Just Saying, Is All… | Bill Belichick’s Dirty Secret

Sometimes it’s better to be hated than loved.

Bill Belichick is an established guru. He’s also, by some accounts, an Evil Genius. As the Patriots gear up for the 2009 season, their coach is suffering the typical slings and arrows from his critics in the blogosphere—which would be worse news if the barbs weren’t so integral to his master plan.

Popularity means appealing earnestly to the crowd.

Power, on the other hand, means answering exclusively to yourself.

I won’t pretend to harbor any fondness for Belichick. The surly press conferences speak volumes, and there’s something distasteful about a grown man in a hooded sweatshirt. But maybe distastefulness is precisely the point. On a stage where every hero is a slave to his audience, the most liberated actor is the one who embraces the role of the villain.

A tyrant rules by his own authority.

A pariah lives for his own applause.

If Belichick were more inclined to seek our approval, he wouldn’t be the high-achieving sociopath we’ve come to despise.

Success breeds contempt in the sports world. Belichick, Kobe Bryant, whoever’s pitching for the Yankees—we fans tend to lash out at habitual winners, especially when we find ourselves on the wrong side of the scoreboard. The irony, of course, is that those figures most worthy of our ire are generally the most indifferent to it. Psychologists will argue that Belichick’s icy persona is symptomatic of an obsessively singular focus. I’d counter that the mightiest champions are those for whom warmth is just another unhealthy distraction.

Boos are bad.

Losses are worse.

Belichick won’t make many friends between now and January, but the all-time greats aren’t concerned with anything so trivial as friendship.

The lead dog always walks alone. To be the best is to beat the world; to beat the world is to invite its scorn. Bill Belichick’s dirty secret is that he likes being the bad guy, because bad guys don’t have to give a damn about public opinion. Every conqueror claims to want the affection of his subjects. The shrewd one knows that all he really needs is the loyalty of his troops.

Bob Dylan never got busted for stealing signals, but he did learn a thing or two about the sting of popular rebuke:

Well, they’ll stone you when you walk all alone.
They’ll stone you when you are walking home.
They’ll stone you and then say you are brave.
They’ll stone you when you are set down in your grave.
But I would not feel so all alone,
Everybody must get stoned.

Which suggests at the very least that Wild Bill is in good company.

Because the road to the top is lined with rock-throwers, and anyone who boasts about making the trip unbruised is either as gorgeous as Tom Brady or only just saying, is all…

Jim Zorn Finds His Rhythm

Of the four big issues facing the Washington Redskins’ offense, head coach Jim Zorn is the least discussed.

Skepticism about quarterback Jason Campbell, fears about the offensive line, and doubt about young wide receivers get more ink in the build-up to the season.

Jim Zorn’s progress as head coach has the greater impact.

Zorn’s performance in the Steelers preseason game gives reason for hope.

He gambled on a deep pass on the opening play of Washington’s first possession. He called a fake a punt on the same 15-play drive that controlled the clock for almost seven minutes and ended with a score. He did this in the first quarter, when the Steelers weren’t expecting it and while there was time to recover from any setbacks.

After a lethargic performance against the Baltimore Ravens, Zorn found the exact way to energize his team. He called them “soft.”

That’s a fighting word to football players, but Zorn knew to do it. It motivated the Skins’ snarly nature against the Steelers.

Jim Zorn knows his team and is using it aggressively. Mr. Zorn has found his rhythm. 

Last year, the more the season fell apart, the more conservative coach Zorn became. The accidental coach can’t be blamed for that entirely. He was contending with degraded blocking and with receivers who delivered Brandon Lloyd-like performances. 

But just as fans expect their quarterback to be a playmaker, they want their coach to be a turn-around artist on the order of the Philadelphia Eagles’ Andy Reid.

The Eagles stood at 5-5-1 by week 12, 2008, including an embarrassing tie with the then 1-8 Cincinnati Bengals. The Redskins’ December win at home against the Eagles seemed to knock Philadelphia out of playoff contention.

Yet, Reid guided the Eagles to a wild card spot and led them as far as the conference championship game. Reid did that with pedestrian wide receivers and a sub-par (for him) performance from Brian Westbrook.

Reid found the right way to motivate quarterback Donovan McNabb. He benched him.

