Welcome Back Randy

All the anticipation and talk surrounding the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings football game on Sunday, October 31st created major storylines around the NFL this week. With Brett Favre's consecutive starts at QB record dominating the media, the story of Randy Moss's arrival back in the city he left nearly a month ago took a backseat.

Except in New England.

Patriots fans don't forget all the amazing games Randy Moss had for New England, and how could they it was only just a month ago that Moss was making a spectacular one-handed, over the shoulder catch beating Darrelle Revis cleanly.

The schedule makers must have known that Randy was beginning to come into another one of those cycles where he is irritated by nearly everything that happens around him, because they could not have picked a more perfect night for this game to have been played.

The questions surrounding this game, which had floated about all week were quickly answered by the end of the night. Brett Favre being the old, rough n tough, Wrangler jeans wearing, play in the mud kind of guy he is, of course came out to start the game and looked considerably better than he has in his most recent weeks. That is until that grim clip of him being carted off down the sidelines, where it literally looked like we were watching the legend of Brett Favre die right in front of our eyes.

And as much as I want to make that the main story today, I just can't. There's something about Randy and the whole atmosphere of the gameday that makes him the perfect player for the spotlight. His unimpressive return to New England stands at 1 reception for 8 yards. I'm sure that New England fans are upset that he didnt make a catch earlier than the beginning of the second half so that he could have been booed earlier into the game. However, not to be upstaged by his performance on the field, although it didn't take much, Randy's post game interview was comically controversial.

Randy Moss Post-Game Interview
Check out Moss's post game rant.

Of course, it wasn't all hard feelings as was made quite clear first off by the large embrace that Moss shared with his former coach, Bill Belicheck right after the game. Moss also had some touching quotes that show that he still misses New England as he was quoted saying:
 "It was hard for me to come here to play, an up-and-down thing. I was on a roller coaster all week"
"I miss every last helmet in that locker room."
"I don't know how many more times I'll be in New England again. But I leave Coach Belichick and those guys with a salute: 'I love you guys. I miss you. I'm out.'"

I say if Randy ever wants to come back to New England he's welcome back, I'm just saying that if he were somehow wearing a Silver and Blue jersey again, the welcome van would grow a few times larger.

I'm Not Randy

He is not here to replace Randy Moss, nor should anyone expect him to. Deion Branch is merely a piece of the puzzle in which Bob Kraft has put together. Branch has never been the deep threat that Randy Moss is, nor is he of the Hall of Fame caliber which, Moss seems destined to be. But the thing about Deion Branch, is that he has heart and he knows how to be an effective wide receiver in the Patriots passing game. Earlier in this decade as the Patriots were in the midst of their championship years, Branch was selected in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft. Who would have known that the player drafted out of the University of Louisville would be such a dynamic player in the key years of the Patriots playoff runs. Branch played in 2 of the Patriots 3 Super Bowls, gaining MVP honors in the 2004 Super Bowl XXXIX, the first receiver to gain such an honor since the 89' Super Bowl. However at the end of his tenure, Branch and the Patriots hit a snag in the talks of his contract. So at the beginning of the 2006 season when Branch heldout of training camp, the Patriots made the move to send him to Seattle for a first-round draft pick in the 2007 NFL draft, which subsequently became Brandon Merriweather. When Branch went to Seattle he spoke to Belicheck a few times over the course of the year, he says he didn't leave on a bad note so he never had hostile feelings toward New England. While in Seattle Branch was plagued by injuries which sidelined him for a total of 14 games over his 4 seasons there. He did, however manage to be near the top in receptions, with Seattle each season he was active. Although his totals in Seattle were nowhere near as productive as his totals in New England, he hopes that his move back to the Patriots will be a new spark for his career. Branch hopes to learn the system in time to play this weeks matchup against the Ravens, although he says that it hasn't changed drastically since his years under Charlie Weis' schemes. He hopes that he has shown enough in practice that he will be given the chance to prove himself on the gridiron this Sunday. The Patriots have high hopes that Branch, as a veteran will be wiser and use his acquired knowledge and experience in the league to be successful, that's why they gave the former Super Bowl MVP another chance here in New England, another chance to show his talent, and another chance to be himself: Deion Branch.

Deion Branch, #84 WR New England Patriots

Feels Like 1972?

Monday the 1972 Dolphins team that finished the season undefeated and won the Super Bowl, breathed a sigh of relief after the last remaining undefeated team, the Kansas City Chiefs, lost to the Indianapolis Colts 19-9. Yes, I said the Kansas City Chiefs that was NOT a typo. After a rather disappointing season at 4-12 last season, the Chiefs were not expected to have any major impact on the league this year. However after week 4 where both the Steelers and Bears, the only other two undefeated teams at the time, were defeated, the Chiefs stood alone at the top of the NFL with the help of the bye week. This game had major implications for the Chiefs if they had any hopes of returning to the playoffs as they did in the '06 season. Facing off against Peyton Manning and the Colts is as good a way as any to prove that you can hang with the best teams in the league. And the Chiefs did just that, even with the loss, the Chiefs played the Colts to a down to the wire game. With the score tied at 9-9 going into the final quarter of the game, the Kansas City Chiefs were for real. Although Indy came out on top, the Chiefs are optimistic that they have come a long way since last season. Playing a team like Indianapolis tough and having a chance to win the game at any level, is purely an accomplishment in itself. The Chiefs currently sit in first place atop the AFC West standings at 3-1 a full game and a half above every other team who all sit at 2-3. The Chiefs of '10 look as though they could be around for the long haul, and that's not something that anyone wants to hear. Although there is a lack of production in the offensive categories with only 77points and 8TD scored through their first 4 games, their defense has looked solid allowing only 57 points thus far, less than 15 a contest. However, with the Chiefs loss, every NFL team now has at least one defeat. Because of that, the '72 Dolphins can break out the champagne and celebrate once more upon being the only undefeated team, including playoffs, of all time. But one thing can be learned from these Chiefs and that is to never take your opponent to lightly or underestimate anyone, you never know which team is going to have a breakout season.

