Monthly Archives: December 2006

I know, LaDainian Tomlinson is not on the Patriots. But, I’m at work on the Thursday before Christmas and bored out of my skull. Plus, Tomlinson might not be a human. Enjoy:
First, his season stats thus far, through 14 games:

1626 yds. rushing (116.1/game)
28 rushing TD’s
484 yds. receiving
3 rec. TD’s

Plus, he’s thrown two TD’s this year, just for good measure (yep, 33 TD’s total this year…in 14 games).
Those are some very, very impressive numbers. But, let’s look closer. Believe it or not, he actually started out pretty slowly this season — after Week 7, he had recorded just ONE 100-yard rushing game (he did manage to score seven rushing TD’s though, including four against San Francisco). But it’s Week 8 where things, um, things get a little bonkers. Take a look at his past [mind-altering] eight games:

Quick, give me the three names that are most vital to the Patriots success over the past five years? Go.
Who’d you come up with?
Maybe Brady, Belichick and Pioli? Or was it Seymour, Bruschi and Vinatieri? It doesn’t matter, you’re wrong.
Unless, of course, you said the following names: Kenneth. Matthew. Walter.
This post WAS going to be a call for Belichick to (finally) end this lil’ Brady experiment and bench the Golden Boy in favor of the Golden MAN, “punter” Ken Walter (I put “punter” in quotation marks, because we all know he was so much more than that. Um, he’s like, the holder, too), but I just learned today that he will miss the rest of the season. Ignore, for the moment, the fact that a football player is missing any length of time because he jammed his foot into the turf, but instead think about what he’s meant to this team.
Take a look back. How many Super Bowls did the Patriots win before Ken Walter arrived? Zero. But then, in 2001, Walter joined the squad. Shortly thereafter, people (note: not Michael Irvin) were saying New England was a dynasty. Coincidence? I doubt it. Walter was officially the Patriots punter for both the 2001-02 and 2003-04 titles. In the 2004-05 match-up with the Eagles, Walter played under the name “Josh Miller,” because the hype surrounding him was just too big. However, despite his best effort to avoid being recognized, he was outed after he averaged 45.1 yards on seven punts.
The Patriots played last year without Walter…and they did not win a Super Bowl. Don’t you see how easy this is people?
Walter = Super Bowl
No Walter = No Super Bowl
It’s simple logic. Luckily, the Pats realized this just in time this season. They were 7-3 and floundering. Walter came in, pinned some schmucks inside their own 20 and just like that, the Pats are 3-1 over their past four games (the lone loss clearly Brady’s fault — 78 yards passing?! Jesus, Walter could’ve thrown for 78 yards with his foot. His LEFT foot.). I was set to crown them with a Super Bowl title…but now…now, I just don’t know.
Without Walter back there booming punts…how can we stand a chance?

