Storyline: It’s pre-season game number two for the Patriots as they host the Chicago Bears at Gillette Stadium. After a spirited two days of joint practices, the two teams appear ready to play.  Tom Brady will make his 2016 debut tonight but the focus will once again be on Jimmy Garoppolo who played the first half last week and finished 11-18 for 168 yards. Expect Garoppolo to play two quarters with…

Game Rewind: The Patriots beat the Saints 34-22 in a game that featured big plays, defensive scores and a bunch of pointless penalties. Here are my ten thoughts on the game.  10 Thoughts From the Game 1. Jimmy Garoppolo completed 11-18 passes for 168 yards and no touchdown passes. Overall, he was o.k. I thought he held the ball too long on intermediate and vertical route combinations. He was much…

Storyline: The Patriots kickoff the 2016 season at home as they host the New Orleans Saints in the pre-season opener. All eyes will be on quarterbacks Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett tonight. Garoppolo will get the start but don’t be surprised if Brissett plays the majority of the game. The competition at wide receiver, the offensive line and who starts at running back will also be focal points tonight.  Three…

The Patriots got some tough news yesterday after Rob Ninkovich tore his triceps in joint practices against the Saints. Ninkovich will not require surgery but he will be out until October. Make no mistake about it, the Patriots will miss Ninkovich. He plays all three downs and he can play out of a two and three point stance. His versatility is a big plus for the Patriots defense. Chris Long,…

By all accounts, it appears the Patriots may have dodged a bullet with Julian Edelman today after he was injured during a joint practice against the Saints  Edelman tweaked his surgically repaired left foot but according to sources close to the situation, it does not appear at this time that Edelman broke his foot again.  Sources close to the situation also reported that Edelman could return to practice as early…

The Patriots will be practicing with the Saints over the course of the next two days in preparation for Thursday night’s pre season game at Gillette Stadium. The two teams aren’t just practicing together  because Bill Belichick and Sean Payton are buddies or because the Saints are in town and it’s convenient. They are practicing together because it’s a chance to compete against another organization.  Joint practices and scrimmages are…

The worst kept secret in the NFL is finally out of the bag. Robert Griffin III is the Cleveland Browns starting quarterback. I hate to burst Hue Jackson’s bubble, but we knew he was the starting after the draft ended.  Did the Browns think we were going to buy the false narrative that Josh McCown or Cody Kessler were going to compete for the starting job? Come on! I was…

1. Last night’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony was awesome. Best class to go into Canton since 2010. 2. Brett Favre spoke for 36 minutes. If you missed it, you should watch it. He was great. His speech was funny and emotional at the same time. Favre is truly one of the greatest characters in league history. 3. No Rodgers, no Hundley tonight for the Packers tonight but who cares!…

The Patriots offensive line woes have been well documented. They struggled with injuries and inconsistency last season. It’s those struggles that cost the Patriots a chance to get to the Super Bowl.  Enter former offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia who was brought back from retirement to turn this group around. Let’s take a look at the Patriots offensive line and who will start in 2016.  Nate Solder, Colorado, 6-8 325:…

1. I can’t say I’m surprised ESPN announced that Tom Jackson is “retiring” from the network after 29 years. He’s not retiring. He’s being forced out. It’s that simple.  2. Happy Birthday to the GOAT, Tom Brady. Big 3-9 for TB12.  3. The Bengals were already thin at cornerback and now that rookie corner William Jackson is done for the season, they are even thinner. Talk about sh*t luck. 4….