Tag: NFL
Dolphins Struggling, Tagovailoa Speaks Out
by Chris Sama ’27 on October 23, 2025
Professional Sports
After losing to the Los Angeles Chargers in week six on Oct. 12, the Miami Dolphins picked up their fifth loss of the season, making them 1–5 overall. In a post-game press conference, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa criticized his teammates for being late to, or even missing, player-only meetings as a major factor contributing to their losing streak. Tagovailoa described it as a leadership issue that needs to be addressed so the team can fix “the little things.”
While Tagovailoa meant well, he faced a lot of public backlash for airing out their issues as a team instead of privately addressing them, which could cause more scrutiny for certain players.There were also criticisms regarding Tagovailoa himself and his performance in the game and season overall. Coach Mike McDaniel publicly stated that the message had been received by the team, but wasn’t appropriately delivered. Tagovailoa apologized three days later during a Dolphins media conference, saying that he “made a mistake” and that he’s “owning up to it right now” as his emotions got the best of him. He further explained that it wasn’t right for him to address private issues to the media, and that these issues start with his leadership, character, and decision-making.
On Sunday, Oct. 19, the Dolphins faced off against the Cleveland Browns in Ohio, who now have a 2–5 record and lost 31–6. This is such a bad loss for the Dolphins that it is rumored McDaniel could get fired. This victory broke a 12-game streak for the Browns of scoring less than 17 points. The Browns capitalized on four turnovers from the Dolphins that ended up as touchdowns, including one of three interceptions thrown from Tagovailoa. The only other team that the Dolphins have beaten was the New York Jets, who remain winless so far this season, showing serious concerns for the future of the Dolphins.
Their chances for making the playoffs this season are now extremely low, and McDaniel is scrambling to get the team back to its former playoff caliber. Coach McDaniel had high expectations this season as he had led the Dolphins to the playoffs twice, including in 2022 when Tagovailoa had two major concussions and sat out for some regular season and playoff games. He is primarily known for being a great offensive coach, but after Tyreek Hill suffered a season-ending knee injury during their win against the Jets, he has struggled to get the offense to its full strength. McDaniel has a lot to prove in these upcoming games, and based on Tagovailoa’s comments, has to instill more discipline in his team.
The Miami Dolphins play the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Oct. 26, and the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, Oct. 30. If they win these two games, there could be some hope for the Dolphins, but looking at the current state they’re in now, it seems unlikely.
Are Bill Belichick’s Actions Helping or Harming His Career?
by Izzy Mignardi ’27 and Emilia Farrell ’28 on October 23, 2025
PCI
Providence College Investigates: Bill Belichick
Harming
Bill Belichick is widely regarded as one of the best head coaches in NFL history. Most notably, he led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles, the most of any NFL head coach. But at 73 years old, his coaching experience should stay within the NFL to preserve his legacy. In December of 2024, Belichick signed a five-year contract to become the head coach of the University of North Carolina’s football team. Belichick’s performance so far has been hard to watch. North Carolina is currently 2–4 and has yet to have a win against a major conference opponent. Three of those losses were blowouts, with UNC losing by at least 25 points each time. On Friday, Oct. 17, the Tarheels lost 21–18 to UC Berkeley in a game in which North Carolina fumbled at the one-yard line in what should have been the go-ahead touchdown with three minutes and 48 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. There are few signs of progress for this team under Belichick. Time after time, the team fails to rise to the occasion on the field. Belichick was once the best coach in the NFL, but his move to collegiate football has been plagued by a losing streak as well as internal discourse and off-field scandals concerning Jordon Hudson, Belichick’s 24-year-old girlfriend. UNC took a bet on Belichick, a living legend that they believed would greatly improve their program. Instead, Belichick has plagued a program that was once much more respectable. As the team moves into the second half of the season, it seems unlikely that they will be able to turn things around. In taking and performing poorly in the job at UNC, Belichick has ruined his reputation and legacy as one of the greatest in football history.
