Coach Belichick had a defining moment back in 2009 when he decided to go on 4th and one in the infamous loss against the Indianapolis Colts. His decision last night to go with an onside kick that will be debated forever.
The Pats had three timeouts with 2:35 left in the game. All they had to do was hold the Steelers to 3 and out. They would still have some time left on the clock.
The kick was a total disaster, with the recovery by the Steelers. This must have driven the coach crazy because he started his career as a special teams coach. He places a great emphasis on it. It was a very basic play that was bad from the start.
Since the team lost, critics will use this play to find fault in the coach and his decisions. It's going to be around for a long time.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Return of Faulk
It will be good to see RB Kevin Faulk back on the field after missing more than a year after knee surgery. Faulk is the only member of the team who was a draft choice of former coach Pete Carroll.
He is the team's all-time leader in all purpose years, return yards and kick return yards. He holds numerous other team records, including most receptions by a running back.
He brings another dimension to the team with his uncanny ability on third and short. He is also a great blocker in the backfield.
His activation comes at the expense of third year WR Julien Edeleman. After a great rookie year, Edeleman has struggled to regain that form.
Coach Belichick has always said that the third year is the most important year of a player's development.
Faulk knows that the end is near. Every game is a bonus for him at this point. Edelman must be wondering what is going on with his status on the team.
He is the team's all-time leader in all purpose years, return yards and kick return yards. He holds numerous other team records, including most receptions by a running back.
He brings another dimension to the team with his uncanny ability on third and short. He is also a great blocker in the backfield.
His activation comes at the expense of third year WR Julien Edeleman. After a great rookie year, Edeleman has struggled to regain that form.
Coach Belichick has always said that the third year is the most important year of a player's development.
Faulk knows that the end is near. Every game is a bonus for him at this point. Edelman must be wondering what is going on with his status on the team.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Bodden Released
CB Leigh Bodden is a great example of a players who sign huge contracts after a good season. He got a four year $23 million contract and ended up getting released. The Pats signed him before the start of the 2009 season to a one year contract. He played well enough to earn his current deal.
He was placed on Injured Reserve after getting injured in training camp before the start of the 2010 season. He came back this year, but has not played well enough to keep his spot on the roster.
The team released him yesterday. Coach Belichick declined to answer questions about his performance. He will probably hook up with another team.
I think the NFL has the right idea about not guaranteeing contracts. You get paid if you play well, unlike baseball and basketball that are havens for guys who have a great season, sign a huge contract and then do nothing for the rest of their career.
He was placed on Injured Reserve after getting injured in training camp before the start of the 2010 season. He came back this year, but has not played well enough to keep his spot on the roster.
The team released him yesterday. Coach Belichick declined to answer questions about his performance. He will probably hook up with another team.
I think the NFL has the right idea about not guaranteeing contracts. You get paid if you play well, unlike baseball and basketball that are havens for guys who have a great season, sign a huge contract and then do nothing for the rest of their career.
Friday, October 28, 2011
After The Playing Days
There is a story circulating the web that Terrell Owens was treated for an overdose the other day. Details are somewhat sketchy, but it sounds similar to his situation a couple of years ago.
T.O. is no different from so many other NFL players. What do you do after your career is over? What do you do the rest of your life after all of the cheering and adulation stops?
The NFL doesn't prepare its players for that. They are only beginning to see that they must take a greater role. So many players never finish their college degree and are left without any marketable skills. Only so many players can get into broadcasting.
The situation of T.O. is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many players who are also broken down physically by the time they are 35. That is another bad situation.
T.O. is no different from so many other NFL players. What do you do after your career is over? What do you do the rest of your life after all of the cheering and adulation stops?
The NFL doesn't prepare its players for that. They are only beginning to see that they must take a greater role. So many players never finish their college degree and are left without any marketable skills. Only so many players can get into broadcasting.
