Bellichick Fined 500K

In case you hadn’t hear yet, here’s the link to the ESPN.com article detailing the NFL’s ruling on the New England Patriots’ sideline videotaping/signal stealing scandal.  Coach Bill Bellichick was fined 500,000 dollars.  New England Patriots ownership was fine 250,000 dollars.  The team must also forfeit its first round draft pick in the next NFL draft if they make the playoffs.  If they fail to make the playoffs (not at all likely) they will forfeit their second and third round draft picks.  No suspensions were levied by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for the cheating infraction.

Reviews of this particular punishment have been mixed.  While initially the punishment seems fairly harsh - a half a million dollars and a first round draft pick are nothing to sneeze at - the fact remains that the Patriots own two first round picks, having acquired San Francisco’s first pick in the draft.  Now, instead of getting two first round picks, the Patriots are only getting one.  I suppose it’s slightly apropos that Goodell’s ruling on this particular cheating infraction has served to help re-level the NFL draft playing field.  Was I the only one who didn’t realize the Patriots we due for two first rounders in the offseason?  Can any imagine the destruction they would have leveled on the NFL next year if they’d gotten both of them?

You can get all your New England Patriots tickets at www.stubhub.com.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on September 14, 2007 - Post a comment

Goodell’s Ruling On Bellichick Will Have Ripple Effect

There’s a very interesting article on ESPN.com detailing the fact that Commissioner Roger Goodell’s disciplinary decision relating to the Patriots’ recent videotaping scandal will have rippling effects throughout the league.  Though Goodell’s decision will only immediately affect the Patriots, whether it be via loss of draft picks in the future or by the possible suspension of coach Bill Bellichick for a game or four, the decision will also have an effect on the entire league, as well as the league-wide perception of Goodell himself.  If Goodell comes down like a hammer on the Patriots, then he will be seen as a strict authoratarian, harsh to be sure, but fair and balanced.  If he let’s the Pats slide, then he may be viewed as a player-hater, working for the NFL’s version of the Man.

This is quite the conundrum for Goodell, mostly because this truly isn’t that big of a deal, really.  People all over the NFL steal signs.  If this was anyone but the Patriots, it wouldn’t be headline news.  Unfortunately, it’s the polarizing Bellichick at the center of the controversy, and the most visible team in the NFL as well.  People love to drag their champions through the mud.  Now Goodell is stuck between a rock and a hard place with the situation, and his decision will have repercussions for years to come around the league.

You can get all your New England Patriots tickets at www.stubhub.com.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on September 13, 2007 - Post a comment

Patriots Await Punishment

According to this report out of ESPN.com, the New England Patriots are now waiting Commissioner Roger Goodell’s ruling on their punishment for their violation of NFL rules last Sunday.  The Patriots, accused of spying on the New York Jets and stealing their play signals via video tape, were ruled to have violated league policy, and must now simply await their punishment.  Many pundits are claiming that Goodell will come down hard on the Patriots, in an effort to send a message to the rest of the league about his stance on cheating of any kind.

Bill Bellichick gave a small statement about the situation before the media and then fielded some questions, though he deflected most questions about the videotaping event itself.  When the media pressed him for more answers, he simply walked away from the podium.  This should come as no surprise to anyone who has spent any amount of time following Bellichick and the Patriots, as their coach is known for being tight-lipped with the media.

You can get all your New England Patriots tickets at www.stubhub.com.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on September 12, 2007 - Post a comment

Patriots Camera Confiscated

According to this report out of ESPN.com, the NFL is investigating the New England Patriots for possible rules violations.  NFL security confiscated a video camera and tape from a New England Patriots employee last Sunday during Sunday’s game vs. the New York Jets, according to the report.  The confiscated items were sealed away and mailed to the league office, where they will be investigated.  If the league finds that any wrongdoing has occurred, they will hand down punishment at that point.

Though nothing has been proven up to this point, this is not the first time the Patriots have found themselves in the middle of a controversy involving allegations that they may be trying to circumvent NFL regulations to gain a competitive edge.  The Pats have been accused by multiple teams of signal stealing, and they may finally have been caught red-handed.  Only time will tell if any actual infraction has taken place.

You can get all your New England Patriots tickets at www.stubhub.com.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on September 11, 2007 - Post a comment

Patriots Win First Game in Style

Making Patriots fans and fantasy football managers the world over very happy, the New England Patriots defeated the New York Jets 38-14 on Sunday, with big time performances from Tom Brady and Co.  However, the biggest and most pleasant surprise was the big game from Randy Moss, writes ESPN.com’s Len Pasquarelli.  Moss, who sat out most of training camp and didn’t play a snap during the preseason, had one of the best performances of his career.

Moss caught all nine of the passes sent his way by Pro Bowl QB Tom Brady.   He turned those passes into 183 yards through the air and one touchdown, giving Patriots fans a real reason to start getting very excited about this season.  Moss gives the Patriots an explosive down-field threat and will also draw multiple double teams, thus opening up the offense for Brady to throw to his other receivers, who should all have banner years playing with Moss.

