The Patriots went all in this off-season spending over $160 million dollars on new contracts. The shopping spree was very Un-Patriot like and a surprise given Bill Belichick’s tendency to be fiscally conservative when it comes to spending money.

Fans thought for sure that the new free spending Bill would continue to spend money by trading for Julio Jones. Jones openly acknowledged he wanted to come to New England to play with Cam Newton. The Patriots have the cap space to make a deal happen so the perception was, Jones was coming to Foxboro. Those that thought were wrong.

Patriots fans dreams of a Newton to Jones connection were dashed yesterday when the Tennessee Titans traded a 2022 second round pick and a 2023 fourth round pick for Jones and a 2023 sixth round pick.

The trade fortified a Titans offense which lost tight end Jonnu Smith and wide receiver Corey Davis this off-season. The trio of Jones, fellow wideout A.J Brown and running back Derrick Henry is scary and they make the Titans a legitimate threat in the AFC.

Jones would have elevated the Patriots to Super Bowl contender had they acquired him but Bill passed. So, now the Patriots are going to go into training camp with the receivers they currently have on their roster. A decent group but one that lacks a legitimate number one receiver.

Belichick made the decision to go all in this off-season and spend money. Based on that, you would have thought the Jones acquisition was a certainty. However Jones contract and potential compensation was just too rich for Belichick’s taste. Ultimately, he didn’t think the player’s age, contract and requisite compensation was worth it. He passed.

It is understandable from that standpoint, however when you are built to win now and you have the opportunity to add a player of Jones caliber, you do it. The Patriots didn’t and one of their chief competitors in the AFC did. It’s a double whammy in essence.

It seemed as if the Patriots had shed their fiscally conservative ways this off-season. I guess not. One off season of spending money hasn’t made Belichick the free spender we now think he is. He is still Bill the Budgeter.

There is nothing wrong with being fiscally responsible. It’s just that Patriots fans were hoping to see Julio Jones play in Foxboro this upcoming season. They will. When he comes into town Week 12 with the Titans. Not as a Patriot.