NFL.com -

""Patriots unsure when Cassel will return after father's death"

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The father of New England Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel has died.

Coach Bill Belichick said Wednesday that Greg Cassel died Monday night and Matt has left the team. Belichick said he didn't know when the player would return."

Obviously a sad situation for Cassel. Obviously still too early to say but it could be a huge blow to the Pats' chances of making the playoffs.

Its not like he is going to miss the game. They don't know when he will be back to practice.

Ah, my bad. Another site worded its article misleadingly so it sounded like he might miss games.

Kevin O'Connell FTW!
And sorry to disappoint but Miami will win out, imo

Remaining schedules.

MIAMI: SF, @KC, @NYJ

NYJ: BUF, @SEA, MIA

NE: @OAK, ARI, @BUF

I thought we had an easy remaining sched, until I saw theirs.

At least they can't BOTH win out.

it doesn't really matter. we need one of them to lose next week and then that same team to win the next week. or we need them both to lose next week.

however, that Balt loss really helps us a ton for the WC. we still have a decent chance to finish with a better outright record than them...since they have to play @ Dallas this week.

this weekend is super important for us, more important than the final week

I'm still terrified about our pass defense vs the Arizona pass offense though

I am too, but the opening line is NE -7.5 to -8.5 for some reason.

Some reason--Zona has played horribly on the east coast so far and they came up limp yesterday in a game of course that doesn't matter. They are fighting between 3rd and 4th spot due to how horrible their division is--and maybe some MVP votes for Warner as well--but it looks like they really could careless yesterday by the score board. For you guys of course it's a must win--for them it's a let's try to win--if we get down by a bunch, "who cares."

Cards:

--0-4 in Eastern Time Zone (WAS, NYJ, CAR, PHL)

--Don't "need" to win another game (yeah, seeding is nice, but it's nothing compared to "needing" to win a game)

--Actually, their seeding can't change all that much. They can't get a bye, and they will definitely host a game vs a wildcard team. It can't matter much to them which WC team they get.

--I figure they should score at least 42 on this horrible Shadow of a Patriots' Defense. But there's a good chance that 42 won't be enough to win.

***NewsFlash***

Phil and I have two extra tickets to the Pats vs Ari game at 1 that we're going to that afternoon. Upper sideline, selling at cost ($100).

ps also I have an extra ticket to the Celticss game on Sunday 12/21 at 6pm against the NYK. It's an upper deck seat and I'm selling it at cost (~$40).


Here is a chance to be immortalized in a future Lazymeatball doubleheader TR!!!!!

pm me for details

Obviously, it sucked that Brady went down but damn, the regular season has been SOOOO much more exciting this year. Most of the last 6 years, the games have been somewhat boring, especially late in the season. I can't remember the last time I became a huge fan of another team so it would help our Pats.

I am a bit disgusted about having to root for the Cowboys this weekend, though.

I know it's way too early and not that likely but I am going to jump the gun here and say you guys are going to sign Asomugha for a below market contract this off season and I hate you for it. It's just not fair you can do that over and over again.

Where did you get this info--I can't believe it if it's true......can't happen.

I have no info. Just speculation on my part based on the intersection of need, cap space, a player who has to want to win, and Randy Moss providing a connection to the Raiders organization

I would love it at any price, but he'll be franchised

Just about every team that doesn't play C2 could use Nnamdi or Haynesworth. I doubt either doesn't go to the highest bidder.

He got a new agent from what I've read--other than that--he just doesn't want to get Franchised again which is reasonable. I think there are ton of teams that will be bidding him up.

but it's doubtful he reaches FA at all, this year anyways

he could hold out for a long term deal from the Raiders, but I doubt that would help him get a contract from another team

Really I just have this defeatist attitude that the Pats are going to outmaneuver everyone somehow and get him.

I don't know if winning is a bigger issue for him than $, if he wants to play for a winner I don't see a better fit. Just about every other team I can think of that has the talent to win and cap space to offer something near market would waste his talents in a cover 2 (Tampa) or already has decent CBs (Philly, GB).

eh, the cap space isn't quite as big a deal as it used to be.

and I'm sure a lot of teams would be bidding for this guy

BB in practice
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80d74a78

pretty cool

tough loss tonight. playoff odds took a huge hit

Every game that someone that we deal with tiebreakers with that could have lost, all ****ing season, to help the pats this year by losing, haven't, and have won every one of those ****ing games.

I mean like every single ****ing one except the sorry ass Broncos game a week or two ago.

Normally, this wouldn't bother me at all, and you chalk it up to they just aren't good enough and it's just not your year or whatever else, but when combined with the ungodly injuries week after week, it just makes for a shake your head season because they just keep playing they're hearts out with a rookie QB, plugging in nobodies, and are probably going to still finish 11-5 and not even make the playoffs.

Frustrating season indeed.

But yet I'm still happy as hell with them, even though they've lost to the good teams and beaten the bad, they've been in just about all the games with the big boys and proved their mettle in my book.

So here's to fortune maybe favoring us over these last three games, and if not, we'll be right back at it next year.

(best I could come up with on drunken notice) <3 my pats

Thanks for the link. That was awesome (especially final shot of an emotional Cassel).

Yeah, must suck being a Pats fan right now. I can't even imagine being 9-5 and only being about 50/50 to make the playoffs if you win out.

The good news for you guys though is that the Jets and Dolphins are both still hugely flawed, and either one could lose tomorrow.