Cursed To First - Sox and Pats forever.

Patriots vs. Jets: The War of the Roses in Pads and Cleats

"Yap yap yap YAP. Bottom line is, you got to buckle up the chin strap."

~ Ray Anthony Lewis, American football linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League, when asked about the New York Jets.

Just after the Jets gave us the 5 Stages of Manning Face last Sunday, a fellow Patriots fan on Twitter sighed about how it would be a very long week leading up to another showdown with the Jets, which will also be this season's rubber match between the two bitter division rivals, as well as a playoff game.

I could sympathize with that sigh, as it was clear from the get-go that the amount of smack-talk in these upped-ante circumstances would far exceed even the stifling norm. This has, sadly, been borne out, reaching either its peak or its nadir, depending on how you're measuring, with Antonio Cromartie's expletive-laden response to being asked about Tom Brady, a response which was printed in the New York Daily News and later publicly confirmed as an accurate quotation by Cromartie himself. It was a spectacle which I would assume had Jets PR wetting themselves, if I believed that the Jets even have a PR department.

Sigh. See. There it goes. Even if you swear you'll stay above the fray, sometimes it's the tedious fact of the fray itself that can get you puffed up and talking crap, too.

Maybe somebody just needs to send the Jets front office a memo reminding them that this tactic has been tried before. Since the 2001 Steelers, more than a few opponents have flapped their gums incessantly in the days leading up to a showdown with the Patriots, and as with that Steelers team, it has not conferred on them any kind of discernible advantage. Yet the Jets have just stuck to that same playbook: running their mouths, handing the Patriots abundant "Bulletin Board Material," and then, more often than not, looking like smacked asses when the field clock's running out its final seconds.

But the worst thing with the Jets, the thing that makes them not just boors but bores, at this point, is that, well...let's just say that after this last week, I'd like to see how they rank in the league in terms of average team score on the Wonderlic. 

Talking smack before kickoff isn't the smartest thing to do in the first place, as we've already covered here, but when the Jets, true to form, went ahead and did it anyway, they couldn't talk even halfway intelligent smack. Hell, they couldn't even be bothered to go a quarter of the way, if you ask me. Cromartie's gem, "Tom Brady's an a-hole. F him." could have come from a kindergartener (admittedly one with a precocious vocabulary of obscenities).

I mean, seriously, Antonio. Let me level with you here. This trash-talking apparently has some kind of important cultural value for your team, and yet, THAT -- a spew of pouting profanity, followed by a whining explanation about how Brady once pointed at you in a way you felt was wrong -- was really, honestly, the best you could come up with?

Tiresome. That's just the only way to describe it.

However -- I will admit, I did get a kick out of one surprising and clever response from the Patriots to the onslaught of BS this week, which was delivered, equally surprisingly, by Wes Welker at a mid-week press conference.

I am on record as a non-fan of the whole Rex Ryan foot fetish story, but by that point, I think anything was fair game. The Patriots hadn't started it, but the ball was in their court. And Welker tossed it back, but softly. Not with insults and f-notes, but wit and subtlety.

After seeing that performance by Welker, I can't help but think (evil Patriots-lover that I am) of how the Cromartie and Welker press conferences serve as a parable of sorts, about the general gulf between these two teams in the "explicable thought process" department.

A thing I hope we'll also see played out on the field, as they meet there again.

A Patriots Fan's Summer Reading List

As I write this, it's in the high seventies outside, unseasonably cool, but still August. When I pulled up to my parents' house today my father was outside in the driveway, standing behind his minivan with a small TV that had been mine in college, hooked up to a complex harness of wires that led into the back of the car. Channels were beginning to come in, fuzzily, as he futzed with a remote.

This television hookup is the last item left on our Patriots tailgating checklist - we already have a vehicle with cargo space (van), table, grills (2), canvas folding chairs (4), card table, and (as of last year) a tent. After this, the next step is an RV, which keeps my mother praying the TV concept will keep on needing improvement for a while.

So while it's clear football is coming, behind my dad in the garden as he fiddled with the TV was a bumper crop of tomatoes, just ripening. On the TV as it faded in and out, the Sox were slogging through a dog-day game against the Chicago South-siders, the only sporting entertainment besides NASCAR available on this Sunday afternoon. To say it doesn't yet feel like football season would be an understatement.

I cannot tell a lie - though I have been paying attention to the big stories of the preseason so far, including the somewhat discouraging Game 1 and even more discouraging loss of Tank Williams to the IR, I missed actually watching the game this week.

Even if it's not as easy to get into the upcoming season while the sun still sets after 8 pm and all the leaves are still green, though, summer is a great time for reading, at a picnic, on the beach, or just surfing the 'Net from the couch. And while I haven't yet gotten into the gridiron nitty-gritty for another year, there's plenty out there to keep a Pats fan occupied at least until preseason games see starters play during the second half.

