Pats Could Again Hold Jets’ Key to the Playoffs
By Jon Wagner-Sr. Writer at Large-Football Reporters Online
The eyes of all New York Jets fans will be on the Meadowlands on Sunday night, as Gang Green tries to make the NFL postseason for the first time in three years.
Rightfully so, since the Jets (8-7) would either clinch the AFC’s fifth seed with a win over the Cincinnati Bengals (10-5) in the final regular season game (and likely, the last game, period) at Giants Stadium, at 8:20pm EST, on Sunday night.
However, earlier in the day, Jets fans may have to do the unimaginable and begin the new decade by rooting for their arch nemesis of the past decade.
In an ironic twist of fate, the New England Patriots (10-5), New York’s division rival who for much of the past ten years, have stood in the way of the Jets’ success by winning (seven AFC East titles from 2001-2009 and a playoff victory over New York in 2006), could now severely damage the Jets’ playoff hopes by losing.
While focusing on Sunday night’s contest, many seem to be forgetting that what happens earlier in the day in Houston, when the Texans (8-7) host the Patriots (10-5) at 1 pm EST, could have a tremendous effect on the Jets’ chances of beating the Bengals.
Say what you will about how the Jets played the second half in Indianapolis last week, but if the Colts didn’t rest their starters, the Jets probably wouldn’t be playing for much this Sunday.
Likewise, New York will of course have a much better chance at starting the new year with a playoff-clinching victory against Bengals’ backups instead of the Cincinnati starters that produced a 2009 AFC North championship.
At home, the Jets are still very capable of beating a motivated Bengals team with a lot to play for, but it would certainly be a lot easier for the Jets to win on Sunday night if they face a Bengals Lite team similar to the watered down version of the Colts that the Jets saw last week.
And, what Cincinnati may choose to do against the Jets could depend a lot on Sunday’s outcome in Houston.
If the Patriots beat the Texans, the Bengals would be locked into the AFC’s fourth playoff seed, and should rest a lot of starters at Giants Stadium, at least during the second half (especially since without a bye week, that would be Cincinnati’s one chance at resting prior to the playoffs).
However, if New England again stumbles away from home, and fails to lock up the third seed, that spot will be there for the taking for the Bengals. That’s something that could be very attractive to Cincinnati for two reasons.
A first-round matchup as a three seed should be easier against a six seed, as opposed to playing in the four-five game next week.
Looking further down the road, the Bengals would also probably prefer a potential second-round playoff matchup at second-seeded San Diego, where Cincinnati was extremely competitive in a 27-24 loss on a 52-yard field goal with three seconds remaining, on December 20th. Not an easy game at all against the 12-3 Chargers, but the alternative could be a much tougher road to the Super Bowl going to top-seeded Indianapolis as a four seed.
Although Houston needs a lot of help, the Texans will be playing for a lot regardless of how any other AFC scenario plays out. The Texans can make the playoffs with a win over the Patriots and at least two losses from among the Jets, Baltimore (8-7), and Denver (8-7). Making the postseason is obviously the primary goal, but the expansion Texans should have extra motivation to be fired up. Even if the Texans miss the playoffs this year, a win will give Houston its first winning season in its brief eight-year history while helping the Texans avoid a losing record at home, where they are currently just 3-4 this season.
Adding to the chances of a Texans’ win is the uncharacteristic Jekyl and Hyde performance of New England this year. The Patriots are a perfect 8-0 at home, but they haven’t had a decent road win all season. They’re just 2-5 away from Gillette Stadium, with road victories against 3-12 Tampa Bay (really a neutral field win, in London) and in Buffalo (5-10; 2-5 at home).
With the flex schedule moving the Bengals-Jets game to prime time Sunday night television, the final day of the regular season could be summed up in a bit of a tongue twister for the Jets, as in: “Flex, Texans Affect the Jets.”
Regardless of what happens outside of the Meadowlands though, Jet fans are hoping that come Sunday night, they won’t be repeating a far more common phrase, such as “Houston, we have a problem.”
Showing posts with label new england patriots. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new england patriots. Show all posts
Friday, January 01, 2010
Saturday, November 21, 2009
BELICHICK'S RISKY CALL GIVES JETS LIFE
BELICHiCK'S RISKY CALL GIVES JETS LIFE
by TJ ROSENTHAL for Football Reporters Online
Watch The You Tube Video Here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xq7GxoXiio
The J-e-t-s Jets Jets Jets were left for dead late Sunday as Jags RB Maurice Jones-Drew jokingly apologized at the podium to fantasy owners for taking a knee to help run out the clock. Now 4-5 and somehow trailing in the AFC wildcard hunt after a 3-0 start, even coach Rex Ryan admitted after the last second 24-22 loss to Jones-Drew's Jacksonville Jaguars that a playoff berth now looked bleak. Then suddenly that night hope arrived when Bill Belichick of all people, helped breathe life into a Gang Green season that was beginning to appear hopeless.
The controversial decision by Belichick to ice the game against the undefeated Peyton Manning led Colts from his own 28 with a six point lead and just 2:08 left, backfired. The stunning 35-34 win, capped by Manning's game winning TD throw to WR Reggie Wayne with 0:15 left after the Pats failed 4th and 2, leaves the Jets only two games back of the hated Pats. The Jets could find themselves just one off the AFC East division lead while owning the head to head tiebreaker with a win in Foxboro Sunday.
Make no bones about it though, Sunday will be a monumental challenge. Maybe the clubs toughest they will face all year. The 6-3 Pats want revenge for their week two loss at the Meadowlands while QB Tom Brady was shaking off the rust from season ending knee surgery in 2008. They'll also look to erase the bad taste in their mouth from having the Colts on the ropes, then letting them off the hook. Nonetheless, it's as good of a position that a Jet team who has lost five of six could've hoped for.
The Pats are not the same team the Jets saw in September. The biggest reason is that Tom Brady is back. The Pats most important player is second in the NFL in passing yards with 2,739, trailing only Manning with 2,872. Brady is tied for second with Drew Brees for TD passes with 19 (again trailing only Manning who has 20). The Brady to Randy Moss combo has also woken up. After the slow start , Moss is now second in the league in both yards with 891 and TDs with seven. Pesky WR Wes Welker, out early in the year with hamstring issues, is healthy again and once again a threat to eat up yardage if too much attention is focused on Moss.
The Jets are at this point, a shell of their early season selves. They own the NFL's top rushing attack averaging 170 yards per game despite losing Leon Washington for the year out in Oakland. The swagger of the team is gone though. Or missing at least. Mounting losses will do that to a team. By week four as the Jets were headed to New Orleans in what was at the time, a battle of the undefeated, many were calling the Jets defense the top unit in the NFL. The 27-17 loss in the Big Easy gave Jet fans the first look at the types of mistakes rookieQB Mark Sanchez could make. A key ill advised interception in the end zone to FS Darren Sharper gave the Saints a 10-0 lead and they never looked back. The loss was followed by the defense then getting humbled for the first time as well, as they got torched for 416 yards by the Wildcat in Miami in week 5. Things got worse the following week as the glue of the defense NG Kris Jenkins was lost for the season to a torn ACL during a week six OT loss to putrid Buffalo. Run stopping has suffered since. Jones-Drew burned the Jets for 123 yards last Sunday. Sanchez threw an astounding 5 interceptions during the Bills loss, raising the questions of how much responsibility the Jets should entrust the rookie with the rest of the way.
The second meeting between the clubs will renew a rivalry that contains a decade of seething hatred. Bill Parcells left New England for the Jets in 1997 then Bill Belichick returned the favor. Slated to be announced as the new Jet coach in 2000, Belichick pulled a trick play out of his book and resigned as "HC" of the Jets at the press conference announcing him. In doing this he avoided the shadow that Parcells as a front office man would've cast over his star pupil. Belichick then went on to return to New England where he was Parcells defensive coordinator in the mid nineties, to win four Super Bowls in New England. Doing it with the help of a coaching staff that consisted of many former Jet assistants under Parcells.
The rivalry took another odd turn when top Pats assistant Eric Mangini then usurped Belichick's wishes to go anywhere but the Jets and signed on to become of course, the Jets head coach in 2006. Mangini was immediately locked out of the Foxboro facility. In 2007 after a blowout loss in the opener, "Mangenius" then complained that the Pats were using cameras to spy on the Jet sidelines. This brought about the controversial "Spygate" incident which threatened to ruin Belichick's credibility and hall of fame resume as new charges against "Belicheat" seemed to come out of the woodwork every day.
In the Spring of 2009, new Jet head coach Rex Ryan injected some new blood into the storyline by proclaiming that he didn't come to New York "to kiss Bill Belichick's rings." Given the result in week two, a 16-9 win over Belicheck's crew, Ryan looked like the leader of team that could talk the talk AND walk the walk. In fact, after the game, outspoken Jet LB Bart Scott defended teammate CB Darelle Revis, who did a great job on perennial All Pro WR Randy Moss, on a day that included a key interception by the Jets top corner on a pass intended for Moss.
"I hear the easy copout by Randy Moss, saying that anybody can guard ... that 'I can play cornerback if I had safety help,'" Scott said. "That was a one-on-one jump ball. I think sometimes you've just got to give the man his credit, understand that [Revis] was the better man that day..[Revis] shut him down. He intimidated him. Randy was coming across that middle real slow. Tell him to man up next time and come across the middle like a man if he wants to be a complete receiver."
Rest assured Moss and the Patriots haven't forgotten their performance that day or the words exchanged by both clubs after the game. When it comes to the Jets- Patriots there is no such thing as a short memory, only a long history of bad blood. This brings us now to the latest chapter in the saga.
While Belichick spent Monday trying to justify why he had no faith in his defense down the stretch at Indy, Ryan spent part of Monday according to locker room reports, giving a passionate plea to his team that drove the rookie head coach to tears.
Offensive lineman Damien Woody reported "He was talking about the situation -- this upcoming game with New England and how we're still there, how we still have a pulse. He said It's all about us, that nobody believes in us and that we are the only ones who believe we can get things done..He said, 'I believe in you; I believe you get can get this thing done,' and that's when he really got emotional." Revis added" I haven't been a part of a meeting where a coach cried like that."
Emotions. That's what the Jets need. They played so well early on when they were driven by them. The Jets have to stick together and begin to believe like winners again, because as Woody noted regarding Ryan's speech, few believe in the Jets right now. Only the players themselves can help change the perception that the Jets season is for all intensive purposes, over. The chance to reinvent themselves and not waste what was a promising start to 2009, presents itself Sunday. Albeit, it's the first place Pats they are dealing with. The hated Pats. The Tom Brady and Bill Belichick Pats. Drama and daunting task aside, with a win the Jets will be back in business again in the AFC East.
THREE KEYS TO THE GAME:
JET PRESSURE ON BRADY. That how the Jets beat the Pats in week two. Brady was rushed, off his timing, and inaccurate. Much of it due to rust, the other, the Jet pressure. Without pressure, you can forget about it.
REVIS MOSS ROUND TWO: The winner of this battle will give his team the edge. "Revis Island" won the first one but Moss has been on fire since and surely remembers the bravado the Jets spoke with in shutting him down.
EMOTION: The Jets have to play with emotion Sunday. There has to be a "back against the wall" and "us against the world mentality." This rivalry seems to bring it out naturally, but the Jets shouldn't wait to get kicked in the face before they decide to get themselves going. If they do that in Foxboro, it may be too late.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
FOR THE JETS AND PATS, THE HATRED RUNS DEEP by TJ Rosenthal For Football Reporters Online
FOR THE JETS AND PATS, THE HATRED RUNS DEEP
by TJ Rosenthal For Football Reporters Online
Rex Ryan didn't come here to kiss Bill Belicheck's rings. Respect is one thing, laying down is another. Tom Brady, after hearing Ryan's comment that the Jets will treat Sunday's game like a Super Bowl, answered "the Super Bowl..that's played in February." It's Jets Patriots time again. One of the NFL's most heated rivalries returns to center stage as the battle for sole possession of 1st in the AFC East comes to the Meadowlands in September.
To understand the nature of the rivaly let's take a look back: The intensity of Jets Pats, dating back to the AFL days, where both franchises came from, became vitriolic after legendary coach Bill Parcells left the Super Bowl Patriots in 1996. Wanting total control and not getting it from Pats owner Robert Kraft, then Jet owner Leon Hess offered it to Parcells. With it the hapless 4-28 Rich Kotite era, ended. "I'm 80 years old, I want results now, " was the famous line Hess regarding the Parcells coup.
The Patriots however, were furious about the nature of Parcells' departure. Parcells, had he chosen to step down, was not contractually allowed to coach anywhere else. To circumvent this, the Jets hired then Pats defensive coordinator Belicheck as coach and Parcells was hired in an "advisory role." This charade continued only brielfy until commissioner Paul Tagliabue helped broker a deal which led to New England obtaining a 1st round pick for their troubles in exchange for Parcells being left free to coach.
Parcells turned the Jets around, taking them to the AFC championship game in 1999, only three years removed from his arrival. When he stepped down that offseason to move into the front office and give the head job to Belicheck , the story took another turn. Belicheck resigned during the press conference, at the podium. This came as both a shock and an embarrassment to fans, Parcells and the Jets organization. The reason being that for Belicheck, he didn't want Parcells natural hunger for a potential return to coaching hanging over him.
Belicheck then reunited with Kraft and the Pats. Now it was the Jet brass and faithful who were left feeling jilted. During this time , his second head coaching stint (Belicheck coached Cleveland in the early 90's), he has become a legend, winning four Super Bowls. Recently however, and thanks of course to the Jets, his resume has become controversial.
Eric Mangini, a former top assistant to Belicheck, left New England in 2006, to take the Jet job after Herm Edwards went to Kansas City. "Mangenius," (his nickname after taking the Jets to a 10-6 season in his first year) was locked out of the Foxboro facilities immediately after taking the Jets job: Anywhere but the Jets, the Pats must have thought to themselves. Then Mangini went on to claim after the 2007 opener, a blowout loss at home to the Pats, that Belicheck and the Pats were using cameras to steal signals from the opposing sidelines. In what has come to be known as "Spy Gate", the Pats were fined 250,000 and forfeited their 1st round pick in 2008 by comissioner Roger Goodell. the Spy Gate incident has only furthered the hatred between these two clubs.
Fast forward to this week:
The 2009 Jets, fresh off of an inspiring 24-7 win at Houston in the opener, have come to already mirror the cocky tough swagger of their rookie coach Rex Ryan. Fast aggressive defensive schemes coupled with quick decision making by rookie QB Mark Sanchez has the Jets excited and confident about the future.
The Pats, also coming off of a win, albeit a miraculous one that saw them erase a 2 TD deficit in the closing minutes against the Bills on Monday night, come to the Meadowlands looking to regain their championship form. Brady's throws against Buffalo were inaccurate for most of the night. His mobility is in question. The Pats defense formerly comprised of cerebral stars like Mike Vrabel and Ted Bruschi, ball hawking CB Asanti Samuel, the vicious hitting FS Rodney Harrison, and all pro pass rusher Richard Seymour, are all gone. Add 2nd year rising star LB Jerrrod Mayo to the list after an injury that will keep him out 6-8 weeks, and you here's what you have: A perenially tough defense coached by a defensive mastermind, with now unproven talent. A far cry from the gelled disciplined crew that hoisted four Vince Lombardi trophies in the air this decade.
So as both teams, with their "Hatfields and the McCoy's" history, march through the tunnel on Sunday, here will be the three keys to victory.
1-Pressure: Who will win the battle of pressure? There will be tons on Sunday coming from both sides. Expect the Pats to offset the Jets and Ryan's blitz packages with dump offs to RB Kevin Faulk and slants to Wes Welker.
Expect the Jets to do the same with screens to speedy RB Leon Washington and slants to Chansi Stuckey (64 yds 1 TD against Houston) . In addition, the Jets will look to highlight the loss of Mayo by using TE Dustin Keller (4-94 yards against Houston) in the middle of the field. The team that handles pressure better and can get to the opposing teams' QB will of course have the edge.
2-Ryan vs Belicheck. We've all heard the bravado coming from the mouth of rookie head coach Rex Ryan. It's rubbed off on the team already. The Jets have a swagger and a personality not seen here in a decade. How that translates into sound game planning for the Pats is another story. Ryan will be tested early in the game and often. Few make better halftime adjustments than Belicheck as well. The Pats HC is one of the best game day coaches of all time. Ryan doesn't have to match him, but he HAS to live up to his words and maintain the aggression he talks about.
3-Sanchez vs Brady. The rookie with the Broadway Joe intangibles: The looks, the flair, the leadership, the skills. This an assessment of the "San-chize" after just one NFL game under his belt.
The future hall of famer Brady with his super model wife Gisele and the 4 Super Bowl rings. The matchup can't get anymore more Hollywood than this. As with Ryan, Sanchez doesn't have to outplay Brady but he has to show that he belongs on the same field as him.
If it's tied late, the edge will go to the experience and late game abilities of Brady. Ryan has to devise schemes that force Brady to throw on the run, where the rust and effects of coming off of a knee surgery could give the Jet secondary some chances to make some big game changing plays.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Oakland Raiders Stink - New England Up 42 to 20 In Rain-Soaked Game
I've been an Oakland Raiders fan since I was little, and went to a lot of games. I've seen bad years, but this one's too much to take. For the second straight year, the Oakland Raiders are guaranteed of a high -- second pick in 2009 -- NFL Draft pick. It's not that the Raiders need the players; the Raiders need a coach and a system.
Right now, they're losing 42 to 20 to the New England Patriots at the Raiders home, a windy, cold Oakland Coliseum. The main problem is the defense; good in places, the Pats no-huddle strategy got them off guard. What's the best answer? Blitz and from different angles. Make them think about what they're doing. But the Raiders didn't do that.
Still, this 3 and 10 team could come back. It's 3:30 in the third quarter, and the Raiders just need to score three more touchdowns and a field goal to win.
Oh, and hold the Pats to zero additional points.
Let's see what happens.
Right now, they're losing 42 to 20 to the New England Patriots at the Raiders home, a windy, cold Oakland Coliseum. The main problem is the defense; good in places, the Pats no-huddle strategy got them off guard. What's the best answer? Blitz and from different angles. Make them think about what they're doing. But the Raiders didn't do that.
Still, this 3 and 10 team could come back. It's 3:30 in the third quarter, and the Raiders just need to score three more touchdowns and a field goal to win.
Oh, and hold the Pats to zero additional points.
Let's see what happens.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
MATT WALSH | STATEMENT BY THE NFL ON MATT WALSH -NFLMedia.com
MATT WALSH | STATEMENT BY THE NFL ON MATT WALSH -NFLMedia.com
Statement By The NFL On Matt Walsh
04/23/2008
STATEMENT BY THE NFL ON MATT WALSH
An agreement has been completed between the NFL and Matt Walsh that will allow Mr. Walsh, a former videotape operator with the New England Patriots, to share with the NFL information about activities occurring during his employment with the club from 1997-2003.
Commissioner Goodell will meet with Mr. Walsh in the commissioner’s office on Tuesday, May 13, the earliest date that Mr. Walsh, who lives in Hawaii, will be available on the east coast.
