Bill Belichick Not A Fan Of Extra Points

Those of us in the OSG HQ know that New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is a man of few words. Mostly an icy glare.

Monday on his weekly radio show on WEEI in Boston Belichick shared his total dislike for the extra point.

You can listen by clicking on the link below. At 4:47 Belichick talks about "non-plays" and the extra point.

http://audio.weei.com/a/44006796/bill-belichick-on-the-progress-being-made-in-training-camp-and-in-the-preseason-games.htm

"Extra points, when the odds are in the 99 percent range, it is not a play." Belichick said. "Let's move the ball back to the 15-20 yard line and not make it a tap-in."

Does Belichick take back those comments should he win or lose a game by a point?

NFL Playoffs: It's Chicago and The Jets (?)

((HT: NFL/NFL Network/Youtube))

The first game on Sunday was to determine if the Seattle Seahawks could make it:
A) To .500 and,
B) The NFC title game at Soldier Field...

Didn't happen...

Jay Cutler ran for two touchdowns and threw for two as Chicago and Green Bay will play for the 182nd time next Sunday- but their first meeting for the NFC title.

The Bears won 35-24...

Here's your highlights...


The Packers lost to the Bears 33-14 at Wrigley Field a week to the day after Pearl Harbor in their only previous playoff meeting. Green Bay beat Chicago 10-3 in the season finale this season to clinch a playoff spot earlier this month. The Packers haven't been to the Super Bowl since the 1997 season, when they lost to Denver.

Remember that whole Terrell Davis-John Elway thing...???

And it'll be the Patriots smelling the agony of de-feet in their 28-21 loss to the New York Jets Sunday...

One of the early failures was a fake punt with the Pats down 7-3
((HT: NFL on CBS/Youtube))


Let's hear from the fella's that called the game Jim Nantz and Phil Simms. (Thanks CBS Sports.com)



Jeff Howe of NESN.com found out that the call was Chung's to make...
"We trust the decision Patrick makes," Mesko said. "It just didn’t work out in that particular occasion. That’s why the coaches trust him to run it, and that's why they give him the green light, if he has it."

Mesko said the play was implemented in training camp, and it's the first time it was run this season. Chung has the green light from the coaching staff to call for the direct snap by making a signal at the line.

"It would have definitely swung momentum our way if we could have marched down and take the lead into the half," Mesko said.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was asked about the fake punt after the game.

"We just made a bad mistake," said Belichick, who wouldn't add anything else about the play

So now you get to root for a loudmouth with an alleged foot fetish or a QB who was alleged to have done some not-so-nice things in rural Georgia over the summer...

Like your choice...???

And it seems the Jets post-game celebration was way to over the top for the Patriots. Comcast Sportsnet New England is reporting that according to tweets written by fans Jets coaches were flipping the bird to Pats fans.

Patriot wide receiver Deion Branch says the Jets are classless. (Thanks Comcast Sportsnet New England)

NY Post, the cover...too funny to ignore

We were going to let sleeping dogs lie as the cliche' goes, but this was too funny...and creative to ignore.
The folks at the New York Post, known mostly for their bombast, but not necessarily the carrying out of actual journalism topped themselves this morning. They came up with a cover for their daily tabloid that can only be described as "Epic".

Look at the image on the side of this story. It covers everything. Heck, it even has Rex Ryan's wife on it as Princess Leia.

Yes, really, we've grown tired of the bluster coming out of this game, which has mostly been from the Jets. They seem to, for some reason believe that the Patriots are talking crap about them behind their backs too. We think laughing might be a better way to phrase it.

Oh, by the way. Don't think the Boston papers are sitting idly by and missing an opportunity to pile on. This is what Boston's Metro paper is featuring on its cover. Wonder where they came up with that idea?

Really, despite the battle of humor, we are growing weary of this. Both teams, though we think mostly the Jets are trying to make this into a Red Sox/Yankees type of rivalry.

If it weren't for the Patriots and people of Boston injecting some humor into this, we'd be as angry as we were the other day when we reported on Antonio Cromartie's idiotic rant. Really, we never thought we'd ever be rooting for New England, but we are hoping that they'll put the Jets out of all of our collective misery.

As for those of you don't believe the Patriots think this whole thing is just funny, then listen to wide receiver Wes Welker's subtle jokes as he speaks at a press availability on Thursday.

Thanks NESN:

Cromartie hates Brady, we hate both the Jets and the Patriots

The only time you'll see Antonio Cromartie here/Courtesy: isportsweb.com

This is going to be a bit of an opinion piece/rant, so brace yourselves.

