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New Look Patriots Back To Work

October 14, 2010 By

So…did anything happen while I was gone? Pretty quiet week?

The Patriots will have a different look to their offense for the rest of the season as they jettisoned Randy Moss and brought back former Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch. This seems likely to result in a more methodical, ball-control offense the rest of the way, hoping to use up more time on the clock and give a young defense more time off the field.

Preparations are being made to face the team that ended their 2009 season, as the Baltimore Ravens come to town on Sunday. It will be the toughest test yet for the Patriots, with Baltimore a sexy pick to win the AFC.

Worry Wart – Game Five vs. Baltimore - Chris Warner is uncomfortable about this one.

Ravens will be measuring stick for Pats - Mike Reiss says that this game is a chance to build on what the Patriots started in Miami almost two weeks ago.

Ravens-Pats interesting on many levels - Jonathan Comey says with the Ravens coming in, it’s not a great time for the Patriots to be charting a new course.

Patriots get return on gamble with Tate - Rich Garven has the young receiver rewarding the Patriots investment in him.

Patriots’ Moss-less offense an option play for Brady - Mary Paoletti has Brady talking about the new-look offense.

Business as usual - Mike Fine has Bill Belichick taking a trip down memory lane before getting down to the Ravens.

Tom Brady, Deion Branch reconnect - Karen Guregian has the QB and receiver looking to pick up where they left off. She also has Belichick comparing rookie Devin McCourty to future HOF linebacker Ray Lewis.

Arm angles - Shalise Manza Young says that the Patriots will have a new look for the Ravens.

Ngata, Lewis are a daunting challenge for Pats - Tom E Curran looks at a tough challenge ahead for New England’s offense.

Winning makes Boston place to play - Steve Bulpett looks at why the Celtics are among the most desirable teams to play for these days.

Home true value for Celtics’ Lasme - Bill Doyle has the former UMass star making an impression with the Celtics.

From childhood hero to ‘brother’: Erden learns from Shaq - Jessica Camerato has Semih Erden enjoying his time around Shaq.

Who plays shortstop next season? - Gordon Edes wonders if Jed Lowrie will get a shot at the position.

The Boston Bruins line of Milan Lucic, David Krejci and Nathan Horton is scoring quickly - Mike Loftus looks at the impresive start for the Bruins first line.

BC in need of rescue by Rettig - Eric Avidon says that the Eagles need the true freshman to lead them.

A swing and a miss in Ted Williams tribute - Claudia Williams takes exception to a line in a recent Dan Shaughnessy column about her father.

Filed Under: Morning Links

Randy Moss – The (media) Divider

October 13, 2010 By

(A guest column from George Cain)

Whether you were for or against (which I was) the Randy Moss trade, it was quite a display by the local Boston media. From the moment the potential trade was announced the writers began positioning themselves as if they were respective members of the Union and Confederate armies.

But what is really behind this trade is the fact that the New England Patriots, despite a decade of success, have become the most divisive sports team on the Boston sports scene. Why? Well that’s a blog for another day, but it’s a story that continues to fly under the radar except among the people who matter most…the fans.

So let’s look at the fallout from the Moss trade and the local media personalities involved.

Last Tuesday about 8:30PM while most fans were watching the fantastic ESPN 30 for 30 series “Four Days in October” chronicling the Red Sox comeback against the Yankees the two local stations (in the midst of their own Civil War) were lining up to start discussing the breaking news.

Listening to callers on both networks there was a lot of shock and disappointment as many fans saw not just the Richard Seymour trade redux but the loss of one of the most exciting receivers ever to wear a New England Patriot Uniform.

Let’s break down some of the players in media and where they came down on this issue.

Tom Curran – I like Tom, he’s one of the most objective, informative football reporters in the market and despite his horrific show Quick Slants, (enough with the hand motions Tom) gives you an opinion rather an agenda. Tom’s initial take on the trade was that his sources were telling him that this didn’t look likely. This is the 2nd time a major source has burned Tom, the first concerning the Tom Brady rehab. (Tom - it might be time for a new source.) Curran went on the record initially to say he was not in favor of the trade, he now seems to be coming around to the possibly that the trade might help Brady. What does this mean? That Curran, like all of us, doesn’t know what the impact will be, but let’s applaud him for not letting an agenda get in the way of facts.

