Blaine Gabbert got an education Thursday night, courtesy of Bill Belichick and his well-oiled Patriots.
The former Mizzou quarterback started for the Jaguars Thursday night in New England, where the Patriots administered a thorough 47-12 beating. With veteran Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard injured, Gabbert dove right into the fire against several New England starters.
He played the entire first half. He wasn’t great, but he wasn’t terrible either. Gabbert looked tentative at times while reading the Patriots defense, but he didn’t fold up.
He completed 9-of-16 passes for 85 yards and no interceptions. Clifton Brown of The Sporting News offered this assessment: “Gabbert made a few nice throws, but Official LaMarr Woodley Jersey he was also sacked three times and showed a tendency to hold the football too long.”
Gabbert’s assessment: “I'd like to come away with more touchdowns. We had a lot of opportunities that we didn't capitalize on. We had a few mental errors that I made and other people made, but we're going to look at the film, we're going to Official Cameron Heyward Jersey critique things and get better from there.”
Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio added this. “The good thing is I see him on the sidelines saying 'my bad, I could throw it better.' I know one thing, it's great exposure for him and great experience.”
Indeed it was. And it is also great at Jacksonville still has Garrard on hand to do the heavy lifting during the regular season while Gabbert gets a better handle on the pro game.
MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE
Questions to ponder while wondering if the other Cardinals starting pitchers will follow Chris Carpenter’s lead:
Will the Rams answer a lot of questions during their preseason opener?
Must college football coaches stifle a laugh when they look at the names of players they are recruiting?
Isn't it strange that former U.S. gymnast Kerri Strug hasn't grown at all in retirement -- or learned how to throw a baseball?
Shouldn't the U.S. ski team teach its members some air travel etiquette?
THE PROBLEM WITH MOSS
Upon further review, Vikings coach Brad Childress deeply regrets bringing veteran receiver Randy Moss to his team last season.
“We had good guys, by and large, he walked in the locker room and vomited on it,” Childress told NFL.com.
So Randy should problem exclude Childress from his list of references as he ponders post-NFL employment options.
QUIPS ‘R US
Here is what some of America’s leading sports pundits have been writing:
David Whitley, FanHouse: “Tiger Woods said he expected a “W” at the PGA Championship. After Thursday, he’ll be happy not to have a ‘MC.’ That’s Missed Cut, which became a daunting possibility Official James Harrison Jersey after Woods shot a 77 at Atlanta Athletic Club. It was his worst round ever at the PGA and second-worst in the 61 majors he’s played. The only more horrific afternoon came at the 2002 British Open, where cold wind and rain helped produce an 81. Thursday’s cataclysm was a product of no wind, high heat and a game that appears as lost now as it Official Hines Ward Jersey did a year ago.”
Gene Wojciechowski, ESPN.com: “Woods played the last 13 holes at 10-over. I'm not sure he could have broken par on his video game. To put the round in perspective, Jerry Pate shot 77. Pate shouldn't be in the tournament. He Official Ike Taylor Jersey should be back home cleaning a crawl space or something. He's won exactly $32,594 on the Champions Tour this year and last played in a PGA Championship 10 years ago. He last made a cut at one of these things in 1983. But the PGA of America gave him a special exemption and here he is. Tied with Woods. This was Official Hines Ward Jersey Woods' worst opening round in 56 Official Heath Miller Jersey career majors as a pro. It was his worst opening round in a PGA Championship. By the end, you wanted to hand him a sympathy card.”
Joe Posnanski, SI.com: “Would anyone be saying anything good about his game if he wasn’t Tiger Woods? Because to me: That swing doesn’t look like anything special at all anymore. He can’t hit a fairway with his driver. His amazing talent for recovery was on display last week, but just as often he butchered those recovery shots. His iron play was reasonably good last week, but he’s not exactly knocking down flag sticks. His putting is a real problem, and I don’t know that there are many 36-year-olds — the age Tiger will be at his next major championship — who lose their putting touch and then get it back.”
Jason Whitlock, FoxSports.com: “The NCAA and its media partners have no choice but to polish the pig they’ve been roasting the past 30 years. The public is no longer buying it. The administrators, executives and coaches are making too much money to continue the facade that college football and basketball are partially academic endeavors. The TV contracts, like the $300 million deal Texas struck with ESPN, are too rich. The TV deals might be rivaled by the deal with EA Sports.”