2020 Patriots News

[Yankee Traveler]

Gotta love Julian!

He has a "I want to win a fuck Tom Brady Superbowl" look about him

 

[BigKen]

With opt outs and Bonus money being re-allocated under the NFL/NFLPA agreement, the New England Patriots now have $30.5M available under the cap.

Cam Newton's agent has contacted BB and is requesting a salary bump now that the Pats have some monetary wiggle room. BB says, "no".

According to Tom Curran of NBC Sports Boston, that giving Newton a salary increase would give the appearance that Jarrett Stidham would have no opportunity to compete for the starting job. Stidham just might opt out and then BB would be with Newton and Hoyer as his QBs.

Supposedly, Patriots are looking for a RT, DE and LB. According to Mike Reiss, they have been in touch with 36 year old TE Delanie Walker.

Stay tuned, teams are signing players at warp speed as roster players are opting out.

Opt out deadline is 4:00 pm Thursday Aug. 6th. Potential legal battle if someone catches Covid once camp starts and people want to opt out. No legal standing to tell players that they must stay in camp or play if they feel that their health is at risk. McCourty asked what will happen if any team has a problem similar to the Miami marlins and 19 players and staff members are Covid positive or become sick? Will games be cancelled or rescheduled? Right now, there is no back up plan.

 

[BigKen]

Patriots 2020 roster breakdown: What does Michael Jackson bring to New England?
Related: Patriots roster breakdown: DT Byron Cowart

By Bernd Buchmasser@BerndBuchmasser Aug 10, 2020, 7:00am EDT

Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
With training camp underway, the New England Patriots currently have 76 players under contract. However, only 53 of them will be able to survive roster cutdowns on September 5 and ultimately make the active team. Over the course of spring and summer — just like we did the last three years as well — we will continue to take a look at the players fighting for those spots to find out who has the best chances of helping the Patriots keep their dynasty alive in Year One after Tom Brady.

Today, the series continues with the latest addition to New England’s roster.

Hard facts
Name: Michael Jackson Sr.

Position: Cornerback

Jersey number: TBD

Opening day age: 23

Size: 6-foot-1, 210 pounds

Contract status: Under contract through 2020 (2021 ERFA)

Experience
What is his experience? Jackson’s experience at the professional level is rather limited considering that he only arrived in the NFL as a fifth-round draft pick last spring, and started his career as a Dallas Cowboys practice squad cornerback before serving in a backup/emergency capacity on the Detroit Lions’ active roster. That being said, he does have plenty of football on his résumé stemming from his four year stint at the University of Miami during which he appeared in a combined 51 games.

Jackson started his career with the Hurricanes primarily as a special teamer — he recovered a fumbled punt return for a touchdown during his second year — and depth cornerbacks before being promoted to a starting job on the defensive perimeter in 2017. Over his final two years at the school, he went on to start 23 of a possible 26 contests while being named to two All-ACC teams (second team 2017, honorable mention 2018) and registering four interceptions as well as three-and-a-half sacks.

Patriots get Jackson for a conditional 2021 7th Round draft pick.

 

[Southieinnc]

Jackson will be used in kicking game while trying to develop as D-back.

I think we will try to convert him to safety.....

 

[Southieinnc]

Report: Patriots are expected to sign Tyler Gauthier

Patriots are signing guys who know the Patriots System.

A backp to Andrews at center makes sense......

 

[NWPATSFAN]

BB must be on the hoop. Any chance he's actuakly @HammerDown?

I made the post about so many FAs not being signed. Since then BB has signed four.

OK BB now go get us Griffen. Who really cares about CTE. We now have Covid.

 

[BigKen]

The Patriots plan to sign running back Lamar Miller, tight end Jordan Leggett, defensive tackle Darius Kilgo, and center Tyler Gauthier after hosting all four players for a visit Monday, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

With eight players opting out of the upcoming season, the Patriots have filled the newly created roster spots by signing those four free agents, re-signing a trio undrafted rookies — wide receiver Will Hastings, quarterback Brian Lewerke, and wide receiver Isaiah Zuber — and trading a conditional seventh-round draft pick for cornerback Michael Jackson.

