Tag: Patriots

Mark Sanchez Retires from the NFL. Never Forget the Butt Fumble.

By on • ( Leave a comment )

NY Post – Quarterback Mark Sanchez is putting away his helmet and heading to ABC/ESPN to be a college football analyst, The Post has learned.

Sources tell The Post the former Jets quarterback’s main job will be in ABC’s lead college football studio, where he will join Kevin Negandhi and Jon Vilma. Sanchez is replacing Mack Brown, who left to coach North Carolina.

The Catch. The Immaculate Reception. The Butt Fumble. There are certain plays in NFL history where you just say two or three words and everyone knows exactly what you’re talking about and where they were when it happened. Luckily for me I was a part of NFL lore because I actually attended The Butt Fumble game at the Meadowlands. I saw that glorious play on Thanksgiving night 2012 with a bunch of my buddies. Since it was Thanksgiving we had been eating and drinking for about 8 hours leading up to the game so saying I *saw* the play is technically accurate even if it didn’t fully register up in the 300s section.

I do however vividly remember the stadium announcers not even addressing what had just happened and just moving along like it was business as usual. Thank god for high def cameras though so this incredible performance could live on in the football archives forever.

Oh and Lenny Kravitz played the halftime show that game. What a night.

Anyways, shout out to Mark “the Sanchize” Sanchez for a head scratching yet decent career. He led the Jets to BACK TO BACK AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME APPEARANCES as we would hear for years and years despite not winning any of them. He was a solid if unspectacular quarterback, but if you remember it was a shock the Jets traded all the way up to No. 5 to draft him. Especially after his coach at USC and current Seahawks coach Pete Carroll was a pretty big asshole when asked about his assessment of Sanchez turning pro.

Looking back he was probably right as Sanchez was the the full time starter at USC for only one season before skipping his senior year to go pro and immediately being crowned the savior in New York and starting as a rookie.

He’ll forever be linked to Rex Ryan as the two spearheaded the most successful era of Jets football since the Bill Parcells days. That was a fun time to be a Patriots or a Jets fan because both teams were very good and the Jets loved to talk so it led to some heated rivalries. Theres still players from those late 2000s Jets teams that I despise like Bart Scott.

Can’t Wait til your radio show gets cancelled.

So Sanchez may have only thrown 20+ touchdowns once in a season and may have thrown three interceptions in a 45-3 blowout to the Patriots on Monday Night Football, but he seemed like a genuinely likable guy. Sure he had some weird photoshoots

but who hasn’t?

I don’t know if I’ve ever identified with a pro athlete more than the time Sanchez got busted sneaky crushing a hotdog on the bench.

I respect that move.

Well, Sanchez is off to ESPN where I think he will actually be a great football personality. A good looking dude with some charisma and legitimate NFL playing experience? Sanchez and fellow USC alum Matt Leinart will be the deadliest duo on the LA circuit since the days of Leo Dicaprio and Tobey Maguire.

Tom Brady Just Dunked on Peyton Manning Without Even Trying

By on • ( Leave a comment )

Tom Brady is a nice guy by all accounts, psychotically competitive, but a really nice guy. Its almost hard to believe because you just expect these all-time great athletes to just be dickheads whether its Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant. So without even meaning to do so Tom Brady just dunked on Peyton Manning here.

Despite the bitter rivalries that the Patriots have had over the years with the Colts and the Broncos, despite all the heartache each guy has delivered to the other’s team, despite all that they’re still friends! Tom Brady probably genuinely meant this as a kind gesture too. Except when I see that picture all I can think of is how Tom Brady just came off his 6th Super Bowl championship and is about to begin the hunt for No. 7 while Peyton Manning is making mildly amusing car insurance commercials for a living.

For a guy that was once crowned the greatest of all time in Peyton Manning this has got to sting. To watch your greatest rival not only pass you, but to stomp on your throat, rip that title right out of your hands, and then continue to tack on MVPs and Super Bowl victories well into his 40s.

