Down On The Farm 7/14-7/20 (@Pr1m3_Kyr1e)

Leave a reply

Down on the farm is a series in which every weekend, I will be providing weekly results from the Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA), the Portland Sea Dogs (AA), Salem Red Sox (High A), and Lowell Spinners (Class A short season). After every team is recapped, individual stats are listed and dissected. Also, a “prospect of the week” will be featured at the end.

Pawtucket Red Sox

Pawtucket went 3-4 on the week and they are now 45-51 on the season. The Red Sox started off the week with a 4-0 win on Saturday. William Cuevas threw a shutout over seven innings and Oscar Hernandez drove in three runs. They continued there momentum with a 5-3 win on Sunday. Trevor Kelley picked up the win by throwing three scoreless innings of relief and Lind and Renda knocked in two runs each. Pawtucket won again on Monday, 8-6. Robby Scott got the win in two innings of relief and Mike Olt went bridge.

The Sox lost on Tuesday in eleven innings. Trevor Kelley gave up the game-winning run and Hernandez gave up two runs. They lost again on Wednesday by the score of 3-0. Drew Pomeranz gave up one run in six innings but he picked up the loss because the offense couldn’t get anything going. Pawtucket could not survive on Thursday and fell 4-3. Ty Buttery gave up two runs in an inning of relief and the offense was stifled. They closed out the week with a 7-4 loss on Friday. They were leading, but Robby Scott and Trevor Kelley gave up six runs in the eighth to blow it.

Portland Sea Dogs

Portland started off the week with a 6-5 win on Saturday. Matthew Gorst picked up the win by throwing three scoreless innings of relief and Danny Mars knocked in three runs. They lost on Sunday by a score of 3-1. Matthew Kent allowed two runs over eight innings but he picked up the loss because the offense could not prevail. Monday was no better, as they lost 16-2. Trey Ball gave up eight runs in 1.2 innings and the offense was stymied. Portland rebounded and won on Tuesday, 1-0. Dedgar Jimenez threw seven scoreless innings and Jordan Betts knocked in a run.

The Sea Dogs continued there momentum and won 2-1 on Wednesday. Ockimey and Nunez both drove in a run and Mike Shawaryn allowed one run over six innings. They won again on Thursday by the score of 10-0. Josh Ockimey drove in three runs and Teddy Stankiewicz tossed a shutout over eight innings. Portland closed out the week with a 6-0 win. Ockimey knocked in four runs and Matthew Kent gave up no runs in eight innings.

Salem Red Sox

The Red Sox went 1-5 on the week and they are now 47-49 on the season. Salem started off the week with a 16-1 loss on Saturday. Daniel Gonzalez did not record an out and gave up six runs. They bounced back and won 7-4 on Sunday. Dalbec drove in two runs and Cooney got the win in three innings of relief. The Red Sox lost on Monday by the score of 5-2. Thompson gave up three runs in six innings and the offense was stifled.

They lost 1-0 on Wednesday after an off day on Tuesday. The offense got slowed down and Cosart gave up the game-winning hit in the tenth. Salem won on Thursday by the score of 4-1. Scott knocked in two runs and Hernandez gave up one run over five innings. They closed out the week with a 6-1 loss on Friday. The offense was not productive and Gonzalez gave up four runs in six innings.

Lowell Spinners

Lowell went 7-0 on the week and they are now 20-14 on the season. The Spinners started off the week with an 8-4 won on Saturday. LeGrant knocked in two runs and Yorvin Pantoja got the win by allowing three runs over 5.2 innings. They continued their momentum with a 6-2 win on Sunday. Cottam drove in two runs and Haworth picked up the win in four innings of relief. Lowell won again on Monday by a score of 4-3. Biondic picked up the win by giving up one run in 2.2 innings while the offense was quiet.

On Tuesday, the game got postponed and they swept a doubleheader on Wednesday. Granberg went deep in the first game and Garcia got the win in the second game. The Spinners won a high scoring affair on Thursday by a score of 13-7. Duran drove in three runs and Mosqueda got the win. They closed out the week with a 3-1 win on Friday. Pantoja picked up the win by allowing just one hit in five innings.

