Ups & downs

Ups? really?

Kudos to you Mike Reiss for offerin an "Up" category this week.

Mike...

Now I do not want to overreact. The team has lost two games over the past two seasons so I am not going to jump off the wagon. Would the Patriots consider at all bringing in a veteran quarterback now with two weeks off. I know Coach Belichick does not want to create a situation where people can question who the starter is. That would create a big distraction. Could a Jeff Garcia steady the quarterback position? I know he has played a lot in the West Coast system, but it is just a thought.

Will

Matt Cassel did not blow the game for the team this week, but he can not get it done. The d was awful all day and they should be ashamed. I finally got to see Matt live and he was just brutal.. Moss was not double covered all game and was open many times. They don't even look down the field. I don't blame moss for being mad because it's a waste for him to be on the field. He's so good and they wont even look at him. Other teams don't need to double cover him bc Matt wont look down the field. This team is in deep trouble. They will be lucky to go 8-8. I said it even after the Jets game. Cassel can not play at this level yet. He looks lost in the red zone.. The best O in history last year is now a top 25 O. And people are going to say Matt is doing well???? Don't drink the kool aid. They are done for the year

Too early to panic on the QB situation. Cassel was just trying to keep his head from taken off. The O-line played like matadors.

19 completions for 131 yards are gutless numbers. Dink and dunk, dink and dunk, play it safe, dont make mistakes. Sorry, that doesnt win tities. I'd rather have O'Connell in there with five interceptions but heaving it down field to moss and at least ATTEMPTING to win.
so what if moss is double teamed? He was double teramed all last year and Brady kept throwing into double coverage and Moss kept coming down with the ball because he is the best player on the field.
So here is the message to Martha Cassell. Grow some manhood and come to play football or go back to holding the clipboard.

i say stick with cassel. JMHO

i agree with your ups, Mike.

Out coached by Couglin in the game that shall never be mentioned and out coached to the point of looking foolish against Miami. Without a very potent offense that puts 30+ on the board and eats up the clock, my hope for a 10-6 playoff season looks rather bad.

But let's also add the entire D, especially the over-rated front three, for failure to show up.

Here we go. The media is getting ready to blame Randy Moss. What is with the media in this town? Why are we focusing on the play of a wide receiver in this game? Randy Moss was not the reason we got our heads handed to us. It was the coaching staff and the defense.

Man, that was an a$$ kicking today by the fins. Can't disagree with your ups and downs. Cassel could have easily had 3 picks today, but I also don't think that the Pats having Brady would have made any difference in the final result, since they couldn't stop Miami.

The only positive I guess, is that the Pats have a bye before they play again, and they can try and make some adjustments. Any team that has the personnel to copy what Miami did against the Pats, they should do it. It's only one loss, and the Pats weren't going 16-0 this year, but that was a reality check.

in light of all the negative posting there were some ups today. i think it is good that even in a aweful loss some postives can be seen. gostkowski seems to really be establishing himself as one of the top kickers in the league and despite the verbal abuse he took last year ellis hobbs has really stepped his game up defensively and on special teams. in bill we trust

I agree with Will, Cassel was by no means the only player with a poor performance today but he seemed perpetually lost trying throw the ball against a poor - below average Miami defense. He just doesn't seem to have the tools to effectively manage the offense.

I'll be surprised if we don't see the addition of a veteran QB within the next week.

bryan leftwitch looked decent for the steelers. pats need someone like that. cassel couldn't stretch the field. and pats need to keep moss' morale up. pats need troy brown back some more leadership would help.

Harrison called the Williams hit cheap!?!? Hey pot, this is kettle. The Vrabel spear on Williams earlier in the game was low and classless. At least Ricky's was in the moment of a live play.

I still think that a quarterback like Jeff Garcia can help. Jeff has led the Eagles and Bucs to the playoffs the last two years. Garcia has also dealt with a high profile receiver in the past (T.O.) and been able to get him the ball. I think the cost for him would be low considering Gruden is playing games with him in Tampa. I just think that right now a veteran can help calm down the waves that may begin to pile up on Cassel. Its insurance.

If Randy Moss is alligator arming it and sitting alone on the sideline, 8-8 may be generous. It's a long way down from 2007 folks...and it's a bitter pill to swallow.

