Help Wanted: Coaches and General Managers

Chan Gailey (Bills), Lovie Smith (Bears), Pat Shurmur (Browns), Romeo Crennel (Chiefs), Andy Reid (Eagles), Ken Whisenhunt (Cardinals), and Norv Turner (Chargers) are the first seven head coaches fired since the conclusion of the regular season. All firings were smart moves and one was long over due, can you guess which one? It's the time of year when the 20 teams who didn't make the playoffs start preparing for the next season. General Managers Tom Heckert of the Cleveland Browns, Mike Tannenbaum of the New York Jets, A.J. Smith of the San Diego Chargers, Rod Graves of the Arizona Cardinals, and Gene Smith of the Jacksonville Jaguars were also shown the door. Surprisingly enough, Rex Ryan's job as head coach of the Jets is safe, the same goes for Lions' Jim Schwartz who should absolutely be out of a job, in my opinion. He has a very young and talented team but he can't control his guys. His players get in to trouble on and off the field far too often, this team needs a head coach who can effectively discipline his players and get the best out of them. As much as I think Jim Schwartz should be fired it may not happen because he's signed through 2015. We'll just have to wait and see as Black Monday continues.

Adrian Peterson closing in on history

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, the best back in all of football, is 208 yards shy of eclipsing Eric Dickerson's single season rushing record of 2,105 yards. This feat alone is impressive but when you look at it more closely, you see the true greatness. Peterson tore his ACL at the end of the 2011 regular season and it was said that he would never be the same and that's true, he's not the same, he's better. Now look at the offense he's playing on; Christian Ponder at quarterback and their only receiving threat is tight end Kyle Rudolph and he isn't much to worry about outside of the red zone. That means that Adrian Peterson is going to see eight to nine defenders in the box hell bent on stopping him. On ESPN's show Numbers Never Lie they went into greater detail on AP's monster season: There are at least eight defenders in the box on 30% of Peterson's carries and in those situations he averages 3.3 yards after contact and has recorded eight runs of 20+ yards (no other running back has more than three). And keep in mind that he's doing all of this in a pass-happy NFL where the league-wide rushing attempts per game is 27.1, the lowest in NFL history.
Peterson faces a Green Bay Packers defense that's ranked 14th against the run and will be doing everything in their power to keep him from getting the record. I don't think he's going to reach 2,000 yards.

Pro Bowl snubs

I couldn't believe some of the players that weren't selected to this year's Pro Bowl. First off, I'd like it to be known that every Patriots offensive lineman should have been selected. They run more plays than any other group of lineman and have done as good a job protecting their quarterback as any of their peers. Logan Mankins was the only member of the o-line selected. Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman didn't make the squad despite his impressive season and roll in a Seahawks' defense that deserves a lot of the credit for their 10-5 record. Both of the 49ers' inside linebackers, NaVorro Bowman and Patrick Willis, were voted in and while they're both very good players I don't think they had a better season than Cardinal's linebacker Daryl Washington (123 tackles, 9 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 interception). This just goes to show you that the Pro Bowl is a joke, it has been for years and years, not just the voting but the game itself. Hopefully, they'll pull the plug on this thing someday.

Colts won't go far

The 10-5 Indianapolis Colts have been one of the NFL's best story lines this season, after having worst record in all of football a season ago they've become a playoff team and did with a rookie quarterback, sub par defense, and a head coach who couldn't be on the sidelines because he's been battling Leukemia. It's an impressive feat, no doubt. But, if anyone expects the Colts to reach the Super Bowl, they're going to be mightily disappointed. This team is simply not good enough to make a deep playoff run, I'll be surprised if they make it past the Wild Card round. Having a rookie quarterback, no running game, and below average defense are not going to win playoff games. This is a team on the rise and is going to be a playoff contender for at least five years to come, but not this season. I predict one and done.

Patriots aren't in trouble after Sunday's loss

To all those people saying, "The Patriots are in trouble," I say, "No, they're not." The defense gave up too many big plays and the offense made too many mistakes. Unlike a lot of people I have a very positive outlook on that game. For the past few years I've doubted Tom Brady's ability to lead his team to victory when trailing but after Sunday's performance, even though he came up short, all that doubt has been erased. And how about the defense? After giving up 31 points they held San Francisco scoreless which allowed Brady and the offense to score 28 points and tie the game.
I'm not worried about this team because they're offense is a machine (Gronk returns for playoffs), the defense forces turnovers, and the coaches are doing a great job. I think that the Pats will beat the Broncos in the AFC Championship game and get a chance at redemption in the Super Bowl against the 49ers. Oh and they won't come up short next time.

Jets wouldn't have made the playoffs anyways

Were the New York Jets in the hunt for the playoffs? Record wise, yes. But, anybody who knows football and has seen the way the Jets have played this season, would know that the Jets were never going to make it to the postseason. After their All Pro corner Darrelle Revis suffered a torn ACL back in September, I said that "going .500 on the season is going to be a long shot," and it's just that. With two regular season games remaining the Jets will host the struggling San Diego Chargers followed by a game in Buffalo against the Bills. The Jets won't win both of these games, one maybe, but not both. My educated opinion is that they'll lose both games. The Chargers are looking to win big after being embarrassed by the Panthers last week and the Bills got blown out by the Jets 48-28 in the season opener, that's all the motivation they need to beat the New York. I can't stand talking about the Jets, they're a complete joke, the way the team is run spells "controversy" and the way they perform makes me either laugh or shake my head.

Patriots are AFC's best

In a supposed AFC Championship preview, the Patriots put a whooping on the Texans last night scoring 42 on one of the league's better defenses. The Pats performed well in every facet of the game and truly embarrassed Houston. Brady had a productive night but the defense really set the tone. After this win it's safe to say that New England is the best team in the AFC.

RG3 is good but how 'bout Andrew Luck

The Indianapolis Colts, 2-14 a year ago, are currently 9-4 and one of the AFC's Wildcard teams this season. And a big reason why is the play of rookie quarterback Andrew Luck. I've praised the way Robert Griffin III has played this season and in doing so have neglected the performance of an even better rookie quarterback; Mr. Andrew Luck. He's completing 55 percent of his passes, thrown for 3,792 yards, 18 touchdowns and 18 interceptions and he's ran for 223 yards and five touchdowns. Now, his stats aren't as impressive as RG3's and here's the reason why: An ineffective running game. The Colts have used five different running backs this season and they've combined for 1,120 rushing yards and only five touchdowns. The Redskins running back Alfred Morris has ran for 1,228 yards (108 more yards than the Colts' five runners combined). When the Redskins play, the opposing defense has to account for the Skins' running game which sets up their killer play action passes. The Colts' opposing defense(s) don't have to worry about the threat of the running game, in fact they'll likely use extra defensive backs, daring the Indianapolis Colts to run the ball.
The Colts are 9-4 with a poor running game and an average defense. What's that tell us? It tells us that this team is a few good players from being Super Bowl contenders. Watch out for this squad the next couple of years.

