2023 New England Patriots Season Preview with Karen Guregian from MassLive

Michael Marcangelo: 0:06

Welcome to. This Is the Point. I'm your host, michael Markangelo, joined alongside by Ray Sean Buchanan and a very, very special guest. Best friend of the show, she is now working for Mass Live, previously at the Boston Herald for 38 years. My favorite and yours Karen Guregian . How are you doing?

Karen Guregian: 0:27

I'm doing well, god. The season's about to start, so I mean that's a good time.

Michael Marcangelo: 0:34

You know, I used to think about the start of football season as a real happy spot, but now, since Tom Brady left, I think of talking to you as a real happy spot, and that also means that football season is upon us. So we're going to get into all of the Patriots off season, the Bottle, and we're going to get into their early season, their opener, against the Eagles, and we'll even do what we did last year we picked their wins and losses and, by the way, you hit it right on the head last year you said eight and nine On this show.

Karen Guregian: 1:05

You said eight and nine, I did it really.

Michael Marcangelo: 1:08

We'll try and strike that again, but first I want to ask what led to the transition from the Herald which you were there for, as I mentioned, 38 years now to now, mass Live.

Karen Guregian: 1:25

I'll use the familiar line. I got an offer I couldn't refuse, that's perfect. Well, I really, you know I wasn't. I got, if you're somewhere, 38 years. You think you know that's where you're going to be and I thought I would, you know, be the one to close the lights on the Herald. I'd been there so long but Mass Live reached out to me and they had a position opening that they were hoping that I would accept and, after meeting with them, trying to make a long story short, it's a good move for me at this stage of my career and, you know, having a little more stability. And I mean it's a digital outlet and you know, unfortunately and sadly, you know, newspapers are dying and there's no way around that. And I just think I have a better shot at Mass Live of continuing the career I love for as long as I want.

Michael Marcangelo: 2:41

Now, have there been any day-to-day differences? And let's just say the last couple of years while working for the Herald and now your first couple of months working at Mass Live? Is it just like you were talking before? The structure is a little bit different.

Karen Guregian: 2:55

Yeah, I mean it's well when news happens. You know when I started at the Herald, you know news would happen if it happened at night or 10 at night, then you know you go with something in the morning. Or you know if you write during the day and you've posted, you know and you've filed a story to be posted the next day in the paper, your day was kind of over. But gradually that changed and you know newspapers had to adapt to the immediacy of the internet, social media and stories getting out and you couldn't just sit on things till the next day or you're way late. So you know, in that sense, you know I've gotten used to, you know kind of writing things all day long. But it's even to a greater extent at Mass Live because you know it's an outlet that not only you know lives and dies by the people who work for them and write. You know cover teams and whatever. It's a news outlet as well. But you know Mass Live also has a desk of reporters, trending reporters who, for lack of a better word, regurgitate news from everywhere. So you know people come to the site and you can read people like me who cover specific teams. But you're also getting they're also incorporating stories. You know trending stories. You know someone from the globe might break a story. Well, guess what it's there. Somebody might have something interesting that somebody said it. You know Raphael Devers might have said something interesting to a national reporter, or whatever, and you know that's on the site as well. So we're constantly chomping out news, constantly chomping out information, and not just from the people who are actually covering these things, but from everywhere.

Michael Marcangelo: 5:17

Yeah Well, good right.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 5:19

Yeah, no. So I mean I know that the Brennan Button obviously has been covering other pictures for a number of years, but I would assume that the South League may be under her visa fee, was well up and saw some pictures we had to garden earlier on this this year. So are you deciding to get back into basketball and just what are your thoughts about the?

Karen Guregian: 5:39

stuff. Well, I'm always excited to be where the best stories are, and there was a, you know, before. I sort of got settled into the Patriots for the last 15 years or so and I had like a middle of decade and a half where they just bounced me everywhere. But the everywhere wasn't just some random place. If the Red Sox were hot, that's where I was. If the Celtics were hot, that's where I was. If the Bruins were in the Stanley Cup, that's where I was. You know, the Patriots were in the Super Bowl, so I get sent to all the best things. I covered all the best things and it was great. I mean, I was very fortunate to be in that mold. But because you know my new bosses as well as well my old bosses knew this too that I'm like I would be one of Bill Belichick's favorite players and we might have discussed this before because I'm versatile, I can show up anywhere and, you know, write a legitimate competitive story or write a column, as which is what I do.

Michael Marcangelo: 6:58

Well, I think you've buried the lead for long enough. Here let's get into the nitty gritty of the Patriots.

Karen Guregian: 7:06

Yeah, nothing about me, god, you just put me in a sleep. No, no, no.

Michael Marcangelo: 7:11

Listen, the fact that all this has happened over the last couple of months, and you still, the day before the NHL regular season opens. They had time for us. You are our favorite, so, but the reason that we have you all in here is so that you can talk me off the ledge if you have the last two seasons. So what word would you use to describe the Patriots offseason to this point, karen?

Karen Guregian: 7:42

I think it's been mostly about recovery from last year's debacle and trying to get back into some kind of functioning place. Because last year was a debacle and part of the reason for that was that, you know, bill Belichick entrusted a couple of coaches who had never led an offense to lead an offense, and then the process their quarterback went cuckoo. Everybody on the offense was questioning what was going on. They had such a remedial offense that it was so they were so easy to defend. They only did basic plays, and so basically, I think this year has been about expunging last year, trying to get that everyone passed that and back in a place where they're feeling a little more confident about themselves. And I think step number one was hiring Bill O'Brien, and I mean you can see it both on the field just watching. You know, oh my God, somebody's in motion, oh my God, action. Really it's a competitive NFL offense as opposed to whatever last year was. I mean they do the degree of difficulty just kind of escalated, you know, because, again, you know, mac, the way it went last year. My understanding anyway is if, okay, if plan B, a didn't work, there was just the plan B, no, c, no D, no, I mean, there weren't many options off of each play. At least now, mac, even hearing him explain it, you know they've given him the tools to succeed, meaning, depending on what he sees. If the first two options he sees aren't going to work, there's several more options you know that he can go to. And I just think again, just talking to all the players, I think it's like Kendrick Thorn has been reborn. The new players they've brought in, whether it's Juju Smith-Schuster, like Gisicki, they're all kind of loving what this offense is and loving, you know, how Bill O'Brien is trying to utilize everyone and putting them all in positions to succeed. Now, that being said, the offensive line is wearysome, so all the good and all the advances they've made in the offense could possibly go for not If you can't block. Really, mac can't throw the football. They might not be able to even run the football. But the good news to get you off the ledge is several other starters, offensive line-wise, have been back practicing. I don't think they're 100%, but they might have a more representative line than what we saw during the preseason, which was horrible.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 11:33

Yeah, that's why I know you use the verb recovery. For me it's uncertainty, because in the center and around the offensive line literally like the line is often to be what has been in years past when they've won at higher levels, then it's just like a lot of things will be for naught, as you mentioned. But I want to stay with Mac Dome's because obviously this is year three, year one. He has the abuse of seats at the 1-1, first one that he touched out. Ted Beck's becomes a pro-gloria as well and obviously last year, for many reasons, was just a down year. So what is the successful seat that looked like for Mac Dome's and do you think they move away from him if it's not what they envisioned after the season?

