Future Patriots? College Players to Watch This Year

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While Bill Belichick and the Patriots always seem to find a way, there should be some reason for concern with the future of this team. A bad draft next year would be detrimental to the future of this team and here is why:

In 2020 and 2021 several premiere players on the Patriots’ offense and defense will see their current contracts expire. The Patriots will have many key pending free agents coming up. Pending free agents are the last thing a team with a desperate need for a tight end wants to hear.

Tom Brady will be a pending free agent after this season and David Andrews will be in 2021
Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Notable 2020 free agents: Tom Brady, Kyle Van Noy, Joe Thuney, Devin McCourty, Josh Gordon, Jamie Collins, Ben Watson, Adam Butler, and many more

Notable 2021 free agents: David Andrews, Dont’a Hightower, James White, Michael Bennett, J.C Jackson, Duron Harmon, Lawerence Guy, Stephen Gostkowski, Rex Burkhead, Deatrich Wise and more

Some of these players will obviously be resigned, however, some will not and will go to other teams.

Safety Concerns

Honestly, McCourty’s days look numbered, and he even contemplated retirement during the week leading up to the Super Bowl.

Devin McCourty during Opening Night for Super Bowl LIII
Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

“Yeah man, if we win a Super Bowl, I don’t know what else can top that.”

Devin McCourty during Super Bowl media week

Devin McCourty has always been a key piece to this defense and the team, however, he is on the wrong side of thirty and has the second-highest cap hit among safeties this season.

Unless the then thirty-two year old safety wants to sign on to a pretty sizable cash reduction in comparison to years prior, McCourty might find himself being forced to call it quits.

The other safety up for a new contract soon is Duron Harmon. Much like McCourty, he also plays a big role in the Patriots’ secondary. Losing him would not bode well for the Patriots, and would leave a pretty large hole in the secondary (especially if McCourty is gone by this time too).

New England will try really hard to resign both players. Harmon will probably be a harder one to accomplish, as the 2021 cap might restrict the Patriots from offering a desirable deal.

The last and final thing to mention before naming the potential solution to this issue is that Chung, much like McCourty, also is aging. He is coming off shoulder surgery and a bad arm injury that he sustained in the Super Bowl. Many question marks surround his future going forward.

Solution at the Position:

Xavier McKinney of Alabama
Photo: Stuart McNair, 247Sports

Three big names to watch this season at the safety spot are Grant Delpit of LSU, Isaiah Simmons of Clemson, and Xavier McKinney of Alabama.

McKinney should be, by far, the most realistic name when the season is all set and done. Delpit currently projects to be a top ten pick and Simmons does not stand far behind.

For the sake of realism here, Xavier McKinney is the guy to look at.

Xavier McKinney: Some compare him to former Giants, now Redskins’ Landon Collins. McKinney plays strong safety for the Tide and, in some eyes, was the Tide’s top safety last year. Even over NFL draftee Deionte Thompson, who many had going in the first round, but fell out due to size concerns.

McKinney will now be the leader of that Nick Saban secondary, and his skills will be on full display. Pay close attention to his intelligence and athleticism on the field. These are traits that New England convets.

Another standout trait McKinney has is his footwork. His feet are on another level, which goes to show just how much time he puts into his game. Good footwork does not come easy ,and takes a lot of time to perfect.

McKinney’s press coverage is air tight. He is a gym rat. Only has 3% body fat (DK Metcalf’s was 1.6% for reference). His versatility and potential are also key traits of his too.

All this leads me to think that Xavier McKinney could not only play strong safety in New England, but could really fill the void of Patrick Chung’s inevitable absence in a few years.

Defensive End is Destined to be a Problem

In the 2021 offseason Deatrich Wise, Michael Bennett, and Derek Rivers will all see their current contracts expire. This will be problematic as there is no way the Patriots would be able to afford signing all three of these pass rushers.

Bennett would demand at least $4.5 million at 35 years of age.

Wise has a chance to secure the bag with good play over the next two seasons
Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports

Deatrich Wise’s market is yet to be seen. The pass rusher seems set for a breakout season, and might increase his market dramatically over the next two seasons.

Derek Rivers should focus on making the team first, however, he has the potential to make somewhere around $3 million (if he actually pans out, which is a big if).

