Hanley's huge deal, Shaq's huge derriere (with shocking video), latest Pats spying, PETA poll and more

     A fresh new mess o' miscellania:

     [Bulletin: Happy Mother's Day to all moms! By the way, I am not taking a one-year sabbatical in order to soul-search and seek enlightenment. However, I am taking Sunday off and plan to drink lots of beer].

     Marlins ownership spends big!: I can hardly believe I just typed those four words. A club that leads the majors in cheap has agreed to lavish a six-year, $70 million contract to keep young superstar shortstop Hanley Ramirez long-term, a milestone. Click here to find my column on the deal now online and headed for Sunday's paper.

     Shaq drops trousers, shows bare ass: Could I say it if it weren't true? Click here for the brief but remarkable video, except if you are the type to be offended by the naked bum of a 325-pound man. Remember: You were warned.

     Patriot games, Patriot shame: The latest on the Patriots' Spygate scandal indicates Bill Belicheat's shenanigans predated last year's episode and included spying on the Dolphins in 2000 and 2001. Can't get real excited about new news that rates as old news. Still, seems to me the NFL ought to sock New England with further penalties -- maybe more forfeited draft picks -- with the proof the scandal is broader than first thought. Alas, I think the NFL will consider it case-closed with no additional penalties.

     Employees listening to iPods: Contentious discussion over lunch yesterday as a busboy at Lefty's Tavern walked past with both ears plugged into music. It's a trend. I have also seen this recently of a UPS delivery guy, a Publix kid corraling shopping carts, and a woman in an office whose job is to answer the phone (!). Dear employees: You are not on your own time when working. You are, in effect, on the customers' time. If you deal with or are seen by the public in your job, you have no business wearing iPods at work. Dammit. Am I wrong?

     Bad makeup on wheels: I just looked up "slow news day" in the dictionary and saw the front page of today's Herald dominated by a story about the comeback of women's roller derby.

     Pick a peck o' PETA poll: Had a recent column slamming People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for its reaction to the death of race horse Eight Belles, claiming without basis that the jockey was at fault. (Click here for the column). A huge e-mail response on both sides verified to me how people feel so differently about PETA. How about you? Vote in our poll and elaborate with a comment if you'd like. 

Opinion Polls & Market Research

     Check back later. Might have some updates or add more crap throughout the weekend.

Comments

[Stav]

As fervent Fins fan and season ticket holder for the inaugural Heat seasons I support Miami sports....however, I'm sad to hear of the Ramirez signing. I'm a Sox fan and always figured we had sent him down to Miami for a couple of years of AAA+ play until we were ready to bring him up to the majors. It's a shame for someone who appears to be one of the all-timers to be stuck in backwater that doesn't care or understand baseball.

[Pizzle]

Stav,

Dont come on here saying you're a Fins fan and expect us to rub your cajones. Teams like the Red Sox trade away their farm system so that they can have a ridiculously high payroll and always just sign some Free Agent to solve all of their problems. Your team got Beckett and Lowell from us, won a World Series, and got a WS MVP from us. He cares and understands baseball, just because he plays in an area that can attract 40,000 fans regularly like Boston doesnt mean he doesnt understand the traditions and respect for the game. Enjoy Lugo as your #8 hitter and your aging pitching rotation. In 3 years teams like yours will no longer have the Marlins to buy talent from anymore. So enjoy your bought team.

[raoul duke]

Regarding IPOD craze it's absurd. I see people everywhere wearing them at work and simultaneously answering their cell phones every 5 minutes. Reminds me of schizophrenic patients that are often baraged by internal stimuli particlarly voices and will listen to music 24 hrs a day to drown it out. For them it is more often a coping strategy. But for adults that can't stop using these things without going through detox I don't get it. I had to listen to music constantly from maybe ages 10-18. As my need for constant stimulation subsided I noticed silence is nice too. Give it a try IPUDS.

