Author Archives: djstevem

Patriots Needs for 2012

In The Red Zone

The New England Patriots are preparing for the 2012 season already. The combine is currently underway in Indianapolis, then that is followed by the free agency period starting on March 17. And it caps with the NFL Draft in April in New York City.

The Patriots need help in some areas, those being wide receiver, pass rusher, linebacker and secondary. I think it’s pretty evident they need a deep threat on the outside. They need some of what Randy Moss gave them to help open it up more for Wes Welker (if he is still there) and the tight ends. It also allows Tom Brady to use a weapon he hasn’t been able to unleash as much as he had in the past and that’s the deep ball.

They also need a pass rusher, be it from the line or as a linebacker, they need a guy or group of guys who can terrorize an opponents quarterback on a regular basis. Andre Carter, who got hurt and finished the season on the IR, and Mark Anderson did a good job this season but they are free agents. I’d like to see them come back and add a linebacker who can rush. There’s also the possibility that LB Jermaine Cunningham going into his third season could finally become that player.

In the secondary they do have some help coming from IR in CB Ras-I Dowling who missed most of his rookie season with a hip injury.

I do see them pursuing a few free agents and some of the potential good fits include WR Brandon Lloyd, who played the last half of the season for new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels in St. Louis. New England will also have significant interest in WR Mike Wallace of Pittsburgh, as long as the Steelers don’t use the franchise tag on him.

Look for them to look at some secondary help in free agency as well. This could come in the form of CB Cortland Finnegan of Tennessee and Kansas City’s young CB Brandon Carr; both are among the top defenders available. There may also be some interest in Oakland S Tyvon Branch, who grew up outside of Syracuse, NY and played his college football at UConn. New England could be of interest to Branch in being closer to family and friends.

With those needs the team also has its own free agents that need to be considered. Do they attempt to resign these players or do they let them walk?

To continue reading, please click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Here are the definitions of the free agent types.

UFA – unrestricted free agent, players with 4 or more years of service can sign with any team.

RFA – restricted free agent, players with 3 or more years of service who can sign with any team but original team has right to match the offer.

ERFA – exclusive rights free agent, player with two years of less who is not under contract. If his team makes him an offer at the 3 year veteran minimum salary he has to take it or leave the NFL. If no offer is made he is a free agent.

The Patriots free agents are:

QB Brian Hoyer – RFA

RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis – UFA

RB Kevin Faulk – UFA

WR Wes Welker – UFA

WR Deion Branch – UFA

WR Matthew Slater – UFA

C/G Dan Connolly – UFA

C Dan Koppen – UFA

C/G Ryan Wendell – RFA

DE Andre Carter – UFA

DE Eric Moore – UFA

DE Shaun Ellis – UFA

DE Mark Anderson – UFA

DT Gerard Warren – UFA

DT Kyle Love – ERFA

LB Gary Guyton – UFA

LB Tracy White – UFA

CB Antwaun Molden – UFA

S James Ihedigbo – UFA

S Nathan Jones – UFA

S Bret Lockett – ERFA

Out of the free agents this is what I see the team doing.

Welker is tagged as the franchise player and gets the one-year average value salary unless he and the team negotiate a long-term deal before the league deadline.

Faulk is most likely going to retire and will not return. If he does play in 2012 it’s only in New England.

Green-Ellis, Branch, Connolly, Koppen, Molden, Ihedigbo and Jones I see being re-signed and remaining in Foxboro.

Carter, Anderson and Warren all want to stay I’d imagine the feeling is mutual as long as the price is right.

Slater could be enticed by another team with the prospect of playing wide receiver. He is pretty valuable to the Patriots as a special teams player but could possibly stay and be given a long look as a deep threat on the outside.

White I see returning to play special teams, where he excels, and fill in as a linebacker.

Moore, Ellis and Guyton I don’t see hanging around. At least Guyton and Ellis were in the doghouse at some point during the season and will probably be allowed to walk away without an offer. Moore will most likely seek more playing time elsewhere.

Hoyer will stay as Tom Brady’s back up until he becomes a UFA, then Mallett moves up.

Wendell I don’t see sticking around he can probably play more and get paid more on a rebuilding team.

Love is a guy I really think they give the 3 year veteran offer to, he adds a lot of depth to the defensive line and started a lot this past season. They may even look to do a longer contract with him and lock him up for say 3 years at suitable money.

Lockett is guy who I think is gone and will not get a ERFA offer from the team. He has had some off field incidents in the last year or so with his rap music and the whole Kim Kardashian incident, very un-Patriot like. He’d have been cut long ago if he wasn’t hurt.

Follow Steve on Twitter @SteveMichaelsII

Brady Suffers His Largest Loss

Tom Martinez and Tom Brady

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has 41 losses on the football field in his career, but the loss he suffered tonight may be the largest by far. Tom Martinez, Brady’s personal quarterback guru, passed away today at age 66 after a heart attack suffered during a dialysis session.

Brady recently used his status to help get the information out about how important organ donation is and that his mentor Martinez was in need of a kidney transplant on CBS’ 60 Minutes.

