Pats Pulpit

Easy to be happy about the Saints' win

2010-02-08T23:22:10Z

Against all odds, against popular opinion, the team representing the battered-but-still-standing New Orleans pulled off the seemingly impossible: they beat the juggernaut of 2009, the Indianapolis Colts, 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV. The NFL could not have scripted this any better: both teams, almost going undefeated in their respective conferences, finally meet in the biggest American sporting event of the year and the underdog triumphs. The state of New Orleans, still suffering from the effects of Hurricane Katrina, got its much needed moral victory.

It's easy to be happy for the Saints and the state they represent. It's also easy to indulge in a little schadenfreude at the expense of the Colts and their fanbase. I do not relish beating up on the fans of a losing team, but it's hard to forget the beating we took from rival fanbases, particularly the Colts faithful, after our loss to the New York Giants. The absolute invective aimed our way was unseemly. It is refreshing to see that we, as Patriots fans, have not engaged in the same. Well, at least not on THIS blog. Ok, maybe a little.

The debate about the "Team of the Decade" is over: it's unequivocally our New England Patriots. 14-4, 3-1 vs. 9-9, 1-1. If you don't recognize the numbers, those would be playoff records and Super Bowl records between the Patriots and the Colts. We are the team of the decade by the only measure that matters: Super Bowl record. Colts fans can argue all they want about our recent 1-5 record against Indy and the 2nd half of the decade failure to bring home the Lombardi, but when I go to Patriot Place at Gillette Stadium and stare at the Championship Trophies side-by-side, all of that washes away.

There's nothing like some hardware to end a debate. You can throw in my face the 4 MVP's Manning has won. You can argue stats all you want. But Patriots fans simply win the argument with the most important stat of all: 3 Super Bowl victories to Indy's 1. That would be 2 more, btw. I would be shocked if Peyton Manning wouldn't give up all the regular season records he's amassed for that same amount of hardware. Win last night and he may have had a shot at the "best team of the decade" debate. Not any more. Finished. Fin. Finito.

Now we get to the best QB of the decade. It is clear to me that Manning is an absolute stats monster. He has that, and may always have that, over Brady. What he doesn't have is hardware. Now, before you tell me SB wins are a team accomplishment, that the quarterback is just another cog in the wheel and, by virtue of the number of rings he has, can't be lofted to heavenly heights simply based on hardware, I say, "Bupkis."

Please don't tell me that you assume the quarterback's performance in a Super Bowl is at the same level of importance as, say, a special teamer. That's just ignorant. Quarterbacks make decisions, with ball in hand, more than any other player on the field. Their quality of play, or lack thereof, can drastically affect the outcome of a game (sounds like a job for our stats guru, The Hill, re: QB DVOA and rating vs. SB wins). Anyway... If you don't believe me, I give you (dun dun dun), The Interception.

Tom Brady has NEVER, I repeat, NEVER made as egregious an error as Peyton Manning did with 3:23 left in the 4th quarter. The NFL's regular season MVP put the ball in the hands of the Saints' Tracy Porter who ran it back for a 73 yard pick six, essentially sealing the fate of the Indianapolis Colts. Again, Tom Brady has NEVER made that error on the biggest stage in American sports. Never. You can debate all you want that Reggie Wayne ran a bad route, but the fact remains Manning, who many claim as the best of the best, let that ball go when he shouldn't have. (credit should also go to the Saints defense for totally befuddling the "best"). With that pick six, the debate is over. Tom Brady stands alone at the top.

I'm happy for the Saints and, as a Patriots fan, glad they bested one of our most "hated" rivals. The Colts had a terrific season and did so by beating some exceptional teams. They made it to the biggest game in town. But, in the end, they didn't measure up, especially their leader. I would be surprised if Peyton Manning didn't feel the same way.

New England Patriots Links 2/08/10 - Saints' Super Bowl Win Proves 18-1 > 16-3

2010-02-08T17:51:27Z

Tracy Porter's pick-six of Manning was the play of the game.

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Mike Reiss offers this Super Bowl thought: Peyton is no Brady.

Peyton Manning is a great quarterback, but what we learned tonight in Super Bowl XLIV is this: He’s no Tom Brady in the pressure moment on the game’s biggest stage.

Looking to lead the Colts back from a 24-17 fourth-quarter deficit against the Saints, Manning threw an interception that cornerback Tracy Porter returned 74 yards for a touchdown, a key play in New Orleans' 31-17 upset victory.

It was a costly mistake, the kind of miscue that Brady, in his four Super Bowl appearances, never made in the critical fourth-quarter situation.

Even in the Patriots’ Super Bowl loss to the Giants, Brady had led a fourth-quarter drive for a touchdown before the defense couldn’t hold.

For all the stories that were written over the last week about which quarterback was the best of the decade – Brady or Manning – one aspect was overlooked: How Manning would lead the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV.

If you measure a quarterback by how he responds in the pressure moments on the game’s biggest stage, the debate ended with authority tonight.

Dan Shaughnessy jumps back on the Brady bandwagon. Don't hurt yourself Dan.

This game was supposed to be the coronation of Peyton Manning (hard to believe some nitwits were actually saying he’s better than Tom Brady) and the justification for Bill Polian’s decision to tank the final two games of the Colts’ regular season. We were going to tell you that the Colts won every game they tried to win and could have surpassed the 1972 Miami Dolphins.

TEAM TALK

Erik Scalavino and Andy Hart debate: Would Tim Tebow, the former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, fit with the Patriots?
Erik Scalavino reports the Patriots coaching staff is undergoing changes, with Belichick taking on an increased role in the defense.

LOCAL LINKS

Tom E. Curran points to Peyton Manning's lost legacy, saying Joe Montana and Tom Brady never threw up on their shirts in the final three minutes of a Super Bowl.
Karen Guregian notes Saints coach Sean Payton gambled, and his aggressive style won them the game.
Adam Kilgore reports that when Peyton Manning walked off the field without shaking hands, he thought he was being deferential. Interesting.
Ron Borges elaborates on Tracy Porter's pick-six of Manning that sealed the deal and put Peyton in place - Best regular season QB in the NFL. Playoffs belong to Brady.
Ian Rapoport details Tracy Porter's fateful pick-six of Peyton Manning, the result of great film study.
Karen Guregian points out that the sins of Indy remain unforgiven. The Patriots did it the right way, trying to win every time they took the field.
Jim Donaldson asks if you had to take one QB to play a championship game, would you really take Manning over Brady?
Christopher Price lists his ten things we learned from Sunday: Saints are more than just a symbol of hope, they are a really good football team.
Tom E. Curran offers five thoughts from Super Bowl XLIV.
Dan Duggan offers the best and worst of the Super Bowl game.
Mike Reiss shares Gino Cappelletti's thoughts on the Super Bowl.
Kirk Minihane offers one man's diary from a somewhat confusing Super Bowl.
Mike Reiss compares the Saints offseason vs. the Patriots offseason with both teams needing to sign a number of their free agents.
Mike Reiss breaks down the Patriots coaching staff.
AP Roger Goodell: Ban on 3-point stance possible, as league keeps looking for ways to make the game safer.

NATIONAL NEWS

NFL Game Center: New Orleans Saints 31 - Indianapolis Colts 17.
Michael Silver (Yahoo! Sports) In the rush to crown Peyton Manning as the best QB all time, Tom Brady is being ridiculously disregarded. And this was written before the SB.
Tim Graham (ESPN) Brady still ahead of Manning in QB debate.
Paul Kuharski (ESPN) Pick, loss hurt Manning's legacy.
Alex Marvez (Fox Sports) Quarterback sneak: Manning beats an unhappy, hasty retreat without shaking hands.
Phil Richards (Indy Star) Colts' glorious decade ends on bitter note as Brees, Porter lead New Orleans Saints.
Bob Kravitz (Indy Star) Football gods get their revenge on the Colts.
Tim Graham (ESPN) Saints make Colts look unprepared.
Vic Carucci (NFL.com) Super Bowl loss reveals uncomfortable truth about Colts.
Peter King (SI) MMQB: Who Dat, indeed: Two nobodies play vital roles in Saints' Super win.
Mike Sando (ESPN) Manning, Montana and Super Bowl legacies.
Tedy Bruschi (ESPN) Bruschi recalls the moment the Patriots came out as a team in Super Bowl XXXVI.

Joe Lombardi is the Saints quarterbacks coach – his grandfather is Vince, the coach for whom the t...

