Adalius Thomas: See Ya

Thomas broke his forearm in 2008 and it was downhill from there.

The Patriots cut ties with an aging, unproductive Adalius Thomas yesterday. The big OLB had just finished the third year of his five-year, $35 million deal, the largest deal ever given (at that time) to a Pats free agent acquisition. Unable to find a taker for Thomas over draft weekend, the team conceded that it was best to move in another direction.

As you may recall, Adalius was in the doghouse last season when he was a healthy inactive and saw his snaps reduced significantly (he played in just 54% of the team's defensive snaps) despite the team's problems rushing the passer. Several weeks ago we reported a profootballfocus.com piece that calculated Thomas missed 25% of his solo tackles which was worst in the NFL in 2009.

He was also the epicenter of "late gate", when four Pats arrived to practice late due to a snow storm during the season. Things then turned quickly sour for Thomas as his outspoken personality clashed with Coach Belichick's style. Thomas also complained that the team handled his 2008 broken forearm incorrectly by sending him to a massage therapist instead of a physical therapist. With Banta-Cain having signed re-signed in the offseason, there was little need to keep Thomas on the roster any longer.


Outside linebackers on the Patriots' roster: Tully Banta-Cain, Jermaine Cunningham, Pierre Woods, Shawn Crable, Rob Ninkovich, Marques Murrell

Patriots Draft Recap

It was a busy few days for the Patriots organization as they re-stocked the roster with a plethora of youth. We highlighted first round pick Devin McCourty on Thursday night. Lets check out the rest of the new Patriots:

2nd Round (42nd overall) - Rob Gronkowski TE Arizona

Gronkowski (6'6" 258 pounds) was the consensus number two tight end in this draft. He fell due to concerns about his back which caused him to miss almost his entire junior season. The diesel tight end ran a 4.65 second 40-yard dash which is very good for a tight end of his size. It should be interesting to see how he is implemented in the offense.

Other TEs on roster: Alge Crumpler, Aaron Hernandez

2nd Round (53rd overall) - Jermaine Cunningham OLB Florida

Cunningham (6'3" 266 pounds) played DE at Florida under Urban Meyer. He's the type of pass rusher that people were hoping for with the team's first round selection. In his collegiate career he had 19.5 sacks, 34 tackles for a loss, and five forced fumbles. He is very quick off of the line of scrimmage and puts a lot of pressure on opposing teams off of the edge. Look for him to be sprinkled in at the OLB spot as he could see time as a third down rusher.

Other OLBs on roster: Tully Banta-Cain, Adalius Thomas, Pierre Woods, Shawn Crable, Rob Ninkovich, Marques Murrell

2nd Round (62nd overall) - Brandon Spikes MLB Florida

Another Gator to the Patriots. Spikes (6'3" 250 pounds) was a projected first round pick until he ran a slow 40 time: five seconds flat. However, it's widely believed that he plays quicker than his time displayed. The highly instinctive linebacker ran the middle of a top ranked Florida defense and is thought to be better against the run than the pass. Having said that, he did have six interceptions over the past two years. He was suspended for the first half of the Vanderbilt game after trying to gauge the eyes of a Georgia player. He does have good bloodlines as he is the cousin of veteran 49ers linebacker Takeo Spikes. A three year starter, he could slide into the inside linebacker spot next to Jerod Mayo from day one.

Other MLBs on roster: Jerod Mayo, Gary Guyton, Tyrone McKenzie, Eric Alexander, Thomas Williams

3rd Round (90th overall) - Taylor Price WR Ohio
Price (6'0" 204 pounds) fell slightly in the draft, and the team was happy to nab him. He was second at the NFL Combine among wide receivers with a 4.41 second 40-yard dash. His scouting report says he has great hands and a knack for making good catches, but that he needs to improve his route running. Price had 56 catches in his senior season as a Bobcat for 784 yards and five touchdowns. Don't expect to see much of Price on the field this season, but with Randy Moss entering his last season and Torry Holt in on a one year flier, hopefully Price can learn from the veterans and prepare to team with Edelman & Tate entering 2011.

Other WRs on roster: Randy Moss, Torry Holt, Julian Edelman, Wes Welker, Isiah Stanback, Sam Aiken, Brandon Tate, David Patten, Matthew Slater

4th Round (113 overall) - Aaron Hernandez TE Florida

Yet another Florida Gator to the Patriots. Hernandez fell to the fourth round due to unspecified off the field issues. The Patriots must of felt that he was the best player available at 113 overall having drafted Gronkowski in the 2nd. He is a bit undersized for a tight end at 6'2" 245 pounds, but is an extremely athletic pass catcher. The knock on Hernandez's game is his inability to block, which means the rookie will have a steep learning curve. He finished the year with 68 receptions for 850 yards and 5 touchdowns at Florida and could provide a nice red zone target for a team that struggled in that regard last season.

