A year ago I predicted in these pages that we were witnessing the dawn of a new era of Patriots’ football. That might have been the only prediction that I hit on, but to be fair, who saw the 2025 Patriots season happening the way that it did? I predicted in my game by game that they would go 10-7 and I thought that I was insane! Who knew they’d go 14-3 and win the AFC East, let alone the entire American Football Conference. (It was strange reading back last year’s preview, we were so beaten down by the Mayo era and cautiously hopeful for the Mike Vrabel-Josh McDaniels era to begin. But we’d watched some bad football for 5 years and were admittedly fragile.)

If the Notebook is about anything, it is accountability so I will say, I don’t feel as though I have a very good feel for where this team is right now. Preseason taught us very little and we have quietly gone through one of the biggest roster turnovers for a conference champion in the modern era. (I think we have the 3^rd or 4^th fewest returning players for a team that participated in the Super Bowl in the last 45 years. (All numbers approximate.) We’ve made some great additions (AJ Brown and Romeo Doubs) but I’ve lost track of the losses so I’m not sure how those are going to come back and bite us. (Sort of like when Dwight resigns from Dunder Mifflin and suddenly all the plants in the office die because he secretly watered them every night.)

Without further ado, here is the 2026 Patriots Season Preview, in the mode of Crash Davis’ monologue from Bull Durham. (The one in Annie’s living room where he lists all the things he believes like opening presents on Christmas morning not Christmas eve and a constitutional amendment banning Astroturf and the designated hitter.)

- I believe that Drake Maye is going to continue to improve but won’t find his way into the MVP conversation this year due to improved competition but he’s going to be named to the Pro Bowl just the same. (Well not the same since they’re not going to play dodgeball or anything this year. RIP Pro Bowl.) I believe that Drake Maye will continue to develop in Josh McDaniels’ system, if Brady wound up with PHD in McDaniels’ offense, then Maye is starting his Sophomore year of undergrad, but I think he’ll make the Dean’s List this year.

- I believe AJ Brown is going to score 12 touchdowns and 1200 yards. (Draft in Fantasy accordingly.)

- I believe I know nothing about what Romeo Doubs will be in this offense. I’ve heard reports he started camp slow and then was a standout. He’s another deep threat and I think could fill a bit of the roles that Kayshon Boutte has left vacant. (Read that last sentence back, what a job by me not to make that sound too weird.) Doubs is the guy nobody is talking about, which can be a good thing. Especially with Brown drawing so much attention on the other side of the field.

- I believe Rhamondre Stevenson was the most underrated player on this team a year ago and will continue to be again this year. TreVeyon Henderson brings so much excitement to the ground game, but it’s Stevenson that has pushed this offense through some tough times. I think he’ll be good again this year, but I see Henderson pushing his way into a two-headed monster in the back field. It’s a good problem to have if you’re New England.

- I believe everything offensively hinges on the ability of the offensive line. Again, on paper this is an improved unit if only because Jared Wilson will be playing at his natural position, center. Will Campbell will be healthy and in between them you have a highly rated veteran in Alijah Vera-Tucker. (AVT when healthy is as good as a left guard as there is in the game, he just hasn’t been healthy that often.) Moses and Onwenu on the right side I feel confident in and first round choice Caleb Lomu is waiting in the wings when needed as well. There isn’t a ton of depth but overall I think we’ve improved from where we were a year ago but more importantly at the end of last season. (Will not be a finished product day one. Will take some time to gel, but will harden better than last year’s unit did.)

- I believe we will see a “and Marcus Jones is lined up on offense!” moment.

- I believe the defense will take an initial step back early in the season and make us appreciate how good the defense was a year ago. Ultimately I think they’ll get where they need to get to. That defensive line is going to be really good again, not sure where the sack production is going to come from after your leading sacker a year ago (K’lavon Chaisson is in Washington now) and there’s a lot of injury concerns at the second level. (Harold Landry III will start the year on the PUP and Robert Spillane missed extended time last season too. So you’re relying a lot on newcomer Dre’Mont Jones to carry the water of the linebacking unit.)

- I believe Ceddanne caught it.

- I believe that Christian Gonzalez will have a new contract before toe hits the leather in Seattle next Wednesday night. It sounds like the numbers are there, but it’s how those dollars are distributed and when. If that’s all it’s a matter of, then I think it’ll get done. (No matter what most of Patriots media would have you believe. I’ve seen multiple “Gonzalez trade destination” graphics already since the Schefter report made it sound as if the two sides were fairly far apart.)

- I believe this would have been a spot where Bill Belichick would bench Gonzalez for the opener if a deal wasn’t done and shockingly trade him to the 49ers on the Saturday before the rest of the league kicks their season off.

- I believe we’ve reached the moment you’ve all been waiting for and I believe that starting the season on a Wednesday night in Seattle is not how I would most loved to start the season. (But we’re overdue for regular season NFL football, so I’ll take it!) Seattle is a tough bunch and playing on a Wednesday is just weird, but I guess if you’re going to play on hump day, you’d prefer to do it to start the year. (Can’t ruin your routine if you don’t have one yet!) Toughest game on the slate, a lot of emotion going against the world champions, dropping the banner they earned against you back in February. Weird things could happen, but this is a loss, 0-1.

- Week 2 vs the Steelers 1pm. The Patriots need to avenge the awful loss to this sub-par Steelers team in week 3 last season. Home opener and a chance to get back to .500 vs Aaron Rodgers. Win, 1-1.

- Week 3 at Jaguars 1pm. Jacksonville is coming off a very good season where they were in the mix in the AFC, (people forget that). Liam Coen has turned this team around and maybe salvaged Trevor Lawrence’s career. Maybe. I’ll be in the house for this one, weird things happen in September, more specifically weird things happen in Florida in September, especially when there is a swimming pool in the stadium. (I will not be in that swimming pool as far you know.) I think we’re a better team and in what may be the toughest game to pick this year, I’m going to say loss. 1-2.

- Week 4 at Buffalo 1pm- How is this not a prime time or 4:25pm start? I blame the Jets and Dolphins for why ours is the Rodney Dangerfield of divisions, no respect at all! New stadium, fresh Maye vs Allen rivalry. Loss 1-3, panic?

- Week 5 vs Las Vegas-1pm No panic, the Raiders come to Foxborough and we atone for both of our losses from last September in the first 5 weeks of 2026. Kirk Cousins will be the QB for the Raiders and Vrabel will have this team flying. Win, 2-3.

- Week 6 vs Jets- 1pm Speaking of flying, the first 4 weeks are brutal (weird things happen in September, so maybe they’ll weirdly happen for us???) but after a stretch like that you want to see the Raiders and Jets coming to see you. Best way to get right if you ask me and I think you did. Win, 3-3.

- Week 7 at Chicago Thursday Night Football- This should be a great one. Two of the best offensive minds (Ben Johnson and Josh McDaniels) duking it out with their QB’s from the 2024 draft class. Outside of Seattle, our toughest road game of the season. I think it’s a battle and the Bears secondary wasn’t great last season, but just as quickly as we get to .500, we drop this one, loss, 3-4.

- Week 8 at Miami 4:25pm. How on earth is this game at 4:25pm? So weird. Miami is a house of horrors for us, but like that meme of the old man asking you to call 911 when he’s getting mugged and then pulls a gun and says “But not for me.” Miami will be a house of horrors this season, but finally not for the Patriots. Miami is actively not trying to win football games this year, under first year head coach Jeff Hafley and new starting quarterback Malik Willis. There isn’t much in Miami and they’re eyeballing the QB draft class in 2027 so I think we win going away, 4-4.

- Week 9 vs Green Bay 4:25pm- Brady is calling his first Patriots game since joining the Fox booth. Gronk is going into the team’s Hall of Fame on Saturday. It’s a big weekend for a lot of reasons and this is one of the marquee matchups on the Patriots schedule. Also a potential turning point for the season and not just because you’re .500 half way through the schedule. I never know what to make of the Packers or Jordan Love. I think this will be a battle and would be a huge win for this team. It happens, win, 5-4.

- Week 10 at Detroit 9:30am (in Munich) The international game on the slate. Detroit will never be a push over as long as Dan Campbell is their head coach, but this team peaked two years ago. Tough test for sure, heightened by the international travel aspect, which I think if anything levels the playing field a bit, meaning I’d rather play in Munich than Detroit. Win, 6-4.

- Week 11 Bye. Comes at a good time of the year, after an international game and before another tough stretch of games to end the season.

- Week 12 at LA Chargers Sunday Night Football. I think we’re going to learn a lot about the Chargers by the time this game happens. I think the Mike McDaniel offense, behind Jim Harbaugh could make the Chargers a dangerous team, but it’s the Chargers, there’s always something wrong with them. Big Sunday night road win, 7-4.

- Week 13 vs Buffalo 4:25pm. A prime spot for a big time match up. This will essentially decide who is winning the AFC East. Some are calling this the AFC East Championship game. I’m fascinated by Buffalo this year, them winning a Super Bowl has felt like a forgone conclusion for 5 years now and they’ve never won the AFC. If not now, when? Win, 8-4.

- Week 14 vs Minnesota Thursday Night Football. Tough stretch of games starting with the Packers at the beginning of November, going to Germany, hopefully resetting at the bye, then going to Los Angeles and coming back for a Bills game, then turning around and hosting the Vikings on a Thursday night. I’m worried about this being a schedule loss for this team. I think we’re better than Kyler Murray (who I actually think will make it work in Kevin O’Connell’s system) but this will be a test. Win, 9-4.

- Week 15 at Kansas City Monday Night Football. I love having a December mini-bye, going from Thursday to the following Monday and then heading to Kansas City. The Chiefs could be the old Chiefs again or they could be the same team that missed the playoffs a year ago and I tend to think they’re more of the latter than the former. By late December when this game is played, I think we’ll know for sure. (Stat: The Chiefs have never made the playoffs since Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift got engaged. Did T-Swift curse the Chiefs and derail a dynasty? I’m just asking.) Win, 10-4.

- Week 16 at NY Jets 1pm. They don’t want to win football games. They want Arch Manning. Win 11-4.

- Week 17 vs Denver Sunday, some time. What a game, a rematch of last year’s AFC championship, last year’s 1 seed, vs the 2 seed. This should have huge playoff ramifications, a really big game for this Patriots team, unfortunately I think the Broncos have that fire in their belly after that loss last year in the Mile High Blizzard. Loss, 11-5

- Week 18 vs Miami Sunday, some time. They don’t want to win football games. They want Arch Manning. I used to dread losing to Tua in these late season games, but now it’s the most fun tradition there is, remember when Mondre ripped off 3 runs and scored a touchdown like 15 seconds in the finale last year? The Dolphins will know that they are playing for: a chance to draft one of the 2-3 quarterbacks in the 2027 draft when this game takes place and they’ll be damned if they’re going to screw it up by frigging around and trying to beat the Patriots in ice cold-January-Foxborough. Win 12-5.

More optimistic than I thought, they probably drop one of those December games because of the travel schedule, but I think 11-6 or 12-5 is where this team is and probably a wild card team in the AFC.

Last night the New England Patriots participated in football like activities in Cleveland with their Browns. I say that because I was getting texts saying things like “Why are they even playing this game?” When the Patriots second stringers only see two series before giving way to 3^rd stringers and soon to be cast offs, you don’t have much of a product. I had another text at halftime asking “Why didn’t the starters play?” The answer is, it’s all about avoiding injuries before the season starts. We’ve seen a rash of injuries across the league during camps this year and teams don’t want their season to get derailed before it begins because their right guard got blocked into their quarterback.

You could say “Don’t they need some game reps to get ready for the season?” The answer in 2026 is no, not really. That’s due mostly to the proliferation of joint practices. You have your best going against the best on the other team and it is produced in such a way that there is limited contact and limited risk of injury. It’s running an experiment with a high level of controls in place.

I think we are 3 years or less away from the teams selling tickets to joint practices that are televised in prime time (think the Combine), while preseason games are viewed as JV scrimmages for players trying to catch on with the franchise, maybe sneak onto the roster and more likely just make the practice squad. Here is what sold me on this notion: last week I had two friends attend Patriots-Eagles joint practices. They saw Drake Maye throwing to AJ Brown, Hunter Henry, Pop Douglas etc. The Eagles had Jalen Hurts taking snaps against the Patriots’ first string defense. It cost nothing to attend this event. Meanwhile, people (not many) had to pay money to attend last night Patriots-Browns game.

Season ticket holders are forced to buy these preseason tickets, for the same price as regular season. Now the genie is sort of out of the bottle at this point, I don’t see organizations not charging for these games, if anything they’ll just charge for joint practices as well. But I think these “practices” (They’ll have a more marketable name once they’re aired on TV) will be made into an event of their own. They’re just a better and more valuable viewing experience. And if we have learned anything about the NFL in their 100+ years, it’s that they are the kings of taking a routine annual event and turning it into a television product. Nobody in the early 80’s thought the NFL Draft needed to be televised. Nobody thought 20 years later that the combine needed to be aired or viewed by anybody but coaches and scouts. Joint practices are next. I mean the NFL axed the Pro Bowl game(s) this past week, could preseason games be next?

Also, I can’t think of a preseason schedule where I’ve learned less about a Patriots team than this one, but let’s knock out some quick hitters and try to stay healthy for the regular season.

- If there was any debate about who the backup quarterback is, Tommy DeVito put that to bed. He has a feel for this offense and he’s thrown a few good deep balls this preseason and has shown a chemistry with Kyle Williams.

- Speaking of, short night for Williams (I was pretty surprised with the trade of Kayshon Boutte to even see him out there) but he grabbed two passes, including a 50-yard touchdown where he half-walked into the endzone. He’s solidified his spot this preseason and maybe gained some added confidence.

- Boutte sidenote, sad to see the trade come down but apparently it is what he wanted. In terms of the package, I was happy that they got a player, I was resigned to being disappointed by the return for Kayshon, so to get safety Jaylen Reed and a 7^th round pick, I was pleasantly surprised. Would have liked to get an edge rusher or an interior offensive lineman, but Boutte beggers can’t be choosers.

- Behren Morton had a rough night and you could tell it from the first throw, that bounced off the unsuspecting ankle of CJ Dippre, popped up in the air for an interception. After that, Morton did he best to throw 2-3 more picks, but one was called back due to pass interference and two others were just dropped. I expect him to be placed on the practice squad, or you know, moved to punter. (Just kidding, I think?)

- Jam Miller had a couple of strong runs early. Lan Larison dropped back to back passes. Again, with the injury to Terrell Jennings, this should have been a battle all summer, but instead I’m not sure what we learned about either player. At this point, I guess I lean Miller, however Larison might be able to do more right now, but Miller is a better runner.

- Stat of the night: We are starting year 5 of Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit calling games together on Amazon. (Not a sponsor.) Doesn’t seem possible that it has been that long. (Also, Happy Anniversary to Al Michaels and his lovely bride on 60-years of marriage. That’s more impressive but way less surprising than the fact that Al and Kirk have been together for 5-years.)

- Anfernee Jennings Preseason Defensive MVP award

o No one. We gave up 27 points to the Browns in one half of “Football” and allowed Dylan Gabriel to toss 3 touchdowns.

- Again, the Patriots finish 1-1-1 in 3 games and that’s the most appropriate record, because I don’t think these 3 games taught us much about this team at all.

If the Notebook is about anything, it is accountability and hand up, I was at the Zach Top concert Saturday night and missed the Patriots preseason game. However, I made time on Sunday to watch the tape and here’s the week 2 preseason Notebook.

- Tommy DeVito is athletic and can make plays with his legs, but I’m not sure about him as a passer. After watching the second half of this one, Behren Morton looks like a superior thrower of the football. Not sure if he’s ready to take the #2 spot this year, but a year from now I could see him taking this job from Tommy Cutlets.

- You hate to see Marcus Bryant go down early in this game, the depth on the interior of the offensive was already a concern, especially after losing Ben Brown a week ago. You hope that both Brown and Bryant are able to return in short order, or we’re going to be holding open tryouts very early in the season.

