Sunday, September 29, 2013

Foggy Goals In London


What is the goal of the NFL for playing games in London? It's a great way to grow the game on an international basis, but are they really serious about putting a franchise there? They will play two games there again this year.

Today, the Steelers and Vikings played. I'm sure the league thought it was a good idea to send two of their iconic franchises to London, but who would have thought they would both be 0-3. The Vikings won 34-27, the stadium was full and the ratings were good as well.

Travel time is the biggest hindrance to locating a franchise there. The Jacksonville Jaguars would probably jump at the chance to move if it was closer.

The league will continue to schedule games there, but with an unclear vision of what they really want to do.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

The Tony and Rob Show


The Pats and Falcons game should have been a showcase for two of the best tight ends to play the game. Rob Gronkowski has already been ruled out. He never made the trip. We will be seeing the last of the great Tony Gonzalez who will be retiring at the end of the season after 17 years in the NFL.

Gonzalez has established himself as the best to ever play tight end. His numbers are staggering. Some of it is due to playing for so long.

Gronk is on the pace to match his numbers, but I can't see him playing for 17 seasons. The way it's going now, he will be lucky to last 8 or 9 years. It's hard to tell because he has been injured from the start of his career.

Gonzalez is the career leader for tight ends with 1,253 receptions, for 14,371 yards and 104 TD's. Gronk after three seasons has 187 receptions, 2,663 yards and 38 TD's.

Gronk's best shot at a record is the TD one as long as he has Tom Brady. Could you imagine the numbers Gonzalez could have if he played with Tom Brady?

Friday, September 27, 2013

LT & Boomer


Players have their own personal battles on the field with each other. Some get fined for it and move on. Other times, they continue it into their post-playing days. We are seeing that with Hall of Fame LB Lawrence Taylor and QB Boomer Esiason.

Taylor is the subject of a Showtime documentary on his life: "L.T. The Life and Times". It's a very unflattering view of Taylor's life off the field, especially when he played for the New York Giants under Coach Bill Parcells and defensive coordinator Bill Belichick.

Esiason claims that Taylor received preferential treatment from both coaches. He acknowledges that in his autobiography I read a few years ago. Boomer commented in the Showtime bit as well as a "60 Minutes" story ten years ago.

They are now engaged in a war of words and name calling, some of which cannot be printed in the newspaper or said over the air. I don't think they will be patching up their differences any time soon.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Having His Favorites


Coach Belichick can never catch a break with his critics. He has been vilified for routinely running up the score against opponents. His response has always been that you need to play for 60 minutes, even when you're leading by 40 points.

It was different last Sunday against Tampa Bay. It's well known that Belichick and Buc's coach Greg Schiano are good friends. Both teams scrimmaged in training camp and Schiano's former school Rutgers has become a pipeline for talent to the Pats.

The game was hopelessly out of hand late in the fourth quarter. The Pats were moving the ball down the field and burning the clock. When it came to 4th down and and easy field goal, Belichick decided to go for it. The Bucs stopped them and got the ball back. By then, it was too late.

Belichick has been taking a beating on sports talk shows because some callers feel that he made Schiano an exception to his rule. Maybe he did. He has that right. The defense always needs to stop the offense. It's very basic and these guys get paid a lot of money to do it.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Smith Sets His Standard


Aaron Hernandez set a new standard for bad behavior off the field when he was arrested for murder. Everything else pales in comparison to that.

LB Aldon Smith of the 49er's is making a name for himself for all the wrong reasons. He was arrested last Friday at 7am for drunk driving and pot possession after he drove his car into a tree. He showed up at the 49er's practice a few hours later.

He was arrested for DUI back in January 2012 while in Miami, but the charges were reduced to reckless driving. He is still waiting to see if he will be charged with illegal possession of assault rifles. The guns were found at his place after gang members crashed a party he was hosting. Smith ended up getting stabbed while two other guests were shot.

The 49er's decided to let Smith play last Sunday in spite of being arrested at 7am, two days before their next game. Smith was the 7th overall pick in the 2011 draft. He is immensely talented, but very immature. He has guaranteed salaries of $2.34 million for this year and next, but faces a possible suspension by Commissioner Goodell for his behavior.

