Where is Sony Michel? (And Other Key Takeaways from Patriots Minicamp)

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The Pats wrapped up the first mandatory portion of the offseason program on Thursday. And while there are a lot of takeaways from this week’s three days of work, the most important thing is that BRADY IS BACK, baby! Per usual, the G.O.A.T. did not attend the first few OTA sessions in May, but he was out on the field at minicamp this week, and by all accounts from various sources across the web, he looked great.

But that really shouldn’t come as a surprise to anybody, and the real news out of Foxborough this week seems to be the mysterious absence of Sony Michel, who has not been spotted on the field at all since May 20. And, in typical Patriots fashion, we have not heard diddly squat about why that is – even though we probably already have a pretty good idea.

Anyone who’s followed Sony throughout his career so far knows that the young fella has some serious knee issues. While there should be absolutely no question about his talent – which he surely demonstrated with over 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns last season (playoffs included) – I was a bit skeptical when the team decided to invest so much of their future by risking a first-round pick on him in 2018. Michel’s knee troubles have been occurring since he was in high school, and the issue is considered degenerative. That means it’s probably not going to get any better – and will likely only get much, much worse over time – and this is the second-straight offseason where he’s missed significant practice time with his teammates.

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Michel really was a stud at times last season.

Again, it didn’t prevent him from having a great rookie season, but this still isn’t a great sign. After all, they say “the best ability is reliability,” and the 24-year-old has struggled to prove himself in that regard.

That’s probably a big reason why the team decided to take former Alabama running back Damien Harris in the third round this year, at No. 87 overall. Many were surprised to see the team spend such a high draft pick on a running back just one year after taking Michel, but as I already said in my post-draft piece, they knew they still needed a bit of an insurance plan.

And apparently, Harris received a TON of burn at minicamp this week, getting a lot of reps with the ones. Per Paul Perillo of Patriots.com, Harris “looked pretty sharp,” and he even demonstrated some solid pass-catching skills, which is a department in which Michel is severely lacking.

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Harris was putting in work this week.

As always, it should be noted that it’s still very early in the offseason, and things weren’t looking so great at the beginning of last summer for Michel either before he ended up having a more than solid rookie campaign. Perhaps he’s just getting extra rest to stay fresh for the season. Perhaps it’s a nagging, irreparable issue continuing to rear its ugly head. Either way, at least we know there’s another young kid ready to step in whenever called upon, and at the very least the Pats seem to have a nice 1-2 punch at running back for years to come.

And now for a few other notes from minicamp:

  • Though he only participated in individual drills, Isaiah Wynn was at least in uniform and back out on the field this week. People have been anxious to see the “other” first-rounder from last season in action once again, especially since he is expected to be the team’s starting left tackle in 2019. Hopefully this means he’ll be ready to go full-force once training camp starts up at the end of next month.
  • Just under two months since he signed with the team, tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins was cut by the Pats on Wednesday due to what are being deemed “personal issues.” While anyone who read my piece regarding the initial signing back in April knows I’m not going to lose any sleep over this one, I do hope the guy is able to overcome whatever is going on and get back on track. It just likely won’t be here in Foxborough, and that leaves Matt LaCosse locked in as the team’s starting tight end to start the year. Ben Watson will return in Week 5, but until then the tight end position will remain a huge question mark. (Even though, as I mentioned last week, I do think LaCosse could be a sneaky sleeper guy. We shall see.)
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Goodbye, Austin. We hardly knew ye.

  • Apparently, Jamie Collins stood out in a big way this week. Not only was he playing with a fierce motor and disrupting multiple pass plays, but he also received a lot more reps with the starters than many expected. Other guys like ESPN’s Mike Reiss and NESN’s Zack Cox made sure to highlight Collins’s play this week as well. Some believed that Collins was no guarantee to make the roster after signing a few weeks back, but if minicamp is any indication, you can feel confident this guy will be on the final 53 and make a big defensive impact this season.
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Don’t call it a comeback!

