Antonio Brown joins Patriots, NFL power rankings, Week 1 and more
Antonio Brown signed a one-year, $15 million deal with the New England Patriots. The end result depends entirely on him.
Randy Moss was humbled. Antonio Brown is anything but.
Since Brown’s release from the Oakland Raiders, parallels have been drawn between Moss going from Oakland to New England and Brown following suit. The scenarios are wildly different.
Moss spent two seasons in sliver and black. He totaled 1,558 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. At 30 years old, many believed Moss was a diva on the downside. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick sensed an opportunity, sending a fourth-round pick during the 2007 NFL Draft to the Raiders for Moss’ services.
Make no mistake; Moss was a disgruntled distraction. Yet he was never a distraction on this level. Maybe it’s because there wasn’t social media and NFL Network.
Regardless, Brown is an entirely different type of headache. He’s been exiled by both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Raiders over a six-month stretch, leaving him looking for a third club since the end of last season.
New England makes sense on the surface. The Patriots needed another receiving threat, Brown is arguably the game’s best when focused, and Belichick has a history of taking on risks.
However, there’s a key difference with Brown and the others in Belichick’s portfolio. Brown believes the problem is everyone but himself.
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From social media posts to reported outbursts, Brown has blamed the NFL for not allowing him to wear an outlawed helmet. He’s allegedly screamed at Raiders general manager Mike Mayock, threatening to punch him in the face. He recorded a phone conversation between himself, Oakland head coach Jon Gruden and agent Drew Rosenhaus, making it into a YouTube video. All this in the span of a month.
With Moss, running back Corey Dillon and receivers Josh Gordon and Chad Ochocinco, Belichick was getting players who most believed was either done or close to it. With Brown, he’s acquiring someone who clearly still has top-tier talent and a top-shelf attitude problem to match.
In New England, Belichick’s word is law. He famously rides Tom Brady, setting the tone for everyone else on the roster. There’s zero indication Belichick can do the same with Brown without causing him to go nuclear.
New England signing Brown was both predictable and yet represents a stark departure from its ethos. The Patriots treat stars the same as subs.
Maybe Brown and Rosenhaus come to Foxborough hat in hand. Maybe this will be different, with Brown respecting the winning culture. Perhaps this ends with the most polarizing figure in football doing something Moss never did in New England: win a Super Bowl.
It’s impossible to say. For now, the Patriots are the Vegas favorite to win it all. New England has instantly become more dangerous in a variety of ways.
To make it work, Brown needs to humble himself. Time will tell.
Power rankings
Top 10 performances of Week 1
1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens (17/20 for 324 yards and five TDs)
2. Sammy Watkins, Kansas City Chiefs (nine catches, 198 yards and three TDs)
3. Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers (209 total yards, 2 TDs)
4. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (378 passing yards, 3 TDs)
5. Hollywood Brown, Baltimore Ravens (four catches, 147 yards and two TDs)
6. DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles (8 catches, 154 yards and two TDs)
7. Tom Brady, New England Patriots (341 passing yards, 3 TDs)
8. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans (159 total yards, 2 TDs)
9. D.J. Chark, Jacksonville Jaguars (4 catches, 146 yards and TD)
10. Marlon Mack, Indianapolis Colts (179 rushing yards, TD)
Quotable
"“It starts with me…We have a long way to go.”"
– Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores after losing 59-10 in his debut
The Dolphins got boatraced by the Ravens, and that’s being kind. It’s one thing to be rebuilding and not very good. It’s another to get trounced in your own building to the tune of a 49-point beating.
Flores has to have Miami better prepared. He needs to insert Josh Rosen and take his chances. As former head coach Jerry Glanville once said, the NFL stands for Not For Long. If Flores can’t do a significantly better job getting the Dolphins ready to play, he’ll embody the saying.
Oh, Miami welcomes in the Patriots this Sunday.
Podcast
https://twitter.com/StackingTheBox/status/1170195682474565633
Random stat
In the Los Angeles Chargers’ 30-24 overtime win over the Indianapolis Colts, punter Ty Long dripped a 43-yard field goal. It’s the first time a punter connected on a field goal in a regular-season game since 1997 when Olindo Mare did so for the Dolphins, according to CBS research.
Info learned this week
1. Prescott’s price is only rising with each passing day
The Dallas Cowboys paid Ezekiel Elliott, Jaylon Smith and La’El Collins this offseason. Should have extended Dak Prescott, too.
In the final year of his rookie deal, Prescott torched the New York Giants in Dallas’ 35-17 win. The fourth-year pro threw for 405 yards and four touchdowns, showcasing why he’s about to get a nine-figure contract.
