Why Leave Alabama?

Coach Nick Saban of Alabama has a chance to get to the BCS finals if his team beats Michigan State tonight in the Cotton Bowl. Another national championship would be his fourth in nine years with the Crimson Tide.

He has the perfect deal with Alabama. He gets paid a ton of money with many side benefits and is almost king in his state. Why would he leave to go back to the NFL where he got fired by the Miami Dolphins?

Last night, a talk show host insisted that Saban will test the waters. He might do that, but at this point in his career, it would be pointless to leave this gig unless he became totally bored.

It's not a crime that he didn't succeed in the NFL. He found his niche at the college level. I can't imagine Bill Belichick coaching a college team.

Injuries Could Rule

I think it's important for the Pats to have home filed advantage throughout the playoffs. They can ensure it with a victory in Miami on Sunday. Many fans are already giving the team a win over the Dolphins. This is the worst thing they could do.

The Pats will have a bye, but they are limping into the playoffs with all of their injuries. They can't lose too many more players without it having an impact on how the season ends.

Some Are Out

As the season winds down, some players don't even know that they will be playing the last game of their career. For whatever reason, they will not be on a team next season. They will have some time to think about their future before they realize it's over.

At this time next week, there will be several head coaches without a job. It will also impact their staffs. Some will never get a head coaching job again. Others will get recycled to other teams.

This happens every year at this time.

Peyton's Allegations

It looks like Peyton Manning will be the latest victim of allegations that can't be substantiated in light of the recent Al Jazeera story about his use of HGH back in 2011.

Sources for the story are already backing off on their comments. It doesn't matter at this point. It's out there for people to make their own judgment about it.

This will follow him for the rest of his life, just like Deflategate with Tom Brady.

Decided To Kick

The Pats and Jets went into overtime tied at 20. They won the coin toss and elected to kick. The Jets drove the field, scoring a touchdown and winning the game 26-20.

We will now be forced to listen to the second-guessers who will beat this into the ground over the next week.

The decision was made by Coach Belichick. The defense didn't get the job done. The team lost the game. There is nothing else to say, but many won't give it up.

Someone Needs To Play

With a win over the Jets tomorrow, the Pats can clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs. They already have a first round bye.

If they accomplish this feat, what will they do next week against the Dolphins? Fans talk about players getting rested and not playing. They could sit Brady and Gronk, but how many can they really spare?

Someone needs to play on special teams and serve as a backup. Other players are injured. They could use the time to recuperate.

It's all about managing the roster according to Coach Belichick.

Jackson's Last Ride

It remains to be seen what type of impact Steven Jackson will have on the Pats. He has not played in over a year and was out of the game until this opportunity.

If he never plays after this year, this final run should be a magical ride. During his stellar twelve year career, he only appeared in one playoff game.

It would be awesome if he could cap it off with a Super Bowl ring.

Odell's Woe

It would have been outrageous if the NFL overturned the one game suspension of Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. His behavior was bad for the image of NFL.

He issued an apology that covered all the bases. It was probably written by his agent, but sounded so meaningless.

Will this be the last we hear about Beckham's diva style behavior? He will return for one more game in the season finale.

Meanwhile, his team is putting their playoff hopes on the line Sunday night against the Vikings. He picked a good time to engage in selfish behavior. He will be no help to his team when it really matters.

Some Get Bypassed

Every year at this time, we see the controversy of the selections to the NFL Pro Bowl. The Pats placed seven on the team. It's a great honor for anyone.

Many worthy players were bypassed. It's like that all the time. The teams with the best records have the most players selected.

I don't know how they should be chosen. Unfortunately, it might hurt some of them down the road when their name is given consideration for enshrinement into the Hall of Fame.

Super Bowl wins matter, but Pro Bowl and individual honors make a difference for some.

The Last Stand of Steven Jackson

The Pats finally got another running back when they signed Steven Jackson to a minimum salary contract for the rest of the season. Jackson has been without a team this year, in spite of a stellar career.

At the age of 32, he had been tossed aside until this opportunity came by. It remains to be seen how much he has left in the tank. Why wasn't he signed previously? His connection to Josh MacDaniels certainly helped.

He was the 24th pick by the St Louis Rams in the 2004 draft. He had eight consecutive seasons where he rushed for over 1,000 years before the team cut ties with him at the end of 2012. He hung on with the Atlanta Falcons during the last two years.

Jackson ranks 17th on the all-time rushing list with 11,388 yards. He is just another example of what happens in the NFL when a player gets older. Jackson was pushed to the curbside before the Pats gave him one final chance.

Beckham At His Worst

Odell Beckham Jr disgraced himself yesterday during the Giants loss to Carolina. His selfish behavior put his team on the brink of elimination from the playoffs.

His three offensive pass interference penalties against CB Josh Norman should have resulted his ejection. He was given a one game suspension, but the NFL must take a hard look at this game. The referees let it get out of control. Their conduct should also be examined.

Norman and Beckham went beyond the point of competition. They made the league look out of control in a nationally televised game.

Beckham is a young and brilliant talent, but his selfish behavior after plays has hurt his team on numerous occasions.

Coach Tom Coughlin did nothing to stop this. Beckham won't be his problem next season as he will probably get fired.

Wrong Again Rex

Barring a miracle, the Buffalo Bills will miss the playoffs for the 16th consecutive season after their 35-25 loss to the Washington Redskins. The Bills need to win their final two and have a host of miracles from other teams.

DE Mario Williams missed a team meeting this week and voiced his concern about how he was being used in Rex Ryan's defense. His future with the team is in doubt.

Rex should survive this train wreck and be around in 2016, but the team needs to win to secure his future in Buffalo.

Monday Afternoon Football

ESPN is broadcasting almost all of the college bowl games. They know better than to go up against the NFL on Sundays or Mondays. For the rest of the schedule, they avoid them. The only Monday games are in the afternoon.

The Miami Beach Bowl features Western Kentucky and Air Force on Monday at 2:30pm. Their competition will be game shows and soap operas. They must draw enough viewers to justify doing it.

Trumping Brady

Tom Brady abruptly ended his press conference the other day when a reporter asked him about his friendship with Donald Trump. Why did he feel the need to bring this up? It has nothing to do with football. Brady is entitled to his own opinion on anything.

This was not the first time for this question. It didn't surprise me. Some of them ask the most ridiculous questions. It never changes.

They Want You To Build It

While I was watching Tampa Bay and St Louis on TNF, the announcer mentioned that it might be the last home game for the Rams. They will probably be one of three teams requesting a relocation to the Los Angeles area.

The only option for the city of St Louis is to publicly fund a $400 million stadium. That would be the worst thing they could ever do. I am strongly opposed to using taxpayer dollars to build stadiums for professional sports teams.

It would be horrible for the fans if they lose their team. The same could happen to Charger and Raider fans if they move.

The NFL wants at least one team in the LA area because they are the second largest television market in America. It's always about the money.

The NFL Covers

The NFL is always ahead of the curve when it comes to squeezing the last dollar. There are five college bowl games on Saturday, Dec 19th, but only one in prime time.

As a result, they will broadcast Tampa Bay at St Louis on the NFL Network during the evening.

On Christmas Eve, their only competition is the Hawaii Bowl at 8pm. Again, the NFL Network will have the Chargers and the Raiders at 8:25pm. Fans on the west coast will get home at a reasonable time.

It might inconvenience fans, but it's a few more dollars in the coffers.

More on IR

It seems like the Pats lose a player every week to injury. This week, RB LeGarette Blount and DL Dominic Easley were put on season-ending IR after being injured in the team's win over Houston.

Coach Belichick always talks about the next man up and creating specific game plans weekly. This will be tested for the rest of the season.

Brian's Head

Last week at one of his press conferences, Tom Brady was asked if he had ever suffered a concussion. He paused for a long moment and said that he didn't want to get into a discussion about it.

During yesterday's game against the Texans, QB Brian Hoyer left the game after hanging his head very hard on the ground during a sack. He had another concussion earlier this season.

A good concussion safety program needs the help of the players through self-reporting. With jobs one the line, many players are reluctant to admit to having one

Andy's Time

Rob Gronkowski will play tonight against the Texans. Gronk and the medical staff must be on the same page. I hope things work out. Any loss of Gronk in the playoffs would dim their chances of advancement.

The playoff hopes of the Bengals took a hit today when QB Andy Dalton suffered a broken thumb. In all likelihood, he will be placed on IR.

Time For Bowling

Fans of college bowl games will get their fill over the next few weeks when the first of 40 BCS contests kicks off December 19th. It will culminate with the BCS Championship game on January 11th.

Many of the games won't look pretty. Of the 128 teams playing Division 1A, 80 will be in the post-season. As a result, there will be many teams with 7-5 and 6-6 records. They are needed to fill the schedule.

In spite of all the criticism, it comes to money for the schools. ESPN will broadcast all but five of the games. They wouldn't be doing it if they were losing money. The schools like the paycheck too.

It's a win for all.

Gronk Can Watch

There is talk about a possible third consecutive loss for the Pats when they play the Houston Texans on Sunday night.

The Pats need the best effort from those who get on the field. The team would be foolish to put Gronk on the game day roster. They need him too much in the playoffs.

Days of Ryan

Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is looking for his first playoff game in his 11 year career. It has been an improbable journey for a player from Harvard.

He was drafted in 2005 by the Rams in the 7th round, the 250th player selected. He made stops with the Bengals, Bills, Titans and Texans before he was traded to the Jets.

No matter what happens, he should stick around in the league for a few more years barring injuries. He is just one of so many players who have great careers, but never make it to the playoffs.

The Call That Ended It

The buzzards are circling over the career of Coach Tom Coughlin. The Giants coach of 12 seasons, with two Super Bowl wins over the Pats, is fighting for survival as his team is on the brink of missing the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.

