Sunday, September 30, 2012

Roundup In Buffalo

As listen to pregame shows this morning, it appears that today's game against the Buffalo Bills is a "must" win if only to silence all of the critics who seem to feel that season is on the edge. A loss today would mean a three game losing streak which a Belichick team has not had since the 2000 season.

Several players didn't make the trip including Aaron Hernandez, Logan Mankins and Julian Edelman. With Gronk being a game time decision, a great deal of the offense might fall onto Wes Welker. He will definitely get more snaps today, Perhaps, this will put an end to all of the talk around his diminished role in the offense.

For every team around the NFL, they will go into each game with a roster that is not at 100%. Who knows what will happen once they get Hernandez back? The goal of every team is to make it through the game without any major injuries. That is the great unknown.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Another Great Decision By Rex

You can always count on Rex Ryan to make decisions that hurt the New York Jets. He still believes that his team has a shot of making the Super Bowl. After three games, every coach should feel this way unless they are 0-3.

Since he feels his team will be playing in February, he has decided not to put CB Darrelle Reavis on Injured Reserve with a torn ACL. His surgery will not be performed for a few more weeks in order to reduce swelling. Most cases require a 6-9 month period of rehab. It would be a real stretch to think that he would be ready to play by the first week of February.

By keeping him on the 53 roster, he is forcing his team to play one man short. As the season goes on, Ryan will realize that he needs every healthy player on the roster. He should stop kidding himself and place Reavis on IR. There is no way he will be back in time for the playoffs.

Friday, September 28, 2012

Not Embracing Change

RB Joe McKnight of the New York Jets will never be confused with Pats Hall of Famer Troy Brown when it comes to doing extra for the team. Coach Rex Ryan announced that McKnight will switch to defense and take snaps at cornerback due to the season ending injury for Darrelle Reavis.

McKnight grumbled to reporters that the Jets were giving up on him as a running back. He was a 4th round pick of the Jets in 2010 from USC where he was billed as the next Reggie Bush. McKnight has struggled at times out of the backfield.

He later said that he was looking forward to playing any position. This is in sharp contract to Troy Brown who was switched to cornerback during the 2004 season when the team was decimated by injuries. Brown played both ways and on special teams, helping the Pats win their third Super Bowl.

One of the reason Brown is in the team's Hall of Fame was his ability to play on both sides of the ball. McKnight is being given that same opportunity, but instead of embracing it, he started to complain about the team giving up on him as a running back.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

The Mystery of Kellen

Many players reach a point where they are glad just to be on a roster. Apparently, TE Kellen Winslow doesn't feel that way as he asked the Pats to release him. They team granted his request, but created a mystery. Why did Winslow ask out?

He caught one pass last week in the loss to the Ravens. He was used sparingly on only a few plays. Playing time might have been an issue, but there were few takers for him when he was released by Seattle during training camp. Is some other team interested in him? That would be tampering and subject the team to a penalty. Has he lost his desire to play?

Winslow came into the league with big shoes to fill. As a first round draft pick, he was also the son of a Hall of Famer. He never lived up to his hype. He made his money, but his accomplishments are minimal. I think he finally realized that his career is over. He probably would have been released once Aaron Hernandez makes it back form his injury. Why not stick around for a few game checks? Even if he wasn't playing, he was making decent money for someone who was at the end of the line.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

The Hurt Game

The weekly NFL injury report will only get worse as the season rolls on. Every week there are two or three players who suffer season ending injuries. There are others who somehow escape a devastating injury. We saw that in the Ravens and Pats game when Julian Edelman took a helmet to helmet hit from Ed Reed. A flag should have been thrown as Edelman could have been severely hurt or had a concussion.

Houston QB Matt Schaub took a vicious hit to his head which cost him a small piece of his earlobe. The quarterback is always an easy target. Most teams still have the unmentioned goal of knocking him out of the game.

One of the worst injuries was for Jets CB Darrelle Reavis who suffered a torn ACL that will sideline him for the season. He was hurt on a non-contact play when his leg slid out form under him.

