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Niko Koutouvides goes from a sports bar back to the New England locker room 09.19.12 at 2:54 pm ET
By

Niko Koutouvides

FOXBORO — Niko Koutovides watching last Sunday’s game between the Patriots and Cardinals like many football fans: in a sports bar.

The linebacker, who had been recently cut loose by New England, couldn’t get the game at home in Connecticut, so he went out to the Wood-n-Tap Bar & Grill and watched the second half of the New England-Arizona contest.

“I’m a big fan of not only my teammates but a Patriot fan,” Koutouvides said before practice on Wednesday. “The first game in Connecticut, we had it. But this last game, for some reason, the game wasn’t on TV there, so I had to go down to a local bar to watch the game. I caught the second half.”

Did anyone recognize you?

“No, but it was flooded with Patriot fans,” he said with a smile, “and they get a little rowdy and love to have fun. It was a pretty fun atmosphere.”

He should have a significantly better view this Sunday, as Koutouvides was re-signed by the Patriots on Tuesday. The 31-year-old, primarily a special teamer, said he’s glad to be back in the New England locker room.

“It’s always good to be back, especially back here with my fellow teammates. I’m excited. Ready to start practicing and ready to get ready for Baltimore,” said the 6-foot-2, 245-pounder.

“In this business, you never know. I was just working out, just staying in shape and was anticipating a call from somebody. Just happy to be back here as a Patriot.”

It was a tough stretch for Koutouvides. Last season, for the first time in his career, he was out of the game for an extended stretch. That made him think about his professional mortality.

“Last year was kind of the first time I’ve dealt with it,” he said when asked about how difficult it is to be out of the game. “I wouldn’t say it gets any easier, but I’d say the mindset is a little different. In this league, you’re not going to play forever — I’m starting to understand that.

“You know, you want to go out on your own terms, but obviously, the league we play in and the way the business works, very rarely do guys have the opportunity to leave on their own. So I was staying in shape and hoping for a callback, and I’m back. So I’m excited and getting ready to focus on Baltimore.”

Based on his previous experience in the system, Koutouvides remains confident that he will be able to jump right back in and contribute this Sunday against the Ravens.

“Yeah, I think so,” he said. “Obviously, I have to work a lot, get the game plan, study, get ready to start putting the pads back on. Last year, I was out for almost six or seven weeks, which was a little different. This time around, it’s only been two weeks.”

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  • Danny Ainge

    Any guards out there please call me…..

  • Sicko

    Man, this team is snake bit. At least they were fairly deep at the guard and probably will just look to pick up another true point off the scrap heep.

  • Marchmont

    Marchmont should play guard.

  • Sicko

     The only problem is his skates would wreck the parquet. 

  • Ericm

    Bring in Delonte West……..

  • Cfn

    Not that I wanted Barbosa to get hurt; but he seemed to be the most inconsistent Celtic lately.  He did offer some fire once in a while but overall I was not happy with him.  The Celtics are very thin at the one and two spots now.  I actually think we are OK at the 4 and 5 with Garnet, Bass, Collins and Wilcox.  Green will get more time and play with Pierce at the two.  With Lee, Terry, and Bradley is all you need - these nine players can get them deep into the playoffs, but if one more player gets hurt then we are screwed.  Danny needs to bring in another guard and see what Melo can do one of these nights in a pressure situation.

  • ScoopBurton

    Is Cousy available?

  • Fab4ever

    …To me, at that moment, it looked like a fully torn miniscus…he stopped, his knee didn’t appear to be twisted, no contact…but more than likely it’s an ACL or MCL or AHL, CBA, or PGA injury….

  • The_public_sucks

    I don’t know what you are talking about, the most inconsistent guard and player without a position is clearly Bradley.  He balked at shooting a couple of threes in the second half, which he should.  He is clearly the only guard on the club that can not break down a defense in any manner other than a TO.  Does that mean I want him traded? Nope he does have some good D skills.  But, as I wrote yesterday the game went into overtime because he was blown by a couple of times and didn’t force his man baseline.  Think about it, the Celtics had 2 players that could break down a defense offensively Barbosa and Pierce (Green at times)  Most of us said that the C’s couldn’t sustain another injury for 2 reasons.  Can’t trade the player and can’t use the player so your concept of losing Barbosa is terrible  and close minded. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/derek.lee.82 Derek Lee

    Already were screwed only now we’re further screwed

  • http://www.facebook.com/derek.lee.82 Derek Lee

    Only if you think this is 1950

  • Chrisindanvers

    Too bad….here’s hoping the best for Barbosa. He has been a solid player and had become more of a factor. Likewise, his personality seemed infectious on that team.
     

  • Anonymous

    Time to suit up Danny.

  • Yankee27/GMEN baby! /knicks!

    Good hahahaha old team wasn’t going anywhere hope punk garnet is next!!

  • Qshwur

    remember when the celtics had guards

  • Ewrh2

    0-1 without barbosa…

  • Dqjfr

    bardley is not the most inconsistent. he got blown by ay the end because he rolled his ankle. bradley is the best on ball defender in the nba. give me one better. you cant, because you will be wrong

  • Bob_Ryan

    I hear Jordan can play and contribute at 50.

  • http://www.facebook.com/gregg.walker1 Gregg Walker

    “Ah Hello? Delonte?  It’s Danny – How are you on your Meds?”

  • http://www.facebook.com/gregg.walker1 Gregg Walker

    “Ah hello Delonte…. it’s Danny, how are you on your meds?”

  • Fab4ever

    Actually we all hope you sit on a steak knife….let’s see, Yanks? Done. GMEN? I just saw Eli through another pick. KNicks? BWaaaahahahaha….right.

