PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Sunday Supplement 02/21

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(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

As the first weeks without football go by, attention turns to the new NFL league year in March and most importantly, free agency and the Draft.

I’ll be taking a dive into both in the coming weeks, but first, let’s round up the latest news from the first few weeks of the Patriots offseason.

Coaching Additions

Whilst the team is yet to dip their toes into the player market, they have begun adding to the staff ranks.

Following on from Matty P’s return a few weeks back, the team is expected to bring in Bo Hardegree as an offensive assistant. Hardegree has been a coach in the league since 2014, moving between Denver, Chigaco, and under Adam Gase, at Miami and New York.

Given Bill’s friendship and respect for Gase, it’s not hard to imagine that a good word was put in to secure Hardegree’s new role with the team.

Later this week, Mike Reiss reported that former Super Bowl-winning offensive lineman Billy Yates was expected to stick around and join the coaching team for the upcoming season.

As noted in Reiss’ tweet, Yates spent time with the Patriots in 2015 camp as part of the Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship, before cutting his teeth with Detroit as an assistant coach.

Hogan Switches Sports

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That Other Ex-Pats QB Was Pretty Good In Super Bowls

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Before Tom Brady came along, the history of New England Patriots quarterbacks and the Super Bowl was a story best forgotten. 

Tony Eason was at the helm with the Pats were embarrassed 46-10 by the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XX. Drew Bledsoe, Brady’s predecessor, lost 35-21 to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXI. 

“Tony Eason” by C&C is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0  

Brady’s record six Super Bowl wins and nine appearances will forever make him a legend in Foxborough. However, even if Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defy the Super Bowl betting odds and defeat Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV, he’ll still have some work to do in order to be the most successful ex-Pats QB in Super Bowl history. 

That’s because Jim Plunkett quarterbacked two Super Bowl-winning teams after leaving New England.  

Different Beginnings 

Plunkett and Brady were both California high school quarterbacks who went to prominent colleges. Plunkett stayed in the state and went to Stanford, while Brady headed for the midwest and Michigan. And that’s where their paths diverged. 

After a so-so freshman campaign, Plunkett became a star for the Cardinal, rewriting the PAC-8 passing record book, culminating in his 1970 Heisman Trophy win. 

“The best college football player I’ve ever seen,” Washington State coach Jim Sweeney said of Plunkett. 

“He’s the best pro quarterback prospect I’ve ever seen,” added UCLA coach Tommy Prothro. 

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Sunday Supplement 01/31

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Whilst we’re still a ways from free agency and the Draft, there’s still plenty of movement in the NFL and with specific Patriots interest. Let’s dive into the current QB market for the Pats and five players who sparked in yesterday’s Senior Bowl.

QB Situation

I woke up this morning to the news that Detroit had traded Matthew Stafford to the LA Rams in return for Jared Goff, two first-round picks for 2022 & 2023, and a third-rounder for 2021.

I knew a trade was set to be finalized before the Super Bowl as reports suggested, but I can’t believe how much LA gave up just to dump Goff’s cap and get rid of him. Detroit has Goff under contract now until 2024 along with an extra pick this year and two future first-rounders.

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BREAKING- Matt Patricia to rejoin Patriots coaching staff

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(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

As first reported by Jim McBride, former Patriots DC Matt Patricia is returning to the team following his release as HC of Detroit. Per the report, Patricia is returning to New England to assist the coaching staff in a variety of roles.

I don’t mind this at all, especially given Patricia’s experience with the team before he went to Detroit, interesting how it’s in more of an overall assisting role and not a specific positional coach role though.

By the looks of things, he’s put in a good word for Evan Rothstein, who was with Matty P at the Lions, he now joins the Patriots coaching team.

Both Breer and Ian Rappoport say that Patricia will be in an evaluation role also, similar to Mick Lombardi previously. One would assume this means he will be heavily involved in free agency and Draft evaluation for the Patriots following the departure of Nick Caserio.

Patriots FA’s – Who stays? Who leaves?

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Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

With the yearly Draft hype underway, I thought it would be a good time to have a rundown of each of the team’s 25 free agents, and give my take on who should stay and who should go.

Future free agency and Draft content is on the way (including big boards and mock drafts), so keep an eye out!

LB Shilique Calhoun (UFA) – Leave

Think the team can find better options than Calhoun moving forward, along with continuing to rebuild the Linebacker group. I don’t think he should return.

WR Damiere Byrd (UFA) – Stay

Byrd had a solid year as he assumed the WR2 position, I didn’t expect him to play in that role when he signed a one-year deal last offseason. I can’t imagine Byrd will cost much more than what we signed him for previously, I’d take him back on another one-year deal.