The agreement also requires Mr. Walsh to return any tapes and other items in his possession that belong to the Patriots. In return, the NFL and the Patriots have promised not to sue Mr. Walsh. They also will indemnify him for any expenses, including legal fees that he incurs in connection with the interview.
Commissioner Goodell determined last September that the Patriots had violated league rules by videotaping opposing coaches' defensive signals during Patriots games throughout Bill Belichick’s tenure as head coach. Coach Belichick admitted to his use of the taping practice on a regular basis as a result of what he said was his misinterpretation of the rule. Commissioner Goodell imposed substantial discipline on Coach Belichick and the club as a result of that practice. The interview with Mr. Walsh will seek to determine whether he has any new information about that videotaping practice or other possible violations of league rules.
Following the meeting with Mr. Walsh on May 13, there will be a news media briefing later that day in New York that will be attended by Commissioner Goodell (specific time and location to be provided at a later date).
# # #
Saturday, February 23, 2008
New England Patriots In Trouble With Senator Arlen Spectre
Senator Arlen Spectre's all over this NFL problem and if Commissioner Goodell does not handle it properly it could blow up in the collective face of the league. There are some serious problems with how the Pats conducted their activities under Head Coach Bill Belichek, and it seems that there's more to this than meets the eye and it unfolds more each day.
Specter irked by uncooperative Pats, league in Spygate probe
By Mike Fish
ESPN.com
Frustrated at the obstacles confronting his investigation of "Spygate," Sen. Arlen Specter accused the New England Patriots of "stonewalling" on Friday and suggested the NFL might never get around to questioning key witness Matt Walsh, a former Patriots video assistant.
Specter's comments are in stark contrast to remarks on Wednesday from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who told reporters that the NFL was moving toward an agreement that would allow Walsh to tell what he knows about the Patriots' spying practices without fear of being sued.
Sen. Arlen Specter says he would like to be present if the NFL ever questions Matt Walsh, a former Patriots video assistant.
"My suspicion is that they're going to put enough conditions on it so that he won't talk," Specter, a Republican from Pennsylvania, told ESPN.com. "If they had wanted Walsh to talk, it would have been done a long time ago. They are not helped by keeping him on ice, unless they intend to [permanently] keep him on ice."
If the league gains Walsh's cooperation, Specter said he wants to be present when Walsh is questioned "because a witness' testimony can be shaded or molded by who questions him first.''
Walsh, employed by the Patriots from 1996 to 2003, has suggested that he has information, perhaps even materials, about the Patriots' video practices that could be potentially damaging.
His attorney, Michael Levy, forwarded a proposal to the NFL's outside counsel seeking full indemnification for Walsh on Feb. 14. Levy, as well as Specter, maintained that the league's initial proposal failed to protect Walsh against the possibility of being sued, and said it also required that he turn over any materials or evidence.
"They haven't taken the steps to get Walsh to come forward," Specter said. "They have the key."
Late Friday afternoon, NFL spokesperson Greg Aiello said the league respectfully disagrees with Specter.
"We have offered Mr. Walsh's attorney assurances that are fully responsive to his concerns," Aiello said. "And we have not heard back from him. ... We very much want to speak to [Walsh]."
As of Friday night, however, the league and Walsh's attorney had not reached an agreement.
An attorney for the Patriots told ESPN.com that Walsh did not have a confidentiality agreement with the franchise or anything else that might prevent his cooperation.
Specter painted a much starker, more contentious picture than the one presented by the league and the Patriots. He said both the Patriots and New York Jets have refused to cooperate with his investigation.
That it is somewhere between absurd to insulting that they won't let us talk to the witnesses.
-- Sen. Arlen Specter,
on the Patriots' responses
to his investigators
Specter told ESPN.com that his staff has been rebuffed in its efforts to interview Patriots personnel about the team's videotaping practices. The Republican leader on the Senate Judiciary Committee refused to say who, specifically, he wanted to talk to, but the list presumably includes head coach Bill Belichick, his longtime assistant Ernie Adams and members of the team's video department.
"My staff has been stonewalled on that," Specter said.
After his staff made phone contact with some individuals connected to the team, Specter said they were referred to the Patriots' outside legal counsel, who rejected a request for cooperation. Daniel L. Goldberg, who represents the Patriots and also the Boston Red Sox, said that in all cases, the individuals had been previously interviewed at least once -- and in some instances twice -- by the league.
Goldberg refused to identify those individuals.
"Sen. Specter's office had called me as counsel to the Patriots to ask to interview several Patriots employees," said Goldberg, attorney with the Boston firm of Bingham and McCutchen. "I was told that the inquiry was with respect to signal-taping. And as I explained to the Senator's office, we regard this as a league matter. As such, we have fully cooperated with the league's investigation."
Asked to respond to Specter's accusation that the Patriots have stonewalled his requests for information, Goldberg said, "You look at it from our perspective. Who is the right forum for an inquiry into a matter like this? We regard this as a league matter. It deals with league rules, league enforcement."
But Specter, a one-time district attorney in Philadelphia, didn't react favorably to the Patriots' responses to his investigators.
"Well, I think that it is somewhere between absurd to insulting that they won't let us talk to the witnesses," Specter said. "Whoever heard of not being able to talk to someone because it is hearsay back from somebody else who talked to them. You have to question hearsay and reliability. I'm not prepared to accept what somebody else says these key witnesses say. What kind of an inquiry would it be if we accepted what somebody else tells us what was said?"
Our clients have not spoken to the senator or his staff and at this time have no plans to do so.
-- Jets outside legal counsel
Scott Michel
Specter's investigators also have been rebuffed in their efforts to seek access to members of the Jets' coaching staff. During the season-opening game last September at New York, the Patriots were caught taping defensive signals being sent in from the Jets' sideline. The Jets' staff is of key interest in the Spygate affair because several members, including Jets head coach Eric Mangini, worked under Belichick in New England.
"Our firm was engaged to represent certain employees of the New York Jets in connection with a request for information from Sen. Specter," Jets outside legal counsel Scott Michel said in an e-mail to ESPN.com on Friday night. "Our clients have not spoken to the senator or his staff and at this time have no plans to do so."
Specter said Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Damon Huard, a one-time backup to Tom Brady with the Patriots, refused to speak with him, too, during a personal phone call the Senator placed to Huard last Friday.
"I talked to him, and he wouldn't talk," Specter said. "I didn't go through a secretary, and he doubted that it was Arlen Specter. Maybe that is why he wouldn't talk. I don't sound much like Arlen Specter."
Specter said it is only because of outside pressure that the NFL has offered up additional information related to the Patriots' taping history. Specter explained: "To get a concession from the commissioner that it goes back to the year 2000. To get a concession that they had notes. Originally, we were only told about videos, and they only went back a half-dozen games in '06. Originally, we weren't told that the notes included the [Pittsburgh] Steelers."
Specter said he is aware of what appears to be a united league-wide front supporting Goodell's handling of the taping controversy. That support was echoed Thursday at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis by members of the league's powerful Competition Committee, who told reporters they believe the issue should be put to rest.
"Well, I don't want to pick a fight with everybody in the world, like all the owners," Specter said. "But they are functioning from talking points -- 'We're satisfied with the investigation.' 'Oh yes, the penalty was sufficient.' 'Oh, let's put this behind us.' 'Let's move on.'
"You have heard everyone say the same thing."
Mike Fish is an investigative reporter for ESPN.com. He can be reached at michaeljfish@gmail.com.
Specter irked by uncooperative Pats, league in Spygate probe
By Mike Fish
ESPN.com
Frustrated at the obstacles confronting his investigation of "Spygate," Sen. Arlen Specter accused the New England Patriots of "stonewalling" on Friday and suggested the NFL might never get around to questioning key witness Matt Walsh, a former Patriots video assistant.
Specter's comments are in stark contrast to remarks on Wednesday from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who told reporters that the NFL was moving toward an agreement that would allow Walsh to tell what he knows about the Patriots' spying practices without fear of being sued.
Sen. Arlen Specter says he would like to be present if the NFL ever questions Matt Walsh, a former Patriots video assistant.
"My suspicion is that they're going to put enough conditions on it so that he won't talk," Specter, a Republican from Pennsylvania, told ESPN.com. "If they had wanted Walsh to talk, it would have been done a long time ago. They are not helped by keeping him on ice, unless they intend to [permanently] keep him on ice."
If the league gains Walsh's cooperation, Specter said he wants to be present when Walsh is questioned "because a witness' testimony can be shaded or molded by who questions him first.''
Walsh, employed by the Patriots from 1996 to 2003, has suggested that he has information, perhaps even materials, about the Patriots' video practices that could be potentially damaging.
His attorney, Michael Levy, forwarded a proposal to the NFL's outside counsel seeking full indemnification for Walsh on Feb. 14. Levy, as well as Specter, maintained that the league's initial proposal failed to protect Walsh against the possibility of being sued, and said it also required that he turn over any materials or evidence.
"They haven't taken the steps to get Walsh to come forward," Specter said. "They have the key."
Late Friday afternoon, NFL spokesperson Greg Aiello said the league respectfully disagrees with Specter.
"We have offered Mr. Walsh's attorney assurances that are fully responsive to his concerns," Aiello said. "And we have not heard back from him. ... We very much want to speak to [Walsh]."
As of Friday night, however, the league and Walsh's attorney had not reached an agreement.
An attorney for the Patriots told ESPN.com that Walsh did not have a confidentiality agreement with the franchise or anything else that might prevent his cooperation.
Specter painted a much starker, more contentious picture than the one presented by the league and the Patriots. He said both the Patriots and New York Jets have refused to cooperate with his investigation.
That it is somewhere between absurd to insulting that they won't let us talk to the witnesses.
-- Sen. Arlen Specter,
on the Patriots' responses
to his investigators
Specter told ESPN.com that his staff has been rebuffed in its efforts to interview Patriots personnel about the team's videotaping practices. The Republican leader on the Senate Judiciary Committee refused to say who, specifically, he wanted to talk to, but the list presumably includes head coach Bill Belichick, his longtime assistant Ernie Adams and members of the team's video department.
"My staff has been stonewalled on that," Specter said.
After his staff made phone contact with some individuals connected to the team, Specter said they were referred to the Patriots' outside legal counsel, who rejected a request for cooperation. Daniel L. Goldberg, who represents the Patriots and also the Boston Red Sox, said that in all cases, the individuals had been previously interviewed at least once -- and in some instances twice -- by the league.
Goldberg refused to identify those individuals.
"Sen. Specter's office had called me as counsel to the Patriots to ask to interview several Patriots employees," said Goldberg, attorney with the Boston firm of Bingham and McCutchen. "I was told that the inquiry was with respect to signal-taping. And as I explained to the Senator's office, we regard this as a league matter. As such, we have fully cooperated with the league's investigation."
Asked to respond to Specter's accusation that the Patriots have stonewalled his requests for information, Goldberg said, "You look at it from our perspective. Who is the right forum for an inquiry into a matter like this? We regard this as a league matter. It deals with league rules, league enforcement."
But Specter, a one-time district attorney in Philadelphia, didn't react favorably to the Patriots' responses to his investigators.
"Well, I think that it is somewhere between absurd to insulting that they won't let us talk to the witnesses," Specter said. "Whoever heard of not being able to talk to someone because it is hearsay back from somebody else who talked to them. You have to question hearsay and reliability. I'm not prepared to accept what somebody else says these key witnesses say. What kind of an inquiry would it be if we accepted what somebody else tells us what was said?"
Our clients have not spoken to the senator or his staff and at this time have no plans to do so.
-- Jets outside legal counsel
Scott Michel
Specter's investigators also have been rebuffed in their efforts to seek access to members of the Jets' coaching staff. During the season-opening game last September at New York, the Patriots were caught taping defensive signals being sent in from the Jets' sideline. The Jets' staff is of key interest in the Spygate affair because several members, including Jets head coach Eric Mangini, worked under Belichick in New England.
"Our firm was engaged to represent certain employees of the New York Jets in connection with a request for information from Sen. Specter," Jets outside legal counsel Scott Michel said in an e-mail to ESPN.com on Friday night. "Our clients have not spoken to the senator or his staff and at this time have no plans to do so."
Specter said Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Damon Huard, a one-time backup to Tom Brady with the Patriots, refused to speak with him, too, during a personal phone call the Senator placed to Huard last Friday.
"I talked to him, and he wouldn't talk," Specter said. "I didn't go through a secretary, and he doubted that it was Arlen Specter. Maybe that is why he wouldn't talk. I don't sound much like Arlen Specter."
Specter said it is only because of outside pressure that the NFL has offered up additional information related to the Patriots' taping history. Specter explained: "To get a concession from the commissioner that it goes back to the year 2000. To get a concession that they had notes. Originally, we were only told about videos, and they only went back a half-dozen games in '06. Originally, we weren't told that the notes included the [Pittsburgh] Steelers."
Specter said he is aware of what appears to be a united league-wide front supporting Goodell's handling of the taping controversy. That support was echoed Thursday at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis by members of the league's powerful Competition Committee, who told reporters they believe the issue should be put to rest.
"Well, I don't want to pick a fight with everybody in the world, like all the owners," Specter said. "But they are functioning from talking points -- 'We're satisfied with the investigation.' 'Oh yes, the penalty was sufficient.' 'Oh, let's put this behind us.' 'Let's move on.'
"You have heard everyone say the same thing."
Mike Fish is an investigative reporter for ESPN.com. He can be reached at michaeljfish@gmail.com.
The New England Patriots Spygate Problem Gets Worse - ESPN
Arlen Spectre's all over this NFL problem and if Commissioner Goodell does not handle it properly it could blow up in the collective face of the league. There are some serious problems with how the Pats conducted their activities under Head Coach Bill Belichek, and it seems that there's more to this than meets the eye and it unfolds more each day.
Specter irked by uncooperative Pats, league in Spygate probe
By Mike Fish
ESPN.com
Frustrated at the obstacles confronting his investigation of "Spygate," Sen. Arlen Specter accused the New England Patriots of "stonewalling" on Friday and suggested the NFL might never get around to questioning key witness Matt Walsh, a former Patriots video assistant.
Specter's comments are in stark contrast to remarks on Wednesday from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who told reporters that the NFL was moving toward an agreement that would allow Walsh to tell what he knows about the Patriots' spying practices without fear of being sued.
Sen. Arlen Specter says he would like to be present if the NFL ever questions Matt Walsh, a former Patriots video assistant.
"My suspicion is that they're going to put enough conditions on it so that he won't talk," Specter, a Republican from Pennsylvania, told ESPN.com. "If they had wanted Walsh to talk, it would have been done a long time ago. They are not helped by keeping him on ice, unless they intend to [permanently] keep him on ice."
If the league gains Walsh's cooperation, Specter said he wants to be present when Walsh is questioned "because a witness' testimony can be shaded or molded by who questions him first.''
Walsh, employed by the Patriots from 1996 to 2003, has suggested that he has information, perhaps even materials, about the Patriots' video practices that could be potentially damaging.
His attorney, Michael Levy, forwarded a proposal to the NFL's outside counsel seeking full indemnification for Walsh on Feb. 14. Levy, as well as Specter, maintained that the league's initial proposal failed to protect Walsh against the possibility of being sued, and said it also required that he turn over any materials or evidence.
"They haven't taken the steps to get Walsh to come forward," Specter said. "They have the key."
Late Friday afternoon, NFL spokesperson Greg Aiello said the league respectfully disagrees with Specter.
"We have offered Mr. Walsh's attorney assurances that are fully responsive to his concerns," Aiello said. "And we have not heard back from him. ... We very much want to speak to [Walsh]."
As of Friday night, however, the league and Walsh's attorney had not reached an agreement.
An attorney for the Patriots told ESPN.com that Walsh did not have a confidentiality agreement with the franchise or anything else that might prevent his cooperation.
Specter painted a much starker, more contentious picture than the one presented by the league and the Patriots. He said both the Patriots and New York Jets have refused to cooperate with his investigation.
That it is somewhere between absurd to insulting that they won't let us talk to the witnesses.
-- Sen. Arlen Specter,
on the Patriots' responses
to his investigators
Specter told ESPN.com that his staff has been rebuffed in its efforts to interview Patriots personnel about the team's videotaping practices. The Republican leader on the Senate Judiciary Committee refused to say who, specifically, he wanted to talk to, but the list presumably includes head coach Bill Belichick, his longtime assistant Ernie Adams and members of the team's video department.
"My staff has been stonewalled on that," Specter said.
After his staff made phone contact with some individuals connected to the team, Specter said they were referred to the Patriots' outside legal counsel, who rejected a request for cooperation. Daniel L. Goldberg, who represents the Patriots and also the Boston Red Sox, said that in all cases, the individuals had been previously interviewed at least once -- and in some instances twice -- by the league.
Goldberg refused to identify those individuals.
"Sen. Specter's office had called me as counsel to the Patriots to ask to interview several Patriots employees," said Goldberg, attorney with the Boston firm of Bingham and McCutchen. "I was told that the inquiry was with respect to signal-taping. And as I explained to the Senator's office, we regard this as a league matter. As such, we have fully cooperated with the league's investigation."
Asked to respond to Specter's accusation that the Patriots have stonewalled his requests for information, Goldberg said, "You look at it from our perspective. Who is the right forum for an inquiry into a matter like this? We regard this as a league matter. It deals with league rules, league enforcement."
But Specter, a one-time district attorney in Philadelphia, didn't react favorably to the Patriots' responses to his investigators.
"Well, I think that it is somewhere between absurd to insulting that they won't let us talk to the witnesses," Specter said. "Whoever heard of not being able to talk to someone because it is hearsay back from somebody else who talked to them. You have to question hearsay and reliability. I'm not prepared to accept what somebody else says these key witnesses say. What kind of an inquiry would it be if we accepted what somebody else tells us what was said?"
Our clients have not spoken to the senator or his staff and at this time have no plans to do so.
-- Jets outside legal counsel
Scott Michel
Specter's investigators also have been rebuffed in their efforts to seek access to members of the Jets' coaching staff. During the season-opening game last September at New York, the Patriots were caught taping defensive signals being sent in from the Jets' sideline. The Jets' staff is of key interest in the Spygate affair because several members, including Jets head coach Eric Mangini, worked under Belichick in New England.
"Our firm was engaged to represent certain employees of the New York Jets in connection with a request for information from Sen. Specter," Jets outside legal counsel Scott Michel said in an e-mail to ESPN.com on Friday night. "Our clients have not spoken to the senator or his staff and at this time have no plans to do so."
Specter said Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Damon Huard, a one-time backup to Tom Brady with the Patriots, refused to speak with him, too, during a personal phone call the Senator placed to Huard last Friday.
"I talked to him, and he wouldn't talk," Specter said. "I didn't go through a secretary, and he doubted that it was Arlen Specter. Maybe that is why he wouldn't talk. I don't sound much like Arlen Specter."
Specter said it is only because of outside pressure that the NFL has offered up additional information related to the Patriots' taping history. Specter explained: "To get a concession from the commissioner that it goes back to the year 2000. To get a concession that they had notes. Originally, we were only told about videos, and they only went back a half-dozen games in '06. Originally, we weren't told that the notes included the [Pittsburgh] Steelers."
Specter said he is aware of what appears to be a united league-wide front supporting Goodell's handling of the taping controversy. That support was echoed Thursday at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis by members of the league's powerful Competition Committee, who told reporters they believe the issue should be put to rest.
