The Pats are 2-2 but are far more compelling than their .500 record aren’t they? Hosting a radio show on Sunday mornings, doling out Fantasy Football advice without knowing not only which players may or may not be playing, but which teams these days has certainly been an adventure. The NFL keeps on turning though.
The Red Sox need a manager and the Hot Stove season is just weeks away. While life for the Bruins doesn’t seem to be getting any easier as the 2021 season looms.
There’s plenty to cover and only so much time and space available, so without further ado, here’s a little about a lot.
The Patriots
As compelling as adding a great talent like Le’Veon Bell would be, right now the anticipation of some steady Damien Harris action has too much of my attention for me to stray. I’ve been waiting and waiting, got a little taste two weeks ago and then had to wait some more. Perhaps I’m fool heartedly loyal but I need to see more of Harris right now and right here in New England. I like the Patriots current running back mix, particularly with Harris as the potential lead dog while Sony Michel is on IR. I want him to get his shot.
If all goes according to plan, the fun restarts this Sunday with Cam Newton under center and Harris in the backfield with a healthy dose of Rex Burkhead and James White mixed in.
That works for me.
Now the Pats do have over $23 million in cap space and I’d love to see those seven figure dollars go to good use. Find me an under-utilized Tight End like David Njoku or preferably a soon to be disgruntled alpha wide receiver like Julio Jones or best case scenario, both. Add in some added depth parts across the defense and special teams then call it a day. One man’s opinion. My opinion. I’d go full steam ahead on Julio Jones while the Falcons are reeling and in complete disarray. They didn’t know how to use him well enough when things were good in Atlanta, particularly with his lack of end zone use for too many years. It made zero sense.
I believe, Julio can be gotten.
Speaking of Julio, as an aside, Matt Ryan looks lost, timid and dare I say scared this year. He really hasn’t looked the same since getting his soul bludgeoned to death during Super Bowl LI. So far in 2020, given the choice to take a downfield shot or check down, Ryan’s eyes are glued to line of scrimmage. Neither the presence of Julio Jones or Atlanta’s other alpha receiver Calvin Ridley is temptation enough for Ryan these days. It’s tough to watch.
Newton to Julio? Now that really works for me.
To the kicking game. Nick Folk aint great be he’s fine from 40 or so yards in. With the way the Pats can move the ball, particularly on the ground I’m not too concerned about him any longer. Just keep him inside 42 yards or so.
Red Sox
Whatever the power dynamic may or may not be between ownership and the baseball operation, the Red Sox need to find the right manager. Not the right one for the owners, nor the one that shows Chaim Bloom is firmly at the controls. Not the right one for veteran ballplayers, or the right one to develop the youth. Just the right one. The right one, is Alex Cora. He just is. Checks all the boxes. Has the players respect. He can and will answer all the questions bound to come his way, no matter where he goes and I’m confident he’ll answer those well. He’s got good instincts, good communication skills and can handle the hot seat of Boston.
Do the smart thing, hire the right guy and do it for the right reasons. Not because ownership and leadership adore him, but because he’s the best man for the job. He is, so I hope they don’t make it about who’s doing the hiring and rather make it about who they should hire.
Or in this case, rehire.
Bruins
Cracks in the foundation. I sense the missed opportunities of the last couple of years are really going to sting with a sharper level of pain in the next year to come. Why? Core erosion and with it, the lingering feeling of what could have been. The Bruins 2011 Stanley Cup championship core has aged as well as any core group on any one team that I can remember. Zdeno Chara, Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, David Krejci and Tuukka Rask. The supporting cast has evolved and changed over the last nine years and each team has been competitive at a high level for the most part, but it feels like the tides may finally be turning.
If Torey Krug was still here and their key offensive weapons were healthy, this would have been a year to add to that core mix. Krug is gone however and both of the Bruins top offensive players, Marchand and David Pastrnak will be reportedly recovering from surgeries for the next four to five months. Ouch. All the while, their venerable Captain, Chara, is too close to the end of his stellar hall of fame career to continue to build around.
And what to make of Rask after last season’s controversial decision not to return to the postseason bubble? Welcomed back with no hard feelings? Back but not fully welcomed? A trade? Any of the above are within the range of potential outcomes.
Lots of questions.
I’m no mathematician but it’s not adding up to Stanley Cup success to me at the moment.
Boston College Football
I like to end on a positive and I’m happily surprised with the 2020 Boston College Eagles. Head coach Jeff Hafley seems to have both of his feet firmly on the ground and more importantly, his team is clearly following his lead. The Eagles have a quarterback for the first time in a long while. Young Phil Jurkovec is making plays and the games have been exciting. It’s nice to have meaningful college football being played in these parts again.