Things could really go haywire in 2021 if all three, more importantly Wise and Bennett, do not return. So who can be our pass rusher across from Chase Winovich?

Solution at the Position:

Patriots’ fans can hope and pray all they want that Iowa defensive end A.J Espensa can fall later in next year’s draft. Unfortunately, much like Grant Delpit, this seems very unlikely. Yetur Gross-Matos, right now, seems more realistic at the defensive end position and should be an extremely intriguing prospect to watch this football season.

Yetur Gross-Matos: He earned first defensive team Big-10 honors last season as a sophomore. His size is pretty prototypical for an edge defender (6-5, 265 pounds). Matos looks to become the next first round defensive lineman out of Penn State since Jared Odrick in 2010.

The most impressive skill of Gross-Matos’ is his quickness. Not too long ago, he ran a 4.52 forty-yard dash. That would have ranked third among all defensive lineman in this year’s NFL combine.

A really impressive stat from last season was his twenty tackles for a loss. Gross-Matos proved to be a disruptive force last season in University Park and will only continue to grow this season.

His jump off the ball is very nice and his change of direction skills are very solid as well.

He still hasn’t proved to be a fantastic pass-rusher, and his success really relies on how well his jump off the ball was. However, expect him to improve on those weak spots this season and keep a close eye.

Victor Dimukeje of Duke
Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports

*Note: For a more mid-round prospect, watch out for Victor Dimukeje out of Duke. Pro Football Focus likes him a lot and so should you. Really good defender for Duke.

Tight End Still Pressing Need

Ben Watson, Matt LaCosse, Ryan Izzo should be good enough to get by this year. However, next season Ben Watson will probably retire again. Even if he somehow finds his way onto the roster again, tight end should be a position to address early.

Ben Watson back in Patriots’ gear for the first time since the 2009 season
Credit: Nancy Lane/Boston Herald

Naming a tight end out of this class is really hard. Almost all of the tight ends are different and have their own trademark ability.

Albert Okwuegbunam of Missouri is currently the top tight end prospect in this class. However, his ability has really been hyped up, and he might not be the top prospect come next April.

Grant Calcaterra of Oklahoma is certainly intriguing. He plays a lot like Evan Engram. Unfortunately, he blocks a lot like Evan Engram too.

This John Mackey Award candidate Jacob Breeland might be the best fit in New England Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports

The most complete tight end might just be Jacob Breeland of Oregon.

Breeland is a 6’5, 248 pound deep-threat tight end with strong hands and elite athleticism.

He played receiver in high school (just as Grant Calcaterra did) and he has brought those receiver-like skills to his job as tight end of the Oregon Ducks.

With Gronk now gone, the Patriots will lose one of the greatest red-zone threats in team history. While Breeland certainly should not be expected to replace Gronk per say, a 6’5, receiver-like body would defiently help pick up the pieces in the red area.

Another thing that makes Breeland extremely valuable is his speed and size combination that can so easily create mismatches for opposing defenses. We all know that Belichick, Brady, and McDaniels are experts in this area and having a guy like that could certainly serve them well.

Breeland appears to be a much stronger blocker than both Grant Calcaterra and Albert Okwuegbunam. That really tipped the scales in his direction.

A strong season by him would really seal the deal for him being the favorite tight end target for next year’s NFL Draft.

Why fighting needs to stay in the NHL

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Over the passed few seasons fighting has become a very controversial topic in the world of hockey. The NHL has taken drastic steps to crack down on fighting, and it has seen results as fighting is at an all time low in the NHL. You can read more on the current state of fighting here.Does eliminating fighting make the NHL a safer place? Lets decide.

Why fight?

Staged fights rarely occur in todays NHL. Even less now that the league has cracked down more on the enforcer rule in specific. More often than not the reason that a fight occurs in the NHL is because a bad hit was made, or because a player had been talking a little too much smack. Often times when a fight like that occurs, the dust is settled then and there. Every now and then a good old fashioned rivalry will be created by a physical game that includes a couple of fights. Or for instance, The Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadians might be playing and the rivalry will be set in stone for the rest of the franchises existence. Those games that include the most fights also happen to be the games that the NHL makes their prime time games on national television.

The NHL isn’t doing a very good job of trying to shift away from fighting if they’re bringing the most attention to the games that include the most fights.