The New York Post ran a feature story about his possible replacements. It's never good when the media does that because they are usually correct.

Many things have gone wrong for Coughlin in recent years. If he gets fired, he should look back to his game last Sunday against the Jets when he decided to go on a fourth-and two at the Jets 4-yard line, with a 20-10 lead and 8:50 left in the game.

His decision resulted in Eli Manning throwing an interception, leading to a score and the eventual 23-20 loss in overtime.

Witten's Head

Last night, TE Jason Witten of the Dallas Cowboys had his 1,000th career reception. He became the 16th player to do this, but only the second TE.

He is never referred to as a future Hall of Famer. This is probably because he has never played in the NFC Championship game during his 13 year career. Winning titles makes a big difference when it comes to entry into Canton.

Witten's 999th reception resulted in a huge shot to his head. He went to the sidelines where he brushed off the training staff who wanted to examine him for a concussion.

He went back into the game and got his milestone catch. Did he suffer a concussion?

Down To Four

Fans of the Pats woke up today and saw their team as the #3 seed in the AFC. To make it worse, they wouldn't get a bye if the season ended today.

A lot can happen over the next four games. They need to go at least 3-1. None of the games will be easy. Fans and the experts need to realize that.

People Will Always Panic

So much has changed in one week for Pats fans. They went from an undefeated 10-0 team to one that is 10-2, with a two game losing streak.

This will set Boston sports talk radio into a frenzy this week. The Doomsday people are ready to stir the cauldron.

There is no doubt that Tom Brady makes bad decisions at times. He admits it, but his overall performance makes that stuff go away.

They are the #3 seed after tonight in the AFC. There are four games left in the season. A lot can happen.

All In New York

Fans of the New York Jets and Giants don't get to see their team face each other very often during the regular season. Tomorrow will be their 13th game since 1970, with the Giants holding an 8-4 advantage.

The game will be huge for the playoff hopes for both teams. The 5-6 Giants share the lead in the dreadful NFC East, while the 6-5 Jets are looking for a Wild Card.

Coach Tom Coughlin needs to win this game to keep his job. Since beating the Pats in Super Bowl XLVI, his record is 27-32. Missing the playoffs four straight years would seal his fate.

The Jets continue to be the "No Ring Circus", but are better this year.

Playoff Hopes

Some of the experts don't realize that the 5-7 Philadelphia Eagles must win this weekend or their playoff hopes are over. On the other hand, maybe 8-8 can win the NFC East title.

The Pats are favored by 9 1/2, with an over/under of 49. I don't think it will be an easy game. Key players are missing.

So many teams have a make or break game this weekend.

The Annual Firing

It looks like the fans of the 5-6 New York Giants will be forced to watch the 4th annual possible firing of Coach Tom Coughlin. This time, co-owner Steve Tisch has put GM Jerry Reese and Coughlin on a very short leash. It's either make the playoffs or get fired.

The Giants have floundered over the last four seasons since beating the Pats in Super Bowl XLVI. Missing the playoffs after the last three seasons isn't good for job security.

Coughlin is always mentioned as a Hall of Fame coach because he won two Super Bowls by beating Bill Belichick. He always seems to be one step away form getting fired. It was like that in 2007 when they spoiled the Pats unbeaten season by winning Super Bowl XLII.

Harper's Ending

We heard great things about WR Chris Harper during the preseason. He got the call to the 53 man roster for the Denver game.

His muffed punt the other night, which lead to a score by the Broncos, sealed his fate with the team. He was released by the Pats the next day.

Coach Belichick has always preached about doing your job. Harper failed to do his. Belichick has also said that whoever carries the ball has the fate of the team in their hands.

It didn't work out for Harper.

Resting Gronk

The Pats have a wall of silence when it comes to injuries. Fans never know the extent of any.

It was different today when the team and the family of Rob Gronkowski issued a joint statement about his recent knee injury.

There is no timetable for his return. They want to avoid the fiasco when he broke his arm. He returned too soon, only to get hurt again.

If the Pats don't have Gronk for the playoffs, they are in deep trouble. They can get by without him for the rest of the regular season, if necessary.

The Goal Is Staying Home

All of the talk of an undefeated season came to an end when the Pats lost 30-24 to the Broncos last night. Don Shula and his 1972 Miami Dolphins team are safe for another year.

I think there was too much pressure on the Pats back in 2007. The team came apart in the Super Bowl and finished the season 19-1.

If they get some of their players back, they have an excellent chance of going deep in the playoffs. The most important thing right now is keeping home field advantage in the post-season.

No 17th Meeting Tonight

Fans will not see Tom Brady and Peyton Manning for the 17th time tonight when the two teams face each other. Their rivalry is legendary and something we might never see again.

Brady is having one of his best years, while Manning is sidelined with a host of injuries. He wants to return before the playoffs, but will he?

Manning's career is winding down, but it's not the way he wants it to end. He wants to play next season. Will it be with the Broncos?

Romo 2X

Dallas Cowboys owner jerry Jones should probably fire his team's GM, but he can't fire himself.

Their season has spiraled out of control with the loss of QB Tony Romo for the rest of the season. He broke his color bone for the second time.

It sounds like he came back too soon after missing eight weeks this season. Players feel a sense of urgency to return to the field. The organization wants them there.

Did the process work only in one direction? It was all about Romo playing sooner, rather than later. Was it handled properly?

I'm sure Dallas fans will be discussing this.

Rex & Ray

It was a conflict of interest for ESPN's Ray Lewis to give a pep talk to the Buffalo Bills last Sunday night before they played the Pats on MNF.

Lewis spoke at the request of Rex Ryan. Their careers overlapped with the Baltimore Ravens when Rex served as a line coach and defensive coordinator from 1999 - 2008.

They have a long time connection, but was it right for Lewis to talk to the Bills and serve as a game analyst?

No Ticket To Foxborough

The Pats offense faces a big challenge against the Broncos on Sunday night because of their injuries. The depth chart for receivers is getting low.

Terrell Owens has gone to the media saying that the Pats should bring him in for a workout. He last played in a game back in 2010. He sat out the 2011 season and was cut at the end of the 2012 pre-season.

At 41, he says he can still play, but I don't think the Pats have any desire to bring him to Gillette.

If he plays again, he will reset his five year wait for election to the Hall of Fame. This doesn't seem to be a concern to him.

Manziel Wasting It

Johnny Manziel is throwing away his opportunity with the Cleveland Browns as a result of his latest exploit. He was named the starting quarterback for the rest of the season, but has been demoted to third string because of a partying video appearing on TMZ's website.

The Browns saw potential in him and wanted to get a good look at his work to determine his future with the team.

He is becoming irrelevant in the eyes of Coach Mike Pettine. Some other team might be foolish enough to give him another chance.

Peyton 2016

It looks like Peyton Manning will be on the bench when the Broncos and Pats play on Sunday night. He will not match up against Tom Brady for the 17th time.

It's an unfortunate event for fans as Manning struggles to keep his career alive. He has already said that he wants to play next year, even if it's not in Denver.

The league is starving for quarterbacks. He will end up some place because he is not ready to walk away from the game.

The Rob & Rex Show

Rex and Rob Ryan might be twins, but they are very different. Rob was a guest on the NFL Network pregame show yesterday. Rex called in to the studio and was on the air for about five minutes.

Rex is much better doing interviews and is a natural with the media. Rob projects a rumpled appearance with his long hair, beard and ill fitted suit.

What is the next step for Rob now that he was fired by the Saints? He has a wealth of knowledge to share with fans, but would he need to clean up to get a job?

It's Taking Place

When the Pats let Wes Welker go to free agency, they went out and signed Danny Amendola to replace him. It didn't work out for a variety of reasons, including injuries.

Amendola eventually found his role, while Julian Edelman took the place of Welker. With Edelman out for perhaps the rest of the season, the Pats will try to replace him by tweaking the offense.

Tom Brady has said that nobody can replace Edelman. I wonder how Amendola feels about that. He will try to replace the guy that took his place.

Trying To Be Fred

I was able to watch the career of the great Oakland Raider WR Fred Biletnikoff. The Hall of Fame member has college's best receiver award named after him.

Tajae Sharpe of UMass is one of the ten finalists in the on-line voting. Fans can vote as often as they wish to select the winner. I don't think it's a true indication of the best receiver when you do it that way.

Sharpe has a chance to get drafted. It will be interesting to see what happens.

Not Suited

I'm not a big fan of the solid color uniform concept. The Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tennessee Titans wore orange and blue respectively last night on TNF.

I prefer the two color look because it's easier for me to see the players. The NFL loves the uniforms because it leads to more merchandise sales and money.

Big Night In The South

Only in the AFC South could two teams with losing records still have a shot at the Division title.

Tennessee (2-7) and Jacksonville (3-6) face off tonight with a chance to close the gap with Indianapolis and Houston, both at 4-5.

Eight wins might be enough to win the title and punch a ticket to the playoffs. The wild card teams will not come from them.

The NFC East is just as bad. The NFL doesn't mind that. Very few teams are out of contention. The television ratings are up. More money flows into the coffers.

Cruz Ending

Not many players leave the NFL on their own terms. Tonight is the 30 year anniversary of the hit by Lawrence Taylor which ended the career of Redskins QB Joe Theismann. He never played another down after having his bones in his lower leg shattered on a sack during a Monday night game.

We are now seeing the future of New York Giants WR Victor Cruz in serious doubt after being placed on IR with a torn calf muscle. He missed most of the 2014 season after suffering a torn patella tendon.

Nobody doubts the desire of Cruz to make it back, but his contract may result in the end of his Giants career. His salaries over the next three years of his contract will be a $9 million annual hit on the team's salary cap. There is no way the Giants will ever pay that money.

Cruz will either take a drastic pay cut or be on another team. Making it back on the field will be a real challenge, both physically and financially.

