August 24, 2007
Overall, a solid performance tonight. Special teams looked extremely good on the field goal blocks, while Gostkowski missed a couple field goals, but both were bombs – 46 and 52 yards. The specifics I saw tonight:
Sammy Morris looked VERY good. From running over Morgan for a first down in the 1st quarter to executing a screen very well, Morris impressed me quite a bit tonight.
Maroney looks good. His cuts were sharp, and he took some pretty big hits. If he can stay healthy this season, he’s going to be a 1400 yard guy.
Rodney Harrison is my hero. For a couple weeks now, he’s been laying hits like he’s 27 all over again. It’s great to see him back out there.
Wes Welker is going to absolutely destroy teams underneath. I can see Belichick sending Moss and Stallworth deep down the sidelines, Watson up the seam, and Welker will catch balls 7 yards out all day long and turn them into 15 yard gains.
Heath Evans looked pretty solid tonight. He popped Jon Beason pretty nicely at one point – welcome to the league, rook. I still wish the Pats took him in the draft.
Oscar Lua looked like a man ready to prove he belongs in the group of 53.
CJ Jones – signed in June, Jones looks to make his mark on special teams. I really liked the way this guy caught the ball on punt returns and immediately had the vision to see where the seam was. He’s a long shot, but he was impressive.
Overall, the first units looked very good. Even without Moss on the field, Brady executed well, and found the open man every time. Once he’s out there, things are only going to get better.
August 17, 2007
The Patriots locked up 1/3 of the best defensive line in football yesterday, inking Ty Warren to a deal good through 2011. This is an example of the Patriots organization paying the players they think are irreplaceable. On top of Warren getting paid, he’s getting paid two years early. We all know it’s been policy not to renegotiate deals outside of the last year of a contract, but they make exceptions. Brady, Seymour, and Warren are all important enough to the organization to make sure they get signed before it becomes a problem (Seymour held out for a short time, but the deal got done).
Warren said after the deal, “I always said I still had two more years to play on my contract, so I definitely wasn’t going into the season thinking something like this could happen. But the opportunity presented itself and they were more than reasonable, so it went down and it went down fluidly. It just goes to show that when things are handled behind closed doors, they run smoothly.” That’s how it’s done. Other players should take notes.
Warren is probably the most underrated DE in football. He and Seymour go hand in hand – if you take one away, the other becomes less effective. This is a solid signing by the Pats, and a clear message to Asante Samuel that the team thinks he can be replaced.
July 31, 2007
Bill Belichick makes me laugh. When Chad Scott went down in training camp and had to be carted off the field, we all knew it was bad. After all, he landed awkwardly on the same knee he had surgically repaired a while back. What does Belichick do? He describes Scott as day to day right up until putting him on IR. It’s not even pre-season yet, Coach! Lighten up a little bit!
Anyway, here’s what’s buzzing around Patriot Nation today:
Mike Reiss reports on the Scott injury – and notes some of the possibilities to replace him. The last possibility he mentions is of course the best – coming to some kind of terms with Asante Samuel.
Steve Buckley writes a piece on Wes Welker. Guess what? He’s short.
Dan Pires gives us a few quick looks at Bruschi, Meriweather, and Brady.
All is pretty quiet around camp, which is a good thing. The most news you’ll get out of Pats camp is either an injury or Tom Brady having his kid. For now, we’ll just sit tight and wait for preseason.
July 30, 2007
How we don’t need him and all that? Yea…about that…
As you’ve probably heard by now, Chad Scott seriously injured his knee – the same one that had to be surgically repaired a while back. That means that the Pats depth at CB looks something like Hobbs, Gay, James, Andrews, Richardson (R), and possibly Meriweather (R). Personally, I think if Rodney stays healthy, Wilson should move back to CB rather than Meriweather, but who am I to question Belichick?
Other news out of camp is that Jabar Gaffney is taking full advantage of Stallworth being out on the PUP list. The Boston Globe reports that Gaffney is working hard to earn his spot on the roster.
John Tomase writes about the difference Brady is seeing with his WR corps this season as opposed to last. Really? There’s a difference? I thought Caldwell / Gaffney / Brown would be the same as Moss / Gaffney / Welker! Seriously, when Stallworth gets healthy this is going to be an insane squad.
July 27, 2007
The wait is over. Training camp starts today outside of Gillette Stadium. Going into the preseason, it’s tough to be anything but insanely optimistic for this ballclub. On paper, it is by FAR the most talented team ever to step on the field for New England. Here’s a quick look at the hype going around New England and elsewhere at this point:
Dan Shaughnessy writes about the hype surrounding the Pats this year. He also buys into the rumors that this is Belichick’s last year (which I think…and hope…is completely untrue). Let’s think: if it was Belichick’s last year, would he have traded away a 1st round pick this year for one next year? Would he have taken on possible problem children and risked his “last year” being a disaster? I don’t think so.
John Tomase writes about the questions facing the Pats as they head into camp. He touches on the obvious questions about Moss, hefty expectations, and the Asante Samuel situation. He also wonders if Maroney can carry a full load. (At this point, I don’t think he can.)
Telegram.com talks about the tests Moss will face as a New England Patriot. Rodney Harrison speaks rather highly of Moss, which is promising. Rodney is one of the guys we’re going to depend on to keep Moss in line.
The Providence Journal talks about how heavily the Pats are favored this year, and exactly how Rodney Harrison is going to find a way to play the “no respect” card. (Trust me – he’ll find a way.)
There’s a new game in town. Make sure to check out a new place for all things Patriots. Patriots Daily is just starting up, and looks to be quite promising.