Miller is the most notable of the bunch. After tearing his ACL and missing all of last season, the 29-year-old is looking to have a bounceback year — and his resumé indicates that’s certainly possible. In 2018, Miller rushed for 973 yards and five touchdowns. He has eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards twice in his career, first in 2014 and again in 2016.

Drafted 97th overall in 2012, Miller spent his first four seasons with the Miami Dolphins and most recent three with the Houston Texans.

With Sony Michel starting training camp on the physically unable to perform list and Brandon Bolden opting out for the season, Miller certainly adds some depth to New England’s running backs.

Leggett will join a young tight end room, made up of 2018 draft pick Ryan Izzo and a pair of rookies in Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene. Matt LaCosse, the group’s most experienced player, has decided not to play this season.

A 25-year-old Clemson product, Leggett was selected by the New York Jets in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He suffered a season-ending knee injury, which required surgery, during the second preseason game of his rookie year. The next season, he returned to catch 14 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown in 15 games.

After Leggett was waived by the Jets in May 2019, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers claimed him off waivers. He split his time between the practice squad and the active roster last season and did not register any catches.

Kilgo, who played at Maryland, was selected by the Denver Broncos in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He appeared in nine games as a rookie, logging six tackles and one pass defended. The next season, Kilgo appeared in nine games before he was released by the Broncos.

The Patriots ended up claiming him off waivers that year, though his stint was brief and largely consisted of practice-squad reps. Kilgo has since bounced around practice squads, signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, and Tennessee Titans. He played in 11 games with the Titans last season, registering five tackles.

Gauthier, who went undrafted in 2019, has yet to play in an NFL game. He spent part of last season on New England’s practice squad. With former backup center Ted Karras departing for the Miami Dolphins this offseason, Gauthier and rookie Dustin Woodard add depth to the position.

 

[BigKen]

Patriots 2020 draft pick retires before playing his first NFL game

Mike Masala
16 hours ago


The New England Patriots have lost another player prior to the start of the 2020 season. This departure wasn’t due to an opt-out related to the COVID-19 pandemic, rather it was an early retirement from one of the team’s newest additions.

The Boston Globe’s Jim McBride reported that 2020 seventh-round pick Dustin Woodard announced his retirement from the NFL, citing that the pandemic had nothing to do with his decision.

Woodard spent four years as a Memphis Tiger, starting 52 games at all three interior offensive line positions over that span.

While the 22-year-old would’ve had to prove he was worth a spot on the final roster, the Patriots depth at the center position is certainly lacking. At the very least, he could’ve found his way onto the practice squad and potentially earned a spot in the future.

Now, New England’s backup center spot is up in the air.

They signed Tyler Gauthier earlier this week who spent some time on the Patriots’ practice squad last season. If they need to find someone to fill that role there are plenty of free agents still available including veterans A.Q. Shipley and Daniel Kilgore. Former Patriots Jon Halapio and James Ferentz are still on the market as well.

With David Andrews’ health still at the forefront of everyone’s minds, the Patriots would be smart to bring in some more competition for his backup.

 

[BigKen]

Broncos signed De'mar Dotson RT to a one year deal. Elway knew that he was coming here next and wouldn't let him leave Denver. I think we missed a really good one.

 

[nefansince75]

Broncos signed De'mar Dotson RT to a one year deal. Elway knew that he was coming here next and wouldn't let him leave Denver. I think we missed a really good one.

My guess is the Donks signed him because they wanted him and not because of Belichick voodoo.

 

[Southieinnc]

My guess is the Donks signed him because they wanted him and not because of Belichick voodoo.

Line coach wanted him. Was unlikely we would sign him anyways......

 

[BigKen]

Line coach wanted him. Was unlikely we would sign him anyways......

