New England Patriots Links 1/14/10 - Surf's Up For Seau and So Is His NFL Career
by Marima on Jan 14, 2010 10:11 AM EST
in New England Patriots News
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PrintJunior Seau told the crew on Showtime's "Inside the NFL" program that he is going to stay on his surfboard in the future, and retire from the NFL after 20 seasons. Seau will turn 41 on Tuesday.
CRIS COLLINSWORTH: Well are you going to hear any more of his (Bill Belichick) speeches or are you finished? This is 20 years in the NFL…
JUNIOR SEAU: Cris, I’m surfing. I’m going to go surf. Yeah Warren, I’m not going to give you another speech. It’s all over with the speeches. Whatever happens, I can say, honestly say, that that probably was my last game.
COLLINSWORTH: So you’re going to retire after that one.
SEAU: Yeah, that, that’s going to be my last game.
Bill Belichick earns USA Today's Coach of the Decade honors.
One number stands out among the many Bill Belichick has amassed during his Hall of Fame coaching career: 112.
Belichick won more regular-season games in the 2000s — 112, all with the New England Patriots— than any other NFL coach won in any previous decade. Coming closest are Tom Landry's 105 victories and Don Shula's 104 in the 1970s.
So it was as a unanimous selection that Belichick earned NFL Coach of the Decade honors from USA TODAY.
Kerry Byrne (Cold Hard Football Facts) Dump Randy Moss.
The truth is this: Glitzy wideouts rarely have anything to do with championship success. Remember the old line about Tom Brady? Who’s his favorite receiver? The open one That was the mindset that made him one of the game’s great quarterbacks and made him deadly in critical moments and big games. It was a mindset that allowed this team to persevere in tough situations that could have caused other teams to crumble. It was a mindset that carried the team to its greatest period of success.
My take? Dump Moss, who has one year left on a hefty deal (reported at three years for $27 million when signed in 2008) and put the money toward harvesting game-breaking defenders in free agency or the draft.
TEAM TALK
- The New England Patriots have signed six players: TE Robbie Agnone, DL Adrian Grady, WR Darnell Jenkins, TE Rob Myers, DL Darryl Richard and QB Jeff Rowe. All finished 2009 on the practice squad.
- Ask PFW: Ragin' after the Ravens game. Part I and Part II. Paul Perillo does his best to provide readers with some answers.
- Patriots Today: The offseason is underway. (10:28 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Ian Rapoport says Patriots LB Junior Seau is graduating for real this time.
- Ian Rapoport states that a consistent pass rush would have cured much of what ailed the Pats in 2009. Only Tully Banta-Cain's ten sacks provided a small light in a very dark tunnel.
- Shalise Manza Young reports the Patriots' offseason shopping list should be longer than usual. Top two items should be a pass-rushing specialist and a number three receiver.
- Albert Breer notes that with no cap, it'll be easier to cut players in 2010. Adalius Thomas might be the first one on the chopping block.
- Christopher Price rates the Patriots' roster to see who's valuable or expendable. Part 1 (numbers 53-26), and Part 2 (numbers 25-1).
- The Boston Globe looks at 14 players whose contracts expire this year, and how they performed in 2009. Vote whether they should stay or go next season.
- Mike Reiss offers his 2009 positional review of running backs: Laurence Maroney, Kevin Faulk, Sammy Morris, Fred Taylor and BenJarvus Green-Ellis.
- Mike Reiss offers his 2009 positional review of wide receivers: Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Julian Edelman, Sam Aiken, Brandon Tate, Joey Galloway, Isaiah Stanback and Matthew Slater.
- Boston Herald Patriots Notebook: Junior Seau played his last game and plans to go surfing; Kevin Faulk will enter free agency soon and hopes to return in 2010.
- Jeff Howe grades the Patriots for the 2009 end-of-season report card. Offense struggled without Josh McDaniels and the front office whiffed too many times.
- Jeff Howe lists his top ten Patriots moments of 2010.
- WEEI is Feeling the Draft: Cornerbacks & Safeties. Time to look ahead to see who's available for the last week in April.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Bob Velin (USA Today) Bill Belichick earns Coach of the Decade honors.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) A case for the Pats to dump Randy Moss.
- Gregg Rosenthal (ProFootballTalk) Patriots have a tough decision on Matt Light.
- Bill Williamson (ESPN) Chiefs reunite keys to Patriots' glory days, with the hiring of Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel.
- Adam Teicher (Kansas City Star) It's official, Romeo Crennel will be the Chiefs' defensive coordinator.
- Jason Whitlock (Kansas City Star) This Patriots reunion in KC is missing something; wake me when the Chiefs sign Tom Brady, the one with two healthy knees and fearless pocket demeanor.
