Boston Globe sports columnist and Boston Globe Today Sports host 📺; co-host Gasper & Murray on 98.5 The Sports Hub; college football devotee; BBQ fan; car geek
Mac Jones was barking at the officials as he came off on that third down. Now, it's obvious why after NBC showed a replay. Danielle Hunter had a hold of Mac's facemask on that last throw, no call. That's a significant missed call.
Tom Brady isn't the only one changing teams after 20 years. I'm thrilled to be joining
@WCVB
. It's a great new chapter in my career. I can't wait to work with all of my esteemed new colleagues at Ch. 5, and I'm forever grateful to all my Globe colleagues for a great two decades.
We're THRILLED to welcome Christopher Gasper to the WCVB team as a sports reporter for SportsCenter 5, joining Duke Castiglione, Bob Halloran, and Mike Lynch.
Gronk back to the Bucs and now Bourne to the Pats... I don't think it's a coincidence that the two most aggressive and active teams this offseason have been the Patriots and the Bucs. It never ends...Brady vs. Belichick.
Reality check for those offended that the Celtics hired a black head coach: Udoka paid his dues as an assistant for 9 seasons. He's an excellent candidate regardless of race. Udoka has more experience coaching NBA players than Brad Stevens did when he was hired by the Celtics...
And…I’m back! It’s great to be going home. I’m returning to the Globe as a sports columnist, and I could not be more thrilled. Congrats to my brother
@GwashburnGlobe
on being promoted to sports columnist as well. As Kyrie Irving once said, “It’s going to be crazy, G!”
So, I wonder if all the KC fans who complained about the OT rules and the need to change them in the 2018 season playoffs are going to make the same arguments now. I seriously doubt it.
Nothing defines what's wrong with this edition of the Patriots more than giving DeVante Parker, who took little responsibility for not making a deep-ball catch he could've come up with on the final drive, a contract extension and not paying enough to keep Jakobi Meyers.
So much for “The Celtics are just going to run it back.” Instead it’s seismic change for the Cs. Good on Brad Stevens for seeing past the sentiment to try to build a team better equipped to raise Banner 18. Now, leadership truly belongs to Tatum and Brown. They must run with it.
I cycle, so I’m definitely not anti-bike. But why do cyclists think they are entitled to use the sidewalk and the street and bike lanes and their bike paths? It’s a bit much. Too many have no regard for pedestrians. I had a guy yell at me to move over when using the cross-WALK.
First video that the NFL Network shows of DT Travis Jones, the Ravens third-round pick, is him walking Cole Strange, the Patriots first-rounder, back to the QB at the Senior Bowl during practice reps with ease.
It never should have ended this way for Tom Brady. The biggest icon in Boston sports history should have been a career-long quarterback keeper. But Brady is leaving the Patriots because Bill Belichick pushed him to his breaking point and pushed him away.
I’ve gotten a lot of questions on this aspect of my career move to
@WCVB
, a move I’m incredibly thrilled about. Yes, I will still be doing “Gasper & Murray” with
@bigjimmurray
on Saturdays. Thx. See you tomorrow with Big Jim at 10 am.
There are no words. Nick was a legendary journalist, but an even better person. He was hard-working, well-connected, and witty. He always had time to help and advise his colleagues. He was a great story-teller who made you laugh. My deepest condolences to his family. RIP, Nick.
The Steelers are the worst situational football team I've ever seen. What was that last kickoff? On the final drive every throw must go into the end zone. What was that WR screen to Antonio Brown? I've defended Mike Tomlin's coaching, but today was indefensibly poor coaching. ...
Let’s just get one thing straight: calling for immediate change and reform that lessens the likelihood of sickening gun massacres is not “politicizing” a tragedy. It’s trying to prevent the next one. The “politicizing” trope is a disingenuous recrimination used by do-noting pols.
Feels like this was the inevitable outcome for Beasley. He’ll miss the biggest game of the year for his team. The one thing I’ll say is at least he has owned his stance and didn’t say he was “immunized” or get a fake vaccination card.
