Patriots Dynasty Podcast - 2006 Week 1: Patriots vs Bills

Episode Date: October 21, 2025

And we're back! It's been a while, but the Brown Brothers (and Tim!) are finally kicking off the 2006 season. Some call 2006 the forgotten season before the explosion of the historic 2007 offense. But how did it get to that point? Join Andy, Steve and Tim as they dive into the forgotten times with this week 1 matchup against the Bills.We want to know what you think of our podcast (no, seriously!): http://bit.ly/patriotsdynastypodcast-surveySupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/patriots-dynasty-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Christine Brown, and while I have to listen to this podcast, as my motherly duty, you have the choice not to. My sons sometimes say some naughty things when they're trying to be funny. But really, they're just being stupid. You still want to listen? Go right ahead. I am not your mother. Welcome back to the Patriots Diocese podcast. We are the only podcast. watching every game of the Pages Diancy Era. That has been more theoretical lately than it has been actual.

But we are back. I'm your host, Sandy Brown, and with me today is Steve Brown. Steve, how you doing? Great. Glad to be back in the saddle for the 2006 season. Just really looking forward to this. Are you? Yes.

Oh, man. I mean, the 2006 season was just highlighted my life. Unforgettable, isn't it? Exactly. I remember every single game. Do you remember any game from 2006, even? The playoff game against the Chargers. Oh, look at you. You remembered one.

I'm impressed. Only because I read Troy Brown's biography. It counts. It counts. And we also have the burgeoning Greg Brown, the Greg Brown, the Greg Brown trainee, I suppose you could say. Tim, the intern, Tim, Tim, how you doing, bud? I'm doing great. Did you watch this game?

I am watching the games currently. That's not like a Greg Brown of you. So I'm like a hybrid, Greg Brown, you know? We just did an episode, so he's only had like, I don't know, like six weeks? Two months to watch this thing or so. Well, the thing is, Steve, the funniest part is I did watch this game

because I noticed it was watched all the way through and I don't know when or where, but I think last year I got confused and watched game one of the two. 2006 season when we're on 2005. So I've watched this recently, but yeah, so things are familiar.

J.P. Lossman still sucks. That's all I can tell you right now. Well, before we get into the game itself, it sounds like nobody remembers, let's talk about the off season, the pre-2006 off season.

This was kind of the season where the original diocese, I guess you could say, kind of fell apart, player-wise. The big one was Adam and Terry leaving to go sign with the Colts, which was, I think, I think that's still a kick in the nuts for me. I don't know about you guys. But that one was like probably the biggest one that hurt. Yeah, it would hurt more if we hadn't immediately gone to Kostowski.

That's true. But, I mean, at the time, he didn't know that. Like, that was a, that was kind of like a kick in the pants. So I thought I could have kicking the jewels. that was him to mute his version of watching this thing so I don't have to listen to it a second time sorry didn't know you could hear that

yeah great um yeah so for me uh when venetieri like went to the Colts that was like that was a little more like twisted than the night and that was also the first time where I was like why is Belichick not giving the guy that gave him three Super Bowls

the money that like he deserves yeah so that that was always that was the first like eyebrow raised in the bellichick era for me yeah no tie the uh lawyer maloy one was the real one that's fair yeah i mean because the colts was tough too that's what it was you going to the colts which i don't think belichick had anything to do with but he's also a kicker i mean from what i remember reading he um he had offers from green bay and indianapolis and he went to indy because uh they play in a dome and he thought it would extend his career which I'm guessing he probably did because he played till he was like 50 yeah they made it worked out for everybody yeah he was lit too yeah other players who would be leaving the team

Willie McGinnis got released and then signed with Cleveland to be with his former defensive coordinator Romeo Cornell and I don't think he did much there but then again it's the Brown so you don't really know it's kind of purgatory. I think he was still pretty good like the last two seasons he was there. I'm sure it's fine, but you know, I don't remember ever hearing his name again. Oh, yeah. Like, you know, you're watching NFL prime time. You don't see him come up. I don't think. And then David Givens would go sign with the Tennessee Titans to much to Steve Shagrin. That was your boy, wasn't it? Yeah, I love Givens. And I love the Titans too because I could draw their logo when I was in middle school.

cool. I think I had a David Givens, Titans jersey. Was it a Titan jersey? I knew you had a Given's jersey. Yeah. Yeah, that sounds about right, Steve. You fucking traitor. I just love David Givens.

He didn't actually really play much in Tennessee because he blew out his knee and that basically ended his career. Yeah, like immediately. Yeah. And I think he ended up like suing the Titans because of like how they handled his injury and Like, he thought it made it worse or something, and I think they settled. I don't remember. Something along those lines, though.

