The Iconic Quick Lane

The Quick Lane bowl game was a classic. It pitted Boston College against Maryland. Both went into the game at 6-6. Only one would emerge with a winning record for the season.

The game was played Wednesday afternoon at 2:30pm and broadcast on ESPN. It went up against soap operas, game shows, talking heads and other assorted mediocre programming.

The attendance at Ford Field in Detroit was announced at 19,117. It was more like a studio audience with so many empty seats.

BC won the game 36-30, finishing at 7-6. Maryland has the dubious honor of being in a bowl game and ending the season at 6-7.

Bowl games are good for recruitment. I wonder if the players will have reunions with their teams in the future. Do the players get a ring for showing up?

Nick Says No

NFL coaches are dropping left and right. There will be several vacancies before it's over. Some coaches get recycled onto other teams, only to get fired down the road.

We keep hearing amount Nick Saban giving it one more try. He was a bust in his one stint with the Miami Dolphins.

Why would be want to leave Alabama? His team is ranked number one and plays Washington in the Peach Bowl on New year's Eve for a shot at the championship game. He is paid tons of money and is the big man on campus. He doesn't need the NFL

He could be offered more money to make the switch, but would be a fool to do it. With few exceptions, everyone in the NFL gets fired eventually.

Victor Is Right

Recent comments by Giants WR Victor Cruz certainly caught the attention of some Pats fans. He said that the last team the Pats would want to face in a potential Super Bowl would be the Giants.

I think he is right. It would be a match for the ages, but the Pats have a horrible history with Big Blue. We all know how the 2007 and 2011 seasons ended in the final moments of the biggest game.

Fans will be hoping for an early elimination of the Giants in the playoffs.

Reggie's Record

There are many dubious records that no player or team wants. However, someone needs to own them.

Bills RB Reggie Bush has the chance to be the only running back in league history to have minus yardage with more than ten carries. Going into the final game, he has 12 carries for -3 yards. This is from being on a team that leads the league in rushing yards and average per carry.

The future of Bush is uncertain. His numbers don't bode well for him. If he doesn't retire, he will need to earn a roster spot in training camp for some team.

Rex TV

It was not a surprise to see Coach Rex Ryan and his brother Rob get fired by the Buffalo Bills. I thought they would make it through the last game.

Rex was headed for the door, but the game against the Dolphins sealed his fate. RB Jay Ajayi ran 57 yards to set up the game winning field goal to keep the Bills out of the playoffs for the 17th consecutive season. If that wasn't bad enough, the Bills only had ten men on the field for the play. Rex claimed he called time out, but it doesn't matter at this point.

What happens now for the Ryan Twins? Do they go back to being Defensive Coordinators? I can't see Rex getting a head job next season. He would be perfect as a television analyst. His future is there if he wants it.

The Plan For Sunday

The Pats control their own destiny to secure the #1 seed in the AFC playoffs. They just need to win in Miami on Sunday. It won't matter what the Raiders do. If the Pats lose, they would need to have the Raiders fall.

There is no point in hoping for other scenarios. The Pats need to keep the momentum going. They can't afford to have a bad game. They also need to make it through Sunday without anyone getting hurt.

Tough Break For Raiders

It was nice to see the Oakland Raiders make it back to the playoffs for the first time since 2002. That has been too long for this iconic franchise.

They enter the final week of the season with a stellar record of 12-3, but  lost their starting quarterback Derek Carr to a broken leg. Matt McGloin was forced to finish the game in their win over the Colts.

How far can they go with McGloin? They are putting their hopes on a guy who has six career starts and none since his rookie year of 2013.

It was a terrible blow for the Raiders. Things were going so well for them. Every team is one play away from having their playoff hopes go down the drain.

Doing Their Part

The Pats close out their schedule at home today against the Jets. If they win and the Raiders lose to the Colts, they will have home field throughout the playoffs.

They were in a similar situation last year, but couldn't close out the season on a winning note. They still need to travel to Miami next weekend.

As Tom Brady would say, it's no time to take the foot off the gas pedal. They need momentum going into the playoffs.

Michael's Chance

WR Michael Floyd has been a very expensive and controversial signing by the Pats. He is due $1.2 million for three regular season games. He didn't play against the Broncos, but will probably be ready for the Jets.

The Pats are very thin at receiver. They think that Danny Amendola will be back for the playoffs after dealing with his high ankle sprain. Another injury would devastate their playoffs hopes.

Floyd is a free agent after the season ends. He faces a possible jail sentence in Arizona on his aggravated drunk driving charge.

For now, he has a chance to make a big impact on the offense.

The Life of Josh

QB  Josh Johnson of the Giants just got elevated to backup Eli Manning after Ryan Nassib was placed on IR.

The former 5th round pick in 2008 will probably see no action as Eli has never missed a game in his 13 year career.

Johnson has found a role for himself on the bench which has allowed him to last for nine seasons. His last game action was on December 22, 2013 when he played for the Bengals.

He spent his first three years with the Buccaneers before stints with the Browns, Bengals, 49er's, Colts and Bills. He has five career starts with 96/177passes for 1,042 yards and five TD's.

Guys like Johnson can have a long career if things go right.

A Record For Gus

It remains to be seen if former Jaguars coach Gus Bradley ever gets a head job again. He was fired last Sunday after his team's latest loss.

If he never leads a team again, he will hold the dubious record of having the worst winning percentage for coaches with at least 60 NFL games. He went 14-48 (.225) over four seasons.

He is probably hoping that someone breaks his record. He will own it for now and the foreseeable future.

Exciting Games Ahead

College bowl game fans only had the Boca Raton to choose from today. The action really starts to pick up starting Friday with the Bahamas, Armed Forces and Dollar General games.

Wednesday and Thursday only have one each with the Poinsettia and Idaho Potato respectively. No matter what happens, people will be watching and the games make money.

Passing Fine

The NFL wastes too much time trying to crack down on player celebrations on the field, especially after touchdowns. They continue to fine players and look foolish in the process.

They decided to take a pass yesterday on Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliot after he scored and dove into a giant Salvation Army red kettle at the back of the end zone.

The charity reported a 50% increase in online donations in the last 24 hours. Did this have anything to do with Elliot? It probably did as the replay was shown countless times.

It's good to see that the league decided not to create a public relations nightmare by fining Elliot. They will waste time on other trivial matters.

They Are Really Thinking

Whenever a coach says they are not thinking about getting fired, it really means that there is a great concern on their part. They just can't say it publicly.

Todd Bowles of the Jets is seeing his time in New York evaporate after his team lost to the Dolphins last night and fell to 4-10.

Rex Ryan and his Bills beat the winless Browns to even their record at 7-7. Another loss will keep them out of the playoffs for the 17th consecutive season. This was suppose to be their year, but Rex was never able to back it up. It might only be a matter of time for the Rexster.

It's a Celebration

The college bowl season began today with several games that have interesting names. They include Celebration, Las Vegas, Cure, Carmellia and New Orleans.

No games are scheduled tomorrow so as not to go up against the NFL. There is only the Miami Beach Bowl on Monday in the afternoon, but the rest of the way is busy through January 2nd.

There are so many mediocre teams playing. Some have .500 records. Every team is glad to be playing because it means money for them.

These games only exist for financial reasons. Fans watch and enjoy them. Ads get sold. Everyone wins.

Brady's Worst Place

As great as Tom Brady has been in his career, he has met his match when playing the Broncos in Denver. He holds a career record of 2-7 in the Mile High city. To make matters worse, three of his losses came in the 2016 AFC Championship game and the Divisional rounds in 2014 and 2006.

Denver has stood in his way for winning more than the four Super Bowls he has to his credit. Last year was a total debacle as the Denver defensive line was relentless with hitting Brady and knocking him down.

A loss doesn't ruin the season, but won't do anything to instill confidence in their playoffs hopes. They need to win to keep home field advantage in the post-season.

We all know how things can work out in Denver. Their record tells the story.

At Witten's End

It's always a shame to see a streak end, especially if the player is healthy. Such was the case for Cowboys TE Jason Witten in a recent win against the Vikings.

His streak of catching a pass in 130 consecutive games ended. I'm sure he felt bad about it, but didn't want to go on record as being selfish.

His streak began on November 2, 2008 against the Giants. He went into Monday night's game against the Giants with 1,072 catches for 11,768 yards and 62 TD's in his career. He had caught a pass in 213 of his 219 NFL games before it came to an end.

The Long Journey

Pats DE Chris Long was the second overall pick in the 2008 draft when he was selected by the St Louis Rams. He spent his entire career with them before signing with the Pats prior to the 2016 season.

Although he has made a great deal of money, he was never a part of a winning team. This will be his first time in the playoffs.

The league is filled with players who have never seen the post-season. Jets WR Brandon Marshall just passed 12,000 receiving yards, but has never made a trip in 12 years. His time is running out real fast.

Times of Cyrus

The Pats selected CB Cyrus Jones in the 2nd round of the 2016 draft because of his exceptional punt return skills at Alabama. He was seen as the safe alternative to exposing Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola on kick coverage.

Jones has been a total disaster. In nine games, he has five fumbles. The one last night against the Ravens had fans calling for his benching or being cut by the team.

Coach Belichick has taken a different approach publicly by preaching the importance of ball security by all players.

Will Jones get another opportunity in a big situation? He fumbled in college, but made spectacular plays while playing on a national powerhouse.

It's a different world for him now. He can't keep making mistakes. The team has a significant financial investment in him, but it's not worth costing them the season by one bad play on his part.

Sharing Their Losses

Rex Ryan is still coaching the Bills today, but the axe fell on Jeff Fisher after five consecutive losing seasons with the Rams. Yesterday's loss tied him with Dan Reeves for the most losses by a NFL coach with 165.

Fisher has coached for 23 season. He will probably get another chance. The record will be his by next season.

