Random Thoughts (March 5, 2009)

I hear all the talk of how the Patriots should acquire Julius Peppers from the Panthers. I don't agree. It would cost too much in compensation and in salary to get Peppers. The best bet is for the Pats to sign free agent Jason Taylor. Taylor gets after the quarterback and he would come cheaper than Peppers. Add in the fact that Belchick has always been quick to praise Taylor and I see the perfect fit... When I read that Alex Rodriguez is having hip surgery and will be out at least 10 weeks, I think that the Yankees told him to find an excuse to lay low for a few months... As a Red Sox fan, you have to be excited to think about a Josh Beckett/Jon Lester/Daisuke Matsuzaka/Brad Penny/Tim Wakefield starting rotation and a Jonathan Papelbon/Justin Masterson/Ramon Ramirez/Hideki Okajima/Manny Delcarmen/Takashi Saito/Javier Lopez bullpen. I didn't even include John Smoltz, Clay Buchholz, or Michael Bowden. It's nice to have pitching depth... As much as I love Manny Ramirez for his accomplishments with the Red Sox, it's a tough pill to swallow when he signs a 2-year/$45-million deal with the Dodgers after forcing his way out of Boston because he didn't want to play for $20-million a year in 2009 and 2010... Enjoy Phil Kessel tonight...