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[10:08] ..." the AFC. Is that. That yet got I think significantly better with Kris Jenkins Calvin Pace and and Brett Favre. The Buffalo Bills got better because you know nobody. Thinks that this I mean it's obviously"...
[15:21] ..." tackle for the next ten years that with a groin injury. Forcing Charlie Johnson built from guard to tackle that's the problem. The fact -- Jeff Saturday may have to have knee surgery after the season"...
[1:11:25] ..." who's in the bank field but -- I think listen in -- Joe Jurevicius this year because he's been he's been hurt. And on the PUP list. Donte' Stallworth with another -- and you'll see that"...
[1:17:20] ..." hasn't really disappointed I know Shawne Merriman is not there. And a Jamal Williams is banged up as well but boy this has been. Now you know you're a lot of -- St. -- produced well"...
[0:00]" Let's go let's guns -- tap found another golf -- want to go thought this quiet. That they've won fair -- his Patriots playbook got back on combat on pit being on here briefly when. Breaking down less on these game el Superman coverage. When things get ready for the break. Prayed for the rest of the 2008. NFL. And some of the point seven between now he's done. -- Patriots playbook and."
[0:40]" Look at it the playbook everybody for Thursday here on Patriots dot com radio I am John wrote thanks to a -- and Eddie for the move the -- off today from PFW in progress. The Patriots playbook and now we're ready to look forward to game five of the pat. -- six the National Football League season. As they play at the San Diego Chargers this Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego California the football night in America feature. On NBC. Coming up just couple moments Peter King from NBC Sports Illustrated CNN SI dot com. All points in between will be joining pitcher because he wanted to stay tuned for that we'll get his thoughts not only on the game on Sunday but. But the current state of the National Football League as well all the things that might be going on certainly there's some great. Divisional stories within the AFC east the resurgence the bulk of Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins of late. Still can't get over the fact that. Last two times out the Dolphins beat the two teams that -- in the AFC championship game like -- And I'm sure they can't get over that San Diego why -- you talked about over the course of the first. A couple of days program this week so we'll on the -- that's good San Diego perspective actually this week not only promote -- Who covers the Chargers so for the San Diego union Tribune."
[1:52]" On Tuesday showboat and also on -- from Hank Bauer. Who is a former charger player and coach and current analyst on their radio network it was on Tuesday -- can download podcast there. Well from Tuesday show you when he gets his a point of view on that but look. Forty -- the point of view of this gentleman Peter king of course is dimension. On the NBC football -- America broadcasts in the studio and for Sports Illustrated CNN SI dot com Peter it's a wonderful to beat you thanks for a couple of minutes of your time today. Hey you're welcome John -- Doing well -- very very well it just right off the bat are you all surprised. -- it is taken this New England team a bit of time in May still take get more time. -- to sort of find it helps when you lose -- quarterback like Tom Brady."
[2:38]" Well. I mean I think. You have to look back at 2001. When they originally replaced Bledsoe and Brady when Bledsoe got hurt. And you know that wasn't exactly smooth sailing. Week by week in that first year. And I think you compound that by the fact that I think Brady started 23 games at Michigan. So in -- Tom Brady had who. Seasons under his belt of a 106000. People screaming. It is the year when he's playing football Matt Cassel. Is -- scout team. And he's running down on kick off on the Patriots first see him at. The USC -- I mean you know this as a whole different animal and I think anybody who thinks. That. That that Matt Cassel would have a simple. Easy. You know clean. Transfer. To professional football like I think would be mistaken."
[3:48]" I just did it it it kind of makes me look at it this way. It shows. Is that the quarterback position is just so incredibly intricate to. How a team operates. Certainly offensively guys get you know he's the -- hand the ball throws the ball has the play call that kind of stuff but. You know what you consider that largely the -- pitches in play for the Patriots and yet. Quarterback one person missing. It just really put on to me a lot of emphasis on the quarterback and how important quarterback is knowledge of the game -- pro football in general."