- Seth Wickersham (ESPN) You want winners? Here's a formula. According to a Ph.D (and Patriots fan), math can help derive successful coaching hires.
- Don Banks (SI) Best storylines heading into NFL's divisional round.
- Ross Tucker (SI) Inside the NFL: Forget the talk NFL's all about play.
- Kerry J. Byrne (Cold Hard Football Facts) Why dome teams typically struggle in playoffs.
- Gil Brandt (NFL.com) Can Pro Bowl defensive backs slow down prolific passers?
- SI.com's NFL Postseason Predictions.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Al Groh officially meets with Dolphins for defensive coordinator opening.
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Sorry to see Seau ringless.
He’s been class here all the way, but he’s definitely not getting any younger.
Moss may only have one more shot here as well. Hopefully the team gels a bit more next year.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jan 14, 2010 10:22 AM EST reply actions
I appreciate Moss being here, but he can't be the only target out there
Remember the old line about Tom Brady? Who’s his favorite receiver? The open one That was the mindset that made him one of the game’s great quarterbacks and made him deadly in critical moments and big games.
I believe Kerry Byrne’s above statement (and miss seeing it implemented on the field), but don’t believe Randy Moss has to be a casualty of that philosophy. If he’s the only target or one of two targets, he can be stopped. It’s that simple.
Keep the faith!
Moss works as long as he isn't the only deep threat.
He also works if he isn’t ONLY a deep threat. Combine the 40 yard sprints with other routes and Randy is effective. The shoulder fakes to an inside route followed by a burst of speed down that line actually work when teams know you might actually take the inside route.
Assuming we don’t get anyone else (we will, but this for argument), and assuming Edleman, Stanback, and Tate improve (they might or might not – sophomore slump). We can be effective with Moss and Tate on deep routes (alternating with other routes for effectiveness), Edelman in slot (with Welker when he’s healed), and Stanback (or Aiken) in mid-level routes. That is essentually the 2007 offense. Tate replaces Stallworth. Stanback (or Aiken) replace Gaffney. Edelman replaces Welker. If we end up with both Welker AND Edelman. It could improve even more.
I’d actually like to see us pick up a third deep threat, so we are ready when Moss has to go. I’d also like to see us have a receiver who might participate on special teams instead of a special teams player that might play receiver. The big difference is what you spend your time practicing through the week.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jan 14, 2010 10:43 AM EST up reply actions
If Hoodie wins one in the next few seasons...
I wouldn’t be at all surprised to Seau get one irrespective, much like how the Colts and Polian gave one to Edge even though he was a Cardinal at the time.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Jan 15, 2010 12:34 AM EST up reply actions
Sad to see Junior leave
but with him, you never know. Either way, he was a class act, and the only person I ever felt sorry for in Super Bowl XLII. He deserves a ring. He’ll get a large bust in Canton in 5 years as a consolation, I guess.
EVH+DLR=BFFr........ God I Hope So!!
Agreed
I always like Junior and his attitude/spirit. I had a chance to interview him for his “Sports Jobs with Junior Seau” show and he’s a real pleasant person to talk to, very “real”.
Blogger at SBNation's Patriots blog, Pats Pulpit
Well... I am still a Laurence Maroney fan.
I think a lot of the problems with the running game was the offensive line and the schemes, not so much the personnel (well, except the fumbles). Where were the screens to Maroney who is our best open field RB? Why did the running game disappear during 4th quarters? You know what sucks? I think Maroney is gone after next season and he is going to thrive on whatever team he ends up on. I think that the 2009 season was Maroney’s best yet but he got almost no play time after the fumble against the Jaguars. To get almost 800 yards and 9 TDs while playing only 15 games, in a system that is RB by committee is solid production IMHO
Imagine if Peterson got taken out of a game and was inactive for the next every time he fumbled.
I'm not saying that Maroney is MJD (my fave current RB)
Just that he was not utilized to his potential by a coaching staff that was, at times, hostile towards him.
They split Sammy Morris wide, and not Maroney
which, with all due respect to Morris, baffled me. At the very least, Maroney has shown strong catching ability and definite ability to get YAC. If he’s good enough to be tasked with catching kickoffs and running in open field on returns, why he was left out of passing packages is beyond me.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Jan 15, 2010 12:35 AM EST up reply actions
Maroney had a number of problems, none of which he ever really fixed.
Belichick was fed up with Maroney because he wasn’t learning from his mistakes, and if there’s one thing Belichick can’t STAND, it’s repeated mistakes.