The situation of T.O. is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many players who are also broken down physically by the time they are 35. That is another bad situation.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Decisions To Make
Every move on the 53 man roster comes at the expense of another player. Soemtimnes, it spells the end of one's career. The Pats recently activated three players off the PUP list and one from the ono-football injury list. They have three weeks to decide what to do with them.
I think the team will place OL Marcus Cannon on IR. The rookie has been getting cancer treatments since he has been with the team. Things have been looking very positive, but he missed all of training camp and practice during the season. His injury is considered non-football.
I expect RB Kevin Faulk to be active on Sunday against the Steelers. I'm not sure of DL Ron Brace and Brandon Deadrick. Brace might be one of those players who are injury prone. He has proven that so far. Deadrick played some last year, but the team might want to stick with veteran players on the defensive line.
It's always hard to determine what the team might do. They could stash some of the players on IR. The road to the 53 man roster can be very challenging. Ross Ventrone is back on the team after being released last week. He will probably get released again. It's getting hard to track his movements on the team.
I think the team will place OL Marcus Cannon on IR. The rookie has been getting cancer treatments since he has been with the team. Things have been looking very positive, but he missed all of training camp and practice during the season. His injury is considered non-football.
I expect RB Kevin Faulk to be active on Sunday against the Steelers. I'm not sure of DL Ron Brace and Brandon Deadrick. Brace might be one of those players who are injury prone. He has proven that so far. Deadrick played some last year, but the team might want to stick with veteran players on the defensive line.
It's always hard to determine what the team might do. They could stash some of the players on IR. The road to the 53 man roster can be very challenging. Ross Ventrone is back on the team after being released last week. He will probably get released again. It's getting hard to track his movements on the team.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
No Takers
WR Terrell Owens knows that there are not too many chances left when you are coming back from knee surgery at the age of 38. Without a team, he is desperate to get back into the league.
He held an open audition for himself in Calabasas, California. The only problem was that nobody showed up except a film crew from the NFL Network. He caught some passes thrown from former Norfolk State QB Casey Hanson who had a short stay with the Philadelphia Eagles as an unsigned free agent.
Owens is known for starring with his own reality television show with former teammate Chad Ochocinco. The reality of this show is that Owens is 38 and with limited opportunity to play again.
He held an open audition for himself in Calabasas, California. The only problem was that nobody showed up except a film crew from the NFL Network. He caught some passes thrown from former Norfolk State QB Casey Hanson who had a short stay with the Philadelphia Eagles as an unsigned free agent.
Owens is known for starring with his own reality television show with former teammate Chad Ochocinco. The reality of this show is that Owens is 38 and with limited opportunity to play again.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Olin Kreutz
Players end their careers for various reason. Some walk away from the game at the peak of their career.
Olin Kreutz of the New Orleans Saints voluntarily walked away from a $2 million salary telling the media that his heart was no longer into playing football. It might have something to do with Kreutz not being re-signed by the Chicago Bears after spending the first 13 years of his career with them. He offered to sign for less money, but they never extended him an offer.
He signed with the Saints where he was elected captain and became the starting center. A knee injury caused him to miss some games and could also be a factor in his decision.
His agent said that he will not be filing retirement papers yet. If it's the end, he leave a stellar legacy of six Pro Bowl appearances as well as being Named All-Pro twice and being selected to the All -2000 Decade Team.
Olin Kreutz of the New Orleans Saints voluntarily walked away from a $2 million salary telling the media that his heart was no longer into playing football. It might have something to do with Kreutz not being re-signed by the Chicago Bears after spending the first 13 years of his career with them. He offered to sign for less money, but they never extended him an offer.
He signed with the Saints where he was elected captain and became the starting center. A knee injury caused him to miss some games and could also be a factor in his decision.
His agent said that he will not be filing retirement papers yet. If it's the end, he leave a stellar legacy of six Pro Bowl appearances as well as being Named All-Pro twice and being selected to the All -2000 Decade Team.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Manning Should Pass
When a key player gets hurt, it can have a huge impact on the team in some cases. When Tom Brady got knocked out of the first game of the 2008 season, backup QB Matt Cassell was able to lead the team to a record of 11-5. Coach Belichick always believes that the next player must step up if someone goes down.