2010-02-08T15:54:28Z

Joe Lombardi is the Saints quarterbacks coach – his grandfather is Vince, the coach for whom the trophy is named. Around midnight last night, Payton noticed Lombardi posing with his father, Vince Jr. and his two brothers. "I just thought to myself, ‘You got to be kidding me,’ " Payton said.

Extra Points: The Saints story keeps getting sweeter

10 Super Bowl Observations

2010-02-08T10:55:53Z

1. All Heart. Garret Hartley should have been Co-MVP with Drew Bress. 3 40+ plus field goals on the biggest stage of the year to keep his team within reach was big.
2. Robert Who? Great job by Jon Stinchcomb in shutting down Robert Mathis. I don't believe I heard Mathis's name called once all night.
3. Who has got the biggest balls of them all? Sean Payton's on-side kick to start the second half was the biggest play of the game. This set the tone for the second half and showed that Sean Payton was going to roll the dice no matter what the price was.
4. Question. If Sean Payton was not successful with his on-side kick, would he have been as criticized as Bill Belichick and his fourth and two decision?
5. Pierre Garcon was a beast. Garcon looked more like the #1 receiver than Reggie Wayne did. Coverage may have dictated Wayne being obsolete, but Garcon could not be covered last night.
6. Hey Greg, this Buds for you. Gregg Williams shut the Colts down in the second half with an array of defensive looks and timely blitzes. Tracy Porter timed perfectly where Manning was going to throw on that third down conversion that was intercepted.
7. Reggie Bush finally looks like the number two pick in the 2006 draft that the Saints drafted and expected.
8. Has anyone seen a more in tune combo than Dallas Clark and Peyton Manning? Some of the throws that Manning threw on the run to Clark were amazing.
9. Karma has won at last. Losing the Super Bowl could not happen to a better guy. Sleep tight Polian.
10. Sorry Peyton. When it comes to stats you are the best, hands down. When it comes to Super Bowl rings, Brady beats you out. Winning number two and three are harder than you thought.

SB Nation Super Bowl XLIV Open Thread

2010-02-07T19:56:32Z

SB Nation Super Bowl XLIV Open Thread

This year, we're doing something a little different. Instead of having each blog do their own open thread, we're setting up a central thread at sbnation.com. Head on over and chat it up with fans from other teams. See ya there!!

Super Bowl Coverage

2010-02-07T18:46:04Z

The big day is here, gang. Yeah, I know it's not what we as Patriots fans would've wanted, but you have to admit it's a good chance to pull people together, cook up some food, and have a good time. That's what I plan to do. Who do I want to win? Well, it's incredibly hard for me to cheer against the Saints. HC Sean Payton has spoken gushingly of our New England organization and Bill Belichick, so how can you not like the guy even if his team absolutely destroyed our Patriots?

I'm having a very hard time coming up with a prediction on this one. The Saints, with Drew Brees, are a high powered offense capable of tossing the ball to any number of "receivers"; Brees is extremely good at spreading the ball around the field. However, as good as their offense is, their defense has been cracking heads all year. They're known for beating up receivers within that 5 yard zone and knocking them off of their routes.

The problem? Peyton Manning is having one of the best years of his life. As much as us Patriots fans hate to admit it, he really is one of the most dangerous QB's on the field today. The only chance for the Saints to win is to take away his receivers. Sure, pressuring a quarterback is the easy answer and everyone uses that as the magic bullet, but Manning has one of the fastest releases in Football and will burn you on a blitz. I believe the Saints best chance is to beat up Indy's receivers when they start their routes. They used that tactic with our Patriots and it worked.

SB Nation has tons of coverage for today's big event. Check it out after the jump.

1) SB Nation Colts blogger, BigBlueShoe from Stampede Blue, was
credentialed by the NFL and has been on the ground in Miami for the
media days providing incredible coverage and interviews from a Colts
fan perspective. He has setup a special section on his blog that
gathers all his reports together:

http://www.stampedeblue.com/section/stampede-blue-at-super-bowl

2) SB Nation Saints blogger, Saintsational at Canal Street Chronicles,
was also credentialed by the NFL and just landed in Miami to cover the
Super Bowl for the Who Dat Nation. Check out his coverage:

http://www.canalstreetchronicles.com

3) For you stat heads, mgrex03 on Stampede Blue has a stats preview
series:

I: http://www.stampedeblue.com/2010/2/2/1288192/super-bowl-statistical-preview
II: http://www.stampedeblue.com/2010/2/4/1291893/super-bowl-statistical-preview
III: http://www.stampedeblue.com/2010/2/7/1299171/super-bowl-statistical-preview

4) BigBlueShoe got a really interesting interview with Peter King
including some back + forth about sports blogs:

Part I: http://www.stampedeblue.com/2010/2/5/1296896/stampede-blue-has-a-beer-with
Part II: http://www.stampedeblue.com/2010/2/5/1297717/stampede-blue-has-a-beer-with

5) We also have Joel Thorman from Arrowhead Pride credentialed at the
Super Bowl and covering it for SBNation.com. He has been updating an
epic Super Bowl StoryStream from the ground + Dave Halprin has been
adding the best content from around network. This is an excellent
single big PREVIEW link that pulls everything together:

http://www.sbnation.com/2010/2/1/1287184/super-bowl-colts-saints-coverage

Keeping the facts straight on Pats and Colts

2010-02-07T04:39:09Z

Keeping the facts straight on Pats and Colts

"The Patriots, as [Ron] Borges points out, have foot-dragged on too many key players. In a month, seven key players will become free agents. That's a troubling stat on a team that was already in semi-rebuilding.

But intimating that the Patriots have been tight with tie money is false. From 2005 to 2009, the Patriots spent $539.9 million on player compensation. The Colts spent $545.7 million. The Jets -- who went free-agent bananas in 2008 -- spent $542 million. And if the Patriots had reached accord with Vince Wilfork before last season began as they were trying to do, they'd have blown away the five-year spending totals of both the Colts and Jets.

No team had to deal with the unique dynamic of being a dynasty in a salary-capped NFL that the Patriots did. When guys become "Super Bowl champions," their price goes up. Whether it's Randall Gay or Damien Woody, David Givens or Deion Branch, Ty Law or Asante Samuel, Adam Vinatieri or Marc Edwards, champions are coveted by other teams when they hit free agency. The Patriots had three teams full of Super Bowl champions and they were raided appropriately both on the roster and on the coaching staff. They couldn't keep them all and they didn't try to. They picked their battles and tried to replace through the draft and free agency. They had hits. They had ugly misses.

They're currently facing the fallout of some of those misses -- whether it be Adalius Thomas, Laurence Maroney or Chad Jackson -- and it muddies their future.

But it doesn't change the past. Likening the success of the Colts since 2006 to the Patriots' decade of Lombardi-choked excellence is comparing hamburger to steak."
-- Tom E. Curran

New England Patriots compensatory draft picks: Bloody useless.

2010-02-07T02:44:43Z

via upload.wikimedia.org NOT Kareem Ackbar.

View full size photo »

Lately on the Pulpit, there's been some speculation and questions about compensatory draft picks.

For those unfamiliar with what compensatory draft picks are, I'll offer an uncomprehensive explanation. The NFL adds an extra 32 choices to the draft, above and beyond that of the 32 in each round. Those extra picks are awarded to teams that either lose more free agents than they gain, or to teams that lose better free agents than they gain. Basically, the higher the pay of the outgoing free agent, the higher the pick awarded by the NFL - from the 7th round right up until the 3rd. As their name suggests, they're meant to compensate for the loss of proven talent to free agency.

Anyway, back to the gist - will the Pats get any? What will the Pats do with them (if any are awarded)?

My answer at this stage to the first question is: I don't know, it depends who they lose to free agency versus who they sign from free agency (and that's in 4 weeks). So if Wilfork, Mankins, Bodden, etc walk and the Pats don't sign free agents to replace them, potentially yes.

My answer to the second is: Meh. It doesn't matter.

What? It doesn't matter? But they're a draft pick, Hoodie doesn't waste draft picks, right? Right? Well, actually... I'll explain after the jump.

Clint Oldenburg. Justice Hairston. Corey Hillard. Mike Elgin. Dan Stevenson. Le Kevin Smith. Ryan Claridge. Andy Stokes. Hakim Ackbar. Leonard Myers. TJ Turner. David Nugent. Greg Robinson-Randall.