To soften his landing, the team and Smith decided it would be best for him to check into a rehab facility. It's a good idea to seek treatment, but it sounds like he is being forced to get it.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Fans Need To Chill


I think fans need to take a step back and look at the Pats being 3-0. It remains to be seen what happens from here, but they got off to a good start. Only seven teams have that record.

This doesn't seem to please a lot of fans who want the team to play better. They see Tom Brady yelling on the sidelines and know the team could be performing at a higher level in all phases of the game.

They want wins now and expect the team to go deep in the playoffs. Who knows what will happen between now and the end of December?

I feel good about this team.

Monday, September 23, 2013

Time To Come Clean


College football continues as a shining example of hypocrisy. Schools pretend that players never receive any money or favors from alumnae. When the NCAA discovers money has been paid, they come down with a hammer on the offending school.

Houston Texan RB Adrian Foster admitted in an upcoming documentary that he took money during his senior year at Tennessee. He cited financial problems and the inability to pay his bills and rent. He said it was a "normal" thing to do and didn't see anything wrong with it. He was hoping that the NCAA would not punish his former school.

The NCAA and the schools need to change their ways. Players should receive some type of stipend. Some are getting money now under the table. It corrupts the entire system. Why not bring it to the surface? It's about time for some honesty from all parties.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Polamalu To Get Cut


After ten years, Troy Polamalu will get his mane of hair cut. The Pittsburgh Steelers safety will have a trim on Veteran's Day at a VFW Hall. His locks will be auctioned off for charity. Others will be asked to cut their hair and make a financial pledge.

He has been a big supporter of various veterans groups. Polamalu has a charity named in honor of his grandfather, a military veteran of world War II.

He has perhaps the biggest head of hair in the NFL. He has appeared in commercials for "Head and Shoulders Shampoo". At one point, his hair was insured for $1 million.

Rumor is that he will have up to ten inches cut. He has locks longer than that. I bet when they finish, he won't look much different.

I saw him on the NFL Network talking about this. He had his hair pulled back. It didn't look that long, but it's a different story when he wears it under his football helmet.

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Everyone Wins and Loses


Wins and losses in the NFL are often determined by a few points. When the Pats face Tampa Bay on Sunday, they will face a team that is 0-2. It might sound bad, but the Bucs lost their games by a total of three points. It's like that around the league every week.

After two weeks, there are only eight undefeated teams, but that will change on Sunday. Usually by week six, all teams will have at least one loss. The owners want it that way. Parity is great for the league. It keeps the interest of fans and drives the television ratings.

Some teams are perennial losers. Before Tommy Kelley signed with the Pats, he spent nine losing seasons in Oakland without a trip to the playoffs. At this point in his career, winning is paramount.

Friday, September 20, 2013

Return of Andy


Andy Reid made his return to Philadelphia last night and lead his Kansas City Chiefs to a 26-16 win over his former team.

He was the longest tenured coach in the NFL with the same team before he was fired at the end of the 2012 season. He became the target of fan frustration of having only one Super Bowl appearance in 14 seasons.

The Eagles went to the NFC title game five times, but had only one win to show for it. Fans and the media stated the call for change a couple of seasons ago after the team missed the playoffs. The writing was on the wall.

When he left the Eagles, he took 27 coaches and support staff with him. At least those people didn't lose their job.

Reid has lead the Chiefs to a 3-0 record. With 13 games left in the season, the Chiefs hope to build on that and finally make the playoffs.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Looking at the 2nd Round


The Pats take a regular beating on talk shows when the discussion focuses on their draft picks over the last few years.

Coach Belichick likes to trade out of the first round to get "better value". He especially likes to pick in the 2nd round. From 2008-2011, the team found solid players in Sebastian Vollmer, Brandon Spikes, Rob Gronkowski and Shane Vereen. They have all contributed to the team's success.

On the other hand, they struck out with Terrence Wheatley, Darius Butler, Patrick Chung, Ron Brace, Jermain Cunningham and Ras-I Dowling. Chung and Butler were able to catch on with other teams. The others spent too much time on the injured list while they were on the Pats roster.