Serious question: Why are the Patriots burning all these trick-play looks against the Jets? They don't need these plays to score against them and could probably really use them against some other teams on the schedule. Why empty the playbook now?
When we talk about systematic racism and how it manifested economic disparities this is right at the top of the list. If you thought Colin Kaepernick “disrespected” our military veterans, look at how Black vets were treated and excluded after WWI and WWII.
Bucs GM Jason Licht, when asked by
@NFLSTROUD
, doesn't say whether he has approached Tom Brady about a contract extension, but, "We would love to have Tom play here for as long as he wants to play."
This is my guy. I think he's the most likely Dak Prescott or Russell Wilson in this draft, in terms of guys that are drafted beyond the first round and turn out to be franchise QBs.
Tony Brown, NBA official, personally tipping the scales of justice one call at a time. Oh, by the way, the Celtics have attempted 32 free-throws in this game to the Bucks' 32. Some nice cosmetic officiating here in the fourth quarter to make it look even.
For those saying that the players who walked out on games need to do something tangible, they did. They put attention on the issue. It's up to all of us to create solutions. I'm sick of people saying athletes have to have the answers. No. We as a society bear that responsibility.
Charlie, no disrespect, but what the hell are you talking about? Like many Americans, you are clearly conflating socialism and communism. They are not interchangeable terms. Not all elements of socialism are part of communism or autocracy. Just ask Sweden, Canada, or Australia.
Call me greedy, but I still want one more WR, especially with the uncertainty regarding Julian Edelman's knee. I would take Josh Reynolds, Curtis Samuel, Marvin Jones, Manny Sanders, Breshad Perriman, Rashard Higgins or Keelan Cole. I think JuJu and Fuller want to break the bank.
The problem is people have stopped believing the truth if it doesn't align with their opinions and beliefs. The problem is the average person who knows zero about journalism thinks they're more knowledgeable, have more information, and better methods than trained professionals...
Guess who went two picks after the Patriots' ill-fated selection of kicker Justin Rohrwasser, Tyler Johnson to Tampa Bay. He would've been a nice addition at WR for the Pats, and it's not like they didn't need WRs. That's why I can't just shrug/write it off as only a 5th-Rd pick.
Wait…Mac Jones really couldn’t have thrown the ball 60-62 yards in the air to reach the end zone on a Hail Mary snapped from their 45? That’s too far, according to Belichick. I’m not saying that’s what they should’ve done, but any NFL QB can reach the end zone from there.
Love the creativity of employing Marcus Jones at WR, a position he played some in college at Houston. But what does the need to do that say about the WR you drafted in the 2nd round ahead of George Pickens? Where is he tonight?
I just recently learned of Mazz’s racially-insensitive remarks on Friday. I found them deeply disheartening and disappointing. I condemn them. There’s no place for “humor” reinforcing harmful and hurtful stereotypes about Black males being criminals. I’ve expressed such directly.
Another thought on the Patriots draft and holding myself accountable for consistency: The reality is it doesn't matter whether you trade up or trade down or overdraft a player as long as they can play. The idea of the draft isn't to get "value." It's to get good players...
Happy Father's Day to my Dad, William Gasper. He's a man with an indefatigable work ethic and a dutiful and fastidious planner who is obsessed with getting every detail right. But even better, he's a selfless problem-solver who is always there for his kids. Always. Thanks, Dad.
Just a reminder,
#TomBrady
and your World Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be at Gillette Stadium next season to face Jimmy G and the Patriots. Should be fun. (Ok, I'm willing that last part to happen.) But the Bucs have at New England on their 2021 sked. Brady vs. BB for real.
Really? Brady's screaming didn't seem to affect Tyler Johnson, a rookie who had one of the biggest catches of the season for the Buccaneers in the playoffs. He also didn't seem to negatively affect Rob Gronkowski or Aaron Hernandez as rookies either. Funny how it works that way.
And that’s what’s wrong with relying on analytics. They rely on a large sample size and don’t take into account the human element, momentum, and emotion in a pressure game. That fourth-down put the defibrillator paddles to the 49ers. Just take the FG.
