PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

A Clare Retrospective – Four years at Pats Propaganda!

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Four years ago today, with the world a little bit of a different place, my first article for the Pats Propaganda blog site hit the Internet. 

The landscape of my content producing journey has change significantly over that time, and what we have gone through as a Patriots fan even more so!

Whilst in those four years I maintained my Patriots podcast “A Clare Perspective” and welcomed in many outstanding guests: from the wit of Nick “Fitzy” Stevens, the experience and sheer legendariness that is Paul Perillo, Tom E. Curran, and John Rooke, the epic smarts of Evan Lazar, Alex Barth, and Phil Perry, the pure unadulterated fun of Andy Hart, the dashingness that is Mike Giardi, the diehard fan to media superstar Mike “Deuce” Dussault, Barstool’s very own Jerry Thornton, to the goddesses of sports media Karen Guregian, Erica Tamposi, and Alexandra Francisco…as the Patriots went through a lot more.. alterations. 

Over the time, I did a stint as a co-host on One Patriots Place, the long standing Patriots podcast, and guested on an array of different shows, in particular, Locked On Patriots. I continued my campaign of attempting to be known for my knowledge of tight ends, as well as growing as a writer, thus moving into the role at Pats Propaganda. With the help of my friend and previously lovely assistant, diehard Boston sports fan Chudders from Manchester, we kicked off the first Pats Propaganda YouTube show Pats Procrastination. Originally designed as a game recap vlog, the show has now been going for 55* (at the time of writing this) episodes and covers all off season Patriots topics, as well as the in-season game recap coverage. 

In 2024, I celebrated the 100th episode of ACP (A Clare Perspective) and managed to nab time with the amazing Mike Reiss (even Paul Perillo gave that one the nod of approval!). 

And so that’s me you lovely lot, let’s delve into the more important changing picture of the New England Patriots. 

2021 

Here we start with THE biggest thing for the Pats in 2021, and that’s March 18th 2021, one Bill Belichick traded away tight end Ryan Izzo to the Houston Texans for a 7th round draft pick…

Okay, okay chill those briefs, obviously whilst devastating news for me, this was not the big thing of 2021, but the selection of Alabama quarterback Mac Jones 15th overall in the 2021 NFL draft was. 

With Tom Brady leaving the Patriots in 2019, and the 15 starts of 16 games by Cam Newton in that wonky 2020 COVID season, 2021 was the QB refresh button hitting time, potentially. 

Kicker Quinn Nordin and his big leg kept the undrafted rookie streak going, not with much significance, but still the streak lived on!

The 2021 defense retained Dont’a Hightower and Kyle Van Noy, and the offense made expensive splashy established signings in free agency with Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith. 

So whilst ACP covered episodes 1 to 22, the Pats went 10 – 7 in Mac Jones’s first season and Josh McDaniels last. 

2021 also saw the NFL move to a 17 game regular season schedule as well as year two of repercussions from the COVID virus outbreak, and extensive modifications to the jersey numbering system. 

There was the Goff-Stafford swircheroo, the firing of Urban Meyer from the Jaguars as well as the retirement of two QB icons of Phillip Rivers and Drew Brees, 

Oh, and the great Dan Campbell finished his first year as Detroit’s head coach 3-13-1. 

2022

Mac Jones’s second year was a year of frustration for the rookie quarterback and the rest of Patriots Nation. 

We entered the era of the Matt Patricia offense, that crazily included him coaching the offensive line and Joe Judge as quarterbacks coach. 

Bill Belichick flipped the 21st pick in the 2022 NFL draft for multiple picks and selected Cole Strange at 29. 

Week 15 against the Las Vegas Raiders saw a game that should not only have the ball burnt, but the ashes buried, and an exorcism undertaken at the burial site. 

However! Cornerback Marcus Jones made waves scoring a touchdown on his first offensive snap, and became the fourth player in NFL history to score a touchdown on a punt return, reception and interception return in the same season. 

