ST22

Earlier today, Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli made an announcement that they would not be bringing back left winger Shawn Thornton.

Shawn signed here as an unrestricted free agent in 2007. Nobody knew how great of a ride it would be.

Just four years later, the Bruins were raising the Stanley Cup in Vancouver and all the talk was about how the fourth line played a huge role in winning. Dubbed the "Merlot" line for the jerseys they wore in practice, Shawn Thornton, Greg Campbell and Daniel Paille have had a tremendous amount of success playing together.

People who just casually watch hockey may hear the name Shawn Thornton and think he is just another goon who likes to bash other guys heads in. But if you watch his game, listen to his teammates and see how much he does off the ice, Shawn deserves all the respect in the world. He is not the most skilled hockey player. He never has been and he never will be. Shawn can't skate the fastest, shoot the hardest, or play the best defense. But the guy brings so much more to the table than just dropping the gloves (Even though he can really bring it).

The first thing he brings is the will to win. He never settled for anything less than a win, and that is a big reason why he has won two Stanley Cups. Second, his presence. When Shawn Thornton is on the ice, there is a sense of safety for the teammates of number 22. He was an enforcer, but he made the game safer. Yes, this past year he had a hiccup when he was suspended 15 games for his little run-in with Brooks Orpik, but in general Shawn was policing all over the ice. When someone hit a teammate of Shawn's the wrong way, you better believe he took your number and tagged you on the next shift. Over time you could see so called "tough-guys" back off of hits because they knew Thornton was somewhere in the area. Another thing he brings is leadership. There was some talk about even giving him the "A" to wear on the front of his jerseys. That speaks volumes to the kind of guy he is in the locker room.

While the on-ice stuff Shawn brings can not be replaced by a Jordan Caron, Justin Florek, or anyone else really, neither can what he does off the ice and in the community. Not only does Thornton visit hospitals, do television appearances, and help out in his current home of Charlestown, but he has a foundation in his name. The Shawn Thornton Foundation is a charity that helps people who have been effected by cancer and Parkinson's disease. He is also heavily involved in the Jimmy Fund.

Every now and then there is just one of those guys who comes along that can't be replaced. In this instance, it isn't for the skill and points put up on the board. It is for the heart and soul of a team for seven years, standing up and owning responsibility in the worst of times, and taking the fall for the teams failures. It is too bad the Bruins aren't able to find a spot for the glue that keeps them stuck together. The game of hockey is built on respect and honor, and nobody embodied that more than Shawn Thornton did. I want to thank Shawn Thornton for everything that he did for this organization, but even saying that isn't enough for all that he did. I hope that there are teams out there who understand how good it is to have a player like Thornton on their team, because he deserves it.

Playoff Predictions 2014 WILD CARD ROUND

Kansas City Chiefs (11-5) @ Indianapolis Colts (11-5)

My criteria for picking these games is simply picking the team with the better quarterback and Andrew Luck is just a better QB than Alex Smith. Smith is a game manager at best and his skill set isn't one built for playoff success. If the Colt's take away Jamal Charles and force him to put the ball in the air then they should win. Rusty says ponies take this one 24-17.

New Orleans Saints (11-5) @ Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)

My gut tells me pick the Eagles; they got the hot young quarterback; they got the leagues leading rusher; they got the hip coach. Despite this I'm sticking to my criteria of the superior quarterback winning the game and as good as Foles is, it's still Drew Brees (having a freak child like Jimmy Graham doesn't hurt either). Rusty says the Saint's take this one 35-24

San Diego Chargers (9-7) @ Cincinnati Bengals (11-5)

The numbers scream Bengals. AJ Green is a top flight wideout and Giovanni Bernard is a do-everything back that can be a nightmare for defenses. They also have one of the leagues top defenses. However I severely question their turnover prone quarterback in a playoff setting. Im sticking to my criteria and Phillip Rivers is a better Q than Dalton. Rusty says Super Chargers take it 27-20 (Dalton throws 2 or more picks).

San Francisco 49ers (12-4) @ Green Bay Packers (8-7-1)

The 49ers have the NFC's second most intimidating defense lead by monsters like Aldon Smith and Navarro Bowman. However the Packers counter with one of the best quarterbacks in the game in Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers is far superior to Kaepernick in terms of quarterbacking and thats my criteria for this year. Rusty says Green Bay 31-30 in a thriller at Lambeau.

