Nate Solder? Why not?

FAIRFAX, VA - The first round of the NFL draft has come and gone, the laptop stealing Cam Newton (Quarterback, Auburn) went first and Roger Goodell was booed.  There were some predictable picks, like A.J. Green (Wide Receiver, Georgia) going fourth to the Cincinnati Bengals, and there were some stunners.  The Atlanta Falcons traded picks with the Cleveland Browns to acquire Julio Jones (Wide Receiver, Alabama) at six overall and the Minnesota Vikings took the fourth quarterback at pick twelve, but it was Christian Ponder (Quarterback, Florida St.).

But what did our New England Patriots do? Did coach Bill Belichick take my advice and go defensive end then running back? Nope.

The 17th pick came around and surprisingly Cameron Jordan (Defensive End, California) was still on the board and so was Da'Quan Bowers (Defensive End, Clemson).  I thought it was a coin flip between these two guys, but Belichick had different ideas.  He went with the giant 6'8" 315 pound offensive tackle Nate Solder from Colorado.  I think all Patriots fans reacted the same, "What the...?".  The most confusing part was that Boston College offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo was still on the board, along with Gabe Carimi, offensive tackle from Southern California.  I really believe Belichick threw these three names in a hat and pulled out Solder, probably put the name back in and tried again.  When he picked Solder's little slip of paper the second time he just went with it.  Nobody thought our 17 pick was going to be an O-Lineman, but like I said in the Draft Preview Belichick will surprise us.

Ok, so the 17 pick was sort of a bust, but we still had the 28th pick and guess who was still available.  Both Da'Quan Bowers and Mark Ingram (Running Back, Alabama).  So after the Ravens had passed on their 26th and were picking at 27, Chris Berman announced that our Patriots had traded their pick. Again, "What the..?" but this time the reaction was much more angry.  We thought we had Ingram all wrapped up and we would finally have a big name running back.  We traded the pick to the New Orleans Saints who four picks before at 24 took, yup, Cameron Jordan.  The Saints took all of two of their ten minutes to submit their pick and it was, of course, Mark Ingram.  The Saints gave us their 56th overall pick this draft and their 2010 next year, which will almost definitely be 25 or higher since the Saints, with Drew Brees, will almost definitely make the playoffs.  Way to go Belichick.

So in review, Belichick surprised us all, again.  All we got with two picks was a giant and a couple other picks.  We should have taken notes from the Saints because they picked the perfect draft for us.

Well hopefully Belichick will use the 33rd pick, the first pick in the second round today, to pick someone we need.  Maybe, Da'Quan Bowers!! If anyone who reads this knows Belichick's number, call him up and let him know who to take.

Celtics vs. Heat

FAIRFAX, VA - Last night the Miami Heat beat the Philadelphia 76ers 97-91 to win their series four games to one.  That sets up the highly anticipated matchup between our Boston Celtics and the Heat. 

Both teams are headlined by their own respective "Big Three"s.  Our Celtics, of course, have Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett.  While the Heat have, probably, the most hated player in basketball, a dinosaur, and Dwayne Wade on their side.  The Celtics won the season series three games to one, although the one loss was our Celtics worst loss on the year, 23 points.  Since 2008, when our Celtics required Garnett and Ray, we have faced LeBron twice and Wade once in the playoffs (never have we faced the Raptors, for obvious reasons).  In 2008 we beat LeBron and the Cavaliers four games to three, 2010 we beat the Cavs four games to two.  Also in 2010, we beat Wade and the Heat four games to one.  Do not expect this year to be any different.

Over the offseason the biggest talk amongst the NBA crowd was where was LeBron going to go.  He was the last free agent to sign, of those who did sign to a team.  LeBron not only signed though, he announced where he was going on an ESPN special called "The Decision".  LeBron bought an hour of airtime, went to a YMCA, and announced, "I am going to take my talents to South Beach" all in the process of proving he has the biggest ego of all athletes.  This announcement broke the hearts of every person who has ever even thought of going to Cleveland, and simultaneously gave all Heat fans a big head and something to brag about.  The Heat automatically became championship favorites now with LeBron, Wade, and also newly acquired Chris Bosh. 

