Tag Archives: #PatriotsNation

Josh McDaniels Controls His Own Future

Leave a reply

Another head coaching opportunity might be available for offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels this offseason. The New York Giants have reportedly reached out to McDaniels as a potential candidate for their vacant head coach position after firing Ben McAdoo earlier this week. NBC Sports’s Mike Giardi reports that when asked about his interest in the position in a conference call on Tuesday, McDaniels gave a reserved response:

“I’m just interested in the Dolphins right now. That’s where my focus is at and that’s where it’s going to stay.”

Josh McDaniels has not served as a head coach since 2010 with the Denver Broncos. However, he has been in the running for head coaching positions that have popped up in the past two offseasons. He fielded interest from the Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Chargers, and San Francisco 49ers for their head coach vacancies in the past two years. He shut down each offer, and expressed that he is more than content in New England.

McDaniels has built up a tremendous résumé with the New England Patriots. After his promotion to offensive coordinator in 2005 his work has been instrumental for the team. In 2007, his offense set records after scoring 67 touchdowns on offense. Though he left the Patriots from 2009-2011, he has been present for all five of the team’s Super Bowl wins. Though he is satisfied with his current position on the Patriots, he still longs to be a head coach again. In come the Giants.

An Offer of a Lifetime

The Giants are much different from teams that haven given McDaniels offers in the past. They are at a very interesting point currently after clearing out Ben McAdoo and GM Jerry Reese. This has been a fluke season for the Giants. Injuries to Odell Beckham Jr., upon many others, crippled the team. No one going into this season saw the Giants having a losing record with the intangibles that they have. Injuries and poor coaching from McAdoo destroyed all passion that players had this season. Eli Manning briefly sitting on the bench caused him to realize his mortality in the league. If he decides to leave New York this offseason this could be a very interesting change in the team. The Giants can bounce right back by taking one of the premier quarterbacks this class has to offer.

Josh McDaniels is perfect for this role. He has the potential to do amazing things for the Giants franchise. This is a perfect opportunity to get to head coach one of the marquee franchises in the league. That said, he also could have a head coach role in the future where he is right now.

An Heir to the Dynasty

Though it could be a few years the road from now, Josh McDaniels could potentially receive a promotion. McDaniels has a very good shot at being the successor to the head coaching job in New England once Bill Belichick calls it quits. In a recent take on McDaniels’s future from NESN’s Doug Kyed, he suggests that Josh and director of player personnel Nick Caserio could work together to fill the head coach vacancy. The Patriots are known to promote from within once a position becomes available, so it is very possible that he could take over after Belichick retires.

The current question about that, however, is if he would rather stay in New England or take a current vacancy in New York. The reason why Josh McDaniels has turned down job offers in the past two years may allude to him potentially wanting the head coach job in New England in the post-Belichick era. Only in his 40’s, he could possibly stay with the Patriots for a number of years until Belichick retires. Josh McDaniels’s history in New England could keep him with the team for the long-run, and Patriots fans would love to see him take the reins in years to come.

The Patriots Travel to Miami to Take on the Dolphins

Leave a reply

Monday Night Football

FOXBORO, MA – NOVEMBER 26: Dion Lewis #33 of the New England Patriots carries the ball during the first quarter of a game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

The Patriots travel to Miami to play the Dolphins on Monday night without Rob Gronkowski. He lost his appeal and will serve his one game suspension on Monday night. The Patriots however should beat the Dolphins without Gronk anyway. Far from elite quarterback Jay Cutler, who will be playing on Monday night, has never beaten the Patriots in his career. In the three times Cutler has played the Patriots his team was outscored by 34, 29, and 28 points. In two of the three times Cutler didn’t even finish the game.

Bill Belichick on Playing Without Gronk

ORCHARD PARK, NY – OCTOBER 30: Rob Gronkowski #87 of the New England Patriots runs with the ball during NFL game action as Robert Blanton #26 of the Buffalo Bills and Zach Brown #53 and Jonathan Meeks #36 and Stephon Gilmore #24 gang tackle him at New Era Field on October 30, 2016 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

With Gronk not playing Bill Belichick was asked if the offensive game plan will change during his weekly Wednesday press conference:

“Well, we’ll just do what we always do. Take the players that we have available and match them up against the great team that Miami has, their defense and how difficult they are to play against and block and move the ball. Try to come up with the best plan that we can to be competitive with them Monday night.”

