New England Patriots

1. WR Wes Welker feels it worst, but he wasn’t the only one. He will be kept awake at night by a fourth quarter drop that would had been a first down inside the 20. On the next play, WR Deion Branch let a pass hit the ground as he crossed deep over the middle. On the Patriots final drive, Branch dropped another pass over the deep middle. It appeared the ball was deflected, but the ball did pass through his hands. Lastly was TE Aaron Hernandez on a probable 10-yard gain on the final drive, but he heard the footsteps of the approaching linebacker.

Continue reading "Pick Six: Super Bowl XLVI"

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"

Just four years ago the New York Giants pulled off arguably the greatest upset in Super Bowl history by beating the 18-0 Patriots, ruining New England’s bid for perfection and keeping the Pats from their place in history.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Super Bowl XLVI"

November 6, 2011. With just 1:36 left to play, QB Eli Manning drove the New York Giants offense 80 yards in just 1:21 for a 24-20 come from behind win over the Patriots in New England.

Fast forward 13 weeks and these two teams will meet again, this time with the stakes much higher. This is the second time these two teams will play for the Lombardi Trophy, just four years after the Giants pulled off arguably the greatest upset in Super Bowl history by defeating the 18-0 Patriots, 17-14.

Continue reading "A Lot Has Changed Since the Regular Season Game"

1. DT Vince Wilfork was in beast mode all afternoon. Six tackles and a sack doesn’t begin to explain his influence on the game. Wilfork had at three tackles for a loss and his share of pressure on QB Joe Flacco. It was a dominant performance by a team leader showing what it takes to get to a Super Bowl. It was arguably Wilfork’s best game in the biggest game of the year.

Continue reading "Pick Six: AFC Championship"

After a playoff win over San Diego, several Patriots mocked then-Chargers LB Shawn Merriman’s “Lights Out” sack celebration right on the Chargers logo at midfield.

In a thorough dismantling of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship played in Pittsburgh, WR Deion Branch was caught on camera asking the fans, “Where’s your towels? Where’s your towels?”

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: AFC Championship"

1. Regular season or post season. It doesn’t matter. The Patriots keep on breaking records. QB Tom Brady became the first player to throw five touchdown passes in one half of playoff football. He also tied a post-season record with six touchdown passes in a game. Brady did this while throwing for 300 yards in a playoff game for the first time. To top it off, Brady executed a well placed 48-yard quick kick to Denver’s 10-yard line.

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"

1. Want more records? On TE Rob Gronkowski’s 16th TD reception, QB Tom Brady surpassed Dan Marino for second on the single season passing yards record. New Orleans’ Drew Brees broke the Marino’s record last week and put it out of Brady’s reach with 389 yards on Sunday. Gronkowski, though, set the record for single season receiving yards by a tight end with 1,327 yards. It was a tug of war between Gronk and the Saints’ Jimmy Graham all afternoon, but a late 22-yard reception by Gronkowski, after New Orleans’ game was over, was the difference. Gronkowski also extended the touchdown receptions by a tight end record, raising the bar to 17. Not to be left out is Bill Belichick with his fifth season with 13 or more wins.

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 17"

On Monday, New Orleans QB Drew Brees broke the NFL’s single season passing yards record of 5,084 yards, previously held by Miami QB Dan Marino. Already with 5,087 yards, Brees has one more game to go, extending his lead over Marino.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 17"

1. We often hear how good offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia is. On Sunday, we saw exactly why. LT Matt Light was scratched from the game minutes before kickoff. LG Logan Mankins slid over to fill the spot and reserve Donald Thomas stepped in for Mankins. When Mankins went down with a knee injury, rookie Nate Solder flipped from right tackle to left and Marcus Cannon, another rookie, took over on the right side. It wasn’t a smooth transition, as QB Tom Brady was sacked three times in the first half, but Scarnecchia’s half time adjustments led to one sack allowed and 86 of the team’s 119 rushing yards. Patriots fans should be Tebowing in honor of Scarnecchia. Eh…on second thought…maybe not. But coach Scar deserves praise from Patriot Nation.