[raoul duke]

Belichick should be cained like that American kid was awhile back for vandalizing property in China. Martial artist uses a cain and masterfully whips person's a** often causing excruciating welts and lacerations. Number of cainings is determined by severity of crime. Compared to a kid vandalizing property Hoodies crime would probably rate much higher on caining scale. Good thing you aren't in Bejing(sp?)Hoodie.

[Dave in VA]

raoul, that was in Singapore, but I agree. They should publically spank his ass.

[Flipper72]

I have lost all respect for Belicheat and the whole Pats organization and yes that includes Kraft. I really hope that they are under the microscope this year and teams totally change their offensive schemes on purpose whenever they play the Pats- in order to throw a monkey wrench in their whole cheatin' scheme...!!

I think that if we ran June Jones's "Run & Shoot Offense" against them in the first game and then run the Wishbone or an old "T" formation like the old days, then there's no reason these pukes should catch on to what we're doin'. We would have them off balance the whole game.

[Flipper72]

Shaq,

You Ugly Man...and so is free throwing shooting skills. What a minute- what skills?

Do us all a favor and RETIRE..!!

You SUCK...!!

[Flipper72]

That was purposely done to poke fun at Shaq's LSU education.

heh...heh...heh...!!

[raoul duke]

Hey Dave in VA kinda makes you thirsty for some Singapore Slings with Mescal chasers on the side doesn't it. God more I think of Belichick being publically cained at Gillette Stadium and it being televised on all networks with closeups, replays, slow motions of caining including Belichick's agonized facial expressions the more I want to see it. I would never stop laughing. Ever.

[raoul duke]

Shaq should go back to Hollywood because he is such a superior actor. Right up there with Spacey, Deniro, Pesci, Denzil, Ed Norton, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Samuel L. Jackson, Peter Sellers and Slim Pickins(God I love the image of Slim riding that Hydrogen Bomb down to its target in Russia). That's how I want to go.

[dean]

hi girls, glad to be back from a long hiatus. did you miss me?

- i know the marlins drain, i mean revenue share w/ the rest of mlb. but, if they were relying on attendance (7,500 per game) it would take them 20 years to pay off hanley's 6 year deal.

- i understand why heat fans feel like a jilted, jealous lover. just because shaq justifiably crapped all over miami's pathetic franchise, is no reason to be fascinated w/ his ass. the heat will never win another title w/o him.

- are the sucky dolphins obsessing over the patriots just to divert attention from their own sad sack team?

- horse racing blows but is far more humane than greyhound racing. somehow i get a feeling that a lot of the people that trifecta up at the track are also condemning michael vick.

i personally participate in a program that keeps greyhounds from ending up in the hamburger meat you get at publix once their racing days are over. fine animals deserve better than a visit w/ the grim reaper just because they can't run fast enough.

[raoul duke]

dean glad you're back and I think it's great that you help retired greyhounds. I've certainly heard some horror stories regarding their treatment as well. Now that you mention Vick he should be brought to nations capital for his public cainings and he no doubt deserves far more than Belichick in my opinion. Regarding belly aching over Pats superior team I'm really not that invested in Spygate. If it did uncover more s*** fine. It's more the idea of Hoodies public lashing that I'm invested in mainly for its high yuk factor. When Big Blue burst Pats bubble that was more than I could hope for. I'll live off that joy for a long time to come.

[dean]

r d

- maybe hoodie and the unibomber should be sharing the same cell.

- hard to tell who the biggest jerk in the nfl is... hoodie, tom coughlin, or bill parcells.

- if i was unfortunate enough to be working @ 7-11 earning minimum wage, i'd wear an ipod too. do you know how many "cote's" a day stagger in the door in a single day slurring "where's the cold beer"

[Frank]

Dean did you donate your 19 and 0 T-shirt to the homeless shelter? Or did you keep it as a reminder of just how bad the G-men made you all look? This whole spygate BS is going to land somebody a big book deal and personally I don't care about it and just wish it would stop getting publicity. So we can get back to the real News like Giants win the Superbowl and Pat's call off parade's, Cakes go un eaten and Thousands of N.E. Homeless sporting 19 and 0 T-Shirts...

