Pageau

What J.G. Pageau Would Bring to Boston

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With the Stanley Cup Playoffs over the NHL offseason is in full swing for all NHL teams. The Bruins show up in many trade rumors as the NHL draft is only two days away. Most of the talk has centered around them improving their defense or moving veteran pieces such as David Backes and David Krejci. General Manager Don Sweeney has no first round pick and it there are rumors that he is trying to acquire one. One name connected to the Bruins is Senators center J. G. Pageau.

Who Is J.G. Pageau?

Pageau had a productive 2017- 2018 season in which he scored fourteen goals along with fifteen assists. He centered Ottawa’s third line and appeared in 78 games. The Senators drafted him in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL draft. Pageau’s best season was the 2015-2016 season when he scored a career high 19 goals and had 24 assists. The former fourth round pick is an above average skater who has a low cap hit of $3.1 million. He could an under the radar move for the Bruins that could make a significant impact.

Pageau

Photo Credit: Jean Levac/ Ottowa Citizen

Where Would Pageau Fit in Boston?

The Bruins first two lines barring any trade are already seem set for the upcoming season. The top line of Bergeron, Marchand, and Pastrnak was the deadliest in hockey last season. Assuming David Krejci is not traded, he will center the second line with Jake DeBrusk, Ryan Donato or David Backes. Pageau would fit into the Bruins third or fourth line as Sean Kuraly has yet to sign a new contract. The B’s do have some promising centers in Providence, however, Pageau could serve as a veteran presence as they continue to develop. To acquire Pageau the Bruins would not have to part with a key piece like Jake DeBrusk.

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Photo Credit: DansLesCoulisses.com

What Would He Bring to the Table?

During the playoffs, the Bruins struggled to get production from their bottom lines which exposed their depth. Pageau would be a veteran piece to help improve the Bruins bottom lines. Pageau was impressive in this years playoffs as he had ten goals in 19 games. He has a flare for the dramatics as he has two game winning goals in the playoffs. Acquiring him would not be the big trade many Bruins fans are looking for, but it would be an under the radar move that would improve the Bruins depth for the upcoming season.

Which Celtics Target Makes the Most Sense at Pick 27?

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The Boston Celtics are slotted to select lower than 16th in Thursday night’s draft for the first time since 2012. The last time the C’s picked this low was in 2009. That year, they selected the immortal J.R. Giddens following their first NBA title in 22 seasons.

This, of course, is barring any last-second jockeying from President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge. He could decide at any moment that the #27 overall pick would be better served as part of one of his infamous trade packages. Twitter has been buzzing with fake trades for Kawhi Leonard or a move into the top five. However, such moves seem unlikely. It appears we’re headed for a (relatively) straightforward night.

As of Monday, the Celtics have held pre-draft workouts with 17 different players, including:

  • National Player of the Year Jalen Brunson
  • Final Four Most Outstanding Player Donte DiVincenzo
  • Duke guard Grayson Allen
  • Arizona guard Allonzo Trier
  • Villanova forward Omari Spellman

Ainge mentioned in interviews earlier this month that he and his team had “tried to laser focus in to about 10 [players] at this point” for the 27th pick, taking a number of different factors into account. But which of those players makes most sense for the C’s?

Needs and Wants

Guard is the most pressing area of need roster-wise. That explains why Boston has worked out so many high-pedigree players at that position. Marcus Smart is a restricted free agent. Terry Rozier proved his value in the postseason, but his contract expires after this season. Shane Larkin was serviceable as a spot up shooter and fringe rotation guy. However, he’s more of a nice depth piece to have in the mix than an irreplaceable rotation player. And of course, Kyrie Irving‘s health and impending free agency have spawned hot takes and think-pieces across the internet for well over a month.

It’s also worth mentioning that the Celtics are thin at big.  Al Horford is Brad Stevens‘ Swiss Army Knife and Boston’s most important player. He also turned 32 on July 3rd. Aron Baynes was surprisingly effective last season. He’ll hopefully figure into the team’s plans next season. Daniel Theis is coming off a torn meniscus, and Greg Monroe is not a viable modern center.

