MTP After Dark: Karen Guregian from The Boston Herald

Craig D'Alessandro: 0:24

On this bonus episode of MTP, you'll hear some of our extra compensation from the Boston Herald Karen Gregan that got left on the cutting room floor from Episode 78 will talk to the importance of joint practices, Tom Brady and the Patriots current relationship. And some suggested surprises the Patriots might bring out when Tom Brady comes back to that stadium and week four,

Joe Malkin: 0:43

is that third game of the preseason against the Giants because it is the third. So it's like, Where do you go? But yeah, why not give Cam Newton the opportunity until until he? I mean, because this Brian Hoyer need to play in the preseason?

Karen Guregian: 0:58

He absolutely does it. But the thing you have to factor into though, is these joint practices, because a lot of the times and not a lot, but some of the times you'd see Tom Brady in these joint practices and light up your session, you know, like the mop or whatever. And then you can see him in the game. This because he was getting quality time and quality reps against the opposition. And I was talking to somebody today that said, it's even more competitive in a joint practice because you have teams don't want to be embarrassed when you're in that kind of setting. So it's, it's really more competitive almost. So that's why I think Bill Belichick likes the drink practices, he can get more information in that kind of setting. Because again, every week intensity is just seems to be even higher than a preseason game.

Michael Marcangelo: 2:00

Also my final question on MTP after dark with Karen Gurgegian gun to your head. Do does Bob Kraft and New England Patriots do something special to commemorate Tom Brady returning to Gillette Stadium in Week 4

Karen Guregian: 2:16

at one time, I would say absolutely no question about it. But Brady's been tweaking them "God did you see how great this ring is? Holy it's the best ring I've ever

had, like the others were crap.: 2:30

I mean,

Joe Malkin: 2:33

he's a lot of fun when he's not a patriot.

Michael Marcangelo: 2:36

It also didn't go to Robert Kraft's birthday party. That's why I asked his question.

Joe Malkin: 2:40

Right. So I don't know how the I don't know if people will be that petty. But maybe I think if bill wasn't the head coach Mike, I think if bill wasn't the head coach anymore, I think they would in a heartbeat. But I think because he is I think it's gonna be business as usual. Welcome them in

Karen Guregian: 2:57

the day before they'd have. They'd have a duck boat parade, right?

Michael Marcangelo: 3:02

Like he's Ray Bourque . 2001. Yeah, absolutely.

Joe Malkin: 3:06

Yeah, go win a championship in Colorado and we'll give you a parade.

Karen Guregian: 3:10

I don't think it's gonna be that hold that but I'm sure they'll play nice. I don't know.

Craig D'Alessandro: 3:15

This is much better than my ring have only 500 diamonds on it.

Michael Marcangelo: 3:19

It opens. It literally opens. But that it's a pretty wild ring i'll give him that

Karen Guregian: 3:25

when he can if he just seems to be like rubbing salt in the wound, every chance he gets worse he does. So, you know,

Craig D'Alessandro: 3:35

first time being free in like 20 years, some

Joe Malkin: 3:38

grass is greener, and you

Michael Marcangelo: 3:40

just paid millions of dollars to play a game first time he's free. They complemented each other. Well, I think. I think there's now more intriguing into Belichick's success this year. We saw a pretty did. perfect situation. Great. Now let's see what Bill can do.

Unknown: 3:58

I agree. I agree. And again, I'm not somebody in the camp who's gonna say it's all Brady. It wasn't. It was a combination of Brady Belichick and the personnel around them. You don't win. You don't win the Superbowl against the Rams without the defense. Right? You don't win. You know, you don't win Seattle. If Malcom Butler doesn't make the play. It's not all Brady. He's a big huge part of it. But again, game plans that Belichick came up with are a big part of it. He's the guy who put all the personnel together even you even though you want to rip them for his recent drafts. He put the teams together around Brady. So yes, Brady gets the lion's share. There's no question about that. But don't these people who just want to dismiss Belichick and dismiss everybody else.

Joe Malkin: 5:02

You know what's gonna bother me the most and as a fan is when I pull into the parking lot in week four for a Sunday night game. Everybody's been getting lubed up all day. And the amount of pewter number 12 jerseys with Brady on the back that I'm going to see being worn by patriots fans is going to be now Granted, I did at one time where I was like 13 years old I did wear a Peyton Manning jersey to Foxboro stadium I love Peyton Manning that's just the way I am but the I just I know so many people that went off and bought a Tampa Bay Brady jersey any not weird, right? As long as it's the one that actually looks good Yeah, then that's fine. Right? I guess there's a little

Michael Marcangelo: 5:51

the same thing for people that I mean, the same comparison would be like if you bought a Ray Bourque avalanche jersey race that's what I mean. I would hearken that to you okay, so I lied my actual last question on MTP is this you said that people it's all it's all it's all Brady. I promise I want to get more of your time what would it take? Like what is Brady had to do what if he wins again this year then do people say maybe it was maybe was mostly their stick?