 

Prospect Of The Week- CJ Chatham

Chatham

Courtesy of Kelly O’Connor

Age 23, plays for Salem

Hitting .298 this year

Number 10 ranked prospect in the organization

Plays shortstop

Julian Edelman Will Not Appeal His Suspension

Leave a reply

Julian Edelman Won’t Take Further Action

(AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Julian Edelman will not take any further action and appeal his four-game suspension. He will be out for the first four games of the season. This is a blow to the Patriots offense to begin the year with the loss of Amendola. Tom Brady will have to rely on other players to step up and make plays. Chris Hogan, Malcolm Mitchell, and Rob Gronkowski will have to be key parts to the offense to begin the year. Julian Edelman was popped for a PED substance following the injury to his torn ACL. Alex Guerrero came to the defense of Edelman and said it had nothing to do with his treatment at TB12.

Julian Edelman Will Be Missed

The schedule for the Patriots in September is against the Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions, and Miami Dolphins. Julian Edelman won’t take the same road Tom Brady took during his deflate-gate suspension. Julian Edelman has been working out with Tom Brady privately this offseason in the practice field house. Edelman did attend the OTA’s this offseason in an attempt to start off on the right foot after missing all of last season.

Bill Belichick can’t be happy Edelman will be missing the first four games, but like always, will do what’s best for the football team. With training camp beginning Thursday, we’ll catch the first glimpse of everyone on the practice field behind Gillette Stadium. Everyone is expected to be there and Brady will supposedly be there early as well. Rob Gronkowski will also be there early.

Julian Edelman Will Be Ready To Go In Week Five

Julian Edelman is a loss, but I would have him serve the suspension at the beginning of the season rather than in December. It’s still a mystery what Edelman tested positive for because the NFL won’t release that information. Whatever it was that got him suspended, he’ll be ready to go in week five.

From 2000 To Today: A Dynasty In Peril? (@steveA1127)

Leave a reply

2000 Was A Great Year In New England

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR_PDDCZkss

I was eight years old when Tom Brady was drafted in 2000. When the Patriots drafted Brady in the sixth round pick (199th overall), nobody outside of New England thought this run would last 18 years. The Patriots have won five Super Bowls and have been to eight of them from 2001-2017. From the beginning, Robert Kraft has let head coach Bill Belichick run the football operations. From letting players go no matter how good they are, Belichick always has said he does what’s best for the team, not for an individual player (except for Brady).

Robert Kraft Has Grown Close To Tom Brady

Via Boston Herald

Robert Kraft is like a father to Tom Brady and would never let Bill Belichick trade him.  However, things in Foxborough started to shake a little when Tom Brady’s play started to slip and Belichick was looking towards Tom Brady’s successor. From 2010-2013, Tom Brady threw 134 touchdowns and 35 interceptions. In 2014, Bill Belichick made a pick at quarterback and selected Jimmy Garoppolo. Belichick said at a press conference after they drafted Garoppolo, “We know what Tom’s age and contract situation is. I don’t think you want to have one quarterback on your team. I don’t think that’s responsible to the entire team or the organization.”

Tom Brady Played Better After Garoppolo Was Drafted

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Axj4FVhkoL8

That is when Tom Brady really shifted into gear with preparation. He knew how he got his job and didn’t want the same to happen to him. The power struggle probably started in 2014, when Belichick drafted Jimmy Garoppolo. Tom Brady threw 129 touchdowns from 2014-2017 and only 26 interceptions. Brady also would lead the Patriots to two Super Bowls victories and have the greatest comeback in Super Bowl History, down 25 points.

Every Relationship Has Tension

At the start of the 2017 NFL season, Brady was really pushing his TB12 brand. Brady was also saying he wanted to play until his mid 40’s. Meanwhile, Belichick was planning for the future of the franchise, preparing for the next quarterback to fill Tom Brady’s shoes. Belichick wanted to do what was best for the football team – moving on from someone, regardless of how much they mean to the organization. However, what Belichick fails to realize is that Tom Brady is bigger than the team. He’s earned that right to stick around based solely on how many championships he’s won.

Belichick Likes To Do What’s Best For The Team

However, when you play for Bill Belichick, he doesn’t see it that way. He wanted to go with Jimmy Garoppolo to be set for the next decade. But when Brady reportedly went to Kraft and asked to trade Garoppolo, that’s when Belichick really got upset. Kraft shipped Garoppolo to the San Francisco 49ers, which prompted Belichick to talk very highly of Garoppolo during the immediate press conference. That is when Tom E. Curran first reported a rift, even before ESPN did in January.