But, yeah, he definitely had some beef with the Titans training staff, I believe. Let's see. Who else? Though the other big drama, it wasn't actually a release, or it wasn't a departure yet, I would say. Because it happened a little bit later in the season. This was Dion Branch holding out. contract disputes and he was coming off his Super Bowl MVP a couple years ago so he held out of mandatory mini camp training camp and the preseason got fined so $600,000 by the

paths for missing all the time and eventually he will get traded to the Seattle Seahawks for first round picked in the 2007 draft which I think worked out probably fine for both sides maybe. Again, Dionne Branch didn't do a whole lot in Seattle either. It gets pretty good there. It wasn't like electric. Super LP. But yeah. Then again, who do you have throwing to him? Was it Hasselback era? Uh-huh. 2006, yeah. At what point in the season does he get traded? September 11th, 2006. Our own September 11th. Too soon? I guess. I don't know. They're probably not on the same magnitude of tragedy, I would just say. I would imagine it's not, yeah.

So, yeah, but he didn't play, I think, in any of these first few games either. So you don't see him in this game. I feel like he didn't play at all for the Patriots this year. That's what I'm saying, yeah. Because September 11th is kind of early in the season anyway. Right. But, yeah, during this game, the commentated to talk about how, you know, that whole that was still happening and, you know, talking about trading and also to drama and whatnot.

But to replace those departures, the Patriots, draft first round 21st overall Greg's boy Lawrence Moroni That's Greg's boy I don't know Sounds like it

I feel like Greg would be a Lawrence Moroney fan Why? He just feels that way You know He just feels that way It's just correct Yeah

Oh actually here's somebody Greg's probably a fan A second round 36 overall Wide receiver Chad Jackson From Florida That's a Chad Jackson The Madden phenom

Chad Jackson Do you know how many touchdowns he caught From Tom Brady In my Madden franchise like Randy Moss levels he's fast he's wicked fast um third round

um for 86 overall a tight end from Wendy's University David Thomas what I remember David Thomas yeah I kind of remember the name that's it I don't remember the name and then David Thomas yeah sounds slightly familiar

yeah I don't think he did a whole lot and then the fourth round they drafted a kicker from Memphis named Stephen Gostowski who just would happen to go on to become the next Adam Penitary for however long he was with the pages for. At least like

10 years, right? I was he with the pages for, he was... Like, maybe 12? Yeah, he was longer than Venetary, by a bit, if I remember. Yeah, because Monterey wasn't even 10 years, I don't think. I think it was 8. See, he was with the page it's from 2006

of 2019, 13 years. Yeah. There are tons for a season, actually. he is I believe most NFL records he holds most seasons leading the league in points scored five times I'm talking with Don Hudson and Gino Capoletti and most consecutive extra points made I think that will never be broken do you don't even guess the ballpark of how many consecutive extra points he made in his career oh wasn't it like 500 400 and 223 consecutive before he missed yeah that's that's wild yeah that is insane

A lot of touchdowns. That's one. But also, like, the kickout moved back to the 30 as well. So that's never been broken. Nobody's here. Right. 524 consecutive 30 are field goals. You're going to miss one, just by chance.

So is Goss Cowthby Hall of Fame? That's a bold call. Because he's a three-time Super Bowl champion as well, right? Yeah. I mean, he's got to be one of the greatest kickers. I don't know if that's going to get him in the hall, though. I mean, he holds that, I mean, he holds that record. He doesn't have the baggage that, you know,

how many kicker has? He didn't assaults in the masseuse. But how many kickers are in the Hall of Fame, though, had he? I think one, the guy that won the MVP or whatever. From the Raiders. Janikowski? No, Ray Finkel, I think, is the most. You would assume out of Venetary will get in.

I don't think it's five years ago. But I see, he should have been first ballot, like, If there isn't someone who's going to be first ballot, like, as a kicker, like, it's got to be him. You would, yeah, Ben and Terry, yeah. Yeah, for Super Bowl. Just for the moments, yeah. Through a touchdown pass, that was sick. Just from the snowball kick alone.

Right. And then he went on to kick, like, actual game-winning, like, as time expired, game-winning kicks in the Super Bowl twice. Yeah. So, I mean. There are five kickers and punches in the Hall of Fame. Ray Guy is one of them. Yeah. That's a punter.

Yeah, so the one that won the MVP was Mark Mosley. But he won't in it. It was 1982 in a strike short in the year. I was going to say 1914. All right. That makes sense. Yeah, I mean, it was a strike. I guess if you're going to give it to somebody in a strike year,

you may as well give it to a fucking kick. Who else is in the Hall of Fame, Steve? George Blanda. Yeah. Luke Borza, who was an offensive tackle slash kicker. That game was different. I've never been a good. Jan Strenserd.

Okay. Strenstern, I don't know. Nailed it. Morton Anderson, Mr. Oh, yeah. Engel bar face guy. Mm-hmm, uh-huh. Ray guy.

All right. Is he the only a punter? Ray guy? He was a punter, right? Pretty sure I had his football card back in the day. Played for the Oilers? Yeah. It's all right.

Ray guy was a punter. Yeah. Wild. You'd think the two Raiders guys, maybe? Venetary, Gossowski I mean, Tucker probably ruined his chances with his scandal. Yeah, but he probably should be in his career.

