Dan Connolly Lives the Wide Man's Dream

Perhaps the greatest big man doing athletic things highlight in the history of the NFL. Jumbo Elliot has to be impressed. The Packers decision to squib it before the half turned the tide of the game, perhaps because Connolly's rumbling put the Earth temporarily off it's axis. It has been comfirmed that this is the longest kick return by a large man in the history of the NFL at 71 yards. Amazing that this return happened on the same day as Desean Jackson's throat rip of the Giants, which was so amazing it even made Joe Buck break monotone.

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Blowout Win Says a Lot, but not Everything

I enjoyed the epic 45-3 beatdown the Patriots gave the Jets last night as much as anyone. For the past week I have heard all the media hype and all the analysts up here discuss why the Jets are the better team and even if they did not win, they would keep it close. With an extra three days to prepare given to both teams, New England sliced and diced the Jets defense. On the other side of the ball, the sometimes porous Patriot defense instituted the "bend but don't break" philosophy that Belichick seemingly has crafted to perfection. Rex Ryan looked lost for words on the sideline, which isn't easy. Mark Sanchez was completely out of his element (Donny) and soon turned to jawing with receivers and throwing blindly into coverage.

It was a total immasculation. However, it is not the end of the season. For either team. The Pats now have the leg up on the division but still 4 games left. No game in the NFL is a easy one but they are at the Bears, home against Green Bay, at Buffalo, and then hosting Miami. The Jets host Miami, then are at Pittsburgh, at Chicago, and then finish with Buffalo. A lot could happen within those four games.

The sentiment today is going to be that Brady is flawless and the Pats are the clear best team in the AFC but one humiliation doesn't make a season. Nothing is secured right now and although it appears the Patriots realize that, they better perform like it if they want to get homefield. Still, it is pretty nice. These Pats seem to be a hybrid of 2004 and 2007 and they finally realized that variety on offense is the only way to succeed. Last year and early this season they seemed resigned to what Randy Moss was going to give them and crafted the offense arround that. Getting Branch back and replacing Laurence Maroney with BenJarvis Green-Ellis has made a tremendous difference. With Logan Mankins back on the offensive line they are giving Brady enough time even if allowing a sack on occasion.

The Patriots will never be back in 2007 form, but they have proven to still be in the upper echelon of the league for a decade. There is a lot of football to be played but at least for today they can earn a tip of the cap (or in Donald Trump's case, a flop of the hair).

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Patriots Prove Einstein's Theory on Insanity

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

Einstein

One year ago, I had just moved up to New York and was crashing on my brother's couch while I looked for a place to live. On a Sunday night I headed out to a bar by myself to watch the Patriots and Colts play the Sunday night game. The Patriots jumped up to a 4th quarter 17 point lead and I left the bar and went home. On my brothers couch I prepared to watch the final seconds dwindle away. However, after a Maroney fumble and some conservative playcalling the Colts were right back in it. Bill Belichick was forced to go for it on 4th and 2 in his own territory. [Side note: I still maintain Faulk got that first down but there was no way the ref would have the onions to overturn it. Seriously, look at where Faulk's body is when he controls the ball after the bobble. Only his left leg is behind the 30.]

The Patriots did not keep attacking and that is what led to their downfall. As I sat there watching the game yesterday, I could not believe they were making the same mistake twice. Listen, I am a huge Tom Brady fan and he may be my favorite QB of all time but no one can run an offense like Peyton. In a game against the Colts, typically you have a certain number of Colts offensive possessions to implement your gameplan. After a certain point of no return (like the old mill in Back to the Future III) there is nothing you can do. Peyton will systematically break your defense into mush. That is when your defense has been as porous as the Pats has this year.

After the Patriots went up 17 they shut it down. They went to umbrella corporation mode and when you do that Peyton needs only a minute or two to score. The Colts had to bring in a no-name CB to play press coverage on Deoin Branch on 3rd down after the first TD of the 4th. He decided to manhandle Branch and got away with it. The refs were calling it light all game. Colts get the ball back and again drive right down the field and score. Now we get to the same position we were in last year. This year however, the Colts are decimated by injuries. Aside from Freeney and Mathis they are a patchwork defense. All the Patriots had to do was drive it down the field like they had been doing and they could have ended the game. They ran on first down, no problem there. They actually picked up a first down on the run. But then they ran it two more times with Indy stacking the box. A quick screen, a quick slant, a quick out, a pass to one of the TEs in the seem, anything would have gotten them down the field.

Indy had all 3 timeouts. Why are you playing kill the clock with over 3:00 left when number 18 has just shown you he needs less than two minutes to score? The Pats were left with 3rd and 9 and Brady almost threw a pick. At this point, I was hoping just to hold the Colts to a FG. Peyton picked on poor Pat Chung who had a horrible game in coverage. Down the field they went. Less than a minute left. Pats attempting to waste clock meant they would be left with no time themselves. Somehow, New England got a reprieve. Tully Banta-Cain's pressure forced an off throw and Garcon and Tamme running their routes too close together meant Sanders was close enough to intercept the pass.

This wasn't Terry Porter making the right read and stepping in front of Wayne in the Super Bowl. This was Sanders being in the right place at the right time when Peyton's throw was altered. The Colts might have gone for the home run a little early. The Patriots' defense has been bad this year, but they are young and Belichick has instituted the bend but don't break philosophy. When the Patriots have had a lead, that has changed into just try not to give up the big play. That has led to giving up big plays and points. It happened against the Jets, the Chargers and the Colts. They were fortunate to win two of those games.

I hope this philosophy changes when the playoffs get here because taking your foot off the gas is not a solid strategy. Killing the clock when your defense lets the offense score quickly is not going to work. The Pats escaped this time and have an inside track to home-field advantage. It would behoove them to learn from this game.

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Why YOU Mad?

Tom Brady drew the attention of a lot of people this week because of his comments on Patriot fans leaving the game early during their week 1 win over Cincinnati. My question is why? Who would get upset over his disappointment in fans leaving early? Some have questioned Tom's motivation for calling out his own fans and even giving the slightest hint that another team's fans would be superior to his own. Brady said that the Jets fans would not pick up and leave if the game was secured. Now if you look at the video you can see Brady has a half smirk on his face while delivering this thought to reporters. While many will see this as Tom being an arrogant, smug bastard (and they may be right) I take a different point of view.

Brady had been on a meteoric rise from 2001 to 2005. He won titles, dated hot famous women, and did horrible Stetson cologne ads. Do money and fame change who you are as a person? That may be too philosophical a debate to settle on a sports blog that has four readers. Perhaps they enhance negative characteristics, or maybe they don't change the person at all, they were just selfish and greedy (read: people) to begin with. There are those that think Brady has changed and every comment he makes while eliciting an emotion is him being a prick and acting as if he is too self-important to judged by normal men.

My opinion is this: Brady lost faith in people somewhere along the way. I can't pinpoint the date and time but I think it was around the time that TMZ video of Tom came out with the "errand boy" chant. Then the Boston media, one of the more disgusting examples of bitter journalism with the absence of integrity, writes crap like this and you wonder why Tom is not all warm and fuzzy with the media. Ever since he won 3 of 4 Super Bowls nothing will be good enough for the media machine who only became more emboldened after the Celtics and Red Sox took titles of their own. Now winning a title is the only true outcome for a season and if it fails, the retribution ranges from harsh to ridiculous. The media wants Brady to be the golden boy while they run to their keyboards and slam him for who his wife is, what he does in the offseason, and his haircut.

