A little new content for the first time in a while

Prepare for a rant.

22 out of 23. Thats not bad. 23 in a row would be nicer. Injuries are bound to happen. The loss to the Steelers probably would not have happened if we weren't hit by the injury bug. Even after beating the Eagles this week, I still have a hard time believing that the Steelers are a better team than a healthy Pats team. Not having Dillon killed us against a top tier team. That said, maybe the Steelers beat the Pats in the playoffs this year. Its not a guarentee for any side.

I still hate them and all the chirping their wideouts like to do.
However Len Pasquarelli had some good words in his column today. So I will let him speak out for me.

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You didn't really believe that after 21 consecutive victories (sorry, Bill Belichick, we're not adhering to the shtick about 21 winning streaks of a game each), the New England Patriots were actually going lose two in a row?


On Sunday the Patriots were so undermanned that the NFL brass should have permitted owner Bob Kraft to scrap the club's logo -- you know, the one that looks like Elvis standing a wind tunnel -- for their game against the St. Louis Rams. Kraft could have replaced it with something more apt for the occasion. Our suggestion: The old Revolutionary War trio -- One kid playing the flute, one tapping on a drum, one toting a flag -- and all of them bandaged up.


Forget the play-by-play. New England should have handed out a stitch-by-stitch account heading into Sunday's contest at the Edward Jones Dome. Here's why the Patriots trounced the Rams:


Because Belichick and his staff convince every player on the roster that he will be counted on to deliver at some point in the season, and guys pay attention, knowing they will get a chance.


Because not even Eagle Scouts are as well prepared as the Patriots.


Because, if there was one element of the New England team that was even more wounded than its bodies after last week's streak-snapping loss at Pittsburgh, it was the Patriots' pride.


This is a team that makes plays, not excuses, even if you might not know the names of some of the people making key accomplishments. Sure, they hobble, but the Patriots also cobble together personnel packages for all occasions, even if it means a bit of baling wire and duct tape, which was the case again Sunday.


With both starting corners sidelined by injuries, New England began the day with second-year "nickel" defender Asante Samuel and rookie undrafted free agent Randall Gay on the wings. Then Samuel went out with an arm injury and was replaced by Earthwind Moreland, who on Saturday was elevated from the practice squad. Moreland played with four different teams in 2002, was out of the league in 2003 and went to the NFL Europe League this spring to resuscitate his floundering career.


In "nickel" situations, wide receiver Troy Brown, who practiced some at cornerback in training camp, played on the corner for the first time in a dozen years. Brown, Gay and Moreland combined for eight tackles and two passes defensed. There were occasions when Don Davis, a linebacker by trade, was at safety. Linebacker Mike Vrabel caught a touchdown pass. Kicker Adam Vinatieri, who had four field goals, threw for a touchdown ... to Troy Brown ... who, while not playing in the secondary, found some time for his day job.


Tailback Corey Dillon, a slacker compared to some of his teammates, didn't do anything but run the ball. But he played hurt after missing last week's loss at Pittsburgh and provided New England much-needed offensive variety.


Belichick and personnel guru Scott Pioli love to find players who can do a lot of things. They love those Vegematic guys, versatile players who can slice, dice and chop. And on Sunday, facing an explosive Rams team and the prospect of a losing streak, those guys paid dividends. It's what the New England brass expected them to do. Count out the Patriots because the training staff has used more bandages in recent weeks than you'd see at a King Tut exhibit? All of the skeptics, and certainly the Rams, should have known better.

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Thanks Len
- posted by Doug @ 1:42:00 PM