Bill Belichick

I’ve been avoiding the internet like a plague all day, albeit a plague that I would desperately like to get a piece of. Writing about a super bowl that has already occurred but of which I don’t know the outcome is a bit like apologizing a couple minutes before unfurling a massive fart.

Continue reading "Previewing (Or Reviewing?) the Super Bowl"

With the win, Brady and head coach Bill Belichick became the winningest head coach-quarterback combo in NFL playoff history. They surpassed Pittsburgh coach Chuck Noll and QB Terry Bradshaw. Not that the record matters to Belichick and Brady. They are still behind the Steelers tandem in Super Bowl wins, four to three. Brady and Belichick still have work to do to be most successful tandem.

Continue reading "Pick Six: Divisionals"

Bill Belichick doesn’t do reunions. The Patriots head coach is not the sentimental type. Only if he feels someone can make the team better, then Belichick will welcome a familiar face back.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Divisionals"

Not to be left out is Bill Belichick with his fifth season with 13 or more wins.

2. Good to see safety Patrick Chung and LB Brandon Spikes back in action. They last played November sixth against the New York Giants. With the defense having the problems they’ve had all year, the return of these two veterans for the playoffs should be huge.

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 17"

no bad penalties, tackle soundly, stay inbounds to run out the clock, etc.

New England head coach Bill Belichick will throw new wrinkles at Tebow defensively while the Brady-led offense sets

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 15"

This quickly irked head coach Bill Belichick and Butler was benched during a week two game against the New York Jets.

By the end of the season Butler regained some of Belichick’s trust and was a serviceable third/slot corner. Butler couldn’t secure a role with New England through three preseason games and was cut before the season, landing in Carolina with the defensively inept Panthers.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 14"

But when the replay was shown, head coach Bill Belichick reached for his red challenge flag. After further review, Faulk was down by contact and the play was reversed. Belichick has been money when challenging plays this season. He has won six of eight challenges.

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 13"

It was a convincing win over the Philadelphia Eagles that came surprisingly easier than expected.

Hope you enjoy re-runs for the rest of the season.

The combined record of the remaining opponents is 18-37. A third of those wins belong to the streaking Denver Broncos that won their last four games without a quarterback.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 13"

ing an illegal substance, so that’s not it either.

One thing we know for sure is head coach Bill Belichick trusts his eyes. And what he sees from Arrington is a player that works hard on and off the field and puts in the extra time studying opponents and situations to prepare himself for anything. So when he ball ends up in Arrington’s hands again, best believe that Arrington did all he could do to be ready when the opportunity arose.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 12"

the offense clicks both on the ground and through the air, this will become the offense head coach Bill Belichick always wanted.

A few things I’m looking for:

Beware all Tylers: The Bruins have an impressive Tyler in Seguin. New England best be weary of Palko. Imagine he has Seguin-like potential.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 11"

He did it in just 70 games.

4. With the win, Brady and Bill Belichick became the winningest head coach-quarterback combo with 117 wins, surpassing Don Shula and Dan Marino.

5. DE Andre Carter finished the night with 4.5 sacks. It set a new Patriots record. He’s on pace for 16 sacks, which would be a career high. It’s unlikely, but beating his current season high of 12.5 sacks looks probable.

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 10"

uo;t come soon enough for me.”

That was posted on August 2nd, about a week after head coach Bill Belichick acquired Haynesworth from the Washington Redskins for a meager 2013 5th round pick. Four months later, my wish came true as Haynesworth was cut a day after another impact-less game.

Continue reading "Revisting "Taking a Pass on Haynesworth""

It was Brady’s first home loss since week nine in 2006, a stretch of 31 games. And Brady/Bill Belichick reaching the coach/quarterback summit is becoming Tim Wakefield’s 200th win.

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week Nine"

The biggest mistake is holding on to a player for too long.

Head coach Bill Belichick typically doesn’t get too attached to players. He cut Lawyer Milloy, traded Richard Seymour and didn’t re-sign Willie McGinest when he felt they weren’t performing to expectations. But Belichick did bring back Troy Brown for one last season in 2007.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 9"

Only if head coach Bill Belichick challenged the play would it be reviewed. If all scores can be automatically reviewed, scoring plays ruled incorrectly should get the same treatment.

6. Fix

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 8"

oining running back Kevin Faulk and defensive tackles Ron Brace and Brandon Deaderick.

