Tag: NFL
PCI: Who Will Win Super Bowl LV?
by on February 4, 2021
Sports
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
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
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
Sports
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.
Editor’s Corner: Crashing Through Gender Barriers
by The Cowl Editor on October 10, 2019
Sports
By Meaghan Cahill ’20
Sports Co-Editor
Olympic gold medalist and former Providence College Women’s Hockey Team member Cammi Granato ’93 has been hired by the National Hockey League expansion team based in Seattle as the first female pro scout.
Team general manager Ron Francis said, “I know she’s a female pro scout for us, but her resume is why she got the job—not because she’s female.”
However, there is a lot of importance in the fact that Granato is a female.
As one of the handful of women working in the NHL, Granato’s new position signifies that the NHL is beginning to catch up to current times and solve the gender inequality that has had a daunting hold over professional sports for many years. The only difference between the NHL and other leagues is that the MLB, NBA, and NFL have already made attempts to close the gap between the male-to-female workers ratio.
As of 2018, the MLB has over 100 women working in baseball operations (front office and on-field jobs) and the NBA and NFL have hired woman to take on full-time coaching roles. And while it must be noted that no women has been hired as a full-time general manager or head coach, at least there has been acknowledgement from these three leagues that women are capable of working within both the game and with the athletes.
MLB chief diversity officer Renee Tirado said on the issue, “There’s no sugar-coating this. There’s a lot to do.”
The acknowledgement towards the lack of female presence in professional sports has been lost amongst the NHL it seems, considering that, of the four major pro leagues, they are the only league who has been reluctant to hire women. Of the 31 NHL teams, there is not a single female coach, assistant coach, general manager, or assistant general manager. Even within hockey operations there is a sparse amount of women working.
With that being said, Granato’s hiring might be an indication that the NHL is finally beginning to realize that they are very far behind not only the MLB, NFL, and NBA, but also society as a whole. In a league where many coaches, GMs, and AGMs are former professional players themselves, Granato’s hiring is opening doors to a vast amount of people—male and female alike—to find jobs in the NHL. Especially for women, Granato’s hiring is proof that outsiders of the NHL can know the game and do beneficial work within it.
On her new position, the first female Hockey Hall of Fame and United States Hockey Hall of Fame inductee said, “I know the game and I’m confident in that. I’ve been around the game since I could walk. It’s really cool to be able to do it as a job and I’m looking forward to contributing my opinion.”
Granato’s words and Francis’s comments on her extensive resume being the reason that she got the job demonstrates a solution to what has been the main argument for not hiring women to work for the NHL: that they do not know the game.
Gender issues aside, until recently it has been extremely difficult for non-NHL experienced players to break into the league. Even AHL coaches struggle to get a promotion. This is all changing. As of 2018, 14 of the 62 head coaches have never played in the NHL; the same goes for 13 of the 62 general managers.
Sports writer Lauren Kelly writes, “If there is a time for women to break into this area of the industry, it is now.”
Because, as with any sport, one does not need to play the game to know the game.
PCI: Will the Patriots Go 16-0 This Season?
by The Cowl Editor on September 19, 2019
Sports
Yes, This Team Has Too Much Talent To Lose
By Jack Belanger ’21
Sports Co-Editor
There is no team hotter right now in the NFL than the New England Patriots. Even though it is early in the season, the Pats have shown hardly any glaring weaknesses on either side of the field. They are already outscoring their opponents 76-3, highlighting the fact that this team will not have to heavily rely on quarterback Tom Brady to carry them through what will be another perfect 16-0 season.
The offense will be more dynamic in how it can attack defenses this season than it has been in past seasons. The Patriots’ top three receivers are Julian Edelman, Josh Gordon, and newly acquired Antonio Brown. As long as injuries or off-field issues do not plague these players, Brady will have three guys that have served as the number one option for their teams at one point in their careers.
Even if a team has a strong enough secondary to slow down the passing game, the Patriots have a strong enough backfield in Rex Burkhead and second-year player Sony Michel, who was just 69 yards short of getting 1,000 rushing yards in his rookie season.
On the other side of the field, New England boasts an elite defense that can win games if the offense is having an off day. Just this past week, they intercepted the Miami Dolphins four times, including two that ran back for touchdowns. The McCourty brothers and Stephon Gilmore have yet to allow 300 passing yards in a game, and held pro-bowler Juju Smith-Schuster to only 78 receiving yards in their Sept. 8 game against the Steelers.