Other TEs on roster: Alge Crumpler, Rob Gronkowski

5th Round (150 overall) - Zoltan Mesko P Michigan

Built like a linebacker at 6'4" 240 pounds, Zoltan was the first punter taken in the draft in true Belichickian style. The Patriots continue to address special teams via the draft (K Stephen Gostkowski and long snapper Jake Ingram) and may have found their punter of the future. A four year starter at Michigan, Mesko averaged 44.5 yards per punt and didn't have a single one blocked in 2009. It is also interesting to note that Mesko has a history of punting in games with bad weather conditions, which he's sure to be exposed to in New England

Here are the Patriots remaining picks:
6th Round (205th Overall) - Ted Larsen C NC State
7th Round (208th Overall) - Thomas Welch OT Vanderbilt
7th Round (247th Overall) - Brandon Deaderick DL Alabama
7th Round (248th Overall) - Kade Weston DL Georgia
7th Round (250th Overall) - Zac Robinson QB Oklahoma State

Each of these players will battle for backup spots on the roster with the holdovers from last season and those that don't make it may be ticketed for the practice squad.

MORE: The Patriots acquired Carolina's second round pick next season in exchange for a third round choice during this year's draft. The team is now stacked for the 2011 draft with two first rounders and two second rounders. Only a year away!

The Patriots also made an interesting signing this weekend in defensive lineman Gerard Warren. The former third overall selection in the 2001 draft, Warren has bounced around the league for 10 years with Cleveland, Denver, and Oakland. It is expected that he will compete for snaps at defensive end opposite Ty Warren in Jarvis Green's old spot. He's a wide body that will take up some blockers against the run and has 32 career sacks.

Exciting times for the Patriots. Which acquisition are you most excited about from this past weekend?

What a Night

My Friday night.

Celtics win on buzzer beater by Pierce and Celtics are up 3-0. Red Sox win late in the game. Patriots make their four picks tonight and net a 2011 2nd round pick. Bruins lose and will play game 6 Monday night.

Get Your Remote Control Ready

Busy night in Boston sports. Order some food. Grab some beers. And mentally prepare to not move for hours.

Which are you most excited for tonight? The Patriots four picks in rounds two and three? The Bruins' chance to win the series in Buffalo? The Celtics' chance to take a commanding 3-1 series lead? Or the Red Sox and Jon Lester looking to rebound on a poor start to the season?

Patriots Trade Down Twice and Select CB Devin McCourty

In true Belichick draft style, no one outside of the Patriots organization saw this coming in their mock drafts. The Patriots had a player in mind that they wanted and traded back twice (from the 22nd pick) and ultimately netted the 27th pick and the 90th overall pick. With the pick the Patriots took the second cornerback of the draft, Devin McCourty.

The 5'11" 190 pound McCourty was a four year player out of Rutgers and finished his collegiate career with 231 tackles, 6 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles. Bill Belichick in his presser called McCourty a "four down player" and said that he displayed "consistent production." This is reassuring because the only film I was able to see of him (on ESPN and on the internet) shows McCourty playing in the box a lot on obvious passing downs. It will be nice to see how he develops in man-to-man coverage in the NFL with the great instincts his college coach Greg Schiano praised.

McCourty also ran a 4.48 second 40 yard dash time at the NFL's Combine which was good for 4th among the cornerbacks. ESPN's Todd McCshay believes he can couple that speed and be a "specials teams demon." In his senior season he averaged 25.4 yards on 14 kick returns including a 98-yard TD return against UConn. He also blocked seven, yes seven kicks during his collegiate career. His scouting report also says that he is very good in kicking and punt coverage, as was shown by some of his footage.

Upon reviewing the Patriots' pass defense statistics, they ranked higher than I expected in most categories. Now they add to their cornerback corps and their roster currently includes CBs:

• Leigh Bodden
• Darius Butler
• Jonathan Wilhite
  
• Shawn Springs
• Devin McCourty
• Terrance Wheatley
• Kyle Arrington

The Patriots move into day 2 of the draft with four picks in rounds 2 and 3. They will have picks in the second round that are 44, 47, and 53 overall and a third round pick that is 90 overall.

Still lacking the elite edge pass rusher Pats fans coveted, tonight they addressed the cornerback and return man issues. What's left to address for this team tomorrow with it's remaining 12 picks?

