It’s pretty hard to criticize anything the Patriots and Bill Belichick do. After all, they might not do things the conventional way, but they sure do get results. The Patriots’ latest high-risk strategy is to take a gamble on a player who hasn’t played for five years.

Needing Depth

One thing the Patriots needed to address, as their season opener on Sept 13 grew closer, was a lack of players. A total of eight players on the Patriots roster opted out of the 2020 season due to the outbreak, which meant Belichick and the front office had work to do.

The Patriots coach is known for making a few left-field decisions, but few people would have predicted who Belichick had lined up for tight end. Belichick turned to Paul Quessenberry, who not only hasn’t played football for five years, but also only played as linebacker.

Who Is Their New Guy?

Paul Quessenberry played football for the Navy in college, but after failing to make it in the NFL, he opted for a career in the marines. Five years later, Quessenberry’s NFL dream looks like it’s finally coming true.

He played defensive end back in college, but the Patriots think he’d be a good fit for tight end. Quessenberry joined the Patriots practice squad and appears to have impressed enough to earn a contract.

Although it’s a long shot, there is some football pedigree that goes with the Quessenberry name. Paul’s brother, Scott, plays as an offensive guard for the Chargers, while his other brother, David, is an offensive tackle for the Titans.

The upcoming 2020 NFL season is going to be one for the history books due to the circumstances surrounding it. Will this gamble work out for the Patriots? Knowing how coach Belichick works, we won’t be ruling Paul Quessenberry’s success out despite his lack of game time.

The latest MLB season is just around the corner, and baseball fans can finally start looking forward to watching some action again. With the first round of matchup beginning on July 23, these are the opening day games to keep an eye on.

4. Brewers at Cubs

The National League is likely to be a four-horse race, and two of them face off against each other here. Wrigley Field will play host to a finely-balanced matchup that could go either way.

3. Angels at Athletics

This should be a fun matchup because every single game between these two franchises impacts their postseasons. With plenty on the line, it will be fascinating to see how the Angels perform against one of the best rosters in MLB. On the flip side, the Athletics will have to play well to hope they can keep stars like Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon quiet.

2. Twins at White Sox

The Twins and White Sox are like two peas in a pod. The White Sox will be hoping they can follow the same trajectory that saw the Twins win their division in 2019. Chicago will have to perform well to challenge the Twins, and it will be intriguing to see how the plethora of free-agent signings bed into each roster.

1. Yankees at Nationals

MLB fans are in for a treat in what could already be a World Series preview. The Yankees and Nationals are two of the strongest contenders in the league as last year’s champions, and this year’s favorites go head to head. With stars throughout, the most intriguing matchup is the pitching contest between Gerrit Cole and Max Scherzer.

These games should prove to be talking points not just on day one, but how they could impact the rest of the year. With only a shortened 60-game regular season, every result counts, and these are the opening day matchups to make sure you catch.