The New England fans have been equally two-faced. Perhaps they forgot just how hard it is to win a Super Bowl. Lions, Browns, Falcons, Chargers, Vikings, Bills, Bengals, Eagles, Titans, Seahawks, Panthers, and Cardinals fans could let them know. The sense of entitlement has seeped into the entire fanbase. Fans are quick to just point to the "rrrrrrrrrings" argument instead of making salient points about the team. Robert Kraft deserves credit for building a great stadium and turning the Patriots into a brand, but something is missing in the stands now. The most spirited fans are choosing to stay home. Why deal with traffic, parking, concessions and high ticket prices when you can catch the game from all the angles at home? That leaves the stands mostly filled with people that are there to be catered to, entertained as they clap from their seats. Living and dying with each play and watching all the way through the 4th quarter to fully gain perspective on how good the team will be this season was not on the menu for a lot of them. They just wanted to go home. That's fine and that is their right, but don't be upset when the quarterback calls you out for it. Definitely don't try to profess your infinite fandom later in the season or during playoff time.

That was Tom's point and that's why it made sense and that is why people got offended. No one likes to be called out. Everyone else piling on this are just Brady-haters of which there are a lot and I don't blame them. Celebrating like a viable clean energy solution had been discovered when Brady had his knee injury is going a little too far but I understand why people don't like him. There is a lot of not like about the guy if he doesn't play for your team. I believe Brady says these things now not because he has become a different person but because he sees the hypocrisy out there and enjoys calling people on it. He may do it because of his high self-confidence (arrogance if you like) but he knows it will push people's buttons and he does not care about backlash. He got backlash when he was on his best behavior with the media, when he tried to keep his private life private. Tom realized haters were gonna hate, and he might as well keep them hatin'.

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Super Bowl Countdown #3: Super Bowl XXXVIII

During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.

Sometimes the greatest contest come from great forces that are unknown. The Carolina Panthers are one of the least known entities in the NFL. People know they exist, but most of their knowledge comes from a stray highlight or what someone in the media blurbed about them. The Panthers have only been in existence for 15 years, but in that time they have reached the NFC Championship Game 3 times and the Super Bowl once. The Patriots entered the game winners of 14 straight and were now seen as the rising power in the NFL. Thus they were favored by a touchdown. Yet, on the biggest stage and for a brief moment in time the country knew the kind of heart, passion and drive the Panthers had. They fell short, but along with New England gave football one of it's most frantic, best Super Bowls ever. The Heater in Houston is at #3.

New England Patriots 32, Carolina Panthers 29

Semi-Lame Nickname: "Raise the Retractable Roof"

Scores:
Historical Significance- 4.5: While the Patriots were going for 2 in three years, the Panthers were 1-15 just two years ago. Their paths had crossed that year, in Charlotte. I got tickets from a friend and went to Bank of America Stadium(Then Ericsson Stadium). The Patriots were a surprise team with Brady as their QB. The Panthers put forth one of the worst performances I had ever seen. Chris Weinke could not throw the ball to save his life. Carolina won 38-6 and it led to the firing of George Seifert and the hiring of John Fox. Just two years later the Panthers were in the Super Bowl.

Game Enjoyment By the Fans- 5: The game was expected to be a defensive battle throughout. Early in the game neither team could score(first points came 26:55 into the game) and that included a missed and blocked field goal from Pats kicker Adam Vinatieri. The Patriots forced a fumble from Jake Delhomme and turned it into the first points of the game. That strike to Branch seemed to ignite the offensive weapons for both sides. The Panthers awoke all of a sudden and marched down the field for a TD to Steve Smith. The Patriots bounced it right back with a TD 89 seconds later. A botched squib kick and a big run by Stephen Davis set up a 51 yard field goal from John Kasay. 24 points in the final 3 minutes and 5 seconds in the half.

The third quarter reverted back to the defensive battle with each team going scoreless. The teams exploded in the 4th for 37 points in a back and forth battle that came down to the wire.

High Profile Element-4.5: The Patriots had suffered some Super hangover in 2002 as they went 9-7 and lost on a tiebreaker for the playoffs. The two key additions to the Patriots that season were safety Rodney Harrison and big nose tackle Ted Washington. With the development of Brady and Belichick building the defense to where he wanted it, the Patriots ran the table the last 12 games of the regular season. Their final regular season game was a 31-0 win over the Bills, who had beaten them 31-0 in week 1.

The Panthers earned the nickname the "Cardiac Cats" in 2003. Jake Delhomme was not the turnover machine he was now when this season began. He was backing up Rodney Peete when the Panthers went down 17-0. Delhomme got subbed in and lead the Panthers to a 24-23 win. The Panthers went 11-5 and beat the Cowboys in the wild card round. They then defeated the Rams 29-23 in double overtime on a 69-yard touchdown. Carolina next went on the road to Philly and beat the Eagles 14-3. The Panthers gameplan was the same as it is today under Fox, run the football to set up play action and play hard-nosed defense. The Panthers also had Rod Smart as a special teamer, you may remember him as "He Hate Me" from the glorious XFL.

Venue/Atmosphere- 4.5: Reliant Stadium was the first retractable roof stadium to host the game. Beyonce sang the national anthem, yes sir. The halftime show became what people remember; Janet Jackson had her nipple exposed by Justin Timberlake. I assure you greater tragedies in life have happened. It erupted a huge controversy which led to the country wasting huge amounts of time and money on saying it was bad. You here that America, NIPPLES ARE BAD!


Personal Enjoyment- 5: This was my favorite Super Bowl. The Panthers are my 1-A team. I was a Pats fan before the Panthers existed, but I lived in Charlotte when Carolina came about. I root for them in every situation, except one: when they play the Patriots.



Cleet's Rating Index: 24

Where I Was: Some people graduate college and move straight to the desk job. I was fortunate enough to take a coaching job in Miami that allowed me to be on the water everyday and enjoy a little time to be a semi-bum. I went to a friend's house to watch the game on his big screen. It was great food, great drinks and a great game.

What Happened in the World: Two days after the game the CIA admitted there was no imminent threat from weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

Record of Note: The 37 points in the 4th quarter were the most ever in any quarter in Super Bowl history.

Game MVP: Tom Brady set the record for completions with 32. He also had 354 yards passing with 3 TDs and 1 pick.

LVP: Anyone that says the kickoff out of bounds by John Kasay cost the Panthers the game. It certainly did not help to give the Patriots good field position, but the Patriots also got hit with an offensive pass interference penalty on the drive that set them back. The Patriots still had to drive the field and Vinatieri still had to make the kick.

Most Memorable Play: A moment that always sticks out for me was after Delhomme threw the record 85-yard TD pass to Muhammad. On his way back to the bench Rodney Harrison bumped into Jake. Delhomme went fiery Cajun on Harrison spouting some talk, I always love seeing that.

NFL Fallout: The Patriots would continue their run the next season, while the Panthers faltered. The Panthers did make it back to the NFC Championship game in 2005 but lost to Seattle. Delhomme led them to playoffs again last year but this season battled an injury and giving the other team the ball all the time. Matt Moore took over and lead the team to late season success. It appears Moore has ended the Delhomme era in Carolina.

90 not pictured

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Super Bowl Countdown #5: XXXVI

During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.

In a miraculous, improbable, and all together insane season, the Patriots pulled off an upset that only the Jets in '69 and the Giants in '08 against the Pats themselves would equal. As 14 point underdogs, not many were giving a team with a team full of no-names with a first-year QB a chance against the league's MVP at quarterback and the "Greatest Show on Turf". That's why they playing and that's when it was the time for a New Era Born in New Orleans.

New England Patriots 20, St. Louis Rams 17

Semi-Lame Nickname: "Patriot's Day"

Scores:
Historical Significance- 4: There had not been an underdog of New England's stature to pull the upset in the modern era. The Rams were striving to become known as one of the elite teams in league history. The offense is considered by many as among the best of all time, and they had improved on defense, which had cost them an early playoff exit the year before.

Game Enjoyment By the Fans- 5: Months after the attacks of 9/11, sports became an outlet for the country to enjoy common bonds of life. The World Series of November had been spectacular, so too was the Super Bowl.

