Randy Moss, New England Patriots / Image: Zuma Press

Today, coach Belichick sent four players home because they were late arriving to practice. One of those players was receiver Randy Moss. Of course, many people look at Randy’s behavior as an early sign of defiance because he has had a tendency to become disgruntled and drift off into a world of neglect when things aren’t going his way. And lately things have not been going his way (just five catches in those last two losses). Still, I wonder what kind of punishment a day off is? Coach Belichick wouldn’t elaborate on the details of the discipline because that’s the team’s policy, but I hope a stiff fine was included because that’s really the only way to punish a player at this level.

The Patriots are a team in trouble. And until they get everyone on the same page (as they’ve done when they’ve been successful), they are a long way from a lock to make the playoffs this season.

Source: Patriots.com

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Bill Belichick Sends Randy Moss Home

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints / Image: Zuma Press

The Saints amassed just under 500 yards of total offense in scoring 38 points—even without slasher back Reggie Bush. Drew Brees was as close to perfect as a quarterback can be in this league. And the defense forced two Tom Brady interceptions and held the Pats to just 17 points—without starting cornerbacks Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter. That’s impressive.

Of their five remaining games, only the Dallas Cowboys appear to pose a serious threat to an undefeated New Orleans Saints season. And that particular game is in the Superdome. So I’m going to go ahead and give the Saints a perfect 16-0 record with home field advantage heading into the playoffs. As far as the road to Super Bowl XLIV is concerned, I’ve got to say—advantage Saints.

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Will the New Orleans Saints Go Undefeated?

Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts / Photo: Newscom

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 ruling. As I saw it, Kevin had the first down when he caught the ball. But because he briefly bobbled it, he was not awarded forward progress that would’ve essentially ended the game in New England’s favor.

I don’t really blame Pats head coach Bill Belichick for going for it. After all, his success rate on 4th down is over 70%. But when you’re on your own 28-yard line with the game on the line, this is a very puzzling decision. It’s having supreme confidence in your team’s ability to convert, but it’s certainly going against the percentages. And it cost the Patriots the game.

As far as the Colts are concerned, this is an amazing comeback. After Peyton Manning threw his second interception of the game with just over seven minutes to play, I felt the game was over. But with their resolve and New England’s questionable decision-making, the door was opened for their victory. And the Colts merely walked through that door.

Source: NFL.com

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Colts Stun Patriots to Remain Unbeaten

Tom Brady, New England Patriots / Photo: Newscom

Tom has been under criticism for not performing up to his typically superhuman levels so far this season, but he now seems to be in “mid-season form,” as they say. Which makes sense because it’s pretty close to mid-season. Tom finished his impressive work day completing 29-of-34 passes for 380 yards. His six TDs tied a franchise record. Granted, Tom’s achievements were more-or-less target practice against the NFL’s second-to-last rated defense. But given the elements and the fact he was playing against a professional football team, it was nonetheless very impressive.

Source: NFL.com

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Tom Brady Has Career Day, Patriots Roll

Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens / Image: Zuma Press

On one play, it appeared that Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs just swiped at and maybe brushed Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s legs, but didn’t really even “touch” him (UPDATE: After re-watching this, Terrell Suggs did bump Tom, but it wasn’t anything more than that). I would have to agree with Ray—that kind of preferential treatment is taking the issue of safety too far. I can understand protecting the quarterback to a certain extent, but when the game becomes touch football—or in this case not even touch football—it’s pretty ridiculous.