And guys are now kicking like 60, 70-yarders, so there'll probably be another few in there from this current patch, I bet. Well, like, who? I mean, it's too early. Like, they'll often play for another 10, 15 years. Yeah. Yeah, that's definitely a longevity award.

Yeah, kickers are like... It's cumulative stats for kickers, I think. You've got to have the big numbers. Especially if you can Costowski or Venetary What Moskowski I'm pretty sure Has more points

Total No way Oh yeah Let's let's look it up Shall we Going down a little kicker rabbit hole On week one Yeah

How about that We haven't even Got to the game yet Let's say How many points Scoring Let's say Come on just tell me

How many points you scored God damn it This is useless Oh here we go points he has 1875 points in his career goshowski does and then let's look up uh venetaria is 2,673 way more wow how many years he's out the league right yeah yeah Morton Anderson a second Gary Anderson's third Jason Hanson so is Vinotary first yeah how many years did he play uh doesn't say he says 365 games though he made almost 600 kicks 599

and 898 extra points, attempted 874 made. 24 years. 24 seasons. Yeah. Jesus. Yeah, he leads in made field goals and made extra points

and field goals attempted and everything. Yeah, I bet it, yeah. It's because he just, Jesus, his charts are fucking huge. That is wild. That's good for him. Points.

Yeah, Gostovsky's 12, so I don't know. Probably not. 24. Yeah, he's got the rings, too, though. I don't know. He's got those records. Jason Elam, John Casey, Robbie Gold, really? Number nine, Mason Crosby, 10.

So if you're looking at it, the 17-game average for how many points per season they scored, O'Goskowski has, like, a handful more. It's at 146 compared to 124, 124 points a season instead of 146. Matt Prater's coming for him, though. Is he 146? He's in the list.

He's hanging around, dude. He's still kicking? He's kicking for the bills. Wow. They brought him out of retirement. You, Gaskowski, has five punts in his career. I did not know that. Oh, yeah, we've definitely been short-handed where...

Average 41.8 yards a punt. Not bad. I'll take it. Five puns, 209 yards. That sounds reasonable. Long is a 53. Punting is hard. Good for him.

You got it. All right. Beautiful. All right. So now that we've established the kicking. Hierarchy. Let's talk about some other old people in terms of who the page you signed this year. The most, well, we'll talk about him in a moment.

But some people they added were Steve's boy Rochay Caldwell from San Diego, who would become the team's leading receiver, 2006. That's sad. Yeah. And that was kind of the big name other than a 37-year-old future Hall of Famer. who had just announced his retirement four days earlier but was then convinced

by Bill Belichick to unretired to join the Patriots and that would be one junior sayout it's probably a little combo Belichick and Rodney Harrison

I would imagine Rodney Harrison had to say it too yeah absolutely yeah yeah they did something before the game where they had an interview

with both of them so I think they talked about it at least well that tracks So starting off this season Let's kick it off

Now we've got that kind of sorted We're talking about 2006 week one The Patriots at home Against the Buffalo Bills Not a good Buffalo Bills team This year Although all my stats are all fucked So that's cool

I guess we're getting back into this The old school way Well this game is referenced I think by Mike Rable This year This season in 2025 Really? Yeah.

What for? He's like, they're talking about starting a season and he's like, well, you don't ever start the season like you think, you know? It's like you have all these things, but it can always just start like that bill season where we got strips sacked on the first play in return for a touchdown. That was literally this, yeah, that was always this game. Yeah, that's how this game starts. Yeah.

If you want to watch a very strange game, this is the one to do it. Because like you said, that is literally the first player from scrimmage. Brady gets stripped sacked and it gets return for a touchdown. page go down, 7-0. They do end up winning this, spoiler-out, 19 to 17. And the game-winning score was a Ty Warren safety, sacking JP Lostman in the end zone in the fourth quarter with eight minutes left to go in the game.

That's so built. Yeah. That was one of eight, actually one of nine times this happened before, where a game was decided by, safety, a game-winning safety. Nice. Yeah, since, like, 1960, since the beginning of, like, the NFL.

This is the second most recent one. The only one that's happened since then was December 21st, 2014, where the Miami Dolphins v. The Vikings, and with 41 seconds left in the game, punter Jeff Locke's punt was blocked out of the end zone by Terence Fidi,

as the Dolphson will want to win 37th. 35 in a fucking barn burner won by a A block punt out of the back of the end zone safety Like that one's a little different Getting your quarterback sacked in the end zone Like a block punt in your end zone you're backed up That's a little, I guess a little more understandable safety Like I'll kick it out instead of giving them a touchdown you know

And like with 41 seconds left though Like the only thing you have to do is get that punt off Doesn't fucking matter That's the only thing you can't do is get sacked and give up a safety. But that was with eight. What do you call on a deep shot there? They call like a deep pass play.

I mean, yeah. It's JP Lossman. It may not. I don't like J.B. is one call in plays? Is it APP on this staff, Andy? Is he? Yeah, pretty sure.

