two bones in his leg in a game against the Raiders. It was a bad injury and has a recovery time of 6-12 months. It was a very unfortunate twist of fate for Washington who was earning $535,000 in the last year of his rookie contract.

Prior to the season, he had gone through extensive negotiations with the Jets for a contract extension. He walked away from an offer that would have included $5M in guaranteed money. Now, he must wait to see if the Jets make him any offer after the end of the season.

Washington was well on his way to being a dangerous runner, with the ability to gain yards on running, pass and return plays. Last year, he gained 2,337 all-purpose yards. It remains to be seen whether he ever does that again for the Jets or any other team.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

The Book on Isaiah

WR Isaih Stanback was recently promoted from the practice squad for the Colts game last week. He has a fascinating story. He was drafted in 2007 by the Dallas Cowboys in the 4th round and was with them until the final cut this year.

During his senior year at Washington, he was on his way to being a contender for the Pac-10 Player of the Year when he suffered a devastating foot injury on October 14, 2006 in a game against Oregon State. The broken bone in his Lisfranc joint in his foot is often a career-ending injury for a player. It caused him to miss the all-star collegiate games, as well as the NFL Scouting Combine. He dropped to the 4th round where the Cowboys selected him.

Ironically, all of his play at Washington was at QB. Dallas converted him to a receiver. During his first two seasons, he was active in only 10 games due to injuries to his knee and shoulder.

When the Cowboys released him at the start of the season, he had 10 teams to choose from before signing with the Pats. Apparently, the team had him on its radar during the 2007 draft. He was a valuable member of the practice squad taking snaps at receiver and QB. Now that he is on the roster, he can also fill the role as the backup 3rd QB and 3rd receiver. Two roster spots for the price of one. Coach Belichick likes those kind of players.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Will He Play?

During the Colt's game, RG Stephen Neal took a knee to the back of his head after Tom Brady threw an interception. He came out of the game and didn't return. The team has been somewhat silent on his condition. It was ruled as a "head injury". There are reports that it might be a concussion. This has to be treated very seriously by the team. They only need to look at the tragic ending to LB Ted Johnson's career and his subsequent medical problems due to his numerous concussions that he experienced during his time with the Pats.

RB Brian Westbrook of the Eagles suffered his 2nd concussion in three weeks and has been undergoing extensive tests to determine if he can play again this season or perhaps at all. Too many players go on the field every week because they are afraid of losing their job due to injury. The NFL needs to do better job in addressing injuries.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Wildcat Tamed?

The Miami Dolphins suffered a devastating loss when they placed RB Ronnie Brown on Injured Reserve due to a season ending foot injury. Brown has been the catalyst for the highly successful Miami Wildcat offense, taking the direct snap from the center and leading the offense.

RB Rickie Williams has rejuvenated his career while playing an integral part of it as a decoy, blocker and ball carrier. Rookie QB Pat White has been seeing a lot of action as the season progresses and appears to be the heir apparent to Brown's role.

No matter how it works out, the Dolphins (4-5) face an uphill battle for a playoff spot and need a win tonight against the Carolina Panthers in order to stay in the hunt.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Upon Further Review

Fans and the "experts" just won't let go of the issue of 4th & 2 against the Colts. Coach Belichick has always stated that whatever he does is in the best interest of the team. You either believe that or you don't. It's always easy to second guess someone when it doesn't work out.

The coach has stated that his decision was based on wanting to keep the ball out of the hands of Peyton Manning. The best chance of winning the game was to have Brady lead the offense to try and get less than two yards. It wasn't asking to much from such a potent offense that had moved the ball at will up to that point. Throwing the ball to Kevin Faulke was a no-brainer as he has been so dependable throughout his career. He made the reception, but his forward progress didn't get him past the yard marker according to the spot of the ball.

Can you imagine the outcry if the pass had been incomplete or if Brady took a sack? You live and die with these calls. What really bothers me is that this has given people an opportunity to pile on Belichick because they feel he was being arrogant. I'm not sure what he was being arrogant about. If the team can't make less then two yards when the game is on the line, maybe they aren't good enough to go deep in the playoffs.

