The Patriots are welcoming back an assistant coach from their past for a second straight postseason as it was announced by head coach Bill Belichick on Monday that the team will re-introduce former wide receivers coach Brian Daboll to the coaching staff.
A year ago, New England caught some flak around the league by bringing back offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels just weeks after he had been on the staff of the St. Louis Rams.
Daboll is one of the more known branches of the Belichick coaching tree, having served as an offensive coordinator under Eric Mangini in Cleveland, under Tony Sparano in Miami and under Romeo Crennel in Kansas City this past season.
“Last year when I came back, I just really did anything they asked me to do,” McDaniels said. “I was excited to do it. Anything you can do to help at this time of year is useful. Whether that’s drawing practice cards or sitting in a meeting and having a few ideas on a certain situation in a game plan or anything like that during the course of a week, everything is so important. Every detail is so critical at this time of the year, and having another good football coach on your staff to help is nothing but helpful for us.”
Rumors confirmed
Tight end Rob Gronkowski is scheduled to once again have surgery on his left forearm today and will miss the remainder of the postseason, according to multiple reports.
“It’s disappointing to not have Rob available, but I thought that Shane (Vereen) and Hooman (Michael Hoomanawanui) both did a great job of stepping in to the game (Sunday),” Belichick said.
A Ravens fan’s momentary meltdown
Here’s a little taste of the type of animal Patriots fans could deal with Sunday at Gillette if any lucky Baltimoreans get their hands on AFC Championship tickets.
A Ravens fan screaming like a child (or bird?) during last Saturday’s Baltimore win in Denver:
