PatsPropaganda

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Patriots Bolster Front Seven with Adrian Clayborn

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwmfbwsDZYM

After grabbing Danny Shelton and Jason McCourty from the Browns, the Patriots added another solid and needed piece to their defense in Adrian Clayborn, a defensive end who should solidify an edge of their defense. As I wrote on Friday, the team needed another defensive end, a spot they struggled with last season after losing three veterans from the Super Bowl 51-winning team.

The Patriots gave Clayborn a two-year, $12 million deal, which is par for the course with them, similar to what the gave Jabaal Sheard a couple seasons ago. Clayborn will be 30 this summer, so he’s not a long-term answer but will give them instant toughness that they lacked in 2017, resulting in in-season moves like adding James Harrison late in the year.

I know everyone will get caught up in the sacks of it all, it’s just what us fans do, especially now that we’re being inundated with Clayborn’s six-sack performance against the Cowboys. We want production, but I’m less concerned with how many sacks Clayborn will give us and more about the strength and ability to win in the trenches.

That’s what the Patriots defense requires, especially from the hand-down defensive ends and that’s what Clayborn can give them. I’m sure he’ll drop a little in coverage, but his job will be to set the edge and dominate his blocker, not just getting to the quarterback. Simply put, Clayborn fits what they do, and should fit in really well.

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Patriots Free Agency Reset, Visits Rundown

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After re-signing Rex Burkhead and acquiring Jason McCourty via trade, the Patriots have picked up the pace of their free agency period the last two days, and with a number of visits reported there should be plenty more moves to come.

Once again there’s been plenty of outrage about the lack of big-name signings, which has left me wondering why people are far more enamored with an aging star over a promising player who never blossomed. The latter is always cheaper and come with far more upside. If anything the annoying part about them is they come to New England, resurrect their career and then move on to a bigger contract elsewhere. Guys like Akiem Hicks, Aqib Talib, even Brandon Browner are just a few that jump to mind in that regard.

The old stars get everyone excited because your mind immediately imagines them at the peak of their careers as if that is the player the Patriots are getting. Sometimes the Patriots do get one of those guys on a cheaper deal because they “want to win”, but most of the time they’re getting paid for past performance, not what they’re still capable of and that’s why the Pats avoid them.

Anyway, here’s a quick rundown of reported visits that the Patriots have scheduled and my thoughts on them. I try not to get too excited or invested when reports of interest or even visits are reported. Sometimes it’s smoke from the agents. Sometimes they can’t even pass a physical. Other times they leave and sign elsewhere. The point is, don’t get invested until they sign.

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McCourty Wonder Twin Powers Activate!

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After momentarily announcing they were releasing cornerback Jason McCourty, the Cleveland Browns instead decided to trade him to our beloved Patriots, uniting him with his twin brother Devin and giving Patriots fans a feel-good moment after a disappointing start to free agency.


J-Mac, as he’s known on the social media accounts the twins share, has one year left on his contract that pays him a manageable $2.375 million. This gives the Patriots some reinforcement at the cornerback position that was a light after losing Malcolm Butler, who, oh by the way, will be making $30 million guaranteed on a five-year, $61 million contract. Yes, this is Patriots economics at work here.

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Burkhead Back for Three Years

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Outside of Nate Solder going to the Giants and becoming the highest paid tackle in the game, free agency has unfolded as I pretty much expected, and that includes the Patriots latest move of locking up Rex Burkhead for three more seasons.


Burkhead certainly flashed a handful of times in 2017, his first with the Pats, but injuries derailed him every time. He still managed to finish with career highs in touchdowns (8 — 5 rushing, 3 receiving) and receptions (30), despite only appearing in 10 games and playing a total of 196 offensive snaps. He also blocked a punt against the Broncos to go with a touchdown.

His best stretch of the season came from weeks 9-12, where he had 40 attempts for 180 yards and three touchdowns to go with 12 catches and two receiving touchdowns. If that’s the Burkhead we get for the next three seasons, look out.

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Nate Solder to the Giants

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Nate Solder was my centerpiece to this free agency season and now he’s signed with the Giants for four years, $60 million, leaving the Patriots with a giant hole at left tackle.

I’m never one to panic about free agency, especially when we’re not even 24 hours in, but the team currently has just Marcus Cannon on the roster, with last year’s third-round pick Tony Garcia behind him recovering from an illness that caused him to lose a bunch of weight. Andrew Jelks and Jason King are also on the roster, while Cameron Fleming and LaAdrian Waddle continue to weigh their options in free agency.

This is new territory for the Tom Brady Pats. They seamlessly transitioned from Matt Light (2001-2011) to Solder, who has locked down the left side for the past six seasons. In 2015 he played in just four games, but otherwise, Solder has been a rock, missing just two games total and starting 95.

It is worth pointing out that Solder was managed through most of the preseason and had a really slow start to the season. We cut him plenty of slack given his personal situation, but it’s not like Solder was the lights out best left tackle in football who made it all work. He was very good, especially by the end of the year, and certainly the best option in free agency, but is he worth what the Giants paid him? We’ll see.

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Dion and Malcolm Go to Tennessee

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As expected Dion Lewis and Malcolm Butler signed big free agency deals outside of New England, and with both going to Tennessee and joining Mike Vrabel‘s team, the Titans will have a distinct “land of misfit former Patriot toys” feel.

These were two of my favorite players of the last few seasons, but for whatever reason, the Patriots just could not figure out how to best use Lewis’ dynamic ability, even as he put up a career year in 2017. Meanwhile, no one had a more rapid ascent and descent than Butler, whose career was bookended by two of the most dramatic Super Bowl stories ever.

I do always love it when former Patriots all get together on another team. It gives me another side team to keep a close eye on. To be honest, Vrabel has always been on my wishlist for eventual Belichick replacements. Now the Titans will have Butler and Logan Ryan starting at cornerback and will see if they can find a way to just make Lewis a more central focus of their ground game than he was here.

Lewis was a monster when he was the featured back down the stretch. Yes, I held my breath every time he carried the ball because of his injury history, and that’s something that has to be considered, but the more touches the guy got the more efficient the offense was. I thought the 2017 Patriots offense was its best when Lewis was the guy.

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Report: Danny Amendola Signing with Dolphins

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It looks like the end of an era with reports coming out that Danny Amendola is cashing in on a two-year, $12 million deal with $8.5 million guaranteed with the Dolphins. I think most of us just assumed after three-straight years of taking pay cuts to remain in New England that the Pats and their clutch slot receiver would find a way to tack on another year, but alas Miami was ready to pay the kind of dough the Pats wouldn’t.

Danny reduced his 2017 salary from $5 million down to $1.25 million. Now the 32-year-old receiver will make well over that as he concludes his career.

Amendola had one of the most fascinating careers of a Patriots wide receiver in the last 17 years. He came in as the supposed Wes Welker replacement but battled injuries in his first season that only empowered those who believed he was too injury prone to be the go-to slot receiver that Welker was. Julian Edelman emerged into that role leading some to label Amendola a bust, but slowly and consistently Amendola began to rack up big catches in big moments.

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