Indianapolis Colts

I thought Logan Mankins was going to be different. I believed he could conduct his contract negotiations privately. Because he kept a low profile after the season and through the draft, I figured Mankins would continue to keep his distance from the Patriots and let his agent and New England hammer out a new deal. 

Continue reading "No Audience for Mankins' Moans"

It’s the kind of injury that believers in playing it safe use as an example. WR Wes Welker injured his knee when he planted his left foot to change direction, but the knee gave away. People believe he tore his ACL and MCL, ending Welker’s season just before the playoffs. 

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 17"

After the Patriots’ loss to the Indianapolis Colts, the first thing I did when I started my car was turn off the radio. I almost didn’t turn on my t.v. When I did, I absolutely didn’t tune in to ESPN or NFL Network. This lasted through the next day until the Monday night football game. I didn’t read the newspapers for almost two days. 

Continue reading "Looking Ahead"

The decision will live in infamy. In simplest terms, you play it safe and force the opponent drive the length of the field instead of risking a turnover. 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. 

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 10"

It’s not surprising for people to get high on the performance of a surprising rookie. OT Sebastian Vollmer was thrust into a starting role after Matt Light went down with an injury. 

It’s an understatement to say Vollmer handled himself well. He got the better of some well known pass rushers in his three starts at left tackle. He nullified Tennessee’s Kyle Vanden Bosch in a snowy Gillette Stadium. Most recently Vollmer shut out loudmouth Joey Porter, keeping Miami’s OLB from registering a sack or a tackle. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 10"

It’s being called the Rivalry of the Decade, and who can argue with that? They are the winningest franchises since 2001. They’ve had countless encounters in the playoffs. Each team has one of the league’s best at the quarterback position. These former division rivals continue to add memorable chapters to their history, and this game should be no different. 

Continue reading "Game of the Year"

OLB Clay Matthews. DE Larry English. CB Alphonso Smith. Just a few of the names projected as players the New England Patriots would draft with the 23rd overall pick. Instead the Pats traded out of the first round, stockpiled more picks, and used all four second round picks. 

Continue reading "Rookies vs. Rookies"

Pro Bowl balloting is open to the public. Choose wisely. 

This year New England fans will have a tough time rationalizing Patriot players worthy of being selected. The offense’s big three of QB Tom Brady and WRs Randy Moss and Wes Welker will get their share of votes. Beyond them…good luck. 

Continue reading "Pro Bowl Ben?"

Alright, Tom Brady. The grace period is over. Now it’s time to be yourself again. That means the accurate surgeon capable of lighting up the scoreboard with few errors should finally be back. You’ve had enough time to work out the kinks. No more excuses. 

Continue reading "The Real Tom Brady"

Hopefully RB Laurence Maroney doesn’t think he’s off the hook after rushing for 123 yards (7.7 average) and a score. If anything, the expectations have gone up. It’s nice to see you blow up in one game as the undisputed primary ball carrier. But can you do this week after week after week? 

Continue reading "Staying On the Run"

How long should it take for QB Tom Brady to return to form? How much longer before he’s excelling on a consistent basis? When does Brady regain the confidence in his reconstructed knee to the point he doesn’t think about it anymore? 

Continue reading "Seven Weeks"

It’s no surprise that QB Tom Brady wants to play in the opening preseason game. He loves to play so much that he can’t wait to experience live action again, even if it’s in a glorified practice. 

Continue reading "The Sooner, the Better for Brady"

In the world of journalism, it's the greatest compliment when an article you wrote inspires others to express their own opinion on the same subject.

Back in February, I wrote an article asking the question should teams draft tight ends in the first round. It was a relevant question because Oklahoma State's Brandon Pettigrew could be the only TE selected within the first 32 picks.

