Cheap labor
The Ask Nick mailbag makes its debut for the 2004 season this week, as Globe football writer Nick Cafardo answers your questions about the Patriots. Click here to sumbit a question for next week ...
Welcome back. I missed the mailbag tremendously. I notice that many sports writers harp on the fact that Brady, Seymour, and some others make less money than comparable players around the league. I would like to see an article about the Patriots players who make more money than comparable players around the league. I am assuming that the middle and lower end players on the Patriots make more money than their counterparts because the Patriots spend to the limit. The money is going to somebody. Also, the next time you write that Brady or Seymour desire more money, can you please let us know what players you think the Patriots should release or restructure to get the extra money to do this?
Tom, Worcester
A: The only player I can think of who's at the top of the charts money wise is Ty Law. All the others are at below or at market. Matt Light, for instance, just signed a middle of the road deal for a left tackle because he was happy to stay here and wants to finish his career here. Most of the middle-to-low end players have minimal contracts. I think what the Patriots do better than any other team is they have more veteran players (the Roman Phifers) who are willing to accept either the minimum or close to the veteran minimum to be on a team that could make it to the Super Bowl. As far as Brady or Seymour go, they'll have to make tough decisions on both I'm guessing at the end of the year. You have to pay Brady.
In Cleveland Belichick was a goat, reviled and despised. Now he is loved and almost universally acknowledged as a genius. I get the feeling if you asked him what he's doing differently, he would probably just say "winning". But, I think the question is a valid one: How has Belichick changed over the years? What did he learn during the Cleveland years and how has he applied those lessons to his New England tenure. Also, are there any current "re-tread" coaches who are making the same mistakes as they did in their previous jobs. Possible example -- Coughlin in NY? Is his tough-fisted, rules-rules-rules approach going to wear thin in a few seasons as it did in Jacksonville?
Ed, Natick
A: Great question Ed. I addressed this earlier but I think he's a better GM now than he was then. He had a young Mike Lombardi making personnel calls in Cleveland, and while Mike has really grown and now does a fine job in Oakland, Belichick now has Scott Pioli out there making recommendations along with a fine scouting staff. I'm not willing to say that he has better coaches here than he did in Cleveland because he had guys like Nick Saban over there, but I think he definitely has out more faith in his assistants to do the job. I think he's completed what he started in Cleveland, but was never able to consummate because the team moved to Baltimore and he was fired. I think he's also a much different guy in how he handles veteran players. He takes care of them here; making sure that they're not worn out. He keeps a close eye on them in that regard which is why he does so much platooning. I think also he was able to go back with Bill Parcells after Cleveland and really fine-tune things. Who's making the same mistakes now? One guy who comes to mind is Butch Davis. I don't include Coughlin because I really believe that Giants team needs that firm hand and it seems they're responding well to him now.
The national media seem relatively underwhelmed by the Patriots' achievement in winning 18 straight games. What do you attribute this to? It seems to me the media is fixated by big names and fails to appreciate the sheer professionalism of this team and its fierce will to win.
Gerald, Boston
A: Well, first of all, I usually don't pay too much attention to what the national media thinks because their view is from afar. The other reason the streak isn't played up more is because the team itself doesn't recognize it as a big deal. I think this team gets a lot of great publicity nationally, though. I don't think they're under appreciated by any means. In every story you read about them the great team concept is brought out.
Glad to have your forum back. I have a comment and a question. Although most Pats fans are very happy about the 18-game streak, why can't the press ease up a bit? I mean, you already know what the response will be. ... The Pats are looking at winning the next game only. Yes, the streak is impressive, but the season is early, and we've won 3 games, period. I sure wish the media would give this subject a rest. What they are doing works, and that's concentrating on the next game, and how to improve each week. I happen to agree with trying to simply improve on each weeks mistakes ... it sure seems to work. Please enough about the streak already ... it means nothing to me or the players if they don't make the playoffs.
Scott, Ayer
A: I've come around to your way of thinking, Scott. Enough already. The responses are the same week after week. Once they break it this week against Miami, it obviously needs to be re-visited, but after that you probably won't hear too much more about it.
The Parcells-Belichickian philosophy prevents their coordinators from speaking to the media. However, in the past two weeks I have seen Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weis give media interviews. Nothing has ever happened by accident in Belichick Land, So, what is your insight as to why he is letting them speak now?