A Time For Rex

Whenever the media says a coach might be fired tomorrow, they are often correct. It seems like Rex Ryan could be the one.

After losing to the Steelers today, the Bills are 6-7 and out of contention for the playoffs. Ryan spoke big about making a run at the Super Bowl, but it looks like it was all talk.

It's hard to believe that he could be gone before Todd Bowles of the Jets.

No Angels Allowed

The NFL lives up to its "No Fun League" nickname when they assessed penalties on players for making snow angels after a play.

The league can't keep itself from restricting and controlling player behavior during the games. Players run the chance of having their team penalized if they do anything that shows a sign of celebrating.

The NFL should look at itself when trying to determine why television ratings are getting worse.

Too Many Losses

Kickers can have a long career if things work out. Phil Dawson of the 49er's has lasted 18 seasons, while Sebastian Janakowski has 17 with the Raiders.

Dawson played for the Browns most of his career, while Janakowski has been with the Raiders. Both have played on too many teams with losing records.

As a result, they are number one and two for players with the most losses. It's a very dubious record, but indicates their longevity. Dawson has seen defeat 177 times and Janakowski has 159.

Bowles Almost Empty

With their latest loss, the New York Jets fell to 3-9 and have left fans angered and frustrated for another season. The tabloids are calling for Coach Todd Bowles to be fired. It will happen because someone has to pay the price. Will GM Mike Maccagnan survive?

The season has ben a total disaster, with so many questions about the future. Owner Woody Johnson knows he needs to make a big move to win back the fans.

No matter what happens, we will probably be saying the same things next year.

Bowling With BC

The college bowl selections are being announced and teams with records of .500 will have their day. Boston College and Maryland, both with 6-6 records, will face each other in the iconic Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit on December 26th.

BC is on a two game winning streak, while Maryland has lost four in a row since starting the season at 6-2.

In all likelihood, there will be many empty seats for the game. The most important thing is the television audience which drives most of these meaningless bowl games.

It doesn't seem right that one of the teams will finish the season at 6-7 after playing in the post-season.

Nothing Fishy With Fisher

Rams coach Jeff Fisher added another loss to his career total yesterday against the Pats. With one more defeat, he has the opportunity to tie Dan Reeves for the most losses by a NFL coach with 165.

Yesterday's announcement of a two year extension for Fisher got a great deal of attention when it was learned that it had been done before the start of the season.

Some speculate that the team finally mentioned it because of the ongoing lobbying by Hall of Fame RB Eric Dickerson to have him fired. The Rams are headed for their fifth consecutive losing season under Fisher.

No matter what happens, the coach is very resilient. In 22 seasons, he has a career record of 173-164-1. He lasted 17 seasons with the Oilers/Titans. It doesn't look like he is going anywhere else.

Decreased Play and Pay

Jets CB Darelle Revis is at the crossroad of his career. He has taken a great deal of criticism this year because of his play on the field. Some are saying that he is finished at 31.

Revis brushed off all the talk and said he plans to return next year. He mentioned that he is willing to switch to playing safety.

He has not committed to taking a pay cut next year to stay with the Jets. They would be foolish to pay him $15 million. They will either cut him or force him to play at a reduced salary.

Is This The End of Gronk?

Fans were shocked to hear that Rob Gronkowski will miss the rest of the season after undergoing back surgery. It's the latest injury for the star-crossed player who exhibits phenomenal ability on the field, but has a career filled with injuries.

Many consider Gronk to be the greatest tight end of all time, but will he ever play again? This is his third back surgery and he is only 27.

Nobody wants to think of the inevitable, but Gronk needs to consider his long term health. He stands to lose money by not playing, but he should seek some type of injury settlement.

He has often said that he has never spent any of his NFL money because he lives of his endorsements and appearance fees. He can spend the rest of his life being Gronk.

Finish With A Winning Record

With 80 college football teams needed to fill all of the bowl spots, a number of teams will play with less than a stellar record for the season.

Boston College at 6-6 is a great example. They had easy wins over soft opponents like UMass, UConn, Wagner and Buffalo.

When they played in the ACC, they lost to Virginia Tech 49-0, Clemson 56-10, Louisville 52-7 and Florida State 45-7. These four teams outscored them 202-24.

BC is not alone in this situation. Teams are chomping at the bit to play in the post-season. It means more money for the school.

The Unbreakable Record

Another record that might never get broken is the one by Jerry Rice for having a reception in 274 consecutive games.

The closest are Tony Gonzalez with 211 and Marvin Harrison with 199. Larry Fitzgerald just tied with Harrison, but his career is almost over.

A player would need to last for 17 seasons just to have a chance at Rice. They would also need a reception in each game. It will never happen.

Money For Marcus

There has been way too much time wasted on discussing the Pats contract extension for OL Marcus Cannon. It works out to be 5 years for $32 million.

We all know that he will never see all of this money. It's a typical NFL contract that isn't guaranteed. Coach Belichick seems to really like him as player.

Why did they redo this contract with so many other potential free agents? His contract value turns out to be #21 for starting right tackles at $6.6 million annually. Sounds like a bargain.

At some point, he will renegotiate this contract or be released by the team.

Back of Gronk

We will never know the extent of the injury to Rob Gronkowski's back. He injured it during yesterday's win over the Jets.

It remains to been seen if he will miss any time. Gronk is one of the toughest players on the field, but it's hard to see him playing for another ten years.

At 27, his body is showing a great degree of wear and tear. Will he be around in five years?

Tom Could Get The Record

You always hear that some records will never be broken. Baseball has the 56 game hitting streak by Joe DiMaggio from 1941.

With the Pats win today over the Jets, Tom Brady moves into a tie with Peyton Manning with 200 career wins, including playoffs.

With another victory, Tom will own a record that might never be broken. There is nobody close to him. Drew Brees and Eli Manning will never play enough games in their careers to have a chance.

Longevity has certainly helped him. Now in his 17th season, he didn't see much action in 2000 as a rookie. He also missed 15 games in 2008 because of a knee injury.

Winning 77.3% of his starts never hurt his progress towards the record.

The Optimistic Announcer

At this time of year, some college football games get out of hand with their scores. There are many mismatches out there.

It's a challenge for the announcers to keep the interest of the viewers. They can get carried away with their comments which often don't make any sense.

Last night, I watched the Texas Tech and Baylor game with 5:41 left in the third quarter and Tech leading 51-28.

One announcer sounded very optimistic by saying it was just a three score game. He felt that Baylor could get back into it with three good offensive drives.

Baylor lost 54-35. At least they got another field goal.

Too Many Super Bowls

There is no fair way to crown a state high school football champion. Most states use a divisional system where schools are ranked by enrollment size.

In Massachusetts, the MIAA has established a playoff system that seems to have too many teams involved and results in eight "Super Bowl" games.

It was always special for the teams to play for their championship in Gillette Stadium. Unfortunately, the amount of games grew so big that two must be played at another site.

It's a crazy system that has Divisions 1, 1A, 2, 2A, 3, 3A, 4 and 4A. At some point, there are too many champions. In this day and age, everyone needs to be a winner.

Five To Go

The college football bowl game season is getting closer. We will face the absurdity of 80 teams playing in 40 different games. Some of them will be classic. Others will make us realize that they only exist because of the money involved. Too many teams with six losses end up qualifying.

Boston College at 5-6 could still get a bid even if they lose to Wake Forest on Saturday. The NCAA knows that it can be a challenge to fill the schedule. They allow for a team like BC to play if their Academic Progress Score (APR) is exceptionally high.

The excellent graduation rate of BC players could get them a game in spite of  a losing record.

Jets Crashing Again

New York Jets fans are wondering why Ryan Fitzpatrick is starting Sunday against the Pats. They were hoping to see more of Bryce Petty, but Fitz will be back under center, in spite of leading the NFL in interceptions and having the lowest quarterback rating.

At 3-7, the season of the Jets is on the brink of imploding into a total disaster. It looks like the team needs a strong finish for Coach Todd Bowles and GM Mike Maccagnan to keep their jobs.

Fans realize that Fitzpatrick is not in the team's future plans and want to see either Petty or rookie Christian Hackenberg. Coach Bowles is fighting to keep his job. The team just needs to win.

No Luck For Andrew

Colts QB Andrew Luck is a great example of a player being put into the concussion protocol. He took far too many hits to his head on Sunday. It's hard to determine which play was the one.

It's good to see the league respond with this program. Too many players suffered concussions in the past where nothing was done. They pay the price when they get older.

The Highest Kickoff

Tonight's MNF game between the Raiders and Texans in Mexico City is all about growing the Hispanic fan base. The 22 million NFL fans in the Mexico City area make up the league's 7th largest fan base. The 76,000 tickets for the game were sold out within one hour.

The league makes its first appearance there since 2005, in spite of the concerns about street crime, smog and playing at the high altitude of 7,500 feet.

If things go well, more games will be considered. One of the biggest issues is that one team will lose a home contest.

The Pats have traveled to England to play, but only as the visiting team.

Left Behind

DE Jabaal Sheard must wonder what his future is with the Pats after they left him behind when they traveled to play the 49er's.

He will be a free agent at the end of the season. It doesn't bode well for him, especially because he was healthy. The word is that the coaching staff is not happy with his performance.

Fans will never know the real reason. Coach Belichick will mumble his way through any questions and say that the decision was made in the best interest of the team.

Three or Nine

I don't gamble, but if I did, it might be a good bet to take 2-8 UMass over 6-3 BYU today. The Minutemen face an uphill battle for a win before they depart for their trip to Hawaii.

Depending on the source, BYU is favored by 28-32 points. UMass has been competitive in most of their loses. They have beaten the spread against some strong opponents.

It seems like everyone has written off UMass today and expects them to be 2-9 before the day ends. 

Law On List

Former Pats CB Ty Law is one of the 25 semi-finalists for the Hall of Fame. He is making progress from just being on the ballot.

