End of 2019 Thoughts

It's the last day of 2019. Here are things to ponder as 2020 debuts.

Will the season end on Saturday with a wild card loss to the Titans?

Is this Tom Brady's last game in Foxborough? Will he play next season? Will it be in Foxborough?

Not On This Monday

Teams that fire their coaches usually do it today. There is no sense in dragging it out. Coaches want to know if they have a job next season.

It looked like Cowboys coach Jason Garrett would get canned by owner and GM Jerry Jones, but the decision has not been made after long meetings today.

Being a head coach is a goal for many, but there is a special set of circumstances in Dallas. It's not the easiest place to work under the microscope of Jerry Jones.

Dolphins Win

Many fans thought the Pats could just show up today in Foxborough and beat the Dolphins to clinch a first round playoff bye. It didn't happen as they lost 27-24 and will now host the Titans the Wild Card round.

The team didn't look very good today. It was such a difference from their game last week against the Bills.

If they play like this next weekend, their season will come to an end.

Losing Records Don't Matter

In the past, college football teams viewed post-season bowls as a measure of success. As the number grew, teams with records of .500 were selected to fill out the schedule.

The great University of Miami went to the Independence Bowl at 6-6. Their 14-0 loss to Louisiana Tech dropped their season to 6-7.

They will not be the only team that played in a bowl games and finished the season with a losing record.

Darren Sproles

Eagle RB Darren Sproles showed that a 5-foot-6 player could have an impact in the NFL. He announced his retirement yesterday after 15 seasons. He had been on IR for the past month with a hip injury.

In spite of his size, he was a fourth round draft pick in 2005 from Kansas Sate. He spent time with the Saints, Chargers and Eagles before closing out his career as 5th on the all-time list for all-purpose years with 19,696.

Time For RG III

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson is a favorite to win the MVP award this season. Since his team already has the #1 playoff seed, he will sit on Sunday when they face the Steelers. Robert Griffin III will start in his place for the first time since 2016. He is a great example of what can happen to a future star.

After wining the Heisman in 2011, he was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012. The sky was the limit with his throwing and running.

Injuries derailed his career to the point where he was released by several teams before he found a home with the Ravens in 2018 after sitting out 2017.

This is a great opportunity for him to show what he has left. At 29, he should have many years ahead of him, but his career is on the bubble.

Beastmode One More Time

Marshawn Lynch has signed with Seattle for one last stand in his career. At age 33, it's now or never for him and the Seahawks. They have a chance to finish strong and go deep in the playoffs.

Beastmode may or may not be a part of it. Signing him was a desperate move, but the fans are excited.

I hope he does well and has an impact on the game.

Brown Isn't The One

Antonio Brown is always posting his thought son Twitter. He has certainly received a lot of attention for some of them.

One of his latest mentioned that he was the greatest 6th round draft pick in NFL history.

Many fans reminded him that Tom Brady was also selected in the same round and has done quite well in his career.

Last Holiday 2019

The holiday season isn't fun on teams with losing records because that causes coaches to get fired.

At least six teams will be making changes. Coaching staffs will be broken up. They resurface elsewhere.

This is the last game for them.

Lamar & Patrick

It's hard to believe that the Pats might face Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs if they hope to get to the Super Bowl.

This is starting to sound like a real challenge. It should be.

How far can the Pats go in the playoffs?

Another AFC East

The Pats won the AFC East with their 24-17 win over the Bills today. If they beat the Dolphins next Sunday, it will give them the #2 seed and a first round bye.

They played great today in all three phases of the game. Hopefully, the team can keep this momentum going into the playoffs.

No To T.O

I really enjoy watching Bill Belichick on the "NFL 100 All-Time" show on the NFL Network.

Tonight's show was about wide receivers. It's so hard to pick ten players from the history of the game that represent everyone at that position.

Terrell Owens didn't make it. That has caused a lot of discussion on social media.

Deion Sanders will always be his biggest advocate.

To Leave or Not

Boston College RB AJ Dillion will skip his senior year and team's Birmingham Bowl game in order to prepare for the NFL draft.

He is the all-time rushing leader at BC with 845 carries for 4,382 yards and 38 TD's.

It's a tough choice for any player. His draft stock is about the highest it will get unless he stayed and had a better senior year.

Some players leave early and fall in the draft. Others stay and get hurt. It's a roll of the dice, but his numbers are in his favor.

The Heart of Cyrus

It never worked out for CB Cyrus Jones after he was drafted in the 2nd round by the Pats in 2016. He was projected to be a return specialist, but had a problem with fumbles.

He never made the team in 2018, but was signed by the Ravens where he had similar issues. After a fumble against the Pats in the recent Ravens win, he was released and signed a week later by the Broncos.

His season ended early this week after he underwent open heart surgery to address a congenital defect. His playing future is questionable, but at least they found it and saved his life.

No More Black Hole

It was a shame that the Oakland Raiders played their last home yesterday before they move to Las Vegas next season.

The city didn't want the burden of funding a stadium so the Raiders found a city that would do it.

There will never be a Black Hole again. They can try and replicate it, but the real one will always be in Oakland.

Manning's Last Home Game

It looks like QB Eli Manning has played his last home game today during the Giants 36-20 win over the Dolphins. It snapped a nine game losing streak in a season that has very few highlights.

The 39 year old Manning will be a free agent at the end of the season. The team has committed to Daniel Jones for better or worse.

Fans gave Manning a standing ovation at the end of the game. He probably never thought his tenure would end this way.

Mike & Sean

There are always great stories of relationships in the NFL

When the Steelers play the Bills, it will reunite two former teammates from the William and Mary football team of the early 90's.

Mike Tomlin and Sean McDermott were together so many years ago on the same team.

It's a great story to see them here now.

Addazio Won't Be There

The college bowl schedule is all set with 40 games and the national championship to wrap it all up.

All you need is six wins to qualify. Boston College (6-6) will face Cincinnati (10-3) in the Birmingham Bowl on January 2nd.

BC will have a losing season with a loss. Former coach Steve Addazio has already paid the price for having a 44-44 record during his seven seasons there. He was fired after the team's win over Pittsburgh which qualified them for a bowl game.

Addazio lead the Eagles to six bowl games in the last seven seasons, including the last four, but it wasn't enough to keep his job. WR coach Rich Gunnell will coach in his place.

Winning teams often get commemorative rings form their schools if they win. Will Addazio get one even if he is no longer part of the program?

The Toll of Bell

The New York Jets continue to show their fans why they have losing seasons. Many were skeptical when they signed free agent RB LeVeon Bell to a 4 year/$52.5 million contract, with $27 million guaranteed this year.

Bell has complained about not getting the ball enough, but his actions last week were an indictor that the team should move on from him.

After being sent home from practice last week, Bell was ruled out for last Sunday's game against the Dolphins. He was seen at a bowling alley in New Jersey on Saturday night and was out until 1am.

The team took no action against him. Bell bragged about rolling one of his best scores ever.

The Jets should try to trade him or be prepared to eat his contract. Fans deserve more from the team.

Does Odell Want Out?

Odell Beckham JR is doing a lousy job trying to convince everyone that he wants to play for the Browns next year and in the future.

He has been injured, his numbers are down and he has questioned his role in the offense.

The word it out that he wants out of there. Will he be there next season?

The Story Won't Go Away

Stories involving the Pats doing controversial things never go away.

Their latest incident involves videotaping the Bengals sidelines in Cleveland during their recent game against the Browns.

The Pats are saying it was a mistake and nothing else. The NFL seems to be buying their story.

Some in the media will keep it alive and accuse them of cheating.

Is It Eli's Last Game?

It has been a difficult season for Giants QB Eli Manning after getting benched when the team lost their first two.

He has watched rookie Daniel Jones take over the team for better or worse.

Manning is starting tonight while Jones recovers from a high ankle sprain.

Is this the last game of his career? How will he play tonight? Nobody really knows.

Chiefs Are Awesome

The Pats lost 23-16 to the Chiefs today and "fall" to 10-3. Is that really bad?

The game will always be known for a lot of controversial calls by the officials.

Sports talk shows and callers will only talk about the demise of Brady and the Pats.

Maybe Dez Here

There are crazy stories out there about former Cowboys WT Dez Bryant signing with the Pats. Can he still play?

If they could get him for the veteran minimum, it would be worth it. They would never sign him unless they felt he could make the team and contribute.

It's a waste of money otherwise.

Coaching With Rumors

It's never good when coaches hear about their possible replacements, but that's what happening with the Cowboys and Giants.

Urban Meyer is rumored for the Cowboys while former Panthers coach Ron Rivera might end up with the Giants.

When a coach doesn't get the endorsement from ownership, it's only a matter of time before he is shown the door.

Some Don't Want A Kicker

The Pats will go into the weekend without a kicker after cutting Kai Forbath. Will they play the Chiefs on Sunday without one?

It seems like a drastic move to take, but they seem willing to do that. Punter Jake Bailey has been handling kickoffs.

They could go for a two point conversion and on fourth and short if they are within range.

Players on the bottom of the roster are looking over their shoulder. Signing a kicker will result in one of them to being released unless someone is placed on IR.

Giants On The Clock

It's never good when ownership says that the fate of the coach and GM will be decided after the season.

That is the position of the Giants as stated by John Mara and Steve Tisch as the team continues to lose and take steps backwards.

It's never good to ask the fans for patience. Everyone wants their team to win.

The fate of Eli Manning will haunt GM Dave Gettleman and coach Pat Shurmur.