Unknown: 6:18

They're saying and now I mean, there's so much commentary even from players who are coming out who have come out and said it or switch gears when Brady one in Tampa but I just think it's been a little short sighted even if he wins another one and another one and another one oh my I'm not saying I'm not saying he's not responsible I'm he's definitely get it gets the lion's share. But it would it's stupid to dismiss Belichick and it's stupid to dismiss the casts around Brady and

Joe Malkin: 6:59

you got to look at it someone from Brady and I understand Solomon's frustration but when you're able to go to Tampa and basically LeBron the roster and get checked, not that he didn't play well enough to win the Superbowl, but he went in basically hand picked his roster on both sides of the ball. And I mean that, that's fine. That's the way sports are now so I'm not gonna discount it. But it definitely helped and I think for a long time Belichick didn't play that game. Okay, this is the supporting cast. This is what we're going to put out there. And when we're trying one of those

Unknown: 7:29

napkins if you don't have Adam Vinatieri first couple years How big is the lens? I mean, this the legend? I mean, this the same course of events happen if they don't Adam Vinatieri

Michael Marcangelo: 7:44

I think Bledsoe could have still been the start of the next year. That would have changed a lot. But I think Bill, love Tom, it's a great it's a great What if McCarran again, thank you. Thank you so much that this was this was so much fun. Part Two after our part two, when I said God for us. What did you ever I mean, okay. So why I'm such a liar. Since like, why didn't they move up three picks for Justin Fields. Karen. Why? Why?

Unknown: 8:15

That's done. Me too. Okay. Yeah, thank you, again, because again, I'm the one who was on the record saying they would get it they it made more sense to get a quarterback more in the image of Cam Newton. They did just the opposite. Yeah. So again, that one baffle me. I like Justin Fields a lot.

Michael Marcangelo: 8:36

Sam, he's choked so good.

Unknown: 8:38

But here's the thing. I almost think Bill Belichick was a little I mean, they drafted Mack Jones and in the war room, it was like a morgue. I don't know if you saw that. I did. Yes. Love it. Yeah. You know, all these other rooms. You know, they draft so when? And I was like, you know, they're having a circus the page. It's true.

Michael Marcangelo: 9:00

Yeah. Let's build on that. Yeah, you go with this. You get with this pack you get with it.

Karen Guregian: 9:05

Okay, all right. Oh, I guess we'll take them

Joe Malkin: 9:08

first of all isn't always from the one.

Unknown: 9:12

Yeah, so again, it just kind of on even though again, Mac Jones is the perfect fit for the Brady offense. That's what they were keeping. But let's also talk about I think the fact that Jimmy getting rain Jimmy Garoppolo here did not work out. Also bummed out Belichick

Michael Marcangelo: 9:36

was he was okay, you're making such a lot out of me. Was he responsible for all those things that we'd heard about San Francisco wanting Mac Jones that felt like a patriot plant story because that was that they were never gonna draft Mac Jones third overall right that felt like I felt like it was something like Bill saying I've heard San Francisco really want Mac

Unknown: 9:55

rises as they took for me I would have taken Justin Fields there right?

Joe Malkin: 10:00

Yes. All coming other saying Trey Lance's doing very well. I can

Unknown: 10:07

write it again. It's nothing like Try Lance but again in terms of development, um, the years that Justin Fields that you know, how many games they eat their lives and learning games to 22,020 Yeah. So again, it's just Some things are a little baffling to me. But the other part of the equation, it's also baffling to me is, again, we build up this thing that bill loves Jimmy G. And, you know, that was his, you know, he hated trading away. Well, guess what? He could have hand him? I think, because they were talks before the draft to see if they could make it work. And Bill was nipple and diamond.

Joe Malkin: 10:52

Were those real talks?

Unknown: 10:54

I think yeah, I think they were. I think they I think they had discussions just feeling out discussions. And I think San Francisco gave him permission. And smartly. Actually, I think it was smart that Garrapolo didn't want to like play for chump change, like cam didn't want to restructure, he's making all this money. What is he going to come to New England and basically, feed the good soldier that Brady was, and, you know, keep settling for less money and less money and less money and less money?

