Author Archives: Ian Logue

Ian Logue

About Ian Logue

Ian Logue is a Seacoast native and owner and senior writer for PatsFans.com, an independent media site covering the New England Patriots and has been running this site in one form or another since 1997.

Daily Notebook: Tuesday Patriots News and Notes 6/13

Ian Logue
June 13, 2017 at 5:00 am ET

Here’s a look at today’s top stories.

Amendola Gives Insight on Being a Patriot – Danny Amendola has arguably been one of the most important secret weapons during each of New England’s two championship runs, having quietly established himself as one of the more underated assets during his tenure with the club.

During a recent interview with Keith Gordon of Maxim magazine, Amendola offered up an opportunity to let fans in on some of the reasons why the Patriots have continued to be so successful. One of the things that Amendola talked about is that he doesn’t believe the average fan has any real idea just how hard they work every day.

“I wish the average football fan knew how much we run every day—it’s miles and miles of sprinting against the top athletes in the world, Monday to Friday,” explained Amendola during the interview.  “It seems all they want to talk about is fantasy football numbers and targets and catches. How about this: Go outside and try to keep up with the cars on the highway until you puke. And then do it again. And again. And again. Day after day. And then I’ll have your grade. I agree that they pay us well, but that’s why we do it and you don’t.”

Amendola also offered up his thoughts on what it’s like to play with someone like teammate and tight end Rob Gronkowski, who he enjoys watching embarrass opposing defenders when they’re on the field together.

“Gronk is one of the best teammates and best football players ever to walk the earth,” said Amendola. “He’s our heart and soul when he’s on the field, and he’s the hardest to defend. His football IQ is off the charts, and his athletic ability compares to that of LeBron or Messi. His ability to take over is comical to watch when he’s running by you on the field. He makes grown men quit.”

As for what it’s like to play for Belichick and whether or not the coach is all business all the time, Amendola admitted that there are times when Belichick lets himself enjoy the moment.

“Bill is always serious. Unless you’re at a winning Super Bowl after-party,” said Amendola. “Then he smiles.”

ESPN Predicts Patriots and Cowboys in Super Bowl 52 – While many here in New England believe the Patriots have a good shot at getting back to the Super Bowl, oddsmakers have apparently also made their opinion known about who will get there from the NFC.

According to ESPN.com, the oddsmakers at the Golden Nuggett are predicting that the Dallas Cowboys will join New England next February, establishing odds of 7-1.  The other favorite along with Dallas is Green Bay, with 8-1 odds.

As far as a rematch is concerned, the Golden Nuggett also has the Falcons in the mix to meet the Patriots again, but at 10-1 odds.

When it comes to winning another championship, the Patriots are 3-1 odds as the favorite to win it all.


Lewis faces some tough competition in training camp next month. (USA TODAY Images)

Despite Competition, Lewis Enjoyed Minicamp – Patriots running back Dion Lewis finds himself in a crowded backfield heading into training camp this year, but the prospect of competition hasn’t dampened his enjoyment on the field so far this offseason.

Lewis, who has looked strong through minicamp, admitted that competition is just part of the game and it comes with the territory.

“Every year there’s turnover in the NFL,” Lewis told the Providence Journal. “Every year, you’re in training camp with eight running backs, so it doesn’t matter who the names are who they bring in. You’ve only got to worry about how well you compete. You’ve got to be ready to compete. That’s all that really matters. You can’t think about who they bring in and why did they bring them in. You’ve got to compete against those guys and do the best you can and try to get yourself a role on the team.”

Lewis is coming off of a year where he finished with 283 yards rushing on 64 carries (4.4 average), along with 17 receptions for 94 yards during the regular season.  But he carried the football 25 times during the postseason for 79 yards along with a touchdown and also hauled in 5 passes for 33 yards and a touchdown out of the backfield.

As a result, Bill Belichick obviously knows what he’s capable of.  Despite the fact he brought in Mike Gillislee and Rex Burkhead this offseason, he put this group together to build competition but it doesn’t change the fact that he’s hopeful Lewis can go out and perform well when the club opens training camp next month.

“I think Dion’s building on his last however many weeks of the regular season it was last year — six or seven or whatever it was — and the playoffs, so he’s had a good offseason,” Belichick said via the Providence Journal. “He’s built on that. I mean, he really worked hard to get back for the end of last year, and then this year, he’s been able to improve on that. Again, anxious to see him in training camp, but he’s done a good job out here.”


Gronkowski has the perfect gift this father’s day. (USA TODAY Images)

Gronkowski’s Offers Up A Special Father’s Day Gift – Rob Gronkowski took part in a humorous campaign in advance of this year’s father’s day, with a video showing what he believes might be the perfect gift for his father, Gordon.

Gronkowski recently starred in a video for Oberto beef jerky, where he revealed the “Jerky Tie”, which is a tie made out of the company’s beef jerky that Gronkowski believes will make him the favorite among his brothers this year.

See the video below:

https://twitter.com/ObertoBeefJerky/status/874341182817652737

Wondering how to make your own?  Oberto posted instructions via their Facebook account to walk you through the process so you can be a hero with your own father.

Want to become your dad’s favorite child? Follow Gronk & Sherm’s lead and make him a #JerkyTie for Father’s Day. Share…

Posted by Oberto Beef Jerky on Monday, June 12, 2017

 

Daily Notebook: Monday Patriots News and Notes 6/12

Ian Logue
June 12, 2017 at 10:00 am ET

Here’s a quick look at today’s top stories.

NFL Paid For Patriots Blinged-Out-Rings – While Roger Goodell handing over the trophy to Tom Brady back in February was a little anti-climactic, the good news is the ring Brady put on his finger Friday night at least has a nice bit of satisfaction attached to it.

Aside from the fact the Super Bowl rings symbolize an incredible championship season, Fox Business revealed that the league paid the cost of the 283 diamond carrying rings (symbolizing the historic comeback from the 28-3 deficit they faced against Atlanta) that the players received at owner Robert Kraft’s house on Friday evening.  The league, as they do every year, covers the cost of up to 150 rings for each club, which included the ones handed out that night.

They also reported that the cost of the rings back in 2015 were approximately $36,500, which means if this year’s edition falls close to that, it cost the NFL about $5.5 million.

It was quite the party, which saw the return of Martellus Bennett and other players who have since moved on this past offseason.

The team also released a photo of Tom Brady wearing all five of his championship rings, as well as Bill Belichick wearing each of his.