I hate to see any team lose a player, but it's worse when he is the best defensive player on the team. The Jets will need to move on without Reavis, but it will be a real challenge

So many players get hurt without contact or a violent collision. TE Aaron Hernandez suffered his ankle injury when Danny Woodhead innocently feel on his legs at the end of a play.

Every player who steps on the field must deal with the fact that it could be their last play of the season. Injuries are just freaky at times.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Gamblers Unhappy

It might take something like the fiasco in the Packers and Seahawks game last night to get some resolution with the NFL referees lockout. A very controversial call on the last play of the game gave Seattle a touchdown and a 14-12 win over Green Bay.

To make matters worse, it cost Green Bay the game and effected the point spread of 3 1/2 as the Packers were favored to win the game.

The Nevada Gaming Commission estimated that there was between $150-200 million wagered on the game. Many bettors are unhappy about the results. It wouldn't be that much of an issue is it didn't effect the outcome of the game as well as the spread.

I always felt that it would need to get to this for something to get done. Maybe the labor issue will continue, but the NFL is squarely in the sights of all. The call in the game didn't effect the television ratings, but once you get the gamblers involved it becomes another story

Monday, September 24, 2012

Week Three

Now that the Pats are 1-2 after their loss 31-30 loss against the Ravens, we will be forced to hear talk about how the season is spiraling out of control. The Pats have their first losing record since 2003. We will hear about the must-win against Buffalo on Sunday. The Eastern Division could get quite competitive before it's all over.

Maybe some of the Wes Welker talk will go away, but it could get worse. There are those who love to doubt Coach Belichick the moment something goes wrong. We will hear about bad play calling and incorrect use of personnel.

With fourteen weeks to go in the regular season, it's going to be quite a ride.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Four Jackets Needed

The term "future Hall of Famer" is used too loosely to describe players these days. If they all made it to Canton, the HOF would need to build a new wing just for them. Every team, including the Pats, has players on that list.

Tonight's game between the Pats and Ravens truly has four future Hall of Famers in Ray Lewis, Ed Reed Tom Brady and Coach Bill Belichick. All four should be first time selections when they become eligible. If they don't get selected, there is something wrong with the process.

The biggest question is how will they end their career? Ed Reed has been banged up in recent years. Ray Lewis seems to be indestructible after playing linebacker for 17 seasons. Tom Brady has often said that he wants to play until he is 40. Coach Belichick has never been one to tip his hand. Who knows what he will do?

Hopefully, they all leave the game on their own terms. Their stars have shined so brightly. It would be a shame for any of the players to end it with a catastrophic injury. I often wonder how much Coach Belichick wants to do this. He shows no sign of slowing down, but he even has said that nobody does it forever.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Be Careful Around Bernard Pollard

Ravens safety Bernard Pollard has been part of several plays where players on the Pats have been injured. It started when he was with the Kansas City Chiefs when he knocked down Tom Brady in the opening drive of the 2008 season. Brady suffered his now famous knee injury that cost him the season.

Pollard moved on to Houston for the 2009 season. In the season finale against the Pats, he was pursuing Wes Welker on a play when number 83 slipped and tore his ACL. Welker's loss was devastating for the Pats in the playoffs as they suffered a first round loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Last season, he was in on the play when Rob Gronkowski suffered his high ankle sprain in the AFC Championship game that left him ineffective for the Super Bowl loss to the new York Giants.

Pollard will be on the filed tomorrow when the Pats play the Ravens. Hopefully, nobody gets hurt, but you never know in this game. The game is so fast and filled with violent collisions. 

Friday, September 21, 2012

Larry Whigham

I can understand that fans don't always have a connection to the players of the past. Everyone varies on the depth that they follow the NFL. A local writer surprised me with some of his comments about Larry Whigham who played nine years in the NFL, including seven with the Pats.The writer is young, but I thought he would have more insight to the past.

He was poking fun of a fan who wore a Larry Whigham game jersey at the season opener against the Arizona Cardinals. He said that Whigham played seven undistinguished seasons in Foxborough and started only five games. He was correct about the starts, but so wrong on everything else.

