In The Most Hyped Regular Season Game In NFL History, The Bucs Squeaked By The Pats 19-17

 

    The most anticipated regular season game in New England sports history took place tonight at Gillette Stadium as quarterback Tom Brady and his Buccaneers (3-1 overall, 1-1 away) returned for a showdown with his former head coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots (1-3 overall, 0-3 home). What was expected to be a complete blowout by the Super Bowl champs from Tampa Bay actually turned into a nailbiter but in the end they held on for a 19-17 victory as New England kicker Nick Folk's potential go-ahead 56-yard field goal with 55 seconds left in regulation hit the left upright and bounced harmlessly away. With the win, Brady (22-of-43 for 269 yards) became the fourth QB in NFL history (joining Peyton Manning, Brett Favre and Drew Brees) to beat all 32 teams. 

    It is not even close to a hot take to say that Patriots rookie quarterback Mac Jones (31-of-40 for 275 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT) outplayed Brady by a noticable margin, the problem was that the home team had a pair of turnovers and allowed three more sacks (4-1) while the more talented Bucs were way better on third-downs (9-of-19 vs. 2-of-9), ran 20 more plays (74-54) and possessed the ball for almost eight additional minutes (33:55-26:05). Moral victories are useless in professional sports but this felt like one of those rare occasions where the Pats earned plenty of respect by the way that they performed. However, they will need to carry it through the rest of the season to make it really mean anything. It should be easy to get up for a huge game like this, the question is if they can similarly be ready to go say next Sunday afternoon (1, CBS) at Houston (1-3) who got blasted 40-0 earlier today by Buffalo (3-1) and look like they are in the discussion for the worst team in the league. 

    All week we wondered how New England's suspect defense would slow down Tampa's lethal offense and it turns out that a couple of unexpected factors played into that: the absence of former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (punctured lung, fractured ribs) was a big loss for the Buccaneers particularly in the red zone (where they settled for five field goal attempts, four of which they made) along with the fact that it poured for most of the night. With basically no running game (a total of eight carries for -1 yard), Pats offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels had to get extra creative and he did with nine different guys catching passes from Jones while they also successfully ran two trick plays that Tampa had no chance to stop. Patriots wide receiver Jakobi Meyers had a game-high eight catches (for 70 yards on 12 targets) along with a pair of throws for 45 yards, did you know he was a quarterback at NC State? Brady did not find as many guys as Jones but the difference was the caliber of players that TB12 has on his new team: wide receivers Mike Evans (7 catches, game-high 75 yards), former Patriot for a second Antonio Brown (7 catches, 63 yards) and Chris Godwin (3 catches, 55 yards) would all be the No. 1 receiver on the Pats or many other clubs. Running back Leonard Fournette (91 yards rushing, 47 yards receiving) was Tampa's best player all game, who saw that coming? 

    Patriots owner Robert Kraft had to enjoy seeing all the money that he spent in the offseason on free agents finally come together in the same contest as New England's tight ends Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith each caught a touchdown from Jones while wide receivers Kendrick Bourne (5 catches, 58 yards) and Nelson Agholor (3 catches, 55 yards) both went over 50+ receiving yards. Meanwhile, linebacker Matt Judon (4 tackles, 3 assists, sack, 2 tackles for loss, 2 QB hits) continued to be the best defensive player for the Patriots and it's not even close. Unless you are a weatherperson with a gambling problem, I doubt that many people took the under for this matchup but that quickly came into view with a 3-0 first quarter in favor of Tampa (thanks to a 29-yard field goal by Ryan Succop). Jones and Co. put together an awesome drive (11 plays, 74 yards, 6:21) in the second quarter that ended with a 11-yard touchdown catch and run by Henry (his first score as a Patriot) then a point after by kicker Nick Folk. Succop hit a 44-yard field goal with 13 seconds left in the first half but the Pats shockingly led 7-6 at halftime.

    You kept waiting for Tampa Bay to turn it on and leave New England in their dust but it never happened. Bucs running back Ronald Jones II ran for an eight-yard touchdown late in the third quarter which along with Succop's PAT gave the Buccaneers a 13-7 advantage heading into the fourth quarter. Once again, the Pats wrestled back the lead with a pretty drive (7 plays, 77 yards, 3:32) capped off from a one-yard catch by Smith and another PAT from Folk. Tampa marched down to the red zone once again but New England's defense held them to a 27-yard field goal by Succop that gave them a slim 16-14 lead. Folk hit the exact same chip shot field goal to hand the Patriots their final lead of the game at 17-16. After missing a 36-yard field goal very early in the second quarter, credit to Succop for nailing a 48-yard field goal with 1:57 left in regulation. Jones brought his team to the 37-yard line with 59 seconds left before Belichick opted to attempt the 56-yard kick rather than try to get a little more yardage (he had 1 timeout left). 

    It is the first time since 1995 that the Patriots have started 0-3 at home and they currently sit tied with the Dolphins (1-3) and Jets (1-3) at the bottom of the AFC East. Most importantly, they have to prove that this performance was not a fluke and they can play much better than they did against Miami in the season opener or last week against the Saints (2-2), two frustrating and puzzling losses. There is still hope left in this season (that sounds silly to say after four weeks) but that might all disappear if they lose to the Texans who saw their own rookie quarterback Davis Mills throw four interceptions in today's loss as they gained a total of six first downs in the entire game and 109 total yards. With Deshaun Watson sitting out while they sort through all his troubling allegations, Houston is in full tank mode so the Pats need to do something that they could not do last season: win in Houston and get this season back untracked. 

My Worst Fear Has Come True: Cam Newton Is Returning To The Pats For Another Awful Season

 

    If you had any doubt left in your heart of hearts, Patriots head coach/GM Bill Belichick has officially lost his mind. The final damning proof came this morning as reports emerged that quarterback Cam Newton is re-signing with New England: a one-year deal worth up to $14 million (with $6 million tied to incentives regarding NFL honors and the playoffs that honestly he won't come close to reaching). Make no mistake, Newton will be the starting quarterback this fall with the Pats. Belichick is notoriously cheap so there is no way that he would pay a backup QB that type of money. Keep in mind that Cam has never been a backup probably his entire life so you think he's going to embrace that transition? Please, get real. 