[4:20]" Yeah and you know consider it. You know that it that it didn't sometimes hell I'd like to explain to people you look at Brett Favre going into the -- yeah. And it. The Jets on offense. Run. Combination groups. You know when when their receivers go out in other words which which most teams do. If look like -- is with the Patriots. If Randy Moss is single covered and he doesn't see safety over the top. He and Tom Brady will have this understanding. That you know unless -- Run. Three yard out or something and our our direct route across the middle. Tom Brady and he always had the understanding that -- no safety over the top. They're -- he's going to throw the ball come off you know and he can throw it deep. But. But what happens if there's -- safety maybe -- that area and all that -- mean Percival Matt."
[5:23]" Cassell. Doesn't have this sort of unspoken communication with Moss that Brady. And -- like Brett Favre learning that yet this year. Against San Diego he threw two interceptions where it looked like he was actually trying to throw the ball over the San Diego Chargers -- Antonio Cromartie. World New Yorkers -- a pain in the air same where you're throwing the ball you idiots well -- clear case that it's more than just. Studying game plan and understanding where you're supposed to go with the ball the communication between a receiver quarterback."
[5:59]" Is absolutely essential and if you haven't worked together before. That communication. Is going to be choppy at times."
[6:06]" Absolutely -- I don't know what Peter -- again now joining us here on the play book on the Thursday as the pats and -- Diego Chargers play a Sunday night from Qualcomm. In San Diego."
[6:17]" I'd love this game yeah you don't like it's going to be so much -- I really integrate."
[6:21]" I think both teams have a little of the to -- I don't know that we get -- the rivalry feel to it. That we saw in the AFC championship or even in the regular season last year Peter just because you have to the significant individuals out of this game and Brady and in Shawne Merriman but. I think San Diego's really got their back against the wall here they don't need to go two and four."
[6:41]" Yeah and it is the only Brady and Shawn Marion and but it's also. It's also would Damien Tomlinson. I'm not I would not be surprised. If Darren -- touched the ball more than LaDainian Tomlinson in this game."
[6:58]" How hurt Tomlin and the."
[6:59]" Well he's he's not he's not good I mean you know he's got to. He's got to badly sprained big toe. And most of the people watched the Chargers. Believe that I think it is not going to get better this year and so. You know it's hard. For a big -- get better. When. You're put the kind of pressure on a -- of football player put I mean. You know people laugh at an injury like that and hopefully. You know you've got to be able to take that but. When you think about it but I -- injury. Is what not one of the best corners we've ever seen Deion Sanders out of football. He just couldn't play. Anymore. You know yet a couple of bad years toward the end. And he just couldn't play anymore because that's what hurt too much and -- I I'm not saying it's the beginning of the end for Tomlinson but what I am saying is my belief is that Norv Turner. It's looking at his team and saying. I gotta get the ball more than you know 810 -- that -- Daren Sproles for a seventeen to beat the Patriots."
[8:09]" On top of that Chris Chambers is less than a 100% as well we've seen though. That Antonio Gates is less than a 100%."
[8:16]" Sure Antonio Gates is ever going to be what we thought he was you know he just serious hurt all last year he come he comes back this series not the same. I just think he's one of those guys who. You know we're going to be target about him like boy imagine if he stayed healthy like Tony Gonzales is that. I don't know I don't I mean these are good days the best tight end in football but I don't know that he had many good days lately."
[8:40]" This puts an inordinate amount of pressure. On Philip Rivers is he in a position himself with a bruised ribs -- now -- to may be carried distinct."
[8:48]" I think he's going to have to do and I think the one guy who. Who really has it becomes important now that this team is Vincent Jackson and you know he's an underrated guy the speed guy he's he's a guy who. Kinda got got got drafted as an afterthought by India but has become really important I I just think now. You've got Philip Rivers. You know it is in -- fifty year he he he knows the offense so well would Norv Turner. Turner loved the guy he can make all the Rose. If he gets hot Sunday it's going to be difficult game for the Patriots went."
