Pats Start Preseason 1-2

So much for winning, huh? The first game was a domination with ugliness over Philadelphia, 24-6. Tom Brady threw a touchdown to David Patten. Rohan Davey looked ugly throwing two touchdowns. Corey Dillon looked impressive, the defense kept the Eagles out of the redzone. Nothing to worry about, right?

Then a week later they travel to Cinci and get butt-slapped 31-3. Thirty-one to Three!?! Christ, I hope they were faking it, looking for an ugly loss. I can see Belichick and his coaches in a pow-wow meeting devising a game plan to look like Hell, in hopes to show the world absolutely nothing before Week 1. And since the Pats host the Bengals in December, they may have thought that it is best to give Cinci a win now, and slap them around later in the season to keep ahead of home field advantage for the playoffs. Let's run on that theory, cause that Saturday Special s-u-u-cked!

Then they traveled to Carolina for "Super Bowl 2." Please, it was exhibition. No one showed up with a game plan, the starters only played until the third quarter, and the Patriots were up 17-13 before losing in the fourth quarter 20-17. Tell ya what, Panther fans: You can have that victory. We'll take the one from February and the trophy that goes along with it.

Note to the Commissioner: Can we please just skip the last preseason game and go right into the regular season?

League Notes

CBS made some changes. Jim Nantz joins Phil Simms in the color booth and Bonnie Bernstein on the field for games as the network's A Team, while Greg Gumbel takes over in the studio for the NFL Today. He joins Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason, and Shannon Sharpe, replacing Deion Sanders who was not brought back....Both backup quarterbacks in Buffalo are hurting. First round draft pick JP Losman broke his leg in practice, and Travis Brown injured his knee during a game with the Colts, and will undergo and MRI...Also, the Bills lost Lawyer Milloy to a broke forearm during the game with the Colts...The Seahawks placed backup quarterback Brock Huard on Injured Reserve with muscle spasms in his back...The Patriots released veteran wide receiver JJ Stokes and veteran fullback Fred McCrary, and waived tight end Andy Mignery...Patriots rookie Safety Guss Scott is lost for the season with a knee injury...Kurt Warner will be the starting quarterback for the Giants.

Theories and Intuitions: Bledsoe to be a Cowboy in '05

You heard it here first!

Bills Quarterback Drew Bledsoe is in a bit of a tight spot. After losing his starting position in New England in 2001 to the eventual Super Bowl MVP and former sixth round pick Tom Brady, the Patriots traded him off to Buffalo for a first round choice in the 2002 draft, which was traded off for a bunch of picks that included a first rounder in 2004. Bledsoe gave the Bills some credibility in 2002, and brought the team near playoff contention with an 8-8 record. In 2003, however, things fell apart. The Bills traded one of his primary weapons, Peerless Price to Atlanta for a first round pick Buffalo wasted on injured running back Willis MaGahee. MaGahee sat out all of 2003, and is poised to play in 2004, but to compete for time with veteran Travis Henry, who rushed 1438 yards in 2002 and 1356 in 2003. Bledsoe had the worst season of his 11 year career in 2002, and head coach Gregg Williams was fired at the end. Mike Mularkey, an offense coordinator with Pittsburgh was brought in to replace Williams (now a defensive coordinator with the Redskins) along with veteran coach Sam Wyche as the quarterbacks coach.

In the April 2004 Draft, the Bills traded future picks for an additional first rounder and picked up quarterback JP Losman as Bledsoe's successor. Bledsoe also willingly, but was probably more like self preservation, restructured his contract to make room for the cap.

Now, really, for the first time in his career, Bledsoe is looking over his shoulder. With a new coach and new system, Bledsoe knows that his successor is an interception away.

This week he was given an early Christmas gift. Cornerback Troy Vincent hit Losman during practice. Losman broke his leg - the same type of break that sidelined Michael Vick for 3 1/2 months last season, practically guaranteeing Losman will not take a snap in 2004. At least if he was healthy, and Bledsoe was inefficient, he had a chance late in the season. Now, unless Bledsoe turns on a performance on par or worse than 2003, Drew is the guy in '04.

