{"id":58157,"date":"2025-02-09T05:00:36","date_gmt":"2025-02-09T10:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=58157"},"modified":"2025-02-08T15:32:00","modified_gmt":"2025-02-08T20:32:00","slug":"patriots-news-2-9-super-bowl-week-free-agency-looming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2025\/02\/09\/patriots-news-2-9-super-bowl-week-free-agency-looming\/","title":{"rendered":"Patriots News 2-9, Super Bowl Week, Free Agency Looming"},"content":{"rendered":"

Good morning. Here are your Patriots News and NFL Notes on 2-9. The Patriots have continued to build the coaching staff, adding wide receivers coach Todd Downing. Downing was the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator for the Jets in 2024. He took over the offensive play calling duties after the team fired Nathaniel Hackett.<\/span><\/p>\n

Downing is an intriguing hire. While he has never been a wide receivers coach per se, he\u2019s been an offensive coordinator, and he brings yet another coach with a wealth of experience on the offensive side of the ball. It has been reported that Mike Vrabel wasn\u2019t involved in the hire, letting Josh McDaniels have the authority entirely on this.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If that is indeed the case, the situation becomes more intriguing. Reportedly, McDaniels was more interested in hiring an outstanding coach than a wide receivers coach, and he really wanted Downing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Downing was a tight end coach and offensive coordinator under Vrabel in Tennessee. This could explain why Vrabel was happy to let McDaniels handle the position when he found out who he wanted to fill it. Tight-end coaches make great offensive coordinators because they are involved in all facets of offensive game planning. Thomas Brown is the new tight ends coach and passing game coordinator for precisely that reason.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Super Bowl Week:<\/b><\/h3>\n

The Super Bowl kicks off tonight, and we\u2019ll hopefully have a game that goes down to the wire. Those are the best Super Bowls to watch. While I\u2019m not a Chiefs fan, what happened to Travis Kelce was totally bush league during Media Night.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Someone asked Kelce what he loves more, Taylor Swift or seeing his quarterback get phantom 15-yard roughing the passer calls. While the Chiefs getting some (all) of the calls is a legitimate question since the NFL deemed it worthy enough to address it \u2026twice during the week. This was far from legit. Kelce was ambushed by it, and it was uncalled for.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If someone took a shot like that against a Patriot player, we\u2019d all be up in arms. It works the same way. \u2018Nuff said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, regarding Kansas City getting all the calls, the commissioner, Roger Goodell, and the referees’ union both made statements pooh-poohing the allegations that officials favor the Chiefs. Goodell called it \u201cridiculous,\u201d and the union called it \u201cinsulting.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

But this isn\u2019t just from this year’s playoffs; it has gone on for years in the playoffs and regular season. Every pivotal call in a game seems to go Kansas City\u2019s way. We all hear the statements by Goodell and the league, but those don\u2019t pass the eye test. File it under “Not Buying It.”\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Quick Hitters For the Patriots and NFL News:\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

Drake Maye:<\/b> Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston interviewed the Patriots’ quarterback. \u201cThe Senator asked Maye about playing for Vrabel and his penchant for hard coaching. Maye welcomed the question.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Yeah, I think for me as a player, especially in football, you want that. You like that. You want to be coached hard. We\u2019re playing at the highest level, but we still need to be coached hard.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cI think that\u2019s the biggest thing people get away from. We don\u2019t know everything, especially me coming in, the second year, just finished my rookie season. I don\u2019t know everything and want to be coached hard. I know Coach McDaniels will get that done, but Coach Vrabel, yeah, I think some of our guys, including me, probably need that \u2013 a little hard coaching<\/span><\/i>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\"\"
Coach Scarnecchia, USA Today photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
(PHOTO: Winslow Townson – USA TODAY Sports)<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Dante Scarnecchia: <\/b>The Patriots\u2019 great OL coach, was a guest on the Greg Hill show this week. He was asked about the hiring of Mike Vrabel. His answer was classic Dante\u2026 straight to the point.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>I love it. I think it\u2019s spectacular. I think he\u2019s really a great coach, and I\u2019m not making comparisons to anybody. I think Mike did a really good job at Tennessee. I\u2019ve been on the field and watched him as both an assistant coach, a coordinator, and as a head coach. He commands the room as a head coach, commands the field as a head coach. He\u2019s involved in everything. He knows what everybody\u2019s doing and how they\u2019re doing it. He\u2019s the boss, and I just respect that about him and love him as a player. He\u2019s a great person, and I\u2019m just really happy for him. And I think it\u2019s a great fit here in New England<\/span><\/i>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

