Author: @ALykins32

Sophomore Snapshot: The Good, the Bad, the Incomplete

Sophomore Snapshot: The Good, the Bad, the Incomplete

Posted by | Jul 24, 2019 | ,

Training camp has opened and the season is fast approaching. The 2018 Patriot draft class has some good, some bad and some incompletes. This sophomore snapshot gets you caught up ready for your first preseason game. The Good Aug 9, 2018; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley (51) tackles Washington Redskins running back Byron Marshall (34) during the second quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports J.C. Jackson The biggest surprise from the rookie draft picks came from an undrafted defensive back! A day two talent that fell due to off the field...

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A Reunion with Collins

A Reunion with Collins

Posted by | Jul 20, 2019 | ,

Do you believe in second chances? Can you improve on first impressions? Is it possible to go back home? Can Jamie Collins come back to the team that drafted him? So many questions… These are questions that the New England Patriots and linebacker Jamie Collins are going to find the answers to when training camp opens for the 2019 NFL season. Collins was unceremoniously shipped off to the Cleveland Browns late October of 2016. Coming during the bye week of a tumultuous season it provided a much needed break for both parties. The Patriots received draft capital for an...

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The Jules of Edelman Returns

The Jules of Edelman Returns

Posted by | Oct 3, 2018 | ,

October 1st, 2018. I had that date circled on my calendar when the news broke in the beginning of the New England Patriots training camp. Amidst the playdates, doctors appointment and other assorted events I wanted to be aware when Julian Edelman returns. The Sorrow My 3 year old son and I received matching JE11 jerseys this past Christmas. I recently finished Jule’s biography – Relentless – and felt I got to know the person on a more personal level. His suspension caught me off guard and upset me. Following the initial disappointment came the acceptance. Edelman would return...

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How hyped should we be about Josh Gordon?

How hyped should we be about Josh Gordon?

Posted by | Sep 29, 2018 | ,

When a six foot, three-inch wide receiver that weighs 225 pounds can run a 40-yard dash in 4.3 seconds, that’s special. Definitely lives up to the moniker of “Flash”! Josh Gordon has always been a freak in the measurables department. He has always produced on the field, and he has always been suspect about making good decisions. What are the chances that the New England Patriots get Flash Gordon of 2013? Will he keep his nose clean and buried in the playbook? He has to. This is his final NFL chance. If he screws up here, he is pretty...

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Should Quarterbacks Start Early? A Writers’ Debate.

Should Quarterbacks Start Early? A Writers’ Debate.

Posted by | Sep 28, 2018 | , ,

The most pressing debate of our time reared its head when Baker Mayfield stepped onto the field in relief of the injured Tyrod Taylor. Mayfield led the Cleveland Browns to their first victory in 635 days! The clamor to start him from Day One began when he was selected with the first overall selection in the draft. John Vogel maintains that a select few rookie quarterbacks should start early and Andy Lykins maintained that there is much to be gained from allowing a rookie sometime before throwing him into the NFL fire. Below is our debate presented in the...

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Matty P the Magician?

Matty P the Magician?

Posted by | Sep 23, 2018 | , ,

“I think we’re talking about something that’s pretty common to when you have to face an opponent, there’s going to be things there that you’re very familiar with” The Patriots New Nemesis Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia was quoted as saying this in response to several Jets players “knew what plays were coming”. However, this also applies to the upcoming Sunday Night matchup with his former employer, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. Even with beginning his career as head coach 0-2, he still possesses an undeniable advantage. Patricia has been a benefactor of seeing Tom Brady...

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New England is Home to Second Chances

New England is Home to Second Chances

Posted by | Sep 21, 2018 | , ,

Somewhere on the NFL’s boulevard of broken dreams, there is an exit. All individuals who put on a uniform have to take it. This is the road to retirement. After cruising along for eight, nine, ten years, there is no shame in hitting the blinker and seeing what’s around the bend. It’s a road that some players are forced to take when their careers hit a bump or suffer a breakdown. Often, they are looking for second chances. Most players in the NFL only get to stay on it for a few short years and then they are exploring...

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Bill Makes his Move

Bill Makes his Move

Posted by | Sep 17, 2018 | ,

News broke on Monday about a potential blockbuster trade (for the Patriots at least). The trade will send All-Pro and troubled wide receiver Josh Gordon of the Cleveland Browns to the New England Patriots. This just proves that good things come to those who wait. Patriot fans have been clamoring for reinforcements for the pass catching corps since before the start of training camp. The final straw in the Josh Gordon fiasco was drawn when reports that the team felt that he was less than truthful in regards to an injured hamstring he suffered. Cleveland’s GM John Dorsey decided...

