Tom Brady said on his Let’s Go podcast that he’s surprised that Bill Belichick has not received a new head coaching position in the NFL. Belichick won six Super Bowls with Brady, but the head coach struggled in the years following his star quarterback’s departure.

“I don’t know the criteria for hiring coaches. I’ve never been a part of it,” Brady said. “I mean, I’m surprised that the greatest coach ever doesn’t have a job, absolutely. But I’m surprised [by] a lot of things in the NFL.”

At certain points in a busy free agency period, Belichick appeared to be heading to several teams after he and New England parted ways, the team’s dignified way of moving on from the longtime coach and general manager. He most publicly interviewed twice with the Atlanta Falcons, but over time, all eight vacant positions were filled, leaving him without a job in the NFL for the first time since 1975.

Unless Belichick accepts an assistant position, an option that seems unfathomable to both Belichick and prospective teams in equal measure, he will be out of a position in 2024. Brady related Belichick’s experience to his own, claiming that he was turned down by several teams after leaving New England. He went on to join the Buccaneers and won his seventh Super Bowl in 2021.

Reactions to Belichick’s off-season snub have been mixed, with some claiming that it taints his legacy and others condemning teams for overlooking him.

Former Patriots players, like Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski, have been very vocal defenders, claiming that teams did not want to concede too much power to Belichick and were making a mistake as a result.

Others, like Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, have criticized Belichick, claiming that his hiring failure negates claims that he is the greatest coach in NFL history. This comment drew the ire of many fans and insiders, with Deion Sanders commenting that Humphrey was being disrespectful.

While people come to terms with an upcoming NFL season without Belichick, it remains unclear what the longtime Patriots coach intends to do going forward. There will always be off-season vacancies, but at 71, retirement will become more and more possible, even for a figure so singularly focused on the sport for decades.

Former New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman criticized Mac Jones for failing to tackle Raiders defender Chandler Jones in a game-deciding last week. Edelman blamed the quarterback’s lack of preparation and poor attitude for the Patriots’ shocking 30-24 defeat.

“He doesn’t practice all the antics after plays and waving off coaches and all these little pissy faces and stuff,” Edelman said on Inside the NFL. “He doesn’t practice that and he does it. Why can’t he make the tackle?”

Edelman is not the first to criticize Jones for poor play this season, as the quarterback has had no trouble voicing his frustrations all season, earning mixed reactions from numerous experts and analysts. He has already been benched at numerous points on a Patriots team in contention for a playoff spot despite troubles under center.

Former Patriots lineman Vince Wilfork also criticized Jones in a televised segment. Wilfork’s comments were more general, suggesting that the quarterback was not taking accountability for the offense’s struggles.

“I’m tired of that, honestly. I’m tired of it,” Wilfork said on “The Gameplan,” a local NBC Sports program. “You’re the leader of this team. You’re a quarterback. So you can’t be frustrated every single week, every single play. I don’t care if you’re getting the play called in late or whatever it may be. At the end of the day, you have to show some poise because you operate the ship. You’re the head of the ship when you’re out there. … Control what you can control. That’s all you can do. But I’m tired of seeing him throwing a fit.”

Julian Edelman, 34, is unlikely to play in the 2021 season. According to the Boston Herald, the wide receiver is uncertain to play because of a knee injury.

Edelman has been with the New England Patriots since being drafted in 2009. The wide receiver was an integral piece in New England’s dynasty that won three championships. The wide receiver was named Super Bow LIII MVP.

Unfortunately, Edelman’s production has gone downhill due to some significant injuries. Edelman could undergo surgery, but that will only provide temporary relief. It will not solve the underlying issues within his knee. In October, the wide receiver underwent a procedure that relieved some issues, but he did not return to the field, despite participating in practice.

Edelman could possibly play in a game next season, but any further damage to his knee would likely end his season (or even more likely his career). Edelman currently has a $6.1 million cap hit on the team’s salary cap this season. Furthermore, the wideout only has a year left on his contract if New England were going to part ways with the veteran, now would be the time.

The Patriots could afford to release the wideout since the team has signed receivers Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne in the offseason. Additionally, they still have 2019 first-round pick N’Keal Harry, plus Jakobi Meyers showed brief flashes of strong play last season during Edelman’s absence. Not to mention, New England added two top-notch tight ends in Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith. The Patriots’ revamped offense means that the team could survive without Edelman’s services in 2021, something that nobody could ever say until now.

In 2019, the former Super Bowl MVP played a full season and tallied 100 receptions for a total of 1,117 yards. That being said, New England’s quarterback situation looked drastically different in 2019 than it does now, as the mighty Tom Brady was still under center. Last season, Edelman’s production took a big hit with Cam Newton as the signal caller. Edelman missed the majority of the season due to the knee injury and managed to suit up for just six games (he only started one game). Edelman recorded a meager 21 receptions for 315 receiving yards and failed to find the end zone. It was his worst statistical output since the 2012 season.

It is hard to imagine the gutsy, tough-minded Edelman calling it quits. But perhaps it is time for the soon-to-be 35-year-old to hang up his cleats.

NFL stars are slowly starting to speak out against the anti-Semitic comments of Philadelphia Eagles’ reciver DeSean Jackson. One NFL wide receiver has even taken it upon himself to help educate Jackson. 

New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman, who is Jewish himself, took to Instagram Thursday morning to invite Jackson to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. In his post, Edelman said, “I have seen DeSean play in his career, make outstanding football plays, we’ve communicated over social media. I’ve got nothing but respect for his game. I know he said some ugly things, but I do see an opportunity to have a conversation. I am proud of my Jewish heritage, and for me, it is not just about religion. It’s about community and culture as well. I am unusual because I didn’t identify as Jewish until later in my life. Whenever I encountered hatred, it never really felt like it was aimed at me. It was only after I was part of this community that I learned how destructive hate is. Anti-Semitism is one of the oldest forms of hatred. It’s rooted in ignorance and fear.”

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Edelman said that if Jackson joins him at the Holocaust museum, then Edleman will be more than welcome to join Jackson at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, to learn more about black culture from Jackson.

Edelman said in his video, “There is no room for anti-Semitism in this world. This world needs a little more love, compassion and empathy.”

New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman was allegedly arrested on Saturday after an incident in Beverly Hills. According to TMZ Sports, Edelman was arrested after jumping on the hood of a Mercedes.

He was cited for misdemeanor vandalism before being released. It was apparent that Edelman had been drinking leading up to the incident.

“[Edelman] was in Bev Hills walking around at about 9 p.m. when for some unknown reason he hopped up on the car, causing damage”, TMZ reported.

The 33-year old receiver was in Los Angeles just one week after the Patriots lost to the Titans in the AFC Wild Card round 20-13. He appeared in an Instagram photo with Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce and former Patriots receiver Danny Amendola.

Edelman is reported to undergo surgeries on his shoulder and knee this offseason. The shoulder surgery is set to repair a separated AC joint in his left shoulder, and the left knee will need a scope to help remove a loose body.

It is very unlikely that charges will be filed and it is more likely that Edelman will settle with the vehicle’s owner.

Julian Edelman appeared to be injured after making contact with Buffalo Bills safety Jordan Poyer in Saturday’s 24-17 win over Buffalo. Little did we know, he was faking.

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With 11 minutes to go in the third quarter of Sunday’s game, the Patriots had the ball at Buffalo’s 33-yard line on 2nd and 8. Tom Brady appeared to throw a touchdown pass to tight end Benjamin Watson, but an offensive pass interference call was made on Edelman taking the points off the board.

Edelman was trying to do a pick play when he plowed into Poyer, which sent both players to the ground. The three-time Super Bowl champion laid still, making it look like the hit had knocked him out cold. After the flag was thrown it bounced and made contact with the wide out. Very comically, he popped up on his feet and headed towards the sideline.

