Jake DeBrusk- Playing Where It Counts

Bad timing always seems to befall teams, especially during the most important part of the season. For the Bruins, it’s something that they’ve become somewhat experts on. With their roster being filled with many first-year guys, you knew that this team would be going through some growing pains. As the team would experience one injury after another, it seemed Boston couldn’t catch a break.

ENTER DEBRUSK

The Bruins not only had those nagging injuries to deal with. On top of this, they were trying to find their style and voice on the ice. Early on there was a concern about whether or not this team would ever bounce back. But as they say, you gotta keep the faith, because things have a way of turning around. One trip out west would change the course for the Black and Gold. Something special was happening. The Bruins (now healthy) started to win, play gritty and are on pace to being in the playoffs. The biggest thing about this team that has been discussed so many times is the surge of the young players. One, in particular, is starting to make not only important plays but scoring the winning goals- Jake DeBrusk.

(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

A GOOD START

A second-generation NHL player, DeBrusk quickly made noise early on after he was signed to an entry-level contract back in 2015. He was assigned to Providence after two seasons in the WHL and posted 49 points with 19 goals and 30 assists. In the 2017 Calder Cup Playoffs, Debrusk scored six goals and finished with nine points. Some impressive numbers led to DeBrusk earning a spot in the Bruins training camp. As one of the young stars many were talking about prior to this season, DeBrusk would score his first NHL goal against the Nashville Predators. He would be one of many rookies that would score their first goals- a precursor of what was to come out of this Bruins team.

FINDING HIS PLACE

By mid-season, the Bruins have found themselves on an upswing and after a trip out west. Consequently, the team started to develop one of the most important things it needed: chemistry. After a few mediocre seasons that was still playing under an old Julien system of dump and chase, the youth movement was just beginning to bubble. A new coach in Bruce Cassidy, a bunch of young hot studs mixed in some wise veterans and you have the perfect concoction of what it takes to be competitive. Ever tweaking his lines, Cassidy placed DeBrusk alongside David Krejci and Ryan Spooner (prior to the trade). The young 19 year old found himself playing in the regular lineup averaging around 15 minutes on the ice every night.

BY THE NUMBERS

A quick look at Debrusk’s stats shows that the young winger isn’t afraid to get involved and help his teammates. There have been instances where DeBrusk had a tough game and was subsequently benched for a few shifts. Since his debut on October 5, 2017, DeBrusk has averaged seven or more assists each month. He currently ranks fifth behind Torey Krug with 39 points. And as the Krejci line is proving to be a powerhouse with the addition of forward Rick Nash, Jake DeBrusk is there, setting up some nifty plays.

TOUGH LOVE

It can be hard being a young player among the big boys in the league. Sometimes when you hit a rough patch, it’s time for a quick reset. For someone like Jake DeBrusk, he’s learning to take some needed criticism. Recently, Coach Bruce Cassidy wasn’t too happy with how his young winger was playing and sat him the next few shifts.

Some players don’t respond well to taking some time out. Others like DeBrusk take it and become better. And he did. DeBrusk came out off the bench to tie a recent game against Montreal. He also drove to the net and was there when Brad Marchand scored the OT winning goal. Five shots total that game, and the Bruins swept the Montreal Canadiens. As he put it:

“You don’t want to miss shifts with anyone… But at the same time, I understood why and I was eager to get back out there and try to help the team win.”

At the midseason mark where the Bruins started to turn things around, it was DeBrusk again that put some much-needed effort. After being a healthy scratch in a game against Toronto, (again some tough love from Cassidy) the winger would respond with two goals and four assists in his next five games. Sometimes all you need is a little reminding that you need to get the puck more.

MOVING FORWARD

In the NHL business, you got to play your best players and for someone young like Jake DeBrusk, you have to earn your stripes to be in the lineup. There’s no doubt that this kid can play, and it’s hard to remember that he’s only 19 years old. In a recent back to back game against the Chicago Blackhawks, DeBrusk connected with his linemates, David Krejci and Rick Nash. He certainly made his mark, being there when Krejci needed him. In a 7-4 win over Chicago, the Czech forward scored two goals, and forward Brian Gionta scored as well. DeBrusk got the assist on those power-play goals:

“…We’re just trying to read off each other and at the same time try to know where we’re going to go..obviously tonight it clicked and hopefully we can build on that.”

