PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Linkage

Boston Herald – Source: LeGarrette Blount, Patriots have mutual interest in reunion

by

INDIANAPOLIS — The Patriots’ wrecking ball could be back for more.

Source: Source: LeGarrette Blount, Patriots have mutual interest in reunion | Boston Herald

Interesting. I’ve been thinking the Pats would let LeGarrette Blount walk this offseason because we’ve kind of seen what his ceiling is. In a complimentary role, where he can come on late in the game and finish an opponent off (usually the Colts) he’s pretty good.

However, he’s not going to be one to soften up a defense in the first quarter of a game. He takes a while to get going, or at least needs the defense to be at or near the breaking point where they’re getting lazy with their tackling.

He’s broken 100 yards just four times with the Pats in 38 games, twice were against the Colts (including the ’13 AFCDG & ’14 AFCCG). Obviously those were important wins, but outside of those he’s usually invisible in big games (Nine carries, 27 yards vs. Broncos ’15).

I’m not against him coming back, but I still think the need for a back who can grind out the early yards remains a bigger need. I think that lead back (rookie/FA), Lewis and White, and then Blount is a pretty good group, but Blount can’t be the lead back and he especially can’t be paid like one.

My preference would just be to put the money they’d spend on Blount into an FA who could compete to be the starter and the finisher, and then let training camp determine who plays with Tyler Gaffney and a rookie or two in the mix.

 

One Fan’s Experience on the Gronk Party Ship | The MMQB with Peter King

by

Glow-in-the-dark Gronkowskis, lemon drop shots and way too much twerking: A guest aboard football’s most talked-about boat trip fights through his debilitating hangover to tell the story of a bro weekend to top all others

Source: One Fan’s Experience on the Gronk Party Ship | The MMQB with Peter King

Fun read and everything you’d expect. Seems like no one quite knows how to wrap their head around this Gronk cruise. Some are trying to play the “imagine if this was _________ doing this!”. But this is Rob Gronkowski, a giant man-sized 12-year-old who marches to his own drum.

When you read what actually happened on the boat, and the fact that Gronk’s frickin’ parents were there the whole time, it’s hard to really make this into the big deal that so many people would love to make it into.

Give it to Gronk, everything was totally in the open. But there were no cars for drunk people to get into and crash. It seemed well planned out. There was music. There was twerking. Were there some questionable decisions made on the boat that we may never know about? I’m sure. Were there other passengers on the boat who had no idea what they were getting into and wanted no part of it? Definitely.

But taken as a whole, it ultimately seems all about Gronk-sized fun. Partying can still be about that, right? Before it turns into ruining lives as we so often see and hear about.

Maybe a little over-the-top “bro-y”? Definitely. But that’s Gronk. Who else could take a party ship and turn it into a crazy family fun affair with his Dad dancing shirtless on stage?

As Gronk said a couple years ago during one of the previous Summers of Gronk, “Sorry for partying”. Don’t be sorry, Gronk. Just do you and keep being the best tight end in football.

WEEI.com/It Is What It Is » Mel Kiper Jr.: Patriots’ biggest need is WR, could target Braxton Miller

by

When it comes to the Patriots and their potential needs this offseason, there are a few positions that come to mind: offensive line, wide receiver, tight end.

Source: It Is What It Is » Mel Kiper Jr.: Patriots’ biggest need is WR, could target Braxton Miller

Wide receiver, such a fickle position for the Patriots and one that should scare us all in the draft. The fact is, with no pick before 59th overall what do needs really matter? Yes, the Pats could, and likely will, trade up in the second round, but it’s going to cost draft capital, and does anyone feel confident that they’re going to get a “step-in-and-play” receiver in the mid-second round? Is there any player at that spot that would legitimately be better than a healthy Brandon LaFell or Danny Amendola? I don’t see it, and when push comes to shove, I’m all about the trenches.

So my biggest need, and it’s a need that will sizable in 2017, is an athletic tackle. The draft is about developing players for down the road. Sure, some guys will step in and play a significant role, but outside of running back I struggle to see a starting spot that can and will make an immediate impact via the draft. Even if they dump Cannon, Vollmer’s contract is up after this year as well. The development for the next right tackle is a critical element for this team, one far more important than continuing the search for that big speedy receiver who has the rare football IQ to pick up the Pats system immediately.

Of course there could always be shocking releases this spring but those holes, for better or worse, will be filled via free agency. The Pats will go into the draft without any glaring needs to field a competitive team. Some players in some spots might not be ideal or proven, but they’ll at least have a placeholder who’d be serviceable atop each spot on the depth chart.

When we look at long term needs, there’s no question receiver is up there, but the Pats have built enough depth that they can let the board come to them and not have to trade up and take Braxton Miller with hopes that he’s going to step in and immediately take the offense to another level.

Roger Goodell should give back NFL draft picks to Patriots | The MMQB with Peter King

by

Shaky evidence, shady science and total disinterest in learning the truth are grounds for Roger Goodell to admit he erred by docking New England draft picks for Deflategate. Plus Mayock’s combine preview and more

Source: Roger Goodell should give back NFL draft picks to Patriots | The MMQB with Peter King

I can’t believe we have to keep talking about Deflategate, but here we finally have Peter King coming around to say the Pats should get their lost draft picks back. Mostly this feels like too little too late because let’s face it, the Pats are NEVER getting those picks back. Just wait until next week’s court arguments to see how firmly entrenched the NFL continues to be on their side. Each time we’ve heard from the NFL lawyers they keep making it sound like Brady did worse and worse. The Wells Report said he was generally aware. Cut to the NFL’s appeal and now Brady was at the center of an organized deflation ring. Yes, it’s a giant leap, made solely because the NFL wants to win their case. Not because they have any conclusive proof. They want to win, even at the expense of a slice of Tom Brady’s legacy.

