Football Baby!

I love this time of year, as football season is in full swing, both on the college level and in the NFL.

My Patriots thrashed the New York Jets, 38-14 today, in a record setting performance. CB Ellis Hobbs returned a kickoff 108 yards for a touchdown to open the third quarter. The previous record of 106 yards was accomplished three times, but not since 1979. Randy Moss, the Patriots' much ballyhooed and controversial WR acquisition of the off season, had little impact on today's game, catching nine Tom Brady passes for 183 yards (a 20.3 yard per catch average), while Brady threw for 297 yards and three touchdowns.

While that was good, it gets even better for this proud dad.

M played his first flag football games this afternoon. Even though his team lost both games, 14-0 and 21-7, the important thing is not wins and losses but just learning the fundamentals of football and what it's like to play in an organized league for the first time. The games were 20 minutes long, with two ten minute halves. Each team was on offense and defense for one half at a time. There was a ten minute break between games.

M played well today. He played running back on offense and on the very first play of the season, M took the hand off from the quarterback and ran for 10 yards. Except for one play when he went backwards, M always got positive yards. On defense he was playing out on the edge where a corner back would play and pursued well, though he was chasing some bigger, faster kids.

If you know me you would not be surprised that I was cheering the loudest. Not just for M, but for all of the kids on his team and even when some of the other team's players made good plays.

Even the cool weather, overcast skies and misty rain during the second half of the second game couldn't dampen the fun atmosphere for the kids and the parents.

All in all it was a fun day.

Oh, yeah, the Red Sox won, today too. Icing on the cake, baby.