2 Years Later: Welker or Amendola?

Just shy of 2 years ago, Wes Welker and the New England Patriots parted ways. Something many Patriots fans, myself included, thought would never happen. Welker, Brady's best friend on and off the field, retiring in another uniform? Not in a million years. But it happened. Several things contributed to "the separation." Welker and Belichick didn't always see eye-to-eye; Wes had been under a lot of scrutiny after having a couple big drops in the postseason; and of course, he was 31 then, and wanted more money than the Patriots were willing to spend. At the time, I was flat out pissed at the Patriots for not making more of an effort to keep him around. Welker has just always been my favorite player. Bringing in Amendola to essentially replace Wes just didn't sit well with me. Because in my mind, no one was going to replace Welker. The chemistry he and Brady had was out of this world. His productivity was insane, hard to beat. But we've found someone who fills the role pretty well. Edelman has essentially emerged as Wes Welker 2.0. Maybe even better. 

The scenarios:
As free agency approaches, many people are wondering what happens with Danny Amendola. As the guy who was brought in to be Welker's replacement, he hasn't quite lived up that over the past 2 seasons. Partly due to injuries he's had to battle, and partly due to the fact that he doesn't get used as often and as much as Welker did. Why? Because up until recently, he hadn't earned Brady's complete trust on the field. And when you have Gronk and Edelman, Brady's security blankets, why risk it with the new guy? Amendola did prove his worth during the postseason stretch, though. He might actually get my vote for postseason MVP. 
Wes Welker denied reports that he was mulling retirement, earlier this week. In my opinion, as a huge #83 fan, retiring would be in his best interest. Too many head injuries, too close together for me to be comfortable with. His contract is up in Denver and I don't think they're planning on bringing him back. He's had a great career and put up some crazy good numbers. One of the be2st slot receivers of this decade. The one thing he's missing, the one thing that's keeping him from being a sure-thing HOFer? A Super Bowl Championship. In his career, Welker has played in 3 Super Bowls, and lost each one. You know he still feels like he has something to prove...

The questions:

• If the Patriots and Amendola part ways for whatever reason, and Welker hits the market (which is likely), is there any chance of a Welker/Pats reunion?                                       I've heard a bunch of speculation about this, and as good as it may sound, I really don't see it happening. We don't really need Welker, and I don't really see him and Belichick becoming best friends over the next month. Belichick isn't going to apologize to Welker (whether you think he should or not is your opinion) and Wes is probably still looking for an apology...So in my opinion, there's no way Welker is ever suiting up for the Pats, again. 
• If Amendola doesn't take a pay cut, and decides to move on, who do the Pats sign to replace him? If Amendola and the Patriots can't restructure his contract to a team friendly deal, let him go. While he came up big in the postseason, that's really all he's done in his two years here. If there is one person I'd like to see the Patriots sign as another "Welker replacement", it would be Devon Wylie. Very similar mindset, skills, and body type. 
• Okay, so say Brady really wants Wes back and begs Robert Kraft and Belichick to bring him back...then does it happen? To be honest, Wes still isn't Bill's biggest fan, and while Belichick doesn't exactly like anyone, he really doesn't like Welker. There is no way in the world that Belichick apologizes to Welker, gives him the kind of money he probably wants, annnd fakes a smile and BS's it when asked how happy he is to have Wes back...all in the same year? No way. 
• So you're saying the Patriots would be okay without Welker or Amendola?! New England's offense has changed quite a bit over the past couple seasons. Edelman does a fine job filling Welker's old role, and we've added new pieces to give us a more balanced, well-rounded offense. I don't want Amendola to leave, but I think we could survive. He's going to make some team very happy... (but really, Devon Wylie!)

Basically, what I'm saying is that neither Welker nor Amendola is completely vital to this teams success. I like both and think they're great players. Welker's recent head injuries are something to be concerned about, as is Amendola's injury proneness. When healthy, you won't find many other receivers who can do it better. I do believe though, that at 33, Welker is past his prime. He's no longer a number 1, go-to type of a guy. More like a #3, every once in a while, player. 

