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Early 2018 NFL Awards Predictions

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

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

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.

Why Did Josh McDaniels Come Back?

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The Future Is Now for the Patriots

Let’s go back in time to after the Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Josh McDaniels was on the verge of taking the Indianapolis Colts head coaching job. He was about to step away from the Patriots organization. But after the Super Bowl, Belichick, Kraft, and McDaniels got together and had a meeting. During that meeting, there’s speculation that Belichick announced his upcoming retirement at the end of the season. Josh McDaniels would become the head coach following this season. I’ve said this before, but the more I see how they are planning for the future it could be true.

Belichick had McDaniels in the draft room in April, along with Director of Player Personnel Nick Caserio. They stacked up for the 2019 NFL Draft so Josh and Nick can really build a team for the future. While they are trying to do that, the drama between Brady and Belichick has taken a toll on this off-season, and with good reason. However, some Patriots fans think this is all part of Belichick’s plan to fool the media, but if that was the case Brady would be at OTAs.

Josh McDaniels Had to Know What His Future in New England Was Going to Be Like

McDaniels had to know what his future was going to be like before he made his decision to come back. Once he found out that he would be the next head coach, he really had no choice to come back. It hasn’t been released because they don’t want it to become a distraction. There’s enough drama going on in Foxborough. If it is true the only people who know are Belichick, Kraft, McDaniels, and possibly Nick Caserio. Tom Brady or any other player wouldn’t know. It’s a fact that Brady had a say in bringing McDaniels back. Just like how he went over Belichick’s head to get rid of Jimmy Garoppolo.

Belichick is still mad about Brady going over his head, while Brady is still upset that Belichick won’t let his trainer in the locker room. The answer to why did Josh McDaniels come back? It’s pretty simple, because the future is now for this team, like it or not. Josh is part of the future along with Danny Etling who just signed a four-year contract. He may not be Brady, but it helps that he was working with Brady’s throwing coaches.

Bill Belichick Is Annoyed with Brady

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Bill Belichick Is in Midseason Form

(Foxborough, MA 07/27/17) Coach Bill Belichick walks up to the practice field for the start of Patriots training camp at Gillette. Thursday, July 27, 2017. Staff photo by John Wilcox.

The one topic Bill Belichick will talk about? His players that are participating in OTAs. The first question earlier this week from the media about Tom Brady’s absence was quickly shut down by Belichick. The coach is also showing signs he’s done at the end of the season. He wouldn’t even touch on the 2018 draft picks, replying that Director of Player Personnel Nick Caserio took care of that. Bill Belichick is sick of the drama with Brady and Guerrero, and Gronkowski’s salary demands.

Belichick Won’t Discuss Draft Picks

Belichick seemed very bitter earlier this week — in mid-season form at his press conference. Julian Edelman is participating in the workouts and he also goes to TB12 for treatments. It is a big deal Brady isn’t participating in OTAs. Some are saying he’s a fraud. Garoppolo used to talk about giving up his life for football. When Garoppolo got traded, Brady all of a sudden needs to have more family time.

Patriots fans need to be realistic. Belichick is on his way out. Brady doesn’t feel appreciated and is holding out because he wants to spend more time with his family. He realizes Danny Etling could be the next quarterback for this team. They have loads of draft picks for the 2019 NFL Draft. Belichick doesn’t care who you are or what you’ve done. If you aren’t participating he’s only going to talk about the players that are. According to NFL Network, Brady will be at mandatory minicamp in the first week in June along with Rob Gronkowski.

Will Tom Brady Join Mandatory Minicamp?

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No Sign Of Tom Brady

Via hubwav

With OTA’s starting today at Gillette Stadium, Tom Brady is usually there bright and early. This year, however, he’s spending more time with his family and will pass on OTA’s. According to Ian Rapoport, people close to Brady think that it would be unlikely that Brady would show up. Tom Brady doesn’t want a new contract. He’s done when his contract is up.

Now, most Patriots fans don’t want to hear this just like they don’t want to hear Belichick is done at the end of the season. With Garoppolo gone, Brady doesn’t feel the pressure and wants to be more of a family man this offseason.