Martinez, who lived in California, was in need of the transplant due to diabetes. He has been the 2-time NFL MVP’s quarterback coach since his youth football days in the San Mateo area and the pair talked all the time about Brady’s mechanics and what he needed to improve on.

Recently, Brady teamed up with the Canton, MA based “Matching Donors” organization hoping that his high profile status would spark the donation to help his longtime friend.

Don’t forget it’s easy to become an organ donor, when you renew your drivers license just check the organ donation box or register with your states organ donor registry and talk to your family and make sure they know you are an organ donor.

For more information on organ donation go to organdonor.gov.

Update: Brady posted the following statement on his Facebook page.

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of my coach, mentor and friend. Coach Martinez’s invaluable assistance and support will never be forgotten and will always have a lasting impact on my life. The time we spent together remain some of my fondest memories. His legacy of commitment, toughness and determination will live on forever.”

Follow Steve on Twitter @SteveMichaelsII

Photo credit: Boston.com

Carl Everett’s Crazy Hall of Fame 2012 Nominees

Carl Everett's Crazy Hall of Fame

Sox & Dawgs established Carl Everett’s Crazy Hall of Fame in 2007 and its members are, like any Hall of Fame, in rarified air. Only this air lacks a lot of common sense and is full of batshit crazy. In fact that along with the incident happening on or in relation to the field of play is the only way to get into this Hall. We don’t induct folks based on off the field incidents like spousal abuse, DUI, dog fighting, etc.

In the five years since the Hall was established it has 14 Charter Members, among them its namesake, as well as Ron Artest, Todd Bertuzzi, Albert Haynesworth, Serena Williams and Connecticut’s very own, Bill Romanowski.

The Hall also has 44 Regular Members, which include individuals like Julian Tavares, John Chaney, Delmon Young, Milton Bradley and Rasheed Wallace. Pairs like Billy Martin and Reggie Jackson and teams like the Dallas Stars and Boston Bruins for their 2011 brawl.

We’d like you to take some time and vote for as many of the nominee’s as you like. You can enter them in the comments or via Twitter @SteveMichaelsII. Thanks in advance for your votes. This years potential class include a stripping coach, two references to “Slap Shot”, a mascot who drew blood, two of the NFL’s dirtiest players and a hockey brawl from the 1975 WHA Playoffs.

To see the nominees, plese click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Here are the nominations for this year’s class:

Nominee A:

In July 2005 Boston Red Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez wasn’t on the field as Wade Miller was prepared to deliver a pitch when low and behold Manny pops out of the door of Fenway’s fabled Green Monster. So Miller throws the pitch and Tampa Bay outfielder Joey Gathright doesn’t swing, but on the next pitch he singles to left field in front of Ramirez who throws to home a tad late and wide.

After the game Miller admitted to not checking to see if Ramirez was in the field and as he said, “why would I check?”

So what was Manny doing behind the door? “I (urinated) in a cup,” said Ramirez.

The joys of Manny being Manny.

Nominee B:

An altercation between the basketball coach and a player on the Holy Family University basketball team in January of 2011 led to the resignation of the coach and the player unable to play due to his injury he sustained at the hands of the coach.

While conducting a rebound drill the coach, John O’Connor (possibly a terminator) knocked sophomore Matt Kravchuk to the ground during a rebounding drill. O’Connor claims he was trying to “instill toughness in his team” after a poor performance in the teams prior game.

Camera’s caught O’Connor knocking Kravchuk to the ground and then kicking him to get up and finish the drill. When a dazed Kravchuk got up and walked to end of the line O’Connor shouted, “what’s the matter got a little blood on ya? Good.”

The incident led to the coach resigning after coaching five more games before the incident became public.

Nominee C:

Vanderbilt Commodore mascot, Mr. C., went into the student section of the stands at a home basketball game against Tennessee. Mr. C. proceeded to put the Commodores fan in a mock chokehold and then accidentally struck him in the face with a right hook hard enough to draw blood.

Mr. C. was stunned when the student needed attention to stop the bleeding. It wasn’t the only beating that Vanderbilt took that night, Tennessee came back from a double-digit deficit to win 60-51 on the road.

Nominee D:

In the third period of a CHL hockey game in February 2011, between the Colorado Eagles and the Mississippi River Kings, a Colorado player was tackled hard to the ice during an altercation by an official.

Greg Pankewicz, Colorado’s assistant coach, became irate at officials for the takedown, which led to the player getting injured. So after screaming and throwing stuff on the ice, Pankewicz took to stripping, reminiscent of a scene from the movie “Slap Shot”.

While in slap shot it was an on ice player who did the strip tease, Pankewicz started taking his clothes off on the bench and throwing them onto the ice. After methodically taking off his three-piece suits, shirt, tie and loafers and chucking it all on the ice he was sent to the dressing room.

He was suspended for the remainder of the regular season (14 games) for his action and was allowed to return during the playoffs.

Nominee E:

University of Texas-El Paso head basketball coach Tim Floyd, was ejected during a game against East Carolina in February 2011. Floyd earned a warning for being out of the coaches box and according to him he was barely out of the box. Floyd said he turned his back and walked back to the bench and got a technical foul. He said he always earns his technicals and because he felt he didn’t earn this one, he throw a fit.

