When the Patriots sleepwalk their way to victory here over an undermanned and banged-up Dolphins team, you’ll hear all the cliches about division games being so tough and the challenge presented by Miami.
Don’t believe it.
Miami is not good and the Patriots, TODAY, are just a little better.
Halftime Grades
Offense
Line (C-) … The Miami line has taken over.
backs (B) … Kevin Faulk A+++, the rest inc.
Receivers (B+) … Wes Welker is the best football player on the field … again.
QB (C) … Brady isn’t workng with much, what with rookie Vontae Davis taking Randy Moss out of the game. But the QB hasn’t dazzled.
Defense
Line (C) … No pressure, and Miami has chugged for 76 yards on 13 carries
Linebackers (D) … Still no sight of Gary Guyton, Jerod Mayo and Adalius Thomas
Defensive backs (C-) … Give Pat Chung credit for a sack. The rest has been ugly.
No answers by the Pats’ defense for the Wildcat of for Pat White and Miami’s option game.
if they didn’t feel like they were in for a fight, the Patriots do now.
Ricky Willliams scores too easily. 10-10.
The place is dead, Miami, which at one point lost a pair of defenders on one play, is wounded and the crowd is mute.
Brady and the offense seem to have ample opportunity to put points up, I just don’t know if Miami is going to be able to score.
5:26 in, and it looks like Miami is intent on pounding at the Pats insides with the running game.
No sign of the Wildcat yet, but the dolphins really didn’t need it, moving off Vontae Davis’ interception down the field for a 52-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead.
Just past the official half-way mark, Week 9 of the 17 weeks.
I have only one upset, if it is considered an upset, on Monday night.
Enjoy …
Sunday’s games
NEW ENGLAND 27, Miami 20 … Pats will have to earn this one
ATLANTA 38, Washington 17 …. Falcons are in must-win-big mode
CHICAGO 27, Arizona 23 … Could go either way
CINCINNATI 24, Baltimore 20 … I can’t believe I’m picking Bengals
INDIANAPOLIS 27, Houston 26 … Might be a colossal upset
Green Bay 41, TAMPA BAY 20 … Bucs a mess at QB
Kansas City 20, JACKSONVILLE 17 … Is this my dumbest pick of ‘09?
NEW ORLEANS 41, Carolina 21 … Saints dominate start to finish
SEATTLE 23, Detroit 16 … Who cares?
SAN FRANCISCO 31, Tennessee 17 … Time for 49ers to make move
NY GIANTS 26, San Diego 24 … Giants will win close one
PHILADELPHIA 31, Dallas 17 … Pick of the week
Monday night
DENVER 23, Pittsburgh 20 … I still believe in Broncos
Home team in CAPS
Last week: 6-7
Season: 74-41
An interesting sight after the Celtics buried the Charlotte Bobcats last night was watching Rasheed Wallace watching Game 1 of the World Series on the bigscreen TV in the Celtics locker room.
Wallace, a lifelong Phillies fan, was commenting on each pitch as if he was in the booth.
The former high school player of the year attended Simon Gratz High School in Philadelphia. According to Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.com), Wallace was on the basketball and track teams. Last night he told me he played on the baseball team, too.
“I pitched and played right field,” said Wallace. “I was pretty good.”
As for his fastball, I asked him if he threw it hard.
“Yeah, but man I was wild,” he laughed.
From watching his play-by-play, he knows baseball.
“All the Yankees got is CC (Sabathia) and the closer (Mariano Rivera),” said Wallace. “We can hit everybody else.” Note: I had a column in today’s Eagle-Tribune about Wallace’s seamless transition into Celtic-hood.
Disclaimer: I believe the Phillies can beat the New York Yankees. They are that talented and, as Don Zimmer said in column I wrote today in The Eagle-Tribune, they are tough. Oh yeah, they’re defending champs, too.
But the New York Yankees will win the World Series. I believed this was a semi-mirage, their incredible 2009 season. But you don’t do to the Angels what they did, which was dominate the series (4-2), unless you are very, very good.
What the Phillies having going for them is the fact that they won’t fear the Yankees. That will account for something.
But I see Pedro Martinez starting in Game 2 for the Phillies and that smacks desperation in my mind. Pedro was good last week against the Dodgers, but the Yankees are different. I’m guessing Pedro gets whalloped.
That means Game 1 is pivotal for the Phillies and I just don’t see CC Sabathia giving in. I see the Yankees winning the first game, 2-1, and then grinding it out in five games, possibly six.
Your thoughts?
If you asked 100 Boston Celtics fans if the team should sign Rajon Rondo, at least 95 would say “Yes,” with about 75 adding the exclamation point.
The point is almost everybody would like Rondo’s services. So that is not in question.
The question is: At what price?
The Celtics reportedly have offered Rondo under $10 million per year over five years. While that’s not disrespectful (he had better not say it is), it isn’t elite money.
The reason why this is a necessity is that by Saturday night, Halloween no less, is the Celtics’ exclusive window of signing Rondo to an extention. If they don’t, Rondo becomes a restricted free agent, which means the Celtics have the right to match an offer.
I will say this. If Rondo is offered $13 million plus per year by somebody else, he’s gone.
Maybe the Celtics and Rondo agree to five years at $50 million.
What Rondo has going for him is the fact that he will be the No. 1 point guard available.
What Rondo has going against him is that two super super superstars, including LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, and several superstars will be on the market as well, probably drying up the big-money spots on each team.
A few free agent competitors with Rondo are Joe Johnson, Ray Allen, Manu Ginobili,
Marcus Camby, Tracey McGrady, Shaquille O’Neal, Brad Miller, Stephen Jackson, Jermaine O’Neal, Mike Miller and Rip Hamilton.
This could be an interesting three days leading up to the deadline.
If Rondo balks at the initial deal and refuses to move, the Celtics will wait until next June.
Pats got a little lazy, let things slip away in a game that was out of reach. Now, the opening possession of the second half decides whether this is another laugher or not
Offense
Line … B … Not a good day to be Logan Mankins, and the rookie Vollmer is limping
QB (C-) … Brady throwing to picks, leaving points out there and keeping Tampa around
Receivers (B) … Solid day by the pass-catchrs. Funny how a rookie like Brandon Tate can pick up what a 17-year vet can’t.
Running Backs (C) … The real maroney is back
Defense
Line (B) … Too many big runs allowed
linebackers (B-) … Mayo made a great play early, haven’t heard from him since
Defensive backs (B) …. A+ for Brandon Meriweather. C for the rest.
