Tag Archives: Devin McCourty

January 31, 2013 · 5:31 AM

But Would The Pats?

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Yesterday Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed was asked about playing for the New England Patriots. His response was this:

“Yeah, oh yeah, man, I could definitely play for coach Belichick,”Reed responded. “He is a great coach. I’m sure he can help me to expand my football knowledge even more as a player and as a coach, so if I’m ever able to be around him, just like I was at the Pro Bowl, it’s huge.

“It’s the reason why I wear my sweater cut off a little bit. He’s the first guy I saw like, ‘That’s cool.’ You know, that’s cool. He cuts those sweater sleeves, and he’ll be comfortable. So there’s a reason why. Most people will tell you around the facility that’s how I look. It’s just a blessing to even have met, to know coach Belichick.”

Thanks to BlackSportsOnline for the quote.

The man love has been well documented. But would the Pats go after Reed? They’ve developed Devin McCourty to be that free safety. He’s not in the same league as an even aging Reed but would bringing in Reed derail his progression?

I like Felger’s idea of bringing in Bernard Pollard. He’s definitely an upgrade over Gregory and Chung. In fact my bold prediction is Chung won’t be back. Another wasted high second round pick. The team already cut ties with Ron Brace, so Chung wouldn’t shock me.

Some will say to just have McCourty and Reed both out there playing safety but they’re both free safeties. If you think that’s how the league is trending and you don’t need a strong safety, go for it.

My one fear is Belichick’s last Pro Bowl man crush, Chad Ochocinco. I’d hate for Reed to be a bust. But it’d be interesting to say the least having him back there hopefully solidifying the Pats defense.

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November 12, 2012 · 5:35 AM

Squeaking Out A Win

As the Patriots drove in the fourth quarter yesterday I had the thought pretty much everyone that’s a Pats fan had, a TD will ice this game. The only problem with that is that the Pats settled for a field goal again and clung on to a six point lead with a little over two minutes left in the game.

This all came minutes after the Pats had stripped the Bills on the one and kept a 10 point lead. In recent typical Patriots fashion though, they three and outed (for only like the 8th time this season) when all they needed to do was get a few first downs. This theme goes all the way back to the 2007 Super Bowl. We really should be having our defense ice games instead of the offense…

Back to where I started, the Pats clinging to a three point lead settle for the field goal. They’re up six with a little over two minutes to play. I had flashbacks to the Baltimore game. The Pats losing on a last minute TD (or FG in the Baltimore game case).

Then the unthinkable happens. Full disclosure; I fell asleep. I had a late gig the night before, stayed over in NH but still only managed about 5 hours sleep. I think my lack of sleep finally caught up with me around four o’clock.

I wake up to highlights of Devin McCourty, yup, that Devin McCourty intercepting Ryan Fittzpatrick and icing the game for the Pats. They hang on for the six point lead clearly not covering the 11 point spread they were favored by.

A wins a win. I can’t believe I fell asleep for the end. But the Pats were the only AFC East team to win yesterday, extending their lead in the division. They sit as the #3 seed if the playoffs started today. Time to start gelling as a team and get stuff tighter. If you’re really a Super Bowl contender you don’t play that close against Buffalo. Hopefully Talib in the lineup next week helps the team. We’ll see.

Side note: The blog will continue for at least the next year as I renewed both my domain (5 years) and subscription (1 year) with WordPress. So tell your friends, and I’ll be here.

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September 24, 2012 · 6:34 AM

I Give Up

“Hey fucker, you’re ruining my sport!!!”

“Can someone please tell these [expletive] zebras foot locker called and they’re needed Back at work !!!! #BreakingPoint” – Brandon Spikes via Twitter

To say that last night’s officiating was a travesty is an insult to travesty. Same for awful, abominable, alarming, appalling, atrocious, deplorable, depressing, dire, disgusting, distressing, dreadful, fearful, frightful, ghastly, grody, gross, gruesome, grungy, harrowing, hideous, horrendous, horrible, horrific, horrifying, nasty, offensive, raunchy, repulsive, shitty, shocking, stinking, synthetic, tough, ugly, unpleasant, and unsightly.

I have never been that pissed off about the officiating in a game in probably forever. If the Pats beat themselves like in the Super Bowl against the Giants, I swallow very hard, but still swallow the pill. When the Pats clearly have a good game plan heading in and are beating a superior opponent only to get screwed by the refs blows my mind.

If the scab refs had called the field goal at the end of the game as no good, would we still be having this conversation? Yes. But instead of just Patriots’ fans being appalled it would be the entire NFL community as well as all the jackasses on ESPN, The NFL Network etc.

Week one I really didn’t notice too much but the last two weeks it’s become more and more apparent that Uncle Roger needs to get this shit taken care of. I actually tweeted the commish last night (@nflcommish) and encourage anyone with a Twitter account to tweet the commish and let him know that you’re really hating the bullshit product that the NFL is putting out there right now.

Like Collinsworth said last night, you can’t blame the replacement officials, they’re just way out of their league. How else does Devin McCourty get called for a pass interference when he never touched the guy or Gronk gets called for a hold when he has his arms on the outside the whole time?