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 16"

For pretty much all season, the Patriots had the worst pass defense in the league. If the two-week trend continues, they will have a league worst rush defense to match.

The Denver Broncos repeatedly gashed the D for 252 yards. The week before the Washington Redskins plowed their way to 170 yards. What was a decent run defense for 13 weeks became generous, as if they have the Christmas Sprit.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 16"

1. Behind Tom Brady’s good looks and nice guy personality is a competitor with an incomparable desire to win. After a week of Tim Tebow this and Tim Tebow that, Brady wanted to make a statement. Mission accomplished: 23-34, 320 yards, two TD passes and a rush TD. Tebow is a nice story, but when it comes to the best in the league, Brady expects the list starts with him. Don’t you think Brady envisioned Tebow’s face on the spot Brady spiked the ball after his touchdown run? I think so.

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 15"

About a month ago, I wrote a critical article about Denver quarterback Tim Tebow, declaring results won’t matter as much as his performance to secure the franchise quarterback role with the Broncos. His inability to pass accurately for a full game was the foundation of my argument.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 15"

1. I’ve said before that the Patriots have the best pair of tight ends in the NFL. Let me just add that one of them is the best tight end in the NFL. Rob Gronkowski was a beast, breaking tackles en route to career high in receiving yards in a game (160) and set a new standard for touchdowns in a season by a tight end. He broke the record with his 14th TD grab then extended it when QB Tom Brady quickly tossed a pass over a blitz to Gronk. The Big Gronkowski did the rest, breaking a LB Ryan Kerrigan tackle then racing to the endzone and to the arms of a waiting Pats fan to celebrate.

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 14"

What should had been a blowout of a clearly inferior team became an embarrassing one score win over the Indianapolis Colts as the defense gave up 21 points in the fourth quarter.

Two of those scores came at the expense of CB Devin McCourty. Colts RB Donald Brown swatted McCourty away with a stiff-arm en route to a 5-yard TD run. Less than eight minutes later, WR Pierre Garcon got behind McCourty and caught a 12-yard TD over McCourty’s head. McCourty lunged to no avail to stop the completion, beaten so badly that he couldn’t even look back to find the ball.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 14"

1. The Gillette Stadium crowd thought they witnessed a Patriot claim another record, but the celebration was short lived. TE Rob Gronkowski scored three touchdowns, tying the record for touchdown receptions by a tight end in a season with 13. Gronk’s third TD was actually was a lateral though. History will have to wait at least a week for Gronkowski, but he did score his first rushing touchdown.

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"

1. It took until his fourth season, but CB Antwaun Molden had his first career interception on a deep pass intended for WR DeSean Jackson.

2. A round of applause to WR Tiquan Underwood for his impeccable Chad Ochocinco impersonation. He was on the field for two plays, was thrown to deep on one, dropped a probable touchdown, and then exited stage left.

Continue reading "Pick 6: Week 12"

How does Kyle Arrington do it?

Have you ever watched Arrington closely? He looks like an average cornerback. Nothing about him stands out. He stands only 5-10. His arms look ripped, but you wouldn’t say he’s above-average athletically. He doesn’t excel in press coverage. Heck, it doesn’t look like Arrington excels at any particular coverage skill.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 12"

The Pats enter this sunday's matchup with Philadelphia at 7-3, after opening up a relatively-commanding two-game lead on the Jets and Buffalo following monday night's dismantling of the Cassel-less Chiefs. The victory was a definitive 34-3, but there are those who still worry about the flow of the offense, specifically Tom Brady's sporatic accuracy and questionable decision making.

Continue reading "Brady Off So Far"

1. He’s gone from cancer diagnosis, to enduring chemotherapy, to full remission, and activation from the physically unable to perform list. On Monday night, Marcus Cannon took another step in his recovery when he played his first snaps against Kansas City. Cannon entered the game in the fourth quarter and played right tackle. Opposite Cannon was Nate Solder, playing left tackle in place of Matt Light, who was injured earlier in the game. Might this be a glimpse of the future Patriots O-line?