Helping
Lately, when you hear the name Bill Belichick in the news, it’s not associated with incredible football victories. Instead, it’s likely followed by, “and his 24-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson…” Has Belichick’s taste in women entirely ruined his reputation as one of the greatest coaches in football history? It depends on who you ask. Do I think this relationship is weird and disturbing? Absolutely. But do I think that his judgment negates the fact that he is one of the most successful football coaches? Not really. I’m sure die-hard football fans, especially Patriots fans, would still agree that he remains an indisputable great in the coaching world. Belichick holds several different coaching records. During his time with the Patriots, the team won 17 AFC East titles and appeared in nine Super Bowls, winning six. Belichick coached them to their first Super Bowl victory and led the historic Super Bowl LI game when the Patriots came back from a 28–3 deficit. Additionally, he won two Super Bowls during his time as defensive coordinator for the Giants. This means Belichick has won more Super Bowls than any other coach in history. In his book, The Art of Winning: Lessons from My Life in Football, he underscores one of the key aspects to his success: preparation. As a coach, he was prepared for every game and every possible situation. He held his players and himself accountable. “Do your job,” he’d say. Now, his job is to coach the UNC Tar Heels. Their current record of 2–4 does not reflect Belichick’s usual winning spirit. Many see his girlfriend on the sidelines before a game and attribute the team’s losses to her. I could agree with this, as I’m sure Belichick might not be as focused on football as he was in the past. So, has his taste in women ruined his reputation? It might affect his current coaching abilities, but I find it entirely unfair to write off Belichick’s football success because of mistakes he might be making in his personal life.
“Free 4” Shirts Cause Internet Outrage
by Izzy Mignardi ’27 on September 25, 2025
Professional Sports
Serious controversy was sparked on Sept. 14 after Travis Kelce and Tyquan Thornton wore “Free 4” shirts in solidarity with their teammate Rashee Rice. Rice was suspended for the first six games of the NFL season after he caused a high-speed car accident on the highway.
Back in March of 2024, Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice was responsible for a six-car pileup on Route 75 in Dallas. Rice was driving over 115 miles per hour in his Lamborghini SUV, racing a Corvette. After excessive maneuvers and high speeds caused several crashes, Rice fled the scene on foot, neglecting to check on those injured, including a three and four-year-old.
In July, he pled guilty to charges of collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway, causing bodily injury. His sentence includes five years on probation, during which he will have to spend 30 days in Dallas jail. He also owes $115,000 in restitution, as well as $1 million in a civil settlement to victim Kathryn Kuykendall. Rice’s lawyers say he recognizes “that that was a stupid mistake,” and that going forward, he is going to better himself by volunteering with children and local pastors to educate people on the dangers of reckless driving.
Rice released a statement reading, “I deeply regret the actions I took that day and the harm they caused others. This was a moment of immense failure on my part.”
Victims, lawyers, and football fans were outraged when Kelce and Thornton wore the warm-up shirts at last week’s game. Kuykendall’s lawyer, Marc Lenahan, said, “Rashee isn’t Nelson Mandela or Pepe Mujica, men who fought for what they believed in. There is evidence that Rashee was going 119 mph in a $1,749 per day Lambo rental that had pot and a pistol in it, on a highway on Easter weekend.” Lenahan continued by explaining that if his teammates really supported him, they would lend him the money to help pay his victims, who are still awaiting reparations. Additionally, others on social media are equally angered by the stunt. Sportswriter Ben Cummins described how Kelce should feel “embarrassed” for wearing a shirt that is so “illogical.”
Chiefs Coach Andy Reid defended his players, saying, “I just think that those guys, they love the kid and want him to feel part of it in their own way. I really don’t think it’s anything more than that.” While the team clearly sees this as an effort to support their teammate, most others read it as disrespectful toward the victims and dismissive of his actions. They argue that had Rice not been a successful football player, the reaction would have been quite different.
The Chiefs are currently 0–2 without Rice. He will be eligible to play again on Oct.19.
