NFL Kills Draft Fun in the Name of Revenue

I’m starting to see a pattern with Roger Goodell’s leadership as commissioner of the NFL, and the cliched phrase that comes to mind is “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Or maybe a better choice would be “mo’ money, mo’ money, mo’ money!”

Early on in his tenure I liked what I saw from Goodell, and that was even as he was fining and taking draft picks from my beloved New England Patriots for the video taping incident of 2007. I thought Goodell handled that situation as it should’ve been handled, and did not cave to the overhyped media frenzy that followed.

Goodell has been strict on player conduct, and that has become the thing he has hung his hat on. However, in almost all other areas we’re starting to see change just for the sake of change. As in “cha-ching” change.

There are rumblings of a proposed 18-game season, while axing a couple preseason games. Sure, we can all agree that four preseason games are too many but teams can barely make it through 16 games with all their players healthy. 18 games would only mean more injuries, more fatigue, and ultimately, worsened quality of play.

But that doesn’t matter, because 18 regular season games would mean significantly more cash flow, and that’s what we’re seeing the new NFL is all about.

The last weekend in April has been one of my favorite times of the offseason, as it is for all NFL fans. From the moment our team’s season ends we begin to research the new crop of rookies about to enter the NFL. We find players who would be perfect for our team, the missing pieces to get us over the edge.

After three months of research, speculation and mock drafts, it all culminates on that last Saturday in April with the NFL Entry Draft. NFL fans spend two days around the TV, with friends and often reluctant family members. There are pools, predictions and for one weekend in the middle of spring, football reigns supreme.

At least it did. But those days are gone.

On Thursday the NFL announced the draft would be moving to a three-day event. The first round will air at 7:30pm EST on Thursday, April 22nd. The second and third rounds will air at 6:30pm EST on Friday, and the final four rounds will air on Saturday.

The move was painted as a chance to move the NFL draft to primetime (where advertisers would pay far more), while also “making it more accesible” to fans.

The reaction from NFL fans has been overwhelmingly negative. In a Boston.com poll over two-thirds of those polled were against the change. And that’s on the East Coast, at least they’ll be able to watch it!

How does putting something on TV at 4:30pm on a Thursday for West Coasters make it more accesibile than on a Saturday? I guess we can cross out anyone in the Pacific Time Zone from watching the majority of the first three rounds.

Not to mention Thursday night is the most competitive night of television. Survivor, Grey’s Anatomy, The Office, 30 Rock and CSI are just some the shows that occupy Thursday evenings. The draft is sure to lose viewers to some of those shows as well, especially for those football fans whose wives are big Katherine Heigl fans.

Even the many fans who make the yearly trip to New York City to see the draft in person are going to have alter their plans. It’s a safe bet that the new incarnation of the draft will no longer have the same overzealous crazies occupying the upper deck of Radio City Music Hall. Even they must have jobs, right?

The loss of that atmosphere will be one of the most disappointing things about the draft format.

The only people I can see happy with this change are the casual fans who live on the East Coast, who will be out of work in plenty of time, and happy to no longer “waste” a Saturday in front of the TV. As opposed to the diehard fans who considered a full weekend of draft-watching anything but a waste.

Sadly the game is no longer being marketed towards those fans.

If a change had to be made, why not have the first round on Friday night at 8pm EST? West Coast fans could still see it, draft parties would still have something to watch on Saturday, and you’d still get the primetime audience on a night where television is far less competitive than Thursdays (which is arguably the most competitive night of the entire week).

It’s starting to become clear that the NFL under Roger Goodell is going to be about cashing in, and making change simply to put Goodell’s stamp on the league.

Personally I hope this new draft format is a failure. The reasons are many. I won’t be able to watch much, if any, of the first two rounds, and it ruined what was one of my favorite weekends of the year.

But maybe most of all I just wish the NFL wasn’t the latest victim to become only about money at the expense of the people who love it most.

The casual NFL fan has never cared much about the draft and just because it’s on primetime now won’t make them care. Casual fans watch the draft for one thing: who their team picks. They are not staying up until 11pm on a Thursday night to find out who the Titans take at 27th overall.

The NFL is now trying to cater to the casual fans but the problem is that it’s not the casual fans who made the NFL the booming juggernaut that it currently is.

