PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

new england patriots

Bid for a chance to meet Tom Brady and Bill Belichick!

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I’m pretty sure if I ever meet BB and TFB it will be extremely awkward for all of us. I imagine it would be a lot of me trying to play it cool but coming off totally not cool. “Remember that time you guys won all those game? That was awesome”….

But that should stop the rest of you out there from making a bid on this chance-of-a-lifetime for a Patriots fan.

You meet the biggest legends of Patriots football history, get a VIP game experience and the money goes to a good cause. Wins all around!

Gisele may be off limits, but questions about how Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are going to get the Pats their 4th Super Bowl ring are fair game for the winning bidder to meet the high-performing duo in Foxborough at the Patriot’s Training Camp.  Four tickets and pre-game field passes to a 2014 home game are also available to the loyal fan. The auction benefits the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights and is online until May 13 at www.rfkauction.com. And to add to the healthy rivalry, there’s also a Giants item up for bidding valued at $4,000.

Just a couple weeks left and reminder, we haven’t been the Giants since 2007…

Quick Hit Thoughts on the Patriots 2014 schedule

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For all the snarky comments that were made in the leadup to the schedule release, I do enjoy seeing what this year’s campaign looks like. Here are my random thoughts..

  • Great bye week in Week 10. Believe that’s as late as it can possibly be and that’s always how you want it.
  • After the opener in Miami, the Pats are out of division for the next four games until they travel to the Bills. That’s a good stretch out of the division to work the early-season kinks out.
  • And the back-to-back Week 2 and 3 games against the Vikings and Raiders should help the Pats avoid their usual stinker loss in the early part of the season. Assuming they take care of business in Miami.
  • Good stretch around the bye of tough games – Bears/Broncos/BYE/Colts/Lions/Packers/Chargers is no cake walk.
  • Pats get their short week between @ Bills then Thursday night hosting the Jets. Good to face a team they know on the short week to help with preparation.
  • They then have a 10 break before hosting the Bears and Broncos, then they get their bye. I like how that sets up.
  • But coming out of the bye it’s a tough stretch – @Colts, vs Lions, @ Packers, @ Chargers, then closing the season out with three-straight divisional games.
  • Kind of odd playing at the Jets in Week 16. Been a while since we’ve gone down there so late.
  • Overall, the schedule feels easier in the start and then gets progressively tougher. The mid-October to mid-December stretch is tough, but with the three-straight division games to close the season out, the Pats should hold their own fate in their hands as far as the division goes.
  • Five total national games and the Broncos game is not one. That’s surprising. 
  • This is definitely a challenging schedule and if the Pats and it almost assures the Pats won’t have the division sewn up early like they often have in recent years.

Frenz and I will discuss all this and more draft stuff tomorrow morning at 11am EST on an all new podcast.

2014 Patriots Draft Contacts | NEPatriotsDraft.com – 2014 NFL Draft

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2014 Patriots Draft Contacts | NEPatriotsDraft.com – 2014 NFL Draft

Here’s a great resource keeping track of all the Pats’ contacts this offseason. The number of wide receivers and quarterbacks might be a little surprising, but just because they’re on this list doesn’t mean the Pats are definitely interested in drafting them.

Usually it means they need some clarification on the prospect, and even if you don’t draft them you might have to play against them, so every little bit of info helps.

Patriots’ Best and Worst Draft Picks of the Last Decade

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Patriots’ Best and Worst Draft Picks of the Last Decade

Friday’s B/R piece is up, taking a look at my picks for the best and worst draftees of the last decade. Gronk and Hernando are off it because I feel like both lived up to the reasons they dropped. Good players, but issues have kept them off the field and from reaching their full potential.

2014 PatsPropaganda Patriots Top 50 NFL Draft Board

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For the past three years, I’ve put together a Patriots-only big board, ranking 50 prospects that I like most for the Pats, roughly in the order that I like them. Needs are taken into account and I try to spread them out across all levels to try and hit as many as possible. Think of this like a big lottery ticket.

My scores in past seasons: 2011 – four out of nine picks, 2012 – two of seven picks, and 2013 – two out of seven picks (plus Chris Jones though he wasn’t drafted by the Pats). Can I break .500 this year??

Input is welcome, but my only rule is to keep it to 50 guys, so for every guy I add, someone’s gotta come off. Many of you know these prospects far better than I do, so make your case in the comments for additions and subtractions. 

Without further ado, here it is…

 

