Will Belliturd shake McDaniels hand? Or blow him off?

You're kidding, right? Belichick has been an NFL coach since 1976, the year that McDaniels was BORN. I'm thinking that Belichick MIGHT come up with a way to try to deal all the wrinkles McDaniels comes up with.

I also note that I'm sure his Ratness had no words of advice regarding his former players when he visited the Hooded One back during the Pats' training camp. I mean, it's not like they're friends and BB knew the Broncos were on the schedule or anything...

http://cdn.necn.com/files/2009/08/05...ap-2161492.jpg

McDaniels, like Dimitroff in Atlanta, Weis at ND, Crennel in neverneverland, and Pioli in KC, remains a member of the extended Belichick network.

Mangina is dead, and his long slow demise in Cleveland is a joy to behold, though I pity the poor, long-suffering Browns fans who drove BB out of their town, and then had their team leave on them only to watch them both win SBs a few years later.

I disagree, especially since they beefed up the rules BECAUSE of Brady's injury last year. Brady gets that call, but so does Peyton, Big Ben, Brees, Rivers.... as I said, maybe Russell in Oakland doesn't get it. Which is wrong. But the human refereeing element in sports is always an issue. Baseball umpires have their own strike zones, and vary from pitch to pitch. Basketball refs have their own ideas of what a foul looks like. Football is no different. Unless they're going to have a refereeing committee in an overhead booth and LITERALLY review each play for 30 seconds to make a decision, there's no way around it.

Belichick learned everything he knows about the 3-4 Defense from when he was in Denver learning from Joe Collier. Advantage Denver.;)

I know Shanahan was there. I also know that Shanahan visited the Steelers.

52% of last years' roster is gone. The only help Shanahan could give Belichick is with Denvers' offensive line.

My thoughts, randomly stated:

1. Patriots have always had trouble with Denver, epsecially at Mile High. With Shanahan, especially, but even before him with Dan Reeves.

2. Patriots had TREMENDOUS turnover this past offseason. Much more than normal for any NFL team, much less one that went 11-5 last year. Lots of coaches left, not just McDaniels, and a number of senior players retired or were traded. Because of that, we started off very slow. Squeaking past the mediocre Bills, and losing to the Jets. But we're improving faster than any team in the NFL, as Brady gains more confidence and the defense learns each other's names (with Mayo out, only something like 4 starters otu of 11 returned on the defense). The Pats team that played the Ravens was exponentially better than the pathetic version that squeaked by Buffalo.

3. Patriots defense is surprisingly good. If Mayo comes back, and he may be back this week as he seemingly participated in practice last Friday, then look out. This defense may be much better than anyone had anticipated before the season started.

4. McDaniels is a good coach, and I have no doubt he has several very explicit thoughts on the weaknesses of the Patriots players. That said, it's not as if every other team in the NFL hasn't been attacking the Patriots' perceived weaknesses for years. You think Mangina didn't speak with other coaches and try to give them tips when he was HC of the NYJ? Haven't Patriots coaches left to go to other franchises before. Other players have moved on too -- Ty Law, Lawyer Milloy, Drew Bledsoe, the list is nearly endless.

I think it will be a tough game, but I think the Patriots can and will take Marshall out of the game, as they did TO and Tony Gonzalez, while the Broncos will struggle to contain the rapidly improving Pats offense.

I admit that I don't believe, yet, that the Broncos are "real". In fact, the entire AFCW seems pretty unreal to me, and not in a good way.

Well, if that's how you're gonna play it... most of the Patriots' D is new, so McDaniels will have little to go on. And on O, McDaniels has no immediate familiarity with Fred Taylor, Julian Edelman, Joey Galloway (if he can get off the bench)... :shrug: And, yeah, McDaniels might know Brady, Moss, and Welker... but knowing them doesn't equal stopping them. That's one of the best QBs in NFL history, one of the best WRs in NFL history, and a little white guy who's quickly turning into one of the best clutch WRs around in terms of moving the chains and making things happen.

Like I said, I concede that the Broncos are better than expected. I had them pegged for 2nd or 3rd in the AFC West, at around 5 to 7 wins, maybe 8. It looks like they have a good shot at finishing over .500, maybe even winning the division. But 4-0 can turn sour quickly as well, so let's not print those playoff tickets until we see them finish this upcoming stretch against very tough teams.

No that it means anything in the game coming up, but we flat out own the Patriots, period.

Well that would certainly be a case of the student outdoing the master...

Alot of that "help" stuff is overrated. By the time a player has been int he league for a few years, the book on him is pretty much written.

John Elway, who won't be playing in this weekends game, was 16-0 all time versus the PAts. That means in John's 16 year career, one entire regular season was spent just beating the Patriots.

You seem to have forgotten the most recent game between our teams. Surprising, since it was on a Monday night and all.

Let me help you refresh your memory:

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/27288299/

Well considering the Ravens had to beat the Patriots and the refs it's not suprising that the Pats were able to squeak by the Ravens.

I've noted the key words in your post. I suggest that you would agree with me that Orton doesn't equal Elway.

So the Ravens say. They seem to complain about the refs alot when they lose to the Patriots. I dont' blame them -- the Brady rule is annoying for defensive players. I'm not hugely in favor of some of them myself. But learn the rules and play by them is all you can do.

I remember it. I also know we have your coach that made it happen for you offensively. It should be a good game and your team could definately win the game, but lets not act like your team is some kind of juggernaut that's unstoppable.