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Friday, October 29, 2010
4-telling the future
I don't have a crystal ball. Don't possess any psychic powers. And, unlike most reporters, I don't have any unnamed sources.
But none of that is necessary to make this proclamation: Brett Favre will play against the Patriots on Sunday.
The status of the aging Vikings quarterback, officially, is uncertain. But realistically, there's nothing that will keep No. 4 from making his record 292nd straight start. If he won't listen to his body (aching from two fractures in his left ankle and heel) when it's telling him he shouldn't play, what chance does coach Brad Childress have? The answer, of course, is none.
How much Favre plays, and how well, is very much open for debate. So here are a few possible scenarios:
1. Favre limps out for the Vikings' first series, takes a snap, turns and hands off to Adrian Peterson, then limps off the field, replaced by Tavaris Jackson. In his post-game comments, he'll say he "just wanted to give it a try," which would be partly true. But in reality, he wanted the streak to remain intact.
2. Favre stays in the game until the Patriots put it out of reach, which they will do, and leaves after throwing his second or third interception.
3. Favre plays the whole game with a noticeable limp, but torches New England for 400-plus yards and three or more touchdowns as his linemen carry him down field (a la Byron Leftwich at Marshall in 2002) and the Vikings pull off the improbable upset. This is the least likely outcome, but Favre has a way of coming up with unlikely performances when people are writing him off. Just when you think his career is on its last leg (pun intended), he shows why teams have willingly put up with his crap for so many years.
Again, I'm not psychic, but my money's on 2.
But none of that is necessary to make this proclamation: Brett Favre will play against the Patriots on Sunday.
The status of the aging Vikings quarterback, officially, is uncertain. But realistically, there's nothing that will keep No. 4 from making his record 292nd straight start. If he won't listen to his body (aching from two fractures in his left ankle and heel) when it's telling him he shouldn't play, what chance does coach Brad Childress have? The answer, of course, is none.
How much Favre plays, and how well, is very much open for debate. So here are a few possible scenarios:
1. Favre limps out for the Vikings' first series, takes a snap, turns and hands off to Adrian Peterson, then limps off the field, replaced by Tavaris Jackson. In his post-game comments, he'll say he "just wanted to give it a try," which would be partly true. But in reality, he wanted the streak to remain intact.
2. Favre stays in the game until the Patriots put it out of reach, which they will do, and leaves after throwing his second or third interception.
3. Favre plays the whole game with a noticeable limp, but torches New England for 400-plus yards and three or more touchdowns as his linemen carry him down field (a la Byron Leftwich at Marshall in 2002) and the Vikings pull off the improbable upset. This is the least likely outcome, but Favre has a way of coming up with unlikely performances when people are writing him off. Just when you think his career is on its last leg (pun intended), he shows why teams have willingly put up with his crap for so many years.
Again, I'm not psychic, but my money's on 2.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
R.I. high school football media poll Week 8
Portsmouth and Rogers stay put at No. 2 and 9, respectively, which makes sense after each posted an easy win over a lousy team last week. Things get much more interesting for the Patriots and Vikings this week as Portsmouth faces top-ranked Bishop Hendricken and Rogers travels to Moses Brown, which laid a beating 34-8 on Middletown on Friday. With that loss, Middletown dropped from No. 13 to 18 in the poll.
If the Patriots can upset Hendricken (which received all 11 first-place votes again this week), and it would be an upset, despite how well Portsmouth has played of late, they almost certainly will ascend to the No. 1 ranking. It would be the first time in the poll's brief history that a Newport County team earned the top spot.
Team Points Last week
1. Hendricken (11) 220 1
2. Portsmouth 207 2
3. Barrington 198 3
4. East Providence 184 4
5. La Salle 180 5
t-6. Woonsocket 148 8
t-6. Tolman 148 7
8. Cranston West 146 6
9. Rogers 131 9
10. Chariho 112 15
11. Johnston 105 11
12. Moses Brown 95 17
13. Ex.-West Greenwich 79 16
14. Mount Hope 72 10
15. Cranston East 58 14
16. Central 40 12
17. Coventry 38 NR
18. Middletown 37 13
19. Burrillville 36 19
20. St. Raphael 28 NR
Dropped from poll: Shea 18, Lincoln 20
Also receiving votes: Cumberland 15, Mount Pleasant 13, Westerly 12, Lincoln 3, Toll Gate 2, Narragansett 2, Shea 1.
If the Patriots can upset Hendricken (which received all 11 first-place votes again this week), and it would be an upset, despite how well Portsmouth has played of late, they almost certainly will ascend to the No. 1 ranking. It would be the first time in the poll's brief history that a Newport County team earned the top spot.
Team Points Last week
1. Hendricken (11) 220 1
2. Portsmouth 207 2
3. Barrington 198 3
4. East Providence 184 4
5. La Salle 180 5
t-6. Woonsocket 148 8
t-6. Tolman 148 7
8. Cranston West 146 6
9. Rogers 131 9
10. Chariho 112 15
11. Johnston 105 11
12. Moses Brown 95 17
13. Ex.-West Greenwich 79 16
14. Mount Hope 72 10
15. Cranston East 58 14
16. Central 40 12
17. Coventry 38 NR
18. Middletown 37 13
19. Burrillville 36 19
20. St. Raphael 28 NR
Dropped from poll: Shea 18, Lincoln 20
Also receiving votes: Cumberland 15, Mount Pleasant 13, Westerly 12, Lincoln 3, Toll Gate 2, Narragansett 2, Shea 1.
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