NFL Insider Shares Jarring Report About Patriots Wide Receivers
Most figured that the Patriots wide receivers would struggle this season, but few anticipated that the situation in New England would be this bad.
For starters, the collective output from the group through nine weeks was pretty lousy. Tight end Hunter Henry, playing in his eighth NFL season, entered Week 10 leading the Patriots in virtually every major receiving category. But poor production from wideouts is only part of the problem in that room.
There have been plenty of dramatics, with rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, as well as veteran K.J. Osborn, providing a distraction in some form. There doesn’t seem to be anything — or anyone — holding the unit together, and Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer provided insight on the messy situation Sunday.
“There’s something happening in that room,” Breer said on “Sports Sunday,” as transcribed by NBC Sports Boston. “Because Ja’Lynn Polk’s reputation coming out (of the NFL draft) was pristine character. Someone is dragging everybody down. The accountability is not taking place in that room.
“(Kendrick) Bourne was, for the most part, a pretty decent soldier before this. K.J. Osborn had a great reputation in Minnesota. Ja’Lynn Polk came into the draft with incredible character reviews. Like, there’s something that’s messed up in that room.”
Breer suggested part of the problem could be the “inexperience” of Tyler Hughes, who’s amid his first season as Patriots wide receivers coach. It’s also tough to maintain high morale when the offense looks as bad as it did for New England in the first half of the season.
But with Drake Maye now settled in as the Patriots’ starting quarterback and showing flashes of star potential, perhaps his supporting cast will fall in line.
Bobby Dalbec Makes Career Decision After Rough Red Sox Tenure
Bobby Dalbec’s time in the Boston Red Sox organization appears to be over for good.
Dalbec was among the players in Boston’s minor league system who elected free agency earlier this week, according to multiple reports. The Red Sox designated Dalbec for assignment in September, but he returned to Triple-A Worcester after going unclaimed. Now, the 29-year-old will have the opportunity to pursue opportunities elsewhere.
A 2016 fourth-round pick by the Red Sox, Dalbec showed promise as a rookie in 2020 when he logged eight home runs and 16 RBIs in only 23 games. He responded with a 25-homer campaign in 2021, but his production went south from there. Dalbec’s .215 batting average in 2022 forced him to fall out of favor in Boston, where he only played a combined 58 games across the last two seasons.
With a power bat and some defensive versatility, Dalbec might be able to land a “prove-it” deal in the minors with another organization. If not, the Seattle native could be a candidate to take his talents overseas.
Other notable players who reportedly chose to leave the Red Sox’s minor league system in favor of free agency included catcher Reese McGuire and infielder Jamie Westbrook.
How Drake Maye Viewed Potential Two-Point Try In Patriots Loss
Drake Maye drained the tank with everything he had to get free and fire a dramatic touchdown pass for the New England Patriots on Sunday. The final play of regulation against the Tennessee Titans offered a decision for the Patriots: Kick the extra point to force overtime or try a two-point conversion for the win.
Jerod Mayo noted that offensive fatigue from the drive factored into the decision to kick. The game went to overtime and the Titans earned the victory. A day later, Maye reflected on the call in the fourth quarter with time to weigh the call.
“I was trying to catch my breath,” Maye told “The WEEI Afternoon Show” on Monday. “I think it was tough. So much emotion and so much energy that we brought out on that long drive. We started at the 50 (yard line). It was like 11 or 12 plays. I was still just tired and exhausted. I think I ran to the sideline right after that. In hindsight, it’s easy to look back and say (that) after a loss.”
“I think we made the right decision,” Maye added.
The Patriots certainly had reason to go for it. They should take risks in a season where losses are often expected from the roster at hand. Instead, Jerod Mayo and the coaching staff played it safe and Maye backed the decision with a fair point.
“If we go for it and we don’t win, everybody’s like, ‘What are you doing?'” Maye said. “I think I was so exhausted. Just get to the sideline and catch my breath.”
The quarterback led the Patriots with 85 rushing yards while throwing for over 200 yards and a touchdown. Maye co-stars in a rookie quarterback showcase in Week 10 when the Patriots visit 2024 No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears.
