Shotcaller

Monday Morning Shotcaller: Stage 1 Week 2

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How much drama can you squeeze into one match of the Overwatch League season? Given the heights reached by the Boston Uprising and Shanghai Dragons on Friday night, the answer is – plenty. Controversy outside the team, the first example of possible officiating misconduct, personal rivalries between the teams, and heightened fan support led to an all-time memorable matchup.

Pregame

News broke earlier in the day that Uprising’s owner Robert Kraft was being charged with solicitation of prostitution. While none of the players nor staff have commented on the matter, Overwatch League fans pounced on it. Twitter, Discords, Reddit, and other areas of the internet were writhe with toxicity about the Uprising’s owner. Unfortunately, what would normally be a much bigger story than a normal match, which would nearly be forgotten by the end of the day.

Shanghai would go into the match with unprecedented fan support. From the last few games of last season, Overwatch League fans have wanted to see Shanghai get their elusive first win. Conversely, no OWL team wanted to be that first team to lose to the Dragons. Blizzard Arena was clearly on the side of Shanghai, as noted by casters Achilios and Wolf throughout the broadcast.

As I mentioned in my pregame analysis, a big change for Boston would be the addition of Colourhex. Coming off a two game suspension, the New Zealander was meant to help counter the Sombra triple tank comp that has been the thorn in their side all season. How well he could integrate into the team could be the lynchpin the whole match rested on.

Controversy

Before the 10pm match would begin, the Uprising would nonchalantly tweet out their starting roster:


Now why would I mention something as innocuous as the starting roster? For those who don’t have the Overwatch League’s official rules memorized, allow me to highlight part 5.16 subsection (e):

Part 5.16 subsection (e:)

Pre-Match Roster Submission. Teams must submit their Starting Roster (including seating order) for each match no later than two (2) hours prior to the start of the first match of the day. Changes to the Starting Roster after that time are subject to rejection by the League Office.

Overwatch League Summary of Official Rules 2019 Season

Unfortunately, this wouldn’t be the team that hit the stage. In an unprecedented, last minute change, Fusions was told he would not be allowed to play. As first reported by VPE Sports, Fusions was still playing under his two-way contract. In a statement released two days later by the League, it was explained:

As two-way contract player Cameron “Fusions” Bosworth had already played twice for the Boston Uprising in Stage 1, he was ineligible to play in Friday’s match against the Shanghai Dragons. Unfortunately the League Office did not determine he was ineligible until shortly before Boston’s match was set to begin, and we apologize for that oversight

Overwatch League official statement

Let’s think through this timeline:

  • 8pm – Boston submits their roster to the League
  • 9:43pm – Boston tweets out their starting six roster
  • Minutes before 10pm match start – Fusions is told he can’t play.
  • 10:36pm (well after the match started) – Boston tweets out this update

Who is responsible for this mess? Obviously, with the League apologizing, they hold some responsibility. More than anyone, they should have known who was eligible to play and responded swiftly to Boston’s starting roster. That’s not to say the Uprising is blameless. Teams and players are responsible for knowing the League rules and should have known this. Fusions was projected into the starting six and scrimmed all week with the team. Boston was at a disadvantage before the match even started.

Heated rivalry?

On top of this, you have Gamsu, Shanghai’s main tank. Boston’s former captain and fan-favorite tank player was traded to Shanghai just two days before the start of the season. Gamsu claims he was “blindsided by the trade.” However, Uprising Team President Huk disputed this on Reddit. These conflicting accounts only added fuel to the fire. Regardless of who is right, it’s unlikely that Gamsu didn’t play with a bit of a chip on his shoulder.

Boston and Shanghai’s match had too many combustable ingredients for one match. Ownership drama. Officiating mistakes. Fans overwhelmingly on one side. Player drama. An upsurging, winless franchise. Blase’s birthday. How would the actual match play out?

Ilios

All eyes were on Boston’s hero selection. With Fusions pulled out, Axxiom took his spot on Rein. Colourhex played on the Sombra, Additionally, Boston played a Wreckingball, Lucio, Moira, Winston, and DVa. Interestingly, Shanghai would employ the Phar-Mercy combo. With no anti-air counter, DDing (on Pharah) and Coma (on Mercy) had free range to pepper the Uprising with Rockets all the way from their spawn to the point. Colourhex performed well enough as Sombra, but the Uprising were more often than not the worse victims of the EMP. This would foreshadow future problems. While it was a close stage 1, Shanghai would win it 100% – 48%.

Stage 2 saw both teams play mirroring three tank team comps. Unfortunately for Boston, Gamsu’s aggression steamrolled the Uprising. They took the point from the start and never let go. Winning 100% – 0%.