This year also saw James White retire and finally the release of the two drafted tight ends, Dalton Keene and Devin Asiasi that many of us had hope for but weren’t fully convinced on. 

So whilst ACP covered episodes 23 to 52, the Pats went 8 – 9 in their first, and last, defensive guy is the offensive co-ordinator, season. 

Around the NFL in 2022, had the Rooney Rule was expanded to include women, regardless of racial or ethnic background, had the first Super Bowl a set of brothers played against one another in, and saw the shocking scenes of Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills suffer a cardiac arrest on field in a week 17 Monday night match up against the Cincinnati Bengals. 

2023

Matt Patricia was out, and Bill O’Brien returned! The Patriots secured an offensive guy to be the offensive co-ordinator, brought in past Patriots player Adrian Klemm as the offensive line coach as well as some offensive players with recognisable names such as JuJu Smith-Schuster and Ezikiel Elliot, as well as signing tight end Mike Gesicki. 

The back office managed to win big on trading Jonnu Smith and his significant contract hit to the Atlanta Falcons for a 7th round draft pick and to many people’s dismay kicker Nick Folk headed to the Titans for another 7th rounder. 

September 2023 saw Jack Jones arrested at Logan airport for having firearms in his carry-on luggage, and eventually the cornerback was released following a tumultuous season. 

The year saw Matthew Slater play his last season with the team before retiring, and the first 4 -13 Patriots fans had seen in a while!

But the season wasn’t a total wash with the Patriots “winning” the 2023 NFL draft by trading with the Pittsburg Steelers, swapping 14th for 17th (plus other picks) and stealing (ha, do you like what I did there?) Christian Gonzalez. 

News from the NFL that year had Tom Brady retire, for good this time, apparently, a Patriots game in Germany, and 19 minutes after leading his new team the New York Jets onto the field in New Jersey carrying an American flag, Aaron Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles, and was out for the season. An Achilles snap on just his fourth snap post Green Bay.

2024

Jerod Mayo was hired as the Patriots new head coach, and he brought in Alex Van Pelt to run the offense with Ben McAdoo, T.C. McCartney, Scott Peters, and others. 

The Patriots selected North Carolina stud Drake Maye at third overall in the 2024 NFL draft and the franchise was ready to begin again…almost. 

In the first season since 1999 without Bill Belichick, the Patriots did not hold a very winning record at 4 -13, again. However, they did head over to London to play an international game that was my very first game at Wembley Stadium, but unfortunately a 16-32 loss. 

Mike Gesicki was out and Auston Hooper was in, and although this tight end fan was devastated, she was also curious. And in fact, ended up being rather happy as Hooper integrated with the rookie QB and the existing sturdy veteran tight end of Hunter Henry really rather well and had quite a successful season considering. 

Whilst 2024 saw further teething pains from the offense, the defense seemed to be on even more of a downward spiral with Patriots fans clinging to the fact that we have Maye and Gonzo, so the only way is up baby!

2024 had two NFL games on Christmas Day, the hip drop tackle was made illegal, being penalised as a personal foul, Tom Brady begin his broadcasting career as Fox’s lead colour analyst, and the Eagles saw an end to a Kansas City three-peat by giving us an entertaining Super Bowl and smashing the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22.

And so here we are folks, 2025.

Episode 106 of A Clare Perspective dropped January 9th, the four year anniversary of the podcast was celebrated February 23rd, and the next episode as I type this should be 110!

But much more importantly as I celebrate my four years here at Pats Propaganda I can look to the future, and it’s bright, folks! For on January 13th 2025, Mike Vrabel was introduced as the Head Coach of the New England Patriots (https://www.patspropaganda.com/the-vrabel-era-has-begun-and-so-what-do-the-fans-think/). 