He was so out of control he received his second technical, which resulted in his ejection from the game. But Floyd wasn’t done as he refused to leave the court. That was until a police officer escorted him to the UTEP locker room.

Nominee F:

On March 8, 2011 Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara slammed Montreal Canadiens player Max Pacioretty into the corner glass stantion that separates the two team benches as the two players skated up ice battling for the puck during a game at the Bell Center in Montreal.

Pacioretty was boarded and collared and wheeled from the ice having reportedly suffered a concussion and fractured vertebrae in his neck while Chara was given a major penalty and a game misconduct. Montreal Police threatened battery charges but decided to forego them.

Chara also avoided a suspension by the NHL for the hit.

Nominee G:

Detroit Lions defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh was ejected from a NFL game on Thanksgiving Day for stomping and kicking Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith after it appeared that the Lions had stopped the Packers on an important third down play. The resulting penalty gave Green Bay a first down, which led to a touchdown and a win.

Suh was suspended by the NFL following in the incident for two games.

Nominee H:

Los Angeles Lakers forward Andrew Bynum was ejected and suspended from a playoff game on May 8, 2011 against the Dallas Mavericks after a dirty foul on guard J.J. Barea. With the Mavs up by 30 points late in the game Barea drove the lane for a lay up when Bynum threw a blatant elbow to his ribs. Barea landed hard and the referee immediately called a flagrant foul and ejected Bynum from the game.

Two games earlier in the series, Barea had been clothes lined by the Lakers Ron Artest who got suspended for the following game. Artest, a Charter Member of the Hall, is now ironically known as “Metta World Peace”.

Bynum was suspended originally for five games at the beginning of the next season but had it reduced to four on appeal.

Nominee I:

In December 2010, New York Jets strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi was fined $25,000 by the Jets and suspended for the remainder of the season for tripping Miami Dolphins player Nolan Carroll as the player ran along the Jets sideline during a game.

The Jets later accepted Alosi resignation after finding out he routinely instructed the inactive players to form a wall so as to potentially impede the progress of opposing players.

The Jets were also fined $100,000 by the NFL. Alosi was recently hired to the strength and conditioning coach for the UCLA Football team by new head coach Jim Mora Jr. starting with the 2012 season where he will teach his technique to college students.

Nominee J:

Pittsburgh Steelers LB James Harrison is regarded as one of the NFL’s dirtiest players. He has accumulated numerous fines and a suspension the last few seasons for his illegal and borderline dirty play on the field.

This past season he got suspended for his hit on a defenseless Cleveland Browns QB Colt McCoy, which left McCoy with a concussion.

McCoy was rolling to his left to throw a bubble screen when, after releasing the ball, Harrison took at least two full strides before leveling a helmet to helmet hit on the quarterback which brought a flag for roughing the passer. Harrison was later suspended by the NFL for the play and his continued dirty hits on opposing players.

Nominee K:

In 2010 while playing for the New England Patriots S Brandon Meriweather leveled a helmet to helmet hit on Baltimore Ravens TE Todd Heap that left Heap knocked out and concussed.

During a mid season game at Gillette Stadium Heap was running a pass patter across the middle of the field. Ravens QB Joe Flacco threw to Heap who was violently hit by Meriweather as the ball arrived. Meriweather was deemed to have launched himself into Heap causing the collision and injury and was fined by the NFL.

Nominee L:

The “Brawl in the Mall” between the New England Whalers and Minnesota Fighting Saints in Game 2 of the 1975 WHA Playoffs started when Fighting Saints coach Harry Neale decided to shake things up by putting Bill Butters on the ice with fellow bruisers Jack Carlson and Curt Brackenberry. Shortly after taking the ice, Minnesota’s Butters hit New England’s Larry Pleau with a cheap shot from behind, starting a full fledged donnybrook that caused a delay that lasted 32 minutes. The mele itself had 189 minutes in penalties and featured a heavyweight battle between Carlson, of “Slap Shot” movie fame, and Whalers enforcer Nick Fotiu, a former Golden Gloves champion, that started on the ice and continued in the penalty boxes. Even the two goalies, John Garrett and Al Smith, got into it. Not sure there ever was or has been a brawl like it.

Nominee M:

Tom Cable former head coach of the Oakland Raiders punched out an assistant coach during a meeting in 2009. He then denied hitting Randy Hansen claiming he instead fell from his rolling chair to the ground and that’s what caused his fractured jaw.

Follow Steve on Twitter @SteveMichaelsII

Help Us Expand Carl Everett’s Crazy Hall of Fame

Carl Everett

Well it’s that time of year again where we look for the best sporting event meltdowns and their participant(s) for induction into Carl Everett’s Crazy Hall of Fame.

The rules are simple. The nominee has to be absolutely batshit crazy to get inducted and the offenses have to have occurred during a sporting event. So DUI arrests, armed robberies, drug busts, spousal abuse and the like are off limits.

So help us out with some nominees, they don’t even need to be current we will consider a blast from the past. Some previous inductee’s include Woody Hayes, John McEnroe, Bobby Knight, Izzy Alcantara, Jose Offerman, Julian Tavarez, Rick Rypien and of course the man this is all based on, Carl Everett.

