Today we bring you five Felgy thoughts, complete with links!
And Rob Bradford thinks I haven’t gotten this Internet thing down yet….
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If the Patriots have a master plan at outside linebacker, then it has yet to reveal itself. And with the June-July lull now upon us, it’s not going to anytime soon. That’s if the Pats even have a plan. For all we know, they may believe they’re all set with Pierre Woods, Sean Crable, Tully Banta-Cain and Vince Redd.
But something tells me there’s another shoe to drop at outside linebacker -- in one way, shape or form. It is, after all, the only glaring weakness on the roster, providing the secondary improves.
It was interesting to read recently that the Pats made an offer to defensive end/linebacker Greg Ellis after his release from the Cowboys June 2. According to the report, the offer came in at just one year and $1.5 million, which was easily surpassed by one from Oakland (three years, $10 million, $5 million guaranteed). The Pats also could have sent the Cowboys a low-round pick prior to Ellis’ release to secure the services of the 12-year veteran and 2007 Pro Bowler, yet they declined. So it’s obvious the Pats saw him as nothing more than a flyer.
But they still made a bid. Does that tell us anything about how they feel about the guys they currently have at Mike Vrabel’s old spot? It’s hard to tell, especially since Ellis clearly wasn’t a priority for them. Maybe the failed wooing of Jason Taylor was a clearer indication.
Regardless, Ellis going to Oakland may reopen a possibility the Pats explored at the draft -- namely a trade for Raiders defensive end Derrick Burgess. The folks in Oakland think Burgess would be a poor fit to stand up in the 3-4, but he would still provide some of the pass rush that was lost in the Vrabel deal. If Burgess isn’t a realistic possibility, then I think it’s safe to say we’re running out of ideas. Unless Belichick has something up his sleeve. Or unless you want revisit that Julius Peppers foolishness from earlier in the year.
Didn’t think so.
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I was disappointed to read Jeff Goodman shoot down the Rajon Rondo trade rumors on Monday.
I take Goodman’s word on all Danny Ainge-related matters as gospel (in case you didn’t know, Goodman was first with the Garnett trade two years ago), which means he deflated what was proving to be great fodder. Seriously, the Green Teamers didn’t know where to turn with this one. Just weeks after telling me that Rondo was one of the special young players in the league and the key bridge to the C’s future, they were trying to explain to me that dealing Rondo would make sense if the Celts had their eyes on one of the big free agents in 2010. Talk about giving me whiplash. Yes, trade Rondo and sign LeBron James. Now that’s a hot stove season I can sink my teeth into! Who does Jeff think he is ruining all the fun?
The one thing I’ll take with me from last week was the negative undercurrent surrounding Rondo. Stubborn. Stuck up. Hard to play with. And perhaps even overrated. Maybe that’s why Goodman stopped short of calling Rondo untradeable. "Because for the right price," he wrote, "Celtics boss Danny Ainge would pull the trigger."
That’s more like it, Jeff.
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Nothing worse than having someone argue with you on the radio when they’re behind a microphone and you’re in your kitchen in your underwear, listening in as you surf the web and scratch yourself. But that was the situation Monday at around 10:15 a.m. as my buddy Michael Holley blasted me for an opinion that I never expressed.
My alleged opinion? That Daisuke Matsuzaka is a bust and represented a terrible signing by the Sox.
I never said any such thing, of course. In fact, I’ve gone out of my way to say that I think the Red Sox should be applauded for their pursuit of Matsuzaka three years ago -- even if he hasn’t turned out to be the guy they thought he would be. The Sox thought outside the box and paid big to win. That’s what they should do every year.
And Daisuke is no bust. He’s won in the past and he’ll win in the future. Maybe even this year.
Unfortunately for Holley, here’s the bottom line: Matsuzaka just isn’t as good as the Red Sox (and the rest of baseball) thought he would be. That doesn't make him a bust, just something less than advertised. And I’m not talking about numbers here. Matsuzaka has put those up. I’m talking about stuff. Chad Finn did a good job on Monday pulling up the Baseball America report on him in 2007 in which it was said his fastball reached 97 late in games and that "he has command and control of his pitches, as well as a feel for setting up hitters."
Huh? A 97 mph heater? Command? Setting up hitters? Even when Daisuke was winning 18 games he wasn’t that guy. The scouting reports haven’t come true. Period. To me that’s not even an opinion. It’s more like the fact of the matter.
But like I said, the Red Sox took a chance on greatness. I’d encourage them to do it again whenever the mood strikes them. Something tells me they’ll get the next one right.
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When I was getting into it with all those dog people a couple of weeks ago, I made a crack about pit bulls being like pedophile priests. After attacks, many get relocated (or "re-homed") with new identities. All because the dog lunatics believe they don’t deserve to be put down. It was a good line. A half-joke.
Turns out it was no joke. As fate would have it, James Harrison’s pit bull, the same animal that put his son in the hospital for a week and hospitalized two adults in the same attack, is alive and well and looking for another toddler to maul.
Harrison didn’t want to put it down, and after no one would claim it (I wonder why), some weirdo picked him up as part of her work as a consultant evaluating "problem dogs and helping to place them with rescue groups or with permanent owners.