Whigham excelled on special teams when he was with the Pats. He was a 4th round pick in the 1994 draft by the Seattle Seahawks, but was released. Bill Parcells picked him up and put him on special teams. He stayed there during the rest of his years with Parcells and three seasons with Pete Carroll. He played the 2000 season under Coach Belichick.

He had  memorable game against Miami in the 1997 when he intercepted Hall of Fame QB Dan Marino twice, including one he returned 60 yards for a TD. He played DB in nickel and dime defenses throughout his career. He also was got his first selection to the Pro Bowl for his excellence on special teams in 1997.

He spent the 2001 and 2002 seasons with the Chicago Bears where he gained Pro Bowl honors for the second time in 2001. He concluded his career with them, playing 30 games as a Bear.

The writer was correct in saying Whigham only had five starts. In fact, he only had six starts in his career, but played in 136 games with two Pro Bowl appearances. He was also a special teams captain when he was with the Pats.

Overall, I think he had a pretty good career. It's too bad the writer never did his research, but most of them don't.



Thursday, September 20, 2012

The Case of Vince Young

Vince Young should serve as the poster boy for all that is wrong with big rookie contracts. He was the third overall pick taken in the 2006 draft by the Tennessee Titans. He signed a five year contract for $26 million, but his time with the Titans was filled with highs and lows as a starter and backup.

After being released at the end of the 2010 season, he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles where he was a backup to Michael Vick. Red flags should have appeared as he was one of the players who sought financial assistance during the 2011 labor lockout from the Pro Player Fund of the NFLPA. He took a $1.9 million loan with a 20% interest rate because of his apparent financial problems.

The Buffalo Bills brought him into training camp this season, but released him in August. From there, it's been all downhill. His $26 million is all but gone. He faces litigation against financial advisers, accusing then of fraud. His finances are a mess. He is broke and out of the NFL with an uncertain future.

Young is typical of so many players who get a ton of money when they are young, They get bad financial advice and spend the money frivolously. Now, he has nothing to show for it. He won't be the last to face this problem. The league struggles to educate its players about this.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Waters Receding

Most NFL teams believe that if they throw more money at an unsigned player, a deal will get done. This does not appear to be the case with Brian Waters.The 14 year veteran and Pro Bowl player remains away from the team in spite of being offered a hefty pay raise. Numbers were not revealed, but Waters is staying at his home in Texas. It might be a ploy by Waters to get more cash after the Pats wanted him to take a pay cut.

At 35, Waters has a growing family. Last year, he left them behind in Texas for several months while he enjoyed a Pro Bowl season and Super Bowl appearance with New England. It must be a strain on any family.

Perhaps, the time has come for Waters as it often does with every player. Waters has the chance to leave the NFL on his own terms. It's not from being injured or getting cut from the roster. He has a spot if he wants it.

I can't blame him for his decision. After so many years in the NFL, there is only so much physical punishment a body can take. He might not have Super Bowl ring, but he is leaving on his own terms. Not many players get that option.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Making Bad Calls Or Not At All

It's going to be a long season no matter how you look at it. Until the referee problem is resolved, we will continue to hear about bad calls and mistakes made by the replacement referees.  That was clearly on display last night when the Broncos and Falcons played a game filled with penalties that should have been called and several points where the game was getting out of control.

As with most things, this labor issue is all about money. The owners seem unwilling to reach any type of compromise. You can't blame the referees for not wanting to give up their league pensions for part-time work while the owners want to convert them to a 401k. The owners seem unwilling to agree to grandfather the current officials and place any new ones on a 401k. The zebra men would be happy with that.

It appears that some of the replacement officials are not up to speed with the NFL rules which have differences from the college ones. The games are taking more time to play than they should.

I heard a good point today. The NFL owners won't pay any attention until it starts to effect the television ratings. That's not about to happen anytime soon. They just about print money with their cash cow of broadcasting fees.

Monday, September 17, 2012

An Easy Win

UMass made the decision to play big-time football. This season will certainly be a growing process. The team is 0-3 and has been hammered by UConn 37-0. Indiana 45-6 and Michigan 63-13. The team is definitely in over it's head, but looks towards the future.

