Here’s the book you need.

Just like that, it was strike one on a very good biography–because yes, I have finally read the book. I loved it, but more on that shortly. The whole book was judged unfairly on that short excerpt, and fittingly a biography of one of the most underappreciated superstars in NFL history was underappreciated. You can’t make this stuff up.

First, a few things about me. I love the NFL, and I used to collect NFL jerseys. My collection is large. There are the three of my favourite team, the New England Patriots–my favourite, of Tom Brady, another of Devin McCourty, and another of Kevin Faulk, the AFL 50th anniversary edition. I also have a few jerseys of several players that I’ve liked over my teenage years–Terrell Owens (i.e. San Francisco), Reggie Bush (i.e. New Orleans), LaDainian Tomlinson (i.e. the Jets Chargers). Then, some reflect the purchases of a puzzled teenager, such as a Jamal Anderson Falcons jersey (i.e. the Dirty Bird dance), a Deion Sanders Ravens jersey, and wait for it… a Larry Johnson Chiefs jersey and even a Tim Couch Browns jersey. Yep. Besides showing that I used to have clearly too much money to blow, this also somehow relates to Walter Payton.

In late 2006, I visited Chicago for a week and came this close to buying a Walter Payton Bears jersey. I could have, but right when I was convinced that I would buy it, I would see another one of a player that I preferred to Payton–Barry Sanders for example. In the end, I didn’t buy any jersey, especially not the Payton one. And that’s precisely the point. With Payton, there seemed to always be another running back who was better, faster, or stronger–even where there wasn’t.

Sweetness tells the “enigmatic life” of Walter Payton, ex-leading rusher in the history of the NFL. Payton, the football player, is as accomplished as any other in NFL history. When he retired in 1988, he was the NFL’s all-time leading rusher with 16,726 yards, had won Super Bowl XX and later, the NFL would give his name to its annual Man of the Year award. At one point, he held the records for most career touchdowns, carries, yards from scrimmage and all-purpose yards to go along with those 16,726 rushing yards. Yet only 11 years after his retirement, Payton was dead at age 45 and therein lies Sweetness‘s problem–Payton is dead, and some believe we should let him rest in peace. But in Pearlman’s defense, there’s no reason to think that if Payton were alive, he wouldn’t have been the 679th person interviewed as part of his research for the book.

Pearlman is a gifted journalist and no stranger to controversies. Readers remember him from Boys Will Be Boys, The Rocket That Fell to Earth, or Love Me, Hate Me. Just don’t ask John Rocker about him, although this might be more telling of Rocker than Pearlman. By all indications Pearlman has done his homework for Sweetness (i.e. 678 interviews) and isn’t looking to tell his own version of the Walter Payton story. He tells the Walter Payton story as he’s discovered it, from his youth in Columbia, Miss., to his college days at Jackson State, to his career with the Chicago Bears and, finally, the 11 years after his retirement. The highlight of the book is easily the lowlight of Payton’s life in 1999 as he’s about to die. Pearlman reconstructs Payton’s last days, and it is devastating and breathtaking.

Payton is well appreciated in the Windy City where he played 13 seasons (Photo courtesy of Zol87)

While alive, Payton’s smile is what jumped to mind but behind the smile of Payton, there was suffering. In his last years, there was a man slowly dying of primary sclerosing cholangitis and bile duct cancer, but the suffering had started long before.

Behind the smile, there was a man eager to please and distraught at the prospect of disappointing. The running back was the ultimate team player who would sulk when he didn’t get as many carries as he thought he should have had or the Super Bowl rushing touchdown that went to William Perry instead. Payton was praised for his embrace of marginal teammates and for going out of his way to reach out to fans, especially young or sick ones. Yet he didn’t reconnect with teammate Mike Singletary until his last few days alive, presumably because Singletary was one to confront Payton about his womanizing ways. Yep, Connie Payton might have followed Payton to Chicago, eventually marrying him, but she seemed to be his partner only in name as Walter never said no to a pretty blond. Payton was an absentee father at best to his and Connie’s two children, Jarrett and Brittney. But both had it better than his illegitimate son, Nigel, who never met his father and who remains estranged from the Connie Payton side of his family. Throughout Walter’s life, it seems like his weakness was his sweetness–just like he once told Ohio State cornerback Neal Colzie.

Sweetness changes everyone’s image of Walter Payton, the man. That makes him more human, more common, more flawed. Just like you, just like me, just like Tim Tebow, and just like everybody really. Yet, no one likes a superstar who’s really just gifted at his sport, but otherwise is like all of us. Where’s the fun in that?

Kevin Faulk has called New England home for all 13 of his NFL seasons. And with three Super Bowl rings already, it wouldn't be too shocking if the running back decided to call it a career after this season.

But Faulk isn't ready to commit to anything just yet, mainly because of his passion for the game.

Faulk's former teammate, Troy Brown, addressed the media this week in advance of his appearance as an honorary captain for Sunday's AFC Championship. Brown said he learned a lot from Faulk during his playing days, and even said that this could be the final season that Faulk's referred to as a New England running back — implying that Faulk could soon join him in retirement.

