PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Mike Dussault

Boston Sports Doc: How does Hightower’s injury history affect his contract negotiations?

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Hightower’s injuries are most likely not going to get better. If anything, they could worsen. He has proven that he can play through the injuries, for now, but the Patriots did treat his playing time differently toward the end of the season this season than in years past. Does that signal worsening symptoms, the Patriots’ recent improvements in the realm of injury prevention/management, or a blossoming leadership role for the 26 yo ILB and increased attention to his health?

Source: How does Hightower’s injury history affect his contract negotiations? – BOSTON SPORTS DOC

I’m kicking off the offseason on Monday, but I couldn’t resist sharing this piece from Boston Sports Doc because Hightower is the biggest piece of the offseason puzzle.

This was a really balanced piece that went out of its way to praise Hightower’s toughness. We don’t need to rehash what Hightower has meant to last two Super Bowl teams, the huge clutch plays he made. There wouldn’t be two more Lombardi Trophies in the Patriots Hall if it wasn’t for Hightower. But his injury history is going to be a factor for the Patriots, and that’s even more true when you read how Dr. Flynn breaks down what’s been breaking down in Hightower’s body.

Solely as a football player I want Hightower to be on the Patriots until he retires. It’s not an accident that he’s wearing number 54 and has a respected spot in the locker room. The Patriots seemingly have been actively grooming Hightower to be the defensive captain, but there has seemed to be something missing at times.

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Patriots Unbelievable Comeback in Super Bowl LI to Beat the Falcons | NFL Turning Point 

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyLPJ5JWZYk&feature=youtu.be

With Sound FX and Inside the NFL out of the way earlier this week, now we can add NFL Turning Point to the list of must-watch Patriots Super Bowl porn. Of the three, Turning Point is always my favorite because they really break down the Xs and Os like no one else. Not only do you get everyone miked up and the sounds of the game, you also get a healthy dose of the strategy.

Now we just have to wait until summer for America’s Game and whatever special NFL Films pulls together like they did with Do Your Job and the one they did for the Broncos last year that I’ve never seen and will never see.

Five days later, I’m finally starting to wrap my brain around what the Patriots pulled off. It was the perfect “just STFU” win we’ve been waiting for. All the stupid criticisms of this year and all the years before — that the Patriots were the only team stealing signals, that .02% PSI had any real effect on anything, that they could win without Gronk, that Brady was done (remember that one from a couple years ago?), that the defense hadn’t played anyone…. all that… JUST STFU!

Now it’s all gravy from here forth. You’re going to see the exact same kind of focused unflappable Patriots team next season and if they have similar injury luck to this year, they very will could be raising a SIXTH (!) Lombardi. What a ride. What a ride…

Patriots Super Bowl Film Review: Defense Edition

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Five days later I’m starting to know this game like the back of my hand. Early on it was still a blur, which shouldn’t be surprising considering my first re-watch came in the early morning hours on Monday. The touchdowns and two-pointers, coming so rapidly on top of each other slowly melded together, leaving me unsure of what came when.

So I was excited to take an emotionless look at the All 22. Well, emotionless is the wrong word. I’m still riding the high that came with Super Bowl 51’s triumphant ending and each successive highlight film has only made it better.

Still, there’s nothing better than getting the bird’s eye view of everything to truly grasp how the two teams attacked each other.

Let’s take a look!

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Why Did Belichick De-Elvis the Hot Jacket?

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It was quite the banner weekend for PatsPropaganda, even before James White scored the touchdown in overtime to win Super Bowl 51. It all started when old friend Kyle Brandt mentioned my Belichick Hoodie Database on Good Morning Football. Soon after I was being interviewed by USA Today about it, and the day after that I was contacted by ABC News to be interviewed for a national news feature on Belichick’s hoodie.


ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos

What everyone of course wanted to know? What Belichick should wear in the Super Bowl. My choice was the 2016 Blue Hoodie, as ABC mentions at the end of their segment. He was 3-0 in it on the season, including the win in Denver and both playoff victories.

All signs pointed to that direction.

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‘Sound FX’: Best of Super Bowl LI Is Awesome!

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Listen as the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons are mic’d up for the best sounds from Super Bowl LI.

Source: ‘Sound FX’: Best of Super Bowl LI | New England Patriots

One of the best parts of winning the Super Bowl is that you get to watch all the end-of-year videos like Sound FX and Turning Point without getting sick because that your team is the one featured! I’ve been savoring the week, just letting what occurred in Super Bowl 51 sink in. I’m still in shock and after watching Sound FX, reality is finally setting in.

Miked up during the Super Bowl for the Pats were Julian Edelman, LeGarrette Blount and Dont’a Hightower and it was full of great moments. Edelman’s intensity is pretty legendary, with my favorite part being at the end when the confetti is falling and everyone is storming the field yet Edelman is yelling at everyone that there’s still time on the clock. It finally takes Belichick to convince him, which is one of the rarest of occurrences — Bill Belichick telling someone to “chill bro”.

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Breaking Down Trey Flowers’ Clutch Super Bowl Dominance

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Everyone’s favorite storyline involving the New England Patriots’ defense headed into the Super Bowl was that they hadn’t played anyone and would be exposed by Matt Ryan and the potent Falcons offense. Ryan certainly made his share of plays, but after giving up a third quarter touchdown that made it 28-3, the Patriots defense went into shutdown mode, cementing their place alongside the four other Super Bowl-winning Patriots’ defenses that came through in the clutch.

2016 breakout star Trey Flowers had a lot to do with it.

Most surprising was that a defense that had just 34 sacks in 16 games this season, just a little over two per game, the Pats defense had five sacks and 12 QB hits on just 23 pass dropbacks by Ryan. Trey Flowers led the way with 2.5 sacks and a staggering five quarterback hits.

Where was this kind of pass rush all season? Let’s take a closer look at how Flowers’ performance in Super Bowl 51.

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Breaking Down the Clutch Play from Patriots’ Pass Catchers

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There’s been plenty of attention on James White, the Julian Edelman impossible shoe catch and the Dont’a Hightower strip sack that quickly opened the door for an impossible Patriots comeback in Super Bowl 51.

But what stands out to me most aside from these headliners, was how each and every Patriots weapon came through with a huge clutch play, without which, the comeback likely would’ve fallen short.

Here’s a rundown of the key receiving stats:

Passing, Rushing, & Receiving Table
Player Tgt Rec Yds TD Lng
Julian Edelman 13 5 87 0 27
James White 16 14 110 1 28
Danny Amendola 11 8 78 1 20
Malcolm Mitchell 7 6 70 0 18
Martellus Bennett 6 5 62 0 25
Chris Hogan 7 4 57 0 18
Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/7/2017.

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