Patriots fans thought they got what they have been wishing for this week. Now-retired Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski had a private throwing session at UCLA on Monday with his favorite quarterback, Tom Brady. The Patriots remain one of the favorites to win Super Bowl LIV even without Gronkowski. If your’e thinking of placing a bet on the Patriots, be sure to check out these sportsbook reviews.
In the Los Angeles area for a charity basketball game, Gronkowski told TMZ Sports that Brady needed someone to throw to and, of course, “[Brady] calls Mr. Reliable Robbie G the one and only!”
Gronkowski, 30, announced his retirement in March after weeks of speculation following Super Bowl 53. The Gronk-Brady reunion on the field has Pats fans praying for a possible return.
There are many factors that would go into a return for Gronkowski. The number one concern is his health. The 6-foot-6, 265-pound phenom has experienced a multitude of injuries dating back before his professional career.
Gronkowski missed his junior season at Arizona in 2009 due to back surgery. During his nine seasons in the NFL Gronkowski has suffered various injuries to his ankle, left arm, right knee, hamstring, groin and once again to his back. Being The Man and a constant target, however, helped to sustain these injuries.
Gronk often received double coverage in order for teams to cover a man of his height and size. Toward the end of his career, the tight end was utilized more as a blocker. Going up against 250-plus pound men surely increased the toll taken to his body.
With no rush to get back on the field, Gronkowski can spend time caring for his body. Gronkowski MIGHT want another go at the game if his body can feel better than it did when he left the league.
While the evaluation of his injury history seems bleak, all hope for Gronk’s return isn’t lost. According to Gronkowski’s girlfriend, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model Camille Kostek, with Rob anything is possible.
“He is someone who likes to mess around,” Kostek told Extra back in May. “I think he is messing with everybody, then again he stumps me all the time so who knows? He could be pulling this out of the woodwork at some time. I would love to see him out there, but I am also respecting him taking this time for himself, healing up his body, and enjoying the time off.”
Right now, Gronk remains retired and it doesn’t seem like it is going to change before the season begins. But maybe, just maybe, hanging out with Tom Brady will give the 30-year-old some beneficial tips on how to beat father time.
Rob Gronkowski held his 7th annual Citi, Pro Camp for kids. Helping the Boston food bank along with the kids who all brought food for a great cause.
Gronk was his usual happy self on the first day of his camp this year. The future HOF TE was running around playing quarterback, catching passes and teaching kids the importance of teamwork. He’s a great role model and it showed all day.
Everyone Including 800 Children had the same question for Gronk
The Patriots could surely use his services on the football field, but for now he is enjoying retirement. Rob is helping out in the community like he’s always done in the past.
This year the whole Gronkowski gang was out participating and having a blast. The event along with the kids brought in over 6,500 food items for the Greater Boston Food Bank.
Over 6500 items of food for the Greater a Boston Food Bank. (Mike Quilty)
Gronk taking a bow (Mike Quilty)
The greatest TE I’ve ever seen is just as clutch when it comes to the community as his catches were this postseason and Super Bowl.
Gronkowski could potentially come back to the Patriots at some point this upcoming season. The decision will probably be unexpected and a surprise.
The TE had one amazing surprise for two of the Pro Camp participants, what a class act.
Gronkowski always knows how to make someone smile, whether he’s off the field continuing his charities, or suiting up for the Patriots at some point in 2019.
The decision to retire is respected by everyone, but some of his ex teammates said they know he can still play and wouldn’t be surprised by a return. Gronk is going to be Gronk whatever he decides to do, he’s a Champion on and off the field.
Thank you to the Gronkowski’s, Rob in particular and everyone involved in a winning Saturday.
Let’s dive right into the Patriots first four picks in a draft that they absolutely nailed. Stay on the lookout for breakdowns of the later rounds and the UDFAs.