[9:30]" Hum. How do you feel about -- The AFC each and being more of a I guess maybe more of a challenge this year and and whether or not it could benefit the Patriots in the long haul. Or just a natural progression special when you lose you know a key player like you've lost vote for New England."
[9:49]" Well I think that misses one of the classic. NFL things that means you know Pete Brazil's goal when he was commissioner. It wasn't that every team -- but it's have everything have a chance to make the playoffs every year and so what happens this year. In the AFC. Is that. That yet got I think significantly better with Kris Jenkins Calvin Pace and and Brett Favre. The Buffalo Bills got better because you know nobody. Thinks that this I mean it's obviously not very sexy but. Pol pot gluttony comes back from a season ending injury last year and they get markets for -- from Jacksonville and trade. And they're up the middle deep sense is unhappy -- better against the run and six get significantly better overall. And then Miami yet Bill Parcells that old Tony Sparano Parcells mindset. Parcells. In their first year. In New England in with a -- with the Cowboys. And now in Miami. Are always light years better. So you have three teams. Below the Patriots that have all gotten better and you've got the Patriots were trying to win with a -- hasn't started the game. For nine years and quarterbacks so it's obviously going to be. More of a dog fight in the Patriots haven't I had to pick the winner in this division now I'd still pick the Patriots. Because I think that they -- seen. That's built to win at the end. A devastating injury like Brady's. Especially because Matt Cassel is the type of kid everybody knows and says say he's the type it he knows what he doesn't know. And he's not trying to be so -- and he's trying to be one of 45. And that's the best thing for him to be right now going to every week. Put one foot ahead at the other foot don't think grandiose thoughts execute what they've gotten a game plan for -- and you'll be okay."
[12:01]" Peter how does the Patriots to me coming back of the pack I guess for lack of their race here maybe that is is isn't appropriate phrase here but. How does that come -- back of the pack a little bit affect the race overall in the AFC do you look at it. As it being wide open like a lot of people seem to think that are going."
[12:16]" You know I I don't remember a year we've we have to go back. I mean we have to go back really before the Patriots. Won their first Super Bowl and maybe even that year. To recall a time. Where we can sit here right now and somebody would think tendencies somebody might think New England. Somebody would say Pittsburg. You know somebody might even say Denver but. There's no. There's nobody out there who can tell you with any certainty. That well it's going to come down to these -- Always been tape gonna come down to knowing littering the New England San Diego -- San Diego Indy. But at this point how much -- you have. And in New England totally unknown you'd figure no win 91011. Games at least. But they really aren't known. I think Indianapolis. Is still going to rise. Because I know what's wrong with -- and I think they can fix that -- what's wrong with a basically -- That that team's. Are looking at India I'm an NBC every Sunday and I can watch all the games. And I can see a little child of each game and I'm looking at Indianapolis and here's what I see. It is absolutely amazing that the safety is crawling down into the bar on first down in the St. paid meaning. Look we don't truck -- a 100% because he isn't. We don't trust that your a 100% you know what Marvin Harrison that old man. And we don't trust that he can beat us so here we go. We are going to crowd the line of scrimmage and what we're gonna do what we're going to stop Joseph Addai. And you know how long I mean did we ever think. That teams would load up the stopped Joseph Addai over state Peyton Manning I don't I didn't think I would see that I thought that would happen with the next. Running back. In Indianapolis some it is high school senior right now he's noble would be the last. Generation of running back under Peyton Manning. But it's happening with Peyton Manning right now I think the only way that the Colts can get back. Is they have to get one of their receivers whether it's Gonzales what what whether it's Reggie Wayne. Could become a first and second down threat. The way that for years Peyton Manning had Marvin Harrison."
[14:45]" Right -- just gonna say that sounds to me like Marvin Harrison's decline is directly or at least indirectly responsible for the that the Colts may be leveling off to a little bit. Peyton Manning's only injuries notwithstanding."
