| f |
| Off-Season of the Living Dead By Mike Dodge Well folks here we are, the beginning of a long cold NFL off-season. Like a mother just a week after dropping her child off at summer camp, I couldn�t be more depressed. For many of you, the countdown to the draft has begun�but I find no excitement at all in draft day. As a Pats fan, what do I have to look forward to? We have the last pick, and to be honest, since the Belichick administration moved into New England, I couldn�t tell you about any of the players drafted in the top rounds at the time of selections. I compare the Patriots draft to looking at the roster of an arena football team; the names may ring a bell, but�I keep drawing blanks. But that is the secret of Pioli and Belichick�they look for unfinished talent. Since we have a few weeks until "Christmas" arrives for bottom-dweller teams, lets put the NFL Draft on the back-burner and focus on the news of the week. Well, it only took three seasons for Drew Bledsoe to get evicted from his upstate New York home. But have no fear Drew, it looks as though he has already landed another sugar daddy in the �Lone Star� state. Note to all washed-up, over 30 NFL quarterbacks�you always have a home in Texas. And here I thought Florida was the retirement state. Bill Parcells never ceases to amaze me. For such a �brilliant coach�, he sure is ruining his reputation this time around. Michael Jordan didn�t even look this bad when he returned to play with the Wizards. Here is my ridiculously early prediction for Dallas: "Cowboys will dance the �Drew Shuffle� 3 or 4 times during the season; Jerry Jones will finally retake control of his downward spiraling disarray of a team; Canned Fish (Tuna) will blame the world and quit again�I mean retire." This happens to work out perfectly for me! I have about 800 Bledsoe cards (mostly rookies), and this may be my last realistic time to get rid of them without taking too much of a bath�YES!!! Dallas fans are so desperate right now, the slimmest bit of hope will have them grabbing for their wallets, shelling out the big bucks for all Bledsoe merchandise�kinda like Bills fans did. Its times like this when I feel like a vulturous leach...I forgive myself. I digressed. Drew Bledsoe will go down in history as the greatest quarterback to hit his prime and fall off the competitive planet after 4 years in the NFL. He had some great moments since his last worthwhile season (1997), but that�s all they were�9 seasons of �few and far between� moments. I personally blame Pete Carroll for Bledsoe�s demise. When Drew was drafted in 1993, he played with passion and fire mostly brought on by a screaming and overly demanding Bill Parcells. But after Canned Fish left New England, and Bob Kraft hired the NFL�s highest paid cheerleader (Pete Carroll), slowly but surely Bledsoe�s fire sizzled into a pile of �has been� ash. Needless to say, I have a soft spot for the man, and I wish the best for him and what�s left to his career. I would hate to think the best play Bledsoe ever made was allowing himself to be leveled by Mo Lewis paving the way for a 6th Round Draft Pick out of Michigan to become a legend. On to other news! The Pats �franchised� a kicker. I repeat; the Pats �franchised� a kicker. Why do kickers even fall under the salary cap? If coaches don�t, then why the hell do kickers? If there was a kicker that deserved the �tag�, I guess Vinatieri is it. I would never buy a kickers jersey, but if Vinatieri kicks another Super Bowl winning FG�I just may reconsider. The Raiders look to be finalizing a trade with the Vikings for Randy Moss. Now if they can find someone to throw him the ball, they might be in business. What a perfect place for Moss. Al Davis and Randy Moss wearing the same colors, sharing bad hairstyles, and chapping the NFL off like no other tandem in sports history. I love it! Honestly, I make no effort in hiding my distaste for Randy Moss. Yes, he is a talented receiver, but no one is bigger than the game. He shames the game with his selfish ways and childish antics. I have a feeling the Raiders are just one of many stops Moss makes during his long and critically riddled career. Randy is not the only receiver who may be chased out of their respective town. Plexiglas Burress looks to have one foot out the door as well. Rumors have it that Burress may be headed to Baltimore...yes, an AFC North rival. I can see why this wouldn't make the Steelers nervous due to the fact Burress will probably be sidelined half the season with injury anyway. I don't call him "Plexiglas" for nothing. At 6'5", 260 pounds, I think he chose the wrong sport for a profession. Wayne Huizenga is trying desperately to win back the fans in Miami. After firing Dave Wannstedt and hiring Nick Saban, Jay Fiedler awoke to find a pink slip in his mailbox. I expect a HUGE draft for the Dolphins (I will definitely recognize some of their draft picks names). It's no surprise Fiedler was fired, but I kinda thought Bledsoe would be heading in Miami's direction. What other active QB resembles Marino and his type of play. Strong arm, absolutely zero mobility, started in a Super Bowl early in his career, high expectations of winning mutiple rings with their respective teams, etc., etc. Bledsoe hasn't signed yet with Dallas, so anything is possible. As a Pats fan, I truly welcome it. On a somber note, Tedi Bruschi was admitted to a Boston Hospital for extreme headaches and vision problems in one eye. It was reported that Bruschi suffered a mild stroke. He was released a few days later walking with little assistance from his wife. This is one of the surreal moments in the NFL we all hate to see unfold on ESPN. Like Bruschi, I am 31 years old, married, and have children. I can�t possibly put myself in his shoes or imagine the fear he currently feels. This is one of those times as a sports fan, where you don�t care if one of your star players retires from the game. There are just too many things in life more important. TO THE MAILBAG I received "1" e-mail this week�C�MON FOLKS!!! It was from chiefassassin, and he wrote: I don't think the patriots will make it to the SB next year. There are more than enough teams that will make sure they won't even get a first round bye. Wow, I just had the weirdest feeling of d�j� vu. C�mon people, find some new writers, your material is getting old! So who is going to be one of those teams you are referring to? Colts? Steelers? Oh my, your not thinking the Chiefs are you??? Until next time folks... I would like to hear from you. If I post your remarks in my column, you will instantly qualify for an end of month drawing. A prize will be sent to the person whose name I pull out of the "Lucky Patriots Hat". E-mail your comments, suggestions, or questions to [email protected] Pictures provided by NFL.com |
| Why is it I find more pictures of Bledsoe lying down on the job than not? Does Drew get credit for completing a pass to his rear-end? |
| Reunited and it feels so good...for now. One of the few pictures I found of Drew actually on his feet. |
| Smile for the convict...I mean camera, Mr. Moss. Ray Lewis is gonna have fun with you...girlfriend. |
| You can change the uniform, but you can't change the man wearing it. |
| TR NFL Archive |
| Whether or not Bruschi plays again, 4 Super Bowl starts has got to give him a good shot at the Hall of Fame. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|