Welcome to your Tuesday MASH-up. Emphasis on mash, as today we kick off by celebrating the career of Patriots fullback and one-man wrecking crew James Rittenhouse Develin, Jr. aka James Develin, aka Jimmy Neckroll.
If someone could go check on our colleague Andy Hart, a known devotee to Develin's smashmouth style of play (and a good physical comp), it would be much appreciated ...
Develin, a graduate of Brown University, and likely the most athletically successful and toughest of the Bears, played the position many consider a lost art; fullback. It's unsexy. It's tough. It's painful. It's inglorious. And it's what he did best. For such a scholarly bearded gentleman he really seemed to love destroying people time and again. And again. New England has long had a curious love affair with the position, and seen some great grace our gridirons; Sam Gash, Jim Nance, Sam Cunningham to name a few. Maybe it's the blue collar nature of the position. Maybe it's the fact that it's usualy cold in New England and you need to run the ball frequently. Maybe it's because we have a lot of pent-up aggression this way and love the idea of smashing into people. Probably a combination therein. But Develin did it regularly, selflessly and successfully. The Patriots record when Develin was healthy and on the field was ridiculous (he missed the 2015 season with a broken leg). And not many fullbacks can claim to being 3x Super Bowl champions (it's neither the time nor place to say he should be a 4X SB champ but we all know he should).
To nobody's surprise his now former teammates came out in droves to speak favoriably and sing his praises (peep the love TB12 left on the IG)...
A post shared by James Develin (@jdevelin) on Apr 27, 2020 at 10:31am PDT
Media loved them the ethic and effort of No. 46.
His coach? Nothing but praise on the highest for a worker like Develin.
And when Matthew Slater has this to say about you, you know we're talking a person of the highest character.
The 2018 season ended up being his last full healthy one, and those playoffs turned out to be one hell of a swan song.
By the way, the Offseason of Attrition continues for the Pats. But hey ... this is Jimmy's time.
Turns out some of the Bengals' trash (cut in 2012) is another Patriot's treasure. Thanks for the hard-hitting memories, and wins, James Develin. Stay safe and happy retirement!
BROADCAST HIGHLIGHT
2004 Red Sox Postseason Encore ALDS Game 2: Red Sox at Anaheim Angels, 830pm, NESN
(If you're looking for your Sox itch to be scratched then this postseason W featuring a Pedro start and a Foulke finish should do the trick)
BECAUSE YOU NEED THIS
Two things, both baseball-related (because live sports aren't back just yet but we can kinda smell em, kinda) ...
1.) If you're desperate enough for new baseball looks like ESPN is signing a deal with a Korea Baseball Organization to air games! Which seems crazy, but also you know you'd watch it. And if you want in on my KBO fantasy league DM me.
2.) My buddy Murph had the best idea for how to fix the fans in attendance issue for baseball this summer given the social distance necessity...
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"This dude ... I was like, that's not someone to mess with." --Former Patriots receiver Chris Hogan on James Develin (to The Athletic's Jeff Howe)
