Will Gronk Play?

Nobody knows if Gronk will play in the Super Bowl. He is still in the NFL concussion protocol. His case will be under a microscope to see if the league deviates from its stance on head injuries.

I'm sure there is pressure on the independent neurologist to clear him for the game, but is he ready to play?

In past years, his condition would not even be an issue. It's a different league now.

Keep Taking Less

We heard Coach Belichick sing the praises of WR Danny Amendola, especially after the AFC Championship game. He said that Amendola was the true definition of a football player.

How will this effect Amendola going forward when the new league year starts? Since his arrival here, he has taken pay cuts in order to stay on the roster. He took a huge one prior to this season.

He doesn't want to play any place else, but does the team still want him?

Opening Night Super Bowl LII

The NFL network did a great job with their "Opening Night" show. They had so many great interviews.

Willie McGinest was at his best with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Nobody was better qualified than Willie to do the interviews.

His talk with owner Robert Kraft was outstanding.

Trying To Start Fresh

New coaches start with a lot of hope and potential. Pat Shurmer is saying all of the right things about his New York Giants.

It remains to be seen how things work out with WR Odell Beckham. The team picked up his $8.4 million option for 2018.

Owner John Mara has said Beckham must behave better if he wants to be a Giant for life. Beckham also wants to be the highest paid player in the league.

There is no doubt that Beckham has incredible talent, but is he worth all the turmoil he creates because of his antics? The team must give their long term relationship a great deal of thought.

Eric Wood

It seems like nobody ever leaves the NFL under their own terms. We saw that with Bill's nine year veteran center Eric Wood.

He was hoping to be a replacement player in the Pro Bowl, but it looks like his career has ended at 31 because of degenerative neck issues. Team doctors would not clear him to keep playing.

The Bills selected him as the 28th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. He started 120 games of a possible 144.

He was there for his team. It's too bad he never played in a big game.

Tebow's Roster Spot

Even with all of the pregame hype about the Super Bowl, former QB Tim Tebow still manages to make the sports pages of the New York Post.

He had a complete page dedicated to the story of him getting an invitation to spring training for the New York Mets. This doesn't guarantee him anything other than a chance to audition for a spot on the big league roster.

Tebow and the Mets are a perfect match for each other. The Mets have ben criticized by their fans for not signing key free agents. Tebow is great for creating hype and selling tickets.

They might be together this year if Tebow can hit at all. He has struggled in the minors, but the Mets promoted him to the next level.

For 2017, he had a .226 batting average with 126 strikeouts in 126 games. He has shown some power at times.

Tebow will get a chance that many others could only wish for. He is jumping ahead of other players in the Mets system, but they don't have the aura that he has. I think the Mets will keep him on the big league roster if he can get his average up by 30 points.

Chandler Jones

Former Pats LB Chandler Jones had 17 sacks this year with the Arizona Cardinals and made First Team All-Pro. He continues to be a sack machine, but has certainly fallen off the radar around here since his trade.

His name never gets mentioned as a player they let slip away. His place in the defense was taken by others. Jones should be happy because he signed a 5 year/$82.5 million contract prior to the start of the 2017 season.

Less Dollars For Dez

No players ever wants to give up money, but Cowboys WR Dez Bryant must realize that he is not going to get paid $12.5 million for each of the next two years.

His career started with a burst, but he has failed to gain 1,000 yards the last three seasons.

If he wants to continue his career in Dallas, it will be for a lot less money or Dez will be a salary cap victim.

Big Hit By Lewis

Fans say a lot of stupid things on social media. I saw a posting on Facebook where someone thanked former Jets LB Mo Lewis for the career changing hit on Pats QB Drew Bledsoe back in 2001.

Bledsoe's injury was almost fatal and started the end of his career with the Pats. Tom Brady stepped in and never looked back.

Who knows what might have happened that season if Bledsoe didn't get hurt? I just thought the comment was rather ignorant and insensitive.

Inside Gronk's Head

Rob Gronkowski took a vicious helmet to helmet hit in the first half of yesterday's AFC Championship game. He certainly looked like he might have suffered a concussion. There is no word on that yet.

This will be a good test for the NFL's concussion protocol. Will he be cleared medically for the Super Bowl?