We don't really understand why it is "Oh my gawd!" "He didn't say that" story that New York Jets dumbass/cornerback Antonio Cromartie essentially cursed out Patriots QB Tom Brady. So what.

It's been proven time and time again that the Jets are a bunch of whiny bitch, blowhards, so Cromartie's statement shouldn't be shocking. And while we don't particularly care for the Patriots either, they at least have the class to not try and fire back.

Here's your latest story, from the New York Daily News RIGHT HERE

Rex Ryan/Courtesy: themegaworldnews.com

Couple this with Rex Ryan's idiotic statement about this weeks game being "Me vs. Bill Belichick and you've got all the makings of the battling blowhards. Note to Rex. Neither of you actually play. Your players do. They'll decide who wins and who doesn't.

Sure, we get why the Jets are doing this. Create a distraction, try and get under the Patriots skin and off their game. Do they really think that this will work? They must. Lord knows the New York media has been all over this. It's huge! Bigger than the snowstorm! After all, they consider themselves the center of the football universe.

We actually had enjoyed the "Hard Knocks" this summer that featured the Jets and at the time, enjoyed Rex Ryan. Now...we are tired of him. Really tired of him. He's a blowhard. And a cocky one at that. When  you win a Super Bowl, you can talk smack. You've got something to point back to. He's got nothing. A pretty decent team. But dude, you haven't done anything yet.

We get it. You back your team. Your ambitious. You want them to be successful. There's nothing wrong with that. All we are telling you is "SHUT UP". Just freakin' play!

As for Mr. Cromartie. Dude. You or your 8 kids...have nothing to be talking smack about. You've accomplished nothing. Your a thug. And worse, you have yet to discover that they sell condoms at the drug store.

Sadly, as much as we don't care for the Patriots or any other team from that part of the world, they've now been made to be a sympathetic group. As much as we don't and never have cared for them, at least we've respected them. They don't talk like this. They don't get into "Media" battles. They go out and play. And win. Usually.

As badly as we don't want them to win the Super Bowl this year....or any year. We just want them to beat the Jets. Mostly so we don't have to listen to Rex Ryan anymore...and hopefully Antonio Cromartie...ever again.

This is why Cromartie is a moron. Courtesy: Funny or Die.com

Antonio Cromartie And His Kids - watch more funny videos

Dan Connolly almost breaks one...

This, was pretty funny. You just don't see offensive lineman break long runs...pretty much ever. But yet in Sunday nights Packers/Patriots game, that's exactly what happens.

Here's your set up. The Packers have just scored and are about to kick off to the Patriots, the kicker, Mason Crosby hits a grounder that is scooped up by wedge blocker/guard Dan Connelly. Connelly proceeds to bust out of the pack and go 71 yards before he's finally tackled.

Yeah, it's pretty funny...and slow, but hey, it's a big return and as Chris Collinsworth said, probably a career highlight.

Here's your video before it gets pulled.

Danny Woodhead can't sell his own jersey

This was done with the intent of it becoming viral, but quite honestly, it's kinda funny.

Reebok dressed up Patriots Running Back Danny Woodhead, not yet a household name, as an employee of Modell's...a Sporting Goods store in the Northeast for those unfamiliar. And had him see if he could get people to buy his jersey off the rack. We might add, his jersey is the number 1 seller for Patriot fans these days...but yet nobody recongnized him. Hmmm....

The rest....well, let's just say that hilarity ensues....

Thirty Years Ago On MNF

((HT: ABC/NFL/youtube))

Here's two separate angles of the seminal event of thirty years ago...

Everyone thinks of New England Patriots kicker John Smith for two reasons...
One is the snowplow game where work release program trustee Marc Henderson cleared off the wrong spot for him to kick the game-winning field goal against the Miami Dolphins...

The other is this...


Bu, what a lot of you may not know is that there was a lot of debate on whether or not event number two was actually going to happen...
((HT: ESPN))


Interesting perspective on an interesting event...
One of the few times that having the ABC library comes in handy...

BREAKING: Tom Brady in car wreck...Boston area hearts skip a beat....

Tom Brady//Courtesy: midwestsportsfans.com

The collective known as Boston area sports lost a breath or two this morning when they heard reports that New England Patriots QB Tom Brady was involved in a car crash this morning on his way to the teams facility.

WEEI radio was the 1st to report this. They also reported and others have now confirmed that Brady wasn't injured and was released from the scene.

