Tag Archives: #BillBelichick

Breaking: Patriots Release WR Malcolm Mitchell

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Mitchell Showed Serious Promise

The New England Patriots have released 25 year old WR Malcom Mitchell. Malcolm was drafted as a fourth round pick out of Georgia and showed some potential his rookie year. In 2016, Mitchell had 32 receptions for 401 yards and 4 touchdowns. He was also a key part of the Patriots Super Bowl Win against the Atlanta Falcons. The rookie hauled in 6 clutch catches for 70 yards. Winning a championship as a rookie, he looked like Brady’s new favorite outside weapon for the future.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports images

Injuries Kept Piling Up

After such a great start to his career and being a part of the biggest Super Bowl comeback in NFL history, Mitchell never had a sophomore season. The youngster played one preseason game, and spent the rest of the 2017 season on the IR due to a nagging knee injury.

The Patriots have spent the past two weeks trying to find a trade partner for the 25 year old wideout. Other teams declined, as they are concerned about his knee issues. Mitchell was attempting to come back for the 2018 season, but couldn’t get his knee right.

A Somber Conclusion

Now, teams around the league won’t have to give up any of their assets to acquire Mitchell once the release becomes official. Looking back on Mitchell’s time in New England, it’s safe to say he was nothing short of unrealized potential. At times, Mitchell showed the flashes of a future deep threat receiver. Recall his sprint to the endzone in San Francisco a few seasons ago.

We wish the best of luck to Mitchell as he strives to continue his career elsewhere. If he’s given another shot and can get healthy, he is sure to shine. Here’s to the next time we see him on the field!

Training Camp Breakdown: Patterson shines/Injuries Occur

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Training Camp has been in full swing for just about a week now for almost every team. The HOF game was last night, and it finally feels like football’s back. So naturally, just like anybody else in the New England area who loves football, you visit training camp. It was a cloudy day filled with much overcast, but still, hundreds of fans attended. People had signs, footballs, and even shoes being ready to get signed while they watch the Pats. There were many things I noticed and had stuck out during my few hours at the Patriots’ practice.

Spotlight Players in the Starting Offense

One of the first things I wanted to look at was how this offense is looking. After losing key pieces like Solder, Amendola, and Lewis, I know the Pats would be changing personnel around. Well at first glance, it’s very apparent that they haven’t lost a beat. Trent Brown, the NFL’s own version of “The Mountain”, was holding his ground. The 6’8″ lineman was holding his blocks against a Patriots D-line that looks greatly improved.

More shining stars on this offense were wideouts Phillip Dorsett and Cordarrelle Patterson. Dorsett is looking like a brand new wide receiver after a disappointing first season in Foxborough last year. He caught numerous passes from Brady in coverage during 11 on 11 drills and it felt like he was rarely off the field. Patterson, however, is even more of a pleasant surprise to see him working with the 1’s in training camp. Another previous first-round pick who’s had trouble producing is trying to turn that around. When the Patriots initially traded for him, it appeared his role was special teams only. Now in August, it looks like Belichick has taken a liking to him. Patterson was lining up on the outside in numerous plays from walk-through plays to full on 11 on 11’s.  It appears that this speedster is going to be doing a lot more than just fielding punts and kicks in the near future.

Other Position Battles Heating Up

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Photo Credit: NESN

Besides the new faces on offense trying to get the coaches attention, there are plenty of other players vying for that 53 man roster and furthermore starting spots. Some of the most interesting things noticed throughout the practice. Eric Rowe and second-round pick Duke Dawson have been fighting for that second cornerback spot. As of now, Rowe is seeming to have the edge lining up in the second spot opposite of Stephon Gilmore. Dawson, however, hasn’t disappeared as he’s locking players down as the nickel cornerback currently.

Even special teams have competition on both ends. We’re seeing players like Rex Burkhead compete with the likes of Edelman and Patterson to return kicks this year. Even if we flip to the other side one of the underrated position battles has been Ryan Allen and rookie punter Corey Bojorquez. Ryan Allen has always been a consistent punter in the league; but obviously, if the Patriots have been keeping two punters so far, they wanna see who comes on top.

Quick Injury Update

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Photo Credit: MassLive

With all these practices starting again comes padded practices. With padded practices, unfortunately, comes injuries, and the Patriots have already had a few. Jordan Matthews was one of the most notable ones, and the Patriots even had to release him the other day. Rookie running back, Sony Michel, and starting tackle, Marcus Cannon, left practice early with injuries. It’s unknown exactly what injuries these are; but three days later, they’re still kept from practicing. Good injury news though is wideout, Kenny Britt, is finally practicing even if it’s scaled back for now.