Despite the four game suspension, as well as taking away a first round draft pick, the league did about all it could have to avoid that scenario.  Now, with a stacked group offensively and what might arguably be the best cornerback tandem in the league on the other side of the ball, the Patriots look like they’re poised to make yet another run heading into this season.

It’s likely a nightmare situation for a commissioner who tried as hard as he could to slow them down.  Unfortunately, this freight train in Foxboro looks like it will continue to roll on a bit longer, which might cost the league a bit more money yet again this time next year.

Gronk Runs Football Camp – Coming off of Friday night’s party, Gronkowski was back to work on Saturday morning while hosting his annual Citi Football Clinic at Connolly Memorial Stadium.

According to the Boston Herald, the veteran tight end played catch and spent time doing a little coaching with the hundreds of participants who were on hand, featuring children from grades 1 through 8.

Gronkowski told the newspaper this is something he enjoys doing and he’s glad it’s continued to grow.

“We are here at the pro camp and this is year number five or six and I keep forgetting because it is so many years in a row,” Gronkowski told the newspaper. “Every year it keeps getting bigger and keeps getting better and keeps getting more fun.

“It is just a blast out here throwing passes to the kids. I enjoy doing it, I enjoy throwing passes to all the kids and I’ve got family and friends that come out.”

Gronkowski said he’s feeling “great” and all indications seem to point to the veteran making a big return in 2017.


Gillislee said things are different here compared to under Ryan. (USA TODAY Images)

Gillislee On Bills vs Patriots: “We work a little harder” – Rex Ryan may not like hearing his former player talk about how things were done during Ryan’s coaching tenure in Buffalo, but newcomer Mike Gillislee can already feel the difference of what it’s like to be a member of the New England Patriots.

According to Gillislee, one thing that stands out is that the work ethic from top to bottom is much different here in New England compared to when he was with the Bills, and it’s consistent across the locker room.

“Nothing (negative) about Buffalo. It’s just here, we work hard,” Gillislee told the Boston Herald. “Each and every day we did that at Buffalo, but here the expectations are way higher. We work a little harder.”

Gillislee said that because that attitude permeates throughout each player on this football team, it’s infectious and forces everyone to be at their best.

“On this team, everybody that I’ve met, everybody that I see out here (is a leader),” Gillislee told the newspaper. “It’s just hard just to watch one person. Everybody that you watch is doing the right thing. That’s the great thing about this team.

“It leaves you no choice but to get better out here when you’re seeing everybody doing their job up to the capability that they can do it and playing at a high level. It gives you no choice but to play at that same level.”

Patriots Continue Exploring Kickers, Punters & Snappers – 

The Patriots are continuing to do their due diligence this offseason as it pertains to kickers and punters, as well as a long-snapper.

According to Mike Reiss, the Patriots had multiple players in for workouts last week, including punters Drew Butler and Spencer Lanning, along with kicker Adam Griffith and long snapper Cole Mazza, among others.

New England’s punting duties seem relatively set thanks to another solid year by Ryan Allen, but the fat the club continues looking at kickers could be a signal that Stephen Gostkowski might be on a shorter leash this season if his struggles from 2016 carry over into this season.

Gostkowski missed five field goals and three extra points during the regular season, including two from beyond 50-yards for the first time in his career.

The extra points were a point of frustration for Gostkowski during the regular season, and carried over into the postseason where he also missed two more, including one during the Super Bowl.

He got support from Belichick back in October when it was obvious he wasn’t quite right but at least got the backing of his coach at the time.

“Nobody works harder than Steve,” said Belichick after their win over the Steelers where Gostkowski missed an extra point for the second-straight week.  “Steve’s a very talented player. He’s mentally tough.”

“We’ll work through it. Again, this is a tough place to kick [referring to Heinz Field]. I’m not making any excuses but the kicker on the other side of the field had trouble too. But we have to have to make them.”

Hopefully after an offseason to reset, Gostkowski can bounce back in 2017.


Edelman and his father hope that he can finish his career in New England. (USA TODAY Images)

Edelman’s Dad Hopes His Son Can be “a Patriot for Life” – It’s been an emotional few months for Julian Edelman’s father, Frank, who watched his son play a key part in the team winning yet another championship thanks to an incredible clutch performance against Atlanta back in February.

Edelman, who has become a fan favorite both on and off the field, has come a long way from being a seventh-round pick out of Kent State and recently signed an extension to hopefully keep him around for at least a couple of more seasons. His father recently told Mike Reiss that both he and his son are hopeful that the receiver will finish his career in Boston, which will hopefully open up opportunities for him off the field down the road.

“Boston loves their athletes, and if you’re in, you’re in. Boston is also all about what Julian is; you just go to work and grind it out,” Frank told Reiss. “He loves Boston and everything about the Patriots. There are also a lot of off-field opportunities if you stay in Boston. We’d love to be a Patriot for life.”

There’s no question there’s a place for him after his career comes to a close. Locally, former players like Kevin Faulk, Troy Brown, Jermaine Wiggins, Tedy Bruschi, have each made careers for themselves in the media and someone as charismatic as Edelman will likely find a place for himself as well. He’s done a terrific job in social media and his off the field appearances, having built up his brand enough where he’ll likely have plenty of endorsement and marketing opportunities down the road.

That may explain why Edelman probably took a little less than he might have received on the open market to stick around, given that his value here is as high as it is. Winning helps keep it that way, and helping the Patriots win yet again next February will most certainly solidify his future.

Daily Notebook: Friday Patriots News and Notes 6/9

Ian Logue
June 9, 2017 at 5:00 am ET

Had some site-related technical things that required some fixing the last couple of evenings, but with everything back in order, here’s a look at this morning’s top stories as we close out the week.

Patriots Lock Up Edelman Through 2019 – When it comes to keeping their core players in place, the Patriots took a step on Thursday to ensure one of them will be in the fold for at least two more seasons.

According to the Boston Herald’s Jeff Howe, Julian Edelman agreed to terms on a two-year extension that will keep him in New England through 2019.  The deal reportedly includes incentives that would allow him to earn up to $15 million, but the best part of the deal is the fact that it keeps the Patriots’ most valuable receivers in place through the next two years.  Both Brandin Cooks and Chris Hogan are under contract through 2018, while Malcolm Mitchell’s rookie deal runs through the 2019 season.

Quarterback Tom Brady, the most important piece of the puzzle, is signed through 2019 and if Rob Gronkowski can get back to form, he’s also under contract through that season as well.