In spite of the sweep by Washington, Reid made the playoffs because he did what Jim Zorn failed to do, beat the Rams and 49ers and tie the Bengals, teams whose combined 2008 win-loss record was 13-34-1.
 
It’s no coincidence that Reid, who has the best win-loss record in the NFC East—97-56-1—since 1999 is also the longest serving coach in the division. Time on the job counts.

If you’ve had a career for longer than five years, you’ve seen this principle at work. It’s the sense that you do better in your second and third season on the job just because you know what to expect and how to prepare.

Talent gets the job. Practice hones skills. Only time allows the experience to know what to do better.

Winning isn’t just about having all the best players. It’s about making the best use of the talent you’ve got.

Brian Orakpo and Albert Haynesworth may be great additions for the Redskins. Those young receivers may finally come through. Jason Campbell might improve his performance by 33 percent.

But the Redskins might win two more games this season just because Jim Zorn has a better sense of what to do with his talent, quarterback, receivers, O-line, and all.

Chicago Bears Versus Denver Broncos: The Biggest Game of the 2009 NFL Preseason

If you can only watch one preseason game, you should watch the game between the Chicago Bears and the Denver Broncos.

Preseason games don’t mean anything at all–if you don’t believe me, the Lions went 4-0 in the preseason last year before going 0-16 in the regular season–but this game will be a very interesting one.

 

Game Details

Date: Sunday, Aug. 30

Time: 8 p.m. eastern time (6:00 local time)

TV Channel: NBC

Location: Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo.

Point Spread: Denver -2.5 (via DocSports’ NFL odds)

StubHub: Deals on Bears-Broncos Preseason Game Tickets

StubHub: Deals on Denver Broncos Regular Season Tickets

StubHub: Deals on Chicago Bears Regular Season Tickets

 

As you probably already know, Jay Cutler and Kyle Orton were traded for each other. Broncos fans are angry at Cutler for refusing to do anything unless he was traded. I can see why fans would hate Cutler, and I believe they did get the worse side of the trade.

Some might argue that Denver got the better side of the trade because of the draft picks. You have to remember, though, that just because a team has high draft picks and uses them for good college players doesn’t mean they will amount to anything in the NFL.

The No. 1 reason to watch this game is to see the quarterback battle. I am positive each quarterback will want to play better, command the game better, and perform better than the other.

These quarterbacks will play like it’s the Super Bowl, and it should be a great battle to watch.

Orton has the chance to make the Bears regret trading him away, but I don’t see him having a great day to change anyone’s mind. I liked Orton, but I didn’t see the Bears winning anything with him at quarterback.

Cutler will have to win Bears fans over during the course of the season, a process which he has already begun in earnest. This game is a great venue to continue doing so. If Cutler does well, the fans will continue to develop their love for him. If he doesn’t, well, it’s only the preseason, but you never want to do anything that might make the fans anxious or angry.

Be prepared to hear lots and lots of booing at Invesco Field, where Cutler used to play his home games. I expect to hear the fans boo every time Cutler is on the field until he steps off–that’s how much the fans there now despise Cutler.

Even Cutler expects to be hated endlessly.

This game should feel somewhat like a regular season game, at least until the starters leave. Up through that point, this game should be very enjoyable. The quarterbacks have things to prove, and the tension between the fans and players will give this game a regular season feel.

Overall, the first half will be a fun time for football fans. It will be a break from the boring and really long football preseason–I’m a fan of only two preseason games and adding more games to the regular season, for the record.

While this game logically doesn’t mean anything, it actually does. Coaches and players won’t tell you that it does, but I think it does.

Orton and Cutler are both thinking in their head: “I have to do better than the other guy,” and that alone should make the game exciting.

The idea that Bears switch week-to-week between loving and hating their starting quarterback is wrong, but you have to realize that Chicago has never had a franchise quarterback. No matter who they have tried, it’s just never happened. So when they get somebody who has the best chance to become a franchise quarterback, the highs and the lows have the potential to be more extreme.

On Sunday night, Jay Cutler has one more chance to get Bears fans believing before the regular season starts. The fact that he will do so in front of his angry former supporters makes it all the more intriguing.

Whether you’re a Bears fan, a Broncos fan, or just an NFL fan in general, this game should appeal to you. So everybody tune in to the game on Sunday.

You won’t be let down.

Fantasy Football Preseason Heroes: Running Backs

Here are some running backs putting up serious preseason numbers. Let’s take a look and see if they have a chance to translate some of that preseason production into fantasy worth in regular season play.