The 35-year-old halfback, and longtime safety valve for quarterback Tom Brady, laughed about Brown's comment, though, saying that he hasn't made a decision.

To hear more from Faulk, check out the video above from NESN Daily.

Patriots safety Patrick Chung is active against for the first time in nearly two months, along with linebacker Brandon Spikes and tackle Matt Light.

Chung has been nursing a foot injury he suffered November 6 against the New York Giants. Spikes was also injured in that game, and had not played since with a knee injury.

Report: Penn State Ready To Hire Bill O’Brien

Light was a late scratch last week against the Miami Dolphins with an ankle injury. Having him out there against the Bills will be big for New England, as they need him and that side of the line to be solid as they head into the postseason.

The following players are Inactive for New England:

G Logan Mankins
OT Sebastian Vollmer
LB Tracy White
RB Kevin Faulk
RB Shane Vereen
DL Ron Brace
QB Ryan Mallett

With Mallett inactive, that’s a good sign that Tom is good to go and the Pats have confidence in that shoulder.  Tracy White sitting out shows confidence in not only Spikes, but also Niko Koutouvides.  Niko has stepped and started to play strong and the Pats like what he’s doing on special teams.

Faulk out means rookie Stevan Ridley will see the rock quite a bit, and so will the new guy, fullback Lousaka Polite.

Tune in after the Patriots-Bills game for all the reaction and analysis on the Postgame Show on 98.5 The Sports Hub and Patriots Fifth Quarter on MyTV38.

Today’s fourth installment examines the AFC East.  Give it a read, let us know what you think, and check back for further installments.

New England Patriots

-Top Player with an Expiring Contract:  Wide receiver Wes Welker

-Player’s Contributions:  Wes Welker is arguably the best receiver in Patriots’ history.  Since coming over in a trade from division-rival Miami prior to the ’07 season, Welker has produced three Pro-Bowl seasons, one All-Pro selection, is in the midst of his fourth season with 100+ catches, and is having possibly his finest campaign as an all-around receiver in 2011.

-Chances of Remaining with the Team:  The Pats have a lot of players with expiring contracts and have many defensive needs to address this offseason, but they should not let Welker walk under any circumstances and Welker shouldn’t go looking for greener pastures.  The combination of Welker and Brady is magical and may help propel the diminutive slot receiver to Canton one day.  I fully expect the Pats and Welker to come to an agreement.  If a contract can’t be agreed upon prior to the franchise-tag deadline, don’t be surprised to see Welker get hit with the designation.

-Potential Replacements:  Replacements include fellow receiver Julian Edelman, who has replaced Welker in the past, and running back Danny Woodhead could get a look in the slot as well.

-Other Notable Players with Expiring Contracts:  *Defensive end Mark Anderson, Wide Receiver Deion Branch, Defensive end Andre Carter, Offensive guard/Center Dan Connolly, Defensive end Shaun Ellis, Running back Kevin Faulk, Running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, *Defensive back James Ihedigbo, *Cornerback Nate Jones, Center Dan Koppen, *Linebacker Niko Koutouvides, Cornerback Antwaun Molden, *Defensive end Eric Moore, Wide receiver Matthew Slater, *Offensive guard Donald Thomas, *Defensive tackle Gerard Warren, Linebacker Tracy White

New York Jets

-Top Player with an Expiring Contract:  Safety Jim Leonhard

-Player’s Contributions:  Leonhard may currently be lost for the season on injured reserve and this is his second consecutive campaign landing on the list, but he is the glue that keeps the Jets’ secondary together.  When healthy he is the defensive signal caller, charged with making the calls, and lining up personnel.  He was handpicked by coach Rex Ryan to bring the Baltimore mentality to the Jets’ defense in 2009.  If Bart Scott was brought in to be the heart of the unit, Leonhard was brought in to be the head.  He is an instinctive player that maximizes his talent and brings his best week in and week out.

-Chances of Remaining with the Team:  Being that this is his second stint on IR, it’s tough to gauge New York’s interest in investing long term in Leonhard.  If he is brought back, it will likely be on a cap-friendly, short-term deal.  Because of his very specific value to the Jets, I believe that the chance he resigns with New York is better than 50-50.

-Potential Replacements:  There is no clear replacement for Leonhard on the roster.  Brodney Pool could be brought back as a stopgap measure, but any potential replacement would likely be brought in during the offseason via free agency or the draft.

-Other Notable Players with Expiring Contracts:  Quarterback Mark Brunell, Wide receiver Plaxico Burress, Placekicker Nick Folk, Quarterback Kevin O’Connell, Safety Brodney Pool, Cornerback Donald Strickland, Running back Ladanian Tomlinson, Linebacker Bryan Thomas, Wide Receiver Robert Turner

Buffalo Bills

-Top Player with an Expiring Contract:  If wide receiver Stevie Johnson didn’t regularly make stupid mistakes, he would be my choice.  There is no other consistent threat from the receiver position on the roster that can match his production over the past two seasons.  But his brain cramps make it more and more likely that the Bills will let him test the free-agent waters, so tight end Scott Chandler is the choice.