The deal is also great for Edelman, who thankfully won’t have to hit free agency.  He hit the market back in 2014 and received little interest, with just Cleveland, Baltimore and San Francisco expressing interest before he eventually re-signed with the club.

It worked out quite well, since his eventual return was a big part of the team’s Championship run that season.

The receiver is coming off of a career season in receiving yards, finishing with 1106 yards on 98 receptions.  He was also the team’s most-targeted receiver on third down last season, having been targeted 49 times with 28 receptions, 24 of which moved the chains including two touchdowns.

It’s a remarkable story considering how far the former seventh-round pick out of Kent State has come.  He’s won two Super Bowl rings and now, thanks to Thursday’s news, he’ll at least be around long enough to have a good opportunity to win a couple more before his career here comes to an end.


The Patriots and Belichick have dominated the AFC East since he took over in 2000.

Kraft’s Son Mocks Jets – For anyone wondering whether or not a rivalry remains between the Patriots and the Jets, one of Robert Kraft’s sons made a comment on Thursday mocking them at a charity event.

Josh Kraft, who is the president of New England’s Charitable Foundation, mocked the Jets during his comments as he addressed the 2017 Myra Kraft Community MVP Award winners at Gillette Stadium.

At the end of his speech, he invited the winners to tour the Patriots’ Hall of Fame and mentioned the fact that the Jets don’t have such a facility of their own.

“It’s a great take,” Kraft said via ESPN, referring to the tour. “I’m not biased, but it’s a lot better than the Jets’ Hall of Fame, right? Which is non-existent.”

For the Jets, they’ve faced a Patriots team that has been a thorn in their side since Bill Belichick took over in 2000.  They’ve had just 9 winning seasons over that span as the Patriots have dominated the AFC East and just one in the last six years.

Needless to say, there’s certainly reason to poke fun at a club that hasn’t won a championship in 49 years.  Given the jealousy that tends to go on between the two teams, one can expect construction to begin on a facility relatively soon once the Jets catch wind of Kraft’s comments.

Gilmore Already Pushing Pats Receivers – The physical side of newcomer Stephon Gilmore has been on display this week at minicamp, and his teammates have already been talking about the impact he’s made by having to practice against them.

Wide receiver Chris Hogan talked about having to battle against Gilmore, with the two having previously battled during their time in Buffalo.

Now that they’re getting to do it in New England, it’s an opportunity to take things to the next level and Hogan admitted that Gilmore being a Patriot is already having a positive impact.

“Going against him, just makes you better,” Hogan told the Boston Herald . “Anyone who’s out there going against him knows he’s a big-time competitor. He’s physical, he’s strong, you have to be prepared for that. He’s going to try to disrupt guys off the routes with their timing or whatever it is. He’s a good player and he’s got good ball skills.”

Between having to battle against GIlmore along with Malcolm Butler, this is a group that should face some solid competition day in and day out.  Even better, it works both ways and should help in making sure each unit is at their best heading into 2017.

Amendola Throws Out First Pitch At PawSox Game – Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola was in Pawtucket Thursday night and threw out the ceremonial first pitch, with the PawSox posting the video on their Twitter page.

https://twitter.com/PawSox/status/872952710072586240

Amendola then spent some time signing autographs and creating some smiles for the kids who were on hand for the game.

We’ll End on this video posted by the Patriots for “National Best Friend Day”

REPORT: Patriots Agree to Contract Extension With Edelman

Ian Logue
June 8, 2017 at 6:29 pm ET

There are certain players who make big plays when it counts and it seems like the Patriots want to make sure one of their own stays around fore the foreseeable future.

According to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald, New England has agreed to terms on a contract extension with wide receiver Julian Edelman, who was set to become a free agent after this season.

Edelman finished 2016 with 98 catches during the regular season for 1106 yards and 3 touchdowns.  The veteran was also the Patriots most-targeted receiver on third down last season for New England, having been targeted 49 times with 28 receptions, 24 of which moved the chains including two touchdowns.

It’s great news for Edelman, who will hopefully remain in the fold long enough to finish out his career in a Patriots uniform.  Given that Brady is still playing at a high level, along with the fact Edelman is surrounded by talent on offense heading into this season, if all goes well, he might even add a couple of more rings to his collection along the way.

Daily Notebook: Tuesday Patriots News and Notes 6/6

Ian Logue
June 6, 2017 at 5:00 am ET

It’s a quiet morning here on this Tuesday, but here’s a look at today’s top stories.

There’s been some rumblings over the past few weeks regarding how the end of Tom Brady’s career will play out, along with how New England can potentially transition to Jimmy Garoppolo.  With Garoppolo heading into the final year of his contract, his situation will likely be one of the most watched when this season comes to an end, especially since all sign seem to indicate that he might be their quarterback of the future.

The complicated aspect of that discussion is going to be how the club can potentially keep him in the fold behind Brady until the veteran calls it a career.  Financially, it’s going to be a challenge.  Quarterbacks make the highest salaries amount position players if they get franchised and on Monday, Mike Reiss pondered one scenario of how the team might handle their back-up quarterback.

According to Reiss, he feels that a proactive move to sign Garoppolo to a 1-year, $24 million extension might make the most sense since they can spread the cap hit out over two years.  Reiss used that amount because it’s a figure that is projected to be close to the franchise tag after the season.

With $19 million in available cap space, New England certainly has room to work with if they really feel that strongly about keeping him.  It’s also a move that would give Garoppolo the payday he’s likely been quietly waiting for, while keeping him in the fold through two more seasons while Brady continues trying to win a couple of more championships before he retires.

It’s a complex situation and one that may be one of the most important for the Patriots to make sure they don’t mishandle if the door on one of the most amazing eras comes to a close in the next couple of years.

Good quarterbacks are tough to find and whoever replaces Brady will have some big shoes to fill.  Garoppolo has shown that he can at least wear them, which explains why he remained here through the draft.  Whether or not he can reach anywhere near Brady’s level remains to be seen, but all signs seem to point to him being here for the foreseeable future.  Now it’s just up to the Patriots to figure out how to get it done.


Bennett made quite the impression in his one year with the club.

Bennett Planning a Visit to Boston’s Children Hospital – While it was tough to see Martellus Bennett move on this offseason, there’s no question that he made quite the impression during his one season in New England.

One of the biggest things that stood out was his affinity for the community and as he gets ready to make a return to receive his Super Ring during the team’s upcoming party on Friday night, he’s planning on making an important stop.

Bennett announced on his Instagram account that he’s planning on making a visit at Boston’s Children’s Hospital with the hopes of bringing a few smiles and raising the spirits of the kids who are being treated there.