The Transitions Are Coming, From Ownership To Players

Kraft said before the Super Bowl last season that in every relationship, there’s going to be tension and that people aren’t always going to agree on things. Greg Bedard of the Boston Sports Journal wrote last week that relations between Kraft, Belichick, and Brady have still not been worked out. Belichick is upset that Kraft is getting in the way of football decisions. Between trading Garoppolo to bringing back McDaniels and almost trading Gronkowski, Belichick is likely not too happy. Bill Belichick has traded every possible weapon that could help Brady.

I still believe Belichick is retiring at the end of the season, which is whyJosh McDaniels was brought back. McDaniels needed to be assured that the head coach position would soon be his. This conversation surely took place.

Brady Hinting He Will Be Reporting To Training Camp Early

Via Patriots Instagram

Since Jimmy Garoppolo has been gone, Brady has talked about spending more time with his family and has skipped all offseason voluntary workouts. All of the “in denial” Patriots fans will say that the voluntary workouts aren’t important. Yet, Brady has attended them for 17 seasons and nobody said that it wasn’t a big deal in those years. Tom Brady has hinted he will be reporting to Patriots training camp on Sunday four days early. All of his vacations are over and it’s back to work for the almost 41-year-old quarterback.

This year begins the 18th season between Belichick, Brady, and Kraft. It’s been a great ride for the last 18 years and this one might be the last we see these three in the same building together. Brady, like I’ve been saying, will likely play out his contract and retire after the 2019 season. In 2020, Josh McDaniels will have a brand new team to work with and try to bring more championships to Foxborough for the next decade.

Patriots Training Camp Preview: Interior O-Line

Leave a reply

There are many new faces on this Patriots team this summer. The Pats acquired four guys from trade, fifteen from free agency, and nine from the NFL Draft. They also lost nine players through trade and free agency and had three players retire. Plenty of questions remain on the offensive line, wide receiver corps, and defensive backs.

In this new series, I will be looking at every player from each position leading up to training camp. For this part of the series, I will take a look at the interior offensive linemen. The Patriots have added two new interior linemen while keeping their main core intact.

Shaq Mason #69 (2015-Present):

Shaq Mason is entering his fourth season in the NFL with the Pats. Mason was drafted out of Georgia Tech in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. His college career consisted of being first-team All-ACC and Second-team All-ACC. He started 39 out of the total 41 games in his career, including every game in his junior and senior seasons. As a rookie, Mason appeared in 14 games and started 10 of them. The 2016 season saw Mason play in all 16 games while starting 15 of them. He also started in the Super Bowl 51 victory over Atlanta. The next season was the first year that Mason started every single game. This was his best season yet, as he was ranked the #9 guard according to Pro Football Focus.

https://twitter.com/ZachSDunn/status/998309693243166720

Mason has shown his ability through his first three years in the NFL as an elite blocker. Thus, it makes no sense to let him go.

Joe Thuney #62 (2016-Present):

Joe Thuney is entering his third season in the NFL, all of which with New England. He was drafted in the third-round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of NC State. Thuney has started every single game for New England since he got drafted. These games also include the six playoff games and the Super Bowl win in 2016. In his rookie season, Thuney got the honors of being voted to the PFWA all-rookie team. In 2017, after starting all 16 games, he was ranked the #14 guard according to Pro Football Focus.

Thuney has had a successful career for New England thus far. He does need to work on his strength though, as he did get pushed around on occasion by bigger, stronger d-linemen. Overall, with Thuney starting every game for the Pats the past two years, they will likely not get rid of him.

David Andrews #60 (2015-Present):

David Andrews is the leader of the Patriots offensive-line. He is entering his fourth year in the NFL, all for the Patriots. Andrews was picked up by New England after the 2015 draft. After injuries to Bryan Stork and Ryan Wendell, Andrews was pushed into the starting center role in his first game. He started 11 games in his rookie season while appearing in 14. His 2016 season was his best season to date, starting every single game including the Super Bowl win over Atlanta. Andrews’ great season pushed him to second in fan-voting for the 2016 Pro Bowl.

Before the 2017 season, Andrews signed a three-year contract extension with the Pats. He was named captain for the first time in his career. Andrews then started 17 of the 19 total games for New England that year. He was ranked the #5 center by Pro Football Focus.

Overall, Andrews is one of the best centers in the NFL. Being a captain, don’t look for the Patriots to cut him this summer.

James Ferentz #66 (2017-Present):

James Ferentz is entering his fifth season in the NFL and second for New England. Ferentz started his career in Houston as an undrafted free agent out of Iowa. He did not play a snap for the Texans in his one year with the team and was promptly cut. The Denver Broncos picked up Ferentz for their 2016 season. He appeared in 13 total games, including the 2015 AFC Championship against New England. After getting a ring with Denver, he was released in May. Ferentz was picked up off waivers a week later by New England. He was on the practice squad for the entire 2017 season.

