Cam Newton Is Looking Like He Might Win The Starting Job By Default Again.

"Cam Newton is our starting quarterback,"  said Bill Belichick Saturday morning. After Mac Jones lost it on Thursday, I am not surprised that Belichick decided to reiterate that statement. Thus far in camp, Newton hasn't done anything to lose the job, and Jones hasn't done anything extreme to take the job. 

On Saturday, Newton went 17 of 26, bringing his total up to 48 of 76. Keep in mind that the overall total doesn't recognize drops and good defensive play, which was on display again.

The veteran struggle against the defense in the red zone today but so did his competition.The good news is the quarterback is building chemistry with the pass catchers including N'keal Harry who is having a good camp thus far. Newton has been primarily working with the number ones while the rookie has consistently had a shuffled group, keep that in mind when you hear about how they're both doing.

Newton's arm strength was on display and he had moments where he showed improved accuracy but he also had throws to remind us that this was the same Cam Newton, like making Agholor dive for the ball to make a circus catch. Newton's ball placement is still not where a starting quarterbacks ball placement should be as he continues to throw to the bubbles of his pass catchers. 

This was noticed by many members of the media. With Jeff Howe reporting, "Newton only had one poor throw a day earlier, but his location was off on six throws Saturday." Howe doesn't say how many of those six passes were completions.

One positive of the day, Newton finally had a strong start, the bad part of that was he had a okay finish. I mean that's not horrible but the guy was once again named the starter and is a former mvp. This is something Newton needs to bring together as a whole before the season starts if he's gonna start for a second year and have success.

Evan Lazar would write today about Newton's performance, "The process was fine from Newton, but the accuracy was inconsistent."

Inconsistency that is the one thing Newton is consistent with. I said that yesterday and it's not going to change now, and it's probably never going to change. Once again however, Newton has another solid day where he didn't do anything to pull ahead, nor did he do anything to say he shouldn't start. It was the same thing last year with Stidham, and Newton got lucky last year with a Stidham injury. This year, it maybe Jones's emotional status.

Don't Make Mac Angry, Mac Won't Start Because He Gets Angry.

Cam Newton was once again named the starter and if anyone is wondering how that would effect Mac Jones, He got ar least six fewer reps than Cam Newton. The youngster had a bad mental day on Thursday and that might be playing into the decision as neither quarterback is doing anything to separate themselves going into day four.

On Saturday, Jones went 14 of 20, bringing his total up to 48 of 72. Keep in mind that the overall total doesn't recognize drops and good defensive play, both hindered him again today but he's still more accurate than Newton. 

Another thing to keep in mind is Jones is working with both the ones and twos, whereas Newton's pretty much worked exclusively with the number ones. That's gonna have some impact on each quarterback's performance.

This write asks, how much better would Jones be if he was the one working primarily with the first group?

The rookie struggled in the red zone today against this defense but so did the guy that was once again named the starter. The good news is the Jones is building chemistry with the pass catchers including former first round draft pick N'keal Harry, who is having a good camp so far.

Jones showed off his rushing ability on Saturday but he might need that ability, as it was reported by some that the pocket passer was holding the ball too long. The good news is, Jones wasn't a statue and moved around the pocket like a chess piece. The bad news is he had a moment or two where he was looking "lost." Which is to be expected by a rookie.

One positive of the day, Jones finally had a strong finish, the bad part of that was he had a slow start. This is something Jones needs to being together as a whole. Jones also appears to be struggling to stay on the same page as his pass catchers. Hopefully this will come with time, otherwise it could be a long development process.

Jones's demon once again raised his head, as he lost his cool again. Ryan Spagnoli wrote, "Jones was visibly frustrated after one particularly rough series, and Bill Belichick came over to coach him up for a solid minute and a half. Then, Brian Hoyer came over to Jones, who was on a knee, and was using his hands to mimic what the rookie could have done better."

Until the rookie can learn to keep his composure. There is no reason he should start. This was not a red flag I saw in any of the scouting reports but again, this could become a serious issue for the Patriots and the last thing the Patriots need is to have drafted Ryan Leaf. Drafting first round quarterbacks can be like Russian roulette, let's hope the Patriots didn't shoot themselves by missing something in the scouting report.

Evan Lazar wrote about Jones after camp, "There’s plenty of things to like about how Jones is practicing. His timing, touch, and pocket movement stand out daily."

Jones has consistently been the better passer in camp but he's also shown that his emotions get the best of him. Losing control of emotions can lead to a loss of focus. This is how Jones is going to lose the competition to Cam Newton. He will most likely continue to be the better passer between the two. Jones may even show better command of the offense but his lack of ability to control his frustrations makes him a liability to the Patriots and to himself, regardless of how well he plays. 

One more quick note, so far the Patriots seem to be getting all the running backs involved as pass catchers. This could help the offense but James White is only on a one year deal and Sony Michel is supposed to be looking much improved in that area. I know everyone is looking at JJ Taylor and possibly Stevenson in that area to replace White but if the quarterbacks continue to find Michel, he could earn a new contract in Foxboro and push White out the door by season end.

Newton Showing Consistancy Over The First Three Days

The Patriots have had the offense working In a shortened area the past two days but today was about opening things up a bit. How would Cam Newton fair going into day three. Newton thus far has been consistently the guy we say last year, would he give us more of the same or would there be a change in store.

Newton again led first team reps. His arm was on display today for those with any lingering concerns and he put them to bed. 'Sailing Passes and Over throws' that's what we were expecting from Newton and he didn't disappoint but that wasn't all he did. His decision making was solid for the most part. Newton would even hit seven in a row at one point but he's still hanging on to the ball to long.

There were some moments when Newton showed some ability to throw with touch and anticipation but the credit for Newton's completion percentage like last year has to go to the pass catcher's true catch ability as Newton was again throwing to bubbles. 

Matt Dolloff committed writing about Newton's throws, "off-target deep ball to Agholor, but the receiver made a nice adjustment tracking the ball in tight coverage."

Newton wasn't completely inaccurate, which has been an issue throughout his career. As he found Gunner Olszewski in the back corner of the end zone. If Newton could harness that type of accuracy on a regular basis, he'd be an elite passer. Newton also had no issues finding Harry, Agholor, and the new tight end duo on the day.

Mike Giardi tweeted, "Good day for Cam Newton. Accurate in competitive periods. Yes, he had a couple of "what was that?" throws but overall his best of the 3 days of camp by far. #Patriots"

Newton again started slow but finished strong at the end. It's early but we've yet to see a solid day from start to finish. The good news is he improves throughout the day. He's not showing drastic improvements but again he's not showing drastic decline. He's doing enough to hang on to the job unless Jones starts to turn it up, which so far isn't happening.

The quarterbacks left the media debating who won day three but Andrew Callahan declared his winner. Callahan tweeted, "Newton was the best QB of the day. He again picked up steam with a strong final period."

Newton went 14 of 20 on day three and overall thus far he's 31 of 50. That's pretty good going up against the Patriots defense but it could be better. If Newton could figure out how to put the ball where it needs to be on every pass, instead of being a bubble boy, he'd be a top ten passer. Newton won't get to show off full abilities until Tuesday when the team puts on the pads.

Like with Jones, Newton had to deal with Agholor who although looked like a number one, had the case of the drops. One has to wonder if Newton will put in a word with Bill for his former receiver Kelvin Benjamin who got released by the Giants. I know everyone wants Tate but there's already chemistry between the two.

Dispite Drops And Defense, Mac Jones Had A Solid Day Three.

Mac Jones finished day two with three straight completions and an emotional meltdown. Would we see a composed Mac Jones if things didn't go his way and would he improve on his near fifty percent completion against this defense. The team opened things up a bit which would allow the quarterbacks to have more room if they're able to use it. Jones would start good but would that continue.

Jones was composed on Friday and is still looking pretty good in the pocket delivering nice balls, quick and with anticipation but he was the victim of drops and good pass coverage on day three. Jones went through his progressions well and delivered the ball with touch but still went 8 of 18 and is 34 of 52 over the first three days of camp.

Chris Mason Tweeted, "Newton had more completions and consistency, but Jones had the best throws of the day."

Kharl Thompson of the Boston Globe wrote, "Those kinds of plays make you wonder if you’re really watching a rookie out there."

That's kinda what one wants to hear about a first round rookie going up against an aged first round Veteran. And knowing the pass catchers and defense were reasons behind the incompletions, one has to be happy with Mac Jones's day, even though he still can improve.

Jones was showing good chemistry with Bourne and Olszewski on day three. Agholor however seemed to be the target of the day for both quarterbacks. And although he tried, the chemistry isn't quite perfect with Meyers.

One of the concerns about drafting Jones was his deep ball. Could he get the ball down the field. Mac showed today that his deep ball wont be an issue, throwing it with accuracy and power. Although I don't expect the Patriots to have him throwing over fifty yards. So as long as they keep his deep ball in the forty to fifty yard range, it will never be an issue.

Pass protection was also an issue while Jones was taking reps. It's unclear if Jones held the ball to long but he had a few plays where he would've been sacked. Jones typically gets rid of the ball quickly. I get the impression one injury on the line and we could be revisiting 2019 season.

Matt Dolloff wrote about Jones, "His quick release and subtle movements in the pocket tend to hearken back to – never mind. He still has a long way to go, as Bill Belichick would remind everyone every day."

A long way to go is right. Jones's has started good all offseason for the most part but he starts to fizzle at the end. It's practice but could this type of performance show up in game day in the second half? Like with Newton, we've yet to see a complete full day of camp. The team seems to have a starter and a closer if you will. Maybe the team mixes things up but I doubt it.

