Patriots Dynasty Podcast - 2003 Week 9: Patriots at Broncos

Episode Date: January 19, 2021

We've come to yet another moment so memorable that the game gets its own name. Join the Brown brothers as they discuss the Intentional Safety Game against the Broncos at Mile High in PRIME TIME.Highlights:If you want to watch the game, or see the highlights, here's the Game LinkGreg's deep dive this week: stupid injuries.As Steve mentioned, Belichick called for an intentional safety in 2000. Against the Broncos. In Denver. Here's the highlights of that game.Tell us how we're doing! Text [phone] or leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/patspodSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/patriots-dynasty-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Christine Brown, and while I have to listen to this podcast, as my motherly duty, you have the choice not to. My sons sometimes say some naughty things when they're trying to be funny. But really, they're just being stupid. You still want to listen? Go right ahead. I am not your mother. Welcome back to the Patriot Dynasty podcast.

We are back to our regularly scheduled programming. No more eulogy talk. We're back to 2003, week 9, 6 and 2 Patriots heading to Denver to face the Broncos at Mile High. I'm assuming it's still Mile High back then, right? No, they had just made a new one, right? I think it's still called Mile High, though. This is like the first or second season of Invesco Field, whatever it was.

Invesco Field at Mile High, whatever it is. It's like calling it the garden, the garden sort of thing, you know? Isn't it like just Denver, the Mile High City? Yes. It is, yeah. But I don't know this for sure, but I feel like they built a new stadium at some point recently during this. 2001, apparently, according to this.

But it's known as Invesco Field at Mile High. And because the Patriots had never won at Mile High until that game. So apparently, it's exactly one Mile High. The 13th step on the west side of the state capitol building is exactly 5,280 feet above sea level. Well, there you go. That's why it's called Mile High. Mile High, exactly Mile High.

And our listeners thought they weren't going to learn anything today, come on here. I thought it was because they were like smoking weed, bro. Yo, Gillette. Yo, you like talking up the Mile High, isn't it? But let's do a quick snapshot of where we are, because I don't know about you, but it was been a while for me. This season did not start well. Cut more lower in Malloy the week before the season started and then lost to the Bills

and that same lower in Malloy 31, nothing to open the season. And then we haven't had many losses since then. We lost to the Skins in week four after a couple of wins back to back for the Eagles and the Jets. And now we are, let's see, one, two, three, four. This is, we've had four wins up until this. And so this is win number five. We're just going to get out there and say, Steve, what was the score of this game?

I don't remember. Greg, what was the score at this game? Stat checks. 26, 24. That's all right. That's all right. 26. I'm glad you boys are.

Okay. I actually watched it. That's the important information. It is a one score game. I watched it yesterday. I can remember. It is a one score game. I watched this a few weeks ago.

But let's say why people would know it, because so yeah, so this one is one of those named games. You're right. This is the intentional safety game. I feel like we should dive right into that because, I mean, again, this game has the name, that like that name, there's so much more to the game than there was that just that one play. But that one play is what sticks out because we were talking on the last one where we're

talking about all different best coaching decisions in Belichick's history. Yeah. And this game was kind of tops on that list. It is. Yes. And on that note, I pulled a clip of our man Bill Belichick and what he had to say about the game. The post game stuff.

Because it's had the post game recording was awful in the beginning that quality was shit. Yeah. Yeah. These are some old school like definitely converted from VHS tapes. You can see like the squids. Whoever recorded it, thank God they recorded the post game interview with Brady and Belichick. Yeah. Well, this is this is the one clip I pulled from because, I mean, we'll talk about the

rest of it. But this was my favorite. I thought that I thought we had played a terrible first half and thought it was just awful. It was a miracle that we were as close as we were in the game. So, Bill, how do you feel about your coaching? You're like one of a kind coaching decision. Come to fruition.

These things that you practice that were like completely out of left field. How do you feel about that paying off and you winning the game? Well, the factor we're in this game was fucking bullshit in the first place. I mean, he wasn't wrong either. No. Yeah, this this team had there were so many penalties. Let's see. Patriots had to that point.

Yeah, 14 penalties for 85 yards. Denver had four penalties for 30 yards in the game. So nine in the first half, too, right? Because he was specifically upset with the first half. He was. Yeah, he was he was bullshit about the first half. They were there weren't even like cheap old penalties either. They were all I mean, there's one penalty. I can remember that was not there, but most are more like, yeah.

Yeah, and he had one. There was one call that was but the rest of them were like, legit calls. Oh, that means they're really legit. Right. And he's on that. And yes, the only one that was kind of bullshit was like they drew Matt light off sides and even mad and was like, that's bullshit. Yeah, and called it a fall star, which like that's another thing

that the Patriots practice is if a guy jumps off sides, the offensive line will reach out and grab them so they make the call specifically. Do you want to talk more about the commentary? Isn't this any because I know you're just burning it. Yeah, John Madden, but this is Monday Night Football. Monday Night Football, ABC, John Madden, Al Michaels. Love it. I love that car. I am I'm converted John Madden fan.

I know he got a bunch of shit when he like was towards end of his career, but he was nowhere near as bad as Dan Deardorff was. I just I used to have a very negative opinion of Madden. And now watching the games again, he's so fucking good. He's so good. He's so good. Al Michaels kind of sucks with his like stoicism, don't not a fan of that. I just I like that. I think it's more professionalism than anything, especially when he's when he's

paired with a John Madden who's so like flamboyant and over the top, having that kind of like calming influence there, I think it's helpful. But he's like I would say what you will about Al Michaels, but he actually called the intentional safety. Yes, which are you fucking kidding me? This name me one commentator today that you think would do that other than Tony Romo, because like I knew it was coming and you're watching it. And it was earlier than you'd think there was what almost three minutes left in the game.

Something like that. Yeah. Yeah, it was like two fifty one left. Yeah. And, you know, they're lining up the pond. And I was like, I bet you might be smarter to take a safety here. And I thought because my recollection of this game was the commentators are shitting on them as well for taking the intentional safety. No, we prove the commentators wrong, but they actually they both called it. And John's like, that would actually be a great call.

Exactly. Yeah. And then even like after that, when they got the ball back and the page is driving, John Madden's like, this is right right here is exactly where they should take a couple of shots, the end zone, because they were down by three, like go for the win and then settle for the field goal. And as soon as he said that, the Patriots threw a touchdown, which is the game winner. They were both. So let's let's describe the circumstances then, right?

So people understand. Yeah, yeah. We might have some listeners who didn't watch at this point. So or just don't remember it. Right. Yeah. Steve, give me a recap of kind of how this game unfolded for me. Patriots, I mean, didn't Belichick just recap it for us? Did you want me to do it? You didn't let that clip go wrong enough, because long enough,

because he's like, yeah, actually, we figured out in the second half. Yeah. Yeah. They played. Not like it wasn't actually like dog shit. It was just so sloppy. It was. So on their first, on the second snap of the game, Brady fumbles a snap and Denver recovers somehow, even though the replay looked like Brady fell directly on it and tucked it underneath them.

So I don't know how the hell he lost the football. But they actually showed a replay of him like recovering it. Yeah. And John Madden was like, that's bullshit. He definitely has that. Yeah. How does how does that come out of there? Immediately, they're like the sideline judge ran in like pointing the way like he could fucking see in the middle of the pile of X-ray vision. Yeah. But it's even more important to note that like the Broncos

didn't have Jake the snake. He had broke his foot, cracking his toes. I had that. Oh, I have some stuff on that. Yeah. So the Broncos are like already like expected to lose a little bit because their starting quarterback had broken his foot by taking his shoe off and cracking his toes. Yeah. As if you're cracking your knuckles.