Another good question from today was how Brady was playing at such a high level at the age of 40.

“Yeah, well, Tom works hard. I think Tom’s talked a lot about that and discussed his personal training methods and so forth. So, I mean, he’s probably a better person to comment on that than I am, but Tom works hard.  He’s here every day and puts an awful lot into his preparation, both physically and mentally for the game. So, I think that has a lot to do with it.”

The Patriots Should Win Monday Night

HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 05: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on from the sideline during the third quarter against the Atlanta Falcons during Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

The Patriots should be clear winners on Monday night. They are 10 point favorites and were 12 before Gronk lost his appeal. The defense is playing better and should be all over Cutler, who doesn’t want to play for the Dolphins anyway. The Patriots should walk away with a 34-17 win. Then it’s on to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers a week from Sunday.

Patriots’ Keys to Victory Against the Bills

Leave a reply

This weekend the Patriots aim to continue their siege upon the AFC East as they head north to Buffalo.

Weirdly enough this will be only the Patriots’ third division game this season and first against the Bills. Ranking second in the division, the Bills are just above 0.500 at 6-5. They have had a few huge wins coming against the Falcons, Broncos, and Chiefs due to their stingy defense. However, in recent weeks the Bills have looked absolutely lost in some games. They went from beating the Raiders by a 20 point margin to getting manhandled by the Jets, Saints, and Chargers consecutively.

The entire season up until week nine the Bills’ defense only allowed their opponent to score over twenty points twice against the Bengals and Bucs. From week nine to now that stat flip-flopped, and the defense allowed more than twenty points in every game but one. Going into the midpoint of their season (week 9), the Bills had allowed 115 points. From that week to now alone they have allowed 145 points in four games.

The Nathan Peterman experiment dissipated after his unruly NFL debut against the Chargers. Tyrod Taylor is the team’s current answer as signal-caller if the team has playoff aspirations. The Bills are the captain of their own ship, and only head coach Sean McDermott can make it sink. In their first home game since they were annihilated by the Saints’ running game, the Bills are determined to get a statement win against their big brother in the AFC East. The Patriots rolling into town is always a huge game for the Bills, and if they can demonstrate any form of dominance they are very much alive in the wildcard race. Here are three keys to this game for the Patriots in order to rain on the Bills’ parade:

Dion Lewis Needs to Run Rampant

For the first time in his career last weekend Dion Lewis rushed for over 100 yards. With a slippery back like Lewis coming off a hot week the Patriots would be remiss to script their start of this game around him. The Patriots began their game against the Raiders running it down their throats until they tired it out and then took to the air. It worked then and it will work now, especially with the Bills’ rushing defense woes as of late. The Saints were able to post 298 rushing yards with 6.2 yards per run on the Bills with their running back committee of Ingram and Kamara. Dion Lewis could set the tempo of this game if he is able to return to a performance similar to last week against Miami.

It All Rests on Elandon Roberts’s Shoulders

Linebackers Kyle Van Noy, Marquis Flowers, and Trevor Reilly all questionable this week. With these integral parts of the defense potentially gone, Elandon Roberts has tough sledding ahead. All three linebackers were limited in practice this week. Worst case scenario David Harris and Nicholas Grigsby will assume the workload. Regardless, Elandon is tasked with stopping Bills’ workhorse LeSean McCoy. Bills’ offensive starters Kelvin Benjamin out and Jordan Matthews and Charles Clay are questionable this week as well. The Bills’ playbook this week will potentially be run-heavy in their absence. Roberts will be tasked with keeping the one-cut back at bay this weekend.

Watch out for Will, Mike, and Sam

The Patriots’ offensive line needs to protect Tom Brady. Period. The amount of hits Brady took last week against the Dolphins slowly got to him during the game. He began trying to force passes and ended up throwing a rare interception. Marcus Cannon is out and LeAdrian Waddle and David Andrews are questionable, which is not a good sign.