Joe Malkin: 11:31

That's where I go to the human element with it with Jimmy G. And it's like, Alright, was I just upon in the love triangle of Bill Belichick Tom Brady and Robert Kraft. You know, once I was I just upon in that, like, I was the next guy, but I wasn't really but I was that, you know, so it's like, to me, I don't I probably would have done the same thing too. Because it's like, yeah, I'm gonna make this money. I'm gonna be a backup and that's the money I'm gonna make. Cool.

Karen Guregian: 11:55

Yeah. But again, if Jimmy g was really the belly chicks love child and objective is affection in the quarterback that he so wanted in the quarterback who was going to, you know, prove him right. Why is it nickel and diamond on the kid? Could Josh have been a part of their McDaniel's? Maybe one way or the other? Maybe man who makes the decisions?

Joe Malkin: 12:19

No, absolutely. At the end of the day, at the end of the day, Bill mill decides what goes on the cutting room floor. He decides what goes up on the big screen. I get that. It just you know, maybe if Mack Jones is as much of McDaniels guy as he says he was maybe Bill said, Alright, fine, let's do that. And it's cheaper.

Michael Marcangelo: 12:38

There's also no way that he would have paid more to get Jimmy g than for what he gave up. Right. So I don't think I don't think he could have done that he was never gonna offer a second or first

Karen Guregian: 12:48

right. I think the tie up was the contract. Ya know, that bill didn't want to inherit the contract that San Francisco gave him. So he was looking to restructure and renegotiate that contract, but essentially Jimmy G. You know, would be taking less to be traded.

Joe Malkin: 13:12

It is very apparent, though that Kyle Shanahan would put him on a one way ticket boat to Alcatraz if he could. True. Yeah, it just blows me away that things

Karen Guregian: 13:23

after every quarterback not named Jimmy Garoppolo. Basically,

Joe Malkin: 13:26

yeah, you're right. That's how he was his whole career. I mean, that's how he wasn't in Washington when he was the offensive coordinator under his dad to you know, he wanted or was he there understand it was that in Denver? Either way, when he was in Washington as the OC. He loved every quarterback there, and they weren't great. Yeah, neither is Jimmy. Jimmy is not great. I don't want to but I love Jimmy G. I would love to have him back. I've just accepted now that it's the Cam Newton and Mack Mack Jones show.

Karen Guregian: 13:53

Yeah, well, let's not forget, I think Bella check also wants to prove that he doesn't need a quarterback to win, he can win with any step.

Michael Marcangelo: 14:04

He went ahead and fight with Matt Cassell. So everyone else says but but people forget they went 818 and one the year before. So there still was that seven win drop off there.

Karen Guregian: 14:14

True. True. So you know, so that's why I think he's enamored with Cam Newton to or at Cam Newton was a shell of his 2015 self. Yeah. So again, it's Bella check. sequence Lee wants to prove he can win with any step

Michael Marcangelo: 14:36

in it. In a perfect world I feel like he wanted cam to do for the Patriots with Steve McNair was to the Ravens for that one year catch lightning in a bottle and then it just, you know, I think last year wasn't all cams fault. But he we forget that the number of talent and I think it can if he plays exactly the same as you did last year this year. There's no Matt Jones. That's a 10 when t it just hits. I don't know if that's enough to get to playoffs though.

Joe Malkin: 15:03

Probably not. Probably this year. Yeah. Yeah. It's just so interesting watching watching the quarterbacks and watching the bill with what he's trying to put together. And you mentioned him wanting to try and when when the stiff and Mike brings up the mat Castle Season a lemon and five lawyer reason they made that was because they lost the tiebreaker with dolphins You know that and some would say that maybe he did win a Super Bowl with a Steph and Tom Brady in 2001, some workI kid that just stepped in.

Karen Guregian: 15:33

Yeah, we might do the same of Mack Jones. I do think I think Jones has done enough to kind of let mellow checks appetite a little bit. I think he's literally cited by Mack Jones might be a little bit strong. But I think from what Matt Jones shows day in and day out. I think Bella check actually is on the side of now, there could be something there. You know, yeah. We still haven't crossed these hurdles of him actually play against. I don't want to say real defense but an opposing defense, having him really get hit in, you know, by a defender. Is he six, three, but he's kind of slight to me. Next the Cam Newton, he's like a midget.

Joe Malkin: 16:27

He does not look six, three.