He did that with his toes and somehow this time he apparently he's done it for like his entire life. But this time it broke his foot. What she got, Greg? Well, I don't know if we want to get into it now, but I just went. I looked up some funny injuries of pro athletes. Well, there's even the other one from. From like another Broncos quarterback, Brian Greasy.

Yes. Also hurt himself. I think it was previous to that. I don't think he was on this one, but it was previous hurt himself tripping over his dog to the point where he couldn't play football for a few weeks. But yeah, I mean, great. This is probably a good time as any to like what other. Funny injuries did you come across in your. Infamous deep dive.

Sure. So I mean, some of the ones, obviously, we've heard of there's like the infamous ones, like Jason Pierre, Paul, right, blows his hand over the firework, Plexiglas Boris, Martin Grammatica, celebrating an extra point and Karen is ACL. Yep. There's some more obscure ones. Wait, there was an extra point. Was it even a field goal?

Oh, it might have been a field goal. Yeah, either way. I try to break them into like, was it stupid or was it just unlucky? OK, OK. So unlucky. I got Kendrick Morales from the Angels. He was he had a walk off grand slam and he and he was running around and, you know, they crowd at home plate.

Yeah. He he does the jump up thing and then lands awkwardly on home plate, breaks his ankle and misses two years. Years. Doesn't play for two years. I mean, that's a way to go out, though. I know that's so insane. And if you're retired, it would be awesome.

Yeah. Um, tough. This one guy, the soccer player in England, Kirk Broadfoot. He he was he was trying to poach an egg and he was using the microwave. Where's this going? So he was poaching the egg in the microwave. He went to check on it and he opened the door and it exploded and like scalded his face.

Oh, my God. He's like, let's put this here for three minutes. I could possibly go wrong. Holy shit. That's kind of unfortunate. It's kind of stupid, too. It's on the line. That's definitely the line.

Yeah. Sammy Sosa sneezed too hard and throughout his back. That's a very famous one. I remember that one. Yeah. So let's talk about the stupid ones. Yes, please. Yeah, let's see.

Tom Haudrecourt. This was a baseball pitcher. He was trying to he had a he had a history of dislocated shoulders. And he was still trying to rip a phone book in half to impress his friends and then read dislocated his shoulder. I bet they were super impressed. Did he rip the phone book in half or? I don't know.

I'm confirmed, but his shoulder in half. Yeah. If you have a history of shoulder injuries, that's not the way to impress your friends. And then my personal favorite, Brian Anderson from the Dimebacked. He was he was ironing a shirt and instead of, you know, like spritz and water on to see it hot, he put it to his face and then accidentally touched his face with it and burnt his face. Oh, I'm noticing most of these are baseball players.

Yeah. Yeah. The calm board. Jesus Christ, wasn't there one? There's some baseball player. Maybe even someone local who like dropped a kitchen knife and like sliced his toe and was out for ages, too. Yeah, there's all sorts of crazy ones. A guy like playing with a drone.

There was a lot of like people getting tendonitis from like playing too much guitar hero or there was one guy that was too much Game Boy. It was like a guy in the 90s. Shit tendonitis from Game Boy. Yeah, kind of impressive. Stop their toe and break their foot. Yeah, I think a baseball pitcher did that like their plant foot. Like they just fucking kicked their bed in the middle of the night.

That's unlucky, I feel beautiful and unfortunate smelting accident. Shadowed goldfinger. My vinky was a key. Oh, boy. Yeah, but to bring them back to the game. So with all these. So they're on third string, right? So yeah, Jake, the snakes out.

And then Steve Burl on the backups out, too. So now you're on your third string quarterback, Danny Cannell. Danny Giants Hall of Famer, Danny Cannell. Well, he's a Giants Hall of Famer. No, you play for the Giants. Yeah, he wasn't bad. You know what? He told me he was Jake Plummer.

I would have believed you. Why? Jake Plummer is good. I think Jake Plummer is underrated. I think every quarterback in this offense with. What's his name? Clam course. Oh, Shanahan.

Yeah, any Shanahan Broncos offense is just like a white quarterback who can throw really well off of rolling out on play action. It's all. Hear me out. Hear me out. I was watching this game and I said this Broncos offense looks like the Patriots 20-20 offense because they were there during the third straight quarterback, though.

Well, like if you take Cam Newton, plus the Patriots run it back this year, like those runs were as effective as Clinton porous by himself back in the day. And then everything else was bootlegs, like get him out of the pocket, show throw for 10 yards, like easier completions, nothing down the field. No, like, and then you contrasted it with Tom Brady in this game, whose only completions were like bombs. He was just throwing shots left and right. Yeah. And I think it seemed as though that was the offensive game plan was like

because coming into this game, we haven't seen that really this season. It's all been kind of your typical Brady short game, which makes sense because he's still playing with a. What was the shoulder injury that he had? He had a separated shoulder. That's right. Yeah, separated shoulder at the end of last season. So now he's playing, he's still playing with that.

But this game, like, yeah, like you said, every throw is 20 yards in the field. Well, like the Broncos didn't have a single deep shot. I can't remember a single deep shot from the Broncos. They have one on the last play of the game that Asante Samuel picked up. Sure. Their last Hail Mary was like the only time they even tried. Like, then the same pictures this year is like, yes, we can run the ball. We can sort of throw it intermediately, but we can't threaten the field deep.

And like, it was the same way at the Broncos because Clinton porous was legit. Yeah. That stretch running game from Shanahan was legit. And Shanahan knew like he had a quarterback who just like if I asked him to do too much, he's going to fuck up. Right. Because you start stringing for a reason. Yeah. I have to have to have game playing around him to solid run game, manage a game

and don't make the big mistake. And honestly, Danny Cannell didn't make any big mistakes. Well, I mean, that's because he's your your typical Wiley veteran. They made some comment in the game about how like, I don't remember which school he went to, but he was going to become a doctor or decided to become a mediocre quarterback instead. Bobby Bowden and his like parents were like the team doctors for the Marlins and somebody else in Florida.

Right, exactly. The the. Yeah. So, you know, he went to Florida State and then he went to the Giants, the Falcons, then he went to the Arena League. Yep. And then he played baseball for a while, played minor league baseball. And then this, I think, is his first year back in the NFL after something like that. Yeah, they mentioned that he played baseball at Arena Football before. So I mean, he's only 30, though. He's not like he's like he really he's really not like a Wiley vet. It's like it's six year in the league.

I mean, he's been around, though. He's smart. Yeah, I think he did poorly in this game. I think he did everything they could have asked him to do to win. Even Belichick set up a game. We just made one more play than they did. This game was awesome. Start to finish. Let's throw a watchability out there because mine is

for Super Bowls and AC Championship. This game is eminently watchable. It's entertaining the entire way through. John Madden is crushing it and it comes down to the last one. Yeah, out of six, I'd give it a four and a half as well. That's probably where I'd be. One of the better regular season games. I tried to watch it, but I didn't make it to the end.

So I don't think I can really read it because I think the most exciting part happens at the end. Yes, it does. Yeah. But it was still like a good back and forth game all the way through, too. Yeah, but there was no. Yeah, there was a little bit of a low, like second quarter ish where like no team could really get it going. But there's a ton of big plays.

Yeah. Let's talk about those big plays. I was just going to say, yeah. So first quarter, each team split touchdown. Clinton Poros had a nice 15-yard touch around off of the Brady fumble, like a couple of boys later. Nice cut. Yeah. And then then Brady gets immediately picked off. Yes, we drew a double coverage deep on third and long.