When Wiggy (Jermaine Wiggins) asked Scarnecchia about Vrabel and how to get players to buy in from the coaches, Coach Scar had the only answer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>It\u2019s very simple, Jermaine. You have to convince them that you can help them be the best player that they can be. Stand up in front of them and tell them how to do their job and how to make them better players.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cBecause look at, you know the deal. If you play good, you get to stay. If you don\u2019t play very good, you\u2019re out. And so they\u2019ll do anything they can if what they\u2019re hearing is convincing to them that, \u2018hey, this guy can help me become a better player and do my job as good as I can do it,\u2019 then they get to stay around for a while. And I think that\u2019s it. And how can this guy, in this case, Mike, how can he make our team better? And when he gets up in front of him, it\u2019s going to be very apparent to all of them how he\u2019s going to make it better. And I think that will be the key to his success.<\/span><\/i>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Sterling Sharpe HOF: <\/b>Sharpe was elected to the Hall of Fame, and his career was cut short, unfortunately, due to injury. He was deserving. But I have to wonder why the Hall of Fame keeps adding wide receivers from earlier eras but ignores <\/span>Stanley Morgan<\/b>. Morgan played in a different era where the league and the Patriots were a four-yards and a cloud of dust team.<\/span><\/p>\n

Take a look at his career stats compared to some recent elections, Cliff Branch and Sterling Sharpe, and it is worth a discussion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Branch: receptions:\u00a0 501, yards:\u00a0 \u00a0 8685, avg per rec: 17.3, TDs: 67<\/span>
\n<\/span>Sharpe: receptions:\u00a0 595, yards:\u00a0 \u00a0 8134, avg per rec: 13.7, TDs: 65<\/span>
\n<\/span>Morgan: receptions: 557, yards: 10,716, avg per rec: 19.2, TDs: 72\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Morgan had five seasons in a row where he averaged 20+ yards per reception, including three in a row where he led the league in that category. While I am NOT saying Branch and Sharpe are not deserving, they certainly are, but where is the love for the \u201cStanley Steamer?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam Vinatieri: <\/b>How is one of the most clutch kickers in NFL history not a first-ballot Hall of Famer? Ugh, that\u2019s awful. He played the first ten years of his career playing outside on the crappiest grass fields in the league. Special Teams players are very under-represented in the HOF, and that must change.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

East-West Shrine\/Senior Bowls:<\/b> Some people misunderstand when they hear, \u201cThe Patriots are interested in Player X,\u201d\u00a0 or \u201cThe Patriots met with Player Y.\u201d You have to remember that the draft is seven rounds long, and UDFA signings follow right behind that. Not everyone is being considered for a first-round selection.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Most of the guys who go in Round 1 weren\u2019t at either one. But they\u2019re meeting with guys who could be essential and valuable role players. Many were questioning why they met with edge rushers and not Abdul Carter because he wasn\u2019t there.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bill Belichick\/Jordon Hudson: <\/b>Belichick and his girlfriend Hudson appeared together on the red carpet at the NFL Honors Awards ceremony. And Hudson\u2019s silver sequinned dress certainly drew quite a bit of attention. As did the couple\u2019s 49-year age gap.<\/span><\/p>\n

Snoop Dog surprised them with his joke at their expense during the show. Snoop joked about the good old days of the NFL when the Cowboys were good the Chiefs were bad, \u201cand I remember, what was it, Bill Belichick\u2019s girlfriend wasn\u2019t even born yet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Belichick obviously loved it, but Hudson was surprised but laughed along with the audience. Bill also sported six of his seven Super Bowl rings, the other was on Hudson\u2019s middle finger. Things that make go hmm.<\/span><\/p>\n