Joe Mazzulla Praises Bench Player As Celtics Asset Following Blowout Win
The Boston Celtics closed out their four-game road trip with a 30-point trouncing of the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night.
With Jaylen Brown sidelined for the second straight game, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla turned to Neemias Queta for the start alongside fellow big Al Horford.
The big man delivered with 10 points, seven rebounds, one steal and a block across 23 minutes for the Celtics against the Hawks.
“He’s just grown as a player. He doesn’t know how good he can be,” Mazzulla told reporters, as seen on NBC Sports Boston’s postgame coverage. “He’s got a great ceiling, so the standard’s very high. I think he did some great things for us today. But, when you’re as good as he could be, we all got to hold him to that standard every single night.”
Queta has played in six of the Celtics’ seven games this season, averaging five points in just over 12 minutes of action. Mazzulla continued to praise the 25-year-old bench player.
“It’s a credit to him for just allowing us to coach him. It’s a credit to the guys for supporting him,” Mazzulla explained. “But you see what he’s capable of when he’s at his best, and he can be a real asset for us. He works really hard. He cares. He wants to be coached. … I’m grateful he allows me to coach him. But, he’s starting to realize how good he really can be and he’s working at it.”
Last season, Queta averaged 5.5 points and 4.4 rebounds across 28 games for the Celtics. With Kirstaps Porzingis sidelined for at least the remainder of the month, Queta could see more playing time if he continues to perform like he did against the Hawks.
Three Studs, Three Duds From Celtics’ Blowout Win Against Hawks
Fresh off back-to-back wins over the Charlotte Hornets, the Boston Celtics got right back to work and annihilated the Atlanta Hawks with a 123-93 win at State Farm Arena on Monday night.
Without Jaylen Brown for the second straight game, Neemias Queta started alongside Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Derrick White and Jrue Holiday.
After allowing the Hawks to hang around in the first quarter, the Celtics took over in the second and led 75-53 at the half.
Here are three studs and three duds from Boston’s win in Atlanta:
STUDS
Jayson Tatum (of course)
Tatum had 22 points at the half on 9-for-13 shooting from the field and six made from beyond the arc. The Celtics superstar collected six rebounds, dished out nine assists, had two steals and finished with 28 points to lead all scorers in the game.
Derrick White
If Tatum wasn’t hitting the shot in the first half, it was White. The Celtics guard scored 21 points on the Hawks, including four three-pointers in the second quarter. White’s three-point outburst was critical to the Celtics’ building a 22-point first-half lead.
Payton Pritchard
Pritchard, like he has through the first seven games of the season, continued to contribute off the bench for Boston. The feisty role player knocked down three shots from beyond the arc for nine of his 18 points across 25 minutes of playing time. Pritchard added three boards and four assists on the night.
DUDS
Trae Young
Young did not have a good night for the Hawks. The Atlanta guard mustered just two points on 1-for-10 shooting from the field and was a minus-28 in the game with three turnovers in 23 minutes.
Hawks Offense
Atlanta averaged 118.4 points per game last season, but couldn’t break the 100-point mark against Boston’s defense. The Hawks shot 41.1% from the field. Outside of Jalen Johnson (20 points) and Zaccharie Risacher (15 points), no one in the starting five had double digits in points.
Atlanta’s Transition Defense
The Celtics scored 35 fast-break points in the game, which were the direct result of the Hawks’ 20 turnovers. Atlanta couldn’t keep up with Boston as they drove up the court to capitalize on the Hawks’ mistakes. On the other hand, the Hawks managed just four fast-break points and scored just nine points on Celtics’ turnovers.
Red Sox Should Absolutely Pursue This Starting Pitching Reunion
Nathan Eovaldi became a postseason legend with the Boston Red Sox and won another championship with the Texas Rangers.
The now-34-year-old returns to the open market after he declined his player option to return to the Rangers after two seasons. Eovaldi will be 35 on Opening Day in 2025, but he’s more than ready to keep producing at a capable level against MLB hitters.