The Bills are aware of the Patriots’ o-line ailments, and will likely go for Brady as much as possible. Lorenzo Alexander will come for Brady’s head on a Sam (strong side) blitz. Ramon Humber will come on a Will (weak side) blitz. The duo will likely aim for the edges of the line if Nate Solder and Cameron Fleming are alone in their positions pending Marcus Cannon’s status. If Ted Karras gets another start this week in David Andrews’s potential absence he will have to look out for a Mike (down the middle) blitz. Buffalo is a difficult place to play in if the Bills’ defense is getting their way.

Jardine’s Means : How We Will Beat the Bills

Leave a reply

Fresh off a lovely victory over the very sad, chippy Miami Dolphins and we are “on to the Bills”. I have a question for everyone: how is Suh still allowed to play in the NFL? Sorry I digress, and back to the matter at hand. The Patriots play this coming Sunday against the Buffalo Bills and their multiple personalities. Will the Patriots be facing the scrappy Bills team that just defeated the Chiefs? Or will they be facing the squad that looked like a bad high school team and were passing out interceptions like Santa passes out presents? Either way, it will require a solid game plan to take this Bills team down. Let me tell you what I feel are the keys to defeating the Bills and keeping our winning streak alive.

AS USUAL IT STARTS WITH BRADY

The key for the Patriots to beat any team is to rely on Tom Brady. That is not exacting rocket science to come up with that little tidbit. Basically the Patriots will be as good as Brady is, which is stellar most days. Tom Brady’s success may also be predicated on the running game being efficient. Against the chippy Dolphins, RB Dion Lewis ran for 112 yards and opened up the passing game. By controlling the ball with the run, the passing game and the play action will shred the Bills.

Once the run is established, expect the Patriots to pick apart the Bills with their passing game. The Bills tend to play a huge amount of basic zone coverages such as Cover 2, and Cover 3 in their defense. This defense is key if the Bills are able to get some pressure on Brady. If the Bills are not able to put pressure on Brady then this game will be an air show and the Bills will get whooped.

KEEP THE BILLS’ D LINE IN CHECK

The Bills are going to try desperately to get to Tom Brady and disrupt his rhythm. This also sounds like a broken record, but it is the key to the Bills’ defensive success. Being a little vulnerable in the defensive secondary, the Bills need to get pressure on Brady.  The Bills also need to stack the box and stay close to the line to control any running game.

It goes without saying, Brady and friends should be well prepared for the Bills and what they may bring. Brady has more weapons on offence then some nations have in their armouries to defend a country. Picking just the right weapon to go to is what Brady does so well and has for about a hundred years.

If Brady is getting a lot of pressure then expect to see a lot of screen passes and a lot of short crossing patterns. This allows Brady to get rid of the ball quickly and gain positive yards. Having the blocking of our O-line on point, then expect some of these Bills’ line rushes to be met with gashing running plays. Having Brady keep the Buffalo’s D line off-balance should allow for another Patriots’ victory.

For the Patriots want to wear out an opponent’s D line, then there is only one answer. All that would be required to wear out the Buffalo defense is up tempo no huddle. This mantra of mine seems to wear out defenses, limit substitutions, and allow the Pats to get the lead.  Let’s hope the Pats just do this and do not require me screaming at my TV.

STOPPING MCCOY AND CONTAINING TAYLOR

When drawing up a game plan to face an opponent, the Patriots’ staff tend to focus on one or two players to stop. The theory is that it would be harder for the other players to beat them then it would be for the stars. In the case of Buffalo, the Patriots will have to stop Shady McCoy and all of the aspects that he brings to the Bills’ offence. McCoy is a great runner and also one of the better backs in the NFL at pass catching. I would expect McCoy to be the personal assignment of Patrick Chung who will try to disrupt McCoy’s day. I also expect that McCoy will see a lot of Devin McCourty as well depending on the play.

The Bills’ starting QB Tyrod Taylor can be a dangerous weapon for their offence. If Taylor is allowed to scramble around and keep the Patriots’ defense off-balance then he will be quite effective.  Lessening Taylor’s impact on the game is key. Taylor must be forced to be a passer first. Also by keeping contain on Taylor, the Patriots limit the damage he can do with his legs. Taylor is better passer then he was when he first started in the league, but it is still his weakest aspect.

CLOSING WITH A VICTORY

If the Patriots’ coaching staff prepares their team like they always do then I like their chances. Taking what the defense gives you and executing is the key to Brady’s game. Controlling the tempo of the game with the up tempo, no huddle should allow the Pats to come away this Sunday with another victory. I guess we will all just have to tune in and find out for sure, but I like our chances.