• Outside Linebacker
• Defensive End
• Tightend
• Offensive Line
• Wide Reciever
  
• Running Back
• Return Specialist
• Punter

Tomorrow night will go a long way in determining this draft for the Patriots. Coverage starts at 6:30. It'll be a hectic night with the Bruins and Celtics playoff games going on as well and the Red Sox starting another series against the Orioles. Make sure those batteries in the remote control are fresh.

2010 Patriots Schedule with Analysis

The NFL released each team's 2010 schedule tonight. Here's what's on tap for the Pats:

Sun. Sept. 12 vs. Cincinnati, 1 PM
Sun. Sept. 19 at N.Y. Jets, 4 PM
Sun. Sept. 26 vs. Buffalo, 1 PM
Mon. Oct. 4 at Miami, 8:30 PM
Week 5 -- Bye
Sun. Oct. 17 vs. Baltimore, 1 PM
Sun. Oct. 24 at San Diego, 4:15 PM
Sun. Oct. 31 vs. Minnesota, 4:15 PM
Sun. Nov. 7 at Cleveland, 1 PM
Sun. Nov. 14 at Pittsburgh, 8:20 PM
Sun. Nov. 21 vs. Indianapolis, 4:15 PM
Thu. Nov. 25 at Detroit, 12:30 PM
Mon. Dec. 6 vs. N.Y. Jets, 8:30 PM
Sun. Dec. 12 at Chicago, 1 PM
Sun. Dec. 19 vs. Green Bay, 8:20 PM
Sun. Dec. 26 at Buffalo, 1 PM
Sun. Jan. 2 vs. Miami, 1 PM

Quick thoughts:

• This is the NFL's 6th toughest schedule based on the combined 2009 opponent's records (136-120).
  
• The bye week is fairly early, but with the Thanksgiving matchup at Detroit in week 12, the Patriots will have 11 full days off before the take on the Jets December 6th at home on Monday Night Football.
• The farthest west that the team travels besides their week 7 game at San Diego is a matchup at Cleveland. Not bad.
• The Patriots catch the Browns off of their bye week.
  
• There will be two Monday Night Football mathups each versus a division opponent (week 4 at Miami and week 13 versus the Jets).
• It will be a tough two game set November 7th and November 14th with a game at Pittsburgh and then versus the Colts.
• The Patriots will have three home games in the last five weeks which could make for a good home field advantage in the cold weather.
  

In the wise words of Bill Belichick "it is what it is" and the Patriots will adapt to the quirks in their schedule.

Big Day In Boston Sports

What a hit.

The Bruins took a 2-1 series lead last night behind the stout play of solid goaltender Tuukka Rask. I really couldn't say it any better than my buddy Dan Sullivan over at his blog. Check out his analysis of the game here.

It's an exciting time to be a Bruins fan. They're playing with the house's money; let me explain: if they win, they exceed expectations in a season plagued by injury. If they lose, they still win because they are a team on the rise carrying the #2 overall pick. For now, let's enjoy the playoff ride.

It's their time.

Big game for the Celtics tonight. Kevin Garnett is suspended for the affair after his elbow against Quentin Richardson on Saturday night. Enter Glen Davis and Rasheed Wallace. This is Perkins' time to step up with his defense and make a difference under the hoop like KG does. Baby will start in KG's place and will hopefully mold well with the starting five. This is also Rasheed's time to show why he was brought aboard. If he can make game changing plays close to the hoop then it will go a long way in helping the C's make it 2-0 heading to Miami.

Moss compliment or Galloway 2.0?

The Patriots made a free agent splash today bringing aboard the 33-year old seven time Pro Bowler Torry Holt. Entering what will be his 13th season, no one should expect the 117 catch Holt from 2003. However, he has caught 90+ balls in half of his NFL seasons and has 920 career grabs. Just three years ago, Holt caught 93 balls for the Rams and he arguably hasn't played with a good QB in in two years (Marc Bulger and David Garrard).

Will this be a Joey Galloway 2.0? Time will tell. What it currently means is that the team's wide receivers are:

• Randy Moss
• Julian Edelman
• Torry Holt
• David Patten
• Brandon Tate
• Isiah Stanback
• Sam Aiken
• Matthew Slater

Obviously no one expects Wes Welker back until at least midseason. This move hopefully will give some stability to the wide out corps as the team will hope that prospects Tate and Stanback can develop. This will also slide Aiken back to his special teams duties exclusively as he was clearly out of his league as a starting wide receiver in the Wild Card loss.

How quickly can the 37-year old get back in the line-up?

The Sox continue to tumble out of the gate and stand at 4-9, currently riding a five game losing streak. They have six games left on this home stand and they need to begin to turn it around against Texas and Baltimore. It's tough to pinpoint a specific area in improvement because everything from the offense, to the rotation, to the bullpen, and the defense have all hampered the team thus far.

