The Patriots are in the playoffs. At 10-6, they will be playing during Wild Card Weekend for the first time since 2006. By the time the game is played it’ll have been three years since the last Wild Card appearance for the Pats. With that in mind, let’s take a look at five memorable Wild Card Weekend moments in Patriots history.

1985 – Patriots vs. Jets

This game put to rest any doubt of the Patriots as a team to contend with in 1985. On October 20th, the Pats beat the Jets in a close game at home, 20-13. After that, the Pats went on a 7-2 run to close out the season. In the game, Andre Tippett racked up five sacks while the Pats offense and special teams combined for 26 points. The game is of note because it was the first playoff game played at Giants Stadium and it was the first playoff win for the Patriots in 22 years. The team would go on to beat Oakland and Miami before being crushed by the “Super Bowl Shuffle” Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl.

2006 – Patriots vs. Jets

This Wild Card game is interesting because it was Eric Mangini’s first year as a head coach. In that first year, he led the Jets to a 10-6 record including a defeat of the Patriots at Gillette seven weeks earlier. Highlights include Rosevelt Colvin deflecting a screen pass that the referees ruled a lateral. Vince Wilfork picked up the ball and rumbled for 25 yards before being caught by Nick Mangold, the only player on the field besides Wilfork to play to the whistle.

2005 – Patriots vs. Jaguars

The 12-4 Jaguars came into the Razor in January and weren’t prepared for the Pats defensive assault. Willie McGinest damn near played his position in the Jaguars backfield, setting a single game postseason record with 4.5 sacks. Asante Samuel capped off the game when he intercepted a Byron Leftwich pass and took it 73 yards for a score. Let’s not forget the Jags poor tackling which allowed Ben Watson to break a drive-ending tackle and sprint 63 yards for a touchdown. In the Divisional Playoffs that year, the Pats lost to Denver, ending their title defense.

The Patriots haven’t always enjoyed success during Wild Card Weekend. There were some years when the first week of the playoffs wasn’t so kind.

1994 – Patriots vs. Browns

This was a close game, with neither team able to pull away until the fourth quarter. In fact, with under two minutes to play, the Pats put together a 63-yard drive ending in a score and recovered the ensuing onside kick and looked to be moving in for the win. Quarterback Drew Bledsoe threw four incomplete passes to end the game and the Pats’ season.

1998 – Patriots vs. Jaguars

In this game against the Jaguars the Patriots played without Bledsoe, Terry Glenn or Ted Johnson. Their missing presence was felt as the Pats failed to score in the first half. Despite a rally sparked by backup quarterback Scott Zolak that cut the Jaguars lead to two at 12-10 it was too little too late as Jacksonville’s offense responded by scoring a touchdown and their defense forced a Patriots fumble.

Much like 1998, the Pats are looking at the second season with key players banged up and one unable to play. Sure, the team still has several weapons on offense and the defense beginning to solidify, but going without the league leader in receptions is tough for any team. Even without Wes Welker the Pats are still formidable and will make Wild Card Weekend worth watching.

The Patriots lost a tough one on Sunday — the defeat to Miami marked their first back-to-back losses in three seasons. When you lose a close game, it’s usually because something wasn’t clicking. For the Pats, it appeared that their pass rush had stayed out too late, enjoying South Beach. Their sluggish effort netted one sack on the day — Tully Banta-Cain and Jerod Mayo shared the action.

It’s become evident the loss of Mike Vrabel (48 sacks in eight seasons) and Richard Seymour (39 sacks in eight seasons) has hurt the Pats ability to rush the passer and create pressure without blitzing. While this is far from great, it is possible to fix. If the Patriots follow the suggestions below, they can turn around their pass rushing woes. The best part, all they have to do is sign these guys off the street.

Andre Tippett
Tippett holds the Patriots franchise record for most sacks with 100. He knows how to play in a 3-4 and could bring some good pressure off the corner on third down situations. Plus, he’s currently the Pats’ Executive Director of Community Affairs, so really, he’s already signed. A quick in-house memo is all that’s required to get him on the field. Plus he can mentor Mayo.