  • According to multiple sources, Stephon Gilmore looked dominant, shutting down wide receivers all week and proving that last year’s All-Pro performance was no fluke. N’Keal Harry – who I have GUSHED about ever since draft night – also continues to get fantastic reviews, from literally everyone, and he’s even been getting special workout sessions with Brady and Josh McDaniels. The team clearly loves this kid, and he could be one of the biggest impact rookies the team has ever had. I’m expecting huge things from Harry right away.
  • It seems like Jerod Mayo, who just joined the team’s staff back in March as a linebacker’s coach, is quickly ascending up the ranks. Along with Belichick, Mayo was one of the individuals given defensive play-calling privileges at camp this week, which is a responsibility not doled out to just any Joe Schmoe. Though it’s probably too early to peg him as the team’s next defensive coordinator, it is cool to see the former Pats defensive keystone leading the troops on the field once again. And hey, it honestly could mean he’s next in line for the team’s D-coordinator position, even though we already know Belichick will handle most of those duties this season. Troy Brown and Deion Branch were also present and working with players this week, too. I guess it was a big ol’ family reunion in Foxborough this week.
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Jerod’s always been a dude who knows how to lead the way.

The team has another workout scheduled for the middle of this month, but we likely won’t see much more meaningful action once again until late July, when training camp (and then the preseason!!!) starts up. Till then, stick with The 300s for all your Patriots news and notes as we inch closer to the 2019 season!

The Bruins Got Hosed Last Night and Are Now On the Brink of Elimination

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I hate to blame the refs for a loss, but here we are.

Even if you’re not a big time hockey fan you can watch that play and immediately realize something illegal probably just happened. To make matters worse, Acciari was hurt on the play and was slow to get up as play continued and the Blues were able to score the pivotal, game deciding goal.

Even the Bruins official Twitter account couldn’t believe the non-call.

I’ve had Blues fans chirping me on Twitter all night long saying plenty of calls were missed the other way, Bruins fans need to stop complaining, all the way up to the insanity of saying Acciari embellished getting slewfooted and smacking his head on the ice. These people are outside of their minds like any serious sports fan is so I don’t fault them, but I for sure will dust them on Twitter all the same.

St. Louis:

Me:

Well now the disinformation campaign begins as the NHL released a statement last night saying: “We don’t make comments on judgment calls within games.” Then the league actually  tweeted out a video of the neato goal, yet clipped the start of the sequence (the trip) which is kind of an important part of the play.

To make matters worse, the officiating seems to have a clear line of demarcation from when it started shifting in the Blues’ favor; Craig Berube’s bitching to the media. Well even Bruce Cassidy has had enough as he went scorched earth policy on the refs and the league  last night.

Berube was predictably a lot more calm and deferential considering the refs have embarrassingly played into his comments.

Alright well now that I got that off my chest I can move on, but it had to be said; the Bruins got screwed. Now we move onto a do or die Game 6 that I did not see coming after the way the B’s handled St. Louis in Games 1 and 3. The Blues have played hard (bordering on dirty at times), they’ve dominated 5-on-5, and have seemed like the team willing to fight and die for that inch, which is what you need to win the Stanley Cup.

Granted the Bruins have guys like Zdeno Chara playing with broken fucking jaws so they’re not exactly slacking either, but we need more. We need more from the top 2 lines. Brad Marchand scored 100 points this season and he’s been a ghost in this series. Marchand has just 3 points and 1 goal, which came on an empty netter in Game 1. What makes that even more infuriating is how good he had been before the Finals; he is the leading scored in these playoffs with 21 points. Some people have speculated he injured his hand during that goddamn scrimmage the B’s had during their 11 day layoff. God help me if thats true. The guy we absolutely hands down need more from though is David Pastrnak, who has been a complete no show in the Finals. He has 2 points in this series and 0 goals. That is unacceptable for a guy who had 38 goals in the regular season.

So luckily for the Bruins they’ve been losing these games without the “best line in hockey” doing a damn thing. If those guys can wake up and pop a couple goals then the B’s are right back in this thing, but with Game 6 on Sunday night we’re running out of time for that to happen.