To make matters worse, the team announced that Mike Cameron was placed on the 15-day DL today with a strained abdomen that could sideline him over a month. Cameron was brought in as part of the run prevention plan and with his absence the team will be starting an outfield of all lefties. This will hamper Tito's ability to get creative with him having to pencil in Ellsbury (when he returns), Drew, Hermida, and Reddick (expected to be called up from Triple-A) for several weeks. When Ellsbury returns he will slide back over to centerfield. There could be a trickle down effect that will hold Ortiz out against lefties on a consistent basis in order to balance the line up with Lowell.

Nevertheless, the Sox are six games out of first place just thirteen games in. Time to turn it around.

UPDATE: Ellsbury was placed on the 15-day DL tonight retroactive April 12th with sore ribs. The team purchased the contract of 31-year old Darnell McDonald. He's a righty and will probably platoon with Reddick.

Patriots NFL Draft Preview 2010

With the NFL Draft just over a week away, it's time to get excited. The Patriots once again have a plethora of picks including four of the top 53 selections:

1st round (22^nd overall)
2nd round (44^th, from Jacksonville)
2nd round (47^th, from Tennessee)
2nd round (53^rd)
4th round (119^th)
6th round (190^th)
6th round (205^th, compensatory)
7th round (229^th)
7th round (231st, from Philadelphia)
7th round (247^th, compensatory)
7th round (248^th, compensatory)
7th round (250^th, compensatory)

Rather than pretend like I know what I am talking about with a lot of names I've just heard and hope for the team to draft, I will leave it to the professionals. Last week the Patriots and ESPNBoston hosted an event for season ticket holders where respected football insiders Michael Smith, Mike Reiss, Todd McShay, and Christopher Price previewed the Patriots' draft. These are great watches and a good foundation of a lot of names you'll be seeing next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

1st Round Possibilities:



2nd Round Possibilities:



Late Round Possibilities:



Sleeper Picks:




Who would you like to see the Patriots pursue?

Patriots Recap

A busy week for the team's brain trust.

The annual owner's meeting has come and gone, with the biggest change being a change in the overtime rules. While the Patriots voted for the change, Bill Belichick still voiced displeasure over the new rule. “I like the rules of the game as they are in regulation,” Belichick told ESPNBoston.com on Monday. “I think that’s the way it should be in overtime, but that’s not the way it is. So whatever it is, it is.” He essentially would like to see an entire period be played in its entirety.

Among other things, it was revealed that the Pats are likely headed for a Thanksgiving day matchup against the Lions. Any hardcore Pats fan remembers the team sporting the the red throwbacks back in 2002. Plus, who could forget Tedy Bruschi's unbelievable pick six? The official NFL schedules should be revealed in the near future.

The Patriots received four compensatory picks in this year's draft. The NFL awarded picks for departed free agents: Larry Izzo, Jabar Gaffney, Heath Evans, Lamont Jordan, and Lonie Paxton. However, the team signed a compensatory free agent last offseason, Brandon McGowan, and therefore was only awarded four selections. The team now boasts 12 picks in a deep draft class:

1st round (22^nd overall)
2nd round (44^th, from Jacksonville)
2nd round (47^th, from Tennessee)
2nd round (53^rd)
4th round (119^th)
6th round (190^th)
6th round (205^th, compensatory)
7th round (229^th)
7th round (231st, from Philadelphia)
7th round (247^th, compensatory)
7th round (248^th, compensatory)
7th round (250^th, compensatory)

The Patriots also conducted the first round voluntary offseason workouts over the past couple of weeks. Tom Brady, who was a no show during the first week because he was training in Los Angeles (boxing) arrived in New England for the second week of work. Randy Moss, also in a contract year, showed up on time for work as well. He has shown that his dedication need not be questioned. On the other hand, Logan Mankins is not as satisfied. The restricted free agent (who would be unrestricted if not for the status of the league's collective bargaining agreement) will be forced to sign his tender sheet and play out the year at his assigned salary. However, with the team resigning many of the players from within, it's easy to see where his frustration lies.

The Pats added veteran blocking TE Alge Crumpler this week. Crumpler, 32, stands 6'2" and 262 pounds, will receive base salaries of $1.4 million in 2010 and $2.4 million in 2011 as well as a $1 million signing bonus. His status will be basically year-to-year with the team. Crumpler is known for his leadership and work ethic and may help to groom a young TE that the team selects in the draft.