    All we could hope as fans of the Patriots was that last season's 7-9 misery (while Tom Brady and the Buccaneers won the Super Bowl in his first year there!) would serve as a bridge to a brighter future for New England. They would sign someone better in free agency, trade for a guy and draft a promising young QB while they were at it. Nope, instead we are forced to pretend that last year didn't happen (which with Covid-19, don't we all wish that it did?) and perhaps with a full off-season, a slight upgrade in weapons (still impatiently waiting on those), perhaps Cam can resemble an NFL-caliber signal-caller and not a player whose best years are far behind him and should probably retire before he suffers another serious injury. 

    Newton went 7-8 as the starter for the Patriots last season (he missed one game with Covid) and his numbers tell the whole pathetic story: he threw for 2657 yards with eight touchdowns (8!) and 10 interceptions. Always known more for his running ability than throwing ability-which is totally shot at this point-he rushed for 592 yards and 12 touchdowns but he also fumbled five times. Cam will turn 32-years-old in May which doesn't seem old by NFL star quarterback standards these days but don't forget how much of a pounding he's taken his whole career based on his playing style and huge size.

    The timing of this move somehow turned out to be even more painful since it came on the exact same day and basically at the same hour that Brady agreed to a four-year extension with the Bucs that voids to a one-year extension that will keep him in Tampa through the 2022 season. Tom has famously outlasted all his peers and with today's events, you have to wonder if he'll still be excelling in the NFL while his old head coach is forced to retire after multiple losing seasons in a row. That's not hyperbole, think about it. If the Patriots keep going down this road to mediocrity and irrelevance, you have to think that at some point the Krafts will have to step in and take grandpa's car keys away from him. Seriously. For a man that always preaches team first and that winning is the only objective in everything that he does, Belichick proved once and for all that what he cares about most now is someone that will be his lackey (Newton) vs. a much more talented person that would dare to challenge his infinite wisdom (Brady). Ugh, I'm going to need many beers to drown out this terrible feeling on what should be a great day-it's 60+ degrees and sunny in Massachusetts in mid-March.

Tom Brady Is Not Human But You Already Knew That Since He Just Won His Seventh Super Bowl

 

    It's oddly reassuring in a world where very few things have gone right in the last 11 months that 43-year-old quarterback Tom Brady can change teams for the first time, go to a league doormat and still somehow deliver a Super Bowl title in his first year with the Buccaneers. The first team to ever host the biggest single game in sports capped off a masterful postseason with their best effort yet as they blasted the defending champion Chiefs 31-9. I can't imagine that New England head coach Bill Belichick had the stomach to watch this entire contest since Brady (21-of-29 for 201 yards, 3 TDs) threw all his touchdowns in the first half and they were all caught by other former Patriots: two to tight end Rob Gronkowski (team-leading 6 catches, 67 yards) and one to degenerate receiver Antonio Brown. From there, the Bucs cruised to a 21-6 halftime advantage and eventually their first Super Bowl crown since 2003. Brady continued to extend his own mind-boggling records with his seventh title and fifth Super Bowl MVP award to boot. Haha but is that elite though?

    Plenty of people believed that Tampa could pull out a close win but absolutely nobody saw this defensive domination coming from the home team as they forced Chiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes into the worst game of his brilliant pro career: 26-of-49 for 270 yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs. Here's a great stat: Mahomes is 6-0 in his young postseason career vs the rest of the NFL & 0-2 vs Brady who also knocked him off in the AFC Championship Game in Kansas City two years ago. The scary part for the rest of the league is that A) Brady confirmed after the game ended that he'll be back for at least another season and B) the Buccaneers' roster is stacked and mostly pretty young so they are not going anywhere anytime soon. For all the great things that Belichick has done with the Pats, letting TB12 go is quickly tearing up the charts for one of the worst decisions in pro sports history. Did I mention that the Brady victory tour returns to Gillette Stadium next season for what should be an insanely anticipated game? Fingers crossed that fans can be safely allowed back in the stands by then.  

    Brady has long been the greatest football player in history (don't bother debating that fools) but now he's entering even more rarified air with this title that nobody could have predicted before the Bucs started rolling in the postseason and knocking off three former MVPs (Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Mahomes) along the way. He will rightfully be included in discussions with Michael Jordan for the best professional athlete that has ever lived. If you wrote a book or screen play about Tom Brady's life, it would be hard enough to believe but this new Tampa Bay chapter makes it simply incredible. If there were any stragglers left, it also settles the two pertinent questions that we always wondered about: 1) could TB12 win elsewhere?; 2) Who was more important: him or Bill? Finally, say it with me folks: he is not simply a systems quarterback. 

Deciding To Let Tom Brady Leave In Free Agency Should Forever Haunt Bill Belichick & Robert Kraft

 

    This is typically a space reserved for me to focus on the Patriots, Bruins, Celtics and Red Sox. However, given what happened today in the 2021 NFC Championship Game, I simply had to add my two cents to all the hot takes that you'll inevitably be bombarded with over the next two weeks. Quarterback Tom Brady (20-of-36 for 280 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs) helped lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 31-26 win over Aaron Rodgers (33-of-48 for 346 yards, 3 TDs, INT) and the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. At age 43 and with a new team (that's been a joke for much of their existence), Brady has reached his record 10th Super Bowl where he'll meet superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes (29-of-38 for 325 yards, 3 TDs) and the Kansas City Chiefs who didn't have much trouble with the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game, 38-24 tonight at Arrowhead Stadium. The Bucs have earned this via three consecutive playoff wins on the road and would you believe that Super Bowl 55 will take place at their home stadium-Raymond James Stadium-on Sunday, February 7 (6:30, CBS). Tampa will be the first time in NFL history to ever appear in a Super Bowl that's on their home field. 

    It was not always pretty in Brady's first season with the Bucs and how could it be given that he changed teams after being with the Patriots for 20 years plus we're still in the middle of a pandemic. After heading into their bye week with a disappointing record of 7-5, Tampa Bay hasn't lost since then as they won the last four games of the regular season and they have gotten more impressive with each playoff victory. No matter how little we knew about the real story, it was obvious the last few years in New England that TB12 was done with head coach Bill Belichick's impossible to please attitude along with the general misery that permeates around the so-called greatest coach in league history. One year into the divorce, it's clear who the true winner is: Brady of course since he's one win away from his seventh Super Bowl title while Belichick has been sitting at home for weeks now (much like the rest of us) after a utterly disastrous 7-9 campaign. 

