Brace, Patriots get deal done

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Looks like Ron Brace doesn't have to worry about a contract anymore.

Brace, a 2nd-round draft pick (No. 40 overall) by the New England Patriots, signed a four-year deal, according to Christopher L. Gasper of the Boston Globe. 

Brace, a nose tackle out of Boston College, definitely adds more beef up front on the defensive line with his 6-foot-3, 330-pound frame.

In college, Brace was known for his physical play and relentless pursuit of the ball carrier. He's a guy that can't be moved by one player; he's a guy that commands a constant double team. 

Imagine the difficulties offenses will have if they have to try to block both Brace and starter Vince Wilfork?

With those two big bodies in front, good luck running into the teeth of the defense if they are paired side by side in goal-line or short-yardage situations.

Brace has the skill, desire and smarts to have a long and productive career in the NFL, not to mention a chance to win on a consistent basis with mastermind Bill Belichick leading the charge.

Fan Fanatic Sports would like to congratulate Brace on his new contact with the best franchise in professional football.

Brace a perfect fit in New England

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Welcome to New England, Ron Brace. But it's not like you're new to the area. Brace, who played his high school football at Burncoat High in Worcester, was once a Patriot with Burncoat, and he's beginning his professional career as a Patriot with New England.

What a great story. But even better than that, what a great pick by coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots.

The Patriots trade all the way out of the first round and then collect picks, giving them four picks in the second round and four in the third round.

So after taking Oregon safety Patrick Chung with the 34th overall pick, the Pats traded up with the Raiders to select Brace at No. 40.

Yes, the defensive line is a strength with the Pats, but who knows if Vince Wilfork and Richard Seymour will be around when their contracts expire. Even if they are, look at the depth on the line with Wilfork, Seymour, Brace, Jarvis Green, Ty Warren and Mike Wright. Outstanding!

Brace is no doubt the same type of nose tackle like Wilfork -- they are big, tough, eat up space, are hard to move, and can downright stop the running game. That's how you win in the National Football League -- stopping the run. Brace and fellow Boston College lineman B.J. Raji are the two top run-stuffing defensive linemen in the draft and the Patriots got one of them.

If anyone knows Brace, they know how much football means to him. He's going to work hard, there's no doubt that. He's smart and willing to do whatever it takes for his team to win games. He's not about himself, it's about T-E-A-M. He also strives for greatness, and I bet those characteristics are why Belichick jumped up to draft him.

It's also a great story for Brace and the Pats. Brace played in Worcester, resides in Springfield and now he's with him hometown team. How often does that happen? I'm willing to bet, not very often. 

It's funny how the draft works out. Brace confirmed to Fan Fanatic Sports that the Patriots had never talked to him, but did bring him in for a physical before the draft. 

Brace was quick to point out that many times when a team doesn't contact a player, they're probably interested in that player.

Well, guess what happened to Brace? No contact from the Pats DID mean they liked him and wanted him to be a part of their championship-caliber club. 

Brace will make them a better team on defense. So will No. 41 pick -- UConn cornerback Darius Butler. 

Entering the draft, it was all about defense for New England. While they still have a glaring need for a linebacker to replace Mike Vrabel, they did give that unit a shot of youth and athleticism. The secondary is got a big boost with Chung and Butler, and the defensive line got that much stronger with Brace in the middle.

What will the Patriots do with all their third-round picks? Who knows, so stayed tuned.

Again, Fan Fanatic Sports would like to congratulate Ron Brace on being selected by the New England Patriots.

For the latest on Ron Brace and the Patriots' draft, keep checking back to Fan Fanatic Sports.

Congratulations to Ron Brace, he's a New England Patriot

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

The New England Patriots just got that much tougher on the defensive line after drafting Boston College defensive tackle Ron Brace, a supporter and friend of Fan Fanatic Sports.

The Patriots traded up one spot to No. 40 overall with the Raiders to land the 6-foot-3, 330-pound Brace in the second round.

At No. 41, New England took UConn cornerback Darius Butler.

The Pats then selected Houston offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer (6-8, 312 pounds) with their last second-round pick (No. 58).

We'll try to talk to Ron this evening and get a story up as soon as possible.

AGAIN, CONGRATS RON. WE'RE SO HAPPY YOU'RE A MEMBER OF THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS.

(PHOTO / Boston College Athletics)

Best of luck today, Ron Brace!

Everyone here at Fan Fanatic Sports is pulling for you today, Ron. Thanks for believing in us. We believe in you, too.

(Editor's note: Check back throughout the day to get the latest information on the NFL Draft and where Ron Brace will start his NFL career. We will follow up with Ron after the first two rounds of the draft tonight. Stay tuned)

(PHOTO / Boston College Athletics)

Ron Brace: I just want to get it going

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Former Boston College star defensive tackle Ron Brace is ready to begin his professional career.