Brett Farve Coming Out of Retirement. AGAIN
by npatano on March 31, 2022
The Scowl
Aaron Rodgers ’22
Discount Double Check
In an offseason full of changes and surprises, arguably the biggest surprise was when Tom Brady announced via Instagram that he was retiring from the NFL. The 44-year-old, 7-time Super Bowl champion had finally decided to trade in the cleats and shoulder pads for more time with his family at home.
The retirement, however, was marred with controversy as many fans believed it was “fake” and a “power play” by Brady. Others were upset with the fact that Brady did not acknowledge the New England Patriots, the organization with which Brady spent most of his career, or their fans in his farewell statement.
Well, all the speculation ended this month when Brady announced that he was unretiring and returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brady’s retirement, which began with his statements on Feb. 1, lasted a little less than two months. That alone must be a record speed for shortest retirement for an athlete and surely adds another record to the many the greatest quarterback of all time has.
With that said, Brady is still a few retirements shy of Favre’s three, an accomplishment that no doubt will stand for quite some time.
When asked about Brady’s unretirement, Favre told The Scowl, “I’m happy for him. Tom is one of the best and he excels at whatever he does. So, I’m sure he will handle this right, with class, and make it spectacular.”
When asked what made Brady’s unretirement so great, Favre said, “Everything about it! Clearly this was something Tom had been planning for quite some time. You don’t just do something like this on the fly. The rumors surrounding his retirement, the shortness of it, the game of chicken between him and Bucs’ management. It truly was a work of art.”
Favre has retired quite a few times and even switched teams after coming of retirement before, so he knows a thing or two about the game. “I gotta say man, makes you itch to get back in it,” Favre said. “I’m a bit jealous. I mean, shoot, you had all this offseason drama with Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, and Khalil Mack all switching teams.
Those are all likely future Hall of Famers, yet all anyone talked about was Tom.” At this point Favre started to seem a bit restless. You could see a competitive fire growing in his eyes. When asked if he had any final remarks or well wishes for Tom Brady, Favre emphatically stated, “Yea, I do. Hold my beer, Tom. I can’t let you just come in here and dominate the retirement game. I’m coming back. I know there are still a few teams that could use an ol’ gunslinger.”
When reached for comment, Wrangler Jeans said they will work with whatever team Favre signs with to create a schedule for filming jeans commercials around his football responsibilities. The Scowl also reached out to Michael Jordan to see if he had any comments, but he was too busy playing Tiger Woods for money at Pebble Beach that he declined to comment.
First Time Winners Celebrate in Super Bowl LVI
by npatano on February 17, 2022
Professional Sports
By Joe Quirk ’23
Sports Staff
What a game. Super Bowl LVI was this past Sunday, Feb. 13 and really capped off a spectacular NFL regular and postseason. The game was played at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, CA, home to both the Los Angeles Chargers and the Los Angeles Rams during the regular season.
The Rams were always expected to be here. Head coach Sean McVay is one of the youngest coaches in the NFL and is heralded as an offensive genius. He has taken the Rams to the Super Bowl before, only to lose to the New England Patriots. But he and team general manager Les Snead would not be denied again. They went and got star power. They traded for stars such as quarterback Matthew Stafford from the Detroit Lions and pass-rusher Von Miller from the Denver Broncos, and signed wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. when he was released from the Cleveland Browns. All of this added to a core that already featured top-tier talents such as Leonard Floyd, Aaron Donald, and Jalen Ramsey on defense and Cooper Kupp, Andrew Whitworth, and Robert Woods on offense.
The Bengals, on the other hand, had a miracle run to get here. Just a few years ago they had the worst record in the NFL and the first overall pick in the draft, selecting Louisiana State University quarterback Joe Burrow.
Unfortunately, Burrow would suffer significant ligament damage to his knee midway through his rookie campaign and miss the remainder of the season. The Bengals finished last in their division again and used the fifth overall pick in the draft on LSU wide receiver and former teammate of Burrow’s, Ja’Marr Chase.
