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21 plus only. Must be physically located in North Carolina. TNC's apply an app only. You've built a killer sports podcast. You bring the heat every week and you have a loyal audience.
But when it comes to monetizing, you're still leaving too much on the table. That's where the Odyssey Creator Lab comes in. We host your show for free. No fees, no catch. You focus on delivering the play-by-play and hot takes, and our experienced sales team goes to work bringing in ad dollars.
Let's turn those downloads into revenue. Apply now at creators.odyssey.com and start making money from your podcast. Hey there, we're Corinne Vienne and Sabrina D'Anaroga here to introduce our newest podcast, Crimes of a Crime House Original. Crimes of is a weekly series that explores a new theme each season, from Crimes of the Paranormal, Unsolved Murders, and more. Our first season is Crimes of Infamy: the true crime stories behind Hollywood's most iconic horror villains.
Listen to and follow Crimes Of, available now wherever you get your podcasts. It is the JR Sport Brief Show here with you, coast to coast. on the Infinity Sports Network. The Patriots No, they're back. Different faces, different quarterback, different coach, younger team.
They've gone through the doldrums, but right now, after beating the Giants last night or beating them bad. First team to 11 wins, 10 straight victories. You got one of the best coaches in Vrabel. You got a second-year quarterback in May who's been looked upon as an MVP candidate. And we have teams that appear to be on a little bit of a downside right now, like the Kansas City Chiefs, like the Buffalo Bills, who they're going to take on next.
And to talk about these Patriots and where they currently are, where they can go this season and beyond, it's time to have a chat with someone who covers all things Patriots on behalf of the Associated Press in Boston. Welcome to the show, Kyle Hightower. Kyle, how are you, man? How you doing, JR? I'm good.
Thank you for the time. Fans in New England had a couple of down seasons, but I guess the grass is green, the flowers are blooming. I know a snowstorm is coming, but people got to be happy up there, right? Yeah, it's like the reports of the Patriots' demise have been greatly exaggerated, right? Yeah, it didn't take long, right?
You think it was going to be a little while for these patriots to. to get back into the mix, but uh lo and behold, uh you know, uh a couple of coaching changes later and uh And offensive quarter around a young quarterback and band, the the folks and the fan of New England are right back in the mix. You look staring at uh at a at a playoff burt.
Now who would have thought in just a matter of a year that people would look at Drake May and put him in the MVP conversation? Obviously, we know that there's a different regime from a coaching standpoint. But what has been his his biggest improvements from last year to this year? I think it's all in the playbook and the technical side. You know, that first rookie season.
He had the offensive quarter and Alex Van Pelt, kind of a retread guy who hadn't really done anything major in the league coming from a down situation in Cleveland where he came from. And he's kind of the mentor of a rookie quarterback in Drake May. And this never really materialized. He didn't really progress in the playbook on the technical side of the NFL. Fast forward to this season.
You're bringing back a proven guy and Josh McDaniels, who, of course, has had tons of success here in New England. Mentoring and developing and growing with Tom Brady, helping make him the player that he was. And it's it's just clicked for him, right? Those two as a pair, you see in the field better. He's seen you know, he's you see his progressions better.
He knows where to go with the ball. He's not panicking like he was, like a lot of rookies do, panicking like he was. As a rookie last season. And I think that's materialized into him being able to keep the field a lot better and to make good reads, make good throws. And he's playing freak.
And it's really showed up on the field and it translated into wins for the Patriots.
Well, we know someone who is out there are protecting him is Will Campbell, who's now on injured reserve. Is there a chance that we see him back at any point this season at all? Is it too early to tell? I think a bit Charlie than Kell. I mean, I mean, thankfully for him.
Um you know, it's reported as you know, uh reportedly a MCL sprain. as opposed to a you know to a full tear of one of the ligaments there. that that's on the on the positive side. Obviously, he's a guy that went around for a long time, so they're not going to push him. And the Patriots, on that note, have been very good about not pushing guys back from injury, taking care of guys.
not you know not rushing guys back into the field My inclination is they're going to be really cautious with this injury. And I think, you know, of course. There's still four games left in this season. Obviously, a playoff run is on is on the horizon. I think there's a chance he comes back, but I do think that they're they're coming up with the guys that they brought in where if they have to go the rest of the season without him, they will because they want him around for long haul.
Kyle Hightower is here with us, covers all things Patriots for the Associated Press in Boston. This is a good thing, Kyle. We really haven't heard a lot. From Stefan Diggs. And that's typically how things work.
what has he meant for the locker room? We see his girlfriend and hanging out in the owner's suite and Cardi B. Like what has Stephon Diggs meant for this offense? And then also for Drake May? I think you hit on a great point there, JR.
You know, there are a lot of questions for Stephon Davis come on and joining this Patriots team. Versus health. Coming off of knee surgery, is he going to be the same player he was, or have any hints that it was the same player he was in Buffalo, in Minnesota? Obviously they didn't really show much in through the text last year before the injury. And two, is he going to be a distraction?
