What the Red Sox need out of Jon Lester tonight: Why 8 innings is a must

Jon Lester kicked off the World Series with a rousing 5 hit 8 strikeout Game One performance. Following that 8-1 win that the Sox extended their World Series game winning streak to 9 games over 3 series appearances, it seemed that Boston had the caliber to pull off a 3rd straight series sweep. But we all know what happened next. The Sox lost home field advantage with their loss in Game 2 and then fell behind in the series following that teeth gritting obstruction call that ended Game 3.  

When Jon Lester comes to pitch tonight it will be a whole new situation compared to that surrounding Game One. First and foremost, the scene will be different. Lester went 8-7 on the road this season and posted a road ERA almost a full run higher than his home ERA. However in his 1 road start of this postseason there was no discrepancy between his home and road performance. Lester earned the win in Boston's 4-3 victory in Game 5 of the ALCS. And although he allowed 7 hits in 5.1 innings he limited a potent Tigers attack to just 2 runs. The second and far more prevalent aspect that makes this start different from others is the fact that due to recent events, the Sox bullpen door will be all but pinned shut. They have no fresh pitchers, a fact that was emphasis by John Lackey pitching out of the pen last night. In addition to that, the guys who are fresh are not desirable in clutch situations. Craig Breslow has been slipping of late and has solicited just ONE out in 3 appearances. But he is not the only man who is struggling. Ryan Dempster had flopped in the pen this postseason allowing a home run in his lone appearance back in Game 1. As for starters converted relievers like Lackey, that is not an option tonight. Lackey will be starting on Wednesday and after Clay Buchholz barely made his start yesterday, he is not an option. You can cross out Jake Peavy and then with Lester starting tonight, that is it. 

Finally, even guys who are already in the bullpen will not be available tonight as a combination of previous long stints of relief and the looming possibility of a game seven in which they will likely have to fill in for upwards of 6 innings means Workman and Dubront will need to be monitored work wise.  

There is no doubt about it, a win tonight is crucial for both teams and for the Sox to win, we know that Jon Lester needs to be good. As you delve deeper 'good' means innings. At least 8 of them. 

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Shane Victorino a late scratch from Red Sox game 4 lineup, David Ross put in for Jarrod Saltilamaccia

Shane Victorino might as well be named Shane Victory.

With his Game Six grand slam in the ALCS or his willingness to sprint headlong into walls all season long, the Sox left fielder has proved to be one of the most likable players on this Red Sox team. But nevertheless, he like so many other players on this team, has sustained injury over the past 6+ months and after he was beaned in the back last night, Shane's tolerance of his injuries might have run out.

Less than an hour before Game Four began, John Farrell announced that his prized right fielder had been scratched from the lineup. As a result of that move, Danial Nava will move to right field and Johnny Gomes will march out to play left field. The Red Sox are 7-1 in playoff games in which Gomes starts as the presence of Boston's gritty bearded workhorse has always worked wonders on and off the field.

Furthermore, Victorino was not the only scratch from tonight's game. After catcher Jarrod Saltilamaccia shouldered the majority of the blame for last night's errant throw and ensuing obstruction call, he was finally benched to make room for skilled defensive catcher: David Ross.

"We're looking to get some spark, get some offense going," manager John Farrell said before Sunday's game. "That's why David is in there today."

Ross has made just 3 playoff starts this postseason but in that time he has not been bad. Now granted his offensive numbers are nothing compared to those of Saltilamaccia but nevertheless, the Sox backup catcher has belted 4 hits in 13 at bats to compile an average of .357. As for his defense, the single error in 36 regular season games speaks volumes compared to the 6 committed by Saltilamaccia. It calms Red Sox fans who will be forever haunted by the sight of that ball whistling past 3rd base last night.  

The lack of Victorino hitting number 2 will certainly be noticed in Game Four but with so many weapons on offence the ADDITION of David Ross on defense will likely balance it all out.  

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How are those fingernails?: Patriots pull out insane 2nd half comeback to drop Miami 27-17

As you look back on these past 2 weeks, it is a miracle that any Boston sports fan has any fingernails left to bite. 

You have seen the Brady-Thompkins game winning TD pass and then just hours later you saw David Ortiz belt a grand slam to tie Game Two of the ALCS  and set the stage for Jarrod Saltilamaccia to win the game and tie the series 1 game apiece. 4 games later, it was the long ball once again that brought us out of our seats as Shane Victorino in theory smacked home the long ball that sent the Red Sox to the World Series.  

And then there was the Patriots who, after pushing their Week 7 game with the Jets into overtime saw their hopes dashed by a never before called penalty. But even after all of that, we would soon come to realize that the drama had not concluded. On Saturday night, the Bruins saw a 3-2 lead turn into a 4-3 loss right before their eyes all in a matter of seconds and then hours later the Red Sox squeaked out an insane Game 3 of the World Series only to lose on a questionable obstruction call at 3rd base.  

For better or worse, it has seemed that greater forces have been renting permanent suites at Boston area sporting events and after two weeks of insanity those forces showed us that they were not ready to leave Gillette Stadium yet. 

After going 2 and 1 over the past 3 weeks, it was no military secret that in order to keep pace as a top team in the NFL, the Patriots needed a win this afternoon. But for the Patriots, the motivation tonight drove far deeper the simply the win loss record. Over the past 3 weeks, New England had lost its identity as well as several key players. As the QB of a team devoid of Vince Wilfork, Jerod Mayo and in scattered stints, Danny Amendola Tom Brady needed to be perfect and since New England's 30-23 victory in Atlanta he had not been. Since Atlanta, Brady had complied just 1 touchdown pass and had put up a combined quarterback rating of 35.3. He was not simply playing unacceptable football, he was playing BAD football.  

That trend continued through the first 30 minutes of Sunday's game with Miami.  

Through those 2 quarters, Brady put up just 25 yards through the air and struggled to even get the ball past midfield. It was obvious that he had no trust in most anybody but Julian Edelman, Gronkowski or Ammendola and when those three guys got covered, Tom was lost. The Patriots ended the half trailing 17-3. The boos began to rain down and for the first time since 2003, Tom Brady failed to compile more than 30 yards in a half. Yet by the time the Patriots reemerged from the locker room prior to the 3rd quarter, everything had changed. After New England surrendered an early punt to kick off the 3rd quarter, the Dolphins marched up the field and seemed poised to strike until a fearsome 9 yard sack of Miami QB: Ryan Tannahil pushed them into a field goal situation. The wind was fighting kicker Caleb Sturges all the way and though it helped him convert on a late 2nd quarter kick, it hindered his efforts here in the 3rd and changed the tide of the game. Sturges clanked the 46 yard attempt off the right upright and gave New England the ball on the 36 yard line. From there it took New England just 5 plays to march the ball up the field and power a 14 yard TD pass into the mitts of Aaron Dobson. That touchdown pass moved Brady up to 4th on the all-time list. 