Owner Bob Kraft and team president Jonathan Kraft each had some interesting insight this week as well. Bob was blunt, stating "Tom Brady is going to be part of this franchise. He wants to be, we want him." He also touched on the team's chemistry, "I think the chemistry, the locker room, a lot of games are won and lost before you hit the field." Kraft said their offseason moves have been reflective of their desire to see increased leadership and better chemistry going into the 2010 campaign. Jonathan Kraft said the team's offseason was far from done and that offseason transactions may continue well into the summer due to the uncertainty that surrounds the league.

The draft is just over three weeks away. Get excited.

Kevin Faulk Resigns & Latest News

The offensive staple.

The Patriots stayed true to their off-season plan of resigning their own by agreeing to a one-year contract worth $2 million, including a $1 million signing bonus with 11 year veteran Kevin Faulk. At the very least, Faulk, who's played in 15 or more games in each of the last four years, offers the team a steady and heady 3rd down option who can contribute in the return game if need be. Bill Belichick also trusts the savvy veteran immensely, as he was the go-to-guy on the famed 4th and 2 play in Indy. Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston points out that Faulk played a team high 38.8% of the snaps in the backfield for the Patriots.

With Sammy Morris, Laurence Maroney, Fred Taylor and BenJarvus Green-Ellis all under contract next season, it has led some to believe the Pats will not draft a RB in this year's draft. Morris (32), Taylor (34) and Faulk (33) are not getting any younger, so it would not be a surprise to see the Patriots inject some youth into the rotation with quick and fast play-maker on the second or third day of the draft. If that happens, look for the RB competition to heat up in camp substantially with the likelihood of a veteran not making the team being high.

Other News:

• So the Patriots have resigned five of their own and lost one (Jarvis Green to Denver). The team has three unrestricted free agents that are still on the market: DE/LB Derrick Burgess, TE Ben Watson, and P Chris Hanson. Should be interesting to see if they approach those player, or look externally to replace them.
  
• According to an ESPN article that sites ProFootballFocus.com Adalius Thomas was the NFL's worst tackler last season.
• Only nine players remain from the last championship squad of 2004, Tom Brady, Kevin Faulk, Matt Light, Stephen Neal, Dan Koppen, Ty Warren, Vince Wilfork, plus David Patten and Tully Banta-Cain who both left and then came back.
• With the signing of Vince Wilfork to a massive five-year, $40 million contract, the Patriots are looking for Vince to step up his leadership. “Some people are vocal leaders,’’ Wilfork said. “I led by example. I’ve said things when I had to say it, but now all of us have to rise. We have to raise our level of play. If something is wrong, we have to address it." Vince went on to say, "e can’t let it go on. “You’ve got to be the believer and you’ve got to go forward, and you might have to do a little something extra. That’s fine. By me doing something extra or by us doing something extra, [if that] gets us to the point we need to be, I’ll do it 100 out of 100 times, point blank."
• The Patriots planned a private workout with LSU defensive lineman Al Woods scheduled for next Tuesday.

Patriots Retaining Their Own

The Patriots continued to take care of their own today when they locked up cornerback Leigh Bodden to a four year $22 million contract with $10 million guaranteed. It was smart move by the team as Bodden has proved he is a solid defender, only 28 years old, and helps fill a void at the DB position.

Having signed NT Wilfork, OLB Banta-Cain, RG Neal, and now Bodden, its clear the Patriots have opted to invest money in their own rather than testing the waters of free agency.

The Patriots average age on offense is 27.9. With needs for explosiveness out of the backfield, and holes at wide receiver and tight end, the team will look to the remaining free agents as well as the draft to continue building the team.

The defensive needs are obvious: the team needs to get better penetration on the QB rush and the front seven defenders need to prove more athletic and agile coming off the edge. Banta-Cain was a solid resigning, and a fine stopgap, but frankly is not the long term answer.

Here's our remaining list of team's needs in order of priority:

1. Outside Linebacker
2. Wide Receiver
   
3. Defensive End
4. Tight End
5. Running Back
   
6. Kick/Punt Returner

It will be interesting to see how Belichick and the personnel staff address these obvious team needs. With four picks in the top 53, the Patriots' scouts have a chance to prove their worth in a deep and talented pool of incoming athletes.

Patriots Re-up Wilfork, Banta-Cain, and Neal

The Patriots made priority #1 taking care of their own on the first day of free agency.

The team made Vince Wilfork the richest nose tackle in the league with a 5-year $40 million contract that included $25 million in guarantees and an $18 million signing bonus. Just a few weeks ago the Patriots put the franchise tag on Wilfork, giving both sides extra time to hammer out a deal. Big Vince will continue to anchor the middle of the Patriots defense for the foreseeable future and both he and we couldn't be happier about it.