First Firing of 2019

Panthers coach Ron Rivera became the first of several coaches to be fired this season. It happens every year. Many of them resurface with another team in some capacity.

The team is in the middle of a four game losing streak which dropped their record to 5-7.

His overall nine year record was 76-63-1, but it didn't matter in the end.

Move On From Brown

Fans need to move on from Antonio Brown. The Pats will neve resign him, especially after he shared a tweet highly critical of owner Robert Kraft.

He would greatly help the team, but the circus he creates just isn't worth it.

The more he posts, the more he falls into their rearview mirror. They will win or lose without him.

Surgery Provides The Opportunity

Injuries are a part of the game, but they provide opportunities for others.

Nick Folk would not be on the Pats roster without an injury to kicker Steven Gotskowski.

Things were looking good for Folk until he had to have his appendix removed the other day.

His surgery provides free agent Kai Forbath a chance to play in the league again. The former rookie free agent was signed by the Pats. It will be his first action since he was with Jacksonville for the last three games of the 2018 season.

He has bounced around since 2011 with the Redskins, Saints, Vikings and Jaguars. It remains to be seen how long he lasts.

College Game Money 2019

College football really owned this day with so many games broadcast over various media.

Broadcast fees go to schools. It helps to pay for so much of the program.

Jerry & Jason

When Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the team can't win the Super Bowl without 6-6 Coach Jason Garrett, that was the start of moving on from him.

The team needs a great ending to the season and make the playoffs for him to keep his job. Will it happen?

Things might be changing.

Jerry Ready To Fire

The Cowboys lost to the Bills by a score of 26-15 to drop their record to 6-6. Owner and GM Jerry Jones had already told Coach Jason Garret and his staff that they needed to win more games.

It's looking like Garrett will be let go by the end of the season. Jones serves as GM because he can as owner, but his record has not been great in recent years.

The coaching staff will take the hit. They should be thinking about other job possibilities out there.

A Goof On Goff

Chargers QB Jared Goff was the first overall pick in the 2016 draft. The team gave him a great contract, but decided to extend him earlier this season for four years/$134 million. Will the team regret that in the future?

His salary cap hits from 2020-2024 (36M, 32.5M, 30.5M 30M and 26M) will have a major impact on how the team signs players in the future.

Goff's situation isn't unique to the Chargers. Teams continue to overpay certain players without giving thought of their future level of performance. Very few ever see all the dollars in their contract.

The Heisman Backfield

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson is having one very amazing season. He could end up being the MVP. It's so hard for teams to defend against him.

One of the interesting packages the Ravens use is their "Heisman" one where their backfield is made up of former winners of the award.

They include Mark Ingram 2009 from Alabama, Robert Griffin III 2011 from Baylor and Jackson 2016 from Louisville.

No other team ever had three Heisman winners on their roster.

17 Seasons and Counting

When the Pats beat the Cowboys, they set a record for the most consecutive seasons of having ten wins with a streak of 17 years.

They broke a tie with the great run of the 49er's.

No team will ever break this record.

There is so much consistency with the franchise.

Boston College On The Line

Boston College was hoping to upset Notre Dame yesterday on the road and qualify for a bowl game, but they lost 40-7.

With a record of 5-6, they face an uphill battle next week when they take on Pittsburgh (7-4). It will be their last chance to have a 6-6 season and get one more game.

No matter what happens, the coaching staff must be wondering about their future. Going 6-6 and playing in a meaningless bowl game might not be enough.

TB Will Play

Some fans are ready to panic because Tom Brady was listed as "questionable" on the team's injury report.

It sounds like he has an elbow issue. Why not skip practice and get treatment?

If he's not at practice, the team must list him as questionable.

The whole thing is a joke.

Sunday @ 4:25

It will be a big game for the Pats and Cowboys on Sunday in Foxborough. The Pats are favored by 6 1/2 with and over/under of 45 1/2.

Both teams need a win for playoff implications. It's the national game of the week in that time slot.

No Rush To Sign Him

Some fans seem to think that the Pats will resign WR Antonio Brown after all they went through with him.

It would be shocking if this were to happen. If he gets cleared by the league, he will end up on a team the Pats could face in the playoffs.

Tom & Dak

Sunday's game between the Pats and Cowboys should get great television viewer ratings. It's in the perfect time slot with a 4:25 kickoff.

Dak Prescott and Tom Brady are like two ships in the night. Brady only has so many years left. Dak has a great start to his career. How will it evolve from here?

Both teams need to win this game.

They Love To Play UMass

It certainly doesn't look good for UMass football this Saturday when they host BYU. Las Vegas has already given them 39 points with and over and under of 69.

BYU at 6-4 will add another win to get a better bowl game. UMass will fall to 1-11 and end their season.

Two programs going in different directions.

Tua's Biggest Loss

The fortunes of Alabama and college football took a big hit Saturday when QB Tua Tagovailoa suffered a dislocated hip during their win over Mississippi State.

He had surgery today and faces a long rehab. It could also cost him untold millions as he was expected to be the number one overall pick in the draft.

He will probably fall many spots and lose dollars every time someone is picked ahead of him.

Harry's Day Today

When the Pats play the Eagles today, it will be the NFL debut of WR N'Keal Harry, their first round draft pick.

Much has been expected of him, but injuries during preseason have kept him from having any impact on the team.

How will it go for him? No matter what happens, his performance will be discussed on the local sports talk shows this week.

A Job For Ryan

Former Pats punter Ryan Allen never thought his time with the team would end so abruptly. He was cut at the end of training camp after losing the competition to rookie Jake Bailey.

With only 32 jobs in the league, Allen was on the outside looking in until he was signed by Atlanta last week.

This will keep him around until the end of the season. What happens in the future remains to be seen.

47 Is Tough

It seems like Tom Brady wants to play for another five years until he is 47 according to the legendary Alex Guerrero. Can that really happen?

Will he play all of those years with the Pats? His contract is very complex.

It sounds like Belichick will be around for a few more years. They can keep it going.

TD's At Each Stop

QB Brian Hoyer was never going to play for the Pats unless Tom Brady got hurt. After being released at the end of training camp, he ended up getting a nice contract with the Colts.

He finally saw action last week against the Steelers when Jacoby Brissett got injured. He performed well with three TD's, but the Colts still lost.

Hoyer joined an elite group of five quarterbacks who have thrown a TD for seven teams. He also did it with New England, Houston, Cleveland, Chicago, San Francisco and Arizona.

Ryan Fitzpatrick leads everyone with eight teams.

UMass Punching Bag

It's easy to be critical of UMass football. With a record of 19-75 since their decision to switch to Division 1 in 2012, it has been a total disaster with wins and losses.

UMass gets a lot of criticism for playing tough opponents for money. When they get slaughtered by Northwestern this Saturday, they will earn $1.2 million.

In 2020, the will get $1.9 million to lose to Auburn. These payments help pay for the program. As a state school, they need to stay focused on taxpayer dollars in their budget.

Private schools can do it differently.

Saturday Is His Day

It should be quite a day Saturday when Colin Kaepernick participates in a private workout in Atlanta. It was arranged by the league with all teams being invited.

It will be an opportunity for Kaepernick to show his skills after not playing since the end of the 2016 season.

How will it go? Will any team sign him? If they don't do it now, it will never happen.

Learning About Money

The NCAA will allow college athletes to earn extra money off their name. Nobody really knows how this will impact the student.

College athletes are never taught how to manage the money they might get.

Studies show that 78% of NFL players have financial issues within two years of retirement.

That is a very shocking statement.

Pats Bye Week 2019

With the Pats having a bye week, I watched most of the game between the Chiefs and Titans. It was a great one with the Titans winning on the last play of the game on a blocked field goal.

I saw parts of others and highlights. One thing all the games had in common was empty seats in the stadium with few exceptions.

How many tickets does a team really sell? Nobody really knows. If you give them away, at least people might show up.

Heading To 1-11

UMass took another beating today losing 63-7 to Army. They have the worst ranked defense in Division 1 and today was no exception.

They held Army to 49 yards of passing, but gave up 498 on the ground.

With two games left in the season on the road against Northwestern and BYU, it looks like the team will finish 1-11 unless something big happens.

Early Planning

Pats rookie CB Joejuan Williams has only been active for three games, but is a great example for other younger players.

As the 13th selection in the second round, he signed a four year/ $6.6 million contract with $4.1 guaranteed.

He said he invests at least 90% of his money from his game checks. He is determined not to be broke when he is older as is the case with so many players.

He paid off his mother's student loans and bought her a car, but has avoided splurging on big ticket items.

Plays have the opportunity to have lifetime financial security, but make many bad decisions along the way. They have too much money at an early age and think it will last forever.

Bye Week 2019

The Pats are 8-1 with a bye. How will the season end? They have a lot of hope.

There are issues in all three phases of the game. Their future will depend on how they actually play.

It's all about getting to the playoffs.

How far will they go?

Gase Time

Jets coach Adam Gase is already on the hot seat with a record of 1-7 this season. The rookie coach might not be here next year if the trend continues.

The Jets have the worst offense in the league with an average of 12 points per game and 223.5 yards.

Team owner Woody Johnson is having his brother run the team while he serves as ambassador to England. While in charge, the team's record is 10-30.

Nothing is going well.

No Big Loss

I don't understand all the concern of the Pats losing 37-20 to the Ravens on SNF.

It's probably a good thing that the pressure of an undefeated season is over.

They have a bye and then the last seven games of the season.

It's all about now.

Lamar Night

The Pats are favored over the Ravens by 3 1/2 points. Many in the media feel that the Pats might suffer their first defeat of the season when they play Sunday night.

