Opening night reviewPage 8 of 19 -- Let's see, last week you answered 5 questions about the O-line, 10 questions about where the Pat's will place in the AFC east and 4 about Klecko being to small, but left out my question about the Antowain Smith conditioning test. So, I'll ask it again. How can Antowain fail the test one day and pass the next. Does he get into shape overnight? I don't think so. I think it's more of a mental thing. And, I believe Belichick thinks so too, that's why he tried to keep it quiet this year. I wish people would get off his case. I wonder how he would perform if he thought the fans were behind him. Your thoughts? --Tom Haight, N. Yarmouth, ME
A: I've never put too much stock in Smith failing the test. As you said, he passes it the next day anyway. I don't think it's a big issue unless he shows he's not in shape during the season and I don't believe that's the case. I don't think it has anything to do with whether fans are behind him or not behind him. He's said many times, that the running test is not a real high priority for him because in his own words, when is he ever going to have to sprint 20 times for 60 yards in five seconds on the field? He's also a big guy. He's 230. His game is power, not speed. Most teams don't have this test anyway. He never had it in Buffalo. I don't understand why they even have it. This is a team that always tells us that they don't care about 40 time, they care about football time. So why are they conducting a race? Nick, There is always this debate as to weather Boston has become more of a football town after the Super Bow win but I think the Red Sox events of last week (Big Yankee Series win, Trades…) show Boston is all about Baseball, if the Sox are playing well it doesn't matter what the Patriots do, do you agree? Also, I collect old a Boston games on VHS and have a HUGE collection, if any of your readers also collect and are interested in trading with me or if any want the great 2001-02 Super Bowl run on VHS, have them send me an e-mail: hubvhs@attbi.com I would be happy to assist! Thanks!--Patrick Flynn, Hadley,MA A: I would have to agree. The Red Sox are clearly No. 1 and always will be, but I think the Patriots will take their strong No. 2 showing. I think the Red Sox fan base is tried and true. They don't have to win anything for the fan base to support them. The Patriots have been a very good franchise since Bill Parcells (in 1993) and Bob Kraft (in 1994). But I wonder what would happen if the team didn't make the playoffs a few years in a row? As it is now, the Patriots haven't been in the playoffs three out of the last four years (1999, 2000, 2002). They won it all, however, and that's sustained the fan base. Continued... |
