Bleacher Report - Articles by TR

Ring Around The Roster: Hello, Isaiah Stanback

TR — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 02:00:09 -0500

Please excuse me if I am somewhat out of the loop. I try to stay informed, but I cannot keep up with Bill Belichick. Who can?

First, some kid named Julian Edelman was drafted in the seventh round and looked crazy talented from the start. Belichick saw "versatility" written all over the guy.

A QB at Kent State, Edelman moved to WR for New England and was instantly compared to Wes Welker. We loved him.

Following some impressive games at WR and KR, Edelman suffered a broken forearm against Tennessee and was temporarily shelved.

Enter WR Brandon Tate, a rookie out of North Carolina, activated from the practice squad following Edelman's injury. He performed well in the two games he played, picking up 11 yards on his first-ever play from scrimmage and returning a pair of kickoffs for a respectable 44 yards against Tampa Bay in London.

Last week against Miami, he got his first start and returned two kickoffs for more than 62 respectable yards.

But a scant two games into his NFL career, Tate went down with a knee injury and wound up on IR. I wish him well.

Terrence Nunn seemed the natural choice to sign from the practice squad as Tate's replacement. There were those of us who were surprised that he was overlooked when Tate got the nod in the first place.

Nunn is another rookie, an undrafted free agent out of Nebraska who looked good in training camp.

Today, he is still on the practice squad, and Belichick has elected to activate QB Isaiah Stanback instead.

Who?

I didn't even know this man existed until a few hours ago. Now I know that he is a Patriot.

A third-year player out of Washington, Stanback was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round in 2007.

During his first year in Dallas, he played exclusively as a kick returner. Last year, he returned some kicks, started a handful of games at WR and caught a couple of passes.

Stanback, 6-2, 208 pounds, was signed to the New England practice squad on Sept. 7 after being waived by Dallas.

Although he played QB in college and is listed as a QB on the Patriots' roster, he looks like a good special teams option who just might get in on offense as a WR as well.

Interestingly, during the week of the Patriots' preparation for the Miami game, Stanback was used in Ronnie Brown's role to get the defense ready.

There is no telling what Belichick has in mind for Stanback, if anything. I expect to see him on special teams.

Edelman practiced this past week for the first time since his injury, but it is unlikely that we will see him for a couple more weeks.

Belichick could be pulling another versatile rabbit out of his hat. He has been known to do it from time to time.

Or maybe Stanback is just another warm body. I will be looking for him against Indianapolis.

NFL Week Nine: Musings On Underachievers and Accountability

TR — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:10:40 -0500

Step outside and listen carefully. What you are hearing is the sound of bookmakers all over America taking headers off tall buildings in the wake of the beating they took during NFL Week Nine.

Arizona blew out Chicago, Tampa Bay finally won a game, Houston put a scare into Indianapolis, San Francisco got lost in the fog blanketing the Bay—it goes on and on.

By my count, nine of 13 favorites, including the Patriots, failed to cover the spread this past weekend. I don't know whether Pete Rozelle is turning over in his grave or dancing on it.

This is not parity; this is not even the mediocrity that parodied parity. Have we come full circle? Or have we taken off into some strange, new direction that a scant handful of people predicted years ago?

That would be the general direction of the point of no return, where all good things wind up after they reach critical mass and implode into themselves.

Whatever it is, we are being robbed, my friends.

There are so many bad teams taking the field every weekend that you couldn't pay me enough to watch half of the games being played. Some of what I saw, I wish I hadn't watched.

We are lucky here in New England. We finally have a great owner in Robert Kraft, a guy who thinks like we do and knows what we, the paying customers, want.

And make no mistake, you might never have visited the Razor, but you are a paying customer.

We have a great coach in Bill Belichick, a man we can always trust to do everything he knows how to do, which is quite a lot, to craft a better product.

From Tom Brady to the practice squad to the ball boys, everybody in that organization works hard to give Mr. Kraft what we want.

What if I lived in Tennessee? Or Cleveland? What if I were a Tampa Bay fan or a Jacksonville fan? How long could I stand to watch the carnage?

On Friday, we published the weekly picks of a crew of generally well-informed and strongly opinionated New England Patriots fans, and I am here to tell you, some of us went down in flames.

We were not even picking against the spread because, um, we don't gamble. It was still not a pretty week any way you look at it.

Most of the time, I feel like a New England weather forecaster when I make my picks. It's a ridiculous job sometimes, and if I'm wrong, oh well. I get a fresh slate tomorrow and I get to make the same dumb mistakes without consequences.

Much of the NFL has evolved into a league of entitled, underachieving multi-millionaires who show up, sort of, play the game, sort of, shower, tweet, and go home.

They shrug off questions, or they use stock quotes like, "We just didn't execute." No kidding.

Or they point fingers. Or they sneak out a side door and avoid reporters altogether.

Trying to predict what a team will do on any given Sunday has evolved into a contemplation of some truly finer points of the game. Who is playing in the final year of his contract, who is playing poorly because he is mad at his coach, who just signed a contract and is on cruise control—and that isn't even getting into the questions: Who should win this game? Who has the talent?

If every team played to its potential every week, the "art" of prognostication would be so easily mastered that I wouldn't even feel as if I were sticking my neck out by indulging in it. What fun is that?

If every player earned his salary, if every coach and every team owner could be relied upon to use good judgment and make wise decisions, I wouldn't bother trying to predict the winner of any game.

Many of those things just don't happen. Or they happen inconsistently. The space between the lines needs to be read, and motives uncovered. We all have ideas about how games will be won or lost.

Going down the weekly NFL schedule, I feel like I'm back in college spending way too much time cutting class to go to Suffolk Downs to bet on old, broken-down horses handled by crooked trainers and ridden by small men sporting crops with battery packs in them.

It was a real mind game, and if you knew the cast of characters pretty well, you could pick up a buck or two.

Push come to shove, just hang around under the tote board, wait for a ton of money to show up somewhere in the last thirty seconds before the betting windows closed, hit a window quickly and wait around for the end of the race to cash a ticket on a fixed race.

And here I am, half a lifetime later, using those same skills to try to predict the NFL: Try to understand who's thinking what, look for a cue, hit a window just as it's closing, hope my pick doesn't break down coming down the stretch.

Even at a good track, which Suffolk Downs was not, sometimes the best horse wins, and sometimes it does not. If it were as simple as reading a Racing Form, there would be no reason to run the race.

And so it is with the NFL. Oh, in the end, the cream tends to rise to the top, but in the weekly merry-go-round of games, nothing ever surprises me.

My picks last weekend were so bad, I think I would have done better with a dart board.

Among other miscues, I made what reasoned out to a fairly convincing argument for the Panthers to upend the Saints, and for about a half, it looked like it might happen.

In the end, of course, my prediction for the upset of the week went south as the Saints proved that they deserve to be 8-0 for the first time in team history.

The Panthers proved that they deserved to go home with their tails tucked between their legs because they could have won that game.

From owner Jerry Richardson to head coach John Fox to alleged QB Jake Delhomme to $1,000,000-a-game defensive end Julius Peppers, they should all be ashamed of themselves, but I can't imagine they are.

Peppers really earned his pay in Week Nine, with one tackle recorded on the day. That was a one million dollar tackle. My whole house and everything in it is not worth what Julius Peppers made for one tackle. Think about that.

People are starving, children have no health care, people are murdered by the thousands in faraway countries where life is more miserable than anything we can imagine, and Julius Peppers made a million bucks for one stinking tackle.

The bum, he's worse than the little men with their battery packs. At least they did what their employers expected of them.

I don't mean to get all sociological here, but I'm angry and you should be, too. Peppers is but one example of what is wrong in the NFL. There are too many others to count.

What is worse, I actually care.

With uncertainty looming over next season, we have to consider the possibility of a strike or a lockout—and then what?

Then the NFL shoots itself in the foot. One way or another, the owners and the NFLPA had best come to terms, because if they don't, I suspect that fans will abandon the game in droves.

But neither management nor players are accountable to us, no matter what I think.

And I am no more accountable for my lousy picks than a New England weather man is in calling for sunshine when the snow has already begun to fall.

However, I am willing to man up and say, hey, I was sadly mistaken. Give me the criticism I deserve.

Few people were paying attention to my argument for Carolina anyway, but to those who were, I can only say that sometimes I am right about these things. And clearly, sometimes I am not.

The same goes for a half dozen other lousy picks I made.

As I said to someone in the threads: What good is life if you can't go out on the occasional limb with a laptop in one hand and a chainsaw in the other?

My new motto.

NFL Week Nine Picks: From New England Patriots Fans' Perspective

TR — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:03:35 -0500

It is hard to believe the NFL season is half over. I look forward to it for what seems an eternity every year, and when it arrives, it just flies by.

And working with some of New England's finest fan/experts to put together this weekly series of totally biased predictions has made it rush by even faster. So I must be having a lot of fun.

We have seen some amazing football already this season. Some teams who were expected to do well have struggled, while others who were overlooked have surprised us.

Sounds like every season...

Now the second half begins.

Buffalo , Cleveland , Oakland , St. Louis , Minnesota , and the N.Y. Jets all catch a bye this week, and the only reason I care about that is that nobody will be talking about Vikings QB Jason Voorhees on Monday morning.

Joining me this week are some of the usual suspects: C Douglas Baker , the mysterious E , and our own alien pod boy Glenn Card . (Thanks for that one, MH , I am getting a lot of mileage out of it.) Steve Frith is waiting in the wings for next week.

Sunday November 8, 2009

Baltimore @ Cincinnati

TR: Baltimore is a talented team, and they should be mad as hell at the Bengals. Carson Palmer has had it going on this season, but I believe that the Ravens D will have something to say about that in this one. Not to mention the impressive Mr. Flacco and company. I'm calling Baltimore in a hard-fought game.

CDB: Tough, tough game. Baltimore put a spanking on the Broncos in the second half of last week's win. I think they are ready to avenge their loss to Cincinnati a few weeks ago. Baltimore.

E: This one should be a hell of a game. In what I expect to be an offensive showdown, I believe Baltimore will come out on top this time, as the Ravens have enough offensive weapons to give somebody some looks at the end zone, be it Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, or Joe Flacco's arm.

GC: The Ravens should have more wins under their belts by now. They showed signs of life with a convincing win last week. The Bengals went into their bye week with a big win, and they needed the extra week off to get healthy. Coming out of the bye at home, Cincy would make it tough for any team to get a win. The Bengals are for real and will win this game.

Arizona @ Chicago

E: After a horrible week against Carolina for Kurt Warner, this won't be a walk in the park. But I think Arizona has enough firepower on both sides of the ball to get it done, stealing a win away from the Bears at Soldier Field.

GC: The knock against the Cardinals is that they don’t travel well. They have to go through Chicago before they get to a cushy three-game stretch that follows. The Bears have the same barely above .500 win average that the Cardinals have and if they want to get back on track they need to win this game. The Bears find a way to win at home.

TR: The Cardinals are 3-0 on the road, but let's face it, they are a mediocre team sitting atop a lousy division. Da Bears are just a notch above mediocre. Chicago hands the Cards their first road loss.

CDB: Which Arizona team will show up? The one that beat the Giants or the one that laid an egg against the lousy Panthers? I think Arizona loses two in a row because they are playing an away game. Chicago.

Washington @ Atlanta

TR: When I was a kid, we used to call them "the Deadskins." Things have not changed much, really, except that Atlanta is a far superior team now, and they are looking to get back on track after their Monday night loss to the formidable Saints. Falcons take this one.

E: Following a tough loss to the Saints, it won't be hard for the Falcons to rally around their home crowd to beat this pathetic Washington team.

GC: The Falcons went toe-to-toe with their last, very tough, foe. So they know they're tough enough to do some damage to some very good teams. The Redskins aren't a good team.

CDB: Atlanta played a mostly good game in their loss to the Saints. The Snyderskins are a JOKE. Atlanta.

Green Bay @ Tampa Bay

TR: Green Bay in a heartbeat.

CDB: I feel sorry for Aaron Rodgers because he is a very good quarterback on a mediocre team with trouble on the line of scrimmage. Tampa Bay hasn't shown me enough to think they are ready to win a game yet. Green Bay.

E: This goes without explanation—Green Bay.

GC: The Packers need to get some more wins under their belts and this should be an easy win.

Miami @ New England

TR: Divisional matchups are always tricky, but the Patriots' defense is on to the 'Phins. They will miss Jarvis Green, but Belichick has some other large, warm bodies on deck. Tommy Brady throws to about 17 different receivers, chest-bumps ensue, and Miami goes away, unhappy. In Bill We Trust.

CDB: This game scares me, a lot. Can New England's defense stop the running attack of the Dolphins that has run rampant over people this season? I think the Patriots will be ready and pull out a close one. New England.

E: Ahhh, sweet revenge this will be. The last time the Dolphins came into the Razor, Ronnie Brown had a day for the ages as Miami clawed the Patriots in the throat with their Wildcat offense. As the Wildcat is the only thing keeping the team's offense alive under the helm of Chad Henne at this point, expect New England's defense to be ready for it this time. The Patriots will dominate on both sides of the ball en route to victory.

GC: Everybody knows I could go on for hours about how the Patriots will win this game but I will cut it short and just say, when the Dolphins come to play at the Razor, they lose.

Kansas City @ Jacksonville

TR: If only I could find it in my heart to care about this game. Okay, we know that Maurice Jones-Drew can get some yardage, and the KC rushing defense is terrible. So, I call it Jags at home. Hey, somebody has to win.

CDB: What a snoozer. Both teams suck. Kansas City sucks more. Jacksonville.

E: P-yew! Jacksonville has been stinking it up lately. Between a 41-0 loss to Seattle, barely eking out a win over St. Louis, and getting blown out by the formerly winless Titans in their past three games, they're probably going to be wishing for another bye week in Jacksonville. Expect the Jags to win this one, but judging by their recent stretch, they may not have a very easy time getting the job done.

GC: The Jaguars gave up a win to a winless team last week. The Chiefs are not winless but damn near. I just can’t see the Jaguars giving up this game to another bad team, especially not when they are playing at home.

Houston @ Indianapolis

TR: Houston being Houston, I would be talking astonishing upset except for one thing: Owen Daniels. The end of his season means end of Houston's story as the Colts put a major beat down on the already inconsistent Texans.

CDB: Houston is another inconsistent team that looks great one week and not so great the next, but they are 5-3. But the Colts are likely to put the smack down on Houston since they're at home. Indianapolis.

E: I'm not too optimistic about Houston's chances this week. Indy's defense is playing very well, and Steve Slaton looks more like he's running with a greased pig than a football. Especially at home, expect Indy to come out on top.

GC: Do the Colts have the easiest season going this year or are they so good it just seems like they do? This is what I do know, the Texans can surprise, and unfortunately they go into the RCA Dome where the Colts are notoriously stingy to opposing teams. I want to pick the Texans for a huge upset but against the Colts? Oh, all right, I’ll make this pick with heart over the stats. The Texans win in a big upset.