Right after the contract was he agreed to, Vince stated on his Twitter account "we are pleased to say we will be here for MANY more years to come..." Good work by the Patriots to show the players they will reward their best players.


Another key defensive player was locked up yesterday in Tully Banta-Cain, as him and the Patriots agreed to a three year extension. The contract averages $4.5 million per season and could reach as much as $6 million if he reaches certain incentives. The deal also includes $6 million in guarantees.

TBC, who turns 30 right before the season, posted 10 sacks last year (5 of which came in two games versus Buffalo). He proved he could be a three down player this past season and is deserving of the new deal, that being said the team could use another pass rusher lining up opposite of Tully.


In a less expected move the Patriots resigned RG Stephen Neal. After the Wild Card loss to the Ravens, Neal hinted that he may retire but he obviously had a change of heart. The two year pact is just about finalized, but the contract numbers have not been disclosed. He hasn't played a full season since 2005, but he remains a mauler in the run game. The move ensures that all five starters will return.

The Patriots have taken care of three of their own early on in free agency. Kevin Faulk, Leigh Bodden, Ben Watson, and Jarvis Green all remain on the open market. Logan Mankins, Stephen Gostkowski, Pierre Woods, and Gary Guyton are all likely to be back, as teams would be required to give up compensation to to sign those restricted free agents.

Now it's time for the Patriots to hit the open market. With the Dolphins signing LB Karlos Dansby and the Jets trading for CB Antonio Cromartie, the Patriots will continue to look for ways to improve the team. With the likes of Julius Peppers and Anquan Boldin off the market, the team still has needs at wide receiver, tight end, defensive end/outside linebacker, and cornerback.....lets see which needs they address now and which ones they wait to attain via the draft.

Patriots Offseason: Offensive Line

• Logan Mankins enjoyed another spectacular season at the left guard position. The team's best run-blocker was voted the league's third best guard according to the All-Pro team voting, he was also selected as a second-team All-Pro this season. Mankins just finished up his rookie deal, but because of the un-capped year he is a restricted free agent. The Patriots tendered a 1st and 3rd round tender to him, and it's unlikely any team will fork over that ante. Look for the team to allocate their resources to lock up the consistent 6'4" 310 pound lineman to a long term pact.
  

• Center Dan Koppen was solid this season. Koppen is clearly on the same page as Brady after so many years, and his pre-snap reads of the D are as good as any center in the league. He is signed through 2011 at $2.9 million/year with some bonuses. He'll be back.

• LT Matt Light missed five weeks this season with a knee injury. When healthy, Light was solid but not spectacular. Our last image of Light this past season was when Ravens OLB Terrell Suggs blew by him for a strip sack of Brady in our wild card loss. Light enters the final year of his 6-year $27.3 million deal that will pay him $4.9 million. Despite his lengthy tenure here, it wouldn't be surprising if he was made expendable.

• Rookie sensation Sebastian Vollmer was one of the bright spots this season. Vollmer was the team's best tackle and filled in more than admirably for Light while he was out, he also shifted seamlessly to right tackle when needed as well. He missed two games during the season with a head injury. The 6'7" 312 pound mauler is simply too good to not be on the field and will most certainly have a starting job heading into next season. As a second round pick last season, he received a 4-year deal.

• RT Nick Kaczur was one of the weak links on the o-line this past season. Kaczur was a liability in pass coverage, and when Light and Vollmer were both healthy for the playoff game, he was the odd man out. The 30-year old signed a 4-year $16 million deal before the season which may be the only reason he will be around next year.

• RG Stephen Neal, the famed converted college wrestler that beat Brock Lesnar for an NCAA title, had another injury plagued season. Neal epitomizes consistency at the right guard spot when on the field, but the problem is he hasn't played over 13 games since 2005. Neal enters free agency, and hinted that he may retire or pursue other careers (UFC anyone?). Dan Connolly filled in admirably during the season for Neal and may get a look at the starting gig in 2010 after he signed a 2-year extension in December.

Previous Entries:
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Recievers
Tight Ends

Position Previews: Tight Ends

Tight Ends:

• Ben Watson's season was interesting. Despite hauling in five TD passes, Watson had four games in which he did not record a reception, and topped 51 yards receiving just once (week 1). Having said that, Watson is an efficient blocker. Watson's original 6-year rookie contract is up and he is due to hit free agency, and he may be replaceable in this offense.

• Chris Baker's first season with the Patriots was quiet. Baker hauled in 14 catches in 16 games and failed to record a reception in six games. His game high in yardage was 41, and he had just two TDs. The 30-year old signed a 5-year deal last off-season, and is due $2 million next season. That's a manageable number, and after a year in the offense he could slip into Watson's role if he leaves.

