Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - One Clear Voice: Patriots Talk with Bob Socci - 1/31/2020

Episode Date: January 31, 2020

On the ‘eve’ of Super Bowl LIV, host Mike D’Abate welcomes New England Patriots play-by-play voice and journalist Bob Socci. The pair discuss the legacy of Dante Scarnecchia, the privilege of calling a Super Bowl, and his thoughts on having possibly called Tom Brady’s final game in Mew England.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello to all of you Foxborough faithful. Welcome to your What Does It All Mean Friday episode of Locked On Patriots, your daily home for news notes and analysis infused with the occasional opinion on your six-time Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots. I am Mike DeBate. I am your host of Locked On Patriots, which is a proud part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Please feel free to reach out to me and follow me on Twitter at MDABATEFPC, and be sure to follow Locked On Patriots on Twitter at LO underscore Patriots. The time for the talk has just about ended. Super Bowl 54 is nearly upon us. The Kansas City Chiefs representing the AFC, taking on the San Francisco 49ers representing the NFC. And enough of me saying that it just doesn't seem the same without the Patriots in it.

As Bill Belichick would say, it is what it is, folks. The Chiefs and Niners are set to do battle in South Beach, and it's going to be a great game, folks. And I will be offering my game prediction today, but as I've said so many times here within the past month, this is Locked On Patriots, and that is where the topic of conversation will remain today, your New England Patriots. And it is where the topic of conversation will remain today. Your New England Patriots. And it's been an interesting week here on Foxborough.

The retirement of Dante Skarnecchia. Tom Brady sightings all over the country. And while I try to be one of the few voices of reason on these subjects, sometimes it's not easy. Sometimes you need to welcome in another voice. A voice of reason. A voice for all seasons. See where I'm going with this, folks? I thought so.

Joining me today on Locked On Patriots, I am honored to welcome the voice of the New England Patriots, Mr. Bob Sose. There are few, if any, in this business whose insight and perspectives I respect as much as Bob's and definitely no one I respect more. And today we'll be discussing Dante Skarnecchia's legacy, the responsibilities and feelings that go along with calling a Super Bowl. Don't forget, Bob alongside Scott Zolak have called four Super Bowls, three of which resulted in Super Bowl championships. So we'll get his perspective on that as well, considering that the start of Super Bowl 54 can now be measured within double-digit hours. And yes, you didn't think we'd not bring it up, would you? We will be talking about that certain cryptic photograph that went around social media

and caused a buzz like you cannot imagine on Thursday evening. So sit tight, folks. I am excited to welcome Bob in in just a moment, and I sincerely hope, as always, that you enjoy today's podcast. And speaking of that photo, that's where we'll begin today. And I'm relatively sure that most of you know what I'm referring to, but just in case you don't, just a little after 6.30 p.m. Eastern, Tom Brady took to social media, primarily Instagram and Twitter, and he posted a picture of himself in which, I will hand it to Tom, his features were so well concealed that you couldn't tell whether he was walking toward the camera or away from the camera,

and the silhouette appeared to be in the visitor's tunnel at Gillette Stadium. The thing is here, the post included no explanations, no verbiage whatsoever. So naturally, of course, Twitter and Instagram, they're going to take this with a grain of salt. No one's going to overreact. No way. Almost immediately, the likes, the retweets went through the roof, and almost immediately, these quote-unquote amateur photographic experts came out of the

woodwork, and they looked at Tom's shoulders, his shoes, whether or not the silhouette image captured his wristwatch, and all of this led to more speculation and the question on everyone's mind. Does it mean that he's coming into the stadium, or leaving the stadium? Is he staying in New England, or is he leaving New England? And folks, if we're being honest, in terms of the NFL world, that's the biggest story here in New England. It's not really Super Bowl 54.

Again, the Patriots aren't an active participant. The concern of Patriots Nation, and rightfully so, is where is Tom Brady going to be playing next year? And for a little while on Thursday evening, it looked like this picture might be a clue from Tom Brady in terms of what he was thinking. If he's walking in the visitor's tunnel and he's walking toward the camera, well, does that mean he's walking into Gillette Stadium as a visitor? That must mean he's leaving.

But then you have the other side of the argument. If he's walking out of Gillette Stadium but walking toward the field, does that mean he's looking to take the field for one more go-round? I know, folks, it's maddening. But to help quell everyone's apprehension, about a half hour after the picture was posted, Adam Schefter of ESPN took to Twitter and he stated that Brady's posting was not an indicator of his football future. So even though the speculation was quote-unquote fun, as Schefter put it, why did Tom post it? Well, to be honest, folks, Tom's the only one that really knows the answer to that question.