-Player’s Contributions:  His 35 receptions for 360 yards are the best receiving numbers for the tight end position in Buffalo since Jay Riemersma in 2001.  The last time a Bills’ tight end produced at least six touchdowns in a season was Riemersma in ’98.  It’s been a long time since Chandler’s type of production was seen in northwest New York.  He’s not a big name, but he’s getting the job done.

-Chances of Remaining with the Team:  Buffalo has to guard against overvaluing Chandler based on a single year of solid production.  Let’s be honest, they have a habit of doing that.  His chances of returning are tied to the Stevie Johnson situation.  When Buffalo’s intentions related to their eccentric wideout become clear, so should Chandler’s place in the pecking order.

-Potential Replacements:  Fendi Onobun and Mike Caussin are back up, special teams players that have limited value as regular contributors.  Lee Smith is a solid blocker, but he is not the threat off the line that Chandler is in the Bills’ system.  Any replacement for Chandler is not currently on the roster.

-Other Notable Players with Expiring Contracts:  Offensive tackle Demetrius Bell, Running back Tashard Choice, *Cornerback Reggie Corner, Linebacker Andra Davis, *Defensive end Lionel Dotson, *Wide receiver Derek Hagan, Wide receiver Stevie Johnson, Placekicker Rian Lindell, *Wide Receiver Ruvell Martin, *Defensive end Kyle Moore, Linebacker Kirk Morrison, Wide receiver Roscoe Parrish, Placekicker Dave Rayner, Offensive guard Chad Rinehart, Safety Bryan Scott, Linebacker Reggie Torbor

-Update:  Right tackle Erik Pears was in the last year of his deal, but received a contract extension today.

Miami Dolphins

-Top Player with an Expiring Contract:  Nose Tackle Paul Soliai

-Player’s Contributions:  Soliai sets the stage for the Dolphins’ success on defense.  He ties up multiple blockers in the middle and frees up the ends and linebackers to make plays on the ball.  This has been a disappointing year for Miami as a team, but their run defense is still in the league’s top five.  Much of that success stuffing the run can be attributed to the play of Soliai.

-Chances of Remaining with the Team:  He won’t get the franchise tag again due to the exorbitant cost, so the only way Soliai comes back is with a new contract.  There will be a market for the massive run stuffer.  The closer Soliai gets to free agency the tougher it will be for Miami to keep him.  Chances for a new deal are not looking good at the moment, particularly with the current instability on the Dolphins’ coaching staff and on the personnel front.

-Potential Replacements:  The likeliest in-house candidate to replace Soliai is Randy Starks.  Starks has played the nose at times in his career with the Dolphins, but is probably best left at end.  He can be effective playing the zero-technique, but he lacks the mass and power that Soliai brings to the middle of the defense.  If Soliai walks, look for the Dolphins to scour the draft and free agency for a nose man with a similar build.

-Other Notable Players with Expiring Contracts:  Linebacker Ikaika Alama-Francis, Cornerback Will Allen, Offensive guard Vernon Carey, *Offensive tackle Marc Colombo, Quarterback Chad Henne, Defensive end Kendall Langford, *Quarterback J.P. Losman, Defensive end Phillip Merling, *Linebacker Marvin Mitchell, Running back Steve Slaton, Linebacker Jason Taylor

*Believed to be playing under a one-year deal that expires at the end of the 2011 league year.  Exact contract details are unavailable.

Fourth Quarter/Final Thoughts

The Highs

The Patriots got up big and then let the Colts get back in this one. Indy put up a bit of a fight early on, and then again in the final frame with 21 unanswered points, but the Patriots came away with the win away thanks to the Brady-Gronkowski connection. The two cannot be stopped. Gronkowski has 13 touchdown receptions and he added a rushing touchdown (on a lateral) today.

Brady played Mr. Distributor as usual, hitting seven different receivers.

Wes Welker led the way with 11 receptions for 114 yards, and went over 90-receptions for the season for the fourth time in his career.

Watch: Gronk Doesn’t Mind Rushing TD

The defense was good for three quarters, even though it came against the now 0-12 Colts. Matthew Slater took some snaps at safety, and helped force a fumble. Jerod Mayo added a pic in the fourth quarter, the first of his career.

Devin McCourty returned after a two-game absence with a separated shoulder and looked decent. There is some rust to shake off, and he still hasn’t snapped out of his sophomore slump. But in the end the defense as a whole did their part and the Patriots are now 9-3.

The Lows

-The team did not give a full 60-minutes, and Bill will let them know it.

“We obviously have to do a better job finishing the game. That was disappointing,” Belichick said in his brief postgame press conference.

“We played good for 45-minutes and didn’t do anything in the fourth quarter. We’ll hear about that tomorrow,” Brady said after the game.

The offense and defense both struggled in the fourth quarter, as the Colts scored 21-unanswered points.

- Donald Brown ran in a fourth quarter touchdown, a play that McCourty was supposed to be on the run support. He took a bad angle, and let the UConn product score for his fourth touchdown of the season. Still some rust on McCourty, but it was his first game in two weeks so we’ll give him some slack.

