PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Patriots Open Training Camp!

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Was planning on being there at the first day of camp today, unfortunately, a sick kiddo is keeping me home, but I’ll be there on Friday and can’t wait to get a first look at the 2018 Patriots.

Yesterday’s kickoff Belichick press conference was predictable as Dan Shaughnessy, claiming to speak for the fans, grilled the head coach about 2017. Of course, I saw this coming down the pike a mile away and Belichick’s parries were just as predictable. It gives rise to that group of Patriots fans out there who are eager to flush 18 years down the toilet because the coach didn’t play Butler in the Super Bowl, and won’t ever be true fans again until Belichick explains why or the Pats win another Super Bowl.

Yes, that’s how deep loyalty lies after five Super Bowl wins in eight appearances.

I stopped taking the bait from guys like Shaughnessy a while back so that’s enough about him trying to steal spotlight from what is usually the most exciting time of year — the opening of camp, when hope springs eternal and for the last time, most of the team is healthy.

Here’s a quick rundown of my training camp preview articles and some quick hits of specific positions and players I’ll be watching in the early days of camp.

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Patriots Off-Season Football Review

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The 2018 offseason was workmanlike for the Patriots, sticking the same philosophy they’ve mostly gone with over the last 18 seasons. There wasn’t a seismic free agent pickup like Randy Moss or Darrelle Revis,, nor did they roll the dice on a former star veteran in search of a title like Chad Johnson, Albert Haynesworth, Fred Taylor and others.

They watched some steady and beloved players walk to lucrative contracts and traded their way out of having to watch the same thing happen next offseason with Brandin Cooks.

The subtractions, including Nate Solder, Dion Lewis, Malcolm Butler and Danny Amendola stung on multiple levels and will leave the 2018 Patriots with significant questions about who will replace them, but there is good overall depth that should make for good competition for those spots. There is a lot of potential in this 2018 Patriots roster that has not been tapped.

The additions and draft picks were surgically targeted at places of weakness but now those new players must take advantage of the opportunity and that all starts Thursday. There are still questionable areas, but with the best coaching in the league and high standards there will certainly be some new faces that excite us.

For those of you who checked out during the offseason, or just want a clean and easy football-only review of the comings and goings, here’s a quick run-thru of the Patriots’ offseason.

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Pats Posits: Camp Starts Thursday!

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After a long spring of unparalleled toxicity in Patriots Nation, real football is finally back this Thursday! Yes, the Patriots were a play away from winning another Super Bowl, but because they couldn’t get that fourth-down stop we’ve had to listen to the Eagles’ incessant chest pounding, our defense ridiculed and a near-constant barrage of stories about behind-the-scenes drama.

The common thread now for any interviews of former Patriots players? Did you have fun while you played there? Was Bill Belichick nice enough?

We’ve come full circle.  The Patriots dynasty is only setting the bars of NFL history higher and higher at this point. Almost every meaningful record belongs to the team, Belichick and Tom Brady.

All that’s left to wonder is if this is the greatest sports dynasty in sports history?

That’s why I’m excited for 2018. It’s Brady Ride or Die time. Every new championship and award is just gravy at this point, so what do we really have to worry about? Enjoy the end and marvel at how hard this coach-quarterback tandem continues to work despite already being legendary.

Here are some Posits on this Monday morning about the 2018 Patriots and my plans for training camp and the upcoming season.

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Bill Belichick Hoodie 2018 Preview

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The last time we saw a Bill Belichick hoodie, he was wearing the 2013 Blue Nike cut off to extreme proportions as the Patriots lost Super Bowl 52 to the Eagles. Belichick had won Super Bowl 49 wearing the 2013 Blue, but that was with sleeves intact.

Want a common thread for the Patriots’ Super Bowl losses? Belichick cut off the sleeves of his sweatshirts all three times.

So yeah, it took us 17 seasons but we can finally say we need Linda Holliday to keep the scissors from BB before the big ones.

What can we expect in Hoodie lore this season?

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Will Who Return Punts for Pats?

