Pats Gameday Linkage

A bunch of links while we count down to the Eagles preseason game.

Don Banks tries to decide if Pats fans should panic or chill. Put me firmly in the chill category, seriously I know it's a great story for people to write about the demise of the Patriots but it just isn't the case. The biggest advantage the Pats have is Bill Belichick and his game plans, something that doesn't exist in the preseason. Until the real season everyone just needs to calm down.

Speaking of chilling, a poster named "NEInsider" posts from time to time on the ESPN message board. Though we can't tell for sure, it's seems very plausible that this his posts are legit. It's been a while since we last heard from him but a new post popped up today. Take it for what it's worth, but if you're a Patriots fan he always posts stuff that makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside:

Don't have much time this time of year but here are some thoughts flying back last evening. Hopefully my daughter will post this for youall on Monday.

1. We never ever game plan for first two pre-season games and in all honesty why would we show anyone anything before the season starts. The other teams need to worry about us because we really do not care about the results and final score.  Why do youall think we went for 2 the previous game?? Other than hitting other teams players and evaluating rookies, younger players, or position switches these games have little value in the overall picture of what we will look like during the regular season and beyond

2.  Tampa had a game plan for last nights game which made them look good.  Besides that Tampa is a good and well coached team and if there is no specific gameplan for Jon's team you will get your butt kicked and we did. That said I doubt they would enjoy playing us during the regular season although we all think that Tampa is a team to watch in the NFC.  They could surprise.

3. Mayo and Wheatley are as advertised.  If anything Mayo is even smarter than any of us realized and Wheatley is not far behind.  The surprise to me is Crable.  Very smart kid and those legs may look skinny but they are rock solid muscle and he has a chance to be a difference maker off the edge and has really surprised in pass coverage. All three play fast which is not the case for many combine stars.

4. Stop worrying about the Offensive Line. They will be fine.  Blocking schemes are different for every team you play. Scar is as good as it gets and remember last preseason.  Forget about the SB play of the O-Line.  It might have been the most difficult game I have ever been involved in because of the distractions. We lost all of Saturday trying to refute lies and stupidity which affected players and coaches. Believe me when I say we have not forgotten who and why those distractions existed. If that incompetent little worm from Hawaii ever opens his mouth again he will spend the rest of his life in court defending his worthless life without a certain pathetic and senile US Senator providing free legal services. His free ride on his transgressions were from us not the Feds or Mass authorities and one little package mailed to either one would cause him serious life altering pain. Yes I would love a couple of minutes alone with him.

5. I have always been a Favre fan and that is a major upgrade for Jets. Yeah, I know he can lose sight of the game plan but he can beat you with his smarts more than people realize. Brett is very smart and likes to use the "aw-shucks" attitude to make everyone think he isn't.  If Brett stays focused the Jets will be a playoff contender.

We are all looking forward to another season where we compete for another Superbowl title.  please remember that the goal here is to compete year in and year out for a Championship.  If you play in enough of them you will win some and you may lose one or two even if you are the better team.

Here's an article from Charlie Weis about what Bill Belichick is really like. I know the media always wants to paint him as an emotionless tyrant but that just isn't the case. Belichick doesn't care what people think about him, he doesn't go around blowing his own horn about all the good he does outside of football. He just does it.

Albert Breer was once a Pats Beat Writer before the Herald before going to Dallas, and now he's at Sporting News. He always had great insight into the game and it appears that Belichick thought so too, giving him a one on one interview. This online article is just the outtakes but it's still some interesting stuff. I guess you have to buy the magazine to read the real thing. Which I will be doing this weekend.

Great read from Jason Cole of Yahoo about how in sync Brady is with his receivers, especially Welker. How do you stop them?

Radio stations you can stream online for the game today, for those stuck at work like me.

Finally The History of the New England Patriots is being released on DVD on November 7th. Preorder your copy here...