PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

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New England reportedly flirted with acquiring Carolina Panthers WR Steve Smith last offseason, and in hindsight, should have. Bill Belichick did not miss a chance to get a crafty veteran this time around, signing Brandon Lloyd to a deal on St. Patrick’s Day. OK, so why is the Lloyd signing notable? Lloyd will be reunited with Josh McDaniels, who coached him last season in St. Louis, and in Denver before that. Lloyd’s productivity was hampered when the Broncos went with Tim Tebow at quarterback, and a relocation to St. Louis took some getting used to. Yet he still caught 70 passes for 966 yards in 15 starts. In 2010, Lloyd led ALL receivers with 1,448 yards. He’s more of a playmaker than the serviceable Deion Branch, and will make teams pay for giving the Patriots’ tight ends too much attention inside the seams. All that, and he costs New England less per year than Pierre Garcon or Josh Morgan command in Washington … or Laurent Robinson in Jacksonville, for that matter. Besides Lloyd, New England got Anthony Gonzalez to provide depth in the receiving corps, safety Steve Gregory, guard Robert Gallery, defensive end Trevor Scott and tight end Daniel Fells (just what the Pats need – another tight end). Re-signing center Dan Connolly was a nice move, too.

NFL.com news: Broncos, Pats headline free-agency winners; Fins striking out

https://www.patspropaganda.com/new-england-reportedly-flirted-with-acquiring/

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Logan Mankins recovering from ACL surgery, hopes to be ready for training camp.

Well there’s a retroactive stomach punch for you. This clarifies a few items:

  1. When Belichick called Manking “Super Tough” he wasn’t kidding. Mankins likely played three playoff games against tough defensive fronts with the injury. Hard to know if it was a complete tear but regardless, Philip Rivers got a lot of love for playing just one game on a torn ACL. Mankins played three.
  2. Robert Gallery signing seems a little bigger now than it did Monday. Gallery has been at LG for the past few years and it would appear to be his best spot. Hopefully we won’t need him to start, but you can’t rule out a start to the season on the PUP for my Mankins.
  3. Mankins now will get a pass on his Super Bowl performance which lacked luster.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/patriots-logan-mankins-acl-tear/

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Belichick is building up the middle class of the team’s roster (players 20-40), which will create more depth and increase the level of competition. Part of this is tied to only three draft choices remaining on the roster from drafts in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

It’s been an aggressive approach at the middle and low levels of the market, and most of the deals come with limited financial risk. Some of the signings might not even stick on the roster (e.g. Gonzalez, Stallworth), while others fill specific needs to create more flexibility entering the draft (e.g. Fells as a third tight end).

While using free agency to mostly address the 20-40 range of the roster, it adds importance to this year’s draft as the primary vehicle to address the 1-20 range. That’s the Patriots’ chance to add a much-needed playmaker to the defense at a cost with which they are more comfortable.

The free-agent signings of Fanene, Gregory and Scott should all help on D, but those three alone won’t be enough and Belichick surely knows this.

So this isn’t the complete picture.

While there could be more free-agent signings (DL Luis Castillo), the key remains the draft. Belichick can’t overlook D in the draft like he did in 2011.

Don’t forget the defense – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston

https://www.patspropaganda.com/belichick-is-building-up-the-middle-class-of-the/

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Less than a week into free agency, the Patriots have picked up three veteran receivers in Stallworth, Gonzalez and Brandon Lloyd. And it appears that they are doing with the wide receiver spot what they did with the defensive line spot last season: bring as many tested veterans in, sift through and find the ones who can play, and toss the rest.

It Is What It Is » A closer look at the Patriots’ decision to bring back WR Donte Stallworth

https://www.patspropaganda.com/less-than-a-week-into-free-agency-the-patriots/

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Michael Lombardi reports the Patriots have also signed Robert Gallery, the 2nd overall pick from the 2004 draft. Gallery came into the league as a tackle, but was moved to guard. He had a rough year with Seattle last year, projects as a versatile back up for the Pats. And he looks like The Undertaker so that’s a bonus.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/patriots-gallery/

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Donte Stallworth returns to the Patriots on a one year deal per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

This should surely make a lot of Patriots fans very happy, not only the nostalgic ones, but those clamoring to add some deep speed to the roster.

With the addition of Brandon Lloyd, Anthony Gonzalez and now Stallworth it seems clear that the Patriots want to add a new wrinkle to their offense come hell or high water. And as much as I hate to say it they’re absolutely protected if Welker were to hold out (though all signs have pointed to that not happening) or hoodie-forbid get injured.

This does put an even bigger question mark over Chad Ochocinco, though I’m still of the opinion that they should keep him around for camp.

Ultimately you only need one of the three free agent wide receivers to truly emerge and there’s been enough thrown at the wall that one of them should, with the favorite of course being Brandon Lloyd. Additionally the Pats should be in line to have a much better 4-WR package in 2012. As much as the 2-TE offense was tough to stop in 2011, it will no longer have to be their bread and butter, and instead just another tool in the toolbox when it’s needed.

It seems clear that Josh McDaniels is having a big influence in adding multiple receiving threats, and it might be safe to say we should be seeing more spread offense out of the Pats again in 2012.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

https://www.patspropaganda.com/patriots-donte-stallworth/

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I think the Patriots signing Anthony Gonzalez is borderline insignificant, the equivalent of the Red Sox signing a Carlos Silva. Gonzalez is a nice player to bring to camp, but he’s made five catches in the last three years. He’s had hamstring, knee, ankle, groin and concussion issues since 2009. Good camp guy with speed, but it’ll be an upset if he’s anything more than that.

Peyton Manning’s decision on where to play next will affect a lot of people – Peter King – SI.com

https://www.patspropaganda.com/i-think-the-patriots-signing-anthony-gonzalez-is/