It is a crisp, efficient football mailbag this week, with lots of good questions that got right to the point. A good football game can produce plenty of good e-mail. As always, feel free to join in the fun by sending your e-mails to cprice@weei.com. Now, on with the show …
--
Christopher,
Nice job picking the Ravens. Before the baseball playoffs start, let me know who you like — I want to make sure to bet the other way.
Walker
East Boston
A: Yep, I went with the Ravens over the Patriots. I got more than a little good-natured grief from several people who gave me a hard time for picking Baltimore. (Including — I kid you not — my mom.) I feel like a sucker. I bought into the hype. I always do with the Ravens. Maybe it’s because I have a soft spot for all things Baltimore — the food, the Inner Harbor and “The Wire.” Whatever the case may be, I’m not letting that happen to me again. At least, until the next time they meet. Postgame whining aside, I still think they have enough to go deep into January. Ed Reed, I wish I knew how to quit you!
--
Chris,
What’s up? Love your work. Want to know who you thought had a worse Sunday — Mark Clayton or Joey Galloway?
Ray
A: Thanks for the compliment, Ray. Clayton had that bad drop at the end of the game, but in the end, I’d have to go with Galloway. A healthy scratch, he’s struggled to get the New England offense down since he arrived in the spring, with just seven catches for 67 yards through three games. (Perhaps the low point for him came in the win over Atlanta, when he had a bad red-zone drop. In addition, he got a HUGE sarcastic cheer from the fans when he did make a catch.)
“I think Joey’s worked hard since he’s been here,” director of player personnel Nick Caserio said on a conference call on Tuesday. “He’s getting more and more familiar with the system. Any player that is here on our team, we feel they can help us at any given point in time.”
With rookie Brandon Tate able to come off the reserve/non-football injury list in two weeks and Terrence Nunn on the practice squad, Galloway’s days in New England could be numbered. The Patriots only would be on the hook for $600,000 if they cut him loose, so it wouldn’t be a major financial hit if he was released.
--
Chris —
What do make of the Patriots activating Raiders castoff Terdell Sands over second-rounder Ron Brace? Is it a scheme issue or an "out of shape" issue?
James Christensen
A: I’m not sure what to make of Sands getting time in place of Brace, who hasn’t seen the field at all the last two weeks. Because the Patriots have played some teams with different offensive looks the last couple of weeks — and Brace hasn’t seen the field in that time — it leads me to believe that it’s more of an “out of shape” issue.
I know the Patriots really like the progress that Myron Pryor has made over the last month or so, and they think enough of Sands to give him a two-year deal, so that’s not good news for Brace. After such a strong start, it certainly appears Brace has taken a sizable step back in his overall development. His situation bears monitoring going forward.
--
Hey Chris,
If Junior Seau does sign in the next week, it raises several questions. 1) What happened to the famous "I only have six games" quote? At this point he'd more than likely see action in over 10 regular-season games, plus (hopefully) three playoff games including the Super Bowl. If he only thinks he can go six games, he's going to be gassed way before the most critical need. 2) Where does he fit into the rotation? 3) Do they play more 3-4 with him in — thereby changing up their defensive scheme more?
Thanks!
Phillip
East Taunton
A: I’ll take these points one at a time.
1) I think that “I only have six games” quote was made when Seau may not have had much of an idea whether or not he would come back, and
RSS Center
