Tom Brady

let money get in the way of keeping their receivers. 

Deion Branch developed a rapport with Tom Brady and was obviously Tom’s favorite target. But their chemistry didn’t matter when Branch wanted to be paid like a top receiver. Both starting receivers left in 2006 as David Givens signed with Tennessee as a free agent and Branch was traded to Seattle. New England thought the combination of Reche Caldwell and Jabar Gaffney could replace the departures. Nowhere close. The offense suffered, and the replacements didn’t make plays Branch and Givens consistently did. 

Continue reading "Stayings or Goings Part 1"

And Tom Brady can be confident that Holt will make the catch because he still has two of the best hands in the league and Holt won’t flinch to make the catch, even with a defender barring down to deliver a hit. 

Continue reading "Window Shopping"

Today soon-to-be Free Agent Vince Wilfork went on WEEI in Boston and said, in a 320-pund nutshell, that he wants a long term deal or he wants to be free to seek one elsewhere. The Patriots informed their free agents that they would contact them in early February so the fact that Wilfork hasn't been contacted yet should not be a red flag.

Continue reading "Wilfork Decision a Major One for Belichick"

ld the team at halftime…A tip of the cap to the Patriot players selected to the Pro Bowl: QB Tom Brady, NT Vince Wilfork, and Welker. WR Randy Moss and S Brandon Merriweather will attend as injury replacements.

Continue reading "Pick Six: Wild Card"

DL Haloti Ngata has a picture of his contact with QB Tom Brady’s helmet. LB Terrell Suggs will have the time of his personal foul written on the tape on his wrist. WR Mark Clayton spent extra time catching passes so he won’t drop another fourth down pass. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Wild Card"

We knew coming in that Tom Brady's return was the headline for the start of the 2009 and really that was just about the only really great thing that happened all year. If you were there on opening night (like I was) you probably saw the best game of the season. In the moments after Brady pulled off his greatest 4th quarter comeback of his career all seemed right in the world for the Patriots.

Continue reading "A Quick Look Back at the 2009 Patriots ..."

eep the continuity as best as possible, but I hope the offense goes the unpredictable route that QB Tom Brady suggested. The first step would be to start WR Sam Aiken. 

No big deal? Yeah, maybe. But this wrinkle could help the passing game along. 

Continue reading "Welker Remix"

After that, it’s a case by case basis. 

Quarterback Tom Brady said he will play and I hope every able bodied player joins him on the field. It looks like the Patriots right now are playing great football on both sides of the ball heading into the playoffs. It’s encouraging and they should keep the momentum, if not build on it. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 17"

Years later it was used against QB Tom Brady. I think it was the New York Jets when coached by Eric Mangini that turned the tables. That’s good company to be in for Fitzpatrick. 

2. The pass rush had their best day of the year. They totaled six sacks on the afternoon. They were led by OLB Tully Banta-Cain with three. And ILB Gary Guyton picked up his first career sack as well. This was New England’s best sack day since they had seven against Miami in week 16 of 2007. 

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 15"

Imagine a transcript of a conversation between the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills. Only the Pats' words had been recorded: 

Oh my goodness…is that who I think it is? Oh snap! Buffalo Bills! I can’t believe it’s you! It’s so good to see you! How long has it been? A couple of months or something, right? Since week one? Daaaaaaaaaaamn! That long? Man, time really flies, right? Fo’ real! 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 15"

As far as I’m concerned, QB Tom Brady’s knee is fine. It’s everything else that’s bothering him. 

What’s known is Brady has a bad ring finger on his throwing hand, hurt ribs, and there’s also the “chronic” throwing shoulder. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were other nicks and dings that Brady is playing through but won’t mention. 

Continue reading "The Cassel Treatment"

From the first losing streak since 2006, to QB Tom Brady calling out his teammates, to the distraction of the Tardy Four. New England’s focus has been put to the test. The coaching has been put into question. Players have been accused of not trying hard. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 14"

ut of players than by embarrassing them in front of everybody. 

