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How the New England Patriots can feed four running backs this season

The New England Patriots will be looking to feed at least four running backs that we know of this season. Can they successfully do it? Here's how! To accompany their new starting quarterback this season, the offensive line is also healthy and back together to start the year. And on top of that, the New England Patriots are preparing to have a substantial rushing attack on the heels of Sony Michel, James White, Rex Burkhead, and Damien Harris in the team's first season without franchise quarterback, Tom Brady. Over the last two years, New England has become accustomed to utilizing running ba...

Musket Fire2 hours ago

Stephen Gostkowski deserves to play somewhere in 2020

Stephen Gostkowski might no longer be wanted in New England by the Patriots, but he should find employment somewhere else in the NFL this season. The New England Patriots ranked 19th in overall field goal percentage as a team last season, with their placekickers converting a total of 27 field goals out of 34 attempts for a 79.4% success rate. That's a pretty low metric for a team that has been blessed by terrific stability and performance at kicker for the past two decades plus. Adam Vinatieri was the kicker for the Pats from 1996 to 2005, and upon his departure for the Indianapolis Colts, ...

Musket Fire4 hours ago

New England Patriots: Undrafted rookie wideout Isaiah Zuber is a steal

After the former standout receiver from Kansas State went undrafted, Isaiah Zuber has the opportunity of a lifetime to make the New England Patriots roster. Undrafted rookie free agent wide receiver Isaiah Zuber could very well be the biggest steal of the year for the New England Patriots. Isaiah Zuber — 6'0, 190 lbs — spent his first three years playing in every game for Kansas State before playing his final collegiate season at Mississippi State. Zuber left Kansas State ranked eighth in school history with the most career receptions (127), tied for 10th place with the most career touchdow...

Musket Fire8 hours ago

A look at Chase Winovich's first full offseason with the Patriots

New England Patriots versatile edge-rushing linebacker Chase Winovich underwent sports hernia surgery in February but is ready for the season. Chase Winovich was the most productive rookie of the 2019 New England Patriots draft class. Winovich — who was selected 77th overall in the third round — proved to be a rather successful situational role player for New England last year. The versatile Michigan product played 291 defensive snaps (29 percent) and 256 special teams plays, which was good for the fourth-highest on the team. He finished his rookie season with 26 tackles, 5.5 sacks (tied fo...

Musket Fire19 hours ago

New England Patriots preparing for Julian Edelman's potential successor

After 11 years, the New England Patriots have quietly begun preparing for a successor to take over for wide receiver Julian Edelman. The New England Patriots did not have a contingency plan in place for Rob Gronkowski and it ultimately had a negative effect on the offense. That's a mistake the Patriots won't let happen again. Julian Edelman has held many different roles for the Patriots throughout his 11-year career. In that time, Edelman has established himself as being the main producer for the Patriots and a player that the franchise has built around during the last eight years. In Bill ...

Musket FireYesterday

New England Patriots: Jarrett Stidham capable of leading a playoff run

With the support of a strong rushing attack and a powerhouse defense, Jarrett Stidham is poised to keep New England atop the AFC East moving forward. In terms of offseason transactions, allowing the greatest quarterback in NFL history to walk out the door in free agency is generally not a productive move for contending teams. Following Tom Brady's departure, fans and experts were all certain the New England Patriots would address the quarterback position through the draft — likely with one of their top picks. Per usual, however, Bill Belichick and the Patriots front office had other plans. ...

Musket FireYesterday

Will Patriots get revenge in Week 1 for last year's Week 17 loss to Fins?

The New England Patriots saw a bye week slip away in last season's regular season finale against the Miami Dolphins. Will they get revenge in Week 1? The final regular season game of the 2019-20 season against the Miami Dolphins is still all too familiar for New England Patriots fans. The 27-24 stunning loss in the final minute of play on a Mike Gesicki five-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick let a bye slip away … and ultimately led to a Wild Card exit in the playoffs, which turned out to be the last game Tom Brady played in a Patriots uniform. In that game, three of the Dolphins' fo...

Musket FireYesterday

Fans vote Richard Seymour into New England Patriots Hall of Fame

Defensive lineman Richard Seymour, one of the most versatile and productive players in New England history, has been elected to the Patriots Hall of Fame. On Monday morning, the New England Patriots announced that Richard Seymour will be the 30th inductee to The Patriots Hall of Fame presented by Raytheon. Seymour is the 28th player to receive the honor. Welcome to #TheHall, @BigSey93! Richard Seymour announced as the 30th member of the @Patriots Hall of Fame: https://t.co/m6qmQDUIls — The Hall presented by Raytheon (@TheHall) May 11, 2020 Seymour was the No. 6 overall pick when Bill Belich...

Musket FireYesterday

Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots prey on young quarterbacks

After studying the schedule, the New England Patriots might face off against seven young quarterbacks under the age of 24 in 2020. The New England Patriots have never lost to a rookie quarterback in Foxborough during Bill Belichick's coaching regime. In fact, Belichick's Patriots have impressively gone 19-5 against rookie quarterbacks, which includes a profound 12-0 record at home. Over the last 20 years, defeating Belichick and the Patriots has been no walk-in-the-park for any team, but especially for a team with a rookie quarterback. It's something that has only happened five times and fr...

Musket Fire2 days ago

Jimmy Garoppolo will see New England Patriots for first time since 2017

The New England Patriots and the San Francisco 49ers will play each other for the first time in eight years in Foxborough. Jimmy Garoppolo will make his first return to Gillette Stadium since being traded away in 2017 when the San Francisco 49ers take on the New England Patriots in a Week 7 October matchup. This is also the first time that the Patriots will be playing against Garoppolo after they selected him in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft before later trading him to the 49ers in 2017. The Patriots and the 49ers have played each other 13 times since 1971, but in the Bill Belichic...

Musket Fire2 days ago

How Aaron Rodgers could end up on the New England Patriots

Aaron Rodgers starting at quarterback for the New England Patriots and Bill Belichick? Shockingly, it's not as crazy as it sounds at first… We know what you're thinking. There's no way Aaron Rodgers ends up on the New England Patriots. Why on earth would Green Bay ever let him go? What jersey number would he even take since No. 12 is obviously off-limits forever in Beantown? And what does any of this mean as far as poor Jarrett Stidham is concerned? In the famous words of Rodgers himself: "R-E-L-A-X." We'll get to all these questions and concerns in time. First off, let's take a look at the...

Musket Fire2 days ago

Patriots deliver 84,000 meals to Chelsea residents amidst pandemic

The New England Patriots sent a truck with 1,000 food packages — about 84,000 meals — to Chelsea, Massachusetts residents on Saturday morning. It's up to those with the resources and the means to help those without … especially during times of crisis. Say what you will about the New England Patriots and their owner Robert Kraft, but the team is committed to being a force for good in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Back in early April, Kraft sent the Patriots' private jet to pick up 1.2 million face masks from China. The masks were then delivered to a stockpile in Massachusetts for th...