There's been some speculation that it might be in conjunction with a new ad campaign for TB12. The theory that seems to be gaining a lot of momentum is that Tom's posting is in some way going to be added to a tribute to his friend, the late Kobe Bryant. In fact, some have been posting side-by-side comparison photos showing the photo of Brady and also a photo of Bryant, who kind of is in silhouette, but a little bit more visible than what Brady was in his photo. And in the photo of Bryant, he's of is in silhouette, but a little bit more visible than what Brady was in his photo. And in the photo of Bryant, he's clearly walking away from the camera. His back is to the camera, and he seems to be walking out of a tunnel. Again, folks, speculation is definitely fun.

But if you're looking at this photo as any type of indicator as to what Tom Brady is going to do in terms of free agency, and whether or not he'll be back in New England next year, well, I don't know what to tell you, folks. I would not spend too much time delving into the meaning of this photograph. The absolute earliest that Tom could tip his hand in terms of where he's going to go would be March 18th when the free agency period opens up. Keep in mind, right now he can only negotiate with the Patriots, so posting a picture of this type really does nothing to enhance his bargaining stature.

I've kind of gone back and forth on whether or not the photo is indeed a tribute to Kobe Bryant. If it is, it's a very fitting tribute to a friendship went far beyond the boundaries of professional sports. The only thing that makes me question that is it's not like Tom to play games with something as solemn as the death of a friend. It seems likely that he would have accompanied that photo with either a hashtag regarding Kobe Bryant

or something to indicate that this was indeed a tribute to his friend. There have been some, primarily in the media, that are suggesting that Tom is simply trolling everyone. And I know most of my listeners know what trolling means, but just in case there are some of you that don't, it simply means he's having some fun at the expense of the media and the fans that are hanging on his every move. Earlier in the day, it was erroneously reported that Tom was indeed in Nashville, Tennessee, and that he and his family were visiting schools and ready to enroll his children into an elite Nashville prep school. Don't laugh, folks. This gained steam. People pointed to the connection between he and his good friend Mike Vrabel and assumed that Tom was going to be

signing with the Tennessee Titans. However, that rumor was quickly diffused when Gil Brandt posted a picture of he, Tom Brady, and Gisele Bundchen in Miami, indicating that Tom was in town for the Super Bowl. Later, several media outlets reported that Tom was indeed never in Nashville on Thursday and did not visit any schools with any of his children or his wife Gisele. And sadly, folks, this is nothing new. For the last couple of weeks, it's been reported that Tom bought a house in Connecticut. Then we found out he didn't have a house in Connecticut. Or did he?

There's still conflicting reports going on about that, all from reputable media sources. He showed up at the Conor McGregor fight, had a conversation with Mark Davis, and everyone assumed he's signing with the Las Vegas Raiders. But what does it all mean? In one word, folks, nothing. It gets people talking. Maybe Tom indeed was trolling social media last night. If he was, I can't say I blame him. You'd probably resent it too if every single move you made ended up being a viral social media post, ended up on every major sports news station, and people who either don't know you at all or know you just a little bit are speculating and claiming to be experts on where you're headed next year.

Yeah, if I'm Tom Brady, I'm going to be upset. But don't misconstrue what I'm saying here, folks. These things are indeed newsworthy. As much as we may not want to believe they are, they were part of the news cycle. Tom Brady is big news. Any news about him is going to go viral. So naturally, those in the media profession

are going to do their best to report, try to be first to report it, and try to be as accurate as they possibly can be. So in no way am I criticizing any of my colleagues in the media for either writing about, pontificating on, or tweeting about the whereabouts and the future plans of Tom Brady. But what we also have to realize is that as much of a right as we have in the media to discuss these matters, Tom Brady has every bit as much of a right to troll us in return. So bottom line, folks, take these reports with a grain of salt,

and until mid-March, none of these little anecdotes will likely be relevant in the least. But my voice is not the only one that counts in a matter like this. Very shortly, I will be welcoming in a voice for all seasons. Bob Soce will join me, and we'll discuss Tom Brady, Dante Skarnecchia, and a little bit of insight as to what it takes to call a Super Bowl. And speaking of the Super Bowl, it's the most wonderful time of the year for football fans. Unless you're in New England. Then we're feeling a little bit bitter.