Kings Row

Boston would play on offense first. Surprisingly, they put Note on the Reaper. Was this a genius move? Hard to say. Throughout the round, Shanghai played with more trepidation and less willingness to engage. With the amount of damage that Reaper has, the dynamic changed. It proved difficult for Boston to get the last point after causing through the first two. Take for example, Note popping his first (and only) Death Blossom of the round:

https://twitter.com/LoadScr33n/status/1099521892300533760

Getting stunned and tossed off the map after spending all round building to an ultimate hurt. Meanwhile, DDing on Sombra continued to pull off devastating EMPs. At the last defense, he was particularly effective. DDing quickly earned and used EMPs, a fatal blow after he often would hit all six Uprising players. What made DDing work so well was his coordination with Gamsu and his teammates. The EMPs were seemingly always followed by an Earthshatter or Graviton. After several pushes and with no time left, Boston was able to capture the last point.

With Shanghai on offense, Boston continued to fall prey to DDing and the Sombra. He methodically stalked the back line, hacking stray players, calling out the Uprising’s positioning, and fleeing the few times he was spotted. Specifically, between point 1 and 2, he hit all 6 players of the Uprising with an EMP on two separate occasions. The Uprising simply had no answer to it. Shanghai got through the last point with over two minutes. As a result, they made quick work of getting a tick on their next pass through to win the map.

Horizon Lunar Colony

First wave

Moving to Assault mode, Boston would plant the seeds for countering DDing and Sombra. How did they do it? First, Shanghai helped. Boston took the longer outdoor route and were instantly hit with the EMP en route to Point A. Fortunately, the Dragons weren’t coordinated enough to reap the benefits. Second, Aimgod started popping the Transcendence preemptively. This became a meta game between the two as they began baiting each other. Would Aimgod use the Transcend too early? Could DDing hold off his trigger finger and wait him out?

Shanghai got through both points with over two minutes on the clock, but that’s peanuts compared to the Dragons. On offense, Shanghai absolutely steamrolled, capturing both points with over six minutes in the bank.

Second wave

With their second turn on offense, Boston continued to run to Point A through the longer outdoors trek. They captured it quickly, but were thwarted in a snowball attempt on Point B by more EMPs from DDing. However, they were able to stagger on the point. Shanghai couldn’t wipe them all out. Specifically, Axxiom showed up with a minute to spare, caught Gamsu out of position, and Earthshattered the Dragons. After the mop up, Boston took Point B with seconds to spare.

With all the time in the world, Shanghai methodically pushed through the two points. DDing continued to quickly gain EMPs, thwart the Uprising’s ability to respond, and have his main tanks swarm in and clean up anyone else. Notably, Kellex started to show his ability to counter the EMP. He played away from the rest of the team and dropped in after the EMP with his Sound Barrier. As a result, this helped the Uprising sustain until the EMP wore off and delayed the inevitable capture.

Third wave

With only a minute on the clock, Boston’s chances of getting both points were slim. However, they were able to push up to two ticks on Point A. Shanghai, with over two minutes, had more to play with. Sadly, they were up to the task.

Rialto

What do you do when you’re the first team to ever lose to Shanghai? When you’re a map away from getting swept? First thing you need is attitude. And holy hell did Boston have the attitude down:

https://twitter.com/LoadScr33n/status/1099536781173755904
Kellex and Aimgod literally burned a hole through their monitor with those stares

Attitude may help but you still have to perform. And, well… with Boston on offense, they were unable to get to the second point. Kellex seemed tilted and was the first to get picked off by the Dragons in nearly ever fight. A full sweep seemed inevitable.

On defense, Boston started by hiding off-path of Shanghai’s spawn. While a novel idea, like everything else, DDing spotted them while cloaked and called them out. After getting swept out, Shanghai had little to do to secure victory. But as the round wore on, the Uprising did something they couldn’t pull off all night – consistently stomping DDing. Kellex wall ran around the map and swooped in again with the Sound Barrier after one EMP. In another misfire for Shanghai, Blasé stunned DDing right as he popped the EMP. Where were these EMP counters all night? And look what it got them – Boston held the point and saved some degree of face.

Analysis

What an absolutely horrendous night. Just about everything that could have gone wrong, did. It’s hard not to feel as an Uprising fan that you got kicked in the gut. I wish I could say a few days separated from it happening has made it easier to accept, but that’s not the case. Let me go through, rapid fire, the bad. Don’t worry, I’ll leave something hopeful at the end so you know there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

Bad

1. Colourhex didn’t seem to integrate onto the team well. He had his moments where he pulled some plays, but he isn’t meant to play Zarya. With Axxiom forced to go from Zarya to Rein last minute, the whole team seemed uncoordinated. How much of that is Colourhex, last minute craziness, or the Dragons can’t be clarified.

2. Good god did DDing have a day. These numbers may stand the test of time. 152 enemies hacked? This guy must work for the Russians or something because he is a hacking savant. The Uprising have struggled against Sombra all season and until the meta shifts, they need to look at those few times it they countered the EMP and build from there.

