Beantown Sports Guys

Where the big name coaches will land

At this point of the season it's looking more and more like some big name coaches will make a return splash to the NFL. A few teams and coaches seemed like good fits at this point, while others remain a mystery.

Tampa Bay - Bill Cowher left football to spend time with his family. They live in South Carolina, so the Panthers could logically be a decent fit for him if John Fox exits stage right, but he may have bought himself some time with the level of play of Matt Moore. Then again, Fox may have run himself out of a job for not starting him sooner. If the Carolina job opens up I think Cowher would jump on it for the same reason he left Pittsburgh - he would still be close to his family and able to coach. 

That said, Tampa may have just upset New Orleans, but Raheem Morris is not going to be at the helm for much longer. Half of his assistants are leaving for other jobs at the end of the season and the franchise needs a fresh start. Enter Cowher. Cowher has that run first mentality and would love to have some of the weapons they have in Tampa - Cadillac and Ernest Graham, Kellen Winslow, Antonio Bryant and Michael Clayton. They do have some sleepers in Stovall and Figurs, but they need a QB to throw to them. Cowher could find the right QB for Tampa and put them back on the path of wreaking havoc in the NFC South again.

Washington - Mike Shanahan is an ego maniac just like Daniel Snyder. He turned down a job with the Bills, won't go near the Browns, recently said he wouldn't go near the Bears or the Texans because of his relationship with the head coaches there, and seems totally built to be on the Redskins sideline. He knows Clinton Portis on a pretty intimate level as he was one of his most productive backs in Denver. He can bring a freshness to the NFC East in his play calling and make it even more interesting. He may have already turned down the Redskins mid-season but that's because he would gain nothing by coming in halfway through a season and trying to get guys to buy in to his system and play calling. In about a month all of this will likely change.

There are a few other big names that are available if they so choose to come back to the game.

Tony Dungy -  I see him enjoying another season at home and continuing his work with NBC while doing consulting for players and various teams in the NFL. I just don't see the right position really available to him right now. For one thing, I can't see him taking the Houston job if it's open because he would have to play against his beloved Colts twice a year. For the same reason Shanahan won't entertain job offers from Chicago I can see Dungy saying no-thanks there as well. The Browns are a team that just has too many issues with at the moment. For Dungy to come back, he would likely need to land on a team that was maybe a player or two away from being serious contenders but moreso needing a guiding hand and someone that has been there before. That wouldn't be the Bills. Or the Jaguars. But I could see it being Carolina or even the Cowboys if Jerry Jones says goodbye to Wade Phillips...

Brian Billick - I could honestly see him ending up in Chicago. With a little reworking and some health, that defense could be nasty if Billick was at the helm. Cutler will be better but he needs some bigtime WRs. Terrell Owens anyone? He needs a # 1 target. Hester and Olsen aren't that, but their stock would shoot through the roof if they had a legit big man that can pull coverage away from them. TO could do that. And I think Billick could manage him. I could see this as being a solid move by the Bears.

Jon Gruden - From everything I hear he is extremely happy at ESPN. My gut tells me he is waiting for that perfect job to open up, just like Dungy. Again, if Dallas boots ol' Wade I could see Gruden being the darkhorse to get this job if it was offered to him. Gruden will never coach in the collegiate ranks for one reason and one reason only - because of the time restrictions. He can't have the kids watching film a fraction of the time he can in the pros. He can't work them out as often as he can in the pros. He can't spend nearly as much time with his players as he can in the NFL. And we all know that Gruden lives, eats, and breathes football 21 hours a day, because he only gets about 3 hours of sleep a night. Dallas would be an interesting fit I think for Gruden.

NFL All-2000's Team - Offense

This list is compiled on a few factors such as influence on team success, reputation, and championships, but mostly singular statistics and accolades. There are several players at the top of today's NFL, such as Joe Thomas, Larry Fitzgerald, or Adrian Peterson, that had to be left off the list simply because they haven't played throughout the majority of the decade. Along the same guidelines, players who have played throughout the decade but had the majority of their success in the 90's, such as Bret Favre, Emmit Smith, or Marshall Faulk, had to be left off of the list. Only accomplishments from the 2000/2001 season to date were considered in the making of this list. I also made this list without looking at any other All-Decade lists so coincidences are just that. This team runs a basic I-Formation so Marvin Harrison can you please stop sending me emails asking to add a third WR spot. Thanks.