After the loss to Miami, QB Tom Brady said about the team, “…I don’t think we fight very hard.” When asked to clarify on Wednesday, Brady said some weren’t putting in the hard work during the week to get the team out of the slump they’re in. 

Continue reading "The Message?"

Whether it is a slot guy or the tight end, QB Tom Brady doesn’t trust them. 

It’s not just that the Patriots are a first half team. They owned the second half in years past. Now they can’t put teams away, even with what used to be secure double-digit leads. Halftime adjustments are non-existent. 

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 13"

That’s understandable, considering QB Tom Brady said after the last game between the teams that Porter’s statement of genuine hate between the players inspired the Pats. 

The proof was in Porter’s state line for the game: He didn’t register a single tackle or sack. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 13"

First and foremost is listening to Tom Brady and Bill Belichick's interviews from WEEI that are posted as podcasts on Monday and Tuesday respectively. Nowhere else will you find Coach Belichick more open and relaxed. Sure you still get some of the standard responses: somethings were good, some things were not so good... we've got to coach and play better...

Continue reading "Patriots Turn the Page to the Miami Dolphins"

dy Moss and Wes Welker pretty much taken away, there wasn’t a consistent third option that QB Tom Brady count on. 

In all honesty, even if Seymour and Gaffney were still on the team, it wouldn’t had mattered. The final score might had been closer, but New England still would had lost. 

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 12"

QB Tom Brady continues to set new team records. He passed Drew Bledsoe in career completions and tied the franchise record with his seventh 3,000-yard season. 

6. It wasn’t all good. The blocked punt was the first blocked punt by the Jets since 1986, a span of 371 games. 

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 11"

We’ll get a good look at him to see if he really has pro potential. 

QB Tom Brady is a very different player from week two. So is Sanchez, but in a bad way. It will be a little cl

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 11"

The decision will live in infamy. In simplest terms, you play it safe and force the opponent drive the length of the field instead of risking a turnover. I understand why head coach Bill Belichick went for it on fourth and two, but that was the wrong side of the 50 to attempt the play. 

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 10"

on Vollmer and the rest of the offensive line, a unit that might play without C Dan Koppen, to keep Tom Brady safe. If the unit accomplishes that Sunday night, then maybe it’s safe to speculate Vollmer starting ahead of Light. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 10"

It’s being called the Rivalry of the Decade, and who can argue with that? They are the winningest franchises since 2001. They’ve had countless encounters in the playoffs. Each team has one of the league’s best at the quarterback position. These former division rivals continue to add memorable chapters to their history, and this game should be no different. 

Continue reading "Game of the Year"

WR Wes Welker wasn’t even targeted in the first quarter. But when Tom Brady looked for Welker in the second quarter, his first three receptions each went for first downs. 

6. S Pat Chung picked up his second sack in as many weeks. It was a great call as he came in on a delayed blitz to take down Miami’s Chad Henne. 

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week Nine"

The offense’s big three of QB Tom Brady and WRs Randy Moss and Wes Welker will get their share of votes. Beyond them…good luck. 

As much as we like ILB Jerod Mayo, his injury set him back. He’s eighth on the team in tackles. No one from the front seven has a chance of getting voted in. 

Continue reading "Pro Bowl Ben?"

Alright, Tom Brady. The grace period is over. Now it’s time to be yourself again. That means the accurate surgeon capable of lighting up the scoreboard with few errors should finally be back. You’ve had enough time to work out the kinks. No more excuses. 

Continue reading "The Real Tom Brady"

I'm gonna hit Tom Brady really hard." Something like that. Until then we wait...

Continue reading "Patriots Patiently Waiting for Joey ..."

triots bye came at a great time, as they now face five games that will determine the 2009 season.

Tom Brady has had three months of football without missing so much as a practice. While he showed some signs of rust in September, he also flashed the icy cold composure that won him three Super Bowls. The fact is that the Patriots, at 5-2, are under the radar, and their best players are just starting to get healthy and play their best.