Patriots 4th & 2 Podcast:<\/b> Derek and I discussed the new Patriots coaches who had been hired. And the Super Bowl.\u00a0 Please check us out and <\/span>give us a listen<\/span><\/a> on YouTube, Apple, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Russ Francis\/Chuck Fairbanks:<\/b> The former Patriot tight end and head coach should be in the Patriots team Hall of Fame, and the fact that Francis isn\u2019t is an absolute travesty. Francis and the Raiders\u2019 Dave Casper changed how teams used the tight end position. This will be discussed in our Sunday posts until it happens. Casper is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Francis\u2019 numbers stand up well against Casper\u2019s, yet he isn\u2019t even in the team\u2019s HOF.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Parting Shots:\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

The Patriots and head coach Mike Vrabel have finalized their staff to begin the offseason and the 2025 regular season. Vrabel has been adding pieces since his hire, beginning with his coordinators: Offense – Josh McDaniels, Defense – Tyrell Williams, Special Teams – Jeremy Springer, and have been steadily adding to it, but it is now complete.<\/span><\/p>\n

Josh McDaniels<\/b>: Offensive Coordinator<\/span>
\n<\/span>Thomas Brown<\/b>: Tight Ends\/Passing Game Coordinator<\/span>
\n<\/span>Doug Marrone<\/b>: Offensive Line<\/span>
\n<\/span>Jason Houghtaling<\/b>: Assistant Offensive Line<\/span>
\n<\/span>Robert Kugler:<\/b> Assistant Offensive Line<\/span>
\n<\/span>Todd Downing:<\/b> Wide Receivers<\/span>
\n<\/span>Tony Dews:<\/b> Running Backs<\/span>
\n<\/span>Ashton Grant:<\/b> Quarterbacks<\/span>
\n<\/span>Riley Larkin<\/b>: Offensive Assistant<\/span>
\n<\/span>Chuckie Keeton<\/b>: Offensive Assistant<\/span><\/p>\n

Jeremy Springer<\/b>: Special Teams Coordinator<\/span>
\n<\/span>Tom Quinn<\/b>: Assistant Special Teams<\/span><\/p>\n

Terrell Williams<\/b>: Defensive Coordinator<\/span>
\n<\/span>Zak Kuhr<\/b>: Inside Linebackers<\/span>
\n<\/span>Scott Booker<\/b>: Safeties<\/span>
\n<\/span>Justin Hamilton<\/b>: Cornerbacks<\/span>
\n<\/span>Clint McMillan:<\/b> Defensive Line<\/span>
\n<\/span>Mike Smith<\/b>: Outside Linebackers<\/span>
\n<\/span>Vinny DePalma<\/b>: Defensive Assistant<\/span>
\n<\/span>Kevin Richardson<\/b>: Defensive Assistant<\/span>
\n<\/span>Milton Patterson:<\/b> Defensive Assistant<\/span>
\n<\/span>Ben McAdoo<\/b>: Senior Defensive Assistant<\/span><\/p>\n

Mike Vrabel<\/b>: Head Coach<\/span>
\n<\/span>John Streicher:<\/b> Vice President of Football Operations and Strategy<\/span>
\n<\/span>Frank Piraino:<\/b> Director of Sports Performance<\/span>
\n<\/span>Deron Mayo<\/b>: Strength and Conditioning<\/span>
\n<\/span>Brian McDonough<\/b>: Assistant Strength and Conditioning<\/span><\/p>\n

One intriguing staff member kept from Jerod Mayo\u2019s staff was Deron Mayo, his brother. Not because he\u2019s Mayo\u2019s brother, but because of the number of injuries suffered by the Patriots this season, especially by the offensive line.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One would think that strength and conditioning have something to do with that. But obviously, Vrabel is confident that it wasn\u2019t the case. This looks like a helluva staff, but we can\u2019t say anything definitive\u2026yet. We won’t know that until the season starts.<\/span><\/p>\n