 

 

 

What’s up with Mike Gillislee?

1 Reply

Fans have been seeing a lot less of running back Mike Gillislee in the last few weeks.

The man we saw taking the majority of snaps in the early games of the regular season has been inactive for three straight weeks. All three have been healthy scratches from the active list. Gillislee joins the inactive list with Marcus Cannon, David Andrews, and Chris Hogan, who were ruled out on Friday. Cornerback Eric Rowe will miss his seventh consecutive game, and Matthew Slater will miss his second. Martellus Bennett will miss his first game as a Patriot with an ailing shoulder.

Where Has Mike Been?

Mike Gillislee started his stint with the Patriots with a boom, racking up three touchdowns in the team’s home opener. His rushing numbers have not been nothing too impressive as he has not surpassed 69 yards all season. This was to be expected however since he shares the backfield with Dion Lewis, Rex Burkhead, and James White. In recent games Lewis has controlled the rushing game while Burkhead has been the recipient of most check-down passes. James White has been a viable backup for either role.

A four halfback committee isn’t necessary to have every game. The Patriots’ offense prepares for one game at a time, and each defense that they face calls for different play-calling. The Lewis-Burkhead duo has been the fit as of late.

With two backs on a hot streak, the question after that is how Gillislee has performed on special teams. He has been in a battle for an active spot on special teams with tight end Jacob Hollister. Who would you rather take: another return man like Gillislee or a big guy to play the front lines like Hollister? The answer for Coach Belichick has been the latter.

The Future for Gillislee

The Patriots’ backfield is composed of guys who have the ability to start any given week. Rex Burkhead has proved his worth as more of a receiving back on passing downs. Dion Lewis has demonstrated in the past and this season that he is a viable runner and returner now that he is healthy. James White is a combination of the two with his versatility being showcased in the playoffs last year. Gillislee is a one-cut back who can make a splash in any team’s running game. The only problem with that is that the Patriots have an abysmal rushing presence. Are they in need of one? With Tom Brady at the helm it isn’t essential.

Mike Gillislee might be in jeopardy of his job with the Patriots. His contract is too much for him to just glide in and out of the inactive list. This doesn’t mean that his playing ability has not been up to the team’s standards. This is more of a “it’s not you, it’s me” type situation. The Patriots have realized they don’t need a workhorse runner like Gillislee every game. Whatever happens there is reason to believe that there will not be bad blood between the Patriots and Gillislee.

Marquis Flowers is Blooming into Patriots’ Injured Linebacker Corps

Leave a reply

The Patriots have a history of nurturing young seeds into full bloom. Bill Belichick handles his crops with such care that once playoff harvesting season comes around they will win him the big blue ribbon at the county fair. Belichick has done just that with linebacker Marquis Flowers in the past week.

All gardening puns aside, the Patriots defense in the past few weeks have substantially improved. This has come as a surprise to fans as defensive starters like Dont’a Hightower, Malcolm Brown, and Eric Rowe have been riddled with injuries. Since their second loss of the season against the Panthers, the Patriots’ defense has improved substantially each week. From Weeks 1 to 4 the defense let up 128 points. Ever since they have allowed only 75, not letting their opponent surpass 20 points in the past six games. Rocket scientist Matt Patricia has found the perfect playbook for his defense, and it all revolves around help defense.

One area of the defense that has struggled for the majority of the season have been the linebacker corps. The depth has been thin to start the season and has continued to diminish after Dont’a Hightower, Harvey Langi, and Shea McClellin were placed on injury reserve. Elandon Roberts has been tasked with filling the hole in the defense that Hightower’s absence has created. He has done a significant job thus far but was inactive against the Raiders due to injury. Kyle Van Noy has been a constant as of late in a system of changing parts.

Flowers are Blooming in November

This weekend fans saw third year linebacker Marquis Flowers play alongside Van Noy. The Patriots acquired Flowers from the Bengals back in August in exchange for a 2018 seventh round draft pick. He started 35 of 50 games at the University of Arizona, logging 272 career tackles, 7½ sacks, five interceptions, and five forced fumbles. In the NFL he has bounced from the Panthers in 2014 to the Bengals until this offseason.