FINAL THOUGHTS

With fifteen games left in the regular season, every play, assist and point is crucial. The Bruins have come a long way, exceeding every expectation. With key players out on injury, Boston closed out a perfect home stand series posting a 6-0 record. When most teams start to fray at the seams, the Bruins continue to push through. Every line pulls their weight. For Jake DeBrusk, whose racking up points in his last eight games, he continues to be there for his linemates.

“The whole year I’ve been trying to build… so just trying to keep it going and understand how valuable it is to be out there and who I’m playing with”

Follow Liz Rizzo on Twitter @pastagrl88

Joe Kelly Is What the Red Sox Need

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I’d say Jim Buchanan is one of my favorite reporters out there! Joe Kelly has been doing a great job of trolling everybody at the Red Sox spring training camp. He recently started dressing up as some goofy reporter named Jim Buchanan. He’s been messing around with the media and security guards, which is awesome and hilarious.

https://youtu.be/lhKOPfz1e7A

Joe Kelly, who came over to Boston in the John Lackey trade back in 2014, has had a great past couple years as a reliever. He used to be a starter, but couldn’t usually pitch deep into games. He is just a better overall pitcher when used in the bullpen.

His velocity as a reliever is different too, as his fastball can top out at 101 mph. He also developed a very effective curveball and slider. He will be a huge part of this bullpen in 2018 and hopefully someone we can all rely on and feel comfortable with late in a game.

Joe Kelly in particular being good is a great thing for this Red Sox team. As you can see with the Joe Buchanan thing, he is a very goofy person. He’s a great clubhouse guy and someone who can keep the guys in a good mood and laughing at all times. You can never have enough of those guys on your team.

Joe Kelly has done some awesome things in his career, but nothing has topped his stand-off in the National Anthem against Scott Van Slyke of the Dodgers. It wasn’t before some spring training game. Not during a regular season game either. It was before Game 6 of the flipping NLCS. Joe Kelly forever.

Cover image courtesy of The Boston Herald.

2018 Outlook for Rick Porcello

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Porcello’s Career in Boston so Far

Rick Porcello has experienced his fair share of highs and lows since arriving in Boston. The Red Sox acquired him in the winter of 2014 from the Tigers in exchange for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. In his first season following the trade, Porcello had fifteen loses and ERA of almost five. His second year in Boston was the complete opposite, as he won twenty-two games and the AL Cy Young award. Last year he struggled again and was unable to repeat his Cy Young performance. He lost a career high seventeen games and again had an ERA above four. This season will be his fourth year in Boston, and it should be an interesting one.

Photo Credit: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

2017 Struggles

Unlike Sale and Price, Porcello is not a strikeout machine. He is a sinkerball pitcher who pitches to contact. Last year he allowed a career high thirty-eight home runs and a career high two hundred and thirty-six hits. This was a result of a couple of factors. Last year his signature sinkerball pitch didn’t have the same effect. He pitched more up in strike zone making his pitches easier to hit. He does not throw the ball very hard which means he can’t just blow people away. What makes Porcello effective is when he’s able to stay out of the upper part of the strike zone. This makes it harder for hitters to barrel up the ball and induces ground balls.

Photo Credit: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

2018 Expectations for Porcello

Porcello is not as bad of a pitcher as he showed last year. He also is not a perennial Cy Young award candidate. With Price, Sale, and Pomeranz atop of the Red Sox rotation they don’t need him to be. In 2018 he will likely be the fourth starter, which could work out very well. When the former Tiger first came to Boston he was expected to be the ace. That didn’t workout and he had his breakout season in 2016 when the Sox signed David Price to be their ace. Porcello may not win twenty-two games a year, but he Is capable of pitching too a sub 4.00 ERA. He does not have the stuff to be an ace but does have the stuff be a consistent and at times an above average pitcher.

Photo Credit: Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

Why Porcello Is Key

If he can regain his signature sinkerball pitch then the Sox could have the best fourth starter in baseball. There won’t be as much pressure on him to carry this team which gives him a better chance to succeed. I expect Porcello to win between thirteen and sixteen games with an ERA under four. The sinkerball pitcher will be looking to rebound, and he will have the perfect opportunity to do that.