The Edelman Challenge

As the Pats move on without Julian Edelman, they realize the huge gap that must be filled on their offense. It might not be their last injury. Things happen on just one play. That's how it went for Dion Lewis.

Edelman might be back for the playoffs, but will he be effective? Could he be hurting himself in the long run? Will his foot become like Gronk's broken arm?

Hopefully, things work out.

Peyton Will Sit

It was a dark moment for Peyton Manning yesterday when he was benched after throwing his fourth interception in his team's 29-13 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Earlier in the game, he broke Brett Favre's record for career passing yards.

It was revealed that Manning has plantar fasciitis and will probably miss a few games. He was replaced by Brock Osweiler who is the heir apparent to Manning.

Is this the end for Peyton? His performance has suffered this year. The clock is ticking on his career.

They Hope To Roll It Up

Coach Bill Belichick and Tom Brady will never admit how badly they want to beat the New York Giants today. They are the only team in the league with a three game winning streak over the Pats.

They will never forget their last moment losses to the Giants in Super Bowl XLII and XLVI. It has been a real thorn in their side and a mark on their legacy.

If the Pats get ahead, they will roll up the score as much as they can. This is a new game for both teams.

Someone Will Get A Win

It should be a real "barn burner" today when UMass (1-8) plays at Eastern Michigan (1-9). The game features two of the worst teams in the MAC.

UMass continues to struggle in their move to big time football. It has not been easy over the last four seasons and won't get better next year when they move to an Independent schedule.

No matter what happens today, one of these teams will get their second win of the season.

Johnny Disaster

It looks like QB Johnny Manziel will start on Sunday against the Steelers. The Browns signal caller is the second choice of Coach Mike Pettine because Josh McCown is still injured.

The Browns are 2-7 and going nowhere this season. Manziel has been mediocre in two starts, with a 1-1 record.

The Browns need to determine if Manziel is their future. They should know that already. They need to move on from him.

Just Another Rexday

Rex Ryan and his "No Ring Circus" brings his 4-5 Buffalo Bills team to MetLife Stadium tonight to battle his former 5-3 New York Jets. The game is critical for the Bills to keep their playoff hopes alive.

That hasn't stopped Rex from turning his press conferences into a carnival. He has been in a verbal spat with his former player, Calvin Pryor.

Rex said it's just another game, but he went off track and started to talk about his upcoming match with the Pats.

He will be the star of the show tonight. The cameras will focus on him. He wouldn't have it any other way.

Did Dave Hear?

Coach Belichick has the remarkable ability to recall players from the past in minute detail. Today, he was talking about the evolution of the return specialist from the dominating running back.

He mentioned numerous players from his days with the Giants and Browns, but focused on Dave Meggett. He was a brilliant return specialist and remains as number two in punt return yards in NFL history.

If you didn't know the player's story, you would wonder what he is doing today. On November 10, 2010, Meggett was sentenced to 30 years in prison for burglary and sexual misconduct. His release date is 2030.

I wonder if he heard Belichick singing is praises.

Welker Ahead

Wes Welker got his wish and is finally back in the NFL with the St Louis Rams. They took a chance on him after all the other teams stayed away because of his concussion issues.

He probably has something left in the tank and comes at a reasonable cost, but what about his health? Will he have one final concussion that will end his career? This appears to be the road he is headed down.

The End For Lewis

RB Dion Lewis has been a great story for the Pats this season. He became a critical part of their offense, especially on third down.

It all evaporated yesterday when he tore his ACL during the team's win over the Washington Redskins. He will have surgery and miss the rest of the season.

Brandon Bolden and James White now have a chance to showcase their talent. The injury to Lewis might be the opportunity they were looking for. They need to take advantage of whatever extra playing time they get.

The Al Davis Show

The NFL Network has a lot of great programming about the history of the game. I always enjoy watching "A Football Life".

Tonight, there was a show about the legendary Al Davis of the Oakland Raiders. So much of his story is lost on younger fans. That's how it goes with the passage of time.

Al Davis had such a profound impact on the NFL. I have always been a fan of him and the Raiders. They have so much history.

No Worries For Greg

What will the NFL do, if anything, in light of the release of photos detailing the attack by Greg Hardy on his girlfriend? The Dallas Cowboys defensive star caught a break when his victim failed to testify against him.

The NFL suspended him for ten games, but it was reduced to four by an arbitrator. The Cowboys had no issues in signing him because they are good at enabling.

Hardy has played well on defense, but has fought with players and coaches. That doesn't seem to phase owner Jerry Jones or Coach Jason Garrett.

The NFL will probably wait until the smoke clears from this new incident and then do nothing.

Johnny's Night

Cleveland Browns QB Johnny Manziel has an opportunity on the big stage tonight when his team faces the 7-0 Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football.

A big performance by him could help reduce some of the negativity that surrounds him due to his off-field behavior. He has been a bust so far in the NFL.

A win by the Browns would certainly help the Pats when it comes to the playoffs, but I'm not overly confident that Manziel can get it done tonight.

More Cash At Night

Notre Dame must have given a lot of thought to playing one of their home games against Boston College at Fenway Park.

I saw a story on the news tonight about the transformation of the baseball diamond to a gridiron.

I don't get all of the hype about playing at Fenway. It will be the first football game there in 50 years.

The Pats played there during their early years. Fans always complained about the sight lines and poor seats. It won't be any different now.

Notre Dame has a rich television contract with NBC. It's not a coincidence that the game will be played on a Saturday night at 7:30pm. They should get a huge television ratings.

It's all about the money.

Steve Smith Sr

Is the career of the great WR Steve Smith Sr over after he tore his Achilles tendon during his team's 29-26 win over the San Diego Chargers?

During the game, he passed Chris Carter for 10th place for all-time receiving yards. He later went down in the 3rd quarter with his injury.

Earlier this season, he announced he would retire once the Ravens play their final game. He wanted to go out on his own terms. Will this change things? He certainly didn't want it to end like this.

Pats Are 7-0

It's awesome that the Pats are 7-0, but it won't stop all the crazy talk about an undefeated season like in 2007. It will be there with the team until they lose a game, if they even do.

The Pats seem to be poised for a legendary run to the end of the season. Everyone must stay healthy, but that won't happen.

The team revolves around Tom Brady. It's all on him.

Slater's Take

Matthew Slater serves as the team's representative for the NFLPA. He had some interesting comments about Thursday night games.

I agree with him about the league not always being concerned about player safety with games four days apart. He brought up the issue of the bye week being scheduled along the Thursday night game. It makes a lot of sense, but it's not happening.

London Times

It seems like the NFL would love to have a franchise in London, but the logistics are very daunting. There is a plan to "share" a franchise with London.

In 2016, one team will play back to back games there. Will it be Jacksonville? They are giving up one of their home games annually to host one over there.

A team playing four games there and four back in the US might work out. In the end, it's all about the money.

The Days of Vince

When Vince Wilfork signed with the Houston Texans, he knew that he would be cashing some good paychecks. At this point in his career, he was looking for a final payday.

He got that, but ended up with a team in a downward spiral. The Texans are 2-5 and just released QB Ryan Mallet after he missed a team charter flight to the Dolphins game last week.

Wilfork felt comfortable with Coach Bill O'Brien from his days with the Pats. Will O'Brien be there next year after he wanted to release Mallet, but was overruled by the GM?

Every coach wants to have his own guys. It doesn't look like that in Houston.

Ryan's Story

QB Ryan Mallet seems to be a different player since the Pats traded him to the Houston Texans last year. He created quite a stir when he missed the team's charter flight to Miami the other day. He ended up buying his own ticket and flying commercially to get to the game.

Coach Bill O'Brien said they are handling it internally, but they don't have too many options. If they release Mallet, they won't have a backup to Brian Hoyer.

This is a critical season for Mallet. He already has a reputation for showing up late during training camp. If he ever did it with the Pats, the fans never heard about it.

Mallet seems to be sulking after losing his starting job to Hoyer. Things are not working out for him in Houston.

The lack of good quarterbacks in the NFL is working in his favor.

He's Not Joe

Former Jets QB Joe Namath will always be known for his Super Bowl III prediction when he guaranteed a win over the Baltimore Colts. He was correct and the rest is history.

Jets DL Sheldon Richardson is trying the same tactic for his team's game today against the Pats. He guarantees a win, which will give both teams a share in the lead in the AFC East.

It's never a good idea for a player to go on record, but that hasn't stopped Richardson. We shall see at 1pm.

UMass/Toledo

It was great to be at the UMass/Toledo game today. For once, UMass fans had an 18 point lead going into half-time against #19 ranked Toledo. It was hard to believe it was 28-10.

Toledo ran up 38 straight points in the 2nd half. The Minutemen lost 51-35 to drop to 1-6. They had the game in control during the first half with three interceptions, but it was a different one after the break.

UMass can never catch a break in a game. They find a way to lose. They didn't help themselves with all of their offside and holding penalties.

Rex Does It Differently

The Buffalo Bills have a 3-3 record and are in London to face the Jacksonville Jaguars. This is a critical game for the Bills if they want to stay above 500.

I was surprised to see the reaction by Rex Ryan after a couple of his defensive stars complained about how they were being used. Rex didn't seem to have any problem with players questioning his decisions.

They might be right on saying that they should be rushing the passer, instead of dropping back in coverage.

If they have a concern, they should speak to the coach personally. This would never happen on a Bill Belichick team. Going public would be their ticket out of town.

How To Get Released

Poor performance is one way to get released by a team. Getting into a heated argument with the GM is another.

The Chicago Bears released DL Jeremiah Ratiff after he got into a shouting match with GM Ryan Pace. It got so bad that local police were called to escort him from the team's practice facility.

He had a similar situation with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in 2012 which ultimately lead to his release.

Will he get another chance in the NFL? He seems to bring too much baggage with him.

