Bill Parcells & Curtis Martin Among 15 NFL Hall Of Fame Finalists For Class Of 2012

Some good news for longtime New England Patriots fans as former running back Curtis Martin and head coach Bill Parcells were among the 15 finalists for induction into the NFL Hall of Fame.

Look at this picture of the two of them that I found using a quick Google images search. It looks like its from 30 years ago. The crazy thing is that as you can tell, Parcells was the Jets coach at the time so it was the late 1990s.

This is the Tuna's first chance to get in (and I guarantee that he will) while Martin was previously eligible but didn't make the cut.

Martin is still the best running back on the Patriots that I've seen in my lifetime in terms of career span, ie. more than Corey Dillon's couple of great years. Martin was a professional on some good Patriots teams, including the one that made it to the 1997 Super Bowl against the Green Bay Packers. Seeing him go to the Jets, joining Parcells, was one of the toughest periods in recent franchise history.

Like most great coaches, Parcells was an egomaniac and he eventually clashed with Patriots owner Robert Kraft and escaped to the Jets for more control of the team (the famous groceries quotes). If it's any consolation, he's the second best coach in team history behind his former protege, Bill Belichick.

Voting for the 2012 Hall of Fame inductees takes place on Saturday, February 4 in Indianapolis (site of this season's Super Bowl). Let's hope that New England is in town, making this weekend extra special. If Martin gets in, can Tony Braxton introduce him?

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The Question Of 2011-12: Will The Boston Celtics Ever Beat A Good Team?

I want to have hope for the Boston Celtics in 2011-12, I really do. However, when they've lost to every half-decent team (plus New Orleans) that they've played so far, I can't help but feel that they are front-running frauds.

Tonight, the Indiana Pacers came to TD Garden and they snapped Boston's (4-4) misleading (since it was against Detroit, Washington-twice-and New Jersey) four-game winning streak with an 87-74 beating that truthfully was never really in doubt.

For whatever reason, the Celts had no rhythm offensively other than Ray Allen, who had a game-high 23 points after missing Wednesday against New Jersey with the flu.

They tied a franchise low with 25 points in the first half. Somehow they were only down eight at that point but the Pacers (5-2) were efficient, younger and had more energy.

Paul Pierce had one of the worst shooting performances (3 of 17) in his career as he was held to 10 points. Kevin Garnett put up his now customary quiet 12 points and six rebounds while Rajon Rondo was held in check (11 points, 9 assists, 3 steals).

Four of the five Pacers that started scored in double-figures. Only David West (2 points, 10 rebounds), who spurned the Celtics' offer to come to Boston, had a bad game. Danny Granger led Indiana with a modest 15 points while Darren Collison (14 points), Paul George (12 points) and Roy Hibbert (11 points, 12 rebounds) all played well.

The two main reasons that the Pacers won were because they owned the glass (47-36 including 14-7 offensive rebounds) and their bench absolutely crushed Boston's (33-14).

George Hill (13 points) and Tyler Hansbrough (12 points) were both big sparks off the bench for Indiana that Boston had no answer for. The normally reliable Brandon Bass had his worst game in a Celtics uniform with five points (2 of 7 shooting) and four rebounds in 25 minutes.

I wouldn't normally say that four games is a reasonable sample size in an NBA season but since this particular one is only 66, I'd say the next nine days are vital for the C's. They have two more huge games at home: Wednesday vs. the defending champion Dallas Mavericks then Friday vs. Chicago. After that, they go to Indiana on Saturday and come home to face Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, January 16.

They need to beat either the Mavs or Bulls and then the Pacers the second time around to show that they are still elite in the Eastern Conference and by extension, the NBA. Otherwise, it's going to be a long and mediocre season.

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Roberto Luongo is Ready For The Bruins...Wait, He's Sitting Out Tomorrow?

The Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks never had much history or bad blood, until last year. Pick your villain.

Aaron Rome leveled Nathan Horton, taking the winger out of the series as a result of a cheap hit at the blue line. Alex Burrows bit the fingers of Patrice Bergeron and Max Lapierre taunted the Bruins by mimicking the incident early in the series. Daniel and Henrik Sedin showed absolutely zero guts, getting bowled over by Tim Thomas and punched repeatedly by Brad Marchand. Lastly, Roberto Luongo talked shit about Thomas and criticized his goaltending style. You know, that same style that won two Vezina trophies in three years.

Quite simply, Vancouver made themselves look like fools both on the ice and off, especially considering the ridiculous riots that transpired in the wake of the Bruins Stanley Cup victory in Game 7.

Roberto Luongo, surprise surprise took himself out of the Bruins-Canucks rematch tomorrow at the TD Garden. Not because of injuries but since he wants backup goalie (and Marblehead, Massachusetts native and BC alum) Cory Schnieder to get the start in his hometown. Riiiight.

Let's document who said what and why Luongo is not starting tomorrow.

Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault explained that “Louie just got off a shutout and he’s playing really well. I just decided that Schneider was the guy.”

