The Final Play For Him

There will be over 700 players cut from NFL teams before the day is over. Players will fight for 256 jobs available on the eight man practice squad for each team. That leaves about 450 players looking in from the outside. Some will end up on another team and prosper, but some have played their last game.

I thought Tim Tebow had a spot on the Pats, but I was wrong. Maybe he will resurface on another team, but his audition with the Pats didn't go that well.

It might have been an ominous note when Coach Belichick allowed him to throw a TD pass in the final seconds of the preseason game against the Giants. It reminded me of the time when he let Vinny Testaverde throw a TD in the final seconds of the last game of the season to keep his TD pass streak alive. The same goes for when Doug Flutie drop-kicked an extra point in a game that was already won. It was the last moment in their career for those two players.

If Tebow never plays again, at least he had one final shining moment. It would have been nice if he did it during a regular season game. What is his future?

The Final 61

The Pats made some cuts today to get down to the 53 man roster and 8 on the practice squad.

They always field a competitive team. What joy to watch them in this day and age. Some of the players who are cut end up with the team at the end of the season or another one.

Many of guys will never play again after being released. Such is the NFL.

Not A Good Signing

Teams never really know how a free agent signing will work out. The league is full of stories about players who never earned the money they were signed for. The New York Jets are seeing that with RB Mike Goodson who received a four game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy. He faces gun and drug charges after his car was stopped in New Jersey back in May.

He has not been around the team since his arrest. He can work out and attend team meetings during his suspension, but won't be allowed to practice. He can return to the team and play in the Monday night game on October 7th against the Falcons.

What will his future be with the team? He faces possible jail time because of his unregistered gun and hollow-pointed ammunition. The Jets thought they made a good signing back in March, but the whole thing is unraveling now.

The End For Ras-I

It came as no surprise when the Pats released CB Ras-I Dowling today. He is another shining example of how difficult the NFL draft is when it comes to predicting a player's future success.

Dowling was the 33rd overall pick in the 2011 draft. He was  projected as a starter, but it never happened. He only played in nine games over the course of two seasons and was injured for most of training camp. Apparently, the Pats didn't want to place him on IR.

Is this the end for Dowling? He will probably get another chance at some point, but it might be his last one. He will become a footnote, another high round pick that never panned out for the Pats.

Paying The Bonus

Aaron Hernandez has his hands full these days trying to defend himself against murder allegations. The Pats were right when they released him after his arrest. They might also owe him over $1 million in bonus money next year according to his contract.

They are digging their heels into the ground to avoid paying him a workout bonus of $81,000. He earned it after participating in the team's off-season workout program. The NFL Players Association is standing behind Hernandez in his attempt to get the money.

The allegations against the former Pats star are very disturbing. If he gets convicted, he faces life in prison. The team is fighting the battle to avoid a public relations nightmare by just paying him the money due.

In the end, I think they will cut him a check very quietly.

Another Rex Move

Coach Rex Ryan may have resolved his quarterback controversy after making a decision to use Mark Sanchez in the 4th quarter during the Jets 24-21 win over the Giants.

Sanchez took a vicious hit to his shoulder and will be "day to day" according to Ryan. He has taken a huge amount of criticism from all fronts for his decision to play Sanchez in a meaningless game behind an offensive line comprised of mostly players fighting for a roster spot.

Injuries are a part of the game and can happen at any moment. Ryan is defending himself against a storm of criticism. He was rather combative with the press who are circling like vultures. Rex appears to be fighting for survival. He needs to have a wining season or his time in New York will be over.

Money Not An Issue

Tom Brady has no problem not being among the top five paid quarterbacks in the NFL. He renegotiated his contract to make it more team friendly. Forbes magazine has rated him as the 11th highest paid athlete at $38 million, including endorsements. Brady has been very careful when it comes to his brand.

He doesn't need to worry about money. His wife, Gisele Bundchen, has been the highest paid fashion model for the 7th consecutive year. She raked in $42 million while walking down the runway and her product endorsements. Between the two of them, there are no financial issues. 

Talking Moss

WR Randy Moss decided to walk into the sunset of his NFL career and take a job with Fox 1 Sports. He is now a member of the media which he despised throughout his career. Moss was known for his abrupt press conferences that bordered on weirdness.