The rest of the Bengals group was slowly coming together. They had talented safeties but questionable corners. They had taken some fliers on the defensive and offensive line—only the defensive line panned out. The one undisputed fact was the skill position talent this team had. Chase joined a wide receiver room featuring promising young receivers such as Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd and star running back Joe Mixon.
Both the Rams and the Bengals fought hard to win three games before reaching Super Bowl LVI. The Rams took care of business, winning two of their three games by only three points. The Bengals had some close finishes, including a field-goal in overtime against the defending Super Bowl Champion, the Kansas City Chiefs, to send them to the Super Bowl.
Now for the game itself; the scoring started early when Beckham Jr., who was resurrecting his career with these playoffs, caught a touchdown over the head of a Bengalscornerback.
The Bengals responded, getting rookie kicker Evan McPherson into range for a field goal to make it 7-3 Rams at the end of the first half. It was an exciting first half and looked to be a close game early on. Stafford and the Rams responded as best they could, and Stafford found Kupp for an eleven-yard touchdown in the second quarter. However, a fumbled snap led to a botched point-after-attempt, so the Rams only walked away with six.
Around this time, star wideout Beckham Jr. suffered a non-contact knee injury. The Bengals wanted to end the half only down three and dialed up a trick play where Mixon found Higgins in the endzone for six. Cincinnati was fired up for the second half, as Burrow hit Higgins for a 75-yard score on the first play. A Stafford interception led to another Bengals field goal. This gave the Bengals a seven-point lead, which was cut into later with a Matt Gay field goal for the Rams. Then, after a scoring drought in the fourth quarter, Stafford found Super Bowl MVP Kupp in the endzone for an 11-yard game winning score. The Rams were victorious, winning 23-20 and capping off a fantastic NFL season.
Brady vs. Mahomes: The Past Takes on the Future
by on February 4, 2021
Professional Sports
by Ryan Carius ’21
Sports Staff
The first NFL season during the COVID-19 pandemic will come to a close on Feb. 7 in Tampa Bay. The main story headed into the matchup is the two quarterbacks under center as Super Bowl LV will feature arguably the two most renowned quarterbacks competing in the league. This competition between Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes has more than the Vince Lombardi Trophy on the line.
Although neither quarterback will admit it, this game is for bragging rights. Brady’s route to the Super Bowl was not easy. After dispatching Taylor Heinicke of the Washington Football Team in the Wild Card matchup, Brady defeated two legends in both Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers to get to the big game. If Brady can complete this run by defeating Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl, it will add yet another impressive accomplishment to his unmatched resume. Although, he certainly has enough on his resume regardless of the outcome of Super Bowl LV.
For Mahomes, facing Brady in the Super Bowl should be enough motivation for the star QB to play his best. However, this game also serves as revenge for the 2019 AFC Championship Game, in which the New England Patriots defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime, 37-31.
Mahomes’s rise to stardom has taken a much different path than Brady’s, but ever since starting for the Chiefs in his second season, Mahomes has been one of the best players in the entire NFL. In just his third year as the starting quarterback for the Chiefs, Mahomes is now in his second Super Bowl and is favored to collect his second Lombardi Trophy. Although two Super Bowls would not be enough for Mahomes to compete with Brady’s legacy just yet, the potential is there. Indeed, if Mahomes continues at this pace, it may very well be enough to ask the question: will Mahomes someday replace Brady as the Greatest of All Time?
One day, when Mahomes’s career is over, there will be much comparison between the two quarterbacks’ career statistics. If one measures greatness by career titles, it is hard to imagine supplanting Brady’s six, and potentially soon seven, Super Bowl titles. However, given that Mahomes could win his second title in just three seasons as starting quarterback, he is on pace to pass Brady if he has a successful 20-season career.
It is also worth examining statistics like passer rating, passing yards, or touchdowns in one’s pursuit of naming the GOAT. Although Brady has thrown for the most TDs in NFL history, he is not the number one quarterback in passer rating or passing yards. What makes Tom Brady stand out is his tremendous success during the postseason. Tom Brady is 30-11 in the postseason with a win percentage of 73.1%. He’s also thrown for 73 touchdowns. In comparison, Patrick Mahomes has played in only seven playoff games with a record of six wins and one loss, about a winning percentage of 85%. During that span, he threw 17 TD passes, a number which will surely increase during this Super Bowl and his many playoff games yet to come.