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 11"

The vision is almost a reality. It didn’t work the first time, but the personnel is better now.

For the sixth time this season the Patriots scored at least 30 points. They rolled up 389 yards of total offense. In 9 of 10 games the Pats gained more than 370 yards of offense. New England is second-rated offense in the NFL and third in points scored.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 11"

1. The Tom Brady we know and opponents fear is back, for one game at least. After a slow start, Brady regained his form and orchestrated a masterpiece in the second half as he threw for 329 yards and three touchdowns. Switching to a no-huddle attack really sparked the offense in the second half as two scoring drives came from the change of pace. The second drive included Brady connecting on 7-of-7 passes.

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 10"

Many Patriot fans were happy to hear DT Albert Haynesworth was released on Monday. The big slug was a waste of space and wasn’t worth the 2013 fifth round draft pick head coach Bill Belichick traded for Haynesworth-less.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 10"

I took a while to think about it. After careful internal debate, I reached the conclusion that I did not want DT Albert Haynesworth on the team:

“…the day Haynesworth is no longer on the Patriots can’t come soon enough for me.”

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

1. Offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien is schizophrenic. A week after running the ball just a dozen times and utilizing the tackle-eligible just three times, the Patriots rolled out the heavy lineup 18 times. Three times Nate Solder and Ryan Wendell we called in to run block. The latter personnel group gained six total yards on three carries.

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week Nine"

It was a solid return to action for running back Kevin Faulk. Just activated off the physically unable to perform list, Faulk was his same old versatile self after recovering from ACL surgery last year.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 9"

1. It was great to see some familiar faces. RB Kevin Faulk, DT Brandon Deaderick, LB Jerod Mayo, and OT Sebastian Vollmer all returned to action. Faulk, in his first game since being activated off of the physically unable to perform list, started the game in place of BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 8"

There are dozens of reasons why a draft prospect’s stock drops. Slow 40 time, out of shape, lack of ideal size, character problems.

Diagnosed with a form of cancer.

Marcus Cannon was an imposing offensive tackle for TCU projected as an NFL guard. He was agile for a big man and had great strength. Cannon was rated as a second round pick.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 8"

Some of the players featured in the 2011 New England Patriots calendar has been S Brandon Meriweather, S Brandon McGowan, RB Laurence Maroney, WR Randy Moss, and DE Ty Warren. Moral of the story: Trust souvenir calanders to track the days, not the roster.

Continue reading "Better Off Without Them"

1. That was by far the best game played by the defense all season led by DE Andre Carter’s two sacks. Bend but don’t break was in full effect. Dallas gained 377 total yards, but were one for three in goal to go situations. But goodness, Patriots, work on your tackling. 

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 6"

What was the best part about the 30-21 win over the New York Jets depends on who you ask. Some believe it was the 73-yard completion from Tom Brady to Wes Welker because the Darrel Revis, arguably the best cornerback in the game, was beaten on the play.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 6"

1. I have to take a moment and pay respect to Al Davis. The legendary Oakland Raiders owner passed away on Saturday. Born in Brockton, MA, the rebel and leader of the Silver and Black was a steward of the AFL and helped form the modern day NFL. The Patriots held a moment of silence before the game to honor Davis. The league lost an icon.

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 5"

Don’t believe a word Rex Ryan says. The brash New York Jets head coach apparently likes the sound of his own voice and doesn’t have an off switch.

OK, so sometimes Ryan is funny. That’s why the media loves him. Whether he’s making fun of his twin brother while wearing a wig or challenging an opposing linebacker to a fight, Ryan says things other coaches won’t.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 5"

1. Oakland DT Richard Seymour wanted to prove how good he still is to his former team. Why prove yourself? Seymour’s overzealousness led to two personal foul penalties that helped the Patriots score a touchdown on their first drive of the game. The proof is in the statistics, Big Sey. Since being traded to the Raiders, Seymour has out-sacked New England’s defensive tackles, 12-to-9.

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 4"

Matt Light knows he’s there. You can’t miss the shadow of a 6-8 319 pound man-child standing behind you.

