Deflating punishment

I'm a huge fan of Sports Illustrated football writer Peter King.

I've been reading his stuff for years in the magazine and his Monday Morning Quarterback with Peter King column online.

This week, he writes about the impending punishment that will be meted out by NFL Comish Roger Goodell against New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for Brady's role in "Deflategate".

Talking heads and Patriots haters are speculating what Brady will receive (some say he should be suspended for a game and fined, others feel he should be suspended for the entire 2015 - 2016 season).

Others wonder if how much (if at all) Goodell will be influenced by the fact that Brady is one of the best players in the league and that the comish is very good friends with Patriots owner Bob Kraft, who has helped build the NFL into the multi-billion dollar juggernaut that it is today.

This is a really complicated and messed up situation.

Goodell can't appear as though he is favoring the NFL's golden boy or his team's owner. But, the comish can't overreach, either, and try to make up for the mistakes he and the NFL made in the very recent past (read: Ray Rice, et. al.).

So what does he do?

Look, I'm not writing here in defense of Brady because I'm a Pats fan. I believe Brady knew what was going on with the footballs but as stated in the report that was released by the NFL's investigators, there's no actual proof that he knew or did anything. There's no "smoking gun" ... just a lot of circumstantial evidence.

Also, as pointed out by King, even if the footballs were deflated to just under the legal limit, Brady's career stats for home games (in which he could use altered balls) vs. road games (in which he can't use altered footballs) don't support the idea that he benefited from the alteration.

And let's not lose sight of the fact that blame for this whole issue even getting to this point lies squarely on Brady's shoulders. As soon as this BS started after the AFC Championship game, Brady should've stood up and said, "Yup, I like the footballs under-inflated but I didn't realize the PSI I like violated the rules. I thought we were operating within the rules by inflating the balls to the lowest allowable PSI. Therefore, going forward, we will make sure all rules are followed. And besides, as you can see from the stats of the game, it didn't matter what the PSI of the footballs was." (Brady had better stats in the second half of the game after he was using balls that were inflated to NFL legal standards.)

If Brady has just said something to that affect in January, this issue wouldn't have blown out of control that way it did.

IMO, the only way Goodell even remotely saves face here is to punish Brady because the QB didn't fully cooperate with investigators (Brady wouldn't turn over his personal cell phone), not because Brady himself doctored footballs, ordered someone to do it, or at least knew it was being done.

You can't punish someone based on circumstantial evidence. Period.

Goodell and the NFL will look even more foolish than they already do if the comish tries to make an example of Brady and overreaches so that he doesn't want to appear to be showing Brady or the Pats any favoritism.

Citing Brady's lack of cooperation is the only way the NFL retains a scintilla of credibility here ... if that's even possible.

Spreading the Wealth

I realize I haven't posted in some time but lately I've felt inspired ... to which....

Just read in the paper that the St. Louis Cardinals are trying to decide if it's worth signing Albert Pujols to a new, multi-year deal (something in the neighborhood of eight years) for about $300 million which would account for about two-thirds of the team's payroll.

For those not in the know, Pujols is widely considered one (if not the best player in baseball.

Question is, is he worth it? You know what? Even though that's an insane amount of money, yes, he is.

But, here's the problem I have with the contract...Pujols doesn't have to make this kind of deal. I would love to see him pull a move like Tom Brady of the New England Patriots who, until this past year, always took less than what he was worth so that the team would have more money to go out and sign other players to make the team that much competitive.

Granted, MLB doesn't operate under a salary cap the way the NFL does, but the point remains the same ... Pujols could go to the Cardinals brass and offer to take less in salary so that the team can sign better players and thus field a better team.

If a professional athlete on Tom Brady's level can do it, so can Albert Pujols.

Just saying ...

Sporting some completely random thoughts

Bunch of things going on in the world of sports, to which:

• Former Boston Red Sox gunslinger Pedro Martinez is penciled in to start Game 2 of the World Series for the Phillies. Nice. Would love to see Petey light up the Spankees and get a W for his team. Martinez has said that he would probably retire should Philly win their second consecutive title. While I'd be disappointed to see him go, it'd be sweet if the Phills could beat down the team from Gotham.
  
• Speaking of which ... like I need any more reason to not root for the NYY in this series but I came to the sudden realization that if the Spankees do win, that means Johnny Demon-I mean-Damon will get another WS ring. Ye gods.
  
• The New England Patriots had better pay Brandon Meriweather this off-season.
  
• Speaking of the Pats ... the Patriots have scored 94 points and only given up 7 over their last two games. Granted, they scored against two of the worst teams in the league but still. I would like to think the Pats used these two games to finally get their Offense going, the Defense as well. They're on a bye week this week and then face a rough November, to which: vs. Miami, @ Indy, vs. Jets, @ Saints, @ Dolphins. Not too worried about the Fish, but Indy, Jets and Saints are going to be huge if the Pats plan on playing in February.
  
• Still on football ... with the Pats and Buccaneers playing in London last week, there's renewed talk of the NFL not only expanding the number of regular season games per season but actually getting a NFL team established in Europe. Dumb, dumb, dumb idea as this would likely stretch the regular season to 17 or 18 games and expose players to more potential injuries. American football isn't known as one (if not the) most violent sport for nothing.
  
• Red Sox have a lot of off-season issues to deal with if they even want to think about contending next year.
  
• Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo and the team can't agree on a contract and it looks like he's headed for free agency at the end of the season ... not good.
  
• Bill Simmons has lost his edge. He just doesn't make me laugh like he used to.
  
• The Boston Bruins came sooooo close last season. I like their chances this year.

Record day in the snow

It's October, but yesterday it looked like December at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA, home of the New England Patriots, who hosted the Tennessee Titans.

Sixty minutes of football later and the game wasn't even close: NE 59 - Tenn. 0.

Ye gods.

The Titans are the worst (or at least one of the worst) teams in the NFL this season and yesterday's game did nothing to change that perception. New England fans have been waiting for QB Tom Brady to come back to full form since missing last season with a knee injury and this game could very well be the game in which he shook off any remaining rust.

The best thing to take away from this game is that for the first time this season, Brady was razor sharp with this throws ... he hit his receivers with his trademark zip and accuracy, which was great to see.

Needless to say, it was a record-setting day for the Patriots, to which:

• The Patriots posted the largest shutout in the NFL since Dec. 4, 1976, when the Rams beat the Falcons by the same score.
  
• Brady threw for 380 yards while tying a career high with six touchdown passes.
  
• New England set team records for points (59) and total yards (619) in a single game.
  
• Receivers Randy Moss and Wes Welker combined for 21 catches for 279 yards and five touchdowns.
  
• The Titans were held to 186 total yards as QB Kerry Collins completed just 2-of-12 passes for -7 yards ... minus seven yards!
  
• This was the Titans largest margin of defeat in franchise history. The previous record was 54 set in 1989 when the Oilers lost to Cincinnati, 61-7.
  
• Patriots improved to 11-0 all time in snowy games in Foxborough (7-0 under Brady).

And a few more random stats:

• Most points in a game - 59
  
• Most points in a half - 45 in the first half
  
• Most points in a quarter - 35 in the second quarter
  
• Most total net yards in a game - 619
  
• Most net passing yards - 426 (tie)
  
• Most touchdowns - 8 (tie)
  
• Most passing yards in a half - Tom Brady, 345
  
• Most passing touchdowns in a half - Brady, 5 in first half
  
• Most passing touchdowns in a game - Brady, 6 (tie)

So the Pats are now 4-2 for the season. Here's hoping they can build on this win and make a serious run through the rest of their schedule. Could be a fun winter here in New England!

The 8 minute season

So much promise ... so much excitement ... so much anticipation ... and in less than 8 minutes, so much dashed.

New England Patriots starting QB Tom Brady is out with torn ACL and MCL ligaments in his left knee, an injury suffered in the first game of the 2008-2009 season.

So, most card-carrying members of Patriot Nation (including yours truly) have a lot of questions about this season. But, I've been mulling this over all week, reading everything I could get my hands on and have come to the following conclusions:

• I'm going to reserve judgment until the Pats play half their season. If they're not at least 4-4, then there's less hope for the season ... not completely lost hope, but just less hope given their schedule.
  
• Speaking of which ... from a scheduling point of view, Brady's injury couldn't have come at a better time. The Pats were widely regarded as having the easiest schedule this season (nine of their 16 opponents this year had losing records last year). So that could bode will for them this season.
  
• At the risk of being overly optimistic, my instincts are telling me that now-starting QB Matt Cassel could surprise people this season. Yup, he looked horrible in the pre-season and hasn't started a game in his professional career, but he's been under Brady's wing for the past four years, knows the Pats' offensive game inside and out and look at what he did when he was thrust into the game last week ... he was about a yard from the very back of his own end zone and floated a 50-yard pass to Randy Moss. Talk about performing well under pressure!

  There are a lot of people getting down on Cassel, but give him a chance. In 2001 when Drew Bledsoe was knocked out for the season, no one had ever heard of Tom Brady. Can lightning strike twice? Hey, anything's possible.

  One other thing ... the Patriots organization took a lot of heat this past off season about seemingly not planning for the future when they didn't draft another quarterback or make a trade to bring in a "solid" back-up for Brady. Something tells me that those in the know in the organization (head coach Bill Belichick, VP of Player Personnel Scott Pioli, et. al.) may know more about Cassel than others.
  

• And let's not forget that this game isn't about one player, it's a team effort and no team exemplifies this more than the Patriots. The Pats have what is widely regarded as the best offensive line in the NFL and one of the best defenses, so if the O-line can give Cassel enough time to read the opposing defense and make a play and the defense can hold the other team to as few points as possible ... yeah, I know, I know ... there are a lot of "if's", but without seeing a Cassel-run offense, what else can you do but speculate?
  
• And not for nothing, but ... there is, in fact, a recent precedent for coming back from an injury like this in the NFL. Cincinnati Bengals QB Carson Palmer suffered a similar injury in 2004 and came back (his rehab was even featured in a cover story in Sports illustrated because of hard he was working). At the time, it was very doubtful he would walk normally again, let alone play professional football and yet, here is back with the team.
  
• Finally, if you think about it, the Patriots have nothing to lose now. If they tank this season, detractors and fans alike will say, "Well, what did you expect?" ... if they do well and make the playoffs and (in a perfect scenario) win the Super Bowl, then Belichick can truly be called a genius because he got his team to win without its franchise player. So in my mind, this Patriots team could be the most motivated team we've ever seen. Do you really think there guys aren't going to play this season without the "nobody believes in us, nobody's giving us a chance" mantra?
  

