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| A Word from The Writer: The Monday Analysis - 27 December 2004 Week 16 brings some solid winner and losers. And speaking of losing and winning, here are two about the Patriots. Patriots Take Their Stupid Pill, Lose to Miami It seemed like old times. Very old times. I had to check my eyes and the television station to make sure I wasn't watching a rerun of another Patriots team losing in Miami 29-28. But, alas, it was still the World Champions just having a very bad night. You wouldn't mind, but the Patriots were up 11 points with four minutes to play, and they blew it. Rodney Harrison, no Mister this week, caused one of several very bad penalties with an interference call in the endzone to set up a Miami touchdown. He argued it, but the replayed showed a text book description of pass interference. Then, Tom Brady made the dumbest move in the world when he was being sacked on third down. He tossed the ball at random for an interception, his third of four on the night. They were ahead by five at that point, and Miami took over to move the ball into the endzone, failing at the two point conversion, and making the final score 29-28. Brady, who threw three touchdowns on the evening, had plenty of time to set up a field goal, but threw his fourth and final interception. Ball game over. Hapless Miami wins. Shocked Patriots lose, which now give Pittsburgh more cushion for the number one spot. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was unusually vanilla, even for him, in his post-game press conference, refusing to direct blame on anyone player or situation. "That's a situation we're usually pretty good in," he said speaking of operating a scoring drive in the final minutes of a game. "We weren't tonight. It wasn't about intensity. It was about execution." The game was the first win for Miami under interim coach Jim Bates, who was scheduled to interview for the job permanently the following day, however, reports indicate that LSU head coach Nick Saban is the leading candidate for the job. Let's hope the Patriots can clean themselves up for the next game against the New Jersey Jets. Patriots Ground the Jets What a difference a week makes. The Patriots this week had the Jet scoreless into the fourth quarter before winning 23-7. Tom Brady improved all-around, filing a 112 QB rating, going 21-32 for 264 yards and 2 TDs. No picks. "It was a long week," Brady said after the win over the Jets. "Everyone who knows me knows how tough those weeks are. It was a great opportunity for this team to show what we're made of. We suffered a tough one last week. This week that locker room is an elated group of guys." Both the Patriots and the Jets played a strong prevent-run defense much of the game, but Corey "Snubbed for the Pro Bowl" Dillon found some fourth quarter holes, and finished on 29 carries for 89 yards. He also surpassed Curtis Martin single season rushing yards record of 1,487 set in 1995 and has 1,519 yards so far, while Martin had 13 carries for a lousy 33 yards. Daniel Graham and Deion Branch both had touchdowns, while Adam Vinatieri counted for three field goals, missing a high-winded 50 yarder. New England closes out the season at the Razor against the very sorry 49ers.
Coaching Carousel LSU head coach Nick Saban accepted the offer from Miami to run the Dolphins organization. Saban, 53, signed a five-year, $25 million deal, has complete control of all football operations. Saban has previous BFL experience under Bill Belichick. He served as Belichick's defensive coordinator in Cleveland. Saban took his time deciding whether or no to accept the Dolphins' offer, and let the decision be known on Christmas day. "I have a lot of respect and gratitude for everybody who has been interested in me through the years," Saban said. "I just felt like this opportunity, with this organization, was one of the best that's ever been presented to me in terms of how you can control your destiny in the organization, the commitment the organization has to winning and the tradition that they have in winning." "My wife and I high-fived each other," Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga said said of Saban's acceptance. If somebody held a gun to my head 10 minutes ago, I couldn't tell you (if Saban would accept the offer. I had a good feeling, but I really did not know." Saban becomes the fourth head coach since Huizenga bought the Dolphins in 1994. Don Shula coached from 1970 - 1995, and led the Dolphins to two Super Bowl championships and the NFL's only undefeated season since the AFL-NFL merger. Jimmy Johnson coached from 1996 - 2000, and his assistant head coach Dave Wannstedt took over