By Andrew Gundon NEFJ Correspondent AMHERST – On Tuesday, several Minutemen flashed during UMass’ morning spring practice as new head coach Joe Harasymiak continues to implement his new regime. The program is in the midst of week three for spring practices as the team prepares for the spring game on April 19. A lot of excitement circles UMass as it heads into its first season back in the Mid-American Conference….
Robert Kraft speaks at NFL Owners Meetings in Florida
After Mike Vrabel sat and took questions for 34 minutes on Monday morning, Robert Kraft stood outside in sunny Florida on Tuesday morning and met with some of the local and national media for a few minutes. The biggest news to come out of the session was the announcement that Bill Parcells was (finally) being inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame as a contributor. But, that wasn’t the only…
Bill Parcells to be inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame as a contributor
Getty Images In a move that was long overdue, the Patriots are inducting legendary coach and NFL Hall of Famer Bill Parcells into the team’s Hall of Fame as a contributor. Owner Robert Kraft made the announcement this morning at the NFL Owners Meetings in Palm Beach, Florida. The Patriots Hall of Fame committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday. Kraft said he personally called Parcells to tell him that he…
Mike Vrabel talks free agency, draft & more at NFL Meetings in Florida
For 34 minutes early on Monday morning, Mike Vrabel was open and honest – and his usual joke-cracking self – while sitting at a table and talking with a handful of local media outlets down at the NFL Meetings in Florida. Usually, this particular availability had been a mumble fest from Bill Belichick (but we also got the orange juice meme from it) and Jerod Mayo got his rough year…
5 observations from our spring visit with Stonehill
Courtesy of Stonehill Athletics EASTON- It was a cold, windy morning on the campus of Stonehill College but the tone and tempo of the Skyhawks practice warmed my heart as Eli Gardner’s squad was working hard in their second day in pads. Coming off of a disappointing one win season, Stonehill is looking to bounce back and turn things around. With almost the entire roster back, the Skyhawks are well…
5 observations from our spring visit with Harvard
CAMBRIDGE – The 2023 and 2024 Ivy League banners now hang alongside the others in historic Harvard Stadium. But, the Crimson still aren’t satisfied. After sharing the league title each of the last two seasons, there’s an eye towards winning it outright in 2025. It showed during an intense two-hour scrimmage on a frigid, raw Saturday morning. Here’s a handful of things that stood out when it comes to the…
Patriots release linebacker J’Whaun Bentley
AP PHOTO/Carolyn Caster The Patriots released another veteran with a link to the dynasty years on Friday when they cut veteran linebacker J’Whaun Bentley. Bentley, 28, was originally a fifth-round draft pick (143rd overall) by the Patriots out of Purdue in the 2018 NFL Draft. Bentley played in 83 regular season games with 68 starts and registered 499 total tackles, 10½ sacks, 2 interceptions, 11 passes defensed, 4 forced fumbles…
Steamwheelers 37, Pirates 33: Pirates come up short, drop to 0-2
Courtesy of the IFL The Pirates lost a back and forth affair to the Quad City Steamwheelers last night, 37-33 at the Tsongas Center. Pirates quarterback Kenji Bahar scored three touchdowns and threw his first touchdown pass of the season, but the Pirates could not hold off the Steamwheelers who rallied from behind to pick up the win. Bahar was the team’s leading rusher with 43 yards on 12 attempts…
Diggs signing is a positive step in the right direction. Let’s see if the Patriots can make it work
The Patriots surprised the NFL on Tuesday by signing perennial pro bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs to a three year, $69 million dollar contract. $26 million of it is guaranteed. The total break down of Diggs contract is as follows. Remember, it is important to look at the real money. • $16.6M fully guaranteed. • $22.6M injury guarantee. • $18.5M base pay in ’25. • $3.4M in per-game roster bonuses…
Diggs bringing aura that Patriots haven’t had since Brady departure
FOXBOROUGH – For the first time since 2019, the Patriots have a player who commands attention as soon as he walks into a room. Stefon Diggs walked down the hallway and into the media workroom at Gillette Stadium around 2:20 on Friday after officially signing his new three-year deal. Diggs’ aura as a proven, high-level player in the league was hard to ignore throughout his 15-ish minute press conference. He…