Ferentz has been in the league for a few seasons now, but has still not started in one game. He will have a lot of work to do if he wants to make the team, but competition is not scarce. He is certainly a long-shot to make this 53-man roster.

Ted Karras #75 (2016-Present):

Ted Karras is entering his third year in the NFL, all for the Patriots. Karras was a sixth-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Illinois University. He started his first game in the NFL after injuries sustained by Shaq Mason. That would be Karras’ only start in his rookie season. Before the 2017 season, Karras was cut by the Patriots. He was then added to the practice squad and later activated by the team. He played in all 16 games that year, and started two due to an illness to David Andrews.

https://twitter.com/ezlazar/status/933148715883335681

Karras was very solid in his three games started. His versatility as both a guard and center may make him a more valuable piece and likely earn him a spot on this roster.

Matt Tobin #64 (2018-Present):

Matt Tobin is entering his first year in New England and his sixth year in the NFL. Tobin was signed by the Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He played four seasons with them and started twenty-one games. His best season was in 2015, in which he started 13 games and appeared in 16. Tobin was traded to Seattle before the 2017 season. He played in 15 games that year, but did not earn a start. Tobin was acquired by New England via free agency in the 2018 offseason.

Tobin has shown throughout his career that he can play every position on the offensive line. At 6’6″, he fits best as a tackle, but if he makes the roster I believe he earns some work in the interior. Overall, it is going to be very tough for Tobin to make the team, and I do not believe he will.

Luke Bowanko #72 (2018-Present):

Luke Bowanko is entering his fifth NFL season and first for the Patriots. He was the 205th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft for the Jacksonville Jagurs. Bowanko started 14 games his rookie season and played in 16. Over the next two seasons, he played in 7 games while not starting in any. He was then traded to Baltimore before the 2017 season. He started one game while appearing in all 16. Bowanko was acquired by New England via free agency in the 2018 offseason.

Bowanko is known primarily as a center/guard. He has a lot of experience in the interior, but I don’t believe he will make the cut for New England due to the crowded field.

Jason King #65 (2017-Present):

Jason King has had a rollercoaster of a career so far. He is entering his 2nd year in the NFL and for the Pats. King was signed by New England as an undrafted free agent in May of 2017. He was then cut in September before being added to the practice squad two weeks later. King was cut from the team in October, and got picked up to Baltimore’s practice squad. He was then removed from the Ravens practice squad two weeks later. Two weeks after getting cut by Baltimore, he signed with New England and got cut two times that December. He was signed to a future/reserves contract in February, but was then waived again in May. King was then signed back to New England a week later.

Did you follow all of that?

King’s best chance of staying with New England is by making the practice squad, but I believe he will be cut and finally cap his career with the Patriots.

Overall Impressions

The Patriots have one of the best interior offensive lines in all of football. Guys like Shaq Mason and David Andrews open up holes for running backs while also protecting Tom Brady. The interior offensive line is going to have to play a big part in another Patriots Super Bowl run.

Bergeron

Making The Case: Bergeron Line The Best In Hockey

Leave a reply

Last season, the Bruins top line of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and David Pastrnak was one of the best lines in hockey. As the season progressed the Bruins trio became more dominate. If they can all remain healthy next season then they will be the best line in hockey. What makes this line so special is how they are dominant offensively and in their own zone. In the playoffs, they did not slow down and proved to be a matchup nightmare.

Where The Bergeron Line Ranks

Last season Marchand missed 14 games and Bergeron missed 18. Pastrnak was the only one to play in all 82 games, but when this trio was full healthy they were special. The line appeared in 51 regular season games together scoring 27 goals. They were even more impressive defensively as the trio allowed only 16 goals. Even with Marchand and Bergeron missing 32 games combined, they still had the 14th most goals as a line. The trio didn’t allow an even strength goal until January. What makes that streak more impressive is that they played over 220 minutes together without allowing a goal.

Bergeron

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Playoff Dominance

In the playoffs this line did not slow down. In Boston’s five postseason wins, they scored 12 goals while combining for 41 points. For the Lighting to slow them down, the Bruins forced Tampa to play out of their comfort zone. That was not an easy task because of this line’s skills.