Andy Hart of WEEI gave Jones some praise on the day but called him "indecisive" and said Jones "wasn’t able to execute efficiently." While most credited the line, pass catchers, and defense for Jones's day, Hart seems to put the blame on Jones. Being the quarterback, Hart maybe right, as the rookie is sure to have room for improvement. There was also mention by some that Jones had miscommunication or understanding on a few routes.

Kharl Thompson said Jones looks "confident" and added, "Jones also had another underwhelming finish to practice, though that perspective might be a bit different if Devin Ross hadn’t dropped a surefire touchdown on a slant route."

While Jones is looking good and arguably better than Cam, he's not doing anything to pull ahead. He's playing pretty consistent and seems to be waiting for Cam to falter. After yesterday, I don't think he should start immediately but he seems to be taking a good approach to camp by not doing anything stupid or flashy to attempt to take the job.

If Jones wants to beat out Newton, He might eventually have to elevate his game to the next level. Although it be nice to see that kinda improvement, it might be wise for Jones to continue as he is. 

One more quick note, Hoyer had another decent day with reps, as Dolegala didn't throw. At the moment, with Stidham had surgery and is a candidate for the injured reserve, Hoyer is looking like a lock for the third quarterback position. Not what one wants to hear if their fans of Jarrett Stidham or Jake Dolegala. And remember if need be, as Belichick alluded to last season, "Zolak is just around the corner."

Newton Again Doesn't Do Anything To Lose GrIp Of His Job.

Cam Newton wasn't spectacular on day one but he didn't do anything to lose the job either, how would he fair on day two? We know that Newton pays attention to the media. Consistency would be the best way to describe Newton's day two. A little bit of improvement but more of the same, as he continues to lead drills.

On Thursday, Newton went 9 of 15 bringing him to 17 of 30 for camp thus far over the first two days. Newton reportedly focused on checkdowns on day two, which may be a smart move against this secondary unit, especially after it was reported that on day one he held the ball too long, which he didn't improve on. Newton's accuracy was once again inconsistent sailing balls and throwing towards the shins.

The Patriots attempted to make Newton comfortable on day two by getting him moving around and it showed at the end. Newton's best throw of the day was finding running back Brandon Boldon on an out route, who was covered by Josh Uche. The pass was an anticipation throw, something Cam Newton is not known for. The Patriots even had Newton catching a pass on a gimmick play, wonder if Meyers was the passer again.

Newton got away from the check downs at the end to show he still has the ability to make good decisions with the ball at the end of camp. After last season, this was something Newton needed to find a way to show to the staff because it wasn't evident by season end.

Kharl Thompson of Boston.com wrote, "the former MVP gave a glimpse of the improvements he could make on last year’s performance, though more consistency is still needed."

Consistency and Cam Newton are two things that don't go together, sorry Kharl. In fact one could say over his career that Cam Newton is consistently inconsistent. That's one of the things however that his supporters love about him because it brings a level of excitement, never knowing who's showing up on game day.

The Patriots had Newton throwing to his bread and butter area, the middle of the field. This is where some people like colts law Lawrence Owen's have pointed out that Newton is most accurate. This was a good way to build confidence is the veteran as he competes for his job. Especially since there appears to be cause for early concern with the rookie's ability to keep cool headed.

Newton's leadership was also on display as Mac Jones's emotions got the better of him and Newton had to talk him down. Newton knows about how losing control one's emotions can effect them, so it was good to see him stepping up as a leader, even if it was for the guy trying to take his job.

Mike D'abate of SI wrote, "Overall, he looked more comfortable under pressure." That was the general consensus as many said Cam won the day between the two, although Andy Callahan gives the day to Brian Hoyer, you'll have to go and see why for yourself.

SB Nation writing, "He (Newton) may not have put any notable distance between himself and Mac Jones in the race for the starting quarterback position, but he had a good day nonetheless."

Like many have said, If Newton does well it's a win for the Patriots because it's more time for Jones to sit and develop. Jones who obviously needs to learn to control his emotions, needs it. Newton doesn't need to improve or play better to hold the starting job, he just cannot decline and we're not seeing much if any from Newton. So today was a win for the Patriots. 

Emotional Control Is An Early Weakness For Jones

On day one Mac Jones showed that he was still improving and coming for the starting job held by veteran quarterback Cam Newton, would he continue trending in the right way. Jones had a decent day on Thursday but things didn't end as Jones would've liked.

Kharl Thompson of Boston.com wrote, "it felt like a repeat of yesterday: nothing to write home about with Mac Jones continually looking like he could rise up and steal the quarterback competition from the incumbent Cam Newton."

Thompson would go on to acknowledge that Jones dropped off in the second half, which was a theme throughout the spring.

On day two Jones went 8 of 15 bringing his totals to 17 of 34 for camp thus far. Against the elite defense, that's not bad but it would be nice to see Jones around sixty percent competition percentage as his numbers are what we'd expect from Hoyer and not a franchise quarterback but the defense is elite and that has to be accounted for.

Zach Cox of NESN wrote, "The rookie quarterback looked much sharper than Cam Newton during a mid-practice 7-on-7 drill — he showed stronger anticipation and quicker processing speed while Newton mostly held the ball and checked down to running backs."

Ryan Hannable of WEEI also chimed in writing, "it was evident once again that Jones is much more decisive with his throws and decision-making than Newton."

Jones also got to show off more of his mobility on bootleg throws today. Proving that he's not just a statue waiting to get pummeled by opposing players. If anyone recalls, Tua said Jones was more mobile than scouts were giving him credit for. This could be something to watch.

Jones also seems to be having an issue with knock downs at the line. This is something that can be addressed by the coaching staff. Some might not want to hear this but towards the end, It looked like mentor Cam Newton was rubbing off on Jones, as his accuracy started to slip and he was sailing passes, throwing the ball at people's feet and out of arms reach. Jones's accuracy wasn't poor on the day but it was definitely off on day two, leading to the quarterback losing control of his emotions.

It was reported that he showed inconsistency getting rid of the ball on day two and had moments where he held the ball a little too long. Again something his teammate is known for and something he'll need to correct if he wants success in this offense.

This is the second time Jones has shown emotional outburst when things weren't going his way. Earlier this spring he let his emotions get the best of him. For now, this might be nothing but it could be something to monitor as it could be a Ryan Leaf situation. Mental health treatment is more accepted than it was years ago. For now, again it's something to keep an eye on but it's reason to sit Jones until he shows he has it under control. Last thing the Patriots need is for Jones to turn out like Sam Darnold.

Phil Perry wrote, "most impressive throw was a touchdown pass to tight end Matt LaCosse that came out quickly and was placed away from the nearest defender on what looked like a curl route."

Jones's highlight of the day however was reportedly throwing a touchdown to Jakobi Meyers on a corner route, showing of all the traits Patriots nation missed in 2020 after the departure of Tom Brady. Jones also showed Chemistry with tight end Troy Fumagalli, who had a good day. Bourne and Sony Michel, who's been working hard to improve his pass catching skills.

Mike D'abate of S.I. said Jones gave himself some momentum to carry into day three writing, "he finished on a high note with three completions, including an end-zone stroke to running back Sony Michel."

And Evan Lazar wrote, "Overall, the operation runs smoothly with Jones under center. He’s a decisive decision-maker, gets the ball out quickly, which helps him hit tighter windows, and is nimble in the pocket..."

Early on Jones showed why the Patriots took him in the first round but late in the day he also showed why many were right to say he needs to sit a year. Jones has the intelligence and ability to start day one but it's clear he doesn't have the emotional toughness yet and that can destroy his confidence as a franchise quarterback if given the reigns too early. This is something to monitor as camp progresses. 

I don't do this often but it looks like my buddy Ray Rauth of Dear Pats Nation or DPN Sports Talk was right on Jones needing to sit. You can find Ray over at Newsbreak and also on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

Mac Jones Is Still Trending In A Positive Direction.

While everyone is talking about Quinn Nordin versus Nick Folk for the kicker position (joke), all eyes were on Mac Jones, superbowl 53 hero Brian Hoyer, and returning starter Cam Newton for the first day of Patriots training camp.

Hoyer reportedly spent most of the day alone as Jarrett Stidham was not at camp due to an unexplained shoulder injury. Hoyer went 9 of 17, While Jones and Newton worked with the number ones. The Patriots brought in Jake Dolegala to add an arm to work with Hoyer. Not sure how soon well see Dolegala at camp.

Everyone will tell you that it's the first day of camp and nothing matters. Continuing with what Newton supporters said for OTAs and minicamp. While it is just training camp, remember if they weren't practicing it could lead to looking like Cam did in 2020, so it has to matter. Before you call B.S., lack of training camp is part of the excuse for Newton last season.  So give today the importance the Newton bandwagon placed on it all throughout last season.

Matt Dollof of 98.5 the hub wrote about day one saying, "His (Jones) best play of the day highlighted the aforementioned three qualities of pocket presence, field reading, and actual throwing. Jones first looked right for Kendrick Bourne, but the receiver was well covered. Jones then slid left, keeping his eyes toward the end zone, and dropped one in the bucket to wideout Nelson Agholor for a 'touchdown.' "

Newton and Jones reportedly put up similar stats going 9 of 19 but stats don't tell everything. Jones was reportedly getting the ball out quicker and making better timing and anticipation throws, while the guy he was competing with was holding on to the ball too long, hesitant, and putting the ball in the wrong locations but Jones's opponent isn't known for his passing ability.

