In good health

The Pats preseason schedule came to an uninspiring end last night at Gillette.

The starters atoned for their pathetic play against the Lions with a good first half, building a 17-3 lead. The Giants, with the help of a fake punt and fumble recovery for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, ultimately won the game 18-17. So the Pats finish the preseason at 2-2. Of course, they are still 0-0.

The most important news from the game? As far as I know, all the key players got through without injury. THAT is the most important part of preseason. Stay as healthy as possible. Wes Welker's neck injury in the Detroit practice game last weekend was a good reminder of that. Welker says he is fine, which is great news for the Pats ... and great news for my fantasy football team the Rozzie Rats.

Giants' coach Tom Coughlin made sure he would not lose any key players, resting almost all his starters for the entire game. Which was not surprising since the G-Men had played just a few nights earlier against the Jets. The fact that the Giants still won with a team of scrubs? It's time to look ahead to the real games and not worry too much about the practice ones.

But as is always the case with the practice games, there were still things to watch.

Albert Haynesworth and Shaun Ellis made their debuts on the Pats D line. Phat Albert looked pretty good for a guy many were saying is about to be cut from the team. His pressure on the QB forced a quick pass that led to the turnover that set up the Pats first score. It's not much. But it's a start.

Matthew Slater had a 64-yard catch from Brady, his third big play of the preseason. Slater is a special teams guy, but if he can provide some spark on offense that should keep his spot on the roster. The Pats D forced three turnovers, which was a big part of the team's success last year.

Another thing that was worth watching was the return of former offensive lineman Joe Andruzzi and his three brothers who are NYC firefighters along with their dad, a former NYC police officer. The pregame ceremony marked the 10th anniversary of 9/11. It brought back memories of the first game the Pats and the rest of the league played two weeks after the attacks. The Pats hosted the Jets in the game that will always be remembered as the one where Drew Bledsoe limped off the field and a young Tom Brady took center stage.

But that day started with Andruzzi carrying a large US flag with him as he lead the team on to the field where his brothers, who were at the Twin Towers, were waiting for him at midfield. I'm not the flag-pin wearing patriotic type, but I'll never forget the feeling as the entire crowd sang the national anthem with a special reverence.

Football memories come in all forms.

Lion attack

Who says the third preseason game is important? Oh, right. Everyone says that. Certainly the Detroit Lions are saying that after soundly beating the Pats 34-10 last night.

The Patriots, who looked like a fine-tuned machine in pretend games one and two, looked like my car after three years of no tune-ups, no oil changes, no brake jobs. It wasn't pretty. But it also doesn't count. The Pats are still 0-0.

But last night's game was a reminder of what is the most important part of football -- protecting the quarterback. That has been a strong point of Belichick's Pats for the most part. And it will be again this year, you can count on it. But last night -- against a ferocious Lions' rush -- the offensive line was a mess. Brady was under the gun from the start and couldn't get much going.

Ndamukong Suh and the Lions D was one of the best last year for a non-playoff team. It looks even better this year. As comfortable as Brady looked last week against Tampa, he looked that frazzled last night. Borges will most likely write a column (if not tomorrow, sometime this year) how Brady is no better than any other QB (like, say, Bledsoe)  when he is under pressure. Which is completely inaccurate. Many of his biggest passes have come with a defender inches from croaking him. But what is true is that if the offensive line plays too many games like they did last night, the offense will have a hard time moving the ball with any consistency.

I'm not worried about the O line at this point. Every unit will have a bad game now and then. And the Lions can bring it with the best of them. What was concerning was how the entire team failed to show up. Preseason or not, the third game on the road against an up and coming team should bring out the best in you. The Pats' best was no where to be found in Detroit.

What was even worse was that the two teams have developed a bit of a dislike for each other after last year's rough and tumble Thanksgiving Day game. The Lions  jumped all over Brady early in that one too but the Pats showed their toughness level and fought back for wild win on the road. The Lions jumped all over Brady early again last night but the Pats had very little fight in them. It was surprising to see.

