Author Archives: @stevea1127

About @stevea1127

I'm 25 from Taunton Ma and have a passion for sports especially Boston. My strong sports are MLB and the NFL. I'm hoping to get a job in sports writing someday.

Danny Amendola: “Patriots’ Offer Wasn’t Even Close”

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Danny Amendola Speaks About Leaving the Patriots

Via Boston HeraldMike Reiss had a one-on-one exclusive with former Patriot Danny Amendola. In the interview Amendola stated how playing for Bill Belichick is hard, and also the Patriots’ offer wasn’t even close. Last season, Danny Amendola was Tom Brady’s go-to receiver because Julian Edelman was out for the season. Danny was really a great factor in the playoffs, getting the nickname Danny ‘Playoff’ Amendola. In the interview, Amendola also talked about the Malcolm Butler being benched in the Super Bowl. Amendola and the rest of the team thinks Butler’s presence would’ve changed the outcome of the game.

Amendola’s words to Mike Reiss were starting with talking about his contract. “When free agency broke, I came to the realization that he wasn’t going to really come close to any of the other offers I had. I had to make a decision for my family and go down to Miami and continue my career there.” Amendola signed a two-year, $12 million deal. That includes an $8.25 million in bonuses and guarantees. It’s also not easy playing for Belichick who learned from Bill Parcells.

Bill Belichick Can Be an A-hole

Via Clutch PointsAmendola said “It’s not easy, that’s for sure. He’s an a–h— sometimes. There were a lot of things I didn’t like about playing for him, but I must say, the things I didn’t like were all in regards to getting the team better, and I respected him. I didn’t like practicing in the snow, I didn’t like practicing in the rain, but that was going to make us a better football team and that was going to make me a better football player. It wasn’t easy, and he’d be the first to admit, at the [Super Bowl] ring ceremony, that it wasn’t easy playing for him. The silver lining was that we were at the ring ceremony.”

The Malcolm Butler Benching Didn’t Sit Well with the Players

Via SI.comThe take about Malcolm Butler from Amendola is pretty much what every player on that team is thinking. Nobody liked the benching. Amendola said “Yeah, I did, honestly. Nobody really got an explanation for it. He’s a brother of ours. He was a brother of ours that year. And I hate to see a guy who worked so hard throughout the season not get a chance to play in the biggest game of the year and really get no explanation for it. With that said, I don’t know how the business aspect went into that decision. I don’t know how the personal aspect went into that decision between him and Bill. But as a friend, I would have loved to see him on the field that day.”

So there you have it. Players are upset Butler didn’t play in the most important game of the season. If Butler didn’t miss the team plane and had a good week in practice, he would’ve played.

All in all what Amendola said about Belichick is accurate. He runs a tight ship and wants his players to follow. You don’t like the rules in his mind you can leave and go to a 4-12 team. Meanwhile, he’s got championships to back up his toughness.

David Price Doesn’t like to Pitch in the Cold

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David Price Needs to Grow up

Via NBC Sports

The cold weather around Boston last week wasn’t good. However, when you play a professional sport, making millions of dollars, you might want to suck it up and just pitch. David Price, once again, has his excuses with why he left the game on Wednesday night because of numbness in his hands. Price’s hands were told cold and he couldn’t pitch. The night before, David, it was also cold, I didn’t see Chris Sale complaining. He’s not a baby like Price is.

It may be cold for Stanton, but at least he doesn’t sit. We’ve seen this before with Price all of last season. Him complaining and not liking it here. Price also isn’t setting a good example for the younger players. Do you think Mookie Betts would sit a game because it’s too cold to play baseball? I don’t think so. The Yankees aren’t even good right now. Price could’ve pitched on Wednesday and they would’ve swept the Yankees instead of taking two out of three.

David Price Making Excuses

AP Photo/Aaron Josefczyk

This is what Price said after his start: “My hand never really warmed up, My arm felt fine. My arm felt really good. I had no clue where [the ball] was going.” Clearly, someone who doesn’t want to pitch in cold weather. I don’t see another player on that team saying something like that. “My hands weren’t warm enough to go out and play.” It’s always something with David Price. As soon as he gets to some real competition his hands are too cold. Price won’t start against Baltimore. He’ll make his next appearance against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday.