The obvious MVP of the match

3. Excuses are a dime a dozen and worth less, but it’s hard not to wonder about ‘what if’. Specifically, what if Fusions is in this game? Does his aggressive style keep Shanghai in check? Without a last minute addition of Axxiom on Rein, do the Uprising play the way they scrimmed all week?

4. Where was Alamou? It seems like at some point Kellex wasn’t getting the job done and a change at support may have helped. The Brazilian is a Lucio main, and may have been better at dropping Sound Barriers to counter the EMP.

5. Blase did not bring any birthday magic. Sad.

6. Remember when we thought a charge of prostitution on the team’s owner would be the biggest drama of the night?

Good

7. Be happy for Gamsu. The former main tank was a great player for Boston and established a winning culture here. He gave us his all and was a part of many of the best moments from our first season. We shouldn’t harbor any ill feelings towards him. Maybe he was offered to go into coaching and thought he had something left in the tank. He clearly does. It’s nice to see him get a chance to play and show what he can do. You just wish it wasn’t against Boston.

https://twitter.com/LoadScr33n/status/1099541470527266818

8. Goodness must these guys have a chip on their shoulder. Losing to Shanghai is more than just lighting a fire under them, it’s like igniting a nuclear bomb under their collective rear ends. We’re going to learn very quickly how these guys respond to adversity. With a 1-2 record, there’s no time left to waste if they’re going to make it to stage 1 playoffs. The motto stays the same. PROVE. THEM. WRONG.

For all the latest on the Overwatch League and Boston Uprising, please follow me on Twitter #BostonUp

Why and How the Patriots Should Trade for Antonio Brown

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The crisis surrounding Antonio Brown and the Pittsburgh Steelers seems to evolve every day. We have now reached the point where the Steelers are willing to part ways with their star receiver. Not only that but they have asked his agent to help facilitate finding a trade. Currently there are apparently three teams who have enquired about a trade. Given the Steelers statement about not trading Brown to certain place it is unlikely the New England Patriots are one of those teams. However, they should be interested because there is a way they could get Brown on their roster.

A Wonderful Talent

How good Brown is at the wide receiver position has been somewhat lost in the uproar over his behaviour. The 30-year old receiver has been in the league now for nine seasons, and has been selected to the Pro Bowl in seven of those seasons. The only two seasons he was not selected, were his rookie season and his third season. In those two seasons he only played in a combined 22 games. In every other season of his career he has played in at least 15 games.

What he has done when on the field is incredible. Over his entire career Brown averaged 86.2 yards per game with an average of 6.4 receptions per game and 13.4 yards per reception. In addition, Brown averages 0.56 touchdowns per game, and has scored double digit touchdowns in four seasons.

Brown’s not slowing down either, despite being 30. Last season he was targeted 168 times, for 1297 yards and a league leading 15 receiving touchdowns. His receptions per game were slightly down on the previous five seasons, but he still registered a 62% catch rate.

Needs Outweigh the Risks

There is no denying the Patriots need a receiver. They gambled on Josh Gordon in 2018, but he could not shake his history. That means that the Patriots still need an answer on the outside. They have struggled to draft a receiver, so trading for one seems like the correct answer.

The issue with trading for Brown is slightly different, but no less complex. Brown’s outbursts have been an on and off distraction for the Steelers, and the Patriots will need a structure for dealing with it. The positive is that the Patriots only real stars are Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. Both will likely to be happy to share the spotlight with Brown. Additionally, he is unlikely to be called out by either of them the way he feels he has been in Pittsburgh.

The Patriots have shown the willingness to gamble on character risks in the past. Some have worked out, such as Randy Moss, and some have not, Albert Haynesworth and Josh Gordon. In the past those risk have largely been on character only. This risk would also be financial. In year one the burden of the cap would be on the Steelers, but after that Brown is still due a total of $37 million on the cap. Ultimately I think it is worth the risk, but it is a bigger risk that they have taken before.

The How

The Steelers have made it pretty clear they will not trade Brown to their main rivals. That absolutely includes the Patriots. Therefore, the Patriots need to be creative if they are to have a chance at Brown. One option would be to make the Steelers an offer so good they would struggle to refuse. However, that will likely still not work if the Steelers stick to their principles.

The second option involves taking a leaf from the baseball and basketball worlds. In those sports three team trades are common, but football it is not. The slight difference here is that the Patriots need to do it without the Steelers knowing they are involved. Instead what they would need is to offer an incentive to another team to first trade for Brown, and then trade him onto the Patriots. The Patriots would have to offer to return the value the team paid for Brown and give them something extra.

That might just be a pick upgrade. Such as if a team traded a pick in the top 10 of the second round, the Patriots could offer their #1 and a lower compensatory pick to sweeten the deal. Another option would be if the other team wanted one of the Patriots upcoming free agents. It is not entirely honorable, but they could try signing him to an extension before free agency and then send him to the other team.