If you go on one preseason game, the Lions look like a playoff contender for the first time in ... oh, too long for me to remember. And if you go by one preseason game, the Pats looked like a disorganized team without much of a compete level.

But it wasn't a real game. We'll see in Miami in two weeks where the Pats' compete level is. It should be a lot higher than last night.

Gotta be starting something

The Patriots backup players put on an impressive show in the first preseason game last week. The team's starters matched that -- and then some -- last night.

Pats 31, Tampa Bay 14. More importantly it was Pats starters 28, Tampa Bay starters 0 at the half. Tom Brady and Co. look ready for the season. Is that a surprise? The Pats were 14-2 last year and the offense was the best in the league. If the key guys stay healthy (knock, knock, knock) the offense should be even better. You paying attention, Rex?

BRADY: Man in the middle.

Tampa is a playoff caliber team that won its practice opener 25-0. They have a strong offensive line and a good defense. They were expected to pose a much bigger test than Jacksonville. They didn't. Brady and the offense scored on four of their six possessions in the first half and moved the ball at will from both the air and the ground. Ochocinco caught his first pass as a Patriot (a TD) and took his first nasty hit. BenJarvis and Woody -- the dynamic running duo from last year -- looked unstoppable again. The offense was a machine.

Let Buc's defensive lineman Gerald McCoy describe it:

"They did not treat this like a preseason game. That’s why they are who they are. A lot of times we’d get the call but we couldn’t get lined up. They were moving the ball so fast.  I was like, ‘Dang! Um, Mr. Brady, can we line up?' They were like, ‘Hut!’ And I said, ‘Noooooooooooo!’"

That is why they are who they are. That's the way they have been during the Belichick era. Love him or hate him, the guy knows how to get his team ready to play football. And isn't that all that really matters in a pro football coach? And when the quarterback has the same approach? Well, that makes for a darn good football team.

At the heart of that darn good football team? The offensive line. That's right. Not Brady. Not Big Vince. Not even Phat Albert if he plays. Watch some preseason football in the next two weeks. You'll see good teams and bad teams. The bad teams are the ones that can't protect their QB and can't open up holes for their running backs. You can be a good team even if you can't rush the passer (see 2010 Patriots), cover tight ends, or kick field goals. But without a solid offensive line, you are, as they say, screwed. Take a look at the photo above of Brady surrounded by the men that protect him for a living. He looks pretty happy, doesn't he? That says it all.

The Pats have outscored their opponents 78-26 through two practice games. They get the Lions next weekend in the third one. The one that is usually the dress rehearsal for the real games. The Pats don't need another rehearsal. They are ready.

First day

The first game of the NFL preseason is a lot like the first day at school.

Everyone has done it all before but they are all a little rusty and foggy. You know where you are supposed to be but you're a little unsure on how to get there. It just takes a little while to get back in the groove.

The Pats got in the groove last night at Gillette. And then some. 47-12. The next few days will be filled with the "What does it mean?" stories in the Sports Blab-osphere. Every year it's the same thing. What does it mean?

TOM AND OCHO: Great seats.

It means they are still 0-0.

The Pats played their first exhibition game and got a good look at what they have accomplished so far in the shortened preseason and what still needs to be done. There are always things to be done. The coaches now have some game action on film to bring to meetings. Veterans returning from injury (Gostkowski) got a chance to show they still have it. Young players like Stevan Ridley (three touchdowns) and Taylor Price made solid first-game impressions. But they could be gone in a month. There are three more practice games to go. There are lots of roster cuts ahead. Things change quickly. That's what preseason games mean.

For fans with a ticket, preseason games mean one thing. Fun.

I caught a little sports radio on Sunday and one of the guys on 98.5 was rambling on about how he feels bad for the fans who go to preseason games. He just doesn't get it. Sure, preseason games are not for everyone. It's for those who really love football of any kind. It would be nice if the tickets cost a little bit less, but it's still worth every cent.

You get to practice your tailgating in 80 degree weather. Shorts, steaks, and beer. A lot of people bring their children so the stadium has a more family atmosphere. The outcome doesn't mean anything so fans can just relax and enjoy the game. It's a great night of football. Kind of like watching a Pop Warner game with Tom Brady.