NFL PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS: Wildcard Edition

I can’t believe the NFL playoffs have already arrived. Seems like just yesterday that I was at Patriots training camp knocking people over to get a glimpse of Mr. GQ himself, Tom Brady. Luckily, as a fan, Tom and company are one of twelve teams left this season competing for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. The Pats also get a bye this week, along with Denver, Seattle and Carolina. Even with these teams taking a breather, there are still four great football games on tap for this weekend.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 4^th 4:35 pm Lucas Oil Stadium

CHIEFS at COLTS: Game 1 of the NFL playoffs this year belongs to the 4 (Colts) and 5 (Chiefs) seeds in the AFC. Both teams had 11-5 seasons but don’t let that fool you. The Chiefs haven’t beaten a quality team since they played Philadelphia on September 19. They had a cupcake schedule outside of their division. Within the division, they went a weak 2-4. For the Colts, they have a quality quarterback in Andrew Luck but he lacks experience in the playoffs and playmakers around him. The trade for Trent Richardson didn’t go as planned (so far), and the Colts ranked 20^th in total defense. Now, obviously there are some things to like about each team. For the Chiefs, it’s Jamaal Charles. He not only rushed for over 1200 yards and 12 touchdowns, but he also caught 7 touchdowns as well. This guy is a weapon and you do not want to face him. For the Colts, the aforementioned Andrew Luck is their key. If he plays to his capability, the Colts can win this game. But because of his lack of playoff experience, I am going to take the Chiefs in this one, 23-17.

The primetime game on Saturday January 4^th will be the first NFC game featuring the 6 seed New Orleans Saints visiting the 3 seed Philadelphia Eagles. (Game time is 8:10).

Quick, what’s the first thing you think of when you hear “Saints vs. Eagles?” Your answer should be offense. Both of these teams are loaded with offensive talent and not much defense. For New Orleans, their offensive firepower consists of QB Drew Brees, freakish TE Jimmy Graham, WR Marques Colston, and versatile RB Pierre Thomas. An impressive 11-5, the Saints came in 2^nd in their division to the Carolina Panthers. On the other side of the field, the Eagles roll out some pretty heavy weapons themselves. For example, QB Nick Foles has been nothing short of flawless since he took over the job earlier this season. Also, the team has a burner at WR in DeSean Jackson and of course this years rushing champion, LeSean McCoy. With all of this offense on one field, this should be a shootout of a football game. It will be frigid in Philly, and I know the Saints struggle mightily on the road, but in a fast paced, high scoring affair, I see the Saints pulling this one out 37-34.

Sunday, January 5^th at 1:10 pm:

If you still have enough energy after Saturday’s games (and why wouldn’t you, 2 games is nothing compared to a regular NFL Sunday), then I recommend watching the second AFC Wildcard game between the San Diego Chargers (6 seed) and the Cincinnati Bengals (3 seed). Where do we start with these two teams? You have San Diego who barely made it into the playoffs, and you have Andy Dalton throwing 4 interceptions last week against the Ravens in a rather meaningful game. While the Bengals had an impressive year, which included knocking off the Patriots, I don’t buy into them. Andy Dalton is mediocre at best, even with targets such as AJ Green, Tyler Eifert and Giovanni Bernard. On the defensive side, they lost their star defensive lineman when Geno Atkins to a torn ACL. As for San Diego, they needed Baltimore and Miami to lose on Sunday just to have a shot at the playoffs, and of course everything fell into place for them. I have been watching Philip Rivers closely this season and he looks like a rejuvenated QB. He had an outstanding season with new WR Keenan Allen and newly signed Danny Woodhead.

I keep going back and forth on this one, but one quote sticks out from Bill Belichick. He said, “It’s not about your record this season, it’s about how you play in a single game”. That’s why I think the Chargers are going to ride the wave they have been on recently and they will move on to the Divisional Round with a 28-25 stunner over the Bengals.

Sunday at 4:40:

Finally, The Green Bay Packers will host the San Francisco 49ers in what I believe is the must watch game this weekend. This is a rematch from week 1 of the regular season, when the 49ers outlasted the Packers in a 34-28 battle. First off, lets take a look at San Fran. On paper, this is the most complete team in the National Football League. They have guys like Kaepernick, Boldin and Davis on offense, who are capable of monster games. On defense, guys like Navarro Bowman, Patrick Willis and Justin Smith who eat running backs for lunch. Not only are they skilled all around, but they have excellent coaching and special teams as well. Now the Packers, who a few short weeks ago only dreamed of the playoffs when Aaron Rodgers went down with an injured collarbone, are hosting a playoff game in the freezing cold Lambeau Field. With a healthy offense of Rodgers, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and rookie RB Eddie Lacy, the Packers can put up points in a number of ways. My only question in this game is the Green Bay defense. Can they keep up with the 49ers and get pressure on Colin Kaepernick? My heart tells me they can and that they beat the Niners, but I have to go with San Fran outlasting the Packers yet again, winning this one by a final score of 34-31.