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.

Can We Move on from Malcolm Butler?

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Move on from Malcolm Butler

FOXBORO, MA – DECEMBER 24: Cornerback Malcolm Butler #21 of the New England Patriots has an Interception against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on December 24, 2016 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images)

The Super Bowl was two months ago, and people are still on the Malcolm Butler benching. Yes, he should’ve played in the second half. However, there’s a reason he didn’t. That reason is very simple: he never traveled with the team. Instead of seeing a doctor before the team left, he saw one on the day of the team was leaving.

All this talk about Malcolm Butler being benched is really annoying. He was benched because he missed the team plane. By the time he got to the Super Bowl the Patriots already had their game plan in place. The plan was Malcolm would have a limited role. However, Butler didn’t have a good week in practice, so he never played in the game.

Belichick Will Go Around the Answer Because It’s “the Patriot Way”

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick stands on the field before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)Bill Belichick always has his way of doing things. Butler should’ve went to the doctor before he left. The plane is huge. He could’ve gone to the doctor and sat by himself on the team plane. They gave him a chance with a limited role when he got there. However, he wasn’t into the plan and didn’t play in the game at all.

Butler should’ve played in the game because it’s the Super Bowl, but Bill was trying to prove a point. Now you can argue that wasn’t a time or place to have a teachable moment. But if we know Belichick, he doesn’t care what game it is. If he’s trying to prove a point he will. The reason has already been out about Butler. You just have to read in between the lines.

Reason number one: Butler didn’t travel with the team. Reason number two: he didn’t have a good week in practice, and was then benched for the entire game. Butler has moved on, or so we thought, since he likes to keep talking about it. The Patriots sure have moved on, and maybe somebody else will as well soon. Stay tuned.

Rob Gronkowski Is Back for Another Season

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Rob Gronkowski will be back for another season with the Patriots. The speculation comes after his Super Bowl comments about weighing his options out. According to ESPN, though, Rob Gronkowski will be in a Patriots uniform this season. The rift between him and Belichick still remains, however.

The “Patriot Way” Is Getting Old

Gronkowski likes to be taken out of his shell. Meaning having the power to do and say what he wants. Belichick didn’t like that Gronk told Amendola to be free and happy in a Instagram post. With everything mostly held in-house at One Patriot Place, some players are starting to get sick of the “Patriot Way”.

Bill’s way of doing things has been the same for 18 seasons. He’s brought five Super Bowls to New England and drafted the greatest quarterback of all time. However, players want to have more fun. Gronk wants to win, so as long as Brady returns, he’ll follow in suit. He won’t return next season for Belichick; he’ll be back because of Brady.

(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Kraft confirmed the other day that there is tension between him and Belichick. However, there was more tension when Kraft first became the owner of the team. Let me say this- there’s no way he  would ever leave Brady stranded. He’s already lost Amendola, Edelman is coming back from injury, and who knows how Brandon Cooks will do.

 

Rob Gronkowski Is Tired of Belichick’s Orders

Via Bleacher ReportGronkowski and other players have tension with Belichick, but that’s not stopping Bill from doing what he thinks is best for the team. Bill has made appearances at the majority of combines and NFL camps this off-season. Why is that? Yes, because he loves the game, but there could be even something bigger happening. Bigger than just Gronkowski coming back.

Gronkowski will be back for at least two more years, as long as Brady keeps playing.

Alex Cora Is Ready

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A Long Awaited Opening Day Is Here

The Boston Globe via Getty Images.

Today is the day, freshly cut grass, springtime, and the smell of baseball is in the air.

Red Sox fans and players have been waiting for this day to come since the season ended in October. There’s one person though who is really excited to begin his manager debut today: Alex Cora. Cora comes in as a new voice in the clubhouse and a fresh young vibe. This spring he’s already built a good relationship with most of his players, and the whole team went to dinner the other night. It was a night he’ll never forget. He’s even said he wants to bring a World Championship to Boston because nobody cares about division titles.

Today’s Opening Day lineup as follows:

1. Mookie Betts, RF

2. Andrew Benintendi (L), LF

3. Hanley Ramirez, 1B

4. J.D. Martinez, DH

5. Xander Bogaerts, SS

6. Rafael Devers (L), 3B, OR Eduardo Nunez, 2B

7. Eduardo Nunez, 2B, OR Rafael Devers, 3B,

8. Jackie Bradley Jr. (L), CF

9. Christian Vazquez, C

Alex Cora Is Ready

Via MassLive.com

Chris Sale will get the ball to begin the 2018 season. Cora told the Boston Herald yesterday, ” I told my daughter the other day, she asked me ‘Are you nervous?’” I said, ‘Not really.’ She’s like, ‘Dad!’ She’s more nervous than me. Obviously, tonight is going to be interesting how much sleep I’m going to get.” I’m sure Cora got very little sleep last night ahead of the opener today. Chris Sale is making his first opening day start for the Red Sox saying yesterday ” It fun, it’s exciting, and I’ve done it a couple times before. This would be obviously my first one here, which is special. Boston, obviously, is a great city for sports, a great city for baseball, and to be named Opening Day starter for this organization is not something I take lightly and I’m actually really excited about.”