Pastrnak is a gifted goal scorer and becoming one of the most creative passers in the league. Marchand continues to improve his all around game and has a talent for getting in peoples’ heads. That leaves Bergeron, who may be arguably the best two way center in the league. They are so dangerous because they can each hurt opponents in different ways.

Bergeron

Photo Credit: Associated Press/ Winslow Townson

Their Competition

The Bruins top line will have competition next season. With the addition of Tavares, the already dangerous top line of Toronto becomes better. The Avalanche also have a impressive first line, with young star Nathan Mackinnon and Mikko Rantanen, who had 84 points in his sophomore season. The Golden Knights top trio that included William Karlsson and Reilly Smith will be out to prove last year was no fluke. They were tied for the most goals at even strength. The Bruins top line gets the edge because of what they did in limited time.

Bergeron

Photo Credit: Joe McDonald

Final Thoughts

Next season, the expectations will be even higher. The Bruins will be carried by their top line which will begin the season healthy. Last year, they showed that their chemistry is something truely special. What makes them even scarier is that Pastrnak is only 22 years old and still getting better. If they can remain healthy, then the best line in hockey will undoubtedly reside in Boston.

 

International Champions Cup – (@SOURCEFRIAS)

Leave a reply

International Champions Cup 2018: Man United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Benfica among teams in pre-season tournament.

The International Champions Cup 2018 gets underway this weekend. This has become the go-to pre-season tournament for elite clubs from Europe.
Eighteen clubs are set to play games in US, Singapore, and Europe.

Here’s everything you need to know:

What is the International Champions Cup? 

The International Champions Cup is a preseason tournament for European clubs played in stadiums around the globe.

Each team appears in three matches in a group format (like the World Cup).

Which teams are taking part this year?

Photo courtesy:
International Champions Cup

The 18 participants are well-known names to soccer fans of European football leagues.

Representing the English Premier League are Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham.

La Liga in Spain has Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid all taking part.

Italy’s Seria A will feature Inter Milan, AC Milan, Roma and Juventus (who recently signed Cristiano Ronaldo).

France has two teams: Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon.

Germany also has two: Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

Benfica represents Portugal. They are the country’s most successful team with 36 titles.

Where are the games held?
The majority of games this year are in the United States, and two games are in Singapore. The rest of the matches are in Europe.

What happens at the end?
The best-ranked side will be crowned champions and receive the International Champions Cup trophy. Real Madrid are the most successful club in the ICC with three titles.

Where can I watch the games?

Below is a link to the television schedule: http://worldsoccertalk.com/international-champions-cup-tv-schedule/

Follow on Twitter: @SOURCEFRIAS

Fresh Take Friday: Why Re-Signing Marcus Smart is Key

Leave a reply

Bringing Back Smart Was an Awesome Move by Boston.

After weeks of rumors and reports surrounding restricted free agent Marcus Smart, he finally resigned on Thursday. The guard inked a four-year contract worth $52 million after spending three weeks assessing the market. This is a huge deal for Boston, who retains a key piece of the rotation, and the heart and soul of the team. It’s easily the most impactful move of the summer, and will pay dividends now and down the road. Here’s why.

His Play

Anyone who questions Marcus Smart’s value hasn’t watched the Celtics play basketball. Quite simply, he makes everyone around him better. Though his shooting needs work, especially from three, he makes up for it with his hustle plays. His contributions don’t always show up on the stat sheet, but the team knows what he’s worth, hence the contract. Just look at this tweet from ESPN Stats to see what Smart does for the Celtics:

There’s no doubt that Smart will get decent minutes for Boston this year, and rightfully so. Having him available as the first man off the bench is invaluable to the team due to his ability to play either guard position. He can also guard a wide range of positions due to his length and bothersome defense. Smart is worth every penny of this contract. And in case you needed a refresher on what he brings to the table, here’s this iconic moment from the past season.

Future Implications

Smart’s signing is also big for another reason- contracts. He is now one of just a handful of Celtics that are locked up after next season. Marcus Morris is an unrestricted free agent next summer. Terry Rozier and Daniel Theis will be restricted free agents. Kyrie Irving, Al Horford and Aron Baynes all have player options on the 2019-2020 season. Horford could opt in, but Baynes is a question mark and Kyrie is likely to opt out, whether to seek more money here or at a new destination. In what’s sure to be a hectic summer, it’s nice to have one less player on the books for Danny Ainge to worry about.