Deacon Jones
Why not hire the person who invented the sack to help the pass rush? Jones played during an era when the sack wasn’t a recorded stat. However, in 1967, according to Jones, he recorded 26 sacks in 14 games.

Jones is a little older, and maybe not able to play, but as a defensive line coach, if nothing else, he can inspire Ty Warren and Vince Wilfork and Mike Wright to get after it.

Howie Long

Sure, he’s on TV now, but look at him. He can strap on a helmet Thursday and be effective. Long might not have as many sacks as others on this list, but his ability to play any defensive line position would be crucial to get other members of the the D-line some much needed rest during games. Plus he’s from Charlestown. Can’t the Pats get a hometown guy?

Bruce Smith
Smith is barely six years out of the league. He has to be itching to get back on the field. Not only that, he’s the official all-time sack leader in the NFL. The Patriots couldn’t use that? Plus he doesn’t have a ring. Picture it: “Bruce, come back for four games, add a few more sacks to your total, win a Super Bowl ring.” Sounds like the perfect pitch. Check out his highlight reel.

Reggie White
The “Minister of Defense” died in 2005. Still, film sessions focusing on his work could be used to motivate the defensive line.

With four games left, the Pats have a chance to turn their lackluster pass rush around. They have the talent to be productive, so perhaps some inspiration by these all-time greats is all that is needed.

Tough loss on Monday. If anyone was thinking that the Patriots might still be in the upper echelon of teams this year, the thumping by the Saints busted that bubble. Since 2001, Pats fans have been treated to more wins than losses and that makes the occasional loss all the more memorable. Since everyone is depressed anyway, let’s indulge in some pity for the Pats. I promise there will be ice cream later. But first, the five most memorable losses of the decade:

5) Drew Brees carves up Patriots Defense

Drew Brees is good, real good. We all saw that when he threw for 371 yards and five TDs. He averaged 16 yards per pass attempt. Of course, we have to mention the Pats defense, too. Blown coverages never help. Everyone knows the Saints have a potent offense, it was just a little much to be treated like the Detroit Lions. The Pats are better than that, right? As fans, we look to the next time we see a team to exact some sort of payback. With the Saints, that opportunity might only happen in the Super Bowl, if the Pats even make it. Kind of makes the loss harder to swallow.

4) Buffalo Bills embarrass Pats in home opener

We all know the back story to this game. Lawyer Milloy is released by the Pats and picked up by the Bills. On Sunday, the Bills bagel the Pats, winning 31-0. You’ll recall that Tom Brady threw four interceptions in this game, two to Takeo Spikes (a linebacker!) and one to Sam Adams (a defensive tackle!!). The irony is that Milloy had one tackle in the game, but his removal from the Patriots locker room probably had more of an effect than the little he did on the field. At least the Pats were able to return the loss to the Bills at the end of the season.

3) Miami Dolphins debut Wildcat

One Sunday in October, Ronnie Brown and the Miami Dolphins took the “trick play” from the back of the playbook and put it in the front.

This loss hurt because the Pats acted as the NFL’s guinea pig. Direct snaps to running backs had already been a part of offenses, but it hadn’t been used like that in decades. Unfortunately, the Pats suffered because there was no film of the Wildcat and therefore, no way to prepare for it. Yes, the Patriots beat the Dolphins in their second match-up, but it was a hollow win. They had been embarrassed at home by a division rival.

2) Indianapolis Colts come back on Pats, go to Miami

In recent history, the Pats seem to have a habit of getting a lead on the Colts and then blowing it and losing the game. This one stung because the Patriots were playing for the right to go to the Super Bowl. At the time, it was commonly believed that whichever AFC team advanced would win the championship. The Colts did not disappoint.

1) Super Bowl XLII

Talking about this one still causes physical pain. Kudos to David Tyree for making that catch. He may never do another single memorable thing in his football career.

Honorable Mentions

San Diego beats New England, 41-17 at Gillette
Drew Brees! We should have learned what to expect when Brees quarterbacks a high-octane offense.

Fourth-and-2
Definitely an embarrassing loss for the Pats. There is little explanation for giving up a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter. While many repeat the “In Bill we trust” mantra, it was difficult to remain a believer with the fourth-and-2 call. Why not make the Colts earn the win by driving 70+ yards?