Goskowski would convert on the extra point but for New England that was only the start of the rally. They were still down 17-10 and needed 1 more touchdown to tie the game. That nearly came just 45 seconds later as after just 1 play, Tannahill was sacked and promptly fumbled the ball which was soon scooped up by Patriot Rob Nincovich. Now at first glance it appeared that Nincovich hopped back to his feet after recovering the ball untouched meaning that after he marched into the end-zone the score would count. But looks can be deceiving as it was shown in film that Rob was in fact touched by the shoulder of a Miami offensive lineman before he got back to his feet. 

Yet regardless of that, the ball was still seated comfortably inside the 5 yard-line and before long it would be marched in for the touchdown. Game tied, 17-17. 

The Patriots would add on a game winning touchdown in the 4th quarter and as the clock expired, the boos that were heard echoing around Gillette Stadium following the 1st half seemed far off. The elation spinning inside the mind of Patriots coach: Bill Belichick was shown on his face but even more so, it was shown in the win column. Tom Brady threw just 116 yards through the air and still blasted a pick to start the game but in the end he came through when he needed to most. New England forced 3 turnovers an improved their run game combining for 152 yards and watching as Stephan Ridley put up 79 yards on the ground.  

"The momentum always kind of goes back-and-forth as the game goes on." Tom Brady said post-game "You love to have those momentum plays. We had the touchdown to Gronk [Rob Gronkowski] that got called back on the holding penalty – that would have been a big play. It's up and own and you just try to stay focused on your execution and stay focused on what you need to do." 

Brady was not perfect but today he did not half to. It was a team effort and frankly if you can get away with playing as bad as you did in the first half and still grind out the win, it becomes clear the pure potential that sits within your locker room. 

As for the hand of Tom Brady that has been noted by countless reporters as being swollen, Brady insists that he is fine. 

"I didn’t know [how] anyone knows what the back of my right hand looks like, but it looks fine to me and it feels good. I’ll be out there next week; you don’t have to worry about that."

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Its make or break for Jake Peavy: Why his ALCS start combined with the importance of the one tonight will decide Jake Peavy's longevity as a pitcher

When 32 year old, right handed pitcher: Jake Peavy marches to the pitching mound tonight, the world will be watching simply because of the stage for which Jake is pitching. 

With the World Series knotted at 1 game a piece it is no lame fact that the outcome of tonight's 8:07 game between the Red Sox and Cardinals might very well decide the outcome of the World Series as a whole. After the Red Sox failed to hold onto a 2-1 lead in Game 2 of Baseball's Championship Series they lost home field advantage and fell into a situation where, if they were going to win the Series they would have to steal one on the road. Their first chance to do that comes here tonight and even with as much importance as this game carries, mid-season acquisition, Peavy is as good as the Sox can get. 

We all saw this game on the schedule and cringed when it was announced that Peavy would start it. We joked about it at first but felt a bit of the weight come off our chests when Boston coasted to that 8-1 win in Game One. As the very worst it seemed that going into Game 4 Boston would be UP  2-1 in the series but now, in the event of a Peavy loss, Boston would be trailing a Cardinals team that has had more World Series success than any other since 2000.  

Peavy knows the importance of this start.

"And so to go out in a World Series game and have a chance to sway the odds, the favor, in your direction, on the road, against a team that's got some momentum with a big win at our place? Of course, this is the biggest start in my career." 

The previous 'biggest start of his career' came in the ALCS and it did not work out so well. Peavy struggled to throw strikes and made it through just 3 innings while allowing 5 hits and 7 runs.  

Following that failure, fans questioned Peavy's attitude and accused him of being 'too amped up'. That last part stings the most. Even while taking into account the lack of consistency in Peavy's 6 starts in Boston he has been far better than the alternative. Before Peavy, the Sox were starting guys like Kyle Whilend, Stephan Wright and so many other unprepared AAA starters. Fact is without him, the ease for which Boston clenched the AL East would not have existed and without Jake the AL would probably have belonged to Oakland.  

Peavy must execute tonight and he needs to do it for way more than 4 or 5 innings. Why? Because despite the day off between games 2 and 3, Boston's bullpen is fatigued and it has shown in their lack of poise in clutch situations. You had Dempster allowing the homer in Game One and then there was Breslow's collapse on Thursday night. And those are just 2 mistakes among several that have been committed since pretty much the conclusion of the ALDS.  

John Farrell knows this but also trusts the ability his starter has to bounce back. 

"The one thing I think he's done a very good job of in the last three or four starts is creating an energy level in his delivery that doesn't take away from locating pitches. In his second inning in Detroit, I thought he started to pitch a little too fine and maybe didn't trust his stuff enough, which wasn't the case in the first inning."  

The energy Farrell referenced has never been lacking with Peavy on the mound as it was stated earlyer today  by WEEI's John Dennis that "Peavy cant get through a pitch without screaming at the hitter and screaming at himself for a little while."  

Sox left fielder Danial Nava says that integration with every pitch rubs off on Peavy's teammates. 

"There's no one who wants the ball more than Jake Peavy right now," said Daniel Nava, who will be starting in left field in Game 3. "And I think that's the right guy to have on the mound.When you have a guy yelling at the top of his lungs at himself on the mound, it's also entertaining. It gets me pumped up."

It is make or break for Jake Peavy. A win tonight and he is loved by all. A loss and he might never again play baseball in Boston. 

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You are not welcome: Why a national obsession with offence is screaming for an MLB wide introduction of the designated hitter rule

While opinions on it's being instated still vary, the Designated Hitter Rule has without a doubt made baseball a more offensive game.  

In the 2013 MLB regular season, AL playoff teams combined to win 470 games. That is just 1 more than the cumulative wins total achieved by the NL teams in the same positions. These blatant numbers show with firm certainty that there is no obvious mismatch in the talent of these two leagues yet when you look at the runs scored column, the equity all but vanishes. AL playoff teams scored 3,861 times in 2013 and worked out to produce a team by team average of 772.2 runs per season and 4.76 runs per game. By comparison the 3,452 runs compiled by NL teams drops the NL playoff team average to 690.4 runs per year and 4.26 runs per game. 

