Patriots Playbook - 1/23/2008

[30:07] ..." right. If you really are true patriots and the need to open New England Patriots checking account from Bank of America today you'll get checks. Check cards and even bank statements all the official New England Patriots logo. Bank of America is the official bank of the New England Patriots. To take advantage of this opportunity to make every day game day. Sign up for New England Patriots checking account today Bank of America bank of opportunity. Number -- the patriots should mostly from the patriots logo is property losing"...

[42:33] ..." play football and college. Wide receivers were wet Bobby Engram Seattle and Wes Welker there's a shock right undrafted once waived. Obviously you know but we know what he's done for the patriots fullback Lorenzo Neal"...

[45:39] ..." of the year. In that it -- the runner up here is Wes Welker. Nobody drafted Welker even though he had 259 receptions in college football. He left Texas Tech as against -- all time punt return leader. He scored 98 touchdowns in high school. At any rate. He went to the San Diego rookie camp -- it was actually the chargers and at first crack at. You know looking at what Wes Welker could do you with the car charges rookie camp and he was waived. That he worked his way to Miami. Eventually worked"...

[52:38] ..." that right ankle but I also believe. He'll be ready for the New York Giants in Arizona."...

[1:00:20] ..." to hear from from the patriot players also patriots head coach Bill Belichick of course the patriots are off today they will. Begin their preparations in earnestness. For these Super Bowl matchup with a New York Giants starting tomorrow. At Gillette stadium will jump at some of that as well coming up inside play."...

[1:02:01] ..." right if you really are true patriots and the need to open New England Patriots checking account from Bank of America today he'll get checks check cards and even -- statement. All with the official New England Patriots logo. Bank of America is the official bank of the New England Patriots to take advantage of this opportunity to make every day game day. Sign up for the New England Patriots checking account today Bank of America. -- the opportunity. -- TSE. When the patriots take most including the pitchers -- over the property. The New England Patriots have 32007 BankAmerica corporation."...

[1:43:53] ..." and then dumb will low what you listen into patriots head coach Bill Belichick. On -- got an email back from Patrick who told us earlier. About his story going to the colts came in 1974"...

[1:48:44] ..." up today's show by letting englishman earlier to him. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick will be back again of course tomorrow saying pats time same bat channel right here on inside playbook part of our procedure"...

[1:49:28] ..." join -- tomorrow. We'll wrap up today with patriots head coach Bill Belichick. "...

[0:00]" Zealot guns don't -- vote without golf I want to go odd quiet. That they've won -- pair -- patriots -- got back on combat on that being on here briefly. Breaking down last Sunday -- Superman coverage. The seventh round next Sunday is here ready for the great. -- at the rest of the 2000 and it -- And some of the -- stuff in between now here's John. -- patriots quite well."

[0:40]" Everybody welcomed inside the liberal today Wednesday here on patriots dot com radio I'm John -- Countdown towards the -- after the giants on February 3 it is the it is still the it is still -- the year the week leading into pre game. It's one week that you just kind of which would hurry up and get the heck over with before we get to actually talk about the game itself and we went through some of his during yesterday's program but you honestly. While I think this is going to set a record for. Most angst in a two week period between games of the NFL because. You know there's just not a whole lot of -- and -- to do with the patriots and the giants are or are considered I mean. We just saw these guys a month ago on the football field. In -- the analogy yesterday this -- kind of like preparing the second time around for the jets -- the bills with the dolphins. You know it's almost like divisional game you -- of these guys wants. Your personal sets are still pretty much the same you know what they're capable of doing you know that -- relatively healthy the people that they had available in the last and he played -- we're still pretty much a saleable in vice versa. He's so can we just come like kick it off let's go."

