Cassel's Made of Sand

In the wake of the Matt Cassel/ Mike Vrabel to Pioli and the K.C. Chiefs many Pats fans are wondering why the Pats would make such a lopsided trade for a 2nd round pick. There was also a rumored deal that would have sent Cassel to the Broncos for a potential first round from the Bucs in a three way deal that has Jay Cutler wondering WTF.

What people are underestimating is that the Pats want to make a move in this free agent market. Moving a big contract like Vrabel's gives them the space to make more free agent signings. It also made the recent signings of James Sanders, FredEx, Chris Baker, and Russ Hochstein all possible with a higher level of cap money to spend. While some think Cassel was worth alot more, he may have been, but the market didn't play out the way fan's expectations would have. The Lions reportedly offered the their second round, 33rd pick and other than the Bucs/Broncos three-way nothing was going to benefit the Pats fiscally better than the offer Pioli made. Freeing up the cap space Cassel and Vrabel's contracts would have taken up ultimately was on the Pats front office and Belichick's minds. Don't forget the 2009 expiring contracts Vince Wilfork's contract is up after this season as well as Dick Seymor, and even Logan Mankins all high-value positions in the Pat's system. Some have said Seymor may be expendable after this year with the possibility of Julius Pepper's trade. As we know Belichick's teams are built on strong line play on both sides of the ball.

As for the loss of Vrabs...We've seen indispensable veteran linebackers go away before i.e. Willie McGinest and that worked out no matter how hard it was to see Willie go out that door. Is it a blow to the team leadership? Yes. Vrabel has been heralded as a great anchor on the team in time of need and we have all seen him have big games, but his football life is nearing its end and as we all know the Pats know when to let em go before they lose it. Look on the bright side...Now the Pats have three of the top 50 picks in a linebacker heavy draft. This draft will be like an all you can eat buffet for Belichick who covets linebackers that can play the 3-4 tech. Just look at Jerod Mayo or Gary Guyton for an example of the Pats getting younger at linebacker. The return from injuries of Adalius Thomas and Shawn Crable will help too. After last season the linebackers are the least of our worries on defense.

So in looking at this trade be realistic this is exactly what the Pats do. They make smart fiscal decisions regarding their personnel and never get caught up in others opinions of their talent. While Cassel did have a great year for first year QB it was with an experienced offense that had broken every major record in the previous season. Also take a look at the Pats schedule last year it wasn't exactly as tough as say the Steelers 2008 schedule. While Cassel will no doubt be a serviceable QB he's not going to get you a number one straight up. If you want to cry over it then you obviously haven't been a fan of the way the Pats do business and you shouldn't be surprised either. When it comes down to it the Pats were not going to take the gamble that Cassel would bring in a higher pick that would cost them more when they had what they wanted a value-pick in the middle of the first and second round of the draft. Come on this is right in Belichick's wheel house and you didn't expect him to jump on it. Clear up cap and get another blue chip it's a no brainer, just business as usual in Foxboro. Another day another Dollar!

Spring Training "HULK UP!"

Red Sox spring training games make me want to Hulk up. The regular season makes me want to Hulk up like the little Hulkamaniac at the 2:40 mark! Fight for what's Right. Fight for you're Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiighhhhhhhhhhhht!


Tell me that doesn't tear you up or give you goose bumps...Liar!

Sox Pitching = > Scary

Just thinking about the Sox depth at pitching especially the middle relief (Manny, Okajima, Masterson, Saito, Lopez, Ramirez, and Paps! Lights OUT!) is SCARY. Add to that the starting rotation is looking deeper than any other team in the league with a solid Beckett, Lester, Dice K, Smoltz/ Penny, Wakefield, and throw in the possible return of Bucholz. It just gets even more sickening. What is it that they say again "good Pitching always beats good Hitting" = wins in the playoffs to me.

Hearing about the injury bugs that plagued the Sox rotation is also scary. Remember game 6 of the ALCS last year. The game where Beckett a.k.a. "BALLS" gutted out 5 innings, 4 hits, and 2 runs know all of THIS is scary. Guy was pitching with a dinged up wing and still found a way to get it done. Add to that he's still thinking about how poorly he pitched down the stretch last year. Add in that John Lester took over the "ACE" roll from September on looming just over Balls shoulder. You think Beckett might be motivated in '09?

How dominant will he be this year with an actual training regiment besides his 2008 spring training 12 oz. curl, KFC, and ring ding routine. A motivated Josh Beckett is a dangerous Josh Beckett. Remember this is the guy Tim McCarver once said had "The Guts of a Burglar!" Well the AL East and the rest of the league better watch out because 2007 Beckett is what you'll see this year. After reading Bradford's piece it sounds like Balls has found himself and finally taken on an ACE mentality. The same mentality Pedro, Schilling, and any other Hall Of Fame pitcher has needed. It is that edge that we hoped to see in Balls last year coming off a dominant '07 performance. He never fully established it, but hopefully 2009 is the year he adds the wisdom of a seasoned veteran to his already Ballsy swagger.

While the hope is he won't just take his talent for granted any longer. I think he finally gets it. From what it sounds like he has figured out that he can't assume his talent will out weigh his effort. He has come in to camp dedicated and in shape and that's all you can ask for. Expectations of the Nation however will be another story. Can Beckett return to form? In my opinion Yes!

The rumors of Tommy's demise have been greatly exagerated.

Pats fans can feel damn comfortable hearing this from Tommy :

Asked if he was able to move and put torque into a throw at this point, Brady said:

“Yeah. You wouldn’t know that I had surgery if you watched me.”

He then joked that his biggest problems are on the golf course.

“I can’t putt the ball,” he cracked.