Makes sense, considering that the Bruins are the best team in the NHL. So Alain, your goalie is coming off of a shutout and is playing well, yet you don't want him playing in the biggest game of the regular season for both teams? I'm not buying it.

So what does Luongo have to say about this? Only exactly what you would expect from the Mr. Deeds butler lookalike.

“Obviously I would have liked to play the game, but in fairness to Cory, he’s from here and he deserves to play this game,” Luongo said. “I’m all for it.

“At the end of the day the win is what matters the most. Cory’s from here and we don’t get a chance to come here very often, it’s a good opportunity to play in front of his family and friends.”

Hey Roberto, you do realize that Cory played in front of the Bruins last year twice during the Finals. You remember, the two games when you got pulled? Just insanity all over the place.

I've already heard chatter from north of the border. People downplaying this move as if this game is just merely one out of 82. Please. Bruins-Canucks in Boston means more now than it ever has, especially for the Canucks. Way to show up and prove that you aren't the softest team in the league other than Montreal.

I caught up with die-hard Bruins fan and All-American everything Carly Benning (@carlybenning23) who emphasized that this was "Luongo's biggest game of the year, and he is throwing away his chance at redemption. EPIC FAIL" Epic fail indeed.

As eloquently as she put it, this reflects poorly on the Canucks. If it was indeed Vigneault's call, it tells us that he does not have confidence in the headcase Luongo coming back to Boston to exorcise his Finals demons. If it was indeed Luongo who decided to sit, this validates everything we have ever said about the man. He's supremely skilled but he has no heart. Either way, expect the Bruins to roll the Canucks up and exact revenge for the Horton hit by making Aaron Rome pay.

Oh wait, he's not playing either.

For the Bruins, Brad Marchand is expected to play after missing last night's game against Calgary with the flu. Also, Thomas got to rest in that contest with Tuukka Rask handling the goaltending duties. Expect the Finals MVP to be locked in tomorrow; even if Luongo is stapled to the bench, Thomas will always remember what the Canucks fraud goaltender said about him.

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Gronk & Welker Are 2011 Associated Press All-Pros, But You Already Knew That

Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker and tight end Rob Gronkowski were both named to the 2011 Associated Press All-Pro team today.

This is a big honor since unlike the Pro Bowl, the AP All-Pro team is made up of the best players in the entire NFL regardless of conference. In total, there were 16 players from the NFC and 12 from the AFC.

Welker led the Patriots with 122 catches (on 172 targets) and 1569 yards (12.9 yards per catch). He also scored a career-high nine touchdowns. He had a ridiculous 21 catches of 20+ yards which is a ton for a slot receiver. He averaged 98.1 receiving yards per game with an amazing 732 yards after the catch and 77 first downs.

Gronkowski had 90 catches (on 124 targets) for an NFL record 1327 yards (14.7 yards per catch) and also a record 17 touchdowns. He had 22 catches that were 20+ yards and he averaged 82.9 receiving yards per game. Gronk had 656 yards after the catch and he picked up 69 (how fitting) first downs.

Everybody knows that they are the two most important targets for Tom Brady heading into the playoffs. Aaron Hernandez really emerged this season and particularly down the stretch but in a big situation, you want the ball going to Welker or Gronk because they'll almost always deliver. And if anyone is wondering why Brady isn't an All-Pro, have you ever heard of Drew Brees or Aaron Rodgers? Both had better seasons.

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Claude Julien Named 2012 All-Star Coach

Yesterday it was revealed that Bruins goalie Tim Thomas will be starting goaltender for the 2012 NHL All-Star Game in Ottawa. Today, head coach Claude Julien will join him as on the All-Star roster along with his assistants Doug Houda and Geoff Ward. Julien hails from Ottawa and will surely cherish the opportunity.

"The fact that you get an opportunity to coach the elite players of the league and the guys that get voted on, you see a different side of players," said Julien. "So the whole experience is a good one. The fact that it's in my hometown is great. It's an added bonus, and you've got your family and friends around. So, it'll be a lot of fun."

Julien has led the Bruins to an impressive season after a 3-7 start, putting them near the top of the Eastern Conference. Julien's squad has dominated every facet of the game as of late, as their 23 wins in their last 27 contests has proven. Offensively, the Bruins are approaching historic levels.

In games decided by 3 or more goals, the B's are 15-1. Scoring more than 3 goals a game hasn't been a problem for the B's, recording a league leading 138 goals so far this season. The Bruins have also scored twice within a minute 13 times this year, which leads the league.

Defensively, the Bruins are as stingy as ever thanks to the efforts of Tuukka Rask and Tim Thomas. Rask and Thomas are number one and two in the NHL in goals against average and save percentage. Suffocating defense has always been a hallmark of a Claude Julien coached team and this year is no different since they've allowed an NHL-low 69 goals so far.

