The Bolden, the Beautiful (Bolden Appreciation)

[PatsFanInVa]

So Omen and Dre (my favorite cop show, by the way,) are both dinged up, and a story on our main page says Bolden's role could continue to grow.

I want to go on record saying I would love, love, love Bolden to continue to grow in the "Hey! he actually IS a running back!" role. This guy has always been a roleplayer, never got frustrated, never got mad that he wasn't the center of attention. Every year the "smarter than Foxborough" crowd goes through "their" final 53 rosters, every year we look even a little comfortable at running back they're lobbying to cut Bolden, every year they're whining about not keeping some other guy, even though he's due to become a monetary liability soon.

Allow me to be the first to say it: "Let's go, Brandon!"
By the way, for me, that's code for "Let's go, Brandon!"

Thanks Bolden, there is something so "Patriotic" about the "next man up," "Sure I'll play special teams" role-players who are there when needed.

 

[oldrover]

 

[n6249c]

Let’s go, Bolden!

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Pretty cool for a 31 year old RB. Good team guy. Wish we kept the 31 year old elite CB1 as well

 

[DarrylS]

Brandon is another UDFA find by BB (who cannot draft or evaluate talent) who since 2012 been a steady ST'er &RB. Despite his defection to Miami for one season, is one of those unsung heroes on the NE Patriots..

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Bolden has been playing well. Either he somehow got better with more snaps which would be pretty cool for his age, or he always had RB skills and only now got to show them due to team injuries at age 31.

.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Brandon is another UDFA find by BB (who cannot draft or evaluate talent) who since 2012 been a steady ST'er &RB. Despite his defection to Miami for one season, is one of those unsung heroes on the NE Patriots..

His ace advantage that no other team can do is BB repeatedly finds UDFA every couple years, who are good. Just stay away from drafting CBs or WRs or RBs with high draft picks. Stay away.

 

[TinhWoodhead]

Michael Bolden is a good singer too

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Pretty cool for a 31 year old RB. Good team guy. Wish we kept the 31 year old elite CB1 as well

What a weird thing to fixate on, they're both 31.

Stephon Gilmore is 31 and the Pats paid him $65M over 5 years, when I guess $65M meant something. Now he "just wants to be paid what he's worth." Okay. We moved up $4.5M from '21 to '20, and now he's sad because this year's salary was $7.5M for not playing. All the way through the deal he got high guaranteed money, but not top dollar. So to be less derisive, he just wants to get paid like a top CB. Okay. We don't want to do that. All the acquisition haters have been harping on the "spending spree," which is actually pretty smart cap math. Well, total it's about $250M now, spread over several years for two dozen bodies. Gilmore woulda been 1/4 of that on his own, and that's 5 years ago, "on the cheap." What was what he wanted recently? I'm guessing it's fair to consider a one-year ask to be similar to high performers at the position. A franchise tag for a CB is $15M. I actually think he wanted more, but I am not sure. I mean, it wasn't an issue until he finally could run around a little, and he's just now getting back on the field. Coming off a major injury. At 31. At a position where if you lose a step, you're a safety. He did great for us, but the team decided that another big contract with him was an unwise risk assessment.

Bolden's current contract is a 2-year, $3.7M deal.

So to me, you can't compare them. Why WOULD you keep Gilmore? To roll the dice, and see what you have left of him, on another 1 year deal to make him play this season? Now that he's got 4.5M (moved into 20,) followed by $7.5M base, to NOT play in '21? Nice work if you can get it. What should BB have paid him over and above this $12 million for not playing in '21?

Totally different positions, but you saw what happened to Sony Michel.

He got "Better a Year Earlied," basically, at this role-playing position (RB) with the Pats. They don't look at them, treat them, or pay them as stars.

Part of my Bolden-Love is that he's at a position on a team where he's just not the focal point, even though paradoxically, games can hinge on the RB's productivity. On some teams they say "This guy is the focal point," and they pay the man. We skimp at RB, and it just about always works. Sorry to brag but it's true. As long as you run a committee, nobody gets fat and happy and everybody eats. Either way you're vulnerable to poor O-line play, but that's true of every offensive position.

Most of you guys see him as a complaint vector against Josh McDaniels because they gave him 3 carries in a row when he wasn't effective. Now we all see that he can be effective, well, great. I love him too, that's why the thread. He might have a crap game Sunday, who knows. He's not Derrick Henry. I just know he'll be the best Brandon Bolden he knows how to be, and maybe I'm starting to think of players more like spoiled kids versus kids I'd be proud of. Um is that paternalistic?

I dunno, I'm just always proud of Bolden.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

His ace advantage that no other team can do is BB repeatedly finds UDFA every couple years, who are good. Just stay away from drafting CBs or WRs or RBs with high draft picks. Stay away.

Rhamondre Stevenson and Damien Harris say hi. From wherever they're rehabbing, granted. They're both off to promising starts though. If you mean you don't have them in fantasy or something, focus on a team that doesn't run a committee.

