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ESPN reporter confident Patriots will draft quarterback
For the first time since 2001, the New England Patriots will not have Tom Brady as their starting quarterback for week one of the NFL season. Fans are naturally asking if the team will draft a potential replacement for Brady, and according to ESPN's Mike Reiss, the answer is a definitive yes.
"It's not really a matter of 'if' [the Patriots draft] a quarterback, it's 'when.'"— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) April 23, 2020
—@MikeReiss pic.twitter.com/foWGC27y03
Reiss said he spoke to Bill Belichick about this year's quarterback class, and the always elusive Patriots coach told him it was an "interesting group with a lot of depth to it." It's exactly the type of non-committal answer we've all come to expect from Belichick, but for Reiss, it was enough for him to confidently proclaim that the team would add another gunslinger to the roster.
The idea of the Patriots taking a quarterback in the draft shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who has kept up with mock drafts and insider rumors. The Patriots have been linked to a number of quarterbacks, most commonly Alabama signal-caller Tua Tagovailoa. Since they have a whopping 12 picks in the draft, they could even trade up if they are targeting anyone specifically (except Joe Burrow, whom the Bengals are barely entertaining offers about).
The biggest reason Reiss is convinced that the Patriots are taking a quarterback is likely their current lack of depth at the position. Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer are the only two quarterbacks on the team at this time. The Pats have expressed confidence in Stidham, but at the same time, he's a second-year fourth-round pick with 14 career passing yards. It's not hard to imagine the Patriots might want to throw some competition into the mix.
Still, it's worth noting that Reiss isn't saying that the Patriots will take a quarterback in the first round. He's simply saying they will take a quarterback at some point in the draft. Considering the Patriots haven't taken a quarterback in the first round since Drew Bledsoe in 1993, it makes sense that they may wait and take a prospect in the later rounds.
Then again, they haven't had much of a need to draft a quarterback until now, so maybe Belichick pulls the trigger on someone he thinks could be his next six-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback. Or maybe Reiss is totally off, and the Pats don't take a quarterback at all. They could just as easily pick up one of the remaining free agents, including Cam Newton or Jameis Winston. Only time will tell, and it's exactly what makes the draft one of the best times of the year for fans.
More must-reads:
- Three-round NFL mock draft: How many QBs will go in Round 1?
- 25-time Grammy winner's sports agency blasts Jerry Jones for 'comical' comment
- The 'AFC East QBs from the Tom Brady era' quiz
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DK Metcalf makes huge claim about Steelers defense
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Yankees’ Ben Rice sounds subtle alarm after embarrassing sweep vs. Marlins
Armed with the gigantic task of holding the fort while Aaron Judge recovers from an elbow injury, the New York Yankees made a mess of themselves in a big way this past weekend in a three-game series against the Miami Marlins. On Sunday, the Yankees were thoroughly outplayed by the Marlins on all sides of the ball, suffering a 7-3 defeat and a series sweep at the hands of the Marlins. Now, it’s not like the Marlins have a bad baseball team. They are hovering around .500 on the season, so it’s not like the Yankees were that heavily favored heading into the series especially amid Judge’s injury. However, this is a continuation of the Yankees’ poor play as of late, and they have now fallen to third place in the AL East standings. For first baseman Ben Rice, the team has to wake up from this rut they’re in lest bigger consequences happen later in the season. “I wouldn’t say there’s concern, but I would say, I think a little sense of urgency would be good for us going forward. Just to continue do what we can to win ballgames. And that’s gonna be do all the little things. It’s gonna be, hopefully, we sync up pitching and hitting. That’s it,” Rice told reporters after the Yankees’ loss, via YES Network. “No, I wouldn’t say that [we lack a sense of urgency]. But I would say, as we continue to move deeper into the season here, in this playoff race, we’re gonna have to pick it up eventually.” Poor pitching was what undid the Yankees most often during the month of July, and in August thus far, they haven’t put it together on either side of the ball at the same time. Yankees are running hot and cold on both ends of the ball As Rice said, the Yankees are going to have to sync their hitting and pitching to avoid suffering the same fate they did in that three-game series against the Marlins. That Saturday loss to the Marlins might be the Yankees’ most frustrating of the year, mustering just two hits and no runs — an uncharacteristic showing for the team that’s tied for the lead in total runs scored in all of MLB. They have no choice but to soldier on, heading into a three-game set against the Texas Rangers next before yet another crucial series, this time against a division leader in the Houston Astros.