2014 Patriots-Only Big Board

  1. *Dominique Easley, DT, Florida: Undersized, but explosive. One-gapper. Injury history – ACL in 2013.
  2. Ra’Shede Hageman, DL, Minnesota:  Perhaps a little boom-or-bust but potential to add size to the defensive tackle group, with ability to move around and bring versatility. Just what the Pats needs up front and my favorite realistic pick at 29th overall.
  3. *Stephon Tuitt, DL, Notre Dame: Great size and strength and versatility to play any spot on the defensive line. Better junior year film after injury put him over weight.
  4. *Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington:  Prototypical Y-TE who is a solid red-zone threat and blocks with aggression. Another good Gronk compliment and maybe my favorite TE for the Pats.
  5. *Xavier Su’a-Filo, OG, UCLA: Experienced and powerful, instant starter at right guard for Pats?
  6. *David Yankey, OG, Stanford:  Versatile captain with very good size could be immediate starter inside.
  7. Calvin Pryor, SS, Louisville: Violent enforcer would bring a needed element to Pats’ safety squad.
  8. Marquise Lee, WR, USC:  Dynamic receiver who might be too good to pass up despite the presence of Aaron Dobson.
  9. Trent Murphy, DE/OLB, Stanford: Good instincts, motor and toughness. Bit of a tweener in Pats system, but plays the way they like.
  10. *Kareem Martin, DE, North Carolina: Good strength and burst. Could slip inside on passing downs. Captain.
  11. *C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE, Iowa: Willing blocker with slippery ability to get open. Another solid TE prospect that could play the Y.
  12. Jace Amaro, F-TE, Texas Tech: Still a bit raw but knows how to get open in the passing game with ideal tight end size. He’d be a good compliment to Gronk and able to play the Y or F spots.
  13. Troy Niklas, Y-TE, Notre Dame: Huge target in the mold of Gronk with the potential to be an every-down tight end almost immediately.
  14. Daquan Jones, DT, Penn State: Good build with quickness inside, could play either DT or NT in Pats’ 4-3 scheme. Good size, maybe a second-rounder.
  15. *Gabe Jackson, OG, Miss State: Excellent size with nimble feet. Can be over-aggressive at times. Two-time captain. Very SEC experienced.
  16. Deone Buchanan, SS, WSU: Aggressive, downhill box defender and core special-teams player.
  17. Travis Swanson, C, Arkansas:  Would give the Pats a huge size bump at the center spot. Familiarity with Arkansas offese will help transition. Two-time captain, football junkie.
  18. Weston Richburg, C, Colorado State: Durable vocal leader with good size.
  19. *Russell Bodine, C, North Carolina: Short-armed, but aggressive and great knee bend. Good size too.
  20. *Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State: Good size and productivity in Bill O’Brien’s offense that would translate to pros.
  21. Jason Verrett, CB, TCU: Undersized but competitive, likely best to fit in the slot.
  22. Carlos Hyde, RB, Ohio State: Good all-around running back who runs hard downhill, welcomes contact.
  23. Andre Williams, RB, Boston College:  Smart, powerful back would be good insurance on Ridley/Vereen.
  24. Christian Jones, ILB, Florida State: Great athlete with ideal size who could play multiple LB positions. Awareness an issue? Sounds like Mayo.
  25. Dakota Dozier, OG, Furman: Outstanding size with powerful build. Experienced and light on feet.
  26. Jonotthan Harrison, C, Florida: Size, strength and intangibles. Could play any interior position.
  27. *Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech: Elite athleticism and size, would need time but could develop to challenge Brady in 2-3 years.
  28. Bryan Stork, C, Florida State: Athletic with excellent size. Hard worker, the game is important to him.
  29. Brock Vereen, FS, Minnesota: Shane’s brother is a smart, rangy free safety who is a leader.
  30. Marcus Smith, DE, Louisville: Hybrid defender who could play multiple spots and roles. HS QB.
  31. Ed Stinson, DE, Alabama: Great frame with impressive size and strength. Would be an interesting developmental tool in BB’s defense. Two-gapper, maybe any spot in 34 DL.
  32. Crockett Gilmore, TE, Colorado State: Good size for a Y tight end, maybe not the best receiving threat but could be a good Gronk insurance type in later rounds.
  33. Vinnie Sunseri, SS, Alabama: Instinctive, physical and a leader. Coming off injury.
  34. Joel Bitonio, OT, Nevada: Outstanding playing personality and dedication to football. Very versatile, shot up draft boards near the end.
  35. Max Bullough, ILB, Michigan State: Big, tough, experienced, durable, competitive Mike linebacker with good speed.
  36. Trey Burton, F-TE, Florida: Versatile and competitive. Player multiple spots, incl. QB. McDaniels’ Swiss Army Knife?
  37. Pierre Desir, CB, Lindenwood: Great size, outside press man potential, but from small school.
  38. Tyler Gaffney, RB, Stanford: Good size and versatility, runs downhill. Good compliment to the current NE backs.
  39. Jarvis Landry, WR, LSU: Determined, tough and aggressive. Not ideal size but plays hard. Captain.
  40. TJ Jones, WR, Notre Dame: Experienced captain who would be a slot receiver with some versatility (special teams) on Pats.
  41. Jared Abbrederis, WR, Wisconsin: Smart, hardworking receiver who has all the intangibles. Ran many Patriots-like routes.
  42. Quincy Enunwa, WR, Nebraska: Good size and excellent intangibles. Could play outside.
  43. Brandon Linder, OG, Miami: Great size, durability, and intangibles. Aggressive. Versatile – played all along line, incl. TE.
  44. *Jeremy Gallon, WR, Michigan: Good coverage recognition, smooth. Quick, good explosion, nice hands. Undersized.
  45. Ladarius Perkins, RB, Miss. St: Captain with great agility and vision. Underrated catcher, good acceleration. 
  46. Jordan Tripp, OLB, Montana State: Instinctive and tough.
  47. Travis Carrie, CB, Ohio: Good size and awareness with special teams experience. Student of the game, leadership.
  48. Josh Mauro, DE, Stanford: Good size and versatility,not a ton of pass rush presence but could develop.
  49. Tom Savage, QB, Pittsburgh: Inconsistent pocket passer.
  50. Rob Blanchflower, Y-TE, UMass: Good size and experience. Developmental #3 Y-TE.