It is amazing how far Julien and this team have come in the last few years. Going into the playoffs last season, most Bruins fans were calling for his head and now he is beloved throughout New England. Nothing like winning a championship, I guess.

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Your Next Head Coach Of Penn State Football: Bill O'Brien. Wait, What?

There is settling in life and then there is choosing Bill O'Brien to be the new head football coach at Penn State.

This absurd rumor was validated tonight as ESPN's Chris Mortenson tweeted that New England's offensive coordinator has been chosen to lead the Nittany Lions starting next season. The official announcement from the University is expected on Saturday although O'Brien will stay with the Patriots throughout the postseason.

Let me say a few nice words about the anonymous guy that will soon take over the most toxic job in all of sports. First, he's from Andover, MA and he also played football and graduated from Brown University. Those are two local connections that I can relate to and appreciate.

Now let's get real. O'Brien has never been a head coach, at any level. Before coming to New England, he worked at such college powerhouses as Duke, Georgia Tech and Maryland. How many other, more qualified candidates turned down Penn State? I'd venture a guess that it was easily in double digits. If you've been keeping track, it's been nearly two months since they fired Joe Paterno so clearly, they've had ample time to assemble a good list.

O'Brien probably figured that this was the fastest way for him to be able to be the face of a program-college or professional. Still, wouldn't you rather just be the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars (another rumor about him) than jump into the absolute mess in Happy Valley, PA? I guess he figures he can be a hero and change the culture there. Good luck with that.

As for more pertinent matters with Patriots fans, how will this affect the team in the playoffs? Looking back in 2004-05 (the last Super Bowl champion), a similar scenario occurred with offensive coordinator Charlie Weis being a lame duck before he went to Notre Dame. The Pats ended up rolling through the playoffs and beating the Eagles in the Super Bowl for their third title in four seasons.

Everybody knows that the Bill Belichick coaching tree has not been fruitful when it comes to head coaching success. Usually, they (Eric Mangini, Josh McDaniels, Weis) have moderate success at first before completely losing it and getting fired a few years later. We just don't know much about O'Brien to say with any conviction that he'll be any different, especially under the circumstances.

If I'm Belichick, I'm cutting the phone lines to O'Brien's office at Gillette Stadium and also confiscating any cell phones he has. That is to ensure optimal focus while New England is still alive in the playoffs. After that, see ya later. Thanks for the memories Bill (O'Brien).

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Bruins Hit Two Grand Slams & Solo Shot Or Score TD & Safety, Crush Flames 9-0

I'll be honest, I'm running out of superlatives to describe the 2011-12 edition of the Boston Bruins. Last night, they beat down the New Jersey Devils 6-1 on the road, and 24 hours later played host to the Calgary Flames, a team that they barely ever see.

24-hour break? Unfamiliar team? No problem, as the B's absolutely steamrolled the Flames (18-19-5) 9-0 before a packed TD Garden.

It was Boston's ninth win in its last ten games, continuing an insane run of 22-3-1 that has stretched from 2011 now into 2012. Also, counting last night's game, the B's have rattled off 15 straight goals. In two games, on back-to-back nights.

Tuukka Rask stopped all 25 shots for yet another shutout (his 3rd in 4 games), Selke Smooth Bergeron and Nathan Horton each had two goals for the Bruins, who ran their overall record to 26-10-1.

Boston's 53 points is good for second in the Eastern Conference, only behind the New York Rangers' 54 points.

Leading the way for the Bruins on offense was Bergeron, who has scored four goals in two games and Tyler Seguin, who was a plus 3 and had a goal and two assists one night after not registering a shot against the Devils. Even Benoit Pouliot managed to notch a career-high three assists as he was bumped up to the second line due to Brad Marchand's illness (flu). It was that kind of night.

Horton and the first line continued their dominant play as of late, as tonight's beatdown saw Horton score his 11th and 12th goal of the season. Milan Lucic (14th of the year) scored on a fluky deflection off of Jokinen's skates early in the first and David Krejci (9th of the season) extended his point streak to seven games on his sweet power-play goal thanks to a crisp cross-ice pass from Rich Peverley in the first period.

Chris Kelly (13th of the year) and Daniel Paille (7th of the year) rounded out the scoring for the best team in hockey.

Rask was solid between the pipes, making 25 saves and preserving his spot atop the league leaders in goals against average and save percentage (1.49 and .949 respectively).

With the B's running up scores like the 2007 Patriots, it is becoming increasingly difficult to critique their game. Literally every aspect of it is top notch, from their depth to their defense, from goaltending to special teams. It truly is a special time to be Bruins fan.

Up next on the menu is a date with the Vancouver Canucks, you know, that team that the Bruins defeated in the Stanley Cup Finals last year? It could have been easy to overlook the Flames tonight with the Canucks on the horizon but the Bruins did what they do best and took it one game at a time. In what should be the most emotional and entertaining game of the young season, the Bruins will look to prove once again why they are the best team in the NHL on Saturday afternoon in Boston.

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