E-Rod Era Begins at North Bergen High School

 WIN #1 of the E-Rod Era!

The boys in RED and GOLD got their first win for the 2023 season with their 12-8 over West Side in Newark on Saturday, September 9th.

It marks the first coaching victory for E-Rod after serving as Head Coach of the North Bergen Red Raiders during the 2022 season. He was an Assistant Coach with the Red Raiders in 2021.

It was regretful this milestone victory could not be witnessed by Vinny Ascolese, the legendary head Coach of the Bruns for decades, including during E-Rod's career in the Red and Gold between 2003-2006.

This was for you, Coach A!

Something New Is Bruin In North Bergen!

E-Rod Named Head Football Coach at Alma Mater!

Hey football fans! We’re back to let you know E-Rod has officially taken over as the new Head Football Coach of the North Bergen Bruins, his alma mater. He has received final approval for the position from the North Bergen School Board and says he’s “Ready to get started!”

There’s a lot to work on to get the program back on the right track. Off-season workouts for the 2023 North Bergen Bruins football team have informally started with encouragement from E-Rod and his new staff.

For those who didn’t follow E-Rod’s football career he started every game of his NB Bruins career for the late, legendary head football coach, Vincent “Papa Bear” Ascolese between 2003-06. This included four consecutive trips to the state playoffs.

He was selected to multiple All-Hudson County teams as a Safety and Quarterback, as well as a First Team All-State Safety in 2006. He earned a full athletic scholarship to both West Virginia University, and then Temple University, and won a bowl game with both teams.

He was selected in the 4th round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, just the second player ever taken from NBHS (Mark D’Onofrio was the first by the Bay Packers in 1992). E-Rod started immediately as a rookie at Fullback for the Bears and would go on to play with the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers as well.

Stay tuned to this page for a message from E-Rod in the coming days.

Go Bruins!

E-Rod during his North Bergen Bruins playing days. 

DRAGONS FALL TO DC IN FRANCHISE OPENER, 31-19

In the much-ballyhooed XFL opener in the Nation's Capital, the Seattle Dragons fell to the DC Defenders 31-19, at a sold-out Audi Field. National broadcaster ABC introduced the new league to an admiring audience, with explanations of some unique XFL rules for kickoffs and extra points. 

Despite the Dragons taking the lead just before the half at 13-9, and being tied in the 3rd Quarter 19-19, DC added two more TDs to secure the win.

It took three quarters, but QB Brandon Silvers eventually found E-Rod on a crossing route and after the garb E-Rod motored for 22 yards. It was the only catchable target of the game, and the first XFL catch of E-Rod's career.

E-Rod's first XFL catch: 22-yards

The last XFL Inaugural game was on February 3, 2001, a week after the Baltimore Ravens destroyed the New York Giants 34-7 in Super Bowl XXXV. That game pitted the New York/New Jersey Hitmen and the Las Vegas Outlaws at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Dragons will play their home opener this Saturday, February 15th, when they host the Tampa Bay Vipers. 

First-Place Commanders Win 3rd Straight, E-Rod Scores Again!

The Commanders marched into Atlanta on St. Patrick's Day and crushed the Legends 37-6, earning them their third consecutive victory. With a San Diego loss later in the day, San Antonio moves into first place in the Western Conference all alone at 4-2, just ahead of the 3-3 Fleet.

Photo courtesy: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

E-Rod will remember his afternoon in Atlanta as the day he scored his longest professional touchdown, 33 yards, which was also a career-long reception. With the Commanders up 14-0, QB Logan Woodside through a laser to the streaking E-Rod for the TD grab. With a 20-0 lead the team never looked back.

The victory in Atlanta brings to a close a month-long, 4-game road trip for San Antonio, who won 3 out of 4 while away. They now return to the friendly confines of the Alamodome for a 3-game stretch which will determine if they qualify for the AAF Playoffs, which will be played April 20-21. The AAF Championship game will be played on April 27th in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Commanders First TD Reception Goes to E-Rod!

How sweet it is: TD #1!

Gratitude! That is what E-Rod's body language said moments after hauling in his first professional TD.

It was a long time coming and it also served as the San Antonio Commander's first receiving TD in team history! Although it counted as just a 1-yard reception from QB Logan Woodside, it was a reception many years in the making.

Through four NFL teams and just as many NFL seasons, E-Rod had never hauled in a TD reception. His catch gave the Commanders a short-lived 12-0 lead on the visiting Orlando Apollos, who would go on to defeat the Commanders 37-29 with a late TD, handing them their first franchise loss.

After a quick lead in San Diego, things went south.

The Commanders opened their inaugural season with a 15-6 win over the San Diego Fleet on February 9, 2019 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. E-Rod had just one target in the first game and it was thrown high overhead, resulting in an interception.