Tom Brady: even when he’s trying to be nice he’s smoking people.

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

By on • ( Leave a comment )

Image result for sony michel

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.

Image result for sony michel

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.

Image result for damien harris patriots minicamp

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.)
Image result for austin seferian jenkins

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.
Image result for jamie collins patriots no. 8

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.
Image result for jerod mayo patriots minicamp

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!

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

By on • ( Leave a comment )

Image result for tom brady smile

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.

Image result for tom seaver

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.

Image result for tom terrific cartoon

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.

Ben Watson Suspended and a Few Other Patriots Notes After Week 1 of OTAs

By on • ( Leave a comment )

Image result for ben watson

Late on Sunday evening, in the midst of many’s Memorial Day Weekend celebrations, we received the news that Patriots tight end Ben Watson has been suspended for the first four weeks of the 2019 season for using a banned substance. Interestingly enough, it was actually Watson himself – not the NFL – who first broke the news in a very candid Facebook post:

Basically, the 38-year-old admitted to taking the banned substance in March (something called Bio Identical Testosterone Cypionate) at the advice of his doctors. After a long, exhausting 14-year NFL career – as a tight end no less – the man was simply trying to recover as quickly as possible and pursue other professional opportunities. He said that at the time he chose to take it, he had absolutely no intention of returning to the NFL.

Welp, that sentiment changed rather quickly, and now Watson will need to pay the price.

Image result for ben watson loss

Look, I’m not going to get on the guy at all for what he did. To be honest, as fans I think it’s a bit ignorant to try and comment on the physical toll an NFL career can take on one’s body, and often people are too quick to judge some of the steps these guys need to take in an effort to feel better. I could go into a diatribe about how products like HGH and other “drugs” which help both former AND current players heal up in the offseason are viewed in an entirely unfair and negative light. I truly believe he was just trying to recover and move on. Apparently, he even told the team about everything before signing on in early May, and it’s pretty obvious he’s trying to be as forthright as possible.

Ben Watson is still the epitome of what it means to be a professional in the NFL. He’ll return for the team’s trip down to Washington in Week 5, and his presence – particularly in the locker room – will be vital throughout the rest of the season, especially with such a young roster. For now, guys like Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Matt LaCosse (more on him in a second) will need to hold it down at tight end. Everything will be just fine; it’s just a tough break for Watson.

And now for a few others notes from this week’s OTAs:

Image result for nkeal harry

  • Rookie wide-out N’Keal Harry has been getting RAVE reviews from pretty much everybody who was in attendance at practice this week. Oftentimes, it takes wide receivers – even those who were drafted in the first round like Harry – quite a while to catch on and feel comfortable in an NFL offense. But apparently the kid came out gangbusters right away and has been making plays all over the field. Per ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss: “When I watched the 6-foot-2, 228-pound Harry in practice, his large catch radius and the way he snatched the ball were notable (even as a punt returner). Harry, whom Belichick referred to as ‘smart,’ lined up in multiple spots and seemed to be decisive in knowing where he was going.” And he’s hardly the only media member gushing over the rookie’s performance this week. Yes, it was just one week of offseason practice, and no Brady wasn’t there, but…
  • Apparently both Harry and Julian Edelman had a private workout session with Brady at some point recently, and there are photos. (It’s really tough to gather much from a total of five shots, but it’s obvious the kid is putting in work. And TFB clearly believes in him already.)

