Tag Archives: Patriots

Rookie DE Derek Rivers Out for the Season

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The Patriots lose a promising young defensive end to an injury

Earlier yesterday morning ESPN’s Mike Reiss and Field Yates confirmed that Derek Rivers had suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice. Rivers went down clenching his knee during a kickoff coverage drill in a joint practice with the Houston Texans on Wednesday.

NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported earlier that initial MRI results have shown that Rivers has suffered a torn ACL and a sprained LCL. Derek Rivers reportedly intends to get a second opinion to confirm if surgery is needed.

Derek Rivers is the Patriots’ highest pick from this year’s draft, being selected 83rd overall in the third round from Youngstown State. He finished his collegiate career with 120 tackles and 37.5 sacks in his four year tenure. The Patriots brought him on board to be a young addition to an aging defensive end corp. The group has been given the task of stepping up in the wake of Rob Ninkovich’s retirement.

Next man up

Luckily the Patriots have multiple options to consider in the weeks before the regular season kicks off. With the loss of Rivers, there are multiple ways that Coach Belichick and company can find a replacement.

Kony Ealy is presumed to be the starter at defensive end, parallel to Trey Flowers. However, Kony struggled in his first game as a Patriot last Thursday against the Jaguars. More depth will likely be needed on Kony’s side to ease the pressure for him to perform. The Patriots could easily inquire within the roster for a defensive end role and move Geneo Grissom up to the number two slot in the depth chart. Ex-edge rushers Shea McClellin, Kyle Van Noy, and Harvey Langi could also see some playing time filling in the role where needed.

Beyond Gillette

The Patriots could always look for a direct replacement outside of the team as well. Talented veteran defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Mario Williams are currently both available on the free agent market. Coach Belichick has seen plenty of both of these players in the past and knows how well they can perform. Dwight Freeney, for example, might be one of the league’s elders at age 37, but he can still exhibit his explosiveness and some of his speed on command. For a younger player, the Patriots could look for a trade. However, it would be more useful to have some veteran talent for the season and continue developing Derek Rivers starting in the spring.

Whoever might replace Derek Rivers this season, it’s always next man up in the NFL.

 

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Chris Long: a True Patriot

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Two men.

Two men standing.

Two men standing for our National Anthem.

Two men standing for our National Anthem, One with a raised fist.  Another with his arm around his teammate.

Standing Tall

An image, and a powerful one at that. Wherever you land on the political spectrum you can see that Chris Long stands in a rare light. Many veterans on their third team in three years might be laying low, getting a feel for their new team and fellow players. Not Chris Long. Always an outspoken leader, even when playing in the relative obscurity of the St. Louis, Missouri.

When the Patriots were scouring the free agent market for veteran defensive ends following the unceremonious shipping out of Chandler Jones to Arizona, he was on my short list. Sure, he might be a little injury prone and looong in the tooth (pun delightfully intended). The next in the lengthy and distinguished group of veteran ring chasers to pass through Foxboro. So what if he’s played only as a 4-3 pass rusher in his entire career. I was sure that he was going to help propel the team to its next Super Bowl win.

It didn’t quite work out that way. We got the ring and the team got the glory. From day one Chris seemed to have memorized Bill Belichick’s guide to media relations. Learning the playbook and executing on the field was another matter. Rarely did he rush the passer and even more rarely did he do it with his hand in the dirt. He Practiced the Patriot Way and dutifully dropped back in coverage. He produced few exciting and standout plays. His presence was felt more than just on the field.

WBZ4 Capture of Chris Long wearing a Julian Edelman Mask

Long on talent…and humor

In a moment of levity during the bye week, in the aftermath of the incredible Jaime Collins trade there was a strange Edelman-mask wearing player in the locker room giving interviews. Five inches taller, 50 pounds heavier and the distinctive sleeves of tattoos should have been an immediate tell. But there was something disconcerting in the accurately creepy mask, the off kilter red hat and the constant brahs with the multiple headphones. Still when the Patriots Nation was abuzz with tension and concern, Chris managed to turn the mood into lightheartedness and laughter.

When the season ended after the victory over 28-3 Falcons you got to see what kind of a man Chris Long truly is. Repeatedly told by fans and foes alike that he should go on the White House visit he delivered thoughtful and polite answers each time. They culminated with this:

“(When) my son grows up — and I believe the legacy of our president is going to be what it is — I don’t want him to say, ‘Hey Dad, why’d you go when you knew the right thing was to not go?'” Long said.

