BigKen
Day to Day
The DB coach is Steve Belichick.
The DB coach is Steve Belichick.
Bennett just sent a good bye letter to Kraft. TE just became a major need. Fortunately, there are several good ones in the draft.
Seeing a few guys leave that really didn't play that often or were coach's choice not to suit up every week doesn't really cause me any concern. Most of them were back ups or 'just in case' players. Those guys are the Mingos, Sheard (missed 7 games) and a couple of others. Chris Long is going to be 32 and he may well come back to NE if he can't get a huge paycheck.
Most of the guys who are leaving like playing on the Patriots but a lot of guys say they hate the workouts and practices. Guys who came from other teams say that workouts and practices on other teams is fun and easy. In NE, it's hard work and no jokes.
Funny isn't it? The no fun team has won 11 straight Divisions, been in the AFCCG the past 6 years in a row and won two Super Bowls in the past three years. How much work is it to lift your hand to show those two SB rings?
Was it worth the extra effort?
NE lining up interviews with TE today. I think they had 3. The one with the kid from Miami is interesting, big dude.
Prior to the combine Shaheen was projected as a 2nd or 3rd round pick. He had a very impressive showing. Likely gone before BB uses a pick that high? Shaheen is not a great blocker but not the worst in this class.I hope Adam Shaheen from Ashland is one of them.....
6'6" 277lbs. 4.58 40,
"Plus, if you’re into the whole scholar-athlete thing, Shaheen won his conference’s Commissioner’s Award for both classroom and athletic excellence. Which is cool. But the burrito thing makes him elite."
I tend to agree with Ken on HT. He got his rings and has also watched guys get traded. I don't think he wants to be the next guy to get shipped off. He will want his money and security over the next 5 yrs. I see him heading down south, not sure where.
Bennett wont be back. I can actually see him ending back in NY with the Giants. He said earlier this yr he actually likes NY and had no issues with the Giants. He really only seemed to dislike Chicago. Add him to that offense, I can see it.
Logan Ryan will get over paid, and by a lot. I am confident we will be OK with Rowe and Jones. Could prob bring in a vet to compete...
The one that I want back is Harmon, but I think he gets paid too. Also I think Chung is signed till 2019? I also see some guys on the FA market who could fill in nicely for his role. I have not faith in Richards, and Ebner is what he is.
IMO NE goes heavy on the def this yr, esp at DE and LB.
I'd be happy with any of these signings. Listed in order of preference: Odrick, Worrilow, Hayden, Jones and Hill.The start of NFL free agency is just a few short days away. Here’s a position-by-position look at some defensive players the New England Patriots could target when the market opens for business Thursday afternoon:
DEFENSIVE END: DATONE JONES
The Patriots recently have been big fans of adding underperforming former first-round draft picks. Jones was selected 26th overall in the 2013 NFL Draft and started just seven games for the Packers in four years.
He’s the type of player who could fit the Patriots because of his versatility to play inside and out on the defensive line. The Patriots should be looking for a defender who can play left defensive end opposite Trey Flowers, who starts on the right side. Rob Ninkovich fills that role for now, but he’s getting up there in age.
Jones shouldn’t cost too much money and still has upside at 26 years old.
The Patriots could show interest in an aging edge rusher like DeMarcus Ware or Paul Kruger if the money is right.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE: JARED ODRICK
We’ve been on this one since Odrick was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He reportedly worked out for the Patriots and passed a physical.
That the Patriots haven’t signed him yet isn’t to say they won’t. Odrick has size, versatility and still is relatively young at 29 years old. There aren’t many players with Odrick’s size and upside that could come at a relatively low cost.
Other potential low-cost fits are Tyson Alualu and Tony McDaniel. The Patriots also should do everything they can to bring back Alan Branch.
LINEBACKER: PAUL WORRILOW
The Patriots reportedly are interested in signing Worrilow, who amassed just 21 tackles in 12 games and one start last season. He was a starter for the first three years of his career and would serve as solid depth on the Patriots.
The Patriots should re-sign Dont’a Hightower. If they can’t, they’ll likely address this need through the draft with Kyle Van Noy, Shea McClellin, Elandon Roberts and Jonathan Freeny already on the roster.
CORNERBACK: D.J. HAYDEN
Hayden is another former first-round pick who the Patriots could hope has yet to play his best football. He’s highly athletic but injury prone and was solid in the slot last season.
If the Patriots lose Logan Ryan in free agency, they should look to build depth at the position to create some competition. Alterraun Verner is another possibility.
SAFETY: WILL HILL
The free-agent safety class isn’t great, and Hill once was a very good player before suspensions derailed his career. There finally are no suspensions looming over the former Ravens safety (for now), and it would be worth seeing if the big defensive back could turn around his career in New England.
Hill once was one of the best defenders in the NFL at covering tight ends.
If the Patriots can’t re-sign Duron Harmon, their best bet might be to draft his replacement, otherwise they’ll be overpaying a free agent or signing a player like Chris Conte.
Just in case you're wondering......All of the signings the Patriots have done so far has resulted in a cap hit of..............$17.1M for 2017. That's official. They still have $48.9M to spend. Something has to be going on that we're not seeing or that no one has figured out. Even if he resigned HT and MB for a total of $25M, there would still be $24M in the bag. Who's due to be extended or a FA next year that could be signed this year?