[1:58]" The interesting part hero of course will be. How these two teams decide to throw little curve balls how they decide to tweak things somewhat based on the results. Of the 3835 win by the patriots in week seventeen which team is able to I don't know game plan or tweak the best will certainly have an upper hand but I am I I'm not convinced that. Whichever team manages to -- just the best he's going to win this because it's still going to be decided by the talent on the field. It's still going to be decided by who makes the most out of their talent. I think if you look at it from top to bottom of the -- respect to the giants the patriots have had the most talents of elevating roster in the NFL this year -- also be able to go. Eighteen to note this point in time -- with all due respect to -- to every other team in the NFL but the patriots just had the decks stacked on their side pitcher doesn't mean that'll be the case next year but this year that's how they had it. And that for the giants to win this football game this is not going to come as a shock I was surprised patriots obviously will have to. Not measure up to their own lofty standards and either a somebody gets hurt in the considerable nature would be they turn the football over. Or seat they need commit to -- self inflicting penalties -- you know world -- they just failed to Purdue it's. If these guys live up to. What they're capable of doing you know I think we'll realize in nineteen that was a very real possibility overall but. This is of course why they say. You gotta play the game. Because you do you have to play the game we can't mail anything in you can't just assume something is going to happen based on past history. History tells us that you know it doesn't often repeated itself. Not not not word or not verbatim not play for play in this particular instance. In so in that regard you'd know that the giants will be working on. Trying to re address the issues the patriots offense going on top of their deepens as the did. The patriots will obviously need to shore up some things in the kicking game in particular. And it's special teams so hicks and -- and doesn't have a kickoff return for a touchdown other a lot of things that you could address here. But mistakes would turn -- in in the kicking game will be big once again. Maybe even more magnified in this game. Then in the weeks have a team. All right so all that is still you know this is still stuff that we're going to -- talk about the course of the next of the rest this week in. Obviously the PFW guys next week when they take -- program on the road to Arizona preview the game next to keep writing. Then honestly this -- of -- kind of jumping to that point time and and we got a job to a little bit of here but the question I have for you today our email question of the day again web radio -- patriots dot com. Is our email address as it always is web radio pat patriots dot com telephone number 585437482. 5 wait 5437482. Until he reaches here in the program or email question they asked to do with your memories. All of the previous 41 suitable. I want you to tell me what stands out a new market and if it's patriots related memory that. All right but that's that's quite all right. In for many of you understand that will probably be the case but I'm going to I want you go back in your -- what you go back to the first Super Bowl you remember watching or attending or reading about. And there's got to be an ever lasting play or a moment -- seminal moment moments somewhere. In the recess is of your memories that stands out when you say the word super -- Let me give you for instance when I say the -- super -- Couple things come in my mind the first thing that probably comes to my mind is Super Bowl for Baltimore and Dallas. And I remember after Baltimore kick the field goal that won the game sixteen to thirteen the game's final seconds. -- running into my bedroom as a as a young boy in crying my eyes out because I could not believe -- lost that game. That to me is when I think of the term when I say the word Super Bowl or what some of the Gordon Super Bowl and I give myself but a moment to think about it. That memory that vision comes flooding back in in my -- into the recess is the month of my memory banks. -- I actually I remember that Super Bowl for. For a lot of people Joe name with running off the field with a finger wagging in the year. After Super Bowl three in the sixteen to seven jets win over the colts. That's the seminal moment that's something they remember we usually Super Bowl you'd die young -- jets' Super Bowl three yeah I remember that. That that's that's a moment that is expecting to people's memory banks for for a forever more. I would tell you another moment -- win that bureau -- and tried to the that ill fated pass. On the field bulletin what was -- Super Bowl seven maybe one -- Rivera for the dolphins. You know although the the bumbling stumbling played -- he against the it was against the Redskins that's another moment obviously with the patriots I think another seminal moment would have to be. In their first Super Bowl win after 2000 want Tom Brady. Standing there with big grin on his based with the confetti fluttering all around him. Holding his head shaking his head with the big goofy grin on his face saying I can't believe we want. That's another in -- enduring moment. For a lot of fans in Super Bowl history just because of the uniqueness. And because the of the entire situation there. So that's what I want you to kind of come up with a