Belichick was going for it on 4th and short, no matter what

Thursday November 19, 2009 11:56 AM By Bob Glauber

Interesting nugget on Showtime's Inside the NFL this week (originally broadcast on Wednesday night) from insider Michael Lombardi, who spoke to Belichick about the controversial decision to go for it on 4th and 2 from the Patriots' 28 with 2:08 to play.

A pass to Kevin Faulk fell short of the first-down marker, and the Colts took over and drove for the winning touchdown in the final seconds.

"I talked to him. And the night before each game he sits down with
his coaching staff, it’s like Masterpiece Theatre," Lombardi said. "He goes over the game in detail and how he’s going to play the game. In this instance he told his
staff, any fourth and short, we’re going to go for it."

Why? 

"Because what happened in the past, 2006…Fourth and four at his own 46 and he decided to punt to give Peyton Manning the chance to go 80-yards, cost him the chance at the Super Bowl. That memory is everlasting in his mind."

Said host James Brown: "He told you that he had this discussion with his staff, that he was going to do that, period?"

"At every opportunity that he had to take advantage of it," Lombardi replied. "He was
not going to watch Peyton Manning beat him with what happened in 2006."

LeBron James to the Knicks? Nets? How about the Browns?

Wednesday November 18, 2009 3:33 PM By Bob Glauber

NBA superstar LeBron James, an All State wide receiver in high school, said Tuesday night that if he put in the time and effort, he could be a good football player.

Eric Mangini’s reaction: “I think he should come on down.”

Mangini called the 6-8, 260-pound James a “freak athletically,” and suggested he could be a dynamic tight end, wide receiver or outside linebacker.

The reaction inside the locker room was mixed, according to the Associated Press.

Quarterback Brady Quinn said he’d love to have James as a red zone receiver.

“That'd be great," Quinn said. "Tell him to suit up and let us know, we'll get him working. Obviously he's an incredibly talented athlete. If he wants to try to play a little bit now, we'd be more than willing to pick him up."

But Browns nose tackle Shaun Rogers is skeptical.

“I have mixed emotions about that,” he said. “A great athlete? Yes. A football player? No."
Rogers then looked into TV cameras.
"Yeah LeBron, I said it," he said. "It's a punishing game. I just don't think you can step off the basketball court after not going through this year in and year out and just play football. From that standpoint, I just don't think it's possible. You have to weather and condition your body to take this punishment."

Chris Johnson thinks Bud Adams giving the finger at Sunday's game was ... kinda cool

Wednesday November 18, 2009 3:00 PM By Bob Glauber

Titans running back Chris Johnson didn’t hear about team owner Bud Adams flipping the bird to Buffalo fans during Sunday’s win over the Bills in Tennessee. But once he saw the clips on television, he loved what the owner’s message was all about … even though that message cost Adams $250,000 in fine money from the NFL.

“I didn’t know that he did that during the game but when I looked at Sportscenter I seen that. I just feel like he is going all the way in like…I feel like he is trying to say the attitude of our team is like we really don’t care,” Johnson said on the Dan Patrick radio show (via Sportsradiointerviews.com). “We are just trying to win games no matter whatever it takes.”

Johnson also said he stands by his prediction that the Titans, who started out 0-6, will run the table and make the playoffs. The Titans have won three straight since Vince Young replaced Kerry Collins as the starting quarterback.

“Yeah, I still stand by that statement,” he said. “We are trying to take it one game at a time. Just like when I said it they don’t really believe like we can win these last games and end up at 10-6.”

Johnson on Young’s insertion into the lineup:

“It has been a difference because he is a big competitor. He is just going to do whatever it takes to win just like Bud Adams. He is just kind of being the swagger of our team.”

Vikings: We'd welcome back Favre in 2010

Wednesday November 18, 2009 1:09 PM By Bob Glauber

Brett Favre has done everything the Vikings could have imagined – and more. At 8-1, the Vikings are now the prohibitive favorites to win the NFC North, and they’ll certainly be mentioned in the same breath as every other Super Bowl contender in the conference.

So it comes as little surprise that the team would be ecstatic to have him back next season – even at age 41.

“When we signed Brett, we were hoping he would give us a spark,” Wilf said, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. “He’s got that track record and, so far, so good.”

The Vikings signed Favre to a two-year, $25 million deal in August. He is due to make $13 million this season, and $12 million in 2010.

