Peter King, SI/NBC Sports

Every Friday at this time we make their connection to the National Football League. Peter King from Sports Illustrated SI dot com and NBC sports is brought to you by -- seat church insurance. It's not just the policy. It's the people hey Peter I don't. I'm doing great hey how we wanted to draw -- there it's taken forever we won't know till like three hours from now I think. They're they've they've just started pulling. The little ping pong balls out of the different pots in it'll take me till Tuesday to understand how this whole thing works.

You know my brother was inning when he called me today -- that don't get the same bracket as Ivory Coast. I forget us ivory soap is that now Ivory Coast.

He was disgusted with year. With your lack of knowledge and yet.

So Peter let me ask you this what do you think -- you know we we saw a great -- not a great game we saw a great number. From the game in 84% of people on New Orleans were watching. -- patriots and the way they played that night. Is going to be tough for somebody to knock off the saint do you think this ain't gonna go undefeated.

You know they have a much much better chance from the cold is. I'd still say if it's good -- 5050. Because. I just think you know given away the league is now playing in Atlanta naming -- Atlanta's gonna have to have. Playing the cowboys. You know something's gonna happen. And you know I don't know what that is. That that's just the gut feeling having said that. That's one of the ten best performances I've ever -- you know football field by an NFL -- so. They play like that every week you can in the world party trophy right now.

They were just that I mean they looked unstoppable.

And it you know two things. You know when you when you have a team. That doesn't rush the passer. And the patriots -- for -- is. Horrendous if it's it's -- the worse than the Belichick area it's just it's terrible. -- that and you have neo fight corner. You know Jonathan Wilhite. To you know he is not a big time player right now. And he you know you have those two things combined against. A guy right now think we have to put him the same category as Manning and Brady. Not in terms of looking at history. You know if none of them ever played another game Drew Brees is not in meanings and -- and -- category but. It's -- how they're playing right now. You know Drew Brees the phenomenal football player Wii is just absolutely incredible downfield accuracy the best in football.

I -- read part of one of your your five point from the saints. Patriots game you said. That first round pick in 2011 from Oakland will look awfully nice in seventeen months right now. The Richard Seymour trade for the first round pick with the raiders looks like a dumb move. You just elaborate on that.

Well I understand and every patriot and I understand that Richard Seymour. Was not at 100% effort -- every snap. You know is that that much is known about him and I'm sure. That part of that was in the patriots brain when they made it straight in and and all that at that time like that I thought it was a great great. I think it's a lot less great now looking at the fact that you know if Derrick Burgess can't get off the edge. I mean it it was Thomas simply has Albanians here. Being unleashed -- after. And Eric -- isn't totally being McCain is just not consistent. High quality NFL effort is at this point in their careers. So and I am not saying that Richard Seymour agree aperture reader but it sure would help Monday night the big game on national -- being.

Do you think that the Jerod Mayo drop off that I think is is evident here. Can be just played off to the fact that he's probably not been the same since he hurt his -- early in the air.

I would say so dale. You're right I mean he has not been the impact player that he was the year ago you have to think that some -- most. Have to do with the fact that. You know he's probably not under and healthy. I I do think that. You know he's he's got a reputation and a well deserved one for being a real worker -- For knowing everything about the opposition and for being. The hub of this deep and long term and he will be. You know but I'm sure that what happens to them against buffalo. You know yes and in perfect health and and.

My final thing for you from the patriots -- game is. Is isn't isn't incidents that had not -- incident but company took place with five minutes to play. -- now my 21 points. Tom Brady comes out of the game stands next to Bill Belichick they're having a long conversation. -- what did you think about -- Belichick's decision to pull Brady with five minutes left and again.

I didn't like it you know if if -- I think it's five minutes and forty seconds ago. And I'm just playing the what if game. But is it out of a real possibility even against. Fired up -- seen that Brady can take it from the 27 yard line. You know 73 yards. In 22 and a half minutes. That's not out of the real possibility. And it's about a one in five chance I think it's you'd convert an on site it won and they may be. Though is that out of a real possibility now I'm just saying if those two things happened it's conceivable. That the patriots could have scored fourteen points in four minutes or so and be there at the two minute warning or a little bit left. You know in the game kicking off. So again. Not the worst decision the coaches ever made. But I guess raised the point that. It Bill Belichick is the guy who two years ago was at the month for sixty minutes. Every game. And and again I don't. I don't think you need to -- live. What happened two years ago in an all lead in the fourth quarter from blowout games but you know the fact is that. You know he he played those same players. Up 38 points in the fourth quarter of games.

