2023 Topps Composite Blaster Opening!

 I was hoping this would be a different product. Remember when Topps came back to the basketball card market after a long absence? They put out their Archives set. It featured players whose rookie cards would have been produced during their time away, in the design of that year’s baseball set. So, we got Michael Jordan in the 1984 Topps design. I was hoping that’s what this set would be. I wanted Josh Allen in the 2018 Topps design. What I got was a football version of the baseball archives set. I didn’t need another Dan Marino Topps card, or Barry Sanders in a design from the 70’s. On the bright side, the blaster was full of stars and top rookies. On the other side, it was a missed opportunity. What do you think?

How did this particular blaster go? I'm glad you asked.

Here's what the box looks like. In a shadow.

And here's a Drew Bledsoe on a Topps Chrome design. See what I mean, though? I have plenty of Bledsoe Topps cards. This one just seems unnecessary. Especially an "unlicensed" version.

Same goes for this Tops Finest looking card of Teddy Bruschi. I mean, sure, always nice to add one of his cards. But...this is really something I didn't really need.

And there you have it. Two Patriots cards out of this box, and they're both retired greats.

If you want to see every card I pulled, be sure to subscribe to the Section 36 YouTube channel! The video of the entire opening will be posted there, if it hasn't already. You will also be able to find an almost endless selection of packs and boxes that I've opened. Feel free to dive down that rabbit hole.

How did your box go?

2023 Panini Donruss Football Jumbo Pack Opening!

Check out my YouTube video to see which Patriots came out of these packs!

Also, thought you might like to see what it was like to open one of those Fairfield repack boxes. For the price point, it's not actually terrible. But your call as to if it's worth it.

K. Garcia Productions Week - Patriots Themed Shoots

During the month of December, the Section 36 blog is celebrating "Photography Month" with weekly posts about photography. Monday started the month off with a feature on a photographer who has meant so much to the success of Section 36, Kelsey of K. Garcia Productions. I thought it would be fun to show just how much Kelsey's pictures have spread throughout the Section 36 Suite...all the way over to this blog.

K. Garcia Productions takes all sorts of photos, from headshots, to weddings, to shots on location, to just about anything. For instance, themed studio shoots.

Like...a Patriots themed one. That's exactly what happened when Kelsey combined her love of pageantry with New England's favorite dynasty. Check out these great shots!

Pretty sure Kelsey didn't actually take this first shot, since that's her in the middle. But, it's a great look at the fun group she assembled for the shoot.

I love foam finger prop and the yoga pose mimicking the yoga shirt. Fans of Section 36 (or pageantry) will recognize Olivia Clark from her interview with Section 36, and remember these pictures from their appearance on her Section 36 Pageants profile page.

Alexis Ferreira also did an interview with Section 36, and this picture joins others on her Pageants profile page. 

If you're doing a shoot with a group of titleholders, it's fun to get multiples in a picture. This great action shot really gives that playful look that shows how much fun the girls were having. You may recognize the kicker as Miss Massachusetts 2019 Lyndsey Littlefield. She also interviewed with Section 36, and has this photo included on her Pageants profile page.

Another prop was brought out for this picture with Jackie O'Keefe. Once again, she interviewed with Section 36, and this picture is on her Pageants profile page in the photo gallery.

This picture of Emily Yeo is a bit prophetic. Currently, Emily is a member of the New England Patriots Cheerleaders. It's great the way this shot captures her smile. It's almost like she knew.

Speaking of NEPC, Nicolette Peloquin is also a current member of the cheerleader squad. This picture was also taken before she made the team.

As were these two. As you might remember, Nicolette is another interview guest with Section 36. These pictures, and more, can be found right here on this blog on her NEPC profile page.

Hopefully you've enjoyed this look into what fun a photo shoot with K. Garcia Productions can be. If you want to try your own themed shoot, I suggest you get in touch with Kelsey.

And be sure to check out all the blogs in the Section 36 Suite to see even more of her work!