“I was trying to sell it,” Edelman told the media regarding the supposed ‘injury.’ “Hopefully, they didn’t see it.” It didn’t help the Patriots at all. He had to sit out a quarter to be tested for a concussion due to the NFL’s protocol. The Patriots’ drive ended with a 51-yard field goal from Nick Folk, which gave New England a 13-10 lead.

Returning with 9:01 left in the fourth quarter, Edelman was able to make up for his blunder with a big 30-yard reception getting his team to Buffalo’s 29 on what turned out to be the Patriots’ game winning drive.

When asked about his teammate, special teams player Matthew Slater joked, “Oh, you mean Lazarus? He was kind of funny the way he laid out there. But Edelman came back from the dead.”

Teams are made aware of Official Playing Rules that state, “The Competition Committee deprecates feigning injuries, with subsequent withdrawal, to obtain a timeout without penalty. Coaches are urged to cooperate in discouraging this practice.”

The Patriots weren’t punished during the game, but we shouldn’t be surprised if New England hears from the league’s office on this one. Since 2010 Edelman has had four recorded concussions, so it’s not surprising that the officials didn’t investigate the matter during the game.

With the victory, New England clinched its 11th straight AFC East title.

On Sunday, an exhilarating game was played by the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles decided by another last minute trick play but this time the Patriots were the ones who benefitted. This game was a defensive masterclass including some of the league’s best players. This game was a rematch of Super Bowl LII however, the Eagles could not repeat the success they had from that 2017 season. 

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With 10:55 left in the third quarter at the Eagle’s 15-yard line, Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman threw a touchdown pass to Phillip Dorsett that shocked many fans. Edelman played as a quarterback for Kent State, so this wasn’t his first time at the rodeo. Following the touchdown the Patriots capitalized on a successful two-point attempt that thrusted the Patriots ahead of the Eagles 17-10.

Ashlon Jeffery and Jordan Howard were out of this game, and it really showed on the Eagles offense who seemed a bit apprehensive. To make matters worse, the Eagles lost Pro Bowl right Tackle Lane Johnson, who left the field with a concussion. Johnson’s absence showed as quarterback Carson Wentz was tackled a total of five times. 

Tom Brady wasn’t playing as well as expected, nevertheless, the Patriots managed to improvise. With both teams playing great defense, a trick play was essential and Edelman pulled it off.  

Losing Johnson was pivotal for the Eagles as Wentz didn’t have enough time on the ball to deliver. The Eagles offensive right side was being bombarded with intense pressure, and this cut Wentz creative potential. 

“Yeah, he was crying. He did that on film a lot. If you get into him, he don’t get the ball, or if he don’t get a call, he’ll cry. But, he’s a good receiver. He’s a good tight end,”  Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore commenting on Eagles tight end Zach Ertz. 

Ertz was the wide receiver who go the most attention by Wentz. This gave Gilmore more action but Gilmore is more than happy to cover the Eagles wide receiver. It was a tough battle between the two players, but Gilmore came out as the winner as Ertz caught nine catches for 94 yards. 

The Patriots will return home and play the Dallas Cowboys in New England, another a tough opponent. The Eagles play their third straight home game against the Seattle Seahawks, who are 8-2. There are no breaks for the Patriots or the Eagles as the week 12 approaches in the NFL.

Super Bowl VIII MVP Julian Edelman is going to be sidelined the next three weeks after suffering an injury to his finger, sources have told ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Field Yates.

Edelman was spotted at his annual youth camp over the weekend wearing a small brace over his left thumb. It is uncertain whether Edelman suffered a break or sprain to his thumb while catching passes recently.

“I’m extremely excited for the new year. This is a new team,” Edelman said at his camp. “With training camp coming up, this is kind of like when school is back in session. We had a summer break. You get to see all the fellas, and this is where you learn your team, learn each other and become accountable for each other, and create a consistency together. This is like the beginning shape form of your team, these next few weeks. It’s a crucial point. You put a lot of hard work in during the spring and it’s the next step until you’re playing with other teams.”

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With Edelman, Sony Michel, Demaryius Thomas and Josh Gordon all either injured or suspended, the New England Patriots are thin on offense when veterans report to training camp on Wednesday. Part of the reason why is the Patriots used their first-round pick in this year’s draft on Arizona State wide receiver N’Keal Harry.

Edelman, 33, re-signed with the Patriots on a three-year contract this past offseason. As he has been for the last several seasons now, Edelman is expected to be the focal point of the Patriots’ passing game.

Rob Gronkowski announced in March that he would be retiring from the NFL after the New England Patriots won the 2018-19 Super Bowl. Gronkowski suffered from a multitude of injuries including a back issue, and decided his time in the NFL was over. But NFL experts believe that Gronk could come back in due time, and more proof of that was displayed on Tuesday after he was seen working out at UCLA with his former quarterback, Tom Brady.

Gronk was asked why he was working with Brady, he said, “Tom needs someone to throw to. So, you know, he calls Mr. Reliable, Robbie G, the one and only,” according to TMZ Sports.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

Brady seems to be staying sharp ahead of the preseason training camp coming in three weeks, and who better to work with than his former nine-year partner and All-Pro tight end. According to Bleacher Report, multiple Patriot players believe he will come back for one more season if the Pats are in playoff contention in the next season, saying he will miss playing in the fall. Gronk is just 30-years-old, and with time to recover his body and refresh his mind, he may be fit to return to be a star again in Brady’s offense. Coach Bill Belichick certainly doesn’t lack talent in the receiver room, with Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman returning, along with Josh Gordon and their new signing Demaryius Thomas, the former Denver Broncos head receiver.

Gronkowski also seems to be enjoying his time in retirement, losing 18 pounds just a few months after the announcement, and continuing his partying ways months after he got his third Super Bowl ring under Belichick. He was also seen competing in the Monster Energy Charity Challenge where celebrities played in a basketball game to raise money on Tuesday.

According to Pro Football talk, Gronk has said that he was enjoying his time in retirement, but doesn’t know how he’ll feel come the next season.

Every year, there’s the inevitable cry of the Patriots demise. It comes twice a year, after one early season loss and then once more in the postseason. The downfall will eventually come, I’m sure of that. But how could you know when? It turns out, there’s only one other dynasty in the world similar to New England’s. After two months of hard investigative reporting, I’ve come to a conclusion. Grigori Rasputin has either been dead for 102 years now or he’s part of the medical staff in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

Of course, one of these theories seems much more likely. Given that the claims of Rasputin’s death include him getting poisoned, shot multiple times, clubbed and then finally drowned, they tend to be unreasonable. And because I have neither the know-how or access to Rasputin’s body, I’m going with the Foxboro theory.

Why? Because these are the same stories. There’s a spouse who’s cold and aloof in each one. They’re both dynasties. Foxboro has a magical healing holy man just like the Romanovs did. But there are differences. In the second coming, the couple, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, aren’t very much in love. It’s almost a miracle they’re together. But miracles are common for mystical holy men like “body coach” Alex Guerrero. Even his most ardent supporter would shoot down his claim of “an effective treatment, cure, and preventative for cancer, heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes.” They’d admit that his doctorate degree is a master’s in Chinese medicine from a college in California that no longer exists. That, yes, the FTC has barred Guerrero from ever referring to himself as a doctor. But that didn’t stop him from apparently “healing 192 terminally ill patients” and raking in about $18 million off of a snake oil product, Supreme Greens. There is debate over almost everything Alex Guerrero has done. But there are two things that everyone hones in on.

How much power does Guerrero have in New England? When does their reign end? But a third debate, is he Rasputin, has yet to be discussed. That’s the most important question.

