One Little Victory

Wow. What a commentary. Keith weaves together the Idiot in Chief’s assertion that the election of a Democrat to the White House will lead to another terrorist attack (notwithstanding the fact that the most horrific attack in our history came on his watch) with Dubya’s statement that his sacrifice in this war… to show solidarity with the American people, was to give up golf. And he wasn’t even accurate in that.

Keith hits all the highlights in this commentary, pulling together the lie-based war, the war profiteering, the development of al Qaeda in Iraq, and places it all right where it belongs… on the shoulders of Mr. Bush. Not that it will stick. The man proved long ago that he has no conscience. All of this is a great game to him… to line the pockets of his corporate friends like Halliburton and to push the agenda of the neocons, Mr. Bush will do and say anything. He holds now only to the delusion that some historians won’t brand him simply as “W - Worst President Ever”.

Personally, I have another title I would like to see bestowed on him; convicted war criminal. But for now, he just gets another Momo. And kudos to Keith Olbermann. Mr. Olbermann, you are a true hero and patriot.

Part One (10:00)

Part Two (2:09)

Former New England Patriots’ Assistant Matt Walsh met separately yesterday with Commissioner Roger Goodell and Senator Arlen “Magic Bullet” Specter. No doubt that Bullet Boy will end up venting his wrath on the NFL in general and the Patriots in particular, but it was worth noting that Goodell immediately commented to the press that his four hour meeting with Walsh provided absolutely no new information… the information Walsh provided was consistent with what the New England Patriots had disclosed and for which they had already been penalized.

End of story? Almost. You see, there’s this little matter of the Boston Herald reporting an unsubstantiated story about the Patriots taping the walk-through of the Rams prior to the Super Bowl in 2002. Walsh’s story to Goodell indicated no such walk-through ever happened, by Walsh or anyone else.

Here is the Herald’s response:

Newspaper says Spygate story false, apologizes

BOSTON (AP)—The Boston Herald has apologized for reporting that the New England Patriots videotaped a walkthrough by the St. Louis Rams one day before the two teams played in the Super Bowl in 2002.

In the apology, published in the newspaper’s Wednesday edition and posted on its Web site, the Herald said it now knows the report was inaccurate and that no tape ever existed.

The apology came one day after former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Walsh told Goodell he did not tape the walkthrough and had no knowledge of any other Patriots employees having done so.

The Herald’s Feb. 2 story, published one day before New England’s 17-14 Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants, was based on unidentified sources.

Does the Herald really believe this is going to end with an apology? While Matt Walsh was protected by the NFL for stealing materials belonging to the team, the Herald gets no such protection for making up a story that served to pile on the Patriots when their reputation was getting hammered, and came a day before the Super Bowl. If I am Robert Kraft, I sue their a$$es off… and I am generally not one inclined to yell “lawsuit”. But this case merits it. For being a Boston newspaper, the Herald has a palpable anti-Patriot bias. If they want to hate the Patriots, fine. But they need to be taught a lesson about making crap up and publishing it.

Thus, the newest recipient of the Golden Momo is… the Boston Herald.

This has probably been my longest break away from blogging in some time. But as the old adage goes, if you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything. So I took a little break.

But of course the world didn’t stop turning during the past ten days and so there has been plenty of blogging fodder, but I’ll just hit the highlights tonight, given that it is 7:18 at night and I am finally seeing my day come to a close.

Quick slants for the past week:

1. Hillary, Hillary, Hillary

This time I think we can safely say her candidacy is done. After eeking out a win in Indiana and getting buried in North Carolina, that handwriting on the wall is now in permanent ink. Add to that the fact that as of today Obama has taken the lead in superdelegates (and still has more to roll out), and it is quite clear that any hope for another Clinton presidency has died. As usual, Eugene Robinson has written a wonderful piece… this one capturing Hillary Clinton’s dismay over losing a nomination that she felt entitled to, and articulating her inability to take Barack Obama as a serious candidate.

2. Who’s Number Two?

Now the speculation has begun about Obama selecting Clinton as his running mate, and that will spark the newest media feeding frenzy. My take? It’s not going to happen. Ever. Clinton carries too much baggage and has utilized “scorched earth” campaign tactics that immediately undermine her ability to take the second chair.

The list of possibilities? Let’s start with who I think won’t be his running mate. That list would include Clinton, Al Gore, Dennis Kucinich, and John Edwards. Edwards is the most intriguing of this lot in that I think it would actually be a good career move for him if he still eyes the presidency, but he’s been down this path, and you generally don’t see a repeat of a failed vice presidential candidate. There is speculation about New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, but I think that can be ruled out as well. Finally, there is some thought that Chuck Hagel would be a good choice as an anti-war republican, but his social views likely disqualify him from any serious consideration.

So what does my short list look like? I would start with Bill Richardson, a governor of a western swing state who himself has the credentials to be president, and who would further diversify the most dynamic presidential run in U.S. history. His service as a cabinet member and ambassador make him well qualified to serve as the number two under Obama. While there is thought that Richardson can be viewed as a Washington, DC insider, the fact is that Obama will need someone with insider experience to get things done once elected.

After Richardson, I suppose Joe Biden or Chris Dodd could be considered, but the anti-Washington sentiment could be used better against them than it could against Richardson. I have also heard whisperings of Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen and Virginia Governor Tim Kaine. Tom Vilsack (Iowa) has been mentioned, but wouldn’t be of much help where Obama needs it, in the south. Arguably, Richardson would be a much better factor as a Latino from a southwestern state. Wesley Clark has been mentioned, but that seems to me like a non-starter.

Another person of note is Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln, the 46 year old female southern conservative Democrat. Strategically, she would be a great asset to the ticket and really split up McCain’s southern base. Assuming Lincoln has no major skeletons in her closet, she seems like a pretty safe, yet still very bold choice for the vice presidency.

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, like Richardson, could have a powerful impact in the southwest, and Ohio Governor Ted Strickland could help in carrying a key electoral state. Finally, a dark horse candidate is Virginia Senator Jim Webb, who has experience as Secretary of the Navy, and was a live wire in the 2006 elections. Webb has been solid on national defense and would help chip at the southern base as well.

OK, that wasn’t a very quick slant, but this next one will be.