Did we miss an embarrassing loss? Let us know.

Earlier this week, we talked about the Colts as they work towards a perfect regular season. The New Orleans Saints is the other undefeated team in the league, and they face off against the Patriots on Monday. You’re probably asking “Who Dat?” So, it only seems fair to do a comparison between the 2009 Saints and the 2007 Patriots, so let’s have at it.

The Streak

Obviously, the Saints are undefeated through 10 games, just like the Patriots were in 2007. The Saints have 369 points for, with 204 points against. Despite having more points for, they are in second place in the league because the Colts have less points scored against them (157). (As we previously mentioned, the Pats had 411 points for with 157 points against after Week 10.) While not the same as the Pats in 2007, the Saints are clearly on pace to shatter all the scoring records set by that year by New England. Hear them talk about it, the Saints hit many of the same notes as the Pats did that year. But before we write the Saints off as some upstart super-offense let’s not forget that in ’91 they went 7-0 to start the season. Maybe the players on this team haven’t been there, but the franchise has a winning history.

Games Played

This is where the Saints come up short as it pertains to perfection. The last few weeks have provided real tests for the vaunted offense. At the end of October, they played Miami and came back from a 21-point deficit to win, so kudos. They outlasted the Falcons a week later despite coughing the ball up four times. Well played. However, they only beat the St. Louis Rams by five two weeks later. The Rams are not good. (Sure, the Saints beat up Tampa Bay, but everyone beats up Tampa Bay.) What is interesting is that four out of their last five games have been closer than expected. We see that, the Saints offense can put up points, but how well can their defense hold up? That leads us to the next segment.

Players

We can go down the line for either team on this one. In 2007 the Pats lined up Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Laurence Maroney and Ben Watson to name a few. That year, they led the league with 411.2 yards per game. The 2009 Saints have Drew Brees, Marques Colston, Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas and Jeremy Shockey. It’s no wonder they lead the league in average yards per game (420.5). But the focus has to be on the defense. With guys like Tracy Porter out of practice or Jabari Greer and Randall Gay, there will be pressure on the defense to stop Brady who, this year, have the second most yards per game at 416.1.

Like the Patriots of 2007, the Saints are dealing with key injuries that could hamper them down the stretch. At quick glance, the rest of their schedule, after the Patriots, may seem light, but Atlanta did play them close and there is no reason to suspect they won’t do it again.

On Monday, the Patriots get a second chance to play spoilers. They may have struck out the first time around, but hope springs eternal.

Still, I know you wonder!

OK, I’ll just say it, since it’s on everyone’s mind. The Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints might go undefeated in the regular season. There, now it’s out in the open. At 10-0, both the Saints and the Colts look like they could make a run for 16-0 and beyond. With that in mind, these teams bear comparison to the Patriots of 2007 and the Dolphins of 1972. Starting with the Colts, let’s see how they stack up.

The Streak

The Pats ended up going 18-1 in the 2007-08 season. Obviously, they missed perfection, but we don’t need to get into that just yet. Through the regular season, the Pats triumphed over everyone they faced. Thus far, the Colts have done the same. Through 10 games, the Colts are undefeated, with 269 points for vs. 157 points against. It’s the best differential in the league. After 10 games in 2007, the Patriots had 411 points for and 157 points against. The fact that over the same span of games, the Pats were significantly more prolific on offense doesn’t bode well for the Colts even though they have been here before.

Games Played

Besides the Week 9 game against the Colts, it was in the 11th contest that the Patriots began to play close games. An Eagles team, sans Donovan McNabb, played them like it was Super Bowl XXXIX and almost came away with a win. This season, the Colts have played four close games, decided by three points or less. With six games left, this is the point in the season that the Colts have to focus, because in 2005 they went 13-0 and inspired talk of a perfect season before dropping two in a row.

Players

It is rare that a single player can alter the outcome of a game or change how well a team plays, but it’s clear that the loss of Bob Sanders makes the Colts defense much weaker. We all recall how, in 2006, the Texans’ Ron Dayne (remember him?) ripped off 153 yards on the ground and two TDs, all while Sanders watched from the sideline with an injury.