Put your suggestions in the comments, email them to Steve or Ian. You can also Tweet them to us (Steve, Ian).

Follow Steve on Twitter @SteveMichaelsII

2011 NFL Season Outcome

New York Giants' quarterback Eli Manning and defensive end Justin Tuck (L) celebrate during the team's ticker tape victory parade through the Canyon of Heroes along Broadway in honor of their win in the Super Bowl, in New York February 7, 2012.

With the 2011 NFL Season over I decided to take a look at the pre-season predictions I made back in August.

In the beginning we have the award predictions and actual winners followed by my team and playoff predictions and the actual outcomes.

Some I did pretty well with, some not so much. Take a look, have a laugh and we will do it again next year.

NFL Coach of the Year

Predicted: Mike Munchak, Tennessee Titans

Actual: Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco 49ers

NFL MVP

Predicted: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

Actual: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

NFL Offensive Player of the Year

Predicted: Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

Actual: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

NFL Defensive Player of the Year

Predicted: Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots

Actual: Terrell Suggs, Baltimore Ravens

NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year

Predicted: A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals

Actual: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

Predicted: Nick Fairley, Detroit Lions

Actual: Von Miller, Denver Broncos

To continue reading, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Here are my predictions on the left actual outcome on the right:

AFC	Prediction	–	AFC	Actual
East	W-L		East	W-L
New England	12-4		New England	13-3
New York	11-5		New York	8-8
Buffalo	3-13		Miami	6-10
Miami	3-13		Buffalo	6-10

North	W-L		North	W-L
Pittsburgh	12-4		Baltimore	12-4
Baltimore	12-4		Pittsburgh	12-4
Cleveland	5-11		Cincinnati	9-7
Cincinnati	4-12		Cleveland	4-12

South	W-L		South	W-L
Indianapolis	11-5		Houston	10-6
Tennessee	11-5		Tennessee	9-7
Houston	7-9		Jacksonville	5-11
Jacksonville	5-11		Indianapolis	2-14

West	W-L		West	W-L
San Diego	11-5		Denver	8-8
Kansas City	8-8		San Diego	8-8
Denver	8-8		Oakland	8-8
Oakland	7-9		Kansas City	7-9

AFC Playoff Seeds			Actual Seeds
1- New England			1. New England
2- Pittsburgh			2. Baltimore
3- San Diego			3. Houston
4- Indianapolis			4. Denver
5- Baltimore			5. Pittsburgh
6- Tennessee			6. Cincinnati

Predicted AFC Wild Card Weekend

Tennessee at San Diego – Chargers win

Baltimore at Indianapolis – Ravens Win

Byes: New England and Pittsburgh

Actual AFC Wild Card Weekend

Cincinnati at Houston – Texans won

Pittsburgh at Denver – Broncos won

Byes: New England and Baltimore

Predicted AFC Division Weekend

Baltimore at New England – Patriots win

San Diego at Pittsburgh – Chargers win

Actual AFC Division Weekend

Denver at New England – Patriots won

Houston at Baltimore – Ravens won

Predicted AFC Conference Championship

San Diego at New England – Patriots win

Actual AFC Conference Championship

Baltimore at New England- Patriots win

NFC	Prediction	NFC	Actual
East	W-L	East	W-L
Philadelphia	12-4	New York	9-7
Dallas	7-9	Philadelphia	8-8
New York	6-10	Dallas	8-8
Washington	3-13	Washington	5-11

North	W-L	North	W-L
Green Bay	11-5	Green Bay	15-1
Chicago	8-8	Detroit	10-6
Minnesota	7-9	Chicago	8-8
Detroit	6-10	Minnesota	3-13

South	W-L	South	W-L
Atlanta	13-3	New Orleans	13-3
New Orleans	11-5	Atlanta	10-6
Tampa Bay	8-8	Carolina	6-10
Carolina	5-11	Tampa Bay	4-12

West	W-L	West	W-L
Arizona	9-7	San Francisco	13-3
St. Louis	8-8	Arizona	8-8
Seattle	7-9	Seattle	7-9
San Francisco	4-12	St. Louis	2-14

NFC Playoff Seeds		Actual Seeds
1- Atlanta		1. Green Bay
2- Philadelphia		2. San Francisco
3- Green Bay		3. New Orleans
4- Arizona		4. New York
5- New Orleans		5. Atlanta
6- Tampa Bay		6. Detroit

Predicted NFC Wildcard Weekend

Tampa Bay at Green Bay – Packers win

New Orleans at Arizona – Saints win

Byes: Atlanta and Philadelphia

Actual NFC Wild Card Weekend

Detroit at New Orleans – Saints won

Atlanta at New York – Giants won

Byes: Green Bay and San Francisco

Predicted NFC Division Weekend

New Orleans at Atlanta – Falcons win

Green Bay at Philadelphia – Eagles win

Actual NFC Division Weekend

New York at Green Bay – Giants won

New Orleans at San Francisco – Niners won

Predicted NFC Conference Championship

Philadelphia at Atlanta – Falcons win

Actual NFC Conference Championship

New York at San Francisco – Giants won

Predicted Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis IN

Atlanta Falcons vs. New England Patriots

Actual Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis IN

New York Giants vs. New England Patriots

Predicted Super Bowl XLVI Champions

New England Patriots

Actual Super Bowl XLVI Champions

New York Giants

Be sure to get your NY Giants Super Bowl XLVI championship merchandise.

