Felger & Massarotti : CBSSports.com Blogs

Patriots Off-Season Wish List

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:10:06 EST

"You go from having great defensive leaders like Harrison, Bruschi, Seymour, and Vrabel to bringing in a rodeo clown to run the defense?!" – Michael Felger

The Felger and Massarotti Collin-tary with Kevin Collins

In the wake of an embarrassing first round playoff exit at Gillette Stadium, we take a look forward to what the New England Patriots must do to be better in 2010. It’s time to stop lamenting the past and look forward to how the franchise can return to a championship level. Tony and Michael discuss the possible changes the Patriots will undergo this off-season.

Felger: "There were times in that game where guys like Mayo, Guyton, Meriweather, and McGowan were just brutal this year. The playoff game included Tony. I can’t tell you how many times guys would fly though the line of scrimmage and have a chance to tackle Ray Rice for little to no gain, and just completely whiff on the tackle. The very first play from scrimmage when Rice took it to the house there were two ghastly plays in the Patriots defensive backfield. One was Mayo completely not being able to get off his block to slow Rice down. The other was Meriweather not being able to get hand on him even when he wasn’t blocked. He even had the angle on Rice down the sideline and was unable to catch up to the guy. There’s a lot for this team and this front office to work on and the worst part for them is now their going to have to spend some actual real money to fix this team. In order to get the locker room to buy in, they need to spend some money to show a commitment to winning now or else nobody’s going to buy in."

Pats Players and Fans in Need of a Wake Up Call

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:24:20 EST

"It was a comprehensive system wide collapse. It was embarrassing and humiliating for everyone involved." - Tony Massarotti on the Patriots first round playoff exit

The Felger and Massarotti Collin-tary with Kevin Collins

The Patriots season came to an abrupt end Sunday at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens. The 33-14 embarrassment is the second home playoff defeat in franchise history, the last coming in 1978. Sunday also marked the first home playoff loss at Gillette Stadium, and the first of its kind since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994. The Patriots had been 11-0 in playoff games played in Foxboro the past 16 years. It was a rare occasion in which the finger of blame could justly be pointed at the Patriots quarterback. Tom Brady was unbeaten in his last 23 home games prior to Sunday's debacle. Michael and Tony dissect what went wrong and discuss what the Patriots need to do moving forward this off-season.

Win one for Wes

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 23:45:45 EST

"That was sickening yesterday. It was one of those moments that just breaks your heart. You're literally sitting there in your living room screaming NO!" - Michael Felger on Wes Welker

The Felger and Massarotti Collin-tary with Kevin Collins

Sunday's 34-27 defeat at the hands of the Houston Texans was one of the most painful defeats the Patriots have had in recent memory. The game's score seemed trivial midway through the team's first offensive possession when Pro Bowl wide out Wes Welker left the game with a serious knee injury. According to team sources Welker tore his medial collateral ligament (MCL) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee. It is the same injury Patriots quarterback Tom Brady suffered at the beginning of last season and will likely sideline Welker for 10-12 months.

All Aboard!

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:04:54 EST

"I trust Tom Brady. I believe in the coach. I trust a guy like Vince Wilfork. The problem is that with the exception of a handful of guys this team hasn't done anything and honestly I don't trust them. “- Tony Massarotti on the Patriots

The Felger and Massarotti Collin-tary with Kevin Collins

Sunday's 35-7 thumping of Jacksonville has many Patriots fans wondering how far the team can go in the postseason. The victory marks the seventh time in nine seasons the team has won the AFC East. Despite dismantling a mediocre Jaguars team, and earning at least one home playoff game, Tony feels the Patriots still have much to improve upon in order to make a deep playoff run.