In all, I’m happy the preseason is finally upon us. All I need now is some resolution on the Samuel issue and a contract for Meriweather, and I’ll be a VERY happy guy. Here’s to hoping I have to change the graphic above come next February!
July 19, 2007
I’m one of the many people these days that has a good sized commute to and from work. In the 40 minutes I spend in the car each way, I listen to nothing but ESPN Radio. My drive home used to be great – Erik Kuselias is a great radio personality, and he knows his stuff. However, he left for a NASCAR TV gig a few months ago.
In comes John Seibel. He makes me want to plunge sharp objects deep into my ear canal. Yesterday, he unloaded on the Patriots and any person emailing in about the Patriots. Apparently, Randy Moss isn’t going to work on the Pats – he’s going to become a distraction upon the team’s first loss. Also, according to Seibel, Asante Samuel was the top defensive player on the Patriots last year, and they’ll suffer without him. Ok first off, anyone who doesn’t cite Richard Seymour as the best defensive player on the team is completely and utterly clueless. Second, this team runs on a system based defense. As long as your name isn’t Starks and you’re intelligent, you’ll most likely do okay. Earthwind Moreland ring a bell? Third, three of Asante’s picks were gift wrapped ducks from one Rex Grossman. Puh-leeze.
The fact that people still think Moss is going to be a problem baffles me. Brian Cox seemed to work out pretty well. Rodney Harrison? Yup – he’s been great. The ultimate malcontent, Corey Dillon? He got his ring. What people like Seibel don’t understand is this: WINNING CHANGES EVERYTHING. On top of that, you have to think back when Randy Moss started being a problem. What had changed? He lost his veteran leadership when Chris Carter retired. The Patriots squad has so much veteran leadership on it that Moss will get absolutely flattened the first time he loafs on a play.
I’m not sure what Seibel’s deal is. Maybe he’s a fan of an AFC rival. In any case, I don’t mind that he dumps on the Pats or their players. What gets me is the fact that he’s supposed to be informed, yet he comes up with very poor reasoning for why the Pats aren’t going to do as well as expected this year. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and say he’s trying to make good radio that will cause people to spout off in their blogs the next morning.
July 18, 2007
Troy Brown is back in the fold. Outstanding.
He’s never had the flash of a Randy Moss, the production of a Marvin Harrison, or the antics of a Chad Johnson. How could anyone with only one 1000+ yard season and only three 800+ yards seasons be so important to a franchise? Easy.
Troy Brown is the consummate team player. He has never proclaimed “Just Give Me the Damn Ball.” He’s just gone about his business catching 557 balls for 6300+ yards. The team’s down a handful of DBs, you say? No problem – Troy will learn the defensive playbook and work both sides of the ball. While he’s at it, he’ll grab 3 INTs. Need a return man? He’s got your back. He racked up 4400+ return yards between punts and kicks over his 14 year career.
The best example of what makes Troy Brown exactly the guy we want and need came last year against the Chargers in the playoffs. Late in the game, Tom Brady throws a pick that effectively put the nail in the coffin. Rather than giving up on the play and calling it a season, Brown got his hands on the ball and stripped it right back, giving the Pats another life and ultimately the win.
They’ve started the whole Patriots Hall of Fame this year. This man’s face should be on the entrance to the building.
July 16, 2007
After several reports this weekend of an imminent long term deal with Asante Samuel, it turns out now that nothing has really changed since the Pats made their initial offer. I guess we shouldn’t be surprised; the “source” of the reports was someone not directly related to the talks. His agent has stated otherwise, as reported by the Herald: “Alonzo Shavers, the agent for free agent cornerback Asante Samuel, indicated that the two sides continue to talk with the hope of hammering out a long-term deal before today’s 4 p.m. deadline. There were even indications late last night that the two sides were on the verge of a deal, but Shavers scuttled that talk. “I haven’t said anything remotely close to that,” Shavers said. “You got it from the horse. The horse can’t speak no louder.”’
Personally, I’d rather not have someone on my team who didn’t want to be there. They can end up a T.O. style distraction (although Samuel doesn’t have the juice to make that much noise) or they can just take up a roster spot that can be better served with a 3rd string gunner on special teams.
I still think in the end the Pats should stand firm on what they have offered or get him out the door (and the division) for a 2008 pick or two.
July 11, 2007
The Boston Globe has reported that Mr. Patriot himself, Troy Brown, is about to re-sign with the team. It really not much of a surprise for two reasons: Belichick has stated all off season that Troy was in his plans, and his versatility makes him more valuable than the average WR. Personally, I’m very happy to see him back. He’s a team player, and he comes up big in big spots (see: XXXVI or the SD playoff game last season).
Welcome back, old man.
July 3, 2007
As you may recall, SI named Robert Kraft the best owner in football last year. Well, he’s done it again. This article by Michael Silver once again places Kraft at the top of the ownership heap. After the offseason the Pats just had, it’s hardly a surprise.
What is a surprise is the statement Silver makes about the Branch trade. He calls it a misstep. Here’s the thing: not only did the Pats come minutes away from another Super Bowl appearance (and a certain victory thereafter), but they also ended up with a much stronger roster this season because of it. In return for Branch, the Pats received Seattle’s #1 pick. With that pick, they took Meriweather. That made the Pats original first round pick expendable. What did they do with it? They traded it, of course. In return, they received San Fran’s 4th round pick in 2007 (110 overall) and their 1st round pick in 2008. We all know what happened with that 110th pick…it went to Oakland for Randy Moss.
So overall, the Pats traded Branch for Randy Moss and San Fran’s #1 pick in 2008. Oh, by the way: Moss is playing for $3 million, while Branch, who is undoubtedly less talented, is playing for about twice as much. That’s a misstep? I’ll take it in a heartbeat.
