Patriots Life

Could Gillette Stadium ever host the Super Bowl?

noreply@blogger.com (Brendan Annely) — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:24:00 +0000

This week in the NFL, the big news was the reveal of the hosts of Super Bowl L and LI. Being the offseason, naturally it has become a discussion point, because we as fans crave something to debate. It's way too soon to talk predictions, so let's discuss Super Bowl hosts...

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft had this to say about the Patriots possibly hosting the big game:

"We would love, one day, to hold it here if it's a good experience," (Source)

So, could Gillette host it? For me, there are too many obstacles in the way:

Firstly, there is the weather aspect. Obviously we'll see how this plays out in New York this season for Super Bowl XLVIII, but it'll always be risky putting the Super Bowl in a cold weather environment, because you simply don't know what you're going to get.

Location is an issue for Gillette. It's also an issue with Super Bowl's in Arizona, with Glendale being approximately a half hour away from Phoenix. With Foxboro being far away from Boston, it doesn't make too much sense. It makes more sense in Arizona simply because their facilities are better.

Frankly, the competition is just too good for Gillette Stadium to compete with. As Pats fans, we love Gillette. Photo's like the one above are amazing. But look at previous hosts like NOLA, Indy, Texas (Dallas and Houston) and Arizona. All are established host cities, with track records for hosting good Super Bowls.

Then you've got places like San Fran, Atlanta and Minnesota. Designing great looking new stadiums, with modern facilities, they'll all be looking to host future Super Bowls. Then of the cold weather stadiums, you've got New York, and I think places like Seattle have a better shot of hosting, with the incredible atmosphere they can generate. Heck, even LA, with no NFL team, are working on the "Build it, and they will come" strategy, so they could become prospective hosts.

So, it looks unlikely Boston will get its shot at hosting the Super Bowl while Gillette is still our home. But do we really want it? Gillette is still a new stadium, opening in 2002, we're settled in it. We don't want to be spending a load of cash to build a new stadium just to host the Super Bowl. As Mr. Kraft said, I'd rather be playing in it than playing host to it.

As usual, well said Bob!

I'm on Twitter, you can find me @BrendanAnnely

The Patriots Bring in Some Competition for Gostowski

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Brown) — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:27:00 +0000

On Monday the Patriots filled their last two spots on the 90-man roster by signing a big wide receiver Mark Harrison out of Rutgers (uncanny) and a kicker David Ruffer out of Notre Dame. PatriotsLife has covered the signing of the wide receiver, but what about this kicker?

David Ruffer originally went to William and Mary, but transferred to Notre Dame in 2008 where he set a record in field goals made. Ruffer drilled his first 23 career field goals at Notre Dame which lead him to taking over the starting kicker role in the 2010 season. Ruffer ended his college career making 93 of his 97 extra points and making 33-for-44 field goals.

This now means the, at times, shaky Stephen Gostowski now has a little competition in camp. It would seem that they are just trying to motivate Gostowski to be better because in a few cases he seemed to have a little bit of shrinkage in the final moments of games. Patriot fans have little patience for kickers because New England fans were used to watching Adam Vinatieri make clutch field goals consistently.

Stephen Gostowski is a career 84% field goal kicker and was pretty much on par last season making 29-for-35 (82.9%). Gostowski seemed to pull it together in the playoffs going 4-for-4, but none of those were over 40 yards. What was a distinct advantage for the Patriots for all those years with Vinatieri is no longer. Gostowski is not a bad kicker, in fact he’s very good. He’s just not amazing like Vinatieri was (especially in the closing seconds of a game) and Patriot fans need to start understanding that Vinatieri was exceptional and not the norm.

This season Gostowski actually was better than Vinatieri who was 78.8%. Gostowski was tenth in the league for field goals made (Ahead of Vinatieri who was sixteenth) and he drilled 2-for-2 field goals of 50+ yards in the regular season. Gostowski struggled with kicks of 40-49 yards making 9-for-13. Remember, he’s not kicking in a dome and New England weather can be unpredictable during an NFL season so his numbers are pretty good in contrast.

I am like everyone else. I want a clutch kicker to win games for us, but the truth is there are probably only two or three teams in the league that can count on that week in and week out so the Patriots are doing what they can to motivate Gostowski to be better. I would be very surprised if Gostowski isn’t kicking for the Patriots for the Patriots in the 2013-14 season.

Josh Brown
@TitleTownTalkSB

Tom Brady talks about Welker, Amendola, Gronk and his Derby celebration

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Saver) — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:07:00 +0000

Watch this at WEEI

Tom Brady on WEEI is always a must listen for me. He's been on that show for so long that he usually can get pretty candid on the show. Dennis and Callahan is always a never listen for me, except when Brady's on.

Some of the more interesting things he goes into is how he says that comparing Danny Amendola to Wes Welker is unfair. He also goes into the video captured of him celebrating like it was the Super Bowl when Orb won the Kentucky Derby. It was apparently his friend that owned the horse and so they did have a rooting interest.