Continue reading "The Real Season is About to Start ..."

QB Tom Brady might have his hands full, thanks to his wife Gisele (lucky), but I’m sure he’ll sneak in extra work to fine tune his game. 

Brady has already come a long way. He didn’t flinch when a Tampa Bay defender rolled towards his feet on Sunday. Brady stood and delivered a perfect strike for a completion.  

Continue reading "Good Bye"

It wasn’t as smooth as years past, but it’s understood with QB Tom Brady back after a season on the sideline and a defense that went through a lot of change. 

The bottom line is New England is 5-2 with a bye week ahead of them. What perfect timing! They’re already in London, England. Why not hang out a little for a vacation before coming back home? 

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week Seven"

Way to bounce back, Tom Brady. He tied a personal record with six touchdown passes, five of them in the second quarter. The last time a player had five TDs passes in a quarter was 1950. I’m not ready to say Brady is back, but it was a great day to fine tune his game. 

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week Six"

How long should it take for QB Tom Brady to return to form? How much longer before he’s excelling on a consistent basis? When does Brady regain the confidence in his reconstructed knee to the point he doesn’t think about it anymore? 

Continue reading "Seven Weeks"

nge in leadership? New England replaced the injured QB Drew Bledsoe with unknown second year player Tom Brady. And when Bledsoe was healthy, he remained on the bench because Brady executed so well. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 5"

He’s outplayed beloved QB Tom Brady this year, and it’s not even close. 

I’d say a few words about the Ravens rush offense, but if I keep this up, I might start believing the Patriots have no chance against the Ravens. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 4"

ed to the Patriots 2001 Championship (no offense Drew Bledsoe, but you wouldn’t had done what Tom Brady did that year, or in the other two championship seasons). I just didn’t think it would be so unbalanced. 

Continue reading "Full Time Fred"

He’s close. You know it. He knows it. And it’s frustrating Tom Brady to no end to being just a little off. Brady had a handful of overthrows or didn’t put the ball in exactly the right spot. It should come back to him in time, but for now Brady will beat himself up until the touch returns. 

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 3"

The Patriots offense was virtually shut down by the New York Jets. QB Tom Brady was unable to get the offense into the endzone and was constantly rushed by a relentless New York blitz. It got people saying the Jets had the blueprint for beating the Patriots and with the rest of the league as witnesses, every opponent will follow suit. 

Continue reading "The Blueprint"

Super Bowl 43.

But when you look at the big picture, what did Patriots fans think would happen?

Tom Brady would come back after a devastating knee injury and immediately return to 2007 form? Even when Randy Moss and Benjamin Watson were the only receivers with whom he had any familiarity?

Continue reading "What Did New England Patriots Fans Expect?"

There were a couple of highlights (QB Tom Brady and the secondary), but everywhere else there was plenty of room for improvement: inability to gain first downs on short yardage runs, dropped passes, lack of a pass rush, etc. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 2"

A little over a year ago, I met Bob Hyldburgh as he was working on his book, "Total Patriots." Now that it is done, I sat down with him to learn more about the book and what's in it.

Continue reading "Total Patriots Interview"

Of the new arrivals, only TE Chris Baker caught any of Tom Brady’s 39 passes. 

Feeling His Way: It took him a while, but Brady found his rhythm in the second half. After completing 59 percent of his passes in the first half, Brady raised his game to 84 percent for 219 yards and two scores. His confidence in his knee will grow as the season progresses. 

Continue reading "Pick 6: Week 1"

QB Tom Brady instantly became a core player by leading the team to the first Championship in 2001. LBs Tedy Bruschi and Willie McGinest were long time Pats before and now own three rings. S Rodney Harrison was signed as a free agent in 2003 and was a part of two titles. CB Ty Law shined brightest on the biggest stage. And DT Richard Seymour started during his rookie year and established his importance to the team. 