Karen Guregian: 12:16

Yeah, I guess it depends on. I mean again, record-wise they still might not make the playoffs and they still might be under 500. But Mac has a season where he grows 25 to 30 touchdowns with eight to 10 picks. That's a legitimately good season for him and I actually think the team can be good Again. I'm not putting them in contender category, but I think they can show that they're better than last year. But not necessarily. It might not necessarily reflect in the record, based on the difficulty of the schedule and also the fact that the AFC East looks like it's going to be a bear. So no, but Well.

Michael Marcangelo: 13:15

Good.

Karen Guregian: 13:16

Yeah, no, I wanted to get back to Mac for a second, the other thing along with this recovery for the offense, but it's specifically focused around the recovery of Mac because he obviously lost his mind last year.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 13:37

Well, absolutely.

Karen Guregian: 13:40

And again it boggled the mind that they wanted to shift to an offense like the Shanahan offense and then even dumb it down further than that and basically you're taking away whatever advantage Mac Jones has as a quarterback If you give him a paint by number offense. That's really simple. It's not taking advantage of his best tools. His best tools, his brain, his ability to quickly process and see what the defense is doing and then knowing what play to go to or knowing if the play that's called is going to succeed or not, and to process that really fast. So that's one of his best tools. The other is his quick release and his accuracy. None of those of his three best traits could be on display last year, given how the offense was set up. Now, with Bill O'Brien here Bill O'Brien who's also coached at Alabama, where Mac is from, and Mac thrived. Between going back to the old offense, which we saw Mac thrive as a rookie, and adding in a lot of the RPOs and similar type of plays where Mac excelled at Alabama, mac is like a new man. He really is. He's been giddy almost this year because of his comfort level with the offense. His comfort level On again. It's like knowing what he needs to do or having an answer if the first part of the play doesn't work, he knows what to go to because there is something to go to. So they've done their best. Outside of getting him a legitimate game-breaking type receiver, they've done what they could to make him more comfortable.

Michael Marcangelo: 16:07

So you mentioned that the offense last year had an option A, maybe an option B, but there was no option C.

Karen Guregian: 16:17

Correct.

Michael Marcangelo: 16:18

How long Now? I'm kind of a dark-blade here. I'm a negative guy when it comes to Bill the GF. So how long do you think it will take before Mac doesn't have the time to get to an option C before he has another sideline explosion?

Karen Guregian: 16:38

Well, I think what we saw in training camp two and in the preseason somewhat. I think Bill O'Brien he's no fool, he recognizes that right now the line isn't providing time, it's not allowing for plays to develop. So all we saw him call, both during training camp in the preseason, were a lot of these quick hitters, a lot of play action to give you a little more time. There wasn't really much going downfield where you needed however many seconds for a play to develop. Everything was quick. Ultimately, what will happen with that is, defenses will say, well, they're not going downfield, we're not going to keep safeties back, and they will have a little easier time defending them. Ultimately, except unlike last year, the offense will have more tricks up its sleeves.

Michael Marcangelo: 18:00

Yeah, do you think at some point in time throughout the season because I'm not talking about playoffs, I don't think anyone's on the page to talk about playoffs At some point in time, scheming will take a back seat to talent.

Karen Guregian: 18:16

Right, and that's what all of us see. Right, we do see that, and that's why nobody is not. I don't know, maybe a few people think they'll get to the playoffs. I don't, but, as I said, they will be better just because they look like a 2023 offense, as opposed to something that you see in high school. Right.

Michael Marcangelo: 18:48

Right.

Karen Guregian: 18:49

So that's progress. You know that's progress. And on the other side of the ball, they brought a lot of guys back and they drafted a corner number one. So they really think they'll be better this year. But I'm still saying, prove it. And they were top 10 defense last year. They just couldn't beat any of the good teams or good quarterbacks reminable quarterbacks, Right. So they get to.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 19:25

They couldn't score though Caroline, the defense, I felt the defense held up many times. They did they legit could not score. And then the last game gets buffered.

Karen Guregian: 19:35

If another team scored 25.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 19:37

It was over.

Karen Guregian: 19:38

Automatic loss.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 19:39

Yeah, yeah.

Karen Guregian: 19:41

Automatic loss, but so, knowing that it puts the burden on the defense to keep teams 20 and under, they couldn't do it against the Ravens, they couldn't do it against the Bills, they could. Again, they couldn't do it against Miami, they couldn't. They couldn't do it against the teams, they needed to. You know, stop to give themselves, give themselves a chance. So but I do think they'll score more, but again, because of the offensive line. I think you're going to see I could be wrong, but I think you're going to see a really run heavy offense, so that you know that will buy time, that will keep other teams off the field, that will take advantage of when something that is a strength in their first two running backs. They don't have any depth after that. But I think, I think Ramon Dresch, stevenson, is legitimately a very good, a very good back and I think, because I know Ezekiel Elliott is old, but but he, you know he fits in perfectly because he has the same skill set as Ramon Dresch, so that they can work well, I think, in tandem. The problem is they don't have, they haven't replaced James White, they don't have a third downback, remind you, it might be your best third downback, but again, he can't play every down and every snap His. As we saw last year, he wore down.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 21:28

So don't, I mean so. That's that's why you mentioned about ZigBee and all that, and the, the, the, the, the definitely old and running back years. But I was at someone on Twitter or X, whatever they call it now they showed an old video about you, of Kevin Falk and I and I and I courted the tweet saying, man, if Z could be what Kevin Falk was like, maybe this office would be a lot different. So just get your thoughts on that, because he's going to have to be a third, but third downback, in my opinion, in order for them to be successful. And I remember, like in 2020, when they were a top five or rushing office and I'm the only one on the show that enjoys running backs, like Mike and they, they, they could kill us by winning backs. I, I loved it back position, so I wanted to play when I was younger, but then I grew the wrong way. But, yeah, just what? What are your thoughts on ZigBee and being kind of like that kind of a follow-up in James White type?

Karen Guregian: 22:21

I think he has the hands for it, I don't know if he has the legs for it. Again, the the, the third downback, is someone that wants you know. You get the ball to them in space and then they do something with it, and that's why Remandre was so good by going back. That's why Kevin Falk was so good, that's why James White was so good. They had great vision, they, they had a great ability. Once they caught the ball, you know to take it at least 10, 15, 20 more yards after the catch. Is Zik going to be able to do that? Is he going to have that kind of an impact, or are his gains going to be minimal? So in the Patriots' offense, the third downback is huge because that's the guy that he's so relied on but also moves the chains, moves the sticks. So we'll see. I'm not going to sit here and say, oh, Ezekiel's going to stink in that role, but I just have some reservations. And his legs aren't quite as shifty and good as they used to be.

Michael Marcangelo: 23:31

Well, that's fair. Speaking of moving the sticks, no one has done that more over the last three years than Jacobi Myers, who the Patriots decided this off season he was not worth investing in. But they could pay the exact same amount of money for Juju Smith-Schuster, who, by all intents and purposes, is a great number two. I think three years ago we were talking about him as a number one, but there was a report out there a couple of days ago that his knee is ready to explode. You talked to him about this and he, I believe he said that Albert Brewer was just searching for a story. You kind of say well, that's the job, isn't it? But they stop with what you've seen. Are they treating him as though his knee is on borrowed time?