In true Moss style, he denied being a member of the media. I'm not sure what he meant by that, but I thought he did a good job last week when he did analysis of the Pats and Tampa Bay preseason game.

He might be biased towards Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. I don't think that he would ever criticize them, but I thought his comments were well organized and insightful. He appeared friendly towards the camera and spoke in a clear voice.

I think he has a great deal of potential down the road. I hope he succeeds because it would be good for the game.

"Expert" Comments

Pregame shows often have some interesting comments by "experts" who just seem to throw things out there. The show before tonight's Pats game is no exception. Hopefully, it gets more coherent once the season starts.

I realize that commentators often say things just to stir things up. To say that the Pats offense is better than the one in 2007 is absurd. It's far from perfect. It needs improvement in both the running and passing game. Tom Brady's numbers have been impressive, but there's more than that.

The comments get more bizarre listening to these guys talking about the final 53 man roster. When they say that WR Matthew Slater might not make the team, they are showing either their lack of knowledge or just throwing things out there.

Kicking To The End

Every team around the league has battles for roster spots. Sometimes, the final roster is decided by economic factors. Some players are cheaper to carry than others. If the talent level is equal, teams tend to go with the cheaper player.

We are seeing a great battle on the Pats for the punter between veteran Zoltan Mesko and rookie Ryan Allen. Mesko will be a free agent after this season and is expected to have a $1.37 million charge against the salary cap. If they cut him, he only counts for $46,800 in "dead money".

Allen was signed as an undrafted free agent from Louisiana Tech and has a cap number of $405,000. If they release him, the charge is only $1,500. He brings a very impressive resume to the NFL as the 2011 and 2012 winner of the Ray Guy Award, given to the nation's best collegiate punter.

Both have punted well in camp and games. Allen appears to kick the ball deeper, but Mesko has better hang time. Mesko is the veteran with NFL game experience. Allen has the big leg and cheaper contract.

Who will be on the opening day roster?

Physical & Financial Hit

Many free agents around the league ended up signing one year contracts with the hope of having a big season and cashing in next year. It's a risk, but sometimes the only option for them.

TE Justin Keller left the New York Jets after five seasons with the hope of hitting a financial jackpot. Instead, he ended up with a one year/$4.25 million contract with the Miami Dolphins.

Keller was projected to be an important part of the Dolphins offense this season. It all came to an end during Saturday's preseason game at Houston after taking a legal helmet hit to his right knee. He was carted off the field with what the Dolphins called a severe injury. His season appears to be over.

His market value next year will be much less. He will probably end up signing for the veteran minimum if he even gets an offer. It was a very expensive injury for Keller.

Not Really News

There are numerous reports today about the status of TE Rob Gronkowski. They all seem to state that Gronk won't be available for the opening game on Sept 8th. This isn't news. It was known a long time ago.

I expect the Pats to place Gronk on the PUP list which will keep him out of the first six games of the season. Although the season is still three weeks away, he hasn't been on the field since the end of last season.

The team needs to bite the bullet and start the season without him. Their offense has looked good so far, especially with their rookie receivers and their running game. When they get Gronk back, they need him to be 100%. He hasn't been that way for a long time.

Bubble For Two

They always say that you can't make the team if you don't practice. Such is the case with DE Jermaine Cunningham and CB Ras-I Dowling. Both are really on the roster bubble with the Pats this point.

All teams will get trimmed from 90 to 75 on August 27th. Will a decision be made at that point to release them or move to IR? The team isn't tipping its hand or talking about the physical condition of the players.

Their situation is very typical around the league; a couple of draft picks who never panned out because of injuries. Neither one of them has stayed on the field during their career.

He Did It Once Before

Every pre-season game has mixed results. It was nice that the Pats beat Tampa Bay by a score of 25-21, but it doesn't mean that much. There are many areas that need improvement. Tom Brady looked real sharp, but the offense faltered after he left the game.

Tim Tebow showed that he can throw the ball downfield and can run with it. His playing style forces him to scramble which he does very well. However, it's not what Coach Belichick wants from his offense.

I think Tebow will improve if he plays more. I expect to see a lot of him in the last two games. Many think that he has no spot on the roster. Coach Belichick treats every roster spot with reverence and doesn't keep players just to keep them.