Looking back on it almost 2 years later, the Patriots made the right choice by not overspending on Welker and signing Amendola. Welker will always have a special place in every Patriots fan's heart, and we will forever be grateful for everything he did for this team. When all is said and done, forcing Brady to be a little uncomfortable and having to adjust to a receiving corp without his security blanket (Welker), did nothing but help both the team and Brady himself, further cementing his place as one of the best to ever do it. Who else could have done what Brady is doing, so consistently, with such an ever-changing supporting cast? The past 2 seasons, the Patriots' receiving corps was 3 rookies, Gronk, who struggled to stay healthy, and Julian Edelman emerging as the #1 go-to-guy...something he was never really supposed to be. To sum it up...the Patriots knew what they were doing. It just wasn't always easy to see it. 

As always, go Patriots.  

How Revis Affects Our Entire Defensive Scheme

It is no secret that the Patriots' secondary was much improved with Darrelle Revis on the team. Nearly every defensive position and unit improved with the addition of Revis. This season, New England finally had a shutdown secondary again, for the first time in years. It was pretty sweet. While Revis was good, not perfect but close, is he worth the $25 million cap hit in 2015? Keeping Revis at that number, under his current contract would be quite the expense, almost surely erasing our chances of keeping other top priority free agents, such as McCourty, Gostowski, and Connolly. Those guys are important. Gostowski's leg is pure money; Connolly is one of the only remaining solid offensive linemen who's been with Brady for years and has earned his trust; McCourty is one of the top safeties in the league, and in my opinion, is often under appreciated in New England. Even when he's not making huge plays or coming up with interceptions, he's (quietly) making some noise and disrupting plays. They're valuable to the Patriots. But that leaves Pats fans with the question: who's more important? Defense wins championships, yes. The Revis-led secondary had a lot to do with the Patriots hoisting the Lombardi again for the first time in over a decade. Sure we hear more about Darrelle Revis and his ability to consistently shut down the best receivers in the game...but without McCourty showing up big at safety, and without Gostowski's near perfection for 3 points every time he's called upon...where does that leave the Patriots?

Simply put, Revis is worth every bit of the $25 million he's due if the Patriots pick up his second year option. But when it comes down to it, I wouldn't want New England to do that. If he wants to win and have another shot at a second Super Bowl Championship, he'll work out a deal that fits both him and the Patriots. If it's all about the money, now, he can walk. I will definitely miss the shutdown man-to-man coverage and stellar schemes if he signs elsewhere. With Browner in our secondary, though, we can keep the torturous press-man schemes. He can compliment nearly any corner that comes to Foxboro.

Hopefully the Patriots are able get some deals done before the start of free agency, which is less than a month away. If McCourty hits the market, he's surely gone. Same goes for Gostowski. If we won't pay them what they want, some team will.

Ready for free agency, the combine, and the draft..annnnnd the 2015 Season kickoff.

As always, go Pats.

GOAT. Montana or Brady?

The Montana/Brady debate has been going on for a decade, and will probably continue for years and years to come. Many people, especially Patriots fans, think that Brady getting ring #4 sealed his spot as the greatest quarterback of all time. I'm not disagreeing with that, but I'm not agreeing either. Anytime you compare two players there's a lot to look at, especially when those players played during different times, in much different leagues. I mean, the NFL today isn't the same now as it was when Joe Montana was tearing it up, shredding defenses Sunday after Sunday. 

• Of course, Montana played in the 80's when the league was much rougher. Brady however, has dominated the NFL during the free agency era, where rosters are constantly changing every off season. Just give Brady someone to throw to, and I'd almost guarantee he gets the job done. In short, Brady has done more with less. 

For most of Brady's career, he's had a bunch of no names to throw to, with the exception of Moss and a few players of recent seasons (Gronk & Welker{but he was a no name until he played with Brady}). Of course, the Patriots have kind of done that to themselves (or to Brady, really). Everyone knows New England doesn't spend big money on many players. And Belichick has a ridiculously good way of knowing when a player is a season or two away from being out of his prime. When he notices, he gets rid of them, or doesn't make much of an effort to keep them. Much like what happened with Welker (of course there was more to that situation). For the most part, Brady has had to do it with nobodies. It's not often that Brady has a star studded supporting cast. 

