MORSE: Deep Dive into Patriots Going into Bills’ Matchup
Analyzing Patriots' roster strengths and key player performances ahead of critical Bills showdown
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I usually do an analysis of the Opposition but since we are playing the Bills for a second time, I thought I would do a check on the Patriots roster instead.
The Patriots sit in 2nd place with an 11-2 record in the AFC playoff table. Nobody expected the Patriots to be in this position when they started the season 1-2. Drake Maye’s progression in his second year has been remarkable. He is now a legitimate candidate for Player of the Year. They have 4 games remaining with tough games against the Bills and Ravens on the horizon. This week is a Hat and T-Shirt game, that with a win they win the AFC East Division. Let’s take a look at the roster and the individual performances of the team.
| Starter | 2nd | 3rd | |
| QB | Drake Maye | Joshua Dobbs | Tommy DeVito |
| RB | TreVeyon Henderson | Rhamondre Stevenson | Terrell Jennings Q |
| WR | Stefon Diggs | DeMario Douglas | |
| WR | Kayshon Boutte | Kyle Williams | – |
| WR | Mack Hollins | Efton Chism | – |
| TE | Hunter Henry | Austin Hooper | CJ Dippre |
| FB | Jack Westover | Brock Lampe IR | – |
| LT | Vederian Lowe | Thayer Munford Jr. | Will Campbell IR |
| LG | Jared Wilson O | Ben Brown | Caedan Wallace |
| C | Garrett Bradbury | Ben Brown | |
| RG | Mike Onwenu | Yasir Durant IR | |
| RT | Morgan Moses | Marcus Bryant |
Drake Maye has been spectacular. He was selected as AFC Offensive Player of the Week for the 1st time in his brief career. For the season has completed 276 passes on 386 attempts for 3,412 yards for a 71.5 completion %. He has 23 TDs to 6 INTs and has a QB rating of 111.9.
Maye leads the NFL in completion rate (71.5%), passing yards (3,412), and MVP odds (-120, per BetMGM Sportsbook). He’s led the Patriots to 10 straight wins and the current 2nd spot in the AFC. His maturity and growth have been remarkable for a 2nd year player who has had 4 different Offenses in the last 4 years. Oh yeah, he is just 23 years old and has taken on a big leadership role. His PFF Grade is 87.1, good for 4th amongst all QBs. His 8.8 yards Per Attempt is 2nd in the league. His deep passing game has been tremendous, leading the league with a 71.4 Completion %.
He is no “Checkdown Charlie”, taking the easy short passes to boost his completion %. Maye has done a great job of improving his running / scrambling ability and is not taking unnecessary hits. The sack numbers are high, but that is on Maye not necessarily the Offensive Line. The number of yards lost are minimal. Josh McDaniels has drummed into his head about being risk-averse, as he has severely limited his turnover-worthy plays. He will run out of bounds or take a sack rather than throw a pass into a turnover-worthy play. On the season, he has 81 rushes for 319 yards, 3.9 YPC, 1 TD, and 1 Fumble.
Overall – 111.9 (1st)
Deep (20+ Air Yds) – 136.5 (1st)
Under Pressure – 104.4 (1st)
Outside the Numbers – 127.9 (1st)
Past the Sticks – 125.6 (1st)
vs Zone Coverage – 114.9 (1st)
Tight Windows – 80.4 (2nd)
vs Blitz – 124.9 (2nd)
2-High Safeties – 111.1 (1st)
vs Sub-packages – 111.8 (1st)
1st Down – 131.6 (1st)
On the Road – 113.9 (2nd)
When Trailing – 113.1 (2nd)
Outdoors – 109.8 (2nd)
3rd/4th Down – 109.4 (4th)
Maye gets a an A+.
Joshua Dobbs has completed 1 of 3 passes, playing in just 2 games. His grade is incomplete.
Rhamondre Stevenson is still considered the lead back. His stat line is 101 carries for 324 yards, 3.2 YPC, 3 TDs, and 2 Fumbles. He has missed 3 games with a toe injury. Last week he was ineffective in his 1st game back. His two fumbles in the Pittsburgh game led to the loss. But he hasn’t fumbled since. Stevenson is very good in pass protection and has been a reliable pass catcher. His stats are 20 Receptions on 24 Targets for 214 yards and a 10.7 YPC, 0 TDs. I don’t think Stevenson is a long-term solution at Runningback for the Patriots. His PFF grade is 57.5, 51/53 RBs. Because of his fumble issue, I give him a C- overall grade.
