As the NFL descends on Indianapolis for the 2026 Scouting Combine, the New England Patriots find themselves in an unfamiliar yet enviable position: picking at the back end of the first round after a deep playoff run that culminated in a Super Bowl LX appearance.
Patriots Journal (2/22/26)
It’s NFL Combine Week, which means the offseason is about to ramp up in the NFL. All 32 teams will be represented in Indianapolis this week as the draft evaluation truly begins, with prospects being interviewed in person before showing their skills in what is essentially the biggest job interviews of their lives. Pro Days at college campuses around the country will follow throughout the month of March. Aside from…
3 Reasons why Bill O’Brien should be the offensive coordinator of the Eagles in 2026
Bill O’Brien is entering a make or break third year at the Heights. After offensive coordinator Will Lawing left for the Chicago Bears earlier this offseason season, O’Brien has yet to replace him.
Who should stay, who should go when it comes to the Patriots unrestricted free agents
Coming off a deep run that led all the way to Super Bowl LX, the New England Patriots enter the 2026 offseason with a roster that is remarkably stable. Unlike previous years of massive overhauls, the front office faces a “quality over quantity” dilemma with only a handful of unrestricted free agents (UFAs) hitting the market. The primary objective for Eliot Wolf and Mike Vrabel will be maintaining the defensive…
10 New England Recruiting Steals for the Class of 2026
The Class of 2026 features a diverse recruiting class that saw local high school football players end up at FBS, FCS, DII and DIII schools.
Several players from the region had productive high school hill careers and may have been under recruited in a sense. Now we aim to highlight these players and why the colleges or universities they committed to got a steal.
Derby High School names Stone Belzo head coach
The Derby Red Raiders have officially named Stone Belzo as the program’s next head football coach.
The announcement was made on Friday. Derby is seeking its first winning season in over a decade. Superintendent Matt Conway welcomed Belzo to the Red Raider family, highlighting a hire that brings both youthful energy and a pedigree rooted in a deep football lineage to the Naugatuck Valley League.
Isaiah Rogers narrows his recruiting list down to 8 schools
Courtesy of Isaiah Rogers X account Springfield Central running back Isaiah Rogers is down to eight schools in his recruitment. Rogers told 24/7’s Hayes Fawcett that he has narrowed down his list to the following schools. • Georgia • Indiana • Nebraska • Notre Dame • Penn State • UCLA • UNC • Virginia Tech The list is broad but Rogers has 17 offers so he clearly took his time……
4 Reasons why an AJ Brown trade to the Patriots is highly unlikely
Getty Images While the idea of A.J. Brown reuniting with Mike Vrabel in New England is a frequent “dream scenario” for Patriots fans, the logistical reality of such a trade in 2026 is a minefield of cap penalties and conflicting team timelines. Here is why an A.J. Brown trade to the Patriots would be incredibly complicated and highly unlikely: 1. The Eagles’ “Dead Money” Nightmare The biggest hurdle isn’t the…
Hollins bonus is the first offseason step in reaffirming culture that’s now in place
One thing is abundantly clear after Mike Vrabel’s first season as head coach of the Patriots. If you do everything you can for the betterment of the team, you’ll get taken care of when it’s possible. Mack Hollins received a $400,000 addition to his signing bonus (reported on Friday by Tom Pelissero) after he came up just four catches short of reaching the incentive during the 2025 season. Hollins needed…
Patriots to pay Hollins bonus despite not reaching contract incentive
(Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)Getty Images In the high-stakes world of the NFL, where “business is business” usually serves as the cold justification for cutting players or withholding pay, the Patriots recently made a move that prioritized character over the bottom line. Reports surfaced on Friday on Friday that the team announced would pay wide receiver Mack Hollins a $400,000 bonus, despite the veteran falling just short of the statistical…