• Montana had Rice, the greatest receiver to ever play the game. Brady has had no one who compares. Randy Moss is the only one who *might* come close, but Brady never even won a Super Bowl with Moss. He won with guys like Deion Branch, Troy Brown, Jermaine Wiggins...Montana had a better receiving corp and was even surrounded by a better running game. Think Roger Craig. 

Many make the argument that Montana is better simply because he never lost a Super Bowl. He went to four, won all four, and the rest is history. Brady's been to six, won four (tied with the Great #16), and played against top ranked defenses each time. Sure Montana never lost a Super Bowl, but he never even had the chance to win five, let alone six. 

• If we want to go by stats, Brady has the edge. If we want to go by wins alone, Brady has the edge. TB12 has a better win percentage, more wins in both the regular season and postseason, and his touchdown to interception ratio tops Montana. Brady's been to 6 Super Bowls in 14 years; Montana went to 4 Super Bowls in 17 years. In my opinion, this alone speaks volumes. 
• "Brady won because of his defenses." Montana had pretty good defenses, too. 

Right now, it's still too hard for me to say who (I think) is the greatest quarterback of all time, hands down. Brady and Montana are both insane competitors and understood the game better than anyone. If Brady wins one more, which I sincerely hope he does, that ends the debate, in my opinion. Best post season quarterback of all time? Brady, absolutely. Just in general? Still up for debate, but after Brady won his 4th, against a defense that will be talked about for ages, it sure does make his case a little bit stronger. 

As always, go Pats. 

And go Brady. 

Tough Decisions for the Champs

It's completely okay to still be on some sort of high from the Super Bowl win, right? Definitely. I'm actually pretty bummed that we have to wait 7 months for another football game...and preseason just isn't the same. Luckily, we have free agency, the combine, the draft, and training camp to keep us occupied until September. 

When it comes to New England...

What are the Patriots' biggest offseason concerns? 

• Resign Revis for a team-and-Darrelle Revis-friendly deal. He's good, but I wouldn't break the bank for him. Nor do I think the Patriots would do that. Now that he's got a ring, I hope he doesn't decide to chase the money. Stay in New England and take another shot for ring number 2. 
• Resign McCourty. I honestly see the Patriots using the franchise tag on D-Mac. He wants to stay, but he also deserves to get paid. He's earned it. If the Patriots don't use the franchise tag on him, he won't be returning to New England. He'll make big noise in free agency. 
• KEEP VEREEN. I see a lot of people saying that the Patriots should let Vereen walk. In my opinion, he's just as much a priority as McCourty. His versatility and productivity would be hard to replace. Think about how useful he was during the playoffs. I don't love the idea of a Patriots' offense without Vereen. Pay the man.
• Rework Amendola's deal. I don't want to get rid of him, but I think we could rework his contract and get a team-and-Amendola-friendly deal done. 
• Interior offensive line. Do you bring back Dan Connolly, who's 33, or take another risk with the O-Line and bring in someone new, and a few years younger? 
• I think you keep Akeem Ayers, and let Alan Branch go. 
• I'm not sure we need Stevan Ridley. As much as I'd hate to see him go, I like Gray, Blount, and White. IF we want to bring Ridley back, I hope it's a one year, "prove it" deal. 
• Gostowski deserves to be paid...to a certain extent. He is money, that's for sure. But he's also 30 years old, and we can't spend a ridiculously high amount on a kicker. 
• Vince Wilfork - our best defensive lineman. Just how valuable is he? He's due a $4million bonus in March, and his 2015 cap hit is just shy of $9million. That's a lot of money for a 33 year old defensive lineman. Wilfork did have one of the best seasons of his career, while coming back from a gruesome injury. We want him back in New England, and I think he wants to stay. Though it didn't go so well last March, asking Big Vince to restructure his contract might be worth a try. If not, the Patriots have a major role to fill via free agency or the draft. And I don't know that another Big Vince is available right now...
• Restructure Jerod Mayo's deal. With Collins and Hightower coming along SO well, I honestly think that the Patriots would be just fine without Mayo. I hate to say that, because Mayo is one of the best veterans in the league, and his leadership on the sideline is almost irreplaceable. Asking Mayo to rework his contract or take a pay cut is the only way keeping him makes sense.

