2010 NFL Playoffs Divisional Round 1/16/2011

#4 Seattle Seahawks (8-9) at #2 Chicago Bears (11-5) (-10, o/u 41.5); 13:00 FOX. Let's face it: No one outside of Seattle gave the Seahawks a flaming chance to beat the defending Super Bowl Champions last week. But they did, thanks to a great game from QB Matt Hasselbeck and a brilliant late run by RB Marshawn Lynch. Even though the Seahawks won in Chicago in Week Six by a field goal means only the Seahawks aren't intimidated by playing here and have nothing to lose. As much as I despise the Bears, they present the Seahawks with little chance of winning today. The only chance the Seahawks have is if Bears QB Jay Cutler throws INT's all over the place (which could very well happen), but I don't think he will throw more than one. The Bears defense is simply better than the Seahawks offense and the Bears offense has more talent than the Seahawks defense. That being said, I do think the Seahawks will make a game of it and at least cover the spread. The winner will host the Green Bay Packers for the NFC Championship next weekend.
MY PREDICTION: @ Chicago Bears 34, Seattle Seahawks 28
ACTUAL RESULT:

#6 New York Jets (12-5) at #1 New England Patriots (14-2) (-9, o/u 44); 16:30 CBS. What better matchups can you get this weekend in the AFC, part two. The Jets and Patriots each won, in the regular season, as the home team. The Jets won 28-14 in Week 2 and the Patriots won 45-3 in Week 13. That last game will be hard for the Jets to get over, especially in Foxboro. Pats QB Tom Brady has lost his last two postseason games (SB XLII to the NY Giants (still painful) and last years wild card game to the Ravens.) and I doubt he'll make it three in a row. Jets coach Rex Ryan just can't seem to shut up and neither can his team. Do your talking on the field, boys. I do expect the Patriots to win, but the game will be much closer than 45-3. If the Patriots win, they will host Pittsburgh next weekend for the AFC Championship. If the Jets win they will play in Pittsburgh.
MY PREDICTION: @ New England Patriots 40, New York Jets 20
ACTUAL RESULT:

2010 NFL Draft - First Round

As I normally do, I entered the Patriots Football Weekly mock draft contest, which I actually won ten years ago but haven't come close to winning since.

The rules are simple:

All guesses had to be submitted by 5 PM EDT yesterday.

For each correct selection, the number of points awarded is equal to the number of the pick in the first round. For example, if I guess the fourth pick correctly, I get four points. If I guess the twenty-fifth pick correctly, I get 25 points. The highest number of points is the winner.

It doesn't matter what team selects the player with a certain pick, so draft day trades are not a factor in the selections.

Here then are my guesses:

1) Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
2) Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
3) Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
4) Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
5) Brian Bulaga, OT, Iowa
6) Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
7) Joe Haden, CB, Florida
8) Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
9) Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
10) Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida
11) Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
12) Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama
13) Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers
14) Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland
15) Brandon Spikes, ILB, Florida
16) Sergio Kindle, OLB, Texas
17) Earl Thomas, S, Texas
18) Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech
19) Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State
20) Perrish Cox, CB, Oklahoma State
21) Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame
22) Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
23) CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson
24) Jonathan Crompton, QB, Tennessee
25) Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
26) Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan
27) Mike Iupati, G, Idaho
28) Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech
29) Corey Wootton, DE, Northwestern
30) Taylor Mays, S, USC
31) Brian Price, DT, UCLA
32) D'Anthony Smith, DT, Louisiana Tech

Later, I'll highlight the selections I picked correctly, based on how things really go tonight. Also, I'll eventually record the actual first round picks and what team selected them as the night moves along.

