Patriots Pulse Blog: Familiarity and Acquiring Players Go Hand and Hand With Bill Belichick

March 18, 2018

When it comes to acquiring players, Bill Belichick prefers to sign draft players or sign free agents from schools where he has or had a relationship with the head coach. Want proof? Look at the Patriots acquisitions this week. New England traded for cornerback Jason McCourty who played at Rutgers for Greg Schiano. Schiano and Belichick are good friends. They are so close in fact that Schiano almost joined the…

Read More >>

Patriots Pulse Blog: Patriots sign Adrian Clayborn. Meh…

March 16, 2018

The Patriots agreed to terms with free agent defensive end Adrian Clayborn. Terms of the deal were not disclosed but the former Atlanta Falcon finished with 9.5 sacks last season. Six of those sacks came in one game against the Dallas Cowboys. The 6-3 280 pound Clayborn can play both the five technique and nine technique defensive end spots. Clayborn is primarily a power rusher but he is also a…

Read More >>

Patriots Pulse Blog: Count Me As a Fan of the Jason McCourty Trade

March 16, 2018

Count me as a fan of the Jason McCourty trade. The Patriots acquired Devin’s twin brother along with a 2018 seventh round pick for a 2018 sixth round pick. McCourty played well in his one and only season in Cleveland. He will be a good fit with the Patriots because of his style of play but also because of his brother being here to guide him through the learning process…

Read More >>

Patriots Pulse Blog: Thoughts on the Departures of Amendola, Butler, Lewis and Solder

March 14, 2018

Nate Solder is one of four former Patriots who left via free agency in the last 24 hours. The Patriots lost four key contributors in the last 24 hours as Danny Amendola, Malcolm Butler Dion Lewis and Nate Solder all signed deals elsewhere. Here are my thoughts on their departures and the contracts they got. Amendola Flies South to the Dolphins: Danny Amendola signed a two year, $12 million dollar…

Read More >>

Patriots Pulse Blog: The Danny Shelton Trade is A Solid Move for the Patriots

March 10, 2018

The Patriots acquired defensive tackle Danny Shelton from the Cleveland Browns for two draft picks. The 24 year old Shelton is coming off arguably the best season of his career finishing with 33 total tackles At 6-2 335, Shelton is your prototypical two gap nose tackle but he is athletic and versatile. He can play the nose in 30 fronts and the 2i defensive tackle in a 40 front. Shelton…

Read More >>

Nickel Package: Five Thoughts on the Recent Trades in the NFL

March 9, 2018

Michael Bennett makes a formidable Eagles front seven downright scary. Here are five thoughts on some of the big trades that have occurred in the NFL this week. 1. The Eagles Re-Create the Fearsome Foursome With Bennett Acquisition: The Eagles acquired defensive end Michael Bennett and a seventh round pick from the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for wide receiver Marcus Johnson and a fifth round pick. Bennett has been rumored to…

Read More >>

Patriots Pulse Blog: Forget Kyle Lauletta. Luke Falk is the Best Fit for the Patriots As a Successor to Tom Brady

February 27, 2018

The Boston media has become infatuated with Richmond quarterback Kyle Lauletta as a potential successor to Tom Brady but Washington State quarterback Luke Falk might be a better fit. While Lauletta checks off several boxes with the Patriots, I question if he is good enough physically to be Tom Brady’s Enter Falk, who was one of the most productive quarterbacks in the country the past four years playing in Mike…

Read More >>

Patriots Pulse Blog: Gronk’s Retirement Talk is Nothing More Than a Money Ploy

February 21, 2018

Sources close to Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski have speculated that the all pro tight end is considering walking away from football. Those close to Gronkowski believe that the injuries he has suffered while playing in the NFL have taken their toll on him and as a result, he is contemplating walking away. I understand Gronkowski is beat up physically but if his body is so broken down, why did…

Read More >>

Patriots Pulse Blog: Sorry National Media. I Believe Josh McDaniels When He Says He Stayed for Family Reasons

February 18, 2018

I know in this age of contrarian and edgy opinions, I am supposed to dump on Josh McDaniels for saying that he stayed in New England for family reasons but I am not. I believe McDaniels when he says he stayed in New England for his family. He got cold feet last minute because he likes coaching here and he and his family like living here. The bottom line is,…

Read More >>

Patriots Pulse Blog: 6 Things the Patriots Must Accomplish This Off-Season

February 17, 2018

Could Washington State’s Luke Falk be the heir apparent to Tom Brady? 1.Improve the Pass Rush: Getting defensive end Derek Rivers back will help. Rivers got hurt in the pre-season and never got the opportunity to prove that he has the potential to be an elite pass rusher. The Patriots once again need to find edge players who can get consistent pressure on the quarterback but also set an edge. There…

Read More >>