Deltha O'neal

How often have you done something over and over until it becomes reflexive? Has that action ever become so repetitive that you lose track of what you’re doing while repeating this task? 

Continue reading "Ellis Hobbs: Addition by Subtraction"

A little over a week ago, The Boston Globe said a source close to LB Tedy Bruschi knows the linebacker wants to return for next season. And earlier this week, Pro Football Weekly said S Rodney Harrison's recovery from a torn quadricepts is going so well he wants to come back in '09 as well.

Continue reading "One More, Bruschi, Harrison?"

The facts are daunting.

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

Continue reading "Goal to Grow"

So say you work at the manufacturing plant for GM, and you're the guy who sticks the rear view mirror on the car. Along comes the next automobile, and you slap that damn mirror on so fast and so perfectly you can't help yourself - you break into a minute-long celebratory dance. And man, do you look good.

Continue reading "Quality play? That's secondary to this secondary"

You know, it's a good thing that the Patriots will have the Brigham and Women's/Mass General Health Care Center on the grounds of Patriot Place in 2009. If the '09 season is like this year, then the Pats will have a lot of their players as patients.

Continue reading "Another One Bit by Bug?"

Life ain't fair. As the Patriots lose player after player to injury, the Indianapolis Colts are getting healthy.

RBs Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan will miss their second game in a row while Indy's Joseph Addai likely returns.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 9"

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

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 7"

So moved was I by the Patriots play on Sunday night that I picked up my cell phone in the middle of the second period and punched in the following analytical text message:

Patriots = bad at football.

Continue reading "Texting the truth"

Will the Patriots play the season with a grudge? To be more precise, will Bill Belichick coach with a chip on his shoulder, intent to embarrass all teams that cross his path?

Think about the leads the Patriots had in the second half and how long he left the starters in the game. The pinnacle of rubbing it in was the total destruction of Washington, 52-7. The first unit scored their sixth touchdown to make the score 45-0 with 9:06 left in the fourth quarter. They converted a 4th-and-1 on Brady's last drive and a 4th-and-2 during a drive that ended in a 10-yard touchdown run by Matt Cassel.

Continue reading "Eye to the future"

I don't think I mentioned it earlier, but I do like the Deltha O'Neal pick-up. He's not too old and had a few great seasons. Joining this team is incentive enough for O'Neal to regain his focus and approach his Pro Bowl level of play. Put O'Neal in a veteran locker room with coaches Bill Belichick and Dom Capers, two of the best at coaching the secondary, and you'd have to like the chances of O'Neal bouncing back.

Continue reading "Is O'Neal for real?"

It's not everyday a buddy from out of state comes up to visit. But it's amazing how much can happen when you turn your back for just a moment.

I was counting on the Patriots to make a move or two. Assembling a practice squad was a no-brainer. S Mark Dillard, RB BenJarvis Green-Ellis, LB Vince Redd, CB Mike Richardson, and DB Antwain Spann get to play scout team and possibly move up to the active roster somewhere down the line (or get signed to the active roster by another team).

Continue reading "Juggling Act"