Detroit @ Seattle

TR: I guess if I lived in Detroit or Seattle, I would care enough to do some research, maybe spew a few stats and stuff. As it is, I go with what I know, which is that Deion "Soulless in Seattle" Branch is No. 2 on the 'Hawks' depth chart at WR. He's probably injured anyway. At home, that's good for a win. Yes, I will rank on him for the rest of his life, the miserable little sell-out. And I still have his damn Patriots jersey.

CDB: Two more struggling teams, but Seattle has been a little more competitive lately. A little bit. Seattle.

E: I feel really bad for this Lions team, and this Seattle team isn't very good either. Instead of picking the home team, I'll throw the Lions a bone and give 'em the win. They do, after all, at least have a shot.

GC: Ahh, who cares. The Seahawks win a home game, woo-hoo.

Carolina @ New Orleans

TR: Whatever else there is to say about these Cats, they are giving up fewer passing yards than any other team in the league. The Saints are undefeated but not perfect; their run defense has been suspect, a fact not lost on DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. And turnovers have become a problem for New Orleans recently. With Julius Peppers finally acting like he loves his job, I boldly predict the upset of the week. You read it right here, Panthers knock off the Saints.

CDB: The Saints are awesome and will stomp all over Carolina. New Orleans.

E: This game is going to be pitiful for Panthers' players and fans alike. This year Drew Brees and the Saints have been putting up 2007 New England-like numbers, and they won't drop even a tad below par this week.

GC: I didn't expect the Panthers to win their last game but they did. It would be an upset of biblical proportions if they were able to pull off another win in New Orleans. It just ain’t happening.

Tennessee @ San Francisco

CDB: I think last week's win for Tennessee was impressive, but I'm not convinced they are back. San Francisco has been inconsistent, but with Frank Gore back in the lineup and a solid defense they should win a close one at home. San Francisco.

TR: I wish Vince Young all the best, but Frank Gore will eat up that Titans defense. San Francisco wins this one at home.

E: I like San Francisco for this one, but the Titans may have just found what they needed in order to get rolling (a win).

GC: The Titans haven’t won on the road yet this year. The 49ers have had a bunch of tough losses lately after some early success. They have proven that they are tougher than their record, so I don’t think they will have a problem with this home win.

San Diego @ NY Giants

TR: Neither team is giving up much in the air, but it is no secret that Eli Manning has struggled lately. The G-Men have a decided statistical advantage on the ground, but Darren Sproles is capable of busting loose at any time. The Bolts have been plagued with injuries all season and the Giants are relatively healthy. With both teams fighting for their playoff lives, I think it comes down to home field advantage. The Giants win IF they can take care of the rock.

CDB: The Giants are in some disarray, but San Diego can only beat bottom feeders like Oakland. I think with their running game, the Giants should take this one at home. New York Giants.

E: The Giants have dropped three in a row, but the Chargers haven't beat any team widely considered to be good. I think the trend continues for San Diego, and the Giants will rediscover their groove on their home turf against a disappointing Bolts team.

GC: The Battle of the Under-Achievers: The Giants have slipped significantly in recent weeks, and the Chargers have had a couple of easy games. Then we get to the subject of a West Coast team coming East. Gimme a break, it’s only a three-hour difference. The Chargers will have just enough confidence to take this game from the Giants.

Dallas @ Philadelphia

TR: Tony Romo will choke in front of this hostile Philly crowd. It could get ugly, but the Eagles are good at winning ugly games. I cannot pick against them at home. Eagles.

CDB: Dallas appears to be on a roll offensively but that Eagles defense is too. This is going to be a tough NFC East matchup. I think Dallas, overall, is a better team, and will take the Eagles. Dallas.

E: The Dallas Cowboys aren't that great of a team. Philly is much better on either side of the ball, and playing at home, there is no way that I would pick the 'Boys over the Eagles.

GC: Finally a game worth watching, both of these teams have rebounded in recent weeks as they keep their eye on the postseason pie. I am going with the Eagles in this home-field battle; but it’s not going to be an easy win.

Monday November 9, 2009

Pittsburgh @ Denver

TR: Let's get real, this is Denver we're talking about. Pittsburgh will dominate them just as the Ravens did. I will laugh, even if it is Pittsburgh.

CDB: Pittsburgh is going to put another dent in Denver's record by making Kyle Orton look like, well, Kyle Orton. Just like the Ravens did. This should be a close game, but Pittsburgh's defense is nasty and ready. Pittsburgh.

E: I still think the Denver Broncos are legit, but not this legit. Barring a Mile-High miracle, the Steelers are going to take this one.

GC: This should be another good Monday night game. The teams are pretty evenly matched, but the Steelers can’t really afford another loss at the moment. The Broncos have been riding a giant high with all their wins until the last game. I think the Broncos stay out of the two-loss streak category with a home win.

And that's our little dog-and-pony show for week nine. Comments? Questions? Observations?

NFL Week Seven Picks From New England Patriots Fans' Perspective

TR — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:39:56 -0400

Glenn Card and TR have some opinions, which should come as no surprise.

Various other regular contributors to this series are either still sitting in Gillette Stadium high-fiving each other, or on their way to London to see the Queen.

But Glenn and I are here to make our picks, herein submitted for your consideration. Please feel free to comment copiously.

To begin, the byes: Ravens, Broncos, Lions, Jaguars, Seahawks, Titans. In the interest of brevity, admittedly unusual for us, I will say simply that the Broncos are the only team in the bunch who are not in near-desperate need of a week off.

Let's get this party started.

Sunday, October 25

Green Bay @ Cleveland

GC: The Packers are coming off an easy win with their last game and easy continues through this week against the Browns.

TR: Cleveland is lacking in so many ways, it's hard to imagine an upset here. Plus, it seems about half the team has come down with the flu. If Aaron Rogers can manage to stay off the ground, the Pack has the win.

San Diego @ Kansas City

GC: The Chargers just got smacked around at home and are looking to redeem themselves and avoid two losses in a row. The Chiefs on the other hand got a taste of winning and now they get to play at home. The Chiefs will squeak this one out.

TR: The Bolts are beat up, but they are a team with a lot of guts. KC, on the other hand, are becoming more sure of themselves with every game. San Diego will give it their all, but it won't be enough on the road.

San Francisco @ Houston

GC: Those damn Texans. They throw me for a loop every time…win, lose, win, lose. Who can tell how good they really are. I'm picking them for the hometown win this week…damn it.

TR: It seems everybody has trouble figuring out Houston. Matt Schaub was hot last week, but I doubt his brief "streak" will continue. For the 'Niners, Crabtree will finally play, but I don't think his debut will mean much. And then again, there is Frank Gore...SF gets the win

Minnesota @ Pittsburgh

GC: Yes I know the Vikings are 6–0 but I feel a couple of those games were give-me games and a couple were lucky squeakers. Despite my feelings you have to say that this Vikings team has played to keep themselves in each and every game. If the Steelers don’t pour the points on early they will not keep the Vikings off their backs. I’m going to say the Vikings upset the Steelers at home.

TR: Despite their respective records, I believe that the Steelers are too strong in too many ways, and Brett Favre's magic show will not work, not this time. And as much as I love Adrian Peterson, he is going up against the number two ranked run defense in the NFL, so I wish him luck. Favre will eat some dirt as Pittsburgh wins at home.

New England @ Tampa Bay

GC: The Patriots have no problem destroying the teams they should beat. The Buccaneers are a team they are supposed to beat. I don’t care how much sleep the Bucs get on the plane ride over to England it’s going to turn out like a bad dream for them at Wembley stadium.

TR: Last Sunday was fun for us, but I don't take it as a sign of anything. It was The Perfect Storm for the Pats, that's all, a convergence of circumstances that no sane person could have predicted.

The fact remains that there are some troubles for these Patriots: Julian Edelman's broken arm, Adalius Thomas' is-it-or-isn't-it broken relationship with Belichick, Fred Taylor's surgery, Sammy Morris' mysterious injury, just to name a few. And Joey Galloway has been removed from Belichick's sight, so the team is short a receiver. He hadn't contributed much anyway.

How quickly things have changed; just a few weeks ago, Tom Brady's knee would have been at the top of that list. And the reality is that The Knee will always be somewhere on the list, in my mind.

But despite their issues, they are improving at about the rate I expected, and they should have a jolly old time in London. The Bucs have packed some motivation in their bags, but the Patriots will come home happy.

Indianapolis @ St. Louis

GC: I have no doubt that the Colts will waste much time in putting the Rams in their place. My hope is this though: the Colts have played so many poor to mediocre teams that they won’t even be prepared for the games they have against decent teams.

TR: Colts. Again. Period. Much to my dismay.

NY Jets @ Oakland

GC: What a difference a couple of weeks makes; the Jets have been rocked by a couple of losses and the Raiders on the other hand just got a confidence boost.

TR: Poor Mark Sanchez. He made it look so easy early in the season, and maybe he will again. The loss of Kris Jenkins hurts a lot. Oakland remains near the bottom of the heap in pretty much every statistical category, however, and I don't care if it is a home game. I hope I'm wrong, but I believe the Jets will find some offense and take the Raiders down.

Buffalo @ Carolina

GC: The Bills are showing some life finally but then again so are the Panthers. Again I will go with the home team Panthers in this matchup.

TR: Both of these teams are just...troubled. They are in the same dire straits offensively, but the Cats have a slight defensive edge. And they do have what is, for them, a streak going.

If Mr. Delhomme can avoid throwing five or six interceptions, Carolina can easily win this game. Whatever else happens, the biggest thing going for the Panthers is they aren't playing in Buffalo. Carolina wins in a game you couldn't pay me to watch. Did I just write that?

New Orleans @ Miami

GC: The Saints have shown that they are a force not to be ignored. The Dolphins are going to upset the apple cart and win a upset at home.

TR: The Saints are the best team in the NFL right now, in my opinion. I don't see them losing anywhere, not any time soon. What's that you say? Wildcat? Even if Miami puts up 50 points, the Saints will put up 51.

Atlanta @ Dallas

GC: The Falcons are playing solid football right now the question is, did the Cowboys fix all their wrongs with their week off….did they fix any of their wrongs? I think the Falcons have enough defense to get after Romo and we all know the Falcons have the offense to score. This will be a Falcons win.

TR: It's hard to pick against a team with two running backs averaging better than five yards a carry, but this is Dallas, and Tony Romo. Atlanta is doing everything it can to give New Orleans a battle in the NFC South, but is it enough? I have to go with the Cowboys at home.

Chicago @ Cincinnati

GC: The Bears are going to visit an embarrassed Bengals team playing at home. Watch out Bears, the Bengals are not going to let you win.

TR: The Jay Cutler party hasn't lasted long, but it isn't his fault that Da Bears have no ground game to speak of. On paper, the Bengals don't look great, but they are on a roll as Carson Palmer continues to improve. Bengals take it as Palmer tears up a mediocre Chicago pass defense.

Arizona @ NY Giants

GC: Are the Cardinals for real? We will find out as they go up against a good Giants team. Did we find out that the Giants have some weaknesses? Yes we did. I just don’t think the Cardinals will be able to take advantage of them; Giants win big.

TR: This one will be fun. The Cards will bring their number one ranked run defense to visit the Giants' fifth-ranked ground game. Unfortunately for Arizona, their run offense is pretty much at the bottom of the heap, while the G-Men are playing against the run really well. And then there is New York's first-ranked pass defense. Oh, enough with the stats, we know the Giants can put up a lot of points, and that is the only stat that will matter.

Monday, October 26

Philadelphia @ Washington

GC: What happened to the Eagles last week? They will rebound and take this game away from the Redskins.

TR: I have about as much success with Washington as I do with Houston. Tampa Bay showed the Eagles some defense last week, and McNabb and company will not let the 'Skins sneak up on them here. Philadelphia wins, not in a blowout, but they will not be kind to their division rivals.

Order In The Court: Making The Case For BenJarvus Green-Ellis

TR — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:01:19 -0400

Following the fourth and final preseason game last August, I wrote an article praising the performance of BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who had just carried the ball 25 times for 129 yards and three touchdowns.

Furthermore, I had the audacity to suggest that the injury-prone and overrated Laurence Maroney, who has not scored a touchdown since 2007, should be considered as trade bait in order to create roster space for Green-Ellis or “Law Firm” as he has been designated by teammates and fans.

I was taken to task by a few readers, who felt compelled to remind me that the last preseason game is meaningless, and that I had become overly excited about a player who might not even make the team.

Other readers were able to see my point of view, remembering as I did that the Firm had made some significant contributions when pressed into duty during the 2008 season.

With his ground game running thin last year, Belichick was forced to make some decisions.

Among them was the choice to take the free agent rookie Law Firm off the practice squad and insert him into nine games, including three starts. Over the course of those nine games, Green-Ellis had only 74 carries, but he made the most of them.

He scored five; count 'em, five touchdowns, the second most rushing scores on the team after Sammy Morris. He caught a couple of passes coming out of the backfield as well.

Maroney, of course, had been sidelined after three games.

Much of Law Firm's work came in clutch situations, down the stretch as the Patriots were fighting for their lives.

In only his fifth career game, he rushed for 105 yards in 26 carries against Buffalo last November. Not only was it his first 100-yard game, but it was also the third best performance of any New England running back all year.

Law Firm did in fact make the team this year, but he has yet to touch the ball.

Coming into the season with five RB on the roster, the Patriots looked secure at the position.

Maroney has been a disappointment, again. Fred Taylor, who was getting into a groove, is out with an ankle injury that required surgery. His season is now uncertain.

Sammy Morris is getting some productive touches, but he can't carry this team.

Kevin Faulk has been under-utilized so far.

And Tom Brady can't throw 40-50 balls a game.

NOTE TO BELICHICK: GIVE LAW FIRM THE BALL. What do we have to lose?

I'm usually the last person to question a Belichick decision, but this one has me scratching my head. Am I alone in this?

BenJarvus Green-Ellis has speed, he has power, and he can find holes. I know he is on the roster, listed as inactive until last week, when I think I saw him briefly on special teams.

When is he going to become part of this offense? Did he kick Belichick's dog or something?

Bill, please. Dude has game. Give him a shot.

Monday Morning Humble Pie and a Side of Crow

TR — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:18:07 -0400

Just when you think you know a little something, you find out...you do. But sometimes it takes a poke in the eye with a sharp stick to bring this knowledge to conscious realization. Sunday's game at Denver was just that poke for me. Ouch. Just ouch.

This is what I know that I know today:

The Patriots are the Not Quite Ready For Prime Time Players of the AFC. They have weaknesses.

Tom Brady is mortal.

The Patriots and their fans continue to be the objects of contempt from all around the NFL.

I am a lousy prognosticator of football outcomes.

That's all I know.

Even the most optimistic Patriots fan has to know that the team's weaknesses will take time to work through.

The defense that has been criticized as being a little long in the tooth the past couple of years has become a bit younger and less experienced. With the exception of Jerod Mayo, the kids are playing like, well, kids. Kids make mistakes. It's how they learn.

Meanwhile, more experienced players like Leigh Bodden, who led all defenders in the game with 10.5 tackles, and old-man-at-34 Shawn Springs, who had third most tackles on either side are criticized as being too old to be competitive.