Is he going to be a guy in a locker room who's disruptive? The answer to both those questions have been a little bit unexpected. He's been a great guy in the locker room amongst young players, mentoring some of the young receivers. matched very well with Drayton May. Tim and Drake May are the potato now.
And then off the field, you know, he's he's not been a traction at all. He's been a model. uh model player. You know, he's he's really you know ingratiated himself to the New England community. His teammates love him.
Your coaching staff love him. He's great with us in the meeting. He speaks his mind. He's being very open. You know, and you know, he he's living his kind of his best life in a kind of what I would say would be the unexpected location and landing spot for him, but it's all working.
And it, you know, for a guy in his eleventh Season now, this season, a veteran guy. He's embracing the role of that mentor, of that Elder Statement, while still producing on the field. He leads the team in receptions, leads the team in yards. And he started to find the end zone, which we had trouble doing early in the season.
So it's all cleaning for him at the right time, and it's a perfect time for these Patriots because they make this playoff push. Yeah, man, everything seems to be coming together for these Patriots. Kyle Hightower is here with us, covers the Patriots. This is kind of fast. I think I don't know anybody who would have said, oh my God, the Patriots would be in front of the Bills as it stands right now.
And this is a young team, and a lot of emphasis is paid attention to the names on offense, the Drake Mays, the Stephon Diggs, and whatnot. And then you got a couple of dudes on defense who are national names. Christian Gonzalez, I don't even think people pay a lot of attention to him as much as he should. What are your thoughts on this defense? Who are some players that the country is going to find out about over these next several weeks as we are on this playoff push?
I'll tell you what, last night they found out about Christmas. Listen up, football fans. You won't want to miss this. Right now, new Bet365 customers bet $5 and get $150 in bonus bets, win or lose.
So you could turn that $150 into something bigger when you bet on money loss, spread, totals, player props. $150 in bonus bets when new customers bet $5. I know where I'm going to bet from now on. Download the app today and see why it's never ordinary at Bet365. Gambling problem?
Call 1-877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov. 21 plus only. Must be physically located in North Carolina. TNC's apply an app only. You've built a killer sports podcast.
You bring the heat every week and you have a loyal audience. But when it comes to monetizing, you're still leaving too much on the table. That's where the Odyssey Creator Lab comes in. We host your show for free. No fees, no catch.
You focus on delivering the play-by-play and hot takes, and our experienced sales team goes to work bringing in ad dollars. Let's turn those downloads into revenue. Apply now at creators.odyssey.com and start making money from your podcast. Hey there, we're Corinne Vienne and Sabrina D'Anaroga here to introduce our newest podcast, Crimes of a Crime House Original. Crimes of is a weekly series that explores a new theme each season, from Crimes of the Paranormal, Unsolved Murders, and more.
Our first season is Crimes of Infamy: the true crime stories behind Hollywood's most iconic horror villains. Listen to and follow Crimes Of, available now wherever you get your podcasts. Chinellis for sure. with that hit on on Jackson Dart. It's it's it's gonna be some of the unnamed guys.
One of Flight of the Radar kind of veterans who signed in the offseason in free agency was Robert Spillane, another linebacker who has been very steady. Nothing flashy, nothing too over the top. I'm not going to lie with his status. He's been steady you know, a steady presence there for that defense. The defense is is second in in the national football game against the run.
They've been, you know, he uh Mike Braymore, one of the things he wanted to do this season was want to play fast. You want to play loose? You know, we want to be aggressive. And they've done those things. They've checked all those boxes.
And again, they've stopped the run. Robert Slade's been a been a great addition. You're talking about, you know, like I said, Chris Nellis has been a good semi-president under a new coach. And then up front, Milton Williams, he's hurt right now. He's on IR.
He's been a big part of that, helping stop the run. And a guy, you mentioned Christian Gonzalez, right beside him, Carlton Davis Jr., Carlton Davis III. It's been a great addition beside him on the other side of the of the secondary. And again, nothing too flashy about this group. It's just solid, consistent play.
And they're really holding up and anchoring the offense when they do find themselves in trouble because this offense has had trouble scoring in the Reds already times. Has had trouble starting fast, and the defense has been there to kind of help pick them up. and help them really play complimentary football. Um you're gonna have to clean some things up over these last four games. Thankfully, two of those were against the Miami Dolphins and your Jets, going to help them kind of really try some things out, really kind of experiment and get themselves ready for the playoffs.
But are is this team playoff ready? I don't think they're quite there yet despite the record. But I think they do have time to help clean up some things and really make a make a deep run and really surprise some people But it is there are some things to clean up for sure.
Well, you talk about this team first to 11 wins in the regular season. This is a young squad. What is your expectation for these New England Patriots? And what is the fan expectation? Are people in New England, are people in Boston and Massachusetts, are they kind of through the roof about what can happen?
Or where's the reality lie? As good as these Patriot franchises have been, obviously, everyone knows the running success they had under Belichick and under Brady. Um, you would think this fan base is, you know, i is is is Um This fan base has an idea, you know, a kind of handicap of where this team could go. I would say this, they're still fans. They're looking at that eleven to two record.