Although there was no Tom Brady last night. Or Ochocinco. Or Wes Welker. Or...
But it didn't matter to the Gillette crowd. They had a great time.

You'll hear a lot today about the Barstool Sports Brady Baby Photos Controversy. A lot about Albert Haynesworth. A lot about what the game means. Blah blah blah.

The Pats season started last night. It was a great start. Unofficially.

Catch the fun

Randy Moss -- you've probably heard of him whether you are a Pats fan or not -- announced he is retiring from the NFL. I hope he stays retired. Not because I disliked him. On the contrary. I just hope he is smart enough not to do the Favre routine and became a circus act by retiring and unretiring and then retiring and then...

I think Moss is smarter than that.

I've been lucky enough to watch a lot of great players over 35 years of being a Pats fan. Especially in the last decade. Brady. Francis. Rodney. Mosi. Brown. Stingley. Some greats. But I don't think I've ever enjoyed watching a guy play the game is I did Randy Moss the three-plus years he was a Patriot. Moss had an amazing 2007 season, the greatest ever by a wide receiver, and he and the Gillette crowd loved each other. The next year Brady went down in the first game and Moss -- despite being broken hearted to lose his Tommy boy for the year -- had another great season and helped make Matt Cassel a rich man. In 2009, when Brady returned but the team struggled with a young defense, Moss had 13 more touchdowns and another Pro Bowl visit.

Things ended weirdly in New England. They often do with Moss. He's that kind of guy. But from my seat in Section 109 Moss looked like a great teammate. He wanted to feel the love the Pats just gave to Ochocinco. But Belichick wasn't feeling it. As Moss said, he just wanted to play for the Pats for the rest of his career.

What a career it was. Sure-thing Hall of Famer.

The best way to explain why Moss was the most entertaining football player I've ever watched? A list of his 10 best moments. Moss caught 50 touchdowns (50!) in just over three seasons. Many of them left me shaking my head and laughing. I can't think of too many wide receivers who have left a Top 10 list behind (which could have been Top 20 or 30 if I had the time) in just three seasons. Thanks for the memories, Randy.

10. Spy this: The first game after Spygate broke. The rival Chargers came to Gillette talking tough as usual. Belichick and his team were under fire from all corners. How would they respond? Like champions. In the first quarter Moss broke down the seam untouched and Brady hit him for a 23-yard touchdown that made it 14-0. Late in the game Brady and Moss connected again on a 24-yarder to put the game away 31-14. Moss caught 8 passes for 105 yards. Critics answered, if not quieted.

9. Paying the Bills: Two of Moss's most dominant games from that '07 season came against Buffalo. In Week 4 Moss had 115 yards catching with two TDs. The second catch was a finger-tip beauty down the sideline. A few weeks later Moss topped that with an incredible four touchdown performance that saw him catch 10 passes for 128 yards.

8. One-handed: Moss was often charged with not having the guts to go across the middle. Of course that wasn't his game. It was down the field. But for those who thought Moss would always turtle when taking a pass in the slot with a DB or two closing in on him, take a look at the catch he made in an epic battle against Indy in 2007. He went across the field and leaped, making an amazing one-handed catch before getting whacked. It was only for 17 yards but it sparked a key drive in the Pats victory. Moss couldn't catch a ball across the middle? He could. He was just better going deep.

7. Hello, old friends: OK. These highlights are all from 2007. Why? Because it was the greatest single season performance by a wide receiver. But there were many moments in 2008 and 2009. One of the best '08 games was his two touchdown performance against his former team the Raiders in Oakland. The Pats were 9-5 and fighting for a playoff spot. Moss had only 67 yards but many of them were clutch.

6. Welcome: Moss's first game as a Patriot was in the '07 season opener on the road against -- who else? -- the Jets. The Pats had added several new players to get back on top. Key among them was Moss. But he came with a lot of questions. Could he focus on football and get back to being the top wideout in the game? Game 1 answered those questions quickly. Nine catches, 183 yards, and one ridiculous 51-yard TD catch in which he glided 45 of those yards and then put on a burst past three defenders to get the ball as they watched him helplessly.