Mazz: "If you look at the past month, aside from the Jacksonville game, teams may take the Patriots lightly once the playoffs begin. They lose to a mediocre Miami team, beat a bad Carolina team with no quarterback, and then get their first road win by only a touchdown against a really bad Buffalo team. Then this week they beat up on a mediocre Jacksonville team at home. The Patriots really haven't done anything to earn respect around the league here this December. Now, if they win their first round playoff game at home by beating a playoff caliber team and then travel to San Diego or Indianapolis and win again and end up in the conference championship game then it's a different story. They will have beaten two quality teams and won on the road against a legitimate playoff team. I think that would open everyone's eyes and people would start to think of them as the Patriots team of old. But, currently the guys on this team have nothing to do with the three championships of the past and the 16-0 season and all of that Patriot mystique that once was. Most of these guys weren't even on the team for the accomplishments of past. I'm not saying that these players aren't capable, but they haven't given us reason to believe they can do it. I trust Tom Brady. I believe in the coach. I trust a guy like Vince Wilfork. The problem is that with the exception of a handful of guys this team hasn't done anything. Honestly, I don't trust them. They haven't shown or given us the hope that they can win against a quality playoff opponent on the road."

So Long Jacoby Ellsbury?

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 5:01:51 EST

If Jacoby Ellsbury is what it took to get this deal done then I'd drive him to the airport! Or maybe I'm overstating it here. Maybe I'd just get him a cab. Either way I would trade him in a second." - Tony Massarotti

The Felger and Massarotti Collin-tary with Kevin Collins

Over the past several days trade talks between the Red Sox and Padres have heated up involving first basemen Adrian Gonzalez. A possible deal would likely include some combination of Clay Buchholz, Jacoby Ellsbury and additional prospects (Casey Kelly, Lars Anderson, Ryan Westmoreland etc...) from the Red Sox organization. The possibility of Ellsbury leaving town has most of Red Sox Nation up in arms, but Tony explains why it would be in the team's best interest.

Pay Bay?

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:56:30 EST

"No thank you. I don’t care if this guy is free and doesn’t cost the Red Sox a dime I still wouldn’t want him." - Michael Felger on Adrian Beltre

The Felger and Massarotti Collin-tary with Kevin Collins

The Red Sox and free agent Jason Bay are still far apart on reaching a contractual agreement for the 2010 season and beyond. Can the Red Sox afford to lose arguably the most coveted player in this year’s free agent class? The reality is Jason Bay may be more valuable than you think.

Felger: "There are only two quality players in this market I would want on my team and they just so happen to play the same position. Jason Bay and Matt Holliday are clearly the class of this free agent year. The possibility of Adrian Beltre in this lineup along with the addition of Marco Scutaro is supposed to excite me? I just don’t see how this is going to come together if that’s the only thing Theo Epstein is going to do this offseason. I mean we don’t even know how old Beltre is do we? He’s listed at age 30 but he could be 34 or 35 easily. You know how those Dominican players tend to be older. This guy went from 48 home runs five years ago to eight last season?! And he goes down to the Dominican and trains with Angel Presinal who is notorious for providing big leaguers with steroids. No thank you. I don’t care if this guy is free and doesn’t cost the Red Sox a dime I still wouldn’t want him."

The Cat's Out of the Bag

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:05:51 EST

"If I had asked you five days ago to name the squeakiest, cleanest, but most dominant athlete in all of sports you would have said Tiger Woods wouldn’t you?" – Michael Felger

The Felger and Mazz Collin-tary with Kevin Collins

Felger: "This is why it’s gone to the next level. We have the audio. We have the visual in the form of all these text messages. What makes a story newsworthy is having video or audio to show the public something. They have copies of the text messages from Tiger to hoe bag number two. That’s great stuff! That’s salacious good stuff. When you can hear it, and when you can see it, it’s over. This has gone to the next level. By making this public statement and apology he is admitting that the media has caught him, so how much of a surprise is it from now on when other cocktail waitresses come forward? It’s not going to be a surprise now. Tiger’s taken that element of "Got you!" away from the media. If he had admitted this from day one, the release of this voicemail and the text messages wouldn’t have been nearly as damaging. No audiotape, no hard evidence, he’s not releasing this public statement. So he’s still a weasel. Didn’t you think the last guy this would happen too would be Tiger Woods? Isn’t he the last guy? I always thought he was so insulated. You’re leaving a voicemail on your side action’s voicemail? What do you have an agent for?! Go have him call Ms. Grubbs and have him tell her to erase her name from her voicemail!"

Tony Massarotti Loves The Yankees

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:42:55 EST

Tony Massarotti believes that the Red Sox are motivated by the Yankees' 27th World Series title. He has gone overboard rooting for them.