Cons of fighting

Obviously the number one con, and the reason that the league is cracking down on fighting, is player safety. Injuries sometimes occur when the gloves are dropped. Not only player injury, but also losing players to suspension. If a player is suspended for a fight, whether is be because he has fought enough times to earn a suspension, or because the fight was planned, losing players is never good for the league. Especially if it was just a fight that resulted in no serious injury. But how often does a player receive a serious injury after dropping the gloves? How dangerous is fighting compared to the blind sided open ice hits, or the hits from behind on the boards?

The NHL is being a bit hypocritical when they say they are trying to ban fighting due to safety, but then they let players like Nazem Kadri get away with a history that includes suspensions and or fines for an illegal hit to the head (twice) an “inappropriate throat slash gesture” (once) a boarding call (once) and a cross check to the face (once) JUST TO NAME A FEW. With a track record like that, Kadri then cross checked Jake DeBrusk in the 2019 NHL playoffs. This resulted in essentially only a four game suspension as he was suspended the rest of the series against the Bruins.

Pros of fighting

Some of the most exciting games in NHL history, and even still in the NHL today, consist of fighting and hard hits. Playoff hockey is the most watched hockey, and it is far more physical than regular season hockey. Is this a coincidence? Do fans tend to flock towards the more physical hockey games? I think it shows. Hockey fans love hockey fights. Fighting is a way to settle old scores, or even make players own up to cheap hits, or hits on star players. If star players are protected, star players can make more plays and bring in more viewers.

If fighting isn’t allowed, Team A takes out the star player for team B. Team B then responds by taking out the star player for team A. Now the star player for both team A and team B are injured, and you’ve now lost two star players. If you let players fight, Team B responds by dropping the gloves with whoever on Team A put the cheap hit on the star player for Team B and all is well.

Fighting is also used as something to get the crowd back into the game for the home team. A good fight at the end of a game can change the whole outcome of a game. Not only for the crowd, but to get players back into the game and pump them up as well.

Fighting makes the game cleaner, and enables players to police the game themselves without putting bounties on other players. A lot of players will even say that the league is more safe with fighting. Business can be settled in a rather controlled manner by dropping of the gloves.

Who’s at fault?

Fighting is indeed dangerous. Lets not forget though, that most fights end up finishing with at least one of the players involved with his helmet still on. No player is protected when he’s hit by a guy who doesn’t even see before the hit. Or when his body is crushed between the boards and an opposing player from behind. Fighting might bring an edge to the game. But it is not near as dangerous as an illegal hit. Hopefully the NHL can figure that out someday soon.

Ostarine Review: One Of The Best SARMs For Cutting

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Ostarine also goes by the alternative names Enobosarm, Ostamuscle or MK-2866. It is a safe and mild drug with muscle-preserving benefits that would pique your interest. Despite being initially developed for treating muscle conditions, Ostarine is quite popular with bodybuilders. An Ostarine review that follows below will help you appreciate SARMs and more specifically the MK-2866.

Ostarine Effects & benefits

By composition, SARMs only target specific androgen receptors in your muscles. They do not interfere with other body processes. The Ostarine cycle helps your body build muscle while also burning fat. Recall that the drug manufacturers created it to fight diseases that waste your muscles. Therefore, in retrospect, it must be having the ability to build muscle.

While pursuing your bodybuilding objectives, priority must be on reducing calories in your diet. As you progress, you may notice the loss in muscle mass. To reverse this, Ostarine keeps your muscles intact, enabling you to be on an adequate diet. Besides, you do not suffer from the loss of body strength.

Ostarine Dosage

An ideal intake should be between 20 to 30mg/day. However, this is not stuck in stone as you can choose something in between the two limits. If your goal is to cut, then a daily dose of between 15 to 20mg would suffice. For bulking, 30mg per day would hack it. Nonetheless, MK-2866 is a mild SARM meaning that you cannot achieve much at a low dosage.

One may wonder whether there is a specific Ostarine cycle to pursue. The answer is an emphatic ’’NO.’’ Whichever period you choose your personal goals should be the overriding factor. In almost every Ostarine review you read, the cycles last between 8 and 12 weeks. Regardless, you must not exceed 12 weeks; otherwise, you stand the risk of suffering from drug suppression.

Ostarine results begin to show in the second week. As a beginner, you could opt for 10mg per day for eight weeks. As a more experienced bodybuilder, 20mg Ostarine for ten weeks is fine. Alternatively, consider the other option of 30mg Ostarine for 12 weeks.