Image result for isaiah wynn patriots

  • Though there are a group of guys who will be fighting for position on the wide-receiver depth chart all offseason, the competition at left tackle is really the most important battle. Many expect Isaiah Wynn – who was drafted in the first round last year and missed his entire first season due to an Achilles injury – to slide right in and take over for Trent Brown as Brady’s blind-side protector. In fact, when asked in early May about Wynn’s chances to become such, O-line coach Dante Scarnecchia said the following: “That’s where we have him penciled in to play. He’s in the middle of trying to get his Achilles right, so he’ll be out there when he’s ready and we’ll take it there.” That’s about as typical of  Patriots response as you’ll ever see, and truthfully it doesn’t mean anything until Wynn is finally able to get back out onto the field and prove himself. But the team’s confidence in him hasn’t waned after a lost rookie campaign, and I’m excited to see what the kid will bring to the table.
  • In the meantime, the team made the interesting choice of using Joe Thuney – who has been the team’s starting left guard for the past three seasons – as the stand-in at left tackle for much of the week. Thuney is no stranger to the position, though, as he was named an All-American as a left tackle during his senior season at North Carolina State. Thank goodness for players like him, who are always ready to roll and play wherever the team needs them to at a moment’s notice. Ultimately, he’ll probably swing back inside once Wynn is healthy. However, it’s good to know we have a solid insurance plan if that doesn’t work out as planned.

Patriots TE Matt LaCosse

  • Paul Perillo of Patriots.com highlighted tight end Matt LaCosse as someone who stood out to him. Perillo mentioned that he looked good as a “move” tight end, demonstrating an ability to run and get open while also displaying good hands. There were a lot of people who were high on Lacosse during his time in Denver, and the Pats did jump on him pretty quickly after free agency began. We could have a little sleeper on our hands here, folks. He is someone I’ll be keeping a very close eye on going forward this offseason.

The Patriots’ next round of OTAs is scheduled for May 29 & 30 before mandatory minicamp starts up on June 4.

Patriots Sign Julian Edelman to Two Year Contract Extension

By on • ( Leave a comment )

ESPN – The New England Patriots have signed star receiver Julian Edelman to a two-year contract extension that includes an $8 million signing bonus and $12 million in guaranteed money, a source told ESPN on Tuesday.

The extension through the 2021 season includes $19 million in “new” money, and gives the 32-year-old Edelman, the MVP of Super Bowl LIII, a chance to finish his career where it started.

The Patriots just locked up their No. 1 wide receiver and local cult hero Julian Edelman with a two year extension, which will kick in next year and secure JE11 through 2021. This is a move the Pats kind of had to do after trying everything from drafting athletic freaks like N’Keal Harry in the 1st round for the first time in Belichick’s New England tenure to taking flyers on veterans coming off injuries like Demaryius Thomas. The Pats have been plugging the holes in their receiving core with bubblegum and duct tape so it only made sense to lock up their top receiver.

However, this contract looks to me more like a deal to reward Edelman financially more so than a longterm guarantee. Just look at how its structured: $12 million guaranteed for 2 years with an $8 million signing bonus. Granted I wouldn’t expect the Pats to cut Edelman with a year left on his deal if he’s healthy and productive, a cap hit of just $4M gives them the flexibility to do so while also rewarding their best receiver of the past decade with a nice raise.

Edelman has been on an absolute steal of a contract and was due to make just $2 Million in base salary this year with incentives that could bump that up another few hundred grand. So its well deserved. Normally handing out extensions to 32-year-old receivers with ACL surgeries on their resume isn’t the best business plan, but Edelman ain’t your average receiver. As you all remember, in the first season back from his ACL surgery Edelman caught 74 balls for 850 yards and 6 touchdowns (in 12 games) and oh ya know also won Super Bowl MVP. The only guy ahead of him in playoff receptions is Jerry Rice. Thats it.

Plus have you *seen* him recently?

Here’s to you bub, you earned it.

The Pats Might Be Going After Kyle Rudolph

By on • ( Leave a comment )

This is the two-sided coin of being a Pats fan in a nutshell. It is stressful watching Belichick avoid any big splashes in the early days of free agency. We bite our nails as contributor after contributor is snatched up on contracts ranging from “way too much” to “that makes sense why the fuck are we staying put?” The doubt, whether we want to admit it or not, begins to creep in about next year and concerns starts to swirl around the holes in our roster.