2010 New England Patriots regular season schedule

Its times like these when I wish blogger would accept spreadsheet formatting...

regular season opponents
date time opponent network all-time series
9/12/2010 13:00 CINCINNATI BENGALS CBS NE 13-8-0
9/19/2010 16:15 at New York Jets CBS tied 50-50-1
9/26/2010 13:00 BUFFALO BILLS CBS NE 59-40-1
10/4/2010 20:30 at Miami Dolphins ESPN Mia 50-39-0
10/10/2010 bye
10/17/2010 13:00 BALTIMORE RAVENS CBS NE 5-1-0
10/24/2010 16:15 at San Diego Chargers CBS NE 20-15-2
10/31/2010 16:15 MINNESOTA VIKINGS CBS NE 6-4-0
11/7/2010 13:00 at Cleveland Browns CBS Cle 12-9-0
11/14/2010 20:20 at Pittsburgh Steelers NBC Pit 14-10-0
11/21/2010 16:15 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS CBS NE 44-29-0
11/25/2010 12:30 at Detroit Lions CBS NE 5-4-0
12/6/2010 20:30 NEW YORK JETS ESPN tied 50-50-1
12/12/2010 13:00 at Chicago Bears CBS NE 7-4-0
12/19/2010 20:20 GREEN BAY PACKERS NBC GB 5-4-0
12/26/2010 13:00 at Buffalo Bills CBS NE 59-40-1
1/2/2011 13:00 MIAMI DOLPHINS CBS Mia 50-39-0

HOME GAMES in CAPS

No playoffs in 2008

You can point to many reasons why the New England Patriots became the second team since the NFL adopted a 16 game schedule in 1978 to miss the playoffs with an 11-5 record, joining the 1985 Denver Broncos.

I can think of three reasons. #1 would be injuries. Not olny reigning NFL MVP Tom Brady's season ending knee injury in the first quarter of the first game of the season, but all of the season ending injuries that would be suffered by many of the Patriots front line players. #2 and #3 would be three point losses at Indianapolis and vs. the New York Jets in overtime. Win either of those games and the Pats would be division champs and in the playoffs again.

However, as I'm sure Coach Bill Belichick will say, "We don't make excuses, it's football" and "It is what it is."

Honestly though, if you had told me during training camp that the star QB would go down with an injury (in the first quarter of the first game no less) and a backup who hadn't played meaningful football in seven years would come in and lead the team to an 11-5 record and a shot at the division title, I wouldn't have believed you.

When Tom Brady got hurt, I was thinking more realistically at a record of somewhere between 7-9 and 9-7 to consider this a successful season. Small consolation for a team that in recent years, has had it's playoff ticket punched well before week seventeen.

Now Patriots fans can look forward to 2009, when the schedule will include home and away games vs Buffalo Bills, NY Jets and Miami Dolphins. Home games vs. Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers. Away games vs. Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which will be played at Wembley Stadium in London, England on October 25^th.

I'll have my Wild Card Weekend playoff predictions for you on Friday, January 2^nd.

season over after 7 minutes 33 seconds

For years we've been hearing how indispensable Tom Brady is to the success of the New England Patriots and how he's the one player whom they could not afford to lose to an injury.

Well, halfway through the first quarter of the Patriots 17-10 win over Kansas City yesterday, Brady went down with a season ending left knee injury, forcing 4th year back up Matt Cassel to step into the fray and carry this team as far as he can.

How many games will the Patriots win now in 2008? I had them penciled in for 13-14 wins and a long run through the playoffs as a #1 or #2 seed. Now I'd say the Patriots are a 10-11 win team and a best case scenario 4th seed in the tough American Football Conference.

Yes, it will be an adjustment for the Patriots and fans to get used to Matt Cassel. Matt who?? As important as Tom Brady is (he is after all the franchise), there are other talented players on this team who will now have to step up and play better each week to help fill the void. The Patriots struck gold in a similar situation in 2001, can they do it again?.

I was listening to the game on the radio when it happened and watched the hit on Brady (ad nauseum on Boston area television stations) and I agree that it looked like there was no maliciousness involved in it. It was a football play, as Steve Young put it on ESPN tonight, that happened within the game.

Who needs a sure-fire first ballot Hall-of-Famer, two-time Super Bowl and reigning league MVP Quarterback anyway?? Fifty touchdown passes. Bah! Who needs that?

We'll see how much the Patriots do over the next four months, that's for sure....

Yankees - Red Sox @ Fenway part II

Any time the Yankees and Red Sox play, it's good entertainment.