    We had always wondered who was more important to the Patriots' dynasty: Bill or Tom? Well now we have a resounding answer since Pats owner Robert Kraft reportedly wanted to keep Brady for his entire playing career (something which I would always balk at except in this very unique case) but Belichick was done with Tom. In his place, he assumed that he could pick any veteran quarterback off the scrap heap-in this case Cam Newton-pay him basically nothing and still somehow finish with his customary winning record, AFC East title and a trip to the playoffs. The reality of life without TB12 was harsh though as Newton regressed week after week and the team went 5-9 against teams other than the hopeless Jets. Meanwhile in Florida, with a complete boob for a head coach (Bruce Arians) and a talented but flawed roster that went 7-9 last season, Brady has remarkably managed to change their whole operation in less than a year on the job. 

    After a spectacular first half this afternoon where the Buccaneers led 21-10 at the break following Brady's 39-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Scotty Miller with one second left, he struggled in the second half. Still, Tampa's defense did just enough to hang on as the team reached the Super Bowl for the first time since 2002. The ironic part about this whole mess for the Patriots is that while TB12 appears to have a few more good years left in his ageless body, they remain without any sort of concrete plan for what to do at quarterback moving forward and as we've seen time and again, that's always a recipe for disaster in the NFL. You are all welcome to root for whomever you want but I really don't understand the stubborn Patriots fans that refuse to cheer for Brady after all the joy that he brought to our collective lives. 

Seriously, I get the frustration with tight end Rob Gronkowski (1 catch, 29 yards) riding Brady's coattails to another Super Bowl after he weaseled his way out of here and fake retired for a year, but Tom didn't ask for this ending. New England made a fatal mistake by underestimating Brady's ability to still get the job done at a high level with new coaches and teammates not to mention in a different division and conference, etc. It goes without saying that I'll be pulling for Brady and the Bucs to finish this out on top. Not that he needs more motivation at this juncture but I feel like a Bucs Super Bowl crown would fully send Belichick into orbit and force him to finally spend more money in free agency than Bill the (terrible) GM typically prefers to do. It would be the ultimate kick in the pants to the Patriots to watch Brady make more history without them. He will be just the fourth QB to start a Super Bowl with two different clubs. Not that there's any reason to debate it but Tom is the greatest player in NFL history and for the record, this is the fourth time in the past five seasons that he's reached the Super Bowl and three of them were in his 40s (something that nobody else has ever done a single time). He was quarterback of the last team to win back-to-back Super Bowls-the 2004 and 2005 Patriots-and now he'll try to prevent KC from repeating as champions. Talk about a juicy matchup for Super Bowl 55, the league couldn't have scripted it any better if they tried. 

Pats Don't Let The World Ending Stop Them From Breaking Social Media By Signing Cam Newton

I haven't written anything on here for over a month since A) you probably didn't know this but there hasn't been any professional team sports in America from mid-March until yesterday (when the NWSL-National Women's Soccer League-kicked off their tournament in Utah) during the global pandemic and B) there really hasn't been anything worthy of a post for way too long. Thankfully, we all got a bit of respite from our collective misery as the news broke tonight that the Patriots have signed Cam Newton to a one-year deal worth a little over a million dollars (veteran's minimum) that with incentives can reach a maximum $7.5 million dollars.

If for nothing else, this was a taste of the good old days for Pats fans. You know, when talented but troubled (Randy Moss, Corey Dillon, Rodney Harrison, Darrelle Revis, etc) veterans came here and revitalized their careers through a combination of winning and Bill Belichick doing his best to gloss over all their flaws. Lately when we think of New England, we have night terrors of Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski choosing to go to the Buccaneers which will never sound right while we had to grudgingly accept that the dynasty was finally over after all those unforgettable years.

Don't get it twisted though, I'm not a Cam Newton fan at all. I think that he is undoubtedly one of the biggest bozos in sports. I can't even pretend that he has much left since coming off of two shoulder injuries and a foot injury, he only appeared in two games last season for the Panthers and was unceremoniously released by the only team that he's ever played for in the NFL after being drafted No. 1 overall out of Auburn in 2011. That surprising move happened at the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak in America but it might as well have been 20 years ago given how the last few months have aged us all in dog years.

Hell, I'm not even convinced (who could be?) that there will be an NFL season this fall and winter. Still, this was a classic Belichick move because there is basically no risk to him or the team while the possibility of a huge reward from an ultra-motivated former NFL MVP (in 2015) who led his team to the Super Bowl that season (where he of course epically choked). He's also a three-time Pro Bowler and he was once an All-Pro. The anointing of the completely unproven Jarrett Stidham as Brady's replacement has been laughable from both local and national media alike to the many Patriots fans who lost their objectivity three or four Super Bowl wins ago.

Conversely, this should motivate Stidham as well (and don't bother mentioning the definition of a backup QB Brian Hoyer) and show him that he'll have to work extremely hard to be the Patriots starting quarterback even if they are in full rebuilding mode. It is crazy that Newton was a free agent for three and a half months before the Pats finally gave him a job. I lost count of how many Newton to the Pats rumors, stories and odds from Vegas sportsbooks that I read during quarantine before like everyone else, I rightfully moved on and focused on more pertinent subjects like you know, the world coming apart at the seams due to this horrifying epidemic and all the protests around the globe following George Floyd's tragic death.

Assuming that he ever plays a snap for the Patriots (a big if given Belichick's tendency to trade or release just about anyone in training camp), Cam will make this team way more interesting to follow. Who knows anything about Stidham or moreover, enough to make you excited to see him with far too much responsibility heaped on him in only the second year of his NFL career. Newton's press conferences are always must-see for his one-of-a-kind questionable fashion choices plus his absolutely mercurial interview style. Most importantly, you can bet that if he has any pride-or common sense-left, he will understand that this is his last/best chance to get his NFL journey back untracked. Success here would no doubt make him a star once again and not just a punch line or hey whatever happened to him type story? If he wants to be a top player in the NFL once again, the greatest head coach in the league's history and one of the best run franchises in American sports will surely find a way to get the most out of him no matter if he is here for a single season or five.

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WAIT WHAT? Gronk Comes Out of Retirement (bye bye WWE) & Gets Traded to Tampa Bay

Somehow in the crazy reality that we call 2020, the greatest tight end in NFL history (521 catches for 7861 yards and 79 TDs in 115 career regular season games; 81 catches for 1163 yards and 12 TDs in 16 career playoff games) coming out of retirement and getting traded to the Buccaneers only makes perfect sense. Yup, former Patriot superstar and future Hall of Famer Rob Gronkowski is leaving his brief spell in the WWE (rough week for Vince McMahon between this and the XFL folding), hawking CBD oils and hosting New Year's Eve specials along with being on "The Masked Singer" to give it one last go-around with Tampa Bay. A few years ago, Gronk famously said that he'd only play with Brady after he balked at a reported deal the Pats had in place to ship him to Siberia I mean Detroit in 2018. Now the soon-to-be 31-year-old lug gets traded to the Bucs along with a seventh-round draft pick for a fourth-round pick.