Then, slowly but surely, things, start to turn around. Like a time lapse of a flower blooming. The front office make a smaller move or two, like the Austin Sefarian-Jenkins pick up earlier this spring. Then the draft comes and the team makes a number of solid picks, including a few selections of unspectacular but ready-now players that can immediately contribute and fill a hole or two that glared at us back in March (K’Neal Harry, who actually is spectacular but is also ready-now, Chase Winovich).

Things slowly come into focus, for the 866th time in a row you realize that Belichick and Nicky Twoguns have had a plan all along. And then the next few, significant moves are made and you can’t even read a story about OTAs without standing and screaming “let’s gooooo”. And that is what being a Patriots fan is.

First we signed Dontrelle Inman, a Brandon LaFell-contribution level type of receiver that should immediately be in the mix for the rights to be one of TB12’s top options. We signed the controversial but talented DT Mike Pennel. Then we resigned Danny Shelton, who had an up and down season last year but if nothing else STILL has loads of potential and can give you a number of good snaps per game at DT. And now, as continue to try and plug a Gronk-sized hole at TE, it looks like we’re chasing the very “gettable” Kyle Rudolph. Who knows if we’ll close this deal and if so, there are questions surrounding what the 29 year old Rudolph can contribute at this point. Regardless, this is Belichick chess at its best. Find some pieces, put them on the board, see how they can move, and either keep them on and cultivate a strategy using them or cut them. Simple as that. Do it slowly, do it wisely, do it without losing you shirt. Who knows, you might get six Super Bowls out of out.

I for one believe Rudolph can still give you about 500/5 from the TE position. He is also a solid blocker and a good guy to have in the locker room. I can’t imagine adding him can hurt. It’s possible the only thing in this trade’s way is the Vikings foreseeing playing us, and Rudolph, in the Big Game some time soon. But lets assume Belichick lands him or a similar tight end in the next few weeks. It would be just the latest example of a master class in roster building. They should teach it at West Point. Army Assembling By The Greats.

Might get LIV tattooed tomorrow.

-Joey B.

 

Thursday Morning Good Ol’ Fashion Blog Soup

By on • ( Leave a comment )

There’s a lot going on in the world of #sports and #entertainment that we can discuss here for #content but that I can’t really draw out into a full blog. So let’s fuck around and touch a lot of bases, shall we?

-A few really interesting fights have been announced lately that I never blogged (woooops).

Nate Diaz returns to fight Anthony Pettis at UFC 241 in August. Hooo baby. That is going to be something. They’ll duel at 170lbs, where Pettis recently arrived and found success, knocking out Stephen Thompson. I’d prefer to see Diaz stick to 155 as his run wayyyy back in the day at 170 didn’t go so well and  he simply lacks the strength and power to deal with the bigger and stronger fighters of the welterweight division. On top of that, I still think both are contenders at 155 when they have their heads on straight. And when Nate, you know, fights. As for the match up, if Diaz can set an early pace moving forward, Pettis will likely wilt moving backward as he always has. Likewise if “Showtime” can find a rhythm with his kicks and movement early, it could be a long night for Nate. An x-factor could be if Diaz calls on what happened in his first fight with Conor McGregor and gets the fight to the ground. Pettis is no slouch in the submission department but he’s not a 209 black belt.

Secondly, it would appear Khabib and Dustin Poirier are going to unify the 155lb strap at UFC 242 in Dubai. The card would kick off at 2:00pm EST so it is a PRIME day drinking event. Khabib, in my opinion, is going to maul anyone he faces but at this point in his career you can never count Poirier out, so looking forward to this one.

