Tag Archives: #BostonSportsExtra

Three Wide Receivers the Patriots Could Acquire Before August

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Brandin Cooks’s trade to the Los Angeles Rams is one of the most surprising moves of the off-season so far. The wide receiver was one of the leading players in the league last season for the New England Patriots. His transfer to LA, though, does give Bill Belichick more draft picks to play with ahead of the new campaign.

Belichick and the Patriots will also be monitoring the league closely to see if any of the leading wide receivers in the NFL become available. Tom Brady needs another weapon to throw to as he bids to win his sixth Super Bowl ring. Here are three wideouts which could be in a Patriots Jersey for the opening game of the new season:

Odell Beckham Jr.

Since joining the league in 2014, Odell Beckham Jr. has established himself as one of the leading wide receivers in the NFL. Not only is he at the end of the most receiving yards and touchdown charts, he is capable of the amazing catches as he has shown on more than one occasion.

Beckham’s future in New York very much looks in doubt as contract talks have broken down, which means his future may now be elsewhere. The Giants have stated they will be looking for two first round draft picks for Beckham. It appears it is a case of who will be prepared to give up the most for the 25-year-old. Beckham’s best years could still be ahead of him.

Given their talents, Brady and Beckham Jr. will certainly bring the best out of each other. Therefore, the Patriots are surely considering making an offer for the Giants player. Releasing Cooks may just have been the first piece in the jigsaw in putting a plan together for the new season, which includes Beckham. The Patriots are already the favorites in the betting for Super Bowl LIII. If they can pick up a player of Beckham’s ability, they will be a great bet to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Especially if you open up a new account for a free bet as reviewed and detailed by Oddschecker before the new season begins.

Courtesy of The Daily Meal.

Dez Bryant

Dez Bryant has been with the Cowboys since they drafted him in 2010. In 2014, Dez had the best year of his career, scoring 16 touchdowns and recording 1320 receiving yards.

Bryant is still considered to be one of the elite WRs in the league. However, his figures have not been as good as the likes of Antonio Brown, Julio Jones and Beckham Jr. over the last couple of years. A move away from the Cowboys might just be the best thing for the former Oklahoma State Cowboy.

Bryant has yet to sign a new contract with the Cowboys, so it remains to be seen if the two parties can agree on new terms, or if the 29-year-old will become available over the next few months. Belichick is sure to be a fan of the three-time Pro Bowl player.

Courtesy of Cheesehead TV

Demaryius Thomas

Demaryius Thomas has been one of the most consistent wide receivers in the NFL since 2012, and is one of the reasons as to why the Denver Broncos have managed to reach two Super Bowls in the last five years.

Since Peyton Manning retired, the Broncos have yet to find a quarterback they are comfortable with. This could lead to Thomas considering his options. Consequently, he may push for a move away from Denver before the start of the 2018 season.

This wouldn’t be the first time Belichick has opted for an experienced receiver to help bolster his roster. Given his track record, Thomas will surely jump at the prospect to work under the future Hall of Fame coach.

In the meantime, the focus for Belichick and the management team at the Patriots will be on the 2018 NFL Draft, which begins on April 26 from the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Courtesy of The Denver Post

 

Cover image courtesy of NFL.com.

David Pastrňák Is Making It Look Easy

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The young Czech right wing is quickly living up to his superstar role

The Bruins knew Toronto would come out swinging after suffering a 5-1 loss last Thursday night at the Garden. As the story goes for this Boston team, the Bruins do not give up, nor will they let how they ended their regular season dictate their gameplay against a tough Maple Leafs team. The playoffs is a whole new beast and, so far, the Black and Gold have come out in full force with a quick 2-0 lead in the series. The Leafs had the Bruins’ number all season but now find themselves playing catch up. The Bruins haven’t played perfect, and there are still a few things that need to be tightened up. But boy are they having fun. And no one is having more fun than the ever-smiling David Pastrňák.

David Pastrňák celebrates his second goal of the night

A BARGAIN FOR A HOT SUPERSTAR

Last summer there was some panic among Bruins fans as preseason was about to start with no new contract securing the 21-year-old Pastrňák. With the Bruins shaky history of letting talent go, some were calling for Sweeney and Cam Neely to move with more urgency in signing Pastrňák. But Don Sweeney wasn’t too fazed and didn’t have a timetable. A little back and forth and Sweeney finally was able to sign the young Czech to a $40 million dollar contract for six years. After a breakout year last season, “Pasta” would only get better. So far the young Czech has not disappointed. The good part? He will be a Bruin during his developing career. What he’s getting in comparison to someone like Connor McDavid (who signed a ridiculous $100 million extension and isn’t even in the playoffs this year), you’ve got to hand it to Sweeney. He did good in securing the young superstar.