Michael Felger –I once dubbed Mike, a charter member of the anti-Patriot cartel along with Ron Borges (more on him later) Bert Breer and Chris Gasper. Dan Shaughnessy was left off my list. This seemed to bother him, a matter of fact he let me know personally, which I thought was quite odd. Anyway, Felger has been anti-Randy from his days at ESPN radio. Unfortunately, for Mike who loves to trumpet when he’s right he had to be quiet almost all of 2007 why Moss and Brady destroyed the NFL. Mike instead spent the 2007 year talking about Matt Walsh, Spygate and other Patriot conspiracy theories like shutting off other team communications during games at Gillette. Felger was ready to pounce when Brady went down in 2008, but Moss played hard most of the season and helped the Patriots to 11 wins. But last year, when Moss dogged it against Carolina, Felger attacked and hasn’t stopped. In Felger’s defense, I agree with a lot of his points, Moss hasn’t played well in clutch and late, he has seemed at times to be more of a detriment to Brady than an asset and has been taken out of some of their bigger games the last two seasons. So when it came to the Moss trade Felger gets a thumbs up from me for staying true to his opinion and also for calling Ron Borges a fraud on the Mohegan Sun Show. Felger used a negative article written by Borges as a set up similar to a scene from A Few Good Men and then basically let Borges have it for taking Moss’s side in the trade.

Ron Borges – There’s a great line in the movie Mississippi Burningwhere Gene Hackman says to Willem Dafoe, “My daddy was a man so full of hate he couldn’t realize being poor was what was killing him.” When it comes to Patriot coverage, Borges is that man full of hate. He hates Bill Belichick. He hates the Krafts. He hates the way the Patriots do business. Most of all he hates that they make his job hard, which at his age must bother him greatly. I could write an epic novel on the hypocrisy that is Borges, but you can boil him down to this; he’s on the opposite side of whatever the Patriots do. He wrote an article about how Randy Moss couldn’t run when they acquired him. He ripped Randy when he played poorly, but as soon as Randy became an enemy of Patriot nation, all of a sudden he’s been wronged in Ron’s eyes. Let’s face it folks, Ron lost credibility in this town a long time ago. But for some reason he’s trotted out on every talk show, sports show and panel show to analyze a team he hates. It’s like having Keith Olbermann analyze the Bush Administration. Felger was right, Ron IS a fraud.

Glenn Ordway –I am always amused by the friction between Dennis and Callahan and the Big Show on WEEI. It really came to a boil during the 2007 season, with the running up the score debate. Ordway was the anti-Felger the day after the trade as he Smerlas and DeOssie patronized every caller who tried to support whether or not the trade would help the Patriots. It was a typical fence-straddling performance, as he neither condemned the Patriots for making the trade nor let a caller get a word in edge wise as to whether Moss was a “problem” for the Patriots. Ordway has become a little to comfortable in that #1 rating spot and his refusal to give any credence to an opinion other than his own is while his #1 throne is jeopardy. When it comes to the Pats, he a company man.

The BEST OF REST:

Cartel member Bert Breer, was in favor of the trade.

Chris Gasper, was more agnostic, pointing back to the Pats real problem, defense.

Dennis and Callahan were pretty objective, however they seem to exhaust too much time in predicting the reaction of the Big Show.

Dale and Holley were solid in their coverage which is why they have the best show on radio. Dale is not in favor of the trade but he gave solid reasons why he wasn’t. Whereas, Holley believed it was time for Randy to go.

Mike Reisstakes a lot of heat as a “Patriot toadie” but he the most informative, genuine writer in the market and should get much more credit than he does. With the Moss trade he kept his opinion based in fact, he believed Moss had to go but had the facts to back it up - not campfire stories.

Finally, Dan Shaughnessy on the 6:30 Mohegan Sun Show Monday said he’s always looking for a reason to pile on the Patriots. Overall Dan seems more like white noise when it comes to sports controversy in Boston these days.

Since the trade it’s a lot spin and a whole lot of “he said, she said.” The Patriots followed up last week’s Moss trade by acquiring Deion Branch this week. I personally, didn’t like the Moss trade because I didn’t think the Patriots had a backup plan and it remains to be seen if Branch can be that. History will tell us who was right and who was wrong, but with this Patriot defense I don’t think it will matter.

For me the question is why a team that has performed so well is so divisive. Is it the nature of todays’ media, for every Fox do we need an MSNBC or are the Patriots the controversial Uncle at Thanksgiving dinner? I’ll leave it up to you to decide.