Analytics for the…loss.
I'm not an advocate of taunting generally and that was dumb, but Hill did the deuces big-time to Winfield and the Bucs on a long TD in the first game. It appears Winfield has a long memory.
Dude still doesn't get his respect. People geek out over other lesser Celtics who play lesser roles. He drops 40 in a playoff game and people want to just focus on his turnovers after. No one on the team improves more year to year than JB, and he's not done. Give him his respect.
Brown was booed by Celtics fans on draft night. He’s routinely seen his name in trade rumors. Now, Boston can’t win these Finals unless he’s the best version of himself.
“Even when casual fans thought they were crazy for not trading me for X, Y and Z, Danny and Brad knew.”
@cgasper
Hey Chris, love your work, but referring to Patriots QB’s as “milk toast” is beneath you. You are a wordsmith, you don’t need to live in the race card.
This is the thing about civil rights and social justice protests that a lot of people miss or don't understand. The protesting isn't against America. It's not anti-America. It's for a better America. It's pro-America.
I don't get Josh McDaniels's obsession with getting the ball to Rex Burkhead. Nice player, but you have other options at that position, like James White.
Official
#ThePath
concession speech tweet
@bigjimmurray
. It was a valiant campaign, but it wasn’t meant to be this year. The Patriots offense is simply too inept. Their Path to the end zone turned out to be more narrow than
#ThePath
to the playoffs itself. I’m endorsing
@TomBrady
.
Mac takes those completions too often on third and long. It's empty calories for his completion percentage. It looks good on paper at the end of the game for QB stats, but it's useless to the team.
Ugh, I hope not. No one should be trying to cancel Zo. That's asinine. He's a great guy. We all have communication slip-ups, especially when you talk for a living. I'm not a big fan of cancelling people in general. If Cam is inaccurate, it's because he's inaccurate. Not dancing.
Bad choice of words by the Giants. "Most qualified..." You could've said right fit for the job or best suited to be our head coach, being that they wanted an offensive coach to fix Daniel Jones. But there's no way Daboll, who has never been an HC, is more "qualified" than Flores.
Bravo, Bill. This is excellent. This is clearly a time to exercise "In Bill We Trust." Listen to Belichick, all. Control what you can control. Adjust and adapt to the opponent. Keep stringing good days together. Do Your Job, by staying home, and take No Days Off from distancing.
This is false. Prince singing "Purple Rain" in the rain in Miami Gardens at Super Bowl XLI was superior to Springsteen. It's not even close. I was at both. There have only been two Super Bowl halftime acts:
1. Prince
2. Not Prince
I think the NFL is more fun when Emmanuel Sanders is a Patriot. I know, I know, salary cap space is an obstacle. I'm just hoping it can be maneuvered in a variety of ways like BB once said.
Very thoughtful statement from Bill Belichick on his decision not to move forward with being presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom this week. He mentions the social justice meetings the Patriots had on Mondays this season.
Super Bowl LV is a no-win for the Patriots. Either Brady wins a Super Bowl in another uniform and without Belichick or the Chiefs and Andy Reid become the first team and coach since Belichick and the 2003-04 Patriots to repeat.
Folks make mistakes talking on air extemporaneously for 4 hours daily. I have. There’s a difference between consistently and intentionally expressing racist ideas on air and making an unfortunate remark. I know an in poor taste joke isn’t who Mazz is at all. He’s still a friend.
Chapo, open your DMs, so I can respond to you calling me an Uncle Tom. I promise I'll use the third-grade words you know and not confuse you. Also, let me know when you're free. I need somebody to park my car.
This is a bad look for Jaylen. Period. Blanket support of Kyrie at this point as a friend or NBPA colleague, is just unwise. Not taking the time to ascertain who the group was before echoing their "support" for Kyrie's return was just irresponsible, no matter the intentions, IMO.
Celtics Jaylen Brown on his tweets from last night.
“I saw a large group of people from our community showing support for (Kyrie) and his return. Me being proud of that support does not mean I endorse or celebrate some of the things that were being done or being said”
I'm petrified watching Josh Allen play this well against the Patriots. Him struggling against Belichick was the last shred of normalcy I was clinging to in 2020. I'm stunned.