At first blush, it's alarming that all New England could get for a once in a lifetime player like Gronkowski is a fourth-round pick but then again, he last played in Super Bowl 53 (13-3 win vs. Rams). It seemed like the right time to step away from the brutal game of pro football and who would ever blame Gronk of all people because he's had countless serious injuries (concussions, knees, leg, back, arm, etc) since he was drafted by Bill Belichick in 2010 (2nd round, 42nd overall). Seeing him turn into the Shaq of football in terms of saying yes to every half-ass marketing opportunity got tiresome along with his constant hints of making what felt like an inevitable comeback like this after he waffled his way into an extended siesta.

The fact that Belichick basically ran off both the greatest quarterback and tight end will always be a painful what if for Pats fans (not that we ever have anything to complain about after 6 Super Bowl victories) especially when their eventual "Last Dance" documentary series gets put together (budding documentary directors around the country are currently writing crappy scripts as we speak). As I keep saying in these Patriots posts lately, let's just hope that there is a 2020 NFL season if only for the reason that the Bucs and Pats will each be fascinating to watch for different reasons (who does better in their first year apart-Bill or Tom). Brady joining a loaded offense with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and now Gronk is tantalizing to keep it in PG terms. Conversely, you wonder what the hell Julian Edelman is thinking right now in his lonely Beacon Hill condo on a rainy Tuesday. Likewise, there have already been rumors of Tampa trying to move on from their young tight end OJ Howard. It feels like one or both of those guys could also be flipped in the near future. Harvard alum and tight end Cameron Brate has surprisingly played better than Howard who came out of Alabama with a ton of hype but so far hasn't made much of an impact in the NFL.

At his core, there will never be another Gronk on the Pats or in the NFL in that matter in the sense that he combined singular talent with a fun-loving personality (like a human Golden Retriever). You can't help but wonder how much he has left though since at the end in New England, he was basically cooked although he did make huge catches against the Chiefs in the AFC Championship and then against the Rams. He is probably still in great shape for a normal human being but football shape is different (not to sound like your local high school hardo football coach) and he's no doubt lost a ton of weight. His act is very played out but it's impossible to hate him so therefore I'll always root for Rob (and most of all hope that he doesn't suffer anymore serious injuries). I'm too old and entrenched as a Patriots fan to ever ditch them but at least I now have an NFC team to pay close attention to for however long Brady and Gronk play there.

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In Their 1st Major Post-TB12 Move, the Pats Unveil Underwhelming Pop Warner Style Uniforms

Like a jilted lover, the Patriots are trying to move on from their storybook 20-year romance with former franchise icon Tom Brady the only way that they know how: by cranking out lame uniforms for their sheep fans to snatch up while they are locked down on quarantine for the immediate future. It's a uniform so I'm not going to pretend that laundry in the least bit offends me but the fact that they hyped up what turned out to be one (slightly tweaked) new jersey just a few days before the 2020 NFL Draft begins on Thursday night. Oh and today is Patriots' Day in Massachusetts, neat? Frankly, I'm surprised that they haven't released a cringe-worthy photoshoot with quarterback Jarrett Stidham in the new duds yet but give it some time I guess.

Debating about uniforms never ceases to put me to sleep since shocker-like pizza, ice cream or beer, everyone has their own personal preference-but I feel like at least most Patriots fans can agree that their red uniforms from 1960-1992 are pretty sweet. They've worn them a couple times in recent years since far be it from the NFL to pass up on a quick money making scheme on its mostly clueless consumers. Sadly, the loophole they are going with is that maybe they could do those next year since the helmets are a different color (white with the famed Pat Patriot old school logo) than their normal silver. The fact remains that they had their most recent combos (blue jerseys and silver pants at home with white jerseys and blue pants on the road) fittingly since 2000. What year was Brady drafted in? Oh right, way back in April of 2000. So as most millennials do on social media these days after a romantic relationship ends prematurely, they have done the only thing left in their power to do: change their look in hopes of perhaps erasing a bit of what figures to be a tough few seasons while they are average at best and their ex succeeds elsewhere (with the Bucs who until they signed Brady were basically a laughingstock for most of their pathetic existence).

The color rush uniforms (all blue jersey and pants) that New England has used the last few seasons will now serve as their home uniform while these meh white jerseys (that look like something you'd have for a created team on Madden) is their away uniform. Here's a tough question if you're gullible enough to actually want one of these right now: what current Patriots player do you choose? Think about it, an NFL jersey (assuming that it's not a knockoff that you buy at Marshalls or that you're made of money) is not a cheap investment so you want some assurance that your favorite Patriot will be employed in Foxborough for years to come. Ok cool. Julian Edelman and Stephon Gilmore are both great but in their 30s so sadly, they probably won't be here for much longer. Who else is reasonable if you don't want to be a contrarian and get some random guy (like Matthew Slater or Chase Vinovich), Devin McCourty? He's also a lovable veteran that unfortunately is sure to be on the back-nine of his pro career as well.

So yeah, sorry Krafts and the Patriots Pro Shop. You won't be seeing money from me anytime soon for these forgettable jerseys. However, if they somehow finagle their way to draft Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (they own the #23 pick in the first round so they'll have to work a trade to snag him), all bets are off. Also, if you still really want to get a Stidham jersey after seeing these I have one word for you: relax. For all we know, he'll be backing up Brian Hoyer or some other bum (Andy Dalton, Cam Newton, etc.) in 2020 or god forbid next year if this upcoming NFL season never actually happens. Get lost Covid-19.

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The Unthinkable Has Finally Happened: Tom Brady Will No Longer Play for the New England Patriots

For the past few months at least (more likely years), the signs were there that the Patriots and Tom Brady were headed for a final farewell. Still, up until the last second, it was hard for Pats fans like myself to fathom that the greatest quarterback in NFL history would ever play for another team. Enter this morning's social media post by TB12, somehow a fitting way to end this all in 2020 while we are all stuck inside on St. Patrick's Day due to the Coronavirus. In two separate posts, Brady thanked the Patriots organization, teammates and support staff followed by a love letter to the New England area and Pats fans around the globe. He is not retiring and we don't know where he will play starting this summer (assuming that we all make it until then) but this much is certain: he is finished here.