Would it Work?

The Patriots would need to make such a good offer the middle team could not refuse. That team is likely to take a lot of stick for helping the Patriots acquire a player of Brown’s talent. That negative press may be too much for any team to risk, but it is worth picking up the phone.

The delicate balancing act is that the Patriots need to enquire without any of those teams telling the Steelers. If the Steelers get a whiff of what the Patriots are doing they may try and insert a clause into the trade. I am not sure of the legality of doing that, but it is definitely a consideration.

What matters most here is that Brown is a wonderful, if somewhat troubled, talent. The chance to get a talent like that does not come around often, and the Patriots should absolutely consider it.

Featured image courtesy of NBC Sports

Braxton Berrios: Cut Candidate or Slot Receiver of the Future?

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The New England Patriots drafted Miami wide receiver Braxton Berrios in the sixth round of the 2018 draft. The stereotypes were all present: quick, agile, white slot receiver with good hands and route running. Many draft analysts called this pick weeks in advance, and when it happened it seemed Berrios could be of help early on.

New England had just dealt Brandin Cooks to the Rams and lost Danny Amendola to the Dolphins, so receiver was an area of need. They did have the likes of aging Kenny Britt and Jordan Matthews on the roster, but the loss of Amendola was what really concerned people.

With Julian Edelman sidelined in 2017 and suspended for four games in 2018, slot receiver depth was depleted. Enter Braxton Berrios.

After a very successful career at the University of Miami, Berrios projected to be a late round pick due to his of lack of NFL traits. His height was a concern, being 5’9″, and his catchability was also brought into question because of this. Scouts believed him to be good enough to potentially be a backup or on special teams, similar to what Julian Edelman projected.

Even with his negative characteristics, Bill Belichick obviously liked him enough to not wait until after the draft. He nabbed him with 210th overall pick, and must have had good thoughts in mind because he was the only receiver Belichick drafted. With Edelman suspended and not 100%, and Amendola cashing in, Berrios seemed to have a starting job staring him in the face.

Riley McCarron was the only slot receiver on the roster at the time, but Berrios seemed to have a better skill set. The preseason was going to be the ultimate determination on which slot guy the Pats would carry. However, that decision was made for New England, as Berrios got injured and was placed on Injured Reserve.

So, assuming he’s fully healthy at the start of OTA’s, what does the future hold for Berrios? He will have an opportunity to earn his roster spot, as the Pats only have Edelman signed for 2019. Although, this is going to change, with multiple receivers expected to be signed for next season. There are a few big slot receivers on the market, especially Golden Tate and Adam Humphries.

While Berrios will have his work cut out for him when these receivers are signed, he does have an advantage. He was able to learn the playbook and play with the offense for training camp last year. Director of Player Personnel Nick Caserio also had some encouraging things to say about him:

“[He’s] an impressive kid,” Caserio said following the draft. “This guy’s really, really smart. He graduated in, I want to say three to three-and-a-half years, whatever it was. Played inside the formation at the University of Miami, really productive, really tough, good traits, smart, good quickness.”

While it is obvious the Patriots like his ability and potential, there simply might not be room for him. It is within the realm of possibility that Berrios could beat out some of the free agents or draftees mentioned earlier. However, the more likely scenario is Berrios ending up on the practice squad.

New England prefers to hang onto their late round draft picks instead of cut them, and that’s the foreseeable future for the former Hurricane. He has the traits and ability to maybe, potentially, be the heir to Julian Edelman’s throne. Of course, that hinges on Berrios sticking around for another 3-4 years.

Berrios could stay on the active roster in the meantime on special teams, similar to 2009-2010 Edelman. He would be the backup to the backup slot receiver, Dwight Schrute style, but he would be getting valuable reps. His punt return ability is also something the Patriots value greatly and could also land him a roster spot. This is less likely than the practice squad, but is still possible with how little depth the Pats currently have.

However, another question is: Could Berrios be cut?

The answer is yes, but winding up on the practice squad is still the biggest possibility. The Patriots had a similar situation with Austin Carr a couple years ago; Carr was an undrafted slot receiver but there was not enough room on the active roster. After a very successful preseason, New England opted to cut Carr rather than place him on the practice squad.

He was immediately gobbled up by the Saints and placed on their practice squad. Carr is now a productive player for New Orleans, and the Pats certainly could have used his depth in 2018.

Berrios is similar, and should be signed to the practice squad if he performs well. If he comes into training camp and tears it up however, there is a real possibility that his versatility could land him a spot on the 53. This would most likely be for special teams and depth reasons, but the opportunities would be there.

If he does not perform though, it is possible that he ends up on the practice squad. But being cut as apart of roster cutdowns is more than likely to happen if he does underperform.