Mike Reiss of ESPN tweeted, "one of my biggest takeaways on Day 1 is how quickly the ball comes out of Mac Jones’ hand when he finishes his drop. Decisive."

Karl Thompson wrote, "His (Jones) ability to go through progressions without losing composure stood out..."

And Andy Callahan wrote, "Mac Jones’ quick release and mobility within the pocket continue to stand out. He seemed to have an advanced feel for pressure."

You can get a consensus there. Mac Jones reportedly looked like a game manager, not quite a field general. He put the ball where it needed to be, didn't do anything stupid, and at least looked like an NFL passer. That's what the Patriots needed because that's what they lacked in 2020 for majority of the season and it killed the production of the supporting cast.

Jones impressed many. Jeff Howe of the athletic tweeted of Jones, "he might have had the five best throws of the day."

While Jones was showing chemistry with Gunner Olszewski, N'Keal Harry, and Nelson Agholor, he also made some mistakes. The first round quarterback worked off some of that belly fat running a lap for fumbling a snap in shotgun formation.

Thompson also wrote, "defensive backs harrassed his throws at the point of the catch multiple times to force incompletions."

The Patriots haven't donned the pads yet but Jones is still showing he can run the Patriots offense. This is great for the team but as far as us fans go, Newton has not yet shown that he has gotten worse than last year and thus is still the frontrunner but that might not he for long as Greg Bedard gave his opinion.

Bedard wrote, "There's a long way to go but if this is any indication of what he has in store for the rest of camp — rookies will always have a bad day here and there — then Cam Newton has his hands full. Jones, for the most part, continues to gain ground and improve with every practice."

Evan Lazar echoed Bedard's sentiment saying, "The Pats’ first-round pick has some rookie moments, but he flashes that first-round talent. Jones continues to take positive steps forward with each practice and remains on Newton’s heels."

It's only one day but if you're hoping for Mac Jones to start, he's trending in the right direction. One more quick note, if the number five receiver was named off today's practice, it would go to N'keal Harry. Again it's only one practice but it's what we want to hear for our former number one. And be sure to check out my article on Cam.

Newton Not Doing Enough To Lose The Job

This is the year of redemption for Cam Newton. The year of no excuses for his bandwagon. Newton had a rocky spring which ended on a high note the final day of minicamp but for the most part he looked the same. Would we see a different Cam Newton come training camp, that was the question.

If we went off just day one, the answer is no. Newton's ball placement was off, to where people questioned if he was throwing the ball to Phillips or Henry on an interception. His accuracy was off as he was sailing balls. He was holding the ball too long and just not looking like an NFL passer. 

If you don't believe me, take a look at what Mike Gardi tweeted, "Cam’s final 4 reps were bad. Missed Henry in the back of the end zone by throwing ball behind him; wasn’t close on the next throw. Can’t tell you who it was for. Then he was way high on a toss to Bourne and threw behind Henry and got picked by Phillips at goal line. #Patriots"

Ryan Hannable wrote about Newton's accuracy on the goal line, "passes landed closer to the fans seated in the first row than the intended receiver."

Newton would throw another interception but it was the fault of James White who is in camp battle with sophomore running back J.J. Taylor.

Hannable also wrote, "would-be sacks were a theme during Newton’s reps."

Mike D'Anate wrote, "Still, Newton’s performance was not to be maligned. He demonstrated greater arm strength and proved that he was still able to find the endzone with his legs."

Kharl Thompson wrote, "Newton unleashed a few rockets for scores, including one along the backline to Kristian Wilkerson and a well-placed back-shoulder throw to N’Keal Harry with tight coverage from Jalen Mills."

Newton would go 8 of 15 on the day with a rushing touchdown during passing drills. Like last season, Newton was bailed out by the catching abilities of his pass catchers, as they made highlight catches. Newton still looking like a backup to bottom eight passer, however this may have been the best his arm as looked this offseason according to people who attended camp. 

One positive for Newton that may get overlooked is he got first reps in all the drills. That's what you expect from the starter. We'll see if that changes but it's a good sign if you're a Cam Newton fan. 

The other thing depending on which side of the fence you're on is multiple people are saying Newton looked okay, he looked average. He didn't look completely horrible and that's all he has to be to hang on to his job. Eliminating the turnovers would go a long way however but that's part of Newton's game.

The modern NFL has two types of Quarterbacks passers and runners. Until the pads go on and contact is allowed, this isn't a level playing field for Newton. Newton is a guy who will beat you with his legs not his arm. And we cannot expect a guy who makes a living running the football to win passing drills, even if he throws the ball up to 20 times a game.

One more note, if the fifth receiver spot was decided off of day one of camp, it would go to N'keal Harry. It's only one day but it's what we want to hear from the former number one. And if you didn't check out my article on Mac Jones, please do so.

Stidham's Career In Jeopardy After Injury

Earlier this year during OTAs and minicamp, Jarrett Stidham could be put in as possibly the second best passer on the Patriots roster. Coming only second to Mac Jones. There was hope that Stidham could solidify a spot on the roster behind Jones and maybe Newton. On Wednesday that appears to have changed.

On Wednesday the Patriots signed quarterback Jake Dolegala. Dolegala had spent last season with the Patriots on the practice squad. He signed with the Packers but was released before he could do anything of worth. After being released by the Packers, Belichick was quick to scoop him up. 

The Patriots don't need five quarterbacks and early thoughts were that this either had something to do with the Hoyer vaccination situation or a possible Stidham trade. While it involves Stidham, it's not trade related.

Stidham started training camp on the pup. Many wondering what happened to get him placed there. While we don't know how it happened, Stidham appears to have injured his throwing shoulder. 

It's unknown how long Stidham will miss but this could be a blessing as the Patriots could choose to stash him away on the injured reserve for a season. With Jeff Howe of the athletic stating,  “surgery has been noted as a possibility, and it remains unclear how much more time he’ll miss.”

Stidham is coming off a bad sophomore season due to the pandemic which derailed what could've been a chance at holding the starting job in new england. Which was lost to Cam Newton only due to injury. After failing to show last season that he was any different than Newton, this blow could see his career come to a close. This will be something to monitor but the writing may be on the wall.

Update 7/30/2021: Stidham had surgery and will miss 12 weeks. It's still unclear what the Patriots plan on doing with their former forth round draft pick. Best wishes go out to Stidham and hope for a quick recovery.

Can The Patriots Get Their Money From Their Four Big Money Pass Catchers?

Will the Patriots capitalize off their investments in Henry, Smith, Bourne ,and Agholor? That is a question some are wondering. The first thing I want to tell you is it depends on what you're expectations are.

If your idea of the Patriots getting their money's worth is each of them getting 800 yards and 8 touchdowns, then no the Patriots won't get their money's worth. The Patriots are typically a team that spreads the ball around. That means eight to ten guys splitting three to four thousand yards. Do the math, it doesn't

Now if they catch four hundred yards or more, that doesn't mean the Patriots got their money's worth either but it's close. Not only do the Patriots need about four hundred yards from each but the Patriots need to convert when they need to. If those guys cannot do that, than no. However, converting isn't all on them.

That brings us to the quarterback situation. When talking about getting their money's worth, one has to talk about the guys throwing the football. If the Patriots do not improve the passing aspect of the quarterback play, the team will look no different than what we saw in 2020. Doesn't matter if they had DK and Julio or Kelce and Kittle, if the quarterback can't do his job.

The new additions will be useless if the quarterbacks cannot find them when open. If the quarterbacks cannot put the ball where it needs to be instead of to the pass catchers' bubbles, or if the quarterbacks cannot deliver catchable balls. If the quarterback play cannot improve in those areas, then it doesn't matter who's on the field. Sorry but the Patriots cannot just plug in new pieces and say problem solved if the problem hasn't gone anywhere.+1

So to answer if the Patriots can get their money's worth, understand it's a loaded question that depends just as much on expectations and quarterback play as it is the new additions themselves. If we're focused on the players themselves, there's no reason they shouldn't be able to but as long as their productivity is reliant on another player. Sorry there's no guarentees. And that's the honest truth.

A better question to ask is will the Patriots quarterbacks allow the pass catchers to be productive but the honest answer would anger half the fan base. I'm pretty sure if you're honest with yourself than you already know the answer to that.

Former Patriots Chung Maybe Set With The Upper Hand Legally If He Chooses To Have A Day In Court.

The NFL created an affirmative action rule that would give teams draft picks for hiring African American coaches. The rule was supposed to empower minorities but it was geared towards a specific group of minorities. Early this year, that rule came back to bite the NFL in the ass.

While trying to eliminate racism in the NFL. The league may have created more racism. Which was not the intent but affirmative action laws are never fully thought out to make sure they cannot be abused. Eugene Chung was interviewed by an NFL team who told him he “wasn’t the right minority.” 

Asian Americans have experienced racism for centuries. Many were used as free and cheap labor, especially during the building of the railroads. They were put in camps during the world wars. And in 2020 many were blamed for the pandemic and attacked. They're discrimination and oppression in this country is still on going.

The NFL claimed to of investigated the incident, to which it said it found nothing but that might not be the case. As the league, like with CTE, may be trying to sweep it under the rug. Eugene Chung should've had the government conduct an investigation.

Chung said Monday on ESPN, "I've had one conversation with them. I'd love to work with them hand in hand, but, when it's being written that I'm going to be working with them, and I had only one very brief conversation, I think that's a little misleading.”