Musket Fire3 days ago

Patriots: Ranking the 2020 regular season opponents

The New England Patriots are mired in uncertainty as they approach the 2020 regular season — their first in over two decades without Tom Brady. It's time for one of my favorite articles of the year: ranking all 16 games on the New England Patriots' schedule from "easiest" to "hardest." I put the words "easiest" and "hardest" in quotation marks like that only to reinforce the point that no NFL game is easy. If you tuned into the league's schedule release show on Thursday night via the NFL Network, you probably heard it over and over again from nearly every coach in the league during their ta...

Musket Fire3 days ago

Jarrett Stidham will be Week 1 starting QB for the New England Patriots

Bill Belichick says that Jarrett Stidham will be preparing this summer to become the next starting quarterback of the New England Patriots. It appears that Jarrett Stidham will be the next starting quarterback for the New England Patriots. In the first offseason without franchise quarterback Tom Brady, the Patriots haven't really made many additions to their offense as far as upgrades to the team for their new, inexperienced, and raw second-year quarterback, Jarrett Stidham. Bill Belichick talked with Rich Eisen after the NFL released their 2020 game day schedules on Thursday night. The Pat...

Musket Fire3 days ago

Patriots set terrific standard for season ticket holders amidst pandemic

The New England Patriots have reportedly come up with a very generous policy regarding their season ticket holders in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the world continues to navigate the uncertainty surrounding coronavirus and its impact on daily life as we all know it, the New England Patriots have reportedly come up with a plan that should become the standard for all 32 NFL teams this season — assuming, of course, there is a season to be played still. With the release of the full regular season and preseason schedule on Thursday, the league sent a strong message about how optimistic...

Musket Fire3 days ago

The New England Patriots starting QB job is Jarrett Stidham's to lose

Despite some competition, the next starting quarterback of the New England Patriots is Jarrett Stidham's job to lose this season. Considering the way the cookie has crumbled for the New England Patriots during the offseason, it appears that the starting quarterback job of the team is going to be second-year signal caller Jarrett Stidham's to lose. After the departure of franchise quarterback Tom Brady, the Patriots currently have four quarterbacks on their roster now: Jarrett Stidham, Brian Hoyer, J'mar Smith, and Brian Lewerke. Stidham is the only one of the bunch that the Patriots have in...

Musket Fire4 days ago

New England Patriots sign undrafted Auburn wideout Will Hastings

The New England Patriots signed an undrafted free agent wide receiver who is a former college teammate of Jarrett Stidham. The New England Patriots have brought in a familiar wide receiver for quarterback Jarrett Stidham to work with for at least the offseason in wide receiver Will Hastings. Stidham and Hastings were college teammates at Auburn and created great chemistry with each other in the process. They each had the best seasons of their college careers in 2017. Hastings — 5'10", 174 lbs — reeled in 26 passes while impressively averaging 20.2 yards per reception for 525 yards and scori...

Musket Fire4 days ago

Bruce Arians confirms Tom Brady was Rob Gronkowski/Bucs matchmaker

Tampa Bay head coach Bruce Arians told the media that Tom Brady was responsible for getting Rob Gronkowski back in the NFL and on the Buccaneers. Tom Brady: the greatest quarterback of all time … and also one of the greatest recruiters out there. It was truly shocking to see Brady leave the New England Patriots after 20 seasons and six Super Bowl titles with the only franchise he's ever known. It was even more shocking when exactly a month and a day later, Rob Gronkowski — then thought to be retired from the NFL forever — was traded by New England to Tampa Bay along with a seventh-round pic...

Musket Fire4 days ago

New England Patriots: Bill Belichick nominated for a Sports Emmy Award

The New England Patriots' Bill Belichick has a chance to add yet another trophy to his already-impressive collection of awards and accolades. Bill Belichick has become one of the greatest football coaches of all-time during his 20-year run as head coach of the New England Patriots. There really isn't any feat that Belichick hasn't reached in the sport of football. After winning eight Super Bowl championships — six with the New England Patriots and two with the New York Giants as a defensive coordinator — the greatest and smartest coach in the history of the NFL has another chance at winning...

Musket Fire4 days ago

New England Patriots have an exciting project with TE/DE Rashod Berry

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick might have a trick up his sleeve in signing undrafted rookie free agent tight end/defensive end Rashod Berry. At the conclusion of the 2020 NFL Draft that took place at the end of last month, the New England Patriots signed former Ohio State defensive end and tight end, Rashod Berry, through undrafted free agency. Berry — 6'4, 255 lbs — started his college career as a defensive end but eventually switched positions to the offensive side of the ball, where he played tight end for the next three years of his collegiate career. It's hard to determ...

Musket Fire4 days ago

New England Patriots sign undrafted rookie FA running back JJ Taylor

The New England Patriots added another running back to their team this offseason in undrafted rookie free agent JJ Taylor from Arizona. The New England Patriots have signed former Arizona running back JJ Taylor, who is the smallest draft prospect coming into the NFL this offseason. At 5'5 and 185 lbs, Taylor is accustomed to being the smallest player on the field. He packages a traditional old school element as a running back that is very reminiscent of Frank Gore, who currently has the third most rushing yards all-time in NFL history. Taylor was able to showcase himself at the NFL Combine ...

Musket Fire4 days ago

New England Patriots: 2020 regular season schedule released

The NFL released the full 2020 regular season schedule for all 32 teams — and the New England Patriots own the hardest slate in the league this year. Well, the party's over. After years of lucking out and nabbing either the easiest or one of the easiest ranked regular season schedules in the league — despite the fact they were perpetual winners — the New England Patriots are finally getting a little bit of comeuppance … and it couldn't come at a worse time. In their first season without trusty No. 12 under center, the Pats are scheduled to take on what should be the league's most difficult ...

Musket Fire4 days ago

How Bill Belichick wins his fourth NFL Coach of the Year award

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is currently the favorite to win the NFL Coach of the Year Award in 2020 for the fourth time in his career. This upcoming season is going to be one of Bill Belichick's greatest tests yet with the New England Patriots. For the first time in 20 years, Bill Belichick is preparing for a football season without the team's longtime franchise quarterback Tom Brady. Belichick and Brady went through the NFL and the entire AFC conference repeatedly, winning six Super Bowl championships throughout their two-decade tenure together. After the departure of B...

Musket Fire5 days ago

New England Patriots: First four games to be against NFC West, per report

The New England Patriots are rumored to be getting all their interconference play out of the way first, along with the rest of the NFL. The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken up the world of sports immensely, and as the NFL season begins to approach, the league is adjusting the schedule to keep up. For the fans that haven't noticed, every team's NFL schedule is crafted very meticulously. Each team plays their division rivals twice, a certain AFC division, a certain NFC division, and two other teams from their own conference that match their prior year's division finish. This year, the Patriots wi...