3. Spygate finally dying?

So former Patriots’ assistant Matt Walsh finally turned over a handful of tapes. Nothing about the Super Bowl against the Rams, and his lawyer said that Walsh wasn’t the source of that rumor. Ummm, sure. The NFL was quick to state that there didn’t seem to be anything new, though there was a mention that offensive signals were included. This is interesting, given the helmet microphones make offensive signals almost completely unnecessary. But whatever. Are new sanctions possible? I guess so, but I find it very unlikely at this point. The NFL will make its ruling, Arlen Specter will grumble, and all will again be right with the universe.

4. Stevens vents

Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens guaranteed himself some headlines when he said that the euthanized Kentucky Derby horse Eight Belles probably died more humanely than death row prisoners do

Stevens went on to say that he now believes that the death penalty is unconstitutional. It’s nice too hear that, but Justice Stevens is closer to the end of his term on the bench than the beginning, and until we see appointments from a Democratic President, this court is only going to grow more conservative. It’s ironic to me that John McCain is grumbling about activist judges; nearly two thirds of federal judges were appointed by Republican presidents. And some of the most seemingly bizarre decisions actually came from those judges. But McCain never let a little bit of reality get in his way before, so why start now?

5. Wright goes wrong

Sometimes it’s not what you say, but how you say it. Last week Jeremiah Wright was at it again, making comments to the Press Club in Washington, DC. I watched the entire speech and the Q&A session that followed. And, other than perhaps one comment, I didn’t find anything horribly wrong with what the Rev. Wright said.

But I took exception to how he said it.

The man acted incredibly arrogantly, and was exceptionally vain, even visually mimicking the person emceeing the event. I found this in incredibly poor taste. So did Barack Obama. And Senator Obama did about the only thing he could do, condemn Rev. Wright’s remarks and sever ties with him.

6. No Child Left Behind, except for these kids…

This is the legacy of No Child Left Behind. Now is it just me, or does the penalizing of schools and students who started out at a disadvantage who are also overwhelmingly composed of underrepresented students just come across as another form of institutionalized racism? Well at least Bush is consistent. He has had the same negative impact on our nation’s schools that he has had on every other part of our nation. As an educator and father of three small children I am simply disgusted.

… OK, so that’s all for tonight. But I will be back in the next day or two… I need to update the Patriots’ moves, and need to write about Myanmar. Yes, I know they don’t have oil, but we might want to think about another nation dealing with a brutal regime.

Have a great night!

From Yahoo:

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP)—The New England Patriots released cornerback Tim Mixon and linebacker T.J. Slaughter on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old Slaughter was signed by the Patriots as a free agent on Feb. 12. He spent the 2007 season out of football.

Before then, the 6-foot-1, 233-pound linebacker played in 78 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who selected him in the third round of the 2000 NFL draft.

The Patriots signed the 23-year-old Mixon to the practice squad on Oct. 9, 2007. The 5-9, 184-pound cornerback was signed to the active roster on Feb. 5.

This would be an extremely funny cartoon, if it weren’t the truth.

SEE BUSH’S RETIREMENT PLANNING PROCESS HERE

Here are a couple of great Yahoo articles that summarize this past weekend’s draft. Overall, I am not completely thrilled with all of the selections. Wheatley could be the real deal, but looks on the surface to be a terrible reach. O’Connell’s selection is downright puzzling unless the Patriots don’t plan to bring Cassel back after 2008. Mayo was a great pick, and will fit right into the Patriots’ defensive scheme. Similarly, selecting Crable in the third round for the outside linebacker spot was also a good call. beyond these players, I am doubting that we will see any impact on the Patriots’ 2008 roster. Despite kind articles in the media saying that the Patriots had a great draft, I am giving it a “C”. It was good, but could have been better.

New England had an un-Patriot-like draft

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick held a press conference to wrap up the Patriots’ draft, and he opened on a light note.

“Who would have ever thought you would be covering a Bill Belichick draft with no offensive linemen, defensive linemen, or tight ends taken?” he said to the reporters sitting in front of him.

The Patriots selected three linebackers, two defensive backs, one quarterback, and one receiver/special teams player.

Patriots Team Report

DRAFT REVIEW—The Patriots did both the usual and the unusual Saturday in the early stages of the 2008 NFL Draft. The usual involved New England making a trade, dealing down from the No. 7 spot by sending that pick and a fifth-rounder (154) to the Saints in exchange for the No. 10 selection in the first round and a third-round pick (78).

A few minutes after the trade—one of 28 draft-day deals during Bill Belichick’s years overseeing New England’s selection weekends—the Patriots selected Tennessee junior linebacker Jerod Mayo. Mayo (6-1, 242) is the first linebacker selected by the Patriots in the first round, or even on the first day of the draft, since the selection of Andy Katzenmoyer in 1999.

The move brings instant youthful talent to a New England linebacking corps, something that’s been sorely lacking throughout Belichick’s entire reign in New England. With Belichick having avoided the linebacker spot in the draft for so long, never taking a player at the spot before the fifth round in his eight previous drafts in New England, one has to been intrigued by a prospect like Mayo.

It’s easy to see what the Patriots liked about him.

Mayo played all three linebacker spots (Mike, Sam, Will) in his three seasons with the Volunteers, starting 26 of 32 games played. He moved to the middle last year for his junior season, earning All-SEC honors as the defensive co-captain registered 140 tackles, the most for a Tennessee defender in nearly two decades.

He’s considered a student of the game and a film-room rat who also supposedly has a good natural feel for the game. While he’s dealt with knee, ankle and hand injuries in his college career, Belichick said New England’s doctors “feel fine” about him and that Mayo “is healthy and has been a very durable guy and a very productive player.”

Mayo referred to his pre-draft visit to Gillette Stadium as a great one and that he felt like he’d clicked with the coaches in that meeting. Apparently he did. He projects as an inside linebacker in New England’s 3-4 scheme, joining the likes of Tedy Bruschi and Victor Hobson on the depth chart although both Mike Vrabel and Adalius Thomas have position flexibility.

“I feel like I bring a winning nature. The Patriots already have a winning nature. I feel like I bring a work ethic. They already have that as well,” Mayo said. “You can’t really bring too much to a team that only lost one game in a season. I’m just excited to be in the position that I am and to be able to learn from some of the greats in the game.”

