Coyne's Clipping

Pretender or Contender? The Jets are definitely pretenders... Quincy Carter is about as good a quarterback as Quincy Jones. And while some people might call out the coaching staff for its clock-management, (or specifically their lack there of,) I blame Quincy and his lisp. One of them needs to go, and I don't think you can get rid of a lisp. Maybe Drew Beldsoe is available?

Ron Borges writes one of the best articles I've ever read with his byline. I can't say I'm a regular reader of his, nor do I plan on becoming one, but you have to be impressed with this one. He goes into the decline of Drew Bledsoe, but its not the typical, I-want-to-be-the-first-to-tear-apart-this-aging-veteran. Its more on how regardless of Bledsoe's inpet performance, he's a classy guy and that will stay with him long after his football career ends. Yesterday's game also brought back memories of the great Brady / Bledsoe debate and how that decision has really shaped the Patriots immeasurably. Imagine if they hadn't picked Brady?! What a pivotal decision it was. I'll even say a landmark decision in franchise history.

And the daily dose of Bob Ryan has him with a mail-it-in job on the Patriots, so I'd prefer to showcase his article on the Boston College @ West Virginia game from Saturday. You can feel the alma mater-love oozing out in this one... Stupid Mountaineers, a WVU win, coupled with a Notre Dame victory over Pittsburgh would have sent the Eagles packing to some crappy bowl game, like the Toilet Bowl. Instead the Eagles are entrenched in the BIG EAST hunt and its automatic bid to the BCS. I guess we become huge Temple fans (shudder here). Since the Owls ended Syracuse's season the other day, maybe they can throw a wrench at the Eagles.

From Sunday's Providence Journal, two quality articles (which is their max for the week) regarding College Basketball. First an article on the art of putting together a men's basketball schedule. Also, columnist Bill Reynolds has a look at the big Bryant exhibition game at Connecticut, played last Thursday. It was a good little road trip to watch the second largest crowd to ever see a Bryant University sporting event. The largest was their game at Maryland a week earlier. Here's the UConn game story.

And Providence men's basketball opens up the 2004-05 campaign against Niagara tomorrow (Tuesday) night in the first round of the Preseason NIT. The game is on ESPN 2 at 7:00 p.m. so tune in and hopefully we don't get embarrased. PC is pretty young this season, seems like there's some talent there with the youngesters, but will they be okay going into Pittsburgh on ESPN's Big Monday on January 31st? I think not, but hopefully they'll win the games they're supposed to, and steal a few here and there. They better not fall into the UMass trap of losing all their games, and suprising even themselves when they win.

Preseason predictions to come tomorrow!