Ray expressed his displeasure in no uncertain terms after the game:

“Without totally going off the wall here, it’s embarrassing to the game. You can’t do that. Brady’s good enough to make a play. Let him make his own play. You can’t end the play like that, and then throw the flag. No, man. The embarrassing part is when he understands that, and he walks up to one of us and says, ‘Oh, that was a cheap one.’ That’s not football. And that’s the embarrassing part about it. Two great teams going at it, let them go at it. But you can’t stop drives like that, you can’t throw flags and say, ‘Oh, you touched the quarterback.’ Put flags on them. Put a red buzzer on them, so if we touch them, they’re down. But you can’t do that, when a guy’s on the ground, it’s over. Both of the drives they got touchdowns on—personal fouls that kept the drives going. That’s embarrassing to our game. Fine me, do whatever you please. I’m not speaking against anybody. It’s embarrassing, for them to treat one person on the football field different than everybody else. That’s what’s embarrassing about this game. You can NOT do that. You gotta let the game take care of itself like it just did. But when you call penalties like that, it takes away from the love of the game, because you can get a Tom Brady to walk by you and say, ‘Oh, that’s a cheap one.’ Wow.”

Source: SportingNews.com

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Ray Lewis Upset With Treatment of QBs

Jared Gaither, Baltimore Ravens / Image: Zuma Press

Jared had movement in all his extremities but was taken to Mass General Hospital for tests. The X-rays on his neck and shoulder were negative but an MRI couldn’t be taken because Jared was too big for the machine. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said he wasn’t sure how long Jared might be out.

Source: BaltimoreRavens.com, NFL.com

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Jared Gaither Ok After Frightening Incident

Rex Ryan, N.Y. Jets / Image: Zuma Press

Afterward, coach Ryan continued with a confident demeanor:

“The Patriots are a hell of a football team. I just thought we were the better team today. That’s all we said, you know, the whole time going in—that we believed we were the better team today. And we went out and showed it ….. We’re a football team that should be respected. Sometimes, you know, we talk a little bit or something like that, but only because we have confidence in our football team. And we believe it to be true that we’re an outstanding football team. And we’ve got to go out and show it each week.”

Source: ESPN.com

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N.Y. Jets Talk the Talk, Walk the Walk

Tom Brady, New England Patriots / Image: Zuma Press

Sure, the Bills practically handed the Pats the game with a bonehead costly late turnover. But Tom shook off some early rust and did what he had to do. He completed 39 passes for 378 yards with two late touchdown passes, making up 11 points in less than five minutes to get the win. And in the National Football League, it doesn’t matter how you win. It only matters if you win. And as long as Tom Brady is under center, the New England Patriots have a pretty good idea how it’s done.

Source: NFL.com

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Tom Brady Returns, Finds a Way to Win

Within the past few days, Bills head coach Dick Jauron fired offensive coordinator Turk Schonert and the team released their starting left tackle (Langston Walker)—two integral positions in the success of any offense. So with no time to test their suddenly new look offense in game mode, the team must rely merely on a week of practice to ready themselves for one of the toughest tests in the NFL—the New England Patriots in Foxborough. A division rival in front of a national TV audience. On Monday Night Football, no less.

Terrell Owens, Buffalo Bills / Image: Zuma Press

On the surface, the removal of coach Schonert and Langston Walker smacks of desperation for a struggling offense that only managed six points in their final two preseason games. In due time we may see these moves take shape as sensible decisions. But I’m wondering if it will be too late? I believe coach Jauron is on very thin ice and a poor showing in September might just seal his and this team’s fate.

That brings the headline into play—Can Terrell Owens save the Buffalo Bills? With all the hype and all the hope of a city on his shoulders, Terrell has been nursing a sore toe for a month and has thus only played in one preseason game—hardly a proper introduction to his new teammates. Is he going to be able to step onto the field with a new left tackle (Demetrius Bell), new OC (Alex Van Pelt) and relatively new no-huddle offense and win a football game? There are more questions than answers in Buffalo right now.

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Can Terrell Owens Save the Buffalo Bills?

Tedy Bruschi, New England Patriots / Image: Zuma Press

He spoke about his plans (or lack of plans) during a football camp for about 70 young athletes at Gillette Stadium today. According to Tedy, when a player has reached his 10th season, it’s best not to plan any further than the current season. Now, no mention was made on Brett Favre’s philosophy of retiring and unretiring, but I’m guessing Tedy would be in favor of ending it (for real) when the time comes. He did say he would like to remain in football as a coach. I could see that.

Source: NFL.com

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Will Tedy Bruschi Retire After 2009 Season?