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Since April of 2013, this man has masterfully handled the play-by-play for your New England Patriots, folks. Since joining the Pats broadcast, he and former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak have called so many memorable moments, including three Super Bowl championships. He is one of the most acclaimed professionals in the business, and on a personal level, I can tell you one of the best guys you will meet in this or any industry. I am beyond honored to welcome my guest today, the voice of the New England Patriots, Bob Sose. Bob, thank you so much for joining me today.

Welcome back to Locked On Patriots. Hey, Mike. Thanks for having me, and thank back to Locked On Patriots. Hey, Mike, thanks for having me, and thank you for the very kind words. You're overly generous, but I really appreciate it. Oh, no, I assure you it's not overly generous. Those words are well-earned, and they come directly from the heart, as always, as you know. Bob, today I brought you on here as one of the nation's premier experts in photographic digital forensics so that you can tell us what Tom Brady's social media post means. No, I'm kidding, Bob. I'm kidding. I'm kidding.

But, you know, it's amusing. I opened the show today by saying I don't think I've ever seen so many amateur, quote-unquote, analysts pop up last night on Twitter. You know, Tom's status absolutely is the story here in New England. It's the story. And we are going to get into that in just a little bit, folks. But first, Bob, it's been an eventful week in Foxborough. And obviously the big news is the retirement of Dante Skarnecchia, legendary coach of the

offensive line and beloved by so many in the organization. And earlier this week in your notebook for 98.5 the sports hub you wrote a truly moving piece about scar and the impact he has had on so many within the patriots organization not just the players he's coached but across the entire landscape for the benefit of our listeners will you share with us your lasting impressions of dante and what will the patriots missed most from him going forward sure mike but before i do that, I do know that one thing I think that Tom Brady's social media post did not indicate, speaking of or alluding to another social media post

that was going viral yesterday, that was definitely Gillette Stadium. It was not Montgomery Bell Academy in Tennessee. That was clear. Absolutely. Tom, of course, I thought had a really nice tribute on Twitter in his reaction to Dante Skarniecki as well. I think the big thing for me about Skarniecki that stood out more than anything, and it's what I try to really convey in my piece,

is that this was a hard-nosed football coach, a very small guy by comparison to the people he coached. He coached the offensive line for the most part during his 34 seasons with the Pats and 36 overall in the NFL. And he was someone who commanded the respect of these giants. for the most part during his 34 seasons with the Pats and 36 overall in the NFL. And he was someone who commanded the respect of these Giants. And he did it in a number of ways. He did it because he was among the best assistant coaches ever,

in the words of Bill Belichick. And certainly among offensive line coaches, very well revered, very widely respected. And we know what he's done here. And I thought Paul Alexander, one of his contemporaries, who'd been the Cincinnati Bengals offensive line coach for 20-plus years, really said it best when it came to the quality of coaching that Skarniecki had to deliver year in, year out. You know, the Patriots didn't spend a lot on free agents,

whether it was deciding big-money guys and put them on the offensive line. They didn't necessarily retain free agents. Or if someone like a Logan Mankins, you know, toward the end of his contract was getting a little too expensive, he was traded away. They were a team that drafts a lot, with the exception of Isaiah Wynn. In the middle to late rounds, it brings in guys who are undrafted free agents, practice squad players.

In a lot of ways. And we go back to the Dan Connellys and Ryan Wendells of the world and David Andrews, an undrafted free agent at center. And that means you need a really good offensive line coach, a great offensive line coach in the words of Alexander, to make that work. Because the Patriots look at it as a position that can be coached and developed. And Dante Skronecki was able to do that. As Alexander said, whatever they gave him, he made it work. I think he did it because he was an outstanding coach with excellent knowledge,

but also because he commanded the respect of his players. He was hard on them. He was someone who didn't put up with excuses. He was someone that didn't put up with anything but a complete effort on and off the field. But at the same time, he gave his players that. I think, you know, it's really clear when he talked to people who played for SCAR that he really cared about them as people. And what impressed me the most were the times that I'd see him around, whether it was in a hotel or at a charity function once in a while and you know

the way he treated people the way he talked about youth football the way he talked about military history the way he talked to two people the way he talked to the hotel clerks the way he talked to the people in the building at Gillette Stadium whatever their position was and so you know here was this guy that combined this remarkable toughness on the field and overcame his physical stature to really, you know, rise above these six, six, or in the case of some like Solder and Vollmer, you know, six, nine, 300 plus pound behemoths, Trent Brown, another one. And, you know, he, he never had any false bravado. He was somebody that didn't have to be tough or act tough. He was tough. He

was a Marine reservist when he got into college coaching back in the early 70s. And he was a man of integrity, a man of honesty, straight shooter, very humble. And like I said, he combined toughness with kindness. And we show that kindness is not weakness. Absolutely. And I think, again, so eloquently said, and if you haven't had a chance to check out the piece, folks, definitely 98.5thesportshub.com. You can definitely check that out. And Bob really articulates that so well.