Band wagoneers like Will,PLEASE JUMPOFF! This may very well be an up n down season ending anywhere between 10-6 & 8-8. We'll see what Cassel can do in two weeks. I am not a huge Cassel fan who would like to see what O'Connell can do. Here's hoping Cassel finds lightening in a bottle,but if he can't lead a team as loaded as the Pats to the playoffs , he'll be worthless on the FA market. I miss TB!!!Pats fan for over 25 years( 1-15 years too!)

bring back bledsoe

Reiss, you missed big by excluding the offensive line as a down. Cassell is lucky to have physically sruvived that game so if you give him a down, you better give the O-line a big down!

BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH....

LETS STOP WASTING OUR TIME - THE SEASON IS OOOOVVVEEERRR!!!!!!

What's most disgusting about this game is not Cassel, the RB's, or coaching staff, but the overrated D-Line. This line has been living off reputation since 2004. Since then, they get shredded more often then not by young RB's and CANNOT generate a pass rush. Maybe a game like this will be like a rotten humble pie for them.

Classic trap game after the emo Jets win, a seemingly weak opponent, followed by the bye, which the entire team, with the exception of Hobbs & Welker, seemed to think began around 1 pm today. This is the NFL and the 'Fins are a conference opponent. Mail it in at your own risk. Hopefully the team will react in a positive way to having a can of whup-a$$ opened on it today. It is also entirely possible that all the bottled up resentments that winning smooths over come pouring out and this team self-destructs and eats its young (and old).

You have to give it up to Chad P and R. Brown. If Pennington had played his career for a decent team and not hurt his arm, we would be talking about him in the same breath as Brady and P.Manning. If you can't show some respect for Brown's performance today why even bother watching sports. TapOut and Wrasseling are available 27/7/365. It is probably more your speed.

First off.... Do not ever call me a bandwagoner! I am 28 years old and have been a loyal Pats fan through the 1-15 seasons, Leonard Russell, Marion Butts, Scott Secules, etc. I was not one of those lousy fans leaving the game with 11 minutes left in the 4th. I have been a season ticket holder since 1993 and have never left a game earlier. So don't ever go there.

I am making a suggestion. Matt Cassel had a horrible preseason and has played ok. There is a veteran QB that has won a ton of games in the league and I asked if it would be a good idea to obtain him. So don't give me that. The team could got 2-14 the rest of the way and I would still watch. Honestly, get a life. Mike Reiss would tell you I email him offseason and in season. So get a life. My vote is still to get a veteran to steady the ship. If anyone is to get work I would rather it be O'Connell or Matt G. later in the season because they are here long term whereas Matt Cassel is a free agent at the end of the year. The team has two weeks to prepare for San Fran and get ready for the rest of the grind. I think it would be in the best interest for the team to bring in a veteran to get aquanited with the system.

Thanks for your time..
No bandwagoner here!

its not all the o line's fault even though they arent that great. cassel is indecisive and takes too long to through the ball. if we win 8 games consider that a victory. WTF THROW DEEP! MCDANIELS YOU WIMP!

there are so many good choices to put blame on i dont know where to begin! cassel, the coaches, the run game, the d, face it bruschi is old and slow take him out!, the o line, moss taking plays off, the playcalling!!, that exotic rb snap play abused us like a madden video game glitch! my head is spinning....

tom brady is not walking through that door. we need to let go and just see what happens. say f it

Typical Boston sports fans panicking too early. The NFL is a tough place to play. The league is defined by parity. Take a minute and appreciate what the Pats did last year. If we lose to SF...then it's time to panic!

Hold the press good article in the boston globe about how they game planned the Dolphins OFF line play ????? found it on line as I dont read that rag , any how Cassell didnt put drives together to help keep the MIA OFF the field like Brady would do so one more week of this then make a move to save the season with a vetaran QB who knows the west coast OFF

did anyone read Moss' Q&A. Talk about class. He had a lot to complain about and didn't. It was a bad game and I was devastated to see the defense falling apart.
But...