AFC Championship Game 2018

It's one hour before the start of the AFC Championship game between the Pats and Jaguars. It will all be decided by 6:30pm. The season will end for one of these teams.

Nobody really knows what will happen. Hopefully, the season doesn't end for the Pats. It should be a great game.

Mike Vrabel 2018

Coaches at all levels must be wondering about Mike Vrabel who was named as the Titans head coach today. So many of them spend decades in pursuit of the next level, but never get there.

Vrabel made it to this point on seven years of coaching experience after his 14 year NFL career. He had three years as an assistant at Ohio State before being hired by Bill O'Brien in Houston. He made the most of his four years there and was Defensive Coordinator in 2017.

The stars all lined up for Vrabel. He had connections at his former school Ohio State and spent seven years on the Pats with Bill O'Brien.

Titans GM Jon Robinson also spent seven years with the Pats as a scout while Vrabel was there.

Will this be a great signing? The majority ownership of the team is for sale. Does this effect things going forward?

Practice Questions

There is way too much talk about Tom Brady's injured hand and how much he practiced. The Pats are under no obligation to tell the media the extent of his injury.

Bill Belichick and Brady answered so many stupid questions during their press conferences.

One brilliant scribe asked whether the Pats would be bringing in a third quarterback. It's a little late for that.

Five In Seven

There is no job security in the NFL for players or coaches. The New York Jets just fired their fifth Offensive Coordinator in seven years.

Since 2013, nobody has lasted more than two seasons. They are the first ones to get fired when there is an issue with the offense.

Coach Todd Bowles needed to do something, even if it doesn't change things.

Foolish Thoughts On Sunday

Too much has already been written and said about the Pats and Jaguars AFC Championship game on Sunday.

Everyone is an expert. One writer decided to predict the "studs and duds" for both championship games.

Apparently, Danny Amendola will have no impact on the game. The writer should tell this to the Titans who were unable to contain Amendola.

So much of this stuff is foolish and not worth reading.

Coughlin's Influence

Fans need to be concerned about the Jacksonville Jaguars when they play the Pats on Sunday in the AFC Championship game.

Former Giants coach Tom Coughlin has been a big influence over the team since heading up football operations.

We all remember what happen in the final moments of the two Super Bowl losses to the Giants. Coughlin's game plan was to harass Tom Brady. They did a great job in both games. The same could happen on Sunday.

Time To Get Fired

When I was watching the NFL Network last night, it sounded like Titans Coach Mike Mularkey was going to receive a contract extension. He lead the team to their first playoff win in 14 years when they beat the Chiefs in the Wild Card game.

The news was different today. He was fired to the surprise of many.

There are two things certain about coaching in the NFL: You get fired eventually and you end up somewhere else as a result of the coaching network.

The Drama of Cam

Carolina Panther fans must be growing tired of QB Cam Newton's drama. There is always something with him.

In his latest, he cleared his Instagram account of which he has 4 million followers. He also unfollowed the Panthers on social media.

What's up with that? His team lost to the Saints. Their season is over. Time to move on.

Titans Playoff Game

There is so much foolish talk about the Pats and Titan playoff game tonight. Many people think that it won't even be a contest. Why do they say such things? This is the NFL. Anything could happen

The Pats are favored by 13. They "should" win, but who knows. One bad play could cost them the season.

Tagging For Dollars

You can't blame players for wanting a long term contract with a big bonus and lots of money. Careers are short, so they need to strike it big when they can.

The franchise tag is hated by most players, but it allows them to score big for one year with guaranteed money.

Steelers RB LeVeon Bell has made it known that he might retire if he gets the franchise tag for a second consecutive year. He made $12.1 million this year and will get $14.5 million with the tag for 2018.

It would not be the worst financial move.

No Interview For Others

Oakland Raiders owner Marc Davis always wanted to hire Jon Gruden as coach. When it looked it might happen, Coach Jack Del Rio was fired, moments after the team's last game.

The NFL has started an investigation of whether Davis violated the Rooney Rule when hiring a coach. He was mandated to interview a minority candidate. It sounds like it never happened.

