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…

5 observations from our spring visit with Holy Cross
WORCESTER – Year two of the Dan Curran Era at Holy Cross has been underway for a few weeks now with spring ball. There’s a lot of excitement around the program after sharing a sixth straight Patriot League title last year, but there’s also some major hole to fill at key spots like quarterback, wide receiver, D-line and linebacker. Here’s what stood out during our two-hour visit with the Crusaders…

Bryant, Rhode Island Pro Day Recap
SMITHFIELD- 22 prospects worked out in front of scouts from the Patriots, Packers and the Hamilton Tigers Cats on Wednesday afternoon. The players went through the typical pro day workout of benching, vertical jumping, the 40 yard dash, three cone shuttle and the L drill. The workout was led by Patriots Personnel Coordinator Brian Smith. Normally, this pro day coincides the same day as the UConn pro day but they…

Holy Cross Pro Day recap
WORCESTER – The final stop on the four-day tour for NFL scouts in New England was Worcester and specifically, Holy Cross on Thursday afternoon. About 25 potential draft prospects had one final chance to put some good stuff on tape or, show off for the handful of scouts that were in attendance. The Ravens, Patriots, Packers and 49ers were on physically on hand, while the rest of the league will…