"Well, I don't want to pick a fight with everybody in the world, like all the owners," Specter said. "But they are functioning from talking points -- 'We're satisfied with the investigation.' 'Oh yes, the penalty was sufficient.' 'Oh, let's put this behind us.' 'Let's move on.'
"You have heard everyone say the same thing."
Mike Fish is an investigative reporter for ESPN.com. He can be reached at michaeljfish@gmail.com.
Specter irked by uncooperative Pats, league in Spygate probe
By Mike Fish
ESPN.com
Frustrated at the obstacles confronting his investigation of "Spygate," Sen. Arlen Specter accused the New England Patriots of "stonewalling" on Friday and suggested the NFL might never get around to questioning key witness Matt Walsh, a former Patriots video assistant.
Specter's comments are in stark contrast to remarks on Wednesday from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who told reporters that the NFL was moving toward an agreement that would allow Walsh to tell what he knows about the Patriots' spying practices without fear of being sued.
Sen. Arlen Specter says he would like to be present if the NFL ever questions Matt Walsh, a former Patriots video assistant.
"My suspicion is that they're going to put enough conditions on it so that he won't talk," Specter, a Republican from Pennsylvania, told ESPN.com. "If they had wanted Walsh to talk, it would have been done a long time ago. They are not helped by keeping him on ice, unless they intend to [permanently] keep him on ice."
If the league gains Walsh's cooperation, Specter said he wants to be present when Walsh is questioned "because a witness' testimony can be shaded or molded by who questions him first.''
Walsh, employed by the Patriots from 1996 to 2003, has suggested that he has information, perhaps even materials, about the Patriots' video practices that could be potentially damaging.
His attorney, Michael Levy, forwarded a proposal to the NFL's outside counsel seeking full indemnification for Walsh on Feb. 14. Levy, as well as Specter, maintained that the league's initial proposal failed to protect Walsh against the possibility of being sued, and said it also required that he turn over any materials or evidence.
"They haven't taken the steps to get Walsh to come forward," Specter said. "They have the key."
Late Friday afternoon, NFL spokesperson Greg Aiello said the league respectfully disagrees with Specter.
"We have offered Mr. Walsh's attorney assurances that are fully responsive to his concerns," Aiello said. "And we have not heard back from him. ... We very much want to speak to [Walsh]."
As of Friday night, however, the league and Walsh's attorney had not reached an agreement.
An attorney for the Patriots told ESPN.com that Walsh did not have a confidentiality agreement with the franchise or anything else that might prevent his cooperation.
Specter painted a much starker, more contentious picture than the one presented by the league and the Patriots. He said both the Patriots and New York Jets have refused to cooperate with his investigation.
That it is somewhere between absurd to insulting that they won't let us talk to the witnesses.
-- Sen. Arlen Specter,
on the Patriots' responses
to his investigators
Specter told ESPN.com that his staff has been rebuffed in its efforts to interview Patriots personnel about the team's videotaping practices. The Republican leader on the Senate Judiciary Committee refused to say who, specifically, he wanted to talk to, but the list presumably includes head coach Bill Belichick, his longtime assistant Ernie Adams and members of the team's video department.
"My staff has been stonewalled on that," Specter said.
After his staff made phone contact with some individuals connected to the team, Specter said they were referred to the Patriots' outside legal counsel, who rejected a request for cooperation. Daniel L. Goldberg, who represents the Patriots and also the Boston Red Sox, said that in all cases, the individuals had been previously interviewed at least once -- and in some instances twice -- by the league.
Goldberg refused to identify those individuals.
"Sen. Specter's office had called me as counsel to the Patriots to ask to interview several Patriots employees," said Goldberg, attorney with the Boston firm of Bingham and McCutchen. "I was told that the inquiry was with respect to signal-taping. And as I explained to the Senator's office, we regard this as a league matter. As such, we have fully cooperated with the league's investigation."
Asked to respond to Specter's accusation that the Patriots have stonewalled his requests for information, Goldberg said, "You look at it from our perspective. Who is the right forum for an inquiry into a matter like this? We regard this as a league matter. It deals with league rules, league enforcement."
But Specter, a one-time district attorney in Philadelphia, didn't react favorably to the Patriots' responses to his investigators.
"Well, I think that it is somewhere between absurd to insulting that they won't let us talk to the witnesses," Specter said. "Whoever heard of not being able to talk to someone because it is hearsay back from somebody else who talked to them. You have to question hearsay and reliability. I'm not prepared to accept what somebody else says these key witnesses say. What kind of an inquiry would it be if we accepted what somebody else tells us what was said?"
Our clients have not spoken to the senator or his staff and at this time have no plans to do so.
-- Jets outside legal counsel
Scott Michel
Specter's investigators also have been rebuffed in their efforts to seek access to members of the Jets' coaching staff. During the season-opening game last September at New York, the Patriots were caught taping defensive signals being sent in from the Jets' sideline. The Jets' staff is of key interest in the Spygate affair because several members, including Jets head coach Eric Mangini, worked under Belichick in New England.
"Our firm was engaged to represent certain employees of the New York Jets in connection with a request for information from Sen. Specter," Jets outside legal counsel Scott Michel said in an e-mail to ESPN.com on Friday night. "Our clients have not spoken to the senator or his staff and at this time have no plans to do so."
Specter said Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Damon Huard, a one-time backup to Tom Brady with the Patriots, refused to speak with him, too, during a personal phone call the Senator placed to Huard last Friday.
"I talked to him, and he wouldn't talk," Specter said. "I didn't go through a secretary, and he doubted that it was Arlen Specter. Maybe that is why he wouldn't talk. I don't sound much like Arlen Specter."
Specter said it is only because of outside pressure that the NFL has offered up additional information related to the Patriots' taping history. Specter explained: "To get a concession from the commissioner that it goes back to the year 2000. To get a concession that they had notes. Originally, we were only told about videos, and they only went back a half-dozen games in '06. Originally, we weren't told that the notes included the [Pittsburgh] Steelers."
Specter said he is aware of what appears to be a united league-wide front supporting Goodell's handling of the taping controversy. That support was echoed Thursday at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis by members of the league's powerful Competition Committee, who told reporters they believe the issue should be put to rest.
"Well, I don't want to pick a fight with everybody in the world, like all the owners," Specter said. "But they are functioning from talking points -- 'We're satisfied with the investigation.' 'Oh yes, the penalty was sufficient.' 'Oh, let's put this behind us.' 'Let's move on.'
"You have heard everyone say the same thing."
Mike Fish is an investigative reporter for ESPN.com. He can be reached at michaeljfish@gmail.com.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Super Bowl XLII, New England Patriots Final Drive, Tom Brady
This is the companion video to the first one showing the NY Giants touchdown drive and the David Tyree catch. Here, we see what happened to the New England Patriots as they had a chance to either kick a field goal to tie the game, or score an even more dramatic touchdown.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Super Bowl XLII, NY Giants, Eli Manning Pass to Dave Tyree and TD Pass to Plaxico Burress
This video is of the NY Giants final drive, Giants QB Eli Manning's dramatic throw to and catch by David Tyree, and his TD pass to Plaxico Burress. You can hear Patriots fans taunting Manning yelling "Eli!". It's live from Super Bowl XLII in Phoenix, AZ, Feb 3, 2008
It's live from my trip to Super Bowl XLII (my sixth Super Bowl game) in Phoenix, AZ, Feb 3, 2008.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Super Bowl XXXII - Tom Brady And New England Patriots Leave for Arizona
After all of the talk about Tom Brady limping and not showing up at Pats practices, here we are with Brady as ESPN reports that he and the New England Patriots prepare to leave for Arizona.
Maybe it was a smoke-screen?
Maybe it was a smoke-screen?
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Patriots Go 16 and 0, With Anger | On Winning Ugly
I'll write more about this soon, but as you know, the New England Patriots went 16 and 0. but they did it in such a fashion that no one seems realy happy about it. I'm happy for Randy Moss, but even he could not enjoy that record and his own touchdown catch record (23 for this year beats Jerry Rice) without taking a vicious shot at the media. Moss stated that he was happy not about breaking the record, but about "shutting up you guys", talking about the media.
It seems that America's waiting with chained emotions for the Pats to be knocked out of the playoffs.
It seems that America's waiting with chained emotions for the Pats to be knocked out of the playoffs.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Patriots Starting Right Offensive Tackle And Guard Out For Giants Game
This is the unknown blow. And it comes on the heels of the best pass-rush in the NFL.
Kaczur can't tackle practice
He's among three who miss workout
Email|Print| Text size – + By Christopher L. Gasper
Globe Staff / December 28, 2007
FOXBOROUGH - The Patriots may have to face the New York Giants, the NFL leaders in sacks with 52, without starting right tackle Nick Kaczur.
The team released its injury report yesterday and Kaczur (foot) was among three players not participating in practice. The others were tight end Kyle Brady, who missed last Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins with an ankle injury, and fullback Kyle Eckel, who injured his stomach on kickoff coverage during the second quarter of the Patriots' 28-7 win over the Dolphins.
The Patriots have played the last three games, and seven games this season, without right guard Stephen Neal, who has been troubled by a shoulder injury and had limited participation in practice yesterday. But Kaczur has started all 15 games at right tackle.
The options to replace the third-year tackle are second-year tackles Wesley Britt and Ryan O'Callaghan. Britt made his only career start last season, against the Cincinnati Bengals, and O'Callaghan started six of the first seven games last season before ceding to Kaczur, who was recovering from a shoulder injury.
O'Callaghan replaced Kaczur for a series during the Patriots' 48-27 win over the Dallas Cowboys Oct. 14. Kaczur had moved to left tackle to spell an ailing Matt Light. O'Callaghan surrendered a sack to Cowboys Pro Bowl linebacker DeMarcus Ware.
Even with Kaczur in the lineup, the Patriots, who have surrendered 20 sacks, the fifth fewest in the league, are in for a challenge against the Giants, who boast defensive linemen Osi Umenyiora (13 sacks), Justin Tuck (10 sacks), and Michael Strahan (nine sacks). The Giants tied the NFL record for sacks in a game (12) earlier this season against Philadelphia. Umenyiora had six in that game.
Kaczur can't tackle practice
He's among three who miss workout
Email|Print| Text size – + By Christopher L. Gasper
Globe Staff / December 28, 2007
FOXBOROUGH - The Patriots may have to face the New York Giants, the NFL leaders in sacks with 52, without starting right tackle Nick Kaczur.
The team released its injury report yesterday and Kaczur (foot) was among three players not participating in practice. The others were tight end Kyle Brady, who missed last Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins with an ankle injury, and fullback Kyle Eckel, who injured his stomach on kickoff coverage during the second quarter of the Patriots' 28-7 win over the Dolphins.
The Patriots have played the last three games, and seven games this season, without right guard Stephen Neal, who has been troubled by a shoulder injury and had limited participation in practice yesterday. But Kaczur has started all 15 games at right tackle.
The options to replace the third-year tackle are second-year tackles Wesley Britt and Ryan O'Callaghan. Britt made his only career start last season, against the Cincinnati Bengals, and O'Callaghan started six of the first seven games last season before ceding to Kaczur, who was recovering from a shoulder injury.
O'Callaghan replaced Kaczur for a series during the Patriots' 48-27 win over the Dallas Cowboys Oct. 14. Kaczur had moved to left tackle to spell an ailing Matt Light. O'Callaghan surrendered a sack to Cowboys Pro Bowl linebacker DeMarcus Ware.
Even with Kaczur in the lineup, the Patriots, who have surrendered 20 sacks, the fifth fewest in the league, are in for a challenge against the Giants, who boast defensive linemen Osi Umenyiora (13 sacks), Justin Tuck (10 sacks), and Michael Strahan (nine sacks). The Giants tied the NFL record for sacks in a game (12) earlier this season against Philadelphia. Umenyiora had six in that game.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
The Perfect Bowl - NFL Lets NBC and CBS Show Game For Free - Profootballtalk.com
Leave it to Mike Florio to get the scoop on the deal allowing the Pats / Giants game to be shown on NBC and CBS
NBC, CBS GOT PATS-GIANTS FOR FREE
Well, we've done some sleuthing regarding the NFL's decision to simulcast the Pats-Giants game on Saturday night. And a source with knowledge of the situation tells us that NBC and CBS are paying a whopping . . . nothing . . . for the rights to the game.
Plus, the networks get to sell their own commercials.
Wow.
"NBC is the exclusive carrier of prime time 'over the air' NFL football," the source said, "which means if the game was moving to an 'over the air' station it had to be NBC."
But since NBC already has a game for the week (Tennessee at Indianapolis), the Pats-Giants game was partially owned by CBS as well, since CBS would have aired the game on Sunday afternoon, given that the AFC team in the interconference contest is the visitor.
Said the source: "Both parties had to agree to a simulcast or agree not to do it."
Another source tells us that ESPN, which pays the NFL $1.1 billion per year for the rights to Monday Night Football, wasn't even included in the discussions -- which officially confirms the four-letter network's status as the NFL's biatch.
NBC, CBS GOT PATS-GIANTS FOR FREE
Well, we've done some sleuthing regarding the NFL's decision to simulcast the Pats-Giants game on Saturday night. And a source with knowledge of the situation tells us that NBC and CBS are paying a whopping . . . nothing . . . for the rights to the game.
Plus, the networks get to sell their own commercials.
Wow.
"NBC is the exclusive carrier of prime time 'over the air' NFL football," the source said, "which means if the game was moving to an 'over the air' station it had to be NBC."
But since NBC already has a game for the week (Tennessee at Indianapolis), the Pats-Giants game was partially owned by CBS as well, since CBS would have aired the game on Sunday afternoon, given that the AFC team in the interconference contest is the visitor.
Said the source: "Both parties had to agree to a simulcast or agree not to do it."
Another source tells us that ESPN, which pays the NFL $1.1 billion per year for the rights to Monday Night Football, wasn't even included in the discussions -- which officially confirms the four-letter network's status as the NFL's biatch.
Monday, November 12, 2007
COMMISSIONER GOODELL Q&A - NFL Fall Meeting - Philadelphia, PA, 2007
COMMISSIONER GOODELL Q&A
NFL Fall Meeting
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – October 23, 2007
Roger Goodell: We had a very productive day. We had a long day of meetings, but let me give you the highlights of some of the things we talked about and then I’ll take your questions and answer anything you have outside of this. We began the day with a report on the game. We always do that with a focus on the game and the key factors we look at with respect to the game; points scored, length of the game, pace of the game, and number of penalties. All of that was very positive.
We did a report, within the context of that, on the draft and the changes to the NFL Draft for next year, which I believe you have a release on. We also did a report on the Pro Bowl and some of the changes we’ve been contemplating to try to bring back some excitement to that game. Then we had a very long discussion on the NFL Network. We have the chairman of the NFL Network, Jerry Jones, here who will be happy to answer any questions also. The importance of this to us is as a strategic asset and our future plans with respect to media.
We also had some important votes on the NFL.com business model. It is an important step for us to make our site and all 32 sites, the clubs and our league site, better for our fans and we made some very big steps in that regard today.
We had some discussion on the Buffalo-Toronto proposal. Ralph Wilson addressed the ownership. We had a report on it. We did not take a vote on that, but we will have further discussion.
Then we had a vote on lowering the debt ceiling. All of you are aware of the current market conditions and the credit markets. We as a league like to make sure we are making prudent decisions about our business structure and what we are doing to respond to those credit markets. We have agreed to reduce the debt ceiling by $30 million per club over the next three years. I think that hits the key points and I’ll be happy to take your questions.
Q: Length of Ralph Wilson’s proposal:
RG: It is a five-year proposal. One regular season game and I believe three preseason games.
Q: Any objections?
RG: No. There were a number of issues that we raised for the membership that we would like to address. This is still relatively fresh for all of us so we as a league have a responsibility to look into a number of issues. It was made clear by Mr. Wilson and by the Bills’ people that the county and the state had passed their agreement that they could go forward on this. We don’t have agreement that I know of with respect to the parties in Toronto so we want to see all that and look at all of those issues.
Q: Speaking with Mark Cohon, CFL Commissioner about the proposal…
RG: I did. I believe it was last Friday. I assured him that we continue to have a great interest in the CFL and their continued viability. That is one of the issues that was raised today with respect to this. We would certainly want to understand the impact and have greater discussions with the CFL and the promoters of the games in Toronto to make sure that we do it in a way that is responsive and continues to promote CFL football because we think that has a great heritage. We have been very active in continuing to support that.
Q: Belichick and spying incident…
RG: I do a normal report to the membership which takes 15 minutes or so and then we start focusing on the game with our Competition Committee, but in the context of that we spoke about the integrity of the game and how important it is that all of our fans understand that our game is being played by the same rules. We continue to make sure that all of our clubs and the league are doing everything possible to make sure that our games are played within the rules that we’ve established and that our fans have that confidence. I think that they do and I just reassured them that if they have issues with respect to things that are happening in our game that they contact us so that we can pursue them.
Q: Reaction to charges that this incident is being swept under the rug…
RG: First, we were the ones who brought it out so if we’re sweeping it under the rug…we’re the ones who raised it. I don’t agree with that assessment. I think we dealt with it forcefully, aggressively, and effectively. The thing that you want in discipline is to make sure that it doesn’t happen again and the other clubs understand that there are very significant consequences if policies are violated. I think that message was sent. We also want to send that message to our fans so they understand that all teams are playing by the same rules. The inference that you make in regards to us destroying the tapes, that was our intention from the get-go. There was no purpose for those. We said that we wanted those materials destroyed because we didn’t want anyone to have that material or the notes that could’ve come out from that. We went ahead and did that as we expected to do. Everything that we found was consistent with what we thought.
Q: Shortening on the draft and discussions about moving it to Friday night…
RG: We’ve talked about that. We at this point don’t think that it’s the right move. We think that Saturday is still the better time for us. I don’t anticipate that in the short term but we have evaluated that.
Q: Situation with San Diego…
RG: When I get through here I am going to meet with Dean Spanos and the team people. I haven’t gotten an update because I’ve been in a meeting all day but I understand that there are thousands of people at Qualcomm Stadium and of course public safety is our number one concern. We certainly don’t want to interfere with anything in that area. Of course we also have to work with the local officials to tell us whether the facility is going to be available. In the meantime I think you’re aware that the team is on its way or about to go out to Arizona. They will be working out in that facility for the week. We’ll have to make a decision on the game as soon as we have more information.
Q: Pro Bowl…
RG: The big issue is how we can bring more focus to the Pro Bowl, to our star players, and to the event itself. We have discussed everything, including moving the time of the game to prior to the Super Bowl so that it is in advance and part of the buildup of the Super Bowl. We have also talked about whether we would alter the location on some kind of rotating basis to some site here in the United States, particularly around the Super Bowl or in the Super Bowl site. Hawaii would probably be part of that rotation in some fashion but I would expect some decisions would be made. This isn’t for this year’s Pro Bowl; this is for 14 or 15 months from now.
Q: Debt ceiling…
RG: It was very simple. One of the reasons that the NFL is one of the most admired businesses and sports leagues is because we manage our business properly. When you look at the amount of debt that is out there and where the markets are it is just a prudent business decision.
Any discussion today on the disability issue?
RG: No. We’re doing that first thing in the morning, Paul.