High Profile Element-4: The Rams offense was well known by this point. Warner, Faulk, Bruce, Holt. The defense was led on the line by Leonard Little(get off the road) and Grant Wistrom. London Fletcher led the way on at linebacker and Aeneas Williams, Dexter McClendon, and Dre Bly were a formidable secondary.

The Patriots season and history was forever changed on September 23, 2001. Jets linebacker Mo Lewis sheered a blood vessel in Drew Bledsoe's chest, leading the Pats to turn to their backup Tom Brady, a 6th round draft pick in 2000. Brady lost that game to New York, but he lead them to a divisional title. In the playoffs, the Patriots tucked their way passed the Raiders in the Snow Bowl(by the rules, pick up a rulebook Al Davis!) and then beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh. In that AFC Championship game, Brady went down with an ankle injury and Drew Bledsoe came in and led the Patriots to victory. While Brady got to play in the Super Bowl, Bledsoe will always have that piece of the championship.

Venue/Atmosphere- 5: Since 9/11 many different feeling,thoughts, and reflections have been made. The country was still as united as it has or had been for those few months. It made for quite a scene in the pre-game ceremonies. Mariah Carey sang the anthem and U2 performed at halftime. This was also the last game that Pat Summerall and John Madden announced together.

Personal Enjoyment- 5: The Patriots came out with a gameplan that was not forged in any secret video tape. The Patriots had played and lost to the Rams during the regular season which provided a firsthand for Bill Belichick. With his gameplan for Super Bowl 25 in the Hall of Fame, Belichick would again have to develop a tactic to slow down the league's most prolific offense. While many tried to stop the Rams with pressure on Kurt Warner, Belichick provided many DBs, sometimes up to 7, on the field to stop the Rams. He keyed in on hitting their speedy players hard and often. The plan worked until the 4th quarter when the Rams caught fire, but by then they only need one drive to win the game and Brady gave it to them.

Cleet's Rating Index: 23

Where I Was: I went to an apartment belonging to a few of my teammates to watch the game. Everyone treated it as a party, but for me and my fellow Patriot fan roommate, it was serious business. We parked ourselves in front of the TV and did not move until the game was over.

What Happened in the World: Sixteen days after the game NASA's Odyssey probe began mapping the surface of Mars. It eventually found 7 Wal-Marts.

Record of Note: Adam Vinatieri's FG to win the game was the first time the game was won by a score on the final play.



Game MVP: Tom Brady had game manager numbers as MVP(145 pass yards, 1 TD, no picks, and a game winning drive), but it got the job done in what was essentially his rookie year at QB.

LVP: Rams' turnover margin. Warner threw two picks and the Rams lost a fumble. The Patriots converted those picks into 17 points.

Most Memorable Play: This occurred before the game. Before this game, teams introduced their offensive or defensive starters as the game started. When the league asked Belichick which side of the ball he wanted announced, he said he wanted the whole team announced as one. At first the league refused, but eventually relented when Belichick would not budge. The Rams were the visitors and were announced their offense first. Then Pat Summerall, who was doing the public address announcing, stated, "And now ladies and gentlemen, choosing to be announced as a team the American Football Conference Champions, the New England Patriots." You can see the video here, with the Pats intro at 4:45.

NFL Fallout: The two franchises drifted in opposite directions; the Rams replaced Warner and the pieces dropped off while the Patriots began their rise to the top of the NFL throughout the decade.

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Super Bowl Countdown #8: Super Bowl XLII

During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.

It is time to take my medicine. This Super Bowl was the worst I have ever had to endure. While I can say that I live a blessed life when I can say that this February day was one of the worst I have ever seen, it just plain sucked to be a Pats fan for a long time after this game. I understand the incredible joy and release other fans had for this game but it was Super Bowl I would like to forget although I never will. As a disclaimer, this will not be a Simmons type of post where I complain about officiating or blame the loss on extraneous factors. The Giants deserve the win and it belongs to them. The Phoenix Pounding out of Perfection is next.


New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14

Semi-Lame Nickname: "Who Wants It More?"

Scores:
Historical Significance- 5: While the biggest focus was on the Patriots trying to become the first team to go 19-0, the Giants had history oftheir own right. This was the Giants' 4th Super Bowl, all with a different QB and they became the first NFC Wild Card team to win the Super Bowl, winning each playoff game on the road. The Patriots completed the first ever 16-0 regular season. The team was mired in controversy after the Jets complained to the league about the videotaping on the field of a Patriots assistant in week 2. After that the Patriots made their mission to go Cobra Kai on the league, showing no mercy as they won every game en route to the playoffs. The two teams played each other in the final week of the season, with the Pats escaping 38-35 as Brady and Moss broke the record for TDs at their respective positions on the clinching TD.

Game Enjoyment By the Fans- 5: All fans united against the Patriots, it was like nothing the league had ever seen. After the Spygate business and the arrogance of the Pats, fans were fervent in hoping for someone to stop their march to perfection. The story came to dominate the NFL during the season. When the Patriots failed to win the Super Bowl, it was more than the '72 Dolphins rejoicing, it was a legion of fans realizing they never had to deal with Patriot fans using this season to attempt to trump any sports argument from now until eternity.

High Profile Element-4.5: The Patriots had lost the 2006 AFC Championship to the Colts, largely because Tom Brady had receivers make critical errors on key plays. The bug-eyed drops that prevented them from clinching that game so the Patriots dealt a 24th round pick for Randy Moss(LOL Al Davis) and 2nd and 7th round pick for Wes Welker. The addition of Dante Stallworth as a 3rd receiver and Adalius Thomas at linebacker finished the best personnel the Patriots had produced. Early on in the season New England was in the zone; they beat the Chargers at home, Dallas and Indy on the road and blew out weaker opponents. Toward the end of the season the Patriots had to hold on in games against the Eagles, Ravens, and Giants but still prevailed. They ultimately failed but when you take a step back the team was incredible:



The Giants on the other hand began the season in turmoil, losing their first two games. Eli Manning's leadership came into question, but the Giants were able to bounce back and win 10 games. After dispatching Tampa in the Wild Card round, they upset Dallas and Green Bay in overtime. The strength of the team was in their defensive line, with Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora, and Justin Tuck.

Venue/Atmosphere- 5: The scene at the Super Bowl was crazy. Both teams had fans that travel well and the element of the undefeated season provided extra excitement. Glendale provided a great backdrop and stadium for the event. Even Joe Buck seemed a little excited for the game. Jordan Sparks performed the national anthem. Tom Petty sang the halftime show. At this point the game was 7-3 so there was much left in doubt. Musical taste is extremely personal in taste but I will say I am a huge Tom Petty fan so I thought the choice was a huge home run.

Personal Enjoyment- 2: It was pretty hard for me not to put a "1" in the column for this game. It goes without saying that I did not enjoy this game, but the historic nature of it allowed me to (sort of) put it in perspective.

Cleet's Rating Index: 21.5

Where I Was: I was in my final semester of grad school when this game took place. I was toughing it out by living at home and working the graveyard shift stocking shelves at the local store to pay my bills. I had to work the night of the Super Bowl and it took near begging to let him allow me to come into work an hour late so I could watch the full game. I made a deal that I would stay later into the morning.


My parents came into the room to watch the 2nd half while I paced the floor after the Giants took a 10-7 lead. When Brady went to Moss with 2:42 left I thought it was in the bag, but it was not to be. On the play when Manning hit Burress for the winning TD my Mom saw the play unfold before the pass even came close to Plaxico. She saw Plaxico had Hobbs beat and screamed out "Oh no!" That was the worst night of work I ever had. Aside from being in a bad mood, the store was in a mess and the trucks had not been unloaded properly so I was there until after 8 am. I had plenty of time to relive the game instantly in my mind.

What Happened in the World: A day after the game Iran launched a rocket into space after it opened its first space center. I'm a believer making your country economically feasible before you try to enter space but maybe that's just me.

