2016 Training Camp - Day 4

[RobertWeathers]

Gronk deserves a big payday and a contract that guarantees that he is a Patriot for the rest of his career!

No question he deserves it.

Based on his production last year he is grossly underpaid.

Keep in mind the team did give him a big payday when there were questions about his health. Nobody forced him to sign it. He took the security and forgone the at-market payday.

With that said I have zero issue with him chasing every last penny as the team can cut him at any point and a team's word is as good as the amount of guaranteed money.

 

[PatsBoy12]

The knocks on Andrews have been:

• Strength
• Telegraphing the snap (play?)

He obviously worked on the first in the offseason. I wonder how effectively they can self-scout the second.

Yeah, I hear you. Inexperience that should resolve itself with more coaching and practice.

 

[randomk1]

The knocks on Andrews have been:

• Strength
• Telegraphing the snap (play?)

He obviously worked on the first in the offseason. I wonder how effectively they can self-scout the second.

Wasn't it Stork who gave the snap away?

 

[PScottman]

Bock Vereen is my sleeper pick to make the roster. I can see him playing a slot CB/safety role.

His brother Dopplebock is tearing up NFL Europe.







(just a little spelling gaffe beer humor - no offense meant)

 

[PatsBoy12]

I'm picking Andrews to win the C battle, barring his own injury. I feel he has outperformed Stork pretty much since making the team, and Stork has not been able to stay on the field in his young career. I know many will disagree because of his draft status and everything, but I really think Andrews is actually slightly better. And I do recall reading in the Day 2 thread (iirc) that Brady really likes him as well. I feel he was prematurely replaced last season when Stork came back, though he did eventually reprise the role whenever the team moved Stork to G. I just like the kid and actually think it's his battle to lose.

Oh how I love when someone hits the 'Disagree' button without giving a reason why. I guess it has nothing to do with my difference of opinion with this very person over a particular receiver in a different thread, especially since I've never ever gotten any clicks from this person before today...coincidentally the same day. Lol. People get so petty when you disagree with their viewpoints...like it's a personal attack. Thanks, person, even though I tried my very best to show you the respect I felt your long history on the board deserved while fully, and reasonably, explaining why I disagreed. Holla. Lmao

 

[PatsBoy12]

Wasn't it Stork who gave the snap away?

I actually think Fencer might be correct. But either way, experience and coaching from Scar will help both. I still think it's Andrews' job to lose at this point.

 

[PatsBoy12]

After the draft, being inducted into the Pats HOF and now his speech in TC, I may just scribble Faulk's name as my candidate come the election. I can totally see him getting on and off Air Force One with his Brady jersey on.

 

[AtomicDawg]

This must have been taken after one of their *many* TDs today.

 

[AtomicDawg]

After the draft, being inducted into the Pats HOF and now his speech in TC, I may just scribble Faulk's name as my candidate come the election. I can totally see him getting on and off Air Force One with his Brady jersey on.

It would do well with foreign relations around the world...lol

 

[PatsBoy12]

This must have been taken after one of their *many* TDs today.

I just had an orgasm. Two, in fact. I feel a third on the way. This is my orgasm face .

 

[BobDigital]

So far my top stories of camp.

Guards -Ted Karras - Few expected much out of him. If you did you were way ahead of the curve. He was a guy who a week ago i thought was on the outside looking in at the PS. Now he is showing up really well and looks ready to battle for a roster spot. The guard competition will be fierce this year. Speaking of that. Joe Thuney - The word that has been thrown around is "solid". He doesn't win with great physical traits but very sound technique and has been steadily solid all camp. I am already ready to pencil him in as a starter. He has lived up to his draft status. As far as other guards not much new and injuries have slowed some guys down.

C - Stork vs Andrews. Nothing new. Right now Andrews is ahead cause you can't make the club from the tub.. Might keep both though.

OT - No news really which is sad. Injuries but not serious ones to the top guys and i have not heard of anyone turning heads. 3rd OT could be an issue again.

TE - A lot of news here. Gronk and Bennett have been great but the 3rd spot looks to be shaping up to be a big battled and we might be forced to carry 4. By Camp reports it appears Bryce Williams has been the most impressive besides the top 2. Derby and Harbor have had good reports too though. This is something to watch as 3rd TE is a spot that will matter on a 2 TE base team like us.