[dean]

frank

i don't give a crap about any boston team. i'm a tampa buccaneer supporter.

[Tom]

"hard to tell who the biggest jerk in the nfl is... hoodie, tom coughlin, or bill parcells."

None of the above dean. Hoodie is a distant second, but the biggest jerk in the NFL by miles is Cam Cam_Moron. He also takes the prize as the stupidest, lamest, most annoying, dorkiest, most southie-like worthless piece of shit to ever hit the NFL. You name it and he takes it.

[r. duke]

Funny you should say that dean as I'm sure you're aware Hoodie Parcell's and Coughlin are all "related". Cam does seem to have taken #1 spot in coaching stupity. However a jerk is an a**hole while a moron is a retard.

[raoul duke]

I think Cam had his ipod on for all of last season.

[mike1]

Tom, you are definitely the most outspoken anti-Cam of us all. I don't think he was a jerk. He was just a horrible coach in every aspect of the game. So was Coker -- nice guy, bad coach. Cam makes Wanny look good. Bellicheat ranks as one of the biggest jerk coaches of all time. Woody Hayes, Bobby Knight comes close..but didn't cheat.

[mike1]

Raoul, good one.

It's highly likely the Cheatriots have cheated in every game since Belicheat was in charge. Why would he just pick and choose a few games that he wants to cheat in.

With regards to Phins winning that game despite

[mike1]

With regards to the "stolen" offensive signals in Oct 2001 vs the Phins:

Oct 2001: That would've only helped after half-time, and would have only helped NE's defense. It would not help NE's offense. Miami was up 17-10 at H/T. Miami scored a FG in the 3rd. Then Jason Taylor scored on a 1 yd fumble to make it 27-10. Miami scored another FG on a short 21 yd possession late in the 4th. So stealing the offensive signals DID help NE stop Miami; but it was too late to help win the game.

NE lost 3 fumbles and 4 sacks.

---
Cheating can't help you win every game. If you're team isn't that good, it won't help all the time. Also, factors like penalties, turnovers will upend a cheating effort. It starts paying off, when the team has sufficient talent..cheating then gives you the edge.

In 2001, Belicheat was new and was probably just starting to hone his cheating skills ..figuring out that stealing D signals is more effective than O. As cheating helped him gain success, he got addicted and couldn't stop. Speculation on my part, but not far fetched.

----

Punishment: a good punishment would simply be that the refs are told to stop giving Pats the breaks. Can't forget the Ravens game and earlier Giants game. Good thing the Super Bowl was fair.

[mike1]

PETA does good work when the women dress in lettuce leaves. Greg, where are those photos..it's never stopped you before.

Seriously, the have a good purpose, but sometimes overdo it.

[Stav]

Pizzle, My brother, dad and nephew have Marlins season tix. They are the only people at the stadium most nights. And you've just helped prove how little South Florida fans know about baseball.

The Sox aging pitching rotation is Beckett 27, Matsuzaka 27, Lester 24, Bucholtz 23....pretty senior group there. I left out the fifth starter, Tim Wakefield. Since you are supposedly a Marlins fan you know his age doesn't matter. How old was Hough when he tossed the first pitch in Marlins history? I'm sure Timmy can play that long if he wants to also.

[Frank]

Dean,
Sorry about that>> By the way How many QB's are on the roster now?

[raoul duke]

Oh my God, sweet Allah in heaven just heard on MSNBC that Hillary was killed when a Fiat loaded with high explosives plowed into her ample buttocks as she was crossing the street apparently to get to the other side. Obama adamantly insisted he had nothing to do with the bombing despite no one having asked him if he did. We will be monitoring this situation and updating you as soon as additional information becomes available to us. Now back to our regularly scheduled program "Dark Heart, Iron Hand"

[raoul duke]

This just in Rev Wright just made statement to press that this is a clear example of "The Roosters Coming Home To Roost" and then broke into laughter, bizarre dancing and disparaging remarks against America.

