The New England Patriots are going into their bye week with the best record in football, but they're not going quietly into the off week, making a move that is a curious one to say the least. The Pats have traded linebacker Jamie Collins to the Cleveland Browns for a third round draft pick.
Collins has been considered one of the top linebackers and defensive players in the game over the past couple of years, but he has clearly fallen out of favor with head coach Bill Belichick this season, and with Collins entering free agency next season perhaps the Pats wee looking to cut their losses now and build for the future. But a third round pick for a linebacker with as strong a reputation as Collins seems woefully short of what New England could have gotten for him had they shopped him around a little. It almost makes you wonder whether Belichick owed the Browns a favor left over from the years he coached in Cleveland, or maybe just felt sorry for them as the only winless team in the league after eight weeks of football.
On the other hand, questioning the wisdom of the hooded one is usually a losing proposition, and it is true that Collins has not played up to his abilities this season, along with much of the Patriots defense, which has been a little less effective this year, especially against the run. In any event, someone will have to step up in place of Collins and right now it looks like rookie Elandon Roberts is going to get that call, which is a lot of pressure to put on the first year player out of Houston. Or maybe with the bye week approaching Belichick has another trick up his sleeve, but the trade of Collins is both a shocker, and at least for now, a head scratcher.
Another shocker came with last night's Monday Night Football tilt between the 1-6 Chicago Bears, who had lost three straight, and the Minnesota Vikings, who had lost only once on the season. Bears quarterback Jay Cutler apparently gave a locker room half time speech that rallied the troops and led to a 20-10 Bears victory in the windy city. Cutler has missed the last five games with a thumb injury but returned in style last night, throwing for 252 yards and a touchdown in the upset win. Rookie Jordan Howard had a huge game on the ground for Chicago, rushing for 153 yards and a touchdown, and the Bears defense was evidently inspired by Cutler's speech, sacking Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford five times, handing Minnesota their second consecutive loss while the Bears are still playing pretty much for pride at this point, now at 2-6 on the year.
Locally in the high school field hockey playoffs, the South Burlington Rebels are headed back to the division one state championships after a 3-1 win over Rice Memorial yesterday. Grace Hoehl, Emma Liebegott, and Katie Hall tallied for the defending champs, who will take on the winner of today's match between Colchester and Essex.
In division two, Angelina Bigwood scored the only goal of the game in Springfield's 1-0 win over Harwood, sending the Cosmos to the state title game Saturday against Woodstock.
To the division girls soccer playoffs, where Sadie Stetson's decisive penalty kick proved the difference as sixth seeded St. Johnsbury ousted number three Rice in quarterfinal action yesterday. The two teams were tied 1-1 after regulation and overtime before St. J won the shootout round 4-3.
In division two Elinor Reilly was the hero for Harwood, netting the game-winning goal in the second overtime as the tenth-seeded Harwood upset number 3 Stratton Mountain with a 3-2 road victory at Stratton, and Maggie Kirby scored the only goal of the game on a 22-yard free kick in U-32's 1-0 win over Hartford. In division three play Green Mountain shut out Green BFA-Fairfax 6-0.
In the division two boys quarterfinals Noah Williams and Jake O’Brien each tallied for Harwood in their 2-0 win over Green Mountain Valley, and Hartford ousted Woodstock on goals by Nick Jones and Pat McGlone.
In division three, defending state champs Stowe found themselves down a goal to Hazen at halftime before scoring three straight in the second half en route to a 4-1 win. Dillon LaViale tallied twice for Stowe in the win, and in a wild division four game that went to penalty kicks, Sharon beat Long Trail 13-12 in the shootout round to secure the win.
Finally, the Chicago Cubs are still facing elimination when they play game six of the World Series tonight, with Jake Arrieta taking the hill for the Cubbies against Cleveland's Josh Tomlin at Progressive Field in Cleveland. As I said yesterday, I just can't see this series not going seven games, and I wouldn't be surprised if something crazy happens in tonight's contest. Game sixes are famous, or infamous depending on your perspective, for hard to believe hardball twists of fate.