Probably, yeah. That tracks. Let's take a look. I'm almost positive. He has one of my notes here. This one of you all gave in a sense. I know I'll take your word for it. that would make a lot of sense

but I mean he's obviously not calling the plays because he'd never done it before he did it for the Patriots so can't put it on him either Dick Geron I thought you meant was he on the team as a player oh right right I think he is on the team as a player yeah he wouldn't be coaching yet yeah probably not

let's see let's see who Dick Geron's a head coach Alex Van Pelt's quality control assistant Really? Yes so so perhaps yeah This could be his first.

Yeah, coaching history. Let's see. 2006, this is his first year. 2005 he was the... 2005 he was a quarterback's coach for the Frankfurt Galaxy in NFL Europe. Oh, right. Yeah. Yeah, and then this year was his first year as the quality control assistant for the Buffalo Bills,

which would be this year and next year. And then quarterbacks coach and an offensive coordinator moving his way up. Nice. Mm-hmm. so where I mean yeah I don't want to divert too much

but I was going to say where does his coaching career peak uh here yeah definitely that's so bad

uh quarterbacks coach for the bucks for two years running backs coach quarterback's coach he's basically quarterback running backs and then quarterback's coach for the Packers

for one two three four five six years Bengals quarterback coach for two years Brown's offensive coordinator for one two three four and then the Pat's offensive coordinator for about a minute, and now he is the senior offensive assistant

with the Los Angeles Rams at the moment. Wow. Mm-hmm. Working under Shaw McVeigh. Mm-hmm. Good for him. Mm-hmm. So, yeah.

As you can probably imagine, this offense is not very good. This Bill's offense. Um, offense offensive coordinator, Steve Fairchild, defensive coordinator, Perry Falwell. Fuel. Not great. I've never heard those names in my life. Right.

And usually, like, in the notable assistance is somebody you've heard of. Right. It's Turk Schoenert, Eric Studsville, and Alex Van Pelt. That's wild. Yeah.

So, then we'll go 7 and 9 and finished. The NFC East. Good for them. So let's see. Should we talk about this game, Steve? Sure. I mean, Tim's watching it right now.

He's fresh on this thing. Why me? So let's talk about the Patriots going in this game. They're only dressing three wide receivers, mainly because Dionne Branch is holding out. Bruske not in this game, he's hurt, but Junior Sayo is in after signing literally one day before the game. And the run defense is looking a bit suspect early. They were giving up a shit ton of run. Rush yards in this game.

They gave up 112 in the first half. So not great. and um so what and they have who McGahey and they have they have they give up 71 rushing yards they give up 95 passing yards to um

fucking J.P. Lossman in the first quarter in the first half oh okay yeah they also had three passing yards themselves Patriots with a 27.3 completion percentage and three sacks

the offensive line was struggling in this game early because the best Bill's offense was, or defense was just, like, fast. Well, also extended preseason, you know how that goes. Oh, yeah. A whole bunch of turnover on that offense. He's got, you know, no weapons.

He's trying to teach for Shake Hallwell how to blink. Right. And so. All right, P. But, man, that was fucked up. Wow. Do you think that was, like, kind of an limiting factor for him? Like, when the ball's getting close and his eyes get even bigger and people are

He's definitely about to catch it and let me get my hands up. Maybe, yeah. I would imagine I probably had something to do with it. A really unfair ricochet for Rochay Caldwell by Andy Brown there. It was fucked. Yeah, but this felt like one of those games where it was like they just kind of had to grind it out. And they just like stuck to a plan and it eventually worked well enough to pull off a victory against a team that probably should have beat them. like they were just focusing almost extensively on runs and screens like they

yeah like I said the first half the Patriots had 112 rushing yards and three passing yards which compared to the season before they showed a stat where the teams with the highest percentage of total yards gained by the pass was a whole bunch of really bad teams Cardinals Packers Rams and Raiders and the year before they were all I think the Rams had the best record at 6 and 10 the Patriots just smacked out in the middle of that with getting 73.2% of their yards gain via the past and they were 10 and 6 so they had literally no run game in 2005 2006 they've already rushed 412 yards in the first in the first half

mostly thanks to Greg's boy Lawrence Moroni yeah I want Lauren to be good so good so bad his celebration yeah of the fucking I like I still think of about that. I think I saw a player do it recently in the NFL. Wait, which one? I don't know. Like, it was this, this year for sure. No, what's the, uh, celebration? You remember the Lawrence Moroni, Sally? Do you remember him? I vaguely remember. He would do like,

he would draw a door with his fingers and they'd kick it down. That was Stephen Ridley. I thought that was Lawrence Maroney. No, that's Ridley, bud. That's way later. Morley didn't really, he didn't have... I think Moroni did have something, though. I don't know. He just had the dreadlocks. Like, that's kind of what he was known for, right?

No, I think Steve's on to something. I don't think so. Okay, well, we'll stat check that. We'll get Greg to stat check that. I mean, I will watch other games. All right. So, I will see something. I have to get a touchdown of this, so I can't tell.