That was done by the diehards; those who buy the draft magazines, who hang on every Mel Kiper Mock Draft, who buy a new collection of team schwag every season, who used to watch every second of the draft from Saturday until Sunday night.

They write the blogs and the tweets and often have more passion for the teams they follow than the jobs that pay their bills.

By turning its back on these fans the NFL is making a mistake, and biting the hand that fed them in the first place.

We can only hope that the changes will have negative results, and a more fan-friendly schedule will be reinstalled.

If not, the NFL will not only fail to gain new fans, it will lose the ones it already has.

Mike Dussault is a Patriots Community Leader and ready for the season to just start already.

The New England Patriots’ Top Five Training Camp Battles

We are mere Fixdays away from the opening of training camps around the NFL, and for the New England Patriots there will be more competition at starting spots than there has been in a long time.

Here is a look at the top five battles at Patriots’ camp and our projection of who will come out on top:

 

5. Right Tackle

Nick Kaczur has been decent in his four years with the Pats, but the addition of monsterman Sebastian Vollmer via the second round of this year’s draft could make things interesting. Vollmer played both left and right tackle in mini-camps, and has the size and athleticism to contribute right away. The wild card is Ryan O’Callaghan, who has seen spot duty in three seasons though he missed almost all of 2008 with an injury.

Our Projection: Kaczur holds off the young Sea Bass. O’Callaghan is sent packing.

 

4. Starting Running Back

The Patriots favor the running back-by-committee approach. No matter how the depth chart looks, all healthy backs will get a chance to carry the rock. 

Free agent Fred Taylor will certainly make things interesting for Laurence Maroney, but Maroney has the one thing the other three top RBs on the roster dont: young legs. Sammy Morris has been reliable when not hurt in his two years with the Pats.

Kevin Faulk‘s role is etched in stone as the third down back/screen nightmare for opposing defenses. Second year back BenJarvus Green-Ellis looked good in spot duty last year. He runs hard, but is ineligible for the practice squad, so he’ll have to make the team outright if he’s to remain with the Pats.

Our Projection: Maroney comes to camp with something to prove, letting the Pats give him the early carries. Ensuring Taylor stays healthy for the playoffs is paramount. Morris could be the odd man out if the team doesn’t keep four backs. A minor injury to one of these guys wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing.

 

3. Tight End

Chris Baker, signed as a free agent, and Alex Smith, acquired in a trade with Tampa Bay, were brought in this offseason to compete with Ben Watson and David Thomas. When you look at the stats of all four, no one jumps off the page. Patriots fans are well aware of Watson’s athletic ability, but also a collection of drops and fumbles in key moments (see last year’s loss to the Jets). Thomas had a critical unnecessary roughness penalty against the Colts that cost the Pats a shot at overtime.

Baker was always solid against the Patriots in his days with the Jets, and Smith has the versatility that Bill Belichick loves. Both should push Watson not only as primary blockers, but as receivers in the spread offense as well.

Our Projection: Watson’s familiarity with Tom Brady gives him an advantage, but Baker is signed through 2013 and will have a significant role with the team. Watson may win the starting spot in training camp but it’s just a matter of time before Baker is the go-to guy.

 

2. Outside Linebacker

Mike Vrabel’s departure left a huge opening at starting outside linebacker, and there was no shortage of rumors about players outside the organization that might be brought in to take over. First there were the Julius Peppers rumors, then the Derrick Burgess rumors, but ultimately the Pats stuck with what they had.

Tully Banta-Cain, who was brought back this offseason, spent some time starting at OLB for the Pats in 2006 when Junior Seau went down and Mike Vrabel shifted to inside linebacker. He looks to be more like insurance if the youngsters don’t emerge.

All signs point towards Pierre Woods being the starter on opening day. Woods was solid while filling in for Adalius Thomas, until being lost with a broken jaw against the Steelers. Note I said “solid” and not “spectacular” or “great”; Patriots fans will still be looking for him to really emerge.

The wild card is Shawn Crable. The second-year player from Michigan showed some promise in the 2008 preseason but didn’t play a down in the regular season after going down with a shin injury. No player will be watched closer that Crable in training camp, but it might be a lot to ask for him to take the starting spot from Woods. More likely he will contribute on special teams and spot pass rush duty.

Vince Redd could also be in the mix. And if all else fails, Banta-Cain is a reliable fall back option.