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The Game Plan against Ramsey’s Mouth

The Game Plan against Ramsey’s Mouth

Posted by | Sep 15, 2018 | ,

Will Jalen Ramsey be able to back up his trash talk? Will Tom Brady be able make him regret his words? I break down (with laser precision) what his words mean, and how the Patriots and Tom Brady can game plan in order to win the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Super Bowl on Sunday. @phillip_heilman you know you done messed up right? Lol if y’all want war, we got sum for y’all. & Iknow the rest of y’all (you know who you are) gone read this too so just know #LameAssReporters — Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) August 12, 2018 Ok, this isn’t...

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Prediction: The Patriots Will Be Great Against the Pass

Prediction: The Patriots Will Be Great Against the Pass

Posted by | Sep 12, 2018 | ,

There are few things more satisfying than watching A-Rod serve hungry Boston fans Wahlburgers because he lost a bet. Watching a hyper-focused and well-oiled Patriots secondary shutting down a passing attack is one of those things. While the New England Patriots were preparing their game plans for the Houston Texans, I’m sure they approached it as another game. Prepare, watch video, practice, evaluate and repeat over and over again. Don’t leave anything to chance and allow for the unexpected. More unexpected than the entire Boston Globe sports staff choosing the Houston Texans to win? Smack my head. What We...

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Those Pesky Gronk Rumors Explained

Those Pesky Gronk Rumors Explained

Posted by | Sep 9, 2018 | ,

The Value of a Rumor in the NFL As we head into the beginning of the NFL season news broke that star tight end Rob Gronkowski attempted to discourage the New England Patriots from trading him. On the surface and out of context this would seem to play into the big bad, evil image of Bill Belichick. The problem with rumors in the football world is that they come out in dribs and drabs. The Gronk rumors appear to come out of the end of a long offseason drama series. And the Patriots attempted to nail down what his...

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Trey Flowers’ Future as a Patriot

Trey Flowers’ Future as a Patriot

Posted by | Sep 3, 2018 | ,

Amidst the hectic chaos of the NFL cut downs two seismic events rocked the landscape. Aaron Donald completed the largest contract extension ever for a defensive player on Friday, August 31st. Then football fans woke up to the news that Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack is a Chicago Bear. We all expected another mega-contract signing to follow. While I waited for confirmation of the financial terms of these, one of my thoughts was “What does this mean for the Patriots’ chances of re-signing defensive end Trey Flowers?”   The contract details proved to be earth shattering for non-quarterbacks in...

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Offensive Lineman: Post-Cut Looks

Offensive Lineman: Post-Cut Looks

Posted by | Sep 2, 2018 | ,

With the uncertainty of roster cut day behind us, we now turn towards prepping for Week 1. The Patriots are a team that believes in churning the bottom of the roster. The cuts and the signings are all about improving the team. There are several reasons for this. They have certain needs that change from week to week. Players don’t progress as expected. Injuries cause vulnerabilities at various positions. Players become available that the coaching staff views as an upgrade. With the Texans game coming up in a few short days the coaching staff is working furiously to quickly...

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Did Etling do Enough to Surpass Hoyer?

Did Etling do Enough to Surpass Hoyer?

Posted by | Aug 31, 2018 | ,

The Mystique of the Backup The allure of the backup quarterback is one of the most unusual phenomenon in all of professional sports. If the team used a premium draft pick, they expect the kid to grab the job right away. When your team signs a free agent, you hope he can provide depth and competition for a poor starter. In the most optimistic light you look for the positives of the late-round flyer to make the team and grow into a viable option for the next Kurt Warner or Tom Brady. The New England Patriots drafted Danny Etling...

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AFC East Update

AFC East Update

Posted by | Aug 29, 2018 | ,

When it comes to a formula for achieving the success that the New England Patriots have, it goes like this. Be disciplined and professional. Control all the details that could possibly matter in deciding games. Above all, strive to win the games in your division, then your conference, then the others. They’ll say that each game is just the next one and that they are all equally important. But we know that the games against divisional rivals carry a little extra hot sauce and can mean the difference between winning a title or fighting for a wild card spot....

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Rookie Jersey Number Prognostication: Part 2

Rookie Jersey Number Prognostication: Part 2

Posted by | Aug 22, 2018 | ,

This is the epic conclusion to the rookie jersey number prognostication. If you missed the first part you can find it here: https://bostonsportsextra.com/new-england-patriots/2018/08/rookie-number-prognostication-part-1   Picking a jersey number is a very important decision in a rookies’ young career. It can mean the difference between Hall of Fame worthy statistics and retiring after only a few years. Below are the Rookie numbers that the latter half of the New England Patriots’ 2018 rookie class chose and how the previous wearer’s career unfolded. Based on the history of the number you can easily see how this will go. So read on and...