32. N’KEAL HARRY, WR
ARIZONA STATE
The Patriots pleasantly surprised on Thursday night. They not only drafted a receiver in the first round, but one of N’Keal Harry’s caliber. The evaluation of the wide receiver class this year was at times murky waters of sorts. Many passionate film buffs, scouts, and analysts had N’Keal Harry fluctuating from the fourth best receiver in this class to the first. After watching a ton of film on this kid, all signs point to Harry being much closer to that number one spot to that number four.
What he does right:
-Contested ball catcher, reminds of a DeAndre Hopkins in that regard.
-Big-bodied, yet moves at a pretty good speed for his size
-Very smart, faired really well during Patriots visit with playbook retention
-Understands how to use his body to make catches
-Will play some outside receiver, could also play a good deal of slot at the next level
-Very solid catch radius
-Makes catches look easier than they really are
-Good jump off the ball
-Like a Marshawn Lynch or Gronk once he has the ball, very hard to tackle, YAC monster
-Can be a redzone monster at a Pro level, will help replace that redzone presence of Gronk
Some nuances in his game:
-Not polished route runner
-Sometimes struggles with press off the line of scrimmage
-Occasionally struggles with focus in his game
-Not overly explosive or necessarily athletic
-May struggle to separate
-Not the greatest blocker in the world
Pro comparison: Dez Bryant
Instant impact: 3rd receiver on depth chart, gets utilized in LaFell role
Grade: A+
45. JOEJUAN WILLIAMS, CB
VANDERBILT
Oh boy, did some people get mad over this pick or what? I have never seen so many fans get angry over a great pick. Besides maybe the picks after that, like Damien Harris, Yondy Cajuste, Hjalte Froholdt, and Jake Bailey. If Belichick had a nickel for every Patriots fan that said, “What is he doing? WE NEED A TIGHT END!”, Bill would probably be dining at an expensive restaurant on that money alone. Joejuan Williams is a corner who Belichick loved coming into the draft. He is a tall, bigger corner who excels at pressing receivers and covering bigger targets. Williams brings the Patriots size at the corner position that they really have not had since Brandon Browner.
What he does right:
-Great physical traits
-Great mental processing and awareness
-Watches a boat load of film
-Tremendous press corner
-Described by many as “disruptive” to receivers
-Has shown ability to come up and play the run
-Appears to have a really good understanding of coverage schemes
-Very, very good play recognition
-Extremely physical
-Solid tackler
-Faired really well against A.J Brown, DaMarkus Lodge, and Riley Rildey, who all were solid receivers in this year’s draft class
Some nuances in his game:
-Fluidity
-Technique at line of scrimmage must improve drastically
-Not a world-class athlete
-Not a big playmaker
-Struggles against shiftier receivers, Patriots would not match him up against Antonio Brown
-Inconsistency in his game
Pro comparison: Richard Sherman
Instant impact: 3rd corner on depth chart, battles with bigger targets, get utilized in Browner role
Grade: A-
77. CHASE WINOVICH, EDGE
MICHIGAN
While he is undersized, Chase will play much like a Rob Ninkovich or Mike Vrabel. Winovich is an exciting pick for two reasons.
1. He was an early second round pick in most people’s eyes. Sometimes even a late first.
2. He helps replace some of the wackiness we lost when Gronk retired. Better hope Gronk does not come back because a nuclear war might erupt in that locker room. How crazy is he? He ate a live fish for a $20 bill.
Chase will play both defensive end and outside linebacker. This will give the linebacking core some more flexibility and the defensive line an edge rusher that does not quit.
