Scott Cordischi On Sports: Discussing The NE and 9-11 Patriots
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Just how good are Bill Belichick and Tom Brady? We may soon find out.
As great as Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are, they may have a hard time finding guys to produce on offense this week.
After squeaking by the Buffalo Bills with a last-minute field goal Sunday, the New England Patriots enter tomorrow night’s game against the New York Jets in Foxboro a depleted bunch.
As if things weren’t bad enough for Brady and the offense who lost Rob Gronkowski to injury, Wes Welker to the Denver Broncos and Aaron Hernandez to jail, now this!
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTNew England’s top two offensive weapons from Sunday’s win will likely not be on the field against the Jets tomorrow night. Running back Shane Vereen, who had 101 yards rushing and 58 yards receiving in the opener, has been place on injured reserve with a broken left wrist. He’s out until, at least, week 11.
Meanwhile, the team’s leading receiver Sunday – Danny Amendola – also appears to be doubtful for Thursday night’s game. Amendola led the team in receptions (10) and receiving yards (104) and was clearly the guy Brady looked to the most (14 targets) in Buffalo when some of his other wide receivers weren’t getting the job done.
What does this all mean? Well, it means that Brady, Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels are going to have to find other ways and, more importantly, other players to move the football.
Stevan “Butterfingers” Ridley will, no doubt, be asked to carry the rock again tomorrow night. The question is: will he be able to hang on to it?
It also means that rookie wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins (4 receptions for 42 yards on 14 targets at Buffalo) will have to do better than he did Sunday. On one crucial third down play, a confused Thomkins ran into fellow WR Julian Edelman after the ball was snapped leaving Brady nowhere to throw the football. That can’t happen tomorrow night.
It would also be nice if the team’s tight ends would show up against the Jets. After exciting Pats fans with his preseason performance, rookie TE Zach Sudfeld and veteran Michael Hoomanawanui (gazoontite!) combined for 1 reception for 5 yards against the Bills. Those numbers will need to improve starting right now.
Meanwhile, you have the loud-mouthed Rex Ryan and the (1-0) NY Jets coming to Gillette Stadium feeling pretty good about themselves after their week one upset of Tampa Bay. How much of that win is attributable to the Jets being a good football team as opposed to the Bucs handing them the game on a silver platter is a subject for debate. Still, they are tied for first place in the AFC East with the Patriots (and Dolphins) and might just give this banged-up New England team a run for its money.
-Speaking of Rex Ryan, what the Jets coach lost in pounds, he seems to have gained in humility. I guess a couple of bad seasons, getting hammered by the Patriots and having your job status questioned by the New York media on a daily basis will do that to a man.
-I was born on September 13, 1967 (yes, happy birthday to me on Friday) so I, obviously, have no recollection of the 1967 “Impossible Dream” team that was the Boston Red Sox. However, I have to believe that what this year’s team is doing (going from 69 wins and last place in the division to the best record in the American League) is pretty similar. Isn’t it?
-It seems as if the Stanley Cup Finals just ended and now we have Boston Bruins training camp already underway? Where did the summer go?
-Once again, kudos to the good people at Cox Communications and OSN for bringing back “Game Night” this fall. Cox and OSN will televise a number of Rhode Island high school football game live on Friday nights. It is a great service to our local community.
-He has missed too much time this season due to injury to be a legitimate contender for the American League Cy Young Award, but consider the amazing numbers posted this season by Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz. He is (10-0) with a 1.61 ERA. Wow!
-Did you see where the Boston Red Sox will honor the legendary Carl Yastrzemski on September 22nd with a statue outside of Gate B at Fenway Park? What’s the matter, a Carl Crawford statue wasn't available?
-Another week and more seemingly damaging information coming out against Aaron Hernandez who is in jail facing murder charges. His attorney continues to proclaim his innocence and claims that he will prove it at trial. If he does, he may receive more notoriety that the late Johnnie Cochran.
-In case you’re one of those people who really likes to plan ahead, the Boston Red Sox open up the 2014 regular season on March 31st at Camden Yards in Baltimore against the Orioles. Their home-opener will be Friday, April 4th against Milwaukee.
-And, speaking of the Orioles, did you see that argument between O’s manager Buck Showalter and Yankees’ skipper Joe Girardi the other night? Is it me, or did it look like Girardi said something along the lines of, “you wanna go? Let’s [expletive deleted] go!”?
And, while we’re on the subject of the Yankees, did you read where team President Randy Levine said that the organization would, “not re-sign Robinson Cano at all costs?” Yankee fans are lining up on all of the bridges in New York considering the possibility of life without Cano.
-Why can’t Ndamukong Suh just let his freakish talents do the talking for him and be the great player he is capable of being as opposed to the rubbish he throws out there every now and again? For as talented as Suh is, he comes across as a punk because of all of the cheap shots he delivers on the field.
-Something tells me that it may not end well for Lane Kiffin at USC.
-The Red Sox’ John Farrell and the Dodgers’ Don Mattingly should be your runaway winners for American League and National League Managers of the Year respectively.
-Congratulations to the United States men’s soccer team for qualifying for next year’s World Cup in Brazil. The atmosphere for their 2-0 win over Mexico in Columbus seemed electric Tuesday night.
-And, on a related note, a friend who attended the Brazil-Portugal soccer game at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday also said that the atmosphere there was outstanding. Brazil won the game 3-1.
-Finally, we would be remiss if we didn’t pause to remember all of the men and women who lost their lives on this day twelve years ago (September 11, 2001) in the senseless terrorist attacks on the United States of America. It is, unfortunately, a day that will live in infamy. However, it is also heart-warming to remember all of the acts of courage, heroism and kindness that resulted from that tragedy. May we never forget that day and try to always live with such compassion for others.
