Pacific Pro Football Coming in 2018. YES! COUNT ME IN!

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Yahoo – “The three are spearheading Pacific Pro Football, which is set to begin play in the summer of 2018. This is a new professional league, yet it isn’t looking to compete with the NFL – a la the now-deceased USFL or XFL. It is instead, a right-sized developmental option for young players. It has the potential to change the route to the NFL for many who neither want, nor find worth, in the current NCAA system. And it will give the NFL, which is often frustrated at the style of play and the secrecy of the college ranks, a place with a preferable set-up for training and identifying potential draft picks.”

Pacific Pro Football. YES!

USFL? RIP. NFL Euro? RIP. XFL? RIP. UFL? RIP Arena Football? Somehow still kicking around. But a new football league? Count. me. in. Will this be a potential disaster for already entitled teenage athletes? Ya probably. If I had thousands of dollars when I was 18 I’d probably be throwing deplorably named parties in exotic locations. But I get to watch another new type of football so I’m in.

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Plus how pissed must some of these athletic freaks be? You mean I’m 6’4″ 240 lbs but I have to go pretend to go to class for 3 years so I can get paid? Even the NBA only requires 1 year with its newer rules. Now will most 18 year olds be ready for the League? No, absolutely not. But I’m sure JaDeveon Clowney would have been just fine a couple years earlier. So this PPF league aims to act like more of a developmental league, which could actually be a great idea. How many guys come into the NFL with great physical traits but absolutely no idea how to take a snap under center, read a defense, run a full route tree etc. This could help reduce the likelihood of NFL busts. Not to mention the whole injury concerns all these young guys have, leading to the new movement of guys just up and skipping bowl games. My man Jay-Z said it best on Dead Presidents 3:

Like LeBron or Sebastian, high school graduates
Straight to the league, I ain’t waitin’ for my knee to blow
Yesterday I was needin’ this dough

Voltron at 3B Cancelled by Red Sox; Plouffe Signs with the A’s

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MassLive – “The Oakland Athletics have agreed to a deal with infielder Trevor Plouffe worth approximately $5 million plus incentives, according to Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball and FanRag Sports. It had been reported Dec. 27 that the Red Sox were interested in signing Plouffe.”

Cancel the assembling of Voltron at third base. The Red Sox had been reported as in on Trevor Plouffe, which would have been at the very least some competition for the Panda at the hot corner. But he just signed with the Oakland A’s so cancel that. Welp, at least we all know Sandoval is the beacon of self control, inner fortitude and loves to compete with himself… Marco Hernandez is gonna push the shit out of Panda or maybe Brock Holt just up and takes the job for a couple months at a time. Or maybe, in a wild twist the $100 million third baseman starts earning some paychecks. Buckle up.

Also, $5 million bucks for a career .247 hitter? Peace.

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Saturday Night’s Alright for the Patriots

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AFC Divisional Playoffs: Titans v Patriots

Saturday night’s playoff game at Gillette Stadium will be the fourth straight Saturday night playoff opener for the Patriots. Since 2001, the Patriots have always opened the playoffs at home and are 8-0 when opening the playoffs on a Saturday.

Prior to this season, the Patriots received first-round byes in 10 of their 13 playoff appearances since 2001. They have opened the playoffs at home after the bye week on a Saturday in seven out those 10 playoff runs. The Patriots won all seven of those Saturday night games. With an extra day of rest, they also went on to win the AFC Championship in five of those seven seasons. The Patriots are just 1-2 in Brady Era AFC Championship games coming after a Sunday victory in the divisional round.

The only Saturday night playoff loss for the Patriots in the Brady Era came after the 2005 season, a divisional round game in Denver. The only one-and-dones of the Brady Era – 2009 and 2010 – came when the Patriots opened the playoffs on a Sunday.

Bill Belichick would tell you the team plays when the league tells them to. A lot of fans liked the Patriots chances even before kickoff time was announced for their first playoff game. But it’s hard to look at these numbers and not want to start looking at airfare to Houston for early February. After all, the last time the Super Bowl was played in Houston the Patriots were there after opening up the playoffs on a Saturday.

