ETBlogs Sports - Latest Comments in Live blogging on Patriots tonight at 8 p.m.

Re: Live blogging on Patriots tonight at 8 p.m.

Max Kliman — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 17:35:04 -0000

If the Pats do what you predicted them to do then I will se you next week!

Re: Live blogging on Patriots tonight at 8 p.m.

John Cronin — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 08:33:39 -0000

A great session Bill, I really enjoyed all the comments. These guys know their football and you top them all.
Thank you!
John

Re: Live blogging on Patriots tonight at 8 p.m.

Bill Burt — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:52:23 -0000

Thanks everybody.
This was great.
We will do this again next week if there is still football to be had.
I have a column in tomorrow's newspapers about the Patriots and why they will win big against the Jaguars.
Thanks again.

Re: Live blogging on Patriots tonight at 8 p.m.

Bill Burt — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:51:18 -0000

Nice try.
One game at a time. Haven't you been listening to coach the last four month?
Let's just say I believe the Patriots are a better team right now. Let's talk again on Sunday night.
Personally, I'd love to see Indy-NE. It rivals the Sox-Yanks.

Re: Live blogging on Patriots tonight at 8 p.m.

John — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:48:56 -0000

Will the Patriots beat the Colts?

Re: Live blogging on Patriots tonight at 8 p.m.

Bill Burt — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:46:51 -0000

I will take one more question ...

Re: Live blogging on Patriots tonight at 8 p.m.

Bill Burt — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:46:21 -0000

John
I was wondering if I'd be asked about Ellis.
He is probably the most approachable Patriot of them all. He can talk until the lights go out. He is a very nice guy.
As for his play, I agree, he is almost always the guy attacked when it comes time to throw 20-plus yards down the field.
It's probably a testament to Asante Samuel, who some feel is now the best cornerback in the league.
Hobbs is a physical corner, like Ty Law. The knock on him is he gives big cushions, and is susceptible to the 15-yard out. And he goes for the interception more than he should.
Basically, he's a decent cornerback who has not had a good year. He has the tools, quick feet and great technique, but at times he appears to go on his own.
Remember, he did make the key interception on Eli Manning, to set up the eventual winning score by Maroney. But it came on a zone defense and he was in the right spot.
As for the "weak link" comment, I understand. Is there a weak link on a 16-0 team?

Re: Live blogging on Patriots tonight at 8 p.m.

John — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:41:24 -0000

Bill
What do you think about Ellis Hobbs? He seems to be the weak link on the team.

Re: Live blogging on Patriots tonight at 8 p.m.

Bill Burt — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:38:37 -0000

Brian
If Welker has two TD catches, the Pats will win easily. I believe Moss and Stallworth will both be big targets. I also believe the Jags will try to hit Welker inside. They know how important he is for Brady, especially on third down.
As for Belichick, he ain't goin' nowhere ... in other words, no chance. This guy eats, sleeps and drinks football. He is too young (55) and has four or five more years of guaranteed contention with Tom Brady around.
I know he loves it here in New England. His kids are here and he is very close to all three of them. My guess is he puts in another decade and then takes a President job with some team, maybe the Patriots.
As for the key matchup, it is Jags center Brad Meester, a very good run blocker, against Vince Wilfork, who might be the toughest nose tackle to block in the league. If Wilfork cause havoc, game is over. If Meester can get the better of Wilfork, this could be a game. The Jags run a lot inside the tackles.

Re: Live blogging on Patriots tonight at 8 p.m.

Brian — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:31:14 -0000

Welker will have 2 touchdown catches. :)

What matchup do you feel is the biggest for the Patriots?
Will Coach Belichick retire when he goes 19 & 0?

Re: Live blogging on Patriots tonight at 8 p.m.

Bill Burt — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:21:49 -0000

Brian
Seymour is getting healthy finally and playing his best. He is going against one of the bigger offensive lines in the league and he will oppose left tackle Khalif Barnes, who is 6-foot-5, 330 pounds. They met before and Seymour has had decent games, getting a lot of pressure on Leftwich in the playoff game in the postseason (2005). The one disappointing aspect about the D-Line has been pressure on the quarterback, which was a first half problem against the Giants in the 2007 finale. If Seymour has a big game, lights are out.
As for Welker, he is the go-to guy in the middle of the field. In big games, he has played his best. I already predicted a big day for Donte Stallworth, but I believe Welker might have two or three big first down catches.

