Bob Lobel: Is the Patriots Dynasty on the Brink?

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

Sometimes it just feels like you're on the brink… 

There is no real proof, but you know it's there. It is the same thing as the Under Toad in “The World According to Garp." Seemingly, something not so good is going to happen. Patriot fans, which now include most all of us since those dark days of Victor Kiam, have joined the happy place, aka the razor in Foxboro. 

The happy place is beginning to show some wear and tear. No doubt it’s the human condition. The approach of football middle age. It affects quarterbacks later than others, and it must affect coaches who have no real life away from the film room.

Prevent yourself from being surprised when it hits your team. 

Bob Lobel: A Weak End to the Biggest Weekend in Sports

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

The Draft, the Derby, the fight, A-Rod, Swihart, Tazawa, Mujica, Uehara, Gronk and all the rest. 

I am advocating a short, short blog, because each one of the above is worth a couple of pages. I'll rank these assuming nothing else happens between me writing this and you reading it.  

A-Rod was the one moment that stands out as something you would see or read about and say “no way.” A moment of great disbelief. Tazawa was the one that threw the 3-0 pitch to the pinch hitter that night. Guaranteed, he can play until he is 85 and will never forget that pitch. 

Mayweather and domestic abuse.  

Lobel's Question of the Week: Should the Seahawks Just Shut Up?

Every week, legendary sportscaster Bob Lobel wants to hear your opinion on something that caught his eye over the weekend.

While much of the lead up to Super Bowl XLIX has featured our Patriots and accusations of deflated footballs, their opponents from Seattle have been able to put their 2 cents in as well.

It started with Seahawk cornerback Jeremy Lane discussing Rob Gronkowski and saying "I actually don’t think he’s that good.”

What?

Bob Lobel: Born on Christmas Eve

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

I would not play in a meaningless game, and they don't come any more meaningless than Sunday in Buffalo.

I would not play Edelman, I would not play Gronk, and of course, I would not play Tom Brady. There are also maybe some other guys you know of that will take the day off. I don't think we have to have that argument about how much these guys are paid, they should take a rest on Sunday.

On another note, when you're born on Christmas Eve, like I was back when the world was flat, everybody thinks it's a disadvantage, but quite the opposite.

Bob Lobel: The Power of Headlines

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

There is something special about headlines. 

Headlines were Twitter before Twitter. Headlines are critical to the success of whatever follows it in whatever publication that depends on them for survival. I think that, whenever possible,  headlines should be sarcastic, outrageous and funny, but factual.

Creativity lurks behind every great headline, though there are very few that measure up to the “great” label. It seems to me one of the greatest jobs in the world would be to sit around a newsroom with three to five people and brainstorm headlines. Laughs would abound, tears always solicited.  Not always happy tears. There is actually so much bad stuff happening that funny, clever and memorable ones are becoming a lost art. 

Lobel's Question of the Week: The Best Patriot Not Named Brady

Every week, legendary sportscaster Bob Lobel wants to hear your opinion on something that caught his eye over the weekend.

While Tom Brady may have taken an unexpected back seat to break out running back Jonas Gray last night, it is pretty much beyond debate that he is the greatest New England Patriots player ever.

Still, the race for No. 2 is pretty interesting, and Bob wants to know what you think. Here are a few of Bob's favorites, but let us know yours by participating in the poll or leaving comments below. Or, if you want to get all social media-y, you can Tweet to Bob at @boblobel.

Bob's Favorites

Adam Vinatieri

Has anybody made more clutch kicks in his career? While you could argue against a kicker being No. 2 on the list, it's hard to debate Vinatieri's importance during New England's first Super Bowl run, as he hit the game winner in the snow against Oakland (the infamous "Tuck Rule" game) and in the Super Bowl to defeat the heavily favored Rams.

Oh yeah, and he kicked another Super Bowl game winner two years later against Carolina, and was instrumental in the Patriots' third Super Bowl run the following year. He would go on to win another title with Peyton Manning and the Colts, but we won't hold that against him here.

Bob Lobel: The Most "Unique" Figures in Sports

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

Plenty of things rolling around between the ears today, so I better throw out the thoughts before I forget them. 

Can we depend on the NFL to stop Wes Welker from playing any more football? Everyone seems to know it and see it but him and the people he plays with.  Plus, it really is difficult to comprehend Patriot fans booing him after the service he game them.

Not just service really, more like years of his life. 