Fred and Marshawn

You can always count on NFL players to make bad decisions off the field. Running backs Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch of the Seattle Seahawks allegedly had a drag race outside of the team's practice facility.

Jackson ended up crashing his car into a planter. Naturally, they are denying anything happened.

This reflects poorly on them. Here are two great players engaging in such foolish and dangerous behavior.

It's just another day in the NFL.

Waiting On Matthew

The Pats have been very quiet about the injury to Matthew Slater's knee during their win over the Colts. Slater has been the heart of their special teams. The longer their silence, the worse it looks for the long term.

The Pats are always very secretive about injuries. As the coach says; the injury report comes out on Wednesday.

Sometimes, we end up finding out that the player is out for the season.

Star Dollars

The NFL is always about the money. I wonder how much they got paid to show a preview of the new Star Wars movie during halftime of tonight's game. It wasn't presented as a commercial. I'm sure they had that in mind when they decided to show it.

The movie has nothing to do with football, but he price must have been right. It looked out of place.

Spoiled Fans

One of the problems with the success of the Pats during the Belichick/Brady era is that many fans have no connection to the past. They don't know what it's like to miss the playoffs on a regular basis. They have been spoiled by the team's endless success.

I find it very boring to listen to fans keep talking about running up the score on the Colts tonight. The Pats need to play well and score points. If they do that, they should win the game.

Not Likely To Run The Table

UMass suffered another difficult loss today at the hands of Kent State by a score of 15-10. I was at the game and saw the Minutemen drop to 1-5. They continue to have major problems with their move to what use to be Division 1.

Nothing helps like winning, but UMass can't catch a break. They had no offense today. The schedule doesn't get any easier. I don't think they will run the table and finish at 7-5, which would get them in one of the smaller bowl games.

Another bad season will bring out the critics who feel UMass should never have made the move to D1.

Good Issue To Deal With

Pats fans really to pump the brakes on their thoughts of demolishing the Colts on Sunday and having an undefeated season.

They are both big goals. No doubt the Pats want to run up the score if they get ahead. A win will make them 5-0 and keep the talk going.

It certainly beats having to deal with some of the issues that fans deal with for their team.

Camera On Rob

The New Orlean Saints and the Atlanta Falcons are playing the Thursday Night game. The Falcons are cruising along with a record of 5-0, while the Saints are fighting to keep their season alive at 1-4.

Rob Ryan continues to get a lot of camera time as Defensive Coordinator. His Saints defense is one of the worst in the league for giving up yards.

He doesn't seem to get consideration for a head coaching job. Is it the hair or the weight or maybe his twin brother Rex?

The Rexster has enjoyed a great ride so far, in spite of his bad ending with the Jets.

Why not Rob?

Double Hit For Nate

Things were going great for LT Nate Solder. He recently signed a two year contract extension for $20 million. The future of that money is up in the air after he suffered a torn bicep in his right arm during last Sunday's win over Dallas. He was placed on season ending IR.

Will the team ask him to renegotiate it next year? Jerod Mayo went though this after his recent injuries. It was the only way he could stay on the roster.

When the team gave Solder his extension, I thought there was no way he would ever receive all the money.

No Padding

Rob Gronkowski is such a domineering player, but I think most fans are concerned when he is tackled and brought to the ground. Everyone wants him to get up and be healthy.

During the win over the Cowboys, he was not wearing the big padding on his arm that was previously broken.

I'm sure that it was awkward for him to play with it on his arm. I assume the medical staff signed off on it.

Fans hope it was the right decision.

Tom & Greg

I think that we can all agree that Greg Hardy keeps playing in the NFL because he is such a great player. The Dallas Cowboys signed him. Jerry Jones enabled the situation.

Every team would want a player like him. He just carries so much baggage. He played so well against the Pats.

He makes $13 million this season.

Injury Report On Wednesday

Injuries are a part of the game, but Donta Hightower and Nate Solder might miss some significant time after being injured in today's win over the Cowboys.

Coach Belichick will never let anyone know the extent of Solder's elbow or Hightower's hip injury. We will hear about the next player stepping up and the injury report comes out on Wednesday.

Everyone buys into it. The results are there.

The Unknown College Game

It has always been said that Boston is not a college football town. Boston College has its faithful alumni and draw well at home. Other than that, it is a big void.

A local news radio station didn't even mention the UMass score. It was if they didn't exist. This is nothing new. College sports fly under the radar around here.

Brady to Glenn

I was watching an interview with Tom Brady on Patriots All-Access. He was reflecting on some of the receivers he threw to during his career. One name that jumped out was Terry Glenn.

There is no doubt that Glenn had all of the tools to be one of the greatest, but it never worked out here. Bill Parcells and Pete Carroll worked a lot with him, but to no avail.

Glenn always had erratic behavior. He gave Coach Belichick fits during his first year as head coach in 2000. It finally came to a head during the 2001 season. The team released him and never gave him a Super Bowl ring.

Who Plays For Texans?

I don't enjoy watching Tom Brady's backups Ryan Mallett and Brian Hoyer battle it out for the staring jobs with the Houston Texans. They should each be leading a NFL team.

Both have experience with Coach Bill O'Brien when he was with the Pats. They are being played against one another.

That's how it goes in the NFL.

Hardy Stirs It

Many fans expect the Pats to pile up the points in Dallas on Sunday. The Cowboys will be without QB Tony Romo and Dez Bryant.

DE Greg Hardy will return after his suspension on a domestic issue. You would think he would be contrite, but he called out Tom Brady over his wife and in-laws.

That was a bad thing to do. Brady is motivated to the sky. He brushed it off, but he will do his share to make the Cowboys pay for those comments.

A Sore Loser

It sounds like Miami Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill is mean to practice players who intercept his passes during practice. He openly mocks them about being on the practice squad.

Meanwhile, former Pats WR Donte Stallworth said that Tom Brady paid practice players who intercepted him. Stallworth was with the team in 2007 and 2012.

Such is the contrast between two players. Tannehill is highly overpaid on a 1-3 team that already fired its coach. Brady takes care of people and has five rings to show for it.

Dolphins Season Floating On Surface

The Miami Dolphins are a complete mess at 1-3. They have not been competitive in any of their losses, with issues in all three phases of the game.

Things like that get you fired in the NFL as Coach Joe Philbin will find out today when his tenure ends with a record of 24-27.

The next coach will inherit a bad situation.

Drew For 400

NBC's Bob Costas had a great commentary at halftime during the game with the Saints and Cowboys.

Drew Brees needs one more TD to join the 400 club along with Dan Marino, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.

Costas noted that the recent rule changes have caused teams to emphasis more passing in the offense. That leads to more opportunities to inflate numbers and statistics.

I agree that these QB's could play in any era. Would their numbers still be the same? The game is so different now.

It makes for good discussion with inconclusive results.

No Undefeated Talk

The worst part of the Pats being 3-0 is that fans are talking about an undefeated season. This is foolish and a waste of time. Every game is unique to itself. Anything can happen.

Back in 2007, the pressure kept mounting as the Pats stayed undefeated. They were trying to get their 19th win in the Super Bowl. We know how that worked out.

Just Visit London

The Jets and Dolphins are playing in London this weekend with a 9:30am kickoff. It will only be broadcasted on Yahoo Sports, but the local team market areas will have a television feed.

The game is a logistical nightmare for both teams, compounded by jet lag and the early start. The NFL owners love it because it's another extra payday.

The league continues to flirt with the idea of a franchise in London. I think they are better of bringing teams in to play games rather than base one there.

The End For Hooman

Players are ready for their time off during the bye week, but it didn't work out for TE Michael Hoomananawanui. He was traded to the New Orleans Saints for DT Akiem Hicks.

It looks like the trade works well for both teams. Hooman and Hicks were both seeing fewer snaps.

I was surprised to see it happen, but Coach Belichick is not hesitant to make a trade if both sides can work it out.

Hooman was a fan favorite for his long name and great blocking.

Mediocrity All Around

The NFL loves parity and wants all of their teams to be equal so that they have a shot at the playoffs. After three weeks, they got what they wanted.

Of the 32 teams, 19 have a losing record, while six are 2-1. The Pats, along with six others remain at the top at 3-0.

The four winless teams have a long road to .500. They can still get there and make the playoffs, but the odds are against them.

Welker's Last Stand

The New York Giants had Wes Welker in for a workout today. He desperately wants back into the NFL after not being invited to any training camps.

Welker is at the point where his age and history of concussions is working against him. He feels he can still play and be productive. He is probably right, but only a team in a dire situation would think of signing him.

Like so many players before him, Welker is not leaving the game on his own terms. The decision is being made for him.

Game #213

Tom Brady has set many team and league records, but he has reached new heights. He threw his 400th TD in yesterday's beating of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Brady also became the all-time leader in games played for the Pats with 213 after passing Bruce Armstrong. He is also tied with Steve Grogan for the most seasons played with the team at 16.

In this era of free agency and the tremendous injury rate, it seems hard to believe this record will ever be broken.

Steven Gostowski is in his 10th season with the Pats and has 141 games with them. He has a chance if he can stay productive and stay with the team. He could price himself out of their salary range like Adam Vinatieri did.

Everyone Gets Hurt

It's only week three of the season and teams have been hit by the injury bug. A report indicated that 15% of the players have been injured. I don't doubt that.

Injury reports can be misleading. The Pats put almost everyone on it. Tom Brady's shoulder made the report for over two seasons.

Too many player are getting hurt. There is no solution in sight. An 18 game season will not help the situation.

Notre Dame By 29

UMass will play perhaps the biggest football game in its history when they go up against Notre Dame in a nationally televised game at 3:30pm.

The Vegas line is Notre Dame by 29 points, with and over & under of 59. This game has blowout written all over it. Nobody is giving UMass much of a chance.

It's a great payday for the school and gives it great national exposure for free by being on television.

UMass has played better than their record shows. That's true for the last few years, but the program has only a few wins to show for all their effort and financial cost.