Re: Live blogging on Patriots tonight at 8 p.m.

Brian — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:11:51 -0000

I have Seymore having a giant game. Pats 24 Jags 6 How big will Welker be this week?

Re: Live blogging on Patriots tonight at 8 p.m.

Bill Burt — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:10:51 -0000

Insanity might be better ...
Off the subject a bit, I believe the Colts will bury the Chargers. Teams have figured out how to contain LaDanian Tomlinson and with Antonio Gates hurt, Colts will have their way.

Re: Live blogging on Patriots tonight at 8 p.m.

Michael — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:09:32 -0000

Like Roger Clemens will be doing in a month or so, I plead the Fifth.

Re: Live blogging on Patriots tonight at 8 p.m.

Bill Burt — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:08:56 -0000

San Diego?
Maybe you should have a few pina coladas with bocatennis. They were a mess in September and they are a semi-mess now.

Re: Live blogging on Patriots tonight at 8 p.m.

Bill Burt — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:08:18 -0000

bocatennis
I may come down and see your area during the Super Bowl bye week. As for Bob Kraft, he is the king. He and his son Jonathan are two of the smartest businessmen in the country. Think about the product they developed here in New England when they took over.
My guess is out of the 120 or pro franchises in the four major sports, based in the US, the Patriots were ranked about 108th in terms of popularity.
Now, they are No. 1. Enough said. They are the most revered franchise in pro sports. He talked many times about overspending ($171 million, I believe) for the franchise and $25 million for the dump, I mean Foxboro Stadium.
My educated guess is, including property on Route 1, the franchise is worth, get this, $1.5 billion.
Amazing. And they've done it the right way.

Re: Live blogging on Patriots tonight at 8 p.m.

Michael — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:04:05 -0000

San Diego

Re: Live blogging on Patriots tonight at 8 p.m.

bocatennis — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:03:57 -0000

i will have another frozen pina colada with 150 proof white rum and relax at the beach. it was 80 and sunny today in south florida. i think mr. kraft is the reason that this franchise is the best in pro sports today. what do you think?

Re: Live blogging on Patriots tonight at 8 p.m.

Bill Burt — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:03:47 -0000

Michael
16-and-0.
I had them winning them all. But my guess is I was not alone. They were favored in every game they played.
What was the other loss you had them getting?

Re: Live blogging on Patriots tonight at 8 p.m.

Michael — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:02:42 -0000

I'd like to know your record for picking Patriots games this season?
I was 14-2. I had them losing to the Colts.

Re: Live blogging on Patriots tonight at 8 p.m.

Bill Burt — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:57:26 -0000

Ray
Thanks for the note.
There is only a 20 percent chance of precipitation, which basically means dry field. The key for the Patriots is wind and at night in Foxboro is usually tame. I don't think it will matter at all.

Re: Live blogging on Patriots tonight at 8 p.m.

Ray from Lynn — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:56:10 -0000

Bill
Keep up the good work. Do you think the weather plays into the game? It is supposed to be about 40 degrees.

Re: Live blogging on Patriots tonight at 8 p.m.

Bill Burt — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:54:01 -0000

Bocatennis
Go have another pina colada and relax. The one thing the Jaguars have going for them is they are tough. But I agree, it isn't enough. You have to throw the ball to beat the Patriots. That's what people don't understand. Running helps, but you have to deliver the rock to the end zone.
As for the Patriots being physical, Larry Csonka told me a few weeks ago that the one thing he like about them was their toughness, especially on the offensive line.
The D-line is tough, too.

Re: Live blogging on Patriots tonight at 8 p.m.

bocatennis — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:48:59 -0000

why do the experts always use the word physical when they describe teams like the jaguars and steelers. if they are so physical, why do the patriots keep beating these so called physical teams. i think it is a bunch of nonsense to think that the patriots are not as physical just because they dont run as much. what do you think?

Re: Live blogging on Patriots tonight at 8 p.m.

Bill Burt — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:45:20 -0000

A blowout.
San Diego is a second rate team. They might even be behind Jacksonville. I sort of saw this coming after the way they dealt with the loss to the Patriots. I've never heard a team whine like they did. I believe they are finished as a great team, which they were a year ago.
I believe they will be lose by nearly three TDs to Indianapolis.