As you attempt to take in those numbers, it also deserves mentioning that although top batting average hitter: Miguel Cabrera hailed from the AL, the NL boasted 8 hitters in the top ten of the batting average list. When you move over to the home run total, the NL domination of the leader board remains ever present with 4 guys on the list and a good 10 more if you extend the list to the top 20 long ball hitters. The National League is not one devoid of power and as you look at its lineups, it succeeds at everything the American League does and is in some was better. The one exception to that statement was profiled earlier with the runs scored analysis and is shown once again in the individual RBI statistics. The NL had just 2 hitters in the top ten list of RBI hitters.   

To provide a logical reason for this AL dominance the one difference between the skeletal build of an AL team in comparison to an NL team can be pointed to.

For most pitchers, their coaches do not even trust them to hit as even guys who snagged 25 to 50 game appearances rarely got to notch more than 2 or 3 at bats a game. What’s worse is the fact that even when these pitchers came to bat, their lack of knowledge and poise when trying to say, pull the ball, translated into a seemingly endless barrage of ground ball outs and failures in clutch situations. Take Dodgers pitcher Zach Grenkie for example. He started 29 games in 2013 and notched 58 at bats. He clocked 19 hits and even 3 doubles but only drove in 4 runs. His failure to produce with men on base is shown by the weak stature of that last number. For another example, I give you Rockies righty: Tyler Chatwood who led all MLB pitchers with 7 RBI's in 40 at bats. He grabbed 12 hits and worked out an acceptable average of .300. The only problem there is the fact that when you compare him to other fielders and DH's that hit .300, his average of .175 RBI's per at bat is baby like. 

Pitchers come to bat and most of the time they walk back to the dugout, victims of strike outs or easy force outs at 1st. DH’s however are much different. While many do not hit with the power that guys like David Ortiz do, they are singles machines and routinely march in averages in the high 2 hundreds. Pitchers get out, and DH's often do not.  

But there are still the doubters so teams are forced to compromise meaning that the enforcing of the DH rule is determined by which ball park a game is being played in. When the AL gets games at home, they get a DH, when the NL gets games at home they get the privilege of having their each pitcher strike out 4 times a game.  

All joking aside, Red Sox fans have seen first-hand what happens when they lose the DH position. It is no secret that they would not be half as good without David Ortiz so therefore even when he cannot play his natural role of designated hitter they cannot afford to let him sit. So he is moved to first base and for 6 or 7 games a year you see big old David Ortiz in the field. He is never lost there as let’s face it, first base is not the hardest position in baseball. Ortiz has not committed an error in 4 years (21 starts), but nevertheless, those 6 or 7 games do damage to the mental routine of a guy who prior to those scattered starts at first had often spent 50+ games watching while his team was defending. It wrecks his routine and at several points in his career has sent him spiraling into hopeless slumps.  

"Even Papi struggles." Ortiz said back in August when he went 0 for 22 following a few starts at first base. But if he was simply allowed to be designated hitter full time, he might not have to struggle. 

It has happened throughout all professional sports. That is leagues trying to spawn more and more offence. The MLB took the first step down that path with the introduction of the DH rule to the AL but almost half a century later it is time to seal the deal, abandoning the prospect of a power hitting pitcher and bowing down to the rousing sounds of balls careening off the bats of designated hitters across the MLB.  

But in the meantime, David Ortiz will return to first base for 3 out of 4 games in this 2013 World Series and risk the possibility of a slump simply because his is just too good not to. 

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World Series bound: Shane Victorino's 7th inning grand-slam sends Red Sox to the World Series AND a look back at what this win represents

He rounded first fist hanging high above his head. The fans over the monster watched the ball as it spun temptingly towards the comfort that would reside in this ball leaving the yard.

Shane Victorino felt the same and as he jogged towards 2nd base, his wishes were granted. For the second time in 4 games, the Boston Red Sox had scored a pivitol, game ending grand slam. The only difference between Ortiz's bomb in game 2 and Victorino's in game 6 was the fact that in game 2 all that slam did was win a game. In game 6, Victorino won a series. 6 outs later the Boston Red Sox were going to the World Series and for the 3rd time in a month Fenway was in pandemonium and champagne was in surplus back in the Boston clubhouse.

For Red Sox fans, the win that followed Victorino's grand slam represented their 3rd ALCS pennant in 10 years. But for so many other of those jubilant fans, the past meant nothing. As much as this 10 year run in which the Sox have now won 9 playoff series looks like a dynasty to those who look deeper it becomes clear that the past decade has been anything but.  Their title defense in 2008 was cut short by the White Sox after just 3 games in the ALDS. One year later, they missed October altogether loosing 76 games and ending the year 11 games behind the division winning Yankees. But 1 year later none of that mattered as with a nearly identical team, the Sox erased the pain of 2006 and won it all in 07. From there however, the Sox began their 5 year slide as from 2008 on they went from an ALCS loss to an ALDS loss to 3 consecutive playoff less seasons. The 3rd of those years was the hardest to bear largely because of one man: Bobby Valentine. They lost 93 games in 2012 and Valentine was fired at the end of the year and so the rebuild began.

They signed Johnny Gomes, signed Mike Napoli, nabbed Joel Hanrahan and brought Koji Uehara to Beantown. When the season ends, it will without a doubt be the beginning of a long discussion on which was the best offseason move made by GM Ben Cherrington. As it stands, this postseason has made it clear that that discussion will involve just two moves: Shane Victorino and Koji Uehara.

Last night however, while both of those men did in fact play before the 27th out was recorded, Victorino was the man of the night.

"I told myself, 'Get a pitch I can handle." He said when asked for his insight into the lead-up to the 7th inning bomb. "Try to tie the game, at the minimum. Give ourselves a chance. Get us back in the game and give us another chance. Fortunately I got a 0-2 curveball that I could handle and was able to hit a home run. It was a special moment. It's been a special year. We battled, and to have good moments like this, you cherish it."

After pounding his fist against his chest so hard that you were worried he might break something, Victorino touched home and threw himself into the arms of Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz in that order. This bomb was Victorino's second such hit in postseason play.

"He's a money player," said David Ortiz for referencing Shane's 2 for 23 slump. "I don't care that he was 2-for-23, or 0-for-whatever. Money players come through at the right time, and he did."