Manti Te'o deserves to win the Heisman Trophy

Notre Dame captain linebacker Manti Te'o could have entered the NFL draft last season but he chose to return for his senior year; wise choice. He leads an Irish defense that ranks best in the Nation and is the main reason for Notre Dame's 12-0 record and shot at the BCS Title. Te'o has always been a tackling machine so it was no surprise that he racked up over 100 of them, but his nine takeaways were something new (seven interceptions and two forced fumbles). His seven interceptions is best in the country. Looking at those stats and realizing an inside linebacker posted them is eye opening. Yet, it's not just about the stats when it comes to Manti Te'o. This guy is a true leader and makes everyone around him better. What impressed me the most though was how he handled the tragedies in his personal life. It was in early September, the Tuesday before their Saturday night game against Michigan State, when Te'o got word from his family back home in Hawaii that his Grandmother had passed away. Hours later Manti's girlfriend died in a battle with leukemia. The linebacker didn't miss a practice that week and lead his team to victory the following Saturday. That's true strength.
After the season Manti Te'o had, a season yet to end (BCS Title game), there's no way the Heisman Trophy should be given to either of the other two nominees; Johnny Manziel and Collin Klein, both quarterbacks, of course. Defense is underrated and under appreciated and it shows by how often offensive players win the Heisman. If Te'o doesn't win the Heisman Trophy then College Football should make it an offensive player award because the voters are biased as hell. Pardon my language. I'll have my fingers crossed for Manti Te'o tonight when we find out who the winner is. And I can't wait to see him play in the NFL next year, this guy is going to be a great one.

**FACT**- Since being created in 1935 the Heisman Trophy has been awarded 77 times... only three of them to defensive players. 1936- Defensive End Larry Kelley, 1949 Defensive End Leon Hart, and 1997 Cornerback Charles Woodson.

The results of this week's games could tell a lot

Are the Patriots or Texans the best team in the AFC?
Are Robert Griffin III and the Redskins for real?
Is Ben Roethlisberger healthy enough to sustain big hits and keep playing? And if he is, can Pittsburgh make a run?
Are the Giants going downhill?

These are just a few interesting things we can find out from this weeks games.

Dante Scarnecchia, Pats O-Line deserve more credit

The Patriots have had several injuries along their offensive line this season and regardless of who was hurt there was another man ready to step in and play. Credit offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia for his coaching and preparation. It's because of his coaching that we've seen guys like Donald Thomas, Nick McDonald, and Marcus Cannon perform so well when called upon. The team's 2011 first round pick Nate Solder, who I didn't think would be able to handle starting at left tackle, has played phenomenal. And Ryan Wendell, entered the season with only five career starts, has started at center every game this year and reminds me a lot of former Patriot's center Dan Koppen. This bunch has allowed only 14 sacks this season, fewest in the NFL. My hat goes off to Scarnecchia and his guys.

Goodell wants to remove kickoffs from the game

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell would like to eliminate kickoffs. We've already seen the placement of the ball on kickoffs moved up to the 35 yard line which has resulted in more touchbacks. The Commissioner wants to remove this part of the game for the safety of the players, so his heart is in the right place I guess. Goodell has to just accept the fact that football is a violent collision sport and concussions happen; there's no way to prevent them without hurting the integrity of the game. As far as kickoffs are concerned, don't expect the Competition Committee to completely agree with Goodell's point of view.

Edelman's season is over

The New England Patriots have placed wide receiver Julian Edelman on season ending injured reserve after he suffered a fracture in his foot during last week's game against Miami. This is a real blow to the Patriots, not only on offense but on special teams as well. Edelman was the team's punt returner and an effective one, averaging 15.5 yards per return. The Pats signed veteran Donte Stallworth to help fill the void on offense. Stallworth has good speed but isn't as elusive or dangerous after the catch as Edelman. Expect to see Wes Welker's work load increase now that Edelman's out of the lineup. We may see him returning punts too.
The Patriots offense played well without Aaron Hernandez, they're playing well without Gronk, and I think they'll continue to play well without Edelman. Why? Because running back Stevan Ridley makes this offense balanced.

Bears, 49ers upset in overtime

The last time the 49ers and Rams squared off the game ended in a tie. St. Louis took San Francisco into overtime with the score 13-13 and with 26 seconds left in overtime Rams' rookie kicker Greg Zuerlein nailed a 53 yard field goal to win the game. The Rams, coached by Jeff Fischer, are a team on the rise and next year I think they may be a real force. As for the San Francisco 49ers, Jim Harbaugh chose to start Colin Kaepernick at quarterback over veteran and former starter Alex Smith for the third straight week. We'll see if Harbaugh sticks with the youngster or goes back to Smith.

The Chicago Bears looked to remain in first place in the NFC North with a win yesterday but their plans were upset by the Seattle Seahawks. Last week the Seahawks' two starting cornerbacks, Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman, were both suspended for four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy but since they appealed the suspensions they were able to play Sunday against the Bears. I note this because I don't believe the Seahawks would have won that game without their starting corners. Nevertheless, with 7:33 remaining in overtime Seattle's rookie quarterback Russell Wilson threw a touchdown pass to Sidney Rice to beat Chicago 23-17. With that loss Chicago drops to second place in their division behind Green Bay.

Patriots struggle in win over Miami

The Patriots only won by seven points defeating the Dolphins 23-16. I was upset with the play calling of Patriot's Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels. They should have started the game feeding the ball to Stevan Ridley, opening up the play action passes. But, instead we saw Tom Brady throwing the ball and nothing coming of it. The passing game struggled as Brady over threw some receivers and those receivers dropped passes. They didn't establish the run until the fourth quarter when Ridley ran for 46 of his total 71 yards. Also, Stephen Gostkowski missed his sixth field goal this season. He's been in a funk all season and when the playoffs roll around he must be on his game, I mean how many times have we seen playoff games come down to a field goal? Still, what's important is they came out with a win and clinched a playoff berth yet again. Now, the Pats are focusing on their game next Monday night when they'll host the 11-1 Houston Texans.

