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The Other Ends of the New England Patriots Dynasty

Bill Belichick’s cold-hearted business moves have turned the New England Patriots roster against him. Quarterback Tom Brady’s advanced age may mean that New England just wasted their last legitimate shot at a Super Bowl. A star player who was crucial to the teams recent run of success might not be back next year. Do these sentences describe the 2017 season, or the 2003, 2012, and 2013 seasons? The New England Patriots are at something of a crossroads, but they’ve been here before. Let’s take a look at the other ends of the New England Patriots dynasty.

The Other Ends of the New England Patriots Dynasty

2003: Lawyer Milloy Is Released

Lawyer Milloy in a Bills uniform still haunts the Patriots to this day…right?

Image credit: Boston Globe

The Patriots Dynasty initially ended before it was a dynasty at all. Coming off the heels of a disappointing 9-7 season, Bill Belichick did the unthinkable just days before the 2003 season opener. Longtime Pro Bowl safety and team captain Lawyer Milloy was released in order to generate cap space. Belichick felt that his current group of safeties was good enough to make Milloy expendable.

What Belichick didn’t consider is how this move would undoubtedly sink his team. Milloy was picked up by the Buffalo Bills, who beat the living tar out of the Patriots in Week 1. New England lost 31-0, and the Patriots season was over after just one week. The players hated their coach, and there was no way to fix this broken team.

The Patriots won the Super Bowl that year, and finished with a league-best 14-2 record.

2009: New England Gets Killed by Baltimore in the Playoffs

The 2009 Patriots were a flawed team, which Belichick knew during the season. However, the clock had officially run out on the Patriots dynasty at the end of 2009. The Baltimore Ravens slaughtered the Patriots, 33-14. This was Brady’s first year back from his 2008 ACL injury, and he looked like he lost something.

This was arguably the weakest of all the Patriots teams, but the Ravens loss truly showed how doomed the Patriots franchise was. Longtime stars Tedy Bruschi, Rodney Harrison, Richard Seymour, and Mike Vrabel, just to name a few, were gone. Belichick clearly wasn’t able to adapt to a new core group of players, and all hope was lost.

The Patriots have won a minimum of 12 games in every season since 2009. Tom Brady has played better since 2009 than before it, and New England built a new core around Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski, Devin McCourty, and Dont’a Hightower.

2012: Another Super Bowl Loss to the Giants

Super Bowl 46 was the last great chance the Patriots had of winning a Super Bowl with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Despite having a terrible defense, Brady, Gronkowski and Wes Welker led an offense that was hell-bent on finally winning ring number four.

Unfortunately, Eli Manning and the New York Giants stood in their way. For the second time, Manning stole a win from Brady with a last second scoring drive, and didn’t leave enough time on the clock for Brady to answer.

This was it. Tom Brady, now age 35, would never have as good a chance as this to win a Super Bowl. Sure, he could still be carried to one by a great team, but his days of single-handedly willing teams to championships were over. A lot needed to break right for New England to be in Super Bowl 46 to begin with, so realistically this was the best shot. Maybe he’d play in another, but most likely, Brady’s career will end with three rings.

Brady’s been to the AFC Championship Game every season since 2011. He’s gone to the Super Bowl an additional three times, winning two of them.

2014: The Kansas City Game

Tom Brady, alone on the bench, clearly realizing he’s reached the end of the road

Image credit: Boston Globe

On the heels of a relatively rough 2013, Brady and the Patriots stumbled out of the gate in 2014. They lost to the Miami Dolphins in the season opener before winning two ugly games against the Minnesota Vikings and the Oakland Raiders.

New England limped into Kansas City, and this game was over before the first snap. Kansas City was in complete control from the opening whistle, and the Patriots were beat in every single facet of the game. Brady in particular had a bad day, as the age 37 quarterback threw two interceptions and showed his age.

The dynasty was officially over. After not winning a title in ten years, Tom Brady never would again. He was old, slow, and no longer had his magic. Even the team around him wasn’t at an elite level. Injuries had sapped away what made Gronkowski special, and the Patriots just weren’t good anymore.

Since then, the Patriots have been to three of a possible four Super Bowl, winning two. Tom Brady has won regular season MVP once and Super Bowl MVP twice. The Patriots won an average of thirteen games over those four seasons, and the offense has always been in the top five of just about every major category.

2018: Internal Tensions

Make no mistake, there certainly are issues that need resolving at 1 Patriot Place. There’s a very real tension between Patriots owner Robert Kraft, head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. Is it as big a deal as the media made it out to be? Probably not, but there is certainly a rift between the trio.

Compiling onto this is the uncertain status of Rob Gronkowski. The star tight end is openly contemplating retirement. His body has been through a lot during his eight NFL seasons, and it’s understandable if he doesn’t want to do it anymore. He was reportedly unhappy throughout the duration of 2017, and his thoughts about retirement date back to training camp.

This is a lot for a team to overcome. The three most important people to the success of the franchise are at odds, and there’s a very real chance they lose one of their best players this offseason. It won’t be easy to overcome, but the Patriots have done it before. Brady and Belichick both love winning too much to let any off-field drama stop them from tearing it up on the field. Gronkowski leaving would make the team worse, but this offense would still be brimming with talent.

Despite all forecasts of doom, this is not the end for the Patriots dynasty. As long as Belichick is still the coach and Brady is still the quarterback, New England will remain the team to beat in the NFL.

Cover Photo Credit: NJ.com

Nobody Likes the Atmosphere at One Patriot Place

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Gronkowski on His Way Out?

(Pittsburg, PA, 12/17/17) New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski celebrates as he leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on Sunday, December 17, 2017.Staff Photo by Nancy Lane

Rob Gronkowski was a huge asset in the second half of the Super Bowl. But rumors swirled when after the Super Bowl that Gronk was going to evaluate his future. Rob Gronkowski is rumored to be interested in the WWE, XFL, and movies.

Tom E. Curran from NBC Sports Boston said last night that Gronkowski was unhappy playing for the Patriots in 2017. Gronkowski almost retired at the start of Training Camp last season. He trained with Alex Guerrero, Brady’s trainer who was removed from the locker room and the sidelines. Tom Brady was the only player allowed to be treated by Guerrero in a separate room at Gillette Stadium. The rest, including Gronkowski, had to physically go to TB12 at Patriot Place to be treated.

Gronkowski can’t be himself either, like with the touchdown celebration earlier in the year. He said he wanted to talk about it, but “we’re told we can’t talk about celebrations”. The one he was talking about was when he was carrying Brandin Cooks on his back after a touchdown. Let’s face it- the atmosphere on the Patriots is centered around one person: Tom Brady. That has pissed off Belichick, who sat Butler in the Super Bowl and forced to trade Garoppolo. Gronkowski is mad he can’t train the way Brady is being trained. He has to walk to make an appointment at TB12.

Big Name Players Backing Their Teammates

Via SI.com

All of the big name players backing Malcolm Butler’s Instagram post about him missing meetings and curfew on Super Bowl week. Hightower, Brady, and Gronkowski all liked on Twitter or Instagram. That is a clear shot at Belichick and the atmosphere.

Brady Is Bigger Than the Team

Do you really think Brady is going to let Gronkowski, his only weapon in the red zone, just go to the WWE? I don’t think so, just like he didn’t let Josh McDaniels walk to the Colts. If Gronkowski moves on from the Patriots, there will be with a 41 year old quarterback who’s playing like he’s 30, Julian Edelman, who’s coming back from injury, Danny Amendola, and no big guy Gronkowski at tight end. The injuries for Gronk are only a small part of why he’ll step away. Most of it is because he can’t be himself.

Cover image courtesy of NBC Sports.

Positions the Patriots Need to Evaluate over the Offseason

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The Patriots fell just short of their sixth Super Bowl trophy against the Eagles. They have a stacked team, but they could definitely use some upgrades. Here are four positions or groups of positions that the Patriots need to evaluate over the offseason.

Tight End

Rob Gronkowski has been the best tight end in the NFL since 2011, but retirement rumors have been swirling due to injuries. Gronk was extremely valuable to the Patriots this season. The offense averaged 19.5 points per game in the two games he did not play. In the other 14 games he played in, the Patriots averaged 30 points per game. If the Patriots lose Gronkowski, then the offense will take a big fall. Backup tight end Martellus Bennett could also retire, and Dwane Allen and Jacob Hollister were ineffective in the passing game. The free agent tight end pool is weak and the tight end draft class is similiar, so Bill Belichick needs to have a plan.

Left Tackle

All of the positions on the offensive line have been very good since Dante Scarnecchia came out of retirement. He has been able to get the best out of players such as LaAdrian Waddle and Marcus Cannon. However, Nate Solder’s contract is up and it is rumored that he might leave. Belichick could move Waddle over to left tackle, but that would leave Cam Flemming and Cole Croston as the backup lineman. Croston did not play in his rookie season and Flemming has not been good lately. Belichick could explore the free agent market or draft class to find a replacement. The list of free agent left tackles includes Greg Robinson, Chris Clark, and Donald Stephenson.

Front Seven

The Patriots’ defense was the reason why they did not win the Super Bowl. Almost all of the positions on defense struggled throughout the season. They did not get pressure with their front four, which allowed opposing quarterbacks to have field days against the Patriots. New England ranked 31st in rush yards per attempt because they gave up 4.7 yards per run. They were poor with and without Hightower, so it is hard to rely on him to come back and change everything immediately. The Patriots have slow linebackers who cannot cover running backs or cause pressure. Belichick needs to draft or sign a fast linebacker that can get to the quarterback and keep up with running backs. He also needs to draft or sign a lineman who can get pressure and help with the running game.

Cornerback

With Malcolm Butler set to leave, the Patriots need to find a replacement for him. Jonathan Jones, Cyrus Jones, and Eric Rowe are not good replacement options. Aqib Talib, Richard Sherman, and Marcus Peters have all been rumored to be cut or traded in the offseason. The Patriots will be spending a lot of money at corner if they sign one of them, considering how much they are paying Gilmore. However, the Patriots have not had dominate corners since Revis and Browner in 2014. They won the Super Bowl with Butler and Logan Ryan two years ago. Stephon Gilmore is great, but they can not win with one dominant corner. Super Bowl 52 is a perfect example of that because Gilmore was great, but Rowe, Bademosi, and Jones did not step up in Malcolm Butler’s “absence”. Belichick must recognize that and spend money and/or picks to get another shutdown corner.

Cover image courtesy of USA Today.

Two Pre-Free Agency Patriots 3-Round Mock Drafts

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The 2017-2018 season came and went in a blink of an eye. Even though Super Bowl 52 was only two weeks ago, we’re already suffering football withdrawals. Taking things day by day at the start of the NFL offseason is too tedious, so analysts and reporters enjoy looking toward the future. There are 164 grueling days between us and August. The 2018 NFL Draft and today are separated by 67 days. The start of free agency, our saving grace to get us through the waning moments of winter, is only 24 days away. On top of that, we are just a whopping nine days away until the NFL Combine. The only thing to do until then is to dream of what teams will look like in September. What will transpire in free agency? Better yet, who will each team draft?

The Patriots are at an important crossroads entering the offseason. There will be very little panic going into the 2018 season, but the team needs to set themselves up for the future. Tom Brady won’t get any younger, even though we’ve all been convinced that he can play forever. But pliability can only help for so long, and both Brady and New England’s defense can only bend for so long without breaking. The Patriots’ pass rush cannot go on in its current state without bringing in new talent. Also with defensive starters like Malcolm Butler presumably leaving us for new homes, the Patriots need to act quickly. Free agency can only dictate the state of the 2018 squad.

This year’s draft class boasts the most defensive talent we have seen in a long time. The Patriots have a chance to draft prospects that could make a difference down the road with their early picks. These mock drafts might be premature, but it will be updated as April rolls around the corner. It’s impossible to get into the heads of every front office in the league, especially right now. Some teams will look to address problems in free agency, and the rest will utilize the draft. The big board won’t come together until the Combine finishes up in early March. However, it’s great to have a baseline prediction on prospects. The following mock draft is updated from the one I made back in December. Fellow BSE writer Andrew Lykins will also give his insight on potential prospects in his three round draft after mine.