What can the league do about it? They can levy a fine or take a draft pick. I don't think it really matters to Marc Davis. That's how the Raiders have always been. His father, the great Al Davis, would do the same.

Saved By The QB

The Alabama victory over Georgia in overtime for the National Championship was an epic game. Freshman QB Tua Tagovailoa started the second half and lead his team to a 26-23 win with a 41 yard TD pass on the last play of the game.

He became a national story, but probably saved the future reputation of kicker Andy Pappanastos who missed a 36 yard field goal in regulation which would have won the game for Alabama.

Pappanastos missed one from 40 yards earlier, but succeeded from 43. His potentially winning kick was very wide to the left. If Georgia had gone on to win the game, he would have been vilified by Alabama fans for the rest of his life.

Did the pressure of the kick get to him? Tagovailoa could have shared the blame for the defeat if their drive didn't at least end in a field goal to tie Georgia in the first overtime period.

It's not always fair what happens in victory and defeat. Pappanastos dodged the bullet of his life Monday night.

Boring Manziel Stories

The boring story of Johnny Manziel continues to have a life in the media. Apparently, his career in the CFL is still alive with the announcement by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats that they are negotiating a contract with him.

The former 22nd overall pick in the 2014 draft is blaming his problems on being selected by Cleveland. He is still only 25, but can he still play?

It's never a bad idea for a team to do something to sell tickets, but do they really think he can still play?

The Biggest Fake Story

I guess we will be forced to listen to all of the nonsense about the Brady, Kraft and Belichick feud no matter what the three parties say to dispute it.

The story has captioned the attention of the national media. There is no end to it. If the Pats make it to the Super Bowl, it will get totally out of control.

Just A Bad Game

The NFL didn't do itself any favors with the horrible Wild Card playoff game between the Bills and Jaguars.

The Bills were able to keep their 22 year streak alive of not winning a post-season game with their 10-3 loss.

It's hard to believe that these were some of the better teams.

Never Making Ten Years

It looks like Jon Gruden will be coaching the Oakland Raiders after a nine year absence from the sidelines. Raiders owner Marc Davis is going overboard in giving the coach a 10 year/ $100 million contract. There is speculation that it would include some ownership of the team.

This contract is ridiculous. Given the history of Raiders ownership, there is no way Gruden will last ten years.

Maybe they can bring JeMarcus Russell back.

Two Overhyped Quarterbacks

QB's Sam Darnold of USC and Josh Rosen of UCLA have declared their intention to enter the 2018 NFL draft. They are expected to be selected in the first round.

Are they that good? Should teams be tripping over one another to move up in the draft to get one of them?

I am always skeptical of players that come with a lot of hype. History has shown that some of the better quarterbacks were not first round picks.

Rosen played for three seasons while Darnold started after the fourth game in 2016 as a redshirt freshman. He doesn't have much experience. That should be a red flag.

Lucky Lewis

Marvin Lewis is the luckiest coach in the NFL. The 15 year veteran signed a two year extension with the Bengals, in spite of missing the playoffs again.

Lewis has a dismal 0-7 record in post-season. The Bengals have not won a playoff game since 1990. He has the support of Bengals ownership. That's the only thing that really matters when it comes to job security.

Josh & Matt Will Get Fired

With six coaching vacancies open, it seems inevitable that Josh McDaniels or Matt Patricia will get one of them. I'm sure they want the right situation. Mc Daniels already got fired after his brief stay in Denver. Is Matt Patricia the face of a franchise?

It seems like every coach gets fired eventually. How long will it be for Patricia and McDaniels if they get the job?

The Short List 2018

The NFL Network had a great show tonight about the 15 Semi-finalists for the Hall of Fame. The list will be narrowed down to ten.

Every player is worthy at this point. Some of these great players will never get the honor.

The Drought Is Over

The loyal fans of the Buffalo Bills finally saw their team make it back to the playoffs for this first time since 1999. It was a long drought, filled with heartache loses and teams that underachieved.

They will face the Jaguars next Sunday in the first round.

The Bills had to beat the Dolphins yesterday and needed help from the Bengals who knocked the Ravens out of the playoffs in the final minutes of their game.

Fans hope for a long playoff run, but they need to survive next Sunday.