Flowers served a role on special teams at the beginning of the season and became a reserve linebacker up until this weekend. Against the Raiders he shared reps are the starting linebacker along Van Noy, racking up four tackles and a forced fumble that kept the Raiders out of the end zone in the first half. The fumble came deep in the red zone where Raiders receiver Seth Roberts almost cut the Patriot lead in half. Roberts held the ball away from his body as Jonathan Jones kept him in place. Marquis Flowers saw the opportunity and punched the ball out of Roberts’s hand, keeping the Raiders from converting any points in their one scoring position in the first half.

“Huge play,” Marquis Flowers reflected to reporters.

“A lot of times when a guy is trying to break a tackle, their ball security, they’re just trying to make a play and, not intentionally, but the ball is usually loose, especially the skill players,” Flowers explained. “When I went over there to go grab a tackle I thought I saw him re-grab the ball. I thought he almost dropped it the first time. So just basically tried to wrap my arms around where his hands were, and the ball came out.”

A New Chance in New England

With Elandon Roberts nursing an ankle injury, it is possible that Flowers could earn more snaps soon. In the Belichick system, more preparation and practice translates to more playing time Flowers has done just that this season. Last weekend Flowers played 19 snaps against the Broncos. This weekend he was a regular on the defense’s third down unit.

“I’m thankful that I went to an organization that allows you to compete, and when you are doing something well they allow you to play to your abilities,” Flowers said.

It’s no surprise to fans now that the Patriots have utilized yet another player acquired in the offseason. This is one of many instances this season alone where this has happened. Johnson Bademosi, traded from the Lions in August, has earned a significant increase in snaps after shutting down Julio Jones in Stephon Gilmore’s absence earlier this season. Cassius Marsh, a defensive end traded from the Seahawks in the preseason, also has been able to add depth to a once ailing left side of defensive line after Rob Ninkovich retired. Flowers is the newest addition to the role players that have come up big for the Patriots this season alone. The Patriots thrive upon bringing in players that were insignificant on one team and exploiting their strengths.

It just comes to show that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Coach Belichick can convert just about any player to look like a star for the Patriots.

The Commish on the Ropes

Leave a reply

Among the most common qualities great leaders share are supreme competence in what they do and the ability to anticipate and deal with change. They are principled, and their values are consistent. Roger Goodell is none of these things.

I’ve spent my whole adult life surrounded by, working with, studying, and developing leaders. From infantry squad leaders to high ranking government officials and CEOs of Fortune 50 companies, I’ve seen some the best and the worst leaders in the country. The current commissioner of the NFL sits alone on the Iron Throne of incompetence.

False Accomplishments

Roger Goodell is a disgrace to the league. He is Portnoy’s clown, a caricature of a chief executive. Goodell’s defenders often cite the league’s financial standing as evidence of the commissioner’s accomplishments. They. Are. Not.

Goodell has received undue credit for the league’s financial strength over the past eleven years. Never mind the fact that the NFL was financially sound before he took over, environmental factors have made the NFL the juggernaut it is today. Goodells tenure (2006-present) coincided with the introduction and explosion of social media, live streaming, and a 300% increase in fantasy sports participation in North America alone.

Roger Goodell isn’t a business genius, he is Chauncey the Gardner, a dullard whose success has been coincidental.

Scandal Ridden Tenure

Rather than heaping unwarranted praise on the Commish for where the league is today, we should lay the blame at his feet as to where the league is heading tomorrow.

Truth in lending, I’ve hated Goodell long before he suspended Tom Brady for possibly being “generally aware” that an equipment manager may have done something that the league can’t prove and that science can disprove. This is a man who fines players for wearing the purple cleats to show support for domestic awareness, but is fine with players assaulting their wives and girlfriends off the field. Unless someone leaks the video to TMZ.

Goodell is a tone deaf, thin-skinned hypocrite. From his disgraceful handling of domestic abuse by players, to his inconsistent metering-out of punishment to players and owners, to his grandstanding about integrity of the game and player safety while stonewalling CTE investigations and settlements, abuse of office has been the defining characteristic of his tenure.

Where does Goodell choose to involve himself? Anthem protests. It’s clear that the NFL wants to appear to be the All-American game. You can’t attend one without some sort of display of fealty to the flag and a service member in uniform. But of course, that’s been largely fake too – after all the Department of Defense and the National Guard paid the NFL and its teams more than $12 million dollars for such patriotic displays between 2011 and 2015.

