BSJ Daily Briefing 06.13.18: The #MoreDaysOff Pats hit the road, Sox score more than 3 runs, World Cup cometh

Good morning!

A few random thoughts while I try to contemplate what Gillette Stadium might look like when the World Cup arrives in 2026...

• So the Patriots canceled their final OTA practices after their field trip on Monday. I'm not sure how to react to this.


• This comes on the heels of what I would describe as a lackluster training camp, which led into a blowout home loss in Week 1 to the Chiefs, and a 2-2 start (that easily could have been 1-3 given the Texans game). The Patriots also decided not to practice the weekend after the Chiefs loss, which was unusual.


• Will the Patriots still at least be in the AFC Championship Game? Yes. Are Super Bowls won in June? No. Could Bill Belichick be so sick of the current NFL rules (watching his team practice in shorts) that he'd rather be on Nantucket? Very possible.


• But here's where I think I come out on this. We were all under the distinct impression that the Patriots rose to prominence under Belichick because they did things differently than every other team, especially their attention to detail when it comes to season and game prep (how many tales have we heard about how the Patriots did X in June or August and it came up at a crucial time during the season/playoffs?). So was that really all that important, or was it not? Because if the Patriots won, in part, because they out-prepared and outworked every other team (#NoDaysOff), what are we supposed to say now that it appears that practices for these Patriots are indeed optional, and they get extra vacation time?

• I'm not saying it's wrong, or they're going to lose because of this. These Patriots are just ... different. We'll have to see whether that's good/bad/the same.


• I also find it funny (and also a possible shot) that after Tom Brady/Gisele made the remark that he just wants to feel appreciated and have fun at work ... Belichick gives the team more vacation time when Brady wasn't going to be there. Almost like Belichick said, "


• I also find it funny (and also a possible shot) that after Tom Brady/Gisele made the remark that he just wants to feel appreciated and have fun at work … Belichick gives the team more vacation time when Brady wasn’t going to be there anyway. Almost like Belichick said, “If Mr. Smart Guy Tom thinks more vacation/family time is the way to prepare for a season because he has all the answers, then we should all do that. We’ll see how his plan works for the whole team."


• The Red Sox' offense kicked into overdrive (for them of late) to score six runs against the lowly Orioles.


• Not sure what was up with Craig Kimbrel in the ninth. Very unlike him.


• Dave Dombrowski told Sean McAdam that he won't go all-out to edge the Yankees in the AL East. All I know is the Sox do not want to be in a one-game playoff against the Astros.


• Liked hearing Kyrie Irving talk yesterday. There's a lot going on under the hood there, huh? Certainly one of the more introspective and aware athletes I've been around.


• Celtics are doing the right thing making him at least seem to be part of the conversation when it comes to the future of the team. After being with LeBron, that's probably important to Irving.


• Personally, I can't wait for the World Cup ... this year, and when we host in 2026. One of my favorite sporting events, even without the U.S. in it.

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— Mandy Johnson Gilman (@MandyGilman) January 23, 2018