Problem is, he doesn't know where he's going yet.

With the NFL Draft one day away, Brace is making sure his phone is turned on and is eagerly anticipation a call in either the first or second round.

"I feel good," said the 6-foot-3, 330-pound Brace to Fan Fanatic Sports on Thursday evening. "I just want to get it going."

While Brace admits things are "real quiet right now," he knows he and his agent, Andy Simms of PlayersRep Sports Management, will start fielding phone calls from NFL teams on Saturday.

Brace confirmed to FFS that he's already heard from Carolina, San Francisco, Buffalo, Green Bay and Washington to verify his draft phone number. 

"I've been getting calls from random teams, teams that I have never heard from before," Brace said.

Brace isn't just sitting around waiting for his phone to ring, however.

"I'm doing a lot of position drills right now," he said. "I've got to keep the rust off the skills."

Brace had official visits with the Saints, Colts, Browns and Buccaneers.

"My experience is you end up acting like a parrot because you say the same things over and over again," said Brace, when asked what the draft experience has been like. "You've got to have a lot of patience."

Players that go through the NFL Draft process are asked so many different questions, some that don't even pertain to football.

Cleveland head coach Eric Mangini tried to get a better feel for Brace with a random question.

"Coach Mangini asked me what my favorite TV show as," Brace said. So I said, "It was a tie between 'House' and 'SpongeBob.'"

With so many mock drafts out there -- the Fan Fanatic Sports staff even took a crack at trying to "outsmart" the draft gurus -- what does Brace think of them?

"These are just people's opinions," he said. "It's not like they can tell the future, Miss Cleo was even a fake. I really don't pay attention to them."

While the draft process has been grueling at times, Brace considers himself lucky to have been able to experience it.

"Nothing that is good in life is going to come without hard work," Brace said. "To have the opportunity is a blessing in its own ... some people would kill to have this."

Best of luck Ron. 

The Fan Fanatic Sports Staff is behind you 100 percent.

Where will Brace start his NFL career?

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Ron Brace isn't one to sit around. He'd rather be smacking helmets with an opposing offensive lineman and then hammering a running back trying to break through the line.

But not even the 6-foot-3, 330-pound defensive tackle from Boston College and former Burncoat High (Worcester, Mass.) star can do anything but sit and wait for his phone to ring on Saturday when he'll hopefully find out what team has selected him in either the first or second round of the NFL Draft.

"I'm a little bit antsy," said Brace to Fan Fanatic Sports via telephone on Monday morning. "This is a life-changing act. Someone is going to make a decision that's going to change my life."

Brace doesn't have any extravagant plans on draft day, however. He'll be sitting at his house in Springfield, Mass., waiting to be drafted by an NFL team.

"It's going to be a very small gathering," Brace said. "I don't even want a balloon on the house. That's too much."

Projections have Brace -- a high-character player and a disruptive lineman that's quick off the ball, can collapse the pocket and who is one of the best, if not the best, run-stuffing machines available in the draft -- being selected anywhere in the first two rounds.

"I'm hoping first round, but it's a blessing either way," Brace said. "I hope it's late first or early second."

Brace is confident in his abilities and still feels he should be a first-round pick.

"I feel as though I am," he said. 

In his senior season, Brace teamed up with fellow defensive line partner, B.J. Raji -- projected as a top-15 first-round pick -- to form a destructive line that not many teams could run against. Brace had 26 tackles (18 solo) and two sacks as a senior. 

"I feel I got my recognition during the season when we got our wins," Brace said.

In 2007, he had 26 tackles (18 solo) and two sacks.

So what type of player will a team that drafts Brace be getting?

"I'm a strong, physical, tough player whose dedicated to his job," he said. "I'm a real reliable person."

When Brace worked out at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis in February, he thought the Colts took to him quite well after his sit-down interview with the team.

That hasn't changed during this whole draft process, either.

"I think Indy," said Brace when asked what teams seem to be interested in drafting him. "Some more than others. You have to accept that not every team is going to like you."

Brace took a physical for the Colts last Thursday and also did the same thing for the Patriots last Tuesday.

The Patriots didn't speak to him, however. But it could be a sign that Bill Belichick and the Patriots brass are VERY interested in Brace's services and don't want to tip their hand.

"(The Patriots) haven't said anything to me," Brace confirmed. "You can't get your heart set on a certain place."

Some athletes change when they become professional athletes, but don't expect Brace to be that type of guy.

"I'm going to be the same guy, only have more money in my bank account," Brace said. "I don't see myself changing, at all."

What might change is his mailing address, however.

(PHOTO / Boston College Athletics)