That was a sobering moment at Gillette Stadium and hard to believe. It will be even harder to forget what a low-class move it was. 

Lobel's Question of the Week: No One Like Gronk?

Every week, legendary sportscaster Bob Lobel wants to hear your opinion on something that caught his eye over the weekend.

While Tom Brady's virtuoso performance against long time rival Peyton Manning is making headlines across the sporting world today, another Patriot grabbed Bob's attention this week.

With several highlights reel catches, tight end Rob Gronkowski is once again playing at a level few at his position have ever matched. When healthy, Gronk adds a completely new dimension to the Patriots' offense, but Bob wants to know what you think of the fun loving star off the field.

Gronkowski is certainly one of the more interesting characters in Boston sports right now, but has New England ever seen a personality like his before? If you think so, please let us know who is as (or more) unique than Gronk in the comments section below, or by Tweeting Bob @boblobel.

You can also voice your opinion to SuiteSports directly on Twitter @SuiteSports.

Your Official Milestone Preview for the 2014 New England Patriots

Though he's struggled to stay healthy in recent years, tight end Rob Gronkowski is still climbing New England's all-time touchdowns list.

By Adam Lowenstein (@StatsAdam)

Although the defending Super Bowl champions played on Thursday, the best team of recent memory is still the one with the highest win total, points scored and point differential over the last five, 10 and 15 seasons: the New England Patriots.

With all the Pro Bowlers on the squad, the Patriots have several milestones in front of them this year. Before I get to the individual ones, the franchise is just 12 wins away from its 450th regular-season victory. The only National Football League team to play fewer games than the Patriots and have more wins than them all-time is the Dallas Cowboys (464-348 record). So, without further ado, here are the milestones that the Patriots are chasing this season en route to what they hope will be their fourth Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Condescending Sports Statements Made by "Mean Girls" Characters

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

In one of my previous click bait blogs I included a picture of "Mean Girls" era Lindsey Lohan. As you know, "Mean Girls" Lindsay is the best Lindsay, and I figured since this year is the 10th Anniversary of that truly classic film, I'd give it it's own article.

Here they are, condescending sports statements made by "Mean Girls" characters.

Revisiting Our March Man Crushes: Mistakes Were Made

By Joe Parello  @HerewegoJoe

For those of you new to the site, you may not be familiar with the man crush battle royal editor Jeremy Conlin and I did last year: March Man Crushes.

You can click here for the rules, but basically we seeded a tournament that featured 64 guys that are totally man crush-worthy, and had them duke it out to determine the Grand Man Crush.

In the end, my choice Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson prevailed over Jeremy's pick, Jon Hamm, for the title.

Clearly, those two choices show what each of us values in a man. Jeremy wants to be a suave, good looking, suit wearing dude that everyone knows is well endowed.

I, on the other hand, want to have big muscles, get oiled up with cocoa butter and smash people with chairs while wearing a Speedo.

Both are certainly great ideals to strive for.

Anyways, while Jeremy and I are in the process of coming up with a new tournament to do later this month, let's revisit some of the biggest mistakes, trends and surprises from last year's March Man Crushes.

Catching Up With Bob Lobel: The Current "Golden Era" of Boston Sports

Legendary sportscaster Bob Lobel and host Joe Parello take a break from current sports stories to discuss the tremendous success of Boston's professional teams since 2001.

Since then, the Patriots have won three Super Bowls, the Red Sox three World Series titles, the Bruins a Stanley Cup and the Celtics an NBA Championship. Which of those teams is Bob's favorite, and which players and personalities will he always remember?

Plus, even in this era of greatness for Boston, how could things have been even better? All that, and more, on this special edition of "Catching Up With Bob Lobel."

Bob Lobel: Staying Boston Strong in 2014

By Bob Lobel  @boblobel

Is Brody really dead? 

That is the compelling question for those of us who follow Homeland with the passion we showed for The Sopranos. 

We saw him hanging from a crane in a city of the bad guys. I hope he is not, but only the future will tell. It's kinda like moving into a new year. Good or bad, only the future will tell. 

If the past is anything to judge it by, this will be a bad year.

Really? Really!

Weekend Football Roundup: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Yeah, tell me how the new rules won't make guys go for the knees...

By Jeremy Conlin (@jeremy_conlin) and Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Every week, editor's Jeremy Conlin and Joe Parello bring you the good, the bad and the ugly from the pro and college football weekend that was.