-Let’s leave MMA town now. I posted something to Facespace about this last night but I’ll leave it here as well. “Game Of Thrones” is the best TV of our lifetime. A true spectacle and something that if I was a douchie Hollywood-type I’d refer to as an achievement. So just because this season hasn’t gone according to YOUR plan and just because there are plot holes that YOU don’t like because they need to wrap the show up, it doesn’t change the fact that there won’t be anything like this ever again and it is still fantastic. It also doesn’t make you cool to publicly scream that opinion off a rooftop.

(O and if you’re trying to turn Khaleesi’s rampage into some sort of anti-feminist slight, please seek some fucking help. Where were you when Cersei did the same fuckin thing?)

-Red and I, once accompanied by Papa G, have kicked off the 2019 golf season, thus far with mixed results. Papa G actually hit the longest tee ball these eyes have ever seen. Not in any sort of productive direction but man I’ll tell ya, it was a bomb. I actually could see all of us making a little leap in ability this year if we keep playing consistently. Either way nice to be out there considering it’s usually been 45 and rainy for the past three months.

–Mattes wrote a great blog on the Jamie Collins signing so go there for a full breakdown. My only divergence from what he wrote is that I’m seeing a few #footballguys note that data points to Van Noy being more productive in our defense than Collins was. Collins just had more flashy plays and pure, visual athleticism. Still, I still love the signing and whenever you can sign a Jamie Collins it is going to make your defense better. As a matter of fact I think the Pats’ LB corps is now sneaky-stacked with Collins, Van Noy, Hightower, forgotten stud Ja’Whaun Bentley, and Roberts.

-I posed this to Red yesterday and I don’t think he’s feeling it but it wouldn’t be the end of the world if the B’s didn’t sweep tonight because they’ve been the only reason I’ve been leaving my house on Saturdays. Having to regress to going out and then socialize would be miserable at this point. So as much as I’m rooting for a B’s victory, it wouldn’t crush me if they didn’t get it.

-The Celtics find themselves in the lottery despite getting to the second round this year. Shouts to Danny Ainge for being able to get us picks but not banners. Pretty cool bud. Anyway there will be a few guys floating around at 14 we could snag and I’m sure someone here will get into it in depth. Looking at the board KZ Okpala from Stanford has an ever improving shot at 6’8 and, if he falls into our lap, Rui Hachimura (Zags) would bring a great skill-set into our locker room and through the season before we bow out before the ECF again.

-I guess some survey came out and the Boston accent won sexiest in America. I’ve lived here 99.9% of my life (2 short stints in Jersey) and I can honestly tell you that if someone comes at me with a hard Boston accent I assume they can’t read. To be honest I think it’s because a lot of people my age fake it to sound hard and if you fake an accent to sound cool or hard you probably are indeed illiterate. Bad beat.

-Lastly, John Wick 3 comes out soon/came out (I don’t fuckin know bro) and LET’SSSS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. I’m a noted avoider of most pure action, boom boom bang pow movies but I love John Wick. It’s Keanu as Bourne pretty much. What’s not to like?

 

I’ll be introducing a new weekly/bi-weekly feature tomorrow that I’ve had brewing for awhile so we’ll see how that goes. We only have a couple more until the weekend, folks.

-Joey B

BREAKING: Patriots Bring Back Former Prodigal Son Jamie Collins

By on • ( 1 Comment )

Image result for jamie collins patriots

Remember when Jamie Collins was supposed to be the next Lawrence Taylor?

OK, maybe that’s a bit excessive, but the now 30-year-old linebacker is coming back to the place where his once supposed-to-be-storybook career all started six years ago. Earlier on Wednesday, there were rumors the two sides were simply “talking,” but we just recently got the official word from The Boston Globe‘s Jim McBride this afternoon that it’s a done deal:

Terms of the deal have still yet to be disclosed.