TreVeyon Henderson came into the season with tremendous promise and excitement. He took his 1st touch on a pre-season kickoff and returned it to the house, and Pats fans lost their minds. However, Henderson started the season slowly and had difficulty in pass protection. When Stevenson got hurt, we saw what we had all anticipated. As a running back, Henderson does not see the cutback lanes very well and loses opportunities for bigger gains. He leads the team with 129 carries for 625 yards, 4.8 YPC, 5 TDs, and a fumble.
As a pass receiver, he chipped in 32 catches on 38 targets for 199 yards, 6.2 YPC, and another TD. Henderson was awarded the Rookie Player of the Month for November. His PFF grade is 62.9 46th/53 and his overall grade is a C+.
Terrell Jennings was signed from the Practice Squad when Antonio Gibson went on IR with a knee injury and was lost for the season. Both players get an Incomplete grade. D’Ernest Johnson was signed to the Practice Squad when Jennings was signed to the 53-man roster and he has used all three of his Practice Squad elevations without any significant impact.
The Wide Receiver room has been a huge surprise. What was generally considered one of the worst groups of receivers has become one of the best. Stefon Diggs is on his way to Comeback Player of the Year for his remarkable play after having ACL reconstruction surgery a little over a year ago. The 32-year-old rehabbed like a maniac and was ready for the opening of Training Camp. His leadership has been exemplary, and his sure-handed receiving and precise route running have made him Drake Mayes #1 go-to target.
He has 64 catches on 79 targets for 705 yards, 11.0 YPC, and 3 TDs. Some were afraid that Diggs would be a Prima Donna and demand that he get the ball. He has been just the opposite and a team player. Everyone gets fed! His PFF grade is 81.2, 12th/83 WRs. For the season I give him a solid A.
Kayshon Boutte’s rise has been remarkable. Looks like the Patriots hit the lottery on Boutte, drafting him in the 6th round of the 2023 Draft. It wasn’t always sunshine with Boutte. He was in Bill Belichick’s doghouse for not getting two feet in bounds. A rookie mistake. He never saw the field again after that. Coming into the season, he was deemed expendable, and it was rumored that he was available for a trade around the time of the draft. He has come full circle; he is now Drake Maye’s favorite deep threat. Most of his catches are for 1st downs. He has 23/29 receptions for a First Down.
Boutte was once considered a sure-fire 1st round pick after his freshman year at LSU. A broken ankle that required two surgeries stopped him as a sophomore. He was slow to come back as a Junior and fell out of favor with new LSU Head Coach Brian Kelly. Boutte declared for the draft as a Junior and ran a 4.5 40-yard dash at the combine. That was slow for him as he ran a 4.35 in high school, winning the Louisiana sprint championship. Boutte also had off-field issues and was arrested for underage gambling, but the charges were dropped. Oh yeah, and he is only 23 years old, the same age as Drake Maye. His stats are 29 receptions on 38 targets, 481 yards, 16.6 YPC, and 6 TDs. His PFF Grade is 74.9 for 27th/83 WRs. I think his grade is a little low. Overall, I gave him an A.
We knew that Mack Hiollins was a little off the reservation when he walked around Buffalo last season shoeless. What we didn’t know was how clutch Hollins is. It is not surprising that the Patriots acquired the 32-year-old Hollins in Free Agency. He had his best year as a pro with 58 receptions in 2022 under Josh McDaniels at Las Vegas. The 6’4”, 221-pound receiver is a good blocker too, and is used in the run game. His stats are 35 catches on 48 targets, 440 yards, 12.6 YPC, and 2 TDs. His PFF grade is 68.2, 48th/83 receivers. I gave him a solid B grade.
Pop Douglas was expected to have a breakout season. Josh McDaniels’ use of the slot receiver is legendary. Douglas started the season slowly with too many dropped passes. Stefon Diggs’ use as the slot receiver has also limited Douglas’ playing time. Douglas has not pouted and willingly goes out and blocks despite his diminutive size. Take last week as an example. Douglas was key in the 1:00 drive at the end of the 1st half with two clutch catches to keep the drive alive. Those were his only catches of the day. His stat line is 27 catches on 39 targets, 401 yards, 14.9 YPC, and 3 TDs. His PFF grade is 81.6, good for 11th/83 receivers. I think that is a little high, and I am giving Douglas a B grade because of the dropped passes.
