connoisseur series500

Hey Chris: Super Bowl will be a big snoozer for you. Carolina thinks defense first as well. They look like a younger version of the Patriots. That DT Kris Jenkins is a load. Check out Pasquarelli's comments on espn.nfl. Pasquarelli says Keyshaun wants to play for the Pats and that Troy Brown's contract needs to be reworked. Sorry, I'll keep Troy over Keyshaun any day. I'd bet BB is thinking the same way.

Pats have been covering the spread all season.

Although I don't own any non-jazz cds (can you believe it?) I think it would be a good idea. I would definitely read the thread if I've heard the music.

Hmm, and State Farm is one of the better outfits too, I think...

Congrats on those "gut" picks, Jim. I obviously had trouble caring about the winner of the Eagles-Carolina game as my full focus was on the other game. If I had thought it through, I would have went for Carolina. The Eagles have looked awful recently.

Man, it's so hard these days to make it two in a row. Let's see the composition of the team first. Belichick is not afraid to dump players and Ty Law's contract is due for a $9 million cap hit. They're hoping to rewrite the contract to make if more cap friendly; obviously, they were unable to do that with Lawyer Milloy right before the first game of the season. Damien Woody's contract expires in 2004 as well. Not sure if he will be kept. On the positive side, the team has two 1st, two 2nd, and three 3rd picks in the 2004 draft. (I just love the way BB and Scott Pioli work their magic. ) In addition, we will see the return of LB Roosevelt Colvin, who was supposed to be one of the prize plumbs of free agency. He's been out with a fractured hip all year. Old but steady Center, Mike Compton will also be returning from injury. Let's see who will be on the team first. Team personnel changes so dramatically each year in the NFL. The Pats will basically have the same people, but I'm curious about the makeup of the other teams. In the meantime, let's just focus on winning this year's Super Bowl. I agree with ESPN's Sean Salisbury that the Panthers match up with us pretty well. They've got a tough defensive line and their secondary is as physical as ours.

You can get some good deals on ebay, but in my case, if I keep looking for stuff, I end up buying; and if I buy a lot of stuff then only a handful are at bargain prices. So you've got to be both patient and disciplined. I don't even watch ebay now, because I've decided to curb my cd spending. If I just decided to watch for good deals then I might be tempted to go after something else. Best just not to watch auctions.

Pats have their hands full with Carolina in the Super Bowl. Panthers have an excellent defense and they've got a few weapons on offense. Belichick will try to confuse Delhomme with his schemes and he'll probably succeed. Pat's defense likes to create turnovers. Still, the Panthers D will give Brady & Co. a hard time, I think. The two teams aren't very familiar with each other and I think we play better when we know our opponent well. Pats are early 7 point favorites. BB and the coaching staff will have to make sure the players don't read too many newspapers. Gotta stay hungry. Carolina is obviously playing good ball. We'll have to stick Ty Law on Steve Smith. postscript: was watching Tom Jackson's analysis on "NFL Primetime," and he showed one play where Rodney Harrison was at the line of scrimmage while Ty Law was back in coverage. Before the ball was snapped, they switched positions; Law moved up and Rodney back. They throw so much at a quarterback. Even a student of the game like Peyton Manning had trouble.

BTW, with a fistful of draft picks next year along with a healthy salary cap situation and a bunch of young players, that darned boring New England team will continue to win lots of games in the upcoming seasons. Must be rough on you.... B)

There are always exceptions, Chris, but I still think a great defence will beat a great offense. Those San Francisco and Dallas Super Bowl winners had good defences too. I also remember the Steel Curtain years; the Dallas "Doomsday" defence years. When the Redskins won the Super Bowl during the Gibbs era, they had a great defence as well. The Chicago Bears team that won the Super Bowl was probably the most overwhelming defence I had ever seen. In the meantime, the teams with overwhelming offenses like the Dan Marino-led Dolphins and Dan Fouts' Chargers would always lose the big game. I guess we can't agree on this score. And, of course, there are always exceptions to the "golden rule."

