Necessary Roughness with Kisha is a sports blog that focuses on football, both college and professional. However, no topic is off limits.

Posts Tagged ‘pats’

 
Feb
25
2012

1

Breaking the ice, Gronk style

 

When football season is over, there is a massive part of me that feels somewhat lost. I tend to hang on to any sort of Patriots news that I can find and just ponder on it for a bit in hopes that it’ll make the offseason go by a little faster. Thanks to my friend Kristyn, who currently works for the Worcester Sharks, for giving me something to enjoy on a rainy Friday night.

Back in November, I remember seeing this on the Sharks’ Facebook page:

Best idea for an AHL game…except the ever-awesome Star Wars nights.

Like I said, it was back in November and I totally forgot about it. Thank goodness for Facebook. Kristyn so kindly reminded me and for $11 a ticket, how could I say no to something Patriots..even if it is an hour away.

We left Providence just at 6 pm and made it there for 6:50 pm. Yeah, it was pretty impressive considering it was down pouring and people were driving like we were in the middle of a hurricane.

When we finally made it to the DCU Center, the lobby was a zoo.

I’ve never seen so many people at an AHL game. Kristyn later tells me that it’s the biggest crown they’ve had a Worcester Sharks game since the teams’ inception in 2006. Gronk memorabilia was on hand for people to buy and I also found out that some people paid some big bucks to attend a meet and greet with Gronk and also get a photo signed. Listening to the season ticket holders sitting around us, they seemed pretty happy to see so many people show up to a Sharks game… “Even if it is for another player… from another sport…from another team.”

As expected, a good amount of the local media was present, probably more than ever.

I joked earlier in the week that Gronk would most likely be spiking this puck while on crutches… I was half right.

Gronkowski was escorted onto the ice via in the bed of a truck that paraded him around the entire rink for all the fans. He was even sporting his own #87 Gronkowski Sharks jersey that was later auctioned off for charity.

Here is the video of his intro and spiking awesomeness:

The best part was that Gronk hobbled off the truck, grabbed the puck and spiked it so hard that …

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Jan
13
2012

0

It’s a Patriots video extravaganza!

 

It’s getting close to game time folks, and I can barely control myself. Not gonna lie, my good friend Kristyn offered me a chance to buy tickets to the Patriots and Broncos game on Saturday and although I was wicked tempted, the responsible Kisha said nay. So to all you lucky fans out there braving the cold and wind at Gillette on Saturday, have a blasty-blast and make lots of noise.

During my drive to work, I get a chance to listen to the magic that is Boston sports radio. Other than getting to know Greg Stiemsma (who is actually a pretty interesting guy), this week has been full of Tebow, Broncos and good vs evil talk.  For the most part, I was ok with. Heck, it’s been pretty exciting having everyone in New England hyping up this game and even though logistically, the Patriots should win, there’s still that small thought in my head that thinks, “I mean, it IS Tim Tebow…” and that’s the part that makes this game so exciting.

In honor of tomorrow’s sure-to-be-suspenseful game, I’ve decided to compile a list of some of my favorite Patriots highlights. Watch, cheer and get pumped, we’ve got some Broncos to beat.

Benjamin Watson’s tackle prevented a Champ Bailey touchdown
If this video doesn’t get you pumped up, I don’t know what will. Always a great video to watch when you feel like giving up.

Vince Wilfork’s First Career Interception
I was both exciting and laughing the entire time this was happening. I couldn’t believe the big guy not only got an interception but he RAN IT back!

Top Ten Bad Weather Games: #7 The Snow Bowl
Gotta give props to my friend PatsPropaganda for posting this video. Although the weather won’t be bad tomorrow, this gives us glimpse of how things were in Foxboro Stadium. So much snow!

Patriots Annihilate Titans in 45-0 beating
This is one of the last games I worked at Gillette Stadium and you can only imagine how surprised everyone was when the dusting started. The stadium and the game was absolutely beautiful.