  • Dlelli

    What about Micah Downs or Dionte Christmas.

  • Christina

    Hang in there guys, let this one go and move on. You won alot of games some people didn’t think you would, so pick yourselves up and fight on! GO CELTICS!!!!

  • Old School

    we have three capable guards, even though we have lost another guard, we really need a 5

  • Dlelli

    What about Courtney Lee for Nate Robinson?  They have Derrick Rose coming back, and Thibodeau likes defensive players.  We need a point guard who can penetrate and is familiar with our system. 

  • Cfn

    What are you talking about?  Overall Bradley is a good defender; so he had one bad game.  And I said that Barbosa can add spark to the offense……but he is inconsistent when he drives to the basket and is a little wild at times.  His missed shots lead to a lot of fast breaks for the other team as well. Your right that we can’t trade him, and that is a pity.

  • Dave

    Now we have a clear nine-man rotation, so let’s see what happens.  Bradley’s great on defense most of the time, but he can’t shoot consistently.  His shot looks good, though, and you have to remember how much time he missed.  He couldn’t practice shooting with a rehabbing shoulder, I wouldn’t think.  I wish Doc would give Jeff Green more minutes.  He and Bradley should be getting the most minutes, but Doc gets a little stuck in his ways.

  • Frank

    Bring Allen Iverson!!!!!

  • Guest3141

    missed a lot of shots. He would throw up a lot of wild lay ups, especially in that miami heat game. Not a huge loss. Sad for him, but not going to kill the C’s

  • WhaleBelly

    TMZ reports seeing the Red Sox medical staff leaving the TD Garden!

  • San Diego Dreamer

    How about Doc as player coach?

  • Molly

     u have to be kiddin. this guy is a disaster in the making for any team that brings him in

  • Almo

    Here’s one from out of left field: Stephan Marbury…….

  • Bruinman86

    Celts are quickly building one of the strongest Disabled List Teams this season!

  • Injury bug

    Falling like flies. NE teams snake bit with injuries. Red Sox it makes no difference.

  • GoRevs

    It’s a real shame. I enjoyed watching Barbosa and his energy on the court. If anything, this will force Ainge to make some upcoming deals.

  • Dave

    Barbosa’s injury does nothing to this team’s chances, because LB was not going to be a difference maker. Now Doc has a nine-man rotation.  Give Bradley and Lee (young guys) plenty of minutes.  Ainge should add a D-Leaguer guard for practice purposes, maybe somebody who could grow and contribute in games next year. 

  • Brandon Murchison

     Nope! I’m not buying it. 3 serious/major injuries (sully,rondo, now
    barbosa) in less then a MONTHS time…? Come on man, somethings going
    on up there in those Celtic corporate offices….Maybe they dont want
    certain guys on the floor maybe there trying to trade guys. But
    something fishy is going on up there, its no way all these FANTASY
    injuries are happening one after the other. Celtics players are dropping
    like flies. Something just doesn’t add up, do you guys feel the same
    way ….

  • Schwank

    Down to 3 guards unless Pierce moves and they give more minutes to Collins and Wilcox.   I dunno Lee Bradley and Terry are all getting 25-30.  Barbosa was getting 20-25 since Rondo got hurt.  No body else …so they just play bigger with Collin or Wilcox.  Perhaps they bring back Kris Joseph.

  • Schwank

    Check that …..Joseph wasn’t waived….I guess he got traded.  Perhaps there is someone else out ther that can fill ou the roster and play in practice as I agree with the earlier post that you can get by with Lee Bradley and Terry.  Anymore and yes definetly screwed.

  • Bill

    Thats right Brandon!  You are spot on.  Oh…and the Holacaust and 911 didn’t happen.  What a dope.

  • Billy Madison

    ACL = Awful Celtics Luck

  • Billy Madison

    If you’re implying that these ACL tears actually didn’t happen or that Sullinger and Rondo didn’t actually have surgery, you’re in denial of the fact that the C’s have just been extremely unfortunate with these injuries.  We all know with a fully healthy squad, they’re capable of a championship run, or at least another deep run in the playoffs.  It’s just a shame and upsetting as well.

  • Boston_Sports

    KG Called it

  • Woww seriously……

    Yeah the ACL tears didn’t happen. Oh and guess what, the NBA has admitted to rigging the eastern conference finals the last two years against the Celtics as well. Oh and the Red Sox went undefeated last year

  • The_Public_Sucks

    Dear Brandon Murchisonedisonsum, you didn’t get the memo.  You can’t trade the inured players.  Which was the depth of the Celtics.  Now with that depth gone they would have to trade likes of a Bass or Green and a draft pick or two to get a slob.  You have to trade contracts.  Nobody is going to take Green – so put your other team GM hat on.  Who would you want from the Celtics?  Now stop the wake and bake and get on with it!

  • The_Public_Sucks

    Ball defender this, Ball defender that.  Who gives a $h!t the the rest of his game is not up to snuff.  How does SA, MIA, NY, OKC survive without a Bradley.  Oh yeah their guards can penetrate, shoot, pass. That is still what the position is about.  Too many Boston fans that wouldn’t even trade Bradley for Russel Westbrook because he is a “sick ball defender” from baseline to 3 point line.  Then the pros blow by him.  He needs to work on his game, actually it is go time now for him and the C’s. 

  • Gc59

    Delonte West will be walking through that door.  He knows the system and can play the 1 or 2.  They need someone who can play 10-15 minutes.

  • Cfn

    DW is a headcase.  Celtics really tried to support him last time he was here.  He is injury prone also.

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