Beli-choke

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:50:55 EST

"The last few times the Patriots have been in Indianapolis, Belichick has taken a leak down his leg. There’s a line between aggressive and freaking stupid! " – Michael Felger

The Felger and Mazz Collin-tary with Kevin Collins

To the surprise of no one, Bill Belichick’s questionable decision to go for it on fourth and two from his own 28-yard line dominated today’s discussion. At the time of the decision, the Patriots were leading 34-28 with 2:08 remaining in regulation. Michael and Tony dissected the decision, and the series of events leading up to the Patriots fourth quarter collapse in Indianapolis.

Felger: "Manning is in Bill Belichick’s head. That’s what this is. How do you explain the greatest coach of our generation becoming a puddle in Indianapolis last night? And that’s what it was, a complete puddle. The last couple times the Pats have been in Indianapolis Belichick has taken a leak down his leg. That’s exactly what happened last night. I still don’t believe it. I didn’t believe it when it happened, I don’t believe it now. Bill Belichick has always been aggressive and its what makes him a good coach. The aggressive ones are the good ones so we love the fact that he’s aggressive. But there’s a line isn’t there? There’s a line between aggressive and freaking stupid! The shame of it was his defense was better in this game. Manning made his plays but this is the part of it I don’t get. You spend the whole off-season shaping that defense and you trade Vrabel, you trade Seymour, and you bring in all these young guys. You make those deals and flush out the old players and bring in the new. You have this new defense and it’s working. They have shut up guys like me and they are improving every week. And you go for it? A mind-blowing decision. I thought it was chicken to go for it. Manning is in his head! Suddenly the most poised, clutch, well-coached team we have ever seen goes into Indy and throws up. They did it last night, they did it last season, and they did it in the AFC Championship game two years ago. They have been peeing down their leg at Indy for the past three years."

Pats-Colts Breakdown

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:51:07 EST

"This game is pretty much the Patriots season." - Tony Mazzarotti on this Sunday's Patriots-Colts match up

The Felger and Massarotti Collin-tary with Kevin Collins

A rare occurrence took place today as Michael and Tony both agreed on something! They both feel that the Patriots offensive line, primarily the left tackle position, should be the number one concern heading into Sunday’s clash with the Colts. Find out why the Patriots fate this weekend could fall upon the shoulders of rookie Sebastian Vollmer.

Felger: "The more I think about this game, it’s going to come down to a lot of things. But what's the most important match up in this game? Indy's defensive line against the Pats offensive line. The math up at left tackle is definitely going to be interesting. Matt Light has always had problems when lining up against Dwight Freeney. Now, if Vollmer plays it will be by far his biggest challenge yet. Then you got the noise in Indy, and all that fake noise they pump in. Can Vollmer or Light handle Freeney? This is always a huge question for the Patriots no matter who is playing left tackle. Do they use a tight end to help out? Or do they chip him with a back out of the backfield? How are they going to do it? Indy is small and fast up front, maybe the Patriots can run on them? Maybe that’s the way to slow down the Colts pass rush. If the offensive line can keep Freeney and company out of Brady's kitchen the Patriots win. Period. If Brady gets time to look down the field the Colts can’t cover the Patriots receivers."

Belichick mic'd up

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:02:56 EST

Check out this video (courtesy of NFL.com) of Bill Belichick mic'd up before/during/after the game against Miami on November 8th. This is a Patriots fan's wet dream! OH YEAH!

Brady vs. Manning

Sun, 12 Sep 2010 13:52:11 EDT

"Brady belongs in the same breath as Montana, but Manning doesn't even belong in the same conversation!" - Michael Felger

The Felger and Massarotti Collin-tary with Kevin Collins

Over the past decade, the week leading up to the annual Patriots-Colts showdown has become less about the teams, and more about the quarterbacks. Today’s show featured a debate on the greatest quarterbacks of all time, while Michael and Tony dissected this weekend's Brady vs. Manning match up. Here's a look inside the numbers discussed today:

Joe Montana Tom Brady Peyton Manning

Time To Get Grizzly

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 9:42:13 EST

"David Krejci has swine flu and I'm kind of glad! They should suit up Krejci tonight and have him sneeze on the Montreal bench!" - Michael Felger

The Felger and Massarotti Collin-tary with Kevin Collins

Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli joined the Felger and Massarotti show today for his weekly update on the state of the Bruins. Earlier in the day, the team announced that forward David Krejci has been diagnosed with swine flu. Krejci, 23, has recorded just one goal and four assists in 14 games this season, after signing a three-year contract worth more than $11 million last June.

