Caught in a storm of a media glare the New England Patriots and the Miami Dolphins are being scrutinized for very different reasons. Throughout this article I am not going to rehash every game that has brought the Patriots to their now (7-0) record, and I am not going to reopen the wounds of the seven losses for the Miami Dolphins. No what I am going to do is try to answer the question, "What is More Likely... Patriots (16-0) or Dolphins (0-16)?" to the best of my ability....

In order to gain perspective for this subject, one has to actually delve into both teams remaining schedules, injuries, stats and what actually counts the most, in my opinion, heart and determination. And while there is also no doubt that the halfway mark should count for something, I have always found that "Any Given Sunday" and constantly being an "Underdog" can completely change everything. . . .

THE (7-0) NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS:

We all know how this season started for the Pats and their beloved head coach Bill Bellichick. But just in case you were stuck in a dungeon or orbiting the Earth, let me quickly catch you up.

In Week One, during the game against the Jets, it was brought to the attention of the entire Free World, that the New England Patriots were caught filming signals being called from the Jets sideline. And much to the dismay of Patriots fans, and to the delight of Patriots haters, the NFL fined both the team and Bill Bellichick. Many teams around the league rumbled about some of the same activity occurring while they too played the Patriots, but it seemed that only a monetary fine and loss of draft picks was in order.

Many thought that with the Patriots being branded "Cheaters" they would fall by the wayside. But, as it turned out, the money was an insignificant small price to pay for a team who would go on to become (7-0). If anything, this brief blip made this team, who has already become a Dynasty, even more determined to prove that they are still the elite, creme de la creme of the National Football League.

With a combustible combination of Tom Brady, a completely changed Randy Moss, and multitude of talented receivers, running backs and tight ends to throw to, they have found a chemistry that propelled the Patriots onto one victory after the next. On average the Patriots are scoring (39.9) points a game. Tom Brady seems poised to surpass Payton Mannings record of forty-nine touchdowns set back in 2004. As of this moment, Brady has already thrown twenty-seven touchdown passes, and it seems to be a very good possibility that he could finish the season above the sixty TD mark.

With such perfection coming out of New England, one would have to give serious thought to the possibility that the Patriots could be the team to finally go through a season undefeated since the '72 Dolphins. Still this is something that has not occurred in almost thirty-five years. The reason this record has not been tied yet....it is almost an impossible accomplishment in today's computerized NFL.

With the advanced equipment that is used to study each player's strength and weaknesses, it is very probable that the Patriots will run into an opponent who will find a way to stop them. So far this season the Patriots have yet to truly face a tough defense. A defense that will put significant pressure on  Brady and shut down their passing game as well as their running game. What will happen then? Will Tom Brady be able to maintain that same level of composed consistency? Will Moss be able to get out in the open, down field when Brady airs it out? I think these questions and many more will be answered over the next two weeks.

Remaining games left on Patriots Schedule:   

Week 8-   WASHINGTON at NEW ENGLAND

Week 9-   NEW ENGLAND at INDIANAPOLIS

Week 10- BYE

Week 11- NEW ENGLAND at BUFFALO

Week 12- PHILADELPHIA at NEW ENGLAND

Week 13- NEW ENGLAND at BALTIMORE

Week 14- PITTSBURGH at NEW ENGLAND

Week 15- NEW YORK JETS at NEW ENGLAND

Week 16- MIAMI DOLPHINS at NEW ENGLAND

Week 17-  NEW ENGLAND at NEW YORK GIANTS

The Patriots will take on the Washington Redskins this Sunday at Gillette Stadium. And while it is no secret that the Redskins' offense has been in dire straits due to injuries on the line, Greg Williams defense is rated amongst the top five throughout the league. Free Safety, Sean Taylor is rated first in the league with five defensive interceptions this season. 

London Fletcher alone has had seventy tackles for the season. Forty on his own, and an interception returned for a touchdown last week against the Cardinals. Not only that, but Fletcher also has some old scores to settle. In 2002 London Fletcher, while playing for the Rams, lost Super Bowl XXXVI to Tom Brady and his Patriots. He also then went on to play for Buffalo where he would meet the Patriots twice a season from 2002-2006.