Such is the case this weekend, as the Yanks make their 2^nd of three trips to Fenway this season. So far this year the Red Sox hold a 5-4 series edge and are three games ahead of the Yankees in the standings entering tonight's action.

The pitching matchups for the weekend (results updated throughout the weekend):

July 25: Yankees 1, @ Red Sox 0
WP= Chamberlain (3-3), LP= Beckett (9-7), SV= Rivera (26)


July 26: Yankees 10, @ Red Sox 3
WP=Pettite (12-7), LP=Wakefield (6-8)


July 27: @ Red Sox 9, Yankees 2
WP=Lester (9-3), LP=Ponson (6-2)


After this series, the Sox will travel to New York for games August 26-28 and then Yankees will close out the regular season at Fenway, September 26-28.

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Plus, Patriots Training Camp opened on Thurdsay, in preparation for the 2008 season. Providing it doesn't rain, V, M and I, aong with my dad will be traveling to Foxboro on Sunday morning to check out the situation.

2008 Patriots Schedule

The National Football League released the 2008 Schedule today. Here's what matters to me. Can the Patriots go 16-0 again? Can they get back to the Super Bowl and avenge last season's heartbreaking defeat to the New York Football Giants?

As I did last year, I've put the schedule over on the sidebar, with links to every opponent's team web site.

2008 New England Patriots Schedule (HOME GAMES IN BOLD CAPS)

9/7 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
9/14 @ New York Jets
9/21 MIAMI DOLPHINS
10/5 @ San Francisco 49ers
10/12 @ San Diego Chargers
10/20 DENVER BRONCOS
10/26 ST. LOUIS RAMS
11/2 @ Indianapolis Colts
11/9 BUFFALO BILLS
11/13 NEW YORK JETS
11/23 @ Miami Dolphins
11/30 PITTSBURGH STEELERS
12/7 @ Seattle Seahawks
12/14 @ Oakland Raiders
12/21 ARIZONA CARDINALS
12/28 @ Buffalo Bills

Super Bowl XLII

New York Giants (13-6) vs. New England Patriots (18-0) (-12, 54 1/2 O/U) at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona 18:30 - FOX.



The New York Giants enter this game as only the third team in NFL history to win three playoff games on the road to reach the Super Bowl, joining the 1985 Patriots and the 2005 Steelers. The Patriots enter this game as the only team to reach the Super Bowl undefeated at 18-0 and could become only the second team to end the season absolutely perfect, joining the 1972 Dolphins (17-0). The Patriots are 3-2 all time in Super Bowls and tie for the second most Super Bowl appearances (6 with Denver and Pittsburgh. Dallas leads with 8). The Giants are 2-1 in Super Bowls and are 4-11 in NFL Championships prior to the Super Bowl era.

These two teams played in Week 17 at the Meadowlands, where the Patriots eeked out a come from behind 38-35 victory. Even though the Giants lost, they played a superb game and it gave them tremendous momentum in the playoffs. The Giants need to get pressure on Patriots QB Tom Brady and make him throw before he wants to. They also need to contain WR Randy Moss who had 6 catches for 100 yards in that game, by jamming him in the first five yards. If the Giants double team Moss then look for WR's Stallworth, Welker, Gaffney, Brown, TE's Watson and Brady, RB's Maroney and Faulk to have huge games.

On offense, QB Eli Manning needs to continue to play mistake free football as he has in the Giants three playoff wins. It would be helpful if the Giants could control the line and run the ball, chew up clock and keep the Patriots offense on the sidelines. The health of Giants WR Plaxico Burress is huge. He's a big threat and could have a huge impact on the outcome if his balky knee can handle it. No one expected the underdog Giants to be playing in this game so they should be loose and laying it all out.

What can you say about the Patriots? Most prognosticators and football "experts" (including yours truly) picked them to not only play in this game but win it handily... back in April. The Patriots are gunning for their fourth championship in seven years. They are the epitome of cool.

Here's a comment I made on another blog this week. The blogger stated that the Giants were the only team to give the Patriots a close game all season:

Ahhh, how they forget that, in addition to the New York Giants, the Patriots also came from behind late at Indianapolis and also had trouble with Baltimore and Philadelphia before winning. The Patriots are no stranger to winnning close games.