Musket Fire5 days ago

Delanie Walker would add value to New England Patriots tight ends

The New England Patriots would benefit from bringing in veteran free agent tight end Delanie Walker this season to add to their young tight end group. The New England Patriots finally addressed their tight end position by drafting two players — Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene — both versatile tight ends in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Considering the starting quarterback position is the inexperienced Jarrett Stidham's job to lose, the Patriots should consider bringing in a veteran tight end to join the team to help bridge the gap and make things easier on the shoulders of the young ...

Musket Fire5 days ago

The history of the New England Patriots logo, uniforms, and jerseys

The New England Patriots have a history of changing the look of their team right after a franchise-altering move has been made. Throughout the history of the team, the New England Patriots have used a series of multiple different uniforms and logos that were originally created by the fans of the team. Specifically, the appearance of the team — from the name "Patriots" to the actual logo — came about from original fan submissions that took place in the 1960s. The eventual "Pat Patriot" logo and team mascot originated from the longtime Boston Globe cartoonist Phil Bissel. Bissel drew authenti...

Musket Fire5 days ago

Support a great cause and get this New England Patriots t-shirt

Support charity with this New England Patriots 'Stronger Together' t-shirt from Fanatics. NFL proceeds will be donated to the United Way. Just because you might be stuck at home right now, that doesn't mean you don't want to look great. Plus, in these trying times, it's nice to give a little something to charity (if you can). That's why you're going to want to check out this New England Patriots 'Stronger Together' t-shirt. You can pre-order yours today and it will ship out to you no later than Friday, May 15. The shirts are 100% cotton and feature screen printed graphics. Here's the cool p...

Musket Fire6 days ago

What a crazy turn of events for the New England Patriots this past year

The New England Patriots underwent one of the most extreme one-year transformations in NFL history between the spring of 2019 and the spring of 2020. It's hard to believe all that's transpired over the course of a little more than a year. Not so very long ago, the New England Patriots were Super Bowl champions. They had defied the odds all year, turning in a relatively modest season by their own impossibly high standards (11-5) that culminated in a dramatic AFC Championship upset road win over Patrick Mahomes' Kansas City Chiefs and then a Super Bowl LIII victory over Sean McVay's Los Angel...

Musket Fire6 days ago

Asante Samuel weighs in on why Tom Brady left the New England Patriots

New England Patriots two-time Super Bowl champion cornerback Asante Samuel shared his thoughts on the departure of longtime quarterback Tom Brady. The Tom Brady saga seems to continue on for the New England Patriots. Former Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel weighed in with his thoughts on why the departure of Brady happened the way it did. Here is a little backstory on Samuel's history in New England. After being taken in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Patriots, Samuel followed up a great rookie season by becoming a starter for the Super Bowl in just his second year in the NF...

Musket Fire6 days ago

Signing Johnny Manziel would be the ultimate Bill Belichick project

Already declared an NFL bust after 15 games, Johnny Manziel would come dirt-cheap. Could Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots save his career? Johnny Manziel has seemingly come and gone in the NFL. But if given a second chance, would his electrifying athleticism be able to help a team at the pro level? Last season in the league, the Baltimore Ravens ran an offense that featured its quarterback Lamar Jackson using his tremendous athletic ability to run the ball and make plays with his feet. Jackson went on the win the regular season league MVP. It opened my eyes to the different lengt...

Musket Fire6 days ago

Anfernee Jennings will be a major addition to the New England Patriots

Anfernee Jennings is poised to make a huge impact on the New England Patriots as a rookie who adds depth to the overall defense. The New England Patriots entered the 2020 offseason knowing they needed to retool their defense after the free agent departures of key linebackers Kyle Van Noy (Dolphins) and Jamie Collins (Lions). To do so, the Patriots selected versatile linebacker Anfernee Jennings in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Jennings — the 87th overall draft pick in 2020 — is coming from a Nick Saban-led Alabama team that is run analogously to the Bill Belichick-led New England P...

Musket Fire6 days ago

Bill Belichick closing in on George Halas for second in all-time wins

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick will likely catch legendary Chicago Bears head coach George Halas in all-time wins soon. The passing of Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula on Monday has stirred up memories of his place as an all-time great in NFL history. Shula, who died at 90 years old, remains the league's winningest head coach with 328 regular season victories and 19 playoff wins for a grand total of 347 victories. New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is currently third on that same list with 273 regular season victories and 31 playoff wins for a total of 304 win...

Musket Fire6 days ago

N'Keal Harry's offseason work ethic is once again impressive

Second-year New England Patriots wide receiver N'Keal Harry is once again saying and doing all the right things before the NFL season. This time last year, N'Keal Harry was easily the biggest story around the New England Patriots organization. The month of March 2019 belonged to Rob Gronkowski and his surprise retirement … er, surprise temporary retirement, we mean. The months of April and May 2019? They belonged to Harry. That's what happens when you become the first Patriots wide receiver drafted by Bill Belichick in the first round ever. The hype train leaves the station at breakneck spe...

Musket Fire6 days ago

New England Patriots: Jakobi Meyers poised to make impact in 2020

By not selecting a receiver in the draft, it looks like the New England Patriots are turning to Jakobi Meyers and other youngsters on their current roster. In addition to the New England Patriots drafting N'Keal Harry in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, the Patriots also signed two undrafted rookie free agent wide receivers: Jakobi Meyers and Gunner Olszewski. They both signed three-year rookie deals, but will probably still have to battle for a roster spot heading into the 2020 season. Both Olszewski and Meyers experienced the obvious rookie struggles during their first year with the...

Musket Fire7 days ago

New England Patriots: The great debate of Wes Welker vs Julian Edelman

The New England Patriots created a blueprint through Wes Welker and Julian Edelman that has evolved the slot receiver position in the NFL. The New England Patriots established themselves as a successful pass-heavy team when they acquired Wes Welker in 2007. The duo of Tom Brady and Welker evolved the slot receiver position to be the focal point of the offense and to what is more commonly seen around the league today. Welker immediately excelled in New England after understanding the complex and dynamic offense that the Patriots were trying to run. He caught over 100 passes for more than 1,0...

Musket Fire7 days ago

Bill Parcells should be inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame

This year is Bill Parcells' fourth time being named a finalist to be inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame. Before Bill Belichick became the head coach of the New England Patriots in 2000, there was another Bill who was calling the shots in New England: the one and only, Bill Parcells. Although Parcells' coaching tenure only lasted for four years from 1993-1996, he has a 32-32 overall record, led the team to a Super Bowl appearance in 1996, and is responsible for drafting what was the start of the first dynasty for the Patriots. Some of those notable players he selected: Troy ...

Musket Fire7 days ago

Will Julian Edelman break Wes Welker's Patriots career receptions record?

Julian Edelman needs 74 receptions to break Wes Welker's record for most career receptions with the New England Patriots. Will he be able to get there? Barring injury, retirement, or a trade, it appears that it's more a question of when than if Julian Edelman will break Wes Welker's record for the most career receptions as a member of the New England Patriots. The two wide receivers were teammates for four seasons — from 2009 to 2012 — on some of the best Patriots offenses in franchise history. Edelman missed the epic 2007 incarnation with Randy Moss, but all three players were on the roste...