But what about 2005? The Bills cannot afford to leave a highly paid first-round pick on the bench for two seasons. For more on this theory, see the Bengals' story, where they drafted Carson Palmer number 1 overall in 2003, but played Jon Kitna for every single snap that season. Once the 2003 season was over, however, head coach Marvin Lewis announced Palmer would start in 2004, no matter what. I expect the Bills to pull the same play at the conclusion of the 2004. But unlike with Kitna and the Bengals, Bledsoe is a highly paid quarterback. Kitna was never a hot item to begin with, and certainly not taken first overall in the draft like Bledsoe. No team would trade a first round pick for Kitna, either, like teams would for Bledsoe. So Kitna at least has the backup job. Don't expect the same with Bledsoe, who is scheduled to make $8 million this season. Plus, if the restrucutred contract has the same clauses as the original contract he signed with New England in 2001, the Bills have an out clause after the 2004 season. They have an option to pick up his contract after this season, and they may option to trade him.

There is no chance that Bledsoe, who turns 33 in February, would drop to a veteran's minimum, not when he is still valuable as a starter. And since the Bills will have to play Losman, what do we do with Drew?

We trade him to Dallas.

Ok, have you stopped laughing yet? Good, listen to me.

Dallas head coach Bill Parcells likes "his" guys, guys he chose, either in a draft or trade. Remember the 1996 draft, his (Bobby Grier's) first round pick? That was Terry Glenn. Glenn had a stellar rookie season, even after missing the first game, and was a big reason why the Patriots went to the Super Bowl that year. Since, Glenn has become borderline useless. In 2003, Parcells traded a fourth round pick with Green Bay to bring "her" home. Everyone was shocked, right? But remember everyone's explanation: Glenn was more productive under Bill Parcells than anyone. And in 2003, Glenn was productive again, scoring five touchdowns, his most since playing in New England under Pete Carroll.

This season, Parcells cut starting quarterback Quincy Carter with no explanation, but the suspicion is that Carter tested positive for cocaine. He has since signed with the Jets to back up Chad Pennington, who released veteran quarterback Vinny Testeverde in June. Parcells picked up Testeverde to back up Carter, but the forty-year old will now start for Dallas this season.

Come next season it is doubtful Testeverde can play a sixteen game schedule. Parcells needs a quarterback, and who better than the first guy he ever drafted with New England, Drew Bledsoe. The relationship between Bledsoe and Parcells was a rough one. Parcells is not the ideal head coach for a rookie first round quarterback, but there is some mutual admiration there. After Parcells left the Patriots abruptly in 1997 and went to New Jersey, Bledsoe nearly knocked himself over to segregate himself from any affiliation with Parcells. Bledsoe was clearly angry with his former coach for the quick exit that probably distracted the team more during Super Bowl XXXVI than anything else, and his treatment of Bledsoe in the four seasons they were together. But after a loss to his former coach and the Jets that season, Bledsoe did the Drew thing: He congratulated Parcells after the game on the win. Parcells was so touched by the affection he called Bledsoe later that week to thank him, basically mending the fences. The two may not be chummy (who is chummy with Parcells?), but there is a respect between the two.

Once in Buffalo, Bledsoe conducted himself as a different type of Field General, commanding early morning meetings with his offense, going over tape, reviewing plays. Later in the 2002 season he said, "I finally understand what (Parcells) was looking for in me, but was too young to understand then. I understand now."

With Bledsoe and Parcells on the same page mentally, its now just a matter of getting on the same page - and field, physically. Physically, aside from the injury in 2001 that ultimately lost him his job in New England, the only injury Bledsoe has had was a broken thumb at the end of the 1998 season, where he sat out a pair of games, including a playoff loss. Mentally, I think Bledsoe could use a breath of fresh air, Dallas air. Parcells air.

Parcells likes to bring in former players, guys who went to battle with him and for him, whether they are old Giants, Patriots, or Jets. It's almost a tradition, and no longer a surprise. Could Parcells go after Bledsoe after this season. Absolutely. Would he pay another first round pick for Bledsoe for the second time in a dozen years? The depth of the 2005 Draft, needs in Dallas, and Bledsoe's performance in 2004 will dictate that. But the chances of getting Bledsoe for a second round pick are very good. Buffalo will have a difficult time marketing Bledsoe for a first round pick at the age of 33. With Testeverde, Parcells is already adjusting his team to a veteran quarterback with a strong arm. It's almost like a Shakespearean play.