Below the jump, some recommended reading for Pats fans.

Books

Bloody Sundays by Mike Freeman - An inside look at the NFL, from a behind-the-scenes profile of Jon Gruden to an explanation of the Wonderlic test, Bloody Sundays doesn't shy away from some of the trickier aspects of football and football culture, including chapters dedicated to domestic violence and a portrait of a closeted gay player. Written with clarity, subtlety and humor, an offbeat look at the curiosities of pro football that will be enjoyable for fans of any team.

The Blind Side by Michael Lewis - The author of Moneyball turns his acumen to football, focusing on the experiences of a top prospect, offensive lineman Michael Oher, during high school and college. Oher isn't the typical college football recruit, having been homeless and functionally illiterate on the West Side of Memphis, Tenn. until being admitted to a private high school on a football scholarship and adopted by a wealthy family. Amid the book's exploration of the cutthroat industry that is NCAA player development lies a deeper story about class and race in America. Moneyball put otherwise obscure minor-leaguers like Kevin Youkilis on the MLB map; Oher is currently finishing out his senior year at Ole Miss and remains ranked among the country's best college linemen.

Patriot Reign by Michael Holley - If you're a Boston sports fan, anything with Michael Holley on the spine is something I'd recommend. His reporting and writing are both superb, making his books quick and informative reads. Patriot Reign focuses on the system of player development Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli used to build the Patriots' championship teams. Holley was given amazing access to the team, from the draft war room to the locker room after playoff victories, and gives fans a glimpse at behind-the-scenes details they otherwise don't get - scenes like Tom Brady's first meeting with Robert Kraft, during which the gangly young quarterback carried a pizza and made an eerie prediction, or an interview with one of the team's scouts who has a picture of Tom Brady right next to a picture of a failed prospect on his desk to keep him focused. It's the furthest backstage the Belichick regime will probably ever allow the layperson, so if you haven't yet treated yourself to this book, I recommend it.

The Education of a Coach by David Halberstam - Bill Belichick comes off less an inscrutable mystery, in this biography by the late David Halberstam, and more the understandable product of a blue-collar upbringing and formative years among the recruits at military academies. Belichick's work ethic and relationship with his father, Steve, are emphasized. My favorite vignette from this book features a young Belichick designing plays in a notebook that was supposed to have been dedicated to French homework.

Moving the Chains by Charles P. Pierce - Pierce is among my favorite sportswriters already; I've enjoyed his work in Sports Illustrated already, especially a cover piece in 2003 profiling Manny Ramirez. Pierce's biography of Tom Brady explores the QB as a public persona rather than focusing on his technical exploits under center, but it's a worthy subject, given Brady's unique position at the intersection between marketing, politics, fashion, and competition this decade.

Never Give Up by Tedy Bruschi with Michael Holley - For Patriots fans, Tedy Bruschi is already the embodiment of everything they appreciate about their team - intensity and integrity. Though cheesily titled, Bruschi's autobiography is surprisingly candid about his recovery from a stroke and return to the playing field three years ago, including the impact of his struggle on his marriage. I remember vividly how concerned I was for Tedy at the time, and how much of a loss his absence was to the team - this book fills in the other side of that narrative. You might be surprised to see what Bruschi says about how the outpouring of support from New England fans influenced his recovery.

Articles / Websites

"Just Throw the Damn Ball, Tom Brady", by Tom Chiarella for Esquire Magazine - An off-beat potrait of Brady, and in reference to a man at the center of his own media cottage industry, that's a rare thing. Not entirely flattering, and seemingly born at least in part out of the writer's frustration at not getting Brady to reveal some juicy inner demon during his interview, but touches on that feeling you get from Brady, that you don't know the half of what actually goes on with him behind closed doors.

"Oh, the Humanity!" by Aaron Kaplowitz for Boston.com - The bizarre tale of a Giants fan who's such a sore winner, he journeys to the slums of Nicaragua to purchase, from its destitute owner, a Patriots World Championship hat printed up in anticipation of last year's Super Bowl, then donated to charity. (You know. A charity that gives clothes to needy people in poor countries.) Giants fan considers $5 asking price for the hat a coup.

32 Teams in 32 Days: New England at ColdHardFootballFacts.com - A look back at the '07 campaign and a few predictions for 2008-2009.

Reiss's Pieces - This one should go without saying, but in case you don't check in regularly with Boston.com's vast upgrade over Ron Borges, you should.

The National Football Post - Football still doesn't get the kind of literary writing or in-depth statistical analysis baseball does, but little by little, that's changing, and this site is a good example of some of the new football media that's out there.

There. That oughtta keep you occupied at least until next Sunday's exhibition against Tampa Bay.