until Week 9 when he resigned. Interim coach Jim Bates has headed the Dolphins since then. Weekend Break Down Packers (9-6) 34, VIKINGS (8-7) 31 - FINAL: Who would you rather have in the two-minute drill with the game on the line? Ok, assume Tom Brady isn't playing, who else? Brett Favre is who you want, and he engineered a couple drives to tie the game, and then win it. As for Minnesota, what can I say? They lose it in every December. CHIEFS (7-8) 31, Raiders (5-10) 30 - FINAL: Wow, what a close, thrilling game! Too bad these guys have been out of the playoff race since Week 9. Broncos (9-6) 37, TITANS (4-11) 16 - FINAL: Jake Plummer finally walloped an opponent, and that's just what the Titans got: walloped. BENGALS (7-8) 23, Giants (5-10) 22 - FINAL: Ouch, Manning No. 3 still has yet to get himself a win! SAINTS (7-8) 26, Falcons (11-4) 13 - FINAL: See what happens when Mike Vick is out. Atlanta loses, and this is not good. Note to Jim Mora, Jr: Draft and Trade for a team in the offseason, cause Mike Vick ain't never gonna see the end of that 10-year contract y'all got him to sign this week. The Saints got themselves a position for a Wild Card spot with this win. STEELERS (14-1) 20, Ravens (8-7) 7 - FINAL: Roethlisberger gets knocked out in the third quarter, yet, Pittsburgh wins and claims home field throughout the playoffs. Baltimore is looking at missing the playoffs. COLTS (12-3) 34, Chargers (11-4) 31 - FINAL\OT: Manning No. 2 gets the TD record. Tough loss for the Chargers. They had the lead, and blew it in overtime. Texans (7-8) 21, JAGUARS (8-7) 0 - FINAL: Blanked! At home, even, by an expansion team. Oh yeah, Jacksonville used to be an expansion team. None the less, Jax is OUT! Houston is a team. Check 'em out next season for some playoff play! LIONS (6-9) 19, Bears (5-10) 13 - FINAL: Snoozer in Detroit. Neither will see postseason play. Patriots (13-2) 23, JETS (10-5) 7 - FINAL: The Jets looked pathetic. They didn't score until the fourth quarter. Good luck with the New York media this week, Pennington. Bills (9-6) 41, 49ERS (2-13) 7 - FINAL: With this roll the Bills are on, they could very well hand deliver a nice loss to Pittsburgh in Buffalo next week. SEAHAWKS (8-7) 24, Cardinals (5-10) 21 - FINAL: Just barely squeaking by, Seattle just gets the win. COWBOYS (6-9) 13, Redskins (5-10) 10 - FINAL: Old fashioned class NFC East slugfest, and Parcells gets this one over Joe Gibbs. Panthers (7-8) 37, BUCCANEERS (5-10) 20 - FINAL: Yuck, gross! What's that smell? Oh, it's just Jon Gruden's team. Man, they stink. The sad, sad thing is that Carolina could make the playoffs. DOLPHINS (4-11) 10, Browns (3-12) 7 - FINAL: Battle of the Interim Head Coaches. Miami wins. Philadelphia (13-1) at St. Louis (6-8) Tonight 9 PM ABC Playoff Outlook The first for first in line at the April Draft Santa's List of Losers Miami (4-11): The only Saint Nick the 'Fins have is Nick Saban. Santa's List of Hopefuls
Buffalo (9-6): Can you believe these guys? They're looking at a
win away from a playoff spot. Santa is warming up to these teams New Jersey Jets (10-5): The Five spot is likely theirs. Teams with January Plans Philly (13-1): Home field throughout the playoffs. Reggie White, 1961 - 2004 The NFL took the field on Sunday with the unexpected and shocking news
that legendary defensive "Today our beloved husband, father and friend passed away," White's wife, Sara, said in a statement through a family pastor. "His family appreciates your thoughts and prayers as we mourn the loss of Reggie White. We want to thank you in advance for honoring our privacy." Known as the "Minister of Defense," White played 21 seasons, is a member of the NFL's 75th anniversary team, elected to a record 13 straight Pro Bowls from 1986-1998, and was the NFL's defensive player of the year in 1987 and 1998. He won a championship with the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXI. White was a rookie out of Tennessee in 1984 when he began in the USFL with the Memphis Showboats, and was a part of Philadelphia's "Gang Green Defense" for eight seasons starting in 1985. White was one of the first free agents, signing with the Packers in 1993 for $17 million over four years. Brett Favre was also traded to Green Bay that season, and the two led the Packers to Super Bowl XXXI & XXXII. White holds the Super Bowl record in sacks at 3. He number two on the all-time list behind Bruce Smith with 198. White retired three times in his career, his final in 2000 while playing for Carolina. He had retired a day before the 1998 season, but returned to the Packers when he felt God told him to get back on the field. He took a year off before returning for one season with the