Filed Under: Guest Column

Newly-Manned Pats Prepare For Ravens

October 13, 2010 By

A slow start in what has typically been one of the busiest periods on the Boston sports calendar, as the B’s reacclimate to the West, the Pats come off a week’s bye, and the Sox are on a much longer one. As Bruce is coming back tomorrow, I’m determined to get in one Randy-free Morning Links, but there’s a new kid in Foxborough so we’ll start there.

Patriots

Nine months later, visions of Ray Rice romping 83 yards still dance in the heads of Ian R. Rapoport and Jerod Mayo, as the Pats keep the pain fresh in preparing for the Baltimore Ravens’ visit to Gillette Stadium this Sunday. Joe Zarbano puts the Ravens atop the WEEI Power Rankings for the second consecutive week. And it doesn’t get any easier. Tom King feels there is only one game leading up to Thanksgiving in which the Pats will have a clear talent superiority. Dave D’Onofrio will take a 3-1 start, but has these next six games determining where the 2010 Pats are headed. Bob Ryan labels this a “House Money Year” that is not headed for the sidelines of Cowboys Stadium for Bill Belichick.

Ron Borges has Deion Branch coming back to new faces and a sprawling mall at Gillette. Despite the changes around him, Rapoport says Branch is the same person on the same team, just a different player in a different situation. Monique Walker has those things that have stayed the same being enough to excite Branch upon his return. Kevin McNamara has Branch wishing he’d never left New England. Mike Reiss thinks that having something end where it once began is not always a bad thing in football. However, the Pete Towshend Belly Factor is ruining this reunion for Jerry Thornton. With Branch for Moss, Jim Donaldson still has the Pats in the red on the plus-minus scale.

McNamara’s Patriots Journal is not surprised that offensive lineman Nick Kaczur was officially IR’d yesterday.

Celtics

The C’s started a stretch of four games in five nights with a 103-92 loss in Philly last night. Steve Bulpett has Doc Rivers liking the packed game schedule because it opens up more time for practice. As for last night’s loss, Evans Clinchy has the Shrek and Donkey duo of Glen Davis and Nate Robinson getting some extended minutes. A. Sherrod Blakely finds the C’s bench good enough to hang with the albeit bad 76ers starters for much of last night. Paul Flannery calls the C’s bench a bunch of misfits who flew under the radar because of what they couldn’t do and whose unique compensatory skills were overlooked.

Bulpett’s Celtics Notebook has neither Jermaine O’Neal nor Rivers frustrated by the former’s lack of offensive flow so far this preseason. Julian Benbow has O’Neal on the bat phone and looking for his missing offense. He still brings the D though. Chris Forsberg tells us that O’Neal and Davis will be pushing each other all season to take charges.

And to close on a self-gloss note, I have the C’s in a season-long battle with the Heat for Eastern supremacy and the chance for a rematch against the hated Lakers.

Bruins

After an 11-day European trip, Fluto Shinzawa has the B’s reacquainting themselves to a Stateside schedule before getting reacquainted with the ice. As Joe Haggerty points out, the Premiere series gave the B’s a unique bonding experience and it portends of great days to come next June.

Rich Thompson has Nathan Horton looking to fill a humbling gap in his resume this season. Despite some new offensive prowess, Douglas Flynn has the B’s not intending to part with the stingy defensive ways that brought them to the postseason last year.

Red Sox

Kevin Gray has New Hampshirites continuing to make steady inroads into MLB front offices, as Sox scout Allard Baird is a candidate for the Mets’ GM vacancy. Sean McAdam has Sox coaches Tim Bogar and DeMarlo Hale candidates for the Blue Jays managerial vacancy.

Gordon Edes recounts years when Theo was brilliant in maintaining an effective bullpen, and years when he failed, but 2010 was a case of total disintegration.

As always, it was a lot of fun hosting Morning Links this past week. Thanks for dropping by. Bruce will be back at the helm again tomorrow morning, ready to take you into the Branch II era at Gillette.

Filed Under: Morning Links

Everything Old is New Again

October 12, 2010 By

Last Wednesday, it was Randy Moss putting on a purple #84. Yesterday, it was Deion Branch coming back to New England.

Karen Guregian and Ian R. Rapoport team to say Branch’s chemistry with Tom Brady and knowledge of the offense made it time for this return to happen. Shalise Manza Young has things coming full circle since that somber day when Branch’s initial trade to Seattle was announced. Christopher Price has Branch’s arrival buying more time for younger receivers to develop within the Pats’ system. Mike Reiss thinks a fourth-rounder for Branch was a steep price tag but, hey, the Pats were rich in draft picks anyway. Tom E. Curran wonders if this wasn’t just some wish-list pickup to appease Brady.