If they can play a competitive game, it will be a great boost for the program.

Tom & Ben

Some are saying that the NFL has it out for Brady because they did not name him AFC Offensive Player of the Week after his performance against Buffalo. He threw for 466 yards and three TD's. The Bills gave up the most passing yards by one player in their team's history.

The award went to Ben Roethlisberger who threw for 369 yards and three TD's against the San Francisco 49er's.

Brady had better passing numbers, but why did the award go to Big Ben? Will this happen again this season?

A Place For Peyton

Peyton Manning is under a microscope this season. Many have commented on how he can barely move and has lost the zip in his arm.

There are reports that he has lost the feeling in the tips of his fingers because of his previous neck problems. If this is true, he really needs to think about retiring after this season.

What will the Broncos do if the team fails to win? It would take a lot to bench him. He is such an icon and legend.

The last thing fans want to see is him not leaving the game on his own terms. He has meant too much to the NFL to see his star fade.

Suh Being Suh

I don't believe in large dollar free agent contracts. They rarely work out. The players never see the final year for whatever reason.

The Miami Dolphins decided to go big when they signed Ndamukong Suh to a 6 year/$114 million contract. They felt he would anchor their defensive line for the rest of the decade.

The Dolphins lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday to even their record at 1-1. Only nine teams in the league have given up more yards than the Dolphins.

What is more troubling is that Suh has been freelancing on his own and not adhered to the calls made by the Defensive Coordinator. There are already rumors of problems in the locker room.

Suh has incredible talent, but carries a lot of baggage because of his aggressive play which leads to penalties and fines.

He will last about two seasons with the team before they get tired of him.

Johnny Time

Johnny Manziel fans are all excited that their guy got a start against the Titans in place of the injured Josh McGown.

Manziel finished 8 of 15 for 172 yards and lead his team to a 28-14 win. Most of all, he threw a 60 yard TD on the second play to Travis Benjamin and later connected on a clutch 50 yarder to him with 2:52 left in the game.

All of this will bring Johnny's fans out of the woodwork. They will want to see more of him. They will have that opportunity next Sunday when the Browns host the Raiders.

They need to remember that it was only one game.

Getting Richer

Players, coaches and fans are at the mercy of the NFL schedule. Some of it doesn't make sense with playing on Sunday and then on Thursday.

The only reason behind the schedule is the $3.1 billion that the teams will receive for broadcast rights in 2014. Players get a big chunk of the revenue which drives salaries higher and increases the value of the teams.

As a result, several NFL teams are among the wealthiest professional sports franchises in the world according to Forbes magazine. The Dallas Cowboys top the list with a value of $4 billion, followed by the Pats with a worth of $3.2 billion and the Washington Redskins at $2.85 billion.

The league continues to find new revenue streams which will only increase salaries and the value of the teams.

Pictures Are Revealing

The New York Giants have a big mess on their hands with Jason Pierre-Paul. Newly released photos show the devastating injury to his hand.

His 4th of July fireworks accident changed his career and life forever. He lost his right index finger and part of his thumb. His middle finger is still bandaged. He claims he will play this year, but the Giants are treading lightly.

I don't see how he can return before the end of the season. This looks like a lost year for him, especially with it comes to money.

Whether he can ever play again remains to be seen.

Many Will Get Cut

Nominations for the Hall of Fame came out today. Brett Favre and Terrell Owens should make it on the first ballot. The list is filled with players who had brilliant careers, but not all of them will make it.

Of the 108, the list will be trimmed to 25 in November and to 15 finalists in January. The process is controversial and doesn't make everyone happy.

The Pats had Lawyer Milloy and Mike Vrabel make the list. I'm not overly optimistic on their chances. It will be interesting to see what happens with the voting.

Brady's Hat

People who hate the Pats have the perfect punching bag with Tom Brady and Deflategate. It's far from over.

He did his mandatory weekly press conference in front of his locker. A hat showing support for Donald trump was prominently displayed on one of the shelves.

When asked about it, Brady voiced enthusiastic support for Trump. Social media captured this story big-time.

Many Pats fans made remarks about Brady. I think they are wrong. Brady has the right to support whoever he wants, but he must have known this would cause a firestorm.

It just gives the haters more to hate about the Pats, but deflects it away from Deflategate.

Peyton's Time

With an opening day loss to the Baltimore Ravens, there is already talk that Peyton Manning might be done. He showed up on the team's injury report with a back issue to complicate things.

Denver didn't have much of an offense with Manning having a line of 24/40 for 175 yards, with one interception returned for a TD.

He knows he must rebound against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday or there will only be more talk. Ironically, it was after the Chiefs soundly beat the Pats last year that we stated to hear talk that Tom Brady might be done.

Joe Thomas - Ironman

Offensive linemen have the least glamorous position in the NFL, but there are many special players at the positions.

LT Joe Thomas of the Cleveland Browns started his 113th consecutive game yesterday. He has never missed one after being the third overall pick in the 2007 draft and has played 7,917 consecutive snaps. He did this while having a torn MCL on three different occasions. Nothing has prevented him from being selected to the Pro Bowl eight times.

It's a shame that he has never played on a decent team where he could showcase his abilities and skills during the playoffs.

Out of Control Early

It seems like every Division 1 team schedules a few easy games against FSC schools. These former Division 1A teams usually go on the road for a big pay check and a beating.

Boston College carried it to the extreme yesterday in their 76-0 beating of Howard University. It was such a mismatch that BC lead 62-0 at the half. BC cleared their bench during the second half, but Howard ended up with only 11 yards of offense on the day.

BC picked up an easy win and only needs five more to qualify for a bowl game. The NCAA only allows one win against FSC schools to count toward their bowl bid.

What happened against Howard was not unique. The scoreboard is filled weekly with lopsided scores. The losing teams do it willingly because they get paid well and receive great exposure.

Six More Years

Dallas Cowboys WR Dez Bryant recently signed a very lucrative 6 year/$70 million contract with $45 million guaranteed.

Owner Jerry Jones has anointed him as the face of the franchise. Will he regret doing this at some point?

Bryant has all the talent in the world. He had a brilliant 2014 season, but always seems to be one step away from some off the field transgression.

Will Bryant and the Cowboys stay together for another six years at that price? It remains to be seen.

A New Gate

The Pats are facing their newest controversy with "Radiogate" after the headset issue during the Steelers game. Coach Mike Tomlin went into a tirade by saying that his team always as problems with their headphones and other communication equipment at Gillette Stadium.

When pressed further, he backed off a bit, but the damage was already done. The NFL went on record to say that they are in charge of the headphones and the rainy night played a role.

All of this came to a head today for Coach Belichick during a conference call. He went off on the critics of the team and the anonymous sources that accuse them of cheating.

This is just the beginning. There will be more to come and it's only the first week of the season.

2015 Begins Tonight

The long road begins for the Pats tonight when they face the Steelers on national television. They will unfurl their Super Bowl banner, much to the chagrin of many people around the country.

So much has happened since their last win over Seattle. Whoever thought that Deflategate would reach the height that it did? In recent days, it brought back Spygate after eight years.

The Pats, like most teams, have already been hit by injuries. The 53 man roster tonight will not be the one that finishes the season.

The Gate Era

Pats fans should get use to a new era around the team involving its controversies of Spygate and Deflategate.

The media talk will never go away. This story will stay around for a long time.

Fans need to deal with that. It's not easy for some. It wasn't suppose to get like this, but here we are.

The Pats are one of the favorites to make it to the AFC Championship Game. We'll be talking about this in December.

ESPNgate

It's hard to make sense about the latest report by ESPN linking Spygate and Deflategate. They feel that the Pats were issued a harsher punishment to make up for their perceived slap on the wrist in 2007.

The timing is very dubious, coming days after Tom Brady's four game suspension was vacated. Commissioner Roger Goodell claims to have not read ESPN's report.

This thing will never go away. Spygate and Deflategate will be with the Pats, Belichick and Brady forever.

No Head Games

Bryan Stork is a good example of the new NFL concussion protocol which is designed to protect the player. Stork's availability against the Steelers is in question as he still needs to pass several tests.

In the past, this wouldn't even be news. Stork would be out there playing in spite of having head issues.

Former Pats LB Ted Johnson had a very public battle with Coach Belichick over his playing with concussion symptoms. He ended up retiring days before the start of the 2005 season to the surprise of everyone.

Dez 2015

Dallas Cowboys WR Dez Bryant has all the potential to be one of the all-time greatest NFL receivers. He is on pace with the great Calvin Johnson after the first 75 games in their career.

His star looms big in Texas. He was made for that place. Jerry Jones will always have a big presence in his career. They were made for each other.

Fans love them.

Wayne's Money

I think most fans thought that WR Reggie Wayne would make the final roster. Apparently, he asked Coach Belichick for his release which was granted. The coach issued a statement praising Wayne as an exceptional player.

We are now hearing rumors that he thought the practices were too difficult. That seems rather odd coming from such a great player.

No matter what, he will pocket his $450,000 bonus for 11 days of work. He stood to earn another $1 million for making the roster.

He must have really wanted out of here.

Maybe More Tebow Time

It looks like Tim Tebow might make it with the Philadelphia Eagles as their third quarterback after the team traded Matt Barkley to the Arizona Cardinals for a conditional 7th round draft pick.

Tebow continues to be a controversial figure after being away from the game for two seasons. His throwing style gets debated on a regular basis.

He remains a popular choice among fans. I hope he makes the roster.

Chaper 1 Completed

Tom Brady and the Pats prevailed in federal court when his four game suspension was vacated. It was based on due process and the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The league plans to appeal the ruling.

How much longer will this continue? Will Brady need to appear in court in the future?

This is far from over.

Expecting Injuries

The preseason games are like one big car crash with all teams losing players for extended periods from injuries.