- Play of the game was the 69-yard touchdown connection between DeVito and Kyle Williams. Williams showed that speed again, but it was his elite get off on the line of scrimmage that created the separation. Credit to Tommy D for getting the ball out there, but feels like this means more to Williams and his spot on this team. If you are looking at trading Kayshon Boutte (preferably after the season and not before it) then you could be grooming Williams to become your new deep threat. (He needs to get better at drawing PI on underthrown balls downfield, Williams too often looks like he’s trying to avoid contact down field, where this is unfortunately a part of the game now.)

- Efton Chism III looked solid but more than his performance, he looked markedly more comfortable in the offense and in the NFL. The McCourty’s said during the broadcast that Chism said he now felt like he understood the offense, when a year ago he just saw lines on a page. Not sure if I’ll predict the EC3 breakout for this season, but by 2027, I see him becoming an important piece of this offense.

- Looking at the running back position, Lan Larison had a nice game and Jam Miller a quiet one, though their stat lines were almost identical (Larison 3 carries for 33 yards, Miller 11 carries for 36 yards) but the separators were that Larison had a touchdown and also added 3 catches for 41 yards. If Larison can show an ability to catch passes, that might be the thing that earns him a spot on this roster. (Though if either of them can return kicks, then that’s the trump card.)

- The defense lacked intensity in the first half, but looked a bit better in the second half, though that could also be attributed to Cole Payton taking the snaps for the Eagles. (Andy Dalton and the Eagles running game did whatever they wanted in the first half. Mostly on the ground, the Patriots got pushed around a bit.)

- The Anfernee Jennings Preseason Defensive Player of the Game

Kindle Vildor- Had an interception in the first game and on Saturday night he seemed be around the ball all night. At one point he had a couple of nice pass breakups and almost had two other interceptions. He’s a veteran who I think will play a valuable role for this team behind Carlton Davis, giving some needed experience in the secondary.

The Patriots and Eagles had two days of joint practices last week and really I think there is more to glean from these mono-e-mono workouts than the preseason game itself. In joint practices, you have best on best, and actually see the starters competing against another team. (Honestly, I think in a few years, we’ll have these practices broadcast on TV, while preseason games will look more like scrimmages. The preseason games won’t go away, but they’ll be viewed as a chance for backups and fringe-roster guys to compete for spots. The Sterling Notebook had some Friends of the Program in attendance at both days of joint practices this week.

Rob Poindexter said the Patriots offense was cooking on Wednesday and the connection between Drake Maye and AJ Brown was very strong. The Patriots defense made Jalen Hurts life a living hell, forcing him into one million interceptions. (All numbers are approximate.)

Day 2 was more about redzone offense and the Patriots struggled a bit more. The consensus seemed to be that the Patriots certainly got the best of the Eagles on day 1 (the word dominated was used) but day two was about 50/50. Friend of the Program Jarod Richmond said that even though the Eagles seemed to get the better of the Patriots in the 2 minute drill and Rhamondre Stevenson fumbled, he would give the Patriots a slight edge.

So even though the judges score cards may read 10-9 in favor of the Patriots, when you add in the 24-21 win under the lights Saturday night, I think the Patriots have earned a TKO of the Eagles this week. 1-0-1 on the preseason with a date with the Browns this Thursday night. (Who will be interesting to watch.) But the final tune up before the 9/9 opener against Seattle, you just hope for good health since most of the regulars haven’t taken the field yet and probably won’t.

Photo credits Rob Poindexter and Jarod Richmond, Friends of The Program.

FOOTBALL IS BACK!*

*Preseason football is back. The time for teams to audition players for new roles but also for me to get back into game shape. (If I’m being honest, I’ve let myself go a bit this summer in terms of being in prime Notebook writing shape.) But I’m getting back, tonight I’m auditioning for a new go-to frozen pizza and trying some new chicken strips in the air fryer. (I won’t reveal the names, because they don’t sponsor this Notebook. Isn’t that how that bit goes?) Onto the takeaways from our first glimpse at Patriots football since Super Bowl LX.

- Tommy DeVito didn’t look bad, but missed a few throws or as Coach Vrabel said at halftime “He had a few throws that he’d like back.” The unfortunate thing for “Tommy 2 Chains” (RIP Tommy Cutlets) is that the Patriots had 3 big plays called back due to penalties. (At least two of them were softer than the cheese on this pizza.)

- With RB Terrell Jennings being put on IR for the season before the game, the running back competition just got even more interesting. Suddenly Jam Miller and Lan Larison might be fighting over one spot on the roster or possibly both being wedged onto the squad. Miller started and got the bulk of the first half carries and looked solid, especially in the redzone. (The Patriots added veteran back Hassan Haskins earlier in the week and old friend JaMycal Hasty on Thursday. We saw a lot of Haskins in the second half last night.)

Also, Lan Larison wearing #34 gives all the Rex Burkhead vibes.

- You can see the Vrabel impact on the roster through the depth on the roster in camp. There was a pass play from the Colts where they threw the ball out in the flats to a receiver and there were 3 New England cornerbacks, who are all new to the roster and all 3 looked just alike. All had numbers in the 20’s, all viciously went after the receiver and all had the same build, probably to the ounce.

- Andy Borregales had a tough night, missing 3 field goals. He did make good on two of them, but 3 misses are tough. The second one was tough to watch, it looked like a smothered 8-iron.

- Preseason games, you just want everyone to escape unscathed. Ben Brown, playing center left the game in the first quarter, briefly went to the blue medical tent but then walked to the locker room under his own power. Brown is an important depth piece on this offensive line. Something to monitor.

- Kyle Williams exhibited himself well, putting a ridiculous move on a cornerback at the line to get open in the endzone for the lone Patriots touchdown in the first half. Without many regulars seeing snaps (Mack Hollins was the only other starter from last year that saw snaps in this one) the second year pass catcher bolstered his case to make this roster.

- Nice to see Gabe Jacas in on the tackle on the Patriots first kickoff. Jacas played a lot of snaps in the first half and continued on special teams into the second half. He had a big tackle on a kickoff and you could see Coach Vrabel come over and give him a big high 5 after the play. (Note: Jacas is wearing number 50, which of course has the illustrious distinction of being worn previously by Rob Ninkovich and of course Mike Vrabel.)

Speaking of Vrabel, I’ve never seen a head coach fire a challenge flag like Vrabes did. He wound up like Vida Blue with an only slightly lower leg kick. I don’t think it’s coincidental that they announced this week that assistant coaches could throw challenge flags because I can envision Vrabel quoting Michael Jordan in The Last Dance in saying “And I took that personally.”

- We finally have our answer to how do you pronounce Behren Morton’s first name. In Monday’s preview I offered up 7 options for pronunciation and I’m sad to say, I was wrong with each and every one. Behren is pronounced “Baron” as in Red Baron (not a sponsor.) It makes sense, but like Lloyd Christmas trying to remember Mary Swanson’s last name, I knew it started with a B. (“Samsonite. I was way off. I knew it started with an S though.”)

- Happy to have another year of Scott Zolak doing preseason games with the McCourty brothers. Jason and Devin have chemistry and a bi-play that is just unfair. They’re so quick to jab at each other, but it feels so natural (almost like they’ve been doing it their entire lives). Great to see both of them having so much success, so quickly in their post playing careers.

- The Patriots defense forced 3 turnovers in the first half (1 interception and 2 fumbles) and were very aggressive at the ball. Including a goal line fumble recovery (after the ball had crossed the goal line, but whatever) and it was recovered by who else? “Do It All” Del “Fake Punt, Peanut Punch” Pettus.

The Anfernee Jennings Preseason Defensive Player of the Game

KJ Britt- First year in New England, but 6^th year in the NFL. I had just finished writing a note about his tackle for a loss when Anthony Richardson escaped the pocket and was running down field, getting a little fast and loose with the football, when we learned that the J in KJ Britt stood for “Johnny on the Spot” (KJ just sounds better than KJOTS) as he punched the ball clean out of the former 4^th overall pick’s grasp. He’s a different player than K’Lavon Chaisson, but I wonder if KJ Britt could have a similar impact here as a solid veteran on a good defense.

- The Red Behren can throw the football. His second drive stalled out after a coverage sack, but the kid has some arm strength and throws the ball with some zip.

- Speaking of frozen pizza magnates, Miss Elizabeth and I cooked up a “Home Run Inn” sausage and pepperoni frozen pizza (not a sponsor) and a half package of Banquet Mega Chicken Tenders (not a sponsor) and both were excellent. The pizza is outstanding, highly recommend (again not a sponsor) and the tenders were mega and who doesn’t love that. I don’t want to say how menu was midseason form, (I did have to fill my Red Sox glass with 70% Diet Caffeine Free Pepsi (not a sponsor) and 30% Diet Pepsi (not a sponsor) so I’ve got some things I can clean up, but if I had to watch a regular season game today, I could. And that’s what the preseason is all about, being ready.

- There was an entire section of people at the game with their shirts off, swinging them over their heads. New safety Kevin Byard was standing on the bench waving a towel like he’s M.L. Carr, urging them on. The Tartan Army has given Boston sports fans a lot, this will be a thing all season, even in December/January. (Though harder to get a whole section to buy into “tarps off.” Also, I really hope the Patriots play in Scotland next season.)

- 13-13 tie, the Patriots start the preseason 0-0-1. (looks weird in print.) The Patriots are back in action next Saturday night at Philly, I will be at the Zach Top/Marcus King concert, so I will study the tape next Sunday and publish the Notebook on Monday morning at 6am.

I know, I’m one of the few people that gets excited for preseason games, I’m just happy to be watching something that looks like football again. We likely won’t see a lot of the starters, but there is always something to watch and here are some areas of the AFC champs that I’m going to be keeping a watch on when toe hits leather on Thursday night.

- The wide receiver position as a whole. During training camp, the media that covers the team changes like the weather in Newburgh, Maine. One day Kyle Williams is going to be a break out sophomore and the next they’re writing that he’s going to be cut. Last Thursday, I saw 5-6 tweets touting how great a week of practice Pop Douglas had, and not 20 minutes later I was seeing “rumor” that it would be Pop, not Kayshon Boutte, that was going to be traded or left off the roster entirely. So snaps for guys like Williams and Efton Chism will be important. EC3 is another one that I have seen a lot of highlights of, but also have heard chatter that they think he might be due for another year on the practice squad. I have a hard time believing it, but whoever is out there catching passes could be a true indication of their standing on this roster.

- We likely won’t learn much about the Kayshon Boutte situation by watching these games, but strong performances by guys likely to make the roster at wide receiver could set the Patriots up better to be without their best deep ball threat from a year ago.

- Early in camp there was talk about receiver Mack Hollins playing some tight end. That feels like something you’d need to work out during preseason games, or at the very least joint practices (we have one coming up with the Eagles next week.) I don’t hate the idea, Hollins is a great blocking receiver and is a big target, but it’s a double edged sword: he’s too fast for a linebacker to cover, but he’s too light to block a defensive end. Classic catch-22 if you ask me. (You didn’t, but I answered anyway. I feel like we have that type of relationship.)

- Speaking of tight end, I’m looking forward to our first look at rookie TE Eli Raridon. Sounded like he got off to a slow start but has been turning heads as of late. You know what’s weird? At tight end we have stalwart Hunter Henry and then 3 rookie tight ends. (Raridon, CJ Dippre out of Alabama and Tanner Arkin from Illinois.) I saw a lot of Dippre at Alabama and he was a big target, solid in all phases, but we’ll see how that translates to the NFL. Arkin I know nothing about, except that he played for Bret Bielema at Illinois and that’s good enough for me.

- I’m looking forward to finding out the pronunciation of Patriots rookie, 3^rd string quarterback Behren Morton. Is it Bay-ren? Bee-ren? Bern? Burren? Ben? (the HR could be silent, we don’t know. Or at least I don’t.) I could look this up, but like a little second-half-of-preseason-game-number-one treat for myself, I want to wait and hear it on the broadcast. (I hope it’s pronounced Byron and I have no idea why.)

- I’m very interested in the cornerback position. I think a deal will get done with Christian Gonzalez soon, but Carlton Davis has been dealing with an injury (not a newsflash, though he was quite healthy last season. Almost excessively healthy really.) This is a position that you always need depth at, so who is going to be that depth? Looking at the Patriots’ depth chart Karon Prunty is listed as the 2^nd string behind Gonzo and 3^rd string at left corner behind Davis and Kobee Minor. Marcellus Dial has also had a lot of talk about him at camp this year.

- The position perennially the most fun to watch in preseason games to me is running back. Mostly because we see a lot the run game in the preseason and there are usually guys who break a big run or gash a team’s third string defense in the fourth quarter that even though I know I shouldn’t, I get excited about. The top two spots on the Patriots roster are sewn up by Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson. Then it gets interesting, Terrell Jennings saw some time last year and was productive, I think he has the inside track at being the third back. But you also have Lan Larison, who should have been a rookie last season, but suffered an injury late in camp and was placed on the IR. He’s listed as the 4^th string option, I’m excited to see him out there. I mean Lan Larison, that’s a name right out Yellowstone. (The show not the park.) However there is also Alabama rookie Jam Miller. Miller is a tough runner who we’ve seen a lot of the last two seasons in Tuscaloosa. I could see a world where Miller or Larison pops late in these preseason games and has us talking about either who gets that third slot at running back or the potential of carrying 4 on a roster that also features fullback Reggie Gilliam.

A lot to watch for and I for one am ready for some football.

So is Bocephus (friend of the program.)

We’ll be back with a recap on Friday. Then two weeks from today with a recap of the 2^nd preseason game against Philadelphia.

He’s been ejected over check swings. He’s been ejected over absurd comments made by people, who should have been ejected and weren’t. He’s been thrown at and he’s been hit….. a lot. (18 times after Friday night’s savage beaning in LA, 4^th most in his career and is just behind his torrid 24-in-2022 HBP pace for most in a season of his career.) He calls himself Bowser, because well he looks like the villain from Super Mario Bros. Most wouldn’t like being compared in the looks department to a scowling, angry, cartoon turtle, but then again he’s always embraced the villain persona. Who else strode to the plate at the Home Run Derby and as boos rained down from the Philly crowd, he admonished them to boo harder. He would have been a great heel in the early 80’s, you can picture him teaming with the Iron Shiek to take on the British Bulldogs and getting pelted with crumpled up Coke cups (not a sponsor), pop corn boxes and hot dog wrappers.

But while he makes a great heel to the other 29 teams in Major League Baseball, Willson Contreras has been the biggest babyface in Boston sports this summer. With the confidence of George Scott, the style of Manny Ramirez and the fire of Pedro Martinez, Willson Contreras has walked into Boston and become the leader we didn’t think we had. After the Red Sox 15-game winning streak was snapped, (interim) manager Chad Tracy was asked what he said to the team and he said “Sonny and Willson were already up there talking to the guys when I got to the clubhouse.”

Red Sox fans love his massive bat flips, his slow walks out of the batters box and his imploring his teammate and fans a like to get on their feet. (Other teams, probably not so much.) Whether it is belting a go-ahead homer in Sacramento and patiently waiting for the ball to land before leaving the batters box and underlining the Boston on his jersey (David Ortiz would be proud) or ripping a game tying double against the Orioles and screaming at the dugout that America’s Most Beloved Ballpark was “my fudging house!” (Only he didn’t say fudge. At least I don’t think he said fudge.)

Most of us are guilty of giving up on this team after the first 3 months of horrendous baseball. I kept watching but as friend of the program Mike Violette would say “That is one dead-ass 9.” However Contreras never stopped trying to push this team forward. Heck, he started bench clearing incidents just to get the fellas fired up. It seems like everything he’s doing it to get the team going and happily for all of us, after 3-months of priming, the engine has finally fired up!

I’ve loved watching this guy all summer: that right handed swing at Fenway, his unbuckled confidence that he’s going deep with every shoe top swing, challenging the city of Philadelphia during the Derby and then swinging as hard has he possibly could to try and hit that scoreboard more than 500-feet away and almost doing it. What has me most enthralled by Willson Contreras is his sense of the moment.

On Thursday night in a sandlot in Sacramento, the Sox trailed the Athletics by a run, 4-3 in the 8^th inning. Wilyer Abreu crushed a game-tying home run. The crowd, mostly Red Sox fans (Sac-town has always been a Sox hot-bed) were still buzzing when Contreras stepped into the box next. And you knew, you KNEW he was going to come undone on the first pitch he saw, because he knew, he KNEW that the momentum had shifted. The reliever was probably going to come back with a fastball and if he went deep in that moment the dugout would explode and they did when he crushed the first pitch into the twilight of the California Capital.