It wasn't the worst pick of all time. It wasn't. But then Denver. Jason Elam, the long-time Denver kicker, ends up missing a 44-yard field goal, which in Denver, it's probably like a 34-yard field goal. But I think it wasn't that when he. Yes, that's not really came up hurt, was it? It was like it was.

And maybe I have one more. But like there was definitely field goal kicking issues on Denver's part because like that was such a weapon for them. Kicking a mile high and Jason Elam was like the old school Justin Tucker. Yeah. And that kind of comes into play at the end. Really long. Yeah. So but then off of that missed field goal, Brady, I think on the very next play,

answers with an absolute bomb, 67-yard bomb to Deion Branch on the first play, which reminded me a lot of the first play against the Steelers and the AFC championship game. I think it might be this year in the cold. It looks very similar to this. I don't remember that, but it will keep an eye out. Yeah. So remember, I said this.

OK, what's on tape, Andy? So we don't have to remember. We can just rewind it and listen. Right, because that'll happen. That was it for the first quarter, second quarter. Denver gets a field goal from Elam, a 43-yarder. So all he needed was an extra yard in. And then Brady hits Givens deep and get inside the Denver 20.

But I have to settle for their own field goal. And then Denver kind of moves on a bunch of Patriot defensive penalties for the most part and put together the only touchdown drive of the second quarter. And there's 24 seconds left. And so Broncos are up 17 to 10 at this point. Looked like they're going to walk into the. That was a good drive by them.

It was, yeah. I mean, most of it all did what he wanted to. And it took like forever. It was like a really long drive, 14 plays, eight minutes. You know, that's what Shanahan was drawn up when he's sitting there waiting for this game. Be like, hopefully Danny can give these one of these long drives. Right, exactly. Three seconds left when they scored.

But I think that's what. That's what rankled Bill Belichick, too, was that drive because of the penalties kept keep kept the defense on the field on third downs and stuff. And it ended with a touchdown pass of the fullback with 24 seconds left, which was a great play design as well. So they've been so hard on play action and like Clinton Portas was awesome. And so they ran on like the five or the four or whatever.

And they ran a play action. But instead of like the full black blocking for the play action, he released in the play action and then Portas block the incoming defender, leaving that fullback wide wide open. Yeah, nobody even wanted to cover him. Great play. But it was like 40 seconds left. So I went to go switch to the second half because this YouTube video

was like flipped into two and I looked and I was like, a little bit left in this game. Yeah, it was actually 24 seconds left after that touchdown. But Bethel Johnson takes the ensuing kickoff. Sixty something yards, I think. Sixty seven ish yards. I can't even take that to the house. He was three yards for how fast he was.

I thought he I thought he was on like that when he got tackled. I was like, oh, he's only the 13 yard line. And then I'm like, oh, I'm fucking 40. Yeah. Yeah, I was surprised. I was like, well, you know, he's used for a bunch of moves. It was it was it was an awesome return. And he had one guy to beat and the guy got him. Like by the shoestrings, too. Yeah.

So because of that, the pagers get to run one more play. Pick up eight yards and then they're able to squeak a military 46 yard field goal. How do they pick up those eight yards, Andy? I don't have written down, but my guess is Team MVP. Kevin Falk. Yeah, buddy. Of course it is. Yeah. He actually had eight yards.

Hey, it was enough to get a vegetarian field goal range. Troy Brown is clearly hurting in this game. Troy Brown is definitely. Oh, let's make some excuses for our other MVP. He came in. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Yeah, right. They talked about Troy Brown and they said he was doubtful

a couple of days before the game. Yeah, I think he was like a game time decision, but they just didn't have enough. They said he was doubtful like three days. Like someone learned from doubtful three days before the game to play in the game is incredible. Yeah, not great. And if you want to talk about wide receiver depth.

Pretty much all the pagers injuries in this game were to wide receivers. Troy Brown came back hurt, but was still out there returning punts in the fourth quarter. She's which he wasn't. He wasn't during the game, but a student like when they needed your hands and like an actual return. It would be my best, Andy.

Troy Brown, when they needed somebody to trot the fuck out there and not fuck up this pun like this of all the punts this game, you cannot fuck this one up. They put out Troy and like we can't put you out there because you're hurt, but I know you're hurt. Get out there. Receive this and he did and he did his job. And then Bethel Johnson of kick return fame.

I think he pulled a groin in the third quarter. He had that like he slipped on a return and like fuck his ankle up to something. Yeah. And he went down like a few times where he had to get like helped off the field. And then I was like, oh, and Bethel Johnson is back. I'm like, really? Because I didn't think he'd be back at all this season. But so it kept like going out for a while and coming back.

But I think eventually went out for good. And then David Givens at one point was also being helped off the field. So beyond that helps us to feel to everybody. Again, all their receivers got fucked up. Yeah, all just like a walking wounded. We'll get to Givens. We will get to Givens. We will. So second half starts. Let's see.

The Patriots actually start putting some drives together. They're starting to figure out this Denver defense, who I think was one of the number two defense in the league, according to the commentator, they're all no names. Well, they're also decimated by injuries that the Broncos in general still. They had Delphi O'Neill bench. Yeah, they did. They're starting like these. There's a lot again.

I mean, you look at it from their perspective of history of like, but like Al Wilson, I think is the only dude I recognize in the defense. Really? Trevor Price. John Mobley. Mobley wasn't playing. Yeah, Delphi O'Neill. He wasn't playing. He wasn't starting.

He was. He was like the third down. Yeah, he was like, not even he was like relegated to like Nickelback, maybe. Yeah. And punter turner, which we'll get to. Yeah, he didn't he didn't play well in this game at all, except for that fucking touchdown. No, he also fucked it up on the free kick. Yeah, way to ruin that, though. Yeah, we'll get there.

Just killing that flow. Yeah, well, let's go play by play till we get there. Shall we? OK, yeah, let's let's do it. OK. We're going score by score, because that's how we do on this bug. So third quarter. Page is starting to move the ball. Brady throws a beautiful. I think this.

I don't think it is, but I want it to be true that this was off of a hard bootleg play action. Brady rolls out and throws a touchdown to Daniel Graham. And it felt like a fuck you to the Broncos who have been doing it all night on offense. Yes, we can do it, too. We'll throw a touchdown on that. Because that was the only time they did it that I remember. They were the Broncos did it pretty successfully a couple of times

where like they established a run and then ran that naked bootleg off of it. Right. And then some guys there and it worked like twice. And then Romeo was like, you know, and then it didn't work the rest of the game. It's kind of crazy. You could actually see the adjustments. You can see that like Shanahan and Belichick were like going toe to toe on us.

Oh, absolutely. Both teams are so injured and like they're making do with what they got. The Patriots' defense is decimated. And yeah, there's a lot of power. It's kind of getting her and like the Broncos were starting third string quarterback and yeah, we're just got hurt. And then also came right back. Elon went down.

So now their punter is kicking field goals, which meant Danny Cannell is also now the holder on field goals because the punter was the holder, but now he's kicking. So they needed it. So like this was a sneaky. If you hadn't gotten hurt, we wouldn't have won this game because I think the game would have been from like a 30 inside the 35. Yeah, we'll get to that in a minute.

But to go back to what Greg was talking about, Denver, after Brady's touchdown, Denver goes no arm punts and then Branch was back there returning the punt and he fumbled it. But the and the Broncos recovered, but it got overturned. And I watched it. It was a ground cause fumble. It was pretty clear. Yeah, I think the ground cause of fumble.

So the Patriots got it at their own 18. But it wasn't like it wasn't a good pun return or anything. And so they go three and out and punt it to the Broncos, but it gets called back for holding on the Patriots. So they have to punt it again. And this is where Greg was talking about. You boy, Delta takes a part return, basically right up the middle for a touchdown. That was a sweet part return.

