Morning Sports activities Replace
“In the event that they attain their potential, they are often related and compete. That does not sound like AFC East champions to me.”
The Revolution rallied to defeat Atlas FC on penalty kicks at Gillette Stadium on Thursday within the Leagues Cup Spherical of 23. New England will now face Querétaro FC within the Spherical of 16 on Monday (which may even be performed in Foxborough).
Tonight, the Pink Sox and Blue Jays start a three-game sequence at Fenway Park. First pitch is ready for 7:10 p.m.
Ryan Clark on the 2023 Patriots’ probabilities within the AFC East: Because the Patriots put together for the brand new season, each followers and specialists surprise what the ceiling is perhaps for Invoice Belichick’s group.
New England completed a disappointing 8-9 in 2022, the second time in three seasons that the previous contenders completed third within the division.
Can the Patriots doubtlessly get again to successful the AFC East?
Talking on a Friday episode of ESPN’s “Get Up!”, former NFL security and present soccer analyst Ryan Clark sounded off on simply how far-off he thinks the Patriots are from the earlier normal.
Requested if the Patriots “have sufficient” to keep away from a final place end, Clark vehemently disagreed.
“Nope,” Clark started. “Not if the gamers which can be necessary for the Miami Dolphins, the New York Jets, and the Buffalo Payments are there. If these rosters are complete — and we all know these issues don’t keep all through the season — but when the ideas of those groups can be found, the New England Patriots are completely going to complete final within the AFC East.
“Each group has a greater quarterback. Each group has higher ability gamers,” he added. “Each group can push the soccer down the sphere in a approach we haven’t seen the New England Patriots be capable to do it with Mac Jones on the helm.”
Nonetheless, Clark conceded that the addition of Invoice O’Brien as the brand new offensive coordinator will assist quarterback Mac Jones immensely.
“Do I imagine they’ll be higher when you’ve gotten a few of these items, two tight ends on the sphere, JuJu Smith-Schuster taking the place of that slot receiver that’s all the time been necessary in New England? Completely,” mentioned Clark. “I count on Mac Jones to look extra like he did his rookie yr than final yr. However that doesn’t imply in a packed and stacked AFC East that this group goes to compete.”
Citing ESPN colleague Adam Schefter’s phrases — he mentioned that the Patriots may return turn into a related and aggressive group this season if all goes to plan — Clark famous how that differs from how New England was described through the Tom Brady period.
“For the final 20 years, these are usually not the phrases we used to explain the New England Patriots, however that’s precisely the place this group is,” mentioned Clark. “In the event that they attain their potential, they are often related and compete. That doesn’t sound like AFC East champions to me.”
Trivia: The final time the Patriots completed final within the division was in 2000, Invoice Belichick’s first season. New England went 5-11 as Belichick labored via a rebuilding venture. Are you able to title the 5 groups the Patriots beat that season?
(Reply on the backside).
Trace: The beginning quarterbacks of these groups: Brian Griese, Peyton Manning, Scott Mitchell, Elvis Grbac, Rob Johnson.
Extra from Boston.com:
Prospect energy surge: Ceddanne Rafaela, the Pink Sox; No. 2 rated prospect, hit a house run for the third consecutive recreation on Thursday for the Triple-A Worcester Pink Sox.
Jack Jones left Patriots apply on Thursday: The second-year cornerback may need been kicked out following a troublesome apply rep with Kendrick Bourne.
On this present day: In 1984, Carl Lewis gained the primary of what would ultimately be 9 Olympic gold medals, taking the 100-meter dash on the Los Angeles Summer time Video games.
Each day spotlight: Diana Taurasi turned the primary participant in WNBA historical past to cross the ten,000-point threshold, which she did amid a 42-point efficiency in a Mercury win over the Dream on Thursday.
Trivia reply: Broncos, Colts, Bengals, Chiefs, Payments
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