Record of Note: The 3 lead changes in the 4th quarter were a Super Bowl record which brought the excitement to an otherwise dull, sloppy, defensive battle.

Game MVP: Eli Manning's two 4th quarter touchdowns earned him the MVP. For all the scrutiny that was piled on ELi throughout the year, he played lights out in the playoffs that year.

Most Memorable Play: No quips, no comments, no complaining of holding or dissertation on lucky catches, this play will be replayed even after I am long gone.



NFL Fallout: After a wedding Catfish and I attended for our friend K-man this past summer we went to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. In the modern wing of the building they had an area set-up with this Super Bowl on replay. I will never escape this game, because it was a great Super Bowl and provides a chance for people to always throw out the 18-1 tag and there is nothing I can do. It is what it is. The Patriots were a great team, the team of the decade, but when it was their time to make history, they failed.

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Super Bowl Countdown #11: Super Bowl XXIX

During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.

A trip back to the good old days, or the unbearable days depending on where you allegiance lies. Jacksonville got its first Super Bowl bid to tepid reviews. The Eagles had finally taken the step of winning the NFC Championship games after 3 tries. The Patriots captured their 3rd title in 4 years while Philly was left with the bro-drama between McNabb and TO. Joy in Jacksonville is next.

New England Patriots 24, Philadelphia Eagles 21

Semi-Lame Nickname: "Building Bridges"

Scores:

Historical Significance- 4: By this time the Patriots image had flipped on its side. A gritty once in a while team in the 80s and 90s, the Patriots were now on the mountain top. Add to the fact that the Red Sox had just won their first World Series in 86 years and the hate pointed toward the northeast corner of the nation. The Patriots were smoking though, they won 21 straight games going back to the previous season until they fell to the Steelers on Halloween.

The Eagles fans went crazy for this game. Remember this was before the Phillies won the World Series so the city was starved for a Championship. There were stories of people taking out extra mortgages on their house just to make the trek down to Florida. I'm sure in hindsight that was a bad move considering what happened to the housing market. McNabb and Reid were in the 5th year of their regime and with the late Jim Johnson heading the defense, they were a dominant force in the NFC.

Game Enjoyment By the Fans- 4: The game was competitive throughout, although the Eagles ran out of gas toward the end, they had the ball with :46 left down 3. It is interesting that many don't consider the Super Bowl an all-timer, mostly because of how the Eagles carried themselves in the 4th quarter and the McNabb/TO aftermath. It was rumored that McNabb was spewing chunks instead of running the no huddle but here is his explanation:




High Profile Element-4: This Patriots team did not go undefeated in the regular season, they went 14-2 but this team was more consistently great throughout than the 18-1 Pats of 2007 and of course they won the title. Brady had fully come into his own. The receivers were not has sparkly as the Moss/Welker combo, but with Deion Branch hurt David Givens, Troy Brown and David Patten stepped up and were led by Brady into success. The biggest addition was Corey Dillon though. For the first time the Patriots had a great rushing attack. Dillon went for a team record 1,635 yards.

The defense was more of a patchwork collection of backups that Belichick turned into a viable defense. Ty Law and Tyrone Poole went down at cornerback during the regular season, luckily the Patriots had drafted Asante Samuel the year before. But with Eugene Wilson and Randall Gay also getting hurt the Patriots turned to Troy Brown to play cornerback, where he had 3 picks. Rodney Harrison was able to make it through the season unscathed and provided a great backstop. The Patriots were stronger at linebacker with Bruschi, Vrabel, McGinest, and Ted Johnson. Up front Richard Seymour and rookie Vince Wilfork presented problems for opposing lines.

The Eagles had a good defense themselves that was built on pressure. Lito Sheppard, Brian Dawkins and Michael Lewis led one of the best defensive backfields in the league. Their line featured Corey Simon, Jevon Kearse, and Derrick Burgess. It is interesting that some of these names don't seem that great in today's NFL, but 5 years ago they were in their prime.

TO arrived at Philadelphia through an interesting process. Originally San Francisco made a trade with Baltimore to get TO but Owens contested that San Fran no longer held his rights. In the end he was allowed to join the Eagles and had a great season but fractured his fibula against the Cowboys in December and was out for the playoffs. Thanks to modern medicine and a hyperbaric chamber Owens was able to play even with the screws in his leg. Mcnabb had an outstanding season with 31 TDs and only 8 INTs(first QB to throw over 30 and under 10) and led the Eagles to Jacksonville without TO in the playoffs. Brian Westbrook was the leader out of the backfield.

Venue/Atmosphere- 3.5: There were a lot of dissenters about how Jacksonville handled its hosting. There were complaints about the traffic, the crowding, lack of nightlife, and use of cruise ships as hotels. The weather was also colder(59 degrees) than some were used to.

Alicia Keys sang 'America the Beautiful' in a tribute to Ray Charles and the combined choirs of the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy sang the anthem. Awesome.

The halftime show was Paul McCartney in a very toned down performance, the reason was that the prior year Janet Jackson had her nipple displayed by Justin Timberlake so the NFL wanted a can't-miss show. Old guy strumming guitar fit the bill, but if you are going to go with an old guy a Beatle is a good choice.

Personal Enjoyment- 4.5: You may be asking why I would not put a 5 for a game in which my own team won the title, I will explain below. The Pats winning was awesome though.

Cleet Ratings Index: 20

Where I Was: Where did my .5 deduction come from? My ex-girlfriend had invited me up to visit her. She was living in Tampa and I was in Miami. She was in her first year of medical school and spent the game studying while I watched the game on low volume while she sat at her desk studying. You ever been in a relationship that was over yet you were still in it? Yeah it sucks and I was stuck while I should have been going crazy(drunkenly) at my team becoming a dynasty, I was wallowing in self-pity and emasculation. MINUS A HALF A POINT OF ENJOYMENT!!

What Happened in the World: Four days after the game North Korea announced it had nuclear weapons as protection against the US. You think those nukes will save you? We have a lot more than you do commies.

Record of Note: Deion Branch recorded the most catches by a receiver in consecutive Super Bowls with 21. Too bad his head swelled to crazy proportions and he held out from the Patriots and refused a new contract to join the Seahawks in 2006. How did that work out for him? Exactly.

Game MVP: Branch won the MVP through tying Jerry Rice with 11 receptions and gaining 133 yards. He was the third player to win the MVP without scoring a TD.

LVP: Freddie Mitchell. Freddie decided to run his mouth before the game, and then went on to catch one ball for eleven yards. He was not done though, after the game was over he claimed the Eagles would have won if onlythey had found a way to get the ball to Mitchell more.

Most Memorable Play: This actually occurred before the game for me. Tedi Bruschi, who would later that year fall ill with a stroke, was filmed before the game playing with his kids on the field.

NFL Fallout: Owens would go on to famously criticize McNabb for his fatigue in the Super Bowl and would not even finish the next year in Philly. He would move onto the Dallas where at first he showed more love for his quarterback than he did with McNabb, but was still shown the door. The Eagles have pressed on with the McNabb/Reid era, and while they have not made it back to the Super Bowl, they have made the playoffs consistently which is not good enough for Philly fans as we all know.

The Patriots won their last title. After the game Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel both left as coordinators to take head coaching jobs, neither which worked out and resulted in their hiring in Kansas City this offseason. The Pats had the great run in 2007 and made the playoffs in other years but never finished the season like they did this year. It was the last time the Patriots were on top at the end.

Invisible hammer of victory!

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Super Bowl Countdown #15: Super Bowl XXXI

During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.

Brett Favre is like a kid out there. NO, he really was a kid out there for Super Bowl 30. A young, spry, braces-wearing lad of 27 was number 4 in New Orleans. Is it fitting that Favre lost what may have been his last game(or was it?) in the same building where he had his one most shining moment? Maybe it was just a coincidence. But this game was not all about Favre(thankfully), it was more about the Packers using a bronze statue toting speedster to put the game out of reach and adding a 12th title to Titletown. The Patriots were the Patriots before they were the Patriots and this game set in motion the very wheels that would churn out the Pats as we know them today. Green Bay and his Favre-ness Sanctifying the Superdome after the break.