Follow Steve on Twitter @SteveMichaelsII

Photo credit: Reuters Pictures

2011 Patriots Season Outcome

W/ the season dedicated to Myra Kraft, Matt Light & the team presented R. Kraft w/ this painting in her honor:

Back in August I made my predictions about the New England Patriots 2011 season schedule and how they would fare in the season. Below are the predictions along with the actual result.

I’m proud of myself I did pretty well. I plan on having my NFL season recap published shortly as well.

Week 1 September 12 @Miami 7p MNF ESPN

Prediction: Football is officially back; Patriots squish the Fish 35-6.

Actual: Patriots 38-24

Week 2 September 18 SAN DIEGO 4:15p CBS

Prediction: Chargers always have a tough time in Foxboro; Pats win 31-21.

Actual: Patriots 35-21

Week 3 September 25 @Buffalo 1p CBS

Prediction: The streak continues; Patriots rout Bills 38-10.

Actual: Bills 34-31

Week 4 October 2 @Oakland 4:15p CBS

Prediction: Go west get into a battle; lose to Raiders 28-24.

Actual: Patriots 31-19

Week 5 October 9 NY JETS 4:15p CBS

Prediction: Rebound nicely to beat Jets at home 24-21.

Actual: Patriots 30-21

Week 6 October 16 DALLAS 4:15p FOX

Prediction: Cowboys do not look good on the road; Patriots win 31-17.

Actual: Patriots 20-16

Week 7 October 23 BYE WEEK

To continue reading, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Week 8 October 30 @Pittsburgh 4:15p CBS

Prediction: Patriots after bye week are very good, 27-21.

Actual: Steelers 25-17

Week 9 November 6 NY GIANTS 4:15p FOX

Prediction: Brady and Co. rebound against the G-men with a 32-27 win.

Actual: Giants 24-20

Week 10 November 13 @NY Jets 8:20p SNF NBC

Prediction: Jets get a division game back win 20-14 in the swamp.

Actual: Patriots 37-16

Week 11 November 21 KANSAS CITY 8:30p MNF ESPN

Prediction: Patriots manhandle the Chiefs on MNF; 36-14.

Actual: Patriots 34-3

Week 12 November 27 @Philadelphia 4:15p CBS

Prediction: Tough road loss as Eagles edge Pats, 31-28 in OT.

Actual: Patriots 38-20

Week 13 December 4 INDIANAPOLIS 8:20p SNF NBC

Prediction: Manning gets over on Belichick, Patriots in last minute 31-24.

Actual: Patriots 31-24

Week 14 December 11 @Washington 1p CBS

Prediction: Haynesworth, Carter Return; Patriots grab win 41-24.

Actual: Patriots 34-27

Week 15 December 18 @Denver 4:15p CBS

Prediction: John Fox teams always play Pats tough; NE wins on road 28-27.

Actual: Patriots 41-23

Week 16 December 24 MIAMI 1p CBS

Prediction: Miami still no match for Pats, 35-21.

Actual: Patriots 27-24

Week 17 January 1 BUFFALO 1p CBS

Prediction: Patriots close out season with home win, 42-27.

Actual: Patriots 49-21

Overall predicted record 12-4

Predicted Breakdowns:

Record at home: 7-1

Wins: Mia; NYJ; Buf; KC; NYG; Dal; SD.

Loss: Indy.

Record on road: 5-3

Wins: @Den; @Was; @Pitt; @Buf; @Mia.

Losses: @Oak; @NYJ; @ Phi.

Record vs. AFC East: 5-1

Record vs. AFC: 9-3

Record vs. NFC: 3-1

Overall actual record 13-3

Actual Breakdowns:

Record at home: 7-1

Wins: Mia; NYJ; Buf; KC; Indy; Dal; SD.

Loss: NYG

Record on road: 6-2

Wins: @Den; @Was; @Oak; @NYJ; @Phi; @Mia.

Losses: @Buf; @Pitt

Record vs. AFC East: 5-1

Record vs. AFC: 10-2

Record vs. NFC: 3-1

Follow Steve on Twitter @SteveMichaelsII

Photo credit: Patriots Yfrog.com

In The Red Zone – The Season Finale

In The Red Zone

Even with a Super Bowl loss the season was pretty successful. As I said in the recap after the game the team needs to make some changes and I’m sure they will make every effort to improve.

They need a deep threat wide receiver, help at linebacker and in the secondary. I did omit the fact that Ras-I Dowling will return next season after spending most of his rookie year on the IR. He should help the secondary immensely. If you recall he had a nice game Week 1 at Miami but then couldn’t stay on the field.

That’s pretty much it for me I’m not going rehash the season or the game, I’m past it already and I am enjoying some fried chicken and a beer waiting for baseball season.

