The Gridiron and Beyond with Bob Socci Podcast

On the latest edition of the Gridiron and Beyond, Bob Socci sits down with the Boston Globe's Nicole Yang.   They discuss some of the main story lines entering Patriots training camp, including the quarterback competition and the status of N'Keal Harry. Bob also dives into Nicole's recent profile of Jonnu Smith and what it was like, personally, for her as an Asian-American to report on ex-Pat Eugene Chung's recent experience exemplifying the ignorance in a time of increasing intolerance directed toward the A.A.P.I. community.

Bob Socci talks with Brandon Kornblue of @kornbluekicking about Patriots rookie free agent Quinn Nordin and the process of helping him transition from an inconsistent career at Michigan to an impressive spring with the Patriots in hopes of unseating veteran incumbent Nick Folk. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob's guest is author Ted Jackson whose book "You Ought to Do a Story About Me" tells the story of former NFL defensive back and punt returner Jackie Wallace, whose career included three Super Bowl appearances and preceded a struggle with many issues facing far too many ex-players. It's a story of repeatedly rising, falling and rising again, both a cautionary tale and an inspirational one. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob Socci is joined this week by his counterpart over in the NHL, the Voice of the Boston Bruins, Judd Sirott. What was it like to be back on the road during the Washington series?  How did it feel to go from calling games before empty seats to broadcasting with fans in the stands? Judd briefly analyzes the second round series vs. New York and discusses his background working in Chicago and studying at the University of Michigan during the final years of legendary football coach Bo Schembechler's career on the sidelines. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob is joined by the owner of the Boston Renegades of the Women's Football Alliance, Molly Goodwin. After the 2020 season was cancelled, the Renegades have opened this spring with a 2-0 record in search of a third straight title. Molly and I discuss the history of women's tackle football in Boston and the future of the game for the women's game, locally and nationally. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob Socci is joined by the Voice of the Crimson Tide Eli Gold, who's called Alabama football for more than 30 years. Gold talks about Mac Jones, Christian Barmore and the pipeline of players from Tuscaloosa to Foxborough.  Eli also shares plenty of anecdotes going from a kid born in Brooklyn, selling peanuts in Madison Square Garden, to an Alabama icon whose resume includes the NFL, NHL and NASCAR. The conversation includes Gold's anecdotes about the likes of Howard Cosell, Bob Costas, Joe Namath and Kenny Stabler. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob Socci sits down with ESPN SportsCenter anchor George Grande, who co-anchored the first telecast of the NFL Draft in April 1980.   George reminisces about the early days of draft coverage and the event's importance to the eventual success of the so-called Worldwide Leader.   Plus, we talk about his baseball broadcasting career, relationship with the late Hall of Famer Tom Seaver and lifelong friend Joe Castiglione. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode, Bob sits down with Evan Lazar of CLNS Media to discuss the legacy of Julian Edelman as well as predictions for the upcoming NFL Draft at the end of the month. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob is joined by Chris Price from the Boston Globe. As an author of three books about the Patriots and producer of the Globe's "Point After" newsletter, Chris joins me to discuss the current offseason and how the free agency phase of the team-building process has influenced the team's approach to the NFL Draft throughout Bill Belichick' tenure in New England. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob Socci is joined by Adam Kurkjian of the Boston Herald to talk about the return of high school football in Massachusetts; rivalries usually played in November being staged in March and April; and storylines stretching from symbolic renewal this spring to the disturbing revelations about the Duxbury program and their reverberations around area programs.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former NFL general manager and executive of the year Randy Mueller joins me with his analysis of the Patriots' unprecedented investment in free agency, why it was necessary and why, in this case, it figures to net better returns than other spending sprees in recent memory. He also describes the process between free agency and the draft, as a general manager continues to build his team and, specifically, looks to make a trade in the draft.  Plus, his thoughts on this year's class of quarterbacks in the draft, experience in the football minor leagues and role advising college staffs and teaching aspiring scouts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt Dolloff of 985TheSportsHub.com joins me to discuss the Patriots' flurry of signings in the first few days of the NFL free agency period and the career of Patrick Chung. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amid Women's History Month, Bob visits with Vanessa Hutchinson (@VJHutch87), Senior Manager, Football Development for the @NFL to discuss the history women have made in pro football since Super Bowl LV and how many in the league, including Bill Belichick, are working to ensure that the future holds even greater opportunities for women at every level of football. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the podcast, Bob Socci sits down with The Athletic's Larry Holder, who reports out of New Orleans, to discuss former and current Saints, should they become available, who could interest the Patriots. Larry also tells us what Drew Brees's hairline reveals about his future, why we should take the Russell Wilson-to-New Orleans possibility seriously and how the words of past draft prospects at the NFL Combine gave us insight into the kind of careers they would have. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Bob Socci talks with Yahoo Sports columnist Shalise Manza Young, who was the first Black woman to cover a NFL team full-time, as the Patriots beat reporter for the Providence Journal.  They discuss her experience covering the Patriots, Cam Newton, the latest NFL head coaching hires and Yahoo's "First & Black" series, including Manza Young's profiles of a trailblazer in college athletics and another in hockey broadcasting.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob's guest is Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald. With the Patriots entering free agency with more than $60 million in salary cap space and 10 draft picks, we discuss how their past spending could predict the way the team allocates resources in building the 2021 roster. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the Gridiron and Beyond, Bob Socci sits down with Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports. They discuss the messages Tom Brady sent to his new teammates in Tampa Bay. Why NFL owners continue to overlook qualified candidates of color when hiring head coaches. What does the NFL hold in store for one of the best college coaches of his time? Plus, Dan's passionate fandom of one Boston sports team in particular. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jim McBride from the Boston Globe joins me to discuss the Senior Bowl, including his observations from last week's practices, including thoughts on potential Patriots draft prospects. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob Socci sits down with Jeff Joniak, the Voice of the Chicago Bears who discusses what it was like calling the 2020 season during a pandemic. They also talk about the Bears annual quest to find a franchise quarterback. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob Socci is joined by Sports Illustrated senior writer Greg Bishop. They discuss his reporting on the dysfunction and dissension within the Houston Texans organization...and observations of Tom Brady, Josh Allen and Philip Rivers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob Socci talks with Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal. They discuss the departure of longtime Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio, new general manager of the Houston Texans, and how the Patriots may look to offset the loss of someone who filled many roles within the organization. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob Socci is joined by Alex Barth of 985TheSportsHub.com to discuss the Pats, including how a 20-something diehard is dealing with the team's first losing season in two decades.  As we look back briefly on the major story of last offseason, we look ahead to the primary storylines shaping up for the coming offseason. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NFL reporter Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) joins Bob to discuss the long search for the Buffalo Bills to find their quarterback, change their culture and win their first division title since 1995.  Plus, they discuss his new NFL newsletter www.GoLongTD.com, the clairvoyance of Sammy Watkins and the resilience of Logan Ryan and his wife Ashley. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Gridiron & Beyond, Bob Socci's guest is Jeff Howe from The Athletic. Jeff and Bob talk about the present state and future of the quarterback position for the Pats, including the possibility of trading up in the 2021 draft and one of the top prospects who'd be a potentially great fit in New England. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Gridiron & Beyond, Bob Socci's guest is former Patriot and Charger offensive lineman Rich Ohrnberger (@ohrnberger), who previews Sunday's game and explains why Los Angeles is just 3-8, despite plenty of individual talent. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Gridiron & Beyond, Bob Socci talks to Jeff Benedict, author of "The Dynasty," which recounts how Patriots owner Robert Kraft, head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady came and stayed together to launch and sustain the greatest championship run in modern American sports history. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob Socci's guest this week is Mark Schofield (@MarkSchofield) from Touchdown Wire at USA Today.   We talk quarterbacks, from the Patriots current depth chart to the top young QB's around the NFL to the most promising QB's coming out of college in next year's draft.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob is joined by WBZ TV's Michael Hurley. They chat about the Pats season to date and what lies beyond, including plans at quarterback, as well as their past two decades of excellence. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Gridiron & Beyond, Bob Socci talks to longtime Voice of the Buffalo Bills, John Murphy about Buffalo's 5-2 start, the continued improvement of Josh Allen and the technical difficulties of broadcasting NFL games during a pandemic. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob Socci talked to Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows), 49ers beat reporter for The Athletic, about Jimmy Garoppolo's return to Foxborough, Sunday's matchup of the injury-plagued 49ers and Patriots and offseason rumors of Tom Brady's interest in San Francisco. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Gridiron & Beyond with Bob Socci, Jason Cole (@JasonCole62) discusses his new biography "Elway: A Relentless Life." Gifted with in both football and baseball, Elway entered the NFL as the top overall pick and exited as a player with two Super Bowl titles, a future bust in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and success in the business world.  But having 'it all' wasn't enough.   Driven to succeed as a front office executive, Elway then stepped back into football's 'minor leagues' before returning to the NFL as a a two-time Super Bowl general manager. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Gridiron & Beyond, Bob Socci speaks with Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald. They talk about the NFL's decision to play the Patriots game at Kansas City on Monday night, its handling of the recent spate of positive COVID-19 tests and the ramifications in the near and long term.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob Socci is joined by author and football historian Michael MacCambridge, who's written or edited nearly a dozen books, including '69 Chiefs: A Team, a Season, and the Birth of Modern Kansas City and Chiefs Kingdom.  Michael describes how Andy Reid rebounded from being fired in Philadelphia and rebuilt the Chiefs into an eventual Super Bowl champion, led by one of the NFL's most dynamic players, Patrick Mahomes; addresses the idea of the Chiefs becoming the league's next dynasty; and compares and contrasts Kansas City's two titles, separated by a half century. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob Socci chats with Legendary Broadcaster Brent Musburger, who after a half century as a lead voice of CBS Sports, ESPN and ABC Sports is in his third season as the radio voice of the Raiders.  Brent tells us about the Raiders, present and past, and shares a few of the countless anecdotes in his time and travels in broadcasting.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Gridiron & Beyond, Bob Socci's guest is Doug Farrar from touchdownwire.usatoday.com.   Doug breaks down what was new — and old — about the Patriots' offense under Cam Newton in the opener and previews Sunday's visit to Seattle.   Plus, the Bills seem to have another defensive star in the making and the Chiefs only look stronger than a year ago. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Gridiron & Beyond, the Voice of the Patriots, Bob Socci previews the Miami Dolphins in anticipation of the season opener with Josh Tolentino of The Athletic. They talk about the wholesale changes for Dolphins, who spent $200 million in free agency and drafted a quarterback they feel is the future face of the franchise. They also touch on the impact of former Patriots, including 3 of the Dolphins' 8 captains. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Gridiron & Beyond, Bob Socci has a conversation with Pro Football Hall of Fame writer and voter Rick Gosselin.   With Bill Belichick and Tom Brady bound for Canton, we discuss the Hall of Fame candidacies of many other all-time Patriots, from Richard Seymour to Stanley Morgan and Adam Vinatieri to Matthew Slater.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Gridiron & Beyond, Bob Socci talks with Upton Bell, the former Patriots general manager and Boston radio-TV host and commentator. Bell discusses the legacy of Pro Football Hall of Fame nominee Bill Nunn, a super scout who helped build the Steelers into a 1970s dynasty, by scouting talent-rich Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Bell also shares his experiences as a young evaluator with the Colts, traveling and scouting in the Jim Crow South during the 1960s and tells us about a former Patriots quarterback who belongs in the Hall of Fame. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Gridiron & Beyond, Bob Socci talks to Mike Dussault (@MikeDussault19) of Patriots.com about the last week and a half of training camp, plus how Mike succeeded in a crowded field with an independent Patriots blog, became the foremost authority on Bill Belichick's sideline attire and went from Hollywood sit-coms to the NFL. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Gridiron & Beyond, Bob Socci talks with reporter Rainer Sabin of the Detroit Free Press talking about the Big 10's decision to cancel its football season, the impact on players with NFL aspirations and a pair of former Michigan Wolverines now playing for the Patriots. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Patriots opened training camp this week at a time like no other off the field, facing a degree of on-field uncertainty unseen in more than a decade.   Chris reacts to what we saw and heard from Patriots veterans at the outset of camp. And takes time to discuss how we now see and hear him in his new role at NewsCenter 5. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest is veteran Patriots reporter Jim McBride (@GlobeJimMcBride) of the Boston Globe. He's been at the Globe since 1988. We discuss the impact of the Patriots losing six players who have opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns, and how they will try to overcome those absences. Plus, Jim and I talk about the challenges for reporters covering the team with restricted media access amid the pandemic. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest is Tyler R. Tynes (@TylerRickyTynes) of The Ringer, who reported, wrote and narrated the recently-released six-part podcast min-series, "The Cam Chronicles."   Tynes literally followed in the footsteps of Cam Newton's football journey to, as he says, "start unraveling the mystery around this enigmatic figure" he describes as "the vanguard to the current young class of Black quarterbacks." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest is Brad Feldman (@BradFeldman), the voice of the New England Revolution.   We talk about the "MLS is Back" as soccer became the first American major league sport to return to play since competition was halted due to the novel Coronavirus. Although the tournament overall got off to an inauspicious beginning, the Revs enjoyed a very strong start.   As the event unfolds, what can we learn that relates to the issues and challenges facing the NFL and other major leagues as they prepare to resume or open their respective seasons? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest is Jim Szoke (@jimszoke) from the Panthers Radio Network.   Jim has broadcast every game in the history of the Panthers franchise and, thus, seen every snap of Cam Newton's career.   He tells us about the player and person coming to New England -- in many ways, contrary to public perception -- and why Jim believes the marriage of Newton and the Patriots could be blissful for both.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest is Wall Street Journal reporter Ben Cohen (@bzcohen), who joins me to discuss the challenges and changes facing the NFL, other professional sports leagues and college football as they hope to let the games begin again amid the COVID-19 pandemic.   Particularly, as states across the South and Southwest experience record surges in the virus. We also explore the empowerment of professional and college athletes from the streets to social media to the voting booth. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Gridiron and Beyond, the voice of the New England Patriots, Bob Socci sits down with Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald.   They look back on the NFL Combine, look ahead at NFL free agency and look around at every angle with which Tom Brady's future is being discussed.  Andrew explains why the proposed CBA between owners and players is likely to be ratified, in his mind; and why until it is we shouldn't expect any big-ticket signings.   Plus, he runs down the list of Patriots priorities when it comes to their own pending free agents and in the upcoming NFL Draft. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Gridiron and Beyond, the voice of the New England Patriots, Bob Socci sits down with former Patriots offensive lineman Ryan O'Callaghan, who joined Bob to discuss his book "My Life on the Line."  In addition, Ryan shared his thoughts on several people and topics in the news of late, as well as the work his foundation (https://rofdn.org/about-us/) is doing to help young people in the LGBTQ community. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Gridiron and Beyond, the voice of the New England Patriots, Bob Socci sits down with Jeff Howe, who talked about his experience covering the Pro Bowl amid the breaking news of Kobe Bryant's death and the impact of it on the NFL stars he talked to. They then transition to his recent work for The Athletic, including conversations with Stephon Gilmore, Matthew Slater and a division rival about their future as well as the future of Tom Brady.  Speaking of which, Jeff explains factors that will ultimately determine where Brady finishes his career.   Finally, Bob & Jeff consider the challenges the Pats confront trying to offset the loss of Dante Scarnecchia and other coaches, while addressing questions at various position groups. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Gridiron and Beyond, the voice of the New England Patriots, Bob Socci talks with Mark Schofield (@MarkSchofield) of Pro Football Weekly and Pats Pulpit.   Mark describes the most intriguing prospects he saw while covering Senior Bowl practices last week in Mobile and discusses some of the players to keep an eye during next month's NFL Combine.   Naturally, there's plenty of talk about the Patriots' potential needs and college standouts who seemingly fit the New England profile. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Gridiron and Beyond, the voice of the New England Patriots, Bob Socci talks with Mike Flynn from 98.5 The Sports Hub. In this second off-season episode, Bob and Mike break down the Super Bowl LIV matchup of the Kansas City Chiefs, led by Patrick Mahomes and the San Francisco 49ers who have former Patriot quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo at the helm. They also talk about Mike's experience with having a child in professional theatre, and how it compares to being in professional sports and professional broadcasting. Finally, the two touch on the future of the New England Patriots, Tom Brady, and how the team remains in contention in the weeks, months, and years ahead.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.