Continue reading "The Core"

Besides the fact that QB Tom Brady is back, New England signed WR Joey Galloway to be the third receiver. And Fred Taylor will help a healthy (for now) Laurence Maroney carry the load at running back. 

Continue reading "Out of Reach"

Tom Brady – While the hit Brady took from Washington DT Albert Haynesworth looked bad, by how Brady was moving his arm on the sideline makes me believe his shoulder truly is just sore. I really would had liked to see how Tom bounced back after taking that hit, but can understand why the coaches pulled him from the game. Brady overall did play well. He even moved around in the pocket to buy time a couple of times. 

Continue reading "Pick Six"

I wanted to see how Tom Brady would play after his first major injury. I was curious about how the defense would play, taking certain interest in the pass rush. And the backfield has a standard to reach with Laurence Maroney back and Fred Taylor a new addition to the team. 

Continue reading "Dress Rehearsal"

d Mark LeVoir can get extensions? With Eli Manning and Phillip Rivers getting mega deals, what will Tom Brady ask for when his negotiations open up? If Ted has four oranges and Mike has seven, then what is the capital of Scandinavia? 

Continue reading "Fishy Deals"

What will Tate be when he’s fully recovered? Tate’s injury happened about a month after Tom Brady suffered his ACL-MCL tear. While Brady is already on the field trying to regain his feel, Tate remains on the sidelines. 

Continue reading "Waiting on Tate"

than three yards a pop. 

There probably was a focus to get the passing game in sync with QB Tom Brady playing his first game since September as well as taking the first step towards restoring his confidence in his reconstructed knee. Throwing the ball plays to the Patriots’ strength, but they have to run the ball to keep defenses honest. 

Continue reading "On the Run"

After one preseason game, what stood out? 

Tom Brady – for someone coming off a major knee injury, he looked better than I anticipated. Two throws in particular weren’t on target, but otherwise, he needs to work off the rust. 

Continue reading "Pick Six"

Lost in the hype of Tom Brady's return and Julian Edelman's Welker-like performance was the fact that the Patriots played the 4-3 defense almost exclusively against the Eagles. All off-season the biggest question has been who would fill Mike Vrabel's OLB spot in Bill Belichick's vaunted 3-4 defense, but with a deep group of talented defensive lineman, including rookie Myron Pryor who started and looked excellent, and other veterans experienced in the 4-3 defense like Derrick Burgess, Paris Lenon and Rob Ninkovich, the Patriots look like they may be considering a schematic change.

Continue reading "New England Patriots: 4-3 or Not ..."

It’s no surprise that QB Tom Brady wants to play in the opening preseason game. He loves to play so much that he can’t wait to experience live action again, even if it’s in a glorified practice. 

Continue reading "The Sooner, the Better for Brady"

Let’s take a quick inventory, shall we? 

The Patriots have Tom Brady, Matt Gutierrez, Kevin O’Connell, and Brian Hoyer at quarterback. 

The receiver position is stocked with Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Joey Galloway, Brandon Tate, Sam Aiken, Greg Lewis, Matt Slater, Shun White, Terrence Nunn, and quarterback-turned receiver Julian Edelman. 

Continue reading "Signing Vick ?"

Patriots football is back and if you're like me you spent all day today scanning the various media outlets for reports on what was going down on Day One. And also maybe setting your desktop with pictures of Tom Brady once again in full pads.

Continue reading "Patriots Training Camp Begins: What We Learned"

back in the matter of one season. 

Expecting that O’Brien will do similar things with Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and new third receiver Joey Galloway is unfair to O’Brien. But if New England doesn’t consistently put points on the board, then O’Brien isn’t doing a good enough job. 

Continue reading "Camp Countdown"

e new swagger-licious Jets?

The only way to get a sense of what Ryan might try to do to stop Tom Brady, Randy Moss and company, is to look back when the mighty 2007 Patriots met Rex's Baltimore defense in week 13 of that season.