[raoul duke]

We interrupt regulary scheduled programming to inform our viewing audience that Hillary was not in fact killed as first reported as her layers of lard absorbed the brunt of the blast. She won't however be sitting down anytime soon. Now we return you to our regularly scheduled programming "To Catch a Predator 12".

[Tom]

Good one raoul. I suspected that she would be saved by that double-wide she carries behind her. Here's a video on the junk in Hillary's trunk. Enjoy

http://blogs.chron.com/memo/archives/2006/10/in_which_i_defe.html

[raoul duke]

Tom that was too f***ing funny. Thanks guy.

[Jimbo]

The only thing worse then Cameron running a team as head coach is Al Davis as owner/GM.

[Tococane]

Subpoena Mangini! He knows more about what happened than we do right now and he is bitter.

[Noel]

Give Camoron hell, Tom. Cam Cameron is a name that will live in infamy. Just think, if Parcells and Co. lead us to a Super bowl, we can partially thank Cam for being so bad and driving Huizenga to get Parcells.

[Name Withheld]

For all you wanna-be football experts on this blog. Wake up- Your starting quarterback is not yet on the roster. John Beck will never hit the sidelines for a regular season game in a Dolphin uniform this year. How do I know, let's just say inside information. I'm sure I will provoke many responses, some very negative, but you will see I'm telling you fact.

[Dave in VA]

Name Withheld, please tell me more!

I'm thirsty, is it noon anywhere yet?

[Tom]

Dave in VA

It's 11:18pm at Camp Humphrey in South Korea. So please have a cold on my son.

[Dave in VA]

Tom, I'll have a cold one FOR your son.

By the way, happy mothers day to all you muthers.

[Tom]

Thanks Dave.

[N. J. John]

I swear, I'll never put fertilizer on my lawn again. Now I'm thirsty.

[raoul duke]

Yea know what makes me terribly thirsty? Haldol and Thorazine. Can't stop drinking constantly but then the doctors and nurses accuse me of trying to wash medications out of my system. Something they keep calling Polydipsia. Todays medical system with it its HMO's has gone right down the shitter. Won't even let a thirsty guy get a drink. The goddamn terrorists at Guantanamo even get something to drink. Ah F*** IT!

[Dave in VA]

By all means John, have a cool daddy. It's muthers day and you've earned it!

And raoul, you're the biggest mutha of them all. Screw the doc, mix yourself a siffie!

[oscar_g]

Ted Ginn was the 2nd WR ranked in last years draft.

He was also a punt returner.

And Tom,

Who do you think has a better chance in starting next year.

Brady 'Super-Hyped' Quinn or 2nd rnd mistake (according to you) John Beck?

[oscar_g]

And I hope all your mothers, wives and/or daughters have a great Mothers Day!!

[oscar_g]

And Tom , one more thing.

I have been dying to ask you this for a long time.

What's your deal with Cameron? At the end, he ended up being a flash in the pan here in Miami.
And his draft might end up being pretty good.

This constant criticism of Cameron cannot be based solely on the Quinn pick, can it?

Wannestedt did a lot more lasting damage to this franchise than Cameron did and yet I don't I don't think I have ever seen a single post by you on that regime's failure.

Which, in my opinion, is the reason this franchise is where it is.

Not that you owe me an explanation, Tom, but I am interested in what you think about that.

[Tom]

oscar_g

I'll be happy to respond.

1. Quinn will be the starter in Cleveland by the beginning of next year at the latest. Anderson will be playing for someone else next year.

