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Pats Posits: Will there be another shocking move over Labor Day Weekend?

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I remember sitting in a diner getting a late breakfast over Labor Day weekend 2009 when the shocking news of Richard Seymour getting traded to the Raiders broke. The Pats had already lost a bunch of talent that offseason – Harrison/Bruschi retired, Vrabel and Ellis Hobbs were traded – the defensive rebuild was in full effect. Trading Seymour, one of the only elite players still in their prime left was a jaw-dropper.

But that’s just how the Pats do business and we shouldn’t be surprised if a similar move happens this weekend. Here are some thoughts on who it could be and other areas of interest as we start to gear up for the start of another season.

– Chandler Jones makes some sense. First, defensive end depth is very solid. They would still be better than last year with Ninkovich/Sheard/Flowers as the top three. Second, Jones will be due $7.79 million next year and then would require another huge contract. I like Chandler as a player more than most but I don’t think the 2015 Pats would be much worse-off without him. The Pats will need 2nd and 3rd round picks next year to make up for the lack of a first. If someone dangled a 2nd for Chandler they might have to take it.

– But the cap savings on Chandler are minimal this year, that’s why it might be a season too soon to move him.

– I’m not as sold on moving one of the tackles. Vollmer could make sense but I don’t want to move Solder. Given Vollmer’s injury history, would anyone be comfortable with Cannon and Fleming as our starting tackles? That’d be a very real possibility if they traded Solder. Moving Vollmer would save $3.4 million.

– Cannon could be another guy who goes, but that’d only open up $800K of cap space.

– Patrick Chung just got extended but cutting him would open up almost $2 million. With great strong safety depth I wouldn’t totally rule it out.

– Lotta people scrambling to find a fullback to replace James Develin but I don’t really see it. When they find a fullback they like and who fits, they use him but it’s not like the position is absolutely necessary to their offense. Nice piece to have but I believe they can plug Hooman in or honestly Shaq Mason (if he’s not starting at guard) into that kind of blocking role.

– I just don’t see Mike Williams making the team despite trading for him. Still see him as more a tackle than TE.

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(via The reasons for 2011-13 playoff losses – ‘Do Your Job: Bill Belichick and the 2014 Patriots’ – YouTube)

Wow, it’s like BB took these words directly out of my mouth over the last few seasons. I must’ve written it dozens of times that having Gronk healthy in the last game of the season might just be the biggest key for the Patriots. And as much as everyone wants to kill the Pats’ defense of 2011-2013, they were one or two plays away from winning a Super Bowl. The only real difference of 2014, ending two of the three playoff games with sealing interceptions.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

https://www.patspropaganda.com/via-the-reasons-for-2011-13-playoff-losses-do/

Friday Patriots Q&A

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Friday Patriots Q&A

We’re finally off of Deflategate and the preseason and on to the Steelers! What an offseason it was. Doesn’t even really feel like there was one to be honest and here we are again, starting another campaign. And what a week it’s about to be. Roster moves galore this weekend, Do Your Job show Tuesday, America’s Game Wednesday and kickoff Thursday. 

So let’s open the floor for questions and comments. What are you guys most concerned about with the team as currently constituted?

Patriots 53-Man Roster, Final Version 4.0

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Here’s my final 53-man and I feel pretty good about it. Commentary below to keep it tight and easy to read.

QB (2) T.Brady, J.Garoppolo
RB (5) B.Bolden, J.White, D.Lewis, T.Cadet, J.Gray
WR (6) J.Edelman, B.LaFell, D.Amendola, R.Wayne, A.Dobson, M.Slater
TE (3) R.Gronkowski, S.Chandler, M.Hoomanawanui
C  (2) R.Wendell, B.Stork
G  (3) T.Jackson, J.Kline, S.Mason
T  (4) N.Solder, S.Vollmer, M.Cannon, C.Fleming
DE (6) C.Jones, R.Ninkovich, J.Sheard, T.Flowers, G.Grissom, R.Johnson
DT (4) S.Siliga, D.Easley, M.Brown, A.Branch
ILB(2) J. Mayo, J.Freeny
OLB(2) J.Collins, D. Hightower
CB (5) M.Butler, T.Brown, B.Fletcher, L.Ryan, R.McClain
SS (3) P.Chung, J.Richards, T.Wilson
FS (3) D.McCourty, D.Harmon, N.Ebner
ST (3) S.Gostkowski, R.Allen, J.Cardona

SUSP WEEK 1: L. Blount

The big news here is Rufus Johnson sneaking on at the expense of James Morris. Nothing against Morris but he’s easy to get onto the practice squad or to just keep on the “shadow roster” for a week or two. Rufus has played well every week and while he’s had some struggles against the run you can’t discard quality edge players.

Tavon Wilson also sticks because of special teams ability. I think he’s done enough to warrant a spot. Depth at linebacker and defensive tackle isn’t great, but with versatile DEs they factor into both those positions as well.

Still, there will very likely be at least one significant surprise this weekend. Last night we were speculating that Chandler Jones could theoretically be trade bait. As @PatsCap pointed out yesterday the Pats need to free up some cap space due to all the guys that landed on IR already. With a ton of depth at defensive end I don’t think moving Chandler for a second-round pick would be that big of a blow. A rotation of Ninkovich/Sheard/Flowers with a sprinkling of Grissom/Rufus would be just fine. And with no first rounder next year it would make sense to load up on second rounders whenever possible. Just a theory, but it’s Labor Day weekend, the time when shocking moves happen.

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Appearing at the top of the last full page of the 40-page ruling is the list of claims from Brady and the NFL Players Association that Judge Berman saw no need to address, including: (1) whether Commissioner Roger Goodell was “evidently partial” in presiding over the appeal of Brady’s suspension; (2) whether Goodell’s conclusions regarding Brady’s knowledge of and involvement in the alleged deflation scheme exceeded the findings of the Ted Wells report; and (3) whether Goodell undermined his competency to serve as arbitrator by publicly praising the work of Ted Wells.

Judge Berman’s ruling may contain a warning for the NFL | ProFootballTalk

Pretty much every one of these additional list of claims are a slam dunk as well. So look forward to the NFL losing again on this in the distant future. Yay?

https://www.patspropaganda.com/appearing-at-the-top-of-the-last-full-page-of-the/