BRH

Feels good, don't it?

That's funny. I was under the impression that Bruschi and the team have told the press that Bruschi's stroke was caused by a small hole in his heart that had always been there, and not by any football-related activities. That don't make it fact, though.

And yet you seem so sure of yourself in insisting that the stroke was not football-related.

And 66.7% of all teams that make the playoffs win their division. I'm no mathematician but it seems to me that that means a 3-3 team that makes the playoffs is more likely than the average playoff team to make it as a wildcard instead of as a division winner. Did I say that right? Dan? I hope so. And if that's so, then would that not seem to put the lie to your exhaustively researched premise that we need to "win the division or die"? I have a headache now too.

Have fun but I for one hope we'll be 5-3 by that time!

So that must be why Belichick has completely removed himself (read: covered the team's a$s) from Bruschi's decision to return, and why the Patriots will almost certainly try to have him sign some kind of waiver before he steps on the field again. If, God forbid, he does have another stroke, do you think he won't try to sue the team and/or the league for letting him play? Maybe he won't do that, but it sure seems like the Patriots are afraid he might. And why would that be? After all, Dr. Patswhiponthebills has already declared that if he has another stroke, it won't be from football.

Didn't see this beauty posted in Friday's TBD article roundup but I happened to glance at it while eating lunch last Friday, and thought I'd dig it up for your enjoyment today. Okay, he got the Martin part right... but not the result!

What! I am shocked, shocked to find that Mr. Bruschi may have used steroids!

Cecil Cooper? Oh. You mean Chuck Cecil.

If it's up to me, I prefer Thurman's "celebration" -- hand the ball to the ref like "yo, what's up dude, it's just me again." But people celebrate in different ways. I don't much care for Willis' horse-riding antics, and I have to admit I cringed when Biscuit or Bruce did their sack dances, but hey, that's them. As long as it doesn't draw a taunting penalty by being directed at an opposing player, let them do what they want. I have a lot less respect for the Alvin Harper types who celebrate a mundane catch at the 45-yard-line as if they just scored the game-winning TD, though.

Ding ding ding we have a winner. This covering of a$ses by Kraft and Belichick is ridiculous. They could have put him on IR, didn't, and now they're trying to wash their hands of any responsibility in Bruschi's decision to come back. He needs to take a good long look at his two boys and ask himself if it's really worth it.

I'm not saying Ted's necessarily at fault here but wasn't it a defensive player who rented those boats? Tice is ultimately responsible but the other coaches can't get a free pass on this if he's canned.

Well, if you're convicted of a violent crime, you can't profit from your crime -- all the monies must be handed over to the state. It's called the "Son of Sam Law," and was first passed in NYS when David Berkowitz tried to profit from the sale of his book rights. Most states have a variation of this law. Now OJ, as we should all know by now, wasn't convicted. He may have to give up his profits in order to satisfy the terms of the civil judgment against him, but that's a different matter.

This is, of course, closely related to Doug Flutie Syndrome, wherein the player says "I threw a touchdown pass" but "we fumbled."

I used to be exactly like that, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't happier today than I would have been if our boys had lost yesterday. But I think as you age and other things become important in your life (like kids), it's easier to not let it affect you so much. My kids don't give a rat's ass (yet ) whether the Bills won or lost, so when I come home after a loss they always put a smile right back on my face.

hmm... technically if the season ended today, new england wouldn't make the playoffs.

true dan, but good lord this thread is a hysterical read.

I was there too and it's the only time I've ever seriously thought a player was dead on the field.

Torn labrum in his shoulder. I would have put money on a hangnail or a bunion to put him out for the year.

I didn't see his post until after I posted. No, it couldn't have been him. I didn't have to pay for my forged notes!

Senior in high school, blew off the last class of the day to go to opening day at Silver Stadium. Back in school the next day, teacher asks me where's my excuse. I told him I went to the game. I figured since he was a big baseball fan he'd let it go. He didn't. Said "I'm gonna have to report you." I said fine. I go down to the vice principal's office. He asked me what happened. I said I went to the game because it was opening day and I don't miss opening day. He goes, "You realize I have to give you ten periods of restricted study hall for that." I go, "Yep." He looks at me. "Well. I guess you're just going to have to ask yourself if it was worth it to skip school to go to the game." I look at him. "Oh yes, sir. It was." He looks at me for a long while as if I'd just taken a big stojan on his desk. Finally, he says, "That will be all." In the end I had a friend forge excuse notes to get me out of about eight of the ten periods of study hall.

I think you're talking about this rule (17(b)). Also rule 51(d): [emphases added] So it seems like penalty shots can only be imposed (and, moreover, must be imposed) in 5-on-3 situations when the penalty is for too many men or for dislodging the goal post. Not for any other penalties, like hooking etc. There doesn't seem to be any mention of awarding penalty shots for "making a mockery of the game." Perhaps that's in one of those Double Secret Memos, you know, from the same file whence came the league's justification of Brett Hull's "goal."

I'll tell you what I miss: Hockey Hotline on NSA. WROC-950 doesn't air the postgame show after Sabres games.

And if Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?

Outstanding Navin Johnson reference.