Benjamin Watson is still chugging along.
The big tight end, best remembered in these parts for his dogged determination in keeping Champ Bailey out of the end zone in 2006, is about to embark on the 14th season of a remarkable NFL journey that started in New England in 2004.
Remarkable from the start when he slipped to the Patriots at No. 32 overall, remarkable for his productivity on the field, remarkable for his awareness early on that he could use his stature as an NFL player to affect change, and remarkable, of course, for that mad dash across the field to prevent Bailey’s touchdown in the 2006 divisional playoffs.
A quick recap: Trailing, 10-6, the Patriots were poised to strike when Bailey stepped in front of Tom Brady’s end zone pass to Troy Brown and was off to the races. Bailey and a convoy of Broncos bolted down the left sideline en route to a sure touchdown. Watson, however, had other thoughts.
Though he was lined up on the opposite side of the formation, Watson stormed diagonally across the field (nearly taking out an official in the process), knocking Bailey down and the ball free at the 1-yard line. Depending on the replay angle, a case could be made the ball went through the end zone and should’ve been ruled a touchback. Though New England challenged, the call stood and Denver scored on the next play and won the game.
“Unfortunately the refs got it wrong,’’ Watson said this past week. “They got the call wrong and I know they did because I had people from MIT and Harvard tell me that they’ve done case studies on the direction and the wind and all that stuff and there’s no way that wasn’t a touchback. But I guess that’s home-field advantage.’’
Count Robert Kraft in that camp, too.
“Well, it definitely should have been a touchback,’’ the Patriots owner said last week.
Watson, now 37, often is asked about that cold night in Denver under a full moon and remembers thinking at the time that it didn’t seem like an extraordinary play — it was just the Patriot way.
“I remember making that play to try and help the team win. That was something that was embedded in me early on in my career — having a chance to come to New England — having a chance to play for Coach [Bill] Belichick with all those veteran players that we had. Guys like [Tedy] Bruschi and [Mike] Vrabel and [Richard] Seymour and Tom [Brady] and Rodney [Harrison],’’ said Watson. “It was everybody do your job. Do what’s asked of you — no more, no less. Everybody give 100 percent. That’s why they won — and still win — so consistently because everybody pulls their own weight and everybody gives 100 percent of themselves.’’
The effort has literally become a lesson in refusing to give up. Watson’s father, Ken, a pastor in South Carolina, often points to the play when preaching.
“He does a lot of speaking at events and sports camps and he’s used that play numerous times to highlight different things like perseverance,’’ said Watson. “He has a whole sermon series on it.”
It doesn’t bother Watson in the least that he’s known for a tackle rather than a touchdown.
“As a tight end you want to be known for catching a bunch of touchdowns and stuff, but I’m known for making a tackle,’’ he said with a laugh. “It’s kind of like God saying, ‘I will make you known for whatever I want you to be known for, you just do what you’re supposed to do.’ ’’
What Watson also is known for is his faith, spirituality, social activism, and thoughtful views on issues in America, including race relations.
“He’s so articulate,’’ Kraft recalled. “I remember early on how he was one of the first players who wanted to use his platform as an NFL player to positively impact change. And he was always accepting opportunities to get involved in the community.’’
Watson’s spirituality struck Kraft early in his Patriots tenure.
“People in life who are genuine about their spirituality usually are very high-quality individuals and are respectful of others,’’ said Kraft. “When you’re playing a game like football, a team sport, that’s so important.’’
Kraft brought Watson, Seymour, and their wives to the Holy Land in 2006.
“That was a very memorable trip with Benjamin and his wife, Kirsten,’’ said Kraft. “I remember them being baptized in the Jordan River and going to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and visiting the Western Wall.’’
A devout Christian, Watson has always felt the pull to be a leader in the community. Watson recently co-authored a New York Times op-ed piece — with fellow NFLers Doug Baldwin, Malcolm Jenkins, and Anquan Boldin — addressing President Trump’s request for clemency candidates.
“For me, whether you call it social activism, justice, or whatever, it’s something that has always been important to me. And not just in this realm but in many other realms,’’ he said. “I just think that now more folks are talking about it. Even going back to watching what my parents did in the community, going through my earlier years in the NFL and even now going outside the social justice realm when it comes to other issues, I’ve always felt the need to share my opinion, educate myself, and advocate for those that may not be able to do so for themselves.”
The collaboration took some time and many players had input and there were many drafts — and many questions asked — before a final version got the seal of approval from everyone.
