Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff
Boy, what a week!
Can you believe it? Some fool got a hold of my laptop when I wasn’t looking and submitted a column suggesting the Patriots might want to explore trading Tom Brady and turning the offensive keys over to Matt Cassel. This clown even went on to argue the Dracut Middies might be the best football team in the history of the Merrimack Valley Conference.
Of course, this was before Cassel’s four turnover performance against Pittsburgh and the Middies stunning Thanksgiving Day loss at Methuen, so you can imagine how bad it made me look. Thankfully, I’m back at the keyboard this week to submit the usual, well-reasoned and thought out column.
(Not buying it, huh? Well, it was either that or the old “Bobby Ewing: it was all a dream” storyline)
Anyway, the Patriots beating at the hands of the Steelers may have made me look foolish, but it also underscored why the topic was brought up in the first place. Remember, this is the same space that suggested the Patriots dynasty was dead before the season even started. Surprisingly, the “trade Brady” piece registered only a fraction of the venom the “dead dynasty” article generated. Which leads me to believe there are more than a few people who actually agree. (Either that, or they’ve totally written me off by now)
Anyone who watched that game Sunday realizes the Pats problems run much deeper than Tom Terrific’s absence. The highly touted offensive line is a sieve when facing a good pass rushing team. And there isn’t a defensive back on the roster able to cover a newborn baby with a blanket, never mind an NFL receiver. Stick Brady at QB Sunday and the score is more respectable, but it still ends with the Steelers on the plus side.
Can those problems be fixed before Brady’s skills begin to erode and the Pats start looking for his replacement anyway? I’ll stop now, lest you think that fool got hold of my laptop again.
*As for my Middies, I’ll tempt the fates once more and pick them over Acton-Boxboro in the EMass Division 1A semi-finals: 27-21 in what has the makings of a Super matchup.
*The Bruins are really good this year. They can beat you in a shootout. They can beat you in a defensive struggle. And they can beat you in a brawl.
They’re very likely to finish atop the Eastern Conference regular season standings. Too bad they’re going to lose in the playoffs because they’ll run into a goaltender who will stand on his head and steal a playoff series, which is something neither Tim Thomas or Manny Fernandez, as good as they’re playing right now, are capable of doing.
*I was a little worried the Celtics would have a hard time finding the hunger to dominate the regular season again and secure home court advantage in the playoffs. Chalk up another one in the “I was wrong” column.
*Old friend Matt Welch continues to shine at the college level, even though he’s yet to take a snap for the University of New Hampshire. The former Lowell High Quarterback, who will be redshirted to maintain four years of eligibility, ended any talk of a position switch with his performance during training camp and practice. Now he’s catching the eye of opposing coaches who watch him during pre-game warmups and wonder “who is the impressive looking kid wearing number ten?” He’s also gaining valuable experience as he travels with the Wildcats during their playoff run.
*When UNH tackles Northern Iowa this Saturday in a Division 1AA Quarterfinal playoff matchup, Welch won’t be the only MVC kid on the Wildcats traveling squad. Former Andover High QB Mike Pierce is also dressing for away games while redshirting. Unlike his 6’5” counterpart from Lowell, the 6-foot Pierce has bulked up and been converted to linebacker.
Pats sure ran into a buzzsaw. The Steelers, I think, are a pretty inconsistent bunch but seemed to be "ON" on Sunday. Definitely agree on the Pats' O-Line and the DBs. At least they fixed the LBs with Mayo although another young guy there would help.
After the B's beat up on Detroit the other night I'm starting to think, more and more, that maybe they do have a shot in the playoffs even if they don't make a goaltending move. I mean Chris Osgood was the Stanley Cup winning goalie last year and it's not like he's really an elite goalie. I do think Julien would need to anoint one or the other as "the guy" the last few weeks of the season and stick with him through the playoffs barring injury. The move I think I'd make is for a little more depth on defense with the goal of keeping opponent shot totals down a bit more. The Eastern Conference is not all that great this year although Pittsburgh, Washington, and Montreal have tons of firepower and, if they get hot, could be formidable foes come playoff time. If the B's were out west they'd have a lot more talented teams to get past. At least playoff hockey will be back to the Hub in earnest - if only they can win some series this time around.
Celtics are playing so well it's almost a "Ho Hum" situation. REALLY takes us back to the early mid-80's teams that were almost expected to win. Definitely fun to see after so many years of terrible Celtics teams...
Grim sign of the times: ECHL's Augusta Lynx folded today. Bad economy and poor attendance.
Buzzsaw nothing. The Pats handed that game to them and the flood gates opened when Mr Cassel did his best impression of the 2004 NYY!
The real reason I'm writing however, is to ask why the hell do you have a guy in the shower as the picture of this column? I can't even open the website at work now without catching grief. Could you find something more appropriate? Jeez! Hurry up and write another column already!
Bobby Ewing is no longer the top photo...it's OK to read the blog again at work...LOL
Not sure the Pats "handed" that game to the Steelers. They got manhandled by a very physical Steelers team. QB's don't usually fumble unless they're getting hit from all angles because their offensive line can't handle a good pass rush. Picks usually come from a skittish QB who's getting hit all day, too.