GREATNESS

Over the next several weeks three teams will have a say in just how great the New England Patriots are, and yes, if the Patriots fail to win the Super Bowl the season will be a complete failure. However, Super Bowl or not, this Patriots team is the greatest in NFL history. Many people will immediatly throw around teams...1985 Bears, 1972 Dolphins, 1962 Packers, 1991 Redskins or the 1989 49ers. Those teams however suceeded in a time when building great teams was much easier. Teams today have to deal with salary caps, and the Patriots have become the best team and best utilizing its resources. Some fans of football will never recognize the Patriots of 2007 as the greatest team ever if they don't win the Super Bowl, many still wont even if the season ends with another ring and a 19-0 record. There however surely can't be any argument with saying Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback ever. Three Super Bowl trophies after four seasons, a 16-0 record, NFL record for touchdown passes in a season, the most wins in his first 100 career starts. Brady will attempt to win his fourth Super Bowl, which would tie the high mark for a quarterback in just his seventh season, yet even without that achievement he has surpassed his childhood idol Joe Montana as the greatest passer in NFL history.

Say It Ain't So!

Jason Varitek, Mo Vaughn, Nomar Garciaparra and Trot Nixon will reportedly be among the names released today as part of the Mitchell Report. For me the most devestating name on the list is Jason Varitek. I'm not sure I can even put my feelings into words right now.... --More soon-- 2:23PM Whew.... after searching the above names in the official report Varitek and Nixon come up with ZERO hits, Vaughn does come up. Garciaparra does, but only once in a source listing... 420 See Jack Curry, Johnson Stays, but Garciaparra Goes to Cubs, N.Y. Times, Aug. 1, 2007, at Sports 1.

Diving In

Well for those who thought Boston might have a quiet winter once Curt Schilling and Mike Lowell were re-signed, so much for that. Boston has come up in several area's of rumors over the past several days. Johan Santana Obviously everyone knows whats happening here. Boston has been in discussions with the Twins for several days now about a deal to bring the best left-handed starter in the majors to Boston for the 2008 season and beyond. Boston had been unwilling to include Jacoby Ellsbury in a deal for Santana, however ESPN reports that they have decided to make Ellsbury available but not in combination with Jon Lester. Others have said that the ESPN stroy isn't accurate and that Boston has not offered Ellsbury. Still further rumors have said that Boston would be willing to include Lester and Ellsbury together if the Twins added a player, most mentioned are Joe Nathan and Pat Neshek. Erik Bedard Jayson Stark reports that the Sox do have interest in the Baltimore starter. Ben Sheets This is somewhat new. Boston apparently has been in talks with Milwaukee about Ben Sheets, some rumors I have seen suggest a deal that could include several players including Sheets, JJ Hardy, Julio Lugo, Jon Lester and some minor leaguers. --more in a bit--