Ainge seems to favor gritty guards and wings with strong intangibles (Rozier, Smart, Avery Bradley, Tony Allen, Jaylen Brown), especially with first round picks. That rules out a player like Trier, whose scoring is offset by often lazy defending and lack of focus.

Spellman and DiVincenzo could be high ceiling options who fit the mold. DiVencenzo has wowed at both the combine and in his individual workouts, which has only perpetuated a stock rise. Spellman could be the type of multi-faceted offensive big Ainge hoped to get with Jared Sullinger. However, I’d be surprised if either are still there at #27 based on their pre-draft buzz.

Best Options

Ultimately, I think the best bet here is Brunson, followed closely by Duke’s Allen and Georgia Tech shooting guard Josh Okogie. Brunson’s feel for the game is unmatched by anyone else in this draft class. He’s also a terrific shooter (52/41/80 shooting splits last season) with a diverse offensive arsenal that includes a developed post-game. Plus, Brunson has proven himself on the biggest stage, winning two national titles as a starter. In other words, he’ll be able to contribute immediately.

The Same can be said for Allen, who, despite his on-court antics and volatility, has been a top contributor on one of the best teams in the country throughout his college career. Okogie is a project with tremendous upside. He has all of the physical tools (6′ 4″ with a 7′ wingspan). He was also a 37.6% three point shooter at the college level. Okogie may be rough around the edges, but would be a welcome addition to Boston’s ever-growing stable of switchable wings.

Ainge will take the best player available on the board, there’s no denying that. But part of the beauty and fun of the draft is “the best player on the board” could be anyone. It all depends on who rises, and who falls. All things considered, if that player is Jalen Brunson, expect commissioner Adam Silver to call his name when the Celtics are on the clock.

The Craig Kimbrel Conundrum

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A depleted farm system, a costly contract among the horizon, what do the Red Sox do about Craig Kimbrel?

With this being the last year before free agency, Where do the crossroads line up for Craig Kimbrel? The all star closer is in line for a huge payday potentially earning over $100 million contract. This could go down one of three ways: 1. Sign him in hopes of a team discount/ pay what he wants. 2. Trade him at the deadline to get something out of him. 3. he walks on his own. Either way, The Red Sox need to act fast.

Let’s say the team offers him a friendly 4 year/ $80 million contract as a team friendly deal. He could either gladly accept, or demand more money than fellow closer Alroldis Chapman who got his 5 year $82 million contract almost two years ago. He is a fastball dominant pitcher, meaning without that there’s not a lot of wiggle room to be above par. Sure, his knuckle curve is a great set up pitch, but you’re not throwing that three to four times an at bat.

Our second option is a pill swallower: trade one of the best closers in the league. This one would hurt, but it could address one of our biggest holes. THE FARM SYSTEM!!!!!! With only two prospect in the top 100 ( Chavis- ped suspension) ( Groome- Tommy John surgery) the farm system is depleted. Along with first round pick Tristan Casas, there’s not much going on at the moment. This could be the trade to get a package that consists of a bullpen arm and a prospect or two.  You can’t go wrong with that if there’s little to no help on an extension.

This idea also keeps money on the table for future extensions ( Betts, Sale, Benintendi< Bogaerts) While keeping the team in the witch hunt for Bryce Harper. With various other teams sure to be in on him.

The worse case scenario: He walks on his own terms with nothing gained for the Red Sox.

In this scenario, the team not only loses out on a closer, but misses out on a chance to gain something for his services. The club needs to look into every avenue before trying their luck in free agency. Anything can happen, it is a business. With that being said, they have to keep everything an open possibility. Even if it becomes a negative move from the fans perspective.

 

 

Celtics’ Top Opponents for the 2018-2019 Season

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The Boston Celtics were one of the most entertaining teams in the NBA last year. The 2017-2018 season had a lot of amazing games by the Celtics, which most notably consisted of comeback wins against the Rockets (26 points) and the Warriors (26 points). The season, though, was plagued with injuries, whether it was the Hayward injury that kept him out the whole year, or the Kyrie injury that made him miss the last few weeks of the regular season, the Celtics always found a way to make many of their games exciting no matter who they played.