As for predictions:

Well, let's see, Giants WR Plaxico Burress predicts a 23-17 Giants win, which is totally insane considering the Patriots scored 38,38,38,34,34,48,49,52,24,56,31,27,34,20,28 and 38 for a league record 589 regular season points. Add in 31 and 21 so far in the playoffs (a 26.0 ppg average) which leads one to the conclusion that Burress is drinking some delusional kool-aid this week if he thinks the G-men will hold the Patriots to only 17 points.

Let me remind you of what came of Anthony Smith's (Pittsburgh) and Igor Olshansky's (San Diego) guarantees for a victory. {umm, nothing.}

Plus you're talking about a coach who is 15-3 in the playoffs (as a head coach - not including two SB wins as a Giants assistant) and a QB who is 14-2 in the playoffs. Brady lives for big games like this and rivals hero Joe Montana for cool under pressure.

Despite a close game in Week 17, my prediction is:

New York Giants 31
New England Patriots 41

... and at least 7 of the Giants points will come in garbage time, when the outcome has long been decided.

Sorry Eli.

ACTUAL RESULT: New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14: Wow, what a downer that was for Patriots nation. But if you're a football fan and you wanted a great game, you definitely got what you asked for. It certainly was one heck of a football game, no questions about it. The key was the Giants defense getting pressure on Tom Brady and preventing the Patriots from getting into any kind of offensive rhythm early on and for most of the game. Eli Manning played a clutch game, especially in the fourth quarter when championships are won. As hard as it is for me to write, I must give credit where it is due - the Giants fought hard and made the plays that they had to to win. I do think it's neat that the Manning brothers captured back to back Super Bowl MVP honors.

World Series Champs

Someday, as a Boston sports fan, I'll look back on these days with pride and amazement. Pride in the fact that I'm a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan (since 1975) and amazed that this team won its second World Series (sweeps no less) in four seasons.

We're talking uncharted water here, folks. Even the powerhouse Red Sox in the 1910's (four World Series titles, no defeats in the decade) never accomplished this. Jayson Stark of espn.com agrees, pointing out some very interesting statistics along the way.

But for me and many Red Sox fans, winning this World Series had a much different feel to it than the win in 2004. In '04, the Red Sox had to conquer the mountain (86 years and four heartbreaking seven game world Series defeats between titles) which included coming back from a 3-0 deficit to the Yankees in the ALCS before steamrolling St. Louis. That World Series was all about redemption and the "Aren't World Series supposed to be painful experiences?" mantra of fans for more than a generation. This World Series was simply fun from the get-go. No pressure, no problem.

But, if you haven't lived and died with the Red Sox over the years, you probably wouldn't understand the difference in the two championships.

You'll note that I apparently gave the Rockies too much credit in my World Series prediction. My bad. Even I didn't expect the Sox to sweep the Rockies.

As game 7 last night was winding down I predicted, at least 15 minutes before the award was given out, who the World Series MVP would be on a team full of worthy candidates... Esther can back me up on this too, as she and I were talking on YM when the game finally ended around 12:15 AM.

And here's a stat I never thought I'd be able to legitimately write: In the 21st century so far, the Yankees are 0-2 in the World Series (losing in 2001 and 2003) and the Red Sox are 2-0 in the World Series (winning in 2004 and 2007).

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If that weren't a glorious ending to the sports landscape here in New England this weekend, we sure had a heck of a beginning. #2 Boston College did nothing in the first 56 minutes against Virginia Tech last Thursday, yet won the game, 14-10 in the last four minutes with two touchdown passes by QB Matt Ryan (being dubbed "Matty Heisman" recently around here, as one of the leading candidates to win that award this season).

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Exhibit C is the Patriots weekly dismantling of their opponent. This week's victim was the Washington Redskins lost 52-7. If ever there was a garbage-time touchdown in football, the score by the Redskins was it. Every week I say, "Can it get much better for the Pats?" and apparently it does. The Patriots have scored 331 points in 8 games and 204 more points than their opponents. Only two other NFL teams (Dallas, Indianapolis) so far have scored over 204 points for the whole season. The New York football Giants just miss out with 200 points scored.