Chiefs win big in the wake of a tragedy

Just a day after Kansas City Chief's linebacker, 25 year old Jovan Belcher, killed his girlfriend and then committed suicide outside of Arrowhead Stadium in front of General Manager Scott Pioli and Head Coach Romeo Crennel, the Chiefs won their second game of the season beating the Carolina Panthers 27-21. Not an easy game to play after losing a teammate, especially for coach Crennel who witnessed Belcher take his own life. But it the midst of grief and remembrance the Chiefs team came together and scored a season high 27 points against the Panthers. Kansas City's feature running back Jamaal Charles may have had the toughest day of all. Belcher's girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins, was Jamaal Charles' wife's cousin and Charles introduced the them to each other. Charles ran with a lot of emotion yesterday totaling 127 yards on the ground. After such an emotional tragedy that left everyone effected wondering, "why?", the Chiefs played their best game of the season. My heart goes out to the people effected, especially the 3 month old baby girl who's parents are no longer here.

Browns upset Steelers, turnovers decided the game

The Cleveland Browns hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers, who had beaten the Browns in 16 of the last 17 meetings going into Sunday, and came away the victors 20-14. The story of the game; turnovers. Pittsburgh turned the ball over eight times. Quarterback Charlie Batch threw three interceptions and every Steeler running back coughed up the ball at least once. It was unbelievable. Throughout the course of the game we saw Pittsburgh use running backs Rashard Mendenhall, Isaac Redman, Jonathan Dwyer, and Chris Rainey, all of whom put the ball on the ground. You won't win games that way. My hat's off to the Browns for pulling out the win, this was like their Super Bowl. As for the Steelers, they won't make the playoffs unless their defense steps up and the offense protects the ball.

RG3 shines yet again

Robert Griffin III had yet another stellar performance yesterday throwing four touchdown passes for the second week in a row as the Redskins beat Dallas Cowboys 38-31. Among the five starting rookie signal callers RG3 has played been the most impressive. His killer play action fakes, ability to scramble and throw on the run, intelligence and pre-snap adjustments, accuracy and of course his arm strength. But what's most impressive is his smart decision making; he doesn't turn the ball over very often. He's thrown for 14 touchdowns and six interceptions. The guy is really on a whole other level when compared to his fellow rookie quarterbacks. I said it during the draft and I still say it, RG3 is better than Andrew Luck.

Talib makes immediate impact, Gronk injured

Cornerback Aqib Talib, whom the Patriots acquired from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a measly fourth round pick, was very impressive in his debut yesterday against the Indianapolis Colts. The fifth year player out of Kansas recorded seven tackles, one pass break up, and an interception which he returned 59 yards for a touchdown. And when Colts quarterback Andrew Luck did complete passes to his receivers being covered by the newest Patriot, Talib, was always right there to contest it. Talib really provided a spark for the secondary and that spark ignited into a flame as fellow defensive backs Alfonzo Dennard and Tavon Wilson picked off number one overall pick Andrew Luck; Dennard took his pick all the way. And I think this is just the beginning.

Rob Gronkowski suffered a broken forearm in yesterdays 59-24 rout over the Colts. Reports say that Gronk will miss 4-6 weeks. Fellow Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, who missed his sixth game yesterday, was already expected to play in their Thanksgiving clash with their division rival New York Jets and with Gronk out I fully expect Hernandez to play. There's depth at tight end on this roster but Hernandez and Gronkowski are both one of a kind. Gronkowski has freakish size, strength, and athletic ability while Hernandez has phenomenal hands, versatility, athleticism, and the ability to make plays after he catches the ball. Since drafting Hernandez and Gronkowski in 2010 I can't recall a game where they were both inactive; one of them, yes, but not both. Backup tight ends Michael Hoomanawanui, Visanthe Shiancoe, and Daniel fells haven't been used much in the passing game this season making the health of Gronkowski and Hernandez that much more vital. Still, I don't expect this Patriot offense to miss a beat.

No cursing the officials?

In last night's game Pittsburgh Steeler's offensive lineman Willie Colon was penalized for "cursing an official," the first time I have ever heard of such a penalty. I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure that the referees are cursed at every Sunday; I've read the lips of coaches voicing their opinions to referees after a penalty and they tee off on those zebras. Players aren't politely telling the refs that they got the call wrong so why penalize Colon? It's an emotional game and tempers are short. That penalty was bogus and I don't expect to it to happen again this season. If refs don't want to be cursed at I suggest working in a church.

Steelers won the game but may have lost something bigger

In the third quarter of last night's Monday Night game between the Steelers and Chiefs, Pittsburgh's quarterback Ben Roethlisberger left the game after being sacked by Chiefs' outside linebackers Tamba Hali and Justin Houston. Roethlisberger didn't return to the game but the Steelers were still able to beat Kansas City 16-13 in overtime. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said today that Big Ben suffered a sprained shoulder and is questionable for Sunday's game against their division rival Baltimore Ravens.

Bears defense is best in the league

The Chicago Bears defense may be ranked 6th in the NFL in total defense but in my eyes defenses aren't ranked on how many yards they give up. It's about turnovers and making big plays and that's exactly what the Bears defense does. Through eight games this unit lead by Brian Urlacher and Charles Tillman have recorded 25 sacks (tied for third best in NFL), forced 21 fumbles (league best), intercepted 17 passes (tied for first), and scored eight touchdowns (league best). They're turnover machines! Cornerback Charles Tillman alone has forced a career high seven fumbles and keep in mind we're only half way through the season. With their defense playing like this and the offense playing steady this team looks to be making a Super Bowl run.

Patriots acquire Aqib Talib in trade with Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded corner Aqib Talib and a 2013 seventh round pick to the New England Patriots for the Pats' 2013 fourth round pick. I love this move, I tip my hat to Belichick yet again. At 6'1 205lbs Talib is a big and physical corner and a real ball hawk. Since being drafted by the Bucs in the first round in 2008, he's picked off 18 passes. Just as impressive is that he's broken up 53 passes and could really help this struggling Patriots secondary. Talib is serving a 4-game suspension for substance abuse and will have to miss the Patriots week 10 game against Buffalo, but week 11 against the Colts he'll be on the field. The 26 year old corner has gotten into a lot of trouble but Belichick has a history of getting players with bad reps i.e. Corey Dillon, Randy Moss, Alfonzo Dennard, Albert Haynesworth. And thus far it's worked out more often than not. I believe that this trade isn't only going to benefit the Patriots, it's going to benefit Aqib Talib. The atmosphere in this Patriots organization is going to be good for this guy. Talib is also in a contract year so assuming he wants to make big money next season, we should see him playing with a little extra motivation.

Brandon Lloyd was not a bad signing, but he needs to catch the ball

The Patriots signed wide receiver Brandon Lloyd last off-season following his two best seasons as a pro. But so far this season Lloyd's  known more for dropping passes than catching them. Granted, the balls that Tom Brady throws to him are rarely easy catches, however these drops are inexcusable. I've always said that if the ball hits your hands there's no excuse for it to be dropped. These guys catch balls for a living and while they're obviously going to drop a few passes, 5 in the first eight weeks is too many.
Lloyd is a very good receiver who can make the toughest of catches and I expect him to drop less passes as the season goes on.