Red Sox having fun at home as Royals come to Fenway
The Boston Red Sox will have plenty of momentum and a rested bullpen when they open a three-game series against the visiting Kansas City Royals on Monday. Boston completed a three-game sweep by beating the visiting Houston Astros 6-1 on Sunday, running its winning streak to five games. The Red Sox have registered seven victories in their past eight games overall. "I feel like we're kind of figuring out our identity a little bit," Red Sox outfielder Rob Refsnyder said. "Guys are settling into their roles. The trade deadline has passed and it's go time." Center fielder/second baseman Ceddanne Rafaela added: "Our mindset is not only on the Yankees, it's just playing good baseball and trying to win the division." Boston has won its past five home games. The Red Sox are 12-1 in their last 13 home contests, and they own a 37-21 record at Fenway Park this season, the third-highest home win total in the majors. "We're much better than the last two years," Boston manager Alex Cora said. "We're healthier. ... We have a complete team. Guys are playing with an edge now. You can tell. Like I said, this place (Fenway Park) -- it's fun. It's fun again. "We just have to continue. Kansas City is playing good baseball. We have to show up (Monday) and try to win a game." Red Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito pitched a season-high eight innings and limited Houston to one run on three hits during the Sunday win. "Between him and (Brayan) Bello, they're doing an outstanding job," Cora said. "So we have capable guys who can go out there and compete. ... We trust our guys. All of them -- Bello, Gio and obviously (Garrett) Crochet has been amazing the last two months." Bello (7-5, 3.19 ERA) is Boston's scheduled starter for Monday. He is 1-0 with a 3.57 ERA in 17 2/3 innings over three career games (all starts) against the Royals. Left-hander Bailey Falter (7-5, 3.73 ERA) is expected to make his Kansas City debut as the Monday starter. Falter, who was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates before the Thursday trade deadline, is 1-1 with a 7.94 ERA in two games (one start) in his career against Boston. He has seven strikeouts and one walk in 5 2/3 innings against the Red Sox. Kansas City also acquired rookie right-hander Ryan Bergert from the San Diego Padres on Thursday. He is tentatively scheduled to start Tuesday in Boston. "(The) message to those guys is, 'Look, your job is to help us ... give us the best chance to win,'" Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. "'Go out there and compete your butt off for as much as you can.'" Like Boston, Kansas City has been playing winning baseball lately. The Royals came from behind to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-4 in 10 innings on Sunday. Kansas City trailed 2-1 before tying the game in the eighth and then scoring five runs in the 10th. The victory gave Kansas City two wins in the three-game series at Toronto. The Royals have won four of their past five games and each of their past four series. The Royals will not have Steven Cruz available in the near future. The right-handed reliever, who left the Saturday game against the Blue Jays after feeling discomfort in his right shoulder, was placed on the 15-day injured list before the Sunday contest. Cruz has a 3.61 ERA in 42 1/3 innings (43 games) this season.
Keep an Eye on Jacory Croskey-Merritt in Training Camp
Washington Commanders seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt is quickly turning heads just one week into training camp. After recording the highest deceleration in Shrine Bowl history (-7.29 yards/second squared), he is now showing that ability to make quick jump-cuts in a sea of defenders at Commanders training camp. Not Your Average 7th-rounder Drafted out of Arizona, Croskey-Merritt appeared in just one game for the Wildcats— not due to injury, but because the NCAA revoked his eligibility over a redshirt dispute dating back to his time at Alabama State. In his final full season at New Mexico, he posted these stats: 189 carries 1,190 rushing yards 18 total touchdowns These numbers, along with earning Shrine Bowl MVP, show that Croskey-Merritt has the talent of a mid-round draft pick; he just did not have the opportunity to show that in his last season of college. Wide Open Running Back Room In what was one of the best offenses in the league last year, the Commanders struggled greatly rushing the football outside of Jayden Daniels. The Commanders were the only team last year in which their team’s leading rusher was not a running back. Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler were the two main running backs last season, and their production was simply not good enough to take the pressure off Daniels. Combined, they averaged just 87.7 rushing yards per game. In contrast, Saquon Barkley averaged 125.3 rushing yards per game by himself. Croskey-Merritt is more likely to compete with Robinson Jr. for early-down carries, given his limited involvement in the passing game during college. Ekeler will likely continue to be the third-down back as he has become one of the best receiving running backs in the league. Already Getting First Team Reps On Tuesday, Croskey-Merritt got reps working with the first team. This is not normal for most seventh-round picks. Not only is he getting those reps— he is shining in them. Reports are saying he is quick, decisive and is showing excellent vision. Jacory Croskey-Merritt has the potential to be a steal for the Commanders. Not only that— he has the opportunity to earn consistent carries in a weak running back room. If he can do what he is doing in training camp in the preseason, do not be surprised when he gets the bulk of carries in the regular season.
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