- The Pats D fell asleep and let Orlovsky hit Pierre Garcon on third down for a 33-yard touchdown. The two hooked up again for a big gain and then a touchdown over McCourty in the final minute. Problems in the secondary continue, but at least they are giving up most of their points in garbage time and it hasn’t hurt them too much (minus that Giants game…).

- Brady missed on a third and four to Wes Welker, only picking up three yards on the play. Brady was not happy with the three-and-out, and showed it on the way to the bench. The Pats went three-and-out again on their following possession, Brady’s last of the afternoon.

Final: Patriots 31- Colts 24

Third Quarter

The Highs

- Pats get the ball to start the quarter and they score.  A Tom Brady to Welker drive mostly, that ends with a td pass to Rob Gronkowski. That’s Gronk’s 13th of the season, tying him for a NFL tight end record.

- Colts First possession of the quarter and the Pats force a fumble.  Matthew Slater and Jerod Mayo force it and Kyle Arrington recovers it.  Pats defense big again and the offense gets the ball back.

GameDay: Nothing Easy For Pats Molden

- Off that turnover, the Pats get get in the endzone again.  Rob Gronkowski gets his 14th touchdown of the season, but this one isn’t through the air. They scored it a lateral, so it is no NFL record (yet).

The Lows:

- Nothing really bad in this quarter.  Couple of penalties and miscued but I would be nit picking.

Patriots lead 31-3 after three….

Second Quarter

The Highs:

- Pats defense starts the quarter on the field and they get the job done.  The Colts have to settle for a field goal.  Rob Ninkovich with a big sack on third and goal.

- Colts second possession of the quarter and the Pats defense holds.  3 and out.  Nate Jones with a tipped pass on third down.

- Pats offense’s second possession of the quarter and they get on the board.  A 16 play drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Rob Gronkowski.  The Pats overcame third downs and even got Ocho into the mix.  It’s Brady’s 290th career touchdown pass, tying him for seventh all time with Johnny Unitas.

Stats: Pats-Colts Box Score

- Colts get the ball for their third possession of the quarter and the Pats force them to kick and leave 1:38 of the clock for Tom and the offense to get something going.

- Pats work the clock to end the quarter and they get a tocuhdown.  Completions to Branch, Underwood, Welker, Faulk.  It ends with a one yard touchdown run by BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

The Lows:

- The scoring drive that put the Colts on the board was 19 plays and they held the ball for over 10 minutes.  The Pats defense has to be better than that against this team.

- Pats first possession of the quarter and they punt.  A questionable play call on third and two.  The Pats go for a home run ball to Deion Branch.  He was being defended by someone  five inches taller.

- Pats start their two minute drive to end the quarter.  Brady hits Ocho and he drops the ball.

17 to 3 Pats at the half

First Quarter

The Highs:

- Not sure good or bad, but Matthew Slater started the game on the Pats defense.  He’s playing safety, along with the newly signed Nate Jones. The Colts got the ball first, but the drive did not net much. Nose tackle Vince Wilfork comes up with a sack on Dan Orlovsky on third down to get the Pats D off the field.

- Wes Welker has a reception for the 90th straight game.

Read: Pats-Colts Predictions

- Pats first offensive drive and they get on the board.  Only three here, but they were able to move the ball down the field.

The Lows:

- Kevin Faulk fumbles the ball on the Pats first possession.  It was reviewed and the Pats were able to get the ball back, but that miscue took the Pats out of their rhythm and allowed the Colts to get a breath.

Read: Levan Reid’s Patriots Blog

- Colts have the ball for the second time this quarter and they are going to get on the board.  Indy is on a drive that ends the quarter with the ball at the one.  The Pats defense can’t get off the field on third downs and they are getting killed on slant patterns.  Not to mention, the Colts are eating up the clock and keeping Tom Brady on the sidelines.

Pats up 3-0 after one

Stay tuned after the Patriots-Colts game for all the reaction and analysis on the postgame show on 98.5 The Sports Hub and on Patriots Fifth Quarter on WBZ-TV.

Kraft, who said he prefers the dark meat on Thanksgiving Day, and the Patriots handed out 220 Thanksgiving Baskets in Roxbury Tuesday night, an event Kraft looks forward to every year.

“It was pretty special. That Morgan Memorial does so much to help people get on their feet. It was the 18^th year we’ve owned the team, and we lug those big baskets,” said Kraft.

“I’ll just tell you, the only bad part of that is the first basket I take out, and it weighs about 75-pounds, and we’re always going out into the lot and it’s dark; the lovely lady never knows where her car is. She says it’s right over there, but then she can’t find it in the dark,” he said. “Three years in a row the same thing; lovely ladies and they have no clue where they parked their cars.”

Kraft said he used to get help from his late-wife Myra, who got the event started 18 years ago.

“Those of who knew her know what a great woman she was. She was really a role model as a mother. Really we’re celebrating volunteerism; she was the number-one person in this region to do that,” said Kraft. “She never looked for accolades; she was doing the grunt work. What’s sort of been nice is wives and players on our team recognize she was trying to do good in the community.”