The C’s are now one of the most feared teams in the NBA and cause many exciting matchups. Here are five opponents that will be the best to look for in the upcoming NBA season:

1. Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers look to be Boston’s biggest threat in the east at the moment with LeBron’s destination still unknown. The 76ers are a very young team with Embiid and Ben Simmons leading them all the way to the playoffs. Philadelphia lost the regular season series to the Boston Celtics 3-1. One of those games took place in London, where the Celtics came from 22 down to beat them 114-103. The Celtics then lost the next game to Philly 89-80, but that would not be the end to this series.

Boston played Philadelphia in the semifinals of the Eastern Conference Playoffs that year. The C’s were very large underdogs as they opened +300 in that series. On some betting websites they rose all the way up to +750. This series was a dominant one for the Celtics. They won it in only five games consisting off a 22 point comeback in Game 2 and an overtime win in Game 3. Things also got very heated between the teams during the series.

This Philly and Boston rivalry has grown very big ever since the Super Bowl, and will only get bigger with these two powerhouses going at each other.

2. Golden State Warriors

The defending back-to-back NBA champs come in at number two on this list. Golden State is arguably the greatest team of all-time, which is why they will be high on this list. The Warriors are coming off championship wins in 2015, 2017, 2018, and they look to continue that streak of dominance.

There is one team in the NBA who the Warriors haven’t consistently dominated: the Boston Celtics. Boston has split the season-series with the Warriors the past three years, and are the only team in the NBA other than the Warriors with a winning record in the Oracle Arena since 2015. The Celtics in 2016 were the team to stop Golden State’s record-breaking 54-game home win streak.

The Celtics beat Golden State in Boston for the first time since 2015. This game looked bad for Boston with Golden State going up 22. The Celtics then erupted to go on a 19-0 run and won by a score of 92-88. This lead many to believe that Golden State versus Boston could be a finals matchup of the future. Even Stephen Curry believes that.

The Celtics were only one game away from facing the Warriors in the 2017-2018 NBA Finals, but came up short in Game 7 against Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals. With Golden State favored again to win the NBA championship and the Celtics healthy going into next season, this could be a possible Finals match-up in the making.

3. Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets were also only one game away from the NBA Finals, just like the Celtics. The Rockets ended the regular season last year with the best record in the NBA, going 65-17. The Rockets and Celtics played twice this year and split the season series in two of the most entertaining games of the entire regular season. In the first game the Celtics won 99-98 in a 26 point comeback. This game had Marcus Smart drawing two late offensive fouls on James Harden, which set up the game-winner by Al Horford.

https://twitter.com/LegionHoops/status/946587799716638720

The Celtics-Rockets series next year looks to continue on this excitement. Especially with the thought of LeBron joining one of these teams.

4. Los Angeles Lakers

The Boston-LA rivalry hasn’t felt as important as recent years, but that looks to change in 2018. The Lakers are filled with young talent like Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, and Julius Randle.

https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/928446658748321792

The Lakers are also poised to get a big name via trade or free agency whether its Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, or LeBron James. There are even talks of them forming a super team with all three of those players. If the Lakers can acquire one of these players, the rivalry could be back on.

5. Toronto Raptors

Toronto has been a force in the Atlantic division for years now. The duo of Kyle Lowry and Demar Derozan has been one of the best backcourts in the NBA. Toronto finished first in the Eastern Conference, but got swept by Cleveland in the semifinals. This led to Toronto firing Dwyane Casey. Toronto may not be the force in the playoffs that they are in the regular season, but winning the games against them in the regular season could be the difference in home-court advantage for the Celtics in the playoffs.

The Boston Celtics were one game away from making it to the NBA Finals last year. With this set of opponents for next season, they can really see how they stack up against the rest of the NBA.