QB - Peyton Manning - Peyton can thank his 100 TD lead for narrowly beating out Tom Brady's 3 Super Bowls for the QB spot. As a rare decade long starter, Manning is building a resume worthy of contention for best QB in any decade with 314 TDs, over 42,000 yards and a QB rating of 98.7 over the last ten years. He has been elected to nine of the last ten Pro Bowls, has been a four time All-Pro, a Super Bowl MVP, and a three time NFL MVP.

RB - Ladainian Tomlinson - Despite declining numbers and the emergence of a younger crop of running backs, Tomlinson is turning out one of the best careers of any back ever. Highlighted by an 1800-yard 28 TD season in 2006/07, he has run for at least 1,000 yards and 10 TDs in each year of his career. Despite having turned the running back killing 30-years of age this season, LT's 12,430 rushing yards, 136 rushing TDs, and 15 receiving TDs have made him a sure fire Hall of Famer even in the unlikely scenario of not gaining another yard. Has been a five time Pro Bowler, four time All-Pro, and NFL MVP.

WR - Randy Moss- Despite a two season purgatory in Oakland, Moss' arrival in New England has solidified his place among the elite receivers of all-time. 117 TDs 12,600 yards and 767 receptions in the decade are enough to place his bust in Canton on their own. He is also the NFL record holder with 23 receiving TDs in 2007. He was a three time All-Pro, was elected to the Pro Bowl four times, and was the 2007 NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

WR - Terrell Owens- Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb, and Tony Romo may not want him on their teams, but there is little discussion when it comes to Owens' numbers. 113 TDs 12,000 yards, and 776 receptions in the decade alone are more than most other receivers could dream of. He was a five time All-Pro and six time Pro-Bowler in the decade. He may ruin his offense's chemistry, but he does love him some him. So do I.

TE - Tony Gonzalez- Undisputedly the greatest tight end in the history of football. A capable blocker with the receiving abilities of a talented wide-out. His box-out and leaping abilities epitomized the concept of the tight end being a red zone breaker. His 67 TDs 10,000 yards and and 830 receptions are by far tops for the decade among tight ends. He was a nine time Pro-Bowler and six time All-Pro.

FB - Tony Richardson - With respect to Mike Alstott's rushing abilities, there are few offensive linemen that have the destructive blocking abilities of Tony Richardson. One needs to look no further than the slew of productive tail backs that have followed his lead. Priest Holmes rushed for 5,500 yards and an astonishing 70 TDs from 2001 - 2005, Larry Johnson rush for 1,700 yards and 20 TDs in 2005, Adrian Peterson rushed for 1,400 yards, 12 TDs, and a 5.6 average in 2007, and Thomas Jones has rushed for 2,500 yards and 24 TDs in two seasons with Richardson paving the way. Not to mention having missed just 13 games in the decade at one of the most punishing positions in football.

OT - Orlando Pace - He may have been bit by the injury bug in the last few seasons but Orlando Pace is one of the best offensive linemen of all time and was a key cog in the St Louis Rams' offensive juggernaut of the early decade. He was also elected to six straight Pro Bowls from 2000 - 2005.

OT - Jonathan Ogden - Despite retiring with two seasons left in the decade, Ogden has played in 116 games since 2000. He was trademarked by his absolute dominance of opposing players and his rare durability. He was a Pro-Bowler in each season he played in the decade.

OG - Steve Hutchinson - Still very much in the prime of his career, offensive success followed Hutchinson at his stops both in Seattle and Minnesota. He has been a six time Pro-Bowler and five time All-Pro selection. He has started 130 games throughout the decade.

OG - Brian Waters - The only lineman ever to receive a Player of the Week award in either conference. Has started 131 games over the last ten years, has been an All-Pro twice, and was elected to four Pro Bowls.