Every player on the list is worthy of induction. It's good to see more defensive players and offensive linemen make the cut.

I don't understand why DE Jason Taylor is the only defensive lineman. It's a joke if the only two linebackers don't make it. How could you not include Clay Matthews and Karl Mecklenburg?

Morton Anderson deserves to be the second kicker. The list of the offensive players is loaded with running backs and receivers. It's hard to believe Kurt Warner is the only quarterback.

The voting process is difficult and has its flaws. It's an amazing accomplishment for these players to get this far. Unfortunately, some will never make the final step.

Ban The Fans

If the NFL can make a dollar off some idea, they will try it. Fans can begin voting today to select players for the Pro Bowl. Their input carries weight, along with the players and coaches.

I think it's a bad idea to allow fans to vote. They tend to go with players from their favorites teams or names they know.

The league now has a poll on their website to solicit fan input for Hall of Fame selections. This idea is even worse. The selection process has its flaws. Thankfully, this is just a poll of the fans and carries no weight in the final decisions.

Fitz Passing

New York Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is the ultimate example of a journeyman quarterback. The former 7th round and 250th overall pick in the 2005 draft has played for the Rams, Bengals, Bills, Titans, Texans and Jets. He was benched this past Sunday in favor of Bryce Petty in their loss to the Rams.

After 12 seasons and 112 starts, he has yet to play in a post-season game. He has moved up in all-time stats due to the proliferation of the passing game.

His recent TD broke a tie with Earl Morrall, Jeff Garcia and Jake Plummer. He has thrown for more career TD's than Roger Staubach and yards than Bart Starr.

He has made good money, but it looks like he will watch the playoffs from home again this year

Breathing Gronk

It doesn't look like fans will know whether Rob Gronkowski suffered a collapsed lung during the team's loss to the Seahawks. Gronk said he took the hardest hit of his career which forced him to the sideline for a short time. He returned and was involved in the incomplete pass on the last play of the game.

Reports first said he had a chest injury. It suddenly became a collapsed lung and was the lead story on the 11pm news last night. The team has been quiet on it. All we know is that he has a chest injury.

The lung issue could certainly keep him out of the game with the 49er's as it would not be a good idea to fly across country.

Cruz To Nowhere

Giants WR Victor Cruz is out of the game tonight against the Bengals because of an ankle injury. He has returned this year after missing most of the last two seasons.

At 30, he is a shell of his former self. He took a huge pay cut to stay on the roster. The hand writing is on the wall. He won't be with the Giants next season unless he plays for the minimum. He will need to beat out others for a roster spot. His career is evaporating.

Not The Same Teams

I have no doubt that the Sunday night game between the Pats and Seahawks will be a great contest. It's being hyped as a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX, but both teams have changed a lot over the past two seasons.

They have a core group of players and most of the same coaches, but roster turnover is a way of life in the NFL.

The most important thing for the league is to have a good television rating. They are floundering big time and hope to calm their sponsors with millions watching.

Telling Lies On Ratings

The NFL knows it must address the downward spiral of television ratings. They blame it on a variety of reasons, including the recent election.

Nothing stops them from telling lies to the public. They claim they will look into making games shorter by having fewer timeouts and commercials. Who are they kidding? The commercials drive the revenue stream that they so covet. How can they control timeouts with all of the replays and injuries?

They say things to pander to the public. They won't admit that many of the marque games are between teams with mediocre records and don't feature the stars of the league.

They are so worried about having to give back money to the sponsors because the ratings were not what they were guaranteed to be.

London Issues

The NFL has ben playing games in London since 2007. It seems like they are determined to have a team there full-time eventually.

Former Giants great Osi Umenyiora is their point man there. He also does some broadcasting work for the BBC with a week in review show and a Sunday game preview.

The league is determined to make it happen in spite of all the push back. Any team based there would face a brutal travel schedule to away games, especially those on the west coast. Teams making the trip to London would also need to deal with jet lag.

The travel is a major hurdle. Will it effect the quality of the games? The NFL is probably ok with having it suffer because of the potential revenue stream.

Election Nonsense

Apparently, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are not allowed to share a friendship with Donald Trump. Both were badgered by the media during their press conferences yesterday.

Belichick has known Trump since his days with the Giants. Brady had been a friend since the start of his career.

Some people don't like that and want to make a point. I can't believe that they are being called out on it.

No Bowl Chance

With the recent loss by UMass to Troy, they now hold a 2-8 record with two games left at BYU and Hawaii. Hopefully, they can get a win.

The football program has made great strides playing as an Independent, but continue to have a losing record. The critics focus on that.

They have a very ambitious schedule for 2017.Will it be their year?

Raiders Are Back

The Oakland Raiders are finally back in contention after all these years with a record of 7-2, the second best in the AFC. They seem to be rolling along for a possible playoff spot.

They have a real passionate fan base and one of the worst stadiums in the NFL. Owner Mark Davis wants to move the team to Las Vegas where officials are willing to raise a hotel room tax rate just to get them there with a new stadium.

The league should vote against any move. Fans should not lose their team for a second time.  

Jets On The Brink

It looks like the season is over for the Jets after losing to the Dolphins and having a record of 3-6. They will need to finish at 6-1 to have any remote chance of making the playoffs.

It doesn't look like it will happen. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick hurt his knee. Coach Todd Bowles decided to bench defensive stars Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson for the first quarter because of  being late for team meetings.

If they have a losing season, someone will pay the price with their job. It's usually the coach in the end.

Picture This Fine

The NFL is out of control in its attempt to eliminate player celebrations on the field. They levy fines for almost any type of behavior.

The game between the Rams and Giants during Week 7 in London became a prime example. Giants safety Landon Collins returned an interception 44 yards for a TD on a very exciting play.

Several players gathered to celebrate. DE Owa Odighizuwa pretended to take a fake picture with an imaginary camera.

It looked very harmless. The NFL thought differently by fining him $12,154. It's all about control.

As The Roster Turns

The NFL trade deadline ended at 4pm today, but that doesn't mean the Bill Belichick has ended his roster tweak. There is still one open spot to replace LB Jamie Collins.

Will it be a defensive player? What about the offensive line? The team needs improvement in various areas. Will a player be promoted from the practice squad or PUP?

It was a bold move to trade Collins, but BB is moving on to the Seahawks.

Bad Ratings

The NFL big-shots continue to wonder why their television ratings keep falling. Monday night is down 29%, Sunday 19% and Thursday 18%. They like to cite the presidential election and fans being angry with Colin Kaepernick for sitting during the National Anthem, but the problem is rooted deeper than that.

The league is at the saturation point of mediocre match-ups in prime time. Networks pay $45 million for each Thursday night game, but they often feature teams with losing records and no marque players.

Consumers will not buy a product just because it's there. The NFL needs to have star players and "can't miss" games. They are lacking in both right now. They want to see Brady and Manning and not the stuff they try to sell now.

How Many Career Wins

After today's win over the Buffalo Bills, Coach Bill Belichick has 230 regular season career victories. He recently passed Curly Lambeau and is fourth on the all-time list.

He should pass Tom Landry in another two seasons with his 250th win. It gets real difficult after that with George Halas at 318 and Don Shula at 328.

Shula's record looks out of reach. Halas would also be difficult to catch. Belichick's final total is remains to be seen.

UMass Wins Over Wagner

I was in Amherst today to see UMass defeat Wagner 34-10 and go to 2-7 on the season. The program has made great strides, in spite of their losing record. Their Independent status has them playing a very ambitious schedule, including three SEC teams. The Minutemen have been competitive in all of their games

They face a huge task on the road with three games in the next four weeks against Troy, BYU and Hawaii. They have a bye on Nov 12th.

Hopefully, they came win a game or two. They need it to silence the critics.

A Giant Issue

It's a good thing that New York Giants rookie CB Eli Apple was a first round draft pick and carries a guaranteed contract. His comments from his mother Annie have put Giants ownership in an awkward position.

She blasted John Marra over the team's handling of the domestic violence case involving kicker Josh Brown. As a survivor of domestic abuse, her comments rang loudly.

The Giants will do some waffling, but this too shall blow over eventually. The league is more concerned with their sagging television ratings than domestic violence.

Eli will probably get released at some point next year.

Dion Sighting

RB Dion Lewis practiced with the Pats for the first time since OTA's in the spring. They have three weeks to activate him or place him on season ending IR.

His return would add to their already potent offense. Lewis had a brilliant start to his career before a series of knee injuries. Will he be the same player he was before?

I don't think the team will add him to the roster if he isn't ready. If he returns, he will certainly help the offense.

Bad Fitz

The New York Jets benched QB Ryan Fitzpatrick after throwing 11 interceptions and leading them to a 1-5 record.

With their season on the brink, Coach Todd Bowles went with Geno Smith. That lasted until he went down with a knee injury. Fitzpatrick went back to play and helped the team win and improve its record to 2-5.

After the game, he went into meltdown mode, calling out owner Woody Johnson, GM Mike Maccagnan and the coaching staff for not having any confidence in him.

Fitzpatrick is on a one year contract. His comments and performance so far doesn't bode well for his future with the Jets. They need to have a winning steak, which looks very unlikely at this point.

Some Guy I Never Heard Of

The Pats made a trade with the Lions today to acquire LB Kyle Van Noy, a 2nd round pick in 2014 from BYU. I never heard of the guy.

I saw a comment on Facebook about how great he was in college. He's one of those 2nd round picks that hasn't done anything so far.

He has a new beginning with the Pats. Some of these guys they get never end up doing anything. Others make a big contribution to the team.

Brian's Tough Break

It was unfortunate to watch Bears QB Brian Hoyer break his non-throwing arm last Thursday night during their game with the Packers. He had surgery today and was placed on IR. He could return before the season is over, but the Bears have a long list on IR.