Karen Guregian: 24:19

Well, I think the fact that he wasn't in any of the old TAs raised some eyebrows and that kind of turned on everyone's meter saying again because he injured the knee in the AFC Championship game. He did get back for the Super Bowl and he did play well in the Super Bowl. But as Burt reported reports out of Kansas City is, the chiefs didn't resign him largely because they didn't want to give him the money he was looking for based on how they perceived the knee to be In. Kind of trying to shoot down the report, juju kind of I don't want to say supported it, but he provided information that again would lend you to support the theory that his knee isn't very good. He well, first he said it wasn't a ticking time bomb, and maybe that's the case, but he did say that they had to. He called it a scope, kind of a clean out procedure that they had to do post Super Bowl. And then I guess he went on a flight to Japan not long after that and the knees swelled up Not unusual but worrisome nonetheless, and after he had issues on a very long flight, then it was a matter of trying to get the knee back to some semblance of healthy and I think that's why he implied, that's why they were clashes with him throughout the early camps, but once training camp started, he hasn't missed a beat.

Michael Marcangelo: 26:24

So, in your opinion, though, why do you think Bill, who has done nothing but produce over the last three seasons, or what could be an unknown commodity in this type of an offense for Jujutsu?

Karen Guregian: 26:45

Well, I think on paper I'll give you another answer in a minute but on paper, jujutsu Smith's career, in terms of yak yards, yards after catch, were a lot better than Jacobi Myers who caught everything but went nowhere. You know his gains were minimal. You know he kind of catch the ball. I don't want to say go down, but he wasn't a threat to take it to the house, he wasn't a threat to. You know he was great at getting open and catching the ball but in terms of those explosions type games games that this team desperately needs he wasn't that guy. Jujutsu Smith's shoester, his career has been about yards after catch, you know, making really good contested catches and also taking the ball. Another 23rd, 30 yards I'm not sure he's that player anymore, you know or again, given me trouble age, whatever. So when that trade happened, it was a head scratcher from my perspective. And the fact that why would you take away the one receiver Mack was most comfortable with? Why would you take away the guy that he always went to on third down and mostly delivered yeah.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 28:23

Well, often that becomes Kendrick Bornegan. I felt like they had great chemistry a couple of years ago and then, because he was in a dark house with Matt, patricia and company last year, we just never seen him on the field. Then he comes back from Cincinnati and he's like oh, like, oh people, oh, you can actually play. Yeah, he can. So maybe, maybe they regain their chemistry. I know how Henry was also saying it was an adolescent.

Karen Guregian: 28:43

So Mack has shown in the, you know in the camps and the nine attempts he had in the one preseason game. You know where his bread is buttered, who he likes to throw to, and it might be Remandre coming out of the backfield. It's a lot of Hunter, henry and Kendrick born basically.

Michael Marcangelo: 29:13

So you ask why? You don't know why Bill would do that. I think it's because Bill hates Mack Jones, so you wanted to defrive him of his favor, his thinking, but that's just that. That's an easy, as Ray would say, a lazy talking point.

Karen Guregian: 29:28

But yeah, let me just jump in. So yeah, there was a lot of theories behind it, you know, one being it was you know, I'm going to continue to destroy you, mack, if you thought it was bad with Matt Patricia, I'm going to take away all your. Yes, that was one narrative going around. So was the fact that they seem to be getting rid of players that were open, showed, open, discussed, for how you know the offense is going. But, by that same token, Kevin Kendrick born, is still here. Mack is still here. So you know, I don't think that had many legs, but it was out there.

Michael Marcangelo: 30:10

But one of the you know, one of the theories going around last year was obviously that Bill favored Bailey Zappi over Mack Jones, and I think one of the most surprising developments that we saw in the off season was the fact that Bill was willing to let Bailey Zappi go. Either either he didn't care, or he was okay with him not coming back, or he knew that other teams were not going to. We're not going to pick him up off the waiver wire. But then there was that other shocking move when they signed that, that corral. So, karen, is what was the following? Bailey Zappi just a testament to the fact that last year he looked okay in an offense that really had no structure, and now they have a real offensive coordinator in there and maybe he's not as developed as we, as we would think.

Karen Guregian: 30:58

Great, it's just. Yeah, I think it totally is that. I think I think in a paint by numbers offense, then everything you do, you know everything is by rote, you know, drop past there, past there, do this, do that, no variation, right, and he was, he was fine with that. But now all of a sudden there's a lot more complexity in the offense and again he's had having to learn an offense and also have to learn see this offense again why it suited to Mac. You have to think, you have to process Again, know what the plays are, know the offshoots and know what's going to work based on what you see. And again, that's the one. That's what makes Tom Brady so great. Or one of the things that made him so great was that, yeah, he'd be fed the play, they look at it at the defense, but no, that's not going to work. I got to go to this and he or he'd honorable, or they would immediately go to play. And Z, you know, and and again it was a simple signal by Tom and everybody knew oh, no, we're not doing a, we're doing F based on what he sees. And it was that quick, but he was so quick to be able to recognize what was going to work and what wasn't. Mac Jones again they're putting him in this, in the position again to utilize that ability he has, an understanding he has and defense to say, ok, bill has this called this play. Yes, it's going to work. Oh, no, a isn't going to work, b isn't going to work, I'm going to go to C, but he'll know at the line he's going to see and just by looking and that. And for Bailey Zappy that's a whole new.

Michael Marcangelo: 33:07

The world.

Karen Guregian: 33:09

Right, that's just a whole new and again he's trying to learn and it can be looked frustrated by the whole thing and in the fact that the line wasn't blocking and he was getting killed and running for his life and it didn't. You know, it didn't pan out. I think Matt Corral again, if you're searching for a backup quarterback who has familiarity with the system, given he played for Lane Kiffin, who learned through at Alabama, the same kind of system, you know, if something happens to Mac, you know, once they get Matt Corral up to speed, assuming Bailey doesn't progress, matt Corral would be a better option as the backup.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 34:06

Do you know? Listen, sure, sure, sure, I hope so. Once again, we have two or three quarterbacks, we have none. So hopefully you, mac, just have something to be, and because it was supposed to be. But I want to transition to defense a little bit. I feel like that's going to be the color card, especially early on in the season. It's going to have to be off and on the beat contenders eventually. So Jude on, I know, got kind of like the the stuff on good more bumping contract this year, so I know probably next year he's going to look something different. Do you think they end up understanding him or do you think they end up looking elsewhere after the season?

Karen Guregian: 34:43

Well, I think, I think the Patriots are always looking for the, I hate to say, cheapest way, but they're always looking for the deal. You know, and and in the past, and again it goes back to having Tom Brady. You know some of their better players, teddy Bursky being one, were willing to, again, not go for the ultimate baller or what they were worth. They were willing to kind of compromise and and not, you know, have to, you know, be the highest paid or break the bank. You know they were willing to play ball. These athletes, especially if you're not on a winning team, why are they gonna play ball?

Rayshawn Buchanan: 35:37

What.