Morgan Dzicek Sang at Fenway for Childhood Cancer Awareness Night

Previously posted on Section 36

On Saturday, the Red Sox held Childhood Cancer Awareness Day at the ballpark. As part of Childhood Cancer Awareness month, the Sox took the opportunity pregame to honor survivors of, or those dealing with, childhood cancer, as well as those helping to find a cure. With their long-standing relationship with the Jimmy Fund, it was certainly a cause the Sox are familiar with.

As part of the ceremony, Morgan Dzicek was given the opportunity to sing the national anthem. 

Morgan was the perfect choice, for a few reasons. For one, she is a childhood cancer survivor herself, having been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer at the age of 13. It took 40 rounds of radiation over the next four years before she was declared cancer free at 17.

Morgan is also currently a member of the New England Patriots Cheerleaders. With the Patriots opening their season the following night, the crossover appeal is obvious.

Finally, Morgan is simply an amazing singer. She's a graduate of Berklee College of Music, and even has her own single on her resume. Released last fall, “Every Step of the Way” is an incredibly beautiful song about her battle with cancer. The video for the song was just released a few days ago. Check it out below.

As we continue to celebrate Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, there are naturally several ways you can help out.

Morgan herself is personally passionate about “Make-a-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island”. It was with their help that she was able to record “Every Step of the Way”. But, certainly do whatever you can to help those suffering from the effects of childhood cancer, whether that's through Make-a-Wish, the Jimmy Fund, or another option of your choosing.

I also assume that you're going to want to hear "Every Step of the Way" over and over. I know I did. In that case, you're in luck! It's available on Spotify, apple music, and basically anywhere else you get your favorite music.

Be sure to go find it now!

NEPC Tryouts Start Today!

Today the journey starts to see who will join the New England Patriots Cheerleaders squad for the 2019 season! I'm sure all of you are as excited as I am to see who makes the team.

During today's preliminary round, we will be cheering extra hard for one contestant in particular. You may remember Hannah Trepanier from her visit with Section 36. 

Hannah Trepanier

Miss Rockingham County 2018

She has decided to take this opportunity to try out for the squad. We certainly wish her the best of luck!

Of course, there are five visitors to Section 36 who were on the squad last season. These amazing women will get a first round bye, and will begin competing in the final round. Naturally, we hope to see them on the sidelines again next season!

Photo by Rob Hare

Alicia Capone

Talia Laurito

Photo by Rob hare

Jonét Nichelle

Nicolette Peloquin

Photo by Rob Hare

Isabella Tropeano

Good luck to everyone trying out!

Visiting Visitors!

Section 36 has been fortunate enough to interview several members of the New England Patriots Cheerleaders. They have been so much fun. As a continuation of that, I think it's important to point out that these amazing ladies sometimes make appearances around New England where you may have the chance to bump into them. Sometimes these appearances are NEPC related, and sometimes they're to support their personal endeavors. In either case, it's probably worth you keeping the events in mind. They'll probably be something you'll want to take part in.

Here are some upcoming events involving Section 36 visitors!

Talia Laurito
12/21 Legit Activewear in Chestnut Hill

12/29 Extend Barre  in Burlington
1/5/2019 Lash Envy in Cranston RI

Be sure to mention you heard about it on Section 36!

Looking for a Fitness Program?

If you are, here's an interesting option to try out. New England Patriots Cheerleaders Isabella and Talia are starting a program in January that's probably just what your looking for! Check out the flyer below.

That looks pretty awesome to me. For $100 (or $75 if you're quick) you get a month worth of help on your fitness program from a pair of coaches. As you can see, the program includes 8 full video workouts, workouts of the day, grocery lists, sample meal plans, supplement suggestions, and probably most important weekly check-ins via skype or email. I know I'm much more apt to stick to a program if I have to report back to someone. Or, look them in the eye and tell them why I was slacking.

So, definitely contact Isabella, and see if the program is right for you.

