Went to a cool event today at Gillette. A draft preview party for season ticket holders. Former Patriot's Roland James (this is old school people) and Joe Andruzzi were present - along with Pat's cheerleaders (Good lord!) and Pat Patriot. Due to inclement weather the visit on the field was canceled, but there was a draft expert panel consisting of Mike Reiss, Todd McShay, Andy Hart, Michael Smith, and Tedy Bruschi. Not a heck of a lot NEW (to avid readers of this site) info that I culled to share, except: Bruschi - nailed the Gronkowski pick last year and claims he has been in Belichick's ear about Brooks Reed. Bruschi LOVES Brooks Reed. Arizona Wildcat connection. Hart and McShay both think Robert Quinn is a real possibility as a trade up for that OLB pass rusher the Pats have been desperately seeking - BUT ONLY if he slides to about 10th. Washington with the Shanahan connection (FOB - Friend of Bill) is looking for more picks as they have zero 3rd and 4th rounders. McShay seems to think that Quinn is not a character issue and had he played last year probably would go number one overall. As we all know Von Miller is too small for OLB in the Pats 3-4. My new man crush is on Robert Quinn. He is my new binkie and I am not afriad to say it publically. The room got real quiet when the Brady tearjerker interview came on. They asked Bruschi what his take was on it and he relayed a story I had never heard, let me share it with you. After the 3rd Super Bowl in four years Bruschi, Brady, Izzo, and Vinatieri were at the Pro Bowl. Apparently, at the Pro Bowl each team's players are introduced as a unit (welcome the Philadelphia Eagles Pro Bowlers...) with the Super Bowl teams going last. After all the other AFC teams had been announced only the four Patriots were left in the locker room. They were shooting the breeze about football, just about to be called onto the field, when Brady said to the other three - "you know guys - no team has ever won three in a row." Bruschi was amazed that rather than taking a break and basking in his laurels - Brady was already thinking about the next season and the duck boats engines were not even cooled off. Bruschi said that typifies Tom Brady - always focused on winning. Always. And thats why Bruschi feels Brady is the best ever. Jonathan Kraft in his opening remarks all but guaranteed the Patriots trading some draft picks for 2012 AND 2013 draft picks. Reiss underscored that by emphasizing that the Pats only have 5 2012 draft picks at this current time. If I remember more I will post it in replies.

We all know the story goes that in the 1990's, Jimmy Johnson devised a value chart for each pick in the draft so that teams could work from a common ground to decipher the perceived "value" of each pick.  We all have to assume that, if say a trade was proposed between Shanahan and Belichick in the early 2000's involving draft picks, that both would use the chart as a rule of thumb.  Not hard and fast - meaning the numbers would not always add up exactly - but it would give teams a baseline to work off. 

Now, we as fans take this chart as Gospel and if the numbers of a draft pick swap don't work then they don't work, simple as that.  I have not gone back to recalculate any trades from the past and compare the winners based on the value VS winners based on actual player production during their career, but that would be a worthwhile study.  I am sure many, many NFL teams have done so.

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The trade got me thinking about Bill.  What he does.  Why he does things.  His thought process. Bill has giant veiny, drooping, enormous balls.  Let's reminisce.

Resigns as HCNYJ.  Costs his new team a first round draft pick.  Cuts Lawyer 4 days before the season.  Trades Bledsoe in the division.  Jettisons Law, McGinest, Samuel, Branch, Givens, Moss, Seymour, Vrabel, Cassell, Vinatieri (pretty good list of players).  A 500K fine and another first round pick for Spygate.  Mangini feud.  Losing Romeo, Charlie, McDaniels, Pioli, Dimitroff.

Belichick doesn't give a rat's a$$ about what you think, what I think, what the media thinks, what other people in the NFL think, or even what his ex-wife thinks.  What he seems to do at all times, is do what he thinks is best for his team - no matter what.  I gave up trying to figure him out.  Or question him.  Call it believe in Bill.  Or in Bill we trust.  Call it whatever you want.  But call it smart. 

Belichick has been in the league for 35 years.  Since 1985, for the last 25 seasons, he has been in a position of power.  It started in 85 as DC for the Giants.  Then he shifted to HC of the Browns.  Then asst head coach of the Pats.  Then DC and Asst hd coach of the jets.  Then the last 10 seasons as HC for the Pats. 

The results...7 Super Bowl appearances.  Or more specifically 28% of the Super Bowls played since he ascended to the level of coordinator or greater.  How about Championship games (AFC or NFC)?  Add another 2, for 9 total, or 36% of the Championship games played in his respective league.

This means that Belichick makes the Super Bowl every 4th year or the league championship game every 3 years.  Moss or no Moss.  With Brady and without.  With LT or not.  He simply wins.  Not every year, but every third. 