Q: Vote on funding…
RG: There very likely will. There is a resolution on the floor. I would expect a vote, yes.
Q: What the proposal calls for…
RG: The proposal is essentially a one-time funding to allow us to put some additional funds into the alliance that we’ve created so that there is sufficient funding and that we’d be able to handle issues in an ongoing manner. It is not pension related. It is for medical needs for people that have a specific need that we can take care of.
Q: Joint replacement?
RG: Joint replacement is one of those programs. Also cardiovascular screening and possibly assisted living.
Q: Future of games internationally…
RG: A year ago is when we passed the resolution allowing the regular season series. As you know we are playing in London this week and every indication is that we’re going to have a tremendously successful event. I think it is a logical step for us. Next year would be to add a second market. We’re going step-by-step but the reaction that we’re getting is extraordinary.
Q: Advantages of Bills playing in Toronto…
RG: The key point that was made by Ralph Wilson, and I share this, is that this is to make the team viable in the Buffalo market. It is an extension of the regionalization that they started 10 years ago that I actually had some involvement with, so I understand what they are trying to accomplish. That is to reach out to the broadest audience by regionalizing and the southern Ontario, Toronto area is an important market to them. They are selling more and more tickets there and I think this is an important opportunity to bring more fans to Buffalo from the southern Ontario area.
Q: Just to confirm, is it one preseason and one regular season game every year for five years?
RG: No. It is one regular season game for the next five years and three preseason games starting next year and the third and fifth year.
Q: Regular season games would start next year also?
RG: I believe so, yes.
Q: Alternatives for Chargers game…
RG: I’d be able to give you better information on that in about a half-hour from now. Our staff is working on that. They go everywhere from San Diego to Los Angeles to Texas to Arizona, and in between.
Q: Is scheduling more attractive games one of the options for the NFL Network, i.e. Patriots vs. Colts, in order to have more leverage over cable companies…
RG: First, we believe as it relates to the cable operators that we have a very compelling product outside of our games. We think that the production quality and content that we have on the NFL Network on a year-round basis is in great demand and the consumers want it. That is the issue that we are having with our cable operators. They are trying to restrict the distribution of that to a point that we’re not comfortable. We think that it should be available to a broader audience and that is really the fundamental aspect of our broadcast policy. As it relates to the games, we have a very attractive series of games this year. We are fortunate to have the Cowboys on twice; we have Cowboys and Packers on the second game of the year. We think all of our games are attractive but we have some great matchups that fell in place for us when we set our schedule last April.
Q: How much leverage do these attractive matchups give you right now with the cable companies?
RG: The bottom line is that consumers are the ones who should win here. The consumers should get the product and that is what we are trying to do. We are trying to make sure that our consumers understand that we have a great product, we have some great games that are going to be on, and some of them won’t get to see it because the cable operators are not distributing it. We have one cable operator that happens to be close to here which has taken us from nine million homes to one million homes. That is a significant difference. They have the right to put is in nine million homes. It is not a matter of negotiation. It is just a decision that they made.
Q: Ongoing talks…
RG: There are very little talks that are going on with Comcast right now. We’ve had some discussions with Time Warner recently but right now we don’t see that this is going to get resolved and that is a concern for us. Let me have Jerry speak now.
Q: Assuming the Dallas-Green Bay was on FOX, how much of the country would see that?
RG: There are really only two games that go on a national basis -- NBC’s game on Sunday night and ESPN’s Monday Night Football. Most of our games on Sunday afternoon are regionalized, so if it had been a Sunday afternoon game it would be regionalized like the rest of our Sunday afternoon package and go to a smaller percentage of the country.
We have some games that to go six or seven percent of the country, and that’s one of the reasons why we think the NFL Network is so valuable here. This gives us a chance to bring more football to more fans 365 days a year.
This takes a game that might have gone to 10 or 12 percent of the country to a broader audience now, if it’s fully distributed. That’s our issue.
Q: What is the current number of subscribers, and what could it be if you got the cable companies to go your route?
RG: It’s a tough question to answer. The first part of your question is 35 million. The tough part to answer is it would depend on what you negotiate in terms of distribution levels with those cable operators. They all have different amounts of homes. Comcast, for example, is nine million homes. They were at eight million last year, and their digital package penetration has gone up one million, so the network would have been available in nine million homes this year. People who got that last year don’t have that now. The only way to get that back is to spend $5 to $10 per month for a sports tier.
Q: Any ongoing conversations with Comcast?
RG: We discontinued discussions with them back in August because we weren’t getting anywhere. It was clear they were telling consumers that we were in negotiations, and we weren’t. We were disappointed in the fact that they tiered us, that they took this away from consumers, and now they’re charging consumers more money to get it back again. We thought that was inappropriate.
Q: Same with Time Warner and Cablevision?
RG: From time to time, there are discussions that go on, but I would say that right now we’re not optimistic a deal is going to get done.
Q: When NFLN was first created, did you have an estimate of how many homes you’d be in by this point?
RG: Yes, we’re slightly below that. We were hoping we’d be closer to 50 million homes right now.
Q: Aside from DirecTV, what are the other options you can suggest to fans in an area like Philadelphia, which is monopolized by Comcast?
RG: Telephone companies are now getting in the business of video distribution. Verizon, AT&T – they are now building up these services, which carry the NFL Network.
Last game of the season on NFLN, if the Patriots enter that game 15-0, who would fans be angriest at? The NFL or the cable companies?
RG: I think the reality is they’d probably be angry at all of us. Comcast is a perfect example of that. Last year, eight million people would have been able to see that game. They’re not going to get to see that game this year unless they pay Comcast $8 a month for the next 12 months. We think that’s wrong, and that’s why we’re taking the position we’re taking. We are not going to take our distribution down. We know our fans want to see us. The last time I looked, 95 of the top 100 cable shows in history are NFL games. We know we are the most popular programming on cable television. That’s been proven by the facts.
# # #
NFL Fall Meeting
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – October 23, 2007
Roger Goodell: We had a very productive day. We had a long day of meetings, but let me give you the highlights of some of the things we talked about and then I’ll take your questions and answer anything you have outside of this. We began the day with a report on the game. We always do that with a focus on the game and the key factors we look at with respect to the game; points scored, length of the game, pace of the game, and number of penalties. All of that was very positive.
We did a report, within the context of that, on the draft and the changes to the NFL Draft for next year, which I believe you have a release on. We also did a report on the Pro Bowl and some of the changes we’ve been contemplating to try to bring back some excitement to that game. Then we had a very long discussion on the NFL Network. We have the chairman of the NFL Network, Jerry Jones, here who will be happy to answer any questions also. The importance of this to us is as a strategic asset and our future plans with respect to media.
We also had some important votes on the NFL.com business model. It is an important step for us to make our site and all 32 sites, the clubs and our league site, better for our fans and we made some very big steps in that regard today.
We had some discussion on the Buffalo-Toronto proposal. Ralph Wilson addressed the ownership. We had a report on it. We did not take a vote on that, but we will have further discussion.
Then we had a vote on lowering the debt ceiling. All of you are aware of the current market conditions and the credit markets. We as a league like to make sure we are making prudent decisions about our business structure and what we are doing to respond to those credit markets. We have agreed to reduce the debt ceiling by $30 million per club over the next three years. I think that hits the key points and I’ll be happy to take your questions.
Q: Length of Ralph Wilson’s proposal:
RG: It is a five-year proposal. One regular season game and I believe three preseason games.
Q: Any objections?
RG: No. There were a number of issues that we raised for the membership that we would like to address. This is still relatively fresh for all of us so we as a league have a responsibility to look into a number of issues. It was made clear by Mr. Wilson and by the Bills’ people that the county and the state had passed their agreement that they could go forward on this. We don’t have agreement that I know of with respect to the parties in Toronto so we want to see all that and look at all of those issues.
Q: Speaking with Mark Cohon, CFL Commissioner about the proposal…
RG: I did. I believe it was last Friday. I assured him that we continue to have a great interest in the CFL and their continued viability. That is one of the issues that was raised today with respect to this. We would certainly want to understand the impact and have greater discussions with the CFL and the promoters of the games in Toronto to make sure that we do it in a way that is responsive and continues to promote CFL football because we think that has a great heritage. We have been very active in continuing to support that.
Q: Belichick and spying incident…
RG: I do a normal report to the membership which takes 15 minutes or so and then we start focusing on the game with our Competition Committee, but in the context of that we spoke about the integrity of the game and how important it is that all of our fans understand that our game is being played by the same rules. We continue to make sure that all of our clubs and the league are doing everything possible to make sure that our games are played within the rules that we’ve established and that our fans have that confidence. I think that they do and I just reassured them that if they have issues with respect to things that are happening in our game that they contact us so that we can pursue them.
Q: Reaction to charges that this incident is being swept under the rug…
RG: First, we were the ones who brought it out so if we’re sweeping it under the rug…we’re the ones who raised it. I don’t agree with that assessment. I think we dealt with it forcefully, aggressively, and effectively. The thing that you want in discipline is to make sure that it doesn’t happen again and the other clubs understand that there are very significant consequences if policies are violated. I think that message was sent. We also want to send that message to our fans so they understand that all teams are playing by the same rules. The inference that you make in regards to us destroying the tapes, that was our intention from the get-go. There was no purpose for those. We said that we wanted those materials destroyed because we didn’t want anyone to have that material or the notes that could’ve come out from that. We went ahead and did that as we expected to do. Everything that we found was consistent with what we thought.
Q: Shortening on the draft and discussions about moving it to Friday night…
RG: We’ve talked about that. We at this point don’t think that it’s the right move. We think that Saturday is still the better time for us. I don’t anticipate that in the short term but we have evaluated that.
Q: Situation with San Diego…
RG: When I get through here I am going to meet with Dean Spanos and the team people. I haven’t gotten an update because I’ve been in a meeting all day but I understand that there are thousands of people at Qualcomm Stadium and of course public safety is our number one concern. We certainly don’t want to interfere with anything in that area. Of course we also have to work with the local officials to tell us whether the facility is going to be available. In the meantime I think you’re aware that the team is on its way or about to go out to Arizona. They will be working out in that facility for the week. We’ll have to make a decision on the game as soon as we have more information.
Q: Pro Bowl…
RG: The big issue is how we can bring more focus to the Pro Bowl, to our star players, and to the event itself. We have discussed everything, including moving the time of the game to prior to the Super Bowl so that it is in advance and part of the buildup of the Super Bowl. We have also talked about whether we would alter the location on some kind of rotating basis to some site here in the United States, particularly around the Super Bowl or in the Super Bowl site. Hawaii would probably be part of that rotation in some fashion but I would expect some decisions would be made. This isn’t for this year’s Pro Bowl; this is for 14 or 15 months from now.
Q: Debt ceiling…
RG: It was very simple. One of the reasons that the NFL is one of the most admired businesses and sports leagues is because we manage our business properly. When you look at the amount of debt that is out there and where the markets are it is just a prudent business decision.
Any discussion today on the disability issue?
RG: No. We’re doing that first thing in the morning, Paul.
Q: Vote on funding…
RG: There very likely will. There is a resolution on the floor. I would expect a vote, yes.
Q: What the proposal calls for…
RG: The proposal is essentially a one-time funding to allow us to put some additional funds into the alliance that we’ve created so that there is sufficient funding and that we’d be able to handle issues in an ongoing manner. It is not pension related. It is for medical needs for people that have a specific need that we can take care of.
Q: Joint replacement?
RG: Joint replacement is one of those programs. Also cardiovascular screening and possibly assisted living.
Q: Future of games internationally…
RG: A year ago is when we passed the resolution allowing the regular season series. As you know we are playing in London this week and every indication is that we’re going to have a tremendously successful event. I think it is a logical step for us. Next year would be to add a second market. We’re going step-by-step but the reaction that we’re getting is extraordinary.
Q: Advantages of Bills playing in Toronto…
RG: The key point that was made by Ralph Wilson, and I share this, is that this is to make the team viable in the Buffalo market. It is an extension of the regionalization that they started 10 years ago that I actually had some involvement with, so I understand what they are trying to accomplish. That is to reach out to the broadest audience by regionalizing and the southern Ontario, Toronto area is an important market to them. They are selling more and more tickets there and I think this is an important opportunity to bring more fans to Buffalo from the southern Ontario area.
Q: Just to confirm, is it one preseason and one regular season game every year for five years?
RG: No. It is one regular season game for the next five years and three preseason games starting next year and the third and fifth year.
Q: Regular season games would start next year also?
RG: I believe so, yes.
Q: Alternatives for Chargers game…
RG: I’d be able to give you better information on that in about a half-hour from now. Our staff is working on that. They go everywhere from San Diego to Los Angeles to Texas to Arizona, and in between.
Q: Is scheduling more attractive games one of the options for the NFL Network, i.e. Patriots vs. Colts, in order to have more leverage over cable companies…
RG: First, we believe as it relates to the cable operators that we have a very compelling product outside of our games. We think that the production quality and content that we have on the NFL Network on a year-round basis is in great demand and the consumers want it. That is the issue that we are having with our cable operators. They are trying to restrict the distribution of that to a point that we’re not comfortable. We think that it should be available to a broader audience and that is really the fundamental aspect of our broadcast policy. As it relates to the games, we have a very attractive series of games this year. We are fortunate to have the Cowboys on twice; we have Cowboys and Packers on the second game of the year. We think all of our games are attractive but we have some great matchups that fell in place for us when we set our schedule last April.
Q: How much leverage do these attractive matchups give you right now with the cable companies?
RG: The bottom line is that consumers are the ones who should win here. The consumers should get the product and that is what we are trying to do. We are trying to make sure that our consumers understand that we have a great product, we have some great games that are going to be on, and some of them won’t get to see it because the cable operators are not distributing it. We have one cable operator that happens to be close to here which has taken us from nine million homes to one million homes. That is a significant difference. They have the right to put is in nine million homes. It is not a matter of negotiation. It is just a decision that they made.
Q: Ongoing talks…
RG: There are very little talks that are going on with Comcast right now. We’ve had some discussions with Time Warner recently but right now we don’t see that this is going to get resolved and that is a concern for us. Let me have Jerry speak now.
Q: Assuming the Dallas-Green Bay was on FOX, how much of the country would see that?
RG: There are really only two games that go on a national basis -- NBC’s game on Sunday night and ESPN’s Monday Night Football. Most of our games on Sunday afternoon are regionalized, so if it had been a Sunday afternoon game it would be regionalized like the rest of our Sunday afternoon package and go to a smaller percentage of the country.
We have some games that to go six or seven percent of the country, and that’s one of the reasons why we think the NFL Network is so valuable here. This gives us a chance to bring more football to more fans 365 days a year.
This takes a game that might have gone to 10 or 12 percent of the country to a broader audience now, if it’s fully distributed. That’s our issue.
Q: What is the current number of subscribers, and what could it be if you got the cable companies to go your route?
RG: It’s a tough question to answer. The first part of your question is 35 million. The tough part to answer is it would depend on what you negotiate in terms of distribution levels with those cable operators. They all have different amounts of homes. Comcast, for example, is nine million homes. They were at eight million last year, and their digital package penetration has gone up one million, so the network would have been available in nine million homes this year. People who got that last year don’t have that now. The only way to get that back is to spend $5 to $10 per month for a sports tier.
Q: Any ongoing conversations with Comcast?
RG: We discontinued discussions with them back in August because we weren’t getting anywhere. It was clear they were telling consumers that we were in negotiations, and we weren’t. We were disappointed in the fact that they tiered us, that they took this away from consumers, and now they’re charging consumers more money to get it back again. We thought that was inappropriate.
Q: Same with Time Warner and Cablevision?
RG: From time to time, there are discussions that go on, but I would say that right now we’re not optimistic a deal is going to get done.
Q: When NFLN was first created, did you have an estimate of how many homes you’d be in by this point?
RG: Yes, we’re slightly below that. We were hoping we’d be closer to 50 million homes right now.
Q: Aside from DirecTV, what are the other options you can suggest to fans in an area like Philadelphia, which is monopolized by Comcast?
RG: Telephone companies are now getting in the business of video distribution. Verizon, AT&T – they are now building up these services, which carry the NFL Network.
Last game of the season on NFLN, if the Patriots enter that game 15-0, who would fans be angriest at? The NFL or the cable companies?
RG: I think the reality is they’d probably be angry at all of us. Comcast is a perfect example of that. Last year, eight million people would have been able to see that game. They’re not going to get to see that game this year unless they pay Comcast $8 a month for the next 12 months. We think that’s wrong, and that’s why we’re taking the position we’re taking. We are not going to take our distribution down. We know our fans want to see us. The last time I looked, 95 of the top 100 cable shows in history are NFL games. We know we are the most popular programming on cable television. That’s been proven by the facts.
# # #
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
What If Sports - What If Sports Simulation: Colts 30, Pats 27
What If Sports is known for its simulations, but this one, or 1,000 of them, are special. This is what was reported on their website:
WhatIfSports.com “played” the upcoming Patriots-Colts game 1,000 times. Indianapolis won 52.8% of the time by an average score of 30-27. On a neutral field, this game would likely be a complete toss-up, but the Colts win in the Dome. An example boxscore with that score is below.
WhatIfSports.com
A division of FOX Sports.com on
WhatIfSports.com “played” the upcoming Patriots-Colts game 1,000 times. Indianapolis won 52.8% of the time by an average score of 30-27. On a neutral field, this game would likely be a complete toss-up, but the Colts win in the Dome. An example boxscore with that score is below.