David Price’s Next Start Will Be in Warm California

I’m sure it will be nice and warm so Price can feel his hands in Anaheim. David, you’re making $31 million dollars. Grow up! In October it will be cold too. What’s he going to say then? I know for one thing- Chris Sale or Pedro Martinez would never do what Price did on Wednesday night.

Dez Bryant to the Patriots?

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Dez Bryant in a Patriots Uniform?

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones (right) talks with receiver Dez Bryant (88) before an NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, Sunday, November 15, 2015. The Buccaneers defeated the Cowboys, 10-6. (James D. Smith via AP)Dez Bryant is about to be released by the Dallas Cowboys. With Brandin Cooks gone and the lack of a deep threat, should the Patriots try to sign Dez Bryant? Overall, Dez Bryant has scored 73 touchdowns in his career. Bryant could be the missing piece the Patriots need to fill the whole of Brandin Cooks. New England comes into this season without Danny Amendola and Brandin Cooks. Cooks wasn’t really productive when he was here, but the hole Danny Amendola is leaving is big. Especially in the playoffs. Jordan Matthews has some big shoes to fill to replace Danny Amendola.

Dez Bryant Has Similarities to Randy Moss

Via Caleb RandallDez Bryant is your Randy Moss type of receiver regarding his personality. Randy Moss, though, was much worse in Oakland than Bryant is with the Cowboys. Bryant can really have the chance to win in New England and be productive in the Patriot offense. It will be a big loss for Dallas, but he deserves a chance at being on a winning team. Dallas is good; they just seem to be missing pieces like leadership.

As for the Patriots, Julian Edelman is coming back from an ACL injury. Rob Gronkowski has a hard time staying on the field. As for Jordan Matthews, he played in ten games last season and had one touchdown. Bryant played in 16 games last season and scored six touchdowns. If Edelman, Gronkowski, or Matthews gets hurt, at least Brady will have someone decent to throw too.

Today Bryant will meet with Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones to discuss his future with the Cowboys. Let’s see how this plays out. If he gets released, the Patriots should be all in on him. Who knows, he could be a legit player for the Patriots for a few years beyond this one too.

Who Will the Patriots Draft at Quarterback?

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Tom Brady Endorsing Lamar Jackson

Tom Brady will go into this season being 41. Belichick knows he has to draft a quarterback this upcoming draft to be realistic. There is no way that Belichick won’t go into this season without drafting a quarterback.  It looks like Tom Brady is all in on Lamar Jackson.

On NFL Network’s Instagram, there’s a post which is what you see in the picture below. Tom Brady comments “He’s a beast!!!!” with a thumbs up emoji. Moreover, you can take this one or two ways. One, that’s who Brady wants to be his successor. Or two, he thinks the Patriots defense is horrible and Jackson would run all over the Patriots defense. Personally, I think it’s the first reason.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhcvXfilJ-_/?hl=en&taken-by=nflnetwork

Lamar Jackson is a 2016 Heisman Trophy winner and can tear defense’s apart with his running game. Also, with Brady endorsing the Instagram post, it seems like he wants the Patriots to draft him. Jackson’s response on Twitter shows he’s excited when the GOAT spoke.

The Options at the Quarterback Position

The second option the Patriots could have is Sam Darnold out of USC. Furthermore, could the Patriots trade with the Cleveland Browns to take Sam Darnold number one or four overall? Belichick wants to give Josh McDaniels the best team possible when he takes over next season. Finally, there is no way Tom Brady will sign an extension. He’s done after his contract is up. If he wasn’t done, why would he be endorsing a quarterback on Instagram? Seems like Brady doesn’t know Belichick is leaving, but he realizes that it’s almost time for him to hang it up.