Betting on an upcoming Patriots game

noreply@blogger.com (celticslife) — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:02:00 +0000

The new NFL season does not kick off until September, but already one of the teams which are being hotly tipped to do well next season are the New England Patriots. They are currently rated amongst the favourites for both the AFC pennant and the Super Bowl next season, both by pundits and by the bookmakers – although they recently lost their place at the top of the pre-season odds rankings to the Broncos. Their first match of the upcoming NFL season is against the Buffalo Bills, but are they a good bet to win it?

Yes, would be the simple answer to that question, as the advance odds make the Patriots clear favourites to start the AFC season with a win. They are currently rated 1/3 odds-on favourites, while the Buffalo Bills have odds of 5/2 to spring an upset. Clearly this is a strong Patriots side, something evidenced by their short odds of 7/1 to go all the way and win the Super Bowl, so when you factor home advantage into the equation as well, it would seem an uphill task for the Bills – and most American football betting fans will be gambling on the Patriots for the game.

Indeed they are such hot favourites that Buffalo fans will probably prefer to avoid betting on this one altogether – especially with options like casino games there as an alternative to NFL betting. Nowadays these sites seem to be attracting more sports fans than ever before, thanks to the availability of sporting themed variants on traditional casino games like slots, plus the convenience offered by mobile casino apps. Places like MobileSlots.net let you play sports based casino games wherever you are, using your phone, allowing sports fans to enjoy these games during the breaks in NFL matches and other sporting events. Thus, these casino games aren’t just an alternative to traditional sports betting, they can also be a complement to it as well.

Mark Sanchez is still doing terrible and I love it

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Saver) — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:27:00 +0000

Oh, the Jets.

We can never get enough of their troubles. Even though they don't have Tim Tebow on their roster anymore, there's plenty more quarterbacks to make fun of on that team. Starting with, of course, Mark Sanchez of Not Top 10 fame.

Sanchez makes Brady's fashion not look so bad

Sanchez has not been lighting things up in Jets OTAs so far apparently, and for the most part he's been outplayed by rookie Geno Smith. Today was a particularly bad day for the man Rex has a tattoo of on his arm though.

ESPNNewYork:

Sanchez threw three interceptions on Wednesday as part of a 6-for-11 performance. The Jets quarterback has a total of 52 turnovers over the past two seasons, the most of any player in the league, and Ryan is putting extra emphasis on ball security from his quarterbacks this upcoming year.

Perhaps the most embarrassing was that one of those interceptions was by a defensive linemen. While doing our "Ring Envy" series for a Jets game last season I remember seeing a Jets fan bemoan how many interceptions Sanchez throws at the line of scrimmage.

Obviously, a lot can change between now and Game 1 of the regular season. For now, it's pleasant to hear that things don't seem to be going much better for the Patriots' most hated rival, the New York Jets.

The Patriots love for Rutgers players is getting borderline creepy

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Saver) — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:16:00 +0000

Ok, now this is getting a little bit weird.

It started off as kind of a joke when the Patriots drafted Rutgers corner back Logan Ryan in the fourth round this year. Oh boy, three total Rutgers grads on New England! Then the Patriots reached later in the fourth round to draft Rutgers safety Duron Harmon. A player who was thought by many to maybe even be an undrafted free-agent.

If only it ended there.

Since then, the Patriots drafted another Rutgers player in the seventh round and have signed three more Rutgers alums. That includes yet another one today.

Patriots waived T R.J. Mattes and claimed T Kevin Haslam off waivers from San Diego. Haslam, as you probably guessed, went to Rutgers.
— Nick Underhill (@Nick_Underhill) May 22, 2013

Haslam has had four years in the league and is largely a depth signing for the offensive line. He's bounced around many a roster but that obviously doesn't mean that he won't someday become a starter for this team given their track record. And especially given Belichick's love fest for Rutgets guys.

The bond between Greg Schiano - the former Rutgers coach - and Bill Belichick certainly is strong. Haslam joins alums Devin McCourty, Justin Francis, Ryan, Harmon, Steve Beauharnais, Mark Harrison and Brandon Jones as former Rutgers players on the Pats.

The Jaguars are collecting Patriots castoffs, the question is...why?

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Saver) — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:03:00 +0000

First Brandon Deaderick, then Kyle Love and now Jeremy Ebert.

All either seventh round picks or undrafted free-agents by the Patriots, and all picked up by the Jaguars in the past eight days.

You might first think, well, obviously the Patriots are a good team, so why wouldn't you pick up their cast offs when you aren't a good team. However, there's one fatal flaw with that line of thinking. Yes, the Patriots are a good team, but they're a good team because they're smart. It's not too often that they let players go and they go off to great success on another team.

It's not just the Patriots either, remember when Ozzie Newsome in Baltimore let Adalius Thomas go to New England? That worked out real well.