- Mike Reiss boston.com

As for the rest of the NFL fans out there don't get your hopes up about that knee never being able to hold weight again. Bernard Pollard you may have just given Tommy the motivation he's been seeking since his last ring in 2005! Can't wait for week one.

Preach on Papi

David Ortiz is not impressed with the lack of discipline the Commissioner and the MLB have failed to swiftly dole out, and with good reason. While the steroid talk won't vanish from the front pages hopefully those players who are clean can lead the way out of the mess MLB has on its hands. Get ready for more names to be dropped as well. The incessant rambling about these guys use and who did and who didn't will cloud the game for some time. As far as throwing out records did they throw out the numbers of guys who have used amphetamines or worse in the past?

As a fan, I for one am ready to get it over with and look forward to a cleaner generation of baseball. Did these guys cheat? Yes, but let's not act like this is something that every major sport has been guilty of. Why do people only take offense that it is baseball? Because so much is judged by the numbers shouldn't be the only reason. If you didn't know McGwire, Bonds, or Sosa were using you're a fool I was a teen and my friends and I knew plain as day. Did it change the fact that it was fun to watch those guys hit moon shots? No! Did it set a wrong example for future generations? Yes, but it is going to teach the next generations of athletes the consequences. In 10-20 years the proof will be when all these sports legends start dropping like flies and that will be the certain outcome. To believe the players are the only ones responsible is naive. The Player's Union, Owners, MLB, and the Commissioner are all to blame for letting this slide for so long without taking a stand. The fans are not innocent in this either. Take a look in the mirror and ask yourself if you wouldn't take something that would make you perform better, work less, and make you more money at your JOB if the majority of your co-workers were. As far as those who haven't come clean take a cue from A-Rod...The Truth Will Set You Free.

Things I know because the News tells me so

Here are a couple of things I know after this the second week of February 2009.

• A-Rod is guilty of "ignorance"...if anything and he'll always be a friend forever!


• Miguel Tejada is "bery bery sawry!"


• Robbie Alomar likes to hit it raw dawg.


• Robbie Alomar "allegedly" has The AIDS.


• Robbie Alomar "allegedly" was rapped by two Mexican men? Too much info.


• I'll never fully understand LOST...and I like it.


• Chris Brown's a biter. Seems he has more in common with Ike Turner or Marv Alberts then Marvin Gaye.


• I still don't believe Brett Favre's retiring. Let alone that he was hurt down the stretch. Man Up! Is there a more overrated sports star in history.


• The Pats will not trade Cassel to the Jets...Unless they offer their next 4 first rounders.
• The kid who Selma Hayek breast fed in Sierra Leone will never have a better meal in his life. BREAST MEAL EVER!
• Eddie was right it's EVOLUTION BABY!

100 Posts...Really?

And for my one hundredth post I present to you A-Rod + Roids = Too Easy. I'd like to thank A-Rod for blowing up the blog sphere with the recent news. Really A-Rod juicing...Who KNEW! Maybe that's why he liked getting freaky with American Gladiator sized strippers. Keep doing your thing A-Rod.

Now you're in the CLEAR for all the purple lip stick!

ba dum dum che! (rim shot)

Yankee fans officially have nothing to like about their star player. Red Sox fans everywhere are left to wonder about Nomar's use. Baseball fans now remove all the great moments in the game over 80's & 90's from their collective memories...Right? Somewhere in Atlanta Jamal Anderson's publicist is writing a thank you note to A-Rod.

At least he's not Chris Brown though! Too bad he'll be losing all this.

Celtics v. Lakers Rivalry Continued

I didn't get to see either of the last two Celtics games this week and I swear I am going to strangle the Direct TV tech today. Missing Ray Ray's game winner hurt, but not watching the grab ass in last nights game might have been for the best. Who knows watching an OT game where the C's lose to the Lake Show may have given me a stroke. From what I gather about the game. Eddie House took the last shot in regulation. Now, I know he was hot in the 4th, but I've seen Eddie "get those shots". Eddie doesn't "Hit Big Shots" and that is stated with love. Ray Allen is "That Guy". He will get you that shot and was clearly fouled, but I won't argue that point because it was a Huge rivalry game. Refs don't make those calls in these kind of games. I'd rather live with Ray Allen missing a big shot then Eddie is all I'm saying.

Doc also needs to stop the B.S. with Big Baby over Powe. Powe is obviously the better option in spots where you need a tough board. PJ Brown isn't walking through that door...until late April. Bib Baby is fine when he's getting garbage minutes, but when he's 1-8 and K.G. fouls out Powe is the obvious answer. Come on Doc you're better than that...Right?

Are you Sugar Ray?

After watching the surprisingly interesting and entertaining Superbowl despite the Steelers winning another title I needed something to turn my attention to. Unfortunately my DirecTv dish goes down the night Ray Allen hits a killer three to ice the Sixers. Figures. But, what if you watch the final play develop it is uncanny how the Big Three have gelled so seemlessly. Honestly it is like Pierce, Allen, & K.G. have been playing together since AAU. Watch how Pierce draws the defenders and Ray instantly cuts to his sweet spot. I don't blame the Sixers for taking the bait. Sure having three of the best players in the league on your team is a blessing. But, watching three bonafide stars, who could have egos about having to share touches, come together for the better of the team is a special thing to behold. In this day and age watching this team come together from the first game of 2008 to now is amazing.

Completely unrelated notes:

• How did Ben Coates not get a first ballot nod for the Hall?
• How the hell did James Harrison not get booted from the game for THIS!
• The Steelers are the class of the league...My Ass! To quote Tim McCarver "You're a real man Ryan Clark...You're a Real MAN!"
• You call this a parade Pittsburgh? We had a bigger one in Portland, ME for the Pats in 2001.