While some may be upset that he opted for a big pay day in Green Bay to join Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, it’s hard to argue that Bennett’s heart isn’t in the right place.  He put together a memorable season in his one year here and left quite an impression, and hopefully the kids he’ll visit Friday get to have a little fun with a player who brought a lot of laughs and terrific moments in his one year with the club.

Patriots Cut Vereen, Add CB Likely III – The Patriots announced a transaction on Monday, with the team cutting undrafted free agent defensive lineman Corey Vereen in favor of another undrafted hopeful in Will Likely III.

Likely is a player whose potential upside coming off of a season-ending knee injury last season at Maryland must have resonated enough with the Patriots for them to take a chance on him.  The former cornerback-returner tore his ACL back on October 15th, seemingly knocking off the board of teams in the NFL and now has him hungry to earn a spot on someone’s roster.

He’s a talented player, with one aspect of his game standing out in his ability to return kicks.  Likely earned All-American honors and the Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year award in 2015.  He also made a name for himself on defense, finishing as a first-team all-conference defender in 2014, picking off six passes.

He’s been working hard and told the Baltimore Sun back in November that he knew his chance would come.

“That’s going to come, right now it’s just rehabbing and getting back right,” he said of his NFL career. “Once I get there, once it happens, there’s no doubt in my mind what’s going to happen. Right now it’s just trying to get back as healthy as possible.”

It appears that opportunity will come with the Patriots, who with his addition have a pretty good group at that position that should be fun to watch heading into training camp.

Patriots Sign Garcia – The Patriots announced another signing on Monday, with the team getting another draft pick under contract.

The team agreed to terms on a deal with 2017 third-round pick Tony Garcia, with the 23-year-old standout from Troy officially now in the fold with the team.

He said back in April that it had been a fun journey getting to this point, having gone from a player who wasn’t heavily recruited out of high school to being a third-round selection in the NFL.  Now it’s just up to him to make the most of it.

“It’s not really where you start or how you start, it’s where you finish,” said Garcia.  “It doesn’t matter where you go to school if you just perform well while you’re there. I think I’m a testament to that and I’m just happy to have the opportunity.”

Garcia’s signing now leaves just defensive end Derek Rivers as the lone draft selection remaining unsigned.

Daily Notebook: Monday Patriots News and Notes 6/5

Ian Logue
June 5, 2017 at 5:00 am ET

With the weekend now in the rear-view, here’s a look at today’s top stories.

Mangini Hoping to Mend His Relationship With Belichick – Eric Mangini saw his relationship with Bill Belichick evaporate thanks to SpyGate and it sounds like 10-years later, he’s still hoping that his mentor will somehow forgive him for damaging the reputation of the coach who gave him his start in the NFL.

Ask anyone outside of New England to even explain what SpyGate is and you’ll typically get the wrong information.  The event stemmed from the fact that the league had released a memo in 2006 regarding the use of video cameras, which prevented clubs from being able to record video from the sideline.  The biggest misconception is the fact that videotaping opposing coaches wasn’t illegal (provided the video wasn’t “accessible to club staff members during the game”), but the fact the Patriots continued doing it from the sideline instead of another location was the thing the NFL took issue with after Mangini reported it.

During the investigation by the NFL, Belichick didn’t deny the fact the Patriots did it and said he was under the impression that as long as the tapes weren’t used during the game, that the practice wasn’t illegal.  But at that point, it lead to the league levying a $500,000 fine against Belichick and $250,000 against the team, as well as docking the club a first-round draft choice.

But the worst part about the entire thing is the fact that it sparked an erroneous report by the Boston Herald that ultimately became what the event has been labeled for. Then Patriots beat writer, John Tomase, reported that the team videotaped a walk-through prior to their Super Bowl meeting against the St. Louis Rams back in 2002, which ultimately turned out to be false.  The Herald later published a retraction and apology, but the damage had been done, with the story having become a national headline the day before the Super Bowl in 2008.  Some even feel that it was enough of a distraction to derail the club’s unbeaten run and given the timing of the story, it’s hard not to believe it played some small role from that standpoint.

However, the most irritating part of that entire sequence of events is that 10-years removed from when it happened, ask any opposing fan outside of New England about the team or SpyGate and the taping of the walk-through is what they believe it was all about. The worst part is, they – including multiple news outlets since then – still take it as truth despite the fact it never happened.

Either way, that event permanently damaged the relationship between the two coaches.  It drove a wedge between Mangini and the man who gave him his start during their time together back when Belichick was coaching in Cleveland and even saw his mentor speak at his wedding.

However, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, the two haven’t spoken since and Mangini admitted that the whole thing became far more than it needed to be.

“It was never supposed to go the way that it went,” Mangini told Cimini recently. “It was more about, ‘Hey, don’t do this here.’ It wasn’t about reporting it. Sometimes things get out of hand and get rolling in one direction. It was never, ever supposed to go that way.”

But it did, and after multiple coaching stints Mangini is now out of the league and has watched the man who brought him up through the coaching ranks win two titles in the last three seasons.  Mangini may be remorseful but he also leaves out the fact that the Jets made another accusation while claiming the Patriots illegally placed a microphone on a defensive player, which the league also looked into and found it had no merit.

While he may have left that part out, those are things that are likely etched in Belichick’s mind forever.  For now Mangini remains disappointed with how things have turned out and he admits that he hopes that the two can reconcile.

“Look, Bill is a big part of my life. Bill gave me a tremendous opportunity, and I enjoyed that experience, and I respect him. It’s disappointing, the way it’s been. Hopefully, it can change at some point.”

It’s funny hearing this yet again after Mangini had previously made similar statements about a year ago, likely looking for some sort of absolution.  One would have to believe, given everything that has happened, he probably still won’t get his wish.


Flowers had a terrific year in 2016.

Flowers Putting 2016 in the Rear View – Trey Flowers had an impressive season in 2016, finishing with seven sacks during the regular season as well as 2.5 during the playoffs.  He emerged as one of the bright spots for a Patriots defense that lead the league in fewest points allowed and became a Super Bowl Champion in his second season in the NFL.  Now he heads into his third season looking to build on a big year, although he recently admitted that he’s turned the page and is only looking forward.

“I don’t look too highly on it because last year was last year,” Flowers told Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. “The last game was the last game. I could look at that game, and there’s a lot of plays that I missed, a lot of opportunities that I missed that I should have had. That’s just all about staying hungry. Having the Super Bowl that I had in the biggest game of my career, understand while watching the film, ‘You did all right, but you could have done better.’