Don’t look for many changes to the offense with Moss out and Branch in, as Guregian’s Patriots Notebook has Belichick and player personnel director Nick Caserio insisting they’ll be using the same playbook. Jeff Howe says Branch’s acquisition makes the Moss trade a bit more digestible. Guregian says Wes Welker will feel Moss’ absence the most.

Guregian also has Hairgate morphing from a Brady vs. Moss undercard to a Belichick vs. Charley Casserly main event. Young’s Patriots Notebook has Belichick no fan of Casserly.

Lee’s Patriots Notebook has RB Danny Woodhead impressive every time he has touched the ball. Michael Vega has offensive lineman Dan Connolly keeping to his meat-and-potatoes roots, even in trendy Boston restaurants.

And, oh yeah, there’s football this Sunday as the 4-1 Baltimore Ravens come to town. You won’t hear them talk about it, but Robert Lee bets payback is on Pats’ minds this week after the Ravens unceremoniously dumped them from last year’s playoffs. Reiss thinks the Pats are positioned to join the NFL’s elite this Sunday.

Celtics

Just a few player development pieces as we make our way through the preseason schedule, starting with an eager and restless Kendrick Perkins, who reminds Steve Buckley that most pro athletes want to be doing what they are gifted to do.

Mark Murphy brings us Marquis Daniels’ tireless work to expand his arsenal behind the three-point arc. Frank Dell’Apa has Nate Robinson now completely ready to be a Celtic. Chris Forsberg traces Stephane Lasme’s trans-global journey to the Celtics roster and a second chance in the NBA.

Murphy’s Celtics Notebook has KG schooling the new bigs, and Doc Rivers says they’d be wise to listen.

Odds & Sods

D.J. Bean has the Bruins returning from their 11-day European excursion richer from the experience. Tom Caron considers the trip overseas to be a success, due in large part to the Bereron and Chara extensions.

Joe Haggerty‘s bedroom walls must be covered with Taylor Hall Fatheads, as the maiden version of his Power Rankings put Edmonton at #2 and the B’s considerably further down the list. Get over there and give him hell.

In his blow-by-blow account of last night’s Jets win over the Vikings, Kirk Minihane says it just wouldn’t be a Brett Favre game without him throwing a game-ending pick-six. And Michael Felger went all the way to the New Meadowlands last night to find for himself this mysterious safety always over the top of Moss. Needless to say, his search was fruitless.

Tomorrow is cross-over day and Morning Links may be a bit late. Be patient, and, as we advise every day, check back here for the latest on breaking events on the field, on the air, and in the press.

Filed Under: Morning Links

Bruins Open With Czech Split

October 11, 2010 By

We’ve got a four-sport edition to kick off your Columbus Day morning, but only one team played any meaningful games this weekend, so the B’s draw the lead-off spot.

Bruins

Some bad news and then some good news this weekend, as the B’s fell to the Phoenix Coyotes in their season-opener in Prague, 5-2, on Saturday, but came back strong with a 3-0 win yesterday. After some terrible play in the opener, Stephen Harris labels yesterday’s victory a textbook showing of aggressiveness behind a 29-save shutout for Tim Thomas. Douglas Flynn calls it a case of old and new stepping up, as Thomas records his 18th career shutout and both Nathan Horton and rookie Tyler Seguin lit the lamp. Kevin Paul Dupont says that for all the puck-chopping in Saturday’s loss, yesterday will be remembered for improved puck management. Mary Paoletti marvels at the difference 19 hours can make.

James Murphy has Thomas sending notice to the hockey world that his hip is fine after offseason surgery. D.J. Bean is already rethinking his goals prediction for the rejuvenated Horton, who netted two in Saturday’s loss and another one yesterday. Mike Cole has former teammate Stephen Weiss saying Horton has the talent to be among the league’s best. Harris’ Bruins Notebook recounts Seguin’s first NHL goal.

Joe Haggerty says those days of goal-scoring sinkholes are gone, as the Black and Gold are rolling out some offensive firepower this season. Harris’ Bruins Beat calls the B’s well nigh unbeatable when they play with an identity and confidence.

It looks to Dupont’s Bruins Notebook that Blake Wheeler is ready to mix some grit into his tool kit.