So to answer the question, “Cut candidate or slot receiver of the future?”, it is easier to see the former. Berrios is going to have a ton of competition come summer time, and is still a sixth round pick. He does have special teams value, which could land him a roster spot. “Slot receiver of the future” on the other hand does not seem feasible at this point though.

Will Standing Pat Cost the Celtics?

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If you click over to Sportsbook Review, you can find the online sportsbook of your choice. And when you decide which book is right for you, there you will also see that the oddsmakers from all the majors are hanging odds on the Boston Celtics to win the NBA championship at +950. That’s right, the Shamrocks are tied with the Bucks as the third choice, trailing only the Golden State Warriors (-230), and Toronto Raptors (+750). It makes sense, due in large part because the Celtics have owned the 76ers and the Raps appear to be the beasts of the East.

But as the season has progressed the Celtics have sputtered on numerous occasions. Their 37-21 record at the break is good but not breathtaking. Boston has 24 games remaining and questions linger about Gordon Hayward and Jaylen Brown. Hayward has shown flashes of the All-Star he was in Utah but too often he has been out of sync and overly cautious in his approach. Meanwhile, Jaylen Brown appears to be miffed about being relegated to the bench and often plays as though he wants to take his ball and go home. If there are two reasons why the Celtics are underachieving this season, there they are.

Unfortunately for Boston, their chief rivals were not content to battle with the cohort they put together at the beginning of the season. Philadelphia added Tobias Harris after acquiring Jimmy Butler in November. The Raptors, armed with superstar Kawhi Leonard, added veteran Marc Gasol as a valuable sixth man off the bench. Milwaukee wheeled a deal for veteran point guard George Hill to complement their roster. All the while the Celtics have stood still and watched their Eastern Conference rivals bolster their lineups. Danny Ainge is not the kind of general manager to take a backseat to anyone but making a move, for the sake of making a move, smacks of panic as opposed to a strategic strike.

An NBA scout, speaking on the condition of anonymity with Sports Illustrated, had this to say about Boston’s chances this season. “This team can win the East or get beat in the first round. They have great talent but sometimes they have no chemistry,” the scout told SI. “Kyrie Irving is having one of his best seasons, maybe his best. He’s the same pure scorer and one of the best fourth-quarter closers in the league. But when he gets it going, there is a tendency for everyone to watch him. When they make four or five passes, they are tough to guard.”

And that is pretty much the Celtics in a nutshell. They rely so heavily on the heroics of Kyrie Irving that they pretty much give him the ball, cross their fingers, and hope the rock drops through the hole. The team chemistry that was so evident last season has abandoned this edition and much of it has to do with the young guys, Tatum included, who have lost their soulful, reckless abandon of last year.

However, this group is far from a lost cause. The Celtics are winning nearly 64 percent of their games and have come out on top in 12 of their last 15 games. Hardly the stuff of losers. No, this is a talented team and on paper, they may be the best in the East. But paper doesn’t win games and Gordon Hayward must deliver the goods down the stretch whether he’s coming off the bench or in a starting role. We are nearly three-quarters of the way through the season and he is still not right. But, unlike earlier in the season, Hayward has at least shown signs of brilliance lately. If the Celtics are to contend in the postseason, he will need to turn back the clock to before his gruesome injury and be the player he was as a member of the Jazz.

What the Machado Deal Means for Boston

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Finally. It took until February the 19th, but Manny Machado has found his new home. Machado is now on his way to San Diego for the next decade. This has to be close to the best case scenario for Boston. The former Dodger was rumored to be between the Yankees, White Sox and Phillies. So with the Red Sox’ rival, a fellow AL competitor and a potential NL World Series representative all missing out on a generational player, the Sox have to be happy with how things culminated. If Machado had chosen a different path in free agency it could’ve really changed things. However, since he is about to be a Padre, let’s analyze how the other scenarios could have affected Boston and its future.

Scenario One: Machado picks the other Sox

Of the three candidates who were tied to Manny all winter, the White Sox posed the smallest threat. Their team isn’t quite ready to contend, with a lot of young pieces on the major league roster still trying to find their place in the league. If the White Sox could’ve have pulled Machado along with Bryce Harper, then they would be much closer to contention. However, even the current White Sox roster + Machado would still be unlikely to win their division. The battle of the Sox will occur seven times this year, which is about the yearly average that the two teams play. Not having to play Machado an extra seven games a year is definitely a small win for the Red Sox.

Scenario Two: Machado heads to the City of Brotherly Love

This scenario scares me as much as any. As is, the Phillies have a roster that is capable of doing damage deep into October. They have big bats, a solid bullpen, and an ace heading their rotation. If you add a star like Manny Machado to the lineup Philly already has, they’re likely the easy favorite to come out of the NL. Now this wouldn’t be the end of the world for Boston. You might remember them beating this Machado guy in the World Series once before. The Phillies really could’ve made a splash by signing Machado and/or Harper, and it would have vaulted them to the top of the NL and near the top of the league. Unfortunately for Phillies fans, ownership wasn’t willing to meet his demands. This doesn’t take the Phillies out of World Series contention by any means, but for a potential World Series matchup with the Phillies, this certainly makes life easier on Boston.

