Warren: Shalise....Are Drew Bledsoe's playing days over ?

Shalise Manza Young: I wouldn't be surprised if Bledsoe re-appears later this season with a team that needs an emergency starter, but for that matter, Jake Plummer is also "retired," and would be a younger alternative for a team that had an immediate need.

Warren: Shalise...do you think Bledsoe should be in the Pats hall of fame and his number retired ?

Shalise Manza Young: I think Bledsoe will end up in the Pats Hall of Fame. Regardless of how his career ended here, New England fans should remember that he, Bill Parcells and Bob Kraft are the three men that had the greatest role in bringing this franchise to prominence. As for his number, I don't think the team is retiring numbers -- there are too many rules on which players can wear what number.

Pam: Sports Illustrated is saying the Colts are headed for a dynasty. I'm sure a lot of fans around here would disagree. Do you think they'll repeat a Super Bowl victory -- or do have another pick?

Shalise Manza Young: Colts as dynasty... I don't see it. Defense has never been a strength of theirs, and they didn't do a whole lot to improve their defense since winning the Lombardi in February -- they added corner Daymeion Hughes and d-lineman Quinn Pitcock in the draft but they lost Mike Doss, Nick Harper and Cato June, all of whom played a big role for them last year. As for my pick, it's reeeeeeeeeally early for such things, but I have to think that the Patriots are a favorite. Thinking about the offense they have now... the potential is ridiculous, especially since they were so close to getting to the Super Bowl last year and the defense, which was solid last year, is even better.

Warren: Shalise....we all know how successful the Pats have been during the Kraft era...has that also translated into profits too ?

Shalise Manza Young: I don't know the exact numbers on profits, but I have to believe the Krafts don't have any complaints in that area. When I am at Gillette, there are *always* people in the Pro Shop, and on game days, they're charging $40 minimum for parking, $49 for standing-room only tickets, $59 minimum for seats, and yet it's next to impossible to get a ticket to one of their games. The Krafts privately financed Gillette, and with them breaking ground now on a mall, that also leads me to believe they're doing just fine.

Warren: Shalise....has Manning been a bust for the Giants ?

Shalise Manza Young: As I'm sure you can attest, Warren, the Giants fan base is growing impatient with young Mr. Manning. He has been inconsistent and seems to take a step backwards every time he takes two forward. Coming into his third full season as a starter and with Tom Coughlin likely on his way out after this season, I'd think he has to prove some things this year or a new coach might go looking elsewhere.

Warren: has the pedulum swung permanently in the NFL toward the TV audience and profits at the expense of the fans and season ticket holders ....For example...I live in the New York area and have Giants season tickets...I was excited when it was announced the Giants were playing my beloved Patriots in Jersey...Low and behold the game is scheduled for Decemeber 29th at 8:30 at night..This is so typical.

Shalise Manza Young: In a word, yes.

Shalise Manza Young: The networks that pay for the right to broadcast NFL games paid a lot of money for that right, and the NFL would be foolish not to do whatever it needs to do to keep them happy and keep their money flowing in. Unfortunately, the few hundred dollars you'll spend to go to a game is a pittance compared to what the league and teams make from ESPN, Fox, NBC and CBS.

Pam: I'm a Steelers fan, and I know they have a new coach, but I'm hoping they'll be a bigger threat this year than last. The Ravens and Chargers also seem like top AFC picks. Who do you see as the tough NFC teams?

Shalise Manza Young: Pam... So far it seems like Mike Tomlin is making a good impression with the Steelers players, and he'll need to for them to rebound from a very disappointing season last year.

Shalise Manza Young: The Chargers, Colts and Patriots are the three best teams in the NFL; the best NFC teams are the Bears and Saints, still, and I think I'd give a slight edge to the Saints as the better team. The Cardinals and 49ers could make some noise as well.

uricigar: Have you heard anything about Merriweather? How is he fitting in with the team?

Shalise Manza Young: uricigar...thanks for joining us! Brandon, right now, is a bit of a mystery. He was not on the field for mini-camp this week, and when I contacted his agent, he refered me to the Pats' PR department. If he was not at a mandatory event, you could consider it a holdout, but we were told that he *was* in the building this week and is nursing an injury. If he's not on the field come July 27, the first day of training camp, I'd say there's a problem.