Training Camp is always an exciting time for fans, reporters, and even the players. Football is just gearing up for the season, and the Patriots are in full swing. After only a week of practice, so much has happened to New England’s team. As the preseason continues to roll out Boston Sports Extra continue to provide updates and thoughts on everything Patriots!

Patriots Player To Watch This Season: Phillip Dorsett

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As the 2018 NFL season quickly sneaks its way upon us, there are many questions surrounding the 2018 New England Patriots and some glaring holes some see in our roster. Sure, the Patriots do play in a weak AFC East and will more than likely win the division and get a bye into the playoffs. But there is one group of guys that I think need to step it up the most. No, its not the defensive unit, even though last year they were more than suspect. This year it is the WR core who will need to step up and fill the voids left by Julian Edelman (serving a 4 game suspension for PED’s) and Brandin Cooks (traded to the Rams).

The Deepest Hole In The Roster

With the Patriots, one spot on the field that is constantly in question is defense, especially now under Coach Belichick and first year coordinator, Brian Flores. Sure, Malcolm Butler left and signed with Tennessee. But again, the position to watch on the field early on is the WR position and how some of the new faces will mesh with Tom Brady. With a banged up WR group before the season even starts, there is one name I think will play a huge role this season on the offensive side of the ball…..Phillip Dorsett.

photo credit – youtube.com

Young and Hungry

Phillip Dorsett may not be a household name yet. But this is a guy who was a late first round pick with great speed and tremendous upside coming out of The U. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to really get it going in Indianapolis, which lead to a trade to the Patriots. Dorsett ended up appearing in 15 games with the Pats in 2017 and now has a full year and offseason learning the playbook and becoming more familiar with Tom Brady and Josh McDaniels and their tendencies.

Dorsett is only 25 years old and brings a tremendous amount of talent to the table for this Patriots offense. This is a guy known for his speed, the ability to catch and hold onto the football, and also his footwork – with or without the ball. From an outsider standpoint, we should look for Dorsett to fill the void left by Brandin Cooks as a fast, deep threat down the sideline. Also look for him to get a ton of slot work early in the season, with Edelman being sidelined for 4 games.

photo credit – stampedeblue.com

Prediction

Phillip Dorsett’s career high in receptions is 33 in 2016 with the Colts. But after a full season in 2017, plus an additional off-season and training camp learning the playbook and working more closely with Brady and McDaniels, I would expect him to reach a career high in every category across the board. We can also look for Dorsett to make an impact in the kicking and punt return game.

Phillip Dorsett will be the surprise X-Factor on this Patriots offense in 2018 ….. here is my prediction for Phil:

700 yds

5 TD’s

45+ receptions

60+ Targets

Tom Brady – The Ultimate Fighter

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Tom Brady is ready to embark on his next challenge this September. He will have to overcome many different obstacles along the way. This is nothing new to Brady though; he’s been fighting his way toward greatness his entire life and it won’t change in 2018.

FROM THE BEGINNING 

Courtesy of Sports Illustrated

His fight for football greatness began in high school, where Brady wasn’t good enough to be the starter on a winless team that had zero touchdowns. He eventually got the starting job as a junior and held it until he graduated. Brady wasn’t getting much attention from colleges during his senior year, so he made highlight tapes of himself to send to schools he wanted to attend. Tom’s tapes worked, as many different colleges around the country started showing interest. Tom decided on the University of Michigan, which again led Brady into another battle he would have to fight. Starting his college career, Tom was once again a backup for 2 years. It’s hard to believe now, but the GOAT was seventh on the Wolverines depth chart at one point. He continued his hard work, eventually moving up the depth chart-only to have to share time with Drew Henson.  Brady was still fighting for his position, leading his team to multiple comebacks, earning the nickname of the Comeback Kid along the way. He won the Orange Bowl in Tom Brady fashion, leading his team back from two 14 point deficits. Sound familiar, Patriot fans?

TOM TAKES HIS TALENTS TO THE PATS

Courtesy of the Boston Globe

After fighting his way through high school and college, Tom’s professional start would be more of the same. With his combine performance not going over well with scouts, he had to sit and wait while 198 other players were drafted ahead of him. His deeply ingrained work ethic helped him move up the Patriots depth chart from number four to Drew Bledsoe’s backup. After Mo Lewis knocked Bledsoe out, Brady’s hard work was about to pay off. He saw his opportunity and would fight harder than ever to not be a backup again. Five Super Bowls and three MVPs later, Tom Brady is now fighting against something that has never been defeated.