There is one consolation in the 50 point loss to Michigan. I never wager on sport, but for those who do, there was some interesting numbers from the game. I thought it was absurd that the point spread was 45 1/2, but UMass lost by 50. The over and under was 53, but the game had a total of 76 points.

In spite of the huge loss, it was a great idea to play Michigan. UMass got a lot of national exposure and also picked up a huge game check for traveling to Ann Arbor to take a beating. Michigan was more than happy to do it and get a win against a soft opponent. That's how college football works.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

An Angry LaRon

When the Pats face the Jets, Safety LaRon Landry will have an extra dose of motivation. The former Redskin blasted Coach Mike Shanahan and the team's medical staff about how they handled his Achilles injury which caused him to end up on Injured Reserve during the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

He also took a verbal shot at Coach Belichick for having him come to Foxborough, but not being there to meet with him. I think we all thought that Landry would be signed by the team. The Pats certainly expressed a lot of interest in him. There was a caution sign about his history of injuries, but his playing skills outweighed any negatives.

I was surprised when I heard that Belichick was never there to meet him. It's difficult to get a handle on what happens at Gillette because their is always a shroud of secrecy.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Another Life For Dan Koppen

When Coach Belichick released Dan Koppen, many thought it was the end for the10 year veteran who was selected in the 5th round of the 2003 draft. Koppen had a stellar career with the Pats until he broke his ankle last year in the season opener.

He was a free agent in the off-season, but the Pats signed him to a two year contract with some bonus money. They ended up releasing him. He was signed by the Denver Broncos this week. and will be used mostly in a back-up role.

Koppen wants to keep playing and this is one of the only ways to keep doing so. He was courted by the Tennessee Titans during the free agency period, but elected to have another run with the Pats. His contract isn't guaranteed so he is playing for a weekly pay check. With his service time, that comes to about $60,000 per game.

You can't blame players for hanging on. Koppen at 33, is in that grey area for offensive linemen. Guys his age at that position are on a short list.

It will be interesting to see how long he lasts. If he ends up on Injured Reserve, he gets paid for the entire season. It's easy to see why some players continue to subject their bodies to the damage that the NFL gives them. It's all about the money.

Friday, September 14, 2012

Those Gmes On Thursday Night

I heard a lot of talk today about Thursday Night Football. Is it really worth it? No doubt he NFL gathers so many more millions with these Thursday Night games. None of these teams are playing after a bye week at this point. The scheduling  of these games gives the teams very little time to come up with a game plan. It will only get worse late in the season.

As a fan, I like Thursday Night games, but I know that it's not good for "player safety". The NFL wants to go forward, They just leave players behind. with the safety issue..

Thursday, September 13, 2012

A Test For Revis

It will be interesting to see if New York Jets CB Darrelle Revis plays on Sunday after suffering a concussion in the season opener against the Buffalo Bills. Unlike other injuries, the decision to play will be out of his hands and Coach Rex Ryan.

The new guidelines for concussions require Revise to take a series of cognitive tests where he must score as well as he did when he took the baseline exam during preseason. He must also be cleared by the team doctor and by an independent neurological consultant. The league is tyring to take the "warrior" mentality away from the players when it comes to head injuries.

His results will be watched closely around the league. Revis insisted that he only had a "mild" concussion, whatever that means. Like most players, he has probably lost count on how many he as experienced in his career.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Three Strikes For Ty

We may have seen the end of Ty Warren's career after he ended up on Injured Reserve for the third straight season. He left the Pats after the 2010 season where he spent it on IR due to a hip injury. He signed a 2 year/ $8 million contract with the Denver Broncos during free agency.

While in Broncos training camp, he tore his triceps in his right arm and ended up on IR. During the opening win over Pittsburgh on Sunday night, he tore it again. The team placed him on IR. He will be a free agent at the end of the season.

Where does this leave the former first round pick and the 13th overall in the 2003 draft? After three seasons on IR, I think his options might be limited. He could sign for the veteran minimum next year, but he has too many red flags. Some team might take a shot on him for cheap money, but the two time Super Bowl winner with the Pats never wanted it to end this way.