Around the same time of the year in 2007, the Patriots suffered the loss of Rosevelt Colvin, which forced Tedy Bruschi and Junior Seau to play at the same time, which, later in the season, hurt the team because Bruschi and Seau are older players and the standard wear and tear of the season got to them.

The question becomes, can the Colts hold opposing running backs down, especially with Tennessee’s Chris Johnson coming to Lucas Oil in two weeks? Even though the Pats smoked the Steelers in 2007, Willie Parker still had 124 yards rushing, and in the final game of the regular season, against the Giants, Eli Manning looked like a rock star, throwing for 251 yards and four TDs.

However, what we all really want to know is why hasn’t anyone from the only undefeated team said anything? Why hasn’t Mercury Morris voiced his opinion about the Colts? It was around this time that he became the mouthpiece of the ’72 Dolphins, making sure any and all media outlets recognized the ’72 Dolphins as the original perfect team.

On Monday, the Kansas City Chiefs released running back Larry Johnson, the day he was scheduled to return to the field after serving a two-week suspension for inappropriate comments he made on his Twitter feed and in the locker room.

Despite Johnson’s declining numbers in recent years, it is widely held that present-day LJ is still solid, or behind a good guard and tackle, can be the LJ of 2006, when he rushed for more than 1,700 yards on 416 carries. The question now: What team will take a chance on him? In recent history, the New England has become a place where players can spend some time competing for championship rings as well as rehabilitating their image. Since Bill Belichick took over the reins, several players have benefited from spending time at the “New England Patriots Image and Career Rehabilitation Center.”

Randy Moss is a player that immediately comes to mind. Moss’ issues began in college when a full scholarship to Notre Dame was rescinded when he got into a fight and ruptured the spleen of a student. Then coach of Notre Dame, Lou Holtz recommended Moss to Florida State, but he was kicked out of FSU for violating the terms of his work-release probation. Despite putting up school-record numbers at Marshall, Moss was drafted late in the first round because of the character issues he exhibited in his college career.

Let’s not forget the “Straight cash, homey” incident either — Moss’ refusal to obey traffic laws led to that memorable line and a few others. It was only a matter of time before he was traded to the Raiders from the Vikings in 2005. At the time, Minnesota appeared to be fed up with his antics, which included pretending to moon Green Bay fans and walking off the field with two seconds left in a regular season game loss against the Redskins. In Oakland, he was remembered for letting people know when he’ll play.

Yet when he came to New England, suddenly we saw a Randy Moss that reminded us of the player from the Vikings. He and Tom Brady not only torched opposing defenses but also set the record for most touchdown receptions in a season. You remember the catch in the regular-season game against the Giants, right?

At this point, not only is Moss considered one of the better wide receivers playing the game, but he also has the reputation of being a team player, something he was cultivating in Minnesota and never had in Oakland.

How about Brandon Meriweather? Here’s a player who had much potential coming out of the University of Miami. Then there was that on-field brawl with Florida International.

Meriweather is No. 19, prominently seen stomping a FIU player who is on the ground. While the incident hurt his draft stock, it wasn’t enough to deter the Patriots from picking him as the 24th overall selection. Obviously, the Pats know what they’re doing. Meriweather has been an excellent addition to the secondary and worth the accolades he has received.

While Moss and Meriweather generally benefited from playing in New England, Corey Dillon had a career resurgence upon arriving in Foxboro. The definition of a disgruntled player, Dillon is (in)famous for demanding to be traded to Dallas during a media session in the Bengals locker room. The beauty here, is that once he got to New England, he was no longer the petulant star but the hard-working team player, devoid of all the ego seen in Cincy.

Perhaps LJ can have the same type of resurgence as Dillon. With injuries to Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris, a tough-running, punishing back could be the perfect balance to Laurence Maroney’s scat-back style and Kevin Faulk’s third-down consistency.

As for the Patriots, why not turn another malcontent into a happy camper by putting him on a team with realistic Super Bowl aspirations? It’s not like Belichick is opposed to the idea, right?