Rookie Kyle Williams has had a tough time getting on the same page as QB Drake Maye. Josh McDaniels’ offense is very demanding on the receivers, seeing the same thing as the QB and making the route adjustments accordingly. Too often, Williams has been in the wrong place. However, you can see his great speed and athleticism on his two TDs this season. I loved how he tracked the deep pass and got his feet in bounds for the TD against the Giants. He has 5 receptions on 13 targets for 143 yards, 28.6 YPC, and 2 TDs. He doesn’t have enough playing time for a PFF grade. I gave him a C.
Rookie Efton Chism basically made the team because he was too good to try and get through waivers. He has returned kickoffs but hasn’t been very good at that (too slow). I expected him to be inactive most of the year and have a red-shirt year. Credit should go to Mack Hollins for mentoring this rookie and helping him throughout Training Camp.
The Tight Ends have had a very good season. Hunter Henry has been remarkable following up a 2024 season where he had 66 catches on 97 targets. This season, he has 45 catches on 66 targets for 610 yards, 13.6 YPC, and 5 TDs. His catches have accounted for 33 First Downs. Henry is the lone Captain holdover from last season. He was also selected as the Patriots Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee. The NFL recognizes the achievements of players who have contributed to Community Service. His PFF grade is 74.1 good for 12th /38 TEs. Henry has never been selected for the Pro Bowl and this might just be his year. I gave Henry a B+ grade.
Austin Hooper had missed some time with a concussion, but he is a very reliable backup/second option at TE. I think the TE numbers are down just a bit because Maye is not a checkdown QB, as he wants to pass the ball down the field. Hooper has 16 catches on 19 targets for 213 yards, 13.3 YPC, and 1 TD. He hasn’t played enough to qualify for a PFF grade, and I give him a B grade.
Jack Westover was listed as TE and has been used as a 3rd TE; however, he has primarily been the Fullback. He has no stats, and he has been ineffective as a blocker. He has been so bad that McDaniels used Khyiris Tonga as the Fullback. I gave Westover an F grade and wonder why he is still on the team.
CJ Dippre was signed as a UDFA and was given a good chance to make the team. He didn’t make the team out of camp but was signed to the Practice Squad. Eliot Wolf made a big mistake not drafting a TE last year, and lucked out when Dippre, who had draftable grades coming out, went undrafted. Dippre was rumored to be a target of another NFL team that wanted to poach him off the Patriots’ Practice Squad. The Patriots signed him to the 53-man roster, but he hasn’t played a snap yet.
Will Campbell was having a fine rookie season before his knee injury put him on IR. Offense 71.4, 28th / 82 Tackles. He has given up Sacks 5, QB Hits 4, Hurries 16, Pressure 25 on 452 dropbacks. He is much better than I thought he would be at this point in his rookie year, especially playing alongside a fellow rookie. He gets a B+ from me. His run blocking has not been as good as I expected it would be. There are no questions about his arm length anymore.
Jared Wilson has struggled at Left Guard. Although he played Left Guard at Georgia, he was always a backup and only started his Senior year at Center. I think he will eventually move to Center, and the Patriots will draft another Guard. His PFF grade is 49.8, 68th / 79. He has given up 4 Sacks, 6 QB Hits, 12 Hurries, and 22 Pressures. I gave Wilson a grade of C, mostly because of his poor run blocking grade. It’s difficult for a rookie to break into the NFL, especially when playing next to another rookie in Will Campbell. This has only been done once in NFL history by the Ravens, and it didn’t work out well that season.
Garrett Bradbury has been a steady influence on the line. Last year, he was one of the worst O-linemen in pass protection, giving up 10 sacks. What a turnaround, as he hasn’t given up a sack yet this season. Unfortunately, he hasn’t fared so well in run blocking, where he excelled last year. His PFF Grade is 58.5 29th / 37 amongst Centers. He has given up 0 Sacks, 4 QB Hits, 15 Hurries, and 19 Pressures. I gave him a grade of C.