First, there was the dancing at the line. This has been the constant knock on Maroney since Day 1. About half-way through the season, it FINALLY seemed like he was getting it. He started running down hill, with purpose. He’d hit the holes instead of waiting for bigger creases to develop. Things were looking up, but it took an awfully long time to get there.
Then came the goal line fumbles. These were, rightfully, absolutely unacceptable to Belichick. On a team that already had its share of struggles in the red zone, there was no room for fumbles on the 1-yard line. And, just to clarify, there is no excuse for a fumble that close to the end zone. Everyone knows that all 11 players are going to be hawking for the ball like there’s no tomorrow. Indeed, when the other team had 1st & goal on the 1, strip attempts are the only thing a defense really has on its mind. Yet, Maroney put the rock on the ground MORE than once in situations where he KNEW he had to protect the ball with his life.
So, it’s no wonder that Maroney spent most of the season in the dog house. He persisted in making juvenile, thoughtless mistakes that would irk any coach, but ESPECIALLY a task master like Belichick.
ugh i hate this get rid of moss idea...
it’s stupid seeing as he’s the best wide receiver we have. If moss goes, welker will be blanketed like no other and we’re not even sure when wes will be back. We say how great the current receivers are in the Ravens game with all those drops. Also the patriots will lack a deep threat, Aiken doesn’t have sure enough hands and tate is up in the hair. people hate to say it but moss is one of the reason the pats offense runs even when he isn’t catching anything since he’s always going to draw 2 defenders opening it up for other receivers,especially for welker. plus he wants to stay a pat, hence after 23 td year he signed for “only” 27 million 3 years.
i hope if we ever win a sb in 1-3 years...BB should give him a ring like how the colts did to edge....
and yes.,..if kindle from texas is there @ the 22nd pick…draft him
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum!
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
Maybe they could if they won it in 2010
but after that, it might not mean the same to him if it was just an honorary token so to speak.
Keep the faith!
Sergio Kindle
Good stats but this makes me wonder:
2009: Treated for a concussion after crashing his car into an Austin apartment building in June 2009 while texting.
Kindle wont slip out iof the top 15,
For every woman masturbating right now, there is a guy masturbating while imagining that woman masturbate.
2009 NY Phin PhansFantasy League Champion
2009 Best Regular Season Record in NYPPL.
by Patssuck456 on Jan 14, 2010 10:32 PM EST up reply actions
meriweather in college was involved in shooting (he carried a legal carry conceal weapon though)
i’m not too worried about his driving skills.
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum!
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
i just found that 'funny' on top of a DUI. dude has issues with his driving choices.
i like other peeps better, i guess. he’s good though.
dui...wow...he is def. going to slip up
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum!
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
in the draft
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum!
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
hmm..only 2
4-3 DT/ 3-4 DE (played NT and DE in the 3-4 one gap system @ TOSU this season) Doug Worthington. he is 6’6 280 lbs.
the kid did have a dui as a freshman but has been a model citizen @ TOSU since then. can play mutli-roles in the system…something BB likes…i hope they draft him.
another one is Thaddeus Gibson 6-3 240 lbs 3-4 OLB and 4-3 DE…good speed….he played a lot of 3-4 OLB this year….i hope they pick him up to
and the other good player from TOSU is SS Coleman…projected to be a 2nd rounder but we have way too many safeties on our team.
the 2011 draft will have a lot of good buckeyes being drafted in the 1st n 2nd rounds….unlike this year
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum!
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
6’6 280 is a bit light for a Nose Tackle in the NFL, but he could be a DE 6’3
240 is way light for a 3-4 DE, and borderline for an OLB, but if it helps him in coverage it could be good.
I think Crable is one of those light guys, but so far he hasn’t played in the regular season.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jan 15, 2010 11:30 AM EST up reply actions
i expect doug Worthington to be a 3-4 DE in the nfl and Thaddeus Gibson to be a 3-4 OLB
whats the avg size of a 3-4 OLB?
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum!
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
Hoodie likes them BIG
He said something along the lines of Shawn Crable being the ‘prototypical’ two-gap 3-4 OLB, and he’s 6’5 and 245lbs or so.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Jan 15, 2010 8:23 PM EST up reply actions
A little heavier if you are on strong side.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jan 15, 2010 11:31 PM EST up reply actions
With a 6'5" frame, that's plenty of room to hang extra weight off
And since he’s now a professional sportsman, presumably it means he has even more incentive to do what’s necessary to get bigger, stronger, faster, etc.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Jan 16, 2010 6:37 PM EST up reply actions
The big frame is useful for knocking down passes at the line.
Somewhat for leverage on pass rush moves.
As far as hanging weight on him – we’ll never know. They published stats never seem to change from rookie year.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jan 16, 2010 11:38 PM EST up reply actions
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