Please don't bring in a veteran yet. It was one game. We're 2:1. I remember post on here saying going 0:16. It might not be a great season, but there are chances and I believe our best chances are Matt C. At least he's been in the system for a while. Let's hope he and Moss are going to put some extra time in and that Cassel can progress. Brady lost he's second start of his career, remember?

But someone please give the defense a serious a** whooping and bring Junior back.

Mike - You have the defense on your "down" list. Really, I think you should call out the defense line specifically. They were manhandled. Really an embarassing performance by Seymour, Warren and Wilfork....

Problems start with the offensive line. Lots of pressure early on the QB set the tone, and the offense could never get into a rhythm. They are the least athletic unit out there, and they are just getting kicked by guys that are faster and stronger.

And, I'm wondering if Capers will succeed Pees. The D had no fire, and they have to cause more turnovers this year. And, the Pats still have no answer on mid field coverage.

38-13 to the dolphins.

haha wtf roflbbq

Once again, N.E. was thoroughly outcoached and beaten by a team that exhibited a relentless desire to turn their program around. Clearly, Belichick must now come to the realization that "THE ANSWER" goes well beyond inserting a new QB,for a player who was the embodiment of the Pats. Many of the contributors to this entry have made fair and valid points. Personally, I believe that N.E. needs to dramaticlly change up it's coaching staff. You can not approach a game with a "play not to lose mentality!" Time for Josh McD to be shifted to a fulltime QB coach. (or at a minimum bring Vinnie T. back to serve in that role.) Our current QB group are going to need a lot more time and attention. Though Dom Capers is a defensive specialist, I would not hesitate to make him the offensive coordinator. At this juncture his place could be filled by Troy Brown (Do not laugh the secondary needs his veteran leadership). A series of changes of this magnitude must be considered!!!

Wow, I thought Pats fans would have a thicker hide than this...everyone looking for someone to blame. Does anyone remember that we just came off a huge winning streak?? It's ONE game. Not the BIG game. It's better to lose now and get it done. This is the NFL where all teams have the potential to win. If you look at the Colts, they are struggling. It happens. Lets get behind our team and be positive.

I didn't watch the game until 8pm tonight...I watched it in 1 hour. UGLY. The D never gave the Pats offense a shot. What's wrong with the "O" line...they can't give Matt a pocket. Even if he had the confidence to through a pass over 10 yards (and we know he doesn't) he wouldn't have enough time anyway.

Start giving O'Connell some reps over the bye week we know that Matt won't be starting next year so let's see what he's got. If he's good for 125 yards passing - sadly - then he's just as good.

The reality of it is when TB went down Super Bowl hopes were lost for this season. Matt Cassel cannot run the offense like we need; TB was a "General" and we cannot replace that overnight. While going out and getting a veteran might help somewhat; it will not be enough to take us to the top.
My concern is the defense. For the past few years we have had a defense that cannot get the job when their backs are against the wall. Next season Tedy B. and Rodney H. will most likely be gone to retirement; what then? The Pats need to get some youth in the defense and gain some experience. Next season like it or not we will have new bodies playing where Tedy and Rodney currently occupy. I like Meriwhether and Mayo, but we need an infusion of youth and talent!!!!
I am a Pats fan through thick and thin; but we need to look forward to making next year's team the best we can. Remember Cassel is a backup for a reason; obviously he is not good enought to start.
Through the draft and free agency you can never go wrong with additions to both the O & D lines!!!

Most poorly coached game of the Bill B. era, no adjustment to the direct snap spread formation, which is most often run at the High School level. O-line continues to have trouble making Cassel's shortcomings magnified. Defense sitting on its heels, being pushed back off the ball, over pursuing, missing tackles, poor tackling, slow reads, slow reaction, making Chad P. looking like an All-Pro, not a guy released....Cassell doesn't play defense...

I think that in every game this season the other team will have the advantage at offensive coordinator. It looked like they didn't have a plan on offense and just tried to run the same plays they ran against the Jets ans were shocked that Miami was prepared for them. What are the Pats giving away? How come, time after time we see an DB opposing making the tackle against the run for no gain or a loss? The Pats will never win a truly big game with out Brady and With MCDANIELS!