Mike Clement’s Mock Draft 2.0

Round 1 (Pick 31): Marcus Davenport, DE , UTSA

Pass rush is arguably the Patriots’ biggest problem going into the offseason. Part of the reason that New England possessed the 29th ranked defense in the league was because of their lack of pressuring opposing quarterbacks. The defense looked lost against mobile quarterbacks to say the least. Ever since Rob Ninkovich’s retirement last year the team has not found someone to line up parallel to Trey Flowers on the defensive line. Deatrich Wise Jr. and Eric Lee were formidable defensive ends this season, but they were not perfect.

After Dont’a Hightower’s season-ending injury, the linebacker corp did not look any better. Kyle Van Noy, Elandon Roberts, and Marquis Flowers held down the center of the defense, but also struggled on pressure. Roberts seemed to primarily play coverage and Van Noy rushed the gap a few times. Flowers, who will be a free agent, shined when pressuring the quarterback. James Harrison’s stint in New England was instrumental as well. The only problem is that he is nearing the end of his great career. Pass rush is a group effort. It isn’t one position’s responsibility.

In comes Marcus Davenport. Listed at a 4-3 outside linebacker, Davenport made his presence felt in 2017 against opposing quarterbacks. He finished four years at UTSA with 185 tackles and 21.5 sacks. The Conference USA might not be the most rigorous conference in college football, but Davenport was able to steamroll his way through offensive lines.

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

Davenport saw adversity at the Senior Bowl. He struggled a bit against the talent of other NFL prospects. However, he showed enough flashes of dominance to scouts to boost his draft stock. One of his highlights from the Senior Bowl was returning a fumble 19 yards for a score. The Combine will be his next test as he attempts to push into the NFL.

Round 2 (Pick 41): Mike Hughes, CB, UCF

Mike Hughes remains on my draft list. He’s been doubted by scouts due to his lack of consistency and experience in college. However, his speed helped him be a dominant number one cornerback for UCF during their perfect season. He can jam receivers at the line of scrimmage and has ball skills to pick passes off in man coverage. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein places Hughes as New England’s first pick in the draft surprisingly. In his first mock draft Zierlein writes, “Hughes isn’t the biggest cornerback, but he has tremendous speed and twitch. He’s also an outstanding kick returner.” Hughes’s speed makes up for his size to be a tough cornerback.

I believe that Mike Hughes could drop to the early second round for New England to take him. There are about five or so higher ranked corners, but Hughes could help the Patriots’ foreseeable problems at corner.

Round 2 (Pick 63): Akrum Wadley, RB, Iowa

New England’s running back corps have fared well thus far. Josh McDaniels set up an offense last season that incorporated Dion Lewis as a primary runner and had Rex Burkhead and James White go wide for passes. Lewis had a career season in 2017, only making him more valuable as he enters the free agent market. Burkhead will be a free agent as well. Dion Lewis is more likely going to leave New England, meanwhile Burkhead might stay after having an under par year due to injury.

Akrum Wadley is the best of both worlds. At Iowa, he has exhibited his ability to excel in a passing offense. He also has the strength to push up the middle. What is most admirable about Wadley is his footwork and athletic ability.

Round 3 (Pick 95): Kyle Lauletta, QB, Richmond

Can Kyle Lauletta be the heir to Tom Brady’s throne? Possibly. Lauletta has been under the radar in Richmond, but has some great intangibles. In 2017, Lauletta racked up 3,737 yards with 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He only started in his sophomore and junior years after switching over from lacrosse. Most scouts will disregard Lauletta as just another backup, but he has a lot of potential for Bill Belichick. Belichick loves lacrosse and will likely scavenge Lauletta’s film from high school.

Lauletta put on a show at the Senior Bowl. He threw three second-half touchdowns and was named Most Outstanding Player. He might not have the best arm but his production has risen in the past few years as he becomes more accustomed to football. His leadership and his passing on the move makes him an admirable target in the third round. If any team were to take him it would be the Patriots. He will do wonders working under Tom Brady for a year or two.

Andrew Lykins’s Mock Draft

The top four Patriots draft needs are: starting CB, tackle (either depth or starter depending upon Solder resigning), edge rush, and running back. The order of these needs will change depending upon the moves they will make in free agency. This pre-FA mock reflects on a few moves that I think will happen.

Round 1 (Pick 31) Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA

I’m shooting for the stars with my first pick. The pass rush sorely needs to be upgraded. Derek Rivers, Trey Flowers and hopefully a veteran addition will be joined by the raw but talented small school product. I would also consider Sam Hubbard with this pick as well. I fully expect the Patriots to resign Solder for left tackle. If that doesn’t happen, this pick immediately changes to the best OT available. I would also consider cornerback, but the position is slightly deeper, so I opted for Davenport with this pick.

Credit to USA Today.

Round 2 (Pick 41 from 49ers) J.C. Jackson, CB, Maryland

Many people will think that this is a knee jerk reaction to losing Butler. I think we would be able to weather his loss with Cyrus Jones return as well as J.Jones returning. I want an upgrade though. If Eric Rowe and Gilmore are the presumptive #1-2 for 2018, I want a young talent to push them and provide depth for a strict outside press-man scheme. Would also consider a top flight RB if available (Guice, R.Jones, or Michel).

Credit to USA Today.

Round 2 (Pick 63) Luke Falk, QB, Washington State

Spending a day two pick on a quarterback has worked out well for us, and I see no reason to break this trend. The Patriots will continue to stock the talent at this position until Tom Brady makes it clear as to when he is hanging them up. I understand if you are not thrilled with this particular prospect, but the need is undeniable and I would rather get a good prospect sooner rather than later. I would go with best player available if he doesn’t test well and look to pick up a quarterback on day three.

Credit to The Seattle Times.

Round 3 (Pick 95) Ronald Jones, RB, USC

There are tons of high level running back prospects in this draft class, and that means that there will be some sliding of starting level talent. Free agency and the Combine will really serve to slot the prospects into their respective rankings. Ronald Jones is my favorite of the 1-2 tier that could slide. I would also consider Nick Chubbs, Kerryon Johnson, and Jaylen Samuels here as well.

Credit to the Daily Trojan.

Cover image courtesy of Sporting News.