Hero Patriots Fan Tells ESPN to Piss Off When They Ask to Use His Belichick Photo

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LOVE it. Say what you will, but no one, and I mean no one holds a grudge like Boston sports fans. And thats why we’re so passionate. We got dudes telling ESPN to go piss up a rope, we’ve got former Patriots players railing against the league any chance they get, hell even the Barstool guys got arrested for TB12. Can’t teach that loyalty. Can’t beat the guy who never gives up.

 

 

Hey ESPN, it’s called loyalty

Chiefs Talking Extension with Andy “Time is a Flat Circle” Reid

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ESPN – The Kansas City Chiefs will try to extend coach Andy Reid’s contract this offseason, league sources told ESPN on Sunday. Reid, 58, will be entering the final year of his contract next season; teams usually prefer not to have their head coaches, particularly successful ones, head into the last year of their deal.

I know I know, I’m a spoiled Patriots fan. But just because you don’t have the best coach in the league doesn’t mean you have to keep your car in park at 10 wins every year. I mean I guess its hard to argue with Andy Reid’s record with the Chiefs of 43-21, but that doesn’t take into account them routinely getting bounced in the playoffs. With the Chiefs Reid, who is 11-11 for his career in the playoffs, has lost in the 1st round in 2013, missed the playoffs in 2014, losing in the second round in 2015 and then securing the 2 seed for the Chiefs in 2016.

Again not terrible numbers, but numbers don’t tell the whole story. Have the owners ever actually watched a game? The guy seemingly doesn’t realize there is a clock involved in the game of football. Whenever his teams are down they take their time, run down the play clock, usually score but then don’t have enough time to get the ball back so they’ll onside kick it.

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Hell I remember my first experience with Andy “Time is a Flat Circle” Reid back in the 2004 Super Bowl. The Pats were leading the Eagles and time was running down so they should be ya know, going no-huddle, or at the very least speed walking to the line. Nah, they take their time, slowly go through their reads and drain the clock. History has destroyed Donovan McNabb for allegedly puking in the huddle and slowing down the team. But to be honest, based on his coaching history since, Reid probably slipped McNabb a mickey because he was going too fast. You can’t rush this man. This is a man who takes his time.

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Is Manny Playing Japanese Independent Island League Baseball at 44 Sad or Awesome? Lets Make the Case

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ESPN – “Former major league outfielder Manny Ramirez has agreed to terms with the Kochi Fighting Dogs of Japan’s independent Shikoku Island League.”

Guys this is sad. This is Manny Ramirez. The guy who never seemed to give a shit about baseball or his teammates or about much at all seemingly can’t quit the game. Manny was one of the greatest hitters of my generation, maybe of all-time, but the guy was so frustrating. It was like babysitting at times, but in the end it was worth it because when he was going .300/40/140 you’ll put up with a lot of shit.  It was just “Manny being Manny.”

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The thing about this though is its not like Manny needs the money. And its not like he’s expecting to make a MLB comeback at age 44. Hell he’s actually raking over there. He hit.352 with eight home runs and 43 RBIs playing in Taiwan in 2013. So he’s probably doing it just because he loves to play baseball. Maybe he’s like an old man who’s just now looking back and regretting not caring more? Maybe he misses the good old days? Or Maybe he just wants to swing through his goddamn shoes every at bat. I mean thats why I play beer league softball. Not to pad my OBP; I want to try and hit a HR every single at bat, regardless of my debatable power.

Alright, I think I’ve come full circle and changed my mind. You do you, Manny. Have a beer or 6 and swing for the fences. Thats what mens league/Japanese Independent Island League baseball is all about.

Cue the highlights!

Would Bryce Harper Spurn the Yankees Over His Lettuce?