These same fans will be the ones jumping on the bandwagon if the team makes a run in the playoffs. Maybe the coach should appoint a committee of fans to critique his decisions during the game. They could sit up in the booth with Belichick advisor Ernie Adams.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

The Case of Sean Morey

WR Sean Morey of the Arizona Cardinals was drafted in 1999 in the 7th round by the Pats. The former Brown University start saw no action that year. He was cut when Coach Belichick arrived in 2000. Morey quickly learned that his only route of survival in the NFL would be through special teams. Although he continued to appear as a receiver on depth charts, it would be his special teams play that would let him carve out an 11 year career with four teams, including the Pats, Steelers, Eagles and Cardinals. He gained All-Pro status on special teams following the 2008 season.

Special team players are often those who are on the edge of the roster. There is tremendous pressure to perform. If you miss a game, there is someone behind you waiting to take your place. Many play on Sundays with injuries.

The NFL has begun to recognize one of its dark secrets. There are a tremendous amount of head injuries, particularly concussions, which lead to debilitating conditions later on in life. Morey was recently named as co-chair of the NFL Players Association committee for concussion and traumatic brain injuries. He joined a growing list of current and former players who have agreed to donate their brains for research upon their death.

Morey recently admitted that he played in the previous week's game against the Bears in spite of suffering a concussion a week earlier. He admitted being less than truthful with the team's medical staff and was able to get clearance to play.

His case is just one example of how players put their life and limb on the line every time they get on the field. There is a code of silence for discussing injuries. Once their career is over, they are often on their own to deal with their medical issues. The league doesn't do enough to take care of its former players or recognize the probelms they face.

Monday, November 16, 2009

I'm Listening to the Shows

It's the morning after a tough loss. No doubt the Pats had a chance of winning the game. Coach Belichick made a very gutsy call. I was surprised, given the amount of time left in the game.

The talk shows are getting ridiculous. Naturally, nobody agrees with the call. If the Pats had converted, everyone would be in agreement. It's going to be a very long week. I think I'll be turning the radio off at times as I can only take so much of the piling on.

Everyone is anointing the Colts as being undefeated for the rest of the season. Why play the rest of the schedule?

Here We Go

Now that the Pats have lost to the Colts, it seems like everyone who hates Coach Belichick will come out now. If the team converts on 4th & 2 , the game is over. It didn't happen and now it's going to get ugly this week on the sports shows. Be prepared to hear a lot of stupid comments.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Change Didn't Help Them

Every year there is a turnover on every roster in the NFL. This year was no exception for the Pats with retirements, trades and losses to free agency. CB Ellis Hobbs and FB Heath Evans both left the team. Hobbs was traded to the Eagles on draft day for two fifth round picks. Evans went to the Saints as a free agent.

Both players were seeing additional playing time, particularly Evans who was carrying the ball more and was a bigger part of the offense than when he played for the Pats. He recently suffered a season ending injury when he tore his ACL. He will face an uphill battle when he returns due to his age and competition from younger players.

Hobbs also ended up on Injured Reserve when he injured his neck last week against the Cowboys. He will undergo surgery and his career is in question due to the nature of the injury.

I always get a kick out the "experts" when they say that Brady has 3-5 years left on his career. If they know that much about the future, I should contact them and maybe get some tips on the stock market. Maybe they can tell me about my future.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Why Play the Games?

I was reading a story in the news today by one of the team's beat writers. The upcoming game with the undefeated Colts is the biggest one of the season and has big playoff implications. I don't doubt that. However, I dispute the writer's implication that the Pats should have a record somewhere between 13-3 and 11-5. The Colts record "should be" 15-1 to 12-4.

Anyone can make these types of predictions. He also feels the Broncos will be 11-5 to 10-6, Bengals 11-5 to 10-6, Steelers 13-3 to 11-5 and Chargers 10-6. I guess he's 100% certain on the Chargers and they will go 5-3 the rest of the way.

