Big Debut
Adrian Gonzalez’s Dodgers debut turned out to be a very good one. The recently traded former Red Sox first baseman went deep in his first at bat as a Dodger, crushing a Josh Johnson offering out to right for a three run shot.
Gonzalez had taken criticism in Boston for his lack of home run power this season.
The first baseman was clearly the No. 1 target of the Dodgers in the blockbuster trade the two met on Saturday. Gonzalez was having a good second half for the Red Sox, but in order to ship Beckett and Crawford out of town the team needed to get rid of a quality player.
Protection Problems
It’s only the preseason but it is not too early to worry about the performance of the Patriots offensive line.
Opposing defenses have not struggled to put pressure on Patriots quarterbacks this preseason and it’s a problem that could rear its ugly head once the regular season starts. The play of the Patriots offensive tackles has been the most troubling as Marcus Cannon has struggled and Nate Solder has not looked close to the guy who is supposed to be Matt Light’s replacement.
Tampa Bay, a mediocre team, had its way with the Patriots offensive line making it their third sub par showing in three preseason games.
Sebastian Vollmer’s return helps, but Patriots quarterbacks have been clobbered this preseason, and if they can’t keep Tom Brady upright they are in trouble.
Cundiff Cut
It turns out the missed 32 yard field goal try in the final seconds of the AFC Championship game from Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff was his last for the team. Baltimore cut Cundiff on Sunday, eight months after his missed chip shot sent the Patriots to the Super Bowl with a 23-20 win over the Ravens.
-Compiled by Nick Curcuru