Continue reading "Patriots Have Reason to Fear Rex Ryan's Defense"

On Saturday, I saw this man, Jesus Christ. Today, Patriots fans will see their savior, Tom Brady, take the field with the team for the first time since his knee injury. 

According to all reports, Brady’s recovery following surgery to repair his ACL and MCL is on schedule. Naturally Tom Terrific is hungry to go all out and go above and beyond. Thankfully the coaching and training staff will hold him back when necessary. 

Continue reading "Brady Back, but Patriots Still Not Complete"

Mario Williams is a workout wonder.

We are going to unleash Vernon Gholston on Tom Brady!

We're gonna finish last in the NFC West like we always do.

If you told me a year ago we'd trade Cassel and Vrabel for a second-round pick I would've thought Cassel was the the throw-in.

Continue reading "It's Okay Patriots Fans, You Can Say "We""

In honor of the first day of April I am making my first post in over a month and a half. While my break from Pats-related writing was mostly due to the overwhelming nature of my real job, I continued to keep a close eye on all things Pats.

Continue reading "Back in the Patriots-Blogging Saddle"

QB Tom Brady doesn't play favorites so Galloway better be as good as advertised, if not better, or he won't see many passes come his way. And that's a real concern with a receiver that's 37 years old. Galloway might had been the fastest player on the Buccaneers, but exactly how fast is that?

Continue reading "Mike Wright Done Right"

As football fans across the globe cast their longing eyes in the direction of the April draft, I decided that now might be a good time to reflect on draft classes of the last 10 years. Too often in this business, we rush ahead to the next big event without taking pause to evaluate the past and learn from it. In a way, this study will still be a celebration of the coming 2009 draft as I believe it will shed some light on certain overlooked trends that no one ever stops to consider. I will begin with a class by class showdown of sorts at the quarterback position over the last 10 drafts.  First up, we have the class of 1999 taking on that of 2000:

Continue reading "NFL Quarterback Draft Class Showdown: 2000 vs 1999"

7:27 in the first quarter of the first game, but in many ways the season died right then and there. Tom Brady’s MCL and ACL were shredded when Bernard Pollard fell into Brady’s leg as he completed a 28-yard pass to Randy Moss.

Continue reading "GU! The New "Doh!" for New England Patriots Fans"

All signs indicate Tom Brady will be ready for the season opener. When you have a two-time Super Bowl MVP and the 2007 league MVP returning healthy, even from a serious injury, do you really need insurance like Cassel? It would be a hell of a luxury, but the reality is the Patriots won't be able to afford to pay two QBs starter's money and fortify a team that lacks depth at linebacker and corner back.

Continue reading "Cassel, Your Tag is Showing"

e to get the job done and the top defense in '08 will remain intact.

There's also the question of Tom Brady's return to health. I remain optimistic that Brady will be back for the start of the season, and maybe even play in the preseason. But I expect Tom will have to work the rust off. It will be a full year since he threw a regular season pass. Brady must develop the confidence to put his full weight on his leg after having his left knee reconstructed following knee surgery.

Continue reading "Team of the Decade"

The price for Matt Cassel has gone up. I don't know if Cassel was fed the "I would back-up Tom Brady because the Patriots is his team" line or if these are his true feelings, but it sends a message out to the league that New England doesn't have to trade either quarterback. They could have the best depth at the position in the league with two Pro Bowl-caliber passers on the roster. So if your team needs a franchise QB and you can't draft either Matt Stafford nor Mark Sanchez, acquiring Cassel will be at a premium price.

Continue reading "Swirling Trade Winds in Foxborough"

Let's review:

Brady Says Rehab Going Well - While speaking to a Toronto radio station, QB Tom Brady said his recovery from ACL surgery is progressing. Well that's reassuring! I remember when the two conflicting reports came out - one saying Brady could miss the 2009 season due to setbacks and the other relying on other sources that said everything is on schedule. This announcement by Brady doesn't prove either story, but it puts a Pats fan's mind at ease to a degree. I feel he will be back this year and the Patriots will again be a Super Bowl contender.