Karen Guregian: 35:38

So I think once you get into a certain range, the Patriots just start gonna go there. What they're just not gonna go there.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 35:48

Yeah, cuz I'm especially. I mean I'm sure you saw the report already came the job today with all the Nick Bosa. Yeah, my sister, I mean, listen, five years, 170, 122 and a half Guaranteed. And I'm just like man, like if you don't and you don't, goes up and has 19 or 20 sacks and and actually plays all 17, is dominant, all 17 Like it's challenge, old person. He's gone like this.

Karen Guregian: 36:16

No one more at you and he's not Jude on, but I think because they have Jude on last year we saw Josh Yep. Yeah you know, rise up in the sack meter, right? Hmm, well, he's on the. He's on the final year of his deal if he gets Somewhere around 10 sacks.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 36:39

Mm-hmm.

Karen Guregian: 36:40

The Patriots are gonna pay him what the market is gonna pay him. Yeah him go, just say goodbye. Yeah cuz he's gonna get money on the market. You know past rushers get money.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 36:52

Yeah, well, that I mean, but that's to me, so I agree with that. But I also think it's also dependent on what keo, who's even keo like machine two. Now I know he's been a player and everyone's kind of grab is a tattoo on the camp, like I definitely have. I know Mike as well. I think if he steps up and becomes that next guy, then it might be easier to see someone like Uche.

Karen Guregian: 37:14

Juno. I mean, why do you think they drafted him a sec? Why did they?

Rayshawn Buchanan: 37:18

it's like oh yeah, I mean for sure need him?

Karen Guregian: 37:22

No, but what they needed was somebody of his caliber, Because I almost think already in their mind, they're just not gonna pay top dollar for whether it's judan, uche or whoever.

Michael Marcangelo: 37:34

No when the time comes right, you know you'll get one contract out of bill, just one. You're not gonna get too high paying contracts right, right, right. Oh, I already got his yeah, he already, he already got his and. But it's is all the, all the Frustrations that I have a bill as the GM at all. It's always on the offensive side of the ball right Because and it shows in his draft he he prioritizes defensive players over offensive players and People here you know. And then I heard my age bracket say well, that's because you had Brady, but if you look at it, he did it in Cleveland too. He doesn't think that you need a great quarterback to win, you just a game manager and what's bills forte?

Karen Guregian: 38:19

It's defense, it's devising defense. He loves defensive players, loves them, and it's just it's kind of staggering. It's like Looking at the offseason and looking at at how both, both sides are constructed. All the depth, you know, all the second layer, third layer level depth is with the defense. The offense has none on any position, zero depth, like if the first guy goes down, you're, you're done. Really, I mean, that's that's, that's it. He, just you know. And again it's like you want to go, bill, bill, it's an offense driven league. Bill, wake up, wake. You know you need, you need a lead talent and you need a lot of it on that side of the ball more. No but he just, he's still of the mindset that he because, again, because he's smart and you know he can scheme up a defense to shut down the top people, you know, when he puts his mind to it and the offense can just, will score, just enough, I mean, and but he also, again, good coaching. You don't need great players. If you have great, great coaches, you'll be fine. But he's missing out on. You need the great quarterback right, no so I I honestly think that Bill, being the defense of genius that he was, you know he didn't need to have a whole bunch of world beaters on defense because he was so shrewd and smart game planning that, you know, when push came to shove he could shut down a top offense long enough. He did it with the greatest show on turf. He's done it with Pat Mahomes for a half. He's, you know, he's able to scheme up and do things that at least get these great offenses off their game for at least a half. Yeah, yeah, but you also had Brady on the other side, who it didn't matter if you and I were playing receiver, brady would find a way, but and he was doing that for you and I mean there were years where they gave him talent, but Brady covered up all the warts On offense and Bill covered up all the warts on defense. Well, now you don't have the guy on offense to mask any of it. You know, and and you know just based on what we see, mack is at the type of quarterback who can elevate. Yeah you know good, not great talent like Brady was able to do.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 41:22

Yeah, he had the head of these signature moments, like I think. But what the games that like? I think the Baltimore game last year, I think, would have been a signature moment, but he got hurt. I think the Minnesota game last year would have been Well, I said she moved, but you know they Dan a blues in that game and even the Dallas game was working here. We lost an overtime. So it's just like I don't, I don't know when it's gonna come. Hopefully it was this season. Well, yeah, at some point as fans work, work, work, train, babe, look, completing, you know where do you want to use that some office of talent? At some point comes Some Fox world, because they, they need it badly, because I say Again, it's like he's he is ignoring.

Karen Guregian: 42:03

Yeah how did Jalen Hertz take a leap from one year to the next? Oh, they gave me J Brown right.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 42:09

Hey, I wanted to be here.

Karen Guregian: 42:13

Yeah, they. J Brown, you know. Joe Burrow, you know, they got him Jamar Chase right. That elevated him to a tag of Iowa. They got him Tyreek Hill. You can't just have one, you need multiple, multiple. Yeah, you don't even have one right, yeah, yeah.

Michael Marcangelo: 42:40

You would have thought that the Cincinnati playbook would have been what Bill was going to do too, because it that proved that you don't even need to have a mediocre offensive line if you just have one top five receiver In a good quarterback. You're gonna, you're going to be fine, because Burrow was sacked more than anyone else since. Was it David Carr back in? Oh, oh too, but it's, it's wild.

Karen Guregian: 43:04

Seriously, they were seriously rolling the dice with that. Again I thought, good, so they, they. They took Jamar Chase. But it's again the year, you know that's when Barrow got broken right and because they had nobody on the offensive line. So I'm thinking they got to go tackle, they got to get the tip. No, no, they went with it, they went with the weapon and you know, eventually they got, you know, more help on the line. But again they losing the Super Bowl because he got killed again. You know that. You know he was running for his life, the entire Super Bowl. So they finally last year bolstered that line and they bolstered it even more this year. But the formula there is get the weapons first, get the quarterback first, add the weapons, fortify the line right, you build around the weapons, like that is.

Michael Marcangelo: 44:07

Bill knows this too Like that's why it's so aggravated. I can only imagine how aggravated it is for you, because you know this man is intelligent and he, he's, he's not dumb enough to not see that that's an issue, so he's clearly just Stopping self up.

Karen Guregian: 44:24

Well, he's stubborn. He's stubborn because, again, he thinks he's smarter than everybody else. And in those spaces, it's true.

Michael Marcangelo: 44:34

What up without Brady? He isn't yeah well, that's debatable.

Karen Guregian: 44:37

I mean it's debatable his intelligence, but he can't. He can't just leave the offense to the side of the road, you know right, and or win with any quarterback.

Michael Marcangelo: 44:51

You thought I mean he before I get to my my Jack Jones question, so I'm I'm just itching to ask you about him. Do you do you believe in Bill's heart of hearts? He thought he could win town. Do you do you believe in Bill's heart of hearts? He thought he could win 10 games again in 2020?

Karen Guregian: 45:08

Oh sure, absolutely. He thinks he can win with. He thinks he can win with Matt Patricia as an offensive coordinator.

Michael Marcangelo: 45:22

No right.

Karen Guregian: 45:23

Yeah too shy, yeah yeah no, okay, well, judge coaching the quarterbacks.

Michael Marcangelo: 45:29

That's I mean, that's so embarrassing.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 45:32

No, I agree, just on.