Hoyer is a great a story of an undrafted player from Michigan State in 2009. The Pats signed him in 2009 and which allowed him to sit behind Tom Brady and learn.

After he left the Pats at the end of the 2011 season, he began a journey that would take him to the Steelers, Cardinals, Browns, Texans and Bears.

Although he has only 29 career starts, he has made it into his 8th season. Not many undrafted players can say that. Guys like him can play for several more years as an experienced back-up QB.

Don't Blame Odell

The NFL keeps trying to regulate behavior on the field. Players can't even celebrate after a big play without risking a fine by the league

The hypocrisy of it all was in place last week when Giants WR Odell Beckham was fined $24,309 for removing his helmet after a game-winning catch. The NFL is afraid of feelings being hurt.

They had no problem allowing it to be used as the "Castrol Edge Performance of the Week". Nothing gets in the way of money when it comes to the NFL.

Todd Bowled Over

New York Jets coach Todd Bowles knows that his job is on the line after a 1-5 start. He has placed his fate in the hands of Geno Smith after deciding to bench Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Bowles said the decision was his, but admitted that he consulted with owner Woody Johnson and GM Mike Maccagnan.

Whenever a coach utters this line, it's usually a case where it was not his decision. It's hard to believe that Smith could go 9-1 s a starter and get the Jets into the playoffs.

Bowles is probably already on the list of coaches to be fired after the season ends. It's a tradition with the Jets.

The Experts Missed Him

WR Chris Hogan is a great example of players who fall under the radar and never get drafted. He signed a 3 year/$12 million contract with the Pats last March as a restricted free agent.

So far, it looks like a good move for a guy who played only one year in college. He spent four years at Penn State as a lacrosse player before becoming a fifth year senior at 1-AA Monmouth. His numbers were not impressive with 12 catches for 147 yards and 3 TD's. He also played some defense, with 28 tackles and 3 interceptions.

He signed with the 49er's as an undrafted free agent in 2011 before being cut. He spent the rest of the season with the Giants and Dolphins on their practice squads.

His big break came in 2012 when he signed with the Bills. He impressed Coach Belichick enough that the Pats pursued him after the 2015 season.

The league is full of players like Hogan who never even get invited to the Scouting Combine. The Pats recently released Johnathan Cooper who was the 7th overall pick in the 2013 draft.

Stuff like this is normal around the league.

Jets Going Down

At 1-5, the season of the New York Jets is in a downward spiral. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick leads the league with 11 interceptions. Nothing is going right.

Since the Jets are carrying four quarterbacks on the roster, they will go with Geno Smith when they play the Ravens on Sunday.

Fans must feel that the season is slipping way. Smith won't be building their confidence when he brings his career record of 11-18 as a starter.

Rex Ryan is sporting a 4-2 record in Buffalo and probably has a big smile on his face while watching his former team implode.

Giving Up Less

At the end of Week 6, the Pats sport a 5-1 record and are ranked #2 in points allowed. Coach Belichick always places an emphasis on points, but it's not good enough for some of the local talk show people.

The Pats have an issue on third down and give up too many passing yards. Those numbers don't usually translate into fewer points, but the defense has prevented the big plays.

Too much emphasis is given to statistics. Points allowed tells a lot about a team. I would take that any day.

Microsoft Ruled Out

Microsoft has a $400 million contract with the NFL to have their Surface Pro tablet on the sidelines for use during games.

Coach Belichick announced today that he will no longer use them and go back to the old way of black and white pictures.

He spent five minutes of his press conference today explaining his reasons. He recently spiked one during a game when it stopped working.

Microsoft issued a statement bragging about its success during games, but announcers keep calling them ipads. They are not getting their $400 million worth.

Dak and Tony

The Dallas Cowboys are 5-1 under QB Dak Prescott who has been filling in for the injured Tony Romo. Rumors are swirling that Romo will get his job back and disrupt the wining momentum.

The final decision will be made by GM and owner Jerry Jones. There will be controversy no matter what happens. Jones is known for making bad decisions.

I have no doubt that the team will begin its slide if they bench Prescott.

Bengals Throw It Away

The Pats beat the Bengals 35-17, but the game was marred by unsportsmanlike conduct and taunting penalties on both sides.

The Bengals were especially guilty. Some calls should have been made. The officiating crew let it get out of hand.

The same thing happened to the Bengals last year in their playoff loss to the Steelers. It's easy to see why Coach Marvin Lewis is 0-7 in the post-season. His teams lack discipline when  it really matters.

Cooper's Cash

When the Pats released OL Johnathan Cooper, they were giving up on a $4.1 million player who was acquired in the Chandler Jones deal.

By being on the opening day roster, they are responsible for his $2.4 million salary. He already had a $1.7 million bonus.

He wasn't without work for long as the Browns signed him. It remains to be seen how much he plays on Sunday.

No matter what happens, he made $4.1 million this season.

No Exchange of Tickets

The NFL makes a big deal of its official ticket exchange site where fans can buy them from season ticket holders. I just watched one of their numerous ads on the NFL Network.

I decided to check it out. I was disappointed to see that the Pats limit the buyers to current season ticket holders or those who have paid to be on the waiting list. They also dictate the amount you can buy.

The Pats have always controlled the resale of their tickets. It was probably the only way they would sign on to the program.

Banging Heads

Fans saw the NFL concussion protocol in action the other day when the Pats played the Browns. Late in the game, WR Chris Hogan banged his head on the ground while making a reception.

The referee ordered him to the sidelines. He went to the locker room for examination by a third party doctor who cleared him to return. The system seem to work as intended.

What would happen if a player like Tom Brady sustained a concussion late in a crucial game and the referee ordered him off the field? It could decide the outcome of a game. We saw that with Julian Edelman in the waning moments of the Super Bowl.

Nobody wants to leave the game. It would be a tough decision to make, especially if the player was ok in the end.

It's only a matter of time before we see this happen.

The Early Slide

It's already panic time for Jets and Giants fans with their teams having 1-4 and 2-3 records respectively.

The Jets are already in a deep hole and don't look like they will repeat their 10-6 record of last year. The Giants have issues on both sides of the ball. Odell Beckham is having his own problems.

I predict that the Jets will fall out of the playoff race before the Giants. Neither are headed for the post-season.

45 Million Reasons

It really doesn't make any sense in terms of player safety to play a game on Thursday night after one on Sunday. Whenever there is money involved, the NFL ceases to use logic.

The league has a license to print money with their television contract. The new one for Thursday night brings more money to the table. Over the next few years, the networks will pay an average of $45 million to televise each game.

The quality of the product doesn't matter when there is that much money at stake. The NFL will mumble some concern about the players, but will move forward.

The Biggest Enemy

The NFL is wondering why its television ratings have taken a nose-dive this season. Fewer viewers will results in financial adjustments to sponsors. That means less money for the league.

Tonight's game features a great contest with the Giants at the Packers. At 9pm, it will go up against the second Presidential Debate which is guaranteed to have monster ratings. The league will take another hit.

The NFL puts up with a lot, especially players who suffer crippling and long term injuries. They especially hate losing money.

The Head of OBJ

There is no doubt that Giants WR Odell Beckham has a chance to be one of the all-time greats. His first two seasons are a reflection of his unlimited potential.

He is also hurting his team with his on-field behavior that is drawing penalties. His teammates have called him out in an effort to settle him down and stay focused on the game.

Defensive backs have been able to get into his head by verbally abusing him. It seems to be working. Teammates and coaches keep pointing this out to him, but to no avail.

Giants offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan has criticized opposing defensive players by saying that their taunts and other acts are done only because they lack the ability and confidence to stop Beckham.

He is probably right to a degree, but it's up to Beckham to be mature enough to rise above this and show them who is the better player. Instead, OBJ continues to whine his way through games and hurt his team.

The Great Joe Thomas

We never hear enough about the offensive linemen who are the ones who can really make or break a team. Without a good line, there is no offense or points scored.

Durability is a challenge. Brutal contact happens on every play. It's hard to imagine how LT Joe Thomas of the Browns is able to be so consistent.

Thomas has played all 148 games of his career in Cleveland and never missed a snap over 9,203 plays. It's the longest consecutive streak in the NFL.

Any play could end it, but he keeps going.

The Wallet Tightens Up

It remains to be seen if CB Antonio Cromartie gets another chance to play in the NFL after being released by the Colts. He signed with them back in August, but it ended after their recent game in London.

How will this effect his child support payments? He has fathered twelve children with eight different women. He has been hauled into court on several occasions to enforce child support orders.

His kids will be the ones who get hurt.

Gronk's Cover Story

Fans are beginning to wonder if there is really something true about the "Madden Curse" in light of Rob Gronkowski's injured marred season.

Since 2000, several players on the cover have experienced injury filled seasons or sub-par performances. Gronk suffered a hamstring injury during training camp which caused him to miss the first two regular season games. He has only one catch so far while being used primarily as a blocker.

Some were concerned about the so-called curse when Gonk's selection was announced. It does seem rather strange that there is a bad trend for the players on the cover.

Too Much Trade Talk

Now that the Pats played poorly against the Bills and lost 16-0, fans need to pump the brakes on Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett. Talk shows have wasted too much time on trade discussions involving Jimmy G. Many seem to think that GM's will beat the door down to trade for him.

After Matt Cassell filled in for Tom Brady during the 2008 season, they were only able to get a 2nd round pick for him. They also had to include LB Mike Vrabel in the deal.

There is a shortage of good quarterbacks in the league. The Pats will probably trade Jimmy G, but don't expect a first round pick in return.

Showing Them Mediocrity

The NFL is trying to grow the game in Europe by playing in London. Since 2007, they have staged 14 contests. They have never had one between two teams with winning records. In fact, just eight of the first 28 teams had a winning record.

The game yesterday between the Jaguars and Colts had two teams with a combined 1-5 record. British fans will need to wait until the Oct 23rd match between the Giants and Rams if they want to see teams with a possible .500 record.