In Brady's time with the Patriots he has beaten every team in the NFL except the Washington Redskins.  Back in 2003 during Brady's only appearance against the Redskins he was limited by a talented Washington defense to only two touchdowns and in turn threw three interceptions. Could this be the week that Tom Brady and his offense falter?

The following week the Patriots will travel to Indianapolis, the one place where they are NOT welcome. They will face their rivals the (6-0) Indianapolis Colts. It is the most anticipated game of the 2007 NFL season. To be honest, I do not even think the Super Bowl is billed as highly as this game is. It does not get much better than Brady vs. Manning, a classic showdown! If anyone on the schedule for the Patriots can give them a run for their money, it is Payton Manning and his Colts.

In a season where there are many doubters to the true legitimacy of whether the Patriots are THAT good, I would have to say that, "Yes, I do think they are that good offensively, but I am not sold on the fact that they will be able too win every single remaining game left this season." I have not brought up their defense, as I am not overly impressed with them. To me, I think the best way to sum up their defense is to look at who has scored the most against points against them. It was last Sunday when the (0-7) Dolphins scored twenty-eight points. To me that just does not say much for the Patriots' defense.

There is just too much good competition ahead of the Patriots. Not only will the 'Skins and Colts give them a run for their money, but I believe the Steelers and the Giants also have a very good shot at it as well. But if you were to strip it down and look solely at who has had a tougher schedule, the Colts, by far, have played a harder fought season than the New England Patriots. Therefore I do not believe that the Patriots will finish this season undefeated at (16-0).

THE 0-7 MIAMI DOLPHINS:

In a season where brown paper bags seem to be on backorder in Miami, truth is, if it were not for bad luck the Miami Dolphins would have no luck at all. From losing key players in the off-season, to season ending injuries, the Dolphins are now finding themselves the butt of every joke around the league. I find it completely amazing that this team has not gone into the Witness Protection Program to hide from their fans.

This week we find that the Fins have swam across the "Pond" to take on the New York Giants in Merry Ole London, at Wembley Stadium.  Not only is this a tough situation by just traveling, but the Dolphins find they are facing a team who has managed to pull themselves up by their cleat straps too win the last five games in a row. The New York Giants have become a formidable opponent for any team, but for the Dolphins it is just another Sunday they would rather not face....

The Dolphins lost their Vet. quarterback Trent Green when he decided to lower his head against Travis Johnson during the Fins/Texans game three weeks ago. And while there has been much debate over who was in the wrong, Trent Green is done for the season and possibly for good. This has allowed Cleo Lemon to come in and take the helm. To be honest with you, I was kinda impressed while looking at Lemons stats. Did you know, for instance, that in the two weeks he has been quarterback for the Dolphins he has thrown for 214.3 yards a game? He also threw for two touchdowns. Not great, but not bad either.

Of course there is no reason to jump on that train, as I have found that Cam Cameron is considering replacing Lemon with back up QB John Beck. Why? Well maybe he wants to cement Beck as the future for the Dolphins, but with a lack of consistency at that crucial position it is bound to ruin any quarterback in the NFL. So unless Cameron is willing to stick with one QB it very well may be a possibility that the Miami Dolphins could become the first winless team in the NFL since the 1976 Bucs.

To say that the Defense for the Dolphins has been abysmal is a gross understatement. When a defense for any team allows an average of thirty-plus points to be scored on them all season, with two games surpassing the forty point mark you know it is time to pack up the moving van. I think it would be in the best interest of Wayne Huizenga to do some serious house keeping once this season comes to a close.

