Thursday, February 28, 2019

Jason Witten Part 2


Former Cowboys TE Jason Witten is giving up his lucrative analyst gig with ESPN to continue his playing career.

He will turn 37 in May, but still wants to play because he misses the game.

He is the longest tenured Cowboy and among the all-time leaders in various categories for tight ends.

Only time will tell if this was a good move. He appears to have a broadcast job to fall back on if this doesn't work out.

Every player wants to leave on their own terms. It doesn't always work out.


Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Done With The CFL


It looks like the career of QB Johnny Manziel is over in the CFL after the league told the Montreal Alouettes to terminate his contract. The league will not allow other teams to sign him. It was based on him not living up to terms of the league.

The statement was vague, but it's clear that he will need to find another league to continue his career.

In eight games he was 106/165 for 1,290 yards and five TD's, as well as seven interceptions. He also had 29 carries for 215 yards.

What will be his next move?


Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Trying To Legislate The Game


It was inevitable that some politician would file a bill to ban tackle football for young kids.

Several legislators in Massachusetts are proposing to ban it until the eighth grade. Kids could still play touch and tag football.

There is a concern over the head injuries and concussions that can happen, but this seems to be a bit excessive.

Parents should be the ones who make the final decision for their kids.


Monday, February 25, 2019

A Risk For $20 Million


The XFL was a failure the last time, but will it succeed when it starts play next year? They need a reason for people to follow it.

News reports indicate that they have reached out to Colin Kaepernick to gauge his interest, but it will come with a steep price.

It looks like he is asking for $20 million to step on the field. The league needs a star, but will this exceed the financial limits needed to keep the league alive?


Sunday, February 24, 2019

Nothing In The Fifth


The Pats are heading into the NFL draft with 12 picks. They just picked up three compensatory ones for losing Nate Solder, Malcolm Butler and Cam Flemming to free agency.

As it stands now they have a first, two 2nds, three 3rds, one 4th, one 6th and four in the 7th.

With that many selections, they will probably trade some of them to move up or down the draft or even roll them into next year.


Saturday, February 23, 2019

The Price Is Not Right


Devin McCourty said he plans to play in 2019, but he didn't mention that he counts $11 million against the salary cap.

That is a number which the team will have an issue with.

Will he take a pay reduction or end up some place else?

He isn't the only player in this situation. Big decisions need to be made by all teams.


Friday, February 22, 2019

Trouble For RKK


Pats owner Robert Kraft owned the news cycle today with his involvement in a prostitution sting in Florida.

It seems like the league will banish him for several weeks. Who knows how this will end? This is so different from other issues.


Thursday, February 21, 2019

Trey Time


DL Trey Flowers has all of the opportunity to cash in on a big free agency contract. Why would he stay with the Pats? The team is unwilling to pay that much money to retain him.

It's good to see Trey getting the money. Rumors have him going to the Eagles. It won't be in Foxborough.


Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Steelers Close Curtain


The Steelers are moving from RB LeVeon Bell and WR Antonio Brown. Bell will become a free agent and the team will make a trade for Brown, but will not do it without sufficient compensation.

There will be a team out there that overpays for Bell. Brown comes with so much baggage that the Steelers will probably not get what they want, but it's better than nothing.



Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Trying For ODell


It seems hard to believe that the Pats were involved in trade talks with the Giants last season to acquire WR Odell Beckham Jr.

It never worked out, but he story seems to have a lot of credibility.

The Giants took him off the market after he signed his 5 year/$80 million contract as the Pats would never pay that much money.



Monday, February 18, 2019

Another Quarterback


The Ravens plan to trade QB Joe Flacco to the Broncos for a 4th round raft pick.

Since winning the Super Bowl behind Peyton Manning, the team has gone through four coaches and seven different quarterbacks.

Will this result in making the playoffs?




Sunday, February 17, 2019

A Time For AAF


After two weeks, I think the AAF (Alliance of American Football) has a chance at making it.

They are fully supported by the NFL Network which gets programming they need this time of year.

In the end, there is only so much money that a team can lose.

Saturday, February 16, 2019

Bill's 23 Year Anniversary


Getting fired is a way of life for coaches at any level. There is a constant turnover at the college and professional level.

Yesterday was the 23 year anniversary of Bill Belichick being fired by the Cleveland Browns. Owner Art Modell then moved the team to Baltimore and renamed it the Ravens. He replaced Belichick with Tom Marchibroda, the first coach to give BB a job in the NFL.

Belichick joined the staff of Bill Parcells and the Pats for the 1996 season that went to the Super Bowl. It was during this time that he planted a seed with owner Robert Kraft before leaving for the Jets with Parcells.

The Pats hired Pete Carrol before finally making their best decision in 2000.


Friday, February 15, 2019

A Time To Settle


Two things stand out in the settlement of the Colin Kaepernick collusion suit against the NFL.

How much money did he get? A confidentiality agreement was meant to keep the figure private. One number mentioned has been $60 million.

Will he ever play again in the NFL? He wanted $20 million from the AAF to play in their debut season. It would have helped television ratings, but every player in the league makes the same amount of money.

It was never going to happen.