Yeah. But there's a close in the broadcast, Andy, from the Texans GM, saying that Lawrence was the best back in the draft that he thought. Yeah, and he said he believed that the Broncos would have, wouldn't have traded up for Cutler if they saw that Moroni was still there because they saw Moroni as his next Terrell Davis over there.

What's his name? I went and looked up the other backstrafted. Oh, give me some names. Reggie Bush, two overall. Okay, yeah. Better. DeAngelo Williams, 27, so I picked after him.

Okay. Better. Joe Adai picked number 30. Better. Yes. Lendale White, 45, probably not as good. wouldn't be close MJD number 60

oh yeah that's a steel right there at 60 yeah yeah and then like Brian Calhoun 74 and I gave up because I didn't recognize anybody else that's fair he was probably rough I mean you can say he's like the fifth best back

Brony I don't know I think he was underrated he was a solid running back I think he still holds a record for like most rushing touchdowns in a playoff a playoff run from 2017 he scored a bunch of playoff touchdowns I thought of something like that

yeah so I don't know it did it only gets 2,500 yards in his career yeah he didn't last very long did it yeah yeah only and five seasons they they go on to a law firm right he only has five seasons and two of them 14 games 13 games 3 15 4

that's it yeah he's it wasn't there round but I think you're forgetting about the who was it we had the Fred Taylor Sammy Morris arrow oh gosh yeah that was that was later I thought

that was after um okay all right I'm going a little too far ahead yeah those are dark days those are dark were they like

they've had a couple pretty good games they would go right from this to Ridley right no Ridley's even past that Jesus Christ Ridley's like

20 I want to say like 2013, 2014. Maybe 2012? Actually, you know what? Yeah, I think it led from Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris to Stephen Redley and then Shane Bahrain. Oh, boy. Let's see. Because I'm talking about leading rushers.

2006 is Corey Dillon. 2007 is Moroni. And then 2008, Sammy Morris. 2009, Moroni. Punjabis Greenhouse. Benjardis Green Alice. 2012, Ridley or 2012 and 13

and then Jonas Gray 2014 Lig Garrett Blunt for two seasons Louis Sonny Michelle Sonny Michelle

Damien Harris twice in 2020 and 2020 Oh wow yeah Remondre Stevenson in 2022 I stop talking now Elliot I don't want you

Louis Stevenson and currently Remondre Stevenson leading the team with 125 rushing yards Oh man Like when you were hitting the

who's the best out of that group? Yeah oh man who's the best out of all of them yeah Dylan Ligerent no what do you mean career wise or Patriot wise Patriots career wise

Blunt yeah it's him over Cory Dylan I don't care if he gave us you know that he gave us a great 2004 but after that he you know injuries caught up with him the miles caught up with him

That was a vehicle that, you know, was very good for one year and then started to have problems after that. You can make an argument for Ridley. I would say the blunt kept hitting. I bet you would. He came back and... And the blunt was still... Remember when he got caught by the Steelers smoking up with Levyon Bell and then...

And so he just left the team and came back to the Patriots, yeah. Played against the Steelers. But then he crushed us in the... but the Eagles, those also hurt. You know what? It hurts the condition of Gillette Stadium field in this. Oh, yeah.

Week one, though? Yeah, it doesn't look great. It looks like a baseball field. Terrible. That's on purpose. Why is that on purpose, Andy? I don't know. Because of slow down that fast.

Offensive. Of JP Lossman and Willes McGahey. Uh-huh. Although, Wilson McGahey, they did point out that he had the most rushing yards against the past last year in 2005, you know, 130 rushing years. But if this is how it looks week one, it's probably going to look like shit all year. And they switched to turf at some point here coming up, I would think.

I feel like they did that like the 2007 era. Once they started getting quick, that's when they started. So next year? Maybe. I don't know if it was 2007 or it was like after 2007, but yeah, somewhere on there. So back in the game. Something to keep an eye on. You want to know what else's conditions.

Do you want to else look really bad, Steve? Was these Buffalo Bills? They scored seven points on the first play from scrimmage with the fumbled return touchdown. They scored 10 points on their first two drives, and then they didn't score again. So it's not great, especially when you're being coached by Dick Jaron,

who was the 2001 coach of the year. In 2001, coach of the year. Bears? Probably, yeah. But, yeah, he did the best coaching job in 2001, Steve. Dick Jaron. No, I can just think off the top of my head, at least one other coach who did a better job. Nah, he earned it.

Who lost his starting quarterback week two. And that went on to win the division. Yeah, that wasn't the coach. Just the players. He was a player. Yeah. Let's see. We couldn't talk about this defense. The bill's defense was legit.

