Noooo! Not Edelman.

I have got this thing for slot-receivers; guys like Jules.

Edelman, who's one of Brady's most essential tools,

Tore his ACL in Friday night's pre-season game.

Out before I even wore my jersey with his name.

It is a replacement for the one I have for Wes.

Welker left because he pissed off Belichick, I guess.

Up until I got their jerseys, both those men were fine.

Maybe I should not buy jerseys? Could this be a sign?

Even without Edelman, New England's looking good.

If nobody else gets injured I believe we should

Make it to another Super Bowl...  But this I swear;

I'll be much more careful of whose jersey that I wear.

Don't Blame Cincinnati

Cincinnati's Bengals played New England yesterday.

'though they lost to us the thing their record doesn't say 

Is that they are very good...  Much better than I thought.

Problem is, with Brady back, they didn't stand a shot.

The first half was worrisome; poor Tom kept getting sacked

'til Hightower's Safety gave the Pats the spark they lacked.

Once you give Tom Brady any time - at all - to throw

It is nearly certain how the game is gonna go.

Bengals don't play like a team whose record's 2 and 4.

They were better than what is reflected by the score.

'though they lost by 18 points, the Bengals came to play.

It's not their fault they were standing in New England's way.

Lesson Learned

Yesterday, to my dismay, New England lost their game

And, if we are being honest, I'm the one to blame.

'though I knew I, foolishly, continued on undaunted

Violating two sports gods commandments 'cause I taunted.

I confess to gloating, too.  My sins led to our loss.

Patriots were doomed right from the starting coin toss.

Football games take more than skill. You need a lot of luck.

Now I know how Jets fans feel all year... That's gotta suck.

Sorry! Please forgive me sports gods.  I was out of line.

Let the penalty for taunting Jets fans be just mine.

I won't even gloat now that Tom Brady has returned...

I've no wish to risk your wrath.  My lesson has been learned.

Apathy v. Seussilitis

(Courtesy of quickmeme.com)

Haven't written rhymes in months... I really don't know why.

Possibly because I'm giving apathy a try.

I'm not reading books or e-mails; haven't been on-line.

All my time and energy reserved for me and mine.

Kitchen renovations (now completed) left me stressed.

Nightly news and politics were making me depressed...

Donald Trump was only funny when I thought he'd lose.

I'm not laughing now that he's been beaten by Ted Cruz.

Even football got distressing. It's been hard to cheer

When the scientific evidence has made it clear

Football players hurt their brains on every single hit -

I still watched New England though, 'cause I'm a hypocrite.

But, today, I felt some stirrings - got the urge to rhyme -

And, if you are reading this, I thank you for your time.

Hope that you and yours are well and you'll check back to see

If the rhyming bug can help defeat my apathy.

Damage Done

(Graphic/Courtesy of FOX Business)

I still can't believe a little missing PSI

From a ball results in a suspension for a guy

That exceeds the one he'd get for beating up his wife,

Tarnishing a legacy he's worked for all his life.

Brady says he's innocent.  There's not a shred of proof

This was a conspiracy and not a harmless goof.

Pressure in the football didn't impact Brady's play;

NFL replaced the balls and he won anyway.

I'm glad Tom is fighting back but fear that it's too late...

Thanks to the Commissioner, the haters gonna hate.

Brady's reputation - even though it isn't fair -

Has been damaged by the NFL, beyond repair.

The Red Sox & The Bright Side of Reno

I don't plan to watch the Red Sox anymore this year;

It's no fun to see a team I've always held so dear

Flounder through a season - piling loss on top of loss -

Now, with renovations going, I don't give a toss.

Once I'd be depressed that Boston's season's shot to hell,

This year I don't have the time or energy to dwell.

Hopefully, by football season, all of this is done

And sports news is all about the games New England's won.

FIFA? You Can Keep It.

Former FIFA leader is accusing the U.S.

Of pursuing charges in the current soccer mess

Only 'cause we're jealous that some World Cups aren't held here;

Angry that we're missing profits made from selling beer.

Why else would we care?, asks Warner - who we have accused

Of accepting bribery. He says that he's confused.

Since when do Americans, who don't watch soccer much -

Not big fans of footballs that a player's hands can't touch -

Worry what some FIFA leaders do behind the scenes?

Don't we know that's how the game is played on soccer greens?

Maybe so but, if that's true, then I don't wanna play.

Giving bribes to FIFA is too high a price to pay.

FIFA Elections

I thought things were bad under Commissioner Goodell

(Not too happy with the way he leads the NFL)

But, another football league has got it even worse

Forcing some perspective on these grievances I nurse.

With Goodell it's just New England that is getting screwed.

FIFA leaders, with the massive fortunes they've accrued

Through manipulation, bribes, and voting purchase schemes

For the last 2 decades, screwed a myriad of teams.

Now the leader under whom corruption seemed to thrive

Faces re-election; it's predicted he'll survive.

(Makes you wonder what it is Sepp Blatter has to pay

To remain in power...)  Give me Roger any day.

Update

Blatter has been re-elected FIFA President;
Thus, a chance to vote against corruption came and went.
Africa and Asia felt that Sepp's their kinda guy...
(Pity future players at the World Cup in Dubai.)