Musket Fire7 days ago

New England Patriots should consider signing veteran QB Matt Moore

The New England Patriots should consider signing veteran free agent quarterback Matt Moore to a one-year contract heading into this season. The New England Patriots might not have been as interested in veteran free agent quarterback Andy Dalton — who signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys — as we all originally thought. However, the Patriots have made it clear that they plan on adding a third quarterback to the roster for the regular season. The Patriots passed on the opportunity to draft one of the top quarterbacks who came out of the 2020 NFL Draft. To add competition to the q...

Musket Fire8 days ago

Last 10 receivers to surpass 1,000 yards for the New England Patriots

Since 1979, the New England Patriots have only had 10 players surpass the 1,000-yard receiving plateau in a single season. Despite all of their success over the last 10 years, the New England Patriots have struggled in regards to their wide receiver position. It comes off as a bit of a surprise when considering that Tom Brady — the greatest quarterback of all-time — was the quarterback in New England for the last two decades. During Brady's historic tenure in New England, the Patriots successfully created a more balanced offense that utilized the running backs and tight ends as receiving o...

Musket Fire8 days ago

Sony Michel is the key to the Patriots' offensive production in 2020

After some struggles in his second season with the Patriots, Sony Michel is set to be the offensive key for New England this coming year. In the 2019 season, Sony Michel struggled greatly at times — and it showed with his 3.7 average yards per carry, ranked 40th in the league. He finished the year with 247 attempts (9th), 912 yards (17th) and seven touchdowns (14th) on the ground and paced the way for the 18th-ranked rushing offense with 1,703 total rush yards and 106.4 rush yards per game. If the New England Patriots return to the postseason again, Michel is going to be the offensive weapo...

Musket Fire8 days ago

Patriots won't have to worry about international games in 2020

The New England Patriots aren't going to travel outside the U.S. for any games in 2020, as the league announced all games will be domestic this season amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The New England Patriots are going to remain stateside for the entirety of the 2020 season. In fact, none of the NFL's 32 teams will be traveling abroad this year, as the league announced on Monday all games will be domestic this season amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, with the 2020 schedule soon to be announced, at least tentatively, all games are to remain within the United States' borders. This will ultimate...

Musket Fire8 days ago

Julian Edelman’s best plays as a New England Patriot

Julian Edelman, one of the best New England Patriots receivers of all time, will be 34 to start the 2020 season. Let's take a look at his best plays so far. Julian Edelman was drafted in the seventh round out of Kent State in 2009 after playing quarterback for the Golden Flashes. Who would've guessed that after over a decade of playing, Edelman would be considered one of the greatest New England Patriots of all time? Edelman will turn 34 years old this month, but like his former QB would say: Age is just a number. Edelman has had an extremely productive career — a borderline Hall of Fame ca...

Musket Fire9 days ago

Making an argument for the 2020 New England Patriots offense

While there are certainly many warning signs surrounding the New England Patriots offense these days, perhaps we're all underestimating it just a bit too. In 2019, the New England Patriots had the 15th-best offense in terms of total yards during the regular season. They were a more respectable seventh-best in the league in terms of total points scored, and they finished eighth in total passing yards and 18th in total rushing yards. The biggest knock on the Patriots offense heading into this upcoming 2020 season is the loss of Tom Brady. It's an understandable concern and criticism, since Br...

Musket Fire9 days ago

Last 10 New England Patriots to rush for 1,000 yards in franchise history

The New England Patriots used to be an established ground-and-pound running football team. Here are the last 10 1,000-yard rushers in team history. The New England Patriots had the luxury of watching Tom Brady evolve into the greatest quarterback of all time throughout the last 20 years. Due in part to Brady being so elite, the Patriots have never been recognized as being an established running team. Dating all the way back to the mid 70s, New England has had some bruising runners throughout their franchise's history to run behind John Hannah, who became one of the best offensive linemen in...

Musket Fire9 days ago

No need for Patriots to sign Cam Newton -- at least not yet

The New England Patriots seem committed to figuring out what they have in Jarrett Stidham and should wait to sign Cam Newton if they're interested. Rumors continue to swirl around the New England Patriots and their quarterback position in 2020. That's the kind of thing that happens when you lose the greatest quarterback of all time in free agency — to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of all teams, no less. The starting quarterback for the Brady-less Patriots hasn't been announced yet, and it might not happen anytime soon either. Most people think it will be second-year man Jarrett Stidham, who was ...

Musket Fire9 days ago

Don't hold your breath waiting for Patriots to tank in 2020

As much as it might seemingly make sense for them to do so, there's no way that Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots intentionally tank a season. The idea that the New England Patriots might purposefully decide to try and tank the 2020 season in order to improve their draft positioning come 2021 seems very much to be in vogue right now and gaining major media attention and traction on social media. To which I say, "Reaaaaaally?" In case it wasn't clear, that's rampant skepticism on my part about this whole suggestion. For the record, I'm not saying it doesn't make sense to try and ta...

Musket Fire10 days ago

3 available free agent wide receivers the New England Patriots can target

The New England Patriots need to start preparing their offense for this season — and for the long haul into the future — by adding wide receiver help. The New England Patriots need to bring in positive reinforcements to upgrade their wide receiver position. The concern obviously doesn't seem too important in regards for this season, but the Patriots are going to find themselves in a similar position next season. So it would make sense to be preventative and start the process of bringing in talent now. Unfortunately for the Patriots, they are already up against the wall in regards to the sal...

Musket Fire10 days ago

Bill Belichick rightfully installed as betting favorite for Coach of the Year

Vegas oddsmakers have agreed that New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick should easily be considered the favorite for NFL Coach of the Year in 2020. A number of Las Vegas sportsbooks made quite the statement last month when they released their win/loss total projections for all 32 NFL teams. Arguably the most noteworthy opening line they gave was for the New England Patriots — a team most books projected to win only eight or nine games in 2020, despite the historic levels of success the franchise has enjoyed over the past 20 years. Of course, the reason behind this pessimistic outlo...

Musket Fire10 days ago

Ranking the New England Patriots' Super Bowl losses by heartbreak level

The New England Patriots may have won as many Super Bowl titles as any other team, but they've also lost as many as any other team too. Sometimes it's okay to cry … even in sports. Ask even the burliest, meanest, toughest people on the planet, and there's a very good chance that each and every one of them has shed a few tears at least once, if not on multiple occasions throughout their life. For many, many years, the New England Patriots were one of the worst teams in professional football. Across the first 11 years of their existence as the Boston Patriots, this franchise made the postseas...

Musket Fire11 days ago

Patriots predicted to get 3 compensatory picks in 2021 NFL Draft

The New England Patriots can expect a decent haul of compensatory picks in the 2020 NFL Draft for the net loss of qualifying free agents, according to the latest reports. Three things in life are generally true: death, taxes and the New England Patriots seemingly regularly accruing compensatory picks in each year's NFL Draft. In the 2020 draft, New England had four such selections. And after a net loss of qualifying free agents on the open market, it looks like the Pats will have more comp picks at their disposal for the 2021 NFL Draft, too. The folks over at Over the Cap assembled a list f...