A FORMIDABLE LINE

Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and David Pastrňák. One of NHL’s most destructive lines. As one reporter had to remind Toronto’s Auston Matthews, that line alone has garnered 20 points in just two games. During the regular season, all three players lead the team in goals, assist and points, making them, as NBC’s Sports Boston Bruins Insider Joe Haggerty calls them, “The Perfection Line.”  And for Pastrňák, Saturday’s game was nothing short of historic and record-breaking.

BY THE NUMBERS

At just age 21 years old, Pastrňák has become the youngest NHL player in history to record six points in a playoff game, surpassing Wayne Gretzky. He is the first Bruin since Phil Esposito to have three goals and six points in a playoff game. He also garnered his first playoff career hat trick along with getting nine points total so far in the playoffs. Let’s not forget that Pastrňák is still developing as a player and still feels like he’s learning a lot from his linemates. Patrice Bergeron had this to say:

“That’s what amazes me with him. There’s a lot of skilled players who are skilled when they have the puck, but when they don’t have it, they don’t necessarily want it as much as this guy”

 

LOOKING AHEAD

The Leafs are frustrated and as we head into Game 3 in Toronto, the Bruins will need to continue to overwhelm their opponent while exploiting their lack of defense. Speed is Toronto’s forte and if Boston can shut that down, this series will quickly be lost. Even though Boston is leading the series, it’s still too early to count out the Leafs. It’s a battle between two young teams that are technically still developing. Does Toronto still have that passion to make a comeback? After all, this is hockey and anything can happen. The hockey Gods show no mercy. But for those wearing the spoked B, rest assured our guys are hungry and they want the cup.  For Pastrňák, I have a sneaky suspicion that he’s just getting started.

 

 

All Photos courtesy of NHL Bruins Website

 

Follow Liz Rizzo on twitter @pastagrl88

Is Rick Porcello Back?

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It seems as though a spring of Derek Lowe whispering sweet nothings has done Rick Porcello a whole lot of good this season so far.

Last Season

Flashing back to 2017 is a tough ride for Porcello, as he had almost as many losses as he did wins from his 2016 CY Young season. Rick came in with a cool 11-17, and it was clear nothing much was working in his favor. The Red Sox, although a contending team, did not provide Porcello his usual run support, which in turn lead to a collapse in performance on the mound. By the time that the bats ended up pulling through, it was clear that Porcello was a ghost of his consistent self the year before. Porcello by the end of the year was locating that devastating sinker straight down the pipe, and ended the season with an ERA of 4.65 and leading the league in home runs with 38. Needless to say, a couple got away from the big man. This year could be different though.

What Has Changed

Here we are in 2018, and the Rick Porcello you knew last year is a ghost. Why do I say that? Although Porcello (3-0) is never going to be that lights-out pitcher at the top of your order, having him third in the rotation is comforting. Porcello has seemed to relocate his sinker back to where it belongs, in those tight corners of the zone the ump loves to give you. Although not all of those sinkers having been painting the corners, when Porcello misses his spots it seems as though he’s getting the outs he needs in the field. What is crucial to Porcello’s arsenal is something that he has no control over. In 2016 the Red Sox had a team that could put runs on the board, and it seems to be happening this year whenever Porcello straps in.

Red Sox Run Support

While on the mound this season the Red Sox have been able to provide 19 runs in three games. In the last 34 starts that Porcello has had with 3+ runs of breathing room, he has gone 29-0. With a bolstered lineup, it seems as if the Red Sox may be able to provide Porcello with support a majority of the time he’s on the bump. Is it smart to rely on the Red Sox to put up 3+ runs every single game Porcello starts after the drought of last season? No, probably not. But it does appear that this 2018 Red Sox lineup has production throughout. The games that a major bat isn’t producing, the lower part of the order is picking up that slack.

For example, in Porcello’s Yankees home start, Sandy Leon started a second inning flurry of four runs. This early game production is something that Porcello will need to be a sustainable asset for Boston. It is clear that the Red Sox hitters who will be relied on for production later in the year aren’t fully here yet. But I doubt Benintendi will bat .231 all season. We didn’t pay J.D Martinez what we did in confidence that .227 was his ceiling. April baseball is deceiving.