Remaining games left on Dolphins Schedule:  

Week 8-   DOLPHINS VS NEW YORK GIANTS (LONDON, ENGLAND)

Week 9-   BYE

Week 10- BUFFALO BILLS at MIAMI DOLPHINS

Week11- MIAMI DOLPHINS at PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Week 12- MIAMI DOLPHINS at PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Week 13- NEW YORK JETS at MIAMI DOLPHINS

Week 14- MIAMI DOLPHINS at BUFFALO BILLS

Week 15- BALTIMORE RAVENS at MIAMI DOLPHINS

Week 16- MIAMI DOLPHINS at NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Week 17- CINCINNATI BENGALS  at MIAMI DOLPHINS

 By looking at the above schedule I honestly believe that the Dolphins will not lose in week nine. It is actually a sure bet. No I am just kidding. Sorry long articles make me a bit giddy.

 Here are a few suggestions too coach Cameron on how to win at least one game this season:  

1- Do not pull Cleo Lemon and replace him with rookie John Beck.

 2- Always make sure that all of your players are educated enough to know where London is on the map.

3-Do not allow players to sit in traffic at the stadium after a game, as "Fender Benders" are bound to happen.

4- Whatever you did in the second half of the game against the Patriots to mount a mini comeback, use again on teams such as the Jets, Ravens and Bengals.

5- Let Jason Taylor give the pep talks to the team. This guy knows how to motivate.

6-Look up the winning formula of the 1972 Dolphins and apply exactly as written.

Seriously, with so much turmoil upsetting the Dolphins this season, fans of the team either have to give up and start looking forward to next season, or laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. Zach Thomas was in a fender bender last Sunday in stadium traffic. He has whiplash and will not be in London. Linebacker Channing Crowder treated the media to a peak into his sad education by saying he could not point out London on the map unless it was already written in. He knows Italy is in the shape of a boot, but that's about it. Oh, and he was relieved to learn that they speak English in London....WOW!

Jason Taylor was the only thing that impressed me coming out of Miami. Let me give you just a sample from his quote given recently,

 "There's certain things in life, in this world, we can control and certain things we can't. And if we waste our time and energy and worry too much about things we can't control, then I think were not giving ourselves a good enough chance."

That statement, Dolphin players, is something to hang your hat on. Build from there and know that, while this is not a playoff year, the worse thing you could allow is to have your name placed in history as winless right next to the 1976 Bucs....  

So all in all, if I have to answer which team will achieve the status of undefeated, or winless, it would have to be the Miami Dolphins going winless. I just see too much possibility in the teams left facing the Patriots to allow them to finish the season undefeated. And while my opinion throughout this has been based on the sure thing teams... I have to finish with this......An Underdog on Any Given Sunday can change Everything!

You know the old adage, "Two Heads are Better than One?" Well, I think I can safely say two heads are nothing more than a headache in Washington. While the thought of a double threat at tailback is a novel one, in reality Portis and Betts have yet to truly compliment each other on the field. No where was this more obvious than in the final seconds of the fourth quarter in the Redskins-Giants game. In what should have been a touchdown to take the game into overtime, resulted instead into two ineffective carries by Betts, allowing the Giants to obtain their first win.  

After the game, a flurry of questions were aimed at Coach Gibbs. The two must significant being, "Why was Betts not taken out after his first ineffective carry?" and "Why had Portis, whose numbers are better, not been put on the field instead?"  According to Coach Gibbs, "The players are interchangeable."  I wish that it was that simple but, *SIGH*  I am not so sure Joe, I am just not so sure. . .

While it has been an unusually quiet bye week for the Redskins, one constant has remained, two tailbacks cannot be the answer, and though we have not heard this echoed by the Redskins, we will have an opportunity to see just what Ladell Betts can do all by himself this week against Detroit. It seems that tendinitis will sideline Portis once again, which should be interesting to see, being this was Betts quote when asked about sharing the position. . .  

"It is different," Betts said. "It's a little bit of an adjustment period. I probably didn't realize how much of an adjustment period it would be. The biggest difference for me is coming off the bench as opposed to getting all the carries like I did at the end of the season. I don't have the same type of rhythm that I did when you run a play over and over and you start to figure out what some body's doing. I'm coming in off the bench kind of cold sometimes, and it's a little bit different feel."  