 

 

 

 

 

• I am certain Brett Favre’s neighbors down Kiln Mississippi way, appreciate his retirement.  His lawn won’t look so bad this fall, like it has for the last 20 seasons.

• Is Ty Warren always hurt?  Do we, as Pats fans, overrate him a tad?

• I am secretly loving the possibility of starting youth at four defensive positions: Chung, Butler, Cunningham, Spikes.  Coupled with Meriweather and Mayo.  That’s twelve fresh legs.  When is the last time that was the case in Foxboro?

• Just like you, I comb every website for Patriots details from camp.  I have read several notes about the entire Patriots offense having to run penalty laps for infractions and failures.  Is this due to a high octane offense sputtering?  Or an under the radar defense that is on an upswing?

• Julian Edelman has a ticket to ride.  Ron Brace, you are at the bottom of the standby list.  Don’t hover by the counter, we’ll call you if a seat becomes available.

• Deeply excited to see “Spartans, prepare for glory” on September 12th on a new 50 by 110 foot HD screen. God bless you Kraft family.

• Was hoping I would hear more positives about Brian Hoyer in this camp. 

• Dear Logan – Guard is the easiest position to hide on a football team.  Get back to camp.  Sincerely, Russ Hochstein from Super Bowl 38

• Tate and Hernandez and Price…oh my.

• Hard to remember that Belichick has cost this organization 2 first round picks and 250K in cash.  How many more first rounders would you give up just to keep him?  I go with an easy three.  Both in 2011 and the 2012.  After that I would start to throw up in my mouth a little.

• Seems like Moss is destined to go one of two ways this year, otherworldly or malcontent.  I would be surprised if it was an average season without any drama either positive or negative, both on the field and in the locker room.  

• Agree with The Hill, Wheatley makes the team.  Can never have enough corners.  No disrespect intended, Earthwind Moreland.

We all remember thinking it.  That feeling inside.  Utter disbelief.  Shock and awe.  A trance.  Am I dreaming? 

“We got THAT guy.  For what, a bunch of nothing?  And WE get THAT guy.  HOLY SH*T.  Belichick is a freaking genius.  Wait is this serious?  For real?  THAT GUY?!?  Yikes.  Wow.”

There is an unmistakable buzz surrounding a surprise and sexy trade, free agent signing or draft pick.  You can’t deny how it makes you feel as a fan.  It’s irresistible.  It’s that good book ya can’t put down.  Or like a mixed drink in a punch bowl that you can’t stop re-filling from.  It’s that red Maserati that passes you on the highway.  It takes all your focus.  You can’t stop thinking about it.  Talking about it.  It consumes you.

We always remember that feeling from the beginning of the player’s tenure.  Few of us, however, remember how that player’s tenure ends.  I think some history of recent Patriot’s past maybe an indicator of future performance.

For most of us, Corey Dillon was that trade.  Coming off the second Super Bowl win in three years, the Pats acquired a top flight running back.  All for one measly second round pick.  I was shocked at the time.  Happy!  Worried about chemistry.  Amazed at the potential improvement the team would make.  Couldn’t put the punch bowl down on that Corey Dillon trade. 

Worked out for us too, right?  A Super Bowl victory 10 months later.  A single season Pat’s record for yards rushing.  Year 2, brought injuries and diminished production (still adequate though).  Year 3, brought split carries with LoMo and still adequate production.   At training camp the next year he was cut, gone but not forgotten. Was a second rounder worth 3 years of Dillon?  I think so.  If the chance was there again, I think the majority of us would jump at it.

Randy Moss for a 4th?  Good God almighty Joe Friday, that got us all excited.  Forget about a good book.  That trade was like crack.  We all couldn’t stop thinking about it.  Dreaming about the potential.  Wondering how Brady would improve with a super-duper-star receiver.  The rumors that Moss had run a 4.29 for Belichick at a workout.  Proclamations from Moss that, “The Moss of old is back.”

We ate it up.  So did the record books.  So many damn records there are too many to mention.  Let’s just say, the trade worked out.  Year 1 was phenomenal.  Year 2 brought the Brady injury, but still more than adequate production from Moss.  Ditto for Year 3. 

Sound familiar?  Moss has flatly stated he doesn’t expect to be with the Patriots in 2011.  Moss was accused of dogging it by opponents in 2009.  Brady and Belichick were compelled to vehemently defend Randy in the press.  The Patriots leaked a story about his injured shoulder that suppressed his production and performance.

Here we are in year four of the Randy Moss Experiment.  The Pats have no discernable 3rd WR, let alone a replacement for Moss.  That’s what we call a gaping hole at WR even with Moss.  The offense is based overwhelmingly on passing.  Wes Welker will be out for the first 7 to 10 weeks.  The de facto O coordinator is hopefully going to find his rhythm with this offense in year 2.

