Rajon Rondo has done everything right. In the 29,233,380 seconds he’s spent rehabbing from his Feb. 14 ACL surgery, he’s attended just about every game, remaining vocal in practice and quiet in public. When everyone jumped ship this past summer, he stayed the course, welcoming Brad Stevens with...

Eleventh and 12th. That’s where the Bruins’ power play and penalty kill rank, respectively, but the major struggles of both of late have the Bruins both scratching their heads and losing games. Over the last seven games (2-5-0), the B's power play has allowed one more goal (two) than it has scored...

"Happy New Year from us to you! Here's to a great 2014!" -- Will Middlebrooks (on Twitter), Dec. 31, 2013 That tweet was sent out to the roughly 143,000 followers of Middlebrooks -- third baseman of the Boston Red Sox -- on New Year's Eve. The other half of the "us" referenced by Middlebrooks? That...

FOXBORO -- The Patriots have always been known as a team with some level of offensive flexibility, but regardless of what happens in Sunday’s AFC title game against the Broncos , the 2013 team will ultimately be remembered as an offensive chameleon, able to change from week to week with an amazing...

Matt Bartkowski began the season as a healthy scratch, and now he’s the Bruins’ best left-shot defense option not named Zdeno Chara . Such is life for the B’s in a season that, in addition to being the first since moving on from Andrew Ference , has seen Dennis Seidenberg lost for the season with a...

Championship teams know who they are and how they want to win. They forge an identity and know where to turn when big plays need to be made. On Saturday night in Foxboro, the Patriots formally announced their new identity, and it's one we haven't seen in a while: They are a physical football team...

FOXBORO -- As LeGarrette Blount answered questions for over 30 minutes in front of his locker after his historic effort in a 43-22 playoff win over the Colts, there was another running back holding court just three lockers down on "Running Back Row" who didn't have such a shabby day himself. While...

FOXBORO -- The Patriots didn’t wear their throwbacks uniforms this year, but Saturday night would have been a good time to bust out a vintage New England jersey from 2001, 2003 or 2004. In fact, dig out that Antowain Smith jersey from storage, or find that Corey Dillon gamer that was sitting in the...

When it comes to replacing what Dennis Seidenberg has brought the Bruins the last three postseasons, there may be no better trade option than New York free agent-to-be Dan Girardi. He’s strong, blocks shots, kills penalties and plays a lot of minutes. Plus, as a right shot, he could play alongside...

FOXBORO -- If you want to know how to make movies, you ask Steven Spielberg. Got a question about making money, call Bill Gates. And if you have a question about toughness, you go to Logan Mankins . In his eight-plus seasons with the Patriots, the two-time All-Pro offensive lineman has come to...