Michael Onwenu has been the best lineman this year. His PFF grade is 73.9 13th / 79 Guards. However, he has missed run blocking assignments, which have kept his grade from being top 10. He has given up 1 Sack, 1 QB Hit, 17 Hurries, and 19 Pressures.
Morgan Moses has performed very well considering his age and injury history. His leadership cannot be underplayed. The PFF grade is 70.7 good for 33rd / 82 amongst Tackles. For the year, he has given up 1 Sack, 3 QB Hits, 19 Hurries, and 23 Pressures.
Ben Brown has filled in at left Guard when Wilson has been out. His PFF grade is a respectful 68.8. He doesn’t have enough snaps in his 5 games, but if he did, he would have been 29th / 79 Guards. He has actually played better than Jared Wilson. For the season, he has given up 0 Sacks, 2 QB Hits, 4 Hurries, and 6 Pressures.
Vederian Lowe is the left Tackle for the next 3 games at least. He played very well against Brian Burns and the Giants in his one start. His PFF grade is 55.3. He doesn’t have enough snaps to be ranked. On the season he has 0 sacks, 0 QB Hits, 5 Hurries, and 5 Pressures. He will have his hands full with the Bills and Ravens.
Both Tackles Marcus Bryant and Thayer Munford, as well as Guard Caedan Wallace, have not had significant playing time. Curious that Munford was active against the Giants. Munford started 10 games in 2022 for the Las Vegas Raiders, where Josh McDaniels was the Head Coach. Caedan Wallace has been active for a single game this season. Their grades are all Incomplete.
Milt Williams has been everything the Patriots paid for in Free Agency. The Patriots were highly criticized for overpaying for his services. He was the number one player I wanted for the Patriots. His numbers last season were lower because he played less than 50% of the snaps. This wasn’t a knock on him, but just how good the Eagles D-line was. His pressure rate was outstanding, and it hasn’t slowed down when he has played 75% of the Defensive snaps before getting hurt. Williams is 3rd in Pressure rate by a DT. His PFF Grade is 63.7, 48 /127 D-linemen. I gave him a grade of B+.
Khyiris Tonga has been a huge surprise. Signed to a one year show me contract, Tonga was one of the reasons the Patriots line had led the league in stopping the run. The 29-year-old veteran will be in line for a contract extension. His PFF grade is 68, 32nd /173 amongst D-linemen. His stats for the season are 19 Tackles, 0 Sacks, 2 QB Hits, and 8 Hurries. I gave him a B+ as well.
We all anticipated Christian Barmore’s return and the possibilities of his pairing with Milton Williams and the havoc that pair could inflict. Barmore has played well but a bit underwhelming and that play has been indicative of his PFF Grade of 56.5 which is 72nd / 127 D-linemen. On the season he has 25 Tackles. 1 Sack, 5 QB Hits, and 34 Hurries. He is getting pressure on the opposing QB’s but not getting sacks. I wonder if that is a defensive philosophy of Pressure over Sacks? I gave Barmore a B- grade.
The Patriots have found themselves a gem in DT Cory Durden. He is playing for his 4th Organization in 3 years. The Giants signed him off the 49’ers Practice Squad a year ago and cut him on the final cut down day this year. The Patriots signed him to their Practice Squad the next day and promoted him to the 53-man roster before the 1st game. His PFF grade is an amazing 73.3 good for 18th / 127 D-lineman. I knew he was performing well but not that good. On the season he has 17 Tackles. 0 Sacks, 0 QB Hits, and 11 Hurries. I gave him a B grade.
Joshua Farmer has shown glimpses of his ability and why the Patriots selected him in the 4th Round. Overshadowed by Durden, the rookie showed flashes. His PFF Grade is 48.4, 103rd /127 D-linemen. For the season he has 13 Tackles, 0 Sacks, 0 QB Hits, and 7 Hurries. I gave him a grade of C.
Eric Gregory has been occupying a spot on the roster and not contributing much. Jeremiah Pharms has been elevated from the Practice Squad a couple of times. Both players get and Incomplete grade for their lack of playing time.
Linebackers have just been average, but they have a certain role on the team, and most have made significant contributions.
