Tag: Bill Belichick (Page 17 of 26)

      Did Moss give up during Panthers game?

      December 15, 2009 /

      There’s a disagreement going on between the Panthers and Patriots players about whether or not Randy Moss tanked it last Sunday in New England’s lackluster win over Carolina in Week 14. Moss finished with just one catch on the day, which he promptly fumbled.

      Following the game, Panthers’ cornerback Chris Gamble said Moss shut it down (via the Boston Globe):

      If you asked the Panthers what their game plan was, it’s simple. They helped whoever was covering Randy Moss early in the game with a safety. Then, once he was frustrated, they no longer needed to. Because by then, it was Game Over for No. 81.

      “We knew he was going to shut it down,” Panthers cornerback Chris Gamble told me after the game. “That’s what we wanted to do him. That’s what we did. … He’d just give up a lot … Slow down, he’s not going deep, not trying to run a route. You can tell, his body language.”

      Gamble continued … “I know everyone who plays against him, they can sense that. Once you get into him in the beginning of the game, he shuts it down a little bit.”

      Following Gamble’s comments, Pats head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady defended Moss:

      “I have a lot of respect for Randy,’’ Bill Belichick said. “I think he’s one of our best players. I think if you watch other teams defend him, they think the same way. Other than these two guys from Carolina after they lost another game, I guess they didn’t think that way. They haven’t won a lot of games.’’

      “Everyone takes liberties to say whatever they want to say in a situation like [Sunday’s],’’ Brady said. “I’ve seen plays made on Chris Gamble over the course of the season, too. Guys, when they play Randy, want to show what they can do, and I guess they came off the game pretty confident. But Randy’s one of the best players in the history of the NFL.’’

      I love the not-so-subtle shots at the Panthers in Belichick and Brady’s quotes.

      Moss was clearly frustrated during the course of the game, but only he knows whether or not he gave up. The good thing for the Patriots is that this situation has bonded them together.


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      Clayton: Tom Brady “should” start vs. Panthers

      December 13, 2009 /

      ESPN’s John Clayton just reported that Tom Brady should be able to start Sunday’s game against the Panthers.

      Brady, who has been dealing with finger, rib and shoulder injuries, was limited in practice this week due to his wife giving birth to their child. It’s unclear at this point whether or not he missed parts of practice due to the injuries or to attend to his wife.

      The Patriots are in mini crisis mode after losing two straight and having four players sent home earlier this week after they showed up late to team meetings. One of those players was Randy Moss and another, Adalius Thomas, is expected to be benched for today’s game.

      But assuming Brady is healthy, I think this is the day the Pats turn the corner by drubbing the Panthers at home. Just when you think Bill Belichick’s team is going to fall apart, they beat the snot out of somebody at home.


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      Are the Patriots imploding?

      December 9, 2009 /

      Usually when a perennial Super Bowl contender loses two in a row, the players on said team rally together and forge ahead – especially when there are only four games left in the season.

      The Patriots are in the midst of a two game losing streak, find themselves only one game up on the Dolphins and Jets in the division and can’t win on the road. Instead of showing signs of sticking together, the team seems to be falling apart.

      Earlier this week, Tom Brady called out his team for not being tough enough. Today, ESPN.com is reporting that four Patriots – Randy Moss, Derrick Burgess, Adalius Thomas and Gary Guyton – were all sent home from Gillette Stadium for being late for an 8 a.m. meeting. None of the players will be able to participate in meetings or practices on Wednesday.

      Granted, the report also states that the players were delayed by weather and nobody can confirm how late the four actually were. But does that really matter? There are 53 players on New England’s roster and 49 of them were able to get to the meeting on time. I don’t live in the area, but I’m pretty sure New England broadcasts potential weather delays, so Moss and company don’t have a legitimate excuse for being late. They should have planned accordingly.