The Red Sox still need more in their rotation this winter. Is Eovaldi the true No. 1 starter they need? No, they need someone higher. That doesn’t mean they should pass up a chance to add a true bulldog and a starter who knows what it takes to win in Boston, particularly in the postseason.
Eovaldi went 26-18 with a 4.05 ERA and 3.73 FIP across five seasons with the Red Sox. He took it to another level in two postseason runs. He allowed just 15 earned runs in 43 innings with memorable performances ranging from 96 pitches in relief in the 2018 World Series Game 3 and defeating the New York Yankees in the 2021 American League Wild Card Game.
Obviously, time has passed and more innings have racked up on Eovaldi’s arm. Nonetheless, he’s still a solid starter who would bring more veteran presence to Boston’s young staff. Eovaldi went 12-8 with a 3.80 ERA and tallied over 170 innings in 2024. The Red Sox need that as Tanner Houck and Brayan Bello grow into greater roles in the rotation after flashes of promise in 2024.
Starting pitching will command some money on the market, though Eovaldi makes total sense for a second stint in Boston with the Red Sox.
Patriots’ Drake Maye Focuses On Not Repeating On Field Mistakes
Drake Maye has been the best offensive player since taking over as the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots.
Over the last five games, Maye has completed 82 passes for 770 yards and run for an additional 209 yards on 21 carries. He’s thrown six touchdowns and scored one on the ground.
But despite all the success, the Patriots are still 2-7 on the season, and the rookie signal-caller has also made his share of mistakes. Maye has a pair of fumbles and four interceptions, including his game-ending pick against the Tennesse Titans on Sunday.
Maye admitted he’s learning from his mistakes on the field but won’t allow them to change the type of player he is when he joined the WEEI Afternoon Show on Monday.
“Yeah, I think just store in those mistakes and learn from them and hopefully not be a repeat offender of these mistakes,” Maye told the show. “I think that’s the biggest thing that Coach (Jerod) Mayo preaches, is not being a ‘repeat mistake guy.’ And that’s what I’m trying to do back there in these games. These plays turned out to be huge for the outcome of the game.
“… So little things like that that go a long way into impacting the game, I think you’re learning that and realizing, ‘Hey, you know, not every play needs to be a home run.'”
The first-year quarterback admitted there is a fine line between staying aggressive on the field and not forcing the ball when receivers are in double coverage.
“I think there definitely is. I think that side of me, I’m not gonna lose ever,” Maye said. “I think that’s hard to take away the playmaker and the aggressiveness of me. So, just being smarter with when not to be, I think that’s the biggest thing.”
Ex-Patriots Defender Inching Towards NFL Lead In This Category
Jack Jones has not found a winning environment between NFL stops with the New England Patriots and the Las Vegas Raiders.
One thing he has done since entering the league in 2022 is take away the football from opposing quarterbacks and take it to the house.
Jones anticipated a screen pass from Joe Burrow on Sunday for an interception that he returned for a touchdown. That marked his fourth-career pick six, which ranks near the best in the league since the Patriots drafted him in the fourth round in 2022.
Only Dallas Cowboys defender DaRon Bland has more in that span with five. All of those came last season as part of 14 interceptions in a two-year span for the Cowboys.
Jones had an adversity-filled run with the Patriots and still has his hiccups with the Raiders. Nonetheless, when Jones is right on the field, he’s an impact cover corner with elite skill to find the football.
MLB Rumors: Superstar Staying With Yankees After Opt-Out
The New York Yankees had a momentary period to consider what the future may look like without their ace. Instead, Gerrit Cole is staying put.
Cole and the Yankees reportedly came to an agreement for the starting pitcher to play out the remaining four years and $144 million on his contract with the door open to an extension, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan and the New York Post’s Jon Heyman. This comes after Cole exercised the opt-out in his original contract.
Cole got his fair share of terrible luck in his Game 5 start in the World Series when the Yankees crumbled behind him in a disastrous fifth inning. The Los Angeles Dodgers rallied to win the game and close out the series in five games for the franchise’s eighth World Series title.
The 2023 American League Cy Young award winner posted a 3.41 ERA in 2024 after injuries caused a delayed start to his season, where he made just 17 starts. Cole finished his fifth season in the American League East, which includes a 5-5 record and a 5.87 ERA in 14 starts against the Boston Red Sox.