I really think that’s why this doesn’t bother me so much is that at least the Patriots players cared about each other and played for each other and their coaches, something that didn’t happen at Fenway last September.

Up next for the team is a review of the staff and players, then the combine is soon, followed by free agency and the draft.

We will have all the pertinent information here at Sox and Dawgs. From Ian and myself, thanks for reading this season.

To continue reading, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Owner Robert Kraft addressed the media on Monday after the team returned, as did head coach Bill Belichick.

The Patriots face the potential retirements of RB Kevin Faulk and G Brian Waters. Belichick also said he thinks some of the coaches, both old and young, are considering their future as well. He did not elaborate but I can’t fathom Belichick walking away at this point. There may be some assistant coaches though who may pursue other coaching slots else where to build a resume. I’d imagine that with all the change in the NFL and college coaching ranks you could see some movement.

Belichick added he “really, really enjoyed coaching this team’.

Despite the loss the team had a post game party headlined by Maroon 5 and LMFAO. Had they won word is Aerosmith would have been the headliner.

Seems Mrs. Tom Brady (Gisele Bundchen) blew off some steam as well as she complained after the game about the receivers dropping passes. (VIDEO)

NFL Free agency hits March 13th…are you ready?

When the Patriots arrived back at Gillette Stadium on Monday they were greeted by their fans.

The team has a list of 20 free agents.

No that the season is complete the Patriots are locked in for the 31st overall pick in the first round in addition to #27 from New Orleans.

From what I have heard and read the City of Indianapolis did a bang up job hosting the Super Bowl and there are calls for the city to do more of them.

Patriots QB Tom Brady shows he is no super hero and that he hurts like everyone else.

TE Rob Gronkowski said his ankle was good, but the numbers show otherwise.

Las Vegas still loves the Patriots. Green Bay installed as 6/1 favorites for Super Bowl XLVII, while New England is 7/1 and New Orleans is 8/1.

For those wondering the Patriots only went no huddle for 9 plays out of 62.

Nearly 81% of households with TV’s in Boston were tuned to the Super Bowl on Sunday night. Fang’s Bites has all the over night numbers and the press release from NBC.

“Big Money’, DE Gerard Warren, says he’d like to return next season as well.

NY Giants Super Bowl Championship Merchandise

Follow Steve on Twitter @SteveMichaelsII.

Giants Comeback to Win Super Bowl XLVI, 21-17

New York Giants middle linebacker Chase Blackburn celebrates after the Giants defeated the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game in Indianapolis, Indiana, February 5, 2012.

First off, congratulations to the New York Giants and their fans that was yet another great game between these two teams and I don’t know what else the New England Patriots have to do to win one of these games but I’d like them to figure it out.

Secondly this Super Bowl loss doesn’t hurt as much as the loss in Super Bowl XLII for a lot of reasons. Mainly this team was no where near as good as that one and they got carried by a handful of different guys through the season.

Different players picked up the ball at different times and got the team to a 13-3 regular season and past Denver and a very tough Baltimore team in the AFC Playoffs.

But they just were not able to get past the New York Giants for the third time in a row and the second time in a Super Bowl.

The New England Patriots will be back again next year as they are every year. They’ll have a new offensive coordinator, who is the old offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Hopefully they’ll have a defensive coordinator seeing as Matt Patricia already has most of those responsibilities already.

On offense they need a deep threat receiver, someone along the lines of what Randy Moss gave them. I’m not sure if there’s another Moss out there, but someone who could become some of what he was would be nice. And they need to sign Wes Welker to a nice contract. If they can’t come to terms he will surely be franchised keeping him here under the CBA rules on a one-year deal.

Defensively they need secondary help. Kyle Arrington, Patrick Chung and Devin McCourty are here to stay after that who knows, although Sterling Moore appears to be a workable piece. I think they also need some linebacker help as well. After Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes and Rob Ninkovich they aren’t very deep. It’s hard to keep relying on special teams players to play in big situations at linebacker and in the secondary.

The team had a good season while I had predicted them preseason to win the Super Bowl as the season progressed as I wasn’t so sure of that based on the play of the defense. They were still able to will themselves to the Big Game and based on how this franchise is built after 5 Super Bowl trips in 11 seasons I don’t expect it that to change much in the future.

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Super Bowl Gamebook. This includes the box score, all the stats, play by play, drive charts and more.

Super Bowl Game Recap via ESPN and AP.

To continue reading the New York Giants vs New England Patriots Super Bowl XLVI recap, hit the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Turning Point(s) of the Game

Patriots having to punt ball to Giants with just under 4 minutes to play in the game leading 17-15 after failing to convert on third down.

Offensive Player(s) of the Game

Giants QB Eli Manning was 30 of 40 for 296 yards, 3 sacks, 1 TD and 0 INTs. He was the named MVP of Super Bowl XLVI.

Defensive Player(s) of the Game

Giants LB Chase Blackburn had 6 tackles (4 solo), 1 pass defensed and 1 INT.