Well Ladell my friend, it is time to put up, or shut up!  And while it kills me to say anything negative about the Redskins, I really think this is an issue that could make or break things for us. If Ladell goes out in this game against Detroit and puts up the same kind of impressive numbers that he did last season, I think we will see Clinton getting a lot more downtime. If not, I think,  we will see Clinton take up the lead instead. This should be an interesting game for the Redskins, having so much hanging in the balance.                                      
                                  

 You know we 'Skins fans happily dodged QB controversy this season, only to find instead that we have now landed in  "A Tale of Two Tailbacks!"

*Side Note* Clinton Portis has rushed 227 yards, for an average of  75.7 yards per game and 3 touchdowns for the 2007 season. Ladell Betts has rushed for 82 yards, for an average 27.3 per game and 0 TD's for the '07 season.

AS ALWAYS...HAIL TO THE REDSKINS!

  I have long since thought in order to find the answer to what exactly is wrong within the NFL today you are going to have to look at the bigger picture. And in looking at the bigger picture time and time again I keep coming back to one thing...The Sports Agents. Today’s Sports Agent represents not only his client on the field, but the clients image as a whole. Today athletes images are now Multi Million Dollar Corporations. And one of the largest Corporations out there belongs to Donovan McNabb.

 In looking at McNabbs entire career I have been trying to figure out just when and where things started to go down hill. Other than the Eagle Nation booing him in the draft after being disappointed by the team not picking up Ricky Williams (boy did they dodge one there) I came upon one thing that stood out to me...Sports Agent Fletcher Smith. I have to say that I was surprised to learn that when Smith was trying to negociate McNabbs initial contract back in 1999, the process was not moving quickly enough to for him. So what did he do to speed up the process? He went to the media and dropped a comment that would become a theme through out the career of Donovan McNabb...

Ladies and Gentlemen Fletcher Smith(1999)... In an interview with Philadelphia’s Comcast Sportnet Smith raised the possibility that the Eagles were reluctant to give McNabb a contract without voidable years because he is black. "There’s not much history with Black quarterbacks, but you defiantly don’t see Tim Couch, Payton Manning, Ryan Leaf, Kerry Collins get the kind of deals they got and it was no issue. We’ll pay these guys." Smith said in a cable TV Interview. "Why pull the plug now when for the past couple of years you’ve been constantly doing it for White QB’s?"

 In what must have caused some contention between the Eagles and his client over the above comments, Smith told the AP on Tuesday night that " the issue of race has never come up in his negotiations with Joe Banner, the Eagles Executive VP." Smith backtracked again by saying later in the week, "I have not brought up race with them (Eagles)." Smith said, "I have always negotiated based on Donovan McNabbs talents, not the color of his skin."

On July 28, 1999 McNabb also on Comcast said that the issue "had been blown way out of proportion." "It’s really on the verge of making me look bad, and I haven’t set a foot on the field." McNabb said. " This is not a racial issue and we don’t want anyone to think that. . .We want to continue to work with this contract deal, get over it."

 Smith after about 60% of the deal with the Eagles being done went on to say... "I had no reason to believe race was the reason the Eagles opposed such a deal. "I really don’t think race is an issue in this contract negotiation. Voidable years was an issue they didn’t care to deal with. And knowing Andy Reid’s history, Brett Farve didn’t have a voidable deal. I just think they truly feel it’s not in the best interest of the player."

That was how Fletcher Smith decided to start off his clients career. But you can see that at first Smiths comments embarrass Donovan. He was experiencing his first racial media controversy in which he was apparently uncomfortable. Unfortunately it would not be the last time in his career he would face a media circus over racial comments.

I would like to add that it is well known that back in 2002, Fletcher Smith was able to get McNabb signed to the largest contract in the history of the NFL. McNabb and the Philadelphia Eagles agreed to a twelve year contract that could be worth a then record $115 million dollars. Keeping McNabb securely in Philadelphia until 2013. At the time here is the comment from a seemly happy Donovan after the deal was signed,"

See what can change in just a year? Ladies and Gentlemen entering Stage "Right" Rush Limbaugh.

