Monday's Patriots News and Notes - 6/30
 Tom Brady has just the 8th highest salary on the team heading into 2014. (USA TODAY Images) |
A quiet morning on this Monday, but here is a quick rundown with some news and notes:
INTERESTING FACT ON BRADY:
Ben Volin of the Boston Globe pointed out an interesting fact in his Sunday notes column, noting that seven players are poised to make more money in base salary than quarterback Tom Brady this season. Those players are Logan Mankins, Devin McCourty, Rob Gronkowski, Jerod Mayo, Dan Connolly, Danny Amendola, and Stephen Gostkowski.
Brady is set to make $2 million in base salary this year, tied for eighth on the team with Sebastian Vollmer and Kyle Arrington.
For those wondering why Darrelle Revis isn't on the list, Volin points out that Revis' salary is $1.5 million this season, with $10.5 million more tied to bonus money.
PATRIOTS THOMAS BEING HONORED TODAY:
According to WALB out of Georgia, Patriots sixth round pick, defensive back Jamea Thomas, will be honored tonight at Jaycee stadium at 7pm in Fitzgerald.
The town is excited about Thomas achieving his dream of making it to the NFL and they're excited to pay tribute to him tonight.
"It happens so seldom, and it's in a community that just flat out loves high school football," says Fitzgerald football booster and play-by-play commentator Tim Raynor. "When one of your former student-athletes attains the dream of being drafted in the pros, you need to recognize them, love on them, and pay tribute to them."
Thomas was a four year starter with the Purple Hurricane. He was named the AJC Class AA Defensive Player of the Year in 2008.
With Thomas now ready to play for the Patriots, Raynor told the station it's fair to say there will be quite a few New England fans in Fitzgerald this fall.
"The Patriots are one of those teams that have had so much success, they're sort of like the Braves were a few years ago," he laughs. "When they win so much, you always cheer for whoever they're playing against. But now we're all New Englanders around here."
EVENT COMING UP TODAY FOR JOE ANDRUZZI:
Former Patriots offensive lineman Joe Andruzzi is set to hold his sixth annual golf tournament today at Pinehills Golf Club in Plymouth, with Rob Ninkovich and Matthew Slater among players who are expected to attend. Last year’s event raised $278,000 for Andruzzi’s foundation, which provides monetary support for families of cancer patients.
DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT MAKES A BIG MISTAKE:
The Dallas police department made an egregious error on Sunday after making a false report regarding former Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib, leading to reports online that were untrue.
The error came on behalf of Major Max Geron, who according to his Twitter account is in charge of the media relations unit for the department. He incorrectly Tweeted that Talib had been arrested in Dallas overnight for public intoxication, only to later Tweet that it was Yaqub Talib (Aqib's brother) and apologized for the error.
#BREAKING CORRECTION - Yaqub Talib 31yrs old was arrested. My apologies to Aqib Talib. Original information reported was incorrect.
— Maj. Max Geron (@MaxDPD) June 29, 2014
Both Tweets have since been deleted.
Some wonder if Talib has any legal recourse for a possible defamation suit, but according to one legal expert, a Supreme Court decision found public officials have to prove actual malice in any case of defamation.
"The easy defense is 'I'm not malicious, I'm just stupid,'" attorney David Lane told 9 News. "Which is what Dallas Police defense is going to be."
CHAD JOHNSON MAKES TWO RECEPTIONS IN CFL DEBUT:
Former Patriots receiver Chad Johnson made his regular season debut for the CFL and caught two passes for 20 yards in a 29-8 loss for his new team, the Montreal Alouettes.
Those two receptions were his first in any football game since December 2011 when he caught a pass as a member of the Patriots, which was a 15-yard reception against the Dolphins back on Christmas Eve of that season.
Overall that year he finished with 15 catches for 276 yards along with one touchdown.
Most fans remember that as being a rough year for Johnson, who struggled to get the playbook down and couldn't quite get on the same page with quarterback Tom Brady. Overall he was targeted 32 times with just 15 catches (47%), with one of the more notable numbers from that season being the fact he caught only 4-of-14 passes from Brady on first down (29%).
ESPN'S JOHN CLAYTON FEELS PATRIOTS HAVE A SOLID SECONDARY:
ESPN'S John Clayton has an article with some thoughts around the NFL, and believes the offseason moves the Patriots have made have turned things round in their secondary.
From Clayton:
Since 2008, the Patriots have drafted six cornerbacks in the top three rounds, and that includes 2010 first-rounder Devin McCourty, who now plays safety. After losing Talib in free agency, Bill Belichick signed Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner. Browner is perhaps the most physical press-coverage corner in the league. Revis is one of the best man-to-man defenders. Now, the Patriots have perhaps the NFL's deepest group of corners.
He also answers a question regarding the Jets and Patriots and believes the Jets won't win the Division because, "the gap between Tom Brady and even an improved Geno Smith is too vast."
ASA WATSON TALKS ABOUT HIS BROTHER'S FOOTBALL CAMP:
Former Patriots tight end Ben Watson held his eighth annual Ben Watson Football Clinic at District Three Stadium in Rock Hill South Carolina. About 160 campers attended, with two clinics for second-fifth graders where the children learned fundamentals, along with one for middle schoolers that was more advanced.
It's a city that has developed quite the reputation considering the amount of talent they've sent to the college ranks and NFL, giving it the title of "Football City USA". Asa Watson, the brother of Ben Watson who is an undrafted free agent with the Patriots and trying to make the team, was there helping out and talked about how important it is to give back to the community.
“I think it’s important to give back,” Asa Watson said. “It’s really cool to see ... kids (who) could probably be the next great Clowney, Gilmore, or Ben Watson. But it’s more than football. We’re telling them about life skills, perseverance, and things that will impact the rest of their lives. But the main focus is to tell them about Jesus. Christ is more important than football or sports. So that’s why you do camps like this. Even if they don’t make a decision today, it’s about planting that seed and helping them develop as young men."
OTHER LINKS:
James Christensen of Bleacher Report looks at who he feels are the most under and overrated offseason additions for the Patriots - READ MORE
Mike Reiss had some good odds and ends in his Sunday notes column from yesterday, including the fact that Rob Gronkowski is far ahead of where he was last year injury-wise after not suffering any setbacks - READ MORE
Chris Price of WEEI also has some good stuff in his piece from yesterday, which touches on the fact the Patriots are heading into 2014 with one of their best secondaries in recent memory - READ MORE