Our Projection: Woods will be the starter, especially on run downs, but Bill Belichick can get creative using Crable and Banta-Cain as third down pass rushers. If Crable shows enough in camp Banta-Cain could become expendable. Redd should remain primarily as a special teamer.

 

1. Cornerback

After ranking 28th in third-down defense in 2008 it was hardly a surprise to see a revamp of the cornerback position both in free agency and in the draft. The Patriots now have a collection of five cornerbacks, all of whom could potentially start.

The two veteran free agents are Leigh Bodden and Shawn Springs. Bodden hopes to revive his career in New England after an impressive start in Cleveland was negated when he spent 2008 with the Lions. Springs might be 34 but he still has something left in the tank, and can always play safety if he’s needed to.

The three youngsters are rookie Darius Butler, and second-year players Jonathan Wilhite and Terrence Wheatley.

Wilhite ended 2008 starting at left cornerback, and looked good in mini-camps. Wheatley was looking promising in 2008 as well, earning his first start against the Colts, but was lost for the season in that very game with a wrist injury.

Butler was a steal in the second round this year, he was an explosive playmaker at UConn. He will push for playing time if he can get the system down quickly.

Our Projection: Springs and Bodden have the experience to win the starting jobs out of camp, but Wilhite and Wheatley will be ready to go and should immediately improve sub-packages with multiple defensive backs. Looks for rookie safety Pat Chung to contribute there as well. Butler will look to make an impact on Special Teams and wait for his number to be called. Injuries always seem to hit the Patriots defensive backfield, but this year they appear to be ready with quality depth that runs five players deep.

 

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Mike Dussault is a Patriots Community Leader and just bought his annual Patriots hat, a fitted red throwback in honor of the AFL 50th Anniversary.

The New England Patriots Have Reason To Fear Rex Ryan’s Defense

 

 

The Play That Cost the 2008 New England Patriots the Playoffs

It would be easy to say that Tom Brady going down in Week One was the defining moment of the 2008 New England Patriots.

Sure, in many ways it was, but with Brady going down just fifteen offensive plays into 2008 there was still a full season of football to be played. So, ultimately the 2008 Patriots were not defined by a lack of Tom Brady, they were defined by not being able to beat any of the elite teams they faced.

In a season where the AFC East was decided by the third tie-breaker (conference record) there were a handful of plays that, had they gone the other way, might’ve put division champs crown upon the Patriots’ lofty brow. 

You never truly know when you’re making the mistakes that will come back to haunt you.

At Indianapolis, some may point to Jabar Gaffney’s dropped touchdown pass or David Thomas’ unnecessary roughness penalty as the moments that cost the Pats at least a shot at overtime, and potentially a win.

But there was another play that I believe was truly the difference in the 2008 Patriots season and that play came in overtime against the New York Jets in Week 11.

At half-time it looked like it was going to be a Jets romp, but the Pats clawed their way back into the game, culminating with Matt Cassel threading a touchdown pass to Randy Moss as time expired to force overtime.

New England had amassed over 500 yards of total offense and looked primed for a huge come-from-behind win. But, as fate would have it, the Jets won the coin toss and chose to receive the ball in overtime.

When the New York offense took the field on their 20-yard line it was impossible to know that the playoff fate of the Patriots hung in the balance.

On first down, Pierre Woods, in his first start filling in for an injured Adalius Thomas, sacked Brett Favre for a loss of five yards. Then Gary Guyton broke up a pass intended for Leon Washington on second down, forcing the Jets into a third-and-15 situation.

This was the defining moment of the 2008 season.

Given how the Patriots offense was clicking on all cylinders, it’s likely a stop on this third down would’ve given New England a good shot at winning the game. 

But that is easier said than done. Third down was the Achilles Heel for the 2008 New England Patriots, where they ranked 26th in the NFL in forcing a punt.

As Brett Favre dropped back, the Patriots rushed only three defenders, dropping the rest into coverage. Unfortunately, Jerod Mayo, who had his “coming out party” this game with a game-high 20 tackles, dropped to the wrong zone leaving Jet TE Dustin Keller with a seam down the middle.

Favre saw the mistake and exploited it. Keller made the catch and busted through Brandon Meriweather to pick up the first down.

You can see this play here at the 5:10 mark.

In and of itself, this was just another third down conversion given up by the New England defense. There were a lot of them in 2008. The Pats gave up a first down on 44 percent of the third-downs they faced.