Head coach Bill Belichick has three weeks to evaluate the quartet and decide whether to add them to the active roster or place them on injured reserve for the rest of the season.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 8"

Could this be a precursor for the rest of the season? 

4. A new milestone for Bill Belichick and Brady. They tied Don Shula and Dan Marino for the winningest coach-quarterback duo with 116 wins. 

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 6"

of the Patriot-Jets rivalry as a confrontation between hall of fame coaches, as New England’s Bill Belichick received the same honor from Wesleyan University.

The histrionics could be viewed to a degree as a compliment to Belichick, but at the same time it feels like it was delivered backhandedly.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 5"

Quarterback Tom Brady said he would like to play until he’s 40. Head coach Bill Belichick is already assembling his contingency plan.

Everyone thought life without Brady in 2008 would be a catastrophe yet they won 11 games with Matt Cassel leading the way. Belichick is not expecting another serious injury to Brady, but for the first time in years Belichick kept three quarterbacks on the roster.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 1"

;m looking for:

The Second Rounders: Are you saving Ras-I Dowling and Shane Vereen for Christmas, Bill Belichick? Let the kids play already.

Stand Strong: The offensive line faces a better defensive front than the one they saw in Detroit. If the unit gets steamrolled again, it raises serious concerns.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Preseason Week 4"

It was exactly what Bill Belichick wanted.

Rookie QB Ryan Mallett was leading the Patriots offense to start the second half. On first and 10 from the New England 46, Mallett floated a ball deep with no Patriot receiver around. The pass was picked off and returned 69 yards for a touchdown.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Preseason Week 3"

even of his nine years in the league and obvious character questions shows how desperate head coach Bill Belichick is to improve the defensive line play.

Can’t blame Belichick, though. In the last three playoff games the defense was bullied, allowing 446 total rushing yards and better than 50 percent on third downs. That’s a problem for the front seven. And it starts with the defensive line.

Continue reading "Hour Before Kickoff"

Yes, Bill Belichick is one of the best head coaches in the NFL. A genius defensively, he creates imaginative game plans that few coaches think of. But even an elite mind isn’t above borrowing ideas from other coaches.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Preseason Week 1"

90 players won’t make the final roster. Taking it slow is how head coach Bill Belichick wants to handle the rookies. He won’t play them without adequate preparation. With no mini camps or OTAs, they are far from ready in Belichick’s eyes.

Continue reading "Rookies in Waiting"

pport him isn’t a player I want polluting the noble Patriots locker room.

But if head coach Bill Belichick is willing to take a chance on Haynesworth, I figured I should give Albert the benefit of the doubt.

Continue reading "Taking a Pass on Haynesworth"

It’s about time we stop thinking of Bill Belichick as boring. We have to get out of our heads that the Patriots head coach is as bland as the gray hooded sweatshirt he’s famous for. Just because he’s monotonous and personality-free during press conferences doesn’t mean Belichick doesn’t have an edgy side.

Continue reading "Belichick Gambles Again, Dealing ..."

It was an approach that led to playoff success in years past and head coach Bill Belichick intends to regain that standard.

In the three championship seasons, New England ran the ball at least 47 percent of the time. When the Pats were balanced offensively, they advanced deeper into the playoffs:

Continue reading "Patriots On the Run in 2011 and Beyond"

iots’ cause.

Vrabel was buried in Pittsburgh’s depth chart before Patriots head coach Bill Belichick recovered Mike. Over the next eight years, Belichick found more ways to use Vrabel than anyone could imagine. Pass rusher was obvious. Run defender was a priority and Vrabel was stout. Pass coverage? Mike did that too. Shift from outside linebacker to inside?  Check. Goal line tight end? Vrabel did that too.

Continue reading "Don't Be a Stranger, Mike Vrabel"

When he was ready to come back, head coach Bill Belichick rode Tom Brady’s hot hand and benched Bledsoe. There wasn’t even an open competition for the job.

The decision incensed Bledsoe, though he did an incredible job of not expressing it publicly. As angry as he was, Bledsoe didn’t tank it for the rest of the season. Instead he turned his attention to mentoring Brady through the rest of the season.

Continue reading "Drew Bledsoe to the Hall, Where He Belongs"

Who remembers Bill Belichick’s first draft selection? He was offensive tackle Adrian Klemm, a second round pick out of Hawaii. Klemm was a bust as he spent five of his six years with the Patriots and had only 10 starts.

