Zolak & Bertrand: Is Jayson Tatum a tough player?
On Thursday’s edition of Zolak & Bertrand, the crew dives into whether Jayson Tatum is a tough player or not.
We’ve seen it from him in the past…
Marc Bertrand: Is Jayson Tatum a tough player?
Tim McKone: Yes.
Marc Bertrand: He is?
Tim McKone: Yes. I will go to the mat with this every single time because in big time series when the chips have been down, that is a guy that more often than not has shown up and played in an elite level. You can crush him for the finals, I get all that, but Game 7 got to have it against Philly last year. Showed up, dropped 50. Got to have it on the road against Milwaukee the year before in a Game 6. Showed up and played an unbelievable game. We’ve seen it from him in the past. That’s not a guy that I question.
Scott Zolak: I don’t care about the point totals. Like that’s what he gets to finish with the point totals. The numbers. Watch the game. They play tough in the game. You watch Brown he plays tough every night. I think this could be his year. Like, I think this can be, you know, as we talk about the stepping stone, he wanted Miami. Okay, you got Miami. You didn’t get Miami Jimmy Butler but you advanced. So you have a tough series against the Knicks or say Philly pulls it out of their ass and you get Joel Embiid. You take him down and it’s aggressive and you play aggressive. Tatum didn’t get over 30 points, big freaking deal. But people get so stuck on the damn numbers. Like that’s the problem with this. Like the defense of him with the numbers. The question is, is he a tough player? I know Jaylen Brown’s a tough player. I think Derrick White’s a tough player. Al Horford plays tough for what he can do when he’s down underneath. I think he can mix it up. I know he likes to get outside and shoot, but I think this is what they do. The mentality of the way they play may limit him from being a tough guy.
Marc Bertrand: I think what you might be referring to, Tim, is like mental toughness.
Tim McKone: Yes. Which is what I need from Jayson Tatum.
Listen to the full segment!
Big name former Patriots lined up for upcoming Tom Brady roast
Rob Gronkowski
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 13: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots reacts with Rob Gronkowski #87 during the third quarter in the AFC Divisional Playoff Game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
ESPN’s Adam Schefter shared on Monday four former teammates who will get their turn roasting Brady. That includes Gronkowski, who caught more passes (635) and had more receiving yards (9,494) and touchdowns (90) than any other player did from Brady. He’s also one of the few players to play with Brady in both New England and Tampa. Gronk is no stranger to being in front of the cameras, so he should be ready to roast.
Julian Edelman
Jan 20, 2019; Kansas City, MO, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates with Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) during the second half of the AFC Championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Brady’s other top target from his Patriots days will also be one of the roasters, according to Schefter. Edelman has poked fun at Brady before on social media and on his podcast Games With Names, and now will get to do so in-person.
Randy Moss
Nov. 30, 2009; New Orleans, LA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) bump fists with wide receiver Randy Moss (81) during pregame warmups against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome. Credit: John David Mercer-US PRESSWIRE
Moss only spent two full seasons with Brady in New England (not including the 2008 season when Brady tore his ACL in the season opener, or the 2010 season when he was traded after four games), but they were some of Brady’s best years. Moss’ personality is well-known, and should carry over into the roast.
Drew Bledsoe
FOXBOROUGH, MA – JANUARY 21: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots talks with Drew Bledsoe during the Lamar Hunt trophy presentation after the AFC Championship Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Gillette Stadium on January 21, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
This should be good. It’s now been 23 years since Brady took Bledsoe’s job as the Patriots’ starting quarterback, so he’s had plenty of time to think up material on his former backup. Bledsoe might ultimately be the most interesting roaster, if not for…
Bill Belichick
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots talks with Tom Brady #12 before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Gillette Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
That’s right. Belichick and Brady, back together again. After years of roasting Brady’s film in team meetings in front of the rest of the roster, now Belichick will have a chance to roast Brady in front of the entire world. Will ‘Johnny Foxboro’ make an appearance?
