Game Day Thread Official Preseason Game Day Thread- Pats @ Giants

betterthanthealternative said:

Yeah, I was wondering about that, given the number of punt returns Taylor got yesterday. Would an all pro punt returner and reasonable #5 WR have trade value?

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It does seem like they were trying that out, but man... Taylor makes me NERVOUS on those punt returns. There have been a few in preseason where it seems like he misreads the ball and has to dive forward to fair catch it. Just feels like a muff waiting to happen.

On a team that is either playing Cam Newton or a rookie at QB, playing great defense and special teams is more crucial than it already was. The idea that this D could get a stop with a chance to give a short field to this offense, then we lose it because Taylor misplayed a ball is a margin of error we just may not have. If we had another depth WR that we think could play better, there's more conversation, but Gunner is not only dynamic on his returns but dependable in his fielding/decisions on punts. That's worth it to me. Wilkerson (or eventually Harry) can be your actual depth WR.

BobDigital said:

Agholor is going to have some issues for a while. Still seems lost. I think he'll get there, but it is annoying.

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You're basing that on 23 snaps in the pre-season with Newton throwing the ball and i'm sure not all of them were passing plays. That's at least half the amount of snaps he'll get in 1 game alone in the regular season

betterthanthealternative said:

Yeah, I was wondering about that, given the number of punt returns Taylor got yesterday. Would an all pro punt returner and reasonable #5 WR have trade value?

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I’m not sure why we would get rid of an all-pro return man when his contract is so reasonable and he’s taken steps to improve at WR every year.

Wozzy said:

He has shown nothing to warrant it.

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unless he is awful they aren't cutting a 3rd round pick

Le Numéro Douze said:

Oh, it is not zero value.

As I said before, I am 100% fine with Mac waiting a few weeks/months and perhaps the whole year. It can help him a lot.

What I do not like is trotting a **** QB out there and losing games.

I do see the benefits of a slow transition though. I guess we will just have to suffer through more Cam Newton being Cam Newton.

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I want the growing pains with Mac right away. I don’t want to lose game with Cam, start Mac week 6 and have the growing pains then. You will basically losing half a season instead of a quarter.

there is absolutely no valid reason and really no gain for the patriots this year and in the future to start Cam. It makes absolutely no sense.

Ross12 said:

I agree, Perkins has made mistakes but has also flashed potential in games and in practice. He was a day 2 pick. He's on the roster.

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Even second year or third year players are making such mistakes. Perkins is a lock for 110 % imo. If it's a young edge guy who gets cut or traded it will be more likely wino or jennings, altough i would keep them

Le Numéro Douze said:

"Cam got COVID again, do not do that"

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that is the most likely resolution to the QB dilemma.

Mac will get the starting role when unvaccinated Cam is forced to sit because he was exposed. Or violated protocols again.

Lagaffe_07 said:

I want the growing pains with Mac right away. I don’t want to lose game with Cam, start Mac week 6 and have the growing pains then. You will basically losing half a season instead of a quarter.

there is absolutely no valid reason and really no gain for the patriots this year and in the future to start Cam. It makes absolutely no sense.

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There’s one potential good reason in my opinion, and that’s if the Pats think Mac isn’t physically ready to take the pounding of a 17 game season without transforming his body. That he would be at a huge disadvantage if he had to spend part of his 1st regular season and his entire 1st offseason not only learning the playbook and building muscle, but rehabbing an injury, with the risk that the injury will sap him of his talent and he’ll never reach his potential.

Mentally, he sure as hell looks ready to me. He responded very well to the adversity thrown at him in 2Q of playing backups everywhere against 1st stringers.

If history is any indicator, we'll be learning of the first wave of cuts sometime today/later this afternoon.

Going to be some very tough cuts, binkies will be lost, and some good/potentially good players. Let's just hope they keep the right guys.

Sicilian said:

It does seem like they were trying that out, but man... Taylor makes me NERVOUS on those punt returns. There have been a few in preseason where it seems like he misreads the ball and has to dive forward to fair catch it. Just feels like a muff waiting to happen.

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I agree -- Taylor was Arizona's primary KR in college, but not PR. He looks much more comfortable returning kickoffs. IMO they have to keep Gunner unless/until they pick up another receiver with punt return experience.

betterthanthealternative said:

Amazing. Literally every other TV sports broadcaster, when told that they will have a radio simulcast, switches over to a semi-radio style.
Zolak has gone from an asset to a liablity in just a couple of years.

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Even TV play by play tell you down and distance. They were just two guys watching a football game and drinking beer

Mac Jones puts a smile on my face,that kid is gonna be good.

Sfpat said:

Even TV play by play tell you down and distance. They were just two guys watching a football game and drinking beer

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I got some useful takeaways, like "Here's the thing Mac is going to have to learn with learning to use coaching, is to learn from the coaching and then use the coaching."

PatsFanInVa said:

And Stevenson is going to be the big swinging British detective of a running back that people will not just get ready for they are going to have to change the game plans around this guy, mark my words.

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I get more excited about this guy every time he touches the ball. My expectations for Stevenson have officially reached the unreasonable level.

patfanken said:

BTW- is it legal for say Bolden or Hoyer, get to the PS, but with their full pay? I don't see anyone claiming either, so other than ego, it wouldn't matter a bit if they were on the PS or the roster. But both would be available should an injury happen at those two position. Just askin'

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If I am reading 2021 practice squad primer: Everything to know from the rules to the eligibility correctly you can have up to six veterans and up to four protected players on the PS with no upper limit on salary, subject to the salary cap of course.

Hammer of Thor said:

No, they changed that with the last CBA. Practice squad guys can only receive practice squad salaries. NFL vet PS guys make more than others, but it’s still less than the NFL minimum.

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The link I provide contradicts that.

There is no limit to how much a team can pay a player on the practice squad, although the practice squad contracts do count against the salary cap.

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Not sure if this is just a COVID relaxation or what...

Lagaffe_07 said:

Explain to me how he can do that sitting on the bench? He won’t get used to the speed of the game running the scout team in practice. The guy needs to play and fail. No way around it. If it’s not this year, it will be next year and we would lose two years instead of one. Because don’t make mistake about it, we are going nowhere with cam

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We’re all excited to see the Mac era begin. I was definitely in the slowly being him along camp, but after watching him all offseason, I say swing for the fences and let the kid grow. I also keep seeing this argument that riding the bench won’t do him any good. That makes 0 sense. Many qb’s have gotten used to the speed of the game on practice, scout team etc. If he doesn’t fleet the starting nod, it’s not the end of the world for his development. He’ll keep getting better. Let’s just hope Cam can keep the ship afloat until that time comes.

My only concern with Mac is will his dad bod hold up for 17 games + playoffs + dozens of practices and 1000s of throws.

With that said I don't think Cam will hold up either. Lot of wear on those tires.

jah said:

He's flashed pass rush potential every preseason game. For a third round pick to get cut as a rookie, he has to be absolutely dogshit in an irredeemable way. That didn't happen.

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Zero sacks… that’s “flashed?” He got schooled repeatedly trying to play contain on the edge.

They could put him on some faux injury list (Foxboro flu) or try sneaking him on the practice squad but he hasn’t been good enough to keep on the active roster.

You don’t compound a draft mistake by being stubborn. Bill drafted Duke Dawson in the second round, he lasted about as long as a cup of coffee before Bill traded him.