Time Out for Sports Talk: Ready for Some Football? We Sure Are!
Todd: Greetings, sports fans! The TOST blog returns again this NFL season to enlighten and entertain you…if you squint hard enough?
So where were we all summer? Would you believe conducting tests of the Ideal Gas Law on beach balls? Didn’t think so. But before talking pigskin, here are some baseball nuggets for the Fenway faithful.
Last weekend, Mike and I finally made it to Boston’s ball yard just in time to watch Red Sox play out the string for yet another September. While it’s sad that a team with a payroll four times the size of the NFL commish’s salary fell short of expectations again, there is hope watching the kids play with some fire and energy. IMO two players that have not fallen short of expectations are the 22-year old wonder twins, Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts, who are both more than holding their own at the plate and in the field. And what’s been up with Jackie Bradley Jr. over the last month? Sure looks like the Sox need to find an outfield spot for him in 2016.
Perhaps the biggest shakeup this season was installing Dave Dombrowski as head of baseball ops, which given his reputation will likely lead to significant roster shakeups this offseason. One can only hope that the former Tigers and Marlins GM, with a reputation of dealing youth for experience, will be willing to hold on to some of Boston’s kids so that we can watch them progress and form the nucleus of the next championship contending club. At the very least, let’s hope Dombrowski and his crew can determine which members of the youth brigade are legit versus those that are merely a flash in the pan.
Ok, now to football. Has the 2015 NFL season already turned into one long court case of the reigning Super Bowl champs versus the league? Tom Brady and the NFLPA won in the real courtroom, but the league struck back in the court of public opinion by rehashing old news in order to establish the Patriots as cheaters. After reading reports that the Pats have gotten in the head of several teams, I could only chuckle. I imagine Bill Belichick cracked a smile while reading that too.
After watching the ‘Do Your Job’ documentary on the SB champs, it’s becoming crystal clear that Belichick and the Patriots continue to play chess while many teams around the league are stuck on checkers. The ineligible receiver plays vs. the Ravens and the constant repetition of practicing goal-line pass plays were the reasons the Pats finally claimed that fourth Lombardi trophy.
As for the Commissioner whose name I’d rather not type—let’s call him Voldemort—he and the league office he oversees might be playing Chutes and Ladders. The way they handled DeflateGate these last seven months, in conjunction with how they’ve dealt with other league matters and now, as we’re finding out all over again, how they dealt with SpyGate eight years ago, has been nothing short of sloppy and incompetent.
Enough of that, I want to talk about the team taking the field tonight at Gillette Stadium trying to become the first team to repeat as Super Bowl champs since the Boys of Belichick turned the trick eleven years ago. While tonight will be fun watching the unveiling of that fourth title banner, I think us Pats fans might want to savor that feeling because the odds are definitely stacked against this team winning another championship.
Nobody has been talking about this, but I am mighty concerned about the secondary. Having a group last year led by Revis, Browner and McCourty played a big part in that championship, just as guys like Law, Milloy, Harrison and Samuel were cornerstones of the three titles preceding this one.
While I absolutely love the fact Malcolm Butler refuses to rest on his laurels after making THE PLAY, the fact that he’s the leading cornerback of the 2015 Pats defensive backfield isn’t making me do backflips. I hope the young and talented front seven of the defense can help make up for the potential deficiencies of the back four. Despite all that youth and talent, will the Pats miss the presence of Vince Wilfork? Or is rookie DT Malcolm Brown another Vince in the making?
On offense, the 2015 Pats may start out looking like last year’s team did over the first month, as the offensive line once again looks like a bit of a mess in the middle following Dan Connolly’s retirement and Bryan Stork’s concussion. Stork should return around midseason (along with receive Brandon LaFell), but the lack of depth at these positions could quickly remind us of that Monday night in Kansas City last year (ok, hopefully not that bad).
Despite all this, I’m saying 12-4 for the Pats, but no repeat. For my Super Bowl pick, let’s go with Colts over Packers, as long as another AFC playoff team eliminates the Pats before Indy has to face them.
Finally, some opening week picks: Dolphins over Redskins, Chargers over Lions and Peyton’s Broncos over the Ravens.
Mike: Before I get into the Patriots and football, I do have to touch on the Red Sox. While the team is playing out the string, it was nice to still see some energy on the field this week. While this has been a tough season to endure, and I'm not thinking that a World Series is in the cards for next year, the future is still brighter than it looks.
That has been on display all month. While the main focus has been on Papi's pursuit of 500 homers, there has been a snapshot of the future with the young players that has me encouraged for 2016 and beyond. Now if they could just find something to do with Hanley Ramirez...
Now, on to football. It's nice to have the luxury of actually talking about games on the field rather than in the courtroom. I am looking forward to actually watching games, and while the talk will still likely be on the controversy surrounding the team, at least there will be some real football to watch!
As for this season, I'm going to have to agree with Todd on a 12-4 record for New England. But, I can't go against my gut and I'm going to pick a Pats' repeat, since I think they feel like they have something to prove. Let's call it a Patriots/Packers Super Bowl with the Pats pulling out a close one.
My predictions this week, Patriots over the Steelers, the Colts over the Bills and the Seahawks over the Rams.
Our next LIVE show is coming up on Wednesday, September 23 from 8-9pm (note the new night). You can post your questions via Twitter using the hashtag #TOSTsep23 or call in at (617) 484-2443.
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