      In their last four games, the Pats host the Panthers, are at the Bills, are home against the Jaguars and are at the Texans. Those are four winnable games for a New England team that ranks second in the NFL in total offense and is scoring close to 30 points a game. But the Patriots are just 1-5 on the road this season and 5-4 in conference. They also have the makings of an average defense and they’ve gone from a team that excels in crunch time to one that flounders in it.

      Given that Burgess and Thomas haven’t shown up on Sundays this season anyway, it’s surprising that anyone knew they were missing in the first place. But the bottom line is that Bill Belichick had to send four of his players home today because they couldn’t show up on time for a meeting. What happens next is key. Will the Patriots rally together and forge ahead or will they repeat the same mistakes that have haunted them this season and stumble into the playoffs (or miss them altogether)?

      Will the Patriots miss the playoffs?
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      Saints looking for ultimate respect on Monday night

      November 30, 2009 /

      The New Orleans Saints have done everything right so far. They’re averaging over 35 points a game, they’ve played well defensively and they haven’t lost a game.

      The Saints don’t need anyone’s respect because they’ve earned it to this point. But beat the Patriots tonight and they’ll go from Super Bowl contenders to Super Bowl favorites.

      Even though they didn’t make the playoffs last season, the Pats are still the gold standard in terms of how teams measure themselves. Beat New England and you don’t need anything more in terms of confidence. Lose to New England and you might find out how far you still have to go in order to compete with the best.

      Personally, I think the Saints will come out victorious tonight. While the Falcons and Panthers gave them somewhat of a scare, no team has come close to beating the Saints in New Orleans. The team feeds off the energy of the Superdome and it’s hard for opponents to reach the same emotional level that the Saints do when they play at home.

      That said, Bill Belichick is still one of the greatest game planners in the game and if anyone is going to figure out a way to slow down Sean Payton’s offense, it’s Belichick. Even if New England doesn’t have the personnel to stop Drew Brees and company (which they don’t), Belichick will still put his players in the best position to win.

      I’d be shocked if the game tonight doesn’t live up to its hype. It’s going to be fun to see if Belichick and Tom Brady can march into New Orleans and earn a win, or if the Saints will rise to the challenge and overcome the most elite team on their regular season schedule.


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      NFL Week 11 COY Power Rankings

      November 29, 2009 /

      Once again we can’t ignore the two guys who have their teams at 10-0. Beyond that, there are a few others who are still overachieving, including Josh McDaniels, who brought his team back from the dead last night with a feisty effort against the Giants. Meanwhile, is anyone starting to sense that Jeff Fisher may be on our radar here? If you start 0-6 then win four straight and start to sniff any chance at the playoffs, that is just mind-blowing. It’s safe to say that if he does bring his Titans all the way back, it may be even more impressive than 16-0 would be.

      1. Jim Caldwell, Indianapolis Colts—They just beat the Patriots and Ravens back to back, and are absolutely going to coast to a first round bye. However, they need to finish the job this time as they did three seasons ago.

      2. Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints—Finally the Saints dominated in a game they had to dominate. Now they face their biggest test of the season at home Monday night against the Patriots. Both offenses are so explosive that I’m fully expecting 80 points between the teams. And if Payton’s Saints win, he will have earned his spot here again.

      3. Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals—A heartbreaking loss in Oakland was a devastating blow, but the Steelers and Ravens also lost. Now, Lewis has a chance for his team to be 6-0 in the division by beating the Browns at home Sunday. Can he do it? Does Howdy Doody have a wooden butt?

      4. Brad Childress, Minnesota Vikings—His team is 9-1 heading into Sunday’s game against Chicago, and if he wins that one, as he should, Childress will continue to remain on this short list.

      5. Josh McDaniels, Denver Broncos—After being 6-0 and losing four straight in horrible fashion, McDaniels and his potty mouth brought his team back from the dead last night. That was impressive (the comeback, as well as the mouth). They will be a tough out for someone in the playoffs, assuming they can still get there.

      Honorable mention: Ken Whisenhunt, Cardinals; Jack Del Rio, Jaguars, Jeff Fisher, Titans; Bill Belichick, Patriots

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