“I’ve got that mentality coming into the season. Any opportunity I’ve got, I want to improve on being more productive. This will be my first time coming in and being able to produce at a high level. Being able to understand my role; I know my role now. Being able to live in that role, I’m looking forward to it. I’m going to stay hungry.”

After emerging as a defensive threat, Flowers said that he’ll likely register on the radar of opposing teams in the film room, which will now force him to have to work a little harder if he hopes to build on the success he had in 2016.

“Coming off of last year, I know a lot of guys are going to start looking at me now,” Flowers told the Herald. “A year ago, they probably weren’t paying much attention to me. They’re going to start studying me, game-planning me, and I watch film trying to see how I can counter off a move that they might be expecting. You’ve got to deal with it if they’re going to game plan for you, if they’re going to double team you. You’ve still got to remain productive, and that’s one of the reasons why I’m hard on myself.”

Another Belichick to Join Coaching Staff – With Bill Belichick heading into the back half of his NFL tenure, he’s already done a pretty good job of bringing his sons up through the ranks and it appears another one is set to break through.

According to the Boston Herald’s Jeff Howe, Belichick’s youngest son, Brian, will reportedly be promoted from the scouting department to coaching assistant.

It’s an impressive step for Brian, who graduated from Trinity College last year before becoming an addition to the scouting department.  Now he finds himself joining the coaching staff, although exactly what he’ll be doing has yet to be reported.

His brother, Steve, moved up to safeties coach last season after spending four years as a coaching assistant.  His group had a solid year after being part of a Patriots’ defense that finished in the top-10 in total defense and allowed an NFL best 15.6 points per game.

He joined his father and brother on the field at the Super Bowl back in February, with the two later enjoying the incredible moment of seeing the team win their fifth title of their father’s coaching tenure.

To what capacity Brian falls under will be something to keep an eye on, but it’s truly become a family affair as they try and help the Patriots continue one of the most successful runs by a team in NFL history.

Hightower and Mitchell to Start on PUP? – One tidbit that Mike Reiss reported on in his Sunday notes is the fact that the Patriots could see two notable players potentially unavailable to start training camp.

Reiss reports that both Dont’a Hightower and Malcolm Mitchell were missing from the practice field during two weeks of voluntary OTAs, which he believes points to the likelihood that they’re each dealing with some sort of medical/rehabilitation issue.

While Reiss says that no one should be alarmed over this development, it could open up the possibility of one or both beginning training camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list if they haven’t recovered by the time camp opens.

Gronk Picks off a Bouquet And Spikes It – If anyone is wondering how Rob Gronkowski is getting along as he continues recovering from his back surgery, he looked pretty quick and nimble in a video posted on Twitter as the tight end appeared at a wedding recently.

In the video, Gronkowski can be seen making a leaping interception of a wedding bouquet before spiking it, which saw the arrangement explode into a mess of petals on the floor before celebrating his accomplishment.

You can check out the video below.

Daily Notebook: Thursday Patriots News and Notes 6/1

Ian Logue
June 1, 2017 at 7:00 am ET

Here’s a look at today’s top stories.

Guy Willing to Do it All – One of the more notable signings of the offseason hasn’t gotten much press but the addition of Lawrence Guy appears like it could be one that might end up being one of the more important additions for the Patriots in 2017.

Guy, who the Patriots signed to a 4-year deal that could be worth as much as $20 million deal back in March, was an important piece for a Baltimore defense that saw him head off to one of their biggest AFC Rivals.  The 26-year old was a key component for the Ravens, who established a role for himself after Baltimore acquired him off of waivers back in 2014 and he evolved into a strong player in the middle of their defense.

He’s got plenty of versatility, having the ability to play multiple spots and he’s also had success on special teams, which as most fans know, is something Bill Belichick appreciates.  Guy was named Special Teams Player of the Week in September of 2016 after his performance during the club’s second-largest comeback in team history when he blocked an extra point that the Ravens recovered and returned for 2-points.  The play got the Ravens on the board and sparked Baltimore overcoming a 20-0 deficit to eventually defeat Cleveland 25-20.

He’s no stranger to hard work or trying new things and he’s not afraid to play whatever position he’s asked, although he joked that he might not be a great fit in the secondary.

“I said, ‘I feel comfortable anywhere you put me at.’ It’s one of those situations with me as a player that I … found that I needed to play different positions for me to be the best player I can be,” Guy said Wednesday via NESN.com. “Coming in this situation, wherever they need to put me at, I can go ahead and do it. I’m not a great corner. I’m a little bit heavy, but I’ll try it.”

One of the best things about Guy seems to be the fact that he’s aware that doing multiple things makes a player more valuable, which is something Belichick has emphasized over the years. Given that New England’s schemes sometimes change completely from week to week, having a player that can adapt is clearly important.   That makes someone like Guy a good fit, and he’s happy to do whatever the team needs him to in order to make sure he can contribute as much as he can.

“I like to be on the field, so if they put me at a position they need me to work at, I’ll go out there and do it,” said Guy. “The whole object is to be able to play multi positions on the field so you can be out there for the most time you can and how you help the team out. If you can only do one thing, you’re not really helping the team. If you can do multiple things, you can help the team a lot.”

He sounds like a Patriot already.

White’s Attitude Hasn’t Changed – James White finished the 2016 Championship season in unique fashion, having been the player fighting his way into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown, capping off a solid year for that ultimately lead to his being rewarded this offseason with a contract extension.

White spent time last season splitting snaps with LeGarrette Blount, seeing most of his time on third down where he finished with the second-most receptions on the team behind Julian Edelman, catching 18 passes on third down with 9 first downs.

Those are the moments that White works for and after slowly coming into his own, he’s maintained the same attitude.

Always be ready.

“I just try to stay locked in at all times,” said White via the Worcester Telegram. “Whether I’m going to play one snap or I’m going to play 100 snaps, I just want to stay locked in at all times. That’s a big part of our team.”

“You never know who’s going to be the guy to have the big game or who’s going to get the most plays. So you’ve got to stay ready, so you don’t have to get ready. So that’s pretty much what my process was, to be ready for when my number’s called.”

White joins a crowded backfield this preseason that features incumbents Dion Lewis and D.J. Foster, along with newcomers Rex Burkhead and Mike Gillislee competing for playing time.  Like the receiver spot, we’ll likely see an interesting development at some point with a surprise cut reflecting a difficult decision from Belichick due to his belief in whichever player survives.

