Almost Shameless

Tanya kicks off NFL season with Patriots beat reporter and Locked On Patriots host Mike D'Abate by hitting on some of the hot preseason topics  around the league (2:30), including Aaron Rodgers' chances of making the Jets the real deal and which NFC North team is most ready to grab the division by the horns in his absence. Stay tuned after that for a Patrick Mahomes GOAT hot take (34:16) and then...

Tanya quickly recaps why it's encouraging that the Patriots won decisively against the Lions, who were a great matchup for their ailing offense, as they head into a more forgiving stretch of their season (2:00). Then she discusses the weird way that the broadcast handled Lamar Jackson's final drive in the Ravens' Week 5 win over the Bengals, and why it's yet another indication that Lamar doesn't g...

Tanya dives into why the NFL and the Miami Dolphins deserve all the skepticism regarding what happened to Tua, and how it ties into learning our lesson from all the passes that we gave Brett Favre in spite of a million red flags (3:30). Then she hits on why she's tired of Bill Belichick's game of chess with the media regarding Mac Jones' injury status and availability in Week 4, and why it doesn't...

Tanya takes a deep dive into some major reporting failures in the story of Ime Udoka's misconduct within the Boston Celtics organization, the red flags raised by his one-season suspension and why it should never have been reported as a consensual relationship without more context (2:53). Then she hits on the Patriots win over the Steelers and why the Patriots offense may have to look back at what...

Week 2 kicked off with a messy game between the AFC West rival Chargers and Chiefs, and we learned a lot about how not only that division could play out but also what it means for the rest of the AFC as the Chiefs establish their ability to stay in any type of game (1:58). With that in mind, Tanya takes a look at where the Patriots stand as they head to Pittsburgh to take on a weakened Steelers te...

Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season officially kicked off on Thursday night with the Bills trouncing the reigning Super Bowl champion Rams, so Tanya dives into what we learned about both teams in the inaugural game of the year (01:31). She also examines what it means for the Patriots' ceiling this season (12:00). Then it's time to take a tour around the NFC to look at which teams have the best chance at...

The new season of Almost Shameless with Tanya Ray Fox kicks off with a more optimistic assessment of what we can and should expect from the New England Patriots coming off of a less than impressive preseason (03:47). Then she goes in on critics of Bill Belichick's career without Tom Brady (09:08), and hits on the issue of how sports media continues to deal with sexual assault stories in the NFL an...

Almost Shameless is back with guest and Patriots insider Mike D'Abate just in time to break down the major QB moves that are shaking up the NFL, beginning with the blockbuster trade of Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos (03:17). Mike and Tanya continue the conversation by discussing whether Wilson can get the Broncos out of a very competitive AFC West (09:29). Next up they hit on the breaking ne...

That's a wrap on the NFL season! (muffled cries) Tanya kicks the show off with few broad takeaways from the Los Angeles Rams Super Bowl win over the Cincinnati Bengals, including the difference between a good game and good narratives. Then she dives into the main topic of the show, explaining why Aaron Donald should have been the game's MVP, how broadcasters can better help shape the conversation...

We should be talking about the impending showdown between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI. However there are bigger things at play this week. Tanya starts the show off with an overview of the allegations in the lawsuit filed by Brian Flores accusing three NFL teams of racism in the hiring process (3:36). She goes into exactly what is at stake for the former Miami...

This was one of the best NFL divisional rounds that most of us can remember, and Tanya hits on every game and every major storyline from the weekend. First up is the Bengals in over an underwhelming No. 1 seeded Titans, and her concern over what she sees as Cincinnati's greatest liability as they establish themselves as real players in the AFC (3:52). Then it's on to the 49ers edging the Packer in...

The wild card round is complete and the New England Patriots are just one of several teams to leave the playoffs with more than just hurt pride. Set aside the hysterics, Bill Belichick and the defense will be fine. But there is one major change the team will have to make in the offseason if they want any chance of getting Mac Jones into AFC contending shape. Tanya breaks it all down, from his stan...

The Winter AMA mailbag has arrived and Tanya is ready for the questions from across sports and pop culture. She kicks things off by laying out the latest with Antonio Brown and his bizarre take on Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady. Then she hits the mailbag, beginning with musings on 'Survivor' as the greatest competitive social experiment of all time (5:12), then discusses the evolution of her dream j...

