The Patriots Current Shopping List For The 2022 Draft.

The Patriots have some holes and now is a good time to start making a shopping list. People might disagree but I'm going to list what areas or departments I would send the team to shop in come the draft. Now this could change with free agency but I'm not looking at free agency. I'm not looking at second hand, I am looking at new.

Before I start, let me say these positions are not going to be in any order. 

First up is receiving back. J.J. Taylor has been an after thought. Taylor played in six games in 2020 and this season he's only appeared five times. James White played in fifteen games in 2019 and was used in forty six percent of the snaps over that span. In 2020 over fourteen games he was only used in thirty eight percent of the snaps. Whites 29 and with this injury and the decrease in his snap use, there's a good chance he's going to be faded out. Brandon Bolden is having a good year but he's not getting the production the Patriots expected from White.

Stretch receiver is another area to watch. Currently the only stretch receiver the Patriots have is Nelson Agholor. I'm not saying the Patriots need to get a number one receiver, but a number two that can get separation and burn teams deep. The Patriots have plenty of Y and Z receivers. But against Buffalo it was clear that without Agholor that there was a need for a backup for Agholor.

Tackle is another need. Trent Brown and Isaiah Wynn have had down years. They have Onwenu but they need another tackle. They could also use an interior offensive linemen. Onwenu was supposed to be the starting guard and had to be pulled off the line. The team could also use depth incase Andrews goes down.

Nose tackle is another need. The Patriots are still a revolving door in the line. Barmore is a hell of a pass rusher and he's improving as a run stopper but he's not good enough and they're not getting the production from Godchaux that they thought they would get. 

Hightower is looking old and could be injured. The Patriots need a guy who can bring what he brings to the core. Hightower has lost some speed. I would convert him to end but the Patriots defense is surely going to need a solid middle linebacker that can play from side to side. Come up against the run and be able to cover.

The Patriots need a number two corner. J.C. Jackson is going to wanna get paid and he has to get paid. But the Patriots need someone to line up across from him. With the departure of Gilmore the Patriots have been shown that the depth is decent but not good enough to start. Especially with Johnathan Jones being injured.

The Patriots also need a free safety. D-Mac is currently 34 years old. Retirement has been a possibility and he could retire after the season. Having a reliable coverage guy in that spot is key to success in the league. At least for the Patriots and I do not think they have anyone on the depth chart that can replace him and I wouldn't sacrifice the play of the strong safeties for it.

Two other areas to keep an eye on are kicker and backup quarterback. Stidham will be entering his final year and Nick Folk is up there in age and his leg not what it used to be. I also would not be surprised if Belichick took punter Matt Ariaza. Ariaza has the ability to also kickoff and kick field goals. The only other names I am watching this up coming draft is quarterback Dustin Crum and running back Calvin Turner Jr.

Embarrassment And A Slap In The Face Make For A Prime Cut Of Beef.

There's beef between the GOAT and the Squirrel but what started it. Edelman isn't saying and as far as I know of neither is Brady. So what could it be? There is a pretty good explanation. It's speculation but it makes the most sense at the moment. 

Shortly before Thanksgiving Edelman said Tom tried to recruit him to Tampa. Edelman told people he told Tom no and about a week later Tom responded.

Edelman said, "He hit me up the first day he signed there. He was like, 'You want to come down?' And I was like, 'Uh, absolutely not.'"

Edelman didn't stop there, he also said, "Tom's like the ultimate confidence guy for old Gronk."

Thus far Edelman has stayed true that he's a Patriot for life. And Tom doesn't like when things don't go his way.

Brady afterwards had made a comment about Edelman. He acknowledged what Edelman. Brady went on to say, "Usually I tell Julian to stick to his day job with something like this. I don’t even think he has a day job, though. He was pretty right on with that conversation..." "He (Edelman) basically pretended to be Wes Welker his whole career so what can’t he do?” 

Edelman recently said, “Nah, Tom hasn’t called me. And in fact, you know … we have a little beef right now. We’ll leave it between us. But we have a beef right now. I can’t [share what it’s about.] I can’t kiss and tell! I can’t kiss and tell, like someone said.”

Now the two of them could be feuding about anything but Edelman outing that Brady tried to recruit him and then that he turned Tom down had to be embarrassing to the ego of one Thomas Edward Brady. And Tom saying Edelman pretended to be Welker surely was a slap in the face to Edelman. So even if Tom and Jules aren't beefing over this, Tom was sure to feel some type way but it's a good probability that this is their beef.

If I'm wrong about this, than maybe Todd Graham has something to do with it. I kid but I don't want people forgetting that story while the Goat fueds with one of the best playoff slot wideouts of all time and hogs all the spotlight.

Twenty Seven And Counting, Odds Are Not In The Patriots Favor.

Earlier this year the NFL came to an agreement with the NFLPA that if a team could not play. Both teams would be made to forfeit instead of moving games. The league broke that rule already but the NFL also has a history of sticking it to the Patriots. So they could flip flop again.

Currently the Jacksonville Jaguars have twenty seven players listed on the covid protocol list. And while the league has yet to cause any game to be forfeited by any teams, there's still a chance and a forfeit would eliminate the Patriots from the playoffs. It would only take a few more Jaguars to make that happen.

Will this happen, I don't know but this is still the same league that appealed a supreme court judge's decision that they had to be fair when suspending a player with no evidence and won the right to be bias due to the CBA. So regardless if I think it will happen or not, it could happen and that is worrisome enough.

Even if the Patriots don't make the superbowl, making the playoffs does wonders for the morale of the franchise and Mac Jones. Media will forget that the league costed the Patriots and will put it on Belichick and Jones. The Patriots reputation is at stake. If the Patriots fail to make the post season, papers will say Bill is done and call for his retirement. They will leave out the league's rigging of the playoff birthing. 

So every Patriots fan should be paying attention because Roger the clown Goodell and his cronies can strike at any moment and there's little Robert Kraft can do. Trust in Bill but never turn our backs on the commish. Happy new year my patriots family. Let's hope it's allowed to kick off right. 

Hawaii Has Lost Twelve Players And Two Coaches With More Expected To Bolt From Pride Rock.

Hawaii has staff leaving. Hawaii will have to replace them. That's not that out of the ordinary. College coaching is musical chairs but two of them are leaving after only one season. However, that doesn't change what happened about a month ago and those issues aren't done.

About a month ago there was a twitter live stream and some accusations were made about the football program, all centered around coach Todd Graham. Quarterback Chevan Cordeiro not only entered the transfer portal but went to a rival. He was just one many players. Hawaii has now lost twelve players, eight starters. 

David Alexander Kalakaua Matlin the director of athletics for the University of Hawaii at Manoa cannot afford to buy out Todd Graham's contract so he has done very little, except stand bye his head coach.

Many Alumni have spoken to the players and have called out that there's a problem and said that their concerns are falling on deaf ears at the rock. There is division in the locker room and the favorites have criticized their teammates for going public. 

The signing process is not done and Todd Graham and rebuild this team but he can also see more departures, which is expected. There are businesses in the state. There are former players. If Graham's contract is tying the university's hands and the NCAA isn't going to help, then those businesses and individuals are going to have to try to come up with the cash to get away out of their contract or the university will have to suffer through this period of history.

Tick Tock tick tock, the clock is ticking and only time will tell what's going to happen. Things can be fixed but as long as Matlin isn't doing anything, the disgruntled players, the program, and the fanbase are screwed. We can raise our voices but the powers that be aren't listening or caring. 

ʻO nā Koa Ānuenue pale i ka pōhaku haʻaheo. Mai nā mokupuni a hiki i ke kahakai hikina, he ikaika mākou a hiki iā mākou ke hele i kēia.

Stiddy Better Be Ready If Needed.

Jarrett Stidham could see game time for the first since December 28th of 2020. I'm not saying he could start but he could come in for relief late if need be. One of the brains behind the superbowl 52 victory, backup quarterback Brian Hoyer was just placed on the covid list by the Patriots.

Hoyer could return in time to face the dreaded Jacksonville Jaguars who have been a thorn in the Patriots side for years (joke). Hoyer needs to clear protocols but at this point of the season, I don't think it matters to the Patriots who sits behind franchise quarterback Mac Jones. They'd probably be content if Jake Bailey did double duty.

Mac Jones said, "It just goes back to controlling what you can control. Try to follow all the rules, and some of it is out of your control, but try to keep distance and listen to the medical people on our team that have been telling us what to do to make sure we are safe.”

In July Justin Ramos of 247 sports tweeted, "#Patriots QB Brian Hoyer refuses to get the COVID-19 vaccine putting his roster spot in jeopardy as we enter camp, per source."