Ticchio spikes. He's one of the force to fumble, right? Yep. First play. And then you got Troy Vincent, who couldn't. fuck the Patriots on the field, so decide you off the field now, so good for him. Troy Vincent, he's

like the head of whatever it is now. Player. Oh, no. He's always like changing rules and shit. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He's like the gaming commissioner or something like that. He was the one behind

allowing all those catches that weren't catches in the Eagle Super Bowl, the second Eagle Super Bowl. Is that change a rule of what the catches? Classic Troy Vincent. Oh, classic Troy. classic Troy Vincent fucking classic chip on his shoulder

from getting destroyed by the Patriots twice a year because he played for the bills yeah and the Eagles didn't you play for the Eagles Troy Vincent

yeah he was in that old four super yeah so yeah so he's he just pissed about parents McGee coy wire that's a good

that's a good backfield defensive backfield but not as good as like all that combined it is good as Dante Wittner who legally changed his name

by dropping off the W in his to begin his last name to Dante Hittner. What? In real life? I have to respect that. Real life.

No way. I never knew about that. While he was playing? That's dope. Dude, that guy, that's name Hall of Fame right there. Yeah. So he said,

that's sick. There's an article on Around the League from NFL.com. This is when he was with San Francisco back in, I don't know, it was published in 2013. So after, after this sitting here. But it says,

San Francisco 49ers safety Dante Wittner who's appealing his latest fine for a personal foul penalty joked on Tuesday that he was going to remove the W from his last name. We thought it was a joke.

It is not a joke. It's official, I think this is a tweet probably, it's official, the WDU is being removed from my last name from Wittner to Hittner. And Wittner says

the impending name change is permanent. I actually put the paperwork in yesterday afternoon just waiting to get the paperwork out, he told reporters during a Wednesday conference call via ESPN.

So from here on out until I retire, my name will be Dante Hittner, without the W, which I think is a bit of a cell phone that he didn't realize. He's getting rid of the W. Good for him. Wittner said he'd like to wear Hittner on his jersey,

name play in Sunday's game against the Texans, but admits that might not be realistic. He was right. According to an NFL spokesman, Wittner must first legally change his name in his home state, and then he also must purchase any remaining unsold Nike jersey inventory that displays the name

Wittner. Oh, right. Before they would make the new ones, yeah? Wittner told CSN Bay Area that he will talk to Nike about the inventory of jerseys because how many Wittner jerseys are there. And he's willing to purchase them depending on how many there are. I haven't seen a whole lot around candlestick, Wittner said. So I wouldn't think there should be many jerseys in stock unless somebody's hiding them. That's pretty funny.

Wittner also is taking this opportunity to start selling T-shirts with the hashtag Legal Hittner, despite the fact that his hit on St. Louis Rams, wide receiver Chris Gibbons, clearly wasn't legal even if Givens believes it was. Yikes.

He plays 11 years. Yeah, Dante Hittner, baby. Like that would have absolutely killed in today's era of social media. He had of his time right there for him. Right. He would be all sorts of famous. O'Sinko. I didn't realize he stealing it. Yeah. That's where

it came from, baby. That's incredible. That's so much more respect for him now. All right? That's, yeah, so that's pretty good. Let's see, anything else about this game? I mean, there isn't a whole lot to talk about. Yeah, there is. It's a Troy Brown touchdown. Yeah, so I mean, yeah, we'll talk about that. We've got Troy Brown touchdown. We've got a Kevin Falk touchdown, which might be

the best catch of his career. Yeah, that might be his best touchdown. Yeah, it's a wide receiver. he it's a diving one back corner of the end zone to beat the guy on like a fade um 17 yard touchdown no big deal um and then ryan lindell hitting a 53 yard field goal which uh the commenters make a pretty big deal out of very excited that somebody hit a field goal from over 50 yards especially in jillette stadium on that shitty turf right but it feels kind of quaint now when you're seeing people hitting like 75 yards is what the fuck it is these days so back in the good old days yeah we're talking about the league a strongly worded letter andy no i'm okay yeah and also this would be uh bill bellichick's one hundredth

victory in an NFL head coach if you include his Cleveland days which of course we do and what victory is he working on now as a head coach uh three on the sidelines with his girlfriend are we talking about college i don't know does he have a college record you know who you know who's on his current sideline right now with him and was on this side line who's that his son brian he's a there's a shot of him in a bowl cut taking notes yeah with oh i didn't see who was that castle him and matt castle going over the playbook wow yeah it's a wild picker but yeah legit bull bull cut we'll have to post that in the show notes because it's i mean how old do you think he's there oh my god 11 i don't know yeah i bet we can look it up

He's a little kid, for sure. Yeah, Brian Ballardichick. He was he was born? I mean, he's not that old now, is he? Well, I say that as somebody who is old. And you can tell where his terrible trace of haircuts come from. Oh, yeah. Well, I mean, that was also the time.

It's true. You seriously not going to tell him when he was born? Jesus Christ. All right. I have a different rabbit hole to go down. What now? Is Josh Miller the worst punter we've ever had? Because he fucking sucked in this game.

No. He's not. Lee, what was his name? From 2001. Oh, boy. It was something, Lee, right? Yeah. Lee Johnson, that's what it was.