Karen Guregian: 45:34

Here's the kicker, though. So he makes a move and you know, all of us can't it's a bloody it do. When we panned it, we panned it, but in the back of our minds we're saying we, you know it's Bill, he has to know what he's doing, right, you know, it's like you gave him the benefit of the doubt, even though most of us wrote it and most of us thought it was Insanity. But because it was Bill, maybe, let's see.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 46:07

Yeah, you know, let's see.

Michael Marcangelo: 46:09

Yeah, I mean he was getting a lot of Criticism by us and everyone like us last year that said that he was that he lost his fastball. But I would just argue that someone who does not have this fastball would not abandon every offensive coaching Skill set out there and say you know what I can still win without it. I think he bet on himself. He lost.

Karen Guregian: 46:31

Exactly exactly.

Michael Marcangelo: 46:33

He bet on himself, which you got the beginning to take some I do. I do admire him for that. Before we get into, no pictures been lost to all. I think the the the biggest story this week was that Jack Jones, the defensive back to the Newborn Patriots, was just eight of his nine charges were dismissed for what he carried two loaded guns and Loaded magazine through TSA and he had a bulldog of a lawyer that was able to prove that. He may or may not have known that that was in there. So what do you? What do you make of this entire storyline like? Is it a mere exact if she was just a Good lawyer, or I don't want to get anyone to trouble here, but is this because he was a new one Patriots player.

Karen Guregian: 47:23

Maybe a little both, but I'll tell you if I get caught doing anything. I'm calling rosemary's car PTO immediately. I that it's funny, she's so annoying. But boy, they just probably in there. They just want to get rid of. Say okay, whatever you.

Michael Marcangelo: 47:45

Yeah, what, what I the. The one question about this that I wanted to ask you is we saw what happened with kinderick, born last year. He put the doghouse because he he talked back to Matt Patricia, who was an offensive savante currently, and he was punished. Do you think that Jack Jones will see the same punishment on the field for what he did off the field as Kendrick Gordon did last year?

Karen Guregian: 48:11

Well, he got worse punishment for allegedly talking back to Bill last year, If you think about it he was suspended, you know, for not being diligent with his rehab again and again. I don't know this for fact because I don't have the information, but it was reported that he talked back to Bill. Well, that's a big no-no. So he gets suspended and this is he kind of got off cliché, that's me. So that was worse. I think the biggest thing with Jack Jones is this he just has a pattern and maybe because no one has drawn the line in the sand and nobody has really, he hasn't really felt repercussions for his actions. He gets tossed out of UCLA, usc, robs a panda express although that charge was reduced goes to Arizona State, gets into another school, plays, and then he gets suspended again. I mean, maybe because he just hasn't you know the consequences for his actions, haven't you know? Nothing has been egregious enough for him to straighten up.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 49:53

Yeah, yeah, and I mean it's kind of similar what happened obviously in the NBA with John Moran. To me and I'm not going to. I was a bit dismissive of this earlier when Mike just spoke about this, but just hearing the certain things as an unfolder, as you just spoke about it, yeah of course it was a sanity fan to do what he just did, really Like I can't imagine you holding somebody up for honor and shaking Like I think that's just the thing. But that was the case. It's ridiculous. But I just think they unfortunately need him on the field. So I'm not sure if they punish him the way they do, but you know, but for back to the job. Moran, moran, play real quick. I just think today those guys like that need better people in their circle. There's plenty of stuff. Yes, to the grown men. Yes, they're probably the better winners across, you know, from both of their families. But that means that you need better people in your circle because someone should say, hey, at some point. You know, this is three times, you've gotten away with something that may not be a fourth time. So hopefully someone was in his ear now eventually saying, hey, you know, this is not the way to go.

Karen Guregian: 50:59

I hope it's Rosemary, you know Yo, yo.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 51:04

She was like hey, I don't like, you know, I got you, I got you out of this once, right? I went through it twice for you, so, right, but we'll see.

Karen Guregian: 51:11

Well, hopefully she put the fear of God into him, like you know, look, yeah, yeah, I get you off because I'm good, right, Right, and they don't like me. But you can't, you gotta be smarter, you know, and you can't just keep messing up and messing up and expect everyone to clean up your messes.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 51:35

Right, exactly.

Karen Guregian: 51:36

But the problem is is, if you're good, it's again these patterns just continuing, continuing, continuing because you get enabled. The Patriots obviously need him, you know, and it's not like he's Stefan Gilmore good but he's good enough and talented enough where they do need him.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 51:59

Yeah.

Karen Guregian: 52:01

And I think, given the again and I think you know he had this, I'm going to say rap sheet but this pattern of behavior, when they drafted him Right and they were willing to take a chance, they were willing to say we'll put him in our, in the culture, in our room. He'll learn from McCourty. You know what I'm saying? He'll you know, he'll ride the straight and narrow because again, the leadership in that room Matthew Slater, devin McCourty, david Andrews, they'll, they'll send him straight. Well, there's some people that still aren't set are set straight.

Michael Marcangelo: 52:40

Like. Is this why?

Karen Guregian: 52:41

Yeah.

Michael Marcangelo: 52:42

I'm asking because I think you're going to go there with me Now I'm. I am in no way comparing the outcome of the situation, but how surprised are you, in a post Aaron Herdman's world and as with the New England Patriots, that you could read a headline that said two guns loaded magazine TSA, and that guy is still on the team?

Karen Guregian: 53:05

That's. That was like where everyone immediately went yeah and again, two different situations to you know. But after you've been through an Aaron Hernandez again as an organization, you wouldn't, you know the last thing you want to do is have a situation that could possibly escalate I'm not saying where somebody kills somebody, but something that's not right. Right, you know. So you would think that they would have one, would void it at all costs.

Michael Marcangelo: 53:46

Yeah.

Karen Guregian: 53:48

But and again they must, if you heard Rosemary say right off the bat that he almost lost his job.

Michael Marcangelo: 54:00

Right so that was a dead giveaway that they already talked to him.

Karen Guregian: 54:03

I think, I think the Patriots or Robert Kraft, they were ready to say.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 54:09

Yeah.

Karen Guregian: 54:09

We can't, we just can't go there. But I think, after guess what, rosemary perhaps talked to the powers that be in Foxboro and, and basically you know, gave her case to them and say he's not going to jail. This is a you know he's going to be, I'm going to get him probation, so you don't. You know, you don't have to worry about him being in jail, you don't have to worry. And plus, and I actually believe it was just an innocently stupid act on his part. I don't think he had intentions of, like, holding up the plane or, you know, doing something sinister with the guns. He's just not bright.

Michael Marcangelo: 55:00

But if he wasn't a Patriot player and he had the exact same pattern in his past, there's no way he's walking out with just probation Now. He would. I mean now the president.

Karen Guregian: 55:11

If it was any of us.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 55:12

Right, oh yeah, it's over. You know, I'm gonna get a number. I'm gonna get Rosemary something.

Karen Guregian: 55:18

And that. But, as I said, unless we get Rosemary, we're, we're cooked.

Michael Marcangelo: 55:23

That's right. Um, right Before we go into, because what we did last year is we went game by game, we picked wins and losses and then we we tell them that at the end, I, I, I, you're okay with it, you're okay with it. I'd love to do that again. I don't want to know how many games you think they're going to win before we run through this.