what you do look back in the recesses of your football minds. And the job may have noticed two would you say suitable what memory popped in before for a what do you remember about the suitable past present. All that kind of good stuff what what jumps and you bring what do you remember most from the previous 41 Super Bowls that have taken place. Because of the we'll realize that our calendar year with a -- not we want to believe it -- not. -- for a -- always done. I mean this is the end of the football season so. To us you know January 1 I guess will be February 4 the day after the Super Bowl. Com -- shortly short answers to walk like Christmas Day and calendar -- we gotta wait you know another good solid six to seven months really before. You know we can really start talk about play on the field of course that thing for a lot of us draft. Mix if you will the only the at April and they'll -- will will. Not come soon enough and we can begin kind of focusing and gives us a little football fix in the middle of spring just as baseball is heating up and in getting going but fact is is that this is the culmination of the long season it has been a largely rewarding season certainly for the patriots but it's -- an interesting season all the way around the NFL this year I mean let's face as we talked about several times as units of the 88 year. Of play in the national football. And we've never seen ever seen a season like this one. Ever certainly from the fact the patriots finished the regular season sixteen -- Have a chance do something now that nobody's ever done and nobody may ever accomplish again and that is go -- going ninety. But -- have been a ton of other things transpire. Throughout the course of the NFL season. That in all honesty were significant moments. And frankly I think that the kind of paled in comparison. To what the patriots accomplished on the field. I wanted to share a few of those here with you today make note of if you if you do would you agree to disagree with me your web radio at. Patriots -- counseling kind of go back and forth in this discussion or feel free to pick up the phone. It 5 wait 5437482 we talk about it but that a lot of other things going on in the NFL this year that I really think that. Outs out of our little insular world here on patriots dot com and patriots nation and all was patriots fans and people who cover the team -- and it is that. A lot of other things going on and a lot of other areas. In this country of ours in the National Football League that I thought were pretty good moment that again. We don't notice -- much around here just for the fact that we -- this little thing called perfection. Going on here. For instance. For instance there was a record 11104 points scored. This season in the national -- it's all. As an average did the math that's an average of 43 point four points scored per NFL game at the highest average in 25 seasons. In the NFL. All the previous last time that day in a -- per game scoring average was as -- guy was back in 1983. Averaged 43 point seven points per game. Oh it was -- an offensive year and I don't mean you know disgusting and offensive it was an offensive year. There were three as we all know three major NFL record set two on the same play in big patriots win over the giants back in week seventeen which is somewhat significant com. Fact is patriots totaled 589 points for the season the most by -- team in history. The 65 yard touchdown pass to Randy Moss in the fourth quarter the fiftieth of the season for Brady breaking Peyton Manning moss is 23 catch of the year breaking Jerry rice is Mark. So significant that in one game three major NFL records were set and two on the very same play. We did talk a little about them but again it's getting big play here in the annals of NFL history. There was another quarterback this year in Brett -- of who by the way -- 38 years old still -- comeback yet again for another year. He led Green Bay to its most wins in ten years with thirteen in the regular season he -- three major records that had belonged to the hall of famers John Elway and Dan Marino. They were far won his 140 ninth game on September 16 passing away for the most by a quarterback in history. Two weeks later on September 30 fourth through the 421 touchdown pass of his career which passed Marino. For the most error and then on December the sixteenth he pass Marino against the most career passing yards. Finishing the season was 61000 it. 655 career passing yards. Well as a result of those career accomplishments by Brett -- and in this was part of our discussion -- are -- few weeks ago. And some of you were a little surprised that form was named sportsman of the year this year by Sports Illustrated and obviously Brady was named sportsman of the year by. The sporting news. So when you look at it I guess from that respect -- agency why technically Barbara Brady shared it. The major sportsman of the year awards this year in 2007 because of the significance of the career accomplishments reached. Migrant -- In by the way this part of the reason I mentioned this last week with -- sport -- is why I'm glad that this is the giants this week. The patriots are playing the giants it was Packers. In part of the reason I say that is because but we would all be sick -- by now if it'd been Green Bay winning that game would be sick to death by now. All of the plaudits and the accolades being piled upon -- it. I mean my goodness gracious why don't we just anoint him -- in move on with. Yes he's had a great -- yes he's