Brandon Meriwether is finally looking like he might live up to his potential.

The defensive line has shown, for the most part, that it can survive without Richard Seymour. It is tempting to wonder how much better the line would be if he were still in Foxborough, but when the time comes to cash in on those 2011 draft picks, we will be asking, "Richard Who?"

The linebacking corps is about as strong as I have seen it in a few years, and they will only improve.

There is a distinct learning curve here. Yes, these weaknesses hurt, but we are five games into a whole new reality. These things take time.

As for Tom Brady's mortality, this would be where the team's offensive weaknesses come into play.

There really are not that many. The loss of Fred Taylor for the season comes as a blow, but the Patriots still have a ground game.

Laurence Maroney has puzzled me for years, but he has some game. Kevin Faulk has been under-utilized, in my opinion. Sammy Morris is not an every-down back, but we knew that.

And I stand by my assertion that BenJarvus Green-Ellis can contribute, given the opportunity.

The offensive line has had its problems, and those guys aren't getting any younger, but considering the size of the target on The Knee, they have done a good job protecting him.

The Patriots' playbook is complex, and the job of both protecting The Knee and providing run blocking calls for some talent and guts.

And The Knee is what it is. Brady doesn't seem to have much trouble with his mechanics at this point, but imagine: What if you hadn't put in a full day's work in 589 days? Would it take you a minute to get back with the program when you returned?

Those Who Hate would accuse me of making excuses, but that isn't what I'm doing. Again, and it bears repeating: I'm just suggesting that five games into the season is far too soon to judge anything.

All of which brings me to my third realization on the list: Almost nobody outside New England likes us. Some people IN New England don't like this team and its fans. I knew this all along, but times like these bring it front and center in my head.

These are the people who began writing the Patriots' obituary months ago. They want to see the team fail.

The media don't help. Whatever sells advertising on ESPN, aka BSPN, is beaten mercilessly into the ground. They are the people who used the word dynasty in connection with this team, not us. Sold a lot of shaving cream and pickup trucks.

The Patriots and their fans are despised because of a fabricated image of invincibility.

When Brady was injured, our misfortune sold more shaving cream, and when it became clear that he was returning, advertising rates on sports channels probably sky-rocketed, even for 3 AM infomercials.

As soon as Sunday's game was over, sites all over the Internet were flooded with "Patriots suck" comments. On NFL.com, for example, people were posting some of the foulest things I've seen yet. If I quoted any of them here, I would get booted from the site.

I don't even read these things ordinarily, and I don't know what got into me last night. I'm back to not reading them today.

And finally, I report to you that in this weekend's installment of NFL Picks from New England Patriots Fans' Perspective, I have a record of 8-5 going into tonight. That's where my breakfast of humble pie comes in, and the side dish of crow. It is most distasteful.

You thought the headline referred to the Patriots' loss on Sunday? Not on your life.

TR is a contributor to Boston Sports Then and Now.

NFL Week Five Picks: From New England Patriots Fans' Perpective

TR — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:20:08 -0400

The first quarter of the NFL regular season has come to a close, and some questions have been answered while others have been raised. Some teams are playing far better than we expected, while others have disappointed.

We continue our weekly series of picks without Glenn Card on the menu. After his perfect record in week four, he has been voted off the island. He was just plain making the rest of us look bad.

Steve Frith is along for the ride, as well as Eric Annett, and I think we actually disagree on a pick or two.

The Bears, Packers, Saints, Chargers all have byes this week, and I’m sure San Diego is grateful for theirs.

Sunday, October 11

Cincinnati @ Baltimore

TR: Bengals’ QB Carson Palmer seems to be settling into a groove, surprising skeptics who wondered if he would be effective in rebounding from his 2008 injury. Ochocinco’s mouth hasn’t got him in any trouble yet and with Cedric Benson chewing up some yards on the ground, the Bengals are on a roll. HOWEVER, the Ravens are coming off a painful loss to the Patriots, and they are too good a team not to be fired up now, especially at home, with first place in the AFC North on the line. Joe Flacco continues to improve, Ray Rice has an amazing six yards per carry, and Willis McGahee is not far behind. Derrick Mason is iffy with a neck injury, but fear not; the Ravens pin Cincy’s ears back in this hard fought game.

SF: Ummm...where to start? The Ravens have a great defense, and Flacco is no slouch. Last week, the Patriots handed the Ravens their first loss. The Ravens will be looking for a bit of redemption, and proving to the rest of the NFL that they are indeed one of the top teams in the NFL. Sadly enough, they'll be making an example out of the Bengals, who have more games decided at the last minute than they can care to remember. Ravens pull this one out with ease.

EA: I've got the Ravens winning here because of their defense. Carson Palmer and the Bengals offense were for the most part shut down last week against a soft team in the Browns, I find it hard to imagine them being able to keep up with the Ravens in this week five matchup. With Flacco and McGahee getting off to very good starts, I think the Ravens will be in control all game long. Look for this to be one of the more lopsided games of the week.

Cleveland @ Buffalo

TR: For two teams who have one win between them and are both last in their divisions, it is hard to say who is worse. Terrell Owens hasn’t done much for Buffalo, but the Bills do have RB Fred Jackson going for them. And now the Browns are without the services of Braylon Edwards, which might not mean much anyway. Statistically, there is not much to separate these teams, though the Browns have a slight defensive edge. I don’t think that will mean much in the end, as Buffalo sends the Browns home still looking for a win.

SF: Shouldn't be much of a game. The Browns are still defeated (0-4), and the Bills are 1-3. Not much to say here. The Browns are playing musical QB, and T.O. hasn't made much of an impact for the Bills (maybe he should give the key to the city back?). I'll give this one to the Bills, who desperately want to win, despite that the Browns are still looking for their first win. Bills in the fourth quarter.

EA: Neither of these teams is very good if you ask me, but still, one of them has to win. With a mess of a quarterback situation, the loss of Braylon Edwards, and a very bad overall team, I have a very hard time imagining the Browns winning a game in the near future if at all this year.

Washington @ Carolina

TR: The Panthers’ problems run deep. They have diehard fans scratching their heads at their 0-3 record. The one thing they have done well is to defend against the pass. But the Redskins have done that even better, and with Jake Delhomme leading the NFC in turnovers, I don’t see much hope in this one. Clinton Portis is unlikely for the Skins, but I don’t think it will matter. Sad day for the Cats, as they remain winless.

SF: The Panthers are yet another defeated team. Look for them to stay that way. The Skins are only 2-2, but Campbell is looking to keep his starting job by getting a win this Sunday. Delhomme on the other hand, is the lowest rated QB in the NFL. Man, that's gotta suck. And hurt, too. Look for the Skins to pull this off in the second half thanks to their defense.

EA: Woe is the Carolina Panthers in this young 2009-'10 NFL season. Nothing has gone right for this team—whose playoff run was halted in its tracks by the Arizona Cardinals last January—as they have picked up right where they left off in their divisional round playoff game. Jake Delhomme is committing turnover after turnover, neither DeAngelo Williams nor Jonathan Stewart have had standout performances from the backfield, and the defense isn't boasting the same kind of roar it seemed to in years past. While this Redskins team isn't very good either, they'll be good enough to eke out the win in Charlotte this Sunday.

Pittsburgh @ Detroit

TR: What is there to say? Lions’ QB Matthew Stafford will in all likelihood miss this game, and it doesn’t matter anyway. I can’t find one area in which Detroit has the advantage. Rashad Mendenhall will run all over the Lions, Ben Roethsliberger will do…whatever, it doesn’t matter. Poor Lions.

SF: The Steelers are hoping to stop sucking. I hope they keep sucking. However, this week they might get Polamalu back, which will make a HUGE difference for them (last I read, it'll be a gametime decision). On the flipside, the Lions don't look half bad. Stafford has done a good job with the team thus far, and even earned them a single win, which is more than they had last season. I'm going to give this game to the Lions (yes, the Lions) because the Steelers have had a rough time thus far into the season, and haven't looked good in the fourth quarter. If the Steelers wobble in the second half, Stafford will take advantage of it and lead his team to another victory.

EA: It's a shame that this game has to be played. Obviously the Steelers are going to win this matchup, but the real questions are regarding the standout performers. Will Hines Ward, who has been Big Ben's number one target, finally break out with a touchdown or two against this weak Lions secondary? Will Rashard Mendenhall have another huge game, or will it be Willie Parker's time to shine? I just hope their defense doesn't go too hard on Detroit, for Matt Stafford's sake. Nevertheless, it's going to be a long day for Detroit fans.

Dallas @ Kansas City

TR: It should be a lock that winless KC goes down here. Matt Cassel is averaging a pathetic 4.5 yards per pass attempt, and who can be sure about his health? Then again, Tony Romo isn’t setting the league on fire, having thrown three picks and one TD in the past three games. But the Dallas ground game has been effective, and KC doesn’t have one. After last week’s loss to Denver, the Cowboys will be looking for some respect, which they will find.

SF: Chiefs. You heard it here first. Call it an upset if you want to. Romo and the rest of the offense won't view the Chiefs 28th ranked pass defense as a threat. Well, as inaccurate as Romo has been, they probably should. Romo has been horrible this year, and all of the critics are hounding him. The Chiefs are still looking for their first win, and an overrated Cowboys team might just be their first victim. Casell will be looking to improve all aspects of his game, and the Chiefs will be looking to improve their game overall. This game will be a turning point for the Chiefs. I've been wrong so far about them so far all season, but I'm right this time. I think. Chiefs late in the fourth quarter.

EA: Because of their recent performance, I almost wanted to pick the Chiefs in this one. However, my better judgment tells me the Boys will prevail, as they boast the most successful rushing attack in the league, but have other offensive weapons in Roy Williams and Jason Witten in case the ground game can't work out. Matt Cassel is good, but nothing is going in his favor here. The Chiefs don't have a good enough defense to keep them in this game, and Cassel doesn't have enough offensive weapons to keep them close in a shootout with Tony Romo. Expect the Cowboys to win, but don't give up on Kansas City if it's close and late.

Oakland @ New York Giants

TR: I don’t think there is much to be said here, either. Even with Eli’s foot injury, even if he doesn’t play, the Raiders don’t have a snowball’s chance in hell. Agreed?

SF: Crap. Freakin' Giants take this one. Unless the Raiders play like they played in week one. Then it's the Raiders. I'm going to pull for the Raiders...if I pick the Giants, I'll throw up in my mouth.

EA: Like Detroit and Pittsburgh, the question isn't if the Giants will win, it's by how much. That all depends on who is under center. With Eli Manning battling a hip injury and missing practice, and Tom Coughlin yet to announce a starter, nobody yet knows if it will be Manning taking the snaps, or his backup David Carr. With minimal experience in practice throwing to receivers Steve Smith and Mario Manningham, this is where I expect Brandon Jacobs to have a bigger impact on the game. If Manning is out, look for big-yardage.

Tampa Bay @ Philadelphia

TR: The winless Buccaneers currently share the NFC South cellar with the Panthers and show little sign of improvement from where I’m sitting. The Eagles, on the other hand, have a lot going for them. Never mind the blowout by New Orleans in week two. McNabb will return from his rib injury following Philly’s bye week, Brian Westbrook will return to action, so it looks as if the team has the horses to get this one done.

EA: This is perhaps one of the most lopsided games of the week. One of the best pitted against one of the very worst. The Bucs are very, very soft defensively, and they should collapse under Philly's explosive offense. Rookie quarterback Josh Johnson probably won't fare all that well against the Eagles' defense, as there's no smooth sailing in sight for these Buccaneers.

Jacksonville @ Seattle

TR: Jaguar QB David Garrard has played well of late, and then, of course, there is Maurice Jones-Drew. Matt Hasselbeck looks ready to return for the Seahawks, and he has a guy or two who can make a catch. I even heard a rumor that sell-out Deion Branch has caught a few passes without getting injured. Bottom line: Seattle just doesn’t have the horses on either side of the ball.

SF: I'll keep this one short, too.　Jaguars continue their winning streak.　Everyone saw this coming.

EA: Coming off a blowout of the Titans, I'm looking for Jacksonville to keep on rolling in Seattle against a very weak Seahawks team. Maurice Jones Drew should have a big game in particular, as Seattle has allowed 5.1 yards per play against the rush, while quarterback David Garrard should follow suit and have big numbers through the air.

Indianapolis @ Tennessee

TR: Tennessee has turned in perhaps the most disappointing performance in the NFL this year. Peyton Manning and the Colts have played impressive football, some of the best in the league. Wouldn’t this be a fun upset? Too bad it isn’t going to happen that way. Colts win big.

SF: Another 4-0 vs. 0-4 game. I'm going to give this one to the underdogs. Titans take this one late in the fourth quarter. The Titans have looked bad as a whole, and hopefully they'll be able to come together as a team and beat Peyton and the Colts.

EA: With their backs up against the wall, the Titans matchup against the Colts this week can either make or break their season. After this Sunday's showdown, they'll be best off folding, or their hopes will stay alive another week. Tennessee's stock will be placed in Chris Johnson, who has had a great start to the season. Meanwhile, the Colts will be counting on the recently-on-fire Reggie Wayne to keep up his high rate of play to do their division rival in early on the season. I say the Colts will jump on the chance to get the Titans that far out of playoff contention and take control of the game from opening kickoff and win by a mile.

New England @ Denver

TR: Undefeated Denver’s defense has been scary for everyone they have played so far, but the Patriots’ offense has been steadily developing into a force. Fred Taylor’s season-ending ankle injury is bad news for the Patriots, but this is where the committee comes in. The New England defense is one of the most underrated units around. Both teams did well in just getting past last week’s opponents: Denver defeating upstart Cincinnati while NE took down the elite Ravens. Home field is huge, but I predict the Patriots in a close one. You expected something different from me?

SF: McDaniels and the Broncos vs Belichick and the Patriots.　This looks to be a good game, and an anticipated one due to the fact that Josh is Bill’s student.　Make all the "student passing the teacher" jokes you like, but the Pats have been coming back into form, and their young defense looks fast and aggressive.　Look for Brady and the Pats to make quick work of the Broncos, handing them their first loss.　Most people (myself included) will be looking to see what kind of a handshake will be exchanged between the two head coaches.　I'm guessing that it'll be fine (i.e. not a typical cold Bill handshake).

EA: The Broncos are without a question much improved from the last time these two met, despite Eddie Royal being a virtual non-factor and Brandon Marshall not making as many big plays following the trade of Jay Cutler. However, Kyle Orton has been nearly flawless under center and the Broncos have played good defense. But on the other side, the Patriots have an unparalleled aerial assault, a good running game anchored by Fred Taylor and Laurence Maroney, as well as an ever-improving defense that has done much better than expected. This should be a fun game to watch for both sides, with New England finishing on top.

Atlanta @ San Francisco

TR: Well, well, so Michael Crabtree has come to his senses and signed a six-year, $32 million contract. Man, I just hope he can manage to get by on that chump change. He has looked good in workouts with the team, but who knows how long before he can really contribute. Frank Gore is out with a foot injury, and I don’t know that anyone, including Glen Coffee, will be able to step up. Meanwhile, Atlanta is coming off a bye, and they will bring some fire to the City by the Bay. I’m going with the visitor here.