Musket Fire11 days ago

Patriots predicted to get 3 compensatory picks in 2021 NFL Draft

Musket Fire11 days ago

New England Patriots: Bill Belichick out to prove defense wins championships

Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots are going to be riding the backs of their core defensive unit in 2020 more than ever. In an offseason that has included the departure of the franchise's overall leader in Tom Brady as well as the shocking return from retirement and immediate trading of Rob Gronkowski, the New England Patriots appear to be in an obvious offensive rebuilding period … or so we thought. The Patriots have surprisingly gone defensive this offseason and during the 2020 NFL Draft — selecting three defensive players in a row — which is a bit surprising considering that mos...

Musket Fire11 days ago

New England Patriots announce All-Decade Team of the 2010s

The New England Patriots and their Hall of Fame selection committee have announced the franchise's All-Decade Team of the 2010s. The New England Patriots have been one of the most successful and relevant teams in all of sports over the last two decades. We've seen many players contribute in New England during the last 10 years, but none more so than the All-Decade Team that the Patriots Hall of Fame selection committee has put together. This group is completed by current and former Patriots who have contributed to the historic amount of success in New England over the last 10 years, and it ...

Musket FireApr 30

Jarrett Stidham and Patrick Mahomes have more in common than you'd think

Patrick Mahomes and Jarrett Stidham are far from the same quarterback, but the two share more things in common than one might initially think. With no sports on to watch, why not have some fun comparing the best quarterback in the game right now to Jarrett Stidham, a guy that is not even a sure thing to start a game in his NFL career? Patrick Mahomes is already being debated by some as a Hall of Fame quarterback after just two seasons as a full-time starting quarterback. Jarrett Stidham is an unknown commodity and the likely successor to New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, the great...

Musket FireApr 30

New England Patriots will create a strong running attack this season

The New England Patriots have all the makings to create a strong running attack this season and take some of the pressure off Jarrett Stidham. The New England Patriots have quietly built themselves up to be one of the best running teams in the NFL this upcoming season. Considering the team is starting a new quarterback for the first time in 20 years, perhaps the Patriots want to create a strong running identity to complement and take some of the load off the shoulders of their new starting quarterback this year — most likely Jarrett Stidham. Since 2015 when they drafted Shaq Mason, the Pats...

Musket FireApr 30

Patriots versus Buccaneers in 2021 -- will Brady and Gronk still be there?

The Patriots are scheduled to play the Buccaneers in 2021. Will Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski still be there for what would be an epic matchup? Every indicator we have ever seen from Tom Brady points to the fact that he is the biggest competitor on the planet. He was pick No. 199 in the 2000 NFL Draft and he still uses that motivation to this day. In an interview with Rodney Harrison, Brady noted that he still looks at himself as a sixth-round draft choice, and that he can't acknowledge that he is the greatest of all time … because he thinks that he isn't. We had the 2020 NFL Draft last week...

Musket FireApr 30

Jarrett Stidham is the big winner of the New England Patriots' draft

The New England Patriots abstained from selecting a quarterback in the 2020 NFL Draft — which is great news for second-year man Jarrett Stidham. The New England Patriots had the opportunity to draft a highly-rated quarterback in last week's NFL Draft. Rather than doing so, the Patriots ultimately elected to pass on upgrading the quarterback position, thus proving their stance that they still believe in what Jarrett Stidham can bring to the table for the team moving forward. Stidham, who was drafted in the fourth round out of Auburn in 2019, was given the golden opportunity to sit behind Tom...

Musket FireApr 30

Patriots shouldn't target former Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton

There are reports the New England Patriots are eyeing former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, but that would be counterproductive to what the Pats need to do. The New England Patriots are going to have a new starting quarterback in the folds for 2020, marking the end of one of the most historical eras in all of sports, the reign of now-Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady. But that quarterback should be second-year pro Jarrett Stidham, not recently released signal-caller Andy Dalton. The Cincinnati Bengals are reportedly releasing the Red Rifle, according to a Thursday repo...

Musket FireApr 30

Patriots 2020 NFL Draft: EDGE Josh Uche can thrive right away

The New England Patriots needed pass-rushing help in the 2020 NFL Draft, and grabbing Michigan EDGE Josh Uche lands a player who can make an immediate impact. It was common in mocks to see the New England Patriots target an edge rusher with their first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. That didn't happen, of course, as head coach Bill Belichick and Co. elected to trade down from No. 23 overall, then they grabbed Lenoir-Rhyne safety Kyle Duggar with the team's first overall pick at No. 37 overall. That's fine. But one could make the argument the Pats' second pick of the draft, Michigan EDGE Josh U...

Musket FireApr 29

The New England Patriots must use 2020 as a rebuilding year

It's going to be tough for the New England Patriots to make a playoff push in 2020 without a clear picture of the roster in the first place. It's been about two decades since Pats Nation waded through an offseason that wasn't filled with Super Bowl hopes. However, with the departure of elite players like Kyle Van Noy, Stephen Gostkowski, and Tom Brady, the team is staring mediocrity straight in the face. "But wait," you may cry out, "we still have Coach Belichick! He knows more about the team than we could possibly know! He could make a Super Bowl run with anyone, including Jarrett Stidham!...

Musket FireApr 29

New England Patriots sign undrafted FA wide receiver Jeff Thomas

The New England Patriots are bringing in former Miami Hurricanes speedy wide receiver, Jeff Thomas, as an undrafted rookie free agent. The New England Patriots have plans to sign former Miami Hurricanes speedster wide receiver, Jeff Thomas, as an undrafted rookie free agent, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Thomas finished his collegiate career collecting 83 receptions for 1,316 yards while averaging 15.9 yards per catch and scoring eight touchdowns. He also ran a 4.45 40 yard dash at the NFL Combine and expected to get selected during the three-day NFL Draft this past week bu...

Musket FireApr 29

What the New England Patriots offense will look like in 2020

After starting to retool their offense, here is a look at what the New England Patriots offense will look like heading into the 2020 season. The New England Patriots have been retooling their offense during the offseason in preparation of utilizing a new starting quarterback for the first time in 20 years. Despite veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer being on the roster — and the signing of two undrafted rookie free agent quarterbacks after last week's NFL Draft — Jarrett Stidham is still next in line to become the No. 1 quarterback option for the Patriots this season. The return of David Andrew...

Musket FireApr 29

Patriots climb slightly in NFL.com post-draft power rankings

The New England Patriots went against the grain in the 2020 NFL Draft, which still managed to push a slight climb in NFL.com's latest power rankings. If there's one thing New England Patriots fans know, it's head coach Bill Belichick and his staff won't do anything predictable in the NFL Draft. Anyone who thought otherwise was again reminded of this by Belichick's efforts during the 2020 draft, which didn't lack for speculation the Pats would be looking at a quarterback early to replace the Hall of Famer, Tom Brady. And if not that direction, New England would surely go wide receiver at som...

