Monday, April 30, 2018

After The 2018 Draft


The NFL Network is so good at what it does. It continues to create great programming.

They are moving on from the draft, while focusing on OTA's, team development and player signings.

Their "Top 100 Players", as voted by their peers, will be a big focus of their program time.

Only the NFL could get so much coverage for their draft. No other sport does it better.

Sunday, April 29, 2018

Big and Fast From Down Under


Every player in the NFL Draft has their own unique story. Jodan Mailata is a human highlight film, but has never played a down of football.

The native of Australia is a 6'8" 345 pound rugby player who was drafted by the Eagles in the seventh round.

He is projected to play the offensive line and will be a work in progress. It remains to be seen if he can make the final roster.

Saturday, April 28, 2018

2018 Draft Day


Local sports talk shows will talk about the Pats draft to no end. It will get boring real soon. These are the players they picked. There is no turning back on them.

They will all have varying degrees of success in the NFL.

Friday, April 27, 2018

Two In The First


It came as no surprise that the Pats took an offensive lineman with the 23rd overall pick in the first round of the draft. Isaiah Wynn of Georgia seems to be the versatile layer they were looking for.

Many were shocked to see them take RB Sony Michel also of Georgia with the 31st pick. Nobody thought they would select a running back so early. In recent drafts, teams have stayed away from picking them in the first round.

Nobody knows how either player will work out. They are now part of the team with their future ahead.

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Tonight's Guessing Game


The NFL Draft finally starts tonight after the endless amount of hype from everyone.

The New York Post did a great analysis and assigned a rating to the overall first, second and third picks going back to 1987.

Many names jump out. They were all college stars. They entered the NFL with great expectations, but their final results were very mixed.

There is no scientific way that any type of future success can be measured. Some players won't last two seasons.

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Betting On Dez


Some free agents turn down lucrative multi-year deals in the hope of having a big season on a one year contract and then getting a ton of money in their next one.

WR Dez Bryant is betting on himself after turning down a 3 year/$21 million offer from the Ravens. He will wait for two weeks after the draft before making his next move.

His options might change after teams make their selections. He appears to be confident that he is making the right decision. It remains to be seen if he is correct.

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Gronk Back, But Where?


Pats TE Rob Gronkowski announced that he will play this season. I always thought he would, in spite of some of the things he was saying.

Are any of the trade rumors real? Is he back in the good graces of Coach Belichick? What could they get for him on draft day?


Monday, April 23, 2018

Money Not Needed


Peyton Manning has been courted by various networks for him to be in the role of analyst, but declined all offers. They threw tons of money at him, but he wants to be a fan and not a critic.

There is speculation that he didn't want to get into a situation where he might have to comment on brother Eli.

He doesn't need the money. He makes a fortune on his commercials and public speaking gigs.

Every former player can only wish they had to make these types of decisions.

Sunday, April 22, 2018

Draft Week


The NFL Draft should be very exciting. It has been hyped to death by the experts. They seem to know what teams will do.

The Pats have a lot of options with their two picks in the first round. Will they make a trade up or down?

Will we hear any news about the status of Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski? This story gets too much attention.

Saturday, April 21, 2018

Showing Last Year's Mistakes


At this time next week, the 2018 NFL draft will be history. Teams will be signing undrafted players who were overlooked.

The NFL Network is showing the first round of last year's draft. We can see where mistakes were made in selecting players.

It happens every year. No team can be right 100% of the time. You never know how players might turn out.

Friday, April 20, 2018

The QB Drafted


Will the Pats draft a quarterback next week? It seems like a given, but in what round?

They have a lot of options with their two picks in the first round. It's no guarantee that any selection will work out.

Thursday, April 19, 2018

It's Only The Schedule


The NFL Network is able to make a show out of almost any news. They will have a special on tonight when the 2018 schedule gets revealed.

Other major sports just release it to the media, but the NFL is able to make an evening out of it. They are really clever at what they do.

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Peyton and Ryan


Twenty years ago today, Peyton Manning was the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. He changed their franchise forever.

There was great debate whether to select Ryan Leaf. Both players were an easy choice.

Manning had a Hall of Fame career with a Super Bowl ring.

Leaf's career was a disaster after being picked 2nd overall by the Chargers. He was out of the league after 2002 with stops in Tampa Bay, Dallas and Seattle. His legal issues ended him in jail.

This is so similar to what is going on now with the worshipping of the quarterbacks of the 2018 NFL Draft.

These players will all have unique careers. Some will be better than others. There will be a disappointments.


Monday, April 16, 2018

Here We Go


What does it all mean when Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski did not show up for the start of off-season activities. They were always there.

Boston sports talk show are not about to let up on this. They will beat this to death.

Sunday, April 15, 2018

Nothing New From Amendola


The recent comments by former Pats WR Danny Amendola don't reveal anything new. We all know that Coach Belichick is hard to work for and doesn't pay very well. Players know that when they sign their contract.

If they want more money, they need to do what Amendola did and sign with another team that is willing to pay.

His additional comments on Malcolm Butler showed that fans will never know why he was benched in the Super Bowl. Belichick could've put him into the game, but he didn't.

He will need to live with that decision for the rest of his life, especially if he never gets back to another Super Bowl.

Saturday, April 14, 2018

Fewer Returns In College


The NFL and NCAA differ a bit in some of their rules. One item worth watching will be the new change in college kickoffs.

The receiving team will now have the option of fair catching it inside their 25 yard line. The ball will then be placed on the 25.