Why would the NFL say it's working with Chung, when they're not? Because there are a lot of Asian Americans in the NFL. And the NFL is still recovering from their mishandling of players kneeling. They don't want to admit there's a problem. Chung needs to speak up. he needs to call the country to this issue.

Alex Reimer of WEEI wrote about Chung saying, "Chung went on to describe his conversation with the league as 'almost perfunctory,' saying it lasted for about two minutes. He says every coach whom he’s called about the matter did not speak with anybody from the league."

Chung went on to say, "“I'm not interested in outing anybody. I think that's insignificant and irrelevant to what's going on at hand right now. I'm trying to get back into coaching in the NFL. I'm not letting this comment define who I am as person, as a player, as a coach. I have a lot more to offer this game and this league.”

Legally that's the smart thing for Chung to say. If the NFL doesn't handle this properly, Chung can sue the league for Millions if not Billions. There's no way the league doesn't know this and the responded to Chung's comments saying they "embrace" the chance to work with him.

Which goes to supporting Chungs claims. If the league is working with Chung, why would they say they embrace the opportunity to work with Chung if they already are? The NFL admitted with out trying that their story is B.S., The NFL dropped the ball again. This could have huge implications around the league as Alex Reimer added one more note of interest.

Reimer wrote, "Players of Latino, Asian American, or Pacific Islander descent account for roughly two percent of NFL rosters."

While two percent isn't a lot, it's still a good number of people. Being allowed to tell those two percent that their not the right ethnicity when trying to move on to coaching positions after their careers are done is going to lead to back lash in this country. How many more hits can the NFL afford to take on race relations and racial equality?

And while Chung may just be wanting to get back into coaching, he has a duty to the Asian American community to advocate for justice in this situation or he's just as guilty as the person who committed the act and the league for trying to sweep it under the rug. Let's hope this story doesn't die without corrective actions needed.

Did Belichick Give McDaniels Notice While Giving Newton A Pass?

Head Coach Bill Belichick named Cam Newton the starter this spring until someone could unseat him. Looking at the play of Mac Jones, Jarrett Stidham, and Brian Hoyer in OTAs and minicamp, it's left many wondering how that didn't already happen, and had Mike Florio reporting that there was a split in the locker room over Newton.

Bill Belichick spoke to the media on Tuesday and being a Cam Supporters, it's no surprise that he basically said the spring portion of the offseason didn't really matter. Here's what Belichick said during his press conference.

Bill said, “As I said, every one of us has to go out and establish our level of performance in whatever our role or capacity is. So it’s a new season. You know, we’ve done some things in the spring but this is really the start of football season in terms of the team building part here in training camp. So we all have a lot of work to do. That includes all of us. So until we go out and do anything, then it’s pretty much a clean slate.”

Unlike owner Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick is a fan and is infatuated with the former league MVP. However, the media doesn't let up. They wanted a direct answer and that's just not Bill's thing.

When pressed Belichick said, “Including the coaches and all the players.”

Knowing that Bill is a Cam Newton supporter, and that Newton supporters blame Josh McDaniels for not using Cam properly in 2020. Where they blamed McDaniels for not calling plays that didn't require Newton to throw at feet, above heads, behind backs, and out of arms reach of pass catchers. One has to wonder if this was a message to McDaniels to make Cam Newton look good.

To those wondering why Bill would single out McDaniels. McDaniels said he was comfortable with Stidham's development last season but it was Bill's decision on who starts, throwing Belichick under the bus. And we know Kraft read that. Then there was reports that Mac Jones was a McDaniels guy, that they see things the same. And we all know that Newton is a Belichick guy, appearing to create a rift.

Belichick made it clear in his comments that he doesn't care how bad or how good anyone looked coming into this training camp. Which is odd because the Patriots have always been about what have you done for me lately but again, adding in the coaches, one has to wonder with everything that has been put out there, if Josh McDaniels is the exception to that.

Some are wondering if Bill's comments signified a quarterback competition and what Newton has to do to win it. It didn't seem like Bill said there was a competition but if he did, Cam wins it by Belichick continuing to ignore how bad Newton looks.

Training camp begins tomorrow and we'll see how things play out but for now, there's more unanswered questions than answers.

There Was A Split Over Cam In February And It's Still Around Come August.

Few months ago before the draft, I wrote an article about how there was a split on the quarterback position. From everything I was reading, there were guys that wanted Stidham to start over Newton in 2021. I was told by many I was reading in too much and projecting. That players were firmly behind Cam returning in 2021.

Robert Kraft spoke and didn't mention Newton as part of the Patriots future. He mentioned Stidham and a possible draft pick. In the 2021 NFL draft, the Patriots went out and drafted quarterback Mac Jones from Alabama with the number fifteen overall selection. Mac Jones was the first college quarterback prospect to be linked to the Patriots but was soon replaced by Cam Newton clones. 

So it was a shock to many when the Patriots went with a quarterback from the Tom Brady mold because it didn't fit the narrative everyone but myself was saying. That narrative was that the offense was being built for Cam Newton and Justin Fields.

Throughout OTAs and minicamp Newton looked like the same passer we saw in 2020. Mac Jones however, looked like he had better understanding of the Patriots system. He was showing better understanding of adjustments before and after the snap. To which Newton supporters started saying that "it's just practice and doesn't matter."

Just practice and doesn't matter? We spent almost a year listening to the supporters and media cry about how Newton's bad season was because he didn't have a full offseason and now it doesn't matter? So you're finally admitting that the lack offseason was just an excuse and wasn't why he showed decline as a passer. 

Head coach Bill Belichick said that Newton was the starter until he wasn't. Although Mac Jones out played him this spring. Although Jarrett Stidham out played him this spring, although Brian Hoyer looked like Newton's equal throwing the football, Newton would start today. Why, because it was just practice, even thought Newton was out played.

Now before Newton supporters call me a hypocrite, I am not saying that the spring didn't matter. What this spring showed is that the other guys are better passers and have earned reason to compete with Newton for the Job. Since there have not been any games, they gotta continue to look better than Newton, while Newton struggles in practice and looks mediocre in games as a passer.

Now I started off saying that there was a split back in the first couple of months of the year, where guys wanted Stidham over Newton.  Mike Florio acknowledged that the team is split on Newton.

Florio said “Per a league source, multiple current teammates believe Newton simply isn’t the guy he once was. Given how spectacular he once was, that’s arguably the stuff of Captain Obvious.”

See pass catchers don't care about how well a quarterback can run. They care about how well they can throw. Can they go through progressions and make the right decision. Can they put the ball where it needs to be, and make sure it's catchable. Do they know what's going on, on the field. That wasn't Cam Newton in 2020 and it wasn't Cam Newton this spring.

Stidham had a higher upside as quarterback because although he looked like Newton under center at times in 2020, he also at times looked like a better passer with ability to hit anticipation timing routes. That's why there was a split, and while Mac Jones doesn't have as strong of an arm as Stidham, he's a much superior passer and preferred by teammates to start.

Belichick is the head coach but we've seen time after time, locker rooms mutiny on a player, especially the quarterback. We've seen lineman quit and refuse to block. We've seen pass catchers refuse to try. We've also seen players mutiny on coaches. Look at Mike McCarty in Green Bay or Chad O'Shea in Miami. And Florio acknowledges this as well.

Florio continues, “Regardless, the presence of those thoughts lays the foundation for teammates to have an open mind about the possibility that Jones may be the better option. And the opinions of the other men in the locker room go a long way toward determining whether the decision by the coaching staff as to who will play quarterback will be accepted.”

Now one can say this is Bill Belichick and he won't stand for a mutiny. If the opinion of the locker room is Cam's tanking the team and Bill starts cutting and punishing guys who speak out, while Newton struggles. He will start losing respect in the locker room. Belichick knows this and so does Florio.

Florio went on saying, “The New England organization has high regard for Newton. If it didn’t, he wouldn’t have been re-signed after a 2020 season that started with promise but then became marred by a bout with COVID. Conversely, if it viewed Newton as a long-term answer, it wouldn’t have drafted a quarterback in the first round for the first time since Drew Bledsoe in 1993.”

As I stated earlier Robert Kraft didn't mention Newton as part of the teams future. So Even though Belichick likes Newton, the owner's opinion is still the one that matters most. Which we all know is why the succession plan, Jimmy Garoppolo is a San Francisco 49er and no longer a New England Patriot.

The players know that Kraft isn't sold on Newton any longer. Kraft knows not to stir the pot, so he may offer Newton a little praise here or there but it's to keep the ship afloat. So if the players think that Newton isn't helping the team and Bill won't do anything about it, expect the possibility of someone going to Kraft. Get a couple of respected team captains to do so and Bill's hand could be forced again.

For now it appears to be Belichick's decision and at the moment he's going with Cam but like former NFL head coach Jerry Glanville used to say, "NFL stands for Not For Long." We'll see how things play out in the next four to five weeks but things can change after a single quarterback drill or snap.

Newton's Not As Likely To Get Benched In 2021 As Some May Think.

Cam Newton in 2020 was more to blame for his problems than any of the excuses listed for him. He is partially to blame for the lack of productivity from his pass catchers. And yes, he is partially to blame for why the Patriots didn't win more games. Even with that said, Newton should be the opening day starter.

If the Patriots are having a losing season, there's a better chance that Belichick will pull Newton and give Mac Jones time but at the same time, Belichick might keep Jones on the bench to keep him from getting hurt in a wash season. Maybe on occasion, using him like they have Stidham in the past.