You've mentioned so much. And everyone that I've spoken to this week regarding Dante, the prevailing thought that everyone seems to have is his ability to maximize the talent that he was given. And you touched upon this, saying that the Patriots didn't always invest a lot of money into that position. They didn't always go above and beyond for the extension. He had to work with the talent that he had. I look at what he did with a guy like Stephen Neal, going back to the early part of the Patriots dynasty, not having really played any type of a snap at that position

and turned him into a very formidable offensive lineman. So it's definitely going to be a void and a big hole to fill on the field, but off the field as well is where you shared a lot of the stories, and I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to read it, and thank you for sharing those again with us today. But switching gears just a little bit, Bob, Super Bowl 54 is upon us, and for the last two weeks I've been saying that it's a different feel,

especially for Patriots fans. Personally for me, the first time in four years, I will not be covering the Pats in this game, but for you and Scott as well, having the duty to call a game like this has to be a humbling and an honored experience. And it must feel so much more different for you too, as well, because this is the first time in a while that I've had the time to be able to ask you this question. Take us through the preparations that are a part of your Super Bowl routine. And how is it different from any other

games? I know it sounds cliche to say, oh, well, the Super Bowl is different, but what different type of feel or how much similar, I guess, is a good way to put the question is as well to what you usually do to prepare for a game? Well, you try to prepare the same way, Mike, honestly, whether you're calling a preseason game or a postseason game. And I know that that sounds trite and cliched, but that's how you go about it. I think what makes the Super Bowl different are a number of factors that are really more about location and time necessarily than the magnitude of the game. For example, you have two weeks between the AFC Championship and the Super Bowl. But the thing about it is, you know, once you get off site,

like once you leave home to go to the Super Bowl site, it's going to be very difficult to get your paperwork done and your charts and a lot of the log work, the preparation that you have to do to walk into the booth on game day and have your rosters set and your notes on all the players. Over the course of the second week while you're there at the Super Bowl, you're running from press conference to photo op to radio row

to some other Super Bowl-related event, maybe the team party at night or a station dinner the following day. So it's a really hectic period. And you try to soak up and enjoy as much of the flavor of the Super Bowl week and the host city as you can. Well, at the same time, you know, making sure that you're still preparing for the game by talking to people, interviewing people, watching as much video as you can, maybe adding to the notes you collect.

But you really try to get, in my case, condense your homework per se in that first week. So you want that done. The thing about a Super Bowl, though, is there is so much information and there's so much coverage that it's almost overwhelming. And again, you have to really keep in mind, particularly as a radio broadcaster, because the television announcers, they're going to have a lot of production meetings. They're going to have extensive preparation that's going to be done by some other people to help the broadcasters,

but the broadcasters as well really have to immerse themselves. But a lot of the time you're dealing with the main storylines of the game and what direction the producer and director of the telecast want to go and how they're going to cover certain storylines going in. As a radio broadcaster, again, you're preparing the same way you do with every regular season game or preseason game. Your main job is to have all the pertinent information on the players, be able to describe what's happening as quickly as you can, as well as you can.

And you do that by studying your charts once they're done. But that can be difficult during the Super Bowl week because, again, you're kind of overwhelmed by the magnitude of everything that particular week. You know, for example, the guys who've been in Miami, I'm sure, especially being the first experience for, you know, the broadcaster, the Chiefs, and it may be for the broadcaster of the 49ers. I'm not sure if Greg Papa's ever done a game before. But, you know, it's all new, and it's all exciting,

and it's an awesome experience to go through. So that's what I've learned is that, you know, try to treat it like the same game as week 16 or week 17, because it really is, in the end, you're doing the same thing. But when it comes to your preparation, make sure you get everything done that you have to do before you get out on site and then adjust, you know,

with the little time that you're going to have out there. The other part of it, too, for me is that it's a long day. It's a really long day because you have to get to the stadium early because of security. So, you know, you don't want to risk leaving too late and being rushed. But on the flip side of that, you're at the stadium. I think for Super Bowl XLIX, for example, I think we went to the stadium around 10 a.m. So the game doesn't kick off until hours later. And you don't think it's – in one way, the clock turns slowly and it's a long