Scenario Three: Machado joins the Evil Empire

Okay, this scenario is the most scary. Yeah, the Sox handled Machado in the division before. Yes, they just beat him in the World Series. And yes, they just eliminated the Yankees in four games. However, this would have been very, very scary. With Manny joining a lineup of Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Gary Sanchez would be lethal. He would have the opportunity to play shortstop for the New York Yankees, something millions of kids grew up dreaming about. The Yankees were always rumored to be on Manny, and at times it felt like it was inevitable. However, the Yankees lost too much ground in the Machado sweepstakes in the last couple of weeks. The repercussions of Manny coming to New York are obvious. Roughly twenty times a season over the next decade we’d have to face him. Even though the Red Sox starters have pitched him well over his career, that is still a task that Boston is lucky they don’t have to face.

Classic!

Devin McCourty not retiring quite yet

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Devin McCourty was one of the Patriots who was flirting with retirement before the Super Bowl. Along with Rob Gronkowski, the eldest McCourty brother was unsure prior to the big game whether he would return to Foxboro in 2019.

He put all of those rumors to bed on Thursday, however, when he went on the Sports Spectrum Podcast.

“Yeah, I’m going to play,” McCourty stated.

The veteran safety went on to say, ” I think once you get a chance to step away for a couple of weeks, you’re like I still do want to be around these young guys that come in.”

There was a growing suspicion that if the Patriots won Super Bowl 53, the 31 year-old would ride off into the sunset with a third Lombardi. McCourty has a multitude of off-field activities, including his sickle-cell charity work. It made sense that a Super Bowl win would give the safety a good ending to a great career and an opportunity to focus his efforts on charitable pursuits.

McCourty signed a 5 year extension after the 2014 season, and at the time was the highest paid safety. If he does return to the Patriots, he will have a cap hit of $13.45 million for the 2019 season. This is obviously extremely high for an aging safety and not the team friendly contract the Pats prefer.

Assuming New England hangs on to McCourty, a contract restructure will undoubtedly be on the agenda. He is still a productive player, recording 82 tackles, 4 forced fumbles, and one pick-six this past season. More importantly, he is the heart and soul of the secondary, and is a perennial team captain.

Devin McCourty reached the top speed in the NFL during this Monday Night interception against Buffalo.

The smart move for New England is to keep McCourty for his last season under contract. Of course, this hinges on a restructure, which would reduce his 2019 cap hit. Hopefully he will be open to the idea, since he already has plans on winning number seven for New England.

“If you play this game only for Super Bowls, you’re going to be very empty. Because as soon as you win it, it’s all about how you can win it next year. … You have to play for so much more,” he told the Sports Spectrum Podcast.

The new league season starts on March 14th, so this is when you can expect the majority of deals to go down. The Patriots would like to see if McCourty would take a pay cut before this however, so they can have a better idea of where they’re at financially.

This offseason promises to be a crazy one, and the Patriots are right in the thick of it. Restructuring Devin McCourty should be a top priority for New England, along with resigning his brother Jason. Hopefully with Devin back in a Pats uniform, the youngest McCourty will sign on for another year.

Follow @bossportsextra on Twitter to stay up to date on all NFL offseason news.

Bold Predictions For The 2019 Red Sox

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It seems like only yesterday millions of Red Sox fans cheered as Chris Sale brought Manny Macedo down to one knee with a nasty slider down and in to win the World Series. Now it is officially time to close the book on the 2018 Red Sox as spring training is underway. In two days the Sox will play their first game of spring training against the New York Yankees. Before the first pitch of 2019 is thrown here are some bold predictions for the defending world series champions.

Xander Bogarts Will Be A 30 HR 100 RBI Player

Xander Bogarts is coming off the best season of his career in 2018. Bogarts batted .288 with and ops of .833 with a career high in homeruns 23, and RBI 103. It seems like Bogarts has turned a corner in his career entering the final year of his deal. With the young shortstop in line to make big money at the end of the year everything is set up for Bogarts to have a huge year. With Manny Macedo setting the market with his huge 10 year, 300 million dollar contract with the Padres. Bogarts will have some extra motivation to get those power numbers. This will be the season he finally reaches his true potential.

Rodriguez Will Emerge As The Number Three Starter

Since he arrived in Boston the story with Eduardo Rodriguez has always been about his potential. So far he has not lived up to the hype and has struggled with health and control for most of his career. Reports out of spring training have been centered around Rodriguez bulking up and his new “knockout” pitch. Putting batters away has always been a problem for the lefty as his fastball at around 93mph doesn’t set up his inconsistent breaking balls. Every year a starter emerges that and has a great year that no one expects. Whether it was Rick Porcello winning the cy young, or Drew Pomeranz actually knowing how to pitch. This year its Rodriguez turn to shine.