 

Glen Coffee, San Francisco 49ers

Coffee leads all RBs with 196 preseason rushing yards. He is averaging 6.5 yards per carry (YPC). He also has two receptions for eight yards, but has failed to score a TD.

The rookie out of Alabama is doing all the right things to serve as Frank Gore’s primary backup. 

If Gore goes down, Coffee’s value skyrockets. He is a great late round value as a Gore handcuff or trade bait.

 

Tyrell Sutton, Green Bay Packers

Sutton has 140 yards on 27 carries (5.2 YPC) with a TD. This could earn him a gig on a practice squad somewhere or a spot in the UFL.

Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons

The preseason means little, but it’s nice to know “the Burner” is picking up where he left off, with 128 yards on 13 carries (9.8 YPC) and a pair of TDs.

He is clearly a top four pick, with a bump in non-PPR leagues.

 

James Davis, Cleveland Browns

Davis has been shooting up fantasy draft boards with an amazing preseason.

He has looked great in practices and showed a glimpse of his big play potential with a 81-yard TD run against the lowly Detroit Lions en route to a 12 carry, 116 yard game. 

Through two preseason games, the rookie from Clemson has 121 yards on 14 carries (8.6 YPC) and three receptions.

He has plenty of competition in Jamal Lewis and Jerome Harrison, but let’s face it: The Browns are bad now and will be bad for a while.

It’s only a matter of time before they start planning for the future, and Jamal Lewis isn’t the future. Harrison is better suited for the change of pace role, meaning Davis could get the bulk of the carries.

 

Kory Sheets, San Francisco 49ers

Sheets has 102 yards on 22 carries (4.6 YPC), but only has a shot at making the team because of Thomas Clayton’s knee injury. He has no fantasy value.

 

Mike Bell, New Orleans Saints

Bell is an interesting option. I obviously wouldn’t carry him on my roster as long as Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas were healthy, but he could be productive if one of them went down with an injury.

He has 100 yards on 10 carries (10.0 YPC) this preseason with a 46-yard TD.

Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers

Again, I know it’s only the preseason, but it’s nice to see Grant find the end zone.

He has scored twice while running for 71 yards on 16 carries (4.4 YPC). He has also added a couple of receptions.  If he can score more than the four TDs he had last year, he’ll be one of the best RB2s in fantasy leagues this year.

Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants

Bradshaw appears poised to pick up Derrick Ward’s slack with 89 preseason yards on 11 carries (8.1 YPC) and four catches for 16 yards. He has the burst to break a big play and the soft hands to catch the ball out of the backfield.

Originally published at LestersLegends.com.

NFL Team Previews: Washington Redskins

Pigskin Heaven’s Sascha Bartels is breaking down every single team in the NFL prior to the season. Here is his analysis and forecast for the Washington Redskins. Click on a team to read its preview.

AFC East: BUF | MIA | NE | NYJ

AFC North: BAL | CIN | CLE | PIT

AFC South: IND | HOU | JAX | TEN

AFC West: DEN | KAN | OAK | SDG

NFC East: DAL | NYG | PHI | WAS

NFC North: CHI | DET | GBA | MIN

NFC South: ATL | CAR | NOL | TBA

NFC West: ARI | STL | SFO | SEA

 

What’s New?

It’s year two of the Jim Zorn era, and there weren’t quite as many changes, especially on offense, as there were last year.

Defensively, there were only a few moves made too, as this seems to be a rather quiet, uncharacteristic offseason for Dan Snyder.

He did ink Albert Haynesworth to a $100 million deal and kept DeAngelo Hall around while cutting ties with Shawn Springs and Jason Taylor.

This season, the Redskins had two draft picks in the first three rounds and six overall—both of those numbers could be records during the Snyder era. They made the early picks count, picking up perhaps the best defender in the draft in Brian Orakpo and later picking cornerback Kevin Barnes.

 

Three Burning Questions

 

Is Jason Campbell going to prove that he deserves to be this team’s QB?

In 36 games as the Redskins’ starter, Campbell has thrown 35 TDs. Considering the weapons given to him on offense, that’s just not enough.

Last year, while playing his first 16-game season, Campbell had respectable numbers in completion percentage (62.3), yards (3,245), and quarterback rating (84.3) and he only threw six interceptions. The glaring weaknesses along the stat line were 13 touchdowns he threw.