For the first debate, Guerrero has an absurd amount of power. The second is more complicated. Dynasties have always fall.What goes up must come down. The only question is if Guerrero is the Rasputin of the NFL’s Russia. The third question, if it’s a yes, answers the second. In belief, it is.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Alex Guerrero is unique. His story begins with him suddenly popping up in the home of two time Pro Bowler Willie McGinest because the Patriots “wouldn’t let [Guerrero] in the building.” He seems to be nothing more than a drunkard that wandered into the palace, complimented Tsar Nicholas Romanov, and then got the right-hand man position. Except in this case the Tsar, head coach Bill Belichick, wants him gone and he stays.

Who’s stuck around in Foxboro besides Brady, Robert Kraft, and Belichick? No one. Has anybody besides them stayed? Never. Not Nate Solder, not Wes Welker, not Jimmy G, hell, Gronk almost got traded off before this season. In every case, a player’s gone as soon as one of the three wants them out. But Alex Guerrero sticks around, wielding some unknown power, similar to a drunk monk from Siberia at the turn of the century. I’m not sure that Guerrero is actually Rasputin reanimated. The closest we got to that was with Anastasia in 1997. But I do think they fulfill similar roles, take similars paths, and will have a similar effect on their surroundings.

In 1905, Rasputin meets the “Black Princesses”, one of whom had married the Tsar’s cousin. Before this, he’s a drunk who wanders around Siberia yelling out religious gibberish. Rasputin suffered from “a long history of financial troubles and legal entanglements,” the exact same words that The Boston Globe uses to describe Guerrero. Now, he’s got a platform in St. Petersburg, a city that’s dark and cynical and falling for the occult. It’s the perfect place for him.

Consider that Guerrero gained a real platform when he first met McGinest. Yes, before McGinest, he was working with track athletes but those aren’t the NFL. This is a foot in the door. This is a gateway to the most shrewd team the NFL has ever seen, a team that takes any advantage it could.
Later in 1905, Rasputin meets the Tsar and his wife, Alexandra. In his diary, the Tsar wrote how that day he and his wife “made the acquaintance of a man of God.” I can only imagine that Brady wrote the same thing when McGinest introduced the two.

If you know anything about Rasputin, you know that he soon found a spot as a healer to the Tsar’s son, Alexei. Alexei is the heir to the throne. He’s also got hemophilia which is the exact opposite of what you want in a leader. Now, Tsarina Alexandra is an incredibly religious woman. She turns to God after she gives birth to four girls. Then, she gives birth to this hemophilic heir and falls face first into religion. Rather than saying “Wow, maybe since I’m the granddaughter of Queen Victoria and was born a German princess and now I’m a Russian Tsarina, there’s a ton of inbreeding going on”, she chalks it up to not being devout enough.

Guerrero is Brady’s personal trainer and right-hand man. After the 2006 season, he’d first work with the quarterback on a groin injury. I’ll give you that it’s not exactly his son but in this case it’s the closest we’re gonna get. Brady has a chip on his shoulder from being a sixth-round pick. In 2011, he was still crying over being the seventh quarterback drafted in 2000. He also thinks that he’s causing his injuries rather than just playing a game that’s incredibly brutal. It’s ingrained in his mind that he has to look for any advantage he can.

Both Alexandra and Brady are incredibly susceptible to flimflam men because of their beliefs. One thinks that prayer solves everything. Another sees hard work and gaining an edge as the only path to success. And so Rasputin and Guerrero enter their lives.

In both cases, time passes before anything major happens. Both Rasputin and his sequel are waiting in the wings for their chances.

Then in 1907, the Imperial family first asks Rasputin to pray for the Tsarevich. He recovers the next morning. After that, Rasputin is the kid’s guardian angel. When the Romanovs go to Poland for vacation in 1912, he saves their hemophilic heir when he’s almost murdered by a bumpy carriage ride. It aggravates a hematoma he got over a month ago. The kid’s near unconscious, his heartbeat drops, and he gets his last sacrament. Alexandra, after not leaving his bedside the entire week this is going on, sends a telegram to her bud Rasputin. Old Greg is likely shitfaced in Siberia. He ain’t coming. Instead, he sends back a telegram reading, “The little one will not die. Do not allow the doctors to bother him too much.”