The Patriots have two games left with a potential playoff birth on the line. The least of their worries is if their defacto quarterback coach can be active to backup their starting quarterback. Especially when there are more important players that were put on the list.

Coach Bill Belichick has been quiet chatty lately, had the following to say.

“We’ve tried to take the highest precaution we can with everybody, not singling out anyone and saying the other players don’t matter, because that is not the case. We take our highest precaution with all of our players, particularly the ones who are not vaccinated.”

Hoyer is one of the more respected and trusted Veterans on the roster. With this, he's sure to have found himself in Bill Belichick's dog house. Then again, Bill is doing things differently this year and has been softer since last season. Maybe Bill will get Hoyer a stuffed animal and a get well soon card. With how prepared and unfocused the team has been the last two weeks, Bill might even spend his time zooming all of his covid players instead of holding practice. Anything is possible, right?

Seriously, yeah it sucks that so many are on the covid list. And yeah, it's nice that Stidham might see game time but honestly, the only thing that matters is beating the Jaguars. The Patriots are a business and business success means focusing on football. As they say in Patriots nation, "Next Man Up," and "Do your job!" That's the mind set we need from the team. If you can't play, then you're no help and a distraction. The Patriots ain't got time for distracts. So bye Felicia, we'll see you when you return. Everyone else... Let's F'n go!!!

Dysfunction Is The Only Thing That Trickles.

Mac Jones has made his share of rookie mistakes in year one. He's also taken accountability at the podium. Josh McDaniels isn't concerned about make and doesn't appear to think that Mac is a liability. If Jones who called out the coaching after the Colts loss isn't the liability, than it's the coaches.

McDaniels said about Jones, "He’s doing fine, no concern on that. Each rookie kind of handles that differently. There’s always a stretch during the course of the middle of the season that’s a little bit new to him, because when you count the preseason games, preseason work, starting in July, usually that happens somewhere towards the end of October, middle of November, somewhere in there. But he’s gotten through that. He understands what he needs to do. He does a great job with his regimen, takes care of his body, his preparation. He’s learned how to manage his time and what he needs to allocate it towards, and I think that’s a really important thing for a young player.”

Now Mac had criticized the coaches in a manner of speaking for the team not having a good practice. And Josh has admitted to needing to get players involved. There was pressure on Bill Belichick to do things differently this year and it's been said that covid made Belichick a "players coach." This has been an uncharacteristic year from the coaches.

Jones recently said, "It’s just being consistent, knowing what you’re going to get every day. Coming in at this point in the year, that’s all we’re guaranteed is today. That’s what we can focus on. I think it’s just X’s and O’s and execution that it comes down to.”

I.E. coaching and execution. That's twice he's called out the coaches in two weeks. Before anyone says anything, Mac played under Nick Saban. The Belichick of the college world. He knows what championship coaching looks like. He has room to speak on the subject.

Whatever the excuse given, the coaches have to do a better job. Yes the players have to execute but if after the past two weeks, Mac Jones's experience isn't viewed as a liability, that takes a lot of the blame off of him by default. One doesn't worry about one's failures they're not one's fault and that's what fans can take from McDaniels comments. Dysfunction starts at the top and there is dysfunction with the Patriots coaching staff with two games left in the regular season.

What Are The Questions Concerning The Patriots?

It sucks when there seems to be more questions than answers at this point of the year with the Patriots. The only moral victory we can take is they're not the 2020 Patriots but I that really isn't of any comfort. So here are some questions the fanbase and myself have. I'm not going to try to answer them as I'm not always on the same page as everyone else. Hopefully some better football minds will answer them. 

1) With no disrespect to either fan base, did the Patriots fall into the trap they normally let other teams fall into by beating themselves versus the Bills and Colts?

2) Why have the patriots been unprepared for two straight weeks?

3) Is there a blueprint to beating the Patriots?

4) Why are the patriots are not executing?

5) Are the Patriots good enough to be a playoff (wildcard) team, we're they underestimated or are they playing on house money?

6) How much does not having Edelman and White's experience and leadership in December hurt the Patriots mentality since their bye?

7) Do the patriots need a second stretch receiver for over the top plays or is separation ability and coaching the issue?

8) Can Mac Jones still win the rookie of the year?

9) Why is chemistry is still not there with Mac and pass catchers?

10) Is Mac still improving or has he peaked?

11) Does Mac Jones have the experienced needed to win playoff games?

12) We know the Patriots hear the media. I know Nick Wright isn't the most respected but did the game in Buffalo cause Mac Jones to regress?

13) Can Mac Jones carry the team if need be?

14) What's wrong with the Patriots coaching, especially the last two weeks, why can't they correct problems?

15) What is up with the Patriots quick game?

16) Will Damien Harris be here after next season?

17) What's up with the Patriots depth at secondary?

18) Why are the Patriots having issues tackling?

19) Why are the Patriots defense struggling with must have plays and making key stops?

20) Why is the defense getting blamed when the offense is forcing the defense on to the field more than they should be, how much of the defensive struggles is on the offense?

21) Can the defense stop the run while not hurting the pass coverage at this point of the season?

22) Have the Patriots defense been an illusion?

23) How good actually is the Patriots redzone defense?

24) Does McDaniels know how to use the skill sets of Agholor, Harry, Smith, Johnson? Many said he didn't know how to use Cam and I've said he's peaked as a coordinator and been caught up to for a while now.

25) Why are the Patriots having issues with flea flickers and gimmicky plays?

26) Are the Patriots front seven too slow?

27) Is the Patriots identity run first and bend don't break?

28) What's with the slow starts?

29) Should the Patriots start with the no huddle?

30) Was the Patriots defense the victim of the offense and the talent of the Bills, were they just out classed or is that an excuse?

31) Why do the Patriots struggle on third down?

32) Are the Patriots better off treating every drive like they're in four down territory?

33) Have the Patriots become emotionally weak since Tom Brady left? Has Belichick?

34) Has Belichick getting made to change in his approach this offseason had any impact on his coaching style this season?

35) How much has the last two weeks hurt J.C. Jackson's asking price?

36) Was the victory against the Bills in Buffalo treated like the superbowl by the Patriots? It was said Bill went out for drinks after.

37) Can Mac Jones throw in the cold or is he a warm weather quarterback?

38) Has Mac played better or worse than his stats over the past two games?

39) What's with all the mental errors over the past few weeks?

40) Should Hightower convert to a defensive lineman to prolong his career?

41) Barmore is a good pass rusher maybe an Aaron Darnold light but do they try to get their Vince Wolfork replacement from the draft or free agency, or do they just need to give Godchaux a second year like they did Sheldon?

42) Has Belichick become complacent with the season?

43) Are the Patriots a spoiler team for the playoffs if they make it?

44) Jonnu Smith is having a bad year, Harry is having his best year since being a rookie with Mac appearing to be the difference, should both get a second year with Mac before considering cutting either?

45) Are the problems with the O-line a personnel thing or a coaching thing?

46) Can, should the Patriots do more to protect their players from the pandemic?

47) Do we really care if the Patriots win the east this year or is the focus on winning out and just making the playoffs?

48) Did McDermott kiss Belichick's rings after the win Sunday?

49) Is Josh McDaniels gone after the season, and if so, how does that change the offseason building process?

50) With two games left there's no way one does not have an opinion on what the Patriots need to address during the offseason, so what are the team needs?

51) Would it make a difference if the Patriots got away from the nickle and started playing a 3-2-6 big dime base formation?

52) What is Bill Belichick's New Years Resolution, and does Tom Brady making a joke about the question mean the Patriots still live rent free in his head?

53) Can we finally acknowledge that Brian Flowers is the first true coach to succeed from thr Belichick system? (Vrabel went to be an assistant coach for another team after hanging up his cleets)

54) Could the Patriots snatch a left foot punter (Matt Araiza) this draft and red shirt them, so they can trade Bailey in year four? Matt Araiza is a special teams unit on his own.

55) Will the Patriots consider drafting third down pass catching kickoff specialist Calvin Turner Jr or any other Rainbow Warriors from the University of Hawaii in 2022? Turner is a legit weapon and is better than J.J. Taylor, I ask about the other Warriors as an honorable mention.

56) Since Boston College and Harvard are in the Patriots back yard, are there any BC Eagles or Crimson players that we should be aware of? Again. Makes sense that they would be the most heavily scouted of all schools.

Final thoughts, The Patriots have two games left and need to win out. Some say their fate is out of their hands, I say they just need to focus on doing their jobs. Here is a quote from Evan Lazar to end things.