The Pats have "possible losses" with the Colts, Saints and Dolphins. He assumes the Jets will roll over and play flat. It's not worth talking about Buffalo, Jacksonville, Houston or Carolina. The Pats will beat them. All they have to do is show up.

This is the type of nonsense that Coach Belichick refuses to get involved in. I think It's stupid and moronic to think that the Pats have any wins guaranteed. You need confidence to play in the NFL, but every week there are upsets.

If that writer is such an expert, he should quit his day job and devote his time to betting on the games. He obviously can beat the spreads as well as the "over an under".

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Listen to the Coach

If fans and "experts" listened to what Coach Belichick says in his press conferences, they wouldn't say some of the things they say. Others would be out of a job.

When asked about the running of Laurence Maroney, he gave a simple explanation. He said Maroney has "run hard" throughout the season. The holes have not been there for him. It's not the job of the running back to create the holes. That belongs to the offensive line. Without a hole, there is no place to go. According to the coach, Maroney has run well when given the opportunity.

The dancing at the line of scrimmage is more of a myth created by the media. You can't go anywhere, if there is no running room.

Monday, November 9, 2009

At the Game

I got to watched the Pats & Dolphins in person at Gillette Stadium . I love going to one game a year. It's always a great time, although not cheap. The seats were perfect, but had a $169 face value. Nothing is cheap about going to a game.

We left at 8am for a 1pm kick-off. Tailgating started by 10. Always too much to eat. Fans really get into it. I saw a woman down a shot of booze and then hurl it up onto empty grill. Party time. I don't drink at games as I want to watch everything and don't want to spend time going to the bathroom.

I was inside the stadium 20 minutes before the start. There was a moment of silence honoring the GI's killed at Fort Hood, as well as a Veteran's Day ceremony. The flyover by four Black Hawk helicopters was awesome.

You can see so much at the game that you don't see on tv. Special teams is one in particular. The ball is punted so high. Stephen Gostowski was kicking the ball out of the end zone to keep it away from Ted Ginn Jr. Those kicks were going 80+ yards.

Randy Moss caught a short pass from Brady and turned it into a 71 yard TD. It was all Moss to the end zone. He was able to turn it on and beat his defender by stiff-arming him. His 140th career receiving TD ties him with Terrell Owns for 2nd place all-time. Jerry Rice leads with 197.

There were more stats for Moss. He passed Chris Carter and Henry Ellard for 7th on all time receiving yards. His 13,913 career yards rank 7th behind Rice's 22,895.

LB Joey Porter was shut out for tackles. The stat was flashed on the Jumbotron late in the game. It resulted in a chant of "Joey Joey" by the fans. I find in ironic when fans mock an opponent. RandyMoss took a lot of ridicule for some of his bone-head antics earlier in his career, but now he is revered around here.

LB Junior Seau stood on the sideline throughout the game, usually one yard off the line of scrimmage. He looked poised to go in on every play. When his number was finally called for a substitution in the 4th quarter, he ran onto the field, but was quickly called back.

I stayed around to watch the post-game handshakes and embraces between the players. Coach Belichick gave an extremely long embrace and hug to LB Jason Taylor. Judging by the way they hugged on the field, it seems that Taylor is destined to play here some day if a contract can be worked out at the right price for the Pats. They look like long lost pals.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Pats & Dolphins

Coach Belichick was singing the praises of Bill Parcells at his press conference yesterday. The two are so intertwined with their careers. So much success together with the Giants.The Super Bowl year of 1996 with the Pats. Leaving the team for the Jets from 1997-1990. They certainly made each other successful.

There was a great interview by Scott Zolak on Patriots All Access with the coach. It's interesting to note that Zolak was the back-up QB in 1999 with the Jets and would have worked the offense against Belichick's defense in practice. The starting QB on those Jet teams was Vinny Testaverde, formerly with Belichick in Cleveland. Vinny would show up with the Pats in 2006 before finishing his career in 2007 with Carolina.

The special teams of the Pats must stop the lethal Ted Gwinn Jr. Last week, he returned two kicks for TD's. Among the special teamers trying to contain him will be LB Pierre Woods. Ginn and Woods went to the same high school in Ohio.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

What About Brace?