The idea of money players has been clutch this season as with 27 comebacks and 10+ walkoffs guys like Victorino, Stephan Drew and Johnny Gomes have all nabbed endless lists of bug hits. We have already spoken about Victorino but when you look back at what allowed for the bases to be loaded prior to Victorino coming to bat, Drew and Gomes both deserved at lest an astrix next to the big 4 spot in the 7th frame of last night's box score.  

After back to back errors commuted by relief pitcher Brandon Workman, Miguel Cabrara came to bat with runners on 1st and 2nd. He took just 1 pitch before he slammed what looked like a sure hit right back where it came from. Drew however came out of nowhere, laid out to glove the ball and then hopped to his feet to throw out a slow running Cabrara at first. 

Fans cheered for Drew but it would not take long for those cheers to regnight. This time, that roar could be attributed to the work of Johnny Gomes. As the lead off hitter in the bottom of the 7th inning, Johnny Gomes rammed a high fly ball to left field and came just 6 inches shy of clearing the top of the wall. 

"Yeah, where there's smoke, there's fire, and that created a little smoke," Gomes said.

After Stephan Drew struck out, Xander Bogarts milked a walk and Jacoby Ellsbury reached on an error thus loading the bases. We all know what happened next. 

"I wanted to run around with him I was so excited," said second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who was in the on-deck circle when the ball got out. "I had a great view. It was just a great swing. He's got a great curveball. For Vic to stay back like that and drive it, it was unbelievable."

Baseball is a sport that brings the kid out even the most mature of men. It caused Dustin Pedroia to sprint towards the plate and forcefully slam the most violent of high fives in the direction of his teammate and above all it has captivated a city of Red Sox fans and 1 year after getting dropped in 93 heart wrenching losses the Sox have stormed back and now...they are in the World Series.

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Why the NFL may be trying TOO hard to make its game safer: A look at why yesterday's game changing Patriots penalty is a perfect example

Rules are put in place in order to prevent injury and discourage the negative actions of forcible players. Penalties are put in place to enforce those rules that govern any imperfect league.

9 times out of 10, penalties are enhancing of the game and prolong the exciting drives that make football fun to watch. They get us all riled up and so long as the game is not decided on a questionable call, all is well. But in the rare occasion that a game is decided or even majorly altered as a result of a penalty that is either not clearly defined in the rule book or was never committed, a less than desirable stew of anger and confusion begins to brew.  

Such was the case Sunday afternoon in New York as with the game trundling into overtime, the Patriots had forced the Jets into a nearly impossible 56 yard field goal. Kicker, Nick Folk came on kicking for what would, if he converted, be his longest successful kick. As the ball was pushed wide left however, a penalty was called. At the time no one knew what the infraction was. Why? Because this was the first time in NFL history that this aspect of the NFL's Rule 9, Section 1, Article 3.2 in the rule book was implicated. 

Patriots special teamer Chris Jones was called for "pushing" his own player from behind while also making the attempt at blocking the kick. There is nothing wrong with the attempted block portion of that play but for the NFL it was the pushing his own player that raised eyebrows. 

The rule states that “[Defensive] players cannot push teammates on the line of scrimmage into the offensive formation.” When you look  at the replays, you cannot argue with the call. No for Patriots fans to find the reason for their anger they must look deeper and question the inner integrity of the NFL Rule Book and complain not about the referees but those who instated this regulation in the first place.  

Over the past few years, the NFL has been making a noticeable effort to cut down on the injuries taking place on the field. They have tightened up the rules on helmet involvement in hitting and have strictly enforced rules pertaining to the hitting of a defenseless receiver. They have tweaked kickoffs and have dropped the rate of concussions suffered on such plays by almost 40%. Those rules however are just a few of countless newly put in place in order to eliminate the concussions that cost the NFL over 700 million dollars in lawsuit settlement this season. 

There is no doubt that concussions must be taken out of football. The brain is an important organ and for those suffering from brain contusions it scary. Among NFL fans, there is no lament to the rules made in order crack down on concussion causing plays but when it comes to petty rules instated for the sole purpose of killing the plays at the heart of hand, foot and even selective knee injuries, the understanding on the part of fans begins to run out.  

As we look back to the penalty called on the Patriots it decided the game. After the missed kick was equated and the ball was automatically moved up 15 yards on the penalty, the Jets churned out a first down and soon gave Nick Folk a much more manageable 42 yard field goal situation. He converted on the kick and the game had been won. 

"'Any push' in that scenario should result in a flag now." Patriots reporter - Mike Reis reported  referee: Jerome Boger saying " It could be with the body, not necessarily with the hand, but with the body into his teammate, into the formation. It’s any type of pushing action.”

It cannot be stressed enough how when you operate off of the sole jurisdiction of the rule book this was the right call. But when you think it out, how many injuries will this rule's implication in 2013 prevent? In all likelihood, no more than 2 or 3. Fact is it is things like this that make you wonder, is the NFL trying to be too safe? Is it time to simply embrace their being as a contact sport and accept the injuries that come with it? Or, is the sole reason for all these questions not any that is justified but instead one born from the sore looser of the mind that is mine? 

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Bobby is more than number 4: A look at a (brief) connection made with Bobby Orr

Wane Gretzky scored 894 goals in the NHL. Bobby Orr scored 270. Gretzky won the cup 4 times, Bobby Orr won just 2.  When Wane retired he was almost immediately instated into the Hall of Fame. When Orr did the same he had to wait the normal 7 years before being delivered with that honor.

There is no doubt about it, to this day there has not and likely never will be another man to statistically rival the numbers put up by "The Great One". But for Wane Gretzky, when he retired from hockey after 1998-1999 season it soon became clear that he had also retired from not only the title of current hockey player but also the one reading former hockey player. Gretzky wasn't mean once he was done, he simply shrank back to his life as a father, grandfather and spokesperson for the abolishing of fighting in the NHL.

But for Bobby Orr, his post hockey career was almost the polar opposite to that of Gretzky. Wane Gretzky was GREAT during his career, and okay after it Orr was great during his career an even greater after it. 

But for the former Bruins D-Man, the picture that has gone down as the perfect embodiment of one of the greatest careers in the history of hockey is, in his mind an unfair one. "The strange things about that photo - me, arms outstretched, flying through the air as if nothing else matters - is that I was never really big on celebrating goals." Orr said in his recently published memoir. "I know some guys like to celebrate goals, but I always found it disrespectful. It’s not the way I played the game and yet, there I am in that famous photo, hands in the air. I could try to blame Blues defender: Noel Pickard's wayward stick. But I have to admit, it was a jump for joy, trip or no trip."  