For White, he’s thankful for every moment he’s experienced so far and just as he always has, he’s looking forward to making the most of the upcoming season.

“I’ve been blessed to have an opportunity,” White said. “I’ve just tried to make the most of it, and I just want to try to continue to get better, continue working hard and continue to stay humble.”

For White, that game-winning touchdown is in the past.  He’s simply on to 2017.

White & Lewis Among the Toughest to Tackle – One of the most impressive traits about Dion Lewis and James White is how dynamic the two players are with the football in their hands, and ProFootballFocus released a graphic emphasizing just how good the two are.

Lewis and White ranked 4th and 5th in the NFL among running backs who forced missed tackles after catching the ball out of the backfield, trailing only Arizona’s David A. Johnson, Cleveland’s Duke Johnson and Detroit’s Theo Riddick.

While many are familiar with how athletic Lewis is, White’s shiftiness was on display many times throughout last season as he quickly became a dangerous asset in New England’s passing game.

The numbers don’t lie, and it’s no secret the Patriots have plenty of talent at the position and a limited around of room, leaving New England with a good problem to have heading into training camp.


Brady and Edelman are nominated for honors at the 2017 Kids Choice Awards.

Brady, Edelman Among Players Up For Nickelodeon’s Kids Choice Awards – It shouldn’t be a surprise that plenty of kids love Tom Brady and the Patriots, and Brady finds himself among some of the world’s most popular players up for an award at the upcoming Kid’s Choice Awards.

Brady joins LeBron James (NBA), Stephen Curry (NBA), Christiano Ronaldo (Soccer), Kris Bryant (MLB) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (NASCAR) among those nominated for the potential recipient of “Favorite Male Athlete”.

Brady’s also up for “Clutch Player of the Year” after his performance in the Super Bowl, going against Alex Morgan (Soccer), Katie Ledecky (Swimmer), Sidney Crosby (NHL), Russell Westbrook (NBA), Sergio Garcia (Golf), Mike Trout (MLB) and Stephen Curry (NBA).

Joining Brady as a fellow teammate up for an award is Julian Edelman, who is up for the “Hands of Gold” award.  His catch in the Super Bowl will likely be on display as he tries to win out against the likes of Adrián Beltré (MLB), Braden Holtby (NHL) Antonio Brown (NFL), Ian Kinsler (MLB) and, of course, Odell Beckham Jr. (NFL).

No word yet on whether or not the two will be on hand, although given that it’s an award show for kids, it would certainly be fun to see the two make an appearance in the event either one earns an award.

Fans can now vote via the Nick App and the event is set to be recorded live on Thursday, July 13th from UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles.

Daily Notebook: Wednesday Patriots News and Notes 5/31

Ian Logue
May 31, 2017 at 7:00 am ET

Here’s a look at today’s top stories.

Hightower Holds Event Inspired By His Mom – Dont’a Hightower has remained busy this offseason and spent Tuesday night making his presence felt here in the community after he held an event in order to raise awareness for diabetes.

According to Ryan Hannable of WEEI.com, Hightower hosted a private screening of the new “Wonder Woman” movie for a group of woman who have diabetes Tuesday night.

The event was held at Showcase Cinema at Patriot Place, and it’s a cause that hits close to home because both his mother and grandmother have been impacted by the disease.  Hightower admitted that his mother was the motivation behind him getting behind this cause.

“My mom is my Wonder Woman,” the veteran linebacker said via WEEI.com.  “My mom is obviously the reason why I’m here.  She made a lot of sacrifices for me and my sister. Ever since she’s gotten diagnosed with diabetes, I’ve tried to do as much as I could to try to promote it and promote awareness and do what I can for it. The opportunity came up, and I couldn’t say no to it.”

Hightower’s mom wasn’t at the event, but he said that “she’s doing well”, which is enough for him.


Is Danny Amendola battling for a roster spot in 2017?

Carr Relishes Opportunity – The Patriots have a pretty crowded group at the receiver position and undrafted free agent Austin Carr appears focused on breaking into a group that on the surface seems to lack much room for him.

The former standout out of Northwestern finds himself battling for a spot against a group that seemingly has Brandin Cooks, Chris Hogan, Julian Edelman and Malcolm Mitchell as the obvious locks to make the roster.  From there, it comes down to Andrew Hawkins and Carr, among others, as players potentially trying to unseat Danny Amendola for a spot on the roster.

After making the team as a walk on for Northwestern in his freshman year and going undrafted despite being named a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection following a senior season where he led the conference in receptions, Carr is no stranger to beating the odds.

He fits the mold of past and current slot receivers and is one of the more intriguing prospects at that position heading into training camp.  But given how reliable Amendola has been over the years, along with what Hawkins brings to the table, he’s clearly got his work cut out for him.  The good news is, he’s also working with a quarterback who he’s rooted for as he was growing up, so the goal now is to hopefully make the team.

“It’s really a dream come true, but at the same time, there’s no time to be star-struck,” said Carr via the Worcester Telegram. “There’s no time to be caught up in that. I have to earn a spot. That’s my goal and I’ve got to grasp the opportunity.”

Carr said that one of the things he brings is a hard-working mentality where he enjoys soaking in the knowledge that comes from being around experienced, talented players.  As competitive as he is, he knows he’s stil got plenty of room to improve and he’s humble enough to understand that it’s his job each day to learn and become a better player.

“I bring relentlessness, I bring a hard-work ethic, I bring humility. I think every day is an opportunity to learn,” said Carr. “Every day is a time to humble myself, to become low and to serve the guys that are ahead of me, to watch them closely and to improve.”


Brady’s MVP second half in February likely fended off Garoppolo.

Schefter Admitted Super Bowl Comeback Quieted Brady Naysayers – We all know Tom Brady’s intention of trying to play into his mid-forties, which if he can continue playing at a high level, would certainly be impressive given what we’ve seen from past quarterbacks who fell apart after they turned 40.

Adam Schefter appeared on Bleacher Report’s “Stick to Football” podcast and gave his thoughts about the fact that had the Super Bowl turned out differently after the Patriots fell behind 28-3, which included an abysmal first half where Brady also threw a pick-six, the calls for Jimmy Garoppolo would likely have been much louder this offseason.