Belichick raved about Mayo’s position versatility, intelligence and production. He also called him “one of the better linebackers we have seen in awhile.”

The latter statement set Mayo up for instant comparisons to 2007 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowler Patrick Willis.

For the second straight year, the Patriots looked to the defensive side of the ball in the first round, adding Mayo to 2007 top selection Brandon Meriweather in an effort to infuse some youthful talent into an aging, slowing defense. Considering Belichick’s impressive success hitting on first-round picks dating back to the selection of Richard Seymour in 2001, the addition of two young playmakers on defense in the last two years is an upswing for a team that returns the bulk of one of the greatest offenses in league history.

“We added a good player on defense and added one last year,” Belichick said of Mayo. “Hopefully we can continue to get a little bit younger on the defensive end of the ball going forward.”

New England did just that in the second round addressing the team’s next most prominent need after linebacker with the mildly surprising selection of Colorado cornerback Terrence Wheatley with the 62nd overall pick. Wheatley (5-9, 183) earned All Big-12 honors last fall for the Buffalos by finishing out his career with 14 interceptions in 40 games with 28 starts. With elite speed, Wheatley is also a dangerous kick returner with a 24.7-yard average in his four seasons, a role he could very well be asked to fill in New England early in his career.

Michigan linebacker Shawn Crable and another undersized cornerback—Auburn’s Jonathan Wilhite—highlighted the second day, when the Patriots also snagged a talented developmental quarterback in Kevin O’Connell.

Best Pick: Top pick Jerod Mayo (No. 10 overall) should be an immediate impact player in New England’s group of aging linebackers. He’s versatile, tough, smart and productive—all key traits for a Patriots-type linebacker. Look for him to get a shot to rotate with Victor Hobson and Tedy Bruschi inside from Day 1 and for his role to evolve throughout his rookie season. Many draft observers rave about Mayo’s upside and some are projecting him as the early favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, an award that’s gone to inside linebackers Patrick Willis and DeMeco Ryans over the last two seasons and to a linebacker in seven of the last eight years.

Could Surprise: QB Kevin O’Connell is easily the most talented developmental quarterback the Patriots have drafted since Tom Brady took over as the team’s starter in 2001. O’Connell joins a depth chart with unproven young players Matt Cassell and Matt Gutierrez, and is likely the most talented of the backup trio. With Cassell’s development having hit a disappointing plateau, O’Connell could very well be in the mix for the primary backup job. Should he develop he could be valuable as a trade commodity down the road.

A closer look at the Patriots’ picks:

Round 1/10—Jerod Mayo, LB, 6-1, 242, Tennessee

The Patriots targeted Mayo as a guy who could fill the tough role playing inside linebacker in the team’s 3-4 front. By trading down three spots to take him, the team also saved money on a guy who is expected to contribute from Week 1 in his career in New England. Mayo has the versatility of having played inside and out in college, is considered a smart, heady, natural player and is more than willing to learn from the veteran linebackers in place in New England.

Round 2/62—Terrence Wheatley, CB, 5-9, 183, Colorado.

Many had Wheatley rated a second-day selection, but the Patriots love his intelligence, experience and pure speed. Wheatley battled foot and wrist injuries (redshirting with the wrist issue in 2005) but was very productive with 14 picks in his Colorado career to go along with impressive kick return abilities. He’ll get a chance to return kicks early on in New England and should be in the mix for reps at cornerback for a team that lost nickel man Randall Gay to free agency.

Round 3/78—Shawn Crable, LB, 6-4, 245, Michigan

Crable is a good fit in New England as a developmental linebacker who’ll get the chance to learn from two of the better ‘backers in the NFL in Mike Vrabel and Adalius Thomas. Nearly a third of all his tackles last season for the Wolverines came for a loss to go with 7.5 sacks, playmaking ability and athleticism that could pave the way for a rotational impact in his rookie season.

Round 3/94—Kevin O’Connell, QB, 6-5, 225, San Diego St.

Some were surprised to see New England choose a quarterback in the end of the third round, but Belichick has always worked to develop a young quarterback behind Tom Brady. It hasn’t worked over the years, but O’Connell is the highest pick of the developmental group and arguably the most talented. He’s immediately the most talented backup QB on the roster.

Round 4/129—Jonathan Wilhite, CB, 5-9, 185, Auburn

Wilhite is another undersized cornerback projected to go later in the draft and scouting projections indicate the Patriots took him ahead of schedule. He recorded just three interceptions in three seasons at Auburn as a junior college transfer and has questionable ball skills. With the sheer numbers the Patriots have cornerback, Wilhite, who battled a hamstring injury last season, could be in a real fight to even make the New England roster.

Round 5/153—Matthew Slater, WR/KR, 5-11, 195, UCLA

The son of Rams Hall of Famer Jackie Slater was a core special teams guy for the Bruins and playmaker as a kick returner. Why that influenced the Patriots to trade up to select Slater might be a mystery outside the team’s building. Belichick puts as much importance on special teams as anyone.

Round 6/197—Bo Ruud, OLB, 6-2, 235, Nebraska

New England tapped into the football bloodlines again with its final pick of Ruud, brother of current Tampa LB Barrett Ruud, and the sixth Ruud Family member to play football at Nebraska. Ruud is another reach pick, rated by many as an undrafted free agent. He started each of his final three seasons with the Cornhuskers and his insatiable appetite for all things football will earn him points with Belichick.

Full story here…

In the third round? Really?

The Pats selected QB Kevin O’Connell, a four year starter from San Diego State. O’Connell looks like an interesting prospect. But this moves immediately raises the question of whether the Patriots are going to give up on either Cassel or Gutierrez.

On the plus side, the scouting report on him is similar to the one on Brady when he was drafted out of Michigan. None the less, with other need areas and with the players available, this feels like a wasted pick.

From NFL Draft Countdown:

Kevin O’Connell
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 225 | 40-Time: 4.61

Strengths:
Has excellent size and a big frame…Terrific athleticism…Great timed speed…Arm is strong enough to make all the throws..Nice touch and timing..Is mobile enough to buy time in the pocket and make plays with his feet…Can throw on the run…Hard worker…Very competitive…Team leader…A lot of experience…Has a ton of upside.