Continue reading "Short Takes"

oung's suppose instability.

Matt Cassel: Patriots won't let him go considering the seriousness of Tom Brady's knee injury (remember Pep?!)

Jeff Garcia: Probably the only intriguing option of the bunch.  However, Garcia is terribly injury-prone and quite old...he can't stick around for much longer.  Thus, he would only be a stop-gap.

Continue reading "Issue #2: The Quarterback"

r and spent the last five years working directly with quarterbacks. He was an integral part of Tom Brady's development. With McDaniels in his ear, Brady had his four best years as a passer, including the record-breaking 2007 season.

Continue reading "McDaniels Leaves the Nest"

ge for leading the Patriots to 11 wins with 14 players on injured reserve, including key players QB Tom Brady, S Rodney Harrison, and LB Adalius Thomas.

The journalist who made the statement was NBC's Bob Costas. His explanation, as printed in The Boston Globe:

Continue reading "Stray Votes"

Way back in July, when Tom Brady was still upright, Rodney Harrison was getting ready to make up for the Tyree catch, and Fernando Bryant looked like our starting left cornerback, Randy Moss told the Boston Globe he was scared.  

Continue reading "2008 New England Patriots: Epilogue ..."

gland leverage.

Naturally the pessimists jumped to the conclusion that something is wrong with QB Tom Brady's recovery from his knee surgeries. A report said because of the infection, it sets Brady back to the point he might miss the 2009 season. If that's the case, then slapping a franchise tag on Cassel is insurance if Brady can't return for '09.

Continue reading "Tag! You're Going Nowhere"

rt playing without their starting quarterback? When you're talking about an All-Pro MVP passer like Tom Brady, the other top notch teams would be playing for pride. Would the New York Giants be in position to defend their title with David Carr in place of Eli Manning? Hell no!

Continue reading "Hats Off"

From bostonsportz.com: 

Well it all comes down to this. When Brady went down this is probably about as high as Pats fans' expectations could've been, needing a win in the last game of the season to even have a chance at the playoffs. 

Continue reading "5 Keyz: Patriots vs. Bills"

When Tom Brady went down with a devastating knee injury during the opening game, most New Englanders admitted that the season could end short of the playoffs. That it could include an 11-5 record, the survival of a half-dozen significant injuries and the emergence of a young quarterback and still end the same way wasn't part of that equation.

Continue reading "The Waiting Game"

eason.

The defining characteristic of 2008 is the fact that it's Matt Cassel under center and not Tom Brady. We knew that would be the case within the first ten minutes of the season's start. While Cassel has been better than most expected it still remains to be seen if he can beat a top notch team.

Continue reading "Patriots 2008 Three-Quarters Report"

The offense specifically attacked Smith and made him look silly. Even QB Tom Brady uncharacteristically got in Smith's face after a touchdown pass. Shoot, even head coach Bill Belichick took a swipe at Smith when he said after the game, "I've seen better safetys than him." Dissed by a head coach? Owch!

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 13"

legitimate chance of making the post season in a year that seemed that all hope was gone. 

Tom Brady should be nervous. After all, it seems like Karma to me. Brady did it to Bledsoe, so it was only a matter of time. Speaking of similarities, I see Bill Belichick standing behind Matt Cassel rubbing his hands together and laughing maniacally like a mad scientist. This is a formula. And this is what Bill Belichick had in mind the entire time. 

Continue reading "Building a Cassel"

It's at the point that now people think New England should re-sign Cassel and trade Tom Brady.

The old saying, "everyone's favorite player is the back-up quarterback," never fails.

Continue reading "The Cassel-Brady Debate"

New England Patriots have gone through, how impressed are you by their performance playing without Tom Brady? 