Marcus Smart Being Targeted by Three Teams, per Reports

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Chris Mannix of Yahoo Sports reported earlier today that there are three teams that will approach Celtics guard Marcus Smart once free agency begins. The Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, and Denver Nuggets will all target the 24-year-old guard fresh off his rookie contract. Here is the full quote from Mannix:

“I think there are a lot of people out there that really like Marcus Smart,” Mannix said. ” … Sacramento is going to get in it, I think Denver, if they can move some pieces around before free agency to clear some space, which i think they will — I think they’re going to get into it. I think Indiana is a team that, depending on what happens with Thaddeus Young and his contract, I think they’re going to get in it. ” … Going after him is one thing, but offering $15 million per year is another. … He’s going to get offered some money, but I’m not sure it’s going to be an offer that Boston’s not going to be able to match.”

Three Teams Vying for Smart’s Services

The Sacramento Kings ran with rookie guard De’Aaron Fox last year as their starting guard, with Buddy Hield at the two-guard spot. The King’s aren’t in a position to contend at this time, so their interest in Smart is curious. That being said, adding a veteran like Smart could tremendously help with the growth of the two young talents and give the team a much-needed leader.

The Denver Nuggets do not have the finances to offer Smart the contract he is seeking at this time. They will need to ship some guys out in order to make the finances work for Smart. Much like Sacramento, the Nuggets have two young guards running their offense. Jamal Murray and Gary Harris are currently the starters, but they are both score-first type players. Throwing in a guy like Smart to be the main floor general would open the offense up and allow the two to excel at their play styles.

The Indiana Pacers are perhaps the most interesting team of the bunch. Indiana has typically stayed away from any big-time spending in the free agency period. With the Eastern Conference more wide open than it has been in nearly a decade, it makes sense for Indiana to put something together to compete. The Pacers are a playoff caliber team as is, but could use some help in their back court. Pairing Smart with Oladipo is an intriguing possibility. Together the two would terrorize their opposition on the defensive side of the ball.

Marcus Smart’s Impact

Smart has been a valuable contributor for the Celtics since being picked sixth overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. In 2017 Marcus Smart averaged 10.2 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.5 rebounds a game to go along with 1.3 steals in 29.9 minutes per game.

Since day one Marcus has been a bulldog. He never gives up on a play and is always the first guy on the ground after any loose ball. He epitomizes everything it means to be a Celtic through his grit, determination, and toughness.

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

Smart’s utter lack of fear on the court and ultra-competitive play style makes him invaluable to a contending team. It’s no secret that the Celtics would prefer to have him on their side heading into next season. The front office has refused to include his name in multiple trade scenarios in recent years.

Danny Ainge recently appeared on 98.5 The Sports Hub and had this to say about Smart:

“We don’t negotiate in the media. We need Marcus. Marcus is a good player. He provides a lot of energy for our team and I hope we can work something out going forward.”

Marcus has made it clear that he believes he’s worth more than $12 million a year. This price tag is a steep one to match for the Celtics with so much money on the books. Smart will be a restricted free agent this summer, so Boston will get the chance to match any offer that comes his way.

As long as the offers Smart will receive aren’t too egregious, chances are good that Ainge will do what he can to keep him on board.

Tom Brady Hints He’s Playing Until 45

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Tom Brady Spreading Rumors

Social media has a funny way of breaking news sometimes. Once again that was the case today when Tom Brady commented the number forty-five in Spanish on Instagram. It was a response to an ESPN post talking about how Brady told Oprah he was retiring sooner rather than later. Now if he does play until he’s 45, it contradicts my prediction that Brady will retire after the 2019 NFL season. What if he doesn’t get a contract and Brady wants to keep playing, but not for the Patriots? What happens then, and will it ever reach that point?

In my opinion, Brady will retire a Patriot, and no team will spend a lot on a 43-year-old quarterback. Brady has said he wants to play until he’s 45 when Jimmy Garoppolo was on the team. Now with Garoppolo off the team, he’s talking about spending more time with his kids and retirement could be sooner rather than later. After this Instagram comment, he’s sending mixed signals on what he’s doing. Sort of like a girl sending a guy mixed signals if she likes him or not.