2007 New England Patriots at 2007 Indianapolis Colts
Final - 11/4/2007 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT1 Total
2007 New England Patriots 0 7 10 10 0 27
2007 Indianapolis Colts 7 17 3 0 3 30
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
Ind 8:46 TD Joseph Addai 19 yd. run (Vinatieri kick) 0-7
2nd Quarter
Ind 9:11 TD Dallas Clark 7 yd. pass from Manning (Vinatieri kick) 0-14
NE 3:00 TD Randy Moss 3 yd. pass from Brady (Gostkowski kick) 7-14
Ind 1:03 TD Marvin Harrison 3 yd. pass from Manning (Vinatieri kick) 7-21
Ind 0:00 FG Adam Vinatieri 56 yds. 7-24
3rd Quarter
NE 9:29 FG Stephen Gostkowski 29 yds. 10-24
Ind 3:54 FG Adam Vinatieri 30 yds. 10-27
NE 1:22 TD Laurence Maroney 6 yd. run (Gostkowski kick) 17-27
4th Quarter
NE 10:38 TD Kevin Faulk 11 yd. pass from Brady (Gostkowski kick) 24-27
NE 0:13 FG Stephen Gostkowski 42 yds. 27-27
OT 1
Ind 3:16 FG Adam Vinatieri 45 yds. 27-30
Team Statistics
2007 New England Patriots 2007 Indianapolis Colts
First Downs 26 23
- Rushing 5 4
- Passing 21 19
- Penalty 0 0
3rd Down Eff 10/18 3/11
4th Down Eff 1/2 0/0
Rushes-Yards 30-95 32-169
Avg Rush 3.2 5.3
Comp-Att-Int 29-48-2 20-36-0
Passing Yards 406 348
Sacks-Yards 1-3 1-4
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-1
Punts-Avg 4-37.8 5-41.0
KR-Avg 5-23.6 7-16.3
PR-Avg 5-2.6 4-11.5
Penalties-Yard 2-20 3-17
Time of Possession 36:58 34:46
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2007 New England Patriots Individual Stats 2007 Indianapolis Colts Individual Stats
Rushing
Att Yds 20+ L TD
'07 Laurence Maroney 17 79 2 35 1
'07 Heath Evans 8 14 0 6 0
'07 Kevin Faulk 5 2 0 1 0
Rushing
Att Yds 20+ L TD
'07 Joseph Addai 23 99 1 29 1
'07 Kenton Keith 9 70 1 56 0
Receiving
Rec Yds 20+ 40+ L TD
'07 Randy Moss 8 139 3 1 40 1
'07 Wes Welker 10 125 1 0 20 0
'07 Kevin Faulk 4 58 1 0 22 1
'07 Donte' Stallworth 3 54 1 0 24 0
'07 Heath Evans 1 21 1 0 21 0
'07 Kyle Brady 3 12 0 0 6 0
Receiving
Rec Yds 20+ 40+ L TD
'07 Reggie Wayne 6 136 3 1 45 0
'07 Marvin Harrison 6 83 2 0 23 1
'07 Anthony Gonzalez 2 56 1 1 41 0
'07 Bryan Fletcher 1 31 1 0 31 0
'07 Dallas Clark 3 25 0 0 11 1
'07 Joseph Addai 2 21 0 0 11 0
Passing
Comp. Att. Yards TD INT
'07 Tom Brady 29 48 409 2 2
Passing
Comp. Att. Yards TD INT
'07 Peyton Manning 20 36 352 2 0
Defensive
Tackles Sacks INT
'07 Mike Vrabel 7 0 0
'07 Junior Seau 6 0 0
'07 Randall Gay 5 0 0
'07 Ty Warren 4 0 0
'07 Tedy Bruschi 4 1 0
'07 Rodney Harrison 4 0 0
'07 Ellis Hobbs 3 0 0
'07 Asante Samuel 3 0 0
'07 Adalius Thomas 3 0 0
'07 James Sanders 2 0 0
'07 Vince Wilfork 2 0 0
'07 Rosevelt Colvin 2 0 0
'07 Richard Seymour 1 0 0
Defensive
Tackles Sacks INT
'07 Raheem Brock 9 0 0
'07 Kelvin Hayden 8 0 0
'07 Dante Hughes 5 0 0
'07 Antoine Bethea 5 0 0
'07 Tyjuan Hagler 5 0 0
'07 Bob Sanders 5 0 0
'07 Marlin Jackson 4 0 0
'07 Dwight Freeney 4 0 0
'07 Robert Mathis 3 1 0
'07 Gary Brackett 2 0 2
Field Goals
Made Missed
'07 Stephen Gostkowski 29,42 -
Field Goals
Made Missed
'07 Adam Vinatieri 56,30,45 -
Player of the Game:
'07 Peyton Manning (2007 Indianapolis Colts)
Time Down
YTG Ball On Score
V - H F 1st Quarter Play by Play
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 15:00
15:00 Kickoff own 30 0 - 0 K 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares to kickoff.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) catch the ball at the NE 12 and return it to the NE 38.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 14:52
14:52 1/10 own 38 0 - 0 212 Brady's short pass is to Moss who holds on to the ball, makes a few guys miss for a 27 yd gain.
14:09 1/10 35 0 - 0 212 Brady's pass is intercepted.
Gary Brackett returns the interception to the Ind 38.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 14:03
14:03 1/10 own 38 0 - 0 221 Addai gets back to the line of scrimmage.
13:28 2/10 own 38 0 - 0 131 Manning overthrows Addai and the pass is incomplete.
13:23 3/10 own 38 0 - 0 140 Manning's pass is batted down. Incomplete pass.
13:18 4/10 own 38 0 - 0 P 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for a punt.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) return it to the NE 35.
PENALTY on NE: Holding, 10 yards enforced on the NE 25.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 13:08
13:08 1/10 own 15 0 - 0 221 Maroney gains 1 yard up the middle.
12:34 2/9 own 16 0 - 0 131 Maroney rushes for a loss of 3 yards.
11:55 3/12 own 13 0 - 0 221 Brady hits Evans who makes the catch and falls forward for a 21 yd gain.
11:12 1/10 own 34 0 - 0 212 Maroney gains 3 yards up the middle.
10:33 2/7 own 37 0 - 0 221 Brady tosses the ball just out of reach of Welker. Incomplete pass.
10:28 3/7 own 37 0 - 0 221 Evans is caught behind the line for a loss of 4 yards.
9:47 4/11 own 33 0 - 0 P 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares for a punt.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) return it to the Ind 36.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 9:37
9:37 1/10 own 36 0 - 0 131 Manning hits Wayne deep downfield who makes the catch and falls forward for a 45 yd gain.
8:53 1/10 19 0 - 0 140 Addai gains 19 yards on a sweep left.
2007 Indianapolis Colts scores a touchdown!
8:46 PAT 0 - 6 FG 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for the extra point.
The extra point attempt is good.
Drive Summary: 2 plays, 64 yds, 0:51
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 8:46
8:46 Kickoff own 30 0 - 7 K 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares to kickoff.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) catch the ball at the NE 14 and return it to the NE 35.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 8:39
8:39 1/10 own 35 0 - 7 212 Brady's pass is to Moss who holds on to the the ball and runs for a 19 yd gain.
7:57 1/10 46 0 - 7 212 Brady screen pass falls incomplete.
7:54 2/10 46 0 - 7 131 Maroney pounds ahead for 5 yards.
7:10 3/5 41 0 - 7 221 Evans picks up 4 yards off tackle left.
6:27 4/1 37 0 - 7 P 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares for a punt.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) return it to the Ind 23.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 6:15
6:15 1/10 own 23 0 - 7 140 Addai picks his way for 1 yard.
5:40 2/9 own 24 0 - 7 131 Keith picks up 1 yard on a draw play.
4:59 3/8 own 25 0 - 7 050 Manning overthrows Wayne and the pass is incomplete.
4:51 4/8 own 25 0 - 7 P 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for a punt.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) return it to the NE 41.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 4:42
4:42 1/10 own 41 0 - 7 212 Brady tosses the ball out to Faulk. Catch is good and Faulk gets big yardage for a 17 yd gain.
3:57 1/10 42 0 - 7 212 Evans gains 6 yards up the middle.
3:20 2/4 36 0 - 7 131 Maroney picks up 3 yards on a draw play.
2:37 3/1 33 0 - 7 212 Evans picks up 1 yard off tackle left.
1:55 1/10 32 0 - 7 212 Brady's pass is to Faulk who makes the catch and falls forward for a 22 yd gain.
1:13 1/Goal 10 0 - 7 212 Brady's pass is to Brady. Tackled immediately for a 6 yd gain.
0:32 2/Goal 4 0 - 7 212 Faulk gets back to the line of scrimmage before losing the ball.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) recovers the ball on the Ind 5.
0:00 3/Goal 5 0 - 7 221 Time Expires
End of 1st Quarter ... 2007 New England Patriots: 0 2007 Indianapolis Colts: 7
Time Down
YTG Ball On Score
V - H F 2nd Quarter Play by Play
15:00 3/Goal 5 0 - 7 221 PENALTY on Ind: Encroachment, 2 yards enforced on the Ind 5 - NO PLAY.
15:00 3/Goal 3 0 - 7 221 Maroney picks up 1 yard on a draw play.
14:24 4/Goal 2 0 - 7 212 Evans is caught behind the line for a loss of 1 yard.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 14:21
14:21 1/10 own 3 0 - 7 131 Addai picks up 6 yards on a draw play.
13:37 2/4 own 9 0 - 7 140 Keith gains 1 yard on a sweep left.
12:55 3/3 own 10 0 - 7 140 Addai picks up 4 yards on a draw play.
12:12 1/10 own 14 0 - 7 131 Manning completes the pass to Clark who makes the catch and falls forward for a 11 yd gain.
11:33 1/10 own 25 0 - 7 131 Keith pounds ahead for 56 yards.
10:43 1/10 19 0 - 7 221 Addai pounds ahead for 8 yards.
10:02 2/2 11 0 - 7 131 Manning soft pass is to Wayne who gets a few steps before being brought down for a 4 yd gain.
9:23 1/Goal 7 0 - 7 140 Manning's pass into the endzone is just out of reach of Harrison. Incomplete pass.
9:17 2/Goal 7 0 - 7 131 Manning's short pass is to Clark who catches the ball and walks into the endzone.
2007 Indianapolis Colts scores a touchdown!
9:11 PAT 0 - 13 FG 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for the extra point.
The extra point attempt is good.
Drive Summary: 9 plays, 97 yds, 5:10
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 9:11
9:11 Kickoff own 30 0 - 14 K 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares to kickoff.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) catch the ball at the NE 5 and return it to the NE 33.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 9:02
9:02 1/10 own 33 0 - 14 212 Faulk gets back to the line of scrimmage.
8:26 2/10 own 33 0 - 14 131 Faulk pounds ahead for 1 yard.
7:43 3/9 own 34 0 - 14 221 Brady hits Welker who makes the catch and falls forward for a 9 yd gain.
6:57 1/10 own 43 0 - 14 212 Brady overthrows Moss and the pass is incomplete.
6:51 2/10 own 43 0 - 14 221 Brady soft pass is to Moss who makes the catch and falls forward for a 6 yd gain.
6:11 3/4 own 49 0 - 14 122 Maroney pounds ahead for 24 yards.
5:28 1/10 27 0 - 14 212 Brady throws to Moss but he can't hold on to the ball.
5:23 2/10 27 0 - 14 212 Brady screen pass falls incomplete.
5:20 3/10 27 0 - 14 131 Brady hits Welker who gets a few steps before being brought down for a 20 yd gain.
4:33 1/Goal 7 0 - 14 212 Brady soft pass is to Welker who makes the catch and falls forward for a 4 yd gain.
3:47 2/Goal 3 0 - 14 212 Maroney carries, but is tackled for no gain.
3:04 3/Goal 3 0 - 14 122 Brady hits Moss in the endzone.
2007 New England Patriots scores a touchdown!
3:00 PAT 6 - 14 FG 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares for the extra point.
The extra point attempt is good.
Drive Summary: 12 plays, 67 yds, 6:02
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 3:00
3:00 Kickoff own 30 7 - 14 K 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares to kickoff.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) catch the ball at the Ind 6 and return it to the Ind 33.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 2:51
2:51 1/10 own 33 7 - 14 140 Manning overthrows Addai and the pass is incomplete.
2:46 2/10 own 33 7 - 14 230 Manning completes the pass to Addai. Tackled immediately for a 11 yd gain.
2:04 1/10 own 44 7 - 14 131 Manning's pass is just out of reach of Harrison. Incomplete pass.
2:00 2/10 own 44 7 - 14 140 *** 2 Minute Warning ***
2:00 2/10 own 44 7 - 14 131 Manning's pass is to Wayne who holds on to the the ball and runs for a 10 yd gain.
1:51 1/10 46 7 - 14 131 *** 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) CALLS A TIMEOUT ***
1:51 1/10 46 7 - 14 140 Manning's pass is just out of reach of Addai. Incomplete pass.
1:44 2/10 46 7 - 14 131 Manning's long pass is to Wayne who holds on to the the ball and runs for a 33 yd gain.
1:15 1/10 13 7 - 14 131 Manning completes the pass to Harrison who gets a few steps before being run out of bounds for a 10 yd gain.
1:10 1/Goal 3 7 - 14 131 Manning hits Harrison in the endzone.
2007 Indianapolis Colts scores a touchdown!
1:03 PAT 7 - 20 FG 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for the extra point.
The extra point attempt is good.
Drive Summary: 8 plays, 67 yds, 1:48
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 1:03
1:03 Kickoff own 30 7 - 21 K 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares to kickoff.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) catch the ball at the NE 8 and return it to the NE 29.
PENALTY on NE: Holding, 10 yards enforced on the NE 28.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 0:58
0:58 1/10 own 18 7 - 21 212 Brady's pass is batted down. Incomplete pass.
0:54 2/10 own 18 7 - 21 221 Brady's pass is to Welker. Tackled immediately for a 14 yd gain.
0:46 1/10 own 32 7 - 21 221 *** 2007 New England Patriots (NE) CALLS A TIMEOUT ***
0:46 1/10 own 32 7 - 21 212 Brady overthrows Moss and the pass is incomplete.
0:41 2/10 own 32 7 - 21 212 Brady overthrows Moss and the pass is incomplete.
0:37 3/10 own 32 7 - 21 131 Brady hits Stallworth who holds on to the ball, makes a few guys miss for a 24 yd gain before being run out of bounds.
0:28 1/10 44 7 - 21 221 Maroney picks his way to the sidelines for 1 yard. Maroney runs out of bounds.
0:24 2/9 43 7 - 21 221 Brady's pass is to Welker who catches the ball and makes one guy miss before getting knocked out of bounds for a 10 yd gain.
0:19 1/10 33 7 - 21 212 Brady's pass is intercepted.
Gary Brackett returns the interception to the Ind 32.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 0:11
0:11 1/10 own 32 7 - 21 221 Addai picks up 29 yards on a draw play.
0:02 1/10 39 7 - 21 221 *** 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) CALLS A TIMEOUT ***
0:02 1/10 39 7 - 21 FG 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for a FG attempt.
Vinatieri's 56 yd. field goal is right down the middle!
Drive Summary: 1 plays, 29 yds, 0:09
End of 2nd Quarter ... 2007 New England Patriots: 7 2007 Indianapolis Colts: 24
Time Down
YTG Ball On Score
V - H F 3rd Quarter Play by Play
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 15:00
15:00 Kickoff own 30 7 - 24 K 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares to kickoff.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) catch the ball at the Ind 3 and return it to the Ind 21.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 14:53
14:53 1/10 own 21 7 - 24 140 Manning's pass is to Gonzalez who makes the catch and falls forward for a 15 yd gain.
14:15 1/10 own 36 7 - 24 140 Addai gets back to the line of scrimmage.
13:39 2/10 own 36 7 - 24 140 Manning's long pass is just out of reach of Moorehead. Incomplete pass.
13:31 3/10 own 36 7 - 24 140 Manning overthrows Gonzalez and the pass is incomplete.
13:22 4/10 own 36 7 - 24 P 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for a punt.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) return it to the NE 32.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 13:11
13:11 1/10 own 32 7 - 24 212 Evans picks up 2 yards on a draw play.
12:28 2/8 own 34 7 - 24 212 Brady's short pass is to Moss. Catch is good and Moss gets some yardage for a 13 yd gain.
11:46 1/10 own 47 7 - 24 212 Maroney gains 35 yards on a sweep left.
10:59 1/10 18 7 - 24 221 PENALTY on Ind: Encroachment, 5 yards enforced on the Ind 18 - NO PLAY.
10:59 1/5 13 7 - 24 230 Maroney picks his way to the sidelines for 1 yard. Maroney runs out of bounds.
10:17 2/4 12 7 - 24 212 Faulk gets back to the line of scrimmage.
9:38 3/4 12 7 - 24 122 Brady overthrows Welker and the pass is incomplete.
9:33 4/4 12 7 - 24 FG 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares for a FG attempt.
Gostkowski's 29 yd. field goal hooks through the uprights!
Drive Summary: 6 plays, 51 yds, 3:38
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 9:29
9:29 Kickoff own 30 10 - 24 K 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares to kickoff.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) catch the ball at the Ind 11 and return it to the Ind 21.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 9:24
9:24 1/10 own 21 10 - 24 221 Addai rushes for a loss of 4 yards.
8:43 2/14 own 17 10 - 24 230 Addai pounds ahead for 5 yards.
8:07 3/9 own 22 10 - 24 050 Manning completes the pass to Harrison who holds on to the the ball and runs for a 21 yd gain.
7:21 1/10 own 43 10 - 24 221 Addai rushes for a loss of 1 yard.
6:43 2/11 own 42 10 - 24 230 Manning's long pass is to Gonzalez who holds on to the the ball and runs for a 41 yd gain.
5:55 1/10 17 10 - 24 131 Addai gains 3 yards up the middle.
5:12 2/7 14 10 - 24 140 Addai picks up 2 yards on a draw play.
4:34 3/5 12 10 - 24 131 Keith is caught behind the line for a loss of 1 yard.
3:58 4/6 13 10 - 24 FG 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for a FG attempt.
Vinatieri's 30 yd. field goal is right down the middle!
Drive Summary: 8 plays, 66 yds, 5:26
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 3:54
3:54 Kickoff own 30 10 - 27 K 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares to kickoff.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) catch the ball at the NE 6 and return it to the NE 39.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 3:43
3:43 1/10 own 39 10 - 27 212 Brady overthrows Maroney and the pass is incomplete.
3:35 2/10 own 39 10 - 27 221 Brady's pass is just out of the reach of Welker.
3:30 3/10 own 39 10 - 27 221 Brady's pass is to Welker who makes the catch and falls forward for a 15 yd gain.
2:50 1/10 46 10 - 27 212 Evans gets back to the line of scrimmage.
2:16 2/10 46 10 - 27 221 Brady's pass is to Moss who holds on to the ball, makes a few guys miss for a 40 yd gain.
1:26 1/Goal 6 10 - 27 212 Maroney gets 6 yards on a pitch right.
2007 New England Patriots scores a touchdown!
1:22 PAT 16 - 27 FG 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares for the extra point.
The extra point attempt is good.
Drive Summary: 6 plays, 61 yds, 2:21
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 1:22
1:22 Kickoff own 30 17 - 27 K 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares to kickoff.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) catch the ball at the Ind 11 and return it to the NE 32.
PENALTY on Ind: Holding, 10 yards enforced on the Ind 26.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 1:07
1:07 1/10 own 16 17 - 27 140 Manning overthrows Addai and the pass is incomplete.
0:59 2/10 own 16 17 - 27 131 Manning's pass is batted down. Incomplete pass.
0:54 3/10 own 16 17 - 27 050 Manning is sacked by Tedy Bruschi for 4 yards.
0:11 4/14 own 12 17 - 27 P 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for a punt.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) return it to the NE 48.
End of 3rd Quarter ... 2007 New England Patriots: 17 2007 Indianapolis Colts: 27
Time Down
YTG Ball On Score
V - H F 4th Quarter Play by Play
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 15:00
15:00 1/10 own 48 17 - 27 212 Brady hits Welker. Catch is good and Welker gets some yardage for a 16 yd gain.
14:14 1/10 36 17 - 27 221 Maroney carries, but is tackled for no gain.
13:37 2/10 36 17 - 27 221 Brady's pass is to Welker who makes the catch and falls forward for a 15 yd gain.
12:52 1/10 21 17 - 27 212 Brady hits Moss but in and out of his hands.
12:45 2/10 21 17 - 27 131 Maroney rushes for a loss of 2 yards.
12:04 3/12 23 17 - 27 221 Brady completes the pass to Stallworth who catches the ball and makes one guy miss before getting tackled for a 11 yd gain.
11:19 4/1 12 17 - 27 212 Faulk gains 1 yard up the middle.
10:44 1/10 11 17 - 27 212 Brady zips the short pass to Faulk. Catch is good and Faulk gets into the endzone.