And be sure to tell them Section 36 sent you!

Fixing a Hole

The Patriots were handed their first loss of the young season on Sunday. On Monday, they traded for Josh Gordon.

They fixed a hole.

The question is, which hole did they fix? From where I sit, there are two reasons for the Patriots make this trade. One, the deal was just too good to pass up and they would have made the trade under any circumstances. The other is that they saw a hole in their offense exposed by the Jaguars on Sunday.

My guess is it’s the second one. The Patriots probably felt that Gronk and Hogan were just a bit too easy to cover without any other big receiver weapons. Especially without Edelman. Moving forward, that wouldn’t work. So, the Pats made a move.

It’s a risky move. Gordan has severe substance abuse issues, which have caused him to miss most of the last couple seasons due to suspensions and rehab. So, can he hold it together long enough to stay on the field? That’s a pretty big “if”. On the bright side, as opposed to an injury risk, there’s an assumption that if he is on the field he’ll be performing well. There is also always the question of picking up the complicated Patriots offense. How fluid will he be with only a couple days of practice under his belt? Some receivers pick it up quickly, some never seem to. That’s a lot of questions about a guy who will be your number one reciever on a team hoping for a title.

Unless, that’s not what he is.

What if the “hole” that needs to be filled is the one Edelman is expecting to fill. What if the Patriots aren’t looking for a deep threat in the Super Bowl? What if they’re looking for a number three receiver for the next two weeks? Or, even a decoy for the next two weeks? Just someone that the other defenses have to react to enough to free up Gronk and Hogan. Then, by the time they realize he’s not figuring out the offense or by the time he is off the field again, Edelman is back and they don’t need him anymore.

Asking Josh Gordan to lead your receiving corps for the season is a big risk. Asking him to take some pressure off Gronk and Hogan the next two games? That’s practically a guarantee.

So, that’s the risk-reward the Pats have righht now. It’s also a win-win. Risk? He only makes is two weeks, and is completely ineffective before you need to move on from him for any number of reasons. Well, that’s a win. He was the stopgap you needed. Reward? He shapes up. He stays clean. He’s an all pro wide receiver and helps bring you to a title. Anither win. A win-win, risk-reward is practically unheard of.

Belichick did it again.

One Win Down!

So, not sure what you were expecting out of an opening week game. But, that’s about what it should have been.

The Patriots seem to really hold onto the concept of feeling things out for the beginning of the season, and then fine tuning things once they know what they’ve got. So thats what I felt was going on this weekend. Lots of wondering who can do what, and who can’t do what.

What worked? The offense seemed to have things figured out. Brady was able to hit multiple targets, multiple times. The only concern I’d have in that area is how often he seemed to force it into Gronk. There were a couple times, including the first touchdown, where Gronk was expected to just beat the double coverage on him and make the catch. I understand that he usually makes catches in those situations, and as I said it did result in a score. But moving forward, I hope he doesn’t start feeling like Gronk in the only option, even in good coverage. I hope the other guys can show they can make the catch when needed. Otherwise Gronk is going to have five guys covering him on every third down.

The defense also looked like they had their stuff together. It’s always tough, especially after just one game, to know whether your defense is that good, or their offense is that bad. But I tend to think it was the defense controlling the game, which is a great sign.

It was also a great sign that the announcers were practically begging to call JJ Watt’s name, but didn’t have the chance for a long time. The fact that they kept him off of Brady for so long is another great sign going forward. Even if the Patriots always seem to do a good job controlling him.

Bad stuff? Turnovers. I know the Brady interception was on a tip, and Gronk hasn’t lost a fumble in the last six years or so, and fumbling on a kick return obviously gets you cut the next day. But, that’s clearly an area they should, and will, clean up moving forward.

They’ll need to against Jacksonville.

It's Opening Day!

It's the day we've all been waiting so long for! The Patriots open their season today against the Texans. And, you know what that means!