Cole’s decision answered one of several questions ahead for the Yankees, particularly regarding the uncertain future of free agent slugger Juan Soto.
Celtics Star Reveals He Requested Trade From Historic Franchise
Jayson Tatum had a different dream as he prepared for the 2017 NBA Draft, and it didn’t involve playing for the Boston Celtics.
He wanted to follow in the footsteps of his favorite player Kobe Bryant and wear purple and gold for the Los Angeles Lakers.
“For me, I grew up a Kobe fan, I always wanted to play for the Lakers,” Tatum said during an appearance on the “Club 520 Podcast” released Monday. “For them to have the No. 2 pick and it wasn’t even a thought that I was gonna get drafted, that was kind of devastating. I never worked out for the Lakers. They never came to watch me workout.”
Thankfully for the Celtics, Tatum was still available at No. 3, and the historic franchise made their selection, taking the Duke product off the board.
Everyone was happy, right?
Not exactly.
Tatum revealed to “Club 520” host Jeff Teague that he contacted his agent after the Celtics signed All-Star forward Gordon Hayward.
“I get drafted, Gordan Hayward signs with the Celtics. I call my agent like, ‘Yo, I gotta get traded,'” Tatum revealed. “I’m in Summer League before I ever play a game. (My agent’s) like, ‘Relax. Wait it out. You gotta chill.’ I’m like, ‘I’m trying to play.’ I didn’t get drafted to come off the bench and not start.”
The Celtics stars found themselves in the starting lineup together, but Hayward broke his leg five minutes in and missed the entire season.
Tatum wasted no time making a name for himself in the organization. That season, he and Jaylen Brown led the Celtics to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ex-Patriots Defender To Debut With Undefeated Chiefs In Primetime
Joshua Uche got a total culture switch in a positive move for him, going from the now 2-7 New England Patriots to the 7-0 Kansas City Chiefs in a midseason deal. New England got a sixth-round pick in 2026, while the Chiefs got a talented pass-rusher to fill a role in Kansas City.
Uche tallied 10 tackles and two sacks across seven games for New England in 2024. Now, the pass-rusher joins the Chiefs in time for a battle with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on “Monday Night Football” to close out Week 9.
NESN’s George Balekji and Travis Thomas previewed the primetime battle on “Boston Has Entered The Chat” on Monday. Balekji predicted a 34-13 Chiefs victory while Thomas had Kansas City taking a 24-16 win.
You can hear the full clip of “Boston Has Entered The Chat” on YouTube or on Spotify.
Red Sox Rumors: Boston Presents Qualifying Offer To Veteran Starter
Nick Pivetta emerged as an innings-eater throughout an up-and-down tenure across parts of five seasons for the Boston Red Sox.
Pivetta’s contract expired after the 2024 season as Boston sets its plan to navigate the winter. The starting rotation will be a priority again this offseason and Boston may not be ready to close the chapter on Pivetta just yet.
The Red Sox reportedly offered Pivetta the qualifying offer north of $21 million for one year, per MassLive’s Chris Cotillo and FanSided’s Robert Murray. Pivetta can either accept the one-year deal at that price tag or test his value and head to free agency. If he walks from Boston, the franchise gets a second-round compensatory draft pick.
Pivetta posted a 6-12 record across 27 appearances for the Red Sox in 2024 with a 4.14 ERA with 172 strikeouts in 145 2/3 innings. He came over from the Philadelphia Phillies at the 2020 trade deadline and most notably pulled the Red Sox through a dramatic win in Game 3 of the 2021 American League Division Series out of the bullpen.
Brayan Bello, Lucas Giolito, Tanner Houck, and Kutter Crawford are the current basis of Boston’s starting rotation for 2025.
Pivetta has until Nov. 19 to accept or decline the qualifying offer from the Red Sox.
Bruins Sign Veteran Forward, Two-Time Stanley Cup Champion
The Boston Bruins signed Tyler Johnson to a one-year, $775,000 contract Monday afternoon, general manager Don Sweeney announced.