2. Beck may or may not be our starter. My guess is he won't be a Miami Dolphin by the beginning of the 2010 season.

3. Quinn will far and away be the better player long term no matter what happens here with Beck.

4. Ginn was taken with the 9th pick and was rated as no better than the 25th player in the draft. Most draft experts had him in the bottom of the first round or top of the second round. He was never projected to be a #1 WR. It was a horrible pick. Even Cam acknowledged in his infamous draft day speech that Ginn was drafted to return punts. You just don't use the 9th pick in the draft to select a punt returner.

5. I dislike Cam because he was arrogant. I don't mind the Tuna being arrogant, he's earned it. Cam had never done a thing as a leader that justified the type of arrogance he displayed last year.

6. Cam made us a joke last year, so I feel fully justified in pointing out that Cam was the real joke not the Dolphins.

7. Our draft from last year was a disaster. Unless Beck turns out to be a productive player, which is unlikely since Henne is the Tuna's guy, last year's draft will go down as one of the worst in our history.

Hope that clears it up. I know you're a Cam apologist and I'm sorry if my nagging on Cam bothers you.

Happy Mothers Day to all the mothers out there.

[Jimbo]

oscar-g- The draft last yr is still being judged and will be for the next 4 yrs. Wanny did some bad player moves, some good ones. He brought in Wally O' getting a DE opposite JTaylor. Only to trade him -plus a draft pick?- to Chicago for Marty "slow ride" Booker.
Saban caused a lot of damage due to his piss poor drafting.
Cameron's mistakes were monumental -Because- the team was already in a dreadful spot to begin with. Trading a pick away to KC for a QB that couldn't play when all they had to do was wait for him to be released anyway.
Rumor has it that Houston was going to draft Ginn if the Fins didn't take him one spot ahead of the Texans. Ginn can be a legit WR in the NFL because of his hands and speed. For Ginn to be good is the preparation / work ethic on his part AND having other talent on O side.
But Cameron didn't help himself either. The team was out of shape to begin with. The playcalling was bad. Cameron had his defensive stars playing out of position, ie, Porter as a down lineman going head to head with 300 lb linemen in limited space. ?

Cameron knew QB position was going to dicey at best. Green lost his velocity on passes Before the concusion. Lemon is a career #3 QB. Beck,,,who had all the tools but was a rookie was never coached one on one with the QB coach. He rarely took snaps at practice with the first team until the week he started. Beck had little help, thus determining IF this guy is legit NFL material was delayed a yr.
Anytime a coach goes 1-15 he is going to get canned. Can't expect anything else.

[Jimbo]

Tom, maybe we should have taken Brady Quinn last yr. From my perspective, I Didn't want him. The BEST DT AND CB were still there at #9 and should have gone there instead.

The other teams ran the ball down the D's throat in the 4th QTR because they were not conditioned. Coaches fault.

Qb's- look at my last post. Coaches fault.

1-15 is unexcusable. Coaches fault.

[Tom]

Jimbo

I thought and still think Quinn was the right pick, but if Cam had taken the DT or CB I would not have been as critical. What bugged me is the extent to which he reached with that pick. And then that speech just did me in.

[raoul duke]

Wait, Wait Name Withheld, our QB is not on the roster yet? Ok let me guess Matt Cassell is coming to Miami to be our starting QB because he knows all Pats secrets...or Maybe Chad Pennington because he has no rotator cuff or arm strength and Jets know sending him to Miami would hurt us more than it would hurt them...

[raoul duke]

Tom if your Name Withheld please forgive my sounding like a prick...I thought it could be someone from Herald staff that monitors Cote's blog.

[raoul duke]

Cam did pick some interesting prospects, big guys that may work out if their primary problem is lack of discipline, intensity and being properly pissed off at opponent. I think Parcell's & Co. can work with them so long as they actually know how to play football.

[raoul duke]

Now that I think of it maybe Cam was an Idiot Savant brilliant in some respects Rainman in others. We'll see...

[raoul duke]

Well Tom after reading your 3:26pm post more carefully I guess Anderson on Fins this year is possibility under right set of circumstances.

[raoul duke]

OK I'll sit down now and be quiet and give someone else a chance to speak.