It came as a surprise this week to hear that DL Jarvis Green had surgery on his knee. The extent of his injury is unknown. That's not unexpected as the Pats have not indicated which knee was operated on or how long Green will be out. It appears to be a cartilage issue and a "clean-up" procedure.

This leave the Pats rather thin on the D-Line. Expect Mike Wright to get much more playing time. He leads the team with 4 sacks. Wright has been a great addition, making the team as an undrafted free-agent in 2005.

Maybe this is a chance for 2nd round pick Ron Brace from Boston College. Brace has been invisible this season. He arrived here as a possible replacement for NT Vince Wilfolk, but has made no impact. He is behind 6th round draft pick Myron Pryor who fought his way onto the roster and has seen considerable amount of playing time in substitutional situations.

Brace was seen as a potential first round pick, but has a slow start to his career up to this point.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Maroney Numbers

After more nonsense talk on the radio about Laurence Maroney's running ability or lack thereof, I decided to check the team's media guide to see where he stands in comparison to other Pats running backs. Through the 2008 season, he has 1,673 yards on 388 carries for a 4.3 average.

His average actually places him #1 all-time for a Pats running back. The only caveat is the list is based on backs with a minimum of 450 carries. That issue aside, he is ahead of some huge names: Corey Dillon, Carl Garrett and Craig James all had 4.2. Don Calhoun, Andy Johnson and Kevin Faulk have 4.1. Let's not forget Jim Nance and Curtis Martin with 4.0.

Through three full seasons Maroney is already #17 on the Pats all-time total rushing yards. He should easily pass Andy Johnson and Steve Grogan this season.

Nobody seems to recall that Kevin Fauk took a lot of abuse early in his career because he was prone to fumbling. Every carry was an adventure. Now in the twi-light of his career, he has become an indispensable part of the Pats offense. Time changes everything.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Dancing with Maroney

All of the talk shows are focused on the running of Laurence Maroney. There is nothing this guy can do that will satisfy some people. The team had 107 yards rushing yesterday, with Maroney carrying 17 times for 43. His production could be better, but you need to look to see where he gained his yards. Nobody ever looks at that. The fact that he was a 1st round draft pick makes him a prime candidate to be blamed for everything. He has a style of running that drives people crazy, but once he gets past the line of scrimmage he can be lethal.

Drafting a running back is a crap-shoot. While listening to a show today, a caller rambled on about all of the backs taken in the draft after him and what they are doing now.

After going to the Super Bowl in 1985, the Pats drafted Reggie Dupard #1 in the 1986 draft. This is like listening to Reggie talk all over again.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

London Post-Game Thoughts

After today's win, I'm sure the experts and talk show callers will be finding fault. All week,
I've been hearing stuff like "Brady needs to step up." I'm not sure what they want from him. He did throw for over 300 yards today, but had two interceptions. We'll be hearing about this over the next two weeks.

We'll also be hearing the nonsense about the drafted players who are no longer on the team or not performing up to expectations. People are down on 2nd round pick NT Ron Brace, who has been a weekly "inactive". Last year at this time, we were hearing the same about Brandon Merriweather. He's had a great start this year and made one of the key defensive plays of the game.

The offensive line had numerous penalties, including three by Logan Mankins. Coach Belichick brushed aside the notion that the crowd noise was a distraction. As usual, it was about playing better and coaching the play better.

I always get a kick of the report cards that come out by writers. I wonder what grades they will give out. It makes me wonder whether we were watching the same game.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Serious About the Dress Code

When the Pats and Tampa Bay play in London tomorrow all players should check that their uniform is in order. At every NFL game, the league office sends representatives to ensure that all players are wearing the proper colors, including socks, and not displaying any logos not approved by the league.

The league fined Bengals WR Chad Ohcocinco $10,000 this week for wearing a black chin strap instead of the league-mandated white. The league takes this policy very seriously due to sponsorships and controls the type of clothing the coaches are allowed to wear on the sidelines.