Moving on

He also delivered on explanations even when they were not necessary. In an Instagram post  early in free agency, he made it very clear he would not be returning to the Patriots. Manufactured sincerity is very easy to find today, and yet you truly believed him when he said that it had zero to do with money. Instead he laid out various reasons and thanked all his fans. He didn’t need to do this, he came on a one year deal, played okay and won a championship ring. If not expected, it was at least not a shock that this is the way it went. Still, it was sad to see him go.

Not Backing Down

The recent events in Charlottesville, VA have thrust issues of race relations and protesting into worldwide news, and forced us all to ask tough questions of ourselves. None more so than Chris, an alumni of UVA – the site of much of the upheaval and protests over a statue of Robert E. Lee. The statue was merely a lightning rod that became a focal point when people began rioting, beating and eventually killing each other over slogans and ideals that should not have a place in this country.

“You know that subculture exists in our country, and it has in our country for a long time, but when they all get together in one place — especially your hometown — it really bothers you,” he said.

And when asked a question he responded with his usual conviction and respect. “People are asking me, ‘Why Charlottesville?’ ” Long said. “Look, Charlottesville is taking the right steps to accommodate the sensitivities of people who might feel offended by statues and parks named after Confederate generals. I think that is very reasonable. I don’t know what it’s like to walk past a statue like that, as a minority. We’re doing the right thing.”

There has been much blowback regarding activism by popular sports figures. Shouting a battle cry of “stick to sports”, mainly by people not wanting to face these questions and thoughts. I for one, am happy that Chris Long is not sticking to sports over this.

Chris Long supporting teammate Malcolm Jenkins

Five New England Patriots Games to Look Forward To

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The defending Super Bowl Champions New England Patriots start their quest to repeat in 20 days. Looking ahead at the schedule this year they face some tough competition along the way.

They play their AFC East members six times, and then face the NFC South this year as well. New England has a very tough schedule and it includes some of the better teams in the AFC. that Let’s look at  five New England Patriots games to anticipate in 2017.

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The Brandin Cooks Effect in New England

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The Archer has found a new home in Foxborough

Back on March 11th, the Patriots agreed to trade their first and third (No. 32 and 103) picks in the 2017 Draft to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for their 23-year-old star wide receiver Brandin Cooks and their fourth round pick (No. 118). As a personal fan of Cooks since he entered the league in 2014 from Oregon State, coach Bill Belichick has since been ecstatic about adding him to the Patriots’ already talented receiving corps. Belichick commented on Cooks’s raw talent when the Patriots and Saints held joint practices and played each other in the preseasons of 2015 and 2016.  “I’m glad we don’t have to play him twice a year and he’s not in our division. He’s a really good player”.

Cooks made a splash in his three seasons in New Orleans, racking up 2,861 receiving yards from 215 receptions and catching 20 touchdown passes. Although the number-one wide receiver on the Saints early in his career, the team deemed him expendable after rookie receiver Michael Thomas had proved his worth. The Saints have not fallen under fourth place in total offense since 2010.   However, on the other side of the ball, their defense struggled, ranking thirty first in points allowed this season.  To improve their ailing defense, the Saints begrudgingly parted ways with their emerging receiver Cooks this off season.

Patriots 2017: all the more scarier on offense

Brandin Cooks’s incredible speed is his primary weapon to make some of the unbelievable catches that he has hauled in during his three-year tenure in the league.  This clearly aids him in evading the opposing cornerback and creating separation as he runs routes with ease.  Cooks possesses extraordinary awareness when running routes with his ability to place his hands in the perfect position to haul in any pass. Cooks has averaged a 69.5% catch percentage in the 315 times he has been targeted in the NFL, which illustrates his reliability as a receiver, even when he runs deep.

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Versatile Cooks Meets Indomitable Brady

Tom Brady finally has a new a new deep-threat star receiver.   One that already has been drawing comparisons reminiscent of Randy Moss’s  time with the Patriots.  No stranger to working alongside an elite quarterback, Cooks holds praise for Tom, saying, “To play with a guy like that is special. The way that he pays attention to the game, he makes you up your level a little more.” Cooks intends to do whatever he can to quickly become a valuable receiver for Brady, and has proven himself thus far on the practice field.