day. But the other way, all of a sudden, it's there before you know it. And there's just so many people and so much going on in the pregame hours and the buildup and the excitement that, you know, you really have to be able to pace yourself and make sure that you're ready to go, that you're at your sharpest when the game kicks off. I think the other part of it for me, and it's this case with any game that follows a bye week, you feel a bit rusty because it's been a couple of weeks. But that second week at the Super Bowl site just seems so much longer than a typical second week coming off the bye during the regular season

or if you get the bye between the regular season finale and the divisional playoff weekend. That's interesting, and I'm so glad that you brought that up about a bye week and how you prepare for that as opposed to the Super Bowl week where it's built in. You absolutely know it's there. You plan for it, but at the same time, it has the similarities between that type of a preparation. So insight that only someone that has gone through it can provide.

And again, I think our listeners are really going to take away a lot from that, and I appreciate it. You make it look so easy, and all the preparation that goes back into it with the notes and knowing your opponent, knowing your team, the statistics, the tendencies, the mannerisms, these all go into the nuances of being able to call a game. And I say all the time here on Locked on Patriots is that the job that you and Zoe do in terms of being able to set the scene, create a picture for the listener, is really, I think, unparalleled. You do such an amazing job at that.

Not only that, but you also sync up so well with the TV broadcast. And for Patriots fans, sometimes the TV broadcast can be a little difficult to take at times, so I encourage them, if they want a good sync, maybe watch the game on television and have Bob and Zoe on in the background because they do a phenomenal job. I truly mean that, and I always appreciate the work that you do. I appreciate that. It's always, always great.

I appreciate that. I really do. Oh, you're very, very welcome. Please, go ahead. I was just going to add, you know, the other thing I was just thinking about in the Super Bowl setting, too, the newer stadiums, the broadcast booths, aren't located typically where you'd find them

in the older stadiums. We're very lucky at Gillette Stadium, for example, Mike, because our broadcast booth is right at midfield. Same with the visiting radio crew and the network television crew and national radio. A lot of the new stadiums, they kind of tuck you away in the corner because they want that prime real estate for the big money corporate suites. And when you go to the Super Bowl, the location doesn't get better. It usually gets worse than during the season because they have so many broadcast crews.

So that's one of the things that you really have to adjust to when you're calling a game in the new stadiums, but especially at the Super Bowl, you're often calling them from the corner of the end zone or it's not the best vantage point. And we've been lucky because when Malcolm Butler intercepted the pass in Super Bowl XLIX, when James White scored the touchdown in Super Bowl LII, the Patriots were going in our direction. So our view was right down the line. We were very, very lucky.

I would hate to call some of those plays, you know, looking across the field, the field kind of going away from me. So that's one of the differences, too, in broadcasting the Super Bowl. And then the other thing I thought of as well that I should have added is there is a different level of excitement. You know that your words are going to be heard, and you don't want them heard in infamy. You don't want to make a major mistake.

But once you think about that beforehand, once the game gets going, you're just calling it as you otherwise would. But I think also subconsciously you get overly excited at times, and you really kind of have to pace yourself and just settle into a rhythm. It's hard to find a rhythm. It's long breaks, long day. Last year was especially difficult because of the nature of the game. But it takes a little time, and part of it is that extra week between games.

For me anyway, to get into a real comfortable rhythm where I feel like, okay, you know, now I'm just calling a game. And then once that happens, it's kind of like an out-of-body experience. You don't like, you don't think about what you're seeing as the Patriots are coming back 23 in terms of, I got to, you know, nail this call right because this could be the play that, you know, is the turning point. You just, you just call the game and it happens.

Absolutely. And again, the game and it happens. Absolutely. And again, I think that's insight. And you want to talk about whether or not the football gods are smiling on you and Zo and wondering whether or not you guys are doing a good job. Being in the prime position to be able to make those calls, I think says something about the job that you guys do. And I really, again, I appreciate that insight. I know our listeners do because

it's such an intricate detail that you really can't find anywhere else, like I said, other than someone that's gone through it and that's done it so gallantly as you've done all these years. Before I let you go today, my friend, I joked with you earlier about Tom's social media post, and we went back and forth on that a little bit. But, you know, the bottom line is that no one really other than Tom himself can really provide that type of validation that we're all seeking here on Patriots Nation. Only he can tell us yay or nay.