The bottom line here is that Patriots fans just can't give up on the season until we know how the team will react and personally I don't think you can make a real judgment until the team has played a few games with Cassel at the helm.

Here's hoping they do well because it's going to be a long season without the Pats to watch. Still, it would leave my Sundays open, and I'm sure Kell would love that!

News from the gridiron

It maybe nearing Spring, but news from the NFL keeps coming.

The Patriots have signed WR Randy Moss to a three-year, $27 million deal ($15 million guaranteed). Thank the football gods ... with WR Dante Stallworth signing with another team and talk of Moss listening to other offers, I was beginning to think QB Tom Brady wasn't going to have anyone to throw to deep next season.

Also today, Green Bay Packers QB Brett Favre announced he's retiring after 17(!) seasons of slinging the pigskin on Lambeau Field. I have to admit that I'm a little bummed by this. Favre was an amazing QB and after a disastrous 2005 season really brought his game to a new level in the last two seasons, especially last year in which he set the record for passing TDs (442), passing yards (61,655) and wins by a starting QB (160) and interceptions (288). Including the playoffs, he played in 275 consecutive games. Damn.

Still, he's going out on his out terms, not because he's being forced to (like from injuries). Cheeseheads everywhere will be crying in their Pabst Blue Ribbon and Old Style beers tonight.

Where do the Patriots go from here?

This is one of those posts I've been dwelling on for a while and finally decided to get down ... well, I was going to say paper, but I guess that's not really apropos in this format, is is?

Now that the dust has settled on Super Bowl XLII (altho it still stings), I can't help but wonder is this is the beginning of the end of the Patriots' "dynasty" as some insist on calling it.

At the risk of being overly pessimistic, here's how I see it:

• I agree with a Boston Globe columnist who said recently that Bill Belichick's schtick is getting tiresome. Enough with the enigmatic, grumpy old man act. I mean, he walked off of the field of the Super Bowl with time on the clock. Yes, the game was over, but still. And if he uttered more than a five or six word sentence is response to reporters' questions after the game, I missed it. Just as terse as ever and he indicated the loss was just another loss and that he had moved on already. Um, yeah ... not buying it. Belichick needs to seem more human ... for his and the team's sake.
  
• Speaking of the team, what kind of impact will all this Spygate stuff have on the team? Think about it, will free agents want to come here if there's a perception of turmoil? I still think the Patriots are one of the, if not the, team to beat in the AFC, so the allure of a potential SB ring could still be attractive, but do players want to have to hear about and deal with all the Spygate BS?
  
• And speaking of Spygate ... sigh. What a flea-flippin' mess (to use a Kell-ism). I can't decide if this story won't go away because the Patriots haters and the press just won't let go or if because there's something there and it's just a matter of time before the ugly truth comes out. I sincerely hope it's the former because if there is something to all or any of these allegations, then my loyalty to this team is going to be severely shaken ... which will lead me to a very difficult position because I l-o-v-e, love football and I can't imagine rooting for another team. I hear the CFL is nice this time of year ...
  
• I absolutely do not understand why the Patriots have not made more of an effort to re-sign CB Asante Samuel. According to reports, he's about to sign an offer with the Philadelphia Eagles. The fact that he wasn't signed to a multi-year contract last year is still puzzling. He's young, 27, and is one of the best at his position. And given that fact that the Defense really showed its age last season, it would seem logical that the Patriots would want to re-sign someone like Samuel. But then, I guess that's why Scott Pioli, et. al., get paid to do what they do and I just watch the games on TV.

Meanwhile, Opening Day at Fenway is April 8 ...

"Spygate" saga continues ...

This is just getting ridiculous.

Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter continues his asinine threats to launch a full-fledged investigation (and threatening to withdraw the NFL's anti-trust exemption) into the NFL's destruction of the materials turned over by the New England Patriots in relation to "spygate".

I still can't believe he's actually still pursuing this. That is, until I remember that Specter is a season ticker holder of the Philadelphia Eagles (who lost to the Pats in Super Bowl XXXIX) and apparently he hasn't gotten over that.

Now there comes word that based on the rumors that the Patriots taped the pre-game walk-through of the St. Louis Rams before Super Bowl XXXVI, three layers have filed a $100 million lawsuit (yes, that's $100 million), claiming that since the Patriots cheated, they owe everyone associated with the game (fans, players' shares, etc.), even thought the NFL said there's absolutely no evidence that any such taping occurred. Wow ... just ... wow.

Yes, I'm a card-carrying member of Patriots' Nation so if you dismiss this post as a homer defending his team, so be it. But I'm really getting tired of all of this spygate crap. To which:

• If the Patriots cheated in their three Super Bowl wins, why did they only win by 3 points in each game?!?
  
• People are questioning why NFL Comish Roger Goodall came down so hard on the Patriots and Bill Belichick so quickly and then destroyed the tapes and written materials so quickly. It's simple: He wanted to send a loud and clear message to the rest of the NFL that cheating will not be tolerated.
  