Tuesday, September 11, 2012

They Already Started

One of my big concerns for this season has been realized. There was a great deal of commentary about the role of Wes Welker in the season opening win against the Titans. He was the team's fourth leading receiver behind Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez and Brandon Lloyd. He caught three balls for 14 yards, one of his lowest totals in years.

People are already predicting his demise. Some say the Pats will trade him before the deadline. Even Julian Edeleman had a catch. They say that Coach Belichick is checking to see if Edelman can take Welker's spot. You also hear that he might be eased out of the offense because the Pats don't want to sign him to a long-term contract.

I was very pleased with the win until I heard all of this nonsense. Now there will be no end to the talk and speculation until he has at least 10 receptions and 100 yards in a game. Just because Brady targeted him only seven times, people think that the end is here for Wes.

This is going to be a very long season if we keep hearing this stuff.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Waiting For The Big One

There are several examples of the replacement officials making incorrect calls throughout the league yesterday. So far, it has not effected the outcome of any games. It's only a matter of time before they blow a big call. Once that happens, the NFL will come under fire from all sides.

The league is treading a very fine line with the officials.They seem determined to switch them from their pension plan to a 401k. Both sides are dug in for a protracted fight. I can understand their point, but I think the current officials should keep their plan. If the league wants to change it for new hires, that should be agreed upon. The league doesn't want to do it.

Maybe the game tonight needs to have a very bad call for both sides to come together. The public is ok until something really goes wrong.

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Week 1

It's always great to start the season with a victory as the Pats did today with their 34-13 win over the Tennessee Titans. There are several items to focus on.

I'm sure the talk shows will be burning about Tom Brady getting knocked down and his bleeding nose cut. Pass protection is still a concern. Fans are not accustomed to seeing their poster boy quarterback bleeding on the sidelines. I'm sure this will get prominent attention by the media.

The running game looked very good with a 100 yard day by Steven Ridley. Brady distributed the ball well, although he was hurried a number of times.

The defense held them to 13 points and capitalized on turnovers. I'm sure we will hear about some of the longer pass plays by the Titans.

By Wednesday, it will be time to move onto the home opener against the Arizona Cardinals.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

The Money Monster

Sports Illustrated has a very revealing article this week about the challenges faced by wives and girlfriends of former NFL players as they deal with the neurological  problems caused from the game.

The story of former Bears QB Jim McMahon is very sad when you read about this problems he faces in his early 50's. Like many former players, he has memory problems that effect the quality of his life. His problems are said to be related to head trauma from his NFL days.

Rodney Harrison revealed that he had at least 20-30 concussions during his career. He constantly worries about the long term effects as he is seeing some now in terms of memory loss.

Injuries are a part of the game, but it should not include brain damage. The game is so violent. That is part of the allure to the fans. Nobody thinks of the long term effects on the players. The money train charges through the station.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Waters Not Flowing

It's hard to figure out the Brian Waters story after what was reported today. It seems like the team wanted him to take a pay cut from $1.4 million down to the veteran minimum of $950,000. This would have saved over $1 million i salary cap space. Were the Pats planing on giving him a bonus to make up the difference? Do they feel that he played to his Pro Bowl level?

Every dollar counts on the salary cap. The Pats have been very creative with their contracts. They gave Waters a two year deal, but do they want him to lose money in the end?

If they really want the 35 year old Pro Bowl guard on their team, why can't they get this done? After losing all of that money last season on Chad Ochocinco, they seem to be nickel and diming now.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

The Hanging Sword

Andy Reid enters his 15th NFL season as the league's longest tenured coach, two years ahead of Bill Belichick. The Eagles had a very disappointing 8-8 season last year. Owner Jeff Lurie has stated that a similar record will not guarantee Reid's return next year.

There is no doubt that the Eagles have their problems. Reid recently lost one of his sons. Fans are on the edge as they put all of their chips on Michael Vick. They want results, but they feel uneasy.