The Jets were still 35 yards from the edge of Jay Feely’s field goal range, so yes, there were other chances for the Pats to make a stop.

But none were as favorable as the 3rd-and-15.

The Jets’ drive continued and it was Jay Feely’s 34-yard Field Goal that put the final dagger through the hearts of the Patriots.

The Patriots only lost one more game in 2008, a blowout to the Pittsburgh Steelers, before sweeping their final four games to bring them to a tie record-wise for the division lead at 11-5.

But it was too late, the tie-breaker went to Miami by virtue of their AFC conference record which was one game better than the Pats’, after the Dolphins feasted on the easiest schedule in the NFL.

Miami and Arizona were the only playoffs teams the Pats were able to defeat in 2008. They lost to the Colts, Chargers, Steelers and of course the week three Wildcats.

You never know when your fatal flaw is going to hurt you the worst, but now it’s clearly fitting that a mistake on third-and-long was ultimately a play that might’ve kept New England out of the playoffs.

It’s amazing that a simple mistake by a rookie linebacker who had, until that point, been playing the best game of his pro career, might’ve been the difference between hosting a playoff game against Baltimore or booking tee times.

Who knows, maybe the Jets would’ve stopped Cassel, Moss and Welker even if the Pats had gotten the ball back. Or maybe it would’ve ended in a tie. Or maybe Brett Favre would’ve spontaneously retired before their next possession. 

“Woulda, Shoulda, Coulda” is not something the New England Patriots dwell on, however it’s still interesting to look back upon the seemingly insignificant plays that will define your season.

 

Mike Dussault is a Patriots Community Leader and the author of numerous unproduced screenplays. He can be reached at PatriotsPropaganda@gmail.com.

Love Him Or Hate Him, You’re Going to Miss Rodney Harrison

Rodney Harrison made his presence felt on the New England Patriots in just his second day of training camp in 2003.

While doing “light contact drills” Harrison laid out star Patriots receiver Troy Brown. Brown fired the ball at the former Chargers safety and the two almost came to blows.

Anyone who knows the easy-going Troy Brown can attest to how uncommon a display of emotion that was for him. And anyone who has watched Rodney Harrison play a down of football can attest to how common a hit like that was for him.

Harrison had that effect on players throughout his career.

“We knew what he was about,” said Patriot cornerback Ty Law of the incident, “but after that, we really knew what he was about.”

With Harrison’s retirement from the NFL on Wednesday, he leaves behind a legacy of hard, and sometimes just a wee bit late, hits and clutch plays on the biggest stages.

While Harrison only played six seasons for New England, it was there that he cemented his place in NFL history with a pair of Super Bowl rings.

Despite being the only player to ever record 30 sacks and 30 interceptions, he is by no means a lock for the Hall of Fame. Especially if you factor in the slew of fines he received over the course of his career, along with the suspension for four games in 2007 for using HGH.

But what cannot be argued is his place near the top of the list of Patriot and NFL greats.

Every time Harrison finished a season healthy with the Pats they were playing in the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, that has only happened once since their last Super Bowl title in 2004.

In 2005, Harrison was lost for the season when he tore multiple knee ligaments against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week Three.

In 2006, Harrison was first lost against the Colts after breaking his right shoulder blade. He returned in week fifteen, only to injure his knee in the season finale against Tennessee thanks to a low hit from Bobby Wade.

In 2008, Rodney was lost in week seven against the Denver Broncos after tearing his right quad, in what would be his last football game. His final wave to the crowd as he was driven off the field on the back of a cart was an unfitting end for such a spectacular player.

It’s no secret why the Patriots were so successful in the playoffs when Hot Rod was healthy.

In nine playoff games with the Patriots, Harrison recorded a Patriots record seven interceptions (one for a TD against Pittsburgh in the 2004 AFC Championship), two forced fumbles, two sacks, and led the team in tackles three times.

That kind of game production is not easily replaced. Nor is the intensity and leadership that Harrison brought to every practice and meeting he ever attended.

Perhaps that was where Rodney Harrison’s greatest contribution to the Patriots came, which is saying a lot when you look at the numbers he put up.  Bill Belichick’s comments upon Rodney’s retirement sum up how much he meant to the franchise both on and off the field.

He, along with current players like Tom Brady and Tedy Bruschi, and past players like Mike Vrabel and Willie McGinest, are the ones who established the culture of hard work and dedication inside the New England locker room.