[Dave in VA]

Godammit raoul, I'll speak. The Dolphins QB this year is going to be Burt Reynolds. Can I get another round please?

[naples jack,patsfan]

Guys relax!!! The tuna has arrived!!!! Happy days are here again. No more 1-15, on to victory####. Wait****, who is that guy in Foxboro? Oh NO, run into the ocean, We still have to face, BELICHICK(I can not shake this guy) BRADY,( I still have no QB, that could carry his jock) MOSS,( who do I have to cover him). Oh shit, the moneys good, great weather, hell I will be gone in 2 years.
Sincearly yours,
THE TUNA

[naples jack,patsfan]

Dave in VA.- Have a beer on me. I am takeing a 6 pack, out to the pool, go over my Nfl. schedule, crunch the numbers again, see were flipper keeps finding those 10 wins.

[raoul duke]

LOL Dave in VA, Burt Reynolds is better than Adam Sandler. Naples I must confess Parcell's longevity with Dolphins will always be concern. Hopefully coaches he brought with him will at least exume Fins from grave they've been in for years. And yes of course your team is better than Miami. However NE has had by and large extremely good fortune with Brady remaining healthy. Should he go down you might reach 500. Belichick and Moss don't play QB to my knowledge nor Pioli my friend and neither does Matt Cassell from what I've observed thus far. Your team has excellent depth but not at that particular position nor at runningback. Things could go south(no pun intended)in a hurry.

[the shadow knows]

raoul duke,

to read that chad henne is "parcell's guy" is funny!! he was taken way down in the draft, as opposed to san diego's moving up in the draft last year to take eric weddle (this year's free safety) and this year moving up to take jacob hester, all-around good player (runs, catches, blocks, and don't fumble) to replace lorenzo neal at FB. at six feet one and 230, hester will be able to get under onrushing linemen in protecting rivers. san diego has the highest talent level of any NFL team, and had they not been injured at the three key positions on offense against the titans, the patriots would have ended thewir season at 16-1 and watched the super bowl on live on TV. looking forward to the chargers coming to play the dolphins and actually getting a game from miami.will the fans boo norv turner? whaddya say?

[N. J. John]

I am not under the affluence of inkohol like some thinkle peep I am.

Barkeep, one for the ditch.

[raoul duke]

Shadow with SOOO many bad coaches, personnel decisions will anyone remember Norv Turner? I don't recall him doing much for the Fins. I certainly bear him no hard feelings anyway.

[Tom]

raoul duke not problem. I'm not Name Withheld, but I think I know who he is.

[19-0Patsin2008]

Thank god I am a Patriots fan and not a loser Dolphin fan. I WANT TO WIN AND I DON'T CARE HOW. You loser Dolphin fans can have your honest and pure 1-15 season. "We won 1 game but we earned it, see!"

Winning means doing whatever it takes. So leave the football to THE MEN and go whine to your mommies about how the Patriots stole your lunch money.

Oh, and look forward to more years of absolute domination of the Dolphins and frustration for you as the big bad Patriots wipe their arses with you.

HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHHAHAHAHAHAHA

[raoul duke]

shadow besides if San Diego beats NE at any point in the season(don't know if they're playing during regular season off hand)particularly playoffs should they meet it would certainly put a smile on my face.

[raoul duke]

19-Oh yeah right dream on. The bigger picture for a fan of a highly flawed Dolphin team(for the moment)was watching Prom Kingaling Brady get his brains beaten in by Big Blue and Pats failing to attain PERFECTVILLE. Really when I'm feeling blue or even if I'm in a good mood and want to feel even better I rewatch that game particularly that absolutely STUNNING, MINDBLOWING 4th quarter. Ah it was nothing less than the best Super Bowl ever served up to NFL lovers everywhere except in NE.

[19-0Patsin2008]

I know, how will I ever get to sleep tonight with a mere 5 Super Bowl appearances in the past 11 years. It's never been done before.