Not exactly household names, right? Le Kevin Smith stuck around the Pats for a season or two and was traded out ignominiously last year. Andy Stokes was famous for being a Mr Irrelevant. Anyone know the others? I'm sure SlotMachinePlayer could tell you that Hakim Ackbar isn't the Star Wars Admiral, but not much more than that. So what have they got in common? They're guys the Pats picked up with compensatory draft picks that didn't work out.

Fine. Some draftees wash out. So who actually made the team after being taken by the Pats with a compensatory pick? From the 2009 draft, compensatory draft picks Tyrone McKenzie, George Bussey and Myron Pryor are still with the Pats, but only Pryor has made any contribution on the field thus far. Going further back in time, the 2005 3rd round compensatory pick (100th overall) produced Nick Kaczur; in 2000 the Pats had a relative gold-mine and wangled out 6th round, 199th pick overall Tom Brady, and in the 7th round, with the 239th pick, they snagged Patrick Pass. That's it.

So, over the years that Hoodie has been drafting in New England, out of 19 compensatory draft choices, only 4 have actually made contributions of any significance on the field - Brady, Pass, Kaczur and Pryor. Four out of 19. Hardly stunning stuff, considering his usual ability to get draftees to contribute. It also puts a spin on the whole "Hoodie has had bad drafts in the last few years" - if you take out the compensatory draft picks, he really hasn't had that bad a run.

Take, say, the 2005 draft. Normal picks? Logan Mankins, Ellis Hobbs, James Sanders and Matt Cassel - a pretty good haul. Compensatory picks? Kaczur, Ryan Claridge and Andy Stokes. Ryan who? and a Mr Irrelevant.

What about 2006? Laurence Maroney, Chad Jackson, David Thomas, Garrett Mills, Stephen Gostkowski, Jeremy Mincey and Willie Andrews - say, a 50/50 success rate. The compensatory picks? Dan Stevenson and Le Kevin Smith - both now gone after almost zero on-the-field contributions in Pats uniforms.

2007? Normal picks - Brandon Meriweather, Kareem Brown, Justin Rodgers, Mike Richardson and Oscar Lua. Overall, pretty patchy, although Brown, Lua and Richardson were plagued with injuries. Compensatory picks? Four washouts - Clint Oldenberger, Justice Hairston, Corey Hilliard and Mike Elgin.

In those supposedly bad drafts, a large proportion of the washouts were those guys taken with compensatory draft picks - crucially, the draft picks that Belichick isn't allow to trade up or down. When Hoodie isn't allowed to move around the draft board to get players, he doesn't seem to have a great deal of success. Pass, Brady, Kaczur and Pryor from 19 picks? Ouch.

So why is there such a low success rate with Belichick's compensatory draft choices? After looking at the picks, I believe it's because Belichick doesn't use them like normal picks. Hoodie's modus operandi with normal draft choices is dancing around the draft board to target players he expects to contribute as role-players; with the fixed compensatory picks, Belichick seems to speculate on long-shots and guys with 'potential'. Let's consider the four guys he's had success with.

Tom Brady is obviously the golden child of Hoodie's compensatory pick bunch. But Brady could not have had a harder time of making the team out of training camp. When he was drafted, he was fourth on the depth chart. Drew Bledsoe was #1, and there were experienced backups in Michael Bishop and John Freisz ; Brady followed these two. In fact, when Drew Bledsoe played badly in 2000 there was a "start Michael Bishop" campaign amongst Pats fans - that's how out-of-the-blue Tom Brady's promotion and success was.

Surely it seemed like the Pats were set at QB - they had a veteran starter in Bledsoe, a gifted backup in Bishop, and a veteran backup player in Freisz. Yet the Pats specifically targeted the QB position with the compensatory pick - according to Michael Holley in Patriot Reign, the Pats said they only considered Brady and Tim Rattay for selection with the 199th. Both Brady and Rattay had previously been projected to drop as low as Unrestricted Free Agency, too, so the 199th pick was a bit of a stretch (amazingly, given subsequent events).

This all suggests two things: a) that the Pats were specifically targeting a QB (as opposed to the usual company line of "best player available"), and b) since they had 3 pretty good QBs on the roster, they didn't really expect Brady to make it. Brady was selected solely as a project player, a guy with potential, a "maybe he'll work out" guy; not as a "we'll take this guy because we actually expect him to contribute on the field" pick. Brady's eventual success couldn't have really been predicted at draft time - he was a flyer, picked for the "what if" value.

That 2000 draft year also churned out Patrick Pass, and, like Brady, he also seemed to have no natural role on the roster. Pass was seventh on the RB depth chart (which already had two FBs - his future role), and was bumped onto the practice squad after training camp. Two weeks into the season, Pass was signed onto the roster and served as a kick returner, part-time running back, and occasional receiver. He even played a little as special teams gunner. In other words, he was initially an athletically gifted roster-filler, and barely in consideration as a genuine RB at all - consider him an early Matt Slater prototype; but seemingly with the potential to bulk up and find a 'real' role on the team.

Compared to the other players taken with conditional draft picks, Nick Kaczur was taken relatively high - a 3rd rounder - and only had to beat out a journeyman T/G in Victor Leyva and a undrafted free agent tackle in Jeff Roehl to make the team. His chances of sticking around were bumped up considerably when he filled in ably for an injured Matt Light in all but 3 games of the season. Interestingly, however, Kaczur was initially projected as a Guard - just as fellow rookie (and first-round pick) Logan Mankins was. Kaczur's selection could be seen hedging the bets in regards to Mankins, as a backup/competition guy in case Mankins was a bust.

Finally, Myron Pryor. Pryor had an uphill battle to even make the roster - he was competing for the backup NT position with incumbent first-string backup DT Mike Wright; incumbent second-string backup DT Le Kevin Smith; 2nd round pick Ron Brace (who the Pats had moved up to get by trading three draft picks to the Raiders, a significant investment); and 7th round pick Darryl Richard, who scored the highest Wonderlic score out of all defensive linemen. Like Brady, Pryor was swamped with competition - two seasoned veterans, a physically gifted draft pick the Pats had already invested in heavily, and the smartest rookie DT around. And like Kaczur, Pryor could be seen as a safeguard pick for Ron Brace - a lower round guy drafted in the same position as the high-round rookie.

So where does that leave us for the 2010 draft? I suggest this - any position could be targeted with a conditional pick. However, I do think there are three clear patterns (albeit 'loose' patterns - no guarantees on accuracy!). The first is that the Pats often use a low-round compensatory draft pick on the same position they use a high-round pick on; the 'plan B' of drafting. For a Ron Brace or Logan Mankins there's quite often a Myron Pryor or Nick Kaczur. Secondly, there's a clear preference for O and D linemen with compensatory picks (although that applies to Belichick's drafting in general). Thirdly, Belichick seems to occasionally draft guys to provide competition for incumbent vets, irrespective of how set they are in the position - Brady was the young blood in a pretty solid QB stable, and worked his way in; Pass similar; and Pryor was a young guy going up against vets for the backup DT role.

Outside of those three vague patterns, all bets are off. Any position is fair game - although that also means I wouldn't rate the chances of any conditional guys actually making the team. They're pretty much set up to fail, and unless something inexplicable happens, they're usually a roster casualty. But when that inexplicable thing does happen, you get a Tom Brady.

Fred Taylor wants to stay with the Patriots

2010-02-06T19:17:53Z

Fred Taylor wants to stay with the Patriots

"I feel like I let some people down, including myself," Taylor said a few minutes ago. "But I’ve got another chance, another opportunity to prove myself."

Taylor, who turned 34 on Jan. 27, assumes he will return to the Patriots to finish out his two-year contract. Any running back with 12 years of experience and 11,540 yards on his tires is a candidate for retirement. Taylor said he is definitely coming back next year.

"I signed a two-year deal," Taylor said. "In my mind, I would like to finish it. I haven’t really spoke to anyone regarding what’s going to happen, but we’ll see soon, I think.

"I’m not going to do Brett Favre to myself. I love Brett. Don’t get me wrong. But when I’m ready to go, I’m out."

Taylor wants to not just come back, but also to compete for the featured role in the backfield.

"I’m not just going back to sit," Taylor said. "I can do that down here."

Bill Belichick to expand role on defense

2010-02-05T22:54:10Z

More photos » Charles Krupa - AP

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Admittedly, I did not see this coming. I figured if either linebackers coach Matt Patricia or defensive line coach Pepper Johnson were not anointed as the chosen one, Hoodie would go outside to find a candidate. That teaches me to forget he's a defensive genius. From his bio on patriots.com:

During his time as the Giants' defensive signal caller, his units were never ranked lower than 11th in the NFL and finished as high as second in the league three times, including the Super Bowl seasons of 1986 and 1990. His contributions with the Giants throughout the 1980s brought him national recognition as one of the best young assistant coaches in the NFL.