The Patriots owner has had to cope with the loss of his “sweetheart” after she passed away from cancer in July, but has such gotten help from a strong bond with his football team.

“We’re lucky to have such great guys on this team. This past year has been a savior for me to go down to the locker room and interact with those kids,” said Kraft. “If you go in the locker room and see the chemistry and spirit, we’re blessed to have some great young men. I give thanks that I have the privilege of being involved in this.”

That was on display Tuesday when they were on hand to give out the baskets.

“Kevin Faulk has gone to this every year since he’s been with us. We’ve seen his kids grow up.”

Other players on hand to help on Tuesday included Vince Wilfork and his wife Bianca, defensive lineman Ron Brace, and tight end Rob Gronkowski.

“Gronk is a special guy. The thing about him, we say he’s never had a bad day. As he was grabbing the basket out last night, I asked ‘do you ever think of doing ballet’ because of that flip on Sunday,” said Kraft.

Kraft applauded Gronkowski’s postgame comments that put a lot of his success on his teammates.

“If you listen to the interview and what he said, he really meant it; the reason I was able to get that is because there were so many other good receivers on the team that were getting double covered.”

Kraft is also a huge fan of all the football in the New England area on Thanksgiving Day.

“I don’t think there is any other area in the country that does it quite the same,” he said, adding he plans on attending the Newton-Brookline game.

Gillette Stadium will have plenty of high school football on Saturday December 3, as it hosts the Eastern Massachusetts championship games.

“I didn’t really want to put turf in here, we love the natural grass. But the real benefit we got was playing the high school Super Bowls here,” said Kraft.

The meaning of high school football really came to light for Kraft during a conversation with Patriots-great Andre Tippett.

“He said to me the greatest thrill he had after playing in the Super Bowl was playing in a Super Bowl at the old Meadowlands, when he was in New Jersey. So you think of all the experiences he’s had. Then I’m thinking all these young kids that year in and year out play the super bowls here, they’ll see the Hall at Patriot place, they’ll come see their game jerseys and they’ll build a tradition with their kids 20 years from now,” said Kraft.

Listen to Robert Kraft on Gresh & Zo in its entirety, as Kraft talks about the Pats matchup with the Eagles, building the popularity of college football in New England, and more on his late-wife, Myra…

[audio_link url="http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/nyc.podcast.play.it/media/d0/d0/d0/dZ/dB/dS/dV/ZBSV_3.MP3" name="Robert Kraft With Gresh & Zo" artist="Toucher & Rich"]

Several members of the team including Rob Gronkowski, Kevin Faulk, Vince Wilfork and owner Robert Kraft helped hand out 220 Thanksgiving baskets to families in need at the Goodwill Headquarters in Roxbury.

It’s the 18th year the Pats have been doing this and the guys enjoyed helping out.

“The event is a great event. It’s awesome to be out here, giving out turkey, stuffing, all that stuff. All the good Thanksgiving meals to all these people; bringing them out to their cars,” said Gronkowski. “It’s a great cause, great to be a part of it.”

Watch Video

[worldnow id=6481890 width=320 height=240 type=video]

“Every year I want to do it. Just because it means a lot when you can, I’m so big about community especially around Thanksgiving,” said Wilfork. It’s all about giving back and being thankful. The success that we have, a lot of people don’t have that success. I think Thanksgiving is a time of giving. A lot of people look at Christmas, but I think Thanksgiving is probably one of the biggest.”

“This is something special, because I always think back to the time when my family was always in need at this time,” Wilfork continued. ” We had close friends that did what they could for us, and we never went without a thanksgiving. I think these times bring people together, bring families together.”

“It’s one of our favorite events,” said Kraft, who added it was his late-wife Myra who got this all started.

“This is what she was always about; giving back especially in times like this,” said Wilfork. “Giving thanks and being grateful for what you have.”

The food was provided by Stop and Shop.

Patrick Chung         S

Jeff Tarpanian          LB

Dane Fletcher         LB

Devin McCourty       CB

Kevin Faulk            RB

Brandon Spikes       LB

Ryan Mallett           QB

Chung practiced this week but he is not ready.  Sterling Moore and Antwaun Molden will get more playing time in the Patriots defensive backfield.

Faulk was upset this week, now it comes out that he’s not in the game plan.  Maybe the Pats will finally use Shane Vereen. The rookie back was out on the field running early.  It’s possible he can get some run.

On a side note, the Patriots signed safety Ross Ventrone to the 53-man roster again. Making it transaction number 16 on the season. To make room for Mr. Transaction, New England released offensive lineman Donald Thomas.

Tune in to the Patriots-Chiefs Monday Night showdown on 98.5 The Sports Hub. Pregame coverage begins at 5 pm, and after the game tune in to the postgame show on 98.5, and Patriots Fifth Quarter on My TV38.

The Pats have been extremely successful with the no huddle, especially in the second half of games. As defenses are tiring down, the offense ups the tempo.

“The speed of the game changes for us,” said running back Kevin Faulk when asked about the no huddle.

The Patriots have gone out of the no huddle 113 times this season, 22-percent of their offensive snaps. Last Sunday against the Jets, they went to it 12 times, all in the second half.