The only problem, how many teams have won a championship with three players? None.  The Heat have absolutely no supporting cast to go with their so-called "Big Three".  Our Celtics on the other hand, we have extensive depth, including one of the best point guards in the league in Rajon Rondo.  Rondo is averaging 19 points and 12 assists per game thus far, which is hilariously better than Mike Bibby and his 3.2 points and .8 assists per game. Outside of the Heat "Big Three", the next best points per game average is James Jones at 7.7. If the Celtics manage to shut down just one of the Heat Big Three, they are taking away about 20 points per game, guarenteeing a victory.

Expect a war, a war that lasts a little over a week.  Our current, playoff tested, and once NBA champions, Boston Celtics will overwhelm the overhyped Miami Heat easily in five games.  While LeBron may average about 30 points per game, Rondo will run over whatever pathetic excuse of a point guard the Heat throw at him and get at least three, if not five, triple doubles.  Prepare yourself for another championship run for our Celtics that starts by dismantling the already significantly dismantled Miami Heat.

Fun Fact: Dan Gilbert, the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers released a statement after LeBron announced he was leaving for Miami:

"I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER 'KING' WINS ONE"



This is just more proof that we will run over the Heat.  Gilbert also owns Fat Heads, which are life size stickers of professional players that you put up on a wall, pretty creepy.  After LeBron's announcement, Gilbert set the price on all LeBron Fat Heads to $16.83. Why? That is the year Benedict Arnold was born.

2011 NFL Draft: Pats' Preview

FAIRFAX, VA - The 2011 NFL Draft begins tomorrow on ESPN at 8 p.m.  Our New England Patriots and coach Bill Belichick will have two picks in the first three rounds, including two first rounders.  Belichick, who lives on a golf course behind my house, is infamous for trading picks and pissing off fans.  Since 2001, when Belichick took over drafting duties, he has traded away 9 First round picks, 11 Second round picks, and 13 Third round picks.  On the other hand he has drafted Pro Bowlers such as Richard Seymour and Jerod Mayo, and even Super Bowl XXXIX MVP Deion Branch.  Oh, and he took some fat Michigan grad who nobody thought would have a decent career named Tom Brady.  Therefore, we never really know whats going to happen come draft day.

Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr., who both work for ESPN and cover the draft, have made mock after mock draft and they both usually say the same thing.  We are going to take some form of defensive lineman with our 17th pick and a running back, either '09 Heisman Winner Mark Ingram or Mikel LeShoure with our 28th pick.  Now Mel Kiper has been doing draft coverage and mocks for my whole life and then some, and he has a reputation that certainly does not proceed him.  He is an idiot and is almost always wrong.  McShay on the other hand, I like the guy and trust what he has to say.  I feel he has more inside information than Kiper although he hasnt been in the business nearly as long.  So Im not sure what to believe.  If I believe McShay that means Im believing Kiper and I definitely dont want to do that.  So I am going to go out and say that Belichick will trade both of these picks and end up with no first rounders. I honestly have no idea.

If Belichick does go ahead and keep these picks, I have a suggestion or two for him.  At the 17 pick, take a risk.  Take your first risky pick since pick 199 in 2001 when you snagged Brady off the island of misfits. (Yup, Rudolph reference) Da'Quan Bowers' (Defensive End, Clemson) stock is falling according to McShay and Kiper, and he is projected to be taken late in the first round.  Now, as unreliable as he is, Kiper has Bowers as number four on his big board.  What does that mean? It means he is the fourth best player in the entire draft, and we could get him at pick 17.  Yes, he is an injury risk because he has had two surgeries on the same knee.  But other than that, he is a damn good football player and most likely at least a pro bowler someday.  Taking Bowers at 17 is a risk that is well worth making.