Patriots' secondary banged up

The Patriots have a young and banged up secondary that has to step up. Tomorrow they play the St. Louis Rams overseas in London, England. Rams quarterback Sam Bradford's go-to-guy Danny Amendola is listed as questionable and unlikely to play. But the other receivers on this team: Chris Givens, Brandon Gibson, Steve Smith, and Lance Kendricks are no slouches themselves. A big part to why the Patriots' secondary is struggling is the absence of starting safeties Pat Chung and Steve Gregory, both of whom will not be playing tomorrow. The loss of those two guys is hurting this defense. Rookie Tavon Wilson is starting for Chung and Devin McCourty has moved from corner back to free safety. Which leaves Kyle Arrington and rookie Alfonzo Dennard as the starting corners. After Ras-I Dowling was put on injured reserve yesterday, his second consecutive injury shortened season, I see the Pats lack depth in defensive backs. Behind the four starters I listed above are Sterling Moore, Marquice Cole, and Nate Ebner. I like the way Sterling Moore plays but Cole is a special teams guy and Ebner is not good enough to be on defense yet. With his rugby background and lack of playing time at Ohio State he should be cover kicks not playing with the starting defense. The Pats are on their bye week after tomorrow's game and I expect any banged up players to be ready to go in week ten.
As ugly as the Pats secondary is playing, the defense is forcing turnovers and Belichick is still the coach so I think the defense is going to get better as the season goes on.

Cowboys' Lee placed on IR, Panthers' Beason on his way

The Dallas Cowboys have placed their star linebacker Sean Lee on injured reserve after suffering a toe injury in last week's game against Carolina. The injury is going to require surgery that will see Sean Lee on the sidelines for the rest of the season. Lee is the best player on the Dallas defense next to DeMarcus Ware and his absence is going to be a devastating blow to the team.
Ironically the Carolina Panthers, the Cowboys' opponent last week, may be losing their best linebacker as well. Jon Beason is expected to miss the remainder of the season to get surgery done on his knee. He's missed the last two games because of the knee. Beason played in only one game in 2011 before landing on injured reserve with an Achilles injury. Fortunately for the Panthers, they drafted linebacker Luke Kuechly back in April and will be moving him to middle linebacker. The Carolina defense was nothing special with Beason healthy this season and it's going to be far worse without him.

Raven's Suggs, Saint's Vilma active

Baltimore Raven's defensive end Terrell Suggs and New Orleans Saint's linebacker Johnathan Vilma have been activated for the first time this season. I'm interested to see how many snaps Suggs sees today. I didn't think he'd be ready to play today but it looks like he's made a strong recovery. As for the Saints, getting leader Johnathan Vilma back on the field is huge for their defense that ranks last in the league.

Raven's Suggs practices, possible return for Ray Lewis

Last year's Defensive Player of the Year, Baltimore Raven's defensive end Terrell Suggs was taken off the physically unable to perform list and participated in his first practice of the season today. The team's expectations for him right now are low, as they'd be for any player in Suggs's position, and they aren't rushing his return to the game field. And more good news for Raven's fans, Ray Lewis is designated for a return this season. He was placed on the injured reserve list yesterday and the team has placed the "designated to return" tag on him. This doesn't mean Lewis is sure to return this season, it just means there's a possibility or for Raven's fans and players... Hope.

Baltimore's Ray Lewis and Lardarius Webb out for rest of the season

Ray Lewis, the heart and soul of the Baltimore Ravens for the past 15 years, and underrated stand out cornerback Lardarius Webb have been placed on the injured reserve list. Of the two, Ray Lewis will be easier to replace, I know it sounds crazy. But at 37 years of age, Lewis' athleticism isn't what it once was and what new- starting middle backer Dannell Ellerbe lacks in passion and leadership (Lewis' most impactful qualities) he almost makes up for with his youth and athleticism. The loss of Lardarius Webb is much more impactful because he's a good versatile defensive back; a position that, in this pass-frenzy league is arguably the most crucial position on the defense. Second year corner Jimmy Smith will be taking Webb's spot at corner.
On a brighter note Terrell Suggs' return to the starting lineup is something that Ravens fans are looking forward to even more. At 5-1 through the first six weeks Baltimore is first in their division and I don't see these two injuries stopping this team from making the playoffs.

Seahawks secondary will challenge Patriots pass game

The Seahawks secondary is as physical as any back four in the league. They're tall, strong, athletic, and heavy hitters. Their starting cornerbacks are unusually tall not to mention strong, Brandon Browner stands 6'4" weighing 221lbs and fellow corner Richard Sherman is 6'3" and weighs 195lbs. Then there's the strong safety Kam Chancellor, at 6'3" 232lbs he's an athletic tackling machine. The feircest hitter of the bunch. And at free safety is the smallest of the group, Earl Thomas (5'10" 202lbs) he can make plays on the ball and loves to mix it up in run support. Look to see how Browner and Sherman jam the Patriots receivers as they come off the line of scrimmage. And I wouldn't be shocked to see Chancellor cover Rob Gronkowski throughout the game. As we all know Gronk is somewhat a freak of nature but Kam Chancellor is no slouch, he's got the length, strength, and athleticism to contest passes thrown number 87's way.
Tom Brady will get the best of this young defense but still I believe the Seattle secondary will put up a good fight. Patriots win 23-13.

Pats defense is good

This New England defense is good and is certainly better than people give them credit for. Bill Belichick's defense is very young but also very disciplined, physical, and versatile. The rookies are playing well and the defense is forcing turnovers with 14 thus far (6 interceptions 8 fumble recoveries). The 8 fumble recoveries are a league best. And they're playing with an attitude that I haven't seen on the Pats defense since the days of Richard Seymour and Rodney Harrison. The source? Middle linebacker Brandon Spikes. The third year man out of Florida plays with a nastiness and intensity that has infected his teammates as well. Spikes is a ferocious hitter and after he hits you he's going to get in your face and tell you about it. He's the energizer of this young Patriots defense. They're stout against the run and have really improved in pass defense. This group is going to get better as the season goes on and it's because of this that I say the Patriots will win the Super Bowl XLVII. Oh, yeah and having Tom Brady doesn't hurt.

Colts beat Packers, week five upset

Green Bay lead 21-3 at half-time but Indianapolis came out fired up in the second-half and Andrew Luck capped off a comeback with a touchdown pass to his favorite target Reggie Wayne with only 35 seconds left in regulation. The Packers had a chance to force overtime but place kicker Mason Crosby missed the 51 yard field goal and the Colts came out victorious 30-27. My hats off to that whole Colts team and staff for winning their first game without head coach Chuck Pagano who's battling leukemia. The horse shoe defense held Aaron Rodgers and his explosive offense scoreless in the third quarter, and can be argued as the reason they won that game. For Colts fans it's a good sign, seeing your team overcome the loss of your head coach and do right by him defeating a good Green Bay team at home.. However if I were a Packers fan I'd be pretty concerned because we're entering week six of the season and they're in third place in their division with a record of 2-3. It's time they play with a sense of urgency.