Another reason why Marcus’s contract is good for Boston is that it’s not unreasonable in terms of money. He’ll average about $13 million per year, which is right about what Boston was willing to give. It also means that his contract is tradeable, should the team choose to go in that direction. If the team needs to create cap space or believes it’s over-staffed at guard, his contract won’t be terribly difficult to move. They shouldn’t look to move him (see above reasons), but if it becomes necessary, his contract makes it easier to do so.

The Bottom Line

This is an excellent signing for so many reasons. Smart is the longest-tenured Celtic on the roster, and it’s clear he loves the city. The feeling is mutual; he’s become a fan favorite in Beantown among the Boston faithful. The contract is reasonable, it locks him up for the future, and his play will help propel the Celtics to a title run this season.

Bird

What To Do With Jabari Bird As He Continues To Impress (@jaxbrown725)

Leave a reply

It was in April when I tweeted about some kid from the The University of California who came off the bench for the Celtics with a firey style of play. The game was vs the Chicago Bulls and I instantly became a fan of Jabari Bird. If you check out the highlights, you’ll see a quick flashy guard who finishes well at the hoop. He can throw it down and if left open enough, knock down the J. But why is nobody talking about this dude?

Photo credit: usatoday.com

 Well, 8.8 MPG to go along with 3 PPG isn’t going to get you on SportsCenter. However, he did shoot 57% on all attempts, so there’s that right? Admittedly, he didn’t play much in the 2017-2018 campaign to get a great look, but if you’ve been following the Summer League, I wouldn’t sleep on Jaylen Browns old college teammate. Here’s why.

Jabari Bird History Lesson

At 6’6” and 190 lbs, Bird was a 4-star ESPN recruit from the class of 2013. Not only did he lead his high school team to an overall 100-8 record, Jabari was also named to the McDonald’s High School All-American game and was scouted as the No. 20 overall recruit in his class. He didn’t perform great in the game, but did show flashes of his hops and energy. Bird appeared to have stepped it up a bit and improved his game in his four years of college.

From 2013 to 2017, Jabari Bird was ballin’ out from the get-go. Having played with Jaylen Brown, he took a backseat to scoring, but soon afterwards took off. His ball handling and floor control was clearly what needed the most attention, but he could score. Just check out these numbers from Birds time in college:

Photo credit: californiagoldenblogs.com

Freshman: 2013-2014

11 – 10+ point games/ 2 – 20+ point games

Sophomore: 2014-2015

11 – 10+ point games/ 1 – 20+ point game

Junior: 2015-2016

21 – 10+ point games/ 4 – 20+ point games

Senior: 2016-2017

20 – 10+ point games/ 8 – 20+ point games 

Ending with 1,227 career points and finishing fifth all-time in Cal’s history in 3PM (187), Bird led the team in scoring in his final year with the Bears. Unfortunately, his team didn’t make the NCAA tournament in his last year, so the focus switched to trying to get on an NBA squad with a summer full of workouts and pre-draft screenings. Scouting report reading being athletic and having a decent shot, shot section and ball handling were hit points for some teams. Come draft night at pick 56, Danny Ainge made the call to select another Bird to wear Boston threads.

Maine Lobstah to a Bahston Celtic 

With being drafted, Jabari’s contract was two-way, which means he spends time with the NBAs team G-league affiliate, but not more than 45 days with the NBA team. This is to get players accustomed to the NBA life and style of play – a pseudo farm system. With that said, Jabari’s time with the Maine Red Claws, the C’s G league affiliate, was not wasted. He started in the 20 games, averaging 19.3 PPG in 35.2 MPG, continuing the sweet shooting he was known for. Adding to his resume, Bird was selected as an all-star for the G-League All-Star game before being called to Boston. So far, pretty impressive.

Photo credit: Pressherald.com

Swinging back around to April, Bird made five appearances sporadically until the game versus Chicago on the 6th. In that game, he played 24 minuets, shot 7/10 (70%), 1/2 (50%) from 3, and finished with 15pts, 3ast, and 3rbs. There were slashes to the rim, shots falling, and a few dunks thrown down that got Tommy and Mike out of their seats.

From that day, I knew he was special. He ended up with 9pts and 5rbs the next game, but you didn’t hear much about him after that. Why? A deep roster with a deeper bench will do that. Plus, he needed time to develop in the G-league. But have you seen him this summer?

Time To Leave The Nest? 

Summer League hoops is pretty entertaining if you’re into following players, progression, story lines and good old round ball. Sometime you get a few competive games and get to check out the talent.