Continue reading "Solder a Solid Pick"

Head coach Bill Belichick has his connections. Belichick relies on his network of college coaches to give him honest evaluations of players that fit the Patriots’ system.

And it’s hard to argue with the results. Using this reliable inside information, New England effectively mined great players from well respected programs in Miami, Florida, Boston College, and Alabama.

Continue reading "Brand Name Draft Prospects"

meister would take the defense to the next level, make it a championship-caliber unit.

Head coach Bill Belichick couldn’t disagree more. He believes sacks are overrated and is more interested in a player that will 1. stop the run, and 2. consistently pressure the quarterback.

Continue reading "In a Rush for a OLB"

ne, whether they find improvements or if LT Matt Light and LG Logan Mankins leave as free agents.

Bill Belichick can’t help but notice what crippled his offense three years straight. Hopefully Bill is not too proud to borrow from successful game plans and add an OLB that can rush the passer. Belichick’s first desire is an OLB that can hold the edge on run downs and make tackles for loss.

Continue reading "Aftermath, Forward Thinking"

They spent so much time working with Bill Belichick they know how he thinks. They ran the offense and defense Belichick wanted. They have the kind of insider information stock traders get arrested for on Wall Street.

Continue reading "Chief Concern out of the Wild Cards"

Woodhead replaced Kevin Faulk this season. Would Bill Belichick keep a duplicate player for sentimental reasons?

Fred Taylor probably gets the most carries since week three. Appreciate them because these will be his last carries as a Patriot, maybe for his career as well. Sammy Morris could see his run in New England come to an end as well.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 17"

Head coach Bill Belichick drilled his team first approach into the players and they follow it. All the players willingly sacrifice personal numbers for the team’s benefit.

For that sacrifice, Belichick will reward players if the opportunity presents itself.

Continue reading "Going for Records"

ounger, more athletic player is no replacement for experience. 

That’s why head coach Bill Belichick took a more hands-on approach this season. It was evident during training camp and through the season when it was revealed Belichick was also handling defensive coordinator duties. With his years of knowledge and his tutelage, the defense grew up quickly. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 14"

 

“Hey there little Bill Belichick! How you doing? What can I get for you?” 

“You said you want a safety? Well what kind of safety do you want? Do you want a pass coverage safety? Or do you want a big run-stuffing safety? Or how about four-down safety?” 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 12"

will lean on him to take pressure off the rookie quarterback. 

Jedi Mind Tricks: Head coach Bill Belichick used to own young passers with confounding defensive schemes. Time for Bill to show he still has it against Colt McCoy. 

Continue reading "Hours After Kickoff: Week 9"

g he could do things his way and grow as a player. 

That’s unacceptable in head coach Bill Belichick’s book. He didn’t like watching Butler ignoring the coaching and not playing within the team. That earned him an extended stay on the bench. 

Continue reading "Get Me the Butler"

t of quarterbacks coach Bill O’Brien and linebackers coach Matt Patricia. 

Head coach Bill Belichick made the decision not to name offensive or defensive coordinators before this season. Instead, O’Brien and Patricia retained their coaching titles while adding play calling to their duties. Belichick’s judgment was roundly criticized. 

Continue reading "Coordinators Coming Along"

The Boston Herald reported WR Randy Moss and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick had exchanged words before. ESPN Boston said Moss had an outburst towards quarterbacks coach Bill O’Brien at halftime of the Monday night win over the Miami Dolphins. Before the season and after the season opening win against the Cincinnati Bengals Moss said he believed 2010 would be his last season with the Patriots. 

Continue reading "Patriots Had to Trade Moss"

Miami head coach Tony Sparano and New England’s Bill Belichick both are from the Bill Parcells coaching tree and believe in the same principles of success in the NFL: play tough defense, be the more physical team, protect the ball on offense, and be opportunistic. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 4"

kie Jermaine Cunningham and CB Kyle Arrington was moved ahead of Darius Butler. 

Head coach Bill Belichick wouldn’t say either decision was a benching. Belichick said the team has to improve in all areas and the changes could just be cases of adjusting to match-ups. 