Karen Guregian: 55:46

Is that fair? All right, yeah.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 55:50

I just hope I can come up with the same number that I've been telling everyone.

Karen Guregian: 55:54

But go ahead.

Michael Marcangelo: 55:55

Week one versus the Eagles.

Karen Guregian: 55:58

Lost.

Michael Marcangelo: 55:59

Week two versus the Dolphins.

Karen Guregian: 56:05

Win.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 56:07

Oh, all right, oh my.

Karen Guregian: 56:08

They're going to lose in Miami.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 56:10

Oh yeah, pre-usual, yeah, pre-usual.

Karen Guregian: 56:14

So I have to pick them, winning one of the two, because I think they're going to split.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 56:17

Not sure Okay.

Michael Marcangelo: 56:19

Week week three. At the Jets against Aaron Rogers in the first half.

Karen Guregian: 56:24

Was.

Michael Marcangelo: 56:26

Week four at Dallas.

Karen Guregian: 56:29

Was.

Michael Marcangelo: 56:30

All right, so we're one in three Week five versus the Saints.

Karen Guregian: 56:36

Win.

Michael Marcangelo: 56:38

Okay, two, three, all right. Then we get on. Mcdaniels at Las Vegas for week six Was Love this Then Buffalo at home for week seven.

Karen Guregian: 56:50

Was Really.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 56:51

Well, that's a move by a lot when when was the last time?

Karen Guregian: 56:55

well, the only time they've split with Buffalo is when there was a flip and monsoon in Buffalo, yeah. Otherwise, buffalo has dominated them and beaten them to, to, to, you know, twice every year, yeah.

Michael Marcangelo: 57:10

Ever since Brady left, all right. So, heading into week eight versus at Miami, we are now two and five and you have them losing that game. So now they're two and six, correct, all right. So the only thing that's going to happen is that they're, they're, they're, they're losing the commanders, that's what they're. They're still Win, win, all right. So three and six, now we're, now we're. It's Anthony Richardson and the Coles Win All right. The win in Germany. Four and six, all right. Week 12. Applegiance Win, really All right 13 versus the Chargers.

Karen Guregian: 57:51

What's the record now?

Michael Marcangelo: 57:53

If they're five and six, I don't think they're going to. Why was I as well?

Karen Guregian: 57:58

You know, I I think the giant, I mean the Chargers are much better, but they always lose to the Patriots.

Michael Marcangelo: 58:05

Yes, and in December.

Karen Guregian: 58:07

And it's December. It's here, so I'm going to give the Patriots that game.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 58:11

Anyway, the Chargers, unfortunately, will be hurt by that. That's just. I'm just being honest.

Karen Guregian: 58:17

Well, talk about one quarterback that Nelichek has, kind of you know tortured. It's congested, herbert.

Michael Marcangelo: 58:28

Yep no.

Karen Guregian: 58:30

Until he figures it out, I got to go with the Patriots.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 58:33

Yep Totally agree.

Michael Marcangelo: 58:35

So you have them at six and six going into the week 14 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Karen Guregian: 58:43

Lost.

Michael Marcangelo: 58:45

All right, six and seven.

Karen Guregian: 58:49

Then we're, then we're playing the cheese Was At Denver. You know, I would say In on paper in theory that's a that the Patriots should win that game, but it's at Denver which is a tough place and it's Christmas Eve.

Michael Marcangelo: 59:10

Yeah, so you've had them at six and nine. Right now, yep At Buffalo Was, and then again, and then against the jets.

Karen Guregian: 59:27

Win.

Michael Marcangelo: 59:28

So you after we'll just call it 45 minutes of of talking to you off the lights, telling you that the Patriots will be better, be better, be better and it will look better.

Karen Guregian: 59:44

Have them finishing one game worse. Right, I think I'm coming out and something mass live has. I think I have him at nine and eight. I do, I did, but now I'm trying to figure out what other wins I classibly gave to me.

Michael Marcangelo: 1:00:03

I mean seven and 10. Is that the type? Of a season that you think would get.

Karen Guregian: 1:00:09

Bill no.

Michael Marcangelo: 1:00:10

And is that for?

Karen Guregian: 1:00:11

better. I mean, if they're competitive in all these games, which I think they will be, which wasn't the case last year if they look better and are simply beaten because the other team is better. As opposed to last year, they I mean not only was the other teams better, but the Patriots were a lot worse I think they'll be much more competitive. But again, you know, a lot of these games are hard to predict too, because of the thing of you know who's healthy and who isn't. I mean, I think last year the Patriots actually took advantage of the fact that we're seeing a lot of second and third string quarterbacks or backups or rookies. That's not going to be the case this year, unless, you know, josh Allen gets hurt, unless two of Safa's. A concut two has never lost to the Patriots Never, although I haven't losing one this year.

Michael Marcangelo: 1:01:19

I know, that's a stuff.

Karen Guregian: 1:01:22

And as much as I think the Jets are going to be a lot better, it's still hard for me to totally dive into the hype, you know. Plus, at the end of the year, where I have them beating the Jets, I think Aaron Rodgers might be hurt.

Michael Marcangelo: 1:01:42

Really.

Karen Guregian: 1:01:46

I mean, they have offensive line problems too.

Michael Marcangelo: 1:01:49

Yeah, but they get the stud they have. I mean Darren Wilson. I mean he is a stun wide receiver.

Karen Guregian: 1:01:55

Right, but if Aaron's on his backside, how the heck is he going to get it to Aaron Wilson?

Michael Marcangelo: 1:02:01

Well, I think, do you think that Jets offensive line is worse than ours? Like, if you stack it up, I don't think it is. Even if it was the same, I would say now I'm not. I actually don't like Aaron Rodgers at all, never have. I'd still say he has the ability to get the ball out quicker than Mack Jones with the same offensive line, probably.

Karen Guregian: 1:02:20

Probably.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 1:02:23

It, just it's better on challenge.

Karen Guregian: 1:02:27

Of course. But again, if somebody's coming in from his blind side and he doesn't see it with an attack, and even if he gets rid of the ball, he's going down.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 1:02:37

Yeah, I'll see a lot of it.

Karen Guregian: 1:02:40

I just you know, we'll see. I have them splitting with Miami and splitting with the Jets and using both to Buffalo.

Michael Marcangelo: 1:02:49

So you have them two and four in the division.

Karen Guregian: 1:02:52

Yep.

Michael Marcangelo: 1:02:53

Yep, Thanks. What do you think? Sorry Ryan, what do you think it would take, Like how many losses would it take for Robert Kraft to consider doing?

Karen Guregian: 1:03:05

I think if they go five and 12, four and 13, three and 14, two and 15. Yeah, I think, I think that would that would probably might put it over the edge for Robert. Yeah.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 1:03:28

And that and that. That was the case, like I would want to be in the car driving in the living room for myself. That would be insane. But my thing is now, as someone who follows color football if they were to go to champion 14, that means they'd be in the Kaila Williams suit stakes from USC and you get your quarterback and that's the case.

Karen Guregian: 1:03:50

Well, and there's quite a few quarterbacks, as we've seen, that it's going to be a great quarterback draft by the look of it.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 1:03:56

Yeah, so maybe, maybe that's the. I mean I thought they should have changed for Lawrence a few years ago, but I think that was too prideful. After, after, after, brain weaving.

