Wild Card weekend just ended and the Dolphins looked as if they had no business being there. For some reason I feel as if the Patriots will be playing next week hosting a game at Gillette in the divisional round since they've been to the post season six years in a row, and played in the Super Bowl four times this decade winning three of them. In 2007 Tom Brady throws for 50 touchdown passes and the team goes 18-0 including the playoffs but lose the big game which hurt terribly but time heals the heartache and people just know they are going to take no prisoners and tear up the league next year.

Seven minutes into the 2008 season their MVP quarterback tears up his knee with a season ending injury and doom and gloom engulfs all of New England. In comes backup Matt Cassel who looked clueless in the pre season and hasn't started a game at QB since high school. Had coach Bill Belichick lost his mind, no we did. Most thought the Patriots would sign some veteran cast off to try and salvage the season for a star studded team that should have been vying for another championship run. Belichick stuck with Cassel and was richly rewarded for doing so. They brought him along slowly then "click" the light switch came on and Cassel started lighting it up and the Patriot offense was high octane once again and hope was alive and well in Patriot land.

Suddenly as if someone put a voodoo curse on the team, vital and key veteran players mostly on the defense were stricken by injuries week after week but the coaching staff kept plugging in the holes and aside from a couple of poor outings the defense managed to keep playing competitive while Cassel and the high flying offense bailed them out a few times but this team had never given up on themselves and won some incredible games.

Their record for the season was 11-5 but lost the tie breaker for another trip to the post season to the Dolphins and Ravens who had better conference records by one lousy game. The dropped pass by Jabar Gafney against the Colts comes to mind but this is a team game and you cannot blame one player for the teams success or troubles although I did put him out there didn't I. My colleague Matty Marc and myself went back and forth about him and it turns out that play does loom large as it stands now.

I'm all for parity in the league and like to see different teams have success but this year's bunch doesn't do it for me. How can the Chargers who beat down the Pats by the way win their division at 8-8 and make the playoffs.They had some tough luck and are better than their record shows but an 11-5 team ought to make the damn playoffs. The Arizona Cardinals ? Please get them away from home and they become pigeons. The Eagles don't know if they want to be good or stink and they are like a bunch of chocolates...Need I finish the rest of that sentence. I think not. I simply can't stand the Ravens they cry too much when they lose so I hope the Titans put it on them good. One thing is almost guaranteed and that is this may be the lowest rated Super Bowl in years. The NFL is providing 3-D glasses to watch a movie preview and an episode of "Chuck" after the game. We are now reduced to gimmicks to keep an audience. The Super Bowl will be broadcast by NBC ( Now Being Childish ).

I respect Bruce Springsteen but he can't help either and I'm tired of these throwback halftime shows. I guess the playoffs are not as much fun without the Patriots. They play entertaining games and when you play them you better be prepared because they bring it. Most of the good teams are formidable foes even in defeat at the hands of the Pats and it always makes for a great football game.

Aside from the heartless Jets the teams that beat New England were all playoff teams if that's any consolation. Hats off to Matt Cassel but with Brady present it may have been a different scenario. Now his status for next year is uncertain so they must keep Cassel if Brady can't go, also everyone will be a year older and this defense needs to get younger fast. It may get worse before it gets better folks that's the harsh reality. Also rumor has it vice president of personnel Scott Pioli might be lured away to the hapless Cleveland Browns and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is in the hunt for a head coaching job. I don't think he'd be a rat fink like Eric Mangini and go to the Jets but you never know.

Well thanks for taking the time to read this article and allow me to let off some steam.

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Playoffs Not As Fun Without The Patriots
Tuesday, 06 January 2009
Wild Card weekend just ended and the Dolphins looked as if they had no business being there. For some reason I feel as if the Patriots will be...

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