Patriotic speculation
Is this the end of the Patriots dynasty? At some point it will end. All dynasties do. Time catches us all, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick included.
But are we experiencing the end in real time.
It's a fair question for a number of reasons.
First there's the Malcolm Butler situation, which has ranged from team rules violations to sickness to rough week of preparation. Or maybe it's just potential stubbornness. Or maybe it's a blend of all of those, but considering that Belichick said it was part of the best gameplan they came up with - and while we all recognize coach speak and maybe he's trying to protect Butler - if that was the gameplan, then why not adjust and try something new as Nick Foles and the Eagles torched Butler's replacement Eric Rowe on third down. (Foles was 11-of-14 on third down friends. That's sizzling.)
There is the clear re-adjustments that will need to occur after the Pats lose both coordinators. The last time Belichick lost both in the same season was when Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennell. And when that happened, the Pats went a decade without a Super Bowl title.
Then there are the Rob Gronkowski whispers. When asked about potentially retiring, Gronk's first response to the question was, "Where did you hear that," which is somewhat telling because instead of a quick dismissal or a non-denial denial, Gronk asked where the reporter heard it, meaning there was at least some form of retirement conversation somewhere around the world's favorite Polar Bear who Catches Footballs.
Now add this wrinkle of conspiracy to the plot: We heard the ESPN.com Pats reporter this morning say that there may be a growing concern among Camp Gronk that his $8 million and $9 million salaries for the next two seasons need to be reworked. In years passed, the Pats treat holdout players like Civil War doctors treated gangrenous limbs. Just chop them off. But Gronk is far and away the biggest match-up problem the Pats' offense poses and that represents real value to every team in the league. The difference for New England in this amazing 18-year run of unprecedented success has always been they always pay less than market value, which allows more depth and balance.
Of course there is Brady, which just dropped the greatest single season of a 40-year-old quarterback in league history. But the stories of the Mrs. wanting TB12 to hang 'em up and the realization that Brady will be 41 before the season starts next year are not insignificant facts. Now know this: Only 17 quarterbacks have thrown a single touchdown pass over the age of 40. Ever. Brady's 32 TD passes in 2017 put him third all-time for most of QBs 40-and-older, behind Warren Moon (37) and Brett Favre (36).
Now let's factor in all the chatter and internal strife that came from the Jimmy Garoppolo trade in November and the stories about the rift between Belichick and Brady. And through that prism, does that add a layer of intrigue to any of the above scenarios.
Did Belichick want everyone to know that his locker room is his locker room so Butler was benched and that's that. Hey we get team rules and we understand having a standard, but if it's just "gameplan" and that "gameplan" is getting torched, it fits the coaching definition of insanity not to try to find a better solution. (And now know this: Former Pats DB Brandon Browner took to InstaGram on the decision and unloaded on Belichick. The post was liked by Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower, who missed most of the season with an injury.)
It's amazing really, how much we root against dynasties and want them to end, but if the Patriots dynasty is truly over, the NFL will be less fun.
(That said, the Eagles' mini-dynasty with all that returning talent, stars coming back from injury and the slew of picks that a Nick Foles deal could bring is just starting.)
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles poses with his MVP trophy during a news conference after the NFL Super Bowl 52 football game Monday, Feb. 5, 2018, Bloomington, Minn. The Eagles won 41-33. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) Speaking of free markets
Did Nick Foles rise to the top of the quarterback class of guys who may be available after the last two games?
There's an argument for that, and that argument is only bolstered by the affordability that Foles provides. (Yes, it would be quite pricey to deal for the Super Bowl MVP, but if he gets dealt from Philly, his new team would have a ring-wearing quarterback on a four-year deal for less than $27 million total.)
But Foles is not a free agent. Nor is he a prospect in this QB-rich draft class. Let's explore the names that could be on the market:
We know Kirk Cousins is all but assured of being available to a team that wants to pay him nine figures. That team will not be Washington, which traded for Alex Smith and gave him a monster deal.
When the NFL new year starts five weeks from tomorrow, there are a lot of potential names that could be in play.
Jimmy Garoppolo will be a free agent. Yes, we expect him sign long-term for long-coin in San Fran, but he could be in play. Same goes for Drew Brees, who has said he plans on staying with the Saints.
Then there is the decision the Vikings will have to make, and that may include offering a franchise tag to Case Keenum, who will get roughly a $23 million raise for his stellar 2016. But that still leaves Sam Bradford and Teddy Bridgewater in play.
There's potential that A.J. McCarron could be available, as well, as all the draft guys, but know this: NFL teams will overpay for someone or overreach for a draft pick because that's the way it goes. (Even for teams like the Browns, who are assuredly not just a quarterback away from being a contender.)