2007 New England Patriots scores a touchdown!
10:38 PAT 23 - 27 FG 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares for the extra point.
The extra point attempt is good.
Drive Summary: 8 plays, 52 yds, 4:22
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 10:38
10:38 Kickoff own 30 24 - 27 K 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares to kickoff.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) catch the ball at the Ind 6 and return it to the Ind 21.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 10:32
10:32 1/10 own 21 24 - 27 140 Manning's pass is just out of reach of Wayne. Incomplete pass.
10:26 2/10 own 21 24 - 27 140 Manning completes the long pass to Wayne who gets a few steps before being brought down for a 34 yd gain.
9:39 1/10 45 24 - 27 131 Manning's pass is just out of the reach of Clark.
9:34 2/10 45 24 - 27 230 Manning completes the pass to Wayne who makes the catch and falls forward for a 10 yd gain.
8:53 1/10 35 24 - 27 131 Addai gains 1 yard on a sweep left.
8:12 2/9 34 24 - 27 131 Manning's pass is to Addai. Tackled immediately for a 10 yd gain.
7:29 1/10 24 24 - 27 221 Keith gains 4 yards on a sweep left.
6:53 2/6 20 24 - 27 122 Addai picks up 1 yard off tackle left, and is run out of bounds.
6:15 3/5 19 24 - 27 140 Addai picks up 4 yards on a draw play before running out of bounds.
5:32 4/1 15 24 - 27 FG 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for a FG attempt.
Vinatieri's kick is blocked! Ball is recovered at the NE 23.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 5:23
5:23 1/10 own 23 24 - 27 212 Brady screen pass is to Brady who makes the catch and falls forward for a 1 yd gain.
4:45 2/9 own 24 24 - 27 212 Brady overthrows Moss and the pass is incomplete.
4:39 3/9 own 24 24 - 27 221 Maroney picks up 2 yards on a draw play.
3:58 4/7 own 26 24 - 27 P 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares for a punt.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) return it to the Ind 42.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 3:48
3:48 1/10 own 42 24 - 27 131 Addai gains 6 yards on a sweep left.
3:05 2/4 own 48 24 - 27 122 Manning completes the long pass to Fletcher who makes the catch and falls forward for a 31 yd gain.
2:21 1/10 21 24 - 27 140 Addai carries, but is tackled for no gain.
2:00 2/10 21 24 - 27 230 *** 2 Minute Warning ***
2:00 2/10 21 24 - 27 230 Keith pounds ahead for 3 yards. The ball is stripped free.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) recovers the ball on the NE 17.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 1:54
1:54 1/10 own 17 24 - 27 212 Brady's pass is to Faulk. Faulk falls out of bounds, but holds on to the ball for a 8 yd gain.
1:48 2/2 own 25 24 - 27 212 Brady hits Moss who gets a few steps before being brought down for a 11 yd gain.
1:39 1/10 own 36 24 - 27 212 *** 2007 New England Patriots (NE) CALLS A TIMEOUT ***
1:39 1/10 own 36 24 - 27 212 Brady overthrows Moss and the pass is incomplete.
1:35 2/10 own 36 24 - 27 131 Brady overthrows Welker and the pass is incomplete.
1:30 3/10 own 36 24 - 27 221 Brady completes the pass to Moss who makes the catch and falls forward for a 20 yd gain.
1:10 1/10 44 24 - 27 212 Brady hits Welker who makes the catch and is run out of bounds for a 14 yd gain.
1:03 1/10 30 24 - 27 212 Brady completes the pass to Welker who makes the catch and falls forward for a 8 yd gain.
0:41 2/2 22 24 - 27 122 Brady is sacked by Robert Mathis for 3 yards.
0:21 3/5 25 24 - 27 122 Brady's pass is just out of reach of Gaffney. Incomplete pass.
0:17 4/5 25 24 - 27 FG 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares for a FG attempt.
Gostkowski's 42 yd. field goal is right down the middle!
Drive Summary: 9 plays, 58 yds, 1:37
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 0:13
0:13 Kickoff own 30 27 - 27 K 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares to kickoff.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) catch the ball at the Ind 8 and return it to the Ind 31.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 0:08
0:08 1/10 own 31 27 - 27 131 Manning completes the pass to Clark who gets a few steps before being run out of bounds for a 7 yd gain.
0:02 2/3 own 38 27 - 27 041 Manning's deep pass is broken up. Incomplete pass.
End of 4th Quarter ... 2007 New England Patriots: 27 2007 Indianapolis Colts: 27
Game Time Weather Report for Indianapolis, IN (The RCA Dome):
71 degrees, clear skies, little to no wind
Time Down
YTG Ball On Score
V - H F Overtime 1 Play by Play
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 15:00
15:00 Kickoff own 30 27 - 27 K 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares to kickoff.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) catch the ball at the Ind 7 and return it to the Ind 23.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 14:53
14:53 1/10 own 23 27 - 27 131 Addai gains 4 yards up the middle.
14:11 2/6 own 27 27 - 27 122 Addai carries, but is tackled for a loss of 1 yard.
13:34 3/7 own 26 27 - 27 050 Manning completes the pass to Harrison. Catch is good and Harrison gets some yardage for a 23 yd gain.
12:50 1/10 own 49 27 - 27 221 Keith gets 3 yards on a pitch right.
12:11 2/7 48 27 - 27 230 Manning overthrows Utecht and the pass is incomplete.
12:05 3/7 48 27 - 27 140 Manning's pass is batted down. Incomplete pass.
11:59 4/7 48 27 - 27 P 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for a punt.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) return it to the NE 9.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 11:51
11:51 1/10 own 9 27 - 27 212 Maroney is stopped at the line.
11:12 2/10 own 9 27 - 27 212 Brady completes the pass to Brady. Tackled immediately for a 5 yd gain.
10:28 3/5 own 14 27 - 27 221 Brady hits Stallworth. Catch is good and Stallworth gets some yardage before being run out of bounds for a 19 yd gain.
9:42 1/10 own 33 27 - 27 221 Evans gets 6 yards on a pitch right.
8:58 2/4 own 39 27 - 27 212 Maroney pounds ahead for 2 yards.
8:23 3/2 own 41 27 - 27 221 Brady's pass is to Moss and dropped.
8:17 4/2 own 41 27 - 27 P 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares for a punt.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) return it to the Ind 31.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 8:05
8:05 1/10 own 31 27 - 27 131 Addai picks up 1 yard on a draw play.
7:26 2/9 own 32 27 - 27 140 Manning hits Harrison who makes the catch and falls forward for a 16 yd gain.
6:45 1/10 own 48 27 - 27 221 Addai pounds ahead for 7 yards.
6:01 2/3 45 27 - 27 122 Manning's pass is to Harrison who holds on to the the ball and runs for a 10 yd gain.
5:21 1/10 35 27 - 27 140 Addai picks up 4 yards on a draw play.
4:38 2/6 31 27 - 27 122 Keith gains 3 yards up the middle.
3:58 3/3 28 27 - 27 131 Keith is stopped at the line.
3:20 4/3 28 27 - 27 FG 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for a FG attempt.
Vinatieri's 45 yd. field goal hooks through the uprights!
Drive Summary: 7 plays, 41 yds, 4:45
End of Overtime 1 ... 2007 New England Patriots: 27 2007 Indianapolis Colts: 30
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WhatIfSports is a trademark of WhatIfSports.com, Inc. SimLeague, SimMatchup and iSimNow are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts, Inc. Used under license. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
WhatIfSports.com “played” the upcoming Patriots-Colts game 1,000 times. Indianapolis won 52.8% of the time by an average score of 30-27. On a neutral field, this game would likely be a complete toss-up, but the Colts win in the Dome. An example boxscore with that score is below.
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WhatIfSports.com “played” the upcoming Patriots-Colts game 1,000 times. Indianapolis won 52.8% of the time by an average score of 30-27. On a neutral field, this game would likely be a complete toss-up, but the Colts win in the Dome. An example boxscore with that score is below.
2007 New England Patriots at 2007 Indianapolis Colts
Final - 11/4/2007 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT1 Total
2007 New England Patriots 0 7 10 10 0 27
2007 Indianapolis Colts 7 17 3 0 3 30
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
Ind 8:46 TD Joseph Addai 19 yd. run (Vinatieri kick) 0-7
2nd Quarter
Ind 9:11 TD Dallas Clark 7 yd. pass from Manning (Vinatieri kick) 0-14
NE 3:00 TD Randy Moss 3 yd. pass from Brady (Gostkowski kick) 7-14
Ind 1:03 TD Marvin Harrison 3 yd. pass from Manning (Vinatieri kick) 7-21
Ind 0:00 FG Adam Vinatieri 56 yds. 7-24
3rd Quarter
NE 9:29 FG Stephen Gostkowski 29 yds. 10-24
Ind 3:54 FG Adam Vinatieri 30 yds. 10-27
NE 1:22 TD Laurence Maroney 6 yd. run (Gostkowski kick) 17-27
4th Quarter
NE 10:38 TD Kevin Faulk 11 yd. pass from Brady (Gostkowski kick) 24-27
NE 0:13 FG Stephen Gostkowski 42 yds. 27-27
OT 1
Ind 3:16 FG Adam Vinatieri 45 yds. 27-30
Team Statistics
2007 New England Patriots 2007 Indianapolis Colts
First Downs 26 23
- Rushing 5 4
- Passing 21 19
- Penalty 0 0
3rd Down Eff 10/18 3/11
4th Down Eff 1/2 0/0
Rushes-Yards 30-95 32-169
Avg Rush 3.2 5.3
Comp-Att-Int 29-48-2 20-36-0
Passing Yards 406 348
Sacks-Yards 1-3 1-4
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-1
Punts-Avg 4-37.8 5-41.0
KR-Avg 5-23.6 7-16.3
PR-Avg 5-2.6 4-11.5
Penalties-Yard 2-20 3-17
Time of Possession 36:58 34:46
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2007 New England Patriots Individual Stats 2007 Indianapolis Colts Individual Stats
Rushing
Att Yds 20+ L TD
'07 Laurence Maroney 17 79 2 35 1
'07 Heath Evans 8 14 0 6 0
'07 Kevin Faulk 5 2 0 1 0
Rushing
Att Yds 20+ L TD
'07 Joseph Addai 23 99 1 29 1
'07 Kenton Keith 9 70 1 56 0
Receiving
Rec Yds 20+ 40+ L TD
'07 Randy Moss 8 139 3 1 40 1
'07 Wes Welker 10 125 1 0 20 0
'07 Kevin Faulk 4 58 1 0 22 1
'07 Donte' Stallworth 3 54 1 0 24 0
'07 Heath Evans 1 21 1 0 21 0
'07 Kyle Brady 3 12 0 0 6 0
Receiving
Rec Yds 20+ 40+ L TD
'07 Reggie Wayne 6 136 3 1 45 0
'07 Marvin Harrison 6 83 2 0 23 1
'07 Anthony Gonzalez 2 56 1 1 41 0
'07 Bryan Fletcher 1 31 1 0 31 0
'07 Dallas Clark 3 25 0 0 11 1
'07 Joseph Addai 2 21 0 0 11 0
Passing
Comp. Att. Yards TD INT
'07 Tom Brady 29 48 409 2 2
Passing
Comp. Att. Yards TD INT
'07 Peyton Manning 20 36 352 2 0
Defensive
Tackles Sacks INT
'07 Mike Vrabel 7 0 0
'07 Junior Seau 6 0 0
'07 Randall Gay 5 0 0
'07 Ty Warren 4 0 0
'07 Tedy Bruschi 4 1 0
'07 Rodney Harrison 4 0 0
'07 Ellis Hobbs 3 0 0
'07 Asante Samuel 3 0 0
'07 Adalius Thomas 3 0 0
'07 James Sanders 2 0 0
'07 Vince Wilfork 2 0 0
'07 Rosevelt Colvin 2 0 0
'07 Richard Seymour 1 0 0
Defensive
Tackles Sacks INT
'07 Raheem Brock 9 0 0
'07 Kelvin Hayden 8 0 0
'07 Dante Hughes 5 0 0
'07 Antoine Bethea 5 0 0
'07 Tyjuan Hagler 5 0 0
'07 Bob Sanders 5 0 0
'07 Marlin Jackson 4 0 0
'07 Dwight Freeney 4 0 0
'07 Robert Mathis 3 1 0
'07 Gary Brackett 2 0 2
Field Goals
Made Missed
'07 Stephen Gostkowski 29,42 -
Field Goals
Made Missed
'07 Adam Vinatieri 56,30,45 -
Player of the Game:
'07 Peyton Manning (2007 Indianapolis Colts)
Time Down
YTG Ball On Score
V - H F 1st Quarter Play by Play
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 15:00
15:00 Kickoff own 30 0 - 0 K 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares to kickoff.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) catch the ball at the NE 12 and return it to the NE 38.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 14:52
14:52 1/10 own 38 0 - 0 212 Brady's short pass is to Moss who holds on to the ball, makes a few guys miss for a 27 yd gain.
14:09 1/10 35 0 - 0 212 Brady's pass is intercepted.
Gary Brackett returns the interception to the Ind 38.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 14:03
14:03 1/10 own 38 0 - 0 221 Addai gets back to the line of scrimmage.
13:28 2/10 own 38 0 - 0 131 Manning overthrows Addai and the pass is incomplete.
13:23 3/10 own 38 0 - 0 140 Manning's pass is batted down. Incomplete pass.
13:18 4/10 own 38 0 - 0 P 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for a punt.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) return it to the NE 35.
PENALTY on NE: Holding, 10 yards enforced on the NE 25.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 13:08
13:08 1/10 own 15 0 - 0 221 Maroney gains 1 yard up the middle.
12:34 2/9 own 16 0 - 0 131 Maroney rushes for a loss of 3 yards.
11:55 3/12 own 13 0 - 0 221 Brady hits Evans who makes the catch and falls forward for a 21 yd gain.
11:12 1/10 own 34 0 - 0 212 Maroney gains 3 yards up the middle.
10:33 2/7 own 37 0 - 0 221 Brady tosses the ball just out of reach of Welker. Incomplete pass.
10:28 3/7 own 37 0 - 0 221 Evans is caught behind the line for a loss of 4 yards.
9:47 4/11 own 33 0 - 0 P 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares for a punt.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) return it to the Ind 36.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 9:37
9:37 1/10 own 36 0 - 0 131 Manning hits Wayne deep downfield who makes the catch and falls forward for a 45 yd gain.
8:53 1/10 19 0 - 0 140 Addai gains 19 yards on a sweep left.
2007 Indianapolis Colts scores a touchdown!
8:46 PAT 0 - 6 FG 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for the extra point.
The extra point attempt is good.
Drive Summary: 2 plays, 64 yds, 0:51
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 8:46
8:46 Kickoff own 30 0 - 7 K 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares to kickoff.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) catch the ball at the NE 14 and return it to the NE 35.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 8:39
8:39 1/10 own 35 0 - 7 212 Brady's pass is to Moss who holds on to the the ball and runs for a 19 yd gain.
7:57 1/10 46 0 - 7 212 Brady screen pass falls incomplete.
7:54 2/10 46 0 - 7 131 Maroney pounds ahead for 5 yards.
7:10 3/5 41 0 - 7 221 Evans picks up 4 yards off tackle left.
6:27 4/1 37 0 - 7 P 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares for a punt.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) return it to the Ind 23.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 6:15
6:15 1/10 own 23 0 - 7 140 Addai picks his way for 1 yard.
5:40 2/9 own 24 0 - 7 131 Keith picks up 1 yard on a draw play.
4:59 3/8 own 25 0 - 7 050 Manning overthrows Wayne and the pass is incomplete.
4:51 4/8 own 25 0 - 7 P 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for a punt.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) return it to the NE 41.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 4:42
4:42 1/10 own 41 0 - 7 212 Brady tosses the ball out to Faulk. Catch is good and Faulk gets big yardage for a 17 yd gain.
3:57 1/10 42 0 - 7 212 Evans gains 6 yards up the middle.
3:20 2/4 36 0 - 7 131 Maroney picks up 3 yards on a draw play.
2:37 3/1 33 0 - 7 212 Evans picks up 1 yard off tackle left.
1:55 1/10 32 0 - 7 212 Brady's pass is to Faulk who makes the catch and falls forward for a 22 yd gain.
1:13 1/Goal 10 0 - 7 212 Brady's pass is to Brady. Tackled immediately for a 6 yd gain.
0:32 2/Goal 4 0 - 7 212 Faulk gets back to the line of scrimmage before losing the ball.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) recovers the ball on the Ind 5.
0:00 3/Goal 5 0 - 7 221 Time Expires
End of 1st Quarter ... 2007 New England Patriots: 0 2007 Indianapolis Colts: 7
Time Down
YTG Ball On Score
V - H F 2nd Quarter Play by Play
15:00 3/Goal 5 0 - 7 221 PENALTY on Ind: Encroachment, 2 yards enforced on the Ind 5 - NO PLAY.
15:00 3/Goal 3 0 - 7 221 Maroney picks up 1 yard on a draw play.
14:24 4/Goal 2 0 - 7 212 Evans is caught behind the line for a loss of 1 yard.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 14:21
14:21 1/10 own 3 0 - 7 131 Addai picks up 6 yards on a draw play.
13:37 2/4 own 9 0 - 7 140 Keith gains 1 yard on a sweep left.
12:55 3/3 own 10 0 - 7 140 Addai picks up 4 yards on a draw play.
12:12 1/10 own 14 0 - 7 131 Manning completes the pass to Clark who makes the catch and falls forward for a 11 yd gain.
11:33 1/10 own 25 0 - 7 131 Keith pounds ahead for 56 yards.
10:43 1/10 19 0 - 7 221 Addai pounds ahead for 8 yards.
10:02 2/2 11 0 - 7 131 Manning soft pass is to Wayne who gets a few steps before being brought down for a 4 yd gain.
9:23 1/Goal 7 0 - 7 140 Manning's pass into the endzone is just out of reach of Harrison. Incomplete pass.
9:17 2/Goal 7 0 - 7 131 Manning's short pass is to Clark who catches the ball and walks into the endzone.
2007 Indianapolis Colts scores a touchdown!
9:11 PAT 0 - 13 FG 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for the extra point.
The extra point attempt is good.
Drive Summary: 9 plays, 97 yds, 5:10
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 9:11
9:11 Kickoff own 30 0 - 14 K 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares to kickoff.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) catch the ball at the NE 5 and return it to the NE 33.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 9:02
9:02 1/10 own 33 0 - 14 212 Faulk gets back to the line of scrimmage.
8:26 2/10 own 33 0 - 14 131 Faulk pounds ahead for 1 yard.
7:43 3/9 own 34 0 - 14 221 Brady hits Welker who makes the catch and falls forward for a 9 yd gain.
6:57 1/10 own 43 0 - 14 212 Brady overthrows Moss and the pass is incomplete.
6:51 2/10 own 43 0 - 14 221 Brady soft pass is to Moss who makes the catch and falls forward for a 6 yd gain.
6:11 3/4 own 49 0 - 14 122 Maroney pounds ahead for 24 yards.
5:28 1/10 27 0 - 14 212 Brady throws to Moss but he can't hold on to the ball.