Karen Guregian: 1:04:04

What do you guys? Well, what do you guys?

Michael Marcangelo: 1:04:06

see the record as so I have them in eight, nine, but looking a lot better than they were last year. I just functionally think they're going to be a better offense because they're actually a long-term coordinator, I agree.

Karen Guregian: 1:04:20

But again the only layups. Again it's a really tough start that they have. The first four to six games are tough. They have those bunnies Washington and Indianapolis in the middle and then in the end again you have to play Buffalo. Miami, the Jets, kansas City are in the closing part of that schedule. So put it this way if they break even, if they're two and two, I think that's a great start for them because then they'll get the momentum in the middle of the schedule, which is technically a little bit easier, and maybe if they get up around seven or eight wins before hitting the final four. You have to remember they've faded each of the last three, four years in the final games. No, that again for me it's like okay, prove it that you're different. Right During the 20 year run, during the Brady years, God, they were unbeatable in December or after Thanksgiving, because that's what Bill preached, and obviously having Brady helped. But you could bet the mortgage on them going five and one, six and zero, four and two at the worst over the final six games. They've been awful in the final six games, awful like one in five, awful two and four, awful the last couple of years. For post Brady, let's say yeah, but even in 2019, like 2017 too.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 1:06:20

Wait about in 2019, they start A&O and then they got real old, real fast against Baltimore and it was over after that.

Karen Guregian: 1:06:29

What about this? The Patriots, if typically and this counts in the Brady years haven't necessarily come out of the gates flying, but that's been okay because they. Again, the Belichick method is he wants the team to be peaking right at the end, right before the playoffs start. So if you have a loss here and there in the first six games, it's okay, because you're going to continue to get better, get better, get the momentum rolling, get the ball rolling so that you just kind of I don't want to say win out. But the losses in the start really didn't matter all that much during their dynastic run. Since then their slow starts, the one year where they actually won, seventh straight in the middle, the first Jude on year and the first year with Mac Jones they completely faded down the stretch and Mac faded, jude on faded, the team faded and it was hard to think that they were going to all of a sudden revive when the playoffs started and Wafalo crushed them in that game. So several narratives have to change. They can't start out as and again starting out fast. In this scenario it's like two and two. It's not going, you know, it's avoiding 0-4 and 1-3. Again, the opponents are good. So if you hang in those first four to six games, you know, come out either 3-3, 4-2, okay, then you're going to build momentum, going through Washington, going through Indy, going through that, you know, beating the chargers here, because you always beat the chargers and okay, maybe, and that may, you know, give them a little confidence to do a little better toward the end of the year. For me, I'm someone where it's like you got to prove it, prove it that you're not going to fade down the stretch. Prove it you can beat a mobile quarterback. Prove it you can beat an elite quarterback. Until they do, you know, I'm going to be a little on the reserve side when I'm picking them to win games.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 1:09:18

Yeah, no, because, like even for me, like so, Mike had me nine. He said you just registered seven and 10. I actually had him in nine and eight on a show that we did recently. And for me I think it's because they'll have some games where they didn't close. I said we'll close, like that week in December where they have the charges and the stealers. So what is worth and I know most of it was for Brady, sometimes even with Blesso it has not mattered was been a quarterback. Whether it's been in Pittsburgh or here. We beat that. They have not been just when it mattered. I know they got us years ago when you know they broke up that 21 game, a winters tree years ago, but they used to do not beat us when it mattered. So now I'm not completely sold on Kenny Pickett you've got better but I think that's the winnable game even in high school.

Karen Guregian: 1:10:00

Well, I did. You know it's funny I changed, I changed my tune on that game because I had that, as you know, in the in the realm of. You know, it's like playing indie, it's like playing Washington, you know, kind of a middle road team that you can beat, and you did last year. Yeah, but I watched them in the preseason and I their defense is is always traditionally been good. I'm sorry and they're good again, but pick it in those weapons. I mean, oh my gosh, they are a skilled player factory they, just if they, always have good wide receivers. I didn't like Kenny Pickett, but yeah let me figure it out. I just think to me it's still, it's still you love it If whoever's been picking receivers in the draft, the Pittsburgh cake, the you know, move to Foxboro and started. I mean, they always hit it out of the park with how to draft receivers. It's unbelievable, it's uncanny. They, they get the right guys all the time.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 1:11:17

From plastic. All those who named me. Yeah, but it's been great.

Karen Guregian: 1:11:21

They got pickings. Who the Patriots get tight coin thorn and they moved up to get tight Again. It's just they.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 1:11:31

I don't have we didn't talk to him earlier. Are you? Are you out on him as a as a contributor for the team? I know I know he's out to five of these, but I'm personally, I'm done, I don't, I don't want, it's just you can't be out on him. All right, tell me, tell me back off the ledgers, then Okay.

Karen Guregian: 1:11:51

Can't be out on him, even though all the signs aren't good. But he's the one guy who has something that nobody else has on the team and that speed. And you know, in his rookie camp he showed even a little more than that. I mean, he showed. You know he had it. It looked like he had an understanding of the game. It looked like he had an understanding how to run routes and that after he got hit and broke his collarbone, oh, that's all. That's all. He's going to go out the window because he wasn't the same when he came back.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 1:12:29

Right.

Karen Guregian: 1:12:30

And and all we've seen during this camp of preseason, he, just he heard his hams, he, you know he was missed. The early camps had a hamstring or something, then it was a collar, then it was this, then it was that.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 1:12:46

Sorry, it's ridiculous.

Karen Guregian: 1:12:48

You know, maybe if it can stay on the field and maybe again all his mistime has hurt him tremendously, tremendously you know. So if he can if he can ever figure out how to stay healthy and they can work with him, or Bill O'Brien can work him with him, because I know Bill O'Brien would find a way to utilize that speed.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 1:13:15

Yes.

Karen Guregian: 1:13:16

And he would have to pay attention to him. Yeah, but he can't. He can't help from the sideline.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 1:13:25

Yeah, that's true, not a flip one of your hand. But I think, just just to add on to that, because I obviously asked, I sounded a bit harsh but if we, if we can duplicate what, or they can duplicate what he did in the Cleveland game last year. You know running the jet swoops, you know running running a backside screen on, like that, that type of stuff is those, those gadget plays, like you saw the blueprint of what he should be in the NFL. He should be your Antoine Rindall out 2.0. You know, you know so ironically for the play, for the stills, but I'm glad to me, I think that's where he can be, you know, if he, if he's on the field. So, yeah, I don't know, I just he was there and then we went away from that.

Karen Guregian: 1:14:01

So I just I think he can be a deep threat too. I mean, it was a, it was a joint practice against the green, against green Bay. He, you know it was a long. I forget if it was Matt who threw the ball or Bailey, but it was a bomb down the left side of the field and you know the he got a little bit of separation from the coverage but they closed as it was. But he made a like a sensational catch, diving catch, but guess what?

Rayshawn Buchanan: 1:14:37

Yep, yep.

Karen Guregian: 1:14:39

Goodbye, shoulder. Yep, yeah, I mean it's a big ability, but he just hurt every stupid play.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 1:14:47

Yeah, yeah.