This does not appear to be the case with the Indianapolis Colts now sporting a record of 0-7. QB Brew Brees threw 5 TD passes and for 325 yards in leading the New Orleans Saints to their victory last night over the Colts.
With a record of 0-7, the Colts season is just about finished in terms of making the playoffs. It would be foolish for Peyton Manning to try and return from his neck surgery. If he has any hope of playing again, he should look to next year. It's not worth it for him at this point.
This does not appear to be the case with the Indianapolis Colts now sporting a record of 0-7. QB Brew Brees threw 5 TD passes and for 325 yards in leading the New Orleans Saints to their victory last night over the Colts.
With a record of 0-7, the Colts season is just about finished in terms of making the playoffs. It would be foolish for Peyton Manning to try and return from his neck surgery. If he has any hope of playing again, he should look to next year. It's not worth it for him at this point.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Boomer & Howard
Periodically, I see comments on Facebook criticizing Chris Berman. They dislike the Boomer. I'm not sure why. He does the same act all the time. That's what he is. I like him, but I know a lot of others who don't. He obviously has the support of ESPN because they pay him a lot of money.
I always say the same fans who dislike Berman would also hate Howard Cossell. Boomer has modeled himself after the very controversial Cossell. I was a big fan of Cossell, but so many writers and fans spent a lot of energy hating him. He was very colorful. So is Berman.
I always say the same fans who dislike Berman would also hate Howard Cossell. Boomer has modeled himself after the very controversial Cossell. I was a big fan of Cossell, but so many writers and fans spent a lot of energy hating him. He was very colorful. So is Berman.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Cleveland Days
The NFL is truly like a fraternity at times. There are so many players and coaches who go back a long ways. Coach Belichick can always shed some interesting insight when he talks about some of his relationships over the course of his career. We saw a great example of that this week during his interview on Showtime's "Inside the NFL".
He was being interviewed by basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley and NFL analyst Chris Collingsworth. Barkley and Belichick go back to their days in Cleveland when they dined out on a number of occasions. Collingsworth was recruited by Belichick's father for the U.S. Naval Academy, but went elsewhere.
Their discussion of the show's regular hosts, Phil Simms and Warren Sapp brought some great observations. Belichick was a first year special teams coach for the New York Giants in 1979 when the team used it's first round draft pick for Simms. They had a great history together with the Giants, winning two Super Bowls.
Belichick wanted to draft Sapp in 1995, but was over ruled by the Brown's upper management and owner. Ironically, the Pats and Coach Bill Parcells would select CB Ty Law in that first round.
He was being interviewed by basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley and NFL analyst Chris Collingsworth. Barkley and Belichick go back to their days in Cleveland when they dined out on a number of occasions. Collingsworth was recruited by Belichick's father for the U.S. Naval Academy, but went elsewhere.
Their discussion of the show's regular hosts, Phil Simms and Warren Sapp brought some great observations. Belichick was a first year special teams coach for the New York Giants in 1979 when the team used it's first round draft pick for Simms. They had a great history together with the Giants, winning two Super Bowls.
Belichick wanted to draft Sapp in 1995, but was over ruled by the Brown's upper management and owner. Ironically, the Pats and Coach Bill Parcells would select CB Ty Law in that first round.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Kent Hull
So many great NFL players never get to a playoff game in their career. Others are so much more fortunate.
Former Buffalo Bills center Kent Hull anchored the line of the Jim Kelly offense that went to four Super Bowls and lost all of them, including one when Bill Belichick was with the Bill Parcell Giants team.
The former USFL player only missed two Sundays in an eleven year career with 189 games from 1986-1996. He had three Pro Bowl appearances from 1989-1991 and was inducted to the Bill's Wall of Fame in 2002.