So here we go. Game one of 162. It will be an exciting season and should be a great atmosphere at Fenway Park all year. The Red Sox will be in the hunt for a playoff spot, and the rivalry with the Yankees could actually be interesting again. David Price being on board with the manager is great too. Everybody seems to like the manager and seems a lot more relaxed than last season.

Red Sox Baseball Is Back

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Red Sox Baseball Begins Thursday

Apr 15, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale delivers a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

The 2018 baseball season is Thursday, but the buzz around the Red Sox seems to be very quiet. Yes, there’s a lot going on with the Patriots, Celtics, and Bruins. But the Red Sox are staring their season Thursday. Alex Cora, as his first year as manager, has been clear divisions don’t mean anything winning a World Series does. Alex Cora has built a great relationship so far with his players. David Price seems to like him too, as there was a disconnect between him and John Farrell. Dustin Pedroia even told WEEI there was a disconnect between Farrell and the players last season.

This season is totally different with a new manager and coaches on the staff. The Red Sox come in with mostly the same team, besides adding J.D. Martinez, who is the power hitter they needed going forward to compete with the New York Yankees. Hopefully, Dustin Pedroia won’t be a baby and start being the leader he says he is in the clubhouse as well. The starting rotation looks good with Sale starting Thursday, followed by David Price, Rick Porcello, Hector Velazquez, and Brian Johnson.

Alex Cora Sounds Confident

(Fort Myers FL, 02/22/18) Boston Red Sox catcher Blake Swihart and second baseman Brock Holt celebrate with manager Alex Cora after scoring on Austin Rei’s double in the first inning of the Spring Training game against Northeastern University at JetBlue Park on Thursday, February 22, 2018. Staff photo by Matt Stone

Alex Cora had comments today and said, “Besides the freakin’ best record in baseball?” The Red Sox had the best record in baseball in Spring Training which at the end of the day means nothing. Cora also said today that he’s seen some players step up without saying any names. Alex Cora did say at the end to not to pay attention to spring training records they don’t mean anything.

John Farrell Speaks About Firing

The Red Sox have the talent to compete with the Yankees but do they have enough to win another division? That remains to be seen. Old manager John Farrell spoke yesterday about how he knew his time was up with the Red Sox late last season, saying,

“If you finished in first place last year, you were twice as likely as to be fired as if you finished in last place. So from that perspective, yeah, a little bit surprised a change was made, I do know Dave came in and he inherited me, So he felt like there was a change that was needed because we made quick exits the two years consecutive going into the postseason. The expectation as it is every year, whether it’s New York or Boston, LA, Chicago, to go deep into the October run, we didn’t do it. So I wish Alex Cora and everybody all the best there going forward.”

Farrell is a scout for the Cincinnati Reds, and currently will serve as an analyst for Baseball Tonight on ESPN. Get ready for the long baseball season. This should be an exciting one for sure.

Josh McDaniels: Next Head Coach?

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Josh McDaniels Will Be the Next Head Coach

Via SI.com

Josh McDaniels spoke for the first time since he came back to the Patriots. He told the Boston Globe, “I wasn’t 100 percent sure what the future was. I just hadn’t had any clarity on that. So, where did I fit in? Were there any plans? I just didn’t have much clarity on what my role was here moving forward.” Reading into that, he’s basically asking moving forward if will he be the next head coach for the Patriots or not. He basically asked Robert Kraft and Belichick after the Super Bowl loss, “How can you help me get there”.

He would go on to say to the Globe, “The opportunity to stay here and work for who I think is the greatest owner in sports and the best head football coach in the history of our game, to work with the best quarterback that has ever played … I’m privileged to have the opportunity to do that and when they kind of crystallized that — ‘Hey, here’s what we see going forward and here’s how we would like you to fit into it’ — it gave me a reason to stop and say, ‘All right, what’s the best decision for me?’ And certainly, it was difficult. But I made the decision on my own, nobody pushed me into it. Once I heard from Robert and Bill on that Tuesday, it just gave me the reason to pause and consider this whole situation.”

It’s so obvious after this quote he’s next in line to take Bill Belichick’s job. Belichick has been quite happy as of late, calling a press conference on Sunday. Will Bill have an executive role with the team this time next season? Or will Belichick not hand the keys to McDaniels yet? That still remains to be seen. Of course, Tom Brady had something to do with him coming back too.

Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft Speak

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Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft Both Speak Ahead of Owner’s Meetings

Jan 22, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) points to teammates as head coach Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft look on after the 2017 AFC Championship Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY SportsBill Belichick and Robert Kraft have both spoken to the media regarding the Patriots. They talked about the changes and what’s going to happen going forward. Belichick convinced Josh McDaniels to stay after the Super Bowl loss to the Eagles. According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, Belichick said, “Once that game ended, I think that really gave Josh and I a chance to sit down [Tuesday] and talk more directly about the situation, as opposed to, ‘We really want to talk about the game and what we need to do to try to compete in that game.’ That’s basically what happened. Before the game, I’d say we had minimal discussions. I’d say we had much deeper and longer and more in-depth and more constructive discussions immediately after the game.”

Belichick wouldn’t talk about the Malcolm Butler benching in the Super Bowl, other than saying he wished him luck going to Tennessee. Belichick has talked to Tom Brady, but wouldn’t touch on Rob Gronkowski’s status about next season. Robert Kraft also spoke, saying, “The residual of this loss was hard on everyone. But I see that as a high-class problem. The fact that we lost and we lost the way we did, I still haven’t gotten over it.” Kraft also said he has had meetings with Belichick and Brady. He also said he has faith in his coach even though he may not have made the right decision in the Super Bowl.

Robert Kraft Has Faith in Bill Belichick

Via GoogleKraft doesn’t deny that there isn’t tension. It’s healthy tension according to him. Kraft mentioned there was more tension when he first bought the team in 1994. Everyone was walking on eggshells around the coach at the time Bill Parcells. Maybe things cleared up a little bit with Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick speaking. The media still haven’t heard from Brady, and probably won’t until June. The most we’ve heard from Brady is in his documentary, Tom VS. Time.

Johnny Football In Foxborough?

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Johnny Manziel in a Patriots Uniform

Via For The Win – USA Today

Johnny Manziel, who completely destroyed his NFL chances once before, is attempting to make a comeback in the league. Manziel worked out for 13 NFL teams yesterday, one of those teams being the New England Patriots. When he first got drafted by Cleveland, Manziel made that stupid money sign like he’s getting paid millions. He didn’t care if the Browns were terrible. Then the reality check stepped in fast and he went on a downhill spiral.

The Patriots are trying to get their locker room back. They re-signed Matthew Slater and signed Devin McCourty’s brother, Jason, for this very reason. Why would you bring in someone who is a complete dysfunctional mess and doesn’t care about anybody but himself? Patriot fans who say Belichick can fix Manziel, because he’s done it before with other problem players, need to realize this- Belichick has completely lost his locker room. With that clown in there things would only get worse.

Manziel Belongs on a Terrible Team

Via 247Sports

Manziel belongs on a dysfunctional team. He needs to be on a team where he’ll have to earn a championship and not just get one because he’s on the Patriots. The Patriots should just draft a quarterback and develop him. The difference between Tebow being here and Manziel was that Tebow isn’t a punk.

The only reason Manziel wants to come to the Patriots is that he wants a championship now. He might also be eyeing the starting job down the road. Yesterday, Johnny spoke after the workout saying, “I feel like my head’s on right. If people get a chance to be around me and sit down and get a chance to see where I’m at, maybe they’ll see something different than in the past, maybe I won’t come off as entitled or arrogant or cocky or whatever it might have been in the past that rubbed people the wrong way.”

I’ll believe it when I see it. He could be all talk so a team can pick him up.

Gotham Chopra Speaks About Being Tom vs. Time Director

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The Director of Tom vs. Time Speaks

Via FacebookGotham Chopra, the director of Tom vs. Time, appeared on FS1’s Undisputed yesterday. The six episode series went in depth of behind the scenes footage of Brady’s football life and Brady’s personal life. It went from the first episode, with Brady talking about football and his family’s sacrifice, to the sixth episode where he became introspective. Chopra talked about filming and getting Tom to do this documentary:

“Last season, about a year ago right now offseason, Tom, I think in large part because he was hearing that chatter, like this can happen at 40 years old. Nobody continues to perform at this level. Plus, the prior season, the comeback against the Falcons, the stuff with his mom off the field, the suspension, all of that, there was drama. And I think Tom sort of thought, OK, let’s try this. So it was supposed to be an offseason thing. It became a full season because Tom got hip to storytelling. And if you’re going to set it up, you might as well pay it off. And so we kept on rolling.”

Afterwards, Chopra talked about the tension between Brady and Belichick. He said he was not allowed in the locker room, which was understandable.

“All the stuff around the team and all of the politics, look, I think Tom’s been doing this and coach was doing this for 18 years. I would also say I didn’t have any interaction with the coaching staff. I was never once in the locker room. We were very, very conscious of that and mindful of that. So Tom had to do his stuff up in the– halfway through the season, he had to start doing it up in his suite. So we did.”