[14:57]" Yeah and you know don't let anybody can and don't let anybody try to convince you that Peyton Manning Nicole. You know people have seen his knee say it's a road map and it. It's it's not it's not right yet. And soul you know that's the problem the fact that they started two rookies at guard last week that the problem them back it's only Yugo. They're left tackle for the next ten years that with a groin injury. Forcing Charlie Johnson built from guard to tackle that's the problem. The fact -- Jeff Saturday may have to have knee surgery after the season and a perfect world wouldn't be playing now. I don't think that the huge problem but that's obviously not great. You know the Colts. Are on the precipice the fallen off the cliff. But I I somehow. Think that mean inning Dallas Clark Reggie Wayne Gonzales in the papers the."
[15:53]" You don't want -- my favorite things is no matter how bad you have somebody else always has it works. I don't know necessarily if the if the Colts wallow in the category towards the Patriots are concerned but. Who else in the AFC then no matter how bad the nets -- somebody else has a little bit worst. Who has it worse and the Patriots other than the obvious teams who have won yet."
[16:11]" Well -- you hear that hear the team that that I think. I've never seen a team in the NFL or by came at a better time that's the Pittsburgh Steelers. Because. Ben Roethlisberger. In the previous two games Sunday night. When they played so impressively in beating Jacksonville. And by the way what an incredible rivalry that is become. Jacksonville comes to Pittsburgh in December in January last year whipped them both times. And now Pittsburgh goes for a rematch in October down to Jacksonville and Pittsburgh wins there. You know it's like -- It's safe flight last week you know -- start one inning at a time. And it looked like Anaheim was going to win involved they're very big egos are going to win in Boston all all the games but. I think what is happened the Pittsburgh. Is that Ben Roethlisberger right now. They've got to be really really careful with two games before that he was knocked down a total of 31 times either. Tackle sack hurry pressure beat up. I mean. If you're getting knocked down fifteen times a game that you saw what happened in the Super Bowl and Tom Brady went down 23 times. That's that's why the Giants won that game. Well what I thought ray Lewis and training camp this year I've mentioned in passing activate. You guys wrote the script. You know in Baltimore. For how to play Tom Brady because you know out of the Ravens are they never they every -- he. See if it's like it's snowflake. Every single one has different and that's the way the Giants played and I think. You look at the way the Ravens played Brady and you look at the way to ravens'. Rush. Roethlisberger. And and I just I don't know. That that Ben Roethlisberger is going to be standing for sixteen weeks if he keeps it -- as much as --"
[18:06]" There're two or three stories concerning off field issues I'd be remiss and ask you quickly about. Number one Pacman Jones I've got a -- bit of a couple game last night. The Cowboys safety. Com Joe Flacco was named Carter for the Baltimore Ravens begin those Ravens for the rest of the year. And then of course we're already talked about Marvin Harrison and he's facing a civil lawsuit over that shooting up out of -- Philadelphia bar. How do these stories affect the team's at least in the short term."
[18:33]" Martin's. Things will not affect the team in any way shape or form. The guys and it -- don't even Marvin barely interacts with them he's a distant creature. You know he's not a bad guy anybody haven't seen but he just nobody on that team knows them. Is involve them stay here here have this state he -- from the team you realize Marvin Harrison. Had the exact same versus sex surgery last year that Peyton Manning had this year you'd think. That these two guys you know they're going to go to the whole thing together -- probably in today. Peyton Manning never communicated. Never even chatted with Marvin Harrison. About hey what's it like to have adverse effects surgery ever talked to. I mean I don't think that won't matter that is the -- opening that was going to happen eventually. The only reason it happened now is that. Torre met -- a debilitating virus. You know very of you know very strange part to diagnose virus that. He would have started the opener. And he would've played for awhile until Marco was ready but -- played better than people thought. So that's that in the -- that the offense has accepted that guy I don't Ravens pretty well and and there are players. Really like flock though they light. The fact that he. That he is kind of you know unyielding. He's the only guy -- and that's not a big deal now you know I mean the Pacman Jones thing. This is this is trouble because you know as Jerry Jerry jones' -- somebody at the Cowboys yesterday today. You know it doesn't sound like this slip and Armageddon type thing but Pacman has the kind of guy who can't afford to have a cup of coffee -- And he's in public -- gets into a fight you know what -- Eddie been drinking I don't know they're still. Investigating this right now but. Yeah and will the commissioner do something it was basically -- you know Pacman Jones had two strikes on him and he gets fouled off the next state pages I mean he had yet one -- one incident left. Now my feeling is that Jerry probably. Will be able to smooth this over. And and there'll be a phone call from park avenue in New York downed the Dallas. And the phone call Pacman Jones basically say. You're a lucky as a man in the world because we're not -- you from football for the rest your life right now we're going to give you another chance. But you better be in bed at 830 every night yeah ain't got you know how this thing happened you know what happened here that is unbelievable. He's got a bodyguard who travels with -- everywhere he does the 7-Eleven -- copy. This guy walks in the -- win the set and all this guy did. At 11 o'clock at night with -- right at a time ago they -- not not ready to go. And that's what this argument was over this guy would take it home. Because his whole thing is he's like -- high school junior is not allowed out after 11 o'clock. And so that's where there's problems started and so you know again. -- AA you know as much as you'd think that the guy should get it he just hasn't gotten."
