Professional football is a game of inches. As the New England Patriots were in the process of squandering a 17-point 4th quarter lead, they gambled on a fourth-and-two from their own 28-yard line—and lost by an inch. A Tom Brady to Kevin Faulk completion was ruled just short of a first down and the Indianapolis Colts proceeded to turn it into a 29-yard yard touchdown drive to come from behind and shock the New England Patriots 35-34.
The Pats couldn’t challenge the controversial decision because they wasted two timeouts on their final drive and had nothing left to possibly overturn that …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
The New England Patriots placed a non-exclusive franchise tag on backup quarterback Matt Cassel today. The Pats will keep Matt if they have any doubts that QB Tom Brady won’t be ready for the start of the 2009 season. But if Tom is ready (as he’s expected to be), it’s likely New England will trade Matt rather than pay him the $14.65 million brought by the tag (of course, the Pats aren’t stupid — they could also offer him a long-term deal). In a statement released by the Patriots today, head coach Bill Belichick said:
“Matt …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
New England Patriots Pro Bowl linebacker Adalius Thomas will have surgery on his broken forearm tomorrow, thus most likely ending his 2008 season. Adalius broke his arm during Sunday’s 20-10 win over the Buffalo Bills. Fellow linebacker Mike Vrabel assessed the situation:
“I think it will be difficult. He’s a guy that certainly, like a lot of guys here, plays a lot of different positions and plays them pretty well, so it will be tough. He was a leader. He was a veteran guy that played well, and we’ll just have to find guys to step …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady left this afternoon’s 17-10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs early in the first quarter with a left knee injury. Tom was injured when he stepped up in the pocket to make a throw and collided with Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard, who was down on the field in front of him. Tom’s left knee buckled as he followed through on his throw, and he went down holding the area immediately below his kneecap. He was helped off the field and walked carefully with the help of trainers. He was …read more

Image details: Roger Goodell Selected To Become New NFL Commissioner served by picapp.com

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL
An agreement has been completed between the National Football League and Matt Walsh that will allow Matt, a former videotape operator with the New England Patriots, to share with the NFL information about activities occurring during his employment with the club from 1997-2003. Commissioner Roger Goodell will meet with Matt in the commissioner’s office on Tuesday, May 13, the earliest date that Matt, who lives in Hawaii, will be available on the east coast.
This agreement also requires Matt to return any …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
By now I’m sure you’ve heard that former St. Louis Rams player Willie Gary (yeah, I’ve never heard of him either) is suing the New England Patriots for allegedly videotaping one of the Rams’ practices before Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002. I didn’t write about it because I didn’t see any validity in his argument and I had never even heard of Willie Gary. Had Kurt Warner or Marshall Faulk filed a suit, it would have been a different story. Of course, they’re not that desperate. Anyway, the $100 million suit, which was …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell met with Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter today to talk about “Spygate” and the questions that still surround the New England Patriots’ illegal videotaping scandal that was uncovered at the beginning of the 2007 season. They met for an hour and 40 minutes in Washington and I can tell you Sen. Specter isn’t happy with the answers he got from Commissioner Goodell, especially concerning the reasons why the tapes were destroyed.
This is really where the concerns are for Sen. Specter. Commissioner Goodell says he destroyed the tapes because he wanted …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
It wasn’t supposed to end this way. The New England Patriots had run off an incredible 18 straight wins against no defeats to find themselves in Super Bowl XLII with a chance to make history and become world champions in the process. Yet in one fell swoop, they lost their undefeated and championship season with a 17-14 loss to the N.Y. Giants.
I sat in stunned silence after this was over. It wasn’t as though I had any emotional investment in the game. I honestly didn’t care who won. On one hand, I …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
The atmosphere was more family picnic than Super Bowl preparation for the New England Patriots on today as the team enjoyed a brief stop at the University of Phoenix Stadium. The Pats did not have a walk-through, as promised. Instead, they spent a fun hour with their families, interrupted only by a brief team photograph session — this according to my final Patriots SBXLII pool report from fellow PFWA member Dan Pompei. Head coach Bill Belichick said:
“This is what we usually do. The first year was a little different because of the short …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
Nothing too exciting from New England Patriots practice today other than head coach Bill Belichick’s new red hoodie. According to my daily pool report from Dan Pompei, the Patriots concluded their preparations for Super Bowl XLII with a crisp workout in shorts and shells at Sun Devil Stadium that lasted an hour and 20 minutes. WR Jabar Gaffney’s shoulder injury has improved and he was able to participate fully in practice. QB Tom Brady’s ankle continued to be a non-issue. So the Patriots look to be completely healthy. Coach Belichick said, “We’re ready …read more