In 2000, he kept four quarterbacks because he didn't want to expose rookie Tom Brady to the practice squad and a potential claim by another team. It got a great deal of attention when Belichick did it because nobody keeps four quarterbacks on their roster.

Making It Boring

I don't believe that players should be involved in taunting. It shows poor sportsmanship. However, the NFL is going to the extreme when it comes to player celebrations.

The rule book clearly states that there will be no sack dances, home run swings, incredible hulk poses, spiking the ball, throwing it, pointing, pointing the ball, verbal taunting, military salutes, standing over an opponent or dancing.

In other words, the league wants all players to conform and just give the ball to the referee after a touchdown. Defensive stalwart J.J. Watt will now face a fine for giving his military salute to the troops after each sack.

The league claims they want to avoid fights between players. That's a fair point, but they are taking all of the emotion out of the game. Players will still do their own thing, but must be willing to write a check to the league when the hammer comes down.

Another Head Case

Players sign lucrative contracts, but often never receive most of the money. Injuries can cause the player to get released. The front office will often force the player to restructure the contract to make it salary cap friendly.

WR Laurent Robinson is a great example. In 2011, he had a career year for Dallas which he parlayed into a 5 year/$32.5 million free agent contract with Jacksonville. He suffered multiple concussions while playing for the Jaguars in 2012 and was released after the season.

He has generated interest from other teams including the Pats, Jets, 49er's, Colts, Lions, Saints and Dolphins, but can't find a landing spot. Seven teams have expressed concerns about his concussion history.

Teams can wait until after Week 1 of the regular season to sign him to a contract that isn't guaranteed. At this point, his options are limited. He is only 28, but facing the end of his carer.

Just Another Jets Day

There never seems to be a dull moment when it comes to the New York Jets. Geno Smith and Mark Sanchez are in a battle for the starting quarterback job.

Coach Rex Ryan admitted that he didn't see a lot of the quarterback play during his team's 26-17 exhibition loss to the Lions on Friday night. He claimed to be very involved with the defense and left the offense to newly crowned coordinator Marty Mornhinweg.

Smith injured his ankle during the game. The MRI and X-rays proved negative, but he was limping in practice yesterday. Mornhinweg responded by yelling at Smith and telling him not to limp. Smith was obviously favoring his ankle, but didn't want to miss any snaps.

The team must decide on the starter before their third exhibition game. The quarterback needs to be working with the first stringers.

GM John Idzik has previously indicated that the starting quarterback selection will be a joint decision. It sounds like Ryan is trying to distance himself from the issue. He will be relying heavily on the input of Mornhinweg, plus what he sees on film.

By forcing Smith to practice on a sprained ankle, the team might be putting Sanchez in a position to win the starting job.

One Year Late

I think it's nice that the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins team will meet with President Obama on August 20th. It will be a photo opportunity more than anything.

I wonder why they didn't do it last year on the 40th anniversary of the season. Was it because of the election? Would that have made the players appear as supporters of Obama if they met with him during the campaign?

It doesn't really matter at this point. I think it's great that the team is getting the attention it deserves. The 1972 season was a great moment in NFL history. Younger fans need to be aware of that team.

The Pats put them in the spotlight in 2007 when they had an undefeated regular season before losing to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl.

Camping

There are so many side stories in any NFL training camp. I was in Foxborough today for the Patriots camp.Every camp is a mix of rookies and veterans. So many guys trying to earn a spot on the roster. They can't all make it.

Guys get cut. Many find another opportunity with another team, but for some, it's the end of a childhood dream.

Every team has a bottom quarter of their roster that always has movement. It's exciting to watch and see who makes it.

The End For Plaxico

The end comes quietly for many players. They either retire on their on own terms, get released or are injured. In the case of WR Plaxico Burris, a torn rotator cuff in his shoulder will end his season and most likely his career.

It will end in Pittsburgh where it all started when he was the 8th overall pick in the 2000 draft, 191 selections before Tom Brady. Burris bolted to the Giants after five seasons. He lost the  2009 and 2010 seasons to prison on a gun charge after he accidentally shot himself with an illegal handgun.

He resurfaced with the Jets for the 2011 season and signed with the Steelers during 2012 as a free agent. Although he played well after prison, he was never the same player after losing two years.

As in the case for so many players, his injury got a slight mention by one of the football writers in a column.