FATHER TIME

Brady has been beating Father Time for a few years now, winning SBs at ages 37 and 39. He was MVP of the league at 40 while breaking his own SB records. It seems to be pushing it, right? Well not for this guy. He’s always found a way to beat whatever was in front of him. Brady’s turning 41 in August. With no Julian Edelman for a month, a whole new cast of teammates, and nature doing its thing, this will be Tom’s biggest fight. I expect the same results from the man who can’t seem to lose. We have been and are watching the greatest QB and fighter the NFL has ever seen. Brady will not stop until he gets what he needs, and that’s the next ring. Brady’s on a mission for more SBs, and we get to watch history. Make no mistake about Tom Brady; he wasn’t handed anything. He’s earned it.

Patriots Training Camp Preview: Tight Ends

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There are many different players on this Patriots team compared to last year. New England acquired four guys from trade, fifteen from free agency, and nine from the NFL Draft. They also lost nine players from trade and free agency and had three players retire.

In this new series, I will be looking at every player from each position leading up to training camp. For this installment I will talk about the tight ends. The tight end position has been very valuable for the Patriots since Belichick took over. They became the first team to use three tight end packages and move tight ends to wide receiver slot. This past year they gained two tight ends from free agency and added one through the draft.

Rob Gronkowski #87 (2010-Present):

Gronk is considered the best tight end in the NFL, and has been for most of his NFL career. He is entering his ninth season for the Patriots after being drafted in the second round. Rob has proven to be great, but has also had some major injuries along the way. He has not played in 16 regular season games since the sophomore season. There were murmurs of Gronk retiring after New England’s loss in the Super Bowl against Philadelphia. It escalated all the way to the Patriots exploring trades for Rob. However, Gronk will be a Patriot for the upcoming season.

Rob has shown on the field why he is so good. In Gronkowski’s rookie season he had ten touchdowns. He then followed up with an outstanding second year showing with 18 TDs, 90 receptions, and 1,327 yards. He broke the single season touchdown record by a tight end in NFL history en route to becoming a first team All-Pro. 2012 and 2013 was where Gronk missed a lot of time, participating in 18 games over the two-season span. He then came back in 2014 and 2015 with 1000+ yard seasons and 23 combined touchdowns. In 2016 he missed a lot of time again due to injury and only played in eight games. Gronkowski last season had a healthy year with him seeing the field for 14 games. He hauled in 69 receptions, 1084 yards, and eight scores.

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Gronkowski will need to be a major piece for the Patriots offense if they want to win another Super Bowl next year. Gronk needs to stay healthy for the season, especially with Edelman’s pending PED suspension. Rob will make it to the Patriots roster, no doubt.

Dwayne Allen #83 (2017-Present):

Dwayne Allen is entering his seventh season in the NFL and his second with the Patriots. The Pats acquired Allen via trade in the 2017 offseason to help with the loss of Martellus Bennett. The Pats have a history of bringing in veteran backup tight ends to fit their offense, and that is what Allen was supposed to be.

Allen started his career in Indianapolis as the Colts’ third-round pick in 2012. His rookie year he had 45 receptions, 521 yards, and three TDs. The next year he missed almost entirely due to a knee injury. He came back in 2014 where he had 395 yards and eight scores. In his last season with the Colts he played all 16 games and had 406 yards and six scores. The Patriots traded a fourth-round pick to Indy for Allen and expected him to be the solid backup tight end that Gronk has always had. Allen’s season was ultimately a disappointment with him catching only ten passes for 86 yards and a TD.

https://twitter.com/CaseyBake16/status/929906514898407424

Dwayne is coming off an awful season for the Pats and will need to show something off big in training camp, or else he might not make the roster.

Troy Niklas #86 (2018-Present):

Troy Niklas was signed by the Patriots in the 2018 offseason. He signed a one year deal worth $940 thousand. Niklas has been primarily a blocking tight end in his career, which is why the Pats brought him in. He will be entering his fifth season in the NFL and his first for the Patriots.

Niklas’ first full NFL season came in 2015 where he played in 16 games and had four catches, 33 yards, and two TDs. He missed 13 games in 2016 due to injury. Troy had 11 catches for 132 yards and one score in his last season for Arizona.