Ravens beat Browns in a tight one

The Ravens were victorious last night beating the Browns 23-16. The Browns definitely could have won that game even though heading into it everyone said they didn't stand a chance. This Cleveland team has been plagued by dropped passes, a category in which they lead the league. As for the Ravens, Joe Flacco played well throwing 28 passes for 356 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and one rushing touchdown. The rain was coming down hard which is why I was surprised to see the Ravens throw the ball as much as they did. Ray Rice only ran the ball 18 times.
The regular officials got a standing ovation when they ran onto the field last night but it didn't take very long until the crowd started booing calls against the home team; there's just no pleasing fans.

Lockout is coming to an end

Reports say that team owners and the officials are on the verge of an agreement. It's said that if a deal is struck the real referees would return to action this week starting with tomorrow's Thursday Night Football match up between the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns. Once they're back on the field the game will move at a faster pace, penalties will have clear explanations, there won't be as much extra contact after the whistle, and all the talk about replacement officials will be over. Holly luya!

Seahawks defense shines in last night's victory over Packers

Clearly the talk of the day pertains to the officials ruling the final play of the game as a Seahawks' touchdown when actually Green Bay intercepted the ball. That blunder by the refs is overshadowing the dominant performance of the Seattle defense. That unit sacked Aaron Rodgers 8 times and held the Packers' offense to a mere 12 points. The secondary blanketed the Green Bay receivers. A very impressive outing by the Seattle Seahawks.

Revis tears ACL

Jets All Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis suffered a torn ACL in Sundays overtime win against the Dolphins. NFL.com reports the injury is going to require surgery. The Jets looked at best like an eight win team but without Revis on the field, going .500 on the season may be a longshot.

Please give us the regular officials

I can't believe how much these replacement referees are hurting the game. Such terrible calls in tonight's Patriots at Ravens match up, phantom calls all over the place. I'm speechless really. The NFL is a multibillion dollar industry, get the real officials back on the field because this is, for lack of a better term, a joke.

Coaches and players to lighten up on refs

The league sent out a memo to all 32 teams telling players and coaches to stop trying to intimidate these replacement officials. And I for one agree with that demand seeing how it's been blateantly obvious that the behavior towards to officials is much more aggressive from both the players and coaches. We'll likely see less aggression from the teams staff and possibly more courage from the officials. As I'm sure everyone has noticed, there has been a lot of extra curricular activity going on after plays are blown dead (pushing, shoving, scuffles, etc.) and I for one enjoy that part of game, but the officials need to grow a pair and take control of those situations. They need to do a better job seperating the players and informing the players and coaches that it isn't going to tolerated. I'm certainly going to have my eyes on the officials (more than usual) today.

Pats will struggle without Hernandez

In Sunday's loss to Arizona the Patriots loss their most important weapon on offense, Aaron Hernandez, after he suffered an ankle injury early in the first quarter. His injury appears to be a high ankle sprain which means he'll likely be out for at least one month. As we witnessed yezterday, this offense struggles without Hernandez. His ability to line up anywhere on the field makes him a nightmare for opposing defenses. He lines up in the backfield, in the slot, out wide, and next to the tackle as a tight end. He has become Brady's go to guy and with him on the shelf it's likely Welker is going to see more passes. The Pats are at Baltimore this Sunday and as always the Ravens have a solid defense lead by future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis. After seeing how Brady and the offense struggled against the Cardinals defense it's going to be more difficult to move the ball against a very tough and physical Ravens defense.

Bucs played clean

New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin and his players were clearly upset when Eli Manning was knocked down as he took a knee to end the game against the Buccaneers. Anybody who thinks the Bucs delivered a "cheap shot" on that play is a either an idiot or a drama queen. In this case the Giants are drama queens. The Bucs defensive line pushed the Giants offensive line backwards into Manning forcing him to gently fall to the ground. Yeah, that's quite a cheap shot (heavy sarcasm). Tampa Bay did what every team should: don't let up until you're told the game is over.

Packers defense too much for Bears

I thought that the Bears would beat the Packers and more importantly that their larger wide receivers would be too much for Green Bay's secondary to handle. I was dead wrong. In the 23-10 victory the Packers defense sacked Jay Cutler seven times, three and a half by Clay Matthews, and intercepted four of his passes. In a division like the NFC North, where all the teams have a fierce pass rush, the Bears need to do a better job protecting Jay Cutler if they want to be playing football in January.

The oldest rivalry in the book

The Bears and Packers square off tonight for the 185th time. Wow that's a lot of games! Jay Cutler has his old-new favorite target Brandon Marshall, a healthy Matt Forte, and as always a strong defense. The Packers have listed Greg Jennings as doubtful and while that's a fairly big loss this offense has depth at the receiver position. But I think the Packers secondary is in for a tough night going up against this dangerous Chicago offense. Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery are tall and strong receivers that can out-muscle and out-leap defenders. Add the Matt Forte into the mix and you get a balanced attack.
After losing to the 49ers on Sunday it's hard to vote against Green Bay playing at home tonight but I just have a feeling they're going to come up short tonight. Bears 27 Packers 24

I could get use to these replacement refs

Like the usual referees, the replacements made some mistakes. However, they officiated a lot better than I expected them to. A true luxury from these replacement refs is that we're seeing much less defensive pass interference calls compared to previous seasons. Wide receivers are by far the whiniest players on the field constantly complaining to the officials. If I had a nickel for every time I saw a receiver drop a ball, throw his hands in the air and look towards the referees resulting in a defensive pass interference call, I wouldn't still be living with my rents. Hopefully the league doesn't do or say anything to change that part of the game... again. 

Pats defense and running game shine in season opener

There were two eye openers in the Patriots victory against the Titans: 1) Stevan Ridley is a quality back and 2) This young defense looks pretty good. Ridley ran for 125 yards and one touchdown on 21 carries and caught two passes for 27 yards. He showed good vision and burst through the line of scrimmage and used his blockers very well. I was very impressed by his performance. On the other side of the ball the defense was pretty good. Their first first three draft choices from April (Chandler Jones, Donta Hightower, and Tavon Wilson) made big plays. Chandler Jones strip sacked Jake Locker and the fumble was recovered and taken in for a touchdown by Hightower. Tavon Wilson recorded an interception. The pass defense needs to improve but as far as stopping the run goes, they were phenomenal holding the Titans to a mere 20 yards rushing. There will obviously be games where the defense struggles but from what we saw yesterday this defense is much improved from last season.