WR & corner havent worked out in Pats drafts, I think that's true, though rather than agree with prattle if I had the energy I'd look the history up, b/c the one-note song is only the right note a fraction of the time once you take a look.

Nike does really shine in the middle rounds though, and yes, the Pats have preferred FA moves at WR and CB. The usual pertains: if you've got a weakness, you use a strength to disguise it.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

What a weird thing to fixate on, they're both 31.

Stephon Gilmore is 31 and the Pats paid him $65M over 5 years, when I guess $65M meant something. Now he "just wants to be paid what he's worth." Okay. We moved up $4.5M from '21 to '20, and now he's sad because this year's salary was $7.5M for not playing. All the way through the deal he got high guaranteed money, but not top dollar. So to be less derisive, he just wants to get paid like a top CB. Okay. We don't want to do that. All the acquisition haters have been harping on the "spending spree," which is actually pretty smart cap math. Well, total it's about $250M now, spread over several years for two dozen bodies. Gilmore woulda been 1/4 of that on his own, and that's 5 years ago, "on the cheap." What was what he wanted recently? I'm guessing it's fair to consider a one-year ask to be similar to high performers at the position. A franchise tag for a CB is $15M. I actually think he wanted more, but I am not sure. I mean, it wasn't an issue until he finally could run around a little, and he's just now getting back on the field. Coming off a major injury. At 31. At a position where if you lose a step, you're a safety. He did great for us, but the team decided that another big contract with him was an unwise risk assessment.

Bolden's current contract is a 2-year, $3.7M deal.

So to me, you can't compare them. Why WOULD you keep Gilmore? To roll the dice, and see what you have left of him, on another 1 year deal to make him play this season? Now that he's got 4.5M (moved into 20,) followed by $7.5M base, to NOT play in '21? Nice work if you can get it. What should BB have paid him over and above this $12 million for not playing in '21?

Totally different positions, but you saw what happened to Sony Michel.

He got "Better a Year Earlied," basically, at this role-playing position (RB) with the Pats. They don't look at them, treat them, or pay them as stars.

Part of my Bolden-Love is that he's at a position on a team where he's just not the focal point, even though paradoxically, games can hinge on the RB's productivity. On some teams they say "This guy is the focal point," and they pay the man. We skimp at RB, and it just about always works. Sorry to brag but it's true. As long as you run a committee, nobody gets fat and happy and everybody eats. Either way you're vulnerable to poor O-line play, but that's true of every offensive position.

Most of you guys see him as a complaint vector against Josh McDaniels because they gave him 3 carries in a row when he wasn't effective. Now we all see that he can be effective, well, great. I love him too, that's why the thread. He might have a crap game Sunday, who knows. He's not Derrick Henry. I just know he'll be the best Brandon Bolden he knows how to be, and maybe I'm starting to think of players more like spoiled kids versus kids I'd be proud of. Um is that paternalistic?

I dunno, I'm just always proud of Bolden.

1. I too am enjoying Bolden especially the last couple weeks. Absolutely agree it's been great to see a longtime STer play like this now.
2. The Pats didn't skimp on the RB position. Burning a 1st round pick on a RB was using prime draft capital. But agree RB shouldn't be a spot where you waste valuable cap or draft capital.
3. Gilmore has been playing great in Carolina. So organizational stooges here eager to say he was over the hill, haven't been right.
4. Back to Bolden he's also part of those nice draft classes from 2009-2012, the foundational drafts for the last 3 rings.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

1. I too am enjoying Bolden especially the last couple weeks. Absolutely agree it's been great to see a longtime STer play like this now.
2. The Pats didn't skimp on the RB position. Burning a 1st round pick on a RB was using prime draft capital. But agree RB shouldn't be a spot where you waste valuable cap or draft capital.
3. Gilmore has been playing great in Carolina. So organizational stooges here eager to say he was over the hill, haven't been right.
4. Back to Bolden he's also part of those nice draft classes from 2009-2012, the foundational drafts for the last 3 rings.

He's been back 2 games and he's turned in decent efforts - 1 int., 1 PD in each game. One of those was against the terrifying Atlanta Falcons, but the other was a highly motivated return vs. the Patriots. I don't think people "haven't been right" based on him not pooping the bed for 2 weeks. "Organizational stooges." You make me laugh.

What would be the superior course of action? Pay him for a long term deal, coming off a major injury?

Or did you just want half of 2021 out of him, and you think he's worth oh I dunno, say another 8 million bucks to play this year out? After being paid $12 million already?

Or do you really just want the security of keeping whatever gives you a good memory, and you perceive change as loss? This is where if I were a big meanie I'd start asking you about childhood trauma and divorce and stuff. BB and Brady still both love you, DKF, and they'll both still see you through the television once a week. They just have to live different places. Show me on the doll where Josh McDaniel hurt you.

You aren't proven right because he had 2 good but not stellar games.

J.C. Jackson - again, a BB pickup through UDFA - is costing $3.4m this year. Granted, we will be paying him or losing him this offseason. I dunno what his number will be. We might wave bye bye to him too. Who knows.