5:23 2/10 27 0 - 14 212 Brady screen pass falls incomplete.
5:20 3/10 27 0 - 14 131 Brady hits Welker who gets a few steps before being brought down for a 20 yd gain.
4:33 1/Goal 7 0 - 14 212 Brady soft pass is to Welker who makes the catch and falls forward for a 4 yd gain.
3:47 2/Goal 3 0 - 14 212 Maroney carries, but is tackled for no gain.
3:04 3/Goal 3 0 - 14 122 Brady hits Moss in the endzone.
2007 New England Patriots scores a touchdown!
3:00 PAT 6 - 14 FG 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares for the extra point.
The extra point attempt is good.
Drive Summary: 12 plays, 67 yds, 6:02
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 3:00
3:00 Kickoff own 30 7 - 14 K 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares to kickoff.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) catch the ball at the Ind 6 and return it to the Ind 33.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 2:51
2:51 1/10 own 33 7 - 14 140 Manning overthrows Addai and the pass is incomplete.
2:46 2/10 own 33 7 - 14 230 Manning completes the pass to Addai. Tackled immediately for a 11 yd gain.
2:04 1/10 own 44 7 - 14 131 Manning's pass is just out of reach of Harrison. Incomplete pass.
2:00 2/10 own 44 7 - 14 140 *** 2 Minute Warning ***
2:00 2/10 own 44 7 - 14 131 Manning's pass is to Wayne who holds on to the the ball and runs for a 10 yd gain.
1:51 1/10 46 7 - 14 131 *** 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) CALLS A TIMEOUT ***
1:51 1/10 46 7 - 14 140 Manning's pass is just out of reach of Addai. Incomplete pass.
1:44 2/10 46 7 - 14 131 Manning's long pass is to Wayne who holds on to the the ball and runs for a 33 yd gain.
1:15 1/10 13 7 - 14 131 Manning completes the pass to Harrison who gets a few steps before being run out of bounds for a 10 yd gain.
1:10 1/Goal 3 7 - 14 131 Manning hits Harrison in the endzone.
2007 Indianapolis Colts scores a touchdown!
1:03 PAT 7 - 20 FG 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for the extra point.
The extra point attempt is good.
Drive Summary: 8 plays, 67 yds, 1:48
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 1:03
1:03 Kickoff own 30 7 - 21 K 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares to kickoff.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) catch the ball at the NE 8 and return it to the NE 29.
PENALTY on NE: Holding, 10 yards enforced on the NE 28.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 0:58
0:58 1/10 own 18 7 - 21 212 Brady's pass is batted down. Incomplete pass.
0:54 2/10 own 18 7 - 21 221 Brady's pass is to Welker. Tackled immediately for a 14 yd gain.
0:46 1/10 own 32 7 - 21 221 *** 2007 New England Patriots (NE) CALLS A TIMEOUT ***
0:46 1/10 own 32 7 - 21 212 Brady overthrows Moss and the pass is incomplete.
0:41 2/10 own 32 7 - 21 212 Brady overthrows Moss and the pass is incomplete.
0:37 3/10 own 32 7 - 21 131 Brady hits Stallworth who holds on to the ball, makes a few guys miss for a 24 yd gain before being run out of bounds.
0:28 1/10 44 7 - 21 221 Maroney picks his way to the sidelines for 1 yard. Maroney runs out of bounds.
0:24 2/9 43 7 - 21 221 Brady's pass is to Welker who catches the ball and makes one guy miss before getting knocked out of bounds for a 10 yd gain.
0:19 1/10 33 7 - 21 212 Brady's pass is intercepted.
Gary Brackett returns the interception to the Ind 32.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 0:11
0:11 1/10 own 32 7 - 21 221 Addai picks up 29 yards on a draw play.
0:02 1/10 39 7 - 21 221 *** 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) CALLS A TIMEOUT ***
0:02 1/10 39 7 - 21 FG 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for a FG attempt.
Vinatieri's 56 yd. field goal is right down the middle!
Drive Summary: 1 plays, 29 yds, 0:09
End of 2nd Quarter ... 2007 New England Patriots: 7 2007 Indianapolis Colts: 24
Time Down
YTG Ball On Score
V - H F 3rd Quarter Play by Play
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 15:00
15:00 Kickoff own 30 7 - 24 K 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares to kickoff.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) catch the ball at the Ind 3 and return it to the Ind 21.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 14:53
14:53 1/10 own 21 7 - 24 140 Manning's pass is to Gonzalez who makes the catch and falls forward for a 15 yd gain.
14:15 1/10 own 36 7 - 24 140 Addai gets back to the line of scrimmage.
13:39 2/10 own 36 7 - 24 140 Manning's long pass is just out of reach of Moorehead. Incomplete pass.
13:31 3/10 own 36 7 - 24 140 Manning overthrows Gonzalez and the pass is incomplete.
13:22 4/10 own 36 7 - 24 P 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for a punt.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) return it to the NE 32.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 13:11
13:11 1/10 own 32 7 - 24 212 Evans picks up 2 yards on a draw play.
12:28 2/8 own 34 7 - 24 212 Brady's short pass is to Moss. Catch is good and Moss gets some yardage for a 13 yd gain.
11:46 1/10 own 47 7 - 24 212 Maroney gains 35 yards on a sweep left.
10:59 1/10 18 7 - 24 221 PENALTY on Ind: Encroachment, 5 yards enforced on the Ind 18 - NO PLAY.
10:59 1/5 13 7 - 24 230 Maroney picks his way to the sidelines for 1 yard. Maroney runs out of bounds.
10:17 2/4 12 7 - 24 212 Faulk gets back to the line of scrimmage.
9:38 3/4 12 7 - 24 122 Brady overthrows Welker and the pass is incomplete.
9:33 4/4 12 7 - 24 FG 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares for a FG attempt.
Gostkowski's 29 yd. field goal hooks through the uprights!
Drive Summary: 6 plays, 51 yds, 3:38
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 9:29
9:29 Kickoff own 30 10 - 24 K 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares to kickoff.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) catch the ball at the Ind 11 and return it to the Ind 21.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 9:24
9:24 1/10 own 21 10 - 24 221 Addai rushes for a loss of 4 yards.
8:43 2/14 own 17 10 - 24 230 Addai pounds ahead for 5 yards.
8:07 3/9 own 22 10 - 24 050 Manning completes the pass to Harrison who holds on to the the ball and runs for a 21 yd gain.
7:21 1/10 own 43 10 - 24 221 Addai rushes for a loss of 1 yard.
6:43 2/11 own 42 10 - 24 230 Manning's long pass is to Gonzalez who holds on to the the ball and runs for a 41 yd gain.
5:55 1/10 17 10 - 24 131 Addai gains 3 yards up the middle.
5:12 2/7 14 10 - 24 140 Addai picks up 2 yards on a draw play.
4:34 3/5 12 10 - 24 131 Keith is caught behind the line for a loss of 1 yard.
3:58 4/6 13 10 - 24 FG 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for a FG attempt.
Vinatieri's 30 yd. field goal is right down the middle!
Drive Summary: 8 plays, 66 yds, 5:26
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 3:54
3:54 Kickoff own 30 10 - 27 K 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares to kickoff.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) catch the ball at the NE 6 and return it to the NE 39.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 3:43
3:43 1/10 own 39 10 - 27 212 Brady overthrows Maroney and the pass is incomplete.
3:35 2/10 own 39 10 - 27 221 Brady's pass is just out of the reach of Welker.
3:30 3/10 own 39 10 - 27 221 Brady's pass is to Welker who makes the catch and falls forward for a 15 yd gain.
2:50 1/10 46 10 - 27 212 Evans gets back to the line of scrimmage.
2:16 2/10 46 10 - 27 221 Brady's pass is to Moss who holds on to the ball, makes a few guys miss for a 40 yd gain.
1:26 1/Goal 6 10 - 27 212 Maroney gets 6 yards on a pitch right.
2007 New England Patriots scores a touchdown!
1:22 PAT 16 - 27 FG 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares for the extra point.
The extra point attempt is good.
Drive Summary: 6 plays, 61 yds, 2:21
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 1:22
1:22 Kickoff own 30 17 - 27 K 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares to kickoff.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) catch the ball at the Ind 11 and return it to the NE 32.
PENALTY on Ind: Holding, 10 yards enforced on the Ind 26.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 1:07
1:07 1/10 own 16 17 - 27 140 Manning overthrows Addai and the pass is incomplete.
0:59 2/10 own 16 17 - 27 131 Manning's pass is batted down. Incomplete pass.
0:54 3/10 own 16 17 - 27 050 Manning is sacked by Tedy Bruschi for 4 yards.
0:11 4/14 own 12 17 - 27 P 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for a punt.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) return it to the NE 48.
End of 3rd Quarter ... 2007 New England Patriots: 17 2007 Indianapolis Colts: 27
Time Down
YTG Ball On Score
V - H F 4th Quarter Play by Play
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 15:00
15:00 1/10 own 48 17 - 27 212 Brady hits Welker. Catch is good and Welker gets some yardage for a 16 yd gain.
14:14 1/10 36 17 - 27 221 Maroney carries, but is tackled for no gain.
13:37 2/10 36 17 - 27 221 Brady's pass is to Welker who makes the catch and falls forward for a 15 yd gain.
12:52 1/10 21 17 - 27 212 Brady hits Moss but in and out of his hands.
12:45 2/10 21 17 - 27 131 Maroney rushes for a loss of 2 yards.
12:04 3/12 23 17 - 27 221 Brady completes the pass to Stallworth who catches the ball and makes one guy miss before getting tackled for a 11 yd gain.
11:19 4/1 12 17 - 27 212 Faulk gains 1 yard up the middle.
10:44 1/10 11 17 - 27 212 Brady zips the short pass to Faulk. Catch is good and Faulk gets into the endzone.
2007 New England Patriots scores a touchdown!
10:38 PAT 23 - 27 FG 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares for the extra point.
The extra point attempt is good.
Drive Summary: 8 plays, 52 yds, 4:22
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 10:38
10:38 Kickoff own 30 24 - 27 K 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares to kickoff.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) catch the ball at the Ind 6 and return it to the Ind 21.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 10:32
10:32 1/10 own 21 24 - 27 140 Manning's pass is just out of reach of Wayne. Incomplete pass.
10:26 2/10 own 21 24 - 27 140 Manning completes the long pass to Wayne who gets a few steps before being brought down for a 34 yd gain.
9:39 1/10 45 24 - 27 131 Manning's pass is just out of the reach of Clark.
9:34 2/10 45 24 - 27 230 Manning completes the pass to Wayne who makes the catch and falls forward for a 10 yd gain.
8:53 1/10 35 24 - 27 131 Addai gains 1 yard on a sweep left.
8:12 2/9 34 24 - 27 131 Manning's pass is to Addai. Tackled immediately for a 10 yd gain.
7:29 1/10 24 24 - 27 221 Keith gains 4 yards on a sweep left.
6:53 2/6 20 24 - 27 122 Addai picks up 1 yard off tackle left, and is run out of bounds.
6:15 3/5 19 24 - 27 140 Addai picks up 4 yards on a draw play before running out of bounds.
5:32 4/1 15 24 - 27 FG 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for a FG attempt.
Vinatieri's kick is blocked! Ball is recovered at the NE 23.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 5:23
5:23 1/10 own 23 24 - 27 212 Brady screen pass is to Brady who makes the catch and falls forward for a 1 yd gain.
4:45 2/9 own 24 24 - 27 212 Brady overthrows Moss and the pass is incomplete.
4:39 3/9 own 24 24 - 27 221 Maroney picks up 2 yards on a draw play.
3:58 4/7 own 26 24 - 27 P 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares for a punt.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) return it to the Ind 42.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 3:48
3:48 1/10 own 42 24 - 27 131 Addai gains 6 yards on a sweep left.
3:05 2/4 own 48 24 - 27 122 Manning completes the long pass to Fletcher who makes the catch and falls forward for a 31 yd gain.
2:21 1/10 21 24 - 27 140 Addai carries, but is tackled for no gain.
2:00 2/10 21 24 - 27 230 *** 2 Minute Warning ***
2:00 2/10 21 24 - 27 230 Keith pounds ahead for 3 yards. The ball is stripped free.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) recovers the ball on the NE 17.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 1:54
1:54 1/10 own 17 24 - 27 212 Brady's pass is to Faulk. Faulk falls out of bounds, but holds on to the ball for a 8 yd gain.
1:48 2/2 own 25 24 - 27 212 Brady hits Moss who gets a few steps before being brought down for a 11 yd gain.
1:39 1/10 own 36 24 - 27 212 *** 2007 New England Patriots (NE) CALLS A TIMEOUT ***
1:39 1/10 own 36 24 - 27 212 Brady overthrows Moss and the pass is incomplete.
1:35 2/10 own 36 24 - 27 131 Brady overthrows Welker and the pass is incomplete.
1:30 3/10 own 36 24 - 27 221 Brady completes the pass to Moss who makes the catch and falls forward for a 20 yd gain.
1:10 1/10 44 24 - 27 212 Brady hits Welker who makes the catch and is run out of bounds for a 14 yd gain.
1:03 1/10 30 24 - 27 212 Brady completes the pass to Welker who makes the catch and falls forward for a 8 yd gain.
0:41 2/2 22 24 - 27 122 Brady is sacked by Robert Mathis for 3 yards.
0:21 3/5 25 24 - 27 122 Brady's pass is just out of reach of Gaffney. Incomplete pass.
0:17 4/5 25 24 - 27 FG 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares for a FG attempt.
Gostkowski's 42 yd. field goal is right down the middle!
Drive Summary: 9 plays, 58 yds, 1:37
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 0:13
0:13 Kickoff own 30 27 - 27 K 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares to kickoff.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) catch the ball at the Ind 8 and return it to the Ind 31.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 0:08
0:08 1/10 own 31 27 - 27 131 Manning completes the pass to Clark who gets a few steps before being run out of bounds for a 7 yd gain.
0:02 2/3 own 38 27 - 27 041 Manning's deep pass is broken up. Incomplete pass.
End of 4th Quarter ... 2007 New England Patriots: 27 2007 Indianapolis Colts: 27
Game Time Weather Report for Indianapolis, IN (The RCA Dome):
71 degrees, clear skies, little to no wind
Time Down
YTG Ball On Score
V - H F Overtime 1 Play by Play
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 15:00
15:00 Kickoff own 30 27 - 27 K 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares to kickoff.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) catch the ball at the Ind 7 and return it to the Ind 23.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 14:53
14:53 1/10 own 23 27 - 27 131 Addai gains 4 yards up the middle.
14:11 2/6 own 27 27 - 27 122 Addai carries, but is tackled for a loss of 1 yard.
13:34 3/7 own 26 27 - 27 050 Manning completes the pass to Harrison. Catch is good and Harrison gets some yardage for a 23 yd gain.
12:50 1/10 own 49 27 - 27 221 Keith gets 3 yards on a pitch right.
12:11 2/7 48 27 - 27 230 Manning overthrows Utecht and the pass is incomplete.
12:05 3/7 48 27 - 27 140 Manning's pass is batted down. Incomplete pass.
11:59 4/7 48 27 - 27 P 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for a punt.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) return it to the NE 9.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 11:51
11:51 1/10 own 9 27 - 27 212 Maroney is stopped at the line.
11:12 2/10 own 9 27 - 27 212 Brady completes the pass to Brady. Tackled immediately for a 5 yd gain.
10:28 3/5 own 14 27 - 27 221 Brady hits Stallworth. Catch is good and Stallworth gets some yardage before being run out of bounds for a 19 yd gain.
9:42 1/10 own 33 27 - 27 221 Evans gets 6 yards on a pitch right.
8:58 2/4 own 39 27 - 27 212 Maroney pounds ahead for 2 yards.
8:23 3/2 own 41 27 - 27 221 Brady's pass is to Moss and dropped.
8:17 4/2 own 41 27 - 27 P 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares for a punt.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) return it to the Ind 31.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 8:05
8:05 1/10 own 31 27 - 27 131 Addai picks up 1 yard on a draw play.
7:26 2/9 own 32 27 - 27 140 Manning hits Harrison who makes the catch and falls forward for a 16 yd gain.
6:45 1/10 own 48 27 - 27 221 Addai pounds ahead for 7 yards.
6:01 2/3 45 27 - 27 122 Manning's pass is to Harrison who holds on to the the ball and runs for a 10 yd gain.
5:21 1/10 35 27 - 27 140 Addai picks up 4 yards on a draw play.
4:38 2/6 31 27 - 27 122 Keith gains 3 yards up the middle.
3:58 3/3 28 27 - 27 131 Keith is stopped at the line.
3:20 4/3 28 27 - 27 FG 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for a FG attempt.
Vinatieri's 45 yd. field goal hooks through the uprights!
Drive Summary: 7 plays, 41 yds, 4:45
End of Overtime 1 ... 2007 New England Patriots: 27 2007 Indianapolis Colts: 30
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New England Patriots At Indianapolis Colts Game - Tickets And Preview
From NFL Media.com
Click for tickets to the game!
IT’S THE PERFECT MATCHUP:
UNDEFEATED COLTS & PATS CLASH IN HISTORIC GAME
It hasn’t happened in 88 seasons.
But it will this Sunday in Indianapolis. Two teams with records of 7-0 or better will meet for the first time in NFL history – the New England Patriots (8-0) at the Indianapolis Colts (7-0).
“It will be a circus,” says Colts head coach TONY DUNGY.
Wrong, Coach. It’s already a circus! It is hard to recall a regular-season game that was talked and written about two weeks before it was played. But that’s what has happened for Pats-Colts (CBS, 4:15 PM ET).
“A Week Before Showdown with New England, Colts Must Beat Panthers on Short Week,” said the Associated Press on October 25.
Usually, stories about a team’s next opponent don’t start until perhaps the Wednesday before the game. Not this week.
“Don’t Try to Stop Us; It’s Officially Time to Start the Hype Machine,” said the Indianapolis Star this Monday. “Dream Game Finally Here,” blared the Boston Herald the same day.
The matchup has all the attributes of a classic: last season’s Super Bowl winner against the team that has won it three times in the decade…the league’s top two teams in net points…quarterbacks tied for the most wins since realignment in 2002 – TOM BRADY and PEYTON MANNING (67 apiece)…and opponents that have met seven times in the past four years, including three times in the playoffs.
Everybody will be ready. “You play football for competition, the level of intensity,” says Patriots defensive lineman RICHARD SEYMOUR. “When you have a chance to play against the best team in football, you get excited about it.”
As the NFL reaches the mid-point of its season in Week 9, here are some of the key games:
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (8-0) at INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (7-0)
STORYLINE: The Perfect Bowl!
The Dome will be rocking! What can New England do to take some of the decibels out of those voices? What it has done in all eight of its 2007 games -- score on its first drive, the only team in the NFL to do so in every game this year. The Patriots have scored an opponent-deflating 79 points in the first quarter this season, while giving up only seven points in the period.
Of course, that’s a huge hurdle for any opponent, but if anybody can parry such an opening salvo, it’s Indianapolis. Last season in the AFC Championship Game, it went into the half down 21-6 to New England before outgaining the Patriots 311-149 in total yards in the second half during an 18-point comeback for a 38-34 win.