 Rush who is the host of "The Rush Limbaugh Show" was hired by ESPN back in the summer of 2003 to be the controversial voice of "Sunday NFL countdown pre-game show". He was hired to boost low ratings due to strong competition from "The NFL on FOX". In a way it seems that ESPN was not prepared for just how controversial Rush could be. But, then again there has been rumors that this was exactly what they were looking for. On Sunday September 28, 2003 Rush gave his opinion in regards to Philadelphia Eagle QB Donovan McNabb. It would turn into one of sports biggest faux pas. That is putting it mildly!

 "Donovan McNabb is overrated." Said Limbaugh, "I think what we’ve had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous of a Black Quarterback to do well. The sports media, being liberals just like the media is elsewhere, have a desire that the Black Quarterback excel and do very well so that their claims that blacks are being denied opportunity can be validated. There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for his performance of this team that he didn’t deserve. The defense carried this team."

 Rush Limbaugh resigned his position at ESPN a few days after those comments were made. After turning it in Rush said, "My comments this past Sunday were directed at the Media and were not racially motivated. I offered an opinion. This opinion has caused discomfort to the crew, which I regret."

Immediate reaction from McNabb was not forthcoming. It took until the following Tuesday for McNabb to comment. In an interview with the Philadelphia Daily News he stated, "It is sad that you’ve got to go to skin color. I thought we were through with that whole deal."

On the following Wednesday McNabb provided more reaction, "It’s somewhat shocking to hear that on National Television from him. It is not something that I can sit here and say wont bother me."

Earlier in the day on the Rush Limbaugh show he refused to back down from the media. "All this has become a tempest that it is because I must have been right about something. If I was not right there would not be this cacophony of outrage that has sprung up in the sports writer community!"

 Most were upset over the Limbaugh statements. It not only was a controversial issue, but in truth it managed to put McNabb further out into the media spotlight. Making Donovan McNabb a sports agents dream! And Fletcher Smith rode it all the way to the bank! From Campbell Soup to the Cover of Madden. Rush’s insensitive remarks became a financial windfall for the talented QB and his agent!

Now let’s skip a head to 2006. If not T.O. would take up fifteen more pages... People let face facts here...Philadelphia has never been a city loyal to its players. The higher the profile, the harder they fall in this city of supposed "Brotherly Love". If you do not believe me let’s take a look at last season. Backup QB Jeff Garcia stepped into very big shoes due to an injured McNabb. But instead of loyalty to a man who took their beloved team from the dredges of their division into the playoffs, the Eagles let Garcia go. Garcia knew it was coming, but he did hope that he would have at least have a chance at the ‘07 season. It was just not meant to be. What should have been a relief to Donovan, was very, very short lived.

To add insult to injury, the Eagles traded out of the first round of the draft, and then with the thirty-sixth pick brought in young strong rookie quarterback Kevin Kolb. To say that this move makes McNabb and his agent uneasy is an understatement! And to top that, just two weeks into regular season Donovan and his Eagles are now 0-2 , with some fans already calling Kolbs name.

Over the weekend a new controversy starring Donovan McNabb started circulating throughout the sporting world...In an interview on HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" broadcasted Tuesday, McNabb said black quarterbacks "have to do a little bit extra" because there are relatively few of them, adding "people didn't want us to play this position."

McNabb said if he passes for 300 yards and his team wins by a touchdown, critics will say, "Oh, he could have made this throw here. We would have scored more points if he would have done this."

Now I have no problem with the statements that McNabb made on Real Sports. If that is the way the man truly feels then who am I to question it? I mean Philly is the toughest sports town in the country, and so much pressure can have devastating effects. Even still, I absolutely believe there is more to this than meets the eye. If we look at the statements Fletcher Smith made at the start of McNabbs career we may get a peak at the man behind the curtain who is trying to find the next step for his client. In my opinion Donovan McNabb is one of the most talented QB’s in the National Football League. He has been hated and feared by many. But he has also been respected by just as many. Now unfortunately McNabb is having issues inside the Eagles organization, as well as with his once loyal Eagle Nation slowly turning on him. This man is going down, and the only way his agent knows how to save him is by putting Donovan back out into the glare of the media. But this time the majority of the media does not seem to be in his corner. From his own prior statements McNabb has been upset by the mention of race along with his name. Now it is him that is associating the two. We will not know what lasting effects, if any, that this will have on Donovan, but it apparently is a bet his Agent Fletcher Smith is willing to take.