Josh McDaniels is the worst Offensive coordinator in the league...He was covered up by Tom Brady on the field of play so his incompetence wasn't noticed !!Thisyear with Cassell, who couldn't find the end zone with a compass, he is being exposed!!
Anybody that knows anything about foot ball knows the Dolphins were flooding the immediate and intermediate zones....They were tackling the receivers on the quick outs the second they were getting the ball .......and the defensivwbacks were getting a running start at them !!!..You could see Welker yelling at Cassell....Moss on the other hand was wide open numerous times and Cassell wasn't even looking down field !!

This just in Pats fans: You are not a contender this year!!

You are not the dominate team in the NFL this season!!

You are not a playoff caliber team!!

You are a under 500 to 500 team at best!!

DEAL WITH IT!!!!!!!!

The only wagon I ever jumped on or off was my parents' 1971 Chevy; they did not appreciate it either. I get neither too high, nor too low with the Pat's performance, as far as evaluating ability goes, how could I possibly suggest to know more than the Patriots' staff, therefore, they likely see more in Cassel than I do, but I could not get the image out of my head that while Cassel was one of a number of players (and staff) who performed poorly in yesterday's wreck, he just plain looked incompetent as far as being a quality quarterback goes, the offensive coaching minds obviously saw the same thing. Yes, the offensive line has looked about as steady as a drunk driver (is Steven Neal that important?), but Cassel looked outclassed by not only Pennington, but Brown (yes, a low jab, especially because Cassel appears to be, if nothing else, a great guy)

Olivar nailed it. Cassel is without a doubt, the weakest OC in the NFL.

His play calling and schemes are what is enabling opposing defenses to tee off on our OL. He is stubborn and refuses, absolutely refuses, to make change and adjustment. Or, he just hasn't the ability to do so.

Also, if BB doesn't bring in an experienced QB, then he has lost touch with reality.

Culpepper is what this team needs.

Hi Mike,

I usually agree with your ups and downs, but I thought that the offensive line was the most egregious "down" throughout the game and was not listed. Sure, as the game wore on, they had to deal with obvious passing downs. But even before it was a blowout, four Miami rushers would give them fits. It wasn't even through exotic looks; it was the four down lineman who rushed, and had push up the middle that made it impossible for Cassel to step up, which he was trying to do. He must have taken 5 shots to the chest/ribs. The tackles didn't do much better, either, as their rush ends had a day.

"19 completions for 131 yards are gutless numbers. Dink and dunk, dink and dunk, play it safe, dont make mistakes. Sorry, that doesnt win tities."

Actually Bill G.....the Patriots did win a title with the "dink and dunk, play it safe" mode on offense. Think back to when they beat the Rams in the SB. They had no deep threat, and methodically moved down the field at times with short passes with a young, unknown quarterback named Brady.
Everyone blaming Cassel for the loss yesterday obviously didnt see the same game I watched. The defense didnt stop anybody, and Cassel cannot throw the deep ball when he is lying on the ground. The offensive line stinks...pro bowlers or not. They stunk in pre-season and havent gotten any better. To blame Cassel is sad, his protection needed to step up and it didnt. Tom Brady would not have won that game for the Patriots yesterday, they looked terrible in every aspect, most of all the coaches. Where were the notorious Belickeck adjustments? They were outcoached and outhustled....stop blaming Cassel.

THIS JUST IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Steeler fans......
Before you laugh too much at the Patriots....take a look at your own team.
Your quarterback cannot throw the ball more than 10 yards right now..........He threw for 131 yards and a pick yesterday. Worse numbers than Cassel! He was shown on the sidelines sucking his thumb like he just got in a motorcycle accident.
Your star running back averaged less than 2 yards per carry yesterday!
Your offense totaled less than 200 yards yesterday.
They couldnt beat an Eagle team without Westbrook (their best player) and McNabb at 50%.
SO BEFORE YOU LAUGH TOO HARD, YOUR TEAM HAS THE SAME RECORD AS THE PATRIOTS!! And you still have your "star quarterback".

Hi Mike - i understand hobbs did great again in the return game, but his coverage on defense was pretty soft all day not sure if that was by design or not, but he was giving up the 12 to 15 yard out all day and i think coverage play should have been taken into account more as he did not deserve an UP for the game based on it. Regardless this is what happens to mortal teams they lose a game or 2 in blow out fashion a year, i would not look to much into this one game in making a statment about this team for 2008.

