New England Patriots

Patriots Paying The Price For General Manager Bill Belichick’s Mistakes

Published

1 month ago

March 14, 2018

Tanner Rebelo

The New England Patriots have had a mass exodus from their roster in the last few days with many of their free agents choosing to take their talents too new places.

Some of the departures seem to be related to New England’s insecurity of taking care of their players financially with Bill Belichick’s mantra of consistently underpaying their talent. The departures that fit in this are Nate Solder, Dion Lewis, and Danny Amendola.

The fourth major departure was Malcolm Butler who for whatever reason fell out of favor with Belichick and a pre-Super Bowl moment caused the cornerbacks benching. Whatever happened leading up to the Super Bowl that caused the benching is still highly unclear. But the recent departures is leading me to believe that whatever happened between Butler and the coaching staff caused the locker room to move away from Belichick.

Butler’s story may be unknown for quite some time, but one thing is for certain. Belichick wanted Butler to stay in New England long term at some point in the recent past. So recent that last offseason the Patriots offered Butler a major contract offer that is very comparable to the one he just signed with the Tennesse Titans.

Some context on Malcolm Butler’s reported 5-year $61M deal with Titans: the Patriots’ final offer before last season was for 6-years, $66M, with $25.5M guaranteed (five years on top of his restricted free agent tender of $3.91M). Same neighborhood.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 14, 2018

So in the case of Butler, it has nothing to do with underpaying on the next contract offer with Butler just finishing up his rookie deal. Whatever went down was personal and had little to do with the football team.

As for underpaying players, this is something that Belichick and the Patriots have seemingly done throughout their entire dynasty. Even future Hall of Famers Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady are vastly underpaid for the production they provide. For whatever reason, this team that has seen so much success is unwilling to pay top dollar to their players.

For instance, the Danny Amendola situation is the perfect example. Amendola signed a deal with the Patriots initially that he failed to live up to on the field in the first season. This caused the team to threaten to cut the receiver season after season if he failed to agree to a massive reduction in his salary. Amendola though solidified his role with the team and became one of Brady’s most reliable receivers, Belichick though continued to play hardball to the point where Amendola went and got paid by the Dolphins.

In Solder’s case the Patriots told him to test a market in which he would be the best offensive tackle, either New England didn’t want him or they had no idea in what the market was. Either way, both are a bad look for GM Bill Belichick.

New England continues to try and fill the holes that are all over their roster as they try to field a team that can give a 41-year-old QB a chance to lead the team once again to a Super Bowl title. Remember this Patriots fans, if they win again, it is on Brady’s shoulders. Having Brady has allowed Belichick to be the GM he is, Brady carries a bad Patriots team. The issue is, one day soon, Brady will not be there to pick up the pieces.

New England Patriots

Patriots Talk: Early Picks For the 2018 Season

Published

3 days ago

April 22, 2018

stephenhilton

How far will the Patriots Go?

Here is your New England Patriots Official 2018 Regular Season Schedule! pic.twitter.com/5B9ULMEANL

— Patriots Militia (@PatsMilitia) April 20, 2018

The 2018 NFL schedule was officially released a few days ago but already everybody have made quick predictions. Although, the Patriots have lost considerable talent this off season with Nate Solder, Danny Amendola, Dion Lewis and Malcolm Butler. This isn’t even including the loss of long time DC, Matt Patricia. It’s been quite a tough off-season but many expect the team to do the usual. Next Man Up.

As of right now, this is purely guess work for what the Patriots will be able to do as there is still the NFL draft and training camp. However, if Belichick is truly all in on finishing his career with Brady then he will need to focus heavily on the talent in the first two rounds and grab a development prospect at the QB position in the 2-3 rounds. But for where we are today, here is where, in this writer’s opinion, the Patriots 2018 season will go. (Win or Loss)

(more…)

New England Patriots

James White Excited To Be Back, But Won’t Comment On Gronk Or Brady

Published

5 days ago

April 20, 2018

Tanner Rebelo

Patriots running back James White is back at workouts and is “excited to be back here. You get to see your teammates, get back into your routine and kind of start getting together.

With the workouts being voluntary many players show up to work on the basics and get better for the season that lies ahead. For White it’s that and getting to know the playbook again.

I mean just staying in shape, getting back into the playbook, learning new things, learning your new teammates. Just getting back in the rhythm just really helps guys just gel together, have some fun and just get back in that routine.

Like the other media interviews of this voluntary workouts the question of why is Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski absent and how does it make everyone else feel.

As for Brady White says: ” I mean it’s not really my position to comment on that, but he’s a guy that’s had a lot of success in this league and he knows what he’s doing. So it’s not really my position to comment on his situation.

And for Gronk, much of the same: ” I mean same way. He’s had a lot of success. They all have their personal business and it’s not really my position to comment on their situations.”

This response has been atypical from the veterans with Matthew Slater saying essentially the same thing just two day’s prior. White was asked if the buy in of the program is affected by the absence of Gronk and Brady. For that White responded: ” The guys that are here we’re going to work together and like I said, build the bond, work hard. Those guys have had a lot of success in this league and it’s just not really my position to comment on that situatuion. Those guys will be fine. Whatever they make, that’s their decision.”

Up next for White and the Patriots is the NFL draft which kicks off next week with all eyes in New England pointing at Bill Belichick and what he might do with his draft picks.

New England Patriots

Patriots Owner Robert Kraft Saddened By Passing Of Gil Santos

Published

5 days ago

April 19, 2018

Tanner Rebelo

Legendary radio broadcaster Gil Santos passed away on Thursday at the age of 80-years-old. Santos was of course known as the “Voice of the Patriots” having been the play-by-play man on the radio broadcast for 36 seasons.

Santos retired from the Patriots broadcasting booth back in 2013.

With his passing sending a shockwave throughout the Boston media community Patriots owner Robert Kraft has issued a statement on behalf of the entire Patriots Organization.

“For generations of Patriots fans, Gil Santos was and forever will be known as the ‘Voice of the Patriots.’”Robert Kraft’s statment said.” Tonight, I am deeply saddened to learn of his passing on a day that he was celebrating his 80^thbirthday and his 57^th wedding anniversary to his wife, Roberta. Gil was a legendary broadcaster, who for 36 years passionately described the play-by-play detail of every Patriots game during his career, including many of the most memorable moments in franchise history. It was my privilege to honor Gil with his induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2013. His legacy and most memorable calls will live there for future generations of Patriots fans to enjoy. On behalf of the entire Patriots organization, we extend our sincerest sympathies to Roberta, his daughter Kathleen, his son Mark and the many others who are mourning his loss.”