Dallas could have signed Prescott this offseason but waited too long. With Carson Wentz and Jared Goff getting paid, Prescott’s representation now has its baseline. With each performance like Sunday’s, the price will only rise. The deal will eventually get done, but the money will be larger than it would have been in March, when Prescott would have been the first quarterback of his draft class to sign, not the last.
2. Murray struggles, then thrives, behind porous Cards’ line
Kyler Murray and the Cardinals showed serious heart.
The Cardinals didn’t break 100 offensive yards until five minutes remaining in the third quarter. Then, Murray beckoned. The rookie hit on 29-of-54 for 308 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. This behind a line which allowed the Detroit Lions to penetrate at will.
When Kliff Kingsbury was hired in January, two assistant coaches told FanSided his biggest challenge would be getting his pass-blocking schemes straight. In the NFL, the hashmarks are closer together, changing angles and split sizes. Early returns aren’t good. However, Murray showed he can thrive regardless.
Ultimately, the Cardinals were lifeless for close to 40 minutes before storming back and erasing an 18-point deficit. The wins might be slow in coming, but this is something to build off for Kingsbury and Murray.
3. Vikings should be extremely encouraged by style of win
The Minnesota Vikings ran at will in their 28-12 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Thank Rick Dennison and Gary Kubiak.
Dennison and Kubiak were hired to effectively replace the deceased Tony Sparano. After failing to protect Kirk Cousins or run the ball consistently a year ago, Minnesota ran for 172 yards while Cousins attempted only 10 passes. It’s a formula general manager Rick Spielman believes in, and it was on display en masse against an overwhelmed Falcons team.
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The Vikings caused three turnovers and controlled the game from the outset despite taking 11 penalties for 100 yards. Minnesota ran the ball, protected Cousins and played stifling defense. It won’t always be pretty, but if Spielman and the coaching staff see their plan come to fruition, it’ll be brutally effective.
4. If Winston doesn’t improve, Bucs have to look elsewhere
Another three interceptions. It doesn’t end for Jameis Winston.
Winston threw the Tampa Bay Buccaneers out of the game against the San Francisco 49ers, tossing a trio of picks including a pair of pick-sixes in a 31-17 defeat. With new head coach and quarterback whisperer Bruce Arians on the sideline, Winston is supposed to stop taking wild risks. He’s supposed to be under control. He was anything but on Sunday.
On both returned touchdowns, Winston hit defensive backs in the numbers. It’s been a theme for Winston, who has more turnovers than any other player in football since being drafted in 2015.
Winston is in the final year of his rookie deal. If there isn’t improvement, general manager Jason Licht will be hard-pressed to sign him to a second contract despite his affection for the quarterback. Time is ticking.
5. MNF doubleheader packed with intrigue
The Houston Texans and Oakland Raiders play separately on Monday night. Great theatre.
Houston has been making news recently, trading Jadeveon Clowney to the Seahawks before trading away the future for left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Head coach Bill O’Brien has been under serious scrutiny, and now draws the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome for openers.
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Meanwhile, the nightcap has the Oakland Raiders playing their final home opener in the East Bay. The opponent? The Denver Broncos, who come in with a new head coach-quarterback combination in Vic Fangio and Joe Flacco. Obviously, the storyline is how the Raiders will play after the chaotic summer centered on Antonio Brown. A win will go a long way to putting August in the background. A loss, and the Raiders attempt to avoid 0-2 on Sunday against the Chiefs.
History lesson
The most points by a team in a single game? The Chicago Bears, who beat the Washington Redskins by a 73-0 score in the 1940 NFL Championship Game.
In 1965, the Redskins almost erased their dubious history, rolling up a 72-41 win over the hapless Giants.
Parting shot
The ultimate Week 2 pressure-cooker. New York Jets and Cleveland Browns on Monday night.
No team had larger expectations than Cleveland coming into the season. Baker Mayfield and Co. promptly laid a gigantic egg at home, being blown out 43-13 by the Tennessee Titans. Mayfield was awful, throwing three interceptions. The offensive line was also hideous, allowing five sacks.
Meanwhile, New York led the Buffalo Bills 16-0 in the third quarter. Josh Allen had thrown a pick-six. Buffalo had committed four turnovers. Incredibly, the Bills rallied with 17 unanswered points, stunning the MetLife Stadium crowd.
Now, both teams desperately need a win. The loser drops to 0-2, with the Browns facing the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3, and the Jets visiting the Patriots.
It’s Week 2, but it’s a borderline must-win for teams with big dreams.