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This is Free Range with Von Miller, the podcast where I step outside the lines and I take you with me. Each week, we're talking everything from the biggest stories around the league to the biggest stories off the field. This isn't your average sports podcast. This is game meets culture, locking room meets living room, and no topic is off limits.
So if you're into good conversations that ruffle a few feathers, join me every Wednesday and follow Free Range with Von Miller everywhere you get your podcast. It is the JR Sport Reshow here with you coast to coast. On the Infinity Sports Network New England Patriots They got a record now of nine and two. The New England Patriots They got a winning season. They will have a winning season for the first time since 2021.
The New England Patriots have a quarterback. And who could be and is competing for MVP? The New England Patriots have one of the best head coaches and Mike Vrabel. Tell me if you've ever heard this story before. To talk about the Patriots and what they're doing now, as opposed to what has taken place over the past few years, is someone you could hear on WEEI and Boston.
Welcome back to the show, Tom Carroll. Tom, how are you, man? What's going on, man? The football team in New England is good again. What do you know?
I know. I mean, what you got a great quarterback. You got a great coach. Nobody has a name Brady. Nobody has a name Belichick.
Everybody in New England must be floating on Cloud Nine right now. I mean, yeah, they beat the Jets last night, but what's the level of optimism surrounding this team right now? From the fans, it's sky high. I think there is an expectation now that this team could go on a run in the postseason, whether that means an AFC championship game, whether that means a Super Bowl appearance. I mean, it sounds crazy to say if you think about where this team was back in January firing Gerard Mayo.
But That's the reality of the situation. They're the first team in the NFL to get to nine wins And their schedule shakes out in a way that's going to allow them to keep stacking wins here. Down the stretch. And I know that the scheduled talk around the Patriots has gotten kind of tired here locally. But it's just a fact.
And I don't think that the Patriots need to apologize for having a week schedule. I think they should be celebrated for taking advantage of a week schedule. No no doubt about that. You can only beat who's in front of you. And I mean, even last night, the I know Patriot fans are used to seeing this, the Patriots going out there and beating up.
When the New York Jets were being joined by Tom Carroll from WEEI in Boston, I think one thing a lot of folks didn't necessarily expect, in just year number two, Drake May is in the MVP conversation. I know he started off this week of the NFL season, but he's first in yards. He's tied for second in touchdowns with two. He's not turning the football over. I mean, what do you credit to this progression for him?
Did anybody see this coming?
So I think it's a combination of things. I think there's a reason why the guy was the number three overall pick in the draft. And there's a reason why going into that final year at North Carolina, people were saying he could be number two or even number one. Over Caleb Williams. And then the season shook out kind of weird for May at North Carolina.
And I know there was an OC change and it just wasn't what it was the year before.
So he dipped just slightly to number three.
So He's living up to the hype from a draft pick standpoint already. And you add in the fact that he has all of this physical talent that is now being unlocked by Josh McDaniels. You add in the fact that you have a guy in Mike Vrabel who clearly has tapped into something with May here as far as getting his confidence to a point where he he feels like he is the best player on the field. while also striking that balance of, hey, we got to make smart decisions. And Look, you've seen it.
outside of week one that the guy has been money He's got an incredibly high completion percentage. He's not throwing interceptions. very few fumbles over the last few weeks. I mean, it's been remarkable to see how quickly he has gotten to this spot But there is precedent for this. I mean, Lamar Jackson won MVP in his second season.
Patrick Mahomes won MVP in his second season, his first as a starter.
So Like it's not all that crazy to say that Drake May is in this discussion because we've seen it in the last five, six, however many years, where guys young in their career show right away that, oh, they're going to be a legit dude in this league.
Well, Tom, I think one thing that has certainly helped him out, speaking of the youth movement, with the New England Patriots. You got Trayvon Henderson, who I mean, he had three touchdowns last night. He's been able to hold things down without Ramondre Stevenson going out there and helping out. What has this run game meant to helping support Drake May? Oh, it's been massive.
I mean, having Trayvion Henderson explode the way he has. The last couple of weeks here. And I know the yardage total wasn't crazy last night because it didn't have to be. Uh but it was efficient. And you know, the f the first X amount of weeks of the season Trayvion was not really a part of that offense in a real way, and there was all sorts of.
Discussions as to why is it because he's not picking up the pass rush effectively? Is it because he's not? picking up the playbook, whatever it was. It has seemingly clicked, and that has coincided with Ramondre being out with that toe injury. And obviously, having a strong run game is going to unlock a lot of things for you as a quarterback.