What he does right:
-Nice hand usage
-Very measured and strategic, has a game plan every play on how to attack the quarterback
-Unreal amount of effort, will benefit that defense immensely
-Really high floor
-Good run defender
-High motor, full of energy
-Toughness
-His heart, toughness, and effort could translate well to kick coverage or punt coverage teams as well
-Loves football, wants to learn from veterans
-Brings lots of versatility
-Great execution
-Smart football player
-Recognizes blocking schemes very well
-Extremely physical
Some nuances in his game:
-Not the greatest athlete in the world
-Does not have too many pass rush moves in his tool belt
-Low ceiling
-Undersized for defensive end, not athletic enough to play outside linebacker
-Will struggle in some matchups at the next level
-Not exactly explosive
-Can be kind of slow off the ball
-Hips not very fluid, not bendy
-Not a speed-counter type of rusher
-Range
-Change of direction
Pro comparison: Clay Matthews
Instant impact: Rotational defensive end, majority of snaps on first/second down, Ninkovich role
Grade: B+
87. DAMIEN HARRIS, RB
ALABAMA
Damien Harris will be a beast behind this offensive line, sharing carries with Sony Michel, James White, and Rex Burkhead. Runningback was also a need for the Patriots in this draft class. The need not in an immediate sense, but more for down the road. Rex Burkhead and Sony Michel have struggled to stay healthy in their respective careers, and James White and Rex Burkhead’s contracts climb to higher cap numbers next season, then expire in 2021. I personally expected Belichick to go runningback at some point in this draft class, but not this early. However, I personally am glad that Belichick grabbed Damien Harris. Damien will be a beast in the run game and can contribute on special teams. Patriots now have a four-headed monster in the backfield.
What he does right:
-Played both gap and zone run schemes at Alabama
-Win first mentality
-Big-bodied
-Excellent vision
-Very explosive
-Finds open space in defense with ease
-Very balanced and solid
-Can be bell cow type of back, although it is unlikely he is utilized like this in New England’s system
-One cut
-Demonstrates good patience
-Runs really hard, runs through defenders
-Will not lose yards to gain yards, north-south runner
-Measured, collected, and controlled runner
Some nuances in his game:
-Change of direction is his kryptonite
-Instinct and creativity is shaky at times
-Slightly below average burst
-Lacks elusive traits
-Will get caught from behind because of lack of burst
-Hand technique is spotty
Pro comparison: Corey Clement
Instant impact: Rotational back, short-yardage back, will fight Burkhead for carries
1996 was the last time the Patriots drafted a receiver in the first round.
Terry Glenn, a 5’11, 195 pound, Ohio State prospect, was selected with the seventh pick in the 1996 draft and went on to catch 90 passes for 1132 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Mutual Interest
Now, the Patriots are reportedly eyeing an Ole Miss prospect and he is eyeing them right back.
AJ Brown, a 6’0, 226 pound receiver of Ole Miss has already met with the Patriots and has briefly referenced his wish to land in New England on his Twitter account.
Brown communicating his interest in playing in New England with none other than Tom Brady himself.
Combine and Traits
Brown ran a 4.49 forty-yard dash, benched 19 reps on the bench and had a 36.5 inch vertical leap in the NFL combine in Indianapolis.
His good athletic ability and good size is just a small part of the picture with AJ Brown.
Brown demonstrated that he is not only a talented big slot receiver at Ole Miss but also an excellent playmaker.
When watching AJ play, it is not hard to realize that he was actually the best receiver at Ole Miss.
However, he constantly found himself overshadowed by this mystical creature of sorts named DK Metcalf.
Metcalf will be long gone before our 32nd pick in the draft, however, Brown should be available.
If this is the case, the Patriots should immediately jump to pick a receiver in the first round for the first time in 23 years.
The Kind of Player He Is
He may not exactly be the best at getting separation at the next level, which is something Belichick looks for. However, Brown’s physicality and pretty good speed allow him to win battles for the ball when covered.
Brown is a quick processor, has a high football IQ, and should have the smarts to grasp a playbook that others have struggled with in the past.
Could Help Heal Some Wounds Caused By Gronk’s Departure
Having a smart target on the field will be beneficial to the Patriots offense with Gronk leaving for retirement. Gronk’s smarts was one of his most valuable traits and drafting a young, big, chain-mover would help alleviate that pain.
Best Receiver in the Draft
After extensive research, I am convinced that AJ Brown has the potential to be the best receiver in this draft.