Johnson was signed to a professional tryout on Aug. 31. He spent training camp and preseason with the Bruins but ultimately missed out on a contract prior to the start of the regular season. He stuck around the Original Six franchise through the first month of the season, waiting for an opportunity that would inevitably come.
The two-time Stanley Cup champion scored a power-play goal in the Bruins’ final home preseason game at TD Garden and impressed head coach Jim Montgomery with each practice and game he participated in.
“I think he’s gotten better through camp,” Montgomery said on Oct. 1. “I thought he made real subtle plays in the first two games he played.”
Johnson won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Lightning in 2020 and 2021, so he has a winning pedigree and experience to help bolster the Bruins lineup, especially for the players who haven’t been to the playoffs or made a deep run yet.
The versatile and speedy center tallied 161 goals and 200 assists in 589 games over nine seasons for the Lightning. Johnson scored 32 goals and 33 assists in 116 playoff games, including seven points in both Stanely Cup runs with Tampa Bay.
The Bruins found success with Danton Heinen last season. On Sept. 5, they reunited with their 2014 fourth-round draft pick for a professional tryout and then rewarded the forward with a one-year deal in October. Heinen signed a two-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks on the first day of free agency with an average annual value of $2.25 million after scoring 17 goals and 19 assists in a bounce-back season with the Bruins.
Why Patriots Should Have Went For Game-Winning Two-Point Conversion
Jerod Mayo and the New England Patriots had a chance to walk it off against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
But instead of attempting a game-winning two-point conversion the Patriots settled for overtime where they ultimately suffered a 20-17 loss in Nashville.
During the latest episode of NESN’s “Foxboro Rush,” George Balekji and Travis Thomas criticized Mayo’s decision to not keep quarterback Drake Maye and the offense on the field and go for the win.
“Go for two! Go for two!” Thomas exclaimed. “Listen, man, this season is going nowhere fast. We knew that before this damn game of two terrible teams. I mean, what different does it make? What are you going to overtime for? It was pulling teeth, pulling teeth to get that touchdown at the end of the game. Go for two. Send a message to your team!”
Both stressed New England’s two-win record would have made players and fans content with going for the win, especially given the heroics Maye showed on the final play of regulation.
You can check out the latest episode of NESN’s “Foxboro Rush” on YouTube and Spotify.
How Patriots’ Jerod Mayo Explained Poor Coaching Decision, Rookie’s Benching
New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo got too cute and ultimately regretted his decision.
The Patriots started their eighth different offensive line combination in nine games when they took the field against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on Sunday. This time, however, was due to coach’s choice rather than injury-related necessity.
It didn’t pay off.
more NFL
“I thought that was the best thing to do for the team,” Mayo said during a conference call Monday morning when asked why the Patriots started rookie Layden Robinson at right guard rather than veteran Mike Onwenu.
Onwenu bumped to right tackle, which dropped Demontrey Jacobs from the starting lineup. The starting group of Vederian Lowe-Michael Jordan-Ben Brown-Onwenu-Jacobs, from left to right, looked like the best unit in a Week 8 win over the New York Jets.
Titans defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons took Robinson’s lunch money in the early going. On New England’s opening drive, the two-time Pro Bowler beat the rookie for pressure on Drake Maye and earned a holding penalty. Simmons probably should have benefited from another flag, too.
It was one of two pressures allowed by Robinson as Maye was pressured on four of his first five dropbacks.
“Look, they have a good front,” Mayo said. “Ninety-eight (Jeffrey Simmons) definitely is a problem.”
Sure is. And that’s exactly why it would have been wise to keep Onwenu, the team’s best interior player, on the interior. Robinson hadn’t played any offensive snaps in three of the previous four games. He was thrown into the fire in front of Maye.
Mayo and his staff benched Robinson and re-inserted Jacobs before the half.
Jacobs graded as New England’s best pass blocker, per Pro Football Focus. Robinson finished ahead of Jordan and Brown, but that was in one-third of their pass-blocking snaps. Jacobs graded better in running back than Robinson, as well. New England’s run blocking, in general, however, was mystifying as running backs combined for 12 carries and 15 yards with 19 yards after contact.