Always nice to lose a game and take two of your timeouts back to Boston with you. Tough. The Celtics let the skittish Sixers off the hook. The possessions at the end of regulation and OT with no TOs by Mazzulla ended with Smart 3s. Doc will take that every single time.
How is Damien Williams not the Super Bowl MVP? We should have the tech now to give the media more time to vote than the old-fashioned way of filling out a paper ballot.
I learned something today on
@FelgerAndMazz
. Not only is my good friend
@bigjimmurray
a restaurant snob, but he's an NFL QB snob. Only the very best for Jim or he's not showing up...haha.
Am alarmingly absurd and uneducated statement about US history. One of the problems in our culture today is that people are unwilling to accept the truth if it is unflattering to a particular person or persons and their behavior. The truth doesn't have to spare blame or feelings.
This answers any question about who the real coach of the Bucs is -- it's Tom Brady. He's literally teaching this team how to win during the game, trying to coax them out of their previous bad habits like poor communication and penalties. Difference-maker
No matter how this turns out, you've really got to give the Patriots a ton of credit for the way they never stopped playing and fought back in this game.
Based on data in the US, unvaccinated people are eight times as likely to get the coronavirus and experience disease symptoms, 25 times as likely to be hospitalized, and 24 times as likely to die, compared to people who are vaccinated.
Carrabis is right. This is tremendous. It's also proof that tsk tsk-ing bat flips is NOT part of baseball culture. It's part of stuffy, style-suppressing MLB baseball culture, an important distinction. MLB could be this fun, but the self-appointed Guardians of the Game forbid it.
Also, Steve Nash is an ex-player like Udoka. He spent zero years as an assistant and got a premium head coaching job. Udoka is a qualified hire, period. He worked his way up. Whether he's a good head coach or not remains to be seen, but that's true of any first-time head coach.
The Jets best execution of the half was when they sprinted to the locker room for halftime. The focus, effort, and attention to detail there was elite. They wanted off that sideline with the quickness.
Alex sums up Verdugo’s Sox career: “The Sox have spent four years hoping that Verdugo would emerge as a well above-average contributor. The totality of his work has been that of a roughly average player whose commitment to surpass that standard…has repeatedly been questioned.”
As he discussed being benched on Saturday, Alex Verdugo twice mentioned the remaining seven-week duration of the season. When he did so, it was hard not to wonder if he was also describing the remaining duration of his Red Sox tenure. via
@BostonGlobe
Just for the record, the best performance by QB who played college football at Alabama on the NFL's opening Sunday goes to... Jalen Hurts. He got the win and went 27 of 35 (77.1%) for 264 yds, 3 TDs, and 0 INTs with a 126.4 QB rating. You got to give him credit.
I don't agree with this about Felger & Mazz. I know those guys. I've worked with them since '09. They're NOT racists, no way. They're allies. I disagree with their Newton takes. That's sports talk. I disagree with how they framed Newton celebrating, it came off as a bit careless.
@cgasper
I'm so tired of his and Mazz's takes on Cam. Give the man a chance and stop making crap up. They both sound like racists with some of their comments.
What a difference it makes having a role guys who accepts his role even though he has already won a ring and is a multiple time All-Star in reality, not just in his own mind.
Jrue Holiday asked why he's not considered a superstar like Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum: "I'm a utility guy. I do what they brought me here to do...Those guys are the stars and I do whatever I can to help them."
Holiday also mentioned that Brown and Tatum play through very
Marcus Smart makes a 3-pointer. He draws a foul on the play. And the player that fouled him ... Kyrie Irving.
#Celtics
fans immediately go into a "f@#% you, Ky-rie! chant!"
The Patriots are destroying and demoralizing opponents while improving on a weekly basis. The rest of the AFC East has hit the self-destruct button. All is as it should be.
My younger brother, who is a much more talented writer than I am, is now a staff writer on the show SEAL Team. He wrote this episode. I can’t wait to see it tonight.