End of 2019 Thoughts

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

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

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

Not On This Monday

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

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

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

Dolphins Win

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

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

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

Losing Records Don't Matter

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

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

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

Darren Sproles

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

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

Time For RG III

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

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

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

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

Beastmode One More Time

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

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

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

Brown Isn't The One

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

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

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

Last Holiday 2019

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

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

This is the last game for them.

Lamar & Patrick

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

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

How far can the Pats go in the playoffs?

Another AFC East

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

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

No To T.O

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

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

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

Deion Sanders will always be his biggest advocate.

To Leave or Not

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

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

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

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

The Heart of Cyrus

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

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

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

No More Black Hole

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

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

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

Manning's Last Home Game

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

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

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

Mike & Sean

There are always great stories of relationships in the NFL

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

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

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

Addazio Won't Be There

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

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

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

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

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

The Toll of Bell

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

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

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

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

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

Does Odell Want Out?

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

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

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

The Story Won't Go Away

Stories involving the Pats doing controversial things never go away.

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

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

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

Is It Eli's Last Game?

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

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

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

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

Chiefs Are Awesome

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

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

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

Maybe Dez Here

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

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

It's a waste of money otherwise.

Coaching With Rumors

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

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

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

Some Don't Want A Kicker

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

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

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

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

Giants On The Clock

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

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

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

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

First Firing of 2019

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

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

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

Move On From Brown

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

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

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

Surgery Provides The Opportunity

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

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

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

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

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