Kevin O'Connell waived

In a surprise move, Kevin O'Connell, 2nd QB who kind of looked like Tom Brady, was cut.

Not traded. Cut.

Some people have expressed surprise about this since even though he looked awful against the Redskins on Friday, we have a tradition of keeping those guys around. Consider how Matt Cassel looked last pre-season, then everything turned out to be okay. But apparently not with O'Connell (although he looked seriously bad on Friday night...two interceptions in two straight drives is not exactly promising).

This move has lead to speculation that the Patriots might acquire an experienced QB as back-up. It could also be noted that we already have two other QBs, Andrew Walter and Brian Hoyer. Walter is experienced, coming to us from the Raiders.

At least one commenter on Reiss' blog also assumed that Brady's shoulder injury is far more serious and he isn't going to play, so we need an experienced QB now. Panic mode comes to the Patriots and we haven't even started the season yet!

Matt Cassel takes icky injury to his leg

After what was reportedly an awful hit, Matt Cassel will probably miss 2-4 weeks with the Kansas City Chiefs. He has an MCL injury in his right knee, which is not the worst thing that can happen to you and does not require surgery to heal. This is not their first QB to go down. Someone might want to bulk up that O-line.

Tedy Bruschi to retire

Linebacker Tedy Bruschi is apparently having a press conference this morning to announce his retirement. He did great things with the Patriots, the least of which was coming back from a stroke to play. Although admittedly, last year was not his strongest and he missed a lot of training camp this season.

Still, sad day!

Red Sox keep everything very interesting

Yesterday there was cause for PANIC in Red Sox Nation because Wakefield was scratched from the rotation. Even I was feeling a bit of the panic mode over that one because I feel that we will need him playing well to get us to the post-season.

Then out of nowhere, and I literally mean nowhere, Paul Byrd shows up and shuts out the Blue Jays for 6 innings. Remember him? We signed him last year as a potential add to our pitching staff, then didn't really need him. Apparently he was sitting around until July or something, then got a call and came back, playing some games in the Gulf League (in Fort Myers, FL) and Pawtucket. Suddenly, he goes in for a start and blam. Chalk up a win for him. Oh, and we brought in our new acquisition Billy Wagner as well, who shut them down in the ninth to end the game. Red Sox win 7-0 and sweep the Blue Jays.

I don't really know what to make of the Red Sox pitching situation anymore. Take Tazawa. He shuts down the Yankees - the Yankees! - at Fenway Park. Then gives up 7 runs in two innings to the White Sox in his next start. Beckett, who has been looking very strong all year, begins giving up lousy hits and seems unable to win against power teams. Out of nowhere, Paul Byrd pitches a shutout. I've always said that I like the Red Sox because baseball is rarely boring with them. The pitching over the past week may be a new height of not-boring for this team.

In good news, Wakefield (who has -- strangely enough -- been the most consistent pitcher this season) is getting a cortisone shot tomorrow, so may be back soon.

I have a crazy theory

Last night, in the pre-season game against the Washington Redskins, Tom Brady was hit and landed on his right shoulder. He appeared to have, in the words of the announcer, 'tweaked' it and was shown doing a bit of readjusting on the sideline after the hit. This occurred near the end of the first half; in the second half, he came out to the bench, then went to the locker room.

These events have led to no lack of speculation about whether he is injured, whether he will be able to start the season, whether he will be out forever, etc.... The word 'pussy' has also been bandied about by people who have, undoubtedly, never been hit by a 250-pound NFL professional, much less work at a job that requires them to do this on a regular basis.

Here is my crazy theory: Tom Brady, indeed, tweaked the aforementioned shoulder. However, it is probably not serious. But because the Patriots' staff did not want other problems to develop and because it was a pre-season game, they decided instead that it made more sense to look at it right away. Hence why he went to the locker room. Insane, I know. So crazy it just might be true.