To put this in perspective, Drew Bledsoe got hurt in the fall of 2001 (when I was a senior in high school) and Brady took over from there. He appeared in nine Super Bowls-winning an unforgettable six of them including four MVP awards-and cemented his legacy as one of the best professional athletes ever. He went from an anonymous sixth-round pick in 2000 (199th overall) from the University of Michigan to the gold standard for winning and excellence. I am 36 years old but Tom is still one of the best quarterbacks in the league. The Pats went 12-4 last season but choked in the first round of the playoffs against Tennessee and much of that failure could be blamed on the lack of weapons that head coach/GM Bill Belichick failed to put around Brady. Yes, TB12 will be 43 years old in August and Father Time will forever remain undefeated but he has done as great a job as anyone we've ever seen to at least slow down that clock.

As the undisputed top head coach in NFL history, Belichick has managed to skirt much criticism over the years for his lack of social skills and general mediocrity as a general manager. He doesn't draft particularly well, his record in free agency is spotty at best and some positions have been nothing but a black hole (namely wide receivers) for the Pats when it comes to developing his own players. Besides the fact that fans of every other NFL team hate him because of how much he wins but that was always a moot point because those same haters would also give up their first born child to have Belichick in charge of their club.

I get that in many ways the Patriots dynasty was rough on the overall quality of the NFL these past two decades and now we'll finally get to (somewhat) settle that age-old tired journalism question: who is more important, Brady or Belichick? Putting aside the fact that it will be utterly bizarre to see Brady wearing any other uniform except the Patriots but now it seems to be down the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the Los Angeles Chargers for his services in 2020 and beyond. This is yet another reminder (not that we need it at the moment) that nothing in this world lasts forever, in sports or in life. You can be a once-in-a-lifetime player but even that guy hits an invisible term limit and suddenly it's all over. Honestly, I could care less if the team made him a low-ball offer or if he demanded more money (ie. respect) and years. Like any breakup, there will always be a he-said she-said element to it all and that really doesn't mean anything to me.

This is not to say that the Patriots will tank this season which would be perfect since next year they could draft Clemson's outstanding quarterback Trevor Lawrence who will be a junior this fall and is a lock to be the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Nope, that simply won't be possible no matter how you slice it since Belichick is too good of a coach and they still employ plenty of quality players that make 2-14 or 3-13 virtually impossible. In a weird way, it'll be interesting to see how the Pats do with a new starting quarterback (not counting the brief tenures of placeholders Matt Cassel, Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett when Brady was hurt or suspended). The Dolphins and Bills have both already improved in free agency but the Jets will always be the Jets, however the AFC East will no longer be the lock that it was forever under Brady.

The constant drama and behind the scenes sniping back and forth through the media between Belichick and Brady definitely got old the last few years. Belichick obviously will never change or become a fully formed human being anytime soon but perhaps a new quarterback will allow him to ease up just a smidge on his legendary cold disposition. So who will the starting quarterback be for the Pats in their Week 1 game in September? Jarrett Stidham (not ready) or a veteran (please not Andy Dalton) that New England has to trade for or sign in free agency? The new reality is that Brady will no longer be a Patriot which is sobering enough. We have no idea where he'll end up for the last few seasons of his incredible career and likewise, nobody knows how the Patriots will actually proceed moving forward.

Social distancing is the perfect excuse to throw on your Brady Patriots jersey, pop in your favorite Pats Super Bowl DVD and remember all the good times that he gave to us. In the back of our minds, we all knew that this day was coming sometime soon. No matter what else happens with New England, there is less than zero of a chance that they have an unprecedented run of success like the one that we just witnessed. The Patriots have been a cheat code and now we will quickly be reminded of how hard it really is to win in the NFL. Brady and Belichick made it look easy and now let's see how they each do out on their own (with a new head coach and a new QB respectively that will fall well short of their previous partner). It was the ultimate power marriage and now that it's officially done, all we can do is be thankful that it happened in the first place.

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The Patriots Get Free Agency Rolling By Re-Signing The McCourty Twins & Matthew Slater

It's been a long time since I wrote a post about a simple news story for the Patriots but I don't think I have to explain why we all could use a break from our horrifying reality for a moment. Following the team picking up cornerback Jason McCourty's option for 2020 earlier in the week and then re-signing special teams ace/spiritual leader Matthew Slater to a two-year deal on Friday night, this evening brought word that the Pats had also brought back another captain-safety Devin McCourty for two more years as well ($23 million with $17 million guaranteed). Obviously, none of these aforementioned guys are named Tom Brady (ever heard of him?) but if you want to have any hope that TB12 has not played his last game for the Patriots, these moves have to be a good sign pointing in that direction.

I don't have a twin (as far as I know) but from everything I've observed over my lifetime, when it comes to twins, they are a different type of person. That's why when you saw that Jason McCourty was returning, you had to feel like it was a lock that Devin would be back too. For an example of how close the McCourty brothers are, they share a Twitter handle which is only slightly less absurd than it sounds. Jason is a servicable pro and while nobody would describe Slater as a star, he is very good at his limited on-field role (as the multiple Pro Bowls on his resume would tell you) but a true Hall of Famer off the field as cheesy as that sounds. Of these three, Devin is the real standout since not only has he been a nine-time captain but he's also been to four Pro Bowls and most importantly, won three Super Bowls. Like Slater, Devin has only ever played for the Patriots in his entire NFL career. You know who else has only known one pro franchise? A certain all-time greatest quarterback/player in NFL history.

More than anything after an off-season of non-stop drama and uncertainty, these moves show that no Foxborough isn't completely burning to the ground and Bill Belichick-the greatest head coach in league history but also an average GM-hasn't lost his way. Clearly, if Brady finally leaves here (and it's reportedly down to the Buccaneers and the Patriots) we will be singing a different tune but it has to mean something that these dependable, mature veterans all decided to stay with New England rather than start over somewhere else. No matter if it's after an epic win or a heartbreaking loss, Slater and Devin McCourty are always two of the go-to players on the Pats for the media. Furthermore, you always see them in the middle of every locker room celebration video after a Patriots victory (Slater voice). They are adults and it's easy to see why they have been captains seemingly forever here. No doubt, they would have had other choices of places to go but I'm sure after consulting with their families, teammates and agents and honestly assessing the entire situation, they realized that this remained the best spot for them to continue to play at a high level and compete for championships year after year which is what winners like them care about the most.

