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- Jul 11, 2005
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....which will basically be about commenting on the real media's sunday columns...and some other stuff.
1. Once again, Mike Reiss showed why that he is head and shoulders above the rest of his local collegues. While Felger spent most of his column pimping for higher paid players, and Thomase was rewriting wire stories on rules changes, Reis was sitting down with the ACTUAL HC of the local franchise and offered some interesting insight into the mind of the residient genius for the fans, without inserting HIMSELF or his opinions into the article. How refreshing...and different.
2. I was very surprised to find the BB ISN'T a fan of the expansion of the game day roster to 47. I don't think any team will take advantage of the rule better than the Pats will, but it again is refreshing to see the coach felt that the game was becoming TOO specialized and the expansion of the roster will make it more so. I wouldn't have made that connection, and I doubt many others would have either. BB is just old time guy who likes to think that "real" football players can play the whole game. Would you expect less from a guy who values players who CAN do more than one thing?
3. I was also surprised to see that he WASN'T a big fan of the proposed change in the PI rule. Here's a change I would suggest. Let the official on the field call the PI. Let the booth official determine whether its major or minor. I think the booth official, with multiple views is in the best position to make the determination. That takes the onus off the on field guy, and he can just call the play. I don't think it would take more than 30 seconds for the booth ref to make a determination. That being said, I don't think that BB is half wrong when he states he is just looking for more consisitency from the refs when making the call and THAT would solve most of the problems.
4. Speaking of PI call, it suddenly occurred to me that I'd like to see a unsportsmanlike penalty called on offensive players who constantly ***** on just about EVERY pass play that they were held or interferred with. Think about it, can you think of a pass play that goes more than 15-20 yard that the WR DOESN'T jump up and complain. I think it sends the wrong message to the crowd, constantly inflaming them, even when most of the time the ref called it correctly. -
I would suggest a 5 yard unsportsmanlike call for whiners who constantly do it. The refs don't need the grief, the fans don't need more instigating, and the game would be more pleasant to watch. Let the coaches, coach, the players, play, and the refs, ref. It might be old age, but I'm getting tired players trying to ref the games. I think the players should take more responsibility for outcomes instead of trying to blame the refs for everything. Sounds like a presidential administration I can think of. OOPS, please ignore the last comment.
5. I found this fact to be very interesting. Daniel Graham, who just signed a contract that made him the second highest paid TE in the league, caught just 28 passes last season. On the other hand, only very highly paid Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez caught more passes than old friend Jerome Wiggins over the last 3 years, yet he was only able to manage a one year $1MM contract from the Jags. It got me to thinking about just how NFL player evaluation guys look at TEs. CLEARLY they MUST take how well a TE blocks as highly as they do in how he catches, otherwise it would be Wiggins getting a $5MM/yr LT deal instead of the barely above the vet minimum deal he got from the Jags. Its the only way you can figure this one.
6. Trying to figure out the situation on Ed Hartwell. If there was ever a low risk, high reward signing that fit a critical need, it would seem to be this one. Hartwell was a tackling machine playing ILB before he went down with a series of injuries. He is willing to sign a low cost "prove it" contract, and really wants to play for the Pats. IT'S ALL GOOD! Yet we have a guy with good "inside" contacts, Michael Holley, saying its not EVEN on the radar, at the same time others keep reporting talks have occurred.
Well if talks are underway, then why isn't the man aboard. Its not like his signing would effect the draft, nor does it seem like it would be a difficult contract to structure, and it isn't like other teams are exactly beating down his door. At one point I was figuring he wasn't recovered from his injuries, however from other posts its been pointed out that he played at the end of last season, and improved his play game by game until the season ended.
So he's relatively healthy, willing, and comes at the right price. WHY isn't he here? I can only conclude that Holley must be right. For some reason the Pats simply aren't interested. They must have info that we aren't aware of, and tells them to stay away. I just wish I knew what that info was.
7. With a month left to the draft, about all we have left to talk about is, will it be a CB, S, or LB taken at 24. Personally I haven't a clue, and BB isn't talking. What I do hope that with our 3 picks on the first day, that regardless of the order, those picks are used to get a S, CB, and LB. I also believe that a trade down is more likely than a trade up.