[21:56]" I can't get over the fact. That that Jerry Jones has basically. Writing on the fact that he is to a these. Quote unquote shall we say personalities on the same team -- and Owens and he's banking on these two guys coming through and being model over and in order to get this team to the real potential to the Super Bowl again it just absolutely is and it."
[22:16]" Yet really is it is."
[22:18]" Well let me bring about -- full circle through to the game on Sunday night and and I'm not sure how much of the the prep that you done for the game thus far but we've got a touchdown and a little bit new set already. To -- that you're really looking forward to the game what have you been able to find from these two teams heading in that gives you a reason. To look forward to this game on them."
[22:37]" Well. Because I think they're they're that did have an air of desperation by the Chargers. Because if you look at San Diego right now do you look at it team it really is under achieved. Early on I mean they're two and three they feel like basic before water by then I'll they probably got jobs dot -- game in Denver. -- and you know they've they've played poorly a couple of other times and I think. You look at them and they're going to say what we cannot afford another hiccup you go to win four. With the schedule we have down the line I mean they got to go to Buffalo they got to go to London deplete the Saints. It's just. They've got a very very tough schedule coming up so. Even though the Patriots. Are the Patriots. They just feel like they can't lose at all and it and it's -- the Patriots go I mean it's just. He's the type of games that Matt Cassel going to have to win he's got a lot of tough game on the road against the play off. You know everybody is always going to be looking over their shoulders -- where's Tom until Matt Cassel wins. A few of these games that you know logic says he's probably not supposed to win -- becomes."
[23:52]" Absolutely I think that's very fair and I think that's the -- most fans round here really kind of look at it they're like okay you know so that's the guy the coaching staff has already said. He's our guy they've been refused you know others to come in and work gotten what have you so look now on how he can beat the guy you're right he's got to start with games like this."
[24:10]" You know the one other thing about -- on the reason why I would be very encouraged. If I were Patriots and you know I've made -- name I've -- name you a few quarterbacks right now I'm going to tell you from about after we after -- game -- it. Jay Cutler. Tony Romo Donovan McNabb. Aaron Rodgers Philip Rivers Brett -- All of a guy like name -- take part about it there but all those guys lightening. Matt Cassel got a higher completion percentage. And what what what's important about that and what it tells me. Is that. Matt Cassel is doing at the very least what -- absolutely have to do to keep this team on track. He's throwing the ball accurately. Where is so far you know basically. In in four games three and three quarter gain. You know averaging less than one interception per game. If you can continue doing that area you know if if if he basically can continue on that path. That is the path to the Patriots being a playoff team and then -- get in January and who knows."
[25:25]" Yeah that's right it's anybody's game Peter King again from NBC to be part of the broadcast on Sunday night and of course you can see him Sports Illustrated CNN has had a common. A lot of other great places as well and you've got him right here it's on the play book today boy that talked again Peter thanks so much for renewal time with a."
[25:41]" Thank you very much -- you have a great day."