SF: This should be a good game.　Both teams only have a single loss, but the the Falcons are coming off a bye week, and should be both healthy and rested for the 49'ers.　Look for the Falcons to wear down the 49'ers defense and win it late in the 4th quarter.

EA: This game might be closer than some expect, but in the end look for the Falcons to win. The 9ers have a good, physical defense up front, but holes in a secondary and a weak offense will do them in against a balanced Atlanta team. 'Matty Ice' can do whatever he wants between Roddy White, Michael Turner, or his favorite new toy, Tony Gonzalez, while Vernon Davis and Glenn Coffee are the only potential offensive impact players for San Fran.

Minnesota @ St. Louis

TR: Favre has been lighting up the Vikings with his flashy 104.6 QB rating. It helps having the likes of Sidney Rice and Visanthe Shianco to throw to. Percy Harvin is a talented WR who needs only to find an answer for his migraines to be consistently effective. And then there’s that Adrian Peterson guy. His stats have fallen off somewhat the past two weeks after a blazing start to the season. No worries, however, they’re playing perhaps the worst team in the NFL and will have no problem.

SF: 4-0 vs 0-4. Look for the Vikings to hand the Rams another loss, ala Adrian Peterson. The Rams defense won't be able to handle the Vikings running game. Should the Rams actually slow the run a bit, then Favre will pick them apart with a decent passing game.

Houston @ Arizona

TR: If Good Houston shows up for this game, they could give the Cardinals a run for their money. If Evil Houston shows up, it’s a different story. The Texans’ Steve Slaton is beginning to develop into the RB we knew he could be. But while Arizona’s overall defensive stats are unremarkable, they do rank 6^th in the league in rush defense. The flip side of the coin is that the Cards have a fairly impressive passing game, while Houston has a decent pass defense. I have to give this one to the home team.

SF: While the Texans had a great game manhandling the Rams last week, the Cardinals were resting and brewing up a plan to beat the Texans.　 Keeping this short, I'll give it to the Cardinals.

EA: With two great offensive teams with weak secondaries, this one has the makings of a shootout written all over it. Expect Andrew Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald to have monster games while bringing in deep balls. Anquan Boldin and Tim Hightower could sneak in some big plays for Arizona as well, while Steve Slaton can balance out Houston's offensive attack. This will be a high scoring but close game, but I think in the end Texas pulls it out.

Monday, September 12

New York Jets @ Miami

TR: This one is pretty easy, so for once, I’ll keep it brief. The Jets got some game, the Fish got figured out. And with the addition of Braylon Edwards to the Jets’ receiving corps, I go with yet another visitor.

SF: I hope they both lose. Ok, so that won't happen. Then I'll settle for a tie. It should actually be a good game, because the Dolphins are hoping that Sanchez will be shaky from last week's loss, allowing them to keep their momentum of their first win sneak another one. If the Phins can handle the Jets' blitzing attack, then they'll pull this one out. If not, then the Jets will take this one. I'm going to give this one to the Fish at home. Not that I want to, but I guess I have to pick someone, because a tie is to unlikely.

EA: While I'd honestly like the Dolphins to win this one for the AFC East implications, I don't see it happening. Despite coming off a rough game, I like Mark Sanchez' chances to at least be good enough to win against the Dolphins, who aren't even near playing on the level they were on last year. New addition Braylon Edwards should complement Jerricho Cotchery well, adding another offensive weapon for Sanchez to use. Since Chad Pennington is done for the year, I don't see Miami faring too well the rest of the way, either, especially against a physical and dominating defense like New York's.

New England Patriots Rebound in the Rain, Defeat Atlanta Falcons 26-10

TR — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:13:36 -0400

I think I was supposed to be crying into my beer right now, thinking up excuses as to why my team ain't all that.

According to a lot of fans around the league, I was supposed to be facing the grim reality that Tom Brady is done, so is Randy Moss, the Patriots' defense is hideous, and the Patriots never had a chance without Wes Welker.

I should be admitting to the bitter fact that the Atlanta Falcons are just better, that Matt Ryan is the hottest young quarterback in the NFL. Maybe he is, but not today.

Of course, diehard fan that I am, I never expected to be doing any of that. I expected to be writing an article about the Patriots' victory over a good Atlanta team.

I expected to write that the Patriots are making progress, just as we here in New England anticipated. I expected to be writing that they won.

I am not disappointed. I get to say just what I expected and to sit back to wait for other people to tell me, So, they got lucky, they cheated, they are demons from hell. You know, the usual.

I invite that sort of comment, so bring it on if that is what you think. The fact remains that the Patriots defeated the Falcons in Foxborough, 26-10, in a game that was hard-fought for at least a half.

The Patriots went to the ground game early and often, with Tom Brady mixing in a few poorly timed passes to begin the game.

Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris, and Fred Taylor kept the Patriots' offense in gear early, as the defense held its own.

Granted, the Pats settled for field goals far too often, as their red zone allergy continued to plague them. But they were able to keep drives alive on third downs (8 for 18 overall, 7 of 10 short ones) and fourth downs (an eye-popping three for three).

In the second half, Brady began to look like...well, Brady, as he managed to get the ball to his receivers with some regularity. Finishing 25 for 42, he is continuing to throw the ball more than most of us would like.

But he finished with 10 strikes to Randy Moss, good for 116 yards, enough to confirm, in my mind at least, that he is getting his timing back. That timing is something he would not be recovering if he weren't going out and tossing the ball a lot.

Could this be the method to Bill Belichick's madness?

Brady's longest pass of the day was a 36-yarder to TE Chris Baker, good for a touchdown that pretty much put the game away.

The offensive line gave him some protection today, something that was lacking last week. He moved well in the pocket, and looked comfortable doing it.

The defense wasn't perfect, but they played better than I have seen yet this year.

Neither Brady nor Ryan threw an interception, and for the first time this year, Ryan did not throw for a touchdown.

The only turnover of the game was a Michael Turner fumble, recovered by James Sanders.

Fred Taylor finally got a lot of work for the Patriots, carrying the ball 21 times for 105 yards and his first TD as a Patriot.

Kevin Faulk made his appearance as one of the usual suspects.

Maroney left early with a thigh injury, and Vince Wilfork left in the first half with an ankle injury. He did not return.

It is only week three, a fact of which I am well aware. But if the naysayers are allowed to write this team off after week two, I think we Patriots fans are allowed to feel pretty encouraged by what we saw in rainy Foxborough today.

Jets Fans Celebrate As Team Cheats

TR — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:45:05 -0400

The New York Jets sit atop the AFC East after slaying the nasty New England dragon on Sunday afternoon, but the party could turn out to be brief and hollow.

The New York Daily News reported Monday that the San Francisco 49ers have leveled charges that the Jets organization has tampered with Michael Crabtree.

San Francisco made the wide receiver the 10th overall pick in this year's draft, but Crabtree has been unable to come to terms with the Niners, choosing instead to sit out the season to date. He remains San Francisco's property, however, and as such cannot negotiate with other teams.

The Jets have allegedly contacted Crabtree's agent to let him know that they are interested in obtaining his rights through a trade or by waiting for the next draft to select him.

The Jets organization predictably has denied the charges and issued a statement that the league will handle the matter "internally."

Nobody condoned the fact that the New England Patriots' "scandal" was handled internally two years ago. Evidently, different rules apply when a bottom-feeding team in the nation's largest television market is involved illegal activities.

This story comes on the heels of last week's news that the Jets had failed to report Brett Fare's shoulder injury last season. For that the Jets were fined $125,000.

If San Francisco's charges are found to be valid, the league will almost certainly fine the Jets, and the team could even lose a draft pick.

And people are still talking about a misplaced camera? If the New England Patriots ever cheated, it seems they are not alone.

Is there no end to the hypocrisy? Remember that it was the Jets' former head coach Eric Mangini who started the whole scandal that became known as "Spygate." And that was after he had been busted for the same illegal videotaping practices himself.

This story is likely to be swept under the rug, but we know about it and will be following it as "Tampergate."

NFL Week Two Picks: From New England Patriots Fans' Perspectives

TR — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:56:42 -0400

Here we are at Week Two, with the second installment of NFL game picks from the occasionally warped perspective of some otherwise rational New England Patriots fans. Last week, intrepid compatriots Glenn Card and TR each went a straight up 12-4. This week, our fellow fan Steve Frith weighs in with his selections.

Now, for your enjoyment, we present our Week Two picks. Be assured, any agreement among us is entirely coincidental. Well, almost.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Carolina at Atlanta

GC: There is no doubt now that Falcons QB Matt Ryan is picking up right where he left off last season. You would like to think that the Panthers will fix some of the turnover problems that they experienced in their last game. Even if they do fix their giveaway bug, they will be hard pressed to beat the Falcons at home. In this game, the Falcons will be dominant by making a statement and nearly keep the Panthers from scoring at all.

TR: The Falcons didn’t have much trouble with Miami last week and Ryan indeed showed that he belongs in the NFL. The Panthers, meanwhile, were about as embarrassed by the Eagles last week as they were by the Cardinals in the playoffs last year, and as a native Charlottean, it pains me to say that. Delhomme can throw the ball all right, but not always to the right player. He will have a better time of it this outing, but the Panthers signed A.J. Feeley midweek, so if Jake starts out badly, who knows? Any way you look at it, Atlanta should have no trouble putting this one away at home.

SF: I've got Carolina winning this one, if anything because no team in the NFL wants to lose its first two games. Delhomme had better pull his head out from his backside if he wants to keep his starting job.

New Orleans @ Philadelphia

GC: The Saints and Drew Brees were hitting on all cylinders in their last game, but this is an entirely different defense they will see from the Eagles. The injury to Donavan McNabb severely affects the Eagles offense whether he is able to play or not. We’ve seen Kevin Kolb before and he is a suitable place holder, but I don’t think he can keep up with the Saints' production. I’m picking the Saints for a win in this matchup.

TR: As much as I respect the Eagles' defense, the Saints Ain't going to be intimidated. They just have too many ways to hurt you. McNabb’s injury puts Philadelphia behind the eight ball, so I’m going with New Orleans even if they are on the road.

SF: This should be a good game. While Brees and the Saints have a top-notch passing game, the Eagles' defense is no slouch either. Last week, Brees had outstanding numbers. On the flip side, the Eagles' defense had a terrific game stopping the pass. Unless McNabb comes back from his fractured rib (as of Wednesday, he's listed as "did not participate in practice"), I don't see the Eagles taking the win.

New England @ NY Jets

GC: The Jets have found a starting quarterback with Mark Sanchez and he had a great first outing. Good for them. Despite the Patriots' loss of veteran players on defense, the schemes that the Patriots will put together are going to sorely test the rookie QB. The Jets' defense looked to be a huge upgrade from last year, but the Patriots' offense just passed a big test that found Tom Brady and the rest of the boys having a hard time in the red zone. New England will fix its scoring problems and will hand the Jets their first loss of the season.

TR: With a game under his belt, Tom Brady will come out with great confidence in this one. Yes, the defense was soft against Buffalo, but this is the re-tooled defense we have been looking for; it will come out with confidence too, a Bill Belichick work-in-progress. The Patriots’ biggest problem will be the absence of injured linebacker and freshly appointed defensive leader Jerod Mayo. Sanchez made a good show against Houston, but that was…Houston. Even at home, I believe the Jets will struggle as the Patriots will not be playing catch-up. Best of all, nobody will be wearing funny-looking uniforms.

SF: This is yet another divisional game for the Pats and they don't want a repeat of last season (win or lose the division decided by a tie breaker). Look for the Pats to improve every week and for Brady to become more and more comfortable and start tossing long bombs with three and four WRs spreading the offense. The Jets' rookie QB Sanchez looks good, but I'm still waiting for a defense to stomp him. I don't think that it'll be the Pats' defense knocking him on his tail repeatedly, although it'd be nice!

Oakland @ Kansas City

GC: The Chiefs get to show off their new starting QB, Matt Cassel, in this home opener. Oakland showed me that it has hugely improved both on offense and defense. They will go into Arrowhead stadium and steal a win from the Chiefs. The Raiders win this by running their touchdowns and outscore the Chiefs by 10 points.

TR: Can Cassel succeed anywhere outside New England? Does he have the tools he needs to win? Can the Chiefs' defense stop anybody? A lot of questions in KC, but the big question for Oakland was answered last week. The Raiders showed that they are a much improved team from last year, giving San Diego almost more than they could handle. I see a close one here with the Raiders coming out just slightly ahead.

SF: Last week, the Raiders surprised everyone and punched the Chargers right in the mouth. They dominated most of the game, losing in the fourth quarter when they gave up an 80+ yard run. Seymour stepped up on the defense and made an immediate impact assuming a leadership role, which I believe was part of why they were as dominating as they were. The Chiefs still have a ways to go with the season, especially with the run defense. They'll stand a better chance if Cassel plays, but his status is still up in the air.

Arizona @ Jacksonville

GC: The Cardinals got a wake up call last week; you can’t keep acting like Super Bowl contenders unless you win games. On the other hand, the Jaguars will be playing a softer defense this week than they did last and the Cardinals are notorious for not playing well on the road. This will be the set up for an upset; Jaguars beat the Cardinals at home even if no one is watching.

TR: Good teams wake up after games like the one the Cards played last week. Of course, great teams don't have games like that one. Arizona isn't great, but good enough to wake up on the road in this one as Jacksonville takes a snooze.

SF: I can't see the Jaguars stopping Kurt Warner and the Cards. Of course, Anquan Boldin's hamstring plays a big role. If he's back to 100 percent, then it's an easy win. If he plays, but is somewhat ineffective like last week, then it'll be closer, but the Cards still come out on top.

Cincinnati @ Green Bay

GC: The Packers’ Aaron Rodgers spent a lot of time on the ground last week and his receivers dropped a lot of balls. I predict that he will be standing tall and throwing strikes in this game. He won’t have to put on any game-winning heroics this time as they will have the win wrapped up early; Packers by 10.

TR: The Bengals make a game of this one as Cedric Benson chews it up on the ground and Carson Palmer rebounds from a bad game last week. I see a close one to the end with Green Bay coming out ahead.

SF: I can see Aaron Rodgers and the Packers winning this one; not by much, but I have them pulling it out in the second half. Look for the Packers to improve little by little. There are whispers of Green Bay being the sleepers of the NFC. The Bengals' defense should help to keep this close.

St. Louis @ Washington

GC: The Rams make a road trip to the east coast just to have their heads handed to them again. The Redskins get a win in their home opener, winning by 14 points.

TR: The Redskins couldn’t handle the G-Men in Week One, and St. Louis was simply pathetic on the road. Can both teams lose? Guess not, so I say Washington picks up a home win.

SF: Honestly, I could care less. I'll pick the 'Skins to win, just because.

Minnesota @ Detroit

GC: By having Favre taking the snaps, Adrian Peterson doesn’t have to face eight men in the box each and every play. Every defense has to respect the pass, which gives Adrian running room. Detroit won’t have an answer for the Vikings' offensive attack. The Lions lose by 10–14 points.