In addition, it would be a slap in the face to Robert Kraft and fans that thought he was going to play till 45. However, there’s no way he’s playing till he’s 45. The end of “Tom VS. Time” told you that. So who will the Patriots draft? Almost certain that remains to be seen but it will be either Lamar Jackson or Sam Darnold. Consequently, you have Nick Caserio going to all these private workouts because he knows Belichick is gone in a year. He wants to make sure who they draft will be a good fit for the Patriots’ system post-Belichick.

 

Cover image courtesy of Daily Snark.

Julian Edelman’s Instagram Story

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Julian Edelman’s Shot at Bill Belichick

In the video above, you see Julian Edelman being worked on by Alex Guerrero. Edelman by the sound of his voice sounds like he’s really doing this on purpose to stick it to Belichick. By making this video, Edelman is really sticking up for his teammates Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. As I said before: don’t be surprised if you see Edelman start saying he isn’t happy with Belichick’s style either. This is the first sign of it.

Edelman and Brady were throwing inside the practice field the other day. Edelman is coming off ACL surgery and needs to get back on top of his game. As for Belichick, this just proves my point that he’s just sick of Brady going over his head and thinking he has the answers. Which is why Belichick will be leaving after this season.

Edelman Getting Ready for the Season

Edelman is going to the extreme by posting this video to his Instagram story. Again, I’m not sure if the players, especially Brady or Gronk, know this will be Belichick’s last season. I’m pretty sure they are trying to keep that in-house or so they thought. Edelman and Brady are best friends. When Brady came out with TB12, Edelman started JE11. If Edelman or Gronkowski get hurt this season Belichick will be upset. But he also might call them out again for training at TB12. Belichick will walk away with his head held high from everything he’s accomplished.

Everyone knows this video will make Belichick upset, just like Gronk telling Amendola to ‘BE FREE, BE HAPPY’.  But he can give an I told you so to Robert Kraft at the end of this season about trading the next guy when Brady will be gone at the end of his contract. Consequently, the Patriot Way is starting to be the player’s way.

 

Brady

Robert Kraft Knows the End Is near for Tom Brady

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It Seems Kraft Regrets the Decision to Trade Jimmy Garoppolo

Via NBC SportsAfter everything that has come out regarding the Patriots, Kraft is coming to a realization. The end is near for Tom Brady, and even Bill Belichick too. As for Brady, it seems like he’s going to play out his contract and retire. This would mean one more year with Belichick and one year with Josh McDaniels as head coach.

Kraft Doesn’t Have Any Problems with Brady’s Contract

Via CNBCRobert Kraft told Jeff Howe of the Athletic that he doesn’t have any problems with Brady’s contract. If it becomes an issue then they will figure it out. A year ago in March, Kraft talked about how he just talked to Brady and he wants to play till he’s 45. Now with Garoppolo gone, Brady’s referencing how he needs to spend more time with his family. It’s getting Kraft thinking that he’s losing his coach and quarterback in these next two years.

Now Kraft has to be upset with Brady when they just traded Garoppolo. At least the coach is all set and Belichick is realistic. Brady, however, is kind of being selfish. Kraft also said, “I don’t think anyone would have believed 10 years ago that he would have played this year, gone to the Super Bowl and been MVP of the league at 40 years old. It’s just unbelievable. It speaks to the way he takes care of himself, the way he trains, how much film he watches, one of the hardest working guys. He is driven to excel. I think as long as he feels he is like that, he’ll keep playing. We’re so lucky to have him in our system.”

The Patriots will draft a quarterback this draft. You have one year to groom him with Brady Belichick and McDaniels. Then one year with Brady and McDaniels. Three years from now we’ll be looking at a completely new Patriots team.

Will the Yankees & Red Sox Rivalry Return?

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Will These Red Sox – Yankees Games Put People to Sleep?

Let’s take a look at the history of the Yankees and Red Sox rivalry. Honestly, after 2003-2004, the whole rivalry between the Red Sox and Yankees became boring. ESPN has every single Sunday Night Baseball game the Red Sox and Yankees play. They must think the rivalry is back because of the power hitters the Yankees have. Lately, though, Stanton has struck out more times in a weekend than any player has in a season. It’s still early though, and we can make excuses that he’s used to the warm weather from playing in Miami.