Gresh & Zo Whiteboard: Pats Zero Set Offense

But running the no huddle is not predetermined says to the guy calling the plays; it is more of going with the flow of the game.

“It depends on what we think that we’re going to get. It depends what we think of the other defense – how they’ll be able to handle it. It depends on a lot of factors,” quarterback Tom Brady said this week. “I don’t think we go in there and say ‘We’re not going to run no-huddle this week.’ I think there’s times we may say ‘We may run it, we may not, we’ll see how the game goes.’ When you get into two-minute situations, you’re definitely in no-huddle. It’s just part of a carryover from that group for us. Really it’s no-huddle, but you have a little bit more time when you’re not really in a two-minute situation.”

And if it seems like the Pats are relying more on the no huddle this season, that is not true according to offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien.

“I really don’t think that we’re using it any more than we have used it in the past. Even the first year that I was here in ’07, we used it quite a bit that year,” said O’Brien. “Really what it is, in the NFL, having come from college, you’re able to speak directly to the quarterback up to a certain point so the mechanics of just huddling basically on the ball, which is really just what we’re doing, is fairly, I wouldn’t say easy, but there’s not a lot of mechanics to it. I wouldn’t say that we’ve used it any more than we’ve used in the past.”

“Again, it’s just something that our players have executed well to this point, for the most part, I wouldn’t say it’s been great all year,” said O’Brien. “But at times, it’s been good for us and it’s basically because the players have done a good job with it.”

Deion Branch got an easy touchdown last week against the Jets, courtesy of the no huddle. It was clear that even the Jets D had no answer for it.

Bottom line is: the Pats jump into the no huddle, the defense is at a huge disadvantage. No substitutions means tired defensive lineman and linebackers. Advantage Patriots.

But that tiring also gets to the New England side as well.

“It gets pretty tiring, but they’re getting tired too, so that’s the main thing,” said offensive lineman Logan Mankins. “It’s nice to do it occasionally when it’s working good. We like it. The D-line, I think they get more tired than we actually do because they have to chase the ball. But it does get pretty tiring in there. You don’t have the rest between plays like in the huddle.”

Read: Levan Reid’s Patriots Blog

Expect to see more of the no huddle Monday night, because the Chiefs are unfamiliar with it. They have only seen 11 no huddle snaps this season.

Tune in to the Patriots-Chiefs Monday Night showdown on 98.5 The Sports Hub. Pregame coverage begins at 5 pm, and after the game tune in to the postgame show on 98.5, and Patriots Fifth Quarter on My TV38.

Patriots @ Jets

This game is for the lead in the AFC East(Buffalo lost to the Cowboys 44-7, so they are a game behind). The Jets are coming off that win against the Bills last week, while the Patriots lost their game last week to the G-Men. People have been ranting about how bad the Patriots defense is, and I agree with them. From what I’ve heard, they have the worst pass defense in the NFL. Their run defense is decent, but not as good as the Jets’. As usual, they will have to rely on Brady to put enough points up to keep them in the game. Against this Jets defense, Brady will need a bit of luck. The Pats also need help from their RB’s Kevin Faulk and “The Law Firm”, especially when  Brady gets them into the red zone.

On to the Jets: Mark Sanchez will need to lead the offense if they want to win. If he turns the ball over 2 or 3 times, the Pats will take advantage. However, they have a great running game with Shonn Greene and LaDanian Tomlinson which will take some pressure off of Sanchez. The Jets defense hasn’t been a Top 5 defense so far, but they’ve held their own. Darrelle Revis will (most likely) be lined up with Wes Welker. I think the Jets are a better team as a whole, and playing at home certainly doesn’t hurt at all.

Bottom line, look for the Jets to BEAT the Patriots tonight on SNF.

Sincerely,

@TheSportzGuru

#SportsBlogMovement

Patriots @ Jets

This game is for the lead in the AFC East(Buffalo lost to the Cowboys 44-7, so they are a game behind). The Jets are coming off that win against the Bills last week, while the Patriots lost their game last week to the G-Men. People have been ranting about how bad the Patriots defense is, and I agree with them. From what I’ve heard, they have the worst pass defense in the NFL. Their run defense is decent, but not as good as the Jets’. As usual, they will have to rely on Brady to put enough points up to keep them in the game. Against this Jets defense, Brady will need a bit of luck. The Pats also need help from their RB’s Kevin Faulk and “The Law Firm”, especially when  Brady gets them into the red zone.

On to the Jets: Mark Sanchez will need to lead the offense if they want to win. If he turns the ball over 2 or 3 times, the Pats will take advantage. However, they have a great running game with Shonn Greene and LaDanian Tomlinson which will take some pressure off of Sanchez. The Jets defense hasn’t been a Top 5 defense so far, but they’ve held their own. Darrelle Revis will (most likely) be lined up with Wes Welker. I think the Jets are a better team as a whole, and playing at home certainly doesn’t hurt at all.

Bottom line, look for the Jets to BEAT the Patriots tonight on SNF.