Karen Guregian: 1:14:48

I mean but but if you have someone on the field like that, who makes those plays and doesn't get hurt, you have something.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 1:14:55

Right, exactly Right.

Michael Marcangelo: 1:14:58

So this Sunday, 425 Tom Brady returns to the house that Drew Bledsoe built with that key furnished. What do you think the back atmosphere is going to be like, especially if the Eagles get off, get out to a pretty sizable lead at halftime?

Karen Guregian: 1:15:15

It's like the well, the Patriots are taking a chance that it's not going to be 30 to nothing at halftime and I don't want to just plain Brady, or maybe they that's how they planned it Like they're like people will forget the score because Tom's here. I mean, I don't know, we'll see, um, I don't know, I just know that, or I am fairly convinced that it will the place will be rocking at halftime, despite what happens, because it's almost like you're remembering back to that great time and good time. You know, and you're you know you're celebrating two decades of historical excellence and Brady was the guy pulling the strings. Basically, he was the, he was, he was the guy, he was the chief reason why it happened. And again, I don't want to diminish, you know, the players or cast around him, because everyone in you know the defense had to do something too, so, and Bill Belichick had to do something too, but he was the, he was the orchestrator, he was the conductor, everything revolved around him. And again, you know his once in a lifetime type of ability, which is what is competitive that basically again spanned to two decades, to never want to lose and or not being satisfied with one ring, two rings, three rings, four rings. No, still wanted the next one. He still always had the drive and desire for the next one. And it's again. You can't replicate that.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 1:17:20

Yeah, Well, I mean honestly some, some bodies for time and somebody going to go. Well, because before pitch came back, we lost. When TG came last year, with the time, it's our guys, dallas, they, we lost. I think that's the matured. When he came back, they lost him. So I was just like something, somebody, somebody has to win. When a great player comes back for their retirement, someone is at a light.

Karen Guregian: 1:17:43

So we have to be maybe, maybe Saturday break the moment, even though I know that you know, some people have predicted an upset in the game, basically because again it's you're catching the Eagles at the right time. I mean they're, they're like the Patriots, they rest the starters for most of the preseason. You don't see them and you know maybe you catch them having a little roster not being quite as great and dynamic as they will be. You know, week six, seven, eight, nine, through the, you know through the rest, you know that's the whole yeah.

Michael Marcangelo: 1:18:18

So we spent a good portion of the show and I promise this is the last question, unless it goes on a little bit longer. And then you say something interesting, karen, which you always do, and I'll ask another question, but I'll try. What do you think, or who do you think are the bright spots of further doing the pictures going into this year, because we've talked a lot about the what ifs and the negative, but based on what you've seen, it came. Who are the bright spots?

Karen Guregian: 1:18:40

Well, what do you define as a bright spot?

Michael Marcangelo: 1:18:43

The things that give you optimism and and maybe a smile as opposed to a.

Karen Guregian: 1:18:52

Yeah, well, on the offensive side of all, it's reminder a Stevenson. I think Kendrick Warren is going to make a lot of people smile this year again, based just on he looked like a completely different player than the year before, or he looked more like the player he was when he first got here. Yeah, and that was excited, that was promising Sure, sure was. We're seeing that Kendrick born what depending on. Again, I'm not sure how much that they'll be getting on the field, but I think the Mario top Douglas is an exciting player and he's he's in the mold of their you know their slot receivers are. He's in the mold of an Edelman, a Troy Brown and and doler. You know, quick, quick is all get out and you know he might be there, the one lone, explosive player they have. The problem is is how much are you going to be able to get them on the field? Because guess what juju's plays there and you know, are they? They're going to go heavy, tight end sets. So you know they might only have two receivers on the field at a time. So he's, you know, because he's a rookie, he's down the depth chart, but I don't know, maybe some people need to be hurt and you'll see more of him and then you won't be able to get him off the field. So I like K-Shon Booty too, but he's, again, even further down the depth chart and he might be like a healthy scratch from week to week. But I think, lacking, lacking of a stupid plan, I think the Mario will pop If he's allowed to play. That's the offensive side of the ball. On defense, I think many of us think that Christian Gonzalez is going to be a very, very good cornerback by the same time. He's going to go through growing pains this year. I mean and I don't know if people will have patience If you see him and watch him and just see his, how athletic he is, how fluid he is as a mover, you know how he moves Again, you can see the promise there and you can see that he will probably develop into a very, very good cornerback. He's going to have growing pains. If you have patience, I think he's going to be a bright spot ultimately. On the defense, I think Keon White is going to be great. I mean, I think their pass rush is going to be terrific and it could be really, really good if we see Barmore basically have the breakout type of season that we've all been waiting for. But I think, with Keon White and Josh Uche and Matthew Judon, I think you know, I think they're going to have a very good pass rush which will help Christian Gonzalez with his growing pains, which will help their secondary. It's a little unusual that they're going to have a little bit of a rotation in Devon's spot safety. I'm a little nervous about that, but I again, let's see how it plays out.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 1:22:48

I'll let. Matt move to it.

Karen Guregian: 1:22:50

I was just going to say his name.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 1:22:54

He dominates.

Karen Guregian: 1:22:54

They haven't. I think there was one. It might have been the final preseason game where you could think again. Bill has always had these linebackers or big, hulking, tall, you know destroyers. But the game has changed and the game has gotten faster and receivers are faster, tight ends are faster, running backs coming out of the backfield are faster. You need speed at linebacker and this kid has it. He can move from side to side. You know it's what's been missing from the middle of the second level the past three or four years and they've just kept getting torched. Well, the other thing is also, if you know the mobile quarterbacks, they have nobody that can keep up with the mobile quarterbacks. I think Marte is a partial answer to some of their problems.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 1:23:59

No.

Karen Guregian: 1:23:59

But again, is he rookie. How much is he going to get on the field? I think you know. Based on how they used him, based on how we saw him, even in the early camps and the assignments he was given, they know how good he is, they know how smart he is. But we'll see. I mean, who are you going to take off the field for him to play? That's what you want to see.

Michael Marcangelo: 1:24:26

Well, karen, thank you so much for for spending the evening with us here on the eve of the NFL regular season kicking off. For those that don't know and that they're living under a rock, where can they find you if they want to read anything of any of your stories or interact with you on social media?

Karen Guregian: 1:24:43

Well, you can go to the mass live website or you can go to K Garigian at mass livecom. So again, plug in mass live. I'm sure I'll show up somewhere. But yeah, as I said, it's been a, it's been a nice transition for me and I'm pretty much doing the same thing. So that helps and but I'll probably be branching out and doing a few other things as well. But we'll see. I mean, I really hope the Patriots proved me wrong.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 1:25:28

Well, same, same.

Karen Guregian: 1:25:34

And you know I'm not. I'm not shutting down the possibility of that happening, but, as I said I they're going to have to prove some things to me before you know I'm willing to. You know the pendulum goes to the way of you know, maybe they could creep up to 10 wins. I'm not there yet. I'm still. I'm still on the other side. So let's see.

Michael Marcangelo: 1:26:02

Well, like I said, thank you so much for joining us at it. So for Ray.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 1:26:05

Shaw.

Michael Marcangelo: 1:26:07

Thank you. Thank you, this is Mike Margin. Thank you so much for listening to this and the point and we'll talk to you next week.