TR: Minnesota did not disappoint last week against the Browns, although the defense gave up more points than I expected. In their loss to New Orleans, the Lions did manage to put some points up. They’re going to lose this one anyway because the Vikings will have the answer for whatever they do.

SF: Brett and the Vikings will take this one easily. Most of the Vikings' workload will be handled by Adrian Peterson. I don't see the Lions stopping his runs. I know it's early, but the Lions are already showing signs of weakness in the run; they're ranked 30th already!

Houston @ Tennessee

GC: Despite the score of last week's game, the Texans showed me that they are a better team this year. Unfortunately, they are going up against the Titans' defense that almost held the defending champions back from a win last week. The Texans don’t have enough firepower to make this an upset. The Titans will win this home game by a touchdown.

TR: Houston let me down last week and I am already beginning to wonder about them again. Schaub simply has never shown that he can excel at this level and he will struggle here miserably. Houston, we have a problem.

SF: I don't see the Texans rolling over the Titans in this one. The Titans are just more powerful overall on both offense and defense. Titans take this one easily, which really sucks for me because Matt Schaub is my starting QB in my fantasy league. Yes, I'm in last place.

Tampa Bay @ Buffalo

GC: The Buccaneers seem to have a promising offense, but even that might not be enough if the defense is giving up points as fast as the offense can score them. The Bills have Trent Edwards running a no-huddle offense that gave the Patriots fits and I think they fine tune the system against the Bucs and get some shots down the field to TO. Plus, they are playing at home. The Bills will win their home opener by 14 points or more.

TR: Buffalo played a good game Monday night and almost won in Foxborough—almost. Tampa Bay at home gave Dallas a game, scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, they also gave up 14 fourth quarter points. I don’t believe the Bucs can stop the much-improved Bills at Buffalo; there might be a lot of points on the board at the end of the game and most of them will belong to Buffalo.

SF: This one could go either way. If the Bills start off strong and then start to fade in the fourth quarter, it may be a sign of things to come for the rest of the season for them. It's a home game for Buffalo, so that might just give them the edge. The Bucs' defense will need to shut down T.O. if they're to remain in this game. Some would say that the Bucs' defense failed to show up last week.

Seattle @ San Francisco

GC: The Niners pulled an upset win last week that few would have given them credit for. I know I didn't. The same goes for the Seahawks; I didn’t give them credit for revamping their offense and last week, they exploded offensively and shut down their opponent defensively. I’ll call this the game of the week to watch as San Francisco wins two in a row and gives their fanbase reason to celebrate at home.

TR: San Francisco stumped me, too and the Seahawks did show a lot of offense last week, albeit against St. Louis. This game will almost certainly tell us which of these teams is the real thing, if either. I think it’s the Seahawks. I also think we need a rule for contributors to this series that we each get one "I just don't care" per week.

SF: I'm going to give this one to the Seahawks. They had a great game defensively last week and I don't think that the 49ers can overcome the great defense and Matt Hasselbeck and RB Edgerrin James. However, Hasselbeck is known to take chances and make stupid throws resulting in INTs, so if the 49ers can get a few picks at opportune times, they might just pull it out.

Baltimore @ San Diego

GC: The Ravens really looked good last week and their second-year QB, Joe Flacco, looked a whole lot more comfortable. I don't think the Chargers have it in them to hold the Ravens back. I’m picking the Ravens to win by three points.

TR: San Diego could barely hold off the Raiders, an improved team that the Bolts nevertheless should have handled more effectively. The Ravens are a team to watch this season and this is my game of the week as Baltimore wins going away.

SF: This one could go either way. I'm going to give the edge to the Chargers, only because I think that their offense can wear down the opposing defense. Expect a lot of running in this game from both teams.

Cleveland @ Denver

GC: The Broncos had a heart attack win last week in a really tough game. The Browns defense is softer, so the Broncos should build their confidence on this home field win.

TR: This game is interesting if only because it is a battle of former Belichick employees. McDaniels' Broncos made a mediocre showing while winning last week and I think that this is another team to watch as new acquisitions get their legs under them. The Mangini-coached Browns managed to put up 20 against Minnesota and the Denver defense might give up more. Nevertheless, Denver will play a better game offensively and win another one.

SF: I'm hoping that the Broncos and coach Josh McDaniels will win this matchup. He's looking to establish himself this year as a legitimate head coach and collecting "W's" is a sure fire way to gain recognition. I've got nothing against the Browns...aside from the fact that Mangini is their new head coach.

Pittsburgh @ Chicago

GC: The Steelers started out right with a tough win at home last week. The Bears and Cutler have to regroup. I'm putting the blame for last week's loss on the WRs. If these guys catch half the balls they dropped last week, the Bears could pull off a win. I just don't think the Steelers' defense is going to let that happen this time and the Bears have to absorb another loss before they get the offense repaired for the rest of the season. Steelers win this by 10.

TR: I never have been a big Cutler fan and I think it’s just a matter of time before fans of "Da Bears" become disillusioned with him if they haven't already. The Steelers' defense, even without Polamalu, will eat him and his receivers for lunch and take home a doggy bag.

SF: The Steelers are without their precious Troy Polamalu, who is an outstanding player with his ball hawking skills...but I don't like him. Or the Steelers. I hope the Steelers lose. Badly. I doubt they'll lose because the Bears are without Urlacher, who is out for the season with a dislocated wrist and is a playmaker and field presence for the Bears. I just can't see them overpowering the Steelers. One could always hope, though.

NY Giants @ Dallas

GC: Damn, the Giants looked good; damn, the Cowboys looked good. Damn, this should be another good game. It will be the Cowboys showing off their new digs and scrape by with a three-point win in this first game in their new stadium.

TR: I love these historic rivalries when both sides actually have good teams. This will be a fun game to watch, especially for Dallas fans, who will be celebrating after the game. Did they fix that scoreboard, by the way?

SF: I don't like the Cowboys. I like the Giants even less. I might even like the Giants less than the Steelers. I do like Romo, though. If the Giants win this one, it'll be because of their running game. If the Cowboys win, it'll be because of the Cowboys' defense making plays when it's most needed. If I were a betting man, I'd bet on the Cowboys.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Indianapolis @ Miami

GC: The Dolphins need to get a handle on ball control and quickly. The Colts are the Colts and are always the popular pick. This is my upset of the week as the Dolphins figure a way to stay in Manning’s face and their offense won’t be as tricky as it will be true. This will be a big five point win for the Fins.

TR: If this game were being played in Indianapolis, I would be expecting the Colts to blow the Fish away. In less friendly Miami, however, Manning will have to work harder to find his receivers, especially since he will be missing the injured Gonzalez. Indy’s running game will need to step up as well and I think it will. Colts in a tight one.

SF: I'm easily giving this one to the Colts. I don't believe that the Dolphins can stop Peyton Manning. I'll say it—the Dolphins got lucky last year with their 11-5 record. I'd be surprised if they won 10 games this season. Look for Peyton to hand the Dolphins their second loss this Monday.

Have The New England Patriots Broken The Curse Of Pat Patriot?

TR — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:41:30 -0400

A few weeks ago, I wrote an article expressing my concerns about what I can only think of as The Curse of Pat Patriot. Pat, of course, was the official logo for the Boston Patriots and later the New England Patriots, and he lasted as such for more than 30 years.

Some terrific players wore that uniform back in the day, including Hall of Famers John Hannah, Mike Haynes, and Andre Tippett.

But the Patriots' troubles were many during the Pat Patriot era. No matter what kind of talent they had, things just seemed always to work out against them. The Pats were the doormat of professional football.

I am not alone in believing that Pat Patriot was a curse, plain and simple.

Eventually, the look of the Patriots was changed, the Flying Elvis we know and love/hate today was put in place, team colors were changed. and that's when the real fun began.

The team made it to some Super Bowls and actually won. It was like waking up in some parallel universe where it was actually gratifying to be a fan of this team.

I thought I had seen the last of Pat Patriot. But no.

As part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the founding of the American Football League, the Patriots and the other seven teams that made up the AFL are playing a series of "Legacy Games" this season, wearing the old uniforms.

So, yes, I have been concerned. Tom Brady in that uniform? After everything he had been through, I reasoned, he does not need that additional burden.

A team at the crossroads, young players just learning the ways of the NFL, not to mention the ways of Bill Belichick, just did not need to take the field in Foxborough in game one wearing those uniforms.

Veterans new to the team didn't need this either.

But rules are rules, and we know the Patriots don't break the rules.

Between the new players, the old uniforms, and the Patriots' inability to settle into a groove, the first half was starting to feel like deja vu.

Oh no, I've seen this game before, maybe thirty years ago...

But no, I have learned a whole new lesson about faith, again: Never underestimate Tom Brady and never, ever underestimate Bill Belichick. Never.

They actually beat the curse.

The second half being such a thing of mad beauty reminded me of 2001. I forgot all about Pat Patriot and realized that, hey, this is Brady and Belichick. And Moss, Welker, and Faulk. Doesn't matter what anybody is wearing, these are the Patriots of 2009.

My faith grew with Tom Brady's confidence.

And faking an on-side kick, successfully, convinced me all over again that Belichick is the greatest coach of his generation.

The last five minutes of the game... oh, I could go on and on, but you saw what I saw. And maybe you never shared my Pat Patriot phobia, but I can tell you this: It was real for me, and now I believe it's gone.

I have a new faith. I believe again.

We are okay. Again.

The Pats have three other Legacy Games this season, and I am not going to worry anymore.

Pat Patriot is now my good friend.

New England Patriots: The Committee Has Found a Chairman

TR — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 08:28:25 -0400

Benjarvus Green-Ellis does NOT rest his case. The Patriots' third-string running back made it clear Thursday night that he will not rest anything, least of all opposing defenses.

"The Law Firm" scored three touchdowns in New England's 38-27 victory over the New York Giants, impressively powering into the end zone, shaking off, dragging along, or outrunning every defender who tried to get in his way.

He carried the ball 29 times for 125 yards. He had Tom Brady dancing on the sidelines. Bill Belichick actually smiled. I almost forgot this was a preseason game.

The Firm got game, and it is exactly the game this team needs. It seems certain that Bill Belichick will want to rely on the running game more than ever this season, at least until he knows just what to expect from the passing game. The running-back-by-committee concept could be the key to the season.

I mean no offense to Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk, Fred Taylor, Laurence Maroney, or anybody else who has lined up in the Patriots' backfield during this preseason. Anyone who makes the 53-man roster this year has earned his spot.

The final version of the committee was somewhat in question until this last game of the preseason, but Green-Ellis has claimed his seat at the table.

Sammy Morris, who is listed as the Patriots' No. 1 running back, has played his heart out for this team over the past two seasons. He came back last year from a 2007 chest injury and picked up where he had left off. He isn't an every-down kind of running back, but he has been effective when he gets the ball.

We have yet to see everything that Fred Taylor can do for this team, but I have no doubt that he will contribute in a big way. He was a team captain in Jacksonville, and his leadership qualities alone are worth his spot on the team. Plus, he still has a little something in the tank.

I can't even count all the ways Kevin Faulk earns his paycheck. One of the few players on the team who has been around for all three Super Bowl wins, Faulk does a little bit of everything. There is a reason why the Pats organization recently named him number two on the list of all-time great Patriots role players.

(Troy Brown was first on the list, of course.)

And then there is Laurence Maroney. When the Patriots made him a first round draft pick in 2006, he looked really promising. He played in 14 games that year, gaining 745 yards rushing with quite a respectable 4.3 yards per carry.

The following year, he played in 13 games and improved to 835 yards with a solid 4.5 yards per carry. He caught some passes out of the backfield as well.

He was pathetically ineffective in Super Bowl XLII, but so was most of the team. He is, um, excused.

Then came 2008, and Maroney went down early in the season, landing on injured reserve in October. Only then did we learn that his shoulder actually had been injured toward the end of the previous season.

And since his injury? What have we seen, really? No, I'm serious, what have we seen? This is not a rhetorical question.

Somebody tell me, please, because I missed it. He lost something along the way, and I'm not sure what it is.

I believe that No. 39 might have become a little gun shy—not a good situation for a player of his potential caliber.

The Law Firm, on the other hand, has become the player Maroney was supposed to be.

Bill Belichick will do the right thing because he always does. And I would not be stunned if Laurence Maroney became a casualty of the coach's acute decision-making.

Whatever happens, I wish Maroney well... somewhere else. I just don't see him contributing to this team.

Thursday night's game was a powerful display of what this season could become. Coming back from a 21-0 deficit with hard-nosed, energetic defense, an effective running game, and the work of an unknown, undrafted free agent quarterback in Brian Hoyer, they reminded me of a certain 2001 team.

Yes, it was a preseason game, but nobody on the field at The Razor seemed to approach it as one. Too many jobs were on the line.

All I know for sure is that The Law Firm is here to stay.

This and other articles by TR can be found at Boston Sports Then and Now.

"Brady Ate Dirt," Tweets Bengal Chinedum Ndukwe

TR — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:10:42 -0400

I had a feeling about this kind of thing when Twitter first entered my world a few months ago. I don't really Tweet but I joined so that I could "follow" some of my favorite athletes.

Honestly, I can't even believe that I am using words like "Twitter" and "Tweet," and I'm not even sure I'm using them correctly. Other old farts might know what I mean about that.

But for better or for worse, I am a "follower" of a few guys like Randy Moss, whose Twitter-ness put me on to his website. It's a fun place.

I started thinking a while ago that, since anybody can Tweet, Twitter might actually turn out to be a good source for quotes from athletes. Kind of like interviewing them briefly without press credentials.

Many fans already knew this, but for those of you who don't, I recommend checking it out. It is a good source for post-game Tweets from players I like.

Today I discovered a new use for Twitter, something I already have begun to think of as a "Twit"—as opposed to a Tweet.

Why am I talking like this? And if you're under 50, stop laughing. Now.

Anyway, the Twit in question was posted by Chinedum Ndukwe, a third-year defensive back for the Cincinnati Bengals, who announced to his personal Twitterverse that "We got a win...brady ate dirt..." Thursday night.

Okay. The Bengals' pass rush got to No. 12, something that every team on the Patriots' schedule will be looking to do this year. The Patriots lost seven yards on the play, Tom Brady most likely cleared a psychological hurdle, and he got up and kept playing.

This sort of thing is going to happen. I'm just really grateful to know that I can indeed rely on Twitter to bring me insightful post-game comments, I mean Twits, from second string players from around the league when these things do occur.

Is this a great country or what?

By the way, Ndukwe had a couple of tacos and some guacamole for breakfast Friday morning.

The Associated Press and of course, Twitter.com, contributed to this article.

New England Patriots Bring In Roderick Rogers For a Look

TR — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:06:03 -0400

Safety Roderick Rogers became the Patriots' newest acquisition on Tuesday, not a surprising move given Belichick's propensity for bargain basement bodies for practice squad and special teams assignments.

Rogers was released by Minnesota in June, after spending the last month of the 2008 season on the Vikings practice squad.

His introduction to the NFL came via Denver, who picked him up as a rookie free agent in 2007. He spent most of that season on the Broncos practice squad before making the team for the final two games.