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Yahoo – “Even the most ardent Bryce Harper haters have to admit one thing: The Washington Nationals outfielder has a strong hair game. We’re not just talking about the hair on his head, either, though it is spectacular…It’s no secret Harper rooted for the Yankees growing up, and there’s been speculation about him joining the club the instant he becomes a free-agent for years now. Knowing that, [Clint] Frazier took the opportunity to do a little recruiting for New York.”

If you’ve ever had any hope of Bryce Harper spurning the Yankees (who he’s long been rumored to be destined for in Free Agency), then this is your best shot. Bryce Harper, the young, cocky dude who mashes dingers all while rocking the best hair in baseball and a full beard. Not on the Yankees because of their nonsensical rules on hair and facial hair. Bryce would have to shave the beard and start rocking a boy’s regular. Not this guy.

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Would his glorious lettuce be enough for Harper to say forget that, I’ll go mash somewhere else and look like Jayson Werth if I want? Thats what I’m hoping at least. I love Harper and I think he’d be a cult figure in Boston; a fiery asshole that lives and dies with every play, runs into walls and absolutely rakes? Yea I think Massholes would take a liking to him. Either way, anyone but the Yankees. Thats just what they need, an MVP slugger in his prime. Don’t do it Bryce. Just look at the damage the Yankees have done to lettuce over the years.

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PS – I’m already distraught over the lettuce that Yankees top prospect Clint Frazier will soon have to axe. RIP.

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Adam Schefter Pumping the Tires of Bill Belichick and I Love It

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ESPN won’t let me embed videos, even when they say ‘hey here’s the link to embed.’ So you can watch the video here.

“Welcome to the Golden Age of Coaching. A time in when we’re witnessing the greatest college football coach of all-time and the greatest NFL coach of all time on Saturdays and Sundays… Saban and Belichick are admired yet not fully appreciated.”

Adam Schefter you beautiful bastard with those milk bottle glasses. Schefty was going for the Walter Cronkite look today so I wasn’t prepared for this verbal bouquet he threw Belichick’s way. He’s got a point though. Bill is admired as a great coach, but still takes shit  from people like the curmudgeons of the 72 Dolphins and course for never winning a title without Brady at QB. But the guy has 4 Super Bowl rings as a Head Coach, 6 rings overall and an unprecedented streak of dominance in winning the AFC East, making the AFC Championship game and this year he could break the record for most Super Bowl titles by a Head Coach all time (same for Brady who would stand alone at QB with 5 rings).

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PS – I think if I were a Browns fan, this would ultimately be the straw that breaks the camel’s back and just makes me off myself. You had the greatest NFL coach of all time and probably the greatest college coach of all time in Nick Saban on your staff and let them both slip through your fingers. Now they got guys like Hue Jackson getting a pat on the back for NOT going winless and squeaking out a one-win season.

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I Miss Peyton Manning (and his Playoff Woes)

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It’s Wild Card Weekend and, as usual, the Patriots have the weekend off. The Patriots have reached the playoffs 14 times in the Brady Era, and have received a first-round bye 11 times in the Brady Era. Peyton Manning wasn’t able to take this weekend off nearly as often, though.

Peyton Manning reached the playoffs 15 times in the 17 seasons he played, including each of his last 13 seasons. His teams received a first-round byes in eight of those seasons, meaning he made semi-regular appearances on Wild Car Weekend, unlike Brady.

Manning’s teams were 3-4 on Wild Card Weekend, and 3-5 after a first round bye. That adds up to nine one-and-dones, by far the most of any NFL quarterback. That means Manning’s teams only won a game in the playoffs 6 out of the 15 times he took them to the playoffs. His career playoff record stood at 11-13 before last year’s magical run gave him his second Super Bowl ring and a just-barely-over-.500 career postseason record of 14-13.

I must give Manning his due. He did knock down the Patriots more times than I care to remember in the playoffs. The Colts win in the 2006 AFC title game is still in my top five worst Boston sports moments. But I can give Manning his due, and still look back at some of his more memorable playoff losses.

[I’ve omitted the Foxborough Follies from this list for the sake of brevity, and because those are obviously well-remembered by Patriots fans.]