He he gave a bunch of people that whoop, you know, it was not it was not the blocking. It was definitely Delphi O'Neill. Yeah, he did a lot of that. Like that's such a classic go check call, too, of like, repunt it, you know, make them run again. And I think in the the post game, he said, like, that's why we make them do it because they just ran all the way down there again.

Now, like there's a better chance for them to make a mistake the second. It's like the Steelers 2001 AC Championship where they made him punt it again and try around to get to the ounce. Exactly. Exactly the same thing. Just again, see this time. So now we're in the fourth quarter. The Broncos have a 24 20 lead. But before we move on.

Did you catch that thing in Belichick's post game? Which thing where they asked them about the intentional safety? And he's like, yeah, we did that in 2000. Like, yeah, it comes out every couple of years. Really? Against the Broncos. No, and he's like, it didn't work out for us because Delta O'Neill took it to the house. Really? I looked it up and there's a there's a prime time highlight on this.

And they don't show the intentional safety. But the Patriots took an intentional safety against the Broncos in 2000. The free kick to Delta O'Neill. And he is a very, very similar return. Just right up the gut for a touchdown. If we kick it, then Delta O'Neill takes it to the house. Wow. First, I should do it again.

So it was like a quarter. Oh, we'll give up two points and they give seven more. Like, oh, well, that was a nine point swing with the fuck. Yeah, fuck it. Oh, I did. I missed that. It was the same player, too. That's crazy. So like he already seen Delta O'Neill return one on him.

Yeah. But it's funny because they were talking about how Delta O'Neill was in the dog house with Shanahan for, I don't know, probably bad. Coverage, I guess. Yeah, that didn't say. But then he had that punt return for a touchdown. It's like, oh, maybe that'll bring him out of the dog house. Spoiler, it doesn't.

Oh, I mean, you know, Al was like, you know, he returns or punt and return touchdown. Cool. Yeah, I was like, come on, I'll get excited, buddy. I'm OK with Al. He's fine. But yeah, so at the end of that third quarter, fourth quarter, the Patriots are driving, end up settling for another field goal from, you know, the Patriots drove inside the 10.

It can't finish drives in this, probably because they don't have anybody left on offense. But Denver is now starting to run the ball. Well, I think Clinton Porter has had over 100 yards in this game, which is so far this season, only the second. Player to run for a hundred yard, the only second hundred-yard Russian game versus Pats. Miami was the other with what's his face on that zone,

blocking from the Broncos was revolutionary in this era. You know, they were the only team running that scheme of like lighter offensive linemen and they just block the zone and push everybody that way, which created gaps for the one cut and go. Exactly. And also the cutbacks and the bootlegs off of it. And I mean, it was. She had a great coach. I think that was clear in this game, for sure.

You could you could definitely run the ball. In fact, they were even close with a third string quarterback. And this is like a fucking hard spot game. And we're the eventual Super Bowl champions. I mean, yeah, speaks a lot to that. We're going to say, Jay. Well, would you hear Portis talking about that, where he's like, I'm not that type of back.

Yeah. Yeah. And he's like, fuck that. I'm not going to do it just because they tell me to. They had a whole interview of him just being like, yeah, I have like six million coaches that it's like, fuck it. I don't know something about how he's getting coached three different ways by three different coaches. Like, yeah, my running back coach,

tell me you something and then like the offensive line coach tell me something else. And then that goes, I just do whatever the fuck I want. That's here. There's definitely some truth to that. For sure. But like, don't go on Monday night football camera and say that. Why not?

I guess maybe that's why he got traded. I mean, pretty fucking good career. Yeah, it worked. I mean, how many yards? What would you rather have, Greg, chant Bailey or put in Portis? Yeah, I mean, we already talked about this, but I mean, he had a good career in 2003, he's a good running bag.

Did this. I'm not saying it's bad. I think it was great, but like, I don't know. I mean, that's a real that's a real thing of like when you're getting coached and like a lot of different ways. Like that once you like, you have to be instinctive as a player of like trust, trust. Yeah, I think running back more than anything where you have to like trust your skill set and just fucking play to your strengths.

Whereas like all these coaches, you're telling all this shit, you start thinking about it and then you end up sucking. Now you overthink it. This this year in 2003 with Denver, he ran for 1,591 yards and 14 touchdowns. So most yards he would run for in a season. He averaged five point five yards. He created the Redskins the year after.

Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Like the Redskins, the Broncos sold high on him and got chant Bailey. Who was awesome for like a decade. Right. I mean, he had four thousand yard seasons out of five after getting traded. True. But like the lowest one of those was 1,200 yards. I wasn't even like, yeah, barely breaking it. But champ Bailey was.

Apically good at a more legion position. You're not wrong. All right. So yeah, so he's starting to move the ball in the fourth quarter. Denver drives to the ring and 34. And this is what you're talking about, Steve. Instead of going for a long field goal, you know, what's that? 34 plus 17 is almost 50.

Our field goal. You were taking it was worse than that, though. It was like fourth and three. And they have Clinton Portas, who we just talked about was a beast and like averaging like 4.3 yards per carry in this game. And they're looking at fourth and three and at the 33 and being like, let's punt it. Like those decisions in this day's game are just like, are you fucking kidding me? You know, like the game now is so much more aggressive of like

once you're inside the 40, you're either going for it or you're kicking the field goal or you're getting a touchdown. You don't punt inside the 40. Yeah, this felt like the very, I don't know, Belichick started a war. He just because we're patients fans, that's where we learned it from. But that kind of like gray zone of like it's too close to punt, but it's too far for field goals. We're just going to fucking go for it because even if we don't get it,

like punting, it would only net a sector 20 yards anyway. So it was a punting of like 13 yards. There was this pun, right? Well, yeah, there's this pun. The problem with this is they punt it from 34 and it was a touch back. So it was like a 40 net 14 yard pun. I have a note here. You can see it was fourth and three.

They run the pun team on and then they cut the Belichick. He's like, what? He was confused that they were punting. But really, I was just like, let's just go for it. We have a great running back. We can get these three yards, like just line up and stop us. Like if you stop us, great. If you don't run it back in this game,

he's averaging 4.2 yards of carry on the season, 5.5 yards of carry. You know, Belichick did it earlier in the game, though. Punting from the short punt. He did. Yeah. He had they were on the Denver 40 losing 17 to 13 in the third quarter. And he punted as a net gain of 20 yards. So I don't think I don't think Belichick's much better. What was our rushing attack this game was fucking non-existent.

And what was it down in distance at that point? I don't I don't. It was like 38 from the 40 is totally different than fourth and three from the fucking 32 when you have Clinton Portis, who's averaging four yards per tote in this game. Yeah, but Belichick's decision is just as bad. That was the that was like the first drive of the half. That wasn't it?

That was not like that. I had a running game that makes it the entire, you know, the down in distance makes all the difference. If I really don't think so. The Patriots this year are a great example. Like at least the Patriots offense this year would would be aggressive in that situation like it's fourth and three. You're on the 35.

We're not kicking the field goal. We're going to go for it with Cam Newton. Like, I think the Patriots are behind the times on this. I think there's other coaches that got ahead of this way quicker than Belichick did. I think there's a lot of analytics behind it now. Yeah. Yeah. And Belichick's not a big analytics guy.

Right. Yeah. Like Riverboat, Ron is the first one that comes to mind that was like, OK, this guy is like setting the precedent for being super aggressive. I would say, yeah, that was quite true. And then Peterson ball. Yeah, Peterson jumps out. But there's I mean, there's there's a blend of art and science. And yeah, I think so far into it.