The Patriots have a lot to address this offseason. Obviously, not everyone is coming back. Picking up Revis' $25 million option would be crazy, and almost un-Patriot like. He's good, but is he that good? Of course if we don't bring him back, who do we bring in? Who fills that top corner position? And if we don't keep Solder, as much as I dislike him, do we trust Cannon and/or Fleming to fill his spot? Lots of big decisions and changes are coming. Unfortunately, we can't keep our championship team together; but with the right moves, we won't miss a beat, and can be favorites to win it all again, next year. 

As always, Go Patriots. 

Then and Now

While there is no replacing these Patriots' greats, I thought I would look at how current Pats compare with a few of my personal favorites, and no doubt, some of the best players to ever grace New England. 

Rodney Harrison                Safety         2 words that come to mind: dominant & aggressive. Probably the best way to describe him. Some would argue that he was a dirty player, but I won’t say that. I will say that I would’ve loved him as a teammate, but hated him as an opponent.	Brandon Browner        Corner This season, I feel like we finally had a physical, torturous presence back in our secondary. Brandon’s still no Rodney Harrison, but I like what he brought to our defense, this season. Some dislike Browner's playing style for various reasons, but I wouldn't say it's dirty. Is he aggressive? Sure. Does he get in opponents faces and talk trash? Of course. What corner doesn’t? My main complaint with Browner is how many penalties he draws. Other than that, I love that New England picked him up. Browner’s nasty, dominant playing style is exactly what the Patriots have been missing   since, well, Rodney Harrison went out in 2008.
Law is one of my all time favorite players. How could anyone not love watching a secondary with Ty Law? Up until recently, you couldn’t convince me that there was any other 24. In fact, it never seemed right to me to see any other Patriot wearing #24…especially Arrington. Law was dominant, effective, and opposing teams loathed throwing in his direction. He could cover receivers better than most anyone back then.	Revis, the new 24, is another key piece that we’ve been missing for quite some time. Yeah, yeah, Talib, I know..But no; not even close. Law and Revis: pretty much used the same way. Usually responsible for covering the #1 receiver, in either man or zone coverage. And in my opinion, they both really shine in man-to-man. It's just something about #24's in New England...
Kevin Faulk Whether he was running up the middle, catching passes out of the backfield, or throwing to Brady, Kevin Faulk did it all. And he was pretty good at it, too. His versatility was arguably his best trait.	Shane Vereen With similar size, speed, and athleticism, Shane kind of does it all, too. Not quite as much…yet, but he offers a similar skillset for the modern-day Brady led offense. He was vital to the Patriots' success throughout the playoffs and contributed greatly to our Super Bowl victory.

You could make a case for Willie McGinest and Jerod Mayo, but given Mayo’s season ending injuries the past 2 seasons, I’ll hold off on that. Both share a ridiculously good ability to read the offense and make critical adjustments, big or small. It’s hard to tell whether their on-field performance or just their presence alone had the bigger impact. 

As you can tell, my love for the Patriots goes much deeper than Jules and Gronk. The early 2000's teams were probably my absolute favorites to watch. I still get chills. 

As always, go Pats. 

Frequently asked questions!

I thought I'd change it up a bit!

Get to know me: frequently asked questions

Most of these came from Twitter, and a couple random ones from strangers I've met in public that I couldn't resist!

1) Why the Patriots? I get this alllll the time. And my response is always the same : "good question." Truth be told, I have no idea. I just know that it all started back in '06 and my obsession has only gotten worse since. My little 10 year old self had never been so bummed in her life when the Pats lost to the Giants the first time after our perfect season. 

2) Do you want to move to Boston just because you like their sports teams? This one made me laugh but I actually get it a lot. No. I've actually had a slight obsession with Boston since the song "Boston" by Augustana came out. Almost 10 years ago. Liking all their professional sports teams definitely helps, but there's just something about that city that I love. I can't really explain it.

