Red Sox the Movie

I don’t have a problem with admitting I’m wrong; perhaps because I’ve had so much practice. My long-time reader knows that I like say that movies are not like real life. Well, I was wrong (again). At least sometimes, life is like a movie. The Boston Red Sox proved that last night.

Midpoint

Anything can still happen, right? Well, almost anything. You know who you are.

When Winning Doesn't Feel Like Winning Remember, You Won

That was a worse than worst case scenario first half for the Patriots against the Dolphins. It felt even more depressing than the 17-3 score might indicate. Then the Patriots took the second half kickoff and showed absolutely nothing on their first drive. It looked like it was going to be a long afternoon. I felt crushed. I know it’s wrong to invest so much of my emotional life in the outcome of a football game. Well, wrong is a strong word but I guess I have to admit it’s a trivial choice, at best. So there it is. When you judge me remember I’m not one of the people trying to set the world on fire for – from my perspective – questionable reasons. I know I’m setting the bar low here. It is what it is.

My Inner Child is a Weakling and a Coward

Last Sunday, the Patriots had a chance to essentially clinch the AFC East. A win would’ve given them a sweep of the Jets. Combined with the Dolphins’ loss at home to the Bills, New England would’ve sat atop the division at 6-1-0 with Miami bringing their 3-game losing streak to Foxborough. Instead, I’ve spent the week enduring pigskin pundits and bobbleheads renewing their love affair with Sexy Rexy and scratching my head over comparisons of Geno Smith to Steve Young.

Seriously?

Will Patriots Nation look back on the loss to the Jets and see it as a turning point in a championship season? Or will it come to be seen as the beginning of the inevitable end of the Belichick-Brady era? A lot depends on today's game.

Trade Winds

It’s accepted wisdom the NFL trade deadline is designed to prevent trades; it’s simply too early for teams that are failing to admit they’ve given up. This season may be a little different. The rash of injuries to key players and the relatively large number of “have nots” have some of us dreaming of a mid-season fix.

The Minor Fall

I suspect some pretty important plot points will be revealed this weekend. As usual, not all of the news is good.

Somebody Feels Worse Than You (If That Makes You Feel Any Better)

Some losses are tougher than others. The Jets in OT certainly qualifies. Playing without four week 1 starters on defense and still coming so close only to fall short? Yeah, that hurts. Getting Gronk back and losing. That stings like the honeybee. Getting Gronk back and not losing Gronk to another injury? That was okay.

I’m turning the page.

It’s all about Miami now.

Questionable

Gronk flew with the team to NYC.

He’s playing.

Walk the Walk

Losing Big Vince for the season was bad enough. Losing Wilfork and Jerod Mayo? That’s just cruel.

That Happened

Color me giddy. It’s the one right next to atomic tangerine.

Slings and Arrows

It’s been a bummer week all the way around. Rather than step back for some perspective, it appears the good citizens of Patriots Nation have their noses firmly planted in a lemming’s butt. I don’t know where we’re going but we do seem to making good progress getting there.

Anything Can Happen And It Probably Will

The house always wins.

Always.

Losing Hurts (But You Knew That)

Losing hurts but some people have lower thresholds of pain than others it seems.

Gronkless in Cincinnati

Rob Gronkowski will be out of the lineup for the fifth week in a row. Can the Patriots keep winning without him? Not easily.

Fours and Fives

It just keeps getting better…

No Triumph Without Adversity

The Patriots earned their most impressive win of the season with their 30-23 win Sunday night in Atlanta but lost Vince Wilfork for the season to a torn Achilles tendon. Wilfork is a Pro Bowl defensive tackle and perhaps more importantly a true heart and soul guy. His loss has already conjured up Richard Seymour’s name. Wilfork’s loss should also shut the pie holes of all those who were bitching about the $10m in salary cap the “cheapskate” Patriots had held in reserve. Not that I’m recommending New England overpay for Seymour or any other of the available free agents; there’s a good reason they’re available.