Perhaps continuity up front will help the Patriots going forward. Well, if New England wants to keep that continuity.
Emotional Titans Coach Fought Back Tears After Win Over Patriots
Tennessee Titans first-year head coach Brian Callahan was desperate for a win and earned one against the New England Patriots at Nissan Stadium on Sunday.
Callahan got choked up after the 20-17 overtime verdict, the second victory of his young career. It snapped a three-game losing skid for the Titans.
“I mean, look at me,” Callahan told reporters while fighting back tears, per a team-provided video. “I needed it bad, man.
“It was,” Callahan said, pausing to collect himself, “yeah, needed it.”
Callahan credited the Titans for showing resiliency against Jerod Mayo’s Patriots.
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye led New England on a game-tying touchdown drive in the final two minutes. Maye hit running back Rhamondre Stevenson on a touchdown pass with no time left in regulation, which extended the game into overtime.
Tennessee received the overtime kickoff and averaged 5.5 yards per play on its drive before it kicked an eventual game-winning field goal.
“Man, what a definition of what we want our football team to look like and play like when things get tight,” Callahan said. “Tremendous amount of resilience. We finally got in a position of where the way our team plays and the way they go about their business actually got a chance to pay off for us, which was really great to see. I’m proud of those guys. I love what we’re made of in the locker room and we finally played long enough, hard enough and well enough to put ourselves in position to win a game.”
The Patriots first-year head coach wasn’t feeling the same emotions following the loss.
What David Pastrnak Said About Benching In Bruins’ Win
Bruins superstar David Pastrnak knows his game must be better, and he hopes he took the first steps toward improvement Monday.
The slumping Bruins picked up their second straight win Sunday night against Seattle. It didn’t come without incident, as head coach Jim Montgomery benched Pastrnak for the entire third period. The Bruins won the game 2-0, and after the game, Montgomery’s only explanation was to say it was a coach’s decision.
Upon further review, it appears the final straw for Montgomery was a power-play turnover Pastrnak committed in the final minute of the second period that Seattle almost turned into a goal.
Given a night to sleep on things, Pastrnak gave his side of the story and pledged to be better moving forward. In other words, it sounds as if the message was received by the winger.
“Honestly, just gotta be better,” Pastrnak told reporters after Bruins practice Monday, as seen in a video shared by Mass Live’s Andrew Fantucchio. “I take responsibility (to be) better. But at the same time, I’m just moving forward and focusing on the game (Tuesday). Yesterday was yesterday. I never look back. Came in today and worked on my game.”
Pastrnak wasn’t a complete no-show Sunday night. He put seven shots on goal in just 14 minutes of ice time. The turnover, though, was a tough pill for the Bruins to swallow. Pastrnak knows it, too.
“That was a bad turnover,” Pastrnak admitted. “I take responsibility for it, accountability I guess is the word. You know, I just want to move forward. I don’t want to be any distraction to the team. The guys know how I feel about them here, and it was a bad play. I take accountability moving forward.”
Pastrnak’s teammates didn’t sound concerned with Pastrnak’s play. If anything, there’s a good chance this lights a fire under the All-Star. That’s exactly what happened when Montgomery called out Pastrnak in the first round of the playoffs, and he scored the game-winning goal against Toronto in overtime of Game 7.
Next up for the Bruins? They’ll go to Toronto on Tuesday night.
Potential Red Sox Reunion No Longer Option After Contract News
It’s unknown if the Red Sox, who need starting pitching help, were interested in possibly bringing back Michael Wacha.
But if Boston was intrigued by the reunion idea, it will have to wipe it off its list of potential offseason moves.
Wacha and the Royals agreed on a three-year contract that includes a fourth-year club option, per a report Sunday from ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The new deal reportedly replaced the two-year, $32 million contract that the right-hander signed with Kansas City in December of last year.
It’s easy to understand why the Royals were keen on locking up Wacha long-term. The 33-year-old pitched 166 2/3 innings last season — the most since his All-Star 2015 season — and logged a 13-8 record with a 3.35 ERA. The 2012 first-round pick will continue to round out a very competitive starting rotation in KC that also features Brady Singer and 2024 All-Stars Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo.
