ATBNG

I think that there will be some conditional deal, but it's not going to have huge escalator clauses based on yards. 5th, upgraded to a fourth if he rushes for 750 yards and/or has 1000 total yards. Teams will indeed recognize that the 750 yards won't be worth much if he is missing one or two blocks a game that causes the quarterback to take needless shots.

Anfernee. If you're going to rank on him, spell his name right.

Fifth---conditional fourth, which I've said all along. Henry is not a starting caliber running back in the NFL, and he would be a woeful third down back due to his poor blocking and catching skills. Yards impress roto players, but film tells the real story of Travis Henry to GM's and coaches. I don't think this strategy makes much sense. Buffalo I think should focus on getting younger on defense in this year's draft. The defense has played quite well the past two years but is getting old by NFL standards, and seems to be missing something in crunch time. A couple young guys who could be worked into the defensive line rotation and secondary on 20/30% of the plays I think will be Donahoe's strategy. I still think Donahoe has made some big blunders on high level decisions, but the way he built that lower third of the roster last year impressed me greatly. I'm looking forward to seeing what he does on draft day.

Law's still having trouble getting around. He has a very serious injury and may not even play next year. A little bit of a shame - the guy has been a terrific player for stretches in his career. I doubt he's going to get any kind of big bucks this offseason.

The problem with Henry as a backup is that he is ineffective as a third down receiver. He is not going to be relatively cheap as a pure backup who doesn't play specials. Coaches and GM's don't like the film on him. His flaws aren't going to fly under the radar.

Penn looked like a complete idiot by getting all pissy. Anything to take the focus off of his very undeserved Oscar from last year I guess.

As a Boston resident and diehard Sox fan, I completely agree with you. I thought it was awesome/brilliant. It was in no way "vulgar", and if they had an ounce of creativity the Fleet management could have had a lot of fun with it and made a ton of money for charity. Instead they look ridiculous - people who manage a multi-million dollar playground shouldn't take themselves so seriously.

The Postons are on TD's speed dial....

Parcells wanted to draft Muhammed out of college. This was part of the reason he left the Pats in '96 - because Terry Glenn was foisted upon him when he wanted Brackens and Muhammed.

We've gone from "would have" to "probably," so that's improvement, but I think you're still incorrect. If one of them blew away an organization in their interview, Crennel and/or Weis would have gotten a job in early 2004. That didn't happen, so draw your own conclusions. Time probably was a factor, but stating that it was unequivocally the reason that both weren't hired is flat out wrong. I don't believe for a second that Donahoe was hiring Weis if the Patriots had lost to Tennessee last year.

That's not true. They both interviewed last year with multiple teams and weren't offered a head coaching position.

Bruschi's career isn't over until he says it is over. I grant that he has a tough road back, but let's see what happens. He has the heart of a lion. In retrospect, Bruschi may have done a very smart thing by taking a bonus-heavy contract with a high percentage of guaranteed money. He has played one year of a 4 year deal, but has received well over 50% of the money in the contract from it. Let's not forget this last season was his best as a pro by a longshot.

This post is flabbergasting. Belichick has all the confidence in the world in Vinatieri. The team does go for it in a lot of close situations inside the 50 where other teams might not because the team's execution is very good in short yardage situations (and the defense is good as well), and because 7 is more than 3. Equating that to a lack of confidence because his longest FG all year was 48 yards is frankly baffling. There is no way that any of those kickers are better than Vinatieri. It was though good to learn that Belichick watches Vinatieri in practice.

Unless the wind is coming from a storm with a first name, there is no justification for missing a 28 yarder at the pro level.

They have gotten better over the course of their careers. They are both intelligent football players who work very hard and have made themselves better as they have gained experience. Bruschi has had to go from a DE in college to an OLB to a MLB - naturally there would be a learning curve. There is nothing "odd" about it. Go back and look at any draft and teams misfire on all sorts of guys. Other guys get drafted late and turn out to be great. The draft is for the most part a crapshoot. Everyone is different (for better and for worse) when they are 30 compared to when they are 21. The class valedictorian is not necessarily the most successful graduate ten years later, and it is rarely because the other person "cheated."

The Patriots can pay Pioli as much as they want. They can pay Mangini as much as they want. There's no salary cap for coaches and GMs. I don't think you have any point at all, frankly.

Patten had a very nice year for New England, but I think that he is definitely on the decline. He is definitely a classic outside speed receiver. He's not very effective over the middle or in the slot. He's getting up there in age as well so I fear his speed may betray him sooner rather than later. He also doesn't play specials. Real good guy though with a humble, positive attitude. I think that Moulds is still #1, but Branch is coming on fast. Branch is an incredibly intuitive receiver and is getting better and better very quickly. I'd expect Branch to pass Moulds next year. I also have a ton of respect for Chambers - he hasn't exactly had the baddest gunslingers in the West throwing him the rock in his career.

Did Henry and Peyton overlap at all in college? I would be completely stunned myself.

At least it's not a leap year Rico....

I've been to lots of concerts. Seeing other large people stage at shows dive doesn't make what Max and Drew did any less irresponsible or reckless. I mean - this was just like drinking and driving. They didn't mean to hurt anyone, but the choices they made ended up doing so. When you're a gigantic human being like these two are, you just have to be aware of what type of forces you're able to create with your size. Zolak managed to do the right thing. Max and Drew not doing so does indeed say something about them as people.

I say bad character yes on this one. It goes beyond doing something "stupid." When you're the size of these two guys and you propel yourself into a crowd of people that consists of kids that are a third your size, you're recklessly endangering other people. This was very similar to drinking and driving - same idea without a car involved.

Lane is correct. Scott Zolak also was there but reportedly did not stage dive. I never remember them reporting which of the two actually caused the girl's injury (they both ended up paying 500 K in damages), but she had major damage to her vertabrae. I also contend that going off to Montana to decompress every offseason is hardly giving one's all to one's team. This player is not a good example in the NFL of a player that eats, sleeps and breathes football.

Here's the list of Pats FA's LABF. Unrestricted free agents: RB Rabih Abdullah OG Joe Andruzzi S Je'rod Cherry LB/S Don Davis WR Kevin Kasper OT Adrian Klemm QB Jim Miller FB Patrick Pass WR David Patten K Adam Vinatieri Restricted free agents: OT Tom Ashworth WR David Givens DL Jarvis Green OG Stephen Neal

The NFL put that "negotiable" MNF schedule out there in the latest deals. Is that starting next year? I assume no because the current TV deals run through next season. If so though, they'll be less game to go around. All teams that have a winning record should get one Monday night game. I wonder if they have a formula (say 7 AFC games, 7 NFC games, 2 interconference, 2 optional) for balancing who gets to play on MNF. I've never really paid attention. If they do balance between conferences, Buffalo and Jacksonville probably are going to get shafted because I can't imagine New England, Pittsburgh, and Indy not getting three games, and all those crappy 8-8 and 7-9 NFC teams will get more exposure than they deserve. Plus Baltimore gets lots of love from the networks due to Mr. Miked Up at MLB. My guess is that the Bills play at the NYJ. That seems about right. Maybe they will get a home Sunday night game Columbus Day weekend (to help accommodate fans with a long drive to the game). Fairly or unfairly, the NFL might see the Bills as a risky prime time prospect if the QB situation is very unsettled at the time of scheduling.

I think they will give him what he wants - yes. Money won't be an issue. They've invested enough in developing him that they're not going to lose him over $250,000 per year.