Thanks Jim. I think the Colts will keep Manning. The sportswriters say that it would be difficult to come up with the $20-30 million signing bonus as the RCA dome doesn't generate enough revenues to cover such bills. They might franchise him and take the big cap hit. Manning and Marvin Harrison share the same agent. There was a lot of hard hitting out there in the secondary today. Eugene Wilson had a couple of big pops. Rodney lays the lumber pretty good. I loved the way the news media talked up Stokley, claiming that he was just another weapon for Manning. He didn't do much today, and then Eugene popped him forcing a dropped ball. I love it. Anyway, Jim, apparently the Titans have some big decisions to make as well. Kearse and George are probably gone. They might lose some others as well. With Chris Brown playing like he does, I don't think Tennesse will miss Eddie George and his big salary.

DEEP's done that in a year's time by just heating his mansion!

Depends on the music. I sleep to Bill Evans or Bobby Hutcherson or Charles Lloyd, but I cannot sleep to any organ stuff or big band sounds. Any good piano trio would work.

If the Pats win their second Super Bowl in three years (and they've got to be the heavy favorites,) I hope we will see a change in the mentality of team owners and general managers. The Bill Belichick model is one of acquiring modestly-priced players who play teamball. Everyone was falling over themselves in the offseason to sign up Hugh Douglas, who was basically a flop all season; but who went after Ted Washington or Tyrone Poole? Rodney Harrison was a pretty big name, but apparently he was thought to have been washed up by the rest of the league. In the meantime, NE trades away one of their two first round picks in exchange for loading up on middle round picks for both 2003 and 2004 drafts. They select two starting offensive linemen in the 4th rounds along with cornerback Asante Samuel (4th,) starting free safety Eugene Wilson (2nd) wr Bethel Johnson (3rd) and what might eventually prove the pick of the draft: Dan Klecko (5th). Klecko wasn't even activated today as the team is so deep that good players have to sit out certain games week to week. Credit the head of Player Personnel, Scott Pioli as well for building this "boring" (quoting Chris) team which some reporters are beginning to call a budding dynasty. This was the season where Keyshaun was told to just not show up at the stadium for the rest of the year; where the Browns dumped Kevin Johnson as a bad lockerroom influence; where Corey Dillon talked himself into being traded before the next season begins; where the Tampa Bay Bucs played more football with their mouths than with their bodies. What the successful teams need are good players who aren't enamoured with themselves and buy into the team concept. This is the reality in today's salary cap environment. The Colts just might prove to be the second best team in football and one of their superstars, Peyton Manning doesn't even have a contract for 2004. In order to keep him, talk is that either they will have to pay him a $20-30 million dollar signing bonus or they'll have to hit him with the "franchise" tag, and his salary will account for 25% of 2004's salary cap. In the meantime, the Colts will have to let go of key players in order to afford keeping Peyton Manning. The Titans face salary cap Hell next year as well. Belichick just releases players when they are unwilling to renegotiate their salaries or when they become a lockerroom pox. (witness Drew Bledsoe, Terry Glenn, Lawyer Milloy.) If Belichick and Scott Pioli do develop a football dynasty, watch all the other teams start to follow their cue and unload expensive superstars in favor of good team players. Personally, If I were the Colts, I would let Peyton go. No team can afford to use up a quarter of their cap space on one player. With a good coaching staff, a team can develop young players.

He had a big day alright. And his day would have been bigger if Charlie Weiss had called his number more than 18 times today.

Okay everyone: may we have a brief moment of silence for Chris and his concept of "exciting" football... Defence wins Championships, Chris. Manning, the perfect quarterback; and Marvin Harrison, the perfect receiver were stymied by a defence playing team ball. Our offense is workable; nothing outstanding but certain names stand out or will become known: Tom Brady, Troy Brown, David Givens. I won't name the offensive line, although they did a great job. Our defence is dominating. They bend without breaking. Belichick and Crennel came up with a great plan to stymie the vaunted Colts' offense. The Pats zone coverage is very effective as people like Ty Law and Rodney Harrison can see what happens at the line of scrimmage. In the meantime, the Indy offensive line was looking at containing Mike Vrabel (who had 2 sacks the first game with Indy) and Willie Mcginnest. In the meantime, DL Jarvis Green who comes in on pass plays (replacing Big Ted Washington) is able to break through for 3 sacks. Man, I was eating that game up!! Our average offense allowed the Colts a chance to get back in it, but the defence wouldn't allow it. Edgerrin James looked real good on that one drive in the third quarter. Then we had to stop him and get Peyton to throw again. I've seen Ty Law play a lot of great games over his nine year career with the Pats, but this one just may have been his greatest game. The Titans didn't throw a single pass on Ty Law's side of the field and he didn't even register a tackle in that game, but he was ready to shut down Marvin Harrison, who caught only 3 balls for 19 yards. I smell a Super Bowl victory. Looks like we might play the Panthers, who are much more dangerous than the Eagles, in my opinion. Pats have already defeated the Eagles twice this season (one was a preseason game.) Victory is SWEET!