• There are calls now for the Patriots to give up their three Lombardi trophies because "they're obviously tainted", some Patriots haters are saying. Really? So the three titles Jimmy Johnson won with the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990s should also be relinquished because Johnson admitted (during a Fox broadcast when the spygate story broke) that he and his staff cheated as well when they would take discarded play book pages from teams and use them to prepare for the next time they played that team. And Johnson's not the only former coach to admit to cheating ... Jim Mora, Al Davis, and Bill Parcells also all admitted they went outside the rules.
  
• Specter has said the Patriots wins against the Pittsburgh Steelers should also be more closely scrutinized. But, Steelers ownership has said they feel the Patriots' videotaping is a "non-issue."
  
• This may be the weakest defense of the Patriots but it bears repeating ... everybody in the NFL cheats in some way. Maybe not so much now because of what's been going on, but they have in the past. Want proof? Just look at the coaches and assistants on the sidelines of any game, especially the offensive and defensive coordinators and the head coach. Whenever they call in a play, they always cover their mouths so their lips can't be read. Why? Because they know they're being watched by the other team! Seriously ... is it that complicated, people?!?
  
• As has happened in the past, the only thing people like more than celebrating a winner is tearing them down. Losing a Super Bowl by three points has to hurt (think about it, that's pretty much a one-play difference in the game), and it seems like some people are seizing this spygate thing as their chance to run up the excuses as to why their teams couldn't figure out a way to beat the Patriots.
  
• And lastly (at least for this post), Specter absolutely needs to be taken to task for using his time to focus on this issue instead of those that really concern the country ... like the war in Iraq, the healthcare crisis, the mortgage crisis, the looming recession ... the list goes on.

I want to make it clear that I'm not condoning what the Patriots did. Cheating is cheating and they got caught and paid the price. Let's just hope that all of the other NFL teams don't pay the price as well.

Postmortem

OK, it's been three days now since Patriot Nation was handed its worst defeat in recent years (last year's AFC Championship loss didn't even feel this badly).

I still can't believe the Patriots lost the Super Bowl. Leading up to the game, you kept hearing how an 18-0 season doesn't mean anything if they lose the SB and the talking heads were absolutely right ... no one is going to really remember the Patriots' 2007 season now. Yeah, Patriots Nation will, but the shine is definitely off of the apple.

Speaking of the apple, my cousin Joe, a hard core NY Giants fan, emailed me yesterday (I was surprised it took that long) to gloat (albeit gently) and my wife had a great reply, "(This) must be what it has felt like the past few years with Yankees doing so poorly...." LOL ... nice! Yes, Joe is a NY Spankees fan, too.

As badly as it feels for the Patriots to lose, I can be glad for the Giants because a player like DE Michael Strahan, a 15-year vet, finally has the Lombardi hardware to add to his impressive resume. I read the other day that he had actually considered retiring at the end of last season.

In thinking about SB XLII, I had come to the same conclusion as my friend Kevin (he beat me in posting it to his blog), that if the Patriots had won, this would have only fueled the "cheaters" fire even more, so maybe, in a very strange way, it's almost better that the Patriots didn't win ... almost ... OK, not really.

Some random thoughts:

• Now I know how Rams fans felt after Super Bowl XXXVI when the Patriots (two-touchdown underdogs) beat the Rams by three points.
  
• I will never forget the look on Junior Seau's face as he walked off of the field. I really hope he doesn't retire because the guy deserves to win a Super Bowl after the career he's had.
  
• Needless to say, the Patriots I'm sure will be focusing on upgrading their defense in the off season. Let's face it, New England's D line is getting older and needs new blood. The offense is fine ... I'm sure the draft and off-season signings will heavily emphasize the defense.
  
• It's a little thing, but I'm still really bummed that there likely won't be a DVD about the Patriots' season. I could see NFL films releasing one because the Patriots are the only team to ever go 18-0 (there was a DVD about their 21-game winning streak a few ago, after all). There were so many great moments from this season, it would be great to get them on a DVD.
  
• I didn't realize until this week how the Patriots losing would affect my daily habits. No, I don't mean personal hygiene. The first section of the Boston Globe I look at is the Sports section ... not so this week. I just can't bring myself to open the pages. Same with espn.com ... just can't do it.
  
• Still trying to figure out what the hell happened to the Patriots offensive line. They were so dominant all season and the one game in which they fall apart is the Super Bowl.
  
• The biggest shock for me was the fact that the Patriots didn't adjust at half time. If nothing else, a Belichick-coached team always makes the adjustments it needs to make at half time. Not this time. Bizarre.
  
• Pitchers and catchers report in about another week or so.

18 - 1

So close ... so close. But, as they say, "close" only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades.

Patriots were totally outplayed on both sides of the ball. Giants kept blitzing and blitzing and blitzing and Patriots QB Tom Brady and the offense just couldn't get a rhythm going and the line couldn't protect Brady.

The defense was great except for when they had to be on the Giants' last drive of the game.

"Disappointing" doesn't even begin to cover it. Just really sucks that it's not going to be worth reading the Sports pages tomorrow, checking out espn.com ... no DVD commemorating an otherwise amazing season for the Patriots.

And I feel badly for Junior Seau and Randy Moss. These guys have been in the league for a long time and deserve a Super Bowl ring.

There's always next year ...

Oh, one other thing ... read an interesting stat earlier today ... in the 42-year history of the Super Bowl, the NFL's leading passer has never won the Lombardi. This year's leader? Tom Brady.