I watched the replay of the back-to-back home runs 50 times on Friday and listened to Will Flemming’s bellowing call just as many. The energy that Wilyer & Willson have brought to this team has been infectious during the month of July. I say this with the most sincerity and joy, they’re turned us into a WBC team. I enjoyed watching this tournament this spring and seeing the passion on these teams from the Dominican, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. With 4 players from Venezuela in the lineup on Friday night, we have a similar spirit to that squad that won the WBC this spring and I for one am here for it.

What happened Friday night in Los Angeles was tough to watch. Dodgers reliever Will Klein threw a first pitch fastball to Contreras that came within inches of the slugger’s jaw. The next pitch was low and away but the third pitch hit Willson square in the helmet, just behind the earflap. He stayed in the game to run the bases, but was then removed for what stands as Major League Baseball’s version of concussion protocol. (I’m sure the Red Sox training staff probably wrapped a giant ace bandage around his head like Bud Abbott or Lou Costello had a toothache in the 40’s and then pushed him down some stairs.) The Red Sox would go on to win that night 9-4 without their best hitter, but you hope there aren’t lingering affects and Bowser can get back to doing what he’s done all season, seizing the moment.

Red Sox Notes

- The numbers from July are staggering- 21-4 is the best record for a single month in Red Sox history. The 15-game winning streak was the second longest ever. After the win on Saturday night in Los Angeles, the Red Sox had won a game that they had trailed in for the 10^th time, IN THEIR LAST 14 GAMES! (For a team that didn’t overcome a 3-run deficit until mid-summer, this is unfathomable.) By winning Saturday night’s game, the Red Sox are clinched their 8^th consecutive series win, something last done by a Red Sox team in 2013. (That team went on to win the World Series.)

- Ceddanne Rafaela has been white hot since the All-Star break. In 2025, I thought he should’ve made the American League squad, he didn’t and after the break he went into a below the Mendoza-Line slump that lasted until the end of September. This year, he made the All-Star team and in the 16-games since the break (not counting Sunday night’s finale vs the Dodgers) Rafaela has 22 hits (half of those for extra bases), 13 runs scored, 6 home runs and 17 RBI. For those of you who don’t listen to the Section 10 podcast (I recommend it) they give out the Klark’s Ketchup Series MVP award for ever series that the Red Sox win. Rafaela has won the last two awards and will certainly walk away with the award from the Dodgers series as well. Drizzling ketchup 3 straight series just does not happen.

- I mentioned Contreras’s 18 hit by pitch’s this season, the all-time team record is 35 set by Don Baylor in 1986. (Also an American League record.) Second most in team history? Don Baylor, 24 in 1987. (How many seasons did Baylor play in Boston? 2! The career Red Sox record is 86 set by Kevin Youkilis. Baylor ‘86 seems out of reach for Contreras, but the countdown to Baylor ’87 is very much on!

- I know the Dodgers trading for Tarik Skubal has nothing to do with the Red Sox beating the Dodgers two games in a row, but I like to believe that it did.

- The trade deadline will be fun to follow today, It really does feel like the Red Sox are going to trade for a shortstop, but not getting my hopes up. Though I am conflicted on trading away Franklin Arias, the #3 prospect in the game, who just so happens to play shortstop, just so we can get one now right now.

- As always, I’d like another bullpen arm (something about me, is I can never have too much depth in my bullpen). The pen has been outstanding but like a gallon of milk, you might as well grab one while you’re shopping. Though I am very intrigued by Tanner Houck coming back as a reliever. I always thought that was his true calling, he was a closer at Missouri and I always thought his fast ball, sweeper and cross body motion would work better out of the bullpen. Plus he’s best friends with Garrett Whitlock, so there is some synergy there.

-The Red Sox just swept the defending World Series champion Dodgers. This is the 6th sweep the Red Sox have had since June 25th. This is unbelievable.

Patriots training camp kicked off this weekend and some would say earlier this month the Red Sox season truly began as well. With the Bruins and Celtics quite literally the furthest thing from my mind these days, I figured rather than a Boston Sports Round Up, we’ll just look at Red Sox and Patriots. (The title of this Notebook is an homage to best friend of the program John Beaupre, who for many years had a vanity license plate that read “Sox Patz”. I still don’t recognize his car without this tag on it.)

Red Sox

· Starting with the most obvious statement a Red Sox fan can make, “Boy that 15-game winning streak was fun!” Something that hadn’t happened in 80-years, it’s safe to say most of us have never experienced anything like it! We should do it again! With the first 9 before the All-Star break and the last 6 wins coming after the break, it feels like the team didn’t drop a ball game for a month. There were rainouts, double headers, home run derby’s, suspensions and appeals happened before the Sox lost two games. The last day that the Red Sox lost the only ball game they played on a date was July 1^st vs Washington and the next would be July 25th. The Red Sox sure know how to celebrate America’s 250^th!

· How long did the Red Sox go without losing a game? Willson Contreras got into a fight with Cade Cavalli on June 30^th in a 6-1 loss to the Nats. Contreras was given a 7-game suspension on July 1^st and appealed on July 3^rd, which was reduced to 5 games, which he began serving on July 9^th vs the White Sox, missing the entire Mets series. Then he competed in the Home Run Derby (lawless event that it is), the All-Star Game itself, then sat out game one of a double header vs Tampa on Friday, made his return to action that night hitting a home run in his first at-bat and then the Red Sox still won 5 more games before they lost again. Contreras won 5, was suspended 5 and won 5 more. Such a balanced player.

· Every year I get sucked into the Sox at the trade deadline. Last year we were going to get Joe Ryan and a power bat and maybe a top notch reliever, but like Spaulding Smails, we got nothing and liked it! (Not entirely true, we did not like Dustin May.) The year before, I don’t recall specifically what we were teased but we got reliever Lucas Sims (who was terrible) another reliever not named Lucas Sims but pitched like Lucas Sims (terrible too) “then we got a gas shortage, A Flock of Seagulls and that’s………about…….it.” (Shout out Austin Powers.)

So while I want to get excited about trading for a CJ Abrams or Shea Langeliers Bangoliers (not excited for the possibility of Angels SS Zach Neto) I’m not going to get my hopes up. (Update, Shea Langeliers is now injured and likely needs knee surgery, so that option is likely off the table.) Craig Breslow made some excellent moves last offseason (Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, maybe even the Durbin trade) but if you look at his last two trade deadlines, we were told we were going to be buyers and when the moment came, he froze.

For the last month the Red Sox have been in the conversation of being the best or at least hottest team in baseball but they could use a few pieces. They’ve played themselves into position to make some noise down the stretch against a diminished American League. They need some help up the middle at shortstop or second base and you can never have too much pitching. Bullpen can always use another quality arm, our rotation has been outstanding but Suarez and Early are banged up, we don’t know if Crochet is coming back this year, Bennett and Tolle have pitched more this year than in any year of their lives and at some point Sonny Gray will probably lose a second game. (Update: he did on Saturday.)

I don’t know what the price tag would be for Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams, but I’d kick the tires. Langeliers is a helluva catcher and someone you would have under control for 3 more years. (Again, injured.) I love Carlos Narvaez but I don’t know what’s happening there this year, it’s been bizarre for this guy who should have been an All-Star a year ago and probably should have won the Gold Glove now feels like a backup to Connor freakin Wong. Again, I wouldn’t trade assets for Zach Neto, but it’s the move that feels the most Craig.

(I’ve heard the rumor that the Padres would be willing to trade closer Mason Miller if a team was willing to take on the Xander Bogaerts contract. The Xander deal is easily the worst deal in sports, maybe in sports history, but the Sox do need a shortstop, he was great here and Mason Miller would be INCREDIBLE to watch on a nightly basis. The guy is unhittable. To me this is a win-win if I’m the Red Sox, also I don’t like these Mason Miller to the Yankees rumors I’ve heard. Would love to nip that in the bud if I could.)

UPDATE: On Saturday night I arrived home after rocking to Motley Crue all night to see that the Red Sox had just sent Connelly Early to Washington for 3^rd baseman Curtis Mead. I went from Dr. Feelgood to Dr. Who? in an instant. I knew and had been talking with Sox pals Mike and Rob earlier that the Red Sox were likely to trade one of their 3 young left handers (Early, Payton Tolle and Jake Bennett) and that Early seemed like the most likely. (Crochet, Suarez, Tolle, Bennett and Early would be a potentially great rotation for the next 5-10 years, but can a team exist with only left handed starters?) Tolle feels untouchable, he wasn’t his sharpest in his last start and he still punched out 9 Orioles. Bennett ditto, not his sharpest outing but still just wins ball games. Early has a bad elbow at the moment.

This trade feels reactionary in that Tolle is a potential horse/character/star in the making, can’t trade a guy like that. Jake Bennett has been a revelation, but remember a year ago when Early was a revelation too? He started a road playoff game at Yankee Stadium for you last October. Making this trade right now feels like we are buying high on Bennett and trading low on Early. I did a Kick Start of My Heart and got to Googling of Curtis Mead (never a good sign). He has 17 homers for the Nats this season (but then again, who doesn’t?) he’s a right handed, pull hitter (who I’m assuming has a high lift rate, because that seems to be what Craig is after, see: Contreras, Willson and Durbin, Caleb. Say what you want about Breslow, but the guy definitely has a type.) Mead’s 25, so there’s some team control there, he’s Austrailian, so I don’t know what to make of that besides make Crocodile Dundee references and he was once DFA’d by the Chicago White Sox. Don’t know what to do with that either besides say “That’s not a knife, that’s a knife!”

I think Mead will play second base, his defense is below average at 3^rd, but average to slightly above average at 2^nd base. And you can’t move Durbin off of 3^rd. Not sure I love taking reps away from Anthony Seigler, but again there isn’t a whole lot I love about this trade. You had moves to make and one of them was probably dealing Connelly Early, but I feel like he should have been a major piece in a larger trade to bring a big piece to your team. Now we have bet that chip on a single spin of the roulette wheel, Mate.

Patriots

· I don’t really understand the Kayshon Boutte trade stuff. I guess it essentially comes down to him wanting a new contract and the team not wanting to give him one now that we’re paying AJ Brown. After seeing a highlight package of deep balls that Drake threw last year, part of me wants to say “pay that man his monies” but I get that you can’t pay everyone. (Especially if you are on the verge of giving Christian Gonzalez his well deserved pay day.) Wide receiver is the position, sort of like starting pitching that just when you think you have enough, suddenly you make two moves and you’re at a deficit again. Would love Boutte to be here another year especially opposite Brown, and then left him walk. However these are the things that happen when you’re a conference champion, suddenly everyone wants to get paid. I expect Kayshon to be traded before week 1, but something we’ll hear a lot about in the coming days and weeks.

· Speaking of receivers, lost in the LeBron on Philly-mania, I saw tweets saying the Patriots were bringing in DeAndre Hopkins. Which is a fun headline to see until you remember the state of his game last year in Baltimore. (I’ve wanted him in Foxborough for YEARS!) When Vrabel said that he was going to be at practice because he’s thinking about becoming a coach, I couldn’t be more in. Nuke is an all-time vibes guy and the kind of former player/influence that you want in a locker room. I think he’d be a great addition if he decides that coaching is something that he wants to do. Though I will say, going from someone who we didn’t know was retired to being a coach is a situation that feels like it could be fraught with potential peril. However if anybody could handle it, it’s my guy D-Hop.

· I was pleasantly surprised to see that 2^nd round pick Gabe Jacas finally signed his deal with the Patriots. That was a weird story on the horizon, rumors of injury, surgery that wasn’t disclosed, agents, holdouts and all the things you don’t want to hear about the player you just spent a second round pick on. Now he’s in the fold, hopefully he’s healthy (especially with Harold Landry starting the year on the PUP.

- We open with the addition of AJ Brown. Feel like we covered this a bit in the first episode of the season but really I’m okay with it. The fact that I can’t be more certain if we did or not should tell you where we are on the summer calendar. I’m going to take this as a positive artistic choice and instead of lampooning them for filling time in this sitcom length episode, I’m going to applaud the film makers for taking a page out of the Rocky playbook where Rocky III begins with the end of Rocky II. Classic cinema stuff here from RKK Productions.

- Drake Maye talks about how great the consistency is and how great it is to be back with the same coach and same offensive coordinator. Somewhere curly headed Mac Jones just Gronk-spiked his peace iced tea.

- Thought: there are clips of Drake working out wearing his practice jersey. Of course quarterbacks wear red jerseys, Drake’s is wildly faded across the shoulders. Which means one of two things

o 1. Drake works out so much, that his jersey has become sun-bleached. (A great sign!)

o 2. We gave our franchise quarterback not only a hand-me-down practice jersey, but we gave him Mac Jones’ old practice jersey. Heck, Mac probably didn’t even get it new. That might be Jimmy G’s #10 that Drake is wearing. Boy if that jersey can talk. Probably still smells like Drakkar Noir (not a sponsor) and kamikazes.

- 1^st day of Rookie mini-camp, Coach Vrabel tells all the news guys what they can call him: “I’m Mike Vrabel, you can call me coach, you can call me Vrabes, you do not have to call me sir.” It seems like a simple thing, but that’s a great way to start a meeting like that. In 2026, what do you call your coach? Vrabes is still wearing his monogrammed mechanics shirt. It will be interesting to see if they run back some of the “team” stuff that they did last year, or if they create their own inside stuff. (Shouts out Ahmad Rashad.)

- All the rookies are lined up on the wall of the meeting room, Vrabel asks Christian Barmore what he thinks of them all, Barmore with a giggle says “they cool!” I don’t know why that tickled me, also, how did Christian Barmore find out if they are truly cool? But a cool way to get started, all the veterans are seated in their seats, probably the same seats all the time. The rookies have to introduce themselves to the group and then find their own seat. Nice way to integrate the new guys into the team, in the most literal fashion.

- The clip of AJ Brown winking at Gronk and Edelman on their podcast last year gets me every time. Eagles fans probably don’t love it, but I do!

- AJ Brown reveals that when he and Vrabel were together in Tennessee he grew to not like him, but after Vrabel left he realized what he was doing for him. Interesting to learn that it wasn’t all strawberries and cream in Music City between these two. Like the theme song from Step By Step, hope they can make it better, the second time around.

- I get why we signed Kevin Byard III. Just hearing this guy talk is enough, add in his high level of play from the safety position and you have added a true leader to this defense. (I get that I sound like I’m gushing or just buying the hype, but there’s a lot of positive things around this organization right now.)

- The rookies toured the Patriots Hall of Fame, feel like that’s something that fans want the current players to be familiar with and neat to see that they taught them a bit of the franchise’s history. That’s the connective tissue right there that they don’t have in many franchises. Are you telling me the Tennessee Titans have a hall of fame? Or the Arizona Cardinals? Not many do, nice that they took advantage of the, we’ll call them, institutional educational opportunities available to them. (Also, bringing in Ivan Fears to talk to the rookies is such a power move. That’s Vrabel showing these kid what a man looks like. Scar and Fears should be like the uncles of this franchise and get to run one session a week during training camp. Just toughen ‘em up.)

- I’m adding the Maye Day Celebrity softball game to my calendar in 2027 now.

- One clip shows Vrabel telling the offense in practice that “the next time you score, I want you all to run past all those DB’s, you know buzz the tower.” Good example of a former playing knowing how to light that competitive fire during mini-camps.

- The episode wraps up with Vrabes stressing what the players need to pay attention to for the next 40-days until they come back for training camp. Those 40 days are almost up.

Football is back.

We’ve reached the Mid-Summer Classic and just as we all predicted the Red Sox are once again on fire. I say once again, not because they’ve been hot and cold this year, (they’ve been one frigid temperature all season up until the end of June), but because it was at this same time last year that the Red Sox showed playoff promise. Remember, the All-Star break couldn’t have come at a worse time for Boston in 2025, the boys were on a 10-game winning streak when the festivities began. (Stat of the day: since 2023, in the 10 games before the All-Star break, the Red Sox are 34-6! 2023 8-2, 2024 7-3, 2025 10-0, 2026 9-1.)