Red Sox Nation is in PANIC MODE

So I don't know how I missed this, but the Boston Globe did a survey back on August 17 to see how Red Sox fans felt about post-season chances this year. The results:

52.7% voted 'It's OK. As Jason Bay joked after Sunday's loss: "We should probably just pack up the season and call it a year, huh. Half-game back, might as well fold the tent."'

47.3% voted 'It's over. We're only going backwards at this point. Didn't Brady look great Thursday vs. the Eagles?'

Yay on Jason Bay's quote.

PS - Brady didn't look so great against Cincinnati. He even said so himself. I mean, apart from the fact that he just looks great in general, of course.

PPS - I don't know what's up with the font change (I mean, I know I changed it to try and get it uniform in this post, but no idea why I can't get it to match the blog in general). This one is called 'Georgia,' which seems about right since this week is also my 'Georgia Pies Tribute Week.' Long story.

Much better!

Last night Wakefield had a great outing, allowing only one run in 7 innings. So glad that he is back! And even Daniel Bard did fine (Ramon Ramirez not so much, but okay, we still won). Great night for pitching!

Then Papi got a home run -- his second of the game -- to win it in the bottom of the ninth.

Crazy. Let's hope they can keep it going!

In other news, Gagne of the Year has been released. That's right. No more cringing because it is Brad Penny's night in the rotation. We've also acquired Billy Wagner from the Mets as a semi-closer. Let's hope that he doesn't need a Gagne of the Year nomination...

And for something completely different...

I really must give credit to the Yankees and Red Sox. They rarely make it boring.

In a complete reversal from yesterday's result, today the Red Sox won 14-1. Tazawa was the winning pitcher and allowed no runs in 6 innings. Tomorrow will be Beckett and Sabathia (plus it is on ESPN so I can watch it!).

In the best news of the day, though, Wakefield is scheduled for Wednesday, which was supposed to be Penny's day.

Gagne of the Year

I am hereby inaugurating a new award in baseball. It is called the 'Gagne of the Year.' Awarded to the most recent pitching acquisition who turns out to be a complete disaster. Of course, this award is in honor (?) of Eric Gagne, who was so brutal during the 2007 playoffs that the only safe time to play him was when the Red Sox had a 5-run lead late...that way he would be unable to blow it in the case of a grand slam.

This year's 'Gagne of the Year' goes to Brad Penny. Not only has he pitched quite incompetently late in the season, he capped off his awfulness tonight by conceding 6 runs to the Yankees in the first two innings. Final score: 20-11 (that was 20-11 for the Yankees of course...there was no last-minute comeback here).

Congratulations (?), Brad Penny.

Wakefield pitched tonight in Pawtucket as part of rehab. His comments:

"I feel very comfortable that I can pitch in the big leagues again." He added that he felt well. "Physically, I feel great."

We want -- nay need -- you to come back. Please come back. Please!

Stephen Neal provides this week's Belichick of the Week

Answering a reporter as to whether the Patriots' offensive line is still among the best in the league:

“I wouldn’t say that,” he said. “I wouldn’t say that at all. We’re just out here sweating, trying to get better. We’ve got a long way to go to be that.”

That's pretty much textbook, I would say.

Posting on Red Sox meet-up group in Tampa

Sent on the email list today:

'Just saying hi from Boston. Not only do I get to watch the games on Nesn but I get to see 3 hrs of pre and post game shows delving into the sorry state of the Red Sox at this moment. The Nation in Boston is in PANIC MODE.'

Incidentally, this comes after a series sweep against the Blue Jays with Bay, Ortiz, and Drew apparently deciding to wake up and hit some baseballs.

Ochocinco single-footedly beats Patriots

In a weird turn of events, Chad 'Estaban' Ochocinco (as he is now calling himself) kicked for the extra point after the touchdown in the pre-season game against the Patriots. The Bengals went on to win 7-6 after a BAD turn-over on the last drive by the Pats.

You know what I like about pre-season? I don't really care that they lost. Tom Brady was taken out after the first quarter(-ish...I was paying more attention to the series-sweeping Red Sox tonight to be honest). At one point he was sacked, and apparently survived that ordeal. *phew*

NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

I realize I've used this title before, but it needs to come back. Because Mr. Comeback-then-falter may also be coming back. That's right. Favre is apparently talking to the Vikings.