Continue reading "The Butler Can Do It"

It was a big deal when head coach Bill Belichick had the pictures of past Patriots teams removed from the walls. All the photos of players and moments from the past decade, including anything related to the three championships, gone. All memories purged from the hallways and rooms, as if those were bad memories. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 1"

Most of the rookies might already be in attendance, but training camp doesn't officially begin until the veterans show up on Thursday. In anticipation, I spoke with FootballOutsiders.com creator Aaron Schatz and got his take on what to look for during camp:

Continue reading "Training Camp Preview"

Teams have a chance to make a selection or pass until the next round. Knowing head coach Bill Belichick, he will want Unga’s talents at a good value for the selection. But a selection in the supplemental draft costs a team a selection in the 2011 NFL Draft. 

Continue reading "In the Running for Unga?"

Even though head coach Bill Belichick had little success draft OLBs, I put my trust in Belichick and his scouting staff. 

For what it is worth, with Andra Davis and Channing Crowder as

Continue reading "Projecting Cunningham"

I think Bill Belichick has the draft all wrong. You don’t win anything by having the most picks. As expected, the head coach of the Patriots traded down multiple times in the first round, and continued to do so in the second and third. But he did break the routine by going the aggressive route in the second. A quick look at the first two days of selections: 

Continue reading "Quick Glance"

 

Alabama NT Terrence Cody

  

Head coach Bill Belichick is wearing multiple hats for the Patriots, but hopefully he would have enough sense to hire a nutritionist for Cody. As long as Cody keeps his weight under control, Cody should be an anchor for years to come. I don’t care that he will only be a two-down tackle. No one will be able to move Mount Cody on running plays. 

Continue reading "Dream Draft"

Patriot fans know there are three certainties in life: death, taxes, and Bill Belichick will trade down during the draft. 

It’s not just a pattern; it’s as reliable as the seasons, the sun rising, and celebrity controversies. 

Continue reading "Fear of Falling"

cy and can execute pooch and directional punts well, skills that would be appreciated by head coach Bill Belichick. 

LB Chris McCoy – Middle Tennessee State

 

He&r

Continue reading "Ths Visitors Part 4"

to 34.1. 

Having a big leg isn’t as important as hang time or placement in head coach Bill Belichick’s opinion. Hanson did a good job dropping punts inside the 20 and forcing fair catches. But being a finesse punter only gets one so far. Hanson was costing the team field position. 

Continue reading "The Visitors Part 2"

hy can’t I bring myself to say the Pats would take Gresham instead of Odrick? 

First, Bill Belichick is a defensive-minded coach. If it’s 50/50, I think he would lean towards a good defender over an offensive prospect. Most coaches also strongly believe in the maxim of building a football team from the lines first and work their way out. That would decrease the importance of a TE. 

Continue reading "Need or Best Player Available?"

No one expects Adalius Thomas to remain with the team after bumping heads with Bill Belichick. 

Ninkovich and Murrell are listed as DEs, but they are expected to rush the passer. Whether they do it with a hand down or in a two-point stance, they play linebacker-type roles. They combined for one sack last year. McKenzie, Crable, and Ruud have to prove themselves as injuries kept them off the field. Davis and Williams are unknowns hoping to catch on with the team. Alexander plays special teams. 

Continue reading "Draft Evaluation: Linebackers"

lities, like maybe a receiver or a tight end.

Tight end seems more likely, considering head coach Bill Belichick never drafted a wide out in the first round, but did select Daniel Graham and Ben Watson with first round picks.

Continue reading "New Line of Thnking?"

If Hoyer takes the next step, he will lock up the reserve role, though I expect Bill Belichick to bring in someone to challenge Hoyer. Offensive Line

Matt Light, Logan Mankins (RFA), Dan Koppen, Stephen Neal, Nick Kaczur, Mark LeVoir, Rich Ohrnberger, Sebastian Vollmer, Ryan Wendell, George Bussey, Dan Connolly Need: 3 

Continue reading "Position by Position"

Now the Pats need a receiving TE. 

After heaping effusive praise on Florida QB Tim Tebow, Bill Belichick was seen eating dinner with Tebow in Boston. Don’t read too much into it. I don’t want Tebow unless he becomes a Hall of Fame tight end or consistently pressure the quarterback as a rush linebacker. QB Brian Hoyer was good enough to be the sole back-up to Tom Brady as a rookie. If Hoyer takes the next step in his development, Tebow will be an afterthought. 

Continue reading "Steps Behind"

rlos Dunlap and going for an OLB-type in the second round and/or later. 

