An Independent Patriots Blog
We’re going to be switching it up and moving the podcast to 1pm EST on Sundays. Should make it easier for people to remember since it’s technically when kickoff for the early games is supposed to be.
Coming up this weekend we’ll talk about some draft prospects that are intriguing us, and an update from the scouting combine.
The podcast should also be up soon on Itunes as well.
Thanks to all who have listened!
And now a jam to take us into the weekend….
One of the funnier moments of the 2010 season was when Josh McDaniels and the Broncos tried to put safety Josh Barrett on IR, but the Patriots snagged him before he could clear waivers.
It’s just the kind of move the Patriots often make, with an eye to the future, and just a dash of FU for the past. Specifically things like this (which by the way was the peak of Josh McDaniels Denver coaching career):
So with the Pats extending Barrett we were wondering how he might fit into the plans. All we’ve really heard is that he’s a great Special Teams player, which is of course all we really heard about Devin McCourty before he got here and look how that turned out.
Here’s Barrett’s scouting report from when he was coming out…
Strengths: Exceptional athlete…great size…at 225 could play weak-side linebacker in the NFL…superb speed at 4.35….hits like a rock…adds value to special teams on kickoffs and punt returns….can roam sideline to sideline…excels in zone-coverage…Can slide down and cover slot receivers as well as tight-ends…uses leverage to break off blocks…
Negatives: Struggles in man to man coverage…failed to build on his junior season… easily bites on play-action and pump fakes…focuses too much on the quarterback and backfield…although he has excellent straight line speed struggles in change of direction…what position will he play in the NFL?…strong against the run…injuries are a concern…
Overall: Barrett is a fantastic athlete and great strong safety prospect. His speed to line up against slot receivers along with his overall presence in the middle of the field will strike fear in opposing receivers. Barrett might be best suited to add 10-15 pounds and slide down to weak-side linebacker, where he could excel into an excellent player.
Clearly if he projects to something more than a Special Teams player it would be a big, in-the-box safety in the mold of Brandon McGowan. Clearly BB really has a place in his system for the big, hybrid safety. He’s been trying to get a good one for the last few seasons, starting with Tank Williams, then McGowan, and to some extent Jarrad Page this past year.
http://www.hulu.com/embed/0W6F_7Mbo4hsKvVrsobdBA
In Their Own Words: Tedy Bruschi
Sometimes you just need to sit back and appreciate what a special player Bru was.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/in-their-own-words-tedy-bruschi-sometimes-you/
One of the Patriots’ top needs is the pass rush, so it was notable when Rams personnel chief Billy Deveaney kicked things off this morning by noting that this is a deep draft for pass rushers. Deveaney thinks good pass rushers will be available into the second round, regardless of whether a team runs a 4-3 or 3-4 defense.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/one-of-the-patriots-top-needs-is-the-pass-rush/
I heart secrecy and mystery.
The Boston media that’s at the Scouting Combine in Indy cornered Logan Mankin’s agent Frank Bauer today and got a lengthy dissertation on the contract situation:
“A young man came to them as a first round draft choice and played four solid years and made two Pro Bowls and one alternate,” he explained. “After the 2008 season was over, I approached Bill (Belichick) about a long term deal which most of that small group of Pro Bowlers always gets (rewritten). So what happens is that, we were told that because of the uncertainty of the CBA that (they) weren’t going to do anything with any players. Then they started rewriting players in the (2009 training camp). They were the lesser players and (Tom) Brady and Logan were the big contracts and they would take some time to get through. Logan was a little upset that other players were getting rewritten when everyone was told they weren’t going to get rewritten. And then Bill sat with Logan and talked about it and we said, ‘OK, we’ll play the 2009 season and play it out at $1.4 million. When we get to the uncapped yuear, there’s no rules, no regulations…being an uncapped year we can do what we want. Negotiations started and they started low. And it’s been pretty bad ever since.”
Look, none of us fans are going to exactly shed tears over Mankins’ situation because he stands to make $10.1 million dollars in 2011 playing under the Franchise Tag. I won’t get on too much of a high horse (or perhaps “Low” horse is more appropriate) because these guys are putting their bodies on the line every week and they’re just one play away from a wheelchair for the rest of their lives…. BUT…. $10 million is more than about 99% of us will ever make in our entire lives so yeah…
Then there’s also the little contract offer of 5 years, $35million that Bauer and Mankins turned down. So don’t act like it’s a travesty just because they didn’t want to make you the highest paid guard in the NFL. If that’s what you expected out of the Patriots you’ve been asleep for the past decade.
I’m just so tired of this whole situation. Mankins fell into one of the worst possible draft slot situations in history along with Vincent Jackson. Their teams have had them by the balls for a long, long time, and they still have them by the balls. And any time an employer has an employee by the balls it’s never a good situation. So I feel for Logan a little bit. And of course I love him as a player.
But this has just gone on for so long, the time has come for him to sign his tender and for the Patriots to trade him as far from New England as possible. I hear the NFC West is a great place in the fall and it’s even close to a lot of Logan’s favorite… cattle ranches!
There’s just been too much vitriol, too much damage done, to honestly believe that a long term deal could still get done. It’s time for both the team and the player to move on. I’m just happy the Pats will control where he goes.
Holy Hoodie, I need this jacket for the 2011 season!!!!!
https://www.patspropaganda.com/holy-hoodie-i-need-this-jacket-for-the-2011/