Sincerely,

@TheSportzGuru

#SportsBlogMovement

The two teams are very familiar with each other, with this being fifth meeting in two years, but familiarity may not help come Sunday.

“They kind of do what they do. There is some game plan-type elements to each game. I’m sure they’ll have some for us this week,” Pats quarterback Tom Brady said this week. “They’re a tough team to prepare for. They’ve got a lot of stuff, they’ve got a lot of really good players, good scheme. They play well at home. It’s a great challenge.”

Read: Pats Determined To Stop Skid

“Both teams are going to be humming for this one,” Jets head coach Rex Ryan said on Thursday. “They have to win this game, and we have to win this game. You can sugar-coat it all you want but they know they need it, and we know we need it. So both teams are going to be hungry.”

After dropping two straight, the Patriots will have the tough task of righting the ship against the Jets. Here are a couple of keys for the Patriots to avoid their first three-game losing streak since 2002.

Patriots Running, and Blocking, Game

Tom Brady has thrown 125 passes in the last three games, completing 79 of them. But four of the passes have gone to the other team, and the Patriots haven’t scored more than 20 points in any of the games.

The point being, Tom Brady is having a rough stretch. Hard to believe 829 yards and six touchdowns against three of the better defenses in the NFL is a rough stretch, but things are not going to be any easier for Brady on Sunday.

Establishing a run game would help. The Pats have had to ditch the run after falling behind in recent weeks, but it will be a requirement against the Jets. They are going to be gunning for Brady all afternoon, and a few handoffs will assure he isn’t hitting the deck every other play.

Patriots Blog: Ridley Taking Role In Stride

BenJarvis Green-Ellis has just 17 carries during the current two-game skid. He is the bruising type of back that can fight a hard-hitting Jets defense for a few yards every carry. New England can also change the pace with rookie Stevan Ridley, and Brady can always swing a pass to Kevin Faulk or Danny Woodhead out of the backfield.

Getting Green-Ellis going will be key.  New England is 18-1 when he finds the end zone, which he’s done 18 times since 2010. The only backs to run for more scores than Green-Ellis in that span are named Arian Foster (21), Adrian Peterson (21) and Michael Turner (19). Not a bad group of running backs to be mentioned in. Green-Ellis carried the ball 27 times the first time out against the Jets, leading the way on a 13-play, six minute drive in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.

Gronk On T&R: “Be Ready For Anything” Against Jets

But if anyone, not named Pittsburgh, can fluster a rush attack it’s the New York Jets.  Despite being ranked 21^st in the NFL against the run, New York was able to keep Buffalo’s Fred Jackson at bay last Sunday, keeping him to 82 yards and out of the end zone. Attacking the New York D early with Green-Ellis, and then sending in some fresh legs in Ridley or Woodhead, will allow the Patriots to control the ball, and maybe set up some play action.

The Patriots will no doubt throw the ball more than they run on Sunday, but keeping somewhat of a balance will be key to getting the offense on track. A healthy rush attack can lead to a lethal air assault.

“The defense is very fast, they’re going to throw a lot of looks at you. For us to go out there and win we have to go execute our game plan. That’s on the ground and through the air,” Ridley said on Thursday. “We have to do both, it has to be balanced. That’s what we’ve been focused on all year. I don’t think we have to do one more than another, we just have to be a balanced offense to let our playmakers go out and make the plays.”

Of course when the backs aren’t running the ball, they’ll have to make sure they pick up their blitz assignments and protect Brady. That is something they’ve prepared for all week.

“There’s not going to be any surprises for me out there for me,” said Ridley, noting Belichick was throwing everything at them in practice. “We’ll have every look, and probably a few more than we need, we’ll have every blitz assignment covered.”

Brady will find out on Sunday.

Cutting The Turnovers

Maybe Patriots fans were spoiled last year, watching a team that turned the ball over just 10 times.

It seems as though they are making up for their stinginess last season, with Brady already up to 10 interceptions (after just four in 2010) along with the team coughing up four fumbles. After finishing last season with a +28 in turnover differential, the Patriots are even in 2011.

Brady has been forcing the ball much more than he did last year, but said the antidote to the turnovers is simple.

“Just decision making. I’ve just got to make better decisions,” he said when asked about his interceptions.

Listen: NY’s Joe Benigno Talks Pats Flaws On T&R

Not all of them have been Brady’s fault, with some tipped balls that would have hit the ground last year instead falling into the arms of defenders. Coach Belichick said something obviously went wrong on each play, and that is not always on Brady.

“I’d say for the most part, I think he’s throwing to the right guy,” said Belichick. “There’s something about the pass, the route, the catch, the whatever it is – the ball isn’t ending up in our hands. I’d say for the most part, he’s making good reads and he’s going to the right guy.”

Gresh & Zo Whiteboard: Holes In The Secondary

Even the Jets know the Patriots recent trouble holding on to the ball is likely just a bump in the road. But they’re hoping the struggles continue through this weekend.