Green Bay Packers 35, New England Patriots 21

Semi-Lame Nickname: "Return to Glory"

Scores:
Historical Significance- 4: Say what you will about Green Bay, but the fact that the community has ownership of the team and has been able to hang onto the franchise while the sport rose to the most popular in the country is impressive. It had been a long time since the Packers were on the precipice of title. The Patriots storyline with Parcells as I mentioned above had a profound effect on the league that still remains today.

Game Enjoyment by the Fans- 4: Looking back people are quick to say that this game was not close because of the double-digit margin of victory and that the Pats never led after the first quarter, but the game was not settled until later in the 2nd half. It was a good game with lots of big plays and fireworks on both sides of the ball.

High Profile Element- 4: Darn, Favre is inescapable, but there were other great players on this Packer team. Mike Holmgren led the team as a Bill Walsh disciple. He took over the team in '92 and had them improving and the playoffs after one year. They had a three-headed monster in the backfield with Levens, Bennett, and Henderson. Pro Bowl Center Frank Winters and guard Adam Timmerman anchored the line. In the receiving game, Antonio Freeman was Favre's number one target; also present was Andre "Bad Moon" Rison(one of the few Berman nicknames that holds up, unlike his house when Left Eye got a hold of it[too soon? RIP]) and Don Beebe who had suffered through 4 Super Bowl losses with the Bills. There was a dual threat at tight-end with Keith Jackson(whoa Nelly) and Mark Chmura before he threw a post-prom bash. The defense was beefy up front with Santana Dotson and the Minister Reggie White. Wouldn't you know Eugene Robinson was in the defensive backfield. No word on if he blew off steam before the big game like he attempted to two years later.

The Patriots were more of a Cinderella team this year. Drew Bledsoe at this time was a young gunner in the league. Not many could match him for his ability to throw the ball down the field. His choice target was a rookie by the name of Terry Glenn. Oh Terry Glen. She was the subject of much dispute in New England. She was not the choice that Parcells wanted to pick that year in the draft which led in part to the friction between Parcells and owner Robert Kraft. The defensive coordinator brought in for the 1996 season, Bill Belichick was known to be the go between for Parcells and Kraft's front office. But I digress, Ben Coates had 62 catches in 1996! The big key to the Patriots offense was the ability of Curtis Martin. Not only did Martin gain big yardage on the ground(1,152 yards), but he helped set up the play-action for the New England offense. On defense, rookie Teddy Bruschi was part of an aggressive linebacking group led by Willie McGinest. The defensive backfield featured the legal firm of Ty Law, Laywer Milloy and Big Play Willie Clay.

Venue/Atmosphere- 4: This Super Bowl was first to be played on the Fox Network marking the start of a new era on how football was presented to the masses, for better of worse. The intro to the game, while a tad cheesy, was not too bad considering Joe Namath appears to be sober and Fox apparently did not yet have the technology to construct an annoying, ridiculous black and yellow robot that can play the guitar and hit a baseball.



Luther Vandross sang the national anthem, RIP big fella(this is still my favorite Vandross moment). James Brown(RIP crazy fella), ZZ Top, and the Blues Brothers performed at halftime. Call me a purist but the Blues Brothers without John Belushi is not the real Blues Brothers. It is like the David Lee Roth Van Halen people, just never the same energy. I do not like a single piece of work James Belushi is in, except for Mr. Destiny. That movie was the bomb, hard to beat Rene Russo in her prime.


Personal Enjoyment- 2: Watching your team lose is never fun, but this was when the Pats were lovable upstarts. They were 14 point underdogs for a reason. Still, hope was sprung eternal when New England took a 14-10 lead. Just getting there is never good enough, no matter if people thought you would not be there in the first place.

Cleet's Rating Index: 18

Where I Was: Living in North Carolina, wearing my puffy blue Patriots jacket all that winter in High School I was labeled as a bandwagon fan. Considering I had the jacket since the beginning of winter in December/January when the Pats were far from a favorite to get to the game I thought this amusing. I had only been a Patriots fan for a few years though. As I had said I was a Joe Montana fan when I was a small kid. Once the Montana era ended in San Francisco I was left searching for NFL team affiliation. I returned to the area of my parents youth, New York. I was, am, and always will be a Mets fan but I failed to grasp onto the New Jersey York teams. I ventured next to the place of my birth and where I lived until I was in the first grade, Connecticut. Since it was in the New England area and the Patriots had new, snazzy(at the time) jerseys I latched onto the team. There were not winning at the time, but like I said I am a Mets fan so I had grown accustomed to my team failing by the early 90s. Little did I know that a few years later the Patriots became what they are now. I always tell people that I went from getting laughed at to spat at for being a Pats fan.

What Happened in the World: Six days earlier Bill Clinton was inaugurated to his second term. I bet he had a cigar in celebration.

Record of Note: The win extended the Packers record for NFL Championships to 12, but according to ESPN, Valdosta, Georgia is titletown, USA.

Game MVP: Desmond Howard came out of nowhere. He was picked up by the Packers after a few unspectacular seasons with the Redskins and he was picked up in the expansion draft by the Jaguars for a season. Howard set records for total return yards and combined return yards with 244. Interestingly many people do not remember him as Super Bowl MVP, but remember this instead,


LVP: Hard to pick one, but I'll go with whoever decided to put Los Del Rio in the pregame ceremony to perform Macarena.

Most Memorable Play: After the Patriots cut the lead to 7 in the 3rd quarter, but following a Curtis Martin 18 yard TD Howard returned the kickoff 99 yards to the house which put the game out of reach.



What a kid out there, removing his helmet and running to the sideline like a complete jackass after a first quarter TD pass.

NFL Fallout: Favre got his title. He said this after the game: "Thirty years from now, the kids will be getting ready for Super Bowl LXI, and NFL Films will drag out Steve Sabol -- he'll be around 102 then—and he'll talk about how Brett Favre fought through such adversity." Yep, he went third-person. The Favre saga is well documented. The Packers and Holmgren went back to the big game the next year but soon Holmgren left but number 4 was always there, until he retired and unretired then was traded and then retired again, was released, unretired, and signed with the Vikings.

The Patriots were left in disarray after the Super Bowl when Parcells did not even travel back with the team. Parcells left for the Jets with Belichick, famously saying that "If they want you to cook the dinner, at least they ought to let you shop for some of the groceries." Pete Carroll took over and went .500 but then left for USC and now Seattle while Parcells took the Jets as far as the AFC Championship game and then retired, saying he would not coach again. He wanted Belichick to take over for him with the Jets but Belichick wanted more player control so he left for the Patriots and the Kraft family(with which he had grown comfortable with) with whom he would win 3 titles. Parcells would eventually take over coaching for the Cowboys but did not ultimately mesh with Jer-ah. Finally Parcells landed in Miami as the president and now I've gone cross-eyed.

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The Patriots Run Of Dominance Is Over...For Now

A day after the New Orleans Saints obliterated the New England Patriots I had a phone conversation with my esteemed colleague Catfish. As a Patriots fan I explained to him that my point-of-view was that the Patriots as we know them are through. Since the beginning of their run in the NFL in 2001 when Moe Lewis changed football life as we know it, the Patriots began a successful run in the league that included 3 Super Bowls, 4 AFC Championship Games, 6 playoff appearances, and a slew of regular season records (some now broken). Like every dynasty the league has seen however, it does not last forever. While many would say that to accomplish these feats in the salary cap era as we know it in football is tremendous, it gives no solace to fans who know things will never be the same in Foxboro. That small sliver of Pats fans in the football world do not compare to the humongous horde that is witnessing the sunset of New England's run with delight and revelry. It is completely understandable, considering the Patriots winning ways, controversial on-field persona and the dour-faced coach whom engineered the campaign. No compassion, no violins will serenade Belichick, Brady, and the Patriots as they leave the top floor of the NFL's elite club. The one ray of hope is that the franchise's ability to adapt, bring in new personnel, and the tread left on Brady's tires may lead to another run at the top.