Danny Amendola is a Miami Dolphin

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 27: Danny Amendola #80 of the New England Patriots in action against the New York Jets during their game at MetLife Stadium on November 27, 2016 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Danny Amendola is now a Miami Dolphin. All the loyalty to the Patriots was just all talk and at the end the NFL is a business. Amendola will sign a two year deal worth $8.25 million and $12 million with incentives. Danny Amendola really played great in the playoffs. He got the nickname Danny ‘Playoff’ Amendola because of his clutch performance when the games mattered the most. The Dolphins just traded Jarvis Landry to the Cleveland Browns to make up for it. Why not get Amendola?

HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 05: Danny Amendola #80 of the New England Patriots scores a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons during the fourth quarter during Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Amendola played in 69 of 80 regular season games with the Patriots. In 13 playoff games Amendola scored six touchdowns. In the playoffs Amendola had 709 yards. This does hurt the Patriots’ offense though. The Patriots have Julian Edelman coming off an injury, and who knows how long he will be back to normal. We still don’t know if Rob Gronkowski is playing for the Patriots next season or retiring. The Amendola loss is pretty big as he was Brady’s target this season. The top receivers right now on the Patriots are Chris Hogan, and Brandin Cooks. Also they have Malcolm Mitchell coming back.

HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 05: Danny Amendola #80 and Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots warm up before Super Bowl 51 against the Atlanta Falcons at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Amendola told Bryant University at the end of February “I’m a free agent this year, so let’s say—the unknown. We’ll see what happens. I definitely want to be here. To tell you the truth, I don’t want to leave. But it’s a business. I’ve learned that.” Clearly a business choice for Amendola his loyalty to the Patriots was not making him stay there. He wanted to be there but wanted to make more money somewhere else. He knows the Patriots are cheap and will do anything to make more money. With Amendola making a business decision, the Patriots will now have to look at adding a receiver for next season. The Dolphins will never beat the Patriots in the division though.

Boston’s Biggest 2018 Lineup X Factor: JBJ

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We all know what Jackie Bradley Jr. is capable of doing in the outfield with his sick defensive prowess. However, on Opening Day at Tropicana Field he will without a doubt be the most streaky hitter in the lineup. The inconsistency for JBJ throughout his career has always been there, especially showing in 2017. How much would it mean to the 2018 Red Sox offense if he could put up consistent numbers? A lot. Here are a few aspects of how much of a consistent JBJ could bring to the club:

BOTTOM OF THE LINEUP

Whenever someone talks about a deep lineup, they are referring to the fact that everyone has the potential to consistently do damage. Based on what new manager Alex Cora has revealed about the lineup so far, JBJ will more than likely be hitting at the bottom of the lineup, 7-9. If JBJ could channel his power and be a consistent hitter at the bottom of the lineup, it would make this offense a much bigger threat 1-9. The bottom of the order could have a perfect combination of speed, consistency, and power, (assuming the bottom is JBJ-Vasquez-Nunez).

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TABLESETTER

Jackie also has the potential to be an amazing table setter for the top of the lineup. This was exactly the case in 2016, his best hitting year of his career. He hit for the highest average of his career (.267). He also scored the most runs of his career (94). I truly believe that this is no coincidence, it is common logic. The more times you get on base at the bottom of the lineup, the more opportunities the big boys have to drive you in.

SPEED-STEALING BASES

One attribute of JBJ that does not get talked about enough is his speed. Obviously he shows it off when he is tracking and chasing down fly balls in CF. However, we do not talk about his potential on the basepaths either. The most stolen bases that he has had in his career is nine, which is pathetic for someone with as much speed as him. If Alex Cora and Jackie are both willing to be aggressive on the base paths in 2018, it would make him even more of an asset to the offense.

CHEMISTRY

Obviously this cannot be measure in a stat, but Jackie Bradley is one, if not the most likeable player on the team. When he is doing well and making plays, it seems as though it lifts up the rest of the team, which can be very important in the dog days of summer. I think that if Jackie can be playing well throughout the whole season, it will pay dividends for the atmosphere in the clubhouse and the dugout.