But like, you know, the Seattle Super Bowl was the perfect example of that, of like, what did the analytics say? Yeah. And what about not taking the time out and putting pressure on the coach? And I still think that was a terrible decision. But it worked out. Yeah, it worked out in hindsight, but I don't think that's the right call. Like there's 88 times out of 100. You might not think it's our car looking back.

Even in this game, when the Patriots are backed up and like there's three minutes left and I was like, they should probably pump this out. That was my initial thought when, as soon as like they hit that. And I was like, oh, this is where they this is where the safety. I'm like, I didn't it wasn't my like rational thought to be like, let's take safety here and like play that game. Right. And not only that, but on Denver's next drive to. Uh, they made some strange decisions where they were running well again.

I mean, they're just they're running for four yards to carry easy. Richard Seymour is out, by the way. Yeah, he he was a late scratch in this game. So he just didn't even play. So I think lots. I mean, it showed so much. Yeah. Yeah, there was huge gaping holes in the run game. But, you know, Denver's running well.

I wrote Denver running well again. So of course, they start throwing the ball once they cross midfield. And from there, like once they cross midfield, they basically go three and out. They end up at the minimum 35 and punt from there again. So that's twice. But this time they down the ball at the one. Yeah, they punted from 31, not the 35. Yeah, per my notes.

And the page to go three and out did not look. But before we get there mad when they get the ball in the one guard line goes, I'm a believer they can score. There's now it's everything they could definitely drive this down the field and score and win this game. I reached out. He did that year. But like, I don't know, I fucking.

I used like I had a perception of hating Madden because of that Super Bowl. But like going back and rewatching these games, he's awesome. He is. He's great. So awesome. I love him. And he's just like tongue in cheek. Just I don't know. He's he's the best. I'm a big fan of him.

I saw him as just like a bumbling grandfather who just like you know, he's talking about. And just like the team that scores the most points wins the game was like just like drawing a whole bunch of shit on the screen with the the Telstra there. How about there's one there is one thing in this game where he said something and Al Muggins sort of called him out and he just like dumbled that and said, yes, then realized as soon as he said, yes, he was being an idiot, just kept going.

It was the best. Yeah, big fan of John Madden, this. So I know what it was. It was like something about an orchestra and Al Michaels was like they were talking about, oh, yeah. Monday night on the mic. Yes. It was like, I guess, the voice or like all the singing shows

way before they were like a thing. But with players, players. Yeah, that was weird. I saw that too. And I tried to Google it. Nothing came up. Really? There's nothing out there on it.

That's a lot of listeners know what the hell this is. Like it's like a karaoke thing. But they're saying some of them play. It was like Kyle Turley was one of them. Yeah, which I would I would love to see video footage of him like singing some sort of fucking karaoke. The voice American Idol shit. But it's like that I think they had like other people with them.

It sounded like because John Madden would say something where it was a contest where like certain people would advance each week. And yeah, and those people. So it was like, whatever, America, American Idol, American Idol is American Idol. Right. But his thing was like, it seems that if the players, the one playing the instrument and they have somebody else singing, they're most likely to win the matchup. Yes.

He's like, well, he's like, if you play, if you have an instrument as well, you're always going to beat the dude with the voice. Right. And now Michaels was like, what about if they're playing the kazoo? And he's like, yes. And then he's like, and then he's like, went right into like the commentary. He realized what he just agreed to. And like forcefully agreed to.

It was absolute bullshit. And then he's like, kept on going. Like, I want to have a baby. I loved it. And then where they had the little kid on the TV, you know, they had like a fucking one or two year old man. And Madden loved that kid. And he's like, oh, man, he has no idea what's going on right now.

I was like, I was thinking that same thing. Now the kid is like, what is this? And I'm like, oh, and imagine. Passing that time. Oh, beautiful. Well, can we talk about barrel man real quick, too? I mean, you don't want to talk about the potential safety. The whole reason we're here right now.

Barrel man. No, the fucking intentional safety. You don't talk about that. Literally the next thing up. No, I want to talk about barrel man, because I talked to me about barrel man. They cut to like this old ass dude signing autographs in the middle of the stadium. Yeah, he looked like I think he was in a wheelchair or something like that. And like, oh, great to see barrel man here.

And John Madden loved it. He's like, I love it. He's the best. He's like the best person of all time. And I was like, who the fuck is barrel man? And we could pede it is this dude. He's been going to Broncos games since 1971. Yeah, to like 19 or 2003 or something.

And you miss like three games total. Yeah. And his brother bet him that you couldn't get on TV at the Broncos game. Ten bucks. So he shows up in like a wooden like whiskey barrel suspenders. Paints in orange like the soda, I guess it's orange crush hat cowboy boots. Gets on TV. Yeah, because at the time the nickname for the defense was orange crush.

So he wore an orange crush can. Well, the bear or crush can. And then he did the same fucking outfit for like 40 years for a long fucking time. Dude, do you know how many cold ass games have been in Denver in that time? He's going to every game. And like at that point, you're the barrel man. You can't not wear a barrel, you know? Yep. Yeah.

He first wore a barrel in 1977. And he stopped in like 2000, like right before this, I think. He retired McCarran McCernan retired his act after the 2007 season at the age of 67. Because he really showed up to games. Where is it? The dude has a serious health issues in 2003. And after that time, he was restricted by doctors to wearing his barrel for one half of play and then only when the temperature was above freezing.

Back to the doctor prescribing that. Right. You can only wear this barrel. The Broncos games one half a game. And it's above freezing. The dude has a legit statue. Here's a statue in front of Broncos Stadium. Yes, there's a barrel man statue.

Wow, they do. Yes. And like this guy is there's like a Bud Light Coosie with like the suspenders on it. This guy's an absolute fucking legend. Well, apparently he would spend his off season with his wife traveling in their RV. So according to Wikipedia, due to the space constraints of living in an RV, McCernan sold his Super Bowl 32 barrel for $30,000. They hit everybody's second try.

That's cool. The player signed it. Yeah. Dude, what a fucking centerpiece. If you're a Broncos fan, hey, welcome to my home. Here's barrel man's barrel with everybody's Super Bowl winning signatures on it. Right. As you do, I guess. That's just that. I mean, I don't know if there's so much of that these days and age, you know?

Yeah. Bill's mafia is like a conglomerate where like barrel man is. Yeah, I mean, the only thing you have now is fireman Ed, but he's kind of a tool. He's the worst. Yeah. The absolute worst. If we're rigging a continuum, barrel man's on the left

and fireman Ed is on the exact opposite of like douchebag. Everybody hates him. Yeah. I mean, there was the hogettes for a while. Those guys are great. I don't think they're sorry. I don't know if everybody hates fireman Ed. I think it might just be Patriots fans. I think you're like, I don't hate the barrel man.

No, I think he's showing up in a barrel division rival. But that is like, I don't know. He's just he's just a fan that gets people hyped. We hate him because he's a Jets fan. But no, but didn't he go through something where he like he stopped going to Jets games and then like tried to make them like pay him to come back or some bullshit like that? I don't know.

He's like the Marlins guy, you know, like they're both like they seem more more focused on themselves. Yes. Where barrel man just loved the Broncos. Wearing a barrel because it helps team win. Yeah, you know, he's been wearing the Broncos because he's wearing the barrel because his brother bet him 10 bucks in 1977. That I mean, it's just so he's in it for the money.

No, he was. He's he's gritty. He's missed three games in their fucking life. I think Greg needs to be the next Patriots barrel guy. I think he needs to be a chicken wing hat guy. Just go to every past game. Chicken wings, yeah. Do you still have that?

