Player Signing Patriots acquire OT Vederian Lowe from Vikings

[Thelonious]

Re Klemm: Is it possible Bill is TOO "loyal," that he thinks because someone is "one of his guys" whom he knows from some previous association that that person is somehow magically competent at some job, a job for which - as with last year's offensive fiasco - they may have no qualifications whatsoever? If that's what is going on, it could indicate you have a manager who is too ... old... to do the harder work of making a legitimate decision. Might this sort of failing also account for the dropped practices, abandoned joint practices, foregone final days of OTA's, guys hanging around until their health is optimal, lousy work vetting trades, free agent acquisitions, draft picks, and so on? I'm an old S.O.B. myself, so I don't say this happily. I retired at 73 because I realized I had begun mailing it in to a degree and couldn't always keep myself from doing so. It was the righ thing to do, and like Bill I had had a long and sucessful run. There comes a time. I'm not saying truss him up and ship him out of town, but it's a topic that bears discussion, certainly re Bill the GM.

 

[n1997y]

I think Wheatley steps in and instantly is better than either Reiff or McDermott.

Anderson they should hang onto, but I don't know what's actually wrong with him.

I think Lowe is ahead of Wheatley. For one thing, Lowe has actually played in four regular season NFL games.

 

[Zuma]

I don't watch non Patriots preseason games, but the folks that do so I don't have to (and supported by Browns beat guys observations) all seem to be impressed with Wheatley's play this preseason, by their accounts he has played better than both McDermott and Reiff at tackle. Who knows, but I wouldn't be surprised if he graduates from his project phase and plays significant snaps this year, especially when considering the competition.

I have hope for rookies…not so much 26 year old practice squad players that’s never played. We’ll see.

 

[n1997y]

Isnt it a little late for these moves? Usually the obtain all the stuff to throw against the wall should be done with enough time to see what sticks. How do you even know what you have with these newly acquired tackles by Tuesday

That’s on Reiff for not getting hurt earlier.

 

[Thelonious]

Re Klemm: Is it possible Bill is TOO "loyal," that he thinks because someone is "one of his guys" whom he knows from some previous association that that person is somehow magically competent at some job, a job for which - as with last year's offensive fiasco - they may have no qualifications whatsoever? If that's what is going on, it could indicate you have a manager who is too ... old... to do the harder work of making a legitimate decision. Might this sort of failing also account for the dropped practices, abandoned joint practices, foregone final days of OTA's, guys hanging around until their health is optimal, lousy work vetting trades, free agent acquisitions, draft picks, and so on? I'm an old S.O.B. myself, so I don't say this happily. I retired at 73 because I realized I had begun mailing it in to a degree and couldn't always keep myself from doing so. It was the righ thing to do, and like Bill I had had a long and sucessful run. There comes a time. I'm not saying truss him up and ship him out of town, but it's a topic that bears discussion, certainly re Bill the GM.

Hey, I got the "already been discussed" icon. Is there an icon for "so what"?

So it goes. When in Rome....

Update. It got changed to "Ugh." Now THAT I can live with, lol.

 

[rochrist]

Could Trent Brown be in danger of being released? They can’t be happy with how Brown half-assed it this off-season. His release would save $8 million of salary and cap space.

No

 

[Real fan 02]

thanks For that. I don’t always agree with you, but your posts are always good even when we don’t agree. So I really appreciate that.

THANK YOU! Heck it's hard to agree with our wives even LOL. So difference of opinion is great sometimes.. I like hearing others thoughts and opinions.. I always try to be respectful, and non offensive. I try to be a realistic poster, and positive about our team, and when something is head scratching I comment on it to get the consensus opinion. I really want to see this offense take off this season and it just feels like the Line with be a hindrance. I'm trying to find optimism...