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When it is all said and done, I think Jackie Bradley Jr is the biggest x factor when it comes to the 2018 Red Sox. I can’t wait to see some more ski jumping after a win!

Is Brad Marchand a Hart Trophy Contender?

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Hart Trophy Contenders

As of now it appears that Nikita Kucherov, Taylor Hall, and Nathan Mackinnon are the frontrunners for this year’s Hart Trophy. Kucherov leads the league with 88 points and has dominated all season. Hall and Mackinnon have also had career years, yet both teams remain on the playoff bubble. Many fans and analysts have actually used this to strengthen the argument for both of them. They say that their individual production is essentially the only reason New Jersey and Colorado are in contention. Heading into the season neither team had high expectations, so this is a valid point. But can’t the same logic be applied to Brad Marchand and the Bruins? If we’re talking about one player stepping up his game and allowing his team to defy expectations, Marchand absolutely needs to be in the conversation.

By the Numbers

They made the playoffs last year, but the Bruins have been on the outside-looking-in for a while now in terms of being a cup contender. Prior to the season, the consensus was that the Bruins would be a bubble team come the latter part of the season. One set of preseason rankings from www.sportingnews.ca even had the B’s listed as the 20th best team in the league, falling behind Montreal, Ottawa, and Carolina.

But with Marchand continuing his dominance that we saw last season this prediction has become far from accurate. He leads the team with 67 points despite having played in 13 less games than the second leading scorer, David Pastrnak. This averages out to 1.29 points per game, good for fourth in the league and only 0.05 points per game behind Nathan Mackinnon, the current leader. This is something that the Bruins haven’t seen in a while. If Marchand can keep this pace up, he’ll have the most points per game by a Bruin in a single season since Joe Thornton back in 2002-03. Thornton managed to put up 101 points through 77 games that year, and even those numbers narrowly beat Marchand’s current points per game at 1.31.

We all know what Marchand’s reputation is outside of Boston- he’s pretty much hated unanimously. Fans, players, coaches, analysts- you name it, they all can’t stand him. He’s been suspended six times throughout his career and hasn’t made too many friends around the league. He’s always straddled the line between “chippy” and down-right unacceptable. But the effect that it has on the team is overblown.

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

Marchand for MVP

So far this season Marchand has 53 PIMs in 53 games. This doesn’t even crack the NHL’s top 50 and averages out to just one minor penalty every other game. For some teams this would cause problems, but the Bruins penalty kill is more than capable of weathering the storm. They’ve managed to kill off 82.4% of penalties this season, good for 10th in the league. We also can’t look past how this time in the box relates to his style of play. Unlike most scorers he plays his best hockey while trying to get under the opposing teams skin. Scoring and being a pest are a package deal, and he’s equally talented in both categories. With the amount that he throws the other team off their game, I’ll take a minor penalty every other night.

Even despite all this, it remains unlikely that Marchand will take home the Hart Trophy. He’s missed too much time with suspensions and his reputation has taken a bigger hit than ever. Keep in mind that the Hart trophy is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association. Most of them probably hate him too. But his production when in the lineup has been just as good as anyone in the NHL, and it shows with his 1.29 points per game. He’s part of the best line in hockey and has given Bruins fans scoring that we haven’t seen in 15 years. It’ll be interesting to see if Marchand can pad his stats down the stretch and become more of a solidified Hart Trophy candidate.

Brad Marchand Is the Key to the Bruins’ Success

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When we talk about the Boston Bruins’ success, the names that usually come to mind are Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara, Tuukka Rask. But the real key to this team is none other than Brad Marchand

Production

The NHL just named Brad Marchand the second star of the week, and for good reason. Since Patrice Bergeron went out with a fractured foot, Marchand has stepped up in a big way. In the 10 games Bergeron has been out, Marchand has eight goals, seven assists, and 15 points for a 1.30 point per game pace. Including three straight game winning goals to lead the Bruins to a historic 6-0-0 home stand. If you pace Marchand’s production over a 82 game pace he would finish with over 100 points. That has not been done by a Bruins player since Joe Thornton in 2002-2003. In the past three seasons, Marchand is in the top five in goals scored in the entire NHL. As we have seen lately it’s not because of Bergeron. On top of the fact that number 63 is a ridiculous +32 this season to go along with his 69 points. Marchand is showing why he is the most talented player on the Bruins.

