Madden '08 - Patriots Update

I started my "Franchise" with the Patriots in Madden '08 on Playstation 2 today and have decided to keep a running blog of how they (I) am doing. With school starting soon (teaching and possibly going to graduate school) and high school football starting Monday, I'll be busy as hell so my chances to play the game will give me a needed rest from life for an hour or so each day. To start, I will be playing on the "All-Pro" level. If I am going to spend the time to report on a video game football season, I might as well do it right. For time purposes -- mine is very limited -- I will play five minute quarters. Also, I kept the game fatigue on, to make this a legitimate season. (Of course, reading over those last four sentences, I realize what a true loser I really have turned into.) Before the preseason began, I made some slight roster changes. I signed free agents Troy Brown and Chad Brown -- who are real life members of the team -- and dumped safety Rashad Baker, a player who I don't see making the team. I will try my best to stay accurate to the actual Patriots during year one of this but as those of you who play the game know, it will be totally impossible to be 100% accuarate. I took the team to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay for the first preseason game against the Buccaneers. It was a 20-17 win for the good guys and it would have been better if I had stayed with my starters as long as the computer did with the Bucs. Brady was his awesome self, completing 8-of-12 passes for 64 yards before making way for Matt Cassel. The second year QB out of USC was horrible, going 10-for-23 for 107 yards with one TD and two interceptions. He has a terrible arm in this game. Troy Brown caught the only touchdown for the Pats on a long third down reception. Some things never change, Brown is as reliable in a video game as he is in real life. On defense, the boys were making plays all day. Vince Wilfork, Junior Seau, Tedy Bruschi, Ty Warren and Eric Alexander all recorded sacks while Asante Samuel, Ellis Hobbs and rookie Brandon Meriweather each had an interception. The MVP for this game went to kicker Stephen Gostkowski. The kid nailed all four field goal attempts, including the game winner from 47-yards out with just over a minute to play. The Pats host the Titans in their next preseason game. I won't wait for tomorrow night to play this one -- I'm getting the PS2 fired up right now.