For the first time in his NFL career, Brandin Cooks will be part of a deeply talented and competitive group of wide receivers. He will likely not face the same workload that he did in New Orleans, with split reps, but he will enjoy being part of such a selfless group. Cooks will presumably assume the role of running go-routes and streaks down the sideline as a deep threat, a duty Chris Hogan possessed last season. Cooks will definitely run many diverse routes as well, but his speed makes him a front-runner to be the offense’s new vertical threat.

Brandin Cooks will show quickly that he will fit into the Patriot’s aggressive offensive scheme and has a chance this season to build off of having two consecutive years with 1100+ yards.

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OPEN LETTER TO THE G.O.A.T – TB12

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Dear Tommy (or should I call you GOAT),

In the year 2000 at the NFL Draft a certain name would be called out loud that would become embedded into the brains of Patriot fans and NFL fans around the world. “With the 199th pick in the NFL draft, the New England Patriots select, Tom Brady, Quarterback from the University of Michigan.”  No one knew that this announcement would change the NFL and is storied history forever.

Bledsoe down, Brady up

I will never forget the year 2001.   In the seventh grade, I watched the Patriots play the New York Jets with Drew Bledsoe at quarterback. A young unknown was sitting on the bench that day wearing #12,  just waiting for the opportunity to play and prove more doubters wrong. Little did #12 know that his time to shine would come sooner rather than later thanks to a late hit delivered to Drew Bledsoe from the Jets Mo’ Lewis.

Many Patriot fans watched the game that day and figured it was just going to be another bad season for this team since its starting quarterback had gone down with a serious injury.   Then trotting on to the field came a guy no one knew existed, number 12, Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr.  I remember watching this young guy head to the sidelines in his first ever NFL game and I thought to myself, “Who is this guy? He must be terrified.” Little did I know nor did anyone else know that he would evolve into our cold-blooded, fearless, GOAT.

Claiming the Throne

Tommy, once you hit the field in 2001 and led us to a Super Bowl run you knew you would never look back.  The starting quarterback job for our beloved Patriots now belonged to you and you ALONE. I have watched you lead us to five Super Bowl wins, countless AFC Title games, and a number of other historic personal and team moments.  I STILL get chills every time I have the opportunity to watch you play. You have been through the wringer at the hands of the NFL and its red-nosed Commissioner.   You’ve had haters from every fan base and media outlet in the world saying you aren’t the best.  You’re a system quarterback, you’re only good because of your coach, the list goes on and on.  But even as you continue to get older, you strive for greater heights and continue to prove them wrong.

40 is the new 20?

You’re now at the ripe age of 40 and doing things most quarterbacks and athletes wish they could do when they were younger — to compete at a high level and more importantly, WIN at a high level. You show no signs of slowing down and you continuously leave it all on the field every week.  You truly are an inspiration and a hero to every kid or adult who dreams to achieve greatness and live life with a purpose every day.

You are LITERALLY a god and a savior in every sense of the word in New England.  On behalf of a fan base and a nation, I want to be greedy when I tell you to never stop and to never leave us. But I know someday this eventuality will turn into reality. I know you’re not a kid anymore and the days of watching you play will begin to wind down.  I will appreciate watching every snap you have left to take, knowing I am witnessing greatness and watching the best signal caller to ever play the great game of football.

A once-in-a-lifetime player

I want to say thank you for the memories I have of you as a kid and now to a man.  It has been a pleasure watching you play and compete at such a high level for as long as you have.  For playing the game the right way and being a great role model on and off the field. I’ve watched you hoist the Lombardi Trophy vs the Rams, Panthers, Eagles, and Seahawks and watched your historic/monumental comeback against the Falcons.  One thing is certain.   You, sir, are the GOAT and there will NEVER be another Tom Brady.

In closing I would like to wish you the best of luck this season and however many more seasons you end up playing in the NFL. Winning five trophies is epic, since there are great players who never got a single one.   But I’m fully aware that your career does not stop at five.  You have more hunger and drive in you.  Winning number six is NEVER out of the question. On behalf of ALL #PatsNation, thank you for all you have done and all you will  continue to do.

OH AND TOM, ONE MORE THING…..

LETS GOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

 

SINCERELY,

ALL OF PATS NATION

#KissTheRings

Five Reasons Why The Patriots Can Repeat

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The New England Patriots are the current Super Bowl Champions, and were very active during the off season. Some of the key additions include Brandin Cooks, Kony Ealy, Dwayne Allen, Stephon Gilmore and many more, making the Patriots the odds-on favorite to repeat as Super Bowl Champions. New England has gotten some serious upgrades that can help them in their quest for their sixth championship in the Brady and Belichick era. With that said, here are the five reasons why the Patriots can repeat as Super Bowl Champions.

