Tag: Ben Watson

Ben Watson gets emotional about retirement: ‘Probably won’t be playing’

“So definitely won’t be back here next year, probably, and then probably won’t be playing at all.”

New England Patriots tight end Ben Watson played what might have been his best game of the 2019 season.

Surely, it wasn’t his best with New England. When he was 10 years younger, he put together some stellar performances. But in the Patriots’ 20-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans, he logged three catches for 38 yards. He had a 38-yard catch get wiped by a penalty on offensive lineman Shaq Mason. Watson was solid as a run blocker.

But the moment seemed bitter-sweet. It was likely his final game for the Patriots.

“It’s difficult. I love this game, but there’s a time when you definitely have to move on. So definitely won’t be back here next year, probably, and then probably won’t be playing at all,” Watson said, fighting back tears, in the Patriots’ locker room after the game. “It’s something that I’ve tried to do before and it didn’t work.

“But there’s only so much your body can take, and so much you want to put your family though, before you want to settle down and have some roots. Figure out what the next chapter of your life is going to be. So we’re going to talk about it, of course, and make family decisions but it’s been a great run and it’s really special to be back here.”

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Every Georgia Bulldog playing on in the NFL’s Wildcard round

Georgia Bulldogs will look to leave their stamp on the NFL’s postseason once again. Last season, UGA’s Sony Michel dominated the playoffs.

Georgia Bulldogs will look to leave their stamp on the NFL’s postseason once again. Last season, UGA’s Sony Michel dominated the playoffs en route to a Super Bowl title. Who will be UGA player will help lead their team to a championship?

This year, there’s no Georgia Bulldog currently on a roster in the NFC. It’s quite surprising considering the number of Bulldogs in the NFL. That means no UGA players will suit up in Sunday’s Vikings at Saints contest or the Seahawks at Eagles game.

The AFC, however, is another story. On Saturday, Isaiah McKenzie will hope to help the Bills knock off the Houston Texans. McKenzie had 254 receiving yards on the season and is capable of shifting the dynamic of a game with one explosive play. The Texans don’t have any UGA players on their roster.

The Chiefs, who have a bye, feature rookie receiver Mecole Hardman heavily on special teams and pepper him into their passing game as well. Hardman is an explosive play waiting to happen. The Baltimore Ravens lack Georgia Bulldogs on their roster as well.

Saturday Night, Bulldog fans will be able to watch RB Sony Michel and the Patriots take on Ben Jones and the Tennessee Titans. Michel is undefeated in the playoffs in his young career. Fellow Bulldogs TE Ben Watson (173 receiving yards in 2019) and tackle Isaiah Wynn will accompany Michel. Center Ben Jones commanded a dominant Titan offensive line this year. Tennessee’s Derrick Henry led the NFL in rushing on the season.

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Saints nominate Terron Armstead for Walter Payton Man of the Year Award

The New Orleans Saints nominated LT Terron Armstead for the 2019 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, recognizing his talent and character.

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The New Orleans Saints announced Thursday that they named left tackle Terron Armstead their 2019 Man of the Year, nominating him for the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. This recognition is reserved for players nominated by their teams after showing exemplary on-field performance and off-field strength of character. Previous Saints nominees include Drew Brees, Cameron Jordan, and Benjamin Watson.

It’s a big honor for the man protecting New Orleans’ blind side. Armstead has battled through a painful high-ankle sprain in recent weeks, missing two games before he was able to gut through the injury in Sunday’s game with the San Francisco 49ers. And his impact is palpable — without Armstead in the lineup, Brees has logged an average time to throw of just 2.49 seconds. But with Armstead protecting him, Brees has been able to hold onto the ball for 2.71 seconds, which means a world of difference.

In addition to his high level of play, Armstead has been a leader in charitable efforts in the New Orleans community. He recently gifted several dozen bicycles to schoolchildren at the DePaul Community Center and has often used his weekly off-day to visit local schools and children’s hospitals. He’s also participated in his teammates’ youth football camps during the offseason, doing his part to support their own efforts at community outreach.

It’s great to see Armstead earn this recognition, and it’s a strong reminder of just how much good work NFL players are doing when they aren’t battling each other during games. The Saints know they have a great leader in Armstead, and he’s someone they clearly value highly within the organization.

The full list of nominees from around the NFL is embedded below, but you can also find it at this link. The award’s winner will be announced during the week leading up to Super Bowl LIV.

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