We know head coach Bill Belichick has a thing for University of Michigan linebackers. But I’d like to see him take a flyer on a Wolverines running back. I didn’t realize that Brandon Minor was in this draft until recently. But I remember him as the best back in Michigan’s rotation. Minor should have a lot of tread left as he had just 331 carries in four years. He’s well built (6-0 214) and could be this year’s Ryan Grant.

Continue reading "Hours Away"

Moss didn’t have to wait long to see first hand how head coach Bill Belichick emotionlessly make decisions. It was just Randy’s second year with New England that he saw QB Matt Cassel, LB Mike Vrabel, and DL Richard Seymour, three players with 20 combined years of service with the Pats, traded for draft picks and salary cap relief. 

Continue reading "Stayings or Goings Part 1"

much of a personality to fit into the Patriots Way and is very likely to clash with the no-nonsense Bill Belichick. Belichick still has his head-butting with Adalius Thomas fresh in his mind and Bill wouldn’t want to put himself through that again. 

Continue reading "Window Shopping"

Head coach Bill Belichick said he isn’t a believer in titles. He just expects people to do their jobs. Well he’s proving it this off-season with his coaching staff. The Patriots will go into 2010 without offensive or defensive coordinators. 

Continue reading "Uncoordinated"

Head coach Bill Belichick added Corwin Brown to the coaching staff. The former Notre Dame defensive coordinator now commands the New England secondary. It’s a homecoming for Brown, as he was a fourth round draft pick of the Patriots back in 1993. 

Continue reading "A New Coach"

Head coach Bill Belichick knows he has to make changes to the Patriots in order to reverse the sliding trend. Fortunately, two were made for him. 

LB Junior Seau announced his second retirement. This time he says it is permanent. He wants to spend his days surfing. And defensive coordinator Dean Pees, whose contract expired, won’t resign and will pursue other options. 

Continue reading "Free Agents"

quo;t stop the freight train moving at full speed. 

Now that the season is over, head coach Bill Belichick has to take a real tough look at his team and no one is spared. Players, coaches, and scouts must be evaluated and determine who’s doing a good job and where there’s room for improvement. Based on Sunday, looks like a lot. 

Continue reading "Pick Six: Wild Card"

Ls Ty Warren and Vince Wilfork are questionable for the season finale. 

Assuming head coach Bill Belichick plays it safe, Warren and Wilfork will be held out of the season finale against Houston. After that, it’s a case by case basis. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 17"

But after his fumble against the Jaguars, Maroney did not get another carry. 

Head coach Bill Belichick won’t throw Maroney under the bus. Instead Belichick said the Pats gave the ball to the hot hand. It’s hard to argue with 12 carries for 95 yards by Morris, but Maroney was off to a great start with five carries for 22 yards. Morris might get the lion’s share as the hot hand, but Maroney wouldn’t had been shut out if he held on to the ball. 

Continue reading "Loose Laurence"

But it was also ingenious by head coach Bill Belichick to arrange the best match-up for his team. 

With the playoffs just two weeks away and New England insured to play a Wild Card game, is there a team fighting to get in that would be the easiest prey for the Patriots in the first round? 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 16"

ment dispelled that rumor. 

The only division is LB Adalius Thomas bumping heads with coach Bill Belichick. Thomas will be inactive for today’s game because of his comments delivered on Thursday. If Adalius remains defiant, Belichick should suspend Thomas for the rest of the year. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 14"

Head coach Bill Belichick’s decision to send them home was interpreted as sending a message. Maybe it was to the four involved, or maybe it was intended for the team. Whichever the case, Thomas wasn’t havin’ that. He fired back about the motivational ploy through the media on Thursday:

Continue reading "Thomas vs. Belichick"

Head coach Bill Belichick doesn’t accept excuses and he sent the quartet home for the day, missing the game plan installation meetings and practice. 

So here’s what we know: Four players booted for the day for being late. Here’s what we don’t know: Nothing else. But it doesn’t prevent speculation from rising. 

Continue reading "The Message?"

s, then it’s appropriate that Burgess was downgraded to “53.” 

Head coach Bill Belichick recently praised Burgess for making the transition from defensive end to the hybrid Burgess plays now. I don’t share that praise. Congrats on adjusting, but Burgess isn’t fulfilling his first objective which is to sack the quarterback. 

Continue reading "Left Wanting"

He’s the first quarterback to throw three TDs in a quarter against a Bill Belichick-coached defense. 

5. For the first time since 2005, the Patriots lost a regular season game to an NFC team. That was a week two 27-17 loss to Carolina. That ends a 17-game winning streak against the NFC. 