Via Cincinnati Enquirer

The feel of the 2003-2004 season may never happen again, or will it? As we head to another series between these two teams, we ask ourselves will these games live up to the hype. Will Stanton hit the ball over the wall a lot? Or will the pitching staff of the Red Sox shut down the powerhouse hitting Yankees? Nothing will ever compete to the 2003-2004 seasons when the Red Sox and Yankees would have bad blood every time. The Jeter, Posada, and Rivera moments were classic. For the Red Sox, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz coming up in clutch moments were the best.

Via FOX 61

The Rivalry Could Be Back on Tonight

Everyone wants to see that kind of fire going into this rivalry again. I remember one time on Sunday Night Baseball they literally showed a fan sleeping in the stands at a Yankees – Red Sox game. I want the rivalry to have that fire it used to have. Both teams are pretty much done rebuilding, and the power hitter J.D. Martinez could be the difference maker in the late innings of a close game. I’ll be disappointed if this series between these two teams is a dud. So starting tonight let’s hope the bad blood and rivalry is back.

Alex Cora Is The Right Guy For The Job

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Alex Cora Is off to a Great Start

Alex Cora is doing a pretty good job managing the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox have started out at 8-1 for the best start in franchise history. Cora came here to bring a young vibe to the clubhouse. It was clear John Farrell needed to go and that there needed to be a fresh voice in the clubhouse. Now you can say over the last nine game the Red Sox have played Triple-A teams between the Rays and Marlins. However, the powerhouse Yankees who are 5-5 have been struggling and they come to town Tuesday.

Alex Cora spoke highly of his team yesterday after the eighth inning comeback win. He said, “They’re fun to watch, they’re cool to watch. I’m sitting there like, ‘Wow, this is great,’ you know? It wasn’t a great game as a team, but it takes 27 outs to beat us, and they proved it.” Cora also is taken by the confidence this team as shown saying “I don’t know if that group needs confidence down there. , they’re playing, they don’t really know what’s going on. They’re just playing baseball and having fun with it. They prepare themselves, and they go out and  every team plays hard  but they’re just having fun right now.”

Via Twitter

Cora also said that they’ve been playing great for a month. Even though spring training doesn’t count, it’s still good they’ve been playing great baseball. Cora said, “We’ve been playing good baseball for a month now. And I know spring training doesn’t count, I know the record doesn’t count, but we were playing good baseball. We were playing fast, we were catching the ball, and we were pitching. And regardless if it was Fort Myers or here or Tampa, it doesn’t matter. When you play good baseball, you have good results.” Not taking anything away from them, however, let’s see how this Red Sox team does with better match-ups. So far they’re off to a great start.

Bill Belichick Is Building a Team for the Future

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Inside The “Patriot Way”

HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 05: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on from the sideline during the third quarter against the Atlanta Falcons during Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

According to an insider at Patriot Place, Bill Belichick retiring after this season. It’s clear through what he’s doing this off-season. Bill Belichick will build a team through the draft. So, when Josh McDaniels is the head coach next season, he will have a fairly young squad. The Patriots need to start planning for the next ten years, which means post-Brady and Belichick, starting this season. Belichick won’t leave Josh McDaniels stranded when he leaves after this season. Belichick will make sure Josh has the right players to win. That means a new quarterback too, Tom. A quarterback will be drafted in this upcoming NFL draft like I’ve previously stated.

FOXBORO, MA – SEPTEMBER 22: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots (R) talks with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels during the first half against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on September 22, 2016 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Bill Belichick Has High Praise for Josh McDaniels

Belichick has always highly praised Josh McDaniels. However, it just goes against the “Patriot Way” for Bill or Josh to come right out and say that this will be Bill’s last season. This draft class has bad wide receivers, which means Tom Brady could have a very hard time if Edelman or Gronkowski gets hurt. It will be up to 41-year-old Tom Brady to carry the team, like he has for 19 seasons.