They draw well on game day and with the BBC broadcast. The NFL is not showing its best product, but few teams want to make the trip across the pond.

Quick To Fire

There is no doubt that several NFL coaches will lose their jobs at the end of the season. It happens every year. The lack of job security comes with the profession.

It gets worse on the college level. Les Miles, the coach of LSU, was fired after his team lost to Auburn last Saturday and left them with a 2-2 record.

They are probably out of the BCS playoff picture, but could get a bowl bid with a seven win season. This isn't good enough for alumnae and the LSU administration.

Miles lead LSU to a national title in 2007, but hasn't been able to have a double digit win season since 2013. They lead all schools with 43 active players in the NFL.

Schools are quick to pull the trigger. Notre Dame's coach Brian Kelly fired his defensive coordinator after the Irish lost 38-35 at home to Duke. Someone had to take the fall in order to keep everyone happy.

Watt Dimmed For Season

Players try to return from injuries too soon in many cases, especially after having surgery. Houston star J.J. Watt will be the poster boy for trying to come back too soon after a recent back operation.

He was hurt in his team's loss to the Pats and had another back procedure the other day. His season has ended as he was placed on IR.

Will two back surgeries effect his playing future? Will he be the same dominant player next year? Time will tell, but I have a hard time believing that he will have a long career.

Cash For Being Active

When players get injured, we usually hear the same line about wanting to get back out the field with their teammates. In most cases, there is another reason because of game day roster bonuses.

Rob Gronkowski lost a $31,250 bonus when he sat out the season opener. Players will say how much they want to play, but it's really about that extra cash. There is certainly motivation to play when hurt.

Bill & Bavarro

It's always good to hear an interview with Coach Bill Parcells. He was talking about TE Mark Bavarro who is a finalist for the Hall of Fame.

Parcells said that he was one of the best he ever saw.  The Tuna emphasized that Bavarro was the complete package and could have played in any era.

His candidacy will be hurt by his short career of nine years and not putting up the gaudy numbers of today.

I think too much emphasis goes to the skilled offensive players who put up the numbers because of the way the game has evolved. It's tough to compare eras, but Bavarro was one of the best ever.

The Hall of Fame selection process is very flawed

The Axe For Two

The Pats always speak the same line about it being all about the team. That works fine as long as you are on the roster.

After Sunday, two players will lose their jobs when Tm Brady and Rob Ninkovich return. The released players could make it on to the practice squad, but that will come at the expense of two already there.

The roster and practice squad will look different on Monday.

Great Start For Blount

Coach Belichick is not one to dwell on statistics, especially when it coms to individual ones. LeGarette Blount is leading the league in rushing after three weeks. Some of his numbers are a result of running the ball to eat up time. He had several long runs which skew the total.

When Tom Brady returns, the running game will be less. Blount's opportunities to run will also decrease. The Pats need to know they can run the ball when they want to.

If Blount ends up with 1,000 yards on the season, it will be because it was in the best interest of the team.

Circus Rex

Rex Ryan brings his traveling circus to Gillette Stadium on Sunday when the Bills play the Pats. Everyone is awaiting his outlandish statements and predictions. He has already said that it will be a different game without Tom Brady.

At 1-2, Rex needs a win very badly in order to keep the critics at bay. If the Bills win, he will gloat about it. Most fans think he will make his usual mistakes, especially with clock management.

Jets Strayed Off Course

Last Monday, a reporter for the New York Daily News boldly predicted that the Pats would be looking at the Jets in first place in the Eastern Division when Tom Brady returns.

At the time of the story, The Pats were 2-0 and were planning on the last Thursday night's game against the Texans. The Jets were 1-1 with the Chiefs and Seahawks ahead on their schedule.

The writer felt that there was no way that Jimmy Garropolo or Jacoby Brissett could lead the Pats to first place in the Eastern Division in the absence of Brady.

We start this week with the Pats 3-0 and playing the Bills on Sunday. The Jets are 1-2 after today's loss to the Chiefs. The writer said they would win these two games. We will see about next week.

It doesn't look like the Jets will by in first place in Week 5 when Brady returns.

The Next Quarterback

The next week should be very interesting for the Pats with the news that QB Jacoby Brissett might need surgery for a torn thumb ligament on his throwing hand. We will never know the extent of the injury because the story keeps changing.

We are hearing that QB Jimmy Garropolo might be ready for the Buffalo Bills. Coach Belichick will play it close to the vest and say only what is required.

Who starts a week from Sunday?

Who Made Who?

It was 15 years ago today that the Tom Brady era began. Jets LB Moe Lewis took out Drew Bledsoe on a sideline play. It was the beginning of the end for Bledsoe's time with the Pats.

We always hear that Brady made Belichick the success that he is and vice versa.

A report shows that Bill's regular season record with Brady starting is 172-51 and a 77.2% winning rate. Without Brady, it's 13-5 and 77.2%.

The debate will continue.

One QB Tonight

Julian Edelman has probably dreamt of this day his entire life. He will be the backup quarterback tonight behind Jacoby Brissett. He will be one play away from leading the offense.

Coach Belichick certainly feels comfortable with his decision or he would have signed a veteran quarterback.

Nobody but Belichick would go into a game with only one real quarterback.

A Short Game

UMass struggles in its attempt to find its way at the BCS level. They are 24 1/2 underdogs at home against Mississippi State this Saturday. Nobody is giving them a chance.

Every school plays teams that are not on the same level. Schools have scheduled UMass for an easy win. Seven victories gets you into a bowl game.

I think its a sham when BCS teams schedule games with those from the FCS. It's always a mismatch.

Last Saturday, #4 Clemson beat South Carolina State 59-0 in a game that saw the second half quarters shortened to 12 minutes.

This should never have happened. Player safety is very important and can't be compromised. Games like this should not be played. It also deprives the fans when quarters are shortened.

The Ryan Watch

Rex Ryan is on the hot seat after two straight losses. Many think he will be fired before the season is over.

Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman interviewed for the job before Rex was selected. He was the most logical candidate to succeed Rex, in the event of his termination.

Rex went proactive and fired Roman while blaming the two losses on the team's weak offense. Rex and brother Rob are considered defensive geniuses, but the Bills defense is horrible right now.

Nothing is going right in Buffalo. Rex can't fired himself. He took the most logical step because he had to do something to keep the fans happy.

QB #4

Coach Belichick always said there is a backup plan for everything. It will be severely tested after losing QB Jimmy Garropolo and having only one left on the roster.

Everyone seems to think that Julian Edeleman is the emergency quarterback. Will they bring in someone from the streets for a game on Thursday night?

Belichick always said they manage the roster on a weekly basis. This will be a great example.

Jacoby Time.

A season and career can change on one play. We saw that today when QB Jimmy Garroplo went down with a shoulder injury. It looked really bad.

Jacoby Brissett filled in very well and the Pats won 31-24. It came down to the last series of the game when Miami had the ball.

What will happen to Jimmy Garroplo? He was having the opportunity of a lifetime filling for Tom Brady during his four game suspension. His physical well-being and status is now up in the air.

Jacoby Brissett now has his chance. It might never happen unless Jimmy G got hurt. This is his moment.

UMass Wins

UMass fans were wondering if they would ever see their quarterback take a knee in the final play of a game. It happened today when the Minutemen beat Florida International 21-13. Their record moves to 1-2.

They face a challenge next Saturday at Gillette Stadium when they host SEC power Mississippi State. They will be an underdog, but are playing better.

UMass plays a tough Independent schedule. Progress is slow, but brighter days are ahead.

Chooosing From 94

The Hall of Fame announced the final 94 candidates to be considered for enshrinement next year. The selection process will be difficult. Some deserving players will never get in. The Seniors should have been made long ago, in some instances.

Kurt Warner, Terrell Davis, Edgerrin James and Terrell Owens are finalists from the last time. Will one of them make it?

The new list includes former Pats Tedy Bruschi, Willie McGinest, Rodney Harrison, Ty Law, Drew Bledsoe, and Doug Flutie. The candidacy of local guy Fred Smerlas is still alive.

It will be interesting to see how many of them move forward. This will be the last chance for some.

Those Ryans

Tonight's game between the Jets and Bills is a great matchup. There are so many side stories with Rex Ryan coaching the Bills now and the Jets previously.

Rex and twin brother Rob make a great story line, along with their father Buddy with his 46 defense and the 1985 Chicago Bears.

I'm a big fan of Rex. He does act over the top at times. Brother Rob needs to trim his hair to get a head coaching job.

Rex is on the hot seat in Buffalo. If they lose tonight and start off 0-2, history shows that only 12% of those teams ever make the playoffs.

Either the Jets or Bills will be in that situation after tonight.

Pump It On Jimmy G

Fans need to pump the brakes over QB Jimmy Garropolo. He is 1-0 as a starter. He had a very good game against Arizona.

Some callers on sports talk shows are trying to stir up a controversy about replacing Brady. One writer said that Brady will probably finish his career in Dallas.

Where do people come up with this stuff? Why do they think that Jimmy G will command at least a first round pick? They could only get a 2nd rounder for Matt Cassell after the 2008 season. He lead the Pats to a 11-5 record when Brady was out for the season.

Going For Two

It's always a risky play to go for the extra two points to win the game, rather then settling for a tie and eventual overtime.

The coach is a genius if it works and takes a pounding if it fails. Jack DelRio of the Raiders had his moment Sunday during his team's 35-34 win over the Saints.

The Raiders scored with 47 seconds left and trailed by one. He chose to go for two and the win. It worked out and everyone said it was a gutsy call.

It was a very risky play no matter what. The game was on the line.

Game 1 Done

The Pats beat the Cardinals 23-21 last night. Jimmy Garropolo played well, but turned the ball over which resulted in a score. The same happened to LeGarrette Blount.

