{"id":34026,"date":"2020-12-27T05:00:59","date_gmt":"2020-12-27T10:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=34026"},"modified":"2020-12-26T21:24:02","modified_gmt":"2020-12-27T02:24:02","slug":"new-england-patriots-news-12-27-questions-abound-about-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2020\/12\/27\/new-england-patriots-news-12-27-questions-abound-about-the-future\/","title":{"rendered":"New England Patriots News 12-27, Questions Abound about the Future"},"content":{"rendered":"

Good morning, here is your <\/span>Sunday Patriots news 12-27 and AFC East notes<\/b> this week.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas and that it found you all surrounded by healthy and happy family members.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Have you checked out our team news feature for all 32 teams yet? It is a great resource to keep up with what is going on all across the NFL.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b>Quick Hitters For the Pats, and the NFL:<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Jedd Fisch: <\/b>Congratulations to the Patriots QB coach who was recently hired to be the next head coach at Arizona. If his recruiting goes well, we all look forward to seeing some alumni for \u2018Zona coming NE\u2019s way.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nancy Meier: <\/b>The Patriots\u2019 long time member of the scouting department has been with the team for 45 years. That is longer than Robert Kraft has owned the team and she has been with the team longer than anyone. Kraft, Belichick,…anyone. She was the subject of a fantastic piece by the Athletic\u2019s Jeff Howe, <\/span>check it out<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Patriots: <\/b>The dominance over the AFC East has been so great, the last time the Patriots were swept by a divisional opponent was in 2000. The last time the Bills swept the Patriots was back in 1999. But they have a really good chance of doing just that tomorrow night.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Still Looking For a Great\u2026 if a Slightly Late Christmas Gift for a Patriots Fan? <\/b>One of the great guys on Twitter and perhaps the best Patriots historian out there is Bob Hyldburg aka <\/span>@BobtheStatMan<\/span><\/a> Bob has been a friend of ours for about as long as I\u2019ve been around PatsFans, nearly a decade now. Bob just wrote another book and it is one that is a perfect coffee table book that will be guaranteed to be opened every week during games, and that is \u201cRelive Patriots History\u201d. There\u2019s still time\u2026 order one today.<\/span><\/p>\n

Did You Know?… <\/b>On tomorrow\u2019s date in 1987, the Patriots beat the Miami Dolphins in South Beach 24-10. They held Dan Marino to just one late TD pass while picking him off twice. Steve Grogan completed 21-32 for 238 yards with 2 TDs and 0 INTs. Stephen Starring and Irving Fryar caught TD passes while Tony Collins ran for a score.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4th & 2 Podcast<\/b> – If you haven\u2019t checked out our <\/span>PatsFans.com podcast, <\/span><\/a>\u201cPatriots 4th & 2\u201d in a bit, please check it out. Russ, Derek, and I recorded a podcast on Thursday to talk about the future of the team heading into 2021.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Russ Francis\/ Chuck Fairbanks:<\/b> The former Patriot tight end and head coach both should be in the Patriots team Hall of Fame…this will be on our Sunday posts until it happens.<\/span><\/p>\n

Belichick, \u201cGrab Yer Torch and Pitchforks\u201d:\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

With the Patriots officially out of the hunt for the playoffs, it doesn\u2019t mean that hunting season is over. It is now open season on Bill Belichick. And for many people, it has been long overdue, as they\u2019ve been weaned on the \u201clet\u2019s slam the Red Sox manager\u201d even in years that they win the World Series. And they\u2019ve been chomping at the bit to play the same game with the Patriots. One losing season has given them all the fodder they need.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But Belichick has been immune from that particular hunting season, due to a 20-year run of unparalleled excellence that saw him win the AFC East 17 times, go to the AFC Championship 13 times, go to nine Super Bowls and bring home six titles. At 6-8, the best the Patriots can do in 2020 is break even. But with the Bills coming into town tomorrow, that makes the job really tough. A loss tomorrow night guarantees New England will finish with a losing record for the first time since Belichick\u2019s first year in 2000.<\/span><\/p>\n