With Portis and Betts continuing to carry the running game and Santana Moss, Chris Cooley, and second-year pros Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly receiving, Campbell has to get his TD total to at least around 22 or the Redskins could soon be looking elsewhere.

 

Will Albert Haynesworth stay motivated now that he’s been paid?

That was the main concern expressed by many—that once Haynesworth earns his contract, he will slump into mediocrity and carelessness.

I would assume that Haynesworth heard these comments enough to be motivated by them at least for the first season.

He’s joined on the line by the likes of Andre Carter and Cornelius Griffin, and if those components all stay healthy it could mean a huge rookie season for Orakpo.

 

Will somebody establish themselves opposite Moss?

I mentioned Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly earlier. Both were second round picks last year, but neither had particularly good years.

They combined for 18 catches and 138 yards, and Thomas was responsible for most of that.

The smart money would be on Thomas to eclipse Kelly’s performance, but will he be good enough this year to provide Campbell with that added receiving weapon?

 

Prognosis

For the prognosis and final record, read the originally posted article here.

 

This is an original article by Pigskin Heaven Staffer, Sascha Bartels. You can read it, more of Sascha’s articles, and more from the Pigskin Heaven staff here.

Fantasy Scouting Report: Randy Moss

Randy Moss

New England Patriots

Age: 32

Height: 6’4″

Weight: 210 lbs

Bye: 8

Why We Like Him: Moss is still one of the best big-play wide receivers in the NFL. He possesses a rare combination of speed, size and balance which makes trying to contain him an absolute nightmare. While his numbers were slightly down in 2008, owners need to remember that the guy throwing him the rock (Matt Cassel) hadn’t started a football game since he was in high school.

In any event, Moss posted yet another top ten fantasy finish by catching 69 passes (28th) for 1,008 yards (21st) and 11 touchdown (third). All-World quarterback Tom Brady returns to the New England lineup this season, instantly elevating Moss’ 2009 fantasy value.

Why We Don’t Like Him: This is the place where some people might tell you that his age, character concerns and quarterback’s knee are a problem. We aren’t buying it. Moss still has the speed to get vertical on the outside and hasn’t created any sort of “off the field issue” since arriving in New England two years ago.

The only possible worry with Moss is the nasty New England weather that comes rolling through in November and December. The good news however, is that even some wind and snow can’t stop this passing attack.

Fantasy Outlook: After watching what this offense did in 2007 we are surprised there isn’t more hype surrounding Moss heading into 2009. The Patriots are going to once again throw the ball like crazy, meaning the targets, receptions and yards will be there. Additionally, Moss is still one of the scariest red zone threats in the league, having scored an absurd 34 receiving touchdowns over the past two years.

Don’t get caught thinking negative about Moss on draft day—it will come back to haunt you. Look for him at the beginning of the second round. Remember, this team is still pissed about that Super Bowl loss against the Giants in 2008. They are looking for redemption.

If you like this scouting report, CLICK HERE.

Hit me up on Twitter:  @JoeFortenbaugh

Vikings’ Favre Will Divide, Packers Will Conquer

It has started already.

The rumblings out of Minnesota. A team divided. A “schism” it’s being called.

In the words of one NFL source, Favre has “little support” in the locker room.

Ah, it’s music to my ears.

Like Napoleon Bonaparte, the self-proclaimed emperor of France that didn’t know when to stop, has Brett Favre gone too far and agitated his own Minnesota minions?

There are many players in the Viking locker room that don’t want Favre there. Some resent his riding in on his white horse to seemingly “rescue” the Vikings. “We didn’t need rescuing” is the sentiment.

Some resent the special treatment he has received from the Vikings organization and Brad Childress.

What self-respecting NFL coach drives to the airport to pick up a player? None. Except for Brad Childress.

Some are just buddies of Tarvaris Jackson and are incensed at the raw deal he has received. All T-Jack wanted was a fair fight between him and Sage Rosenfels. That scenario is officially dead.

And some are in Rosenfels’ corner. They felt he could bring the consistency that T-Jack lacks.

After all, the Vikings did pretty well when unspectacular, but steady Gus Frerotte was at the helm last year. Why not give Sage a chance? That possibility is also dead.

