-- Every so often, you run across an article that … well, that doesn't really make a lot of sense. So it was when Filip Bondy of the New York Daily News put forth the proposition that Bill Belichick's formerly enormous football brain has "shrunk somehow to mortal size these past seven years." Bondy's argument, such as it is, centers around Belichick's lack of a Super Bowl win since the end of the 2004 season, two failed second-round draft picks, and the Patriots' terrible pass defense in 2011.
Well. That personnel that Belichick failed to put together went 11-5 in 2008 with Tom Brady on the sidelines, and has helped the Pats to 10-6. 14-2, and 13-3 records in the past three seasons. A lot of teams blow high draft picks, but I find it funny that Bondy didn't bring up recent second-round successes Rob Gronkowski, Brandon Spikes, and Patrick Chung. And the last time I checked, Green Bay's pass defense was a sieve in 2011. You see anyone questioning Dom Capers' genius? Me neither. Maybe it's time to start wondering about Bondy's "gray matter." [New York Daily News]
-- Is it tampering when one player stumps for a player on a different team to come and help him win? Not in the least, and Miami receiver Brandon Marshall must know that. He recently asked Packers quarterback Matt Flynn, who will be a free agent unless he's franchised, to see what Dade County might have to offer. "You've got some guys in the draft, but there's not too many guys out there just walking the streets," Marshall told Jeff Darlington. "Matt is available. ... We've talked. I reached out to him. I get it from Ray Lewis. Around this time of year, players talk to players." Marshall said that current Dolphins starter Matt Moore is a good QB, but that the Fins need "someone who is going to grab a hold of our offense, hold everyone accountable and be that leader." Apparently, Flynn has shown that ability in his two NFL starts. [NFL.com]
-- There were questions about Baltimore's offensive playcalling through the 2011 season, but offensive coordinator Cam Cameron will be back in 2012, and likely beyond. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh recently said that Cameron's return was such a fait accompli that an official announcement wasn't even necessary. "Cam has been our offensive coordinator and will continue to be our offensive coordinator. I wasn't surprised. It was a foregone conclusion to me." The Ravens might add a quarterbacks coach to help work with Joe Flacco, but what the Baltimore offense could really use is a shake-up from a formation perspective. Too often, Cameron's offense got stuck in the mud with two-receiver sets and little in the way of route diversity. [Carroll County Times]
-- Ron Jaworski, the former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and current ESPN analyst, is disturbed by the franchise's radio silence, especially when it comes to head coach Andy Reid. "I'm a little surprised that Andy hasn't stepped out and said, 'Hey — here's what we're doing,'" Jaws recently said. "The sports fans in this town, of which I am one, care deeply about the Eagles, and we'd really like to know what's going on. Rather than the rumor and innuendo that we constantly hear, I think we need someone from the Eagles organization to step up and say, 'Here's our plan. Here's our coaching staff. Here's our plan in free agency. Here's our plan in the draft.' Now, we all know that you can't tell everyone all the secrets, but as fans, we'd like something. And the quiet is speaking volumes right now. It's far too calm!" [CSN Philly]
-- One guy who will not be experiencing radio silence is Bill Polian. The former personnel majordomo for the Indianapolis Colts, recently fired in the team's front office upheaval, will host two shows a week for SIRIUS NFL Radio. Polian hosted a local show when he was with the Colts. We don't yet know if Polian is planning to compete with Colts owner Jim Irsay on the Twitter front. [Indianapolis Star]
-- Receiver/returner Kyle Williams of the 49ers, the unfortunate goat of the NFC Championship game, has some support from a guy who knows how the pressures of the sporting life can get to you — his father, Kenny Williams, is the general manager of the Chicago White Sox, and the elder Williams has nothing but pride for his son. "He grew up in a household where he knew exactly what to expect. He stood up in front of more media than I've ever stood in front of and told them exactly what he felt, and took responsibility. How can a father be anything but proud?" [San Francisco Chronicle]