It's your first chance to see the New England Patriots Cheerleaders!

Here's at Section 36 we're especially excited to see two rookie cheerleaders finally be able to perform on the big stage. Yes, we may be a bit biased, but they're definitely two of the best on the team.

Jonét Nichelle

You probably remember Jonét's wonderful interview with Section 36 a few months ago. She did a wonderful job as we discussed her new NEPC role, and her time as Miss Litchfield County.

Nicolette Peloquin

Nicolette visited Section 36 during her time as Miss Rhode Island, before making the NEPC squad. When she visited, we discussed her time with that crown, her upcoming appearance at Miss America, and her work with "Be the Match" and bone marrow donations. We'll have to see if she can visit again sometime to ask her about her time as a NEPC rookie!

So, while you're watching Brady and Gronk do their thing against the Texans today, be sure to keep your eye out for Jonét and Nicolette!

I know I will! 

Jonét Nichelle Visits Section 36!

Photo Credit: Robert Hare Photography

Section 36 Patriots has its first visitor! I'm sure you're aware of all the MAO titleholders who have visited with Section 36 to discuss the Red Sox. But, it made much more sense to post this visit here. Jonét Nichelle is the current Miss Litchfield County (CT). She is also in her rookie season as a member of the New England Patriots Cheerleaders! I’m so excited that she was willing to take the time out of her schedule to talk about those topics, and a few more. I'm sure you'll love reading everything she had to say!

So, let’s see what happens when Jonét Nichelle visits Section 36!

Why did you decide to try out for the New England Patriots Cheerleaders team?
I’ve always been part of a team. I began dancing at the age of two and at the age of five, I was competing at dance competitions. By middle school I  became a student athlete and continued running track on the collegiate level as well. As my track and field career was coming to an end, my mom and I began researching other routes for me to take and we came across the New England Patriots Cheerleaders Auditions. It was from that simple google search that I became determined to earn a spot on the team.

How did it feel the first time you all got together as a team?
During bootcamp, I  had the pleasure of become extremely close with just about each and every young lady vying for a spot on the squad; so much so it already felt like we were already on the team! The first time we were all together (vets and rookies) I felt beyond welcomed – as if every woman in that room was more than a teammate.      

What are you most looking forward to about your rookie season?
There’s honestly so much to look forward to.  Just putting on the uniform is an exciting feeling! I’m especially excited to travel to St. Maarten for our calendar trip and video shoot this July. 

What is your personal fitness routine? 
I  am a personal trainer and as my mom calls me, “a gym rat”.  I always begin, or try to incorporate, some sort of cardio into my workouts. Lately I have a newfound interest in the stair master. 

Photo Credit: Catherine Fiehn Photography

You were crowned Miss Litchfield County earlier this year. How did you celebrate winning that title?
I  won my title back in January. It was a last minute decision to compete, so when I  actually won I couldn't believe it. I  didn’t invite many people. Just my mom, godfather and best friend attended. After the pageant, we went to a diner and had a huge feast and discussed my goals and plans to prepare for Miss Connecticut. 

What has surprised you about your time as Miss Litchfield County?
I  can’t say anything has really surprised me during my reign, however I always love to watch a little girl’s face light up with I let her try on my crown and sash!  

How did you select your platform?
My platform is something that is extremely near and dear to my heart; something that I plan to continue to develop and work on even after my “crown days” are over. My platform is “This is Her, She Is ME - finding the strength to walk away” came about after I was fortunate enough to leave a domestic violence relationship. Through my recovery period, I  became more open to sharing my story and trying to help other victims while volunteering with different programs. I  believe your platform should be something you're very passionate about and for me I  wanted to use my voice to reach a bigger audience and help those going through something similar to myself find the proper resources. 