Welcome my friends to what I like to call Ang's NFC East weekend in review. Yes I know it is Friday, but I have been sick all week. So if I tend to ramble, blame the fever! So in the future, barring any unforseen illnesses, I will have this report out by the beginning of the week. Also, my next two post will be up here in a few min. for the Eagles and the Cowboys! So sit back , enjoy and after you are done let me know how you feel ...

WASHINGTON vs. MIAMI

Now I bet you are sitting there thinking that this is going to be a puff piece, right? Being I am a Washington Redskins fanatic, you have every right to think that. Well you would be wrong my friend! If anything I will be tougher on my team because I know them inside and out, and more importantly I want them to succeed. To sit back blindly and just automatically assume we will be the best is infinitely wrong! So just as I have done with all three division rivals I will also do for the Redskins...

 EAGLES vs. PACKERS

I have to say that the NFC East offered up a lot of surprises in week one. In my opinion the biggest surprise of all was the Eagles loss to the Packers. I try not to buy into the hype that is spoon fed to fans through preseason, but if there was one that I thought they had got correct, I figured it was Philadelphia!

Now you cannot tell me that the whole "McNabb is Healthy" statement that was going around , which by the way, got around faster than Mono in a small town, you too did not by into it. So when the scores scrolled across my screen on Sunday afternoon, my exact words were, "OH MY GOD, THE PACK BEAT PHILLY!" Seriously that was exactly how it went! I would be willing to bet a lot of you had the same reaction! Except for Packer fans...

Anyway, I am going to run down the list of just why the Eagles did loose to the Pack.. Just in case you missed it. . .

1- Special Teams! They should be thrown to the fans in Philadelphia! If Lewis and Reed are not standing in the Unemployment line this week, then someone needs to remind Andy Reid it is football season! We all know he has been preoccupied lately.

2-I understand that Q.B.’s sometimes make mistakes, but when a Q.B. makes a rookie mistake like oh say...Intentional Grounding, and I don’t mean right off the snap either. I mean when you hand off the ball to Westbrook, he pitches it right back to you, while you are still in the pocket, and you think it is okay for you to throw it out of bounds. There is a problem! See Pee Wee Football handbook...

3-Your "healthy" Q.B. who has always torn the field up when nobody is open, throws a blatant interception! Which BTW results in a Packer 53 yard Field Goal...

4- Your seasoned WR drops pass after pass throughout the game. I do not need to say his name. He knows who he is!

5-I know I am repeating myself but, SPECIAL TEAMS, SPECIAL TEAMS, SPECIAL TEAMS!

6-Your Q.B. is seeing things, no not like the weird kid in the Sixth Sense, but seeing people being open in the end zone when they are not!

7-Your Defense plays like they are being paid by the opposing team. Just kidding. Or am I?

8- Back to the Defense...they cause Farve to fumble. They even recover it at the Packers thirty eight! And then your Offense goes three and out with NO SCORE....Wait! Maybe the Offense is being paid off???

9-Too many three and out possessions!

10-Another Special Teams player muffs the punt return! Which results in Packers recovering the ball. Farve taking a knee. Send in Field Goal Unit to make it an extra three....Well the game is over!

Now before you Eagle fans start throwing rotten vegetables at me, which would only mess up your computer screen, there were a few good things to come out of that game. "What" you ask? Let me elaborate for you...

Really your Defense was not as terrible as I made them out to be up there. They did have four sacks on the day and two forced fumbles. They kept the Packers score low and that is saying something because look at the lack of defense for both the Cowboys and Giants. The combined score for their defenses is 80 points! So don’t give up just yet. Let’s see how it pans out for you against your next opponent...WAIT that’s the REDSKINS! Okay the pleasantries stop here, LOL!

          DALLAS COWBOYS vs. NEW YORK GIANTS

                                or as I like to call it