It is quotes like these that make you think 'oh my god, this guy really is awesome.' Unlike so many others, he really does mean every word included in those two previous excerpts. He is not trying to win fans, he already has those, he is simply stating how he played the game of hockey with the rawest truth.  

But going back to the autobiography Orr's modest nature appears once again just over a page further than the description of the goal and the picture. This time he is speaking of the Bronze statue recently erected outside TD Garden. 

"It's a beautiful piece of art, don't get me wrong. But I was surprised at what it didn't say. By capturing a single moment, it had to leave out the moments before and after. By depicting one person, it left out all the people who won the cup that year - and all the fans who shared that victory. It would have meant a lot less to score that goal at an empty Boston Garden just as it would have been absurd to be the only person at that unavailing." 

But for Bobby Orr, the show is part of the job. Kids pay more attention to the guy flying through the air rather than the guy skating nonchalantly back to the bench as his fans roar with delight. As a former hockey player who played at the sustained level of excellence that Orr so responsibly enjoyed, one becomes a role model and as a role model, one is both blessed and cursed with a crushing duty. To endlessly sustain that title of role model and satisfy the autograph hunting obsessing nature of the little boys and girls who 40 years after the goal that defined his career, still remember that moment that took place long before they were born.

Bobby Orr knows that role and refuses to forgo its demands.

While I often offer my sports opinions in the pages of this blog, I rarely share the sports related stories that I have experienced. After last night however, it seemed time to break that trend.

35 years after he retired, Bobby Orr has been the master of philanthropy coaching kids teams and working to help former teammate: Derek Sanderson with his drug and alcohol problems. But through this all, he has never before spoken with the complexity and comprehensive illustration that he did in his recently published memoir - Orr: My Story. Before long, he began his currently in progress book tour traversing the nation and signing thousands of books and in-turn touching the hearts of any and all who walked out with one of those treasured copies.

Bobby staged such a signing Friday October 18th and for my family and I, the timing could not have been better. My brother was turning 9 on that day and as his passion for everything Black and Gold closely parallels mine, we were there, soaking in the moment. 

We waited for 2 hours in a jam packed Westford Bookstore forgetting the sweltering heat and remembering how the store exploded with atmosphere when Orr walked out of the back room he was sitting in prior to the sighing to take a bathroom break. But as was said before it would be multiple hours before we got to see that man up close an personal. But nevertheless, when our number was called and we jumped into line, there I was 3 feet away from the man, who, so many decades ago was captured flying through the air, arms extended above his head and above all, Stanley Cup winning goal sitting unchecked in the back of the net. This was Bobby Orr and as tired as he looked, the 65 year old man soon looked me in the eye and in the span of just a few seconds made everyone in my family smile.

I watched over my brother Keegan's shoulder. He reluctantly fist bumped old Bobby and as my mother whispered. "It's his birthday," Orr somehow drew him out. He high fived Keegan and as my brother looked at the star's wrists, he pointed out 6 or 7 small bracelets possibly made by his grandkids.

"I have those!" Keegan said.

"Oh? Which one?" Orr responded.

"That one" He said pointing to a thick black and gold one. Keegan was smiling. 

To Orr's kids, he may be known as a whole host of names and to his grandkids even more. But to those of us in love with our mighty Bruins, he will always be number 4 Bobby Orr.

Frankly, my mother was not even 1 year old when Orr scored the winning goal in Game 4 of the 1972 Cup but after Friday night I am content to say that that doesn't matter. Bobby Orr's name is engraved on the greatest trophy in sports but what is better is the fact that that name is also the same name now scrawled on the title page of a 200 page book now in my possession.

They always say if all the people who say they were at Woodstock actually went to Woodstock the world would have tilted. After the bridging of the generations between Bobby Orr's and mine the same might be said for Game 4 of the 1972 Stanley Cup. So many of us who were not even born when that game was won actually believe they saw that game. And that and only that is the true reason for why Bobby Orr is not just one of the greatest players in hockey history but more importantly, the greatest PERSON in the sport's grand list of players and coaches.

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Tim Thomas set to face Bruins tomorrow: A look at Thomas's brief career outside of the Bruins organisation

After 8 years of periodic and sometimes constant string of greatness in Boston, Tim Thomas left the town that had provided him with a Stanley Cup Ring as a disgraced man. Had Timmy retired following the Cup win or played out the last few years of his career without making headlines, the accusations of him being a quitter would never have surfaced. Sports fans have short and biased memories and while in some cases that can be a good thing when the last three memories a town has of you are negative, your legacy will likely be tainted.

Such was the case with Tim Thomas. 

When he announced via Twitter that he was set to take a 1 year sabbatical back in June to 2012, Thomas was just a few days removed from what for over a year would serve as the last moment of NHL action: that miserable sliver of OT action when Joel Ward potted a rebound and ended the Bruins Stanley Cup Defense.

That goal was not Tim Thomas' fault but as Bruins fans watched Thomas linger for just a second you ought to wonder: did he then understand that at that point his career might (by his choice) be over? But regardless of what he thought, it nearly was as after the Bruins fell just short in the finals Thomas eluded to the fact that Boston's Cup Run was one of the few factors that helped him in his decision to return to hockey.

“You know what really gave me the itch? Watching the playoffs,” Thomas was quoted as saying in an ESPN Boston report published back on September 17th “Actually, over the last season I didn’t watch hockey at all. But then when it came playoff time, I started to watch some hockey and it started to get the competitiveness juices flowing and I saw my former team, the Boston Bruins, and the success they had and I was so proud of those guys and what they did, what they accomplished last year, but it started to get the competitiveness juices flowing again.”

To that point, Tim Thomas had vanished in Colorado starting a real-estate business and doing just what he intended to do when he announced his hiatus. That is spending time with his family and reconnecting with friends he had lost while travelling with the Bruins.

But nevertheless, he eluded to the fact that the Bruins made him want to play again. Even when most everybody thought he was done playing pro hockey, Tim Thomas found within him the energy for 1 more year.

“I got tired and I needed a break,” Thomas said. “Now I’m energized and I’m looking forward to it. I feel great.”

9 days after that ESPN article was released, Tim Thomas signed a 1 year 2,500,000$ contract with the Florida Panthers.