“How should we address the president? Should we address the president? And how could we do so in a respectful manner and how could we do so in a manner that tells him the things that are important to us in a way that’s explainable but also done with respect to the office,’’ Watson explained. “It was a process — not exactly sure how long it took — but there have kind of been rumblings about what we should say. But we wanted to do something that would be heard by a lot of people, but also give a voice to much of the work that guys have been doing already in the league in various cities.’’
Watson acknowledged reaction to the piece has been “mixed” and pointed to the comment section of his Facebook page as evidence.
“Everything from me being an idiot and also me being applauded,’’ he said through laughter. “But I think the good thing is it’s got people talking and my hope is to always enter into these types of issues in a way that is embedded in fact and not simply opinion. That it’s not super emotional — because all these issues are emotionally charged depending on our background, depending on our experiences.’’
Watson spent the first six years of his career in New England and looks back on it as a positive experience, though he acknowledges he had trouble adjusting to life as a professional.
“There were times when I was miserable — because it was tough,’’ he said. “Coach Belichick — this is the old Coach Belichick during two-a-days — it was a grind and he would yell at you in the meetings and things like that. And as a young player coming in from college, I struggled a lot with that. I enjoyed the winning, obviously, but there were days going to practice and everything, for me, that were really hard. It was really hard.
“But now looking back, as a more mature player and more mature person, I can appreciate some of the things that go on there. So when I hear guys say it was no fun, it was all work, I understand what they’re saying. When I hear guys say, ‘You know what, I had a great time there,’ I can understand what they’re saying as well. Because to me, a lot of it depends on the personality and the point in time in your career when you’re going to a situation like New England because it is unlike — I mean, I haven’t been everywhere in the league — but I’ve been to a number of places but in many ways from what I hear from a lot of guys it’s unlike any other place in the NFL.”
As he prepares for another season with the Saints, Watson, a two-time finalist for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award and owner of a 48 on the Wonderlic test — the third-highest grade ever received, was asked if he’d ever consider a New England reunion.
“At this point definitely. At this point in my career I would have been able to handle some of the things Coach Belichick says in a different way. I’d be able to process it differently.’’
Kraft would be on board with that as well. “Look, he’s a really special guy that came through our system,’’ said the owner. “If it was ever possible for him to come back, I would like that very much.’’
Community spirit
Hospital visit hits home for rookies
The grins were what got Isaiah Wynn. The Patriots’ top pick in April’s draft was bowled over by the expressions on faces of the patients as he made the rounds during a recent visit to Boston Children’s Hospital.
“For the most part everybody was just smiling. Of course at first the little kids were frightened but they warmed up to us and it was awesome,’’ Wynn said. “And the good thing about that is it was contagious. As soon as we came from one room that smile, it would just get passed down the hallway and everyone we ran into — it was just a contagious type thing.”
The visit by New England’s rookie class was organized to help the players make a connection to the community and, according to Wynn, it was a big hit for all involved.
“It’s definitely important to me because it’s way bigger than me and way bigger than football,’’ said Wynn, who said patients were allowed to design their own Patriots hats that will be unveiled this fall. “I think a lot of times people forget we’re human and not just football players. We’ve got that compassionate side and we want to see everyone healthy and doing what they want to do in life. So just being able to kind of put that out there, it was a great feeling.’’
For Wynn, it was a continuation of a community spirit instilled during his college days at Georgia. The Bulldogs would visit Children’s Hospital in Atlanta every year before their annual clash with Georgia Tech. In addition, the team would routinely host “special visitors” at practice.
The trip to Boston so left an impression on Wynn that he was among the first to raise his hand when a second visit was proposed.
Wynn, along with fellow rookies Keion Crossen and Darren Andrews, headed back to Longwood Avenue for another go-around. “So, I wanted to go back and get a chance and visit some other patients that we didn’t get a chance to visit with,’’ said Wynn. “So, that was real good.’’
In a video posted on patriots.com, the 18-member class performed Bill Withers’s classic “Lean on Me.” Though Wynn was the team’s top pick, it was clear that linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley was the top vocalist.
“If you watched it you could kind of tell that Ja’Whaun was the best one,’’ said Wynn, laughing at the memory. “Everybody else was the backup singers for him — I think he may go solo on us.”
Wynn said that during an early meeting during the offseason program players talked about fallback careers and Bentley offered up singer as an alternate job.