a great quarterback. Does he have more time -- team liked. Okay let's kind of move past that now but I mean every story every side bar every TV every radio every newspaper report. Got to do something of our apartment Brady Brady and far far from Brady Brady or. One we -- got real sick of that. I'm sick just thinking about it so it -- since his brother's wife at the giants won the game I mean obviously a we have some great -- Regional com stopped talk about we're concerned because as we all know prior to the patriots rival the giants word new England's team. Pre 1960 in certainly up in 2 to a large extent pre 1970. -- for the AFL NFL merger the giants were still many fans. Football team of choice in new -- little respect -- then fledgling AFL. From 1960 to 97 -- with patriot world court as a member. Many of you were listening in live in the area and outside of -- your parents -- giants you've they have even grown up as a giants because so. That's why I think kind of adds to the spice of this thing. These two teams that even though you know regionally we know about the whole New York versus New England thing right now New England got it all over New York sorry. New York fans but they just New England does it's just hey this is -- winning streak and I guess we're going to try to run with a as long as we can't. In over the years of -- that the Yankees put upon everybody much with the Red Sox. Time for a little payback you know that's what I'm failures so that's why I think you got this kind of thing going on what you think adds little Jews to the fire. Let's milestones other milestones reached for quarterbacks this season in the national football. Seven quarterbacks seven of them. Com NC Brady breeze far Kitna Peyton -- Carson Palmer to grow. Seven quarterbacks threw for 4000 yards or more and that is the most ever to do it in a singles. Most quarterbacks ever to do in the singles. Seven quarterbacks 4000 plus arts let's take that a step further there were 81 separate 300 yard passing games. That he won't. 300 yard passing but tied 2004 for the most of the season. Since 1978 -- negativity that from the sixteen game schedule began some really. We talk about numbers here like this the universe began in 1970 because before that is no way you would have those kind of numbers. The only at a fourteen game regular season prior to the nineteen simply so and our current universe actually begins and it's seven. All four quarterbacks Brady and Romo Roethlisberger and -- Looper at least thirty touchdowns and that's only the third time in history and admit that many quarterbacks have done. Thirty TD tosses in a year. So Rommel Roethlisberger and Peyton Manning also had all had statistically speaking very very. Good news article -- passes from. If you were curious in this one of the things that I was injuries. And -- on this kind of interest and I kind of thought that maybe you know in in I think we've seen this trend happened in the in the NFL over the course of last five to seven you probably probably really since the the beginning of the decade. Where we've seen passing overtake running as a key element in success. And having a championship caliber football team who we talked about this. Earlier this season were running game certainly is great to have won but -- the ability to run is some what over rated. In this day and age of the National Football League. It's still it is still somewhat overrated although it does help to have an effective running game but it doesn't mean the same as it used. And part of that is backed up here by this particular number I was able four games this season. In the NFL averaged 428 point six passing yards per game. 428 point six both teams combined. Doesn't seem like a huge number but it's a significant number it's the highest. In the NFL and thirteen and twelve years thirteen -- since 95 when they average four point. So we're trending back more toward passing. To -- rather than running to pass -- that makes sense to -- I think that number sort of backed that up. We had tight ends this season. Increasingly being worked into the passing game for a lot of teams obviously having some injuries -- patriots are tied in game certainly kept them from. Working in guys like Benjamin Watson and certainly is David Thomas who spent most of the season injured in the end up on IR and Kyle Brady was banged up and Payton to a couple of other tight ends Marcellus rivers and a couple of others this year Stevens Spock. So I think the Pedro never really had a chance to utilized the tight end position as well as they would have liked to this season but there were three tight ends and other teams. But each at a thousand yards receiving. And the only other year in NFL history where that is happened was 1980 want. Tony Gonzales Kellen Winslow Jason Witten each -- a thousand -- In Antonio Gates had been banged up he probably would have been there as well he only missed like sixteen yards. Getting a thousand yards for the season if he had been able to make that well then that's another NFL record that would have been broken this year. And that would be thanks to the play of some superb a tight ends. In the NFL. Are so let that just you don't some some of the little tidbits a big -- a couple of all the nuggets here that have been able to look dig up your courtesy the National Football League in the Elias sports bureau in my good friend Russell Baxter in a -- research coordinator for ESPN. On Lowell and by the way he will join us in tomorrow's program. He is final appearance of the 