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All: The new Billszone site with the updated software is scheduled to be turned on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. The company that built it, Dynascale, estimates a FOUR HOUR shut down, from 8pm Pacific, (5pm Eastern) while they get it up and running. Nobody will be able to post in any forum until they are done. Afterwards, you may need to do a web search for the site, as old links will not work, because the site is getting a new IP address. Please be patient. If there are bugs, we will tackle them one at a time. Remember the goal is to be up and running with no glitches by camp. Doing this now assures us of that, because it gives us all summer to get our ducks in a row. Thank you!
MOSS DOGGING IT AT PATS MINICAMP: I believe a week ago I blogged about how all the character sacrifices the Patriots made in exchange for talent may come back to haunt them in terms of team chemistry at some point in the season. Helping bolster Marv Levy's theory that "ability without character will lose" is none other than Randy Moss according to the Boston Herald's Michael Felger. Granted it's one reporter's opinion, but what he reported he saw with his own eyes is hardly surprising.
I hope Bills fans enjoy this write up as much as I did.
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FOXBORO - If you want to get excited about Randy Moss and what he’ll bring to the Patriots [team stats] in 2007, here’s a bit of advice:
Don’t watch him practice.
That was the impression made during the four days of non-contact workouts the media was allowed to watch last week at Gillette Stadium.
Perhaps Moss will ramp it up when training camp opens July 27, but if minicamp was any indication, fans probably shouldn’t expect any fireworks.
Nearly every regional and national media outlet was there to record Moss’ Patriots introduction, and most reports focused on the promise he brings to Tom Brady [stats] and the offense. Many dispatches also made sure to point out the three or four nice catches he made during those four days. In addition, Moss spoke to the media for about nine minutes Wednesday, which might have distracted the fourth estate from reporting what Moss actually did on the practice field.
Which, in short, wasn’t much.
While newcomers Wes Welker, Donte’ Stallworth and Kyle Brady hustled through their first days on the job, and veterans such as Tom Brady, Rodney Harrison [stats] and Tedy Bruschi [stats] continued to exemplify the Patriots Way, Moss moved at his own pace. He rarely dug in. More often than not, he glided. On balance, the most talented receiver of this generation was just another guy.
You’d have thought Moss would have taken the opportunity to make an early statement, maybe run from drill to drill across the field, lead the sprints at the end of practice, blow by the slower and smaller players trying to cover him, whatever. Show a little hustle. Little things.
But it pretty much was the opposite. Moss was content to remain in the pack. He never was first in line. He certainly didn’t make defensive backs look foolish. Aside from climbing the ladder once or twice on high throws, he didn’t give any hints of his prodigious physical gifts. It’s true the entire proceedings were run at about three-quarters speed, but that didn’t stop Brady, Welker and Harrison from giving full effort. Moss’speedometer seemed stuck at around 60 percent.
On Day 1, Moss stretched by himself while the rest of the team was in formation. On Day 4, coach Bill Belichick put his veterans through an extended session of field-length sprints (gassers). Moss was the last player in his position group to cross the end line on just about every one.
Based on his performance, it was as if Moss was saying, “I don’t care how I’m viewed. I don’t care about my reputation. I’m going about business the same way.”
In fact, that pretty much is what he said.
“To be honest with you,” Moss said, “I don’t plan on changing.”
He's done this his whole career and I'm sure the Patsies were expecting this and probably don't really care. Now, if he does this kind of crap during a game, that's a completely different story. We, as fans of anyone but the Patsies, can only hope that he does.
He's done this his whole career and I'm sure the Patsies were expecting this and probably don't really care. Now, if he does this kind of crap during a game, that's a completely different story. We, as fans of anyone but the Patsies, can only hope that he does.
He has been doing the same thing in live games in the last two years. It's all on tape.
I remember reading about him in Oakland- apparently he doesn't explode off the LOS if the play is a run or isn't going to him- DURING GAMES. Of course, this makes life a lot easier on the D- I wouldn't want a selfish dirtbag like that on my team. Basically he doesn't work hard unless the play results in something being added to his stat line.
I remember reading about him in Oakland- apparently he doesn't explode off the LOS if the play is a run or isn't going to him- DURING GAMES. Of course, this makes life a lot easier on the D- I wouldn't want a selfish dirtbag like that on my team. Basically he doesn't work hard unless the play results in something being added to his stat line.
He was doing that in the last few years in Minnesota. Fans used to call in to the local radio stations and rip him apart for that.
GETTING EXTRA LOOKS: Tight end Matt Murphy’s play the past few practices has earned him some extra reps here and there this week. With Robert Royal still nursing a shoulder injury the coaching staff hasn’t been shy about inserting Murphy who has seen some more second team reps the past two days.
Also seeing more work is rookie free agent cornerback Riley Swanson. The WakeForest product was seeing time with the second string nickel unit, and appears to be inching ahead of practice squad player Eric Bassey in terms of playing time.
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CONTRACT IMPACT: The New Orleans Saints recently signed their two third-round draft choices each to three-year deals. Usama Young and Andy Alleman will both be restricted free agents after 3 seasons, so if things pan out well for either of them, they'll likely see big money that much sooner. Most NFL teams try to sign at least all of their day one picks to four-year deals, sometimes longer for 1st and 2nd rounders. Seeing the Saints agree to three-year pacts with two first-day picks is unusual and it's likely that a lot of other NFL GM's are groaning, knowing that player agents will use these signings to lobby that their own client receive a three-year deal.
Buffalo already has a difficult third round pick situation in that their draft choice is a quarterback (Trent Edwards), a position player where contracts are almost by nature more complex. Seeing two third rounders for the Saints sign three year contracts certainly won't make the process any easier.
Special teams got Tuesday's minicamp session started as the field goal unit and field goal block team worked for about 10-15 minutes. Rian Lindell kicked almost all the attempts none of which were from an extremely long distance.
Special teams coordinator Bobby April looked to be more concerned with the protection for the
"Now I know that I'm supposed to lead by example and all that but I'm not shoving that aside like it don't mean anything. I know it's important, I honestly do but we're talking about practice. We're talking about practice man. (laughter from the media crowd) We're talking about practice. We're talking about practice. We're not talking about the game. We're talking about practice. When you come to the arena, and you see me play, you've seen me play right, you've seen me give everything I've got, but we're talking about practice right now." (more laughter)
This was the first thing i thought of, it just minicamp who cares
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