Belichick has never been a media darling, he\u2019ll never be nominated for the \u201cGood Guy\u201d award by the media members who toil away at Gillette. He\u2019s tolerated them (barely) and has always been closer to acting as surly as Jeff Dunham\u2019s Walter than Mr. Happy. He hates releasing any information at all.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He\u2019s made the players during minicamp wear numberless jerseys and then practices on the fields as far from the media guys in attendance as possible. I know, I\u2019ve been there among them. And he\u2019s admitted he hates social media.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI hate social media,” Belichick said, he\u2019s called social networks by made-up names (Snapface, My Face, Your Face), forever. “We get rid of it whenever we can, do things [where] you don\u2019t bring your phone, you just have a conversation, [and] look the other person in the eye instead of texting.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who cares how many \u2018likes\u2019 you get from 2,000 people you don\u2019t even know,” Belichick said. “There are 53 guys in the locker room. Those are the 53 that matter, and I don\u2019t know if that always gets through or not.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

But the grunts, snorts, and prolonged silences that are barely tolerated, at least publicly when they are going to the Super Bowl, but a losing season? Now he\u2019s being questioned about everything as if the past 20 years didn\u2019t exist.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He\u2019s been adamant about sticking with Cam Newton as the starting QB and for the past month, he\u2019s been asked about that too many times to count. This week on his regularly scheduled visit on WEEI, Lou Merloni tried a few times to ask the same question by rephrasing it. Belichick wasn\u2019t having any of it and said, \u201cYeah I mean we\u2019ve talked about that. \u2026 We\u2019ve talked about that question. It\u2019s been several weeks and we continue to get asked the same question. I\u2019m done with it.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Merloni wasn\u2019t having any of his answers. He called Belichick a baby, but not while he was there, it was the next day. Some days, being pragmatic takes precedence over hot takes. About the only time, \u2018EEI is topping the sports radio ratings is when Belichick or Newton are on the air.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many people are saying that Belichick is like this because he\u2019s losing this year. Not true. He hasn\u2019t changed at all, but if he is even more snarky than usual, it is because some of the same media now question everything he does, just the Red Sox. He\u2019s seen that before and isn\u2019t having any of it. This next offseason should prove to be very interesting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What To Do in 2021, Big Questions Abound With Opt-Outs:<\/b><\/h3>\n

The Patriots are out of the hunt in 2020, but if they hit on their draft picks and spend their cash (which they have plenty of) could vault them right back in the playoffs. But there is a lot of work to be done and many holes to fill.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

First and foremost, is the QB situation is the main one that needs to be answered. Is Newton the bridge QB if they draft someone early in the 2021 NFL Draft or do they bring in someone else for the time being? There are several veteran QBs that could be had to be the placeholder until a draft pick QB is ready unless they want to sign someone like Dak Prescott that would require a lot (a real lot) of cash.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Other glaring needs include the Interior defensive line, which was a need a year ago when they had Danny Shelton. But Shelton left this spring and his replacement Beau Allen, never took the field this year, which, when you watch the struggling run defense, shouldn\u2019t be a surprise.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wide receiver is another huge need. Preferably one with the speed to stretch the entire field both horizontally as well as vertically. Tight End production has been zero this year. They also need help at Linebacker and the edge. Setting the edge sounds like an easy task but it has been anything but in 2020.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Key free agents include:<\/span><\/p>\n

G Joe Thuney<\/span><\/p>\n

CB\u00a0 J.C. Jackson<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0QB Cam Newton\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0RB James White<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0DL Deatrich Wise Jr.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0OL Jermaine Eluemunor,<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0WR Damiere Byrd<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0DB Jason McCourty<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0C David Andrews<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0DL Lawrence Guy<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0DL Adam Butler<\/span><\/p>\n