2007 now 2008 but post season with a two thousands of regular season. His final -- beyond tomorrow's program -- definitely want to tune in -- that we'll begin to really take a serious look at the breakdown of Super Bowl 42 tomorrow. There was a record tying and a record breaking longest play in history. We all. Give that just the second or to a thought you'll know exactly what I'm talking earlier because and kick -- weekend you recall Ellis Hobbs return to kick off a 108 yards for a touchdown. To tie two other players for the longest play in NFL history. But that record only lasted eight more weeks after Hobbs. Return his kickoff. Antonio Cromartie remember. -- up chargers Cromartie returning missed field goal attempt 109 yards for a touchdown on November the fourth. -- that's Mark that will never be broken. So I think it's significant would bring it appears to be tied it can't ever be broken couple of the -- of records tell you about. Vikings running back Adrian Peterson he finished second in the NFL rushing this year he got the single. A game rushing Mark rain for 200 in 96 yards. Com NC. They broke of the single game record to 95 so but Jamal Lewis back in 2003 Devin Hester of course had such a big year even the previous year for the Chicago Bears. On moved over to play primarily wide receiver for the bears this year he broke the NFL record of 5. He established as a rookie last year with six. Kick returns for touchdowns this year that minister. In in -- overall calm in -- returner did a fantastic season issue there were 42. Kickoff and punt returns for touchdowns this year in the league. 42 that broke the record at 39 kick and punt return for a touchdown that was set back in 2002. 25 those 42 scores came on kickoffs. And that broke record of eighteen set in 1998. So if you're in the special teams. If your into the kicking game if you like the kickoff returns if you love watching good solid punt returns if you think that they -- an integral part. All of your success your absolutely right this year was for you. Because you saw more returns for touchdowns this year Bailey and any other in NFL history. About that. -- so there's some real offensive numbers to pass along there at a course overall the top four teams in the league this year -- New England Dallas Green Bay and Indy. On patriots of course was sixteen though Dallas Green Bay and -- all went thirteen and three to tie for the second best record in the league this year. All the combined winning percentage all of those four teams was 859. That tied 1988 for the highest such Mark in the top four teams since 1970s as the AFL merger. So it means you had the real cream of the crop up of the top of the heap. You had dominant teams I have long been -- of the opinion. That the NFL is at its best when you have dominant teams. What do you think it is. I think -- probably give you a couple of quick. Com supposes to that first the ball I think it's because people global winner. And people love to get behind a winner people like to feel better about themselves because they support a winner. And so you have a team that's dominant in the league -- dynastic type of team. And certainly the -- would qualify in this regard. You're going to be loved by a lot you're probably going to be hated by more. But the old adage of love me -- we just don't forget me. Or coaches don't ignore me it's very appropriate here that's all the NFL cares about. That's -- care about it here with the -- or you'll love them just don't ignore just follow. And I think that's why you've seen the television ratings go as high as they have this year specifically around patriots games these people -- curious they want to see the patriots win that was the patriots. Set records they want to see the patriots loops. So that's that's part of absolutely part. Dynastic teams teams that are top heavy in good teams. Leagues that are top -- good teams those are successful -- those -- successful seasons this year is no exception. -- squeeze in a time on your web radio at patriots dot com. That's her email address web radio at patriots dot com 5 wait 543 -- before 82 is our telephone number we are still of planning we -- going to hear on some of the young post game. Interviews that we were able to gather for a week and UPS because we had to beat -- Brian Lowe and Kristina Akra compatriots today your program giving -- sneak -- what they're going to bring us starting this coming weekend from Arizona on the side of Super Bowl 42. All right we get to a lot of your emails yesterday and quite frankly you whether -- This is the reason we're here because of you. We're here to give your opinions and our thoughts and to be some of the news around the patriots and in all that kind of stuff. That's why we're here so we want to read your email to be going to take the time to -- we're going to take the time to answer but time permitting today Tom Brady Mike Vrabel Tedy Bruschi and Kevin -- Junior Seau of course coach Belichick we need to some of those but we also want to have plenty of time for -- or emails today and -- are email question of the day has to do what you're Super Bowl. Memories when you say the word superbowl what the phrase suitable. I guess to be considered toward right when he's an appreciable what's the first thing that pops in -- right. What memory do you have a Super Bowls past over the previous 41 years I gave me some mine. I'm hoping you share with me some of you or in during Super Bowl memories when you think that phrase suitable. -- emails coming up inside play."