There are only two unbeaten NFL teams left through eight weeks (Patriots, Colts). Those two teams will meet on Sunday in Indianapolis. The winner will, in all likelihood, have home field advantage for the playoffs. Right now, Indianapolis has the upper hand. They are the defending Super Bowl champs and have beaten the Patriots three straight times, including the epic AFC title game last January, 38-34. Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning. If you like American football, it doesn't get any better than this. The game will be nationally televised this Sunday on CBS @ 16:15. Tune in to see a great game.

Spy games or gamesmanship?

This week has been rough for me as a fan of the New England Patriots, hearing my team be bad-mouthed and labeled as cheaters. Such is the case and being that they are my favorite team and were accused and found guilty, I felt the need to pontificate about it. DWI.

Even though the Pats won convincingly last Sunday against the Jets, they were caught doing something against the rules and are paying a stiff price for it. It is against NFL rules to have someone unauthorized by the league video record another teams defensive signals during a game. The obvious thinking behind this is that it would give a team an unfair competitive advantage. This is what the Patriots were accused of once last season and again last Sunday, when they were caught - turned in by former Patriots assistant coach and current Jets head coach Eric Mangini.

All week, I've read stories in the paper and on-line, listened to various talking heads spew about how this could give an advantage or not, how often spying goes on in the NFL in the name of gamesmanship (as it admittedly has been for years), and the whole range of possible penalties that Commisioner Roger Goodell could levy against a team for doing such a thing with videotape. As a result, BB was fined half a mil, the Patriots organization as a whole $250,000 (hello, Robert Kraft) and that the Patriots will forfeit their first-round draft pick in 2008 if they make the playoffs this year or second and third round draft picks if they don't.

But this issue raises a few questions in my mind:

The first was brilliantly echoed in Jackie MacMullan's column in yesterday's Boston Globe. Why would Belichick authorize this? He's clearly been regarded for years as one of, if not the best, coach in the NFL today and is a sure fire HOF'er when he retires, despite this black-eye.

The second question is this: What if one of the league's consistently bad teams was caught doing this? For example, teams such as the Texans, Browns, Cardinals or Lions? Would the penalty have been as stiff? Clearly, this is a precedent setting, statement punishment, which would make other teams think, "Hey, if the Commish can do that to them, imagine how such a punishment would affect my team?"

The severity of this punishment is most definitely due to the fact that the Patriots currently are one of the league's marquee teams and have some of the best players and coaches in the league. They are widely considered by the "experts" (including yours truly) not only an odds on favorite to get to the Super Bowl this year but win it handily, if there is such a thing as an easy win in the NFL.

However, the Commish clearly stated in his letter to the Patriots that this incident did not affect the outcome of last Sunday's game, and clearly it didn't. But it could have and that's the point of the discipline. It's one thing to steal signals but no matter how much information teams have, the players still have to go out and play the game on the field.

All of this is not to say that the Patriots should not have been disciplined, because clearly, rules were broken. Do I think that the penalty was too stiff, with the loss of a potential first round draft pick? Yes, I do. I would rather have seen the Commish suspend Belichick for one or two games this season, one in which the Pats have a legitimate chance to win it all and, I believe, such a punishment would have affected the Patriots playoff chances this year.


Here is the full text of the statement issued by Bill Belichick in response to the punishment handed down by the Commish:

"I accept full responsibility for the actions that led to tonight's ruling. Once again, I apologize to the Kraft family and every person directly or indirectly associated with the New England Patriots for the embarrassment, distraction and penalty my mistake caused. I also apologize to Patriots fans and would like to thank them for their support during the past few days and throughout my career. "

"As the Commissioner acknowledged, our use of sideline video had no impact on the outcome of last week's game. We have never used sideline video to obtain a competitive advantage while the game was in progress."

"Part of my job as head coach is to ensure that our football operations are conducted in compliance of the league rules and all accepted interpretations of them. My interpretation of a rule in the Constitution and Bylaws was incorrect."