This year, the Sox hit the break winners of 9 in a row (13 of their last 15) are the hottest team in baseball and all of a sudden look like a team with a future. Is it real or is it Memorex? (Not a sponsor.) Last year it felt like the Red Sox were a young team that was blossoming at the right time, rallying together after the trade of Rafael Devers. There was a visible path forward built around veterans like Trevor Story (remember him?) and Alex Bregman, plus the injection of energy with Roman Anthony, plus-plus Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela playing all-star caliber/Gold Glove winning baseball. Add in Aroldis Chapman and Garret Whitlock anchoring the back end of your bullpen and there was sort of enough there to justify feeling optimistic about this team’s chances.

We know how that all played out in the postseason.

This year, the Red Sox offense is starting to perform better, but part of me wonders if that’s just a product of the general rule that it couldn’t get any worse than the way they played the first 3 months? Guys are hitting better in general, but I just can’t get past the lineups that we’re putting out there. Part of it is injury, part suspension (I love Willson Contreras and hope he puts on a show in the Home Run Derby tonight and the All-Star Game tomorrow. I was talking with the Old Man about Contreras being added to the AL team and he said: “He might be the first person to charge the mound during the home run derby.” To which I replied “Yeah, I just hope he doesn’t get ejected from the All-Star Game.” Everything is on the table with WC-40 and I’m here for it!)

But look at the lineup that we put out there for the finale last Thursday in Chicago

1. Anthony Siegler-2B (Love Tony Seagulls! Big energy guy, might also have a broken shoulder, we’ll never know.)

2. Ceddanne Rafaela- CF (If he doesn’t win the platinum glove, it’s a shame)

3. Wilyer Abreu- RF (Someone called him Trot Nixon and I can’t unsee the comparison now. Not a bad thing, just less exciting.)

4. Romy Gonzalez- DH (Welcome back, but a week ago was rehabbing a 9-month injury and now he’s batting cleanup.)

5. Caleb Durbin- 3B (Dude has turned it around in a massive way and with Contreras is a big part of this recent Sox surge. Also probably a Gold Glover.)

6. Andrew Monasterio- SS (Flashed early, but he’s a util guy who can play everywhere but don’t want him batting 6^th regularly. (Side note: wrote this line before the Mets series. I still stand behind what I said, just a little further back.)

7. Nate Eaton- LF (Like Seagulls, a lot of energy, good solid player, might also be playing with something broken right now.)

8. Brett Harris- 1B (Red Sox debut, got him from Oakland and like Delaware showing up on the green screen in Wayne’s World………”Look, it’s Brett Harris.”

9. Connor Wong- C (What can we say about that we haven’t already said about Brett Harris, except he’s correct 70% of the time on ABS challenges behind the plate!)

I mean, that is in fact a line up that won a ball game, though two things can be true at the same time in that, it’s also an offense that scored two runs. (Both on a Durby Home Run.) You take Contreras out of this lineup and suddenly it looks drastically different (Should be noted, Duran also had a day off, did pinch hit and had a big catch.) This isn’t a line up that scares you (or even my cat Ruby and she got scared by a motorcycle that drove by on Sunday playing its music too loud). Even after the Sox lost Anthony late last season, we thought there was enough offense to make the Red Sox dangerous in the playoffs. We were wrong.

This year, unless we get Roman Anthony back and lord knows if we will or not. I don’t see us down the stretch or good lord willing and the creek don’t rise, in a playoff series, having a better offense than in 2026. Lucky for us, the game isn’t played on paper!

While I just don’t know where the offense will come from, but what I will say is that the team right now feels like it has something going that it hasn’t had in a few years. Call it chemistry maybe, but on Sunday we trailed 2-0 in the 9^th inning and you still felt like this Red Sox team had a chance. For once it was the Mets (who are a WAYYYYY bigger a disappointment than we are) was the team that made an error at the wrong time and suddenly had that “not again” look in their eye. Again, I stress for the 4^th year in a row, the All-Star break couldn’t have come at a worse time.

I don’t want to diminish any excitement, the Sox are surging, there should be nothing but positivity right now, and that’s easy to find these days when you look at this starting pitching rotation. It hasn’t been all sunshine and roses for the starting staff either: Garrett Crochet hasn’t pitched in two months. Brayan Bello, who started game 2 of the Wild Card series for you last fall was demoted to Triple-A. Ranger Suarez, your big free agent acquisition, just went down with an ankle injury. Connelly Early’s elbow is barking a little bit. Hasn’t mattered. Every time someone goes down, there’s a giant, left handed hoss coming out of the stable, ready to stand on the bump and take a no-hitter into the 7^th.

My feelings about Payton Tolle are widely known. This Jake Bennett kid has been a revelation. A big, strong lefty who just gets hitters out. He’s the king of weak contact and short innings. Where Tolle is all mustache sweat and rubbing the hyde off the baseball, Bennett is the Excellence of Execution: he gets ahead of hitters, he induces fly balls, ground balls and allows almost nothing to be hit hard. In this day and age where starters rarely go long enough to qualify for a win, this kid cruises into the 7^th with 70 or less pitches. (You could envision this kid opposing Mark Fidrych on Monday Night Baseball in 87-minutes.) He’s a joy to watch, the kind of guy you’d like to see start the second game of a double header because he might get you out of there in two hours flat.

Sonny Gray doesn’t get enough love, he wasn’t named to the All-Star team despite having the second best ERA in the American League. (I hope even as you’re reading this that there is still a chance that he gets added to the squad. I like Suarez and have enjoyed watching him this season, but if this game wasn’t in his former ballpark (Philadelphia) would he have made the team over Gray? I can’t imagine that he does. They weren’t going to add both of them because at the time the team was announced the Sox were 10-12 games under .500 and I think Kennesaw Mountain Landis instituted a rule that you can’t have two starting pitchers make the All-Star team if the team is more than 10 games below .500. I still couldn’t pick Suarez over Sonny, heck I don’t think I’d pick Suarez over Tolle.)

The hope is that Early’s elbow isn’t a big deal and he’s able to return. Even if you don’t get Crochet back (but oh baby if we did!!!) you could be a tough team running Gray, Tolle Suarez, Bennett and maybe Early out there. (How many good young left handed pitchers can one team have? I mean, is there is a Kennesaw Mountain Landis rule about that? I hope not.)

The bullpen is the same, I love Chapman (as much as one can love Aroldis Chapman) and I trust Garrett Whitlock with my life. After that, buckle up because even the Tyron Guerreros, Justin Slatens and Greg Weisserts scare the beejeesus out of me. But if your starters just all go 7-shut, we’re all set! (That is if we can score a run or two!)

I think there has to be some regression for these stud left handers that are apparently growing on trees around Landsdowne Street; can Tolle keep up with the work load of a full season as a starter? Ditto for Bennett and Early. We don’t know if they can, because something like this is new for a franchise that hasn’t developed quality young starters over the last two decades. (Lester and Buchholz were really the last two, unless you want to count Felix Doubront, Eduardo Rodriguez and Brayan Bello. Which I do not.) It’s fun watching these big hosses take the ball every night and even more so when the offense can put up a couple of runs up on the board. To quote the great Nuke Laloosh “I just love winning, man. You know how it’s like, better than losing!”

For an aimless team for 3-monthes, it now seems like there is a path forward. A year ago at the All-Star break, the Boston Red Sox were viewed to have a 37% chance to make the playoffs. This year? 36%. We’re 2 games under .500 at 46-48, but we have the 4^th best run differential in the American League at +27. (Only the Yankees +91, White Sox +35 and Rays +32 are better. Fun fact, besides the Red Sox, only Detroit and Seattle have positive run differentials (+24 and +16 respectively) in the entire AL. Just a down year for the league overall.) We might be 10-games behind AL East leading Tampa, but all of a sudden we’re only a half game back of the final wild card spot. Build around pitching, hope the hitting picks up and in an incredibly down year for the American League, just see what happens.

It’s crazy, two weeks ago I would have traded Sonny Gray, Aroldis Chapman and (through gritted teeth) Willson Contreras. Now, I think I’d rather see how this thing plays out. Need some health, need some good luck, but two weeks ago we thought we needed miracles.

Baseball.

Boy do I hate the Jaylen Brown trade! (How’s that for a hot take.) I was on the fence about training him for Giannis, but ultimately decided I would take the plunge for an MVP-caliber player. Didn’t happen, he took his many talents to South Beach. Apparently in their pursuit of the Greek Freak, the Celtics burned the ships with Brown, as there was no way to bring him back to the Celtics.

The back up options after we couldn’t give him for the Greek, that we saw last week were all, shall we say, unpalatable. There was a pupu platter on the table from Portland of guys I’d never heard of it, but with draft picks that would likely be very high. Two things I know about Portland: 1. They’re not very good 2. Their owner doesn’t want to buy playoff t-shirts. Recipe for the Celtics to steal a top pick perhaps!

Another option that was floating out there was Denver, where in the Celtics would get former Finals hero Jamal Murray. Don’t know that I love the fit, but at least you’d be getting a good player in return plus some more. Maybe even opening up the lines of communication to eventually bring Nikola Jokic to Boston? (Wishful, but we’re grasping.)

So what happens? The Celtics trade Jaylen Brown, 24-months removed from being the MVP of the NBA Finals, to arguably your biggest rival in the East. (Knicks are now 1a, Philly 1b) In return you get the corpse of Paul George and 4 draft picks: 2 first rounders and 2 second round picks. Seems like a lot, but Paul George is 36-years old and in his two years in Philadelphia never played in more than half of their games. Right now he would be the 5^th best player on a championship team for maybe one more season, MAX.

But you say to yourself, “but they got two first round picks.” Super! With Jaylen Brown now to go along with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecomb, I have a feeling that those two first rounders aren’t going to be lottery picks and I’m sorry, but late first round picks in the NBA Draft don’t do much for me.

In terms of recent horrendous trades on the Boston sports landscape, this ranks somewhere between Rafael Devers to San Francisco and Mookie Betts to the Dodgers. Sadly, I think this is closer to Betts to the Dodgers, though Brown hasn’t won an MVP, he did lead this franchise to a championship. (Still galls me that we got Verdugo and a back up catcher for Mookie Betts.) What takes the Brown trade even up a notch is that the Celtics traded him not only in the division, not only to a franchise that has been your rival for 60+ years, but you just made one of your main competitors MUCH better not only in talent but financially as well. You took the George contract off their hands and replaced it with Jaylen Brown.

Now you’ve put Jayson Tatum and Derrick White on an island. We got to see what the Celtics looked like last year without Tatum, now we get to see what Tatum looks like without Brown. Mitchell Robinson is an interesting piece, also taking from the NBA champions isn’t a bad move. You have Prichard, Hugo Gonzalez and Baylor Scheierman. You brought back Queta. You’re in the game, but boy does this team look different from the 2024 champs.

Trading Porzingus and Jrue Holliday made sense, it hurt but it made sense. This just hurts and I’m not sure it makes a damn bit of sense. Not now anyway. To have hope, you have to believe that this sets them up to do something next year or the year after; some big splash like trading for Jokic or (dare we dream) signing a player like Cooper Flagg. Unfortunately in the mean time, these next couple of years feel like we’re going to be floating on the illusion of respectability, without fully being a title contender. The Paul George era will be forgettable, but his name in Boston will never be forgotten. Paul George is the newest in the long line of Stan Papi, Danny Cater, Alex Verdugo and Kyle Harrison. Not a starting 5 you want to be on.

Friday night was supposed to be a great night. The Yankees are in town for a 4-game series that could determine the fate of employment for any number of Red Sox personnel. The boys would be in their spectacular green uniforms and Payton Tolle is on the mound. In this Red Sox season where there isn’t much to cheer for, there’s Tolle. Like Luis Tiant in ’72 or Jonathan Papelbon in 2006, Tolls is starting to capture the hearts and minds of Red Sox Nation. (Do we still call it that? Someone call Tom Werner and see what the branding is now. On second thought, don’t. It’s probably just another Car Shield ad. (Not a sponsor.)

Whether it is punching out the world or leaping for a ball that is 15ft over his head, the kid is as “must see” as anything on television this summer. Heck, Payton Tolle balked and somehow not only made it funny, but also started a (thankfully) short lived trend. (See Pittsburgh’s Jared Jones.)

Tolle is earnest, accountable and completely, 100% himself. When asked about the aforementioned balk, his response through unstifled laughter was: “There was no brain there. I haven’t had a balk this year, so I thought “This is the perfect time for it.” It creates good TV, I guess. I don’t know.” Indicative of his greater personality, I’m not sure I’ve seen him answer a question where he wasn’t at the very least smiling and more often than not trying not to laugh at something, like a little kid sitting in a quiet church pew.

However in a season that has been punctuated with bad news at every turn, more came on Friday. After a morning dissecting what people really thought of Marcelo Mayer, news came down that Tolle was dealing with the flu. Because sure, why not? In this season of disappointment and utter misery, one that saw our “Next Big Thing” Roman Anthony get injured, then saw our capital A-Ace Garret Crochet go down with an injury that, depending on who you ask, is either a hang nail or worthy of a body cast. Tolle has been the one glimmer of happiness in a season of many losses, few runs and unending negative headlines. So it seemed almost logical that we would be robbed of Payton Tolle in this key spot and in his place would probably be Brayan Bello. “Oh you ordered a steak, baked potato and strawberry shortcake? Sorry, but here’s a warmed up bowl of last year’s Jack-O-Lantern, coughed up saltine crackers and 3 sips of an old Dr. Pepper (not a sponsor) that’s been rolling around the bed of my pickup since the autumn before last.”

But Payton Tolle took the ball, illness be damned, and said he’d give it his best. Will Flemming said on the broadcast that “He isn’t sure how far he’ll be able to go and will likely be removed earlier than normal due to this influenza. Beggers not being choosers, we’d take alittle Tolle over a lot of Bello.

Well, you know the rest, Payton Tolle was perfect for the first 5 1/3 innings, before surrendering the only hit he’d give up that night. He would finally hit the wall with 2 outs in the 7^th inning and a strike away from putting the finishing touches on 7 innings of one-hit ball when he walked back to back hitters. Thankfully he had enough to get Jazz Chisholm to pop out to end the inning. With a 5-0 lead (how many of those have we had this season, 1?) I wasn’t worried so much about the outcome of the game in the 7^th inning, I just didn’t want the outing to be tarnished for Payton Tolle. After he went 9 up, 9 down, the first 3 innings, I was already thinking about if I’d title this piece “Perfect Payton” or “Tolle’s Flu Game”.

Spent after 7-shutout inning, 88-pitches, 7 strike outs and one massive fist pump at the end, Tolle went into the dugout, took his familiar spot on the top step, between Crochet and pal Connelly Early. And like an out of breath 8 year old, trying to tell his parents what just happened in the wiffle ball game in the back yard, he recounted the outing we had all just seen. There he stood, dripping sweat and Dayquil (not a sponsor) while the Red Sox put the finishing touches on a 6-1 victory over the Yankees. Guaranteeing at least a split with the best team in the American League. (Boy that’s tough to say.)

In a season of gloom, Payton Tolle gave us a moment of summer.

Much like the at the end of The Office (spoiler alert) when Dwight Schrute is named manager, jumps on the desk and yells “Dwight Schrute is manager!!!” To raucous applause, then only seconds later Creed Bratton jumps on his desk and screams “Creed Bratton, is the new manager!” and everyone sort of ignores him. That’s kind of where I am when it comes to the position of Red Sox manager right now. Chad Tracy is fine, he was thrust into a terrible situation: replacing a championship winning manager in April and taking the helm of a team that was set up to fail from a roster building perspective.

That being said I don’t get excited about having a Craig Breslow-Cylon like Tracy being the manager for the foreseeable future. The problem is, who do you replace him with? And who would get you excited? The blow from firing Cora could have been cushioned if it led to Jason Varitek finally getting his chance to manage the Boston Red Sox, but that Duck Boat has sailed. (Or however Duck Boats are propelled, not really sure. I don’t think it’s a sail but with this Red Sox season, Duck Boat propulsion should not be a priority.)

Having some fun, here are my 10 most fun Red Sox managerial candidates for 2026 and maybe beyond.