3) Most and least favorite sport? I think my most favorite is pretty obvious. Football definitely has my heart, but over the past 4 years or so, I've really grown to love them all. If I absolutely had to answer my "least favorite", I would have to go with hockey, only because I don't know as much about it as I do football, basketball, and baseball. I grew up watching the other 3, but I had to get into hockey by myself. Gramps does a pretty good job covering all the basics with me, though. And about 3 years ago, he told me "if you're going to like hockey, first, you must know who Bobby Orr is, and second, we cheer for fights in the rink." So I think he started me off right. Hahahaha. 

4) How do you know so much about sports? Umm, well sports are my life, so I invest a lot of time in them. I'm constantly reading and researching (my TV stays on ESPN and NFL Network...wake up to Mike and Mike, fall asleep to Total Access). Mainly, I just really love the numbers side of it. I live for stats. 

5) Is your entire family Patriots/Boston fans? Nope. I started it all. My grandpa is now a Pats fan, thanks to me. He tried to brainwash me into becoming a Peyton fan when I was younger. Thankfully I was a smart kid...crisis averted! My mom's a Saints fan, but doesn't mind the Pats; my grandma's a Falcons "fan"(she only admits it when they win); and most of my extended family are Steelers fans. Wow, my family has bad taste.

6) Favorite Celtics player? Past or present? Either way this is wicked hard. I'll narrow it down to my top 5 each. Past: Paul Pierce!, Bird (obviously), KG, Shaq, annnd Bill Russell (again, obviously). Present: Smart, Sully, and Olynyk. Before they got traded earlier this season, Rondo and Jeff Green.  

7) You can draft any current NFL players, create your dream team. Liked this one too much to pass up. But obviously I'm not going to do a whole 53-man roster. Almost, though!

·      QB: I like my qb. But to make it interesting, I'll take Andrew Luck.

·      OL: Give me Dallas' current offensive line.

·      RB: versatility wise, Vereen; solid, all-around back, LeVeon Bell or Denard Robinson

·      WR: This is tough. Gotta go with Megatron and AJ Green. Wait, can Randy Moss still count?!

·      TE: Joseph Fauria and Gronk!

·      K: Gostowski, hands down.

·      P: Ryan Allen is pretty solid.

·      CB: Dream team, right? Revis and Peterson.

·      S: Earl Thomas, Eric Berry. Hard to leave Devin McCourty off.

·      LB: Outside - a healthy Jerod Mayo and Malcom Smith ; Middle - Luke Kuechly

·      Tackles and Ends: T - Wilfork & Kyle Langford ; E - Jared Allen & Robert Quinn. This was the hardest one for me...so much good talent!

8) Second favorite NFL team? None. 

9) How does your family and friends feel about your love/knowledge for sports? Umm I don't really know. But they're pretty supportive! My friends think it's cool. At first I think they were kind of thrown off by it. It took them a while to get used to me having a semi-heated sports debate in the middle of Walmart or Dunkin or wherever. I think they've gotten used to it now, though. 

10) If you could have your own show on ESPN, would you do it? Absolutely! That's a dream of mine! I would also be completely okay with co-hosting a show alongside Skip Bayless. (hint, hint ESPN)

11)  Do you think athletes are overpaid? Yes, but I'm not going to stop watching or supporting them, so I can't say much. Of course someone who gets paid $50 million (and many make even more) to play a game is definitely overpaid. But since I'll still go to games, still buy gear, still buy magazines and papers, still pay the outrageous amount of money for NFL Sunday Ticket...

12) Best up and coming team on the rise right now? Jacksonville. Sounds crazy, but give them a couple seasons. 
13) Predict the NBA Finals. I'm kind of rooting for the Hawks this season since there is no way my Celtics win it all.  I'll go with Hawks vs Mavs. Mavericks winning it all. Dallas' roster is just too loaded not to win it all, in my opinion. 

14) Stadium/Arena in each sport that you want to see a game at? All of them. No, literally. But uh, I'd love to see a Bruins game at TD, a Thunder/Celtics game at Chesapeake Arena, a game at Soldier Field, and a game at Busch Stadium. We'll start with those. 

Those are all the questions for now, as it is 2:30am! 

As always, go Patriots. 

