McClellin was originally drafted by the Bears in the first round of the 2012 draft from Boise State with the 19th overall and used as a defensive end. He was reportedly on the Patriots radar in the draft but the Bears selected him two picks before New England selected Chandler Jones.

With reports that the Bears and Bennett were heading for a split, it now appears that the two teams have made the deal for only draft considerations. Reports are surfacing that the teams will also swap draft picks. Schefter is reporting that the teams will swap mid-to-late draft picks.

Adding Long was a master stroke by Bill Belichick as within hours he was able to swing a trade for DE Chandler Jones to the Arizona Cardinals for a 2nd round draft pick as well as G Jonathan Cooper and then add Long to replace Jones on the roster.

Chandler Jones thanks Patriots organization following trade to Cardinals, teammates react on social media.

Patriots safety Nate Ebner to take leave of absence in effort to make US Olympic Rugby team.

Regardless, the trade is a win-win for both teams, Arizona is looking for a pass rusher having Dwight Freeney now a free agent and the Patriots have questions with the offensive line and have lost their 1st round draft pick with Deflategate sanctions.

Bill Belichick always builds his rosters slowly and with the team goals in mind, not a fantasy football roster. His success the past 15 years play out how well his philosophy works.

Hogan is a great fit for the Patriots offense, versatile, fast, agile with good size, he can play anywhere on the receiver tree and be a more productive member of the offense here than he ever was in Buffalo.

On Friday the National Football League announced the allocation of 33 compensatory draft picks for the 2016 NFL Draft, which will be held April 28-30. The New England Patriots received the maximum four compensatory picks: one in the third round, and three in the sixth round.

The Patriots offered RFA Chris Hogan a 3-year offer for $12 million-dollars with a 2016 cap hit of $5.5 million which will make it very difficult for the Buffalo Bills to match. Hogan has signed his offer sheet and the Bills have five days to match.

The Patriots traditionally have made their moves on the second day of free agency after the initial frenzy of over-priced contracts dies down. Last year, they signed DE Jabaal Sheard on Day 2

In this episode of Patriots Fourth And Two we started by discussing the latest in Patriots news. Later, we discussed the NFL Combine, and we ended the show by talking about NFL Free Agency.

When you have the chance to keep one of the best tight ends to ever play the position on your team, you jump all over it.

Brady was signed through the 2017 season and was set to make $10 million in 2017 and $9 million this year. His salary cap hit of $15 million will most certainly come down now as a result.

The basically farcical Legal Tampering Window begins on March 7 will continue until free agency begins on March 9 at 4 p.m. The NFL sent out a memo in 2013 when they first allowed this window of honeymooning free agents spelling out the parameters of what is and isn’t allowed during these negotiations.

Patriots released DT Sealver Siliga, and the veteran took some time to thank fans on Instagram.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady leapfrogs over Julian Edelman in Facebook posting.

Following release from team, Brandon LaFell writes a thank you message to Patriots and fans on Instagram.

Now the receiver position as we mentioned a month ago is even in a deeper state of need of an overhaul. With the contract situation of Danny Amendola still needing to be looked at, and his own roster position not a given yet, the need for youth, speed and size just got even more important.

According to Adam Schefter and Dianna Russini from ESPN, Brady and the Patriots signed a two-year extension that will have him in a Pats uniform thru the 2019 season.

A couple of quick thoughts on the Combine, while it has been held in Indy for the past 30+ years, and is centrally located in the country, perhaps, like the NFL Draft, it is time for the Combine to make the rounds and visit other cities

A downhill, instinctive linebacker, the 6’1, 248-pound Butler is a thumper in the middle of the field, runs a 4.67 in the 40-yard dash but is a three-down player. He was a member on all four core special teams units as well so he isn’t worried about having to earn his way onto the field via special teams either.

The truly two most important aspects of the Combine? The interviews and the medicals and those are the two parts that all of us aren’t allowed to see.

The Patriots should find a younger, more athletic right tackle and then re-do Vollmer’s contract and move him to swing tackle. That falls in line with the Patriots way of thinking, which is to replace a player perhaps a year too soon rather than a year too late.

Dion Lewis’ recovery following ACL surgery has been “encouraging.”