 1972 Dolphins

Dexter McCluster, WR/RB, Kansas City Chiefs

Raaaaandddy?

C'mon Randy, was the record breaking season in receiving TD's, alongside the ability of being a Wide Receiver on the New England Patriots, for Tom Brady not enough for you? Where in the world does it cross your mind that having a 60 year old Brett Favre as Quarterback, as opposed to Brady in his prime, a better scenario for you? Nonetheless, the Vikings have been pitiful this year at 1-2 behind the 3-1 Bears and Packers. Hell, the Vikings are only 1 game better than the Lions right now, that's just bad. Plus the Patriots are 3-1. I wonder if Randy knows that he gets to play the Patriots 4 weeks from now? Maybe by then the Vikings will have 2 more wins than the lowly Lions, maybe. Sure on paper you look at the Vikings and say WOW, I bet they go undefeated. But then look at their record, sure only week 3 but still, you get my point. Randy you had the best situation ever here in New England, a fan base that loved you, a QB who can actually hit you with passes, and a team that can win, giving you an actual shot at your first Super Bowl championship, yeah remember that thing every team plays for at the end of the season where they give out rings and such? Right I didn't think so. But hey, good luck out there in Minnesota, with Brett I'm sure when playoff time comes around and both his knees buckle, Tavaris Jackson will be a great player. Oh wait...

Special Team

Monday nights' Patriots at Dolphins game was supposed to be a tough game, a battle for a share of first place in the AFC East, and it was for a half. Bill must have said something that lit a fire under the Special Teams of the Patriots, namely Brandon Tate and Patrick Chung. Coming out of the halftime the Patriots lined up for the kick return. The fire inside Brandon Tate exploded as soon as he caught the ball, I think that his 103-yd return can draw comparisons to Flash, this is because he caught the ball took-off, and wasn't touched the entire way down the field. 13-6 Patriots. The momentum shift at this point and time during the game was like day and night from the first half of the game. What can be said about the performance of Patrick Chung? Only word that comes to mind is simply: spectacular. The second year safety had a performance to be remembered for the rest of his professional career. Chung first blocked a punt which set up a New England touchdown. Later in the half, Chung struck again, like lighting striking twice, Chung blocked a field goal attempt, which Kyle Arrington then picked up and took 35 yards to the house. Just when the game reached its pinnacle, and the blowout was confirmed, Chung decided he wasn't done, taking a Chad Henne pass 51 yards to paydirt. Sure the Patriots defense allowed over 400 yards of total offense, but they stepped up at the big moments intercepting 4 Dolphin passes. Another unexpected hero on the defensive side of the ball was Rob Ninkovich, a 5th year linebacker/defensive end out of Purdue. Yeah, Rob Ninkovich, remember the name, after tough knee injuries with the Dolphins and Saints put him out of a job, he has come to New England on a mission. That mission: show he is worth the price of admission. I'd say after the Dolphins game, mission accomplished. Sure it was one game, but how often does the likes of Darelle Revis highly touted as the best cornerback in the game, have 2 interceptions in the game. My prediction is that Ninkovich will become a Vrabel type versatile player for the Patriots who will be reliable for years to come. So the Patriots win and in impressive fashion. Hopefully this will mark the end of the slump the defense has been in the last season and a quarter or so. But like Sam Adams says, "I think we gonna be OK".

                                                                Rob Ninkovich

                                                                    Brandon Tate

                                                                   Patrick Chung

Spoiler Alert

So they may not have made the playoffs this year, they may not have even been within 5 games of making them. But i mean can you really make the playoffs in a division against the Yankees and Rays when both of your best two players had their seasons ended by injury and one of the largest disabled lists in team history? But hey, if there was one thing the Red Sox accomplished this season it was in the last series of the year against the dread Yankees. Whenever the Yankees come to town its a bloodbath, they could be separated by 50 games in the standings, and still everything that happened before that series wouldn't matter. So was the case with this series that just happened. The Red Sox, just recently officially eliminated from playoff contention, although their season was over when Pedroia was reinjured, faced off against the Yankees who needed to win to have a chance at the AL East title. Boston hates New York and likewise, it's just a known truth. It even extends beyond sports, into just the actual people. But when Neew York needed those two wins to get that coveted homefield advantage, the BoSox slammed the door. I hope A-Roids has fun playing away from home for those four games it'll take the red hot Twins to knock out the arrogant Spankees. But for now us Boston fans can look forward to the much anticipated seasons of the Patriots, Bruins and Celtics. Man does it feel good to be from Boston.

http://www.overthemonster.com/2010/10/3/1728384/red-sox-spoil-yankees-division-hopes-with-win-in-season-finale