Conclusion

So instead of grinding your teeth a bit when you see that Rick Porcello is starting like you did last year, I think it’s time to have confidence in the former Cy Young winner. So is Porcello back? With 162 games on the docket, this season is a long and winding road to make assumptions. But Porcello has two seasons in Boston with 180+ strikeouts. The only difference between the two seasons is the support he was getting in 2017 v. 2016. So my answer is simple. IF the Red Sox provide Rick Porcello 3+ run support by the third inning each game he goes out, he will end the season with 20 wins.

The First Series Between the Red Sox and Yankees of 2018 Was a Good One

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It looks like Red Sox vs Yankees in 2018 is off to a hot start. This past series between the two teams at Fenway Park was everything we were anticipating. Maybe even more.

Game 1

It all started with absolute onslaught of the Yankees on Tuesday night. Chris Sale went six strong, allowing only one run. Mookie Betts had the game of his life. He racked up four hits and a walk, including a grand slam that would put the cherry on top to make the score 14-1.

The second game was even crazier. It opened up with David Price allowing four runs in the first, and coming out with an apparent “sensation in his fingertips.” He ended up being okay and is planning to make his next scheduled start. In came the bullpen, which did great. Throwing eight innings of two run ball. Both runs? Courtesy of Matt Barnes. Of course.

Game 2

But the craziness started in the top of the third. Tyler Wade bunted to Rafael Devers, who threw to Brock Holt at second to start a double play. The only problem was the double play wasn’t able to be turned, as Holt got spiked in his calf by Tyler Austin, sparking a bench-clearing argument. If you thought that would be the end of that, you were wrong. Skip ahead to the top of the seventh, Austin was up with one out and nobody on. Joe Kelly was on the mound and drilled Austin in the back. Consequently, Austin slammed his bat to the ground, looked at Kelly as he said, “Let’s go”, and charged the mound. An epic brawl broke out, and Kelly and Austin were both ejected. The Red Sox would end up losing the game, 10-6.

All of the players seemed pretty upset about what happened. Everyone voiced their displeasure, including some of the coaches on each team, along with each manager. This will certainly linger throughout the whole year.

Game 3

With a huge game on Thursday, Rick Porcello took the mound. He came through, taking a no hitter into the seventh inning, allowing two hits and no runs. The offense scored six runs off the Yankees’ starter Sony Gray, and won the game 6-3. Kimbrel got the save at the end of the game. The Red Sox won the series, taking 2 out of 3 games.

To recap? Four words: The rivalry is back. All this time, everyone has been trying to force the rivalry back. It’s been going on for years now. The problem is that the Red Sox and Yankees haven’t really been good at the same time for a while. The last time these two went at it in the Postseason was 2004. That was 14 years ago.

When the Yankees got Giancarlo Stanton in the offseason, the Red Sox’ Twitter account quote tweeted a tweet about the news saying “Rivalry???.” Everyone took it as a stupid joke. But it won’t be anymore. With the Red Sox getting J.D. Martinez in the offseason, many predicted the rivalry can only get stronger in the years to come. We can now confirm this is true. And every single Red Sox and Yankee fan should be excited for what’s ahead.

It sure was a fun first series as we saw a whole lot of action. Home runs, good pitching, and just like old times, brawls. These are two very talented teams in the AL East, and they are not fond of each other. The rivalry isn’t a joke anymore. The rivalry is back, folks.

photo credit - The Boston Globe

Q&A with Lou Merloni

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2018 Boston Red Sox Q&A with Lou Merloni (@LouMerloni)

photo credit- www.americaninno.com

I’d like to give a HUGE shout out and thank you to the man himself, Lou Merloni. Lou and I follow one another on Twitter and when I asked him if he would be interested in a quick Q&A for our site, he could have easily ignored me, said no, or said he is too busy. Instead, Lou answered right away and took time out of his day between shows and broadcasts to do me a solid. I have been a Sox fan my entire life and always thought it was cool a guy playing baseball for Providence College wound up playing for our boys in Boston. Lou is one of the better on-air personalities in New England when it comes to talking sports, and brings great insight when talking baseball. Especially Red Sox baseball.

Once again Lou, thank you for doing this….

 

Now, let’s get this Q&A started, shall we?

