The Red Sox try to fend off the relentless Tampa Bay Rays and salvage a split of their four-game series, and the Patriots will try to win their home opener at Gillette Stadium for the 10th straight season.
With baseball approaching its most exciting time of the year and football again taking over our lives on Sundays, we speculate which Red Sox player is best suited to play for the Patriots. While no one on the Sox is any Deion Sanders, Jim Thorpe or Bo Jackson, they do posses some talented athletes.
The best players suited to make the jump from the MLB to the NFL are perhaps second baseman Dustin Pedroia and center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury. Standing at just 5 feet, 9 inches with 26 stolen bases, Pedrioa fits the mold of a Wes Welker and would make a viable slot receiver in the Patriots' offense. Ellsbury's 6-foot-1 frame and 37 stolen bases could make him a talented wide receiver or defensive back.
His size, 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, and skills behind the plate make catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia an ideal tight end. We are unsure of his ability to catch a football or make a block, but his strength and ability to catch a darting curveball suggest he could hold his own.
Kevin Youkilis could be a potential fullback. His average speed would not be an issue at the position, and his power behind the plate might translate to some big hits.
While it might be difficult to imagine designated hitter David Oritz playing football at all, he could make a decent pass rusher on the defensive line. Of course, the slugger would need to become more explosive, but at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, he already has the size.
That leaves just one more position to wonder about: quarterback. Jonathan Papelbon could be a good fit. At 6-foot-4, the closer would be able to see over offensive lineman, and we are all aware of his ability to rocket a baseball.
Perhaps better is Carl Crawford. The left field initially signed a letter of intent to be an option quarterback at the University of Nebraska, but eventually turned them down in favor of baseball.