Even though Niklas’ stats don’t look appealing, he has been on an NFL roster for his whole career due to the fact he has been a successful blocker. Troy will still have to fight in training camp to make the roster, but he has a good chance to make it.

Jacob Hollister #47 (2017-Present):

Hollister is entering his second season in the NFL and the Patriots. He was an undrafted free agent signing out of Wyoming after the 2017 NFL Draft. He played a larger role than a lot of people expected out of him last year.

Jacob played in 15 games last year for the Patriots. He had four catches and 42 yards last year. He also showed how good he was at catching the ball in preseason where he had 12 catches for 146 yards and a TD. Hollister only played one playoff game and he had one catch for a yard.

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Jacob Hollister exceeded expectations last year when he played in 15 games. He definitely has a good chance of making the roster for the upcoming season as long as he does well in training camp.

Will Tye #82 (2017-Present):

Will Tye will be entering his first full season for the Pats and his fourth in the NFL. He was acquired by the Patriots in October of 2017 after being cut by the New York Jets. He did not play for the Patriots in 2017 and was placed on the practice squad for the remainder of the year.

Tye had his most success for the New York Giants. In his two-year stint with the Giants he had 90 receptions, 859 yards, and four TDs. He then was claimed by the Jets, where he only played three games and had four catches for 38 yards.

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Will has been an extremely good blocker and has played a lot of fullback because of it. If Tye can return to his form from his Giants days, he will have a shot at making the roster.

Ryan Izzo (Rookie):

Izzo was the Patriots 250th overall draft pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. He was a four-year player at Florida State University.

Ryan was more of a blocker than a pass catcher in his college career, with him not having more than 320 yards once in a season. His senior season consisted of 20 receptions, 317 yards, and three TDs. In total, he left college with 54 receptions, 761 yards, six scores, and 29 games under his belt.

Izzo will have a very unlikely chance to make it to the active roster next year. His only hope will be making the practice squad.

Shane Wimann (Rookie):

Shane Wimann was picked up by the Patriots as an undrafted rookie out of Northern Illinois. He had a solid career for NIU where he played 31 games.

Wimann is also a dominant blocker like many of the tight ends the Patriots have. He hasn’t been to special in the pass game with only 65 receptions, 635 yards, and 17 TDs. Shane is a big man though coming in at 6’4″ and 260 pounds.

Shane will have to show something in training camp if he wants to make the practice squad over guys like Izzo.

The Patriots have a lot of new faces at tight end this year which will make it hard to narrow it down for the 53 man roster.

Trade Options: Defensive Superstar in New England?

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Zach Martin got paid. He signed a six-year, $84 million extension, which includes $40 million guaranteed. This eclipses another guard signing earlier in the spring, when Andrew Norwell signed with the Jaguars for 5 years on a $66.5 million contract. These now set a precedent on the market for this position in free agency this year. Shaq Mason is on the final year of his contract, and there is a good chance the Patriots won’t pay him. Another important fact of note is that Joe Thuney is coming off of foot surgery heading into the season. Let’s look into potential players the Patriots could target via trade if they decide to trade either of these players. These may be unlikely, but it’s fun to think about!

*Note – These do not take cap values into account.

Carlos Dunlap

Carlos Dunlap Pittsburgh Steelers v Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals need offensive line help badly, considering more of their offensive game is slowly centering around Joe Mixon. The Patriots clearly need a more consistent pass rush, which was evident in the Super Bowl. Both Mason and Dunlap are in the final years of their contract. It’s a win-win.

Earl Thomas

Earl Thomas

There have been numerous rumors about the Seahawks looking to trade Earl Thomas. While it’s wishful thinking, the Patriots could package either guard with a high pick to get him. The Seahawks do need the help at offensive line, and Patriots fans would be happy seeing Jordan Richards off the roster.

Chandler Jones

Chandler Jones Tennessee Titans v Arizona Cardinals

*Cue music* Reunited and it feels so gooood…

Having Chandler Jones back in New England would be amazing. He is a proven all-pro player that came out of our system. If the Patriots could work around how much he costs, Jones will be a valuable help to the young New England pass rush. Additionally, Arizona would love more protection for their promising rookie and injury-prone veteran.

Thus…

All of these players would be an absolutely amazing help to this already revamped defense. It will ultimately come down to the cost of the players. However, if the Patriots absolutely love one of them, they won’t stop short to get him.