As great as this team is, their schedule will also play into their favor. New England only has five games against teams that finished with winning records last year and they have already won in Miami, a typical trap game for them in recent seasons. The AFC East once again looks like it will be a runaway as the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, and Miami Dolphins are all rebuilding with inconsistent quarterbacks. The two toughest games to watch out for will be against the Kansas City Chiefs, who feature reigning league-MVP Patrick Mahomes, and the Baltimore Ravens who are also 2-0 this season behind dynamic quarterback Lamar Jackson.
No matter how good your team is, going 16-0 involves some luck. During their perfect season in 2007, New England had four games decided by single digits, including a three-point win over the New York Giants, the eventual Super Bowl Champions, in the season’s final week. That season, nine players from the team made it to the Associated Press All-Pro teams: six on offense and three on defense. This year the Patriots have a similar balance, and it will other require teams to think outside of the box in order to beat them.
No, Going 16-0 is Harder Than It Seems
By Cam Smith ’21
Sports Assistant Editor
After an opening night drubbing of the Pittsburgh Steelers and a dominant win in Miami on Sunday, the nation is abuzz with talks of the New England Patriots going undefeated in the 2019 NFL season. The talk is understandable, as the Pats have assembled a team that boasts an absurd amount of talent. They also still have the greatest quarterback of all time at the helm, which certainly helps.
However, even with all this talent, the Patriots will not go undefeated. It is simply too difficult to remain on top of your game for every single quarter of a grueling 16 game season. A missed field goal, a tipped pass, or an untimely fumble can decide a game, and even a team coached by Bill Belichick is not immune to mistakes.
Only two teams in the modern history of the NFL have gone undefeated, showcasing just how difficult it is to pull off. The 1972 Miami Dolphins went 14-0 during the regular season and followed that up with a perfect postseason to capture the Lombardi Trophy. The other team to do it was the 2007 Patriots, who went 16-0 during the regular season before falling to the Eli Manning led New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII.
The 2019 Patriots certainly have a lot in common with that 2007 team: a star-studded receiving core, a lockdown defense, and a superb quarterback-coach combination.
Yet, perfection is nearly impossible to duplicate. Even the 2007 Patriots had some close calls, including just a three-point victory over the Giants in week 17 of the season. In week 13, the Baltimore Ravens led 24-17 in the fourth quarter. The Pats required a Jabar Gaffney touchdown with 44 seconds remaining to squeak out a victory.
No one is questioning that there is a possibility that these Patriots can go undefeated, but it is just not statistically probable. Close games went their way in ’07, but the final seconds of games may prove to be different this year.
Consider the week nine matchup against the Ravens as a potential game where the Pats may falter. Second year quarterback Lamar Jackson poses a dynamic threat with his rare mix of blazing speed and arm strength, and M&T Bank Stadium has always proven to be a difficult environment for a road team to come into. The Ravens will also be well-rested coming off their bye week, while the Patriots will be entering their ninth straight week of play.
Overall, there is no doubt that the Patriots are the favorite to win Super Bowl LIV, but to expect a perfect season in addition to a championship is simply asking for too much.
Editor’s Corner
by The Cowl Editor on April 4, 2019
Sports
Gronk Gone in a Flash, but Not the Patriots
By Jack Belanger ’21
Sports Co-Editor
We all knew it was going to happen eventually; there was no way anyone could expect Rob Gronkowski to play into his 40s like his quarterback. With the number of injuries he was enduring, continuing to play is not worth it. As sad as it is to see Gronkowski’s Hall of Fame career end so quickly, appreciate the fact that he was able to go out a champion while he was still relatively successful on the field.
While I am sure many fans would have loved to see Gronk play for another year, the risk of injury and becoming ineffective on the field would only result in many calling for his retirement. He has not played in more than 14 games in the past three seasons, and that probably would not have changed had he kept playing.
It is amazing how quickly he was able to solidify his spot in the conversation as one of the greatest tight ends of all time. While he will not have big career numbers that stack against others who played much longer than he did, the fact that Gronk only played in nine seasons (seven of which he played more than 10 games) speaks to how much he dominated defenders on the field.
However, Gronk’s Hall of Fame career began and ended while Tom Brady continues to add to his own legacy.
While it may seem Brady and the Patriots’ next challenge going forward is to figure out how to make up for the Gronk-sized hole in the offense, believe it or not, it may not be a challenge at all.
