Fumbling Forward

Football, that is. Happy first day of training camp! Not Gronk, he never left! Man, he was all over the place this off-season, never skipping a party rocking, fist pumping beat.  Reality TV dating on The Choice (where I have total faith he was looking for a real, long lasting love as can be found on The Bachelorette), partying (sans shirt, of course), charity appearances (he strutted his stuff at a charity football game for Best Buddies in Boston that I attended and Tom Brady was unfashionably late for), magazine covers (see picture below), you name it, he did it in the off-season and I’m pretty sure we couldn’t get rid of him if we tried…not that I want to, look at those abs! Can you say Magic Mike worthy? Gronk, call me maybe…

It wasn’t just the summer of Gronk shenanigans, it was the off-season where the Patriots ditched my beloved Ochocinco. Though he certainly did not deliver last season, leaving my affections for him lackluster, as you know, here at Fumbling Forward, I have a soft spot for the man whose love of himself is unparalleled, and it cracks me up. Chad, congrats on your nuptials and your new name change back to Johnson. Soo now that you finagled a #85 jersey in Miami, are you going to keep it? How long will this last? Either way, wishing you luck in Miami as long as that doesn’t entail you bringing it in full force like you failed to do for the Pats, that would really break my Ocho-loving heart. P.s. loving you on Instagram, Chad, always modeling new suits and kicks, looking fresh.

Also, Brady is having another super human sure to be beautiful baby with Gisele. As you can see, it was a busy off-season.

But now let’s get down to football. 

• Will Gronk’s ankle be good to go after he clearly wasn’t extra restful the past few months? It better be.
• What’s the deal with Welker and his contract? Is this his last season after he only signed a one year franchise tender? Boy needs to be back in 2013, he’s a Patriot Supah Stah averaging over 100 receptions and 1,000 yards receiving, and earning four pro-bowls and an All-Pro selection in 2009 and 2011 since joining the Pats in 2007. Could we bounce back after losing that kind of power? 
• We said goodbye to the “law firm,” Ben-Jarvis Green-Ellis, and fellow Tight End Kevin Faulk this off-season, so where does that leave the team in terms of TEs? Well, last year we drafted Shane Vereen, who looked promising before an injury side-lined him, not to mention Stevan Ridley will hopefully be on the move. We’ll be looking to them for some big plays. 
• Then there was that teeny tiny, well actually big issue the team had last year…defense. If I know Bill, and in my own way I think I do (I mean I did channel him on Halloween last year/kind of cross dress…), he won’t let that little issue persist this season. The motto this off-season was “be aggressive, B-E aggressive” and we acquired Chandler Jones, who does martial arts training (no big deal), and Dont’a Hightower who at 6-4 270 lbs, is massive.

So, we shall see, but I have faith in the Patriot way and am oh so excited for my football Sundays to rear their lovely head again! Get out the beers and cheers to the beginning of my 2.5 season as a full-fledged football lover!