Some interesting roster developments today as Shea McClellin was moved to IR and Brandon Bolden was re-signed to the roster. On the practice squad, an offensive lineman that I liked a little too much in 2016 along with a few other new faces were seen. Roster building continues.
On Bolden it’s good to get him back. I’ve never been his biggest fan but it was more directed toward him as a running back. As a special teamer I think he’s the kind of smart, tough player you win football games with. Add in that he’s a well-respected leader off the field and it feels even better to bring him back for a campaign without Edelman or Ninkovich. They don’t need him at running back now, so welcome back BBHulksmash.
As for McClellin, I held out slim hope that he would start making consistent plays on defense but now it appears we’ll have to wait until next year and a mystery injury recovery later for that. The hit on the Pats linebacker/edge depth continue, but the good news is Dietrich Ward was not listed on the injury report, so I’d expect him to play A LOT.
Nate Solder was another notable player absent from the injury report after being in and out all summer. Solder is entering the last year of his deal and the Pats are handling more delicately than Brady. If Tony Garcia can somehow return from a mystery non-football illness, maybe the team can see if they might have a potential replacement at left tackle. Maybe they’re making Solder prove he’s still durable for giving him another contract.
These Thursday Season Kickoff games come up on you quick and the low end roster moves are a blur. It will be an exciting week. New Patshow Wednesday afternoon! Game Thursday. Here. We. Go.
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Will someone please, please tell me one thing that Brandon Bolden has ever done to earn a roster spot?? Please.
Yet a Julian Edelman clone in the name of Austin Carr is in New Orleans and Bolden is back for another year to contribute absolutely nothing–once again.
Will someone make some sense out of this lunacy?
Carr isn’t a Julian Edelman clone. Far from it. If he was, he’d have easily made the 53-man roster. Pats probably would’ve liked to have him on the practice squad, but they clearly know more than you or I when it comes to who they feel puts the team in the best position to win. As for Bolden, he helps greatly on special teams — and I wouldn’t underestimate the value of having him do the job that perhaps someone more critical to the offense may have to step in and do if he weren’t on the roster. Apparently, the Pats value his leadership in the locker room as well, and, going back to special teams, he has a knack for making game-changing plays. He’s forced 2 fumbles each of the last 3 years. My gut tells me that you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who’s managed to do that on special teams in that stretch. With how the Pats like to have Gostowski try to pin teams in between the goal line and 25-yard line on kickoffs, his tackling becomes that much more valuable.
Austin Carr would have probably been the 5th receiver on the team’s depth chart; with Bolden, you know he’s going to be on the field on every special teams play, and he can come and play RB in a pinch for you if need be (hopefully, the Pats never have to be in that situation though). He’s sure-handed though and has never lost a fumble in his NFL career.