We'll never know Southie, Elway wouldn't let jim leave without a signature on a contract. They need a RT as bad as we do and they were not going to get into a bidding war or worse. Once he went to Foxboro, who else might be on the phone? There are teams that will sign players to prevent other teams from signing them. The jets used to do that five or six time a year and it didn't matter who else in the AFCE was looking, they would overpay to keep nyone from improving. Better yet, who they THOUGHT might improve.

We'll know in four weeks if it was a missed opportunity or not.

 

[Southieinnc]

We'll never know Southie, Elway wouldn't let jim leave without a signature on a contract. They need a RT as bad as we do and they were not going to get into a bidding war or worse. Once he went to Foxboro, who else might be on the phone? There are teams that will sign players to prevent other teams from signing them. The jets used to do that five or six time a year and it didn't matter who else in the AFCE was looking, they would overpay to keep nyone from improving. Better yet, who they THOUGHT might improve.

We'll know in four weeks if it was a missed opportunity or not.

That is not what happened here. Denver needed a RT. If they signed someone to "prevent another team from getting him"
They would lose the opportunity to sign someone they need. Elway typically goes after what he wants......

 

[nefansince75]

We'll never know Southie, Elway wouldn't let jim leave without a signature on a contract. They need a RT as bad as we do and they were not going to get into a bidding war or worse. Once he went to Foxboro, who else might be on the phone? There are teams that will sign players to prevent other teams from signing them. The jets used to do that five or six time a year and it didn't matter who else in the AFCE was looking, they would overpay to keep nyone from improving. Better yet, who they THOUGHT might improve.

We'll know in four weeks if it was a missed opportunity or not.

Belichick just isn't the sun in which everything that happens in the NFL revolves around him. Yeah he zigs while others zag and plays chess while everyone else plays checkers, but the league doesn't make all moves in anticipation of what's happening in New England.

 

[sharkymcwrath]

Bob Kraft saving the average American from the police state.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/in-a-m...-unchecked-police-surveillance-002504089.html

 

[BigKen]

The New England Patriots went through four kickers in 2019. Stephen Gostkowski started the year just like he had the previous 13, but a season-ending hip injury forced the club to look for outside help. Neither Mike Nugent worked out as a replacement, though, nor did Kai Forbath. Nick Folk, meanwhile, did a solid job: he appeared in eight games for the Patriots and made 16 of 19 field goal attempts as well as all 13 of his extra point attempts.

Following the season, however, New England’s kicking situation changed once again. Not only was Folk not retained in free agency, the team also parted ways with Gostkowski and invested a fifth-round draft pick in Marshall’s Justin Rohrwasser. Rohrwasser is projected to become the Patriots’ place kicker of the future, but his career in the NFL is off to a quiet start after he attempted only a handful of kicks so far during training camp.

Whether or not an injury might be the reason for his comparatively limited workload can only be speculated at this point in time, but the team is apparently still looking for a potential Plan B. Re-enter Nick Folk: the 35-year-old, visited New England for a free agency workout on Sunday and is eventually expected to sign a new contract with his former team on Monday, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Folk originally entered the league as a sixth-round draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2007 and was voted to the Pro Bowl in his rookie season. He was let go again in 2010, however, and went on to join the New York Jets with whom he spent a combined six seasons. He joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2017, but ended his season prematurely due to injury before spending 2018 out of football. A stint in the short-lived AAF was finally followed by the Patriots picking him up as a free agent midway through last season.

While the veteran should not necessarily be expected to become a long-term solution at the kicker position due to his age, adding him will give the team more flexibility with Rohrwasser’s status uncertain. At the very least it will add even more intrigue to the special teams operation this summer and Year One after the still unsigned Stephen Gostkowski.

 

[BigKen]

Cam Newton named starting quarterback for New England Patriots, reports say

Updated: 4:00 PM EDT Sep 3, 2020
Infinite Scroll Enabled

New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton throws during an NFL football training camp practice, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, Pool)
SOURCE: AP/Steven Senne
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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. —
Cam Newton is the new starting quarterback for the New England Patriots.

