Category: NFL (Page 1065 of 1282)

SPORTSbyBROOKS.com (via the Minneapolis Star-Tribune) posted an interesting piece about Bill Belichick’s coaching record prior to Tom Brady.

• Belichick was 36-44 with the Browns.
• The Patriots were 5-11 in 2000, Belichick’s first year, sans Tom Brady. And they lost their first game in 2001, also without Brady.
• Total record of 41-56 with one playoff appearance and no victories.
• Starting with Game 2 of the 2001 season, Brady has started every game for the Belichick-led Patriots. Since then, New England is 86-25 in the regular season with three Super Bowl titles and possibly a fourth on the way.

Of course, these numbers don’t mean Belichick isn’t the super genius the media has made him out to be, but 41-56 without Brady? For you mathematicians out there, that means Belicheat won only 42% of his games without the Golden Boy. Kind of staggering when you think about it.

Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder is set to interview Colts defensive coordinator Ron Meeks again according to the Washington Post.

A day after assistant head coach-defense Gregg Williams, who was once under consideration to replace Joe Gibbs, left the organization, the Redskins finalized plans for another session with Meeks, who runs the Colts’ defense, a source close to the search said. Owner Daniel Snyder and Vinny Cerrato, executive vice president of football operations, are expected to meet with Meeks in Indianapolis.

Only a year ago, several teams interviewed San Francisco 49ers’ assistant head coach Mike Singletary for their vacant head coaching positions. Rumor has it that Falcons owner Arthur Blank loved Singletary last year, but the team didn’t even bring him in for an interview this year. Rex Ryan was the Chargers’ second choice after Norv Turner last year, but now it looks like he’s heading back to Baltimore after the Falcons and Dolphins passed on him for their head coaching vacancies.

So what gives? Obviously I’m not in the know, but how are Meeks, Mike Smith (Atlanta’s new head coach), John Harbaugh (Baltimore’s new head coach) and Tony Soprano (Miami’s new head coach) better candidates than Singletary and Ryan? Nothing against those coaches, but since 2003, the Ravens’ defense hasn’t finished lower than sixth under Ryan. And Singletary has been highly praised for his work with Defensive Rookie of the Year Patrick Willis, as well as being a great motivator.

What am I missing?

In a shocking development, ESPN.com has learned that Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis has asked head coach Lane Kiffin to resign.

Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis has been pushing for coach Lane Kiffin to resign and is considering Dennis Green as a potential replacement, sources close to Kiffin and the team said.

Davis has gone so far as to draft a letter of resignation for Kiffin to sign, a source said. Kiffin has refused to do so but has dared Davis to fire him instead. The letter, the source said, was sent to Kiffin two weeks ago.

In the letter sent to Kiffin’s legal representatives, Davis stated that only he would have control over his staff and full personnel decisions, sources said. According to a source close to Kiffin, Davis had promised Kiffin when he hired him that he would have more control over staff and personnel matters than recent Raiders coaches. Kiffin was allowed five offensive assistants and to name his own staff when he took the job after the 2006 season.

Davis has officially lost it. He went against conventional wisdom by hiring Kiffin last year and now after only one season he’s demanding for him to resign? And he possibly wants to hire Denny Green? Other one fabulous post-game rant, what did Green do in Arizona that would compel Davis to want to make him the Raiders next had coach?

Just lose your mind, baby.

Each year, NFL teams try to lure Pete Carroll away from USC by offering him a boatload of money and complete control of their team. In my latest column for Bullz-Eye.com, I write how those teams are nuts for putting their franchise’s future at risk just to get with the equivalent of the hot chick on the exercise bike at the gym.

The Internet is abuzz today with the news that New England Patriots’ golden boy Tom Brady has missed not one, but two practices the past two days.

For the second consecutive day, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady wasn’t in the locker room or at practice when reporters and cameramen were allowed inside Friday.

During the 45-minute period in the locker room, several cameramen lingered near his locker, but he didn’t show up. Nor was he there for the first 12 minutes of practice that the media were allowed to watch.

Asked if he could say whether Brady would practice Friday, New England coach Bill Belichick said, “Not now. We’ll see.”

What is the media to do without Brady giving them cookie-cutter answers to their repetitive questions? FOXSports.com is running a poll that asks, “Where is Tom Brady” and even lists “Gisele’s apartment” as one of the choices.

Relax Internet world – he’ll play.