I still got it. All right. I'm not going to games, though, because we're not winning 13 games a season. So it's 12 that we averaged. Why would I? Why would I buy tickets if we're not? Perennial favorites because they're cheap. All right, you sold me on barrel, man.

Initially, I had written down that he was the fireman Ed of the Broncos. But that's not true. That don't slay him like that. They're like the jets aren't going to build a fucking statue to fireman. Well, they might. What else? What else they have to celebrate? He's like the Bobby or a fucking Nebron piece. I mean, John L. Way probably is.

OK, sure. Bobby or the Broncos. Jesus Christ. I am hard on barrel, man. Yeah, no, we can see your fucking hard. Hard, apparently. Yeah, I love it. I love that.

Jesus, all right, Pete, someone needs to take a fucking ice bath over there. You know, also the bottom of John Madden. John Madden also loved him. Oh, yeah. Oh, you've you've mentioned that. You know what else John Madden loved when the pages took an intentional safety?

And I think they asked Bell check about this in the postgame shows like, so you practice that and he's like, no, we just tell the the long snapper just chuck it as far as he can over the punters heads. He's like, he doesn't need to practice that. He does that. He does that by accident sometimes. That was a ridiculous question.

We have to practice him not doing that. He's like, we've practiced it. And like, I think even like we talked about it. Like, yeah, this is a situation we take an intentional safety and like, if you practice a play, he's like, you just fucking snap. They just ask the long time to have to fuck out of the ball. Yeah, he just froze it as far as he can over the punches head.

But I think low key Lonnie Paxson hitting the upright. Yeah, was a key part of this game because like that's also super memorable. Not only did they yes, the safety, but you hit the thing and it bounced back in. Hit the upright and came straight back down. Beautiful. And also kind of constant. You don't feel people like, oh, what the fuck? Yeah, Ken Walter freaked the fuck out.

He's like, no, the play is dead, right? The play is dead. He didn't know like if you should go jump on the football like what to do. Yeah, yeah. Because I because they were talking about the comments we're talking about. Usually you snap it to the punter and he just catches it and steps out the back of the end zone. But I don't check this and just see you later.

Yeah, no, that's that's all. That's a whole extra step that can get fucked up if he drops it. And you know, it's touched it now. Well, as far as you can go post is technically considered out of bounds, right? Even though it's in the field of play, it's technically considered out of bounds. Yeah. Imagine if they hadn't had that, then that would have been like a fucking touchdown Broncos or whatever it would have been a scrum.

That's for sure. Yeah. But yeah, so then this back to Delta O'Neill, who well, you want to describe the the the circumstances of this? OK, so it's really about as opportune as the time as you can get to do this, right? Yeah, we don't point game. So it's twenty twenty one point twenty three. Yeah, twenty four, twenty three, three minutes left. You're on your one yard line, right?

So if you punt it away, you're they're probably going to get the ball at like the 40th, 40 mid inside your home call it, right? And the alternative is you you're basically saying we'll have to kick a field goal to tie and then take our chances in overtime, right? Yeah, you're hoping for a three and out either way. If you punt it, you're getting a three and out. You get the ball back probably around your own ten yard line. Anyways, right?

You still got to get a field goal and a touchdown wins it. So if you if you take the safety. You're basically gaining what? Like 40 yards of. Yeah, as long as you trust the decisions, you should be giving about 40 yards. So either way, you need a three and out. Yeah. So there's probably not a better time to make this call. Yeah, there's really no other time to make this call.

Like this is kind of the only time it comes up. I was like, how often I can't remember another time where I've been like, oh, this is a decision. Should they take a safety? Right. Yeah. Really, it's just like almost never comes into play. And they asked him about that in the post game. And he's like, well, this shit happens every so often. We did it in 2000.

But you know, like rush out and like, yeah, it comes every double years and like I haven't found haven't seen it since. Yeah. I mean, I thought it had happened every couple of years because this is 2003 and it happened in 2000. So like every few years it happens and then it just never happens again. Yeah, but that one there up 21 three in 2000. So that's like you're not trying to come back in a game. That's just he's like, all right, I'm worried about this getting blocked.

Yeah. And we're giving up a quick score or return for touchdown, which is exactly what happens anyway. We're just like, I'll take that. I'll take the two points to make sure that we don't give up seven here. Well, I mean, I think they gave up nine on nine instead. Yeah. So it goes from 21 three to. Twenty one to twelve. Yeah. So Steve, walk me through the.

The return on this because I. You. Yeah, I mean, like that's the other part about this decision that. Honestly, work the opposite way of that whole what they did last time because they. Choose to say, all right, let's get that field position and give up the points and take the field ball to force overtime if we have to. And I'm just crazy because think that the last time I did that, they just had a return of their ass in for a touchdown.

The little bit bold. Yeah, in this case, Delta O'Neill, for some reason, it's the same return of two. That's the crazy part is this is the same dude back there, but he doesn't catch it clean. Like there was some miscommunication between him and whoever else was back there. Well, they were saying that he was a pun returner, but not the kick returner. But still, like he legit done it three years earlier and taken to the house. So it's not like this dude had never done that before.

But yeah, but the kick was a little short. So the guy in front of him kind of like almost looked like he was going to catch it. And then at the last second kind of took off to go block. It looks like he didn't. Yeah, it was like you got it. I got it. Yeah, yeah. So it bounced and went straight backwards. So by the time Delta O'Neill jumped on it, he was inside. I caught it and they tried to like loop around and then around.

Wasn't there. So he ended up going backwards. So they ended up starting at their own 16, which is like 16. Couldn't have done that any better. Yeah, it's like, OK, you want to punt from your own back line of your end zone and they get on your 40 or do you want to give up two points and they get on their 16 year line, right, which is like a massive change. And it's an easy decision at that point. And then the Patriots defense holds for one of the first three, which is impressive

because Portis was gashing. Yeah. This was Teddy had some good stops there. He played he balled out in that last series. This was the third three and out of the game. The first was on the first drive of the game. Wow. Yeah. And the second was on the first drive of the second half. And then this one was the only other three and out, I think.

I mean, they needed it so bad. Yeah. Like I said, Teddy was key in that. Yeah. And then this is where they send Troy Brown back to return the punt. So the Patriots end up starting at their own 42, which is perfect. Like I said, this is what happens when you punt out of your own end zone. The other team starts it around midfield. And so the page started their own 42 with two minutes and 15 seconds left and a few timeouts, I think, still.

Yeah. No, they have timeouts left. They had three timeouts when they did the free kick. Oh, so probably not on the three and out because they tried to throw for it to make the third down. They didn't get it. Right. Right. Right. They threw a tie law of all people. Like, like we need a third. We need to get this third down.

Let's try to tie a law. They had two minutes, 15 with one timeout. So they had the two minute warning and a timeout left. Yeah. And so then it was MVP time. Kevin Falk picked up 19 yards on the screen. And then a couple plays later on third and 10, Brady hits Falk again for 16. And now the pass of drive. And this is where John Madden talks about this is where they should go for the win

and then settle for the field goal if they don't don't get the touchdown. And the next play was Brady hitting the back shoulder throw to David Givens. Was it over Delta O'Neill or was it his backup? Yeah. Yeah. Delta. I mean, that was a tough defense from. I mean, it wasn't like Delta O'Neill's fault. It was a fucking. No, it was it was the perfect throw on his coverage. Yeah. Yeah. The back.