Face of the NFL

The list of great players who are also great people is nearly endless in the NFL. Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Dak Prescott, Deshaun Watson, JJ Watt. These should be the faces of the NFL, but they’re not. Instead it’s Colin Kaepernick, Ndamukong Suh, Vontaze Burfict, and Prescott’s woman abusing teammate Ezekiel Elliott.

A work stoppage in 2011 that was resolved by Bob Kraft. Plummeting ratings. Hundreds of arrested players. Ndamukong Suh choking an opponent on the field – and not getting fined. This is Roger Goodell’s NFL. It’s past time for him to go.

Kingslayer

Jerry Jones is a fraud, but he may also be our only hope. He is not the hero we deserve, but he is the hero we need. Jones has been the commissioner’s greatest champion for years – a lap dog when Goodell was abusing his power to punish Tom Brady without evidence.

But, now that Jones’ newest woman abuser has been suspended for six games, suddenly Jerry is all about reeling in the powers of the commissioner. Suddenly, the arbitrary administration of suspensions is unjust. Suddenly, Jerry thinks we need a change of leadership.

Embed from Getty Images

Jerry cares about women. Just last week he proudly proclaimed that the Cowboys had a zero tolerance policy on domestic abuse. I’m sure Greg Hardy’s victim was glad to hear that.

Jones is, however, the kind of selfish, grudge-holding ass who might be able to mobilize 24 largely apathetic owners to block Goodell’s extension. That is doubtful, however, because this group of owners seem content printing their money and wrongly believe that Goodell is the reason they can.

Jerry’s palace coup probably won’t succeed. But, how it plays out will be telling for New England fans. Nobody has been on the receiving end of more horrible decisions and gross abuses of the powers of the commissioner than Robert Kraft and the New England Patriots.

Embed from Getty Images

Kraft famously dropped his appeal of the Goodell’s over the top and unjustified punishment after deflategate. In doing so, he infuriated most of his fan base. If he sides against Jones, Kraft will send a loud and clear message that he cares more for the community of billionaires that are the NFL owners than he does for his team and his fans.

What Bennett’s Rotator Cuff Injury Means for the Patriots

Leave a reply

If you are an NFL fan then you likely have heard that Martellus Bennett is back in New England. The big, fun loving tight end was picked up by the Patriots on November 9th after being released by the Packers. The reason why Bennett was released is that he has a confirmed torn rotator cuff. Before you all say “oh great another broken player”, let’s look at this for what it is. I will tell you how I feel that Bennett will play through this injury and help the Patriots win.

in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on January 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

WHAT CAN MARTY GIVE THE PATRIOTS ?

I sincerely do feel that Martellus Bennett, who could be called one of the world’s largest cheerleaders, is going to play through his rotator cuff injury. The reason why I feel that Marty can do this is fairly simple. The tear that Bennett is experiencing is located where the tendon that holds the muscles of your shoulder stable. Does this sound sore? Oh yes it does and speaking from experience it is. He can play through this injury because of the fact that he does not have to throw. The rotator cuff is more for stability of the shoulder muscles when using a throwing motion.

Now that the Patriots have two QBs I do not think Bennett will be needed. Also, the Patriots have Rob Gronkowski, Dwayne Allen, and Jacob Hollister which could easily allow Bennett to manage his snaps. Bennett would not have to do a huge amount of blocking and could be used only as desired by the offense.

A few of the movements that Bennett would be using will be painful. Catching passes over his head and lifting his arms out to full extension will be painful but definitely not anything he could not play through. I do believe that blocking would be the roughest as the muscles would be pushed hard and not be as stable as usual. This would be something that Bennett would be able to manage and handle I believe.

IF THERE IS SUCH A THING AS A MANAGEABLE INJURY, THIS IS IT.

The rotator cuff injury, as I have said, is somewhat manageable so I say that he plays. If the Patriots and Bennett manage his snaps and allow him to play in the “safest” situation possible, then he can play. The other positive about this, if there is such a thing with an injury, is that Bennett should not be able to hurt this any worse by playing. As long as he gets the proper attention before, during, and after games then I think the “Imagination Agency” is back open for business in New England.