Just in case it's not, though, you can always join in the speculation about who's going to replace the disgraced Jon Thomase as the Herald's Patriots beat writer...

Last piece of SpyGate puzzle: Walsh and NFL agree to meet

The NFL and former New England Patriots employee Matt Walsh have finally agreed on a deal where Walsh will return all of the items by May 8, namely videotapes, that he kept from his employment with the Patriots. He will also meet with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on May 13, 2008, to discuss the Pats' videotaping procedures. In return, the NFL and the Patriots have agreed not to sue Mr. Walsh and the NFL will indemnify him of any expenses, legal or otherwise, that he incurs as part of the interview process. Rather than speculate, I'm simply going to wait and see what is contained on the tapes and also what the interview with Goodell yields. Keep in mind that the Patriots, as you can read in their statement, have said that they never authorized the videotaping of the Rams' walk-through practice before the Superbowl in 2002. That walk-through taping is what has been the lightning rod behind this whole matter. Whether this tape exists or not, we shall soon see, but the Pats have already denied any knowledge or authorization of such a tape. How the NFL handles this, should it exist, will be interesting to follow as we enter some "down time" after the NFL Draft. Below you can read statements from the NFL, Walsh's attorney, and the New England Patriots. Again, I will reserve judgement until we find out exactly what Walsh has.

The NFL released the following statement:

"An agreement has been completed between the NFL and Matt Walsh that will allow Mr. Walsh, a former videotape operator with the New England Patriots, to share with the NFL information about activities occurring during his employment with the club from 1997-2003.

Commissioner Goodell will meet with Mr. Walsh in the commissioner�s office on Tuesday, May 13, the earliest date that Mr. Walsh, who lives in Hawaii, will be available on the east coast.

The agreement also requires Mr. Walsh to return any tapes and other items in his possession that belong to the Patriots. In return, the NFL and the Patriots have promised not to sue Mr. Walsh. They also will indemnify him for any expenses, including legal fees that he incurs in connection with the interview.

Commissioner Goodell determined last September that the Patriots had violated league rules by videotaping opposing coaches' defensive signals during Patriots games throughout Bill Belichick�s tenure as head coach. Coach Belichick admitted to his use of the taping practice on a regular basis as a result of what he said was his misinterpretation of the rule.

Commissioner Goodell imposed substantial discipline on Coach Belichick and the club as a result of that practice. The interview with Mr. Walsh will seek to determine whether he has any new information about that videotaping practice or other possible violations of league rules.

Following the meeting with Mr. Walsh on May 13, there will be a news media briefing later that day in New York that will be attended by Commissioner Goodell."

The following statement comes from Matt Walsh's attorney, Michael N. Levy:

"Today, Mr. Walsh and the National Football League reached an agreement under which the NFL will provide legal indemnification and a release of claims against Mr. Walsh relating to his employment by the Patriots and the Patriots' videotaping operations.

I am pleased that we now have an agreement that provides Mr. Walsh with appropriate legal protections. Mr. Walsh is looking forward to providing the NFL with the materials he has and telling the NFL what he knows.

The agreement provides that, on or before May 8, 2008, Mr. Walsh will provide the NFL with any documents he may have, including videotapes, that relate to allegations of videotaping of Patriots opponents and that he will make himself reasonably available for an interview with the NFL soon thereafter. The agreement further provides that Mr. Walsh must make himself available for an interview with the NFL prior to conducting any such interview with any third party inquirers, including the media. Accordingly, Mr. Walsh will not be making any statements at this time."

Finally, below you can read the statement from the Patriots. Clearly it has somewhat of a harsh tone towards Walsh and the entire legal-protections saga:

"The New England Patriots are pleased to learn that Matt Walsh is finally willing to come forward to meet with the NFL. We are eagerly anticipating his honest disclosures to Commissioner Goodell next month and the return of all the materials he took during his time of employment. We fully expect this meeting to conclude the league�s investigation into a damaging and false allegation that was originally levied against the team on the day before this year�s Super Bowl.

It is important to note that there has never been a confidentiality agreement restricting Matt Walsh and no legal protections were ever necessary for him to speak to the NFL, to media outlets or to anyone else regarding his employment with the Patriots. He demanded to be released from responsibility for his statements, and after a frustrating and lengthy negotiation period, a settlement has finally been reached. Walsh has been granted a significant number of privileges through this agreement, none of which the Patriots or the NFL were obligated to give.

At all times, we cooperated fully with the league�s investigation and stand by our initial public statement from Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008: �The suggestion that the New England Patriots recorded the St. Louis Rams� walkthrough on the day before Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002 is absolutely false.�

The Patriots� organizational focus at this time is on the NFL Draft and preparing for what we hope will be an exciting 2008 season. We will have no further comments regarding Matt Walsh at this time."

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