AJ’s real competition will be Hakeem Butler out of Iowa State. A familiar face to Brown, DK Metcalf out of Ole Miss, will also challenge this title.
Evaluation
Brown has a proven track record to as a powerful runner with great vision, great blocking, and good elusiveness.
Brown can easily adjust to the football on the ground or in the air. He can catch in traffic. He can run good routes.
Brown really does not possess many weaknesses in game film.
Besides the questions of being able to consistently separate, Brown is a very strong prospect.
He could end up being either the second or third receiver in the Patriots offense. A trio of Edelman, Brown and hopefully Josh Gordon would be very strong.
Boldin Comparison
Comparisons to Anquan Boldin are pretty reasonable and realistic. Those who have said so made sure every knew Brown has more speed than Boldin ever did.
AJ Brown is a safe pick. He can be a leader for the team and a primary target for Brady and predecessor quarterbacks. Cross your fingers that AJ Brown slips to the 32nd spot in this month’s draft.
Let’s take a look at the latest some Patriots moves and rumors that were surfacing this week. Belichick and the Patriots have been pretty quiet this offseason. However, a few stories this week could help shape this team for next year and years beyond.
Move: The Stephon Gilmore Contract
Thursday, the Patriots reworked Stephon Gilmore’s contract for 2019.
Gilmore, who was originally scheduled to have a cap hit of $14,837,500, saw $8.5 million dollars worth of his contract get converted into a signing bonus.
Doing this frees up $5.67 million dollars for the Patriots in cap space. The current cap for the Pats is now $8,332,763.
This move should not be the only one for the Patriots as more money will need to come their way. The Patriots still have key free agents like Stephen Gostkowski and Chris Hogan, who remain unsigned.
The Patriots also must compensate for the projected $8,970,997 dollars it will take to sign all their draft picks.
With their cap as it is, expect the Patriots to move some money around with players like Devin McCourty, Tom Brady, and maybe even Rob Gronkowski, D’onta Hightower, and Lawerence Guy.
Many expect Gostkowski to be back and Hogan looks more likely to return by the day. The Patriots will need at least 6 million in cap for those two signings alone.
Expect them to restructure some contracts, resign some players, and trade a couple of draft picks.
Rumor: Patriots Schedule Meeting With WVU Quarterback Will Grier
The Patriots lack of attention to the quarterback position in this year’s draft might hint what they have planned for next year’s.
Although, one quarterback prospect who they have scheduled a meeting with is former West Virginia quarterback Will Grier.
Grier, who was in the Heisman conversation for a brief time last year, seems to be moving up draft boards each day.
In fact his pro day was so impressive that he has potentially moved up into late first-round consideration.
Grier makes sense as a potential fit in the Patriots system. In addition, some other quarterbacks that scouts think could come to New England are Daniel Jones of Duke, Brett Rypien of Boise State, and Ryan Finley of North Carolina State.
Rumor: Stephen Gostkowski Resigning Reports
It seems inevitable that the Patriots and veteran kicker Stephen Gostkowski will reach an agreement to reunite.
Now it appears that after the readjustment of Stephon Gilmore’s contract that the Patriots now have the money to resign their long-tenured kicker.
Tom Curran reported on Thursday that the Patriots and Gostkowski are making progress and are actively talking about a return.
Curran also reported that other teams are interested in Gostkowski. Almost any team would kill for a kicker like Stephen. Although, Gostkowksi’s interest in other teams seem very small and he obviously holds the Patriots as his top destination.
Gostkowski will be entering his fourteenth year in the NFL and will not consider retirement at this time.
Most expect Gostkowski’s contract number to be in the $3mil to $4mil range.
Losing a kicker like Gostkowski would obviously be bad news for New England. Replacing his production would certainly not be an easy task.
The more film watched on TJ Hockenson, the more it seems he will be long gone before the Patriots pick 32nd. However, one never knows these days as players get injured in practice (like Jeffery Simmons), poor combines or pro days hurt their value, and sometimes guys just slide due to demand.