“Again, I’d like to say this, Tom Brady, that Super Bowl was 28-3 at one point, and if that game had continued on that course, the offseason would have been dedicated to people talking about is it time to replace Tom Brady with Jimmy Garoppolo?” Schefter said via CBS Sports.com. “When Tom Brady turned that game around, not only did he win a Super Bowl for the Patriots, he stayed off all the [naysayers] that would have come, I believe if they would have lost that game as decisively and as one-sided as it was at one point in time. He’s 40 years old. He’s going to be 40 years old this year and he is the greatest quarterback of all-time. None of that is in dispute, and he may play for five or six more years, he may do that, but the chances are he’s not going to because nobody has ever done that before.”

Schefter admitted that Brady’s entering uncharted territory and while he’ll question whether or not it can be done, he’s the last person to challenge a player like Brady who has already proven so many people wrong over this incredible career.

“I’m not going to challenge the great Tom Brady in any way,” said Schefter. I would never challenge that guy ever, but Father Time usually wins that battle. If he can beat Father Time, he’s even more incredible than we think he is. We’ll see.”

Daily Notebook: Tuesday Patriots News and Notes 5/30

Ian Logue
May 30, 2017 at 5:00 am ET

Hope all of you had a good holiday weekend and a safe Memorial Day.  As we get back to work, here’s a look at this morning’s latest headlines.

Ellis Picks Football Over a Medical Career – Playing football for the Patriots is an opportunity that players don’t take lightly and there’s one player on the current roster putting his off-the-field career on hold as he tries to make the most of his shot with this football team.

Linebacker Brooks Ellis came out of college as an undrafted prospect and he heads into this season as one of many hopefuls looking for a chance to realize his NFL dream.  According to CSNNE, Ellis has spent the last few years working hard to have a chance to become an orthopedic surgeon and has put that on the backburner as he fights with a competitive group to try and earn a role with the Patriots this season.

But despite being here in Foxboro trying to follow his dream, Ellis has admitted that he’s still moving forward with his academic process as a back-up plan in case things don’t work out.

“I’m putting my all into this right now,” Ellis told CSNNE last week. “But when I get some spare time, I’m finishing applications, and then when I get back in July I’m sending those in.

“If I get accepted somewhere, I’m going to tell them I need to defer until I know for sure what the football situation is going to be. So I’m all in on football, and just in case, I’m going to have that ready to go when I get out of it.”

It’s a great story among many, and the timing for Ellis is certainly in his favor as this is a linebacker group that as competitive as it is, could certainly see things work out for him if he plays at the level that he did in Arkansas.  He’s a smart and talented player and he seems focused at the task at hand.  Hopefully he makes the most of it.


Gilmore is settling in well with his new teammates.

Gilmore Working Against the Best – Working against one of the best quarterbacks in the game has to be beneficial to defensive players, which has likely played a part in the success for at least a few players in the secondary.

Newcomer Stephon Gilmore has only gotten to go up against Brady a couple of games a year but he’s already admitted that working against the future Hall of Fame quarterback has helped him.

“He practices like he plays,” Gilmore said last week via Doug Kyed of NESN.com. “He’s a good quarterback. He throws great balls. You really have to be tight on the receivers. It allows me to work on my game and make myself better.”

Gilmore admitted that he’s been impressed with how Brady handles himself and how much different things have been so far since he’s been here.

“He’s fun to go against,” Gilmore said of Brady. “He always has a chip on his shoulder, so he’s a great player.”

“It’s fun. He gets you better every day.”


Losing to the Patriots and Brady in the Super Bowl hasn’t sat well in Seattle.

Seahawks Still Haunted By Super Bowl Loss – With the third season coming up since the Patriots stunned Seattle in the closing seconds  of Super Bowl XLIX, it sounds like the loss still stings not only the fan base, but it’s still having a negative effect on the players in the locker room.

According to a recent article by ESPN’s Seth Wickersham that will be appearing in the upcoming edition of ESPN the Magazine, there’s still plenty of resentment by the players about the offensive final play call that saw the football end up in the hands of Malcolm Butler.  That play changed everything for Butler and the Patriots, and it’s seemingly destroyed Seattle’s future.

“If Russ had just thrown it low and away …,” one Seahawks staffer told Wickersham. Another former assistant coach also told him, “If we had just executed the play, it would have been the easiest touchdown in history.”

That shows you how the each really feel about the play.  Now imagine what the players think.  Head coach Pete Carroll knew it too, telling Wickersham that right after it happened, he needed to let everyone know he was serious about getting back to work and trying to make it right.

“The instant that play occurred, I knew what I was dealing with,” Carroll told him. “I had to get back to business as soon as possible.”

But that hasn’t changed how people within his own walls views him, with Richard Sherman even reportedly bringing up Butler’s pick from that game last year a few weeks before the playoffs.  Maybe that explains why Sherman’s name has been the subject of trade rumors during this offseason.

Either way, that game has certainly changed the fortune of both teams.  The Patriots have found their groove and have won two titles in the last three years, while the Seahawks haven’t been able to get past the Divisional round. To make matters worse for Carroll’s club, the Patriots seem poised to make another run while his team still faces another season of uncertainty.

Oddly enough, what the Seahawks don’t seem to realize is that New England has already faced some heart-breaking moments in two Super Bowl losses and didn’t let those stop them.  But for now, they seem intent on pointing fingers and making excuses, which likely explains why they’re stuck in a cycle of futility, which shows you the clear difference between the two teams.

Brady Quotes Ronald Reagan on Memorial Day – To close this out, Brady took a moment on Monday to commemorate those who gave their lives in support of their country, quoting former president Ronald Reagan in his latest Instagram Post.

Here’s a look at the post from the veteran quarterback:

"We are gathered at the National Cemetery, which provides a final resting place for the heroes who have defended our country since the Civil War. This amphitheater, this place for speeches, is more central to this cemetery than it first might seem apparent, for all we can ever do for our heroes is remember them and remember what they did — and memories are transmitted through words. Sometime back I received in the name of our country the bodies of four marines who had died while on active duty. I said then that there is a special sadness that accompanies the death of a serviceman, for we're never quite good enough to them — not really; we can't be, because what they gave us is beyond our powers to repay. And so, when a serviceman dies, it's a tear in the fabric, a break in the whole, and all we can do is remember. It is, in a way, an odd thing to honor those who died in defense of our country, in defense of us, in wars far away. The imagination plays a trick. We see these soldiers in our mind as old and wise. We see them as something like the Founding Fathers, grave and gray haired. But most of them were boys when they died, and they gave up two lives — the one they were living and the one they would have lived. When they died, they gave up their chance to be husbands and fathers and grandfathers. They gave up their chance to be revered old men. They gave up everything for our country, for us. And all we can do is remember." – Ronald Reagan Thanks for the inspiration @domraso #Honor

A post shared by Tom Brady (@tombrady) on

Daily Notebook: Wednesday Patriots News and Notes 5/24

Ian Logue
May 24, 2017 at 5:00 am ET

Here’s a look at this morning’s top stories.