Two Big Hits

They might be pre-season games, but the hitting is real. We saw that last night throughout the Pats and Eagles game. Ryan Mallet and Julien Edeleman both took big hits.

Mallet was knocked out of the game late in the second quarter with a hit to his upper chest. It was a huge blow that rocked his body. He never played another snap. It was Tebow the rest of the way. The dialogue between Mallet and the medical staff on the sideline must have been interesting.

Edeleman was trying to get another yard on his play. His head was down, but he was not leading with the crown of his helmet. He took a tremendous shot right below his neck. He got up a bit dazed, but stayed in the game.

Players don't want to take themselves out of the game because they know it will give someone else the opportunity to win the job. Edelman has missed a huge amount of time already this year because of his broken foot from last season. To take himself out of the game would give the coaches a reason to release him at some point.

Mallet only had 24 regular season snaps last year. He was trying to make the most of his time last night. It all changed on one play and he was out for the game.

Tom Brady has been very resilient during his career. He has a great offensive line, but anything can happen on one play. He knows that more than anyone.

Going Younger

Teams around the NFL seem to be going with a youth movement. They would rather sign draft picks and younger players than veterans who could command more money. The free agency period was a reality check for many veterans. Some still find themselves without a job. They may need to wait until after the first week of the season to be signed. At that point, their contract isn't guaranteed.

Players were jettisoned all around the league in cost cutting moves and to free up salary cap space. LB Calvin Pace was a classic example. He can still play at a high level at the age of 32 and would make just about any roster.

The Jets released him earlier this year because of his $11.6 million salary cap number. For two months, he had no offers. The Jets finally threw a bone and signed him for the veteran minimum. It's not bad money, but a far cry from what he was use to.

It's a harsh reality for many players. The big contracts are no longer there for some.

A Simple Key To The Game

The season really begins tomorrow night when the Pats play their first exhibition game against the Philadelphia Eagles. They have been conducting joint practices for the last three days. Coach Belichick is a big believer in this. The team will hold similar practices next week with Tampa Bay.

Pre-season games are a necessary evil. I expect to see Tom Brady play the first half and into the third quarter. The Pats need to get their passing game going with all of the new players. For many of them, it's a last chance to make an impression and stay on the team.

No matter what happens, there will be injuries around the league from these games. It's nice to win, but the score doesn't really matter. The key is to have no major injuries.

The Life of Riley

WR Riley Cooper has lasted three years with the Philadelphia Eagles after being drafted in the 5th round in 2010. That's a long career sometimes in the NFL. He has played and managed to catch 46 balls and 5 TD's in three seasons.

It seems like he will be forever known for his racial slur caught on video at a recent Kenny Chesney concert at the Eagles home field. He ignited a firestorm and create a discussion about race in America. He was forced to spend time away from the team, but is back now.

How will the Eagles handle this? Will Cooper be on the team on opening day? He has taken a rightfully deserved beating in the media. He seems destined to live with this as a scar on his reputation and character.

He will need to reinvent himself. Maybe within five years there will be a TV movie about his redemption.

School's Out For A Few Days

The NCAA and  ESPN are all about the money. Why else would they agree to televise 69 college football games during the week when student-athletes are allegedly in the classroom? It's all a sham. The schools go along with it because there is a big paycheck waiting for them. There is money to be made playing on days other than Saturday.

It doesn't matter that a lot of these kids never get their degree. The schools put the burden on the athletes to keep up with their studies. Many of them don't and fight to maintain their eligibility.

The 69 games will involve 138 teams made up of 65 players each. That's at least 8,970 student-athletes who will miss more than one day of classes in order to travel on road games.

The only response by the NCAA is to admit that academics could be better for student-athletes in Division 1. Their admission is nothing, but pandering. Meanwhile, ESPN and the NCAA will keep an eye on the ratings. They want to broadcast the games that will reach the biggest audiences and generate more ad revenue.

The Charade of the NCAA

Johnny Manziel has brought a great deal of excitement to Texas A&M football as well as a lot of money. His current problem highlights what is wrong with the NCAA and college sports.

Johnny Football faces a season long suspension after admitting that he signed autographs at a show for a "five figure" payment. This is in direct violation of NCAA rules. Manziel comes from a wealthy family and is often seen driving around campus in a Mercedes.