But era -- I think it's apples and oranges though. I don't think he did if you go back and look at it. It actually didn't it didn't work I think we remember it and a certain way.

Well I I went back and looked up the Washington game yeah I just wanted to make sure.

Then Tom Brady played two series in the second half against Washington.

Tom Brady is or was I believe 38 to nothing with two minutes left in the third quarter. And Brady within. And Brady. They played absolutely normal throwing the ball down field there on the play by play I mean I don't remember the game but on the play by later ones have to. -- I believe there on the left side with twelve minutes to go to Randy -- They scored to make it 45 enough.

Strip sack -- Gaza Strip -- to make it 45 not my my my point is and I thought you would have this to have this position that the only thing that. Disagree with you on. Is. 07 I agree with you and all nine it is conceivable that. -- five minutes plus to play that the patriots could have come back and it was a curious decision but annals seven. Amend their beauty you're crushing teams and may they led Miami 42 to seven at halftime Brady plays one series in the second half they handed over to castle. Cassel throws a pick six to Jason Taylor. Brady has to come back and again these out of the game of the third quarter.

I'm not I'm not -- I'd never argue about. You know 2030. 25 minutes left in the game. The only thing I'm saying is that in they were ahead of Washington Redskins 38 nothing throwing the ball down field with twelve minutes to go in the game.

And -- I was out of the game with eleven minutes ago and game.

And again that was that was then all I'm saying is I thought that that is. The way Bill Belichick -- And Monday night's surprise me as I say. Is it an indictment of his coaching ability no. It is -- me an inconsistency. It's Syria. And especially even though you're get your rear end handed the I mean I guess I just bring up the big game at the Indianapolis Colts played against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is at a once satellite spying game yeah. And if it's probable or even likely that the patriots are coming back absolutely not. But all I'm saying is that in 2003. You know the colts scored 21 points in four minutes against the fifth ranked defense in football. Just I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility that Brady could rallied them but again I don't think it's likely either.

By the way not just for your information sake the United States -- first game in the World Cup will be against England. All right. That's their first game -- to root against Beckham. -- dry is still going on but the first -- the US plays will be against England while at a football team in the National Football League in this day and age. I won't even say when a championship because I don't even think that's possible compete for a championship if they run the ball for more yards per game than they pass the ball.

I'm I'm incredulous. But the New York Jets to do and it right now. I wrote that this morning. The New York Jets Google want one out of 32. Right now. And and I would be hard pressed to find any really good seen in recent NFL history. That ran for more yards a game and they have or I'm sure it happened I just don't. I didn't have the means to researcher at the morning. But I find it gets to be there are compelling. I mean how about that about how about this just is get this. If the jets beat Tampa Bay next Sunday that clearly be favored to do. They won't go on this way in this -- win three. Lose three.

Lose one. Win three to lose her I forget it but they they won't have to home. Three game winning streak and 23 game losing streak in the same year how does that happen. Ethnic and just be there if it is in its. It's Winfrey lose three then their that there's a win there and then there's lose three went for if they win next week it's. They're they're just one of the goddess scenes they they seem to like to make a lot of news. On days they've been game day that they're they're they're very good at that if -- Joe Girardi in. And Kerry Rhodes in all the others that they're pretty amazing --

Let me ask you about a team that streaking the right way and and and that and by that I mean. Six consecutive games one that's the San Diego Chargers though what do you attribute their turnaround to.

I think two things number one they finally. Are playing fairly consistently on the and they have. They have a pretty good pass rush although not a great -- And I think they have the most dangerous passing game in football without any question I mean. They are about forty to 50% of their snaps. Can line up for receivers three -- and Antonio Gates. Across the formation that -- 65656465. I think we've talked about this before but I remember it and make in this observation been out on the field. Before pre season game in San Diego and Augustin and go up to Norv Turner and that you scene is right he can't. And he goes yeah I know he said there have been coaches to come up to me before the game well you know don't play if that off and they when he feel in -- and it felt you know at a Laker. That they're just I think they're very very hard. Polite. And and I think any team that goes up against them when you're given up for five inches. On almost every receiver. I mean Philip Rivers gonna look pretty good would he can person jump ball that they're in and make that.

at the end of the year once we've decided it champion in and that part is is is decided the on field stuff. Will concussions be the biggest story in the NFL this season.