They are saying Lamar Jackson is a better quarterback then Tom Brady. If they base it on statistics, they might be right.

It will be interesting to see how the defense attacks Jackson and the Ravens offense.

Big Pay For Them

There is no doubt that some major college head football coaches get so much money, especially at state schools.

They are always the highest paid state employee compared to anyone.

The Governor in Alabama makes $126,000 annually, but Nick Saban earns $8.9 million.

Dabo Swinney checks in at $9.3 million with Clemson while the South Carolina leader get s $106,000.

There is certainly a lot of pressure to win at this level.

Watt Dims For Season

JJ Watt has been a three time Defensive Player of the Year, but seems to have an injury jinx that his robbing him of his career.

He suffered a torn left pectoral muscle against the Raiders yesterday and will be lost for the season.

He played all 16 games last year after missing most of 2016 from two back surgeries and most of 2017 with a broken leg.

His injuries could happen to anyone, but Watt might be one of those players whose career gets cut short because of the toll on his body.

Special Stats

Where do they come up with some of the stats we hear almost instantly?

When the Pats had a field goal blocked by the Browns today, it was their first one by an opponent since 2006.

Every team in the NFL has had at least two during that period.

There is no doubt that this will be a big focal point at team meetings this week as Coach Belichick places such a great emphasis on special teams.

UMass Loses Again

When a team scores 35 points from 239 yards of passing and 200 rushing, they should usually win the game.

It didn't matter for UMass today as they lost 56-35 to UConn. Both teams came into the game with a 1-6 record.

UConn had 539 yards of offense from 213 passing and 326 on the ground.

Once again, UMass continues to have one of the worst defenses in Division 1 with no hope in sight for improvement this season.

Will There Be 21?

Will Tom Brady play next year? That seems to be a big question from the media. He has no contract with the team after this season. It was a "mutual agreement" when they decided to do that.

His time left in the NFL is short. He likes to say he can play forever, but nobody ever did it.

He has done the greatest job keeping his career alive. Winning always helps.

The End For Bennett

It was inevitable that the Pats would move on from Michael Bennett. His signing had so much promise, but he complained about playing time.

I will never blame him about that. I thought he would have a bigger role in the defense.

His value goes down if he doesn't play. They did him a favor by trading him to the Cowboys. I wish him the best.

End of Josh 2.0

It was shocking to see the tenure of Josh Gordon come to an abrupt end today when the Pats placed him on IR.

He thought differently and said he could again play this season.

Will the team make an injury settlement with him?

I hope he has success in the future if he signs with another team.

Is It Harry Time?

Will Pats WR and first round draft pick N'Keal Harry play this season? He is practicing with the team during their short window to activate him to the 53 man roster.

They need a lot of help on offense, but only so many players can play on that side of the ball.

Sam's Moment

The Pats beat the Jets tonight 33-0.They dominated in all three phases of the game as Coach Belichick would say.

Jets QB Sam Darnold said it all when he talked about seeing ghosts.

That will always be an epic sound bite.

The Great Lamar

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson is a very gifted player. He is so exciting to watch, but I wonder how long his playing style can last in the NFL.

The list is long of running quarterbacks who went down and lost their speed. Randall Cunningham and Michael Vick were so fast at one time, but their star faded too soon from injury.

We should enjoy these players.

UMass Can't Lose Today

It was a great day for the UMass Football program. The 1-6 team had a bye week so there was no way they could lose another game.

Who knows whether they can beat UConn on Homecoming Weekend.

Once again, the season is headed to another losing record.

Why can't they win? The team has great practice and training facilities.

Their schedule is so difficult as an Independent.

Brady Does It Better

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is a dual threat with his passing and ability to create a play when he runs. He was MVP last year while making it look so easy.

Tom Brady will never be considered a runner, but he can fall forward to get one yard for a first down when it really matters.

Last night against the Broncos, Mahomes tried a quarterback sneak that ended in disaster. It looked like a horrible knee injury, but has been diagnosed as a displace knee cap that could keep him out for up to six weeks. He is very luck that it wasn't for the season.

All of the great running quarterbacks start with an injury like this. Hopefully, it doesn't effect him long term.

Giving Up Too Much

There are a lot of teams that have no problem trading their future first round picks for a player they want.

The Jaguars finally traded disgruntled CB Jalen Ramsey to the Rams for first round picks in 2020 and 201, as well as a fourth-rounder in 2021.

It was a lot to give up for one player who is probably the best at his position in the league.

It remains to be seen if this was a good deal for both sides.

N'Keal Time

The Pats drafted WR N'Keal Harry in the first round this year. He has been injured, but finally practiced with the team for the first time.

There is a short window to activate him to the 53 man roster or place him on season ending IR.

It sounds like he might be ready, but we never know.

Bennett Out Monday Night

Will Michael Bennett be traded in light of his suspension for the Jets game? He has been very vocal about his lack of playing time and it finally boiled over with some type of discussion that got out of hand.

The Pats don't want to release him before the trading deadline because he could become a free agent and end up with a team they could face in the playoffs.

They will most likely trade him just to get something in return.

Ben Watson Back

It looks like Ben Watson will be back with the Pats tomorrow. He will return for a lot less money.

They will get him cheap because at age 38, he doesn't have too many options.

The Pats no longer have a fullback. It sounds like they might be going with three tight ends.

There is no doubt that the list of fullbacks is short.

Low XFL Pay

Nobody really knows if the XFL will succeed, but they won't be going broke paying their players.

The average salary will be $55,000 for the season, with a guaranteed minimum of $1,040 per week. They can max out at $4,947 per week with roster and win bonuses.

With salaries like that, fans can expect to see glorified college football or something on the level of the CFL where the pay is even less.

UMass 1-6

UMass lost 61-29 to Louisiana Tech. They drop to 1-6 with nothing to look forward to on the schedule.

It didn't help that they gave up 304 yards of passing and 365 on the ground. You can never win doing that.

Johnson Out

Pats FB Jakob Johnson was a nice story this season. He is the only player on a NFL roster from the special program for European players. He was doing a great job filling in for James Develin.

Johnson injured his shoulder last night in the team's win over the Giants and has been placed on Injured Reserve. The extent of the injury is unknown, but I'm sure Coach Belichick did not want to tie up a roster spot waiting for his return.

Does this leave an opening for Ben Watson to return after being released earlier this week? Belichick said that Watson was released due to a lack of a roster spot available. They can also sign him for a less money as his contract was voided upon his release.

The Biggest In 40 Years

When the Pats play the Giants tonight they will be 16 1/2 point favorites. This is the biggest spread in the last 40 years for a Giants team facing any opponent. The over/under is 42 1/2.

It will be a tough game for Big Blue with RB Shaquon Barley and WR Sterling Shepard out with injuries.

The defense of the Pats continues to be one of the best in the league. The bigger question is whether Tom Brady and the offense can really get going tonight.

Too Soon Between Games

The Pats and Giants will play on Thursday Night Football. It should get great ratings, especially in the Boston market.

Fans around the league love it, especially when their team is playing. However, it comes with a risk to the players.

Matthew Slater made a great a point when he said the time is too short between games when it comes to player safety.

Gronk's New Career

Some fans keep kidding themselves into thinking that Rob Gronkowski will return to the Pats this season. Other than joking around, he has not given any indication that he will be back.

Fox Sports announced today that he will added to their NFL Sunday program as a studio analyst. It remains to be seen if his personality will transition to success in that role.

It's a great opportunity for Gronk, but he will need to be serious most of the time.

UMass Now 1-5

The season for UMass continues to spiral downward after their latest loss of 44-0 against Florida International University. It dropped their record to 1-5 with more losses expected.

They were bad on both sides of the ball with only 38 yards of rushing and 77 passing. Their defense continues to one of the worst, giving up 278 yards on the ground and 263 passing.

There is no relief in sight as UMass plays a very tough schedule as an Independent.

Redskins 2019

Everyone is expecting the Pats to easily beat the Redskins today. The franchise has seen bad days during the ownership of Daniel Snyder.

Tickets were once impossible to get, but now the stadium has removed or covered many seats rather than show the emptiness.

The Redskins are a great example of how ownership can impact the franchise.

Nugent For Now

Mike Nugent is the new kicker for the Pats after Stephen Gotskowski was placed on Injured Reserve with a hip injury.

The former 2nd round pick of the Jets in 2005 is very well traveled around the league, with additional time with the Cardinals, Buccaneers, Bengals, Bears, Cowboys and Raiders.

His brief tenure with some teams has resulted him in only appearing in 164 games over 15 seasons.

He needs to perform well right from the start, otherwise his time with the Pats will be short.

Not The Last Kick

Some Pats fans must be happy that kicker Stephen Gotskowski has been placed on season ending Injury Reserve with a hip injury. He will undergo surgery very soon.

We will never know what procedure was performed or how long he dealt with it, although it was a factor last season and beyond. His hip must have finally given out.

They say he will come back and ready like nothing happened.

Some fans have been so critical of him because of his missed kicks. They didn't even think he might be injured.

Hopefully he has many more years with the team.

Jordan Richards 2.0

Fans can act so childish at times. It doesn't matter their age. They say so many stupid things, especially with the availability of social media.

After the Pats resigned free agent Jordan Richards, fans began to complain about the former safety who was here from 2015-2017. He was a punching bag for some back then because of a few plays.

I'm sure Coach Belichick wants him on the team.

Watson Back

It remains to be seen if TE Ben Watson plays on Sunday after serving a four game suspension for PED's.

