PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Boston Herald – Source: LeGarrette Blount, Patriots have mutual interest in reunion

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INDIANAPOLIS — The Patriots’ wrecking ball could be back for more.

Source: Source: LeGarrette Blount, Patriots have mutual interest in reunion | Boston Herald

Interesting. I’ve been thinking the Pats would let LeGarrette Blount walk this offseason because we’ve kind of seen what his ceiling is. In a complimentary role, where he can come on late in the game and finish an opponent off (usually the Colts) he’s pretty good.

However, he’s not going to be one to soften up a defense in the first quarter of a game. He takes a while to get going, or at least needs the defense to be at or near the breaking point where they’re getting lazy with their tackling.

He’s broken 100 yards just four times with the Pats in 38 games, twice were against the Colts (including the ’13 AFCDG & ’14 AFCCG). Obviously those were important wins, but outside of those he’s usually invisible in big games (Nine carries, 27 yards vs. Broncos ’15).

I’m not against him coming back, but I still think the need for a back who can grind out the early yards remains a bigger need. I think that lead back (rookie/FA), Lewis and White, and then Blount is a pretty good group, but Blount can’t be the lead back and he especially can’t be paid like one.

My preference would just be to put the money they’d spend on Blount into an FA who could compete to be the starter and the finisher, and then let training camp determine who plays with Tyler Gaffney and a rookie or two in the mix.

 

Laying Out the New England Patriots Free Agency Plan

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We’re still a couple weeks away from the start of the new NFL year on March 9th and with it the start of free agency. With that the Pats’ plans for 2016 will start to come into clearer view, but I continue to believe that the major moves will be done on internal free agents and not splashy external ones. Here’s what I see as the Patriots Free Agency plan for the next month.

If there was a position to spend a little bit extra money I’d put it at the running back spot and that’s the only reason I won’t cross Matt Forte off my list of targets.

Here are the priorities:Extend Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins: Can they both get done together? Both are entering the last years of their deals and should both get significant money. Hightower is the lock because an extension for him would lower his $7.75 million cap hit. Collins is still a bargain and that could be the only thing preventing him from getting extended sooner than later.

patriots tarrell brown

Internal Unrestricted Free Agent Priorities:

  1. Akiem Hicks: Pats have expressed interest in bringing him back. What happens with him could directly affect whether or not the Pats pick up Alan Branch‘s option. Branch had a very good season in 2015, but I’d advocate Hicks over him.
  2. Tarrell Brown: Really think the Pats only need one veteran corner and Brown looked poised to start last season but had a lingering foot issue. If that’s cleared up he’s had a year in the system and would be good to keep around.
  3. Nate Ebner: Special teams demons are valued on the Patriots far more than other teams. Ebner should be an easy signing and they don’t want to let both him and Tavon Wilson go. Wilson walks. Ebner stays.
  4. Dane Fletcher: He spent his year back with the Pats rehabbing a torn ACL and never made if off IR. He’d be a cheap signing at a position of need. Not sure he’s ready for significant snaps anymore, but did a good job filling in at Mike in his first stint. Special teams value too.

Let walk: LeGarrette Blount, Tavon Wilson, Steven Jackson, Dekoda Watson, Brandon Gibson.

Restricted/Exclusive Rights Free Agent Priorities:james develin touchdown

  1. James Develin: Pats missed their fullback last year. Might be better to extend him than tender him, as it would be more cost effective.
  2. Cameron Fleming: Hoped for more out of him in 2015, but provides depth at an area of uncertainty.
  3. Justin Coleman: Really solid rookie season in the slot and was very good in the playoffs.
  4. Sealver Siliga: Bit of a down year in 2015, but still has good size and had his moments. Fits the rotation well at DT.
  5. Brandon King: Second in the NFL in solo special teams tackles.
  6. Rufus Johnson: Preseason standout at defensive end, could be a developmental piece with Chandler/Ninkovich nearing uncertainty.

Other RFA/ERFA: Brian Tyms, LaAdrian Waddle, Josh Boyce, Kevin Hughes (all very likely return)

External Free Agents to consider:

  1. Matt Forte – finding a deal that works is key here, but Forte could take an early-down role, sprinkled in with some passing down work. Pats offer a winning organization and a chance to take some wear and tear off via a rotation.
  2. Alfred Morris – Morris is a good mid-range option for the early-down role.
  3. Joique Bell – Bell is the cheap option, but he’s always seemed like a Pats back to me and almost signed with the team coming out. He might be the best match of value and style, but Pats would still need to address RB in the draft.
  4. Mohamed Sanu – Yes, he’s a Rutgers guy but could give the Pats more size in the slot than Danny Amendola. He also has run the Wildcat and can do a number of things.
  5. Kendall Reyes – Good fit coming out of UConn who never found his stride in San Diego. Reclamation project if Hicks doesn’t stick around.
  6. Randy Starks – Pats have had a plenty of Starks over the years, good versatile fit upfront who’d fit into the Alan Branch role.
  7. Rolando McClain – Kicked the tires on him last year, but he went with Dallas. Still seems like a good MLB fit, but the ship might’ve sailed.
  8. Stephen Tulloch – BB’s had good success with vet LBs at the end of the line. Tulloch has enough in the tank left to be a sub player at MLB, primarily to make run game tackles. If money could be figured out he might relish a shot at a ring after a career with the Titans and Lions.