Tom, Dover
A: They were allowed to give press conferences during the bye week when nothing was going on and they were 2-0 and everything was going pretty well. I would suspect we'd hear from them maybe once or twice more before the end of the season (after a win), and then again if the Patriots are in the Super Bowl where the league mandates they must conduct media interviews.
Are you still of the opinion that Tom Donahue is one of the "top 3" general managers in the NFL? You said this in a mailbag two years ago. Also, where do you rank Belichick as a GM?
Jason, Boston
A: Unfortunately for Tom, his reign in Buffalo hasn't been very good. I thought he started well by getting the Bills to go from three wins to eight when he first acquired Drew Bledsoe, but it's been downhill since the 31-0 win over New England. What he's failed to do is devote all of his efforts toward putting together the best offensive line. He needs that with Bledsoe. The coaching choices haven't been that good, either. He had a chance to hire Charlie Weis, and he opted for Mike Mularkey. Tom did a great job in Pittsburgh, which is what made him one of the best. But he's fallen and he'd be the first to admit that because he's such a standup person. As for Belichick, he's done a great job as a GM. That aspect of his role gets underplayed, because at the end of the day success in this league has so much to do with personnel. If you have great depth, you're going to be OK. I think that's the one thing he learned from the '02 season when their were mistakes made with Steve Martin, Donald Hayes and Tom Knight.
Welcome back, Nick! Two quick ones: will the Pats bring in another receiver, and have you heard Coach Brad Seely's reaction to Sunday's special teams breakdowns (besides any epithets)?
Chris, Bronx, NY
A: Chris, Kevin Kasper was signed; a speed burner from Iowa. As for Seely's reaction, as you know there is no media contact with the special teams coaches, but seeing Brad after the game, he looked very unhappy as he should have been. When you allow a 98-yard return, you kick the ball out of bounds on a kickoff, and let the punter run wild, those are three no-no's. The special teams players all were very serious this week, meaning they've been chewed out. They fired Shawn Mayer, who was beaten on the Terrence McGee kickoff, and re-signed Je'Rod Cherry, an experienced cover man.
Ever since the Super Bowl, the Pats' corners seem to be beaten every time by the long pass; why do they play the opponents' receivers so tight in the first place?
John, Shrewsbury
A: John, they believe in playing very aggressively. A lot of time the corners should be getting help from the safeties on longer routes. I know that teams try to get Rodney Harrison biting on the run and then throw long. That happens sometimes. I don't think Law gets beat too often, but Ty Poole didn't have a great game against Buffalo.
Just finished watching Tom Jackson on SportsCenter after the Pats win in Buffalo. Very complimentary of the team, but he never mentioned the coach. Just curious: Has he ever revisited or followed up on his "The Patriots hate their coach" comment of last year?
Michael, Tewksbury
A: Jackson tried to apologize to him, but from what I hear it was not accepted.
Did it come as a surprise to you that the Pats did not retain Mike Cloud ? Since the Pats are dangerously thin at the position because of injuries to Faulk and Cobb, I would have thought Cloud would have provided some insurance. Good to see you back!
Mark, New York, NY
A: A little surprised. Cloud was making the veteran minimum, and at the time the Patriots needed cap space so they opted to go with what they had. They do have Cedric Cobbbs returning around midseason and it appears they like his potential. They also have Patrick Pass around and he can always be used in a pinch and a change-of-pace guy. I'm going to assume that Kevin Faulk is back this week.
I can't see one glaring detail that is not covered and executed in the entire Patriot scheme. Someone always ready to step in, players looking out for each other, no excuses, no blank stares at what to do, nothing. It just seems that everyone is on the same page over, and over again. Last year when Indy was at the one, Peyton Manning said they didn't have the right personal because of injuries and couldn't execute the plays. I say the coaches didn't practice for this situation and got caught short. Can't see a Patriot team in this fix. What am I missing Nick? What glaring issue is not coming to the surface?
David, Jupiter, Fla.