Robert Spillane was a Free Agent I overlooked. Playing in Las Vegas for a poor team. We didn’t get to see a player like Spillane play much. He had 150 tackles each of the last two seasons and was an excellent Free Agent acquisition. Spillane started the season slowly but has picked up the pace and leads the team in Tackles. His PFF grade is 76.3, 15th / 87 amongst all Linebackers. He has really improved his pass coverage, which was his weakness coming into the season. He has 2 INTs on the season with 97 Tackles, 1 sack, 0 QB Hits, and 11 Hurries. I give him an A- after the slow start.
Harold Landry was let go by Tennessee and the Patriots quickly pounced on the Free Agent. Landry leads the team with 8 Sacks. However, he has not been the same player since the Tennessee game. Injuries have taken a toll on the 8-year veteran. He is not the same player as he was when the season started. He has been good against the run and therefore his PFF grade is 71.4, 39th / 112 for Edge players. For the season he has 46 Tackles. 8 Sacks, 10 QB Hits, and 28 Hurries. I gave him a grade of B because of his drop off since the Titans game.
Christian Elliss received a large contract match as a Restricted Free Agent. The Patriots matched the Raiders Offer Sheet of $6.75M / year on the 2-year contract. Initially some questioned the play of Elliss and whether he was worth the investment by the team. Well, the last game versus the Giants showed why they kept him. His legal “de-cleater” hit on QB Jaxon Dart ignited the Defense. Later he had another hit on Special Teams that knocked out Gunner Olszewski. Ellis is a key Special Teams performer playing on all 4 Special Team units. His PFF grade is 56.3, 53rd / 87 Linebackers. On the year he has 68 Tackles, 0 Sacks, 0 QB Hits, and 3 Hurries. I gave him a grade of C+ because of his Special Teams work.
Jahlani Tavai is one of the few holdovers from the Belichick regime. In the off-season Tavai re-dedicated himself to conform to what the New Coach and Defensive Coordinator wanted from their linebackers. He lost weight and unfortunately got hurt and started the season on the IR, missing the first 4 games. He also missed a game for personal reasons. His teammates love him and indicated that by giving him the game ball from the game he missed. PFF gave him a 65.8 grade, which would have been 46th / 87 linebackers if he had enough snaps to qualify for a ranking. On the season he has 21 Tackles, 0 Sacks, 0 QB Hits, and 0 Hurries. I gave him a C+ grade because he is one player that can hold the edge and stop the run.
K’Lavon Chaisson is having the best year of his career. He has already played more snaps than in any other season. He was signed a one-year show me contract and will cash in next year, hopefully with the Patriots. His PFF grade is 56.6, 92/112 Edge players. The reason his grade is so low is that he has been bad against the run, unable to hold the edge which is typical of pass rushers. On the season he has 22 Tackles, 7 Sacks (most in a season), 8 QB Hits, and 32 Hurries. I gave him a B+ because of the run Defense. He may just be a pass-rush specialist.
Anfernee Jennings is another holdover from Belichick. A wasted 3rd round selection in 2020. Jennings PFF grade is 59.8 and doesn’t have enough snaps to qualify for a rank. On the season he has 16 tackles, 1 Sack, 1 QB Hits and 6 Hurries. This will be his last year on the team.
Marte Mapu finally is healthy and has been switched to Linebacker full time. I have been calling for this position swap from Safety for the last two years. He was drafted as and announced as a linebacker. He has an outstanding 75.5 PFF grade for what would have been 20th amongst all linebackers if he had enough snaps to be ranked. For the season he has 20 Tackles, 0 sacks, 0 QB Hits, 0 Hurries and 2 PBUs. He is the most effective weapon we have against opposing TEs. I gave him a grade of B.
Jack Gibbens was a surprise when he was signed to a contract early in Free Agency. He was a career backup and was signed as a UDFA by Mike Vrabel. Gibbens has proven his value as filling in admirably when needed. His PFF grade is 62.8, 41st / 87 of all Linebackers. Middle of the road, exactly what you hope for in a backup. On the season he has 52 Tackles, 0 Sacks, 1 QB Hits, and 2 Hurries. I gave him a B- grade.
Elijah Ponder had been a big surprise. Credit to the scouting department for signing the Cal Poly star as a UDFA. His PFF grade is 56.9 and only has 132 snaps on the year and doesn’t qualify for a ranking. The big stat that sticks out is that he has 3 sacks on the year. The #3 Draft Pick in this year’s draft Abdul Carter has only 1.5 sacks. On the year Ponder has 20 tackles, 3 Sacks, 0 QB Hits, and 7 Hurries. I gave him a B grade.