We're up 15-0 with second half just starting. I know the Colts will make a run at us. I still like our chances... B)

Oh Patty, no need to get upset at us Americans who have targets on the back of our shirts as far as Middle Eastern extremists are concerned. I mean, we realize that you may not share the same feelings up there in Calgary (is that close to YUKON?? .) We in America have our enemies because we are a big country and we are engaged in the world. The last visitor to your town was--who? Admiral Peary? I mean, come on: easy to take the high approach when you're outside of events like that, and the only crisis might be if the Walrus population got a bit out of hand. Of course, you do have your share of American supporters who hate Bush and feel we have to BACK DOWN to those Mideval Muslim extremists. The GROPER and DEEP are correct: we have to strike back; and we have to hit hard. 9/11 can never be forgotten.

Thanks, SS. Looking forward to it. And looking forward to watching Edge have to run outside to avoid Big Ted Washington in the middle. On the wings he will run into Willie McGinnest and Mike Vrabel with Roman Pfifer and Teddy Bruschi there to help out. Edge also better not try to struggle for extra yards, because Rodney will be coming in at full steam dying for a chance at a big hit. If the Colts beat us, they will do it in the air. No one runs on the Pats. On the other hand, I predict a big day for Antoine Smith.

Glad to hear you're okay, Alex and everyone else. I was involved in a terrible car accident at the age of 20. I was the helpless passenger in a car driven by a loon with a lead foot. He drove us off the road at some terrific rate of speed. I placed my hand on the dashboard to prevent my face from going through the windshield and dislocated the shoulder. My back was fractured as well. The driver was out like a light. He walked out of the hospital the next day, while I remained for nearly a week. Can't remember if we had seat belts on. That was 24 years ago. I am still afraid to drive at high speeds even today. I think I'm a pretty safe driver. I'm always looking ahead and concentrating, even if I've got some greasy music playing. It should be admitted, however, that I do have the habit of talking on my cellphone in the car. This is dangerous business and it definitely affects my driving. I'll have to watch that.

What happens to me is that I will average 5-6 hours of sleep for a couple or three days in a row, then I find that I simply must sleep for 8-10 hours on the fourth day to revive.

Patty, you must have a clean conscience. How come you work 2 1/2 part time jobs instead of 1 full time?

So then Patty, perhaps I can deftly segue this topic back on track, and ask if you could explain to us the genesis of how Sadaam earned his nickname: Saddam "Big Beef" Hussein?

Thank you for clarifying that. I was wondering a bit. These trombonists...sheesh!

Ohhhhhh that was a low blow! Look Chris, Let's get one thing perfectly clear: I am probably as exasperated with the New England offensive strategy as you are. It appears to be effective, but I'm old school; and I believe that we should just hand the ball off to Antoine Smith 25-30 times in the cold weather. No one gets more frustrated with Offensive Coordinator, Charlie Weiss' plays calls than I do. I was hoping that Buffalo would sign him as their new head coach and we would be rid of this man forever. It's the New England defence which I find highly interesting. They play some real football. How do you get to Manning? Belichick will disguise his defensive formations. Everyone will be at the line of scrimmage then back up or there will be lots of shifting going on. If Manning goes into that no-huddle, quick read stuff, he will find that once the ball is snapped, the defensive look has changed. This will lead him to hold the ball longer and give the New England pass rush a chance to get him. But Manning is a good quarterback. It will be an exciting chess match for sure. Hope you don't get too bored Chris. Maybe you should stick on a tape or something watching an NBA player score 60 points while losing the game.