[27:48]" They're champions and -- it was an oh yeah. You can join them when they play their. Bowl championships just like shopping at the patriots pro shop or. Patriots pro shop -- Had a teacher of players who. Wary of -- open a huge collection of AFC champion merchandise with the items like lectured ladies' PPG. Medical jumping clue. About comic hero -- Shop here patriots pro shop talk."

[28:46]" Linemen until you're walking awesome offensive taste of Gillette stadium that you -- already home. Tackle that appetite -- patriots gridiron Grilli I -- Sausages -- twelve tribes of patriots brought -- a wide variety of flavors. -- there. Wind up the grill tonight you drillers are all you need for the perfect if you go home barbecue check out all the patriots gridiron. The patriots. -- and ball. Patriots gridiron drillers. Brothers are very far -- Growers when you just can't wait for Sunday."

[29:43]" All right Jimmy began and we gotta go patriots kick off and an hour let's make sure we got everything right that -- they jacket helmet deck home being -- Jack Jack Jack Jack. It got Jack. -- every -- and blue go pat go past the."

[30:05]" Check check check. That's right. If you really are true patriots and the need to open New England Patriots checking account from Bank of America today you'll get checks. Check cards and even bank statements all the official New England Patriots logo. Bank of America is the official bank of the New England Patriots. To take advantage of this opportunity to make every day game day. Sign up for New England Patriots checking account today Bank of America bank of opportunity. Number -- the patriots should mostly from the patriots logo is property losing pitcher until -- The patriots -- 32007 BankAmerica corporation."

[30:42]" All rights -- He's been -- three time champions and Super Bowl MVP and kicked off 2000 record based."

[30:52]" Tom -- he has to -- patriots mini replica helmet and you can get one -- We look at -- the patriots authentic helmet comes complete with -- draft face mask and Tom Brady's -- every patriots ran. Take advantage of this incredible what what kind of all he did you -- transactions in the Bank of America patriot extra points visa card. -- your card patriots extra points -- patriots experience is -- appropriately in the -- get much more don't -- apply patriots extra -- dot com or call 100 NFL Monday night and I get your -- of America patriots extra points music -- completely people -- helmets autographed by Tom -- patriot to point -- and one. You qualified coaches -- and two extra point dot com."

[31:55]" For the record we continue with the opening our patriots playbook on patriots dot com radio today I'm John Cook web radio at patriots dot com for you reaches. You're on the show live radio ads patriots dot com or email question of the day. When you say the phrase Super Bowl what's the first thing that comes to your mind what then tonight. Do you have well maybe maybe I would allow the -- could be a possibility perhaps but it it is well in the gotta wonder."

[32:24]" On the spirituality faith and democracy you have other cornerstones of our country we are all patriots. And tonight the patriots."