The Pats knew this would happen when they signed him. It was a move they felt comfortable with after the retirement of Rob Gronkowski.

How much will he help the offense? Tom Brady had a terrible game against the Bills. The team is 29th in rushing yards per game.

It's early in the season, but they need to get it going.

The Conflicted Coach

Duke University head coach David Cutliffe must be very happy to see his former quarterback Daniel Jones enjoying success as the starter with the Giants.

Jones has a record of 2-0 after taking over for Eli Manning who got the team off to an 0-2 start.

Cutliffe must have mixed emotions as he coached Eli at Ole Miss while he was in charge there. He also spent time on the staff at Tennessee when Peyton was there.

So many players and coaches cross paths around the league.

Brady Will Be Talked About

The Pats were able to beat the Bills 16-10 today, but it was an ugly win for the offense.

The defense and special teams came up with great plays, but QB Tom Brady was 10/39 for 150 yards and one interception in the end zone which killed a big scoring drive.

There is no doubt that sports talk shows will be fixated on Brady and the offense. They didn't play well. Hopefully, they can do better next Sunday with the 0-4 Redskins.

Tough Betting Game

The Pats are favored over the Bills by 7 points with and over and under of 42 1/2.

That says so much about this game. Two teams with great defenses.

It should be a great one.

A New Stance For Brown

Four days ago, Antonio Brown said he would never play again in the NFL. Many fans doubted he would stay with that line.

Apparently, he has changed his mind and is considering a return to football.

He must first find a team that is willing to pay him what he wants. They must also deal with the baggage he brings to any team. He could also face disciplinary action from the league.

His story is far from being over.

Three QB's Now

It's a shame that the Pats released QB Brian Hoyer at the end of training camp, but he was able to grab a great deal with the Colts as a backup to Jacoby Brissett.

The team signed free agent QB Cody Kessler to the 53 man roster. The move makes a lot of sense. Tom Brady might miss practices this season as he recovers from games. They need another option besides rookie Jarrett Stidham.

Kessler gives them a player with 17 starts since being drafted by the Browns as a 3rd round pick in 2016.

Nobody can really predict how long he will be with the team.

Nothing To Show

Hall of Fame QB Troy Aiknman did a great job in telling people to pump the brakes on younger ones like Patrick Mahomes. These players put up great numbers, but have no championships to show for it. They have a future ahead of them.

Statistics play a huge role in the history of the game, but the fantasy league syndrome has taken over.

Let's see where he is five years from now. No doubt he will put up big numbers if he stays healthy.

A Chance For Jakob

The Pats offense took a big hit with the loss of FB James Develin for at least eight weeks with a neck injury. His role has been huge and played over 40% of the offensive snaps so far.

Very few teams in the NFL employ a fullback, but Coach Belichick is a big fan of them.

Jakob Johnson, a native of Germany, will now step up. He is a player from the NFL's international outreach program to players in Europe.

Johnson played tight end at Tennessee, but he would never have a chance without this program.

Brown Turns On Kraft

Antonio Brown wants to be the center of attention. He fired up a storm on Twitter today taking shots at everyone, including team owner Robert Kraft.

He was due $9 million tomorrow as part of his signing bonus. Once the team cut him for personal conduct, the money came off the table.

Brown wants his money. Kraft will fight him to the end on this.

UMass 0-4

UMass is now 0-4 after losing 62-28 to Coastal Carolina today. They were totally outmatched from the start.

The defense of UMass has been unable to stop anyone this season.

It's only going to get worse as UMass plays tough opponents as an Independent.

Brown Done With Pats

It was inevitable that things would get to the point when the Pats released WR Antonio Brown today. It ended 11 days of turmoil.

The team released a very brief statement about moving on. Where does Brown go from here? This story is so crazy and is not going away.

Jones Time

The Giants are 0-2 and going nowhere. The job of Coach Pat Shurmur is on the line with another losing season.

He felt it was time to make the switch to Daniel Jones at quarterback who is really the future of the team. Eli will be 39 shortly. Time is the enemy for him.

Nobody knows how it will go with Jones. He could get hurt and Eli would be back in.

Eli is a free agent at the end of the season. I hope he keeps playing.

Fenway Follies

One more college bowl game won't matter. Fenway Park will be the site of the first Fenway Bowl in 2010.

It will match a team from the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) and AAC (American Athletic Conference).

It just adds to the glut of games already scheduled. It will end up being a contest between two teams with six or seven wins. They won't be getting the ranked ones.

The participating teams will be happy as long as they make money. It remains to be seen what type of crowd they draw.

Clock Ticking On Manning

The Giants are now 0-2 with things looking bad right now. It's only a matter of time before they pull the plug on Eli Manning and go with Daniel Jones.

Manning is not to blame, but it comes with the position. With the latest losses, Manning is 116-116 lifetime and 41-64 since 2012.

The numbers don't lie. Fans are getting restless. Manning isn't getting any younger.

Adam On The Line

Last night, we were hearing rumors that Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri might retire today because of the poor start to his season.

He has missed five of eight kicks so far, which included three extra point attempts and field goals from 44 and 29 yards.

As of tonight, he plans to keep playing. How will this end up? Many kickers get cut because of numbers like this.

The Colts plan to keep him for now.

The League Needs Their Best

Week 2 of the NFL had some great plays, but it was sad to see QB's Ben Roethlisberger and Drew Brees go down with injuries. It's hard to determine how much time they might miss, but it could be several weeks.

The NFL needs to keep its best players on the field. There is no guarantee on that. Things happen real fast.

Pats fans need to pump the brakes and be thankful about not having major injuries. It could happen on any play.

Fans Want To see Him

A week ago, the last thing fans were thinking was Antonio Brown being on the team. Since his signing, he has dominated the news feed. It's all about him.

We don't know if he is even playing on Sunday. He has been cleared by the league to play, but it's all up to Coach Belichick. He also has a game day roster bonus of over 500k that he really wants to earn.

Fans want to see him. It will help drive the television ratings. The NFL needs that.

Gronk's Inury List

After listening to Rob Gronkowski, it's easy to see why he retired so soon from the NFL. He admitted to nine surgeries during his career, as well as over twenty concussions. He blacked-out during at least five of them.

His body was just done with football. He cited the mentally draining aspect of trying to come back from all of his medical situations.

Selfish fans want him to keep playing, but they should be happy for him. He knew when it was time to walk away.

Speculation Was Inevitable

Boston sports talk radio can be a challenge to listen to at times. Statements are made that are not backed up by any facts.

Talk show hosts are now speculating whether Coach Belichick and the Krafts knew anything about the legal issues of Antonio Brown before they signed him.

They are engaging in the "what did they know and when did they know it" school of journalism. They are trying to entertain at the expense of guessing about the facts.

AB Might Be Short

I'm not sure if all Pats fans are on board with Antonio Brown in light of his recent personal legal issues.

We can't deny it looks bad now. How does it all end?

Thomas Gone

The signing of WR Antonio Brown meant that someone needed to go. It was just of who and when.

Demaryius Thomas became the one when he was traded to the Jets for a 6th round draft pick.

It doesn't seem like that much, but they would have released him at some point. It was better than nothing.

Don't Watch Beckham

Odell Beckham Jr made his Browns debut against the Titans. He had a line of 7 receptions/71 yards in the team's 43-13 loss.

He made a bigger impact with the watch he wore during the game. With a value of $350,000, it caught the attention of the media as well as the league.

Bekham was in violation of the rules against "wearing hard objects". He will most likely be spoken to, but the league doesn't want to start a trend with players trying to outdo each other.

Not Everyone Happy About Brown

Fans seem to be quite happy about the Pats signing Antonio Brown. Other than the money, it looks like a pretty safe situation for the team.

Not everyone on the team is happy as a player will need to be released. Who will it be? Will it be a receiver? Will that player get another chance in the league?

Antonio Brown

It's hard to believe that Antonio Brown is now with the Pats. It happened so fast after his time with the Raiders ended so abruptly.

He can't play Sunday night because he was signed after the league mandated deadline of 4:00 pm.

Paying him $15 million is a significant investment. It's going to be quite a story to watch.

Act Wearing Thin

Antonio Brown continues to create drama with the Raiders. The team might suspend him in light of his outburst against GM Mike Mayock.

They must be wondering why they traded for him. They only gave up a third and fifth round pick, but foolishly renegotiated a new contract for 3 years/$50.5 million.

Nothing has worked so far. The Raiders face the Broncos Monday night. Will Brown play?

The Easy Choice

I thought the NFL made the right choice in having the Bears and Packers open the 2019 season. They are two of the original franchises.Their history goes back to day one of the league.

The Pats will get their moment on Sunday Night Football when they raise their sixth championship banner and play the Steelers in prime time.

More Dollars For Jacoby

Colts QB Jacoby Brissett had the great fortune of being drafted by the Pats and later traded to the Colts. He will be the starter after the sudden retirement of Andrew Luck.

Brisett came into the league without an agent. He just negotiated a 2 year/ $30 million extension on his own. He said he doesn't need anyone speaking on his behalf.

It looks like smart move as he will pocket the fee his agent would have charged him.

Losing Money This Year

Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota were the first two picks in the 2015 draft, but they start their fifth season playing under their rookie contracts. The Bucs and Titans have taken a slow approach to signing extensions with them.

Both quarterbacks have had their bright moments, but not enough for the teams to commit for a long term.

This is just another example of the hype behind some payers and the draft. Things don't always work out for whatever reason.

Hoyer Cashes In

Former Pats QB Brian Hoyer should thank Coach Belichick for releasing him in the final cut down. He was signed by the Colts to a 3 year/$12 million contract with $9 million guaranteed.