Weaknesses:
Inconsistent with his accuracy..Mechanics need some refinement..Struggles under pressure and makes poor decisions…Does not read defenses well..Still raw and is probably a better athlete than quarterback…Could have some durability concerns.

Notes:
Was essentially a four-year starter…Missed time with a thumb injury that required surgery in ‘06..Has everything you look for in terms of physical tools as well as top intangibles…An extremely intriguing prospect with the talent to eventually start at the next level..Not a finished product and will require some patience but you have to love his potential..Appears to be the quintessential developmental signal caller.

Career Statistics
Year GP Comp Att Yds Comp % TD INT
2003 DNP - - - - - -
2004 9 115 236 1,328 48.7% 9 9
2005 12 233 375 2,663 62.1% 19 12
2006 6 59 101 635 58.4% 3 5
2007 12 257 439 3,063 58.5% 15 8
Totals 39 664 1,151 7,689 57.7% 46 34

The Patriots seemingly are serious about getting younger at linebacker, adding OLB Shawn Crable from Michigan with the 15th pick of the third round.

While think this kid may be a real steal for the Pats, I don’t like the fact that his weaknesses appear to be his work ethic and intelligence. Both are prerequisites to play in the Patriots’ 3-4 scheme. None the less, he looks to be a potential outside pass rusher.

From NFL Draft Countdown:

Shawn Crable
Height: 6-47/8 | Weight: 245 | 40-Time: 4.64

Strengths:
Has excellent size and a big frame with long arms…Very athletic…Fantastic timed speed…Nice quickness and agility…Strong and powerful…Terrific pass rusher and blitzer…Makes a lot of plays behind the line…Offers some versatility…He does an adequate job in coverage…Still improving and has upside…Had a big senior year.

Weaknesses:
Does not have a great motor…Work ethic has been questioned…Intelligence may be a concern…Slow to read and react…Needs to play with better leverage…Was only a starter for two seasons…Sub par ball skills…Pass rush repertoire is limited.

Notes:
Was a highly-regarded recruit coming out of the prep ranks…He could project to a 4-3 (SAM) or 3-4 scheme…A real interesting prospect with a unique set of physical tools…Presents a rare combination of production and triangle numbers…Talented but may need to be pushed in order to fulfill his potential…May have played out of position in college…His best fit might be a pass rushing outside linebacker in a 34.

Career Statistics
Year GP TKL TFL SACK PBU INT
2003 DNP - - - - -
2004 5 6 1.0 1.0 2 0
2005 6 14 3.0 3.0 3 0
2006 13 37 11.0 6.0 3 0
2007 13 90 28.5 7.5 1 0
Totals 37 147 43.5 17.5 9 0

Day Two has started with another Patriots’ trade, as they traded out of the #6 spot to the San Diego Chargers, who used the pick to nab FB Jacob Hester from LSU. I don’t yet know the details, but tha Patriots now seem to have a fifth round pick at #25 (160th overall pick).

Having had a night to reflect on Day One, I am going to amend my criticism of the Terrence Wheatley pick-up, but only slightly. There seems to be some feel out there with football experts that the Pats may have gotten a steal here and found a shutdown corner. I certainly hope so, but am not impressed by Belichick’s recent draft history. Time will tell.

As unexpected as the Patriots’ pick of Jerod Mayo was in the first round was, I have to give the pick high marks. Mayo fills a need, adds youth to the linebacking corps, and has a tremendous upside in the Patriots’ scheme.

With that said, the Pats’ selection of CB Terrence Wheatley in the second round just seems bizarre to me. While Wheatley is talented and fits the Patriots’ pattern of selecting smaller corners with fluid hips, this pick just doesn’t make any sense. Wheatley has a wrist that has been operated on three times and seems to be an injury risk. Additionally, there were better corners available to the Patriots at this point in the draft. And even if the Patriots wanted to get him, he would have almost certainly been available for one of the three third round picks that the Patriots hold. He was projected to go in the third or fourth round, so this seems like a huge reach.

Wheatley looks like a player who will potentially compete for a nickel spot and the special teams. We don’t need more players like this. Belichick must see something special about this kid, and I hope he is right, but as great a coach as Belichick is, he has not shown to be a wizard at the draft. I suspect this pick will be another case in point.

From NFL Draft Countdown:

Terrence Wheatley
Height: 5-95/8 | Weight: 187 | 40-Time: 4.37

Strengths:
Very fast with good quickness and a burst to close…A fantastic athlete with great agility…Smooth with fluid hips…Playmaker with good hands and ball skills…Smart with good instincts…Physical and always plays hard…Has special teams potential.

Weaknesses:
Does not have the ideal size or bulk that you’d prefer…Needs to get stronger…A marginal tackler…He’ll struggle when matched up against big pro wideouts…Has some pretty serious durability and health concerns…May not have a lot of upside.

Notes:
His father, Randolph, ran track at Arizona State…He was plagued by a wrist injury that required multiple surgeries early in his career…Probably profiles as more of a nickel or dime guy at the pro level…Good cover guy with solid intangibles who will be held back by his size…Will enjoy a nice career as a backup and special teamer.

Career Statistics
Year GP TKL PBU INT YDS
2003 6 24 5 0 0
2004 12 33 3 4 63
2005 DNP - - - -
2006 12 57 11 5 26
2007 10 42 10 5 65
Totals 40 156 29 14 154

NFLDC Comment: They needed a corner yet this was a reach, but then again who am I to question the Patriots?

From Yahoo:

Patriots deal, get Mayo with 10th pick

NEW YORK (TICKER) —The New England Patriots traded down and still got the player they coveted, selecting linebacker Jerod Mayo with the 10th pick in Saturday’s NFL draft.

Holding the No. 7 pick overall, the Patriots swung a deal with the New Orleans Saints, sending their first- and fifth-round picks for the No. 10 overall and a third-round selection (No. 78 overall).

The 6-1, 242-pound Mayo was not projected to be a top-10 pick, but his versatility should fit in well with New England, which desperately needed to upgrade an aging linebacking corps.