Although historically the Patriots never really trade up in the draft, this Iowa tight end might be worth breaking the trend for. That is of course assuming he doesn’t miraculously fall into their hands at the end of the first round.
Here is what makes Hockenson so good:
Good jump off ball, quickly gets out of three point stance
Gets hands inside and doesn’t overextend, dominant blocking technique
Lowers pads
Keeps ball high and tight, protects the football
Nice awareness
Can outrun Big Ten linebackers and corners, making him hard to one on one with good RAC (run after catch)
Always gets lower than his man when blocking, gets good leverage on his guy
Really nice hands
Extremely athletic and agile for a man of his size
Fundamentally sound
Polished
Disciplined route runner
Physical
Good balance and control
Can adjust to the ball very nicely
Phenomenal focus and ability to get his feet down in bounds, great awareness of his surroundings
Hockenson is a future Pro Bowler. One of the easiest prospects to evaluate in this class. Good at pretty much everything. The only weaknesses I can come up with are that he doesn’t always high-point the ball and he can sometimes be too aggressive as a blocker at the 2nd level.
-Evan Lazar, CLNS Media
Hockenson just continues to demonstrate that he is the complete package in film review. His potential really is something to marvel over.
Cons:
There is very little to complain about in his game. The aggressive blocking and high-pointing, as mentioned in the quote by Evan Lazar, were somewhat of a concern, but not enough to not draft him for it. He seemed to always improvise during some minor mistakes.
Another con to mention was his hands when catching the football were sometimes spread too far apart, but like the other problems, he improvised and did not let it become an issue.
On this play versus Indiana, Hockenson high points the ball, adjusts his body and makes a leaping grab. Scoring the touchdown in the back of the endzone, with a defender draped on him, showing excellent awareness to get both feet down in bounds.
His teammate Noah Fant gets more coverage for his more flashy ability. Although, Hockenson will be a far better NFL player and it may not even be close.
TJ might just be the best tight end to come out of the NFL Draft since Hunter Henry or George Kittle.
Player Comparisons:
Hockenson has drawn comparisons to former Iowa tight end George Kittle before. Kittle just came off a phenomenal stat clinic of a season. Hockenson has also been compared to Dennis Pitta and a mini Gronk (A stretch but I have heard it). The one that suits him best would be Dennis Pitta, who when healthy was a very good tight end for Baltimore.
If the Patriots could get their hands on this guy, not only would a combo of Gronk and Hockenson be hard to stop in 2019, but Hockenson himself would be a deadly force for years to come.
Note: Pre-draft scouting reports on potential Patriots are on their way and will be posted regularly as the draft comes even closer.
A stockpile of picks, a bunch of needs, and a much needed injection of youth should make this draft interesting for all Patriots fans.
The most interesting aspect of this whole draft for the Patriots will be the direction they take. Do they aim more for day one contributors that can provide value at a second or third spot on a depth chart? Do they aim more for developmental pieces that may take longer to develop but better the team after the Brady era ends? This decision will greatly dictate how the Patriots draft and who they draft.
Obviously, the more valuable picks are the players that can provide some immediate value and can also continue to get better overtime. Let’s take a look at which positions the Patriots should find themselves emphasizing this year and how high up on the totem pole each one should be.
1. TIGHT END
Iowa’s TJ Hockenson is certainly on the draft board for the Patriots
Look for the Patriots to address tight end extremely early. TJ Hockenson should be their main priority going into the draft, as he can provide short-term and long-term benefits. Player comparisons for TJ span all the way from Dennis Pitta to a baby Gronk.
Adding Hockenson would provide immediate benefit to a team that loves their two tight end sets. He also has an extremely high ceiling that could answer the Patriots potential problems at tight end once Gronk retires.
Hockenson being available at #32 might be a stretch. Which if it so happens that his name gets called before the Patriots selection, plenty of options will still be available at tight end. This tight end loaded class features many potential options, however none as appealing or exciting as TJ.
Gronk will not play forever, therefore the time has come to find his eventual replacement.
