Tom Brady has been fortunate enough to have great protection since his time taking over in 2001. The Patriots offensive line has been a strenth of the team with consistency and cohesiveness for the past several years. Perhaps the biggest reason the Patriots were upset in February by the New York Giants was the surprisingly bad play by this unit. Brady was under pressure throughout the entire game and the offense never was able to get comfortable and into a rhythm. Was this an isolated incident or the sign of things to come? Michael Felger and Andy Gresh discuss in our next "Camp Checklist" season preview.
defense? / Getty Images" class="imgcaption floatr" style="float: right;" />In the latest edition of our "Camp Checklist" previews for the upcoming Patriots season, the Boston Herald’s John Tomase talks about the young defensive players on the Patriots with Michael Felger. While the Patriots defense is a very veteran crew, there is some youth that has experience, along with a promising group of rookies. As you see in the list below, some guys like Vince Wilfork and Ellis Hobbs are starters (Pro Bowler in Wilfork’s case). James Sanders and Mike Wright have been impressive part-time players. Pierre Woods has been a very good special teams contributor, and should see more time in the regular rotation with Eric Alexander.
The key to the growth of the young D centers around 1st Round Pick Jerod Mayo. All signs through the national experts season previews and mini-camp point to a fairly big contribution from Mayo from the get-go.
Here is a look at some of the young talent on D for the Pats:
26 years-old: Vince Wilfork, Pierre Woods, Mike Wright, Eric Alexander
25 years-old: LeKevin Smith, Ellis Hobbs
24 years-old: James Sanders, Brandon Meriweather
23 years-old: Shawn Crable, Terrence Wheatley
22 years-old: Jerod Mayo
Former Patriots Tight End Christian Fauria joins Gary Tanguay and Andy Gresh in this installment of "Camp Checklist" on Comcast SportsNet to discuss Randy Moss’ second season with the New England Patriots. Moss is coming of a historic first season with Tom Brady, catching 98 balls and scoring 23 touchdown’s.
Danny Ainge sits down with Gary Tanguay to talk about the loss of James Posey to the Hornets and some possible other free agent targets in the coming weeks.
In the next installment in our "Camp Checklist" series, we count down the days until Patriots Training Camp begins with Michael Felger and Michael Holley talking about head coach Bill Belichick. As the author of his best selling book, "Patriot Reign", Michael Holley knows Coach Belichick better than most in the Boston media.
Make sure to tune-in to Comcast SportsNet during the first full week of training camp as we bring you "Pats Camp Report ‘08" weeknights at 7:30pm beginning July 28th, live from Gillette Stadium.
Greg Dickerson talked with the players at the DVD release party for the Celtics championship DVD released on Monday, July 14.
Leading off, Greg talks with Paul Pierce and 3-month daughter one-on-one about his offseason so far.
See what James Posey has to say about his pending free agency.
Kevin Garnett talks about his summer to date.
Free agent guard Eddie House talks about his summer with the media.
Comcast SportsNet kicks off its coverage of Patriots Training Camp with a series of video previews with our experts answering some of the questions going into the start of the 2008 NFL season. In this edition of "Camp Checklist", Michael Felger is joined by former Patriots quarterback and radio personality Scott Zolak to discuss Tom Brady’s place in the league and the upcoming season.
Comcast SportsNet will be live in Foxboro for the first full week of training camp nightly at 7:30pm beginning July 28th, as we bring you "Pats Camp Report ‘08". Felger will be joined by our experts and we’ll have exclusive interviews with owners, coaches, and players as we get you ready for the upcoming season. Stay with Comcast SportsNet throughout the entire season for more Patriots related shows and content on-air and online!
Celtics Captain and NBA Finals MVP Paul Pierce spoke with Michael Felger at his annual summer basketball camp at Basketball City in Boston. "The Truth" talks about settling down from the events of the past year, James Posey or Corey Magette, and his admiration for head coach Doc Rivers.
Just when the fuzziness has worn off for everyone with the Sox having a rough week, here is something to check out and turn your day around.
The Boston Herald’s John Tomase joins Michael Felger and Sean Grande (in for Gary Tangauy) on the Late Edition of Mohegan Sun’s Sports Tonight on June 30th. Tomase talks about his apology in the Herald that ran May 16th, and how the team has treated him since the incident.
Boston Herald columnist John Tomase is scheduled to appear on Mohegan Sun’s Sports Tonight at 10pm on Comcast SportsNet on Monday, June 30th. This will be the first appearance for Tomase since Matt Walsh met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Senator Arlen Specter. Tomase will be joined by NBCSports.com’s Tom Curran to look ahead to Patriots Training Camp, which begins in a few weeks.