The Coronavirus has wiped away all other sports in the world for the forseeable future so I'm happy that the NFL hasn't deviated from its normal league calendar: legal tampering starts tomorrow at noon (wink wink) and then free agents can officially begin signing with teams on Wednesday. Even going into his age-43 season, Brady is still the biggest domino to fall in the NFL so you feel like once his decision is mercifully made, a flurry of other QB moves will be finalized around the league shortly after that. Going to the Titans made plenty of sense for Tom at least on the surface (good team, his buddy Mike Vrabel as the head coach, a fun market, etc.) but you can cross them off the list after they completed a stunning reach of a move tonight: re-signing Ryan Tannehill to a four-year deal worth a whopping $118 million dollars. Yes that's right folks, a team that improbably reached the AFC Championship Game last season after upsetting the Patriots and top-seeded Ravens on the road, chose the fluky Tannehill (who picked the right two months to play the best football of his life) over a few years of a very motivated Brady. In 2020 with the world falling apart before our eyes, somehow this made perfect sense. With that said, seeing Brady play for any other team would be devastating (as utterly painful as this whole excruciating process has been at times), particularly for such a rinky-dink team like Tampa Bay.

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The Patriots Always Keep Us On Our Toes, Always

One of the main reasons that the Patriots have put together this incredible sustained run of success (besides the supreme skill of Tom Brady) is that head coach Bill Belichick is never afraid to make a bold move. Today was a perfect example, as names of random guys cut (rosters go down to 75 this afternoon) emerged, the Patriots unleashed a real bombshell: they traded six-time Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins to the Buccaneers for tight end Tim Wright and a fourth-round draft pick in 2015.

New England's offensive line hasn't been one of their strengths the last few seasons as they've shuffled through a million young guys and journeymen. One constant the whole time though was Mankins who was a first-round pick in 2005 out of Fresno State. He was tough, smart, very accountable and easy to root for which is usually the case with offensive linemen-the unsung heroes of football. This feels like nothing more than a calculated business decision by Belichick.

At 32, Mankins' best days are probably behind him. It's difficult to quantify offensive linemen play but those that know more about the game than me have said that Mankins' play was slipping the last few years, he's still a great run blocker but shaky in the passing game (which is what the sport totally revolves around now).

Wright is an afterthought for most in the deal but he could play a significant role on the Patriots in 2014. As a rookie last season with the Bucs, he made 54 catches for 571 yards and five touchdowns. If nothing else, he provides insurance for Rob Gronkowski (who has missed the playoffs in his last two seasons). A Rutgers product (of course!), Wright is known as more a pass catcher which Tom Brady could use rather than a blocker like Michael Hoomanawanui or various other scrubs they've shuffled in on a daily basis.

This is a good reminder that in the NFL, particularly on a team like the Patriots, few jobs are guaranteed from year to year. In my opinion, it's the toughest pro league to make in the U.S. since careers are so short and subject to a million different circumstances many of which are out of players' control. I hope that Mankins plays well in Tampa Bay and helps to turn that franchise around. The Buccaneers have been mostly a mess for the past decade and he's just the kind of guy to help them get back to their former winning ways.

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Thanks To A Cake Schedule, Patriots Are 3-0 For 1st Time Since 2007

Pundits will rightfully poke holes in it but the Patriots (3-0 overall, 2-0 home) don't have to apologize for their 2013 early season schedule, they didn't create it. New England played far from a perfect game but it was their most complete performance of the first three weeks as they shut down the dumpster fire Buccaneers (0-3 overall, 0-2 away) 23-3 this afternoon at Gillette Stadium.

We had heard from afar how much Tampa Bay was struggling but to see it up close was another matter. Formerly promising young quarterback Josh Freeman (19 of 41 for 236 yards, 1 INT, sacked 3 times) has become a headcase incapable of consistently hitting quality receivers like Vincent Jackson (3 catches, 34 yards) or Mike Williams (5 catches, 65 yards). You can't say the Bucs don't have talent since they also employ Doug Martin (88 yards rushing; 20 yards receiving) and Darrelle Revis (5 tackles, 4 assists).

Predictably after they had a few extra days of practice, Patriots rookie receivers Kenbrell Thompkins (3 catches, 41 yards, 2 TDS) and Aaron Dobson (7 catches, 51 yards) looked way more comfortable with Tom Brady (25 of 36 for 225 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT) who spread it around to six different players including Julian Edelman (7 catches, 44 yards) and Brandon Bolden (49 yards receiving; 51 yards receiving). Facing the Bills, Jets and Bucs in the first three games allowed the Pats to survive without Danny Amendola (the past two weeks) and Rob Gronkowski. It'll be a different story as the competition really ramps up starting next week.

Thompkins' first two NFL touchdowns were sweet but the story of this victory was New England's defense which held Tampa Bay to 323 total yards including 0 for 4 on fourth downs. Aqib Talib picked up his third interception in the past two games, against his old team no less, while the Patriots recorded three sacks as a team. Jerod Mayo (9 tackles, 5 assists, tackle for loss, quarterback hit) and Chandler Jones (sack, 2 quarterback hits) helped make Freeman's life miserable.

Ironically, the Buccaneers scored the first points on Rian Lindell's 30-yard field goal late in the first quarter. Little did head coach Greg Schiano know that would be their final points of the contest. Midway through the second quarter, Brady found Thompkins for a 16-yard catch and run TD. With 47 seconds left in the first half, Thompkins added a five-yard TD catch as Tampa Bay somehow lost him in the back of the end zone. Who else were they worried about, Zach Sudfeld?

You knew it wasn't the Buccaneers' day when Freeman threw the lazy sideline interception to Talib with 11 seconds left in the second quarter. New England gained eight yards in two plays, setting up Stephen Gostkowski with a 53-yard field goal that he boomed right down the middle as time expired.

You are excused if you fell asleep during the second half since little happened other than a 46-yard field goal by Gostkowski in the third quarter and he wrapped it up with a 31-yard kick in the fourth quarter.

I kind of look at the first three games as the preseason (in this case) while the next five weeks should be way more interesting: New England travels to Atlanta (1-2, 2nd in NFC South) on Sunday night (8:30, NBC). That's followed by a game at Cincinnati, home date with New Orleans then back-to-back divisional games at Jets and home vs. Miami. The Falcons lost 27-23 at Miami this afternoon so they'll be desperate to get a win. They have something these previous three teams definitely lacked: a competent quarterback in Matt Ryan along with numerous weapons like Julio Jones, Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White.

