Monthly thoughts- February Part 2

The Patriots were a play or two away from actually engaging in the Super Bowl this month. Even so, the month brought us all wonderful news; Tom Brady is a single man and is having a baby with his ex. As a fan, I could care less. All the media hoopla is a joke. Let the man live his life. As long as it doesn't affect his play on the field, it's a non story. And having kids could be helpful, just look at Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel and Troy Brown to name a few.
Corey Dillon asked for his release. If I was running the club, I would surely comply. The guy has a brutal attitude and is far from an every down back. The best he can offer any club is 10 carries, and unless he can break one or two of them, he will rarely ever hit the 100 yard mark again.
The club signed Heath Evans. A great move no doubt. The man could definitely step in and take over as the third down back. He's a solid complementary player. As for Laurence Maroney, we all hope he can come back stronger next year and take the bulk of the workload. He had a great first half but was nearly nonexistent after injuring himself versus the Lions.
The bust of the 2006 season, Chad Jackson, likely tore his ACL in the final game against the Colts. His ten catches last year was a disgrace. He can't learn the playbook, and injuries continue to keep him off the field. They may look for a WR late in the draft. For now, all we know is Gaffney and Caldwell will be a part of the WR core. Troy Brown is all but certain to play for the club next season.
Asante Samuel got franchised this month. At a shade under 8 million, both parties can walk away pleased. He is an excellent cornerback, but top 5 in the league is more than stretch. He is not worth the money over a long contract, but who at his position is?
It's safe to say Tully Banta-Cain and Daniel Graham are indeed gone. Graham is a solid blocker, but never lived up to his potential. Ben Watson is the same story. Both guys should have mind blowing numbers. I've never understood why both guys don't cross in the middle of the field on every play. Opponents can't double team both guys. Watson should easily have 90 catches per.
Though Graham may re-sign, Cain is too inconsistent to sign for anything more than the near minimum. Take away his 3 sack performances on a couple occasions, and his career has been weak. He never truly broke through. His potential is clear, but will he improve without the help of the Patriots talented lineman and linebackers?
The Tebucky Jones saga came to an end this month. After signing with the club last April, a leg injury prevented him from playing a single snap this season. Jones was a Patriots first round pick in the 1998 draft. With Rodney Harrison getting older and the inconsistency of Eugene Wilson, the Pats need a safety badly. As far as the draft is concerned, only LSU LaRon Landry is worth a look. It would be great to get him in a Patriots uniform.Unfortunately, he will go somewhere between the 8-12 pick. Trading both first round picks for a chance at Landry makes no sense. But it would hardly surprise me if they traded both picks for something.
Lastly, what happens with the punters. The team has three on the roster. Ken Walter should be the first to go. His return this year was cut short via bad kicks and injuries. This decision can wait for another month.
As for the Eagles of Boston College, the team finished the month at 4-3. The dismissal of Sean Williams continued to haunt the club. The losses were to all great teams: Duke, UNC and Virginia Tech. The club is still in position for an NCAA berth and bye in the ACC Tournament next month.
The Celtics went 2-9, with one game remaining tomorrow. Pierce came back from injury, but the club continues to struggle to find ways to win.
The Bruins played decent but still wallow in last place in their division. Even when they play well, it's difficult to gain any ground on the teams above, who often play each other. The team made a handful of moves, and unless they get hot in March, no playoff plans will occur.