Top 10 Boston Sports Moments Since 2010

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Top Ten Moments in No Order

Ravens vs. Patriots (@dkpatsftball)

One of the top Patriots moments of all time was the 2015 AFC Divisional round game against the Ravens. Coming off a 30-17 victory against a Le’Veon Bell-less Steelers, the Baltimore Ravens found themselves in the most unfavorable matchup: against the Patriots.

Flacco showed this by throwing two touchdowns to start off the game, not fearing the corner duo of Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner. Boston fans knew not to worry because they had Brady on their side. He delivered with two touchdown drives to even the score. However, Baltimore continued to show their dominance over New England’s defense.

Two touchdown passes later, they had another 14-point lead. Would the Patriots fall again to the Ravens in the playoffs? Brady answered with a 5-yard touchdown to Gronkowski. The defense got a stop, which allowed the offense to run one of their most memorable plays ever.

Brady threw a backward screen to Edelman, who threw it downfield to a wide-open Danny Amendola for a 51-yard touchdown. The score was 31-28 after the Ravens made a field goal. When the game was on the line, Mr. Clutch came through. After a time-consuming drive, Brady threw his third touchdown pass of the day to Brandon LaFell to take the lead. The Patriots secured the win with a Duron Harmon interception in the closing minutes. It was definitely a game to remember as the Patriots got their revenge on the team who stopped them from going to the Super Bowl just two years before.

Credit to the Boston Globe.

Super Bowl 49- Patriots vs. Seahawks (@dkpatsftball)

It seems like every Super Bowl for the Patriots is a close game, which is a real stress causer among us Boston fans. Anyway, the Patriots were coming off a blowout win over the Colts, while Seattle had led a thrilling comeback over Rodgers’s Packers in the championship games.

The first half was relatively close as the teams went into the locker rooms tied at 14. Seattle had taken advantage of the mismatch of the larger Chris Matthews to move the ball down the field. Matthews, who had not caught a pass before this game, hauled an eleven-yard touchdown as seconds expired in the half. The Seahawks continued their momentum by obtaining a ten-point lead at the end of the third quarter.

The fourth quarter should be named after Brady, because that’s when he really starts to strive. He surpassed Joe Montana’s Super Bowl touchdown record with passes to Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman. In familiar fashion Tom Brady and the Patriots took a late lead. The only problem was that there was still time on the clock. Russell Wilson had two passes of 31 and 11 to bring the Seahawks to the New England 38.

He dropped back and threw a deep ball to Jermaine Kearse. It was battered by undrafted rookie Malcolm Butler, but the ball never hit the ground. After Butler knocked it, it bounced off Kearse’s legs back into his hands for a 33-yard gain. At this time, New England fans were thinking, “There’s no way we could lose another game off a ridiculous catch. Would Kearse be the next David Tyree and Mario Manningham?”

A Marshawn Lynch run brought them to the 1, and the game was seemingly over. The Seahawks had one of the best and strongest backs in the league, who was virtually unstoppable in these short yardage situations. However, they chose to pass the ball instead. Wilson dropped back and aimed for Ricardo Lockette on a short crossing route, but Malcolm Butler was there first. He intercepted the ball to clinch the Patriots’ fourth Super Bowl win. Seattle looked more confused than the left shark in Katy Perry’s halftime show. This moment will definitely go down in NFL history as one of the greatest.

2013 ALCS Game 2 (Prime_Kyrie)

One of the most memorable Red Sox moments in recent memory was Game 2 of the 2013 ALCS. Boston fans bought into this unique team, and they were hoping to take home the World Series. It looked like the Red Sox were going to lose the first two games following a 1-0 loss. Max Scherzer was untouchable through seven, but they got to the Tigers’ bullpen in the eight, which was their kryptonite.

Joaquin Benoit faced David Ortiz in the eighth, and of the most clutch hitters in recent memory tied the game at five with a grand slam. The next inning, Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a walk-off single off Rick Porcello to tie the series at one each. Boston fans went from panicking to rejoicing over the comeback. The Red Sox clinched the pennant in six games to set up the next moment:

Credit to the Boston Herald.

October 31, 2013 (Prime_Kyrie)

A faceoff between two legends- Patriots versus Saints in 2013 was a game to remember. It was back and forth the whole game. The Saints took a four point lead late in the fourth quarter.

An interception from Brady seemed to seal the win for the Saints. However, the Patriots defense forced a three and out. Brady had a minute and thirteen seconds to work his magic. He drove the offense downfield to the 17-yard line with ten seconds left. Brady dropped back and delivered a perfect pass to the back of the end zone to Kenbrell Thompkins for the win.

A few hours after the Patriots’ unbelievable win against the Saints, the Red Sox took the field up 3-2 against the Cardinals. Red Sox fans were hoping to witness the first home World Series win in 95 years. They were looking to clinch the world series at Fenway Park for the first time in 95 years.

The Red Sox jumped on Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha in the third with a base-clearing double from Shane Victorino. Wacha lasted 3.2 innings, giving up six earned runs and four walks. Red Sox pitcher John Lackey was dominant through 6.2 innings, giving up just one run. Koji Uehara, the fourth option at closer, entered the game in the ninth with the Red Sox up 6-1. He struck out Matt Carpenter on a splitter to end the series and Fenway Park went crazy. They earned their eighth championship in franchise history, and the third in the last ten years.

2017 Celtics Offseason (Prime_Kyrie)

It is hard to pinpoint one day in the offseason, but Danny Ainge took the Celtics from pretenders to contenders with a series of moves. Celtics fans had been begging for big transactions since Brad Stevens took over, and they finally got them.

On June 19th, the Celtics traded the number one overall pick to the 76ers for the third pick and a conditional pick in 2018. The Celtics selected rookie of the year candidate Jayson Tatum, and the 76ers drafted Markelle Fultz who has not played this year.

On July 7th, Ainge traded Avery Bradley to the Pistons for Marcus Morris to clear cap space. Consequently Morris has been an efficient scorer off the bench. On July 14th, Boston officially signed Gordon Hayward, who is arguably the best player on the team when healthy. He could make a return in the playoffs, and he would be a huge addition. On August 23rd, Ainge shocked the NBA world when they traded Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and the 2018 Nets pick to the Cavaliers for Kyrie Irving. Kyrie Irving is an MVP candidate while Thomas and Crowder were flipped at the deadline. The Celtics are 40-18 and could beat the Cavaliers in a seven-game series.