They haven\u2019t made a decision on Newton yet. White was under-utilized this year. Guy and Andrews are very valuable as is Butler in their sub-packages.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Patriots had a league-high eight opt-outs, due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, include T Marcus Cannon, LB Dont’a Hightower, S Patrick Chung, TE Matt LaCosse, RB Brandon Bolden, FB Dan Vitale, WR Marqise Lee, and OL Najee Toran.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cannon with a cap hit of about $9.5 million dollars is a player who could be let go and the resultant savings would give them more cap flexibility. Michael Onwenu and Justin Herron have been very good at filling in at tackle, and they could very well be the RT and swing tackle (respectively in 2021).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Chung has been invaluable in his second go-around but with the additions of Adrian Phillips and rookie Kyle Dugger in 2020, strong safety isn\u2019t a huge need. With Devin McCourty already stating he wants to return, free safety is a need down the road. Could Joejuan Williams be pressed into service as a free safety?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I believe LaCosse and Toran are likely gone. Bolden is a year older and despite being a stellar STs performer, they are already pretty well stacked there. Lee and Vitale are hardly locks. The biggest question is, what do they do with Hightower?<\/span><\/p>\n

They definitely missed his versatility, his leadership, and toughness in 2020. They could opt for a clean sweep but I think he\u2019ll be back for one more year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

NFL Schedule Week 16 2020, Who Are Your Winners:<\/b><\/h3>\n

How are you feeling about the games this week? We have a post on our PatsFans Forum where our readers can predict the slate of games for that week.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Last Week: \u00a0 \u00a0 11-5<\/b><\/p>\n

Season Total: 147-76-1<\/b><\/p>\n

Last Season:\u00a0 162-93-1<\/b><\/p>\n

Christmas Day Football<\/b>
\n<\/b>New Orleans Over Minnesota <\/span>1-0<\/b><\/p>\n

Saturday:<\/b><\/p>\n

Tampa Bay over Detroit<\/span>
\n<\/span>Arizona over San Francisco<\/span>
\n<\/span>Miami over Las Vegas<\/span><\/p>\n

Sunday:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Baltimore over\u00a0 NYG<\/span>
\n<\/span>Kansas City over Atlanta<\/span>
\n<\/span>Cleveland over NYJ<\/span>
\n<\/span>Chicago over Jacksonville<\/span>
\n<\/span>Houston over Cincinnati<\/span><\/p>\n

Indianapolis over Pittsburgh<\/span>
\n<\/span>Washington over Carolina<\/span>
\n<\/span>LAC over Denver<\/span>
\n<\/span>Dallas over Philadelphia<\/span>
\n<\/span>Seattle over LAR<\/span>
\n<\/span>Sunday Night Football:<\/b><\/p>\n

Tennessee over Green Bay<\/span><\/p>\n

Monday Night Football:<\/b><\/p>\n

Buffalo over New England<\/span><\/p>\n

_______________<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s got to be at the top. I can’t think of anybody that’s done more than he has and that’s done it over a very consistent period of time at an extremely high level, in addition to all the other qualities that he brings off the field \u2013 leadership, just doing the right thing, just the person and the human being that he is. But, his competitiveness on the field, he’s a great teammate \u2013 just outstanding in all areas. It would be hard for me to imagine anybody going ahead of him. We’ve had some great players here and I’ve had some great players through my career \u2013 in Cleveland, going back to the Giants \u2013 but, he’s certainly the very best that I’ve ever been around and that we’ve had to play against, as well. His consistency is outstanding, but he factors in on a lot of plays.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Bill Belichick after being asked about Matthew Slater\u2019s 9th Pro Bowl selection and his place in the NFL\u2019s history for ST players.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

_______________<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo, how was your week?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Follow me on Twitter @SteveB7SFG or email me at<\/span><\/i> stevebpatsfans@gmail.com<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

Listen to our<\/span><\/i> Patriots 4th and 2<\/span><\/i><\/a> podcasts on Stitcher as Russ Goldman, Derek Havens, and myself from<\/span><\/i> PatsFans.com<\/span><\/i><\/a> discuss the latest Patriots news and game analysis.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

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