The NFL season starts!

[tu_holmes]

I know!  They are only 5-3 with a qb who has not played since highschool.  They could be like Dallas and fall apart when there starting qb goes down, but they stay competitive    I am amazed at how well the pats are doing considering they lost the best qb in the game, they have injuries up the wazoo and they have a QB who had not played a game since hs!

I agree... They're still a solid team, but heaven help Bellechick without Brady... He looks frazzled.

[body88]

I agree... They're still a solid team, but heaven help Bellechick without Brady... He looks frazzled.

I don't think leading his team to a 5-3 record with all the injuries and the loss of Brady is anything to scoff at.  Dungy is .400 and he didn't lose Manning. We have a qb starting who is basically a rookie, but he is getting better every week.  Belichick is doing an amazing job.  Think about this:  No Brady, Maroney is on ir, Harrison is on ir, a secondary made up of rookies, a qb who is basically a rookie and a rash of injuries to many starters.  5-3 is beyond awesome right now.

[CalvinH]

I don't think leading his team to a 5-3 record with all the injuries and the loss of Brady is anything to scoff at.  Dungy is .400 and he didn't lose Manning. We have a qb starting who is basically a rookie, but he is getting better every week.  Belichick is doing an amazing job.  Think about this:  No Brady, Maroney is on ir, Harrison is on ir, a secondary made up of rookies, a qb who is basically a rookie and a rash of injuries to many starters.  5-3 is beyond awesome right now.

Belichik may have the personality of a rock but he knows how to coach.



Hahaha,last week the local papers wrote that 2 of the best coaches went against eachother,Tomlin vs Coughlin while 2 of the worst went against eachother,Edwards vs Mangini

[Grape Ape]

The Pats have the softest schedule in the NFL this year.  Of course they were going to remain competitive.

[body88]

The Pats have the softest schedule in the NFL this year.  Of course they were going to remain competitive.

Its not the softest schedule nor did they choose it.  An NFL schedule  You can try to take away from it all you want, but the pats being 5-3 is nothing short of a miracle. They lost there starting rb's 1-3, have rookies playing in the secondary, a rash of injuries on the offensive line and they lost the best QB in the game.

[Grape Ape]

Its not the softest schedule nor did they choose it.  An NFL schedule  You can try to take away from it all you want, but the pats being 5-3 is nothing short of a miracle. They lost there starting rb's 1-3, have rookies playing in the secondary, a rash of injuries on the offensive line and they lost the best QB in the game.

Just because they didn't choose it doesn't mean it isn't soft.  I'm not making this up, I saw it on ESPN in a schedule ranking system.

It's not that impressive to me because the Pats have a great team, and it just not at the QB position.  I thought they had the division wrapped up, and possibly only 1-2 loss season with Brady.  Without him, I exect them to have a few more losses, which they do.  It's as expected.

[UPINTHEMGUTS]

Just because they didn't choose it doesn't mean it isn't soft.  I'm not making this up, I saw it on ESPN in a schedule ranking system.

It's not that impressive to me because the Pats have a great team, and it just not at the QB position.  I thought they had the division wrapped up, and possibly only 1-2 loss season with Brady.  Without him, I exect them to have a few more losses, which they do.  It's as expected.

With Brady at the helm to open the season, the schedule definitely was soft. Now take Brady out of the equation and the Pats have the potential to lose a game on any given Sunday with greater likelihood.

I don't see Cassel as getting better week by week, either. He has been very inconsistent which is to be expected being thrust into the starting role. I'm thinking he would much rather collect paychecks playing behind Brady and doing nothing rather than excel in the spotlight. He doesn't have much of an arm either, to be honest. His value to Belichek has to be his intelligence and knowledge of Belichik's offensive philisophoy, not his physical talent. Anything short of that asset and he wouldn't be playing at this level, IMO.

[pumpster]

I don't see Cassel as getting better week by week, either. He has been very inconsistent which is to be expected being thrust into the starting role. I'm thinking he would much rather collect paychecks playing behind Brady and doing nothing rather than excel in the spotlight. He doesn't have much of an arm either, to be honest. His value to Belichek has to be his intelligence and knowledge of Belichik's offensive philisophoy, not his physical talent. Anything short of that asset and he wouldn't be playing at this level, IMO.

Cassel's getting better week by week and the team's gelling around him.

You have to be pretty dense to make the assumption that a backup would rather sit on the bench lol not only is it a lot more fun playin it also increases his market value.

[UPINTHEMGUTS]

Cassel's getting better week by week and the team's gelling around him.

You have to be pretty dense to make the assumption that a backup would rather sit on the bench lol not only is it a lot more fun playin it also increases his market value.

I know, I was kidding. I was saying it get Body88 fired up! He's a true fan to the core and I like when he defends his team at every turn against the haters.

[Grape Ape]

I know, I was kidding. I was saying it get Body88 fired up! He's a true fan to the core and I like when he defends his team at every turn against the haters.

Agreed.  I'm not hating either - I just still expect the Pats to have a winning record, despite the loss of Brady.   Maybe "I'm not impressed" would be put better if I said "I'm not surprised".

[body88]

Agreed.  I'm not hating either - I just still expect the Pats to have a winning record, despite the loss of Brady.   Maybe "I'm not impressed" would be put better if I said "I'm not surprised".

I agree with you both, but the pats also have a rash of injuries, two rookie cb's, several players on ir and a patched up offensive line.  The pats STARTING rb's are there 4th and 5th backs on the roster.

