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Jeff Howe's Celtics blog

Jeff Howe is an award-winning sportswriter who is in his second season as the lead writer on the Celtics beat for the Boston Metro.

Big East roundup: Luck of the Huskies

Five burning questions in the conference

Iverson hits the open market

Now paging Ed Stefanski. There are sure to be a few calls from area fans to the Sixers general manager, as Allen Iverson officially becomes a free agent.

Time to erase fourth-and-2

The Patriots sound like they’re sick of talking about it.

Wildcats gunning for national title

It’s an abundance of riches at Villanova right now.

Trot always ready to fill in for Birds

As Donovan McNabb wondered aloud about where the veteran leadership was going to come from, a battle-tested linebacker stood up in the back of the locker room. Jeremiah Trotter’s role is not yet defined on this Eagles’ team, but his voice is ever present.

New York Sports

Adding insult to their injuries

For the first time perhaps all season, the Giants are the healthier of the two teams going into a game.

Boston Columns

Allen: What does ego have to do with it?

Can someone please explain to me what in the world ego had to do with Bill Belichick's decision to go for it on fourth and two Sunday night?

New York Sports

Belicheat sets back innovative thinking

Rooting for Bill Belichick is like pulling for Tim Donaghy, or hoping that the reign of the phrase, “It is what is,” continues. There’s something extremely distasteful about it.

Philly Sports

Time to kick one off the birds’ island

Any day now, the Eagles are going to announce a major contract extension for coach Andy Reid. We can only hope the news is accompanied by a laugh track.

Boston Sports

Times, and ’Tek, a-changin’ in Boston

The year Jason Varitek first played for the Red Sox, Bill Clinton was sworn in for his second term.

Between the Lines

Allen: What "creative" moves can the Red Sox make?

The disappointing ending to the 2009 season for the Red Sox signaled that this is a club in transition. While still very talented, they are fragile and thin in some crucial areas, and some changes are going to need to be made. Here are some possible "big splash" moves that the Red Sox will likely explore this offseason.

Philly Sports

Eagles: the definition of insanity

The Eagles are a talented group compromised by the shortcomings of their quarterback and doomed by the stubbornness of their coach. They will never win a championship with Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb on board.

New York Sports

Aging MVP Matsui is so money

Hideki Matsui stole the World Series MVP from Alex Rodriguez, who must have more issues with baseball writers than Mark McGwire. A-Rod bashed the biggest hit in both Games 3 and 4, the two Philly games that swung the series, and yet still falls short to a one-blowout wonder?

Boston Sports

Third is 1st priority for Red Sox

One clear way for the Red Sox to improve this winter would be to upgrade at third base, where Mike Lowell has visibly lost a step since his hip surgery. Though Lowell was praised during the 2009 ALDS for snaring every ball hit to him, that’s actually the problem — at this point, he can only defend balls that are hit right at him.

Between the Lines

Allen: Domination isn't dull

I've heard in on sports radio, and seen it on comment sections and message boards. The Celtics games are boring - they're all blowouts. I'm only going to say this once: Complete and total annihilation is never boring. Especially when you're on the winning side.

Sports

Drug-free, way to be (like A-Rod)

Remember those old anti-drug commercials where you saw a guy holding an egg? He tells us, “This is your brain.”