 

Q:  How do you see Alex Cora doing with this team and as a first time manager? Do you see him being the long-term solution at the helm?

A(Lou): Breath of fresh air and they needed it. I just think he can relate to the players in a way that John Farrell was incapable of. Communication is key. I also love that Ron Roenicke is his bench coach. His experience will help Alex out especially early in the year.

 

Q: Which position player and which pitcher will be the key to the success of this ball club in 2018?

A (Lou): It really does come down to David Price. Lost in all the chaos surrounding Price, we forget that he is one the best pitchers in the league. If he can get back to that, The Sox will have the best 1-2 punch in the AL. Offensively, its Hanley Ramirez. The addition of JD Martinez is nice but they need Hanley to be a force in the middle of that lineup like he was in 2016

 

Q: With the Sox off to a fast start (9-1), which area of the team are you most surprised with out of the gate, and do you think the Sox have this potential all season long and when it comes to facing a more dangerous opponent?

A(Lou): Starting pitching has been outstanding, but I’ve been most impressed with their ability to come back in games and win the 1 run games. It’s tough in April when the weather is brutal. It’s really easy to give up on a game in the cold and move onto the next one. They don’t. My biggest concern continues to be getting the ball to Kimbrel. They don’t have a shutdown 8th inning guy so they will continue to go with matchups late in games. That puts Alex in a tough spot because no matter who he goes with, if it doesn’t work out, he will be criticized. The difference between he and Farrell is that I believe he will explain his reasoning better than John postgame.

 

Q: Do you see the Sox making a move this year to possibly acquire a more solidified set-up man to get to Kimbrel in the 9th?

A(Lou): They are going to have to. They have guys out there but who do you trust? Smith, Kelly, Barnes and Hembree are all “good” pieces but when you watch the post season and you see the high pressure spots late in games, do you trust any of them?

 

Q: With Bogey going down with what looks to be a significant ankle injury, who do you see filling in for the time being at SS? Holt, Nunez, Lin (AAA), or do the Sox make a move to grab a veteran to fill in.

A(Lou): We’re not sure how long Bogaerts is out, but short term I think you’ll see Holt at SS with Lin eventually taking over at SS. Unfortunately, you can’t get what Bogey gives you offensively so you need to make sure you put out the best defensive SS to replace him. I think we are a ways off before we start talking about needing to trade for help.

 

Q: How do you think J.D. Martinez will fare hitting in Fenway? (Let’s keep him off the defensive side by the way)

A(Lou): He’ll be fine and once the weather warms up a bit, you’ll see that RF can’t hold him. He has monster power the other way which will make it difficult for teams to pitch to him at that park. Pitcher’s keep the ball away from most right handed hitters to take advantage of that big RF and to keep them away from the Green Monster. They won’t be able to do that with JD at Fenway.

 

Q:  What is the most memorable/historic moment you witnessed playing in Fenway?

A(Lou): I’ll never forget that 2003 ALCS. Game 3 especially. Roger vs Pedro. Pedro drills Karim Garcia and we all were waiting for Roger to retaliate and he never did. He just poured in strike one and went on to beat us. It was also the game where Pedro tossed Don Zimmer to the ground. It was crazy. We all respected the hell out of Zim. I know he was embarrassed for going after Pedro but honestly, that’s why we all loved him. He cared. He was passionate and he showed it.

(One of my favorite moments as well, nice to hear the insight of someone who was on the field for it)

 

Q: Your Prediction: Where do the Sox finish, and if you have them making the playoffs, how deep could their playoff run be with a healthy roster?

A(Lou):  I had them for 96 wins and I’ll stay with it. But I could see Yanks right there with them. ALCS is a reasonable expectation. They need to win a round in the post season. Not just for this fan base to believe in them but also for themselves. They have a lot of guys on this roster that need to prove they can win in October

 

 

That wraps up my Q&A with Lou Merloni on the 2018 Boston Red Sox! HUGE thank you to Lou again, make sure you give him a follow on twitter @LouMerloni and tune in M-F from 10 AM-2 PM on WEEI (103.7 or 93.7).

 

Embed from Getty Images

 

LETS GO SOX!

Brady

Robert Kraft Knows the End Is near for Tom Brady

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It Seems Kraft Regrets the Decision to Trade Jimmy Garoppolo

Via NBC SportsAfter everything that has come out regarding the Patriots, Kraft is coming to a realization. The end is near for Tom Brady, and even Bill Belichick too. As for Brady, it seems like he’s going to play out his contract and retire. This would mean one more year with Belichick and one year with Josh McDaniels as head coach.