The person in the other vehicle wasn't quite as lucky.
Read more from Boston.com RIGHT HERE

We suspect that this will be the #1 News story in the New England area today. It's also lighting up the Sports world Twitter feeds too.

Hopefully someone will be able to report on how the other guy in the crash is doing. If Brady drove to work afterwards, he's fine.

If you are interested in some shaky long lens video of the wreck, you can follow this link to WHDH-TV in Boston....RIGHT HERE

Here's WBZ-TV's Breaking News Report from this morning...
Laura Ebben leads off...

Tom Brady Not A Fan Of "Hard Knocks"

Tom Brady hates the New York Jets. Therefore watching Hard Knocks with the New York Jets on HBO is not appointment TV for the Patriot QB.

Monday morning Brady was on the Dennis & Callahan Morning Show on WEEI radio in Boston talking football and bashing the Jets at the 13:30 mark. Click on the link to listen.

http://audio.weei.com/m/33740854/tom-brady-talks-about-hbo-s-hard-knocks-among-other-things.htm

Photo Courtesy: AP

Fans Not Too Hot On Mayor Malaprop

((HT: Boston Globe/Berry))
If you're a mayor, you better know what you're talking about... or, at least, have good speech writers...

Does Boston Mayor Thomas Menino have either one...??? At the unveling of the Bobby Orr statue, hizzoner had to recall famous Boston sports moments...

Apparently, the captain of the Red Sox multi-tasks...

Here's the flub...
((HT: Boston.com/Boston Globe))


But the HQ is pleased to know that these events can turn anyone into a middle-of-the-road Roman column, too...

Mosi Tatupu Passes Away...

Former NFL Running Back Mosi Tatupu passed away Tuesday in his home state of Hawaii. Tatupu, one of the early Samoans to make it successfully in the league, had some health issues which led to his passing.

Tatupu, whose career in the NFL lasted for 14 years, mostly with the New England Patriots, grew up in the Hawaiian islands and was considered one of the greatest football players to ever come out of their High School Football programs.

((Lofa and Mosi Tatupu//Courtesy: StarBulletin.com file))

He was an outstanding Special Teams player who also for a period of time had held the NFL recored for most games by a running back at 199.

The story from StarBulletin.com is RIGHT HERE

After he retired from the league, Tatupu stayed involved with football, coaching his son Lofa, who is now also in the NFL, while Lofa was in High School and spent time coaching at a small college in Massachusetts as well.

New England Patriots Mascot favors the Working Girls

Looking around the Internet this afternoon, we had a thought "Hmmm. Wonder what kind of wacky stuff is going on in the world today?". Strangely enough, after only a few minutes of searching, we found it.

Apparently the guy who works as the New England Patriots mascot found himself a part of a prostitution sting in Providence, Rhode Island on Friday. Robert Sormanti, who on the weekends was "Pat Patriot" the New England mascot, was one of 17 people arrested in the prostitution sweeps.

More from the Providence Journal RIGHT HERE

((Pat Patriot likes the ladies//Courtesy: turnto10.com))

We guess it probably isn't funny to Mr. Sormanti and we don't know how funny the Patriots will think it is either. If you happen to watch the Patriots game on TV Sunday, look on the sidelines, seem if "Pat" is there. It may be Mr. Sormanti...or it may not...the question is...how do you tell?

Belichick: I Thought We Could Get The Yard

((HT: NFL on NBC))

Here's the play that will light up Boston sports talk radio from now until the year 2017...
Al and Cris have the call...


Those of us at OSG HQ think The Hoodie has lost what's left of his mind...
Going for it on a 4th-and-2 at his own 28 with 2:00 left in a 6-point game...
Unless, of course, he thought his defense was gassed and couldn't stay with Manning and the Colts for more than a 30-yard field...

For the record, we timed Belichick's press conference...
At the 2:58 mark he had finally given two answers that were longer than four seconds in length to the questions asked by the assembled media...

We now point our collective finger at you... for a week...
We still readily admit that you're one of the, if not the, smartest coach in the league overall...

Bruschi- "No Goals Left On The Table"

((HT: NECN))

After 13 years, a stroke, and then an inspiring return to the New England Patriots, linebacker Tedy Bruschi is retiring.

On Monday morning at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Bruschi spoke about being fortunate to have many moments in his career that he will never forget.

The 36-year old Bruschi played on all three of New England's Super-Bowl winning teams and took time to thank Coach Bill Belichick, owner Bob Kraft, his teammates and fans.

