Sports Time Radio

The new NFL season officially started on March 17th. That means all of the trades and signings you heard about before that date have now become official. I do find it odd that a league like the NFL has to have a start date for their next season, but that’s how they do it.

Like every NFL off season when teams are allowed to sign free agent the action gets hot and heavy. In what came as a surprise to a lot of people this off season the New England Patriots where one of the most active teams in free agency. After a down 2020 season the Patriots had some holes to fill and they wasted absolutely no time find the players they wanted in free agency and getting them signed.

Now of course since it is the Patriots we’re talking about there where quite a few people who criticized the moves they made, but I guess we shouldn’t be surprised by that.

New England landed the top two tight ends on the free agent market. First the Patriots signed Jonnu Smith to a four year $50 million dollar deal. Then the next day New England inked tight end Hunter Henry to a three year $37.5 million dollar deal. Now I heard a lot of people who get paid to talk about this kind of stuff on television take shots at the Patriots for signing two tight ends. I guess these people forgot about the success that New England had when they found ways to use Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez on the field together.

I understand that the thing to do is take shots at the Patriots any chance you get, but this one didn’t make a lot of sense to me. You also have to remember that Henry has never played a full season in his five year NFL career. I guess these analysts also forgot that Smith missed about a game and a half last season due to injury.

Maybe I missed this memo, but do NFL teams no longer carry more than one tight end on the roster. Going into to training camp last season the Chicago Bears actually had nine or ten tight ends listed on their roster.

I’m hoping there’s someone out there that can explain the thinking behind taking shots at the Patriots for these moves. Is it anything more that it’s the Patriots and they’ve been good for so long that people just want to find ways to tear them down.

Now tight end wasn’t the only offensive skill position were the Patriots brought in multiple players. New England also added two wide receivers in free agency. Kendrick Bourne signed a three year $15 million dollar deal while Nelson Agholor agreed to a two year $22 million dollar deal. It also appears as New England is going to go with Cam Newton as their quarterback again. Newton was signed to a one year $5.1 million dollar extension by the Patriots.

Now it wasn’t just offense the Patriots where after during this free agent signing spree. They also added one of the best pass rusher available in the free agent market. New England added Matthew Judon on a four year $54 million dollar deal. Judon is a two-time Pro Bowler and has 34 1/2 career sacks with 6 of those sacks coming last season as a member of the Baltimore Ravens.

Now of course no one can tell how these signings will work out, but it appears as though most people are hoping that they all fall flat on New England. I’m not a fan of the Patriots, but I also don’t root against them either; so I find it odd that people who actually get paid to talk about the NFL actually come off as rooting against a certain team.

It appears as these moves all make sense for New England and they need them to work out as they’re in a division with the Buffalo Bills who look like they’re in a position to win again. Then there’s also the Miami Dolphins who improved greatly last season and if Tua Tagovailoa improves as their starting quarterback they’ll be a contender in the AFC East as well.

What do you think about the free agent singings the Patriots made? I’d also be interested to know if you’re a fan of the Patriots? Or if you’re someone who wants to see them fail?

The NCAA men’s basketball tournament started yesterday and I’m sure to no one’s surprise there where some upsets on Day 1. A couple of the bigger upsets involved two Big Ten teams as #2 seeded Ohio St. fell to 15th seeded Oral Roberts 75-72 in overtime. Also in overtime #4 seeded Purdue dropped it’s game to 13th seeded North Texas 78-69.

Those weren’t the only two first day upsets. Here are some other lower seeded teams that got past higher seeded teams on the first day of tournament action.

I’m not even sure if it’s an upset anymore when a 12th seed beats a 5th seed, but 12th seeded Oregon State beat 5th seeded Tennessee 70-56. As a #10 seed Rutgers was able to get past #7 seeded Clemson 60-56. 11th seeded Syracuse beat #6 seeded San Diego St. 78-62 and a lot of people had San Diego St. as their lower seeded team that would make a tournament run.

Will have to see how the rest of the first round goes today and if there are any more upsets.

One final question for you. How does your bracket look after just one day?

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You can also find me on Twitter @Burketime