Unfortunately the Patriots are playing like my writing….
I wish I had as much to smile about as they did at the end of the game this past Sunday versus Miami – but a full time job and having to travel puts a damper on those types of things!
I get paid like a ball boy and treated like the water boy – but this is not my story….
So where do they go from here?
According to Coach Belichick (In Bill we Trust!)
From Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe:
Opening statement:
ìWell, there is no doubt about who the better team was out there today. Give Miami a lot of credit. They did a good job in all three phases of the game. Nick [Saban] had them ready to go. They played well on offense, defense, special teams. We couldnít really get much field position throughout the whole game and they took advantage of that, like a good team will. We just werenít able to make enough plays in any three phases of the game. They made quite a few of them. They have a good team that played well. We certainly didnít have our best day today, but I think you have to give a lot of credit to the Dolphins. They beat us. They outplayed us. They were just the better team today. Thereís not much else to say.î
How concerned are you with the level of play that the team has put forth, this week, and even the last two weeks?
ìWeíre 9-4. There are a lot of teams who would like to have that record. There are some that wouldnít, but there are quite a few that would. Weíll be judged by the body of work.î
Most Patriots fans will disagree – as an active participant in the Patriots Sports blog during games at the Boston Globe’s message board – Boston.com. You would think that the sky had fallen.
Between blaming the offensive line (not a stretch), the Offensive coaching (McD – training wheels are off – time to be consistent Buddy!), turnovers (too many), penalties (again too many), injuries (more on teh defensive side?), questioning the salary cap (sorry Mr Kraft but why are you so cheap not to bring back – Branch, Viniteiri, McGinest, etc), the fans sounded more like a bunch of Colts whiners becuase the Colts never have made it to the Super Bowl an Offenseive MVP.
This team is about team – until it was witnessed the Patriots defense enjoying a joking session at the end of the game with the Fish.
Heart, Body, Mind and Soul is what have made this Patriots team what it has become in the special years we have enjoyed them.
The fans have seen it and most agree – those days are gone. Fingers will point as to exactly when, who and why, but the voices are no longer silent. The Patriots fans (band wagon beshamed) no longer consider the pride of the players and team for New England.
They question the validity of ‘the system’ that has brought about this ruin.
Where is his contract (for Belichick) they cry – show us the idols we must adore?! Three of 5 Super Bowls, but not of Six – we must do this now I need my fix!
We will fall before the Jets and Mangini before years end! AFC East all is gone- playoffs as Wild Card and a first round loss. Replace them all – replace them all – if I was the boss…….
I will still take Brady and this stumbling crew over any one else you would choose. Too often the Champs have been pushed down, this time it is the fans that should come around – it is true 9-4 – I would have been happy if we were 7-6 at this point for all we went through!
On Brady, on Dillon, on Maroney move! Our offensive line has something to prove! Our Defense might have a gap in the middle and small D-Backs, but we dare you all to come and attack!
In all of wonders why should we dispair – as we have Mr. Troy Brown on both sides of the ball – receiving and defending – Mr. Reliable will not let us fall or have our season soon ending.
For all of those that jumped on the band wagon a few years ago – remember to keep the same heart that Troy brown did when he was cut from the team only to return, again cut only to return, and became the highest catching Patriots receiver to again be cut and return.
The players are not all like Troy Brown – but even one of him is more then most teams have now-a-days.
In Bill We Trust and the Team We Believe – Go Patriots!

What was missing was the answer – as the Patriots fell today 21-0 dropping to their knees like an old man with a broken heart.
With a little over 4 minutes remaining in the game – 2nd string QB Matt Cassel came in to fumble the football….
The Defense kept this team in the game but was on the field too long and was worn down, by a Miami team that seemed to always have good field position.
Gino and Gil said it more then once as the ‘Patriots the shooting themselves in the foot, the feet and everyone elses feet as they continued to hurt themselves with turnovers and penalties’. 4 fumbles and 9 penalties (Miami no fumbles and 3 penalties).
The Patritos will need to win all three of the games for the rest of the season or suffer the consequences of being a Wild Card team.
The Colts as of this posting was getting shelled by the Jags 44-17 and the Ravens won at KC 20-10.

Here we are on game day end of the first half and the Patriots are down 6-0.
Too many fans are complaining the Patriots have too many turnovers and penalties so we are lucky to be 9-3.
Although we have gone through a few games with an extra ordinary number of turnovers (8 in the previous 2 games) , this team is still getting things done.
The Patriots are winning and still improving – whether beating a strong tema like the Bears or coming bakc from behind against a POOR team like the Lions – maybe the NFC is just weak, but maybe the Pats are just winning.
It is true the last 4 wins have come against NFC teams and the last 2 losses were against the Colts and Jets (Colts are losing so far against the Jaguars!)
In the end this football team still has a lot to prove to the fans. Winning is winning and the record shows that has been the case so far. But so far the team does not consistently play like a playoff contender or super bowl winning team.
In recent years, December has been the month for the Patriots. This December they need to win and win like a playoff team that no one will beat when they make it to the super bowl.
The fact that a loss today and a win by the Jets could have the Jets (and Eric Mangini) in the playoffs for the first time since 2002 – will not only hurt the fans and players, but Bill and Scott as well. Now the grumblings and rumblings of Givens, Branch… etc – whisper silently and have soft echos. Soon (and maybe with this game) those whispers will become louder and could reach a roar even the Lions could hear in Detriot.