Wes Welker kicks a field goal
The Patriots are team of multi-talented players.  When Stephen Gostkowski was injured and with no back-up kicker in sight, wide receiver Wes Welker stepped up and took care of kickoffs and extra points. It wasn’t pretty but it was quite adorable. Here’s to adjusting to the needs …

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Nov
28
2011

3

Patriots, Eagles and the Honey Badger

 

Phew.

I swear, sometimes life doesn’t understand that I’ve got a blog to take care of. Geeesh. Sorry for the delay everyone, a door closed in my professional life and a new one opened rather quickly (I was very lucky!) and here I am getting back to some killer blogging.

Sunday night’s game was awesome. Not for the Eagles of course, but as a die-hard Patriots fan, it’s tough not to get too excited. With Tom Brady finally getting into a groove with his receivers (Deion Branch had six catches for 125 yards and Wes Welker had eight catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns!) and the running game also having a solid showing, there’s plenty to be happy about.

By the way, do you enjoy going through the Gamebook as much as I do? If you haven’t seen it yet, feast your eyes on THIS.

I have to admit, this new Patriots trend of a slow start then just making the opposition look silly in the second half makes the game so much more exciting to watch. Sure, I’d like to see the Patriots completely dominate but the part of me that loves the underdog in everything LOVES the comebacks. The only problem, how long can you play the underdog card AND win?

Everyone thought that the Eagles game could be the one game that the Patriots could give up without really having any major consequences. But how did they manage on Sunday? Beating the Eagles 38-20.

I found a really interesting article from Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston about how the Patriots made it a little bit easier for lineman-turned-center Ryan Wendell. It was Ryan’s first game as a center and as Forsberg mentioned, the noise level at Lincoln Financial Field is a little intimidating.

To ease his duties, the Patriots employed a subtle, but somewhat unique approach in Sunday’s game. During shotgun snaps where the team operated with a silent count, veteran right guard Brian Waters would stare back at quarterback Tom Brady until he got the sign that the offense was set, then he would tap Wendell with his left arm to initiate the snap.

This is a great example of how the Patriots adjust to, not necessarily the needs of a certain player, but more so the needs of the team as whole is what prevents this team from failure. The ability to adjust, improve and …

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Nov
12
2011

0

Ross Ventrone: He’s Baaaaaaack…..Again

 



Ross Ventrone.

A name that most of Patriot Nation has probably heard of. Not because he’s some free agent looking to make a new start in New England or even because he’s veteran who just wants to win.

Nope.

The reason why Ross Ventrone sounds familiar is that the Villanova grad has been in a on again, off again relationship with the Patriots Practice and Active Roster.

Even his stat sheet on Pro-Football-Reference looks a little sad.

I remember when I first saw the 5-foot-8-inches defensive back on the practice field. He wasn’t half bad. But it was also the time when it seemed like the Patriots were putting together a band of players who were no taller than 5’10.

When he was first signed by the Patriots in 2010, it seemed as though he was following the footsteps of his older brother Ray Ventrone, who has now found a home with the Cleveland Browns. But as it turns out, Ross would be involved in 19 transactions with the Patriots.

Check out how the New England Patriots section of his Professional Career section on Wikipedia reads:

New England Patriots

After going undrafted in the 2010 NFL Draft, Ventrone was signed by the New England Patriots on April 29, 2010. He played in the team’s preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints before being waived on August 15. He was re-signed on August 23, and played in the team’s final two preseason games before being waived during final cuts on September 4. He was signed to the Patriots’ practice squad on October 19, 2010. He was re-signed to a future contract for the 2011 season on January 18, 2011, played in one game on Sept 24, 2011, and was cut Oct. 1, 2011. [1] Ventrone was signed to the practice squad on October 4, 2011. He was promoted to the active roster on October 8. He was waived on October 17, only to be re-signed on October 19 and cut again on November 5, 2011.

…oh and he was signed again today, November 12.
Someone better alert the Ross Ventrone Wikipedia page moderator.

I’m thinking there’s  something about this kid that the Patriots can’t seem to let go. Or maybe they’re just getting a little desperate on the defensive side of the ball.

Ventrone’s only tackle this year was during the week five win against the Jets. Maybe he’ll bring …

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