5. Taking the lead: For a few briefs moments it looked like the Pats were going to win their fourth Super Bowl and put up a perfect 19-0 season. In fact, I was pretty sure of it. Those moments came after Moss caught a touchdown pass with just more than two minutes to play. The Pats' offense had been under attack all day but Brady, Welker, Faulk, and Moss put together a great drive to take the lead. If only for a moment.

4. You talkin' to me?: Steeler D back Anthony Smith was trash-talking all week leading up to another Pittsburgh-New England prime-time battle.The Pats were 13-0 but the 9-4 Steelers once again thought they were the better team. Brady and Moss shut them up. Fast. Smith had promised that the Pitt D would shut down Brady and the record-setting offense. The Steelers took a 3-0 lead late into the first quarter when Brady and Moss connected on back-to-back touchdowns. The second one was a 63-yard rocket with Brady hitting Moss in stride as Smith scrambled to recover from a scrimmage line fake by Moss. Brady ran down the field to congratulate #81 ... and to rub Smith's face in it.

3. Buzzer beater: Another one from the Matt Cassel season. The Jets came into Gillette looking to avenge a Week 2 loss. It was a game the Pats would lose in overtime but one that brought the Brady-less team together. The game went back and forth and New York held a 31-24 lead as the clock ticked down. The Pats had the ball at the Jets 16-yard line and time for one last play. Cassel scrambled and found Moss at the right front corner of the end zone. Moss made a great catch as he fell out of bounds, tapping his toes in the end zone to tie the game and send it to overtime.

2. Circus act in South Beach: This was the one that really left me laughing. Moss had two touchdown catches in just a matter of minutes in the second quarter that turned a 21-7 battle into a 49-29 romp in Miami. The first one was a 35-yarder in which the defensive back had position on Moss at the goal line, but #81 jumped about five feet and snatched the ball right out of the D back's hands. The second one -- 51-yards -- was one of the best Brady to Moss bombs ever. Brady reared back and let one fly deep down the middle and Moss -- with two defenders on top of him -- looked behind him and caught the ball in the nook of his elbow. Oh, he may have given one of the defenders a gentle little push. Another thing Moss was great at.

1. Record-setter against Giants: One of the most entertaining plays in one of the most entertaining regular season games ever played. The Pats were going for 16-0. The Giants were determined to stop them. With New England trailing 28-23 in the fourth quarter, Brady went deep to Moss for a bomb but the ball was thrown short and it ticked off of Moss's fingertips. The Pats went back to the huddle and called the exact same play. Brady dropped back, Moss raced down the right sideline again, and this time Brady hit Moss perfectly for a 63-yard touchdown that put the Pats ahead and completed the unbeaten regular season. 16-0 and Randy Moss. Two of my favorite things that didn't quite work out as I had hoped.

So many great catches. Too many to recall. This video will help.

Don't let the door hit you

As Dorothy said in "The Wizard of Oz"... My, people come and go so quickly here.

My dream defensive line of Big Vince, Ty Warren, and Phat Albert -- which I predicted could be the best in the league for years (ha) -- lasted less than 24 hours. Warren was cut yesterday before he ever got to meet Mr. Haynesworth.

Warren's release was the biggest surprise among yesterday's list of departures. Others let go were Coach Crump (who might return for less money to continue mentoring the two young tight ends), offensive lineman Nick Kazcur, Tully Banta-Cain, Marcus Stroud, and Tony Carter. Kazcur, Banta-Cain, and Stroud all had injury issues that made them a bad investment salary-cap wise. Warren was also coming off an injury (hip) and also had a fairly high salary-cap price tag, but many (like me) expected the 30-year-old to return to form and help form a monster defensive line.

But he reportedly failed his physical and was sent packing. Another member of the Super Bowl run gone.

That's just one of the many ways the NFL is unlike all the other sports. You rarely see star players still in the prime of their careers just dropped from the team in baseball and basketball. Why? Because, unlike in the NFL, they would still have to pay them. So teams keep them and keep them and keep them... J.D. Drew ring a bell?