Coach Bill Belichick informed the team of the decision Thursday, according to ESPN and other reports. The news was first reported by the Boston Globe.

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ESPN's Field Yates also reported that Newton was voted to be one of the team's offensive captains, along with James White and David Andrews.

Newton beat out Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer for the starting QB job.

Belichick was coy about the quarterback decision throughout the team's training camp, at one point even suggesting to reporters he would consider moving forward with more than one quarterback.

Newton joined the Patriots this summer after parting ways with the Carolina Panthers, following two seasons in which he struggled with injuries.

Newton played all nine of his previous NFL seasons with the Panthers, who drafted him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 draft out of Auburn University.

The 31-year-old has passed for 29,041 yards in his professional career with 182 touchdowns and 108 interceptions. He has also rushed for 4,806 yards and 58 more scores.

Newton has made three Pro Bowls and was named NFL MVP in 2015 while leading Carolina to a 14-0 start and a Super Bowl appearance.

SportsCenter 5's Chris Gasper has reported that Newton's one-year deal with New England was worth up to $7.5 million.

 

[Yankee Traveler]

Cam Newton named starting quarterback for New England Patriots, reports say

Updated: 4:00 PM EDT Sep 3, 2020
Infinite Scroll Enabled

New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton throws during an NFL football training camp practice, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, Pool)
SOURCE: AP/Steven Senne
SIGN UP FOR BREAKING NEWS
Get local stories sent straight to your inbox as news breaks.

Privacy Notice
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. —
Cam Newton is the new starting quarterback for the New England Patriots.

Coach Bill Belichick informed the team of the decision Thursday, according to ESPN and other reports. The news was first reported by the Boston Globe.

Advertisement
ESPN's Field Yates also reported that Newton was voted to be one of the team's offensive captains, along with James White and David Andrews.

Newton beat out Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer for the starting QB job.

Belichick was coy about the quarterback decision throughout the team's training camp, at one point even suggesting to reporters he would consider moving forward with more than one quarterback.

Newton joined the Patriots this summer after parting ways with the Carolina Panthers, following two seasons in which he struggled with injuries.

Newton played all nine of his previous NFL seasons with the Panthers, who drafted him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 draft out of Auburn University.

The 31-year-old has passed for 29,041 yards in his professional career with 182 touchdowns and 108 interceptions. He has also rushed for 4,806 yards and 58 more scores.

Newton has made three Pro Bowls and was named NFL MVP in 2015 while leading Carolina to a 14-0 start and a Super Bowl appearance.

SportsCenter 5's Chris Gasper has reported that Newton's one-year deal with New England was worth up to $7.5 million.

He has a "I want to win a fuck Tom Brady Superbowl" look about him.


Too.

 

[BigKen]

The correct definition of how the 2020 Waiver Wire will work:

2020 NFL roster cuts: How does the waiver wire work and what does it mean for the Patriots?
Related: Patriots 53-man roster: How the team looks like after cutdown day

By Bernd Buchmasser@BerndBuchmasser Sep 6, 2020, 7:00am EDT


The New England Patriots, as part of their roster cutdowns, parted ways with 24 total players ahead of Saturday’s deadline. Not all cuts are the same, however, as the NFL differentiates between veterans and less experienced players: if a player has less than four accrued seasons — more on that in a moment — on his résumé, he will not hit the open market right away but instead has to go through the waiver wire.

So, what exactly does this mean? Let’s find out.

How does the NFL’s waiver wire work?
The waiver wire allows teams to submit claims for some qualifying players that have previously been cut by other teams. Organizations usually have 24 hours to submit claims but this window is shorter over the NFL’s cutdown weekend: With final cuts taking place at 4 pm ET yesterday, teams only have until 12 pm today to submit claims to a players rights. If a player gets claimed, he joins a team’s 53-man active roster — meaning that the team will need to have an open spot on its active team, or otherwise create one.

