Admiration society
Team lines up to praise Red Sox
FOXBORO — Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman is rooting for the Los Angeles Dodgers to prevail over the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series but not because he’s a fan of the historic franchise.
Edelman wants to see the American League champion Red Sox inflict an MLB beatdown on the Dodgers when the World Series gets underway Tuesday night at Fenway Park.
“I hate the Dodgers,” said Edelman, a lifelong Giants fan. “I’m a San Francisco guy so I mean it’s like Boston and New York.
“I hope they do make it and the Sox pound them.”
The Red Sox were all the rage at Gillette Stadium yesterday after eliminating the reigning World Series champion Houston Astros in Game 5 of the ALCS on Thursday night.
Quarterback Tom Brady, who owns five Super Bowl rings with the Patriots, would like the see the Red Sox bring home their fourth World Series title this century.
“To see the Red Sox doing what they’re doing, that was — when I first got here in 2000, they had some good teams and really broke through, just like we did and it’s been a lot of fun ever since,” said Brady.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick is known to pontificate about the three aspects of football: offense, defense and special teams.
Belichick appreciated how the Red Sox excelled in the multiple aspects of baseball in the ALCS.
“Whatever they need to do they can do,” said Belichick. “They can hit, pitch, run, play defense and take pitches.”
Georgia group
Patriots center David Andrews and rookie tailback Sony Michel developed a deep respect for Bears starting linebackers Leonard Floyd and Roquan Smith during their overlapping years at the University of Georgia.
Floyd was a three-year standout with the Bulldogs before being drafted in the first round (ninth overall) in 2016. Andrews signed as a rookie free agent with the Patriots in 2015.
“He is a great player with a great skill set,” said Andrews. “He’s very athletic, he’s very long and explosive and he is really good player.
“A lot of people saw that because he was a firstrounder and a great player. He was a great player for us with Georgia.”
Leonard is an outside linebacker in the Bears’ formidable front seven that operates out of a 3-4 scheme. Smith and Danny Trevathan are in the middle with sack master Khalil Mack on the weak side. Michel (31st) and Smith (eighth) were firstround picks in 2018.
“(Smith) was always a big challenge for me and he will be,” said Michel. “I think he can do it all, he’s a freak and he can make plays.”
Cover guy
Cornerback Stephon Gilmore did a standout job shutting down Kansas City wide receiver Sammy Watkins in the Patriots 43-40 victory last week. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes only targeted Watkins four times and completed two for 18 yards.
Tomorrow, Gilmore will likely draw Bears wide receiver Taylor Gabriel, who has emerged as quarterback Mitch Trubisky’s featured target. Gabriel has 27 receptions for 303 yards and two touchdowns. Gabriel has at least four catches in each game this season.
“He’s got great speed and runs great routes,” said Gilmore. “He’s a smaller guy but he can run every route so he’s a good receiver.
“He’s had some big catches and they are using him in the right way.”
Injury update
Rob Gronkowski remained on the Patriots’ injury report when he was limited in practice, but now has a back issue along with his ankle problem.
Offensive tackle Marcus Cannon is out with a concussion. The other questionable players that had limited participation in practice are: DT Malcom Brown (knee), WR Julian Edelman (heel), WR Josh Gordon (hamstring), DE Geneo Grissom (ankle), TE Jacob Hollister (hamstring), Michel (knee), CB Eric Rowe (groin), DE John Simon (shoulder) and DE Deatrich Wise (ankle/knee).
The Bears’ questionable players are Mack (ankle), DB Bryce Callahan (ankle) and WR Allen Robinson (groin). Yesterday, Mack practiced for the first time all week and Bears coach Matt Nagy said he “moved around pretty good.”