The Pats lost FB James Devlin for the season after he broke his leg last week. Teams are losing players at critical positions.

Team owners talk about fewer preseason games and a longer regular season. A 17-18 game schedule would create so many more injuries.

The preseason schedule is a financial bonus to the owners. There is not much incentive to eliminate the games.

Last Chance

This was the day that so many players fear of. Teams cut down to 75 and will be at 53 by Saturday. It didn't bode well for many throughout the league.

Some might get another chance, but for others it will be the end of their career. They could try to stay as a "street player" for a few years and get a few tryouts with other teams. Maybe collect some game day checks.

Dreaded Roster Cuts

Teams must reduce their rosters to 53 by 4pm on next Tuesday and to 53 on Saturday. Many veterans will be given their walking papers. Some will get a chance with another team, but others will become "street players", hoping to get one more call.

The Pats will be like all of the other teams. Hard decisions will be made. Some will get their last chance during their team's third preseason game.

As Coach Belichick always says, the final 53 will not be the ones who finish the season.

Fans Angry At Vick

I thought it was a good idea that the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Michael Vick to be their backup to Ben Roethlisberger.

We all know about Vick's past. Some Steeler fans have greeted the signing with outrage to the point where 20,000 of them have joined a petition to protest it.

Coach Mike Tomlin was shocked at their reaction and expressed his thoughts about it. Some fans are never going to forgive Vick no matter what.

They Say It Will Be 2019

A local sports talk show must be getting tired of talking about Deflategate because they are now speculating on how much longer Coach Belichick plans to do his thing.

During an interview in 2009, he said he didn't want to be like Marv Levy of the Bills and coach into his 70's. This has fueled thought that he might be near the end, especially if Tom Brady retires in a few years.

This entire discussion is a waste of time. A couple of "experts" feel that he will call it quits after the 2019 season because he will have 20 years with the Pats and 45 as a coach in the league.

These guys should go back to talking about Deflategate.

Let Him Wear #15

WR Reggie Wayne is one of those players that Coach Belichick has coveted for many years. The Pats finally signed him, but will be make the final 53 man roster?

This reminds me of when they signed Chad "Ocho Cinco" Johnson. He was never able to master the playbook and had a minimal impact on the team.

A few years ago, the Pats signed future Hall of Fame safety John Lynch, but he never made it out of training camp and retired.

A local sports writer mentioned that Rob Gronkoski should give his number 87 to his new teammate who wore it with the Colts. He is currently wearing number 15 since joining the Pats.

It would be one thing if Gronk was a rookie or journeyman. He has earned his stripes in the league and is marching towards Canton. There is no reason to surrender his number to a guy who might not even be on the opening day roster.

Vick's Last Stand

Michael Vick has reached a point where he is without a team. He was in Pittsburgh for a meeting with the Steelers. At this stage, his best option is to be a backup somewhere.

They might be a good fit as backup QB Bruce Gradkowski will be out for an extended period with a finger injury.

Vick is 35, but still has something left. He is fighting to keep this from being the end. He wants to leave on his terms.

Rex In No Hurry

Going into the third preseason game, teams like to know who will be their starting quarterback. The Houston Texans announced that Brian Hoyer has won the job over Ryan Mallet. Hoyer will be the starter, but will be on a short leash.

Meanwhile in Buffalo, Rex Ryan is taking his time to make his decision. He needs to choose from Matt Cassel, Tyrod Taylor and EJ Manuel. Each player brings their own unique skills to the huddle.

Rex said that his decision will be made a few days before their opening game. It's probably not the best way to proceed, but Rex does his own thing.

Wayne's World

If you stay around long enough in the NFL, you will eventually get kicked to the curb. We are seeing that with former Colts WR Reggie Wayne.

In spite of being 6th all-time in receptions and 8th for yards, the Colts had no desire to keep him for the 2015 season.

A number of teams expressed interest, but nothing worked out. He had surgery for a torn triceps muscle from an injury last season.

He was in Foxborough today for a physical. His name has been mentioned a number of times in the past. He finally made it here. This might be his last stop on a brilliant career.

Paranoid Peyton

Peyton Manning and his former coach Tony Dungy are now talking about their concern that the Colts locker room was bugged whenever they played the Pats at Gillette Stadium.

Their concern was such that they would often whisper or talk in the hallways. The Colts allegedly had the room swept for listening devices before every game.

This seems to be a bit of a reach and sounds more like sour grapes from two guys who had little success against Belichick and Brady.

Ryan's Issue

Eli Manning is denying that he wants to be the highest paid player in the NFL. He has been involved in negotiations for a contract extension, but claims it never came from him or his agent.

Manning's situation has a big impact on backup QB Ryan Nassib who is under contract with the team through 2016. He has thrown only five regular season passes. Manning has started 167 straight games and shows no signs of slowing down.

If the Giants commit long term to Manning, where does this leave Nassib after 2016? He would be foolish not to test the open market. He needs to get some playing time to establish a market for himself in the future.

Erik Kramer

After surviving an attempted suicide, former NFL QB Erik Kramer could become the voice of players who are dealing with brain injuries in retirement.

Kramer was found in a California motel room after police were dispatched to do a wellness check. He was suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

His ex-wife believes the suicide attempt was a result of brain damage while playing in the NFL. She claims he suffered from depression since his time with the Chicago Bears which ended in 1998.

Kramer played 13 seasons, including four in the CFL. In 83 games (67 starts), he was 31-36 with a 57.3% completion rate and 92 TD's.

What will his life be like after he recovers? Will he talk about it? He has a chance to help other players if he tells his story.

Seven Months

There was another courtroom meeting in New York City today, but nothing was resolved in Tom Brady's four game suspension.

Today is the seven month anniversary of the start of Deflategate. Who ever thought it would get to this point? There is no resolution in sight.

It would be interesting to see the total cost of this in the end. It's great job security for all the lawyers involved.

Drag Time

Tom Brady was not with the team today as he was in New York City for talks with Commissioner Roger Goodell about his four game suspension. There will be another courtroom hearing tomorrow, but Brady probably won't be there.

Nothing got done today according to sources. It doesn't appear it will be resolved by tomorrow. It looks like it's headed to Sept 4th when the judge can either issue a ruling or let this drag on.

Tebow 15

It seems like QB Tim Tebow is third or fourth on the Philadelphia Eagles depth chart. He finally had a chance to play against the Colts after sitting out the last two seasons. Doe he have a chance to make the roster?

He completed 6 of 12 passes for 69 yards and had a TD on a 15 yard run. His versatility is the key for him grabbing a spot. He wants to play quarterback, but his running ability might help him stick.

Tyler Gaffney

It's a long road for many players to get to the NFL. It's one thing to be in training camp, but another to actually be on the game day roster.

RB Tyler Gaffney will be spending his second season on Injured Reserve. The only positive thing is that he has service credit for two seasons.

He was drafted in 2014 by the Carolina Panthers as the overall 204th selection. He hurt his knee in training camp and was released. The Pats claimed him off waivers and stashed him on their IR list.

Things were looking good for 2015 until he got injured in the first week of camp. The Pats waived him, but all teams passed. He will spend another season on IR with an uncertain future.

Rex Belonged There

I read excerpts from an interview with Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan which will be aired next week on HBO. I agree with his comments about his firing at the end of last season.

He said the whole thing was orchestrated by the media who backed owner Woody Johnson into the corner and demanded the firing of GM John Idzak and Ryan.

Rex claims he is still close to Johnson and could have coached the team for 20 years. He was made for the Big Apple. I was disappointed to see the Jets get rid of him.

He has excited the Bills fan base with his larger than life personality. He is good for the NFL.

The Road To Mistakes

The Pats lost to Green Bay last night in their first preseason game, but the score doesn't really matter. As Coach Belichick said, a lot of players were on the field. They got valuable experience.

There is competition for many positions. The games give the coaching staff more feedback on each player. Some of them will be evaluated on only a few snaps.

Every team makes wrong decisions when it comes to keeping or releasing players. It happens every season.

The Pack Is Back In Town

It's less than two hours before kickoff for the first preseason game against the Green Bay Packers. How much action will Tom Brady see tonight? Most of the starting offensive line is injured. It's almost pointless to put Brady out there.

Coach Belichick really needs to get a good look at Jimmy Garapollo, but the Packers will have their second and third string defense on the field.

The only goal tonight for both teams should be to keep players from getting hurt while giving snaps to those who really need them.

Those Crazy Jets

The New York Jets continue their "No Ring Circus" with their latest nonsense. QB Geno Smith will miss 6-10 weeks after having his jaw broken by LB Ik Enemkpali in a locker room fight.

The issue involved a $600 airline ticket which Smith owed to Enemkpali. Coach Tod Bowles compared the situation to a bunch of sixth graders, but Jets fans must wonder if the coach has control of his team.

The Jets immediately released Enemkpali. In a touch of irony, Rex Ryan signed him up today for the Buffalo Bills.

Ryan Fitzpatrick moves to the starting role. Where does this leave Smith? This was a critical year for him. He was already on a short leash. Smith might not get back on the field if Fitzpatrick does well.

Mick Tingelhoff

The selection process for the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio seems flawed at times. Great players, especially from the past, get overlooked. The committee tries to rectify it by selecting a couple annually.

Mick Tingelhoff of the Minnesota Vikings is a great example. He waited 37 years for his induction. It came at the age of 75 while he has been battling health issues, including memory loss.

At the last minute, he decided to have former teammate Fran Tarkenton speak for him. It lasted a little over a minute and got a standing ovation.

Tingelhoff played in 240 consecutive games over a 17 year career. He never missed a start or practice. Players back then got concussions on a regular basis, but stayed in the game.

We see the long terms effects on a player like him. The late Junior Seau already had signs of CTE in his brain before he committed at 43 in 2012.

It would have been nice if Tingelhoff gave his own speech, but he was not up to it.