10. Dan Shaughnessy

One of the harshest critics of the team for longer than I have been alive, let’s give Dan a year at the helm with a “don’t’ call us, we’ll call you-team-option for 2027” that neither side will pick up. This feels like a bad 90’s sports movie where the team gets tired of getting raked over the coals by the know-it-all journalist, so they hire him to replace their manager. Hilarity ensues in what turns into a heart warming tale of walking a mile in another man’s cleats. Walter Mathau plays the writer-turned manager, Gus Bradstreet and Jack Lemmon plays his journalist pal Pete Kimball, who invariably turns on him because Gus sympathizes with the players and sees the error of his ways when the team loses a heart breaking ALCS game 7 to the arch rival. The final scene shows Gus giving a sympathetic speech to his places because he finally gets what a tough job it is to manage a big league ball team and who watched it all from the shadows of the dugout tunnel. You guessed it, Pete Kimball. Did you get goosebumps? (For the record, I would have loved this movie, critics would have hated it. Probably would have had a title like “Taking the Helm” or “Grumpiest Old Men in Baseball.” (Also, if Shaughnessy is named manager, I’m demanding that Bob Ryan be named his bench coach. Seeing the two of them in full uniform, stirrups included, would be worth the price admission, to the game and the movie.)

9. Jonny Gomes

I don’t really know what he’s doing right now, in fact I saw a guy catch a home run in center field the other night and I could have sworn it was him. (Remember when he caught a home run in the Monster seats a few years ago?) The team would have intensity, he’d probably stuff Craig’s number crunchers in a locker and honestly, I sort of feel like that’s what this team needs. This club could use a little of that 2013 magic. Speaking of……

8. Mike Napoli

I actually thought this guy was on the fast track to being a big league manager when he first got into coaching and then something happened. I’m really not sure what it was, perhaps he can’t get out of his own way or has some growing up to do, but for all the same reasons as Gomes, Napoli would be fun to have back in the mix.

7. Wally

Because it would be nice to have someone in this organization not say anything stupid on a daily basis.

6. Kevin Millar

From one end of the talking extreme to the other, I love Kevin Millar. Count me as one who enjoys when he joins the booth on NESN broadcasts. Common sense approach guy, who has a good view of the entire baseball landscape which I feel like would have to help. Also, he’d be entertaining, but also be a players coach in a good sense. Imagine all the “Cowboy Up!” type mantras he’d have up at the ballpark. You could make a mint off of all the t-shirts he’d print.

5. Pedro/Big Papi

Package deal, one does offense and one does pitching, defense can’t get worse so it can figure itself out. This would either be the most fun thing ever if they succeeded or the saddest thing since Toy Story 3 if it didn’t. I choose to believe that we’d become the #1 destination for Latin players, John Henry wouldn’t be able to say no to Pedro and David, so we’d sign them all and essentially become the Dominican WBC team. (Look at that roster, I’d be very VERY okay with that.)

4. Jared Carrabis

Similar in some ways to the Shaughnessy hiring, but would be a more modern movie. Carrabis hosts the Red Sox focused Section 10 podcast (as well as Baseball is Dead) but his hiring would be the equivalent of “your most knowledgeable Red Sox fan friend actually getting to run the team.” All the common sense moves and second-guessing texts you send during a game would get used on the big stage. I’d be a fan just to see what would happen if someone who watches all the games, unfettered by the complications and politics of becoming a big league manager could succeed. (Note, I’m a listener of Section 10, and the Portland Sea Dogs hosted a Section 10 night at Hadlock on Friday night. It was a great time, perfect 76 degree night, the kind of evening at the ballpark that makes you wonder why you don’t do this every night?!

3. Dustin Pedroia

Apparently he’s been turning Sam Kennedy down for months about doing anything in an official capacity with the ball club and I can’t say that I blame him. Though now that the Varitek relationship is strained to the degree that it is, Pedroia now takes the mantle of the former player that people won’t stop harping on becoming the new manager until it either happens or we find out that he’s doing something else. (Right now, we hear that he wants to coach his boys. Nobody knows how old they are or to what level he’ll coach them. If the Red Sox are patient, maybe we draft the Pedroia boys as soon as we can, so Dustin has to follow them into the organization? Is that entrapment? I mean we have D’Angelo Ortiz in the system, why not an infield full of Pedroia’s? (Side note, how fun would it be if we had 2-3 Pedroias and an Ortiz in the line up? Sign Michael Yastrzemski and we’re cooking with gas!

2. David Ross

This is the “John Farrell: Makes the Most Sense” award-hire. Ross seemed like a slam dunk of a hire when the Cubs made him the replacement of Joe Maddon but for a lot of reasons it didn’t work out there. He’s someone that all jokes aside, I would have my eye on if I was the Red Sox. He’s broadcasting games currently and much like Terry Francona, I could see him becoming a good manager the second time around. He’s a former Red Sox World Series champion, fan favorite, has a sense of humor but knows his stuff and has stayed around the game. If I was to put money down on “logical hire who the fans would actually get excited about” I’m putting it down on Rossi. (Could David Ross be to the Red Sox what Mike Vrabel is to the Patriots?)

1. Kevin Cash

This would be the best hire they can make. Cash has been tremendous with the Rays and I’m really not sure how. They don’t spend money, once they develop a prospect they have to trade that prospect and start over again, which all leads me to believe he must be a helluva manager. (I also want 2007 World Series champion battery mate-turned pitching coach Kyle Snyder in the deal too. Now that there’s a limit to how many times you can go out to the mound, why not? I think I’m done with the Andrew Bailey-experience. He’s a Craig guy, clean sweep, no more soup for you, NEXT!) Plus, by taking Cash, you’re also hurting a division rival. I’m not sure I’ve heard Cash speak since the 2007 World Series, so I honestly don’t know if he’s a Ray for life or we could send a prospect to Tampa and bring him to Boston. I really don’t have a clue what his allegiance is to Tampa, but as they say, I think this off-season you have to make him say no to you.

The Knicks’ 53-year drought wasn’t even the longest one in New York. The Jets won Super Bowl 3 and haven’t so much as been back to the big game since, that is 57-years of futility. The previously most famous drought in New York was the 54-years that it took the New York Rangers to finally hoist the Stanley Cup in 1994. (I hate the fact that even to this day I can pull up that the New York Rangers didn’t win a cup for 54-years.) But you know what’s funny? The Rangers won Lord Stanley and we got the inevitable “Now I can die in peace” proclamations (not from the Mayor that I recall, but maybe?) but you know what? Don’t look now but the Rangers are droughting again, in that they haven’t won the Cup again since 1994. So by my math (please check my work) that means the Rangers haven’t hoisted it again in 32-years. It’s not 54, but that’s the thing about droughts, they can sneak up on you.

Speaking of sneaking, there is another hockey team in New York (I know, you forget) but did you know the Islanders won 4 straight Stanley Cups (from 1980-84, we never talk about those Mike Bossy teams) however haven’t hoisted a cup that wasn’t filled with coffee since? 42-years and who’s counting, because again, it’s the Islanders. They were once purchased by a guy who didn’t have any money. (“I will gladly pay you Tuesday, for a hockey franchise today” I believe was the pitch.)

Take for instance the New York Yankees. They haven’t won a World Series since 2009, making their current streak of 16 title-less seasons, their second longest barren stretch since they won their first World Series in 1923. The longest is after the Yanks won in 1978, they then went through 18-pathetic seasons until they beat the Braves in the 1996 Fall Classic. (It should be noted because I hate them, that the Yankees also had a 15-year drought from 1962 until 1977, which is their 3^rd longest stretch without a ring.) For most this isn’t futuility, but for a franchise with 27-championships it is and by the rest of us that should be celebrated.

The Mets are viewed as this pathetic, unloveable, loser of a franchise and they are. The weird thing with the Mets is that as horrendous as they were when they first hatched in the 1960’s, they pulled off that miracle championship in 1969. Then in 1986 they put out one of the more dominant teams of the modern era of baseball, but since then it has been a chorus of crickets in Queens. But it doesn’t feel like the Mets are in the throes of a 40-year drought, mostly because they talk about that last ring so damned much. Talk to a Mets fan and they’ll wax poetic about Lenny Dykstra and Doc Gooden like the former 30-dingers the summer before last and the latter is taking the bump at Shea on Tuesday night.

Enough about New York, I’m feeling better about myself. The Boston landscape, we used to be drought central. While not the greatest at the moment, at least the grass is still fairly green across our prairies. I don’t love the current state of the Red Sox or the immediate future, but it’s been 8-years since our last World Series. (Math guys might notice that I am counting this season as being ringless.) Same for the Patriots, though we just played for a title back in February. The Celtics just wont he Larry OB two summers ago, so they’re firmly in post-title-afterglow. The Bruins have the longest Boston drought at 15-years. Sort of like the Rangers who didn’t win for 54-years, the Bruins had to wait almost 40-years between championships (1972-2011) and now are 15-years and counting without a cup. They had a couple of near misses during that time, but something the Hub needs addressed.

The longest current drought (between titles, we’re not counting the franchises that have never won a championship) is the Chicago St. Louis Phoenix Arizona Cardinals, who last won a title in Chicago in 1947. Baseball’s longest ongoing stretch without champagne rain is the Cleveland Indians Guardians at 77-years (you might remember their 1948 World Series run). Oddly enough the Knicks weren’t even the NBA’s longest title-less stretch, that would belong to the Rochester Royals Sacramento Kings, who won as the Royales With Cheese back in 1951. (A true “where were you” moment!) Maybe the most celebrated (because sickos do celebrates certain team’s futility, you know like penning 1000 word columns about them) drought in sports (now that he Knicks have exercised the demon’s of Charles Smith) belongs to the Toronto Maple Leafs who are 59-years and counting without a Stanley Cup. (Same name, same outcome each year.)

But to me, the most outstanding, confusing and miraculous drought in sports is the fact that a Canadian team hasn’t won a Stanley Cup since 1993. That’s incredible. As the Carolinas, Sunshine Floridas, Las Vegas and other US outposts have won numerous titles, our neighbors to the north are left to munch their Timbits (not a sponsor) without a cup to dunk them in. (Unless you count the Sudbury Blueberry Bulldogs winning the NOSHO.)

There are some that have never once won a championship, the NFL has 12 teams that have never won one of the 60-Super Bowls. (Bills, Vikings, Bengals, Falcons, Panthers, Cardinals, Titans, Chargers, Browns, Lions, Jaguars and Texans. Though to be fair, the Cardinals won that ’47 NFL title, the Browns were a juggernaut in the ‘50’s and won multiple NFL championships), the Lions won a pre-merger title. While the Chargers, Oilers and Bills all won AFL crowns as well. So to be totally fair it’s really the most recent expansion teams (Panthers, Jaguars, Texans, plus the Bengals, Falcons and Vikings who have never won a pro football championship.)

Baseball isn’t so bad, there it really is just the most recent expansion teams who have never tasted October glory: San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies, Tampa Bay Rays and Seattle Mariners. But for those teams created in the 60’s and 70’s, that clock is ticking louder and louder. Also, how much do they all hate the Florida Marlins, who became a franchise in 1993 and won TWO World Series (1997 & 2003). Lump in the Arizona Diamondbacks who were birthed in the desert back in 1998 and won a World Series in just their 4^th year. Jerks.

There are 10 NBA franchises who have never won a title: Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, Brooklyn Nets, Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers, Charlotte Hornets, LA Clippers, Memphis Grizzles, Minnesota Timberwolves and New Orleans Pelicans. I look at that list and go “Yeah, that seems about right.”

10 NHL team have never won a Cup: Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, San Jose Sharks, Nashville Predators, Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota Wild, Columbus Blue Jackets, Ottawa Senators (the current as of 1992 iteration is cupless) Seattle Kraken and Utah Hockey Club. (Forgot a few of these teams still existed or were created if I’m being honest.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go mow my lawn. It’s supposed to rain on Thursday.

The Red Sox could probably get their own Notebook right now, but don’t anybody need that much heartbreak in their email at 6am on a Monday morning. (What a way to start the week off?) I’m a self-admitted “162-Guy” I watch/listen to every game and even for someone like me who looks forward to each day’s game, this team is a tough watch. Especially at home where they are 1-8-1 in series at Fenway Park this season. Most concerning is last week’s comments from Isiah Kiner-Felefa who when asked about the team’s struggled at America’s Most Beloved Ballpark made vague comments about how Boston is a tough place to play with “so many more people around when we’re at home.”

Who could IKF be talking about? Probably not fans (a lotta empty seats at the Lyric Little Band Box these days) I think he’s talking about what Gorilla Monsoon would’ve referred to as “Stooges”. I think the Red Sox are suffering from too many cooks in the kitchen, not only that, I don’t think any of the cooks could carry Guy Fieri’s soup spoon. (If you know what I mean, and if you do, please get the help we both need.)

I think you have a front office that wants to meddle in the day-to-day operations of the team, because they see this thing going sideways and the blame is now on their heads. They couldn’t meddle when Alex Cora was here, he wouldn’t have allowed Craig Breslow or any of his “stooges” within a Willy Mo Pena home run of his team. But now you have a minor league outfit in charge of the on-field product at the major league level and you’re getting a minor league result, who’s fault is that?

The Red Sox are a poorly managed team: they’re still juggling the lineup in the same ways that Cora did, and you scratched your head when he did it, but ultimately trusted him to make the right decisions. When Chad Tracy does it, you just assume that its numbers based and coming from the Red Sox C-Suite. The Red Sox are unofficially the worst team in baseball when it comes to ABS challenges. They do it at inconsequential times and they get them wrong way too often, thus losing the opportunity to challenge when bigger moments come around late in games. Former Sea Dogs manager Chad Epperson has had 10 runners chopped down at home plate in just over a month. To recycle the oft told 3^rd base coaches critique, that I believe is attributed to Bill Simmons “if he was a crossing guard, he’d have third graders getting pancaked by SUVs every day.” (I think he was talking about the legendary Wendell Kim, or the 2004 3BC Dale Sveum.)

The most egregious bit of coaching malpractice was Thursday when Wilyer Abreu appeared to gun down a runner at third base against Baltimore: the throw beat the runner, Caleb Durbin may or may not have gotten the tag on him before he hit third base, but when the runner came off the bag, he should have been ruled out. The umpire called him safe, Chad Tracy stood there with his hand up and by the time he relayed that he wanted to challenge the call, it was too late to do so. (I think the call would have been overturned upon a challenge.) Anyway, the call stood, the inning continued and the Orioles scored 5-more runs to make it 6-0 after half a frame of baseball. The Sox lost another non-competitive ball game to the floundering Orioles 8-2 and ultimately wound up sending Brayan Bello to Triple-A before sundown, as the sun appeared to have set on his Red Sox career. Now that’s poor coaching.

But what did you expect? You wiped out the entire coaching staff a month into the season and replaced it with the best of your minor league staffs. I still disagree with firing Cora, but I think I disagree 10 times more with eliminating the entire staff as well. Maybe they felt like they had to, because they knew Varitek, Vasquez, etc were so loyal to Cora, but killing continuity with such an uncertain roster and giving them over to the most uncertain Red Sox coaching staff since probably Butch Hobson, feels like hardball malpractice.

I’ll still watch the rest of these games, mostly to see improvement and development for guys like Payton Tolle, Connely Early and hopefully at some point Roman Anthony. But we’re in the part of the year where we should have Harry Doyle from Major League do the open to each broadcast with: “Welcome to Major League Baseball. Sort of.”

Boston Bruins

I hear we still have a team and have uniforms and everything. I’ve been enjoying watching the NHL playoffs, but could we have a more bizarre final than Carolina vs Vegas? Feels like two made up teams in a movie about hockey. Which means this series is destined to be a classic, so far so good.

New England Patriots

I have to admit, even though we knew it was going to happen for the last 2-3 months, I’m even more excited about the AJ Brown trade than I thought I would be. This has given the team so much juice at OTAs, and just seeing him out on the practice field with Drake Maye (LOVED that he was out there the day after the trade was announced) has be feeling REALLY good about this team.