Kraft Doesn’t Have Any Problems with Brady’s Contract

Via CNBCRobert Kraft told Jeff Howe of the Athletic that he doesn’t have any problems with Brady’s contract. If it becomes an issue then they will figure it out. A year ago in March, Kraft talked about how he just talked to Brady and he wants to play till he’s 45. Now with Garoppolo gone, Brady’s referencing how he needs to spend more time with his family. It’s getting Kraft thinking that he’s losing his coach and quarterback in these next two years.

Now Kraft has to be upset with Brady when they just traded Garoppolo. At least the coach is all set and Belichick is realistic. Brady, however, is kind of being selfish. Kraft also said, “I don’t think anyone would have believed 10 years ago that he would have played this year, gone to the Super Bowl and been MVP of the league at 40 years old. It’s just unbelievable. It speaks to the way he takes care of himself, the way he trains, how much film he watches, one of the hardest working guys. He is driven to excel. I think as long as he feels he is like that, he’ll keep playing. We’re so lucky to have him in our system.”

The Patriots will draft a quarterback this draft. You have one year to groom him with Brady Belichick and McDaniels. Then one year with Brady and McDaniels. Three years from now we’ll be looking at a completely new Patriots team.

Don’t Worry About Xander Bogaerts’s Injury

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The Red Sox’ is off to a season has started off great start so far. The offense and pitching are firing on all cylinders. There is just one problem: Xander Bogaerts suffered an ankle injury sliding into the Rays’ dugout during Sunday’s game.

The Injury

It was the top of the seventh and Joey Wendle was up. Wendle hit a ball high in the air that ended up off of the monster. J.D. Martinez fielded the ball and made a throw that landed off the line to Bogaerts. But Xander, who thought someone was nearby to help, made the mistake of flipping the ball to third base; where nobody was at the moment. The ball rolled into the dugout. If the ball went into the dugout, a run would be granted to the Rays. So Xander, not letting that happen, slid into the dugout while getting the baseball. While he did save a run that ended up being crucial, he hurt himself.

He was be taken out of the game right away and was replaced by Brock Holt. Holt ended up making a nice play over at short to end the game and preserve a Sox win.

The problem was that nobody really knew how serious Bogaerts’s injury was. On Monday, it was announced that he would be heading to the DL with a “small crack” in his Talus bone. A bone in his foot. This will knock him out for about 10-14 days, so two weeks at the most.

The Effects

The thing that frustrates me the most about this injury is the fact that he was the hottest hitter on the team at the moment. He was hitting .368 with an OPS of 1.111. Pretty good if I had any say in it. But now that guy is gone for about two weeks. It isn’t the biggest deal in the world, but there is just one thing that worries me.

Last year, Bogaerts was hitting above .300 until he got hit in the hand during a game in Tampa. That ended up screwing him up for the rest of the year, as he would hit .230 the rest of the way. The injury clearly affected him. However, I am not saying that this new injury will make him flat-out stink for the rest of the season. I was on the Bogaerts train before the season started, and am proud to say that I still am. I very much believe that Xander Bogaerts can be one of, if not THE best hitter (batting average wise), in baseball when he is fully healthy. So let him rest, and come back better than ever. In the meantime, the Red Sox will have Tzu Wei Lin over at short along with Brock Holt.

And one more thing: if Bogaerts was going to get injured at all, it’s much better to have him get this injury early on than around when he got it last year. By the time he comes back, it will still be April. So let’s just sit back, relax and enjoy the Tzunami show. The X man will be back in no time.

 

Cover image courtesy of USA Latest News.

Red Sox vs. Yankees Preview

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Red Sox vs Yankees, one of the greatest rivalries in sports is about to continue on Tuesday. This could be a preview for the AL East Division title match-up throughout the year, and the games should be fun to watch. The games were a thrill last year, with the Yankees taking eleven in the series.

Preview

The series will last three games, going from Tuesday to Thursday. The Red Sox will come in at 8-1, which is first in the AL East. The Yankees will come in at 5-5, ranking third in the division. The probable pitchers are Sale and Severino in game one, Price against Tanaka in game two, and Porcello vs Gray in the finale. Xander Bogaerts was placed on the ten day DL, but the teams should be at full strength. First-year managers Alex Cora and Aaron Boone will be going at it for the first time.

