If you think back to the home game against Buffalo, penalties on special teams handed the Bills some incredibly fortunate field position. Field position that Josh Allen and the offense ended up taking advantage of when the defense couldn’t stop them. Now, as the Pats prepare to play their first playoff game at home in six years on Sunday night against the Chargers, any and every mistake will be magnified….
Offensive lineman Theo Bachelder talks transfer portal decision & what’s next
Image courtesy of Old Dominion Athletics When Marblehead native and offensive lineman Theo Bachelder was coming out of high school after his final season at The Hun School following incredible success at Pingree, he had interest from 20+ programs. The majority of the 17 programs in New England as well as others across the country wanted his services. Eventually, Bachelder settled on Old Dominion University. The last two seasons, he…
The transfer portal has changed the landscape in college football; Can the local FBS programs keep up?
In a recent article in The Athletic, we got a first hand look at what it costs to do business in the transfer portal these days. The numbers are staggering and reinforce the belief that college football is a business. It always has been, but even more so now.
UMass’ Tyler Martin explains decision to return to the program
In a day and age where money rules everything in college sports, it’s rare when someone shows some loyalty. Enter UMass’ Tyler Martin. Martin, who is the heart and soul of the Mnuteman defense, announced on X Wednesday night that he’s returning to UMass for one final season. Martin easily could have gone in the portal like the other 5,000+ athletes that have already, but as a Massachusetts guy through…
Lightning will strike if the Patriots no show against the Chargers
Courtesy of Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times FOXBOROUGH- The Patriots are hosting a home playoff game for the first time in six years on Sunday night when the Los Angeles Chargers come to town . The Chargers are a familiar playoff opponent, one the Patriots have faced four previous times in their history. The playoff rivalry goes all the way back to 1963 and it is a rivalry…
Patriots’ success largely because of legitimate family atmosphere
Image courtesy of Kathryn Riley/NFL By Alan Segel NEFJ Contributor FOXBOROUGH – There are always surprises, in life and in sports. Some surprises are better than others and some of the surprises sometimes bring thoughts of ‘why is this happening?’ In 2023 and 2024, Patriots players and the fan base were surprised with 4-13 records in both years. Nobody expected that a Bill Belichick-led team would crater so badly in…
Former Central Catholic, Maine & Merrimack QB Ayden Pereira talks transfer portal decision
Image courtesy of Merrimack Athletics The name Ayden Pereira is well known around New England. The former Central Catholic star QB initially went to Maine before transferring to Merrimack for the past couple seasons. Now, he’s headed back to the transfer portal. Last year with the Warriors, he threw for 1,846 yards and putting up 1,120 in 2024. He threw for 17 touchdowns total in his two seasons playing in…
Wellesley football coach Jesse Davis steps down after 14 seasons
Jesse Davis has stepped down as the Head Football Coach at Wellesley High School. Davis, a Wellesley alumnus also teaches at the school and was New England Football Journal’s Division 2 Coach of the Year in 2024.
Cardinals request to interview Patriots pass game coordinator and tight ends coach Thomas Brown
Image courtesy of the New England Patriots The Arizona Cardinals have requested permission to interview Patriots assistant coach Thomas Brown for their head coaching vacancy. The move comes on the heels of the franchise’s decision to part ways with Jonathan Gannon, whose three-year tenure concluded with a disappointing 3-14 finish this past season. As General Manager Monti Ossenfort begins the process of reshaping a roster that has struggled for consistency,…
Tucker McDonald returning to UConn
Tucker McDonald is returning to UConn after briefly entering the transfer portal at the end of December. I spoke with McDonald last night and asked him why he made the decision to return to Storrs.