Continue reading "Great Minds Think Alike"

was officially broken up Wednesday when Marvin Harrison asked for and received his release from the Indianapolis Colts. The 36-year old receiver’s $13.4 million cap number in 2009 would have been the highest of any NFL receiver, and although Indy hoped to restructure Harrison's contract, team president Bill Polian said there was no feasible way to accomplish that feat. The release of Harrison saves the Colts approximately $6 million, with about $7.4 million in prorated bonuses still on the books. With three-time Pro Bowler Reggie Wayne and the up-and-coming Anthony Gonzalez still on the roster, Harrison’s production, which has significantly declined over the past two seasons, was no longer a necessity, and the Colts’ decision to part ways with Harrision was the obvious one. After an injury plagued 2007, Harrison totals of 60 receptions for 636 yards and five touchdowns in 2008 were the fewest of his career during a full season. Whether Harrison viewed a restructured contract as an assault to his manhood, he wanted a change of scenery or feels he can make more on the free agent market, Harrison’s current stance is a classic case of a veteran not realizing they are no longer as good as they previously were. Looking at the current number one receivers across the league, Harrison wouldn't start ahead of many, if any at all, and he therefore should no longer be earning number one type money. Peyton Manning was not only looking to throw to Wayne more often, but also to Gonzalez and certainly Dallas Clark. Perhaps it's pride or perhaps it's ignorance, but regardless of where he ends up in 2009, Harrison isn't going to make anything close to what he previously earned so why not stay in the only place you've ever played professionally with one of the two greatest quarterbacks of all-time on a team that annually is one of the few true contenders for the Super Bowl. Seems like the obvious decision to me.

Continue reading "The Sports Don's Sunday Musings: Volume IV"

As the draft approaches, it's obvious that the Patriots need an outside linebacker that can effectively rush the quarterback and maybe another cornerback to add to the competition between Ellis Hobbs, Jonathan Wilhite, and Terrence Wheatley. Finding the kind of LB that would fit in New England will be tougher this year.

Continue reading "A Difficult Search for Patriots-type Players"

Congratulations Pittsburgh Steelers for your Super Bowl XLIII win, you earned it, you clearly are the best team in '08, yadda, yadda, yadda.

*breathe*

Now that I got that out of my system, let me get to the point: The Patriots have two years to win one more championship within the 2001-2010 seasons to earn the designation Team of the Decade. If the time period was up, then no one could question the title. But because there are two years left and the Steelers as presently composed is built to challenge for another championship over the next few years, the Pats need one more ring to make it four and give them a lead the Steelers can't tie.

Continue reading "Team of the Decade"

When I heard that LB Jerod Mayo received 49 of 50 votes for Defensive Player of the Year, I asked two questions: 1. Who got the one vote, then later, 2. Who the hell voted for Keith Rivers?

I won't argue Rivers won't be a good player down the road. In limited playing time, he had 37 tackles with an interception. But to compare a player that only played seven games versus someone who started 16 is illogical. Even if Rivers' number were projected to 16 games he's far behind Mayo's production. Sorry Rivers that you got your jaw broke by Pittsburgh Steelers WR Hines Ward, but that's football.

Continue reading "Stray Votes"

r that guy that subbed for Seymour in the 2003 AFC Championship and picked up 2.5 sacks against the Indianapolis Colts? If you can find that Green within you for one game, now would a great time to bring him out to play. It would make up for your zero-sack season thus far.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 17"

be in position to defend their title with David Carr in place of Eli Manning? Hell no!

Would the Indianapolis Colts had extended their streak of consecutive 10-win seasons led by Jim Sorgi with Peyton Manning giving him tips from the sideline? Absolutely not.

Continue reading "Hats Off"

I would like to thank the Minnesota Vikings for putting the boots to the Arizona Cardinals, with their back-up quarterback, to the tune of 35-14. As if the Cards didn't have reason enough to win this Sunday. They're still jockeying for playoff positioning. Now they are hungry to bounce back from Sunday's butt-kicking.

Continue reading "Another Inspired Patriots Opponent"

Let’s assess the situation at linebacker. The starter is hurt. His back-up was knocked out of Sunday’s game making a tackle and didn’t return to the field. His back-up, a third round rookie, is already on injured reserve. As insurance, the Patriots bring back an oft-injured player they cut in the off-season because his declining productivity wasn’t worth the salary. 

Continue reading "A Patriots-Colvin Reunion"

As bad as that loss to the Steelers was, I hope for a rematch. 

Yes, Pittsburgh out-everythinged the Patriots on Sunday. It was a completely convincing win. The Steelers showed why they rank first in a handful of defensive categories. We saw first hand why they are the best team in the AFC. 