Despite all this evidence and the drastic affect it would have on the offense in 2010, I see the Patriots parting ways with Moss this week.  Let me completely hedge and say POSSIBLY. 

If including Moss in a deal drastically improves their chances of getting a can’t miss prospect (e.g. Suh) or an impact veteran (e.g. Haynesworth), I think the Patriots will strongly consider it.  Moss and number 22 for the second pick overall?   Moss and a 4th for Haynesworth?  I   don’t know how the specifics would play out (insert your own draft pick and veteran player here), but it is worth considering.

They ended up getting nothing for Dillon at the end.  They recently fleeced Seymour for a first before his final season.  There is no cap to consider for the team gaining Moss at approx 9 Mil in 2010.  Some team may want Moss to put them over the top for 2010.  We know what a motivated Moss could do for one season.  A sign and trade could improve Randy’s morale and thus his production. 

It seems improbable at this point.  It creates a gaping hole at WR.  Some team would have to want to gamble on an aging Moss.  The price would have to be right for both sides. 

But it’s out there and I wouldn’t be surprised if it happens.  What do you think?     

 

It’s that favorite time of year…time to crap on other people’s teams!

The JETS are going to S-T-R-U-G-G-L-E!  The running game is appreciably worse without Jones.  The secondary is a wash losing Rhodes and gaining Cromartie.  So what do we have here?  A still very good defense, barring injury - as depth is a concern for the Jets.  So the defense is a big plus.  The offense is worse unless Sanchez makes marked strides forward.  So when all is said and done – they have basically the same team as last year, unless one of the draft picks emerges as a force.  What does that equate to?  9-7 or 10-6 and maybe one impressive win in the playoffs.  Not bad, but if you are being honest with yourself, this is a team that is not going to the Super Bowl.  The Jets only hope is if an unknown player on offense really emerges. 

Buffalo hired Chan Gailey.  That makes Wade Phillips, Gregg Williams, Mike Mularkey, Dick Jauron, Perry Fewell, and now Chan.  Thank you, Ralph Wilson, for the coaching decisions and the 19-5 record over the above’s tenure.   Chan should fall right in line. 

Miami actually scares me a bit.  I think they will be a competitive team.  Classic bounce back year for Parcells in year 3. 

Mr.  Rooney, please advise your team in a memo that any sexual assaulting should take place before the start of free agency. 

An open letter to Seahawks fans:  Pete Carroll was nicknamed “Christmas Carol” during his tenure in New England.  Also during his first year as coach the team was 10-6.  Then 9-7.  Then 8-8.  The season before Pete came to New England the Pats were in the Super Bowl.   Two years after Pete left, the Patriots won the Super Bowl.  The core group of players were present before, during and after Pete’s tenure.  The common feeling here is that Pete left at least one super bowl appearance on the table.  Your team as currently constituted is not as talented as those teams were.  You are going to stink for three years until you fire him.  These are just facts.

Without the selfish character that is LDT, SD now has a chance to win.  I hate the fact they released that guy.  Who is going to shy away from big moments when we play that team now in the playoffs?

Denver will be better this year.  Adding Jamal Williams is key.  That guy is a load.  For Patriots fans it reminds me of when Ted Washington came into the fold in New England.  Seems like a very solid move on paper. 

Indy is going to be Indy.  But when all is said and done will they be able to close?

Last but not least is us.  We have quite a few holes.  This is the least confident I have been for awhile in a Patriot's team.  Hopefully this will be a great draft.  We need it.

Apologies to The Hill - I finished writing this before I noticed he posted something similar.

Note:  not an Idiot’s guide, but rather the exact opposite. 

Two assumptions:

• The GENIUS switches to primarily a 4-3 full time
• Patriots willing to spend cash.  Lots of it.

 

1.       Franchise Wilfork, non exclusive – allowing him not to sign and the meantime negotiate with other teams.  Once he finds a suitable contract, trade him for a 1 and a 3.  I think he’s worth that, if Cassell is worth a high second. 

 

2.       Package one of the 2’s (no. 48) with a later round pick (say 6th) for Anquan Boldin.  Pay him for three years.  He will be 30, 31, 32 for the next three seasons.   A great number 2.

 

3.       Sign a "CPR-able" veteran WR, like Deion Branch if he is cut.  Didn’t work with Galloway, but need insurance here. 

 

a.       In this scenario, the Pats would have Moss, Welker/Edelman, Boldin, Branch, Tate, and Aiken.  That should be enough.

b.      Also introduce some "double slot" plays putting both Edelman and Welker on the field together when healthy.