RB/FB - Blount catching well. Foster getting nicked up but looking good. Develin blocking well and looks to still have it. It is hard to say what will happen here but it seems to me right now you may as well pencil in Blount, Lewis, Develin and Bolden. They will come back to do their thing. Question is White, Foster or Brown for the 5th spot.

WR - Lots of stories here. The main one is Mitchell. Mitchell had his best day today but has had shaky days as well. However the talent is clearly there and he looks the part. It is all about being consistent with him. I think he will get there as he seems to be Tom Brady's shadow at this point and is committed to it and overall seems to be improving. Dobson is a big story but like i said before he is like Charlie Brown trying to kick a FG and then the ball gets pulled away. Glad to see the reports but to me he needs to show it in preseason games. That is the question. Hogan got hurt in Camp today but nothing too serious. Could miss some time in TC and a few preseason games. No one knows but at worse a dislocated shoulder which will not impact the regular season. Has looked good though. Edelman/Amendola will be fine. We seem to have a lot of guys competing for a PS spot here. Lucien, Carter and Harper all have been mentioned. Martin has been kind of silent

QB - Big story here is Jimmy G. Has looked really good all 4 days. 2 Ints and a fumble today in the rain but those 2 ints were off the hands of WRs. Overall he looks like a solid NFL QB up to this point. Brady is Brady. JB showing okay. Doing well for a rookie.

Will do D next

 

[PatsBoy12]

No question he deserves it.

Based on his production last year he is grossly underpaid.

Keep in mind the team did give him a big payday when there were questions about his health. Nobody forced him to sign it. He took the security and forgone the at-market payday.

With that said I have zero issue with him chasing every last penny as the team can cut him at any point and a team's word is as good as the amount of guaranteed money.

Few times in sports can I remember seeing a situation as complex as this where you have a player fully deserving of every penny he can get, but one who is such an overwhelming injury risk on literally every play. That risk will only increase with age and more wear and tear. I slightly disagree that with your point when it comes to the timing of the contract as it relates to injury though. At the time he received the new deal there was concern obviously about the back, since that cost him his final season in college, but not really anything else, as he hasn't missed a single game or practice yet as a pro to that point. So I don't think the team felt it was that much of a concern at the time. With that said, however, he did choose to sign on his own volition.

It's so tough to manage these kinds of things and I don't envy the financial guys at all. As Gilbert Arenas said, a player is getting paid for past production when a team decides to reward said player with a huge contract. He would know because his deal is considered one of the worst of all-time. Lol He hasn't been in the NBA for years now and is still getting paid with more on the way (until 2018 or so). Unfortunately for football players, basketball contracts are fully guaranteed. But yeah, Gronk deserves the money and any new deal should help the salary cap in theory.

 

[Ross12]

Mitchell is really smart to be "Brady's shadow" - he must have realized that the key to being a successful cog in the offense is earning Brady's trust. Brady will make damn sure you're running your routes properly. Even when Jimmy is under center, Mitchell will be where he needs to be.

Just hope Edelman doesn't get jealous!

 

[BobDigital]

DE/Edge - Sheard of course has been very good. Perhaps the best defender on the field so far. Long has been opposite more than not and I have not much about him though. Seems to be doing only so-so in that case perhaps. Nink and McCellin have both done well playing LB but i think Nink will be moved to DE once the season starts. McCellin seems to have had a good day today and looked "explosive". He has talent of course. Grissom, Flowers, R. Johnson have looks good at times but not jumping off the tape from what i have read.

DT - Not much to say here. I have not heard a bunch from what i have read but generally they have done well. They need more time to show though as this is a spot you get a better feel of in the preseason games.

LB - What is to say? Collins/Hightower will be great. Curious what Freeney does but he appears to be the #3 as far.

