Tom Shaw-Mellors

BREAKING- Patriots star LG Joe Thuney to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs

March 15, 2021 by Tom Shaw-Mellors

Reported by his agent Mike McCartney, Joe Thuney will leave the Patriots and sign a mega contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Excited for @JosephThuney agreeing to a 5 year deal with the @Chiefs
— Mike McCartney (@MikeMcCartney7) March 15, 2021

Thuney signs a five-year $80M deal with the Chiefs, which he more than earned during his time in New England. He gets a life-changing payday and will go to a juggernaut team, protecting the NFL’s top QB.

I’ll remember Thuney fondly for his durability, having started all 80 games he suited up for, and someone who the team could rely on. Not forgetting his role in helping the franchise win two Super Bowls (LI & LIII).

The focus will now shift to David Andrews and whether the team can work out a deal to keep him around, this would be a huge victory for the team if they can tie him down to a new deal, especially given all of the other signings today! (Look out for my FA round-up post later on today)

BREAKING – Patriots trade OL Marcus Cannon to the Houston Texans

March 14, 2021 by Tom Shaw-Mellors

Well, this isn’t a huge surprise, I thought that Cannon wouldn’t be on the roster by the time the regular season rolled around, and now, his time in New England is over as he is dealt to Houston.

A trade among old friends: The #Patriots are trading OT Marcus Cannon to the #Texans, sources say, in a deal that includes swapping picks. Cannon does return after a year away, but not in New England – and Bill Belichick and Nick Caserio do a trade.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 14, 2021

This was always on the cards after the Trent Brown news came about last week, and the Patriots move quickly to find Cannon a new home and exchange picks in the process.

Marcus Cannon's dead money is 2,566,668
Net cap savings is $ 6,276,250. My new Patriots salary cap space number after the Marcus Cannon trade is $65,250,990. It does not account for Trent Brown or Justin Bethel. https://t.co/Qh54bZCZOu
— Patscap's Patriots Cap Space Number is in Bio (@patscap) March 14, 2021

A good deal all around, Cannon gets a new start with a familiar face in Nick Caserio, and the Patriots upgrade their 4th, 5th, and 6th round choices in a pick swap for this year’s Draft.

On his way out, Cannon will be proud in knowing he helped the team secure three Super Bowl titles and got paid well in the process. A solid pro.

BREAKING- Patriots to re-sign ST Justin Bethel on 3-year $6M deal

March 12, 2021 by Tom Shaw-Mellors

The news is rolling in today! Per Mike Reiss, the Patriots are bringing back special teams stand-out Justin Bethel on a new 3-year contract worth $6M.

Justin Bethel had spent the first 6 years of his career with the Cardinals before stops with the Falcons (2018), Ravens (2019) and Patriots (2019-2020). He was scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent, but a return to New England for multiple years was his preference.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) March 12, 2021

Bethel was one who I wanted to keep in my previous article about who should stay with the team, whilst we await the news on Matthew Slater’s future, his counterpart of the impressive special teams unit from last year is secured for the next three seasons.

Who re-signs next?

BREAKING – Patriots to re-sign QB Cam Newton on 1-year $14M deal

March 12, 2021 by Tom Shaw-Mellors

First broke by Jim McBride, the Patriots are re-signing Cam Newton to a 1-year $14M contract.

Cam Newton's return to the Patriots, on a 1-year deal as first reported by @globejimmcbride, locks in a QB as the team prepares for the start of free agency next week.

It doesn't rule out the addition of another QB in the coming weeks. Patriots retain flexibility at QB.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) March 12, 2021

Oh boy, on first thoughts, I’m not happy about this. I was more than satisfied heading into the Draft with just Stidham as the sole QB on the roster, but now, Cam is returning for a second season with the team.

Firstly, I question why the team has paid him more than his contract last year, I don’t feel he did anything to justify that, although $14M is still a low number for a starting QB. Secondly, I don’t think we’re any better off with Cam than any other veteran signing, but at least with a Mariota or a Fitzpatrick, it would have been different.

Now, first thoughts aside and thinking a little bit more about this, it still doesn’t rule out further trade/FA/Draft moves for another QB option, I think the sour taste some of us are experiencing is coming from the fact that we already know what we get with Cam, and it isn’t great.

It’s going to be an exciting next 7 days as free agency is about to drop, but man, I really don’t like this move. I really hope the team pushes big in FA interest next week, otherwise, we’re going to be in for another lackluster season.

Comp update: Patriots are finalizing a 1-year deal worth close to $14 million for Cam Newton to return to New England, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2021

Miguel at @PatsCap hasn’t had the chance to look at the breakdown of the contract yet either, so for all we know, it could be another incentive-laden deal.

Patriots trade with Raiders to bring back OL Trent Brown

March 9, 2021 by Tom Shaw-Mellors

The first major move by the Patriots this off-season, and it’s a big one, Trent Brown is back!

First broke by RapSheet this morning, the team is bringing back the giant lineman to bolster their already strong offensive front. Brown, who stands at 6’8, 380lbs, returns to New England following his one-year stint with the team back in 2018 when he helped the Patriots win their sixth Super Bowl championship.

The #Patriots deal for OT Trent Brown has been in the works for a few days, with Brown adjusting his contract to facilitate it, sources say. https://t.co/BBKHUu5IGd
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2021

After the Super Bowl win, Brown left in free agency and was made the highest-paid offensive lineman by the Raiders. However, he was only able to get through half of his four-year $66M contract before the trade was agreed to this week.

[Read more…]

BREAKING – Key Patriots Opt-Outs To Return For 2021 Season

February 26, 2021 by Tom Shaw-Mellors

So, we some Patriots news finally! – There were rumblings that some of the team’s opt-outs could return when it was teased it a few weeks ago, but now per a report from Rapsheet, the Pats are expecting some influential players to play in 2021.

Free agency hasn’t started, but the #Patriots are already getting some reinforcements. Their key opt-outs from 2020 — including LB Dont'a Hightower, S Patrick Chung, and OT Marcus Cannon — are planning to be back for 2021, sources say. Physically, all are in a good place.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 26, 2021

Out of the names reported, Dont’a Hightower, Pat Chung, and Marcus Cannon are set to return and are expected to be in good shape physically.

Hightower is the main one for me here, given the lack of depth at the linebacker position for the entirety of this past season. I’m excited about High’s return, he’s been greatly missed.

Chung will return to add to an already solid safeties group with Devin McCourty, Kyle Dugger, and Adrian Phillips being the notable names Chung will link up at camp.

[Read more…]

Write for PatsPropaganda this season!

February 23, 2021 by Tom Shaw-Mellors

As we dawn on the 2021 NFL pre-season, PatsPropaganda is looking for new writers to join the team for what is an exciting transitional period in Patriots history.

If you’re interested please email patspropaganda@gmail.com and tell us about yourself — why you love the Patriots, what you’re writing history and plans are. This is a low-commitment opportunity to write what you want, and also produce sponsored content as it arises throughout the season.

It’s a fantastic opportunity to become the voice of an already-established site, with a proven SEO track record.

We look forward to hearing from you!