Musket FireApr 28

New England Patriots might really regret passing on Jake Fromm

The New England Patriots elected not to draft Georgia QB Jacob Fromm. With the Buffalo Bills taking him, he could become a future villain for the team. The New England Patriots franchise stumbled upon the greatest quarterback of all-time in the 2000 NFL Draft, selecting Tom Brady with the 199th pick in the sixth round. Brady was the seventh quarterback selected in that draft, inspiring ESPN's "Brady 6" documentary. In this year's NFL Draft, the seventh quarterback selected was Georgia's Jacob Fromm by the Patriots' division foe, the Buffalo Bills. While there may never be another Tom Brady ...

Musket FireApr 28

Why the New England Patriots abstained from drafting a WR

In a year that featured one of the deepest and highest-rated wideout draft classes in NFL history, the New England Patriots abstained from taking one. The New England Patriots entered the offseason knowing they needed to upgrade their receiving group regardless of whoever became the next starting quarterback of the team. In doing so, the Patriots signed veteran wide receiver Marqise Lee to a one-year deal on the morning of the NFL Draft after adding former Cardinals wideout Damiere Byrd in free agency. The Patriots also had plenty of opportunities to upgrade their receiving group this year ...

Musket FireApr 28

Is Mohamed Sanu the No. 2 wide receiver for the Patriots this year?

Last season the New England Patriots traded a second-round pick to acquire Mohamed Sanu. With a dip in production, is Sanu still a No. 2 wide receiver? With the departure of Tom Brady, the New England Patriots are going to rely on second-year quarterback Jarrett Stidham or veteran Brian Hoyer to run the offense in 2020 — and Mohamed Sanu is a guy that could potentially help whoever starts. With Hoyer being a middling quarterback at best and Stidham an unproven commodity, the skill position players will have to play an even more critical role this upcoming season than they usually would with...

Musket FireApr 28

New England Patriots: James Develin is retiring after 8 years

Starting fullback James Develin has announced his retirement from the NFL after eight seasons with the New England Patriots. After eight years, James Develin has played his last down for the New England Patriots. After going undrafted in 2010, Develin joined the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz in the Arena Football League for one season before making the switch to the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League, where he was coached by Jay Gruden for one year. He eventually landed a practice squad opportunity with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2011 before signing with the New England Patriots in 201...

Musket FireApr 28

New England Patriots bring in two undrafted rookie free agent QBs

The plans fell through for the New England Patriots to draft a quarterback this year, but the team has agreed to terms with two undrafted rookie QBs. The New England Patriots had every intention of drafting a quarterback this year, but instead elected to pass on multiple opportunities to select a highly rated quarterback at any point in the draft this past weekend. The Patriots did in fact stay true to their original plans of adding some young QBs though, as they have agreed to terms with two undrafted rookie free agent quarterbacks just one day after the close of the 2020 NFL Draft. The fi...

Musket FireApr 28

What the New England Patriots defense will look like in 2020

The New England Patriots gave their defense a much-needed upgrade heading into the 2020 season. Here is what the depth chart will look like! The New England Patriots went back to their original blueprints by focusing on addressing their defensive needs in the 2020 NFL Draft. In doing so, the Patriots used their first three out of 10 draft picks to target defensive players — including four in total for the entire weekend. The Patriots' draft included a handful of trades that didn't look so pretty in the moment, but the draft ultimately added some much needed depth to a mildly depleted defens...

Musket FireApr 27

Bill Belichick says Patriots not drafting a quarterback 'wasn't by design'

The New England Patriots had all intentions of drafting a quarterback this year, but it just didn't seem to pan out for them in the end. The New England Patriots had multiple and ample opportunities to draft a highly-rated quarterback at any point during the NFL Draft this past weekend. Instead, the Patriots held their ground and seemingly built around the current quarterback options they have in Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer. The Patriots essentially passed on Jordan Love, Jake Fromm, Jacob Eason, Nathan Stanley, and every other quarterback that was eligible to be drafted this year — whi...

Musket FireApr 27

New England Patriots: Remaining roster holes after the 2020 NFL Draft

Josh Uche #LB39 of the Michigan Wolverines (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) The New England Patriots wrapped up their 2020 NFL Draft class with 10 selections, beefing up good chunks of the roster but leaving others unattended. Let's explore the remaining needs after the weekend. 2020 remains a massive transitional year for the New England Patriots, and the team's actions in this year's NFL Draft highlighted how the roster is going through a notable reconstruction under head coach Bill Belichick and Co. The Pats entered the draft with more than enough selections, made all the more prov...

Musket FireApr 27

New England Patriots: Grades and analysis on full 2020 draft class

The New England Patriots did a decent job addressing several of their key roster holes, but they also neglected some crucial positions as well. There were even more eyes than usual on the New England Patriots during the 2020 NFL Draft. Usually, the team attracts plenty of attention because they have a giant target on their back. That's what happens when you enjoy the success of not just one, but two separate dynasties bookending a 20-year run of incredible dominance and winning. That run may or may not have come crashing to a halt though in 2020 … right along with the rest of the world as i...

Musket FireApr 26

New England Patriots: Reflecting on the best Brady-to-Gronk moments

With Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski both now on theTampa Bay Buccaneers, let's look at the best moments these two have shared as New England Patriots. Manning had his Harrison, Montana had his Rice, and Brady still has his Gronk. Tom Brady sounded the trumpets — or should I say conch shell — to rally Rob Gronkowski to Tampa Bay. Brady re-posted an old video of him on social media blowing into a "horn" to summon Gronkowski, scolded him for partying, then commanded him to do five push-ups. It's safe to say Gronkowski would do anything for Brady, since they have such a unique connection. Gronkow...

Musket FireApr 26

New England Patriots prepare for future by drafting Kyle Dugger

After trading out of the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots selected safety Kyle Dugger 37th overall out of Lenoir-Rhyne. In the first post-Tom Brady draft, the New England Patriots went defensive with their initial selection of the event and took Kyle Dugger 37th overall out of Lenoir-Rhyne — which is a Division II school. It goes to show how much the Patriots like this young safety, considering the Patriots could have drafted a highly-ranked defensive back in the second round from a bigger school if they'd wanted to. Dugger was the only Division II player to be in...

Musket FireApr 26

New England Patriots draft interchangeable O-lineman Dustin Woodard

The New England Patriots added depth to their offensive line by drafting three linemen, with one of them being center Dustin Woodard out of Memphis. The New England Patriots did not have a solid contingency plan in place last year when they lost starting center David Andrews for the entire season due to blood clots in his lung. And although he has been medically cleared to return to football activities, the Patriots don't really know what kind of physical condition Andrews is currently in — making the drafting of Dustin Woodard a reasonable selection. Woodard is 6'2, 291 lbs, and received a...