Coach Belichick must be treading a fine line with the league as he has not been wearing the throw-back equipment that is used during the AFL legacy games.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Almost All Aboard

The Pats finally left for their "business trip" to London. Coach Belichick has often stated that they are not going there for sight seeing. His philosophy has always been: you don't travel if you have no chance of playing.

With that in mind, the team left without LT Matt Light, WR Julian Edelman, RB's Sammy Morris and Fred Taylor. Adelius Thomas made the trip according to news reports.

It will be interesting to see who is on the 45 man roster on Sunday. Either Terrence Nunn or Brandon Tate should see action as the team has only three healthy receivers.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Who Is Flying Across The Pond?

The last few days have brought a lot of news as the team prepares to leave for London on Thursday after practice. Adelius Thomas has spoke out about being benched. He talked the company line about putting the team first. It's clear to see that he's not happy. I think the team would have released him if he didn't carry a salary cap hit of over $7m.


WR Julian Edeleman "broke" his arm against the Titans. He's another one who has an injury that we'll never know the extent of. It doesn't look like he has a ticket.


This opens the door for 3rd round pick Brandon Tate coming off the P.U.P and Terrance Nunn from the practice squad. They will be on the plane.

With the release of TE Michael Matthews, the team is down to Chris Baker and Ben Watson. They will draw a third TE from one of their offensive linemen.

I wonder if the team will do a group photo over there. Coach Belichick is not happy about having to practice Friday on a cricket field according to the comments at his press conference today.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Brady's New Role

In Sunday's Boston Globe sports section ,there was a story about a new role that Tom Brady has taken on. He is now an alternative player representative for the Pats. This has big implications as he is now involved with the workings of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA). Each team has a representative and two alternatives.

Matt Light is the primary with Brady and Adalius Thomas as the two alternates. These positions serve as "union stewards" for the players concerning their rights as outlined in the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

The CBA expires after the 2011 season. Owners and the NFLPA must reach an agreement to avoid a lockout and disruption to the 2011 season. As it stand now, the 2010 season will have no salary cap. This could lead to the disparity that exists in baseball between the big market teams and the small ones.

The main contention is the amount of revenue to be split between the players and owners. Currently, the players get 60% of it. With new revenue streams being developed, the pot grows bigger. Owners feel that the players are getting too much. They also want to lengthen the season by eliminating at least one pre-season game. The issue of compensation is very tenuous.

Brady is placing himself at the negotiating table with the owners. He is one of the league's marque players and will certainly generate sound bites whenever he speaks on any labor related issues. He will also be facing off against the Kraft family, the team's owners. Brady has a special relationship with the Krafts. However, his contract expires after 2011 season and will command some of the top money given to any player.

The CBA negotiations have been going at a snail's pace. Eventually, something will happen. Everything might work out in the end or there could be a disruption to the 2011 season. It will be interesting to see where all of this takes Tom Brady. Will it influence his career outside of football once his playing days end? Is this the start of something bigger for him?

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Don't Look for a Trade

Tuesday is the trading deadline for teams in the league. After listening to Coach Belichick during his Friday press conference, I doubt if the team will entertain any offers.

Experts and talk show callers keep saying the Pats need to do something to open up their passing games due to the ineffectiveness of Joey Galloway who was expected to be the team's third receiver. Coach Belichick indicated that it would take too much time to bring a new player into the system.

Everything is pointing towards WR Brandon Tate, a 3rd round pick from North Carolina in this year's draft. Tate has been on the PUP list since the start of training camp and is eligible to come off after next week. Once he does, the team has a four week window to either activate him to the 53 man roster or place him on season-ending Injury Reserve.

Tate was expected to be a higher draft selection, but suffered a season ending knee injury last year against Notre Dame and missed the last seven games of the season.

He is considered a top return specialist and holds the NCAA career record for combined return yards for punts and kickoffs.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Pats & Titans Clash

The 0-5 Titans come into town with a lot to prove. Last year they were 5-0 and on their way to winning their first ten games before finishing 13-3. The team is virtually the same as last year, lead by Jeff Fischer, the longest tenured NFL coach. Their defense seems to be the biggest difference giving up an average of 367 yards this year vs 263 in 2008. Their pass defense ranks #31, giving up an average of 288 yards.