Not Ready For Canton

Players need to have confidence if they plan to survive in the NFL. Vikings RB Adrian Peterson went over the top with his recent boasting about wanting to be the greatest player ever and getting to the Hall of Fame.

With 10,190 career yards, he ranks 28th on the all-time list. He has a chance to make it into the top ten if he stays healthy and gains 2,000 more yards.

He turns 30 this season which is old for his position. Peterson is a great player, but probably won't make it to Canton.

Surviving Camp

The Pats are like most teams around the league with too many players on the injury report. They had 22 players with limited practice participation. Coach Belichick has voiced his concern about having everyone on the field.

The league needs to find the right balance for contact practices. Teams are going into the regular season without being fully prepared.

The goal of training camp is to evaluate players while installing their offense and defense. Every team will lose a couple of players to Inured Reserve in the process. It happens all the time.

A Real Injury

Pats fans never really know the extent of player injuries. Coach Belichick does a great job in keeping it private.

We heard that RB Legarette Blount suffered knee injury at yesterday's practice and will miss a few of the exhibition games.

I was at practice yesterday and saw the whole thing. Blount got tangled in a group and fell to the ground clutching his knee. He remained on his back for about five minutes while in obvious pain. He looked like someone who just realized his season was over.

He has been diagnosed with a knee sprain. Hopefully, that is the extent of his injury. It looked real bad to me.

Private Tom

Just when Deflategate couldn't get any crazier, we are seeing the release of Tom Brady's emails and texts that reveal the private side him. Many of them have nothing to do with football.

His comments about Peyton Manning will live forever. Maybe they will laugh about it some day.

Down Goes Foster

The recent injury to RB Arian Foster of the Houston Texans shows how precarious training camp can be. The Pats saw it yesterday when Julien Edeleman got banged up on a play and sat out the rest of practice.

The goal of every team should be to get through training camp and the four preseason games without losing anyone to IR, but that rarely happens. Most teams lose at least one or two players before the season starts.

Foster will have surgery on his groin and be placed on IR with the stipulation to return after the first eight weeks of the season. It remains to be seen if he returns to form.

Brady Is Now 38

Tom Brady turned 38 yesterday and left fans wondering how much longer he can play. Other than his knee injury in 2008, he has stayed healthy.

Very few players ever make it to their 16th season. He is definitely playing on borrowed time. He always says he wants to play until he is 40. Can he last three more seasons?

Rex and the City

Rex Ryan is taking the Buffalo Bills fans by storm. He is just what they needed after missing out on the playoffs for the last 15 seasons.

During a press conference, he all but said that GM John Idzak and owner Woody Johnson were not on board during his final season with the Jets.

Rex is not making any ridiculous claims like he did in his rookie coaching season, but he is entertaining like always.

Banner Days

It started on the first day of training camp when a small plane flew a banner over the practice field that said "Cheaters look up". On the next day, there was a pro-Brady one.

Now, someone just flew over Roger Goodell's house in Maine with one that told him to go home.

The banners are funny, but childish. It's someone who wants to draw attention. These flights aren't cheap.

Sheldon's Next Team

It will be interesting to see how Commissioner Roger Goodell responds to the latest issue involving Jets DT Sheldon Richardson who is already under a four game suspension for failing a test for marijuana.

It was revealed that Richardson was recently arrested after leading police in Missouri on a high speed chase where he was clocked at 143 mph. He blew through a stop sign before they were able to pull him over. Police arrested him at gun point after he bent over to reach under his seat. He was legally possessing a gun, but officers detected the odor of pot. There were two adult males and a 12 year old relative in the car.

No matter what happens, he will play again in the NFL. It might not be with the Jets, but a player with his skills will find a home some place.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is probably watching this.

No Controversy

Tom Brady's status is up in the air. Jimmy Garappolo will be getting a lot of snaps in training camp to get him ready in case he needs to start.

The talk shows and social media are already trying to create a quarterback controversy. Some feel that Brady will never get his starting job back if he needs to sit out any games.

I can't see Brady having the same fate as Drew Bledsoe back in 2001, in spite of what others want to think.

Destroying The Phone

I don't think it was a shock that Tom Brady's four game suspension was not overturned. It appears that he and the NFLPA will file a suit in federal court.

It was revealed that Brady destroyed his cell phone shortly before he was to meet with the Wells Committee. This looks really bad for him. It could be interpreted as a cover-up. In a criminal case, it would be destruction of evidence and obstruction of justice.

He just gave his haters more reasons to trash him on social media. The saga continues.

Best Seller List

Fans around the league seem to hate the Pats, but why is Tom Brady's jersey the number one best seller? Trailing him are Colin Kaepernick, Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning.

Even Tim Tebow made it to 16th place. Maybe fans are buying them as collector's items. He has an uphill battle to make the roster for the Eagles.

Disrespecting Seau

The NFL is very petty on things, especially uniforms and equipment. The other day, they brought it to a new level.

They will not allow the daughter of the late Junior Seau to be his presenter at the Hall of Fame inductions. Instead, they will have a video tribute to him.

In the past, deceased inductees have been presented by someone. I wonder if the NFL is being vindictive because Seau's family filed a lawsuit against the league after he committed suicide. The autopsy of his brain showed damage from CTE, often associated with concussions.

Seau is the face of litigation against the NFL for concussion related issues. The league's concern is about the money.

The Last Days of Welker

Training camp around the NFL is days away and many players are hoping to hookup with a team. Former Pats WR Wes Welker keeps hearing about how he should retire after suffering three concussions over a nine month period.

Welker still wants to play, but has attracted little attention. There are younger guys out there who will play for less money and not pose such a medical risk.

Welker is not any different from others who try to hang on and don't know when to leave the game. In most cases, the decision is not in their hands. The phone just stops ringing.

Maybe An Offer

Deflategate is becoming a more like a circus daily. It goes on and on. Fans are getting impatient.

It appears that a few owners are insisting that Tom Brady get his four game suspension.

Now, there appears to be an offer of some type of settlement offer from Brady and the NFLPA. He is very adamant of not wanting to miss any games. The NFL is not budging.

How will this all end?

Stories From All

The season for the Pats really starts tomorrow when rookies report to training camp. Not everyone will make the roster. Some will get hurt and be placed on IR. Others are extra bodies in camp and won't survive the final cut.

For some, getting to a camp is a huge accomplishment. They all have their own story to tell no matter what happens.

No Sense of Urgency

Commissioner Roger Goodell said there is no deadline on making a decision about Tom Brady's appeal. I wonder what is taking so long. Is it going through their legal department for review to the end of the earth?

The NFL is milking this story to the very end. As long as a decision is made, things are fine.

Maybe this will drift through the season until the playoffs.

Chapter of Gronk

It looks like the summer of Gronk is winding down before training camp. He was on television's "Family Feud" with his own family. It has ben one long party since the Super Bowl win.

A new season will be starting for Gronk and everyone else. Fans always feel jittery when he goes down hard on the field, given his injury history.

Gronk will be writing the next chapter of his career with the 2015 season.

Paid For Tickets and Parking

We always hear the expression "one lucky fan". It really happened for a Pats fan at the AFC Championship game against the Colts.

RB LeGarrette Blount scored on a 13 TD run and flipped the ball to the ground. WR Brandon LaFell picked it up and gave it to a fan in the stands. It was one of the 12 footballs from the Deflategate fiasco.

The fan ended up selling it at on auction site for $43,740.

Timing and fate made the difference for this fan.

A Leap For Rex

Fans of the Buffalo Bills don't know what to expect from their team this season, but they can be sure that they will be entertained by their new coach. Rex Ryan is making loud statements up in Buffalo.

He took it a bit further the other day when he did a tandem skydive with members of the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute team. Last year, he ran with the bulls in Paloma, Spain.

Rex will be witty and entertaining as always this season. It's too bad he flamed out in New York because he was made for the Big Apple.

Money For The Kicker

Coach Belichick always said that every player has a certain value attached to them. After the 2005 season, the team let Adam Vinatieri go to the Colts as a free agent because the coach said you can only pay a kicker so much money.

The team just made Steven Gostkowski the highest paid kicker in the NFL with a 4 year/$17.2 million contract. This goes contrary to the team overpaying for players.

Belichick wasn't worried when the team lost Vinatieri. They used a 4th round pick in the 2006 draft to select Gostkowski. He has performed exceptionally well, but skeptics still wonder why they paid him so much.

Dan Connelly

I think many fans were shocked to hear of the retirement of OL Dan Connelly. He was a free agent who the Pats were not planning on resigning.

He cited not wanting to play for another team and being away from his family as deciding factors. He mentioned the four concussions in his NFL career, as well as one in high school. He wants to leave the game while he is still healthy. Although he turns 33 in September, many thought he had a year or two left in him.

Connelly made the most of his career as an undrafted college player. He spent two years with the Jacksonville Jaguars before the Pats signed him in 2007. He ended up playing in 89 regular season and 11 playoff games, including two Super Bowls.

He is best remembered for his unplanned 71 yard kick return against the Green Bay Packers in 2010.

Not Dez Time

The Dallas Cowboys should call the bluff of Dez Bryant who said he won't report to training camp without a long term contract extension. He has no desire to sign the $14.8 million franchise tag.

If his holdout extends into the regular season, he will start to lose his $750,000 game checks. Is he willing to do that? The Cowboys are being smart for once.

A Time of Silence

Jason Pierre-Paul is playing a game of chicken with the New York Giants when it comes to his hand and finger injury from fireworks. He has not signed his $14.8 million franchise tender or allowed team officials to visit him in the hospital. He is making all of his own medical decisions.

He had his right index finger amputated without consulting with team doctors. He fractured his thumb and needed skin grafts for his burns. The team has no clue about his availability for the upcoming season. The entire situation is a mess.