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I think it is safe to say that the majority of us will be rooting for the Saints come Sunday.  Besides the obvious reasons of having a disdain for all things Colts and Peyton Manning, the redemption of the city of New Orleans is too sexy to resist.  To go from a completely hapless football franchise to Super Bowl Champions (see Patriots pre 2001), with the drama of Hurricane Katrina mixed in, is a great story. 

But there has to be something more right?  Besides the agonizing loss for Colts fans and seeing Peyton Manning flummoxed, can’t there be a cruel twist of fate mixed in? 

I was watching a movie when it hit me over the head.  I got off the couch and danced a jig on my living room floor.  My wife burst out laughing. 

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Why does Peyton Manning always sound like he has a half a dozen cat’s eye marbles rolling around in his mouth in every post game press conference?  Does he have dentures or something?

 

Jim Nantz or Joe Buck?  Joe Buck or Jim Nantz?  Is there an option C?

 

Why can’t Collinsworth and Michaels just rotate between all the networks and handle all the important games?  Is that too much to ask?

 

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After last night’s decapitation, here are some mind numbing thoughts about the league and the Pats…

• As a fan, last night’s game reminded me that the only real affect I can have on a game is to yell my head off while clapping as loud as possible when at the games.   Nice job Saints fans, you willed that team to victory.
• On that note, I hate when teams want it more than the Pats.  See Pats v Giants, Feb 2008.
• Great line I heard on a local radio station from an Indianapolis sportswriter, the Colts are making plans to put a statue of Bill Belichick right next to the one of Reche Caldwell in the front of Lucas Oil Stadium to commemorate big Colt wins of recent years.
• Is winning the AFC East like winning the beauty contest for fat girls?
• Another funny post-Colts anecdote from a radio show caller who’s wife works as a flight attendant on the Patriot’s charter flights.  Apparently the pilot after the Colts game was late in getting the plane open and ready for the Pats to board.  As he was opening up the door, he offered consoling words to the glum Patriot players, something akin to keep your heads up boys, you’ll get ‘em next week.  To which Randy Moss, in a bit of a foul mood due to the circumstances of earlier in the evening, replied, “Dude, shut the &%$# up and start the goddamn plane.”
• I have spent the entire AM trying to find statistical evidence to support how the Patriots really made the right choice by showing up to play the Saints.  Apparently, 70% of the time when they show up they win or something like….AH HELL there is no statistical evidence to support an a$$ whipping.  Sorry 4th and 2 defenders.
• My mancrush on Billy Balls has been downgraded to a bromance. 
• Why do I continue to pick the Carolina Panthers week in and week out?  Some teams never change in my mind and Carolina will always be that team that almost came back and beat the Pats in that Super Bowl, even though Jake Delhomme sucks and so does the entire team!
• Does it seem like Brady locks on to receivers much more than he ever did rather than spreading the ball around and the “open guy” gets the ball?  He misses a lot of wide open guys lately.  Not misses with accuracy, misses the fact they are open by never seeing them.
• Why do I care so much when they lose? 
• Once the last Brett Favre naysayer turns back on him and forgets his track record and crowns him king again – then and only then – will he revert to his true riverboat gambling, gun slinging, insert stupid announcer metaphor here, self.  It will happen, trust me… as I am starting to come around on him and I may be that last guy.
• I take back what I said preseason, Brad Childress did steal Percy Harvin from Billy Balls.  Bald Ahole.  I hate that guy.
• Hines Ward calling out Ben Roethlisberger for not playing with a concussion.  Yikes Hines!  You gonna spoon feed eggs to Big Ben when he is in an elderly center at age 46?
• Are the Jets still talking trash about the Pats?  Man I have never heard a team chirp more than them.  And their fans too.  Does that fireman Ed guy remind you of Master Blaster from Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome?  Yeah, me too.
• I think the Pats can beat every team in the league, save for Colts, Minn, and Saints.  Those three would take some breaks, a great game plan and well executed play – especially if on the road or neutral site.
• Matty “Ice” Ryan – turf toe, really?  Now if Hines Ward called him out I would be all for that. 
• Wilhite is always in position to make plays, but misses by literally inches week after week.  It is hard to get mad at him because he is so close, but at some point close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
• Never bet the Texans over the Colts.  Every year the Texans suck us in only to spit us out.  Take it from a guy who saw a grown man cry in Vegas last year after the Texans blew a 14 point lead plus a 10 point spread in 18 minutes.  Grown men crying should happen in churches, not casinos.
• Mangini is kind of a douche.  I can see why Billy Balls took his keys and stuff away when he defected. 
• No Ronnie Brown, no problem – right?  Right!?! 

 

Chum is in the water.  The sea runs red with blood.  The sharks sense the vulnerability.  They have waited for this moment for what seems like forever.  At last, there is an opportune time to strike.  The opportunity is almost too perfect.  The opportunity is too good to pass up.     