We've finally made it to the first inaugural WEEK 18 of the NFL season and much like the season itself, things are still very chaotic. First up, Tanya addresses the situation with Antonio Brown that led to his swift release from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - and her controversial tweet about Tom Brady's role in bringing him to the team (3:42). Then she breaks down the NFL playoff picture and which ma...

From Bill Belichick vs Tom Brady to Mac Jones vs Cam Newton to the Red Sox vs the Yankees, Tanya hit on all the best rivalries in Boston sports this year... and did a little ragging on Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers for good measure. Here's some of the best rants from Almost Shameless in 2021. See you in 2022, gang.  (1:23) Enough of the comparing, Brady and Belichick did it together. (4:15)...

Tanya followed the New England Patriots' lead and took a bye week for the holidays, but she's back and taking a tour of the NFL's weird Week 15. She kicks things off by checking in with the Buccaneers and Tom Brady after another loss to the Saints (3:03) before delivering a blunt explanation for what we saw from the Patriots in their loss to the Colts on Thursday Night Football (7:41). Then she ta...

The Patriots beat the Bills in an unforgettable way on Monday Night Football to take sole possession of the No. 1 seed in the AFC heading into their bye week. The aftermath was fraught with accusations of overreaction and hyperbole, balanced out by the dawning realization from everyone else that the Patriots are back on top. Tanya breaks down exactly what the conditions were like and rips into peo...

Tanya is joined by the host of the Locked on Patriots podcast and writer for SI Patriots Maven, Mike D'Abate to catch up on the NFL season through Week 13. They kick things off by chatting about the players on the offense who are best positioned to help Mac Jones continue his hot streak (4:48). Then they hit on the state of the Patriots defense and if that unit has any weaknesses (10:41), which gu...

Tanya starts things off this week by taking a look at Cam Newton's triumphant return to the Panthers and to the field in Week 10, and what it could mean for Carolina in a surprisingly open NFC South divisional race (5:08). Then it's a full deep dive into what the Patriots are doing that's working so well, how Bill Belichick turned a rebuild into real playoff contention, the rise of their elite def...

The New England Patriots have played nine games in this new 18 week season and so it's time for the Almost Shameless Podcast to hand out some midseason awards!! First, Tanya quickly touches on a few of the biggest stories of the week, including Odell Beckham Jr. signing with the Rams over the Patriots (among others), Cam Newton landing back with the Panthers and the Ravens losing a very bizarre ga...

The Patriots secured their biggest win of the season on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers with a classic Bill Belichick defensive performance and some old-school possession offense. Now that people are paying attention to the GOAT and his rookie up in New England, can they deliver on the promise they've shown and make a real playoff run? Tanya addresses that, where they stand in the AFC pl...

Tanya is back and kicks things off with examining the harsh realities of Roger Goodell's reign over the NFL, and a critique of the way fans and media respond to the lack of transparency in league culture and investigations (3:00). Then she moves onto Thursday night's wild game between the Cardinals and Packers, and the resulting praise of Aaron Rodgers that took a turn back into the delusional GOA...

Tanya welcomes Jarrett Bailey, Fansided NFL contributor and co-host of the Laces Out Podcast, to take a look across the league as we head into Week 6 and the real meat of the NFL season. First though, Tanya and Jarrett breakdown and react to the fallout from Jon Gruden's resignation after the leak of a slew of racist, homophobic and misogynistic emails between he and former Washington Football tea...

Tanya kicks things off by sharing some of her favorite reactions to the Red Sox beating the Yankees in the wild card game, including an absolute masterpiece from a former Yankee himself (5:02). Then it's onto reactions to Patriots Bucs, but specifically analyzing where Mac Jones is at through 4 games of the regular season (10:45). She also breaks down why she's not as worked up about the Stephon G...

The fall AMA mailbag is here to lighten things up ahead of maybe the most stressful regular season game that Patriots fans will ever watch, so sit back and grab your fall beverage of choice and get to know Tanya a little better while also getting your weekly does of sports hot takes sprinkled in. From Halloween movies and aggressive wrestling fans to preparing your emotions for Patriots v Bucs, th...