2013 Bruins Game 7 (@JamieGatlin1217)

This is a game that Bruins fans will never forget. It will forever live in Boston lore, not because of the dramatic comeback but everything else that made this game special. The Bruins were down 4-1 in the third period of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarter Finals.

The future of the core that brought a championship to Boston two years earlier was in question. It appeared the Bruins were about to be eliminated from the playoffs at home. Nathan Horton made the score 4-2 with 14 minutes left in the third period. This gave the Bruins hope but time was dwindling.

Then with 1:22 left Milan Lucic scored to make it 4-3. There was a sense something special was happening. Thirty seconds later Patrice Bergeron tied to force overtime. The Bruins were a goal away from completing a comeback that no one thought they had left in them. Then with 13:55 left in overtime Patrice Bergeron completed the comeback and scored the overtime winner. It was an atmosphere that is rare and a comeback just the same. The game was not only a top moment for hockey reasons. A month later Boston was afflicted by the Marathon attacks. As the city started to recover, their resiliency aided the Bruins’ motivation. When everyone counted the Bruins out they came back. The Bruins provided the city with a moment truly special when it was needed the most.

Credit to SI.com.

Bruins 2011 Stanley Cup Game 7 (JamieGatlin1217)

On June 15th the Bruins ended their 39-year title drought by beating the Vancouver Canucks in the Stanley Cup. It was the Bruins third game seven victory in their playoff run. It was also their first and only win of the series at Vancouver. Going into the series, many people doubted the Bruins.

Things looked bleak at the beginning of the series after they lost the first two games in Vancouver. The Bruins had to fight off elimination twice but they didn’t let that phase them. The 2011 team had many storylines that made this team unique.They were a determined and scrappy team never letting the odds affect them.

They received a historic performance from Tim Thomas in net. It was Mark Recchi’s last NHL season and he ended it with a championship, the third of his career. What made this team so special was its underdog mentality. Throughout the playoffs, they were doubted and it looked as if their season was over multiple times. They rallied around each other especially after Nathan Horton was knocked out of the Stanley Cup series with a concussion in Game Two. They didn’t make things easy on themselves, but that made it all more rewarding. This cup win meant even more as they were the only team without a title in Boston in the 2000’s. Now they had their title. It was one full of excitement and grit a trait that made this team even more special.

Super Bowl 51- Patriots vs. Falcons (@dkpatsftball)

Momentum was the keyword of the game. Up until the end of the third quarter, Falcons had all the momentum. They had a commanding 28-3 lead with a little over two minutes left to play in the third quarter. Brady had made comebacks before, but this one seemed insurmountable. The trick was that they took it one play at a time.

The Patriots finally got a touchdown with a Brady-to-White pass. This started the Patriots’ rally. The defense began doing their part by holding Matt Ryan’s high-powered offense drive after drive. In turn, the offense continued to score points as Brady continued to move the ball with ease. Finally, they did it. A James White touchdown forced an overtime… and won them the game. This game was perhaps one of the best of all, and Brady cemented his legacy as the GOAT.

Credit to Bleacher Report.

Patriots vs. Broncos 2013(@dkpatsftball)

Tom Brady and Peyton Manning renewed their historic rivalry during Week 12 in 2013. Entering the game, Brady was 9-4 against Manning in his career. Due to fumbles and big runs by Knowshon Moreno, the Broncos put together 24 points in the first half. This was the same Broncos whose offense was having a historic season as they steamrolled opponents. This game would have turned out the same way… If the opposing quarterback at the helm was not named Brady.

They started out with Edelman making an incredible touchdown grab on a perfectly placed ball by Brady. The defense made key stops with a forced fumble, sack, an interception on three separate drives- each leading to a touchdown. With a field goal afterward, the Patriots suddenly had a seven-point lead. Manning wasn’t going to choke away this game just yet. He threw a touchdown to Demaryius Thomas with three minutes left in the game. The game went into overtime where neither offense could get going. The Patriots punted to the ball to former Patriot, Wes Welker, where he signaled not to go for the ball to his team. One Bronco didn’t see it, and it hit off him. The Patriots recovered and won with the field goal. Brady got another win in this rivalry between the two Hall of Famers.

Celtics vs. Wizards 2017 ECSF (Prime_Kyrie)

After the Celtics took care of the Bulls in six, and the Wizards took care of the Hawks in six, the two teams met for the semifinals. The Celtics outscored the Wizards by 20 in the third quarter, and they took game one by the score of 123-111. Jae Crowder’s 24 points and Isaiah Thomas’s 33 points led the Celtics in Game One.

In Game Two, John Wall put up 40 points, but Isaiah Thomas scored 53 to give the Celtics a 129-119 win and a 2-0 series lead. Washington dominated Game Three by holding Thomas to 13 points, and Otto Porter and Bojan Bogdanović scoring 19 points each. The Wizards dominated Game Four by the score of 121-102 because of great guard play by John Wall and Bradley Beal. Washington tied the series at two with the series heading back to Boston.

Avery Bradley led the Celtics in Game Five with 29 points and the Celtics took a 3-2 series lead by the score of 123-101. The series went back to Washington, and the Celtics needed one more win to go to the Eastern Conference Finals. With ten seconds left in Game Six, Al Horford hit a clutch baseline jumper to give the Celtics a 91-89 lead. One more stop on defense and the series is over. But if the Wizards make a shot, we continue.

With just three seconds left, John Wall hit a three over Al Horford to give the Wizards a 92-91 win. The series was headed back to Boston, winner goes to Cleveland and the loser goes home. In game seven, the Celtics had a three-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. All they had to do was hold on and the series would be theirs. The Celtics went on a 15-2 run to start the fourth, and Kelly Olynyk had a surprising 26 points to lead the Celtics to a 115-105 win. The series was back-and-forth where most games were competitive. But the Celtics got their first trip to the Conference Finals in the Brad Stevens era.

The New England Patriots Aren’t Going Anywhere

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The New England Patriots just lost Super Bowl 52, 41-33, to the Philadelphia Eagles. A mix of uncharacteristically poor coaching and terrible defense proved to be too much for quarterback Tom Brady to overcome, and the Patriots left Minnesota empty handed. The bad news is that the Patriots lost. The good news is that they’ll be back soon. The New England Patriots aren’t going anywhere, and should even better in 2018.