You can get all your New England Patriots tickets at www.stubhub.com.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on September 10, 2007 - Post a comment

Brady Once Again to be Injury Report Staple

In one of the best running jokes in the NFL right now, it is being reported by ESPN.com that Tom Brady once again finds himself on the New England Patriots’ injury report.  Brady has been a regular feature on the injury report for years, all the time with the same chronic shoulder issue.  It should be noted that this chronic shoulder problem has not caused Brady to actually ever miss a game.  He has started 108 straight games, won three Super Bowls, been named to the Pro Bowl, and dated some of the most beautiful people in the world - all with a chronic shoulder injury.

So, Tom Brady, on the eve of the weekend when the NFL will finally give its salivating fans exactly what they want - on the cusp of a season in which I, as your fantasy football owner in my league, hope you throw one million touchdown passes with that bum shoulder - I salute you, sir.  You are an inspiration to people with chronic shoulder injuries that don’t actually preclude them from doing their jobs on a regular basis everywhere.

You can get all your New England Patriots tickets at www.stubhub.com.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on September 7, 2007 - Post a comment

Randy Moss Could Play in Game 1

According to a report by Len Pasquarelli on ESPN.com, Randy Moss may be ready to play by Game 1 of the regular season.  The five-time Pro-Bowler was not listed on the Patriots injury reports.  The reports - released Wednesday - while not as detailed as the reports issued later in the week, could finally signal that Moss is ready to return to action after a leg injury kept him out of most of Patriots training camp.  Moss did not play a single minute during the preseason, and there are legitimate concerns, among the media, coaches, and even Moss himself, that he may not yet be in sync with the team.  No official announcement has yet been made as to whether or not Moss will play.

Moss, for his part, has been taking a very quiet and humble approach to the whole thing.  He has not once run his mouth about needing to be on the field to be effective, or how he needs the ball in his hands for this team to win.  For the first time in his career, it seems that Moss is relishing just being a member of the team.  His quotes paint the picture of a team player who is concerned more with team chemistry and winning than catching any set number of passes this season.  If Randy Moss is indeed physically read to go - and if this new, no attitude Randy Moss sticks around for the entire season - the Patriots look even scarier than before.

You can get all your New England Patriots tickets at www.stubhub.com.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on September 6, 2007 - Post a comment

Ex-Patriot Accused of Assault

A story out of ESPN.com is reporting that punter Danny Baugher was arrested for assault after being released by the New England Patriots earlier in the week.  Baugher was taken into custody after getting into an altercation with his father during which Baugher allegedly punched his dad in the face.  The police report claims that Baugher smelled of alcohol and had trouble standing due to intoxication, but Danny did own up to the fact that the altercation had begun out of his issue with having been released by the Patriots.

Baugher, who has bounced around the NFL on practice squads and sidelines for the past two seasons, was hopeful that he had found a full-time spot with the Patriots.  Apparently, after learning that this was not to be his fate in 2007, Danny’s response was to get drunk and slug his father Erle directly in the face.  Erle, for his part, decline medical treatment, yet again proving my theory that middle-aged dudes named Erle are just tough as nails as a rule.  Don’t mess with guys named Erle, especially if you’re a failed NFL punter, and the Erle is question is your dad.

Almost makes you wonder why the Patriots cut him.  I mean, who wouldn’t want a guy who deals with adversity by getting drunk and punching his father in the face as a member of their team?

You can get all your New England Patriots tickets at www.stubhub.com.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on September 5, 2007 - Post a comment

Patriots Preview Posted

ESPN.com has posted preseason previews for every single NFL team in preparation for the beginning of the regular season this week.  Their write-up on the Patriots can be found here.   Though ESPN doesn’t do a whole lot to shed new light on the team, they do hit all the high points rather nicely to help give fans who haven’t had time to pay attention during the offseason a quick recap of what the Patriots have been up to since 2006.  The article spends much of its time detailing the new additions the Patriots made via free agency and trades during the offseason, focusing mostly on Adelius Thomas and that new and improved corps of wide receivers.

The article discusses the possibility of team chemistry becoming an issue with all the changes made in the offseason.  Such a flurry of moves is uncharacteristic of the Patriots under Bill Bellichick.  However, I don’t see this becoming a real problem, as the New England Patriots are generally some of the most professional men in the National Football League.  The real issue for the Patriots this year that the preseason preview addresses is Laurence Maroney.  If Maroney can get some traction and establish himself as a reliable every-down back, the Patriots are in good shape.  If he can’t get his run game going, then the Patriots may become a one-dimensional pass-first team, and that could spell headaches as the season progresses.

You can get all your New England Patriots tickets at www.stubhub.com.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on September 4, 2007 - Post a comment


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