San Diego Chargers

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"

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?"

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"

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?"

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"

A day after the NFL Network revealed San Diego shopped OLB Shawn Merriman during the NFL Draft to New Orleans and two other teams, the Patriots re-signed DE Derrick Burgess. Knowing what is out there, Burgess’ return doesn’t excite the fan base much. 

Continue reading "A "Lights Out" Alternative"

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"

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"

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?"

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"

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"

When I was a sophomore in high school playing on the JV basketball team, we went into our Christmas break undefeated and feeling pretty good about ourselves. Over the break we were scheduled to play one game against a team from the division below us. We practiced a few times, nothing too serious, and went into the game feeling good. But the week and a half layoff killed us and we lost by four, our only loss of the season.

Continue reading "Picks for the NFL weekend"

Regardless of what happens on Sunday, this was a successful season. I really want a birth in the playoffs, but if the chips don't fall in New England's favor and they are on the outside looking in, then that's just how it is. It wasn't meant to be.

Continue reading "Hats Off"

The facts are daunting.

The Patriots defense allowed points scored, either touchdowns or field goals, the last 41 times the opponents entered the red zone. Arizona is the second highest scoring team in the league that features receivers 6-0 Steve Breaston, 6-1 Anquan Boldin, and 6-3 Larry Fitzgerald. New England's cornerbacks measure 5-9 Ellis Hobbs, 5-11 Jonathan Wilhite, and 5-11 Deltha O'Neal.

Continue reading "Goal to Grow"

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"

This was bound to happen.

For the second week in a row, QB Matt Cassel threw for 400 yards and three touchdowns. This from a guy that looked so bad against San Diego that practically all fans were calling for his head. Now Cassel is at the head of the class as every Pats fans' favorite player. It's at the point that now people think New England should re-sign Cassel and trade Tom Brady.

Continue reading "The Cassel-Brady Debate"

It was just one month ago fans wanted to replace Cassel after a 30-10 defeat at the hands of the San Diego Chargers. They wanted the Patriots to sign Daunte Culpepper from out of retirement to reunite him with WR Randy Moss. Some even said give rookie Kevin O'Connell a chance because they believed anyone could play better than wack Matt from USC.

Continue reading "Looks Like We Got a Quarterback"

A friend of mine who attended the Patriots game against San Diego told me that the Pats are still introduced as a team. I could understand that, as for the first five games the defensive line didn't deserve mention.

Continue reading "See More Seymour"

Continue reading "End of the Road for Rodney?"

It took CB Deltha O'Neal a day to talk to the media after the nightmare game against San Diego. He needed to sleep off the memory of getting beaten downfield a few times by the Chargers receivers.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 7"

Quick question: Would you like a durable running back?

OK, that was a rhetorical question. With alternating LaMont Jordan missing every other game and Laurence "issues" Maroney available for only three of five games this year, it would be nice to have someone the team can count on to help carry the load with Sammy Morris. While the Patriots did rush for more than 100 yards against San Diego, 29 of those yards came from QB Matt Cassel on seven carries.

Continue reading "A Young Stallion"

I just got through watching 90 minutes of Presidential debate analysis so excuse me for combining campaign slogans. But maybe the ideals promoted by Democrats and Republicans should be applied to the Patriots.

Continue reading "Change We Need Is Coming"

Have the mighty fallen? It's too early to say. Maybe they tripped and skinned their knees.

The three best teams in the AFC last year are struggling. 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"

Continue reading "Get Well...Whenever"

The Patriots are already on the Left Coast, waiting for a 4:15 kickoff against the San Francisco 49ers. A week later, they have a prime time game under the lights at San Diego. So with two games in a row across the country, the Patriots will change their routine and stay in California for a little over a week.

Continue reading "Business Trip"

For all those Patriots fans acting like the sky is falling, I have a message for you.

For all those who feel the team deserved all the boos rained down upon them during that sorry performance against the Miami Dolphins. For all those guys saying the season is over after one loss without the team's best player. For anyone who shed a tear after the loss. For those who will switch their attention to MLB Playoffs or to the upcoming NHL season. And if there are any Patriots fans that will watch Desparate Housewives instead of a prime time Patriots game against San Diego, I want to reassure you.

Continue reading "Back to School"

Before the Patriots became the league's model franchise, how did you define what a Patriot was? An over-achiever. Played all-out and with heart. Never gives up. A clutch player in big games. Willing to do anything to help the team win.

Continue reading "Troy Brown Comes Home"

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?"

It's a full Patriot Panic regarding Tom Brady's sore foot. In a online poll hosted by Mohegan Sun Sports Tonight, 88 percent are concerned about the quarterback situation.

The worry is because of the poor play of the reserve QBs. If any performed well in either preseason game, anxiety levels wouldn't be so high that fans are window shopping free agent quarterbacks as a possible saftey net.

Continue reading "Ring the Alarm"

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"

I have never claimed to be an expert when it comes to predicting outcomes of football games, although last year I nearly predicted the exact final score of the Super Bowl while hitting on seven of my nine prop bets. (My prediction was 26-17, the final was 29-17.) For whatever reason I had a very good feel for that game. This year's Super Bowl, however, remains a mystery to me. Part of the reason I am having trouble getting a good feel for this game is that I am a bitter Jets fan and I can't stand either team. I'm finding it difficult to put my personal feelings aside and look at the game objectively. I think right now I am as close to objectivity as I am going to get, and with that being said, here is my official Super Bowl XLII prediction.

Continue reading "Super Bowl XLII Prediction"