Now, your thoughts on this were so beautifully written in your weekly entry this week on A Voice for All Seasons, which is Bob's personal blog that I encourage you again to check out because I think this is so well done. You addressed the topic of how you approach the subject of possibly having called Tom's final game in New England. Now, rather than ask you to predict the unpredictable, I'm not going to put you on that hot seat right now, Bob, but I will ask this in a different way. In your years of watching Tom calling the action on the field, experiencing the way he conducts himself pre-game and post-game. What do you believe his deciding factors are going to be in his decision about whether

or not he's going to return to New England? You know, Mike, it's pure speculation because, you know, there's been so much that's been said and I think conclusions drawn and in some cases irresponsibly about Tom's mindset with regards to his past couple of contracts especially and what he seeks with this particular contract, whether it's from the Patriots or someone else. And one would think that, okay, he's taken the hometown discount for a long period of time and it's only natural to want to be paid like his contemporaries, like his peers, not paid like the 13th, 14th, or 15th best quarterback

in the league. But at the same time, too, I think there's so many other factors with Tom. And one of them, the post-playing career, again, is another subject that a lot of people have, I think, made great leaps of logic on the air and tried to associate his decision with what would be the next marketplace for the TB12 Sports Performance Center and method. And, again, I think you have to be careful about that. And I'm sure, you know, it's going to be a factor.

In Brady's case, he has stated he wants to, after he's done playing football, he wants to be someone along with his trainer, Alex Guerrero, and what they do, you know, spread the word, so to speak, and affect the lives of people in a healthy way. But I look at the competitiveness of Brady, the preparation that he always invests. You know, you hear these rather obscure players like Clay Harbor, for example, who was here briefly at tight end, a couple weeks ago tweeted out an anecdote that when you go into the meeting

rooms, Tom is in the front row taking notes furiously and copiously. And here he is, the greatest of all time, and he's like a rookie who's in there before everybody and he's out of there after everybody. But we know as well how competitive he has been and how well he prepares. It's one of the great strengths in Brady's case is just his football awareness,

his situational awareness, and a lot of that is the result of his preparation. And Chris Long, I heard on our station that he tried the sports hub. Talk about just Brady's overall knowledge of the game. It's so superior to others. I think it was maybe Cam Hayward of the Steelers who said that. So those things, it makes me wonder. There's got to be a lot to it. I think he's a guy who's always given the indication that family is really important to him.

And, you know, so geography, what kind of coach, what kind of situation is there around him? Is it a team that's got a chance to win a Super Bowl? Is it a situation where the facilities are good and he's going to like playing for that coach? Because I do think that for him, it's always when he's on the field, it's always about winning, and it's always about playing peak performance. And that's why sometimes I hear people say, well, you can go to Miami and set up a TV-12 there.

You can go to Las Vegas and set up a TV-12 there. He can go to Las Vegas and set up a TV-12 there and that's all great. Prove the Patriots wrong and make a lot more money and sell out the brand at this point. I think when it comes down to it, he's going to step back to what's the best situation for my family and me with my goals

and what I want out of the game. I think that's where it boils down to, the fact that he's approaching free agency, there will be interest, but where are the markets? What are the markets? What are they offering? What are the Patriots willing to offer if they're indeed going to get into those discussions with Tom?

And I presume they are, and they will. So I think there are a lot of factors, but I do think that, you know, one of the goals for all of us should be is just to kind of take a deep breath and relax a little bit from it. Devin McCourty said that as well. Absolutely. And I try to convey that as well at the end of my posts. But we don't know what's going to happen.

It's going to take a while. It's just so much runaway speculation, and a lot of it is given credibility or given credence by others, but I think there are people that are just spitballing like the rest of us. Nobody knows at this point. Agreed, and I think eloquently said, as always, Tom is basically going to do what's best for himself for his family

as the week has unfolded Bob we know about how this week started and the tragedy of losing an athlete that meant so much to so many people and how that makes you appreciate what you have in your life meaning your family, your health your ability to tackle each and every

day. It's never given. It's never promised to anybody. So all of those are going to be factors. Ultimately, with Brady assuming health and well-being is first and foremost, I do agree with you. I think that his thought process always lends itself to where is the best opportunity for me to win and

succeed. And I've been touting the drum all month long here on Locked On Patriots about saying I always believe, and I still believe to this day, that that best opportunity is still here in New England. But ultimately, it's going to be Tom to make that call, and it's up to the Pats organization to make that call as well.

So we're at an interesting crossroads here, folks, but don't let a lot of the noise, the background noise, deter you from the fact that ultimately it's going to be what's the best fit for both teams. And I think that's the best way and probably the least stressful way to approach it going into free agency. Mike, you know, the thing about the situation, too, for me, is I think, you know, people are all the time speaking for others.