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Since 2013 Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola have combined to return 190 punts for the Patriots. Last season, when Edelman went down, Amendola shouldered nearly the entire load with 27 punt returns. Bernard Reedy (who?) was second on the team with four. Now, with Amendola in Miami and Edelman looking at a four-game suspension, the Pats need a punt returner.

Patriots Punt Returns since 2013
Punt Punt Punt Punt Punt
Player Ret
▼		 PRYds TD Lng Y/R
Julian Edelman 96 1174 1 84 12.23
Danny Amendola 94 978 0 82 10.40
Cyrus Jones 11 73 0 21 6.64
Keshawn Martin 8 92 0 21 11.50
Bernard Reedy 4 55 0 23 13.75
Patrick Chung 4 10 0 7 2.50
Chris Harper 3 17 0 10 5.67
Damaris Johnson 2 3 0 3 1.50
Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/17/2018.

Cyrus Jones, coming off an ACL tear and limited all offseason, was an electric punt returner at Alabama, with four touchdowns in his last season. Before the injury, Jones would’ve been the most explosive candidate on the roster. He could be a PUP candidate.

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Casting Call: Patriots Super Fan Comedic Digital Short

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Excited to announce that I’ll be producing some scripted comedic content this summer and we’re immediately looking for local actors and comedians who might like to be a part of it.

For the first project, I’m reaching out first to my readers of PatsPropaganda, the most passionate Patriots fans I know. While we’d love people with acting and (possibly) improv experience, what matters most is getting authentic Patriots fans.

For this scripted digital short, we’re especially looking for funny couples! Have a spouse or significant other that’s just as passionate as you and wants to have some fun as well? Perfect! Submissions with two people who already know each other and can play a couple will get first consideration for this first episode.

Otherwise, we might match our single auditioners, who are still very much welcome, especially if they have improv/comedy experience. Future episodes can be tailored to actors we like even if they don’t quite fit episode 1.

For consideration, please send me an email (patspropaganda@gmail.com) with a link to any previous acting experience, reel, etc. If you don’t have experience but are still interested (we’ll be looking for crew too!) please feel free to send me an email! Subject: DIGITAL SHORT

For more on my non-PatsPropaganda television producing experience please visit applewood.media.

Episode 1 casting details below:

SCRIPTED PFO.com/PATSPROPAGANDA/APPLEWOOD MEDIA DIGITAL SHORT

(PFO.com Episode 1)

MALE  (20s-40s): New England local, huge Patriots fan, a lovable dope kinda like Gronk.

FEMALE  (20s-40s): New England local, huge Patriots fan, knows more about football than anyone in the bar.

ASSORTED COUPLES (20s-60s): New England local, passionate Patriots fans sharing a love of the team. Characters welcome.

SUBMIT HEADSHOTS/RESUME: PatsPropaganda@gmail.com, subject: DIGITAL SHORT ACTOR.  Please include any personal Patriots wardrobe/props you’re willing to wear or use.

SHOOT DETAILS

— ONE mutually agreed upon afternoon shooting in a public park (approx. 1pm-5pm), Foxboro/Walpole area.

— Fully scripted, with comedic improv areas.

— Exposure/Meals/Credit/Future Consideration. UNPAID.

20 Questions About 2018 Patriots

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We’re a mere 10 days away from the opening of Patriots training camp, one of the most exciting times of the football season, when hope springs eternal, no one has gotten severely injured yet and every team has a shot at the Super Bowl. For the Patriots it’s another bonus chance getting to watch Bill Belichick and Tom Brady add to their unprecedented run.

These seasons are fleeting, we’re already on borrowed time, so it’s best to savor every moment.

The 2018 Patriots should be a big switch from the 2017 team. Just as the 2015 team was decimated by injuries and the 2016 team bounced back, this will be another opportunity for the team to put a bunch of injuries and a disappointing ending behind them.

There will be new faces, returning faces and hopefully, unexpected faces emerging. As we continue to count down, here are 20 questions that are facing this edition of the Pats.

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