It's a big raise from the $915,000 he earned with the Pats in 2018. He will serve as a very capable backup to Jacoby Brissett who became the starter after the sudden retirement of Andrew Luck.

Pats fans were hoping that Hoyer would be resigned as the team's third quarterback, but the Colts made an offer that Hoyer could not turn down.

Duke To Denver

I think the Pats did a favor for CB Duke Dawson when they traded him to Denver, along with a 7th round pick for a 6th in return.

At least he is going to a team that was willing to trade for him. Will he make it through the entire season with the Broncos?

He is like so many other players who got released. There are only so many jobs out there.

Roster Games

Teams around the NFL are down to their 53 man roster, with the practice squad still to be decided. There are always many surprises.

Some veteran players are released with the understanding that they will be resigned by their team.

WR Demaryius Thomas is a great example. After his initial release, he can be signed for cheaper money. It happens all around the league.

For the Pats, this initial 53 will not be the same for Week One.

UMass 2019

UMass starts their season tonight when they are hosted by Rutgers. It's a big payday for UMass as they will get $1.5 million for being served up to a team that is favored by 15 1/2.

The Minutemen have struggled since going to a Division I program. Their schedule has been filled with bowl bound teams. In the last five years, they are 15-45. They could seek easier opponents, but have chosen to pursue top notch ones.

Fans want to see improvement. A winning season would be amazing, but who knows whether it will happen.

The big question tonight is the final score and where they stand with the over and under of 55.

Final Game For Some

Teams are playing their final preseason game. Their main goal should be to not get anyone hurt. No matter what, someone will get injured and miss the season. It happens every year.

Many players will never suit up again after tonight. It's a harsh reality of the NFL.

The Final 1,200

Coach Belichick made a great comment on the release of 1,200 players on Saturday. They get traded and released. It happens every year.

No matter what, someone will end up on the roster that we never expected.

The roster will be fluid the first few weeks.

Many careers are about to end. They just don't know yet.

A Brown Helmet

Raiders WR Antonio Brown has captured media attention with his never ending quest to wear a helmet that doesn't meet NFL guidelines for safety. He has lost two grievances before an arbitrator. He received an ultimatum from GM Mike Mayock to be a part of the team or not.

Several helmet makers have stepped forward to make Brown their endorser by supplying him with their product and gathering all the attention.

In the end, Brown will make money off of this. It was a great move on his part.

Andrew Luck Retired

Colts QB Andrew Luck surprised everyone when he announced his retirement at the age of 29 during the team's preseason game Saturday night. He said the injuries had taken a toll on him mentally and physically.

With two weeks to go until the start of the season, it was not the best time for this. Luck needs to take care of himself.

Colt fans should be ashamed of the reaction by some who booed him off the field after it was announced during the game. Luck expressed his shock and disappointment to their response.

A Short Career On Fox

Many former players try to make it in broadcasting. Not everyone is successful. The important thing is to have a chance.

Former Pats DL Vince Wilfork was a contributor to the Fox pregame show last season with short funny stories.

Something just didn't work and Fox decided not to keep him on for this season. He has a lot of potential if given the right situation.

Odell Keeps It Going

Odell Beckham Jr cannot move on after his trade from the Giants to the Browns,

He claims that it wasn't a business decision by them, but rather done out of spite.

He also groused about his passing routes that he felt were so predictable with Eli taking the snaps.

Much is expected from him this season.

Tuesday's Nonsense

People on sports talk radio just float ideas out there. It doesn't matter if there is any substance to them.

One station spent too much time talking about whether Jerod Mayo will be the next coach of the Pats. He has been a coach for two preseason games and they want to move him to the next spot.

The same goes for Belichicks kids who are on the coaching staff. Who knows what their long terms plans are? Anything thoughts are pure speculation.

Punter Gone

The Pats released six year punter Ryan Miller today. There are some salary cap implications, but it's all about saving money here and there.

Their 5th round draft pick Jake Bailey is a bargain for them. A good chance to cut player cost.

Jakobi Time

Pats rookie WR Jakobi Meyers is making a strong case to grab a roster spot. He has excelled in training camp and the first two preseason games.

How did he go undrafted? He has a very good chance to make it.

Getting Through Game 2

The Pats beat the Titans 22-17 and all that, but it was more important that both teams went away without any major injuries.

Tough decisions will be made on the roster. There will be players that they don't want to release, but they get caught up in a numbers and position situation.

Tom Brady didn't play. That will be talked about.

Josh Gordon Back

It was great news to hear that WR Josh Gordon has been reinstated to the NFL and allowed to rejoin the Pats.

He is such a brilliant and talented player, but has only played in 36 games in the last six years due to his suspensions.

Everyone wants to see this work. Hopefully, there is a network in place to support, but not stifle him.

Nobody ever wants to walk on egg shells, but he is under a lot of pressure to succeed because of his talent.

Everyone wants the best for him.

Coach Vrabel

I think it was a great idea for the Pats to hold joint practices with the Titans before their game on Saturday night.

There are so many story lines in this one, especially with Mike Vrabel as a head coach. What a transition he has made. It was inevitable that he would get to this point.

He was such a joy in his time with the Pats while being part of three Super Bowl winners. He was a also deadly receiver as a tight end with critical catches from Tom Brady.

He should have a good coaching career.

Gone For 2019

Injuries happen during games or practices. Some are season ending based on the amount of time needed to rehab.

Lions WR Jermaine Kearse will miss the rest of the season after breaking his leg in the preseason game against the Pats.

Former Pats OL LaAdrian Waddle signed a one year/$2 million deal with the Bills, but tore his quadricep and is out for the year.

Both players certainly had their futures impacted.

Every injury is different.

A Union Within The Union

As the NFL owners and Players Association attempt to come up with a new CBA, running backs as a group have petitioned the National Labor Relations Board to recognize them as a separate union. They call themselves the International Brotherhood of Running Backs.

They have a valid point with their position having the shortest career of 2.57 years. They are the second lowest paid with an average salary of $1.291 million annually. Only long snappers earn less, in addition to the small number of full backs on several teams.

It remains to be seen how this will work out or whether it will have any life to it.

Helmet Retire

Tom Brady discussed his concerns about his helmet in light of the crazy situation going on with Antonio Brown. Brady gave his up very reluctantly, but it's part of the agreement between the league and the Players Association. It's all about player safety.

Many players around the league are happy with their helmet, but must comply with the new rule.

Colin's Third Year

Colin Kaepernick is back in the news with a recent social media posting about waiting for a chance to play in the NFL again.

He sat out the 2017 and 2018 seasons as no team approached him with a contract. In a league starving for quarterbacks, nobody wants to take the lead and whatever comes with it.

We keep hearing that he would be signed if a team felt he could play. They probably don't want to deal with the controversy he would bring.

Brown Helmet Issues

The Raiders must be wondering why they agreed to add WR Antonio Brown to their team. He is now threatening to retire if the NFL doesn't allow him to wear the helmet he has worn for the last ten years.

The league has new standards for the equipment which forced players to give up their headgear.

Brown does a lot of things for attention, but he isn't about to walk away from millions.

Preseason Game One 2019

Pats fans need to pump the brakes with anything that happened in last night's win over the Lions. They had a lot of good things, but too many penalties.

Some players made impressions in some phase of the game. It's up to the coaches to sort them all out.

The final cut to 53 and practice squad is very difficult.

Preseason Week One - 2019

The NFL preseason starts tonight with games around the league. The Pats will be hosted by the Lions.

All teams have the same two goals: getting reps for their new players and not losing anyone to injury.

It's very hard for teams to make it through the next four weeks without losing someone to a season ending injury.

Money Year For Jimmy G

Every NFL player has something to prove this season. They are always fighting for their next contract.

When the 49er's traded with the Pats for QB Jimmy Garappolo, they structured his contract in such a way to protect themselves.

They gave him a deal for 5 years/$137.5 million, with $42 million paid in 2018 and $18.9 million this season. IF they don't like his performance, they can release him before April 1 of next year and void the last 3 years/$76.3 million.

Garoppolo is returning from tearing his ACL in the third game last season. He needs to prove that he is durable. He has shown great ability on the field, but staying healthy could be a challenge.

Just Flip The Coin

I don't bet on games, but it must be a real challenge to make a pick on a preseason game. The Pats are favored by 1 1/2 over the Lions Thursday night, with and over/under of 36.

It's almost like flipping a coin in determining the winner. That goes the same for total points.

There will be a lot of action to start the season.

Brady Not Concerned

Some fans and talk show hosts are making a big deal of Tom Brady's new three year contract extension. He gets a pay raise of $8 million and will earn $23 million this season.

The contract has two placeholder years for salary cap purposes at a total of $64 million. Brady will become a free agent at the end of this season. He will then negotiate another deal with the Pats.

At this point, it only makes sense to go year to year. Brady has defied age, but he is going where few have ever gone.

Not Geno Time

When QB Geno Smith signed with the Seahawks earlier this year, he felt it was a good opportunity to be a backup to Russell Wilson. He is now the third quarterback, with Paxton Lynch in front of him.

Smith feels that he can be a starter if given the right situation. It won't happen in Seattle.

If he feels the way he does, he should ask for his release now. Waiting to the end of training camp will force him to compete with younger players.

Did his time with the Jets at the start of his career hurt his future prospects?

Time To Apply

Josh Gordon has applied for reinstatement to the NFL. How will this go? Will he get suspended for more games? Will he play this season?