If the Patriots are winning Cam is less likely to get benched. Why, because Newton is doing just enough on offense for the team to win at bare minimum. Jones might come in at the end of games. All Newton has to do is not be any worse than last year and move the football more efficiently down field. Jones should play late, if the Patriots get a big lead.

If Cam Newton is struggling to get the ball to pass catchers again and the offense is leaving too many points on the field due to poor quarterback play, the odds of a switch increase but there's no guarentee that a switch happens. Regardless of the Patriots record.

The Patriots are going to pound the ball and hope that it opens up play fakes or play action passes. And people expect to see a lot of 12, 13, 14, 22, 23, and possibly a 15 personnel (5TE) set. We saw that as slow as he is, Newton can still run the football. So as long as he can dink and dunk better than last season, spread the ball around, throw to open receivers, and actually throw catchable passes; Newton won't be benched but again it's all on Cam.

Stidham Shocks Patriots Media Showing Up On The PUP

The New England Patriots announced their physical unable to perform list in Thursday July 22nd. One name that surprised people to see on the list was backup quarterback and former 2019 fourth round selection Jarrett Stidham.

Stidham has been the backup quarterback the past two seasons for the Patriots. In 2019 with a full offseason, Stidham not only beat out veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer but had a better rookie preseason than any of Brady's other backups to that point.

In 2020, Stidham like Cam Newton didn't have an offseason. He was also hindered by medical reasons. Stidham found himself punished and demoted to third string the first four games of the 2020 season due to the circumstances surrounding the injury suffered in the preseason and could never dethrone a struggling and inaccurate Newton.

Entering the 2018 college season, Stidham was projected as a first round quarterback. Things happened and the Patriots acquired Stidham in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft. 

Stidham has been working with quarterback coach Jordan Palmer since entering the NFL, who had the some things to say about Stidham in March of 2021.

Palmer said, "What people don’t realize — and I’ve been doing this a long time — Jarrett had as far to go mentally in terms of what he knew, not in terms of intelligence, in terms of what he knew about football, he had as far to go between college and pro as anybody I ever worked with."

Palmer would go on to say Stidham played for two college programs that don't care about preparing players for the next level and instead are focused solely on winning national championships at the college level.

With the Patriots liking Stidham as a backup and with how the rules are for taking people off of the IR. The Patriots could keep Stidham there while Hoyer helps develop Mac Jones. Stidham is young and doesn't present much in trade value but he he should have a decent amount of knowledge as a backup. 

If the Patriots want, they will be able to re-sign Stidham to an affordable backup contract and have a young knowledgable quarterback behind their franchise quarterback. Keeping Stidham around until 2025 and then going after a new backup quarterback could make sense for the Patriots.

Now I'm not saying this is the route the Patriots are going to go, I am just saying it makes sense. Having a good backup quarterback can be an asset. Stidham has a good arm and if they can develop him, he could be a surprisingly good backup.

After all, Hoyer helped the Patriots win a superbowl and Stidham has beat him out in the past, showing he's the better quarterback. That has to say something about Stidham. Especially when two of the division rivals wanted Hoyer this offseason. And that there's good reason to think Stidham won't make it to the Patriots practice squad if cut.

NFL Honors Players Rights On Getting Vaccinated By Making Those Rights A Double Edged Sword.

There's a saying, "I'll cut out your heart with a spoon because it will hurt more!" The NFL isn't forcing players to get vaccinated, instead set out a list of rules that hurt players and teams, more than enforcing players get vaccinated. And doing things the way they did protects them from possible lawsuits, if they did impose mandatory vaccinations.

To hurt teams, the league will be crediting losses, if games can not be played, to the team that has the outbreak. That could have major playoff implications. I am not sure if I misinterpreted this rule but If correct, both teams that miss the game get a loss.

To hurt the players, if a game is missed during the season, they don't get paid for that game. If read correctly, this only applies if the team misses a game. However. With how the NFL puts rules within rules, this might be anyone who misses even if the game is still played by the rest of the team.

There are players who either through religious or political beliefs refuse to get vaccinated. The NFL is a billion dollar business, and any changes to the schedule could have serious financial implications. The new rules on covid are ways to mandate vaccinations, while still claiming people have an option and preventing the NFLPA from going after the league in court of civil rights.1

We all know unvaccinated people can be as careful as they can be but when leaving their bubble, they have to deal with the human element. There were plenty of anti-maskers that were saying "my liberties come before your lives!" Some of the anti-vaxxers have the same mindset. And some of them play in the NFL. Since people care about money more than others, this was the best move the NFL could make.

Don't Hate Because Mobile Quarterbacks Careers Are Shorter, It's Just How Things Are.

According to statista.com, the average NFL career is 3.3 years. 4.4 years for quarterbacks and 2.67 years for running backs. Sportscasting.com added that the average career for a first round draft pick is 9.3 years and 11.7 for Pro bowlers. Cam Newton is now going on year eleven.

Cam Newton is only 32 years old. For a pocket passer, that's not considered old but for a mobile quarterback it is because many cannot throw that well from the pocket. Thus they are graded on a a running back curve.

There are those in the media and sports world complaining that Cam Newton is being treated like he's 38. Newton is getting treated like that because his legs are on a year to year basis. Plus Newton has never been an accurate quarterback. The guy throws to people's bubbles. Which for a typical mobile quarterback is about as good as can be expected.

There are people asking if Newton was inaccurate, how did he have a high completion percentage. The answer is he had guys with high true catch percentages. Over 25% of Newton's passes were uncatchable. The percentage is almost identical to the percentage of incompletions from a clean pocket.

Now if Newton can learn to become accurate from the pocket, he can extend his career. The problem is, after watching him in 2020, it's doubtful that Newton can improve that much more as a passer. Especially when even his most accurate throws, really weren't that accurate by pocket quarterback standards. Newton was working with a quarterback coach, so he probably already knows this. So it's really up to him at this point to change his career expectancy.

Did The NFL Let Belichick Have Perkins Or Did The Patriots Scouting Department Fail?

The question recently was asked of how the NFL could give Ronnie Perkins to the Patriots. Honestly, I think Mac Jones was given to them and is the bigger steal but that's another story. 

We all know the Patriots have been accused of not doing proper scouting on draft picks and that everything has been about the interview. This year was supposed to be different. Prior to the draft I did a red flag report on all the quarterback prospects. So after hearing the question, I decided to see what Perkins's red flags were. Let's hope when finished that the Patriots did their homework and that majority of these are bogus.

Little note. This article will not have any positives, were going to act like everyone knows them. Perkins was supposed to be an early round player. This is going to be a list of red flags from scouting reports, to see if there's any red flags, that truly said don't draft this guy and if it's possible Belichick made a mistake and ignored them.

Perkins is inconsistent with his explosiveness. His first step is occasionally slow from scrimmage losing burst at the snap do to pre snap movements. Has low end - average foot speed for an edge defender at best. Hasn't shown the ability to turn his speed into extra power.

Clunky, little bend or flexiblity, relies to much on powering through blocks. Positioning his body to the advantage of more powerful tackles. Very stiff playstyle, shoulders and thin hips are as flexible as a 2x4. Agility is in need of major overhaul. Narrow base and hazardous technique setting the edge, makes him a safety liability.

Not a read and react player. Very average short stride foot quickness and lateral movement was a consistent problem. Struggles to close the C gap off tackle. Inconsistent pass coverage, especially when covering backs.

Short arms, not ideal for the position. Will need to learn technique to make up for natural deficiencies. Being undersized was occasionally an issue, as he gets knocked around. Lacks ideal size for defensive end and proportions are not ideal for outside linebacker. May need to add weight or hit the gym to tone out. Lack of size has been an occasional issue against the run.

Not great as a run stopper, especially standing up. Lack discipline in run assignments and maybe a liability against the run at the next level. Tendency to freelance on run plays, abandoning gaps and overshoots plays, putting himself out of position or worse out of the play completely.

Does not setting the edge consistently. Quits on outside containment plays as a pass rusher. Tendency to ignore backside and off ball responsibilities.

Occasionally misreads leading to big gains. Tendency to play with head down instead of on the ball or play. Poor play recognition and awareness after the snap. Plays with tunnel vision. Frequently goes for ankle tackles. Habit of drawing unnecessary penalties and reportedly gets mouthy with officials.

Undisciplined and raw pass rush. Lacks strength, cannot play inside. Poor use of hands, loses hand to hand fights too often for liking. Has no punch. One move defender, needs to learn multiple styles to beat blockers. Struggles to get off blocks and loses leverage. Too easy to reach and secure on the move. Can be a liability against the pass at the next level. 

Needs a lot of development for a top 64 pick. Inconsistent pro day and plays below scored numbers. Lacks size, strength, and ability to use athleticism for an edge defender. Raw and limited scheme-dependent player. Who may see limited time at the next level. Needs to sit and develop, especially setting the edge. 

May be too much/long of a project for some teams. With potential character issues that must be checked out, most notably drug use. Suspended along with teammate Rhamondre Stevenson just before a bowl game, shows a lack of reliability and a concern over commitment to the sport and team.

Scouting reports are occasionally way off and that maybe the case with his warnings. Some teams take chances on high risk- high reward players. Some teams stay away from high risk players. The question was asked how could the NFL let Perkins fall to the Patriots. If this report is anything close to how teams saw the red flags from him, in a few seasons we might be asking why Belichick took him after everyone else passed.

It's Development, Not Scouting That's The Problem.

Bill Belichick the general manager gets a lot of heat for not hitting on the draft. For years people have complained that prospects have to nail the interview process to get drafted but nobody has ever asked why that was. I wanna give my thoughts on that.