An emotional Coach Belichick spoke about how "he always did the right thing" and "he found a way to compete and win."
"He was the perfect player" said Belichick during the press conference.

Owner Robert Kraft talked about how much Tedy meant to the young players and his impact over 5 New England Super Bowls.

Bruschi was in his 14th training camp this summer and knew he had a battle ahead of him with the Patriots other talented linebackers.

The linebacker thanked his wife Heidi for being with him through the highs and lows and fans for helping him through the tough times.

Tedy talked about how he wanted this day to be a day of celebration and that he had accomplished all his goals during his 13 years in the NFL.

Bruschi was very emotional talking about his relationship with Coach Belichick, "he taught me how to win."

Here's some of Bruschi's presser, thanks again to our friends at NECN

Bruschi To Retire Monday

((HT: CBSSports))

Tedy Bruschi is retiring after a 13-year career marked by an inspiring return to the New England Patriots as a starting linebacker eight months after a stroke.

A person familiar with his decision tells the Associated Press that the 36-year-old Bruschi will announce his retirement at a news conference Monday morning. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made. The team declined comment Sunday night.

Bruschi played on all three Super Bowl-winning Patriots teams. The last championship game was on Feb. 6, 2005, against the Philadelphia Eagles. Ten days later he was hospitalized after experiencing numbness in his left arm and left leg and blurry vision and was diagnosed with a mild stroke.

Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe has an "important player announcement" occurring at 10:45

Here's a piece that ran on ESPN about how Bruschi threw himself in the film room to make sure he was always at the right place at the right time...

Chad Kicks A PAT

He's really "Ochenta-y-Cinco," but we guess he's not a Spanish-language scholar...

But look at what he did against the New England Patriots, before it gets pulled...
Shayne Graham had the night off from injury, so guess who nailed the PAT

Form- good...
Point after- good...
Well done...
((HT: WKRC-TV/NFL/Youtube))

The Benglas won 7-6, so we guess Chad gets the GWRBI...

Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe caught up with Chad and inquired about the kick...

"'Esteban' Ochocinco is back. The most interesting footballer in the world. Everyone has to remember, I've always said that soccer is my No. 1 sport. I think Ronaldinho would be proud of me right now."

Tebucky Jones Sues Patriots Doctors

((HT: Boston Herald/Fargen))

Former New England Patriots star defensive back Tebucky Jones ((pictured, thanks Ted Fitzgerald/Boston Herald)) has filed a lawsuit claiming team doctors and other parties failed to diagnose his career-ending 2006 preseason knee injury, effectively ruining his pro career, the Herald has learned.

Jones, 34, claims that Dr. Thomas J. Gill IV, head physician for the Patriots and also the Red Sox [team stats] medical director, and Dr. Bertram Zarins, another Patriots physician, did not inform him he suffered a severe tear to his knee ligament against the Washington Redskins on Aug. 26, 2006, at Gillette Stadium.

According to his suit, filed Wednesday in Suffolk Superior Court, Jones claims that “the failure to diagnose his injuries led to his wrongful release by the New England Patriots and consequential loss of income.”

In an interview on Friday with the Herald, Jones said he was more sad than angry about the case, largely because he so trusted and admired the Patriots organization.

“The biggest pain is I played for three teams and I respected New England the most because I’m from New England. I got drafted from New England. I won a Super Bowl with New England. I always respected New England,” he said. “That probably hurts the most.”

Neither Gill nor Zarins, who practice at Massachusetts General Hospital, returned several calls seeking comment for this article.

The Patriots are not named in the lawsuit.

Jones was in the first year of a two-year, $1.4 million contract, with incentives to earn twice that, when he injured his right leg in the second half of the preseason game against the Redskins.

A native of New Britain, Conn., and the father of four, Jones was carried off the field as Gill and Zarins attended to him.

“It felt like I got shot,” he recalled to the Herald. “I ended up doing a front flip.”

He was treated on site, then sent to Shields MRI in Rhode Island the next day for an MRI. He said his wife drove him due to the pain.

The results of that MRI showed a chronic tear of the “anterior cruciate ligament,” or ACL, and a hamstring injury, according to Jones’ medical records, which were reviewed by the Herald.

But Jones claims that when he met with Gill and Zarins - both highly regarded orthopedic surgeons - they told him he had a hamstring injury and recommended ice and strengthening exercises.

Jones was then put on “injured reserve” by the Patriots, ending his season.