From then on, Bruins fans counted down the days until they would get to play their former goalie again. But as they watched, it became clear that old Timmy was not the goalie he used to be. After allowing 2 goals in his Panthers debut back on October 3rd, Thomas was pulled in game two as he allowed 5 goals through the first 39 minutes of the game then he was yanked in game 3 after just 7 minutes in which he allowed 2 goals.

But nevertheless, when Tim Thomas returns to Beantown, it will without a doubt be fun...in a weird sort of way.

"Maybe we'll fight!" current goalie: Tuukka Rask said with a smile.

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Patriots pull out miracle touchdown on route to second comeback of season: Patriots drop Saints and improve to 5-1

Football is beautiful.

As slow as the game is, a much a commercials interrupt play almost constantly football creates a kind of atmosphere that no other game of its kin can. Football captivates us and even when we think all is lost, we stick around.

Such was the case today in Foxborough as after an up and down first 55 minutes of the game, the Patriots and Saints took it to town in the final 5 deciding the game and sending spells of screaming across most all New England living rooms.

Tom Brady of course was coming off of one of the worst games of his career. He threw for just 119 yards on 18 attempts against Cincinatti while watching his streak of 52 straight games with a touchdown pass painfully die in the doldrums of New England's 13-6 loss to the Bengals. Over the next week between the conclusion of the Cincinatti game and the beginning of this week's match-up against the Saints, worries began to pop up surrounding both Danny Amendola and Rob Gronkowski. Neither seemed 100% and as it stood it looked like for the 6th straight week, Brady would be devoid of his favorite scoring threat: Gronk.

But nevertheless, the game went on and as they have done all year long, New England found a way to make it work. With a dinged up Edelman, a vacated tight end position and a Danny Ammendola who would leave the game in the 3rd quarter, Brady utilized his three running backs (Stevan Ridley, Brandon Bolden and LeGarret Blount) running 30 out of his 78 plays from scrimmage in the format of the rush. This was a season high for the Patriots and also the first time in 4 games this season that Stephan Ridley had compiled more than 55 yards via the ground game. He had 96 Sunday against the Saints. As for the remaining Pats backs who saw time against New Orleans while their numbers were far diminished in comparison to Ridley, Brandon Boulden snagged a nice 12 yard gain as his long for the night.

But for Tom Brady, he knew that you cannot run 100% of your plays on the back of a rusher and while he still wasn't hurling 300 yards passing, Tom was much better this week as he smacked up 269 yards through the air and as a he posted a completion to in-completions ratio of 1.38.

But nevertheless, the Patriots squandered a 1st half lead and came to a point in the 4th quarter where the game was on the line. After surrendering the ball on 4th down and then watching Tom Brady hurl a long interception, the game seemed over until we remembered how great this Patriots defense has been this season. Over the next four plays the stifled the Saints offence and even dropped Drew Brees for a 10 yard sack thus forcing the Saints into a punt that allowed Tom Brady to get into a great position with seconds left in the game.  

"We had the attitude out there that we're never down and out, and with him, anything is possible,'' said patriots pass catcher Austin Collie, when asked about Tom Brady. "Everybody knows how good he is. You can take anyone off the street and know that Tom Brady is going to take it to the end.'' 

With just under 10 seconds left in the game the 17 yards that separated Tom Brady and his offence from the end zone they so desperately hoped to get to seemed like an impassable abyss. But with one play left in the game Brady went all out and in a throw seemingly carried by the cheers of the Patriots faithful, he found the mitts of rookie wide-out: Kenbrell Thompkins. 30-27, Patriots lead. 

Following the game, a surprisingly gleeful Bill Belichick said "Sorry if you had to re-write some of those stories there at the end, what a football game. I feel like that took about five years off my life.''

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David Ortiz finally cracks the code on Detroit pitching: 8th inning grand slam and ensuing walk-off evens ALCS at 1-1

David Ortiz has hit 15 career postseason home runs. 

Fact is, series have been won off of balls hit by his bat. Hopes have been dashed and tears have drawn as a result of moments solicited by Papi but in the baseball world, it seems that we must rank the best. The only problem with that is yet another laughable tenancy we Sox fans seem to harbor without question. When it comes to memories of walk-offs and clutch plays, our memories are about as good as Dory from Finding Nemo.

Sox fans live in the present and dub each new walk-off, each new comeback or no hitter the greatest of its kind. The only difference is that on this Columbus day morning we know that what happened last night might actually be.

At close to 11:30 last night the vacant living room that I was watching the game in was one that even with just 1 body in it was filled with an atmosphere that had only recently come to this series. In game one, Anibal Sanchez shut down the Sox holding them hit less through 6 and bringing them to the brink of history. To that point, no team in MLB history had ever thrown a combined postseason no hitter. With just 2 outs to go in the game, the Sox would keep lat list empty by breaking up the no-no with a single. 

But nevertheless, coming that close to absolute failure on a stage as high as the ALCS raises questions, doubts and above all some looming fears.  

All three of those emotions and mental actions were present following game one but by the 7th inning of game two, the latter part of that list had turned from petty fears born from overreaction to ones that screamed justification for their being. 1 night after Sanchez, the Sox once again saw the Tigers hold a no hitter through 5 innings and even once it was broken up watched as starter Max Scherzer continue without a hitch. By the time he departed the Tigers held a 5-1 lead. Boston had complied just 2 hits and to that point in the series had just 1 extra base hit on 3 connections. Scherzer had struck out 13 Red Sox to move the team total to 30 through just 16 innings and unlike the night before when Anibal Sanchez left with just a 1 run lead, the 4 point advantage for Detroit seemed all but untouchable. 

Until something more magical that fairies or unicorns seemed to finally side with the Red Sox. It cannot be fully explained but like they had all season long, Fenway Park and the fans within it seemingly willed the ball to collide with Boston's 8th inning bats as over the course of just 16 pitches the game went from one with   ONE out in 8th to one with the bases loaded with JUST one out in the 8th. What’s better is the name that came to the plate as he attempted to tie the game with 1 swing of the bat. That name was David Ortiz, owner of countless postseason walk-offs and tying blasts. Boston was one clutch hit away from tying the game and in all likelihood the series.  

"I didn't go there trying to get a grand slam I just wanted a hit." Ortiz said but nevertheless as he tried for a hit, he got the slam.  

At first look, the ball looked short and Sox fans begged for it to come down but as it hung in the air, our aspirations turned from single to homer. Tori Hunter moved back reached up and tumbled face first into the Sox Bullpen all in a desperate effort to snag that baseball. As he rose to his feet, head bloodied and ball lying harmlessly on the ground, we knew that he had not. The game was tied, 5-5. 