Thursday, February 14, 2019

Staying With Baseball


It looks like Tim Tebow has moved on from football as he tries to make the roster of the New York Mets. He is expected to play for Triple-A Syracuse as his baseball quest continues.

Coach Steve Spurrier of the AAF's Orlando Apollos tried to convince him to play for his team, but Tebow had no interest.

Time is ticking on Tebow for any sport he chooses to play.




Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Kyler's Tough Decision


Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray has decided to enter the NFL draft and try to become a franchise quarterback.

He had a spectacular season at Oklahoma and faced the decision of having a baseball career with the Oakland A's who selected him as the 9th overall pick in last year's draft.

As a result of his football decision, he will be forced to return $4.5 million to the A's. The reality of playing two sports really wasn't on the radar.

He is taking a big gamble on himself. Only time will tell if he made the right decision.



Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Jets Ready For Rocky Times


The Jets must be looking for a way to create drama with their new coaching staff. Adam Gase hired his father-in-law Joe Vitt as a defensive assistant.

Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and Vitt were embroiled in a very controversial spat during the Bountygate scandal of the Saints.

Williams also appears to have pressured Gase into hiring his son as a defense assistant.

This already feels like a recipe for disaster. It will continue once the team squanders all of their money on the wrong free agents.

Monday, February 11, 2019

Contracts Over For Some


Every team in the NFL will undergo a big roster transition with the end of player contracts. So many will move to other teams or maybe never play again.

The Pats and everyone else have so many important decisions to make about personnel and contracts.

All teams try to do it right, but things happen.

Sunday, February 10, 2019

Players Show


Will people be watching the AAFL five weeks from now?

I watched some of the game between Salt Lake and Arizona.

All of those players are so hungry for a chance to make an impression on someone and get to the NFL.

I think the league is a great idea for players that just need a chance.

They say 81% of the players have signed a NFL contract a some point.

Saturday, February 9, 2019

AAFL Tonight


The AAFL (American Alliance of Football) had it's debut tonight on CBS. I watched about ten minutes of the game between San Diego and San Antonio.

The league has a broadcast agreement with CBS, TNT and the NFL Network to show the games of the ten week season on Saturdays and Sundays.

Everything should be fine for this season. They have playoffs and their championship game in Las Vegas on April 27th.

It's future will depend on creating revenue from broadcasting.





Friday, February 8, 2019

Maybe Another Time For Danny


It looks like the Dolphins will be releasing WR Danny Amendola after having him for only one season. He is due $6 million for next season, but if he gets released, the Dolphins won't take any type of salary cap hit.

Will he end up with the Pats? After he departed, he made a comment about the benching of Malcolm Butler in Super Bowl LII.

Will Coach Belichick hold this against him? If the Pats sign him, it will be for a greatly reduced salary.

He is a great fit for the team, but age is becoming a factor.


Thursday, February 7, 2019

Too Many To Pick


The NFL Network had an interesting discussion about the final voting process on the 15 Hall of Fame finalists.

There are players who should get there, but it won't happen. Sometimes, it's because of the position they played.

It was good to see OL Kevin Mawae get in. That position is overlooked, along with the defensive line and safety.




Wednesday, February 6, 2019

They Make The Money


Greg Schiano will be the new defensive coordinator for the Pats. He will coach some of his former players, including the McCourty brothers and Duron Harmon. His former long snapper, Steve Belichick, is also part of the coaching staff.

Schiano had great success at Rutgers, but failed in the NFL as a head coach with Tampa Bay.

He has gone full circle with the McCourtys and Harmon. He can yell all he wants at them, but in the end, they made more money that he ever did.


Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Mr 232nd


Now that the Super Bowl has passed, the major focus will now be on the upcoming NFL Draft and Scouting Combine.

We will hear too much about projected first round picks. Everyone is an expert.

They got it wrong with Julian Edelman back in 2009. He wasn't invited to the Scouting Combine. The Pats picked him in the 7th round with the 232nd overall pick.

It's hard to predict the future success of any player.

Monday, February 4, 2019

Last Time Together


Some fans say that Super Bowl LIII was difficult to watch because there wasn't much scoring. The TV ratings were down.

It's time for fans to enjoy the moment, but we all know that this team will not be the one that takes to the field on opening day in September.

The Pats routinely turn over a significant amount of their roster with draft picks, free agents and trades.

This team will never be all together again. It happens to every team.

The 2019 Pats team will begin to evolve at the start of the new league year.





Sunday, February 3, 2019

Super Bowl LIII



Super Bowl LIII starts in less than two hours. There are endless story lines. In a little over five hours, it will be history.

No matter what happens, this should be an epic game.

Anyone can make a prediction, but nobody really knows the outcome.

Saturday, February 2, 2019

Ty Law HOF

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Ty Law made it to the Hall of Fame today. He publicly thanked Coach Bill Belichick and Tom Brady for advocating on his behalf to the selection committee.

I think it made a difference after being a finalist the last few years.

A lot of good candidates didn't make it for another year.

It becomes a numbers game.



Friday, February 1, 2019

Others Need To Play Better


It's amazing how much the Pats are disliked around the country. People are so tired of them playing in the Super Bowl.

There is no need for them to apologize. They are clearly a dynasty. It's up to other teams to try and catch up to them.