An Independent Patriots Blog
If it doesn’t involve the team, winning, or us at the New England Patriots, he’s not concerned.
Ridley on Belichick
Stevan Ridley: ‘Edge I’ve never had’ – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston
https://www.patspropaganda.com/if-it-doesnt-involve-the-team-winning-or-us-at/
I know Bill Belichick. He’s a built a young team, an aggressive team, a smart team, a team with depth and a team with a great quarterback. So they’re going to be fine. They’re going to be right back in the hunt this year.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/i-know-bill-belichick-hes-a-built-a-young-team/
We’re talking about Bill Belichick here, who, he’s very, very smart in terms of using his players and his personnel to the best of his ability. And I just presented myself with an opportunity. I always believe that opportunity is the key to life. He gave me an opportunity and was like, ‘You’re the guy, and do with it what you wish.’ I just continued to excel with the guys around – Patrick Chung, he’s been in the system and understands it very well and Devin McCourty, and just the guys across the board. Like I said, he’s a great coach, and I’m excited to be back and excited to work towards the number one goal.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/were-talking-about-bill-belichick-here-who/
Life on the Roster Bubble: Thoughts from a Former NFL Player | Bleacher Report
Really good read from Ryan Riddle, and although it’s a tough quote about BB below it’s worth pointing out how the Pats consistently have undrafted rookies make their team. Did Dane Fletcher, Gary Guyton, Brandon Deaderick, or any of the other UDFAs who not only made the Patriots but contributed feel like “human sled dummies” too? One way or another they overcame it, and I think that speaks to the “it doesn’t matter how you got here” vibe that you hear about so often with Belichick and the Pats.
Regardless, a worthwhile read especially as we close in on training camp, especially if you want a little glimpse into what playing for Mangini was like.
A good friend of mine from college was signed to the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent. I recall stories about how he felt in camp that year. Struggling to handle the feeling of being utterly worthless, cast aside by the coaches and players. He described Patriots head coach Bill Belichick as a major (insert expletive here), as he was treated like a human sled dummy. It became obvious to him that any real opportunity to make the team was too much of a long shot while the bodily damage and torture necessary to see it realized was nowhere near worth it. He left camp after a couple of weeks.
This reminds me of a senior high school yearbook photo that he’d later regret.
(via Twitpic – Share photos and videos on Twitter)
https://www.patspropaganda.com/this-reminds-me-of-a-senior-high-school-yearbook/
New England Patriots’ Bill Belichick is the ultimate master of team building – ESPN Boston
Interesting on why the Pats have had no jerseys with numbers this off-season.
“They want us to learn each other’s names and communicate better,” one player said. Added another player: “With 90 guys on the roster, that’s a lot. The idea is to get away from saying, ‘Hey, number 95’ or ‘number 99,’ and call each person by their name. Our goal the whole camp was to communicate, and just know who you’re speaking to and what to say. We feel communication is a big thing in football, and that’s what we’re working on.”
We’ll see how it goes in training camp. We have three guys that kind of have some degree of fullback experience, a little bit of tight end experience, a little bit of running back experience, so there may be some crossover there. All three of those players have some value in the kicking game [and] we’ll see how all that plays out,” he said. “I think that’s a possibility [to carry a traditional fullback]. That’s why they’re here. They’re here to compete for that role on offense and that role in the kicking game. How that compares to what other players do, we’ll just have to see. We’ll have competition from that spot relative to linebacker, tight end, possibly running back and in the kicking game.
Insight on ‘the return of the fullback’ – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston
BB throws cold water on all us football evolutionists that thought the team’s decision to bring in so many fullbacks signified another evolution. It’s not as interesting as we wish it was but sometimes they just bring in guys they like without some big picture schematic vision in their head of how they’re going to attack the opposition differently.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/well-see-how-it-goes-in-training-camp-we-have/