Brady Messing With People’s Heads

Maybe Brady is just fooling us and will retire at the end of his contract in 2019. Nobody really knows except Tom and his wife. Tom knows when he’s going to hang up the cleats for the final time, and maybe Robert Kraft knows too. Brady’s loyalty is all to Robert Kraft and Kraft would never trade Tom Brady. The Instagram comment has everyone around social media hopping on it to figure out what it means.

With Brady being the greatest of all time he can say and do whatever he wants. He’s earned that right he could say he’s playing until 45 to mess with our heads and get people talking. However, he could be really hanging up his jersey at the end of the 2019 season. Nobody really knows.

Why the Red Sox Are Unlikely to Make a Big Deal

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Most Red Sox fans want them to make a deal, like most fans of every team. Around the trade deadline, all teams are considered buyers or sellers. “Buyers” trade prospects for big league talent and “sellers” trade big league talent for prospects. The Red Sox are 49-24 and could win their third straight division title. This means they are buyers, and they should make a trade, right? Well, not so fast, and here’s why:

The Farm System

According to Bleacher Report, the Red Sox have the 27th best farm system in the big leagues. Also, their top prospect Jay Groome is out with Tommy John surgery. Their number two prospect, Michael Chavis, got popped for PEDs, so even their top prospects have huge question marks. Other than that, they do not have anyone special that could get a big name back like Brad Hand or Manny Machado. Since their farm system is blah, the Red Sox would have to trade major league talent for a star. The Padres want Rafael Devers for star closer Brad Hand. I think if you asked ten Red Sox fans if they would do that trade, all ten of them would laugh in your face. Manny Machado rumors have been swirling, but the trade is unlikely to happen. Chris Cotillo said that “the clubs are reportedly not matching up”, and I interpret that as the Orioles thinking that the Red Sox have little to offer, and they are right. Like the Hand deal, Sox fans would be reluctant on giving up big league talent considering Machado is a rental.

Their Rivals

The Astros are 13th, Yankees are 10th, and the Indians are 16th in the Bleacher Report farm system rankings. These are the three biggest threats to the Red Sox, and they all have significantly better farm systems. If I was the general manager of the Padres or Orioles, I am dealing with these teams, not the Sox. These teams are more likely to improve their teams at the deadline, making them better than the Red Sox if they aren’t already. If the Yankees acquire a big name such as Jacob DeGrom, they will most likely win the division. This would leave the Red Sox in the Wild Card game, which no team wants a part of.

The Red Sox will likely make an acquisition, but nothing special. They can get a middle reliever or utility player for nothing, but I highly doubt they will be able to make a big upgrade at the deadline.

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Brandon Carlo Primed to Rebound

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For two straight seasons the Boston Bruins have made the playoffs. Unfortunately, top-four defenseman Brandon Carlo was injured during both of those appearances. Carlo appeared in 82 games during the 2016-2017 season before a concussion ended his season. This past season he appeared in 76 games before fracturing his ankle. After a solid rookie campaign, Carlo struggled at times throughout the 2017- 2018 season. Before his injury it seemed that he was turning it around as the Bruins made their playoff push.

Brandon Carlo’s Rookie Season

In Brandon Carlo’s rookie season he was usually paired with Zdeno Chara. The former second round pick performed well, as in 82 games he scored six goals along with ten assists. Before making his NHL debut, Carlo had appeared in only seven games for the Providence Bruins. He surpassed everyone’s expectations and gave the Bruins the stability they had lacked. He has a strong skating ability and also does very well moving the puck. The 2017-2018 season did not go as well for the former second round pick.