2002 Jets 41 – Colts 0. Not much else needs to be said about this playoff disaster. Manning had a dreadful night in Giants Stadium as the Colts lost to Chad Effing Penington. This loss put Peyton at 0-3 in the playoffs, and really started the “Peyton sucks in the playoffs” conversations in earnest.

2005 Down 3 to the Steelers with 1:20 to go, Peyton Manning took a sack on fourth down at his own 2-yard line. Looking to put the Colts away,  Jerome Bettis coughed it up and gave Peyton and the Colts one last shot. Peyton got the Colts into field-goal range, but Mike Vanderjagt couldn’t connect on a 46-yard attempt, and Pittsburgh held on to win this wild one. [As a side note, this was Vanderjagt’s last game as a Colt. That offseason, the Colts went out and got Adam Vinatieri. That’s all I’ve got to say about that.]

2007 Looking to defend their Super Bowl title, the Colts received a first-round bye and hosted the San Diego Chargers in the divisional round. The Colts led 24-21 in the fourth, but the Chargers took the lead late and Peyton Manning had to orchestrate another last-minute comeback. He led the Colts inside the 10, but couldn’t put it in the end zone thanks to pressure from Shawne Merriman (remember him?). The Colts would actually get the ball back one more time, but that drive also stalled out. This was also the last game to be played at the RCA Dome.

2012 New team, same result. Peyton’s first trip to the playoffs with the Broncos ended the same way so many of his previous trips did. Much of this loss can be pinned on the Broncos defense, but this Peyton Manning Playoff Meltdown receives special mention because of how excruciating this loss was. The Ravens trailed the Broncos 35-28 in the final minute. That’s when Joe Flacco connected with Jacoby Jones for a 70-yard touchdown with 31 seconds remaining. The Ravens would go on to win the game in overtime, and defeat the Patriots the next week en route to winning Super Bowl XLVII.

 

With Andy Dalton and the Bengals sitting the playoffs out this year, no other quarterback playing in the playoffs this year immediately comes to mind when thinking of another quarterback to carry on the legacy of Peyton Manning Playoff Meltdowns. With backup quarterbacks all over the place in the AFC, though, this should still be a fun (and sloppy) Wild Card Weekend to watch.

Tom Brady Gets Beat Out for AP NFL First Team All Pro. Drive for Five Continues

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tombradypissed

ESPN – “The Associated Press 2016 NFL All-Pro Team is showing off the league’s new wave of stars… Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is a first-time selection. Ryan edged out New England’s Tom Brady, who was suspended for four games to start the season.”

Gotta love ESPN. No matter the context or the circumstances, they will throw in a dig. “Matt Ryan edges out Tom Brady for First Team All-Pro, who was suspended, remember?” Regardless of the fact that they perpetuated the bullshit that got Brady suspended in the first place, which essentially caused him to miss out on 1st team and likely his 3rd MVP award.

Brady simply ran out of time. He was playing like the best QB in the league for 12 weeks, but when voters look and see that Matt Ryan has 38 TD passes to Brady’s 28, that’s basically it. Never mind the fact that Brady had the greatest TD to Interception Ratio in LEAGUE HISTORY (28-2). Or the fact that he was the driving force behind a 14-2 team (7 game winning streak) that just clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC and looks like a lock to make the Super Bowl.

Brady was valuable. Probably the most valuable. But volume is what killed Brady here. I’ll tell you what though, TB12 and I will take a 5th Lombardi Trophy over a 3rd MVP Award every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

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The Drive for Five continues…

P.S. – Matt Slater was the lone Patriots representative on the AP NFL First-Team All Pro, which was his first so congrats to him. The Pats also had Second-Team reps in Brady, Cannon (Dante Scarnecchia is the O-Lineman whisperer), Butler, McCourty, Hightower and Ebner. You think Belichick might put that last one in his trophy case? Took a college RUGBY player and turned him into Second-Team All-Pro in the NFL. Incredible.

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