DT Adam Butler (UFA) – Stay

Butler had ups and downs through-out the 2020 season, but, he was the team’s best pass rusher. If the Pats can agree on a new deal, I would like him to return and continue developing, think he has a bright future.

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PatsProp – End Of Season Awards

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(AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

With the 2020 season now in the rear-view mirror, it’s time to reflect and recognize the brighter moments of an otherwise disappointing year for the Patriots.

As voted by the readers of PatsPropaganda, here are the PatsProp 2020 – End Of Season award winners.

Rookie Of The Year

(T) Michael Onwenu

(AP Photo/Stew Milne)

After being picked in the sixth round of this year’s Draft, there were no major expectations for Mike Onwenu to make the sort of impact he did in his rookie season. But, following the opt-out of starting RT Marcus Cannon, Onwenu enjoyed his first season in New England splitting reps with Jermaine Eluemunor and making quite the impression across the league in the process.

PFF ranked Onwenu on a number of occasions as one of the best performing Tackles in the league during the season, as well as his inclusion in the PPF 2020 All-Rookie Team.

A great building season for Mike, with potential turnover at the offensive line position coming in the next few months, Bill will be pleased with the early performances from the former Michigan Wolverine.

2nd Place – Kyle Dugger

Team MVP

(P) Jake Bailey

(Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)

No surprise here, Jake Bailey has been a stand out performer for this Patriots team in 2020. Coming off a solid rookie season, Bailey continued to execute enormous punts (there were a lot of them), aiding the team with better field position in the process.

His performances also earned him a Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection, his first in both categories. Along with punting, Bailey also handled placekick holding and kickoff duties. I started the #ProBowlBailey bandwagon back in training camp and I’m glad the readers chose him to receive the team’s MVP award.

A real Swiss army knife as a specialist, what a great player.

2nd Place – Damien Harris

Offensive POTY

(RB) Damien Harris

Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Cries from Patriots fans for a Damien Harris breakout year were answered in Week 4 again Kansas City, Harris started that game in the place of an injured Sony Michel and secured his first career 100-yard performance on the ground.

Although his season was cut short at the end due to an injury, Harris still managed to rack up 691 yards on the ground, along with two touchdowns, a promising second-season, as many see him as new leader at the position.

Harris, along with Jakobi Meyers were the only real good offensive breakout performances this year. Both were worthy of the OPOTY award, but Harris edges it in the reader vote.

2nd Place – Jakobi Meyers

Defensive POTY

(CB) J.C. Jackson

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

An obvious choice was confirmed in the voting this time, unlike his ridiculous Pro Bowl and All-Pro snub, J.C. Jackson has been an interception machine this season, and wrapped up his impressive haul against the Jets last Sunday with his ninth pick.

Jackson, originally an undrafted free agent, has excelled to one of the league’s best cornerbacks, along with Stephon Gilmore. Some may argue that Jackson’s picks covered up for some discrepancies in his play this year, which may be true, but results matter, and Jackson snagging almost double-digit interceptions in just one season is a cause for celebration.

J.C. is a restricted free agent this offseason, expect the patriots to place a tender on him and potentially look to a long-term deal, or a trade-in the coming year.

2nd Place – Stephon Gilmore

Comeback/Emergence POTY

(C) David Andrews

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

No real surprise with this one. After coming back from a near career-ending health emergency, David Andrews returned and was, for the most part, a solid rock at the heart of the Patriots offensive line.

Missing Andrews was felt last season and, along with Joe Thuney and Shaq Mason next to him, he put together some solid performances which enabled the run game to flourish at times. Andrews is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and with Thuney expected to leave, retaining Andrews should be a high priority for the Patriots.

The fans felt his return, as they chose him as the comeback player of the year.

Patriots vs Jets – Player Ups & Downs

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(AP Photo/Stew Milne)

The season for the Patriots is officially over, and they finished on a win. Lots of changes coming in the offseason! But first, let’s look back on Week 17’s Ups and Downs.

Ups ⬆️

Jakobi Meyers

What a way to end his second season in the NFL, led the team in receiving yards and also threw his second touchdown of the season. Jakobi Meyers is a lock for my roster next year already, his coming of age as a reputable WR in this league has been a joy to watch, brilliant again.

Devin Asiasi

Both rookies in the Tight End position have been disappointing this year, whether not playing due to injury, or having zero production, but, we got a small spark from Asiasi on Sunday as he snagged his first career touchdown. Whilst his overall rookie year has been one to forget, this was a nice way to end it.

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