Jimmy Neckroll Goes to IR. Introducing the Next Patriots Fullback Legend, Jakob Johnson

It is with a heavy heart that I bring you these dark tidings.

Say what you will about the fullback position. I know it’s common to say that the position is being phased out of football. And that our children and our children’s children will scarcely believe such a creature roamed the Earth. That there was ever a running back whose primary job was to block for other running backs as they look at replicas of them behind the glass of a display in the Smithsonian.

But I’ve never said it.

On the contrary. I feel I’ve been singing the praises of the man I prefer to call Jimmy Neckroll. That mountain of a man, chiseled out of a solid block of depleted uranium and pure testosterone. The one who led the way as the Patriots ran themselves to Super Bowl glory,  a necklace of skulls from his vanquished enemies swinging as he plowed the field for his backfield mates, striking fear in the hearts of any man foolish enough to stand in his way. If this were the Middle Ages, I’d probably roaming the countryside singing songs of his heroic deeds to spread the word about all he has accomplished.

As I said this morning in the Knee Jerk Reactions, there has been nothing wrong with the Patriots ground game that Jimmy Neckroll’s return couldn’t cure. Now it would appear they’ll have to find another way. Technically he could come off IR. The problem being that they already have N’Keal Harry and Isaiah Wynn on their. And like some redemption island on a season of “Survivor,” only two may return. Assuming Harry and Wynn are each healthy enough, one would think the two former 1st Round picks would get the priority.

So it it’s likely this is it for the 2019 season of the fullback that Sony Michel ran behind for the best playoff season any rookie running back has ever had. Develin was a key component in the offense going big as defenses get smaller and smaller. To the point the three postseason opponents the Pats faced couldn’t field a single linebacker bigger than 240 pounds.

So this is a disappointment, to be sure. And I’m not alone in that sentiment.

So who’ll replace him? Enter Jakob Johnson, from Germany by way of the Stuttgart Scorpions (spectacular team name) and U. of Tennessee:

Source – Fullback Jakob Johnson became the first player to enter the NFL through the International Pathway Program to make a 53-man roster when he was promoted from the New England Patriots’ practice squad on Saturday.

The International Player Pathway Program was instituted in 2017 and aims to provide international athletes the opportunity to compete at the NFL level, improve their skills and, ultimately, earn a spot on an NFL roster.

In his conference call earlier, Belichick mentioned that he signed Johnson based on a recommendation from Butch Johnson:

“He was not on our radar,” he said. “I don’t think we ever would have signed him. When the players were listed, there were a group of players that fell into this category, and we looked at that group. It was kind of like, ‘Is there anybody here you want?’ Based on some research and follow-up at Tennessee, Butch recommended him to me. We didn’t really know much about the other guys, and I can’t say that we were excited to have him.” …

“I would say he definitely started out as the 91st player on the roster and had a long, long, long way to go back in the spring. I don’t think anyone ever envisioned him being on the roster or even being on the practice squad, to tell you the truth. But he continued to get better and certainly his physicality and his toughness showed up in the preseason games and the preseason practices. …

He works extremely hard, he’s one of the first players here every morning. He puts literally every ounce of energy into this job and into our team and he’s totally earned everybody’s respect for that.”

And so in the never-ending cycle of next man upping, the man to replace the legend comes by one of the most unlikely paths imaginable. Here’s hoping he gets snaps in Buffalo Sunday and the Patriots gain 300 yards on the ground.

Godspeed, Neckroll. Herzlich willkommen, Jakob Johnson. Long live the fullbacks.