Celtics

The lively experiment that is this Celtics preseason continued yesterday, with the C’s downing the Toronto Raptors, 91-87, at TD North. Kevin McNamara has Doc Rivers’ decision to pull back on his starters paying off in this win. Paul Flannery thinks things have been working out just fine in Doc’s master plan of letting the second unit close games out.

Mark Murphy credits the C’s bench, led by Marquis Daniels, for delivering yet again yesterday afternoon. Evans Clinchy has last year’s tentative Daniels replaced by this new go-to version following some big fourth quarter buckets against the Raptors. A. Sherrod Blakely has Jermaine O’Neal exhibiting the defensive-minded, shot-blocking skillset that made him so coveted this summer. Chris Forsberg‘s Postgame Notes has more on Jermaine’s defense and Shaq’s Garden debut.

Bob Ryan revels in this fourth season of the three-year window for a championship, courtesy of a 94-second span in Game 7 that left us all a bit soured. Murphy has Nate Robinson no longer needing old Knick plays inserted into the C’s offense for him. Dan Duggan has Stephane Lasme playing for a locker.

Patriots / Red Sox

As we hit the quarter-pole, it’s been an action-packed season for Ian R. Rapoport so far, both on and off the field. Timing is everything, as Robert Lee has the Pats’ bye week coming at the perfect time.

You know we’re in a bye when hair disputes become newsworthy. Rapoport brings the Randy Moss camp’s denial over his alleged hair tiff with Tom Brady. Bathed in purple, Nick Cafardo has Moss feeling the love in Minnesota, and not wanting people to think this thing can ever go sour. Jeff Howe has his ex-teammates in New England routing hard for Moss . . . tonnight. This piece by Christopher Price in which Brady’s personal passing mentor talks about the Moss trade’s effects on his protege broke on Saturday night, but it garnered some talk on the airwaves yesterday, so we’re bringing it to you this morning.

You may not see him on the field, but Mike Reiss has Shawn Crable making an impact in practice. Ryan is two-sporting it this morning as he looks behind the scenes as Ron Jaworski’s search for the seven games that have shaped today’s NFL.

Given the injuries to the Red Sox last season, Michael Silverman calls the bench play in 2010 a resuscitation order that worked to keep the team alive throughout most of the summer.

Brian MacPherson thinks Carl Crawford could be the next franchise-changing free agent, and believes the Sox may have the best chance to get him.

Odds & Sods

Things are ugly on The Heights, as Mark Blaudschen tells us where the Eagles are struggling after three increasingly embarrassing losses, the most recent on Saturday, 44-17, to North Carolina State.

John Shimer brings us some internatinal finance intrigue, as John Henry attempts to fold the Premier League’s Liverpool Reds into his New England Sports Ventures empire without crippling the franchise on the field in the process.

Finally, despite the pain involved, Rich Levine can’t stop paying attention to Brett Favre. Knock yourself out tonight, Rich.

Whether we’ve found you at home, on vacation, or at work this morning, have a great Columbus Day. May Randy torch Darrelle Revis and that Jets secondary tonight, and we’ll see you here again one more time tomorrow morning.

Filed Under: Morning Links

Rolling Moss Still Gathering News

October 8, 2010 By

Well, what did we expect? It was a blockbuster trade, one of the biggest in Boston since . . . the Patriots acquired Moss from Oakland during the 2007 draft. Foxborough has found a way to keep the Patriots in the news during a bye week, so let’s indulge them this final time.

Patriots

Ian R. Rapoport has nothing but kind words for Moss coming out of Gillette Stadium yesterday. Robert Lee has the Pats locker room sad to see Moss go but still believing in themselves. Michael Vega has former teammates reconciling the trade as a “business decision.”

Christopher Price hopes Moss’ place on the field can be filled as fast as his vacant locker was. Karen Guregian has Moss one of the best people Vince Wilfork has ever met. Mike Reiss has Bill Belichick citing a combination of factors leading to the trade, none of which involve alleged friction with Moss. Bob Ryan didn’t really expect the truth anyway. Jeremy Gottlieb throws two more cents into the percolating pot that is Randy Moss.

Jerry Thornton broke the cardinal rule of being a Belichickian when he let the Moss trade shock him. Lee’s Patriots Journal has Wes Welker also surprised but ready to step up his game. Rapoport’s Patriots Notebook has Tom Brady never surprised about anything anymore.