Uh his growth has been incredible to watch. And I said this in my column last night. I said it the week before as well. I feel like Trayvion Henderson might be Wally Pipping Ramondre Stevenson here. And for those that aren't aware of the reference, that was the guy that got hurt that led to Lou Gehrig getting the spot with the Yankees and not relinquishing it for however many thousands of games.
Maybe that's what's happening here. And it's not like Ramondre isn't going to be a part of the game plan when he's back, but. I think Travion is showing that is more dynamic and is capable of being that R B one. Man, you want to talk about being a part of the game plan. Stefan Diggs has has been a big part of this team.
And I guess they're winning. It's still early. We haven't heard a peep about this guy. I mean, he's he's showing up to work. He's healthy.
He just had a baby with Cardi B. I guess everything is all great in his world, huh? Yeah, it's really worked out nicely. And I know that there was.
Some thought to bringing that ego into the locker room, young team. They were worried about it. By they, I mean fans and media. But clearly the team felt like he was a guy that they could take a chance on. And it has completely paid off.
And I know that there was this thing in the spring where he was on the boat with the pink bag and. You know, there was people here locally saying, Oh, this team is thinking about cutting him. And I'm glad that didn't happen. Like. Look.
Pro athletes do things in their spare time. And Stevon Diggs had the unfortunate. Thing happened to him where someone just couldn't put their phone away, and whatever he was doing, and that. you minute situation got blasted out to the world And i those two things Him being a dynamic football player on the football field and him partying clearly. Do not have anything to do with each other right now because the guy is.
showing why he was an all pro with Buffalo when he was in his prime. I mean, he looks just as good as prime Stephon Diggs to me right now. And maybe part of that is because of the guy throwing in the football. But the mix here is really working out. It's been cool to see because.
New England fans haven't had a true go-to number one receiver here. I would say since Julian Eldman's last fully healthy season, So it's been a long time. It's been a while. Tom Carol is. Listen up, football fans.
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Gain super flings. Gain super flings for next level laundry. This is Free Range with Von Miller, the podcast where I step outside the lines and I take you with me. Each week, we're talking everything, from the biggest stories around the league to the biggest stories off the field. This isn't your average sports podcast.
This is game meets culture, locker room meets living room, and no topic is off limits.
So if you're into good conversations that ruffle a few feathers, join me every Wednesday and follow Free Range with Von Miller, everywhere you get your podcast. Here with us covers all things, New England Patriots. If we take a look at the defensive side of the ball, I know last night, and we just talked about the Philadelphia Eagles before you joined us. We know that you guys are certainly benefiting from having Milton Williams on the field helping to slow down things in the middle. Unfortunately, I know he's hurt right now dealing with that ankle injury.
But you also just got Christian Gonzalez back. I know that the defensive backs and stopping opposing wide receivers has certainly been an issue. What's your confidence level in this Patriots' defense if they can ever get everybody on the field at the same time?
So, the thing with the Milton Williams injury that is encouraging for Patriots fans. is that Vrable said postgame, like, look, i if He needed to get Milton Williams back out there last night. He probably could have gone, but it was a situation where he just feels like he didn't have to push it. And you know, short rest, four days between games. Let him go into the mini by getting as much rest as possible, and then he can come out against Cincinnati.
In week 12, and be fully ready to go because Milton Williams arguably has been the best player on this defense. this season. I mean, he has been an absolute beast in the middle there and is part of the reason why This New England defense has been one of the best against the run in the entire NFL so far. I think for a long time they had a streak of allowing. Like less than 50 yards rushing to running backs.
I don't have the stat in front of me, but it's. It's been really impressive to watch that guy cook. Um but this defense the only thing that's really troublesome I would say is the fact that on the first possession for the opposing team, I think it's like three of the last four weeks they've put points on the board. And if you look over the course of the 11 games, it it's more times than just the three of the last four weeks too. I mean, it's Again, I don't have the stat in front of me, but I can remember back against the Raiders in week one.
And You know. for the Patriots defensive part.
So it's that opening drive script that these teams seemingly have figured out against the past. if they can figure out a way to get over that slow start, they'll be able to be in a position to win these games by even more. And once you actually start to play real competition in the postseason. That's going to be really important because you don't want to go down seven nothing against Kansas City. You don't want to go down.