On February 24th the Fleet would get revenge on the Commanders when they handed San Antonio its first road loss, 31-11. E-Rod hauled in two passes in that game, including a 2-pt. conversion from Woodside.

The Commanders (1-2) travel to Birmingham on Sunday, March 3rd to take on the undefeated Iron (3-0).

Countdown To Kickoff!

The time is almost upon us! E-Rod and the San Antonio Commanders have completed 19 of 21 practices of their inaugural Training Camp and laser-focusing on Opening Day. The squad is rounding-into shape as they prepare to host the San Diego Fleet at the Alamodome on February 9th.  The team will soon need to shed about 20 players to get to the league-mandated limit of 53.

(photo courtesy of 210football.com)

E-Rod Ready for TE Competition in 2019

With just a week to go until the San Antonio Commanders open their first official Training Camp, E-Rod is working-out hard in Perth Amboy, New Jersey for his new opportunity. "I know this could be my last, best chance, I will answer the bell come Training Camp, know that," he said.

"Each camp is a new opportunity to shine," E-Rod said.

The young Commanders are ready to appease the football crazy town of San Antonio in the new year, with home games being played in the famed AlamoDome.

"Each camp is a new opportunity to shine," E-Rod said this week. While competition will be strong at the Tight End position, it's a chance to play a position he has dreamed about since turning pro. "When I started in my first training camp the Bears used me as a Tight End, but that all changed pretty quickly," he said. "I never felt I was ever used to my full potential wherever I went, so this is my chance to show folks what I can bring to the table."

The two-time All-MAC Conference TE at Temple University feels he has a lot to prove to the San Antonio faithful, and any NFL team in need of a hard-working, focused player. He added, "I have definitely learned how to be a professional athlete over the years and what the Commanders are getting is a laser-focused, team player."

The opening game on February 9, 2019 will be seen by a nationwide audience on CBS Sports.

Take Me To Your Commander: ERod signs with San Antonio!

On December 1, 2018 ERod signed a 3-year contract with the San Antonio Commanders of the Alliance of American Football, a Spring League which is being described as "complimentary to the NFL."

The Spring League will feature eight professional teams, each playing a 10-game schedule. ERod already feels he's amongst family as the Commander's General Manager is Daryl Johnston, who played his stellar career with ERod's favorite childhood team, the Dallas Cowboys.

The Commanders mini-camp starts today and runs through December 15th. They will begin regular season play on February 8, 2019, just 60 days from today, when they host the San Diego Fleet at the Alamodome.

Take 86: It's A Bucs Life!

By Greg Aumon - Courtesy Tamp Bay Times and tampabay.com

With injuries to all three tight ends in Sunday's loss at Chicago, the Bucs have made a flurry of moves at the position, promoting rookie Cameron Brate from the practice squad, signing former Packers and Patriots tight end D.J. Williams and adding Evan Rodriguez and Taylor Sloat to the practice squad.

"It feels like a reunion. I'm excited. It's a new beginning," said Rodriguez, a fourth-round pick in 2012 out of Temple. "It's always a challenge learning a new offense, but it's not my first time."

Rookie Austin Seferian-Jenkins said his back, which tightened up Sunday, limiting him to 20 snaps, is already improving, and Brandon Myers said the calf injury that limited him to 17 plays is feeling better as well. Myers was no longer wearing a walking boot Tuesday in the locker room.

To meet the newcomers: Brate is a Harvard grad who has been on the practice squad since final preseason cuts,

"You never know when your day is going to come as a practice-squad guy. You don't want to see the guys ahead of you go down," Brate said. "You have to be ready whenever that happens. I'm super-excited for this week and the opportunity."

Williams, a Packers fifth-round draft pick out of Arkansas in 2011, was with Bucs director of player personnel Jon Robinson in New England, and among the Patriots' final cuts this preseason.

"It's being coachable, dependable and accountable. That's something that comes with more than a couple of minutes," said Williams, who has seven career catches for 70 yards. "You can always control attitude and effort, and you have to be able to show them you can be on the field and know what you should do."

Sloat, a rookie from UC-Davis, is in his second stint on the practice squad, and Rodriguez played fullback and tight end for Lovie Smith with the Bears in 2012. Though he's wearing No. 86 and is listed as a tight end, he worked with the running backs at practice Tuesday.

To make room for the new additions, the Bucs put fullback Jorvorskie Lane on injured reserve, released returner Marcus Thigpen, and also cut tight end Ted Bolser and cornerback Quinton Pointer from the practice squad.

An International First

E-Rod has now played three games in Buffalo and will finish December with games against Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, Miami and New England. Here he hauls in a pass during pre-game warm-ups in Toronto's Rogers Centre before the Bills took on Atlanta. It was the first time in his entire football career he played in a game outside of the United States. Atlanta won in overtime 34-31.

Photo courtesy of Timothy T. Ludwig, USA Today Sports.