The New England Patriots Aren’t Going Anywhere

Internal Stars Return

Tom Brady’s Favorite Target Will Be Back in Action in 2018

Image credit: Boston Herald

The Patriots made it to the Super Bowl in spite of two of their best four players missing the season. Wide receiver Julian Edelman tore his ACL in the preseason, effectively ending his season before it began. While Edelman is 31, there’s no reason to expect anything less than a full comeback.

The silver lining to tearing his ACL in the preseason is that his gives him a full calendar year to get healthy. The typical ACL recovery timeline is roughly 6-9 months, so Edelman should be a full go by the 2018 regular season. Edelman’s rehab, as far as we know, is moving along without any setbacks, and he even said that he believed he could have played Super Bowl 52 were he were eligible.

The Patriots will also be getting their best defensive player back in Dont’a Hightower. Hightower played in just five games all season, with his last appearance coming in Week Seven. While linebackers like Kyle Van Noy performed admirably in his absence, there’s no overstating how much Hightower means to this defense. He’s the de-facto do it all linebacker, capable of rushing the passer, stopping the run, and dropping into coverage. It’s no coincidence that the Patriots won the two Super Bowls he played in, but lost the one he didn’t.

Role Player Reinforcements

Malcolm Mitchell’s Presence was greatly missed in 2017

Image credit: Bleacher Report

Additionally, the Patriots will be getting some minor reinforcements with the return of Malcolm Mitchell. Like Edelman, Mitchell missed the duration of the season. While he won’t have Edelman’s impact, he does offer something that none of the other receivers do. Mitchell plays bigger than his size, and is able to win tough, contested passes on the boundary. He showed he’s more than capable of being a reliable intermediate option, and his presence should open up a whole new dimension to the Patriot offense.

With Edelman running his famous option routes and Mitchell a threat on intermediate passes, who covers Brandin Cooks? Cooks had a great 2017 despite being the teams best receiver, and thus facing the best opposing defenders. Teams won’t be able to lock in on Cooks with a healthy Edelman, Mitchell and Rob Gronkowski on the field. Gronkowski is mulling retirement, but that felt like a reactionary statement after a long, grueling season. Until he officially says otherwise, expect him to be playing in 2018.

Additionally, the Patriots will be getting their top draft picks back for 2018. Third round rookies Derek Rivers and Antonio Garcia missed the entire 2017 season with injuries, and should be able to bring a huge boost to the 2018 roster. Rivers in particular should be a big piece in aiding a weak front four, and Garcia could earn the backup tackle role with both Cameron Fleming and LaAdrian Waddle free agents.

You can bet on if you think the Patriots will keep on winning this season and you can find the most updated NFL betting lines from BetQL.

Several Early Draft Picks

The Patriots became AFC Conference Champions with minimal help from their rookie class. The Patriots traded their first rounder in 2017 for Cooks, and only drafted four players. Of those four, only Deatrich Wise made the opening day roster.

That will not be the case this season. The Patriots will have their own first and second round picks this season, along with a high second rounder acquired from the San Francisco 49ers. While one of those picks will likely be used to draft Brady’s eventual successor, the other two should be ready to contribute immediately. Having two high level rookies should be an instant help for a team that historically does well in the draft. Even if Belichick trades one of those early picks, the longtime coach has a knack for finding stars in the mid to late rounds.

Tom Brady Is Still Here

This is really all that matters. As long as Brady looks like Brady, the Patriots will continue to win. Brady is getting older, but there’s no reason to think he’ll be dropping off anytime soon. In his age 40 season, Brady led the league in passing yards en route to winning MVP honors. And while he didn’t win the Super Bowl, he was the only reason it wasn’t a blowout. Brady threw for 505 yards and three touchdowns, setting several passing records along the way.

This team will still be good even assuming the worst case scenarios. If Gronkowski does retire and the 2018 draft is a bust – both of which are unlikely events – the Patriots should still win the AFC East pretty handily. Brady’s done far more with less than whatever the 2018 iteration of the team will be, and he will continue to do so.

The Patriots may be down, but they don’t stay out. They’re the best run organization in sports, led by the best quarterback in history and one of the best coaches. They won’t lose focus, and next year at this time they’ll be in the thick of yet another title chase.

Cover image courtesy of NJ.com

Draft Profile: M.J. Stewart, CB at North Carolina

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This year’s Draft Class is brimming with talent. Just about every position has a few players that have been in the limelight since the end of the 2017-2018 college football season. Lately, as mock draft season has come into fruition undervalued players are on the rise. Senior North Carolina cornerback M.J. Stewart recently became a name to consider two months before draft day.

Analysts have begun to look into Stewart’s draft stock after he appeared in the first round of Todd McShay’s most recent Mock Draft for ESPN. McShay listed the Patriots as a possible team to select the 6’0″ and 205 pound cornerback with the 31st pick in April. This came after Stewart’s exceptional play during the Senior Bowl in late January.

“Given his Super Bowl controversy, it certainly appears New England will part ways with Malcolm Butler. Spending an early pick on a CB makes sense, especially with Stephon Gilmore on the other side. Stewart is underrated and an experienced player, with adequate height (5-10) and very good top-end speed. He’ll also support the run” writes McShay.

Stewart’s Stats

Before the Senior Bowl M.J. Stewart ranked 31st in cornerbacks in the 2018 Draft Class by Walter Football.com. He was ranked low due to failing to intercept any passes in his senior season. In Stewart’s four year stint at North Carolina he racked up 199 tackles, three sacks, three fumbles, six interceptions, and 44 passes defended. He did not pick passes off frequently but he did well with defending them. In his senior season alone Stewart recorded 12 pass breakups, 45 tackles (five for a loss), and two sacks. He finished the 2017-2018 season as the top ranked player at UNC, as well as earning All-ACC First Team reps.

