AROUND THE SPORTS WORLD
The evil empire that is the Patriots works its magic again
By Jim Rodriguez
Dec 27, 2017, 9:19 pm
Bill Belichick is at it again. Sbnation.com
Last week I posed the question: Why do these things keep happening to the Patriots? That was in response to the Steelers touchdown that was overturned that led to a New England victory. Well.. I ask again...
First came another touchdown against the Pats that was AGAIN overturned. This time Bills receiver, Kelvin Benjamin, appeared to make a great catch and a perfect toe drag in the endzone for six points.
Upon further review.. and there were plenty.. like forever.. like it seemed the suits in New York wanted to reverse the touchdown. Benjamin was ruled out of bounds. No touchdown. To be fair.. the Pats won the game 37-16. So it’s not like the call cost Buffalo the game.
Now if I remember correctly.. the point of replay was to right a wrong. A call the was so badly missed by an official that the replay upon review showed the mistake. This wasn’t the case. Multiple angles really couldn’t give you a definitive look to overturn the call. And that’s the point of the rule right? If it’s so obvious a wrong call, replay will show it and it will be corrected. It seems like the guys and gals at the league office are now trying to find whatever they can to make sure a call is correct. In principle, that’s a good idea. But so was Communism. We saw how that turned out.
Bottom line: if the evidence isn’t clear to overturn the call, whatever the call may be, it must stand. Let the players play. Let the referees officiate. Brutal.
Meanwhile, this James Harrison thing is getting crazy. If you believe his ex-Steeler teammates, Harrison orchestrated his exit to sign with the Patriots. "Trust me, if if I wanted out, I wouldn't let the team take the blame for it," said center Maurkice Pouncey.
Yes, Harrison’s role had been diminished. Playing 40 snaps in 14 games with only one sack for the franchise leader. But really.. .asking to be cut and then blaming the team? And signing so quickly with the Patriots? Very, very, very curious. ‘He erased his own legacy here, let's be serious," Pouncey said. “It's crazy. It blows my mind."
And for those who think the Pats are once again up to some chicanery...I agree with Pouncey. Let’s be serious. Don’t give me any of this that "he’ll tell the Pats everything they need to know about Pittsburgh’s playbook." Last I checked, New England had little trouble beating the Steelers.
This is classic Bill Belichick head games. Maybe Harrison still has one more big sack in him. Maybe. But if the Steelers and Patriots do meet again with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line, the dark overlord (that’s Belichick) is counting on a bunch of Steelers, especially on the defensive side of the ball, thinking about Harrison. Hey, worth a shot right?
They say Vince McMahon is thinking about kickstarting the XFL again. They say he might be interested in buying the Carolina Panthers. The is storyline sure smells like what The Rock Is cooking.
Picture this, Steelers driving in Foxborough.. final play of the game... Big Ben under pressure.. here comes Harrison about to make the sack.. and suddenly stops. Roethlisberger then throws the game winning touchdown to send the Steelers to the Super Bowl. Harrison peels off his Patriots jersey to reveal...a Steelers shirt!!
Baw Gawd! Baw Gawd.. not this way! .. not this way!
You can listen to my radio show, The Sports Bosses , weekdays at 10amET on SBNation Radio. Twitter: @mediarodriguez
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
A month into the 2025 season, the Houston Astros have emerged as one of MLB’s most confounding teams. Their offense ranks near the bottom of nearly every key category, yet they remain competitive thanks to a pitching staff that has quietly become one of the most formidable in baseball.
Despite winning back-to-back games just once this season, Houston’s pitching has kept them afloat. The Astros boast a top-10 team ERA, rank seventh in WHIP, and sit top-eight in opponent batting average—a testament to both their rotation depth and bullpen resilience. It’s a group that has consistently given them a chance to win, even when the bats have failed to show up.
Josh Hader has been the bullpen anchor. After a rocky 2024 campaign, the closer has reinvented himself, leaning more heavily on his slider and becoming less predictable. The result has been electric: a veteran who’s adapting and thriving under pressure.
Reinforcements are also on the horizon. Kaleb Ort and Forrest Whitley are expected to bolster a bullpen that’s been great but occasionally spotty—Taylor Scott’s 5.63 ERA stands out as a weak link. Lance McCullers Jr. missed his last rehab outing due to illness but is expected back soon, possibly pairing with Ryan Gusto in a piggyback setup that could stretch games and preserve bullpen arms.
And the timing couldn’t be better, because the Astros' offense remains stuck in neutral. With an offense ranked 26th in OPS, 27th in slugging, dead last in doubles, and just 24th in runs scored, it's clear the Astros have a major issue producing consistent offense. For all their talent, they are a minus-two in run differential and have looked out of sync at the plate.
One bright spot has been rookie Cam Smith. The right fielder has displayed remarkable poise, plate discipline, and a polished approach rarely seen in rookies. It’s fair to ask why Smith, with only five Double-A games under his belt before this season, is showing more patience than veterans like Jose Altuve. Altuve, among others, has been chasing too many pitches outside the zone and hardly walking—a troubling trend across the lineup.
Before the season began, the Astros made it a point to improve their pitch selection and plate discipline. So far, that stated goal hasn’t materialized. Many of the players who are showing solid discipline—like Isaac Paredes or Christian Walker—were already doing that on other teams before joining Houston. It raises the question: are the Astros’ hitting coaches being held accountable?
The offensive woes are hard to ignore. Catcher Yainer Diaz currently owns the second-worst OPS in baseball, while Walker ranks 15th from the bottom. Even a star like Yordan Alvarez has yet to find his groove. The hope is that Diaz and Walker will follow Alvarez's lead and trend upward with time.
With so many offensive questions and few clear answers, a trade for a left-handed bat—whether in the outfield or second base—would be ideal. But with the front office laser-focused on staying below the tax threshold, don’t count on it.
For now, Houston's path forward depends on whether the bats can catch up to the arms. Until they do, the Astros will remain a team that looks good on paper but still can’t string wins together in reality.
We have so much more to get to. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday!
*ChatGPT assisted.
___________________________
Looking to get the word out about your business, products, or services? Consider advertising on SportsMap! It's a great way to get in front of Houston sports fans. Click the link below for more information!