Wednesday Patriots Notebook 8/20: Two Players Rumored as Trade Candidates, Key Name Drops Down Depth Chart
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Some Patriots news and notes on this Wednesday:
1) Eliot Wolf stirred the pot a bit with his comments on Monday when talking about potential trade scenarios and what they’d be willing to give up, and it sounds like New England is actively exploring a couple of players already.
According to Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald, both linebacker Anfernee Jennings and safety Kyle Dugger are names that the Patriots have tested the waters with other teams as possible bargaining chips with less than a week to go before they cut down to 53 players.
The two have been heading in different directions as of late. With both having been starters in the NFL, the two have been facing lesser competition, and in that situation, the expectation, you would think, is that they stand out against players who will likely be out of the league when the dust finally settles.
Jennings has answered that bell, dominating in the second half this preseason and currently sitting second on the team in tackles over the final two quarters.
His three-sack performance Saturday in Minnesota is certainly the highlight thus far, and he reportedly saw one of his best weeks of practice as he continued making a case for himself for new head coach Mike Vrabel to find a role for him.
Meanwhile, for Dugger, it’s been the opposite. He hasn’t been as dominant when he’s been out there, and he’s been running with the second team as rookie Craig Woodson has seemingly moved ahead of him.
Dugger previously revealed that the ankle injury he suffered last season was misdiagnosed and required him to undergo surgery this offseason. However, it’s clear that he’s either not healthy or it’s caused a significant drop off in his speed, which was already somewhat borderline to begin with.
That has his future in doubt in the coming days, with the only question seemingly being whether or not the club can find a suitor, or if they’re simply going to have to move on.
2) For now, those names likely won’t be the only players the team looks to move in the coming days. Kendrick Bourne, Cole Strange, Jahlani Tavai, and possibly even Ja’Lynn Polk are among the names that have been talked about locally as other candidates, although Polk’s shoulder injury may take him out of that mix. His situation could instead see the team start him on an injury list to begin the season as one last attempt to salvage his career here, but his outlook certainly remains in question.
Wolf made it clear that they’re picking up the phone and exploring every option, with reports already that Cincinnati’s Trey Hendrickson has been one of those players. He and the Bengals remain in a standoff over his contract, with the two sides reportedly having agreed on the overall terms of the deal but the amount of guaranteed money apparently is now the obstacle.
Washington’s Terry McLaurin is another name mentioned, although, while the rumors have the Patriots having already tested those waters, there have yet to be any reports indicating that situation has gained any momentum.
NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry said on Monday night’s Arbella Early Edition that McLaurin is ‘perfect’ for what Vrabel is trying to do here, and he feels it’s a move the Patriots should at least consider.
“You invest, and you invest like crazy in pieces around your young quarterback while he’s young, and he’s on that rookie contract because the finances match up,” said Perry. “You’re not paying for the most expensive piece on your roster. You’re also not paying for maybe the best player on your roster right now, in Christian Gonzalez, who’s still on a rookie contract himself.”
“And so now is the time. Now is the time to try to max out the rest of the pieces on your team. And so I would be pursuing it and pursuing it hard with, especially, Terry McLaurin. Micah Parsons is probably the most talented player on that list, but he’s probably going to cost you the most in terms of draft capital and money. Terry McLaurin, Trenni [Casey], is a guy who, talking to people who know Mike Vrabel, who have worked with Mike Vrabel, who understand what he’s trying to build here in New England, call him the perfect Patriot for Mike Vrabel. So that, to me, sounds like a guy that you should be willing to give up a high pick and real money for.”
Whether or not the club would make a move for the disgruntled wideout remains to be seen. Wolf did say he hasn’t ruled out anything when it comes to the club making a trade if it can help the team, and he said Monday that if they can find a deal that makes sense, they would definitely consider it.
“We’re talking to all 31 other teams and trying to do what’s best for us,” said Wolf. “If something presents itself, I think those things are often a lot more complicated than the fans and some others like to make it believe. But if there’s something that we think can help us, we’ll definitely be open to it.”
3) Meanwhile, for someone who did a lot of talking at the start of training camp, Keion White is a name that’s fallen off the radar, and it sounds like he’s also slipped down the depth chart.
He was reportedly behind K’Lavon Chaisson in team drills on Tuesday. Chaisson has been a player who has had a good camp, and he’s been consistent all summer.
Neither has stood out during their respective preseason outings from a stats standpoint, but Chaisson, who didn’t play against Washington and saw limited action Saturday, has done a good job getting pressure and registered a quarterback hit in the 7 snaps he played on defense out in Minnesota.
However, White has started in both games and played 29 snaps this preseason (18 vs WAS, 11 at MIN) and has yet to even appear on the stat sheet.
For White, that’s certainly surprising, especially for someone who, during the early part of camp, made it seem like Vrabel was auditioning for him and not the other way around.
“I mean, my biggest working relationship is whether we’re winning or losing. So that’s big for me,” said White last month. “And then you just go from there. So is he a good coach? And how can he make me better? And that’s the biggest relationship I have. Everything else will take care of itself, later down the road.”
“I think he’s a pretty good coach,” added White of Vrabel. When asked why he felt that way, “Because he helps me get better.”
“I love Keion’s attitude,” said Vrabel at the time. “He’s a worker. He’s a here early… He’s got a routine that I think has worked for him. He practices hard. He’s conditioned. So again, as we work through this and progress, and we’re just a couple of days into this, but I think Keion has got a great attitude. I love just being able to coach him. He’s very receptive. He’s a very coachable player.”
“I mean, Keion, there’s not a lot of fluff to him. Our conversations are mostly… He wants to know football. He wants to talk football. That’s his profession. That’s his career. That’s his passion. So, we talk a lot of football, and I’ve enjoyed getting to know him.”
For someone who came into camp fairly confident, the fact it’s not translating to this point is certainly disappointing. At the same time, Vrabel has repeatedly talked about the fact there’s no entitlement and every opportunity needs to be earned.
So far, it looks like Chaisson is the one who has earned his opportunities, while White seems to have lost his grip on his role heading into the final week ahead of roster cutdowns.
4) The Patriots continue shuffling the bottom of their roster. The team made two moves on Tuesday, waiving both defensive back Tre Avery and defensive end Jereme Robinson.
Both players haven’t been in New England long, with Avery having been claimed by the team off waivers from the 49ers back on August 5th, while Robinson signed with the team five days later on August 10th.
Avery had four tackles this preseason, registering 3 tackles and one pass defended against Minnesota on Saturday, along with one tackle against the Commanders the week before. Robinson didn’t register a defensive snap, playing just two special teams snaps Saturday against the Vikings.
The club subsequently signed running back Micah Bernard and defensive tackle Philip Blidi .
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Keion white falling on the depth chart- no surprise there. Not sure why the media fawned over him each summer.., claiming he’ll bust out in Vrabels new system this year. Based on what? He’s not a DT and he’s not been great on the outside edge either. He was also the “free lancer” Godshaux vented about last year whom was abandoning the edge and letting QB escape the pocket for big plays. And the guy complains and blames the coaches the last two years? The pats would be better off keeping Anfrenee Jennings over Keion White. Jennings can hold the… Read more »