09-12-08 Peter King, SI

Well every Friday at this time we talk football. With Peter King from Sports Illustrated SI dot com and NBC sports Peter King has brought to you by. -- seat Church insurance. Because it's not just the policy. It's the people good afternoon Peter how -- I don't I'm Michael Smith.

Hey Peter was quite all -- Israel.

And I'm feeling pretty good okay. I think Kevin Youkilis. -- Yeah I didn't need. The -- my own team but darn it I love it. Don't Florida I guess what he's in neither. -- I told Greg Jennings the other day he was on my -- he was so excited not. -- It's a -- audio but that's that's that's a good time are you guys right.

Thanks we're down here at Gillette we've talked to Logan Mankins and Wes Welker today and I think yeah. I think it if there was shock involved early on in the week for players on this team. They've gotten past that point now and and they know that for the you know immediate future this is what the what they got --

No question about it then you know that's a smart team it's a well drill team it's a discipline team it's a team that understands. That. You know names are one thing starters are one thing all that's fine. But I you have to do is look at the history of Bill Belichick and the -- Patriots. You know the Kraft Belichick pioli Patriots what they do is they don't read the paper and see who's the big -- and they would go after him. They look at the backup quarterback at USC and say hey you know what this guy might be a two or three who knows what's taken in the seventh round. That that is the reason why teams eventually will build good teams I'm not -- in the win every Super Bowl they won't. But that's the reason that's why -- build good teams for the long haul that. You don't really care what people are thinking about two and saying what a bunch of idiots they drafted a quarterback who never played in.

Vegas lights the Jets this weekend I was reading SI dot com and Peter King likes the Patriots this week in and a very close game. What are Peter. Does at this this has been underplayed I'm wondering if this factors into your picks at all. The Patriots have won 21 consecutive regular season games that really hasn't been brought up. That much as we did that factor in at all for you.

What factors in. The -- without any question is that I think that support system in place for the Patriots right now. Is very very strong. And I think. That you can just sort of feel and you don't know how it's going to be who knows they can go on a three game losing streak -- things change. But I just sort of get the impression right now that you're gonna start to see people. Come forward to help this team a little bit more in the Brady yes leadership role. Who haven't really help from the one guy I'm thinking specifically is Randy Moss. There's a lot I'm Randy Moss right now without any question Randy Moss has to beat a guy. Who basically. It eat eat you know steps forward and says hey everything's okay we're going to make the playoffs without Tom Brady. And that's start Sunday at the meadowlands. I think. From one to 53. I like the Patriots. And that includes the quarterback even know obviously you'd give -- a tremendous said especially with the emotion of playing his first home game. Andy and what the crowd is going to be like all that's going to be daunting for a kid who hasn't started football games and bicycle. But I think the support system around him is going to carry him through.

We asked Wes Welker about this earlier about you know how the Norman in NFL locker rooms is. You know if you're hurt you become clear here invisible -- exist anymore. And Don banks your colleague wrote about this on SI dot com today where he expects it's going to be different. With Brady and with Cassell. And and Welker kind of acknowledged he wouldn't be surprised if Tom Brady was involved in film study and meeting rooms and that sort of thing what do you think.

I think that's true I think don's ready and I think Wes Welker is great you know Tom is is more than an injured player. And you know and and and you look at when quarterbacks get hurt a lot of time -- Donovan McNabb got hurt he was semi invisible. Either one other guys get -- days here they're they're pretty much invisible a lot of them don't even go to the facility at all. Because you're right when quarterbacks kicker when players get hurt you look breakthrough of the different here I think is going to be that the Tom Brady was viewed. Really as eight. Woods was viewed as much as -- Eighty you know as -- as the second coach. I mean are almost is as much of a coach. As a lot of coaches on the staff because he. Are you have to do -- Taylor won't be here's my here here's my range of expertise but someone training camp practice this year. You just look at on the field and you can just see that. First of all the one thing I remembered meet with Brady after this practice face that you play a lot in practice. I mean you go to a lot of these training camps -- economic -- step up -- around four plays and then he's out for twelve minutes. You know in the back -- run place I mean Brady within. 70% of the time it seemed like he was run in the offense. He you know at this I played good two hour practice but it -- thrown 200 balls. An end and I just look at that and I compared to what I see -- other teams and I just see a guy who. Is -- micro managing -- wages so involved with the team and that's why I think it's likely that he probably will be in Baltimore.