Not in the NFL. A player may sign a 5-year, $40 million dollar deal. But if he gets hurt or he falls out of favor with the coaching staff, he can be cut at any time after collecting only a small portion of that $40 million. Of course a small portion of $40 million is still better than most of us will ever see. But if you've already spent most of the $40 million... well, that's how players who sign $40 million contracts end up in a financial mess.

LAWYER: Another case closed.

Patriots fans have gotten used to these sudden departures. The most infamous of course was when Lawyer Milloy was cut right before the start of the '03 season. Milloy was a favorite of Belichick but for some reason -- we'll never really know -- the coach decided he wasn't a good fit for the team anymore. Back-to-back Super Bowl titles proved the coach was right.

But I was sad to see Lawyer go. I remember sitting in my basement watching the '96 draft with Mark. That was the one where the Pats took wide receiver Terry Glenn in the first round against the wishes of Parcells. The first crack in the Tuna-Kraft relationship. As the Pats second-round pick approached Mark looked up from his draft preview magazines and said "I think the Tuna will go for that safety out of the University of Washington. Lawyer Milloy. Great name and Tuna's type of hard-nose player."

"Never heard of him," I mumbled through my mouthful of chips.

A few minutes later, the commissioner stepped to the podium and said "With their second pick in the draft, the New England Patriots take safety Lawyer Milloy from the University of Washington."

Lawyer was a Parcells guy who became a Belichick guy. They had a father-son relationship. One of the best moments from the Pats first Super Bowl win was when the two were caught on tape embracing right after Vinatieri's kick sailed through the uprights.

Lawyer was a great Patriot and his sudden departure shook the team. He was Brady's best friend at the time. Warren leaving is less team-shaking but still a huge loss. He's been one of the team's most underrated players this decade. A rock in the team's foundation.

Now he's gone. Always a class act, he thanked the Pats on his way out.

Who will be shown the door next? It could be anyone. Well, except #12. That day will never come.

Ya. Right.

Crazy Ochos

Whatever words eventually are used to describe the 2011 New England Patriots, boring will not be one of them.

The Pats started yesterday off by trading for the NFL's notorious B.I.G. Albert Haynesworth. They closed out the day by adding Chad Johnson. That's Ochocinco to most of you.

Oh, and Tom Brady and the boys had their first practice of training camp at Gillette. What lockout? If this is any indication of the entertainment level in store for Pats fans this season we are in for quite a year.

Ochocinco and Belichick have had a long-distance love affair for years now. Ocho isn't shy about saying what's on his mind and he has been saying for a while now that he would love to play for the Pats. Now it has come to pass.

Ocho is 33 years old. How much does he have left? Two years ago he had nearly 1,100 yards catching and nine touchdowns. Last year his numbers dropped because he had to share the ball -- and the spotlight -- with T.O. Is Ocho's signing like last year's pick up of veteran Torry Holt? Hopefully not. I was optimistic that Holt would play a key role last year. Unfortunately he never made it out of training camp. Ocho is a few years younger and certainly in better condition. He doesn't have to be the center of the offensive attention. That could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how Ocho blends in. The guy likes the ball. That's fine. Brady will get him the ball. When it's the right time.

There will be lots of talk the next few days on Sports Blab radio about how the Pats have added two bad character guys. I've already heard the thinking that with the death of Myra Kraft, the Pats now are signing players they wouldn't have while she was alive. It's amazing what you can come up with when you have to talk on the radio for four or five hours.

Ocho and Haynesworth are completely different stories. Haynesworth is a definite reclamation project. His rep as a problem child is well earned. But his talent at one of the key positions in the game makes it a no-brainer of a gamble. If he can't get his act together he'll be heading out of Foxborough as quickly as he arrived. If he can, then it's the move of the year.

Ocho is colorful. Not controversial. Fun-loving. Not shit-stirring. He should fit in great with Brady. He loves playing the game and he's now playing with one of the best teams in the NFL.

It won't be boring.