Warren: Shalise, I am curious ...is it difficult for a women to cover a professional football team,...particularly when you must do in the clubhouse interviews ?

Shalise Manza Young: Alright, Warren, I was holding off on answering this, but I will now. For me it's not that bad, though there are certain issues that are unique to being a woman. There are (still) some players who don't like having us in the locker room, and some readers who think women aren't suited to cover football. But on the flip side, I feel that being a woman -- especially a minority woman -- works to my advantage with getting players to trust me and talk to me. I don't go near a player unless he has something covering his lower body (preferably shorts) so issues like that don't develop.

uricigar: In recent years there has been a lot of talk about a huge gap between the AFC and the NFC. With the Bears and Saints looking so good last year, is that gap shrinking?

Shalise Manza Young: I don't know if its shrinking -- I'd still say that the three best teams in the NFL are the Pats, Colts and Chargers, with the Saints and Bears behind them. So if the three best teams in the league are all from the AFC, that doesn't speak too well for the NFC. But I do think the Saints are a top-tier team, and the 49ers are up-and-coming.

warren: is there a more perfect job in the world for Belichick ? What's his contract status ?

Shalise Manza Young: Warren... I think BB's contract status is a more guarded secret than the whereabouts of Osama Bin Laden. Apparently, there are only 3 men on Earth who know that answer -- BB, Bob Kraft and Scott Pioli. But BB is definitely in a great situation, both on-field and off -- he has several homes on Nantucket, and he loves it there; the Krafts couldn't be happier with the results he's given, and he's close to his youngest, Brian, who is in eighth or ninth grade.

Shalise Manza Young: However, I agree with the idea that he'd go to the Giants someday. He still has a good relationship with the owners, his middle child, Stephen, will start at Rutgers in the fall (he's on a lacrosse scholarship), and I think he has good memories of his time there.

uricigar: Thanks for the answer. Speaking of injuries, should we be worried about Maroney?

Shalise Manza Young: uricigar (can I assume you write for the Good 5 cent?) - I think the team was being *ultra* cautious with Maroney by not having him participate fully in mini-camp this week. He needs that right arm/shoulder to carry the ball and dole out those stiff-arms he learned from Corey Dillon and there was no real reason to rush him onto the field for mini-camp

Pam: How many women cover the Pats? I went to a Steeler game as a reporter 10 years ago and there were only 2 of us (females) in the locker room.
[2007.06.08 12:58:31] Shalise Manza Young: On a day to day basis, there are still only a few of us. I am the only full-time woman that covers the team and one of a very few number of women who's a full-time NFL beat writer nationally. Karen Guergian of the Herald is there quite often. There are a few female TV reporters, like Kathryn Tappen of NESN or Alice Cook from Boston's Ch. 4.

warren: speaking of Pioli....how's his situation with regard to a contract..didn't someone try to steal him from us last year and Pioli thought about it and turned em down ?

Shalise Manza Young: He is under contract right now, though I'm not sure how long it is. The Giants actually inquired about him but he turned down even the chance to talk to them, saying he's happy right where he is. He's another one that's in a good position; he and BB seem to have a great understanding of what they're looking for. Plus, since most people assume that BB is the one making the decisions anyway SP doesn't get much of the heat when they do make mistakes.

warren: I am curious...what's a typical game day like for you ?

Shalise Manza Young: For a 1 p.m. home game, I'm at the stadium at 10 a.m. to avoid the traffic that clogs Route 1. Once I get to Gillette, I blog about things I see during the game in warm-ups, get a bite to eat and chat with other reporters. When the game starts, it's more blogging, taking notes (I write down each play myself even though they give us a play-by-play), and some writing. After the game it's a mad rush to the locker room to hear BB and wrestle for position to hear players. I try to avoid massive groups at all costs, getting players at the tail end of interviews or finding players no one else is talking to. then more writing...Night games are a whole different -- and much more stressful -- creature given deadlines.

warren: Shalise..during the season do you get pestered from so called friends and relatives in the hopes that you might get them tickets..if so and it works...can I be your friend too ? :)

Shalise Manza Young: I wish it did work. I've had people ask me to get autographs and tickets, and we can't get either...