Game Notes

Starters for the Patriots were:

Offense:

LT: Light

LG: Mankins

C: Connolly

RG: Waters

RT: Vollmer

TE: Gronkowski

WR: Branch

WR: Welker

QB: Brady

RB: Green-Ellis

RB: Woodhead

Defense:

DE: Love

NT: Wilfork

DE: Deaderick

LB: Mayo

LB: Spikes

LB: Ninkovich

LB: White

CB: McCourty

CB: Arrington

S: Chung

S: Ihedigbo

Starters for the Giants were:

On Offense:

Offense:

LT: Diehl

LG: Boothe

C: Baas

RG: Snee

RT: McKenzie

TE: Ballard

WR: Cruz

WR: Nicks

QB: Manning

RB: Bradshaw

RB: Hynoski

Defense:

DE: Tuck

DT: Joseph

DT: Canty

DE: Pierre-Paul

LB: Boley

LB: Blackburn

CB: Webster

CB: Ross

S: Phillips

S: Rolle

S: Grant

Inactives for the Game:

Patriots

1. QB Ryan Mallett

2. RB Kevin Faulk

3. RB Shane Vereen

4. LB Gary Guyton

5. T Donald Thomas

6. G Nick McDonald

7. DE Ron Brace

Giants

1. WR Ramses Barden

2. RB Da’Rel Scott

3. LB Mark Herzlich

4. C Jim Cordle

5. DE Justin Tratou

6. DT Jimmy Kennedy

7. T James Brewer

Patriots won the coin toss and deferred. It was the first time the AFC team won a Super Bowl coin toss in 15 years.

This was the fifth rematch in Super Bowl history and the third with the same starting quarterbacks.

It was also the fifth match up between coaches who have previously won a Super Bowl title.

It was the first Super Bowl in which the opposing quarterback’s had previously won the Super Bowl MVP Award.

This was the fourth Super Bowl title for the Giants.

The spread (Patriots MINUS 3) WAS NOT covered. The over/under (54) WAS NOT COVERED. I GAVE the POINTS and TOOK the OVER. I am now 11-7-1 vs. the spread and 13 of 19 calling the under/over.

The Giants lead the all-time series 6-5 including the two Super Bowl victories.

In the series the Giants are 2-0 in neutral site games having previously won Super Bowl XLII in Glendale AZ, 17-14.

The Giants have won the last three meetings between the teams including two Super Bowls.

This was the Patriots 7th Super Bowl appearance as a franchise, they are 3-4 in Super Bowl games. The seven appearances rank second most in history after Dallas (5-3) and Pittsburgh (6-2), which both have been 8 times.

Overall in the playoffs they are 23-16.

PATRIOTS PLAYOFF RECORD BY ROUND

First Round 0-1
Wild Card Round 4-3
Divisional Round 9-6
AFC Championship 7-1
AFL Championship 0-1
Super Bowl 3-4

New England is MINUS 4 in playoff turnover differential. The offense has given up 4 INTs and 2 fumbles, while the defense had 1 INT and 1 fumble recovery. They finished the regular season as a PLUS 17.

The Patriots were 6 of 12 in 3rd down efficiency and 1 for 1 on fourth down attempts.

New England was 2 of 3 in the red zone and 0 for 0 in goal to go.

The Patriots are the first team to lose a Super Bowl in four different decades (1986, 1997, 2008 and 2012).

This was the Patriots first indoor game this season.

Bill Belichick is 2-5 vs. the Giants in his career. He is 2-3 against them as the head coach in New England and that includes two Super Bowls (0-2).

Belichick’s 192 wins are good for 9th all-time. Chuck Knox, who coached the Rams, Redskins and Seahawks, is 8th all-time with 193.

He is 17-7 in the playoffs, 16-6 as head coach of the Patriots in the post season.

Belichick is 3-2 in Super Bowls as a head coach.

This is Tom Brady’s 12^th NFL season he is 2-3 vs. the Giants including 0-2 in the playoffs.

Brady is now tied with John Elway for most Super Bowl appearances by quarterback with five. He is 3-1 in the previous games.

He is now 16-6 in the post season and is tied for most all time post season wins with his idol Joe Montana.

Brady has the 3rd most post season TD passes all-time with 38. Brett Favre is 2nd with 44 TD passes in the post season. Montana is first with 45.

Late in the first half Brady set the all-time post season record for most completions breaking Brett Favre’s record of 482.

Brady was not sacked at all in the first half. Justin Tuck sacked him for the first time in the game with 6 minutes left in the 3rd quarter.

Brady sets Super Bowl record with 16 consecutive completions. Joe Montana held the previous record with 13 in Super Bowl XXIV.

WR Wes Welker now has catches in 101 consecutive games including playoffs, 84 as a Patriot. The last time Welker did not have a catch in a game was 12/24/05 as a Dolphin.

Patriots charged with a safety on first possession when Brady throws ball to no one down field from end zone. It was the first Super Bowl safety since Super Bowl XXV and only the sixth in Super Bowl history.

Too many men on field for Patriots defense nullified a strip by Sterling Moore and recovery by Brandon Spikes in the red zone. Led to Giants first TD.

TE Rob Gronkowski didn’t have a catch until there was just less than 3 minutes left in 1st half.