This one has to be pretty sweet for Belichick. Back in 2013, the Pats used the first of their two second-round picks to select the linebacker with freakish athleticism and a record-setting Combine performance to his name. From the get-go, it was obvious that the Hooded One saw something special in Collins, and he was rewarded with 333 tackles, 12.5 sacks, and a Super Bowl victory (2014 – a game in which Collins had eight takedowns) over Collins’s first three seasons in the league, including the playoffs. The dude was also a turnover machine, with five picks and nine forced fumbles across that time as well. At times, it really looked like there was nothing he couldn’t do.

Image result for jamie collins super bowl seahawks

But then it all changed in 2016. After being named as a starter for the third-straight season and coming off a Pro Bowl year, things started to go a bit sour. A lot of people believe it was because Collins, who was in the last year of his deal at the time, was asking for boo koo bucks that the team simply wasn’t going to provide. (Apparently the dude wanted Von Miller-level money, which he just simply didn’t deserve.) Others say it was because he was becoming a bit too flashy, always going for the big play and doing his own thing instead of focusing on his assignments and playing his role. There were rumblings that he was also causing problems in the locker room.

Either way, Belichick saw the writing on the wall and banished Collins to Cleveland in October that season in exchange for a third-round pick. Some fans understood what was happening, while others were outraged (seriously, a lot people were PISSED) that we gave away the next “NFL legend.”

At first it looked like the Pats got hosed after Collins posted 69 tackles and two sacks across his first eight games in the Land. The ensuing offseason, Collins finally got his money, too, after signing a four-year, $50 million extension with the Browns. However, the following season, he played inconsistently across six games before ultimately tearing his ACL in November 2017.

Image result for jamie collins browns contract

Then he bounced back with a solid 104-tackle, four-sack performance in 16 games with Cleveland last year. Yet, for whatever reason, the Browns decided to cut him this past March. And here we are.

So while we may never really know exactly why he was shipped out in the first place, and though he may not be the superstar he was expected to become, this is a great signing for the Pats. As someone – maybe the ONLY one – who has opined about the team’s piss-poor linebacking play last season, I am stoked. (Also, I straight up called that this reunion would happen earlier this offseason. Just sayin’.):

Here’s to hoping a humbled and much more mature Collins redeems himself in Foxborough this season. His speed and explosiveness is something that was sorely missing on that side of the ball in 2018. (And hey! Maybe we can actually cover a running back now, too!)

Welcome back, J.C. I’m ready for a nice redemption story.

Breaking down the Patriots wide receiver depth before the start of OTAs

By on • ( 2 Comments )

Image result for julian edelman josh gordon

Heading into the offseason, most people agreed that wide receiver was a desperate area of need for the Pats. Actually, it was probably THE biggest are of need before the retirement of Rob Gronkowski.

Up until the weekend of the draft, however, it looked like the team was barely willing to do anything to improve its laughable depth at the position, and it really looked like Brady would be throwing to Julian Edelman and a bunch of trash cans in 2019. While the team supposedly went hard after Adam Humphries in free agency – before he ultimately signed with the Titans – I’ll admit that I was pretty heated that through March and most of April nobody of value had been brought in.

Well, I mean there was the signing of Bruce Ellington, a 27-year-old journeyman with a measly 79 career catches in 44 games who is missing a third of his left hamstring! (No, but really, he is.) And I place emphasis on the word “was,” because the guy was just cut on Thursday before even getting to sniff the field in a Pats uniform. So there goes that.

Image result for bruce ellington

Yeah, I know, man. That’s a tough break.

The team also signed former Washington wide out, Maurice Harris, who actually might have some sneaky potential and is only 26. And they took a flyer on a likely completely cooked Demaryius Thomas.

But besides that, the team did nothing until draft weekend, when they used their first-round pick on former Arizona State stud receiver N’Keal Harry. (A move that The 300s faithful already know I wholeheartedly endorse.) And then on May 10, they made a sneaky good signing by inking Dontrelle Inman. More on him in a second.

