Morning sports update: How Michael Bennett described trying to tackle Ben Roethlisberger
"He’s able to stand and be in the pocket and be able to still throw the ball with guys hanging off of him."
The Red Sox beat the Twins 6-2 on Wednesday night. Mookie Betts delivered with four hits and five RBIs. Boston is 5.5 games out of the final American League wild card spot.
Markus Lynn Betts. pic.twitter.com/zFNTvIpqGN
— Red Sox (@RedSox) September 5, 2019
The NFL season kicks off tonight at 8:20 p.m. with the Packers playing the Bears at Soldier Field.
Michael Bennett talked about trying to tackle Ben Roethlisberger: Patriots defensive end Michael Bennett was asked on Wednesday what it’s like trying to bring down Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
“[It’s] kind of like tackling a truck,” Bennett told reporters. “He’s kind of hard to tackle. He’s a strong guy. He’s able to stand and be in the pocket and be able to still throw the ball with guys hanging off of him. Him and Cam Newton are two of the hardest quarterbacks to tackle. I think quarterbacks are always hard to tackle because they have so much heart. They have the will of the team on their back. When you look at guys that have that and size, it’s just hard to tackle them.”
The Patriots face the Steelers at Gillette Stadium on Sunday night (8:20 p.m.) in both teams’ season opener. Roethlisberger, now 37, is an imposing figure at quarterback. He stands 6-foot-5, weighing around 240 pounds. It makes him a large but daunting target for opposing defenses.
In his career, Roethlisberger is 4-6 against the Patriots in the regular season. He’s also 0-2 in AFC Championship Games against New England.
Trivia: At the Patriots’ last banner-raising opening night at Gillette Stadium, the Chiefs actually won the game, 42-27. A Patriots running back scored three touchdowns even as the team came up short in the end. Which New England running back totaled a trio of rushing scores?
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: He came to the Patriots from the Bills.
More from Boston.com:
- Ex-Bruins goalie Tim Thomas breaks years-long silence
- Retired for good? Here’s what Rob Gronkowski has been saying about possibly returning to football.
- David Ortiz visits French vineyard in photos posted by his wife
- Why Boston College QB Anthony Brown is poised to make the leap this year
- What Bill Belichick had to say about the decision to release Brian Hoyer
- Boston College’s Wynston Tabbs is out for the season
- HBO producers break down three new Patriots documentaries
Rob Gronkowski talked about the “Miami Miracle” in the latest “Do You Job” Patriots documentary
:
“We all had to look in the mirror… Who are we going to be and what are we going to be?”
The @McCourtyTwins take us through the mentality coming off two tough losses. 👇
📺: #AmericasGame on NFL Network pic.twitter.com/uHTNPDarxB
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) September 5, 2019
Brian Hoyer sent Jacoby Brissett a text after Andrew Luck’s retirement:
Hoyer said he got to know Brissett this year when they were roommates at the Kentucky Derby. Hoyer texted Brissett after Luck’s retirement.
“I said ‘Hey man, this is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for, best of luck’. I had no idea that three weeks later I’d be here.”
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) September 5, 2019
Bill Belichick is excited for the start of the season:
If you didn’t know before, Coach Belichick is excited for the season 🤣 pic.twitter.com/kgQZqF5VOi
— ESPN (@espn) September 4, 2019
Fact check: True.
.@TomBrady sets the record straight and reminds the media members that most of them are old too 🤷♂️🤣 pic.twitter.com/bGTEUTvn0R
— NBC Sports Boston’s Patriots Coverage (@NBCSPatriots) September 4, 2019
On this day: In 1994, Jerry Rice broke Jim Brown’s all-time record for touchdowns in the NFL (127). With two touchdowns through the air and an additional one scored on a running play, Rice dazzed as the 49ers brushed aside the Raiders, 44-14.
It’s remarkable to think that Rice was already the all-time great in 1994. He still had six more seasons of at least 1,000 yards receiving to come in his career, along with numerous touchdowns (he’s the only NFL player to have more than 200 career touchdowns) along with two more Super Bowl appearances. Even in future generations when passing has become increasingly prevalent and prolific, many of Rice’s records remain nearly untouchable. It’s a testament to his consistency, longevity, and excellence.
Daily highlight: Diego Schwartzman lost the war against Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinal of the U.S. Open on Wednesday night, but he won this particular battle in phenomenal style.
Diego Schwartzman shows off insane hustle to win a point against Nadal at the #USOpen pic.twitter.com/V8lZoSVsej
— ESPN (@espn) September 5, 2019
Trivia answer: Mike Gillislee