Seven or eight, nothing against Baltimore if Baltimore can get into the postseason. Like that, those aren't the type of situations you want to be in. No, Tom, we know that the Patriots have one of the best coaches now, and Mike Vrabel back in the organization. It's Tom as coach and his first year as head coach. You talked about the postseason, and this is a dirty thing to say to a good portion of our listeners.
Do you think these patriots Could win a Super Bowl this year. Yeah. Oh man, man, man. Knocking on wood. I mean, yeah.
Like, if you're in the hunt, then you can absolutely win a Super Bowl. And I don't think that this season should be looked at as a failure if they don't. But It's just a fact of life. Like they're among the best teams in the AFC right now. They're going to have a top seed.
If they get the number one seed, they get one of the they get one of only two buys that anyone gets in the postseason for either conference.
So that's already just a couple wins away from being in the big game. And then once you get there, Anything could happen.
So like I say why not? Why not? Yeah, I mean, oof, what a turnaround it's been. Hey, final question for you, Tom. This team has been in the doldrums post Tom Brady at the end of Belichick, post Belichick.
What's the biggest difference you see in this organization now that we have Vraebel in pretty much running the ship?
So it's twofold for me. One is just the fact that they have an elite quarterback again, just can't be. Understated. It's one of the guys. That is going to help you win ball games here.
Like when you have a top five, top eight quarterback. you have a real chance. to be a Super Bowl contender. And so they have that again, which is massive. And then the second part of that is that Vrabel came in.
and completely gutted this thing. I mean, it's a completely new Head coaching, coaching staff across the board, lots of guys with a lot of experience. And He cleaned house as far as guys that were sort of a part of that old regime. He got rid of Jabril Peppers, he got rid of Kyle Duggar, he got rid of Keon White, he got rid of. Jonathan Jones.
He got rid of. All sorts of guys from that defense, like the holdovers from Bill Belichick. And he brought in. All these free agents That they had familiarity with. Like, he's the guy that gave Robert Spillane his first job in the NFL.
Uh you know, all of these coaches have little connections here and there. to these players that they brought in.
So it was like he was bringing in known commodities. And it has all worked. And the overpay for Milton Williams isn't looking like an overpay right now. The giraffe pick. uh at of will campbell It looks like it's hitting, and they needed a left tackle, right?
And he's been serviceable.
So it's just like. He had the magic touch when it came to roster building and building out that coaching staff in a way that Gerard Mayo just like wasn't going to be capable of because he had never been anywhere else in his career. He had been insulated here in New England. He didn't have a Rolodex. He couldn't surround himself with uh experienced coaches to help him in that year one.
So it was the perfect mix of May being ready to ascend and then Vrabel. surrounding him with that infrastructure that could help him ascend.
Well, it looks like the Patriots are back to ascending. You get knocked down and you get back up. Deja Vu, the Patriots have one of the best head coaches and once again, one of the best quarterbacks in the entire NFL. Let's see what they do the rest of the season. I mean, to open up this week, they already have the best record, knocking off the Jets with a 9-2 record and an eight-game winning streak.
Let's see how long they're going to roll as we get into the deep, deep depths of the regular season and postseason. Tom, always a pleasure. Tell everybody where they can follow you and all your work on WEEI and elsewhere. Yeah, so you can read me on WeEI.com and you can follow me on every social media platform at your boy T C Fresh. That's Y A B O I T C Fresh.
Hey, Tom, we appreciate you. We'll catch you soon. And congratulations to everybody up there. I mean, hey, the Patriots are back and the Celtics are down, so you got to take it where you can. Wow, cheap shot on the way out there.
All right, Jay. All right, see how it is. You can't have everything, right? It's not that you can't have it all. I don't know.
I remember the last decade or so when we did have it all, and it was pretty sweet. Yeah, nothing lasts forever, Tom.
Okay, we'll catch you soon, all right? True. Thanks, AR. Thank you so much to Tom Cow for joining us from WEEI. Can't have it all.
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This is Free Range with Vaughn Miller, the podcast where I step outside the lines and I take you with me. Each week, we're talking everything, from the biggest stories around the league to the biggest stories off the field. This isn't your average sports podcast. This is game meets culture, locker room meets living room, and no topic is off limits.
So if you're into good conversations that ruffle a few feathers, join me every Wednesday and follow Free Range with Vaughn Miller, everywhere you get your podcast. With stays under $250 a night, Virbo makes it easy to celebrate sweater weather. Book a cabin with leaf views or a home with a fire pit for nights with friends. With stays under $250 a night, find a home for your exact needs. Book now at Virbo.com.
