Tribute to Troy

Let's be honest...Canton, Ohio's NFL Hall of Fame is, for the most part, a place for superstars who care about the stats and put themselves first. The NFL has a lot of proud, overpaid pre-madonnas who are too good to be disciplined. You won't find the situational player who plays when the coach tells him to. You find the whiner who doesn't get the #&@* ball. And you won't find the player who busts his butt in practice, you find the guy who had turf toe all week so he couldn't practice, but of course played Sunday's game. You find the specialized monsters who have perfected their skills, you won't find the player who plays 4 positions. I would love to see this jersey hanging in the Hall of Fame one day, but it's just not going to happen. Or is it?

Troy Brown is everything most NFL players aren't. He's unselfish, humble, a team player, willing to listen to his coach, versatile, grateful. And what has that got him? Just check out his fingers, the man has three Super Bowl rings. He's the player every NFL coach would love to have, because he doesn't have to be on the field all the time--but if you need him to be, he will. He'll play WR, he'll be used as a RB, he'll return punts, he'll return kickoffs, he'll be on special teams coverage, he'll even play DB when your secondary is pummelled by injury(he was also on the depth chart as QB during the preseason one year). An NBA coach recently was asked about the chances his team has this year. He said "Well, if my players are worried about how many minutes they are getting, this will be a tough year. If they are here to win, then we will in great shape". I'm sure Troy Brown could play point if needed.

The thing I love about Troy Brown is he's the smallest guy on the field. I was always worried someone was going to break him. Yet, he always did his job and whenever the Pats needed a big play, he made it. How many times did he return a punt for a TD in the playoffs? Seems like more than once. And how about that play against the Chargers in '06 during the playoffs when Brady got picked and then Brown forced the fumble and the Pats recovered the ball! Amazing. Big players step up in big games.

But listen to this. Patriots all time leader in receptions with 557. Three-time Super Bowl Champion. Over 6,300 receiving yards. One of the faces of the Patriots franchise that has carried the NFL for the last 10 years. In 2000, 83 rec...2001, 101 rec...2002, 97 rec...that's 281 catches in 3 years! Not only did he put up amazing numbers, he overcame all the odds. Troy Brown is a black man's Rudy--but better. He was drafted in the 8th round of the 1993 draft, 198th pick out of 224. He was subsequently cut in the preseason but then signed later that year. He continually had to prove himself.

I would never have classified Troy as physically big, man, I always thought he looked so skinny with those pads on, but look at him without pads.

The dude is ripped!

Listen, I get, I get it. He's not a sexy player. When he retired, ESPN was nice enough to mention it in passing. He is not the story that sells. And that is exactly why are society is going to pot. We give all the air time to fools who have no morals, no dignity, no respect, no gratitude, and we leave the Troy Browns of the world hanging out to dry.

Troy Brown, I am going to miss you. You were a breath of fresh air. A player who wasn't cocky, who actually cared about the team, who never said I, it was always "we" or "us". He would do anything, at any time, in any position on the field. He turned down more money as a free agent to stay with him team--a true novelty these days. He was the symbol of the Patriot franchise--and will remain so for a long time. Forget Tom Brady--give me another Troy Brown(well, I'll take Brady back too).

What do you think? Express your opinion in our poll on the sidebar. Should Troy Brown receive Hall of Fame consideration?

B...Y...U...Cougars

We came to crash the party!

Belichick deserves an Oscar

This one goes out to all the Patriot fans who for some reason are in mourning. I know, I know. You had to suffer through the death of Brady 2008, only to see a pillar of light in a 2-0 start to the campaign with hopes of hooking the Dolphins in week 3, and then...after 45 minutes of football your season was destroyed for the second time this year. You have all given up. Cassel sucks. The defense is old and weak. We can't throw deep to Moss. I know, I know...but there is also something I know that you don't. Trust me, you don't need to worry.

For starters, don't think that we can start winning again because Belichick is going to cheat again. He is not peeking anymore. I have proof. See the picture below. But listen, I know what Belichick is doing, and I am surprised I am the only one. People, we are talking about Bill Belichick, Master Yoda of the pigskin, the Tanya Harding of gameplanning!!! Do you honestly think he could get beat by the lowly Dolphins, at home, by 25 points--when he was trying?


I have it on a good source that the Pats blew Sunday's game on purpose. Think of it. If they kept rolling along and beating everybody on their schedule again, when would the pressure get to Cassel? How much can he handle? Each Patriots opponent would get all pumped up for the game and try to be THE TEAM that stopped the Pats regular season winning streak. Now, after one home loss to the 'fins, the whole league thinks the Patriots are done. They aren't worried anymore. Their guards are down. They don't have to dethrone the king anymore. Nobody does. It's already been done. DO YOU SEE HOW BRILLIANT BELICHICK IS??? Forget the zen of Phil Jackson, THIS is GOOD STUFF!!!

Here Matt Cassel is getting attacked by the Dolphins. Did he question Belichick's pregame talk of "Men, give me 10%!". Let's hear what Matt had to say. "Well, I realized coach was right. Either I get beat to death in one game, or get pounded every week for the rest of the season. I think we all knew which was the better option. I'm pretty sure I would have cracked under the pressure. Whenever I get praised, I blush and can't think straight. I mean, all those girls at Leinhart's house giving me compliments...anyway. So, I needed to be brought down to earth. Now we are the lowly Patriots, and there are no expectations. I can just get back to being the all-state high school quarterback that I am".

Poor offensive line play--was it just an off day? I don't think so.

Cassel's call for help in the 3rd quarter didn't fall on deaf ears

Although Belichick took the week off from gameplanning, he was there to back up Cassel when he needed him.

Belichick spoke to me in a private interview after the game and I asked him what the hardest part of this week was. He told me "Praising Tony Sparano for that game plan was hard, real hard. I think they ran the same play to Ronnie Brown 6 times, but my players did a great job of missing tackles. They really put on a good show tonight. We did a good job of acting, but the Dolphins made it hard. I mean, they really suck".

There you have it New England. Lift up your chin. There is hope. Week 5 in San Francisco will be a beat down. We might not have Brady, but we have the next best thing--a high school quarterback and Master Yoda on the sidelines.

Manny being.....I won't even say it.

Indifference. That's what I'll label it. There are other words I would like to use but I'll leave it at that. I think this picture tells it all. Sad thing is, I really like the guy--even though everything he does makes me wonder why.


Manny Ramirez quit on his team, his town, and his effort. Check these stats out. In 365 AB with Beantown, he hits 20 HR, has 68 RBI, and bats .299. He cries, complains, bullies the Red Sox employees, stops trying, takes vacations, and then is moved to no pressure LA where in 173 AB he has already clubbed 16 HR, had 49 RBI, and is batting a nifty .399--and is being mentioned as an MVP candidate. This is why I hate Manny (along with the fact that after begging him for an autograph for my dying mother, he consented-- but my pen had dried up in the negotiations so he walked off). I hate him for giving up on me, a loyal Bosox fan who baseball actually means something too.

Wouldn't it be nice to be so good at something that you could do whatever the heck you wanted and your boss would just take it. Or send you to Hollywood instead of firing you. How would that feel? If any of you want to know, I'll tell you...because I am THAT good at payroll.

In case you Dodger fans think you have hit the jackpot on this one, realize two things. Manny is a free agent and will require top dollar--that's #1. #2 is the following, it's Manny Ramirez, and that means it's only a matter of time before he starts acting like the real Manny.