An Independent Patriots Blog
Catch up with Chudders and Clazzy Clare as they percolate (and debate!) the AJ Brown signing, and the strength of the roster as mandatory mini camp is set to begin.
Clazzy Clare and Chudders bring you a little Patriots chat, in a casual and light hearted show that (hopefully) has you feeling like you’re sitting back and having a laugh with some fellow Patriots buddies!
So May 27th, day one of OTAs is in the bag, and whilst it is literally day one of not very much, it’s still the beginning of something!
Nine voluntary organised team activities will be undertaken over the next three weeks, with the 3 day mandatory veteran minicamp being held from the 15th to 17th of June. Whilst attendance to OTAs isn’t mandatory, three of the nine will be open to the media, so we shall be able to get a spot of insight!
Until June 2nd arrives, we are destined to be plagued by the “will they, won’t they” narrative of AJ Brown, and coming a close second in the romance listings, is the “will Boutte stay”? Such intense love stories for the start of training!
Other story lines this season may include:
“Lomu to the left, or just the right?”
“Running back three.. whoever will it be?!”
“How many linebackers do you see…”
And of course Clare’s favourite: “How rare will the Raridon catch be?”
Nothing like day one of voluntary OTAs to get the creative juices flowing.
But seriously, as fans we are just itching to know how the team is going to pan out after a close (ish) call with the Super Bowl, but it really is still early days.
We are looking towards that Maye to Doubs connection, how the defense is after it took a bit of decimating and re-filling, and just who will line up on the o-line?! Just to mention a few.
Speaking of offensive line (again? I know, I know..) with Caleb Lomu being the Patriots first round draft pick it’s perfectly reasonable that he be a subject of some chatter, especially with the possibility of him maybe even red shirting for his first season. With the (early days, but logical) projected configuration of the offensive line being LT Will Campbell, LG Alijah Vera-Tucker, C Jared Wilson, RG Mike Onwenu, and RT Morgan Moses, and with Vera-Tucker’s limited snaps as he returns from injury and Andrew Rupcich taking up the LG spot for a few plays, it’s anticipated the Pats offensive line might be switching up positions like a sleeping kitty cat on a hot summer evening.
As expected some players weren’t at voluntary practice, but Mike Vrabel stressed there had been communication with all players who were not at the facility. Those players were: Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, Gabe Jacas, Harold Landry III, and Kyle Dixon.
Oh and whilst on the topic of Mr-Coach-Vrabel-Sir himself, when asked how coach looked on the field, I can confirm, from a very viable source, Mr Jerry Thornton of Barstool royalty advised me:
Vrabel was at his most Vrabellish. Loud. Demonstrative. Hands on. Working with the roster bubble guys.
I don’t know about you lovely lot but that definitely settled a few of my opening of OTA nerves!
Go Pats!
This article is penned in memory of John Szimanouskas aka Cat Man Dude. John’s wife Jan confirmed on social media that John passed away on May 25th. Patriots Nation has lost one of the very best, and we are all a little poorer now. This one is for you John. Blessed be.
Catch up with Chudders and Clare as they percolate (and debate!) the release of the 2026 schedule and all the other off season chatter.
Clazzy Clare and Chudders bring you a little Patriots chat, in a casual and light hearted show that (hopefully) has you feeling like you’re sitting back and having a laugh with some fellow Patriots buddies!
You can tell we haven’t had football for a while, when fans are full of excitement for a mini-camp of the undrafted free agents!
I tease of course, but it is mostly true. When you’re a passionate fan, you put a lot into the team you support, the sport that you love. Because there it is, love. The biggest feeling there is.
Sure, you love different people, different things, in very varying ways but it still comes down to raw emotion when you look at it. Even the most stoic and cold of individuals can burn with the desire to see their team succeed.
And so, it’s that time of year where we talk about 90 different players, even though 37 of them won’t be on that final roster, and we do it with gusto because, hey that’s football, right?
Opinions ride high this time of year too, and there isn’t exactly much to report, particularly if you don’t want to stoop to the level of the gossip column type “news”.
Theres definitely scuttlebutt surrounding Steph Diggs at the time I’m writing this, with rookie numbers being released and the report that Kyle Williams will NOT be switching to Diggs’ old number of 8, but shall be sticking at 18… eye ball emoji anyone?
The AJ Brown news has barely been news, even when it first came out. There are so many things that MAY happen, sometimes you can report everything and hope something sticks, or you can choose not to. I think i’ll go with that until something happens.
June first is however, fast approaching, and with many of Pats Nation convinced the AJ Brown deal is.. well, a done deal… the morning of June second is going to possibly be an emotional one. And there we have it again, the emotion of being a fan.
Some of you may like to pretend that you’re tough and don’t feel anything, well I got news for you, you lovely lot, toughness is feeling, is letting yourself get caught up in the emotion and showing it too.
But don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a dictating you’re getting, everyone fans their own way and as long as you don’t hurt anyone there’s no harm in nothing, you feel or don’t feel whatever you like.
My point here is whether we are emotional or stoic, scream and shout, or whisper in the dark, when we come together as a fan group it’s all gravy baby! We can love the same thing all as one, and I’m guessing if you’re reading this, it’s because the Patriots are that love.
So, let’s welcome in the crazy, the emotions, the love. Because heck, something has gotta get us through to September.
Go Pats!
Join Clazzy Clare and Chudders as they percolate over the Patriots 2026 draft class.
Clazzy Clare and Chudders bring you a little Patriots chat, in a casual and light hearted show that (hopefully) has you feeling like you’re sitting back and having a laugh with some fellow Patriots buddies!
Join Chudders and Clazzy Clare as they continue to bring you their “off” season musings and opinions.
Clazzy Clare and Chudders bring you a little Patriots chat, in a casual and light hearted show that (hopefully) has you feeling like you’re sitting back and having a laugh with some fellow Patriots buddies!
Join Chudders and Clazzy Clare as they continue to bring you their “off season” musings and opinions. This episode, free agency… frenzy?
Clazzy Clare and Chudders bring you a little Patriots chat, in a casual and light hearted show that (hopefully) has you feeling like you’re sitting back and having a laugh with some fellow Patriots buddies!
(via Patriots joint practice with Buccaneers – 8/13/2013)
