Morning sports update: Adam Schefter thinks Rob Gronkowski taught the Patriots a lesson regarding Tom Brady’s future
"That's not the way that organization operates."
Tonight the Celtics face the Magic in Orlando at 7 p.m. Boston is trying to extend its recent winning streak to three in a row.
In the Australian Open, Serena Williams fell in the third round, but 15-year-old Coco Gauff defeated defending champion Naomi Osaka to advance. Her post-match interview produced a humorous soundbite:
“Honestly, like, what is my life?”
—@CocoGauff pic.twitter.com/ZwhgOF7ttU
— espnW (@espnW) January 24, 2020
Adam Schefter’s latest view on Tom Brady’s free agency: Technically, the Patriots have until March 16 before Tom Brady can begin speaking with other teams in the “legal tampering period” of NFL free agency. But as ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter pointed out, New England is likely to want clarification from Brady before that.
The reason goes back partly to a missed opportunity in the offseason a year ago when tight end Rob Gronkowski waited until March 24 to officially announce his retirement.
“Here’s the situation: I don’t believe the New England Patriots are waiting until March 16 to get an answer from Tom Brady,” Schefter explained on ESPN Thursday. “Last year, Rob Gronkowski wound up retiring in late March. I don’t know the conversations they did and didn’t have before, but New England missed the window on free agent tight ends. So I don’t think they’re going to let Tom Brady go to free agency, all of a sudden, sign with Team X, and then on March 20, say ‘Well, what do we do at quarterback now?’ That’s not the way that organization operates.”
Trivia: Who was the last quarterback to start a game for the Patriots who was not originally drafted by the Patriots?
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: He was given a long-winded nickname by ESPN announcer Chris Berman that was derived from Frankie Ford’s 1959 song, “Sea Cruise.”
More from Boston.com:
- Kemba Walker named All-Star starter
- Red Sox, Padres reportedly talk potential trade for Mookie Betts
- Chaim Bloom: Red Sox won’t rush to have manager by spring training
- Jimmy Garoppolo says he’ll be taking Tom Brady’s mindset to prepare for the Super Bowl
- Antonio Brown turns himself in to police
- Matthew Slater, Devin McCourty intend to play in 2020
- NFL says the number of concussions increased slightly this season
- ‘When’s it going to end?’: Derek Carr is tired of the Tom Brady-Raiders rumors
- ‘Let’s all let this go’: Devin McCourty wants to stop talking about Aaron Hernandez
Mel Kiper Jr.’s first mock draft of 2020
: With the 23rd pick in the first round of his projected 2020 NFL draft, Kiper has the Patriots selecting Alabama safety Xavier McKinney.
Xavier McKinney 81 yards TO. THE. 🏠 pic.twitter.com/n91fztB0de
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 23, 2019
Mikaela Shiffrin won today’s World Cup downhill race in Bansko, Bulgaria: Shiffrin defeated Italian racer Federica Brignone by 0.18 seconds to notch her first win of 2020 and the 65th of her career on the World Cup circuit.
@MikaelaShiffrin mastered @BanskoWorldCup downhill conquering her 65th World Cup victory in one of the toughest track of the women’s tour😳💪🏻‼️#fisalpine pic.twitter.com/CtOp6qgprq
— FIS Alpine (@fisalpine) January 24, 2020
Jarvis Landry survived an epic game of dodgeball to earn an AFC victory:
JARVIS LANDRY.
Don’t miss this Dodgeball performance for the ages. 😱 @God_Son80#ProBowlSkills pic.twitter.com/0yGr4mPE3A
— NFL (@NFL) January 24, 2020
On this day: In 2003, Paul Pierce scored 45 points against the Nuggets in a bizarre 77-58 win. In a remarkably low scoring game, Pierce outscored the Nuggets 19-11 through the first quarter and had 28 points by himself at halftime, only one behind Denver’s entire roster (29).

Daily highlight: Lamar Jackson nailed the crossbar from 50 yards.
Lamar Jackson. Going for the crossbar. From FIFTY YARDS OUT. 😮@lj_era8
📺: 2020 #ProBowlSkills Showdown | TONIGHT 9PM ET on ESPN pic.twitter.com/Z352iCyBSl
— NFL (@NFL) January 23, 2020
Trivia answer: Scott Secules
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