On the surface, we couldn't have asked for a better start (record wise) for the Pats but most would argue that we won't know anything about them until they start playing elite teams. Next week is a good beginning point to see what they're really made of in a primetime game on the road against a team that is a legitimate Super Bowl contender after losing a heartbreaker in the NFC Championship game last season.

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Week 3 Injury Report: Buccaneers at Patriots

It's funny how quickly we fall into familiar routines when it comes to the NFL season. The Patriots (2-0) last played on Thursday (9/12) and maybe because it was such a horrific game that we tried to put it out of our memories but that feels like it was a year ago. Today, the injury report was released for New England's meeting with winless Tampa Bay (0-2) on Sunday (1, FOX) at Gillette Stadium.

Matthew Slater (wrist) has already been declared out for the Pats who as far as I know haven't publically acknowledged his broken wrist which should put him on the shelf for a while. Danny Amendola (groin) is doubtful and you can basically guarantee that he won't play either. There are six Patriots that are questionable: Brandon Bolden (knee), Dan Connolly (finger), Nate Ebner (ankle), Rob Gronkowski (back/forearm), Will Svitek (knee) and Leon Washington (thigh). Of that group, I'm pretty sure that Connolly and Washington are the only guys to have played in the first two games.

The Bucs aren't messing around as they've already said three of their players are out: defensive tackle Derek Landri (knee), cornerback Michael Adams (knee) and offensive lineman Gabe Carimi (illness). Four Bucs are questionable: tight end Tom Crabtree (ankle), cornerback Rashaan Melvin (hamstring), guard Carl Nicks (foot) and tight end Luke Stocker (hip).

Check back on Sunday prior to kickoff as I'll update these when the inactive list becomes available.

In other Patriots news, the NFL finally came down with their fines from the Jets-Pats game. Vince Wilfork, Alfonzo Dennard and Michael Buchanan were each fined $7875 for unnecessary roughness while Chandler Jones was docked $15,750 for an earlier play where he hit Geno Smith.

UPDATE 9/22: The new inactives for the Pats are Washington, Gronk, Amendola, Steve Beauharnais, Svitek, and Chris Jones. The other inactives for the Bucs include Orlovsky, Adams, defensive end Steven Means and Stocker.

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Stop The Presses: An NFL Team Made A Notable Move At The Trade Deadline

I was all set to make fun of the NFL trade deadline this afternoon since noteworthy things rarely happen but then the Patriots forced me to temporarily change my tune. They flipped a fourth-round draft pick in 2013 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for cornerback Aqib Talib and a seventh-round draft pick in 2013.

This has the potential to be a great move and complete steal for New England, assuming (and this is a huge if) Talib can stay out of trouble for the rest of the 2012 season. He is without question, one of the biggest jokers and criminals in the NFL (which is saying something). He's been suspended twice: once for fighting with a cab driver in August 2009 (somewhere Patrick Kane nods his approval) and he's currently serving a four-game suspension for a PED (Adderall) violation. He is eligible to come back in Week 11 when the Patriots host the Indianapolis Colts.

So what is all the fuss about? Well, he was the 20th overall pick of the 2008 draft out of Kansas and unlike pretty much all the cornerbacks and safeties the Patriots have drafted in the last five years, he has mostly lived up to his enormous potential. For his career, he has 18 interceptions including three that he returned for touchdowns. Despite being on a team that has been constantly rebuilding, he managed to put up four picks in 2008, five in 2009 and six (in 11 games) in 2010.

At the moment, the Pats don't have a true No. 1 cornerback. A cynic would add, they don't really have a second one either. He's 26 so in the prime of his career and he has good size: 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, something which the Patriots lack in the back end. Talib suddenly changes that equation if he can get up to speed with the playbook. Maybe he can even teach his new teammates in the secondary to turn their heads. I have to believe a guy with his stats can do that. This move is the reason why New England released Sterling Moore yesterday. With this week off, who knows what the Patriots' secondary will look like against the Bills in a week then the Colts? We could see Patrick Chung and Steve Gregory back on the field at safety with Devin McCourty and Talib at cornerback. Or maybe McCourty stays at safety.

Above all, this shows that head coach Bill Belichick and the rest of the front office were willing to publicly admit what everybody already knows: their secondary is a disaster and the biggest obstacle they have to overcome if they want to win the Super Bowl in February. Talib might be a complete bust (doubtful given his on-field track record) but at least they were willing to take the risk, midseason no less.

UPDATE 11/2: Today, Sterling Moore was signed to the Patriots' practice squad. Here is how New England's practice squad, which has one open spot with just seven current members, looks at this moment:

FB James Develin

WR Jarred Fayson

DL Marcus Forston

OL Matt Kopa

CB Sterling Moore

WR Greg Salas

OL Jeremiah Warren

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Jonathan Fanene We Hardly Knew Ya

The Patriots were lucky enough to survive last night's preseason game against the Eagles without suffering any major injuries. Safety Patrick Chung left with a shoulder injury but it wasn't serious from what I've read in the aftermath.

New England made news this afternoon as they released three players: defensive end Jonathan Fanene, offensive lineman Kyle Hill and former UMass-Amherst kicker Chris Koepplin. Fanene is the surprising choice out of that group since the Pats signed him to a three-year, $9.85 million contract last offseason with a $3.85 million signing bonus.

Due to a knee injury, Fanene hadn't played in either preseason game so far with the Patriots and I didn't get down to any practices (he missed the last 13 sessions) so I can't say anything about his short time in Foxboro. When he was brought in, he seemed like a promising player but as Bill Belichick said today on a conference call, "it just didn't work out. Don't really think I have much more to add than that, it just didn't work out."

So yeah, what else is there to say? As for Hill and Koepplin, they had zero chance to make the 53-man roster so losing them means absolutely nothing.

New England traveled to Tampa Bay today and they'll practice with the Buccaneers tomorrow and Thursday before a preseason game on Friday night. There will be a million more roster moves in the next few weeks as the Patriots cut their roster down to 53 players and figure out who is on the practice squad ahead of their season opener Sunday, September 9 at Tennessee.

UPDATE 8/22: Hix cleared waivers so the Patriots put him on IR. They currently have 85 players on the roster after those moves and they'll need to get to 75 by Monday at 4 p.m.

Also, offensive lineman Sebastian Vollmer and tight end Daniel Fells were activated off the PUP list so they experienced their first practice today (against the Bucs).