Super hype for the Super Bowl

Here's hoping the NFL doesn’t come after me for using the copyrighted words "Super Bowl" in a public blog [rolls eyes].

I haven't blogged about the Super Bowl yet because I've been wading thru the hype and hundreds of hours of TV broadcasts and thousands of newspaper column inches dedicated to number 42. Wow. Seems to get worse every year ... or maybe we here in New England are just more attuned to it because our beloved team in representing the AFC this year.

Anyway, I was getting ready to publish some thoughts here when I was watching the news tonight and saw the most ludicrous story I've seen associated with the Super Bowl yet this year.

In a nutshell, Pennsylvania Republican Senator Arlen Specter is calling for a Congressional investigation into "Spygate", saying the American people are owed an explanation by NFL Comish Roger Goodell as to why the NFL destroyed the tapes related to the scandal.

WHAT?!? Seriously? This is what Specter thinks is important for Congress to be focusing on? The country’s in a recession, healthcare is in shambles, and there's a war going on in Iraq and Afghanistan and he wants to bring Goodell before Congress, even going so far as to compare the destruction of the Spygate tapes to those involved in the CIA interrogation last year.

Um ... WHAT?!? Now, granted, the Spygate tapes being destroyed was a bit strange and leaves a lot of questions in people's minds, but Specter, an admitted hard core Eagles fan, has really made himself look like an idiot on this one. I really hope his office is flooded with angry emails and phone calls from constituents who take him to task for wasting time on this.

Anyway, back to the game ... not surprisingly, I'm picking the Patriots to win. I don't know about a score, but I will say that I think the Patriots will win by 12 ... not sure where that number comes from, but there you go.

I really like the Patriots’ defense against Eli “The Other” Manning and the Giants O-line … something tells me Belichick and co. are going to come up with looks that Manning has never seen before.

And Patriots’ QB Tom Brady just doesn’t lose a game like this. I like the fact the he and other players admitted the other day that is likely the biggest game of their lives, not just because it’s the Super Bowl, but because it’s the possibility of going 19-0.

Either way, it’s going to be a good game … possibly one for the ages.

The most random list you'll ever read

I'm not ashamed to say I got the idea for this post from a fellow blogger. To me, that's a compliment when fellow bloggers borrow each other's ideas. Disagree? Well, it's my blog, so there.

The following is a completely random list about ... me.

1. I was born July 22, 1969 … the story goes that my mom went into labor as Neil Armstrong was walking on the moon. She wanted to go to the hospital but my dad couldn’t take his eyes off of the TV. She won.
   
2. My son, Joey, is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. Seeing the world through his eyes is indescribable.
   
3. When I worked in Boston, I used to commute 20 hours a week. Fun.
   
4. I’ve never been sued.
   
5. If there's one person in my life that I trust more than anyone else, it's my mom. She absolutely would never BS me.
   
6. I am a huge golf nut and love playing. Well, if you call having a handicap over 20 "playing".
   
7. My favorite color is navy blue.
   
8. One of my most favorite things in the world is the way Joey prefaces almost every sentence he says to me with, "Dah-dee".
   
9. Nothing beats walking in the door and Joey comes running up to me saying, "Dah-dee, Dah-dee, you're home! I missed you!" I fall in love with him every day.
   
10. I’m not a fan of sodas like Coke or Pepsi … I can’t stand the way it feels like your teeth are covered in sugar after you drink them.
    
11. If I drink soda, it’s soda water (lemon and orange are the favorite flavors).
12. That being said, Jack + Coke = always good.
    
13. I’m proud to be a Jack Daniel’s Squire.
    
14. My favorite beer is Cape Ann Brewery's "Boston Tea Part Ale", followed closely by Boddington's and just about anything Sam Adams makes, especially Sammy Light.
    
15. I have one sibling, a younger sister, Beckie.
    
16. My all-time favorite book is “To Kill A Mockingbird” … I’ve read it over a dozen times.
    
17. I try not to use the word "hate", but I have to say that I really hate being late for anything. As far as I'm concerned, if you're ten mintues early for something, that's being on time.
    
18. I’ve only owned five cars in my life (in order): metallic blue 1980 Pontiac Sunbird, black 1991 Nissan NX 1600, 2001 green Dodge Stratus coupe (man, I loved that car), a 2004 Subaru Impreza RS sedan, and my current car, a 2010 Subaru Impreza.
    
19. I graduated from Fitchburg State College in 1993 with a degree in Journalism and a double minor of Political Science and U.S. History. I had a GPA of 3.1.
    
20. My first job out of college was as a newspaper reporter for the Concord (MA) Journal.
    
21. I worked in the Public Affairs office of Brigham & Women’s Hospital and then at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
    
22. My two favorite expressions (and I use them all of the time) are: "Not for nothing, but ..." and "It'll look good from my house!"
    
23. To put myself through college, I was a chef at a restaurant.
    
24. All told, between high school, college and post-college (when I had to work two jobs to support myself), I was a chef for almost 16 years.
    
25. My favorite type of food is steak, followed closely by Italian cuisine.
    
26. I am a great cook and can make almost anything, but I’ve never tried making soup.
    
27. I used to own and wear a black leather motorcycle jacket. I thought I was cool. I was wrong.
    
28. I'm so not a fan of gore in movies. I like being scared as much as the next person, but I don't like being grossed out. And no, the sight of blood doesn't bother me. There's just no need to see people's entrails in movies.
    
