Photo courtesy of the Boston Herald. The Patriots announced on Monday that they have signed guard Shaq Mason to a five year, $50 million dollar extension. $23.5 of that is guaranteed. On the surface, that might seem like a lot of money for a guard but in reality, it is a fair market deal. Mason has played at a pro bowl level each of the past two seasons. Despite lacking…
Opening Thought: The Minutemen went 4-8 last season but after winning three of their last four games, expectations are higher this season for a team that returns several key starters including redshirt senior quarterback Andrew Ford and senior wide receiver Andy Isabella. It is year five in Mark Whipple’s system so it is not out of the realm of possibility that the Minutemen could compete for a bowl bid. Here…
Opening Thought: The Patriots play their third pre-season game tonight in Carolina against the Panthers. Teams have traditionally played their starters the most in the third pre-season game. The Patriots have played their starters a fair amount thus far this pre-season so it will be interesting to see how much Brady and company play. Here are five things to look for tonight. 1. Brady’s Playing Time: It will be interesting…
Ohio State suspended embattled coach Urban Meyer for three games without pay on Wednesday for lying publicly about what he knew regarding former receivers coach Zack Smith abusing his ex-wife Courtney Smith. Meyer’s suspension has been greeted with wide spread criticism and rightfully so. Meyer has shown no remorse for employing a wife beater like Smith or for publicly lying about whether or not he knew Smith was abusing his…
Game Rewind: The Patriots exacted a tiny measure of revenge against the Eagles last night in a 37-20 win at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots improved to 2-0 on the pre-season. Here are my thoughts on the game. 1. Brady Was On: Remember all that talk that Tom Brady was going to be rusty after missing voluntary OTA’s? Yeah. It didn’t matter. Brady played the entire first half and put up…
Pre-Game Primer: It is a rematch of Super Bowl 52 as the Philadelphia Eagles come into Gillette Stadium to battle the Patriots in pre-season game number two. The Patriots played several starters on both sides of the ball last week but they did not start Tom Brady who was out reportedly because of a sore back. Brady is expected to play tonight. Many of the starters should once again see…
On paper, this defensive line might be the most defensive line the Patriots have had the last ten years. The acquisitions of defensive tackle Danny Shelton and defensive end Adrian Clayborn to go along with Malcolm Brown, Lawrence Guy, Vincent Valentine Trey Flowers, Deatrich Wise and Derek Rivers gives the Patriots a deep and versatile group up front defensively. Rushing the passer has been an issue for the Patriots in…
The success of the Patriots linebacking corp will once again hinge on the health of WILL linebacker Dont’a Hightower. Hightower missed 11 regular season games and three playoff games last season with a torn pectoral muscle. The Patriots need Hightower to play an entire season. He is the leader of the defense. He makes all the calls, all the checks and he plays in all packages. The Patriots defense has…
The Patriots secondary lost a key member this off-season when much maligned cornerback Malcolm Butler signed with the Tennessee Titans. Butler went from Super Bowl hero against the Seahawks to Super Bowl cast out against the Eagles. We will never really know why he didn’t play in Super Bowl 52 but regardless of how you feel about his benching, it is time to move on from Butler. Here is my…
If the vile allegations against Maryland Head Football Coach D.J Durkin and members of his staff in the aftermath of Jordan McNair’s death are true, then Durkin should be fired. The University of Maryland announced today that strength coach Rick Court was relieved of his duties and received a $315,000 buyout. Could Durkin be next? I don’t see how Durkin survives this? A player died on his watch. That is…