We could choose to be disappointed. We figured (and we weren't the only ones) that the combination of crappy weather, boisterous fans and motivated personnel would mean the Patriots would kick the Jets' butts up and down the field for three hours. We figured that, even though we're better than New York in every sport right now, yesterday would be a cathartic blowout to soothe any lingering anti-NY feelings around here. Well, not quite. The......

We're really glad we're not the New York Jets. Especially today. First of all, if you were a Jet, you'd have to be outside for hours and hours in this weather. Second of all, you're not a very good football team, and you are playing today against a remarkably good team. Third, you're the team whose coach finked out Bill Belichick early this year, putting the Patriots on a mission to destroy everything in their......

The baseball winter meetings are over, and the Red Sox find themselves without an ace. Except for the one they have. And the Japanese guy who might yet become one. And the old cowboy back for one more year. And the two or three promising kids who might be a couple years away. But they haven't landed Johan Santana, which is either a failure (if they really were after Santana) or a success (if their......

Unusually quiet on the local sports scene yesterday. Sure, the World Champion Red Sox dispersed to the talk show circuit. At various times last night, and for the next few days, you can see members of the hometown team doing walkons with Letterman, Leno, O'Brien, "The Daily Show", "Nightline", "The NFL Today", "Thomas the Tank Engine", "The Iron Chef", "CSI: Miami", and "Deadliest Catch". Check your local listings. But in terms of actual, on-the-field, recappable......

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has decided that the Patriots violated league rules by videotaping the Jets' signals during Sunday's game. Pats coach Bill Belichick has apologized publicly. Belichick's statement at the conference was a tad slippery: Although it remains a league matter, I want to apologize to everyone who has been affected, most of all ownership, staff and players. Following the league's decision, I will have further comment. Uh, Coach Belichick, you might want to......

The national script for this game was supposed to be that the Patriots, widely considered Superbowl favorites, would have a tough test against a hungry Jets team that made life tough for the Pats last year. Well...not exactly. The Patriots played like they were all outta bubblegum yesterday, kicking the Jets' butts up and down the field. Want offensive highlights? Well, Brady and Randy Moss shushed the haters by connecting nine times for 183 yards......

Bruins 2, Ottawa Senators 5 - The Bruins may have been smoked, but this game is notable for marking the return of Bruin rookie Phil Kessel, who deserves a round of applause. He's already back on the ice after a bout with testicular cancer a month ago. We know you're thinking it, so we'll say it - anyone who can play hockey so soon after a terrible health scare has some serious cojones. And,......

Patriots 37, Jets 16: The Patriots trounced the Jets in the AFC Wild Card, but an even more interesting story emerged after the game. Pats coach Bill Belichick was so determined to give defeated Jets coach Eric Mangini a hug that he barreled his way through a horde of photographers, brutally shoving some poor guy out of the way, just to deliver that hug in person. Now, on to the Chargers, and LaDainian Tomlinson better......

Early in the third quarter, this one looked like it was about to get really ugly, as the Pats had jumped out to what looked like an insurmountable 24-0 lead over the Jets at the Meadowlands in New Jersey last night. But the Jets made it more than a game, but in the end, Tom Brady and the Patriots were up to the task, winning their 7th consecutive game against the hated Jets. This......