That's what we do in this business, right? Absolutely. We try to put ourselves in their mindsets. And here in this case, you have people who've never met Tom's wife talking about what she wants, where she wants to go. Right. And maybe there are people that have informed speculation, but I don't even want to go there. I mean, to me, it serves no purpose when it comes down to it, unless you really have inside information. And it doesn't seem like anybody really does.

I mean, I've heard you hear one guy say in one minute, it's never going to be the Chargers, and then the next person says, oh, it's never going to be the chargers and then the next person says oh it's definitely going to be the chargers and yeah so that's why I think you just kind of wait and see and you know pay less attention to the real estate listings and real estate rumors and as well I think you know as a media person I think sometimes and granted there are different forums but I think sometimes we get a little careless when we start to, you know, speak for the interests of other people. And, you know, they'll ultimately resolve it. It's going to be, you know, probably after the league year starts

and free agency begins, but we're going to know. And it'll either be a privilege to continue to call his games or I'll look back and say what an honor it was to have called his games and wish him all the best because he's given us so much, and he's been kind to me in the interactions I've had. And, you know, I have, as you mentioned, I've had a chance to call three Super Bowl championships, and I don't think that I would have had that opportunity if not for the quarterback.

Absolutely, and very well said. And, again, showing that type of reverence is what makes you who you are, my friend, and it's what made you such an inspiration and a help to me, and I thank you for that. I thank you so much, Bob, for coming on today. Bob is feeling a little under the weather today, folks, but still he managed to come on today and power through it as a true pro. You would never know that unless I mentioned it, to come on today and power through it as a true pro. You would never know that unless I mentioned it,

and I hope I didn't put him on the spot by saying that, but I just wanted to let you know what type of guy this man is on the other end of the microphone that he would not disappoint and was graciously acceptance of my invitation to be my guest today on Locked On Patriots. You always bring insight, Bob, the way no one else can. I thank you so much. Once again, 98.5 The Sports Hub. You can hear him each and

every Patriots game. He is the voice. Along with Scott Zolak, they do a tremendous job calling games. I can't recommend it highly enough. And Bob is one of the great guys. Definitely check out his written work. And also, Bob, just before I let you go today, I wanted to acknowledge the great work that Bob does in tandem

with the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism. Bob is one of the many amazing fundraisers for this charity and their work to raise awareness for the advancement of treatment options and making a difference in the lives of those living with autism. On Bob's Twitter feed, you can definitely see ways in which you can help this great cause. It's something that means so much to him, and it's our honor here on Locked on Patriots to be able to at least give you the platform to help advance that cause and help continue to raise awareness and funds for something that really is near and dear

to everyone that's ever been affected by autism. So thank you, Bob. I hope you feel better. Enjoy the Super Bowl this weekend. Different perspective for you, but definitely enjoy the game. And thanks again. And we look forward to having you back on Locked on Patriots here before the season kicks off. Hey, Mike, thank you so much. Anytime, my friend. Thank you so much. Have a great weekend. Yeah, Mike, take care. Bye-bye.

And folks, I am confident that you enjoyed the wisdom and counsel of Bob Sose today. As I said several times during our conversation, Bob brings insight that only he can provide. I've had the privilege of covering the New England Patriots for the past three years, and Bob is always one of the most approachable media members, always gives of himself to help others. And to have him as a frequent guest here on Locked On Patriots is truly my honor. And we discussed a lot of subjects today, but one thing I did not press Bob on was to give a prediction for Super Bowl 54.

Well, even though Bob's insight is just a bit more advanced than mine, I'm kidding folks, it's a lot more advanced than mine, but for the final time in the 2019 season, I get to give you my game prediction, and it just happens to be for Super Bowl 54. Now when we opened the season, I truly believed that the prediction I'm about to give you my game prediction, and it just happens to be for Super Bowl 54. Now, when we opened the season, I truly believed that the prediction I'm about to give would include your New England Patriots, but I digress. Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, Kansas City Chiefs versus the San Francisco 49ers. And I have to say I'm a little surprised at the amount of people I see predicting a very

high-scoring game this weekend. I mean, I get it. I know Kansas City can be explosive on offense. Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelty, Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, Sammy Watkins, Damian Williams. Do I need to continue? That is a lot of offensive weapons. But I think a lot of people are forgetting how good this 49ers defense has been all year. That Niners defensive front, which includes Dee Ford, DeForest Buckner, Arik Amstead,