Now the ultimate question: what happens with a Parcells/Bledsoe led Cowboys team in 2005? Parcells got them to 10-6 and the playoffs in 2003. They'll probably go further in '05. I'm sure Drew will ask for a setup like he had in 1996, which probably won't mean bringing Curtis Martin in from New Jersey and dragging Ben Coates out of retirement, but they already have Glenn. And Parcells will smile, tell Bledsoe he's working on a quality back (which could or could not include Eddie George, depending on his health after this season) and a go-to tight end. After all, Bledsoe plays the type of ball Parcells likes. And Parcells knows what Drew needs to win. No, Bledsoe is not mobile, but when was the last time Parcells wanted or even went after a quarterback like a Mike Vick? Parcells needs a tough, solid passer, one who can command his offense during the week and during a game. He needs a Phil Simms, a Vinny Testeverde, and a Drew Bledsoe. Bledsoe needs a coach who knows him, trusts him, and can get him the weapons and protection to play his type of game. And harsh weather conditions, come on! Bledsoe can fire 80-yard lasers in snow storms. Don't worry about traveling to other NFC East teams late in the season. Just catch it when he throws it. That's the name of that tune.

Parcells needs another ring, mentally and egotistically. So does Drew, but Drew needs one on his own. And he needs a fresh and familiar start. Would Drew go? Probably. Moving his family around again can't be easy, but this leaves him open after football to live anywhere he wants, which will most likely be in Montana part of the year, and not in a city where he played. That's just a little thing, but bigger consideration in the long run. Call it Drew's out clause. And he shared an agent with Troy Aikman for years. Surely Aikman will recruit. And then there's owner, Jerry Jones, who has not had a quarterback to hang his hat on since Aikman. Would he welcome Bledsoe? He'd probably send his private jet for him.

All of this is theory, and the truth remains to be seen. A lot needs to happen before then. But it could happen. It could.

Signs of the Apocalypse

Another new feature! I work in Boston, and as in any city, I see a lot of strange stuff. In this space, I'll note the odd and strange I see during the week, on and off the football field. Ready? Here it comes!

The other day I walked from the North End to Downtown Crossing. I crossed North Street at Congress and passed a Porsche convertible, carrying a middle-aged couple, stopped at the light. Both were on their respective cell phones. I wanted to ask them if they were talking to each other.

Monday Analysis Disclaimer

I apologize for the thin and sporadically published columns since the Super Bowl. Most of you are aware I am getting married in October, and that takes up a lot of my time. Plus, this offseason has been unusually quiet. I hope that once all of this is done, and the season starts, I will have more time, energy, and enthusiasm for the Analysis. Once again, thanks for your support, and keep the comments coming!

Top Ten List of the Week

1. Every time the Olympics come on I vow not to watch and every year I watch like an addict trying to kick heroin and failing. I love watching the competition, especially when the US kicks the crap out of Russia. Call me a Cold War junkie, but I still love to beat the Ruskies.

2. And speaking of the Olympics, Carly Patterson of the US Gymnastics team did something only Mary Lou Retton has done: Won an Olympic Gold for the US in the Women's All-Around Individual. Next stop: The Weaties Box.

3. Kerry Walsh/Misty May, the Gold Medal winning beach volleyball pair. Now, I might be wrong, but I definitely think it was a guy who created women's beach volleyball and it was a guy who pushed for it to be included in the Olympic games. I almost guarantee it.

4. Women's USA Soccer, the Gold Medal once again!

5. I still don't miss Ricky Williams. I don't think I will ever miss Williams.

6. Man, Drew Bledsoe dodged one helluva bullet this season. I think he paid Troy Vincent to go after JP Losman. There is no way Losman has a prayer of starting this season, and he may not start at the beginning of next season, either. If Bledsoe can keep the miracle running, and get Buffalo deep inside the playoffs this season, it'll be very hard for the Bills to not declare him the Man for 2005. Or accept trades any lower than a first or second round pick.

7. You have to love sore losers. South Korea is bitching and whining about USA's Paul Hamm winning the All-Around Individual Gold Medal. While scoring from the judges may have been off, analysts are showing that the South Korean committed fouls to possibly leave him out of medal contention altogether. Like I said, you gotta love a sore loser.

8. And how about Michael Phelps? Eight swimming races, eight medals, five of them gold.

9. I don't know about you, but even though Adam Vinatieri missed that 56-yarder the other night, I still love it when he comes in to kick. There's no doubt he gives you the best chance even when there is no chance.

10. Congratulations to all the Olympians! Well done, and thanks Team USA for 103 medals!

ejh