PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Pats Posits: Patriots 2017 Offseason Primer

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It is time to turn the page to the Patriots 2017 offseason, the relaxed portion of the football cycle where it’s all about team building. I reserve the right to dive back into 2016 without notice, but now the door to 2017 is fully open and there’s plenty of work to do.

Many blogs jump right into the draft but over the years I’ve tried to keep focused on the task at hand,  so I will start with internal free agents, then external free agents and then finally, the draft.

I’m going to avoid getting too analytical in this kickoff post. This will just be more of a general overview of what’s to come in the next few months. It’s about information gathering and getting a feel for where the holes are and, most importantly, how the Pats can stay ahead of the curve. That often means making hard decisions on players we all love.

First, let’s start with the depth chart, with all the free agents (restricted and unrestricted) removed. Those highlighted in light red are entering the last years of their deals and could be extension candidates. Those highlighted in green are possible cut/restructure candidates. Those in red are dealing with injuries from the season. Starters are bolded.

Note – Sebastian Vollmer spent the season on the PUP list so he should still be under contract, though it’s expected he could retire.

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Boston Sports Doc: How does Hightower’s injury history affect his contract negotiations?

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Hightower’s injuries are most likely not going to get better. If anything, they could worsen. He has proven that he can play through the injuries, for now, but the Patriots did treat his playing time differently toward the end of the season this season than in years past. Does that signal worsening symptoms, the Patriots’ recent improvements in the realm of injury prevention/management, or a blossoming leadership role for the 26 yo ILB and increased attention to his health?

Source: How does Hightower’s injury history affect his contract negotiations? – BOSTON SPORTS DOC

I’m kicking off the offseason on Monday, but I couldn’t resist sharing this piece from Boston Sports Doc because Hightower is the biggest piece of the offseason puzzle.

This was a really balanced piece that went out of its way to praise Hightower’s toughness. We don’t need to rehash what Hightower has meant to last two Super Bowl teams, the huge clutch plays he made. There wouldn’t be two more Lombardi Trophies in the Patriots Hall if it wasn’t for Hightower. But his injury history is going to be a factor for the Patriots, and that’s even more true when you read how Dr. Flynn breaks down what’s been breaking down in Hightower’s body.

Solely as a football player I want Hightower to be on the Patriots until he retires. It’s not an accident that he’s wearing number 54 and has a respected spot in the locker room. The Patriots seemingly have been actively grooming Hightower to be the defensive captain, but there has seemed to be something missing at times.

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Patriots Unbelievable Comeback in Super Bowl LI to Beat the Falcons | NFL Turning Point 

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyLPJ5JWZYk&feature=youtu.be

With Sound FX and Inside the NFL out of the way earlier this week, now we can add NFL Turning Point to the list of must-watch Patriots Super Bowl porn. Of the three, Turning Point is always my favorite because they really break down the Xs and Os like no one else. Not only do you get everyone miked up and the sounds of the game, you also get a healthy dose of the strategy.

Now we just have to wait until summer for America’s Game and whatever special NFL Films pulls together like they did with Do Your Job and the one they did for the Broncos last year that I’ve never seen and will never see.

Five days later, I’m finally starting to wrap my brain around what the Patriots pulled off. It was the perfect “just STFU” win we’ve been waiting for. All the stupid criticisms of this year and all the years before — that the Patriots were the only team stealing signals, that .02% PSI had any real effect on anything, that they could win without Gronk, that Brady was done (remember that one from a couple years ago?), that the defense hadn’t played anyone…. all that… JUST STFU!

Now it’s all gravy from here forth. You’re going to see the exact same kind of focused unflappable Patriots team next season and if they have similar injury luck to this year, they very will could be raising a SIXTH (!) Lombardi. What a ride. What a ride…

Patriots Super Bowl Film Review: Defense Edition

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Five days later I’m starting to know this game like the back of my hand. Early on it was still a blur, which shouldn’t be surprising considering my first re-watch came in the early morning hours on Monday. The touchdowns and two-pointers, coming so rapidly on top of each other slowly melded together, leaving me unsure of what came when.

So I was excited to take an emotionless look at the All 22. Well, emotionless is the wrong word. I’m still riding the high that came with Super Bowl 51’s triumphant ending and each successive highlight film has only made it better.

Still, there’s nothing better than getting the bird’s eye view of everything to truly grasp how the two teams attacked each other.

Let’s take a look!

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Why Did Belichick De-Elvis the Hot Jacket?

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It was quite the banner weekend for PatsPropaganda, even before James White scored the touchdown in overtime to win Super Bowl 51. It all started when old friend Kyle Brandt mentioned my Belichick Hoodie Database on Good Morning Football. Soon after I was being interviewed by USA Today about it, and the day after that I was contacted by ABC News to be interviewed for a national news feature on Belichick’s hoodie.


ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos

What everyone of course wanted to know? What Belichick should wear in the Super Bowl. My choice was the 2016 Blue Hoodie, as ABC mentions at the end of their segment. He was 3-0 in it on the season, including the win in Denver and both playoff victories.

All signs pointed to that direction.

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‘Sound FX’: Best of Super Bowl LI Is Awesome!

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Listen as the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons are mic’d up for the best sounds from Super Bowl LI.

Source: ‘Sound FX’: Best of Super Bowl LI | New England Patriots

One of the best parts of winning the Super Bowl is that you get to watch all the end-of-year videos like Sound FX and Turning Point without getting sick because that your team is the one featured! I’ve been savoring the week, just letting what occurred in Super Bowl 51 sink in. I’m still in shock and after watching Sound FX, reality is finally setting in.

Miked up during the Super Bowl for the Pats were Julian Edelman, LeGarrette Blount and Dont’a Hightower and it was full of great moments. Edelman’s intensity is pretty legendary, with my favorite part being at the end when the confetti is falling and everyone is storming the field yet Edelman is yelling at everyone that there’s still time on the clock. It finally takes Belichick to convince him, which is one of the rarest of occurrences — Bill Belichick telling someone to “chill bro”.

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Super Bowl 51: Superstitions and Feels

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I woke up Sunday Morning, February 5 to a suggestion:

“Can we rearrange the living room today?”

I tried to remain calm. In nearly all facets of life, I’m not a superstitious guy, or believer in ghosts, or luck, or anything of the sort…except in football.

“You think I’m rearranging the furniture, where I watch the games, on Super Bowl Sunday? No.”

“Why?”

I blame my dad (he’s alive and healthy. I’m not Futurama Dog Episoding you, here). When I was a kid and he played bar league sports, he always needed to have the same number. The four years that I played youth football, we’d have the same breakfast every gameday until we lost (which was infrequent), and then start a new breakfast plan. It was little things like that all over the place that added up into some lunacy. After the final game of the 18-1 season, one of my dad’s laments was “We forgot to make the venison chili this time!”, which we had made for every previous Brady/Belichick Super Bowl, as if that lack of preparedness was a contributor to the final score. I still bought in, even in my 20s.

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