We were reading something about Tom Brady being old this week. Brady looked as good as ever last night, leading New England to a 38-24 win over Miami that might have been one of the most one-sided 14-point wins you'll ever see. With the score tied at 14-14 in the third quarter, the Patriots routed Miami, 24-3, over the next 15 minutes to take a 38-17 lead with about six minutes left to play. Brady finished with 517 yards, or the 5th highest single-game total in league history, the 11th 500-yard passing game in league history, the most yards in franchise history, the most yards ever on Monday Night Football, and the most yards in a game since Boomer Esiason threw for 522 yards in 1996. Phew. He had four touchdowns, too, and an interception. We didn't forget.
Results tagged “nfl”
The NFL's lockout is over after 4.5 months as players voted to approve a 10-year deal on Monday, the same pact owners agreed on Sunday. Each side admitted to having to compromise. Both sides consider it a fair deal that will start the game again. Unsigned players and draft picks can sign as early as tomorrow; all training camps will open between Wednesday and Sunday.
You've certainly heard that the NFL and its players are reportedly close to an agreement that would end the lockout. Players could have the "virtually completed deal" to review on Wednesday while owners are meeting on Thursday in Atlanta and could vote on the agreement then.
The NFL Lockout is upon us and Tom Brady is now a plaintiff and a quarterback. He's the most visible player, and, arguably, the best, in the league. We know he knows he's in a unique position that provides him leverage and job security. We get it. Brady is doing what Mike Wright can't do. But, ...The suit, according to Yahoo! Sports, alleges, among other things, that the NFL used "anticompetitive restrictions on player movement." When a billionaire hands you almost $50 million all at once, the idea of "anticompetitive restrictions" is simply a myth. It doesn't apply to Brady.
The business of football has another 24 hours to keep itself in business after the NFL and the players' union agreed to extend negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement on Thursday. Both sides met with federal mediator George Cohen today for eight hours and will meet with him separately. No direct talks are set for Friday. No player transactions can take place, but teams and players can negotiate signings.
The players' union will likely decertify itself if no agreement is reached and proceed with an antitrust suit against the NFL. At least four players, including Patriots Tom Brady and Logan Mankins and Drew Brees and Peyton Manning, will be "name plaintiffs" in the suit.
[Boston Herald], [ESPN]
Business is happening all over New England:
UPDATE: The Globe reports that witnesses at the scene said Brady was shaken up but didn't receive medical treatment and went on to work. A passenger in the minivan had to be extricated from the van with the Jaws of Life.
Randy Moss thinks the Randy Moss Era in New England will end after the next NFL season. Tom Brady's pass-catching pal told reporters he thinks he's won't be back after the 2010 season because the team won't want to pay him. Moss doesn't appear disgruntled, or even mad. He simply went Michael Corleone on us: “It’s the business of it, man. You’ve got to understand the business of football. I’m not mad. I’m not bitter. It’s just the way things are in this NFL..." Moss simply branded his employer cheap by saying they "don't pay" players. Hopefully he didn't get paid for the game he didn't really play against Carolina.
After three straight losses, not to mention the quirky Friday thing, the Celtics would probably have taken a win anyway they could get one. So, Friday's 98-95 OT win over the Portland Trail Blazers, which is noteworthy, in part, because it marked Kevin Garnett's return to action, is one the Green will gladly take.
KG's return certainly makes Boston a better team even with his pedestrian 13 points and four rebounds. He brings intensity and attitude, and also fills out the roster. Please note the performance of Rasheed Wallace (12 points, 6 rebounds) coming off the bench.
The most noteworthy part of the game was the thrilling end. Ray Allen's game-winning three-pointer with :42 left in overtime was just his third field goal. With 96-95 lead, Allen passed to Tony Allen for the clinching dunk.
Paul Pierce paced the Celtics with 24 points before he fouled out in the fourth quarter. Rajon Rondo added 19 and nine assists.
As if Rex Ryan hadn't done enough to fan the "flames" of the Jets/Patriots "rivalry", now we have Jets "safety" Kerry Rhodes unwisely sent in front of a microphone in anticipation of Sunday's game.
NBC reported on Sunday that Tedy Bruschi intends to retire on Monday after 13 seasons with the New England Patriots. Bruschi played more regular season games than any linebacker in team history while playing on three Super Bowl winning teams. The team scheduled an "important player announcement" for 10:45 a.m. on Monday.