"Belichick could turn them around again for a competitive postseason. However, all signs point to the Pats being a year or two away; the great teams don’t always need to play from ahead and are, as Julain Edelman put it this week, “comfortable with the uncomfortable.” "

In Bill We Trust!

Cam Is Not Better Than Mac And The Patriots Would Not Be Better With Him As The Starter.

The Patriots would not of won today with last year's starter. Yet there are people who think that, that are trashing Mac Jones. Get that out of your head because it's nonsense and come back to reality. What you do on Madden is not what Cam is capable of in real life, if Madden were real, Brady would have several 1,000 yard rushing seasons to go with his passing stats.

Don't believe me, let's compare the two since Cam got signed.

Newton over his last 6 games:
54.8 comp percentage of 126 attempts
684 yards
4 passing touchdowns
5 interceptions
10 sacks (-83 yards)
4 fumbles
1 fumble loss
46 carries
225 yards
5 touchdowns
Team TDs:12
Team PTs: 106

Unlike Cam, Mac Jones relies on his running backs to run and score, instead of rushing himself. 

Jones over his last 6 games:
67.5 completion percentage of 157 passes
1178 yards
8 touchdown passes
5 interceptions
9 sacks (-90 yards)
2 fumbles
0 lost
20 carries
54 yards
Team TDs: 17
Team PTs: 158

While Newton is a duel threat, Jones moves the ball better. And if Newton was that good, he wouldn't of been benched as many times as he has or of been replaced by Sam Darnold.

I understand they play on two different rosters but a difference of 5 team touchdowns and 52 points are a lot. Newton has also placed the ball in jeopardy a lot more. And Newton has a completion percentage 12 points lower than Mac Jones. The Patriots would not be better with Cam. They might not of even of won 9 games under Cam.

There's a reason why Newton is the 43rd ranked quarterback from what I'm seeing and is why Colts media member, Lawrence Owens said there were "47 quarterbacks better than Cam Newton." Newton is a backup quarterback at this stage of his career while Mac Jones is a freshman starter and the better quarterback. That's not a bad thing for Cam and doesn't mean he's done but it does mean his fans need to come to terms with who Cam Newton is as a player.

The Delemia With N'Keal Harry and Jonnu Smith

There are People saying "cut N'keal Harry" but Mac Jones is finally trusting Harry. Not every time Harry is targeted is it a wise decision or on target but he's been productive. Jonnu Smith has not been used the way fans would like but is that on the staff of is that on him?

According to fox sports Here's how Harry and Jonnu Smith stack up including week 16's stats:

Harry has 21 targets, 12 catches, 184 yards, 25 y.a.c., 0 drop. Catch rate 57.1 percent. Averaging 16.7 y.p.c., long of 43.

Smith has 44 targets, 27 catches, 274 yards, 209 y.a.c., 4 drops, catch rate 61.4 percent. Averaging 10.1 y.p.c. with 1 touchdown and a long of 28.

Based on the stats, if Harry had as many targets as Smith, he'd have 24 receptions, 368 yards. For his short amount of use, Harry has been more productive of a productive target. Smith only has the advantage in yards after catch. And stats don't tell everything. The cut Harry talk should be hampered as Jonnu Smith is making way more money than Harry.

People point back to Jonnu not being used right this season but neither has Harry as Jones is just starting to get comfortable throwing him the football. Maybe both have to go, or maybe both should be given a second year with Mac before we talk about axing anyone. Yes we want better from them both and there's nothing wrong with holding them accountable but if an excuse can be made for one this season, an excuse can be made for both of them. 

I don't know, it's just a thought. 

No More Get Out Of Jail Cards For The Offense Until September.

In 2020 the Patriots didn't get a lot of productivity from their pass catchers. Some of us blamed the quarterback, some of us blamed the coordinator but most of us blamed the pass catchers. After the 2020 season the owner made it clear he was not happy with the quarterback and the general manager made it clear he wasn't happy with the pass catchers, adding several pricey weapons.

Against the Bills today a few media members are giving credit to the Buffalo secondary but let's be real, the New England pass catchers have not been great this season. That problem falls in the same areas it fell on last year, even though the Patriots upgraded.

Being a young quarterback is no longer working for Mac Jones. The regular season is almost over with and Jones was considered the most NFL ready quarterback of the bunch. I get there are things he cannot control but he just finished under a 50% completion percentage. This was also the fourth time this season he completed under 60 percent of his passes. Today was also his third multiple interception game bringing his total to 12 on the season.

Then there are calls to get Jonnu Smith open by media members. To run specialized plays just for Jonnu. Where the ball is getting forced to him. They said the same thing in 2019 for N'Keal Harry, that the guy was dangerous in space. Everyone can be productive in space if given the opportunity. Some just better than others but still. And what happens if the defense keys on a play where Smith or anyone else is the only option? It's just not smart football. You gotta have three progressions on a play, minimum.

Prior to this game out side the running backs, the only pass catcher with a decent catch rate was Kendrick Bourne at 80.4%. Of the new additions Smith was at 61.4%, Agholor 59%, and Henry at 70.7%.

Last year's hold overs aren't doing any better. Meyers had a 60.7% catch rate. And Harry was sporting a 66.7% rate.

When it comes to targets, six guys are getting most of them with Meyers not only leading the way but with almost having double the targets than the next guy. Which is also true for the sixth guy in targets. 

The Patriots spread the ball around but with the catch percentages of three of the top five maybe it's time to shuffle the roster a little. As Meyers came into the game with 102 targets, Agholor 61, Henry 58, Bourne 56, Smith 44, and Bolden 39. And Bolden by the way came into Sunday's week sixteen match up against the Buffalo Bills with a catch rate above 89%.

Now I get that there have been good defenses and other things that have hindered the production of the passing offense. I also get that the team was built to be a run first team. Which they did okay today, rushing for 149 yards.

However,  that's no excuse for the lack of efficiency and production from the passing unit. 

The team has a depth chart for a reason. If one guy isn't getting it done, you go and call the next man up. If McDaniels isn't getting creative enough or cannot do his job efficiently with the personnel he has, you let someone else do it. He'll let Bill take over, he is the head coach for a reason. Or maybe just maybe Bill needs to take the restraints of McDaniels, we don't know.

Oh, and I didn't even touch on the offensive line. The Patriots need the offensive line guru back but he deserves a chance to have a life outside of football. Run or Pass, neither can be as effective as they need be if the line cannot be functional.

Any now it's been three seasons, maybe four and the Patriots still have the same problems on offense. Only difference is they have a lot more money invested in the offense this year. I get they're in a rebuild but that's no excuse. That excuse no longer workers being at this point of the season with nine wins and in the brink of a wild card birth. 

The offense needs to do it's job. Manage the game, secure the ball and win. That's it. Enough excuses. Enough... Do your job. And yes I was around 25-30 years ago. I know they were bad then. That doesn't give the current group a pass. No they're not undebatable but the quickest way back to mediocrity is to excuse losses and lack of production.

There are no more passes left for this team in the season. It's time fans hold the organization accountable for mistakes and failures until the season is over. #OnToJacksonville.

Patriots Lose Another Game At Home And Season Is In Jeopardy.

New England falls to Buffalo 33-21. I turned the game on in the third. The Patriots offense didn't look horrible from the time I turned it on but they could've been better. The defense looked like only Judon, JC Jackson, and Van Noy were the only ones playing with hustle.

I asked Hashtag sports about what the Patriots did wrong and they said "the Bills dominated the line on both sides of the ball" today and that was the Patriots issue today. I know the Patriots had some guys out but that's unacceptable.

The Patriots have to win out and hope for some help. There's a saying that they were "playing on house money." That's moral victory talk at this point of the season. The fact is they were in a position where if they did their jobs, they win the division or gave themselves the best chance to today and they failed.

Mac Jones completing under 50% and throwing two picks was unacceptable. He had way too many rookie throws today. And the defense just wasn't prepared for this rematch. McKenzie shouldn't of had that kinda production against this secondary and Allen should've been contained.

The Patriots have two games left and if they don't make the playoffs it's on them. I don't care if they need help or not. If they need help, it's their own fault. They made too many mistakes this season and this far, they have lost one too many games then they shouldn't of against opponents they should've beat. Don't get me wrong, I still think the Patriots can win out the next two games, I'm just holding them accountable. They are a good team but they made mistakes uncharacteristic of a good team.

The Patriots are 3 and 5 at home. That's unacceptable. You don't lose in your home. That's bad football. I don't care how they lost, you don't do that. Their home record should be reversed, that's all there is to it.