Lest we forget, there are other things going on in Foxborough. Remember Logan Mankins? Tom E. Curran reports confirmed rumors that the Pats are in discussions to trade him to the Chargers for Vincent Jackson. However, in a Rap Sheet post, Rapoport has Mankins’ agent saying something else.

Bruins

It’s on to the NHL season as the B’s are in the Czech Republic awaiting their first two regular season games this weekend. It’ll be a home-and-home of sorts against the Phoenix Coyotes at the O2 Arena in Prague. D.J. Bean looks back on the B’s now-concluded preseason, with Nathan Horton’s play topping his highlights.

Kevin Paul Dupont has Patrice Bergeron signing a three-year contract extension last night in Prague. Douglas Flynn says Bergeron’s extension was the culmination of a summer-long pursuit. Joe Haggerty has GM Peter Chiarelli holding up at the Prime Minister’s Palace until this one got done.

Stephen Harris has Zdeno Chara hoping to get an extension of his own. Mary Paoletti takes a closer look at the B’s captain.

Dupont’s Bruins Notebook dubs Tyler Seguin and Jordan Caron the new “gold-dust twins.”

Red Sox

Before the Sox begin to dabble in the free agent market this Hot Stove season, Sean McAdam says they have to address some free agents of their own. John Tomase has Sox scouts sniffing at former NL Cy Young winner Brandon Webb. So, now we know Theo’s planned counter-attack to the Yankees’ imminent acquisition of Cliff Lee.

In the Herald’s continuing Taking Stock of the Sox series, Michael Silverman dissects this past season along the injury line.

Jim Donaldson has some words of remembrance for Ben Mondor, who rescued the PawSox from bankruptcy and owned them for the last 34 years until his death last Sunday.

Odds & Sods

Chris Forsberg calls Marquis Daniels a cog in Boston’s ballyhooed bench squad after helping the C’s to a 96-92 win over the Nets last night in New Jersey. A. Sherrod Blakely has Delonte West and the second unit sparking a comeback in this one.

Eric Ortiz spews some Belichickian wrath at the St. George’s football program after the Rhode Island prep school pulled out of last weekend’s game to avoid getting hurt.

Justin A. Rice has David Shinskie’s struggles opening up the QB job on The Heights.

Those of you lucky enough to be setting out on a three-day weekend, enjoy every minute of it. For the rest, we’ll see you back here on Monday morning. Have a great bye, all.

Filed Under: Morning Links

Will Moss-less Pats Pack Any Punch?

October 7, 2010 By

Good morning, Boston. Nice to be back bringing you Morning Links while Bruce is away. I’ll be doing things old school for the next week. No top tens, but not exactly full coverage. Just some great reporters and columnists in and around Boston covering the morning’s hot topics.

With Theo’s bridge leading to a quiet autumn and the Pats’ upcoming bye, it figured to be an easy week ahead. Then came yesterday’s Randy Moss bomb, so let’s head to Foxborough first.

Patriots

Shalise Manza Young has the Patriots undergoing a vintage makeover with the trade of Moss to the Minnesota Vikings yesterday, ditching the long ball in favor of no-name receivers. Among Kirk Minihane‘s ten thoughts on the trade is his praise for Bill Belichick’s decision to cut bait during Act I of Moss’ season-long pity party. Mike Reiss credits Belichick for having a sense of trouble brewing. However, Ron Borges berates Belichick for trading tutti-frutti and not even getting vanilla in return.

Karen Guregian attributes irreconcilable differences between Moss and ownership – not Belichick -to yesterday’s divorce. Jackie MacMullan calls it another case of Randy getting what he wanted. Josh Bousquet follows the problem child Moss through three teams and three ignominious exits. Christopher Price has Moss a complicated indididual, while CSNNE.com brings in the medical experts, who diagnose Moss with a case of Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

Ian R. Rapoport collects comments on the Moss trade from around the NFL, including Jets CB Darrelle Revis’ eulogy of the Pats’ vertical game. Extra Points brings us a few more Revis barbs directed at Moss. Guregian has more talk of condensed spaces and hamstrung offenses circulating among football pundits. On the fan side, Michael Carraggi and Emily Wright team up to call it a split decision. Rich Garven is already looking forward to Halloween when Moss returns to Foxborough.