“He brings a great football IQ and really a Hall of Fame career behind him,” Wilf said. “But he also adds levity to the whole team, and he makes it fun. He loves football. He’s passionate about it and from that standpoint, I think it’s infectious.”

Favre leads the NFL with a 107.5 rating, more than 20 points better than his career rating. He has 17 touchdowns and only three interceptions.

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NFL Power Rankings: Changes at the top, Chargers on the rise

Wednesday November 18, 2009 8:44 AM By Bob Glauber

Our Week 11 Power Rankings, for your viewing pleasure ... or, if you prefer, a heaping portion of ridicule: 

1. Colts (9-0) (2): Pats’ 4th and 2 gamble late in 4th quarter blows up, and Peyton makes ‘em pay. Colts now in firm command of AFC playoff scenario. Road to the Super Bowl likely goes through Indy.

2. Saints (9-0) (1): Saints continue to win, but also continue to show chinks, this time on defense against a woeful Rams’ team. Injuries an issue now, too (Darren Sharper, Tracy Porter).

3. Vikings (8-1) (3): Brett Favre to Sidney Rice is becoming a familiar refrain in Minny.

4. Patriots (6-3) (4): Still don’t like the call by Bill Belichick, but still like the Patriots. A superior team that lost to an equally superior team. 

5. Bengals (7-2) (6): Bengals take a page from Stillers, winning with tough defense and opportunistic offense. Bengals now a combined 4-0 against Stillers and Ravens.

6. Cardinals (6-3) (8): Cardinals survive early scare at home against Seahawks before steamrolling visitors in second half.

7. Chargers (6-3) (12): That’s four straight after a loss at home to Denver. Bolts now face Broncos with a chance to take the divisional lead.

8. Cowboys (6-3) (5): Maybe Cowboys started feeling too good about themselves. A real clunker in Green Bay

9. Stillers (6-3) (7): Stillers can’t overcome pesky Bengals at home. Making matters worse, they lose Troy Polamalu to another knee injury. Schedule softens up, though, with 3 of next 4 against sub .500 teams.

10. Falcons (5-4) (9): Falcons not only lose to Panthers in critical NFC South game, but might be without Michael Turner (ankle) against Giants.

11. Iggles (5-4) (11): Iggles struggle early against Chargers, mount late comeback, but not enough. Another concussion for Brian Westbrook. This could be it for the playmaker.

12. Texans (5-4) (13): Texans return from bye to host Titans. A major test for Houston’s wild card chase.

13. Broncos (6-3) (10): At 6-0, it was all so perfect. Three straight losses later AND an injury to Kyle Orton, and the Broncos are suddenly reeling. Home on Sunday against streaking San Diego.

14. Packers (5-4) (18): Couldn’t get much worse for Pack after losses to Brett Favre and then winless Tampa Bay. Nice bounce-back against Pokes.

15. Giants (5-4) (15): Reeling from four-game losing streak, Jints return from bye to host Atlanta in game that could have wild card implications.

16. Ravens (5-4) (14): After dreary first-half performance, Ravens finally come alive against woeful Browns.

17. Jaguars (5-4) (17): Terrific final drive in the end to beat the Jets and keep their wild card playoff hopes alive.

18. Panthers (4-5) (20): After 0-3 start, Panthers now solidly in the wild card mix.

19. Dolphins (4-5) (16): Workmanlike effort against the Bucs, but not without a price. Ronnie Brown, who runs the Wildcat offense, suffers an ankle sprain.

20. Titans (3-6) (22): After 0-6 start, Titans have won three straight under Vince Young. RB Chris Johnson has been the key, though.

21. 49ers (4-5) (23): When this team wins, it wins ugly. But they’re in the wild card mix, so Mike Singletary could care less about looking good.

22. Jets (4-5) (21): Since 3-0 start, Jets are 1-5. Need a win against New England on Sunday to even think about the playoffs.

23. Bears (4-5) (19): Jay Cutler throws five picks in Thursday night loss to Niners. Dreadful.

24. Redskins (3-6) (28): Stunning win over the Broncos, complete with touchdown off fake field goal.

25. Seahawks (3-6) (24): Seahawks race out to early lead on the road against the Cardinals, but revert to form and throw it away in the second half. Bad football team.

26. Bills (3-6) (25): Bills not only get smoked in Tennessee, but Titans owner flips the bird to Bills fans. Best $250,000 he ever spent.

27. Chiefs (2-7) (29): A week after tossing Larry Johnson to the curb, Chiefs beat the Raiders. Whoopee.

28. Raiders (2-7) (26): Looks like Tom Cable will escape discipline from the Raiders and the NFL. About the only good news in his life these days.

