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| A Word from The Writer: The Monday Analysis - 10 January 2005 Road teams weekend. Three of the four travelers went home to play next week. In New England, our Patriots looked to rest and get healthy. Patriots Welcome Bye with Awards For the New England Patriots, the week was some game film, some light workouts, and then the weekend off with a second seed bye. Offensive Player of the Month Running Back Corey Dillon was named NFL Offensive Player of the Month of December. Dillon had 109 carries for an average of 102.8 yard per game. He finished the season a personal and Patriots season best of 1,653 yards rushing. Ed Block Award Linebacker Rosevelt Colvin is the 2004 Ed Block Courage Award winner, voted by his teammates and coaches. The award goes to the player who exemplifies both sportsmanship and courage during the regular season. Colvin broke his hip in Game 2 of the 2003 season, and made a comeback this season. "I feel very honored to win this award and represent the New England Patriots," Colvin said. "To be able to recover from the injury that I had and to be able to come back out and contribute to the team is very satisfying. I appreciate the support of my teammates, the organization and the coaching staff." All Pro Voting Kicker Adam Vinatieri is named to the AP All-Pro team with 41 of 48 votes. Defensive End Richard Seymour is All-Pro with 21 votes. Inside Linebacker Tedy Bruschi received 12 votes. Safety Rodney Harrison received 6 votes. Running back Corey Dillon received 6 votes. Beyond the Law: Ty on IR Cornerback Ty Law will not be a factor in the postseason. The Patriots placed the ten year veteran on Injured Reserve this week, ending his season. "We are disappointed for Ty," said Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick. "He has worked extremely hard to return this season and we all hoped it would happen. But, unfortunately that will not be the case." Law broke a bone in his foot during the Steeler loss on October 31st. He joins another cornerback, Tyrone Poole, on IR.
Coaching Carousel Lots of Offensive Coordinators are gonzo, but let's start with the big dismissals. The 49ers weren't going to put up with losing anymore, and fired head coach Dennis Erickson and General Manager Terry Donahue. 49ers owner Dr. John York interviewed Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel for six hours the other day. Rumor also has Crennel the leading candidate in Cleveland, though he has yet to talk to the Browns. The Browns have talked to Pittsburgh Steelers assistant head coach and offensive line coach Russ Grimm and Eagles offensive coordinator Brad Childress. The Bengals fired their defensive coordinator, Leslie Frazier. Assistant coach Chuck Bresnahan is the leading candidate for the job. Former director of player personnel Phil Savage has accepted the general manager's position in Cleveland. Saints head coach Jim Halsett will return to New Orleans for a sixth season. The Ravens offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh resigned this week. Cavanaugh was forced out after a poor showing this season. The Redskins hired Bill Musgrave as Quarterbacks coach. Chicago fired offensive coordinator Terry Shea. Shea has been replaced by former University of Illinois head coach Ron Turner. Weekend Break Down COLTS (13-4) 49, Broncos (10-7) 24 - FINAL: Big surprise here. Manning No. 2 threw like 17 touchdown passes in the first three minutes. Hey Manning No. 3, were ya watching? Vikings (9-8) 31, PACKERS (10-7) 17 - FINAL: What is with Brett Favre and throwing interceptions in the playoffs? And the Pack loses in Lambeau. Dear God, Vince Lombardi is turning over in his grave right now. Rams 27 (9-8), SEAHAWKS 20 (9-8) - FINAL: There was no reason for Seattle to lose this one. Third loss to the Rams this season. We'll call this the NFC West Trifecta. Jets 20 (11-6), CHARGERS 17 (12-5) - FINAL/OT: Back and forth, the Jets had the game, then let it slip, then the Chargers had the game and forced overtime. San Diego muffed an offensive drive to get the kicker closer than the 42 yarder he was going to miss in the wind and rain. Jets take over, get the field goal right. Thus ends the Chargers Cinderella season. Playoff Schedules DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS Saturday, January 15 N.Y. Jets (11-6) at Pittsburgh (15-1) 4:30 p.m. on CBS St. Louis (9-8) at Atlanta (11-5) 8:00 p.m. on FOX Sunday, January 16 Minnesota (9-8) at Philadelphia (13-3) 1:00 p.m. on FOX Indianapolis (13-4) at New England (14-2) 4:30 p.m. on CBS
Sunday, January 23 NFC Championship -- 3 ET, FOX
League News San Diego head coach Marty Schottenheimer is the 2004 AP Coach of the Year. His Chargers pulled a worst to first move this season, going from 4-12 in 2003 and 12-4 in 2004, winning the AFC West. "There is a great sense of satisfaction when you're able to get things going in the right direction. I always pride myself on one thing -- I think I'm a teacher. It's fun to see your players listen and work together to apply the basic philosophies and concepts that are important to success." Schottenheimer received 27 1/2 of the 48 votes from a national panel of writers and broadcasters who cover pro football. This is the first coach of year honor for Schottenheimer. Last year's winner, Bill Belichick of New England, got three votes. Atlanta's Jim Mora received two and Carolina's John Fox got one. Signs of the Apocalypse That hair! That hair belonging to Randy Moss! Puff! Big as, God, bigger than any afro I have ever seen! Damn, man, keep the cornrows next time! Top Ten List of the Week 1. The Bye Week. Rest and hopefully some recuperation for the Patriots. 2. Brett Favre is becoming such a disaster in the postseason. He threw 6 INTs last year, 4 this year. 10 in two games. Ugh! 3. Manning No. 2 is the touchdown machine of the year. He'll need a lot of pressure up front to be stopped next week. 4. I was really pulling for an Diego. The mere thought of Doug Flutie getting a chance at a ring was just too much to handle. But not this year. Maybe never. 5. I was watching Coachspeak on NFL Network with Derrick Horton and Jim "Playoffs?!" Mora, and this other ass, Adam Schefter, a Correspondent. This Schefter dick had to snap a rebuttal on everything Coach Mora had to say. Hey, Slick Adam, you Fairy Boy, shut the hell up! NO NFL coach needs to hear from you! 6. It is going to cost the 49ers a lot to throw out Dennis Erickson, close to $9 million owed. But they are losing, and like I said two years ago, he was a foolish hire. 7. How about that Pete Carroll! His USC Trojans cream Oklahoma 55-19. He could write his ticket anywhere, and he comes out and says flat out he isn't interested in San Francisco. Bold, yes, but I think that the Niners organization isn't what it was when he was Defensive coordinator in the mid 1990s. Carroll may want an NFL job, but nothing like h had in New England. 8. Weakened secondary or not, I still like our chances next week. Manning No. 2 can't beat Belichick. And it scares him. 9. Time to slam Peter King! I heard Porko on WEEI Sunday morning talking to Dale Arnold and Co. Arnold gave King a stat that Tom Brady was only four points behind Peyton Manning in QB rating, and in the top ten all-time. Dead silence from King, then he says he didn't know the fact. Well, of course you didn't, jackass. You refuse to do any homework, particularly regarding New England! Then he tried to cover up it up, saying that Manning threw a lot of interceptions when he first came in the league. Well, look who didn't, Porko. Tom Brady didn't. 10. I'm smelling a chant in the air of Foxboro next week. Peyton....Peyton....Let it ring Patriots Nation! ejh10 January 2005 | ||
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