Necessary Roughness with Kisha is a sports blog that focuses on football, both college and professional. However, no topic is off limits.

Posts Tagged ‘Patriots’

 
Jun
14
2010

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Mankins and the Patriots: A messy, ugly, bitter break-up | Patriots Insider: Roundtable!

 

Contracts, deals and trades. These three things tend to bring a lot of action the off-season in the NFL. Although I heavily enjoy watching how players’ true desires and motives surface, it’s never fun to see happen within your favorite team.  Case in point, earlier today Patriots  offensive lineman Logan Mankins (32nd pick overall in 2005)  refused to sign his restricted free agent tender  before tonight’s deadline and has pretty much demanded to be traded.

“I want to be traded. I don’t need to be here any more.” - Mankins to ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss

(Read Mike Reiss’ full article here)

As you can imagine, twitter was blowing up all afternoon with comments about Mankins’ selfishness, burning bridges and bitterness.  This goes without saying that some fans that I’ve spoken to also expressed their unhappiness with the Patriots organization and their chosen way of handling this whole dilemma.  I can’t really say I’ve chosen a side during this whole debacle.

The Patriots offered Mankins about $7 million per year which would place him in the top 5 in salaries in his position.  Not bad, but its obviously not what Mankins had in mind.   He felt lied to, undervalued and mistreated. When I saw the report this afternoon, I felt like I walked into a heated discussion which would eventually lead to a nasty break up.  From the looks of what Mankins said about the organization, this is the end.  So say goodbye to the jolly lumberjack looking offensive lineman from Fresno State. It was fun while it lasted.

Photo from Boston Herald

Here’s what I do know about the Patriots:

  • The word “urgency” means nothing to them.  If their Super Bowl winning quarterback’s contract discussions have just been swiftly pushed aside, what makes you think that an unhappy offensive lineman’s contract is going to be first on the to-do list?
  • It’s not a love affair that they team has with their players…except for maybe Tom Brady.  Besides Brady though, they see the players as part of a business.  That’s it. Never anything personal.
  • A move like this by the Patriots isn’t surprising…at all.

On a more positive note…

Patriots Insider did a cool offseason roundtable discussion with all of their writers.  Of course, I got to include some of my opinions :) This is always fun.

Patriots Insider: Offseason Discussions

Some of the questions we discussed were:

Did the move to part ways with Adalius Thomas surprise you?  Who do you expect to fill that…

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May
12
2010

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Battle of the AFC East and A New England Specialty

 

I’ve always been a fan of lists, tables or anything that puts things in numeric or alphabetical order.  Blame it on my small case of OCD, but these things always seem to make their way into my everyday life.  In fact, today’s update was on my list of things to do while hanging out at Starbucks at UConn in Storrs, Connecticut.  Other things on this daily list?

  1. Walk Rossi
  2. Make coffee
  3. Eat breakfast
  4. Organize paperwork
  5. Read articles/blogs/news

The fifth thing on the list is definitely one of the most important.  It’s strange because growing up, I really despised reading.  I blame it on the fact that I was forced to read entire series of books in elementary and middle school. God forbid we only read The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, nope it had to be the ENTIRE series. But, I digress. The point I was trying to make was that, now as a “grown up” I find a lot of joy in reading a lot every single day.  Perhaps it has to do with my growing thirst for knowledge and the fact that the majority of the things I read are related to football at the collegiate and professional level.  My friends tell me all the time to broaden my horizons but it seems like the football world always has so many things going on.

I promise to try to expand my sports interests soon….but for now, football is my main focus.

One of the more interesting things I read recently was a post by Tim Graham called:

The Big Question: Three Playoff Teams?

Graham briefly but rather accurately, discussed the major debate as to who will dominate the ever so competitive AFC East.  He also describes the very small possibility that the AFC East will produce three equally dominate playoff teams (Sorry Buffalo, maybe at some point we’ll consider you a threat).  We’re all familiar as to why this would come up as an issue.  The Jets have managed to sign every big name imaginable during this off season and to be honest, the Dolphins aren’t doing too bad either.  Last season, the Jets found success all the way to the AFC Championship Game…and the Patriots were embarrassed by the Baltimore Ravens at home (ouch.)

I like Graham’s points, especially that the Patriots have the 6th most difficult schedule in the league.  Whereas the Dolphins, Bills and Jets are hanging tight tied at the 16th most difficult.