I began writing this post weeks ago but between the new job and the move it ended up sitting on the shelf, like this blog. However, a discussion with Catfish last night over Spygate has emboldened me. This was meant to be a post after the Saints dismantled the Patriots in a way they have not been since they began their run. This will not be an examination of Spygate, the subject is far too tedious and moreover, everyone has their own version of what happened and how it should blemish Belichick's legacy. I will say that I agree the incident does diminish what the Pats accomplished but I do not take it to the level of some journalists who love to reach for the low-hanging fruit to bash the coach or the degree of vitriol of some fans who want to discount what the team accomplished. Instead let's take a look at some of the factors as to why the Patriots are what they are, a 9-5 team clinging to the division lead.

Subtraction by Subtraction

While Belichick has his hands covered in the dust of the foundation of the franchise as we know it, he also surrounded himself with good people. When Belichick spurned the Jets after Bill Parcells wanted him to become the head man in new York, it was the dawn of the current incarnation. Belichick headed to New England because Robert Kraft gave him complete autonomy to run the team as he saw fit. This was a new chance to break away from the conflict he had in Cleveland and the troubles he saw in the future coaching the Jets. The rest is NFL history but what Bill did that helped sustain that success was surround himself with other great coaches and football minds.

Naturally over time these coaches have moved on to other opportunities. Sufficed to say they have not all turned out especially well. His two key assistants during the Super Bowl run were Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weis. Say what you will about their head coaching stints, but those two coaches helped produce the 3 Super Bowl championships. After Super Bowl 39 the two left to pursue their head coaching spots and that began a movement of the league to snap up young coaches that Belichick was grooming and that were helping to maintain the Patriots success. Eric Mangini and Josh McDaniels were next in line. Mangini left after one season to coach the rival Jets, and we have all seen the fallout from that which includes frosty handshakes and the root of the Spygate controversy. McDaniels left after the 18-1 season to head the Broncos. While McDaniels was never labeled as "offensive coordinator" he was behind the Patriots juggernaut offense which set the record for total points in a season, Brady's passing TD record and Moss's receiving TD record. Now the Patriots have Dean Pees as Defensive Coordinator and Bill O'Brien in McDaniels old position. This is not a condemnation of the current staff but the turnover has played a part in where the Pats stand today.

Another factor is the front office attrition. Despite the fact that Belichick is the de facto GM and always has been, the input of Scott Pioli and others of his ilk also puts the burden more on Bill to find other great football minds and to shoulder more of the responsibility in personnel decisions.

Offensive Firepower Low On Powder

This year the Patriots are averaging 26 points per game, a stat bolstered by the 59 point output against a then-listless Titans team and a 35 point mark against hapless Tampa Bay. The average is up 1 point from last year. I doubt the difference has between Brady and Matt Cassel is 1 point per game. The bottom line is the offense has become predictable. Randy Moss's routs are being jumped by cornerbacks and the deep balls have not been as crisp as they were two years ago. Wes Welker remains the linchpin for the offense by catching 109 balls for 1198 yards. The running game has limped along at 14th in the league and was hindered by Fred Taylor's injury although Lawrence Maroney has been playing better when not fumbling. The formula still works well enough to get the Pats to where they are but when you look at how much they score in wins and losses this year it is 29.6 in wins and 19.6 in losses. At home, where the Pats have been perfect, they are averaging 30.7 whereas their road PPG average falls to 21.4 (bolstered by the 35 points scored against Tampa in London). One of the key aspects to the Patriots dominance this decade was their ability to play consistently great no matter the location.

A key point with their predictiveness is their inability to score in the redzone. They sit currently at 49.1% in Red Zone efficiency. There have been numerous games where the Patriots would have came away with the victory if they had finished off drives like they had in the past. Their first loss of the season to the Jets featured a 0/3 performance in the Red Zone in a game they lost 16-9. In the most crushing loss of the year to Indianapolis 35-34, the Pats were 3/6 in the Red Zone and the Colts were 1/1. Of the 3 failures in the Red Zone by the Patriots, 1 was a fumble by Maroney at the goal line and the other was a pick by Brady.

The other factor that is hurting the Patriots on offense is the offensive line. Tom Brady's success during the decade has been predicated on his ability to sense pressure and slide around in the pocket, but the recent troubles at the line (which I believe started at the tail end of the '07 season, see: Super Bowl 42) have led to Brady getting hit, and hit hard. Certainly injuries are a factor, but as the pressure has been dialed up by defenses, the protection has not entirely answered the call. Brady has been sacked 16 times, but he has gotten hit many more. Add to the equation that Brady is coming off a major knee injury, and his lowering confidence in the line is leading to inaccuracy.

No Game Defense?

One only need look at the fateful 4th and 2 decision by Belichick to observe to state of the New England defense. Catfish, who would do well to get his thoughts even in rambling form quickly on the blog, pointed out weeks ago during our conversations that Belichick knew that his defense was going to be sub-par this year and therefore was prepared for the struggles. If you look at the draft, 4 of the first 7 picks were defensive, including their first 3. Add to that the Seymour trade to obtain even more picks at the expense of Oakland and Belichick is clearly thinking of the future.

With the loss of Bruschi, Harrison, Vrabel, and Seymour the Pats have few left on the defensive side of the ball who have rings. Ty Warren and the anchor, Vince Wilfork hold the line, but both have recently been injured. Belichick knew the young players on defense would need time to adjust to his way of approaching football, so he brought in veterans like Banta-Cain and Shawn Springs. Springs has not panned out and the linebacking core was shaken by Mayo's early injury. Adaleus Thomas was seen as a great pick-up by the Pats a few years ago, but he has been lackluster of late. While Belichick has been willing to let big money players go from the beginning (Lawyer Milloy, Ty Law, Assante Samuel) he has always been confident he can get his new players up to speed. There has been a gap in the pass defense this year though; Bodden, Wilhite, and Butler have looked poor to outright bad at certain times this year. Patrick Chung, the Pats first draft pick of the year, has shown promise but is not there yet.

All this said the Patriots are tied for 3rd in scoring defense and 10th in total defense. But again, the Patriots are not expected just to beat up on medicore teams and their performance has fallen short against the NFL's elite (Indy, New Orleans). Belichick is a great enough coach to get them to win and make the playoffs, but at this point the organization and fans will not accept that as good enough.

Reformation or Decimation

So where do they go from here? While I was in a panic over the result from the Monday Night game, Catfish assured me Belichick is planning for the future. With a bevy of draft picks including 4 in the first 2 rounds in 2010, the Patriots are setting the table for a return to the league's highest echelon. Another year to coach up the young defense and to patch up the offensive line would certainly cure many of their ills.

Offensively, the opportunity I perceive is the chance to get Charlie Weis back to playcalling. The ripping he has gotten over the Notre Dame situation is mostly deserved but the man knows offensive football. He took a no-name QB named Brady and a core of receivers that consisted of Troy Brown, David Patten, David Givens, and Deon Branch and won three titles. This past year at ND he guided Jimmy Clausen and stud receivers Michael Floyd and Golden Tate to big seasons, the team just could not play defense. He has maintained a close relationship with Brady and with how much Tom has matured over 5 years since they working on the same team, I think it would put the offense back into the unstoppable category.

Few teams can maintain the level with which the Patriots have achieved this decade under the current league parameters. The Colts have been on par with the wins and records they have made and the Steelers have been in the discussion with their two titles. Neither team has had the controversy and "us against the world" mentality of the Pats and that is hard to sustain. That mental edge which Belichik infuses to his players and in turn the players exude on the field has dulled this year. With the infusion of new, younger talent crafted to combat the new era of speedy, offensive football and Belichick and Brady at the helm, we could very well see a return to form for the Darth Vader led imperial army of the NFL.