All of this makes for a perfect storm to have a horrible season. With all of the pressure on the coach, something will give at some point if the team starts to lose. Having an ultimatum over the coach's head is a recipe for disaster. The demise of the Eagles will be one game at a time.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Not For Long 2012

It's hard to believe that the season opens tonight and for the next 22 weeks, football will dominate in America as the sport for viewing. The experts have made their predictions. Now is the time to play the games.

Who knows how the season will turn out? The over and under for the Pats victories is 12.5. That is very possible, but who knows? Injuries play a big part for every team.

Tonight start the weekly process of violent collisions on the field. Players will be lost for the season and sustain life long side effects from some injuries. Players will deny getting a concussion because they know that their future isn't on the sidelines.

The game is very violent and unforgiving. Nobody gets out of the game with their body intact. NFL really means Not For Long.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

More Tight Ends

The Pats have four tight ends on the 53 man roster with Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Daniel Fells and Visanthe Shiancoe. They also have Jake Ballard on the PUP list and Alex Salvestro on the practice squad.

It seems like Coach Belichick is determined not be be held hostage as he was in last season's Super Bowl when Gronk played injured. The four TE's on the roster give him greater flexibility

Now, it appears that former Seattle Seahawk Kellen Winslow will be in town for a workout. Will they be signing him or just kicking the tires? The former first round pick in 2004 has never lived up to his Hall Of Fame father's play. He has 437 career catches for 4,836 yards and 23 TD's.

It's a good idea to look at him for now or later in the season if someone gets hurt.

Monday, September 3, 2012

The Days Of Dan Koppen

There must be a million thoughts running to the the head of Dan Koppen. He can now be referred to as a "former member of the team". It ends like this for a lot of players. He was starting his 9th season in 2011 when he broke his ankle in the opening game. He was placed on IR and came back with a new two year contract for this season.. He was never the same player in training camp and he was released.

 Is this the end for him? Could they re-sign him if Brian Waters retires? The offensive line is in a state of flux right now. Coach Belichick and Dante Scarnecchia will have something in place by opening day.

If this is the end for Koppen, he has a great career with four Super Bowl appearances and two wins. The 5th round draft pick out of Boston College caught a break in his rookie season of 2003 when Damien Woody and Mike Compton got hurt. Koppen seized the starting center spot and never looked back.

Every player gets hurt and Koppen was no exception. He went on IR after Game 13 during the 2005 season because of a shoulder injury. He came back and the team gave him a 5yr/$20 million contract in October 2006.

When he became a free agent after the 2011 season, they gave him another two years, but it never worked out. Is this a ploy to sign him after the first week when contracts are no longer guaranteed? Will he play some place else? Will he be having a retirement press conference or sign with another team?

The story will evolve from point.

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Don't Go On Twitter Yet

Some analyst made a good point when he said that players should not be going on their Twitter accounts to announce that they made their team. Nobody is safe until next Saturday. At that point, vested players with four or more seasons will be guaranteed their 2012 salary if they are on the 53 man roster or Injured reserve. Until then, anything can happen.

We saw that yesterday with the release of LB Bobby Carpenter. This was less than 24 hours from when players thought they were safe and on the roster.

Coach Belichick will continue to tweak the roster by adding a few players at the expense of others. He has often stated that most teams have a pretty solid 45 player game day roster. The other eight spots provide flexibility for player development, depth and injury.

Players will be added and dropped from every team throughout the season. There will always be surprises.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Mystery Injury

Every team in the NFL had some surprises yesterday when they released 22 players. The Pats caught some attention when they released Brian Hoyer, Deion Branch, Dan Koppen and James Ihedigbo. Some of the other players such as 6th round pick Jeremy Ebert might see their way onto the practice squad by the end of the day.

I think the biggest shock was seeing RB Jeff Demps placed on IR. This must have been done with a wink and nod by Coach Belichick. Demps probably tweaked his hamstring against the Giants which will allow the team to stash him on IR for the season. Demps had missed all of the OTA's and most of training camp.

This move will allow Demps to stay around the team and attend meetings This was a great move by Belichick, but it happens all around the league. Demps just needs to make sure that he talks about the correct leg when questioned about his injury.