2. FRONT SEVEN
Mississippi State’s Jeffery Simmons remains the wild card
Do not let the great play by this group in the playoffs overshadow the regular season and regular seasons prior. This front seven still needs a major revamp.
Linebacker happens to be less of a need than expected, due to the emergence of Van Noy and the glimpse everyone received of Ja’whaun Bentley. Yet, Hightower gets no younger and carries a tremendous cap hit next season. Adrian Clayborn did not live up to his unreasonable expectations and also costs a pretty penny next year. Flowers needs to be resigned to a ground-breaking deal. Shelton and Brown also appear set to at least hit the market, whether they return remains unknown.
Harsh reality here, the Patriots front seven has been inconsistent and has struggled in countless areas. Much turnover looks likely for the group and defensive coaches are leaving this team left and right.
The best strategy would be to draft quality front seven players that fit the ideology of the new incoming coaches. Therefore, the Patriots should bring some much needed youth to a core that needs a new direction.
Keep an eye on Jeffery Simmons, who has his red flags and also just tore his ACL but if he slides enough, the Patriots could potentially snag him on day two. Simmons being a top ten talent in most people’s minds, would certainly be worth the risk if available on day two.
3. OFFENSIVE TACKLE
With the right coaching for Northern Illinois’ Max Scharping, he can be a deadly force in the NFL
Expect the Patriots to at least think about grabbing another offensive tackle to eventually pair with Isaiah Wynn.
The future remains unclear on whether the Patriots will resign Trent Brown but regardless the Patriots will have to choose between either Brown and Wynn or Cannon and Wynn.
Brown will not be cheap to resign and the Patriots will have to take a look at Wynn’s recovery from the Achilles injury that sidelined him this season. Wynn should be ready to go for week one but might see some drawbacks in his game. If Wynn for some reason really does not appear like he should be starting week one, well then, a Greek tragedy arises. A travesty occurs. Shakespeare would call this play Isaiah of Foxboro (Timon of Athens reference).
If Wynn’s health does not seem up to par, that would mean the Patriots would likely have to sign Trent Brown to a huge contract and retain Marcus Cannon’s cap hit as well. Meaning the first round pick would be struggling, the Patriots would pay a king’s ransom, and they would also likely forfeit a potential third round comp pick that they would likely acquire if they let Trent Brown go.
Bottom line is that the Patriots will look at Wynn’s health and likely look to dump either Brown or Cannon. This would inevitably require them to find a tackle that could backup for the meantime and later step into a full role.
The guy to watch out for here is Max Scharping. His draft stock entirely depends on his combine and Pro day. He could end up falling anywhere between rounds one through four depending on his combine and Pro day. Assuming he falls a bit, he would be a perfect developmental player for New England. Max is someone who could end up starting for them for a long time under Scarnecchia’s influence and guidance.
After last years Super Bowl loss, the greatest sports dynasty in history faced some serious questions. Post game interviews from Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady were not comforting to Patriots fans whatsoever. There was talk of their future in football being up in the air, but more so with Gronkowski. Tom Brady didn’t go as far as Gronk did, but he also didn’t shut down the possibility of him retiring. In his 2017 documentary “Tom vs. Time”, the final episode was filmed a couple weeks after Super Bowl 52 and included Brady’s final thoughts on the season. It also included his wife Gisele Bundchen’s thoughts on Brady and his potential end in the NFL. Gisele made it seem like the end was near for Brady. She made it clear she wanted him home with her and their children more than out on the field playing.
Although there was much speculation regarding the two superstars, Brady and Gronk returned for 2018, where they are poised to win their third Super Bowl in five years. However, with Gronk not running at full speed anymore and Brady closer to 42 than 41, could this be the final dance for them and the Patriots dynasty? Not a chance.
