CAUTION: Games will run at slower pace than usual

That's right, be ready for some slow and embarrassing football come Week 1. All because these replacement officials are going to be used to start the regular season. All of the missed and poor calls, bad ball placement, and the many other gaffes we've witnessed this preseason will carry over into regular season play. I've come to find myself muting my television when the referees are in the process of explaining the foul they've called, because it's just embarrassing to watch. Being a referee for any professional sport is a very difficult job. I don't think fans quite understand or care to understand how hard the officials jobs are. All the verbal abuse they take from fans and more so from coaches. Knowing that if you throw that yellow flag it could possibly decide the outcome of the game. And not to mention knowing the entire rule book like the back of your hand. Which is all the more reason to get the original NFL officiating crew wearing black and white stripes ASAP. But until then, be ready to roll your eyes, shake your heads, and sometimes yell at the television through at least the first couple weeks of the regular season.

Olympian Demps impresses in debut

After winning a Silver medal at the Olympics less than a month ago Jeff Demps, the Patriots new weapon, looked good in his NFL debut last night against the Buccaneers. Demps didn't see the field until the second half but when he made the most of every opportunity. He gained 41 yards on three carries, an average of 13.6 yards per carry. And as expected we saw him returning kicks (two for 44 yards) and punts (one for 16 yards). The former Florida Gator looked comfortable on the field last night and I think he'll be a valuable weapon this season. He adds a home run threat that the Patriots have lacked in recent years in the backfield and special teams. The Patriots haven't had an effective kick returner since 2008 when Ellis Hobbs totalled 1,281 return yards and one touchdown on 45 returns.
After three preseason games, we've seen Kyle Arrington, Devin McCourty, Matthew Slater, Donte Stallworth, Danny Woodhead, Shane Vereen, Stevan Ridley, Julian Edelman, and Jeff Demps all return kicks. However, I see Demps being the Patriots kick returner for the regular season. At 5'7" 175lbs he is still in "track shape" so he'll definitely be bulking up while maintaining that bullet-like speed he's so well known for. He and Edelman will likely battle for punt returns. I expect offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will draw up some plays to get him the ball because as long as the blockers can make a hole for him, Demps has the ability to take it to the house. Special teams is back in New England.

Plax to the Pats?

Plaxico Burress had a recent work out for the New England Patriots, a team with depth at the receiver position. Since training camp began, it's been reported that Brandon Lloyd, Wes Welker, and Jabar Gaffney are the locks at wide receiver leaving Donte Stallworth and Deion Branch fighting for the number four spot on the depth chart. Gaffney left practice the other day after pulling a hamstring or quadriceps during practice and the severity of his injury hasn't been addressed. Even with that depth, Plaxico brings an element that the others lack and that's a threat in the red zone. Rob Gronkowski is that guy right now and if Burress was on the team then opposing defenses wouldn't stand a chance once the Brady entered the red zone. At 35 years of age, Burress is obviously lost some steps in speed but at 6'5" one thing he can still do as good as anyone is go up and get jump balls. I'd like to see Plaxico in a Pats uniform.

Replacement officials are hard to watch

These replacement refs aren't easy to watch. They're constantly making mistakes; placing the ball in the wrong spot, calling penalties on the wrong team, mumbling and bumbling during penalty explanations, getting the coin toss wrong (how you make that mistake is beyond me) just to name a few. But all the mistakes are understandable. I mean these officials aren't accustomed to officiating professional games, where the spotlight is bigger, the coaches and players are more vocal, and the fans are cruel. There have been reports that this referee lockout could carry on into the regular season. Well, if these refs are having trouble officiating preseason games just imagine how they'll do come the regular season. Yikes.

Pats preseason opener

This Thursday (August 9) the Patriots open their preseason against the New Orleans Saints. I will be in attendance for this game and I can't wait to see all the new faces in action. We'll see the rookies and free agency acquisitions fighting for the right to see the field come the regular season; one reason why preseason games are so important. Nobody is guaranteed a starting role or even a roster spot and in the preseason these guys play their asses off to make the 53 man roster. The Pats rookie I most looking forward to seeing is Tavon Wilson. When Belichick selected Wilson in the second round of the draft, the "experts" criticized the pick because Wilson was a sixth or seventh rounder on their boards. I loved the pick. The secondary needed help and Wilson is a versatile player; he played corner, nickel, and safety at Illinois. He spends a lot of time studying film and mastering the playbook, I think Wilson is going to have a big impact on this defense.