The next things up are the NFL Scouting Combine, Free Agency, and the 2025 NFL Draft. The next couple of months promise to be very interesting. Free agency is going to be very important this season. Successful teams are built through the draft. This is a true statement and a look at the key players on each team in the Super Bowl will bear that out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, with so many holes on the Patriots roster, you can’t fill them all with just the draft. Will they find everything through free agency? Doubtful. I think that they may find one or two potential stars by overpaying some veteran free agents, but this should be an area where they fill up a lot of depth needs by finding the role players and what we called the “middle class” of players that every team needs, as Bill Belichick was so good at loading up.<\/p>\n

Then the draft will hopefully turn out to go “best player” available, instead of drafting for need.<\/p>\n

_____________\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Super Bowl Prediction:<\/b><\/h3>\n

Both teams have excellent defenses, which may help hold the score down a bit. The Chiefs have proven that they can win close games all season. If they get the ball late in the game and with the score close, Patrick Mahomes will deliver.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Eagles have an outstanding running game with Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts. If they are to win the game, they\u2019ll have to get up and just keep pounding Barkley against the Chiefs\u2019 defense and wear them down.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But it is going to be tough to do. I expect we\u2019ll hear this in a pivotal part of the game. \u201cBarkley breaks a tackle and gets the first down and a whole lot more\u2026wait, there is a penalty flag on the play.\u201d Didn\u2019t we just hear something similar?<\/span><\/p>\n

Chiefs 27-23<\/b><\/p>\n


\n<\/span>Conf. week:\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a01\u20141<\/b><\/p>\n

2024 Season<\/b>\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>204\u201468\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

2023 Season\u00a0 \u00a0 178\u201494\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

2022 Season: \u00a0 178\u201492\u20142<\/b><\/p>\n

2021 Season: \u00a0 183\u201488\u20141<\/b><\/p>\n

2020 Season: \u00a0 169\u201486\u20141\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

2019 Season: \u00a0 162\u201493\u20141<\/b><\/p>\n

______________<\/span><\/p>\n

“\u201cNo doubt. Yeah, you learn a new offense. Obviously, I think I\u2019m a bright kid, and I don\u2019t think it\u2019ll be too challenging, but obviously, I think it\u2019s a new offense. You got to do it, and they don\u2019t give you much time to work with coaches during this time period, you got to have time off. It\u2019s fortunate, like I said, you got the whole library from years ago, back when the greatest ever do it, did it in the same offense. What a guy to watch film on. Coach McDaniels has been one of the best in the business as a coordinator, and looking forward to running the offense that Tom Brady did.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Patriots starting quarterback Drake Maye, in an interview by Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston, on if Maye has spoken to offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, and will the new offense be a challenge.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI learned it the hard way when Mike was no more than a substitute defensive end at Pittsburgh, which he did for four years. I mean, he never started, but he was one of those guys that got out there in certain pass-rush situations, and we were playing him late in the game. I had heard about Mike because he was such a great player at Ohio State.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cHere we are in the fourth quarter, and this was pre-Belichick, and we had a chance to beat him over there. Here, he\u2019s on the field. He runs by our left tackle, who was a good player, and slapped his hands down and strip-sacked Drew [Bledsoe], and it was over. And I said, \u2018Damn.\u2019\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then the next time, the very next year, he\u2019s on our team. And it just hit me right away. For what I saw him do on one play, I\u2019m glad he\u2019s on our team, and I don\u2019t have to coach against this guy. And then he became, really, for me, my arch nemesis on the field, because he would do everything possible to mess with us, especially in OTAs and mini-camps, where no one had any pads on.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019d hold guys on stunts, and then he\u2019d look over me and smile as I was cussing his face off. And it\u2019s just that\u2019s how it was with him. He just would try to get under your skin and mess with you because, to him, it was a lot of fun. And now when the games were on, he was serious as a heart attack. But I love the guy, man, for what he did for us for so many years. He\u2019s special.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Dante Scarnecchia, the Patriots’ legendary OL coach, was asked about a story about Mile Vrabel. Incidentally, the play he referenced was a playoff game against Pittsburgh, and Vrabel sealed it against New England.<\/span><\/p>\n

(Special thanks to Ian Logue for transcribing all of these interviews.)<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cTalent sets the floor; Character sets the ceiling.\u201d Bill Belichick<\/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 Apple and YouTube 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>.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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