It was not covered right at the corner of the end zone. That's a hard, hard, hard pass. Yeah. Brady threw it at the pylon. Givens turned back shoulder, 18 yard touchdown. Givens is a G in this game. Yeah, it was so awesome. And, you know, I now that I'm rewatching this season, I realized how formative this was in my Patriots fandom because I loved David

Givens. You did. I remember that. He falls out in this game and I love the shark tooth hats. Yes, because there's a bunch of pictures of me when we went to England at this time when a brood shark tooth hat. I think this is this is the season where I switched from hard Bruins to hard Patriots. And also weren't you a Titans fan before this, too? No, I was a middle schooler.

That's when I could start started to figure out a draw. You're always my second team. OK. There are pictures of me wearing a Notre Dame hat, a Michigan State hat. True. Those two grow together. But never a Titans hat. No, never Titans. Well, you had a jersey, didn't you?

You know, like Eddie George jersey? I think so. Pretty sure there's an Eddie George jersey in the house at one point. Me. You always crack. No, Steve's. Yeah, I thought so. Yeah. Yeah. I used to love him because dad called him the man with two first names. Of course, he did.

But yeah, just to finish this game out. Denver holding penalty on the kickoff. So they start their own 13 with twenty three seconds left. So no chance. And then the one deep shot, like we talked about earlier by your boy, Danny Cannell, was picked off by Sante Samuel to end the game. But did you know his son is in the draft right now? And isn't his son also named a Sante Samuel?

Sante Samuel, Jr. Is like a first round projected cornerback out of Florida State. Yeah, no shit. No, no, it was that high prospect. Also, yeah. Yeah, he's just a fan. Doesn't he have a kid?

Yeah, he's like a top 15 prospect. He's like the best corner in college football right now. In Winfield had a kid last year drafted, I feel like. Yeah, he plays on the box. Antoine Winfield, Jr. Yeah, I remember that. That's kind of cool. Daniel will shut up a little bit in this game,

but it was more like the the vets, I feel like, you know, the Teddy Bruce, he's a really, again, it's the guys who are, you know, the rookies are shut up earlier in this game. But like this game seemed like one of those like grind it out when it would just making one more play than the other guys sort of thing. Yep. And that's why Belichick put Troy Brown there to feel that plump. Because like, you know, I don't want to put somebody back.

Yeah, you know, you don't want to get you even though you could probably break it. There's more of a chance of him breaking it for a big time. Not even breaking it, but him not fucking it up. They're like, it seemed like they were both coaches who were sort of playing to not make the big mistake. Yeah, that's what I mean. They made those two mistakes early with the interception and the fumble was bullshit, by the way, a clear recovery by Tom Brady.

That was a fucking worst call of all time. But, you know, those two mistakes early in Belichick knew like we shouldn't have won because of that, you know, because the game was so tight. It was very tight. The game was awesome to watch start to finish. Yeah, this is definitely a game that I would recommend rewatching if you can find this one. And the Bears one, the Lake Champlain one, those sort of stick out a little bit.

They're similar. And even the Chiefs one better from 2002 as well. Yeah, this one was probably the best of those three, though, because it just goes John Madden and we didn't like getting over the hump in Denver to, you know, yeah, that was the first time the Patriots had won in Denver in a long time, I think. No, they'd won in that 2000 season, which is the first time forever. And then Brady had thrown those four picks in the fourth quarter,

whatever it was last time he was there in 2001. He'd just shit the bed as the worst game as a pro at that point. Yeah. And Denver had always, I mean, it continued to be, honestly, a tough place for them to play. And Belichick said, you know, being Denver in Denver is as hard as it gets. Well, in the Boston Globe the next day, Dan Shaughnessy of all people wrote about how basically the Patriots weren't the Red Sox and didn't fail you at every turn.

But he wrote the victory destroyed some of the socks like ghosts that had tortured the Patriots in the city. New England had won only once here, here being Denver since 1968. And Brady was owned to against the Broncos. But at this new stadium two years ago, that young Brady through the first interception of his career, the Broncos picked him off four times in a single half. The Patriots were also battling a Monday night jinx.

New England came into the game with a lifetime mark of nine and 19 in the NFL showcase for Monday night. Yeah. People like taking at this point, understandably, take for granted of like the prime time show up and crush. And, you know, at that point, that was not the unusual. Yeah. Yeah. And in Denver too. So you want to do best and worst? Yes. All right. Greg, you got the worst?

Yeah. They're kind of like unrelated, but just a couple of things we didn't talk about. It's here. Best, I guess we'll call it the best. The Broncos actually had a pretty decent season there. So they go to five and four at this game, but they end up 10 and six. They had the fourth ranked defense in the league and the seventh ranked offense in the league. Damn, with all those injuries, too.

Yeah, even surprised me because they had nobody back there. They Jake Jake Plummer nine and two as a starter this year. So that's probably what really hurt him was Plummer's injury. Yeah. And I did a little bit of reading about Plummer and he's like kind of a cool cat. Like he's yeah, he retired early to like he lives in like Idaho, like completely off the map.

He was like a like professional handball player with his brother. He did a bunch of shit with Pat Tillman because they played at Arizona State together and in Arizona together. I was going to say, yeah, he started in Arizona. Yeah, so he's like a big Pat Tillman. He did a ton of shit with that. So my worst is I found some quotes from my Colorado newspapers when he retired early. Oh, boy.

So they're all they're all pissy because like he was like, he'd made the Pro Bowl two years before that. So Milo F. Bryant of the Gazette in Colorado said, good riddance. And the Rocky Mountain News went further. If Plummer is willing to run away from five million dollars or so, his spirit is as weak as his arm. I feel like it's the opposite, isn't it? Yeah, it's like literally the opposite of this.

Listen to this fucking guy. He said he says that. Plummer is contradicting the soul of competition. We cannot accept that in ourselves or in our heroes. What a fucking who is this fucking douche? It's some newspaper in Colorado. Oh, what a cow.

Yeah, I thought it was Boston Indians that that's fucking pretty. And partly, like, I guess Plummer was like a head of the curve on all the head injury stuff. Yeah, he sounds like it. Yeah. Yeah. And he was like, he was a head of the curve on medicinal marijuana. He was like talking about legalizing marijuana to like like deal with football injuries. So I don't know. Plummer seems like a pretty cool dude. I always kind of conflated him with a Jay Cutler, but like a cooler Jay Cutler.

Yeah. Like a half similar style of play. But like less douchey. Jake, I was remembering him with the flowing locks. Yeah. Well, he did that. He did that because of Pat Tillman. Well, he growled his hair and his mustache because that was like Tillman's signature look. Really? Or he had to cut it for the military.

So that was like a that was to honor Tillman. No way. And he gave gave his eulogy at Tillman's funeral in a in a suit with flip flops on. What's my kind of guy? I need a friend like Jake Plummer, man. We need a Jake Plummer jersey. Don't worry, Greg. I'll give your eulogy with a tie dye shirt

that's cut off of the sleeves and a Santa on the middle of it. Yeah, the Santa shirt. That's what you need. And flip flops, dude. What a legend. That is, I mean, I sort of like Jake Plummer now. I fucking love Jake Plummer. Big fan of Jake Plummer. Great nickname, too.

Jake, the snake, the snake. Sure. All right, Steve, you want to go? Yeah, all right. Um, there was a sweet double move to Givens. I'm going to highlight the David Givens great plays because he has sick ass double play move. And that is definitely part Brady, part Givens, but both awesome. Yeah. That my most positive.

I don't know. Do you have the play there where Brady hit Givens in the hands that deflected off it and Dion Branch caught it for like 20 yards? Because that was a great play. I did have the question that they had Broncos linebacker miked up and he's talking about how he like was lined up for a while, saying his mouth guard fell out and they snapped it on him.