Caleb Murphy was scooped up on waivers earlier from the Chargers. Murphy was a UDFA for Mike Vrabel in 2023. He has a 49.3 PFF grade and doesn’t qualify for a rank. On the season he has 2 Tackles, 1 Sack, 0 QB Hits, and 5 Hurries. I gave him an Incomplete grade.
The rookie Bradyn Swinson was selected in the 5th Round. He couldn’t make the team out of camp and passed through waivers, and the Patriots signed him to the Practice Squad. On November 15th he was signed to the 53-man roster in part because the Patriots felt another team was going to try and poach him off of their PS. He has 1 Tackle and I gave him an incomplete grade.
The Defensive backfield is led by Christian Gonzalez. The All-Pro CB started the year slowly missing all of training camp and the 1st three games due to a Hamstring injury. It is not a coincidence that upon his return this has been a different team. Gonzalez improved steadily with the exception of the Bengals game. Last game versus the Giants, Gonzalez was PFF’s #1 graded CB for that week with an 86.1 grade. His PFF grade is 68.5, 37 /111. For the season he has 49 Tackles, 8 PBU, 0 INT. I gave him a B+ grade. If he had some INTs it would be higher. He is trending up.
Carlton Davis is a little bit handsy in his coverage. He has a reputation, and Officials are calling him for an average of one PI per game. His PFF grade is 65.4, 46/111. He has 52 Tackles, 8 PBUs, and 0 INTs. I gave him a B grade.
Charles Woods has taken the backup role with Alex Austin going on IR. His PFF grade is 59 and doesn’t have enough snaps to qualify for a ranking.
Marcus Jone has been one of the best Slot Corners in the game. His PFF Grade is 68.7, 29/111. For the season he has 50 tackles, 11 PBUs, 3 INTs and a TD. I gave Jones an A grade.
Jaylinn Hawkins has had an up and down season. His PFF Grade is 76.4 grade, 10th/96 which is higher than I thought it would be. He has 51 Tackles, 3 PBU, and 2 INTs. I gave him a B+ grade. If it wasn’t for some penalties he would have a higher grade.
Craig Woodson has been a real find for the Patriots. The rookie has played the most snaps of any Patriot Defensive player. The surprise 4th round pick has a 64.3 PFF grade. 50/96 amongst all safeties. That is pretty good for a rookie. He has 63 Tackles, 3 PBUs, and 0 Sacks. He has really improved his tackling and had several good open field tackles against the Giants. I gave him a B+ grade.
PFF loves Dell Pettus. They gave him high marks last year when he filled in for Jabrill Peppers when he was suspended. His PFF grade is 86.9 which would have been 3rd if he played enough snaps. For the season he has 12 Tackles, 2 PBUs and 0 INT. I gave him an A grade.
Miles Battle was signed from the Practice Squad and has an Incomplete grade. Alex Austin got an F grade before he went on IR. He was awful in Christian Gonzalez’s absence. Marellus Dial is on IR and gets an Incomplete grade.
Rookie Andres Borregales got a B+ grade. He was a little inconsistent to start the season but hadn’t missed a Field Goal until the Giants game. Fellow rookie Julian Ashby got a B grade. His snaps have been good and if it wasn’t for a few penalties his grade would be higher. Bryce Barringer has been awful this year, and I think the Patriots need to acquire a new punter. He gets a D grade. Marcus Jones has the highest career Punt Return average of any returner with 75 or more returns. Jones gets his second A grade from me. His two electric TDs this year were special. The Coverage teams are very good with Ponder, Schooler, Elliss, Tavai and Woods being the core players.
Mike Vrabel should receive the Coach of the Year. What he has done to change the culture has been remarkable. He gets an A+. Josh McDaniels and the Offense are averaging 27 points per game. His coaching of Drake Maye has elevated him to MVP status. McDaniels gets an A- grade only because of some questionable calls in the Red Zone.
Clint McMillan gets an A grade for the improvement in the Defensive Line run defense and Zak Kuhr also receives an A for taking on the duties of Defensive playcaller in Terrell Williams absence. I need to add Vinny DePalma as the Assistant ILB coach. He has taken on duties way above what was intended for the 2nd year coach. He has allowed Kuhr to work on the Defense overall.