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Rookie Number Prognostication: Part 1

Rookie Number Prognostication: Part 1

Posted by | Aug 19, 2018 | ,

What is in a jersey number? They are the printed numerals that are on a player’s jersey. A quick means of identifying that player on the field. The individual is easily recognizable so that yardage, catch, penalty, or score is tallied correctly.  But they are so much more than that. Certain generations of New England Patriots fans can remember moments and envision number 12, 87, and 3 on jerseys. Older fans have memories of 78, 57, and 73 when remembering both heartbreaking moments or fantastic triumphs. Still, others will fondly recall number 20, 89, and 79 especially when beginning a...

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Brady Breaking Records: 2018 Edition

Brady Breaking Records: 2018 Edition

Posted by | Aug 15, 2018 | ,

In what is becoming one of my favorite training camp rituals, I am checking out what records the New England Patriots quarterbacking legend, Tom Brady can break in the upcoming season. And let me tell you they are dwindling fast. It is refreshing to take a moment and look at all he has accomplished and the few things he has yet to do in order to prepare myself for those inevitable “Tom Brady is not the greatest quarterback ever” arguments I’ll find myself in.   While he won’t break some of Favre’s more dubious records like most interceptions thrown...

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Your 2018 Patriots Predictions

Your 2018 Patriots Predictions

Posted by | Jul 31, 2018 | ,

The 53-man roster prediction is a masochistic exercise. You can spend hours poring over the charts, historical position numbers, contracts and cap hits. In the end Bill Belichick will do what he feels will help the 2018 Patriots the best to win football games. Stop me if you’ve heard that one. Without any further delay, and before anyone else gets cut, I’ve went position by position and given a short explanation of my thought process. Quarterback Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer, Danny Etling (PS) Cuts: None This is the easiest position group to project. The Patriots will want to keep Etling in...

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1st Ever BSE Podcast

Anthony, Zack and Justin discuss the Red Sox at the break and the Celtics Offseason News.

First Ever BSE Podcast (@alykins32)

Posted by | Jul 18, 2018 | , , , , , , , ,

Boston Sports Extra has a Podcast! Get all your Boston sports news. That’s right, get your Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots, Bruins, and Revolutions news and information, now in podcast form. On this Episode Anthony, Zack, and Justin get in deep about where the Red Sox stand at the break and where they can and should move forward from here. And a bonus! Get into the latest Celtics news and what it means for all the pieces that Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens has available. Get it right here for all your unbiased news of your favorite teams.   Download...

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Eye of the Tiger: Part 2 of Patriots Training Camp

Eye of the Tiger: Part 2 of Patriots Training Camp

Posted by | Jul 3, 2018 | ,

This is Part 2 of the 10 Patriots with the most to prove heading into training camp. To read the first five Patriots visit Part 1. Who’s got the eye of the tiger? The thrill of the fight… Heading into the 2018 training camp for the New England Patriots, there are 90 hungry young men vying for 53 roster spots. Who wants it most? Which player will fight off challengers for a roster spot? Training camp is the place to find answers to these questions. The quest for a sixth championship begins with the start of the regular season. There...

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Ten Patriots That Need to Have the Eye of the Tiger: Part 1

Ten Patriots That Need to Have the Eye of the Tiger: Part 1

Posted by | Jun 30, 2018 | ,

Who’s got the eye of the tiger? The thrill of the fight…   Heading into the 2018 training camp for the New England Patriots, there are 90 hungry men vying for 53 roster spots. Who wants it? Who has what it takes? Training camp is the place for answers to these questions. The Patriots’ quest for a sixth championship begins with the start of the regular season. In the first part of this series we take a pre-training camp look at which Patriots have the most to prove. We’ll take go deep into each position’s depth, contract details, and...

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Trent Brown: Who Is This Guy?

Trent Brown: Who Is This Guy?

Posted by | Jun 27, 2018 | ,

The Belichick strikes again! The chicken littles came out when in force when Nate Solder left the Patriots in free agency. “How could they let him go”, and “No one on the team can replace him.” Sprinkle in a couple “You gotta protect Tom Brady!” His Plan So what does he do? Does he overpay for some of the other departing free agents in a panic? Does he sign marginal free agents in hopes that they stick? No, he waits. And he waits. Then when the moment and the situation is right, he strikes! Selecting Isaiah Wynn to join...

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Reliving Randy Moss’ Patriots Career

Reliving Randy Moss’ Patriots Career

Posted by | Jun 19, 2018 | ,

It’s been years since Bill Belichick has been able to call a team and give a low ball offer and get a ready-made star in return. Now, when an executive takes a call from the Patriots and get “I’ll take this guy off your hands for a mere….”, they should immediately hang up and spend the rest of the day figuring out what the hell they are doing wrong. And the trade that was the beginning of the end was the fleecing if the Oakland Raiders in the acquisition of Randy Moss for a fourth-round pick. But what if...

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