Agile and brawny, Mayo led the Southeastern Conference with 140 tackles last season.

Terrific in pursuit and a good open-field tackler, Mayo fills the hole well and is solid at the point of attack. He also is versatile enough to drop into coverage and has the speed to cover tight ends.

Mayo could play inside or out for the Patriots, who do not have a starting linebacker under the age of 30.

The New England Patriots selected ILB Jerod Mayo of Tennessee with the tenth pick of the NFL Draft.

Reaction: This guy was not even on my radar, because the Pats never take a linebacker this high. But he looks like a great fit for the 3-4 scheme that relies on the top-notch defensive line to free up linebackers to make plays. While I expected a corner to be selected, this is consistent with the Patriots’ philosophy of counting on the front seven and filling in the secondary with role players. While I like the move, we still have a hole at corner.

Here’s the scoop from NFL Draft Countdown:

Jerod Mayo
Height: 6-11/4 | Weight: 242 | 40-Time: 4.54

Strengths:
Very athletic…Has excellent timed speed and quickness..Physical and plays bigger than he is…Has terrific range and does a great job in pursuit…Reliable tackler and will deliver the big hit…Smart with good awareness and instincts…Has a non-stop motor…Fluid & smooth in coverage…Versatile…Productive..Nice program pedigree.

Weaknesses:
Undersized and doesn’t have either the ideal height or bulk that you look for..Has trouble taking on and shedding blockers…Needs to be protected up front…Just a marginal blitzer…Durability may be an issue…Probably not a good fit for everyone.

Notes:
The next in a long line of top Volunteer linebackers…Can project inside or outside depending on the defensive scheme and has experience at both…Best fit may be as a middle ‘backer in a Cover 2 or on the weakside..Not a traditional thumper but he will prove awfully attractive to teams that are willing to sacrifice some size for speed…He will draw comparisons to Al Wilson and those are reasonably accurate.

Career Statistics
Year GP TKL TFL SACK PBU INT
2004 DNP - - - - -
2005 6 13 0.0 0.0 0 0
2006 12 83 12.5 5.0 1 0
2007 14 140 8.5 1.5 2 1
Totals 32 236 21.0 6.5 3 1

NFL Draft Countdown commentary: I knew the Pats weren’t going to go cornerback here and I figured it would be a linebacker in some shape or form but I have to admit I didn’t really see it being Jerod Mayo. With that said Mayo is a guy who was really moving up draft boards in the last month or so and this probably breaks the heart of Rod Marinelli in Detroit. For New England I like the pick a lot, even if it is a slight reach. Junior Seau may not be back, Tedy Bruschi is going to hang up his cleats any year now and there was no depth to speak of inside. Mayo is athletic, fast, smart and productive, which is usually a pretty good combination, and he fits the profile for what the Patriots look for in a player.

The New England Patriots traded the #7 pick in the first round of the NFL Draft to the New Orleans Saints, who used the pick to select DT Sedrick Ellis from USC.

This places the Patriots in the tenth slot now. The Patriots also received the Saints’ third round pick, while giving up their own fifth round pick.

Immediate reaction: Good move by the Pats with Gholston off the board. None the less, I would have preferred to work out a trade with the Eagles in order to land Lito Sheppard.

This is an article that I will simply keep editing and re-posting to keep up with the Patriots’ off-season. Both key moves will be tracked, as well as how those moves compare to what I suggested that the Patriots should do.

Also, here is a list of all free agents and signings, courtesy of ESPN.

Here we go:

OFF-SEASON MOVES:

4/27: Drafted QB Kevin O’Connell
4/27: Drafted LB Shawn Crable
4/26: Drafted CB Terrence Wheatley
4/26: Drafted LB Jeron Mayo
4/23: Signed TE Marcus Pollard
4/23: Signed P Scott Player
4/23: Signed DL Kenny Smith
4/7: Signed LB Victor Hobson
3/25: Re-signed T Wesley Britt
3/25: Re-signed LB Pierre Woods
3/20: Signed CB Fernando Bryant
3/14: Re-signed DT Mike Wright
3/11: Re-signed Raymond Ventrone
3/6: Signed CB Lewis Sanders
3/5: Signed S Tank Williams
3/4: Re-signed WR Jabar Gaffney
3/4: Signed CB Jason Webster
3/3: Signed WR Sam Aiken
3/3: Re-signed WR Randy Moss
2/28: Released TE Kyle Brady
2/28: Re-signed WR Kelley Washington
2/28: Re-signed LB Tedy Bruschi
2/27: Released LB Rosevelt Colvin
2/27: Released LB Oscar Lua
2/22: Re-signed LB Larry Izzo
2/21: Signed Dom Capers to serve as Secondary Coach and Special Assistant to the Head Coach
2/12: Signed LB TJ Slaughter
2/5: Signed G Dan Connolly
2/5: Signed WR CJ Jones
2/5: Signed OL Jimmy Martin
2/5: Signed CB Tim Mixon

RICK’S PROGNOSTICATIONS:

Sign Randy Moss - Done
Sign Jabar Gaffney - Done
Let Donte Stallworth go - Done (signed by Browns)
Sign Kelley Washington - Done
Add youth/depth to offensive line - unknown
Add youth/depth to linebacking corps - Done (added Hobson, Mayo, Crable)
Add youth/depth to defensive backs - Done (added Webster, Williams, Sanders, Bryant, Wheatley)
Sign Mike Wright - Done
Sign Tedy Bruschi - Done
Sign Junior Seau - unknown
Let Asante Samuel go - Done (signed by Eagles)
Sign Randall Gay - Failed (signed by Saints)
Let Eugene Wilson go - Done
Sign Lonie Paxton - Done

CURRENT PATRIOTS’ ROSTER:

Players in bold are those I expect to make the 53 man roster to start the 2008 season, based on the players currently under contract.