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Defensive Reliability

Not only is Marchand a heck of an offensive talent he is also one of the most dependable defensive players Bruce Cassidy has. Playing on a line with Bergeron most of his career certainly has helped Marchand with his defensive ability. But the hustle and relentless drive of the left winger is the reason he has become such a successful player. His offensive burst allows him to be an offensive factor on the penalty kill remaining responsible in his positioning. Most players that small in the NHL are usually a liability not a weapon in the defensive end. But just like everything else Marchand continues to defy logic and exceed expectations.

Although he has quite a past of misconduct in the NHL, Marchand is the most important player on the Bruins. Now he has to start acting like it because the Bruins need him come playoff time.

Why 2018 Could Be David Price’s Best

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Price’s Red Sox Career so Far

2018 will be a year that will define David Price’s career. Since he signed with the Red Sox prior to the 2016 season, things haven’t gone as planned. Price won seventeen games in his first year in Boston, but had an ERA of 3.99 and struggled in his only postseason start. Last year he was injured for the majority of the season and clashed with the media. People started to question his character and if he should stay in Boston. He returned in the playoffs as a reliever and was dominant. He came up big when the Red Sox needed him the most and did not give up a run in his two appearances. Price will be looking to build off that and be the ace the Sox envisioned when they signed him.

Photo Credit: Bob DeChiara- USA Today sports

What Last Year’s Playoff Performance Meant

As a reliever last year Price had perhaps his best performances as a Red Sox. Up until the point he hadn’t had a clutch moment in a Red Sox uniform. In Game 3 of the American league Division Series, he entered the game with the Sox clinging to a 4-3 lead. With the Red Sox facing elimination he put them on his back and pitched four scoreless innings. It wasn’t the dominant playoff start that Price has lacked but it was as close as you can get. This should help Price going into 2018 and if the Red Sox make the playoffs this year.

Photo Credit: Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)

Why Is 2018 so Important for Price?

The season before Price signed with Boston he had 18 wins and a 2.45 ERA. He was considered one of the best pitchers in baseball. The Red Sox need him to be the ace like pitcher he was. If he can, then the Sox will have one of the best rotations in baseball. After the 2018 season the former first overall pick can opt out of his deal. Price could seek a more lucrative deal, but he would also be leaving a lot of money on the table.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Aaron Josefczyk

Will Price Opt Out?

It is too early to say whether Price will opt out or not? He will need to show he’s healthy and still a dominant pitcher. If he can’t do this than it’s hard to imagine him getting a deal that would be lucrative than if he stayed in Boston. One thing people can be sure of is he will be more motivated than ever in 2018. He will be out to show that he is still a dominant pitcher. Price came to Boston two years ago to win a title. In each of the past two seasons, Price and the Red Sox have been eliminated in the playoffs both times in their own ballpark. This will be a year that will define Price’s career, and it could be something special.

Used to do okay the very first two years as we all know what the procedure is these first two years.

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The History of the New England Patriots by Jersey Number #15-#17

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NUMBER FIFTEEN

We’ll start in the way back machine for a great Patriots player from the 1960’s. Babe Parilli played seven seasons for the Patriots and was a true gunslinger. The fact that he made the Pro Bowl in the same season that he threw 27 interceptions speaks volumes about the way the game was played in the AFL. The Pats achieved success in the mid-60s with the veteran under center. They won a playoff game against the Bills in 1963 before getting crushed in the AFL title game.

In 1964, Parilli was a first-team All Pro and hooked up countless times with his paisano Gino Cappelletti forming the Grand Opera connection. Parilli made it to one more All-Star game in 1966 before leaving for the New York Jets in 1968. As a member of the Jets, Parilli backed up Joe Namath on their World Championship team and was also known for being an outstanding holder on special teams. He retired just before the 1970 season and passed away in 2017 at the age of 87.