In 2008, Tom Brady is playing the Kansas City Chiefs. If bad luck haunted the Russians, Bernard Pollard haunted the New England Patriots. In the first quarter of the first game of the season, Pollard blitzes. Brady’s knee is destroyed.
Both Brady and Alexei undergo miracle recoveries. Alexei recovers by the next week and the hematoma that was there for a month is gone. Brady is ready for the 2009 season with a recovery that would’ve taken “probably twice as long” for the average person. And according to surgeons, unlike Rasputin, Guerrero was “ever-present.”
How’d they do it? It’s simple actually. See, in the early 1900s, Aspirin was viewed as a cure-all, wonder drug. They were shoving it down Alexei’s throat. Aspirin is a blood thinner. Hemophilia is a condition where the blood doesn’t clot. Prescribing that medicine is the worst thing you can do for a hemophiliac. Rasputin telling the doctors to leave him alone stopped the aspirin. That’s why he healed, not some mystical powers. As for Brady, his ACL injury happened at the best time for Guerrero. The NFL would see a ton of ligament tears in the next few years. The average fan suddenly knew what the PCL, MCL, and ACL all did. And Brady’s rehab was one of the first to benefit from a medical revolution, at the time being viewed as otherworldly. His year-long recovery seemed like a miracle that Rasputin performed. But only three years later, Adrian Peterson was the best running back in the league eight and a half months removed from tearing both his ACL and MCL. It was a natural progression, some blind luck, and anything but holy men that made his recovery seem the way it did. But neither Brady nor Alexandra saw this truth. Instead, they had their holy men guiding them to success. The two frauds soon had high profile followers.
In 2011, Guerrero starts a supplement company called 6 Degree Nutrition. It boasts statements from Brady, Julian Edelman, Welker, Haloti Ngata, LaDainian Tomlinson, and other pros on its website. That’s not bad company to be in. He looks legitimate.
Rasputin falls ass-first into a similar situation. Like Guerrero, it doesn’t matter how he’s doing things or even what he’s doing. It just about who he’s doing it for. Rasputin is now at the right hand of the leaders of the largest country on the planet. Guerrero is at the right hand of the leaders of the most successful sports team in America. By now, Rasputin finds that he also has a following called “his little ladies”, who were aristocratic women from Saint Petersburg who cared for him, made his schedule, and even tried to imitate him.
Despite this position, they both fall back into bad habits. By April of 2012, the FTC was investigating Guerrero for the second time. He claimed that the 6 Degree Nutrition supplement Neurosafe was “the only preventative measure available to athletes to protect their brain.” Of course, this is bullshit. Researchers from Sloan Kettering would call his claims “total garbage.” Yet Tom Brady allowed Guerrero to slap his personal logo on the drink. Now, he’s tied up to a product the FTC has “serious concerns” about and one that they launch a full-scale investigation into. They question if Neurosafe “prevents, limits the severity of, and speeds recovery from, sports-related traumatic brain injuries.” The FTC concludes the same thing that Sloan Kettering does, Guerrero has nothing to back up his claims. He has no “competent and reliable scientific evidence”, “any studies regarding the actual NeuroSafe product,” and only “unsupported claims.” But then something unusual happens. For the first but not the last time, Guerrero weasels his way out of trouble and comes out ahead. All he has to do is stop selling Neurosafe and provide full refunds to the people that bought it. It’s not too bad for a guy who has one conviction from the FTC already, was under investigation by the SEC, and shows no signs of stopping. He’s just such a poor salesman that the FTC doesn’t care due to “an extremely limited volume” sold. So Guerrero, who Brady is still standing behind, turns his full attention to the leader of the New England Patriots.
Rasputin also falls back into bad habits. While the two did greatly improve the health of their subjects or at least witness it, they’re both quacks at heart. They cause trouble wherever they go. And Rasputin has fallen off the wagon meaning he’s a drunken loudmouth again. By now, Old Greg has gained a lot of influence and suddenly he’s cutting into the Orthodox Church’s cash flow. The church makes a lot of money selling advice. Rasputin is now doing this same thing to some of the wealthiest individuals in Russia. They respond by getting some bishops in his hometown to declare him a heretic. That dies out so then they bring out a bishop. All that happens is the bishop falls for Rasputin and even compliments his basso profundo voice. And for the first time but not the last, Rasputin wiggles out of the government’s grasp. Both he and Guerrero escape when no one in their right mind would’ve let them off.
Not even a year later, in 2013, Belichick officially welcomes Guerrero into New England. The Patriots head coach had made a legacy off of paranoia and exiling players at just the right time. Foxboro is described as “a fortress of paranoia, self-importance, and secrecy.” In Russian lore, he’d be Ivan the Terrible. Yet, this guy gives Guerrero free rein in the building. ESPN even claims that he had “access to meetings in which medical records for Patriots players were discussed.” (Note: Guerrero denies this.) Some might say that Belichick was getting softer with age but the most likely explanation is that he figured this guy could help the team and that because he was pushing for what was best for the team’s leader, he’d do the same for the team itself. That was the thinking with Rasputin as well. He kept Alexei alive so they let him in. If he had the Tsarevich’s best interests in mind, they figured he had the Empire’s.
By May of that year, Guerrero was a kingmaker in Foxboro. He partnered with Brady to open TB12, an LLC and a sports therapy center in the Gillette Stadium Complex. There’s a third owner as well, Peter Bernon, an executive for the dairy company Garelick Farms and a personal friend of Kraft. Robyn Glaser, the company’s counsel, is also general counsel for the Patriots and a VP for the Kraft Group. There’s a really blurred distinction between the Patriots and TB12. If that isn’t sketchy enough, the Globe found that TB12 is not “ a licensed medical facility, physical therapy facility, or massage therapy facility, according to state records.” Since it’s opening, Brady and Guerrero have made $200 an hour to treat any Patriots player there. It’s the firm’s market rate, but consider that some physical therapy companies have paid to sponsor NFL teams. It’s completely out of the norm and possibly a circumvention of the salary cap.
Rasputin, same thing. Like Guerrero, he’s suddenly with the highest levels of social class, attending important and confidential meetings, and with the best the dynasty could offer. He is absolutely unqualified but the two still remain.
Things seem to take a turn for the worst in October for Guerrero. The Division of Professional Licensure starts a nearly 14-month long investigation into the corporation. The DPL received a tip that Guerrero had practiced massaging in Utah without a license. According to Boston Magazine, Guerrero had twice been accused of fraud in Utah and settled both cases outside of court. He’s also not licensed in Massachusetts as a massage therapist or even an athletic trainer. What he does at the TB12 center I couldn’t tell you. And by 2014, the FTC shuts down sales of Neurosafe completely. But what reason does Guerrero have to worry? He’s been investigated multiple times and he’s only climbed up the ladder.
Similar to the “body coach”, after Rasputin gains his power, an old enemy pops up. The FTC (Or any entity that looks out for the greater good of the people) is to Guerrero as how Iliodor is to Rasputin. Now, who’s Iliodor? He’s a priest that Rasputin once saved from exile who’s now become an anti-semitic, homophobic firebrand. I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that I’m rooting for Rasputin right now. He’s a piece of work but it’s pretty hard to be worse than an anti-semitic, homophobic priest.
The pro-Jewish and not homophobic but still a drunken loudmouth Rasputin meets up with Iliodor. Greg starts rambling. Remember, he’s a drunk from Siberia, not the best social skills there. Mostly he brags about his sex life and mocks how Iliodor is a virgin. But that wasn’t what gets under the skin of the “Mad Monk of Russia”. It’s that Rasputin tells him that the royal family is under his thumb, that Tsar Nick calls him “Christ incarnate” and that Alexandra kneels at his feet “promising never to abandon him.” After that, Iliodor is a real enemy. Probably a good thing. Short of his murder, the best scheme that any of his enemies cooked up is pretty much out of a Warner Brothers cartoon. Picture if Yogi Bear was horny all the time and you now know how Rasputin works. So Iliodor supposedly pays this Finnish ballerina, Liza Tansin. She invites Rasputin to her house and they get blackout drunk together. Then, she brings out a few naked women that his enemies are paying and Rasputin, rather than getting up and leaving, decides to stay. Tansin takes off Rasputin’s clothes and gets a few “secret photos.” Cameras in 1911 still fold out like an accordion. I’m not sure how slick she was taking the photos but I’m gonna infer that Rasputin just did not care. It didn’t matter to Greg. He was having a good time.
Sometime after, Rasputin is home and a messenger knocks on his door with those pictures. The two get into an argument. The messenger leaves and a panic sets in. Rasputin can’t claim ignorance, there’s evidence. Does he leave town or wait till the Tsar gets the photos? So, what does Rasputin do? He jumps on it, takes the pictures to the Tsar himself, and says, “I’m sorry, I am a sinner. Please forgive me.” When Nicholas sees these pictures, his head is in his hands. He looks over each picture and shakes his head.
Ready for a surprise? Nothing comes of these last six paragraphs. None, zilch. Both of these guys get off again. Guerrero gets off because even though he’s not licensed, his employees claimed that he only “acted as a counsel” to his clients. A doctor and a certified athletic trainer employed there both claim he’s the “operations manager.” But multiple clients talk about Guerrero himself massaging them and often can’t tell that he’s not a licensed massage therapist or not supposed to be hands on. Tom Curran, a Patriots beat writer, was unaware of any of this when he was treated by Guerrero. The DPL shuts down the investigation, despite all this evidence, because it was delegated to the Board of Allied Health Professionals and they focus “on allegations of the unlicensed practice of athletic training,” and only that. On February 1, 2015, Guerrero is in Arizona, on the field and embracing Brady as confetti falls after the Patriots win their first Super Bowl in almost a decade. (The two look really cute and happy together.) Bob Kraft even presents him with a diamond-encrusted Super Bowl ring that read “We are all Patriots.”
And Rasputin? Of course, his enemies think he’s down for the count, that he’ll either leave or the Tsar will kick him out. But remember how in the Simpsons Homer boxed for an episode and he just let everyone hit his gut until they tired out? That’s how Rasputin works. Nothing phases him. The Tsar, after shaking his head, thanks Rasputin for bringing the photos to him. Then, he says, “You have mentioned your desire to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. I think this would be a good time for it. I will, of course, give you the journey as a token of our esteem. The Lord knows you have earned it through your many services to the Crown.” The Tsar, instead of any punishment, sends him on an all-expenses-paid pilgrimage by first-class train after this.