As Abe Lincoln said (borrowed from the new testament, I believe), “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

Will Favre turn the Minnesota Vikings into “Team Turmoil?” It really only depends on one thing—how well he plays. If he is able to play at a high level and lead the Vikings to some wins, most likely all will be forgotten.

I happen to be one Packer fan that still believes he can play and if healthy, he will help the Vikings. But I  don’t regret the Packers’ decision to go with Aaron Rodgers. That decision is looking better every day.

But if Favre playing well doesn’t come to pass, resentment will linger, the “schism” will get larger, and the Vikings divided “house” and season will come tumbling down.

Like the egomaniacal emperor Napoleon, Brett Favre has recorded many victories and conquered many hardships. But will going to Minnesota be his Waterloo and mark the end of his reign as emperor of the NFL?

If so, then perhaps the Packers will conquer the NFC North. As a Packer fan, it’s what I have to hope for.

——————————

You can find more of Jersey Al Bracco’s articles on several sports websites: Jersey Al’s Blog, Packer Chatters , Packers Lounge, NFL Touchdown and of course,  Bleacher Report.

You can also follow Jersey Al on twitter.

Diner Morning News: Can Tyler Thigpen Fit with Jacksonville Jags?

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NE @ Washington Preseason Preview: A Significant Insignificant Game

Preseason is preseason! Generally, success or lack of for any team means very little.

Former Redskins coach Joe Gibbs won two Super Bowls after finishing the preseason without a victory, while the 0-16 Detroit Lions won four preseason games in 2008.

 

However, if you look very closely at the game within the game, it is not difficult to pick up hints of team’s strengths and weaknesses heading in to the start of a season.

 

In his first game back from a season-ending knee injury in nearly a year, Tom Brady looked like…well, Tom Brady against the Eagles.

 

Brady completed 10 of 15 passes for 100 yards and two touchdown passes to tight end Chris Baker.

 

In the Patriots second preseason game against the Bengals at home, Brady and the offense looked out of sync in a lackluster 7-6 loss.

 

On the 13 snaps Brady played, he was hit by Bengal defenders on four of them. Patriots coach Bill Belichick wisely removed Brady early in the game, as the Bengals defensive speed appeared to catch the Patriots by surprise.

 

As for Jason Campbell and the Washington Redskins, let’s just say his play during the preseason has been dismissed as being the preseason.

 

Campbell has looked hesitant and off target in two brief appearances.

 

Having entered the season as the unwanted step child the Redskins settled for as a result of failing to land an alternative, Campbell’s confidence has been reeling since last November.

 

So, here we are in the third preseason game, a matchup between two playoff caliber teams with question marks.

 

Both Campbell and Brady are expected to play the first half, as will most starters on both sides of the ball.

 

Belichick and the Patriots offensive line will find out exactly where they stand heading in to the season as they face a revamped vaunted Redskins pass rush.

 

Rookie LB/DE Brian Orakpo and DT Albert Haynesworth will test the Patriots pass protection.

 

If given free shots at Brady like the Bengals had last week, back-up Kevin O’Connell may have to perform his best Matt Cassel imitation in 2009.

 

On the other side, Campbell doesn’t need to be great against a stingy Patriots defense, he just needs to be good.

 

He has to show signs of life and provide the Redskins faithful with some hope that he can be productive.

 

What does productive mean? Campbell has to lead two or three scoring drives of which one has to come via the pass.

 

Another touchdown shut-out performance by a Campbell led offense may convert many of his supporters into a Todd Collins fan.

 

Outside the significance of quarterback play in this insignificant contest are concerns for both teams that fans should watch for.

 

As bad as the Patriots offense looked against the Bengals, the prideful Belichick is expected to turn the heat up this week and he will demand perfection.

 

Easier said than done, but expect the Patriots to expose the Redskins weaknesses rather than focus on evaluating their players in certain situations.

 

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Brady and the offense run a 4- or 5-wide receiver set against the Redskins most of the game.

 

The Redskins will be without starting CB Carlos Rogers (calf) and reserve CBs Justin Tryon and rookie Kevin Barnes have been a step behind most of camp.

 

Brady only needs three seconds to hit his receivers in stride, and if the Patriots offensive line can provide that protection Brady should pick apart a thin Redskins secondary.

 

The Redskins will look to do the same against a revamped Patriots secondary that includes former Redskin S Shawn Springs.