This team is not the same as the 0-5 Rams or Raiders. They lost the game in week 1 in overtime and are a couple of plays away from being 2-3. The Pats must do a better job preventing long drives like the Broncos had last week. Stopping teams on 3rd down was a problem last year and continues this season.

This has resulted in a negative time of possession for the Pats offense. Brady has not completed a pass over 40 yards this season. The offense needs to sustain drives, particularly in the 2nd half.
The Past have to get a ground game going. Most teams have been able to take away the running game and double cover Randy Moss.

The Past defense must stop 2nd year running back Chris Johnson who leads the league in yards from scrimmage. QB Kerry Collins has been equally effective this year.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Pierre Woods

There is a great story on Patriots All Access about Pierre Woods and his adjustment to the NFL. It's based on how he continues to drive a 1996 F-150 truck in an era when all players have a special ride. His truck has 256, 000 miles on it and looks it. He got it from an uncle when he was in college. He has another car for his wife and kids, but this is his personal vehicle.

You have to remember that Pierre was an undrafted free agent from 2006 from Michigan . Nobody wanted him. Any of the 32 teams could have drafted him. He was able to get an invitation to the Pats training camp in 2006 and scratched his way onto the roster with his play on special teams. He has never made the big money that goes to other higher draft picks.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

A Great Tight End

Tight End is a unique position. It takes a lot to have both pass catching and blocking skills. Most do one aspect better than the other. Some guys make a career of specializing in one and being a situational player.


Former Pats linebacker Mike Vrabel carved out a role as a situational tight end while he was here. He was used primarily inside the red zone and at the goal line. Many times he was a blocker for a running play or a decoy receiver to draw coverage from the defensive backs.


Now he is with the Kansas City Chiefs and resuming that role with former Pats QB Matt Cassell. During last Sunday's 26-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Vrabel caught a 1 yd TD pass from Cassell.


His career stats are truly impressive

11 catches
11 TD's, including two huge receptions in two different Super Bowls

Many tight ends can only dream of stats like this.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Junior Arrives, Somebody Leaves

The Pats are expected to announce the signing of 40 year old LB Junior Seau. The move has been greeted with positive reviews, particularly for the leadership and mentoring skills that Seau will bring. It's uncertain how much playing time the 40 year old will get as he starts his 20th NFL season.

His arrival means that somebody on the 53 man roster must go. The easiest thing is for someone to develop an "injury" and be placed on season-ending Injured Reserve. If that's not the case, somebody will be cut.

One primary candidate is WR Joey Galloway who has been a healthy scratch the last two games. The Pats signed him in the off-season as a free agent . They might have to carry some "dead money" against their cap if they release him. Another choice is rookie LB Scot Lockett who was recently claimed after being released by Cleveland. Another possibility is OL Rich Ohrberger, a 4th round draft pick who could be moved to the practice squad.

No matter what happens, there will be a couple of players who will anxiously await the announcement by the team. A door closes, but may open another opportunity.

The Newest Thing To Do

It seems like everyone has an opinion about the play of Tom Brady these days. The experts are coming out of the woodwork trying to figure out what's wrong with him. Is it the knee? Maybe it's the stress of being married and having another baby on the way. Some fools have suggested that Coach Belichick bench him. They probably want to trade him for a bunch of draft picks while he still has some value. Somebody mentioned that all he wants to be is a tv star. Many think that his best days are behind them.

These same people probably don't realize that former Pats QB Michael Bishop is still playing up in Canada and will be available in several weeks. Maybe the Pats can sign him, bench Brady and everyone will be happy. Where do we find fans like this?

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Penalties Will Kill Any Team

The Broncos were able to tie the Pats at 17-17 in the 4th quarter by completing a 98 yard drive. They were pinned back on their own 2 after a brilliant special teams play by Matthew Slater who was able to keep the ball out of the end zone after a Chris Hanson punt.

