🐋 Boston’s 'white whales'

Good Morning, Boston.

On this day in 1959 … Clemson star QB Harvey White became the first player to ever sign with the AFL’s Boston Patriots, who eventually became the New England Patriots. He’s also the first Pats player to wear No. 10 — a cursed number in franchise history thanks to one Mac Jones.  Maybe Drake Maye will finally make “10” look good.

WHAT’S ON TAP TODAY:

A homecoming for Mike Vrabel?

How Jayson Tatum dodged the Lakers

Josh Allen gases up Drake Maye

LET’S GET INTO IT…

LEADING OFF

What could have been …

Boston has some major “what-if” stories. No, the Red Sox weren’t the frontrunners for free-agent slugger Juan Soto, who signed a record contract with the New York Mets instead of Boston. But it would’ve been a franchise-shifting acquisition if Boston had swung it for the superstar outfielder. That made us think: what are some of the biggest Boston sports moves that did almost happen — and was Boston better or worse off for missing out?

Red Sox: Alex Rodriguez. Sure, we hate A-Rod now. But the Red Sox almost swung a trade for him in 2003 in exchange for Manny Ramirez and a young Jon Lester. (They then would have sent Nomar Garciaparra to the White Sox for Magglio Ordonez, which is also bananas). The MLBPA scuttled the deal, though, and the Yankees grabbed Rodriguez after Aaron Boone messed up his knee playing pick-up basketball. Ramirez and the Sox won two World Series without A-Rod, while Lester became the ace of Boston’s 2013 championship squad.

Celtics: Kevin Durant. The future Hall-of-Famer spurned Boston in 2016 despite the Celtics sending Tom Brady — and Kelly Olynyk, most importantly — to the Hamptons to try and recruit him. When Durant wanted out of Brooklyn during the 2022-23 season, the C’s doubled back, offering Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and a draft pick for him. But the Nets reportedly wanted Marcus Smart instead of White in the deal, and Boston wouldn’t budge. Brown and White just won a title with the Celtics — Brown was Finals MVP — while Durant is ringless in Phoenix. Advantage, Boston.

Patriots: Larry Fitzgerald. The man who launched a thousand Logan Airport memes. No one knows quite how serious the discussions were, but we know New England was interested in trading for the future Hall-of-Famer after letting Wes Welker depart following the 2012 season. But they didn’t land him, leaving the receiving corps thin without star tight ends Rob Gronkowski (injured) and Aaron Hernandez (cut). Fortunately, the Pats still won three Super Bowls in the 2010s. But just imagine how much better Tom Brady could’ve been with another all-time great receiver.

Bruins: John Tavares. Boston landed a meeting with the then-Islanders star when he hit free agency in 2018 before he picked his hometown Maple Leafs on a seven-year, $77 million deal. The B’s already had top-line center and captain Patrice Bergeron, who led them to a Stanley Cup Final in 2019. But Tavares could have been a younger replacement for David Krejci — and pretty great insurance now that both Bergeron and Krejci have hung up their skates.

POLL

🤔 Which acquisition would’ve changed Boston sports the most?

BOSTON SPORTS

Quick hits & headlines

⁉️ Is Mike Vrabel angling for the Pats’ job? NBC Sports Boston’s Tom E. Curran reported the ex-Patriot star and Tennessee Titans head coach would be interested in the Patriots job if it opened up. Seeing what they’ve seen in Year 1 under Mayo, would the Krafts pass on Vrabel a second time? Patriots fans might storm Robert’s office if they do.

🎉 Dan Connolly’s celebrates an epic anniversary. Thursday marked 14 years since the Patriots right guard shocked the world with an epic 71-yard kick return against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football. Between this and Vince Wilfork’s interception against the Chargers in 2011, the Pats have two of the best big-man plays in NFL history.

🧌 David Ortiz jabs Yankees for missing on Juan Soto. The Red Sox legend hit New York with his patented “The…Yankees lose” after Soto signed with the in-city rival Mets. Boston may not have won the Soto sweepstakes or the World Series, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the Yankees’ failure.  Even in retirement, “Big Papi” still owns the Yanks. 

😂 Woody Johnson and the Jets are a mess. A new exposé from The Athletic suggests the Jets owner nixed a trade for Browns receiver Jerry Jeudy because his “Madden” rating was too low. That’s like not calling for designed runs for Drake Maye because he finishes last in Rainbow Road on Mario Kart. Just imagine Bill Belichick taking that job instead of the North Carolina gig. 

🏀 Jayson Tatum’s agent helped him dodge the Lakers. Magic Johnson, who was LA’s president of basketball operations during the 2017 NBA Draft, claimed Tatum’s agent Jeff Wechsler nixed a pre-draft workout with the Lakers to keep Tatum off their board with the No. 2 pick, paving the way for Boston to grab him third overall. Give that man another raise, Jay.

ASK A FAN

AVP on the outs?

“Right or wrong there’s no way he’s back, right? From the owners' box to the HC to the postgame press conferences just seem insurmountable to overcome.” — @Cmerc5 (X) on Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt.

Thanks for the question.

The backlash from Jonathan Kraft’s apparent backseat play-calling and Jerod Mayo’s postgame comments about the lack of designed runs for Drake Maye certainly shook my confidence that Van Pelt would be back next season. But Van Pelt’s development of Maye has easily been the best thing any Patriots coach has done this year. So if the Patriots decide Mayo should stay, so should Van Pelt. Don’t make your young QB immediately learn a new offense for no reason. Otherwise, fire both of them.

Game recognizes game

GAME … SET … MEME

Take a knee

😎 Enjoy your holiday break, everyone. We’ll still be working, of course. But for those of you who can run out the clock until Christmas, have at it. Victory Formation is the best formation. (Not that the 2024 Patriots would know much about that.)

🗞 That’s a wrap. I’ll be writing a last-minute Christmas letter for Drake Maye to get some help the last three games of the year.

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