SARMs Ostarine Side effects

Despite there being side effects in the use of Ostarine, they are not something to worry so much. Failure to stick to the suggested dosage can cause back pain and headaches. At times, you could also have lethargy. 

Frequent headaches are common among first-time users. They can also occur in your first few days of using Ostarine. Usually, they go away after a while, but if they persist, cut your intake by half the dose. Eventually, your body gets accustomed to MK-2866.

Some users might experience puffy nipples, but these are few and exceptional cases. For safe usage of Ostarine, in case you feel unusual, reduce the dosage for a while, before resuming gradually. Whichever approach or cycle you opt for, never extend your intake beyond 12 weeks.

Where to buy Ostarine

Considering that SARMs are not mainstream drugs that you can buy from the pharmacist across the street, you must be very careful. However, there are reputed online sellers who will sell you authentic Ostarine. You can find links to such sellers from an Ostarine review.  Avoid ordering from Alibaba or some shady site that you landed into while doing an online search.

Buying Ostarine from unapproved sources puts you at risk. You could end up receiving a product that is not MK-2866, buy an underdose, or get nothing at all. Some vendors have set up nonexistent outlets to rip you off. The worst part is that your health is none of their concerns. Here are a few tips:

•        Stay away from Ostarine sellers that do not offer third-party testing. Legitimate vendors must have third-party lab tests. Legit sources usually send their products to reputable labs for analysis. Check and confirm that the results show purity tending towards 98 percent and above.

•        Avoid vendors that aggressively markets SARMs as if they were supplements. For your information, SARMs are not supplements. They are chemicals used in ongoing research.

•        Avoid cheap offers. Some vendors may look like they are offering you Ostarine and other SARMs at a bargain. Listen to the small voice in your head, if something does not sound right, stay away from such a transaction.

•        User reviews are another pointer to whether a seller is genuine or not. Check the reviews posted by real users or buyers from that site. If there are more positive reviews than negative ones, then you should consider buying from that vendor. On the contrary, if there are few or no reviews at all, exercise caution when dealing with the vendor.

Despite its being a mild SARM, Ostarine still delivers impressive results. The drug burns fat and builds muscle. You should start seeing results in around two weeks. Lastly, vet your source thoroughly before making a purchase.

Boston Sports Extra at Julian Edelman’s Pro Camp

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Julian Edelman held his Pro Camp Saturday

Julian Edelman held his Pro Camp for kids in Sudbury Massachusetts. Kids in grades 1-8 get the chance to catch a pass from the Patriot great. They also learn some fundamentals of the game. Even though it is $249 a person, the turnout was still a big one even on a very hot day. With the Pro Camp being held that means football is right around the corner. Training camp begins Thursday in Foxborough.

Edelman is excited for the season to start

Edelman told reporters at the camp “We had summer break, [now] you get to see all the fellas. This is where you learn your team and learn each other and become accountable for each other and work hard together and create a consistency together.”

He also has done a lot for charity

Edelman not only does he do a lot on the football field, he does a lot for charity. Right after the Super Bowl his beard was shaved on the Ellen Degeneres Show in exchange for $10,000 donation to the Boys and Girls Club of Boston. He would also donate another $10,000 for a total $20,000 donated to the Boys and Girls Club. Edelman really does a great job teaching the kids different techniques and plays that are used even on the Patriots.

Edelman did speak about a great opportunity this is for these kids to have a chance to learn the game from the best. He said, “We’re showing them some techniques, giving them little pointers that are fundamental things we do in the pros. That you still have to work on.” Each person goes to each station to learn something new, whether it be on offense or defense. It really is a fun full day of football. Kids also receive Edleman merchandise for participating.

Boston Celtics: Not Plan A, But A-OK

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Danny Ainge: “This Was Plan A.”

The Boston Celtics officially introduced point guard Kemba Walker and center Enes Kanter in a press conference Wednesday. Celtics general manager Danny Ainge called the signings Boston’s “Plan A”. Filling out the roster with an All-NBA player like Walker and one of the most efficient players in the NBA in Kanter is one thing; claiming the moves were Plan A is another. Plan A would suggest the initial plan. It’s widely known the Boston Celtics were hoping to secure Kyrie Irving long-term and then use Irving to lure another marquee free agent, e.g. Anthony Davis, to the Celtics. Boston also pursued other players such as Kevin Durant.

