McGinest tackles some topics

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McGinest tackles some topics

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FOOTBALL NOTES
McGinest tackles some topics
By Nick Cafardo | July 24, 2005

Last week the NFL shot a few 30-second nostalgic ''Road to 40" spots, commemorating 40 years of Super Bowls. The spots, which will air during NFL telecasts this season, show Super Bowl legends paying inspirational visits to players along the road to the Super Bowl.

The Patriots are represented by veteran Willie McGinest, whose spot, according to Michael Capiraso, the vice president and executive creative director for the NFL, depicts McGinest encountering Marcus Allen, who gives him a little nod as he passes by.

McGinest was perfect for the role because he is in the entertainment business as a record producer for ''55 Entertainment" -- his Los Angeles-based company that is doing very well. He's also the executive producer of a soon-to-be-released horror movie.

Entering his 12th year in the league, McGinest knows his career is winding down. Life after football appears to be taken care of.

''It was fun to do the spot, just to put aside the business of football for the time being and just thinking of football in its purest form," he said. ''It's just sometimes that all gets lost with the business side, which sometimes just takes over."

McGinest said he enjoyed making his first movie.

''It's just something I got involved with through my publicist," he said. ''I read the script and I fell in love with it and I knew I wanted to be a part of it. I had input in the making of the movie, sat in my own director's chair. It was pretty neat."

The movie's story line?

''Can't say too much about it, but let's just say it's about kids playing a game and things just went a little too far," teased McGinest.

McGinest, on some Patriots-related topics:

Richard Seymour -- ''I've been with Richard out here [California and Las Vegas] the past few days. We actually shot another NFL commercial called ''NFL Dance Stars" that's a little different and we actually had fun with. Richard's a good friend and I know there's no way he wants to miss time playing football. He doesn't want to miss time holding out, but there's probably talks going on between his agent and the team and it's really not my place or business to speak on behalf of Richard. But Richard is taking the point of view that he wants to be paid fairly for what he does on the football field. That's Richard's business and he has to take care of himself and his family. Richard is a friend and he'll always be a friend no matter what he decides to do."

Ty Law -- ''We've been together on the same team for a long time and I'm going to miss him. He's a great player. We all feel that way. Sooner or later, the business side of football seems to take its toll on all of us. I've seen so many good friends and people leave this team. I'm sure it's going to happen to me at some point. The thing with Ty is he's always been the staple of our defense and someone of that talent is always going to be missed. I hope he finds another situation that makes him happy and where he can resume his career and be the player he was for us for so long."

Eric Mangini -- ''Mangini's been in our system and is just carrying out what we've always done. Romeo Crennel is a great defensive coordinator and he had a way about him that got the most out of his players and we'll miss him. But Mangini has been right there being a part of that. In the offseason and in the minicamps, we've got some new guys we need to teach the system to and Mangini has installed some new stuff and thrown out some other things. The emphasis for us has to be that we need to get better because when you look at our schedule, there's no break. Every game is going to be tough on us. It's the little things that have always made us what we are and we have to make sure we don't lose sight of that."
Tedy Bruschi -- ''A big part of what we've been able to accomplish. I think Tedy is going to be able to help our team just being around and being able to point some things out to the linebackers. We always knew Tedy would make a decision that was best for he and his family and I know he's been working hard on his rehabilitation."

Three-peat -- ''Sure, that's our goal. We want to be the team that does that. That's going to be motivating us when we start training camp and when we get into the preseason games and then the regular season. We want to be that team, but we can't get ahead of ourselves. Our goal is to build up to play Oakland on national TV in the opening game. That's a tough way to start because Oakland has really improved itself. They have a great offense and they're going to be a challenge for us. So we have to take the same approach, one step at a time, and we'll be fine."

His situation -- ''I've been blessed to be around with the same team for 12 seasons, to be around guys like Troy Brown -- who's been here longer than I have -- and great players. It's all I could have hoped for out of my professional football career and hopefully we can continue to win more championships before it's over for me."


Donahoe: Bruschi a league apart

Bills president and general manager Tom Donahoe thinks Tedy Bruschi's loss is not only a blow to the Patriots, but one for the NFL as well.

''I think he's one of the players who makes this league the great league that it is," Donahoe said. ''He's a high-effort player who you can see loves and respects the game every time he steps onto the field. He's the heart and soul of that great Patriots defense, and I'm sure he'll be missed in New England, but he'll be missed throughout football. I think he means that much to the game.

Donahoe had a good week in Buffalo, sticking to his guns in demanding at least a third-round selection (in the 2006 draft) for disgruntled running back Travis Henry, and that's what he received from the Tennessee Titans.
Henry had lost his starting job to Willis McGahee last season, but now he'll be fighting Chris Brown for playing time.

Donahoe said of the deal, ''I think Tennessee got the best of it. They're getting an outstanding and proven running back, who starred at Tennessee in college, and he'll be very popular for that fan base. We were prepared to keep Travis, but he made it pretty clear that he was not coming back."

Donahoe said Jacksonville also expressed interest, but ''they were in and out of it and couldn't make up their minds which way they wanted to go. We never reached the compensation level that Tennessee was willing to give."