Who is placed on waivers?
As noted above, players with less than four accrued seasons need to pass through the waiver wire in order to hit “regular” unrestricted free agency. The NFL defines an accrued season as six or more games on either a team’s 53-man roster, or on injured reserve, or on the physically unable to perform list. All qualifying players released yesterday have hit the waiver wire and are subject to being claimed by other teams.

What’s the waiver claim order?
For the first three weeks of the season, teams submit claims based on the draft order. The worst team in the league last year is the first able to put in a claim, with the Patriots coming in at number 23 after departing last year’s playoffs on wild card weekend.

1. Cincinnati Bengals
2. Washington Football Team
3. Detroit Lions
4. New York Giants
5. Miami Dolphins
6. Los Angeles Chargers
7. Carolina Panthers
8. Arizona Cardinals
9. Jacksonville Jaguars
10. Cleveland Browns
11. New York Jets
12. Las Vegas Raiders
13. Indianapolis Colts
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
15. Denver Broncos
16. Atlanta Falcons
17. Dallas Cowboys
18. Pittsburgh Steelers
19. Chicago Bears
20. Los Angeles Rams
21. Philadelphia Eagles
22. Buffalo Bills
23. New England Patriots<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
24. New Orleans Saints
25. Minnesota Vikings
26. Houston Texans
27. Seattle Seahawks
28. Baltimore Ravens
29. Tennessee Titans
30. Green Bay Packers
31. San Francisco 49ers
32. Kansas City Chiefs

A player gets awarded to a team based on the ranking: If the Bengals and the Patriots, for example, are the only teams to submit a claim for a player, he joins Cincinnati given the team’s higher ranking.

After the third week of the regular season, the waiver claim order will be changed based on the standings at that point and adapted weekly throughout the rest of the season until the draft order is set after the Super Bowl.

Which Patriots have hit the waiver wire?
The following is a list of the 21 ex-Patriots who are now subject to waivers:

WR Andre Baccellia

TE/LB Rashod Berry

LB Tashawn Bower

OL Ben Braden

CB Myles Bryant

TE Jake Burt

C Tyler Gauthier

LB Terez Hall

LB De’Jon Harris

TE Paul Butler

LB Cassh Maluia

DT Bill Murray

QB Brian Lewerke

TE Paul Quessenberry

K Justin Rohrwasser

CB D’Angelo Ross

WR Devin Ross

RB J.J. Taylor

WR Jeff Thomas

DT Nick Thurman

WR Isaiah Zuber

Over the previous three Labor Day weekends, New England saw 11 players claimed off waivers by organizations around the league. Practice squads, meanwhile, became the destination for the majority who were not picked up.

Which Patriots have not hit the waiver wire?
Those with more than four accrued seasons will not have to go through the waiver system. In New England’s case, there are four vested veterans who were released on Saturday:

K Nick Folk

RB Lamar Miller

DT Xavier Williams

All three players listed above are now cleared to catch on with another team — or potentially with the Patriots again.

 

[BigKen]

FILED UNDER:

• NFL ROSTER CUTS
  
• PATRIOTS ANALYSIS
  
• PATRIOTS OPINION

2020 NFL roster cuts: Six waiver wire targets that might be on the Patriots’ radar
Related: Patriots roster cuts: How does the waiver wire work and what does it mean for New England?

By Bernd Buchmasser@BerndBuchmasser Sep 6, 2020, 8:00am EDT
When the NFL’s roster cutdown deadline came on Saturday, 4 pm, more than 800 players were released from their teams. The majority of them — those with fewer than four accrued seasons in the league — were placed on the waiver wire: teams have until 12 pm today to put in claims in order to add them to their active 53-man rosters.

The New England Patriots, who have the 23rd spot in the claiming order after departing the playoffs on wild card weekend last year, have no open spots on their squad right now.

They have never shied away from making moves, however, which means that they could very well be active again today to bolster the depth at what appear to be their weakest positions at the moment. Is it likely this happens via waiver claim? Not really, given that other players with more experience in the system would have to be let go to create space for any potential additions. Is it impossible, though? Of course not.