The offensive line has improved, the running game was very good last year and should be even better in year two of Henderson in this offense. Added some TE depth behind Hunter Henry (I hate losing Julian Hill to PUP, hoping he isn’t done or the year) Raridon will be fun to watch develop. Then you have this loaded up receiver room with Brown, Doubs, Hollins, Douglas, Boutte (maybe), Chism and Williams. All with a quarterback who took to the Josh McDaniels system like a duck to water last season and like a good stew, should only get better with time to simmer.

The straw that stirs the drink is Drake Maye. You see it in every video clip of him with his teammates, they like this guy. They believe in this guy. Look at the videos from his celebrity softball game that he held last weekend in Worcester, seemed like everybody was out there. (Including his wife, brothers, most of the roster and his head coach.) Maye is a unifier that is built to compete. The schedule will be tougher for the Patriots in 2026, but the Patriots will be tougher in 2026 as well.

Boston Celtics

There is half of me that thinks the Celtics are going to trade Jaylen Brown for Giannis Antetokounmpo and the other half thinks that Giannis will wind up being traded to the Lakers for Luke Kennard, Kurt Rambis’ back up glasses, JJ Redick’s yoga instructor any Bronny James’ shooting coach. Seems to be the way these things go in the NBA.

Not sure how I would feel about trading Jaylen Brown, I think I’d be a little sad to see the 2024 NBA Finals MVP head out the door, but seeing those Antetokounmpo Celtics jersey’s would make me feel some things. Not gonna get too high, not gonna get to low with this one. I’m honestly okay either way, I’m okay with standing pat with Brown and a healthy Tatum, or I’m okay with the Greek Freak & Tatum trying to unseat the Knicks next year.

To quote the great Henry Rowengartner “It’s gonna be a great summer.”

I mean we are two months into the New League Year and free agency, one more past the Draft, who trades a world beating receiver like AJ Brown during OTA’s? I have to admit, I’m taken totally by surprise. It’s not like the Patriots entire offseason has been based around adding a player like AJ Brown, sure it has been rumored. But you read a lot of things on the internet on a daily basis that isn’t true. (Did you hear that the Red Sox are close to a bombshell trade that will leave the baseball world stunned? Monitoring that one too, just in case.)

That’s enough. I was going for a stylized column where, you know how newspapers (or probably websites now) have a backlog of obituaries ready to go when public figures pass away? I was trying to write in the same format, so I could have something out about AJ Brown, even though the news wouldn’t be official yet. I had the idea because today is a Notebook day and the Notebook goes up at 6am on Mondays (or the day after the Patriots play) however the Eagles don’t care about the Sterling Notebook, they only care about saving $16-$17 million by trading Brown after 4pm, Notebook be damned!

Plus, who wants to read about any of the other inane material that I would have surely covered in the first June piece of the year when the Pats are on the precipice of adding the #1 receiver that they’ve been trying to lure to New England since Julian Edelman retired. (Don’t worry, we have an entire month of June for me to watch old Red Sox games and write about them, or watch old Patriots games and write about them, or old Celtics……well I won’t to spoil it. But I’m gonna write about them.)

AJ Brown is the big, downfield target, go up and get it #1 receiver that you need if you’re going to take the next steps as an offense. Stefon Diggs was better than my wildest dreams last season, (and I had a pretty wild one about being on the Price is Right and winning every showcase for eternity). Good as he was, Diggs was a starter #1 receiver, I’ve compared Diggs to the car your parents let you buy when you’re 16, nothing too nice or fast, safe enough, but something to learn on and if you crash it, no big deal. But if you do well with that first car, maybe they’ll help you buy something nicer. Drake Maye treated Diggs like gold and made both look like Progressive Insurance’s (not a sponsor) dream. A year ago, you might have been hesitant to pay the price the Patriots will inevitably pay for Brown, (insert what New England sent to Philadelphia here) but now that you have Drake Maye seemingly entering his prime, coming off a second place finish for MVP and a Super Bowl appearance. Maye’s sophomore campaign, if we were to keep the car analogy going, would be like you not wrecking the family Subaru and graduating salutatorian, so they pony up and help you buy a brand new Camry. (Not a sponsor.)

Sure, Brown had his problems in Philadelphia. He seemed to clash with the coaching staff, clash with Jalen Hurts, read books on the sidelines, really sick stuff. The faith is that if anybody can keep Brown in a positive head space, it’s Mike Vrabel. The two were together in Tennessee for 3 years and seemed to have a great relationship. Brown grew up a huge Tom Brady/New England Patriots fan, so in a different way, maybe this could be a discount version of Randy Moss coming over from Oakland in his late 20’s. (AJ Brown is 28, turns 29 on June 30^th. Still time to get him a card, but don’t put it off.) Moss had just turned 30 when the Patriots traded for him before the 2007 season. Brown should still have a lot of gas left in the tank.

There is some concern about his knee, there have been rumors floated around that he has an arthritic knee that is deteriorating to the point some say he might not pass a physical. I think it’s something to monitor, but if he passes the physical, then it’s full speed ahead. The Patriots will certainly do their due diligence, especially after handing over (insert what New England sent to Philadelphia here) to bring Brown to New England.

The Patriots have a very full receiver room now with AJ Brown, Romeo Doubs, Kayshon Boutte (unless he was sent to Philadelphia in return for AJ Brown of course) Pop Douglas, Mack Hollins, Efton Chism III and Kyle Williams. That’s a tough group of pass catchers. Add in tight ends Hunter Henry, Julian Hill and rookie Eli Raridon, and you suddenly can see a unit taking shape around Drake Maye and under the offense of Josh McDaniels.

(Stefon Diggs is still a free agent…….I mean, you don’t think? It’s not possible………..)

Look, I’m the ultimate, “don’t jinx it” kind of guy. Anything before the victory formation is impending doom. Doesn’t matter what the score is, “it ain’t over, till it’s over.” Generally speaking, writing a column talking about a trade that hasn’t happened yet, or a free agent signing, as if it has is something I’d never do. That’s how confident I am that by close of business Tuesday, AT THE LATEST, that we will get word that the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles have completed a trade where the Patriots acquire wide receiver AJ Brown in exchange for (insert what New England sent to Philadelphia here).

We don’t know the compensation, just that it’s going to happen. It’s like in The Town, you know the bread truck is getting robbed, the only question is: “Who’s car are we taking?”

- We open with Mike Vrabel’s message immediately after last season that 2025 was a 307-day journey “imagine what it’ll be after 5-years.” I hope we get that far into the Vrabel-era because where they got to in 307-days is impressive looking back at it. Nobody will remember what the schedule was that led you to a conference championship. (Reminder, Josh Allen just turned 30 and has never won a conference championship.)

- This episode is a great look at the scouting process and how much more fun it is to be a team’s scout when your team is in the Super Bowl. Imagine pulling into Mobile, Alabama for the Senior Bowl when your team is one of two still paying? The idea of Elliot Wolf walking into an Alabama BBQ joint with his chest puffed out tickles me to no end.

- The scouting process is fascinating when you compare it to different sports. Baseball, it’s a bunch of old timers in Panama hats with radar guns, eating spaghetti in motel rooms, watching King Kong in black and white. (Atleast in my mind, scouts are still Albert Brooks in The Scout. Now they’re probably some 22-year old MIT grad who never leaves his Brookline apartment and studies spin rate and BABIP. But I like my version better.) In basketball, there’s only two rounds to pick, so you have a pool of 60-80 players, but the cream easily rises to the top. Hockey, bunch of Candian phenoms billet with host families at 15 and by the time they’re draft eligible, teams know everything about them. Football though is tough because the variance of positions, and there’s just so many freakin schools. It’s amazing when a player comes out of D2, or a HBCU and I don’t fault the scouting process for missing these guys, there’s just so many games, so much tape and so many teams that it feels like you’re searching for the best hay in the haystack. Fascinating process.

- I love the out of context scouting talk, they don’t show you which player they’re talking about, but the descriptions are outstanding. “He’s stiff but can run.” I think that’s a compliment.

- Elliot Wolf wears a Patriots hat at the Senior Bowl, and immediately you can tell he never wears a hat recreationally.

- Perhaps my biggest worry about the 2026 Patriots is the retirement of Nancy Meier. After 52-years with the team, coordinating everything for the team, this will be the first Patriots season without Nancy Meier since 1975, when she started working for the Patriots at 19-years old. What a run!?

- We get our first sound bite from Vrabel and he’s rocking a denim shirt. Vrabel doesn’t get enough attention for the amount of denim in his wardrobe. He’ll toss in a Canadian tuxedo in any circumstance and dare you to mention it. (This is far from the last time Vrabel is pictured rocking a top that was probably constructed by Levi Strauss. (Not a sponsor.) Vrabel is forever in blue jeans (babe!)

- Little Caleb Lomu workout montage, it isn’t Rocky IV, but effective. Love that they describe that he has heavy hands, don’t love that he isn’t a “mauler in the run game” however they think he can develop that. Can you develop as a mauler? Maybe that’ll be a summer project for me, become more of a mauler. Not for any real practical purpose, but I want to be known in day-to-day life as a mauler. (Also, it’s a great thing that I watched this in the middle of a 3-day weekend, or else I’d 100% show up to work on Monday describing candidates for positions as having oily hips and great bend.)

- I forgot about free agency! Always fun to see the new Patriots come to the facility for the first time with their families. Romeo Doubs working with Josh McDaniels on an iPad the first day is encouraging to see.

- I need to know what Kevin Byard gave to Craig Woodson in exchange for number 31. Woodson was tight lipped about it last week and on this show Byard said “thanks Craig, good to do business with you!”

- Romeo Doubs talking about coming to a historic franchise is funny when you remember that he’s coming from the Green Bay Packers. But to a certain age of player, the Patriots might seem way more historic than the Green Bay Packers.

- Boy, I sure am glad that Drake Maye is my quarterback.

- Fullback Reggie Gilliam seems like a personality. Not in an overly showy way like a Mack Hollins, but he’s busting Vrabel’s chops in front of Robert Kraft and I thought for sure it had to be one of Vrabel’s Tennessee guys, but no it’s a fullback who had spent his entire 6-year career in Buffalo. Interesting too, to see him comparing Drake with Josh Allen.

- Fascinating looking at these meetings right before the draft (seemingly) and observing Mike Vrabel, while knowing now what we know about what was going on at that time. You know they aren’t going to acknowledge the situation on this show, but still intriguing to see footage while you know all of that was going on.

- They show the entire exchange with Caleb Lomu when they tell him that the team has traded up to take him. It’s 5 people asking him how he’s doing, while he’s surrounded by a room full of silent family and friends who are holding their breath to find out who is drafting him. That’s got to be a crazy feeling and so much fun to hang up the phone and tell everyone you’re being picked by a team that just played in the Super Bowl.

- “He’s got a grown man’s body and the face of an 8-year old.” Miss Elizabeth’s scouting report on Caleb Lomu.

- Neat to see the hushed conversations where Eliot Wolf and Ryan Cowden are trying to work the phones to trade up to get Gabe Jacas (pronounced Ak-us). Also the Jacas family has the coolest couch, curved sectional, textured leather, but brass buttons. Great for sitting, couldn’t lay on it though. Todd McShay calls Jacas a “War Daddy”. If I had my way, I would exclusively draft “War Daddys”. Who beats a team full of War Daddy’s? Nobody, that’s who! Might be (100% will be) my fantasy football team this year.

- Mike Vrabel in a light moment tells Eliot Wolf a story about a Pitt guard who was drafted in 1996 where all of his highlights were beating a young Mike Vrabel and Eliot Wolf instantly knows the Pitts guard from 30-years ago. I now have even more faith in Eliot Wolf. This has been a great episode for him. (Ryan Cowden too, glad that guy doesn’t sell cars, because that guy could get me to buy anything.) A year ago we had a lot of questions about Wolf’s role with this team and how he would fit in with the Vrabel regime, namely Ryan Cowden and watching them work together in the war room, there is nothing not to like.

- A cool moment, they’re going to have Nancy Meier in her last act as a Patriots employee call the 171th-pick, Karon Prunty. I have to say, as cool as it would be to be called by Mike Vrabel, getting a call from Miss Nancy might be better.

- Speaking of Vrabel, you don’t really notice he’s not there on day 3 of the draft. It’s so much more casual for so many reasons, everybody is dressed down, not a suit in site. Heck, RKK is wearing a hoodie (though he was also wearing that letterman’s jacket on round 1, so some would argue that was a lateral move at most) but there is a very different feel to day 3. For one it’s light outside, there seems to be less people in the room, everyone’s in q-zips, except Stretch who is wearing his mechanic’s shirt. Vrabel missing day 3 now feels like way more of a nothing-burger than it felt like in the moment.

A fun episode, easy watch, I’m liking these quarterly recaps. It’s something to get you excited for football, the only problem is that we are in the middle of OTA’s and now head into the Siberia of the NFL league year, where there is a whole not of not much happening. Free agency, the draft and the schedule release have all come and gone. Now it’s that insufferable time of year people call, summer. Yuck.

THE SCHEDULE IS HERE! THE SCHEDULE IS HERE!! THE SCHEDULE IS HERE!!!

Fans get excited about everything the NFL puts out there, but for some reason it seems like sports media in general views the NFL’s schedule release with a collective yawn. NOT UP IN HERE! I’m looking at flights, I’m checking the rates on the Coach’s Quarters at the America’s Best Value Inn (Not a sponsor) and adding every Patriots game to the giant dry erase work schedule in my office. (You know, so I can avoid conflicts! Can’t have conflicts.)

The Patriots slate is tougher than a year ago, but then again most things would be. I don’t hate how the schedule broke down really, it’s pretty well balanced, good mix of times, a bye more towards the middle, after having a December bye the last two years. The one thing nobody needs in May is record predictions (even I think that’s a step too far) but here are some thoughts on how the 2026 schedule shook out.

Week 1 at Seattle Wednesday September 9^th 8:20pm

Super Bowl rematch. Embrace debate, was Super Bowl 60 now a doubleheader? Can the Patriots gain a split with a win on September 9^th? This is a tough way to open the season, but maybe having to watch the team that beat you in the Super Bowl hang their banner will add a little gravel to the Patriots collective gut and some spit to their eye. Also, a Wednesday night game? This is going to throw me off that entire week. I liked the Thursday/Friday opening, Wednesday, Thursday (49ers/Rams in Melbourne) and then no NFL on Friday night is going to be with drawl inducing. I apologize now for any work stuff I screw up that week because the Patriots are playing on a Wednesday. Also, first Wednesday morning Preview Notebook and first Thursday morning Notebook? Now I’m going to throw you off as well!

Week 2 vs Pittsburgh Sunday September 20^th 1pm

I’m proud to say I correctly predicted this one. It’s the only home game that made sense for this spot. Also, early too say, but in a really tough September, this feels like a must win game. Only home game in the season’s first month and easiest opponent. You’ve got to beat Mike McCarthy & the Boys. (Though McCarthy and Rodgers will probably still be in love with each other in week 2.) Avenge one of your three 2025 losses!

Week 3 at Jacksonville Sunday September 27^th 1pm

Wheels are already in motion to travel to Northeast Florida for this one. My buddy John has been in touch with the ticketing department of the Jags (former season ticket holder for the team). He was debating between 4 and 6 tickets. When it was announced for week 3, John texted the group with “I can get 10, should I buy 10?” I mean why wouldn’t you? Note: The game is going to be played in Jacksonville, but the upper deck is alleged to be closed this year, so there will be a reduced number of fans in the stadium for this one. One last chance to say goodbye to (looking it up) EverBank Stadium! (And one last dip in the pool!)

Week 4 at Buffalo Sunday October 4^th 1pm

It is absolutely CRAZY that this game is at 1pm. CRAZY! I know these two teams play twice every year, but it is positively wild to me that neither of these contests is in prime time. But 1pm, what is this, Bengals-Titans? Disrespectful, but will be sort of a fun throwback to all the time Brady eviscerated this team in Orchard Park at 1pm, because there was zero chance that game was going to be competitive. Also, this will be the Patriots first game at the new Bills Stadium and just the 3^rd game in the stadium. (Bills open with at Texans, home for Lions, Chargers and Patriots. So while the Patriots open up with 4 tough games, the Bills do as well.)