Jeremy Ebert was a seventh round pick of the Patriots in last year's draft. He did not make final cuts out of training camp and bounced around on and off the roster up until this point.

Patriots ink massive RFA WR; could be exactly what they need

noreply@blogger.com (Anthony Aidonidis) — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:04:00 +0000

The Patriots recently signed rookie free agent Mark Harrison out of Rutgers (yes, another Rutgers guy). Anyways, you could easily get excited, like I did, when you see this guy's physical attributes. According to WEEI's blog, the rookie WR stands at 6'3" and 235 lbs. Now you may think that this may be too big for a wide receiver, as opposed to a tight end, but this type of size is exactly what the Patriots needed at the wide receiver position.

The Patriots receiving core hasn't had that big-man presence since Randy Moss was traded a few years ago. Of course there haven't been too many complaints, with the offense flourishing even after that trade. TE Rob Gronkowski has since filled that 'physical' and 'big-man' role. With Gronk expected to miss the beginning of the season however, it looks like it was time to find a new big-guy.

By no means am I claiming that Mark Harrison could end up being an All-Star, but I think it is a safe assumption to say this guy could be a force to be reckoned with. Lets take a quick look at his college statistics;

Wide receiver Mark Harrison was a three-year starter at Rutgers who finished his college career with 107 receptions for 1,769 yards and 18 touchdowns. A starter as a sophomore, he had 44 receptions for 829 yards and led the Big East with nine touchdowns. After struggling a bit as a junior, in 2012, Harrison played in 13 games with 11 starts, and he finished with 44 receptions for 583 yards and six touchdowns.

A projected mid-round NFL Draft pick, Harrison's stock plummeted for whatever reason. It has been speculated that the reason was an attitude issue, injury, or both. Reports have surfaced that the Chicago Bears were turned away by an apparent foot injury that Harrison had, but has since been cleared. Another report came out that Harrison was one of the players who's hotel room for the NFL Combine was trashed, although Rutgers head coach Kyle Flood defended his players integrity;

“I’ve been on a lot of road trips and we’ve never had a single disciplinary issue with [Harrison]. He’s a model of the type of person we want here at Rutgers. It would be so out of character to be involved in this that I just cannot imagine under any circumstance that it would happen and involve him.”

When it comes down to it, it looks like Harrison is a solid player who got a bad wrap. He certainly impressed at the combine, posting fantastic numbers for the vertical and broad jump tests. Speed may not be his greatest skill, but his other abilities and physical attributes make this signing a good move by the Patriots.

Anthony Aidonidis
@aidonidis18

New England Patriots Offensive Line Projected Best in 2013-2014

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Reilly) — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:16:00 +0000

Rotoworld recently put together their projected list of best offensive lines in the NFL for the upcoming season using rankings from Pro Football Focus and Football Outsiders, and the New England Patriots have been given the #1 spot. The Pats o-line has five returning starters and a potentially better right guard in Marcus Cannon replacing incumbent Dan Connolly for next year, so it should not come as too much of a surprise that the Patriots are reclaiming the #1 spot on Rotoworld.

An interesting fact: The San Francisco 49ers are ranked #2 on this list. The 49ers have a higher ranked run blocking offensive line; however, the Patriots pass blocking edge over the 49ers makes them a much more formidable line in a pass-heavy NFL. Although, Colin Kaepernick could be an equalizing factor because of his ability to escape the rush. #1 vs. #2 in offensive lines according to Rotoworld has a high possibility to be a Super Bowl preview, is this causation or correlation? Either way, I hope the rankings stay this way at the end of the 2013-2014 season.

The Patriots Continue to Get Younger

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Brown) — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:58:00 +0000

The Patriots signed 19 rookie free agents after the conclusion of the NFL draft. This number was closely examined by Yahoo sports writer Brian McIntyre and as he compared the contracts of the Patriots to that of the rest of the league and he found that the Patriots have dropped the most in guaranteed money in this year’s rookie class than any other team in the NFL. The Patriots have spent 140,000 in guaranteed money to their rookie free agents so far.

According to McIntyre’s source the Patriots, Rams and Cowboys have each dropped over 100,000 guaranteed dollars on undrafted rookie contracts this offseason. According to the rules of the NFL, teams could spend up to 78,170 dollars in signing bonuses for undrafted free agents, but the league did not set a ceiling on guaranteed dollars. So far seven teams have gone over the 78,170 dollars with the Patriots leading the pack.

So, what does all of this mean? To me, it means that the present day Patriots are even younger than the youngest team Belichick had coached in his career in last season’s team. Does this inexperience help or hurt the Patriots? I think we have seen in recent years that inexperience has helped the Patriots to good regular season records and statistics, but has ultimately hurt them late in the season and into the playoffs when the game becomes more mental. There is no better example than the mental breakdowns in the secondary from the end of the season 49ers game right on down to the AFC Championship.

