Rhamondre Stevenson’s entire NFL season just flashed before his eyes.
The Patriots’ running back was at the inaugural MayeDay Celebrity Softball Classic, hosted by his franchise quarterback, Drake Maye, and his wife, Ann Michael Maye, when Stevenson nearly got his leg rolled up on in an ugly scene.
Comedian Matt Rife was was caught in a rundown when he slid headfirst into second base, diving into the hip of Stevenson and forcing his leg to bend the wrong way.
Multiple players ran over to Stevenson’s aid, thinking that a legitimate injury may have occurred, but Stevenson immediately popped up and was patted on the back by the comedian.
The event was attended by several of Stevenson’s AFC Championship-winning teammates, including Christian Gonzalez, and Boston celebrities such as Dave Portnoy, Julian Edelman and many more. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel was also in attendance.
They raised over $200,000 for Boston Children’s Hospital and the MayeDay Family Foundation.
Rife was in a joking mood after the dicey play nearly injured the Patriots starting running back, who rushed for 603 yards (4.5 yards per carry) and seven touchdowns last season.
“They were crowding the baseline,” Rife joked on X after the play with a laughing emoji. “Also- not a bad DB tackle.”
Fans were not as light-hearted over the play.
“We are not laughing,” one fan replied to Rife.
“Cry about it dips–t,” Rife replied.
The Patriots drafted Treyveon Henderson with a second-round draft pick last year and he was clearly the more efficient runner in New England last season.
Henderson dashed for 911 yards (5.1 YPC) and nine touchdowns as a rookie, though most of that came when Stevenson was sidelined with injuries.
Whenever Stevenson was healthy, he operated as the lead back for the Patriots, and it remains to be seen if that will continue into this season.
The Patriots begin mandatory minicamp on June 15 and training camp kicks off in late July.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