[body88]

With Brady at the helm to open the season, the schedule definitely was soft. Now take Brady out of the equation and the Pats have the potential to lose a game on any given Sunday with greater likelihood.

I don't see Cassel as getting better week by week, either. He has been very inconsistent which is to be expected being thrust into the starting role. I'm thinking he would much rather collect paychecks playing behind Brady and doing nothing rather than excel in the spotlight. He doesn't have much of an arm either, to be honest. His value to Belichek has to be his intelligence and knowledge of Belichik's offensive philisophoy, not his physical talent. Anything short of that asset and he wouldn't be playing at this level, IMO.

20 Matt Cassel NE  QB  156  233  67.0  29.1  1,566  6.7  195.8  7  7  78  33.5  66T  14  2  28  83.4 
21 Gus Frerotte MIN  QB  114  198  57.6  33.0  1,468  7.4  244.7  8  8  67  33.8  86T  17  5  16  77.6 
22 Joe Flacco   BAL  QB  136  220  61.8  27.5  1,464  6.7  183.0  5  7  75  34.1  70T  13  4  14  75.6



According to the stats Cassel = better than Flacco : )  Cassel literally didn't play a down in college.  He is getting better every week, and eventually he will be a good starting QB in the NFL.  Not great, not very good....good.  Cassel also played safety in college, and he has much more physical talent than you give him credit for.  He is very athletic and fast for 6'5 235.  His arm is average, but we don't really know what we have until after a full season.  To say he is not improving week to week is insane.


The pats had an awesome draft, look for them to be very good in 2009.  Mayo, Guyton, Wheatley, Wilhite, Richardson, BJGE and Crable are all starting and playing well.  Mayo was nominated for defensive rookie of the year last week.

[CalvinH]

NY GIANTS

[body88]

The Pats have the softest schedule in the NFL this year.  Of course they were going to remain competitive.

The AFC East is the best division in football.  The pats have to play each of these teams twice.  They have one of the harder schedule in the NFL currently.

Jets 7-3
Pats 6-4
Bills 6-4
Phins 6-4

[tu_holmes]

The AFC East is the best division in football.  The pats have to play each of these teams twice.  They have one of the harder schedule in the NFL currently.

Jets 7-3
Pats 6-4
Bills 6-4
Phins 6-4

Disagree... the NFC east is the best division in football.

Giants
Eagles
Cowboys
Redskins

No division is harder.

[body88]

Disagree... the NFC east is the best division in football.

Giants
Eagles
Cowboys
Redskins

No division is harder.

Not by much.  The winning percentage is close, but the Giants make the NFC east a bit harder.  I believe the AFC will be superior by year end.


Total winning percentage ( all teams)

AFC East 2600

NFC East 2679

[tu_holmes]

Not by much.  The winning percentage is close, but the Giants make the NFC east a bit harder.  I believe the AFC is tougher.


total winning percentage ( all teams)

AFC East 2600

NFC East 2679

Perhaps, but I'm looking at the division.

When you have those 4 teams beating up on each other every year... It's consistently the toughest division.

Not every year of course, but more often than any other.

[body88]

Perhaps, but I'm looking at the division.

When you have those 4 teams beating up on each other every year... It's consistently the toughest division.

Not every year of course, but more often than any other.

Me to.  The winning percentage is from all the teams in the division combined (for the whole year).  Thats said, its very close, and by the numbers the NFC is slightly better.  I think the AFC East has been under the radar.

[tu_holmes]

Me to.  The winning percentage is from all the teams in the division combined (for the whole year).  Thats said, its very close, and by the numbers the NFC is slightly better.  I think the AFC East has been under the radar.

You say that, but you're basing it on this year alone...

I'm talking about for the past 5 maybe 6 years.

When was the last time the Bills, Dolphins, or Jets were considered decent teams?

[body88]

You say that, but you're basing it on this year alone...

I'm talking about for the past 5 maybe 6 years.

When was the last time the Bills, Dolphins, or Jets were considered decent teams?

I know. My response was in regards to a statement that had to do with this year.  Why would past years have anything to do with this year?  I agree with you though, the NFC has been very tough for years.

[tu_holmes]

I know. My response was in regards to a statement that had to do with this year.  Why would past years have anything to do with this year?  I agree with you though, the NFC has been very tough for years.

Sorry... I guess when I interpret the hardest divisions, I look at this year and recently passed years as well.

I do agree that the AFC East is tough this year... Don't know how long that will last.

[CalvinH]

Giants go on the road and win without Plexico,Jacobs,and make a bunch of stupid penalties.
Toomer dropped a wide open bomb
Aaron Ross.player of the week last week,4 penalties this week
who need Shockey when you have Boss
and holy shit Hedgcock finally caught the damn ball

[Grape Ape]

Two of the interference calls were crap, especially the one on 3rd and long that eventually led to a TD.  It was just good coverage.

lol @ Hedgecock.  My neighbour was yelling "don't drop it - don't drop it" when it was in the air.  WTF was that celebration of his?

[CalvinH]

Two of the interference calls were crap, especially the one on 3rd and long that eventually led to a TD.  It was just good coverage.

lol @ Hedgecock.  My neighbour was yelling "don't drop it - don't drop it" when it was in the air.  WTF was that celebration of his?

Haha.yeah I was thinking the same.he had dropped his last four passes.
I think he was doing some rowing for his celebration but as the announcer said "If you have to explain you celebration dance it's not a good one"

[body88]

Did anyone see Matt Light beat the crap out of Crowder after Crowder lunged at his knees?  Haha, classic.