The Good

Auburn's Luck

Seriously, something has just gone improbably right for Auburn every single week. Actually, this week's Ohio State loss in the Big Ten Championship Game was far more likely than the Tigers' Hail Mary win over Georgia, or their 100-yard (More like 109-yard) field goal return for a game-winning touchdown against rival Alabama.

Yeah maybe it's just their year.

-JP

Bob Lobel: The Non-Call Seen 'Round New England

By Bob Lobel  @boblobel

The call, or rather, the non-call seems to be the only thing anyone wants to talk about.

Of course it is.

When you stay up that late knowing you have to get up for work in the morning, you at least expect something in the way of a happy ending. No happy endings in Patriot Nation last night. It was one night past a full moon in romantic North Carolina. 

Tom Brady was in the process of pulling off the finishing drive of a lifetime against a very good Cam Newton led Carolina team, with a rare thing in the NFL these days: A very good defense. But, in the final three seconds, the defense wasn’t really good. It was really lucky!

Catching Up With Bob Lobel: Patriots vs Panthers Preview

Today, on a special Monday Night Football edition of "Catching Up With Bob Lobel," host Joe Parello and legendary sportscaster Bob Lobel are joined by Suite Sports editor Jeremy Conlin to discuss New England's highly anticipated game against the red-hot Carolina Panthers.

Who will come out on top, and which matchups will determine the outcome of tonight's game? All that, and more, on this special edition of "Catching Up With Bob Lobel."

Check Out Sports Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with RF Sports Radio on BlogTalkRadio

Studs and Duds: The Butt Fumble Is Still A Thing, Apparently

This pass was probably intercepted.

By Jeremy Conlin and Joe Parello

Studs and Duds is a weekly feature on Suite Sports. Who had a good week? Who had a bad week?

Studs

Sports in Matters of Life and Death

Sports can serve as the ultimate distraction, and in the last week fans have used them to cope with matters of life and death.

First, there was Scott Entsminger, a guy that wrote a song each year about the Cleveland Browns, then sent it to the team along with some advice for the upcoming season. Being a Cleveland fan may be a miserable life, but this guy found a way to have fun with it in death, as his will stated the following:

"He respectfully requests six Cleveland Browns pall bearers so the Browns can let him down one last time."

Last Will and Testament Burn!

The Safety Who Shall Not Be Named: The Curse of Bernard Pollard

Bernard Pollard, then a Chief, began his destruction of the New England Patriots in 2008 with this shot to Tom Brady's knee.

SuiteSports would like to welcome (back) Heidi Leach. Heidi used to write for us a bit more, but since she became a radio personality at 100.3 The Team in Myrtle Beach, she's been a little busy. Still, she took the time to write about New England's new most hated villain (and one of my favorite Boilermakers) Bernard Pollard. Enjoy- JP

By Heidi Leach  @heidileach

In New England there are a few names that stir up such hatred that loyal sports fans refuse to utter them. That Roger Clemens guy is on the list. But in recent years there is one name that not only spurs loathing, it also strikes fear into the hearts of Patriots fans. 

It’s the one and only Bernard Karmell Pollard. He is public enemy #1. Many say he is a curse. Maybe that's a little extreme,  but it is certainly hard to believe how much havoc one man has brought upon one team over the past 5 years.

March Man Crushes: The Final Four

By Jeremy Conlin and Joe Parello

As April approaches, we've reached the best of the best in our March Man Crushes Tournament: The Final Four. With brackets converging, editors Jeremy Conlin and Joe Parello are finally forced to argue it out to determine who makes the finals and ultimately takes home the most prestigious title in all of SuiteSports, Grand Man Crush.

You can check out out the rest of the stories on our home page and click your way through the tournament. Now, without further ado, here are the semifinals.

1. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson vs 2. George Clooney

March Man Crushes: The Brady Bracket

By Joe Parello

With The Rock Bracket and Timberlake Bracket in the books so far, the Suite 16 is coming up quick. We continue today with the The Brady Bracket, named for New England's three-time Super Bowl winning quarterback.

But this bracket isn't all about Tommy boy, his teammate Rob Gronkowski figures to be a tough out, as does hip hop mogul Jay-Z and movie studs Will Smith, Matt Damon and Ryan Gosling.

So, without further ado, let's make our way through the first two rounds of The Brady Bracket.

Round One

1. Tom Brady vs 16. Shia LeBouf