Maybe I am reading into this too much, but another little tid-bit I find interesting in this whole story is why in the heck Belichick would want to get younger. Media has been floating it around for quite some time saying that Belichick might want to go out when Brady does. To me, that’s in three to four years and the signing all of these young guys could be a sign that Belichick’s reign here could be ending in the near future. Signing young guys is a true investment in time, unless you’re signing talented guys to set up the future of the organization for someone else like oh say, Josh McDaniels.

Belichick loves McDaniels and everyone knows it, so could the signing of young talent be Belichick’s way of getting McDaniels off to a good start here in New England? It’s interesting because for a coach that is trying to grab another championship before he retires, going out and getting inexperienced guys doesn’t seem like the best approach for short-term success. Guys like Abraham and Revis seem like short-term success players, which the Patriots apparently have no interest in. This is more than about grabbing one more title to Belichick; it’s about setting up his friend and heir to the throne, Josh McDaniels.

Josh Brown
@TitleTownTalkSB

original piece by McIntyre: click here

Kyle Love had been Expecting a Release

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Reilly) — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:46:00 +0000

Diabetes runs in Kyle Love's family, so he was expecting the same diagnosis his parents received - Type-II Diabetes positive. In addition to suspecting he would be diagnosed a diabetic, he also figured that a release from the New England Patriots was on its way, even if he did not believe his actions or test results warranted it.

When speaking with the Florida Times-Union about his release from the Patriots, Love stated, "That’s how they run their business up there; veteran guys who have been there for years and put in a lot of work get treated like rookies."

However, even though Love did not expect the Patriots organization to be loyal to him, he did not quite grasp what he did to prompt his release.

"It’s not like I lost 30 pounds,” Love said. “I was never out of shape — I participated every day so I don’t know where that came from."

Love does not seem to want to talk about the situation any longer. He wants to move on and play football, and he apparently does not like the tweets he is getting from fans making uninformed accusations about Bill - evident in the following tweet by Love:

If you didn't hear the convo between me and bill then STFU and go on about your day like nothing happened!
— Kyle Love (@KyleLove74) May 22, 2013

Love has since been picked up by the Jacksonville Jaguars in their attempt to improve one of the worst defensive lines in the league.

Tom Brady working a lot with Amendola and Jenkins + more nuggets from OTAs

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Saver) — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:51:00 +0000

photo from Mike Reiss

The Patriots held OTAs today and the media got to watch. As always, they passed along their astute observations on twitter which I've compiled and shared below. Danny Amendola, Vince Wilfork and Aqib Talib talked to the press after practice and Robert Kraft shared some quotes all the way from the owners meetings, where it was decided that San Francisco will host the next Super Bowl.

Without further ado...

#Patriots OTAs: Spikes and Bolden MIA. Gronkowski and Edelman with injury absences. McCourty nursing that shoulder, but present.
— Mary Paoletti (@Mary_Paoletti) May 21, 2013

... Danny Amendola leading presence at WR. Looks quick as advertised. ... TE Jake Ballardparticipating on limited basis; some good run ...
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) May 21, 2013

... Assistant coach Brian Daboll working most closely with OL alongside Dante Scarnecchia ... Marcus Cannon gets initial work at RG.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) May 21, 2013

During special teams drills, saw Tom Brady & QBs working solely with WRs Michael Jenkins and Danny Amendola. Building chemistry.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) May 21, 2013

Among outside WRs, thought Michael Jenkins was most notable presence. One nice sideline grab for rookie Aaron Dobson.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) May 21, 2013

Thought Amendola looked real good. Jenkins had some good moments as did … wait for it … Ras-I Dowling.
— Nick Underhill (@Nick_Underhill) May 21, 2013

Dobson had two really nice catches. Brady spent a lot of time working with Jenkins and Amendola.
— Nick Underhill (@Nick_Underhill) May 21, 2013

Brady spent a TON of time working with Amendola and Jenkins at OTAs today.
— Christopher Price (@cpriceNFL) May 21, 2013

Someone asked Talib how he ended up coming back here: “Signed a contract”
— Nick Underhill (@Nick_Underhill) May 21, 2013

Amendola said he took a pass from Brady in the chest during drills.His thought:'Man, that guy can really wing it.But that's why he's Brady.'
— Mary Paoletti (@Mary_Paoletti) May 21, 2013

Vince on where he's at in his career: "Every year it seems like the more and more you play the more excited you get to come back."
— Nick Underhill (@Nick_Underhill) May 21, 2013

Kraft on one day hosting a Super Bowl: "We would love one day to hold it here if it goes well (in NY/NJ)."
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) May 21, 2013

(1/2) Amendola on WW comps: "That's not something I need to worry about. I'm worried about the playbook...."
— Christopher Price (@cpriceNFL) May 21, 2013

