Zaven Collins burst onto the scene nationally for the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes in 2020 but if you ask people around the program, they would tell you he has been a force for two plus years. At 6-4 260, Collins was a do it all, three down linebacker in the Golden Hurricanes 3-3 Stack defense. He could rush the passer, cover in man or zone and play in space. He finished…
Patriots Draft: Player Profile: Mac Jones, QB Alabama
In our first of sixty player profiles over the next sixty days, we will take a look at at Alabama quarterback Mac Jones. The junior quarterback reminds me of Tom Brady in several ways. No. I am not comparing him to Brady or implying he is going to be the next Tom Brady. I am simply saying that there are similarities in their road to the NFL. By his own…
High School: Division 6 Fall II Preview
Photo courtesy of Rose Raymond. The Fall II football season kicks off on Monday February 22nd. After a year and half of no football, student athletes in Massachusetts will be hitting the gridiron once again. Our next preview focuses on Division 6. Ashland won the super bowl last season and was dominant in the process. The Clockers graduated a great senior class but still expect to be in the mix…
Patriots: The return of Hightower, Chung and Cannon could help the Patriots assuming they are on the roster
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported yesterday that linebacker Dont’a Hightower, safety Patrick Chung and offensive tackle Marcus Cannon all plan on playing in 2021. From NFL Now: The #Patriots are getting the band back together, with key opt-outs opting back in… Meanwhile, it's far more uncertain for WR Julian Edelman. pic.twitter.com/Uu2dXjTznU — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 26, 2021 On the surface, that is great news as the Patriots clearly missed…
High School: NEFJ Featured Team of the Week – Doherty
For the last 30 years, Doherty head coach Sean Mulcahy has seen and done just about everything there is to do as a coach in Massachusetts. Except prepare for a season in March during a pandemic. Mulcahy, like every other coach in the state, has had to dodge some unexpected twists and turns when it comes to getting his team on the field, but now that the Highlanders are together…
Patriots: Cam Newton’s comments about Bill Belichick are not a sign he’s coming back
Cam Newton and Bill Belichick have a great deal of respect for each other. How do I know? Cam Newton said so. Appearing on the I Am An Athlete Podcast last weekend, Newton told a panel of former players including Fred Taylor and Chad Ocho Cinco (whom both played for the Patriots) that Bill Belichick is the most misunderstood guy in the NFL. Newton referred to Belichick as a “cool…
High School: Division 5 Fall II Preview
Image courtesy of MassLive The Fall II football season kicks off on Monday February 22nd. After a year and half of no football, student athletes in Massachusetts will be hitting the gridiron once again. Our next preview focuses on Division 5 which is home to some big name programs with a long history of tradition and success. Here are my thoughts on Division 5. 1. Holliston will once again be…
High School: NEFJ Featured Team of the Week – Lee
Lee High School athletic director and soon-to-be 20-year head coach Keith Thomson has had quite a whirlwind year. Like all AD’s statewide, navigating the pandemic while trying to get kids out to their respective sports has been tough. Thankfully, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Not only has Thomson seen other programs get through their seasons, but starting Monday, his Wildcats football program – and most…
High School: Division 4 Fall II Preview
The Fall II football season kicks off on Monday February 22nd. After a year and half of no football, student athletes in Massachusetts will be hitting the gridiron once again. Our next preview is focuses on Division 4 which is a deep division and has several programs that could be experiencing an upswing this season. Here are my thoughts on Division 4. 1. Melrose should once again in the conversation…
Patriots Draft: Studying Bill Belichick’s quarterback history could shed some light into his thought process
Many Patriots pundits and fans alike have speculated that Bill Belichick does not value the quarterback position. I am not sure I would go that far. I think he does but there is a pattern of addressing the position in his history which could shed some light into how he will address the position this off-season. Here are three observations I have made about Belichick and how he addresses the…