Though don’t get the idea that everything becomes perfect just now. It quiets down for a little bit as the two lay low. But quacks always make noise. It’s in the name. TB12 is treating Brady and most of his receiving corps by 2017. New players feel that if you want Brady’s trust, you go to Guerrero. According to ESPN, “players openly discussed with Patriots coaches, staff and trusted advisers whether to follow Brady or the team.”
On August 25, Edelman, who was endorsing Neurosafe from pretty much day one of his career, blows out his knee. A Pats coach would tell ESPN there was “‘hypersensitivity’… over who would take his place.” This might have led to even more business at Guerrero’s spot. You need to be on Brady’s good side to be his receiver. During his time out, Edelman stayed in Brady’s favor by rehabbing at TB12, even calling Guerrero his Mr.Miyagi.
Then, in September, Brady publishes “The TB12 Method.” This is unusual for the quarterback who’d notoriously avoided making any off the field statements before. This is like when your friend becomes a born again Christian and takes it a little too seriously. ESPN reported that people around Brady found the book and the facility troubling. “Tom changed. That’s where a lot of these problems started,” one said. Patriots staffers said it felt “like a cult.” But Brady pushed on, trying to absolve football of its role in injuries and trying to extend his career. Guerrero seemed to be the engine behind this.
Old Greg would face a similar scenario by the time he returned from his vacation. When he got back, there’d be a new Over Procurator of the Holy Synod. That was basically Russia’s Secretary of Religion like how we have a Secretary of Defense or of Treasury. (Note: The Russian government at the time was built on the basis of Calvinball, where you make up your own rules as you go.) That doesn’t matter. What did was that Rasputin had this guy on his side so that way he could continue living life how he did. Gossip claimed that the Over Procurator had needed to beg before Rasputin to get the spot. Even though he was there and protected from the church, Rasputin learned that he needed people in power to be on his side, just like how Brady builds up support for Guerrero through the receiving corps.
Both “holy men” make sure their threats are forced out. The body coach insulates himself from the reach of the medical staff. Rasputin makes sure no one in the Orthodox church could touch him. Their areas of expertise are secured. But that still leaves the coaching staff and the government to get them. So these two do it all over again.
In early October 2017, Brady makes it know multiple times that he wants to play till he’s old. The current age that’s thrown around is now 45 but if Guerrero ever learns how to weld and program electronics who knows when Brady’ll stop. This is an announcement Guerrero had to have played a large part in as Brady credits him as the reason why he’s still playing. Before this next part, keep in mind that Brady has Kraft’s arm twisted. Kraft calls him his fifth son, they kiss each other, and their neighbors in Chestnut Hill, Boston. It’s a real close relationship. Later that month, Belichick and Brady discussed a contract extension. Belichick was hesitant of it because no one had ever played at a championship level in their 40s. The Patriots also had an heir-in-waiting in Jimmy Garoppolo. To make matters even worse, Belichick had already dealt away Jacoby Brissett, a second talented young quarterback the Pats had in September. According to ESPN, after all this, Belichick and Kraft met two weeks before the trade deadline to discuss the quarterback situation. Both Garoppolo and Brady were in the last years of their contracts and they couldn’t keep both. Kraft gave the coach an order, trade Garoppolo by November 1, Brady’s still our guy. In a two month span, the most paranoid coach in sports had traded away two talented and promising quarterbacks to stand by a banged up 40-year-old because of an emotional connection.
32-year-old Brian Hoyer, Brady’s longtime friend and definitely not a threat, was brought in to be the backup. In the next few days, Brady was “liberated” and “especially excited, hollering and cajoling.” He and Kraft were even seen hugging on the sideline. Belichick looked powerless, like Tyronn Lue getting stepped over. Here he’d meet the one player he couldn’t move on from. He’d sold out the franchise’s future, their plans now being compared to the Cleveland Browns by one staffer. The Browns went 1-31 in the 2016 and 2017 seasons. It’s not a comparison usually made for the Pats.
Brady’s reign wouldn’t stop there. Just over a month later, the quarterback would lash out at his coaches. In the December 3 game against the Buffalo Bills, he’d miss an open receiver and kill a first-quarter drive. As he walked back to the bench, coordinator Josh McDaniels said, “He was wide open,” about receiver Brandin Cooks. Brady kept walking. McDaniels said, “We had him open.” Then, Brady snapped. “I got it!” he yelled. Everyone in earshot turned to see what was happening. Patriots staffers held Brady back. But the incident was dismissed by McDaniels after an apology from Brady. “Part of what makes him great,” he said. And with that, Brady and by extension Guerrero were untouchable.
In Russia, Rasputin would remove those who could get rid of him, not his power source. One night, Iliodor invites Rasputin to a party at this guy Hermogenes’ place. He’s the bishop of Tobolsk and Siberia. Why Rasputin goes, I don’t know. So Greg pulls up to Hermogenes’ house and Iliodor isn’t there. But Hermogenes, a legislator named Colonel Ivan Rodionov, and an “epileptic halfwit” called Dmitry Kolyaba are there, according to biographer Joseph T. Fuhrmann. The bishop starts hurling insults at Rasputin. Rasputin goes to fire back, the halfwit loses his shit, screams, and grabs the monk’s genitals. (Note: This also isn’t the first time that this has happened to Rasputin.) They then grab Rasputin, drag him to a chapel, and make him swear he’ll never talk to the Imperial family again.
Of course, tattling to Nicholas was first thing Rasputin would do. After that, Hermogenes was stripped of all his powers and titles and exiled. Iliodor denounced the Orthodox church as “an abomination and a desolation,” and insulted the whole Imperial family before claiming that Rasputin fathered Alexei. And to top it off, the next year, he renounced his faith in a statement written in his own blood. There’s no record of the other two, just like Brady’s apology to McDaniels. After this, most of Rasputin’s threats are gone.
Greg’s first recommendation for appointment was his friend Varnava. Varnava was a monk with a high pitched voice who liked to dress in gowns and seduce officials before telling them he was a man. Russia, to this day, is incredibly homophobic and anti-LGBTQ. It’s also important to note that this guy had no qualifications whatsoever. He was barely literate, might have not finished rudimentary schooling, and definitely didn’t go to seminary. Some even claimed that he murdered an altar boy. If you want to know how powerful Rasputin was, the fact that he could get Varnava appointed should tell you something. These are the people running a government five years removed from the revolution of 1905, staring down at World War 1, and six years out from one of the bloodiest revolutions in history. Personal life or not, you don’t want Rasputin and his friends handling this. Every one of these people were terrible at their jobs, no exceptions.
Because neither Coach Belichick nor Tsar Nicholas could remove their quacks, they both looked incredibly powerless. Both are in positions that mandate absolute control. We now know that Rasputin couldn’t leave because the heir seemed to be healthy when he was there. But when Nicholas was pressed about it, all he could say was “There’s nothing I can do.” This is from the Tsar, the man God has sent down. In New England, all Belichick said about Guerrero was “What am I supposed to do about it?” And no one, not even Belichick, seems to have a good enough reason to keep Guerrero around other than Kraft and Brady wants there.
So you would think these two idiots held their places right? Of course, they don’t. They do the unimaginable and fuck up the unfuckable. By December 19, not even 3 weeks after the Bills game, Belichick bans Guerrero from the team plane and the sidelines. He also can’t treat players other than Brady in his office.
On January 5, 2018, ESPN put out an article called “For Kraft, Brady, and Belichick, is this the beginning of the end?” It was the first real documentation of the power struggle in New England. Guerrero had previously told The New York Times about how he was viewed “as a kook and a charlatan.” But the turmoil between the big 3 (Kraft, Brady, and Belichick) and the power struggles (mostly at the quarterback position) hadn’t been exposed. For one of the most tight-lipped organizations in sports, this came as a huge blow. For the past 18 years, things like this hadn’t gotten out. However, when you bring people like Guerrero into the mix, they do. Regardless of whether the article was true or not, the fact that it was believable said something.
We can be sure that Tsarina Alexandra did not have a sexual relationship with Rasputin. There was a Cossack with her at all times, It would’ve been impossible. She was also extremely faithful to Nicholas. But in the context of the rumors that were going around, the truth seemed very clear when in 1911, surrounded completely by lackeys and cronies, letters between Rasputin and the Tsarina leaked to the public. When the Tsarina is asking you for forgiveness, telling you she’s sinned, and falling asleep on your shoulder, you don’t let anyone know. Naturally, the Imperial family is pissed.
They refused to receive Rasputin at the capital. It’s similar to Guerrero being banned from games. Rasputin leaves to his hometown in Siberia. But the 1912 telegram miracle would soon happen, leading him back to the Imperial family.
Guerrero would just lay low and come back. By June of 2018, his name starts popping up again. Edelman, who’s been at his side since the very beginning, gets a four-game suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs. Keep in mind that the receiver was working with his “Mr.Miyagi” this whole time. It seems like fingers should be pointed at the body coach. Somehow, this doesn’t set any alarms off in New England. Two months later, Guerrero is right back in the mix. On August 3, he’s seen at training camp. On August 23, he’s on the team plane. And if there’s one thing that really helps blow an issue up, it’s not talking about it. Brady, who has a weekly interview with the Boston radio station WEEI, abruptly left when questions about Guerrero are asked.
I’m sure Belichick knows this isn’t how you handle things. The man can remember a long snapper from the 1980s. He probably knew that when the Romanovs tried to ban Rasputin’s name from the press, it backfired tremendously. All this ban did was point more attention from the tabloid press at Rasputin. And all Brady did was draw more attention back to Guerrero.
As of now, the last thing to come out about the “body coach” was in September of 2018. The Patriots and Brady reached a compromise. Brady and Rob Gronkowski now have unrestricted access to Guerrero. He could also join them on road trips.
