New England Patriots News 4-19 and Notes Around the AFC East
 Willie McGinest headlines the finalists for the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2015. (USA Today, Image) |
Happy Sunday morning, here are Sunday’s Patriots news notes and what’s happening around the division:
Conviction of AH Brings Questions Over Pats Knowledge of his Issues: In an interview with MMQB, ex-Patriots advisor Floyd Reese said that the team was aware of some of his issues at Florida, but Urban Meyer head coach of the Gators at that time, convinced Bill Belichick to take him.
Said Reese, "We knew he had some issues prior," Reese said. "Urban Meyer and Bill (Belichick) were very, very close, and I think Urban convinced Bill that, you know, that these things weren’t going to be an issue."
The Patriots structured Hernandez’s contract in a way that he could lose 75 percent of his salary if he got into any trouble. But after playing that out, the team believed he had turned his life around and rewarded him with a $40 million dollar extension. Now, hindsight being 20/20 we know that was not the case.
Of course many now question the Patriots as to why didn’t they hire someone to follow Hernandez around and see what was behind the façade of normality he projected while at Foxboro.
After behaving for three years and playing well for the team, what exactly was there out there for the team NOT to reward him with a new contract? Nothing outwardly, granted Hernandez didn’t like hanging out with his teammates, going home to the Hartford area on his time off. But is that a red flag? Surely hindsight suggests the Patriots could have and should have done more.
But sociopaths are clever people and they can fool all of those around them and sadly in the Hernandez case, he fooled everyone, the fans, the media and the owner.
Patriots 2015 Hall of Fame Finalists Announced: The Pats announced three former players who were nominated for induction into the team’s Hall of Fame. This year's finalists are CB Raymond Clayborn, OT Leon Gray and DE/OLB Willie McGinest. McGinest is a first-time finalist, while both Clayborn and Gray have been nominated once before.
The Patriots have a nominating committee of senior beat writers, former players and front office staff. But the Pats are the only team where the fans vote for Hall induction. Fans can vote on-line at Patriots.com for their selection until mid-May.
Clayborn was a player for the Patriots from 1977 to 1989 and was named as a three-time Pro-Bowl player. His 36 career interceptions are a franchise record since tied by Ty Law. He was also a dynamic kick returner, and led the NFL as a rookie with a 31.7 yard average. Clayborn was remarkably durable; playing in 161 straight games and is a member of the team’s 1970s and 1980s decade teams.
Gray was an offensive tackle for the Patriots for six years from 1973-78 and was a two-time Pro-Bowler. He and John Hannah combined on the left side to make one of the more dynamic guard/tackle combinations in the league. They were largely responsible for the Patriots garnering up 3165 yards rushing in 1978, an NFL record that still stands today.
McGinest was a Patriot for 12 of his 15 NFL seasons and was one of the most versatile, valuable pieces on the defense of three Super Bowl winning teams, (2001, 2003, 2004). A two-time Pro Bowler, McGinest holds the NFL record for post-season sacks with 16.
Congratulations to all three nominees, as much as I’d like to see Clayborn recognized, it will be hard for anyone other than McGinest to get elected this season.
Brady Takes to Facebook Again to Thank Patriots: The Patriots drafted Tom Brady in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft on Bill Belichick’s 48th birthday. So Brady, who has been very active on his Facebook page by generally poking fun at things, thanked the Patriots for drafting him and poked fun at himself.
White House Bound, Pats To Visit President Obama: The Patriots will be hosted at the White House by President Obama on Thursday. This will be Tom Brady and Bill Belichick’s fourth appearance but for many players it will be their first.
Much was made about the decision for Darrelle Revis to attend with his now former teammates this week. The feeling here…Revis had a tremendous amount to do with the Super Bowl victory and earned the right to be there. In fact if he skipped it, it would have been bigger news. Good call on Revis to attend.
Draft Nearing Means Over-scouting of Some Players: With the NFL Draft just days away on April 30, the players being looked at for NFL employment are scrutinized heavily in the lead-up to the draft….perhaps in some cases a bit too heavy.
Some players who had a mid-round draft profile just weeks ago who turned in excellent performances at either the NFL Combine or their respective school’s Pro Days now find themselves being talked about as 1st round draft selections. Sometimes draft pundits and scouts can go overboard with trying to read too much into a shorts and t’shirt performance. When all else fails….watch the tape.
Two of the players that are being looked at as potential Patriots have been lumped in to that category as cornerbacks Eric Rowe from Utah and Byron Jones from UConn, now find themselves as potential first rounders.
It will be interesting to see where these and other players pan out once the draft begins. Bill Belichick has a good philosophy on this, he doesn’t care where a player is drafted only that he performs once he’s a member of the team.
Eastbound and Down…..News from around the AFC East:
Bills/ Rex, Watkins to be “full-go at Training Camp: In what has to be great news in Buffalo, the Bills and head coach Rex Ryan announced this week that WR Sammy Watkins should be ready for training camp.
Watkins had a procedure done to his hip in Feb. and Ryan said that although he may participate to some degree in off-season conditioning, don’t expect to see much of Watkins at these workouts.
Ryan said, “My understanding is Sammy is doing really good. We won’t see him until August in training camp. But he should be a full go once we hit training camp.”
Watkins told the Bills.com that he feels good and is excited to get back on the field with his teammates and that he has faith in the Bills training staff.
Bills Targeting Bryce Petty?: With reports that the team is gauging interest in QB E.J. Manuel, the Bills are supposedly targeting Baylor QB Bryce Petty with the 50th pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.
The Bills don’t have a first round pick and will be looking to augment the QB position according to ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper. The Bills would start Matt Cassel if the season started today, so if they do select Petty, he’d probably see some decent reps in pre-season action.
Dolphins Annouce Pre-season Schedule/Times: The Miami Dolphins announced the dates and times of the team’s four games on Saturday. In the Dolphins 50th season, they will begin by going on the road twice before returning to Sun Life Stadium to finish their preseason.
According to the Dolphins.com, Miami will kick off the preseason in Chicago on Thursday, Aug. 13 at 8 p.m. ET against the Bears at Soldier Field. Miami continues on the road the following week as they head to Carolina on Saturday, Aug. 22 to face the Panthers at 7 p.m. ET at Bank of America Stadium.
The Dolphins return home on Saturday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. ET when they face the Atlanta Falcons at Sun Life Stadium. The Dolphins close out the 2015 preseason schedule on Thursday, Sept. 3 when they play host to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 7 p.m. ET
Ryan Rips Jets TE Jace Amaro: In a back-and-forth social media head to head, former Jets now Bills head coach Rex Ryan ripped Jets TE Jace Amaro over comments Amaro made this week.
Amaro in an interview stated that tardiness and accountability were issues with the Jets during Ryan’s last season as the Jets head coach.
Ryan took exception to those comments and responded with some of his own and perhaps even a veiled threat.
"I just know it's not the truth, and for him or anybody else to pop off like that, I think is absolutely a joke," Ryan said. "Now, look, if David Harris would have said something, or D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Nick Mangold, or someone, I would be hurt by it. I would be absolutely devastated by it. But a kid like that? Nah. I know him, and that doesn't bother me one bit."
“I just know one thing: He totally misspoke, and talk about accountable—he's going to be accountable when he go to play him. He's going to be accountable for his comments.
"It's not the truth. That kid's a little... he's going to get... we'll see what happens."
Besides the constant tweaking of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, now Ryan is unloading on some of former players. The AFC East will be an interesting division this in 2015.
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