A Few Bad Men

I’ve never been in an NFL locker room. I don’t know any more about the Richie Incognito-Jonathan Martin story than you do. I guess it’s always cool to play a Jack Nicholson clip but I’m not sure I buy the “A Few Good Men” meme. I’m never comfortable with the comparison of professional athletes to the men and women who serve in the military – even if it’s a movie. I know the “blood in” story in Sebastian Junger’s brilliant “War” and recognized the extreme circumstances under which those men were living. Do not make the mistake of extending the same level of understanding and empathy we feel for men and women under fire to athletes on a playing field. Those men in Restrepo were not playing.

Take the Points

I had this crazy dream where I was back in 2007. Randy Moss was throwing his hand up. Tom Brady was carpet bombing defensive backfields with touchdown passes. Wes Welker was roaming free over the middle. I don’t remember that gigantic tight end though. You’d think I’d remember somebody that big, and athletic, and – wait. What?

That wasn’t a dream?

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.