PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

BREAKING – Key Patriots Opt-Outs To Return For 2021 Season

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Dan Powers-USA TODAY Sports

So, we some Patriots news finally! – There were rumblings that some of the team’s opt-outs could return when it was teased it a few weeks ago, but now per a report from Rapsheet, the Pats are expecting some influential players to play in 2021.

Out of the names reported, Dont’a Hightower, Pat Chung, and Marcus Cannon are set to return and are expected to be in good shape physically.

Hightower is the main one for me here, given the lack of depth at the linebacker position for the entirety of this past season. I’m excited about High’s return, he’s been greatly missed.

Chung will return to add to an already solid safeties group with Devin McCourty, Kyle Dugger, and Adrian Phillips being the notable names Chung will link up at camp.

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Write for PatsPropaganda this season!

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As we dawn on the 2021 NFL pre-season, PatsPropaganda is looking for new writers to join the team for what is an exciting transitional period in Patriots history.

If you’re interested please email patspropaganda@gmail.com and tell us about yourself — why you love the Patriots, what you’re writing history and plans are. This is a low-commitment opportunity to write what you want, and also produce sponsored content as it arises throughout the season.

It’s a fantastic opportunity to become the voice of an already-established site, with a proven SEO track record.

We look forward to hearing from you!

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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