Let’s See What Danny Etling Can Do

Via NESN.com

The Patriots signed Danny Etling to a four-year contract. As a result, like I’ve said before, like it or not they’ll groom him to be the best quarterback he can be. All those draft picks to benefit Josh McDaniels in 2019, stocking up talent and making sure Danny Etling has a good team in 2020. Brady is bigger than the team. We saw that last year when he went to Kraft about getting rid of Garoppolo. Bill Belichick is still not happy about that. He’s supposed to be the man in charge.

Some Patriots Fans In Denial

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) sits on the bench on the sideline in the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Friday, Aug. 15, 2014, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) ORG XMIT: FBO1

Fans need to realize that good things always come to an end. For Brady, he’s making a statement that he doesn’t feel appreciated. However, Rob Gronkowski doesn’t feel appreciated either and they are working on his contract. Furthermore, there is no way Gronkowski stays when Brady leaves. Will Brady attend mandatory minicamp? Probably not and the reason will be he wanted to spend more time with his family and that he’s been working on his own which means at TB12. That’s what he’ll tell the media .

All that talk about playing till 45, and I’ve given up my life are you willing to give up yours? That was all to get Garoppolo out of here. Now with him gone, he takes his kids to school, plays out his contract and walks away as the greatest quarterback of all time

The Importance of Devin McCourty

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The Importance Of Devin McCourty

Via BET.com

Devin McCourty had an MRI last week and a follow-up today according to an insider at Patriot Place. McCourty is a leader on that team and really is the voice of the locker room. He brings that leadership quality and it really shows. I’m not sure why he had the MRI. I just know that he had one and it doesn’t seem serious.

Devin’s Leadership Is Needed

McCourty is also happy about having his brother on the team, telling Mike Reiss last Tuesday, “He brings leadership that I think we don’t have on this team; he knows how to deal with adversity,”Sometimes we get in a routine — we’ve won a lot of football games — and it’s always good to hear a different perspective of what it takes so you’re not kind of getting worn down or thinking this is too much. You get a perspective from him going 0-16. He always tells me, ‘Last year, worst year ever.’ I think hearing that motivates you and lets you know you’re doing the right things that push you.”

Jason McCourty will replace Malcolm Butler at cornerback. Jason is excited to be a Patriot, and to be on the same team as his brother. He also told Reiss last week, “There were times when you thought ‘maybe,’ but kind of towards the end it was just, ‘I don’t know if it’s going to happen. Mostly for our family, this has been really exciting and cool for them just to have the opportunity; our mom, older brother who’s kind of watched our careers our whole lives. So to see us come together at this level is just kind of a special thing.”

Devin McCourty getting checked out by the Patriots medical staff and attending the workouts is a great sign. He doesn’t let the outside noise get to him, and makes sure he does what’s in the best interest of not just for himself: he knows the Patriot Way centers on the team.

The Patriots Hire Martial Arts Expert Joe Kim

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Bill Belichick Hires Martial Arts Expert

The New England Patriots hired martial arts expert Joe Kim as a pass rushing consultant yesterday. According to USA Today, Joe Kim has worked with eight other NFL teams. He worked most recently for the Cleveland Browns in 2016. Bill Belichick gave Joe Kim his first job in the NFL with Cleveland in 1992. Kim began his martial arts career in 1974 and will help the young defenders on the Patriots to develop a better pass rush.

The Patriots tied for seventh last season in the pass rush. They had 42 sacks, but they really never got to the quarterback when they needed to. Most notably, in the Super Bowl loss to the Eagles, Nick Foles never went down.

Kim Has Worked With Eight NFL Teams

In addition to the Browns, Kim has helped the Chicago Bears, New York Giants, Denver Broncos, Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins and Penn State. Danny Shelton got the opportunity to work with Kim with during his time with the Cleveland Browns. Shelton praised Kim on his Instagram in January 2017. “Got the opportunity to work with [Master Joe Kim] this past year and felt like I really improved from my first year with his help. Appreciate your work Master Kim and I know the best is in store for you. #blessed #masterjoekim.” Shelton posted also on Instagram a video of Kim working with Kim in April 2017.

http://www.instagram.com/p/BSebe9ig0uh/?utm_source=ig_embed

The Importance of the Patriots Offensive Line

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Physical Day for the Offensive Line

Half of the Patriots offensive line got their physicals today. The Patriots have to make sure they do a good job protecting soon-to-be 41 year old Tom Brady. The Patriots have Brian Hoyer and Danny Etling, but neither is Tom Brady. Patriots assistant coaches met with the media last week, and Dante Scarnecchia is looking for a replacement for Nate Solder. The Patriots will probably try Isaiah Wynn and Trent Brown for the left tackle position.