Wilson’s Struggles

The Patriots obtained a very mediocre quarterback by the name of Marc Wilson for their darkest seasons of 1989 and 1990. Wilson had tremendous success at BYU in college and was an on-again, off-again starter for several seasons with the Raiders wearing #6. In 1985, he compiled an 11-2 record with the silver and black but was throttled by the Patriots in the AFC divisional round. He never got back to the postseason, but he retired with two Super Bowl rings as a Raider backup.

Ryan Mallett was another backup quarterback that wore #15 for the Pats. His Patriots career was brief and uninteresting. He was given the opportunity to start for the Houston Texans, but poor play and poor sportsmanship doomed him. Ironically, he lost the starting job to another Pats backup, Brian Hoyer. He was passed on to Baltimore where he plays behind Joe Flacco.

College Lacrosse Player Finds Home in NFL

One final #15 we should mention is the current player who dons that jersey, Chris Hogan. Hogan’s is a story of persistence. It has been laughingly over documented as to how he played lacrosse in college. He tried to latch on to three teams in 2011, but did not receive a regular season pass until 2013 with the Buffalo Bills. Hogan joined the Patriots in 2016. He scored a touchdown on his very first drive with the team at Arizona.

He has been excellent in the last two Super Bowls. One distinct memory I have of Hogan is after James White scored the winning touchdown of Super Bowl LI, he held his hands on either side of his helmet in utter joy. Hogan came back to score a touchdown in Super Bowl LII and was one of several outstanding players on offense in the loss.

Hogan’s greatest game was the 2016 AFC championship game against the Steelers. He dominated Steeler DBs throughout the first half leading to a 200-yard performance. Hogan is a fine player, but an even better young man.

NUMBER SIXTEEN

Jim Plunkett was the first overall draft choice of the 1971 draft and paved the way for Hispanics into the NFL. He was one of the greatest college quarterbacks of all-time at Stanford, but struggled as a Patriot. He went on to play for his hometown 49ers, but floundered there as well. His career was resurrected by Al Davis and the Raiders.

In 1980, when starter Dan Pastorini broke he leg in week 5, Plunkett took over and had the season of his life. He led the Cinderella Raiders all the way to a surprise Super Bowl victory over the Eagles. He did it again three years later thanks to the dynamite running attack of Marcus Allen.

Cassel has a Good 2008

Matt Cassel and Scott Zolak were two other backup quarterbacks that wore #16 for the Pats. Both are memorable for different reasons. For Cassel, he quarterbacked possibly the best team ever to miss the playoffs in 2008 after Brady tore his ACL in the opener. Cassel had some fine games especially late in the season when New England was battling Miami for first place. The Patriots crushed the Dolphins and followed that up with a 47-7 win over the eventual NFC champion Cardinals.

Unfortunately, Cassel did not have the consistency of Brady and in a crucial home game against the Steelers, he laid an egg. That loss cost the Pats their season. In my opinion, the 2008 Patriots could’ve been a 15-win team had Brady not been injured. Cassel turned his season in New England as a starter into an opportunity with the Kansas City Chiefs. Again, inconsistency plagued his career. He led KC to the playoffs once before he signed on with a series of other squads. In 2017, he started in place of Marcus Mariota for the Titans, but was very ineffective.

The Game Analyst That Wore #16

Zolak is better known for his announcing than his playing. He started a playoff game for New England against Jacksonville in 1998, but that was the zenith of his uninspiring playing career. As far as broadcasting is concerned, Zolak is a gem. He’s a complete homer and uses phrases such as “show ponies and unicorns” when he gets excited about the play of his beloved Patriots.

Zolak is not just funny, though. He is quite knowledgeable as he has garnered great respect from Bill Belichick. Belichick and Zolak break down plays of the week together shown at Patriots.com.

NUMBER SEVENTEEN

There are a lot of interesting guys that wore #17 for the Patriots, but few of them did anything special for the team. Mike Taliaferro was the most distinguished of the bunch as he made the All-star game for the 1969 Patriots. Aaron Dobson spent three injury-plagued seasons with New England from 2013-15. His best game was a 100-yarder in a home game thrashing of the Steelers.

Henry Ellard, John Friesz, Chad Jackson, Tom Owen, Greg Salas, Dedric Ward and Elmo Wright also put on #17 for the Patriots for at least one game. What a diverse collection of talent!

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills