Tag: Ross Tucker

69 days till Patriots season opener: Every player to wear No. 69 for New England

Here’s a list of every Patriots player to wear the No. 69 jersey number.

With another week in the books, the New England Patriots are 69 days away from their regular season opener against the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles on September 10.

We’re counting down the days until kickoff by listing every Patriots player that has ever worn the No. 69 jersey number.

There have only been eight for New England with second-year offensive guard Cole Strange donning the number currently. The 2022 NFL first-round draft pick is expected to help fortify an offensive line group that imploded last season, along with the rest of the Patriots’ offense.

Two-time Super Bowl champion Shaq Mason is another former Patriot that wore No. 69 and made a major impact for the team. With those two players in mind, let’s take a look at every player that has ever worn No. 69 throughout New England’s franchise history.

Former player ranks Ron Rivera in the middle of the pack of NFL head coaches

Where would you rank Rivera among the rest of the NFL’s head coaches?

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When you hear the name Ross Tucker these days, the first thing that comes to your mind is the “Ross Tucker Football Podcast.” Tucker actually has several podcasts and has hosted shows on SiriusXM NFL Radio, the “Dan Patrick Show,” while also calling NFL and college games. Tucker has done much more; that’s just a brief snapshot of his media work.

Tucker played in the NFL, too. The seven-year veteran began his career with the then-Washington Redskins in 2001. Tucker spent two stints in Washington, and his career ended in 2007.

Tucker has also written for multiple sites, including The 33rd Team. The former NFL offensive lineman recently ranked all 32 head coaches and listed Andy Reid and Bill Belichick as No. 1 and No. 2.

No controversy there, right?

Where was Ron Rivera of the Washington Commanders? Tucker has Rivera ranked No. 19, offering the following analysis of the Washington head coach.

Analysis: Rivera is a good football coach and a better man, but the Washington Commanders‘ seeming commitment to mediocrity isn’t helping his cause for lists like this.

Ranking Rivera No. 19 seems about right. In three seasons with Washington, Rivera has a 22-27-1 record. In Tucker’s comment that the Commanders were committed to mediocrity, well, it should be pointed out that Rivera has had complete control of the football operation since before the 2020 season.

That’s not a knock on Rivera. As Bill Parcells once said, “You are what your record says you are.” And Rivera has acted as coach and general manager during his time in Ashburn.

Now, Rivera enters a critical fourth season in charge of the Commanders, and he’ll have a new owner. It’s not an unusual situation for Rivera, who was head coach of the Panthers during an ownership change.

LOOK. Even in defeat, Ohio State gets to watch Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh get trolled

A former NFL player used Ohio State basketball’s shocking loss to Oral Roberts to dunk hard on Jim Harbaugh’s record vs. the Buckeyes.

Ohio State is out of the NCAA Tournament in shocking fashion, becoming just the ninth No. 2 seed to be ousted in the first round by a No. 15 seed in the history of all the madness. And while credit must be given to Oral Roberts for making just enough plays to win Friday night, there’s no doubt there are some extremely disappointed Buckeye players, staff, coaches — and yes — fans.

But, if you want to feel just a wee bit better about things, why not revel in some deflective trolling of the arch-rival to boost your spirits? And the funny thing is that it didn’t even come from a Buckeye personality or player. In fact, it wasn’t tied to Ohio State at all.

Just after the Buckeyes fell to the Golden Eagles, former NFL player and media personality Ross Tucker dunked all over Michigan football and head coach Jim Harbaugh.

“Oral Roberts has more wins over Ohio State than Jim Harbaugh,” tweeted Tucker.

Mr. Khakis and hat-with-a-suit-wearing is still looking for his first win over Ohio State, thus far going 0-5 against a Buckeye program that seems to have his number in every way possible.

Good on you Tucker.

As for Ohio State fans, does this make you feel any better?

NFL Analyst says there’s ‘no doubt’ Doug Pederson is a top 5 head coach

Ross Tucker says there’s ‘no doubt’ Doug Pederson is a top 5 coach

Doug Pederson didn’t come from coaching royalty and similar to his journey as a player, the Eagles head coach has built his resume from the ground up.

Pederson is one of seven active NFL coaches that have won a Super Bowl ring, yet he’s constantly fighting for respect in a league where the innovation and youth are all the rage in the coaching ranks.

Former NFL offensive linemen and current analyst, Ross Tucker was asked about Pederson and where he ranks among NFL coaches today.

“There is no doubt, he’s a top-five head coach in the NFL,” Tucker said Thursday during his “Tucker’s Takes” segment on WFAN’s Odds on Sports. “He is an absolute stud. They all like him, everyone on the team likes him, and he’s proven himself; when it really has been time for the Eagles to win, especially late in the year, he has gotten it done.”

Asked what Pederson’s most consistent trait is as a head coach, Tucker pointed to the Eagles head coach having the unique ability to adapt to any situation or circumstance.

“Think about this: in 2017, they lose their MVP-caliber quarterback – that’s how well Carson Wentz was playing – and Nick Foles comes in and they win the Super Bowl, including beating Brady and Belichick in the Super Bowl,” Tucker said. “The next year, Wentz goes down again, Foles comes in, they win another playoff game, and if Alshon Jeffery doesn’t drop a pass in New Orleans, they’re probably in the NFC Championship Game. Last year, Wentz stayed healthy but everyone else got hurt, and he still finds a way to win a division, and make it three straight years of playoff berths.”

That continuity and Pederson’s ability to relate with and lead fully grown men is a huge reason why the Eagles are considered favorites to repeat in the NFC East.

New Seahawks LB Jordyn Brooks draws comparisons to Bobby Wagner

The Seattle Seahawks used their first round pick to select Texas Tech linebacker Jordyn Brooks, who has drawn comparisons to Bobby Wagner.

The Seattle Seahawks used their original first round pick for the first time since 2011, selecting Texas Tech linebacker Jordyn Brooks at No. 27 overall.

Brooks is an inside linebacker who is excellent at stuffing the run, displaying above average speed and a nose for the football.

However – he has deficiencies in pass coverage, which could be a limiting factor in Seattle’s 4-3 base defensive sets.

If the Seahawks drafting a relatively unheralded inside linebacker with speed and elite tackling – and the pick getting met by lots of criticism – sounds familiar, it’s probably reminding you of 2012 when the Seahawks took a little known linebacker from Utah State – Bobby Wagner.

In fact, prior to Brooks’ selection, many analysts had already compared him to Wagner.

Brooks is likely ticketed as a replacement for K.J. Wright at weakside linebacker, at least for now, but it is entirely possible he develops for a few years under Wagner and takes over in the middle when the time comes.

I’m sure Seattle fans wouldn’t mind that outcome.

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