And so the rest, as they say, is going to be history. Here’s to many more years, Pats Nation! I raise my coffee cup to all of you for being there on this mammoth media ride with me. A huge thank you for all the time invested in partaking in my work, all the support and kind words I have received, all the fun I have had and all the joy I hope I have given, as I have definitely received it back in buckets. 

Much love to you all, and as always…Go Pats!

Tight Endage!! Unisex T-Shirt

The future is bright! But is it tight? Tight endage that is…

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Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Whilst it’s no secret that the Patriots are in dire need of some wide receiver talent, it appears that my most favoured position may be falling a little under the radar, but is perhaps a sneaky need of address on this Patriots offense. 

As we head into the 2025 NFL season the tight ends signed to the Patriots are a touch on the lopsided. 

The magnificent Hunter Henry (okay, some mild bias here) signed a three-year $27 million contract extension that takes him up until 2026 as possibly the Pats TE1. So that’s all great and good. He was a binky for Mac Jones and put up career high numbers back in 2021 under Josh McDaniels, and appeared to be a go to for the rookie Drake Maye in 2024 with 66 receptions, 694 yards and 2 touchdowns. Not earth-shattering I’ll grant you, but solid, sturdy, dependable, available… all those buzzwords that aren’t exciting but that I will take in many of my team’s players every day and twice on Sundays. 

Seventh round draftee Jaheim Bell is signed through to 2027 and spent virtually all of his rookie season as TE3 behind the aforementioned Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper – more on him later. Bell only registered 2 passes for 20 yards, but as is quite usual for a later round draft pick rookie, he spent the majority of his time on special teams. 

Two names you may not be familiar with signed through the 2025 season, are Jack Westover and Giovanni Ricci. Westover, a rookie free agent, arrived on the practice squad in October 2024 and played only three games, mostly on special teams and registered no statistics. It wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to believe if he sticks around that he will be more of a practice squad addition than much else. 

Ricci has a little more substance to his story and brings five NFL seasons experience to the team with 36 games, as well as some whispers of positional flexibility. 6 foot 4, 195 pounds Ricci has lined up as both a tight end and a fullback. There’s the F word that gives some of you tingles, and with the return of the Mc…Daniels, someone who has been known to favour a fullback on his offense, Ricci could be a more flexible TE3 on the active roster. 

So, from that we could glean that the Patriots have Mr TE1 in Hunter Henry, and whilst it’s one of those long shot type things, there are two candidates for TE3 in Ricci or Bell. But what about that second tight end needed for all that sexy 12 personnel that McDaniels is going to run? (Okay, okay, that I hope he runs).  

It feels that the re-signing/extending of 6 foot 4, 254 pound Austin Hooper should be a no-brainer. A veteran who was a starter-level contributor, Hooper built a good connection with rookie quarterback Drake Maye, and completed the season as one of the Patriots most productive pass catchers; 45 receptions for 476 yards and 3 touchdowns.

The downside in the (possibly) top two guys of Henry and Hooper, is that they are both 30 years old, and whilst I feel ridiculous saying 30 is old, it’s getting up there when it comes to the versatility and physicality of the position of tight end. So, whilst an investment in Hooper is necessary now, in my humble opinion of course, the investment in some youth from a stacked tight end draft this year is also imperative to create that future success the Patriots should now be chasing. Whilst I don’t regret the pickup of the awesome Christian Gonzalez, 2023 was stacked with tight endage and the Patriots missed… all of them. 

So, whilst the onus should definitely be upon securing that offensive line, finding that top wide receiver, and making the defense strong again, the future of the tight end should still be on the radar!

Don’t forget those exclusive Tight endage design t-shirts only available here at Pats Propaganda!

Tight Endage!! Unisex T-Shirt

The Vrabel Era has begun! And so, what do the fans think?

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Pats fans began their week with Mike Vrabel as their head coach, and whilst I know many of you lovely lot were much more enamoured with Detroit Lions OC Ben Johnson, I was bubbling over with excitement. (If you managed to catch the latest episode of Pats Procrastination, link at the end of this article, you’ll see what I mean!)