There’s also the whole Josh Gordon saga that continues to drag on. Will he play this season? Will he fall back into his old ways? Find out on the next episode of As the Flash Turns…

Image result for josh gordon sad

With so many new faces and questions remaining, it’s tough to keep track of exactly who will be serving as Brady’s top targets next season. And while there’s still an entire offseason and plenty of time for things to change and be fleshed out, here’s a quick look at the team’s current stock at the position along with a prediction of what the pecking order will look like heading into September.

Julian Edelman

Image result for julian edelman catch

Old Faithful will be returning for his 10th season in a Pats uniform this year, and you can lock him in for another 150-plus targets, 90-plus catches, and at least five or so touchdowns as Brady’s No. 1 guy. Everyone knows that Jules is the engine that truly keeps the team’s offense moving, and his MVP performance in last year’s Super Bowl was one for the ages. Were it not for him (and Gronk) the team would have barely been able to move the ball in that game at all, and there is nobody who Brady has ever trusted more in his career, besides maybe Wes Welker.

Say what you want about him being 32 years old and “injury prone.” But were it not for last year’s suspension he likely would have played in 16 games for the second straight season. Also, besides 2015, Edelman had also played in at least 14 games in each of the two previous seasons before that. The point is, the whole durability issue with him is completely overplayed, and he’s shown literally zero signs of slowing down any time soon. Jules is the unquestioned leader of this group and all-time Patriots legend. Thank GAHD we still have him.

N’Keal Harry

Image result for n'keal harry patriots

It is super impressive to see a rookie already being viewed as Brady’s No. 2 option at wide receiver, but that’s pretty much how it looks right now. Of course, it’s hard to predict how any newcomer will adapt to the pro level, but considering Harry was one of the most consistent and productive college wide receivers in recent memory, it’s not out of the realm of possibility.

On the night he was drafted, I already wrote a quick breakdown of the type of player Harry is and what he could provide for the receiving corps. The way he uses his body to win against opposing defenders and his strong after-the-catch ability can help to provide some of the physicality missing in the absence of Gronk. (Again, “some.” Nobody is EVER replacing Gronk. I want to make sure I say that loudly enough so people in the back can hear it.)

I’ll stop there, because I don’t want project too much about a guy who hasn’t played even one NFL down yet. But I’m definitely excited about this kid.

Dontrelle Inman

Image result for dontrelle inman

Now, some people might assume that Phillip Dorsett is automatically slated to be a top-three receiver on this team due to his familiarity with the system and the flashes he showed at times last year. But, to be honest, I think Inman will rocket up the depth chart in camp and could actually even be the No. 2 receiver by season’s end; I think this dude is being slept on big time, and I’m surprised the Pats were able to get him this late into the offseason. (I know Joey B agrees with me, too. He actually made a very astute comparison to the signing of Brandon LaFell a few years ago, and I could totally see Inman having that same type of impact.)

Inman is another big-bodied guy (6’3″, 205 pounds) who has bounced around a few teams the past couple of seasons (Chargers, Bears, Colts), and I’m not really sure why. In 2016, he put up 810 yards on 58 catches while playing with Philip Rivers. The Chargers even placed a second-round tender on him the following offseason when he was set to become a restricted free agent. And in just four starts with the Colts last year (nine games played overall), he hauled in three touchdowns with 28 catches on only 39 targets.

Again, I have no idea why he’s shuffled around the NFL as much as he has in recent years, but this is actually a really good signing. Inman could honestly surprise a lot of people this year playing with the G.O.A.T.

Phillip Dorsett

Image result for phillip dorsett

After a disappointing first go-round with the team in 2017 after coming over in a trade from Indy, Dorsett actually took a huge leap in 2018. Not only did he almost triple his amount of receptions from the previous season (from 12 to 32), but when Brady went to him last season, it was pretty much successful every time. For such a small, “speed” guy, it’s really impressive to see that he had a 76 percent catch rate; in fact, from Week 5 onward Brady and Dorsett had a 100 percent throw-and-catch rate, meaning that Dorsett caught every single ball Brady threw his way over the final three-quarters of the season.