C - Dan Koppen (67)
CB - Ellis Hobbs III (27)
CB - Fernando Bryant
CB - Jason Webster
CB - Lewis Sanders
CB - Willie Andrews (23)
CB - Antwain Spann (28 )
CB - Gemara Williams
CB - Mike Richardson (35)
CB - Tim Mixon (25)
DL - Ty Warren (94)
DL - Richard Seymour (93)
DL - Vince Wilfork (75)
DL - Jarvis Green (97)
DL - Mike Wright
DL - Santonio Thomas (92)
DL - Le Kevin Smith (90)
DL - Kenny Smith
DL - Rashad Moore (95)
FB - Heath Evans (44)
FB - Kyle Eckel (38 )
G - Logan Mankins (70)
G - Stephen Neal (61)
G - Billy Yates (74)
G/C - Russ Hochstein (71)
OL - Dan Connolly (63)
K - Stephen Gostkowski (3)
LB - Mike Vrabel (50)
LB - Adalius Thomas (96)
LB - Tedy Bruschi (54)
LB - Victor Hobson
LB - Eric Alexander (52)
LB - Pierre Woods (58 )
LB - Larry Izzo (53)
LB - T.J. Slaughter
LB - Kyle Bissinger
LS - Lonie Paxton (66)
P - Chris Hanson (6)
P - Scott Player
QB - Tom Brady (12)
QB - Matt Cassel (16)
QB - Matt Gutierrez (7)
RB - Laurence Maroney (39)
RB - Sammy Morris (34)
RB - Kevin Faulk (33)
S - Rodney Harrison (37)
S - Brandon Meriweather (31)
S - James Sanders (36)
S - Tank Williams
S - Raymond Ventrone (41)
T - Matt Light (72)
T - Nick Kaczur (77)
T - Ryan O’Callaghan (68 )
T - Wesley Britt (65)
TE - Benjamin Watson (84)
TE - David Thomas (86)
TE - Marcus Pollard
TE - Stephen Spach (82)
TE - Jason Rader (85)
WR - Randy Moss (81)
WR - Jabar Gaffney (10)
WR - Wes Welker (83)
WR - Kelley Washington (15)
WR - Chad Jackson (17)
WR - Sam Aiken
WR - C.J. Jones (19)

66 players under contract as of 3/20/08 -
48 expected to make 2008 team

Aware of a move that I haven’t listed yet? E-Mail me.

(originally posted February 29, 2008 at 1:25 pm)

I know I have been way behind on the blogging of late. I didn’t mean to take this much time off, but circumstances have forced me to focus on being productive in other areas. More about that at the end of this entry (below). There is lots to cover since I am so far behind, not to mention some good stuff that has passed me by but not longer seems very timely.

Today’s Items:

1. Note to Bill Clinton: Shut the frack up already

It seems Mr. Clinton is determined to tarnish his own legacy, or at least what is left of it. He has been engaging in race baiting throughout the campaign, and now wants to get into a pissing contest with the media over whether or not this is the case.

See Clinton’s denial where he manages to shoot himself in the foot…

2. A great Wahl commentary on the campaign

Andrew has done it again. He is quite right in his commentary that the garbage between Obama and Clinton only serves to help McSame. I charge the Clintons with most of the problem, but also acknowledge that Obama has come down off of his pedestal a few times. But I am not sure what choices he is left with. Hillary is running a scorched earth campaign that forces him to be direct in responding. This then, of course, leads to accusations from the Clinton camp that he isn’t being consistent with his own desire to stay positive. How is this guy supposed to win against a candidate who is devoid of principle?

Anyway, here is the cartoon:

Cartoon by Andrew Wahl

3. More on Hillary’s mouth

“Four more years” might well apply to Hillary as well. She has now threatened to “obliterate” Iran if they launched a nuclear attack. Hello… they don’t have nuclear weapons, nor the delivery system to be a serious threat. Ready on Day One? Only if Day One is the start of the Apocalypse. Dubya probably couldn’t have said it better himself.

4. One more reason to support Obama…

Even Michael Moore is sick of the Clinton negativity, as is noted by his endorsement of Barack Obama. Most people won’t care about this endorsement; Moore himself is a divisive figure. But read his logic… he is dead on in his characterization of Clinton’s appealing to the worst side of white people to win the nomination. If I have said it once, I have said it a hundred times… there is no way on earth that I will support Hillary Clinton in the general election. If she receives the nod, Ralph Nader gets my vote.

5. Obama target of more stupid white racists

Read this priceless little gem. A church sign reads, “OBAMA OSAMA HUMM ARE THEY BROTHERS?” and the person responsible says it wasn’t intended to be racial or political. Yeah right… silly bigot, maybe you’re friends and congregation are stupid enough to eat that up, but the rest of us know better.

6. McCain travels back in time

To anyone thinking that John McCain is smarter than George Bush, look at his economic policy proposals. More of the McSame isn’t just relating to Iraq, but to destroying our economy as well. More ridiculous tax cuts that go to people and corporations that don’t need them, while the little guy continues to get soaked in the paycheck, at the gas pump, and in the grocery store.

7. This is news?

As the father or an eight year old girl, I am watching the evolution of Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana) with both hope and trepidation. So many stars collapse into themselves and become counter role models for our children. But Cyrus has to date stayed focused and clean and with the support of her father seems to be keeping her amazing success in perspective. It has been refreshing to see.

Now along comes CNN, reporting as actual NEWS that there is a Cyrus lookalike flashing on the web. On what planet does this merit coverage from a major news network? Are you people on drugs? Thus, our newest Moron of the Moment recipient is none other than the Cable News Network. It’s no wonder that I never watch you idiots any more.

8. Pats sign Tight End

Here is a non-news item that barely merits the attention of Patriots’ Nation… the Pats have signed TE Marcus Pollard. Woo hoo. As the article indicates, this has to be to distract everyones attention from the fact that they will use one of their picks to draft another rookie tight end. Pollard may be asked to play a Kyle Btady/Daniel Graham role, but I doubt he will be on the season opening roster.

The only thing worse this week is that the Pats appear ready to re-sign CB Ty Law. He must be on a diet if he thinks he can feed his family on the money he will get from the Patriots. Pats’ fans will know what I mean from that comment. I really don;t like this move, unless he is only being asked to play the nickel corner position, and it would seem we have plenty of players to compete for that spot. Law is a shadow if the player he once was with the patriots, and his attitude is less than welcome.

The Patriots also signed punter Scott Player and defensive lineman Kenny Smith.

