How AFC East Rivals Can Catch the New England Patriots
New column is up at B/R, looking at the Pats decade of dominance over the AFC East, and looking at two key spots I would build around if I were the Dolphins, Jets or Bills.
Wes Welker should be the next to get an extension and it could be done by the start of free agency. Wouldn’t be surprised if Brady made this a handshake part of his deal;
https://www.patspropaganda.com/wes-welker-should-be-the-next-to-get-an-extension/
Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski had a third surgery on his left arm last week, according to a report on Twitter by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The third surgery was for an infection. Gronkowski broke his left forearm in November, then broke the same arm in a playoff game vs. the Texans in January. He had surgery after each injury. Schefter reported the infection was caught early enough that it will not cause him to miss “any extended time” and he will likely be ready to play by training camp in late July.
Report: Gronkowski had third arm surgery – Extra Points – Boston.com
Perhaps this is why the Summer of Gronk: Part Two has been reigned in?
https://www.patspropaganda.com/patriots-tight-end-rob-gronkowski-had-a-third/
You never know what sort of impact Brady has when it comes to the team-building process, and he’s always been very careful to downplay his role in personnel decisions. But there’s the very real likelihood that the quarterback made this move with Welker specifically in mind. The two are not only great teammates, but extremely close friends. (They go on vacation together, for goodness sakes.) The idea of the quarterback potentially being forced to start over with another receiver – whether it was Danny Amendola, Percy Harvin or Tavon Auston – who was shoehorned into a situation where they were trying to replicate Welker’s impact couldn’t have sat well with the quarterback.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/you-never-know-what-sort-of-impact-brady-has-when/
Me, upon hearing news of Brady’s extension…
https://www.patspropaganda.com/me-upon-hearing-news-of-bradys-extension/
Tom Brady, New England Patriots agree on three-year extension – NFL – Peter King – SI.com
Tom Brady, New England Patriots agree on three-year extension – NFL – Peter King – SI.com
Exciting news today as Tom Brady looks like he’ll remain a Patriot until the day he retires, and with the last contract he’ll ever sign with the Pats, made a statement of the kind of player and person he’s been throughout his career:
For the second time in his illustrious career, Brady is doing something players in this day and age simply do not do: As he did in 2005, Brady, a league source told SI.com, is signing a contract with New England that will pay him significantly less money than the market will bear, in large part to help the Patriots stay competitive for the next five seasons. Amazingly, according to the source, the deal is for an eye-poppingly conservative $27 million, which is less than half his worth by any measure.
The Pats should have enough cap space now to get something done with Welker, and it sounds like they’re trying to. This would explain why Brady took a team-friendly deal. It will ensure the Pats are able to put a lot of talent around him.
So this is it folks. Tom Brady has five more chances to get that elusive fourth Lombardi Trophy. The Pats should be well set-up on both sides of the ball to help him get it.
Great news all around for Patriots fans and the 2012 league year isn’t even over yet…
Albert Breer and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network are hearing that a long-term extension being reached before Welker hits free agency is still a possibility.
Patriots, Wes Welker may still work out a long-term deal | ProFootballTalk
Positive report, but I’ll celebrate when it’s official.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/albert-breer-and-ian-rapoport-of-nfl-network-are/