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Something To Do In The Dog Days Of Summer: Watch The Patriots & Saints Practice Together

You know it's the 2012 MLB All-Star break (aka the slowest sports week of the year) when the thought of a Patriots practice in August makes you downright giddy. Anything to take our minds off of boring old MLB and specifically the Red Sox.

The news today is that New England will hold joint training camp practices with New Orleans on Tuesday, August 7 and Wednesday, August 8 in Foxborough, MA. That comes ahead of the Pats' preseason opener on August 9 at Gillette Stadium against the Saints.

The Saints' website says August 8 will be a walk through so if you are part of the masses that will head down there, I'd recommend August 7 since you will be much more likely to see some real action.

This is the part where I throw in a lame Spygate or I guess more relevant in this case Bountygate joke. New Orleans head coach Sean Payton won't be there since he's suspended for the 2012 season and the team also has to agree to a deal with quarterback Drew Brees before Monday's deadline for franchise tags. He said he doesn't want to play on a one-year deal. Wes Welker's camp is supposedly trying to get a long-term contract done by then too.

These teams had a similar couple days in 2010 when the Saints were also in town for practices then a preseason game.

I just read a Tweet from the Boston Globe's Shalise Manza Young that said the Patriots are doing the same thing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers-who they visit on Friday, August 24-for the third preseason game. Stay tuned for more details on that.

UPDATE 7/20: Finally confirmed today that the Patriots and Bucs will practice on August 22 & 23 before their preseason game on August 23. The joint practices will be held at Tampa Bay's facility.

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I Know It's The Preseason...But

The Pats looked pretty damn good last night didn't they? By the time I got home it was already 14-0, thanks to two Tom Brady touchdown passes to Ochocinco and the old Ochocinco, Aaron Hernandez. The Patriots did whatever they wanted last night, en route to a 31-14 victory.

The first team looked like they had not missed a step from last season, as they moved down the field at will and scored a TD on four of their first five possessions.

The usual stars were impressive last night in a rainy game. Brady was 11 of 19 for 118 yards and two scores in one half of action. Wes Welker looked to be in midseason form, catching five passes for 56 yards while BenJarvis Green-Ellis led the first teamers in rushing with 11 carries for 51 bruising yards, including two scores.

While you know what you're going to get with the offense (for the most part), most of the concern lies in the defense. If last night was any indication, I am fired up for the front new-look seven. The defensive backfield was a little shaky at times last night and were bailed out by a couple of drops by Tampa Bay wideouts.

Overall the Patriots looked great, save for a few instances, but Pats fans should be satisfied with their progress, especially given the shortened offseason.

Game Notes

*Andre Carter was an absolute MONSTER last night. He was just abusing the Bucs left tackles over and over again on each play. The pressure he created helped collapse the pocket, as well as helped draw a few holding penalties. This type of consistent pressure is something that the Patriots have missed in the last few seasons. I don't expect Carter to play this way each week, but its refreshing to see him play his ass off especially with the absence of his former teammte Albert Haynesworth.

*BenJarvis Green-Ellis is quickly becoming my favorite Patriot, the spot that has been vacated since Vrabel was traded. I just love the way he attacks the holes, puts his head down and keeps his feet churning. He looks much different than what's his name. You know, number 39 with the dreadlocks, the guy who couldn't hit holes. Yeah, him. Ellis is unquestionably the number one back and will rush for over 1000 yards this year.

*You gotta love Kevin Faulk pumping up the team from the sidelines. I learned last night from Randy Cross that Belichick doesn't normally allow injured players on the sidelines, but Faulk is pretty much an assistant coach/player at this point. You can tell he still has love for the game and I can't wait to see him back in uniform.

*Quick question for Randy Cross and whoever the play by play guy Don Criqui. Can you at least familiarize yourself with the players on the team before you get behind a live microphone? Last night, they referenced "Gerard" Mayo, Brandon "Mayweather" and pronounced Ninkovich "NinKOvich". Jesus Christ, clean it up. Or at least let Zolak in the booth.

*There was a scary moment in the third quarter when Danny Woodhead was on the punt coverage unit. In pursuit of the returner, he was absolutely clobbered on a crackback hit. He was shaken up but left the field and remained on the sideline.

*Ryan Mallett impressed in the first preseason game against the Jaguars but fell back to earth a bit last night. His interception in the second quarter was just a terrible throw. He tried to lob a pass to the middle of the field where there was absolutely no one. QBs like Mallett need to use their arm to make big time throw, rather than put needless touch on the ball.

*Lastly, Stevan Ridley had another nice game, rushing for 84 yards on 14 carries. He could be a good third-down option if Faulk misses any significant time in the regular season.

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Well that was a waste of pounds

In my semester in London during college, I never recall a single day that was totally boring. I'm just glad between all the pub and booze-filled nights that I didn't have the chance to waste my money on a shitty NFL game like the one yesterday at Wembley Stadium. The Patriots beat the Bucs 35-7 in a game that wasn't half as close as the blowout score indicates.

It was the second straight week that New England (5-2) faced one of the sisters of the poor in the NFL, of which there are many this season, and they made quick work of wretched Tampa Bay (0-7).

On the first drive of the game, Bucs quarterback Josh Johnson threw a pick-six to Brandon Meriweather (his first of two interceptions), who returned it 39 yards.

Later in the quarter, the Pats went up 14-0 on a typical Wes Welker (10 catches, 107 yards) 14-yard catch and run. When Sam Aiken went the distance on a 54-yard catch early in the second quarter, this game lost all competitiveness.

Sure Tom Brady was picked off twice, but he still had 308 yards and three touchdowns.

Antonio Bryant had the Bucs' only offensive highlight on the day with a 33-yard touchdown catch from Johnson with 1:14 left in the half.

The second half had the feel of a preseason game as the crowd was completely disinterested (besides cheering for the Bucs smokeshow cheerleaders) and backups littered the field.

Brady hooked up with Ben Watson (who's always good for one nice catch) on a 35-yard touchdown in the third quarter. In his first start as the feature back, Laurence Maroney (13 carries, 43 yards) was up to his old dancing with the stars ways. He had a completely meaningless 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that nobody but him will ever remember.

Both teams get now get a bye week since they had to deal with the travel and time change with going to the UK. The hapless Bucs surrendered a home game just to go to London and get embarassed. Good times.

Things figure to get much harder for New England in November with a brutal five game stretch: vs. Dolphins, at Colts, vs. Jets, at Saints and at Dolphins. After a couple of those games we might be able to start to figure out what this team is all about. Right now, it's like a top college team in the beginning of the year after they play a couple of joke schools.