With these impressive numbers in just three postseasons, Mahomes will be compared to Tom Brady throughout the remainder of his career. For this reason, the argument of whether or not Patrick Mahomes will replace Tom Brady as the GOAT is yet to be determined. There are also other factors to consider, such as who had the better coach, better team, and tougher opponents throughout their respective careers. However, if Brady can win this game and prove that his success did not just come from a partnership with Patriots coach Bill Belichick, he will permanently cement himself as a true winner, regardless of what organization he plays for.
On the other hand, what makes Patrick Mahomes so appealing to most football fans is the possibility of him being a generational player that can also compete for the title of the Greatest of All Time at the quarterback position. While it might be nice to believe Mahomes can capture this accolade, it will take a very long and successful career to catch up to Brady, a pursuit which will make the NFL entertaining to watch for years to come.
PCI: Who Will Win Super Bowl LV?
by on February 4, 2021
PCI
Providence College Investigates
Kansas City Chiefs
By Joseph Quirk ’23
Sports Staff
Simply put, who will win this season’s Super Bowl should not even be a question. As much as one has to respect Tom Brady and what he has been able to accomplish, this is Patrick Mahomes’s time. Indeed, Brady will be reaching a remarkable 10th Super Bowl, a feat that is hard to even fathom. It is made more impressive when you consider that this is his very first year on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But the debate should be about who is the best team: a debate that Kansas City wins.
Their advantage starts on special teams, a part of the game that is not glamorous, but is important, especially in the playoffs. Ryan Succop is the placekicker for the Bucs, and he is not terrible by any means. But compared to Chiefs’ kicker Harrison Butker, he is severely outmatched. Since entering the league, Butker has been among the league’s best kickers, and has experience kicking in the biggest moments. He has proven to be accurate and powerful, and his kickoff abilities should give the Bucs trouble.
Steve Spagnuolo, the defensive coordinator for the Chiefs, gives the Chiefs another major advantage. Spagnuolo has experience dealing with Brady in the Super Bowl as he led the 2007 New York Giants defense which famously stopped Brady’s Patriots from having a perfect season. His defense now features high-energy and versatile weaponry with the likes of Tyrann Mathieu. Mathieu leads a Chiefs’ secondary that is far stronger than their Buccaneers counterparts. This was proven in their last regular season matchup.
It bears mentioning that Tampa Bay has a much better front seven than the Chiefs: Vita Vea, linebacker Devin White, and Pro Bowler Jason-Pierre Paul form a formidable trio for Tampa. However, Kansas City’s tandem of Frank Clark and Chris Jones is also very disruptive and works well with the Chiefs’ stronger secondary.
However, the real reason the Chiefs will win is because their offense is far superior to the Bucs. Although the Buccaneers have a very good duo in Chris Godwin and Mike Evans at receiver, other weapons like Rob Gronkowski and Antonio Brown are at the tail end of their careers. Meanwhile, the Chiefs feature a stronger and more mobile quarterback, a system that fits its players perfectly, a game-breaking tight end in Travis Kelce, and a trio of speedy wideouts led by Tyreek Hill.
One final point worth noting is Kansas City’s coaching advantage. While both coaches are experienced, Andy Reid proved last season that he may very well be the best coach in the league. All of these factors combined make it all but certain that the Chiefs will be crowned the champions of Super Bowl LV.
Tampa Buccaneers
by Cam Smith ’21
Sports Co-Editor
All eyes will be on star quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady as the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV. However, it will be the performances of other players that will ultimately determine the outcome. Specifically, the play of the Tampa Bay defense and Tampa running back Leonard Fournette will propel the Buccaneers to their second Super Bowl victory in franchise history.