With the Patriots…

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Apr
21
2010

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Holt the Phone, we got ourselves a veteran! Kisha is DRAFT BOUND!

 

“I’m not as fast as I once was when I first came into the National Football League. I had a knee surgery, so I think that slowed me down in a sense, but I still have enough speed, enough sense of urgency, enough game speed to play and to be effective and to continue to make plays..”

Torry Holt - 4/21/2010 Boston Globe

Holy mother of experience in the wide receiver position! Just when I thought the off season couldn’t get any better the Patriots go and sign Torry Holt for a one year contract. Of course people are pulling the Galloway card assuming that he’ll struggle just as poor old Joey did.  I personally don’t think this will be the same situation.  Holt’s numbers are nowhere near to what they were before. You know, when he had like 117 catches for 1,696 yards and 12 touchdowns.  The thing is Holt know that he isn’t the player he was before.  He’s not here to try and make mind blowing catches like THIS.   He did average considering that last season he was being thrown to by a not so adequate quarterback in Jacksonville.  With 51 catches, 772 yards and he still managed to average 14.2 yards.  It’s really hard not to be excited about this acquisisiton if you’re a Patriots fan..which of course I am.

Speaking of being a fan, check out what I found deep in my hard drive! I remember entering this contest on MySpace and I ended up winning a pretty sweet “Kiss Me I’m a Pats Fan” shirt. I wanna say this is circa 2006?  Pretty sure I was sporting a legitimate 3 pointed hat and check me out reppin’ Harlingen, Texas! Oh oh!

Patriots Fan of the Week!

Here are my final words on the Holt signing:

1. I think the experience is the most important attribute that Holt will provide for the team.

2. The veteran catch-off between Holt and Patten during training camp will be pretty awesome.

3. Thanks Jets, for taking away our thunder. Really? You HAD to sign Jason Taylor the EXACT same time as the Pats signed Holt?! I get it, you want to win the division. Geez.

So onto the real news….

I WILL BE ATTENDING THE 2010 NFL DRAFT!

Yes, it’s happening.  This time last year, I remember being pretty devastated because I was required to work an event for my university. I was left to work lights and sound for a play…

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Aug
10
2009

1

PreSeason jitters, Patriots Training Camp, My Hot Fantasy

 

I’d like to re-introduce myself.  I’m Kisha and I am a sports fan, I love the Patriots and the majority of other New England Teams.  I love football.  This may seem odd to have to go through formalities again, but I feel as though I have been neglecting this project of mine and I feel like I’ve let you everyone who (still) reads this down.  I’m certain though to win you folks back, I’m much too stubborn of a fan to just let you down and walk away.  So here it is, the rebirth of Kisha’s sports blog.  Get ready, it’s going to blow your mind.

Topics up for discussion:

1. The Pre-Season
2. Patriots Training Camp
3. My Hot Fantasy

The PreSeason

The New England Patriots’ preseason looks something like this:

Eagles – Joe, I’m not sure if you still read this but expect some trash talk texts from me for this game.  Preseason, I know, but my Eagles smack talk is getting a little rusty.

Bengals – I was an OchoCinco fan, and then he’s off field antics just got old.  Chad, already starting the trash talk to Shawn Merriman? Tisk Tisk.  Ochocino, you have so much more to prove on the field this season than ever before.  You’re quarterback is healthy, you got your name change and your jerseys. Now, please play well and prove that you are still a legitimate wide receiver who has more than just clever endzone celebrations to give to fans.

Redskins – Clinton Portis is still there? Right? haha

Giants – I really don’t think I could dislike a team more than the New York Giants.  I’ll admit, it might have something to do with them beating us in the Super Bowl.  Regardless, this team might actually be a threat this coming season and not that preseason will show anything, but please Patriots let’s not lose (although New England seems to like losing all preseason games)

****PATRIOTS TRAINING CAMP****

Folks, being a Texas native, I have never had to opportunity to view a team’s training camp.  I must say, after attending 2 of them at Gillette Stadium, I feel like I was deprived as a football fan.  Mom and Dad, I’m very disappointed in you. Haha actually, you both have been pretty awesome, it’s not your fault that we live 20 mins from Mexico and 6 hours from the nearest professional football team.

Best sister ever.

Best sister ever.

The first session I attended was with my little brother who was visiting for…

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