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Free Agency

Dion and Malcolm Go to Tennessee

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As expected Dion Lewis and Malcolm Butler signed big free agency deals outside of New England, and with both going to Tennessee and joining Mike Vrabel‘s team, the Titans will have a distinct “land of misfit former Patriot toys” feel.

These were two of my favorite players of the last few seasons, but for whatever reason, the Patriots just could not figure out how to best use Lewis’ dynamic ability, even as he put up a career year in 2017. Meanwhile, no one had a more rapid ascent and descent than Butler, whose career was bookended by two of the most dramatic Super Bowl stories ever.

I do always love it when former Patriots all get together on another team. It gives me another side team to keep a close eye on. To be honest, Vrabel has always been on my wishlist for eventual Belichick replacements. Now the Titans will have Butler and Logan Ryan starting at cornerback and will see if they can find a way to just make Lewis a more central focus of their ground game than he was here.

Lewis was a monster when he was the featured back down the stretch. Yes, I held my breath every time he carried the ball because of his injury history, and that’s something that has to be considered, but the more touches the guy got the more efficient the offense was. I thought the 2017 Patriots offense was its best when Lewis was the guy.

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Patriots Should Overstock Front Seven, Not Add Costly Corner

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My takeaway from the 2017 defensive season was that a high-priced secondary isn’t worth much if the front seven stinks, so I was surprised by reports connecting Aqib Talib and Richard Sherman to the Patriots. Yes, the Pats will probably (definitely) lose Malcolm Butler, but with Eric Rowe still there, Jonathan Jones returning and the veteran trio back at safety, maybe it’s best to not make a drastic move at cornerback for a second year in a row?

I know corners like Talib and Sherman are shiny objects, but I’d far prefer my Patriots shiny defensive objects to be defensive end and linebacker types. There was just so much attrition at those spots in 2017, basically losing four veteran edge players who made some of the biggest plays of the last few seasons. The position group needs to be flooded with as much camp competition as possible, to let the next Ninkovich emerge and also find out how good guys like Dietrich Wise, Adam Butler, Derek Rivers and Eric Lee really are.

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10 Patriots Free Agency Targets

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It’s March!! We will officially change the football calendar over to 2018 this month with the start of the new league year and free agency on March 15th. The Patriots have plenty of internal moves to make before hitting the external market, but here are 10 guys that stuck out to me based on what I see the needs being after they make some cuts and new deals.

I could see the Patriots letting Nate Solder test the market, but he’s got to be the first priority and domino to fall. From there the running back and defensive front seven positions must be addressed. There’s some uncertainty at tight end as well, as the endless search for a perfect compliment to Rob Gronkowski continues.

While the Pats have made plenty of recent splashy signings in free agency, these names are primarily in the Pats’ wheelhouse — promising players who disappointed or got hurt, and vets maybe looking for one last shot at a ring. If the Pats do make a big move I’d hope it would be in the defensive front.

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5 Most Interesting Pending Patriots Free Agents

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I like to blog like Bill Belichick would, by focusing only on the immediate obstacle in front of the Patriots, but since we’re coming off a bye week I’m going to break with Bill a bit here and take a look at some pending free agents.

The offseason is always a fascinating slow burn, and like most years, the Patriots have a number of key players who are scheduled to hit free agency. Their departures could open significant holes on the roster. Or re-signing them could signal the direction the team plans to take in 2018 and beyond.

It’s also worth pointing out these players now because a strong second half of the season would significantly upgrade the contracts they can receive this spring.

Here are the five more interesting players/positions to me…

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Blount Signs With Eagles

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After much uproar about the Patriots using the seldom-used May 9th tag on LeGarrette Blount, the bruising running back signed with the Eagles today on a deal that could be worth up to $2.6 million. I felt earlier this offseason that it was time to move on from Blount. Nothing personal against the player, I just felt the Patriots got all that they were going to get out of him and it was better to turn the page to some younger backs to fill his early down/goal line role.

It was fun while it lasted. Blount had some of the most fun runs in Patriots’ history and broke the single-season rushing touchdown record in 2016. He’d bowl over players, he’d leap over them and more often than not, he’d carry would-be tacklers multiple yards before going down. His touchdown celebrations with the Patriots musket militia were some of my favorite moments.

But Blount also was completely invisible in some of the biggest games of the last few seasons. We can still appreciate a player despite some of his shortcomings, so let’s take a look back at some of his best and worst games as a Patriot.

Legarrette blount

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Patriots Sign RFA Mike Gillislee to Offer Sheet

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According to multiple reports the Patriots signed Bills restricted free agent Mike Gillislee to an offer sheet, reportedly in the neighborhood of two years, $6.4 million. The Bills now have five days to match the offer or let Gillislee walk to New England, the second Bills RFA to do so in the last two seasons (Chris Hogan).

The writing is definitely on the wall for LeGarrette Blount now. He’s reportedly had an offer on the table since the start of free agency and is still hoping for more money. Gillislee would have a similar early down, short yardage role that Blount has held down for the better part of four seasons.

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Amendola Re-Structures Patriots Deal Again

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While it was a pretty good bet Danny Amendola wouldn’t be playing for his projected $7.8 million cap hit, there was some question if the Pats would just decide it was time to cut ties with the 31-year-old receiver. Instead the Pats did decide they wanted the clutch player back and will restructure his deal for the third straight year to make it happen.

The other reason for pause prior to this announcement was that suddenly the Pats have an embarrassment of riches at the wide out position. Brandin Cooks was brought in this offseason via trade, while both Malcolm Mitchell and Chris Hogan had very good seasons in 2016. Throw in vital component Julian Edelman and it’s easy to see how it could’ve made sense to move on from Amendola, especially when the diminutive receiver was kept on the bench for most of the 2016 season with his injuries being carefully managed.

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