Haters Gonna Hate

We, who are New England fans and standing by our team,

Wish we could wake up to find we've had some awful dream;

That the country doesn't think we only have our wins

'cause our Patriots are not above committing sins.

"Hoisted on their own petard; they got what they deserve,"

Say the football fans who think we've got a lot of nerve

Bitching over penalties our team has just received.

More than half the country said they felt they'd been deceived.

It gives fans of other teams a way they can explain

How Tom Brady and New England keep inflicting pain

On whatever team they love as much as I love mine...

And it's why this ball infraction isn't just a fine.

If the Patriots had not, for so long, been so great

We would not be here, but now the haters gonna hate.

Up here, though, we know the next time Brady gets to play

They could give him bricks to throw... He'll crush them anyway.

The Patriots - "Say It Ain't So, Joe"

 

What's an old New England fan like me supposed to do

Learning accusations made against the Pats are true?

We used footballs that were not the legal PSI.

Hoped it was an accident but now I wanna cry.

Didn't change the outcome of the game; the best team won

But, 'though other quarterbacks admit it's often done,

This makes us look dirty...  And for what? A needless ploy.

It has made this Super Bowl much harder to enjoy.

Scandals haunt Bill Belichick; they're calling him a cheat.

(No one but a Pats fan loves a coach who won't be beat.)

Even if we crush Seattle, Belichick can't win.

He will only be remembered for another sin.

I don't think Head Coaches check the balls; it's not their job

But, because he's arrogant and rude (and he's a slob)

There are calls to fire Belichick...  That's really dumb.

Bill has won so many rings he wears them on his thumb.

I believe the Patriots will win with any ball;

It's our year and, although pride goeth before the fall,

Knowing that our reputation's underneath this cloud

Means I needn't worry that I'm gonna feel too proud.

The Patriots - Once More Unto The Breach

 Here we go again, I guess... The haters gonna hate;

Jealous that their football teams will never be as great.

"Pats win 'cause they're cheaters"? Thought we'd put that one to rest;

Thought we'd proved Bill Belichick and Brady are the best.

"Not so fast," the haters say.  For now we stand accused;

Claim was made that we deflated balls that Brady used.

So, although we crushed the Colts to win the AFC,

This might further tarnish the New England legacy.

NFL has got investigations underway

While the Patriots, who've got a Super Bowl to play

(This one makes it number 8) continue to ignore

All the haters - who can't stand the thought we might win 4.

Another Prayer for The Patriots

(Photo/Courtesy of @cdinopoulos on Twitter)

Local sports reporters say the Colts are over-matched...

I don't like when we get cocky; chickens haven't hatched.

Even if it's true it isn't nice to say out loud.

Sports gods do not like it. It's a sin and not allowed.

You will never hear New England's players talking smack.

They don't do an interview and make some stupid crack.

They heap praise on everyone that they're about to play.

Other teams don't show as much restraint in what they say.

I'll be watching Sunday night, with toes and fingers crossed,

Praying to the sports gods as the coin's being tossed

(Trying to remember that I mustn't be too snide)

Please dear sports gods; Pats were good.  Let Luck be on their side.

Thou Shalt Not Gloat

(Credit/Cartoonstock.com)

As one more Division leader loses to the Pats

All our former critics rush to offer their "Congrats!"

"They just beat the Lions without fielding Jonas Gray."
 "Best team in the NFL," most analysts now say.

Sunday, with a final score of 34 to 9,

(Thanks to the improvement in the Pats' Offensive line

And a brilliant Defense that turned Golden into lead)

I'm afraid New England might let praise go to its head.

Let's not tempt the sports gods now by gloating at our win;

Gloating, just like taunting, is a major sports gods' sin.

We've still got tough games to play before we reach our goal;

One more chance for us to go and win the Super Bowl

A Member of The Brady Bunch

 Brady versus Manning, at New England, in the cold...

If you are a football fan you put your life on hold.

That is not the kind of game you miss if you're a fan;

Checking out which quarterback would prove to be The Man.

43 to 21 should make the answer clear.

Peyton Manning has no luck when he plays Brady here.

He may have more passing yards and touchdowns to his name

But it's mostly Brady who goes out and wins the game.

Last night wasn't just a win it - almost - was a rout

So, 'though both are future Hall of Famers, there's no doubt

(Giving Peyton Manning and his stats their proper due)

I believe Tom Brady is the better of the two.

Commissioner Goodell and CTE

 

My sons played Pop Warner football back when they were young.

I remember, once or twice, them getting their bells rung.

Not quite a concussion (because neither one's that fast.)

Thankfully, their football playing days are in the past.

Coaches for our high school's team will stop my youngest son

(16 at 250; he is over 6 feet 1)

"Kid, we need you on the team," the football coaches say.

I can't, in good conscience - now, allow the boy to play.

Not with all the evidence that those who play the game

May sustain brain damage and that tackling's to blame.

Maybe that's the explanation for the recent news;

Players hitting people hard enough to leave a bruise.

What is not as clear is why Commissioner Goodell

Has been guilty of some recent stupid moves, as well...

Moves that make you wonder what is going through his mind.

If he thinks the NFL can weather this, he's blind