Light is the Patriots’ starting left tackle. For now. He’s expected to hold on to that position through the rest of the season. If Light is lucky, he keeps the job through next season as well. But Light knows his days are numbered.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 4"

Time to get real, Chad Ochocinco. You were worthy of being defended from the former Patriot detractors. But the grace period when you dropped that touchdown which could had won the game against Buffalo. Save your opposable thumbs for latching on to the pigskin instead of tweeting 140 characters.

Continue reading "Ochocinco Time Is Now"

1. After throwing four interceptions for all of the 2010 regular season, QB Tom Brady threw four in one afternoon. It’s the first four interception game since 2006 vs. Indianapolis. Truth be told, two interceptions were off of deflections with the pick thrown while targeting WR Chad Ochocinco arguably was Ochocinco’s fault for not running a sharp enough route.

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 3"

Coaches always say they want smart players. But it there such a thing as being too smart?

Two years ago Myron Rolle, an All-American safety out of Florida State, was selected in the sixth round by Tennessee. Rolle was also a Rhode’s Scholar recipient with a degree in medicine and plans to become a neurosurgeon after his pro career.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 3"

1. Let’s start with a couple of firsts: NT Vince Wilfork came away with his first career interception near the end of the first half. He returned the pick 36 yards and the offense converted the turnover into three points. Safety Sergio Brown got his first career pick as he stepped in front of San Diego TE Antonio Gates in the third quarter. According to Brown it is his first interception since high school. And according to ProFootballReference.com, it is the first time Gates was held without a reception.

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 2"

We saw the linemen fall on center Dan Koppen’s leg. We watched as he was loaded onto the cart and was driven to the locker room. When Koppen was back on the sidelines with crutches and his lower leg in a boot, cameras captured it.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 2"

1. QB Tom Brady’s regular season streak of pass attempts without an interception came to an end at 358. It was the only blemish on a career night. He completed 67 percent of his passes for a career high 517 yards and four touchdowns. Please note I said in the preview that Brady is getting older, not he’s old.

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 1"

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"

Quarterback Tom Brady says his favorite receiver is an open receiver. Through three preseason games, Brady has few favorites.

WR Taylor Price has five receptions, none from Brady. TE Rob Gronkowski, after a 42 reception and 10 touchdown rookie season, has just one catch. Chad Ochocinco came to New England via trade with high expectations but only has two receptions. WR Deion Branch doesn’t even have a reception.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Preseason Week 4"

For all those who tuned in to the Patriots-Lions game on Saturday, they saw a Pats team that looked very familiar.

Remember the pass defense that would get carved into ribbons? It was there as they gave up 272 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. Detroit QB Matthew Stafford was 12-14 for 200 yards. One of the two incompletions was a drop.

Continue reading "Same Old Patriots"

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"

The best stat from Thursday’s shredding of Tampa Bay is the Buccaneers out-gained New England 244 to 200. That’s total yards to rushing yards.

Once the Patriots stretched out the passing game, the ground game took over. By the end of the night the Pats gashed and slashed their way through a helpless T.B. defense. It was a thing of beauty.

Continue reading "Run Game Gaining a Lot of Ground"

You’ve heard the number over and over. Currently there are 19 defensive linemen on the Patriots roster. You could add another three or five to that number if you include the “hybrid” OLB/DE players on the roster.

Continue reading "Hour Before Kickoff"

Shows us how much we know.

By season’s end, it was obvious the Patriots had to re-stock the backfield. Veterans Kevin Faulk, Sammy Morris, Fred Taylor, and BenJarvus Green-Ellis were all free agents with Green-Ellis, the leading rusher, expected to be back.

Continue reading "Ridley Me This, and Ridley Me That"

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"

Congratulations, Nate Solder. Welcome to the New England Patriots.

Now sit down and watch.

This isn’t the typical fate for the average 17th pick overall in the modern NFL, but this is a far from typical off season. The lockout eliminated all off season workouts and an accelerated training camp with far less contact is stunting the growth of the former Colorado Buffalo.

Continue reading "Rookies in Waiting"

Albert Haynesworth.