"With tonight's resolution, I will not be offering any further comments on this matter. We are moving on with our preparations for Sunday's game."

And a statement from Patriots owner and CEO Robert Kraft:

"This has been an extremely difficult week for our organization. The most troubling part for me, personally, is the impact these actions have had on our fans. We have spent the last 14 years developing and building a franchise that people could embrace and support. The loyalty of our fans has been the most rewarding aspect of owning the team. I am deeply disappointed that the embarrassing events of this past week may cause some people to see our team in a different light.

"After reviewing the facts of the past weekend, the commissioner has made a determination that our franchise engaged in activities that violate the league’s rules. He has determined the punishment and I accept it.

"I believe that Coach Belichick always tries to do what is best for the team and he is always accountable for his decisions. He has been a very important part of what our organization has accomplished over the last seven years. In this case, one of his decisions has resulted in a severe penalty for our franchise. He has paid a heavy price and so has our organization. He has apologized for his actions. I accept his apology and look forward to working with him as we move forward.

"It has been a distinct privilege to be involved in the National Football League since 1994. I am passionate about the league because it represents the ultimate in competition. To this end, the integrity of the game and competition between the 32 teams is of paramount importance to me. Whenever the commissioner believes that the integrity of the league’s competition is compromised, he must act decisively to protect it.

"In addition to our fans, I also feel for our players. I know how hard our players work and prepare for every game and their accomplishments speak for themselves. I look forward to returning all of our focus and energy to the field.”

That being said, it's time to move on with the football season.

Bring on the Chargers on Sunday night!

Go Pats!!

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.

Patriots gather Moss on Draft Day

That's right boys and girls, one of the NFL's bad-ass boys now plays for my New England Patriots after a draft day trade with the Oakland Raiders today. Kudos to the Patriots brass, who, like with Corey Dillon in 2004, got a Pro-Bowl caliber player for virtually nothing.

So, is this a good or bad deal for the Patriots?

I say it is not just a good deal but a great deal. Moss comes to the Patriots with more baggage than a bellhop at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, we all know this. However, it's been widely reported that Moss has been informed by Bill Belichick from the get-go that past bad behavior will not be tolerated here and one incident, just one, and he's outta here. I think the best commment I read today was from ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli, referring to Belichick as a human haz-mat suit when dealing with "problem" players. Plus, an athlete with something to prove can be scary good as Moss no doubt will be.

And if winning the ring is all that really matters to players (aside from insane amounts of money athletes are paid) then what better a situation than to be in than to be traded to the team that has won three of the last six championships since 2001 (and one bad series from beating Indy and thus playing in the Super Bowl last season)? Getting out of the NFL's version of a black hole too (Oakland) can't hurt and should only improve Moss' attitude. As with Dillon in 2004, there are enough veteran leaders on the Patriots that they will not be awed by Moss. Nor will Moss have to be 'the guy' as he has been in Minnesota and Oakland. He'll have to earn respect on the Patriots. Reportedly he's already spoken to Pats QB Tom Brady, who is excited to play with Moss this season.

Plus, Moss had to drastically restructure his contract in order to come here, meaning he actually agreed to be paid less than if he had gone somewhere else. He wants to be here. Moss himself said as much in an interview after the deal was finalized and that we're going to see the Moss of old, who was a truly dominant player for Minnesota from 1998-2004.

The 2007 Patriots, on paper and regarded by most prognosticators already, are a favorite for Super Bowl XLII in Arizona. Adding this guy to an already talented and re-stocked team is a scary proposition for the thirteen opposing teams on the schedule for the fall. I, for one, can't wait.

As far as attitude goes, remember that Dillon too was considered a problem child when he came to New England and had no such issues in the three seasons he played here.

It's a shame that Dillon opted to retire after asking for and being granted his release from New England, when another Super Bowl ring is definitely a realistic possibility in 2007.

Now for the most important question... what number will Moss wear, since 84 (his number in Minnesota) and 18 (his number with the Raiders) are taken?

Too bad training camp doesn't begin until July...