At the start of last season, Rogers again found himself on the Denver practice squad, and was assigned to the 53-man roster for the last three games of the season.

The highlight of his professional career to date has been his lone start, in week twelve, against Oakland last year. He had five tackles, including two on special teams.

The former Wisconsin Badger was waived two days after that start and later signed by Minnesota.

The terms of his latest agreement have not been released. While it is unlikely that Rogers will make the Patriots' 53-man roster, Belichick apparently believes that he can be of some use to the team in the short run.

Rogers participated in Tuesday afternoon's practice wearing No. 43, and got himself quite a workout in covering the likes of Randy Moss.

It was the final practice open to the public for this preseason.

CBSSports and Patriots.com contributed to this article, which can also be found at: Boston Sports Then and Now.

New England Patriots: "In Bill We Trust" Not Just a Slogan

TR — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:18:09 -0400

The enigma we know as Bill Belichick understands football in the same way Albert Einstein understood E=mc².

What many people do not understand is that he also has a really firm grasp of some other fine points that he just doesn't choose to talk about.

For that matter, he rarely speaks publicly about anything unless he absolutely has to do so. Not that I blame him; no matter what the man says or does, somebody is going to find fault with it.

Like most really smart people, he would rather be criticized for what he doesn't say than for what he does say. He doesn't often have to worry about prying his foot out of his mouth.

And despite all the cute little nicknames coined for him and his team by rival fans over the past two years, one fact is indisputable: The man knows how to win football games.

Yes, his methods sometimes have been called into question, and he has paid the price for the mistakes he might have made along the way.

He continues to pay a price, or he would be if he paid attention to anything besides winning games.

The cute little nicknames do not go away. And then there is all that nonsense about asterisks, as if Illegally-Placed-Camera-Gate (IPCG) was such a damnably egregious offense.

Here in New England, we knew that we and our team were hated before IPCG happened; that overblown pile of Mangini-generated revenge-dung, completely mishandled by Roger Goodell, just gave Those Who Hate an excuse to go on a rampage. Their irrational (read: jealous) diatribes suddenly had meaning, at least in their minds.

They write articles and post profane comments all over the Web, and speak to us as if they expect us to jump ship just because our coach is under perpetual fire.

There's no winning with Those Who Hate.

When we stick by our team, we are arrogant scum. If we don't stand by our team, we become the fair weather fans the haters always expected us to be.

Bandwagoners. Right.

But enough about Those Who Hate.

Through it all, Bill Belichick remains the best coach in the NFL for reasons that go far beyond X's and O's.

Psychology: the study of human thought processes as they relate to and influence behavior.

Bill Belichick understands psychology as well as he understands X's and O's. This is perhaps his greatest strength.

Different coaches have different ways of getting the most out of their teams. Some want to be buddies with their players. It worked for Raymond Berry, up to a point.

Others get results by terrorizing their players. I'm not naming names.

Of course, some coaches get no results at all because they are entirely clueless. We have seen our share of those in New England.

But Bill Belichick is a breed apart, an intelligent man and diligent student of the game who has an uncanny insight into the mind of the player.

He understands that different players become motivated by different means.

He gets that he's not working in a one-size-fits-all kind of profession. The method that gets optimal results from one player will be absolutely ineffective with another.

As such, he does some things that don't make sense at first glance.

Here in Patriot Nation, when we don't understand what, in the name of all that is holy, Bill Belichick is doing, we say simply: IN BILL WE TRUST.

We say it because it's true.

And yes, we do have our own Nation.

How many times have we dropped our jaws after The Hooded One did something that defied all logic, only to give the man a standing ovation when his choice proved to be BBrilliant?

In retrospect, some of the answers are easy.

For example, who among us thought Corey Dillon was somebody we needed in New England? An unhappy running back in what looked like the downside of his career, a two-time Pro Bowler playing for a losing team and getting fewer and fewer carries every season? A guy with a massive chip on his shoulder, a rap sheet and a reputation as a head case?

What was Bill thinking?

Maybe he was thinking about winning another Super Bowl with a rejuvenated player who only needed to be given the ball and respected as a man in order to return to Pro Bowl form.

That's exactly what he got: A workhorse of a running back who benefited tremendously from playing for a great team, returned to the Pro Bowl, and won himself a ring before retiring.

And then there is the case of one Deion Branch, MVP of Super Bowl XXXIX, who decided to hold out in the final year of his rookie contract because he wanted the same kind of money Reggie Wayne was getting in Indianapolis.

Many of us shouted, "Show him the money!"

As Branch's holdout continued, Belichick and Scott Pioli could see that the wide receiver was a lost cause and dealt him to Seattle in a trade that indirectly netted them one Randy Moss.

And what has Mr. Branch done in Seattle besides collect paychecks?

On to Moss. He was another head case, another player who thought only of himself, wouldn't practice hard, wouldn't even play hard.

What was Bill thinking?

Maybe he was thinking of an extraordinarily talented player who needed little more than a clean slate and no rush to judgment. A player who was capable of establishing instant chemistry with the best quarterback in the game, breaking records, winning games, becoming the team player no one thought he could be.

That's what he got. That's what we got.

A few months ago, Belichick had to make a difficult decision about his quarterbacks.

Is Tom Brady going to recover sufficiently from his devastating injury? Should the team hold on to Matt Cassel following his heroic efforts in relief last season?

Belichick couldn't afford to keep them both, so he had to roll the dice and do what he felt was for the good of the team.

Trading Cassel was no mystery move, but the Patriots threw in linebacker Mike Vrabel, a valuable team leader and fan favorite. It's a crap shoot, no doubt, and we won't see the outcome of it immediately. One thing is certain: Matt Cassel at 100 percent will never be Tom Brady.

Tom Brady may or may not be the man we have seen in the past, but this is the chance Belichick had to take.

And what about Vrabel? Is he irreplaceable? Time will tell, but I doubt it.

Now Belichick is at it again. Last week he picked up two players from New England's newest farm club, the Oakland Raiders, and his judgment is again being called into question.

Quarterback Andrew Walter's stats in Oakland have not exactly been the stuff of legend. The fact is that he probably qualifies for a diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder because of the nonsensical way he was used there.

But he's a big guy with a good arm, and he's smart. Besides, Moss practiced with him in Oakland, and he likes him.

Works for me.

Derrick Burgess has the stat sheet of a defensive player in a downward spiral of injuries and underachievement. Why bring him on board?

Maybe for the hard work and good attitude he has already shown in camp.

Ask yourself: When is the last time either one of these guys played in a winning program?

They are both perfect Bill Belichick projects. This is what he does best. He understands the inside of a player's head and knows how to work with it in order to get the results he wants, the player wants, we as fans want.

He takes players who have been labelled as losers and turns them into winners.

He uses their years of experience to help him bring along young players, and winds up with one of the most balanced teams in the NFL.

Thursday night, the Patriots will begin their preseason against the Philadelphia Eagles, and Belichick will start to see the results of some of his decisions.

And soon he will be making more decisions, and some of them are going to leave people scratching their heads.

I don't ask questions anymore. I just say: IN BILL WE TRUST.

This article and others by TR also can be seen at: Boston Sports Then and Now.

New England Patriots Pick Up Another Reclamation Project

TR — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:35:13 -0400

There's a new number 16 in Foxborough.

In a move that might seem surprising to some, it was announced this morning that the New England Patriots had cut quarterback Matt Guttierez and signed five-year veteran Andrew Walter.

The Raiders mercifully let Walter go on July 31, a move that is likely to benefit both parties.

The former Arizona State Sun Devil never had a chance in Oakland, standing on the sideline for most of his four years there. Every time it looked like he had a shot at the starting job, someone else stepped in front of him.

When fate intervened and he actually did play, the Raiders' style proved to be a poor fit for Walter.

It was not pretty.

A big knock on the Pats' chances this year has been the lack of experience of Kevin O'Connell, who would have been and might still be Tom Brady's backup.

With this move, the team buys some insurance in the form of a veteran whose skills just might fit.

Best of all, we could be looking at yet another Bill Belichick reclamation project.

The talk has been that Andrew Walter is psychologically damaged goods as a result of his time in Oakland.

And at 6'6" and 230 pounds, Walter is a big man with limited mobility.

Never one to listen to the "experts," Belichick apparently pulled the trigger on this one Monday night, bringing in a talented guy who has been considered by many as having great potential in the right setting.

Sound familiar?

Walter practiced with the Patriots today.

Pat Patriot: What's Old Is New

TR — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:04:12 -0400

Wow, how scary is this guy?

Exactly.

For years, Pat Patriot was like the kid on the playground who wore thick glasses, picked his nose, and dressed funny.

The other kids made fun of him and beat him up.

As fans, we endured it because we figured a team representing New England probably should have a cartoon logo of a deranged Paul Revere, set to snap the ball.

Deranged Patriotism was the general idea, after all. Besides, he had that quaint charm going for him.

And, good fans that we were, after every disappointing campaign, we said, Man, those guys aren't going to steal our lunch money tomorrow. We're gonna get 'em.

But when you're watching your team play against guys with stars and horns and lightning bolts and birds of prey on their helmets, and your team is dressed funny, it's hard not to wonder: Are they taking us seriously at all?

Look, I know there are those in Patriot Nation who actually like Pat. In fact, I read something about a Boston Globe survey last winter that showed that fans actually preferred Old Pat to Flying Elvis.

With all due respect to other people's opinions, not to mention the remarkable talent of New England sports cartoonist Phil Bissell, the artist who created Pat Patriot, I think some fans have short memories.

To be fair, I have to say that Pat served his purpose back in the day. He was probably the most artistically intricate logo in the AFL or NFL, which has to count for something.

And Pat had been good enough to replace the original logo, an unrecognizable representation of a tricorner hat, which lasted less than one AFL season.

So the Bissell creation, Pat Patriot, held the job from 1961-1992.

But for as long as I can remember, there was talk among fans about how the logo measured up to others around the league.

By the late 1980s, the organization had caught on and began to search for a modern, more streamlined image.

Pat Patriot's day had passed.

There were many ideas presented before someone finally came up with the original version of the Flying Elvis. He debuted in 1992, wearing a Flying tricorner of bright blue and red. And oh yeah, a silver face.

In 2000—now this is the key—the decision was made to switch to somewhat deeper shades of blue and red.

The new logo took some getting used to, but hey, welcome to the 21st century.

More to the point, welcome to a winning tradition.

The kid got contacts, stopped picking his nose, and started buying his own clothes. He bought himself a Harley and a 12-gauge and left the playground bullies in a cloud of dust.

I like seeing my team taken seriously.

And I like watching the playground bullies pick their noses.

Since the introduction of the first Flying Elvis, the Patriots are batting over .600 in regular season games and have won their division seven times.

They have gone to six AFC championship games, winning five of them.

They have won three Super Bowls, making millions of fans happy and totally pissing off many more millions of others.

Their quarterback holds the single-season records for touchdown passes and total yards.

Their star wide receiver holds the single season record for touchdown receptions.

Their erstwhile kick returner holds the record for longest return in NFL history.

They posted the only undefeated regular season in the 16-game era.

All that and more in just 16 years, people.

Last season, the playground bullies exacted some revenge by knocking out our MVP quarterback and kicking enough dirt in Flying Elvis' face to keep him out of the playoffs.

Many of us felt like aiming that 12-gauge at our televisions.

Now, I'm a superstitious sort. I am convinced, for example, that the Patriots lost Super Bowl XLII because I was a few minutes late getting my dog's jersey on her that day.

And I might have been wearing the wrong socks. I'm not sure.

But when I read about the "legacy" games coming up this season, I relinquished all responsibility for the consequences.

Do you see where this is headed?

During Pat Patriot's AFL and NFL years combined, the team had a winning percentage just over 42 percent. They went to the playoffs a total of seven times, including their years as the Boston Patriots of the AFL.

In the NFL era, they won their division three times and went to one Super Bowl, where they got their butts handed to them by a Chicago team that was one of the greatest ever.

Did I mention that it was the worst shellacking in SB history at the time? Ouch.

These dubious achievements required over 30 years.

This 50th anniversary thing is cool and all, but I don't think the Patriots need to be playing their first game of the season wearing Pat Patriot helmets.

Let's face it, the Patriots' old look was bad luck. Nothing good ever happens to the kid who dresses funny.

The new look, well, it speaks for itself.

As it is, Tom Brady will be trotting onto the field at The Razor on September 14 for game one against the Bills, wearing a white helmet adorned with, yup, a deranged Paul Revere cartoon.

For their part, the Bills won't look much better in their throwbacks, but I'm not sure the same stigma applies.

Incidentally, I have to chuckle every time I think about TO in throwback Bills gear. I just hope I'm still chuckling at the end of the game.

In game five this season, Pat Patriot again will be pulled out of the mothballs at Denver. The Broncos also will be wearing ludicrous uniforms, but I don't care.

The following week the Patriots will host the Titans, who will be disguised as the Oilers, and all I can say is that I'm glad Earl Campbell retired a long time ago.

Finally, in game thirteen, it's off to Miami for Pat Patriot. Enough said.

I'm struggling with this.

This is a pivotal time in Patriots history, and the last thing we need is the ghost of Patriots past hovering over Foxborough. And Denver. And Miami.

I know that this is something I am just going to have to learn to live with. Everything will be fine, I'm sure. Pat Patriot is my friend. Superstition is nonsense.

But I certainly am glad these important anniversaries don't roll around often.

Excuse me while I put my dog in her jersey.

This article and others can also be found at Boston Sports Then and Now

Remembering Darryl Stingley: The Player, The Hit, The Man

TR — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 22:17:32 -0400

It has been called the most violent hit in NFL history.

It also has been called simply a case of bad luck in the extreme, a fluke.

It was almost certainly among the most unnecessary hits ever put on a player.

Many fans have forgotten it; others are too young to remember it.

Anyone who saw it would not, could not, forget it. I saw it, and I think about it often.

I think about it during every preseason game I watch.

I think about it every time I see a player for any team being carried off the field on a stretcher.

I think about it every time someone complains that the NFL has become “pansied down.”

I will never forget it.

Darryl Stingley was a five-year wide receiver for the New England Patriots, a member of the Class of 1973, one of the most productive drafts in Patriots history.

He was the 19th pick overall, the Patriots' third first rounder, behind John Hannah and Sam Cunningham.

He had starred at Purdue, where he initially had played in the backfield. It was not until his last year there that he switched to wide receiver.

Known for his soft hands and deep-threat potential, he had set a Boilermakers record of 18.2 yards per catch. At 6’0” and 194 pounds, he seemed to have all the tools he needed for a successful NFL career.

In New England, his work ethic and drive to excel quickly made him a fan favorite. He became known affectionately as “The Stinger.”

He was popular among his teammates, who dubbed him the unofficial team barber because he was pretty good with the scissors. He had a voice too, and loved singing Stevie Wonder songs.

In his rookie year, he played in every game and became the Patriots’ fourth-leading receiver on a team helmed by the great, if somewhat unfortunate, Jim Plunkett.

The Patriots’ quarterback was sacked 37 times that season and threw three more interceptions than touchdowns. The team finished with a 5-9 record.