The Boston Celtics declined a trade for Kawhi Leonard that would have shipped Jaylen Brown out of town. That doesn’t mean Boston was holding out for Walker and Kanter. At the very least, Ainge, unlike the Celtics ownership group, came off as disingenuous. It wasn’t Plan A, but what about the plan in general? It’s almost genius, which is probably why Ainge is arrogant enough to claim it was Plan A. The Celtics acquired two veteran leaders at positions of need ranked in the top-30 in PER (Player Efficiency Rating) for $40.1 Million.

Celtics general manager and president Danny Ainge, left, and coach Brad Stevens watch during a preseason workout at the Boston Celtics’ Auerbach Center training facility in Boston, Massachusetts on September 25, 2018. (Staff Photo By Christopher Evans/Boston Herald)

From the Players Themselves

Kemba Walker expressed his sole desire to win as the reason for leaving the Charlotte Hornets . The University of Connecticut star talked of his familiarity with New England and expressed his excitement to learn with Celtics head coach Brad Stevens. Walker’s Huskies beat Stevens and Butler University for the 2011 NCAA Championship. Considering point guards success in Stevens’ systems, Walker has reason to be excited. “[Point guards] score a lot”, Walker said as the media chuckled nervously, recalling Walker’s 9th-ranked usage rate in 2018-2019. Sound familiar? Walker talked about leading by example, and perhaps most impressively, was eager to talk to Jayson Tatum, Brown and Marcus Smart about their playoff experience, displaying a humility in stark contrast to Irving’s. Walker connections to Tatum via Nike, and Brown through the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders program, were crucial in signing the All-NBA point guard.

“I want to be the reason nobody else wears number 11”, Enes Kanter quipped in reference to Kyrie Irving, drawing laughs. Kanter spoke about the difficulties he had playing in Boston and relished at the opportunity to play for Boston. A phone call from Walker helped sealed the deal with Kanter, a call that apparently came from Ainge’s phone. Kanter stressed the player-coach relationship and saw Stevens as the perfect fit, while Stevens lauded Kanter’s post abilities, efficiency, passing and leadership skills. Kanter also talked about the difficulties of his personal life, and downplayed concerns regarding travel to Canada. Kanter’s sacrifices and fight for democracy in Turkey make for the high character veteran leader this young Celtics team so desperately needs.

Kemba Walker (8) and Enes Kanter (11) were officially introduced as Boston Celtics Wednesday at a press conference. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)

Take Home Message

The Boston Celtics plan, the real Plan A, clearly didn’t work out. Irving is on the Brooklyn Nets with Kevin Durant, and Davis is on the Los Angeles Lakers. One could argue Plan B didn’t work either considering Al Horford is a Philadelphia 76er.  But that doesn’t mean the Celtics ended up with Plan C; quite the opposite, actually. No, Boston ended up with the best fit. As Ainge eventually admitted, the Celtics jumping at the first opportunity to sign Walker and Kanter was the best option with the remaining resources.

Walker is a local hero back home in the Northeast set to become the leader the Boston Celtics need. Kanter’s contract is probably one of the best values in the NBA, and he will largely replace the void left when Boston lost their entire veteran inside presence.  The question now becomes whether Stevens can get Walker to be more of a distributor and Kanter more of a defender. History tells us Stevens will figure it out.

How much useful the key lock boxes

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We should not be misguided, they are not the type of real estate but these are the things that you rotate on your door and keep your keys correctly. It is to assure you that you will not be able to forget your keys anywhere, but place your door at the right place at the same place. It’s not easy to get keys because you have to give some collection code so that you can get it. Usually, they are used more and more by real estate agents, but the fact is that you can also use them in your own home. So here are some benefits that you can choose from. Presenting to you here are the best key lock boxes. 

What are common benefits of key lock box? 

There are many benefits from which you can get it. First of all you can see it only in one place. There is no need to hide them anywhere in their house. By the way, if the criminals intend to enter your home, they are looking for keys at potential places such as plant vessel, under your commerce and key lock boxes etc. But security runs smoothly when you encounter codec’s. 