Bringing a player into the fold at this point of the season is normally very difficult. In this situation, you are bringing back a player who was there just last year. Picking up the plays won’t be that hard for Bennett. Definitely one of the hardest parts will be finding out how good Bennett’s snaps can be managed. Bennett’s pain tolerance is also going to be tested as well. Like I said before, I had this injury and played varsity rugby for an entire season. Yes it was painful, but so is the game in general.

Bennett will likely receive a dose of “Dr. Feelgood” before games to help him manage the pain. The whole concoction is not as sinister as it sounds. Players can often receive a pregame injection of a drug called Toradol (ketorolac) mixed with lidocaine. Ketorolac is the strongest non-narcotic pain reliever available, and also legal. Toradol can often be mixed with lidocaine which is a local anesthetic in the same family as Novocaine (that your dentist uses) to deaden pain also. This injection works almost immediately and should last for the entire game.

WHY WE REALLY NEED BENNETT BACK !!

The main reason the Patriots could use Bennett back is to help with our red-zone TD conversions. The Patriots have been settling for too many field goals and keeping games closer then they should be. The Patriots need another tall big target in the red-zone will also take pressure off of Gronk and should also help open up some other plays.

Bennett is also a helluva lot of fun to have around. He is not a dull player to have on your roster and can bring a refreshing air of lighthearted fun. Patriot fans have seen that Bennett can be a very serious player but also can be a “riot” depending on what is needed. Let us just hope that the second semester of the “Imagination Academy” ends as good as the first one did.

Martysaurus Rex Returns to New England

Leave a reply

A familiar face has returned to the New England Patriots.

Yesterday, the Patriots claimed tight end Martellus Bennett from the waiver wire. The Green Bay Packers released the ex-Patriot earlier this week after he failed to disclose a medical condition to the team.

The thirty-year old-vet, on the Patriots’ squad last season, overtook a starting job in the offense after Rob Gronkowski had season-ending surgery. Bennett went on to have a statement year, showing fans his prime hadn’t passed by filling Gronk’s role perfectly. He posted 701 receiving yards and seven touchdowns with the Patriots. Three of these touchdowns came from Tom Brady in his first game back from suspension against the Browns. He earned his first Super Bowl ring with the Patriots after playing in the league for now a decade. He anchored the Patriots’ offense in Gronk’s absence, and fans admired what he did on and off the field in Foxborough.

In the 2016-17 off season, though Marty had fun in New England,  he double-downed on his all-business attitude. He left the Patriots for the NFC-giant Packers, who offered more money. This season so far, however, took a turn for the worst quickly for Bennett.  So far, Marty has seen fewer targets than anticipated. His quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, suffered a broken collarbone in October, now out for the remainder of the season. These events all led up to Bennett’s release, a positive note in an otherwise sour season.

Looking into Marty’s Injury

Martellus Bennett has not played in a game since October 22nd. His absence from the field came shortly after he announced that he’ll retire after this season. Currently on a three-year, $21-million contract with the Packers, Bennett showed no signs of nearing retirement prior to this year. His explanation? “Life.” Almost at the same time as announcing his retirement, Marty suffered an unexplained shoulder injury that has kept him sidelined since.  The Packers released him because he did not offer a reasonable explanation of his ailments.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk is not fully convinced by this situation. Florio claims that Bennett probably toyed with retirement in order to be traded near the deadline, and afterwards his shoulder injury popped up. This all happened after Aaron Rodgers hit the injury reserve list, so what Florio says makes sense. It would be an advantage for the Patriots if Bennett was not actually injured. Only time will tell in the next few days.

Double Trouble

A healthy Gronkowski and Bennett will pair up in the near future, and the Patriots’ offense can now regain its scary edge. With injuries plaguing the wide receiver core, Bill Belichick could electrify the offense by adding in more dual tight end sets. The Patriots have not seen this type of big-man offense in years, but it worked like a charm. Gronk and Marty share vertical threat similarities. Together they present a nightmare for linebackers and safeties assigned to either of them. Dual tight end sets will relieve the workload the wide receiver core will face. At the same time, it will give Tom Brady more wiggle room with calling play action, which could also spark the running game as well. The Patriots originally were planning to a similar set with Gronkowski and Dwayne Allen, but Allen has not lived up to expectations.