"Unbelievable," said third baseman Will Middlebrooks. "I mean, I know I've said unbelievable probably about 100 times. I'm pretty numb right now. I'm pretty speechless." 

Tori Hunter who was helped to his feet after flipping into the bull pen said that he was "ticked off" after the game. 

"I'm [ticked] off," Tigers right fielder Torii Hunter said. "The one guy you don't want to beat you, he beat us. One of the best hitters in postseason history. And this guy, he hit the ball out of the park and ties the game up and they end up coming back and winning the game. That's the way it goes. We're all [ticked]." 

But when you think about it, it was not Ortiz's slam that served as the bee in Hunter's bonnet. No what had him so mad was what happened in the 9th inning. 

After Koji Uehara came bounding into the game in the 9th to retire the Tigers in order, things got hairy once the Sox came to bat. During the lead off at bat held by pinch hitter Johnny Gomes, the Sox left fielder soon found himself down in the count 2-1. Yet for Gomes, that second strike was far better than the alternative, an out. With a ball and a strike, Gomes struck the ball high but foul in the direction of the stands by 1st base. As Prince Feilder ranged over, the hungry arms of fans along the line flew forward and stretched for the ball. Feilder did the same and so, a strife occurred. The ball clanged harmlessly off the glove of Feilder and so, Gomes' at bat continued. 

Gomes got lucky with the Feilder play, but once he clanged a seemingly harmless single into the mitt of the shortstop, it became evident that that luck was not done assisting the Red Sox. After diving for first base, Gomes hopped to his feet and turned to second as Jose Iglacias skyed the ball high over 1st base. 

As Saltilamaccia was batting, Gomes advanced to 3rd on an untimely wild pitch. 

3 pitches later, Salty connected and Johnny Gomes knew it. As he took off from 3rd, Gomes was pumping his fist and screaming in delight as he touched home and the sped off to join the pile assaulting Jarrod Saltilamaccia in shallow left field.  

After almost 2 full games of failure, strikeouts and lack of any contact whatsoever the Sox finally broke through in the 8th and 9th inning last night. With grand slams and clutch singles the Sox many of whom watched the Patriots nip the Saints at the buzzer continued one heck of a weekend in Boston sports. 

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Red Sox ALDS recap: Positives and Negatives from Boston's 3-1 series win over Tampa Bay

It is a scene that had taken place twice in the 19 days. A collection of men wearing Red Sox jerseys storming the field and hugging the man who had played an intricate role in this season of redemption and glorious wins that has been 2013. They flooded onto the field hugging Koji Uehara and celebrating Boston's first ALCS berth in 5 seasons. Now while we still do not know who the Sox will face, you can get a good idea for at least some of how this coming series will play out by looking back at what DID happen against the Rays.

Below is a brief look at the positives negatives and the main story-lines of Boston's 3-1 ALDS victory against the Tampa Bay Rays.


David Ortiz Powering Onward - Papi causes distraction for Rays


 Through 4 games in this postseason, David Ortiz is batting .385 with 5 hits and 5 walks in 18 at bats. He has ripped up 3 RBI's and scored 4 times. 2 homers later, David Ortiz turned out to be a driving force in this series and even caused a huge distraction for the entire Rays team.                                                              

 After David Ortiz crushed his second of two homers in Boston's 7-4 Game Two victory at Fenway, reigning AL Cy Yong winner: David Price took to twitter and expressed his displeasure at what he called 'Ortiz' lack of sportsmanship'. Over the brief span that was the next 3 or 4 hours, Price bombarded Twitter with 7 appalling tweets in which he took to stating his resemue in the harshest of ways, "Better question is why do you follow me?? RT @theReal_JonJon: @DAVIDprice14why do you cry and complain about PAPI when he takes you yard?" He said in reaction to a tweet made by a Boston fan.

Price then continued his rant by verbally assaulting TBS commentators: Dirk Hayurst and Tom Verducci. "Dirk Hayhurst…COULDNT hack it…Tom Verducci wasn't even a water boy in high school…but yet they can still bash a player…SAVE IT NERDS" 

Ortiz of course saw this and would eventually solicit a public apology by Price. 

"Last night got out of hand and I apologize for the things that I said on here. … if I offended you I am very sorry for doing so."

Price would not pitch again in the ALDS but Ortiz did continue to play and would accumulate 2 more hits, an RBI and 3 walks before the series concluded. 

But as good as Papi has been, the Sox DH downplayed all praise as much a possible. 

"We have pretty much everybody getting things done," Ortiz said. "It's not just one or two guys. This team has been winning games as a group. We have a lot of teams coming in [saying], 'Oh, don't let Big Papi beat you.' But this ain't all about Big Papi. It's about everybody."

Koji Uehara Shakes off Walk-off Homer and Pitches Well When he is Needed

For Koji Uehara, so much about game 4 of the ALDS was almost identical to the game that clenched Boston's spot as winner of the AL East. On that late September night, Koji was forced to close out a game that still had 6 outs to go. Yet Koji did just what was asked of him recording 6 quick outs and striking out Jed Lawrie to win the East. 

But not all of this series was good for Uehara

With the Red Sox 1 out and 1 strike away from winning game 3 and completing a sweep of the Rays, Uehara left a pitch over the plate and watched in dismay as he allowed just his 6th home run of the season and his 1st since June 30th. The Rays would walk off with the win and questions soon arose surrounding the Boston closer who had been better than any other this season. 

“I mean, he’s human,” reminded catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia. “You guys got to remember he is a human being and things are going to happen. The good thing is he’s able to bounce back. He’s done it all year long. I don’t expect anything different.”

Bounce back he would as just 1 day later he once again came into crucial game all with more than 3 outs to go. With Boston 1 win away from beating the Rays and winning the ALDS, the pressure was on but much like his performance in September, Koji struck out 2 batters, the second K being the one that put Boston into the ALCS.  

There is no doubt about it, Koji Uehara's Game 3 was not of the sort we had come to expect after he retired 37 straight batters back in July, August and September but he would gain redemption in game 4 getting back to basics and doing what so many contemporary pitchers forget to do in this modern MLB. Throw strike 3. 

Red Sox successful in blasting top pitchers 

Through the first two games of this ALDS, the Boston Red Sox bashed 19 runs against Matt More and David Price respectively. 

