Former Patriot WR David Givens sketched this portrait of Bill Belichick. Givens turned to art after his NFL career ending injury.
Karen Guregian reports Bills WR Josh Reed is scheduled to visit the Patriots today.
He's no Anquan Boldin, but Bill Belichick has always liked him.
"He’s very hard to tackle," Belichick said on Dec. 18. "Do you remember the slip screen he caught against us a couple years ago up there (in Buffalo)? He broke about seven tackles on the touchdown run. (He is) tough with the ball in his hands."
Reed made four catches for 63 yards in that late-season loss to the Pats. The former second-round pick played for Nick Saban - a good friend of Belichick - at LSU. Reed, who turns 30 in May, has had a pair of 50-plus catch seasons.
Gary Washburn reports Colts president Bill Polian offered attendees at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference all the reasons why it the "fourth-and-2" call was the right decision by Belichick.
“Here’s what happened in that ball game,’’ he told the standing-room audience at the Boston Convention Center.
“We were hot offensively in the second half. The Pats had lost [Tully] Banta-Cain. I think they had lost Jarvis Green. They had another one of their rushers gimpy.
“They were playing with two corners who were not starters because both had been injured. It had been a passing game, so their rushers were worn out having to rush.
“It was fourth and 2, and if we get the ball back, there’s a pretty strong likelihood based on what we had done up to that point that we were going to have a good chance to win the game.
“And they had been very successful in the Tom Brady era going for it on fourth down, and their most successful play with Tom Brady was a quarterback sneak.’’
Polian said the Patriots inserted personnel to indicate a Brady sneak.
“Was it the right call? In my opinion, it was 100 percent the right call. He knew his team. He knew the tactics involved. He gave the ball to Faulk, which was the second-most-effective guy in short yardage.
“So it was the right decision from a football standpoint. All of the statistical analysis that’s done over the course of a season means nothing. The situation on the field at the time dictates the call.’’
TEAM TALK
- Andy Hart and Erik Scalavino debate if New England should barter its 2011 first-rounder from Oakland to help acquire another first-round pick in this year's draft.
- John Cockrell Friday Out-Takes: Since you've been gone...
LOCAL LINKS
- Jody Feinberg catches up with former Patriots receiver David Givens whose graphite drawings will be on display at an art gallery in Cohasset.
- Mike Reiss talks about what Josh Reed would bring to the Pats.
- Christopher Price looks at what's next for the Patriots in free agency now that the first 72 hours of cash, contracts and craziness have come and gone.
- Albert Breer watches the Jets and Fins improve over the weekend while the Pats stay flat. He wonders if there will be a shift of power in the AFC East in 2010.
- Tony Massarotti writes the Pats of 2009 showed vulnerability on both sides of the ball against elite competition, and watching how Belichick intends to fit it all will be a fascinating exercise.
- Jim Donaldson thinks the Patriots' best chance to improve is via the Draft.
- Tom E. Curran feels the Patriots haven't gained anything yet in free agency. Reupping with guys already on the roster isn't improvement, it only avoids getting worse.
- Mike Reiss notes the differing oppinions of the Patriots moves, or lack thereof, so afar in free agency.
- Michael Felger says the Patriots still have a lot of work to do and a lot of money to spend to get back the team they had last year, which wasn't good enough to begin with.
- Albert Breer looks at who's left to take care of for the Patriots.
- Ian Rapoport notes free agent DE Jarvis Green and his agent are fielding calls from other teams and will begin making visits to other cities or finalize a deal with New England.
- Ian Rapoport looks at how Jarvis Green stacks up among his peers.
- Stan Grossfield has a really nice piece on Amanda Belichick, assistant lacrosse coach for the UMass Minutewomen.
- Karen Guregian notes CB Leigh Bodden landed in Houston last night, seemingly ready to sign with the Texans if they come up with the cash. "It's all about who wants me."
- Albert Breer thinks Leigh Bodden's fate is out of the Patriots' hands.
- Mike Reiss points out that all things being equal between the Pats and Texans for the services of Leigh Bodden, Texas has no state income tax so he'd get more money from the same contract. Damn "Taxachusetts."
- Christopher Price confirmed a league report that the Patriots are interested in bringing back DL Le Kevin Smith, who was dealt to Denver last year for a 5th round pick.
- Mike Reiss revisits his own Wilfork proposal from back on January 30th. He wasn't far off, only $2 million plus 1 year more in real contract.
- Nate Dow looks at the year by year free-agent signings of the Belichick regime, noting the Patriots have seen mixed results going after established players.
- Jeff Howe breaks down the Patriots 2001 Draft, noting Richard Seymour and Matt Light played major roles in building the dynasty.
- Darius Butler has his own official website up and running and it's pretty cool. He's going to surprise everyone this year, especially the Jets who think they've cornered the CB talent.
- Albert Breer notes Darius Butler honored former teammate Jasper Howard with a new tattoo. Howard was killed in a fatal stabbing on campus last year.
- Christopher Price is still surprised and a bit confused that the Patriots cut TE Chris Baker, and apparently Baker and his agent are too. Baker is getting interest from other teams.
- Mike Reiss presents his quick-hit thoughts from aorund the league and the Patriots.
- Karen Guregian offers some weekend news and notes from around the NFL.
NATIONAL NEWS
- ESPN Free agency tracker. Includes the full list of all 2009 NFL free agents and free agent signings.
- Dennis Dillon (Sporting News) Big names, big values remain on NFL free-agent market.
- Eric Edholm (ProFootballWeekly) Early winners and losers in free agency.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Bills interested in Joey Porter.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Bills will conduct private Tebow workout.
- Peter King (SI) MMQB: In wake of signing/trade frenzy, a reminder: Free agency is overrated.
- Michael Lombardi (Nat'l Football Post) Broncos want first-rounder for Marshall.
- Mike Wilkening (ProFootballWeekly) Welker, Martin: RFAs worth every penny.
- Jonathan D. Silver and Tom Birdsong (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Roethlisberger accused of sexual assault in Georgia.
- Ron Cook (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Roethlisberger guilty of poor judgment.
- Jeff Schultz (Atlanta Journal Constitution) Roethlisberger hires Garland, attorney to troubled sports stars. Former clients: Ray Lewis, Jamal Lewis and Adam 'Pacman' Jones among others.
There are 28 Comments. Load Now.
Shortcuts to mastering the comment thread. Use wisely.
C - Next Comment
X - Mark as Read
R - Reply
Z - Mark Read & Next
Shift + C - Previous
Shift + A - Mark All Read
Comment Settings
Live comment alert: Hide it!
Comments for this post are closed.