Panthers. White played in 232 over his 15 season career. White missed one game in his final 12 seasons, and started in all but three. "I will always miss the locker room and the guys, but I know God's will for me to move on to other challenges because it's not in me like it used to be," White said upon returning to the Packers in 1998. Oddities of Week 17's Matchups Green Bay (9-6) at Chicago (5-10), 1 PM. NFC Northern. The Pack can get the division here. Miami (4-11) at Baltimore (8-7), 1 PM. Baltimore is playing for a Spot. Minnesota (8-7) at Washington (5-10), 1 PM. Minnesota is playing for a Spot. New Orleans (7-8) at Carolina (7-8), 1 PM. NFC East game. Both are looking for a playoff spot. N.Y. Jets (10-5) at St. Louis (6-8), 1 PM. Depending on Monday night, both could be looking for a playoff spot. Pittsburgh (14-1) at Buffalo (9-7), 1 PM. The Bills are looking for a playoff spot. San Francisco (2-12) at New England (13-2), 1 PM. New England's last regular season game. Atlanta (11-4) at Seattle (8-7), 4:05 PM. Seattle is looking for the division. Indianapolis (12-3) at Denver (9-6), 4:15 PM. Denver is looking for a playoff spot. Kansas City (7-8) at San Diego (11-4), 4:15 PM. Diego is looking for some climb in the post season standings. Dallas (6-9) at N.Y. Giants (5-10), 8:30 PM. NFC East. Parcells returns home against former team and assistant Tom Coughlin. Patriots to the Pro Bowl Four Patriots have been selected to the 2005 Pro Bowl: QB Tom Brady, DE Richard Seymour, K Adam Vinatieri, and special teamer Larry Izzo. Great honors, but what about some others, Like LB Tedy Bruschi or RB Corey Dillon or WR/KR/CB Troy Brown? Or, once again, what about Safety Rodney Harrison? Even the head coach was miffed. "It is always disappointing to see some guys that you feel had a really good year or are really good players for us and aren't selected," saud head coach Bill Belichick. Congratulations to our Pro Bowlers, and a big thumbs down to the league for snubbing the rest of the well-deserved Patriots. Y'all just jealous we have more rings. Patriots News The Patriots released safety Je'Rod Cherry...The Patriots resigned DE Omar Lowe and linebacker Eric Alexander to the 53-man squad...OT Marques Sullivan was released...The Patriots waived linebacker Justin Kurpeikis... League News Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher has been placed on injured reserve with a pulled hamstring...The Falcons and Michael Vick agreed to a 10 year, $130 million contract extension that includes a $37 million signing bonus. The deal voids the existing contract from 2001, which gave Vick the option to void the 2005 and 2006 season. The restructure also allows salary cap food for Atlanta. Since contracts are not guaranteed in the NFL, it is unlikely this deal will be seen to the end, however, signing bonuses are guaranteed...Former Dolphins head coach Dave Wannstedt accepted the head coaching position at the University of Pittsburgh... Signs of the Apocalypse No apocalypse. Santa still rules. Notes & Quotes To all Professional Players: Better the Game. Dump your so-called agents. Enough is enough.
Top Quarterback Contracts Ever
Top Ten List of the Week 1. A Merry Christmas to all! 2. Big problem in Atlanta. No Vick, no win. Do you guys really think he's such a bargain at the $100 million you locked him up at (yes, even though nothing is guaranteed)? 3. Congratulations to Manning No. 2 for the TD record. And just like Dan Marino, you have no rings. 4. Chad Pennington this week went off on the New York media. He's upset at being tooled in the press for playing poorly. Man, I do not want to be him this week after that loss. Dude, here' some advice: Just suck it up and talk to them. 5. This Nick Saban hiring is an odd situation. He seems to be (successfully) trying to spin this like he is hiring the Miami Dolphins. I smell some bad fishing going on in Miami the next couple of seasons. 6. The Texans are as tough and gritty as they come. They couldn't care if they are out of playoff contention. They are going to go out and win ballgames. The playoffs are calling them for next season. 7. I feel a lot better now than I did last Tuesday morning. The Patriots seem to be back on track. 8. I'd love to see a Bills at Patriots AFC Championship game in late January. I mean, come on, beating the Steelers at Heinz Field would be too much like deja vu. 9. Heck of a thrilling Cleveland at Miami Sunday nighter, huh? *snore* 10. That Christmas Eve game at Lambeau was awesome. Just classic Favre and a great winter wonderland game. ejh27 December 2004 | ||
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end Reggie White had died of an apparent heart attack at the age of 43.