Your 2014 World Champions: THE New England Patriots

Where to even begin. This season was an incredible one. This Super Bowl win meant more than others, because this season was a little different than others. Losing our season opener, falling to last place in our division...a place we're not used to being...getting blown out on Monday night in Kansas City, falling to 2-2...nonstop remarks from 'experts' about how the dynasty was over and the Patriots were "simply not good anymore"...all of which sparked a seven game win streak, the Pats claiming first place in the AFC, home field advantage throughout the playoffs, and ultimately, a Super Bowl championship. 

Needless to say, it was a bumpy ride at times. But all in all, I think, no I know, that the downs, the doubts, the hate, the 4 losses, they motivated this team and only made their will to win stronger. One thing about this Patriots team that makes them so resilient, is how they stick together no matter what. I honestly do not know if I've ever seen a group of guys that define the word "team" better than the 2014 New England Patriots. And that my friends, is one of the biggest reasons that the Patriots are Champions. Teamwork and brotherhood was the story all season long. 

I woke up feeling pretty good, pretty confident on Sunday. But my nerves started getting to me by about...11am. I had a feeling that whichever team scored first would win, but I can't lie, when Brady threw those 2 interceptions, I wasn't sure we were going to be able to overcome them. And after Kearse's incredible catch that put seattle in the red zone, with under a minute left to play, I just did not have a good feeling. I won't say that I gave up, but I will say that I have never prayed so hard over a football game. I, like everyone else, just knew that Seattle was handing it off to Lynch and he was probably getting into the end zone. I just knew it. Because how in the world do you NOT give it to arguably the best, most powerful back in the league when you're on the 1 yard line?! No idea but I'm glad they didn't. Malcolm Butler, the undrafted rookie, saved the day. Just like he'd been doing almost every snap he played Sunday night. That moment, the interception, didn't feel real. It was crazy. I don't cry over many things, in fact it's usually just football games, but I won't deny the fact that I got a little emotional. I actually don't know that there was a single Patriots fan that didn't...

Best moments:

• Richard Sherman's face when Butler intercepted Wilson, and sealed the win. Especially since he was mocking Revis for allowing a touchdown several minutes earlier. Ehem, karma. 
• The fact that Gronk was practically unfazed by the Legion of Boom the entire game. And this is why you don't talk bad about Gronk ever, much less the week leading up to the biggest game of the season.
• Vereen doing work. A Patriots team without Shane Vereen just sounds scary at this point. He honestly doesn't get enough credit. Without him the past couple seasons, I don't know that we even make a deep run in the playoffs, much less back-to-back AFCCG appearances, and the Super Bowl win this season. He's had some critical drops but when it counts most, he's stepped up and been a security blanket for Brady. Definitely Kevin Faulk 2.0.
• Amendola. First, I think we should applaud Danny for making it through an entire game against one of the most physical defenses in the league, without getting hurt. Like honestly, I can't be the only one who had him getting concussed by the end of the 3rd quarter. No, but really, Amendola continues to prove his importance to the team. He steps up and makes plays, big or small, when needed most. So glad Amendola is a Patriot. 
• Ninkovich. For a little stretch of the game, Nink and Butler (of all people) seemed to be the only defensive players who showed up and had their heads in the game. I could make a strong case for Nink deserving the MVP award. 
• Josh McDaniels and his game plan. Of course, as with any game where McDaniels is the OC, there were some questionable plays called and several times where we all just kind of scratched our heads. But, again, when it counted the most, McDaniels proved why he still has a job in the NFL. He got it done. He got a little creative, got a little gutsy, and most of all, told Brady to just go win. 
• SO thankful that there wasn't a ridiculous Manningham or Tyree catch that lost us the game. Because even Brady had doubts after Kearse made that catch...

Still can't get over this win. I haven't stopped smiling since. I mean, who had Malcolm Butler as the Patriots' Super Bowl hero?! 

It's hard to look at all this organization has accomplished since 2000 and not consider this the greatest dynasty of all time. Finally ending our Super Bowl drought and winning the big one in Arizona feels pretty good. This team has earned it and deserved to win. 

Brady got his 4th ring, so where does that put him in terms of all-time great? Post coming later this week! 

So proud of this team. Job: done, mission: accomplished.

As always, Go Patriots.