An Independent Patriots Blog
Reworked contract will keep Jerod Mayo with Patriots
Somewhat expected news this offseason that Mayo would either get his contract reworked after passing a physical or a new extension. I never realistically believed they would part ways with Mayo, he’s like BB’s favorite son. Here’s hoping he can return to form after a serious torn patellar injury. I would be very excited to see how Hightower/Collins and Mayo all come together now that all three are so experienced and versatile.
Here it is, your 2015 Patriots schedule. So what are the takeaways?
The road to San Francisco isn’t exactly treacherous, but it certainly will provide plenty of challenges, so it might be a little early to start looking for tickets for Super Bowl 50.
Bye Week is Week 3 – Always would prefer it be later rather than just a few short weeks after they break training camp. But having two big road games coming out of the week off should give BB a good chance to plan for Romo and Luck back-to-back. Of course this includes 10 days off after their opener as well, so it will be a slow start to the season before things really kick in in October.
Divisional Games – The road to the playoffs always starts through the division and I like how they’re spread out – one in early September, then two at home back-to-back in late October, then one in November, then finish off the season with two away games. Hopefully those last two are meaningless because if the division is still in question at the end, things could get a little dicey.
Primetime – Two Thursday Night national games including the opener, two Sunday Night national games and one Monday nighter.
General posits:
It’s a forgiving September which is a good thing since the Pats usually have at least a couple where they’re flat and one all-out stinker around then. That at Buffalo Week 2 has always been a close one and with Rex there now I don’t expect anything different.
October might very well define the season with big away games at Dallas and Indy, then hitting the Jets and Dolphins back-to-back. Having those games at home is a big plus.
After a MNF game vs. the Bills they’ll have a short turnaround to get out to Denver to play the Broncos on Sunday Night Football.
The potential gimme games are spread out nicely. Jaguars in September, Redskins in early November, Titans in late December. No game is a true gimme in the NFL, but at least on paper their easier games come at good times.
However their long Thursday Night – Sunday mini-bye week comes leading up the Redskins. But that will be a welcome 10-day break in early November.
Overall it’s not quite the bear than 2014′s schedule was, but there are plenty of challenges just like there always is. The meaningfulness of those last two divisional road games is what will be most interesting to see play out.
Once again, the rest of the AFC East must beat the Patriots in Foxboro if they’re to have any chance at all.
Gronk Highlights anyone? (via Rob Gronkowski Career Highlights: Can’t be Touched – YouTube)
https://www.patspropaganda.com/gronk-highlights-anyone-via-rob-gronkowski/
“What you do learn from watching (Brady) – and then watching the Patriots organization – you get a big-picture look at it,” Griffin said. “Man, honestly, they operate like a high school football team. You remember in high school, how the coach calls everybody up, everybody runs up, gets on a knee and looks at the coach like what he is saying is the most important thing in the world? That’s how the Patriots are.
"They’re attentive. They run on and off the field. They run after practice. They do what they have to do – and everyone understands, whether they like it or not, this is what it takes to win championships. And they won the championship.
The play is part of “3 Games To Glory IV,” (NFL Films/Kraft Sports Group, $39.95). This the fourth time the Patriots have put out a video series during the Kraft ownership regime—one after each Super Bowl victory. This three-Blu-ray/DVD set is seven hours, a collaborative effort of NFL Films and the Kraft Sports Group, and includes every play of the three playoff games from NFL Films cameras, plus interviews and footage shot by the Patriots and not seen before. Such as the Thursday practice play, which is the most enlightening piece of video I’ve seen in the wake of one of the best Super Bowls ever.
The Tim Tebow Trial | The MMQB with Peter King
Oh boy, practice footage of Malcolm Butler getting burned on the same play he’d make an interception on in the Super Bowl is included in 3 Games to Glory!
https://www.patspropaganda.com/the-play-is-part-of-3-games-to-glory-iv-nfl/
Today marks the fifth anniversary of PatsPropaganda.com. Technically I started blogging about the Pats in December of 2007 and the PatsPropaganda twitter handle was born in April of 2009 before everything became consolidating in this Tumblr blog on April 20, 2010.
Obviously it was a great year for the blog and not just because the Pats won the Super Bowl. Our partnerships with NRG and Verizon Wireless were a huge highlight, along with seeing two great Pats games live – Denver and San Diego.
I also finally made a pilgrimage to Patriots training camp. Not sure I’ve ever seen the Pats three times in one season before this.
There’s no slowdown in sight as we get ready for the 2015 schedule to be released tomorrow and then next week’s NFL draft. Soon training camp will be upon us!
Thanks to all the readers for the awesome support. I truly appreciate the kind messages that come in quite often from Pats fans around the world who enjoy the type of Pats coverage I try to provide here. Above everything else, connecting with all those fans is what makes this so enjoyable.
Here’s one of my favorite pictures from the season, combining Pats forces with a legendary trio of Jerry Thornton, Nick Stevens (aka Fitzy) and George Kipppenham (aka the other guy from the Shit Pats Fans Say videos).
https://www.patspropaganda.com/today-marks-the-fifth-anniversary-of/
Why are the Patriots so bad at drafting? They aren’t.
The Patriots have had the toughest roster to crack in the NFL for 14 years. They have picked at the end of the draft or have been forced to sacrifice picks to move up every year for the last 14 years. The Patriots are one of the best franchises in the league at recycling cheap veterans in free agency, and they rank with the Packers and Giants at finding and grooming rookie “street” free agents. Therefore, their “high” draft picks are not very high, and they enter an environment where the starter might be All-Pro, the backup just got plucked off the waiver wire from Tampa for a custom-fitted role and the undrafted rookie at the same position is a top athlete who will be given a serious chance to compete. Under the circumstances, it is inevitable that some high-round picks wash out.
It’s OK for Patriots fans to keep thinking that the Patriots stink in the draft, though, because it is the only time they ever admit that the Patriots might be imperfect mortals.
Every Draft Question You Have Ever Asked, Answered Once and for All
(via wordsspokenofwise)
https://www.patspropaganda.com/why-are-the-patriots-so-bad-at-drafting-they/