Kraft says he personally wants the Pro Bowl played in the Super Bowl city.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 21, 2013

Robert Kraft said team got positive report from Rob Gronkowski's surgery yesterday
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) May 21, 2013

It's been well-documented how big Adrian Wilson is for a safety, but seeing him on the field adds to that thought. He really sticks out.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) May 21, 2013

Brandon Bolden's absence today was precautionary - suffered ankle sprain in training, but he's expected to return to the field next week
— shalise manza young (@shalisemyoung) May 21, 2013

Asked Kraft about release of Kyle Love. "Do you know I called him Love Bundle? That's what I called him. Love Bundle." And that was all.
— Tom E. Curran (@tomecurran) May 21, 2013

Tedy Bruschi elected to Patriots Hall of Fame

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Saver) — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:05:00 +0000

Congratulations to an all-time great! A well deserved first ballot hall of famer. Bruschi was instrumental in the Patriots three super bowl victories.

Tedy Bruschi has been selected to the Patriots Hall of Fame.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) May 21, 2013

Brandon Spikes skips out on Pats OTA's

noreply@blogger.com (Liam Cunningham) — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:39:00 +0000

According to reports, Patriot's fearsome middle linebacker Brandon Spikes has chosen not to participate in the Patriot's off-season workouts. He does plan on being at the team's mandatory mini-camp, which begins on June 11th. According to Boston Herald Patriot's writer Jeff Howe, this is not indicative of any unhappiness from Spikes:

Spikes has been working out on his own, which he feels is the best way to prepare for the upcoming season. The source said Spikes' absence has nothing to do with unhappiness or a statement about his contract, which expires after the 2013 season. Spikes is also healthy.

Spikes is not losing any money by not attending, and apparently feels more comfortable getting started on his own. This seems a bit odd, but odd behaviour has become the norm from Spikes, who has earned a reputation as one of the hardest hitting linebackers in the NFL over the past few years. While he is somewhat of a liability in pass coverage, Spikes is a dominant run stopper and adds a serious element of toughness to the defensive unit.

Spikes has had a number of off-field incidents, mostly surrounding some controversial tweets. He was also suspended in 2010 for PED usage. Heading into a contract year, I think we should expect big things out of Spikes, who may be looking to bolster his free agency value. It will be interesting to see if the Patriots are willing to try and lock up Spikes, or if this is a case where they will let him hit the market without extending themselves financially.

@LiamPCunningham
@PatriotsLife

Gronkowski surgery successful, could make training camp

noreply@blogger.com (Brendan Annely) — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:02:00 +0000

Finally, some good news for New England Patriots fans on the Rob Gronkowski front!

Good news for #Gronk: He's out of surgery with new plates. As hoped, the infection is gone. No fifth surgery on the forearm, per source
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 20, 2013

Double good news for Gronk: Training camp on time a possibility. And they can focus on his back now, hoping rehab is concurrent with forearm
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 20, 2013

Just as soon as we were starting to worry. It's so far so good. While this hasn't been the best offseason for Gronk, this is finally some good news. Barring any more complications, the forearm should be good. And while he's rehabbing his arm, the Patriots, as Rapoport mentioned, we can get his back issues sorted. His back was the reason the Pats were able to get Gronk in the 2nd round of the 2010 draft.

The Patriots definitely have to be careful with Gronk. They definitely shouldn't rush him back for training camp. It would be great to see him play some time in preseason games, the odd series, just to test him in game scenarios, then hopefully he will be ready for Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills.

Gronk is back - Yo Soy Fiesta, Patsnation!

I'm on Twitter, find me @BrendanAnnely

Tom Brady has "never felt better throwing the football"

noreply@blogger.com (Brendan Annely) — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:49:00 +0000

It's the off-season, so whenever New England Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady speaks, it's big news. Particularly if it's news that he could be getting even better.

"Going into my 14th year, I have never had more confidence in how I am throwing the football," Brady told Sports Illustrated's Peter King at a Best Buddies volunteer event. "I've never felt better throwing the football." (Source)

Which is good news. He can throw better than he did when he was torching NFL defenses in 2007 and 2010, and 2011 and... pretty much every year he's been playing. For Brady, a QB who relies heavily on his accurate passing, to have this confidence is good, especially after the passing of his old coach Tom Martinez. The man who has taken over from Martinez, Tom House, is doing his job well it seems...

"The same way Tom Martinez was always there to watch and give me corrections, Tom House has told me why certain corrections need to be made," Brady said. "Look at a baseball swing and a golf swing. It's all mechanics. Look at how Barry Bonds swings. Look at how Floyd Mayweather punches. Mechanics. When you've got to fit it into the tightest windows, mechanics are crucial. And to me, the offseason is crucial. If you make a throw within four feet, that's not going to be good enough. You have to make the throw within four inches of your target. That's good enough. And that's why the mechanics you adjust and learn in the offseason are important. You're going to keep them during the season."