I'm Peter you look at the top three teams in the AFC. And all three have head injuries of varying degrees two of them season ending Tom Brady here obviously. Shawne Merriman in San Diego and Peyton Manning who didn't look great on Sunday the Bears. Wow what what team is going to be able to best take advantage of the injuries to the top three will be Pittsburgh.

I think it's going to beat Pittsburgh. You don't want to overstate what you see in the first game of the season. But you talk to scouts in the offseason so many people like Houston. They liked a lot of things about Houston their their their young perhaps first they like obviously. -- you know what they've done on the air on their front seven. And the last three drafts and and and you know obviously light can. You feel like the potential of Matt sharp -- count having an and I watched most of that game. And the Pittsburgh Steelers. Who were as good as any team in football on Sunday. And they played a good team Houston -- you know at least is a 500 team. And they and they made him look. They made him look like the Raiders and it was it was almost embarrassing they reviewed the news it was. It was amazingly strong performance by eighteen. So I look at the Steelers are right now and I say okay what don't they do well and I really can't think of a lot of things especially. With the emergence of Lamar would -- At that. At that left outside linebacker position. In the 34 where you have to cover tight end on one play you get a rush the quarterback on the next play. And then even -- you know five times -- game you're out space covering a slot guy. He was absolutely terrific if he becomes a force. You know hard to block -- you have to chip on every play like Strahan and Umenyiora is with the Giants. Our Australian laws and that is going to be a very very tough team to play itself. I think Pittsburgh is probably best suited to step into that breach especially if they -- the Cleveland I expect they will on on Sunday.

Peter the things that we do know about Vince young and the situation with the Tennessee Titans are troubling. Adam chapter of the NFL network was on the station this morning with John and Jerry and he said the things we don't know are even more troubling -- that.

That here's one of the things that is commonly known that I now. And that is that in the offseason. When Vince Young should coming off a poor year. His first obligation and responsibility should have been. To the Tennessee Titans and say okay have taken four weeks off and then albeit they're four days a week. You know look at that film doing the stuff that -- hybrid think you're getting to know this offense they have all this stuff but he did. He enrolled at the University of Texas. Would -- when he had to be for mandatory things. And you know that chapter the rear -- for the Tennessee Titans I can tell you that much. And it just showed to mean. Here's a guy you know put me Vince Young is the epitome. Of the Springsteen song glory days. You know he he has not left Austin Texas. He may have left it in body but he hasn't let it in Spirit. That's where you have such a good team. And nobody ever questions the quarterback and you you run the count as long as you're winning everything is great. And you get a false sense of how great you -- in any go to the next level where you have to adjust and you don't quite have the same security blanket around -- You have to be in the and you have to grow up he hasn't handled it. And that to me is the most troubling thing right now about Vince -- the first time that anything kinda goes wrong he goes in the tank.

One of the things chapter said this morning is that on Sunday when he didn't want to go back into the -- all game. That that wasn't the first time that's happened.

No there's no question about it -- in his first year when he missed the plane go to Philadelphia. Any saw the plane take off without them he said I'm not going. They had to get on the phone them and can. Incident strongly you don't even when he got to the hotel in Philadelphia Saturday night Jeff Fisher. -- sit down -- them at the hotel and say hey you screwed up pitcher plane because I don't want to play. That these service things that that are there are eminently. Troubling about Vince young and and I talked of Fisher's Sunday night. And Fisher you know they they they TV timeout was over. On Sunday Fisher went to the bench and he had his head in his hands. Any any -- you gotta get back in the air you don't and you don't want him. And Kerry Collins is they're looking at Fisher like what are we Dillon and he almost -- fish Kerry Collins speck on the field but then. A you know Vince Young decided he would go wouldn't play it's. I'm just telling -- this thing is not over it's going to be troubling. And it will haunt the Tennessee Titans as they try to be a playoff teams here.