Those 2 pitchers combined for 27 wins in the 2013 season while allowing a combined ERA of 3.31 in 54 starts. But among the 26 runs they would latter accrue, not all of them came in the most traditional of ways. There were sac flys, sinking line drives but above all, a rather strange score that came off of a wild pitch back in game 4. 

"That's what our team is built on," said Dustin Pedroia when he was asked about that specific score. "We're going to find a way to beat you a thousand different ways. Tonight it was a wild pitch and an infield hit and [Shane Victorino] is flying down the line."

Looking ahead, the looming possibility of the Sox being forced to play the Tigers with Max Schurzer and Justin Verlander in the ALCS their proficiency in scoring against good pitching is truly comferting.

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We must peer behind the 4: A look at why skeptisisum on the charecture of Aquib Talib may be for good reason

This man's name is Aquib Talib. Prior to the 2008 draft where he was picked up by the Buccaneers, he was on the wrong end of a battery charge. 1 year later, he was arrested again for assaulting a cab driver and a year after that he managed to anger the NFL enough to warrant a 4 game suspension that was issued just weeks after he signed with the New England Patriots. But while Talib has seen a good 3 or 4 years of intermittent flirting with  a prison sentence the same Patriots fans who just a few months ago saw Aaron Hernandez hauled into jail cannot help but look past the flaws and fixate simply on the stellar product that Talib has been producing. 

Much like Hernandez, there is no doubt how skilled Talib is ON the field but the questions that constantly surround him once he leaves it should raise some red flags...but that is not the case. The Patriots are 4-0, Talib has an interception in each of those games and has come up huge whenever his team needed him most. Through 4 games no Patriot has been more influential than Aquib Talib. But as was true with Hernandez, with every mega pick or game winning blocked pass, we are tempted to do what this Patriots organization must never do again, forget the past. 

Born in February of 1986, Aquib Talib began his career in Cleveland playing high-school football. There he skillfully transitioned into the corner-back role while he earned himself a pretty high ranking on several NCAA recruiting boards. Talib would eventually commit to the University of Kansas where he played 3 seasons before deferring to the NFL prior to his senior season. 

There was where the trouble started. 

Much like those years before college, Talib was a treasured asset and one fiercely fought over by the large majority of NFL teams. But it seemed that one team wanted him more. Even with 3 additional QB's, 3 top receivers and a pair of treasured running backs still left undrafted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sacrificed their 3rd round pick when they began Talib's career with a rather unforeseen induction.  

But not to worry, then Bucs draft manager: Jon Gruden was quick to give some explanation.

"My guts are ripped out of my body right now. I'm no different than our fans," Gruden said. "I fall in love with some of these guys. You get relationships with them. You study their tape, their profiles. You follow their progress on a daily basis, and you drive home at night, wake up in the morning some days and envision what a great thrill it would be to coach some of these guys." 

But even then, the signs were there that Gruden had at least taken a risk. To that point, Talib had already tested positive for Marijuana use 3 times and had been suspended for one of those offences back in 2006. Talib however soon diminished those allegations by dubbing the use as a "phase". 

Gruden bought it but was soon made to look foolish by the man he had showered in so much praise. 

"He came out and I believe was honest with what occurred. I'm not going to live in the past. I'm going to live in the future. I trust this kid, and we're going to give him an opportunity to prove it."

Before long he was involved in a bloody fist fight with fellow Buccaneer: Cory Boyd. 

But nevertheless, while fighting is bad, Talib deserved a second chance. That second chance was given as following the fight, Talib actually won the starting job in Tampa but the only problem was the fact that within a year he had burned that second chance and this time he was in court because of it. 

After he was somehow angered by cab driver: David Duggan, Talib struck his victim in the side of the head with a solid fist. He then refused to vacate the car even when he was asked to do so by an officer and was later revealed to be heavily intoxicated after a night at a local bar. 

"It's unfortunate, certainly, what happened last night," Bucs GM: Mike Dominik said. "I've been in contact with the league office today. This falls under the personal conduct policy. Certainly, whatever decision is made, the commissioner's decision supersedes anything the club does at this time. I am working with the commissioner's office. We're going to continue to work together through this and come to a resolution."

Talib was eventually suspended for one game but managed to escape the jurisdictions federal law without any jail time. But the damage was done and Aquib's resume was quickly becoming imbalanced. To that point he had recorded just 9 career interceptions and was not living up to the assumptions that bought him a 3rd round selection and what's worse is the fact that by 2011, he was shooting people. 

Talib in collaboration with his mother traveled to the house of his sister's boyfriend and attempted to shoot him in the face. Talib's mom turned herself in almost immediately and a warrant for her son's arrest was soon posted. 

Once again, Mike Dominik was forced to provide an explanation for some big off field mistakes made by one of his roster members. 

"We are deeply troubled by the serious charges filed against Aqib Talib," Bucs general manager Mark Dominik said in a team statement. "Due to current labor circumstances, we will withhold any further comment or action." 

When fists changed to bullets, a line had been crossed. The Buccaneers were done with Aquib. But not before the NFL almost simultaneously tagged him with a 4 game suspension for taking a drug normally prescribed for those suffering from ADHD. 

"Around the beginning of training camp, I made a mistake by taking an Adderall pill without a prescription." He said after being traded to the Patriots just after the suspension was announced. 

The Patriots decided to give him one last chance filling out the final year of his contract and allowing him to start the rest of his season following the suspension at corner-back. After no additional altercations took place during last season, his contract was renewed in 2013. That now takes us to the present day. To date, he has already equaled his season average in interceptions just 4 games into the season. He has forced a fumble and taken down 10 players via a tackle. But in perhaps the biggest moment of this 2013 season, Aquib Talib got a hand on a 4th and 10 late 4th quarter would be touchdown pass by Matt Ryan. The ball bounced to the ground and in a play that took very little actual skill, Talib was suddenly made into a superstar in Foxborough. 

With just 4 games of success, Talib has tricked people into forgetting the past and looking simply on that big 4 spot in the INT column...and that is dangerous. For almost 3 seasons, Aaron Hernandez routinely saw his fair share of great 4 game stretches but no matter how good he was, the signs surrounding his gun problems were still there should you have chosen to look for them. 

When the Patriots were struggling under the disgrace of the Hernandez saga Bob Kraft broke his silence saying that he was "duped" by Aaron Hernandez. Now while we know nothing for sure and while there is a huge chase that Talib unlike Hernandez has in fact changed, it must be plainly pointed out that the SECOND time you get duped might hurt even more than the first. 

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