Patriots go 96-yards for go ahead TD to end the 1st half on a Brady to Danny Woodhead 4 yard TD pass (tied record for longest drive in Super Bowl history).

This was the Giants 5th Super Bowl appearance as a franchise they are 4-1 in the games.

When New York beat New England in Week 9 at Gillette Stadium it snapped a 20-game home winning streak for the Patriots. Today they snapped a ten game win streak that started after that last game.

The Giants are the first team to win a Super Bowl in 4 different decades (1987, 1991, 2008 and 2012).

New York is PLUS 6 in playoff turnover differential. The offense has given up 1 INTs and 0 fumbles, while the defense had 2 INT and 5 fumble recoveries. They finished the regular season as a PLUS 7.

The Giants are 5 of 11 in 3rd down efficiency and 0 for 0 on fourth down attempts in the playoffs.

New York was 2 for 3 in the red zone and 2 for 2 in goal to go.

This will be the Giants 4th indoor game this season. The others were at Dallas (W 37-34), at New Orleans (L 49-24) and at Arizona (W 31-27).

Tom Coughlin coached teams are 4-4 vs. New England including 2-1 in the post season.

He is 12-7 in the playoffs with two Super Bowl victories.

Eli Manning is 3-1 vs. the Patriots in his career including the Super Bowl.

He is 8-3 as a starting quarterback in the post season.

Giants TE Travis Beckum tore his ACL in 2nd qtr did not return

Giants TE Jake Ballard injured his right knee did not return

Super Bowl Officials were:

Referee – John Parry
Umpire – Carl Paganelli
Head Linesman – Tom Stabile
Line Judge – Gary Arthur
Field Judge – Gary Cavaletto
Back Judge – Tony Steratore
Side Judge – Laird Hayes

The temp at kickoff was 71 degrees (climate controlled) played in retractable roof stadium with roof closed.

Attendance – 68,658 at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis IN

Post Game Interviews

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Patriots QB Tom Brady post game press conferences via patriots.com.

Super Bowl XLVI MVP Eli Manning talks to the media after leading the Giants to their fourth Super Bowl win in franchise history.

NY Giants Super Bowl Championship Merchandise

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Photo credit: Reuters Pictures

Patriots Release Underwood on Eve of Super Bowl

New England Patriots wide receiver Tiquan Underwood answers a question during Media Day for NFL football's Super Bowl XLVI Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012, in Indianapolis.

The New England Patriots made a roster move on Saturday, just 24 hours before Super Bowl XLVI against the New York Giants.

In what to some seems like a shocking move, the Patriots cut WR Tiquan Underwood and signed DE Alex Silvestro from the practice squad. The move was not disciplinary in nature and was made to give New England depth on the defensive line as the game goes deeper.

Look at the move this way, by cutting Underwood now, he was able to spend the entire week in Indianapolis with his teammates and family. He got to be involved in all the team and league activities, he is in the team picture and should New England win on Sunday, he will surely be awarded a ring for his contributions this season.

While to many it seems like a cold and heartless move by Bill Belichick, it really should be looked at as a reward by doing it now. Belichick could have cut him a week ago and left him in Foxboro but he came along was part of the team. Tomorrow will be no different for him then if he were inactive and not dressing.

I’m sure Underwood is disappointed, personally and professionally, but he is a professional and went on Twitter and made these statements:

“This Is Nothing But MOTIVATION…I Been Thru A LOT…But There Are Ppl in This World w/More Serious Problems So I Can’t Hang The Head…Thank You Lord. Good Luck to The New England Organization, The Coaches, & All My Teammates.”

For those out there who are saying the Giants should claim Underwood, they can’t. They’ll have to wait until Monday when he clears waivers.

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Photo credit: AP Photo

Curtis Martin Gets Call From Hall

Curtis Martin

The Professional Football Hall of Fame made the call for Curtis Martin on Saturday making him the 29th modern-era running back to be elected to Canton,

Martin, a 3rd round pick by the New England Patriots in 1995 out of the University of Pittsburgh, spent his first three seasons with the Patriots. In 1995 he was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and following the 1996 season he played in his lone Super Bowl, a Patriots loss to Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXI.

After playing for New England in 1997, he left as a free agent signing with the rival New York Jets, rejoining his former Patriots coach Bill Parcells in the Meadowlands. He was a restricted free agent and signed a six-year, $36 million contract, which New England declined to match.

In his first seven years in New York, he missed just one game allowing him to rush for 1,000 yards or more in each of his first 10 NFL seasons.

Martin finished his career with 14,101 rushing yards, fourth all-time and 90 TD’s. He was a 5-time Pro Bowl selection and a 5-time All-Pro. He is a recipient of the NFL’s Ed Block Courage Award, FedEx Ground Player of the Year, Bart Starr Man of the Year Award and is in the New York Jets Ring of Honor.

After saying many times, “don’t put him in the Hall of Fame just yet”, Bill Parcells, Martin’s former coach, will get to exactly that as he will present him for induction on August 4 in Canton OH. Others being inducted that day will be Jack Butler, Dermontti Dawson, Chris Doleman, Cortez Kennedy and Willie Roaf.

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Photo credit: NESN.com