PatsPropaganda

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Are you really confident with Bolden as the go to 1st/2nd down back going forward assuming Ridley walks? I still see him more in a rotational role… just haven’t seen that spark since his earlier carries (when he was using PEDs).

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Nah, I think Blount would be okay in that role, and I think Bolden MIGHT be okay as a stopgap/insurance as the passing down back. But really that’s a huge role in this offense, and there should be additions unless they really think James White and Tyler Gaffney can step right in, which seems like an incredible long shot. With a deep RB draft, I’d expect at least one to be taken. It’s seeming more and more to me like Vereen walks.

Patriots could use repeat Corey Dillon-like pickup | Boston Herald

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Patriots could use repeat Corey Dillon-like pickup | Boston Herald

Good read from Karen Guregian, with a tidbit that she’s already hearing how focused on getting SB #5 Belichick and Brady already are. There as so much pressure built up on getting SB #4 it feels like that’s now released. Maybe that will help them, along with a less-than-daunting schedule.

New England Patriots quick-hitting thoughts – ESPN Boston

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New England Patriots quick-hitting thoughts – ESPN Boston

Good Sunday notes from Reiss, including a mention that Tyler Gaffney is now fully healthy. Gaffney is a bit of an unknown, but with Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen’s futures up in the air, there could be opportunity in the Patriots’ backfield.

One thing I’ve been wondering, is could Brandon Bolden hold the fort long enough for James White or another new receiving back to come along? I generally think Bolden is just a spot carry guy, but the Pats continued to give him carries late last season and even gave him a contract extension, which I viewed generally for special teams ability. He’s not Vereen, but he’s solid enough as insurance if a rookie or White were to be eased into the job.

Vereen was far from proven when he took over for Danny Woodhead as the primary receiving back.

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Hightower’s recovery is expected to span six or seven months, according to a source. The Patriots officially open training camp around July 29, and a six-month window would have Hightower ready Aug. 10. The seven-month window would put him in line to be ready for the regular-season opener around Sept. 10

Not great news and as Howe points out, this puts a new twist on the expected Jerod Mayo contract re-working. Still, I think given what we’ve seen from Hightower, he should be good by the start of the 2015 season. If Mayo is back in the mix and healthy, it will enable the Pats to ease Hightower back into things a little easier.
Dont’a Hightower faces a long healing | Boston Herald

https://www.patspropaganda.com/donta-hightower-injury-labrum/