One Fan’s Experience on the Gronk Party Ship | The MMQB with Peter King

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Glow-in-the-dark Gronkowskis, lemon drop shots and way too much twerking: A guest aboard football’s most talked-about boat trip fights through his debilitating hangover to tell the story of a bro weekend to top all others

Source: One Fan’s Experience on the Gronk Party Ship | The MMQB with Peter King

Fun read and everything you’d expect. Seems like no one quite knows how to wrap their head around this Gronk cruise. Some are trying to play the “imagine if this was _________ doing this!”. But this is Rob Gronkowski, a giant man-sized 12-year-old who marches to his own drum.

When you read what actually happened on the boat, and the fact that Gronk’s frickin’ parents were there the whole time, it’s hard to really make this into the big deal that so many people would love to make it into.

Give it to Gronk, everything was totally in the open. But there were no cars for drunk people to get into and crash. It seemed well planned out. There was music. There was twerking. Were there some questionable decisions made on the boat that we may never know about? I’m sure. Were there other passengers on the boat who had no idea what they were getting into and wanted no part of it? Definitely.

But taken as a whole, it ultimately seems all about Gronk-sized fun. Partying can still be about that, right? Before it turns into ruining lives as we so often see and hear about.

Maybe a little over-the-top “bro-y”? Definitely. But that’s Gronk. Who else could take a party ship and turn it into a crazy family fun affair with his Dad dancing shirtless on stage?

As Gronk said a couple years ago during one of the previous Summers of Gronk, “Sorry for partying”. Don’t be sorry, Gronk. Just do you and keep being the best tight end in football.

Pre-Combine New England Patriots Draft Posits

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Welcome to the start of my sixth draft season here at PatsPropaganda! For those of you who are new to the site I don’t pay much attention at all to college football or the draft until the Patriots season ends. Back in 2011, I started a yearly challenge with myself to pick 50 prospects I liked for the Patriots with the hopes of getting as many picks as I could. You can see the last five Top-50 Patriots-only big boards here. I also try to only do one mock draft a week or two before the actual draft in an effort to have some accountability with my picks.

Here’s how I’ve done, still trying to break 50% on the big board:

new england patriots draft record

The process has begun yet again, but with the Pats not having a first round pick, and no selection until the end of the second round, this is going to be the hardest year yet because most of the top guys at each position are going to be gone. Still, with compensatory draft picks, the Pats will likely have these selections, more than enough to fill some holes and do some damage:

  • 2nd Rounder
  • 3rd Rounder
  • 3rd Rounder (compensatory)
  • 4th Rounder
  • 5th Rounder (compensatory)
  • 6th Rounder (from Houston in Keshawn Martin trade)
  • 6th Rounder (compensatory)
  • 7th Rounder
  • 7th Rounder (compensatory)
  • 7th Rounder (from Houston in Ryan Mallett trade)

Having dipped my toe into this year’s draft class, here are some quick hit thoughts. It’s a long process but matching up the Pats needs with the kind of players available gives you a sense of where they might be able to operate.

  • I don’t think Edge or Interior DL are huge needs but those just might be the two deepest areas of Pats’ fits. He’ll be long gone by the time the Pats pick, but Alabama DT A’Shawn Robinson might be the perfect Pats DT fit. There are quite a few undersized DTs that could fit as well. With the rotation the Pats like to run, the more diverse group of players they have the better.
  • Another player who will be long gone but would be a good standup linebacker in the Pats system is Jordan Jenkins from Georgia. A low-round option could be Theiren Cockran from Minnesota who has all the intangibles.
  • The two running backs from Arkansas are intriguing with Alex Collins getting the slight nod. I think the Pats need an early down grinder who can pick up tough yards and soften a defense. Hopefully other teams continue to devalue running backs and the Pats could have a shot at one of the better guys. Devon Johnson out of Marshall could be a mid-round fit.
  • The area I’ve really been focusing on is tackle and my early thought is that things could line up well in the late second round to get an athletic swing tackle. Taylor Decker from Ohio State has a lot of Sebastian Vollmer in him, he’s an early favorite. But there are others who will be in that range that could be a good Pats fit like Jason Spriggs from Indiana.
  • I don’t have wide receiver being as big of a need as many Pats’ pundits, but Sterling Shepard from Oklahoma is pretty much a perfect fit for the Pats system. He’s not that deep burner many want, but he can get open instantly and has the smarts to likely pick up the Pats system. Too bad he’ll likely be long gone too.
  • The tight end class is terrible and it makes me think if the Pats do cut Scott Chandler they have to address replacing him via free agency. Also, AJ Derby’s development after spending his rookie year on IR will be something to monitor though I think it might be a bit much to expect him to take the #2 TE spot, he seems more in the H-back mold.
  • Middle linebacker is a need but I am wondering what kind of player they need. Really I think Brandon Spikes is somewhat the model —  a two down fierce run stopper. Too bad Spikes is such a meatball or he might still be with the team in that role. Most of the MLBs coming out in the draft don’t quite have the size you’d like. Blake Martinez of Stanford and Joshua Perry of Ohio State are two that check some of the boxes.
  • Cornerback is another position I don’t see a huge draft need for but one they’ll probably take a player at regardless. DJ White of Georgia Tech seems like a good Pats fit, but he’s one of those tough, undersized guys that would likely be limited to the slot.