Well you know what Peter I love I love Jeff Fisher really do have a lot of respect for him. But -- confront the reality here in the last few years. We're talking -- top fifteen picks were you can't make mistakes here is that a lot of money on these guys they have picked up. Vince Young some problems there. Adam Pacman Jones some problems there and Albert Haynesworth who was a force. Would who has some maturity issues too so. I'd happily.

And it talked about LenDale White yeah I LenDale White -- second round and reasoning with the second round. They do they have a point it's and it's not really for this to.

I just tell you that. There's I have always felt strongly that this pick third pick in the draft and you know. Was that was bud Adams -- stick. It is an idiot people you know fighting a -- but this is a guy you gotta remember that the situation of this team. But Adams. It lives in Texas lives in Houston. Does not like beat Houston Texans. Okay. -- now shot at winning the Super Bowl okay bud Adams could only have one thing in a year it would be to beat Houston twice. Okay I'm going to -- obviously wants to win a -- what is the biggest thing in his world is he wants to beat the east and Texans he thinks. That the mid air in the city fathers and Houston. Laid down indeed everything. For Bob McNair the -- to Houston Texans to put a new franchise in -- built a new stadium everything those are all the things that they didn't do for -- And he had to go out of town. To get that stuff so he's always felt like I want to beat I want to upstage I want to kill the Houston Texans. So what does he do. But I do what he does the heat -- they hero. Who everybody it is country club and everybody in Houston tells them. Are we want Vince Young we want Vince Young so what does he do egos and draft Vince Young instead of -- you don't want Houston takes Mario Williams. And and in my opinion. You can not eliminate that as a factor no matter what the Titans say they know who their owner wanted to take that year.

Tee of Houston and this is real world stuff not NFL stuff. The NFL has postponed the Houston Texans Baltimore Ravens game to Monday. Based on all the news channels that I've been watching all morning it doesn't seem any way possible that they can play a football game there on Monday.

Well let me just I would say three things. It is -- is no certainty. It pocket of people down there today there's no certainty that this game will be played this week K they may have to do. Sort of -- eager to schedule a little bit down the stretch. To get this game and if they can't play on on Monday or they may even have to move the side of the game. K and and here's why. Take the idea of this storm I mean Houston about a hundred miles from Galveston. -- I have this storm when it hits Galveston in the outer edges of the storm. With -- 95 mile an hour winds are gonna hit Houston in the outskirts there's going to be some flooding we just don't know how much right now. And if it's determined. On Sunday during the day that there's too much damage. -- he's not even to the stadium. But to be infrastructure of the city of Houston to the road there's too much for being you can't get people back. The other still too many people who were this place let's say if that happens they're not going to take. The security people in the police and and and everything and force this game to be played. Okay so what is happening to Houston Texans. Basically had two practices yesterday they practice their normal Thursday practice and then they had their they're Friday practice. Last night. At their facility right across the street from. A Reliant Stadium. And Gary Kubiak last night about 8 o'clock released his players and he said look. He got tomorrow off you got Saturday off he could take care your family's animal will it will communicate weevils seed sometimes Sunday. The storm is supposed to hit in the wee hours of Saturday at some point. So they're going to assess the damage and figure out Sunday if they're going to be able to play this game. There assuming. That they're going to be able to play this game but they're also preparing for the possibility that they want.

Let me ask you about the Oakland Raiders who have heard a lot of stuff. Coming out of Oakland that dysfunction there between. Lane Kiffin Al Davis and rob -- how long. Before Lane Kiffin is out of a job and rob Ryan -- a head coach there.