The 300s Special Content Announcement Coming Tomorrow…

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I’m always trying to find ways to expand The 300s brand to reach new audiences and whether it works or not at least create some funny content along the way. The live podcast was a great example of that where we partnered with another business to put together some incredible content, meet some new people, and drink a few beers along the way. Well on Friday we’ll be announcing what we’re getting into next weekend. I don’t know what the hell to expect, but Joey B and I will be out there giving it a go. Stay tuned.

Now Even Former Mets Players and Fans Are Mad at Tom Brady

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It has now become so commonplace for people outside of New England to hate on Tom Brady, that it’s almost not even worth mentioning anymore. With six championships, countless NFL records, and a face that could start wars, being constantly reviled by those who are far inferior is to be expected.

Typically, this type of stuff usually just rolls right off the legend’s back as he continues to defy logic, odds, and science by still dominating the world’s most physical sport well into his fourth decade.

But now apparently, we have former baseball players and their fans hating on Tom Brady, and it is just getting absolutely ridiculous.

Here’s the scoop: Recently, Brady’s company TEB Capital filed for a trademark on the nickname “Tom Terrific,” which is a name that countless cornball announcers have used when referring to Brady in conversation. (Personally, I’m a fan of “TFB” or “the G.O.A.T.” But I digress.) Apparently, this was also the nickname given to former Mets (and Reds and White Sox and Red Sox) pitcher, Tom Seaver, who is a sports legend in his own right. And though Seaver himself has yet to comment – probably because there are WAY more important things for him to worry about – former teammates and fans (and Boomer freakin’ Esiason, for some reason) have come out and lambasted Brady for trying to put a stranglehold on the title. Some fans/former players even organized a small gathering in protest! (NO, BUT REALLY THOUGH.) Brady then had to come out on Thursday and actually apologize for doing absolutely NOTHING wrong.

Couple things. One: shutup, Boomer Esiason. Seriously, that man has always been obnoxious. Just insufferable. Two: this caused people to gather and protest??!! Really??!! And three: while Seaver is undoubtedly one of the best pitchers to ever live, he is nowhere the legend that Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr is. Let’s look at the facts.

Tom Seaver has a very impressive 311 career wins, good for 18th all-time in the history of baseball. Brady? Yeah, he has more wins than anyone who’s ever stepped on an NFL field, playoffs included.

Seaver won a World Series title in 1969 with the Mets. Brady’s won six championships and counting.

Seaver won three Cy Young Awards, but Brady won three MVP awards.

Winner: Brady.

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Seaver was one helluva player, but he’s no Brady.

Also, “Tom Terrific” was apparently a cartoon in the late 1950s, so Seaver may not even have the rightful claim to what seems to be such a precious title.

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Regardless of who the masses try and say should be the true title-holder, the fact is that Brady moved to make a claim on the name before anyone else. Period. Once again, he proved that he is always 10 steps ahead of the next guy and does whatever is needed to get things done.

So while Brady did indeed come out and apologize, I’m actually going to take it back for him entirely. The reaction to what he did is absolutely absurd – as is the fact that I’m actually sitting here writing an article on it!

Haters always gonna hate, Tom. Shine on, you crazy, terrific diamond.

Remembering D-Day 75 Years Later

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We’re not much of a history blog. We don’t generally butter our bread in regaling our readers with glorious battlefield triumphs nor somber odes and recollections of the sacrifices made on them. To me though, June 6th deserves a mention. The guy in the twitter video above with balls that could fill Lake Michigan deserves a mention.

75 years ago today, the Allies, in this context mostly meaning the US, UK, and Canada, but also consisting of troops from New Zealand, Denmark, and a slew of other European nations, brought the fight to the Germans. They decided enough was enough and brought the fight to the actual, destructive, permeating evil we were at war with. On June 6, 1944 a slew of Allied troops both parachuted into Normandy, France and landed via boat on its beaches, coming under heavy fire from both machine guns and artillery. They said one last hail mary, so to speak, and charged up the four main “beach heads” (basically points of attack) called “Gold”, “Sword”, “Omaha”, and “Juno” directly at enemy fortresses, taking at least 10,000 casualties.