Maybe Guerrero is a ridiculous story. But for the media to have swallowed up on one staffer, who has no solid effect on coaching, front office moves, or on the medical staff that we know of, is ridiculous. The past 5500 words have been about a kook who stumbles into the Patriots locker room and a drunk monk who winds up in Saint Petersburg. Their tales are eerily similar. No matter what happens, if the Patriots win five more Super Bowls with Brady or if they implode in the next week, Guerrero will be tied to it just like how Rasputin is tied to the end of the monarchy, the rise of the Soviet Union, and even the tampering in the 2016 election to some extent. Guerrero’s wake will be felt all over the NFL. Without Rasputin, we ask if Russia has a constitutional monarchy today, if WW2 is lost to the Axis powers. Without Guerrero, we’ll ask about everything that doesn’t happen and if he prevented it from being so.
Every dynasty has to fall. Some fall by being spread too thin or by simply not keeping pace. Then there are the ones where the powerful become too much so. That’s what happened in Russia. That oxymoron is what’s happening in New England today. To say their stories lined up completely isn’t correct. To say they’re very similar and that they may follow the same path might be. So the rest of this is merely speculation. It’s the answer to the second question, the idea that these two dynasties were on a similar past with a similar main figure so one can predict the other. You can figure out the third debate out on your own. One dynasty’s end is already mapped out. The other still must end. It will. It just hasn’t happened as of now. The best way to predict this, Rasputin.
I don’t hold Guerrero in the same light as the drunk monk. Rasputin had some awful rumors about him going around. But he also held some progressive views. He wanted to move Russia forward. He was against World War 1 and the deaths of people who had no say in going to the war. He was trying to fix the food shortages the country had. He wasn’t Illiodor, had adopted views that weren’t homophobic, and he certainly wasn’t an anti-semite. Guerrero is nothing but a quack. If anything, he’s leading people away from real medical solutions and putting them at a greater risk than they already were. Both, regardless of their views, were given access to positions that they were incredibly incapable of maintaining. These positions were things they had no business gaining. So where does this lead us to?
In Rasputin’s case, there’s an archduke that dies. Now, normally this is pretty meaningless. Franz Ferdinand, the one we’re talking about, is the cousin to a crown prince. He’s assassinated and then World War 1 started because of it. Nicholas eventually fires the commander of the army and decides to lead it himself. Because of this, Alexandra and Greg are left in charge of the largest country on the face of the planet.
How would this play out in New England? A relatively minor sports league starts. Let’s say it’s the Premier Lacrosse League which Paul Rabil is trying to get off the ground currently. He’s willing to pay out cash and Belichick, who’s proven almost everything he wants to in the NFL, could be courted. Brady’s said lacrosse is one of the four things that make the coach smile. Rabil and Belichick first met during Rabil’s time at John Hopkins University. The two hit it off and Belichick even gave him a sideline pass to a game. Like Tsar Nicholas going off to a war that could never happen because the world was too interconnected, Belichick could leave his team for a sport that’ll never take hold.
These moves each leave two more unqualified people in charge. Brady is going to make sure Guerrero is going to have a big say in whoever is brought in and like Rasputin and Alexandra leading Russia, it won’t be the best choice.
Of course, this is gonna be bumbled on both sides. Brady and Guerrero will not know how to handle this. We can only assume that their first choice for head coach will fizzle out. Even if it is McDaniels, he’s already run the Denver Broncos into the ground. I expect no different.
In Russia, the Tsarina and Rasputin see the same thing happen. Turns out marriage and friendships don’t qualify you to run an empire. The government becomes a game of musical chairs based on who’s sleeping with who. There’s a term called ministerial leapfrogging which summarizes the whole thing.
Faced with overhauling both the coaching staff and the medical staff (you bet that they won’t stick around with Guerrero in power), Brady, Kraft, and the body coach will blunder this. Don’t worry though, Rasputin and Alexandra did the same thing. Nothing bad happened to them, right? The Russians appointed the worst people to Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, which is like their Head of the DOJ. Boris Stürmer becomes the PM. His claim to fame was that he was known to pick the spot where he’d be least likely to be found napping during meetings. As for minister of the interior, it gets a lot worse. Rasputin, during a trip back to Siberia, was stabbed by a woman with no nose who was a fervent follower of Iliodor with a fifteen-inch dagger. Iliodor, remember him? While recovering from that and the botched surgery that followed, he meets Alexander Protopopov. He was once second in command to the Fattest Man in Russia. Protopopov is now going insane because of syphilis. During his time as Minister of the Interior, he was seen walking around yelling at himself and answering questions for an imaginary interview out in the street. He’d also randomly break down into sobbing fits. If it’s any consolation, the doctors treated him with “arousing powders.” Really, that meant they got him hooked on coke. So Rasputin and Alexandra appoint a syphilitic cokehead to be the highest ranking law official in Russia and a sly narcoleptic to lead the government.
The New England three will probably decide to choose anyone who’ll let Brady run the team. They just need a yes man and for what they’ll pay, it ain’t hard to find. That’s their head coach, their PM. As for Minister of the Interior, I’d imagine even Guerrero would turn down a head trainer role because of the pressure it’d put on the team. But I’m sure he has no shortage of quacks to call up. While odds are they won’t be worse than Protopopov, they’ll still be a disaster. Any NFL player with a choice will steer clear of New England. They really would become the Browns.
In Russia, you’d see the government reduced to a drunken frat house. Picture people being churned out like the Browns have done for the last eight years. By now, the new appointments are awful because of the ministerial leapfrogging. One guy who was given a high spot in the church decided to throw house parties in an ancient monastery. The guests there would be encouraged to drunkenly spank the monks and to pour vodka on the altars.
The Patriots, who are reduced to Brady, the NFL castoffs they usually have, and the cast of Blue Mountain State, turn Gillette stadium into a Florida frat house. Even Florida alumnus Aaron Hernandez, Tim Tebow, and Brandon Spikes couldn’t do that. Soon players are partying in the locker rooms, the Lombardi Trophies are drenched with Henny, and the games aren’t even a concern.
Roger Goodell, seeing the NFL’s second most valuable franchise reduced to this, steps in. In Russia, Rasputin would meet his end at the hands of a man named Felix Yusupov. Before this, the monk would narrowly escape multiple assassination attempts. He’d either cancel pilgrimages at the last moment or just not show up to events. However, the husband of the Tsar’s niece would be the one to end him.
On December 29, 1916, Rasputin went to a party at Yusupov’s palace. He’d be the only one there when he arrived. Of course, Rasputin doesn’t run from this. He didn’t run from Iliodor, why start running now? First, in the palace basement, Yusupov fed the monk cakes and wine laced with enough cyanide to kill close to five men. But of course, this doesn’t work. Maybe it’s due to the fact that Rasputin had a large chunk of intestines removed after the stabbing which decreases the production of stomach acid, what causes the reaction to cyanide. Rasputin, who should already be dead, is instead going back and forth between nodding off and making Felix play the guitar for him. The only thing that happens is that he’s having a hard time swallowing. Felix, who’s close to a breakdown and probably playing Wonderwall, decides to go upstairs to talk to his co-conspirators. These geniuses decide to just shoot him. As Rasputin is admiring a crystal crucifix Yusupov shoots him in the chest and the Siberian collapses “like a broken doll.” The prince and his friends all watch him shake and twitch until he stops moving. But don’t think that was the end of it. These geniuses dress up a guy named Sergi to look like Rasputin and drop him off at his house to get rid of the blame. But when they got back, Felix got nervous and decided he had to go see the body. He was consumed with rage, feeling that he had to save the Russian empire from Rasputin, and shook the body and looked into the monk’s eyes. They opened “greenish and snake-like.” Rasputin, foaming at the mouth and groaning, rushed towards Yusupov. He’s dripping with blood. Yusupov gets grabbed by this man, clothes are being ripped, and the prince started screaming and escapes. Rasputin stumbles out of the basement and through the snow, screaming about telling the Tsarina and leaving a trail of blood. But before he can get out of the palace, a conspirator takes Felix’s gun and fires two shots at the monk. The first misses. The second one hits him in the back. He falls. Then, the assassin walked up and fired a shot into his head. They dump him in the Malaya Nevka River. That would be the end of Greg.
I don’t know how this translates into something that gets turned into a 30 for 30. I expect it to be this interesting. Also, I do know that Goodell will want to take out Guerrero by this point in our timeline. There’ll be a trial filled with appeals, nasty truths, and it’ll ruin the optics of the Patriots. It’d be like the Deflategate trial but on whatever PEDs Edelman was taking. If Yusupov could turn Rasputin’s assassination into a book, I’m sure Goodell could make a trilogy out of this trial. Picture if Goodell called Belichick to the stand while Brady watched. I’d pay good money to watch him breakdown film, never mind a court transcript related to Guerrero.
After Rasputin’s death, the country was faced with a civil war. Nicholas decided to avoid this during a world war and abdicated the throne. The Romanovs were kept at Alexandra Palace by a new provisional government. Bolsheviks, the communists, would then overthrow them and civil war between the Reds and the Whites would begin. The Romanovs were moved to a new location but as the White army approached the former Tsar, an easy decision was made. The man who had killed Vladimir Lenin’s brother during a peaceful protest, now the leader of the Bolsheviks, would die. So too would his family. And with that, the Romanovs ended.
After Guerrero’s trial and ban, Brady and Kraft would face a difficult decision. The two, fearing a complete loss, would step away from football. Brady would retire and Kraft would sell his team. However, that probably won’t stop Goodell. It’s very easy to see him ban the two for life from the NFL, scrub their names off the record books, and reclaim their Super Bowl rings. If you think the MLB is pious wait for an angry Goodell. Maybe through some twisted train of thought, a judge is convinced that Brady, who made money off the TB12 center from the Patriots, tried to circumvent the salary cap and his association with Guerrero violates the rule book, similar to using steroids or violating concussion protocol. Keep in mind, Brady is on a ridiculously discounted salary which makes that look even more suspicious. Goodell, who’s swung the hammer on the Patriots twice before, once for Spygate and then the other time after a lengthy battle with Brady in 2014 over Deflategate, would be faced with an easy decision. He’d ban his two most outspoken enemies in the league. And like the Romanovs, the Patriots reign would end too.