Collection access boxes, which are often built in solid die cast zinc, offer weather resistant and rust-free construction. This type of nature has been locked; it has to face naturally, such attacks on the connection or the forced interior. This cabinet is designed to cope with all concrete or well-made concrete walls. A combination easily offers lock, option to integrate a personal PIN number, with the choice of 3 or 4 points, and 1000 combinations for safe protection for ease of remembering.

Gadget technology

A compact, 2 Key Lock Box offers a perfect gadget to hold key sets in a suitable place. Build in a rust-free, solid metal material for increasing ease on an outside wall. Easy tool to allow children to lose or key lost. Another compact key box is built in portable push button boxes (in solid metal form), is formed in concrete metal, and hangs in a rubber coach to hang on the rubber, or a fence or Doorknob, or search The same place for easy to do. These portable devices will accept 2 to 3 standard size keys.

Portable units

Whether this wall is a mounted, floor, or portable unit, this key lockbox offers easy and easy solutions to manage and manage all the keys outside the sight. Next, whenever you want, you can only change the combination if you want to save your privacy and security. With this type of perspective, you can certainly be sure to make sure because no one will have any idea about the codes you’ve programmed for it. 

If you do not have an account yet, register now! I’m sorry to hear from you. With this option you are sure that any keys will be lost. Instead, it will be just right, safe and secure in front of you, but it is difficult to access anyone who is not allowed.

A Reunion with Collins

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Do you believe in second chances? Can you improve on first impressions? Is it possible to go back home? Can Jamie Collins come back to the team that drafted him?

So many questions…

These are questions that the New England Patriots and linebacker Jamie Collins are going to find the answers to when training camp opens for the 2019 NFL season. Collins was unceremoniously shipped off to the Cleveland Browns late October of 2016. Coming during the bye week of a tumultuous season it provided a much needed break for both parties.

The Patriots received draft capital for an individual it was likely not to resign. The Cleveland Browns got their hands on top tier free agent, one who might not have even taken a phone call from management. The Browns quickly inked him to a four year deal.

Bill Belichick walked away from the deal as the eventual winner, as they helped turn that third round pick into Brandin Cooks, Isaiah Wynn and numerous other draft day maneuvers. Oh, and two Super Bowl rings and an additional appearance. So, that worked out ok.

What led to his exit?

Similar to Patrick Chung‘s career arc, Collins has returned a wiser and more experienced football player. During his initial stint, he won on athleticism and speed. Every fan in New England remembers his leap over the head of the long snapper to block that kick. It was his freelancing ways that drew the ire of the coaching staff and contributed to his banishment to Cleveland. His contract situation also contributed. And like so many Patriots before him, he was seeking riches that the team was not willing to part with.

Now that the Cleveland Browns shelled out the cash for him, what do the Patriots have in store for the experienced vet?

What are the Patriots getting?

Jamie Collins and Myles Garrett attempt to rush the Passer: Photo credits by Erik Drost Flickr

A versatile, dynamic linebacker on the cheap for one. His contract is an extremely reasonable one year deal that guaranteed just $250k, and up to $5 million dollars in mostly incentive based language.

Snaps for another. With Dont’a Hightower and Kyle Van Noy returning as roster locks, and second year Ja’Whaun Bentley coming back from injury, there are only three sure linebackers on the roster for week one.

KVN accounted for 90.70% of the defensive snaps, as well as an additional 125 snaps on special teams. Hightower followed him with 74.21%, and 74 snaps on defense and special teams respectively. After that was a whole lot of part timers on both units.

Collins did miss ten games in the 2017 season with a concussion and a season ending MCL tear. He bounced back in 2018 but still look a touch slow. Collins will have to prove that he is fully healthy in order to stick with the team. He will also have to show up willing to work and listen to the coaching staff. With Belichick having a greater hand on the defensive side of the ball, I doubt he will allow the amount of improvisation that Collins is capable of.

The expectations for the 2019 season?

Jamie Collins readies himself for another practice rep. Photo: Erik Drost Flickr

Collins can come in and prove his professionalism. He can get caught up with the new play book and bring his unique playing styles to the team. If the Patriots break camp with a healthy four man rotation of Hightower, KVN, Bentley and Collins, that would constitute one of the deeper and more talented units across the league.

Whatever happens, Belichick will select his guys, get them ready, and put the best game plan to win football for the 2019 season.

