© 2107 Jordan Long Sports-Scoop.com | Sports with Attitude! The New England Patriots are preparing to take on the New York Jets this Sunday in the season finale.  They've already clinched a first-round bye but with a victory over the Jets, they would secure home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.   The team made a move to make them an even larger threat in the playoffs, signing linebacker James Harrison. Harrison was available after the Pittsburgh Steelers released him  December 23rd.  He  suited up for 5 games this year.  And he wasn’t an effective player, notching only 3 tackles and a single sack. The Patriots are hoping that Harrison can be the player this post-season that he was last season for Pittsburgh when he ran up 5 sacks and 53 tackles.  In his 15-year career in the regular season, Harrison has 82.5 sacks and 570 tackles. The Patriots didn’t bring him in because of his regular season stats but because of what he can d...

© 2107 Jordan Long Sports-Scoop.com | Sports with Attitude!   The New England Patriots are preparing to take on the Buffalo Bills this Sunday.   The Patriots were worried that running back Rex Burkhead might have sustained a serious knee injury in the game against the Steelers last week.  The injury occurred during the 3rd quarter and Burkhead did not return.  An MRI revealed that there was no tear, only a knee sprain.  The Patriots are optimistic that Burkhead will be back for the playoffs, but his status for the rest of the year is unknown. Burkhead is a large part of the New England Patriots' offense.  He can run the football, with 264 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns so far this season.  His average yards per rush is an impressive 4.1.  When Burkhead runs the football, his size at 5 foot 10 inches makes it difficult for a single defender to wrap him up.  Two or three are needed to take him to the ground.  Burkhead’s y...

© 2107 Jordan Long Sports-Scoop.com | Sports with Attitude!   The New England Patriots are preparing to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday.  They have signed another weapon for quarterback Tom Brady: wide receiver Kenny Britt.  Terms of the contract were not announced. Britt was available after the Cleveland Browns cut him December 8th.  He went unclaimed on the waver wire.  Britt was having a sub-par season for the Browns with 233 yards receiving and only 2 touchdowns.  His average yards per catch, though, was an impressive 12.9. In his 9-year NFL career, Britt racked up 5,114 yards receiving and 32 touchdowns.  He will be a large target for Brady.  His size at 6-foot 3-inches will allow him to out-jump defensive backs to catch the football in the back of the end zone.  In the field of play, if Brady can throw to him in stride, those catches are going to be for first downs or touchdowns.  And he has the speed to brea...

©  2107 Jordan Long   Sports-Scoop.com | Sports with Attitude!   The New England Patriots are preparing to take on the Miami Dolphins  next week on Monday Night  Football.    They will be without tight end Rob Gronkowski.    He has been suspended for hitting Tre’Davious White after White intercepted a pass from Tom Brady with  4:39  left in the game.    Gronkowski was penalized, but not ejected, even though he should have been.    That was the right call for the NFL.    The hit came after the whistle.   The play was over.    According to ESPN, Vice Precedent of Football Operation Jon Runyan wrote to Gronkowski saying, "Your actions were not incidental, could have been avoided and placed the opposing player at risk of serious injury. The Competition Committee has clearly expressed its goal of 'eliminating flagrant hits that have no place in our game.'     Those...