He has wasted so much of his career. His track record is not good for avoiding drug suspensions.

Everyone wants to see him succeed. He has so much talent. It's a shame he is wasting it.

Training Camp 2019

I attended training camp for the Pats today. It might be the last one open to the public since they are off tomorrow and travel to Detroit on Sunday for joint practices with the Lions next week.

There was so much going on. Every snap is critical to the players involved. Everyone has their own story of how they got to this point.

For some, it's the grind of another camp. Some players are hoping to keep their dream alive with a roster spot or a stint on the practice squad.

Unfortunately, the 90 man roster will be trimmed down to 53 active and 10 practice squad members. A few always end up on IR or the PUP.

Some players are facing the end of the road. Their future will be decided for them.

Adjusting The Cap

Nothing is done in Foxborough without a reason. There must one for not giving Tom Brady a new contract. It only makes sense from a salary cap point to negotiate.

The team only has $7.49 million in cap space. They can really help themselves by redoing his contract.

Brady has a modest salary of $15 million, but the 4th highest cap hit in the league at $27 million. His $12 million gap is the largest in the league.

He said he wants to play until he is 45, but at this point, he is really year to year.

Need More Selections

There was no doubt that Rodney Harrison would end up in the Pats Hall of Fame. It was good to see the committee honor the great OL Leon Gray who is no longer with us.

He was part of a great line of the 1970's with Hall of Famer John Hannah. Fans can only appreciate watching some of his game film. I saw him on TV back then in black and white.

The committee should continue to honor the players from the pre-Kraft/Parcells/Belichick/Brady era.

Optimism 2019 Edition

This is the time of year for optimism around the league. The New York Jets are leading the way with pumping it up. Everyone is saying the right things.

RB LeVeon Bell wants 500 touches, whether it's running or receiving. His goal is to get to the Super Bowl.

Coach Adam Gase is all about the team coming together. He wants to play meaningful games late into the season.

Will that happen?

Checking Jerry

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones needs to check his own statements in light of the holdout by RB Ezekial Elliot.

Jones doesn't want to give Elliot a new contract with two years left on his current one. He said that his team doesn't need a rushing leader to win a Super Bowl.

He must have forgotten about Emmitt Smith who lead the league in rushing and helped the team with three Super Bowls.

Boring Beckham

The Browns gave up a lot to get WR Odell Beckham Jr. He brings a large amount of baggage with him as he wants all of the attention.

in a recent interview, he said he kept the brand of the Giants alive last season because people wanted to see him play. It was all about him.

QB Eli Manning and GM Dave Gettleman shrugged it off, but Beckham really needs to focus on this season rather than living in the past.

It didn't work out for him with the Giants for a number of reason.

A Time To Switch

The journey of QB Danny Etling to the NFL is taking a detour. After being drafted in 2018 by the Pats in the 7th round, he spent the season on the practice squad where he excelled on the scout team.

With the drafting of Jarrett Stidham, it looked like Etling might be squeezed out in a league starving for talent at that position.

Apparently, he will spend his time with the receivers. Could he become another Julian Edelman who was in a similar situation at one time?

Etling faces an uphill battle to make the roster, but this might be his best option. Would he have better chances on another team? It remains to be seen what his fate will be.

Balloon In

Antonio Brown loves attention whether with the Steelers or his new Raider team. He arrived at training camp in a hot air balloon.

The media loved the story. He was immediately put on the "non-football" injury list.

It will soon become a circus with their "Hard Knocks" participation and Brown as the star.

Training Camp 2019

The 2019 training camp began today for the Pats. There are many questions, but that happens every year.

The team will move on from Gronk. He leaves a big hole in the offense, but Coach Belichick will make the necessary adjustments.

Camp starts with 90 players. Some will come and go. When the final cuts are made for the opening day roster, we can feel certain that several of the 53 spots will be tweaked throughout the season.

Mark Sanchez

One door closed and another one opened when QB Mark Sanchez decided to call it a career after 10 seasons. He will now be a college football studio analyst for ABC.

Although he was the fifth overall pick of the 2009 draft by the Jets, he will be forever known for his "Buttfumble" play in a 2012 Thanksgiving game against the Pats which resulted in a touchdown.

Although he began his career leading the Jets to back to back AFC Championship games, his career faltered at times. After five seasons with the Jets, he bounced around to the Eagles, Bears, Cowboys and Redskins, mostly as a backup while appearing in 17 games.

He leaves the NFL with a line of 1,314/2,320 for 15,537 yards and 86 TD's during the regular season.

In site of playing for the minimum salary of $322,000 last season, he still enjoys a net worth of $40 million.

Thumb Silence

There seems to be a big mystery around the thumb injury suffered by WR Julian Edelman. It will sideline him for the first three weeks of the Pats training camp.

Nobody is reporting on how it happened. What is the big mystery? Was he doing something stupid?

Skeptics would say that if it happened under normal circumstances, it would be reported. The team probably knows, but there is silence.

The Jumping Fool

Tom Brady posted another video of himself cliff diving in Costa Rica. This time he jumped with his six year old daughter who appeared reluctant in the final moment.

I think this showed very poor judgment on his part. He seems to feel that he is invincible to anything. His body and mind is remarkable to be able to play at his level as he approaches 42.

He should not push his luck. He has lived a charmed life in the NFL with only one major injury. He must know that it could end on one play.

Maybe doing stuff like this is what he needs to keep going.

Will he play until he is 45? At this point, it will be year to year.

Darren Sproles

RB Darren Sproles signed a one year contract with the Eagles. Time is running out on the 36 year old who ranks sixth in all-purpose yards with 19,520. He needs 163 to pass Tim Brown for fifth place.

If he has a good season, he should stick around for another year to try and catch Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton. Brian Mitchell and Jerry Rice, the all-time leader appear to be out of reach unless he plays for a few more years.

No matter what, he is in select company.

Win Now or Else

The New York media is pointing fingers at Giants QB Eli Manning and saying it's all on his shoulders to get off to a good start this season.

After going 8-24 over the last four seasons, GM Dave Gettleman and Coach Pat Shurmur are on a short leash.

Manning will get replaced by 6th overall pick Daniel Jones if he falters, but Gettleman and Shurmur will be gone if the team doesn't make the playoffs.

There is no room for error.

He Made His Point

A Kansas City Chiefs fan who pointed a laser at Tom Brady during the AFC Championship game was fined $500 after pleading guilty to disturbing the peace. He was also banned for life from Arrowhead Stadium.

The penalties could have been much worse, but he walked away easy. He didn't even say he was sorry.

His behavior has no place at sporting events. People like him are so selfish in their actions. At least, he was banned for life.

Start The Injuries

Injuries are a part of football. Some teams have already lost players during OTA's. When training camps open over the next week, the stage will be set for more.

Every team will lose at least one player for the season. Some will lose several. Pre-season games become a demolition derby. Some players will make a roster at the expense of others.

The goal for training camp is to get ready for the regular season without losing too many players.

The final toll around the league will be too high, but it happens every year.

Kicking Money Out The Door

Some NFL contracts are getting out of control. The 49er's finally agreed to terms with kicker Robby Gould after threatening him with the franchise tag.

They gave him 4 years/$19 million, with $10.5 million guaranteed for the first two seasons.

Gould has been a great kicker, but those who play the position know how much they live on the edge. It would be a shock if Gould ever collected all of his money.

Ryan Leaf

Ryan Leaf and Peyton Manning were the two top draft picks in the 1998 NFL draft. There was endless discussion of who should go first. The Colts picked Manning with the first selection while the Chargers went with Ryan Leaf.

Manning went on to have a career that will lead him to the Hall of Fame, while Leaf flamed out after a few seasons.

It got worse for Leaf over the years with numerous arrests for drugs and other charges. In 2012, he was arrested in Montana for breaking and entering which violated his previous parole in Texas. He ended up serving two years in prison.

It appears that Leaf has make a miraculous comeback after ESPN announced that they will hire him as a college football analyst. He now has another opportunity to make the most of his life.

They All Want It

Commissioner Roger Goodell has indicated that he would like to have a new CBA in place before the start of the regular season. Although it doesn't expire until the end of the 2020 season, it would be advantageous for everyone.

Players want a quicker route to free agency and a bigger slice of the revenue. Owners want an 18 game regular season. They also want to negotiate new television and media contracts.

It's all about the money. Everyone will also express a concern about player safety.

The Ultimate Throw

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is a multi-talented athlete. He had a chance to play professional baseball, but chose the NFL

His arm strength was on full display the other day when he threw a ball out and over the top of Arrowhead Stadium. It landed on the concourse.

Players get an automatic fine for throwing the ball into the stands during a game. Mahomes could bring it to a new level if he did it when trying to get rid of the ball.

They Will Wait For Nick

The Houston Texans plan to go with a GM by committee this season after being unable to pry Nick Caserio from the Pats. It's a little late to get another candidate that they want.

Will they sign Caserio after the end of the 2019 season? Does he want to go to a team that keeps turning over front office people?

There is really no further for him to go with the Pats. He can keep doing his job and hope to win another Super Bowl. It won't happen in Houston.

Albert Haynesworth

When the Pats traded for DL Albert Haynesworth in 2011, it was very controversial. They gave up a 2013 fifth round pick to the Redskins to acquire the very talented player with a lot of baggage.

Haynesworth burst into the NFL as the 15th overall pick by the Titans in 2002. He made two All-Pro and two Pro Bowl teams, but was mired with fines and suspensions due to on-field conduct during games, including stomping on a player.