The two teams last met in Week 12, when the Chiefs knocked off the Bucs 27-24. Kansas City wide receiver Tyreek Hill torched the Tampa defense to the tune of 269 yards and three touchdowns. Following that embarrassing showing, the Bucs worked hard during their Week 13 bye to address their issues with the deep ball.
Following the bye week, the Bucs have played 2-man coverage for 18.1% of all defensive possessions, compared to just 4.8% in weeks 1–12. This increase in 2-man coverage will provide a challenge to Hill, as it allows for the cornerbacks to play more aggressively while also protecting against the deep ball with two safeties over the top. So too does it target Mahomes’s potential weakness, as the Kansas City quarterback’s 53.6% completion rate against the 2-man was his lowest rate against any type of pass defense in 2020.
Tampa’s run defense, on the other hand, is one area that has refused to show any flaws all season. Coming into the Super Bowl, the Bucs have the league’s number one rush defense. In the Week 12 matchup, they limited the Kansas City backs to just 59 yards on 16 rushing attempts.
This trend will likely continue into the Super Bowl matchup, as the Chiefs suffered a brutal loss when left tackle Eric Fisher went down with an Achilles injury in the AFC Championship game. The Chiefs are also expected to be without right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, leaving two gaping holes in the line for the talented Tampa run defenders to take advantage of.
On the other side of the ball, Fournette has flourished since the start of the playoffs following an inconsistent regular season. Coming into the Super Bowl, the Tampa running back leads all players with 313 postseason yards from scrimmage. With a Chiefs defense potentially spread thin defending one of the best receiving corps in the game, Fournette should have plenty of room to continue his dominant run.
Indeed, with Tom Brady at the helm, the Bucs’ offense will remain effective, but it will be the Tampa Bay defense that brings home the trophy. Limiting big plays from perhaps the best offensive trio in the game in Mahomes, Hill, and tight end Travis Kelce will not be easy, but the surging Bucs defense might just have what it takes.
NFL Mid-Season Update
by The Cowl Editor on October 16, 2020
Professional Sports
COVID-19 Outbreaks Lead to Scheduling Fiascos
by Liam Tormey ’22
Sports Staff
It is now a couple weeks into the National Football League (NFL) season, and there have been both surprises and concerns for many teams in the league.
It goes without saying that COVID-19 is going to be the biggest issue this season. Going into Week Four, the Pittsburgh Steelers were supposed to travel to Tennessee to face the Titans, but, due to an outbreak of cases in the Titans camp, the game was rescheduled to Week Seven. The Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers game was moved to Week Eight. Both the Steelers and Titans went into Week Four undefeated and have proven to be playoff contenders.
The Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots were supposed to face off on Oct. 4 but had to reschedule to a Monday night game after Patriots quarterback Cam Newton tested positive for COVID-19. With Newton in quarantine, Brian Hoyer got the starting job. Hoyer played a terrible first half before being replaced by second-year quarterback Jarrett Stidham in the second half of the game.
With both rosters at capacity, the Chiefs and Patriots have been two of the more impressive teams in the league. Surprisingly, the Chiefs are the first team ever to start 4-0 for four consecutive seasons. Their impressive display against the Ravens in Baltimore has many believing they have a good chance to repeat winning the Super Bowl.
For the New England Patriots, Newton looks like he has found his new home. The Patriots hope to get him back for their Week Six matchup against the Denver Broncos, a game that was moved from Week Five following more positive cases in New England. Newton’s arm and his ability to run the ball have added a new dimension to New England’s offense. And with Bill Belichick as the coach, anything is possible for the Patriots this season.
Credit must be given to the other undefeated teams in the American Football Conference (AFC). The Buffalo Bills are the leaders of the AFC East, and quarterback Josh Allen looks ready to lead his team to a successful playoff run. Head coach Sean McDermott has continually given Buffalo a sound defense since coming from the Carolina Panthers as a defensive coordinator.
In the National Football Conference (NFC), the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers are at the top of the list for impressive teams thus far. Russell Wilson, who has never received an MVP vote, has been at the top of his game, proving how he has become one of the best deep-ball throwers in the league. Not many people believed in the Packers before the season started, but Aaron Rodgers has proven the doubters wrong, giving his team one of the best starts to the season.
The Atlanta Falcons and the Houston Texans have been the disappointments of the season. Atlanta blew back-to-back leads against the Dallas Cowboys and the Chicago Bears in games they looked certain to win. The Texans have had problems all over the board after trading star receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Both teams have now fired their coaches, Dan Quinn and Bill O’Brien, after winless starts to the season.
The unpredictability of this football season mirrors the unpredictability of 2020. Although there have been surprises, disappointments, and league-wide challenges, it has been exciting for fans just to have football back on their televisions.
LIFE WITHOUT BRADY
by The Cowl Editor on September 17, 2020
Professional Sports
The Cam Newton Era has Begun in New England
by Liam Tormey ’22
Sports Staff
A new era is beginning for the New England Patriots. After 20 seasons and six Vince Lombardi Trophies, Tom Brady decided to end his career with the Patriots and sign a two-year, $50 million deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It is now the post-Tom Brady era in New England.
So, where do the Patriots go from here? Well, for starters, Cam Newton will be the face of the New England offense after he was named the starting quarterback last week. Newton beat out both Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer for the starting job.
The 2015 MVP of the league has had his issues with injuries over the last couple of seasons. Last season, Newton played only the first two games of the season before being placed on injured reserve for the year with a Pedal Lisfranc sprain. After being released from the Carolina Panthers, Newton found a home in New England on a one-year deal.
The offense will look different this year without Tom Brady behind center, but there are still some familiar faces returning. Newton will be relying on the likes of Sony Michel, Julian Edelman, and N’Keal Harry. After trading for Mohamed Sanu last season for a second-round pick, the Patriots cut him this past week alongside running back Lamar Miller. Behind Edelman and Harry, Damiere Byrd will start the season as the Patriots No. 3 wide receiver.
New England’s starting tight end this year will be Devin Asiasi, who was the Patriots’ pick in the third round at number 91 in this year’s draft class. Asiasi enters the NFL after a successful collegiate career at the University of California, Los Angeles. In 2019, Asiasi had 44 receptions, 641 yards, and four touchdowns. After coming out of retirement, Rob Gronkowski, one of the greatest tight ends of all time, was traded alongside a seventh-round pick to meet up with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay for a fourth-round pick. The Patriots took back-to-back tight ends in this year’s draft, selecting Dalton Keene from the University of Virginia Tech in addition to Asiasi. Asiasi and Keene will look to fill the massive void left at the position since the departure of Gronkowski.
Due to COVID-19, the Patriots have a league-high number of players who have opted out of the 2020-2021 season. Those opt-outs include tackle Marcus Cannon, linebacker Dont’a Hightower, safety Patrick Chung, tight end Matt LaCosse, running back Brandon Bolden, fullback Dan Vitale, receiver Marqise Lee, and guard Najee Toran.
On the opposite side of the ball, the Patriots defense will look very different from how it was last year. The Patriots lost Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins, and Elandon Roberts to free agency. Each leaves very large shoes to fill on defense. The defensive line will stay mostly intact, however, with Lawrence Guy, Adam Butler, John Simon, and Deatrich Wise Jr. all returning.
The cornerback spot is still a strong spot for the Patriots. Reigning Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore will feature alongside Jason McCourty, Devin McCourty, and Adrian Phillips in the secondary. With their second-round selection in this year’s draft, the Patriots added Kyle Dugger at safety. Dugger should be able to fill the hole left by Chung, as the hard-hitting safety dominated Division II football while playing for Lenoir-Rhyne University in North Carolina.
It is going to be a strange time for New England fans with these new-look Patriots, but with Bill Belichick running the team, and with Newton having something to prove, anything can happen for New England this season.
Indeed, the Patriots started on a strong note this past Sunday against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium. The team secured a 21-11 victory behind two rushing touchdowns from Newton. They will look to continue their solid start this Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.
