Patriots assert themselves | Rain.TheMist's Blog

Much to my dismay, the Patriots outplayed the Chargers tonight. By a wide margin. The offensive line looked unstoppable, and the Chargers defensive line was pushed around all night, especially during that 10 minute drive that Brady engineered in the 4th quarter to seal the deal.

I hate when the Chargers lose, because it makes me not want to listen to FoxSports Radio as I am going to sleep, which depresses me. LT looked like the LT of Week 1. Very Human.

At least Gates was unstoppable :D

--OTHER NOTES--
- Vince Young ALMOST pulled one out in Nashville. Colts eventuall won, though, through the power of Peyton Manning and Joseph Addai, 22-20. I was surprise that the game was so close though.
- Ed Hochuli is a very muscular man. He needs a new, bigger shirt, it looks as if the shirt is about the burst. I loved his description of a non-call of a holding penalty: "It was not a holding penalty, the defensive player was just overpowered."
- Green Bay has been impressive. They go against the San Diego Chargers next week at Lambeau.
- Jon Kitna's guarantee might come true, if this continues. The Lions won again to improve their record to 2-0.

Today's blog was short, because I have econ homework. Check in like on Tuesday for my Power Rankings---Week 2. You will be surprised at where I rank my San Diego Chargers...

INFORMATION #3: Kobe Bryant is my favorite NBA player. No, seriously, he is. I'm not joking.

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September 17, 2007 01:50 PM ET

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WHY BELICHICK QUALIFIES AS A HUMANITARIAN AND NOBEL PRIZE CANDIDATE

Belichick did so much to bring this game out of the Neanderthal era. His complex defensive schemes -- encrypted by design, so to speak -- require smarter and more versatile players. If there were a category for Sports in the awarding of Nobel Prizes, I think Belichick, a humanitarian and visionary, would qualify. He made the game more intellectual, more strategic, more chessmatchy. In fact, if he's willing to go through the effort to make guile part of his winning formula, then he shouldn't be punished when his opponents do not put in the same hard work at this. It embodies the evolutionary spirit to require losing teams to adapt to (or account for) the ways of the winners.

The videotaping is a extension of this analytical game Belichick plays, albeit pathological in its obsessive-compulsiveness. But it's not a get rich quick scheme. It's neither a short-cut, nor a sure thing. In fact it's a risky investment of time and energy from intelligent and hardworking coaches. It also assumes you will meet a team again and that the team will not have changed its signals.

But does this fall outside the circle of NFL football? Is Belichick playing a different game (like Axis & Allies)? Hard to say. For me, the NFL has embraced espionage and even condones signal stealing, by the right methods.

For example, the NFL allows Mangini (AKA Mangini / AKA ManBoy / AKA ManJudas / AIKA ManJello) to bring in a parade of players the PATS either just released to get down to the 53 roster (or restricted free agents like Deion Branch and Randle G @ Y) -- all to pump them for information on the PATRIOT gameplan, playbook, or player injury status.
NOW THAT'S A SHORT CUT FOLKS!!! It doesn't require the hard work or intelligence involved in decrypting videotaped signals.

Teams are vulnerable before the first game of the season b/c they have to cut a slough of players to get from about 80 to 53. Mangini took advantage of the fact he drew the PATS for their home opener and decided to invite all the ex-PATS in. How many of these visiting ex-Patriots did he actually sign? If I'm correct. Zero.