Hollywood Donahoe

Calling. I expect any suitable response to include: 1) Polygraph test data from those in the administration who made pre-war assertions. 2) Detailed accounts of Iraq's WMD-based activities from 1991-2003.

I think he heard it from this guy.

People always say Belichick is loathe to take on players with attitude problems, but Corey Dillon is always the counter-arguement to that viewpoint. I think the key point to consider is what prompts attitude from a player - in Dillon's case, it seemed to be frustration stemming from constantly losing (which seems to have been correct, given that he's been fairly quiet playing for a winning team). Certainly, a coach like Belichick would consider it a plus if a player is pissed off when he loses. One must then ask if Moss's attitude stems from losing or from something else. Obviously, the Viking teams he played for never approached the ineptitude of Dillon's Bengals or the '06 Raiders, but late-season collapses were fairly routine for them (see '03 against Arizona in the season finale). If Moss is a guy who only becomes a pain when confronted with constant losing, then Belichick might consider him a viable option. If he sports an attitude when the team is playing well (or at least competing), that becomes a bigger problem, and one that Belichick surely wouldn't be able to get past. That said, midseason trades are a rarity. I doubt Moss gets traded at all, let alone to the Patriots, although it would certainly be an interesting development if it took place. As todd said, though, Troy Vincent would be a logical addition.

Injury history and probability of future injury factors into the decision to re-sign or not to re-sign a player. Vinatieri had injury issues in his last few years with the Pats, and the fact that more problems are cropping up makes the Pats seem pretty wise for not ponying up big money for an aging kicker with injury problems. It simply lends credence to the argument that the guys who left were not as good as they seemed when they were with the Patriots. In a league with as many teams as the NFL, every team is less likely to win the championship than it is to not win it. Thus, your prediction is hardly a prediction at all - more like a stated reiteration of conventional wisdom. Or do you expect me to praise you in the morning if you predict that the sun will rise in the east?

The OC is failing to live up to preseason expectations at Notre Dame. The 2 DCs have coached their teams to a combined 3-7 record. The kicker is sitting injured on the bench. The sack leader is being hampered by injury. The 2 most prominent WRs from that "good WR's corps" have combined for 13 catches and 184 yards this year. Have you ever considered, MDB, that Belichick and Pioli might just be smarter than you? Yes, as a matter of fact. You didn't see the Pats rolling the AFC East last year, eh? A 5-1 record - with the one loss coming in an all-but-intentiaonally-tanked season finale - sounds like rolling to me. Is now good?

You really need to stop making predictions. (and this all in a span of six days!)

Not real, but still funny. Here's a working link: http://www.thephatphree.com/features.asp?S...=2&LayoutType=1

Do you ever learn?

Oh, I'm sure. After all, we all know that the Patriots under Belichick and Pioli have a history of making reactionist personnel decisions.

As a result of this post, I expect Koppen to ink an extension any day now. Bump.

Not that I recall. There was a period where Brady's contract was a year or so away from running out, and both sides were working the numbers, but neither side ever crabbed about it publicly; and, as is typical of the Patriots, neither side has crabbed about it since. You guys are right, though, anything could happen to the Belichick/Brady relationship, and an eventual rift is possible. I'll bet, however, that the management realizes that Brady should, for the sake of team and player legacy, be a "one team in his career" guy, and do whatever they can to keep him a Patriot for life.

Brady's locked up through 2010, in any event.

You're right. Damn the refs and their favoritism towards the Falcons, Giants, Eagles, Broncos, Chargers, Cowboys, Redskins, Raiders, Panthers, and 49ers.

McGahee's per game total becomes decidedly unimpressive when one takes into account that he has the most rushing attempts in the NFL and that his YPC average is 25th in the NFL.

Butters is awesome. His naivety provides a perfect counter to the others.

Mort simply can't resist my Hollywood flair. He's blinded by the limelight!

Admitting you have have a problem is the first step to recovery.

So it's as I said then - the Pats don't give big money contracts, except when they do. You're off by almost $6 million. Only my memory. If I recall, it was widely reported that Mason took less from the Ravens because his wife wanted to live in Baltimore, and his Ravens contract was reported as 5 years, $20 million. Do you hope they keep winning the division as well?

I didn't say that. I'm simply noting that your claims that the Patriots don't pay big money for players doesn't fit with the fact that in the '05 off-season, the team committed big money to not one, but two players. Also, I notice that you conveniently ignored Rosevelt Colvin's sizable contact, and the fact the Patriots were willing to commit $20+ million to Derrick Mason in the same '05 off-season in which they committed big money to Brady and Seymour. In any event, implying that team doesn't foolishly throw around money is hardly an insult. He was probably thinking that with an extra first round pick, his team could get younger and better for the present and the future. With the Patriots' recent history of 1st round picks ('01 and later), how could he complain?

So the Pats don't re-sign good players to large contracts, except when they do? I had no idea you've gone beyond Nostradamesque predictions all the way to mind reading!

Not me.

Beefcake! BEEFCAAAAKE!

Good lord, I know that! I was just going along with your comparison of Koppen's situation to Branch's. Geez.

I wouldn't be too upset if the Pats got a 1st rounder for Koppen.