PCI: Should NFL Athletes Have More Choice In What They Wear for Cleats?
by The Cowl Editor on November 14, 2019
PCI
Allow More Freedom
By Cam Smith ’21
Assistant Sports Editor
The NFL, often labeled the “No Fun League,” is notorious for restricting players’ freedom to wear cleats of their choosing. If the league wants to keep up with the times, that needs to change.
Recently, the cleat controversy has centered around Cleveland Browns wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry. A week nine game against the Denver Broncos saw the pair sport unauthorized cleats in the first half of the game, before being forced to change at halftime by a league dress code official. If they refused to comply, the duo would have been banned from participating in the second half of the game and would likely have faced further league punishment.
The fact that this can occur is ridiculous on two fronts. The first being the hypocrisy it displays, as the league very much profits off of the individuality of its stars. In Beckham’s case, the league has gone to great lengths to promote him as one of the faces of the game, featuring him and his flashy play style in everything from commercials to award shows.
The league intentionally highlights Beckham as one of the great personalities in the game in an effort to draw viewers in. That is why it is so abhorrent that they then restrict him in the one area where he can creatively express himself on the field.
Secondly, the absurd nature of the rule is amplified by another American sports league’s recent update on its footwear policy. The NBA changed its dress code rule to allow for sneakers of any color, with designs of the player’s choice. This season, players have already flaunted everything from SpongeBob SquarePants to Minnie Mouse on their basketball sneakers.
“You can learn a little bit more about a guy when you see what he’s putting on his shoe, whether it’s a social campaign or his love for a movie or character or something like that,” said Colleen Garrity, the Vice President of basketball marketing at Excel Sports Management, an agency which represents multiple NBA stars.
Indeed, this increased knowledge of players’ interests has already allowed for greater fan interaction, as fans can now better connect with players they know share similar interests. So too has it added some much needed personality to games sometimes filled with boring and monotonous uniform colors. The NFL has no reason not to follow suit.
Finally, with the advent of items such as social media, players have been given more substance to their public personas beyond simply the uniform and team they play for. Gone are the days of football being just about football, and the cleats the players wear should reflect this.
The NFL must catch up with the changing times.
Keep The Rule
By Scott Jarosz ’21
Sports Staff
Many controversies have risen as of late relating to the National Football League’s strict policies about the gear its players can wear during games, and specifically the cleats the players can wear. The league’s strict policies have earned it the nickname the “No Fun League” in recent years, as players have little freedom in terms of wearing customized cleats during games.
In some cases, players have donned customized cleats that are designed to support good causes, such as when Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. sported cleats that raised awareness for cancer research back in 2016.
However, for the most part, giving players freedom to wear whatever they choose welcomes the possibility that players could wear cleats that contain imagery that is inconsistent with the league’s values. These types of unwanted situations would negatively affect the league’s image. This is why the NFL should continue to enforce its relatively strict policies surrounding custom cleats, as doing so helps maintain leaguewide consistency and also prevents players from wearing controversial gear that harms the perception of the league.
Back in 2017, the NFL updated its footwear policy to allow players more freedom in wearing cleats with custom designs. The new policy allowed for players to wear approved cleats with custom designs during team warmups as well as pregame activities.
However, during games, players would be required to wear cleats that are black, white, or team colors. This policy allowed players to show their true colors during warmups, but also maintain consistency with their uniforms during games. This policy returned to the spotlight on November 3, 2019 when Odell Beckham Jr. wore “The Joker”-themed cleats and Jarvis Landry wore flashy gold cleats during a game. The league informed the players that they would have to change their footwear to adhere to league standards at halftime or else they would be prohibited from participating in the second half. The league’s enforcement of its rules during this situation was fully justified, as the players knowingly acted against the footwear policy.
The NFL, just like any other work environment, has a dress code that its “employees” must follow or else they will be asked to change. If the league were to make exceptions to this rule, it would face even more criticism. By enforcing its footwear policy, the NFL ensures that it produces a consistent on-field product that is organized and prevents further controversies from arising.