Then they came back to show him that he was cut in his mouth guard and they get fit in his mouth against better. But then how Mike was like, well, what would be archives of NFL miked up or like, and I'm like, it's a great point out. Like, man, imagine all of the NFL miked up shit that doesn't hit that doesn't make. Yeah. Yeah. We like we get aired because like the Sam Darnold seeing ghost thing.

I remember them being pissed about that. Yep. Like they like they never ran it by his team or whatever. And I was like, at least that without his acknowledgement. And there's got to be like being the editor for that shit. Got one of the best jobs in like audio visual, just being like listening to a fuck ton of sound effects and be like, yeah, these are the first we can actually release.

Well, like, oh, my God, this is also ridiculous. If only my friends knew, you know, I pay good money to get into that archive. For sure. That'd be great. And then. Probably my best best is the last bit of this entire VHS recording. And this reporter asked all check. She's like, how good is it feel to go into the buy with a W? And you can you can see it in his face.

He'd like he clearly had not even thought about that. Yet even yet even process that the buy is next week. He's right. Oh, shit, you're right. The buy is next week. Yeah, I guess that's cool. Every week is good to have a win was like his is like answer. But like you could see the gears grinding in his head. He was so focused on the week that he didn't even have a thought.

He didn't realize that buy was next week. That's very ballot check, isn't it? Yeah. Oh, yeah. Love it. So on brand. Got any more? The worst. I got a worse. Give me a worse. You were talking about this book the other day

and the the dynasty book. I started reading that. Got to hear, which is tough, because there's no pictures in the. Yeah, a lot of words. Yeah. Well, I read it to me and then I process it that way. But there's a there's a ton of Bill Parcells in there and I already hated Parcells, but now I hate him even more. And in this game, he came up like, wow, he's doing such a great job

with Dallas, you know, yeah. It's true. Yeah, that book doesn't doesn't paint a particularly pretty picture of the bill. I mean, the book is pretty factual, I feel. Yeah. Yeah, I guess that and Brady got up to eight interceptions in what week nine. Yes, we know he's he's run a ton of picks.

He has, but he's also here with the most interceptions. Let's find out. I feel like it's up there. Do we want to guess what the most interceptions he's ever thrown in a season is? Well, well, yeah, I think it's 12. Incorrect. 11.

Incorrect. This also includes playoffs, I'm assuming. But in four years, he has thrown. 16 interceptions. He's on 16 picks in four different seasons. Yep. Is this one of them? This is not in this season.

He would throw 14, which is the second most. He would also do that again in 2002, three and four. He would throw 14 interceptions each season. In 2011 of all seasons, 2005, 2006 and 2009, he would throw 16 interceptions each of those seasons. In 2011, including playoffs, he also threw for 6,000 yards and 47 touchdowns. So 16 interceptions.

That's all right. Six thousand. How is he up this year? I don't know. Now he's got 40 tutties. Yeah, I'm in on Tom Brady this year. And the Bills. Tom Brady this year has 20.

No, from the interceptions. He has 12 interceptions on the year. I feel like they're a lot of those early, too. So the most in the regular season, he's thrown is 14, which was 2002, four and five. Surprise, because he's got a lot early here. He's up to eight in through what, nine weeks. Yeah, he'll throw 12 this season in the regular season.

That's pretty good. So it was eight, nine, and then. Yeah, he recovers. Sounds like a focus in the bye week. You're right. OK, the ball that should sort it out. All right. So I'm going to do the nerd stat of the week.

The Patriots have started 40 players this season and 40 different starters, which is most in the league. And they showed a stat where NFL since 2000, the annual leaders of most starters used 2000. It was the Jaguars and the Patriots both used 42 starters. The Jaguars had the better record at seven and nine. In 2001, it was the Bills and the Lions who combined for five wins. Each team had 44 starters.

2002 was the Bears with 49 starters. They had four wins. And this 2003 Patriots team has 40 starters, which leads the league. And they are currently seven and two, which is pretty impressive. Because if you have that many, you have that big of a turnover. That's usually not a good sign for your. Yeah, I mean, and think about one of the starters is

Blair Molloy after the year before the year started. Yeah, so there's just so many different players. Yeah, this might be bell checks. I mean, kind of achievement coaching, you know, just winning games. This is a gut them out game right here. Yep. With that's intentional safety as like the crowning achievement of like just thinking and playing chess.

We play in chuggers. Yeah, my actual best in this game was they. This was I did they still do it. I'm not quite sure, but the Monday night game where each player used to say their name and like where they're from. Yes. And Damian Woody called himself Big Wood in the player intro. OK, didn't say.

He's like wood wherever he's from, which is like Eastern Illinois. And then they had to correct him on the broadcast. Oh, Alec could be Pennsylvania. It's his hometown. Oh, he's a big. He's a big fucking hometown stand. He like does a ton of work for where he grew up. And he only had Greg on this podcast. Yeah. Yeah.

And the worst was they showed a shot of Pat Bowlin, the president of the Broncos, and he's definitely wearing wide receiver gloves, his suit and tie. Which here, I'll even share the picture with you so you don't think I'm lying. But I'll believe you. But OK, I took a screenshot and this is what it looked like. Yeah, the wide receiver gloves, the black outside inside white white. Yeah, the white on the inside.

And then you can see the little logos on the yeah. Fucking hell. So while sitting inside, I want to I want to do a honorable mention to Mike and nor the punter for the Broncos who went two for two on extra points after he went down. Good for him. Cool. Yeah, that's pretty sweet. It's not bad. Yeah. All right. What's next week?

Patriots are going to win. I'm home. Oh, speaking of Bill Parcell, Steven. Oh, Parcell is coming to town. We play the Cowboys with his six and three Dallas Cowboys. Oh, I mean, seven and two Dallas Cowboys, excuse me. Facing the seven and two New England Patriots. But Sunday night game. Oh, Sunday night. Oh, yeah.

I mean, on that, it's awesome. So if you have anything you want to tell us, don't forget, we we haven't mentioned this lately, but we have the dynasty hotline. You can text us 603. What's the number? It's something about Troy Brown shooting three 603 505 80 for three. Yes, 8043 603 505 8043. Shoot us a text. We've got a couple, actually.

Have we? Yeah. In fact, let's me. No, from an accurate listener. No. Yeah. From I'm going to put your name. Tariq T-E-R-I-K Tariq. Yeah. Yeah. We got over the holidays.

He said, dear Brown brothers, just want to say I love the podcast and look forward to it each and every week. This this may be our mother writing. I love football, football history, and especially the New England Patriots. So these podcast episodes are right up my alley as I love reliving the Patriots of yesterday, yesterday on nostalgia. Anyway, keep up, keep up the good work, gentlemen. I look forward to more episodes and more stat checks.

Sincerely, Tariq. So we need to make Greg work hard. Thanks, Tariq. What did mom say? I think that was mom. No, that was Tariq. Mom would be more about I love each of you equally. I don't think you say that except for Gregor.

Mom did say something. What did she say to us? I've learned a lot about you. This podcast is inappropriate when you're talking about dickpicks. I just got the feedback I got from mom. Yeah, yeah, that sounds about right. Gregory, stop talking about your Willie. I think was was up there.

The more Willie Todd, Willie, Willie Middlebrooks on the Broncos. That's true. Oh, there was also God damn. This should be a phone in you. People don't know my beloved Drew Bledsoe. Yeah, that's mom. Yeah, beautiful. Love you, mom.

Love you, Tariq. Yeah, and everybody else. You're pretty cool, too. Who sent us? Comments or anything? I love you, Jesus. Let us know. Jesus, Jesus Christ.

So three five oh five eight zero for three four three. That's right. And we're probably on the on the podcast because we don't actually get many of these. All right, gentlemen, until next week, we will see you later. Me later.