that's pretty strong in and of itself. Nick Bosa has been a force all season long, and he figures to have a big game on Sunday. The return of Quan Alexander to the linebacker position makes that defense so much more versatile. And then you talk about the secondary led by Richard Sherman. This is the toughest defense Kansas City has faced all year. On the flip side, this is the toughest offense

that the San Francisco defense has faced all year. So who wins the battle? Well, I think whoever wins that battle is who's going to win the Super Bowl. San Francisco is the type of team that loves to show blitz, but they don't do a whole lot of it. The reason being, they don't need to do a whole lot of it. Their defensive front is capable of playing straight up and making quarterbacks uncomfortable, especially mobile quarterbacks, and I think they're going to give Patrick Mahomes all he can handle on Sunday. It's almost an impossible task to stop Mahomes once he gets going,

but one way that you can do that is to contain him within the pocket. And they've done that this year. Twice apiece in the regular season, they faced Kyler Murray in Arizona and Russell Wilson in Seattle. Those are similar styles, even though Patrick Mahomes is playing at another level right now. But if the 49ers defense can make him uncomfortable, he is prone to throwing an interception.

He hasn't done that all postseason thus far. However, San Francisco's defense is very good at forcing turnovers. If Kansas City is to have any success on Sunday, they need to get out to a quick start. In each of their previous two playoff games, Kansas City has fallen behind early on. Give them a lot of credit. They're able to capitalize on miscues and utilize their weapons in a very explosive offense to put up a lot of credit. They're able to capitalize on miscues and utilize their weapons in a very explosive offense to put up a ton of points. If they start doing that early, it could be a very long day for the 49ers.

However, I don't think that's going to happen here. Robert Sala has built a very solid defense in San Francisco. And while I definitely don't see them shutting down Mahomes and company completely, I think they're going to hold them to a lot fewer points than people think. But it's not because they're going to be getting tons of stops on the Kansas City offense. The best way to neutralize Patrick Mahomes in this offense is to keep them off the field. And I think the San Francisco 49ers offense is more than capable of doing just that. Anyone who watched the NFC Championship game knows how formidable this running attack of

the 49ers is. By all indications, it looks like Telvin Coleman will play in this game after suffering an injury in the NFC Championship game, but even though he's not going to be 100%, his presence will help. Raheem Mostert stepped up big time against the Packers, and look for him to continue to have that same type of success, especially against a Chiefs defense that has difficulty stopping the run. I know you'll point to the fact that they were able to contain Derrick Henry to under 100 yards, but as much as I admire Henry and what he did this postseason, the Tennessee Titans running attack was one-dimensional.

San Francisco is not. We already mentioned Coleman. We mentioned Mostert. Don't forget about Matt Breda. Breda's capable of giving you yards on the ground. He has had some difficulty holding on to the football, and a lot of people have said that's earned him a place in the Kyle Shanahan doghouse. But Breda can be a force in this running game, and if the Niners need to put together long, sustaining drives to keep the

Kansas City offense on the sidelines, they're capable of doing it. If Kansas City figures out a way to be able to neutralize that running game, don't kid yourself, folks. San Francisco can win this through the air. With all due respect to Travis Kelsey, I believe George Kittle to be the best tight end in the NFL right now. He'll be Jimmy Garoppolo's safety valve if he gets into trouble. Manuel Sanders has a ton of experience in games like this, and he'll be relied upon heavily as well. Ibo Samuel is capable of making big plays down the field, and is also very good at that jet sweep type of play that we saw San Francisco run so effectively against the Packers two

weeks ago. For those reasons, I think San Francisco is able to control the clock, keep that explosive Chiefs offense off the field, and because of that, I don't believe they're going to be able to find the rhythm that they found against Houston or against Tennessee. I believe this game has a little bit more defense than people are expecting, some great battles on offense, and in the final analysis, I do believe that the San Francisco 49ers will win their sixth Super Bowl, and they will defeat the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, 24-17, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

So there you have it, folks. Don't forget to join me on Monday for another edition of Mock Draft Monday right here on Locked On Patriots, and we'll see if I was right in my assessment on Super Bowl 54. As always, please be sure to join me each and every day here on the Locked On Patriots podcast. Subscribe and download via your preferred podcast provider. Once again, I'm Mike DeBate. I thank Bob Sose for his time and appearance today, but most of all, I thank you so much for listening

and for staying locked in to Locked On Patriots. Have a great day, everyone. Have a great weekend, everyone, and enjoy Super Bowl 54 on Sunday.