29. I hate seafood. Lobsters look like giant cockroaches and I just can't see how anyone can eat them. Nasty .... just, nasty.
    
30. When it comes to creamy vs. super chunk, I'd have to go with super chunk.
    
31. I think the greatest condiment ever created is Frank's Red Hot sauce.
    
32. I like white wine and red wine (although red doesn’t like me as much … it’s the nitrates).
    
33. I’m a card-carrying member of Red Sox Nation and a hard-core fan of the New England Patriots.
    
34. I love watching baseball and football in HD.
    
35. I’ve known my best friend for 26 years and I’ve known he’s gay for 20 of those years.
    
36. I'm very good at figuring out who the actor is doing voice overs for commercials and movies. If I can't figure it out, it drives me nuts.
    
37. When I was a pre-teen, Star Wars was my life. I’m still a tremendous fan and have loads of collectibles in the attic to prove it.
    
38. I used to collect and read comic books, but can't really afford the 12+ titles I used to regularly read a month now that I'm an adult (sort of). If I could afford it, I'd still read them.
    
39. I don’t believe in god.
    
40. I absolutely bombed my SATs but was accepted to all five colleges to which I applied.
    
41. I’m an editor by profession but am one of the worst spellers you’ll ever meet.
    
42. I used to smoke cigarettes but quit after a few years. Nasty.
    
43. I love smoking a good cigar now and then, especially in the summer.
    
44. I used to speed, but since my son was born, not so much.
    
45. I could give up cigars and Jack Daniel’s in a heart beat … but never coffee … especially Starbucks.
    
46. I finally have all speeding tickets off of my record and am paying the lowest insurance rates available.
    
47. It doesn't bother me to chew on tin foil.
    
48. My favorite place to take a summer vacation is Martha's Vineyard, MA.
    
49. To me, driving in Boston is fun, not scary.
    
50. I absolutely abhor roller coasters.
    
51. Almost as much as roller coasters, I hate being in the water, like a pool, lake or ocean.
    
52. I can drive a manual transmission car (my Subaru is 5 on the floor).
    
53. I’m a registered Democrat.
    
54. I’m pro-choice.
    
55. I can’t cross my eyes.
    
56. For me, the "Big Three" was Larry, Kevin and The Chief.
    
57. I have little to no patience for people who cannot drive. The idiotic things people do on the road never ceases to amaze me.
    
58. I’m obsessed with getting achievements on Xbox 360 games.
    
59. I believe gay people have as much right to marry as straight couples do.
    
60. I’m not a fan of country music.
    
61. I love hard rock/heavy metal music … the harder, the better (if I can air guitar to it, I’m in!)
    
62. Sometimes I get the heebies and the geebies.
    
63. I played Little League baseball as a kid (short stop).
    
64. I'm a very sarcastic person.
    
65. I’m an amateur photographer … digital photography is great.
    
66. I once had a photo published in USA Today.
    
67. I had a hernia operation when I was 11 years old.
    
68. I’ve only ever broken one bone in my body … a bone in my left foot in karate class.
    
69. Speaking of which, I studied Kempo karate for a few years and was three belts away from black when I stopped (I had to get a job to make money and it left me with no time for anything else). I was even an instructor for a while.
    
70. My favorite number is 7.
    
71. I have a pair of "hospital green" scrub pants that are one of, if not the, most comfortable pieces of clothing I own. If I could, I'd wear them every day, all day.
    
72. My driver’s license says I’m 6 feet tall, but I’m more in the 5’ 11” and ½ to ¾ range.
    
73. I've never flown in a helicopter but would really like to some day.
    
74. I can see why women think Tom Brady is good looking ... not that there's anything wrong with that.
    
75. I can’t swim and have absolutely no desire to learn.
    
76. I can whistle … not well, but I can.
    
77. I've never skydived before and have absolutely no plans of ever doing so.
    
78. I’ve never traveled outside of the US.
    
79. I love gmail and wish I could have bought Google stock when it was first offered.
    
80. If I could vote again for Bill Clinton, I would.
    
81. The farthest west I’ve ever been was Anaheim, CA for my ex-brother-in-law’s wedding in 2005. Awesome time.
    
82. My blood type is O+ and I try to donate whenever I'm eligible (every eight weeks).
    
83. I've never been arrested and I've never been in the back of a police car. (Front of the car, yes, but not in the back).
    
84. Aside from Fenway Park, the only other MLB ballparks I’ve ever been to are Wrigley Field in Chicago and Angel Stadium of Anaheim.
    
85. I think George Dubbya did more harm to this country than any other president in our nation's history.
    
86. I don’t gamble, but I’ve been to Mohegan Sun just to see it … bizarre, but fun.
    
87. I have used a laser radar gun to clock people speeding on a highway.
    
88. In 1986, I was the only person I knew that had a CD player.
    
89. Mean people suck. I agree.
    
90. I don't care who beats the NY Yankees, the Indianapolis Colts or the NY Jets ... as long as they lose.
    
91. If I could, I would live in the Back Bay area of Boston.
    
92. My favorite Harry Potter book is the last one, “The Deathly Hallows”.
    
93. I listen to a tremendous amount of music, but if I had to pick one all-time favorite band, it would have to be Van Halen (David Lee Roth era).
    
94. I like Jazz and Classical music.
    
95. I have met John Glenn and actually declined to have my picture taken with him. I really regret that decision.
    
96. I listen to Howard Stern every morning on Sirius Satellite Radio.
    
97. Since I installed Sirius in my car in November, 2005, I haven’t listened to broadcast radio.
    
98. My all-time favorite TV show is The Sopranos.
    
99. I’m lactose intolerant.
    
100. My favorite ice cream flavor is Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.
     
101. I’ve never stolen something from a store.
     
102. My current favorite show is The Daily Show with Jon Stewart...brilliant!.
     
103. Best Buy is my favorite store.
     
104. I used to be on MySpace and Facebook but deleted my accounts because the whole thing just got too obnoxious.
     
105. For as much as I love playing first-person-shooter games on Xbox like Call of Duty, I really suck at them.
     
106. I’m anal retentive about a lot of things.
     
107. I love Eddie Bauer clothes.
     
108. My favorite sneakers are Under Armour.
     
109. I used to be painfully shy.
     
110. I have acid reflux disease and can’t eat roughage (iceberg lettuce and popcorn are the worst for me).
     
111. I love Gulden’s spicy brown mustard.
     
112. I think OJ is guilty.
     
113. Aside from medical procedures, I’ve only been unconscious once … when I was 12, I tripped at the top of a flight of stairs and landed on my chin on the concrete platform at the bottom of the stairs. I still have the scar underneath my chin.
     
114. I have a birthmark on my left bicep.
     
115. The most I’ve even bench pressed is 190 pounds.
     
116. If I could do it all over again, I’d get a degree in something that has to do with fixing/building things, like an electrician or construction.
     
117. My favorite adult cereal is Wheaties … kid’s cereal is Capt’n Crunch.
     
118. I never missed an episode of Pee Wee’s Playhouse on Saturday mornings.
     
119. I think Dane Cook is way overrated.
     
120. When I vote, I try not to vote party lines, but I just can’t bring myself to vote for a Republican given the GOP’s intolerant, ultra-Christian conservative platform.
     
121. I’ve never listened to an entire “book-on-tape”.
     
122. I’m not much of an amusement park person … they just don’t amuse me.
     
123. I’ve been to Disney World twice and Disney Land once.
     
124. Edward Hopper is my favorite American artist.
     
125. I think full-figured women are more attractive than thinner women.
     
126. I once cut off the tip of my left index finger. It grew back.
     
127. I can recite word-for-word many skits from Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

On the verge of greatness

One more to go and I think it's safe to say you could call the 2007 New England Patriots the greatest team ever.

Once again the Patriots failed to cover the spread (14 points) when they beat the San Diego Chargers 21-12, but the AFC Championship game showed why the Patriots have won 18 games this season. Their defense stopped the Chargers from scoring a touchdown the entire game and even though Patriots QB Tom Brady had an off day (he threw 3 INTs, the most he's thrown in a game all season), the team still found a way to win.

And for most of the season, the Patriots did not use their running game often because their passing game was so effective. But now in the playoffs where defenses are at their best, the Patriots have begun using their running game more (RB Laurence Maroney has had two consecutive 100+ yard games), which only adds to their arsenal and gives something else for opposition defensive coordinators to try and figure out.

The bottom line is that this is not a one-dimension team, and that's why they are undefeated.

Give the Chargers credit, though ... their QB, Philip Rivers, was playing on a bad knee and most people didn't think he would start yesterday, let alone play the entire game. It was a gritty performance, but not enough to overcome the Patriots at Razor Blade Stadium.

Meanwhile in the NFC, I was absolutely shocked to see this morning that the NY Giants beat the Green Bay Packers to advance to the Super Bowl. Going to bed last night at half-time of the NFC Championship game, I was sure Brett Farve et. al. were going to win. Wow. A very tight game for 60 minutes and the two teams go into overtime tied at 20 ... and the Packers win the coin toss ... and then Farve throws an INT which leads the Giants to kick the game-winning figgie. Amazing.

So, it's the Patriots and the Giants in Arizona on Feb. 3. I like the Patriots chances for two reasons: Bill Belichick has a habit of learning well from the team's mistakes when facing an opponent for the second time (especially in the same season) so you know he and the team will study every second of the last game of the regular season with a microscope. Also, the Giants have proven that they go the way their QB, Eli "The Other" Manning goes ... he has a bad game, the Giants don't stand a chance. And if the Patriots' D continues to play the way they have in the playoffs, then Eli won't know what hit him.

Should be fun!

The Moss plot thickens ...

Heard on the news this morning that the woman accusing Randy Moss of battery and demanding a six-figure settlement has had a history of financial troubles and within the last few months was served an eviction notice by her landlord.

Nice.

Randy Moss

Patriots WR Randy Moss almost got through the season without any controversy. But, "almost" is only good in horseshoes and hand grenades.

This story is a classic example of he said/she said. Moss' accuser says he injured her and wouldn't let her leave to get medical attention. Now she's suing for a six-figure settlement.

Moss is calling BS and his agent said he was threatened in a call with Moss' accuser's lawyer and has now contacted the Feds to see is any laws have been broken.

Meanwhile, Moss' teammates and coaches have rallied around him.

Nothing like a good controversy to further solidify a team and bring them together.

God help the Chargers.

