A Peek Behind the Curtain and a Thank You For @JeffCMSB

Not Jeff Schools pictured, but close enough

It's no secret that I have been a busy man over the past few months, filling in for Joey P on the Morning Jab, continuing my role on the Weekend Warm-Up, and welcoming a new daughter to make my family grow from 4 members to 5. During that time, things on this site have a changed a bit, and I have been unable to contribute as much as I would like.

Since my daughter has been born, Jeff Schools has basically run this ship like Captain Kirk ran the Enterprise. I don't think he gets enough credit or praise from anyone, myself included, in a public setting. In the past few months he has covered Sea Dogs games, Black Bears stuff, all on a regular basis while being a dad, a husband, and having a very busy day job, all while doing stuff at the station from fill-ins, to board-running, and running the Weekend Warm-Up. Regardless, he's done a hell of a lot more than I have in the past few months, and I wanted to make sure it was duly noted in writing, on the internet, forever.

In another note, I don't think it's fair to refer to myself as the Grand Poobah/Jabba the Hutt of this site and all the other sites on the Maine Sports Network, simply because Jeff does way more than I do. So today, I name Jeff the Publisher/Editor of CMSB Media. It's well-deserved, I wish it paid more, and it's really the only way I have of giving a guy who works so hard some much-deserved recognition. He was the only one crazy enough to share my vision for this site, drag me into podcasting and radio, and has done things I never would have thought of.

So thanks to Jeff, and if you follow him on Twitter (@JeffCMSB), let him know you appreciate the work he does covering local sports in this area. He truly is an every-man, and he does Yeoman's Work.

Thank you Jeff, this place wouldn't run right without you.

Back to your regularly scheduled programming...

Wilfork Gets a Slap in the Face from #Patriots, gets the Franchise Tag

This may be the last time we see Wilfork smile

Vince Wilfork, who earlier this off-season said it would be "a slap in (his) face" if the Patriots hit him with the franchise tag, better get the ice ready.

According to multiple reports (we'll link our boy Ian Rapoport from the Boston Herald because we are insanely biased), Wilfork was hit the non-exclusive franchise tag, which means he can entertain offers with other teams if they want to give up 2 first round picks for him. His salary if he signs the one-year tender would be guaranteed at 7.003 million.

So basically, Wilfork will probably be back next year, but he could hold out to let his unhappiness be known. He could also refuse to sign the tender and sit-out and not be fined. This could get ugly, folks so stay tuned.

Matty Picked the Denver Broncos to Win AFC West

Tired of hearing about how the Broncos were the team no one picked? Well, one guy did. It was Matty on September 8th, fillinf in on the PM Jab. The proof is in the audio below. (He picks them to be 10-6 and has no faith in Kyle Orton, but still)

In The Crease-J-E-T-S Jets, Je...Oh To Hell With It

I love NFL football Sunday. I don't like it, or think it's kinda cool: I love it. There is nothing better than the 17 Sundays a year I get to sit in front of the TV all day and night. It's my reason for being.

16-13 Bills over the Jets. 5 INT's by Mark "Sanchize" and 6 by the team.

59-0 Pats over the Titans. 5 TD's by Tom "Franchise" Brady in the 2nd quarter and 6 in the game.

There goes one of my 17 most precious days. There are only 11 left now and I fear they will get worse

The Jets play calling was horrible on the offensive side of the board. Clearly our rookie QB was struggling with the cold, wind and inexperience. Thomas Jones was running wild for 200+ yards, Leon for another 100 and Buffalo had no answers. Inexplicably, we keep throwing the ball in the 4th quarter and OT. Predictably we keep throwing INT's. Aren't the Jets a run/play D first, everything else second team? Didn't we learn from New Orleans? Clearly not.

It's over. Give the Pats the division now. That way, I won't have to suffer the inevitable ray of hope the Jets love to cast down on their fans every year. This year, like last year, the ray came early and it was blinding, almost beautiful; a new coach, new players in the secondary and a shiny new QB. As much as I wanted to believe, there was something in the back of my mind telling me to wait, not to get too excited.