Todd Downing has done an outstanding job with the Wide Receivers. He geta an A grade as well. Jeremy Springer has done a good job with Special Teams in the coverage game, brought along two rookies in the kicking game. He can’t control the bad performance of the punter. He can make suggestions, but it is Berringer that makes the kicks. He gets some credit for two PR TD’s and a Kickoff return TD. Springer got a B Grade. Springer is also dating Kayla Burton, a sportscaster for NBC Sports Boston and longtime WBZ sportscaster Steve Burton’s daughter. She is also the granddaughter of Ron Burton, the first Boston Patriots Draft Choice.
Wouldn’t it ironic that both Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick were to enter into the Pro Football Hall of Fame together? It’s not going to happen. Kraft and Belichick have rubbed too many people the wrong way. Kraft’s lobbying to get into the Hall has turned people off. Belichick has too many enemies in the press, who are the voters. They both obviously belong in the Hall.
Even if you do not like Bill Belichick you must acknowledge his greatness as a coach winning 6 Super Bowls. He also has 2 rings as an assistant coach with the New York Giants. I believe the voters will hold his cheating scandals of illegal filming of opponents and the absolutely ridiculous Deflategate scandal where the NFL ignored the Physics Ideal Gas Law just so they could punish a team for being too successful. There are lots of jealous owners and Roger Goodell works for the Owners. The voters will deny Belichick the honor of being selected in his 1st year of eligibility.
For similar reasons, I think the voters will deny Kraft entry while he is still living. No question he belongs in the hall, especially for what he did to end the players lockout in 2011. Robert Kraft played a pivotal role in ending the 2011 NFL lockout. His negotiation tactics, such as establishing trust and generating options for mutual gains, were instrumental in bringing the NFL and the NFL Players Association to a “win-win” solution. Kraft’s personal relationships with key players and owners, along with his ability to make concessions on critical issues, helped facilitate the successful conclusion of the lockout. His commitment to the sport and his role as a mediator between the two sides were crucial in ensuring that the NFL could continue to flourish over the next decade. Because of the two scandals and as a “repeat offender” label the vindictive voters will deny Kraft entry while he is living. It will only be after he has passed will they select him.
Kraft, has used his business acumen to turn the Patriots into a financial powerhouse. Forbes has the New England franchise ranked 2nd only to the Dallas Cowboys at a net worth of $9B. Kraft, for all his good deeds on the philanthropic front, and his involvement in the leagues new TV deals which made millions for the other owners, was among nearly two dozen men who in 2019 faced misdemeanor solicitation charges involving a massage parlor in Jupiter, Fla. The charges were later dropped, though Kraft released a statement of apology, stating, “I am truly sorry. I know I have hurt and disappointed my family, my close friends, my co-workers, our fans and many others who rightfully hold me to a higher standard.” The League was embarrassed by that ordeal.
Bert Breer of SI.com Monday Morning QB, stated that a voter he has spoken with said that Belichick is automatic. Kraft probably has to wait.
Congrats to Hunter Henry for being selected as the team’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Award candidate. Henry is one of the most valuable members, both on the field and in the community. The award is for the player that “excel on the field and demonstrate a passion for creating a lasting positive impact beyond the game in their communities.” The 30-year-old has supported child sponsorship through Compassion International, organized bike giveaways, visited schools, partnered with Special Olympics and hosted holiday programs for families in need. Henry, was presented with the Patriots’ Ron Burton Community Service Award prior to the start of the season.
The Patriots have signed Guard Mekhi Butler to the Practice Squad. Butler began his football journey at Iowa Western Community College in 2020, where he earned NJCAA first-team All-American honors. The 24-year-old transferred to Arkansas State in 2023. After redshirting his first season, the 6’3” 310-pound lineman became a fixture at left guard, starting 38 games for the Red Wolves.
Though he was not selected in April’s draft, Butler was invited to attend Patriots rookie minicamp, where he wore jersey number 63. He parlayed a rookie minicamp invite into a free agent contract this May. The Arkansas State rookie had a number of solid flashes as a developmental player, undoubtedly keeping him on the Patriots radar throughout the season.
To make room for Butler the Patriots released G Bill Murray, who was signed last week.
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What about Doug Marone ?