C - Jeff Saturday - Saturday has started over 150 games including 85 consecutive starts from 2000 to 2005. He has and All-Pro twice and was elected to Three Pro Bowls despite being an un-drafted player.

Lowell trade is thumbs down

It's looking more and more like Mike Lowell will be back in Boston this season unless they decide to waive him outright. After failing his physical (torn thumb ligament) that would have sent him to Texas to play for the Rangers, you can't expect for this to end well. You would have thought the Sox would have done a complete workup on Lowell before trying to trade him.

On the one hand, maybe this could be a good thing for the Sox - if Lowell didn't know he had a torn thumb ligament perhaps that is a big reason why his overall bat speed has slowed and his production has dipped. Hip and elbow problems aside, if you couple either of those injuries with a torn thumb ligament you aren't going to be able to produce no matter how good you are. Surgery could fix it, but will it mend the relationship between Lowell and the Sox?

It's a very long offseason and I am sure this isn't the end of the trade attempts as Theo tries to make another big move to shore up the infield situation.

Is Bill O'Brien Holding Back the Patriots' Offense?

There are a few things we can tell about the Patriots' offense 13 games into the season. Randy Moss can run really fast and jump really high,Wes Welker is quick as a cat (that's why his friends call him Whiskers), and Bill O'Brien is either horrified of failing or vastly under qualified. Or both.

There are some things that I like about him. He is a local guy from Dorchester so he knows how important sports are in a town like Boston, and he was a linebacker at Brown. As far as his skills as an OC? Not so much.

The Patriots' offense has had some success this year. Two receivers over 1,000 yards in Moss and Welker, 26.8 ppg which is 6th in the NFL, 2nd in the NFL in passing yards at 3,811, and they will finish with over 2,000 yards rushing as a team. There aren't many offenses that can boast such a resume so what's the problem? The Patriots' offensive roster isn't built to be above average, good, or near the top of the league. It's built to be legendary.

There is some speculation about Brady not being the same after the knee injury but I don't buy it. Sure he has missed some easy completions at times and made more apparent misreads than we are used to but he has also made some of the same incredible passes that were his forte in 2007 which proves he is still physically and mentally capable. Perhaps Randy Moss' attitude and effort issues have finally broken through the New England mystique? Randy has always been Randy even in '07 and '08.  He dogs routes that aren't necessarily designed for him and wows you when he is in the spotlight. No difference there. Laurence Maroney maybe? While he isn't my favorite Patriot, he is on his way to his best year as a pro and will finish with over ten TDs and 4.0 yards per carry. Welker? He does absolutely nothing wrong. Move on. The offensive line certainly has had their share of issues but Mankins, Neal, and Koppen are one of the best interiors groups in football and the emergence of Sebastian Vollmer has been a pleasant surprise.

Bill O'Brien has to take the majority of the blame. He has taken the reigns of an offensive roster that is as good as any in the NFL and made it simply ok. The success that they have had this year is due simply to physical attributes of individual players. Welker is too quick for linebackers and strong safeties so he gets his touches. Moss can simply ran past anyone on the field so he gets his scores. But where is the scheming? The Super Bowl teams of earlier in the decade did it with superior coaching and game planning, not physical prowess. Name one player on the Patriots' offense before 2007 that could simply dominate their opponent physically. If Charlie Weis can do it with David Givens, Troy Brown, Antowain Smith, and Christian Fauria then Bill O'Brien certainly has no excuse for not having done more with this team.

Sox need to make a thoughtful splash

The winter meetings in Indianapolis have kicked off and one thing is certain: the Red Sox need to make a splash, albeit a smart and thoughtful splash.

Signing Marco Scutaro is not the kind of splash Red Sox Nation needs to get them excited about the prospects of the 2010 season. Trading for Hanley Ramirez would have been that kind of splash.

Signing Jason Bay to a long-term contract would be a move that is both smart and sexy - for one thing, he has been putting up numbers since he has joined the team. For another, it would mean he wouldn't be wearing pinstripes come spring training. 

