A Top Somerville Football Player Comes Home To the Garden State

At one time, the name Tashawn Bower was very recognizable here in the Garden State. An elite high school football player, he left to pursue a career in the NFL.  But we’re talking about 2012.  That’s when he was considered the top high school recruit in the state.

He wound up playing college ball at LSU and then in 2017 he was signed by the Minnesota Vikings. Bower also played for the Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders. But now? He’s coming home. He’ll be playing football for the New York Giants who just so happen to play their home games in East Rutherford, NJ at MetLife Stadium.

It most likely feels pretty cool for Bower as he was born in Livingston, grew up in Kenilworth, and starred at Immaculata High School in Somerville. Now at 28, he will be playing his home games back in Jersey. Here’s the question though, will anyone really notice?

During the 2019 offseason, he had a torn Achilles and the Vikings put him on the non-football injury list.  In October of that year, they waived him. He played nine games with the Patriots and six with the Raiders and I personally would love it if this linebacker could come back home and show us what he’s really made of.

Even being an Eagles fan myself, I’m rooting for him!  How can I not root for a New Jersey native who’s been signed to a monster time with something to prove?

Bower stands 6 foot 5 inches tall and weighs 250. Definitely, a man built for football.  I just hope he can capitalize on this new opportunity and get some more sacks under his belt and play, leaving everything out on the field.

Hell, he might even make it hard for Jalen Hurts to explode off the line of scrimmage, but you know what, I love a good battle. Go Tashawn!

To hype the start of NFL training camp and the upcoming 2023 season, many teams are unveiling a new gameday look. From classic throwbacks uniforms to more vibrant colorways, we've compiled a ranking for the best (and worst) of the new NFL alternative or throwback uniforms that you'll see this season.

To clarify, this ranking is specific only to those teams sporting these threads on special occasions throughout the season. This does not include those uniform sets that have been updated (like the Carolina Panthers) or are a total makeover.

There is a lot to unpack here. Most recently, the Tennessee Titans finally showed us what we knew was coming. They will pay tribute their history with the Houston Oilers look. The same holds true for the Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles who will both throw it back to their original colors. Then, there's the Arizona Cardinals. They are the only franchise on this list that will have a completely new uniform design this season.

First of all, I considered tradition. In professional sports, so many teams' original uniforms contain a character that truly embodies the city. Over the past 20 years, many organizations have moved away from that and opted for a louder and more modern look. Now, we are finding so many players and fans alike are attracted to the simpler design that screams history, instead of that extra neon stripe down the side.

Currently, the Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have top selling jerseys in the NFL. They are the only two in the top ten sellers that will offer a new option for the 2023 season. Will their new alternate look be a future hot item? Time will tell. But for now, our official ranking lists the best new alternative and throwback uniforms for the upcoming NFL season.

The Browns' uniform design is so simple to start with that it's hard to get creative on something new to wear without making it too flashy. With the new white helmets, the Browns will pay tribute their roots. It also nicely compliments the 1946 patch. However, not everyone seems to be in favor. NFL fans have been quick to point out the Browns' in-state rivals the Cincinnati Bengals, already wear alternate white helmets.

This is a tricky one because Arizona has worn the black jersey, black pants combo for a few years now. However, their new alternative look showcases the team's new design, which is much simpler. The black helmet here is sharp. I just don't understand why only the away red jersey says "Arizona" across the top, and the rest of their jersey options do not.

In reference to the "Indiana Nights" and an "Indiana Night Sky" the Colts will have an all-blue uniform look that pairs with the black helmet. This look will debut week 7 against the Cleveland Browns.

There's not a huge change here. The Vikings alternate look is simply a nod to their classic original look. It contains the gray facemask. "The Classic" will be worn on the first week of the season.

The Lions will debut a new blue helmet with an alternate logo on October 30 against the Raiders and during the week 18 matchup with their division rival Vikings. It will be paired with the alternate all-gray jersey and pants combination. This set also pays tribute to the culture and city of Detroit.

The Jets have all sorts of new toys and expectations this year. Aaron Rodgers and company will wear "legacy" whites during their opening game (Monday Night Football) against the Buffalo Bills, and on October 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The alternate parts here are the white facemask, the retro logo, and the jersey design that mirrors the Jets of the '80s.

From Gang Green to Kelly Green. The Eagles haven't officially posted photos yet, but UniWatch did have a preview. This set also pays tribute to look Reggie White and Randall Cunningham made famous. This design should be the team's permanent look.

What we all knew was coming. What NFL fans have wanted for years, finally was confirmed this weekend. The Titans will sport the classic throwback look that respects where they came from. That would be Houston. The Oilers logo with Columbia blue will be worn twice this season. Though these uniforms are a total hit, there's a slight deduction in ranking due to the Titans taking so long to finally showcase these. How do Houston Texan's fans feel about this?

Seattle is also paying tribute to their roots. While this is a complete departure from their current uniform, the throwback mirrors the classic Seahawk look from the '70s, '80s, and '90s. It may (or may not) be coincidental, but this look will also be worn against the Cleveland Browns on week 8.

This is just the most unique color in the entire NFL catalog. The Creamsicle makes it triumphant return. Taking the field on October 15 vs. the Lions, this throwback "Bucco Bruce" look was the team's standard uniform from 1976-1996. "Our fans have waited a decade to see our players back in these classic Creamsicle jerseys, and we are excited to celebrate our rich legacy when we debut these one-of-a-kind uniforms," the Bucs said in their official announcement.