I never saw it coming, but it makes perfect sense. Why not give Belichick the reins, put him in charge of calling the defense? After hiring Corwin Brown as a defensive coach concentrating on defensive backs, he'll have more than enough help and can concentrate on the bigger picture, getting this defense back to its former glory.

This may also indicate a confidence in Bill O'Brien on the offensive side. Or, could Tom Brady be taking on a more active role in play calling? The plot thickens as it always does with Hoodie. At any rate, I think this is a stellar move and I can't wait to see what Bill will do with our defensive guys. Let's lay the hammer down, Bill, let's lay the hammer down.

Props to bbismyhero for this fanpost.

Super Bowl Showdown: Who Wins?

2010-02-05T19:03:28Z

More photos » David J. Phillip - AP

Entertainer Queen Latifah will perform during the pre-game show on Sunday. laughs during a press conference at the Super Bowl XLIV media center, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010 in Ft. Lauderdale , Fla. I put her up because 1) I'd rather not look at anyone from the Colts, 2) I'd rather not look at anyone from the Saints and 3) Queen Latifah is awesome. That's not debatable. She the best. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

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I have a hard time writing this analysis without the Patriots in this game. However, I'll do my best to cast a prediction. The Super Bowl consists of two teams who defeated us during the regular season, in their own domes- one by slaughter and one by comeback. One has the greatest QB in the game (and possibly all time) and the other has the city of New Orleans behind them. Who wins this game?

I'll do a breakdown of every position and compare the two teams. I'll predict the team with the most match-up victories the overall winner of the Super Bowl.

Is it possible to have both teams lose?

More after the Jump.

Quarterback

Peyton Manning vs Drew Brees. Fivehead vs Facemark. Commercial Stud vs Country Boy. Big Arm vs Big Arm. And no Brett Favre! Who wins this match-up? There are no teams with quarterbacks as important to their team as the Saints and the Colts. Pretty Boy Peyton was MVP of the regular season (and rightfully so) and Brees led the league in Passer Rating (for what that stat's worth). Neither QB really put their team in the position to lose (Brees may have against Miami), and both QBs were basically locks to create a late comeback and help win the game. Some similar games they played:

Manning: NYJ (AFCG)- 66.7% for 377 yards, 3 TDs and 0 picks.

Brees: NYJ (Week 4)- 62.5% for 190 yards, 0 TDs and 0 picks.

Manning: NE (Week 10)- 63.6% for 327, 4 TDs and 2 picks.

Brees: NE (Week 12)- 78.3% for 371, 5 TDs and 0 picks.

When facing similar opponents, Manning come out on top statistically. Both led teams to nigh undefeated seasons, ended with straight losses (3 by NO, 2 by IND) to end the season. However, Manning's been he before and I believe that he's the superior quarterback. There is no other QB in the league that I would want to lead my team, down by 2 TDs entering the 4th quarter. Both QBs tend to make costly mistakes that change the pace of the game. I think Manning is the better QB and can overcome those mistakes.

My pick: The Colts.

Running Backs

Probably one of the easiest positions. The Saints. PT Cruiser and Reggie Bush beat Addai and Brown any day. Addai and Bush seem to be used in similar way- short passes and hoping they make big plays. Bush tends to make those bigger plays. PT and Brown as the running backs and PT is definitely the best back in this Super Bowl.

My Pick: The Saints.

Receivers (WR + TE)

Probably one of the hardest positions to compare. Starting with TEs, both Shockey and Clark are liabilities in the run blocking region. Luckily, neither team is a rushing team. Clark is definitely the better weapon in the receiving game, so I'll give the TE edge to the Colts. The Wide Receiver position is harder to judge.

Wayne or Colston - Wayne by a lot. Wayne is easily one of the top 3 receivers in the league. Colston is good, but he's no where near Reggie.

Henderson or Garcon - Push. Both put up similar stats and both can be called upon with reliable hands. Garcon had a monster game in the AFCG. Let's see if he can follow that up.

Collie or Meachem - Meachem put up an absurd stat line over the year, catching (I believe) 5 straight TD passes over a span of 3 games. Collie has emerged, late in the year, as one of the young surprises. I'd have to call this a push as well.

My Pick: The Colts.

O-Line

The Colts O-Line kept Manning the most clean in the entire league. However, the Saints have the leagues two best guards in Jahri Evans and Carl Nicks, who can do a passable job in the passing game, but are the best in the business in the running game. The Colts line kept Manning clean- but they were a one trick pony. They didn't have much to worry about with Manning's quick release and overall skill. I expect the Saints O-Line to be a large factor in this game- can they get the running game going? If so, it'll be a long day for the Colts.

My Pick: The Saints.

D-Line

Freeney is a little injured, but he'll still play. Mathis, on the other side, is just as impressive. Together, they're EASILY the best Defensive End pair in the game. They can hold their own against the run, but they wreak havoc against the pass. Both had double digit sacks and were first and third in generating QB pressure in the entire league. They made the secondary's job MUCH easier and allowed a pair of young kids to make plays. The Saints, on the other hand, had 6 players with 3 or more sacks (to the Colts 3 players), but only had one player break the 10 sack mark. On another down side, Freeney and Mathis each had around 3 TIMES as many QB pressures as any defensive player on the Saints. What does that mean? Manning is going to have a lot of time. What does that mean? Nothing good for the Saints.

My Pick: The Colts.

Linebackers

Both teams have fast linebackers who can make the plays. While the Saints have Vilma, who is probably the best LB in the Super Bowl, the Colts managed to have 3 guys (Bracket, Wheeler, Session) who can all make every play needed. Overall, the Colts beat the Saints in Passing Yards Allowed/Game, Rushing Yards Allowed/Game and Points Allowed/Game. Their versatile linebacker core has a lot to do with that.

My Pick: The Colts.

Secondary

The Saints win games by generating turnovers. New Orleans had 10 more picks than Indianapolis. Darren Sharper is a ball hawk, and their secondary (which work under great coaching by Gregg Williams) can infuriate opposing receivers. There is experience and depth in their secondary, which is necessary when playing Manning. The Colts have two rookies (Powers and Lacey) who are expected to face one of the best passing games in the entire league. That said, they probably have to practice against Manning who is okay in his own right. They've played beyond their years and have excelled in a "bend, don't break" kind of defense which has sound fundamentals and, while they probably won't make a big play, they will make enough stops to make a difference. Their safeties, however, get eaten alive when challenged (specifically Bullitt, whom opposing QBs have thrown at 30 times, completed 25 of them for 400 yards and 2 TDs). When their secondary gets spread out, expect Brees to take advantage.

My Pick: The Saints.

Overall: Colts 4 - Saints 3

I believe that the Colts will win the Super Bowl by a score of 4 to 3.

Wait, what? That doesn't sound right to you? Alright.

Some Key Factors:

1) Saints Passing Game vs Colts Passing Defense - Can the young Colts secondary slow a potent Saints passing game? Prediction: Yes. Mathis and Freeney will go to TOWN on the Saint's O-Line and prevent the Saints from getting into an offensive groove. I'm expecting Brees to go for 250 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs and a fumble.

2) Colts Passing Game vs Saints Passing Defense - Can the Saints handle the best passing offense in the league? Prediction: No. Manning is Manning and is the best at what he does. 300+ Yards, 4 TDs and an INT. Gets MVP.

3) Reggie Bush - Can he continue to make big plays? Prediction: Yes. I'm expecting 80+ Total Yards from Scrimmage and a TD on a 20+ yard play.

4) Dallas Clark - Will he be able to contribute, or will the Saints shut him down? Prediction: No. I think the Saints will focus on taking him out of the game forcing Manning to utilize Collie and Garcon (which he will). Clark won't get more than 50 yards.

5) Turnovers - Whoever wins the turnover battle will more than likely win the game. My bet, is if the Saints win the TO battle by 2+ Turnovers, they win. If the Colts go -1 or better, they win. I predict the Colts to win the TO battle

My Pulled out of Thin Air Prediction: Colts 31 - Saints 24

Or: First Team to 30 wins.

What does everyone else think?

Poll

What will the outcome be?

I am feeling the best I have in a long time. I am working out four or five days a week. I wanted to...