I remember only because he was going to get a punt blocked. This was in Brady's second start against the Chargers. And he was going to get a punt block. like he kind of mishandled the ball and so he tried to avoid the oncoming rusher by taking the ball and putting it around his back and like handing it to his other hand

but he dropped it and then tried to turn around and pick it up and kicked it back in the end zone which the Chargers picked up and recovered for a touchdown because it was him and like three charges players. Don't hate the player Andy, he hate the game. No, in that case we hate the player.

It sounded awesome. I vaguely remember that. Yeah, I think, I think, and then the next week, the page's puncher was Ken Walter. Yeah. Yeah. And that was Brady's first ever comeback. Let's string the punters again, then, like we do with the running backs. Yeah, no, we're not doing that.

They've had too many. Oh, boy. Yeah, that would be a lot. He was great. He did the Z thing, you know? Yeah, he did, didn't he? Zoltan. Zolten.

Yeah. It was great. Incredible name. Mm-hmm. Oh, yeah. Real good. The Zolta. Speaking of fresh, though.

This running game, the one-two punch of Lawrence Moroni and Corey Dillon. Fucking fire. It was pretty good. Yep. Corey Dillon kind of looked fresh again because, you know, first game in the season, shaking them rust off.

And just like he was the, I think they called him, oh yeah, they called him the beat down guy. It was Corey Dillon. So he was definitely the thunder in the lightning and thunder. Moroni was. 41 carries, 183 yards. Yeah, no, he had a, I had a great game

this um yeah no they the let's see moroni ran for 86 cori dillan ran for 73 and kevin falk ran for another 21 wow yeah maroni had a 27 yard run too yeah first earth wind and fire choy dillon had a 16 year catch oh yeah yeah it was a i think it was a screenplay um and then on the bill side they had almost as much rushing yards as passing yards um jp lostman 164 total yards and three sacks. But Wills McGeigh, he went for 70 yards, and Anthony Thomas, A-Train, remember him?

Oh, yeah. Three carries 29 yards in a touchdown. Decent numbers. Yeah, one of those sacks for J.P. Lossman was the game loser, though. It was, yeah. Brady also sacked three times and a pick. To be fair, the Patriots could have won the game

because they had the ball, like, inside the 20 at the end. They took the knee. They did, yeah. But also, this was a tough, tough game to watch still Troy Brown there though so he still got to say he's all reliable catching a touchdown

Brady's first touchdown of the season was right after the fumble actually a nine play four minute drive capped off the Troy Brown touchdown love to see that he is the only wide receiver remaining from the season before

unless you want to count Bam Childress who didn't actually catch a ball I don't believe the pages live seems terrible and this all season, I feel like. Yes. This is, well, this whole season is a reason why 2007 happens with Rainy Moss and Wes Walker, because this is the season. Yeah, it's Rishay Caldwell, and then don't they go get some guy from... Jambar Gaffney. Well, yeah, they eventually get Jibar Gaffney, but I thought

didn't they go get some guy from the Raiders first to... Doug Gabriel. Yes, and he played, he played okay for a couple of weeks and then just like disappearing, like, never came back and nobody really said anything about it. When you talk about, like, so many touchdown passes on Madden, Doug Gabriel was a Hall of Famer in my franchise because I was like I would just follow with the season

and do the moves that they picked up so I would like try to mirror their season and oh that guy what the fuck off dude I can't even tell you I'm a nerd I think he was off I think he was just injured but I think he was with us like maybe

like I think it was there season and a half after that like he got buried in the depth chart I think because he had so much talent, but I think he was still on the team. I'll say, Doug Gabriel. Play what? No, this is the only season of the past. No? The last season he ever plays, too.

Oh, really? Let's see. Plays for five games. Starts five games, plays in 12. 25 catches, 344 yards, three touchdowns. 13 first downs. So, reasonable, I guess. Yeah, we'll take it.

But eventually we'll see Jabar Gaffney, who was my boy. And I remember at the end of the 2006 season after the way it ended, me and Greg Brown had a bet, because he actually was a Rishay Caldwell guy. He's like, Roshay Caldwell is better than Jabbar Gaffney. You will see Rishay Caldwell back here next year. I said, absolutely not. You'll see

Gaffney back instead. And I was right. What was your bet? About in 2006, Andy, what was the stakes? I don't know. Probably McDonald's. I don't think so. I only ever did. He never does. Yeah, that's fucked up. Greg never pays.

He never pays. But that, drop that down there, Tim, just start not paying your bets. Just so you know. Yeah, I'm so glad that he, you know, has tried to join and communicated with us that he made the one. Yeah, that's correct for you. Yeah.

So, yeah. I mean, there's not much else to talk about this game. Not a lot of happening. It was definitely two teams still getting the rest of it, like he said, extended preseason it felt like for both sides. Good to see June Sayo in a Pat's uniform. Good to see Rodney Harrison back. Nipath uniform back on the field after his vicious injury

the season before. Roosevelt Colvin playing kind of at his peak patriot, I would say. Because, was it two years ago? He had that, like he fractured his hip socket, I believe it was? Something outrageous like that. Yeah. Something crazy like that, yeah. And so like last year, still coming back, but it wasn't quite himself, but this year, like, he looks fast.