Bill Romanowski:Well I think Matt Cassel has done a very good job. Are they the same team? No, but I’ll tell you what. Matt Cassel probably earned himself a starting job somewhere else in the league next year. Or, depending on how the rest of the season plays out, does New England take the young guy, dish off Brady for multiple draft picks, and really solidifies/secures the future of their organization and their game? You heard it from me first. 

Continue reading "Romanowski on the Patriots"

Holy crap, the Oakland Raiders suck! How do you take a once proud franchise and systematically drain it down the toilet? John Madden, put down the turkey leg and race your Winnebago straight to Oakland and do something about this please!

Continue reading "The Blackest of Holes"

show: Meet the Patri-ouchs!

So let's see here, That makes Tom Brady, Laurence Maroney, Rodney Harrison, Shawn Crable, and now Thomas on injured reserve. Among those five there might be more Pro Bowl selections missing the season than active players with the honor, and Crable hasn't even reached the playing field, let alone Hawaii.

Continue reading "Patriots Mounting Injuries Aren't Funny"

Now that the most important stretch has begun for the Pats, they move forward confidently behind Tom Brady's understudy. The kid gloves are off for Cassel and he has a full grasp of what he must do to help the Patriots win.

Continue reading "Looks Like We Got a Quarterback"

ack-up, LaMont Jordan, ranked as first, and quarterback, because of the significance of the loss of Tom Brady, in a close third.

The current state of the secondary's health is tenuous, at best. We saw last week Ellis Hobbs fall hard on his shoulder. He needed to be helped off the field. Lewis Sanders has been in and out of the lineup. And Deltha O'Neal suffered a concussion. If they have to reach for help, they could turn to WR/S Matt Slater, but he was out this week as well. Can Troy Brown still play?

Continue reading "Another One Bit by Bug?"

QB Peyton Manning had more than one knee surgery this year. So did Tom Brady. The difference: Manning had his in the off-season while Brady had his most recent procedure done about a week ago.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 9"

this coming Sunday against the Pats, but for how long?

1.      Tom Brady (NE)—In one play, the Patriots went from Super Bowl favorites to neglected dark horses.

Continue reading "THE ULTIMATE MID-SEASON NFL BREAKDOWN ..."

The hatred has grown to the point that fans all around the country celebrated when Tom Brady went down with injury, noting - whether out loud or to themselves - that it was about time something bad happened to the Pats.

Continue reading "15 yards for unnecessary whining"

It reminds me of 2001.

This isn't about comparing Cassel to QB Tom Brady. That has been done before. More importantly, when the Patriots play well in all areas, it eases the burden of winning on the passer. In other words, less from Cassel is best for the Patriots. It worked for Brady in 2001.

Continue reading "A Team Award for a Vintage Win"

It's obvious he's not Tom Brady so give that comparision a rest. How does Cassel stack up against other backups?

Matt Cassel, 4th season - New England Patriots
64.8 pct 910 yds 3 TD 4 Int 78.1 rating 3-2 W-L

Continue reading "Pick Your Poision"

But it's not. I'm frustrated because with Tom Brady apparently went all knowledge of how to a)cover anybody; b)block anybody or c)muster some freakin' pride and hit somebody.

That's what's most maddening: This has nothing to do with

Continue reading "Texting the truth"

I get it. Keep changing quarterbacks until we find the next Tom Brady. Let's try out Matt Gutierrez and Kevin O'Connell to see if they have that special "it" that Brady has. We already know Cassel doesn't have "it." We'll keep on changing quarterbacks until we find the guy that can lead the team to another Super Bowl win like Brady did.

Continue reading "Any Bright Ideas?"

The Boston Globe is reporting that QB Tom Brady had successful surgery to repair his injured knee on Monday. The anticipated recovery time is about six to eight months.

Since it is October, we'll project that Brady will be ready to practice between February and April. He will be a participant in mini-camps most likely and absolutely training his butt off in the weight room.