What’s at Stake for the Red Sox

The Red Sox are 8-1, but they have played easy competition. The Marlins and Rays are unlikely to win more than 70 games, so the Red Sox must prove themselves. The Red Sox have not blown out the easy competition either. Six of the eight wins have been by two runs or less. One of those wins took extra innings, and another took a sixth run eighth inning.

The Red Sox lineup has been average at best so far, and they will be put to the test against a tough three starters. Comebacks will be unlikely, as the Yankees have the lethal 7-8-9 pairing of Robertson, Betances, and Chapman. Xander Bogaerts has been the best hitter in the lineup so far this season, and the Red Sox will need to find a way to score without him. Hitters who are struggling such as Jackie Bradley Jr. (115 avg), Andrew Benintendi (161 avg), and J.D. Martinez (226 avg) will all have to step up.

The rotation has been dominant so far, but the Yankees’ lineup will put that to the test. Luckily for the Sox, they have their three best starters going for them in the series. If the offense fails to produce runs, then the Sox will have to find ways to grind out wins. The bullpen has been shaky aside from Kimbrel, and they still do not have a determined eighth-inning man. If the games are tough and low scoring, then the Red Sox bullpen will have to win games.

What’s at Stake for the Yankees

The Yankees have been disappointing this year, with the offense to blame for the most part. Giancarlo Stanton has been the most notable, with twenty strikeouts in 42 at-bats. Aaron Judge has not been much better, with 13 strikeouts in 38 at-bats. If the games are low scoring, then the Yankees will have to grind out enough runs, and they have not shown the ability to do that. The Yankees are a team with a lot of power, but they are also screwed when they are not mashing the ball over the ballpark. The average pitching rotation has to be superb, and the offense has to find a way to score without many players that hit for average.

Don’t Overreact Either Way

The series will be exciting, but at the end of the day, it’s just the fourth series of the year. If they win or lose every game by 30 runs, not much can be taken out of the games because much will change from now until September. My prediction is that the Red Sox will take ⅔, with them winning the first and last games.

 

Cover image courtesy of USA Today.

Should Alex Guerrero Be Allowed to Work with the Patriots?

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(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Alex Guerrero: Health Guru / Locker Room Menace

This past season for the New England Patriots was filled with more drama involving its own clubhouse than I can ever remember in recent history. The drama started to unfold when Seth Wickersham cited a rift between Kraft, Belichick, and Tom Brady. The drama stemmed back to one man: Alex Guerrero.

For those not familiar with Mr. Guerrero, he is Tom Brady’s trainer, health guru, close personal friend, and now ENEMY of Bill Belichick. The Wickersham report basically stated that Belichick was unhappy with Guerrero’s presence in the clubhouse and on the sidelines, which ultimately lead to a ban him from being associated with the Patriots. To no one’s surprise this did not settle well with TB12, who loves having this guy around. Let’s face it, he played an ENORMOUS role in saving Tom’s career.

SIDE NOTE – Not sure if anyone noticed in Tom vs Time, but EVERY TIME Brady got treatment at the Patriots facility, it appeared to be on a massage bed in some sort of luxury suite.

 

(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Should He Be Allowed to Work with the Team?

The question football fans have surrounding this situation is an easy one: is Bill taking this entire situation too far? My answer is simple. Yes, he is going WAY too far with this one, and usually I don’t question The Hoodie (unless it comes to sitting Malcolm in the Super Bowl). But I have to question this decision from an outsider’s standpoint.

It has been speculated that not only Tom, but other Patriot players have reached out to Alex for help with battling injuries or his health methods. Guys like Jimmy G, Gronk, Julian Edelman, and now Malcolm Mitchell have been reported as other players seeking for Guerrero’s guidance and methods. Don’t get me wrong, I can understand Bill’s perspective behind banning Alex from the locker room because he doesn’t want to undermine the trainers. But guess what Bill: TIMES CHANGE, METHODS CHANGE, THINGS CHANGE. If certain guys want to enhance their health and ability to perform on the field and for the good of the team, then let them. Nothing wrong with new methods.

Malcolm Mitchell, Julian Edelman, and Rob Gronkowski do have something in common with Tom Brady, and that is INJURIES. These three guys knew beforehand about Tom tearing his ACL and also being 40 years of age, yet still playing at the highest level imaginable. Why wouldn’t these guys want to seek help from the same man who put Tom’s health and training over the edge? With Julian tearing his ACL too, and the numerous injuries Gronkowski has sustained, why wouldn’t they want to get better and improve for the long-term? It’s a NO BRAINER! Let these guys do what they have to do! And let’s immediately get them some avocado ice cream!