You can't blame the front office when players get hurt. Some players never get their career off the ground because of injury. You see it all around the league. It's been going on forever.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

No Help In Sight


The Pats have only played two games and already there is a major concern over the offense. Nobody seems to feel that things will fall in place with the three rookie receivers.

Two local writers had some different ideas today. One suggested that the Pats try to trade for Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals. It doesn't matter that he has a $15 million annual salary and would command a couple of draft picks. I don't believe in trades in the NFL. Anything can happen on any play. The Pats could make the deal and then Fitzgerald could be hurt on his first play.

Another writer wanted the Pats to sign Terrell Owens. That makes a bit of sense. I'm sure the Pats have thought about it, but Owens seems to be toxic based on all 32 teams not offering him a contract this year or last. Owens is 39 and brings a great deal of baggage with him. He might be getting a payback for all of his controversial moments during his career.

The Pats would be better of with Deion Branch or Dante Stallworth. I wouldn't be surprised to see the team sign one of them at some point this season.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Clouded Facts


We heard today that special teams captain Matthew Slater will miss 4-6 weeks because of a broken wrist suffered during the win over the Jets. As with any player injury, fans are left wondering what the real story is.

The Pats comply with the NFL when it comes to reporting injuries. They give out as little information as possible. When things are leaked, it can get a little crazy.

There are conflicting reports on how long Danny Amendola will be out. He was on the practice field today which must have been some type of charade by Coach Belichick. Doe he need surgery or not?

I bet Amendola's injury is a factor the entire season unless he ends up on IR. They need to sit him down for a few weeks, otherwise it will be a chronic problem for the rest of the season.

Rob Gronkowski is allegedly 50/50 for playing on Sunday, whatever that means.

Monday, September 16, 2013

Getting His Chance


I'm not sure if WR Julien Edleman can keep up his torrid pass catching with the Pats. It was always thought that he could be the next Wes Welker. Now that Danny Amendola has gone down with an injury, Edleman is getting the chance of a lifetime and has responded big. His value to the Pats for this season is immense.

Nobody wanted him as a free agent. He had a visit with the New York Giants, but ended up with the Pats for 1 year/ $1 million and free agency after the season.

His stats against the Jets were profound. Brady targeted him on 18 of his 39 total passes. He ended up with 13 catches for 78 yards. The most compelling number is converting on 6 of 9 attempts for first down. That says it all.

Edeleman could really cash in at the end of the season if he can keep this pace. It's a real question whether he will be able to play another 14 regular season games.

He is on the way to a big season unless he gets hurt. You never know in the NFL.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Maybe In 2017


The NFL schedule is predictable years down the road. Divisions go against each other on a set rotational basis. When the Giants play the Broncos today, it will be the last regular season meeting for the Manning brothers until 2017.

Will they both be playing by then? Peyton will be 41 and Eli 36. Both have stated that they want to play as long as possible, but that's four more seasons of NFL wear and tear.

I hope they are able to do it. If Peyton makes it to 41, he will definitely be at the end of his career. Tom Brady will be right behind him.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Humoring Sanchez


It looks like the tenure of Rex Ryan with the New York Jets will live or die on the arm of rookie QB Geno Smith. Mark Sanchez appeared to win the battle in training camp until Ryan made a bad decision to use him in the fourth quarter of the final exhibition game. He ended up with a major shoulder injury.

Surgery was recommended, but Sanchez has decided to try and rehab it in order to return before the end of the season. He felt he won the competition for the starting job and wants a shot at regaining it. The Jets placed him on Injured Reserve with the option to bring him back after eight weeks.

This is a roll of the dice for the team and Sanchez. I don't think they have any plans to ever play him again. They are keeping him happy by letting him think that he has a shot to be the starter again. I don't think it will happen.

Rex Ryan is basing his coaching future on Geno Smith. This might seal his fate or bring him back next year. I think he is done in New York after this season.

Friday, September 13, 2013

Suspensions Are Fine


Some of the violence on the field is getting excessive. The league continues to fine players for late hits, especially those out of bounds.