8. Speaking of trades, I also think that that it is more likely that we will trade for picks in the 2008 draft than more picks in this one. We are projected to pick up 4 comp picks in this year's draft. Next year, given our activitity in the top half of this year's FA market, we would be lucky to get ANY. So look for the pats to end up grabbing about 8 new prospects and adding 2 picks to next year's draft. For example, by trading out of the 24 spot into the top 10 in the second round the Pats should easily be able to pick up an extra 2nd round pick in next year's draft, likewise for the 28th pick.
9. Continuing on the draft, I find it very interesting that the Pats have done 2 things well in EVERY draft they have had under the BB administration. They have hit on EVERY first round pick, and they have found 2 or more IMMEDIATE starters in EVERY year from the draft.
2001 - Matt Light with the 1st pick they had at the top of the 2nd round, at the same time they got a starting OT in Greg Randall late in the draft.
2002 - They got Graham in the first - and Branch in the second
2003 - They got Warren in the first - Koppen, Wilson later on, as well as Randell Gay, who as an UDFA started a superbowl, ahead... of Assante Samuel who eventually became our franchise player .
2004 - They got Both Wilfork and Watson that year
2005 - Mankins and Kazur
2006 - Moroney and OCallahan
Granted some started due to injuries, and like Watson and OCallahan, some earned starting jobs, then GOT injured. The Pats also have had their share of misses in the draft as well. In fact too many to mention in this column. However the Bottom line is that the Pats CONSISTANTLY get 3-4 players EVERY year that significantly improve the team, and with the current state of FA, this is all you need, and most teams DON'T get. What is interesting is that you know the first round pick is going to play a lot, and there also will be at least one other guy will come out of no where to play a significant role... and usually its not who you think.
10. I know its been said, but its worth repeating. Besides I need to come up with 10 items. Has there ever been a better FA fit than AThomas and the NE Patriots. Even though Rodney Harrison was a perfect fit as well, we didn't perceive it as such when he first came. We knew he was a player, but we never thought he'd have the kind of impact on the field and off it that he did. AD seems in the same mold, and its obvious in so many ways.
Well thanks for your attention, and feel free to go back to your newspapers now. BTW - didn any of you watch SNL last night. I know I DIDN'T.
1. Once again, Mike Reiss showed why that he is head and shoulders above the rest of his local collegues. While Felger spent most of his column pimping for higher paid players, and Thomase was rewriting wire stories on rules changes, Reis was sitting down with the ACTUAL HC of the local franchise and offered some interesting insight into the mind of the residient genius for the fans, without inserting HIMSELF or his opinions into the article. How refreshing...and different.
2. I was very surprised to find the BB ISN'T a fan of the expansion of the game day roster to 47. I don't think any team will take advantage of the rule better than the Pats will, but it again is refreshing to see the coach felt that the game was becoming TOO specialized and the expansion of the roster will make it more so. I wouldn't have made that connection, and I doubt many others would have either. BB is just old time guy who likes to think that "real" football players can play the whole game. Would you expect less from a guy who values players who CAN do more than one thing?
3. I was also surprised to see that he WASN'T a big fan of the proposed change in the PI rule. Here's a change I would suggest. Let the official on the field call the PI. Let the booth official determine whether its major or minor. I think the booth official, with multiple views is in the best position to make the determination. That takes the onus off the on field guy, and he can just call the play. I don't think it would take more than 30 seconds for the booth ref to make a determination. That being said, I don't think that BB is half wrong when he states he is just looking for more consisitency from the refs when making the call and THAT would solve most of the problems.
4. Speaking of PI call, it suddenly occurred to me that I'd like to see a unsportsmanlike penalty called on offensive players who constantly ***** on just about EVERY pass play that they were held or interferred with. Think about it, can you think of a pass play that goes more than 15-20 yard that the WR DOESN'T jump up and complain. I think it sends the wrong message to the crowd, constantly inflaming them, even when most of the time the ref called it correctly. -
I would suggest a 5 yard unsportsmanlike call for whiners who constantly do it. The refs don't need the grief, the fans don't need more instigating, and the game would be more pleasant to watch. Let the coaches, coach, the players, play, and the refs, ref. It might be old age, but I'm getting tired players trying to ref the games. I think the players should take more responsibility for outcomes instead of trying to blame the refs for everything. Sounds like a presidential administration I can think of. OOPS, please ignore the last comment.