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Quick question about Belichick

After seeing the Patriots secondary get eviscerated by Drew Brees and the Saints, does it make Coach Belichick's decision to go for it on 4th down against the Colts more understandable? We discussed it when it occurred, but it's interesting to hear the same talking heads that shredded Belichick for his decision in the Colts game using phrases like "their secondary was exposed" after last night's game. I'm going to assume that he knew what he had in the defensive backfield before everyone else did.

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Hypothetical Questions about Greatness

There's not much to say about Bill Belichick's decision to not punt on fourth down against the Colts that hasn't already been stated, but let's take a look at a few hypothetical questions that may help provide clarity to the issue. First, by choosing not to punt Coach Belichick was illustrating his belief that Peyton Manning would be able to lead the team down the field in two minutes and score. His belief was not unfounded given that Manning had done so in two of the last three drives (one drive was two minutes and four seconds to be accurate) with both drives covering 79 yards. If we take the average punt of New England's Chris Hanson into account, the Colts would've been looking at approximately a 73 yard drive had the Patriots chosen to punt. I say that just to point that Belichick's belief was not unfounded. It's hard not to get fixated on where on the field the decision took place, but let's take a look at some other sports and other situations to compare and see if the coach would be greeted with as much criticism the following day.

Imagine you were a coach facing the Bulls during the 1997-1998 season and were trailing them by one with forty seconds remaining. You've called a timeout and you're getting ready to go into your huddle knowing that your team can't run the clock out, but also knowing that arguably the greatest clutch shooter in your league's history will have a chance to shoot before the game is over. You also know your defense is tired and hasn't been able to stop him all fourth quarter. Do you as a coach draw up a play for your deadeye shooter to take a three even though your team trails by only one? If you don't and you believe Jordan will hit a shot (if needed) haven't you accepted the one point loss? (The Bulls could certainly choose to go for the win with a three pointer, but Jordan was much less proficient from deep particularly at the end of his career meaning either a) he would play for OT b) he would not be taking the three or of course C) He takes it, makes it and you racked your brain for nothing.)

Another hypothetical from baseball:
You're managing a team playing against the Yankees and leading by a run in the bottom of the 8th inning. They have runners on first and third with no outs. They have put a pinch runner on 1st and the number eight hitter at the plate. Do you as a manager pull your infield in to attempt to stop the tying run, knowing that a ball through the infield could potentially allow the go ahead run to reach third? Before you answer keep in mind that your closer has blown two of his last three saves (why is he still your closer? You have no better options, smarty.) and they have Mariano Rivera warming up. If you believe that your team will lose if that runner on third scores, don't you have to do everything you can to keep him from scoring even if it means that the runner on first has a better chance to score if you bring the infield in?

If Belichick believed Manning would score this was essentially the same scenario he found himself in, but neither would be met with the same criticism because of where his team was on the football field. The bottom line is greatness changes everything. It changes how you have your team play if you've got it and it changes how you coach your team if you're going against it. Belichick believed in his quarterback to get it done and he believed in Manning to get it done. He may have made the wrong decision in the game, but it's hard to argue with Bill on that one.

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“Tom and I we’ve been friends for years. There’s no other person, no other football player maybe other than Junior Seau that I have more respect for. “I texted Tom and told him, ‘Hey Tom, I’m going to bust your chops a little bit at halftime.’ It was a joke, and everyone’s getting all bent out of shape,” Harrison explained. “This guy’s directly responsible for me having two Super Bowl rings on my fingers, and you think I’m going to call him out? It’s one thing to criticize a guy out if he’s not playing well. But to question a guy like Tom Brady, who I feel like is one of the toughest guys I’ve ever been around … It’s totally absurd, ridiculous, that people would actually think that I would take a shot at Tom Brady. I’ve had some 30 text messages and 30 e-mails [saying], ‘Some of the Patriots fans are kind of upset at you,’ ” Harrison added. “The one thing I do stand by: I felt the call was not a good call… as far as when I jokingly took a shot at Tom Brady, if it’s something that I truly meant, I would stand by it. But I didn’t mean it that way. And Tom knows that. We’re good friends. … It’s just ridiculous that people would think that.”

Rodney Harrison on some people thinking his knock on Brady on NBC was not a joke.
via Barstool Sports

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Tedy Bruschi Retires

One of the cornerstones of the Patriots dynasty this decade is retiring. Tedy Bruschi played all 13 years in his NFL with New England and won 3 Super Bowls during his time at middle linebacker. Bruschi's ability to contribute to the defense had been declining since last year and with a new younger core in the Pats linebacker stable, Tedy perhaps felt it was time to move on. He gave the fans of New England a lot of thrills. The snow games, the great sacks and interceptions, and the leadership but one of the greatest images is of him playing with his kids on the field before Super Bowl 39.

Tedy Bruschi Retiring After 13 Seasons [WBZ]

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At Least Some People Understand the Cassel Trade

Yahoo's Dan Wetzel offers a counter to the "Bill Belichick got taken or is in on a conspiracy" theory which further enforces my opinion of the trade. Time for people to realize that Belichick would not make this trade unless he was confident it would help the team. Everyone complained about the Pats getting old and now with 3 picks in the first 80 selections this April, some new blood will be infused.

Vrabel was key to the Patriots' three Super Bowl wins, but he was getting up there in age with a hefty contract. Cassel had a good season last year, but still made mistakes and failed to get the team to the playoffs. In KC, he will not have Moss lined up out wide and more importantly he will not have Wes Welker in the slot. Cassel's average completion was under four yards and with the YAC it turned intop over 7 yards. Also, the offensive line will not be as stout as New England's for Cassel next year.

The Patriots are planning for a big draft weekend and judging from their recent draft history, they will replace Cassel, Vrabel and any other need they do not get from free agency. Pundits may question, but followers of the Patriots know one thing: Bill Belichick knows more about football than us or the analysts.

Belichick hasn’t lost his mind [Yahoo]

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Welkah Makes a Wicked Snow Angel Pal!

I think these celebraton flags are just laughable now. Welker and the Patriots blew out Arizona 47-7 in snowy Foxboro to keep their playoff hopes alive.

"I just got a little bit too excited there," Welker said after the game. "I really didn't think it would be a penalty. I wouldn't have done it if I thought it was."

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New England Patriots: Building Cassels in the Sky

It is time for Matt Cassel to direct the New England offense. While some fans choose to lament the Patriots plight, opposing fans unite and celebrate, and Tony Romo does his best to appear sincere in his sympathy, it is simply time to move on. For the NFL mainstream media I know this is difficult, just ask Aaron Rogers. However, pondering the what might have been is a fruitless endeavor. Brady is gone and there are still 15 more games to be played. The Patriot's season will ride on the thing that elevated them to their first championship and began the decade of success and subsequent ire from others in the league: cohesiveness.

When Drew Bledsoe got the blood vessels in his chest rearranged by Mo Lewis in 2001, the Patriots and fans thought the season was going to be worse than the awful mess that many thought it would be in the first place. Brady was an unknown, much like Cassel is now and like Cassel he was never a superstar starter in college. Brady did have more starts in college, but never a full season and either sat behind or split time with other Michigan quarterbacks. It goes without saying that Cassel will not be another Tom Brady, unless a shark attacks the same person in the same spot twice in a lifetime. (Shark attack used here because you are acutally more likely to get struck by lightning than getting attacked by a shark, although one must wonder if someone who was indeed attacked by a shark would venture into the very same beach where they experienced that trauma but then again some of those surfers are crazy.) If last season showed us anything it was that you could be one of the best teams in history and still not take home the title. Even if Cassel performs close to Brady's level, the success in the post-season is not a given.