Musket FireApr 26

New England Patriots look to recreate the dual tight end set from 2010

The New England Patriots manufactured a few different trades that allowed them to draft two tight ends in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. The New England Patriots went into the draft knowing that they needed to upgrade their tight end position. In doing so, New England traded picks and a future asset with the New York Jets and Las Vegas Raiders in order to get back into the third round. The Patriots left the third round with Devin Asiasi (drafted 91st overall) and Dalton Keene (drafted 101st overall), their new pair of versatile tight ends. These draft picks show that the Patriots we...

Musket FireApr 26

Patriots conclude 2020 NFL Draft with pick of C Dustin Woodard

With what is expected to be their final selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots picked Memphis center Dustin Woodard. The New England Patriots — and more specifically their head coach and general manager, Bill Belichick — are always going to march to the beat of their own drum. Widely expected to be in the market for quarterback and wide receiver in this draft, the Pats instead spent 10 picks on a number of other positions. They did not address either QB or WR, though they probably will sign some undrafted free agents and perhaps ink a veteran out there like Cam Newton, An...

Musket FireApr 25

Patriots add inside linebacker Cassh Maluia from Wyoming

The New England Patriots added another linebacker prospect to their mix in 2020, selecting Cassh Maluia at the tail-end of the sixth round. The New England Patriots selected Cassh Maluia with the No. 204 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Maluia helps fill an obvious need at a place on the Patriots roster that has been decimated this offseason through free agency. 2019 starters Kyle Van Noy (Dolphins) and Jamie Collins (Lions) are no longer on the team, leaving behind them a whole wealth of production and stats. Some of that production will hopefully be shouldered by incumbent Patriots lik...

Musket FireApr 25

Patriots continue strengthening offensive line with OT Justin Herron

The New England Patriots continued adding to their offensive line on Saturday by selecting Wake Forest tackle Justin Herron at No. 195 overall. Just 13 picks after they selected Michigan guard Michael Onwenu at No. 182 overall, the New England Patriots continued to bolster their offensive line by selecting Wake Forest product Justin Herron at No. 195 overall. Herron checks in at 6'4 and 308 lbs, and was a four-year starter for the Demon Deacons. Here's what ESPN's Steve Muench had to say about him via the pre-draft profile analysis on their site: Herron, a team captain and four-year starter...

Musket FireApr 25

Patriots bolster offensive line with Michigan G Michael Onwenu

The New England Patriots dipped back into the Michigan Wolverine draft pool to select Michael Onwenu at offensive guard in Round 6. On Friday, the New England Patriots selected Michigan outside linebacker Josh Uche to amp up their pass rush. On Saturday, they selected another former Wolverine in offensive guard Michael Onwenu to fortify their O-line. New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' younger brother, Ben McDaniels, has been with the Michigan coaching staff under Jim Harbaugh since 2018. He was promoted to quarterbacks coach in 2019, a role he'll maintain this upcoming season...

Musket FireApr 25

Patriots find Stephen Gostkowski's replacement in K Justin Rohrwasser

The New England Patriots used their lone fifth round pick to draft Stephen Gostkowski's presumed replacement, Justin Rohrwasser. With the No. 159 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots selected Marshall placekicker Justin Rohrwasser. The 6'3, 230 lb kicker immediately slides in as the presumptive starting kicker for the Pats. Stephen Gostkowski, who had been with the team since he was taken in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft, was released last month by New England. Gostkowski had struggled at the beginning of 2019 before undergoing a hip surgery that cut his sea...

Musket FireApr 25

Patriots: Needs and potential targets on Day 3 of 2020 NFL Draft

The New England Patriots enter the third and final day of the 2020 NFL Draft with six selections remaining — and a host of outstanding needs still. No team is ever going to come out of the NFL Draft with all their holes plugged and their needs addressed, but some teams definitely will be in better shape than others. The defending world champion Kansas City Chiefs, for example, didn't have a lot of work to do coming into this event to begin with. They managed to re-sign all their outstanding wide receivers during free agency, retained most of their championship-caliber defense, and of course...

Musket FireApr 25

New England Patriots: A look at what OLB Josh Uche brings to the table

For the second year in a row, the New England Patriots have decided to draft a former Michigan Wolverine linebacker: Josh Uche. The New England Patriots made another trade on the second day of the NFL Draft, this time with the Baltimore Ravens. The Patriots moved up 11 spots to 60th overall in exchange for the 71st overall pick. The trade also included the Pats giving up the 98th overall pick for the 129th. In doing so, the Patriots moved back into the second round to draft linebacker Josh Uche 60th overall out of Michigan. Uche is 6'1, 245 lbs, and is a versatile and elusive linebacker. Uc...

Musket FireApr 25

Nick Caserio admits New England Patriots are interested in drafting a QB

Nick Caserio suggests that the New England Patriots will be active on the third day of the NFL Draft and are interested in drafting a quarterback. After the second and third rounds of the NFL Draft, the New England Patriots will enter the third day of the draft having already drafted one defensive back to address their aging secondary, two linebackers to address their thin linebacker group, and two tight ends to address their lack of production at the position last year. The Patriots have done a great job so far of retooling the team after losing a handful of players in free agency, and the...

Musket FireApr 25

Patriots trade with Jets(!) to select TE Dalton Keene at end of third round

The New England Patriots shockingly traded with the New York Jets to select TE Dalton Keene at the end of the third round with the 101st overall pick. It doesn't happen often, so it's certainly worth taking note of when it does: the New England Patriots and the New York Jets worked together to achieve a common goal. The Patriots traded with the Jets late Friday night at the end of the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. New England took New York's No. 101 overall pick in exchange for the 125th and 129th picks of this draft, plus a 2021 sixth-round pick. All of that amounted to the Patriots t...

Musket FireApr 25

Patriots finally address tight end with Devin Asiasi in third round

The New England Patriots finally spent a relatively-high draft pick on a tight end, selecting UCLA Bruin Devin Asiasi in the third round. Over a full year after Rob Gronkowski left the New England Patriots to "retirement" — but just a week or so after he really left the team to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tom Brady — it appears the Pats may have finally taken a measurable step to address his departure. The combination of Ben Watson, Ryan Izzo, and Matt LaCosse last year was just plain awful for the Pats. New England had one of the worst tight end groups in the league, and it showed — ...

Musket FireApr 25

Patriots double-dip at linebacker on Day 2 with Anfernee Jennings

The New England Patriots took their second linebacker on the second day of the draft, selecting former Alabama Crimson Tide thumper Anfernee Jennings. The Nick Saban to Bill Belichick talent pipeline remains active in 2020. HBO released a documentary special interviewing the two football gurus not too long ago, who have been friends for many years. Belichick and Saban once upon a time were on the same staff of the Cleveland Browns, with Saban briefly serving as Belichick's defensive coordinator while Belichick cut his teeth as a first-time NFL head coach. Decades later, they are among the m...