M.J. Stewart finished the 2017 season as the highest graded player in Chapel Hill. pic.twitter.com/tzuZVNfZ9P

— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 8, 2018

.@Checkout_Marv has been named All-ACC First-Team Defense! 👏#OriginOfFlight #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/HM8tqeg7zu

— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) December 5, 2017

Playstyle

The highlight of M.J. Stewart’s play is his press coverage. Stewart locks down receivers from the line of scrimmage to ten yards behind him. Stewart keeps pace with every assignment. He might not have the height, but he can use his strength and speed to muscle his way ahead of a receiver to make a play. Even when it seems like he is beaten on a play Stewart uses his quick hands to pull passes out of the receiver’s hands for an incompletion. Upon watching his highlights, I think it’s insane that Stewart hasn’t been more highly touted. His stats might not jump out at analysts and scouts, but he does not fail at single coverage whatsoever.

Player Comparison

If I were to compare M.J. to two star cornerbacks in the NFL they’d be Richard Sherman and Josh Norman. Like Sherman, he thrives at taking receivers out of plays right out of the gate. In press coverage they both do an exceptional job at keeping receivers at the line of scrimmage, and they both punish quarterbacks if they force a pass toward them. They both ballhawk in deep routes as well. Stewart also can hit like Josh Norman. In the event that he lets up a completion he will let the receiver feel his frustration. He is able to bring players down extremely well despite his size and frame.

M.J. might not be too exciting on paper, but his film makes up for it. To me he is a viable option for the Patriots, maybe just not in the first round. Whatever team he lands on he has the potential to make a splash as one of the NFL’s next premier defensive backs.

Winning More Super Bowls Than Brady?

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In an appearance on Good Morning Football, Deshaun Watson had said he wanted to win more Super Bowls than Tom Brady. “I always put my mentality with being the best, and Tom Brady is the best right now, so whatever I have to do to get to that level at age 40, that’s what I’m going to do”. He certainly has flashed the potential to do so, throwing for 1699 yards and 19 touchdowns in seven games, but can he develop into a quarterback better than Brady and win more Super Bowls?

Reasons He Can

One of Deshaun Watson’s major strengths is his mobility. He resembles Russell Wilson with his ability to extend plays out of the pocket with his arm or with his feet. An example of this was his 49-yard rushing touchdown against the Bengals in Week 2. On this play, the Bengals rushed four and were playing a deep zone on 3rd and 15. Carlos Dunlap provided pressure which caused Deshaun Watson to tuck it and run. He used his speed to pass the Bengals linebackers and, with great awareness, took advantage of the secondary playing far back to use blocks downfield to get in the end zone.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

He also has an amazing ability to move the ball downfield and using the pocket to his advantage, showing little hints of Brady in him. In the Texans’ Week 8 shootout with Seattle, Watson had edge defenders closing on him quick, so he stepped up in the pocket which allowed those defenders to be blocked. He then dropped a beautiful deep bomb to a wide-open Will Fuller for a 59-yard touchdown.

Watson has great speed, pocket presence, a big, accurate arm, and the ability to move the ball downfield. He gave the Texans offense a spark which they desperately needed. It is a shame that he got injured because the Texans’ season could have turned out differently.

Reasons He Can’t

However, there are some concerns about this Clemson product. Watson has shown the ability to make tight accurate throws to his receivers, but his throws are risky. He often throws to his receivers surrounded by coverage. This resulted in many big plays, but was also the cause of his interceptions. He needs to enhance his ability to go through his reads and try to always find the open man instead of just his favorite targets. Tom Brady does have his go-to receivers, but he creates mismatches and opportunities for them to get open, unlike Watson.

Another concern for Watson was his ACL tear. Looking at the Tom vs. Time videos, we can learn that pliability in muscles can lead to a longer career. How else can Tom Brady play at an MVP level at 40, while his longtime rival Peyton Manning looked like a shell of himself at 39? The ACL tear could have hampered the pliability of Watson’s muscles and therefore reducing the length of his career – not good when he wants to win five Super Bowls.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

The last concern is not about Watson himself, but his team. The Texans need to upgrade their offensive line and protect Watson. It will give him the time to make plays and move down the field. They should also revamp their secondary. For Watson to be successful, he needs a defense that he can rely on to stop the opposing offense from scoring points. This was evident in the losses against Kansas City and Seattle.

Conclusion

Thus, Watson does have the talent to be a star in the NFL. However, I do not believe that he will win as many Super Bowls as Brady. His skills still need to be honed and his injury can impact the rest of his career. There are too many factors working against Watson and the Texans’ ability to win games including the emergence of several young quarterbacks on other teams. Watson can be great, but he won’t surpass the greatest.

To the Haters

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In the NFL, fans hate the New England Patriots the most. They constantly win games, and this is why many opposing fans say they resort to cheating. How can a team consistently win games year after year? Well, Bill Belichick has created a system which has allowed for unheard players to step up and thrive. Dear Patriots haters, do you guys really know who you are hating?

Addressing the Eagles “underdog” description going into Super Bowl 52, Patriots linebacker, Kyle Van Noy, said, “We’re underdogs too. If you look across the board, this team is built on underdogs”. Thirty-four percent of their team went undrafted. Overlooked and ignored players fill this Patriot roster. Biggest examples of this are sixth-rounder Tom Brady, who had six quarterbacks picked before him in the 2000 draft and undrafted wide receiver Danny Amendola, who bounced around to three teams before finding a comfortable home in New England. Both of these players proved themselves when the team needed them and has been reliable starters ever since.

The Defensive Hero

Van Noy had his own second chance underdog story. He came into the league a promising prospect coming out of a stellar season at BYU. Expected to be a three-down linebacker, the Lions drafted Van Noy in the second round. However, a hernia sidelined him for half his rookie season, and he wasn’t the same after that. Considered a liability on the field, the Lions traded for a late-round draft pick to the Patriots.

In New England, he’s become one of the most versatile players on the team. The difference is the coaching according to Van Noy, who felt that it was what held him back in Detroit. After Rob Ninkovich had retired and Dont’a Hightower went down with a pectoral injury, Van Noy flourished as his role grew. He finished the 2017 regular season campaign with 73 tackles and 5 ½ sacks in just 12 games. It seems that Matt Patricia had rekindled the BYU college star by giving him a chance to succeed when the team that drafted him wouldn’t.