CB - A lot to talk about Here. Butler picking up where he left off and appears to be more vocal and likes to set a pace and energy at practice. He keeps making himself more and more indispensable. Ryan will be the #2 Yet again as things stand now. Cyrus Jones is living up to his pick and will be a core STer as well as a good CB. Maybe he will even start the year as the #3. We will see. Right now Coleman seems to be in the lead for the #3 spot. Jonathan Jones and D. Roberts are not far behind him though. J Jones had a great minicamp and has had a solid TC. Roberts has been doing well too and should be right in there to make a roster spot. His size over Jones is a good selling point as he has i think 3 inches on him. 2 other guys who have looked good that will be trying to make the PS are Leblanc and Bentley. Leblanc seems more likely to make the PS though.

S - D Mac, Chung and Harmon will be the main trio here. Richards has faced Gronk a lot and has made a few good plays. Good experience for him. Seems like he is being groomed to play a bigger spot on the defense in the near future. He is great against the run and if he can get a little better against the pass (he is not awful here btw just to be clear) he will be a good player. You also may as well pencil in Brandon King on the roster too due to STs. If we were to carry 6 at this spot i am unsure of who it would be right now. On the PS some guys are interesting. Brock Vereen has looked good at times and the recently signed Vinnie Sunseri has had a few good plays. It will be fun to watch that group in preseason. The depth on the DBs is pretty good.

 

[manxman2601]

 

[RobertWeathers]

Few times in sports can I remember seeing a situation as complex as this where you have a player fully deserving of every penny he can get, but one who is such an overwhelming injury risk on literally every play. That risk will only increase with age and more wear and tear. I slightly disagree that with your point when it comes to the timing of the contract as it relates to injury though. At the time he received the new deal there was concern obviously about the back, since that cost him his final season in college, but not ready anything what, as he hasn't missed a single game or practice yet as a pro to that point. So I don't think the team felt it was that much of a concern at the time. With that said, however, he did choose to sign on his own volition.

It's so tough to manage these kinds of things and I don't envy the financial guys at all. As Gilbert Arenas said, a player is getting paid for past production when a team decides to reward said player with a huge contract. He would know because his deal is conducted one of the worst of all-time. Lol He hasn't been in the NBA for years now and is still getting paid with more on the way (until 2018 or so). Unfortunately for football players, basketball contracts are fully guaranteed. But yeah, Gronk deserves the money and any new deal should help the salary cap in theory.

Yea you are probably right as Gronk signed the extension in June of 2012 which was immediately after his epic 2011 season in which he had shown two straight seasons of being healthy. He did have the ankle surgery but it was relatively minor.

 

[AtomicDawg]

More reason to love this dude and root for him.

 

[AtomicDawg]

 

[PatsBoy12]

Few times in sports can I remember seeing a situation as complex as this where you have a player fully deserving of every penny he can get, but one who is such an overwhelming injury risk on literally every play. That risk will only increase with age and more wear and tear. I slightly disagree that with your point when it comes to the timing of the contract as it relates to injury though. At the time he received the new deal there was concern obviously about the back, since that cost him his final season in college, but not really anything else, as he hasn't missed a single game or practice yet as a pro to that point. So I don't think the team felt it was that much of a concern at the time. With that said, however, he did choose to sign on his own volition.

It's so tough to manage these kinds of things and I don't envy the financial guys at all. As Gilbert Arenas said, a player is getting paid for past production when a team decides to reward said player with a huge contract. He would know because his deal is considered one of the worst of all-time. Lol He hasn't been in the NBA for years now and is still getting paid with more on the way (until 2018 or so). Unfortunately for football players, basketball contracts are fully guaranteed. But yeah, Gronk deserves the money and any new deal should help the salary cap in theory.

So many typos. I really hate trying to post things from my phone. But I don't have my laptop today.

 

[PatsBoy12]

Mitchell is really smart to be "Brady's shadow" - he must have realized that the key to being a successful cog in the offense is earning Brady's trust. Brady will make damn sure you're running your routes properly. Even when Jimmy is under center, Mitchell will be where he needs to be.

Just hope Edelman doesn't get jealous!

I don't know, Ross. Edelman loves him some Tom Brady. Tom did tell him he was his guy when he ran 60 yards to meet Edelman in the end zone after that punt return against Denver in '14. But hey, he has Adriana Lima to fall back in though. Lol