At 28, I completely agree with Kiper and McShay.  TAKE A RUNNING BACK.  The last running back Belichick took in one of the first three rounds was Laurence Maroney in 2006, 21st overall.  Maroney was basically always injured and only ran for about 1,600 yards total in three seasons.  So yes, this pick will most likely effect Belichick's decision tomorrow because he may not want to pick a guy that is not guarenteed to excel at a skill position.  Belichick has also always used running backs by commitee.  If I could run a 4.4 40 yard dash and I snuck onto the Patriots sideline, he would probably put me in because he really doesnt care, or so it seems.  Last year BenJarvus Green-Ellis ran for 1,008 yards, which was the first Patriot running back to eclipse the 1,000 mark since Corey Dillon in 2004.  So you might think Belichick is done with his by commitee and would stick with Green-Ellis, but we also have fan favorite and honestly I believe the Patriots MVP (besides Brady who was NFL MVP) Danny Woodhead.  Woodhead had 950 total yards and six total touchdowns in the regular season.  So, tomorrow, if I was able to see Bill Belichick I would scream at him to take Mark Ingram at 28.  Ingram can join "BenDannyJarvus GreenWoodEllisHead" in the backfield behind Tom Brady, and maybe start to mold a future star running back out of Ingram.  Ingram is a big guy who will just run right over you, he is not too explosive or quick but he makes his cuts and lowers his shoulder.  The only problem with taking Mark Ingram, either he would have to find a new number or some guy named Thomas Clayton, who I think should be knighted because Sir Thomas Clayton (although there already is one) is a sweet name, would have to give up his number.  Im sure Clayton wouldnt mind.

One more rumor going on about this draft, we might take a quarterback.  Yes, the one position everyone knows we really dont need to fix because we have that fat Michigan grad.  But it makes so much sense.  If we use our second second round pick, or one of our third rounders we could possibly grab someone like Andy Dalton or maybe Ryan Mallett.  I say draft one, then make them watch Brady for two or three years.  The Green Bay Packers drafted Aaron Rodgers and made him watch Brett Favre for three years (luckily Rodgers never recieved "adult" pictures of Favre).  Three years into Rodgers' career, he won a Super Bowl.

There is so much we can accomplish in this years draft, Belichick just has to stop trading away everything AND the kitchen sink, and make push the right buttons. Please.

New Kids on the Block

FAIRFAX, VA - Last season our Boston Bruins blew a 3-0 series lead over the hated Philadelphia Flyers.  They also blew a 3-0 lead in Game 7 to finally lose 4-3 and get kicked out of the playoffs.  But that was last year's squad.  There was no Adam McQuaid, Brad Marchand, Gregory Campbell, Tomas Kaberle, or Rich Peverley. There definitely was no Nathan Horton or Chris Kelly last year, but all seven were there tonight when our Boston Bruins took the much more hated Montreal Canadiens.

Our Bruins flew out of the gates when Johnny Boychuk took a "booming slapper" (props to Bruins' announcer Jack Edwards for the horrible phrase) from the blue line that found its way to the back of the net only 3:31 into the game. Only 2 minutes later the 800-year old dinosaur (or the 43-year old Mark Recchi) scored 5:33 giving our Bruins a very comfortable lead. The rest of the first was all Canadiens, but just one goal by Yanic Webber on the power play 9:49 in.  The second period was all Habs but again just one goal to show for it, by Tomas Plekanec on the penalty kill 5:50 in.

Then it happened, the third period started with the "Habs Suck" chants shaking the legendary Boston Garden. It was all Bruins all the time. For the first 17 minutes there were no penalties, and the Bruins had the puck for 14 of those minutes. 9:44 into the third Chris Kelly, a newbie, put home a rebound and the crowd went beyond nuts, our Bruins had the lead again 3-2.  It was so crazy that the tv screens were shaking, because the Garden was literally shaking. 17:23 in, the usually brilliant Patrice Bergeron took a very stupid penalty by high sticking defenseman James Wisniewski.  40 seconds later P.K. Subban, the new most hated Canadien and the man most boo-ed by the Garden faithful, scored a power play goal to tie it up.

The game went to overtime.

Our Bruins carried the momentum all the way to the 5:43 mark when the puck slid out to the Bruins point where Nathan Horton took a huge slapshot over the shoulder of Carey Price and thus sending the Habs back over the border. In the process he shut up all the critics telling the Bruins it was going to be another playoff collapse like last year.

The horrible and for some reason well-known "New Kids on the Block" originated in Boston, possibly our lone shameful fact.  Horton and Kelly are helping to make the phrase New Kids on the Block something to cheer for in the greatest city of the world.