 

[Stu Pidassle]

Probably a topic for another day or thread, but well-run teams, teams with a competent GM, do NOT have these sorts of fundamental problems at this point in the season. This mess - not just the OL, but weak starters and backups in multiple positions - has been several years in the making. We can rearrange the options all we like - see Morse's recent article - but we are burdened with chicken***, trying to make chicken salad. To borrow an expression from Bill's old mentor, sometimes you need to blame the guy buying the groceries.

You don't need to know how the chicken salad is made if the food on your plate tastes good. Building a roster is an iterative process that includes reacting to what is learned during training camp. With the leftover players, FA signings and draft picks, the team did not have a fundamental problem going into training camp. Multiple injuries and an illness that impacted the same position created the situation. It is not uncommon to come out of training camp with an obvious need that is addressed as part of the finalization of the roster. If the other starters return to health Sow is the only new member of the line, things will be ok. I am glad that the team was proactive in bringing in some depth to prepare for the injuries that will happen over the course of the regular season. More promising is the fact that these guys are not the typical retreads and may actually make the team better over the next couple of seasons.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis are going to think they are back at Georgia playing Mercer for a tune up game.

 

[upstater1]

Cole Popovich is now with the Houston Texans, as assistant OL coach.

What we know is when he was here, the line was better.

You don't think you're putting too much emphasis on a weird year when the team went 7-9 with Cam Newton back there?

And when we had Joe Thuney and Shaq Mason was playing halfway decently?

It was one year and the results weren't great, not to mention we had more talent.

 

[upstater1]

You're mad because he felt getting the jab wasn't a good decision for him?

Nobody should be forced to get it.

It was his employer's decision.

 

[rochrist]

I think Lowe is ahead of Wheatley. For one thing, Lowe has actually played in four regular season NFL games.

Lowe wasn't changing positions. I believe he played all four years in college at tackle.

 

[upstater1]

When the Patriots had the chance to take the BPA this draft, they did it. Ignoring obvious needs.

We have Wise, we didn't have a dire need for Keion White.

We have Jon Jones, Jack Jones and Marcus Jones. We didn't have a dire need for Gonzalez.

They could've taken an LT in the 1st or 2nd round.

Me? I'm glad they didn't.

 

[stardawg]

BB just traded for Wheatley and Lowe. Looks like BB does not believe in Steuber or McDermott either. If Reiff is hurt, BB traded for 2 guys because he thought we only had two dependable guys, Brown and Sow. Sow is a project.

Bill is still shopping for linemen at Filenes Basement he acts like it's his money he's spending... we need a real GM

 

[TheRainMaker]

We have Jon Jones, Jack Jones and Marcus Jones. We didn't have a dire need for Gonzalez.

It was a dire need and their biggest need on defense. Their CB's got bullied against the NFL's best WR's.

That said, OT was the team's biggest need to protect the QB.

 

[Pape]

You don't think you're putting too much emphasis on a weird year when the team went 7-9 with Cam Newton back there?

And when we had Joe Thuney and Shaq Mason was playing halfway decently?

It was one year and the results weren't great, not to mention we had more talent.

No, I don't think I am. I think would have helped us if he returned. Sure as hell would have looked better than what we've seen so far. Because it has been down right bad.

 

[upstater1]

It was a dire need and their biggest need on defense. Their CB's got bullied against the NFL's best WR's.

That said, OT was the team's biggest need to protect the QB.

My point is that I want to take the BPA in that situation. Until we have a Super Bowl team, that is, and only then do I start shoring up holes.

 

[TheRainMaker]

My point is that I want to take the BPA in that situation. Until we have a Super Bowl team, that is, and only then do I start shoring up holes.

So was Gonzalez the BPA?

 

[upstater1]

No, I don't think I am. I think would have helped us if he returned. Sure as hell would have looked better than what we've seen so far. Because it has been down right bad.

We're in a new era when guys who won't even make the team are starting preseason games. It's not like the old days. It's fine to be disappointed in Steuber, Murray and Ferentz, but these guys aren't making the team. And there is nothing that Klemm or Popovich or anyone could do about that.

 

[upstater1]

So was Gonzalez the BPA?

Definitely.