The team made great plays when they needed to, but I agree with Coach Belichick's assessment. They  need a lot of work in all three phases of the game. The mistakes like turnovers could have cost them the game.

2016 Starts Tonight

As the Pats to get ready to open the season in Arizona against the Cardinals, there are certainly many questions about their offensive line. They are going with a younger group, but still have Sebastian Vollmer and Nate Solder.

The line is young and considered to be the main concern after Jimmy Garroplo.

It will be a long night if they can't protect him.

Tebow's Baseball Time

Tim Tebow will be getting his chance at professional baseball after signing a contract with the New York Mets. He will report to the Fall Instructional League.

It remains to be seen if this works out for him. He is getting a chance because of who he is. There must be a lot of baseball players out there wondering about the system that gives opportunity to someone who hasn't played since their junior year in high school.

Many thought the same way when Michael Jordan gave it a shot.

Cam's Swivel Head

Fans got to see for themselves whether QB Cam Newton got a concussion in the waning moments of the Panthers 21- 20 loss to the Broncos.

Cam was called for intentional grounding, but took a vicious shot to the head. He stayed in the game. Nobody from the training staff examined him, but the slow-motion replay was very clear.

There will be a fine for the hit, but how is Cam's head after that hit?

Big College Game Saturday

College football is not as popular in this part of the country. Boston College and UMass both have Division 1A programs, but fail to generate a lot of excitement.

BC has fallen on hard times in recent years. UMass has been a disaster when it comes to winning games.

They face each other on Saturday at Gillette Stadium. Will the fans turn out? Both schools have a huge alumnae in the area. Can they get at least 30,000 in the seats?

Last Saturday night, #127th ranked UMass took on #25 Florida. They trailed 10-7 going into the fourth quarter, before losing 24-7. It was a great showing by them as they were 36 point underdogs.

BC is favored by 16 1/2 over UMass. Everyone expects UMass to continue their losing ways. It should be a great game.

The Start of Jimmy G

This is the opportunity of a lifetime for Pats QB Jimmy Garoppolo. He can make such a statement about his play over the next four games.

Everyone seems to think that his future trade value will command a first round draft pick, based on his play. Let's see how that works out.

This is the biggest chance he will ever get in his career.

What will his record be after four games?

How Long Will Johnny Last?

It seems like QB Johnny Manziel has decided to re-enroll at Texas A&M where he played for three seasons before entering the NFL draft. He will be taking on-line classes according to reports out there.

Is this really going to school? He probably has someone lined up already to do his work.

I don't believe in on-line degrees.

More Than Two Get Impacted

Fans will be happy when Tom Brady and Rob Ninkovich return from their four game suspensions.

When they get activated to the roster, it will come at the expense of two other players who will either go to the practice squad or get released.

There is a trickle-down effect to the practice squad. It's all part of the game.

There are only so many jobs in the NFL. They don't last long.

The Roster For Today

Every team has their 53 man roster and 10 members of the practice squad. One thing for certain is that each roster will change on a weekly basis.

Players will get hurt and placed on IR. Others will move back and forth from the practice squad. Some will get released.

No team ends the season with the roster they started with.

Delusional Over Jimmy G

Pats fans need a reality check with QB Jimmy Garropolo. They seem to think that he will go 4-0 in place of Tom Brady and be traded for at least a first round pick.

More fuel was added to the fire today when the Eagles traded QB Sam Bradford to the Vikings for a first and fourth round draft pick. The Vikings were desperate after losing Teddy Bridgewater for the season.

Delusional fans think that Garropolo will light it up, in spite of never starting a regular season NFL game. The Pats will roll over everyone

While listening to sports talk radio, I heard a caller mention that the Pats should trade Tom Brady for at least two first-round picks, in light of the Sam Bradford deal.

Fans actually believe this stuff.

The Goose Is Done

The television networks seem to remove announcers and analysts at will. Sometimes, it's a contractual issue, but others fade in popularity.

I don't understand why FOX decided that sideline reporter Tony Siragusa will no longer part of any broadcast.

I found him entertaining and informative. He made a quick transition from playing to broadcasting. I hope he finds another job.

Their Last Game Forever

NFL teams are wrapping up their final preseason game tonight, but the bigger story is the roster cut down to 53 players and the practice squad.

Over 700 players will be impacted. Some will find a place on another team. Others will hope for a phone call that will never come.

Many are playing the final game of their football career. They just don't know it.

Blowing $11.9 Million

The San Francisco 49er's probably wish they never exercised the option on Colin Kaepernick back in April. They are now on the hook for a fully guaranteed $11.9 million salary for the 2016 season.

His recovery from off-season surgery on his shoulder, thumb and knee has hindered his participation in training camp. His recent comments are making him toxic to almost everyone that might want him on their team.

The 49er's can save a $1.125 million roster bonus if they cut him before the season starts.

They are in a real jam. If they release Kaepernick, it will look like they parted ways because of his comments.

It's a situation that is getting out of control.

Bridgewater's Worst Moment

Football players know that their season or career can end on one play. It did for Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater when he dislocated his knee and tore his ACL at practice without any contact.

It doesn't always take a bone-crushing hit to end a season. Nobody touched Bridgewater, but the injury was devastating to him and the Vikings. Their season is in jeopardy.

A Losing Bluff

The plan to move the Oakland Raiders to Las Vegas is a great example of everything that is wrong with publicly funded stadiums.

The group behind the arena wants the city to cough up $750 million of the $1.9 billion cost. They said there is no room for negotiation. The cost would be covered by increasing the hotel room tax.

Las Vegas doesn't need a NFL team. They have enough going on. City officials need to walk away from the table.

The Stand of Colin Kaepernick

QB Colin Kaepernick has certainly drawn attention to himself with his refusal to stand for the National Anthem before a preseason game Friday night. He cited the ongoing racial issues in America.

He has lit up social media with comments from all sides. I think this will last longer than his "15 minutes of fame".

There is no solution that will make everyone happy.

Breaking Romo

It's beginning to look like QB Tony Romo will be facing his biggest challenge after fracturing a vertebrae in his back last night. The Cowboys will be without him for at least half the season.

At 36, he must be wondering how many snaps he has left in him. He missed 12 games last year with a shoulder injury. Romo has taken quite a physical beating during his career.

Hopefully, the team doesn't rush him back too soon. Otherwise, he could be lost for the season.

The Missing Fans

There are so many things to take away from the Pats 19-17 win over he Carolina Panthers in their third preseason game. It doesn't appear that anyone was seriously hurt.

Whenever the television network cameras scanned the stadium, it was obvious that there was nobody at the game.

The games are all about being shown on television. It doesn't really matter if fans show up at the stadium. The game will be played.

Stork Drops Off In DC

The Pats were going to cut center Bryan Stork, but ended up trading him to the Washington Redskins for a conditional 7th round draft pick.

It came as a surprise to many, but he has been dealing with injuries and was outplayed by David Andrews for the starting position.

Redskin fans seem pretty excited about the acquisition. It's a win for both sides.

Not So Rosey

The days of rookie holdouts are basically over, but don't tell that to DE Joey Rosa and the San Diego Chargers. He still remains unsigned with training camp nearing conclusion.

The CBA of 2011 financially slotted every draft pick, but Rosa is looking for more money. These situations never end well. The player finally signs, but ends up getting injured or not playing up to expectations.

Rosa will be no exception.

The Puncture

The world finally got to see the scissor injury to Tom Brady's thumb. It looked like a puncture wound rather than a laceration. We can only speculate if bleeding occurred upon injury.

This season has a strange feeling to it. Will Brady play against the Carolina Panthers on Friday? Injuries will impact the upcoming roster decisions.

The Challenge For Dion

Fans were expecting big things from Dion Lewis this season after his brilliant start last year. It now looks like he will need another procedure on his knee after having a season-ending injury.

It doesn't look like he will be lost for the season, but it's very ominous. Players like Dion tend to have short careers.

Branching Out

Pats DT Alan Branch has been suspended for a "few days" for violating team rules. Naturally, fans will never know the real story and can only speculate.

It doesn't sound like much of a deal, but why doesn't the team just come out and say in order to stop rumors.

The Ground Committee

The NFL Network had a great discussion about fantasy football and building your team around a dominant running back.

The Pats choose to do "running back by committee". They have never had a dominant ball carrier since Corey Dillon.

Teams choose their own way for running the ball with various results. Running backs tend to have short careers.

Cruz Not Cruising

The clock is ticking down on Giants WR Victor Cruz as he continues to struggle with injuries. His latest groin injury caused him to miss the team's first exhibition game and sidelined him from practice. He also has rookie 2nd round pick Steven Shepard ready to take his place.

The next few weeks will be critical to the survival of Cruz's career. He is far from a lock for a roster spot. A move to IR would probably result in his release.

Gronk Tweaked

There was a big panic at Pats training camp today when Rob Gronkowski pulled up during a 7 on 7 drill. Fans will never know the extent of any injury. There will be speculation and rumors, but the truth will never see the light of day.

Gronk will always have a cloud hanging over him whenever he gets any type of injury. He is that crucial to the Pats.

The Arm of Rob

We will never know the extent of the injury to the tricep in Rob Ninkovich's arm. He has a muscle tear, but who really has the answer. He was at practice today wearing a compression sleeve.

I'm sure he is concerned about his streak of playing in 116 games going back to 2009. His injury will effect the final 53 man roster. He is so vital to the Pats.

How will this play out?

Who Evicts Their Mother?

The reputation of CB Antonio Cromartie will take another hit with the news about him evicting his mother from a house he bought for her in 2007. He claims that she has not been making the mortgage payments.

This seems so outlandish. Who evicts their mother from a house they bought for her? Cromartie is infamous for having fathered ten children from eight different women. I'm sure that figure will keep rising though the years.