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Patriots Projected Roster Shows Surprise Cuts Coming

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The Patriots are so full of talent; they look like Vince Wilfork trying to squeeze into Tom Brady’s skinny jeans. Where is the sympathy from the other 31 teams? You think those insensitive jerks care that the struggles of the Patriots having to release skilled players is real? Should Pats fans start a GoFundMe page so Patriots-Haters can purchase sensitivity classes so they understand the hardship of rooting for the G.O.A.T., quarterback, coach, and team?

Ha! Ha! Boy has Lady Karma kicked every Patriot-Hater where it hurts. (Not that there’s much to kick.) And you know what is a cringe worthy thought? She hasn’t skipped Leg-Day since February, and she’ll be Kung-Fu kicking ALLLLLLLLL year until the Patriots perfect season has been completed.

How does that saying go? You can’t make an omelet without breaking some eggs? Well there’s a new saying up here in New England: you can’t go 19-0, without making some tough cuts. I have watched the first pre-season game against the Jaguars three times, focusing on coverages and line-of-scrimmage play. Here are my roster surprises.

Quarterback: 3

Tom Brady

Jimmy Garoppolo

Jacoby Brissett

No surprises here. Just the best back-up quarterback in the league, and oh, the greatest football player of all-time!

Running Back: 5

Dion Lewis

Mike Gillislee

Rex Burkhead

James White

James Develin

It’s time for Brandon Bolden to go. There is enough “leadership” and Special Teams specialist to cut bait. Bolden had one of the worst drops anyone had ever seen in the Patriots loss against the Bills last year (three drops for the season for a guy who hardly played offense.) He also accidently kicked TWO balls that were about to be downed inside the 10 yard line into the endzone, resulting in the other team starting at their 25 yard line. Yuck. Hopefully, D.J. Foster squeaks onto the practice squad.

Wide Receiver: 7

Julian Edelman

Brandon Cooks

Chris Hogan

Malcolm Mitchell

Danny Amendola

Austin Carr

Matthew Slater

Although the rest of the league is as useless as a tree stump solving a calculus equation, one of them at some point has to stop letting the Patriots stash talent on the practice squad. This actually started last year, when the Patriots lost two talented cornerbacks (Cre’Von LeBlanc and Darryl Roberts) I believe Austin Carr is going to have such a good preseason, that there is no shot of sneaking him onto the practice squad, thus forcing the Patriots hand to keep him on the roster. Hopefully, the up-and-comer deep threat, Devon Lucien, sneaks onto the P.S.

Tight End: 3

Rob Gronkowski

Dwayne Allen

Jacob Hollister

The same dilemma arises with Jacob Hollister as it does with Austin Carr. James O’Shaughnessy is a legit, slightly above average, NFL Tight End. Matt Lengel is a one trick pony who can only block. A case can be made that Hollister is also a one trick pony who can only catch passes. Gronk and Allen are considered elite blocking Tight Ends, plus they love using a Tackle as a third blocking TE, so the Pats can get away with one less blocking TE. Allen is overrated as a pass catcher, but isn’t going anywhere with three years left on his contract and Belichick just trading for him. Hollister provides a poor-man’s Dallas Clark-type ability, in case the dreaded happens once again that we will not speak of … you-know-who goes down.

Offensive Line: 8

Marcus Cannon

Nate Solder

Joe Thuney

David Andrews

Shaq Mason

Ted Karras

Tony Garcia

Cole Croston

Can someone break into Cam Flemmings house, crack his safe, and destroy the incriminating pictures he owns of Bill Belichick doing who-knows-what? How the hell, does this matador—red cape holder who does nothing but Ole! the charging pass rusher—continue to take up a roster spot on this championship organization? That finally catches up to him this month. Complete stiff. Waddle isn’t much better. Look for Karras to earn a starting spot at some point during the year at Guard or Center. He’s a complete bulldozer. Croston showed really well in the first preseason game, but the jury is still out on him. They will try to sneak Conor McDermott onto the Practice Squad.

