Michael Smith – Ken Powers Comparison

Here’s another in the growing list. One thing I’m wondering is if Powers ever legitimately wrote for NFL.com…research has found an article on NFL.com and one in the T&G which are identical…word for word. The NFL.com article does not have a byline. In any event, here is another example of Powers “work” this time ripping off Michael Smith of ESPN.com

“Givens Continues Huge Season for Patriots” by Michael Smith, Nov 7, 2004
(via Google Cache)

“Givens Catches Attention” by Ken Powers, Nov. 14, 2004
Via Lexis-Nexis

Smith: Perhaps best known nationally as the co-star of the Sirius satellite radio spot who asks fellow Patriots wideouts Brown and Deion Branch, “I thought I was his favorite receiver,” referring to quarterback Tom Brady, Givens had a Fred Biletnikoff, Super Bowl XI type performance in New England’s 40-22 win, setting up three touchdowns and catching five balls for 100 yards.

Powers: Entering this season, Patriots wide receiver David Givens was probably best known outside of New England as the as a co-star of the Sirius satellite radio commercial which stars his teammate, quarterback Tom Brady, and features NFL coaching great John Madden.

In the commercial, Givens says to fellow New England wideouts Troy Brown and Deion Branch: “I thought I was his favorite receiver,” referring to Brady

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Smith: Givens is a rising star, a Hines Ward-type at 6 feet and 215 pounds. On Sunday he outshined two other perennial Pro Bowlers, Bruce and Holt, under the lights of the Edward Jones Dome.

Powers: Givens is one of the NFL’s truly rising stars. With a frame of that measures 6 feet and weighs 215 pounds, he reminds longtime league observers of Pittsburgh’s Hines Ward. Last Sunday, he outshone two other perennial Pro Bowlers – the Rams’ Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt.

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Smith: Givens, 24, has been the Patriots’ best receiver this season. He’s had a career year and it’s only half over. Only one of his team-leading and career-high 37 receptions has not gone for a first down, and he also leads the team with a career-high 644 receiving yards. Sunday was his third consecutive game with at least 100 receiving yards and fourth this season. He’s on pace to have the best year, in terms of yardage, by a Patriots receiver since Stanley Morgan had almost 1,500 in ’86.

Powers: Givens, 24, has been the Patriots’ best receiver this season. He has had a career year, and it’s only half over. Only one of his team-leading and career-high 37 receptions hasn’t gone for a first down, and he also leads the team with a career-high 644 receiving yards. He’s on pace to have the best year, in terms of yardage, by a Patriots receiver since Stanley Morgan had 1,491 yards in 1986. Givens has scored three touchdowns.

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Smith: This has not happened by accident, though New England is fortunate to have landed such a productive player with its second pick in the seventh round of the 2002 draft (No. 253 overall) out of Notre Dame. Givens made the team as a rookie because of his special teams prowess, but dropped some key passes that season. Last year, he led the team in touchdown catches (six) and caught one in the AFC championship game and the Super Bowl.

Powers: It has not happened by accident. New England is fortunate to have landed such a productive player with its second pick in the seventh round of the 2002 draft. Givens, who seemed to do a little of everything while at Notre Dame, made the Patriots as a rookie because of his special-teams ability, but dropped some key passes that season. Last year, he led the team in touchdown catches (six) and caught one in both the AFC Championship game and the Super Bowl.

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Smith: Now he’s progressed from being “pretty good for a seventh-round pick” to being just plain good. Sure it helps that he’s got Brady as his quarterback and Charlie Weis as his offensive coordinator, but Givens’s production is more a product of his determination than circumstance.

Powers: He has progressed from being “pretty good for a seventh-round pick” to being good. It helps that he has Brady as his quarterback and Charlie Weis as his offensive coordinator, but Givens’ production is more a product of his determination than anything else.

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Smith: They didn’t have to last spring and summer. You can guess what’s coming next: Givens worked hard in the offseason. Once the Patriots’ workout program began in March, he channeled all his energy toward football, declining broadcast opportunities that could have put a little extra change in his pocket, which means more when you’re playing for the second-year minimum ($230,000). But Givens wanted neither the distraction nor the attention. Lately he’s even been declining interview requests from local media, preferring instead to stretch and receive treatment before practice. The Patriots just love players who think like that.

Powers: They didn’t have to ride him last spring and summer. Givens worked hard in the offseason. Once the Patriots’ workout program began in March, he channeled all his energy toward football, declining broadcast opportunities that could have put some extra money in his pocket, which means more when you’re playing for the second-year minimum ($230,000).

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Smith: One of Givens’s priorities in the offseason was to improve his speed. He learned to sprint with more body lean, shortening his steps, and reduced his 40-yard dash time from around 4.5 seconds to the 4.4 range. He devoured film of contemporaries (Hines Ward, Marvin Harrison) and predecessors (Lynn Swann), searching for the nuances of their games. His goal is to reach their level.

Powers: One of Givens’s priorities in the offseason was to improve his speed. He learned to sprint with more body lean, shortening his steps and reducing his 40-yard dash time from around 4.5 seconds to the 4.4 range.

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Smith: Lately he’s even been declining interview requests from local media, preferring instead to stretch and receive treatment before practice. The Patriots just love players who think like that.

Powers: Givens wanted neither the distraction nor the attention. The Patriots just love players like that.