Tennessee guard Lamonte Turner (1) drives to the basket while guarded by Villanova forward Omari Spellman (14) and guard Donte DiVincenzo (10) during an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017, in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in Paradise Island, Bahamas. (Tim Aylen/Bahamas Visual Services Photo via AP)Jerry Palm says what?
OK, football is done. Sigh.
It will be done for a while. Double sigh.
With that, the next big thing on the horizon for most of us is the NCAA basketball tournament. Yes Daytona is a few weeks away, and pitchers and catchers report next week, but let's shoot this puppy straight.
And this year, the madness of March looks like it could be the craziest run ever. Ever. (And yes, that's saying something considering the state of this discussion.)
A big part of that craziness is that the blue bloods are not that much better than everyone else.
Stat: Earlier this year, UNC and Duke lost at home on the same Saturday since the Nixon administration. Stat: Saturday, Duke, Kansas, Arizona and Kentucky all lost. That's normally part of the usual suspects for 1 seeds and Elite Eight trips. Stat: Kentucky has ranged from as high as No. 5 in the country to unranked. Yeah, good luck guessing how the Cats - a roster good enough to beat almost anyone and inconsistent enough to lose against anyone as well - will play in the tournament. (Also of note, Texas A&M has had the exact same level of dramatic swings this year.)
Yes, there is still a month in the regular season, so the positioning will continue, but CBSsports.com bracketologist Jerry Palm released his latest seeding chart Monday. Some tidbits of note:
Two Big East teams - Villanova and Xavier - as No. 1 seeds. He has Xavier narrowly getting the coveted top seed in a bracket over wait for it Auburn. No, we did not make that up.
He has nine ACC teams in the tournament, led by Virginia, which has a 1 seed. (Purdue is the fourth No. 1 seed.)
Eight SEC teams are in his bracket, which would be a league record. But as Palm offered wisdom - "five of those eight are Nos. 9-11" which means they could be toppled with a couple of inexcusable losses during the next month-plus. (And add this to the list of things like, "How did you like your meal President 5-at-10" or "Congrats on the Nobel Peace Prize, Dr. 5-at-10," that we never thought to read or hear: Palm writes about the SEC, "The only reliable teams this season have been Auburn and Tennessee." Yes we double-checked it to make sure it was not a CBSsports.com football story from back in the day.)
And for those wondering, Palm has ETSU winning the SoCon and getting that league's lone invite.
So, there's that.
This and that
- TFP sports editor Stephen Hargis has an excellent look at Brianerd High defensive back Joseph Norwood, who will be a local kid to watch on Wednesday's signing day.
- Speaking of recruiting, Press Row will be loaded with talk about Wednesday's big day. ESPN recruiting ace Tom Luginbill and Ryan Callahan of Vols247.com are scheduled to join us to discuss matters of such endeavors.
- Sadly, our old-school days of spending a few hours playing video games and crafting a perfect franchise in Madden or developing a dynamite roster in MLB games are done. Kids do that, you know. Well, we may have to make a small allowance when the new MLB The Show 18 drops in the coming days. Why you say? Well, apparently you can play as Babe Ruth in this one. That's pretty cool. (Cue Ham from "Snadlot" with, "The Great BAMMMMBINNNOOOOO." You're killing me Smalls.)
- We've all seen some crazy sports celebration tattoos, right? We've even seen some prediction tats, like the UK fan who got 40-0 tattoo before the tournament and the Wildcats' loss to Wisconsin in the Final Four. Well, here's one that actually is pretty sweet. This Eagles fan got the Xs and Os of the fourth-down trick play that led to a Nick Foles' TD catch in the Super Bowl win.
- John Mahoney, who was best known as Frazier Crane's dad Martin, died Tuesday at 77.
Today's questions
Let's roll with a little True or False. (Or if you are a fan of Deal or No Deal, we can change it up and go True or Not True today. Deal? Or No Deal?)
True or Not True: The Patriots will never win another Super Bowl with Belichick and Brady.
True or Not True: You would get a tattoo related to your favorite sports team.
True or Not True: You would deal a high first-round pick for Nick Foles.
True or Not True: You would sign Kirk Cousins to a $125-million contract.
As for today, Feb. 6, let's start here: Two kindred spirits - Ronald Reagan and Axl Rose - were born on this day.
Babe Ruth was born on this day in 1895.
On this day in 1935, Monopoly goes on sale for the first time. Cool.
As for a Rushmore, well, on this day in 1971, Alan Shepard hits the first golf shot on the moon. Rushmore of most famous golf shots.
Go.