Daisuke Matsuzaka is a very rich man because he is an elite pitcher. He was, or should be. We think. His 1-5 mark and 8.23 ERA, made worse by an 8-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Friday, isn't good enough. What Tony Massarotti termed "The Dice-K Dilemma" is now at hand. Theo and Terry Francona are now faced with baseball's version of the Kobayashi Maru.
You might know Frank Caliendo from his tenure on Fox's "MADtv", you might know him from his show "Frank TV" which returns to TV with a full season starting on October 21st on TBS, and you definitely should know him from FOX NFL Sunday where he's been appearing since 2001. Frank Caliendo is bringing his stand-up/theater act to the Wilbur Theater for two Valentine's Day '09 shows and tickets go on sale today.
It felt great for a second or two, flipping the pages of the local dailies to check in with the Bruins. Win, win, shootout win, come from behind win, win...and then that Monday night game against the Capitals happened. The Bruins came back home to Boston last night a little humbled, but we'd hoped that they were ready to kick it up a notch and not make absolute fools of themselves again deliver a quality game against Florida.
--Fraternity brothers at MIT's Delta Upsilon are saying that Robert Wells, who died over the weekend, fell from his window in an accident. [Boston Globe]
There's been a lot of praise heaped on Bruins goalie Tim Thomas this year, and it's all been deserved. The guy's been a huge reason why the B's are still very much in the playoff hunt. But man is mortal, and Tim looked anything but great last night in Florida, giving up four goals in 12 shots through two periods. His defense was far from blameless, but Tim's been great at covering for their mistakes. Not last night.
--A truck making an illegal left turn near the BU East Green Line Stop hit a Green Line train yesterday morning. One Green Line passenger went to the hospital, and the truck driver has a date with the courts. [Boston Globe]
Tuesday was supposed to be a glorious day. A crowd was to stand in the rain, braving the elements to cheer for the football heroes ambling down roads lined in blue and red. And after the last bits of confetti were cleaned up, the celebratory mass of people would tune in to cheer for their basketball team's winning ways.
With a couple of days before the Super Bowl, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell found himself discussing a topic that even he's got to be sick of by now. Wouldn't he rather pour over the details of the commemorative coin toss coin? Or the commercial he's really looking forward to seeing? On how many times fans at the game in Glendale will have to hold up colored cards to become part of the action of the halftime show?
Bostonist has uncovered an underground society of lifelong Bostonians who totally hate football and do not give a rat's hairy, dreadlocked behind about the NFL Superbowl, The New England Patriots, or Tom Brady.
We can't forget the porn 'stache Patriots receiver Wes Welker tried to rock earlier this season, much as we'd love to. We know it was a fashion failure and we have to hope that Welker knows it too -- and never tries to pull that look off again. Ever.
First, the New York media suggested that Tom Brady was hotter than Eli Manning, the city's "resident Huckleberry" as Bostonist's Sports Reduxer calls him. And now dating site OKCupid has released the results of an OKCupid survey indicating that Tom Brady is only the 7th hottest quarterback in the NFL, WBZ reports.
We guess we have to face the facts that the Steamroller Pats of this past autumn were the aberration, not the norm. The M.O. for the first three championship teams was: keep it close, make the big plays and make the other guy NOT make them, then walk out with a win, and make sure the other guy walks out shaking his head and wondering if one or two plays would have made the difference.
In a way, it doesn't feel right; the Colts should perhaps be in town today. They are(were) the defending champs, after all. They gave the Patriots the first in a long stretch of runs for their money that the Pats survived. The Dungy-Belichick and Manning-Brady rivalries are about the biggest stories in sports in this young century.
Ask Bill Belichick about last week's game, and you may as well be asking him about the Treaty of Ghent. Ask him about the 14-point-underdog Chargers, and you may as well be asking him about an All-Star team composed of the '85 Bears, '89 49ers and the Justice League of America. You know what you get from Coach Bill when you ask about football. But apparently, ask him about team fight songs and you hit a nerve.
Thanks to the Freedom Of Information laws and the PATRIOT Act, we were able to petition the federal government to listen in on last night's weekly Manning Family phone call. Here's a sample:
If you were looking for a titanic defensive struggle, last night wasn't a game to remember. If you were looking to see two patient, methodical offenses chew up yards back and forth all night, you're probably pretty pleased right now. Most importantly, if you're a Patriots fan, you're extremely relieved this morning.