If you have watched any Patriots football this season, you know that there was some legitimate concerns about this team. They were getting blown out by non-playoff teams, and scraping by against weaker teams early on. Tom Brady didn’t look as sharp week in and week out and it seemed like no one on offense could do anything at times. Chris Hogan was a no show for stretches, Rob Gronkowski couldn’t buy a reception, and Julian Edelman was dropping more passes than usual. The defense was playing okay, but still allowing more points than they should have been. Let’s not even mention the ridiculously coined “Miami Miracle”.
However, in usual Patriots fashion, they turned it around when they needed to. They won their final two games to secure the second seed in the playoffs and looked healthy overall. The Chargers didn’t have an answer for them in the Divisional and the Chiefs were finished as soon as Matthew Slater called “heads” in overtime. It seems like everything is clicking now for New England, who stand a great chance at claiming another Lombardi Trophy.
Although, with Super Bowl 53 looming and reports of retirement coming out of Rob Gronkowski’s camp, could this be it? There have been a few rumors of Bill Belichick’s final game and Tom Brady could very well pull a Peyton Manning and ride off into the sunset with his sixth Lombardi in the trunk of his Aston Martin. New England has good talent and coaching on both sides of the ball, but are in serious trouble if Brady and Gronk decide to hang it up.
Is it going to happen? According to Tom Brady, the chances that this is his last game are “zero percent“. In an interview with ESPN’s Jeff Darlington, Brady made it clear that he isn’t going anywhere. Win or lose next Sunday in Atlanta, the AFC East will have to be tortured for at least another year.
Tom Brady riles up the crowd at the Patriots Super Bowl sendoff.
As for Gronk, that is another matter. The general feeling around the league is that No. 87 will likely call it a career after Super Bowl 53. Another Super Bowl loss could change this, but a win, in my opinion, almost certainly means that Gronkowski will retire.
Does this mean the dynasty is going to crumble? Of course not. The Pats have been without prime Gronk for a majority of the season and have fared just fine. Now, if anyone else decides to turn in their pads or clipboard for Daiquiri’s and vacations, then worrying can ensue. However, I strongly believe that Bill Belichick will retire when Tom Brady does, maybe even a little after that. I also think TB12 will live up his promise of playing until he’s 45, unless an injury occurs.
New England has 12 picks in the upcoming draft and should be able to create an ample amount of cap space to sign some premium free agents. In addition to that, they could be getting Josh Gordon back, pending a suspension, and a plethora of 2018 rookies that are on Injured Reserve. Receiver Braxton Berrios and linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley are names to watch for next year.
New England faces turnover like this every year, and while potentially losing the best tight end in history would be a blow, the Patriots would do what they do best: reload, not rebuild.
At almost every turn this regular season, the Patriots found themselves doubted. Constantly counted out and disregarded, teams went to play them with a higher level of confidence than years prior. Now, they head to Atlanta where they are currently three point favorites against the Los Angeles Rams.
Gameplan
Yesterday was a marvelous performance and featured phenomenal execution. The gameplan on offense was really no secret. The plan going in was to establish the run game, create unpredictability in the playcall, and most of all dominate the time of possession to keep the ball out of the hands of Mahomes.
Coaching
The coaching was stupendous however not flawless. Some questionable playcalls and decisions almost cost them the game on both sides of the ball, but that happens in the NFL. On the flip side, the coaching staff for Kansas City appeared blatantly unprepared for this game. The Patriots game plan came as no surprise to even some of the most casual fans, yet Kansas City struggled to stop the run on almost every try early in the game. Virtually every run in the first and second quarter broke for nice gains into the second and third levels of the defense.
Defensive Line
The Chiefs failures to stop the run early on killed their chances to get anything going in the first half. Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs might want to look at the tape from this game and look at how one dimensional their offense became. The depleted running attack forced Mahomes to throw. Andy Reid and the staff did him no favors by calling almost exclusively medium to long ball plays. This only made the job easier for Patriots pass rush, who was steamrolling an offensive line, going after a quarterback holding onto the ball for too long. Trey Flowers and the crew had big games attacking a offensive line that was pretty solid this season.