 

It must feel good to vent and to crucify.  To insist that there must be accountability.  That hubris was at play.  That the decision projects condescension.  That it smacks of a superiority complex.   

 

It is revenge for every perceived slight throughout the years.  Screw us?  No screw you!  You are not infallible.  We are just as intelligent as you.  You are not the be all end all.  You made a blunder and you are going to pay.  And pay big time.

 

Why all the vitriol?  Is it the clichéd answers that get under their skin?  Covering monotonous press conference after press conference.  Not being granted access to practice.  Is it the secrecy behind every injury as if the information were some highly classified CIA document?  Is it the one word answers? The evasive answers?

 

The sharks are the usual suspects:  Borges, Shaughnessy, Callahan, and Massarotti.  I am sure there are others, but, quite honestly, I stopped reading and listening too.  In their defense, they have a point – conventional wisdom says you kick it out of there and hope your defense makes a play.  Didn’t happen in the AFC championship game in 2006.  Didn’t happen in the 2007 Super Bowl.  Doesn’t matter.  Stats be damned.  The argument continues that the defense is younger and better and improving.  The punt is what Marty Schottenheimer, Mike Holmgren, Wade Phillips, and a million other coaches would have done. 

 

Fortunately for us, we don’t have other coaches running our team.  I used to call Belichick the GENIUS, when writing about him.  In conversation, I would pretend to bow or genuflect as a comical sign of respect when his name was mentioned.  I have a Belichick for President T-shirt that I still wear with pride even though it is two sizes too small. 

 

Prior to this game, I had taken to calling him Billy Balls.  It just seemed to fit his evolution.  He makes decisions that you as a fan want made.  Challenges the right calls with his red flag tucked in his sock, uses timeouts appropriately even if he has to run out onto the field, makes defensive adjustments series to series, sits guys that don’t produce, etc, etc.  We rarely look at someone in this day and age and think, this guy does it better than I could.  Do Americans think that of their President?  Or Governor?  School Principal?  CEO of your company?  Most of the time it seems these folks, on the surface, are ill suited to handle the responsibilities of their job.  Whether that is reality is a separate issue, but it is perception and it pervades our society.  I am sure you can relate, for instance, to a decision at your workplace that you completely disagreed with.  Or maybe questioned a politician’s motivation on a particular viewpoint.  It is what we do, it is all we do.

 

Now I am not a total sycophant.  Based on the outcome, I wish he had punted.  I also wish he had signed Deion Branch, Asante Samuel and hopefully soon, Vince Wilfork.  I know the man makes mistakes.  Clearly, he has some character traits and flaws that are not desirable.  We all do and some of his seem to really rub people the wrong way. 

 

Since 2000, I have never, not once, thought that I could do a better job of talent evaluation and coaching than Billy Balls.  In fact, I think just the opposite.  When he does something outside the norm, like trade Richard Seymour, I barely question it.  I don’t try to rationalize it or justify it.  I just accept it. 

 

Some people call this phenomenon “In Bill We Trust.”  You can call it whatever you want.  Homerism.  Arrogant Patriot fan.  Naïve. 

 

Whatever you call me and those like me, just know we have lived through the Pete Carroll, Dick McPherson, Rod Rust, Ron Meyer, and Ron Erhardts of the world to know better when we have the real thing.  I wouldn’t trade Billy Balls for anyone and that includes the aforementioned list or John Wooden, Vince Lombardi or Paul Brown.  While you are at it, go ahead and throw in Tony Massarotti.  And Dan Shaughnessy.  And Ron Borges.  And Gerry Callahan too.

 

Ramblings from a mind that rambles…

 

Hey sexy Rexy, how’s the smack talk thing working out for you?

 

Yeah, Pat’s fans…FYI – Edge James was washed up like 3 seasons ago.   If he is our best answer, I am afraid of what the question is.

 

OK, ok, maybe I was wrong, perhaps Brandon Tate has a little more Stephan Starring than Stanley Morgan in him. 

 

Billy Balls stashing guys away on the Inactive list rather than IRing them and moving on?  What has this world come to?

 

Not sure Miami has much of a chance on the second of their back to back road games playing a team coming off the equivalent of 3 bye weeks in a row. 

 

Guessing Billy Balls saw both the Tenn and TB games as a free look at how his secondary rookies, like Butler and Chung, would respond to a healthy dose of playing time.  Probably figured he couldn’t lose those games anyway.

 

Dear Vince Young, I wouldn’t make those reservations for the Pro Bowl just yet.  Many a slip, twixt a cup and a lip.