The Titans cut ties with him after 2008, but it didn't stop the Redskins from giving him a 7 year/$100 million free agent contract. That proved to be a bad decision. Coach Belichick saw the talent and rolled the dice with a trade to get him in 2011.

He never lived up to his potential before the Pats released him in November after a loud confrontation with Coach Pepper Johnson. Tampa Bay signed him for the remainder of 2011 before his career ended.

He stayed under the radar until he suffered brain aneurism in 2014. He resurfaced yesterday with a social media posting announcing that he was suffering from kidney failure and asking for help with a kidney donation.

It remains to be seen what his future holds, but at the age of 38, his body is already broken down.

Jared Lorenzen

Former Giants QB Jared Lorenzen lost his battle with health the other day at the age of 30. He had been fighting kidney and heart issues as well as a weight problem that had him tipping the scales at 500 pounds.

He was a brilliant quarterback at Kentucky and set many passing records. In spite of his accomplishments, he was undrafted, but signed with the Giants in 2004.

He was a backup to Eli Manning when the Giants beat the Pats in Super Bowl XLII. His career never got off the ground before a short stint with arena football.

His funeral is being paid by players from Kentucky's biggest rival Louisville, including Deion Branch and Chris Redman.

It's very nice gesture of the support by former opponents on the gridiron.

No Time For Visit

It doesn't look like the Pats will visit the White House for their Super Bowl Championship. With two weeks until training camp, the logistics probably rule it out. Some players are now on other rosters.

I never thought much of the visits. They are a waste of time for everyone involved. It doesn't matter who is president. Players from every sport skip the invite.

Playing Catch With Gronk

Boston sports talk shows will be buzzing over Tom Brady throwing passes to Rob Gronkowski earlier today at UCLA.

Gronk was in town for a charity event and hooked up with Brady for a workout. He has lost 15 pounds according to a recent interview and enjoying retirement.

Anything is possible during the season. Gronk will need to adjust to no longer playing.

A Jacket & Ring For Them Too

The Hall of Fame needs to take a look at how they honor deceased inductees. The families of the late Junior Seau and Ken Stabler did not get a HOF gold jacket or a ring that would have been awarded to the inductee.

This year, the family of the late Broncos owner Pat Bowden will get his jacket and ring. Bowden passed away after he was selected and prior to his formal induction.They made an exception for him, but not for the families of Seau and Stabler.

It seems a bit much to make a big deal over giving a ring and jacket to the families. Seau and Stabler deserved better.

Same Comments Every Year

It's foolish to waste any time on players who are no longer with the Pats. That's why Coach Belichick brushes those questions off.

Players come and go throughout the league. It happens every year.

Tre Flowers spent four seasons here and scored the contract of his life. He was a good player who worked hard. Fans wish him the best, but he was just another draft choice when he came here.

Things work out for some players and not others. There is some undrafted player who will make the final 53 for the Pats. It happens every year around here.

A Second Stroke

Fans were shocked to hear that former Pats LB Tedy Bruschi had another stoke yesterday.

He had his first after the Super Bowl win in the 2005 season. he came back to play three more years.

It will be interesting to see what caused this one. Did it have anything to do with his time in the NFL?

Losing Pounds

The NFL Network and other sports talk radio discussed the weight loss by players after they decide it's over. Everyone loses a lot of pounds. It varies by position, but it can get real high.

Players come and go through the league. Nobody is bigger than the game. Their career will end sooner rather than later.

Smaller Gronk

Pats fans need to move on from Rob Gronkowski. He seems pretty happy with retirement. Who knows how he will feel in late December when the Pats are trying to make a playoff run.

There was a lot of buzz over how much smaller he looked. Gronk claims he only lost 15 pounds to get down to 250. He obviously looks different from last year.

It's a shame he is leaving the game at such an early age. Maybe he might feel different after a year or two off.

Mark Rypien Resurfaces

Former Redskins QB Mark Rypien will forever be known as the MVL of Super Bowl XXXVI. It was mentioned in the first sentence of most news reports discussing his arrest for domestic violence.

He was arrested by Spokane, Washington police after a disturbance with his wife. Rypien has been very public about his concerns on head trauma suffered in the NFL and aggressive behavior he has exhibited in retirement.

Hopefully, he gets help with his situation.

Ezekial 2.0

Cowboys RB Ezekial Elliot was already on a short leash with the NFL personal conduct policy. His latest allegations in Las Vegas don't help the situation.

He was never arrested in this incident, but didn't need to make the news and get on the radar.

We can only imagine the statement from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. He will defend to the end. Can't argue with a guy who increased the value of his franchise by billions and rippled through the NFL.

All About The Roster

There are only so many jobs in the NFL. It's all about being on a roster in whatever way that works to get credited service time.

It seems like the pension and benefit programs vary for players between different eras.

What will the new CBA do for the players built the game of today?

MLB Copies The NFL

Major League Baseball took a big step today when they copied the NFL with their two game series in London between the Res Sox and Yankees.

Playing in Europe is all about expanding the market to millions of potential fans.

It's hard to imagine a team in London full-time in the NFL or MLB. The travel logistics are so daunting.

Both leagues should continue to play games. They wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't worth it financially.

Who knows what will happen in the next 50 years of the NFL and MLB?

Tom & Peyton

I thought it was really nice that Tom Brady posted a picture of him and Peyton Manning with a "spoiler alert" that they have always been friends.

There is nothing wrong with that. Players know each other from high school, college and their time in the NFL.

I always enjoyed watching the post-game celebrations between players and coaches. There are so many connections.

Please Release Them

Jets CB Daryl Roberts is one of many former players on the Pats who found success after being released by them.

He was a 7th round pick in the 2015 draft, but ended up on IR after breaking his wrist in the first pre-season game.

He was released by the Pats at the end of training camp in 2016. The Jets claimed him and kept him on their practice squad for the next two seasons.

In 2018, he started ten games and was able to get a 3 year/$18 million contract from the Jets in the off-season. Only $6 million is guaranteed, but it's money he probably wasn't expecting to earn.

Alex Smith

It's very unfortunate to see that Redskins QB Alex Smith might never make it back to the NFL. He broke his tibia and fibula back on November 18th against the Texans.

At age 35, he is still learning how to run again. With training camp a month away, the clock is really ticking. He could be well enough to walk with his family, but not play quarterback in the NFL.

I hope he goes on Injured Reserve, gets paid and credit for one more season in the NFL.

He has had quite a ride, but probably never thought it would end this way.

Neither did former Redskins great Joe Theismann who went on DC sports talk radio and doubted if Smith would ever play again.

Under The Radar

News of a new CBA is flying below the radar. Not much has been said by either side.

The owners want more games. The players want more money and bigger rosters in return.

What will be the final solution?

A Good Bet

Caesars Entertainment is the official casino partner of the NFL. They installed odds for all teams knowing that only twelve teams will make the playoffs.

The Pats are an overwhelming favorite to get to the post-season. I never bet, but the Pats have a line where one would need to wager $850 to win $100. That sounds like a safe bet to me, given the team's history.

What Could Be With Josh

Tom Brady is trying to help Josh Gordon as he attempts to make it back to the NFL. He posted on social media. It remains to be seen if he plays this year.

Brady has taken him under his wing and included him in family dinners. Will this be enough to keep him from another suspension?

The unfortunate thing about Gordon is that it's very easy to bet against him. He has so much talent and Brady knows that.

College Might Be Best

There are so many players and coaches who take jobs just to stay relevant. People can forget you real fast when they don't hear your name.

A coach's life is filled with staff firings and moving to another job.

Do you coach in college or the NFL? What are your job options?

So many people out there give their life to the game.

Mayo & BB 2019

Coaching staffs change all the time around the NFL and colleges. The Pats are no exception, especially this year.

It seems like former Pats LB Jerod Mayo is a perfect fit for this time. Coach Belichick raves about him.

I have no doubt that he will be very involved with BB in calling the defense this year, whatever it is.

Retirement For Josh McGown

Josh McGown is turning 40 in July. He decided to retire from the NFL after 16 seasons and one in the United Football League.

He started a job with ESPN as one of their analysts. It remains to be seen how it all works out.

He will always be a great example of having a long career as a backup quarterback and occasional starter. He threw for 17,707 yards and 98 TD's.

It was a remarkable journey for the 3rd round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2002. He thought he would be with them for his entire career, but that didn't happen. He spent time with ten teams during his long ride.

It's a real tribute to him that he was able to play professionally for 17 years.

Brady & Gordon

Pats fans were able to see a video on Instagram posted by Tom Brady of a workout with Josh Gordon.

It remains to be seen if Gordon ever makes it back without another suspension. His career could've been so much better.

He was really starting to gel with Tom Brady last season before it all ended. He had a great opportunity here and it still didn't work out.

He has so much talent. What will his story be this season?

Smart Nickname

Former XFL and Panthers RB Rod Smart had one of the best nicknames ever in "He Hate Me". He became an instant hit in the XFL before the league flamed out after one season.

He ended up playing five years in the NFL, mostly with the Panthers. He was a fan favorite and a member of the team from 2003 that lost to the Pats in the Super Bowl.

He became a news story today after a missing person report was filed on his behalf. He had not been seen in almost a week.

The mystery was solved after six hours, but many questions were left unanswered.

Hopefully, things work out for him in the future.

A Path For Lauletta

Before the 2018 NFL Draft, QB Kyle Lauletta was seen as a good fit for the Pats for a variety of reasons. He ended up being selected by the Giants during the 4th round.

He played in only one game where he was 0/5. Off the field issues also haunted him.