Studies showing a correlation between sports and violence are as common a ground ball to the second baseman. Throughout history, sports often have been used as an alternative to warfare. Yet, despite our ability to be “civilized,” we often see acts of violence stem from poor sportsmanship, especially at the collegiate level. What has happened to sportsmanship, and why are incidents like these ever increasing?

LaGarrette Bount throws a knockout punch

You remember this one, right? The irony here is two-fold. Leading up to the game, Blount bragged about his team and predicted a win for the Oregon Ducks. While not a terrible thing, it seems odd in light of the sportsmanship ceremony that was held during the coin toss of the game, an event that Blount participated in. Skip to the end of the game and Blount is punching out Boise State linebacker Byron Hout for returning the favor and talking a little smack of his own after his team won the game.

Judging from Blount’s reaction, Hout probably had some choice words for him. But what’s the point of being a part of a sportsmanship ceremony if you’re going to punch someone for talking no more smack than you did, but had the ability to back it up? Blount apologized for his actions but was still suspended for the year. However, there has been some recent talk about reinstating him.

Brandon Spikes auditions for WWE

This was a bit ridiculous. Spikes claims that Georgia’s Washaun Ealey had done something similar to him and his actions were simply retaliation. When did that become OK? The game of football is a violent sport with enough chances to be injured unintentionally. Perhaps Spikes missed that lesson about not retaliating because you always get caught.

This leads to another issue. Florida officially suspended him for one half of football against Vanderbilt. Really? That’s the going rate for an eye gouge these days? Kudos to Spikes for lengthening his own suspension. It shows character to not only fess up to wrongdoing but to also suggest an appropriate punishment.

Women’s football gets chippy
I know this a soccer game, but some of the stunts that took place between New Mexico and BYU seem more suited to a football field. The idea of a completely non-contact sport these days is far-fetched. All labeled non-contact sports have some aspect of physicality, but this is a bit much. I’ve never seen hair-pulling used with such effectiveness.

Despite all of that, New Mexico defender Elizabeth Lambert only received one yellow card, for tripping inside the box. Of all her actions that day, the trip was the least violent, and that is what got her a penalty.

We’ve all played in games where the heat of the moment has gotten the better of us and do something against the rules. It just seems like there has been a sudden increase in poor sportsmanship across the board. We need to remind ourselves and those athletes we love to watch that competition should be the driving pursuit of sports. And winning, winning is important, too, but not at the cost of sportsmanship.

After stealing second base on Sunday, Johnny Damon looked up and saw that third was also uncovered and took off, stealing it as well. It was a heads up play by Damon and a costly mistake by the Phillies, who had mounted a dramatic comeback to tie the game in a game that would have tied the series, 2-2. 

We all know how that game ended, but it opens up an interesting subject. How often have we seen athletes make game-changing mistakes that cost their team wins? We decided to list some of the more (un)forgettable moments.

Chris Webber calls a timeout
Webber, while maybe not one of the all-time NBA greats, was a good big man and a contributor for the teams he played for. However, he will always be known for calling a timeout in the 1993 NCAA championship game between Michigan and UNC. In retrospect, there was plenty of time left in the game for Michigan to set up a play and if the Michigan guards, who usually handle the ball, had helped after the rebound, we might only talk about how Michigan collapsed and not how Webber lost the game for his team.

Andres Escobar scores own goal
Escobar was a defender on the Columbian 1994 FIFA World Cup team. Despite a celebrated career, he cemented himself in sports history when he scored an own goal in a match on June 22 against the United States while attempting to redirect a shot from U.S. midfielder, John Harkes.

The result of the own goal was the U.S. winning the match, 2-1. Columbia failed to advance past the first round in the tournament, and helped propel the U.S. into the second round, where they lost a 1-0 match to Brazil. The win over Columbia put U.S. soccer on the map in terms of World Cup play. For Colombia and Escobar, the result was far more harrowing. On July 2, 1994, Escobar was shot and killed in front of a bar. His death is widely believed to be punishment for the own goal.

Jim Marshall runs the wrong way
As a football player, this is one of those situations that you hope never happens to you.
It was an athletic play to pick up the ball on one bounce, but you have to pay attention to where you are! Even to this day Marshall can’t live it down. But at least Roy Riegels has company.

