Two weeks... One more game

Everyone has a review of the game this week, and I'm not going to bore you with another review. As for my thoughts on the game I just want to clear up some things...

1. Ty Law: KA CHING!!! When Kraft was on the podium with Ty he should have just pulled out his wallet right there and asked the man what he wanted. After Ty's performance this year there is no way this team can use the "...his numbers dropped off." excuse. If any team wanted to take Ty from the Pats they would have to break the bank and build their secondary around him, and they would be a costly price.

2. Jim Nance: What the hell was he wearing? Does this guy want to a sportscaster or an exclusive member of the Village People 2004?

3. The Refs: Indy fans can complain all they want about the double holding on Marcus Pollard at the end of the game. For the whole playoffs the ref let men play the game like men, and only threw flags when it mattered. this is the way championship games should be played as long as the officiating is consistent.

4. The Gillette Fans: Kraft hit the nail on the head on Sunday night. The fans were a part of the success this year, we were louder than ever, more supportive and proved we have fan base that is above all the others.

5. The Colts punting unit: See what happens when you have a two week layoff?

Today, as people make their way around New England, it is an eerie sight. People of all shapes, sizes and color are walking around with something in common, and that would be wearing New England Patriots merchandise. From baseball caps, to shirts, to jackets, and for some of us lucky fellas wives who sport Pats lingerie in the bedroom. This week the clothing of choice is the recently released AFC Champions baseball cap and shirt. It's a sharp looking piece of clothing, but it all ends there and I'll explain why...

About a month ago the Pats became AFC East Champions, and everyone rushed out to purchase their piece of memorabilia including me. For the next couple of weeks I was looking good, and had a great sense of fashion when matching my AFC East hat and shirt together as an ensemble.

Today, that fashion died about as fast as Vanilla Ice's career and I was no longer "in," so as I made my way to the pro shop at the Razor, I thought about the price of fashion, and how this can be a great motivator for the team in their quest to touch the Lombardi trophy just one more time.

I could just picture it...

The team is in meeting, and awaiting the arrival of their head coach. On this day, everyone is wondering how he plans on motivating this team one last time, and ponders if he can still keep them hungry for a 15th consecutive victory.

After a short wait Bill Belichick enters wearing an AFC East Champions baseball cap and T-shirt. He walks to the front of the room, looks at his players, coaching staff and tells everyone to look at what he is wearing.

"That was then..." he says.

BB removes the hat, tosses it into the trash, and then looks down at the T-shirt. Imitating Hulk Hogan, he rips it from his body exposing an AFC Champions T-shirt underneath, and tosses the tattered shirt in the trash. The players and coaching staff begin to applaud, hoot and holler as their leader reaches into his back pocket, and places an AFC Champions baseball cap on top of his head. The cheers get louder, as Bill almost cracks a smile and says...

"This is now!"

The room erupts once again, as Bill surveys his team and peers in celebration. He allows it to continue for a few seconds longer, and flashes a stern look at his coaching staff as the players continue to high five, and chatter.

"Two weeks... One more game." Bill says, as the players' chatter drowns out his statement. Bill becomes annoyed, slams a clipboard down on a desk and repeats himself, but this time in a louder tone silencing the players and getting their full attention.

"You know those nice shirts and hats you got? Wear them wisely, use them wisely, because they have a short life span. In two weeks, these things won't mean a thing, and if we don't win that one last game... I'd be embarrassed to even wear this crap, and to be honest; I don't even want to wear it now."

Belichick removes his hat, the shirt and throws it into the trash.

"Wearing that makes me feel like I'm settling for less, and I know no one here wants to settle for less. And to make my point even clearer, see how many guys even remember that stuff in the trash by tomorrow. Now you have to be like me, you can wear your hats and your shirts, but I know I have one more game to prepare for, and we're still getting no respect. Yeah, we're favored by 14, but so were the Rams. As for those same people pumping us up, they are talking behind our backs in the papers, on the radio stations and television. In one breath they talk about how Ty picked off Peyton Manning three times, and in the same breath they say, but Ricky Manning for the Panthers did the same. In one breath they talk about our streak, and in the same breath they'll say we're lucky or we're a fluke. Well it's time to get that respect, the respect we didn't get after New Orleans, and the only way to get that respect is to beat probably the most dangerous team we've ever faced this season..."

So where would Bill go with this? Even though they had a lax regular season schedule, the Carolina Panthers are the NFC Champions and they are there because they beat some tough teams this postseason against the Cowboys, Rams and Eagles.

Now it all comes down to one game... In two weeks.

Wear it well people. Wear your gear well.

Comments and E-mail: Sinista1@msn.com