The 1974 season looked good as the team started out at 5-0. Plunkett continued to struggle, however, and Stingley went down for the season with a broken arm in game five. The Patriots played to a lukewarm 7-7 finish.

Stingley returned the following year, fully recovered and bringing his blistering speed back to the attack. But Plunkett's completion percentage was worse than ever, and his sack percentage skyrocketed through the first five games.

With his team at 2-3, coach Chuck Fairbanks made a decision to bench Plunkett and bring in a promising rookie out of Kansas State, a kid by the name of Steve Grogan.

But the Patriots continued their losing ways, winding up at 3-11 by the end of a season almost too painful to watch. These Patriots were Murphy's Law in pads and cleats.

Plunkett was shipped off to San Francisco in 1976, where things weren’t much better for him.

Steve Grogan was now the Patriots’ quarterback, and Darryl Stingley was the team’s top receiver, ranking third in the NFL.

New England won the AFC East that year with a record of 11-3, the best in its brief history and a dramatic turnaround from the dismal 1975 season.

Much to the disappointment of anyone who cared, the Patriots lost to Oakland in the first round of the playoffs. The Raiders went on to win the Super Bowl.

Tennessee wideout Stanley Morgan was drafted by the Patriots in 1977, adding yet another deep threat to a team that seemed poised for success.

Stingley was the top receiver on the team again that year, but New England finished with a disappointing 9-5 record, missing the playoffs entirely.

Looking to secure the future of their often explosive passing game, in 1978 the Patriots offered Stingley a contract extension that would have made him one of the highest paid receivers in the game. He planned to sign it after the preseason.

He never got to sign that contract.

His career came to a tragic end in Oakland Coliseum on August 12, 1978, the result of a brutal hit by Raiders safety Jack Tatum, a man who was well known for playing seriously vicious football.

There is nothing wrong with playing vicious football. It is, after all, a pretty vicious game. But this hit changed a man’s life forever.

Stingley was running a slant as Grogan dropped back to fire the ball over the middle. Tatum lowered his shoulder and laid a forearm and helmet to Stingley’s face mask as the receiver lunged for a pass that would sail over his head, out of reach.

Stingley dropped to the ground, unconscious, at the Raiders’ 10-yard line. His roommate, Pro Bowl tight end Russ Francis was the first Patriot to reach Stingley’s motionless body, and it was clear to anyone watching that Francis knew right away that something was terribly wrong,

Training staff for both teams rushed onto the field to assess the situation and quickly came to the same conclusion.

The stretcher was brought out, and Stingley was carefully strapped onto it, his head secured in a stabilizing brace as he was rolled off the field.

There was an ambulance, there was tension, there was chaos.

There was no flag, however, no penalty assessed. The Hit was entirely legal at the time. Defensive backs were free to initiate this kind of contact with a receiver anywhere on the field, whether or not he had the ball.

It took some time for things to calm down on the field, but eventually the game resumed.

Darryl Stingley’s life as he had known it did not.

The Stinger never walked again. The hit had crushed and dislocated two vertebrae in his neck, severely damaging his spinal cord. He was rendered quadriplegic and would spend his remaining years in a wheelchair.

During Stingley's three months in a California hospital, Oakland coach John Madden was an almost daily visitor. Madden was reportedly devastated by what had occurred, and he and Stingley remained close for years.

The late Gene Upshaw, who was playing for the Raiders in that game, also came to know Stingley well. In his eventual role as executive director of the NFLPA, Upshaw pushed for owners to provide compensation for players who were disabled as a result of the occupational hazards of professional football.

Thanks to Upshaw’s efforts, Stingley eventually was awarded $48,000 a year.

For their part, the Patriots’ organization unsuccessfully tried to cancel Stingley’s health insurance, typical of the Sullivans. In the end. however, they paid his medical bills and kept him on the payroll.

Tatum apparently was not inclined to be apologetic or otherwise helpful. From his perspective, it was a clean hit, requiring no apology.

Technically, he was right.

But given that the injury took place in a completely irrelevant preseason game, many Patriots fans felt that there was no justification for the kind of hit he had put on Stingley.

Does the importance of a game make a difference in how it is approached by players?

It is safe to say that it does now, as players are more aware of the consequences of a tough hit in an inconsequential game.

But the professional football of Tatum’s era was played in a different universe. The rules were much looser for defenders, and men like Tatum were encouraged by coaches, owners and fans to make a statement on every play.

And men like Stingley were encouraged to run slants into the jaws of the most feared secondary on the planet.

Today, The Hit likely would result in a penalty, maybe an ejection and a fine, possibly even a suspension. But we can't very well judge Tatum by today’s standards.

Maybe we should thank him for his role in bringing about much-needed change in the rules of the game.

After his hospital stint, Stingley was transferred to a rehabilitation facility in his hometown of Chicago, where he began the long and painful journey toward whatever recovery was possible. Over time, physical therapy helped him to regain some minor movement in his right hand, enough to manage the controls of his motorized wheelchair.

But he had more than his physical condition to cope with. He was bitter about what had happened, and he held a grudge against Tatum for years. At age 26, he had seen his dream crumble before his eyes, and he couldn’t stop wondering why me?

He and his wife, high school sweetheart Tina, had separated, which he said in one interview was more traumatic than his injury.

Ultimately, it was his spirituality that pulled him through. In 1983, Stingley published a book, Happy To Be Alive, in which he wrote of his prayers to forgive Tatum and to get on with his life somehow.

He would later speak publicly of his forgiveness, adding that it was only after he was able to stop asking why me? that he began to live again.

It was a prayer answered.

Stingley settled into a life of helping himself by visiting hospitals to counsel paralyzed patients.

He and Tina reconciled.

He was again involved in football, working as a scouting consultant for the Patriots. He was even able to attend Super Bowl XX, dreadful as it was for the Patriots.

He completed his Purdue degree from his bed.

He started the Darryl Stingley Youth Foundation in his old neighborhood on the west side of Chicago.

Life went on. Somehow.

Though Tatum never apologized to Stingley, he has said that he tried repeatedly to contact Stingley to arrange a meeting and was turned down.

His only verifiable effort to speak with Stingley privately occurred while the paralyzed player was still in the hospital. Tatum was turned away by the family.

Tatum retired from football in 1980 and published a book, They Call Me Assassin, in which he confirmed that he never considered an apology because he was just doing what he was paid to do. The book was really more an indictment of the glorification of violence in professional football than an autobiography.

The book made a bit of a splash at the time, a splash that quieted down as many of us recognized our collective role in the culture of violence that was and is the NFL.

And while we were feeling a little hypocritical, Tatum clearly was a man in serious conflict with himself.

He wrote of his ongoing anguish about what had happened that night in 1978, while at the same time referring to his best hits as "bordering on felonious assault."

And in interviews he said that he took offense to the fact that the Raiders had been tagged as the "criminal element" of the NFL.

Would the real Jack Tatum please stand up?

Following his retirement, his former coach and some teammates spoke of the change in Tatum after The Hit, saying that he never approached the game as aggressively again.

John Madden went so far as to say that Tatum seemed to withdraw into a shell after The Hit.

Maybe that was the real Jack Tatum.

But a few years later, Tatum wrote another book, They Still Call Me Assassin.

In 1996, Stingley accepted Tatum's invitation to meet in what he originally perceived as a televised reconciliation.

Stingley cancelled the meeting when he learned through a trusted friend in the press that he was really being lured to promote Tatum's third book, Final Confessions of NFL Assassin.

In the end, the two never spoke together of the game that changed both their lives forever.

The true measure of Stingley's character came about in 2003, when complications of Tatum's diabetes resulted in the partial amputation of one leg.

Many of us, myself included, would have said, That's what you get, tough guy. Serves you right. You won't be intimidating anybody now, will you?

But not Stingley. He wasn't that kind of man. He actually felt badly for Tatum. Having watched his own father suffer through the same illness, he felt compassion for the man who had been held responsible by many for ending his career and ruining his life.

Stingley had long since let go of the bitterness and blamed no one for his injury.

Stingley died peacefully in Chicago on April 5, 2007. He was 55 years old and had spent more than half his life in that wheelchair. Cause of death was determined as bronchial pneumonia, cardiac arteriosclerosis, spinal cord injury, and quadriplegia.

I don't believe that Stingley died with many regrets.

I know that he felt sad that he would always be remembered as a casualty of the game. He would have preferred being remembered for his talent.

He was sad that reporters rarely called on the phone or knocked on the door to talk about anything other than The Hit.

He was sorry that he never had a chance to see The Razor, travel having become too difficult in his last years. He had remained a die-hard Patriots fan, and he really wanted to see the place.

Most of all, I think that right up until the day he died, he held onto the hope that someday the phone would ring and that it would be Tatum, calling to say, Hey Darryl, what's up? Can we talk, just you and me? I got some things I need to say.

The call that would never come.

The Associated Press, The Boston Globe, CBSSports, The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and the Global Negotiation Project at Harvard University contributed to this article.

Lady Tar Heels Pour It on in Second Half and Down Clemson 74-55

TR — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 11:42:28 -0500

The Clemson Tigers’ brief Cinderella run came to an abrupt end Friday, as they fell to the North Carolina Tar Heels 74-55 in Greensboro, North Carolina.

In the opening round of the ACC Women's Basketball Tournament on Thursday, the No. 12 Lady Tigers stunned the No. 5 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 81-69.

Considering North Carolina’s recently sluggish play and penchant for turnovers, it did not seem entirely unreasonable to think that the Tigers could upend the Tar Heels as well.

For the first half of Friday’s quarterfinal game, it looked as if that might happen.

North Carolina (26-5) turned the ball over 15 times in the first half, and Clemson made them pay, scoring 15 points off those turnovers.

To make matters worse for the Heels, their bench was outscored 19-8.

Carolina’s half was not all bad, as they outrebounded Clemson 28-17. They shot 7-for-12 from the charity stripe while Clemson had no opportunities from the free throw line.

The teams went to the break with the Tar Heels clinging to a 31-29 lead.

Coach Sylvia Hatchell apparently said all the right things in the locker room, and Carolina came out for the second half looking like a different team.

Shooting 7-for-13 to open the second half, the Lady Heels went on a 16-2 run that resulted in a 49-34 lead, sealing Clemson’s fate. The Tigers would never get close again.

Carolina continued its dominance on the boards, outrebounding the Tigers 59-33 for the game. The Heels pulled down 23 offensive boards to Clemson’s 14.

North Carolina coughed up the ball only six times in the second half, a remarkable statistic for one of the most turnover-prone teams in the nation.

The Clemson Tigers came to play but found themselves overmatched in the end. They simply could not match the Tar Heels' inside presence, who outscored them 32-16 in the paint, largely on the strength of their offensive rebounding.

Bryelle Smith led the Tigers with 13 points on 4-for-9 shooting including 3-for-7 from behind the arc. She was perfect from the free throw line in two attempts.

Jasmine Tate led the team in rebounding with seven. Freshman Shaniqua Pauldo pulled down six.

Two Tar Heels recorded double-doubles: Italee Lucas had 10 points and 11 rebounds, while Jessica Breland led all scorers with 22 to add to her 11 rebounds.

Rashanda McCants was good for 19 points on 7-for-12 shooting.

Carolina playmaker Cetera DeGraffenreid had only one turnover for the game, which is probably a more significant number than her seven points and three assists.

A crowd of 13,599 fans crowded Greensboro Coliseum, breaking last year’s tournament record of 12,969 fans. For at least a half, they got their money’s worth.

Today, North Carolina takes on the No. 1 seed Maryland Terrapins (26-4), who narrowly escaped their quarterfinal matchup with a surprisingly tough Wake Forest team, 72-70.

The Demon Deacons led that game by 12 points midway through the second half, but Maryland clamped down on defense and outscored Wake 11-0 in a little over two minutes to take the lead for good.

The winner of today’s game will move on to face the winner of the Florida State-Duke game that follows this one.

All four teams in these semifinal games are nationally ranked.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

Duke Drops North Carolina Lady Tar Heels In OT, 81-79

TR — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:46:06 -0500

In the battle for the No. 3 seed in the ACC tournament, the North Carolina Lady Tar Heels went down in overtime Sunday afternoon, losing to the Duke Lady Blue Devils, 81-79.

The No. 9 Tar Heels (25-5, 10-4 ACC) trailed throughout most of the game, thanks to their carelessness with the ball, poor shot selection, and their inability to rebound effectively.

Neither team started the game sharply, with seven lead changes in the first nine minutes, largely due to ill-advised passes, traveling violations, and overall sloppy play.

Duke managed to pull away to a 33-23 lead with 3:20 left in the first half, taking an eight point lead into the locker room.

The No. 10 Lady Blue Devils scored only four points in the first 6:43 of the second half, partly as a result of Carolina’s improved defense, but mainly because they simply went cold from the field.

Duke’s near-drought enabled the Tar Heels to cut the lead to four at 44-40.

Over the next five minutes, the Heels outscored Duke, 16-10, to take the lead on a three-pointer by Italee Lucas.

With just over two minutes left in regulation the Tar Heels were up by six. Chante Black had fouled out for Duke, and it was starting to look as if North Carolina might pull out another one.

But it’s hard to win a game with turnovers and missed layups.

Duke (24-4, 11-3 ACC) came back to tie the game, thanks to their own sharp play and some Tar Heel miscues.

The Lady Blue Devils drew first blood in overtime on a Jasmine Thomas jumper, but Carolina tied the game again with some Italee Lucas free throws.

There were six lead changes in OT, with Carolina holding a one-point lead with 1:23 left to play.

Then Abby Waner-- one for 15 from the field at that point-- drained a three that seemed to take the wind out of the Heels’ sails for good.

With a 78-76 lead following Waner’s timely shot, the Blue Devils never trailed again.

A Rashanda McCants three for the Tar Heels with two seconds left was too little too late, as Duke held on for the 81-79 win.

North Carolina committed 33 turnovers and was out rebounded on the offensive glass, 32-15.

They played a sloppy and disconnected a game, and the only thing that saved them from a blowout was that Duke wasn’t much better.

The Blue Devils had problems of their own.

North Carolina shot 45.2 percent from the floor to Duke’s 34.5 percent.

The Heels made 45.7 percent of their three point attempts while Duke connected on 25 percent. That statistic alone represents a nine point advantage for Carolina.

Senior Rashanda McCants will finish out her college career having never won a game at Cameron, despite her 24 points on 10-for-17 shooting from the floor, including three of four three-point attempts.

Duke took the No. 3 seed in the ACC tournament with this win and will face the winner of Virginia-Virginia Tech on Friday, March 6 at 8 p.m.

North Carolina, as the No. 4 seed, will take on the winner of Thursday’s Georgia Tech-Clemson match-up, also on Friday, at 11 a.m.

With No. 1 seed Maryland playing some of the best women’s ball in the land, only two things are certain.

One is that these two Tobacco Road neighbors had better come to play in the tournament.

The second is that anything could happen.

North Carolina Lady Tar Heels Look to End Season with Duke Sweep

TR — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 19:14:02 -0500

North Carolina-Duke, Duke-North Carolina, call it what you will. It is a rivalry that will never go away. So long as college basketball is played, UNC-Duke will be one of its fiercest rivalries.