Cornerback: 5

Malcolm Butler

Stephon Gilmore

Eric Rowe

Jonathan Jones

D.J. Killings

If Belichick has one weakness, it’s his ego. There have been times where he lets it get in the way of his decision-making. This will be the case if Cyrus Jones isn’t cut by next week. Yes it will make Belichick look bad that his first selection in the 2016 draft is released after one year, but MY GOD! Cyrus Jones is a walking Mark-Sanchez Butt-Fumble! All … he … does … is … screw … UP! Coleman is the tough cut here. He’s good with staying on his receiver’s hip, but has no instincts as to when he should look for the ball. So many passes are completed with the ball sailing right over his shoulder or helmet—no ball-hawking skills whatsoever. D.J. Killings was the most sought after cornerback not drafted. It’s why the Patriots offered him more money than your standard undrafted free agent. He looked good in the first pre-season game, like another potential Malcolm Butler.

Safety: 5

Devin McCourty

Patrick Chung

Duron Harmon

Nate Ebner

Brandon King

Sorry folks, have to call it like I see it, but, Belichick may be the WORST drafter of Safeties in the history of the NFL. Devin McCourty doesn’t count because Belichick took him as a cornerback, and once he found out Devin was incapable of playing the positions, he move him to safety, and luckily, it worked out. Duron Harmon is average, can’t be counted on to play man coverage with below average TE’s, and was projected by everyone to be drafted in the 6th or 7th round. Belichick took him in the 3rd. Tavon Wilson needs no explanation, and now we have Jordan Richards. Richards couldn’t cover a turtle on its back. See … you … LATER! Complete bum.

Linebacker: 5

Dont’a Hightower

David Harris

Elandon Roberts

Kyle Van Noy

Shayne McClellin

Get Jonathan Freeney’s ass out of here! He’s another one of those, “good locker room guys.” How about we rent a locker-room-guy bus, and ship Freeney, Bolden and Fleming to Cleveland? Talk about useless. Freeney might be the worst zone coverage linebacker in the history of football, and every tackle he makes during the regular season is 8 yards down field.

Defensive Line: 8

Trey Flowers

Alan Branch

Malcom Brown

Vincent Valentine

Deatrich Wise

Lawrence Guy

Derek Rivers

Adam Butler

Harvey Langi

Kony Ealy is the Pablo Sandoval of football. Showed up to camp after clearly not lifting a finger during the off-season, unless you count him pinky-scooping frosting, and stuffing his face. He looks overweight, slow, and disinterested. He will be out of the league REAL soon. Adam Butler has been a surprise in camp. Huge, strong and moves well. He didn’t flash much in the first pre-season game, but some of that had to do with the Jaguars double-teaming him often—maybe because he was a force during the inter-squad practices? Harvey Langi is the other surprise here. If there’s one concern about the Pats, it’s their pass rush. He’s a project, but could help on third down situations.

Special Teams: 3

Stephen Gostkowski

Ryan Allen

Joe Cardona

No surprises here. It would be nice to See Gostkowski get his crap together, but he’s still better than most kickers in the league.

Pats fans, please show me some love by retweeting this and follow me @StevenViner1 and I will follow you back!

An Open Letter to a Patriots Legend

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The Perfect Time to Express my Feelings

About a True Patriot

It is hard to believe you are no longer a part of the game. You have given the fans of New England so many memories to cherish. I remember the day you first entered Patriots training camp.  Just amazing to watch.

My initial impression?  No way that someone that enormous could play the game, but boy was I wrong. As a physical specimen, you had it all: size, speed, strength.  But your most admirable quality was an insatiable will to win at all costs.

I followed your career as a Patriot from start to finish. You never left me short of breathless at your performance, tenacity and grit. When you left New England, out of admiration I continued to watch you play any chance I could.

As a lifelong Pat’s fan, I have memories dating back to the Steve Grogan and Mosi Tatupu days right on up to today’s age of Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. However, as much I’ve enjoyed all of the greats throughout time I always found you, my man, the most exciting to watch.  On top of that, you won and lost with grace. You were a leader. You had an infectious smile, respected by your teammates, coaches and certainly your fans.

New England is a blue-collar place, and your workmanlike job in the trenches did not go unappreciated, especially by this fan.  And though your tenure in Foxborough was somewhat short, you made a gigantic impact on all things Patriots football. How could you not?

Before I get too emotional, let me just say thank you for everything you did for this organization. The Patriots have not and will not be the same without you, Eugene Chung.

God bless and God speed, big fella.

Sincerely,

P.S. Hold up, Wilfork retired?