59-0 Uh oh. Here come Brady and Belichick with their flawless execution and their perfect game plan. I know it was against the worst team in the NFL, with all due respect to Cleveland and Oakland, and I know that one week is only one week. The problem here is that the Patriots can play perfectly on both sides of the ball and will continue to play closer to that level than the level they had been playing at, which was above average, and the Jets simply can't. There was hope that the Patriots would be a lesser team and Brady a lesser QB than in the past. 59-0 kills any of those Jet pipe dreams.

The only question left is; can the Jets be decent enough to make the playoffs as a wildcard. The answer is yes, it's possible. Is it probable? With as many good teams to beat out to get there as there are, along with the Pats, Miami, Indy, Baltimore, Cincinnati, San Diego, Houston, Pittsburgh and Denver all looking like division champ or wildcard candidates as well, it is decisively not probable. There will be a two to three week stretch where the Jets could make it if 13 things go there way, I can guarantee you that much, but I can also guarantee they do not make it.

I can already see next season's ray of hope. It's already blindingly beautiful. Rex in his second season in NY: they will be saying after a year in the Big Apple, he has a better handle on the media and his team and how to motivate them. Sanchez will be in his second year, so he will be poised to break out. Braylon Edwards will be in his second year in this offense etc. Then, by week 6 or so, the Pats will look like the Pats and the Jets will look like the Jets.

Being a Jets fan, no amount of pain, almosts or wasted seasons will lessen my love for NFL football Sunday. I love it, like Brady loves posing in front of a camera in a skin tight tank top (not that there is anything wrong with that).(Editor's note:Or like how Mark Sanchez likes posing in GQ before he actually takes an NFL snap). It would be even better if my Jets could finally do it, or at least if Broadway Joe could try and make out with Suzy Kolber again, but nothing can kill my love for Sunday (except a lock-out). So as Gang Green gets ready for Oakland, I brace myself for the season killer. A loss to the Raiders. Seems about a year ago when it started to go terribly wrong with a road loss to the Raiders. Symmetry and consistency, just like the Pats....sort of.

Javier Gorriti, UMaine Black Bear from 1994-1998, is a frequent contributor to the CMSB and the co-host of the PM JAB with Chris Sedenka. He is the president of Mermaid Seafoods in Portland ME. and has been working and living in Maine over the past 5 years. He can be reached at javier_gorriti at hotmail.com. He once turned down the chance to be the Dos Equis "Most Interesting Man in the World", simply because he didn't want to grow a beard.

Rex Ryan Wants Jets' Fans to Get Loud

Rex Ryan left New York Jets' Season-Ticket Holders this voicemail..

I honestly don't even know where to start. The Jets have the largest media market in the country, and their head coach has to resort to "Aw shucks help us out" voice-mails? Really?

"We really need you this week."

How many fans will storm the field drunk this week saying "But Coach Ryan said he needed me?" I put the over/under at 6.5.

"I've already said they have the better coach and better quarterback, but this week we'll find out who has the better team."

Oh, look at that, Ryan is being honest? OK, I'll cheer louder now.

Listen Jets fans, you beat the Texans last week. The Texans. You beat Matt Schaub and Gary Kubiak. You faced no in-game adversity and an opponent that was flatter than month-old beer. Everyone wants to put Mark Sanchez's name on the Rookie of the Year trophy. Remember week 2 last year? Matt Cassel came to town and the Jets were going to show everyone who the new kings of the AFC East were? How did that go? Oh, wait it didn't. I can assure you the Pats win this game by two touchdowns. What a Pop Warner move here. This is the NFL. If you need your head coach to call to you so you make noise, you should stop going to games. Holy crap.

The CMSB is On Twitter!

Matty finally jumped into the Twitter fray and put the CMSB on Twitter, You can follow the CMSB and many of your favorite athletes, including Paul Pierce, on Twitter. To join or check it out, check it out below.

http://twitter.com/CMSB



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The CMSB Mock Draft

Chris and Matty will be taking turns making mock draft selections for the upcoming NFL draft(Chris has the odd numbers, Matt has the even). For the selections please visit our sister site, Football Draft Talk. (Yes we are pimping the new site, no we have no shame)