What’s the best part about performing your talent on stage?
My talent for Miss Connecticut was a tap dance to “Don Quixote,

Photo Credit: Dwight Darian

Man Of La Mancha”. I loved my costume but I  think the best part of my talent was getting into character. I’ve performed this dance before,but this year I  really got into character. To me, the song is about overcoming obstacles and conquering the day. When I put my tap shoes on and put the rose in my hair, I  became “Don”, a strong woman who has no fears. 

How did the Miss Connecticut competition compare to NEPC tryouts?
I  went in to Miss Connecticut and NEPC tryouts with the same mindset. I  was going to give my blood, sweat, and tears, but also keep in mind that if the journey is meant for me, it will not pass me up. While there was only one crown at the end of the week and only 34 spots on the team, I  learned so much about myself during Miss CT week as I did during tryouts with the Patriots. I  learned that I was more than capable to achieve every dream I have. 

-----

That is a great lesson to learn!

As always, I want to give huge thanks to Jonét for doing this interview. As I mentioned, she was the first NEPC to visit Section 36, and I'm flattered that she agreed. I also want to thank her for providing so many amazing pictures to accompany the interview. They went along perfectly with the interview.

As Jonét continues her time as Miss Litchfield County, I encourage you to follow her on the official Miss Litchfield County Facebook page. 

And, as the Patriots start the 2018 season, be sure to check out the New England Patriots Cheerleaders website, and Jonét's own NEPC bio page, and follow her as she cheers on the best team in football!

Thanks again Jonét!

Patriot Pride - by Troy Brown with Mike Reiss

Troy Brown needs no introduction. The Patriot Hall of Famer is pretty much the blueprint for the ideal Patriot. On over-achieving

late round draft pick. He played well at all phases of the game, whatever the coach needed from him. he was a star receiver. He played on special teams. He even played on defense when the team needed him to. His story covers the end of the pre-Brady years, and the beginning of the Patriots dynasty. It was an interesting period for the team, and Brown looked to cover it from the inside.

This was a good book, but a bit more limited than I was hoping for. There was some great insight into his early years. Growing up, and moving on to college. You can see the formations of the player he would come. The Patriots years, though, felt more like a retelling of newspaper reports than any real behind the scenes information. I heard myself saying "Oh yeah, I remember that" more than I said "oh really". It's the sort of book I would expect from a reporter, or someone outside the team. A collection of the Patriots records over the years, and the game by game retelling. It still made for a fun read, but I expected more from an autobiography. If Mike Reiss had written this on his own, I feel like I would have enjoyed it more because my expectations would have been different. But, you should feel free to give it a try and see if you feel the same way. You will still enjoy the book.

Rating: 3 quarters.

Good Luck Nicolette!

If you're a loyal fan of Section 36, you probably remember Miss Rhode Island Nicolette Peloquin's visit. It was so much fun, and one of the most popular visits so far.

You also know that Nicolette has generously provided Section 36 with some incredible pictures. One of my favorites is this one, taken by fellow visitor Kelsey Garcia.

You also know that a Section 36 t-shirt looks absolutely amazing on her!

Why am I telling you all this? Because right now, Nicolette has the chance to earn the right to wear an outfit that will look even better on her than this shirt does.

Last weekend, Nicolette made it through final auditions to be a New England Patriots Cheerleader! She is currently going through boot camp as a last hurdle in order to make the team! 

We couldn't be prouder of Nicolette and wish her luck as she tries to fulfill her dream! Hopefully she'll remember Section 36 after she hits it big!

Good luck Nicolette!

Brady vs. Manning: The Untold Story of the Rivalry That Transformed the NFL, by Gary Myers

Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are two of the best quarterbacks to

ever play the game. But, they reached the top of their profession by following different paths. One destined to greatness through a first round draft choice. The other almost forgotten, starting from the bottom of the draft. But, as much as they are different, there is so much the same about them. This book explores both sets of qualities to show that greatness can be found anywhere.