OK, sure, that may have only been on just 16 total targets, and there were seven games last year where Dorsett was not even targeted once. But there’s no doubt that he’s earned the trust of Brady and McDaniels, and he’s a more than solid No. 3/4 option in the passing game with game-breaking jets. And let’s not forget that this guy was once a first-round draft pick, too. I’m really glad he ended up re-signing with the team this offseason.

And now here’s where it gets a little tougher to sort out. For starters, rarely do the Pats rely much upon more than three or four wide outs every season; especially with the involvement of the tight ends and James White (the team’s leading pass-catcher in 2018), the team doesn’t really need much behind the four receivers I’ve already hit on above. But there are still two former Pro Bowlers and some other young talent on the current roster who could rise to the opportunity and secure a role at some point this year. Here’s a quick look at a few of those guys.

Josh Gordon: Where to begin? By now, I think everybody is pretty well-versed on the 28-year-old’s trials and tribulations throughout his career, but there’s no doubt he showed the ability to still be one of the game’s elite wide-outs in the 11 games he played for the Pats last year. Many might be surprised to see he put up 40 catches and over 700 yards for the team last year before once again succumbing to previous transgressions which forced him to miss the final two months of the year. But like I said in March, he might not be done just yet and did officially re-sign with the team this offseason. And if he does finally get himself back on track? Holy hell. Watch out, NFL.

Demaryius Thomas: Another one of the game’s former elites, the Pats took a flyer on Thomas this offseason in hopes he can regain some of his previous form which saw him average 96 catches, 1,303 yards, and 8.5 touchdowns per season from 2012-2017 out in Denver. (Yeah, this dude used to be STUPID good.) Age and injuries have derailed him in recent years, but much like Gordon he could end up being just another entirely unfair piece for the Pats offense if all goes well. Or he could be cut by the end of training camp… To be honest, at this point I’m not expecting too much from him at all. Fingers crossed, though, because Thomas was once an absolute monster.

Image result for demaryius thomas

Come on, D.T.! I know you still got it in ya.

Maurice Harris: The fourth-year player out of Cal spent his first three seasons down in Washington. After having just 12 career grabs over his first two seasons, he stepped it up with 28 last year. So far, he certainly hasn’t done anything to write home about overall, but he did hang 10 catches and 124 yards on the Falcons in Week 6 last season before being forced to play with the likes of Mark Sanchez and Josh Johnson. Maybe TFB can get the best out of this kid. We’ll see.

Braxton Berrios: Here’s a guy who the casual Pats fan probably hasn’t heard of yet, but his tires have been quietly being pumped by coaches and other industry talking heads for the past year. Drafted in the sixth round in 2018, Berrios didn’t set the world on fire during his time in college with Miami, but he did earn Third-Team All-ACC honors in his senior year. A former team captain, valedictorian, and allegedly competitive as hell, he seems like a perfect guy for this locker room. Apparently, he profiles as a Julian Edelman type who excels on underneath routes and quick screens. We haven’t been able to see much from him yet, especially since he was placed on I.R. last September and missed the entire season, but he is definitely a name to keep an eye on this summer.

Image result for braxton berrios patriots

Jules Part 2???

The Pats also have Damoun Patterson, Jakobi Meyers, Ryan Davis, and Xavier Ubosi as the other camp bodies at receiver, but I think I probably have just as good of a chance of cracking the roster this year as any of these four.

So, again, while there’s still a lot to be figured out before the games that really matter, at least Belichick & Co. have brought in some semblance of talent at wide receiver that was missing entirely just two months ago. This is going to be one of the best position battles to watch throughout the entire league this summer, and a part of me thinks it could actually be even better than what Brady had to work with last year.

The Pats are scheduled to kick off OTAs on May 20. So be sure to keep checking in with The 300s for all your Pats coverage!