"When your eyes meet the amber-colored eyes of Patron (the child-maimer), you don't see a tough dog. The look in his eyes is soft and gentle, sad, even," this imbecilic reporter wrote. "Patron walked up to me and wagged his skinny tail. He's either naturally polite or has been well-trained, as he didn't jump up. I rubbed his chest and scratched his chin, petted that enormous head and scratched his ears. He wagged his tail, lay down at my feet, and went to sleep while we talked about him and his future."
You thought Daisuke’s scouting report was bad. Well trained? Naturally polite?
Anyone seen Paul Shanley recently?
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Can you say sportsgasm?
Pete joined the show to discuss Tebow's signing with the Patriots. He said that Tim Tebow cant play and that he has trouble learning NFL playbooks.
On this episode of the It Is What It Is Cast, Chris Price talks with the Boston Herald's Jeff P Howe about the Patriots offseason, Rob Gronkowski's back surgery, Danny Amendola replacing Wes Welker, and how this seasons team will stack up against last seasons.
In the latest edition of the It Is What It Is Cast, Chris Price talks with Will Carroll. Injury expert and lead writer for Sports Medicine, Bleacher Report. They talk about the injury to Rob Gronkowski and what his back surgery could mean for his season.
Jeff joined the show to discuss the rumors of Doc heading to the Clippers. Jeff said that he will not discuss his future but that his brother would be a great candidate anywhere.
Stephen A. joined the show to discuss the status of trade negotiations between the Clippers and the Celtics. Stephen said that it is a 50-50 proposition that Doc ends up in Los Angeles.
Grande and Max take more calls on the Celtics and discuss what lies ahead for Doc Rivers with Steve Bulpett.
John Farrell postgame press conference
Joe & Dave talked to the Sox outfielder, who pounded the ball out of the park to win the second game of the doubleheader against the Rays.
John Farrell postgame press conference
Pierre McGuire joins Mut and Merloni after a Bruins win and discusses the play of Rask and the defense, the Hossa injury, and Jagr.
Tony Amonte calls out Marian Hossa for missing Game 3 and recaps the Bruins win.
Barry joined the show to discuss the Bruins 2-0 win over the Blackhawks in game three. Barry continues to be impressed by the play of Bergeron.
Barry joined the show to discuss the Bruins 2-0 win over the Blackhawks in game three. Barry continues to be impressed by the play of Bergeron.
Jeff joined the show to discuss the rumors of Doc heading to the Clippers. Jeff said that he will not discuss his future but that his brother would be a great candidate anywhere.
The guys opened the show discussing the Bruins' dominating Game 3 win over the Blackhawks. Gerry thinks the series is over.
Pierre McGuire joins Mut and Merloni after a Bruins win and discusses the play of Rask and the defense, the Hossa injury, and Jagr.
Tony Amonte calls out Marian Hossa for missing Game 3 and recaps the Bruins win.
Andy Brickley joins Mut and Merloni in studio to take phone calls from the listeners and to preview Game 3 of the Stanley Cup.
Salk and Holley break down a big Bruins win over the Blackhawks in game 3 at the garden.
We talk all Bruins, all the time with the man himself, Jack Edwards from NESN gets us ready for game three and beyond.
Four guys, four topics we haven't yet touched upon today. TO visits Ocho, Bob Costas has enough smarm for us all, stupid beauty pageant contestants and more.
Mikey gets a surprise call from Bernie Carbo, they talk about old time baseball and Bernie's new book.
Mikey talks with Tom and Luke about their new movie, Plimpton! and finds out what it was like to try to encapsulate everything Plimpton accomplished during his life.
Today on the Daily Planet, the Red Sox and Yankees face off in the Bronx, Claude Julien doesn't want players wasting energy, and Dwight Howard and free agency.
You ask, we answer. Today featuring NESN's Jack Edwards.
The new way we end the show. You ask, we answer.
You ask, we answer... anything!
The guys opened the show discussing ESPN's NBA coverage and how Bill Simmons has lost his edge in recent years. Gerry praised Bill for anti-ESPN tweets following the coverage of Game 4.
More from this showStephen A. joined the show to discuss the status of trade negotiations between the Clippers and the Celtics. Stephen said that it is a 50-50 proposition that Doc ends up in Los Angeles.
More from this showShawn joined the show to discuss the Bruins' OT win in Chicago. Shawn said that there was a heated discussion during the first intermission Saturday night in Chicago after the team's poor first period.
More from this showThe guys opened the show discussing the rumors regarding Doc Rivers being part of a deal between the Celtics and the Clippers.
More from this showBoth Xander Bogaerts and Anthony Ranaudo punctuated their strong 2013 seasons with head-turning events on June 13. On that day, Bogaerts, the Red Sox' top prospect, was promoted from Double-A Portland Pawtucket, with the 20-year-old becoming one of the youngest position players in the affiliate's history. On that same day, right-hander Anthony Ranaudo punched out 13 batters for Double-A Portland, the most strikeouts by a Red Sox minor leaguer since Jon Lester in 2005. They joined Minor Details to discuss both those accomplishments and their seasons to date.
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