I don’t want him.

I wasn’t a fan of the trade when I learned of it last Thursday because he slouched for two years in Washington after banking $41 million from the Redskins. The second year as Haynesworth warred with ‘Skins head coach Mike Shanahan really turned me off.

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 ..."

On Wednesday morning, Myra H. Kraft, wife of Patriots owner Robert Kraft, passed away. I send my prayers and condolences to the Kraft family that lost a mother and wife.

As much as she meant to h

Continue reading "Myra H. Kraft Passes Away"

The best news Patriot fans heard recently besides the approaching end of the NFL lockout is the health or rookie Marcus Cannon’s recovery from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The 354-pound offensive lineman says he is almost done with his chemotherapy.

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

“Hello? Miiiiike…What’s goin’ on? I know, I know! Long time no speak, man. How you doin’?

“Yeah, I heard. Retired. I didn’t see that coming. But good for you.

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

It’s an unwritten maxim that a quarterback doesn’t lose his starting job because of injury. But that’s exactly what happened to QB Drew Bledsoe in 2001. A sheared blood vessel in his chest sidelined Bledsoe for nine weeks. 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.

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"

After three hours and 32 selections, the Patriots came away with an offensive tackle rated lower than where he was drafted, an additional pick in the second round and a second pick in the first round next year. Excited about the 2011 rookie class so far?

Continue reading "The Morning After: A Few Suggestions"

The NFL Draft is just hours away and all the talk of predictions come to an end today. Yesterday and media outlets revealed their final mock drafts. I took a look around to see what the reporters and experts are saying for the Patriots’ two first round selections. As a reminder, I predicted DE Adrian Clayborn and RB Mark Ingram:

Continue reading "Patriot Draft Predictions"

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"

The Patriots have four selections in the first 60 picks in this year’s NFL Draft. If the Pats could draft any four players in the draft with those picks, these guys are on the very top of my list:

Continue reading "Dream Draft"

17. New England Patriots – DE Adrian Clayborn, Iowa

By the end of the season, injuries sapped the Pats’ depth along the D-line. They had to sign DE Eric Moore mid-season. Next time three D-linemen go on injured reserve, the Pats will be better prepared. 

Continue reading "Mock Draft v2.0"

We hear over and over from various experts on tv and radio, we read from a multitude of draft evaluations from magazines and web sites. We told repeatedly how great this player or that player is.

Continue reading "In Action"

Outside linebacker. A pass rusher. Someone that can consistently collapse the pocket with speed and/or power. It’s a position fans want the Patriots to draft early. We believe a double-digit sack-meister would take the defense to the next level, make it a championship-caliber unit.

Continue reading "In a Rush for a OLB"

17. New England Patriots – DE Adrian Clayborn, Iowa

By the end of the season, injuries sapped the Pats’ depth along the D-line. They had to sign Eric Moore mid-season. Next time three D-linemen go on IR, the Pats will be better prepared.

Continue reading "Mock Draft v 1.0"

New York Jets DE Shawn Ellis said of New England QB Tom Brady, “He becomes a different quarterback when he doesn’t have wide-open guys and you hit him three or four times. He was skittish. I’ve never seen him like that. In the first half he was terrified.”

Continue reading "A Fueled Off-season"

They blew it. No other way to put it. They. Blew. It. In Spanish it’s lo soplaron. Different language, same point.

This wasn’t like the butt-whupping they took at the hands of Baltimore last year. New England had a shot at winning this game, but mistakes and poor execution cost them the game.

Continue reading "Aftermath, Forward Thinking"

The Patriots haven’t lost to the New York Jets in the playoffs. I did not know that. N.E. is 2-0 thanks to a 26-14 win back in 1985 and a 37-16 blasting in 2007. Naturally these results have no bearing on what happens on Sunday, but I find these facts interesting.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Divisionals"

It’s back to business as usual for the Patriots after being observers during Wild Card Weekend. It wasn’t just Saturday and Sunday the players had away from the weekly grind, as there were additional days during the week the players didn’t have meetings or practice.

