By John Sarianides The Patriots need to strike while they have available cap space and get deals done with linebacker Dont’a Hightower and cornerback Malcolm Butler. If the objective is to win a third Super Bowl in four years, then it is imperative that Bill Belichick finds a way to get a deal done with both players. Belichick doesn’t necessarily need to do anything with Butler because he is going…
Patriots Pulse Blog: Bill Belichick’s Fear of Commitment is the Biggest Reason the Patriots are Good
By John Sarianides Bill Belichick is like that boyfriend who doesn’t want to take the next step in a relationship. He doesn’t want to make a long term commitment to someone. Like most people who are afraid of commitment, Belichick is always on the lookout for someone better. It is that fear of long term commitment that has made the Patriots the most successful franchise in NFL history. Belichick treats…
Patriots Pulse Blog: The Patriots Add Versatility, Length and Size With Guy
By John Sarianides The Patriots signed free agent defensive end Lawrence Guy to a four year, $20 million dollar contract on Saturday. The 26 year old Guy was drafted in the 7th round of the 2011 draft by the Green Bay Packers. Guy has played for the Colts, Chargers and Ravens in his career. He has been a career rotation player but he did make ten starts for the…
Patriots Pulse Blog: Different Ways the Patriots Will Use Brandin Cooks in Their Passing Game
By John Sarianides The Patriots acquired wide receiver Brandin Cooks and a fourth round pick (#118) from the New Orleans Saints last night for a 1st round pick (#32) and a third round pick (#103). The acquisition of Cooks gives the Patriots a much needed vertical threat that can make big plays after the catch. They haven’t had a receiver that can consistently challenge coverage vertically since Randy Moss. Cooks…
Patriots Pulse Blog: Kony Ealy Could Be a Steal for the Patriots if He Figures it Out
By John Sarianides The Patriots acquired defensive end Kony Ealy and a third round pick from the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a second round pick. New England will only move down eight spots in the trade so they didn’t give up a lot in terms of draft position. The 25 year old Ealy is entering his fourth season in the league. He is best remembered for his performance in…
The BIG Winners in Day One of Free Agency Were the Offensive Lineman
By John Sarianides The first day of the new year in the NFL usually features record breaking contracts being handed out to skill guys. Those contracts were given out but it is the money that free agent offensive lineman got that caught my attention. Several biggies got big money deals. The biggest contract of the day was handed out by the Cleveland Browns who gave former Cincinnati Bengals guard Kevin…
Patriots Pulse: The Patriots Lose a Valuable Member of Two Super Bowl Teams in Logan Ryan
By John Sarianides Free agent cornerback Logan Ryan has decided to sign a 3 year, $30 million dollar contract with the Tennessee Titans. The cornerback out of Rutgers was a valuable member of two Super Bowl teams in New England and one of the more unheralded members of the team in recent years. Ryan was a great scheme fit for the Patriots as a squat cover two corner. He was…
Contrary to What We Thought. The Browns Actually Do Have a Plan
By John Sarianides Contrary to what we have thought in recent years, the Cleveland Browns do in fact have a plan and it is starting to come to fruition. After suffering through a 1-15 season in 2016, many people thought the Browns were going to be stuck in football purgatory forever. Fast forward two months later and the Browns are the toast of the football world today. Thanks to an…
NFL: Day One Free Agency Thoughts
The Browns brain trust was active on the first day of free agency. By John Sarianides Day one of the new year league has been as busy as we thought it would be. Here are some thoughts on what has gone down so far. 1. Stephon Gilmore signing a five, $60 million dollar deal with the Patriots is surprising. Belichick threw us a 12 to 6 curveball and we didn’t see…
Patriots Pulse Blog: Belichick Throws Us a Curveball with the Stephon Gilmore Signing
By John Sarianides Bill Belichick just threw all of us a 12 to 6 curveball and we took it looking for strike three. In a stunning signing that has left a lot of people scratching their heads, the Patriots signed free agent cornerback Stephon Gilmore to a deal worth $14 million per season. The Patriots don’t normally dive into free agency head first on day one but for whatever reason,…