Newly Acquired Players Will Be Key to Protecting Tom Brady

Scarnecchia has a challenge trying to replace Nate Solder. Scarnecchia said on Friday, “It’s a big challenge, because you get in a real big comfort zone with him, and especially the way Nate played over the last half of the season,” Scarnecchia said. “He’s been given this opportunity and he’s taking advantage of it for he and his family, so now the next thing is we gotta replace him. So, we have guys that we’re hoping will be able to step in there”. Wynn was drafted 23rd overall in the NFL Draft. According to the Boston Herald as a senior Wynn was a second-team All American. He also started all 15 games at Georgia, including the National Championship.

Scarnecchia spoke highly of Wynn on Friday, saying, “He was a really good player in the best conference in America at his position, and he played left tackle and he’s played guard, so that’s what I like about him, He’s got great traits. We look for three traits: Smart, tough and athletic enough to play the position. He’s got all three, so we’ll see if that translates to this level.”

Trent Brown, was acquired from San Francisco for a third-round pick in the NFL Draft. Scarnecchia also had a lot to say about Brown: “He’s attentive, wants to know what we’re doing, kind of a quiet guy, but that’s all right,” He’s listening to what’s going on around him, can answer a lot of questions, so we just have to see how that works. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to see it until we get to training camp, with he and Isaiah.”

Josh McDaniels Speaks with the Media

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Josh McDaniels Spoke Friday

FOXBORO, MA – SEPTEMBER 22: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots (R) talks with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels during the first half against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on September 22, 2016 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Josh McDaniels spoke with the media on Friday on his decision to not take the head coaching job in Indianapolis and return to the Patriots. We know when his next coaching job will be: in New England when Belichick retires. There was a meeting between Kraft, Belichick, and McDaniels, which I’ve stated before, that McDaniels will be taking over for Belichick after this upcoming season.

The way the draft went for the Patriots is starting to make sense. They know Brady has two more years left and they need to start planning for the future. All Brady’s talk about playing until he’s 45 was just to ship Jimmy Garoppolo out of town. When that worked he’s talking about spending more time with his family and missing voluntary workouts. If Garoppolo was still on the team, Brady would be at those workouts- no doubt about it. Brady also had a say about McDaniels coming back to the Patriots.

Josh Will Be a Head Coach Again

Via SI.comMcDaniels was asked what went through his decision to come back on Friday to the Patriots. His response: “I’ll say this, I’ve stated again and again that I definitely want to be a head coach again. At the same time, I love being here. This is where my kids were born and raised. We’ve made a pretty special life here and that’s not an easy thing to leave. There’s a lot to consider.” Remember, he also did an interview with the Boston Globe when he first made the choice to come back, saying he had to know what his future was going to be like. Once he found out what that was, he decided to come back.

From this point forward it’s about the future of the team. They’ll make another Super Bowl run I’m sure. Maybe they’ll win another one more before this 18-year run comes to a close. But all the pieces are coming together in this giant puzzle in Foxborough. The Patriots won’t release right now that Belichick is leaving at the end of the season. With all the rest of the drama, the last thing Belichick wants is a going away tour. Enjoy the final couple of years, because in 2020 we’ll be looking at a completely different team. A team with Josh McDaniels at the helm.

Is Danny Etling the Future?

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Patriots Sign Etling for Four Years

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-cePbBqucU

The New England Patriots are trying to plan post-Tom Brady. Earlier this week they signed their seventh-round pick out of LSU Danny Etling to a four-year contract. It looks like Josh McDaniels, Bill Belichick, and the rest of the Patriots staff like what they see out of Etling. Etling is working on his mechanics with Tom Brady’s throwing coaches in California. Etling threw for 2,463 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior at LSU, while also completing 60.0 percent of his throws.

Danny Etling had a 16-7 record as LSU’s starting quarterback and finished in the top ten in school history in passing yards per game. Etling will be a nice addition to the Patriots quarterback position. It looks like Belichick will be keeping three quarterbacks on the Patriots roster for the 2018 NFL season. Etling looks like he can get the ball downfield and find an open receiver. Director of Player Personnel for the Patriots Nick Caserio spoke after they selected Etling and said, “You look at his career production and this guy didn’t turn the ball over. I think it was 16-2 this year, a low percentage. He takes care of the ball, smart, pretty accurate thrower.”

