John takes an early look at the Patriots' chances this year.

If then Patriots owner Chuck Sullivan hadn't gone bankrupt financing Jackson's 1984 Victory Tour, the team might never have wound up in the more capable hands of Robert Kraft.

Via.

Pats pass on past Pat Pat Pass

(Headline stolen from Fark, but it was so good that I had to share)

Angela: I think I speak for everyone when I say, "Holy $%*!@...!"

The U.S. Marshal for Boston and a federal lawyer improperly arranged government motorcades for the two Fox blabcasters during the 2007 World Series, according to a report by the Justice Department's inspector general.

The report centers on Joseph Band, an attorney for the U.S. Marshal's office in Washington:

Our investigation revealed that Band attended the 2007 World Series games as a paid, part-time sports statistician for Fox Sports, and arranged transportation from both games in an USMS vehicle for himself and for a Fox Sports colleague from one game. In addition, the OIG determined that Band arranged a USMS motorcade escort for the broadcasters' private limousines from Fenway Park following both games. We concluded that Band's conduct violated the standards of ethical conduct for federal employees and USMS policy governing the use of government vehicles.

Yvonne Bronner, acting U.S. Marshal for Boston, assigned deputy marshals to help Band in his Fox work at the two Boston games, the report says.

Oh, but wait, there's more: Seems Band got similar escort treatment at the 2008 Super Bowl, an NFL playoff game in Tampa and a college bowl game in Phoenix in 2007. However, the report says the U.S. Marshal in San Francisco refused to let Band get a motorcade to the 2007 All-Star game in that city.

The report concludes that the U.S. Attorney's office in Boston declined to bring any criminal charges.

Hey, look at Brady and Bledsoe. Don Martelli explains why it might make sense.

Channel 4: Brady may not be 100 percent for 2009.

The Attleboro Sun-Chronicle interviewed Todd Kobus last year after he returned from active duty in Iraq, where he served as an intelligence officer (scroll down the page a bit).

He now faces assault charges for tackling Seau yesterday.

Angela's all-Patriots Christmas tree is back up.

Al now knows for a fact that his co-worker is awful, because she's upset "Grey's Anatomy" was replaced by the Patriots game last night.