• This is always a tough position to gauge for the Patriots. They never have a tight end that puts up statistics that "wow" us. Our offense is not built around the position, and the Patriots arguably keep their tight ends in blocking more often than other teams. Having said that, with three second round picks the Patriots could target a player at this position in a deep tight end draft.

Previous Entries:
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Recievers

Next up:
Offensive line

The Patriots Franchise Vince Wilfork

The Patriots slapped the dreaded franchise tag on Vince Wilfork Monday which will guarantee the hefty nose tackle at least $7.003 million in the 2010-2011 season. This number is comprised of the average salaries of the top five players at his position (nose tackle). The reason for the tag is to keep key players from becoming free agents while the team attempts to sign the player to a long term deal.

Vince's wife Bianca had a different interpretation of the tag on her Twitter account: “In regards to the many calls and emails i am receiving in response to the franchise tag we figured this would be the easiest way to addr[ess] … The franchise tag has been applied. After six years of dedicated service i do understand this is a business … With that being said it is my hope that the tag is applied for its true purpose … For the purpose of alotting more time for us to continue our talks and be able to reach along term agreement. … Only time will tell what the final result will be.”

Big Vince has been outspoken about his desire for a long term deal after his six-year rookie contract (now draft picks can't sign contracts for longer than five years) for the Patriots expired. Until the NFL took away six year pacts with rookies, the Pats would try and lock their first rounders up for an extra year with the hope of getting them at a better price in that sixth year. Vince believes he showed good faith the first time around by taking that sixth year, and now he wants to be rewarded.

What may be working in the Patriots' favor is the slue of nose tackles who have been franchised this off-season. These players have or will be franchised by there teams: Ryan Pickett (Green Bay), Casey Hampton (Pittsburgh), and Aubrayo Franklin (San Francisco). In this day and age, it appears teams would rather give one year contracts rather than forking over money for long-term deals.

The two sides will have until mid July to work a deal out or Vince will play on the one-year deal. Owner Robert Kraft called Vince Wilfork the team's number one priority, and the two sides will continue to work on a long-term deal.

Patriots WR '09 Review and '10 Preview

Wide Receivers:

• Randy Moss caught 83 balls for 1264 yards and a league high 13 TDs. Yes, his motor could be questioned at all times but he remains a pivotal part of the passing game. He is due $6.4 million in the final year of his three year contract and he was quoted this past weekend saying he expects this to be his season in New England. Remember what he did in 2007 when he was playing for a contract? 98 catches, 1498 yards, and 23 TDs.


• Wes Welker's season obviously ended in the worst way possible. He most likely will not be ready for the start of next season, so look for the team to get Brady some help at this position (hopefully better investments than Joey Galloway). Welker, who was going to ask for a new contract before going down, still has two years remaining on the 5-year $18.1 million pact he signed in 2007.


• Julian Edelman will help fill the void of Welker. He showed more than enough skill, and with a full off-season of rest, learning, and conditioning he can only get better. Despite his late season successes, we'd feel better if he were still the third option going into next season. Drafted only last year, Edelman still has three seasons on his rookie deal that will pay him $395,000 next year.


• This is where the drop-off occurs. Sam Aiken is clearly a better special teamer than receiving target and he was an invisible man in the Wild Card loss. He will be back because he signed an extension during the season through 2011 for small money, but it would be nice to have a more viable option behind Moss if anything were to happen to the 33 year old.


• Isaiah Stanback saw some limited action at WR, but is unproven. He is versatile, and is listed as the team's third QB at times.


• Rookie speedster Brandon Tate lasted only two games after missing the first 6 weeks recovering from a torn ACL/MCL in college. He could be a weapon if healthy, but needs to prove he can stay healthy.


• Matt Slater is nothing more than a special teamer. He did not catch a pass all year and is probably replaceable after not showing much in each of his first two seasons.


• The team needs a major upgrade at the position, especially with the likelihood of Welker being out a while. Brady may be missing someone like a Jabar Gaffney, and could use two solid veterans added to this bunch.

Previous Entries:
Quarterbacks
Running Backs

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Tight Ends

Patriots RB '09 Review and '10 Preview

Determining who was going to run the ball for the Patriots this season was a tough obstacle for most opponents. With four capable backs, it appeared the Patriots would be set in the running game. Nonetheless the unit battled mediocrity all season long.