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewib47Wpwu4

Comparing Brady to Etling’s college numbers, their senior years are similar. Etling threw for 16 touchdowns his senior year at LSU. Tom Brady threw 16 touchdowns at his senior year at Michigan. Danny Etling threw two interceptions in his senior year, while Brady threw six. The two quarterbacks had similar senior years in college. I’m not saying Etling is Brady, but look where Brady got drafted and where he is now. Pretty soon we may see Danny Etling over at TB12 to get pliable.

The Patriots Will Groom Etling for Two Years

Tom Brady has two more years left and then he’s done. He knows it, Kraft knows it, and Brady’s wife knows it. Belichick, McDaniels, and Brady will groom Etling for this year. Then it will just be McDaniels and Brady in the 2019 season. Then in 2020, it will be Danny Etling’s time to shine as the starter for the Patriots.

On The Defensive: Who is Brian Flores?

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photo cred. – www.nbcsports.com

Who is Brian Flores and where did he come from?

Brian Flores grew up in the housing projects (Brownsville) in Brooklyn, NY. Brownsville is one of, if not, the toughest areas to grow up in around the country, excluding Chicago. Growing up, Flores and his siblings saw things that kids his age should never have to witness. If you ask Flores it made him into the fearless man/leader he is today.

Flores began playing football around the 8th grade and quickly turned himself into quite the defensive back/running back. Not only was Flores a heck of a player on the field, but in the classroom he was an exceptional student who scored a 1,140 on his SAT. Good grades along with his skills on the field helped him get accepted to Boston College. While at Boston College, Flores was the teams second leading tackler. In 2003, he missed the bowl game and a chance at being drafted due to torn quadriceps.

photo cred. – www.medium.com

How Flores became a Coach/Patriot:

In 2004, the Patriots hired Flores as a scouting assistant within the organization. First, lets backup to before Flores being hired and the process of landing a job in the NFL. After his college and playing career ended, Flores desired a position as either a coach or a GM in the league.

According to Flores, “[He] sent a letter to EVERY team in the NFL and the Patriots were the only team to write back”. Not only did the Patriots see something other teams didn’t, but Belichick must have had a tremendous amount of faith in the potential of this guy. Flores was then brought in for the 2004 season as the scouting assistant.

In 2008, Flores work ethic did not go unnoticed as he was then named the teams scouting coach. Two years later in 2010, they noticed his work ethic and again he claimed the title as special teams Assistant. As usual, Flores was quick to climbing the ladder and the name of assistant offensive and special teams coach was given to him.

On the Defensive:

In 2011, Flores was back on the side of the ball where he belonged, the defensive side. He was named the defensive assistant for Belichick and the Patriots and once again his hard work paid off. In 2012, he was named the safeties coach where he held the position until 2016. In 2016 he became the Patriots linebacker coach and held that title until now. After Matt Patricia left to become the Lions head coach, Flores was named the defensive coordinator/play caller for the 2018 season. Flores will be under the wing of Bill Belichick until the 2019 season when Flores can take over. With Flores running the defense it looks like we will see more hybrid 3-4, 4-3 defenses but only time will tell.

High praise and recognition:

What Flores is doing isn’t a fluke and he has been noticed and recognized by other coaches and players. So much so that Flores who was relatively unknown in 2004, became a finalist for the Arizona Cardinals Head Coaching position. Luckily for the Pats, he ultimately came up short. Here is what veteran LB David Harris had to say about his coach:

“Even though he’s only a couple years older than me, his depth & knowledge of football is outstanding. He knows not just linebackers, he knows entire defenses, he knows the offense as well. He is definitely an up & coming coach in this league. Everybody was happy for him even being considered for a coaching job. I think eventually he will be an outstanding coach.”

High praise coming from a veteran guy like David Harris who has been around this league for quite sometime. Another quote from Jeff Howe (Patriots beat writer for the athletic), is one I found intriguing:

“Patriots players hoped Flores would get this promotion. They LOVE him, this will be well received in the locker room.”

Final Take:

With Bill and Flores in the 2018 season, the adjustment on defense will be interesting to see. Also with new additions via free agency and the draft, this season will be fun to watch. The excitement is high as many fans are eagerly waiting to see what Flores can do.