The point isn't "OMG the sky is falling he had 2 good games and we didn't have him for those!!!!" It's what's he cost, what does he contribute, is he worthy of "stellar talent that gets stellar treatment" status (those guys who NE compensates on the higher side of "competitively,") what are the risks (injury history and age play into that), and what are the options if we lose him. In 18 and 19 he played full seasons. In 17 he played 13 games, in 20 he played 11 games, and in 21 he's played 2 thus far, neither for New England. Maybe he has his best years ahead of him. That is a low probability bet. Maybe he would have played cheap for NE. Wait, he wasn't going to. Is it just possible that he's a good player, but NE doesn't like the risk-cost-benefit profile? But yeah he played well in 2 games.

Anyway, I too appreciate Brandon Bolden

 

[DropKickFlutie]

He's been back 2 games and he's turned in decent efforts - 1 int., 1 PD in each game. One of those was against the terrifying Atlanta Falcons, but the other was a highly motivated return vs. the Patriots. I don't think people "haven't been right" based on him not pooping the bed for 2 weeks. "Organizational stooges." You make me laugh.

What would be the superior course of action? Pay him for a long term deal, coming off a major injury?

Or did you just want half of 2021 out of him, and you think he's worth oh I dunno, say another 8 million bucks to play this year out? After being paid $12 million already?

Or do you really just want the security of keeping whatever gives you a good memory, and you perceive change as loss? This is where if I were a big meanie I'd start asking you about childhood trauma and divorce and stuff. BB and Brady still both love you, DKF, and they'll both still see you through the television once a week. They just have to live different places. Show me on the doll where Josh McDaniel hurt you.

You aren't proven right because he had 2 good but not stellar games.

J.C. Jackson - again, a BB pickup through UDFA - is costing $3.4m this year. Granted, we will be paying him or losing him this offseason. I dunno what his number will be. We might wave bye bye to him too. Who knows.

The point isn't "OMG the sky is falling he had 2 good games and we didn't have him for those!!!!" It's what's he cost, what does he contribute, is he worthy of "stellar talent that gets stellar treatment" status (those guys who NE compensates on the higher side of "competitively,") what are the risks (injury history and age play into that), and what are the options if we lose him. In 18 and 19 he played full seasons. In 17 he played 13 games, in 20 he played 11 games, and in 21 he's played 2 thus far, neither for New England. Maybe he has his best years ahead of him. That is a low probability bet. Maybe he would have played cheap for NE. Wait, he wasn't going to. Is it just possible that he's a good player, but NE doesn't like the risk-cost-benefit profile? But yeah he played well in 2 games.

Anyway, I too appreciate Brandon Bolden

1. Bolden is great, just saying once again.
2. It wouldn't have been another 8. Gilmore was at 7, had already missed 4 games. So I think another 4-5m and he would still be here this season. (so 12m prorated to play the remaining dozen games). The excuse that Gilmore needed to go to sign Collins never passed the smell test.

 

[Patriot Missile]

As much as many here were baffled year after year by him making the team every year, you can’t deny Bills emphasis on special teams. There’s no lie in Bill when it comes to that phase of this team. Now its paying dividends for one of the special teams aces and its working both ways. He really has filled in admirably. Its a feel good story.

 

[Wax Frog]

one of those unsung heroes on the NE Patriots..

"Brandon Bolden lalala, Brandon Bolden la la la!" There, done!

 

[mikey m]

"Brandon Bolden lalala, Brandon Bolden la la la!" There, done!

You've got a horrible voice.

 

[Dingleberry]

There was a backup RB named Bolden
His 3rd and long screens got quite a scoldin'
Concussions have made him a stand in
Now the fans all shout, "Let's go Brandon"!
Until the GDT when they start foldin'.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

1. Bolden is great, just saying once again.
2. It wouldn't have been another 8. Gilmore was at 7, had already missed 4 games. So I think another 4-5m and he would still be here this season. (so 12m prorated to play the remaining dozen games). The excuse that Gilmore needed to go to sign Collins never passed the smell test.

Okay, sorry to unload on ya. It's kind of nice right now that they're playing well without him, but maybe we'll feel the absence terribly as the season goes on. That money was judged better spent elsewhere... whether rightly or wrongly

 

[PatsFanInVa]

There was a backup RB named Bolden
His 3rd and long screens got quite a scoldin'
Concussions have made him a stand in
Now the fans all shout, "Let's go Brandon"!
Until the GDT when they start foldin'.

I know the casino's exciting
And the scramble to gamble stops fighting:
"Nice Tates! (Auden and Golden--
Not Jess!) Now I'm em-Boldened..."
So props, but not for lim'rick writing.

 

[DarrylS]

I know the casino's exciting
And the scramble to gamble stops fighting:
"Nice Tates! (Auden and Golden--
Not Jess!) Now I'm em-Boldened..."
So props, but not for lim'rick writing.

Nice to see after all this time you have not lost your prowess for the written word...