Musket FireApr 25

Patriots trade back into second round to grab linebacker/edge Josh Uche

The New England Patriots traded with the Baltimore Ravens to move back into the second round and select Michigan outside linebacker Josh Uche. The New England Patriots may have lost one Michigan man this offseason with the departure of Tom Brady, but they added another Wolverine back to the roster on Friday night during the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft in outside linebacker/defensive end Josh Uche. Uche's 8.5 sacks led the Wolverines in 2019, and his 11.5 tackles for loss were the second-most among the maize and blue. At 6'1 and 245 lbs, he certainly has the physical make-up to add so...

Musket FireApr 25

Patriots select Division II safety Kyle Dugger in second round of NFL Draft

The New England Patriots raised plenty of eyebrows around the league when they used their first 2020 draft pick on Kyle Dugger. With their first pick of the 2020 NFL Draft — No. 37 in the second round — the New England Patriots selected Lenoir-Rhyne safety Kyle Dugger. It was a bit of a surprising move. New England had been linked to Alabama's Xavier McKinney, who went a couple picks earlier. Instead, Bill Belichick selected a player from a Division II college program many casual football fans have probably never heard of. Granted, Dugger is a stud. He's 6'1, 217 lbs, and he definitely fill...

Musket FireApr 25

Patriots: Needs and potential targets on Day 2 of 2020 NFL Draft

The New England Patriots have a league-high five different picks to make on Friday night as the 2020 NFL Draft continues with rounds two and three. Surprise, surprise — the New England Patriots traded out of the first round altogether last night. Under Bill Belichick as GM, the team has made something of a habit of leaving all the opening night drama behind them when it comes to the three-day NFL Draft marathon. Sometimes the Patriots move out of the first round completely, more often they move way down in the pecking order, and occasionally they don't even have a first-round pick at all. E...

Musket FireApr 25

David Andrews strategically announces his return during NFL Draft

Center David Andrews has been solid for the New England Patriots throughout his career, but he's also coming back from a serious health condition. Coincidence or calculation? That's the question many of us should ask regarding the curious timing of New England Patriots center David Andrews' announcement that he's been cleared to return to the NFL. Andrews missed the entire 2019 season after it was discovered that he had blood clots in one of his lungs. He has slowly but surely been working with team doctors and medical personnel to dissolve the clots and get himself back in football-shape, ...

Musket FireApr 24

Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski had this plan in the making for a while

Rob Gronkowski is now a Buccaneer, joining his quarterback Tom Brady. The question now is how long have the two had this plan for? Earlier this week, it was announced that Rob Gronkowski was coming out of retirement to rejoin Tom Brady in Tampa Bay. But how long have they had this plan in the making? Gronkowski was drafted by the Patriots in 2010 as part of an effort to reform New England's offense after the team endured a Wild Card round loss in ugly fashion to the Baltimore Ravens. Ever since Gronkowski came into the league, the Patriots had always had a top tier offense that many defensi...

Musket FireApr 24

Patriots NFL Draft: New England should draft place kicker Tyler Bass

For the first time in 24 years, the New England Patriots were forced to use more than one place kicker in 2019. The Patriots should consider drafting a kicker in this year's NFL Draft. The one position the New England Patriots have never had to worry about has been their placekicker. Up until last season, there have only been two kickers during the Bill Belichick coaching era: Adam Vinatieri, who was brought in to New England as an undrafted rookie free agent in 1996, four years before Belichick took over the reins in New England, and Stephen Gostkowski, who took over for Vinatieri in 2006 ...

Musket FireApr 24

New England Patriots: Friday's game plan for Rounds 2-3 of NFL Draft

After not making a selection and trading out of the first round of the NFL Draft, the New England Patriots are preparing to be very active in Rounds 2-3. The New England Patriots traded out of the first round and received a second-round pick, which is an asset the team didn't originally have in the draft, and an additional third-round pick after making a draft-day trade with the Los Angeles Chargers. The first round of the draft featured zero tight ends, one running back, four quarterbacks, and seven offensive linemen taken off the board. One of the beauties of this draft is that most posit...

Musket FireApr 24

New England Patriots: Evaluation of offensive line and running attack

The New England Patriots should consider strengthening their running attack in the first season they'll play without Tom Brady this century. Considering the New England Patriots no longer have the luxury of employing Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback of all time, and are still essentially in quarterback limbo between Jarrett Stidham, Brian Hoyer, and possibly a rookie draftee, it has me wondering if the team is going to take on a different approach to their offensive system this season. That approach should consist of becoming a more productive, balanced, and powerful running football tea...

Musket FireApr 24

Nick Caserio explains Patriots trading out of first round

Despite being in different locations, the approach to the NFL Draft has not changed for Bill Belichick or the New England Patriots in 2020. The New England Patriots made one of their usual moves during the first night of the NFL Draft on Thursday. The organization realized that the gap between their picks from the first round (23rd overall) to the third round (87th overall) was too large, so as a result, the Patriots decided to gain additional draft assets. In doing so, the Patriots traded down and out of the first round in order to gain a second (37th overall) and additional third round pi...

Musket FireApr 24

Get yourself a New England Patriots face covering today

Don't let something like a global pandemic keep you from displaying your intense fandom. Instead, get yourself some New England Patriots face coverings. These are trying times we're in. But, this too shall pass. In the meantime it is important for New England Patriots fans (and everyone else) to stay as safe as possible. The CDC has recommended that we wear something over our faces when out in public. But don't let that keep you from hiding your passion for your team. Instead, slap a team logo on that mug of yours. Literally. Get yourself a new NFL team logo face covering from Fanatics. F...

Musket FireApr 23

Patriots to bolster receiving corps by signing Marqise Lee, per report

There's no doubt the New England Patriots need wide receiver help in 2020, and the report on Marqise Lee joining the ranks has to help this particular area. The New England Patriots' wide receiver room is better now than it was a day ago. According to an NFL Draft-day report from ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Pats are bringing aboard 28-year-old former Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Marqise Lee on a one-year deal. The Jags cut Lee back on April 20 amid what looks to be a pretty massive roster shakeup down in Jacksonville. And while the financial details of Lee's contract in New England are ...

Musket FireApr 23

How the New England Patriots can gain more draft assets

The New England Patriots need to hit hard on their first-round pick in tonight's NFL Draft more than ever before. Let's see what the team plans to do! The New England Patriots are in a bit of an obvious retooling period this offseason and will be doing most of their work through the NFL Draft starting on Thursday night. There are many areas of concerns the Patriots want to work on, but to do so, they need more assets to work the draft. How can the Pats gain more assets leading up to the draft? Well, to start, Rob Gronkowski surprisingly reached out to the team and told them that he would li...

Musket FireApr 23

New England Patriots 4 Downs: 2020 NFL Draft needs

The New England Patriots offseason continues Thursday as the 2020 NFL Draft takes place. The Patriots have 12 draft picks doing into the event. The next stage in the offseason is the NFL Draft, and the New England Patriots certainly have a lot of holes in their roster that they can fill via their 12 draft picks. Not all of these selections will belong to the Patriots, though. Bill Belichick always makes at least three or four trades throughout the draft. These transactions are designed to either move out of a particular round or up a particular round. The Patriots head coach is also no stra...

Musket FireApr 23