Karen Guregian: 16:30

I mean, he looks like a little guy. I mean, little boy. But if you play, you know, he can play. And again, because he keeps they keep throwing more stuff at him and he just keeps erasing it. They're just gonna keep going with that until he finally hits a wall and

Joe Malkin: 16:51

we'll see if even that was the joke right when he was drafted was the old NFL play 60 commercial with Cam Newton where the kids warming up his arm. That's been the joke. That's now Mack Jones. But what's interesting, too, with the cam things we talked about, he's got heat bills, gotta love kin. And here's the reason why because normally when there's guys that he thinks are over the hill are getting close to being over the hill. He doesn't bring him back especially on defense of Sandy Samuel Thai law warm Lloyd, she was wrong about longer, more and we all know. But you know, a lot of times that's what he does so so why keep Cam Newton around if you don't think he can do it. So clearly, he thinks that he can they can Newton can manage, even if it's just managed the offense was Kim Newman is not a game manager. But he thinks he can get to that point with cam Nate and clearly

Karen Guregian: 17:36

I think he thinks he can manage a run first offense. Being a little more specific, he can manage an offense with a great offensive line. A lot of running backs, in two tight ends is outlets. Basically, that's what you got.

Joe Malkin: 17:55

Sounds like a Carolina offense to me. So it sounds like you know, there was all those rumors during the offseason that he could end up in Washington and all the rumors that they were apparently ready to pay him $25 million, which I think is outrageous. But you know river going back to play under riverboat Ron, you know, that was the the rumor in the offseason, but at this point, I'm glad he's here to at least be in in front of or behind Mack Jones, and something.

Karen Guregian: 18:25

That's me. He he's not. He's not not going to be bouncing balls like he was last year. I mean, if he dies, I'd be surprised because that's not the he overthrows guys in practice, as opposed to what he was doing last, which is bouncing balls to Claire's. So whatever that was, it hasn't been a parrot in training camp. And he's made some really good and won belt roads and some really good on the money. You know, get him out. We couldn't hit him see her two feet in front of them. I mean, you know, those that he couldn't hit James White to save his life, and that's a crime right there. He's been much better and all those facets. I gotta tell you, I see.

Joe Malkin: 19:18

You don't have to, it's all what you're allowed to. But you're right. Like, as long as he's overthrowing guys on the sideline last year, he would throw a guy's feet on the sidewalk. And we always we were so accustomed to and we've seen it so much in the NFL, that if you're gonna if you're gonna miss a guy on the sideline, overthrow it. And that's what I've seen more from cam Ed from what I've seen. I haven't been down to practice and

Karen Guregian: 19:40

that's it. So he was doing that for either one or two reasons. One is arm is really shot or two. He just didn't he wasn't sure where to go because he didn't know the offense. He wasn't sure if he's throwing it to the right spot. So he was hesitant. I mean, I think all of those things come into play.

Joe Malkin: 19:57

And they still went seven and nine and he still rushed for 12 touchdowns.

Karen Guregian: 20:01

Yes. Yeah, I think they really liked the rush for 12 touchdowns part

Michael Marcangelo: 20:05

he was throwing to nobody. I mean, Jacoby Meyers was an emerging wide receiver because he was the only option

Karen Guregian: 20:11

great. Like he was their best Red Zone threat camp. Well, now he has some help.

Michael Marcangelo: 20:19

I think now like to that point, though, right. He was their only Red Zone threat. Now he's not Yeah.

Karen Guregian: 20:24

Yeah, yeah. And the fact he scored 12 is actually something. You know,

Joe Malkin: 20:30

he's still accounted for 20 patriots touchdowns in the seven and nine season when he's still sometime. And he looked if he listened if he can be half as good 75% as good in games this year is he wasn't at Seattle game last year. Oh, yeah, we'll be right. Yeah. He isn't safe to say Julian Edelman is not coming back. I don't know Thanksgiving. That's the end of throw it in there. Just because it was it was kind of funny afterwards,

Karen Guregian: 20:59

if it comes back to look like a complete fool. Yeah. Awesome. And does he want to risk that to his reputation? Because he's beloved in New England right now. And if he comes back and plays for any team button one one, Tampa, they if he does not, he will be hated? And I don't again, I don't think I don't think he wants that.

Joe Malkin: 21:25

So they asked him to come back and be the honorary Captain week for what do you do that to Tommy Would you do that to daddy down in Tampa? Yeah. Oh. Oh, it is the after dark show. Isn't that? Yeah, that might be my best question. I know be there and a billion other people will be there as well. So that's the game where they show Bon Jovi on the big screen. We all sing along to them on a prayer. Oh,

Michael Marcangelo: 21:51

thank you, Karen. We can do way too long, but I haven't Thank you so much.

Karen Guregian: 21:55

I mean, you can use like, after dark, part two, one and two for shows down the road. We might we might