And they won. They took the beach. They had arrived on enemy territory and got a foothold on the European subcontinent that had been long lost to the German superpower. It was one of the most daring, dramatic, and dynamic attacks in the history of modern warfare.

We know the rest of the story. We won. Then we won in Japan. The US became known as as the world #1 in most regards and Germany was for the second time and once and for all (as of now) sent packing. But today, 75 years later, take a second to remember everyone who landed on that beach, probably not just thinking but knowing they were going to die. Especially think of the 10,000 that were right, including countless that were never found and whose families have never really received any closure except for the notion that their loved one indeed died a hero.

It’s been 75 years and I still can’t fathom having not just the courage but the constitution to take part in such an act of combat, even when knowing you were basically trying to play a part in a major step in setting the world free. Those boys back then could though. And that should be remembered and discussed forever.

Zdeno Chara is On the Ice Right Now. I Repeat Zdeno Chara is Skating at Bruins Practice

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What an absolute savage. I pull a hammy while running or I tweak my knee at mens league softball and I bitch about it for a week. Zdeno Chara breaks his freaking jaw and he’s back at work 3 days later. Its still not entirely clear if he’s a go for Game 5, but if Big Z plays tonight we are all unable to complain about a minor injury ever again.

Kyle Lowry Thought About Starting Malice at the Palace II Last Night (He Did Not)

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Last night the Raptors went up 2-1 on the Golden State Warriors in a wildly entertaining NBA Finals game, but late in the game Kyle Lowry dove into the front row for a rebound and some fan took it upon himself to try and give Lowry the business.

Lowry actually said on SportsCenter this morning: “He reached over & put his hands on me for no reason then he said a couple vulgar words to me & repeated them.”

Now I know Jeff Van Gundy is kind of the cooky grandpa at this point, but he had absolutely zero sympathy for Lowry.

To which I would agree with in a normal circumstance. Some 6’1″ dude diving into your lap would be problematic if you were just riding the T. But, this ain’t a normal circumstance. No you’re sitting courtside at the NBA Finals. You paid an EXORBITANT amount of money just to sit courtside for fucks sake. So for this guy to act shocked and disgusted when he wasn’t even the one who actually took the hit is preposterous. Lets look at the tape.

Its actually the lady in the yellow that takes the entire collision on the chin. Look at that. Look at where she starts and where she ends up.

Kyle Lowry comes flying in and we see the woman’s head go back..and to the left.

Back and to the left.

That lady got absolutely SMOKED and its this dickhead next to them in the blue polo who’s become rattled by the entire series of events. He’s basically Ari Gold without the witty one liners.

This old rich white guy is lucky Lowry didn’t just snuff him right then and there. I mean have people already forgotten about the Malice at the Palace??

That was a monumental event and will forever be the precise moment in time that historians point to as to why you never fuck with a professional athlete. Its one thing to call a guy a bum from the sidelines, its an entirely different thing to put your hands on him. Once you do that you’re on your own man. If you don’t remember Ron Artest, thats a you problem.

Xbox is Releasing a Line of Shampoo and Body Spray. Where Was This When I Was 13?

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Gamespot – What does Xbox smell like? You may soon be able to find out. Just ahead of E3 2019, Microsoft has partnered with Lynx to create a new fragrance called Lynx Xbox. The range includes body spray, deodorant, and shower gel, so really all of your bases are covered.

The official description is simply delightful:

“Lynx Xbox is a fresh scent of pulsing green citrus, featuring top notes of kaffir lime and winter lemon, aromatic herbal middle notes of mint and sage, and woody bottom notes of patchouli and clearwood. Containing a range of natural essential oils, the Xbox Lynx range comes with a sleek new look and features a body spray, deodorant, and shower gel.”

Xbox ANZ boss Tania Chee said in a statement that users can spray or wash themselves with Xbox Lynx to “power up” before heading out the door in the morning.