2010-02-05T16:25:28Z

I am feeling the best I have in a long time. I am working out four or five days a week. I wanted to walk away from the game, literally walk away. Patriots will be ok, I should be the defensive coordinator, lol. Pepper Johnson would do a great job!

Rodney Harrison blogs, the "Patriots Will Be Okay."

New England Patriots Links 2/05/10 - Adalius Thomas Upset From Week 1, Didn't Like How He Was Used

2010-02-05T14:41:10Z

Here's the product Adalius Thomas was pitching at the Super Bowl media events.

View full size photo »

Adalius Thomas complains to Felger and Massarotti on WEEI about how mean old Belichick didn't like his week 1 performance against Buffalo, even though he didn't understand how to play his new position.

"I really didn’t understand some of the stuff I was told,’’ Thomas told the radio station. "So I knew at that point it was bigger than what was on the surface. It was bigger than that.

"I definitely didn’t have fun,’’ he said. "It was definitely a frustrating year. Like I said, if I have a problem with someone, I’ll go to them and say whatever. I don’t understand it, bro. It’s mind-boggling.’’

"I was used totally different this year than I was last year before I broke my arm. And even last year, before I came back, I was told that I was going to be used differently. And so with that being the case, I don’t know if that’s really how you do it.

"It was the play of the Buffalo game, whether or not it was sufficient. I really didn’t understand it. I didn’t understand, it was the first game back, the way some stuff went down.’’

Michael Lombardi talks to Dale & Holley on WEEI about the difficulty of putting deals together until the rules are clear, and says he expects the Patriots to build up their line in the draft.

Lombardi said he respects Bill Belichick's team-building ability, which may be delayed this year as teams wait to see what will happen regarding a new collective bargaining agreement. "I think the problem everybody's having right now, and why you're not seeing very many deals done, is nobody knows what the rules of engagement are," Lombardi said. "And in the NFL, before you can make any decisions, you'd better know what the rules are. And then you figure out how to play the game. And that's Belichick's ultimate strength: Show him what the rules are, and he'll figure a way to win the game within the rules. And I think that's what he's waiting for. And I think that's what everybody is waiting for."

Lombardi expects the Patriots to focus on building up their line in the draft. Said Lombardi: "You've got to get faster on defense, which they continue to do, you've got to find ways to rush the passer with more effectiveness, get off the field and help your team."

Albert Breer reports ex-Patriot Randal Gay wants his Saints' teammates to know just how special getting that Super Bowl ring is, and how sickening it feels to lose.

"You get there you’re rookie year and you win a Super Bowl, the year after you won a national championship, you’re like, ‘Man, this football thing is easy. I’m gonna win all the time,’" Gay said. "Then we hit a little drought, then we make it there and lose, so it’s like, ‘Man, I don’t ever want this feeling again.’ "That losing feeling was terrible, makes you sick to your stomach.

That’s what I’m trying to preach to these guys, you don’t want to lose this game, because that felt like it was a wasted season. 18-0 meant nothing. What did I get for going 18-0? A t-shirt? That doesn’t mean anything. But that ring? That’s something special."

TEAM TALK

Erik Scalavino looks at where the Patriots currently stand at the QB, TE and Specialist positions.
A Plymouth mother and lifelong New England Patriots fan became the second Massachusetts Lottery player to win Season Tickets for Life.

LOCAL LINKS

Mike Reiss thinks the root of Adalius Thomas' frustration was that the coaches who critiqued his play weren't on the field with him. He felt he was being "over-coached."
Mike Reiss puts the Patriots coaching staff in focus, and lays out Belichick's options for filling the vacant coordinator positions and TE coach.
Albert Breersays that if the Players Association can count on its players to establish the financial wherewithal to make it through a lockout, that could determine who wins this battle.
Ron Borges reports the Players Association expects a 2011 lockout.
Albert Breer reports as Colts PA rep Jeff Saturday discusses importance of having Brady with the PA.
Adam Kilgore reports DeMaurice Smith outlined why he believes the owners will lock out the players in 2011.
Mike Reiss follows up on CFL pass rusher Ricky Foley's workout at Gillette, "No deal is imminent at this point and Foley is expected to visit a few other teams next week."
Christopher Price reports six New England college football players have been invited to the NFL Combine this February.
Heath Evans thanks the Boston supporters for the successful Heath Evans/Drew Brees Super Bowl 44 raffle. It raised $600k for free counseling to victims of child sexual abuse.
Mike Reiss says Stephen Gostkowski understands the extra pressure of the playoffs.
Christopher Price lists the five most nightmarish moments in Patriots Super bowl history.

NATIONAL NEWS

Tim Graham (ESPN) Thomas bottoms out on Pats roller coaster.
Nolan Nawrocki (ProFootballWeekly) Mock Draft. He has the Patriots taking WR Golden Tate (Notre Dame) at number 22.
Tim Graham (ESPN) Your 2009 All-AFC East team revealed.
Mike Wilkening (ProFootballWeekly) NFLPA's Smith: Lockout looming in 2011.
Tim Graham (ESPN) Shula calls Porter's behavior 'outrageous'.
Tim Graham (ESPN) Gailey's new DC hire George Edwards announced the Bills will run 3-4 defense.
Peter King (SI) Five Super Bowl XLIV things I think: Thursday edition.

New England Patriots upcoming opponents

2010-02-05T01:28:17Z

I've written in the past about how NFL scheduling works; you can find this information in Patriots 2009 schedule: a peek under the hood, Part I and Part II. In these 2 stories, the "mysteries" of the scheduling process are revealed and we find that it's not such a mystery afterall. In fact, the formula is so well thought out that I calculated it for the next fifty years, minus the 2 games related to record. So who are our 2010 opponents?

AFC East - Obvious. We play each team in our division twice, accounting for 6 games: Dolphins, Bills, Jets, Dolphins, Bills, Jets not necessarily in that order.
AFC North - Steelers, Bengals, Ravens, Browns
NFC North - Vikings, Bears, Packers, Lions
Other conference teams with same standing - Colts (South), Chargers (West)

At least 4 games out of the AFC East could be challenging: 2 with Miami and 2 with New York. It's hard to say what Buffalo will come up with, a new head coach and all. In the AFC North, Pitt and Baltimore will give us a run for our money; the Bengals could give us a run for our money, but the Browns are a joke. In the NFC North, the Bears and Lions present little in the way of competition, but the Vikings and Packers are the teams to watch out for in that conference. Then there's the last 2. The Colts and Chargers are perennial sore spots for our Patriots.

This always brings up the same question: Why we play the Colts soooooo dang much? The answer is quite simple, actually. For the 2009 season, it was because we played teams in the AFC South. For 2010, it's because the Colts were Division Champions as were we. We've either had them as part of our AFC South rotation once every 3 years OR we matched up because of record.

The mysteries of scheduling and opponents revealed.

New England Patriots Links 2/04/10 - Brandon Tate Appreciative of Patriots' Gamble

2010-02-04T15:26:00Z

WR Brandon Tate will be an asset to the team in 2010.

View full size photo »

Mike Reiss analyzes which QB should be the highest paid, Brady or Manning.

Ron Jaworski says it should be Brady. “Me personally, I’m about the jewelry,” Jaworski said. “And the jewelry that Tom Brady has is three World Championship rings on his finger. Peyton Manning has one. He has a chance to get two. When all is said and done, maybe he’ll have more than that. But right now, I think the jewelry [says] Tom Brady should be the highest-paid guy in the National Football League.”

Albert Breer talks with Saints' defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.

"I think the world of Bill Belichick," he responded. "I think he's one of the all-time best coaches. ... With he and I, there's a respect factor there."

"We’re talking about this: First guy blows ’em up, second guy cleans ’em up," Williams said, talking about his philosophy on takeaways. "And that’s what we’re looking to do. Again, they’ve played for a lot of coaches. When I walked in the first day in the first meeting in offseason conditioning, on April the 1st, there were a lot of things to be covered in that 30-minute meeting. One of the things I covered was: There will not be an excuse, by anybody in this room, about having a coach slow you down.

"There will not be an excuse about wishing you played for a coach that would let you play, that would encourage aggressiveness the way I’d encourage aggressiveness. All my life, I’ve been trying to speed players up, toughen players up, nasty players up, and I promise you if we live on the edge, and play on the edge, I’ll grab you before you fall off.

TEAM TALK

Erik Scalavino looks at where the Patriots stand at the defensive back position, and what they'll need to improve.
Patriots.com has collected a wide-ranging sample of what the "experts" are predicting the Patriots will do in the first round come draft weekend. Only one Tebow vote this time.

