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It’s mid-February, but we can still talk football, can’t we?

By Tom King - Staff Writer | Feb 15, 2020

These Saturday morning musings have been about football since just after Labor Day, so why not keep it that way for at least another week?

So, with that in mind, here’s a few football fun facts:

— Hmmm, Nick Caserio is returning to the New England Patriots after all, reportedly agreeing to a multi-year deal to remain as VP of Player Personnel. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

The Patriots drafting hasn’t been all that impressive in recent years, but as we saw in a video that showed the selection of N’Keal Harry last April, Bill Belichick has the final say. Caserio staying is a good thing for continuity sake. But wow, did it certainly seem like he wanted out back in September when Houston was making a push to get him. And he would have been able to leave once his contract was set to expire after the draft.

What happened? It certainly looks like the Texans cooled on the idea are are fine leaving head coach and Caserio pal Bill O’Brien -gulp – in charge. And all the other major spots are filled around the league.

— Nashua’s Paul LaPolice certainly is at home in front of the microphone as the new head coach of the CFL’s Ottawa Redblacks. None of that “We did what’s in the best interest of the football team” mumbo jumbo we hear in Foxborough. He gave a detailed explanation on the players the Redblacks signed in the CFL’s recent free agency, posted on the CFL news feed.

“I think free agency isn’t about getting the most guys,” LaPolice said. “We didn’t have to sign any offensive linemen because Marcel (GM Desjardins) did a great job of (keeping) our offensive line in tact.

“You want to take the core players you evaluated and you liked, and put yourself in a positon to bring in a couple of new pieces.”

LaPolice was talking to free agents two minutes after the recent midnight signing period began. And he wanted some of the team’s own players re-signed.

“We tried to get some pieces before the free agency started,” he said. “We’re excited what we’re building, we’ve just got to keep working every day.”

With LaPolice a head coach again and Nashua South/UNH alum Trevor Knight on the Winnipeg roster, we’ll be keeping an eye on the CFL come this summer.

—– For a couple of times over the next four years, a Moss will be making an appearance in New Hampshire. In case you missed it, the University of Maine a couple of weeks ago landed 6-foot-1 wide receiver Montigo Moss, son of former Patriots wide receiver and Hall of Famer Randy Moss. Yes, another Moss, as another son, Thaddeus, played as a tight end for national champion LSU and has declared for the NFL Draft.

UMaine coaches were smart, they reportedly swooped in on Montigo Moss down at Fort Union Military Academy before the University of Virginia could make an offer.

“Maine gives me the best opportunity to succeed,” said Moss, as reported in the Portaland Press Herald. “It feels good.”

Moss liked what he saw when he visited Maine in late January. But how does one make Orono look attractive in late January? Just wondering.

“The coaching staff gave a good vibe,” Moss said in the Press Herald. “And I noticed there was a good relationship between the players and the staff.”

Moss was also reportedly impressed with what he saw on film of UMaine QB Joe Fagnano, who threw for 1,835 yards and 17 TDs as a freshman last year.

Alas, UNH is at UMaine next season, which likely means the Black Bears and Montigo Moss will be coming to UNH in 2021. Keep that in mind.

— Also, mark it down, speaking of the draft weekend in late April: the XFL title game will be in Houston on Sunday, April 26, a 3 p.m. tilt. NFL draft (which ends that Saturday), NBA/Stanley Cup playoffs, MLB regular season…and the XFL title game. What more could a sports fan ask for?

Tom King may be reached at 594-1251,tking@nashuatelegraph.com, or@Telegraph _TomK.

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