Oh, how can I go on!

The Dolphins last made the playoffs when?

[raoul duke]

Please do go on. I'm satisfied with my take on the matter.

[19-0Patsin2008]

Boston in 21st Century: City of Champions

Patriots in 21st Century:
Most wins: 100
Most Division Titles: 6
Most Conf Champ Games: 5
Most Super Bowls: 4

Red Sox in 21st Century:
Most League Championship Series: 3
Most World Championships: 2
Most World Series games won with a loss: 8

Celtics in 21st Century:
Can you say CHAMPIONSHIP!

Miami: City of Losers
1-15
15-67

NUFF SAID

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

GOT DYNASTIES?

[Tom]

Smacked down last year after the biggest choke in the history of the Super Bowl. No SB championship, no undefeated season, no best ever, no fucking nothing. But he keeps coming back for more, gotta respect that. Love how he puts that target back up, 19-0. Never gonna happen, but keep bringing it because we enjoy your pain when your Pats fail.

18-1 and nothing, heh,heh

[Tom]

In case you missed that, I said

18-1 and fucking nothing. Lovin it!

[raoul duke]

Boy Tom sure got quiet in here didn't it?

[E. Fudd]

Werry werry quiet

[Tom]

he must have taken a double dose of his meds.

[raoul duke]

Tom I hope he isn't hurting himself even if he isn't very polite.

[naples jack,patsfan]

Forget 19-0, I will be happy with 12-4, 13-3, and winning the super bowl. It will be a long time before anybody ever goes 18-1 again.

[Dave in VA]

I can pour a couple stiffy's for everone and all will be ok...

[oscar_g]

Mark this date and time.

I agree with Tom's 7:15 post.

P.S. Still waiting for Golden Boy Brady Quinn to start a game.

[mike1]

19-0Patsin2008, very funny.

First of all, you forget Miami NBA champs, and twice MLB champs. What is the % of World Series wins vs amount of years in Boston's existence.

You need to add to your Cheatriots stats:

Most wins by cheating: 100
Most Division Titles by cheating: 6
Most Conf Champ Games by cheating: 5
Most Super Bowls by cheating: 4

I'm not just talking the Belicheat scandal..remember the Raiders playoff game?

[mike1]

NaplesJack, as a fan of the Yaz era Red Sox, and 70's-80's Celtics, I rooted for Patriots early on. From my point of view, if Miami is not a Super Bowl contender, I don't care who wins as long as the perfect season doesn't get broken and that the SB is a well played and fair game (not like that messy Steelers-Seattle affair or some past blowouts). However, within the past year's time, Hoodie has proven to be not only a cheater, but a jerk. I don't even support my own teams under those conditiomns. I didn't get any thrill with the Hurricanes winning championships in the thug era.

[mike1]

Oscar-g, yes, Tom is head over heels infatuated with hating Cam, but not without good reason. Let me add: he traded our best offensive player Welker, who like Zach and Taylor, is highly inspirational. Cam brought us to the brink of infamy with a record breaking worst season record ever of 0-16. Simply a very bad coach...and yes, like Tom said he was initially very arrogant. Humbled by the end of the season; I was relieved for our Phins and actually felt happy for Cam when we saw his excitement in that Ravens win.

[Tom]

mike1 I agree with you last post except I would change the wording slightly. Please remove "head over heels infatuated" and insert in its place "insanely obsessed".

[Noel]

Tom,
You should love Cam. If not for his total ineptness, we might not have gotten Parcells and co. Cam could end up being one of the best things that ever happened to us. Thanks for sucking so bad, Cam.

[Jimbo]

Guys..latest I've heard on the Spygate BS is that the Pat's got their sentencing from NFL. This latest video crap is included in that sentencing..no new sanctions will incur. Dead issue.

naplesjack- I disagree with the Parcells comment. TUna will not be walking the sidelines, so that stress is gone. He is overseeing all operations, guiding Ireland and Sparano till he feels comfortable with their responsibilities. win-win situation. I think that he not only stays the 4 yrs but will extend past that...