“He mentioned he could sing but we kind of took that lightly because everybody thinks they can sing or whatever,’’ said Wynn. “But he can really sing. So it was good that he got to go out there and do his thing.’’
Wynn, who will be competing for a spot on the offensive line when camp opens in a few weeks (he has experience at guard and tackle), said he’ll be gearing up for the season in his native Florida by both “relaxing and also trying to stay ahead of the game.’’
No word on whether he’ll be adding vocal lessons to his repertoire, however.
ETC.
Ageless Brady still topping the charts
The NFL Network recently wrapped up its list of the NFL top 100 players by crowning Tom Brady as the No. 1 player in the league. Tremendous choice. And really the only choice. The rest of the top 10? Meh.
Here’s one man’s shot at the top 10.
No. 10 — NFL Network: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers. New choice: Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots.
Not sure which is the greater injustice here, Rodgers being this low or Gronkowski not making the cut. The big tight end did check in at No. 15.
Gronkowski is a force of nature and in the conversation for the best to ever play his position. He is coming off an All-Pro season and was a complete beast in the most important game of the regular season (at Pittsburgh) and in the Super Bowl.
Gronkowski looked fit as a fiddle at minicamp and said he’s raring to go for 2018. If he can duplicate last season’s production (69-1,084-8) he should be a lock to crack the final 10 for 2018.
No. 9 — NFL Network: Von Miller, DE, Broncos. New choice: Jalen Ramsey, CB, Jaguars.
Like Rodgers, Miller deserves a higher spot and like Gronkowski, Ramsey deserves a seat at this table.
Ramsey is the best cornerback in the NFL. He’s physical, fast, instinctive, and brash. He can lock down receivers of all shapes and sizes and is in the discussions of the best defenders in the league regardless of position.
No. 8 — NFL Network: Drew Brees, QB, Saints. New choice: Antonio Brown, WR, Steelers.
Brees is a no-doubt Hall of Famer. He’s been an excellent player and exemplary leader for ages but he’s not currently one of 10 best players in the league. Brown absolutely is, but his current ranking (No. 2) is too high.
Brown is the best in the business at his position.
No. 7 — NFL Network: Aaron Donald, DT, Rams. New choice: Todd Gurley, RB, Rams.
Donald is a savage and is a few slots higher on the revised list. Gurley is a rampaging beast and is one slot higher on the original list.
Gurley is an old-school thumper with the power to run over guys and the shimmy to elude them. He’s not the best running back in the league but he’s awfully close.
No. 6 — NFL Network: Gurley. New choice: Miller.
Miller is a game-changing behemoth off the edge.
Miller’s engine is always running at a high level and he’s always in the quarterback’s head before the snap and generally in his face after it. Personally responsible for millions of offensive linemen’s nightmares.
No. 5 — NFL Network: Le’Veon Bell, RB, Steelers. New choice: Luke Kuechly, LB, Panthers.
Bell is the best back in the NFL, so he’s slotted higher. Kuechly is one of the top defenders in the league and the gold standard at inside linebacker. Scouting the former Boston College star is easy: Just follow the ball because that’s what he does.
No. 4 — NFL Network: Julio Jones, WR, Falcons. New choice: Donald.
Jones is magnificent, there’s no two ways about it. He’s definitely the toughest omission and including him is not a mistake.
Donald is the best defensive player in the league, combining lightning quickness and tremendous strength.
No. 3 — NFL Network: Carson Wentz, QB, Eagles; New choice: Rodgers.
Wentz is probably a lock for the list for the next decade but right now there’s not enough body of work to justify it.
Rodgers’s quick thinking and quick release make him second to one. See No. 1 for the answer.
No. 2 — NFL Network: Brown. New choice: Bell.
Brown is phenomenal and belongs on this list but Bell’s production is insane. He’s the best running back in the league and also the best receiving back in the league. A legit threat from anywhere on the field.
No. 1 — NFL Network: Brady. New choice: Brady.
Two words: Tom Brady.
Extra points
Why is it open season on Brady? First Backstreet Boy AJ McLean takes a shot at his vocals after the QB’s U2 singalong. “Not everyone is supposed to be a singer,’’ he said. AJ, you’ve heard yourself, right? . . . Then, Kirk Cousins said Brady scrambles “like a baby giraffe” in an awful and awkward backhanded compliment about his pocket mobility . . . A limited number of Patriots tickets will go on sale July 23 at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster.