He has become a cash cow for his school. In light of his phenomenal season last year and bowl game, the dollars are raining on Texas A&M. Coach Kevin Sumlin  got a $700,000 raise to go with his $3.4 million annual salary. All of the coaching staffs got bonuses. Would they have received them if the team had a losing record? Of course not.

College sports are filled with hypocrisy. Student athletes pretend that are interested in getting a degree and the schools go along with that. The NCAA even has academic eligibility requirements which are a joke.

The NCAA rides a high horse when they crack down on schools. I believe that the players should get some type of financial stipend in addition to their scholarship. When a team wins, the money flows from the alumnae. The schools use their athletes for their own financial benefit.

Meanwhile, the NCAA will probably hammer Johnny Football because it's all a charade.

Lot of Money To Kick

How much do you pay a kicker? The Pats showed that they would not pay top dollar to keep Adam Vinatieri in spite of his Super Bowl winning kicks. They have done very well with Stephen Gostowski as his replacement.

Some teams are willing to overpay. The Oakland Raiders do that on a regular basis for positional players. They emptied the vault to keep kicker Sebastian Janikowski with a 5 year/ $19 million contract. It includes $8 million guaranteed over the next two years. This might not be the best example of managing the salary cap, but the Raiders do things like that.

Janikowski is one of the most accurate kickers in the league and has the highest rate of touch backs. He was the 17th overall selection in the 2000 draft, way before Tom Brady was drafted at 199.

Each team makes their own decisions with their salary cap. I just don't think the Raiders made the best decision with this one.

Should He Tip?

NFL players are under a microscope on and off the field. They become public figures. Some of the attention isn't deserved. They can't do things without the public noticing.

QB Drew Brees had a situation that went viral which I thought was very unfair. Last month, he was at a San Diego restaurant to grab a take-out order of food. He goes there on a regular basis and poses for photos with the staff.

He paid $74 for his food and left a $3 tip. Someone decided to take a picture of the receipt and post it on-line. Brees was upset because he said it made him look cheap.

Is Brees obligated to throw money around on a take-out order? Is there a moral obligation for him to spread his wealth? The Saints signed him to a 5 year/$100 million contract. He has more money than he can ever spend, but I don't think he obligated to be a big tipper on a take-out order of food.

Where does he draw the line? Should he tip the attendant if he has gas pumped for his car?

Next Friday Night

By next week at this time, the Pats will have played their opening exhibition game against the Philadelphia Eagles. How long the starters play remains to be seen. Tom Brady needs to get some work done with his receivers. He might be forced to play longer than he should.

It seems inevitable that players get hurt and lost for the season in these games. It happens every year around the league. The exhibition season is very controversial. Fans feel they are getting ripped off because they pay regular season prices for these games.

There is talk every year about cutting back on the schedule. Coach Belichick is a big supporter of the games. I agree with him that they serve an important purpose. We all hope that nobody gets hurt. It's bad enough in the regular season.

The Final Five

The Pats had the greatest duo of tight ends in NFL history for the 2011 season with Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. Gronk had 90 catches for 1,327 yards and 17 TD's. Hernandez wasn't far behind with 79 for 910 yards and 7 TD's. The future looked so bright for them and the Pats offense. Both were injured in 2012, but still put up some great numbers.

As we look towards the 2013 season, fans can only hope for Gronk to return at some point and be his former self. That remains to be seen after undergoing back surgery and four operations on his broken arm.

This has given the other tight ends the chance of a lifetime. They are probably good enough to make any other NFL roster, but they will never match Gronk and Hernandez. Coach Belichick liked what he saw in Jake Ballard when he played for the Giants. He thought enough of him to grab him off the waiver wire when Big Blue attempted to put him on IR. It remains to be seen whether he can come back from surgery on his torn ACL.

Daniels Fells and Michale Hoomanawanni played well last year when they had the chance, but only had nine catches between them. At least they averaged 21 yards per reception.

Brandon Ford and Zach Sudfeld were both undrafted and one year starters from Clemson and Nevada respectively. Sudfeld had a history of injuries while in college.

The Pats have yet to bring any other tight ends into camp. It looks like these are the five who will battle it out for two or three roster spots. I don't think they will carry three because they often use a lineman in three tight end formations if they only carry two.