The book certainly does that. It's the couple things that it doesn't do that are really the problem. I'm not sure the author was aware of the title when he was writing the book. The "vs" part never really shows up. It's just a collection of facts about both of them, presented in themed chapters. Which actually brings up the other problem, the organization. It's not really there. It seems like the author interviewed a bunch of people, got a bunch of great stories, and then had to figure out how to make that into a book. So, there wasn't a chronological order to the facts. Or, a numerical order. The stories weren't told in the process of recounting one of there many match-ups. They were just sort of told. As such, there was a bunch of jumping around, and even some retelling of stories that fit into more than one grouping. So, while many of the stories were interesting, and new to me, I found it difficult to follow. Overall, that didn't completely take away from the amount of information provided. I just wish it was formatted better. What did you think?

Rating: 3 Quarters.

Yes. Let Him Catch It

Following yet another comeback, leading to yet another AFC championship, against yet another team ready to hand the Patriots the victory, much of the discussion had focused on just how the Jaguars gave the game away.

The obvious stat to look at is the one-sided penalty totals. While the Patriots only committed one penalty on the day, the Jags had to deal with several crushing flags. A delay of game, a couple defensive pass interference, and a drive extending personal foul for a helmet to helmet hit.

That last one seems to draw the most discussion. Some people are saying it's just another example of people trying to take football out of football by removing the big hits. Some claim that it shouldn't have been a penalty because the defender tried to lead with his shoulder. Others, including Seahawks defensive back Richard Sherman, had a complaint along the lines of "what do you want them to do? Can't hit the knees. Can't hit the head. What's a defender supposed to do? Just let the guy catch the ball?'

Yes. That's exactly what he's supposed to do.

Well, I suppose that first he's supposed to be in the proper position so that he can knock the ball away without making contact with the receiver. (Like Stephon Gilmore did at the end of the game.) Or, in such great position that the quarterback doesn't dare throw it in the first place. But, yes. Other than those two options, if you can't stop him legally, you need to let the receiver catch the ball. Then just wrap him up with a good clean tackle. Malcolm Butler is pretty experienced with this. If you can't defend the pass, tackle the runner.

But, being unable to properly defend the pass isn't an excuse to commit a penalty. 

It reminds me of the baseball pitchers who think it's OK to put a substance on the ball if it's just to get a better grip. After all, without a better grip it's harder to control their curveball. If they can't control it, that's a safety issue for the hitter. So, they use a little pine tar. But, you know what else would make it safer for the hitters? Not throwing a curveball you can't control. Your inability to do something doesn't make it OK to cheat.

Just like your inability to cover Gronk doesn't make it OK to commit a penalty.

So don't tell me, "What can I do? I have to hit his knees or his head." That's garbage. Instead of flying out of control trying to jar the ball loose, pull up, and make a clean tackle. The fact that you suck isn't my problem.

Just because something is hard doesn't mean you don't have to do it. The rules are the rules. Does this make it easier to complete a pass? Yes. Sorry. Does this mean you have to learn how to wrap a guy up and actually tackle him, as opposed to trying to knock him over? Yes. Sorry. Does this mean someone like Gronk might require a double team? Yes. Sorry.

It doesn't mean you're allowed to commit a penalty.

That’s How You Know the NFL Isn’t a Real Sports League

The Patriots defeated the Steelers last night to regain the #1 seed in the AFC. They accomplished this, in part, because of the proper application of NFL rules.

Yeah, I know. That sentence seems weird to me too. I’d like to think that most victories are because of the proper application of league rules. But, I digress. Because, you know exactly what I’m talking about. After the Patriots took a three-point lead with about a minute left in the game, the defense had a bit of a brain cramp. They allowed a slant play to gain almost 70 yards, giving the Steelers first and goal at the ten yard line. Then, on the next play they allowed Jesse James to stand wide open at the goal line. Then things got weird.

James got the ball, spun to the ground, lunged for the goal line and stuck the ball into the end zone. There, the ball wobbled a bit as it hit the ground. After a long review to confirm the score, everyone began to realize that maybe people didn’t think it was a completed catch. And, lo and behold, that was what the call was. The old “catch-not a catch” rule reared its ugly head. It was ruled that since James was going to the ground, he needed to complete the catch before lunging for the goal. He didn’t. Incomplete.