Maybe it's the loss of Wes Welker, or the questions marks surrounding... well, every other weapon on the offense, but Brady sounds like he's really trying to get more accurate. But, I guess Brady tries to get better every year, because he's Tom Brady, he's a perfectionist. So to look too far into these quotes would be a mistake. It's good to know that he's comfortable with a new tutor, and hopefully he's showing Brady things from different angles to help him improve.

Not that there's much to improve on anyway... I think we can all agree that Tommy's pretty damn perfect. But the three time Super Bowl champion, two time league MVP, and certain HOFer is working this hard in the offseason to get better than 4827 yards, 34 TDs and just 8 INTs.

Patriots rookies - take note.

I'm on Twitter, find me @BrendanAnnely

Dwight Freeney agrees to deal with Chargers

noreply@blogger.com (Joe Loubier) — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:25:00 +0000

According to SportsCenter and Ian Rapoport, Dwight Freeney has agreed to a 2 year deal with the Chargers.

This comes after Freeney met with the Chargers on Thursday and Friday. Your thoughts?
@joeloobs @patriotslife

ESPN & Media reports: Former Colts DE Dwight Freeney agrees to 2-year deal with Chargers. The 7-time pro bowler has 107.5 career sacks.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 18, 2013

Source: #Chargers have an agreement in principle for a 2-year deal with Dwight Freeney
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 18, 2013

Shane Vereen now loves the Bruins and hockey

noreply@blogger.com (Anthony Aidonidis) — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:13:00 +0000

It's just about that time; with the NHL Playoffs now in full swing, Bruins-Fever is spreading everywhere. For us Massachusetts (and really all of New England) natives, it is not uncommon to have a passion for hockey, specifically the Boston Bruins. Even Patriots running back Shane Vereen has found himself caught up in all the hype:

"Back in California, I didn't really watch hockey all that much," Vereen said this morning. "A couple of my friends played, but I didn't make time to watch it. But ever since I moved out here, I have a newfound respect for it. You can tell this city loves hockey, and I love it, too, now, so I'm rooting them on."

It is pretty cool that Vereen attributes New England fans for his new respect for the sport. It is also not very surprising that Vereen was glued to the television for the Bruins Game 7 comeback against the Toronto Maple Leafs:

"I was very disheartened when they went down 4-1," Vereen said. "But there was still time left, and there's one thing we learned in football is that the game is not over until it's over. They fought back. I thought it was an incredible game."

The Bruins had a comeback for the ages that caught the attention of sports fans everywhere (even ESPN had some coverage!). With Shane Vereen now part of the fan base as well, the connection between the Patriots and Bruins continues to grow.

Anthony Aidonidis
@aidonidis18
#BarryMelrose

Gronkowski might need back surgery too, what the hell!?

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Saver) — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:36:00 +0000

After Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski spent last offseason doing fun things like going on dating shows, posing naked, being a bro in public, and partying harder than anyone else in the NFL, who would've thought he'd be spending the entire next year in the operating room?

The Summer of Gronk sucks this year

Gronk is already going in for his fourth (fourth!) arm surgery since November very soon. However, it appears he might have one other thing to worry about according to the reputable Mike Garafolo.

USA Today:

The New England Patriots' tight end recently underwent an MRI on his back to check on a disc issue he had dating back to last season, a person informed of Gronkowski's medical status told USA TODAY Sports.

The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the Patriots' policy of not publicly detailing injuries, said the issue is with a different disc than the one that needed to be shaved down in via surgery 2009 and that a final decision on whether surgery will be required has not yet been made. The person said Gronkowski will see noted spine specialist Robert Watkins in the near future, after next week's surgery to install a new plate into his forearm.

Just great! This after Gronk signed a record 8-year deal to keep him in New England for many years to come. The stud tight end broke the record for receiving touchdowns at his position in 2011 and was having another touchdown filled 2012 until breaking his arm.

The back issue is a tad concerning seeing as how Gronk fell to the second round in the draft because of a back issue. In fact, all of Gronkowski's surgeries have to be a bit concerning. Will a man that's been opened up so many times in so little months be able to hold it together on the field? If anyone can, the superhuman Gronkowski can I suppose.

Still, none of this is apparently supposed to keep him from training camp unless there are any further complications. Gronk has plenty of those already though so let's not hold our breath.

Replacing Love and Deaderick: Three free-agent defensive linemen the Patriots can sign to fill the gap

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Saver) — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:26:00 +0000

Both former Patriots Kyle Love and Brandon Deaderick are now Jacksonville Jaguars. They must be thrilled about that.

Deaderick was a starter at times, but mostly a rotational player. However, Love held down the fort alongside Vince Wilfork. His release can either be attributed to the fact that he was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or to the fact that the Patriots just want to move in a different direction.

While we wish the much luck in their games in the AFC south, particularly against the Texans, the Patriots will have to move on and find ways to fill the very literal big gaps the two left behind.