Once the team selected Daniel Jones in the first round this year, Lauletta fell down the depth chart.

To make matters worse, they signed journeyman Alex Tanney who has bounced around for seven seasons while playing in only one regular-season game.

It looks like Lauletta and Tanney are fighting to be the third quarterback which might not even be viable if the team decides to go with Manning and Jones.

No matter what happens, Tanney will find work with some team. The Giants are already his ninth stop.

Players Out There In 2019

Players keep playing in arena football and semi-pro teams with a hope at getting a tryout with some team.

The odds are steep, but some make it to the final cut of training camp and on a roster.

Many have an impact on their team. It happens every year.

Why Go To Texas

Pats Director of Player Personnel Nick Caserio was the top choice of the Houston Texans for their GM job. Apparently, he had a clause in his contract that made it a moot point.

Why would he want to leave other than being bored and looking for a new challenge? He is a critical part of the team's success here.

Any executive position in the NFL is taken at one's peril. People get fired all the time. The latest Texans GM lasted only 18 months.

Some teams are a revolving door.

Summer Break 2019

Most teams are finishing up their mandatory mini-camps and will not resume again until the end of July. For the next 5-6 weeks, 2,880 players will need to be on their best behavior.

No matter what, someone will get into trouble. It could range from drugs to domestic violence. Suspensions will follow. Players will get cut in some instances.

Each team has 90 players on their respective roster. They will be tweaked a few players at a time. Some will never make it back.

Eli's Battle

Giants coach Pat Shurmur hasn't done anything to confirm that Eli Manning is the team's starting quarterback. There will be a competition with Daniel Jones in training camp.

Manning is poised to be in the battle of his career. His time with the Giants is on fragile ground.

It's All About The Broadcast

The NFL Network had an interesting story of selecting the All-Pro team based on analytics.
This is more for fantasy football fans.

The game keeps growing and attracting more followers who want more content for their devices.

It must be a real challenge to negotiate broadcast rights in this age.

Five years down the road could change so much.

Raiders 2019

It was a great decision to select the Oakland Raiders for HBO's "Hard Knocks". They have so many interesting personalities and story lines.

They will entertain and represent the NFL very well.

John Gruden and Mike Mayock have something going on there.

Time For Mayo

It's great to see former Pats LB Jerod Mayo back with the team as the linebackers coach. Coach Belichick spoke very highly of him during recent team activities.

When he was playing, it was always assumed that he would become a coach at some point after he retired.

The time is now. He has the best situation possible with Coach Belichick.

Hopefully, it works out for him.

Changing Positions

Every year, an undrafted player makes it to the final 53 out of training camp.

Gunnar Olszewski is trying to make it as a receiver after playing cornerback at D2 Bemidji State.

At his Pro Day, he attracted a scout's attention as well as Pats receiver coach Joe Judge.

He has returned kicks and punts and could be a "project player".

Blame Johnny

It's never too late to fire a coach or GM. The Montreal Alouettes of the CFL fired coach Mike Sherman with one week until the start of the season.

His first year was a disaster at 5-13. He advocated trading for Johnny Manziel which proved to be a disaster while costing the team two first round draft picks.

Will this give the team a kick start or make things worse?

The Chicago Bears

The NFL Network showed a 100 year reunion of the Chicago Bears this weekend. So many legends from the past showed up.

Jim McMahon spoke to the media for a few minutes. He has been very public about his mental health issues caused by the game.

Every player has their own story. It's a very tough game to play.

Waiting For The Inevitable

The New York media continues to focus on Giants QB Eli Manning and his possible successor in Daniel Jones.

There was considerable attention paid to the two during the team's mini-camp. It will intensify during the pre-season games.

Manning will be on a very short leash if the team gets off to a bad start. It might not be his fault, but he will get the blame.

Over Thirty and Out

Careers are short in the NFL. Not many play past their 30's. It's cheaper to go with younger players. Every season, veteran players never get another chance.

A report showed that only 242 (8.4%) of the 2,880 players on the 90 man rosters are over 30.

By Week One, teams will be down to 1,696. The majority of the ones over 30 will be quarterbacks, kickers, punters and long snappers.

Teams have and average of 7-8 players over 30. The Pats set the bar last year with 15.

Beckham Finally Shows

Odell Beckham Jr becomes a story no matter what he does. He skipped the team's voluntary OTA's much to the disappointment of Coach Freddie Kitchens. He lost a lot of time trying to work with QB Baker Mayfield.

Rumors surfaced that Beckham would skip the mini-camp, but that would have resulted in a fine of $88,650 and anger Browns fans. They have big expectations of him and won't be satisfied with anything less.

Adam Jones

Adam "Pacman" Jones announced his retirement from the NFL. With the way his career started, it's a miracle that he lasted 13 seasons.

He was the 6th overall pick in the 2005 draft, but trouble and arrests soon followed. He was suspended for the 2007 season and was released by three teams and one in the CFL.

He finally found a home with the Bengals in 2010 where he played for eight seasons before finishing with the Broncos last year.

He had great talent as evidenced by his All-Pro selection in 2014 and a Pro Bowl appearance in 2015, but certainly squandered it at times.

Don't Need To Be There

Too much is made of certain players not showing up for their team's OTA's. We hear nonsense about Tom Brady, Odell Beckham Jr and Antonio Brown. Every team has a list of players who didn't show up.

Even the so-called mandatory mini-camp is never long enough for teams to see who should be on the roster.

A Few Spots

NFL rosters are set at 90. Every team has at least 5-7 spots that get resolved in training camp.

So many things will happen before they get down to the "final 53".

There are so many stories this time of the year. The final 53 is always fluid to the end of the season.

Favorite Stops

The NFL Network had a very interesting guest in Marion Favorite. He discussed his career which lasted from 2009-2014, in spite of never making a roster.

He was undrafted, signed by ten teams, spent a season in the United Football League and three with the AFL. He was on the Practice Squad with five teams and was signed to the Saints squad during their Super Bowl championship run.

He provided great insight into the real fringe players in the league.

He even spent some time with the Pats in 2010.

Game Day Dollars 2018

The Pats knew that TE Benjamin Watson was facing a four game suspension when they signed him. They structured his contract to not hurt him financially.

He will lose money out of his pocket, but will come back to them after four games and have the option of making incentives in his contract by being on the Game Day roster.

It's the perfect time for the team to put him on the roster.

Fans want the best for him. Who knows what will happen?

Legal and Illegal

The NFL drug policy really needs to be looked at. Players can be taking something perfectly legal, but in violation of the regulations.

TE Benjamin Watson initially retired at the end of last season. He was legally taking Bio Identical Testosterone Cypionate for pain management. Once he decided to return, it was now a banned substance. It will cause him to miss the first four games of the season.

The drug policy appears to be conflicted at times. The NFLPA nd ownership needs to study this further.

It Came Too Soon

It's a fact of life in the NFL that so many veteran players are being replaced by younger draft choices who make less money.

It happens every year. So many veterans are done before their time.

Starr Of What

The great Bart Starr of the Green Bay Packers died this past Sunday. So many fans of the NFL have no clue of him or what he did in his career.

Careers are so many years apart from Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers.

He Wanted The Brady Treatment

Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson has been unhappy in Arizona and has more reasons to want to get out.

He recently received a six game suspension for violating the league's policy on performance enhancing drugs.

It will cost him $3.8 million in lost salary. He was hoping the team would throw him a life line and convert his salary to a bonus to lessen the impact, but it didn't happen.

The Pats did it for Tom Brady after his four game suspension for Deflategate. It saved him millions of dollars. The Cardinals had a chance, but they passed.

Prime Time Skills

The NFL Scouting Combine continues to generate big interest and television ratings. They finally realized that they should broadcast the skills competition live during prime time.

There is no way they can lose on this. More viewers equals better ratings which in turn can give the league more leverage when negotiating the rights to the telecast.

Tre Time

The National Arena League is way for players to get some game action on film in the hope that some NFL team will notice.

The Massachusetts Pirates announced the signing of OL Tre Jackson, the 4th round pick of the Pats in 2015.

Jackson not only made the roster in 2015, but started nine games and had considerable playing time.

Unfortunately, knee injuries derailed his career. He spent a few days with the Rams in 2017 during their OTA's, but got released.

The Sunday Three

It was a great idea for the NFL to guarantee every television market at least three Sunday afternoon games, as well as SNF.

Everyone who wants to watch a game should be able to find one, in addition to their own team.

It's all about money. Network are paying a ransom to broadcast games. They want the matchups that fans want.

More revenue means a bigger pie for ownership and players to split.

Count UMass Out

With all of the college bowl games on the schedule, there will be room for at least 80 teams. Only a few have an actual chance at the national title, but that never stops Las Vegas odds-makers into setting up the lines for 50 teams.

Clemson leads with 11/5, while Alabama is 12/5. Mississippi and Pittsburgh trail the list at 1,000/1. UMass wasn't even on the radar.

The 1,000/1 shots will never have a chance at wining the title, but they will end up in a bowl game if they get six wins.

The AFC East Revolving Door

Some fans and those on sports talk shows are concerned about the big turnover in the coaching staff of the team. When Brian Flores left to coach the Dolphins, he took a number of assistants with him.

Everyone should hold their breath and look at the AFC East since the start of Coach Belichick's tenure in 2000. The team has stayed consistent with the head coach and GM.

Meanwhile, the Bills have gone through ten coaches and seven GM's, the Dolphins had six coaches and ten GM's, while the Jets have gone through six of each.

There are changes for every team. Consistency with the coach and GM should be the goal of every team.