No moral victories, do you job. I'm not calling for benching or cuts. I'm not going to get down on any one player. But I am going to demand one thing. #BringbackhardassBelichick

Is Bourne Going To Be Enough With The Number Of Players Injured Or In Quarantine?

Kendrick Bourne returning should be a good thing and he will be needed but will it be enough. The Patriots are going to be without two key offensive pieces and a few more are banged up heading into this divisional game versus the Buffalo Bills. 

Rhamondre Stevenson will miss the game due to covid. Stevenson is a rookie but he is a beast. Together with Damien Harris who is nursing a hamstring injury, they are a two headed monster. The Patriots may have to rely on J.J. Taylor, as veteran Brandon Bolden is also nursing a banged up knee. The Patriots relied on the run game to beat the Bills earlier this season. With how banged up the backfield is, Mac Jones will have to throw more than three times.

With Harry dealing with a Hip injury, Bourne, Meyers, the tight ends, and Gunner may have to step up. Kristian Wilkerson has been moved up to the 53 man roster for this game. Wilkerson and Olszewski had good chemistry with Jones in the preseason, will this be the breakout game for either? The Patriots need it and now would be the time.

Mac Jones maybe getting some direct pressure if center David Andrews cannot go. Andrews is nursing a shoulder injury. Andrews is having a pro bowl calibur season, although he was snubbed. The Patriots have had issues with their line a few times this season, especially right tackle. So we know how bad things can be if they lose a cog to that unit.

Buffalo may be tough to stop on offense as they may be aided due to injuries from Barmore (Knee), Bentley (Knee, Ankle), and Phillips (knee) could all be out or at the very least far from 100%. The they just lost Deatrich Wise to covid. Buffalo is a tough opponent offensively and having a banged up defense after the bye week this late in the season is not good for the Patriots odds of victory.

This is going to be a game where "Thor" Chase Winovich finally makes an impact. He's been quiet all season and the Patriots are going to need him. Josh Uche should also be active. Maybe the two Wolverines can pretend their playing the Buckeyes and eat Josh Allen for lunch.

Even kicker Nick Folk who has been on the injury report all season, is still listed but with how he's been kicking, I'd be more worried about if his holder goes on the report. 

With all that, the Patriots maybe relying heavily on Mac Jones this game. Mac only threw 3 times versus Buffalo. It seems like everytime he has to throw he's under pressure. Hopefully he can be protected. If he is, David Andrews comments should make the Bills worry.

Andrews said, "“I think that’s something you do when you get older and start progressing: starting to have more fun and just being able to take a breath a little bit here and there. I remember what it was like being a rookie.”

If Mac Jones is losing his rookie mentality, that could spell doom for the Bills as he's been compared to some of the better quarterbacks over the best 40 years. If his rookie jitters are gone he can show just how much like his comparisons he is. Let's hope the Buffalo defense is still in a good coma from holiday dinner.

On another note, the Patriots will not be able to call up a replacement for Jake Bailey if needed as the Steelers stole Corliss Waitman off the practice squad. Kinda makes one wonder if the Patriots are testing how good of a punter Quinn Nordin is in practice.

And one last thing. Although the season is still on going, with how banged up the Patriots running backs have been this season, they're sure to be paying attention to the NCAA. Do it all and primarily receiving back Calvin Turner Jr. from the great University of Hawaii has declared for the NFL draft. Not only is Turner an excellent back but he's a hell of a special teamer and kick off specialist. Areas the Patriots need and pride themselves in.  He's definitely a better player overall than spark plug J.J. Taylor.

We Need To Start Basing Quarterbacks On Combined Touchdowns And Scoring Drives, Not Just Passing Touchdowns.

When Randell Cunningham was with the Philadelphia Eagles he was considered special because of his rushing abilities. Nobody in the league really had that ability. Thirty years later, over half the quarterbacks in the league has that rushing ability. Yet we still don't look at rushing touchdowns, when grading quarterbacks. And we still expect quarterbacks to get all their touchdowns through the air. Thus some quarterbacks are looked down on when they really shouldn't be.

Now stats don't tell the entire story, not every quarterback that is looked down upon is undeserving. If a guy has no accuracy throwing a five yard pass, that's still on them. I'm sure a name or two comes to mind. Good pass catchers and smart coaching can inflate or mask bad or declining player's careers. 

Here are some rushing quarterbacks stats, when good quarterbacks are thought of, how many of these guys brought up based on their careers, excluding Lamar Jackson who's barely had a career yet?

Michael Vick missed two years and still threw for 133 touchdowns but he rushed for 36. That's 169 combined.

Cam Newton has thrown 194 touchdowns and rushed for 75. That's 269 combined.

Otto Graham renew 174 and rushed for 44. That's 218 combined.

Steve Young threw for 232 and rushed for 43. That's 275 combined 

Y.A. Title threw for 242 and rushed for 39. That's 281 combined.

Randall Cunningham Threw 207 and rushed for 35. That's 242 combined.

Steve Grogan Threw 182 touchdowns and rushed for 35 more. That's 217 combined.

Lamar Jackson is in his 4th year, 3rd as full time starter. He currently has 89 touchdown passes and 21 rushing touchdowns and he still has a few games to go on the season.  That's 110 combined so far.

Vick gets brought up when rushing quarterbacks are mentioned but very few if any mention Steve Young. Why? Because at the end of his career, Young was known as a good passer. And yet Young rarely gets mentioned when we talk about greatest quarterbacks, even though he spent how many years behind Montana, deflating his statistics.

Now let's look at the combined rushing and passing totals of a few more respected quarterbacks.

Troy Aikman 174 touchdowns.

Kurt Warner 211 touchdowns.

Andrew Luck 185 touchdowns.

Rich Gannon 201 touchdowns.

Trent Green 166 touchdowns.

Joe Theismann 172 touchdowns.

Roger Staubach 173 touchdowns.

Bernie Kosar  129 touchdowns.

Dak Prescott

Patrick Mahomes 152 touchdowns currently in his 5th season, 4th as starter.

Dak Prescott 156 touchdowns currently in his 6th season.

Lamar should pass Bernie Kosar next season for combined touchdowns. And he should be just as respected as Mahomes and Prescott. The rest of the rushing quarterbacks listed should all receive at least the same respect as Aikman, Staubach, and Theismann. The superbowl winning quarterbacks listed didn't do it on their own but will be looked at with more respect because they have rings. They had help that many of the rushing quarterbacks listed didn't have.

As fans we focus on too much on just passing touchdowns to interceptions by quarterbacks. Granted a quarterbacks first job is to throw the ball. However if a quarterback is skilled enough to run, we need to take that into account as it means they're throwing less.

In 2020 Big Ben had 33 passing touchdowns and 0 rushing touchdowns. Lamar Jackson had 16 passing touchdowns and 21 rushing touchdowns. Both Teddy Bridgewater and Cam Newton had a combined total of 20. Which quarterbacks had the better seasons, the guy with 33 touchdowns or the guy with 37 combined touchdowns?

How about the guy with 15 passing touchdowns or the guy with 8 passing touchdowns seeing they both finished with 20 combined?

It's not about passing touchdowns, it's about how many times you get your team down the field to score. There is a difference between a passer and a quarterback in the modern day NFL. Today quarterbacks have to be able to do both. Until twenty years ago quarterbacks were passers. Athletic quarterbacks were looked down upon because they typically had poor passing skills. 

Now days if a quarterback is athletic and has average passing skills they're celebrated as long as they have high pass touchdowns doesn't matter how poor their accuracy is. Rushing touchdowns by quarterbacks still get ignored but why? With how good defensive backs are, it's unrealistic to expect Tom Brady's touchdown totals from guys like Lamar Jackson or P.J. Walker. Especially when they're not as good of a passer.

We as fans have to accept that if he want a more exciting game built around scrambling quarterbacks that throw deep balls every pass, we have to take into account their rushing totals. We should not be forcing below average passers out of the league who are elite rushers in their position. We just have to adjust our expectations of that position based on each players abilities and grade them accordingly, even though they play thr same position.

I mean let's be real, nobody expects double digit rushing touchdowns from Mac Jones, then why would we expect more than 25 passing touchdowns from Lamar Jackson or vice versa? I don't know, it's just a thought but if the games evolving, fans have to evolve with it.

A Players Stats Can Be Inflated And Deflated At The Same Time, Here's One Now.

Recently I defended Derrick Henry. Henry hasn't played since October but he's still a top five back. The arguement is that he inflated stats but only has just above a four yards per carry average. I argued that his average has been deflated by the Titans due to how much they relied on him. This doesn't just happen in Tennessee, this is a league wide thing.

