The Patriots open training camp today but we are already looking to the end of August when final cuts have to be made. There could be some surprise names on the waiver wire come the end of this summer. With the addition of several high profile free agents, many of established veterans on the roster could find themselves on the bubble and possibly cut. Here are seven veterans that are…
Only one week remains in our look back at the unexpected AFC title run in 1996, but before we discuss the Pittsburgh and Jacksonville games later this week, we’re going to take a step away from the AFC for a moment. Today, we look back at what the NFC landscape looked like following the 1996 regular season. Of course New England would eventually see Green Bay in the Super Bowl,…
The Patriots open training camp this week but before camp officially opens here are five things we’ll be watching for in camp. 1. The quarterback competition:All eyes in camp will be the quarterback competition between Cam Newton and Mac Jones. Bill Belichick isn’t calling it a competition, but it is a competition. Jones will have plenty of opportunity to prove he can be the starting quarterback of this football team….
About a week ago now, we devoted one of these 25 days to the offensive coordinator of that 1996 team and an unsung hero, Ray Perkins. Today, it’s only fair we take a look at the defensive coordinator, Al Groh and what he meant to that team. Groh had a lengthy college and NFL coaching career beginning at Army in 1968. Stints at Virginia, Air Force, North Carolina, Texas Tech…
Patriots Co-Offensive Line Cole Popovich will not coach in 2021. Co-Offensive Line Coach Carmen Bricillo will assume full time coaching duties for the season. Popovich is sitting out the season due to the NFL’s vaccination mandate. Popovich was spotted wearing a mask during June’s mandatory OTA’s so it is safe to assume that he is not vaccinated. With Popovich sitting out the season, it does stretch the Patriots coaching staff…
Rookies have reported to Foxboro for the start of training camp. All eyes of course will be on Quarterback Mac Jones but the 2021 rookie class is talented and the expectation is that they will make a difference. When evaluating rookies from a coaching lense, there are different things each of them need to do at their respective position in order to gain playing time. Bill Belichick will NOT play…
We’re down to single digits in our 25 day celebration after today, so before we finish up with a few more key pieces to the puzzle and a look back at the postseason wins, there’s one major aspect of the season we haven’t really talked much about yet. Good ole Foxboro Stadium. Most people my age don’t remember the old place with the metal benches, gross bathrooms, mud pits in…
Running back Rhamondre Stevenson , linebacker Cameron McGrone (knee) and safety Joshuah Bledsoe (wrist) are opening on the active/non-football injury list. That means that they are not cleared for practice but once they are cleared, they can come off the list at anytime. Stevenson is a bit of a surprise. Of the three rookies, he was the one expected to make the most immediate impact this season as a compliment…
The Patriots signed the final two rookies in the draft class of 2021 when EDGE Ronnie Perkins and defensive tackle Christian Barmore signed their rookie contracts. Perkins, a third round pick out of Oklahoma signed a four year, $3.5 million dollar deal. Perkins will earn a signing bonus of $870,616 dollars. Barmore, a second round pick out of Alabama signed a four year, $8.5 million dollar deal with a $3.5…
We’ve had mostly positive things to reminisce about during our 25 day project, but today we take a look at a 12-6 loss to the defending Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys on December 15, 1996. The score wasn’t pretty, but it was a very important day confidence wise for the young defense and coordinator Al Groh. At the time, the Patriots’ offense was humming while Dallas entered as the NFL’s…