Who are some free-agents available to fill the void?

1. Casey Hampton: The former Steeler is unwanted by his former team and so that's kind of a double edged sword right there. On the one hand, it obviously means he's very available but on the other, why does Pittburgh not want their own guy back?

The 12 year vet certainly couldn't play the same role that young guys like Love and Deaderick did for New England. In addition, he might not be that much of a fit being a nose tackle all those years in the Steel Curtain. Still, he's the biggest name and the most talented guy left out there.

Belichick tends to get the most out of aging players by putting them in the best position to succeed. So, while his fit for the scheme is something important to consider, that's not to say he couldn't find a place on this team. I just don't see it happening though.

2. Sione Po'uha The ex-Jet was released over two months ago and still hasn't found a landing spot. I thought at the time of his release that the Patriots should be interested, but they never were.

Pouha is kind of a similar case to Hampton in that he largely played nose tackle in the 3-4, but I do think he is a bit more versatile. Seeing as he's been out there for so long I do not see money being a major obstacle here. The seven year vet could find a nice spot in Belichick's defense. He was also one of Rex Ryan's favorite players, and say what you want about Ryan, I do trust his opinion when it comes to defense.

3. Amobi Okoye So the Patriots don't exactly have the pick of the litter at this point in free-agency, Okoye has struggled with some injuries lately but the one thing he does bring in pass rush. Okoye has had a sack in every year he's been in the league (including four in 2011), which is a lot more than you can say than some of his fellow free-agent d-linemen. He spent last year, his sixth season, with the Chicago Bears and played in nine games. He was released in November but brough back less than a month later. That certainly doesn't speak well of his skill set but we've seen Belichick bring in long snapper to play for his defense before.

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So those are the three. Richard Seymour certainly has to be mentioned here. He's still out there, and can obviously fit in with a Belichick defense, granted it's changed a bit since he was here. Still, I think every slightly knowledgeable observer of the Patriots can rule out a Seymour return after the shocking trade back in 2009.

Patriots Announce the Signing of Draft Pick Jamie Collins

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Brown) — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:58:00 +0000

Patriots announce signing of LB/DE Jamie Collins, their top draft pick (52nd overall).
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) May 17, 2013

This marks the third of their draft picks to be signed with Duron Harmon being the first. Jamie Collins was their first pick in the 2013 NFL Draft and fills a role that I deemed the most important to fill in the off-season, the coverage linebacker.

Collins has been brought in to add speed and pursuit on a linebacking crew that lacked just that. His ability to cover will make the Patriots way more effective against tight ends and running backs that are going out to catch a pass.

Apparently the Patriots like what they see out of Harmon and Collins and so they have wasted little time in signing these players to their rookie tenders.

Josh Brown
@TitleTownTalkSB

Kyle Love's Departure Not Due to Diabetes

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Brown) — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:26:00 +0000

On Wednesday, The Patriots released defensive tackle Kyle Love and it was suspected that it had a lot to do with the fact that two weeks earlier, he was diagnosed with type two diabetes. But in looking at the Patriots’ history, you can prove a lot about the present and the Patriots history of dealing with players with illnesses speaks for itself.

In 2005, the most memorable of which would be Tedy Bruschi who suffered a stroke and the Patriots sat by and waited out his recovery and even publically stood by Bruschi if I remember correctly which they hardly ever do. Matt Light dealt with Crohn’s Disease off and on for his career here in New England and they consistently signed him and extended his contract. In 2010, the Patriots drafted Marcus Cannon who had non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. As recent as this season, the Patriots signed Armond Armstead out of USC who had to play in the CFL due to him having a heart attack.

Evidence and history shows that the Patriots are patient when dealing with players with illnesses. While the Patriots don’t lack a heart for players with medical problems, they do lack a certain social norm that involves explaining why they released players and with that lack of awareness, the Patriots have taken a beating the past couple of days as it pertains to the releasing of Kyle Love.

The hard truth of that matter may be that Love’s production simply went down in 2012 from numbers that weren’t that impressive to begin with. He only had 25 tackles in 16 games, which is a low number, but it also has to do with the fact that he’s not out there every down as the Patriots like to use three down lineman with Wilfork in the middle. Nonetheless, that lack of production most likely lead to his departure not diabetes.

After news of Love’s cut from the Patriots roster, he was only contacted by one team, the Jaguars. Love wasn’t without a job for long as the Jaguars snatched him up just one day after he was released and now it would seem as if the Jaguars love former Patriot players. The Jaguars picked up Kyle Love just two days after the signing of another former Patriot Brandon Deaderick.

Both of these former Patriots don’t have great statistics, but the coach of the Jaguars Gus Bradley thinks that he is building solid pieces on the defensive line. In a way I kind of agree with Gus Bradley’s philosophy here. The Jaguars ranked 30th against the run last season and I think we can all agree that if Kyle Love and Deaderick excel at anything, it’s stopping the run. Building a group of bigger, sure-tackling guys actually seems like a step in the right direction for the Jaguars.