A Change For Mitchell

It was nice that the Pats beat the Saints last night in their first pre-season game, but it came with a price. Rookie WR Malcolm Mitchell suffered a dislocated elbow which looked much worse than at first. He could miss at least four weeks.

His injury opens the door for others at the receiving position. Mitchell's timeframe takes him past opening day. Will they place him on season ending IR? He was prone to injuries in college. These things happen.

Mitchell's bad timing might force the Pats to do something they don't really want to do.

Who Will It Happen To?

With pre-season games starting tonight, it will only be a matter of time before some player suffers an injury that will end their career. These games are riddled with injuries to starters and rookies trying to make the team.

The goal of every team is to make it through without losing a player to injury. It's a lofty goal that won't be achieved in most cases.

2016 Season Is Here

When the Pats play the Saints, it's really the start of the season. Everyone is under a microscope. Players will get hurt and placed on IR before the regular season even starts. It happens to all teams.

Who will play against the Saints? Will Tom Brady get some snaps? Gronk will be protected like a glass vase. They can't lose him in a meaningless preseason game. Every player counts.

So many questions to answer.

Tebow Diamond Time

Tim Tebow is in the news again today because he wants to try and play professional baseball, in spite of not playing since his junior year in high school.

He was scouted as a ballplayer before  committing to football at Florida State. He wants an audition before a major league team scouting department.

He sounds a lot like Michael Jordan and his time with the Birmingham Barons. It would make a lot of sense for a minor league team to sign him for a publicity stunt.

Does he really have a possibility of making it? That's very unlikely, but only a guy like him could get a chance to try.

The Bad Surface

The exhibition game scheduled after the Hall of Fame inductions was canceled because of concerns about the playing surface. The NFL looked very foolish after having the middle of the field painted with a logo that turned out to be hazardous to run on

What would happen if this was the regular season? Does the league have a plan in effect to deal with a situation like this? I'm surprised it never happened before. Maybe it did, but we never heard anything about it.

Days of Julian

Julian Edelman practiced with the Pats today. He is such a critical part of the offense. There is so much potential this season for this team.

How will it work out? Players get hurt and miss too many games. Careers end too soon. Julian Edelman is having the ride of his life as he plays with Tom Brady.

Who will leave the game first, Brady or Edelman? It will happen.

Snake Night

The NFL Network did a great job broadcasting the Hall of Fame inductions. They took a three hour program and made it interesting to the television audience.

The speeches by each player were awesome. It really reminded me that there is no good way to elect members. Ken Stabler should have been there a long time ago. There is never a good reason to say why he never made it.

Gronk Leading

Rob Gronkowski seems to be taking a bigger role in leadership this season. Gronk is a regular with the media after practice. He had an amazing off-season with all of the things he did. His pairing with Martellus Bennett should drive defenses crazy.

The sky is the limit for them this season. Hopefully, they can both stay healthy. That remains to be seen.

Another Head Injury

Some players seem more injury prone than others. More attention is being paid to concussions. Pats center Bryan Stork just suffered his third one in the last three years.

He missed three games during his rookie year in 2014. Another one last season kept him out of action until week nine. He also had one when he played at Florida State.

Stork will probably miss a significant amount of time during training camp. It remains to be seen whether he will be ready for the start of the season.

Some players have their career cut short by concussions. Will Stork be one?

Brady At 39

Tom Brady turned 39 today, making him the oldest non-kicking player in the NFL. He is four years behind former teammate Adam Vinatieri who will turn 44 during the season.

Brady's level of play shows no signs of slowing down, but he will face challenges this season starting with his four game suspension.

He has always stated about wanting to play until he is 45. Only Warren Moon, Vinny Testeverde and Steve Deberg made it to 44. Nobody should ever doubt Brady, but that is a lofty goal.

The Days of Reggie

NFL training camps are filled with players on their last chance. Every team has them. RB Reggie Bush is a great example after signing with the Buffalo Bills.

The former #2 overall pick in the 2006 draft has never lived up to the expectations that come with such a high selection. He missed most of last season with a knee injury and is with his fifth team in 11 seasons after spending time with the Saints, Dolphins, Lions and 49er's.

His reputation as being injury prone makes him a challenge to be on the final roster. At 31, he is trying to prove that he has something left.

It remains to be seen if he will add to his 5,493 career rushing and 3,508 receiving yards.

Easy For Richie

Grammy Award winner Lionel Richie hit the jackpot when he teamed up with Peyton Manning to endorse Direct TV NFL Sunday. They already have multiple commercials on television and the internet.

Manning will do very well in retirement with his endorsements. It's a great opportunity for Richie to parody his song "Easy" to "Peyton On Sunday Morning". It's a brilliant marketing campaign that will make money for both of them. 

Betting On Hearing From Him

Players make bets with each other all the time. They keep it quiet so as not to attract attention. Antonio Brown and Brandon Marshall chose a different route.

Marshall bet his Jets colored Porsche against Brown's Roll Royce that he would have more receiving yards this season. A British bookie heard about it and established odds with Brown being a 1-3 favorite against 5-2 Marshall.

Now that the story is out there, it's only a matter of time before the Commissioner of the No Fun League cracks down on them.

Down Goes Cooper

It doesn't sound good when anyone gets carted off the field. It happened to OL Johnathan Cooper today during practice. He has ben dealing with a plantar fascia issue.

Cooper is a great example of not living up to his potential as the 7th overall pick in the 2013 draft. He was part of the deal that sent Chandler Jones to the Arizona Cardinals.

It seems like this deal was star-crossed. Hopefully, Cooper is not lost for the season.

Need To Run

If the Pats hope to make it to the Super Bowl, they will need to have a strong running game. It wasn't there last year. The Pats had the 6th highest total of offensive yards, but were 30th in the running game.

Losing Dion Lewis and LeGarrette Blount to season ending injures didn't help. Their lack of depth was readily apparent. Will it change this year? They can't be so one-dimensional.

One Year Cash

The New York Jets and QB Ryan Fitzpatrick agreed on a one year deal that can work for both of them. He will get $12 million with a chance to earn an additional $3 million in performance bonuses. He will also be a free agent at the end of the season.

Money was always a point of contention after the signing of other quarterbacks around the league. The Jets needed him and Fitzpatrick had no other offers on the table. He has a chance to make a lot of money next year if he plays like last season.

Smith's Last Stand

Ravens WR Steve Smith announced last season that he would be retiring at the end of 2015. His season didn't work out the way he wanted to once he tore both of his Achilles tendons and ended up on IR. He said that he would return for 2016.

Here he is now at 37 trying to make the roster. It's not a given thing. Will he still have his speed? Smith wants to go out on his own terms. To do that, he must be with the team on opening day.

The Start of 2016

This week is the start of the 2016 season for all teams. It's more than just training camp. For a rookie, it's the start of a career by making the roster. For some veterans, it might be the last moment of their career.

Players from all teams will get hurt and miss part or all of the entire season. Teams will surprise and disappoint their fans. Several teams will have coaching turnovers by this time next year.

Nobody knows how it will all work out.

Naming Nonsense

I always thought it was foolish for some companies to spend enormous amounts of money to have a stadium named after them. They are usually hooked for the long term. It works out fine, unless the company is bought out or goes bankrupt.

The Sports Authority has that problem after filing for bankruptcy and going out of business. They are having an auction of the last five years of their lease for the facility used by the Denver Broncos. They still owe $20 million, but will never get back that amount.

They will settle for whatever amount they can get. Some corporation will land a great deal.

Will Watt Dim?

Houston Texans defensive star J.J. Watt will start training camp on the Physically Unable To Perform list after undergoing surgery for a herniated disc. He is expected to miss 8-10 weeks which would lead into the start of the regular season.

He already had surgery on his hand and for a sports hernia. The Texans are hoping that Watt will be the same player as before, but there is always the chance that he won't.

No Time For Rice

Former Ravens RB Ray Rice didn't exactly go out on the limb when he offered to donate his salary to charity if he gets a chance to play again in the NFL.

Rice will be forever known for his moment of domestic violence which has made him a pariah in the league.

He missed the last two seasons and has no offers on the horizon. No team wants to be associated with him. He doesn't want to end his career on this note, but it looks like he will.

Johnny In The News

Johnny Manziel continues to spiral out of control, but also keeps getting breaks. No matter what he does, he skates away. Most people would already have been convicted.

His latest issue involves punching a guy in the face while attending a wedding rehearsal party in Hawaii. They were staying in the same hotel. He sent the victim a hand written note the next day and also ordered room service for him. 

It's only a matter of time before he runs out of luck. I can't imagine any NFL team wanting to put up with his baggage.

The Cheapest Car

Dallas Cowboys RB Alfred Morris is a great example of a free agent signing a contract and not blowing his money on new cars and jewelry. He recently signed with Dallas after being selected by the Redskins in the 6th round of the 2012 draft.

In spite of a 2 year/$3.5 million contract, he still drives a 1991 Mazda which he bought for $2 from his pastor while a junior in college.

So many players waste their money on frivolous things. Morris sounds like someone who won't be broke when he retires.

Tom's Awkward Day

I wonder how former New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin feels about being inducted into their Ring of Honor. The team announced that he will be honored along with former GM Ernie Accorsi and defensive star Justin Tuck.

Coughlin lead the team to a pair of Super Bowl wins over the Pats after the 2007 and 2011 seasons. In the end, he was dismissed by the team at the end of last season. He remains out of the NFL.

It was inevitable for Coughlin to be honored, but there is an awkward feeling to the entire thing.

Gronk & Paul

Rob Gronkowski got up on the stage to dance when Paul McCartney played a concert at Fenway Park last night. Only Gronk could do something like that. He is all about increasing the value of his brand.

His career after his playing days are over is limitless. He will be the first to say that he has never spent a dime from his NFL game checks. He lives off his endorsements. Players would be wise to take a page from his book.

San Diego Can't Win

The people of San Diego will decide in November whether they want to commit to being strangled financially by funding a new stadium and convention center. It's a no-win situation for voters.