In light of Moss’ departure, Worry Wart Chris Warner is even more concerned about the Pats’ soft defense. And in a travesty of justice, Jill Steward has Patrick Chung beaten out of AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

Celtics

The Celtics got their exhiibition season underway last night in Manchester with a 93-65 win over Philadelphia. Julian Benbow has the C’s pulling out their familiar tough-defense calling card against the 76ers. Mark Murphy has 7-foot center Semih Erden the big surprise, pouring in 13 points and grabbing five rebounds. A. Sherrod Blakely says Erden’s NBA debut was just what the C’s need – defensive-minded role players. Evans Clinchy has practice making perfect for Erden.

Murphy has first-round pick Avery Bradley, whose recovery form ankle surgery could limit him to D-League play this season, savoring his role as spectator last night.

Red Sox

Ahhh, the quiet autumn morning around The Fens, with only the talk of next year. Gordon Edes starts us off with Yawkey Way believing David Ortiz can still make a profound impact on the Sox offense next year but questioning whether he’s worthy of a multi-year contract. Alex Speier tells you why the confoundingly inconsistent Daisuke Matsuzaka still figures in Boston’s 2011 plans.

Scott Lauber says the Sox are in a Catcher-22 predicament over whether to re-sign Victor Martinez this offseason. Sean McAdam has prospect Ryan Westmoreland oozing determination during his miraculous recovery from brain surgery last March.

That’s it for now. Bruins fans can send their hate mail my way at [email protected] Barring a Wes Welker trade for a 2012 fourth-round pick, we won’t see each other again until tomorrow morning.

Filed Under: Morning Links

Bye Week

October 6, 2010 By

Just as a heads up, I’m going to be taking advantage of the bye week here, and take some time to go visit family out West. With another baby coming in December, this is likely our last chance to get out there for a while.

Bob Ekstrom will be filling in for the next few days, and I’ll be back the middle of next week.

The Patriots report cards should have a decidedly different feel this week. Check out Patriots Daily for Jeremy Gottlieb’s report card this morning, and head to PatriotsLinks.com for the other report cards, as well as the all the breathless coverage on Randy Moss to the Vikings.

The Celtics open their preseason schedule tonight in Manchester, NH against the Philadelphia 76ers. Check the coverage at CelticsLinks.com.

So what did everyone think of Four Days In October last night?

Filed Under: Morning Links

Patriots Romp To Special Win In Miami

October 5, 2010 By

Since the start of the season, media members have identified a number of areas of concern regarding the 2010 Patriots. They include poor defense, inability to win on the road, and poor second half performances.

The Patriots made nice progress in all three areas last night, taking a 7-6 halftime deficit and turning it into a 41-14 win in Miami over the Dolphins. Patrick Chung blocked a punt and a field goal, and returned an interception for a touchdown, and Rob Ninkovich had two interceptions as the Patriots made a statement on Monday Night Football.

Obviously, it wasn’t all perfect, as the Dolphins still had success in moving the ball up and down the field, but the Patriots got big plays when they needed them, on the road, in the second half. Get all the coverage at PatriotsLinks.com, but in the meantime, here are the top links from this morning:

 Ten Things We Learned Monday: Patriots’ win a retro classic - Christopher Price runs down the important things to take away from this one.

Patriots earn the right to revel- Tom E Curran says it was a good night for “told ya so.” 

How’d they do it? Let’s count the ways - Bob Ryan has never seen anything the likes of what was happening on the field last night in Miami.

Inspired Patriots rise on road - Ian Rapoport has a Bill Belichick pregame speech setting the tone.

Patriots all smiles after rout at Miami - Mike Reiss has Belichick “positively giddy” after this one.

Altogether exciting win - Albert R Breer wonders if this was just “a flash in the pan” but says that last night everything came together just as they drew it up. On the Extra Points blog, Breer says good-bye, as he heads out to Los Angeles to begin his new job with NFL Network.

Unsung heroes make Monday night very special for Patriots - Jim Donaldson says that this Patriots team has a chance to be special.

Defense dials up the pressure - Mark Farinella has the Rob Ninkovich and the Patriots defense getting the job done last night.

Everything old is new again for Patriots - Michael Felger laments that he’ll have to spend the next two weeks ripping the Red Sox.

Chung’s handiwork paid off big - The Globe Notebook has a look at the huge effort from safety Pat Chung.

Jermaine makes his big splash - Bill Doyle has the “other O’Neal” hoping to take another duck boat ride in June after getting his first taste of one this weekend.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers happy with second unit - Scott Souza has the coach impressed with his bench thus far.

Catching up with Brian Scalabrine: Part 1 - Jessica Camerato has the ex-Celtic talking about his time in Boston.