He looks like the guy that they actually traded for. or sign or whatever was it. It was like a big deal when it happened. Yeah, so this 2006, yeah, 2005, let's see. He didn't really do much 2005. 2006 he comes back and kind of like actually has some numbers. So nice to see him back. He's looking real fast.

He had a sack and then knock down pass back to back. Tully Banta Cain is back here now. Credit card. My boy, yeah, exactly. Credit cards here. So it might be time to read. out and see if you can get him on the podcast and talk to him about some dance moves. Yeah, I mean, this is his one, two, three, four season on the team, 2006, but this was the first time he's actually starting any games.

He starts five games a season before going to San Francisco for two years and then coming back. And I believe leading the team in SACS in 2009. Yeah, I remember that. Yeah. Then like Mark Anderson the year after So we just have a random guy Well up a double-digit sex Who was another one like Andre Carter

I feel like was another one yep yep yep Good call Yeah And they would be just like Guys in there like early to mid-30s Just coming down in every season Go get another paycheck to retire Yeah that's exactly what I'm yeah

Because then after that season He would play one more season 2010 was his Bandicane's last season NFL If guys got paid if I remember correct seven and a half sacks what paid from San Francisco Steve just all of them they all three of those guys oh yeah big contracts after the Patriots and doing nothing yeah yeah scheme fits mm-hmm well you have a great example of the

toxicity of Boston sports media for you oh let's hear it I can't wait Tim was talking about this even they're turning Tim off wow like Tim is getting sick of it that's how bad that's how toxic it is well here's the thing I mean this is example that it's been going forever. So like the beginning of this video when we watched, there's like a recap for the season sort of thing too and whatever. A little pre-game show. Yeah. And there's a clip of someone in the Boston media asking Teddy, like apparently right after the last season ended, if they can

see the Patriots come back next year and being competitive. And he's just Teddy is just so mad. I saw that. Why would you ask Teddy Bruske that? Right. I don't know who asked him that. Like which Boston beat reporter asked him that. And why was it? You guys got back next year and be competitive. Jesus, fuck. Oh, man, he must have been so, he was so best.

Yeah, imagine. Oh, my God. Yeah, that sounds about right for Boston sports media. The tale is old as time, but it's getting bad now, huh Tim? Yeah, I'm just, it's just such a try-hard industry from, and I think they're at a disadvantage, but. like this stuff especially so i was complaining about feldger but even um toucher fred toucher like this morning everything that that guy talks about is just going to turn into how bad

podcasting is it's just like it's like how Howard stern has like fallen from grace like these guys just hate the new media that's coming and it's just like um anybody can do it just shut up man I don't know. Yeah. And I guarantee the quality of ours isn't any worse. It's not any better, but it's not any worse than what they're putting on a daily basis. We just spent like 20 minutes talking about kickers in the Hall of Fame. That's what I'm saying.

Yeah. Like, we're going to put on content here. Billabuster, Steve. Did you know that the time before this game that was won on a sack was October 5th, 1997? And Steve, you didn't like the last one, but I think you'll like this one because with 212 left in the fourth quarter, Lions have the ball against the bills, and defensive end, Phil Hansen, stuffed Barry Sanders on Detroit's one-yard line

for the safety to win 22-13. Wow. Yeah. You're right, I do love that so much. So much better. Oh, it's one of the Houston was flagged for holding in the end zone on a punt return. Jeez, that's bad.

Must have been on a punt, though, not a punt return. Let's say, only one other sack. There's a couple of intentional groundings. Oh, no, two other sacks. But one was in 1960. All right, that's, that's plenty. That's enough of that, Andy. What was in 1970?

Oh, the Patriots. Patriots got sacked. You're right, now let's keep on. Joe Cap got sacked in his own end zone to lose 1614. November 8th, 1970. All right, yeah, now we're officially worse than Boston Radio. It comes around, goes around. All right.

So if you want to watch this or any other games, you can visit patriot. com, Patriots.coms. That will all be on there. What's next week, Steve? the next month or two or the next week in the season not in our timeline

oh not in real time I was going to say we have the bills on Sunday night here big game yeah this is yeah in real time is actually something to talk about yeah I have to restart this podcast Drake Nakey's playing this way we're gonna finish first

I have no idea what's next Andy next is another divisional matchup the Patriots head two the toilet bowl of New Jersey to face the New York Jets headed by Man Genie the Man Genius

Oh no Oh yes This is gonna end well for us This is the seed of Spigay being planted right? Yeah Oh yeah Yeah

So I wonder if we'll get any Juicy nuggets out of that Oh Paddington back I don't think I don't want Any juicy nuggets out of that Oh, you're going to get all sorts of juicy nuggets, tip-time. The nugget's going to be the juiciest.

That sounds horrific. I know that out. Turn in next week to see how much of a blubbering little bitch Greg is on the Patriots Dynasty podcast. Sealea.