Sam

How can you put Randy Moss in the "down" column? He is a WR, he did his job running his routes, getting open etc. Just throw him the damn ball. INT at their 20 yard, what will be the big deal? For 3 games now, this coaching staff has not figured out how to play the game without Tom Brady. I am still mad at the fact that Moss's longest catch was good for 7 yards--is this how you use maybe the best WR ever? This is like only allowing 10 shots per game for Michael Jordan. Come on, let's play loose.

My good friend Steven:

Glad to hear from you again. I will agree with you that the steelers did not have a good game yesterday. Our offensive line was horrible. We will bounce back!! Thank you for calling Ben a star QB. Couldn't agree with you more!!

Now I took great pleasure in seeing Joey Porter back up his guarantee of a Win. Dude your squad lost to Miami...(I'm laughing so hard that I can barely type)...You just didn't lose to Miami, you got crushed!! Philly is a by far a better team even with Westbrook out and McNabb not at 100%...

I can't wait until we play you...And Win!!

I can here your excuse already...Without Brady...So what, didn't you and all your Patriot buddies say this team was still strong Without Brady?

THIS JUST IN....YOU ARE A BAD FOOTBALL TEAM WITHOUT BRADY!!!

And I love seeing it!!

I

HO HO HO HO

How does that humble pie taste suckas!??? OWNED

Hey Will,
The fact is you lost 2 of your last 4 games, and you had bulletin board material for both losses. The Super Bowl and Plaxico's prediction was a "Shocking Loss". Now you can't get up for Parcels and Joey Porter,......another "Shocking Loss",.... your in trouble

You were out coached by another Parcels disciple which again begs the question. Who's the bigger football brain Parcels or Belichik??

Your defense was not that good last year either. it was covered up because the juggernaut offense had teams playing one dimensional all year. This team was built for todays NFL where most of the rule changes were meant to increase scoring. This team built for a great QB, it was built to outscore you. That is why after all these years of no name receivers Bill went out and beefed up at that position. He was adapting to the new rules. Now you lost your best player, and field general. I have been saying it since Brady went down. You need someone as good as Brady at the helm to have a chance.

Brady is a special QB and last year you didn't get the job done with him. Now you hope you can do it without him.

Here's the solution, a QB as good as brady. Good luck

Brady goes DOWN!

He is not getting UP!!

Your team used to be UP at the top...

Now you are DOWN at the bottom...

Why do these people come back out after the Patriots lose, yet we never hear from any of them when the Patriots win?
Steelers "fan". I never said, nor will I ever say this team would win with Brady, or make excuses. Note I called your QB a star in quotation marks...meaning it is questionable whether he is or not.
So, by your line of thinking, your team will bounce back? Ok, how will Big Ben and his noodle arm do next week against the Ravens defense?
The Patriots looked like crap yesterday...but much like your optimism, my team will bounce back as well.
It must feel good after all these years of getting your @$$ handed to you by the Pats to actually see a flaw in the team. By the time the Pats face the Squeelers, those flaws could very well be fixed. I long for the days of Squeeler players making excuses why they couldnt beat the Patriots in a key playoff game. Whether it was Porter crying that the Pats played dirty, or the no-name safety predicting a win, or my personal favorite, the Steeler player crying that they couldn't win it for The Bus, or the city planning the celebration before the game was even played. Be careful, you may step in that same pile you have been stepping in for years now.

How can Nick Kaczur (or the whole offensive line) not be in 'Down' category?

To Steven:

The Past is the Past...Anyone who watches th NFL knows what the Patriots have done over the past few years.

However, We are in the PRESENT and PRESENTLY the Pats SUCK!! You struggle on all facets of the game. There is not just a problem at the QB position, but at running back, O line, receiving, and defense...

The only think I continuously step in is the pile of bs that comes from the New England Fans...

Football Fans from around the country are jumping up and down with joy...Because the team of arrogance and no class with a cheating head coach is getting what they deserve...

OPPS, I THINK I JUST TWISTED MY ANKLE FROM JUMPING UP AN DOWN SO MUCH!!