An Independent Patriots Blog
Hoping everyone has a safe and happy 4th of July week! Your faithful Minister of PatsPropaganda will be down the Cape, where Fitzy and I are hoping to meet up for a Cape 4th Edition of Foxboro & Friends from a local watering hole. Keep an eye out for that!
Here’s a final pre-camp 53-man roster, with practice squad hopefuls and cuts. I am fully aware that some of those PS guys wouldn’t make it through.
Let’s dive in!
The end of June is the time when all those who play and follow the NFL take their vacations and any real meaningful news grinds down to a halt. Of course this is the perfect time for terrible social media debates to pop up and old friend Chris Simms was ready to strike with his latest rankings.
This time of year my superpower of not getting into pointless social media debates about who’s better is put to the test. Even if I managed to not give Chris Simms any attention other than updating that Hot Taeks History post, I was further tested by the Welker-Edelman debate.
Yes, it’s that time of year, when there’s just nothing really left to talk about so personal arbitrary rankings rule the day. At least there’s less than a month left until what I actually love most (football) starts, so let’s just try to get by until then.
Here are some Posits on those arguments and more as we start to gear up for a bunch of season preview posts starting next week.
[Read more…] about Pats Posits: The Offseason Low Point Lives Up To HypeYes it’s been a while since Fitzy and I got together and banged out an episode of FnF. We joined forces in his basement to catch up on all things Pats and even a little Bruins (ugh).
Having played, reffed and coached my share of hockey games like The Game 7 That Shall Not Be Named, I can safely say there’s no worse way to lose a hockey game.
The Bruins came out on fire and threw everything they had at Jordan Binnington, and Binnington stopped everything they had. Those kind of games are THE. WORST. It’s so demoralizing when you’re getting grade-A chances and nothing’s going in. Then, to give up not one, but two goals on your only breakdowns of the first period?
The first, a deflection by a Conn Smyth-winning player. The second, a heartbreaking fast-break goal featuring a poor decision by a star player in the closing seconds.
Goals at the end of periods are bad enough. One like that on the grandest stage was even worse. And it was one of your best player’s fault. Ick.
[Read more…] about My Bruins Diary: The Game 7 That Shall Not Be NamedIn case you missed it yesterday I had the chance to go on Patriots Unfiltered with Fred, Paul, Erik and Megan. Was really cool to talk Pats with some of the experts and I was happy to jump right in to talk about the tight end situation, Nick Caserio and one of my favorite topics, Patriots jerseys, among many other things over the two-hour show.
In a move that should surprise exactly no one, the Patriots traded with the Lions for tight end Michael Roberts. After the departure of Austin Seferian-Jenkins, the Patriots depth was a little scary with Ben Watson facing a four-game suspension.
I wrote about the tight end situation a lot this offseason. After losing Gronk and Dwayne Allen, and trading Jacob Hollister, the Pats were in do-over mode at the position. Then, incredibly, they didn’t draft one, preferring just to add Matt Lacosse who is more of a move player, and bringing back Watson who was on the verge of retirement.
Roberts is the right fit because he’s the prototypical blocking tight end. Those aren’t sexy but they’re critical, and the Patriots really didn’t have a proven one on the roster. Watson, at this stage of his career, should be limited in his point of attack duties. Maybe Ryan Izzo can build off a solid training camp last year, he fits the mold, but Roberts gives them someone who has done it at the NFL level.
[Read more…] about Patriots Trade for Tight End Michael RobertsWith the Patriots cancelling the final two OTAs and instead going on a team building paintball trip where Belichick shot Kyle Van Noy in the face, we’re now on to the worst part of the NFL calendar, aka The Void between the end of OTAs and the start of training camp.
Yes, it will be a long six weeks or so, and it’s unlikely there’s any earth shattering news. Though with this team you never know, especially when the depth at tackle and tight end still leaves a bit to be desired. Still, let’s just plan on taking a bit of a break before it’s balls to wall.
With that in mind, here’s a bunch of Posits. Tune into Patriots Unfiltered tomorrow (Thursday) from 12-2 at Patriots.com as I’m excited to be joining the guys in studio to talk Pats.
[Read more…] about Pats Posits: We’re on to The Void