Recently I wrote that Cam Newton should not retire. And there's a lot of talk about how bad Newton's stats are. Now some of the people defending Cam are pointing to his stats as a passer in New England as to why Cam should not retire. They shouldn't.

New England Throws a lot of Short to intermediate passes and had pass catchers who although they didn't have great statistical years, were above average in target separation and had some place around 85% true catch rate as a team. That combined inflated Newton's stats but it deflated his reputation as a passer because teams could see how poor his accuracy was throwing those passes. He was throwing to bubbles. A zone defense's dream, and that's not good.

Unlike his fans who wear beer goggles that make Cam the most accurate passer in the league, the nfl saw Cam for who he was. And he sat unsigned for most of the season. And since he's returned he's had some of the worst stats of his professional career. 

Every start, every game Newton starts deflates his reputation as a passer. However, Like when in New England, every game Newton plays in this season inflates his ability as a rusher because he's best when running around.

Newton in 15 games in 2020 had 12 rushing touchdowns and 1 receiving touchdown. In 2021 over the course of 5 games, Cam Newton is averaging 4.5 yards per carry, 36.6 rushing yards per game which would net over 600 a season, and he has 5 touchdowns. That's pretty good, if only his arm was as good as his legs.

Newton has shown he can be a weapon for a team but he's not worth starters money and should not be a starter. That doesn't mean necessarily that Cam should retire. Cam should only retire if he's not willing to change how he's used or not willing to take less salary.

The term platoon quarterback came up last season and I do think Newton is a quarterback for that. The Rams, Cowboys, Washington Football Team, Steelers in '74, the steelers in '96. How the Ravens use of RGIII and the Saints use of Hill are the closest thing we've seen to that in 20 years by NFL teams.

I can't see Newton being used anything more than an H-back or half back if a team wanted him to play out of position. However having Newton come in occasionally on first and second downs, third and short, any time a team is inside the ten of the Redzone, or when a team wants to just run bully ball / time control offense could work. It's about using him to the best of his abilities in a different role or scheme. Similar to when Mike Tomczak was the starter and Kordell was the Redzone quarterback for the Steelers.

Teams have rotated quarterbacks every other play in the past, so it's possible to bring Cam in and out multiple times in one drive. This is again all if a team is willing to use Cam in that manner. And if Cam is willing to let his body get banged up. I'm not saying that Cam would never throw because that's part of him as a threat but it would be limited because his accuracy is now a weakness.

Any how, Cam's stats are a double edge sword to his career as the Panthers are inflating his stats by letting him run the ball 41 times in five games but they're also deflating because he's been the starting passer for 4 of the last 5 games and he's not a good enough passer for that role. They should've used him like his return game and kept P.J. Walker as the starter but that's just a thought.

It's all about knowing how to use your players to the best of their abilities while at the same time doing so in a way that helps your team and with Newton starting, I don't think that's the case. I was a Houston Roughnecks fan, yes I do think P.J. Walker is a better passer than Newton but that's another story that I'm not going to inflate at the moment.

Newton's days as a starter are over but his days in the NFL don't have to be.

I wrote an article on Cam Newton after his loss sunday to the Bills but I have no idea where it went, so I had to rewrite a piece on him. Newton's completion percentage isn't great but they could've been worse against the Bills. 18 of 38 for 156 yards. 1 passing touchdown, 1 interception, 71 yards on 15 carries, 1 rushing touchdown, and 2 fumbles. There's definitely some ball security issues, nothing new for Cam. Obvious one wants better from their starting quarterback.

On the season, Cam is 0-4 as a starter, even though he looked good as P.J. Walker's backup. In his 5 games this season, Newton has only completed 54.9% of his 113 attempts. He's thrown for 623 yards. That's an average of 124.6 yards a game. He's thrown 4 touchdowns but he's also thrown 4 interceptions. Newton has costed his team 59 yards, getting sacked 7 times.

Newton's 41 carries are good enough for a 4.5 yard average and 183 yards. Newton has 5 touchdowns on the ground but he's also put the ball on the ground 4 times, recovering once.

Newton said he was back a few weeks ago. And yeah he returned home to Carolina. Or maybe Newton meant that he was back in the NFL, after sitting out a good portion of the season. Then again he could've meant that the guy who had more interceptions or rushing touchdowns than passing touchdowns in 2020 was back. The guy who threw to bubbles and skipped the ball off the ground to open receivers was back. Maybe he meant the guy who couldn't accurately throw a screen pass was back. 

Stats don't tell the entire story. It definitely looks like the 2020 Cam Newton has returned. And I think some people owe Josh McDaniels and the Patriots an apology for blaming them for Newton's struggles last year. They also owe the Patriots an apology for saying they made a mistake and didn't know what they were doing for cutting Cam Newton.

Colts media member Lawrence Owen's said on Tuesday December 21st that Cam was right when he said "there's not 32 quarterbacks better than" him. Lawrence said, "There are 47 other quarterbacks better than Cam Newton!"

Newton was right, at times when Mac wasn't doing well, he would've had Mac looking over his shoulder. I don't know if he's in the right place but he has to make the most of it.

Now I am not writing this article to bash Cam Newton. I do respect Newton's athleticism, even if I think he's always been a below average passer with a big arm. There are some that want him to retire. Although I don't want him back in Foxboro, I am not one of the people who want him to retire. 

Newton has 5 rushing touchdowns in the redzone. He also has a tone of experience. He's got potential to be used as a backup and gimmick play quarterback. He's also hard to stop at the goal line. Teams could even line him up in the backfield like the Ravens occasionally do with RGIII. 

People might not like the idea of Newton being a backup but he still can contribute and help a team, just in a different role than everyone's used to. Let him come in during the 3rd quarter when teams are trying to play bully ball and run down the clock, while keeping the starter healthy. And I'm not talking when teams get a huge lead either. 

There's still potential there but it's gotta be used right. Newton's gotta be used right. He's never going to be a quality starter again. And with the ball security issues and accuracy problems, he's not going to be a reliable bridge guy. So once he realizes it, if he rebrands himself, he can maybe help a team win. He's still got potential as a tandem quarterback. He's gotta want it and teams gotta be willing to take a chance on him.

I don't know, it's just a thought.

Patriots Fall To Colts In Sobering Fashion

The New Egland Patriots had a long bye to prepare for the Colts, yet were shut out for the first three quarters. And still had the game in reach, as it was 20 to 07 shortly after the start of the fourth. The Patriots would make a game of it. That was until they allowed a costly run that sealed it. There was a somber post game but what the hell happened as the Patriots fall 27 to 17.

For starters two turnovers. It doesn't matter if it's a fumble or an interception, If you're turning it over you're going to pay for it eventually. Mac Jones had 2 interceptions. Compared to Wentz's 1. That's two extra drives the defense shouldn't of played and they lost the turnover battle.

Another area of concern is third down efficiency. The Patriots had 15, yes 15 third down opportunities. Yet the Patriots could only convert on 6 of them. I don't care that they were 1 for 3 on 4th down conversions. Their third down rate was unacceptable for a playoff team. 

The Patriots had 8 penalties. Again good teams don't make that many personal mistakes. That's 50 yards they gave to the Colts. Penalties were a problem in the preseason and early on. Penalties show a lack of discipline for the most part and that's not normal for a Belichick team but people have been bitching for him to change and saying he has changed since last year. Think about that when examining this team's flaws.

The Patriots gave up 226 yards on the ground. I don't care that 67 of them were on one play. It doesn't change anything. The Patriots weakness is their run defense. I like Christian Barmore, he might eventually be an Aaron Darnold light but he is not Vince Wolfork. Davon Godchaux is the closest thing the Patriots have to him. The Patriots run defense is their weak link. They might be able to stop a runner here or there but if teams keep hammering, they're gonna break thru eventually. Come the offseason, the Patriots definitely need to acquire run stopper before the 2022 season. The Colts ran the ball 39 times against the Patriots. That includes every time Wentz ran the ball.

And let's not get started on the offensive line. And I do not believe the answer is benching Wynn, instead get Onwenu to give him breaks as a swing for the rest of the year. Anyways Bills gotta do something with the line.

So what the hell happened Bill?

Bill Belichick, "Obviously we didn’t do anything well enough to win. We didn’t play well and we didn’t coach well. Too many penalties, fumbles, interceptions, over 200 yards rushing. We played from behind the whole game, so just nothing really good enough.”

And what did Bill see as the cause for those issues?

Bill Belichick, "We didn’t play well tonight. It is what it is. We didn’t coach well. We didn’t do anything well.”