I’d say I’ll boycott the NFL until they resolve this but even shitty football is better than no football. So I’ll suffer, but they need to fix this shit and fast. To the point that I’m thinking that the league should throw out the records and start when the refs come back. Shortened season? It would erase two Pats losses, just saying.

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November 27, 2011 · 10:36 PM

Pats Squeak It Out

If you’ve been following the blog this NFL season you know that yesterday’s Pats/Eagles game was an easy pick for me. Because I said a while back that I would never take the Eagles for the rest of the season. The “Dream Team” screwed my picks on so many occasions, I swore, never again.

Tell them Jericho…

So back to the Patriots squeaking out a win. I’ll be brief.

I was really getting upset when they team went down 10-0 and gave up huge yardage plays to Vince Young. Yes, that Vince Young. The same Vince Young that I said to coworkers after the USC/Texas National Championship game that he wouldn’t be a good NFL quarterback. Well, he was tossing bombs like he was John Elway. Notice how I didn’t say “touchdown bombs”…

That was an interesting stat they threw out there near the end of the game. The Pats give up the most yards to opponents but the stat that really counts, points allowed, they’re ranked 10th in the league. Not too shabby. Of course only letting KC put up three on you helps that stat. And if you didn’t let Vince Young have that garbage time TD, that’s another seven in your favor. Just saying.

So what did I like in the game? Well, I liked that I didn’t see Kevin Faulk. That I saw very little Danny Woodhead. That they decided to put Wes Welker back into the offensive game plan after a week off last week. I liked that we got to see the rookie running backs. Sure it was after the game was in the bag but I was getting worried that Green-Ellis was developing Sandyvagititus tendencies as he’s pussy footing behind the line. I want the running back to take the ball and plow through the hole.

The Pats defense came out very shaky but then calmed it down. They were able to pick off Young and swing the game heavily in their favor heading into the half knowing they were receiving to start the second half.

Overall it was a pretty boring game. There were a couple great plays (Welker’s TD, Brady getting them out of their own end zone) but overall it was kind of a sleeper. Unfortunately I think that’s how the rest of the season has the potential to go.

Left on the schedule the Pats have the Colts, Redskins, Broncos, Miami, and Buffalo. The Colts haven’t played a competitive game this season, the Redskins started strong and went south quick, Miami has shown some signs of life and played the Pats tough the first time through but they’re both way different teams. Buffalo has shown their true colors as a team that starts strong and fades. That leaves the Broncos. The Broncos that apparently have God on their side with Tebow under center. He may be awful to watch but he wins and did so yesterday.

So the Bronco game really is the only blip I see on the radar down the stretch. I want to see this team win in the playoffs though. It’s been a while. 2007 was the last time the Pats won a playoff game. That was four years ago. Let’s hope the defense keeps getting better and healthier (Chung, McCourty you listening) so we’re not sitting here talking about how the #1 or #2 seeded Pats lost again.

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December 17, 2010 · 7:10 AM

Patriots vs. Packers Preview

Who’s that?

That would be Matt Flynn. Flynn was a seventh round draft pick by the Packers currently in his third year in the league.

Why is he relevant?

That would be because the Packers starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers was knocked out of last week’s game against the Lions by Amari Spievey and Landon Johnson (just believe me, I looked it up). His injury was a head injury. He had a concussion earlier this season and hasn’t practiced all week.

My thoughts; if Rodgers plays it should be a game. The Packers are reeling following their loss to Detroit last week and need to win to stay in the hunt with the Bears. If Rodgers doesn’t play, I’m thinking that the Patriots could pitch a shutout.

It’s projected to be snowing on Sunday night (that’s right kiddies, 8:20 kickoff) and for all that it didn’t play to the Pats advantage against the Steelers two years ago, for the most part it always plays to the Pats advantage. Do you not remember the drubbing of the Titans in the October snow storm last season?

The Patriots are banging on all cylinders. The suspension of Brandon Spikes didn’t seem to affect the team last season as Gary Guyton was a man possessed. Now this week Devin McCourty was a limited participant in practice. Again, if the Packers start Rodgers, it could be a big deal with no McCourty. If the Packers start Flynn I’m pretty sure I could lineup at corner and with a little help from the safeties keep Flynn confused (OK maybe not).

What I want to know is what did Belichick do after the Browns game? Did he punch someone in the face? Did he kick someone down the stairs? Clearly the message was received by this team (well maybe it happened at halftime of the Lions game) because they haven’t let up since. Sure they needed a little reminder on the sidelines during the Jets game that they need to play a full 60 minutes.

Regardless of what was said, the bottom line is the team is listening.

I don’t expect Sunday to be any different. I think that Belichick has a game plan. The fact that the Packers don’t have a running game and are possibly starting a 7th round draft pick (not named Matt Cassell) the Patriots should win.

The Pats are a 10.5 point favorite. I’m guessing Vegas thinks that Rodgers won’t play either. I’m taking the Pats. Over under is 42, but since the Pats have managed to put that much up on their own, I’m taking the over as well.

Back, bleary eyed, Monday with a recap.

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