Follow me on Twitter @devansh0429

Belichick Takes Players Back in Time During OTAs

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Two Days off and an Unexpected OTA

Bill Belichick and the Patriots have a few quotes they live by: “The Patriot Way,” “Do Your job” and, of course, “No Days Off”. I attended the Super Bowl LI rally in Boston and when the team gathered outside Government Center, Belichick, the team, and the fans had “NO DAYS OFF” echoing throughout downtown. I always found this funny given we had all taken the day off to be there.

This week Belichick awarded the players with a rare “two days off”, canceling the final two days of voluntary OTAs. Bill also decided to give the team a history lesson on Tuesday in place of workouts, complete with a blast from the past, old-school football environment. Oh yes, we mean even leather helmets and black-and white-tape.

Going Old School

Many players could tell right away the day was different from most. One player told Mike Reiss, “It was a lot of fun. We walked in and you could tell something different was going on than the normal practice day.”

Belichick is always in his element when history is involved. He loves football history and while he is often a man of few words, he will go on for days when it comes to matters of the subject. “The thing I’ve learned about Coach Belichick is that he loves history, he loves military, and any time he can incorporate teaching us about that, he loves it”, another player added.

In addition to the leather helmets and black-and-white videos, the players received lunches inspired by what football players used to eat. The bagged lunch reportedly contained hot dogs and hamburgers rather than the foods players eat now. The team was fresh off a field trip to Fenway Park, which they had taken the day before, making it a week to remember.

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The History of Belichick

Belichick developed a love for the history of the football at a very young age. The game has been a facet of his life for many years. It is no surprise he takes his childhood experiences and love of this history and applies it to the way he conducts his team. Belichick’s father, Steve Belichick, was an assistant coach at the United States Naval Academy, and Bill was able to learn a lot from him. Bill has often mentioned that his father was an important mentor to him in his football career and would study the game with him often.

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Between heading to Fenway on Monday, and the history lesson on Tuesday, the team certainly had an interesting last week of OTAs. The team practices next at training camp later this summer.

Early 2018 NFL Awards Predictions

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The draft is over. OTAs just started, and the NFL Opening Kickoff is lingering close by. Last year was a surprise. Teams, who weren’t expected to win, outshone all our expectations. A major part of this was key additions or breakout years from their players. This helped the likes of Todd Gurley and Marshon Lattimore win awards. Although it is way too early to really say, let’s make predictions on who can win the awards this year.

Most Valuable Player – Jared Goff, QB

Jared Goff Wild Card Round - Atlanta Falcons v Los Angeles Rams

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Would I love for this to be Brady? Of course. Will Brady win even if he has a better year than last year? Probably not, because that is just how the NFL is. Instead, I go with Jared Goff, a quarterback with all the right tools and the perfect team at his disposal. Carson Wentz could also be picked here, but his injury status could lower the number of games he will play this season.

Offensive Player of the Year – Alvin Kamara, RB

Divisional Round - New Orleans Saints v Minnesota Vikings

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Kamara will get even more touches with Mark Ingram serving a four-game suspension, and his talent is just so great. His numbers will be even better than last year.

Defensive Player of the Year – Casey Hayward, CB

Buffalo Bills v Los Angeles Chargers

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Hayward is one of the most underrated corners in my opinion. I have the feeling that he will ball out this year, leading the league in interceptions and passes defended, and thus winning him the award of DPOY.

Offensive Rookie of the Year – Ronald Jones, RB

Ronald Jones II Goodyear Cotton Bowl - USC v Ohio State

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Barkley will be the obvious choice here, but I also want to take a look at another offensive player who is in the best place to have a great year. Jones can easily win the starting job in Tampa Bay and get a lot of carries. He has the chance to be this year’s Alvin Kamara.

Defensive Rookie of the Year – Tremaine Edmunds, LB

Camping World Independence Bowl - Tulsa v Virginia Tech

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Edmunds will be immediately thrust into a starting role and has the capability to fulfill and outshine what Preston Brown brought to the team.

Coach of the Year – Mike Vrabel, Tennesee Titans

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Photo Credit: Getty Images

Mike Vrabel comes into a playoff team that got even better over the offseason. The additions of Dion Lewis, Malcolm Butler, Rashaan Evans, and Harold Landry can help the Titans win their division and go far in the playoffs.

Comeback Player of the Year – Julian Edelman, WR

Julian Edelman New England Patriots v Detroit Lions

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Julian Edelman has been training hard and nonstop to get back on the field. The chemistry between him and Brady is undeniable and will be triumphant enough for him breakout after missing 2017.