Success on Krejci’s menu - Kevin Paul Dupont has the Bruins center enjoying some home cooking, and looking forward to a big season.

Comcast SportsNet has sent Joe Haggerty and Mary Paoletti to Prague to cover the Bruins opener. Here is the schedule for the week:

Tue, Oct 5

  • CSNNE.com blog postings from Prague by Joe Haggerty

Wed, Oct 6

  • Prague walk-a-bout with Johnny Boychuk
  • SportsNet Central & CSNNE.com coverage of morning skate

Thu, Oct 7

  • NHL clinic with Sternberk, CZ native David Krejci
  • SportsNet Central & CSNNE.com coverage of morning skate

Fri, Oct 8

  • One-on-ones with 1st round pick Tyler Seguin and GM Peter Chiarelli
  • SportsNet Central & CSNNE.com coverage of morning skate

Sat, Oct 9 and Sun, Oct 10

  • Pre and Post game coverage from O2 Arena before and after Bruins-Coyotes games

The Providence Journal has a number of articles on the passing of PawSox owner Ben Mondor.

Paul Kenyon: Tough businessman Mondor became a lovable figure while running a baseball team

Bill Reynolds: Mondor was an unlikely hero for Rhode Island sports

Jim Donaldson: Ben never pointed the spotlight at himself

John Gillooly: Mondor turned a bankrupt team into a R.I. institution

Filed Under: Morning Links

“Four Days In October” Preview

October 4, 2010 By

I just finished watching the screener DVD of Four Days In October, the ESPN 30-For-30 film that makes its debut tomorrow night at 8:00 PM on ESPN.

Despite the presence of Lenny Clarke, I’m glad to say the film is tremendous. Clarke is paired with Bill Simmons at a bar and the film comes back to them at various moments during the one-hour film. In small doses like this, Clarke was OK. He even made me smile a couple times, something I don’t recall doing with Lenny Clarke jokes before.

The film focuses solely on the 96-hour stretch in October of 2004 when the Red Sox came back from a 0-3 deficit to beat the New York Yankees. Starting with Kevin Millar talking to Dan Shaughnessy prior to game four (when Shaughnessy had referred to the Red Sox as “pack of frauds” in his column – a point referenced by Millar) the movie moves quickly, with no narration, just jumping through audio and video clips from those four days.

Along the way, you are reminded just how unsufferable Joe Buck was/is. Even in game seven, he’s making comments, which, knowing now how things turned out, are patently ridiculous, and maddening at the same time. He refused to give up hope in the curse to the very bitter end.

Simmons has taken heat for making the comment that people have forgotten just how huge David Ortiz was in this series. The comment might sound silly on the surface, but watching this film, you get what he meant. It wasn’t just the game-winning hits in games four and five. Ortiz was everywhere in that series. The Yankees were terrified of him like they’ve been of no other Red Sox player. Ever.

There’s plenty about Schilling and the bloody sock in game six, including a look under the bandage, and pregame talk from ESPN talking heads who were dismissive of Schilling’s ability to pitch effectively in the game. There are other details that you forget a little over the years, like the police in riot gear having to surround the Yankee Stadium field after the umpires overturned the original call on the play in which Alex Rodriguez slapped the ball out of Bronson Arroyo’s glove. The play is well remembered, of course, but the reaction of the Yankee Stadium fans and the need for the riot police had slipped my mind.

Prior to game seven you’re treated to snippets from the likes of Donald Trump, Jackie MacMullan and Yogi Berra, all certain that there is no way the Red Sox can finish off the comeback. Yet, even as they’re speaking, you can sense the confidence wavering ever so slightly. Others, like Spike Lee were admittedly nervous, and said so.

Johnny Damon is among those who comment here and there throughout the film, and he’s pretty subdued. You’ve got to wonder if the fact that he went on after 2005 to play with many of those Yankees caused him to be a little muted in his reactions to this event after the fact.  

The best part of this film is that there is no narrator leading the story along, no cadre of local media giving their retrospective ”take” on the series, it’s just raw footage (some of it taken from Red Sox players’ camcorders and those of fans) put together with audio clips from the broadcasts (radio - both teams and national - and TV broadcasts from FOX). You just get to live through the ride again, seeing the events that changed history for this franchise. You’ll feel the emotion all over again.

It airs tomorrow night, Tuesday, October 5th at 8:00 on ESPN. Be sure to watch it.

Filed Under: ESPN Boston
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