 

Although the Patriots have plenty of young talent in their defensive backfield, Belichick likes to leave his DB’s on an island by sending multiple players on blitzes.

 

Campbell will have his shots to strike gold over the top, if hesitant as he has shown, it could get ugly and the boo-birds will sing at Fed-Ex Field.

 

A nationally televised game, expect to see an entertaining battle (for a half anyway) with both teams achieving offensively what they needed to accomplish entering the contest.

New England Patriots’ 2009 Outlook: Everything You Need to Know

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A year and a half ago, the life of a New England Patriots fan was an enviable one.

The franchise had already won three out of the last six Super Bowls and with what was hailed as arguably the greatest team ever assembled, the 18-0 Pats seemed like a lock for a fourth title.

Then Super Bowl XLII happened, in which the over-matched, yet undaunted New York Giants pulled off one of the most improbable wins in Super Bowl history and shattered the hearts of Patriots fans everywhere.

Since that fateful loss, the proverbial legs (and more specifically the legs of Tom Brady) have come out from underneath the Patriots.

During the first quarter of the first game of the 2008 season, the Pats’ superstar quarterback suffered a season-ending injury to his knee after enduring a low hit to the legs from Kansas City Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard.

The team was further plagued by the injury bug as running back Laurence Maroney, outside linebacker Adalius Thomas, and strong safety Rodney Harrison, each key members of the 2007 AFC Championship roster, were placed on the injured reserve list during the season.

A season-ending injury to backup running back Sammy Morris in November certainly didn’t help things either.

Despite the valiant efforts of overachieving backup quarterback Matt Cassel (11-5 record) to fill Brady’s enormous cleats, the undermanned 2008 Patriots barely missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2002 season.

With a rejuvenated Tom Brady rejoining a talented roster filled with key offseason acquisitions, expectations are high again and New England sports fans anticipate watching a playoff run through January (and maybe even February) before their attention shifts to the Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins.

While a Patriots fan is more likely to buy an Eli Manning jersey than entertain the thought of completing the undefeated season the 2007 team came so close to achieving, the Patriots are an early contender to regain their spot as the NFL’s top team, and once again, it’s a good time to be a Pats fan.

 

Three Key Additions

 

Fred Taylor (RB, from Jacksonville Jaguars)

Fred Taylor’s 11-year stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars was feast or famine, as his career has been marked as much by impressive accomplishments on the field (12,271 rushing yards, 4.6 career yards per carry) as it has been by nagging injuries, which so often kept him off the field (played in only 141 of 176 possible regular season games with the Jaguars).

In his 11 seasons, Taylor contributed greatly to four different Jacksonville playoff runs. However, each of the Jaguars’ playoff bids have come up short of the Super Bowl, with the past two playoff losses coming at the hands of…the New England Patriots.

After an illustrious, yet frustrating career with one franchise, the 33-year-old Taylor would love to play in and hopefully win a Super Bowl before he retires (reminiscent of Corey Dillon, isn’t it?).

Taylor will back up the aforementioned Morris.

 

Joey Galloway (WR, from Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

A four time Pro-Bowler who has also never played in the Super Bowl, the 37-year-old Joey Galloway is an accomplished wide out who offers Brady an immensely reliable option on offense.

In 14 NFL seasons, which include stints with Seattle, Dallas, and Tampa Bay, Galloway has caught 10-plus touchdown passes in a season three times and has amassed 1,000-plus receiving yards in a season five times.

Despite an injury plagued 2008 season, in which he only played nine games, Galloway will be poised to line up alongside Randy Moss and Wes Welker as the team’s No. 3 receiver.

 

Shawn Springs (CB, from Washington Redskins)

Entering his 13th NFL season, Shawn Springs joins the Patriots after successful stints in Seattle and Washington, respectively. Springs was voted to the Pro Bowl in 1998 and in 2004, he became the first cornerback in NFL history to lead his team (at that time the Redskins) in both interceptions (five) and sacks (six).

Respected by opposing quarterbacks as one of the better veteran defensive players in the NFL, Springs will start for the Pats at cornerback along with new acquisition Leigh Bodden.

 

Three Key Losses

 

Rodney Harrison (SS, Retired)

You can argue that he was a dirty player, but you simply cannot deny the tremendous impact that the tenacious Rodney Harrison had on the Patriots’ during his six seasons with the team.