Week 5 vs Raiders Sunday October 11^th 1pm

Now this is a 1pm game! Revenge game for the Patriots (last September we lost to the Raiders and Steelers, this year we can get those back by the end of week 5!) Early in the season, may or may not be Fernando Mendoza at quarterback. Could be Kirk Cousins. Interesting but should be a win. Weirdly, after only one home game the first four weeks, I feel like fans are going to be clamoring to go to this game. (Holiday weekend as well.)

Week 6 vs NY Jets Sunday October 18^th 1pm

Starting the season with Seahawks, Steelers, Jags and Bills is a tough start, but grateful that the league then gave us the Raiders and Jets as a chaser. These were the teams with the first two picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Both are probably better teams than a year ago, but after a rough September, both are very welcome in Foxborough in October.

Week 7 at Chicago Thursday October 22^nd 8:15pm

The two Thursday night games couldn’t be more random. Usually these are divisional rivals or marquee conference match ups, but playing two of our NFC North games during Must See TV hours (shout out Seinfeld, Friends, Will & Grace, Fraiser and ER). Match up of two QB’s from the 2024 Draft Class and the top two coaches available in the 2025 coaching carousel. Great offensive minds (Ben Johnson vs Josh McDaniels). It’s a fun game, and I like a Thursday night road game coming off of the Jets and Raiders at home.

Week 8 at Miami Sunday November 1^st 4:25pm

What is this? We always play in South Beach in the first 3 weeks or last 3 weeks of the season. Playing in Miami in week 8 is freakin strange. WE definitely won’t know how to pack for this trip. The Dolphins are also tanking on this season, make no mistake they are aiming to finish in a spot to get one of the top 1, 2 or 3 quarterbacks. You have to go 4-0 vs the Jets and Dolphins this year. Nobody is talking about this October stretch of Raiders, Jets, Bears and Dolphins but if you can be .500 or better heading into November, you’re about where you need to be. Any better is great, any worse is a disaster.

Week 9 vs Green Bay Sunday November 8^th 4:25pm

This is the premium home game of the 2026 Patriots home slate. Prices are already insane, because almost as much as Pats fans want to make the pilgrimage to Lambeau, Packer fans for some reason want to come here. (Wait till they see Route 1, they’ll be begging to go back and park for free in someone’s front yard on Barberry Lane.) Also, this will somehow be Tom Brady’s first game back in Foxborough as an announcer. Which, through two years seems unfathomable, but also intentional. Big game feel!

Week 10 at Detroit (but really Munich, Germany) Sunday November 15^th 9:30am

Wake up, put the coffee on and hunker down for some AM football. I don’t hate it, but it’s hard to lock in for football in the morning. Hand up, half the time during the season I forget that international games are on. I NEVER see the first quarter of international games unless the Patriots are on. It’s usually looking at my phone, on my way for my second cup of coffee that I realize there is real, honest to goodness football on television that I put the game on mute and continue reading my book. For Notebook purposes, I do enjoy writing it early and then just settling in to watch the rest of the slate. Mid-November is perfect too, chances are the weather is going to be gray, pretty cold. As long as I’ve already mulched and mowed for the last time, I’ve got nothing else to do but stay inside and watch ball.

Week 11 Bye

Tough schedule, but you know what? We got a great bye. If week 12 is the perfect bye, then week 11 is close enough to perfect for me! (Shouts out Alabama! Also, buckle up because this schedule is going to get strange for the next 7 weeks.)

Week 12 at Chargers Sunday November 29^th 8:15pm

The bye is going to feel even longer because we don’t come back and play at 1pm, we have to wait through another full slate of games and then play a night game in California. I do like traveling to the west coast coming off the bye though, that’s the best time to do that. I think, anyway.

Week 13 vs Bills Sunday December 6^th 4:25pm

4:25pm is perfect for Patriots Bills, this game is going to look great. Don’t love a Sunday night game on the west coast and then coming home for the Bills, but it could be worse. Also, a win over the Bills would be a great birthday present.

Week 14 vs Minnesota Thursday December 10 8:15pm

Quick turn around from the Bills to welcoming in the Vikings on a Thursday night. This is a perfect spot for some alternate uniforms, probably throwbacks? I would say the Rivlary uni’s, but can we wear the rivalry uniforms against a team we play every 4 years? Also, there is something about the Red Patriots throwsbacks when paired with those Vikings purple get ups.

Week 15 at Kansas City Monday December 21^st 8:15pm

Glad this game is in prime time (our 3^rd in 4 games, I think that makes the Patriots a limited-series), somehow this is the Patriots only Monday Night game. Should be a big game, two great quarterbacks, I have a feeling that both teams are going to be fighting for playoff spots and maybe even the same wild card spot. A HUGE game.

Also, after the week 11 bye, the Patriots play at 8:15pm on Sunday, 4:25pm on Sunday, 8:15pm on Thursday and now 8:15pm on Monday. This is the way of the new NFL, where there are not only 3 Thanksgiving games, but Thanksgiving eve and Black Friday games. (Sidenote, I get excited when I see that there is a Christmas eve and 3 Christmas games, but then when Sunday there’s only 2 games in the 4pm slot and then I get sad. Per the Patriots schedule release video, the NFL season is a roller coaster ride.)

Week 16 at NY Jets Sunday December 17^th 1pm

In a world gone crazy, the one constant is the Jets at 1pm. After the bye week, the Patriots could be playing at any given moment, except for the Jets game because the league mandates that this game be played at 1pm on CBS. Like the Cowboys and Lions on Thanksgiving, Patriots in the Meadowlands is 1pm, always.

Week 17 vs Denver Anytime between January 2^nd and 4^th

One of the biggest Patriots games of the year, second to last week of the season, hopefully a lot on the line and we have NO IDEA when it is being played. Could be Saturday, Sunday or Monday. We won’t be playing on New Year’s Day, so feel free to book those tickets to the Rose Parade, but after that you better lock the frick in, Bucko! Just schedule the games and tell us that they can be flexed. The fact that they leave the last two weeks floating until Christmas kills me. How am I supposed to book the ABVI (not a sponsor). I’m going to just start subletting The Commissioner’s Suite for the first 10 days of January.

Week 18 vs Miami Anytime between January 9^th and 10^th

Miami might forfeit this game. They do NOT want to win this one, AT ALL. They’re aiming at Arch Manning and if there’s a chance they can draft him, the Dolphins line up for this game will resemble the Little Giants after Spike forces his way onto the Cowboys, Junior Floyd takes that shot to the kidneys and Becky’s still a cheerleader. In a game that will likely (hopefully) a must win for the Patriots, this is exactly who you want to finish the season against. If they can be in position at the end of the season, finishing with at Jets, and home for Broncos and Dolphins is a good shot to win at least 2 games.

5 prime time games

At Seattle Wednesday night

At Chicago Thursday night

At LA Chargers Sunday night

Vs Minnesota Thursday night

At Kansas City Monday night

4 road, 1 home. 3 mid-week games feels like a lot, but that’s probably a byproduct of the new (everyday but Tuesday) scheduling the league is enacting. An interesting exercise would be, what is the Patriots record in prime time this year? Last year they were 3-0 (going off memory, at Bills, home for Jets, home for Giants, I think that was it? Thursday, Sunday, Monday nights) Fun fact, the Patriots still only have one Sunday night and one Monday night game this year, (matching last year’s totals) it’s the addition of a Wednesday and Thursday. But how the Patriots go in prime time, might decide a lot of their season. All 5 are tough, Minnesota is probably the weakest opponent and it’s at home, but the other 4 are all really tough. A 1-4 record in prime time and it will be hard to be a playoff team.

You have some time off in December when you need it. Not only the late bye in November, but you have the short week after the Bills game, but then you get another mini-bye between the Thursday night game with Minnesota and the following Monday night game at KC. Then on a short week you have the Jets. Twice you have tough stretches and then the Jets are there waiting for you.

I like the way things slotted in for the most part, no long road trips and with the prime time games, plus the Munich game, and following bye week, that is 7 weeks where I’ll have a wide open Sunday to view the rest of the league. Six 1pm games, though as I pointed out with the strange December scheduling, we have five of the six 1pm games from week 2 to week 6. The final 12 weeks, we have just 1, 1pm start.

Green Day famously begged for us to wake them up when September ends, but I’ll ask that you wake me up when September begins!

On Friday afternoon, (news dump time) the NFL announced that next Thursday (May 14^th, mark your calendars, no need to send a card unless you want to) that the League is going to announce the 2026 NFL schedule. And I thought to myself, I said “Self, we just got this week and next week’s Notebook topics!”

Here’s the thing, yeah, next week I will go game by game, do some superlatives or whatever gimmicks I do when the schedule comes out. (Remember in Fever Pitch when Jimmy Fallon runs outside in his underwear to pick up his Red Sox season tickets, smells em and generally acts a fool? I make him look like he’s testifying in front of congress compared to the mania in the Great Room when the NFL schedule is released. My credit card and Travelocity account (not a sponsor) are smoking by the end of the night.)

But what the heck do you write about the schedule before it’s released? I’m not going try to slot each game week by week, we know each opponent already, but that would probably get repetitive as I tell you “This game at Detroit is sneaky one that I’d like to go to this year” for the 15^th time in as many games. However, I’m excited and until next Thursday, I’m going to be thinking about the 2026 Patriots schedule like 85% of the time the rest of the week and 75% of the time, the rest of the month of May after it’s released. So let’s have some fun, think about Ball and not pregnant women on boats.

Road games

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Kansas City Chiefs

Detroit Lions

Jacksonville Jaguars

San Diego Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

New York Jets

Seattle Seahawks

· Road game Patriots fans are most likely to travel to: Chargers. This is always the answer, though I feel like more Pats fans went to San Diego than the one time the Patriots played the Chargers at So-Fi. Warm weather, excuse to go to the west coast. I don’t know that Chargers fans exist, this is a good game (playoff rematch) and I think it’ll be a majority of the crowd will be Patriots fans. If this one is in December, it’ll be 80% Patriots fans, take off 10% each month before December.

· Most likely prime time games (in order):

1. Seahawks (Super Bowl rematch, really hope this isn’t the banner dropping, season opener, Thursday night game in week 1. Even if it isn’t, I feel like only Tirico and Collinsworth get to call this game.)

2. Bills (Rematch of last year’s week 5 classic, division rivals. I would be shocked if one of the Patriots-Bills games this year isn’t in prime time and the other is at 4:25pm.)

3. Chiefs (Maye vs Mahomes, but this feels like a game perfect for 4:25pm. But I could very well see this game on Monday Night Football as well.)

Not quite ready for prime time honorable mentions: Bears and Lions. Bears for the Maye vs Williams, class of 2024 Draft Bowl and Lions for the Vrabel- Dan Campbell Alpha Male Bowl.

· Road game I’m most likely to go to (if I can find where it is): Jacksonville. Love Northeast Florida (shouts out TPC Sawgrass, what up Ponte Vedra?!?!) But I’m not quite clear where Jacksonville is playing home games this year and I don’t think they do either. They’re getting a new stadium, I’ve heard they’re playing home games in Orlando starting this year, I’ve also heard that they don’t start subletting Camping World Stadium until 2027. Depending on when this one is booked (or if it’s set for London like it was in 2024 (didn’t stop me from going then!) I’ll very likely be in DUUU-VALLLLLLLL.

· Road game I’d like to go to: Kansas City. The oldest stadium in the NFL, I missed getting to Buffalo last year before they tore down the old Rock Pile. Arrowhead would be fun and the Chiefs might be ripe for the picking, especially early in the 2026 season.

Home games

Bills

Broncos

Packers

Raiders

Dolphins

Vikings

Jets

Steelers

· Most likely prime time games (in order):

1. Broncos (Rematch of the AFC Championship game. Not sure what Bo Nix’s status would be. Imagine this is the Patriots home opener and it’s Jarrett Stidham making his return to Foxborough. Someone call Collinsworth and Tirico.)

2. Packers (Why not!? The 2010 clash with Matt Flynn was a Sunday Nighter and that game birthed us the Dan Connolly kick return.)

3. Bills (Because one of these two games has to be in prime time, might as well do Foxborough this year, but we’ll be seeing plenty of prime time games in Buffalo to showcase their new stadium.)

Not quite ready for prime time honorable mentions: None. (Maybe Vikings or Steelers, but I don’t know why? Rodgers, maybe? I guess the lesson is, the Patriots are going to be featured in prime time, I’m guessing 4 times, but most of them are going to be the road. (I’m guessing 3 road, 1 home.)

· Home games I hope to be in the Mackie Seats for:

1. Packers (Miss Elizabeth is from Wisconsin. Would love for Cousin Andy (Packers season ticket holder) to come out for the game here, returning the home & home, after we went out there in 2022.

2. Bills (Rivalary back on.)

3. Raiders (Always good to see a win and I think we’d stomp this team. Need to avenge that week one loss last year, the Chandler Jones TD, the ghost touchdown, Sugar Bear Hamilton’s roughing the passer penalty. The autumn wind might be a Raider, but the Patriots (even with the Tuck Rule call) still have bones to pick with the “Silver & Black”. Plus I have weirdly never seen a Raiders/Patriots game, so need to check that one off.

Honorable mentions: Vikings would be fun, Steelers as well. I guess to you convince me on the Broncos game too, that’s the best one I left off.) And I’m interested to see what the Jets look like in year two of the Aaron Glenn era. Also, I’d go to the Dolphins game after we ran Mike McDaniel out of there back in January and Tua is finally been vanquished. (Vanquish the Fish?) Okay yeah, I’ll go to any Patriots game. As we know John, I’m not that picky.

· Game that will see the most visiting fans at it: Sort of spoiled it already, but it’s hands down the Packers. They travel extremely well. Followed by the Steelers and probably the Vikings. Though the Broncos are probably feeling pretty good about themselves.

Quick hitters and let’s get the heck out of here:

· I’m hoping for no international games this year.

· I’m hoping for no holiday games, but could see the Patriots getting a Christmas game. Maybe Black Friday?

· The Patriots seem like they play the Jets on Thursday night every year, I think they’ll mix it up and the Patriots will play at Miami or something. Anything but Dolphins week two in South Beach.

· Patriots home opener will be the Steelers. It’s the only one that makes sense, we opened at home with the Raiders last year, they tend not to make them divisional games or out of conference games. So that leaves the Steelers and Broncos, maybe they’d do a Sunday Night game with Denver as the home opener, but I tend to think it’ll be Pittsburgh at 1pm.

· What if the Patriots get the Lions on Thanksgiving? We might be due for Thanksgiving.

· Seriously, I really don’t want to open the season in Seattle on a Thursday night.

The Bruins and Celtics ended their seasons the first two days of May, while the Red Sox decided to cash in on the season before you had your May pole up. A moment to reflect on the overall drudgery of our current state of affairs.

· The Red Sox as an organization have two fundamental problems:

o They’ve stopped spending the kind of money that they spent for the first 20 years of the Henry ownership groups stewardship of the Boston Red Sox.

o They’ve started backing the wrong horses. Now, I’m not talking about siring thoroughbreds for the Kentucky Derby (though I shouldn’t give Fenway Sports Group any more ideas of how to blow their funds.) I mean this group seems to pick the wrong side in every dispute (real or cultivated.)

Example: a year ago, they told us that Rafael Devers was a clubhouse cancer, who was ripping the team apart and was the thing that was keeping them from winning. (Even though his final game he literally was their offense as they completed a sweep of the Yankees by beating Max Fried. However wearing his headphones in the clubhouse was forcing Duran and Rafaela to swing at every pitch out of the zone and all of his home runs made Anthony and Mayer feel intimidated so they refuse to hit them now. That Raffy Devers is a monster, I tell ya, a monster!) So they sided with Alex Bregman, Kristian Campbell and the corpse of Tristan Casas. None of those 3 are playing baseball for the Boston Red Sox this season. (And if you add Devers, none of the 4 are playing baseball for the Boston Red Sox this season.)

I’m afraid that our latest example of the Red Sox wagering on the wrong pony is they have pushed their chips to the middle of the table on President of Baseball Operations Craig Breslow, at the expense of every other voice in the organization that isn’t the whisper of John Henry. (I say whisper because it’s been so long since he longingly sighed into a microphone, I honestly can’t remember what he actually sounds like. But based off the luxury box shots we’ve gotten of him this season, I imagine he’s officially been diagnosed as a low-talker. (Not to be confused with a Lowe-talker, which is someone who talks to Derek Lowe. Much more fun.)