Two plays later another QB tried a goal line slant against the Patriots, and was picked off to snatch defeat from the arms of victory.

This isn’t the first time that this rule has affected a play, or a game. It’s one of the reasons that when asked about his catch in the Super Bowl, Julian Edelman said he thought he caught it, but nobody really knows what a “catch” is these days. But, even though it initially causes some confusion, most impartial observers agree that they have been properly applying a bad rule.

It’s the sort of bad rule that having instant replay forces you into sometimes. Where suddenly you have to define something like “a catch” not in terms of looking at it and just knowing he caught it. No, you need a frame by frame definition. Can the ball move at all? By how much? How many milliseconds before the knee goes down? I think most everyone seeing it at full speed knew it was a catch, but in slow motion knew it wasn’t. That’s sort of an annoying rule.

Like I said, though, it’s a byproduct of instant replay. Major League Baseball had a similar issue when they first allowed replay review. They had to define things like “a catch” Was it when the ball entered the glove? When it hit the back of the glove? Did the glove have to fold in around the ball? What frame of video showed the catch? They also had trouble with the “transfer” rule. When did a player drop a ball when trying to throw it as opposed to trying to catch it? MLB really botched the first attempt at the transfer rule. Basically the way they wrote it, throwing the ball back to the infield constituted not catching it.

But, because MLB is a competitive sports league, they looked at changing the rule so it made sense. Having seen it in action, they knew examples of what they wanted the rule to look like and changed the wording to match. It was so important to them that they made the amazing decision to change the wording mid season. So now a catch that looked like a catch was ruled a catch. 

So what has the NFL done about their catch rule? Absolutely nothing. 

Because they don't care. They're not a competitive sports league. Every year they become more like WWE. They're basically the live version of fantasy football. It's just something for people to watch and bet on. 

Because a competitive league doesn't suspend its best player for no reason. It doesn't take away draft picks if a team is doing well. It doesn't pick one team to be a villain just to help ratings. And, they certainly don't allow something as crucial as catching the football to be ruled so awkwardly. 

When do you do all those things? When you just want viewers. When you need something for people to talk about. When you need a Kylo Ren for every Rey. When you want controversy to rule the water cooler in the morning. Any controversy. 

So the NFL is thrilled this morning. They don't care that one of their best teams lost because of a screwed up rule. They don't care that it threw the balance of power in the AFC from one team to another. They don't care that one team basically grabbed a folding chair to smack the other team with. They just care that EVERYONE is talking about it today. 

The WWE should be so lucky. 

Is That More Like It?

It's amazing how things can change. Before the season opener, many fans (not just me) were actually hinting that this patriots team might just flirt with 19-0. Even after losing Edelman, they were just too loaded.

Then they went out and laid an egg.

My goodness, everyone did a 180. This team was overrated! We ignored their flaws! They're just not good anymore!

Now, it's possible that the team was overrated. After all, hard to underrate a team when you're predicting it to go 19-0. But, in theory, the loss to the Chiefs should have been shocking. It's the sort of thing that happens. Teams sometime just don'r match up well, especially early in the season. There's a reason Patriots teams seem to get better as the season goes on. Because they do. As the team gels and everyone learns their job, it's easier for them to do their job. So, Kansas City was the right team at the right time. At least from their perspective. 

But, give the Patriots coaching staff that much game film to work with, and they came up with some new plans. New ways to make their limited personnel work for them.

Then they went out and crushed the Saints.

So, which is the real Patriots? Of course, they both are. The Pats have excelled lately at changing their entire approach depending on the game. One week they'll air it out for 500 yards. The next, run the ball almost exclusively. It's what's so fascinating about this dynasty. You never know what you're going to see.

Other than lots of wins.