Enter the young Boston Celtics. With a team already filled to the brim with talent, the summer league unit showed no less. Yabu, Semi, Bird, and Williams were straight up mashing.

Reaching the Summer League quarter finals, the Celtics fell to the Dallas Mavericks, but that didn’t stop Bird from showing out. Jabari led the team with 16.8 PPG on 57% shooting, 6 RPG, and 3 APG. It’s clear he can get the ball in the bucket, but what’s his value to the team at the moment? With the signing of Smart, it leaves less seats on the bench at his position and more of a reason for Jabari to spread his wings elsewhere.

You might not know the name now, but if you’re a die hard you might be familiar with the thoroughbred scorer who can add a layer to the bench if utilized correctly. It’ll certainly be tough to spread minuets, and you would hate to see a talent like Bird suffocate in the G-League. So what do you do? Do you trade him? A perfect scenario for a sneaky GM would be to low-ball Boston and get a gem. Or do you keep him, and see how next year pans out? Either way, keep an eye on this Jabari Bird fella, especially if he continues to play for the green and white.

Photo credit: Celticslife.com

Danny Amendola Thinks Gase Is A Friend, Belichick Is A Principal (@kaigedipaolo)

Leave a reply

This past NFL free agency was a head spin with players all over the league leaving for new teams. One of those occurrences was when veteran Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola left to join division rival Miami Dolphins. The move at the time seemed predictable; Amendola wanted more money and the Dolphins had more to give. They also needed a replacement for the recently traded Jarvis Landry. The sadness around New England eventually faded and fans became at peace with the fact they lost their “lady killer number 80”. However, recently Amendola appeared on the Comeback Szn podcast. There he talked about how much he fell for third-year head coach, Adam Gase.

To quote Amendola, “Coach Gase is one of the guys, one of the boys, and you want to fight hard for your boys, Back in New England, it’s almost like you’ve got a principal.” This is definitely an interesting remark, especially when you compare the Patriots and the Dolphins records throughout Coach Gase’s two years in Miami. While having “one of the guys” as a coach probably leads to more enjoyable practices, the results show. Miami went 10-6 in his first season (with a playoff elimination in the wildcard to Pittsburgh) and a 180 year to going 6-10 the following year. So it really is a tossup what Amendola and the Dolphins can expect going into the new season.

In contrast, it seems that having a principal garnishes better results. The Patriots finished 2016 with a 14-2 record and winning the Superbowl in their miraculous comeback against Atlanta. They then finished 13-3 last year and still making the big game even if it resulted in a loss.

Obviously, Amendola wasn’t trying to slander how New England’s football team is operated. He later stated “I got to play for the greatest coach of all time, the greatest quarterback of all time and one of the greatest owners of all time. I got to understand what it was like to put the work in and really grind out … and learn how to win.” Danny put up some of his best numbers during his time in New England, having 600+ yards in three seasons, (via profootballreference.com) winning two super bowls, playing in three super bowls, and not to mention being in the playoffs every season he was there.

Looking ahead to the upcoming season:

How will all of that translate through to the next season? It’s a safe guess to say the Patriots will have another plus .500 record, anywhere from 12-4 to 14-2. History has shown over the past eight years the principal and his top student, Brady, are still top dogs. However, trying to look at what record the Dolphins could finish with is a different story as there are many factors. This includes Tannehill’s ability post-ACL tear, how their lackluster star player skill position group will hold, etc. It’s a stretch to say they could go even with the Pat’s at 12-4 or 14-2. The possibility of another 10-6 season is definitely not out of grasps. There’s clearly chemistry already with Amendola and Gase, which is a good sign in this league. Chemistry aside, all we can do now is see if that chemistry and friendship will lead to wins come September.

Patriots Training Camp Preview: Defensive Ends (@bigmike7772)

Leave a reply

There are many new faces on this Patriots team compared to last year. The Pats acquired four guys from trade, fifteen from free agency, and nine from the NFL Draft. They also lost nine players from trade and free agency and had three players retire.

In this new series, I will be looking at every player from each position leading up to training camp. For this part of the series, I will take a look at the defensive ends. The Pats acquired one DE via free agency and one as an undrafted rookie. The defensive end position was a concern last year due to health issues, but a lot of guys will be coming back.