Bill Buckner 

Need I say more?

Merkle’s Boner

The granddaddy of all brain cramps in U.S. professional sports, which has been immortalized in culture and literature. Fred Merkle, a rookie making his first-ever big-league start, was on first base when one of his Giants teammates lined an apparent walkoff single against the Cubs, with whom New York was in a heated pennant race. Rather than touching second, however, Merkle sprinted straight from first base to the Giants clubhouse, located in centerfield, to avoid a flood of fans on the field. Johnny Evers of the Cubs somehow retrieved the ball (or a ball), brought the umpires back on the field as he stepped on second for a force out, and insisted that Merkle was out. Instead of a Giants walk-off win, the game was declared a suspended tie that the Cubs ultimately won, a pivotal moment in their claiming the pennant and their last World Series triumph in 1908. 

These plays and others like them will live on in infamy because of how much fans cherish sports and their favorite teams. These plays gain significance over the years because they are often deciding factors in what makes an individual, a team or game memorable.

It used to be that Halloween was the one day an adult could put on a costume and walk around in public and not be ridiculed. While that may still be true, more recently Sunday has become a day for adults to play “dress up” as well. From September to February, Sundays, Mondays, and some Thursdays have also become costume days for some people. That’s right, we’re talking football season and those Super Fans who take their passion for their team to the next level. Since Halloween is tomorrow, let’s take a look at some of the more colorful football fans.

Oakland Raiders – Black Hole

You have to respect a fan base that dresses in football pads with spikes on them, skulls and black and silver face paint. Their “Black Hole” is infamous and notorious for making opposing kickers miss chip shot field goals. It’s just too bad they don’t have a better team to cheer.

Denver Broncos – Barrel Man

You have to love this. Quick breakdown: Cowboy hat, check. Megaphone to lead cheers, check. Winter gloves, check. No shirt, check. The mark of a true fan is how few clothes you wear depending on how cold the weather is. The Barrel Man is clearly a true fan. It takes a special commitment to only wear a barrel to a game played a mile above sea level.

Green Bay – Pope of Packerland

This fan pays attention to the details. First, he has the appropriate vestments for a Roman Catholic pope. Notice the years listed on the stole, years the Packers won a championship. His mitre (pointy hat) has an image of Vince Lombardi. If you worship the Packers, is Lombardi the messiah? One question. Where do you get a “cheese” bra?

Cleveland Browns – Dawg Pound

Face paint is a mark of a true fan. A mask is along the same lines. The Dawg Pound is much like the Black Hole in its rowdiness but with less of an effect. Much respect to those who count themselves among the Dawg Pound, but when you cheer for the Browns it’s understandable why they wear masks.

Washington Redskins – The Hogs

Men in dresses wearing pig snouts. There is not much more to say about it. The origin of the Hogs actually has nothing to do with fans. It refers to their famous offensive line from the early 80s. These days the hogs in the stands seem to be more entertaining than those on the field.

New York Jets – Fireman Ed

He might be the ultimate fan. His costume is simple, a Jets jersey and a Jets-themed firefighter helmet. But his influence is legendary. Fireman Ed, who is actually a fireman, leads the famous Jets cheer “J-E-T-S, Jets! Jets! Jets!” In fact he’s so well known for his role in cheering the team that Coach Rex Ryan recognized his work after the week two win against the Patriots.

Super Fans can often add to the experience of going to a game. It’s interesting that the most memorable super fans cheer for teams that don’t do well, but perhaps when your team is in the cellar, you have to find other ways to entertain yourself. Did we miss a super fan? Let us know!

Much has taken place since May 17th, 2009, including trade talk, contract negotiations and drafts, just to name a few standard offseason activities for the Celtics. However, let’s not forget the not-so-standard offseason activities. With the 2009-10 NBA season kicking off, let’s take a look back at some of the best and worst stories to come out about the Big Green in the last five months.

