Here’s a group of Patriots players that are generally in the popular discussion as being on the bubble. Who from this group gets cut? Choose as many as you want.
For the most part are all the injured players returning on pace to play in the season opener
Overall I think the Pats have been pretty lucky this summer in that it doesn’t seem like any major pieces have been lost for the season.
The buzz kill injuries were Siliga and Chris Jones. It’s kind of ironic given that neither would’ve likely been on the team last year if Wilfork and Kelly hadn’t gotten hurt and now I’m bummed they’re both out.
Siliga was spotted today doing conditioning work with a cast on his left hand/arm (reports vary how big it was). I have to imagine he’ll be back before too long, just cast it up. He was having a great start to camp too and was really a guy I though could (and still should) break out this season.
Jones had an ankle injury and while initial reports were that he “dodged a bullet” and he was spotted in the locker room yesterday without a cast/limp/walking boot. However I worry (and this is pure Mike D. speculation) that it’s a high ankle sprain. Those can tend to linger.
Hopefully both those guys are back soon.
Otherwise the guys who were injured last season have all been on remarkable recovery tracks. Gronk, Wilfork, Kelly, Smith and Mayo all should likely be ready for the opener. That’s huge news, and ironically, very important for Wilfork/Kelly to be back with Siliga/Jones out.
Vollmer has missed the last few practices, that’s a big question mark but I think we all feel pretty comfortable with Cannon filling in for him for however long.
Lastly, Hoomanawanui has been back at practice, that’s huge to help manage Gronk early in the season. As everyone is aware, tight end depth is scary right now, though I think there will be additions there before the opener.
Oh my damn, @CelticsPatriotsman is back at it with a new video!
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
https://www.patspropaganda.com/oh-my-damn-celticspatriotsman-is-back-at-it-with/
Shane Vereen, New England Patriots
https://www.patspropaganda.com/designingsport-shane-vereen-new-england/
NFL Films: 2013 New England Patriots Yearbook
Always a yearly must-watch. You know, if the NFL really wanted to make money, which of course is about all they want to do, they should package these yearbooks in DVD sets.
They’ve gotten it down to science – they can make a 1-15 team seem like they had one of the best years in the NFL, or maybe I’ve just been watching Patriots yearbooks for too long.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/nfl-films-2013-new-england-patriots-yearbook/
What are the chances Boyce and tymes make the roster
I think Tyms is a lock because they can keep him for the first four weeks of the season and it won’t cost them a roster spot due to his suspension. It’s funny how a punishment for a player can be a big advantage for the team.
The only way he gets cut is if they just don’t like him and see no long-term potential which is a possibility no matter how much he’s torn it up this preseason. Given the injury histories of Dobson/Amendola and even Edelman, it makes sense to keep a free receiver on the team and see how things play out early in the season.
As for Boyce, I’ve never really seen it and had him on the bubble heading into camp. His inconsistent performances in the preseason has slid him off of my roster projections.
With kickoff returns becoming less impactful it’s hard to make the team as just a returner and I’m not even sure Boyce has shown enough there to even really merit consideration.
The NFL wants to score, score, score, eschewing defensive responsibilities in the name of weekly shootouts. Embarrass Peyton Manning in the Super Bowl, will you? Well, the NFL will just threaten to enforce the rules it put in place a decade ago when Manning was rendered useless in the playoffs by the New England Patriots. Make no mistake, this preseason flag-fest is partly aimed at making guys like Manning, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers become record-setting monsters. The NFL insists it’s a safety issue. Please. What’s good for the fantasy roster is good for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. That’s just pathetic.
RIP, NFL – Eric Wilbur’s Sports Blog – Boston.com
This is really getting bad and Wilbur makes a great point, ever since 2004 the NFL has slowly been making it harder and harder to actually play defense. So I guess the Pats are partially to blame?
I still have hope that things will calm down during the regular season and if a DB brushes his hand accidentally on a wide receiver downfield it won’t get a flag. But the NFL is really trying their best to kill the game. This is a football blog, and I love defense, and I don’t care one bit about fantasy, so if things continue down this path I might have to find a new line of blogging.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/the-nfl-wants-to-score-score-score-eschewing/