RG3 shines while his fellow rookie quarterbacks struggle

Five rookie quarterbacks started week one; Robert Griffin III (WAS), Andrew Luck (IND), Brandon Weeden (CLE), Ryan Tannehill (MIA), and Russell Wilson (SEA). But only Robert Griffin III came out victorious and put on a stellar performance completing 19 of his 26 passes for 320 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions as he lead the Skins to a 40-32 upset victory in the Saints' Super Dome. Griffin didn't look like a rookie yesterday, but a four year veteran. His fellow rookie signal callers, well they had rookie written all over them. Andrew Luck, Brandon Weeden, and Ryan Tannehill each threw three interceptions. Russell Wilson threw only one pick in his struggling debut against the Cardinals.

Bounty Gate conclusion?

The suspensions of Johnathan Vilma, Scott Fujita, Anthony Hargrove, and Will Smith have been overturned and all are eligible to play this Sunday. Initially the Commissioner suspended Vilma for the entire season, Hargrove for 8 games, Smith for 4 games, and Fujita for 3 games. This is huge for the Saints now that Vilma is back to lead the defense. We'll probably hear more about the bounty gate scandal throughout the season as Commissioner Goodell will look to prove there was intent to injure among the Saints players.

Refs did well in season opener

As I've said before, I thought that these replacement referees were going to be as mediocre as they were in the preseason but that clearly wasn't the case. I was very impressed by the officiating crew last night. The defending Super Bowl champion Giants opened the season against their division rival Cowboys in a nationally televised game putting that much more pressure on this crew of replacement officials. They brought their A game and did a hell of a job. Yes, there were some missed calls but you'll see that in every game regardless of who the referees are. If these replacements continue officiating this well we can expect the lockout to go on for awhile.

Demps on IR

I stated that I believed Patriots running back and former Olympian Jeff Demps was going to be a weapon for New England this season but that will not be the case this season as Demps has been placed on injured reserve with a lower leg injury; boy was I furious when I heard about that. We'll have to wait until the 2013 season to see him in action.

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.

Vick and Eagles high on confidence

"Oh no, Michael Vick used the d-word," I said with heavy sarcasm after watching ESPN analysts discuss Vick's poor choice of words, that he's putting too much pressure on him and his teammates, and all this nonsense. The d-word I'm referring too is "dynasty," which Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick said he believes this Eagles team could become. Michael Vick is a smart man and he knew what he saying and meant every word. And I agree with him; the Eagles have the talent to win a championship. He's confident and rightfully so. Will his words be used as motivation for their upcoming opponents? Of course. But it's also motivation for the Eagles, a team who's backup quarterback of last season Vince Young (currently a Buffalo Bill) said the Eagles were a dream team. The Eagles would finish the season 8-8 and miss the playoffs. The Eagles are better than 8-8 and they're going to be intent on proving that this season. If Vick can slide and run out of bounds, just stay healthy, then this club should win the NFC East.

Law & Order

Players have been making headlines this off-season for run ins with the law. Whether it's possession of illegal drugs, driving while intoxicated or under the influence, domestic violence or restraining arrest. Some of these players have no previous issues off the field and an argument for that will be made, but I think it's time that commissioner Goodell use disciplinary action whether or not they're a first time offender. And even more important, the coaches of these players chew their players' ass and give him hell in practice; hell I'd go as far as cutting him. You don't have to be a genius to realize you've had too many drinks and it'd be best to take a cab home. Why anybody decides to get involved with drugs is beyond me but if they're dumb enough to use them then clearly they're dumb enough to get caught. After being told to leave a club because they were closing and then refusing to leave and follow that with restraining arrest; well it's like what Herm Edwards told this year's rookies, "nothing good happens in a club after midnight," and that was proved yet again this off-season. We've seen the Law part of these encounters, now let's see the Order.

Tag, you're it

Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker will play the 2012 season under the team's franchise tag which pays him a guaranteed $9.5 million. He's not complaining nor should he be. After coming off his best season in 2011 recording 122 receptions for 1,569 yards and nine touchdowns. Welker takes a lot of big hits, which I love about him, but when you add that to the fact that he's 31 years old entering his 9th season, he may not be around for as long as he or the Pats would like. I mean he really takes a beating on the football field and is as tough a player as they come. The Pats could tag him again next season or try to workout a 2 yr deal since he wanted a 3 yr deal this season. People say he's a product of the Patriots system but that's not entirely true. Yes, in this system Welker's skills are put to full use and he certainly excels, plus playing with Tom Brady never hurts. Still, I'm very confident that Welker would be a great receiver for any team in this league
After signing three wide receivers in free agency (Brandon Lloyd, Donte Stallworth, and Jabar Gaffney) his numbers won't be that of last year's but we all know he's going to be just as effective. .

Ravens and Bears ink their star runners

The Chicago Bears and running back Matt Forte have agreed to a 4 yr deal worth $32 million while the Baltimore Ravens signed Ray Rice to 5 yrs at $35 million. Easily the leagues top two all around backs; not only being superb runners but also being very effective in the receiving game as well as pass blocking. Both Rice and Forte were selected in the second round of the 2008 draft by their respective teams and, I believe, have exceeded expectations. As both enter their fifth season in the league, their first four totaled up some pretty impressive numbers. In the 51 games Ray Rice has played in he's rushed for 4,377 yards and 24 touchdowns averaging 4.6 yards per carry, and to go with that he's caught 250 passes for 2,235 yards and 5 touchdowns. As for Forte, in the 50 games played he's ran for 4,233 yards and 21 touchdowns averaging 4.2 yards per carry to go along with his 225 receptions for 1,985 yards and 8 touchdowns. But, what really impressed me about Forte is not his play, but his character; being a professional and classy guy playing last year without getting any offers from his team as far as a long-term contract goes. He knew that playing was the best thing for the team and holding out would hurt them. Good to see him get the money and respect he deserves from the guys in the Bears' front office.

New Orleans' weather finally a Cool Brees

LeBron James said it best, "It's about damn time." He said that in response to winning a championship after nine long ring-less seasons but it's certainly an appropriate response to Brees and the Saints finally coming to an agreement; looks like that threat of not playing without a long term deal paid off nicely. The 5 yr deal is worth $100 million and $60 million is guaranteed, meaning if he suffers a career ending injury this season that $60 million is his money. He's set to earn $40 million this season alone which is just absurd, I don't care who you are or what you've done for the city you play in, that's a crazy amount of money for just one season. The Saints aren't going to win their division but their record will be a hell of a lot better with him as their quarterback.

