I'm on Team Stidham

[sean10mm]

I think we have to be on team Stidham in 2020, because the Pats probably can't spend any money on anybody in 2020.

Either that or make a long shot bet on Hoyer the Destroyer.

2020 is going to be a rebuild year. Or use whatever term you want if that makes you think of 2-14 instead of like 8-8. We've had them before, with the only difference that there hasn't been a prime Tom Brady to paper over the cracks like in 2006 and 2013 until reinforcements arrived.

The good news is that in 2021 the salary cap goes from "you've got nothing and you'll like it" to "PARTY TIME WOOOOOOOOO" so the turnaround can be extremely quick... if they hit on QB at any point, that is.

 

[TheRainMaker]

He needs to change his release as it takes way too long. Needs to get a little more zip on the ball.

 

[ToonPatriot]

I think we have to be on team Stidham in 2020, because the Pats probably can't spend any money on anybody in 2020.

Either that or make a long shot bet on Hoyer the Destroyer.

2020 is going to be a rebuild year. Or use whatever term you want if that makes you think of 2-14 instead of like 8-8. We've had them before, with the only difference that there hasn't been a prime Tom Brady to paper over the cracks like in 2006 and 2013 until reinforcements arrived.

The good news is that in 2021 the salary cap goes from "you've got nothing and you'll like it" to "PARTY TIME WOOOOOOOOO" so the turnaround can be extremely quick... if they hit on QB at any point, that is.

How come the salary cap changes so dramatically for us?

 

[rochrist]

How come the salary cap changes so dramatically for us?

A ton of dead money comes off the books.

 

[sean10mm]

How come the salary cap changes so dramatically for us?

A ton of dead money comes off the books.

Pretty much. Here are two different sources showing the Pats going from hardly anything in 2020 to like $110m in 2021. That puts them in the top 10 in projected cap space for 2021, vs. being near the bottom in 2020.

New England Patriots Salary Cap | Over the Cap
NFL 2021 Salary Cap Tracker

 

[Patsgofor4]

Spoiler alert: He loses in the quarterfinals as a senior but really impressed with his maturity for a (then) HS kid. Also, check out the throw he makes in practice at the 2:05 mark. Impressive.

 

[ToonPatriot]

A ton of dead money comes off the books.

Pretty much. Here are two different sources showing the Pats going from hardly anything in 2020 to like $110m in 2021. That puts them in the top 10 in projected cap space for 2021, vs. being near the bottom in 2020.

New England Patriots Salary Cap | Over the Cap
NFL 2021 Salary Cap Tracker

Thanks guys!

 

[Gator Mike]

Because I still have time on my hands...

Unnamed NFL Scout to Bleacher Report's Matt Miller: "How the f--k do they always do this? Kid falls right into their laps and looks like the second coming. It's like Bill and Josh undid all the damage Auburn did to him."


Mailbag: What Should the Patriots and Vikings Do Now?

All of that said, I would not count Stidham out. I’ve talked to enough people who really like him, and I understand the Patriots’ strategy drafting quarterbacks as “distressed assets” the last couple years (Danny Etling was another in 2018). Stidham was the No. 1 or 2 QB recruit in the country (depending on ranking) coming out of a storied Texas high school program five years ago, and has overcome a lot, both personally and football-wise.

He also got real playing time as a true freshman at Baylor, before the program’s sexual-assault epidemic came to light and Art Briles was fired. He transferred to a program, in Auburn, that didn’t have an offense that best fit his skills—he played in a scheme that was best suited to Cam Newton. He had one great year running it (2017) and one not as good year (2018) before declaring for the draft.

Follow that trail of events, and it’s easy to understand why the talent there might be a little underdeveloped, and why the Pats think he has a shot to outplay his draft position.​

Why Teams Should Be Nervous About Stidham and Patriots, the Steal of the Browns’ Draft, More Notes

1. There’s a very strong parallel between the Patriots taking LSU QB Danny Etling last year and Auburn QB Jarrett Stidham this year, and it’s not that they’re both from the SEC. Before the 2018 draft, New England saw Etling as a talented player who was in a system and with coaches that weren’t an ideal fit. Same goes for Stidham. Last summer, an NFC exec told me the two-year starter had the best arm talent in the class, and he’s widely seen as throwing the prettiest ball in the group. I’m not saying that he’s going to be Tom Brady’s successor, but other team should be at least a little nervous about this kid getting to work in the shadows with Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels the next few years.​

 

[billdog3484]

I have no idea if he is bad, good, great or whatever. but it would help us moving forward if he was great. so ill root for that

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Check out last year's preseason game3 tape. Stidham looks ok with a clean pocket. He kind of leaves his WRs for huge hits by defenders. When pressured he has no composure and makes bad throws or gets sacked easily or fumbles the ball. He still seems very raw aside from times when he has a totally clean pocket.