And so, I thought I should take to my keyboard and drop a few tidbits of Vrabel notes on you, as well as gathering some interesting fan reactions. Maybe by the end of the article you’ll still feel glum and wish they had managed to entice Ben Johnson, or perhaps you’ll be as fizzy as the bottle of soda pop that I am!

Coach has already done a tonnage of interviews promoting the likes of treating players as they treat the team, providing a program that provides ownership (and their players) accountability of each other and one they’ll fight for, as well as galvanising the team, before already getting down to work on those coordinator hirings!

Many Patriots fans are kind of predisposed as Mike Vrabel fans from his days as number 50 on the roster. Starting his career in 1997, Vrabel was drafted in the third round and spent four seasons as a Pittsburgh Steeler before suiting up in Patriots blue. His eight seasons with the Patriots earned him that red jacket, and he was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2024, playing not only inside but also outside linebacker, and that wasn’t the end to Vrabel’s versatility. He occasionally lined up on the offense as a tight end (squeal!) with 14 targets for 10 receptions and 10 touchdowns in the regular season.

But let’s be fair, none of that is why we are sitting here with the confidence of him being a good coach. Everyone is entitled to, and should(!), fan their own way. For this fan, and probably many others, it is his coaching experience and successes that have us confident. 

Vrabel commenced his coaching career like many, at the college level, as linebackers coach for Ohio State. He then served as the defensive line coach for the Buckeyes for two seasons (2012-13). In 2014, he was hired by the Houston Texans as the linebackers coach, and was promoted to defensive coordinator for the Texans in 2017. 2018 saw Vrabel’s move to the head coach role with the Tennessee Titans on a five year deal, where he was awarded the AP Coach of the Year in 2021. At the end of the 2023 season he was dismissed from Tennessee following a 6-11 record. 

The 2024 season saw the NFL without the great Bill Belichick, and Mike Vrabel cooled his heels in a coaching and personnel consultant role with the Cleveland Browns, where it is said he gained more experience on the offensive side of the ball. 

And so here we are, 2025, the year of the Vrabel! Now, you may still not be convinced or even excited, and obviously that’s okay, but I hope that some of these fan comments, and perhaps my article, give you a little cause for positivity because being a fan can be tough stuff! But one thing is for sure, we are all in this together. Go Pats!

Die hard fan Mike Dussault 

Mike Vrabel has been the guy I wanted to replace Belichick since 2015 (check the PatsPropaganda archives!), he’s got the experience and the philosophy that the Patriots need to get them back on track, and he exemplifies everything his team should emulate… tough, smart and versatile.

Pats Procrastination co-host Chudders from Manchester

The Patriots have got their man; Vrabel

With Drake Maye, who’s proved he is able

With free agents to come

Then the draft will be fun

Another Lombardi is surely now on the table…..?

Tim from Rhode Island

I am very excited that Vrabel is the new coach, he brings instant credibility, experience, leadership, and direction to a team that lacked all those things last year.

Joel from Hull

I am very excited about Mike Vrabel being the coach of the Patriots. I think he brings a culture of accountability that the Patriots need at this juncture. Go Pats

Chris with a TIAN

Love the Vrabel hire! He brings swag and instant credibility. Certainly has his work cut out for him but he knows what it takes win championships.

Tom Shaw-Mellors

Mike Vrabel’s connection to New England is a happy coincidence, he’s a proven coach who has won in this league. He’s also a former NFL Coach Of The Year winner, I’m excited for sure! And mostly intrigued about which direction they go with the offense. LFG

Pats Procrastination – YouTube show Episode 52 – the beginning of a new era

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Join Clazzy Clare and Chudders as they celebrate the dawn of a new era, the introduction of the new head coach of the New England Patriots – Mike Vrabel!

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!