Carlo

Photo Credit: Emily Sadler

Carlo Struggles in His Sophomore Campaign

Offensively, Carlo took a step back in the 2017-2018 season. He did not score a goal and had only six assists. He took only 76 shots, which was twelve less than he took in his rookie season. Carlo was not as impactful offensively as he was during his rookie season but he was still valuable to the Bruins. His plus minus improved this past season despite not being paired with his mentor, Zdeno Chara. The former second round pick will never put up offensive numbers like his fellow defensemen Torey Krug and Charlie McAvoy. Carlo does not have their offensive upside or power play opportunities. The Bruins do not need him or expect to make that type of offensive impact.

Carlo

Photo Credit: Fluto Shinzawa/ Boston Globe

Can He Rebound?

Like many young players Carlo still has some growing pains to go through. This is also due to the fact that he has virtually no AHL experience. Carlo possesses a very good skating ability and an offensive game that can improve. He needs to improve his decision-making and handling of the puck. His injury prevented him from a strong finish as he had looked better as the season was winding down. Next season will be an important one for the former second round pick and he will be more motivated than ever. Staying healthy for the playoffs will be key and Bruins fans may finally get to see what he can do in the postseason.

Reliving Randy Moss’ Patriots Career

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

But what if the trade was never made? Would the fortunes of both franchise have been forever altered? Could the Oakland Raiders have built championship teams on the legs of one of the best receivers in NFL History? Would the Patriots dynasty have ended with the defensive juggernauts of Tom Brady’s younger years?

Oakland’s Fortunes

Could a motivated Randy Moss have been the key to turning around the storied franchise for the 2007-2010 seasons? No. Not a chance. This team had so many problems, culminating in the power struggle following Al Davis’ death. New head coach Lane Kiffin considered Moss a poor locker room presence and wanted him gone. They took the fourth-round pick and selected John Bowie. Couple that with #1 overall bust of the century JaMarcus Russell, and the world would continue until just recently.

New England’s Fortunes

18-1!

This was the amazingly record-breaking season, resulting in an MVP for Brady, with records for TD passes thrown and TD passes caught. While the fans did not get to celebrate another championship, it provided lasting memories.

The following seasons saw diminishing returns as Moss played out his contract. He ultimately forced himself out of town by mid season in 2010. Age and motivation seemed to slow down the speedy receiver.  Meanwhile the team as a whole was entering what was arguably the toughest stretch of Brady’s career.

The Verdict

Brady has displayed a tendency to focus on favorite targets. At times this can be to the detriment of the offense and the team. With a decline in Moss’ motivation or ability, Tom Brady suffered a decline in numbers for the ‘09 and ‘10 season. Following Moss’ exit from Foxboro, the Patriots reset the offense with the two-tight-end offense in the 2011 season and created a Brady resurgence.

We’ll always have the almost-undefeated season. Randy Moss’ contribution to an amazing year is not in question. However, by the end of his third season, his old ways were starting to cause problems with management. On the field his production was dropping precipitously. The 20 games after the ’07 season only resulted in an average of below 67 yards per game. Even with a season of Matt Cassel as the quarterback, that still isn’t #1 wide-receiver worthy. This was a great chapter in the history of the NFL and a storied franchise. But, ultimately it did not vastly affect either franchises’ fortunes in the long-term.

Patriots Send Heartwarming Father’s Day Message to Dying Fan

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Father’s Day is a day of celebrating fatherhood and their influence on society. On June 15, 2018, two days before Father’s Day, this tweet was sent.

Twitter blew up. People from all fan bases were showing their support.

The Message

These people and many more did their part and raised the attention of the tweet. The Patriots organization reached out.

Both Robert Kraft and Matthew Slater had recorded messages for LB’s dad.

Jacob Hollister also reached out and showed his support.

To LB

The fact that this happened is just heartwarming. It didn’t matter what fan base people were from. It mattered that at the end of the day, we were all compassionate human beings. This game we love brought us together, and it allowed a lifelong fan to be made special in his final moments. The Patriots did truly do a beautiful thing and touched the hearts of a whole family. LB, lots of love and prayers coming for you and your family. Stay strong and keep the faith.

Here is a link to a LB’s GoFundMe page. His family does not have the necessary funds to grant his father’s wishes and be cremated. Any donations are greatly appreciated.

LB with his father at a young age