9. Marbury loses it on the Internet

What started as a 24-hour look into his personal world turned into a summer-long escapade of bizarre behavior over the Internet. Stephon Marbury’s streaming video kept basketball fans entertained, confused, and slightly disturbed during the offseason. After turning down a one-year offer from the Celtics, Marbury professed his greatness in the NBA while eating Vaseline and having emotional breakdowns along the way. In the end, the guard ended up isolating himself and failing to secure a job this season.

8. Celtics draft … who?

Second-round draft picks, let alone the 58th overall selection, are hardly guaranteed to pan out. But the Celtics hope to have found a sleeper in the University of Tennessee-Martin’s Lester Hudson. The relatively unknown combo guard broke on to the college basketball scene when he recorded the first quadruple-double in NCAA history. Hudson had a bumpy road to the NBA and is embracing his opportunity in the pros by playing aggressive basketball. Will he one day join Ryan Gomes and Leon Powe as another one of Danny Ainge’s late-draft sleepers?

7. Leon Powe signs with Cavs

Leon Powe wanted to stay and he was under the impression the feeling was mutual. This summer, however, a blown knee came in between the C’s and the dedicated bench player. The Celtics reportedly told Powe they could not afford to wait for his recovery and declined the option on his contract. In turn, Powe gave his word to the Cavaliers and kept it when the C’s made him a late offer. Instead of jeering Powe for signing with the Celtics rivals, many noted his hard work and felt it was the Celtics, not Powe, who made the wrong decision.

6. Big Baby re-signs (and gets injured)

Glen Davis re-signed with the Celtics in August before a supposed bidding war could begin. In fact, the only real fanfare about the deal was a reported string of tweets from Davis’ twitter account complaining about the lack of progress on his contract. Of course, those turned out to be fake. If that weren’t enough attention for Davis, the recent altercation, which left him with a broken thumb and out of commission for 6 -8 weeks, won’t raise his stock in Waltham, especially in the “no non-sense” system the Cs maintain.

5. Marquis Daniels signs

The addition of Daniels directly benefits Paul Pierce. Not only does Daniels allow Piece to play fewer minutes and therefore be fresher down the stretch, his size also means he can defend or even play small forward. He can effectively fill the a role that was missing when James Posey left. Plus he can rap.

4. Is this Ray Allen’s last season with the C’s?

That is a sub-question under the larger question of whether or not this is the end for the “Big Three.” While each player is at a different stage in his individual contract, the fact that the players’ collective window for winning championships is closing is obvious. With Allen, his contract ends after this season. Of course, there are rumors about a contract extension and there isn’t anyone who would mind seeing Jesus Shuttlesworth throw on that green number 20. However, with the amount of young talent on the Celtics bench, the time might come after this season for Allen to step aside.

3. Rasheed Wallace joins the Celtics

Kevin Garnett’s injury at the end of the season, last year, showed the lack of depth in the Celtics front court. The addition of Rasheed Wallace changes all of that. Wallace brings an excellent outside shot as well as a big body who can also spell Garnett. Moreover, you have to love the way the Celtics pursued Wallace. Danny Ainge, Doc Rivers and the the Big Three all went to Detroit to sell him on joing the C’s. How could anyone say no to that? As Garnett said, “It’s a perfect fit.”

2. The Rajon Rondo Contract and Trade Saga

This has the makings of an epic serial movie. Picture this: A young point guard with raw talent. He is thrust into a starting position on a pro team making a run at the championship. He performs admirably as the team goes all the way and wins everything. But, the success goes to his head. He breaks some team rules like being on time for meetings. Then there are the trade rumors, and he can’t understand why the team would want to ship him elsewhere. Then there is the contract dispute. Will he sign before the season starts? What happens if he goes to free agency? Stay tuned to find out!

1. KG’s road to recovery

It’s been a long five months for Kevin Garnett, during which he was on the sidelines watching the C’s lose to the Magic in seven games, which was followed by surgery and months of rehab. Now, exactly five months to the day of his surgery, Garnett gets to play in games that count. He’s expressed fatigue with the questions about his knee and excitement at the prospect of playing with Wallace and other players who joined the team this year. He’s even adjusted to a later practice schedule. All that being said, we learned from the preseason that he is ready. So let’s get to it.