New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman gave a locker room interview in an Israeli team’s baseball cap to show solidarity with the victims of the Pittsburgh shooting that saw the deaths of 11 people of Jewish faith on Oct. 27. Edelman and the Patriots won a primetime matchup against the Green Bay Packers just before his interview.

Julian Edelman Dons Israel Baseball Cap After Shooting

Edelman’s father is Jewish and has visited Israel in the past to honor his roots.

Edelman famously helped stop a potential school shooting earlier this year. In April, a fan alerted Edelman of a threatening comment on his Instagram page, and the wide receiver promptly notified his assistant in Boston. 

On Tuesday, New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman had his four-game suspension appeal denied.

Julian Edelman’s Suspension Appeal Denied

The 32-year-old was banned for the first four games of next season for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Edelman is still eligible to play in all preseason games and practices, however.

There were two main issues the wideout had raised as part of his appeal: First, the drug for which he tested positive was not formally recognized by NFL drug examiners. Additionally, the league reportedly mishandled documents pertaining to Edelman’s test results and their delivery.

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Edelman was sidelined for all of last season after rupturing his ACL during the preseason. Next fall, he will miss the Patriots’ games against Houston, Jacksonville, Detroit and Miami. His first game of 2018 will thus be an October 4 home matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.

Edelman recently helped stop a potential school shooting after seeing a threatening post on social media and reporting it to authorities. His case comes shortly after that of Reuben Foster. The San Francisco 49ers linebacker was suspended two games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct and substance abuse rules. Foster was arrested twice this offseason: in January for drug possession and then later on domestic violence and firearm possession charges. The linebacker’s former girlfriend had accused him of allegedly assaulting her, but then retracted her comments shortly afterwards.

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Foster, 24, was a first-round (No. 31) draft pick for the 49ers out of Alabama — where he was a three-time SEC champion — in 2017. He logged 72 tackles last season.

After missing all 19 of his team’s games during the 2017-18 season and postseason, New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman could end up adding more to that number, as he is currently facing a 4-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policies surrounding performance-enhancing substances.

Edelman’s trainer, Alex Guerrero, issued a formal statement in which he said, “I’ve known Julian since his rookie year and he is a phenomenal athlete who takes his training seriously-it’s disappointing to hear today’s news. Elite athletes sometimes work with multiple coaches and health professionals as part of their training. Here at our facility, we take a natural, holistic, appropriate and, above all, legal approach to training and recovery for all of our clients. And anyone who would suggest otherwise is irresponsible, and just plain wrong.”

Edelman missed all of last season after tearing his ACL on a non-contact play during last year’s preseason. If this suspension were to hold up, he would miss the Patriots’ opening 4 games against the Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions, and Miami Dolphins.

This could prove to be a pretty big blow for the Patriots, who lost wide receivers Brandin Cooks and Danny Amendola in the offseason. Edelman has proven himself to be one of quarterback Tom Brady‘s favorite targets along with tight end Rob Gronkowski, recording 1,106 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns on 98 receptions over the 2016-17 season. Up until this point in time, the Patriots have made it seem as though they still find success even when a player who doesn’t where the number 12 on his jersey, so they should still be successful. However, Edelman is the most seasoned of New England’s wide receivers, especially given the fact that their receiving core is almost completely brand new. This could prove to be troublesome in their Week 2 matchup against Jacksonville, who possess what is arguably the most dominant defense in the NFL. Nonetheless, the Patriots will more likely than not be perfectly fine without Edelman on the field.

If his suspension does hold up, Edelman will be first eligible to take the field against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5.

New England Patriots star Julian Edelman may have helped prevent a school shooting simply by reporting a threatening social media post.

Julian Edelman School Shooting Instagram Threat

According to The New York Times and ESPN, the veteran wide receiver was visiting his friend and former teammate Danny Amendola in Texas late last month when he got a direct message on Instagram. The message read: “Dude, there is a kid in your comment section says he s going to shoot up a school, I think you should alert the authority.”

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Edelman then reportedly informed his assistant in Boston of this. The assistant, Shannen Moen, discovered the original threat on Instagram after going through hundreds of comments: “I’m going to shoot my school up watch the news.”

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The wideout stated he immediately recalled the horrific shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people were killed on Feb. 14 by a 19-year-old former student of the school. This has been one of several school shootings that have occurred in recent months that have spurred a national debate for more gun control.

“With the emotions of what happened, and I have a kid now, I said, holy Toledo, what is going on?” Edelman told The Times. 