Jones told the Herald his knee pain was persistent enough that he saw Gill and Zarins again in September 2006. He was sent for another MRI at Shields. That MRI showed, in part, that Jones had a “chronic ACL tear” in addition to the hamstring injury, according to Jones’ medical records.

And, yes, there's more from there...
Another interesting read...

Vick to the Belichick's?

Yesterday, Michael Vick spoke of being "Close" to signing a deal to play football again. Today, the rumors are flying that the "Team" in question is the New England Patriots.

In his press conference today, the King of New England, Bill Belichick was asked directly about the possibility of taking in the formerly disgraced Quarterback.

The story from Boston.com here .

We also have the Belicheck on video: Courtesy// Boston.com and NESN:

Also coming out today, reports from a few outlets saying that Vick is likely to head west...to Seattle. The story from Yahoo Sports...here .

That, I don't buy. Having covered Vick and current Seahawks Head Coach Jim Mora for a few years with the Falcons, I don't buy this. While Mora is certainly not above taking on a charity case, trying to help someone who has fallen out of favor. Vick was a "Huge" letdown to Mora and his staff in Atlanta. He was never a "Team" guy and never put in the extra time needed to be successful.

We do think the Belichick story has some merit though. The Belichick has taken in Corey Dillon and Randy Moss and changed their lives/careers, so it can be done. As for those who say the owner, Robert Kraft's wife is a big animal rights advocate; what better way to prove that Vick is trying to redeem himself than have her in his corner.

Odds on this happening: Very Good

((Michael Vick in better days: Courtesy: wyclefjean.wordpress.com(don't ask)--))

Cassel And Vrabel To Chiefs

((HT: Boston Globe))

Scott Reiss of the Boston Globe and boston.com fills in the details of the initial Mike Vrable-to-KC deal. Here's the other part...

The New England Patriots traded quarterback Matt Cassel ((pictured, thanks Matthew J. Lee/Boston Globe)) and linebacker Mike Vrabel to the Kansas City Chiefs today in exchange for a 2009 second-round draft choice (34th overall).

Cassel, who turns 27 in May, will be reunited with former Patriots Vice President of Player Personnel Scott Pioli, the Chiefs' first-year general manager.

“I have a long history with both players,” Pioli said in a statement. “Mike and Matt are men that I respect both personally and professionally. I look forward to having them as new members of the Chiefs family.”

Cassel was one of the NFL's surprise stories in 2008. Despite having not started a regular-season game since high school, he stepped in for the injured Tom Brady in the Patriots' season opener against the Chiefs, and ultimately led the team to an 11-5 season.

Cassel completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 3,693 yards, with 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Said Patriots coach Bill Belichick of Vrabel: "When Mike arrived in 2001, we knew we were adding a solid outside linebacker. But where Mike took it from there exceeded our highest hopes. Mike Vrabel epitomizes everything a coach could seek in a professional football player: toughness, intelligence, playmaking, leadership, versatility and consistency at the highest level. Behind the scenes, Mike's wit and personality is one of the things we have all enjoyed about coming to work every day. The toughest aspect of my job is the day I stop coaching people like Mike, who did everything in his power to contribute to team success. Of all the players I have coached in my career, there is nobody I enjoyed working with more than Mike. In the same way people recognize guys like Troy Brown, we appreciate and thank Mike Vrabel. He is one of the very special Patriots champions."

Of Cassel, Belichick said: "It is very easy to root for guys like Matt Cassel, who do everything the right way and flourish as a result. As much as we would have loved to continue working with Matt, we wish him nothing but the best as he takes this next step forward in his career."

We hope Cassel has his full medical paid up...

McDaniels To Become McBronco

The Rocky Mountain News, via the four-letter, is declaring the winner in the "Let's Replace Mike Shanahan Sweepstakes" as New England Patriots Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels. ((pictured, thanks/rockymountainnews.com))

Chris Mortensen sayeth the following:

"Broncos owner Pat Bowlen sent COO Joe Ellis to Boston Thursday for a lengthy second interview with McDaniels, who, according to sources, was one of two finalists along with Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier.

McDaniels has worked in the NFL for eight seasons, all with New England. He joined the Patriots on March 1, 2001 as a personnel assistant in the scouting department and assisted the defensive coaching staff for three seasons. He began serving as the Patriots' quarterbacks coach in 2004 and was named offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach on January 20, 2006.

McDaniels began his coaching career in 1999 as a graduate assistant at Michigan State, working under head coach Nick Saban."

When Pat Bowlen announces this publicly, we'll be there for you...
Carry on...