Thank you for reading this article written by Andrew Lykins. You can find the rest of my work over at https://bostonsportsextra.com/author/@alykins32 You can find many other fine articles on all Boston sports at Bostonsportsextra.com
My mind resides at twitter under @ALykins32

All statistics were found at www.pro-football-reference.com unless otherwise noted.

LFG for the 7th Ring in 2019!!

The Blueprint For 2019 Nathan Eovaldi: 2013 Koji Uehara

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There is much consternation about Nathan Eovaldi being rushed back. Part of this is due to the news that he will not be used on back to back days, at least to start. But the Red Sox have seen this act before, and it was a thing of beauty. In 2013 Koji Uehara was used with kids gloves and it resulted in a World Series Championship.

What it could look like

In 2013 Koji managed to rack up 21 Saves. He got his first Save on May17th, but he didn’t start getting them consistently until June 26th. In the end here are his raw days off numbers from that year:

  • Days worked with at least a day off: 80%
  • Days off before working back to back: 2.27
  • Times working three straight days: 1

It just so happened Uehara had five days off before his only time pitching back to back to back.

Eovaldi will be starting a month later, more or less, than when Koji started in 2013. But from here on out it’s conceivable he could save 15-20 games for the 2019 Red Sox. And while both pitchers had and have injury histories, Koji was 38, while Eovaldi is 29. Koji worked with guile and an almost unbelievable .565 WHIP. Incredibly, Nathan Eovaldi, pitching against the best competition in last year’s playoffs, had a .536 WHIP. And unlike Koji, he has high 90s heat.

Alex Cora will have a hard time not using Eovaldi back to back if there are save situations galore over the next two weeks against the Rays and Yankees. But Alex Cora is a better manager than John Farrell was. Having watched Uehara in 2013 we’ve seen this kind of thing before. It is not a reason to be worried about Nathan Eovaldi in the Closer’s role.

Featured Image Via The Boston Herald

Kirk Minihane is fitting right in at Barstool Sports

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Kirk Minihane had an eventful first month at Barstool Sports. In 22 episodes Minihane has introduced himself to Stoolies around the world. Fans can hear his superb wit, sarcastic tone, and feel for what listeners want. He has already brought in many characters into the show, including a peculiar Patriots beat writer, and a blind former Barstool intern. He has bashed The Boston Globe, WEEI, and a Massachusetts politician among others. 

“The Kirk Minihane Show” is currently the 13th ranked podcast on iTunes in the category of sports and recreation. His most recent episode is sitting at 19 in this department. For context, the show is right in between “FantasyPros — Fantasy Football Podcast” at 12 and “SVP and Russillo” at 14. As far as other Barstool podcasts, the incredibly popular “Pardon My Take” is currently number two in this section. Barstool’s hockey and golf podcasts, “Spittin Chiclets” and “Fore Play”, rank 19 and 25 in sports and recreation. 

While Minihane is no stranger to conflict, he was probably not expecting to face legal trouble so early on in his Barstool career. When “The Kirk Minihane Show” debuted on June 17th, Minihane and Barstool Sports were sued by Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone. On June 6th, Kirk Minihane, wait, I mean, Boston Globe reporter Kevin Cullen, had a phone conversation with Mayor Curtatone to discuss Barstool Sports. Curtatone filed a lawsuit sighting Minihane did not reveal his true identity. (Yes, all of this actually happened.)

Minihane can find an interesting angle in any topic brought up. He is very compelling when discussing inside media gossip. Many of his fans would say this is bread and butter. Minihane can also make the listener chuckle with a well placed biting comment during the flow of conversation. However, an often overlooked fact in Minihane’s broadcasting persona is he enjoys hearing dissenting view points. He does not want his show to be a link minded echo chamber. In fact, quite the opposite. He actively seeks out people he disagrees with. 

On his most recent show, Minihane battled with OJ Simpson’s current attorney, Malcolm LaVergne. The highlight of this wild, contentious conversation was near the end of the interview. Minihane was taunting LaVergne throughout the entire conversation. He then mocked LaVergne by asking, “Who do you think OJ murdered first, Ron or Nicole?”  

He has also been of the middle of drama inside Barstool Sports. Such as when he talked to Francis Ellis after Ellis was fired for a controversial blog. Not to mention earlier this week, Minihane went to Barstool Sports Headquarters and promptly stirred the pot like only he can. 