Uprising Stage 1 Week 2 Preview: Shanghai Dragons

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Friday, February 22nd @ 10 P.M. – Boston Uprising vs. Shanghai Dragons

​​​After opening week the Boston Uprising see themselves having scaled from bottom tier in most preseason rankings to tenth in the league standings. With only a Friday game on the docket, Boston has had a week to prepare for their one opponent – the Shanghai Dragons. Winless in the inaugural Overwatch League season and already 0-2 this year, can the fan favorite Dragons break through for their first win?

It’s High Noon

Most of the drama surrounding this matchup will center around Noh ‘Gamsu’ Yeong-Jin, the South Korean former main tank and captain of the Boston Uprising. Traded to Shanghai just two days before the season, Gamsu will play a critical role in the match’s outcome. One has to assume that he has a chip on his shoulder being passed over for Uprising’s current main tanks Axxiom and Fusions. Given Boston’s performance without him in week 1 he likely will be playing with an axe to grind. As a result, expect the broadcast and casters to focus attention on Gamsu. Lastly, he will have had a full week to prepare and integrate with his team. Look for his signature Winston to try to pop off and disrupt the Uprising in this match

Observant fans, however, will see the addition of Colourhex to the Uprising as the more impactful roster move. Coming off his 2 game suspension, the dps player adds flexibility the team sorely lacked week 1. As a result, the New Zealander likely would play either Zarya or Sombra. Colourhex’s ability to flex between the two gives Boston a better chance to not get rolled as they did last week. Shanghai may mimic the NYXL and Outlaws Sombra comp that consistently devastated Boston. Armed with a dps that can flex to a Sombra of their own, expect Boston to come out better prepared than they’ve been all season.

Boston and Shanghai will play on Ilios, King’s Row, Horizon Lunar Colony, and Rialto

With Colourhex in the match someone has to hit the bench. With Note on off tank and Colourhex on Zarya the choice falls to Fusions or Axxiom. Given his breakthrough performance in his Contenders call up and first OWL match (with two days notice!) it’s unlikely the Brit will be pulled. As a result, expect Axxiom to only see stage time if Boston runs a Winston comp. If Colourhex can adapt to his first OWL match and quickly integrate with the team there’s no reason to think the Uprising can’t beat their week 1 performance.

Justice Rains From Above

This is not to say Shanghai doesn’t have a lot to prove. Their current winless streak has brought them near universal admiration from the OWL community. Boston should expect to receive the full ire of of the audience. In their matches during the opening week, Shanghai stood out by playing unique comps. Playing dive and a 3 support, 2 dps, 1 tank comp, the Dragons aren’t afraid to play unconventionally. Boston will need to prepare for several possible comps.

Lastly, Shanghai’s off tank Geguri deserves a lot of credit. Not just the only female player in the league, but already a top Hammond player. Her play on Horizon Lunar Colony against the Spark was easily their brightest moment in the match. If her and Gamsu can get on the same page and get something from their support line, they could finally get their elusive first victory.

Match Preview

After being thrown in the trash heap by every talking head, the Uprising already put those hot takes into the freezer. Barely falling to the NYXL and enduring a 5 map match to the Outlaws, Boston is playing with purpose. They are a much better team than everyone (except us Uprising fans) expected. I love the passion that’s coming out of these guys. They have a chip on their shoulder and they want to prove people wrong.

Motivation and talent are all great but in a league with as much parity as this, Boston can’t take anything for granted. Fusions has to keep improving. Coaches are going to have to balance a stacked tank line to optimize for the GOATS meta. Colourhex will have no time to adjust and needs to prove himself straight away. Everyone has to fill their role.

Prediction

All that said, Boston should roll Shanghai. There won’t be any miracle happening in L.A. For a team that has language barriers, new players, and hasn’t sniffed a win in over a season, Shanghai isn’t ready for what Boston will be bringing. Expect this to be a statement game for the Uprising where they put everyone on notice. They’re coming for the stage 1 playoffs and no winless Dragons team or anyone else is going to stop them. 
This season’s goal remains the same. PROVE. THEM. WRONG.

For all the latest on the Overwatch League and Boston Uprising, please follow me on Twitter #BostonUp

What Boston sports fans have to look forward to in 2019

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2018 was a bumper year for Boston in terms of sports, and 2019 is already shaping up to give it a run for its money. With two defending champions determined to hang onto their titles and some serious contenders elsewhere, sports fans here in the City of Champions have much to look forward to as the various sporting seasons unroll.