Well that you guys know Michael party and Mike -- used to work for the Raiders for five or six years and he said this weekend and I have no reason to doubt him. He said this week that he feels that this could be the last game if it's a bad game this could be the last game for Lane Kiffin. And if they'd lose and an embarrassing like Kansas City which is one of the only teams on the schedule that they can beat if they lose in an embarrassing way to Kansas City. That there's a chance that they can whack. Lane Kiffin I agree -- And then you say well that would Ryan medium term coach now -- coach would then be would probably be. James Lofton. Because Al interviewed James Lofton in the off season in the event that that he -- he was going to lose Lane Kiffin. Who had a tenuous grip on this job almost from the day he took the job anyway. So I wouldn't be surprised if it's a bad game if there's a coaching change -- September wouldn't be surprised at all.

In some stuff out of the examiner this week though. It's ounces Bo Ryan's in communication with the owner on a weekly basis and in fact Kiffin admitted as much to the media this.

Well you know I'm not sure that that's exactly true. I think what happens. Out doesn't do what used to do which is on a weekly basis. Sitting with the coaches and say here's what I want you to do. Kiffin just won't have that he wasn't going to that's not the way he was going to do it I don't think he doesn't with a decent -- I think what he does. It is he's around any gives his opinion. But he doesn't seated near the way used to do with some coaches and say here's what you're going to do.

So how I feel about the Red Sox right now Peter going to ask you arrest us questions ago.

You know what I was I was in the stands Wednesday night. And I stayed. And it's the fourth consecutive game that I've been to that they've lost the -- idea I would start to think that that I I'm the reason but. You know what I'm not I'm not particularly worried about anything except Toronto. I mean Toronto wins -- practically without shown up. And every every game you look up in their pitchers early shut out including guys you've never heard of before. And there if they DL if they had it this season was a monthlong rather than just two more weeks. Two rivals the type a team that reminds you Colorado last year they could make it. But I wouldn't -- especially because you know the Red Sox and -- ever both still playing pretty well. I wouldn't think that that Toronto would be able to do enough I mean -- almost would have this week for this weekend which seems a little bit unlikely but. I don't know I look I look at that I I look at the Red Sox and I'd say the only thing that. They kinda worries me right now asserted deep into their bullpen -- he ever really no idea what Delcarmen is it you really an end. He -- you know after Masterson. He really don't feel great about a lot of things down there but hey. You know if unless -- starters pitched real well it'd be short October anyway but. I think it'll be fun I think it's pretty even don't don't you guys.

Yeah I do rag and a and and you got to see that MVP candidate Dustin Pedroia get on base about six.

These guys that can't base five times he got hit twice. And yet I don't get robbed of a hit you know easily with a although all that first when an error but two doubles into doubles he just you know. I'd look at him and I'd say. He's the type of guy who at some point is going to have some disk problems. Because every time he swings it looks great he's trained to -- run homer. But he's just so much fun to watch. And he's so much. He's so much of the I'd hate it uses were -- so much of a throwback player. Both -- and you Kalus they're so quite speed. You know it's fun it's funny. People I just was was working out is gym in every house -- see it and now this guy comes up -- boy city you gotta hate what Andy's doing tonight that. I knew. What Manny was going to do and I knew he would put up two months of the sickest numbers you've ever seen I was positive he would do that. Because what he's trying to say -- a great player they didn't appreciate me they didn't love me enough. All that stuff wet wet west but I guess said wait until the Dodgers pay them. After you pay them then we'll see what happens each year to -- three. Because he you know he's he's not a guy is going to be consisted -- this contract he's eventually could find some reason to be unhappy. And -- you know it's funny. I analyze that thing pervaded the I thought about it a lot. And I'm sure that there were some things maybe it was awaken them not hey will race took to the two option years or hey Lola. Will -- Lowe -- we're going to do a new contract -- maybe they didn't do it fast enough but. It it's hard to argue with the amount of money he's made no way he was treated in the way he revitalized. In Boston it's really sort of hard hard to fathom. How anybody could be unhappy ever you know over overall that's -- pulled them immediately and the way he was he was treated both by the team in the year. And the fans in town but -- is now.

We'll talk to next week. We get these nuclear thanks decaying -- procedure to insurance because it's not just policy. It's the people.