Last week on XM Radio, I was asked to predict which guys this year will be the fantasy football difference makers – players correlating closely with making the playoffs and winning league championships. I’ve expanded on this topic below.
Players are listed in the order they’re currently being drafted in thousands of drafts hosted by MockDraftCentral.com. Their Average Draft Placement (ADP) is courtesy of our friends there and duly noted. We start with pick No. 25 because we don’t really choose our first player as much as settle for whoever our fellow owners passed on when it comes time for us to kick off our draft (unless we’re lucky enough to draft first, which may not be so lucky this year). The second round is also mostly a matter of slotting given how draft rounds snake back and forth.
It’s guys who are drafted in the third round and later who everyone has a chance to grab. Here are the players I think justify even a little reach relative to these ADPs.
Andre Johnson, WR, Texans (ADP: 25th): Big, fast and with a very underrated QB in Matt Schaub running a Broncos-themed offense (courtesy of head coach and former Denver offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak). Johnson also he has the luxury of an overrated but effective backup QB in Sage Rosenfels, just in case more misfortune befalls Schaub. Johnson’s bugaboo has always been injury and his knee was scoped in May. That’s not enough to dissuade me from gambling on his prodigious talent (8 TDs in 9 games last year).
Let’s conclude our 2008 Fantasy Football Early Bird Special in advance of regular weekly coverage beginning in August by examining players who I think are overvalued based on their Average Draft Placement (ADP) in hundreds of summer drafts run by our friends at MockDraftCentral.com.
Starting at the top at running back, let me be clear that I would gladly own Brian Westbrook (Eagles) and Steven Jackson (Rams). There’s nothing wrong with either player. But they’re both going ahead of Joseph Addai (Colts) and that’s a mistake. This trend developed before world leaked of Peyton Manning’s knee surgery that could possibly, but probably not, sideline him Week 1. Addai should be the No. 3 pick in every draft.
I’d pass on Clinton Portis (Redskins), ADP 11th overall. Always be wary of veteran players who rise dramatically from one season to the next. Portis was a fourth-round pick in most leagues last year. Has anything fundamentally changed about him or his situation to warrant a three-round bump? I don’t think so. Ledell Betts isn’t as much of a threat, presumably, and new head coach (and former Seahawks QB coach) Jim Zorn helped turn Shaun Alexander into a goal-line monster; but Alexander is a better inside runner than Portis, who is game but undersized and a year older with chronic shoulder woes.
Mike Gorman and Tommy Heinsohn host an exclusive presentation with the entire team before the "Rolling Rally". The players are introduced for the final time this season at the Garden, and Mike and Tommy talk to some of the players about winning banner 17.
Glen "Big Baby" Davis talks with Greg Dickerson about his plans once he boards one of the Duck boats for the Rolling Rally.
Celtics legend John Havlicek speaks with Greg Dickerson before boarding the Duck boat about his past memories when he won championships.
Greg talks with "Planet Pollard" before the Rolling Rally begins.
Eddie House joins Greg Dickerson upon arriving at the Garden outside the Celtics locker room.
Greg grabs Doc Rivers as he arrives at the Garden to talk about the "Rolling Rally" and the last couple of days as an NBA Champion. Look out for some other pretty important guys popping into the interview, like Kevin Garnett and Finals MVP Paul Pierce.
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Comcast SportsNet brought you Pre and Postgame for every Celtics game this season, and has been your home for Celtics basketball for 27 years. We capped off a championship season as Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Doc Rivers and the rest of the Celtics blew out the Lakers to capture title #17. Check out some of the videos from the raucous celebration following the Game 6 blowout.
Legendary broadcast duo Mike Gorman and Tommy Heinsohn speak with the man who put this team together, Danny Ainge, followed by Finals MVP Paul Pierce, and backup guard Eddie House.
Celtics Head Coach Doc Rivers joins Mike & Tommy on the floor to celebrate his first title.
Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck talks with Mike & Tommy after the game on the parquet.
Kevin Garnett cannot contain his happiness in the locker room with Greg Dickerson.
Check out the scene as the entire team celebrates in the locker room.
Gary Tanguay and Donny Marshall wrap up our coverage in the studio, and Mike and Greg deliver their final thoughts from the Garden after a remarkable season.
Celtics center Kendrick Perkins talks about his first ring in the NBA.