A: I agree. Every week I read that the Patriots need to improve this or that, and I get a good laugh. They make big plays when they need to. If they make mistakes they're good enough to recover. They've done it time and time again. I was speaking to Stephen Neal, the guard, who told me that just a few days before the Buffalo game that Belichick was preaching that if they're ever in a situation where you're chasing someone who has recovered a fumble or intercepted a pass and you're close to the end zone, make sure you try to knock the ball out forward so it goes through the end zone so it'll be a touch back. What happens in the Buffalo game? London Fletcher is going in for a score after recovering David Givens' fumble, and here comes Neal diving toward Fletcher who tries to extend himself at the 2 so he can score, and Neal knocks the ball loose goes out of the end zone and ruled a touchback. Patriots ball. The play was reviewed and called an incomplete pass, but it goes to show you how prepared they are. I don't believe there is a glaring area to be concerned about. Special teams was awful last week, but they've always been strong in that area and they'll correct it. Run defense could also be better.
Can you please update me about Cedric Cobbs. What is the word from the team? Is he intended to play this season? PS - It is great to see you back with your Q/A column. I thoroughly enjoyed it last season.
Paul, Southport, England
A: Paul, they expect Cedric back. He's on the physically unable to perform list which means he has to be out for at least the first six games of the season. I believe they were impressed with him during the minicamps.
I have noticed that Adam Vinatieri's kickoff is much better this season than previous few years. This gives Pats much better field position. Do you know what happened to him during the offseason? Did he do any special training on that? Thank you.
Yankai, Newton
A: I think Adam always works on it. He knows that's been a weakness in his game and a source of concern by the coaches. He works a lot on technique. We know he has a strong leg, so that's not a concern. He had a bad back most of the first half of last season, but now he doesn't appear to have any back problems.
Glad to see your column back. You've been following the Patriots for many years now. Who have been some of your favorite Patriots players on a personal level? Guys that you enjoyed talking with, were always available for a quote, didn't seem too full of themselves, etc.? And lastly, dare I ask, who have been some of your least favorite players (past or present)? Thanks.
Don, Bangor, Maine
A: There are so many I've enjoyed. Bledsoe, Brady, Troy Brown, Vinatieri, Coates, Gash, Glenn, Light, Woody, Wohlabaugh, Meggett, Curtis Martin, Bruschi, Harrison, Ted Johnson, Law, Milloy, McGinest, DeOssie, Grogan, Fox, Brock, Pleasant, Bryan Cox. I'm leaving out a thousand guys. As far as people I didn't enjoy -- not many -- Ted Washington comes to mind.
Welcome back Nick. Yet another sign that football season is into full swing. I'm sure you are getting a slew of questions so I'll keep mine simple: Do you think the Patriots will have any interest in signing Damon Huard now that he has been released. If not, what is the plan if (God forbid) Brady goes down for any period of time?
David, Burlington, Vt.
A: I'm surprised Huard doesn't appear to be in their plans. They must feel Rohan and Miller can do the job. I believe they would go with Rohan first if Brady went down.
The following quote is from you. "I don't think I've ever seen a team do so much to help a competing team within the division get so good so fast." This is obviously in reference to the Bills after the Milloy transaction. My question is how come I have never seen you write an article about how Belichick has consistently gotten every major move right while all the "experts" have gotten the majority of them wrong (I have read every article over the last 3 years and not one has been about this subject). Just last week you wrote Belichick may have cost NE an undefeated season last year because he cut Milloy right before the start of the season. When Belichick cut Milloy you wrote in a mailbag how you wish you could have your preseason prediction back because you would be shocked if they were any better than 8-8.
Rhonda, Boston
A: There's a whole archive at the Globe with positive stories about Belichick's moves. You must have missed a few. I'm certainly not going to write that this media guy wrote this or this TV guy said that. Who cares? We write about the athletes and the teams, not sportswriters and sportscasters. Sportswriters and sportscasters aren't the story and never will be. The quote you pulled out was timely then. The Patriots had come off a non-playoff season, decided to dump their top safety over a contract dispute and then he goes and leads a divisional rival to a 31-0 win. Things didn't look too well for the Patriots at that juncture. I also wrote at the time of the Milloy decision that we should give Belichick the benefit of the doubt on this move (that was also written in a mailbag that you can look up). I think after the 31-0 loss to Buffalo, it was a real low point here. I received 800 e-mails that week from all over the world, that I still keep in a file, and most of them were gloom and doom and very critical of Belichick. How could you not feel that way? Michael Holley's book gives a strong depiction of how down this team was after that move. I know they lost to Washington a couple of weeks later, but how can you not wonder whether this team would have been undefeated if that situation had not occurred? It's not as if Milloy was or is a bad player. After the Patriots' players decided to regroup and get themselves together, they never lost again. 