Connelly’s Top Ten: Broncos Saddled

By Michael in Featured, Now! ⋅ January 16, 2012 at 11:15am ⋅ Post a comment

Tim Tebow, Shaun Ellis (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

1. Patriots:

OFFENSE

* Aaron Hernandez should get some attention from Bill Belichick for his taunting
* Aaron Hernandez was the Patriots leading rusher
* Rob Gronkowski the greatest tight end ever – and only injury or Derek Sanderson’s path can stop him
* Great game by offensive line
* Deion Branch should have the diving catch down the right sideline
* Speaking of Branch: both he and Gronk had push-offs on their TD’s
* Didn’t see Stevan Ridley after his fumble
* Does Brady need to quarterback sneak twice with the score 42-7?

DEFENSE

* Patriots defense showing the spark it did in the exhibition season with pressure and aggressiveness – Patrick Chung is the key to the entire defense
* Rob Ninkovich’s best game as a Patriot
* Best gang tackling I’ve seen in a long time by the Patriots (Patriots beat them up – I would say at lease 6 Broncos were dragged off)

OTHER

* Brady needs two more Super Bowls to be considered the greatest ever
* Bob Kraft streak stays alive: shown at 2:43 of the third quarter (saw John Kerry – bet the over-under on names of players he knew was 5)
* Broncos were within striking distance at 21-7 with 2:30 left in the first half and instead of running out the clock – gave the ball back and it was soon 35-7
* Ironically, Tebow had terrible reads on the option
* Tom Brady is the best cold weather quarterback ever
* Love the Firemen and Policemen doing a detail in the endzone facing the field and cheering the game – good gig
* Cool punt by Brady but not enjoyed by Denver – can’t blame them

2. Around the NFL:

* At what point do Drew Brees and the Saints start hearing the overrated chant?
* 49ers – Saints: one of the great playoff games ever?
* Alex Smith won some people over
* Two Harbaughs in the final four
* Pam Oliver is terrible
* No doubt in my mind that Brett Favre was cheering for New York Giants
* Fumble on punt return by Houston Texans cost them the game (wondering what SAT scores) – Texans outplayed them

3. Just a Little Big Outside:

Tough Guys that should proof how tough they are:

* Robert Conrad – knock this battery off my shoulder
* The guy from the All-State commercials – Mayhem
* Dennis Leary
* Bruce Willis
* Mickey Rourke

4. Matt Flynn:

Green Bay QB Matt Flynn is going to make a lot of money this offseason:

* this year: 33 for 49 (67.3%) with a quarterback rating of 124.8
* Last year against the Patriots: 24-37 / 3 touchdowns / quarterback rating 100.2

5. The Huddle:

It’s funny that players still clap coming out of a huddle…

6. Dog Days:

We’re approaching dog days for Bruins and Celtics (even though they just started). Ice Capades (or whatever) coming to town and they have to then go on the road.

7. Amazing Stat:

Raven Ed Reed is a warrior:

8. Old School:

ESPN did their top 50 Yankees some time ago. Some interesting selections:

47. Sparky Lyle (Didn’t see Danny Cater on the Red Sox list)
13. A-Rod
12. Thurman Munson
7. Derek Jeter
6. Yogi Berra
5. Mariano Rivera
4. Mickey Mantle
3. Joe DiMaggio
2. Lou Gehrig
1. Babe Ruth

9. Just a Little Bit Outside:

Saturday Night Live actors who are dead:

* John Belushi
* Phil Hartman
* Chris Farley
* Gilda Rader

10. Randomocity:

* Jazz music over-rated
* Attended hockey games at Fenway this weekend – those Fenway guys are genius business people
* Saw War Horse – B (it was a formula movie)
* The Help – A- (should get Oscar consideration)
* Contagion – B-
* Ghost Writer – underrated

About Michael

Lifelong Boston resident who finds equal enjoyment in celebrating the local team's success as I do complaining about their failures. I have been writing the Top Ten for the last decade as well as four sports books: 26 Miles to Boston, Rebound, The President's Team, The Great Book of Boston Sports Lists.

Tags: Connelly's Top Ten, Top Ten

Discussion

3 comments for “Connelly’s Top Ten: Broncos Saddled”

Branch was being grabbed when he pushed off, good no call. Gronk might have gotten away with one, but that play is rarely called, and defensive player was also making contact way more than five yards downfield. Probably OK no call, too.

REPLY – MPC – I like your unbiased perspective – wish you were reffing on Sunday

Posted by vermont k | January 16, 2012, 10:58 pm
Pats took Daniel Graham a few picks ahead of Ed Reed, wish we could have that one back.

I never understood why Reed went that late in the draft, he was all over the field when he played for the Canes.

Last game for CBS for a while, thank heaven! Simms and Nantz are lame.

Best game the “D” played in over a year. Lots and lots of blue jerseys around the ball.

I thought at sometime NE would miss Andre Carter, but not yet.

When NE drafted Gronk, I heard Jason Whitten comparisons, that’s an insult now.

Why do announcers say “slow to get up” when a player is laying down on the ground. Whenever they say that, the player is usually laying down and waiting for the medical staff.

REPLY – MPC – Wonder if Miami whispers caused Reed to fall / Gronk is beyond comparison amazingly

Posted by Brian | January 17, 2012, 7:12 am
Just wondering, is Larry Coker the worst coach to win a National Championship? Of course, he won with Buth Davis’ players, like Tubby Smith did at Kentucky with Pitino’s kids.

REPLY – MPC – Theres been some bad coaches that have been brought along the road by a great team – Coker one of them. Can’t see his message getting across to Miami players “shut up old man”

Posted by Brian | January 17, 2012, 7:57 am