5. I found this fact to be very interesting. Daniel Graham, who just signed a contract that made him the second highest paid TE in the league, caught just 28 passes last season. On the other hand, only very highly paid Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez caught more passes than old friend Jerome Wiggins over the last 3 years, yet he was only able to manage a one year $1MM contract from the Jags. It got me to thinking about just how NFL player evaluation guys look at TEs. CLEARLY they MUST take how well a TE blocks as highly as they do in how he catches, otherwise it would be Wiggins getting a $5MM/yr LT deal instead of the barely above the vet minimum deal he got from the Jags. Its the only way you can figure this one.
6. Trying to figure out the situation on Ed Hartwell. If there was ever a low risk, high reward signing that fit a critical need, it would seem to be this one. Hartwell was a tackling machine playing ILB before he went down with a series of injuries. He is willing to sign a low cost "prove it" contract, and really wants to play for the Pats. IT'S ALL GOOD! Yet we have a guy with good "inside" contacts, Michael Holley, saying its not EVEN on the radar, at the same time others keep reporting talks have occurred.
Well if talks are underway, then why isn't the man aboard. Its not like his signing would effect the draft, nor does it seem like it would be a difficult contract to structure, and it isn't like other teams are exactly beating down his door. At one point I was figuring he wasn't recovered from his injuries, however from other posts its been pointed out that he played at the end of last season, and improved his play game by game until the season ended.
So he's relatively healthy, willing, and comes at the right price. WHY isn't he here? I can only conclude that Holley must be right. For some reason the Pats simply aren't interested. They must have info that we aren't aware of, and tells them to stay away. I just wish I knew what that info was.
7. With a month left to the draft, about all we have left to talk about is, will it be a CB, S, or LB taken at 24. Personally I haven't a clue, and BB isn't talking. What I do hope that with our 3 picks on the first day, that regardless of the order, those picks are used to get a S, CB, and LB. I also believe that a trade down is more likely than a trade up.
8. Speaking of trades, I also think that that it is more likely that we will trade for picks in the 2008 draft than more picks in this one. We are projected to pick up 4 comp picks in this year's draft. Next year, given our activitity in the top half of this year's FA market, we would be lucky to get ANY. So look for the pats to end up grabbing about 8 new prospects and adding 2 picks to next year's draft. For example, by trading out of the 24 spot into the top 10 in the second round the Pats should easily be able to pick up an extra 2nd round pick in next year's draft, likewise for the 28th pick.
9. Continuing on the draft, I find it very interesting that the Pats have done 2 things well in EVERY draft they have had under the BB administration. They have hit on EVERY first round pick, and they have found 2 or more IMMEDIATE starters in EVERY year from the draft.
2001 - Matt Light with the 1st pick they had at the top of the 2nd round, at the same time they got a starting OT in Greg Randall late in the draft.
2002 - They got Graham in the first - and Branch in the second
2003 - They got Warren in the first - Koppen, Wilson later on, as well as Randell Gay, who as an UDFA started a superbowl, ahead... of Assante Samuel who eventually became our franchise player .
2004 - They got Both Wilfork and Watson that year
2005 - Mankins and Kazur
2006 - Moroney and OCallahan
Granted some started due to injuries, and like Watson and OCallahan, some earned starting jobs, then GOT injured. The Pats also have had their share of misses in the draft as well. In fact too many to mention in this column. However the Bottom line is that the Pats CONSISTANTLY get 3-4 players EVERY year that significantly improve the team, and with the current state of FA, this is all you need, and most teams DON'T get. What is interesting is that you know the first round pick is going to play a lot, and there also will be at least one other guy will come out of no where to play a significant role... and usually its not who you think.
10. I know its been said, but its worth repeating. Besides I need to come up with 10 items. Has there ever been a better FA fit than AThomas and the NE Patriots. Even though Rodney Harrison was a perfect fit as well, we didn't perceive it as such when he first came. We knew he was a player, but we never thought he'd have the kind of impact on the field and off it that he did. AD seems in the same mold, and its obvious in so many ways.
Well thanks for your attention, and feel free to go back to your newspapers now. BTW - didn any of you watch SNL last night. I know I DIDN'T.
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