 

[patsfaninpa]

Fact We will never have another QB as good as Tom Brady

Fact It’s much easier to play qb in 2020 than 2001

Opinion Stidham’s not going to be another Brady. Might be as good as a couple of recent 4th rounders like Dak Prescott or Kirk Cousins.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Fact We will never have another QB as good as Tom Brady

Fact It’s much easier to play qb in 2020 than 2001

Opinion Stidham’s not going to be another Brady. Might be as good as a couple of recent 4th rounders like Dak Prescott or Kirk Cousins.

I second this.

And add: the NFL may never see another QB as good as Tom Brady.

30 freaking postseason wins and Montana next at 16. Think about how great you have to be to nearly DOUBLE the great Montana’s wins in the games that count the most.

 

[luuked]

Fact We will never have another QB as good as Tom Brady

Fact It’s much easier to play qb in 2020 than 2001

Opinion Stidham’s not going to be another Brady. Might be as good as a couple of recent 4th rounders like Dak Prescott or Kirk Cousins.

I am not sure you understand what a fact is.

 

[Kontradiction]

Spoiler alert: He loses in the quarterfinals as a senior but really impressed with his maturity for a (then) HS kid. Also, check out the throw he makes in practice at the 2:05 mark. Impressive.

He was highly touted coming out of HS. I remember praying for the Gators to grab him. He never really lived up to the hype in college, though.

 

[Patsgofor4]

He was highly touted coming out of HS. I remember praying for the Gators to grab him. He never really lived up to the hype in college, though.

Yes and no. He obviously wasn’t a stud from the get-go like some but his junior season did propel him into first round territory/discussion, so he certainly wasn’t a total bust either.

In the video he comes across to me as intelligent, humble and mature for his age.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

How come the salary cap changes so dramatically for us?

As of today, the Pats only have 30 players signed for 2021, so they have $110 million in cap room, half the current roster comes off the books including Hightower, Thuney, J. Mac, Sanu, White, Guy, Butler, Burkhead, Andrews, Develin.....

Plus the Pats have $26 million in dead cap hits in 2020, only the Panthers and Jets have more dead money.

Perfect year to start Stidham, go 2-14 and then reload with Lawrence!

 

[Kontradiction]

Yes and no. He obviously wasn’t a stud from the get-go like some but his junior season did propel him into first round territory/discussion, so he certainly wasn’t a total bust either.

In the video he comes across to me as intelligent, humble and mature for his age.

A lot of terrible quarterbacks were intelligent, humble, and mature for their age too. He can be the biggest assh0le on the planet but if he produces on the field, that’s all that matters.

 

[Patsgofor4]

He needs to change his release as it takes way too long. Needs to get a little more zip on the ball.

He still has a lot to work on, I’m sure, but if his doesn’t make it in the NFL, if won’t be due to lack of arm strength or zip on the ball. He may not be have a Rodgers/Favre/George/Marino level arm but it is plenty strong (on par with or stronger than TB12).

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

A lot of terrible quarterbacks were intelligent, humble, and mature for their age too. He can be the biggest assh0le on the planet but if he produces on the field, that’s all that matters.

*

*See Aaron Rodgers for proof

 

[Patsgofor4]

A lot of terrible quarterbacks were intelligent, humble, and mature for their age too. He can be the biggest assh0le on the planet but if he produces on the field, that’s all that matters.

What a dumb statement. Oh, I get it, they were praiseworthy qualities only for Brady. We obviously still have to wait and see about Stidham’s on-field production that doesn’t mean that the other personal qualities are not positive traits for a quarterback. By your criteria, work ethic is not important, either.

Yes, there are obviously examples of elite starters who were trash human beings but more often than not, the great ones ARE intelligent, mature and even humble (Brady, Manning, Montana, Young, Staubach) all had these qualities. They were humble but also competitive, intense and driven.

In the end, production and performance will always be the most important factors. I never stated otherwise. If, however, these personal qualities (that I was merely noting from the video) were not important, there would be no reason for NFL teams to obtain background checks and references from college coaches or to perform intense in-person interviews. The Patriots (and most NFL teams) think that these pretty things are important, but it’s possible that they are wrong and you are correct (not really).