I’ll drop the initial big board in a couple weeks as free agency starts to play out and needs are met or exacerbated. There’s plenty of film to watch until then.

Jerod Mayo Career Highlights

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New Jerod Mayo highlight video up from Mike Vaz. Mayo’s speed really was something else, didn’t always ensure he made the play but he was always around the ball. If I had to pick the best play of his career it would have to be the game-sealing interception against the Redskins in 2011 that’s at the 3:14 mark.

WEEI.com/It Is What It Is » Mel Kiper Jr.: Patriots’ biggest need is WR, could target Braxton Miller

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When it comes to the Patriots and their potential needs this offseason, there are a few positions that come to mind: offensive line, wide receiver, tight end.

Source: It Is What It Is » Mel Kiper Jr.: Patriots’ biggest need is WR, could target Braxton Miller

Wide receiver, such a fickle position for the Patriots and one that should scare us all in the draft. The fact is, with no pick before 59th overall what do needs really matter? Yes, the Pats could, and likely will, trade up in the second round, but it’s going to cost draft capital, and does anyone feel confident that they’re going to get a “step-in-and-play” receiver in the mid-second round? Is there any player at that spot that would legitimately be better than a healthy Brandon LaFell or Danny Amendola? I don’t see it, and when push comes to shove, I’m all about the trenches.

So my biggest need, and it’s a need that will sizable in 2017, is an athletic tackle. The draft is about developing players for down the road. Sure, some guys will step in and play a significant role, but outside of running back I struggle to see a starting spot that can and will make an immediate impact via the draft. Even if they dump Cannon, Vollmer’s contract is up after this year as well. The development for the next right tackle is a critical element for this team, one far more important than continuing the search for that big speedy receiver who has the rare football IQ to pick up the Pats system immediately.

Of course there could always be shocking releases this spring but those holes, for better or worse, will be filled via free agency. The Pats will go into the draft without any glaring needs to field a competitive team. Some players in some spots might not be ideal or proven, but they’ll at least have a placeholder who’d be serviceable atop each spot on the depth chart.

When we look at long term needs, there’s no question receiver is up there, but the Pats have built enough depth that they can let the board come to them and not have to trade up and take Braxton Miller with hopes that he’s going to step in and immediately take the offense to another level.

Roger Goodell should give back NFL draft picks to Patriots | The MMQB with Peter King

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Shaky evidence, shady science and total disinterest in learning the truth are grounds for Roger Goodell to admit he erred by docking New England draft picks for Deflategate. Plus Mayock’s combine preview and more

Source: Roger Goodell should give back NFL draft picks to Patriots | The MMQB with Peter King

I can’t believe we have to keep talking about Deflategate, but here we finally have Peter King coming around to say the Pats should get their lost draft picks back. Mostly this feels like too little too late because let’s face it, the Pats are NEVER getting those picks back. Just wait until next week’s court arguments to see how firmly entrenched the NFL continues to be on their side. Each time we’ve heard from the NFL lawyers they keep making it sound like Brady did worse and worse. The Wells Report said he was generally aware. Cut to the NFL’s appeal and now Brady was at the center of an organized deflation ring. Yes, it’s a giant leap, made solely because the NFL wants to win their case. Not because they have any conclusive proof. They want to win, even at the expense of a slice of Tom Brady’s legacy.

The best we can hope for at this point is that Judge Berman’s ruling gets upheld, the NFL quietly swallows their medicine and we can bury deflategate once and for all, or at least until both the 2016 and 2017 draft when the Pats have vacated draft picks. Yeah I know, it’s bullshit. And that lost first rounder will have a tangible effect on the Patriots for the next five years.

The only small silver lining I can take from Peter King coming out with this take is that he essentially represents the casual mainstream fans. When the NFL was whipping everyone into a frenzy over Deflategate, Peter King was right there with them every step of the way. But now we at least have hope that the non-partisans can see through the NFL’s web of deception. That there are fans of other teams realizing that the Patriots got steamrolled and it could just as easily happen to them. Perhaps most disturbing is the lengths the NFL has gone to not for the facts, not for truth, but to prove their side even if it means planting false information in the press or at the very least letting it linger there for months without a correction.

We’ll always have opposing fans who throw Spygate and Deflategate in our faces. Whether or not those fans actually believe the Patriots last 15 years of success has been due to extensive and elaborate cheating plots, or it’s just an easy way to dismiss New England’s success and give Pats fans crap, will depend on how educated the fans actually are.

But Peter King speaks to and for a large number of low information football fans, and hopefully this piece does its own small part in putting Deflategate in the history books as nothing more than an overblown sham that the NFL was too invested in and too proud of to actually treat it as it should’ve been treated.