Lions DT Ndamuong Suh has been fined $100,000 for his illegal low block on Vikings center John Sullivan during the Lions season opening win last Sunday.

Suh has been repeatedly fined for his excessive physicality. Last year, he was fined $30,000 for kicking Houston QB Matt Schaub. Suh was also suspended for two games in 2011 after stomping on a Green Bay Packer Evan Dietrich-Smith.

Neither the fines or suspension has stopped Suh from being out of control on the field. His playing style is very selfish as he puts his team in a bad position by risking a suspension.

I think the league needs to start suspending players. Most of them make so much money that a fine doesn't really matter. It's only a matter of time before someone gets critically injured.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

The Thursday Arguement


The popularity of the NFL and money drives many of the decisions made by team owners. A few years ago, the league experimented with Thursday night games over the last six weeks of the regular season. Now, it's part of the 17 week schedule.

The money continues to fall into the coffers, but a price is paid by players. The Pats and Jets had little time to prepare for tonight's game. Both teams have a long list of injured players.The Pats are already hurt by injuries to Shane Vereen, Rob Gronkowski, Danny Amendola and Zac Suffield.

Overall, I think the short turnaround hurts the competitive nature of the games. This is why I don't think the league will ever play an 18 game regular season unless the rosters were expanded by several players and every team has two bye weeks.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Catching Some Help


The biggest fear for Pats fans was Danny Amendola getting hurt. He has a bad track record for staying on the field. He puts up Wes Welker type numbers when he plays, but durability is a real issue with him. Now, he is hurt and will miss the game against the Jets on Thursday night.

He suffered a groin injury during the opening win over the Bills. He played during the second half and put on quite a show. The training staff performed a half-time miracle to get him on the field.

How many games will he miss?  It's a big topic on the sports talk radio shows. Coincidently, a story came out about the Pats trying to sign WR Brandon Lloyd. It doesn't sound like he wants to play again. He turned down five other teams

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Check With Kurt



The LA Kiss of the Arena Football League has thrown a lifeline to Tim Tebow in the form of a three year contract. They are doing it to generate interest in the league. It remains to be seen whether he accepts the offer.

Maybe he should talk to Kurt Warner who did his time in the AFL and went on to fame and fortune in the NFL. Tebow is very adamant about being a NFL quarterback. It's his only goal in playing, but doesn't look like he will get any other offers as of this moment.

What happens if he is unsigned late in the season and a team loses their QB? Will he get a call? Should he just go to the AFL? He has a chance to play. He needs to make the right decision for himself.

Monday, September 9, 2013

Tough Break For Vereen


All of the "experts" were predicting that Steven Ridley would be benched after two fumbles in yesterday's win over the Buffalo Bills. All signs were pointing towards that, especially after Shane Vereen's huge game.

Apparently, Vereen broke a bone in his wrist on the first play of the game. He had surgery today and will miss at least four weeks. He was a huge presence in the offense with 14 carries for 101 yards and 7 receptions for 58 yards.

Will Ridley make it back on the field or stay in the dog house? He had four fumbles last year and a huge one in the playoffs. He may have caught a break with Vereen's injury. It also gives recently re-signed Leon Washington some potential playing time.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Fantasy World


I don't play fantasy football and have no plans to. Maybe I should. It's a great way to know more of the players around the league.There are so many great players. It's hard to know them all.

I have an issue with the way fantasy football is played. It relies too much on statistics, but that's what fantasy football is.

There is so much to follow in the NFL. It's hard to see all of the highlights of every game. The NFL Network and the others do a great job with their coverage. However, they are spending more time on fantasy football. It's the same in the New York Post and other media.

The popularity demands it. I feel like I'm missing something by not playing fantasy football. I'm not sure what.

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Going To Divsion1A


UMass is trying to transition to a Division 1A program. It has been controversial from the start. A record of 1-11 last year didn't help. Nether did poor attendance at Gillette Stadium.

It's off to the same start this year after a 24-14 loss to Maine. They are now 0-2. I was at the game. The attendance wasn't announced, but it had to be less than 8,000.