Minihane joked that if he wanted to host Barstool’s Sirius XM morning show he could have the job. Well, Willie Colon, a former NFL player and current host of that show, did not take to kindly to Minihane’s wisecrack. While Minihane was on the air, Colon sat inches away and stared him down. Minihane admits he thrives during uncomfortable radio situations. Naturally, he proceeded to taunt Colon and mock him for not having it out on the air. Well, the next day, they sure did.  

Minihane is succeeding at Barstool Sports doing what he was doing at WEEI before many factors lead to him losing his show (more on this to come). He has an incredibly loyal fanbase that obviously followed him to Barstool Sports. While his adversaries will still probably try to bring him down, it feels like this time, Kirk Minihnae is not going anywhere.

The STAPLES Center is an Awesome Venue to Take in an Event

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STAPLES Center is a multi-purpose arena in Downtown Los Angeles. The arena is home to the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL), the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Staples Center is also host to over 250 events and nearly 4 million guests each year. It is the only arena in the NBA shared by two teams, as well as one of only two North American professional sports venues to host two teams from the same league.

Construction of STAPLES Center broke ground on March 26, 1998, and the arena opened on October 17, 1999 with a concert by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band. Since its opening, STAPLES Center has been the site of Lakers and Sparks championships, the Kings Stanley Cup, and thousands of memorable concerts and special events. As a result, STAPLES Center tickets are always a hot item in L.A. Here are some other memorable events.

L.A. Kings Win the Stanley Cup (June 11, 2012)

In 2012, the Los Angeles Kings won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, defeating the New Jersey Devils 6-1 and winning the series 4-2. The Kings became the first team to win the Stanley Cup on their home ice since 2007. Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the playoffs.

Michael Jackson’s Memorial Service (July 7, 2009)

Twelve days after his untimely death, a memorial service was held at STAPLES Center for legendary entertainer Michael Jackson. During the service, Jackson’s songs were performed by Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Jermaine Jackson, and Shaheen Jafargholi.

Through an online lottery, AEG gave away 17,500 free tickets to the service – over 1.2 million applications were received in 24 hours. The service was broadcast live around the world. In the U.S., public screenings were held in 37 cinemas, and Nielsen reported 31 million viewers watched the service live on TV. Some news sources reported more than 2.5 billion viewers worldwide, making the event the most-watched live TV broadcast in history.

Kobe Bryant Scores 81 Points (Jan. 22, 2006)

In 2006, Lakers guard Kobe Bryant scored a career-high 81 points in a victory against the Toronto Raptors. Bryant’s 81-point game is second only to Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game in 1962. In that same month, Bryant also became the first player since 1964 to score 45 points or more in four consecutive games, joining Chamberlain and the Lakers’ Elgin Baylor as the only players ever to do so. By the end of the 2005–06 season, Bryant set Lakers single-season franchise records for most 40-point games (27) and most points scored (2,832). He won the league’s scoring title for the first time, averaging 35.4 points per game. 

WrestleMania 21 (April 3, 2005)

WrestleMania 21 was the first one held at STAPLES Center. Tickets sold out in less than one minute, the fastest in WrestleMania history. Highlights included Batista defeating Triple H to win the World Heavyweight Championship, and John Cena pinning John “Bradshaw” Layfield for the WWE Championship.

Robert Horry’s Game Winning Shot (May 26, 2002)

Lakers power forward Robert Horry was known for coming through in the clutch, a reputation that was secured in the waning seconds of Game 4 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals against the Sacramento Kings. Trailing 2-1 in the series and facing Game 5 in Sacramento, the Lakers were down by as many as 24 points in the first half. The Lakers cut the lead to 99–97 with 11.8 seconds to play. On the final possession, Sacramento center Vlade Divac tried to run out the clock by knocking the ball away from the basket. The ball bounced to Horry, who hit a three-pointer over Chris Webber at the buzzer to win the game, 100–99. The Lakers prevailed against the Kings 4-3 in the series, and went on to three-peat as NBA champions, sweeping the New Jersey Nets in the NBA finals.

As you can see, the STAPLES Center has been home to many amazing events throughout its history, with many more sure to come. If you are in the Los Angeles area, you should contact the STAPLES Center box office to find tickets to an event you’re sure to enjoy and remember!