The Patriots have seen their fair share of great receivers come and go during the Brady era, and Bill Belichick and Brady have shown that the offense can adjust. Did the dynasty go away when Randy Moss and Wes Welker left? Nope. In fact, New England was able to make and win three Super Bowls after they both left the team.
The Patriots still have several great receiving options on the roster with Julian Edelman returning for a full season, a great pass-catcher in running back James White, and a promising runner in Sony Michel.
New England also owns three picks in the first two rounds of the NFL draft this season. Do not be surprised if you see Belichick pick up a tight end in the second round. Gronkowski himself was a second-round pick after getting overlooked due to injuries in college. Expect the Pats to look at University of Alabama’s Irv Smith and Texas A&M’s Jace Sternberger as two tight ends who should be available when it comes time for the team to pick.
While it may be the end of one crazy, exciting, and amazing Hall of Fame career, Gronkowski will always be a key piece that helped keep the dynasty alive during this decade that elevated the Patriots’ offense to new levels post-Moss and Welker.
Trouble in Titletown: The Robert Kraft Scandal
by The Cowl Editor on March 7, 2019
Sports
By Cam Smith ’21
Sports Staff
The New England Patriots have been no stranger to controversy over the years, and this time it goes all the way to the top. Patriots owner Robert Kraft has been charged with two misdemeanor counts of soliciting someone for sex.
The allegations stem from a six-month long investigation into human trafficking by Florida state officials, focusing on massage parlors in central Florida strip malls. The Kraft accusations center around the spa, Orchids of Asia, in Jupiter, Florida, a location only 30 minutes away from Kraft’s home in Palm Beach.
Investigation of Orchids of Asia began after a state health inspector noticed that the spa housed two rooms with items such as pillows, sheets, and dressers filled with clothes and medicine. A refrigerator of foodstuffs was also located. The inspector reported these findings to Jupiter police, as the conditions of the spa insinuated that some of the staff were indeed making it their permanent residence. These circumstances are what officials look for in cases of human trafficking, as often victims are restricted in their freedom of movement.
On Jan. 17, Jupiter police installed secret surveillance equipment inside of Orchids of Asia. On Jan. 19, Jupiter officials alleged that Kraft was caught on camera paying for services at the front desk. Cameras also reportedly show him undressing and laying on a massage bed where a female employee can be seen “manipulating his genitals.” Kraft would return the following morning to the spa, mere hours before flying to Kansas City to watch the Patriots defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game. The Jupiter police department has yet to release the footage.
As many as 200 other men will also be charged in an investigation that Florida officials call, “the tip of the iceberg.” So far, no charges of human trafficking have been issued in any of the cases.
On Feb. 25, Kraft pleaded not guilty to the two misdemeanor counts facing him. A lawyer representing the Patriots owner requested a bench trial in the case, meaning that the presiding judge would act as both the judge and jury. This is vital, as the case could come down to the admissibility of the video footage. As a first-time offender, Kraft, if found guilty, would likely face fines and community service, but would escape having to serve any time in jail.
Kraft could also face punishment from the league offices if found guilty. Soon after the news broke, the NFL released a statement saying that, “We are seeking a full understanding of the facts, while ensuring we do not interfere with an ongoing law enforcement investigation. We will take appropriate action as warranted based on the facts.”
With Providence College being a hub of both New England and New York sports fans, it is no surprise that many students have something to say about the allegations.
When asked about the situation, loyal New York Jets fan Donnie McAuliffe ’21 said, “It’s a happy day to see scum [like Kraft] put into light.” Fellow Jets fan and Sam Darnold enthusiast Ryan Carius ’21 grudgingly prepared for a verdict of not guilty, he said “Since he is a Patriot, he will find a way out of it.”
On the other end of the spectrum, New England fan Sean Gray ’21 issued a powerful statement that is sure to reverberate with Patriots fans everywhere. “Robert Kraft seriously strayed from the Patriot way,” said Gray. “It’s incredibly disappointing to see, but the justice system will run its course. As an organization, the Patriots should atone for Mr. Kraft’s sins by supporting victims of human trafficking, all while focusing on winning yet another Super Bowl.”
Kraft’s arraignment will be held on March 27, kicking off a legal process that people across campus and the country will keep a close eye on.
Providence College Investigates
by The Cowl Editor on January 31, 2019
Sports
Pass Interference Should Be Reviewable Because The Referees Need To Get The Right Call
By Jack Belanger ’21
Sports Co-Editor
After the blatant missed defensive pass interference call on Los Angeles Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman that shifted the outcome of the National Football Conference championship game that cost the New Orleans Saints the opportunity to go to the Super Bowl, it is time for the NFL to follow suit with other professional leagues and improve their replay system.