The controversy involving Brandon Merriweather resulted in the Broncos getting the ball on the Pats 12 yard line. It appeared Merriweather was going to be accused of unnecessary roughness as the referee threw the flag. Instead, he was called for taunting after the flag had been thrown.

The Broncos were guilty of their own penalties in the preceding drive by the Pats. First there was a running into the kicker penalty which kept the drive alive for several minutes. Then the Broncos committed a neutral zone infraction. I thought the Pats were gaining some momentum before the Broncos finally stopped them.

Brady had a poor 2nd half, completing only 5 of 14. The Pats failed to convert on their 3rd down conversions which killed drives and gave the ball back to the Broncos. During the drive in overtime, the Broncos seem to move the ball at will.

As with any loss, Bill Belichick is not a great interview. It's like watching someone undergo a root canal.

Game Day Roster

It will be interesting to see the make-up of the 45 man roster for today's against the Broncos. Jerod Mayo is questionable and Fred Taylor is out. The Pats have been silent on whether Taylor will be placed on injured reserve. Is this an opportunity for BenJarvis Green-Ellis to be the 4th running back? Will Coach Belichick even dress four backs today? What about receivers? Last week, Joey Galloway was a "healthy" scratch. That's not a good sign for him. Will the team go with four receivers this week and dress another defensive back?

Week 6 will be an interesting time. WR Brandon Tate will be eligible to be activated. The 3rd round pick from the 2009 draft has been recuperating from knee surgery from last season. There are thoughts that he could be take Galloway's spot. Will the Pats cut Galloway and absorb his salary cap hit? Is it too early to give up on the 15 year veteran?

During Friday's press conference, Coach Belichick gave an interesting dissertation on finalizing the game day roster. So many factors are taken into account, depending on the opponent. It's a question of the needs on offense, defense and special teams. It varies game to game.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Friday Thoughts on Denver

It will be a reunion of former Pats players when the team visits Denver on Sunday. The Bronco's roster shows seven former Pats: TE Daniel Graham, OL Brandon Gorin, WR Jabbar Gafney, RB Lamont Jordan, OL Russ Hochstein, LS Lonnie Paxton and DL LeKevin Smith. Denver continues a trend among other NFL teams who sign former players of the Pats.

Denver has the tightest red zone defense in the league. Teams have only been there seven times with 2 TD's and 1 FG to show for it. Denver is allowing less than seven points per game.

The easiest way to make Coach Belichick smile is to mention Junior Seau. Twice this week, he departed from his usual stoic tone to joke about the lastest antics of the former LB. When asked about whether they would sign the reality tv show star, Belichick mentioned that Seau was "bull stomping or being stomped by bulls". He mentioned that they would need to review the video of Seau at the rodeo before making a final decision. The coach knows how to crack the room up!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Taylor Hurt

RB Fred Taylor suffered a broken ankle on his last carry in the game against the Ravens. He will need surgery, but the team will not be placing him on Injured Reserve. He will join LB Jerod Mayo in occupying two rosters spots that cannot be replaced. The Pats must feel that he will be back before the playoffs.

Maybe they realize that they paid a lot of money for him and don't want to cut their losses yet. Taylor has a reputation of being injured throughout his career. On the other hand, he has lasted 12 seasons and has a long list of accomplishments.

This should open the door for BenJarvis Green-Ellis to carry the ball. He was only active in the opening game against the Jets and has sat on Sundays because of the depth at running back. Coach Belichick was right when he said that you can never have enough depth at any position.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

It's a Tough Call

There were several questionable calls by the officials in the Pats-Ravens game according to both teams. Coach Belichick told his team prior to the game that the officiating crew was noted for calling it tight.

Ravens LB Ray Lewis was particularly outspoken about what he felt was preferential treatment for QB Tom Brady. The Pats QB was hit below his knees and was very demonstrative to the officials who then threw a flag.

The league is attempting to protect the quarterbacks without effecting the integrity of the game. The Pats were also penalized for hitting QB Joe Flaco in the head. The league doesn't want to return to the era when the quarterback was given a physical beating every week.

A review of several plays show that the offending player's momentum often carries him into the quarterback. The game is very fast and the results can sometimes be catastrophic.