Breslow had different ideas of how the team should be managed, so he had the 3^rd winningest manager in team history fired, along with 6 other coaches, including one of the most beloved players in team history, Jason Varitek. He did this because the offense is bad. And that is true, it is a certifiably heinous collection of bats. But I think there is just as good a chance that the lineup isn’t very good, not because they haven’t been properly developed, but because the lineup isn’t very good. The talent just isn’t there. There are probably some things that you could hang on Cora & Co. I mean, as much as anybody, I hate the way that our lineups are like snowflakes, no two are ever the same. Guys don’t even play the same positions on a daily basis. Yoshida could be parking cars on Tuesday and on Wednesday he’s batting 3^rd. I think a large part of that, and Cora has always been a tinkerer, was that he was constantly trying to jolt guys out of their collective funks by switching things up.

Now the organization has one voice, it’s Craig Breslow. Heck, the only coach in the dugout left from last Saturday’s Red (Sox) Wedding (I’m told that’s a Game of Thrones reference, I don’t know) is Andrew Bailey. Who just so happens to be close friends with Craig Breslow. There are ripple effects throughout the organization, how could there not be? In replacing Alex Cora with Triple-A manager Chad Tracy, you created another vacancy. Then to patch work a whole coaching staff, you had to steal parts from other areas of the organization. The manager of our own Portland Sea Dogs, Chad Epperson is now the third base coach of the Red Sox. So in one day, you had to name 3 interim managers in your organization, for the 3 highest levels of your organization. There isn’t one coach on the staff that I had every heard of before. Seriously, I feel like the scene in Major League where the construction workers are reading the roster in the newspaper. Though I’m sure, thrust into emergency duty, a month into the season, while creating other emergency situations throughout your entire organization, will help fix the issues with the big league club. I don’t know, it’s kind of sad, because this move pretty much waives the white flag for this season. While some might say it gives you time to turn this thing around, the sweeping changes for changes sake, I think is only going to prove to give added instability to a roster that is craving any sort of solid ground. They’re not going to get it in 2026 and I don’t know when we will see it again.

· Bruins, have we ever seen a more Jekyll and Hyde team? We thought they were going to be District 5 this season and they wound up being the Eden Hall Warriors JV. (Mighty Ducks 1 to D3, that’s a full circle analogy, “Quack, quack, quack, Mr. Ducksworth!”) Sadly their truncated postseason appearance against Buffalo was further evidence of the bi-polar nature of this franchise right now. Experts were calling Jeremy Swayman the “hot goaltender” heading into the postseason. After blowing a two goal-3^rd period lead in game one in Buffalo, the wheels kept coming off the B’s bandwagon. How weird was this team, they won two must wins in Buffalo and went 0-3 on home ice. Who does that? The only solace is that this squad is ahead of schedule and hopefully 6 games of playoff experience does them good in the long run.

· The freakin’ Celtics. 24-hours after the Bruins’ season ended at home, the Celtics did their best to mimic the trick. The Celtics blew a 3-1 series lead, (with two of those wins being 30-point blow outs) won only 1 game on their home floor and zero after game 1, devolving into madness. (Awful stat of the day, in the 2026 posteason, the Bruins and Celtics were 1-6 at the TD Garden. Yikes.)

My biggest take aways are:

· The regular season in the NBA means absolutely nothing. Add all the NBA Cups, in-season tournaments, play-in games, flags and horns and bologna you want, but if a 7-seed can look as cooked as Philly looked for 8 months and then get Joel Embiid back, and dominate the last 3 games of a series, the 82 preceding games don’t mean didley squat. I don’t know, if your regular season means as little as the NBA’s and half the league is tanking, it feels like you’ve got a problem.

· Speaking of problems with the NBA, they have problems. The product on the court is so freaking tough to watch. The second half of Saturday’s game 7 was so repetitive: the 76ers brought the ball up, tossed it into Embiid in the block, foul. Free throws. Celtics ball, Jaylen Brown dribbled, dribbled, dribbled, someone shoots a contested 3. And I don’t think this is unique to these two teams, but it was like playing an early Nintendo (not a sponsor) game where you only had 4 plays to run, you found one that worked and you just ran it every single time down the court. We thought it was fun in the 80’s and into the 90’s, but when Play Station (not a sponsor) came out, we were done with seeing this style of play. (Also, the flopping is out of control. Queta ran at Kelly Oubre to set a screen in game 6, Oubre reacted like Derrick Thomas just knocked his head off. Queta was called for a foul (what else is new, the officials call fouls on him getting off the bus.) Upon relay, Queta never made contact with Oubre. With that level of selling, I fully expect Oubre to move to Memphis to work a program with Jerry Lawler and Austin Idol this offseason.

· I’m conflicted on Tatum not playing game 7. On one hand I agree with friend of the program Mike Violette, in that if his leg is attached to his body, he has to play. And the other is that are you willing to jeopardize another season of his prime if you play him in this game and he further injures himself? (Also, lost in all of this debate, it was a first round series. This wasn’t to get into the Finals, this just gave you the opportunity to potentially play 21-more games.) Tatum came back just two months ago and looked tremendous, so it’s tough to think that he wasn’t past his injuries. Almost as important of a development was the absence of Jaylen Brown. With Tatum out, Brown played at an MVP level all season, but he didn’t have much left for the playoffs, because aside from a few big shots in the 4^th quarter, he was MIA for most of the last 3 games.

· Some are calling for Joe Mazzulla’s head right now because the Celtics didn’t change anything when what they were doing just wasn’t working, for 3 straight games. I don’t know if firing the longest tenured Boston coach is the answer. (Think about that: Mazzulla has been the Celtics coach since 2022. Mike Vrabel and Marco Sturm have been the head men for the Patriots and Bruins for one season. Chad Tracy has been the Sox manager for 8 days.) The Celtics reliance on 3’s is staggering even for the modern NBA. You need to develop a second pitch.

· This was a sad loss because it was to your second biggest rival, but in the end, it was the first round of the playoffs. With the way this Celtics team was going, we were probably going to get another 7 game slog against the Knicks in the second round and if we survived that probably would’ve done something worse in the Eastern Conference Finals. Also, we’d have zero shot of beating whoever comes out of the West.

· The Patriots had a pretty good Draft (check out my Draft recap from last week). Aj Brown seems like he’s going to be in Foxborough in another month. We should get the 2026 schedule released any day now. (Side bar, I HATE how the league doesn’t tell us when the schedule is going to be released until the week it is released. Last year they made a huge show of announcing during the Draft the date that the schedule was going to be released. This year, crickets. Why the big secret? Why does a league, who loves to promote and monetize everything, keeps this one bit of news under wraps and the springs it on us. Is this Roger Goodell’s one bit of whimsy? I don’t know, I just want to start planning my travel for the fall and book rooms at the America’s Best Value Inn (not a sponsor.)

The Vrabel thing, if nothing else comes out about this, I think the story is going to start to fade away. It’ll creep back up during training camp, you’ll have national writers ask awkward questions at pressers and rival fans will have signs, etc at games. But the reports we saw from the Daily Mirror this past week that speculated that the Patriots would be interested in hiring Mike Tomlin as head coach if they decided to part ways with Mike Vrabel was just lazy. Tomlin coached the Steelers for almost 20 years and now doesn’t have a job, “Gee, I wonder if a team who fired their coach in May would have any interest?” Not saying the Patriots would or wouldn’t. (McDaniels seems the most likely replacement, but anybody but Vrabes is undesirable to me.) Either way, people jumped on this bogus speculation. As things stand now, the League isn’t investigating Vrabel for any wrong doing. The team has put out a statement of support of their coach. Vrabel got a standing ovation at a team-run-fan event this past week, I think like most of us, the Krafts just want this story to go away. I miss the football. Remember how fun last season was? I’m going to go watch the Patriots 3 playoff games, I’ll probably skip the Super Bowl rewatch.

This all feels like we’ve gone back in time almost 30 years, it feels like we’re living in 1997 again. The Red Sox have just fired Kevin Kennedy. The Bruins are clinging to the final years of Ray Bourque’s career. The Patriots are coming off of a Super Bowl loss and navigating through head coaching chaos. While the Celtics were trying their latest rebuild under Rick Pitino and about to lose the un-loseable Draft Lottery. (How didn’t we get Tim Duncan?) Boston sports is down bad right now, but we’ve been here before.

Contrary to popular reporting, the NFL Draft took place last week. Between the Vrabel saga, Bruins and Celtics playoffs and the Red Sox futile efforts against the Yankees and subsequent bloodletting, you’re excused if you didn’t give the NFL’s Annual Selection Event it’s just attention. That’s why I’m here, to keep you posted on what is going on with the New England Patriots.

(I got a text from Jon Mackie of the Mackie seats right as the Raiders were going on the clock to start the draft

JM: “What are we picking tonight? Football has not been on my radar”

Me: “31, because we were in the Super Bowl, but our coach is sleeping with Diana Russini, has been for 6-7 years, he’s going to counseling and not working the 3^rd day of the draft, so he can go to that counseling, Pats are standing by him. That’s about it.”

JM: “No, I meant who are we taking. The drama I know all about.”

Me: “Oh.”

(So that’s where my head was at going into Thursday night’s first round. Just a lot of activity going on around our favorite football team, but it was nice once that draft started to just think about ball and getting players to help us play better ball.)

1^st round- Caleb Lomu- T, Utah

We all sort of thought that the Patriots were going to trade out of their 31^st pick (because we’re AFC champs baby!) and move back in the draft but Elliot Wolf said “Onward!” and traded up to 28. Which was shocking in its own right, but even more so when you consider that they had to trade up with the Buffalo Bills to get there.

The Patriots used that spot to grab the last good tackle in the draft, Caleb Lomu from Utah. 6’6”, 313lbs, he’s a big boy and before you ask, he does NOT have short arms! Lomu had a very good career for the Utes and was viewed as the 5^th best tackle in this draft. He played a lot of left tackle at Utah, and is viewed as an option to play left or right tackle. So you accomplished several things with this pick: the cliff at the position came after Lomu as he was viewed as the “last of the good tackles” in this year’s talent pool. So that’s a win. You got an immediate back up/apprentice for Morgan Moses (still 35 years old). You also got another (projected to be) good left tackle on the roster. So if you did decide to try shifting Will Campbell to another position, you could try Lomu at left and try Campbell at right, or kick Campbell inside to guard and move Lomu to left tackle. In the end, this pick gives you flexibility that the league proves year over year that you need to have along the offensive line.

2^nd round- Gabe Jacas- Edge, Illinois

Jacas (pronounced “Ah-kiss”, it’s such a soft J that it’s silent. A hard J here would make it sound more like “Jack-ass”. Shouts out for silent J’s) but the kid is aggressive, has heavy hands, (never exactly sure what that means but I LOVE IT, that’s a trait that I want my edge rushers to have) and was a high school wrestler. SOLD! A heavy handed wrestler from the Big 10, that’s all it takes for me to get in on a pick. Illinois may seem random, but former Patriots assistant coach Bret Bielema has turned that program into a contender. Jacas stands 6’4”, dressed out at 260lbs, said he models his game after Matthew Judon and it shows on the tape. When you watch his highlights you see a relentless motor, where a lot of his sacks are a product of sticking with the play and coming back to the quarterback or ball carrier. The Patriots were aggressive on Friday as they moved up to take Jacas. A lot to get excited about this pick.

3^rd round- Eli Raridon- Tight End, Notre Dame

You had me at 6’6” tight end from Notre Dame. Add in that the scouts kept talking about his weight (245lbs), his frame (they think he can put some more weight on) and that he’s a willing blocker. Give me a moment, I need to sit down. Brian Hoyer said a couple of weeks ago after watching the tape that Raridon reminds him of Rob Gronkowski. Now it’s too much to dream of getting a second tight end of that caliber in our lifetimes, but having the player profile in this offense could be a great thing. We’ve seen how Drake Maye has been able to hit his bigger targets down field, (Hunter Henry and Mack Hollins), I love the idea of giving him a huge target to help him pick up those 3^rd and 6’s. Raridon should also help the redzone offense as well.

Side tangent, it struck me that the Patriots first three draft picks of 2026:

Caleb

Gabe

Eli

I’m pretty sure I went to Vacation Bible School with all-3 of them!

5^th round- Karon Prunty- Cornerback, Wake Forest

Not a surprise that they targeted a cornerback, you need another bigger body on the outside. Besides Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis, you don’t really have a lot of depth at outside corner. (Presuming Marcus Jones stays in more of a nickel corner role.) Prunty is described as long and rangy. And as I’ve always said if you’re going to be long, you’d better be rangy too!

One thing that I heard said over the weekend and I agree with this, that it is refreshing to see the Patriots have needs at 3-4 positions and then draft for those 3-4 positions at the top of the draft. As much as I love Bill Belichick, we’d go into the draft knowing that we needed a receiver, a linebacker and an edge rusher and we’d get 3 guards, a punter, a long snapper, 2 running backs and a flanker from Ithica School of Typing and Letters.

6^th round- Dametrious Crownover- Tackle, Texas A&M

The winner for best name of the draft goes to Dametrious Crownover. Crownover (I’m pronouncing Crown-Over) 6’7” 319lbs, Crownover would be a swing tackle if he makes the roster, but you can’t have enough depth on the offensive line as was evident in the Super Bowl. And if you’re going to have depth, they should have a name like LaAdrian Waddle and for that, Dametrious Crownover fits right in.

6^th Round- Namdi Obiazor- Linebacker, TCU

In the late rounds, I’m a big school guy and in the 6^th round I love drafting a Horned Frog linebacker. (Boy did that look worse in print than it did in my head.) Scouts say he’s athletic, tough but doesn’t diagnose plays quick enough. Sounds moldable to me.

7^th Round- Behren Morton- Quarterback, Texas Tech

(Don’t ask me how to pronounce the first name, because like Ozzy Osbourne, “I don’t know!”) Morton (or Morty as I call him) ran the Air Raid offense at Tech, tossed 71 touchdowns to 28 interceptions. He’s not a runner, but good at running a no-huddle offense. Which is something I like from a backup. I want a backup quarterback to come in and throw a wrinkle at the other team. Be a scrambler, run the triple-option, I don’t know just show them something they haven’t seen on tape before. Throw nothing but knuckleballs, something to throw them off their rhythem. This is why I was worried in the AFC Championship game about Jarrett Stidham, who knows what he’s been developing in secret. Morty could compete with Tommy DeVito for the backup role, but I sort of doubt it. It strikes me that Ol’Mort will likely find himself on the Patriots practice squad.

7^th round- Jam Miller- Running Back, ALABAMA

If the Notebook is about anything, it is accountability and hand up I’ll say it because most are too scared to: rare is the 7^th round pick that I’ve ever heard of. But Jam Miller, I’ve seen play a lot of football. Jam played 51 games at Alabama the last 3 years and I would reckon I watched the majority of his 51-games for the Tide. (I watch a lot of SEC games and Bama is always playing in the big ones.) Miller is unfortunately a product of the post Saban-era and the 2025 Crimson Tide had their worst rushing offense since before Bear Bryant stepped foot back in Tuscaloosa. I’ve always liked Miller as a runner, he’s tough, runs hard and bounces off contact. Reading his scouting descriptions, he sounds a lot like what we got from Antonio Gibson before his injury. He doesn’t have the break away speed the Gibson does, but he’s physical and has developed into a more than solid pass catching running back. I really like this addition to the running backs room.

7^th Round- Quintayvious Hutchins- Edge, Boston College

And there it is, finally the Patriots cash in on the Bill O’Brien connection at BC. Scouting reports aren’t glowing but this is someone who could catch on in special teams by the sounds of things.

We started with Caleb, Gabe and Eli. We finished with Karon, Dametrious, Namdi, Behren, Jam and Quintayvious. You can almost tell the moment that Mike Vrabel left the draft room.

Overall, I’m very happy with this Patriots draft. They addressed positions of need, especially with their top picks, who look like players that will contribute. I think Lomu will be a player, I think Jacas could contribute right away. Raridon is in a good position to develop behind/with Hunter Henry and Julian Hill. The 5^th, 6^th and 7^th rounders are lottery tickets for the most part, but there is at least reason to believe that they will have a chance to make this team better.