Donahoe, whose team will embark on the 2005 season with J.P. Losman replacing Drew Bledsoe at quarterback, said he expects a very competitive AFC East.

''The Jets and Dolphins have improved themselves," said Donahoe. ''As usual, every game within the division is going to be extremely competitive."


Agent says teams interested in having a run-in with Law

According to his agent, Carl Poston, Ty Law either has offers or drawn strong interest from six teams. Poston said New England isn't one of the six, but that Patriots coach Bill Belichick has placed calls to Law trying to gauge his interest in returning to New England.

Poston said he would be ''surprised" to see the Patriots re-sign Law and thought it would be ''unlikely."

''In the end, it's Ty's decision," Poston said. ''I don't know exactly what Belichick and Ty have discussed, but I have not received a proposal from the Patriots."

Poston was mulling through offers that have come into his office over the past few days.

''Some are hamburg and some are filet mignon," he said.

Poston said some of the teams have asked to work Law out again, and he's scheduled to return to Detroit tomorrow for a second look.

Asked whether it was conceivable Law could get an offer similar to the four-year, $24 million deal he turned down from the Patriots last season, Poston said, ''That's hard to say right now. We haven't really started negotiating. I told some teams to give us their numbers and some have, but we haven't negotiated yet."

Will Law be ready for training camp?

''I think there's a good chance he will be," Poston said. ''He's doing just about everything now and he looks great."


Etc.

Taking it from the top
The Patriots appear confident they'll get No. 1 pick Logan Mankins signed to a six-year deal by the time training camp opens, which is far more optimism than many agents and teams can muster concerning first-round picks. As of Friday, none had been signed. Most agents are waiting for the hierarchy -- the Alex Smiths of the world -- to get signed, so they know where their player is slotted. Even though in the absence of a collective bargaining agreement teams can only prorate five years of the signing bonus, the Patriots aren't budging on their six-year demand, which gives them control of the player well into their unrestricted free agent years. What Mankins has to consider is what Richard Seymour is experiencing. If Mankins is a dominating player, he'll be underpaid by the fourth year of the deal. Ben Watson, Ty Warren, and Vince Wilfork all signed six-year deals. The only player who escaped it was Daniel Graham, who signed a five-year deal, but the Patriots only did it because they weren't as sold on Graham as they were their other first-round picks

And the winner is . . .
The Pro Football Writers Association annual awards were handed out recently: Horrigan Award (To the league or club official for his or her qualities and professional style in helping the pro football writers do their job): Falcons general manager Rich McKay; Halas Award (To the player or coach who has performed with abandon despite injury or personal problems off the field): Carolina linebacker Mark Fields; Good Guy Award (For his cooperation with pro football writers): Pittsburgh's Jerome Bettis; McCann Award (To a reporter who has made a long and distinguished contribution to pro football through coverage): Jerry Green, Detroit News; Rozelle Award (To the club public relations department that consistently strives for excellence in its dealings and relationships with the media): Philadelphia Eagles (also winners in 2002).

Who's the money coach?
This Doesn't Make Sense Dept.: Newly hired Detroit Pistons coach Flip Saunders earns more per year (an average of $5 million) than three-time Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Belichick (a reported average of $4.2 million, barring a recent contract extension).

Gem on the diamond, too
It sure looked as if Patriots quarterback Doug Flutie could have solved Boston's second base problems as he took grounders (at shortstop) during Red Sox batting practice at Fenway Tuesday. Flutie was talking quarterbacking with bullpen coach Bill Haselman, who was Troy Aikman's backup for a spell at UCLA. Haselman just shook his head and said, ''That's one great athlete."

Familiar face may resurface With Tedy Bruschi out of the picture, don't be totally surprised if Roman Phifer returns to New England at some point. The former Patriots linebacker is working out, hasn't retired, and is coming along well after offseason shoulder surgery.

Remembering Colt great
Jim Parker was a pretty significant player in NFL history. The first full-time offensive lineman ever elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame (in 1973), he died last week at age 71. Parker, who played from 1957-67, was a mainstay on the great Colt teams and part of the 1958 championship team in Baltimore. Parker was instrumental in protecting Johnny Unitas's blindside and also opened gaping holes for running back Lenny Moore. He was one of the underappreciated greats on a team that had many superstars. At 6 feet 3 inches, 273 pounds, he was considered a mammoth lineman for his time. The guys in the trenches in that era never get enough credit, but they were probably the toughest football players of any era.

Just check the numbers
Sorry. Just don't understand the sentiment by some media types in debates last week that Tim Brown, who officially retired as an Oakland Raider last Monday, isn't a Hall of Famer. Brown is third all time in receptions (1,094) and touchdown catches (100). I don't care that he never won a ring. Dan Marino didn't either. Brown was one of the greatest players at his position and would have been in any era. He should be heading to Canton in 2010, with Emmitt Smith.

From one who should know
Browns coach/former Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, commenting on Sirius radio about Bruschi's decision to sit out the year: ''The leadership that [Bruschi] provided to our defense when I was at New England was unbelievable. He's an unselfish guy and he's a playmaker because he always came up with the big plays when we needed him. He's also a leader in the locker room and the meeting room. They will miss that leadership."


http://www.boston.com/sports/football/p ... cs/?page=1
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