 

I absolutely loved the Al Davis interview after the Seymour trade – where old Mr. Burns proudly intimated that Billy Balls had to “check with his owner” before consummating the Seymour trade.  It was a veiled reference to the fact that old Al wasn’t the only “meddlesome” owner.  Hey Al, WOW – you really got over on that one.  Solid work.  Don’t bust your skeleton wrist patting yourself on your bony crypt keeper back.  Oh and one thing, just a reminder for those keeping score at home…Billy Balls has got Randy Moss, Derrick Burgess and a Number 1 pick for Richard Seymour, a 3rd, 4th and a 5th.  You really stuck it to him that time.  Live that one up. 

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Heard a ton of sports radio talk about the Pats lack of a 3rd receiver the last two weeks, even before Edelman was hurt.  Cleary Joey Graybeard wasn't the answer.  Aiken appears to be a ham and egger.  I think it is curious that THE GENIUS would cut Galloway, knowing Edelman was out of commission. 

I know he is coming off ACL/MCL.  I know the "true" recovery isn't until the second year for speedsters with those types of injuries.  I know he is a pothead, Focker.  I know these are just college highlights. 

 

But JC, maybe THE GENIUS knew the third receiver has been on the roster all along.  Tell me this doesn't make you excited watching this montage.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS6L070REw0

Clearly something is going on.  New deal for Vince?  Big trade?  Simply re-evaluating the performance of some players?    I am not sure what gives, but my hunch is that something is going on with respect to work visas and some of the players inability to obtain them in the UK.   

Banta-Cain and Eric Alexander are my two best bets.  Perhaps there is something in there past, such as a criminal record, that has caused the UK to deny them entry.  If that is the case, I am guessing BB advised them they were to be "cut" for the week only and resigned next monday.   Just a guess, but I know in the past Martha Stewart, Snoop Dogg and other celebrities have been denied entry to work in the UK.   Don't know if either guy has any sort of record though.  What do you think?

I am downright giddy.  260 days of waiting.  Catching nuggets in the Sunday paper.  Reading Peter King every Monday morning.  Listen to Sirius NFL radio.  Finally, finally!  New England Patriots football has arrived.  Thank the lord and savior Jesus Christ.

 

The weekend mind dump and a prediction for the only game that counts tonight:

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Items from an uncluttered mind:

 

1.       After watching Miami and Jax duel it out during a preseason game, if the Dolphins plan on using uber-athlete rookie Vontae Davis as their nickel corner - which they showed by releasing veteran Eric Green this week – they are going to be in deep, deep trouble against New England.  Very deep.  Like abyss deep.

2.       A hurt toe?  Really?  I mean I liked watching the TO show as it was quite entertaining – but they didn’t call it the TO show for nothing.  That was all, is all and will be all that man ever cares about.  Buffalo, what if you circle the wagons – but the real enemy is inside the circle?

3.       Rex Ryan.  You remind me of your dad.  Lots of junk talk, bounties for injured players and a big ego.  Oh and a better defensive coordinator than head coach.  By the end of this season you will be dressed in a black leather full body suit with a zippered mouth slot and chained up inside a cage in Bill Belichick’s basement.

4.       Favre.  God I loathe you.  Here’s hoping for nothing but failure for you.  You pant load.

5.       Mike Vick.  You are a detestable person being that you pissed away your god given ability.  You literally barely had to work to become a millionaire – just play a game that you were blessed with amazing ability to play.  And you pissed it away.  Now you know what you lost.  You will be judged by what you do from here on out. 

6.       Sleeper team?  Honestly who knows?  Every year it is a freaking crapshoot.  My guess.  Green Bay Packers. 

7.       In my unemployed, living in my parents basement pursuit to watch every pre-season football game and promptly incorrectly select all 12 playoff teams  - I happened to catch the Raiders vs. Cowboys game.  Darren McFadden is fast through the hole.  Like lightning fast.  I don’t know if he will stay healthy, if he can break tackles or be worth a damn this year.  But no one shoots through the hole like him that I have seen in the last couple of years.  Maybe DeAngelo Williams.

8.       Losing Stewart Bradley at middle linebacker is an under the radar injury that will really hurt the Iggles.  Lurking out there somewhere over the next two months is a cataclysmic injury waiting to happen to a superstar player.  Brady part deux.

9.       Is Julian Edelman for real?  Has it all been a flash in the pan?  Good news is that he worked his magic against first teamers on the Eagles.  An intriguing and frightening proposition for other teams is facing two Wes Welkers…yikes.

10.   What a douche bag Brad Childress is.  He constantly tries to big time Belichick in the press (“I stole Percy Harvin”) or on the waiver wire – but now the constant lying to his own team about Favre.  Talk about a guy who has lost his clubhouse before the season even started.  Look the Vikes are talented and will do some good things this year – but when push comes to shove they will be on the shoved side.

11.   Coaches that will be fired by the end of the season:  Jack Del Rio, Brad Childress, Lovie Smith, Dick Jauron, Jim Zorn.