29. Buccaneers (1-8) (27): After magical win over the Packers, Bucs back to normal with loss to the Dolphins.

30. Rams (1-8) (30): Steve Spagnuolo’s guys put up valiant fight against Saints at home … hey, at least they covered.

31. Lions (1-8) (31): It is truly amazing the depths of Lions fans’ suffering over the years.

32. Browns (1-9) (32):  See previous comment, insert “Browns fans" and feel their pain.  

UPDATE: Dick Jauron was fired by the Buffalo Bills yesterday after a 3-6 start to the season. Also, Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams was fined $250,000 for making an infamous double-one finger salute to Bills fans. Just for perspective Ravens' Ray Lewis was fined that same amount for his alleged involvement in a double murder back in 2000.

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Larry Johnson is a Bengal

Tuesday November 17, 2009 2:06 AM By Chris Mascaro

According to a league source to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Larry Johnson has signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, a deal that was expected to be announced at some point on Tuesday.

Terms of the deal weren't disclosed, but Johnson is allowed to keep the balance of his $4.55 million salary from the Chiefs in addition to anything he's paid from the Bengals.

The 29-year old Johnson left Kansas City just 56 yards shy of the franchise career rushing mark held by Priest Holmes. Johnson, who ran for over 1,000 yards in 2005 and 2006, had his time run out with the Chiefs last Monday.

Though his numbers are weak (he's rushed for just 2.9 yards per carry on 132 attempts this season), Johnson was sought out by Cincinnati because of a hip flexor suffered by Cedric Benson on Sunday.

Johnson may see a heavy workload as the Bengals navigate an easy stretch (at Oakland, then home for Cleveland and Detroit) the next three weeks. Bernard Scott should see some carries as well.

Good call, bad execution and periphery decision making

Tuesday November 17, 2009 1:37 AM By Chris Mascaro

Unlike Mr. G, I actually thought Bill Belichick's decision to go for it on 4th-and-2 was a sound one. So I'll offer my differing viewpoint as such...

The problem was not with Belichick's decision to go for it, but rather the play's surrounding decisions. On 3rd-and-2 with 2:11 to play, why throw a short pass to Wes Welker? Of course, if you get the first down, the game is over.

But the Pats averaged 4.0 yards per carry last night (Kevin Faulk averaged 6.6 on 12 carries himself). Why not run two straight dives or even a QB sneak to pick up the new set of downs? Yes, we all know New England is a pass-first offense. But a championship team must be able to carry the ball two yards in two plays.

After all, the average NFL play so far this season has gone for 5.1 yards. You mean to tell me the vaunted Patriots can't pick up two in two plays?

The issue is Belichick wavered, something we've never seen him do. First, he sent out the punt team, then he called a timeout and Tom Brady gave a shocked face on national television as Belichick told him to trot back out there. If your MVP-caliber quarterback, who is one of the best leaders in the NFL, doesn't know your thinking, how can he convey your strategy to the team in the huddle? He can't. And that was New England's biggest problem (also the fact that Faulk didn't run his route beyond the first-down marker).

Say they run the ball on third down. Then the ball is in Indy's court. Does Jim Caldwell call a timeout before the 2:00 warning? Or does he let the clock move and save his last timeout in case he gets his hands on the ball again?

Peyton Manning had thrown three touchdowns and two interceptions to that point, but he had just shredded through the tired Pats defense on the prior drive. Sure, it was aided by a 31-yard pass interference call, but 79 yards in 1:49 is an extemely fast drive. 

We laud plays like the one Maurice Jones-Drew made yesterday against the Jets when he took a knee at the 1-yard line to prevent the Jets from getting the ball back with a chance to win — it's the smart move. Sure, it's risky, because a botched snap or a missed field goal means a loss. But kicker Josh Scobee has missed just one kick out of 42 from inside 30 yards in his career. The odds were with Jacksonville.

Peyton Manning has averaged 8.05 yards per attempt this season, but that average is nearly certain to be higher with a team playing prevent defense. With 2:00 to play, 70 yards, or even 80, is no sweat for Manning and his high-powered offense.

Manning is on pace to throw for 5,106 yards this season, which would be the most ever in a season (Dan Marino currently holds the record with 5,084). He's had eight 300-yard games in nine contests this year. If I'm the New England coach, I try like heck to keep him off the field.

