NFL News and Mark’s Morsels

Do you realize there is an entire section of Patsfans.com dedicated to News from around the NFL? There is something there for fans of every other team. If you just want to stay informed about the rest of the league it’s a great resource. It’s the banner located at the top of the page, right next to the Forum Tab. Check it out. I will highlight two items from that page.

Doug Peterson was fired as Head Coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. His aggressive play-calling with Nick Foles at QB led the Eagles to a victory against the Patriots in Super Bowl LII. Of interest to Patriots fans is this may mean another QB is off the market. Carson Wentz will probably stay now that a new Head Coach is in place. There is more in the NFL News section.

Dan Quinn, fired Atlanta Falcons Head Coach, has accepted the Defensive Coordinator position for the Dallas Cowboys. Quinn may not have been a very good Head Coach, but there is no question of his ability as a Defensive Coach.

Patriots Player Personnel Replacement

Dave Ziegler is the first name most people would say is in line for the promotion. He was the assistant Pro Player Personnel Director. Ziegler interviewed for the vacant Denver Broncos GM position. However, he removed his name from consideration this week. For continuity purposes, Ziegler would be the logical choice.

Some noise started this week on promoting Eliot Wolf, son of legendary Green Bay GM Ron Wolf, as a GM for the Patriots. Specifically, the article said GM and not Pro Player Personnel, which was Nick Casserio’s title. GM is part of Bill Belichicks responsibilities. Does this signal that Belichick is ready to release some of the responsibility? Eliot Wolf is 38 and has served in the Green Bay Scouting Department for 14 years and was recently the Assistant GM in Cleveland. Presently he is a Front Office Consultant for the Patriots. Some have credited Wolf for what was a successful draft this year.

Medal of Freedom Refusal

Adam Schefter reported via Twitter “Patriots’ HC Bill Belichick will not be traveling to Washington nor accepting the Presidential Medal of Freedom, he announced today.” The entire statement from Belichick is below.

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1348790788046680067/photo/1

Considering all the work the team has done as far as communicating on social issues I applaud Coach Belichicks decision to not accept. The only thing I might have done differently, was to go and accept the Medal of Freedom. I would have insisted that Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman was at the ceremony, upfront and center. If I were Belichick, I would then take off the medal and say that I didn’t deserve it and then put it around the neck of Goodman. Goodman was the Black Officer that led the mob away from the Senate floor and up the stairs. He was severely outnumbered but never raised his gun against the mob. I was fearing for his life watching. I don’t know if I wouldn’t draw my gun and discharge it against the mob in that situation.

Mark’s Morsels:

– OT Caleb Benonoch was not offered a futures contract and is a Free Agent

– Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder has decided to stay in school another year. I had Ridder as a 3rd round pick to the Patriots. Cincinnati was 9-0 coming into the Peach Bowl but suffered their only defeat to Georgia 24-21. I expect another strong performance by Cincinnati next season pushing Ridder to the top of the QB rankings and a 1^st round selection.

– Finally, a decision will be made this week by the NFL on whether to conduct the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis or to postpone or modify it in some way. If they do not conduct the combine, this will severely hamper scouting since none of the scouts have been allowed on campus.

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About Mark Morse

Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.

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