Resetting Patriots’ Offensive Line With Shaq Mason, Sebastian Vollmer Sidelined

by Zack Cox on Mon, Aug 22, 2016 at 8:00AM 1,340 Share this: g On the first day of New England Patriots training camp, recently rehired offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia preached the importance of continuity within his unit. That unit now more than likely will begin the regular season without two of its five projected starters. The Boston Globe’s Jim McBride on Sunday shared some unfortunate news regarding guard Shaq Mason and tackle Sebastian Vollmer, reporting Mason is dealing with a broken hand and Vollmer likely is headed to injured reserve as he nurses an undisclosed ailment. CSNNE.com’s Tom E. Curran later reported a nagging hip injury that could sideline Vollmer for the entire season, and NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport also chimed in with a report that the 32-year-old had undergone

USA Basketball’s Rio Olympics Gold Medal Run A Sign World Falling Behind Again?

USA Basketball’s Rio Olympics Gold Medal Run A Sign World Falling Behind Again?

The United States didn’t send its best possible men’s basketball team to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. Not even close. The squad played some sloppy basketball with too much one-on-one play and inconsistent outside shooting. None of it mattered, though, as the Americans cruised to another gold medal — their third straight and sixth in the last seven Olympics — with a 96-66 win over Serbia on Sunday. The U.S. completely dominated the Olympics with the Dream Team and Dream Team II in 1992 and 1996, respectively. The world began to catch up, though, and that was evident in 2000. By the time the 2004 Athens Games came around, the U.S. was

USA Men’s Basketball Team To Play Serbia In Olympic Gold Medal Game

Share this: The United States men’s basketball team was expected to make the Olympic gold medal game, but the same can’t be said for its opponent. Team USA will face Serbia with the gold medal in men’s basketball on the line Sunday at 2:45 p.m. ET. Serbia made the final after upsetting Australia 87-61 on Friday in the second semifinal game. USA won the first one 82-76 over Spain. The U.S. has played in some close contests in Rio de Janeiro so far, but one of its toughest tests surprisingly came in pool play against Serbia. Team USA managed to escape with a 94-91 win, but Serbia certainly proved a lot along the way. Still, Serbia lost three games in pool play, and it’s

Sources: Alan Branch Informs Patriots Teammates He’s Been Suspended

Sources: Alan Branch Informs Patriots Teammates He’s Been Suspended

FOXBORO, Mass. — New England Patriots defensive tackle Alan Branch notified teammates he’s been suspended, sources informed of the situation told NESN.com. The cause and length of the suspension are currently unknown. Branch played 16 games, starting 15, in 2015 with the Patriots. He recorded 35 tackles, one sack, three defended passes and two forced fumbles. Branch was acquired by the Patriots midway through the 2014 season. He played eight games in 2014, starting two. Branch, 31, was selected in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. He spent the 2011 and 2012 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks and 2013 with... NESN.com

Red Sox Notes: David Ortiz, Jackie Bradley Jr. Lead Boston To Fourth Straight Wi…

Share this: Even when David Ortiz is slumping, he still finds ways to come up big for Boston. The Red Sox slugger was batting just .216 in August heading into Monday’s game against the Cleveland Indians and was obviously frustrated after his first two at-bats, during which he popped out and grounded into a double play. But Ortiz turned that all around in the sixth inning by hitting a monster 442-foot homer to put two runs on the board and give the Red Sox the lead. Jackie Bradley Jr. followed that up with a solo shot two batters later, and those three runs wound up being all the Red Sox needed to give starter Drew Pomeranz his first win with Boston. It also

Victor Martinez: Red Sox ‘Made Me Feel Like I Played 10 Years Here’

Share this: When you think of how much Red Sox fans liked Victor Martinez, it’s easy to forget he played in Boston for fewer than two seasons. V-Mart was back at Fenway Park this week while the Detroit Tigers played a three-game series against the Red Sox, and the first baseman recalled fond memories of his time in Boston before Wednesday’s game. “I only played here a year, a year and two months I think, but at the same time, they made me feel like I played 10 years here,” Martinez told NESN’s Guerin Austin. “It’s something that I really appreciate, the fans, the organization, they treat me and my family first-class. And that’s something that I’m always going to appreciate.” Hear more from Martinez