Eli manning rookie

Back when Manning was the Patriots’ worst nightmare. Bill Belichick wasn’t kidding Monday when he concluded his heaping pile of praise for Manning by saying, “I have a ton of respect for Eli and all that he’s done. I wish he’d done a little bit less in a couple games against us.” Does anyone actually need reminding? Tom Brady & Co. would have two more rings if not for Manning’s heroics. There was the first shocking upset back in February 2008, when a then-perfect Patriot team watched Manning escape a sack he never should have escaped to complete a pass he never should have completed, a connection to David Tyree that remains one of the greatest Super Bowl plays of all time. Then there was the upset sequel four years later, when one Manning throw again made the difference in the game, a sideline strike to Mario Manningham that you can put up against any throw by any great quarterback in a league celebrating its 100th anniversary this … [Read more...] about Eli Manning, Hall of Famer? You’d better believe it

Their 2-3 record entering Sunday’s home game against the Seahawks is bad enough. But they were embarrassed on national TV last week, looking disorganized and feckless in a 31-3 loss to the 49ers. “To say we didn’t play well Monday night is an understatement,” defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said. “Very embarrassing the way the defense performed, and I take full blame and responsibility for that.” The Browns’ defense certainly played poorly in San Francisco, and is ranked 21st in points allowed (24.4 per game). But the offense looks dysfunctional under first-time head coach Freddie Kitchens. Mayfield has just four touchdown passes against eight interceptions this year, his 55.9 completion percentage ranks 33rd out of 34 qualifying quarterbacks, and his 68.5 passer rating ranks 32nd. And Beckham has been shockingly quiet, with 23 catches for 335 yards and just one touchdown. Beckham has had a career-low two catches in each of his last … [Read more...] about Preseason darlings have turned back into the Browns

Gaining the trust of quarterback Tom Brady is no easy task for the 2018 seventh-round draft pick, who made his NFL debut this year after spending his rookie season on injured reserve. But as one of two tight ends on the roster — Ben Watson was released Monday and the retired Gronkowski just joined Fox as an NFL studio analyst — Izzo is doing his best to get up to speed. The connection will take time and require “a lot of hard work,” Izzo said, so he’s been studying the playbook as well as film featuring Gronk and former Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett. Izzo noted his focus is on the details in all facets of his position — not just route running. He’s working, for example, on his footwork and hand placement so he can block more effectively in the run game, too. “I’m always constantly trying to improve,” said Izzo. “Consistency is one of the most important things I try to preach every week, whether that’s in … [Read more...] about Tight end Ryan Izzo trying to gain connection with Tom Brady

Thirty-five thoughts on the Patriots’ 35-14 victory over the Giants … 1. I suppose a game in which you win by 21 points and still come away annoyed at how it played out is a sign that you have a very good football team. And the Patriots, now 6-0, do. The defense is spectacular, their special teams put points on the board when the offense was struggling to do it, and Tom Brady and Julian Edelman – with help from unexpected places – finally found their mojo in the second half. 2. But man, that was an annoying game for a long time. Frustrating. Briefly worrisome. The Giants were without arguably their three best offensive players, Daniel Jones (15 of 31, 161 yards, one TD, three interceptions) looked like a bewildered rookie, and yet the Giants – a team the Patriots always want to maul under any circumstances – managed to hang around even into the fourth quarter. 3. The Patriots were so disjointed in the first half that one couldn’t help but … [Read more...] about 35 thoughts on the Patriots’ disjointed win over the Giants

This is the 21st season of Dan Snyder’s ownership, and the Redskins seem to have hit rock bottom. The team drafted quarterback Dwayne Haskins in the first round, but fans have little hope. The Redskins haven’t made the playoffs since 2015 and the season-ticket wait list is history. The roster has almost no star power, and coach Jay Gruden will be fired sooner rather than later. “The Patriots have a real problem, because Bill Belichick is known for taking away an opponent’s strength, and he’s got nothing to take away this week,” quipped Frank Herzog, the Redskins’ radio announcer from 1979-2004. “Good luck, Bill. You’ve got your work cut out for you.” The Redskins under Snyder have mostly been known for dysfunction and failure. In 21 years, Snyder has had seven full-time head coaches, four first-round quarterbacks, and only five playoff appearances. The Redskins’ .429 winning percentage in Snyder’s 21 years is … [Read more...] about Redskins appear to have hit rock bottom