Kyle Love was a solid player, that I liked, in his time here, but sometimes teams decide to go in a different direction. With the league’s offenses trending heavily in the passing game, it might better suit the Patriots to grab a pass-rushing defensive lineman as opposed to one that stops the run. It is a change in philosophy that sometimes lends itself to teams having to release players that they like.

Josh Brown
@TitleTownTalkSB

Gronk to have 4th surgery on arm next week

noreply@blogger.com (Liam Cunningham) — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:53:00 +0000

Rob Gronkowski will likely have his 4th forearm surgery since originally breaking the arm November 18th in a game vs. the Colts, and then re-breaking it early in the Patriot's playoff victory over the Texans.

According to the previously linked article, written by Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald, as of right now, the infection that has plagued the arm fracture has appeared to have subsided:

To this point, according to the source, there have been no signs of the pesky infection that's plagued Gronkowski's recovery process in blood exams taken. But doctors won't know for sure if the infection has truly been cleared until they go in and get surgical cultures, which will be tested during the surgery.

The status of this infection will be the primary determinant on whether or not Gronk will need to have a 5th surgery following next week's, which would likely cause him to miss the beginning of the regular season and perhaps beyond. If the infection is clear, he will have the current plate in his arm removed and replaced, putting him on pace to be fully recovered in time for the start of training camp.

With the departure of Wes Welker, Gronkowski's importance to the Patriot's offensive attack has increased, and the outcome of this surgery will certainly have a significant impact on the team's roster and offensive strategy going into the 2013 regular season. Overarching concerns loom about Gronk's long history of injuries, beginning in college when he was sidelined with recurring back issues. Since then he has suffered a broken ankle at the hands of Patriot's killer Bernard Pollard, and now an arm that just won't seem to heal.

Questions have been raised as to whether or not he is a player whose career will be characterized by premier talent hampered by constant injury. Some of also raised the question of whether his best seasons are behind him. I believe when healthy he is still by far the greatest tight end in the NFL, and has a definite chance to become the greatest to ever play the positon. But four, and possibly five, surgeries on a forearm in just over six months is not a very comforting fact for Patriot's fans to absorb.

@LiamPCunningham
@PatriotsLife

Dwight Freeney dislikes Patriots because of their offensive fans?

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Saver) — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:13:00 +0000

Freeney visited the Patriots about two months ago now. He still hasn't signed with a team.

He recently visited with the Chargers as he continues to make his rounds around the NFL.

We've thought all along that his high price tag was what was keeping him from joining with the Patriots. However, it appears that there might be something else holding him back according to his father. Though I would assume Hugh Freeney meant this in jest, so let's not get too worked up about it.

Dwight Freeney’s father Hugh told Sirius XM that Dwight doesn’t like the Patriots because fans verbally abused his mother.
— Nick Underhill (@Nick_Underhill) May 16, 2013

Dwight's father badly wants him to play in NE, though.
— Nick Underhill (@Nick_Underhill) May 16, 2013

Dwight’s dad: “It’s all about money now, I guess.”
— Nick Underhill (@Nick_Underhill) May 16, 2013

Hmm. Well, if it's all about money, and the money's even, I don't see why he wouldn't choose New England.

Hopefully Freeney's father can get through to him that the Patriots would be a good fit. I've felt all along that the Patriots should try to sign Freeney. He would fit in perfectly in their 4-3 scheme as a sub rusher, and also be a great mentor for Chandler Jones. Abraham would be a solid addition as well, I just hope the Patriots can sign one of those guys.

Until Freeney comes down in price, don't count him in.

Robert Kraft to Buy the Boston Globe?

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Brown) — Thu, 16 May 2013 03:27:00 +0000

According to the Boston Business Journal and the Boston Globe itself, owner of the Patriots and Kraft Food Group Robert Kraft is interested in buying the Boston Globe. Members of the Kraft Group have received a presentation that pitches the Boston Globe. The purchase would also include Boston.com and the Worcester Telegram.

The New York Times Company has hired a group to pitch the Boston Globe to potential suitors. Professional estimates have the Globe selling for between 80-120 million dollars, but is a substantial loss as the New York Times Company bought it in 1993 for 1.1 billion dollars.

The Globe has been struggling for a while, but is still a major source for news in the Boston area. Maybe with the right kind of care, Robert Kraft can restore it to its glory days and make it a top selling newspaper again. It would certainly be interesting to see the coverage of the Patriots if the Globe is, in fact, purchased by Robert Kraft.

It’s a tough rescue as the Globe’s value has been steadily declining, but Robert Kraft has purchased radio stations in the past so it would seem as if he has a little bit of experience in purchasing media and news outlets. Kraft is one of five potential buyers that could purchase the Globe.

Josh Brown