“They know how to protect the football,” Ryan said this week. “They study it like crazy, but so do we. If we think there’s vulnerability in a player, we’ll go at it. You look at Wes Welker’s caught 100 balls already. He’s the hardest guy to get a fumble from. The running back does a nice job protecting the football. I think he might lead the league in most attempts without a fumble. They do a tremendous job protecting the ball. Sometimes interceptions happen. It could be a tipped ball. It could be anything. Hopefully we’re fortunate enough to get a couple.”

With guys like Darelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Kyle Wilson roaming around, Brady will have to make sure he gets the ball in the right spots. The Jets have had success in making Brady miserable for a day, and that trio already has eight picks this season.

Whichever team Brady throws the ball to on Sunday will likely come out on top Sunday.

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The New England defense has shown signs of improving, but Sunday against the Jets will come down to how the offense performs. For two straight weeks they have looked lackluster, and have actually been outplayed by the defense (minus the final eight minutes against the Giants).

Read: Levan Reid’s Patriots Blog

Establishing a run game and cutting back on the turnovers are key to beating the Jets. New York had lost three straight before becoming a more run-oriented offense. Obviously, the Patriots will never abandon the pass, but it would be nice to see the running backs get a chance to complement it.

Tune in to the Patriots-Jets game Sunday night on 98.5 The Sports Hub. Pregame coverage begins with Patriots Gameday on WBZ-TV at 11:30am, with the Hub’s pregame beginning at 5:00pm. Tune in after the game for the Patriots Postgame Show, and Patriots Fifth Quarter on WBZ-TV.

That includes receiver Chad Ochocino, who Brady thinks is ready to break out.

“He’s continued to do a great job in practice in his role that’s he really carved out for himself,” Brady said on Wednesday. “And he’s going to continue to be out there, and hopefully make a bunch of plays for us. I mean, one of these days, it really is going to click for all of us. You always go back to the foundation that we’ve built, which is based on hard work and getting out there and working your tail off.”

Brady Talks Chad Ochocinco [worldnow id=6435808 width=320 height=240 type=video]

Ochocino has just nine receptions for 136 yards and no touchdowns this season. The Brady-Ochocinco connection went 0-for-5 against the New York Giants on Sunday, but Brady adds if the Patriots didn’t feel a player could contribute, he wouldn’t be on the field.

Read: Brady Looks To Improve Decision Making

“If they’re on the field, we’re very comfortable in having them out there,” the Pats quarterback said. “That goes for me as well. If the coach is comfortable putting me in the game, that’s what he’s going to do. If he’s not comfortable putting me in the game because he doesn’t trust me, then I’m not going to be in the game. I’m trying to stay out on the field, doing the right things more often than not.”

“He’s working hard like every other guy on the football team,” running back Kevin Faulk said from the Pats locker room on Wednesday. “You can see it. It’s showing, you just have to keep going.”

“There’s room for improvement for all of us,” head coach Bill Belichick said when asked about Ochocinco. “That being said, there’s things that we’re doing well – we just have to do more of it, we have to do it more consistently. That goes for everybody – whatever player you want to name, I would say pretty much I would fall into that category.

According to ProFootballTalk.com, NFL Films cameras caught Brady chatting with Ochocinco after one of their incompletions, telling the receiver, “You’re doing good. Just keep playing hard. That’s all I want.”

While Brady praised Ochocinco for the hard work he is putting forward, he says the same goes for the rest of the team as they get ready to face the New York Jets on Sunday.

Read: Belichick, Pats ‘Tried To Make It Work’ With Haynesworth

“Everybody is working hard,” said Brady. “You just realize at some point it’s going to pay off for all of us. You keep working hard, you keep staying late, you keep communicating, you’re working at it, you’re competitive, you’re trying to do the right thing, it’s going to pay off. We got a long way to go.”

Tune in to the Patriots-Jets game Sunday night on 98.5 The Sports Hub. Pregame coverage begins with Patriots Gameday on WBZ-TV at 11:30am, with the Hub’s pregame beginning at 5:00pm. Tune in after the game for the Patriots Postgame Show, and Patriots Fifth Quarter on WBZ-TV.

Along with Faulk, wide receiver Taylor Price, guard Donald Thomas, defensive lineman Shaun Ellis, quarterback Ryan Mallet, and linebackers Jermaine Cunningham and Dane Fletcher are all inactive for New England.

Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien had said earlier in the week he had hoped  to get Price more involved in the offense. Price was in the locker room this week telling anyone who would listen that he was healthy.  The Pats must have thought otherwise.

He was on the field before the game testing his hamstring, but obviously was not ready to go.

Read: Pats-Giants Predictions

Kevin Faulk is a surprise here.  He practiced all week, but must have some swelling or the Pats are not going to use him in the game plan. Anyway, expect a heavy dose of BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

Receivers Wes Welker and Julian Edelman and defensive lineman Ron Brace are all active for New England.

For the Giants, corner Prince Amukamara, wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, center David Baas, running back Ahmad Bradshaw, fullback Henry Hynoski and tackles James Brewer and Stacy Andrews are all inactive.

Tune in to the Patriots-Giants game on 98.5 The Sports Hub. After the game hear Brady and Belichick’s reaction on the Postgame show on the Hub, and on Patriots Fifth Quarter on My TV38.