Continue reading "Walls and Winds"

Congratulations to CB Devin McCourty for being a finalist for NFL Rookie of the Year. I don’t expect you’l win, but you got my vote.

If the NFL has already announced R.o.Y. finalists, then it shouldn’t be much longer before the All-Rookie teams are announced.

Continue reading "Week Before Kickoff: Wild Card Weekend"

It’s kinda hard saying Baltimore, Indianapolis, or the New York Jets concern me considering the results from the regular season games. The Pats throttled the Jets in the second go-round. I don’t take any team led by QB Peyton Manning lightly, but the Colts have a lot of injuries and needed a furious comeback to make that game close. And the Ravens, with their suspect secondary, hasn’t seen this version of the Patriots.

Continue reading "Chief Concern out of the Wild Cards"

With all the talk about whether or not the starters should play, how long do they play, which uniforms they should wear when they play, do they perform the ancient Celtic (hard “C” sound like a K, not like the basketball team) New Year’s ritual before they play, etc. Few people talked about who will play after the starters take a seat.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 17"

Well before the flakes settled into Ralph Wilson Stadium, the Patriots locked up home field throughout the playoffs with a 34-3 win over the Buffalo Bills.

It was a total team effort as the offense scored 21 points off of turnovers. It was like New England scored three points for every turnover forced.

Continue reading "Never the Patriots Turn(over)"

If all goes as I hope, the game will essentially be over with by halftime. I’m not taking anything away from Buffalo as they’ve been playing recently. But I hope reality sets in, they remember they are the Bills, New England dominates and posts a 30-something point lead after two quarters.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 16"

With a win on Sunday, the Patriots will be 13-2 and secure home field throughout the playoffs.

And at the same time, CB Devin McCourty could get closer to tying the team interceptions by a rookie record.

Continue reading "Going for Records"

To be the man, you got to beat the man. Words made famous by the legendary Ric Flair, one of the greatest pro wrestlers of all time, a world champion about 847 times.

Going by Flair’s standard, the Patriots aren’t “the man,” but they’ve compiled a good resume so far. A solid win over Baltimore, they held on to beat Indianapolis, they carved Pittsburgh’s defense, and throttled the New York Jets. All were big wins, but winning against the NFC elite is key as well.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 15"

Some people don’t seem to understand. Or maybe they let personal biases cloud their judgment. 

Two weeks ago while talking to Sports Radio WEEI, ESPN analyst Cris Carter made some disparaging remarks about WR Deion Branch as he compared him to WR Randy Moss:

Continue reading "Branch Can, Though Carter Doesn't See It"

Does anybody remember preseason predictions? All those TV personalities and media experts always make it a point to pick which team will win the Super Bowl before the first kickoff. 

Preseason predictions are completely illogical. Scoring the best free agents and having a NFL Draft rated highly by draftniks has nothing to do with on-field performance. And injuries can turn a team’s fortunes in an instant. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 14"

Days before he was honored at halftime of the Patriots-Jets game, former linebacker Tedy Bruschi said during an interview that he does not want his number 54 retired. Instead he hopes other players wear his number and remember the significance of that 54. 

Continue reading "Spikes Becoming the Next "55""

What does it take to turn a good defense into a stout defense? 

It’s a question that’s been wracking my brain for a while now. I look at the Patriots defense and I love what I see. The youth makeover has gone better than I expected. They have the potential to be great. But they’re not there yet. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 13"

He was the simple answer for an obvious question: 

Who will be the deep threat now that WR Randy Moss is gone? Brandon Tate. 

Why not Tate? He was the talk of training camp as teammates couldn’t help but gush about the fourth round pick out of the 2009 Draft. He came with a reputation as an explosive player that finished his North Carolina career as the NCAA career leader in kickoff and punt returns. 

Continue reading "A Show of Hands by Tate, Please"

“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"

Last week the Patriots offense rolled up over 450 yards and scored 33 of 39 points. It’s the kind of offense fans have been waiting for all season long. The sweetest part was New England carved up the best defense in the league in the process. The fans can get used to this, but will it last? 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 11"

Are the Patriots the best team in the league? 