A vocal team leader, Harrison anchored the secondary of the Pats’ stifling defense on the way to Super Bowl victories in 2003 and 2004.

After the 2008 season, during which he suffered a season-ending quadricep injury in a game against the Denver Broncos, Harrison announced that he would retire from the NFL and join the panel of NBC’s Football Night in America as an analyst.

Harrison leaves behind what was already a lackluster secondary at the end of last season.

 

Ellis Hobbs (CB, Traded to Philadelphia Eagles)

While Ellis Hobbs will unfortunately be remembered by Patriots fans as “the guy covering Plaxico Burress at the end of Super Bowl XLII”, he will also be remembered for his grittiness and hustle.

Standing at a diminutive 5’9″, Hobbs was a tough defensive player who missed only one game due to injury in his four seasons with the Pats and picked off nine passes during that span.

 

Matt Cassel (QB, Traded to Kansas City Chiefs)

One of the pleasant surprises of the 2008 NFL season, Matt Cassel’s play in the wake of Tom Brady’s absence far surpassed the expectations of Patriots fans.

Having not started a game at quarterback for a team since high school, Cassel went 10-5 in his 15 starts and was even named the Associated Press Offensive Player of the Week on two different occasions.

Patriots fans truly appreciated Cassel’s performance in his one season as the team’s starting quarterback, but with Brady returning from injury, the team had no choice but to trade Cassel’s value.

 

Key Matchup: Nov. 8 vs. Miami Dolphins

The last time the Miami Dolphins came to Gillette, they embarrassed the Patriots in a 38-13 blowout. Although the Pats managed to even the season series with a 48-28 romping of their own in Miami later in the season, the Dolphins are the defending champions of the AFC East, a title the Pats would like to have back.

 

Key Player Matchup: Nov. 15 at Indianapolis Colts

The ongoing debate of “Brady or Manning?” is as contentious a debate as the “Kobe/Lebron” argument that currently captivates the NBA world.

Peyton Manning is fresh off earning his third NFL MVP award, but the 2007 NFL MVP, Brady, has three Super Bowl rings to Manning’s one.

Initially a spirited, yet one sided rivalry in favor of Brady’s Pats, Manning’s Colts reinvigorated the rivalry during the 2006 playoffs, beating the Pats in the AFC championship en route to a Super Bowl XLI victory.

Pats-Colts games are often hard-fought barn burners where two of the games’ best QBs orchestrate a wild 60-minute show of “can you top this?”

 

Key Coaching Matchup: Oct. 11 at Denver Broncos

Josh McDaniels’ departure from the Patriots’ coaching staff is unlikely to spark a war of words/awkward post-game handshakes with Pats’ coach Bill Belichick, such as the rivalry that ensued between Belichick and Eric Mangini (McDaniel’s predecessor as the Pats’ offensive coordinator) when Mangini left the Pats to coach the Jets.

Still, it will be interesting to see what the pupil throws at the professor when McDaniels and Belichick coach from opposite sidelines for the first time.

 

Overall Outlook

The main concern of Patriots fans this season is the health of Tom Brady. After tearing his ACL in the season opener last year, Brady has worked extremely hard to get back on the field for this season and has enjoyed a virtually seamless rehab thus far.

That doesn’t mean, however, that Patriots fans won’t be holding their collective breath every time Brady endures a big hit from an opposing defensive player (which probably won’t happen often due to the Pats’ solid offensive line).

Even after a yearlong hiatus, the record-setting Brady-Randy Moss duo is still one of the deadliest in football. While Moss remained a model teammate even as Cassel struggled to figure out how to utilize Moss’ abilities, Moss must be chomping at the bit to hit the field with No. 12 again. Expect Moss’ numbers to be more like those of his 2007 season.

Pro-Bowler Wes Welker, who thrives in the slot and can do just about anything on a football field, makes this arguably the best quarterback-receiving corps in the NFL. Newcomer Joey Galloway will only help.

Led by perennial Pro-Bowler Richard Seymour, the Pats’ D-Line is the team’s greatest strength on the other side of the ball.

Behind Tedy Bruschi, the older, yet still effective linebacker corps hits hard, but is vulnerable across the middle of the field.

The additions of Springs and Bodden will bolster the backfield, but Harrison’s departure leaves a huge void. Third-year Patriot Brandon Meriweather and even rookie Patrick Chung will be called upon at the safety position.

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