The Bruins have been shut out in their last two games, and have not scored a goal in over 133 minutes. In tonight’s tilt with the Canadians, they will try to avoid being shut out for the third straight time, something that last happened to the franchise in 1927. A rash of injuries, and now illness, is partly to blame for the Bruins slow start this season.

Root for the Sox or against the Yanks?

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:52:16 EST

“Sitting there and watching the Yankees win makes me want to puke!” – Michael Felger’s thoughts on the 2009 World Series

The Felger and Massarotti Collin-tary with Kevin Collins

Today’s show featured a heated debate on whether or not the Yankees winning the World Series would be a welcome wake up call for Boston baseball fans. Last night the Yankees took a 3-1 series lead behind Alex Rodriguez’s ninth inning, go-ahead, two-out RBI double off Phillies closer Brad Lidge. Jorge Posada then padded the lead with a two-run single giving the Yankees a 7-4 victory.

Felger: “I don't think watching the Yankees win makes me hate them anymore than I already do. I don't think I could possibly hate them more! It makes no difference to me. Nothing positive will come from them winning. Nothing! We won't be able to call A-Rod a loser anymore for having not won anything. He's the best guy ever to have not won a championship, and I don't mean best guy. I mean most fun to root against because he’s a loser and a choke artist. The Yankees will go out and reload this offseason despite having won this year and we won't feel like the Red Sox have passed the Yankees now in this century. Nothing positive could possibly come from this. Come on Tony embrace the dark side.”

Big Baby Deserves A Spanking

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:04:16 EDT

“Idiot. You’re an Idiot! You just signed a contract extension. Yeah you’re a bench guy, but an important bench guy. Idiot!” - Michael Felger on Celtics forward Glen "Big Baby" Davis

The Felger & Massarotti Collin-tary with Kevin Collins

Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck joined Michael and Tony to discuss the impact of "Big Baby's" injury, Rajon Rondo's future with the team, and the Green's season opener tonight in Cleveland. Felger and Mazz made it clear that Davis should be suspended for breaking his thumb in a non-basketball related altercation with a former high school teammate. According to the Celtics, Davis underwent successful surgery Tuesday to repair his broken thumb and could miss up to two months with the injury.

London Calling

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:44:39 EDT

“The food sucks and the people over there really need to figure out how to take better care of their teeth.” – Michael Felger’s thoughts on London

The Felger & Massarotti Collin-tary with Kevin Collins

Today’s show featured not only a lengthy debate on the Patriots upcoming trip to London, but an extremely rare occurrence. Michael and Tony actually agreed that having New England travel to Old England for a midseason clash with the Buccaneers is “idiotic”.

Felger: “This is an exhibition game. It should not be a regular season game. Why does America need to take over the world? I’m all for capitalism, but this is ridiculous. If going to Europe made going to an NFL game cheaper then I’m all for it, but in no way, shape, or form does this benefit the fans. This is the NFL chasing the European dollar.”

Terry Francona

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 13:57:38 EDT

Red Sox Manager Terry Francona talked with Felger & Massarotti Monday.

Missed it? Listen now on the Felger & Massarotti podcasts page .

The First NFL Pre-Season Game

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:49:36 EDT

Of any exhibition game in any sport, the first NFL preseason game is my favorite. By far. Actually, it's the ONLY one that I look forward to watching. There's just something about it. Seeing the uniforms. Watching your offense go on a drive. I don't know. This feeling is pretty much worn off by the time we get to the third exhibition, even though that one's considered the most important because your starters play the longest. I'm just a sucker for the first night.

Anyway, here, in order, are the five things I'm looking for tonight.

1. Brady's mobility. Natch.

2. All those new faces in the secondary. Who has the early lead for playing time?