Belichick has hit on day three guys but more specifically UDFAs. The top talent is supposed to come from the first three rounds, and that's where the issues seem to come from. Let's look from 2011-2020 at the Patriots first three round guys and see how many elite talent Bill has hit or missed on. Remember there are elite and then there are serviceable. Just because a guy played well, doesn't make them elite.

In 2011 the Patriots drafted: (5) Nate Solder, Ras-I Dowling, Shane Vereen, Steven Ridley, Ryan Mallett.

2012: (4) Chandler Jones, Donta Hightower, Tavon Wilson, Jake Baquette.

2013: (4) Jamie Collins, Aaron Dobson, Logan Ryan, Duron Harmon.

2014: (2) Dominique Easliy, Jimmy Garoppolo.

2015: (3) Malcolm Brown, Jordan Richards, Gino Grissom.

2016: (4) Cyrus Jones, Joe Thuney, Jacoby Brissett, Vincent Valentine.

2017: (2) Derek Rivers, Antonio Garcia.

2018: (3) Isaiah Wynn, Sony Michel, Duke Dawson.

2019: (5) N'Keal Harry, Joejuan Williams, Chase Winovich, Damian Harris, Yodney Cajuste.

2020: (5) Kyle Dugger, Josh Uche, Anfree Jennings, Devin Asiasi, Dalton Keene.

If we're honest and not being homers, out of these thirty seven drafted, the Patriots have had only five guys that could be possibly considered elite. Ten guys might be considered serviceable and that's being generous on two. That's a total of fifteen, leaving twenty two guys as draft busts. Fourth round is where the project guys and draft steals come from for the most part.

Now the reason I believe the Patriots do so well in free agency is they take guys that were already developed, and plug them in and use them intelligently. They only have to do some minor tweaking developmentally. However, when it comes to their own, I don't think they have the ability to consistency develop their guys. Look at their track record with each individual position because there are what 17 to 20 positions if we include all the special teams positions. And the positions get divided into different categories.

Belichick trys to get intelligent and preferable NFL ready players coming out of the draft. So he doesn't have to spend as much time developing them because that is an area of weakness for the Patriots. Outside of a few people, the Patriots also have had trouble retaining coaches, which leads to the problem.

Now there's a lot of draft picks from rounds four through seven that have been serviceable from that time but not a lot of elite talent. Getting serviceable players is a good thing, except for the fact that it's exactly what the Patriots are looking for. 

After round three, it's a crapshoot on drafting players. The Patriots are looking for guys that can be plugged in and play roles, depth guys. They look for intelligent guys that they don't expect much from in those later rounds. Again, guys that are NFL ready. So it's a lot easier for them to find serviceable players. It's also why the Patriots UDFAs are watched by other clubs, and why Belichick has found so many hidden gems. 

The Patriots seem to struggle developing early draft picks and it's not hard to see that. These are guys who excell at being one trick ponys and don't get proper college development. 

Now one can make the case the Patriots are bad at scouting but if that's the case, how do the Patriots find so many serviceable day three and UDFA players? It's not that they cannot scout, it's the elite talent level guys aren't always ready for the NFL and the Patriots struggle to bring them to the professional level. And that is the weak link of the Patriots organization under Bill Belichick.

Remember, unless they're already developed coming out of college, it doesn't matter how much talent a player has if a professional team cannot developed them. The Patriots could've selected DK or Chubbs but could they bring them up to speed for the NFL, there's no guarantee but odds aren't in the Patriots' favor.

Even Rober Kraft hinted that the Patriots had to do a better job of developing players after his big free agency spending. The owner sees it. He's not blind, even though his fan hood can get the best of him. It's time the rest of us acknowledge it as well. The first three rounds if the draft are a weakness, either due to scouting or coaching. Not trying to be negative just trying to point out areas the Patriots can improve on. If one cannot admit flaws, one is destined for failure at something. A 20 year dynasty is 40% hard work and talent, the other 60% luck. The Patriots percentage of luck fell in 2020 and they didn't have the developed talent to cover for it.

The Patriots Have Potential To Be Set For The Next Four To Five Seasons At The Position.

The Patriots have had a third down back, going back to Kevin Faulk at the least. The Patriots have had James white in that role the past few seasons but as White ages, he is slowly becoming expendable and the Patriots need to start looking for his successor.

White has been primarily used as a pass catcher but to say that's all he is, would be to undervalue him. In 2018 the Patriots turned to White when Michel was out. White was second in the team in carries and in yards. Rushing 94 times for 425 yards and 5 touchdowns. The Patriots just don't use White as a feature back and many think he's under utilized.

Currently the Patriots have three backs with high expectations of being a number one or two back, even if one is thought to be on the way out. That's Damien Harris, the underrated Sony Michel, and the rookie Stevenson. These guys are going to be the one-two punch or the three headed dragon, depend on if they keep Michel. With White sprinkled in for flavor.

Many are wondering who's going to replace Burkhead. In 2021, that's going to be Stevenson. Sure, Taylor was also a spark plug but Stevenson is a bigger bodied ball carrier who just happens to have a set of hands. That role should be his to lose.

As for replacing James White, that role should fall to J.J. Taylor. Taylor is like 5'5" 160 pounds soaking wet. We didn't get to see much of Taylor in 2020 but then again, That season was just weird. Look how long it took for us to really see Meyers.

In 2020 Taylor ran it 23 times for 110 yards and caught a pass for 4 yards. That's not a lot to go on but in college Taylor had 587 carries for 3263 yards, with 18 touchdowns. He also had 62 catches for 487 yards, 32 catches coming in his final year for 289 yards. Taylor also has special teams experience which Belichick prizes.

Eric Zierlien of NFL.com wrote about Taylor in 2020 saying, "Short but stout runner whose running style is more power back than water bug. Taylor has been a productive college back who runs decisively both inside and outside, but does not have the burst or wiggle teams are looking for from smaller runners. His size is a hindrance but he might have an outside shot if he can rebrand as a matchup pass catcher out of the backfield."

David Latham of the last word wrote, "J.J. Taylor is not a special talent, but he could last in the NFL if he lands in the right spot. While some teams are going to be turned off by his size, running backs like Danny Woodhead, Dion Lewis, and Jacquizz Rodgers proved it’s possible for shorter running backs to succeed in the NFL. As a runner, Taylor is capable of reading his blocks, picking up the available yardage, and making guys miss along the way. His height sometimes works to his advantage, as linebackers have a difficult time finding a 5’5” runner behind a wall of 6’-3” monsters. In the passing game, Taylor has soft, reliable hands and the lateral agility to make guys miss and be a genuine threat in the passing game."

The thing I am going to take away from Latham is "landing the right spot." The Patriots know how to develop third down backs. Both guys suggest him as a pass catching back, which is the James White role. There are many many more that shared the same sentiments when scouting Taylor.

Ivan Fears, position coach for the Patriots spoke about Taylor saying, "Little Dion, that’s what he is. Little Dion. Exciting, fun ...

Have you seen him out there? Same quickness. Same suddenness. He’s a hell of a pass-catcher. Guy’s got great vision. There’s a [expletive] load of stuff that’s good about him."

There was a lot of hope for Lewis but greed and pride got the best of him, as evident by his comments after he signed with the Titans. If Taylor has Lewis's abilities but the mindset that is the Patriots way, he could be around for a while. 

I have said and I believe that the Patriots are going to go thin at wideout, stock piling players on the practice squad while going heavy at tight end and running back due to the personnel groups and formations they'll be running.

With Brandon Bolden sitting out a year, the Patriots had time to develop Taylor into Bolden's role, so I expect a competition between the two for special teams play. Bolden has always been under used and has reminded me of a Rex Burkhead light.

With many fans also seeing Taylor as a Burkhead light, if he can knock off Bolden, and the Patriots can find a way to hang on to Sony after the season, the Patriots could be set at running back for the next five seasons. Which would definitely help Mac Jones Develop.

More Marketing From The Patriots Quarterback.

Cam Newton spoke to Keyshawn Johnson via ESPN radio. The Patriots are set to report for camp on July 22. And all eyes are going to be on the Patriots quarterbacks, especially Cam Newton. Now Newton has his share of criticism based of last season, and is fighting for his career going into this season.

Newton came to the Patriots last year and delivered a lot of hype. During the 2020 season, especially when things were going bad, Newton said all the right things. Why, because Newton knows how to market himself. So before I get into what Newton said, know that's what this talk is. It's all marketing.

Newton admitted that his play wasn't good, taking some account ability for his play. And claims the same tired spiel of seeing a new or "different" version of himself. Same thing he said last year when he said "nobody saw this version of Cam." Why? To give his fans hope.

Newton said about playing with the Patriots, "For me, the Patriots' organization has been impeccable ... my time there has been everything I could have asked for. I guess it's now time for me to uphold my end of the bargain, through and through."

This is pandering to the organization and to Robert Kraft in Hope's to save his career. It's also showing other teams that he's humble. So it's the right thing to say.

One of the excuses for Cam was that he didn't know the system or playbook, and didn't have a full offseason. He didn't have a preseason. Newton fed into that, saying "I don't want to get so caught up in promises and things like that, but I can guarantee you that there's been a shift in comfort of knowing more. And I think that's added value in itself."

He does want to get into promises but then he makes a guarantee which is a promise. What he's just done is attempt to solidify the belief in that excuse among his supporters. For two reasons, one they continue to support him, and two it means merchandise sales.