9. Personal Updates

My absence the past couple of weeks has been primarily related to working on my literature review for my dissertation. I have been making slow but steady progress and am feeling pretty good about how things are progressing. I am still a few months removed from having a workable proposal to defend, but it is getting there.

In addition to that, work has been a bear of late. The changeover in our student government has kept me hopping, and it has been fun having a new group transition in. But it has also meant some long days and by the time I get home I have been too tired to write on the blog or on my lit review.

That’s all for now!

So Dubya finally came out and just admitted it; he approved of torture on U.S. detainees, an act that would very likely get him convicted of war crimes if he were anyone but the President of the United States of America.

As Dick Cheney is fond of saying… “So?”

The real shame of this nation is that we have sunk so low that our Criminal in Chief can flat out publicly admit violating the law and no one, not Congress, not the media, not anyone that truly matters, will even attempt to hold him accountable.

What a flock of sheep we have become.

No wonder John McCain thinks he will be our next president. We are so fixated on issues like who uses the word “bitter” that we don’t pay attention to any real issues. Questions like why are we still in Iraq, and why we are bailing out financial moguls that made piss poor decisions about the investing of their clients assets. Who cares about health care when someone asked Chelsea Clinton about Monica? Why should we be straining our brains over the corporate domination of our lives when we can write about what crappy bowlers Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are?

As the bumper sticker says… If you aren’t disgusted, then you aren’t paying attention.

Bush Aware of Advisers’ Interrogation Talks
President Says He Knew His Senior Advisers Discussed Tough Interrogation Methods
By JAN CRAWFORD GREENBURG, HOWARD L. ROSENBERG and ARIANE de VOGUE
April 11, 2008

President Bush says he knew his top national security advisers discussed and approved specific details about how high-value al Qaeda suspects would be interrogated by the Central Intelligence Agency, according to an exclusive interview with ABC News Friday.

“Well, we started to connect the dots in order to protect the American people.” Bush told ABC News White House correspondent Martha Raddatz. “And yes, I’m aware our national security team met on this issue. And I approved.”

As first reported by ABC News Wednesday, the most senior Bush administration officials repeatedly discussed and approved specific details of exactly how high-value al Qaeda suspects would be interrogated by the CIA.

The high-level discussions about these “enhanced interrogation techniques” were so detailed, these sources said, some of the interrogation sessions were almost choreographed — down to the number of times CIA agents could use a specific tactic.

These top advisers signed off on how the CIA would interrogate top al Qaeda suspects — whether they would be slapped, pushed, deprived of sleep or subjected to simulated drowning, called waterboarding, sources told ABC news.

Full story here…

Amid a very hectic schedule yesterday, I made sure to break away to walk to the other end of my building and listen to a refreshing and substantive speech by Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader.

The topic of his speech was civic engagement… talking to our students about why they should become active citizens in the community. Mr. Nader used very pointed examples, from Iran to corporate control of America, to motivate students to make a difference in society. And for nearly two hours, I got to listen to a political speech in which I didn’t disagree with a single thing said by the speaker.

Nader made one observation that I really had not thought of prior to yesterday… we really don’t live in a capitalistic democracy. Among other points, he noted that one major tenant of capitalism is that it thrives on true competition and that weaker competitors get washed out in the process. But that doesn’t happen in the U.S. Rather than allowing Bear Stearns to go belly-up, the U.S. government stepped in and bailed them out, using our tax dollars to do it. This isn’t competition… it is the government serving the interests of the corporations and the rich and powerful, while telling the little guy “so sorry” for being caught in the middle, and “so sorry” that the little guy has to pay higher taxes to make sure that corporations and the wealthy don;t have to pay their fair share.

Nader is right; we don’t live in a capitalist democracy. It is my view that we instead live in a plutocracy… a government of the wealthy. We feed the rich and we feed the machines, but the people can fend for themselves. And this is not just the fault of one party… both parties are equally guilty of having sold out to corporate interests. Clinton and Obama can yell all they want about defending the little guy, but either one of them is only marginally better than John McCain… it’s more like the difference of whether or not we get a sedative before we are all euthanized. Big whoop.

I continue to struggle with the choice between voting for a candidate I support in principle (Nader) with a candidate that I can believe can make some modest change (Obama). To be sure, Obama also offers the opportunity to engage in a serious dialogue on race in our nation. But Nader is correct in pointing out that the current dialogue looks more like Saturday Night Live than a serious political conversation.

Nader’s speech yesterday actually restored my faith that there are hopes to be able to turn our society around, and it cannot be with slow, incremental change, as too many people are going to suffer and get lost in the process. It truly is time for a Jeffersonian Revolution in our nation, and for that I couldn’t imagine a better spokesperson for that revolution than Ralph Nader.

Nader visits ISU, impresses necessity of civic action
By Michele Steinbacher
The Pantagraph

NORMAL — Democratic candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are locked in a back-and-forth exchange of barbs that illustrates a new low in presidential politics, third-party candidate Ralph Nader said Monday. | Video

Citing the latest dispute over Obama’s comment about rural voters being bitter and whether Clinton was sincere in her visit to a working-class tavern, Nader said their only hope of escape from the cycle of charge and countercharge is the voters.

“They can only be rescued by the people. … Voters need to raise the expectation levels,” said Nader, the famed consumer advocate whom Time magazine called one of the 100 most influential voices of the 20th century.

Nader was in Normal to speak at the Civic Engagement Celebration at Illinois State University. The event is tied to ISU’s participation in the American Democracy Project, which aims to help students at ISU and other campuses become more civic-minded and politically aware.

Nader called the the Democratic senators’ latest exchanges “highly exaggerated responses to casual sound bytes.” He said they embarrass the two candidates, the voters and everyone around the globe watching the presidential race.

“It’s as if these candidates are running for ‘Saturday Night Live’ and not the office of the president of the United States,” he said.

Nader called his own decision to join the presidential race a way to raise awareness about the lack of competition in the U.S. political process. The 2008 election marks his fifth campaign for the nation’s top post.

Full story here…

Here is an excellent piece on the forgotten part of the war from Link-TV.

Here is a terrific article from Truthdig that offers a view of some of the real damage done during the Bush administration, and the contempt that some appointed officials feel for the areas over which they hold responsibility. If we were ever at a place in our history where it was time to gut the entire system and boot everyone out, this would be it.