They're looking at a quarterback in May and how well he's played, looking at Rayball at the top of the at the top of the team there, kind of setting the tone in the locker room. Their expectations are through the roof. They want to see this team make a deep playoff run. They've been hungry for a winner ever since Brady left. And you know, their expectations are probably thinking like AFC championship game, maybe make you back to our Super Bowl.
For me, I think this team as far as this team's going to go, it's going to depend on their draw. I'm looking at the schedule, looking at I'm looking at a Kennedy City Chiefs team that could win out. All of a sudden, they're a wildcard team and they're going to be the bottom wildcard team to who they're going to be in that in that next after that wildcard round, a potential matchup with the Patriots to the Patriots in the number one seed. That's a very scary Yeah. First game for the Patriots team should that play out.
I think the draws that matter a lot for this team. I mean, they can avoid a very tough matchup in that first game. Again, until they get to the top seed. I think this team is on could make the AFC championship game with the right draw. But I think, you know, um As young as they are.
young as the quarterback he is, we hit first real shot at the playoffs. I'm kind of tempering my expectations for them. I think your AFG championship is probably the season for them. Uh but again, they've been surprised me all season, so I'm I'm ready to be proven wrong. Hey, more surprises, and that's just over the next month or maybe two months.
Oh, Kyle, I mean, we had about 20 years. of Belichick and Brady. Vrabel, I still think it's a massive mistake for the Tennessee Titans to have let him go. What do we got? We got 10 years minimum of May and Vrabel here.
Is this what we're looking at? Hey, I wouldn't put it fast. I mean, as you well, you know as well as I do, JR, that the hardest thing to do. It is to find that franchise quarterback. You know, teams try over and over again to do it.
A lot of misses, a lot more misses than there are a hit. They have a guy with the other control. Obviously, he's in the second year in the league. He's at the under that risky deal for a handful of more years. Mike Rabel, he's back home.
He's a former player, he's a home team guy who they know him when he's a player. He won championship as a player. He's gotten him right back on track here in his very first season here, back in New England as a coach. He's ready to settle in and be here somewhere for a long time. And, you know, the Patriots, they're used to stability.
You kind of mentioned that earlier, you know, they're used to that 20-year, you know, well, I'm not saying Bravo's gonna be here for 20 years and make that kind of run. You said Ken, Ken, it it's possible. Brayball's young, the quarterback's young. This team's got money to spend and they're a young team now. Um but I I think that you know At a minimum, this team's going to be relevant for the next 10 years.
And the way the league is shifting, the way that kind of the regimes are kind of changing all around the league, I think that the Patriots are well positioned to be in the mix. Yeah, well positioned to be in the mix. I know a lot of people were hoping for the downfall and that they'd stay down. And here they are just a few years later, back in the mix and young with room to grow. Hey, Kyle, we really appreciate the time.
Where can people follow you and keep up with all your work following the Patriots at the AP? I appreciate it, JR. I'm not on Twitter as much as I used to be. You can find me at Kay Hightower on Twitter, Kyle Hightower on Blue Sky, APNews.com, and KyleHightower.com. And we'll be following you and keeping up the date, Kyle.
We appreciate it. Enjoy the rest of the season, okay? No problem, man. Thanks for having me. And thank you so much.
That Kyle Hightower covers all things New England Patriots. for the AP. Yeah, it's just nuts. Listen up, football fans. You won't want to miss this.
Right now, new Bet365 customers bet $5 and get $150 in bonus bets, win or lose.
So you could turn that $150 into something bigger when you bet on money loss, spread, totals, player props. $150 in bonus bets when new customers bet $5. I know where I'm going to bet from now on. Download the app today and see why it's never ordinary at Bet365. Gambling problem?
Call 1-877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov. 21 plus only. Must be physically located in North Carolina. TNC Supply and App Only. You've built a killer sports podcast.
You bring the heat every week and you have a loyal audience. But when it comes to monetizing, you're still leaving too much on the table. That's where the Odyssey Creator Lab comes in. We host your show for free. No fees, no catch.
You focus on delivering the play-by-play and hot takes, and our experienced sales team goes to work bringing in ad dollars. Let's turn those downloads into revenue. Apply now at creators.odyssey.com and start making money from your podcast. Hey there, we're Corinne Bien and Sabrina D'Anaroga here to introduce our newest podcast, Crimes of a Crime House Original. Crimes of is a weekly series that explores a new theme each season, from Crimes of the Paranormal, Unsolved Murders, and more.
Our first season is Crimes of Infamy: the true crime stories behind Hollywood's most iconic horror villains. Listen to and follow Crimes of, available now wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to Radio Rental. The scariest stories you've ever heard in your life. All told by real people.
And off we go. This wasn't a human being that I saw. There's something here in this house, something not of this world. There was a woman moving through the hall. I stepped back and I was completely alone.
Radio Rental is available now. Listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