12.   The Tampa Bay Bucs are going to be terrible this year.  Absolutely horrible.  Mail it in.  John Gruden will be shown to be an excellent coach holding together that crap stew of players they have down there.  Raheim Morris (loved him in the movie Juice) is in way over his head.  If I could right now, I would bet $50K on the Patriots giving whatever the line is for that London game over the Bucs.  That is the lock of the century.

13.   I don’t know why, but for some reason I think Matt Ryan is going to have a really outstanding offensive season.  Like 4000 plus yards and 35 scores.  Gonzo opens things up over the middle for Ryan and Turner cannot handle another 400 touch beating of a year.  Matty Ice is locked and loaded.

14.   Miami was 11-5 last year with the “wildcat” formerly known as the Wing-T.  Unless they are going to reinvent the forward pass in 2009, I am guessing they will be 5-11.  A classic overachieve in year 1, perform under expectations in year 2 Parcellsian masterpiece.

15.   Teams that scare me:  Pittsburgh – nobody is talking about them.  They are loaded and loaded up with some solid rookies.  San Diego – adding Merriman is the second biggest offseason acquisition after Sir Thomas.  Dallas – they have serious potential for Ewing theory (homage to Bill Simmons) by losing TO.  Cutting out cancer is better than trying to cure it with chemo, right?

16.   I have no idea what will happen with Denver – they could go 1-15 or 15-1.  Seems like a total crapshoot.  I know one thing though – Jay Cutler isn’t a winner.  Too many whispers about the guy.  The rumors about him and Urlacher squaring off.  His obvious disdain for the owner of his former franchise (Pat Bowlen).  When the scouting report coming out of college reads, “rocket arm, solid instincts, but petulant” – shouldn’t a million red flags go up.  Do you think the scouts had to look that word up or what?

17.   Al Davis is senile.  Can’t we all agree on this?  I mean the guy is 80 years old going on 800.  He makes draft selections that don’t make sense; he can’t hold onto a coach for more than 1 year and he wears black sweat suits with eyeglasses on a chain.  He is the living breathing incarnation of Mr. Burns from the Simpsons.

18.   Plaxico got 2 years in the clink.  Doesn’t he deserve more?  Not for gun possession or evading the police, but for reaping glory for the Giants victory in Super Bowl 42.  Didn’t Tyree and Manning make that happen?  And Belichick for blitzing 10 guys and putting Ellis Hobbs on an island.  I mean come on – he beat Ellis Hobbs and has been an icon since then.  That deserves two more years in prison if you ask me.

19.   My recent scientific study of the NFL revealed that 95% of the players are on HGH.  This is not really a study but a complete fabricated guess.  Isn’t this the truth of all truths?  The only ones who get caught are the ones that mail it to themselves through the mail.  All Mensa members take one step forward, not so fast Rodney Harrison.  I mean Rodney is going to provide insight to us fans on Sunday Night Football as some sort of football literati.  This is the same guy that got caught cheating by taking HGH.  By mailing it to himself through the mail.  I think I am good on tidbits from this genius.  He’s a fraud.  And a dope.

20.   I hope Tyree gets cut and ends up working for the Post Office delivering HGH packages for current players.  That is the fate that should befall the man who was a pawn in God’s game plan to show the world that cheaters need to pay a price via a karmic intervention of one sort or the other.  I hate Tyree.

 

 

 

10 things you need to know about the New England Patriots in 2009:

 

1.        Instead of peaking from the jump-off, Brady will peak late season and into the playoffs.

At the halfway point of the 2007 season Brady had thrown for 30 touchdowns, a 75.3% completion rate, an average of 303 ypg and a QB rating of 131.8.  The second half slumped comparatively, although it was of a very high caliber when stacked against the rest of the league’s QBs.  Brady will receive very little work during the preseason and instead will focus on ramping up during the year.  Although this will cause some bumps in the road, the end game of peaking at the correct time will be well worth it. 

 

2.       Kevin Faulk has kicked the bucket.

Last year, I viewed a preseason practice at Gillette and thought Kevin Faulk looked slow.  Turns out he proved me wrong and then some, by catching the most passes and having the third most carries of his career.  This year the wear and tear adds up to tear him down.  Do you realize that in his career Kevin Faulk has a comparable amount of "touches" to Brian Westbrook of the Eagles?  Westbrook has had 3 less seasons but a quick look at 2008 for Westbrook shows all of his stats in decline:  yards per carry and yards per reception jump off the page for their declines.  2008 was the year Westbrook broke the 1500 touch mark – what about Faulk?  He should hit that mark about week 6.  Hopefully between Faulk and Fred Taylor – the 3rd down back role will be adequately filled.

