On the Bubble: Tavon Wilson, Patrick Chung and Nate Ebner: pick two
Greatest safety in Patriots history? Rodney Harrison, Don Webb, Tim Fox, Lawyer Milloy, Fred Marion, Roland James, Randy Moss (final play of game replacement), or Devin McCourty?
As we enter training camp for 2014, there are roster locks like Stephen Gostkowski, Chandler Jones, Devin McCourty and Julian Edelman that come to mind. For the safety position, we are trying to fit Tavon Wilson, Patrick Chung and Nate Ebner into two roster spots. All three could play special teams, but only one of these has played special teams as a way of life.
Rugby requires a great deal of physical and mental toughness, both qualities which obviously correlate to football. Words like scrum, union, tackle, beer, drinking, football, soccer and awesome all refer to the “game played in heaven”. There is only one sport that has mention in the Guinness of Records. That would be rugby, where Steve House from Bethesda, MD drank a beer while standing on his head in two seconds. Please don’t try this inside your home.
Nate Ebner has seen it all in such a short period. He has run, punted, pitched, kicked, clapped, yelled and sworn all before post-game activities. The safety position should be a piece of cake, for nobody has gotten behind him, yet. As for playing a regular position, I think he will leave that to Patrick and Tavon. They need it more.
As for the greatest safety in Patriots history, that would be Paul Revere. Paul was multi-talented like Nate. He was a silversmith, engraver as well as on-the-spot reporter. He yelled just like Nate, with his famous Midnight Ride, and the famous proclamation, “One if by land, and two if by sea.” On April 18, 1775, Paul Revere told three Boston Patriots to hang two lanterns on the church steeple. The lanterns would inform the Patriots stationed in Charlestown of the location of the British army. One lantern meant that the British were marching across the bridge, and two meant that they were arriving by boat.
Of course, if Devin McCourty could bring us Kevin Durant, he would be the number one safety in Patriots history. Durant could be used the way the Washington Redskins Head Coach, George Allen wanted to use 7’ 4” 450 lbs. “Andre the Giant” as a field goal blocker. Kevin could do the same thing. If Andre had been riding the horse that Paul Revere used (Brown Beauty) to warn us that “the redcoats were coming”, we would already be the London Patriots.
It is possible that most of the team is on the bubble, including Tom Brady. I think Bill Belichick will keep Tavon Wilson and Patrick Chung. The only one who could cut Nate Ebner is Nate Ebner.
Paul Murphy is a freelance writer from New Hampshire.
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Wonder what other players are in danger of being cut? Check out more of our On The Bubble series.