LOCAL LINKS

Albert Breer looks ahead to the rehab and recovery awaiting Wes Welker after his surgery.
Mike Reiss says ESPN analyst Chris Mortensen projected a 9-12 month recovery period for Wes Welker.
Jeff Howe says Peyton Manning's swift recovery from injury bodes well for Tom Brady, and fans should be feeling optimistic in spite of all the 'end of the dynasty' talk.
Mike Reiss notes Floyd Reese, the 2nd year Patriots point man for negotiations, has started working the phones this week. Here is a list of players scheduled for unrestricted free agency and a quick-hit thought on their situation.
Adam Kilgore catches up with former Raiders QB Rich Gannon, who weighs the significance of the Tuck Rule Game.
Jeff Howe says that despite his rocky career, expect Laurence Maroney back in Foxboro for one more year.
Dan Popko notes CFL sacks leader Ricky Foley feels ready to jump to the NFL.
Jerry Thornton ponders just how many ways one can hate Peyton Manning.
Kerry Byrne says there are three things a team and its fans must do to ensure a successful Super Bowl Sunday: win the passing battle, the turnover battle and the tailgate battle.
Mike Reiss notes Steve Muench of Scouts Inc.identified prospects Dezmon Briscoe (Kansas) and Riley Cooper (Florida) who he feels could be a good fit for the Patriots at the No. 2 receiver spot.
Michael Hurley figures Feb. 3 marks the beginning and end of the Patriots dynasty.
Michael Hurley wonders if the Patriots will be investigated for not disclosing Randy Moss' injury.
Globe 10.0: Bob Ryan and Dan Shaughnessy debate whether the Patriots care about their players. After fake-sobbing for Asante Samuel (and reminding him to catch the damn ball), they conclude "No". It's about the $ value BB puts on each player in his position, and whether or not he can be replaced. (2.40 min. video)
WEEI offers the transcript of Heath Evans appearance on the Dennis & Callahan show.
Tom E. Curran spoke one on one with DeMaurice Smith, the NFLPA's executive director, about the issues the owners claim they are confronted with.

NATIONAL NEWS

Robert Boyer (Burlington, NC Times-NewsTop News) NFL's Brandon Tate comes home. An appreciative and hopeful Brandon Tate said, "The Patriots took a chance on me. They must have believed in me. We'll see." Gotta love this guy!
Gregg Doyle (CBS Sports) Eckel's murky Navy exit leaves shadow over Super Bowl appearance.
Ken Belson (NY Times) The Who, and the Super Bowl's evolving half time show.
Fox Sports Top 10 Super Bowl Personalities.
Frank Deford (SI) Fooball has been number-conscious since the dawn of the Super Bowl.
Ross Tucker (SI) Manning (drool) is the best (slobber) ever! Yada, yada, yada...
Ryan Fowler (WhatifSports) Tale of the Tape: The Colts need Manning, the Saints need Brees more.
Tim Graham (ESPN) NFL's best O-line? Not the Jets.
Adam Schefter (ESPN) Sources: QB Brees to get new deal. The top three QBs all negotiating this offseason.
Jack Bechta (Nat'l Football Post) More trade demands are coming: With no salary floor and fewer free agents, some players will look to change teams.
Andrew Brandt (Nat'l Football Post) Frustration continues on NFL labor front: As uncapped year approaches, both sides refuse to budge.
Tim Graham (ESPN) Time to bone up on NFL labor trouble.

Show me the money - what is Kraft thinking?

2010-02-04T01:19:07Z

More photos » Gretchen Ertl - AP

Browse more photos »

Normally, I dislike the Boston Herald's Ron Borges to the point of distraction. He's right up there with the Boston Globe's Dan Shaughnessy. Their both founding members of the "look how smart I am because I'm so negative on the team I'm covering" club. Well, Borges isn't quite as bad as Shaughnessy, the queen of the club, but I think you catch my drift.

Normally, I can't stand Borges but today, he's right. In his story Unlike Patriots, rival Colts willing to pay the price, he correctly sums up many of the "perceived" money issues plaguing this franchise. Example: instead of playing the "oh no, what's a new CBA going to bring" card, Colts owner Jim Irsay shrugs it off as business as usual:

"Quite frankly, Peyton’s deal is not the hard deal that everyone has talked about. We’d like to get something done in the offseason. That’s what we usually have done."

No complaining about the CBA, no big deal, business as usual. Pay the man. Do you honestly want Manning playing on another team, AGAINST you? I think Tom Moore just choked on his gum. I'm not saying Tom Brady's deal will be that big of a deal and that Kraft will be guzzling Pepto for weeks prior, but statements from Foxborough about the uncertainty of the future labor market make it seem like Kraft, Inc. is setting the stage for a battle over money.

Let's take Brady out of the picture for a moment, shall we? Guys like Tom and Fivehead are no brainers. In a salary capped world, it's the rest of the team that becomes an issue. You see, there's only so much pie to go around. Sure, there's ways around that (million dollar bonus for having a clean locker or something), but the hardest part is keeping a team together, especially after they experience success. A player's career can be so short in the grand scheme of things; they want to do right by their family and strike while the fire is hot. Who can blame them. But Irsay doesn't seem too worried about the supporting cast either:

"It’s critically important that we still have the ability to have that great supporting cast because you have to try to keep the (Pierre) Garcons and the (Austin) Collies - they’re going to be coming up - and this next era going into the new decade. But it’ll get done. No question about that. It’s something we’ll focus on in the offseason. Both us and the Patriots will have the franchise tag sort of thing but normally it doesn’t come down to that (for the Colts).

Another reality that Borges delves into with Irsay is the Colts use of the draft. Indy has long been bullish on developing and retaining players through the draft. There's almost no activity from that franchise during the free agency period. Compare that to New England and you'll notice a feeding frenzy of free agent signings in Foxborough. The draft is the key for our rival:

Irsay pointed out the Colts have eschewed big free agent signings that can go bust and cost you millions (Adalius Thomas and Rosevelt Colvin come to mind), preferring to build through the draft and then working the numbers to keep those players. To do it the Colts have been at or near the top of the salary scale for years, paying the price for excellence rather than seeking cheap replacements for key departures.

Paying guys like Vince Wilfork seems like a no brainer, that a guy so critical to the success of your team should be compensated. But Kraft seems to believe, in general, that he can find "value", a diamond in the rough to replace everyone. Why take the risk? You have a known star in Vince. Why quibble over a few million or an extra year? Again, Irsay doesn't seem too bothered by shelling out some cash:

"We’ve been in the top five of payroll and have been No. 1 more than once in this league," Irsay said. "We pay tens and tens of millions of dollars cash over cap to the tune of in excess of $40 million, $50 million cash over cap this last decade. There’s strong belief here that drafting the best players and keeping those players is the best way for us to succeed.

Don't get me wrong. I haven't converted to the dark side and there's no horseshoe on my hat, but it'd be silly not to give a nod to the organization that made it's way to the Super Bowl this year. They have to be doing something right. Sure, it's easy to say "I'm right" when venus aligns with mars and your team ends up at the Big Dance. For how many years did the media write glowingly of "The Patriot Way", of players eschewing mega contracts to keep the core together? Well maybe the sheen has worn off a bit. Maybe "The Patriot Way" of old, that of finding value, will no longer work.

Maybe, just maybe, "The Patriot Way" needs a good, swift, kick in the breeches.

"I really think if we were in the other conference, we probably would've been to three Super...

2010-02-03T23:59:21Z

"I really think if we were in the other conference, we probably would've been to three Super Bowls," Irsay said. "This probably would've been our fourth. In '03, '04, '05, we lost to the team that won the Super Bowl, the Patriots twice and the Steelers.

It's hard really when you try to come up with everything that goes with that equation on the team of the decade, because obviously with some of the individual and team accomplishments that we've had - the 23 regular-season wins in a row, 115 wins in regular season - that's something really special...So again, it's made it even more impressive and quite frankly, it's almost unimaginable when you think of seven seasons in a row with 12 or more wins."

Jim Irsay wonders how many Super Bowls his Colts would've won if the Patriots didn't exist

New England Patriots Links 2/03/10 - Welker's Surgery Successful

2010-02-03T16:00:26Z

Wes Welker will still need a six month rehabilitation period following yesterday's surgery.

View full size photo »

Monique Walker and Adam Kilgore report Wes Welker is okay after surgery yesterday.

Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker is "perfectly OK’’ after undergoing surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital yesterday to repair torn ligaments in his knee, said a person with knowledge of the surgery.

Welker tore both the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligament in his left knee in the regular-season finale against Houston Jan. 3. In the month since the injury, Welker has waited to have the surgery to allow his MCL to heal to protect against an infection.

Recovery time for the Patriots star slot receiver could be anywhere from 6-12 months. It does not appear likely that Welker will be ready to play in the 2010 season opener, although that has not been ruled out.

Bill Cowher believes even if the Indianapolis Colts win the Super Bowl on Sunday, the New England Patriots should be considered the best team of the past decade and scoffed at the idea the Spygate scandal had any impact.

"I think the decade still has to go to New England," Cowher said Tuesday at a CBS Sports news conference to preview the Super Bowl. "But the Pittsburgh Steelers went to a lot of championship games, won two Super Bowls. The Colts I'm not so sure within the last five years they haven't been the most consistent football team.

"But you go back to the body of work and the consistency, and I think New England CLEARLY is above everybody else. They never had that one down year. They've been on the brink from when they first won in 2001 until this past year they were in the playoffs. They've been the most consistent team."

"The humility that they won with, that's what set them apart," Cowher said. "I learned a lot from their ability to respect an opponent every week, to not get caught up with it.

"I remember taking a lot from the way the New England Patriots handled success. To me, they epitomize that. How you handle success and not get caught up in it makes them role models."

Cowher seems to absolve the Patriots for any wrongdoing [for spygate]:

"Listen, there's people stealing signals all the time before that," Cowher said. "You have ways to hide those things. We had wristbands for our defense. I remember trying to get offensive plays and see what the formations were. Everybody knows.

"You're trying to gain a competitive edge. Did that go beyond it? To a degree. Do I think that helped them win football games? No. You still have to go out and play the game. I still have a hard time believing that was a difference in a game."

Ian Rapoport reports Heath Evans and Randall Gay both credit their experience with the Patriots as valuable wisdom they both hope to share with their new team.

I think that’s why I was brought here," Evans, who tore his ACL in late October, said yesterday. "(Coach) Sean (Payton) wants better leaders, better character guys. It’s highly known Bill (Belichick) only brings in good guys in New England. What I learned from him was priceless. I’m constantly trying to dive into that memory bank that really benefited us in my four years there."

Evans harps on preparation, using his experience against the Colts and preaching, "If you don’t (prepare), they won’t just beat you, they’ll embarrass you."

He’s not alone. Saints cornerback Randall Gay was part of one Super Bowl winner, and his message has been simple.

"We’re not here to party," Gay said. "Maybe at the beginning of the week you party, but from now on, we have a job to do. Our goal isn’t to come to Miami to play in the Super Bowl. We want to win the Super Bowl. That was always the mindset of the Patriots."

TEAM TALK

Andy Hart feels the NFL's All-Decade team is a joke.
Ask PFW: Trading places. Part I and Part II.

LOCAL LINKS

Dan Roche was told Wes Welker's knee surgery at Mass General Tuesday went "very well or at least as well as you could expect a major surgery to go."
Ian Rapoport gives his impressions of Super Bowl media day for the Saints and the Colts.
Mark Farinella says media day isn't much to write home about.
Ian Rapoport notes Adam Vinatieri, backup kicker in this year's Super Bowl, got caught in a Patriots Q&A session. Good guy that he is, he politely didn't say much of anything.
Adam Kilgore notes FB Kyle Eckel is one of a scant number of Saints who have played in the Super Bowl before, and is in a position to offer his teammates some advice.
Albert Breer hears Saints owner Tom Benson talk about how he feels strongly that adversity played a role in his team's development.
Adam Kilgore catches up with Junior Seau during media day. Seau lauds linebackers coach Matt Patricia.
Charles Pierce chastises those in the media who dismiss reports of Randy Moss playing hurt and say that he still should have played better, putting the burden of the down season squarely on his shoulders.
Mike Reiss reports Ben Watson has signed on with agent Drew Rosenhaus as he prepares to market himself to the rest of the league when free agency hits.
Mike Reiss notes Canadian Football League defender Rick Foley (20 sacks over the last three years) is set to visit with the Patriots Thursday.
Jim Donaldson says Dean Pees didn't jump, he was pushed.
Mike Reiss answers his weekly reader mailbag with his usual terrific insight.
Karen Guregian compares the QB-coordinator relationships between Manning-Moore and Brady-Weis, McDaniels, O'Brien noting there's success and confidence in continuity.
Ron Borges takes the Patriots organization to task for being so tight-fisted with money and player contracts, while the Colts are willing to pay to keep their core group intact.
Ian Rapoport notes Colts' owner Jim Irsay's comments about Peyton Manning's upcoming contract negotiations and what he has to say about Tom Brady's too.
Adam Kilgore says Saints fullback Kyle Eckel feels indebted to the Patriots for still being in the league.

NATIONAL NEWS

Tim Graham (ESPN) Beating Patriots made Manning a champ.
David Biderman (Wall St. Journal) The stadium naming game: Gillette's sharp deal.
Greg Bishop (NY Times) Jets fine Ryan $50,000 for obscene gesture.
Tim Graham (ESPN) Bill Cowher: Gut told him Buffalo wasn't right. Heck, we could have told him that too.
Jemele Hill (ESPN) Tim Tebow's role in controversial Super Bowl ad should be praised rather than condemned.
Tim Keown (ESPN) Tim Tebow, be careful about ads: QB should be prepared for exploitation, questions.
Jay Glazer (Fox Sports) NFL finds replacement for head of officiating. Sunday will mark the final game of Mike Pereira's career as head of the NFL's officiating department. Carl Johnson, a current line judge, will replace him.
Richard Deitsch (SI) Super Bowl XLIV Media Day Blog.
Peter King (SI) MMQB Tuesday edition: Martz could be good fit for Cutler, Bears; Latest on Freeney.
Wes Bunting (Nat'l Football Post) All Stars who helped their draft stock.

Give Bill O'Brien Another Chance!

2010-02-02T17:00:45Z

Michael Dwyer - AP

6 months ago: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, right, listens to instructions from quarterbacks coach Bill O'Brien during NFL football training camp in the team's indoor practice facility in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

View full size photo »

I officially apologize for being so hard on you, Coach Bill O'Brien. I judged your season upon the seemingly plain playcalling, which I thought were all your doing. I am posting in full support of you taking the helm as Offensive Coordinator for next season and we'll go from there.

A lot of us as fans jumped to conclusions due to the "vanilla play calling", as some of us called it. We went through some growing pains over some bad calls in dire situations, but I believe that you learn and move on. You had much harder circumstances to coach over than any of us knew of, with injuries to almost every single starter on offense at some point over the season (No, I will not blame you for the injuries to Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Matt Light, Steven Neal, Nick Kaczur, Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris or Fred Taylor).

To you, the other readers, I'll try and convince you to give Bill O'Brien another chance. I was one of the ones calling for his head and position, I admit that. However, I attempted to look at this from an objective point of view and came to the conclusion that it isn't fair to condemn him after one season. Especially not after one season of circumstances FAR out of his control.

More after the jump.

1) Your offensive line only had two players start the entire season- Logan Mankins and Dan Koppen. Due to the constant injuries you had to step back your TEs and have them assist in blocking.

2) Chris Baker spent 72% of his time on the field blocking the run or the pass. Ben Watson spent 53% of his time blocking as well. One of our main complaints with your playcalling was the lack of versatility in utilizing the Tight Ends. A few of us knew about the O-Line weaknesses and forgave you for not using TEs. However, I don't think anyone knew that the need for blocking was this high.

3) Kevin Faulk is the only RB who did not get injured over the span of the season. Kevin Faulk also ran the ball only 17.2% of the time he was on the field. You did as much as you could with what little you were given. My only hope is that, over the off-season, we address the dire need for youth and strength in the RBs. Maroney and Faulk are both finesse runners. We need more muscle if we are to succeed and you are to coach an even stronger offense.

4) Our Wide Receiving core was top heavy. I bet you had some say in keeping Galloway over Lewis, but that's like picking between Brussel Sprouts and Eggplant- no one really wins. We had difficulty in the playoffs due to the untimely and unforeseen injury to Wes Welker. We had some difficulty as Randy Moss had a separated shoulder almost ALL SEASON. Hopefully there can be a healing and growing off-season as we pick up an actual 3rd receiver who can catch the ball.

5) Oh yeah, Tom Brady was hurt. And coming back from an injury. And surrounded by an injured team. Yeah.

So please, please, please, do not give up hope and continue to strive forward. Learn more about your play calling (I KNOW you will never call for a pass play on 3rd and 2). Learn more about utilizing your players' strengths (try and use Maroney more in the swing passing game and get him into open field). Vocalize your needs for players and get them.

Here's an off-season shopping list for you!

1. A strong running back. We need a player who can almost guarantee a 1st down on 3rd and short. We need a player who can score in the Red Zone. Can we pick up a free agent? (LenDale White? Cadillac Williams?) Can we draft someone in the 4th round, or move up into the 3rd round if such a player is available? (Montario Hardesty? Jonathan Dwyer might drop. Toby Gerhart? Ryan Mathews if we want a grab in the 2nd round?). Basically, we need one. Badly.

2. A top wide receiver. We saw the impact of losing a top 3rd receiver. Aiken will never be that receiver. Tate might be able to step up, but he's currently an enigma and not a sure thing. Edelman will be a slot player, but he won't stretch the field and be a downfield, mid range threat. I suggest looking into Jason Avant (Philly), Steve Breaston (AZ), Lance Moore (NO), Malcom Floyd (SD) and maybe even Brandon Marshall (Denver, I'm sure we could corral his negative attitude). Looking to draft? Mardy Gilyard, while on the light side, has sure hands and seems to be a hard worker. Danario Alexander is a great player who could immediately step in and produce. I highly suggest utilizing a second round pick on this position.

3. An elite guard. Logan Mankins will continue to perform well. Our issue is in trusting the skills of Nick Kaczur at RG (I'm assuming that Neal is going to retire). He was the weakest link on the line at RT and I don't trust him stepping up his game and becoming a strong player at RG. I believe that Dan Connolly has a ton of promise, but I can see him stepping in for Koppen down the road. Ohrnberger is an unknown right now, and I'm all for giving him a shot, but if we want to win right now and utilize our aging offensive weapons known as Moss and Brady, we need to keep Brady upright and to give him time. I would HIGHLY suggest utilizing our 1st round pick this year on Mike Iupati, if he's available. I also suggest listening to Dante Scarneccia. One of the reason our great O-Line is his coaching and his knowledge of what our team needs. Utilize him as a top resource.

4. A second do-everything running back. Our RBC is wearing thin with the age of Fred Taylor (who I expect to be kept on), Sammy Morris (who I expect to be let go) and Kevin Faulk (who I expect to be resigned). Laurence Maroney can play, but he isn't our strong, short-yardage back that we need (that hopefully shopping point #1 takes care of). However, I still think that we need to improve not only our strength, but our overall talent. Hopefully, if you end up drafting our shopping #1 player, you will grab shopping #4 player in free agency, and vice versa!

5. An offensive tackle who can take Matt Light's position a year or two from now. Use a 2nd rounder on this pick. He has to be young. He has to be versatile a la Sebastian Vollmer. Plain and simple, take the best available tackle at your pick in the 2nd round. Matt Light slows down as the year wears on and we need a young player who can step in from time to time and who will step up down the road. Listen to Dante.

6. Keep both our TEs! Chris Baker and Ben Watson are both great players- both solid at catching and at blocking. We need to cross our fingers and hope for O-Line health, but PLEASE use these players in the offense scheme and throw the ball to them. Please.

Anyways, thanks for reading Bill (is it okay if I call you Bill?). I believe that you can do it!

New England Patriots Links 2/02/10 - Six More Weeks of Winter But Only Four Weeks Until Free Agency

2010-02-02T15:32:02Z

Randy Moss and Ben Watson celebrate a TD against the Broncos in Week 5, before Moss' injury.

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Mike Reiss reports DL Jarvis Green is looking forward to free agency and knows he will aggressively consider options other than the New England Patriots.

"Definitely this year, I'm going to experience the market," said Green, who set a career high with 12 starts in 2009. "I think for any player in their NFL career they need to experience that, and this will be my first time. I had the chance five years ago but I re-signed with the team, so this has been different for me, and it's been cool not being obligated to anyone but my family, my wife [Rakia] and kids [Terrence, Já Nya, and Toi]."

"Playing in a championship program, being with the Patriots, things I've learned here I could take with me -- the winning attitude, knowing how to win," he said. "That could go anywhere, and I think teams look for that in the quality of a player."

Christopher Price reports former Pats DB Otis "my man" Smith was named the defensive quality control coach in Kansas City on Monday.

It’s a safe bet that many folks in New England are happy to see Smith progress up the coaching ladder. Smith and Patriots coach Bill Belichick go back a long time — they first hooked up in 1996 when Belichick was an assistant in New England. Smith followed Belichick to the Jets the following season, and the veteran defensive back joined Belichick to New England when he became the head coach in 2000, where he spent three seasons with the Patriots.

In fact, his roots run so deep with Belichick that in May 2005 when he was ready to retire, he signed a one-day contract with New England before he decided to call it a career. "When I think about Otis Smith, a few things come to mind immediately: his incredible work ethic, the respect he earned as a result of the leadership he brought to the team and his production in some of our biggest games," Belichick said in a statement when Smith announced his retirement. "Otis helped the Patriots win a championship and he will always be respected and appreciated for that as well as for his professional approach to the job."

Bill Parcells participated in an NFL.com on-line chat with this nugget near the end.

Q: What is your biggest regret with regards to your coaching career?

Bill Parcells, Miami Dolphins: Hi Dan, probably having to leave the New England Patriots.

TEAM TALK

Andy Hart and Paul Perillo debate whether Vince Wilfork will be in the Week 1 Patriots lineup.
Patriots.com has collected a wide-ranging sample of what the "experts" are predicting the Patriots will do in the first round come draft weekend. Interesting selections.

LOCAL LINKS

Albert Breer reports Roger Goodell announced that it's virtually certain the league will have an uncapped 2010. Here's what it means for the Patriots.
Mike Reiss looks at how the uncapped 2010 affects the Patriots and their players, assuming nothing changes before the start of free agency March 5.
Jeff Howe works up a potential free agent shopping list for the Patriots.
Tom E. Curran offers five reasons why it would be insane for the Patriots to court Julius Peppers.
Adam Kilgore notes that even injury plagued, Randy Moss finished another season with impressive statistics. He caught 83 passes (tied for 12th in the NFL) for 1,264 yards (tied for fifth) and 13 touchdowns (tied for first).
Karen Guregian said Randy Moss acknowledged playing through a severe back problem in Week 3, and a league source said he played many games with a separated shoulder suffered in Week 5.
Mike Reiss emphasizes Randy Moss' toughness that the media often overlooks.
Tom E. Curran doesn't argue that Randy Moss was hurt, but he says "to draw a straight-line conclusion from his injuries to a lack of production doesn't add up." Huh?
Shalise Manza Young wonders if Wes Welker will be the same player after surgery.
Mike Reiss notes the Patriots D-line could turn out to be a top need this offseason. He looks at the defensive linemen under contract for 2010.
Jim Donaldson concludes a bit late that even if the Colts win Sunday, the Patriots are still the Team of the Decade.
Christopher Price lists the five best individual performances in Patriots Super Bowl history.
Christopher Price lists the five most underrated moments in Patriots Super Bowl history.
Ian Rapoport notes the Patriots part in the Saints' run to the Super Bowl. Gee, glad they could help.
Albert Breer reports the Saints paying homage to the Patriots.
Ron Borges says to be sure of it, Dwight Freeney will play.

NATIONAL NEWS

Tim Graham (ESPN) Jarvis wants to see some green.
Peter King (SI) MMQB: Super Bowl XLIV week begins with storyline: Will Colts' Freeney play?
Shutdown Corner (Yahoo! Sports) Apparently, you love the Pro Bowl's new time slot.
Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Pro Bowl hotel arrangements trigger player complaints as the NFL failed to reserve the hotel for the exclusive use of the players.
Tim Graham (ESPN) Joey Porter wants to part ways with the Dolphins.
Aaron Wilson (Nat'l Football Post) Nhamdi Asomugha wants to play for the Jets.
Tim Graham (ESPN) Revis not done ragging on Moss. Insecurity complex maybe?
Michael Lombardi (Nat'l Football Post) It's Super Bowl week!
Fox Sports Top Ten Super Bowl scandals and controversies.
Wes Bunting (Nat'l Football Post) Final Senior Bowl impressions.
Mike Beacom (Pro Football Weekly) Which players may prove Hall-worthy?