But who knows what will happen Sunday with these two opportunistic teams? They are tied for the league lead in turnover differential with a plus-11.
PATS-COLTS FACTOID
NFL NETWORK TREATS IT LIKE A MID-SEASON SUPER BOWL: NFL Network will broadcast 36-and-a-half hours of coverage surrounding this Sunday’s Patriots-Colts game, a record for the network for a non-Super Bowl game.
One of the key battles will come between New England’s receivers and Indy’s No. 1 NFL pass defense, led by havoc-causing S BOB SANDERS. The Patriots have two receivers in the top five in NFL catches – WES WELKER (tie, No. 2, 56) and RANDY MOSS (No. 4, 47). They have combined with DONTÉ STALLWORTH for a total of 20 TD receptions.
The Colts hope to get WR MARVIN HARRISON (knee) back this week to prevent the Pats from ganging up on REGGIE WAYNE (fourth in the NFL with 668 yards). New England has added to its arsenal with the return of RB LAURENCE MARONEY (75 yards last week). The Colts, on the other hand, have the league’s top TD rusher, JOSEPH ADDAI (7). These guys always seem to have the answers!
Click for tickets to the game!
IT’S THE PERFECT MATCHUP:
UNDEFEATED COLTS & PATS CLASH IN HISTORIC GAME
It hasn’t happened in 88 seasons.
But it will this Sunday in Indianapolis. Two teams with records of 7-0 or better will meet for the first time in NFL history – the New England Patriots (8-0) at the Indianapolis Colts (7-0).
“It will be a circus,” says Colts head coach TONY DUNGY.
Wrong, Coach. It’s already a circus! It is hard to recall a regular-season game that was talked and written about two weeks before it was played. But that’s what has happened for Pats-Colts (CBS, 4:15 PM ET).
“A Week Before Showdown with New England, Colts Must Beat Panthers on Short Week,” said the Associated Press on October 25.
Usually, stories about a team’s next opponent don’t start until perhaps the Wednesday before the game. Not this week.
“Don’t Try to Stop Us; It’s Officially Time to Start the Hype Machine,” said the Indianapolis Star this Monday. “Dream Game Finally Here,” blared the Boston Herald the same day.
The matchup has all the attributes of a classic: last season’s Super Bowl winner against the team that has won it three times in the decade…the league’s top two teams in net points…quarterbacks tied for the most wins since realignment in 2002 – TOM BRADY and PEYTON MANNING (67 apiece)…and opponents that have met seven times in the past four years, including three times in the playoffs.
Everybody will be ready. “You play football for competition, the level of intensity,” says Patriots defensive lineman RICHARD SEYMOUR. “When you have a chance to play against the best team in football, you get excited about it.”
As the NFL reaches the mid-point of its season in Week 9, here are some of the key games:
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (8-0) at INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (7-0)
STORYLINE: The Perfect Bowl!
The Dome will be rocking! What can New England do to take some of the decibels out of those voices? What it has done in all eight of its 2007 games -- score on its first drive, the only team in the NFL to do so in every game this year. The Patriots have scored an opponent-deflating 79 points in the first quarter this season, while giving up only seven points in the period.
Of course, that’s a huge hurdle for any opponent, but if anybody can parry such an opening salvo, it’s Indianapolis. Last season in the AFC Championship Game, it went into the half down 21-6 to New England before outgaining the Patriots 311-149 in total yards in the second half during an 18-point comeback for a 38-34 win.
But who knows what will happen Sunday with these two opportunistic teams? They are tied for the league lead in turnover differential with a plus-11.
PATS-COLTS FACTOID
NFL NETWORK TREATS IT LIKE A MID-SEASON SUPER BOWL: NFL Network will broadcast 36-and-a-half hours of coverage surrounding this Sunday’s Patriots-Colts game, a record for the network for a non-Super Bowl game.
One of the key battles will come between New England’s receivers and Indy’s No. 1 NFL pass defense, led by havoc-causing S BOB SANDERS. The Patriots have two receivers in the top five in NFL catches – WES WELKER (tie, No. 2, 56) and RANDY MOSS (No. 4, 47). They have combined with DONTÉ STALLWORTH for a total of 20 TD receptions.
The Colts hope to get WR MARVIN HARRISON (knee) back this week to prevent the Pats from ganging up on REGGIE WAYNE (fourth in the NFL with 668 yards). New England has added to its arsenal with the return of RB LAURENCE MARONEY (75 yards last week). The Colts, on the other hand, have the league’s top TD rusher, JOSEPH ADDAI (7). These guys always seem to have the answers!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Randy Moss "Smartest Receiver I've Ever Coached" - Bill Belichick
When people would talk about Randy Moss in negative terms, I replied on more than one occasion, that he was smart and offensive coordinators would be intelligent to talk with him.
Of course, many were not.
Enter New England Patriots' Coach Bill Belichick.
Coach Belichick -- I believed -- would allow Randy Moss to be, well, Randy Moss. The Oakland Raiders did not understand how to get the best out of him and seemed to be all too concerned about controlling him and not giving him the best environment he needed to play in. There are some people who can't get passed skin color and see a person's talent. They let stereotypes block their thinking -- not Bill Belichick.
He called Randy Moss the "Smartest Receiver I've Ever Coached."
Hat's off to him.
Monday, October 29, 2007
New England Patriots' Bill Belichick Runs Up Score Seven Times in Seven Weeks
In his latest game against the Washington Redskins, New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick kept his starters in and went for it on 4th down after already leading by 38 points, 38-0. This practice lead to a 52-7 victory, and a very pissed off Washington Redskin in Randall Godfrey. He said "I said something to (Belichick) after the game," Godfrey said to NBCSports.com. "I told him, 'You need to show some respect for the game.' You just don't do that. I don't care how bad it is. You're up 35 points and you're still throwing deep? That's no respect."
He's right.
Bill Belichick's comments were robotic: "I've been coaching too long," Belichick said. "I remember being on that side. When I was coaching defense it was my job to keep the score down, not theirs. When you're playing defense it's your job to stop them. It's not (the offense's) job to not score. It's like I tell the offense, what the (bleep) do you think I send you guys out there for? To punt? We have a punt team for that. That's not your job. Your job is to go out there and score points. If you come off the field and you haven't scored points you haven't done your job."
Yeah. But even Bill knows when it's time to take your pedal off the metal. He's coaching with a real chip on his shoulder that could get him into a lot of trouble.
But even more telling is the number of times that he's done this -- seven times in eight games. Look at this stat from NBC Sports:
Late Patriots' scores
• Week 1 at New York Jets (38-14): 1-yard TD by Heath Evans, 1:58 left
• Week 2 vs. San Diego (38-14): 3-yard TD by Sammy Morris, 3:18 left
• Week 3 vs. Buffalo (38-7): 45-yard TD catch by Randy Moss, 10:22 left
• Week 4 at Cincy (34-13): 14-yard TD catch by Randy Moss, 3:18 left
• Week 5 vs. Cleveland (34-17): 15-yard fumble return TD by Randall Gay, 0:42 left
• Week 6 vs. Dallas (48-27): 1-yard TD run by Kyle Eckel, 0:19 left
• Week 7 at Miami (49-28): Brady returns to the game with the Patriots up 42-21 and 10:30 remaining and threw a touchdown pass to Wes Welker from 16 yards out with 8:18 left
Whatever Bill's doing, it's got to stop.
He's right.
Bill Belichick's comments were robotic: "I've been coaching too long," Belichick said. "I remember being on that side. When I was coaching defense it was my job to keep the score down, not theirs. When you're playing defense it's your job to stop them. It's not (the offense's) job to not score. It's like I tell the offense, what the (bleep) do you think I send you guys out there for? To punt? We have a punt team for that. That's not your job. Your job is to go out there and score points. If you come off the field and you haven't scored points you haven't done your job."
Yeah. But even Bill knows when it's time to take your pedal off the metal. He's coaching with a real chip on his shoulder that could get him into a lot of trouble.
But even more telling is the number of times that he's done this -- seven times in eight games. Look at this stat from NBC Sports:
Late Patriots' scores
• Week 1 at New York Jets (38-14): 1-yard TD by Heath Evans, 1:58 left
• Week 2 vs. San Diego (38-14): 3-yard TD by Sammy Morris, 3:18 left
• Week 3 vs. Buffalo (38-7): 45-yard TD catch by Randy Moss, 10:22 left
• Week 4 at Cincy (34-13): 14-yard TD catch by Randy Moss, 3:18 left
• Week 5 vs. Cleveland (34-17): 15-yard fumble return TD by Randall Gay, 0:42 left
• Week 6 vs. Dallas (48-27): 1-yard TD run by Kyle Eckel, 0:19 left
• Week 7 at Miami (49-28): Brady returns to the game with the Patriots up 42-21 and 10:30 remaining and threw a touchdown pass to Wes Welker from 16 yards out with 8:18 left
Whatever Bill's doing, it's got to stop.
New England Patriots Run Up Score Vs. Washington Redskins - 52 - 7 (ESPN)
New England's certainly developing bad karma with their behavior.
By John Clayton
ESPN.com
Updated: October 28, 2007
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The Patriots' zeal for stealing opposing defensive coaches' signals in the season opener against the Jets cost the team a first-round choice and $250,000. It also made coach Bill Belichick's bank account lighter by $500,000.
Now, the only hand signals worth mentioning might be the possibility of obscene gestures coming from the coaches and players he beats.
On Sunday, Belichick kicked a Hall of Fame coach while he was down, running up the score on Joe Gibbs' Redskins to 52-7. This comes a week after Belichick reinserted quarterback Tom Brady midway through the fourth quarter of a 49-28 win over the Dolphins.
What seemed cute three weeks when Brady threw an unnecessary last-minute touchdown pass to Kyle Eckel while whipping the Cowboys 48-27 has turned ugly.
Welcome to Belichick's no-mercy policy.
Although criticism and questions about Belichick's moves will further paint him as the bad guy in his showdown against Tony Dungy and the Colts next Sunday, the Pats coach simply doesn't care. He wore the black hoodie in the Week 1 spy incident and accepted his punishment. Now, he's making the league pay with blowouts.
That's why he …
• … kept Brady on the field for an 88-yard drive six minutes into the fourth quarter despite already leading 38-0. On that 14-play drive, the Patriots went for a fourth-and-1 at the Redskins' 7 and ordered a 35-yard bomb to Randy Moss.
• … went for a fourth-and-2 at the Redskins' 37 on the next possession while leading 45-0. Backup QB Matt Cassel hit Jabar Gaffney with a 21-yard pass. Two plays later, Cassel scrambled for a 15-yard touchdown run to open a 52-0 lead.
Asked why he would go for two fourth downs in a blowout, Belichick responded, "What do you want us to do, kick a field goal?"
Pressed further, he said, "It's 38-0. It's fourth down. We're just out there playing."
Still, there's no doubt what he's really doing. Redskins veterans Phillip Daniels and Marcus Washington, who have 18 years combined NFL experience, both said they had never seen a team run up the score the way the Patriots are doing.
Face it, folks, Belichick plans to lay waste to the NFL. Commissioner Roger Goodell took away a first-rounder, so the Patriots will take away your firstborn. Belichick has assembled perhaps the most dominating team in NFL history, and he's intent on destroying all opponents in his path.
Will the Colts be next? Although Indianapolis is also undefeated, has beaten the Colts in their past three meetings and is the defending Super Bowl champ, the Patriots are the early 4½-point favorites.
Sunday's game shows how Belichick plans to handle the rest of the season. Anyone thinking he will rest Brady in the final month before the playoffs is wrong. He will allow his future Hall of Fame quarterback to shatter every record imaginable.
Against the Redskins, Brady threw three more touchdowns, bringing his eight-game total to 30 and increasing his team's scoring average to 41.3. Oh, and Brady also ran for two touchdowns Sunday.
Jim Rogash/Getty Images
Joe Gibbs said he didn't mind that Bill Belichick maintained his aggressive nature late in Sunday's blowout.
Yes, Belichick did rest a few defensive starters in the final six minutes, but he blitzed and did everything to keep the Redskins out of the end zone. Veteran players who weren't on the field encouraged those on the field to maintain the shutout. Belichick was clearly disappointed when the Redskins scored with three minutes left.
As for Gibbs, he didn't have a problem with Belichick's tactics, The two coaches shook hands after the game, although they certainly didn't make a lot of small talk.
"No, I have no problem with anything that they did," Gibbs said. "Nothing, no problems from me."
But Redskins players such as Daniels did have a problem, saying flat out that Belichick was running up the score.
Of course, the Redskins didn't have the ability to stop it. Their defense entered the game short-handed and left beheaded. Fred Smoot, the team's third cornerback, couldn't play because of a hamstring injury. Linebacker Marcus Washington was limited to passing plays because of a sore hamstring. On the Patriots' first touchdown drive, starting cornerback Carlos Rogers suffered an injury that could range from a sprained MCL (out for a few days) to a torn ACL (lost for the season). Linebacker Rocky McIntosh also was injured.
Consequently, the Redskins lost their opportunity to match up with the Pats' top four receivers. Gibbs had just three true corners left on the active roster -- Shawn Springs, Leigh Torrence and David Macklin. Brady completed 29 of 38 for 306 yards and three touchdowns.
To make matters worse, Gibbs and the coaches lost their communication system during the game. They couldn't work the headsets.
"There were issues," Gibbs said. "It's a problem across the league. I don't want to use that as an excuse for what happened to us today. We'll just continue to let the league know what happened to us today, and we'll just have to see how they deal with it."
Belichick was aware of the problem but, naturally, didn't care. He was communicating his own way -- sending a message to the 31 other teams that the Pats will take no prisoners.
It's an attitude that's going over big in the Patriots' locker room.
"It's just something the coaching staff wants to do," wide receiver Donte' Stallworth said. "We're behind them for whatever they want to do. Whatever play they call, we are going to run it.
"We've been attacked since the start of the season, so we don't care. Whatever is going on out there, we just go out and play and try to execute what we are doing."
That's exactly what the Patriots are doing. They are executing everyone. Next stop is Indianapolis.
Hide the kids.
John Clayton, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame writers' wing, is a senior writer for ESPN.com.
By John Clayton
ESPN.com
Updated: October 28, 2007
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The Patriots' zeal for stealing opposing defensive coaches' signals in the season opener against the Jets cost the team a first-round choice and $250,000. It also made coach Bill Belichick's bank account lighter by $500,000.
Now, the only hand signals worth mentioning might be the possibility of obscene gestures coming from the coaches and players he beats.
On Sunday, Belichick kicked a Hall of Fame coach while he was down, running up the score on Joe Gibbs' Redskins to 52-7. This comes a week after Belichick reinserted quarterback Tom Brady midway through the fourth quarter of a 49-28 win over the Dolphins.
What seemed cute three weeks when Brady threw an unnecessary last-minute touchdown pass to Kyle Eckel while whipping the Cowboys 48-27 has turned ugly.
Welcome to Belichick's no-mercy policy.
Although criticism and questions about Belichick's moves will further paint him as the bad guy in his showdown against Tony Dungy and the Colts next Sunday, the Pats coach simply doesn't care. He wore the black hoodie in the Week 1 spy incident and accepted his punishment. Now, he's making the league pay with blowouts.
That's why he …
• … kept Brady on the field for an 88-yard drive six minutes into the fourth quarter despite already leading 38-0. On that 14-play drive, the Patriots went for a fourth-and-1 at the Redskins' 7 and ordered a 35-yard bomb to Randy Moss.
• … went for a fourth-and-2 at the Redskins' 37 on the next possession while leading 45-0. Backup QB Matt Cassel hit Jabar Gaffney with a 21-yard pass. Two plays later, Cassel scrambled for a 15-yard touchdown run to open a 52-0 lead.
Asked why he would go for two fourth downs in a blowout, Belichick responded, "What do you want us to do, kick a field goal?"
Pressed further, he said, "It's 38-0. It's fourth down. We're just out there playing."
Still, there's no doubt what he's really doing. Redskins veterans Phillip Daniels and Marcus Washington, who have 18 years combined NFL experience, both said they had never seen a team run up the score the way the Patriots are doing.
Face it, folks, Belichick plans to lay waste to the NFL. Commissioner Roger Goodell took away a first-rounder, so the Patriots will take away your firstborn. Belichick has assembled perhaps the most dominating team in NFL history, and he's intent on destroying all opponents in his path.
Will the Colts be next? Although Indianapolis is also undefeated, has beaten the Colts in their past three meetings and is the defending Super Bowl champ, the Patriots are the early 4½-point favorites.
Sunday's game shows how Belichick plans to handle the rest of the season. Anyone thinking he will rest Brady in the final month before the playoffs is wrong. He will allow his future Hall of Fame quarterback to shatter every record imaginable.
Against the Redskins, Brady threw three more touchdowns, bringing his eight-game total to 30 and increasing his team's scoring average to 41.3. Oh, and Brady also ran for two touchdowns Sunday.
Jim Rogash/Getty Images
Joe Gibbs said he didn't mind that Bill Belichick maintained his aggressive nature late in Sunday's blowout.
Yes, Belichick did rest a few defensive starters in the final six minutes, but he blitzed and did everything to keep the Redskins out of the end zone. Veteran players who weren't on the field encouraged those on the field to maintain the shutout. Belichick was clearly disappointed when the Redskins scored with three minutes left.
As for Gibbs, he didn't have a problem with Belichick's tactics, The two coaches shook hands after the game, although they certainly didn't make a lot of small talk.
"No, I have no problem with anything that they did," Gibbs said. "Nothing, no problems from me."
But Redskins players such as Daniels did have a problem, saying flat out that Belichick was running up the score.
Of course, the Redskins didn't have the ability to stop it. Their defense entered the game short-handed and left beheaded. Fred Smoot, the team's third cornerback, couldn't play because of a hamstring injury. Linebacker Marcus Washington was limited to passing plays because of a sore hamstring. On the Patriots' first touchdown drive, starting cornerback Carlos Rogers suffered an injury that could range from a sprained MCL (out for a few days) to a torn ACL (lost for the season). Linebacker Rocky McIntosh also was injured.
Consequently, the Redskins lost their opportunity to match up with the Pats' top four receivers. Gibbs had just three true corners left on the active roster -- Shawn Springs, Leigh Torrence and David Macklin. Brady completed 29 of 38 for 306 yards and three touchdowns.
To make matters worse, Gibbs and the coaches lost their communication system during the game. They couldn't work the headsets.
"There were issues," Gibbs said. "It's a problem across the league. I don't want to use that as an excuse for what happened to us today. We'll just continue to let the league know what happened to us today, and we'll just have to see how they deal with it."
Belichick was aware of the problem but, naturally, didn't care. He was communicating his own way -- sending a message to the 31 other teams that the Pats will take no prisoners.
It's an attitude that's going over big in the Patriots' locker room.
"It's just something the coaching staff wants to do," wide receiver Donte' Stallworth said. "We're behind them for whatever they want to do. Whatever play they call, we are going to run it.
"We've been attacked since the start of the season, so we don't care. Whatever is going on out there, we just go out and play and try to execute what we are doing."
That's exactly what the Patriots are doing. They are executing everyone. Next stop is Indianapolis.
Hide the kids.
John Clayton, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame writers' wing, is a senior writer for ESPN.com.
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