Said Brady: "That fourth-down play, that's one of your best plays, and you go to one of your best guys. We've got our offense on the field. We have over 450 yards of offense at the time. We've got a lot of great players on our offense. They stopped us."

Well said by the three-time Super Bowl champ.

Let the debate rage on. My Twitter page, @CCMascaro, is a great spot for some back-and-forth dialogue.

Industry source: Gruden is not coaching in 2010, and maybe not 2011 either

Monday November 16, 2009 11:32 AM By Bob Glauber

ESPN announced today that former Raiders and Bucs head coach Jon Gruden has agreed to a multi-year agreement to remain at the network.

The announcement, quite frankly, did little to convince us that Gruden would not be open to the possibility of returning to the sidelines in 2010. With potential vacancies in the NFL and the colleges (Notre Dame?) soon to open up, Gruden's name would still pop up on coaching wish lists.

But according to an industry source with knowledge of Gruden's situation, Chucky has assured ESPN that he is unconditionally committed to the network through the 2010 season. And possibly beyond. Gruden is said to be enormously happy in his role as an announcer, and wants to keep his family in the Tampa area for the foreseeable future. The source indicated that it would therefore not be surprising to see Gruden close the door on coaching in 2011 as well.

Is it a sure thing that Gruden stays out of football? Well, we've seen too many instances in the past where cocahes break television contracts - or even contracts with other sports teams - to return to the sidelines.

But in this case, the indication from the industry official was so strong about Gruden being committed to ESPN that those looking to hire a head coach next season ought to consider other alternatives before trying to pry Gruden away from his current gig.

Bill Belichick paying the price for his botched call

Monday November 16, 2009 11:16 AM By Bob Glauber

When Bill Belichick’s long and distinguished career as one of the most brilliant football tacticians is over, he will take his rightful place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But of all the moments that have defined his career, Sunday night’s fateful decision in Indianapolis will not be high on the list of accomplishments.

In fact, it will almost certainly be at or near the bottom.

Belichick gambled that he could put the game away by getting a first down on fourth-and-2  from his own 28 with 2:08 to play. Holding a 34-28 lead over the Colts in Indianapolis, the Patriots needed a first down to all but ensure victory and move to 7-2 with a three-game lead in the AFC East. The smart play would have been to punt the ball and make Peyton Manning drive the length of the field and have to score a touchdown to win it.

But Belichick threw caution to the wind, elected to go for it, and paid the price when Kevin Faulk was stopped short of the first-down marker. Manning took over from there and drove the Colts to the game-winning score in the final seconds on a touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne. The extra point won it to keep Indy unbeaten at 9-0.

Only one way to put this one: Wrong call.

And now Belichick is paying the price publicly for his botched decision. It is not going well today.

“This was as bad as anything the Red Sox ever did,” Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy wrote in Monday’s editions. “Had it been a playoff game, it would be right up there with Bucky Dent, Bill Buckner, Aaron Boone, and History Derailed in Glendale, Ariz.
And Bill Belichick played the part of Grady Little.”

Ouch.

The decision was something akin to former Cowboys coach Barry Switzer going for it on fourth-and-1 against the Eagles from his own 29-yard line in the final minutes. Emmitt Smith was stuffed on the same play for a second straight time, and the Eagles kicked the game-winning field goal. The next day, the New York Post back page headline blared: “Bozo the Coach.”

Switzer’s gaffe was even worse than Belichick’s because the score was tied. But the criticism has been rightly directed at the Patriots’ coach for not playing it safe and kicking the ball away and forcing Manning to drive the field. The quarterback still might have led a touchdown drive, but at least it would have been more along the lines of 80 yards, not 29.

Belichick defended the call afterward, and so did his players. But what did you expect? Belichick is not going to second-guess himself, nor are his players. He did what he thought would put the game away, and that was that.

And now comes some of the most intense criticism ever foisted on a Boston sports figure. This one’s going to hurt for a long, long time.

But as Switzer found out, the decision might not ultimately be a fatal one. Consider: After the Cowboys lost to the Eagles, won the remainder of their games, including Super Bowl XXX.

The flurry of criticism directed at Switzer actually prompted his players to circle the wagons for the embattled head coach, who rode the wave to his first and only NFL championship.

Belichick has already won three Super Bowl titles, and his place in history is secured. But my sense is that the Patriots players will do the same for their head coach as the Cowboys did for Switzer.

It won’t change the outcome of the play, but it might ultimately signal bad news for New England’s remaining opponents.

Up next: the Jets in Foxboro.

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