With that being said, let’s take a look at six potential targets.

WR Robert Foster
A former undrafted free agent out of Alabama, Foster showed plenty of promise during his 2018 rookie season with the Buffalo Bills: appearing in 13 games, he caught 27 passes for 541 yards and three touchdowns while proving himself a solid field-stretcher. The additions of Cole Beasley and John Brown during the offseason in combination with injury issues stunted his growth, however, and contributed to him catching a mere three passes in 2019. Still, he does have some upside to possibly work with.

“A very explosive player and gets behind the defense, a catch-and-run player,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said about him back in 2018. “He’s fast; really fast. [Josh] Allen’s got a great arm and can’t overthrow him. He can’t outrun the quarterback, the quarterback can get the ball down the field to him. He’s been very exciting to watch.”

K Chase McLaughlin
The Patriots and McLaughlin do have a short history together: last December while struggling to replace injured Stephen Gostkowski, New England put an unsuccessful waiver claim on the then-rookie. McLaughlin eventually ended up with the Indianapolis Colts — the fifth team to bring him on board. Between stints with the Colts, the Los Angeles Chargers and the San Francisco 49ers (he also spent time in Buffalo and Minnesota), the 24-year-old made 18 of 23 field goal attempts (78.3%) as well as all 26 of his extra point tries.

New England, of course, currently has no kicker under contract after releasing both fifth-round rookie Justin Rohrwasser and veteran Nick Folk on Saturday.

DT Anthony Rush
Given the uncertainty surrounding free agency acquisition Beau Allen — the veteran was a no-show during training camp’s full-pads portion and appears to be a candidate for short-term injured reserve — New England might decide to bolster its defensive tackle depth behind Lawrence Guy, Adam Butler and Byron Cowart. Anthony Rush may not be the most glamorous player available, but he has some upside as a big-bodied run-stuffer who reportedly had a solid summer with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Listed at 6-foot-5, 350 pounds, the second-year man has the size to clog lanes in the Patriots’ two-gap scheme. He might be worth a shot if the team feels uncomfortable with its current depth along the interior defensive line.

WR Ryan Switzer
Switzer started his career as a fourth-round draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2017. Between his rookie season and his subsequent two campaigns as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the 25-year-old appeared in a combined 41 games while catching 50 passes for 321 yards and a touchdown. His offensive production may not be outstanding, but he also adds upside as an experienced punt and kickoff returner. If the Patriots want to bolster all three spots, Switzer might be a potential candidate.

TE Jordan Thomas
The Patriots’ initial 53-man roster features three tight ends: third-round rookies Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene are projected to serve as the one-two punch, with veteran Ryan Izzo as a blocking/depth option behind them. If New England sees a need to address that third spot, however, it could decide to put a claim in on now-former Houston Texans tight end Jordan Thomas.

A sixth-round draft pick in 2018, Thomas showed plenty of promise as a rookie. Appearing in 16 regular season games as well as the team’s lone playoff contest, he caught 20 passes for 215 yards and four scores. A better receiver than blocker, his sophomore year in Houston was disrupted by a chest injury: he spent parts of his 2019 campaign on injured reserve and caught only one eight-yard pass in five games.

LB Evan Weaver
Linebackers play an important role in the Patriots’ defense and works in unison with the two-gapping defensive linemen up front. However, the team currently has only one true off-the-ball option on its roster at the position: Ja’Whaun Bentely. While he may have limited upside and athleticism, Weaver could offer additional depth alongside Bentley while possibly filling the early-down role previously held by Elandon Roberts.

Weaver, a sixth-round draft pick by the Arizona Cardinals in April, has proven himself a stout run defender at Cal who also possesses a his high football IQ and quick processing skills. Add his leadership and high motor, and you get a player who fits what New England might be looking for on waivers — if he is deemed to offer more value than, say, veteran move linebacker Brandon Copeland.