We probably all guessed that this was in the cards when the Vikings had an injury at QB. But NO! Don't let this be! If you weren't ready to play a month ago, Brett, you're not ready now!

First preseason Patriots game

Yeah, apparently I have become a person who watches preseason games. Via a medium that doesn't convey football well (the NFL Game Center on nfl.com). But yeah.

Anyway, Tom looked to be back to his dominant self in the first half, marching up and down the field like no one's business. And while he and Randy Moss had some problems co-ordinating, there was a 35-yard pass in there on the last drive. Sweet! The score was 21-6 at halftime. They have now put in Walter as QB to start the second half.

Also good: our red zone defense is holding them back, as in they have yet to score a touchdown at the start of the third quarter. This was an area of considerable weakness last season, so let's hope that we do better this year!

Tip to the Eagles: you're going to find it hard to win when you get 90 yards of penalties in one half.

In other news involving the Eagles, they have signed Michael Vick. He apparently can't play until he is reinstated in Week 6. Interesting. And kind of weird. Is he meant to be the back-up?

Eli Manning now highest-paid player in football

REALLY?????

Probably the stupidest allocation of salary cap I have heard of. I would even say (and this is not something I would say often) that Peyton has earned a higher salary than Eli.

Eli?????

What has he done for you lately?

Also, I think we're all clear that Eli didn't really win the Superbowl for the Giants, it was their phenomenal defense that did!

(If you're curious: that picture was taken outside Fenway. The t-shirt has the 'I Hate Peyton Manning' on the front and the 'Eli Sucks Too' on the back. And yes, I do now own one).

Interesting method of building a team

The Jets are at it again. Apparently, new coach Rex Ryan thinks that the best way to get them in a competitive mindset by actually punching each other. And also, apparently this type of behavior is completely normal at this time of year in training camp, which is strange because I have yet to read any other stories about guys punching each other at other team training camps. Seems to me -- and I could be wrong here -- that it might be better to figure out other ways of controlling temper or else such behavior could transfer over against an opponent. But what do I know?

Also, is it just me, or are the Jets amazing kiss-asses to whoever the coach is? Note Kellen Clemens' quotes about how awesome this is, so much awesomer than the Mangini years.

Speaking of training camps, I'm going to Foxborough on Friday!!!

And then there was one

Tavaris Jackson went down during today's practice with the Vikings. It appears to have been a leg injury. So far, there is no status update as to when he will return. That leaves them with Sage Rosenfels (or 1).

On a related note, here is a personal interest story about a not very bright Vikings fan. Pretty sure that there are plenty of Jets fans who could have warned him.

PR People should maybe liase with Front Office People more often

The Cleveland Indians traded Victor Martinez to the Red Sox yesterday in a last-minute deal. While this fact in and of itself is noteworthy (particularly because now we have another Youk-type player who can play virtually anywhere at any time), there is now a headache in Cleveland since they had planned for not one but two Martinez give-aways this week.

Oops.

As for how this affects the Red Sox: Martinez can play either 1st base or catcher. I see an eventual replacement for Varitek here, although probably not immediately (at least the club says that is not the plan). Supposedly, he will take over sometimes at first when Lowell needs a break so that Youkilis can move over. Also, he can serve as a DH in case our DH is not producing. However, Papi seems to be doing just fine in that department these days.

We traded three pitchers including Justin Masterson, who was one of those up-and-coming talents. I guess that the management figured there were sufficient up-and-comers, although with the pitching I have seen of late from Penny and Smoltz, I am not so sure about that. I do see the logic, though, since Masterson was primarily coming out of the bullpen and for once we seem to actually have a decent bullpen.

Bearing in mind that it is still August, of course. Naturally the bullpen can still fall completely apart. Ah, the mid-summer skepticism of a Red Sox fan, can't be beat.