Cassel will need to make throws, there is no doubt. The Patriots offense is built much differently than when Brady stepped in back in 2001. Back then the Patriots offense had little running game to speak of, relying on big Antione Smith and Kevin Faulk to squeeze out yards a little at a time. The passing game consisted of a short, west coast style variety led by veteran receiver Troy Brown, rookie Deion Branch and an emsemble cast of others including David Patten. It was hardly as potent and sophisticated as the layered passing attack of today's Patriots with the dominant Randy Moss, speedy Gaffney, and slippery Wes Welker. The running game is also higher octane with Lawrence Maroney starring and capable back-ups Sammy Morse and Lamont Jordan helping along with the eventual return of Kevin Faulk. Where Brady had to do more with less on their improbable run, Cassel now needs to do less with more. It is not necessary for Cassel to fling the ball deep downfield, just keep the chains moving, just finish drives, and don't make the defense stay on the field for extended periods of time.

One of the most important factors to Cassel is Brady himself. When Bledsoe went down, obviously he was upset but he took it upon himself to aid Brady in his game preparation. Even after he was medically cleared to play and Belichick made it clear that Tom would continue to be the starter, Bledsoe gave Brady his knowledge on what he saw was going on, and how to handle certain situations he had learned from his years of experience. It made a big difference, even if Brady goes down as the better quarterback which he no doubt will, when you are a first time starter in the NFL, you need that help. Bledsoe became the prototypical back-up; he had veteran experience to share with the younger starter, prepared himself each week as if he would be playing, and wanted desperately to play. Drew Bledsoe's legacy will not be of a champion, but he places high on some of the NFL all-time quarterback lists (5th in attempts and completions, 7th in yards, 13th in passing TDs) and led the Patriots to a Super Bowl all while playing on some very bad Patriot teams. He was a 7 time pro-bowler as well. The one ring he does have is bittersweet because it came the year he lost his job as a starter, but he did have a big hand in that championship. Not only in helping Brady prepare, but also stepping in when Brady went down in the AFC Championship game. Brady had his ankle rolled over and Bledsoe came in and promptly completed a TD just before halftime. He finished the game and completed a big upset over the #1 seeded Steelers, never to play in a Patriots uniform again.

Brady's competitiveness and sour taste from last year's Super Bowl loss may keep him introverted and silent to the press, but he cannot abandon Cassel. One of the attributes Belichick noticed about Brady when they first drafted him was Tom's ability to decipher what the defense was doing and memorize what transpired on the field. It was said that Brady could recontruct an entire game worth of plays in his head before he ever saw it on film. That kind of insight, shared with Cassel, will only make him a better QB. Brady is a consumate team player, and although he cannot lead the team now in games, he can be just as valuable as anyone taking the field on Sunday. It may help that there will be no tension about Brady losing the job like there was with Bledsoe, Tom should give every effort to teach Cassel all he knows. By Cassel's accounts that's what Brady has been doing, but now Brady has to do it from the sidelines and Cassel has to apply it.

A factor that Catfish touched on during our conversation mere hours after the injury was the mindset of Randy Moss. Last year Moss proved he is one of the greatest wide receivers ever and maybe the best as far as sheer talent goes. After the game on Sunday Moss took a shot at Bernard Pollard and the hit he laid on Brady. Hopefully that was just the emotion acting without the benefit of intellect after seeing the other half of the tandem that broke two single-season TD records last year for receiving and passing. Moss has been known to dog it on the field before and if things go bad early for Cassel in the next few weeks, Moss might return to that form. The TD Cassel rifled to Randy in the back of the endzone Sunday might be a precursor to a productive connection between the two, only time will tell.

The defense now faces a stiff challenge. When the season began, the Patriot defense was preparing to employ the "bend but don't break" policy where they give up yards, but not touchdowns. It works well when the offense is high octane and the strong point of your attack, but now things have changed. Even in the loss to the Giants last year, the defense held the offense of New York to 17 points. It was even seen on Sunday against the Chiefs, the Pats D will let you creep into the red zone, but often you're left with a field goal after 3 down and goal to go futile attempts. Richard Seymour looked healthy finally and strong on the D-line. Throw in Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren and the Patriots are solid up front. The rest of the defense has been seen as old and slow and capable of giving up big plays to fast, young talent. Jerod Mayo is looked to as an answer at linebacker, as well as Shawn Crable for injecting some youth and quickness to the veteran core. However, the experience and heady play of Mike Vrabel and Tedy Bruschi counts for more. The defensive backfield is where most of the uncertainty lies. With Asante Samuel leaving for Philly, and Tank Johnson lost in the pre-season, the Patriots seem vunerable. Rodney Harrison can still it and help with the run, but lacks that step he had years ago. The addition of Deltha O'Neal might help somewhat but between him, Lewis Sanders, and Ellis Hobbs, there are lots of question marks. If the Pats D can be sturdy it will help, if they are dominant it will assure the Pats of a playoff birth, and if they are opportunistic it could propel a deep playoff run.

The sports pundits have been racing to predict where the Patriots will end up with some saying they will still conquer the AFC East and others saying they will be on the wrong side of a Wild Card playoff spot. It is far from certain how they will fare with the unproven Cassel and the easiest schedule in the league according to last year's records. Although the blogs and message boards and the T-shirts praising Brady's injury see this as an advantage for their team's chance for the Lombardi trophy, I don't see any of the other AFC teams looking forward to meeting a Belichick-coached team in the playoffs. As if enough eyes weren't on New England's match-up with the Jets this weekend to see number 4, Matt Cassel will be heading into a hostile environment on the road to face a bitter rival. What will Sunday and the rest of the season hold for the Patriots? The answer is clearly in their hands.

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The AFC: now accepting applications

Patriot fans remain inconsolable, but the AFC fans who need to be the most concerned are in San Diego. Without a reset button, New England faithful can take solace in knowing this year is a throw away. The year can go one of two ways, the team can either come together and become a fan favorite, or they can go 53 different ways, and drive the fans mad. At this point, they aren't the number one seed, but they certainly aren't out of the playoff race. The Chargers on the other hand, have symptoms of a much bigger problem.

Being 0-1 should not be cause for alarm, but the record doesn't tell the story. Going into the fourth quarter of yesterday's game, San Diego wide receivers had a whopping one catch, and that was on a blown coverage. Rivers proved once again that tight end Antonio Gates serves as his security blanket. After the game, however, Gates admitted his toe was still causing him problems, “The judgment part of it is what makes it tough: whether I'm helping the team or hurting the team,” Gates said. “That's something that we'll still have to build on going through the season. I have to make the right judgment on whether I'm beneficial for the team or not.” After the game, Gates was wearing a protective boot on his foot. As if ineffective wide receivers and lingering injuries to one of the top TEs in the league wasn't enough, LaDainian Tomlinson didn't even rush for 100 yards. The offense was largely held in check until the Carolina defense started playing passively with lead (almost a BIG mistake).

The defense was solid for most of the game, but when it came to crunch time, they were unable to hold, both at the end of the first half and at the end of the game. The in-and-out activities of Shawne Merriman could also be problematic, especially if he continues to only get one tackle per game. Perhaps the most telling stat was four of the Chargers top five tacklers being DBs.

Fans and writers in San Diego will point to bad luck, and say that the pedestrian Panthers were just a little hungrier, but that wasn't the case. The Chargers have serious problems. Unfortunately, unlike Patriots the problem isn't conspicuous. It will eat away at their season, as they try to understand why their team is losing to teams they normally beat. The AFC top spots are officially up for grabs.

As a note, the MSM will continue to bypass the Panthers as just another team, but this team just outrushed the Chargers in total yards and y/c. Combine this with a passing game that featured seven receivers and an offensive line that has decided sieve is not an effective scheme. Their defense held on eight of twelve third downs, and Jon Beason and Chris Harris have combined to give the defense a swagger. Oh, and they've got Steve Smith coming back after next week.

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