At least Bill can take pride in the fact that the team made a comeback right?

Bill Belichick, "We have to do everything better than we did tonight."

Bill Belichick refused to take a moral victory and I don't blame him. The Patriots are still in a position to go to the superbowl, regardless of the odds. There is no room for moral victories. The Patriots had themselves back in the game at 20-17 with little over two minutes left. There is no excuse. There is only do your job and the Patriots failed.

The Patriots are on to Buffalo and need a win after this loss to help secure the division. Forget the top seed. The playoffs are still not a guarantee and what happened in Miami in 2019 can happen again. The Patriots can take no game for granted. The Patriots under Belichick have always had a corporate mindset. Bill has been said to be more player friendly this season. Even giving a few extra days off this bye. If this is what we can expect from Player's coach Billy B. than we need the uncaring hard ass back. L.F.G. !!!

Bill Belichick Is The Not "The Right Guy" To Rebuild The Patriots, He Is "The Only Guy" To Rebuild The Patriots.

Gary Tanguay wrote an article called, "Bill Belichick is not the right guy to rebuild these Patriots." In it he talks about Bill Belichick's failures as a general manager and how he thinks those failures will prevent Belichick from being able to rebuild the Patriots.

Tanguay talks about the players from the 1996 season. He mentions Charlie Armey who worked under Bill Parcells and how much of an impact that Armey had on the success of Belichick from 2000 to 2004, including losing to Belichick.

Tanguay wrote, "Troy Brown, Willie McGinest, Tedy Bruschi, Ty Law, Lawyer Milloy and Ted Johnson were drafted between 1993 and 1996. Oh yeah, how about that undrafted free agent kicker Adam Vinatieri?

This crew was the Armey 7."

I have wrote in the past about whether or not there was one Patriots dynastys or two. In my previous article I noted that if it was one dynasty, then I would start the dynasty at the 1996 season because of the number of players carried over from that superbowl team and the short span between superbowl appearances. It was way more than just the seven players Tanguay listed.

Tanguay talks about players wanting to come to the Patriots to win a ring. Taking away from Bill Belichick as a general manager or at least he tried to. Yes, there were players that wanted to come to the Patriots to win a ring but it was Bill Belichick that decided which ones were worth signing. Not all general managers are capable of making the right signings.

Tanguay basically gave all credit to former Patriot draft picks success to Tom Brady. Taking away from not only Bill Belichick as a general manager but the coaching staff's ability to coach up the players.

Tanguay wrote, "Of course, Belichick did have some successful picks, but he never had the success in a four-year span like Armey. There was Richard Seymour, Logan Mankins, Rob Gronkowski, Devin McCourty and Joe Thuney over a period of twenty years. Sorry Julian Edelman fans - love the guy but he is a product of Brady. Same for Deion Branch, Dan Koppen and a list of other names you're about call out."

Some of what Tanguay wrote is the mentality of Patriots nation. How many times have we as a fanbase said "Belichick gets his players from walmart?" This is probably because Bill Belichick is so good at finding undrafted rookies and no name free agents.

I previously wrote an article that of the first three rounds over the past decade, Bill has had drafted maybe 4 or 5 elite players if like 35 tries prior to the 2021 draft. I said he drafted good players but not elite. Even Robert Kraft in this past offseason criticized Bill Belichick's ability to draft.

Kraft said, ""Really, the teams who draft well are the ones who will be consistently good. I don't feel like we've done the greatest job the last few years..." (I'll continue the rest of this sentence later.)

So Belichick isn't the greatest with the draft but he's far from the worst. He has his successes. Maybe some did play better because of Tom but they still did their jobs. Did Tanguay want them to play bad because Brady was on the roster?

It is true relying on free agency including the undrafted ones is not sustainable but Bill has shown a knack for doing it.

Kraft also said, "I do remember we always made fun of the teams that spent a lot in the offseason."

But Kraft also said, "and I really hope and believe I've seen a different approach this year."

Kraft's comments came from March. Since then the Patriots are playing much better than expected but it's been with a lot of help from rookies Mac Jones, Christian Barmore, and Rhamondre Stevenson. So maybe the changes that Kraft saw are going to improve Belichick's success in the draft. Either way, Belichick the GM has Belichick the coach to help him out and Belichick the coach knows what he needs on the roster to stay successful. 

So to Mr. Gary Tanguay I have a message for you from Patriots nation:

"In Bill We Trust!"

Hawaii Takes Advantage Of Early Signing Day

Thanks to Todd Graham the Hawaii roster got severely depleted as problems within the program chased players away. Luckily for the Rainbow Warriors at the University of Hawaii, today was early signing day. The team added some much needed depth to bolster it's roster but there are still some holding out on signing until they have to.

Coach Graham was asked about the impact of recent events that came out effecting the signings and he brushed it off.

Graham compared signings to building an NFL team, saying teams need so many calibur players from each round. And that you add what's needed. He also talked about finding replacements for Cordario and Calvin Turner Jr.

Cam'rom Bell defensive back, Tylan Hines running back, Noah Kema linebacker, Chigozie Anusiem cornerback, Virdel Edwards defensive back, Malachi Finau defensive tackle, Kona Moore defensive back, Ethan Spencer offensive lineman, Junior Ta'ase offensive tackle, all signed.

Chigozie Anusiem said, "When my time at Hawai’i finishes I want to look back and be able to say we turned Hawai’i into a powerhouse."

Malachi Finau said "They’re all about discipline and structure and that’s what I feel like need."

Those are the type of players Hawaii is going to need to repair the reputation of the universitu's football program.

Graham who wants to win championships said today about the newest Warriors, "We feel that they are great fits for our culture, our team."

Hawaii has a bowl game against Memphis coming up. And it needs a statement win. Hopefully the new recruits can come hang out with the rest of the current roster, watch the game, and bring some new positive energy to the locker room. Hawaii is not done signing players, so hopefully they can get some top tier talent to join the roster. 

E hele kākou 'o Rainbow Warriors Lahui

Don't Forget Robert Kraft's Role In The Patriots Rebuild.

Henry McKenna of Patriots wire wrote an article called "8 moves that led to Bill Belichick's outrageously fast rebuild of the Patriots." And while the items listed may be true, he forgot one very important thing. Something that surely played a huge role in this quick rebuild. Something probably not seen since 1996. He forgot about Robert Kraft's involvement.

McKenna wrote, "Bill Belichick deserves votes for both the Coach of the Year award and the Executive of the Year award. Coach Bill and GM Bill — yes, two alter-egos of the same man — have worked together to perfection. Belichick took the 2019 version of his team — with cap issues, a string of bad drafts and the impending departure of Tom Brady — and converted the Patriots into this 2021 version: a Super Bowl contender."

What McKenne didn't write was when Robert Kraft called out the team and said what happened in 2020 wasn't good enough. That the quarterbacks play wasn't good enough. Kraft even talked about his spending and it didn't sound like he was happy because he viewed it as a sign of failure.

Kraft said. "I do remember we always made fun of the teams that spent a lot in the offseason."

Kraft spent the most amount of money he has spent on free agents in a long time, if not the most he's signed off on since buying the team. Buying teams doesn't always work. Just look at the Washington Football Team during the Bruce Smith era or Philadelphia when they had Vince Young. Complete disasters.

Kraft also said about the spending, "In the end, if you want to have a good, consistent winning football team, you can't do it in free agency. You have to do it through the draft because that's when you're able to get people of great talent, whether it's Willie McGinest or Tom Brady. You get them at a price where you can build the team and be competitive. Once they get to their [second] contract, if they're superstars, you can only balance so many of them."

Kraft continued, "Really, the teams who draft well are the ones who will be consistently good. I don't feel like we've done the greatest job the last few years and I really hope and believe I've seen a different approach this year. In the end, it all comes down to what happens on the field and how people execute and you really don't know how good a draft is for at least two years. Especially in the environment we're in now, I'm not quite sure still what our offseason training and learning abilities will be."

Kraft called out the coaching staff for their development of talent. Something else that has slipped bye the fanbase and media. Kraft acknowledges that the Patriots have not done a good job with development in that statement. That suggests he was kinda happy with some of the talent being drafted and upset that the team failed them. That means guys like Stidham, Izzo, Cy Jones, Keene, and Asiasi, Kraft is putting on the staff on not the players.

That was surely a message to Belichick and the entire organization. One that was sure to come off as "Do your jobs, don't expect me to do them." And the Patriots are playing like someone lit a fire under their arses, after a slow start. Because Kraft put everyone on notice. The Patriots are the most business like off all the teams and Kraft will force Belichick to get rid of someone if he really has to.