Bounty Gate is getting old

Stop the bounty talk! Talk of the bounty scandal continues despite the commissioner upholding the players' suspensions. The players need to just own up to what they did and accept their punishments. This is getting pathetic. Let's go back to talking about football instead of lawsuits; those were the good ole' days.

Pats are more than set at tight end

One day after signing free agent tight end Bo Scaife, the Pats signed Rob Gronkowski to a 6 yr deal worth $54 million $18 million guaranteed. Looks like that leg of his has recovered quite well. After Gronk's record setting season he was rewarded in a luxurious fashion. It's fair to expect he'll do more than live up to his end of the bargain. Free agent acquisitions Daniel Fells and Bo Scaife add needed depth to the Pats TE situation, which is key because as we saw last season Gronk and Hernandez aren't invincible. Scaife spent last season on injured reserve for the Bengals after injuring his shoulder in the preseason. With more depth at TE we probably won't see the extra one or two offensive lineman on the field on running plays.

Ochocinco a Patriot no more

The Patriots cut ties with Chad Ochocinco after just one season; a very unproductive one I might add. The 34 year old had career lows in receptions (15), receiving yards (276), and tied his career low in TD receptions with 1. Ochocinco just couldn't get the Pats system; it was too complex for him. After 10 seasons in a Cincinnati Bengals offense that was not only much simpler to understand but he was "the guy" of their wide receiving corps. The 34 year old wideout could have trouble finding a team granted I think he has a better chance the T.O.

Lions off-field issues a result of lacking leadership

NFL.com writer Dan Hanzus wrote a piece on the Lions' off-season run ins with the law. Stating that second year players Nick Fairley and Mikel Leshoure have each been brought into custody twice while offensive lineman Johnny Culbreath has been arrested once. He also revealed that the Lions have accounted for 24 percent of the total player arrests and citations this off season. Which is a rather absurd number.

I believe this is a result of a lack of leadership in the locker room. The New England Patriots embody leadership. The veterans on that team are going to be on the young guys before they have the chance to make a dumb decision, e.g. driving while intoxicated. The most recent Patriot to have an off the field incident is Julian Edelman a.k.a the Utility Man, as he was arrested for indecent assault and battery in October of 2011. And what happened the following Sunday? Edelman was a healthy scratch; his punishment was not dressing for a game. It may not sound like much but one must remember that football is the livelihood of these players and all they want to do is play. And you can bet that not only were his teammates mightily disappointed in him but he was disappointed in himself; a slip up off the field resulted in him unable to help his team win...
These Detroit Lions team is in serious need of some leaders. With two offensive players (RB Leshoure and OL Culbreath) having been arrested and another (WR Titus Young) was barred from OTAs for fighting a teammate, someone on that offense needs to step up and take the leadership role. After signing his ridiculously generous contract WR Calvin Johnson could be that guy or it could be Matthew Stafford. Regardless of who it is it needs to be done. As for the defense, it's Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley; their two studs on the DL. Now, Suh's troubles have come on the field with several fines and one suspension. Fairley on the other hand has had one too many encounters with the police. The sky is the limit for these guys but they need to get their act together; Fairley more than Suh. Which is why I believe that DE Kyle Vanden Bosch who is in his 12th season (3rd with Lions) should take the role as the leader on the defensive line if not the entire defense. If they don't find leadership then this team is going to continue to have these growing pains.

This "Top 100 Players of 2012" list is a complete JOKE!!

I'm truly disgusted by this list, especially when I remember that the players votes make up the list. Mind boggling, really. For those of you who don't know of this list it's a TV series the airs every Wednesday night on the NFL Network and lists 10 players each week until the 100 are all shown. You can see the rankings at www.NFL.com/top100 One of the main reasons for my disapproval of this poorly made list is that Tim Tebow is ranked #92. ARE. YOU. KIDDING. ME?! Tebow is a complete joke. He's not a good quarterback and those who love him will say, "yeah well he wins games" yes, because his defense kept them in the game. If the Denver defense didn't hold the opposition to no more than 13 points then Tebow would actually have to be a quarterback and pass his way to victory. The Denver defense kept the team in the game and allowed the Broncos offense to run the ball, rather than having Tebow throwing the ball into the dirt. Please understand that I don't have anything against Tim Tebow he's a phenomenal athlete and a very good person, my problem is with the people who think he's so great. Because he's not, his defense is the only reason he was able win games last season. 
If you have a couple of minutes to kill, go to nfl.com and see this mediocre list for yourself. 

P.S.- Please leave comments! I'd love to get some feedback or hear your opinions on what I write. Thanks!

WARNING: Do not question Bill Belichick

The so called "draft experts" totally disagreed with Belichick when he selected defensive back Tavon Wilson in the second round of this year's draft. Mike Mayock was even a little weary of the pick but knowing Belichick the way he does, he believes Wilson is going to be a good fit. I too feel that Wilson is going to be a solid player for this team. He's the type of player who's going to try and win at whatever position he's put in; corner, nickel, safety, linebacker, special teams, etc. One thing in particular that I like about his game is his tackling; a part of the game in which New England's secondary lacks efficiency (with the exception of Patrick Chung).
I just have this feeling, one may even say it's a, "sense," that Tavon Wilson is going to make a contribution this season and prove to the doubters that he was worth a second round pick.

In Bill We Trust!

My reaction to the Patriots draft selections

I LOVE what Belichick did in this year's draft! Besides their last pick, he drafted all defensive players... finally. And what may be a sign of the apocalypse is that Belichick actually traded up in the draft. I love the guys he chose and I'm going to tell you why...

Round 1: With the 21st pick they drafted DE Chandler Jones out of Syracuse. My favorite analyst, Mike Mayock, has been very high on this kid. The Pats have added a much needed pass rusher to their defense. I certainly don't think he'll be a starter by any means but in situations that call for pressure on the quarterback, you can bet you'll see Jones on the field.
At pick no. 25 the Pats selected LB Donta' Hightower out of Alabama. Hightower is a smart and talented football player. A two year captain at Bama. The Pats needed more depth at LB and they got it. We all know how Belichick loves versatility and with Hightower capable of playing inside and outside, that's what he got. Hightower should have an immediate impact.

Round 2: With the 48th overall pick the Pats drafted DB Tavon Wilson out of Illinois. This selection had draft experts shaking their heads. I, however, love the selection. Wilson brings versatility to the table as he can play safety, cornerback, and even come down in the box at linebacker. He's a solid tackler and adds depth to the Pats secondary. He can also play in the slot as the nickelback. He's 6'0 205 lbs and after hearing his press conference I like the attitude he has, he's definitely going to embrace the Patriot way.