Seven Years of Scandal
Posted on Apr 8, 2008
By Marie Cocco

WASHINGTON—The latest plot twists are stunners, even as they unfold against the scandalous backdrop of the Bush administration’s sorry regulatory record.

On a single day last week, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee aired testimony from Federal Aviation Administration inspectors who discovered gross safety violations at Southwest Airlines—and were rebuffed by their superiors when they tried to force compliance with basic rules. Across the Capitol and at almost the same hour, the Senate Banking Committee was probing why neither the Treasury Department nor the Securities and Exchange Commission—or any other individual or agency in the government—could see the collapse of the investment bank Bear Stearns coming until it was hard and fast upon them and a $30 billion taxpayer-backed loan guaranty was needed to bail out the Wall Street giant.

A few days earlier, Labor Department investigators reported their findings on the role and performance of the Mine Safety and Health Administration in the Crandall Canyon Mine disasters in Utah that killed nine men last August. The mine safety agency was “negligent in carrying out its responsibility to protect the safety of miners,” the report said. It also failed to demonstrate that its approval of a risky method of coal extraction “was free from undue influence by the mine operator.”

If all of this is insufficient cause for alarm, there is always more. The Environmental Protection Agency has stacked its expert review panels with scientists who have ties to the chemical industry, according to a preliminary inquiry by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Meanwhile, the EPA removed a public health scientist from a review panel after she testified publicly about the hazards of a fire retardant that is suspected of causing cancer.

There is little surprise left when someone—a whistle-blower, a member of Congress, a scientist who has been muzzled—reveals fresh insight into the evisceration of health and safety regulation or the retaliatory thrusts the Bush administration takes against those who dare complain. Seen in historical context, the meltdown of the credit markets, the unseemly Wall Street bailout and the shock that federal overseers seemed to display when it all cascaded upon them are merely a larger part of an ugly pattern. “Was someone asleep at the switch?” a puzzled Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., asked of the financial wizards who came before the banking panel.

Not exactly. It is more accurate to say the switch has been turned off.

It has remained in the off position through seven years of scandal, embarrassment—and now, incalculable economic hardship—that would have shamed any other administration into using the regulatory apparatus of the federal government for its stated purpose of safeguarding the public and taxpayers.

The switch that was turned off and helped to create the credit crisis is the same one that was flipped at the FAA, where the airlines—not travelers—are now known as “customers.” The specifics of this scandal are chilling: Southwest Airlines was allowed to continue flying and “potentially transporting as many as 200,000 passengers on at least 47 aircraft,” according to documents reviewed by the transportation panel, despite laws that require suspect planes to be grounded immediately. Beyond the Southwest case, the committee’s staff told lawmakers in a memo, “There is evidence that there may be a pattern of regulatory abuse and that these regulatory lapses may be more widespread.” FAA safety inspectors overseeing other airlines complained in private interviews with the committee staff that “they found it difficult to bring enforcement action against airlines” because FAA management is too close to airline management.

The parameters are unchanged, regardless of whether the agency in question is supposed to be protecting the public from unsafe aircraft, or unscrupulous lenders, or deadly mines or lead-laced toys from China. Industry representatives are chosen to regulate the industries they once worked for—and to which they fully intend to return. Budgets are gutted, staff is cut, whistle-blowers are bullied.

There is a long history of Republican presidents who staff government agencies with those who have ties to the industries they regulate. The idea of foxes guarding the henhouses is not new. What may be unprecedented—and take longer to undo once a new president takes office—is a culture of contempt for serving the public that spans so many departments, and likely has done deeper harm than we now know.

Marie Cocco’s e-mail address is mariecocco(at)washpost.com.

So he did it again… General Patreaus tried to paint the failed surge as some kind of “fragile” success.

Bushit.

The surge was predicated on the influx of troops buying time for the Iraqi government to make political progress. That hasn’t happened. Despite Ambassador Ryan Crocker’s claims to the contrary, the Iraqi government would fold like a cheap tent if the U.S. were to withdraw… whether in five days, or another five years… nothing has been done to truly heal the wounds of what everyone but the administration recognizes as a civil war. And the violence, while slowed, is still ever present and of late has been an increasing problem, particularly for American troops. Oh, and do you remember those eighteen “benchmarks”? Exactly four of them have seen substantial progress. And Patraeus wants us to wait, once again, until September.

The monkey continues to throw shit, believing we will think it is bananas.

Here’s the real scoop, General. We had no strategy going into the war and, five years later, still have no frakking clue about how we are going to get out of it. This administration has been hell-bent on making this war someone else’s problem and, thanks to the lack of courage in Congress, it will succeed in this quest. And the Republicans are banking on the election of John McSame, so that we can have have a third term of this nonsense.

Our troops continue to die. Iraqi citizens continue to die. And General Patreaus keeps feeding bushit to Congress, so that this administration doesn’t have to face up to the reality of its own sins.

Petraeus: Return to ‘pre-surge’ troop levels, then wait

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Iraq is making “fragile but reversible” progress on security, but it’s too early to set dates to pull out all U.S. troops, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq told Congress on Tuesday.

Gen. David Petraeus said the number of troops should return to “pre-surge” levels this summer, but the military should gauge conditions before making further decisions.

After the 20,000 troops sent during last year’s surge are withdrawn, by July, the military should wait 45 days before deciding on more reductions, Petraeus told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

“This approach does not allow establishment of a set withdrawal timetable,” he said. “However, it does provide the flexibility those of us on the ground need to preserve the still fragile security gains our troopers have fought so hard and sacrificed so much to achieve.”

There has been “significant but uneven progress,” Petraeus said, but recent violence shows the progress is “fragile but reversible.”

Full story here…

FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts (Ticker)—The New England Patriots on Monday signed free agent linebacker Victor Hobson.

Terms were not disclosed, but the Boston Globe reported the deal was for one year.

Hobson, 28, has played in 76 career games - 58 starts - in five seasons with the New York Jets. For his career, he has 343 tackles, 11 sacks, and three interceptions.

The 6-foot, 252-pounder started 14 games at linebacker and made 62 tackles last season.

“Victor is a good young player with considerable playing experience,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “We ar