Wacha had a career resurgence in Boston after struggling upon leaving St. Louis, where he pitched the first six seasons of his MLB career. The Red Sox watched Wacha post an 11-2 record with a 3.32 ERA over 127 1/3 innings in 2022. The Iowa native left Boston after only one season to sign a free-agent contract with the San Diego Padres in February 2023.
Fortunately for Craig Breslow and company, there figure to be a handful of above-average starters on the open market this offseason.
Ford Final Five Facts: Bruins Record Second Straight Shutout In Win Vs. Kraken
The Bruins recorded their second consecutive shutout victory for the first time since 2011 after they defeated the Kraken 2-0 on Sunday afternoon.
Jeremy Swayman made 23 saves in the win and earned his first shutout of the season. Justin Brazeau and Charlie Coyle each recorded one goal in the contest, with Brazeau having scored four goals over his last six games.
For more from the B’s win, check out the Ford F-150 Final Five Facts in the video above!
Patriots Failed To Support Drake Maye Despite Eliot Wolf’s Pre-Draft Belief
Remember when Eliot Wolf pushed back at the notion the New England Patriots couldn’t support a rookie quarterback?
“I read a lot of that storyline. I’m not really sure what it means,” the first-year executive of player personnel said in April before New England drafted Drake Maye third overall. “I definitely feel like we can support that.”
Wolf’s confidence stemmed from their “NFL receivers” and “NFL offensive linemen,” among other things.
Well, it provided to be terribly misguided.
more nfl
During Maye’s four career starts we’ve seen the group around him offer little to no help. The third overall pick has been tasked to do just about everything. He was asked to be Superman and drive the Batmobile in New England’s 20-17 overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
Maye was 29-for-41 for 206 yards passing and scrambled eight times for 95 yards. He accounted for all but 15 yards of the team’s offense. In his fourth career start! The dual-threat signal-caller, who suffered a concussion one week prior, scrambled on off-script plays and threw a game-tying touchdown on the final play of regulation. He shouldered the load admirably, but ultimately the Patriots came up short after Maye’s game-sealing interception.
Patriots wide receivers combine for 13 receptions and 94 yards in the loss. Veteran tight end Hunter Henry again led the team in catches (seven) and yards (56). It marked the second time in three (completed) games the receiver room failed to surpass 100 yards.
New England’s trio of running backs combine for 12 carries and 15 yards against the Titans — no, that’s not a misprint.
And running backs finished with 19 yards after contact, confirming just how little the offensive line did on the ground. The offensive line also allowed 17 pressures on Maye, which included 13 hurries and two sacks, per Pro Football Focus.
New England currently ranks 26th in rushing yards this season, a stat which works against any quarterback nevermind a rookie trying to find his footing.
The Patriots have the means to improve the situation around Maye. It starts with Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline — there’s a case to be made New England should buy despite its two-win record — and continues into the offseason. The Patriots not only have plenty of financial resources, but currently sit atop the 2025 NFL Draft order.
It has to look different. And that’s because the Patriots failed to set up their incoming rookie in the first place.
Two Red Sox Stars Named Finalists For Prestigious MLB Award
Rafael Devers and Jarren Duran already were recognized for their great 2024 seasons, but the Red Sox stars could be in store for more hardware.
Louisville Slugger on Monday revealed Devers and Duran as American League finalists for the 2024 Silver Slugger Awards. Devers will compete with fellow third baseman Alex Bregman and José RamÃrez for the honor, while Duran was among the outfield group that included Riley Greene, Anthony Santander, Juan Soto and AL MVP favorite Aaron Judge.
Devers, a Silver Slugger in 2021 and 2023, put up great numbers at the plate despite battling lingering injuries all season. The three-time All-Star hit 28 home runs with 83 RBIs to go along with a 139 OPS-plus. Duran, meanwhile, ranked third in the AL in hits (191) and was tied for the MLB lead in triples (14). The first-time All-Star also smacked 21 home runs for 75 RBIs.
The Silver Slugger Awards winners will be announced Nov. 12.