Bellifullofchicken-- how did he do in Cleveland?? True, NOW he is top 3 coach in NFL. people said that Denvers Shanahan was going to winn boatloads of Super Bowls forever...didn't they fade quickly after Elway?
Look at your team. Core intact, yep. O line got manhandled in SuperBowl. But, QB Brady gets hurt, you are done, no use in arguing that. You lost BOTH starting CB's to free agency. Safety help can compensate 1 new guy but both? that could your downfall.
You should win the division, but SD and Indy are right there with you. Jax and Pitt are on your heals too.
Buffalo and Miami got better up front and will use Giants game to show big, physical teams can keep it close and make Brady jumpy back there.
jets also drafted a freak OLB/DE Gholston to come in at all angles at Brady.
Pats are still in drivers seat in the AFC East but the gap is closing. SD has better players overall. The question with SD is health and IS Turner a good enough coach to get there? Coughlin didn't get the respect of getting the job done till now too.

[naples jack,patsfan]

Jimbo- The question with chargers is, do they have any HEART? LT. proved to me he is a gutless, sniveling, me first person. The way he sat on the bench, no interaction with his teamates, was shameless. He got hammered the first couple of times he carried the ball against the Pats and quit like a dog. On the other hand, rivers played like a warrior. What deion sanders said about tomlinson, was dead on.

[naples jack,patsfan]

Jimbo- It starts with the QB. Untill rivers proves he can handle the pressure, they do not get to SB. The Pats OL. had a rough game against giants. There mistakes will get fixed in training camp. The Pats did not draft 1 OL. they are still young, had 3 probowl players, I am not worried. The giants were a fluke this past year, will not even make the playoffs in 08.

[Jimbo]

naplesjack- you are as optimistic toward your team as Flipper is to the Fins. both of you guys wear a big set of rose colored glasses.... no offense intended but you are biased, like ALL of us on here.

Your O line getting phyiscally overwhelmed is due to being overmatched;;;pound for pound overmatched. These boys are brought into and coached as to the style O that is ran in NE. Pass protection first, finesse running second. They are talented as a group. HOW can you coach getting stood up, pushed into the backfield on your ass and into your QB.
Prime example is how they found a way to run sucessfully. 2 or 3 TE's, string it out left or right, RB cutting where there is a seam.. that is finese. Just lining up and running straight ahead,, that line can't do it.
giants game was not a fluke, that is the blue print. mark my words, Brady will be sacked more this yr then any in his career. AND the D will give up more points then any in the last 7.
I am not going to tell U that the Fins are 11-5, playoff bound. Possibly the following yr IF the new blood here now gels and plays well this yr.

SD. outside of LT, that team showed me character that i thought didn't exist,,including coach N Turner. The superstars were hurt, beat indy and had a shot of beating Pats,,at least they hung in there till the end. Man for Man, the most talented team in the NFL.

QB,,right player, right coaches, right system, surrounded by talent.. whether a QB suceeds is 50% on him, 50% on what HE has no control over.
heck, if Brady were all that coming out of college, why did he go in the 6th rd?? IF he were a secret only known by Bellyfullofchicken he would have been scouped up before that.

Final thought....Deon Sanders has NO right to challenge or question any players heart or toughness. Dude tackled like a pussy, he hated contact. fast, yes, talented, yes, superstar, yes.. tough, heart?? come on, heck no. He is another Jim Brown type...self absorbed, self important, I am the greatest..chump

[Flipper72]

Wait a minute Jimbo...I disagree with the Jim Brown comment. The guy was tough as nails. Have you ever seen any old Cleveland Brown games with Jim running over people?

He would take the tough hit.

I would not put him in the same category as Larry Czonka, John Riggins, Earl Campbell or Chuck Muncie but the guy was a great RB.

Gale Sayers is another old time RB that I would marvel at when I saw him play.