It might have been a fumble but it was recovered by Brady so it's inconsequential.

Really? I thought he dived for it but one of the Packers lineman came up with it. I saw the replay like 3 times and never thought Brady came up with it, but that would make sense why a bigger deal wasn't made of it.

I don't think Edelman can catch in traffic. A while back he took a couple brutal hits going over the middle and is probably hearing footsteps when in traffic.

Possibly. Still seems weird that they would have him returning punts if that was the case though.

Anyone else ready for the post Banta-Cain era? He's the king of "stupid penalty negates big play for the D" The only time he gets to the QB is when the receivers are covered and he gets an extra 3 or 4 seconds. Burgess at least didn't get stupid penalties when he was not producing. My favorite BC play is him rushing the passer off the edge, have the QB hand the ball off to the RB standing right next to him and then BC goes PAST THE RB and keeps going at the QB even though he doesn't have the ball anymore. God i miss Vrabel.

Goodie were you at the game last nite? If yes, please confirm or deny what I heard Dale Arnold say this morning on the "helmet to helmet" penalty on McCourty. Arnold said that originally there was no flag on the play, then after the 4 refs conferred, Hokuli came out of the pack and declared "imcomplete pass" and while this was happening the jumbotron was running a replay (twice) of the play and there was one ref standing off to the side watching it and after the 2nd look, whipped out the flag and called the penalty. Also, he said he read Belichick's lips and he appeared to say "why the hell would they show that".

If this is true, what total bs in making a call from the replay on a play that is not reviewable.

I was at the game and I have to say I was watching the replay myself after the play happened. They did show it like four times though and the flag absolutely came late. When the flag showed up I turned to my Brother and asked "Did they just throw that because of the replay?". He was watching the replay too. My guess is that they did throw the flag after watching the jumbotron which I think is obviously bull. Especially since it looked like he lead with his shoulder anyways.

I have no idea what the jumbotron guy was thinking showing it though.

By the way, they didn't show the catch that I think Branch? made on the late touchdown drive by the Pats. They rushed to get the next play off. Did he catch that?

Yeah it looked like Branch got his hands under the ball and maintained control. I think that would have stood had it been reviewed.

Also I dont think Merriweather sucks like some people have said. He certainly didnt have a great game last night but imo he has played well overall? Hard to judge safety play so maybe others can chime in.

was anyone else listening to the BB interview on the big show around 5:15pm? I swear they went to commercial saying "we'll be right back to talk about the upcoming Buffalo game with the coach yadda yadda" and when they came back from commercial it went right to the whiner line

Sorry no, addicted to Felger now. Him and Massarotti are pretty entertaining.

Well I'm not an expert evaluator but I think he's bad. It seems to me because his angles to the ball are so friggen bad in order to prevent big plays Belichick has basically had to tell him to play way way off the line and not let anything behind him.

So this year you're less likely to see him chasing a receiver into the endzone after a 60 yard play but this gives opponents all kinds of room underneath and in the middle of the field -- and even with that he still sometimes manages poor angles like the play on Sunday.

Furthermore he's always going for the knockout blow instead of the wrap up tackle and this causes him to miss tackles. I admit he's gotten better at that since he got fined earlier this year.

Lastly it seems he has trouble learning and is a problem in practice with being late and/or not listening to the coaching staff. It's always hard with the Pats to know if those leaks are true, but even as recent as last week there was a leak that he was late for a defensive meeting that Belichick was running. And it's really not hard to believe he's not the brightest bulb if you've ever heard him interviewed.

I'll be shocked if he's on the roster opening game next year.

BB will probably get a top pick for him lol.

Pats would take a $1m cap hit by cutting him, and he doesn't make a lot. I think he stays.

They don't take a hit if they trade him do they? I'm thinking 5th round pick.

Just curious KB4Z, what do you think of BMW's play this year?

(paraphrasing here)

Fred Smerlas: "so, it looked like Merriweather just took a bad angle there...bumping off McCourty..."

BB: "well, that's certainly not how it's designed"

he is frustrating to be sure. it looked like he was gonna be elite, then never took that step, and basically regressed

I actually do think they take a cap hit if they trade him

Congrats to the Pats for getting HFA in a year when this was well beyond expectations for this team. Let's put DVOA gaps aside, it's time to run sick hot and luckbox! The road to #4 runs through Foxboro. Awesome.

Barring significant injuries we will be a favorite against anyone the rest of the way. Moneys going in good we just have to hold.

it looks like we will get colts in the 2nd round(im thinking they will be 4th seed and win their 1st round) the colts are the only team in the league that scare the piss out of me

Also, the Pats clinched the #1 2nd Round pick and the Chargers are out of the playoffs. What a great day.

I forgot it was Carolina's second round pick we had. Let's hope we're drafting at the #32 and #33 spots.


The Carolina trade looks really good: the 89th pick in the 2010 draft in exchange for the 33rd pick in the 2011 draft.

too bad the raiders 1st round pick wont be as high as we were expecting lol

still though it should be an awesome draft coming after an especially productive draft this past year. Im a homer but im rooting for both OROY and DROY

Jets are likely to be the 6th seed and play @ KC, where they have a fighting chance. Jets could be our first opponent as well

if it ends up

Jets @ KC
Ravens @ Colts

that is a pretty nice draw from our pov

KC @ NE would be so crazy... Romeo! Weiss! Cassel! Pioli! BB can beat down all of them at once to prove he is the master of his coaching domain

Anyone needing to get rid of any playoff tix pm me with details.