And to the haters in and out of the Patriots fanbase that would see the Patriots return to obscurity, Kraft had one final message.

Kraft said, "Envy and jealousy are incurable diseases. The haters still hate. And I understand it, and we’ll do our best to keep them in that position.”

So while Henry McKenna was right about the cocktail used to form the Patriots success in 2021 and that Belichick was the chef stirring the pot. He left out how Robert Kraft was the angry critic that forced Belichick to put the ingredients together for success in the first place. Robert Kraft stepped into the fire and started turning the franchise around in 1993. And when the franchise appeared to be not to be serving up quality at the beginning of 2021, he returned to the kitchen.

Patriots Nation, this season we owe some credit to Robert Kraft. For without him, there was no Brady or Belichick. He's responsible for the twenty year dynasty. Without him, there may not be a Mac Jones or Christian Barmore because he got involved. He's the reason why people aren't laughing at the Patriots like they are the Lions or the Jaguars. So give credit where it's due. Give credit to the owner for once.

Do The Patriots Trust Mac Jones?

The Monday night game against the Bills has people doubting Mac Jones. Bill Belichick played to the elements and didn't have to put Jones in a position to throw. Instead the Patriots opted for old school football. The Bills on the other hand threw it thirty times and Josh Allen could only complete fifty percent of his passes. The Patriots did their thing and as usual, Mac Jones did what he was asked. 

Yet, former Patriots offensive lineman Damien Woody had the never to question Mac Jones's abilities after the game. 

Woody said, “I don’t know if it’s going to be the regular season, or the postseason, but there’s going to come a time, they’re going to need their rookie quarterback to go toe to toe with the opposing quarterback. At some point, they’re going to need Mac Jones to deliver. He’s going to have to play some ball when matched up against another really good quarterback.”

Woody is potentially right. At some point there may be a team that realizes the strength of the Patriots offense is their running game. There may be a team that puts seven or eight in the box and forces Mac Jones to throw. However, they better have the secondary to cover because Mac is going to make them change their game plan.

Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald basically agreed that Mac Jones is being a game manager but she still posed a couple of questions.

Guregian wrote, "But after essentially being eliminated from the Bills game, what does that say about the confidence level of the coaching staff in their young star at this point? Would Belichick and McDaniels trust him to pull out a game, if need be?"

Karen thinks they would but seemed hesitant.

Brian Hines of Pats Palpit also agreed that Monday night was about the elements, although he did note there were times when the Patriots could've been more aggressive but chose not to be and that it paid off in the end. Hines did touch on what Guregian asked in his mailbag.

Hines wrote, "To me, the Patriots trust Mac Jones, but they also know his limitations. If he truly can't handle those conditions, then we should be worried here in the Northeast. He’ll certainly get another opportunity in poor weather, so we will have to wait and see what happens when he needs to throw the ball."

There's a difference between rain and snow but people have to remember who Mac Jones played for in college. Nick Saban is of a Similar mindset as Bill Belichick. It's probably why they're good friends and why Bill knew he could take Jones.

In October 2020 Saban talked about playing in wet conditions saying, "That’s all we can do to prepare for it. We can’t make it rain. I think handling the ball is the most important thing, but I also think it’s important to have a mind-set of getting used to handling the ball so it’s not an issue when you’re playing a game.”

Mac Jones did not have an issue throwing the football in the rain for Alabama. And again, I get that snow is different than rain. Mac is already adopting to the cold weather by wearing a scuba suit, just like Tom Brady did. All thanks to the defecto quarterback coach and backup quarterback Brian Hoyer.  If there's other tricks to playing in the snow, be sure that Hoyer's passing them down and preparing Jones.

Look the Tampa bay game, the game in Buffalo, it's all just circumstantial. Bill Belichick made the decisions and McDaniels, Jones, and even Nick Folk just have to execute. There's nothing more they can do. When they execute, there's a W in the win column. When they don't and go wide of the mark, there's an L in the loss column. It's that simple. The Patriots are on a winning streak because they're executing.

So as far as do the Patriots trust Mac Jones, if they didn't there's at least one other game manager on the roster, that they would've replaced him with this past monday being such an important game. The fact that Mac Jones is starting means that at the very least, Bill Belichick trusts him. And after the 2020 season one should know that if Bill trusts the quarterback, he ain't making the change, regardless of how bad they're hurting the offense. And Mac isn't doing that.

Hawaii Players Are Considering All Options To Jump Ship And The University Is Quiet, While The Coach Makes Excuses.

The New England Patriots are off this week, allowing the spotlight to be shifted to other areas on the world of sports. By now pretty much everyone knows there's smoke coming from Hawaii and no I don't mean the valcanos. Head coach Todd Graham of the Rainbow Warriors football team has had some serious allegations made against him and 9 players have left the program via the transfer portal, a record amount but the problems maybe worse than realized.

Hawaii has a bowl game coming up against Memphis but according to Marc Delucchi of SFgate, the players no longer want Graham at the university. Delucchi quoted one player saying, “A lot of players want him fired, especially the starters.” 

There has to be something wrong in the relationship between a player and coach if they want you fired. However, when it's a group of players or more, then there's something wrong with the head coach.

Delucchi had another player tell him, “Me and a lot of others can truthfully say Graham has killed our love and passion for football.”

Who are these players one might ask, out of fear of retaliation, SFGate kept their names secret. If the University or NCAA wants to know, they need to get off their rears and talk to the players.

Delucchi goes on to say players are looking into what they can to leave the program including quitting and that the university refused to respond when asked to talk.  There were more statements made but you have to go check out SFgate.com for what was said.

There's allegations of mistreatment and abuse among many other serious things. Graham is also accused of refusing to talk to some of his players and playing favoritism.

Graham released a statement on this matter after it broke and part of it is sure not to sit well with those making allegations. 

Graham said. "Obviously, I can’t meet with 125 people. But each one of our coaches is meeting with each one of them, and make sure we’re listening, and make sure that we’re learning, and getting better at what we’re doing.”

First, it's BS that he cannot meet with 125 people. He could do it in five to six days, having 30 minute meetings with each and having each of them submit any issues they have in writing. Would take about 13 hours a day including one meal break.

Second, refusing to meet with players is part of the allegations against Todd Graham and he cannot find a way to make time to meet with his players? To make matters worse there are allegations that Graham doesn't even talk with all the members of his staff. This just goes to side with the players.

There are some allegations that I listed that are more severe but the more this story plays out, and with the way Graham and the university of Hawaii are handling this, I have to side more and more with the players and staff making the allegations.

This isn't the first time there have been accusations made against Graham. Arizona state bought out his contract over allegations of being an unfit coach,  giving credit to the accusations. The foot program means a lot to the University of Hawaii and it needs to handle this before too much damage is done. Hawaii is in the process of building a new stadium and sports complex but how can it expect to get players to come or fans in the stands with this looming over head?

Sean McDermott Rallys Support For Belichick Among Patriots Nation

Monday night the Patriots went to Buffalo for a game with severe winds. The two defensive head coaches would prepare with two styles of offense. And it would be a battle of wits to see which defensive coach would prevail.

Bill Belichick would have rookie quarterback Mac Jones throw the ball a mere three times. While Sean McDermott would have veteran quarterback Josh Allen throw the ball thirty times. In the modern era one would think the Bills had to of had the advantage but one would be wrong.

Each team would have the ball with the wind at their backs for a quarter. However, that didn't change how the Patriots approached the play calling. The Patriots would line up heavy and just play 1970s style football. The Patriots ran the ball a total of 47 times. N'Keal Harry got to show off his move tight end blocking ability as he was the main wideout or so it seemed.

The Bills only ran the ball 25 times. Buffalo would have the ball with a chance to score and take the lead in the final minutes of the fourth but they botched it. They put the ball in the hands of Josh Allen and his last two throws could've been better decisions as they both fell incomplete. As a Patriots fan, we were lucky that the one time MVP candidate played like a rookie on his final drive.

The defensive affair was 14-10 but the game should not have been that close. The Patriots decided to have N'keal Harry field a punt. The sky judge ruled the ball touched Harry and Buffalo scored in the first quarter. It was their only points of the first half. The Patriots would score in the first, second, and fourth quarter.

Patriots fans are shredding the Bills for comments made after the game. Mainly head  coach Sean McDermott. McDermott was basically saying the Bills beat themselves but being a division rival, we pats fans cannot let it go.

McDermott said, “Let’s not give more credit than we need to give credit to Bill Belichick in this one." 