Where was this when I was a teenager playing Halo with that ungodly chunky black controller in my buddy’s dimly lit basement for 6 hours at a time? Seems like that would have been a pretty good time for Xbox deoderant. Just sell the game in a value pack along with Xbox body spray, 3D Doritos, and Monster energy drinks. I know its all the rage to shit on “Kyle” these days as the imaginary bro character who loves guzzling Monsters and punching holes in walls.

You know…come to think of it, nobody punched more holes in drywall than Papa Giorgio himself. I’m talking hanging the hammer in the wall senior year and hanging a poster to cover all the holes. Hell we even made a bet on FIFA one time in college that the loser had to kick a hole in the wall with my steel toe boots. I need to go dig up my old Nokia phone to see if that video still exists.

In all seriousness though, all this Xbox and Halo talk has me feeling all sorts of nostalgic.

It Would Seem Kevin Garnett Was the Most Generous Athlete of All Time, According to Perk

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NBC Sports – It seems like there is no shortage of Kevin Garnett stories, especially from his time with the Celtics. I mean, it’s been six years since the Celtics traded him and Paul Pierce to the Nets and every once and a while we hear a new story about how great a teammate or how crazy a competitor he was.

In a preview for Kristine Leahy’s show “Fair Game” on FS1, Perkins told a few tales about the future Hall of Famer’s legendary unselfishness, calling him the most unselfish guy he’s ever been around.

I could listen to stories about the 2007-2012 Celtics all day because that is one of my favorite Boston sports eras of all time. As usual, this is a story coming from Kendrick Perkins who has become my new favorite NBA Insider. Perk in particular brought us the stories of Garnett guarding the buffet line like a Faneuil Hall bouncer and who could forget the “real hood shit” arm wrestling story:

So Perk brings us another story about KG, but this one might just bring a tear to your eye. Despite being a clear psychopath, you could always tell KG had a heart of gold. He was just an absolute psychotic competitor who wanted to win at all costs…

…but after the game was a genuinely good dude. Seems like he was a generous guy too:

Perkins, who played with Garnett in Boston for three-and-a-half seasons, recalled how he did not save his unselfishness just for his play on the court, but for interns, assistants, ball-boys and video coordinators too.

“He would have his tailor come in and he’d buy each one of them five custom suits,” Perkins said.

Of course, Garnett wasn’t perfect. In the interview, Perkins mentioned how players had to wait for him on the team plane because he was getting a long massage, and there are the popular stories of Garnett yelling at anyone who took food from the postgame buffet before the players did. But he seemed to always make up for it and then some.

“The biggest thing was when he bought everybody in the organization Rolex watches. That was over the top,” Perkins said. “I tell him all the time, sometimes it’s okay to be a selfish a little bit because he always put himself last.”

That is absolutely bananas. Granted, Garnett made like $326 Million over the course of his career, but suits and rolexes ain’t cheap man. Say its a moderately priced suit for $300, well 5 of those bad boys is $1,500 and a Rolex starts at like $7,000 so thats nearly $10K he’s dropping PER PERSON. Who knows how many staffers he hooked up with that deluxe baller package.

Kevin Garnett, what a guy.

Texas Football FLEXING About Its 2.8 GPA is Laugh Out Loud Funny

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Nailed it!

2.8 is the highest GPA in Texas football HISTORY. Notre Dame this is not. They also left out the fact that this GPA came in the spring semester when, ya know, theres no real football being played. I mean lets be honest here, this is the football factory they call Texas. The academic institution that has produced the intellectual likes of: Vince Young, Ricky Williams, Jamaal Charles and so many more. So I guess a 2.8 is pretty good relatively speaking. Hell it must be for them to run down to the creative intern and tell them to FIRE UP A PHOTOSHOP WE GOT NEWS TO TWEET!

Man, I wish anyone pumped me up for my *less than 3* GPA going into college half as much as UT does its athletes. Confidence breeds success guys, everyone knows that. I may have just talked myself into this ridiculous move.