The best we can hope for at this point is that Judge Berman’s ruling gets upheld, the NFL quietly swallows their medicine and we can bury deflategate once and for all, or at least until both the 2016 and 2017 draft when the Pats have vacated draft picks. Yeah I know, it’s bullshit. And that lost first rounder will have a tangible effect on the Patriots for the next five years.

The only small silver lining I can take from Peter King coming out with this take is that he essentially represents the casual mainstream fans. When the NFL was whipping everyone into a frenzy over Deflategate, Peter King was right there with them every step of the way. But now we at least have hope that the non-partisans can see through the NFL’s web of deception. That there are fans of other teams realizing that the Patriots got steamrolled and it could just as easily happen to them. Perhaps most disturbing is the lengths the NFL has gone to not for the facts, not for truth, but to prove their side even if it means planting false information in the press or at the very least letting it linger there for months without a correction.

We’ll always have opposing fans who throw Spygate and Deflategate in our faces. Whether or not those fans actually believe the Patriots last 15 years of success has been due to extensive and elaborate cheating plots, or it’s just an easy way to dismiss New England’s success and give Pats fans crap, will depend on how educated the fans actually are.

But Peter King speaks to and for a large number of low information football fans, and hopefully this piece does its own small part in putting Deflategate in the history books as nothing more than an overblown sham that the NFL was too invested in and too proud of to actually treat it as it should’ve been treated.

 

Bleacher Report/Frenz: Dion Lewis’ Health Is Critical in Complexion of New England Patriots Offense

by

Good read from Frenz on Dion Lewis, who gave us possibly the most unexpectedly exciting seven-plus games from a running back in Patriots history. He also gave us maybe the biggest buzz kill of the season when he tore his ACL against the Redskins in a non-contact situation.

Just fascinating how Lewis, who had been kicking around the league and dealing with injuries for a few years, could suddenly show up, seamlessly fit into the offense and look like the second coming of Barry Sanders. There’s no question if Lewis remained healthy this would’ve been a totally different and more multi-dimensional offense in the playoffs, and one that would’ve been nearly impossible to stop.

Like most previous season ACL injuries, Lewis will likely be brought along slowly, but having James White already locked in is good insurance to manage Lewis’ snaps. I’d take the same approach they took with Gronk in 2014. Slowly bring him back with the goal of having him healed and raring to go by late December.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdZJk1xtU00

 

Source: Dion Lewis’ Health Is Critical in Complexion of New England Patriots Offense | Bleacher Report

ESPN/Barnwell: Fives moves the Bills, Dolphins, Jets and Patriots should make this offseason – NFL

by

Here’s the quick rundown of what Bill Barnwell thinks the Patriots should do:

1. Release Jerod Mayo.

2. Release Marcus Cannon and Brandon LaFell.

3. Re-sign Jamie Collins, Dont’a Hightower and Chandler Jones

4. Sign a veteran offensive linemen.

5. Pass up Matt Forte and add a big back to replace LeGarrette Blount.

Source: Fives moves the Bills, Dolphins, Jets and Patriots should make this offseason – NFL

Okay, here are my thoughts on each of these little nuggets.

  1. Releasing Mayo is a no brainer because yes it will free up a much-needed $7 million in cap space. I wouldn’t rule out Mayo coming back on a veteran minimum either, Belichick loves him that much. He started to show some pop toward the end of the season and yes, he’s ended up on IR three years in a row but I don’t think it’s a lock that he’s done. That will however scare other teams away and maybe keep the door open to a return in New England. Or, if he is done, there’s some speculation he could end up on the coaching staff in New England. That might be a stretch.
  2. I’m not down with releasing Cannon or LaFell. First, with Cannon I wrote a bunch about the offensive line earlier today. He is what he is, a backup swing tackle. Yes, they’re probably overpaying him a bit, but as we saw this year, it’s okay to overpay a guy a bit when he ends up being a starter at two positions in-season for you. But let’s not forget he’s been generally solid and with the return of his original mentor Dante Scarnecchia I don’t see why you don’t give him another year, hopefully in the role he’s best at. As for LaFell, he had a bad year, but let’s remember he had a foot injury that kept him on PUP and he never truly looked comfortable again. Despite the drops the guy is still a blocking demon who plays the position the way the Patriots want. He’s entering a contract year and he knows what is on the line. I like that combination, especially if he has a healthy offseason.
  3. Definitely re-sign Collins and Hightower, with Hightower being my top priority by a nose. As for Chandler, let him play it out this final season. He’s been so up and down and usually saves his most anonymous performances for the biggest stages. The depth at DE is great, with Jabaal Sheard really being a better fit for the Pats style than Jones at this point. Behind him will be second year players Trey Flowers and Geneo Grissom, not to mention preseason standout Rufus Johnson. Pats could even dangle Jones as trade bait, though his weird drug situation during the week before the first playoff game certainly didn’t help his stock. Ultimately I think Jones still has yet to prove he’s an every down force. Give him a chance to prove it this year, and either way he probably walks in 2017.
  4. Don’t really see the Pats springing for an offensive linemen as even Barnwell points out his example is probably too expensive. The OL is all about the draft with the Patriots. Develop the guys they have, add some rookies, maybe a cheap vet FA that no one knows and they’ll be fine.
  5. I agree the Pats need a power resurgence, but I think if there’s one place to throw a bit of money in FA it’s on a running back like Forte. Of course it would have to be at the Pats price but I don’t rule out Forte giving them a huge bargain. But someone like Tim Hightower is just the kind of Pats thing to do. Either way, there will be draft picks spent on at least one running back, preferably one with size and one-cut ability.