Adrian Clayborn #94 (2018-Present):

Adrian Clayborn was acquired by New England this off-season during free agency. Clayborn is entering his 8th season in the NFL, and 1st for the Pats. He was drafted by Tampa Bay in the first round of the 2011 Draft and played four seasons for the Bucs. Over those four seasons, he only played in 36 games due to injuries. Clayborn was then signed by Atlanta in 2015 as an unrestricted free agent. His first two seasons in Atlanta started off slow with him only having 7.5 sacks in that span. However, his 2017 campaign proved why he was a first-round pick. He played in all 16 games that season, but only started 2. In those 16 games, Clayborn had a career high in sacks (9.5) including a game against Dallas where he had 6 sacks.

Clayborn is a welcome addition to what was a depleted front seven for the Pats last year. Adrian will look to team up with Trey Flowers and wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks. He will definitely make the team for the upcoming season.

Trey Flowers #98 (2015-Present):

Even though Flowers was drafted in 2015, he is the longest-tenured Patriot at defensive end. Flowers is now entering his 4th season for New England in 2018. Trey missed most of his rookie season after a shoulder injury placed him on injured reserve. Flowers’ 2016 season was a massive breakthrough the Pats needed for their Super Bowl run. He played in all 16 games that season and had seven sacks. His real breakout on the national level came in Super Bowl 51 against Atlanta. In that game, Flowers had 2.5 sacks and a crucial one on 2nd down to push the Falcons out of field goal range.

Flowers had another solid season in 2017 where he had 6.5 sacks. Overall, Trey is the leader of the defensive line for New England at such a young age. He can only get better and will most certainly make the team for next season.

Derek Rivers #95 (2017-Present):

Derek Rivers is entering his second season in the NFL. He was the highest draft pick for New England in 2017 as he was taken 86th overall. Rivers did not play one snap during the season though as he suffered a torn ACL. He played college football for Youngstown State at the FCS level. He quickly became one of the best pass-rushers of all-time in FCS. Rivers totaled 41 career sacks over his four-year career. This was a school record and is fifth all-time in sacks at the FCS level.

https://twitter.com/DLineVids/status/825481079683325952

Rivers has a lot of potential for the upcoming season. He is a complete pass-rusher and can get to the QB at a high rate. I believe he will make the roster for the upcoming season.

Deatrich Wise #91 (2017-Present):

Deatrich Wise is entering his 2nd season in the NFL and for the Pats. He was drafted by New England in the 2017 NFL Draft with the 131st overall pick. Wise got a lot of playing time in the 2017 season due to the injuries to the Patriots front seven. He played in all 16 games, and had 5 total sacks. He also had 2 sacks against Tennessee in the divisional round of the 2017 NFL Playoffs.

https://twitter.com/ezlazar/status/1010230976356716544

Wise has shown as a fourth-round pick that he can contribute to this team. He is a very good pass-rusher and can also occasionally be put on run situations. I believe that Wise will make the roster for next season.

Eric Lee #55 (2017-Present):

Eric Lee is entering his second year in the NFL and 1st full season for New England. Lee was picked up by Houston as an undrafted free agent but was later released after the preseason. The Bills picked Lee up and placed him on their practice squad until October. He was picked up by New England in November of that year. Lee played 6 games for the Patriots and had 3.5 sacks and one INT. His only INT came off the team that cut him a month earlier, the Buffalo Bills.

Lee was a good pickup for New England halfway through the season last year. He showed what he brings to the table last year, but will still have to battle to get a spot on the roster.

Geneo Grissom #96 (2015-Present):

Geneo Grissom was actually drafted 14 picks before Trey Flowers in the 2015 NFL Draft. Grissom will be entering his fourth season in the NFL and for the Pats. Grissom has definitely not outplayed Trey over his stint in New England. Over his three year career, he has played only 34 regular season games with only one sack. His best game came against Tennessee in the 2017 playoffs where he had two sacks.

https://twitter.com/DLineVids/status/952697712398426112

Grissom has been a disappointment in New England. I believe he was only kept on the roster last year due to the lack of depth at pass-rusher. Grissom is a candidate to get cut for the upcoming season if he doesn’t show his talent in training camp.

Trent Harris (Rookie):

Trent Harris was picked up by New England as an undrafted free agent from Miami. Harris had a four-year career at the “U” where he played in 44 games. Over that span, he had 15 sacks and 26.5 tackles for loss. His senior year he had 8.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss.

Harris is a DE/OLB hybrid as he can also cover tight ends and slot receivers. Trent’s best option of making the team is practice squad unless he does something amazing in preseason or training camp.

The defensive end group for New England this year is a major upgrade from last year. With additions like Derek Rivers and Adrian Clayborn, the Pats are bound to make another Super Bowl run.