Newton recognizes Jones's presence to let everyone know he's not ignorant to the threat of someone taking his job. Newton said about Jones, "He's came on into the locker room with a business approach, learning his teammates, understanding that 'I have to raise my level of play from the collegiate level to the professional level.' I'm here for him, as well as he's here for me."

This is Newton telling the Patriots and the league, look I'm willing to step into the role of bridge quarterback and help develop younger players. Why is this important, because Newton has reached a point in his career, that it looks to become his new role in the NFL. Following in the likes of Ryan Fitzpatrick. 

Newton finishes with, "I'm just being honest with you. Me having this conversation in July is irrelevant. This is just going to be the clickbait for the next 24 to 48 hours -- 'This is how Cam feels.' But truth be told, nothing is going to matter until July 22. Then as training camp goes forward, everybody is going to start seeing, 'What's the work that's been put in? Has he been in the playbook? Does he really understand? Is his comfort what he says it is? Is he in good shape? Is his shoulder holding up? Is his foot holding up?'

We play in a sport that is strictly based off the final product. And the final product is on game days. With that being said, it's just going to come down to winning and losing."

Football and especially the Patriots way has been about what have you done for me lately. Not two years ago, not five, but lately. Until the games start, lately is the 2020 season, it's OTAs and minicamp. Which Newton looked like crap. Newton acknowledging all that, is marketing. In fact everything Newton said to Johnson was marketing, it's a financial move. Newton is trying to sell himself to the fans, to the Patriots, to the NFL, and to any companies that he endorses.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Newton could sell a glass of water to fish under the ocean. It's what he does. Nothing Newton says anymore matters. So the only things that matters from him is how he looks during camp and how he plays come the preseason.

Why Is Cassius Marsh Getting A Microphone Now, And Who Are You Really Mad At?

Cassius Marsh is not a common name among football fans. The defensive player is on his seventh team since coming into the league in 2014 as a fourth round pick by the Seattle Seahawks. It's safe to say Marsh is an NFL draft bust. Yet why does he keep being given a microphone?

Marsh played nine games for the Patriots in 2017. During that span, Marsh had 19 tackles, 2 quarterback hits, 1 sack and 1 forced fumble. Marsh even started 1 game for the Patriots. New England's pass rush is typically bad, so those sound like normal stats for the average Patriots front seven player.

Marsh was traded out of New England and sent to the 49ers, where he would get 2 sacks and 11 tackles in six games. Marsh would play in every game the next season for the 49ers and record a respectable 5.5 sacks, 38 tackles, and 14 quarterback hits. Since then however, it's been all down hill for him. 

So again, why give him a microphone and why ask him to talk about his time in New England, when he's a nobody? The answer is clickbait. Clicks equal money. On top of that he's not afraid to speak negatively about his time in New England.

Let's look at the first part of his statement from the Tony Segura podcast.

Marsh says, "The Patriot Way is extremely impressive,” Marsh said. “They work day-in and day-out. Their work ethic over there, what they instill, is pretty legendary."

That doesn't sound disrespectful at all. He's actually praising the New England Patriots. Nothing at all about what he said there will anger fans but than again, it's not gonna make any money. It's not gonna give him 15 minutes of fame.

Marsh continued, "But they also treat players like crap. You don’t have a lunch period. You get there and you have to make time to eat in between meetings. And they’re like five to 10 minute periods where I would literally go scoop food and put it in a cup and crush it real quick before I got to the next meeting. There’s no fun. There’s no — well, that is what I got in trouble for, for saying they don’t have fun.”

Well now, that's not exactly something the team would want out there if true because it paints them in a bad light. However, it does reinforce what some former players have said which is, "you have fun at the ring ceremony."

Fans were angry when Marsh spoke out orginally after being traded, and they're mad again that he's spoken badly about their team, especially since his time was so long ago. Many don't even remember his time with the team, just that he's the guy who spoke out against the organization. 

However, many value the opinions about how things are from several players of the first part of the dynasty. That kinda makes us as a fanbase a little hypocritical.

Marsh added, "“A lot of the players like thanked me for making it public on how bad they treat guys. I mean, they win games so you just really can’t argue with championships."

Fans don't believe players agree with Marsh but the Patriots way isn't to speak out and many players that leave the Patriots continue to act like robots once they leave the team, when it comes to speaking with the press. For those that believe there's nobody in the locker room thanking Marsh, let me shed some plausibility to his comments.

Tom Brady, the GOAT, the person many believe responsible for helping Belichick maintain the Patriots way still in quite robot at press conferences. On HBO Max's show the shop, he made a comment that gives some credence to Marsh's comments.

Brady said, "What I say vs. what I think are two totally different things. I would say 90 percent of what I say is probably not what I'm thinking, which is challenging. I really admire people that actually can do that and say what they think because they invite a lot of other things into their life. I think there's part of me that doesn't like conflict. So in the end, I just always try to play it super flat. From a strategic standpoint I never want to give away what we're doing. I usually say the opposite."

That is the Patriots way. There were obviously things that happened internally that don't get talked about. How often does anyone hear Brady, Bruschi, Mcginest, Moss, Dillon, Wilfork, Faulk, Venitari, or any of the other legends from the first dynasty say anything bad about the organization? They don't because the Patriots program their players not to and very few players have the mental ability to break programming. 

Many of those players are the players we as fans look to for how things actually are in the organization but a guy that played five years ago, we denounce because who is he? He didn't win a ring, what does he know about playing for the Patriots. He only played half a season, that's no different than the amount of time Eric Decker, Reggie Wayne, or Demaryius Thomas spent with the team, am I right? 

That's how the fanbase thinks and it's unfair and bias. With the first part of his comments, he's not disgruntled about his time here, and what I shared wasn't even the entire interview. It's just a sample I seen going around.

So don't be angry at Marsh for being able to talk negatively about his time with the Patriots. Be mad at the media for putting a microphone in front of his face, with expectations that he'll talk about the Patriots in a negative light. Be mad at former and current players for not being more open about their time with the team. 

Respect the team for making silence part of their success but understand they're not perfect. Also keep in mind that Robert Kraft has connections with media owners and Patriots nation has a deep rift over Cam Newton. 

What if Mr. Kraft asked someone to put Marsh in front of a microphone and get him talking about his time with the Patriots, very well knowing it would unite the fanbase? It's not out of the realm of possibility, so we must keep that in mind as an option as to why now of all times, Cassius Marsh is interviewed. Was it truly for clickbait or was it something a little deeper. Either way, it put money in Tony Segura's pocket, so he doesn't care and isn't going to say. And neither will Robert Kraft.

Patriots Nation Is Self Imploding And Newton Is The Scapegoat

There's no secret that there's currently a huge rift among Patriots fans. I was going to give an example but there's no need to play that broken record. There are two sides to this rift and it's put the Belichick versus Brady debate on the back burner for now. For those outside of the fan base, that rift is over Cam Newton.

The two groups consist of the Cam Supporters who brands any who criticizes Newton a hater or worse racist. The other side calls his supporters either delusional homers living in the past or non Patriot Cam only fans.

The problem is not Cam Newton. We know what to expect from him and trust head coach Bill Belichick for better or worse. After twenty years, like it or not, he knows what he's doing. 

Although Newton is not the problem, he is the subject matter. The debates and arguements come when either one side criticizes him or the otherside starts pumping Cam up to be the quarterback he was in 2015 instead of the quarterback he was in 2020, or they down Brady and call Newton the GOAT. 

Let me tell you there are a lot of angry Brady fans, still angry that he left but even some Cam Supporters will temporarily jump sides to defend Brady when it's said Brady's not the GOAT. That statement is a clear sign one is looking for an arguement.

As far as anything to criticize, praise, or defend Newton, we shouldn't bother having those conversations anymore. They're free to be had but we all know they're going to end in a debate, arguement, or insults. Instead let's wait for the preseason and let the play do the talking.

Anyone who defended Cam will tell you part of his problem was he didn't have a full offseason or preseason. He got in his OTAs and minicamp, which matter and we saw how he looked there. Now it's time for training camp and the preseason games, which also now matter, for Newton to show us who he is. 

Now some place somewhere, there's people saying OTAs, minicamp, and the preseason don't matter. And normally you'd be right but this season, on contrary they do. Those were glaring reason listed for Newton's production or lack there if in 2020. So they matter now because one side has used the as part of the base of their arguement. Now that he's getting to participate in things he didn't have, everything this offseason is on him. And we have to take it as we see it. 

Let's all hope Newton has a better training camp and preseason than he did OTAs and minicamp, for the sake of the Patriots. Even if we don't think Newton's that good anymore we need him to prove us wrong, at least for half of the 2021 season. If he doesn't, lord help us that Mac Jones is truly ready to play early this seaaon.

Stop Passing The Buck.

Patriots haters are still saying Cam Newton had no one to throw to in 2020. I've covered this before and the myth has been laid to rest but the Cam Newton bandwagon won't let it die. They need a scapegoat and so why not blame the rest of the offense.

To start, yes we can single out individuals but as a whole, Newton's supporting cast, his weapons only dropped five spots in rankings from 2019 to 2020. They went from 17th to 22nd. They were below average ranking, not one of the bottom 8 garbage teams. And the pass catchers as a whole were ranked 3rd in separation. Now that we cleared that up, let's continue. 

Cam Newton threw a total of 368 passes. Newton was ranked 20th in completion percentage throwing from a clean pocket with a 74.3%. That means Newton failed to completely 94.5 passes while under no pressure. Keep that number in mind.