Gronk Agrees to Incentive Package – Looking at the $5.25 million tight end Rob Gronkowski was set to make in 2017, it left him well underpaid compared to his peers as he looked to bounce back after his 2016 season was cut short due to injury.   However, the Patriots reportedly agreed to a change to his contract and his new deal should give him plenty of additional motivation as he attempts to get back to the top of his game.

According to ProFootballTalk.com, Gronkowski now has a three-tiered incentive package for 2017 that raises his salary, provided he meets the parameters.

From ProFootballTalk.com:

According to agent Drew Rosenhaus, Gronkowski can earn another $5.5 million, another $3 million, or another $1 million under the following formula: (1) if he participates in 90 percent of the offensive snaps OR catches 80 passes OR gains 1,200 receiving yards OR scores 14 touchdowns OR is named a first-team All-Pro, Gronkowski will earn the extra $5.5 million; (2) if he participates in 80 percent of the snaps OR catches 70 passes OR has 1,000 receiving yards OR scores 12 touchdowns, he gets the extra $3 million; or (3) if he participates in 70 percent of the snaps OR catches 60 passes OR has 800 receiving yards OR scores 10 touchdowns, he gets the extra $1 million.

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports that should he hit all his incentives, Gronkowski’s salary could reach $10.75 million.

The good news for Gronkowski is the fact that the majority of milestones he would need to reach in order to earn the incentives are all ones he’s hit in the past when he’s been healthy for 16 games, which is the biggest question the Patriots likely have heading into this season.

As the website points out, the good news for Gronkowski is the fact his base salary wasn’t affected and the team simply gave him attainable goals to raise his salary to a more competitive level with other players at his position, as well as potentially becoming the highest paid tight end in football.  The other obvious upside is if he’s putting up those types of numbers, the Patriots should certainly benefit in the win column.

Overall, it’s a win-win for both sides, and if Gronkowski can return to form, it will hopefully also open the door to a further extension to ensure he stays here for the foreseeable future.


Belichick is a big fan of joint practice sessions.

Patriots and Jaguars to Hold Joint Session – Preseason football in past years here in New England had offered up an opportunity for fans to get a free up close and personal look at opposing teams in the days leading up to the game, and they’ve had some great opportunities to get a first-hand look at some good teams and players.

Last year featured the Bears and Saints, who were each competitive clubs that made the experience fun to watch.  This preseason, there now sits a bit of the unknown with an up and coming team set to reportedly visit Foxborough in the coming months, with the Jacksonville Jaguars set to hold joint practices against New England.  The two teams will reportedly hold sessions on August 7th and 8th, with a preseason game that week scheduled on August 10th at Gillette Stadium.

For the Jaguars, it’s a great opportunity for first-year head coach Doug Marrone to get the chance to work with one of the best coaches in the game as he looks to try and get his Jaguars club headed back to being a competitive football team.

“Having the opportunity to practice with the defending world champions to begin our preseason schedule will be beneficial for our football team,” said Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone via the team’s release. “We appreciate Coach Belichick extending the invitation to our organization.”

As for the Patriots, one player who is already looking forward to the match-up is undrafted free agent cornerback and Jacksonville native, D.J. Killings, who can’t wait to compete against his hometown team.

“I’m just ready to whup ’em, for real,” he told the Boston Herald’s Adam Kurkjian. “First in college and high school, you’re like, ‘Oh, you know, the Jacksonville Jaguars, they’ve got some great players.’ Now, you respect them as players, but it’s like, ‘I ain’t looking up to y’all no more. It’s time for me to go against y’all.'”


Bruschi knows first hand how tough it is to go undefeated.

Bruschi Argues in favor of 2007 team – One of the topics discussed over the offseason given the amount of talent the Patriots have acquired is whether or not this year’s club is more talented than the one that managed to run off a perfect 16-0 regular season in 2007.

Tedy Bruschi was asked that very question on Monday on ESPN’s NFL Live program, and was pretty emphatic in his feelings on the matter.

“Overreaction! Are you kidding me?” Bruschi said via Mike Reiss. “That 2007 team, I’ll go straight to the defensive line, having [Vince] Wilfork, [Ty] Warren and [Richard] Seymour in front of me — three first-round picks. The talent we had along the front seven.

“Randy Moss, a lot of the guys they had on offense, especially. Tom [Brady] threw 50 touchdown passes. Wes Welker couldn’t be stopped in the slot. And you know what else is a talent? Mental toughness, and that’s what those guys had, because to go 16-0, to carry that burden.”

Bruschi might be a little biased given that he played on that football team, but there’s no question that winning all sixteen games is obviously an extremely difficult feat, especially since his club was only the second in league history to pull it off behind the 1972 Dolphins.

Mental toughness is indeed what it takes and one of the biggest questions is always how well will the new players adapt in a system that requires the same laser-focus from every player each week.

The former linebacker knows what it takes and like the rest of the fans here in New England, it will be up to the 2017 edition of this football team to prove themselves when they take the field together and begin playing meaningful games in the coming months.

Hollister Brothers Happy to Be Patriots – When you’re two brothers playing in completely different colleges, one of the last things you expect is to end up playing on the same NFL team together.

Landing on a team that happens to be the defending Super Bowl Champion would likely be considered an even bigger long-shot, yet that’s what ultimately happened to rookie free agents and twin brothers Jacob and Cody Hollister.

Where they went to college wasn’t even close to this region, with Jacob playing in Wyoming, while Cole played at Arkansas.  Yet it was the Patriots who gave them an opportunity and they’re both looking forward to having the chance to make the most of it.

“The whole process, two twins on the same team, it’s ridiculous. The odds are crazy, so having him here is great,:” Cody told the Boston Herald.  “Having family with you, we’ve been away from each other for three years, so being back together is an incredible experience. Learn better and we compete together, so there’s nothing better than that.”

According to the Herald, the two have spent plenty of time going over plays and formations while trying to figure out New England’s playbook, but they said it’s been a great experience and despite all the time they’re spending together, it never gets old.

“We get tired of each other, but it’s brotherly love,” Cody said. “Having him here is awesome.”

With OTAs already having started, the journey is well underway for two brothers pursuing the same dream.  The fact that they’re able to do it together, makes it an even cooler story and they’ll be fun to keep an eye on should they make it into the start of training camp.