Gotham Chopra Spoke About Brady’s Relationship with the Team

Via WEEIChorpa even talked about Tom’s relationship with Jimmy Garoppolo, saying,

“I’m just saying I think Tom likes Jimmy. He’s happy for him now on the 49ers. But yeah, I don’t disagree with you. Competitively, this is my job. And until you take it away from me, you’re not getting it, until you earn it. Well, I feel better if you’re not here, so that way– I want to fight. But if you’re not here, I won’t have to fight as hard.  Look, I also think Tom is a pretty unique case. I’m biased, but this guy has established himself. And he’s so confident in his process, not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, the way he’s able to calibrate all these things. And I don’t think he feels particularly threatened by anyone.”

Tom Brady isn’t going to retire this season, but if he does after next season what a slap in the face to Belichick that would be.

 

Grading the Patriots’ Offseason so Far

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It’s for certain that the Patriots are cleaning house at One Patriot Place. The Patriots have cut ties with Danny Amendola, Dion Lewis, Nate Solder, and Malcolm Butler. It’s fun to speculate at how this offseason is different from previous years. Last year they made a lot more moves, and really who worked out? Brandin Cooks wasn’t great, Kony Ealy was a bust and so was Dwyane Allen. Right now the Patriots have less talent now than they did in the Super Bowl. All they have right now are players from the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns.

Amendola Looks Depressed

Via Twitter

I saw the video of Amendola trying to pump up the Miami crowd. He looked like a kid that didn’t get what they wanted. Amendola left on his own because he wanted to be free from Belichick. If things were different in Foxborough maybe he would’ve stayed in New England. Malcolm Butler was forced out as well, which was obvious. Solder was offered the same amount of money from the Patriots he was with the Giants, and he chose the Giants for a different environment.

Brady All About His Brand

Jan 16, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) talks with New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional round playoff game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s look at what Tom Brady has thinking about. He’s really has been making his rounds this past week, with his media tours and selling his brand. Also, he doesn’t feel appreciated by Belichick. A lot of other prominent players agree. In the first episode of Tom VS. Time, Brady said that he puts everything into playing football, and how he makes sure he’s prepared. Brady in the final episode, however, talked about more of his family and being there for them. Even Gisele said he’s been through a lot these last few years with not only Deflate-Gate but with Garoppolo creeping up behind him too. It just seems Brady, now that he’s going to be 41 and doesn’t feel like he’s having a good time anymore, might be eyeing his last days playing football.

What’s in Store for the Future for the Patriots?

Via GoogleHowever if I’m Belichick, I’m not happy because I was just forced to trade the next guy in Garoppolo. To keep Brady for three more years. The contract with Brady is still up in the air and seems Brady is giving Belichick a hard time about it. So far I give the Patriots offseason a C.

 

Malcolm Butler Got His Wish

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Malcolm Butler Is on to the Titans

Jan 21, 2018; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) celebrates against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the AFC Championship at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY SportsThe Super Bowl hero three years ago finally got his wish last night and got paid. Malcolm Butler is headed to the Tennessee Titans on a five year $61 million dollar contract. The controversy surrounding why he didn’t play in the Super Bowl is obvious. Belichick thought he could win without him. The Patriots have some questionable things going on this season, and Butler not playing has been the final straw.

Money Wasn’t an Issue

Via USA Today

The Patriots made an offer to Butler last season for 6 years and $66 million, according to Field Yates. Also that would be about $25.5 million guaranteed. Altogether, it was five seasons added to the free agent tender he singed last year for $3.9 million. According to 247 Sports, Butler would’ve made $62 million from 2018-2022. That is more than the Titans contact. One thing is for certain- money wasn’t the reason why he left. He, like the rest of the Patriots, are sick of the dictatorship at One Patriot Place. They would rather have fun and be on a losing team and make millions. I say go ahead. If you don’t like to win Super Bowls, then the Patriots aren’t for you.

Butler Now Gets Paid

FOXBORO, MA – OCTOBER 22: Malcolm Butler #21 of the New England Patriots breaks up a pass inteded for Julio Jones #11 of the Atlanta Falcons during the fourth quarter of a game at Gillette Stadium on October 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Butler was mad that the Patriots gave that huge contract to Stephon Gilmore, who had a down year this season. Belichick thought Butler didn’t have a good week of practice leading up to the Super Bowl. He did what he thought was best; to bench Butler for the entire game. Honestly, not putting him in for one play says a lot. As long as you have Brady he’ll make the plays to win the game. However, it didn’t work in this Super Bowl against the Eagles. For Malcolm Butler, he can be free and be himself. He doesn’t have to worry about sitting the bench and crying on the sidelines.