17 - 0 with one down and two to go ...

... hey, look at me ... that rhymes!

What a game last night, Patriots winning 31-20. Patriots QB Tom Brady set another NFL record by completing his first 16 consecutive passes, the most in playoff history. For the game, he finished 26 of 28 for 262 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions, and a 92.9 completion percentage, another NFL playoff record.

That's right, only two incompletions for the game. Damn.

And RB Laurence Maroney was en fuego with 122 yards on 22 carries with a TD, while having a 33-yard catch-and-run to set up the Patriots' first score.

Nice.

But, WR Randy Moss was a non-factor ... or was he? Yup, he didn't have a TD the entire game because he was double and triple-teamed all night. But, by being so, he opened up other opportunities for the offense. Wonder how this affect the prep for the team the Patriots face next in the AFC Championship game.

While the Patriots' offense overall played a great game, their defense is still making me a nervous as they've been inconsistent at times. Last night they could stop then run, then not ... they could stop the passing game, then not so much.

And Rodney Harrison's two unsportsman-like penalties (which cost the Patriots a total of 30 yards of field position) were very disappointing. You think Coach Belichick is going to tear Rodney a new one in practice this week?

Was watching the game with a bunch of hard-core Patriots fans last night and we were all saying that as much as we want to see our team win the Lombardi hardware for the fourth time in seven years for the obvious reasons, it also means a sweet DVD from NFL films. We wondered if it ends up that New England isn't the last team standing this season, will the NFL still release a highlight DVD because of the first 16-0 season? Here's hoping because there was some great moments this season, including the games against the Ravens, Steelers and Giants.

One other note: During Tom Brady's post-game press conference, the questions are winding down and suddenly you hear from the side in a southern drawl, "Do you think you're a handsome quarterback?" Randy Moss asked. Brady says, "That was the last question."

Nice ...

More accolades

The accolades for the Patriots continue as it was announced today that the Associated Press named its All-Pro team and the roster included five Pats players: QB Tom Brady, WR Randy Moss, LT Matt Light, OLB Mike Vrabel and CB Asante Samuel.

Accolades for Patriots

Since the end of the regular season, the Patriots have received the following awards:

• Tom Brady has been named the AP's Offensive Player of the Year.
  
• Coach Bill Belichick has been named Coach of the Year.
  
• Tom Brady has been named Most Valuable Player.

Brady is the first Patriot to win MVP and OPOY. He's the fourth straight double winner, joining the Colts' Peyton Manning, running back Shaun Alexander of Seattle, and LaDainian Tomlinson of the San Diego Chargers.

There was some question as to why Belichick was named Coach of the Year since he was fined earlier in the season for cheating. (In the NFL, if a player is caught cheating, they're automatically ineligible for any NFL season awards given by the League.) The COY award is given by the AP, not the NFL, so Belichick was (deservedly, IMO still eligible).

Final Patriots Stat Check

More from the Boston Globe on the Patriots 2007 season:

Each week during the regular season, the Boston Globe's Patriots beat reporter Mike Reiss has looked at key statistics and noted where the Patriots ranked in each category.

Here is the way it ended this season:

Points scored
1st (589, 38.6 per game)

Points allowed
4th (274, 17.1 per game)
League leader: Indianapolis (262, 16.3 per game)

Turnover difference
3rd (plus-16; 31 takeaways, 15 giveaways)
League leader: San Diego (plus-24; 48 takeaways, 24 giveaways)

Third-down offense
2nd (92 of 191, 48.2 percent)
League leader: Indianapolis (100 of 203, 49.3 percent)

Third-down defense
4th (63 of 187, 33.7 percent)
League leader: Kansas City (65 of 208, 31.3 percent)

Red-zone offense
2nd (72 possessions, 50 TDs, 69.4 percent TD rate)
League leader: New Orleans (50 possessions, 36 TDs, 72 percent TD rate)

Red-zone defense
27th (41 possessions, 24 Tds, 58.5 percent opponents TD rate)
League leader: Philadelphia (55 possessions, 20 TDs, 36.4 opponents TD rate)

NFL Playoff Schedule

Got this from the Boston Globe ...

The Patriots opening game of the playoffs will be Saturday, Jan. 12, at 8 p.m., the NFL announced today.

Here is the complete playoff schedule through the first two rounds:

Saturday, Jan. 5
Washington at Seattle (NBC, 4:30 p.m.)
Jacksonville at Pittsburgh (NBC, 8 p.m.)

Sunday, Jan. 6
N.Y. Giants at Tampa Bay (Fox, 1 p.m.)
Cleveland/Tennessee at San Diego (CBS, 4:30 p.m.)

Saturday, Jan. 12
Seattle/Tampa Bay/N.Y. Giants at Green Bay (Fox, 4:30 p.m.)
Pittsburgh/Jacksonville/Cleveland/Tennessee at New England (CBS, 8 p.m.)

Sunday, Jan. 13
San Diego/Pittsburgh/Jacksonville at Indianapolis (CBS, 1 p.m.)
Tampa Bay/N.Y. Giants/Washington at Dallas (Fox, 4:30 p.m.)

The AFC Championship game is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 20 at 3 p.m., while the NFC Championship game is the same day, at 6:30 p.m.

So, until the Patriots play again, I'm going to go watch the Patriots @ Giants game on my DVR again. Giddy up!