Harrison has always had his critics, those who called him the “dirtiest player in the NFL”, but he’s a player that everyone would want on their team. You knew when you were playing against Rodney Harrison, he made sure of that.

He played the game with as much passion and intensity as the game has ever seen, and will be missed not only by Patriots fans, but by football fans everywhere who loved to hate him.

 

Mike Dussault is a Patriots Community Leader and ready for the 2009 season to start asap. He can be reached at PatriotsPropaganda@gmail.com.

The New England Patriots Rookie Eyeball Test

The best way to get over your draft hangover is to see what the new rookies look like in their new uniforms. Well, maybe just in their new helmets/facemasks and what numbers they choose, but it’s still fun to make a snap judgement .

Even the small details such as these can give you an impression of what kind of player the rookie might turn out to be. It’s called the “Eyeball Test” and here’s our review of the newest Patriots after today’s Rookie Mini-Camp.

By the way, Belichick is only rocking a B+ in this shot for his Eyeball Test. His sleeves are rolled up instead of cut off. What the heck is with that!?

Draft Day Is Christmas for NFL Fans

The countdown to draft weekend is a long and tedious one from the moment your favorite NFL team’s season finishes.

For most of us, the season comes crashing to a bitter and disappointing end. While the start of Free Agency and the release of the NFL season schedule are dates to look forward to, it’s the draft that is the ultimate start of the new season, and the first gold star day to put on the calendar.

For those fans lucky enough to witness their team win the Super Bowl, the draft is a chance to remind the other 31 how last season ended.

Pittsburgh fans can look forward to plenty of highlights and constant praise for their team.

And for Arizona Cardinals fans, there will be constant kicks in family jewels as they see James Harrison running back that fumble for a touchdown over and over again.

But with the draft comes the hope that springs eternal for all fans. It’s the Christmas Day of the NFL season, when every team gets a fresh batch of new toys to play with. The missing ingredients from last year’s failure, those who will take them to the Promised Land.

Like Christmas Day, many fans have their traditions for how to celebrate the day. For those out there lacking a Draft Day itinerary I will share my own, and I encourage other fans to share their plans below in the comments.

The first part of a successful draft watching is preparation. I begin by purchasing any draft magazine I can get my hands on, usually in mid-February, and putting it in the place where it will be most likely to get read: next to the toilet.

This research can be done over the three months leading up to the big day, so by the time Draft weekend arrives I will know what players my team might be targeting. Think of it like putting together your Christmas list.

The second part is the setting up of the war room which is kind of like putting up the Christmas Tree or hanging the stockings.

This year I am planning on the following set-up:

The main TV will be tuned to ESPN since the stupid stalemate between NFL Network and my local cable service, Time Warner, rages on.

However the folks at NFL.com will be kind enough to stream their draft coverage live, so I will also be bringing in a computer to show it. NFL Network’s coverage is far superior to ESPN’s. I much prefer access to team war rooms than interviews with drafted players, but that’s just me.

But one computer will not be enough on Draft Saturday. You need a second for research and analysis as the picks start to roll in.

By the time the second round rolls around, the odds of your team selecting someone you’ve never heard of greatly increase, even if you’ve been diligent in your research. So you need a free computer to check the stats and reaction.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, is the food. What would Christmas Day be without the meal?

The draft is six long hours. Sure you can just order out, but for me a lot of the fun about watching football is cooking. Call it an in-home tailgate.

This year I will be serving sloppy joes that I make in the crock pot. It’s easy, and the aroma will fill the house as the first picks start to roll in. Nothing like stuffing yourself with a homemade meal as the Raiders make another misguided pick.

All of this will make for the ultimate draft experience. Unfortunately the draft can often be somewhat anti-climactic. You wait all this time, then you’re team picks their players and that’s it until training camp.

So having lots of distractions and good food are solid ways to make the day a little less tedious. Just like you do on Christmas when you have to deal with unruly relatives and gifts you don’t really like.

Cheers to all NFL fans this weekend; the 2009 season is upon us, and we’re all back at the bottom of the pile.

Mike Dussault is a Patriots Community Leader and can be reached at PatriotsPropaganda@gmail.com. He also got sucked into Twitter at PatsPropaganda. He plans on blogging and tweeting throughout Draft Weekend but that could be dependent on his alcohol intake.

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