Continue reading "Another Shot at the Steelers for the Patriots"

Louis, and the Indianapolis Colts are -5 at the Cleveland Browns. 

Except for maybe the Giants/Redskins game, these spreads are more a reflection of how bad the home teams have looked as opposed to how good the visitors have looked.  The Bengals and Redskins are playing as home underdogs against division rivals.  One would think they have a good chance of keeping the games very close and covering their spreads. 

Continue reading "NFL Week 13 Musings"

Is this game against Miami a must win?

Personally I hate that phrase because it suggests that if a team loses the game, there's no hope for the rest of the season. I don't think that's the case for the Pats. They stand at 6-4 and while one loss hurts their chances of reaching the playoffs, it doesn't completely kills their chances of advancing to the second season.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 12"

You know, it's a good thing that the Patriots will have the Brigham and Women's/Mass General Health Care Center on the grounds of Patriot Place in 2009. If the '09 season is like this year, then the Pats will have a lot of their players as patients.

Continue reading "Another One Bit by Bug?"

p>I was watching the end of the Sunday Night Football game between the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts.  I was trying to figure out what to take from the game about the two teams, then John Madden said it perfectly.

Continue reading "Madden Sums Up Colts Versus Patriots Perfectly"

Life ain't fair. As the Patriots lose player after player to injury, the Indianapolis Colts are getting healthy.

RBs Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan will miss their second game in a row while Indy's Joseph Addai likely returns.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 9"

The Indianapolis Colts are just .500 as injuries to key players has Indy stumbling thus far. The two other powers face off tonight in primetime, though both teams are looking up at division leaders instead of their typical spot on top.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 6"

Fans want their team to have a chance to win. But at what costs? I hate the Indianapolis Colts, but I'd much rather the Patriots beat Indy when the Colts are healthy. It makes the win much more satisfying.

Continue reading "Have We Sunk This Low?"

I don't think I mentioned it earlier, but I do like the Deltha O'Neal pick-up. He's not too old and had a few great seasons. Joining this team is incentive enough for O'Neal to regain his focus and approach his Pro Bowl level of play. Put O'Neal in a veteran locker room with coaches Bill Belichick and Dom Capers, two of the best at coaching the secondary, and you'd have to like the chances of O'Neal bouncing back.

Continue reading "Is O'Neal for real?"

I remember the Indianapolis Colts were interested in Colvin, but that was before the draft. Indy drafted two OLBs in Phillip Wheeler and Marcus Howard. The Colts probably wouldn't be interested in Colvin at this point.

Continue reading "Reruns?"

I'm watching the NFL Network broadcast of the Indianapolis Colts-Buffalo Bills preseason game. It's almost the same crew from the Patriots-Tampa Bay Buccaneers preseason game with Sterling Sharpe and Marshall Faulk. But listening to the broadcast, you wouldn't think so.

Continue reading "Different perspective"

The rivalry between the New England Patriots and Indianopolis Colts is perhaps the best of the new millenium. Say what you want about its lack of longevity (let's face it, this is only interesting because Tom Brady and Peyton Manning make it interesting) compared to longtime spats like Chiefs/Raiders, frankly, it doesn't matter. Games between the Pats and the Colts have become events in of themselves. Two years ago the AFC Championship was dubbed the "real" Super Bowl. The regular season matchups between these two draw more media attention and hoopla then some playoff games.

Continue reading "Pats vs. Colts: Why it used to be ..."

After seven rounds and 252 picks, one thing stands out. 41 defensive linemen were drafted and 39 offensive linemen were granted employment.

Did someone say monkey see, monkey do? They always said the NFL is a copycat league and it couldn't be more obvious.

Continue reading "Draft Review"

NFL commissioner Roger Godell wasted little time handing out penalties after head coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots were caught with the poorly hidden camera. Besides the monentary fines, he docked the Pats their first round pick.

Continue reading "Got 'till it's gone"

99 wins. That's the total number of wins in 2007 of the Patriots' opponents for the upcoming season. It is the easiest schedule for any team in the NFL and it already has ESPN analyst Chris Carter saying the Patriots can go undefeated in '08.

Continue reading "Schedule redux"