He passed away on Tuesday, October 18th from intestinal in his hometown of Greenwood, Mississippi where he ran a family farm. He loved his spread of 2,500 acres and 700 head of cattle.
He is another example of a former player from another era that suddenly dies.
The game is played and experienced in the present.The players we watch today will age like Hull did. Hopefully, the trend of NFL players with early death will decrease when they get his age.
Former Buffalo Bills center Kent Hull anchored the line of the Jim Kelly offense that went to four Super Bowls and lost all of them, including one when Bill Belichick was with the Bill Parcell Giants team.
The former USFL player only missed two Sundays in an eleven year career with 189 games from 1986-1996. He had three Pro Bowl appearances from 1989-1991 and was inducted to the Bill's Wall of Fame in 2002.
He passed away on Tuesday, October 18th from intestinal in his hometown of Greenwood, Mississippi where he ran a family farm. He loved his spread of 2,500 acres and 700 head of cattle.
He is another example of a former player from another era that suddenly dies.
The game is played and experienced in the present.The players we watch today will age like Hull did. Hopefully, the trend of NFL players with early death will decrease when they get his age.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
The QB Life
Not every team has an ideal quarterback situation. Pats fans have been spoiled by the Hall of Fame play of Tom Brady. Not all quarterbacks travel the glamorous road that Tom Brady has done throughout his NFL career.
Raiders QB Jason Campbell seem to be headed for a successful season until he broke his collar bone, sidelining him for at least six weeks. The team traded for Carson Palmer and has named him to start against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. This is in spite of not having any football activity since last December. He will only have five days to learn the offense.
Where does this leave backup QB Kyle Boller? What does this say about the Raiders thoughts on his ability to win? He is a former first round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2003, the next QB picked after Carson Palmer. He got the Ravens starting job in 2004 before being replaced by Steve MacNair in 2006.
Boller signed with the St Louis Rams in 2009 and sat behind Marc Bulger, playing only in blowouts. He signed with the Raiders in March of 2010, but only played one game. It looked like he was going to replace Campbell until the Raiders completed their huge trade for Palmer.
Campbell had his own rocky road to starting. He was a first round pick of the Washington Redskins in 2005. He sat for a year before starting for the 2006-2009 seasons. He was traded to the Raiders on draft day for a 4th round pick in 2012. Al Davis gave him a two year contract and pronounced him as the "next Jim Plunkett".
Palmer, Boller and Campbell are all former first round picks with varying degrees of success. I heard their praises sung on draft day. Nobody cheered for Tom Brady when the Pats selected his in the 6th round in 2000.
Coach Belichick has always said:"It doesn't matter where you were drafted. It only matters what you do once you get here".
Raiders QB Jason Campbell seem to be headed for a successful season until he broke his collar bone, sidelining him for at least six weeks. The team traded for Carson Palmer and has named him to start against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. This is in spite of not having any football activity since last December. He will only have five days to learn the offense.
Where does this leave backup QB Kyle Boller? What does this say about the Raiders thoughts on his ability to win? He is a former first round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2003, the next QB picked after Carson Palmer. He got the Ravens starting job in 2004 before being replaced by Steve MacNair in 2006.
Boller signed with the St Louis Rams in 2009 and sat behind Marc Bulger, playing only in blowouts. He signed with the Raiders in March of 2010, but only played one game. It looked like he was going to replace Campbell until the Raiders completed their huge trade for Palmer.
Campbell had his own rocky road to starting. He was a first round pick of the Washington Redskins in 2005. He sat for a year before starting for the 2006-2009 seasons. He was traded to the Raiders on draft day for a 4th round pick in 2012. Al Davis gave him a two year contract and pronounced him as the "next Jim Plunkett".
Palmer, Boller and Campbell are all former first round picks with varying degrees of success. I heard their praises sung on draft day. Nobody cheered for Tom Brady when the Pats selected his in the 6th round in 2000.
Coach Belichick has always said:"It doesn't matter where you were drafted. It only matters what you do once you get here".
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