The fans who are there were very supportive, but the numbers are are not looking good. It needs to get better, but how and when? There is a huge alumnae base in the metropolitan Boston area, but they don't support the team. How do you get them to the stadium?

Other than BC, the college game is second-rate in popularity around here. It can't compete with the professional teams.

Next year, UMass will be playing three home games in Amherst. They need to get back there where the devoted fan base and students would support them better.

Their marketing study isn't looking too good at this point.

Friday, September 6, 2013

Tebow's Time Counting Down


I was hoping that Tim Tebow would make the roster for the Pats, but it didn't happen. His skills didn't meet the level that Coach Belichick was looking for. He didn't play well in the preseason games. The Pats also don't usually carry three quarterbacks.

He is a very popular player among NFL fans. Many want him to succeed, but where can he play? No team other than the Pats expressed any interest in him last spring. He has stated on numerous occasions that he wants to play quarterback in the NFL. He won't consider going to the CFL or the Arena League.

A couple of teams were interested in signing him if he wanted to change positions. He appears to be a natural at running back, but he won't consider it. His options are getting slimmer.

Nobody has a right to play in the NFL. It needs to be earned and based upon a player's skill level. No doubt, he is a positive presence in the locker room, but a team can't tie up a roster spot on that. I want him to succeed, but he is becoming stubborn. His refusal to consider any other option may keep him out of football for good. The ball is in his court.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

One of Four


Jet fans must be wondering if they have seen the last of QB Mark Sanchez. His recent shoulder injury will keep him out of action until at least Week 3 of the season. That paves the way for the Geno Smith era. Is he the future of the team? It seems like everyone has given up on Sanchez.

The Jets also signed former first round pick and bust Brady Quinn. They will start the season with four quarterbacks on the roster including Matt Simms. Will they keep all of them throughout the season?

Rex Ryan and his team need to come up big on Sunday. A bad game will get the fires stoked. There is already a quarterback controversy. Ryan doesn't need a coaching one.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

First Timers


The NFL is becoming a younger league. The terms of player contracts and the physicality of the game makes careers shorter.

The Pats are not afraid to have rookies play. They lead the league with 14 on their roster and 7 undrafted ones.

Around the league, there are 264 rookies on rosters, an average of 8.25 per team. There are also 69 undrafted ones with 2.2 per squad.

The Pats have found some great undrafted players over the years. How did they slip by? Now, they have Danny Amendola, Tom Kelly, Dan Connolly and Kyle Arrington who all play a vital role.

Wes Welker was never drafted. There are Hall of Fame members who never heard their named call on draft day.

I have no big concerns over having so many rookies on the Pats roster. There is a good blend of veteran experience.


Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Right Player, Wrong Team


Players have been trash talking forever. It's part of the game. It doesn't always help and sometimes works against the team.

WR Steve Johnson of Buffalo is trying to get his team ready to face the Pats on Sunday. He said that nobody will be able to stop him because the Pats can't cover anyone. He cited Aqib Taib as a player who looks good on film. He also mentioned his friendship with Patrick Chung and talked about knowing him personally. The only problem is that Chung signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent.

What caused the confusion? Johnson isn't saying. He won't even clarify whether he knows Chung. He might get it right by the time the two teams meet again in the season finale.

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Cut Thoughts


Every team around the NFL made some surprising roster moves. The Pats were no exception. I never expected them to cut Zoltan Mesko, but Ryan Miller won the Ray Guy Award the last two years as the best collegiate punter. He will save them $1 million in salary, but has little game experience as the holder on extra points and field goals. Hopefully, this doesn't come back to cost them a game.

Tim Tebow was a surprise. I guess we all got caught up in the hype and pictured the Pats carrying him as a developmental project. That was naive for all of us. He didn't even play on special teams. There was really no point in keeping him on the roster.

I hope they didn't make a mistake with Gronk. I think everyone believes that he will be back sooner rather than later. I have no doubt that he will get back on the field. It's a question of whether he will get hurt again. When he had back surgery in college, he missed the entire season. I don't feel good about this decision. Putting him on the PUP list would have cost him six games. It was a more conservative approach that the team didn't want to take. Time will tell if this was the right move.