Signing Roy Halladay would be a signing that most people want to see happen, but I don't and here is why: Halladay is a stud. Everyone knows that. But we have pitchers in our farm. We need to replace Lowell, we need to get a solid left fielder. You could take the money you would spend on Halladay and sign Bay and work a trade to the Padres for Adrian Gonzalez. Maybe you give up Buchholz. Maybe you give up Bard. But our pitching in the farm is deep.

Theo and the rest of the front office cannot afford to be reactive to the Yankees this year. They need to make moves of their own and have the Yankees chase them. Have the Yankees try to make counter moves. Because if they don't, you could see them waving goodbye to Johnny Damon and introducing Jason Bay as their newest outfielder.

Where Have All The Patriots Gone?

It’s hard to win a game in the NFL. Last year’s Detroit Lions did their best to prove this. It’s even harder to win in the NFL on the road. This year’s New England Patriots are doing their best to prove this. The Pats are 1-5 on the road and you can essentially throw out their one win for two reasons. The game was in London, meaning there wasn’t really a “home” team, and the Buccaneers would struggle to win the ACC. The easy answer is that teams are more comfortable at home and therefore play better, which is certainly true, but it goes a bit deeper than that. Let me paint a few pictures to illustrate.

Peyton Manning and the 2003 Colts went for it on 4^th and 1 from the 2-yard line and Willie McGinest stuffed Edgerrin James for a loss, sealing a Patriots’ 38-34 victory.

In the 2004 AFC Championship game at Heinz Field, Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers drove inside the Patriots’ 20-yard line until Rodney Harrison intercepted Big Ben and returned it 87-yards for a TD.

The Patriots went to San Diego in the 2006 Divisional Playoffs and won by a slim 24-21 margin. A win only possible because of a 4^th quarter Roosevelt Colvin interception of Phillip Rivers with the Chargers marching into field-goal territory.

All defensive stops in big situations on the road by, wait for it, veteran defensive players. And let’s not confuse veteran for simply meaning years of NFL service. I mean players that have gone through the pressure cooker and come out diamonds, not coal. Willie McGinest, Ty Law, Rodney Harrison, Mike Vrabel, Tedy Bruschi, Richard Seymour. See any of those names on the 2009 Patriots’ roster? Players like them?

Ty Warren, Jarvis Green, Tully Banta-Cain, and Vince Wilfork are the only defensive players left from the run of Patriot Super Bowls in the first part of the decade. None of which are particularly game changers. Other than that? Shawn Springs, Adalius Thomas, Derrick Burgess, and Leigh Bodden are the other defensive players who have played more than a few years in the league. Not exactly players known for rising to a challenge. Adalius Thomas certainly had his chance in the the Super Bowl against the Giants but I guess Eli Manning was just too agile for the supposed physical specimen. On top of that Springs is a healthy scratch in most games, Leigh Bodden is very good when Mark Sanchez throws the ball right to him, Thomas nearly lost his job to Rob Ninkovich, and the Pats may as well play with 10 guys when Derrick Burgess is on the field.

There are certainly upsides to having young players such as Jarod Mayo, Gary Guyton, Darius Butler, and Pat Chung taking their share of snaps, but most are future upsides. Great if you are the Chiefs not so good if you are a supposed dynasty.

So how could Bill Belichick and the Pats have prevented this? They had four key losses on the defensive side of the ball going into the year in Rodney Harrison, Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel, and Richard Seymour. Rodney Harrison has been injury riddled in recent years and not much could have been done to prevent his departure. But Bruschi was forced into retirement after a limited role in the preseason and Vrabel and Seymour were traded. Seymour has eleven tackles and four more sacks than Jarvis Green and Vrabel has more than twice as many tackles as Derrick Burgess. We all know stats aren’t everything so what else is missing? The ability to overcome adversity that has been so characteristic of past New England teams is nowhere to be found. I don’t care if Tedy Bruschi runs a 6.0 40-yard dash Bill Belichick wouldn’t have hesitated to put last month’s Colts game in his hands and he would have been right in doing so.

The gold-paned window of the Brady era is closing and a knee-injury post age thirty certainly didn’t help matters. So what now? We do what the Patriots defense has done all season. Sit around and wait for someone to make a play.