And I’m talking about the women.

In recent years, these two teams have monopolized the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.

Last year, the Lady Tar Heels defeated Duke, 86-73, for the championship. It was their fourth consecutive title, dating back to their 2005 victory over, you guessed it, the Lady Blue Devils.

In 2004, Duke defeated North Carolina, 63-47, for their fifth consecutive ACC title.

These teams have some serious history.

It wasn’t always like this, you know. Back in the days when men were the only ones allowed to play on the national stage, the women were relegated to intramural play, if that. Rivalries existed between dorms or sororities.

They wore ridiculous skirts and blouses, and most of the team members were not allowed to cross mid-court.

There were six women on the court for each team: two stationary forwards, two stationary guards, and two rovers, a guard and a forward, generally the best players on the team. They were the only ones allowed to run the whole floor, but they still had to wear skirts and blouses.

The game was played this way because these fragile creatures were thought to be too weak to play real basketball.

Oh, how things have changed. Today’s women run the court, sky for rebounds, drive the lane, and shoot from downtown.

They catch elbows in the nose, wipe away the blood and keep playing. They train and practice hard. They do everything the men do, and attract far less attention for doing it.

But I digress.

The North Carolina and Duke women don’t have the long history of their male counterparts, but make no mistake: This is one intense rivalry.

It’s only natural, after all, as natural as the men’s rivalry, only newer. Given the remarkable improvement of the women’s game over the past couple of decades, this matchup is worth watching, year after year.

On Sunday, the No. 9 Lady Tar Heels (25-4, 10-3 ACC) travel the eight short miles from Chapel Hill to another land called Durham, home of the No. 10 Lady Blue Devils of Duke University.

With a record of 23-4, 10-3 ACC, the Blue Devils are pretty evenly matched with the Tar Heels.

While the Heels have won seven of their last eight games, Duke has won six of their last eight, including a 75-60 loss in Chapel Hill on Feb. 9.

Duke shot an anemic 29.3 percent from the field in that game and was out rebounded, 45-31.

The game was more interesting than the final score would suggest, with Duke leading throughout the first half.

The second half was a back-and-forth affair until about the midway point, when Carolina finally pulled ahead for good, despite committing 29 turnovers on the night.

Tar Heel Jessica Breland pulled down an astonishing 23 rebounds to go along with her six steals, five blocks and 14 points.

Carolina’s Rashanda McCants led all scorers with 22 points, 19 coming in the second half, and added nine rebounds.

Sophomore point guard Cetera DeGraffenreid scored 15 points and dished out five assists for the Lady Heels.

Chante Black, double-teamed all night, led the way for Duke, scoring 13 points to go along with her seven rebounds, four steals and three blocks.

North Carolina has now prevailed in nine of the last 11 games in this rivalry. Last season’s finale resulted in an 82-51 shellacking, Duke’s worst loss in 15 years.

None of this will matter much when the teams take the court in Durham on Sunday.

Sure, these players know the history, and Duke is probably still stinging a little from that Feb. 9 loss.

Then there’s the question of settling the seeding for the ACC tournament. For the first time in recent memory, the teams will be fighting for a three-seed.

But these are two consistently well-coached teams. They understand, even if we fans don’t, that this is one game. Not a history of games, not a future of games. One game.

Catch it if you can.

Lady Tar Heels Defeat Miami, Look Ahead to Duke

TR — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 22:14:06 -0500

The Lady Tar Heels survived a late Miami surge to hold on for a 90-76 win in Chapel Hill Thursday night.

North Carolina improved its record to 25-4 overall and 10-3 in the ACC, setting up a dramatic finale at Duke Sunday afternoon.

Cetera DeGraffenreid led all scorers with a career-high 23 points, shooting 6-of-11 from the floor and 11-of-14 from the free throw line.

Jessica Breland’s 14 rebounds helped fuel the Heels’ transition game, a major factor in the win. She scored 16.

Rashanda McCants scored 21 points in her last home game for the Heels.

On Senior Night in Chapel Hill, Sylvia Hatchell started four seniors: Heather Claytor, Laura Barry, Iman McFarland, and Rashanda McCants, along with sophomore playmaker DeGraffenreid.

The Lady Hurricanes, who have never defeated UNC since joining the ACC, did not go down without a fight.

The game was tied at the midway point of the first half, but the Tar Heels went on a tear to close out the half up by 12.

Down by 25 in the second half, the ‘Canes came within 11 points before the No. 9 Tar Heels put the game away.

Lamese James and LaToya Cunningham were the high scorers for Miami (13-15, 2-11 ACC).

Miami will host No. 4 Maryland (24-4, 11-2) on Sunday.

North Carolina defeated Duke, 75-60, in Chapel Hill on Feb. 9, and Sunday's rematch promises to be a tough game for both teams.

Atlantic Coast Conference tournament play begins on March 5 in Greensboro, N.C.

Lady Tar Heels Have a Busy Weekend Ahead

TR — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 11:51:13 -0500

March Madness is about to descend on hoop junkies of every kind.

The Lady Tar Heels of the University of North Carolina have two regular season conference games left to play that could help them out in the ACC tournament seeding.

Tonight, the Heels (24-4, 9-3 ACC) host the Miami Hurricanes, currently in 10th place in conference play.

Sounds easy, doesn’t it? Not so fast.

The Hurricanes come to Chapel Hill with a somewhat deceptive record of 13-14 overall and 2-10 in ACC action.

Miami had some early success this season, compiling a 12-4 record before beginning conference play. Life in the ACC, however, has been another matter entirely.

The team sank to a 0-4 conference record before defeating NC State at home in Jan. for their first ACC win of the season.

Since that win, the 'Canes have won only one other conference game—against Virginia Tech on Feb. 12.

But, let’s take a look at their last two games.

On Feb. 19, the Hurricanes managed to take the No. 23 ranked Virginia Cavaliers into overtime, finally losing, 84-75.

Freshman Shenise Johnson led the way for Miami with 25 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds.

Three days later, Miami lost by one point to the 11^th ranked Florida State Seminoles, a heartbreaker in which Miami maintained a substantial lead for much of the game.

In the end, the 'Noles showed why they are in first place in the tough ACC, tying the game with 19 seconds left and going on to win, thanks to some clutch free throws by Alysha Harvin.

Both of those games were on the road for the 'Canes.

It could be tempting to look past the Hurricanes, with a trip to Duke coming up on Sunday, but it is doubtful that Sylvia Hatchell’s Tar Heels will do anything of the kind.

Carolina is well aware of Miami’s strengths, especially Hurricane Shenise. Johnson has been named ACC Freshman of the Week three times, no small feat.

Johnson is a talented and well-rounded player, currently ranking sixth in assists in the ACC, seventh in steals, fourth in assist/turnover ratio, and 10th in defensive rebounding—not bad for a freshman.

But, she is not a one-woman show. Senior LaToya Cunningham can score, especially from outside. Epiphany Woodson is one to be watched as well.

As a team, Miami ranks first in assist/turnover ratio—something the Heels should be noticing.

With Duke’s demolition of Wake Forest Wednesday night, the Blue Devils leap-frogged over UNC to take third place in the ACC, behind Florida State and Maryland (23-4, 10-2 ACC).

Sunday’s UNC-Duke (23-4, 10-3 ACC) showdown looms large in the Tar Heels’ ACC tournament picture, but the Miami game is important too.

If the Tar Heels can run the table now, they will finish ahead of Duke and have a theoretically easier first round in the tournament.

Not that the Heels want it easy. They are a talented bunch of young women who have gelled as a team of effective role-players over the course of the season.

Of course, talk to any Carolina fan, and they will tell you that the main thing is finishing ahead of Duke.

North Carolina Lady Tar Heels Complete Sweep of NC State, 74-57

TR — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 08:23:05 -0500

The ninth-ranked Lady Tar Heels cashed that exacta ticket last night, ending NC State’s three-game win streak with a 74-57 victory in Raleigh.

In a typically well-balanced scoring attack that saw five players hit double digits, North Carolina (24-4, 9-3 ACC) took an early lead and never trailed.

Tar Heel Italee Lucas led the team with 16 points on 7-for-13 shooting, including two-for-six from beyond the arc. She also added seven rebounds and an assist.

Jessica Breland was a workhorse for the Tar Heels, shooting 5-for-7 from the field with three blocked shots. She was perfect from the line, going 4-for-4.

Point guard Cetera DeGraffenreid was cold from the field, but in her 13 trips to the free throw line, she converted 12 times. She added four assists, a block and a steal in UNC's winning effort.

NC State (12-15, 4-8 ACC) never really got out of the gate for this one. Shayla Fields, their leading scorer on the season, struggled from the field and shot a dismal 2-for-15 from three-point land.

Freshman Bonae Holston was the Wolfpack’s leading scorer with 19 points.

As a team, the Lady Wolfpack shot 30.6 percent from the floor against a stifling Tar Heel defense. When the Pack did get open shots, they were unable to put them down.

"We started off getting really good shots," said interim coach Stephanie Glance. "We just didn't hit, so now Carolina is off to the races in their transition. We just were a step off tonight. Everything was a step slow."

The Heels were up by 12 at the half.

NC State managed to cut the lead to nine midway through the second half, but the Tar Heels responded with a 9-0 run over the next four minutes. The Pack would never get close again.

North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell has said all along she believes her team would improve over the course of the season, and they are proving her right.

Maybe senior Rashanda McCants has the explanation.

“We play our best basketball when we play as a team," said the senior forward. “Sometimes we're a little selfish, and when we talk to each other and let each other know it's team basketball, then we can (pull) away from the opponent. It happens every time. It's pass the ball and get the assist, and incredible shots get made and people get going."

Now the Lady Tar Heels are deep into the homestretch. With three games remaining in the regular season, they are in third place in the ACC and looking poised and ready for more success.

On Thursday night, the Tar Heels host Miami (13-14, 2-10 ACC). Three days later, they head over to Durham to take on their good friends, the No. 10 Lady Blue Devils (22-4, 9-3 ACC). They close out the season with South Dakota.

This is some horse race.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

North Carolina Women Looking For The Exacta Against North Carolina State

TR — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:02:53 -0500

The 10th-ranked Lady Tar Heels of the University of North Carolina (23-4, 8-3 ACC) will take the court in Raleigh tonight, hoping to earn a season sweep of the Lady Wolfpack of North Carolina State.

On January 11 the Tar Heels, then undefeated and ranked number two in the nation, had all they could handle on their own court; they defeated the Pack in overtime 75-66.

That game marked coach Sylvia Hatchell’s 800^thvictory, putting her into a very exclusive club. Among women’s coaches, only Tennessee’s Pat Summit, Rutgers’ Vivian Stringer, and retired Texas coach Jody Conradt have notched more wins.

Following the Heels’ home win over NC State, they went on to lose three of their next four games; including two conference matchups and a blowout at home, compliments of the UConn juggernaut. They have since won six of their last seven games.

The unranked Wolfpack (12-14. 4-7 ACC) has posted a four and six record since the January loss to North Carolina. They appear to be on the upswing, however, winning their last three games. All were conference games, most recently an upset of the Virginia Lady Cavaliers.

Despite their inconsistency, NC State clearly has some talent, and they could be getting hot.

Junior guard Nikitta Gartrell has averaged 19.5 points on 15-27 shooting for the past two games. She is a tough player in the clutch.

Against Wake Forest she put down a three to force the game into overtime. She then proceeded to sink another three with six seconds left in OT. The Pack won that game by four.

Sophomore forward Tia Bell had eight blocks against UVA, a school record. She has tallied 14 blocks in the last two games.

As a team, the Lady Wolfpack has committed fewer turnovers than anyone else in the ACC, a statistic that could be important tonight.

The Tar Heels have a balanced and highly effective offense, with four players averaging double figures. They have out rebounded their competition on a consistent basis, and they have a bona fide shot-blocker in Jessica Breland.

Cetera DeGraffenreid has developed into a reliable point guard with good court vision, and the ability to make smart decisions on the fly.

Senior Rashanda McCants always comes to play and understands the importance of every game at this stage in her career. She wants a title.

It’s a natural rivalry in which NC State is 24-10 at home. Three of UNC’s four losses were on the road this year, and the Pack will be out to avenge that January loss. It could get interesting.

The only certainty is that the Heels are in the home stretch now and are well aware of the importance of every one of these last few regular season games. Forget rankings, records, and everything else about this season. These two teams will play on an even court tonight.

Do we expect anything less in the ACC?

North Carolina Women's Basketball Team Shakes Off Boston College 92-68

TR — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:37:35 -0500

The 10th-ranked University of North Carolina women hoopsters rolled into Chestnut Hill Thursday night looking for a big win over the unranked Boston College Eagles. They got the win—92-68—but not without a fight.

The lady Tar Heels came out looking like a high school team, shooting one-for-seven and committing four turnovers in the first five minutes.

The lady Eagles on the other hand could do no wrong, going up 13-6 on the strength of a 9-0 run, largely fueled by Stefanie Murphy’s outside shooting and the defense of Mickel Picco.

Sylvia Hatchell went to her bench for help, but the Tar Heels quickly found themselves down 18-6. The many Carolina fans at Conte Forum were scratching their heads and wondering why these imposters were wearing UNC uniforms.

With 12:58 left in the half, Rashanda McCants drained a jumper to spark a 20-5 run to put the Tar Heels up 26-23 with 5:20 left in the half.

The Eagles were not about to be run out of their own gym just yet. They put some points on the board to take a 34-31 lead, but the Tar Heels had their own idea about ending the half.

They went on an 11-0 run to go up 42-34, thanks to some tenacious defense and strong rebounding.

BC’s Jaclyn Thoman sank a three-pointer at the buzzer, sending the teams to their locker room with Carolina up by five.

The Tar Heels came out hot to start the second half, going up by 14 within the first five minutes. Defense, rebounding, and shot selection were key as the Tar Heels went up by 26 at one point.

The Eagles never gave up, but the Tar Heels never looked back.

In the end, the Eagles were just overmatched. They were out rebounded 41-34. The Carolina bench outscored theirs 28-14. Tar Heel Jessica Breland’s four blocked shots were three more than the entire BC team achieved.

McCants finished with 19 points and eight rebounds for North Carolina. Fellow Tar Heel Cetera DeGraffenreid scored 18 points and was a perfect 10-for-10 from the line.

Murphy scored 19 for the Eagles. Carolyn Swords, who started the game with an NCAA-leading 68 shooting percentage, finished two-for-five thanks to a good defensive job by the Tar Heels.

This was a sloppy game, with both teams combining for 49 turnovers. BC shot 38.8% from the field and 61.1% from the line.

UNC’s Iman McFarland left the game early with a concussion.

The game marked the first time Hatchell coached against one of her former players. It was not just any former player either. This was Sylvia Crawley, a member of Hatchell’s 1994 championship team.

Before the opening tip, a moment of silence was observed in memory of former N.C. State coach Kay Yow, who died last month after a long battle with breast cancer. No matter the outcome, this game was definitely played in the Pink Zone.