Round 3: They drafted DE Jake Bequette out of Arkansas with the 90th overall pick. Another pass rush addition with this choice. He's got a high motor and he's a tough guy who's good at rushing the quarterback. 6'5" 274 lbs he's a fairly big guy, ran a 4.8 40 at the combine. In 2011 he was a first team All SEC Selection. Mike Mayock said he'll fit in well in the Patriots' locker room.

Round 6: With the 197th pick in the draft the Pats selected Safety Nate Ebner out of Ohio State. Prior to playing football at Ohio State, Ebner was a rugby star. Since he couldn't go to school and play rugby he chose to get an education and as a walk on at Ohio State he joined the football team. Ebner is going to make the Patriots squad as a special teams ace, which is what he excelled at as a Buckeye.

Round 7: During the sixth round I went on NFL.com to check out who the best available prospects were and when I saw Alfonzo Dennard hadn't been selected I was astonished. Little had did I know the incident he was involved in the week before. Regardless of that, the Patriots drafted CB Alfonzo Dennard out of Nebraska with the 224th pick in the draft. Dennard lacks the speed to play corner in the pros and with his intense physical play I expect Belichick to play him at safety. He's had his share of fights both on and off the field which caused him to fall to the seventh round but if there's a guy with character problems, the best team for him to be on is the New England Patriots. If Dennard can put that stuff behind him then the Pats could have a real good football player here.

Last but certainly not least, with the 235th pick the Pats selected WR Jeremy Ebert out of Northwestern. The only player drafted on the offensive side of the ball Ebert is entering a fairly packed receiving corp in New England. In free agency they signed Brandon Lloyd, Donte Stallworth, and Anthony Gonzalez to go with Welker, Branch, Edelman, Ochocinco and the two tightends. Ebert is probably going to have to shine on special teams in order to make the 53 man roster. I see him as a practice squad guy.

Draft prospects at DB who would be a good fit for the Patriots

In my last post I listed the needs on this Patriots squad; defense. Mainly the pass rush and secondary. There are a few solid pieces in this secondary (McCourty, Chung, Arrington, and Dowling) but there's quite a bit of room for improvement. Depth in the secondary is essential in this pass driven league and is something the Patriots lacked last season. Here are some draft prospects that would be a good fit for the Pats...

 CB Janoris Jenkins of North Alabama. Once a 3 year starter at Florida, Jenkins transferred to North Alabama due to several mishaps that took place off the field. At 5'10" 193 lbs what Jenkins lacks in size he makes up for with uncanny skills to cover top wideouts. He's a great cover corner and can also contribute in the return game on special teams. With his character issues teams may be afraid to pull the trigger on Jenkins and there could be an opportunity for the Pats to snag him. And for a player with some character issues there's no better team to play for than the New England Patriots.
CB Alfonzo Dennard of Nebraska. At 5'10" 204 lbs, Dennard isn't necessarily going to "wow" you, but his overall game is more than solid. He can play man well and is reliable in run support, something that New England's defensive backs aren't stellar at. He's a smart football player who plays with his instincts. Shouldn't be a starter as a rookie and hasn't played in the slot. Could be a big contributor on special teams and will probably be taken in round 2.
CB Trumaine Johnson of Montana. My favorite NFL draft analyst Mike Mayock has shown high praise for this kid since pre-combine workouts. At 6'1" 204 lbs Johnson is a big corner who has good skills and can help in run support. His has fluid hips and footwork that allow him to stay with his receiver. In press coverage he uses his strength and long arms jam receivers at the line interrupting their routes. Even though he didn't go up against many top wideouts playing in the Football Championship Subdivision, analysts say Johnson is an NFL ready corner.

What Bill Belichick should do in this year's draft

We are coming up on one of my favorite times of the year; the annual NFL Draft. Analyzing team needs and prospects that would best fit those needs. My favorite team is the New England Patriots and when it comes to the draft it's nearly impossible to predict what Bill Belichick is going to do. The Pats have needs at Defensive End, Outside Linebacker, and Cornerback/Safety. After nearly beating the Giants in Super Bowl XLVI with a rather amateur defense, this draft could propel them to being a true championship caliber team. Belichick has two in each of the first two rounds this year's draft and in recent years has been stock piling draft picks. With no serious needs on the offensive side of the ball, this could and should be the year that Belichick uses his early picks and drafts defensive players. This is long overdue by the way, I mean when you have arguably the best overall defensive lineman in the league in Vince Wilfork then you need to build around that player. The Patriots are without Mark Anderson and Andre Carter who were tied for the team lead in sacks last season (10). So, it's quite obvious that getting pass rushers is the intelligent thing to do. Here are some of the front seven guys that I feel would be solid picks for the Pats:

DE/OLB Nick Perry of USC. He's 6'3" 271 lbs and is one of this year's draft classes elite pass rushers. He's got the size, strength, and speed to play at OLB or put his hand in the dirt at DE. It's been said by analysts @ NFL.com that Perry has late first round talent, which is good news because I think he could fall in the Pats lap at pick no.27.
DE Whitney Mercilus of Illinois. At 6'3" 261 lbs Mercilus is more of a DE than an OLB when it comes to his skill set. He doesn't stop until the whistle blows, he's very good against the run, and with his speed he can drop into the flats. But it's said that he'd be best fit in a 4-3 defense and I agree with that, fortunately the Pats use the 4-3 quite a bit. Mercilus should be around come day two.
OLB Bruce Irvin of West Virginia. Irvin is an absolute freakish athlete; 6'3" 245 lbs and runs a 4.5 40 yd. dash. Played DE at West Virginia, he's a phenomenal pass rusher who has a wide array of moves to beat larger and stronger offensive tackles. The Patriots run a mix of 3-4 & 4-3 schemes and with the pass rush being a major concern, Irvin would be an ideal solution.
DE/OLB Vinny Curry of Marshall. Listed at 6'3" 266 lbs, Curry is an intriguing prospect due to his versatility. He can play standing up and rush the passer and he can also set the edge against offensive tackles. He has good technique and burst of the l.o.s. that he displays when rushing the passer. An all around solid player Curry should go in the 2nd round and would be a nice fit for the Pats.

Parcell's decides to stay retired... good decision.

Thank goodness! Yes, the Big Tuna has announced that he will remain retired and will not serve as interim head coach of the New Orleans Saints for the upcoming 2012 season. With head coach Sean Payton's season long suspension without pay beginning on April 16th, Payton looked to his friend and mentor Parcells for advise and possibly coming out of retirement to fill the void left at head coach. After taking a couple of weeks to think it over, today's reports say the 71 year old Parcells will remain retired. And for the record, the Saints are better off without the Big Tuna. He's got a very different personality and coaching style than Payton does and I don't believe that the players would adjust very well. Better off keeping things in house. Which leads me to believe that offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael will get the job as interim head coach