While those opposed to making the play reviewable will point out it is a “judgement call,” the truth is, if a guy does not even try for the ball and is solely focused on inhibiting the defender from trying to get to the ball, it must be called 10 out of 10 times. When Major League Baseball decided to expand the number of calls that can be challenged, the idea was that it was important that the umpires get the right call because games should not be decided on a missed call.
Other leagues have also allowed judgement calls to be replayed. In the National Basketball Association (NBA), hard fouls will be reviewed to see if excessive contact is used. If so, then a flagrant foul are assessed. It may be based on the referee’s judgement, but it is important the league gets the correct call in order to protect its players.
With 22 players on the field at a time, there is a lot happening on the field at once, which means plenty of calls are being missed. By having pass interference be reviewable, the number of incorrect calls will be reduced and fewer games will be determined by missed calls.
It is not necessary for small five-yard penalties to be challenged and reviewed as most teams can make up five yards easily, but calling pass interference can be the difference of a 20 yards or more, which can quickly give an offense the momentum it needs or kill the drive completely.
Regarding other calls that get replayed in the NFL, unless there is conclusive evidence to overturn the call, the original call on the field stands. While we should not expect every time that there is a little contact it will be overturned, by reviewing pass interference the league will be able to cut down on the number of incorrect calls, and there would be fewer games decided by a controversial call.
Allowing defensive pass interference to be challenged should not slow the game down significantly to the point that fans stop watching football. Since coaches only get two challenges a game, unless a pass interference was obvious or on a crucial play, they would be more likely to hold onto their challenge for later in the game.
In a time where referees have fallen under more scrutiny than ever before, with camera angles that allow the average fan at home to get a close look at every play, it would be beneficial to the league and referees to allow coaches to challenge pass interference calls. It is more important to get the call right than to worry about slowing down the game. Getting more calls right means that refs will be criticized less, and games will not be determined by an incorrect call.
Providence College Investigates
by The Cowl Editor on January 31, 2019
Sports
Pass Interference Should Not Be Reviewable Because It Would Slow Down The Game
By Cam Smith ’21
Sports Staff
The 2019 National Football Conference Championship featured the non-call heard round the world, as officials missed a clear pass interference penalty on Los Angeles Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman in the waning seconds of regulation. The penalty would have set the New Orleans Saints up with a first and goal with a minute and 45 seconds to play, but they were instead forced to settle for a field goal. In the ensuing overtime, Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein would send Los Angeles to Super Bowl LIII.
The debate around pass interference review is understandable because, if the correct call was made, it would be the Saints playing Tom Brady and the New England Patriots this weekend in Atlanta. Yet, there should not be an uproar over a team not advancing that rewrites the rulebook. What should dictate a change of this magnitude is if it is actually good for the game of football. Simply put, it would not be.
Replay has already taken over most of the game. Every scoring play and turnover is automatically reviewed by the replay assistant, who sends the head referee on the field to the replay booth if the play looks even somewhat questionable. In the final two minutes of each half, the replay assistant can do this for any play, excluding “judgement call” penalties. These rules already slow the game down, as they disrupt the flow of offenses and halt momentum for the sake of accuracy.
Creating any sort of system to review these judgment call penalties, such as pass interference, would increase the disruptions of play tenfold. In week one of the 2018 NFL season, an average of nearly 16 penalties was called per game. If the replay assistant had the ability to call down to the field for every one of these penalties, there would be a possible 16 additional stoppages in play per game.
Then comes the word “judgement” itself. Penalties such as pass interference are much more difficult to judge than say, watching the replay to determine if the ball crossed the goal line. Pass interference reviews will still come down to the official determining if there was enough contact to “significantly hinder” the offensive player from catching the ball. This wording leaves more up to the interpretation of the referee than is desirable.
Other factors are the flags that are not thrown. If coaches are able to ask officials to look for a flag on a seemingly uninterrupted play, imagine the uproar when a big play is negated for a sketchy holding penalty 30 yards away from the ball.
All in all, reviewing pass interference calls simply is not worth the slower rate of play and potential controversy it would cause. With NFL TV ratings dropping lately, from 17.9 million views per game in 2015 to 15.8 million this past season, the last thing the NFL needs is a game bogged down by constant review.