Bill Parcells comments on the Patriots Drama

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The rest of the NFL has been just waiting for the Patriots’ dynasty to finally fall. It has come to the point where any news about them has been dramaticized greatly by the media.

There has been a numerous amounts of drama circling Bill Belichick on his decision to bench Malcolm Butler and his relationships with Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. Both have not attended the voluntary workouts the Patriots’ held.

Parcells’ thoughts?

Bill Parcells, one of the greatest coaches of all time and someone who has worked with Belichick, said his thoughts on the topic to the Athletic.

“I don’t pay any attention to that. Nobody knows what’s what exactly. You are just hearing gossip and conjecture and opinion. I don’t put much stock in that. Having been in a position myself as a head coach, a lot of things are said about an organization, the coaching staff and the owner. Some of the things are just flat out not true. Yet they get out and they get publicized because they make good headlines. The only thing you got to do is watch the product on the field. When the season starts, all this offseason stuff, it doesn’t mean anything. Nothing.” (Via USA Today)

He also mentioned his thoughts on the Patriots’ team, saying that they will be just fine in 2018.

Conclusion

Parcells’ words are logical and will ultimately turn out to be the truth. By season come, none of these rumors will have any value, and this New England team WILL be back in the playoffs.
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Who Is the Dark Horse to Earn a Spot on the Patriots?

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Every year, at least one hard-working player makes his way onto the Patriots roster. He could be a late-round draft choice, undrafted free agent, previous practice squad member, or just someone completely unexpected. Who will potentially be that dark horse player this year? BSE makes its picks.

Devansh Khanna (@devansh0429) – Keion Crossen

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Photo Credit: Getty Images

I have to go with Crossen here. The dude has a work ethic that Belichick loves. He’s ready to prove it to the NFL why he is a diamond in the rough after not even getting an invite to the combine. He ran a 4.32 at Wake Forest’s Pro Day, which would have tied for first at the combine. You will never see Crossen get beat downfield, and his hips and movement are very fluid. He’s stronger than his frame lets on, and his football IQ and character will put him over the top. Crossen will compete with Cyrus Jones, J.C Jackson, Jomal Wiltz, and Ryan Lewis for the sixth cornerback spot.

Matthew O’Halloran (@Prime_Kyrie2) – Cody Hollister

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Photo Credit: Getty Images

My dark horse pick to make the roster is Cody Hollister. The Patriots are thin at the receiver position and Hollister is 6’4″. If Britt does not play well in training camp, look for him to be cut, allowing for Hollister to be the backup tall receiver.

Steve Atkinson (@stevea1127) – Danny Etling

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Photo Credit: Getty Images

Will the Patriots keep three quarterbacks? After selecting Danny Etling in the seventh round of the NFL draft, the Patriots now have three quarterbacks on their roster. Tom Brady isn’t going anywhere anytime soon and the Patriots still have backup Brian Hoyer. Danny Etling comes out of LSU and to everyone’s surprise, the Patriots have eyed him for a while. The Patriots don’t usually keep three quarterbacks. However, Tom Brady will be 41 in August and the Patriots need to start looking at options for his successor. Etling is already starting to work with Tom Brady’s throwing coaches in California. Expect to see Danny Etling on the team for the 2018 NFL season.

Michael Clement (@MikeClement_) – Frank Herron

Herron is a senior defensive tackle coming out of LSU who recently signed with New England after going undrafted. Officially listed as a strong-side defensive end in college, Herron possesses enough versatility to play both inside and outside on the defensive line. A versatile player hailing from the SEC is a match made in heaven for Bill Belichick. Though Trey Flowers and newly-acquired Adrian Clayborn will lock down the starting roles each end, Frank Herron can provide some depth on either side. He’ll most likely battle for a roster spot as a defensive tackle, a position that was plagued with injuries last year. Defensive tackles Malcolm Brown and Danny Shelton both had their fifth-year team options declined recently, so if they fail to give New England a reason to re-sign them Herron could make his way up the depth chart this season.

Herron logged 67 tackles, two sacks, and three forced fumbles in his four years at LSU. Though those aren’t the prettiest numbers, the film reel tells all. Frank Herron is the supporting role on the defensive line that the Patriots cannot let go this summer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRPo7ousdV4

 

Who do you think the dark horse will be this year? Let us know on Twitter and Instagram.