Depends on who you ask. Some shout out yes from the highest mountaintop. Others say no, it’s the Atlanta Falcons. Power rankings might suggest. Bottom line is these opinions and polls are subjective. 

Continue reading "Best In the League?"

I thought it was one of the most interesting training camp stories. The Patriots drafted punter Zoltan Mesko. He would be assimilated into New England’s special teams with second year long snapper Jake Ingram and fourth year kicker Stephen Gostkowski already in place. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 10"

Remember back in 2009 how we thought the Patriots pulled another fast one on the Oakland Raiders when New England traded DL Richard Seymour for a 2011 first round draft pick? Remember calling the Raiders “suckers” because we though the Pats would get a high draft pick for a player that maybe had a couple of good years left? 

Continue reading "Raiders' Wrench in Patriots 2011 Draft"

And we thought Myron Pryor did the nation a favor. 

It was the fourth quarter of last week’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. On third and three, Pryor beat his blocker and landed a crushing hit on quarterback Brett Favre. It left Favre slow to get up and holding his chin. Favre was taken to the locker room and did not return to the game.

Continue reading "Hours After Kickoff: Week 9"

He’s not a highly regarded first or second round draft pick. He’s not from the preferred football factory of head coach Bill Belichick, the University of Florida. He’s not a veteran free agent expected to provide leadership and experience. But for the last three weeks, he’s been in the starting lineup. 

Continue reading "Dead On with Deaderick"

On the day that celebrates goblins, ghouls, and vampires, there will be countless references to monsters as the Patriots welcome the Minnesota Vikings to Gillette Stadium. 

We’ll hear about WR Randy Moss coming back to Foxborough to haunt the team that traded him over three weeks ago. Or the quarterback that just keeps coming back from the dead like Jason Voorhees. Brett Favre made his third comeback before the season despite not being fully healed from ankle surgery. Favre slowly limped off the field last week, looking like a zombie with two fractures in his foot. But everyone expects Favre to emerge from the grave (or cold tub) and be under center Sunday afternoon. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 8"

Congratulations to rookie CB Devin McCourty on intercepting his first pro pass. It was a great recovery and he perfectly caught the ball at the highest point in front of the receiver. Unfortunately you are the first corner back on the team with an interception. 

Continue reading "Get Me the Butler"

Maybe it started as an inside joke. A title to mock San Diego Chargers GM A.J. Smith that takes the name of a successful trilogy and puts an insulting twist on it. Maybe it was said among the owners and GMs and it was overheard by a player. But like many inside jokes, they don’t stay inside for long. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 7"

I’m not quick to be sold on singular performances. I’ll applaud when a player or team does something good in a game, but I’ll take a wait and see approach, demanding they do it again before I buy what I’m seeing. 

Continue reading "Stepping Up, Step Forward"

I’ve heard that sometimes a great offense is a good defense. Well the inverse is true too: sometimes a great defense is a good offense. I think that’s partially what is in mind with the change of offensive philosophy. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 6"

It looks like it’s coming together. Against Buffalo, the offense scored 21 of their 28 points in the second half. 

The defense, which gave up 46 total points in the second half in three games, allowed just seven points after halftime to Miami. 

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"

If the game ended at halftime, the Patriots would had lost to Miami. And fans would blame one person for that: Cameron Wake. 

The OLB was terrorizing Brady in the first half. He consistently beat his blocker, using speed, brute strength, some spin moves, and a non-stop motor. He got pressure a handful of times and even got a sack. The former two-time Canadian Football League Defensive Player of the Year in 2007 and 2008 was nearly unstoppable. 

Continue reading "Which is Better for the Patriots?"

The quarterback was selected out of the University of Michigan. 

Meet the new 2000s New England Patriots, the Miami Dolphins. I’m not saying the Dolphins are going to kidnap the 2010 Patriots team, take their identity, and play the rest of the season masquerading as the team from New England. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 4"

On Sunday there were two changes to the starting line-up. OLB Tully Banta-Cain was replaced by rookie 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"