I I'm I'm really. -- I am really impressed what the NFL has done. In a hurry. In the last couple of months. I applaud the New York Times. I mean if you if you wanna read some really good journalism. Read just go online at the new -- NY times dot com I don't need to be doing -- commercial form but. They have they have -- and half the job. Just stating on all aspects of this story but. -- the active -- this morning at our Joseph -- Who's the they have the scene neurologist. For the Pittsburgh Steelers and he's also wanted to guys that the NFL is used to. This sort of you know accelerate. Everything they're doing it or it had from a and I I had a long conversation with her order on Wednesday night they wrote about it today and one of the things that that hurt. Told me was. You know the brave thing you can deploy the briefing is that it because you know your teammates are gonna feel you're gonna get all these glances -- all these people look into. And and I really that's very Cameroon and any it you know -- it's interesting the last few years. You'd be especially elite players. They're taking this very seriously. Because -- they feel if I've got a long career -- of a market risk it by playing with a concussion and maybe not being able to play anymore and -- I think they say you know -- market -- but my quality of life the last thirty or forty years of my life. The play football game so. I think it's gonna be interesting to see the -- I think you're absolutely totally right. That that this is this is going to be huge story. I just wonder how many players out there are really going to be on. How many players are gonna say okay. You know my head hurt. I have symptoms so of a confession. That to me is going to be one will really help. If this new system in the NFL and more.

Or follow up when on the concussion issue. -- I had a disagreement about. Hines -- the that the comets and Hines Ward made to Bob Costas now I'll watch the interview live. And I thought Hines Ward was being honest. About what he had -- was agreed I think is being malicious at all. What do but forget about you know how I feel about how bill feels about it I just wanna know. Why the why do you think Hines Ward said what he simply trying to well I'll bet you Roethlisberger exactly why. --

I park it Jerome -- about this after. The war in -- and he obviously still close to. Several players on the Steelers. I mean that he spoke the several of them this week. And he said that the biggest problem in all this would simply communicate. Because. Those players only knew after watching been practiced fully on Wednesday and Thursday. And he didn't practice on Friday but a lot of times Friday. The backup quarterback in Pittsburgh gets most of the -- anyway. But but anyways so knee practiced most of the week. And then player show up without being told why I've been told anything. Ben bow out because of a concussion and Dennis Dixon -- And there are a lot of guys -- kind said who really were not very pleased about that what what -- what's going on here -- practiced all week going to be over the but -- just tell you this. I think if I think all of this could have been -- off the path. Have there been some sort of little team meeting. And guys like Hines Ward and and king Eric and things scarier -- some of the leaders of the team have been told exactly what it happened. And and the fact is. And and because I that this room you know one. Ben Roethlisberger said that doctor. Last few days I've experienced having and I are just the Euro and today. It is not been -- After you experience any -- at Trevor concussion. If you know it in the in a couple of days before the game if you report any sort of after effects from there -- if you say it. They're not gonna what you play. So. Their problem really mean should not have been the Ben Roethlisberger and believe me Michael. I have had a lot of conversations we drove over the last few years we used to work together and Jerome and you know has been with me very army. About Roethlisberger Roethlisberger not always been the mayor of this locker room. And so. If if Jerome Bettis tells me. That hey I've got no problem with -- because wants everybody knew about it they understood. Believe me I think that that is is sort of the birthplace. Of the problems here that that people on the Steelers the players did know the whole story.

Up by the way in case junior brother wanna know. -- groups -- as England Algeria Slovenia. And the US.

Well no Ivory Coast but I guess we should also operate an Ivory Coast is in group G with Brazil so while. I'll be covered that you know I'm going to the World Cup. Are you going to south Africans you know what they asked me to do it SI and I said I think it's because they wanted to write Monday Morning Quarterback in the World Cup. Seriously that's great idea yeah I don't doubt we'll see how it goes back I mean I'll I'll wanna go to C. Slovenia and Ivory Coast that Blake the weirdest smallest venue over the years that I don't know it is it'll be -- to -- South Africa has ever been.

What what's your soccer knowledge from one to ten where would you rate.

Well your parking is the for the co captain the -- raiders soccer team in 1974. Infield rightfully you golf etiquette. So. Yeah how we. We I was they I was I it was a defender. I was a fullback they get report it was called in the old days. Anyway our last the last game of my high school soccer career was against. Greenwich high school where we proceeded. With one minute to go to blow what two to nothing lead and lose in overtime to read it to.

That is not I'm sorry to hear that came out I it is still with you Barack I can see you have let that would go so I'm very sorry. Peter will talk to you next week thanks sound great thank you taken care of that is that Peter King from Sports Illustrated. SI dot com and NBC sports brought to you by Fred seat church insurance it's not just the policy.