(Community) M-V-P! New England Patriots Veteran Earns NFL Honor – Pats Tracker
Guy was named the winner of the Week 13 “NFLPA Community MVP” award for his donation of 40 baby strollers to underprivileged mothers in the Greater Boston area, as announced by the NFL Players Association on Friday.
“I am so honored to be named the NFLPA Community MVP,” Guy said in a release from the NFLPA. “The Lawrence Guy Family Foundation’s community involvement and commitment is essential because it allows us to connect with and support those around us that are in need.”
Guy becomes the 13th winner of the weekly award this season, joining other notable names, like New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley, Atlanta Falcons defensive end Calais Campbell, and Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow, all of whom have been recognized for their work within their communities,
Thanks to Guy’s work giving back to the Greater Boston community, the NFL has also pledged to donate $10,000 to either his foundation or a charity of his choosing.
NOV. 29 PATRIOTS SIGN K MATTHEW WRIGHT TO PRACTICE SQUAD – FOXBORO — The New England Patriots are adding some veteran assistance to a position of need in advance of their Week 13 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday at Gillette Stadium.
The Pats signed kicker Matthew Wright to their practice squad Wednesday, as first reported by Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald. .
Wright is currently in his fourth NFL season, having been released from the Atlanta Falcons practice squad on Tuesday. Though he has yet to attempt a field goal this season. The 27-year-old is 40-of-46 on the field goals in game appearances with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Kansas City Chiefs. Last year, Wright went 15-of-18 with both the Chiefs and Steelers, including a career-long 59-yard field goal while with Kansas City.
Wright’s arrival in New England coincides with the recent struggles of rookie kicker Chad Ryland. The Pats 2023 fourth-rounder missed a 35-yard field goal, which would have tied New England’s Week 12 game against the New York Giants in the closing seconds. Instead, Ryland’s miss sent New England to a 10-7 loss, as well as a 2-9 record. Overall, Ryland is 12-of-18 in his field-goal attempts this season, having made all 14 of his extra points.
Wright was spotted in the Patriots locker room on Wednesday evening and is expected to join his teammates at practice on Thursday afternoon.
NOV. 29 PATS PRACTICE REPS AT QB GO TO MALIK, ZAPPE – It may mean nothing. But at this point in their worst season in 30 years, Patriots fans are grasping for anything.
Wednesday afternoon in Foxboro, Malik Cunningham and Bailey Zappe took the quarterback reps in the portion of practice open to media. While Cunningham and Zappe threw passes to receivers and tight ends in drills, starter Mac Jones stood behind them and merely watched.
Cunningham did not wear a red, quarterback-designation jersey, perhaps signaling the Pats still see him as a receiver/scout-team role player. Or … it could mean that in a 2-9 season Bill Belichick is finally admitting that – even without Jones as the starter – it can’t get any worse.
Rookie receiver Demario Douglas missed practice, as he is in concussion protocol after last Sunday’s nasty clothesline hit against the New York Giants.
NOV. 29 PATRIOTS SIGN FORMER PITTSBURGH STEELERS WR MATTHEW SEXTON TO PRACTICE SQUAD – The New England Patriots have filled a vacant spot on their practice squad by signing former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver/return specialist Matthew Sexton, per a Wednesday morning report from the Boston Herald.
Sexton joined the NFL as an undrafted free agent by signing with the Steelers in 2021. Known for his blazing 4.3 40-yard time during his 2021 pro day workout, the Clinton, MI native saw time at both receiver and in the return game for Pittsburgh’s scout team. After being released by the Steelers, he spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad. Earlier this year, he played 10 games (three starts) for the Las Vegas Vipers of the XFL, catching 23 passes for 364 yards. Most recently, Sexton was a member of the Atlanta Falcons scout team, but was cut in mid-September. To date, he has yet to appear in an NFL regular-season game.
During his four seasons (2016-19) at Eastern Michigan, Sexton played in 45 games (25 starts) and caught 100 passes for 1,335 yards and nine touchdowns. He finished his collegiate career ranking No. 13 in school history in receiving yards (1,335.)
NOV. 29 PATRIOTS RE-SIGN QUARTERBACK WILL GRIER TO PRACTICE SQUAD – FOXBORO
Where there’s a “Will,” there’s a … starting quarterback option?
While the hyperbole may be strong the previous sentence, a “Will” is set to rejoin the New England Patriots, as veteran quarterback Will Grier is signing with the Pats practice squad, per multiple reports.
Grier was originally signed by New England to the 53-man roster from the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad in Sept. Having entered the NFL as a third-round draft pick (No. 100 overall) of the Carolina Panthers in the 2019 NFL Draft out of West Virginia, the 6-1, 220-pounder, spent his first two seasons with Carolina before being acquired off waivers by the Dallas Cowboys in 2021. Grier was released by Dallas in August and subsequently signed with the Bengals practice squad just two days later. He has played in two NFL games when he started in the final two games of the 2019 season for Carolina, finishing 28-of-52 for 228 yards.
For the Patriots, Grier was inactive as the third quarterback for seven games. He dressed but did not play in their Week 6 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders. Grier reportedly received a significant number of reps at quarterback with both the second and third team offense during last week’s practices before being released on Saturday. Exactly how he will factor into the Pats’ plans at the position for this weekend is still a matter of conjecture.
New England will return to the practice field on Wednesday in preparation for their Week 13 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday at Gillette Stadium.