Watch out world, the Martysaurus is back in New England.

UPDATE: 11/10 AT 11:00 AM EST

This morning ESPN’s Adam Schefter has confirmed that Martellus Bennett has a torn rotator cuff and torn labrum. Pending Bennett’s physical with the Patriots he could possibly be facing season-ending IR or the waiver wire once more. More to come in the next 24 hours.

UPDATE: 11:50 AM EST

Ian Rapoport has reported that Marty passed his physical with the Patriots and practiced today. He hasn’t attended practice since October 22nd while he was on the Packers.

How Injuries and Actions May Really Hurt the NFL Longterm

Leave a reply

If you are even a marginal NFL fan, you are aware that injuries are a part of the game.  It is a contact sport and injuries are to be expected. During this season in particular, some of the NFL’s biggest stars have suffered season-ending injuries. These injuries have not only hurt those teams, but the NFL itself.  Let me tell you how I feel the NFL will hurt as a league because of these injuries.

 

MANY STARS HAVE FALLEN

This season alone so many of the NFL’s most marketable stars have gotten injured. The list is very long, including Aaron Rodgers, Julian Edelman, Odell Beckham Jr, Deshawn Watson, JJ Watt, and Carson Palmer being some of the most notable. As a fan you might think that this sucks for the player and also for the team as well.  What you might not be aware of is that these injuries to these star players has hurt the NFL.

By taking these players out for the season, it appears that networks have taken notice. Many of the networks that show NFL games such as CBS, ESPN, and NBC have tried to maximize their viewership. They have done this by trying to show games that they feel people will watch. The injuries to star players has made this an incredible challenge. Teams such as Houston, Green Bay, and the Giants have really had a hard time with these key injuries. Just note their records since these injuries occurred if you don’t believe me.

What this is going to do to the NFL in the long run is soon to be noticed. With declining viewership, declining sponsor dollars, and market constraints, the networks will negotiate tough on the next TV deals. The big cash cow that the NFL used to count on will not be as lucrative. This is likely going to cause friction in the next CBA negotiations. I believe this item will be the issue that the owners will try and get the most mileage from. The owners are those very rich men and women that sit in those ritzy boxes and watch games with binoculars. They are more than a little out of touch in my opinion. Just remember Bob McNair’s “can’t have the inmates running the prison” statement if you’re unsure of this.

WHAT WILL IT MEAN FOR THE FANS?

The NFL fan experience will be quite different in the next few years I believe. Some of the league’s most marketable players are getting up there in years. Players such as Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Carson Palmer (who may retire from his current injury), Larry Fitzgerald, etc., are only going to be playing a few more years. Many of these players are some fans’ only link to the NFL.  Once they depart, are the players of today like Cam Newton going to be able to fill the void? If how Newton handles press conferences is any indication, then I would say maybe.

Some of the younger players of today are much more brash and in your face then in years past. Players like Odell Beckham Jr. going on a boat trip right before a playoff game, and the whole Ezekiel Elliott mess are just a couple of examples. Are these players setting examples that you want other players to follow? Are they acting in the best interest of their team, ownership, and fans?  I believe the answer you are looking for is a resounding “HELL NO”.

Many of these players have turned off fans by their actions, and many have cost even themselves (ie. Cam Newton’s comments in a recent press conference cost him sponsorships). Not exactly a role model you want your kids to look up to is it? Their actions are costing themselves now and in the long run with lower viewership.

WOULD YOU BLAME FANS FOR NOT WATCHING?

Some of the actions by a few notable players have hurt the league in the last few years. The actions are one thing, but how the league has handled these actions has turned a lot of people off.  The whole Ray Rice disaster was really the start of things in my opinion. The Greg Hardy issues are also ones that stand out in my mind as poorly handled by the NFL.

If you want people to watch your product and respect your league then handle things like these properly. What is the proper way to handle these things you ask? I believe a small group of middle school students could have made better judgement calls then Commissioner Goodell (aka Peckerhead).

If there is not a better outlook by some of the players and owners then the NFL is going down the crapper. The injuries that have happened this year are unfortunate but they will heal. Let’s hope that the league gets a decent commissioner soon and looks after their affairs in a much more effective and fair manner. If this happens then hopefully we will get to continue to enjoy this great game.