PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Has Belichick Had a Change of Heart on Cornerbacks?

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Fun little tidbit from Ian Rapoport this morning, indicating that the Patriots made a call to the Seahawks to inquire about Richard Sherman‘s availability prior to them signing Stephon Gilmore.

This leads me to wonder if Belichick has changed the way he values cornerbacks. A couple years ago I wrote this extensive piece breaking down how the Pats have never been willing to give long-term deals to cornerbacks. Sure, they’d pay a chunk of change for a season like they did with Asante Samuel on the franchise tag ($7.79 million) or a year of Darrelle Revis ($12 million), but prior to 2012 the Patriots didn’t really seem to care all that much about the position.

Then came the in-season trade for Aqib Talib, the Patriots first foray into acquiring a physical man cornerback. They retained Talib for 2013 for $4.86 million after being unable to work out a long term deal. That felt like the same old Patriots, who always preferred to focus on the front seven long before investing in a cornerback.

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How Do Patriots Get Three-Out-Of-Four, Twice?

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6XfJbE6GVI

The Patriots have won two of the last three Super Bowls and all is right with the world. But slowly, my focus has shifted to the 2017 season and just what is at stake.

New England cemented their dynasty in 2004 by winning three-out-of-four Super Bowls and now are staring down the opportunity to do it again, 13 years later. I found myself looking back at the 2004 America’s Game episode above and remembering how the crown jewel of the NFL stayed focused and hungry enough to repeat as champions.

It sure won’t be easy. The target on the Patriots’ backs will be even bigger in 2017 than it was in 2004, as if we ever thought that would be possible. Any bit of the mystique that they lost in Super Bowl defeats or other season-enders is very much gone. That’s what overcoming a 25-point hole on the biggest of stages can do. If the Pats lacked the magic in 2007 and 2011, they certainly got it back in 2014 and 2016, and now they could put their franchise into another stratosphere by winning Super Bowl 52. And there are 31 teams that will be dying for a shot at them.

Here are my thoughts on what the 2004 did right and how the 2017 Patriots can learn from their successful season.

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ProJo/Daniels: Former coaches rave about Patriots’ pick-ups

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWv39lWRpog&t=37s

“They’re getting a blue collar, I would say undervalued player around the league,” Harbaugh said. “Don’t sleep on Lawrence Guy. Don’t under estimate this player. He’s a really good football player — run and pass. Love him to death. Every time I see him he gives me this big giant Lawrence Guy hug. He’s a great guy. He’ll be a leader in the locker room. I thought it was a great signing by the Patriots.”

Source: Former coaches rave about Patriots’ pick-ups

Some good quotes from former coaches in this piece from Mark Daniels, and of course it’s always nice to listen to Chuck Pagano and John Harbaugh praise players that will now be Patriots. You know it just kills them on the inside.

I think this has been a pretty surprising offseason so far. The only real slam dunk was Dont’a Hightower and even that was interesting for a bit. But in the end it worked out because Hightower got to see what things are like elsewhere around the AFC. You know the saying, if you love something set it free and if it comes back to you he’ll be smashing offensive opponents for the next four years or so.

Rex Burkhead, Lawrence Guy and Dwayne Allen are classic Patriots moves. Solid football players that weren’t atop anyone’s fit list but players the Patriots pounced on because, simply put, they’re football players. At the end of the day, that’s what made the Patriots dynasty. Not grabbing overpriced superstars in free agency or lucking out with their constantly-low-end draft picks. Just guys who play hard and love football. Of course, having a mastermind like BB to put them in position to succeed helps most of all, but you get the picture.

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Could The Red Pat Patriot Alternates Return?

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Exciting news today that the Eagles have submitted a proposal that would allow teams to have a second helmet for alternate jerseys, which would mean the Patriots could return to wearing their old red throwbacks for the first time since 2012.

2017 Resolution Proposal 1. By Philadelphia, Amends the NFL’s On-Field Policy to allow clubs to have an alternate helmet in a color to match their third uniform.

This has been one of the more stupid rules on the books. You rarely see the NFL do something that would prevent themselves from making more money off of alternate jersey sales, but that’s just what this rule did. I think it was one of those shuffling the deck furniture moves back in 2013 when the NFL was trying to make it seem like they cared about concussions. That left only teams who had similar helmet colors/schemes using the alternate jerseys.

My creative solution before this proposal, and one I would still love to see, would be a return to the 90’s throwbacks. The Patriots could then still use the exact same helmet.

I’m a sucker for jerseys. I know it’s popular to hate on the color rush uniforms and many of them are terrible. But I loved the Patriots’ last season, and the more alternate jerseys they can wear the better. Let’s hope this one passes, though it probably won’t for some stupid reason on the NFL and its owners can come up with.

 

LaCanfora: NFL personnel man convinced Darrelle Revis is going back to New England

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“We did our work on him. He can still play. He can cover. He doesn’t have that long speed anymore; he’s not going to cover a No. 1 receiver deep. But he can cover in tight spaces and he has great instincts. The film is not as bad as some would have you believe. He’s a perfect fit in that quarters scheme Belichick runs, and they have the kind of safeties who can help him out, too. We’re convinced he’s going back to New England. It just makes too much sense.”

Source: NFL personnel man: We’re convinced Darrelle Revis is going back to New England – CBSSports.com

Interesting. I still don’t really see it but let’s play along and figure out how Revis might fit in if he were to come back.

First, who knows what’s going to happen with Malcolm Butler. The Patriots hold all the cards and the only way they trade him to the Saints is if they get a boatload of draft capital. As I speculated last week, Belichick might just be letting the Saints to the dirty negotiating work, and if they come to a acceptable offer for Butler who’s to say the Pats won’t just take their cap space and take the chance to match the deal and lock up Butler long term like we all hoped they would do all along?

But for our purposes here let’s just assume Butler gets traded to the Saints. That leaves the Pats with five corners — Stephon Gilmore is the best guy, Eric Rowe came on late last year but was still brought in as the third corner and played outside while starter Logan Ryan shifted inside to the slot.

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It’s Time to Talk Some Patriots Draft

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It’s hard to believe that April is quickly approaching. I guess that’s what happens when your football season stretches into February. Between parades and celebrations it didn’t feel like the offseason even really started until a couple of weeks ago. Ah, the spoils of being a Patriots fan.

This of course means that the draft will soon be on us. I’ve got to be honest with you guys… I’m kind of over the draft. Well, not the part where the Patriots get some new toys to play with, the lead-up part where everyone’s an expert and no one is really an expert. There are mock drafts upon mock drafts and vehement arguments about who’s a good fit and all that. I’m over it.

And with the Patriots (currently) not picking until the third round it makes all the speculation even more silly.

Anyway, I’ll still proceed with my draft research, which, since 2011 has consisted of putting together a Top 50 Patriots Prospects Board and one single glorious mock draft. You can see all of it in the menu bar above, including my tragic fall from grace last season when I got Cyrus Jones and only Cyrus Jones.

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Spoiler Alert: Cooks Fits Patriots Offense

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In case you were wondering, yes, Brandin Cooks is a perfect fit for the New England Patriots offense. I’m not sure how anyone could possibly think that the Patriots wouldn’t figure out a way to make Cooks fit. Many have some preconceived notion that Julian Edelman is a prototype and how anyone outside of that prototype might struggle in New England.

There’s no question, Tom Brady has had plenty of receivers he just didn’t jive with, but there’s little reason to think Cooks would end up like Chad Jackson, Joey Galloway or any of the others who came with promise and flamed out. PFF put out this chart on Wednesday, but it’s really just a jumping off point.

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