Now half the Patriots fanbase loves to rip Belichick for the teams success over the last twenty years, giving compete credit to Tom Brady for all three phases of the game over that span. Even with that, we don't take kindly to anyone outside the fanbase taking credit away from our victories. Patriots Nation was insulted that McDermott would take credit away from the Patriots and out head coach, so they are not letting that comment go.

The Patriots and Bills play again in a few short weeks. There is zero chances the fans in Foxboro let Bill Belichick forget what Sean McDermott said. While the Patriots are sitting atop the AFC, the Bills have been a disappointment. The Bills are now 7-5 on the season and need every win they can get with five games left to make the playoffs. 

Expect a highly emotional game when these two teams meet again. Before the Bills face the Patriots the day after christmas, they must get through former Patriots quarterbacks Tom Brady and Cam Newton. Tom Brady is the GOAT and there are some members of Patriots Nation who think Cam Newton is the GOAT.

While I laugh at that last part, both quarterbacks are capable of making like very miserable for the Bills and their season could be over with before they even head to Gillette Stadium. Buffalo over since 1999 has seemingly been cursed, and fall apart in December. It looked like Sean McDermott broke that curse but we'll truly find out over the next three weeks.

For now, the Patriots are on the bye and there's no reason to watch any nfl football until December 18th when they take on the Indianapolis Colts. Instead tune in and watch the Winnipeg Blue Bombers take on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for the Grey Cup in the CFL championship game at 6pm on Sunday December 12th.  And then after you watch the Patriots beat the Colts on December 18th, tune in at 8pm on Christmas eve as Hawaii hosts Memphis at the Hawaii bowl game before watching the Patriots host the Bills December 26th. 

Todd Graham Is Facing Serious Allegations As The Team Prepares For A Newly Awarded Bowl Game.

If you're a fan of the New England Patriots you've probably heard people like Lane Johnson talk about how the New England Patriots don't have fun. His comments came out after playing with several former Patriots and beating the Patriots in the superbowl. You've probably heard Cassius Marsh talk about how strict the Patriots work regiment is. And you've heard the fanbase call out nepotism because Steve Belichick was promoted after four years of being an assistant coach, to the safeties coach, then defensive backs, and finally linebackers coach, and Brian Belichick was promoted to safeties coach after a few seasons as an assistant coach as well.

What you haven't seen is the team go onto social media to publicly acknowledge any problems and call out Belichick and the organization. Nor have you seen multiple ex players come out and say there's serious internal issues and start offering solutions to fixing the problems. If that sort of thing were to happen, there would be quick action from Robert Kraft.

Now the NFL is a different beast than division one college football but everyone has probably heard of some of the rumors listed above and the defense of the franchise from current and former players but I doubt many have heard about the current problem at the University Of Hawaii causing several players to leave the program or the football team to take to twitter.

Scott at the MWWire wrote, "The news of Cordeiro entering the transfer portal sparked a Twitter live space (I believe that is what you call it) hosted by RJ Hollis, a former Warrior player and now a member of the local media, and another former player Darryl McBride. There were over 300 listeners that stayed on for about three hours as some current and former players spoke about the issues within the program. It was an honest and eye-opening forum for many fans to listen in on."

The players are alleging: verbal abuse, favoritism, refusal to communicate with non starters, doing favors for some members of the staff by employing unqualified people, players being forced to take part in religious activities, players not having fun, players not knowing each other, and there being an unhealthy locker room to name a few things. These are serious allegations.

Head Coach Todd Graham was asked about the players complaints and the public live stream where the locker room brought to light these allegations against him. Graham basically played it off as players not accepting change and work ethic.

Here is some of what coach Graham had to say, “I don’t read Twitter, I don’t do those things. I can tell you my deal is focusing on being positive. We have enough negative things. … At the end of the day, those things are what they are. We talk every day about the commitment, what that commitment is, and working hard. We’re going to work hard. We’re going to be demanding. And when you’re doing things the right way, you have things like that. … Not always going to make everybody happy. We’ve got a great belief in what we’re doing. We know we’re doing things the right way, and we’re making progress.”

Now this isn't the first time Graham has had issues within a program. In 2017 Arizona State paid through the nose to get Todd Graham to step down as head coach. And once again if asked to step down, due to his contract Graham is set to make a boatload from Hawaii. Hawaii cannot really afford for the program to have to buy out his contract.

Some of the Allegations are pretty serious. The NCAA should poke their nose in to the happenings of the university but they shouldn't be the only ones. The university itself needs to conduct an investigation into the allegations. If Graham is found in the wrong, the university needs to do what it needs to do to hold Todd Graham accountable. Fore if things are as bad as said, it could chase away talent and hurt the ability to make future bowl games.

Patriots Resign The Leg To The Practice Squad For Development

This summer the Patriots had a kicker that was booming kicks and it was thought that kicker would become the guy in Foxboro. That guy was Quinn Nordin who ended up on the injured reserve and is now sitting on the practice squad.

These is talk the Patriots like the rookie for bringing him back. After all Nordin was this years undrafted free agent to make the 53 man roster. So they have to like him right? Well they also liked the kicker they drafted in the fifth round of the 2020.draft and he didn't even make it a second season. They tried to develop Rohrwasser and failed, now they're trying to develop Nordin.

With Folk being near perfect this season on field goals it is unlikely that Nordin will ever see a game day roster. However, if the Patriots make the AFC championship game or superbowl, Nordin Could be activated incase the team needs a last second 50 yard field goal. 

At the moment re-signing Nordin to the practice squad is nothing to get excited for. However, it's also reason not to give up on the younger kicker yet. As long as he's around the team, he has a chance at replacing Folk in the future regardless of the odds against him. 

Okay He Won Player Of The Month, Now He Needs The Title Playoff Quarterback

Being named rookie of the month is no small feat. Especially when it appeared early on that the team was playing conservative or didn't trust you. That's what Mac Jones just did. He was not only named the rookie of November but he has the Patriots sitting at 8-4 and in the playoff hunt for the first time since the Tom Brady era ended. And I know it's only been one season but with how bad the passing was last season, every game seemed like an eternity.

Alex Barth of the sports hub wrote. "In four games in November – all wins – Jones completed 76-of-99 passes (76.8 percent) for 854 yards with seven touchdowns and just two interceptions. His 117.2 passer rating led all NFL quarterbacks during the month..."

In January I had Mac Jones as the best passer in the NFL draft and that the Patriots should draft him. I was informed that I didn't know nothing. The bandwagon hopped on and off his name. Insisting that Trevor Lawrence was the best passer but since he was out of reach that the Patriots should go with Trey Lance or Justin Fields. Don't get me wrong, I had Fields as my number two quarterback selection for the Patriots but I wanted Mac. And I told everyone so...

Kharl Thompson also noted, "The young quarterback is the first Patriots rookie to win Player of the Month since Chandler Jones did it in 2012."

Now the playoffs are far from a gimmie as they have a tough schedule. They haven't even played the Bills yet and that's sure to be two tough games for the rookie quarterback and his team.

Mac Jones was quoted about the upcoming schedule as saying, "i think people who love football want to get a chance to play in games like these. I know all the guys on both teams want to play in games like this. It’ll be a great experience. I know they have a bunch of great fans, and it’s football, so you’ve just got to go out there and play the game that we’ve all played since we were little kids.”

Now there are many who discredit the importance of football and sports. They call it a kids game. Football is America's game and America is often compared to Rome. It's well noted that Rome used entertainment to calm the mental health of the land. With history.com writing:

"It was believed by those who ran Rome that the people could be kept happy and content if they had access to varied and enjoyable entertainment."

But that is another story for another day.

People complain that Mac Jones doesn't make big or splashy plays. That he doesn't have the running ability of some of the other rookie quarterbacks. In fact they try to use the terms "game manager" and "dink and dunk" as insults towards Jones. To that I say if that effected his level of play. He wouldn't be the rookie of the month.

There has been talk among Patriots fans about Mac winning the rookie of the year. At the moment. I only care about him winning a playoff birth.

As a starter Mac Jones has completed 70.3% of his 381 attempts for 2850 yards with 16 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. Jones has been sacked 24 times in eleven games. Jones has also rushed for 14 first downs and has 4 fumbles on the season. 

That's all great but I'm pretty sure if someone asked Mac Jones if he would trade stats for Ws that he would do so in a heartbeat. 

Currently the only thing that matters is this Monday night against the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo is riding high since winning the division last season or at least the Rochester, New York section of the Bills' mafia is. A win monday would go a long way into knocking them down to reality and towards clinching a playoff birth and number one seed.