The primary reason is to reduce the amount of violent collisions on kickoffs and returns.

How will the NFL react to this? At some point, I wouldn't be surprised if they adopt this change. It might be inevitable.

Friday, April 13, 2018

The End For Dez In Dallas


It took forever for the Cowboys to release WR Dez Bryant. They were not going to pay him $12.5 million for next season, while taking a $16.5 million cap salary hit.

The team finally did it today after owner Jerry Jones met with the eight year veteran. Many tried to convince Jones to make the move sooner, but he wouldn't do it.

According to Dez, the option of taking a pay cut was not on the table. The team just wanted to move on.

He will end up somewhere. The money will always be an issue with him.

Thursday, April 12, 2018

No Job For Him



In spite of the NFL starving for good quarterbacks, Colin Kaepernick has been unable to land a job.

Nobody can say that teams are avoiding him because of his stance of taking a knee for the National Anthem, but it's rather strange that a player with his talent has been unable to get a contract.

He had plans to meet with the Seahawks as a possible backup to Russell Wilson, but that fell through after he said he would continue with his policy of kneeling.

Kaepernick is firm in his position, even if it costs him money and his NFL career.

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

They Speak For Tom


Tom Brady enters the season with two years left on his contract. Pats owner Robert Kraft recently said that neither side has an urge to open up talks. That all sounded fine since it came from the owner.

It wasn't good enough for sports talk radio. Some anonymous source said that isn't the case with Brady. Who is the source? Did someone just make this up to see what happens?

There are too many of rumors out there. Anonymous sources have no credibility with me.

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Will The Jets Get It Right?


All of the NFL draft experts are trying to predict which players get picked in the first round. The New York Jets have the third overall pick.

Will GM Mike Mccagnan grab another quarterback after selecting Bryce Petty in 2015 and Christian Hackenberg rin 2016? Fans are ready to pounce on him if they don't like his choice.

Every team makes good and bad moves. Tom Brady at 199th in 2000 will always be regarded as one of the best ever. In 2014, the Pats selected DL Dominique Easley in the first round. He was cut two years later.

Success and wins can take the sting out of bad decisions on draft day.

Monday, April 9, 2018

No Calls For Them


I saw a listing of unsigned free agents still waiting for a call that might never come. There are some very accomplished names on the list.

They remain unsigned for a variety of reasons. Some have priced themselves out of the market. Others are facing the age number.

Many still want to play. They just don't realize that it's over for them.

Sunday, April 8, 2018

Johnny 2018


It appears that Johnny Manziel got mixed reviews after playing two quarters in the new Spring League. Everyone there is fighting for an audition with the NFL. Interested teams are scouting talent that falls through the cracks or gets overlooked.

In the end, Manziel completed his first seven passes with a TD, but ended up 9 of 15 for 82 yards and three sacks.

Johnny has said he would be willing to play in the CFL. Nobody knows how this will play out. He is able to keep his story alive and give himself a chance.

Saturday, April 7, 2018

Draft Schedule


The NFL tries to milk the draft to the last possible moment. They do such a great job maximizing this event. Nobody could do it better.

The drag it to the end of April. I think it should be a week or two sooner. They have it all laid out and do so well in making this work.

Friday, April 6, 2018

Matt Cassel Goes For #14


QB Matt Cassel has made quite a career for himself as a backup. The Lions just signed him as insurance for Matthew Stafford.

The 35 year old was selected by the Pats in the 7th round of the 2005 draft. He had a breakout season in 2008 after Tom Brady suffered a season ending knee during the team's first game. He lead them to a record of 11-5.

They traded him to the Chiefs prior to the 2009 season. He finally made some serious money before moving to the Vikings, Bills, Cowboys, Titans and now the Lions.

He knows what his role is. That has kept him around for 14 seasons.

Thursday, April 5, 2018

They Think They Know


Talk show callers are determined to predict how much longer Bill Belichick will be with the Pats. Why do people waste so much time on this issue? It doesn't seem to matter to them.

He will be here for as long as he wants. Why don't people get that?

Things could change in his life real fast. Nobody knows what happens day to day.

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Here's Johnny Hurting His Chances


If Johnny Manziel wants to hurt his chances to get back into the NFL, he did a great job with his comments on a radio show.

He basically blamed the Browns for not knowing that wasn't an "X's and O's" type of player. He never studied film while in college.

It looks like he is trying to shift the blame of his failure back to the Browns. That is so wrong on his part.

If he wants an invitation to training camp, he needs to give a team a reason why they want him there. That can only be done through his play.

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Cooks One and Done


The Pats now have flexibility in the upcoming draft after they traded WR Brandin Cooks and a fourth round pick to the Rams for their #23 overall selection.

They also have the 31st pick in the first round. Will Belichick try to package those two first rounders and move up to select a targeted player?

There are a number of possible scenarios. The team will continue to explore other moves.


Monday, April 2, 2018

Who Is Going To Cleveland?


It seems like quarterbacks are doomed to failure with the Cleveland Browns after having 24 of them on their roster since 1999. Will it be different in 2018 with all of their draft picks?

They have a chance to get it right. None of the top quarterbacks really want to end up with the Browns, but they can't say that publicly.

Whoever goes there also has the chance to lead them to the playoffs. Will that happen?

Sunday, April 1, 2018

The 1994 Draft


The NFL Network did a great job with their program about the 1994 draft. They had so many great videos from the players, coaches and team executives.

Teams had to make a lot of decisions back then. They all did their best, but the program showed that mistakes were made in spit of the best efforts by all.