Long Drives
The long, sustained drives that the Patriots put together early in the game were just pure football art. The mix of run and pass had the defense guessing wrong almost every time in the first and second quarter and allowed for the Patriots to hold the Chiefs offense to zero points in the first half. Complementary football at it’s finest.
Tommy Boy
Also, of course, how can anyone forget? Tom Brady. How does Brady continue to put together these wins late in the game, seemingly by himself. Sure the offensive line was spectacular and Edelman and Gronk played big roles in the final two drives, but Brady put on a clinic by marching down the field twice to go ahead on both occasions. Name another quarterback who deserves to even be mentioned in the same sentence as him. It might take a while.
Chris Amendola
It was encouraging to see Chris Hogan make some of the plays he did late in the game, which only inspires hope for Patriots fans that he can take on the Patriots’ Playoff Amendola role.
Offensive Line and Running Game
The offensive line as mentioned before was marvelous. They did a great job, paving the way for Michel, White, and Burkhead to run where they wanted at will. The question remains to be asked of where this offensive line and team would be without re-hiring Dante Scarnecchia back in 2016.
Roberts and Kyle Van Noy
The last real encouraging performance was the performance of Kyle Van Noy and Elandon Roberts. Two frequently unappreciated linebackers went and put together some nice plays and tackles to make things difficult for Mahomes and company. Van Noy’s performance was especially impressive and very encouraging going into the Super Bowl against a very good running game.
Stage set in Atlanta
Now, Brady and company will head off to Super Bowl 53 in a highly anticipated matchup versus the Los Angeles Rams. Hopefully, the Patriots can follow the pattern of the Red Sox and themselves, who both beat LA teams earlier this year (Dodgers and Chargers). Regardless of the outcome of this Super Bowl bout, it is hard to see the Patriots going down without a fight.
It’s happening again Patriots fans. When that familiar feeling comes back, when what was old is new again. Do you remember, after the tuck rule game, before the match-up with the Rams? When Vegas thought so little of the Patriots they installed them as 14 point dogs in the Super Bowl? This was when the Patriots were at their ‘us against the world’ best. They lost that mojo, after trainers and spending time with family seemed more important than football. After Jimmy G and Gronk and going up the back stairs to the owner. But the Patriots have it back, and it will carry them to another Championship.
Poor Atlanta
Remember this?
Almost two years ago today, on February 5th 2017, the Patriots found themselves down by 25 points nearing the end of the third quarter against the Altanta Falcons.
The Patriots were favored by 3 in that Super Bowl. By that point, having faced down every possible scenario, it was all old hat. So it took the Pats being down that much, with only a quarter and a few minutes left, to kick it into high gear.
Backs against the wall, that’s when they play their best. Seattle can tell you a bit about this too.
Bulletin Board Material
Another old friend is back en vogue. Coach Belichick is a proven motivator when the timing’s right. And right now the conditions are perfect for the primordial soup of hoodie motivation.
And there you have it. According to Vegas, The Patriots are 55% less likely to win the Super Bowl than the Chiefs. This after being the smallest favorite in the Divisional round this past weekend, but winning by the second largest margin.
The Chiefs and Pat Mahomes have been the darlings of the NFL all year. But the Patriots will not buckle under pressure or snow and ice like the Colts did. The Chiefs fumbled twice, loosing one, and had a punt blocked against the Colts. That’s a recipe for failure against a motivated Patriots team.
The Pump Has Been Primed
Tom Brady is giving voice to his motivation, and that of the team:
After Tom Brady told @tracywolfson in a post-game interview on CBS that "everybody thinks we suck and can't win any games", the underdog theme resonated throughout parts of the Patriots locker room as players looked ahead to the AFC Championship Game. https://t.co/nVpL8onc5w
Over the past few years, this refrain from Brady has been rebuffed by cold, hard facts. The NFL intelligentsia has bestowed “The GOAT” label on Brady, and Best NFL Coach Of All Time to Belichick. But it’s finally true again. Everyone does think they suck. Watch out NFL.