 

3.       Kevin O’Connell is really f*cking good, but let’s hope we don’t have to find out.

I read somewhere recently where an analyst likened the Patriots at the QB position to the Denver Broncos at Running Back.  I am not ready to go that far (Terrell Davis, Mike Anderson, Clinton Portis, Olandis Gary, et al), but I will say last year the GENIUS did not bring a ‘proven’ back-up in when Cassel looked like absolute crap during the preseason.  Though the Patriots have sniffed around some veteran QBs – I do not expect them to sign anyone that sticks.  Now god forbid if we have a Bernie Pollard redux, I think, even though it is early in his career, O’Connell is ready.  A cannon arm, great wheels and learning leadership from Brady is a nice package.  Don’t be worried if the unthinkable happens again – they’ll be more than competitive just like in 2008.

 

 

 

4.       Rookie Rich Ohrnberger starts at right guard, Stephen Neal gets cut

One of the rooks is going to see significant PT, and the guess here is the Penn State product wins the battle.  Neal is in the final year of his contract, is turning 33 in October and would save over 2 mil on the books.  This is a crapshoot with the bevy of beauties the Pat’s have along the o-line – but something will move and I am not sure Kaczur (as many are predicting) is the guy.

 

5.       Brandon Meriweather and Patrick Chung are going to be very, very good for a very, very long time.

You can’t teach speed.  These two guys have it in spades.  Both love to hit, they love to knock helmets off.  What’s the best substitute for not having Ed Reed on the Patriot’s roster?  How about having two Ed Reeds?  That is what Chung and Meriweather will be considered in less than three seasons.  Chung starts almost immediately and becomes a fan favorite.  Chung is a psycho, watch for his pushups on the sidelines while waiting for the offense to do their job.  Sometimes you just know about a rookie player, you read things in training camp about the hits he is making or how he is working with the starters from day one or how he impressed the veterans with his work ethic and maturity.  Chung is that guy.  Do you remember how the Pats had to give up a first rounder to get the GENIUS?  At the time I thought Kraft made a colossal mistake.  Someday we will all look back at an aged Mike Vrabel and a system quarterback like Matt Cassel for an unproven commodity like Patrick Chung and smile.

1. Charlie Weis is fired by Notre Dame before Halloween and ends up an Offensive Consultant with the Patriots for the stretch run.

Just like you can’t teach speed, you also can’t teach humility.  Or if you can, Charlie missed that class at ND.  Facing Michigan, USC and BC in the first 6 games spells doom for Charlie.  But the endless search for the spotlight brings him back to New England to concoct plays for his "Tommy," Moss, Welker and Galloway.  Offensive explosion to follow!

 

7.       No Junior, no Vrabel, no Rosie, NO PROBLEM…we hope.

Paris Lenon, Vince Redd, Gary Guyton and Shawn Crable.  You probably have never ever heard of these guys.   By the end of 2009 – two of these guys will be starting for the Patriots at Linebacker and right now I am not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing.  On paper, it sounds bad, but only time will tell.

 

8.       Darius Butler will be a returner extraordinaire.

Butler is the rookie CB from UConn that is quite gifted athletically.  Actually, that is being polite.  He is a FREAK OF NATURE.  About 5 foot 10 and 190 lbs.  His ability to quickly change directions and jump through the gym put him near the top of the 2009 draft class at cornerback.  He played both ways at UConn as a senior and the sky is the limit for him.  I am guessing he will get zero work on offense and small looks on D.  Thus special teams, primarily the return game, are where he will shine.  I believe the ability to focus all his gifts on one part of the game will allow him to excel on both kicks and punts.

 

9.       An improved secondary will allow the pass rush to reemerge; specifically Adalius Thomas will be a beast. 

I think Thomas will get Vrabel’s 2007 role of being able to rush at will when up big in games.  The combination of Shawn Springs, Leigh Bodden, Jonathan Wilhite, Terrence Wheatley, Darius Butler, Patrick Chung and Brandon Meriweather will make Seymour, Warren and Thomas all much better pass rushers.  Expect the defense to be markedly improved when compared to 2008 or even to 2007 for that matter.

 

 

10.   Moss, Welker slow down, tight ends speed up.

The stats for the two Patriot stalwarts will be down from 07 and 08.  Brady will make a concerted effort to spread the ball around as much as possible.  Watson, and newbies Alex Smith and Chris Baker will see a fair share of catches.  Defenses will still have to cover up Moss over the top and Welker underneath.  With Galloway stretching defenses deep on the opposite side, hooks and curls will be wide open underneath.  Brady will eat that up all day.  The Pats keep 4 tight ends and use them all to catch the ball.  This will be a strength for the Patriots, basically living off of the 2007 reputation of Brady to Moss.  And at a NFL single season record of 23 TD connections, justifiably so. 

 

53 days until Gostkowski’s first meaningful kick.  Enjoy the preseason!