Kyle Van Noy AFC Championship - Pittsburgh Steelers v New England Patriots

Photo Credit: Getty Images

The Breakout Star

Another story is that of Dion Lewis. The Philadephia Eagles drafted Lewis in the fifth round in 2011 where he was buried on the depth chart. When asked about what he remembers in his time in Philadelphia, he said, “Not playing”. The Eagles traded him to Cleveland where he missed the 2013 season with a fractured fibula and eventually cut.

The Patriots signed him in 2015 where he was stellar in the first seven games before tearing his ACL. “We had a feeling there was something there and we let it play out”, Patriots running back coach Ivan Fears said. Fears had compared him to Kevin Faulk, another undersized running back who won three Super Bowls with the Patriots. Lewis is arguably the most dynamic player on the Patriots offense right now. Watching Lewis play, one can see him always pushing himself and fighting for every inch. With injuries to other running backs, the organization relied on Lewis to be the workhorse for the second half of the season. He used his increased touches to total career highs in rushing yards and touchdowns. A running back who hadn’t played in two years ran with an opportunity given by the Patriots all the way to his second Super Bowl.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

A Final Message

Thus, Patriots haters, it is understandable that you guys don’t like a team whose won all these games. However, the underdog trait truly defines these players. The coaching staff preaches hard work and expect greatness. The leadership of the organization gives players a sense of success, pride, and family. It doesn’t matter what round they were drafted or how they did in college, but the amount of work they put in to excel their game on and off. Haters, you are really hating the athletes that people belittled and put down. The athletes who got back up, stronger than ever, and found a home where they can strive. The athletes with the best work ethic that fights to get what they want. In New England, these athletes live by a simple mantra …”Do Your Job”.

An Open Letter to Malcolm Butler

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An Open Letter to Malcolm Butler

Dear Malcolm Butler,

First of all, thank you for your time with New England. Super Bowl 49 is a moment I will never forget. For a lot of personal reasons, that one Super Bowl against Seattle was easily my favorite. I was a junior in college, and watching that game with my friends in my dorm room was probably the greatest day of my life at the time. The new greatest day of my life is when I asked by fiancé to marry me, but I digress.

This image will never not make me smile

Image credit: LA Times

I wish you nothing but the best in the future. Now, I know technically you could still come back to the Patriots, but we both know that won’t happen. That ship probably sailed the second the Pats signed Stephon Gilmore. Any chance of you coming back completely vanished when the coaches inexplicably benched you for the whole of Super Bowl 52.

They gave you no warning, no explanation, and no reasoning for why they benched you. You couldn’t see the game even when Eric Rowe and Johnson Bademosi let up multiple passes and Jordan Richards was playing dime. They disrespected you, and you probably want to go somewhere where you feel appreciated. If I were you, I’d do the same thing. I think I speak for everyone in Patriots Nation when I say I hope you break the bank this offseason and get every damn penny you can.

While you may be gone, you won’t be forgotten. I still remember the way the 2014 offseason began. After getting two big name cornerbacks in Darelle Revis and Brandon Browner, all anyone could talk about in training camp was a scrappy cornerback from West Alabama. One month later, I remember you living up to the relative hype in that first preseason game against Washington.

I remember watching that first Super Bowl, and being amazed that the fifth-string cornerback was able to hold up against Russell Wilson on the game’s biggest stage. I remember being amazed that you had the awareness to push Jermaine Kearse out of bounds after he hauled in that miraculous catch.

And of course, I remember what happened next. I’m ashamed to admit it, but after the two Giants Super Bowls, I had given up on the game. I was still watching when the interception happened, but I knew Seattle was about to score. After you beat Ricardo Lockette to the football, my mind processed it as an incompletion. My friend remembers me saying “Nice breakup, Butler” before I realized it was an interception. I was jumping up and down, screaming like a fool and hugging anyone I could find.

You didn’t prove to just be a one-play wonder either. Somehow, you didn’t let the overnight fame get to your head. The Patriots let Revis go because they knew you were something special, and you proved them right. You went from bottom of the depth chart to number one corner over a single offseason. Week One of 2015 you went up against Antonio Brown of all people, and you held your own. You kept getting better and better, and you became one of the best in the league.

Antonio Brown: Not the easiest receiver to face for your first start

Image credit: Boston Herald

It’s not just that you played well, it’s how you played. You played like a maniac despite your smaller frame. It’s rare to find a corner as willing to tackle and play as physically as you. I’m sure you played through your share of injuries, and I’ve always appreciated your toughness and heart. Frankly, players like you are in short supply in todays NFL.

You got even better in 2016, and your lockdown form was a big reason for the fifth Super Bowl win against Atlanta. Understandably, you wanted some financial security. You were still playing on an undrafted rookie’s contract, and you certainly exceeded that value. Instead, that money went to Gilmore.

You seeked out a trade, but when that fell through, you were the ultimate pro. Instead of becoming a distraction, you showed up and prepared like nothing was amiss. It wasn’t your best year, but you weren’t afraid to admit it. Prior to the Super Bowl, you openly admitted that this was a down season and you were looking for a chance to redeem yourself.

Responses like that were why you were one of my favorite Patriots and will remain one of my favorite players. It would have been easy to give a stock answer about not worrying about what the media says. Instead, you gave in to humility and admitted that you weren’t playing up to your standards, despite being one of the best bargains in the NFL.

Then the Super Bowl came. To not play you is one thing, but to not give you any notice is a completely different story. Seeing you crying before the game was heartbreaking, and not entering the game while the defense gave up 41 points and looked completely lost was an unforgivable move by the coaches.

Still, despite the emotions you were ready to go. Once it was clear you weren’t going into the game, you could have sulked around on the bench and waited for your Patriot tenure to end. Instead, you kept your helmet on, standing by the field, waiting for your number to be called.

Even after the game, you remained a class act. Despite being (justifiably) angry, you just said that “it is what it is” and that you were thankful for the opportunity to be a Patriot. Nobody would have blamed you had you spoke your mind, and most would have applauded you. But still, you took the high road, and it just shows what type of a person and a player New England will be missing out on.

I was hoping you’d be a Patriot for life, but obviously that’s not to be. Instead, I just want to say thank you, Malcolm Butler. You’ve been a great part of the team and an absolute joy to cheer for. You’ll always be loved in New England, and I wish you nothing but the best with your next team.

This picture is good enough to use again

Image credit: LA Times

Cover image courtesy of SB Nation.