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 12"

But Bill Belichick will throw in enough change to be the difference in a Patriots win.Questions? Comments? Send to talktome@randolphc.com.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 12"

Any news outside of their scope of focus is a distraction. 

Bill Belichick, the all-knowing head coach, is keeping his team in line. He’s making sure the only things on his players’ minds are black and gold, Drew Brees, Darren Sharper, and the Fleur de Lis. 

Continue reading "Bill Belichick's Nemesis"

by the Jets since 1986, a span of 371 games. 

Extra point: Yale head coach Tom Williams put Bill Belichick to shame. He went for it on 4th-and-22 and came up short. When he’s ready, Belichick has an opening on the coaching staff for Williams. 

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 11"

After Sunday night’s game, Indianapolis defenders said Patriots head coach Bill Belichick’s decision to go for it on 4th-and-2 was disrespectful. 

If they felt that strongly about the alleged disrespect, imagine how the Patriots defense felt. Belichick’s decision was like a no-confidence vote against the defense. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 11"

Whether head coach Bill Belichick is still a genius or now is an arrogant doofus is your opinion. At this point, I’m done with it. 

This argument of Belichick’s decision has been blown out of proportions because of Patriot Nation’s dislike of QB Peyton Manning. It’s a tough loss, but losing to the hated Colts and the commercial face of the NFL left many feeling sick. Feel free to call the ill effects the Manning Migraine. 

Continue reading "Looking Ahead"

I understand why head coach Bill Belichick went for it on fourth and two, but that was the wrong side of the 50 to attempt the play. 

Belichick lost faith in his defense to win the game against an Indianapolis offense with about two minutes left and a timeout. New England had already given up 14 points in the fourth quarter as the Colts offense played no-huddle for the final period. Two 79-yard scoring drives that lasted five and six plays respectively, closed the gap. Those drives were also short, the first one taking 2:04 off the clock and the second just 1:49. 

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 10"

In the past head coach Bill Belichick, knowing Manning got rid of the ball too quick, brought pressure up the middle to distract Manning and throw off his timing. 

But Manning learned to when to escape the comfort of the pocket and how to hit a moving target when on the move as well. It was the adjustment Peyton needed to close the gap between him and his biggest rival. 

Continue reading "Game of the Year"

It is just another road game. 

That’s the approach head coach Bill Belichick took with this game in London, England. Apparently the flight is about as long as a flight to a West Coast game. The accent is different, so is the venue, and the crowd behavior will be unique. But otherwise it’s just another game. It was a big deal the first time the NFL played a regular season game at Wembley Stadium, but there shouldn’t be any fuss about this overseas game. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 7"

I wish head coach Bill Belichick let Dennis Green do the post game press conference for him. I really needed to hear the Patriots let the Broncos off the hook. It was as if New England let off the gas in the second half offensively. I realize New England has a poor record playing in Denver but they can’t use that as an excuse. I don’t think the Broncos are three points better than the Patriots, but the Broncos made the plays and earned the overtime win. 

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 5"

Praised is heaped upon Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels like he’s the second coming of Bill Belichick, down to the gray hoodie. 

Just like Belichick assembled a team of discarded veterans, sold them on the value of teamwork, and led them to a Super Bowl Championship in 2001, the undefeated Broncos are being compared to that superlative team. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 5"

Great, another University of Michigan linebacker we will eventually put on IR. 

OK, OK, that’s uncalled for and it’s unfair. I’m jaded by Shawn Crable because I had high hopes for him, but he never made the field in 2008 and will miss all of ’09 as well. Maybe it’s because his legs are too skinny to endure the stress from pro football. 

Continue reading "Another Burgess"

Bay LB Derrick Brooks, and there has been no indication that Junior Seau got a call from head coach Bill Belichick. But you can be sure Belichick has those numbers on speed dial if he isn’t satisfied with Guyton’s play. 

Continue reading "Guyton in the Middle"

And Patriot fans had his “I never came here to kiss Bill Belichick’s rings” statement memorized since Ryan said it in June. 

This whale of a man speaks unfiltered and will never suffer from foot in mouth disease because Ryan can swallow his foot whole. Confidence is one thing, but many believe he crossed into cockiness long time ago. Rex Ryan is larger than life. 

