New England Patriots: Chase Winovich a legend in the making

Chase Winovich has the “it” factor for the New England Patriots.

Ther have been New England Patriots players over the years who’ve had what I would call the “it” factor. A special quality of person and player who just rides above then rest and excels.

Some of these players have been, Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Ty Law, John Hannah. The list goes on and on. There’s also my all-time favorite Patriots player, Tedy Bruschi.

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Tedy was just the Patriot’s Patriot. A totally committed player to the team. Overcame the highest obstacles … just to play.

I locked in on him when he was just a special team’s player under Bill Parcells. I’d call out, “Tedy Brew” when he’d make a thunder-crushing hit on teams. For me as a fan, it was a term of endearment, as they say.

Tedy was the man even then. Just a special teams player. But special, and he went on to greatness. And then, he had a stroke.

How does this happen? I was working around Boston at that time, and I’m quite certain that I saw the motorcade that escorted Tedy from Mass General Hospital to home. That was so nice to see. He was healthy. So very nice. Tedy was going to be OK.

And then … he played again. He played again. After a stroke. How can anyone have a stroke and return to playing such a violent game? And still excel? That, was the incomparable, Bruschi.

So why do I see Tedy in Chase Winovich? It’s that “IT” factor. The passion for the game. The love of the game. The love of competition. The drive. The determination. The compulsion to be great.

Why Chase Winovich is the Tedy Bruschi of the 2020 decade New England Patriots

Chase has the it factor. How do I know? No idea. I just see it in the way the man plays. He plays the game, the way it’s supposed to be played. He leaves it all on the field, as they say.

I follow the draft. Closely every year. Every year there are a few players I’d really like the Patriots to draft. This year two of them were Jalen Hurts and Lynn Bowden and a few others. No luck there.

In 2019, it was Chase. He checked all the boxes for me as a great pick. Now the Patriots never pick players I’d like to see them pick. Never.

But they did, in the third round last year. It was one of the happiest I’ve been with a Patriots pick in all the drafts I’ve observed. And that’s quite a few.

Frankly, I couldn’t believe he actually did get picked by New England. It was an unexpected and just amazingly wonderful stunner! It never happens. But it did and in 2019 Chase didn’t disappoint.

He flashed that drive, that determination, that grit, that conviction that you always hope to see but seldom do. Like Tedy did, and he’s with us in New England. He had a very good rookie season.

But the best is yet to come.

He’s set to explode this season for the Patriots and they will need him (and other recent draft picks) to take up the slack for the very good players they lost. I have no doubt that he will. Why?

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Because Winovich has … it.

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