Continue reading "Get Well...Whenever"

Two - have a quarterback that is in the top 5 in the league – Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Kurt Warner, Steve Young, Troy Aikman, Joe Montana, etc. Three - have a top 5, dominating defense.-the Bucanneers, the Ravens, the Steelers. Now, if you have two or three of these things then you are well on your way. If you don’t have any, well – you get better on defense, get a better quarterback, and/or get a better coach. Why do you think that the league was so engaged in the Bret Farve saga that ratings even went down on “As the World Turns” during the summer?  Or why did the Kansas City Chiefs take a flyer on often injured Joe Montana (oh yeah-they made it to the playoffs didn’t they). Why do you think that people like Parcells and Bill Cowher, and retreads like Joe Gibbs and Dick Vermeil are courted like Queen Guinevere in a short skirt? This is how you create the culture that other franchises have and the Houston Texans don’t.   

Continue reading "Culture of Mediocrity?"

After the QB Tom Brady injury, I wrote a column about WR Randy Moss fulfilling his role as a team captain. Just two weeks later, there are reports of Moss exhibiting the bad behavior that the Minnesota Vikings tired of and the Oakland Raiders wouldn't deal with.

Continue reading "The Randy Rules"

nder if just changing the routes is all the coaches have to do.

Cassel's build is very similar to Tom Brady's. The Pats do a good job of finding players that fit the system. This is a offense designed for a drop back passer. Cassel is tall enough to see over the line and has the strong arm to stand and deliver the ball to his targets.

Continue reading "Personalized Playbook"

win in our face, saying his statements were more about the Patriots not being the same team without Tom Brady. While I buy Porter's post-game statements, I feel inside he's gloating about the whupping laid on the Pats.

Continue reading "There's Something About Miami"

Doesn't the Patriots defense realize that with Brady out for the year that they not only need to show up, but they need to play well for NE to have any chance of winning.

Cassel was no Tom B yesterday, but things could have been much worse, on the offensive side anyway. 

Continue reading "Patriots absent in New England Yesterday??"

saw these comments by Miami LB Joey Porter about QB Matt Cassel on ESPN:

I just know he's not a Tom Brady. So if it's not Tom Brady, it shouldn't be that hard.

You treat him like you treat a backup. How do you prepare for a backup? He don't get that many snaps, right? So you throw the kitchen sink at him. That's what we're going to do.

Continue reading "Thank you, Joey Porter"

are probably expecting to read (or at least skim) some bitter, semi incoherent rambling post about Tom Brady's left knee and the dirty Chiefs and the especially classless fans of the NFL who actually had the gall to celebrate and commemorate a horrific injury to the league's best player, but I've gotta leave something for Simmons to do, so that will not be a part of my post today.  Instead, I'm going to hide from my problems inside the twisted world of the NBA, where my beloved Boston Celtics are still champions, and my mistresses, the Portland Trailblazers are looking better than ever and are brimming with talent and potential.

Continue reading "Little Wing?"

He knows the offense. But his strengths are different from Tom Brady's. A lot of plays will be the same, but others will be exchanged for what Cassel is comfortable with. There probably will be more screen plays, but that doesn't mean downfield passes are out of the attack.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 2"

Washington, with Wes Welker and Donte Stallworth, were going to be the explosive targets Tom Brady was in dire need of.

But a little trade for WR Randy Moss on day two of the NFL Draft changed Kelley's role from competing for playing time to playing for a roster spot.

Continue reading "On offense"

What if Tom Brady had his knee torn up while on the road? Would the hostile crowd cheer?

I give Kansas City fans the benefit of the doubt. I don't think they would relish watching an opposing player writhing in pain from a blow to the knee. Nor would they celebrate their player for taking out an opponent for the year.

Continue reading "Have We Sunk This Low?"

The first guess from a Patriots fan would be 56, as in the first time in 56 games that Tom Brady was not listed on the injury report, he got injured. They might have a point, but I'd have to disagree. 56 also represents the jersey number for Andre Tippett who entered the Hall of Fame in August. So 56 isn't totally unlucky.

Continue reading "Unlucky number"