Continue reading "Nothing Wrong with Rex Ryan in my Book"

While the D-line is deeper than the LBs, that doesn’t mean head coach Bill Belichick is abandoning what butters his bread. 

Before giving my take on the subject, I’ll analyze the perspective of the people. 

Continue reading "4-3, or Not 4-3? That Is the Question"

ntic. 

One thing we know for sure is if the starting five isn’t getting the job done, Bill Belichick will find someone who can. Three offensive linemen were drafted and very quickly Sebastian Vollmer is getting a lot of time playing left and right tackle. And Kaczur can’t feel comfortable with the huge Ryan O’Callahan ready to throw his weight around. 

Continue reading "On the Run"

Burgess has done it before and done so at a decent rate. Head coach Bill Belichick and the coaching staff often gets the most out of their players. 

If Burgess can be half of what Randy Moss became after being traded from Oakland to New England, the Patriots got a heck of a player and another steal of a disgruntled Raider. 

Continue reading "A Burgess Believer"

I’m not much of a poker player, but since the beginning of training camp, head coach Bill Belichick has been exchanging cards, looking for a full house. 

They looked at QB Cleo Lemon. DE Kevin Carter seems to be getting serious consideration. QB Matt Gutierrez was cut and QB Andrew Walter signed to replace Gutz. 

Continue reading "Ninkovich in the Cards"

perts suspect the New England Patriots as one of those teams. 

Why? Because when head coach Bill Belichick was asked about Vick, he gave Michael a compliment of being a tremendous athlete, but Belichick didn’t say he had no interest in signing Vick. 

Continue reading "Signing Vick ?"

In the latest issue of Sporting News, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is ranked as the 20th greatest coach of all time. He will have to prove it this year. 

Training camp kicked off with a pair of practices. According to sources, it will be the first of many two-a-days for the team, as Belichick intends on running a tougher, more physical camp than in years past. This is just what the team needs. 

Continue reading "Establishing the Defense"

fensive coordinator. 

Much of the offensive responsibilities will be on his shoulders, with Bill Belichick looking over one of them. He hasn’t earned full autonomy, but if O’Brien does a great job with the offense, he will earn the right to make all the calls possibly by the end of the season. 

Continue reading "Camp Countdown"

it, watch the contents, match the handwriting on the label to a Patriots staff member, test it for Bill Belichick DNA to make sure it really was the real thing. Rapoport could learn from Tomase as what not to do. 

Continue reading "Welcome to Patriots Nation"

They also remember that head coach Bill Belichick let McGinest leave because Bill felt Willie outlived his usefulness. 

Based on his three years in Cleveland, there will be some fans wanting more. 

Continue reading "Is Willie Willing to Adjust?"

Bruschi witnessed that approach first hand. 

Head coach Bill Belichick, while expressing how difficult the decisions were, still released safety Lawyer Milloy, traded linebacker Mike Vrabel, and already replaced safety Rodney Harrision well before Harrision announced his retirement. 

Continue reading "Last Call for Bruschi in 2010?"

Eventually he got his money, but Seymour had to hold out briefly for his contract. Head coach Bill Belichick values his linemen much more than receivers and corner backs. Unlike WR Deion Brance and CB Asante Samuel, who were both shown the door over contract extensions, Wilfork’s deal will get done because he’s high performance player in his prime at a premium position. 

Continue reading "Closing Speed"

At this time last year, Gary Guyton was just the linebacker with the fastest 40 time at the NFL Combine. BenJarvus Green-Ellis was a running back with a funny long name. 

We had no idea these guys that couldn’t get drafted would become valuable contributors on the field. Guyton was often substituted for Tedy Bruschi. And when the running back ranks were depleted, Green-Ellis started three games and had a 105-yard performance against Buffalo. 

Continue reading "Meet the Rookie Free Agents"

of two AFC Championships irks me a little. 

I guess it boils down to Drew was never one of Bill Belichick’s guys. LB Willie McGinest’s “55” wouldn’t had been assigned to anybody if it wasn’t for the signing of Junior Seau, the reason McGinest wore the number at USC. As of right now, no one dons the nickels jersey and I don’t expect that to change. 

Continue reading "Numbers Game"

ave to wait until next year for him.

Without a proven starter opposite Adalius Thomas, head coach Bill Belichick and his staff wait until the third round for a guy with 4.5 career sacks. Considering the Patriots as a team had 31 sacks last year, that's not giving the secondary much help.

Continue reading "Never Caught Short"