They will vote whether to increase the local hotel room tax from 12.5% to 16.5% to fund $1.15 billion of the $1.8 billion project. The Chargers and the NFL will also partner on the financial plan.

If San Diego wants to keep the Chargers, they will be forced to take on a long term financial burden or lose the team. The people are being held hostage on this matter. They can't win either way.

Cue Up The Nonsense

The worst thing about Tom Brady's four game suspension will be listening to the nonsense on sports talk radio. Callers are already complaining that Brady quit on them. They refuse to consider the reasons behind his decision to take the four game ban.

There will be a quarterback controversy no matter what happens, especially if Jimmy Garopollo plays well.

It's going to be a long journey to October 9th when Brady returns against the Cleveland Browns. Some of the comments are really stupid.

Tom's Decision

It's hard to believe that Deflategate is finally over in light of Tom Brady's decision to drop further appeals and take a four game suspension.

It was a long shot that the US Supreme Court would hear the case. I think everyone decided that it would be best if he missed the first four games of the season.

The decision will now unleash a torrent of second-guessers on talk radio and in the media. The four games will come and go, but Brady will be linked to this forever.

No Tickets For John

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers probably wished his brother John never went on the television show "Bachelorette". During an interview, he said how they rarely speak and don't have much of a relationship.

This is not unique to any family. It happens all the time. It's very unfortunate. Maybe things will get resolved someday. It's too bad his brother went public with such a personal issue.

A Case Too Far

It's looking really bad for Tom Brady after the US Second Circuit Court of Appeals refused to hear his case. His four game suspension is almost a done deal. The only option is to appeal to the US Supreme Court.

That option is on the table, but is it a losing battle at this point? The cards are stacked against him. He is probably discussing his options right now with his legal team.

I hope he goes all the way.

Degree of Slash

It was great to see that former Steelers/Bears/Ravens QB Cordell Stewart finally completed the course work for his degree from the University of Colorado. It has been a long road since he was the 60th overall pick by the Steelers in the 1995 draft.

He was able to play 11 seasons in the NFL with three teams. His 38 rushing TD's as a quarterback rank him fourth in the all-time list behind Cam Newton, Steve Young and Jack Kemp.

The story of getting his degree should have received more attention, but the media doesn't like to report nice stories.

Bill's Game

It's a shame that NFL fans didn't get a chance to see the interview Coach Belichick did for Lacrosse Magazine in conjunction with US Lacrosse. He has a life long relationship with the game, playing it in high school and college. His kids played and his daughter is a college coach.

Belichick was very relaxed and open during the interview. It was so different from what the public sees. For that brief moment, he was away from the NFL.

Skating Sheldon

Whenever we hear talk about Tom Brady's four game suspension, it will always go back to the issue of the integrity of the game. Commissioner Roger Goodell will always hang his hat on that.

DL Sheldon Richardson of the New York Jets was able to wiggle his way with just a one game suspension for some outrageous off-field behavior last summer.

Last July, he was involved in a high-speed police chase in suburban St Louis. Speeds reached up to 140 mph while he drove his Bentley, accompanied by two male passengers and a 12 year old relative.

Police fund a loaded semi-automatic handgun under a floor mat and detected the odor of marijuana. He ended up pleading to reduced charges and avoided jail time.

The NFL issued him a one game suspension, based upon the resolution of the case. Richardson got two huge breaks with the reduced charges and the actions of the league.

There is a huge disparity when it comes to disciplining players.

Someone Will Take His Place

WR Calvin Johnson recently retired from the Detroit Lions at the age of 30 because of concerns over his long term health.

His recent comments will cause the NFL to circle the wagons. They always do that when a player talks about concussions and the distribution of pain medicine to players. The league can't put a muzzle on him because he is no longer under contract to a team.

He could not even come up with the total number of concussions he suffered. He spoke of the open abuse of pain pills given to players to get them back on the field.

The league will issue their typical statements and then wait for the whole thing to blow over. They know training camp is near and fans want to see their teams start a new season. Johnson will just be collateral damage. Someone else will jump to take his roster spot.

Hard Job To Lose

NFL game officials faced a lot of criticism last season over controversial calls. They are rated weekly, based on their game performance.

Apparently, nobody was penalized because all 17 referees will be back this season. Only one of 122 officials won't be back.  The league is keeping quiet on the whole matter, but that's pretty good job security for a group that was so controversial.

The Final 10

I think the NFL did a great job with their Top 100 Players of 2015 as determined by the players themselves. They are the ones who know best, but is that always true?

When it came down to the top ten, it was mostly skilled players. The list was quit impressive counting down from 10th, with Odell Beckham Jr, Rob Gronkowski, Julio Jones, Like Kuechly, Aaron Rodgers, Adrian Peterson, Antonio Brown, J.J. Watt, Tom Brady and finally Cam Newton.

It sounds like the players got it right, although linemen on both sides of the ball never get their due respect.

Robinson's Strange Ride

Players get into the strangest situations. Jaguars RB Denard Robinson was driving a car that somehow ended up in a retention pond. To make matters worse, he and his girl friend both fell asleep before they were awoken by first responders while the car was sinking.

Police said that he had not been drinking and didn't cite him. It's a very strange situation to end up in a pond and not do anything about it.

Roger Making Less

The NFL is very secretive about things because they can. They disclose only what they need to. Fans are left hanging when it comes to things they want to know.

They disclosed that Commissioner Roger Goodell took a 7% pay cut in 2015 compared to the previous year. His compensation went from $34 million to $31 million, but nobody knows why.

He still gets a ton of money for making the billionaire owners richer. It's a win for both sides.

Playing The Wrong Game

Players have been going on social media to express their shock with the salaries of NBA free agents. Even role players are getting astronomical salaries with guaranteed contracts.

The NFL is the lowest paid league by far. The disparity is very striking. It's even more apparent when you look at the violence in the game and the toll it takes on their bodies.

Each sport has its own set of skills.

Jason's Words

New York Giants DL Jason Pierre-Paul changed his life and career forever last year when he blew off part of his right hand in a fireworks accident. He lost half of last season and endured numerous surgeries to get back on the field.

He recently made a public service announcement to encourage people not to play with fireworks. Maybe his words will prevent one accident like his. It's worth a shot.

There Goes Johnny

It's more of a procedural matter, but QB Johnny Manziel has been issued a four game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

That is the least of his problems. He faces further discipline from the league because of his ongoing legal issues. He is also a player without a team.

His goal should be to actually serve his suspension. That would mean he is on a roster. At this point, who really wants him?

Luck For Andrew

The Indianapolis Colts announced the signing of QB Andrew Luck to the richest contract in NFL history. They should have mentioned that they will regret doing this because of the salary cap implications.

Luck got a 6 year/$140 million deal, with $87 million guaranteed. That is too much to commit to one player. Like most deals, he will never see all of this money. NFL contracts are a charade when it comes to the guaranteed cash.

Throwing It Away

The Johnny Maziel drama has become more than boring. He continues to make the news for his outlandish behavior. He keeps catching breaks from the legal system

He told TMZ that he plans to stay sober after July 1 and focus his efforts on getting back to the NFL. It's hard to imagine that a team would want to put up with him, but there is a shortage of good backup quarterbacks.

Buddy Ryan

The NFL lost a legend today with the passing of Coach Buddy Ryan, the master of the 46 defense with the 1985 Chicago Bears and the father of Rex and Rob. He will always be known as a defensive genius, rather than his stint as a head coach.

His crowning moment was the 1985 team lead by Mike Ditka and his role as defensive coordinator. They defeated the Pats 46-10 in Super Bowl XX.

At 15-1, they were one of the greatest teams in NFL history.

James & Roger

Steelers LB James Harrison is ready to take on the NFL over their plan to question him about his name being mentioned in the Al Jazeera steroid story.

This is the same one that cited Peyton Manning. Many think that was one of the reasons he retired at the end of last season, rather than face questioning. He never denied receiving a shipment of a banned substance, but said it was for his wife.

Harrison is demanding that any questioning be done at his home and at his selected time. He also wants Commissioner Roger Goodell present. That will never happen, but Harrison will make a lot of noise.

I think the NFL is going down the wrong road when they start investigating players for steroid use based on third party sources.

Harrison wasted no time in calling out former Pats star Rodney Harrison and labeled him a serial steroid cheater. This should get interesting.

The Vegas Ripoff

I don't think that it's a good idea for Las Vegas to try to lure the Oakland Raiders there because it will come with a steep cost.

Business leaders are proposing a 0.9% hotel room tax to back the $750 million in municipal bonds as part of the $1.5 billion funding of the proposed stadium.

The average hotel room will increase in price by $1.09. It doesn't sound like much, but this will be a long term commitment.

The Nevada legislature will need to approve any type of tax. They should vote it down to protect the public.

CFL & DK

Fantasy sports sites Draft Kings and Fan Duel are fighting for their lives in state courts as their legality is being questioned. They are very popular among their players. The best solution is for state regulation and taxes.

I was surprised to see Draft Kings expand their options to the Canadian Football League. It will be interesting to see how much action they get on a league that few fans ever watch. I have never seen an entire CFL game.

The league has a history with the NFL as a conduit for players. Hall of Fame QB Warren Moon played there for several seasons. Doug Flutie was a star.

Draft Kings wouldn't be doing this if the money wasn't there.

The Bad Agent

The situation of QB Mark Sanchez is a warning to all players. Sanchez was a victim of an unscrupulous agent who bilked him out of $7.8 million in a Ponzi scheme. No arrests have been made, but the agent is under investigation by the SEC.

Many players trust their financial decisions to agents who only care about themselves. The league is full of stories about players losing most of their money.

Sanchez won't be the last victim. It happens every year. The NFL needs to do a better job in working to with the NFLPA to weed out bad agents.