An Independent Patriots Blog
The Official Super Bowl Preview « Bill Barnwell/Grantland
Obviously not much Super Bowl stuff getting posted here this week, but this is an extensive preview from the always-great Bill Barnwell, truly breaking the game down to the level that most can’t fathom.
If you like real football X-and-O’s this is the must-read of the week.
Breaking Madden: The Super Bowl, in which the machine bleeds to death – SBNation.com
No matter who you’re rooting for this weekend, if you’re a Madden fan, it doesn’t get any better than this…
Playing for New England is a dream, but like you said, there’s a short window in this sport, especially. I don’t know yet. There’s a lot of things that can happen going forward that could sway that one way or another. Hopefully it all works out in favor for both.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/playing-for-new-england-is-a-dream-but-like-you/
Gronk really needs a healthy season this year. Check out this report from Jason LaCanfora.
The big trigger in Gronk’s extension is for 2015. Here’s the gist of it:
Gronkowski is set to make $15 million alone in 2015, in the form of $5 million in salary (which is guaranteed only for injury but not for cap or production purposes), as well as a $10 million option bonus that the Patriots could opt to pick up at any point in the 2015 league year. Numerous sources who reviewed this contract said they highly doubt New England picks up that $10 million option, which would make Gronk a free agent.
Should New England pick up that bonus, that triggers Gronkowski’s deal from 2016-2019 (worth $27 million). Given Gronkowski’s run of injuries — it stands to reason he opens 2014 on the Physically Unable To Perform List and returns to the team midseason — and the calculated manner with which Bill Belichick often operates, it’s quite likely this situation is resolved even before the 2015 season.
Gronkowski makes $3.75M in 2014 — quite cheap even given his injuries — and he made just $660,000 this season.
Honestly, I think the cards are stacked against Gronk. He needs not only to stay healthy in 2014 but prove that he’s still the uber-elite tight end we saw in 2011.
And unfortunately for him, he has to do it coming off an ACL, an injury that usually takes a full year to get totally healthy from.
I love Gronk as much as any uber Pats fan, but this could very well be his last year in a Pats uniform.
5 Big Splashes Patriots Could Realistically Make in Free Agency
Don’t get your hopes up on all these guys, I think Chandler might be the most likely. But can the Pats open enough cap space to make any of the others realistic? Tough to say. Johnson likely will be too expensive.
If Henry Melton could be had on the cheap I’d be all for that one. Just don’t see the infatuation with Emmanuel Sanders a lot of people have, either.
Restructuring Vince Wilfork’s deal in a way that works for both sides – Going Deep – Boston.com
Interesting look at how the Pats could restructure big Vince. Tough position for the Pats and Wilfork with so many unknowns given the injury and the stage of his career.
Hopefully they can find something that works for both sides.
Doug Kyed’s look at some top tight end prospects as well. I really have no clue what the tight end position will look like in September. Hopefully it’s headlined by Gronk playing a full season.
Tom Brady – It’s Not About The Shoes Commercial (by CelticsPatriotsman) I know TFB’s catching a lot of crap this off-season, but going to five Super Bowls in his ten full seasons? For those that are bad at math that’s going to a Super Bowl every other year for ten seasons. And one other year […]