The Patriots

Following their Super Bowl win and the ensuing Duck Boat Parade, the New England Patriots take a well-deserved break as they look forward to what the 2019 schedule has to offer. They’ll begin training in July before the regular season kicks off in September, and we already know that they’ll be facing the Buffalo Bills, the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets both at home and away. The Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants will also be coming to the Gillette Stadium, while the Patriots will travel to Washington and Philadelphia to face the Redskins and the Eagles respectively. Rematches with the Baltimore Ravens, the Cincinnati Bengals, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns are also on the schedule.

The Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox open their season on March 28, traveling to Seattle to go up against the Mariners. Their first home game will be on April 9 against the Toronto Blue Jays. Other matches to look forward to include the 2018 World Series rematch against the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 12-14 and their London Series match against the New York Yankees at the London Stadium on June 29-30, the first venue in Europe to play host to Major League Baseball.

As spring training gets underway, the Red Sox are naturally hoping to be the first team to win the World Series twice running since the Yankees in 2000. Rumors are already flying about any changes to the line-up. Tom Werner (chair) and John Henry (owner) have admitted that they’re keen to hang onto starting pitcher Chris Sale and shortstop Xander Bogaerts, both of whom are set to become free agents at the end of 2019. It’s also been reported that they intend using Steven Wright as a full-time relief pitcher following his recovery from injury.

Dustin Pedroia is also back from surgery, and his fixed left knee seems to be standing up just fine. Hopefully, J. D. Martinez will have a good enough season to want to stay in Boston at the end of it, but Craig Kimbrel looks unlikely to re-sign.

Fans looking for something to keep them occupied when there isn’t a big game on have plenty of diversions online. The Betfair Casino first deposit bonus is a generous incentive to get you started playing a wide range of casino games that can provide a welcome break from sporting excitement.

The Bruins

The Bruins kicked off 2019 in fine style, taking two points from the Chicago Blackhawks in the Winter Classic. Their next priority is rounding out an already great team in the draft. There’s much speculation over who exactly they might sign, but it’s almost certain that they’ll return to the playoffs come spring. A rematch with the Maple Leafs is also on the cards, and it’s a game that the Bruins are predicted to win with ease.

The Celtics

Over on the basketball courts, the Celtics have had a mixed season so far: great by most teams’ standards but disappointing according to their own. That said, many still think that they’re in with a chance at the finals – not least Jayson Tatum, who publically claimed that the Celtics were going to win the championship this year. It’s a bold prediction, but it’s not without foundation. Last year, they missed the finals by just one win when two All-Stars down. This season, they’re currently fourth-placed to win, and have some tough games coming up. Whatever the outcome, it’s sure to make exciting viewing for the fans.

That promise of excitement stands for Boston sports fans whatever field you follow. In addition to the big team sports, there’s also this year’s Boston Marathon come April 15 and the Head of the Charles Regatta later in the year. Going into 2019 with two defending major league champions playing in the city, it’s easy to think that sport is all about title wins, but that isn’t the case. It’s about taking part and feeling part of a real community. From football to baseball, basketball to hockey, soccer to sailing, sporting communities are something that Boston has in spades.     

Rob Gronkowski will most likely be back

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Rob Gronkowski will be back

Via Sporting News

A year ago this time Rob Gronkowski was contemplating retirement. The Patriots just lost the Super Bowl and Gronkowski was looking to move on from football. He did that weird motocross press conference in March and wasn’t talking about playing in 2018. After that press conference Belichick had a talk with him about coming back or he’s going to be traded. Then Gronkowski made a video after that meeting stating he would come back. After the Patriots lost to the Detroit Lions eariler in the season Gronkowski confirmed he was almost traded but said he’d only play again if Tom Brady was the quarterback.

Gronkowski is weighing his options

Throughout the 2018 season Gronkowski was battling back and other injuries. He really wasn’t himself all year and it was a wonder if he was hanging it up after this season. The Patriots got the number two seed and Gronkowski seemed good to go for the playoffs. He mostly blocked in the win against the Los Angeles Chargers. He made some big plays in the AFC Championship game in Kansas City. Finally during the Super Bowl he made a game changing catch to set up the game winning touchdown. When it came down to it Gronkowski was clutch as ever when it mattered the most.

The difference between last off season and this off season there’s no drama. What really helped was winning the Super Bowl when people counted them out. But Gronkowski is a key asset to that offense even though he gets hurt easily. His blocking skills can open holes for Sony Michel, and James White. He’s been at the Stadium seeing doctors since the Super Bowl weighing his options to see if it’s worth coming back for another season. Rumors are that he told teammates he wants a seventh ring.

In my opinion he’s probably going to comeback to get another ring. At this point he’s not going to get traded or ask for a trade he only wants to play for Brady. Also Brady will probably ask him to comeback for another season amd get treatment at TB12 to help with his back. At the end of the day Gronkowski knows his best chance at winning a Super Bowl is with the Patriots. He has plenty of time to make movies but only has a few years left with Brady as the quarterback.