However, Bill Belichick will ride off into the sunset after this season, giving Josh everything he needs to be successful. Also, Brady will be forced out because he won’t want to be on a rebuilding team. But he can say that he was on a team with Josh McDaniels as a head coach. It’s not certain if Brady knows this will be Bill Belichick’s last season. But when he does find out this is how these next two seasons will play out behind the walls of Gillette Stadium.

The First Episode of “Tom vs. Time” Was Different from the Last Episode

Via hubwav

Remember the beginning of “Tom Vs. Time” when Brady said, “I’m willing to give up my life. Are you willing to give up yours?” Then in episode six, after Jimmy Garoppolo trade, he says, “Why are we doing this?” Also, he began talking about spending more time with his family this off-season. It seems Kraft is on both sides when it comes to Belichick and Brady. He was on Brady’s side last year with getting rid of Jimmy Garoppolo. Now, this off-season he’s siding with Belichick. The man who wants to build a team for Josh McDaniels when he takes over next season.

Bill Belichick Is on His Way Out

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Bill Belichick’s Final Year…

Via SI.com

All these Patriot moves seem to be very clear to me what’s really going on. Yes, there’s tension. However, the media is getting fed information to hide what is really happening at Gillette Stadium. Let’s go back to McDaniels, Kraft, and Belichick’s meeting after the Super Bowl. During that meeting, according to an insider at Patriot Place, Bill Belichick told Josh that his upcoming season would be his last, and that Josh would take over next season. Now let’s look at what Josh McDaniels said when he decided to go to the Patriots. McDaniels said he needed to know what his future was going to be like, and once he found out Bill’s retirement plans it was clear that the right decision was to stay in New England.

Belichick Is Cleaning House to Give Josh a Fresh Start

Via TwitterWhat you’re seeing right now is Bill Belichick cleaning house. Belichick wants to give McDaniels a fresh start when he takes over next season. The Patriots have now parted ways with Nate Solder, Danny Amendola, Malcolm Butler, Brandin Cooks, and Dion Lewis. If that’s not cleaning house, then I don’t know what is. From what I’m being told, the media is being fed the Gronk and Brady rumors to distract from what is really going on. Bill Belichick is leaving at the end of this season. The Gronkowski and Brady news is true, however, Bill Belichick retiring is a bigger distraction. Why hasn’t a beat reporter gotten news on this yet? Why would the Patriots release that information when they can release smaller information about Gronk and Brady.

Bill Belichick is working out as many players as possible coming up in this NFL Draft. He’s doing this to draft the best players to build a team for the future. They will draft a quarterback in this draft, which is why the Brandin Cooks trade happened. When they draft a quarterback in this draft, Bill Belichick, Josh McDaniels, and Tom Brady will groom him to be a starter in a few years.

Bill Belichick Will Groom a Quarterback This Year

One year with Bill as head coach, one year with Josh as head coach, and then Brady will retire. The Patriots will be a team like they were in the 90’s. I don’t want to hear that Brady is playing to 45, all he’s doing now his concentrating on his brand and taking it year to year. Bill is sticking it to Tom by retiring after this season because of going over his head to Kraft about trading Jimmy Garoppolo. Also, he’s pretty much done everything he can accomplish as a football coach.

The Patriots Are Giving the Media Some of What Really Is Going On

Via NFL.comThe Brandin Cooks trade was another example of cleaning house. Don’t be surprised to start seeing Julian Edelman rumors starting if he doesn’t like the “Patriot Way” either. This is all so the media doesn’t find out Bill Belichick is retiring after this season. Again, the Patriots will only give the media what is in the best interest for them. Edelman could be getting sick of Belichick and the “Patriot Way”. However, the bigger rumor about Bill Belichick remains in-house, or so we thought.

I wanted to get confirmation before I put this out while Bill Belichick is making moves. It seems to be all making sense, even before the Brandin Cooks trade. I’m not sure if Brady or Gronk know this is Bill Belichick’s last season as head coach. You can believe me, or not, but the recent moves and stories being leaked out is proving my point. It’s been a great ride for Bill Belichick, and he ride off into the sunset with the five Super Bowl rings that he won in New England.