Cam Newton was ranked 35th in catchable pass rate, with only 73.9% being catchable. That equates to 96 uncatchable passes. Before one says he had to throw the ball away, he had the 4th best competition percentage in the league while under pressure. Newton also threw 20 interceprable passes, and had a total of 10 interceptions on the season.

Now there's a difference of 1.5 mays-well say 2, between number of uncatchable passes and number of incompletions while he had time. Not saying every uncatchable pass came while he had time but that's quite a coincidence that those numbers line up. On top of that he had 20 throws that were interceptable. So what does all this mean?

What it means is either Cam Newton had poor ball placement or he made bad decisions when throwing the football. Any honest fan or spectator that watched last season knows it was both. Newton finished with a supporting cast that was ranked below average at the end of the season but how can a pass catcher be productive if one third of their quarterback's passes are uncatchable, and he's throwing to the wrong guy? 

Newton is primarily to blame for why his supporting cast dropped five spots in the rankings. I'm not going to get into the other things being said in defense of why Newton had a bad 2020 but while the guys he was throwing to were below average, they're not why he struggled in 2020. Newton or his fans can not shift the blame here.

*Player profiler was used to help with the analytic rankings. Check them out.*

What's It Going To Take For The Two Frontrunners To Start At Quarterback For The Patriots?

As far as the fans and the media is concerned, the Patriots are having a starting quarterback competition for the second straight year. There have been a lot of things said to promote this narrative. However, going off the hypothesis that it's true, what do the two quarterbacks gotta do to take the starting job?

As far as Cam Newton goes, he needs to not decline anymore, that's the first thing he needs to do. The Patriots re-signed Newton and named him the early starter. That means that they are okay with his accuracy issues from 2020. So the only other things Newton needs to do is Newton needs to do is game manage and not turn the ball over. His combined turnovers are surely to be higher than the Patriots like but not enough cause for concern to keep him from re-signing.

So what about Big Mac? Well Jones needs to continue to show improvement in all areas. Jones needs to show that he's a better game manager with a better grasp of what the Patriots wanna do and ability to move the offense downfield better than Newton. Jones is not only going to have to show he has better command of the offense but Jones is going to have to put pressure on Newton and cause him to lose focus. Jones is going to have to show Belichick that a rookie is the best person suited to lead his offense.

Between the two quarterbacks, Newton is likely to start. I don't like it because he can't kill a defense with paper cuts but there's a high percentage chance that it's the case. That doesn't mean that Jones cannot start week one, nor that Newton can't get beat out and cut while one or both the other guys back up Jones. The odds are just not in the favor.

Now there are still a lot of possibilities to what happens with the quarterback depth chart and the probabilities of each scenario varies. All we can do is wait and keep our fingers crossed that the play from the Patriots quarterback position is better in 2021. Otherwise like last season, the production of the supporting cast is going to be extremely hindered.

Gilmore Wants To Stay, What Kinda Deal Should The Patriots Offer?

The Patriots played with Gilmore's contract and now although he's expected to make $7 million, his cap hit is much more than that. Gilmore expressed his unhappiness and is holding out. Unlike N'keal Harry, Gilmore's presence actually matters to the team.

Gilmore is a top five, if not a not a top ten corner. Gilmore would be ranked top three but he's coming off a leg injury. There's gotta be some worry about how well he looks, especially after holding out thos spring.

Now everyone knows the Patriots tend to let people walk instead of paying them. Just look at Malcolm Butler a few short years ago. They let Butler walk and brought in Gilly. Butler has not produced anything close to his time with the Patriots.

Matt Dolloff of the Heavy wrote, "One contract comp that has been bandied about on Gilmore, which Fowler also referenced on 'SportsCenter,' is that of Darius Slay with the Eagles. He signed a three-year deal for up to $50.05 million, which included $30.05 million guaranteed (via Spotrac). Slay’s average earnings of $16.6 million ranks fourth in the NFL at the cornerback position."

That's too rich for the Patriots. A deal the Patriots might be willing to make is a three year, $34 million contract with $25 million guaranteed, and another $6 million in incentives  broken down to where he gets an extra $2 million each year he's a top ten corner. The incentives would be both due to Gilmore's recent injuries and his age. That would make it worth a 3 year, $40 million contract 

Gilmore has expressed interest in wanting to stay a member of the Patriots, probably because he knows the franchise knows how to use him. It allows him to be productive. So Gilmore is going to have to give a little if he wants to stay. Both sides are supposed to meet and try to get a deal done sometime before the season starts. Lord knows having Gilmore around, keeps the Patriots secondary elite, even if he's on the back end of his career.

How Could Meyers Have A Good Year And Harry Couldn't?

How could Jakobi Meyers have a good season and N'Keal Harry not with Cam Newton? That's easy to explain. Newton would look for the first, maybe second guy and then go to his security blanket. Security blankets get more targets than everyone else, that much is common sense.

Over the Patriots first six games, Newton threw 131 passes. 31 went to Edelman, 24 went to Harry, 18 went to Byrd. 16 went to Burkhead. That's 89 of the 131 passes. Edelman was targeted 23.66%, Harry 18.36%, Byrd 13.74%, Burkhead 12.21%.That was a good jump between Edelman and Harry. Why because Edelman was the number one guy and the security blanket.

Meyers assumed Edelman's role the next 10 games. Which was the slot and security blanket. Over that span, Newton would target Meyers 31.22%, Byrd 23.67%, White 20.68%, Harry 13.92%, Burkhead 7.17%, and Izzo 5.49%.  Meyers was the security blanket. 

Now I know some are going to say that Harry was only open 25% of the time. However, Harry was supposed to be a contested catch receiver or at least that's what majority of the fan base believes. That means throwing him 50/50 balls where the defender has a 50% chance of getting the ball. Those type of receivers don't have to get open on every play, they just have to catch the ball. Harry has only dropped 2 of his 81 targets over his career. In 2020 Harry caught 71.4% of contested targets and was ranked 7th. So there wasn't an issue of him not coming down with the ball. 

The fact is Cam stopped throwing Harry the ball. He locked in on Meyers, Byrd, and White after Edelman went out. In fact the entire season we could see guys open and Newton would throw it to Edelman, Meyers, White, or Byrd. 

Why after the 49ers game did Newton stop targeting Harry, I don't know but he did. Harry went from second in targets down to fourth. After the first six games, Harry was on pace to have 68 targets from Newton alone, not counting week four. Harry only ended up with 57 targets on the year. 

So to answer how Meyers could have a good year and Harry couldn't, it boils down to targets or lack there of. And again, to those who Harry wasn't open. If that's why he wasn't getting the ball, then he absolutely wasn't being used right. And you already know this if you believe that Harry was supposed to be the contested catch guy.

Now if majority of the fan base wants to admit they were wrong, and that Harry wasn't supposed to be a contested catch receiver, than we can take off the fact that he wasn't used right but I don't see that happening. So blame fails on Newton and possibly McDaniels for Harry's lack of targets and thus lack of productivity in 2020.

Harry Does Have A Small Market

On Tuesday July 6th Fans of the New England Patriots got up set with receiver N'keal Harry. Harry asked for a trade and that's a no no. In New England once you sign the contract, you're a Patriots until the team decides you're expendable and trades or cuts you. You don't get to decide the team isn't for you, and Harry doing such angered fans.

Now it's safe to say Harry's career has been a disappointment. This is partly on Harry who has failed to live up to his 32nd selection draft status and has been playing like a mid range second to fourth rounder pick.

The other half of Harry's issues is playing for one mvp quarterback who didn't want to work with him and another mvp who couldn't find or hit an open receiver if they were glued to his nose.

Harry has caught 55% of his targets over his career going 45 of 81 with only 2 drops, and averaging little over 3 yards after the catch.

There is disagreement on how Harry should be used among Pats nation. Some believe Harry is a Dez Bryant type x-receiver and others believe he's more of a big bodied Malcolm Mitchell type slot-flanker.

Since the news broke, angry Patriots fans have called Harry a bust. They have called him garbage. They have made the comment that if he's not good enough to play in New England that he's not good enough to play anywhere. Fans have asked who's gonna want him, many being sarcastic. 

Remember, this is coming from the same fanbase who treated Harry like if he was taken first overall of his draft class and was the second coming of Randy Moss.

Contrarily to popular belief, there are a handful of teams that have interest in Harry. He does have a small market. The problem is with Harry's production the last two years and the fact that he's requesting a trade, the power is not in the Patriots hands unless one of the handful really, really wants him. 

I believe a fourth round pick is a reasonable expectation for compensation for Harry, seeing as he has 2 years left on his contract with a fifth year option. Being that Harry is demanding the trade, the Patriots will probably have to settle for a late fifth early sixth. 

One option the Patriots could seek is a conditional pick. That way if Harry does finally show up the Patriots get rewarded for shipping him away, and if he doesn't, the team paying for Harry doesn't over pay. That is how I see the Patriots getting a fourth.

The Patriots could player swap for a corner or offensive lineman, or they could include a pick swap to get a better pick. There's no guarantee that another player will make the roster, and swapping picks with Harry doesn't seem like a profitable decision for any team that trades for Harry because he's going to be on the roster bubble wherever he goes.

The Patriots are going to take a hit on this one, like it or not. And Belichick doesn't have a lot of room to wheel or deal. The question is, if the Patriots cannot find a trade partner, will they take the loss and cut him, knowing a team will sign him or do they give him one more year to increase his trade value? It's a hard call but it could be coming. One thing's for sure, Harry's time in New England is slowly coming to it's end.