After Moen called 911, the person who posted the threat was identified — thanks to a tracing of the commenter’s IP address — as a 14-year-old boy in Port Huron, Michigan. The boy reportedly confessed to making the threat after police arrive at his home, where they found two rifles owned by his mother.

The boy was charged with making a false report of a terrorism threat and was sent to a juvenile correction facility, where he is still being held.

Edelman called his Instagram follower who notified him about the threat “the real hero,” and said he plans to send the fan a gift as a thank you.

Edelman’s agent echoed several people’s sentiments that no comment like this one, online or not, should ever be treated lightly.

“It’s not good enough anymore to disregard comments like those as offhanded,” said Edelman’s agent Don Yee. “All of us, including players, are learning together to take these kinds of things very seriously.”

One CNN journalist shared a screenshot of the message the person sent Edelman to alert him of the threat.

“We are thankful everyone takes these types of things seriously so we can investigate these situations fully,” said Capt. Joseph Platzer, one of the policemen whose department helped deal with the boy who made the threat. “We like to remind people that if they see something, say something.”

Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos also tweeted her thanks to Edelman:

The New England Patriots have already begun playing aggressively before the pre-season even begins — with each other.

Patriots Training Camp Practice Julian Edelman Stephon Gilmore

Defensive back Stephon Gilmore and wide receiver Julian Edelman were tossed from the team’s training camp session at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday after getting into a scuffle.

It all began when backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett threw a pass to Edelman, whom Gilmore was tightly defending. Edelman looked annoyed by Gilmore’s excessively touchy coverage, so the wideout responded to his teammate’s shoving by pushing Gilmore to the ground.

Edelman then jumped on the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Gilmore, and a mini-brawl ensued. Chris Hogan intervened to break the pair up by restraining Edelman and picking him up to untangle the duo, who were duking it out in the back of the end zone. Following the fight, both players walked away without their helmets.

“That stuff happens and everyone knows Jules is a fiery guy,” said Devin McCourty, a team captain. “I think the biggest thing is those two positions compete all day. Whether it’s individual release drills, one-on-ones, 7-on-7 — it’s the same guys.

McCourty added that he knows his team well, thus he is not concerned any animosity displayed during practice will continue off the field.

“I think the greatest thing about our team is that all that stuff happens on the field, it’s football, it never carries over to the locker room,” he said. “We understand we’re out here to get better and those two guys will come back out here tomorrow and compete at a high level again.”

Linebacker David Harris reiterated McCourty’s sentiment about skirmishes during practice.

“They are just trying to win, to compete every play, and once the next play starts it is forgotten about,” said Harris. “They’re not holding any grudges, or anything like that. It is part of training camp — it’s hot, people are miserable, tired of going against each other. That’s part of the grind of training camp — every player on every team goes through it.”

Patriots coach Bill Belichick has long had one major rule for practices: no fights.

Wide receiver Brandin Cooks said he “absolutely” agrees with Belichick’s policy.

“There’s no time to waste,” said Cooks.

Gilmore signed a five-year, $65 million deal with the Patriots in March. He spent his first five NFL seasons with the Buffalo Bills, and compiled 14 interceptions in 68 games, including five picks in 15 games last season.

Edelman, 31, led the Patriots in receiving last season with 98 catches for 1,106 yards.

Following the Pittsburgh Steelers’ emotional 18-16 road victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC divisional round on Sunday night, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin urged his team to maintain a low profile as it prepares to face the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game next Sunday.

Ben Roethlisberger Responds To Julian Edelman’s Barb On Steelers Ahead Of AFC Championship Game Vs Patriots

Wideout Antonio Brown recorded Tomlin’s profanity-laced locker room speech— in which he mentioned the Patriots– on Facebook Live, unbeknownst to his coach.

Now, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is defending the Steelers after Patriots receiver Julian Edelman questioned the way Pittsburgh’s team is run.

“We’ve got our trophies out there. I’ve got owners that I think are the best in the business,” said Roethlisberger, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. “They’re family to us, and I’m sure if he talked to his owner, he would say the same thing about the Rooneys. Anybody in here in the football world or the regular world that [knows] the Rooneys knows what they stand for. It’s a blessing to call them a family.”

Edelman’s comments referred to Brown’s secret recording of Tomlin’s speech, a move that the Patriots viewed as unprofessional.

“That’s how that team is run,” Edelman said on WEEI’s Ordway, Merloni & Fauria. “I personally don’t think that would be something that would happen in our locker room.”

Brown has already apologized, and could likely be fined by the NFL for violating the league’s social media policy. (players are restricted from posting 90 minutes before and after games). Commissioner Roger Goodell announced Wednesday that the NFL is investigating Brown’s video-recording.

Of course, the Steelers receiver could redeem himself by delivering a great performance next Sunday.

The Steelers lead all NFL teams with six Super Bowl titles, while the Patriots are third behind the Dallas Cowboys (who have five) with four. All three teams have reached the Super Bowl eight times.

Sunday’s AFC Championship Game will surely be a highly competitive one.

PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 25: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers drops back to pass in the first half during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field on December 25, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

Nate Washington didn’t make the first cut of 75 players before the August 30 deadline with New England. The Patriots have chosen to part ways with him after acquiring him from the Houston Texans for a one-year deal back in March. At the time it seemed like a great deal, inexpensive, for the 32-year-old’s veteran experience.

New England Patriots Cut Nate Washington From Roster

In 14 games with the Texans last season he recorded 47 receptions for 658 yards and four touchdowns. That put him in second place on the Texans in each of those categories behind DeAndre Hopkins. The deal between Houston and New England previously this year saw the veteran as a third or fourth receiver spot behind Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola and Dion Lewis as Tom Brady’s top options in the passing game.

The wide receiver roster for the Patriots boasts Edelman, Amendola, Chris Hogan, Keshawn Martin, Aaron Dobson, Chris Harper and DeAndre Carter.

It is a little surprising he was cut, but considering his age and the depth at the wideout spot for the Patriots, Washington might be better to find a team that really needs his help. Amendola is on the PUP list, but is expected to come back shortly.

Gronkowski is ready to get back to practice. He pulled up in practice August 15 after he felt some discomfort that turned out to be some bruising. As per usual Gronk’s preseason action will be non-existent trying to save him for when it counts.

For all the fantasy fans, Washington wasn’t going to be rated for fantasy with New England so perhaps a move will up his status.

NASHVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 27: Nate Washington #85 of the Houston Texans celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans at LP Field on December 27, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (pictured) may have caused some more injury to an already beat up Dallas Cowboys team yesterday.

During the second quarter right when the ball was snapped to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, Edelman created a crossover move that only the receiver is capable of doing and had caught an impressive 16-yard reception. The abnormal part of the move that Edelman made was that it left Cowboys cornerback Morris Claiborne in the dust and falling to his feet without knowing what happened to him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M8NMdFgnCU

Claiborne would have more problems covering Edelman for the rest of the game with Edelman having four catches for 120 yards with one touchdown. The Patriots ended up eliminating the Cowboys in a 30-6 win bringing their team record to 4-0 on the season.

Last night was pretty packed. Both the NBA and NHL playoff games were thoroughly enticing, but it also contained the full release of the NFL’s 2015 schedule.

So uSports scoured the Internet, looking for some of the best athlete reactions to 2015’s schedule. And here are just a few of our favorites.

https://twitter.com/RealPeterson21/status/590702936881242112

https://twitter.com/TorreySmithWR/status/590687015538184193

https://twitter.com/jmattjmattjmatt/status/590667457934848000

While these reactions display a wide array of talent/athletes, it is bound to make any fan thoroughly ecstatic about this year’s football season. Between the games, the rivalries and the enthusiasm of the players, 2015 is shaping up to be the best year for football fans.