Tag: Patriots

Four-time Champion Rob Gronkowski reflects on his mindset during Super Bowl week

Four-time Champion Rob Gronkowski reflects on his mindset during Super Bowl week w/ @EdEastonJr

This week, Touchdown Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to four-time Super Bowl champion Rob Gronkowski.

In his interview with Easton Jr., Gronkowski discussed his partnership on behalf of Bounty and reflected on his mindset as a player during Super Bowl week, focusing on the game.

“I’ve been the Bounty man for three years now, and obviously, this is going into my third year. It’s been a great partnership with them; it goes hand in hand because I’m a football player. I’m from Buffalo, and I love my wings,” said Gronkowski. “You know the famous quote: You can’t have football without wings. Also, you can’t have wings without Bounty because Bounty cleans up the mess from all the buffalo wings—sauce getting all over your face—and the quicker picker-upper comes and cleans it right on up, man. So it all goes hand in hand together, especially with the style of life I live as well. “

Gronkowski is familiar with the glitz and glamour of Super Bowl week, having navigated the festivities many times throughout his career. He opened up about his mindset as a younger player and veteran.

“My first time in the Super Bowl? Yes, you got distracted because of all the festivities going up, people wanting tickets, all the parties, and all that other good stuff as well,” Gronkowski explained. “But once you’ve experienced it, I can give you advice now. Don’t worry about that stuff. The biggest focus is the game. The only thing that matters that whole week is not the parties, you know, it’s not the talk shows or media row.

“It’s all about the game. That’s the most important thing. That’s all anyone’s going to remember if you lost the game or if you won the game. So, focus entirely on the game and what you have to do to be prepared. Get the tickets to your family, and get that all squared off before the week starts. And then focus all your time on the preparation so you’re ready to go when the kickoff gets kicked off.”

For more information on Bounty, log on to BountyTowels.com and follow on Instagram & YouTube

Jonnu Smith to team up with AFC East QB in Pro Bowl competition

Jonnu Smith will team up with a Dolphins rival on Thursday night in a game called “Passing the Test.”

Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith will team up with New England Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye in a competition called “Passing the Test” at the 2025 Pro Bowl Games, the NFL announced Wednesday.

In the competition, quarterbacks will try to hit targets at various distances and rack up as many points as possible in 40 seconds. But each passer will get an additional 10 seconds if their teammate can answer a Pro Bowl-themed trivia question correctly.

Maye will hope that Smith knows the rest of the Pro Bowl roster well, because the Dolphins tight end will have a chance to add as many as 50 seconds to the Patriots quarterback’s time limit.

For now, that’s the only game Smith is set to play Thursday night when the Pro Bowl Games air from 7 to 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.  Smith is also set to play in the flag football game Sunday that serves as the grand finale of the Pro Bowl Games. Coverage on Sunday is set to start at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN and ABC.

Smith earned Pro Bowl honors for the first time after replacing Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce on the AFC roster. In his first season with the Dolphins, Smith set franchise records for receptions (88), receiving yards (884), and touchdowns (eight) by a tight end.

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Patriots legend Rob Gronkowski on new Bounty commercial, legacy with Tom Brady

@EdEastonJr spoke to Rob Gronkowski about his new Bounty commercial with Drew Brees and Reggie Bush, and the legendary chemistry he had with Tom Brady.

This week, Touchdown Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to four-time Super Bowl champion Rob Gronkowski.

In his interview with Easton Jr., Gronkowski discussed his partnership on behalf of Bounty, filming a commercial with New Orleans Saints Drew Brees and Reggie Bush. He also reflected on his long-time chemistry with legendary quarterback Tom Brady.

“Drew Brees is my wingman as well. I chose him because we’re going to New Orleans for the Super Bowl, and I need him to take me around the city to the best wing spots,” Gronkowski explained. “I also just shot a commercial with him, which was a pleasure. He was so great to work with. He and Reggie Bush, you know, they were teammates down in New Orleans as well, back about 10 years ago.

“They were so fun to work with, and it was so great, you know, and Reggie was such a great player. That was the first time I’ve ever met him. I also loved watching him play football, especially at USC. So he was like one of my heroes that I finally met, which was really cool. Passes with Bounty when we get to New Orleans as well. We’re ready to go. We’re strapped up. We’re gonna take on any challenge.”

As Gronkowski builds chemistry with Brees as his Bounty wingman, he shares the secret to his chemistry and success with legendary quarterback Tom Brady. The duo won multiple Super Bowls across two teams as members of the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“We both wanted it. We both wanted to be great,” Gronkowski said of his time with Brady. “We both wanted to win championships. And when you both want to win championships, you do whatever it takes. And we stayed after practice all the time to get on the same page. Just keep building our chemistry. That’s what we did, man; when you want to be great, and you find people who want to be great around you, you help elevate them. He helped elevate me. I helped elevate him. That led to greatness on the field, and the same was true for the entire Patriots organization: everyone was on the same page.”

For more information on Bounty, log on to BountyTowels.com and follow on Instagram & YouTube

Are Mike Vrabel’s Patriots or Aaron Glenn’s Jets the bigger threat?

Will either of the AFC East’s new coaches cause a paradigm shift in the division?

The Miami Dolphins will be facing two new head coaches in the AFC East in the 2025 season: the New England Patriots’ Mike Vrabel and New York Jets’ Aaron Glenn. Interestingly, both coaches are former players for the respective teams that hired them.

Vrabel spent six seasons as the head coach of the Tennessee Titans, accruing a 54-45 record. He led the Titans to three playoff appearances, two AFC South titles, and a run to the AFC Championship in 2019. He will now coach the team he won three Super Bowls with during his playing career as a linebacker.

Glenn, a former NFL cornerback, spent the last four years on Dan Campbell’s staff as the Detroit Lions’ defensive coordinator.

After playing a major role in bringing the Lions from the bottom of the standings to championship contenders, Glenn takes over as the Jets head coach, the team he played for during the first eight years in the NFL. Glenn reportedly called the opportunity in New York his “dream job.”

While the Buffalo Bills have reigned over the AFC East in recent seasons, the Dolphins haven’t faced much of a battle for a second place. Which of these two teams with new coaches is the bigger threat of causing a paradigm shift in the near future?

The case for the Patriots

Vrabel is a proven coach who’s had success in the NFL. Vrabel’s Titans produced winning records in his first four years as a head coach until their championship window closed and the franchise entered a rebuild.

Now he’s joining a Patriots team that is a couple years into its rebuild and selected a quarterback of the future, Drake Maye, with the No. 3 selection in last year’s draft. They also have some established talent on defense including cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez and Marcus Jones, and defensive end Keion White.

The Patriots are currently projected to have the most cap space in the 2025 offseason with more than $120 million. New England has a chance to fill out its roster this offseason, giving Maye more help on offense while establishing Vrabel’s vision on defense.

New England is well set up in April too with the No. 4 pick in the 2025 NFL draft along with a second-rounder and two thirds.

While the Patriots aren’t quite done with their rebuild, Vrabel’s experience and success as a head coach could spur a quick shift in the team’s mindset and yield a winning culture.

The case for the Jets

Glenn is taking over a Jets team that was expected to be a playoff contender last season with Aaron Rodgers returning from the Achillies tear he suffered on the opening drive of the 2023 season. Instead, the Jets finished 5-12 and fired both head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas midseason.

The good news for Glenn is he’s taking over a roster that already has elite talent on both sides of the football.

Glenn, a former star cornerback, will get to coach one of the best in the game in Sauce Gardner. The Jets also have fast rising pass rusher Will McDonald IV, who recorded 10.5 sacks in 2024, and linebacker Jamien Sherwood who was fourth in the NFL with 154 tackles. The Jets also secured three-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Quinnen Williams to a deal through the 2027 season.

The Jets’ roster appears to be good enough to succeed and bringing in a coach with Glenn’s pedigree as a defensive coordinator could be the change the franchise needs to finally break through.

Prediction: Watch out for the Patriots

Even though the Jets currently have the better roster on paper, there are looming questions about the future of their key players. Aaron Rodgers hasn’t made a commitment to return in 2025. If he doesn’t, the Jets have no clear successor at quarterback. Rodgers’ decision may also impact star wide receiver Davante Adams’ future in New York.

The Jets also have multiple players nearing the end of their rookie contracts, including running back Breece Hall, receiver Garrett Wilson, and cornerback Sauce Gardner.

New York is in the bottom half of the league in cap space and is projected to have just about $20 million this offseason. This combined with the uncertainty of Rodgers’ and Adams’ future makes it hard to imagine the Jets significantly improving a roster that went 5-12 last season, unless they land impact players in the upcoming NFL draft.

New England, on the other hand, has a lot of potential to improve its roster in free agency and the draft. Adding players on offense will help Drake Maye take a step in his development in year two and further solidify him as the Patriots’ future franchise quarterback.

The Patriots wouldn’t have given up on former head coach Jerrod Mayo after one season unless they believed Vrabel’s availability was too good to pass up on. New England is bringing in an experienced head coach who’s had prior success in Tennessee.

With a head coach and quarterback in place, New England can shift its focus to free agency and the draft to build a playoff caliber roster. Considering the Patriots’ cap space and high-quality draft picks, there is a chance they could make a significant jump in the standings if their offseason decisions pan out. It would not be a surprise if New England doesn’t take look to get back to being a force in the AFC.

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Cowboys to interview Dolphins assistant for DC opening

A week after interviewing for the Patriots’ DC vacancy, the Dolphins’ OLB coach has another high-profile interview.

Miami Dolphins outside linebackers coach Ryan Crow will interview for the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator vacancy, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Crow previously interviewed for the New England Patriots’ defensive coordinator position shortly before the team decided to hire Terrell Williams for the role. The Cowboys introduced Brian Schottenheimer as their new head coach earlier Monday.

The Dolphins hired Crow in 2024 after he spent the previous six seasons on Mike Vrabel’s staff with the Tennessee Titans. Last week, Vrabel was announced as the new head coach of the Patriots, but opted against reuniting with his former assistant.

Schottenheimer, 51, began his NFL coaching career in 1997, but hasn’t crossed paths with Crow previously.

In his first season with the Dolphins, Crow spent most of the year working with young pass rushers while Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips were rehabbing injuries. First-round pick Chop Robinson made impressive growth as the season went on, transforming into one of the NFL’s most productive pass rushers in the second half of the year.

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NFL exec predicts Dolphins trade Tyreek Hill to AFC East rival

Would the Dolphins really consider sending Tyreek Hill to a rival? At least one NFL exec thinks so.

A Miami Dolphins divorce with Tyreek Hill could be coming this offseason after the receiver quit on the team in Week 18 and told reporters that he was “opening the door” to leave Miami. But would the Dolphins really consider trading Hill to a divisional rival?

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, at least one NFL executive thinks a deal that sends Hill to the New England Patriots make sense. Via Fowler:

“The Patriots are desperate. They need a guy, that alpha that can be friendly for Drake Maye,” a veteran NFC personnel man said. “And there’s a higher chance of the draft picks [Miami would receive in a trade] being higher than with a contender.”

While intradivisional trades are often thought of as a no-no, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier hasn’t shied away from the idea. Three years ago, Miami traded wide receiver DeVante Parker to the Patriots. Two years before that, the Dolphins dealt running back Kalen Ballage to the New York Jets (although that deal fell through due to a failed physical).

The Dolphins probably don’t want to face Hill twice in a season, but ultimately, it’s the Buffalo Bills that are reigning over the AFC East. The Patriots have finished with four wins in each of the last two seasons.

Dealing Hill will leave the team with a large of dead money counting against their salary cap. But given the team’s discipline issues, a trade may make sense — even if it keeps the eight-time Pro Bowler in the AFC East.

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Ex-Dolphins LB says Tyreek Hill needs a coach that doesn’t ‘coddle’

Does Tyreek Hill need to play for a coach who keeps a tighter leash?

It’s possible Tyreek Hill has worn out his welcome in South Beach.

After three seasons with the Miami Dolphins, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the 30-year-old is on the trading block after quitting on his squad in Week 18. But former Dolphins linebacker Rob Ninkovich thinks head coach Mike McDaniel is part of the problem.

In an interview with Betway, Ninkovich — who is best remembered for his eight years with the New England Patriots — said that Hill would be better off playing for a coach who keeps a tighter leash on his players.

“I think Tyreek Hill .. might be a guy that needs a head coach like [Patriots head coach] Mike Vrabel,” Ninkovich said. “Somebody that’s going to stay on top of him, that’s going to say, ‘I don’t care what you’ve done in the past, you’re going to go out and perform, and you’re going to be on time, and we’re not going to coddle you.’

“I think down in Miami, maybe there was some of that coddling where he wasn’t on time. I think if you’re going to trade for Tyreek Hill, you have to make sure you have a coach that can stay on top of him and make sure that he’s doing all the right things.”

After an 8-9 finish to the 2024 season, McDaniel told reporters that discipline was an issue for the Dolphins and fining players “didn’t move the needle.” While he didn’t name names, tardiness to team meetings was reportedly a prevailing issue.

Ninkovich, 40, spent two seasons with the Dolphins early in his career before eventually blossoming under the strict leadership of the Patriots’ Bill Belichick.

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Patriots to interview Dolphins assistant for defensive coordinator vacancy

Mike Vrabel may poach a member of the Dolphins’ coaching staff as he builds his staff in New England.

The New England Patriots requested permission to interview Miami Dolphins outside linebackers coach Ryan Crow for their vacant defensive coordinator position, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss.

Crow joined the Dolphins in 2024 after spending the previous six seasons on Mike Vrabel’s staff with the Tennessee Titans. Last week, Vrabel was announced as the new head coach of the Patriots.

While the Patriots requested permission, the Dolphins can only block assistants from interviewing for lateral positions. As a defensive coordinator appointment would be a promotion for Crow, Miami has no choice but to grant the request.

Crow, who was once a walk-on linebacker at Bowling Green, had brief coaching stints at Purdue, Baldwin Wallace, and Ohio State before joining the Titans in 2018 as a defensive assistant.

In his first season with the Dolphins, Crow didn’t get to work much with Bradley Chubb or Jaelan Phillips, as the pair of veteran pass rushers dealt with serious injuries. But 2024 first-round pick Chop Robinson improved as the season went on, transforming into one of the NFL’s most productive pass rushers in the second half of the year.

The Patriots defense finished 2024 with the No. 22 ranked defense in the NFL.

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Former Wisconsin football assistant interviews for Patriots’ offensive coordinator vacancy

Former Wisconsin football assistant interviews for Patriots’ offensive coordinator vacancy

The New England Patriots interviewed former Wisconsin football assistant Thomas Brown for their vacant offensive coordinator position last Tuesday.

The Patriots are working to build their support staff under new coach Mike Vrabel, who was Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell’s college teammate and roommate at Ohio State.

Brown spent the 2024 season as the Chicago Bears’ pass game coordinator. His duties increased in Week 10 when he was promoted to offensive coordinator after Shane Waldron’s firing. He was promoted to interim head coach in Week 14 after Matt Eberflus was relieved of his duties. Brown led the Bears to a 1-4 record to close the season.

Brown was Wisconsin’s running backs coach in 2014 under coach Gary Andersen. The well-traveled assistant coached running backs at the college level at Chattanooga (2012), Marshall (2013), Wisconsin (2014), Georgia (2015), Miami (OC, 2016-18) and South Carolina (2019). He jumped to the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams (2020-21), before spending 2022 as the Rams’ tight ends coach and 2023 as the Carolina Panthers’ offensive coordinator.

The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Brown’s interview with the Patriots. The team also reportedly requested to interview Chargers pass game coordinator Marcus Brady.

Brown is looking for a new destination for the 2025 season after the Bears hired Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their new coach on Monday. Johnson has not begun to fill out his coaching staff.

The former Badger assistant interviewed for the position earlier this month. He also reportedly interviewed for the Seattle Seahawks’ OC opening.

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Patriots request to interview Chargers coach for job opening

Marcus Brady has served as an offensive coordinator.

The Patriots requested to interview Chargers passing game coordinator Marcus Brady for their offensive coordinator position, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

New England hired Mike Vrabel as its new head coach after firing Jerod Mayo, and now he is looking to build his staff.

Brady finished his first season in Los Angeles. Before coming to L.A. last offseason, Brady was the Eagles’ senior offensive assistant.

Before joining Philadelphia, Brady was with the Colts for five seasons, starting as their assistant quarterbacks coach in 2018.

That year, he helped Andrew Luck finish with one of the best seasons of his career, in which he threw for 4,593 yards and 39 touchdowns en route to winning the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year Award.

Brady was promoted to quarterbacks coach the following season. In 2020, Philip Rivers finished the season in the top ten in completion percentage (68%) and passing yards (4,169).

He became the Colts’ offensive coordinator in 2021. That year, Indianapolis finished second in the NFL in rushing yards per game (149.4) and yards per carry (5.1) and tied for the fifth-most rushing touchdowns (22).

Before joining the NFL ranks, Brady was an offensive coordinator in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for eight seasons.