 

photo credit- @OnlyInBos

Closing Argument

Since working with Guerrero, Tom Brady has been an absolute mad man. A man on a mission. An old dog still in the fight, and off his chain. The last thing I want to do is upset the Greatest of All Time. Brady has credited his recent success in large part to Alex and the worth ethic that he has. A no days off mentality, and boy has it showed. Tom is going to be 41 and is still THE BEST QB in the NFL.

I 100% back Tom in this decision and hope Bill doesn’t ruin relationships over Alex and his methods. Alex should just be hired by the team and  guys who want to train with him can do so. There’d be no chastising like Rob Gronkowski dealt with in a locker room incident. Tom, Bill, and Robert Kraft have built a legacy together here in New England. One can only assume they won’t let a trainer get in between that and ruin another Super Bowl run… Or a friendship

 

 

BOTTOM LINE- Dont piss off the GOAT !

 

 

Brad Stevens: Coach of the Year

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BRAD STEVENS – NBA COACH OF THE YEAR

Credit: Simon Cooper – PA Images

In this day and age in the NBA, there are not many “great” coaches left in this league. Coaches in today’s NBA come and go as often as the season change, but there are just a handful that stay planted with an organization or that can be considered great. Brad Stevens of your Boston Celtics has become one of those coaches.

Let’s take a look at some reason why Coach Stevens is more than deserving of NBA Coach of the Year:

Making The Case

Since Brad Stevens has taken over this team, all they have done is WIN and PRODUCE. Players within the organization and around the league love this guy’s system and have shown an interest in playing for him (Kyrie Irving). No matter who the player is, where they came from, or how many minutes they play, Coach Stevens always seem to get full effort and production from his guys on any given night and not many coaches can accomplish that.

Whether Coach Stevens is switching lineups/rotations due to injuries or match-ups, the team can contend on a nightly basis. Take a look at last year, when we had guys like Kelly Olynyk and Jonas Jerebko on the floor in big games. Maybe it was lingering injuries to guys like IT4 or Avery Bradley. It didn’t matter, because Coach Stevens got these guys to push through and battle in every single game. Even the roster Coach Stevens has dealt with hasn’t had too many superstars, but rather role players who were successful in his system and lead us on deep playoff runs.

Then there is this season, which has been a disaster for Brad and the organization as a whole. First it was prized free agent signing and former Butler alum Gordon Hayward going down with a gruesome ankle injury vs. LeBron and the Cavs that made everyone spit their dinner out. Then, throughout the entirety of the season they lost Marcus Smart, Daniel Theis, and KYRIE IRVING. Kyrie’s done for the regular season AND playoffs.

CELTICS ARE COOKED RIGHT?! THINK AGAIN

With young guys like Rozier, Tatum, and Jaylen Brown playing like seasoned vets, the Celtics are still poised to make a run in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Also, let’s not forget how incredible Marcus Morris has been for us. Not many people in Celtics Nation were supportive of this move, but man did I LOVE IT. Bully Morris has been a blessing in disguise, and whether he starts or comes in off the bench, this man GETS BUCKETS! In Steven’s system, Morris has turned into a scorer whenever he is called upon, and even hit a HUGE game winning three at the buzzer with the C’s completely undermanned. This again has to do with how Brad uses his guys and trusts their ability to help the team win.

Let’s take a look at the small sample Brad Stevens has provided with us already:

photo cred.- https://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/stevebr99c.html

Stevens has compiled a record of 220 wins and 187 losses with a win percentage of .541% . Not a bad start for a guy who just turned 41. Stevens gets high praise from almost every player in the league, and coaching legends like Greg Popovich.

 

Closing Argument:

Bottom line, Brad Stevens gets it. Since coming into the league, Brad has been a student of the game, while making the jump from Butler to the C’s. Now, Brad has become the ULTIMATE teacher. With all the injuries this team has they are still a top five team in the NBA. Look out for Brad; his guys are completely fired up and ready for a playoff run. Even without Kyrie and Gordon, this team is going to surprise you. I cant wait to see what the future holds as a Celtics fan!

 

Prediction – Brad wins coach of the year

 

FINALLY…. LETS GO CELTICS ! #BleedGreen