Laurence Maroney was the lead back most of the season. He ran for 757 yards and 9 TDs, but after a week 16 fumble on an opening drive against Jacksonville, Maroney went into the "doghouse" ( losing 4/4 fumbles on the season will do that). He didn't carry the ball again that game, was inactive in week 17, and saw only one carry in the Wild Card loss to the Ravens. Like always Maroney appeared to run well in stretches but overall continued to lack consistency. He is signed to an affordable contract at just $825,000 next season, so look for him to be back in the final year of his deal.

Sammy Morris and Fred Taylor only played in 12 and 5 games respectively due to injuries this season. Neither is explosive as they used to be, but Belichick really likes what each brings to the table when they're on the field. Morris should be back for $1 million, but Taylor's $2 million tag may be questionable.

Kevin Faulk's contract is up. The third down specialist ran for over 300 yards and also accumulated over 300 yards receiving. Belichick is known to be ruthless, he won't bring back Faulk just because of his reputation. However, it's not like Faulk has shown many signs of slowing down.

BenJarvis Green-Ellis saw nothing more than garbage time carries. He plays a lot of special teams and is only due $470,000 next year. It's a toss up whether he is back or not.

The Patriots could afford to get younger at the running back position, so keep an eye on their draft to see if they do indeed look for young legs.

Previous Entries:
Quarterbacks

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Wide Receivers

Patriots QB '09 Review and '10 Preview

The Patriots offense is coming off a season where they ranked 6th in the NFL in scoring (26.7 PPG), 3rd in yards per game at 397.3 (277.2 passing, 3rd and 120.1 rushing). While impressive, these numbers should be taken with a grain of salt because of the 59 point outburst against the Titans in week 6.

First year play caller Bill O'Brien got his feet wet calling the show, and at times his play calling appeared questionable. All too often the team had three and outs in crucial situations, and they often abandoned the running game in the second half. He doesn't appear to be the second coming of Josh McDaniels yet, but hopefully an off-season of reviewing game tape will serve O'Brien well.

We plan on going through the Patriots indivudal positions during the offseason and reviewing and evaluating most of the players. Today we'll start with the QBs.

Quarterbacks:

• Tom Brady worked his way back into NFL shape after a lost 2008-2009 season. He enjoyed a career high in completion percentage (65.7) and threw for nearly 4400 yards and 28 TDs. In the three games he did not have Wes Welker (including week 17), he appeared to be a bit off. He could really use another option at WR or TE going into next season. Brady is also entering the final year of his contract, so look for the team to lock up the franchise QB.
• The team felt comfortable having Brian Hoyer as the lone back-up all season. The undrafted rookie out of Michigan State appears a safe bet to be the back-up again next season. Having said that, we wouldn't be surprised if they brought in an arm or two for training camp.

Next up: RBs

Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning fell to 9-9 in his postseason career and stands with just one Lombardi Trophy and 1-1 in the Super Bowl.

In comparison, Tom Brady sits at a spectacular 14-4 and owns three Super Bowl titles. Brady flawlessly drove his 2001 and 2003 squads down the field for wins against the Rams and Panthers. Brady's amazing playoff performances don't come without a kink in the armor. He could not lead the league's highest scoring offense in history to more than 14 points in Super Bowl XLII against the Giants.

The bottom line is while each QB owns forgettable losses, Brady has two more rings than Manning.

Brady also owns Manning in their head to head match-ups (7-4 including postseason), but recently Manning and the Colts have had the upper hand on the Pats. In the 2006 season the Colts took down the Patriots in the AFC Championship after an unbelievable comeback. In 2008 they beat the Pats in a close Sunday Night Football game. 2009 featured the 4th and 2 debacle that no one will forget. Individuallly, Manning has three more seasons under his belt than Brady (including the 2008 season Brady essentially missed) and clearly has the upper had in completions, TDs, yards per game, and other major statistics.

Postseason head to head, Brady is 2-1 with a 81.7 QB rating compared to Manning's 60. As we mentioned Manning does own the most recent of the post season decisions. Ultimately playoff and Super Bowl records decide who is the better QB, and as far as that goes, Brady owns Manning.

Who do you like?

Randy Moss Played With Separated Shoulder

Silence all the Randy Moss critics.

According to Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston, Pro Bowler Randy Moss had a separated shoulder at his end of season physical. Moss was placed on the injury report after the team's loss in Denver and appeared on the report for much of the season with a "shoulder" injury. He was a non-factor in the playoff loss to the Ravens and bowed out of the Pro Bowl so it all certainly makes sense now. He did post 83 catches, 1,264 yards, and 13 touchdowns.

Many have been critical of Moss, but he is undoubtedly one of the best wide receivers in the league. Yes, he may not go full speed at times, but he has bought into the Patriots system since his time here and has certainly shook the "diva" tag.

Moss should be fine for off-season training activities (OTAs), as he enters the final year of his deal.