It's unknown whether Pierre-Paul will regain his former playing level. He will forever be held as an example of a player making bad decisions off the field.

Brady's Week

This should be the week that Tom Brady hears about the appeal on his suspension. It's hard to say how it will go. Whatever the result is, there will be discussion to the end of the earth.

I predict that his suspension will get reduced to one or two games. He won't be happy. Will he go to federal court? The drama will continue.

Ken Stabler

The death of Ken Stabler was announced yesterday. He had a great career with the John Madden coached teams of the Oakland Raiders in the 1970's. That seems so long ago.

So many fans have no recollection of him. That's how it goes. Time is a factor.

He should be in the Hall of Fame, but voters rely on statistics too much. He might get in now that he's dead, but it would have been nicer to see get there when he was alive.

Getting Settled In

The NFL seems determined to have a franchise in London at some point. They just agreed to play two games annually, starting in 2018 at the new Premier Soccer League stadium in Tottenham.

The facility will feature a retractable grass field under artificial turf because the NFL likes to play on the real stuff when they can.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are still committed to playing two of their games annually at Wembley stadium through 2016. Other cities with suitable stadiums are also interested in hosting games.

A lot can happen in ten years. I have no doubt that the league will have a team there, especially if it works financially.

Adam's Stolen Scoop

ESPN should tell everyone how they managed to get a copy of Jason Pierre-Paul's medical chart which showed that his index finger was being amputated.

This is a direct violation of the HIPPA law if the hospital or any staff disclosed this to Adam Schefter who broke the story. Social media is being lit up by NFL players critical of Schefter.

Was it one of Pierre-Paul's people in his camp? Did he authorize it?

This story gets murkier by the day.

Expensive Accident

Jason Pierre-Paul is not making it easy for the New York Giants after being hospitalized for burning his hands in a fireworks accident. Team officials attempted to meet with him, but left without answers.

They could make it very difficult for him if they place him on the non-football injury list. They can stash him there until the end of training camp. If he starts the season on NFI, the team loses him for the first six weeks of the regular season. They also don't need to pay has salary.

He is a player without a contract. The team can pull his $14.8 million franchise tag off the table. They would be foolish to give him a long term deal at this point.

His accident will literally cost him millions.

The Great Gates

The great Antonio Gates will miss the first four games of the 2015 season for violating the league's performing enhancement drug policy. The NFL likes to play tough with their players when it comes to PED's.

They seem to have no problem mocking the absence of Gates when it comes to their fantasy football program. Fans love to play the game, but the league should not be mentioning the absence of a player and making fun of it in their television ads.

Mr Example

Jason Pierre-Paul will forever be the example of NFL players making bad decisions in their personal life. The New York Giants withdrew their $60 million offer after he injured his hands with fireworks.

I assume he will sign his franchise tender option and earn $14.8 million this season. Hopefully, he is there for the team.

At some point, we will hear the extent of his injuries.

Jason's Story

It's so horrible to hear about the fireworks injury to New York Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul. He could have saved himself a lot of heart ache by signing the franchise tender of $14.8 million. Instead, he tried to posture for leverage. He has nothing now with his injury

This could end his career. He knows that. Do the Giants really want him on a long term basis?

The Miami 3

The NFL Network has so much great programming because of their work with NFL Films. The "Football Life" series is great. Their recent program on the 1972 Miami Dolphins running backs brought back great memories.

The NFL has such a rich history of those who played the game. The Dolphins backfield of Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick and "Eugene "Mercury" Morris will forever be one for the ages.

Call His Bluff

Jerry Jones calls all the shots for the Dallas Cowboys as owner and GM. He should call WR Dez Bryant on his bluff to sit out the first week of the reason, rather than sign his franchise tender.

Negotiations for a long term contract have stalled. Bryant will make $12.8 million this season if he signs the offer. If he skips the first week, he will lose a game check of $750,000. I can't see him doing that.

Jones will regret if he ever signs Bryant to a long term deal.

Tom's Club of Choice

It's really interesting to see Tom Brady apply to The Country Club in Brookline for membership. The club has a lot of reasons for not wanting him. He draws too much attention.

Brady has already positioned himself by building a mansion that abuts the course, but Tom and Gisele might not make the final cut.

He would do himself better if he abandoned his efforts to join such an exclusionary club. Why would he want to be associated with it, other than for financial reasons?

Just Don't Bring Gronk

Tom Brady might be too famous for his own sake. He and his wife Gisele Bundchen are followed by the paparazzi all too often.

All of this has raised questions whether Brady's membership application will be approved for The Country Club in Brookline, Mass. The exclusive golf course is very selective of its members. They have a policy that your name should not be in the paper on a regular basis. Brady and his wife fail that test.

I wonder if the club is concerned about him bringing Gronk as a guest and having him party there.

Droning On

The Pats can never seem to escape the news. They were cited along with the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys as teams that have used drones to film practices.

It sounds like a great idea, but they have run afoul of FAA regulations which prohibit the use of them for commercial reasons without a waiver.

The use of drones is so new that the NFL will help probably serve as a case study in revising some of the rules.

A Chance For Herschel

Former NFL RB Herschel Walker might be 53, but feels he could still play in the NFL as a kick returner. He has enjoyed a career as a MMA fighter and appears to be in excellent shape. He claims to still have his blinding speed.

I would like to see him get a shot in training camp. It might be a publicity stunt, but it would be a great story. The NFL loves attention.

Spiraling Sapp

Hall of Fame defensive tackle Warren Sapp needs help before we talk about him in the past tense. His life continues to unravel after his latest arrest for biting and stomping on his girlfriend.

Sapp lost his cushy gig with the NFL Network after being arrested for solicitation and assault while covering the Super Bowl in Phoenix.

His latest incident in Las Vegas resulted in his friend having the pattern of his sandals imbedded on her face after he stomped on her. She also suffered a cut lip, bruises and a concussion.

His actions are a cry for help and some type of intervention. Is he suffering from CTE? This story will eventually have a bad ending if he continues on this way.

More Posturing in LA

The NFL is desperate to have a team in Los Angeles, the nation's second largest television market. Fans in Oakland, St Louis and San Diego await their fate as two teams might move.

Team owners are doing the typical whining about inadequate stadiums that don't have the amenities that fans want for their game day experience. They have no problem taking their share of the television revenue.

One report has a team playing in a 27,000 seat stadium used by the MLS LA Galaxy. This would be a temporary measure until a facility is built.

Greedy owners are also playing on the fears of their fans as they threaten to move teams unless they have public funding for a stadium that will become a financial black hole.

Butler Not Answering

CB Malcolm Butler is already in Coach Belichick's dog house after showing up late for the team's voluntary OTA's. He was delayed by weather and let the team know, but it wasn't good enough.

The Super Bowl hero and savior was held out of practices for six days before he served his penance. Butler has been muted on this, but the NFL Player's Association has filed a grievance on his behalf. He wants no part of it.

The last thing he needs is to become a distraction for his coach. The PA has already made a laundry list of items they want from the team, thanks to Butler.

The workouts are voluntary according to the CBA. Just don't ask Coach Belichick if they are, especially for a guy who wasn't drafted.

A Time To Swear

Fans heard that Tom Brady's suspension hearing lasted ten hours. How long was the actual testimony? They took lunch and bathroom breaks in between. Did the have dinner too?

In the end, the actual amount of time doesn't matter. Brady testified under oath. He raised the stakes very high if he doesn't overturn his four game suspension.

Perjury destroys everyone's legacy.

Laughing To The bank

Pats TE Rob Gronkowski has a reputation as a non-stop party animal, especially this off season. Some people think he does it a bit too much.

It should be noted that Gronk said that he has saved every dollar he has earned in the NFL. He lives off his endorsements and appearance fees. He doesn't buy jewelry or fancy cars.

Gronk is a great example to the rest of the league. So many players go bankrupt after they retire. He should be set financially after his playing days are over.

Brady's Day

Tomorrow will be one of the biggest days of Tom Brady's career. His suspension hearing will dominate the news cycle. He has a lot at stake with his legacy.

Brady wants the entire four game suspension vacated by Commissioner Roger Goodell who will serve as judge and jury.

How will this end? How long will a decision take? Brady has options to go to federal court if he doesn't like the answer.

We are watching a big moment. 

The Time of Jermaine Cunningham

Pats fans can watch the ending of the career of former second round 2010 draft pick LB Jermaine Cunningham. He pleaded guilty in New Jersey to charges of revenge porn in a domestic case and gun possession.

It has been a long haul for Cunningham. He had some great moments with the Pats for three seasons. He bounced around on the roster of the 49er's and Jets during the 2013 season, but never got into a game.

He was able to skate from his charges with three years probation and anger management counseling. If he ever makes a roster, he will face some type of suspension.

I wonder if he will ever make it back to the NFL.

Talk Isn't Cheap

They always say that talk is cheap, but in Tome Brady's case, it can cost $170,000. That's how much he was paid for a recent talk at Salem University right after the release of the Wells Report.

He spoke to a home town audience of students and fans who fawned over him while he was asked easy questions by reporter Jim Gray.

Brady was part of an ongoing speaker series at the school paid by the non-profit Salem State Foundation. it was easy money for Brady who must realize that paid talk should be in his future.

It was just recently revealed that he donated the money to Best Buddies and several other of his favorite charities. Was that in the plans the entire time or driven by the criticism of his speaking fee?

The Movie Critic

Michael Oher was the subject of the book and movie "The Blind Side. The movie grossed over $300 million and got Sandra Bullock an Oscar for playing Oher's adopted mother.

He was a first round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2012, but lasted only two years with them. He played last season with the Tennessee Titans. He is now with the Carolina Panthers.

He claims that the movie did not help his NFL career because it skewed the perception of him. People think he is a bust because the movie pumped him up so much. More was expected of him. He feels it was unfair to have those expectations of him.

I think he has a valid point.