New England Patriots 2014 53 Man Roster Prediction

With training camp kicking off this week here is my very early guesstimate of what the game day 53 man roster will look like for the season opener this fall.  Like it? Hate it? Tell me what you think in the comments section below or as always share your input on Twitter @PremiumPats ! Thanks for checking us out and Go Pats!

Quarterbacks (3)

• 12 Tom Brady QB
• 10 Jimmy Garoppolo QB
• 15 Ryan Mallett QB

Running Backs (5)

• 46 James Develin FB
• 22 Stevan Ridley RB
• 34 Shane Vereen RB 
• 28 James White RB
• 36 Stephen Houston RB

Wide Receivers (7)

• 80 Danny Amendola WR 
• 82 Josh Boyce WR
• 17 Aaron Dobson WR
• 11 Julian Edelman  WR
• 19 Brandon LaFell  WR
• 18 Matthew Slater  WR
• 85 Kenbrell Thompkins  WR

Tight Ends (3)

• 87 Rob Gronkowski TE
• 47 Michael Hoomanawanui TE
• 88 Justin Jones TE

Offensive Linemen (9)

• 61 Marcus Cannon T
• 63 Dan Connolly G
• 71 Cameron Fleming   T
• 69 Jon Halapio  G
• 67 Josh Kline G
• 70 Logan Mankins G
• 77 Nate Solder T
• 66 Bryan Stork  C
• 76 Sebastian Vollmer T

Defensive Linemen (9)

• 99 Michael Buchanan DE
• 74 Dominique Easley  DT
• 95 Chandler Jones DE
• 94 Chris Jones DT
• 93 Tommy Kelly DT
• 50 Rob Ninkovich DE
• 96 Sealver Siliga DT
• 90 Will Smith DE
• 75 Vince Wilfork DT

Linebackers (6)

• 55 James Anderson OLB
• 58 Steve Beauharnais MLB
• 91 Jamie Collins OLB
• 45 Cameron Gordon  OLB
• 54 Dont'a Hightower OLB/MLB
• 51 Jerod Mayo OLB/MLB

Defensive Backs (9)

• 25 Kyle Arrington CB
• 37 Alfonzo Dennard CB
• 30 Duron Harmon FS/SS
• 32 Devin McCourty FS
• 24 Darrelle Revis CB
• 26 Logan Ryan CB
• 21 Jemea Thomas CB/SS
• 27 Tavon Wilson SS/FS

Special Teams (3)

• 6 Ryan Allen P
•  3 Stephen Gostkowski K
• 53 Tyler Ott  LS

 CUT

• 38 Brandon Bolden RB
• 35 Jonas Gray RB
• 81 Wilson Van Hooser WR
• 36 Stephen Houston WR
• 16 Reese Wiggins
• 45 D.J. Williams TE
• 62 Ryan Wendell C
• 65 Jordan Devey T
• 68 Braxston Cave C
• 64 Chris Barker G
• 68 L.T. Tuipulotu DT
• 72 Joe Vellano DT
• 98 Marcus Forston DT
• 97 Armond Armstead DT -RETIRED
• 92 Jake Bequette DE
• 53 Ja'Gared Davis OLB
• 44 Darius Fleming OLB
• 52 Josh Hull OLB
• 48 Taylor McCuller  MLB
• 49 Deontae Skinner  OLB
• 59 Chris White OLB
• 23 Patrick Chung SS
• 36 Kanorris Davis SS
• 43 Nate Ebner SS
• 35 Daxton Swanson CB
• 42 Travis Hawkins  CB
• 41 Justin Green CB
• 48 Danny Aiken LS

PRACICE SQUAD

• 29 Roy Finch RB
• 83 Jeremy Gallon WR
• 86 Asa Watson TE
• 72 Chris Martin  G
• 65 Seali'i Epenesa DT
• 71 Zach Moore DE
• 31 Shamiel Gary  SS
• 29 Malcolm Butler  CB

 SUSPENDED

• 39 Brandon Browner CB     ( 4 GAMES )

Is the juice worth the squeeze for DeSean Jackson?

This off season has certainly been a memorable one for the New England Patriots with the re-signing of Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman as well as the signing of former Seattle Seahawk cornerback Brandon Browner.  The headliner of the list has to be the signing of released Tampa Bay Buccaneers star cornerback; Darrelle Revis. Just a few days ago The Philadelphia Eagles released a star of their own in play making wide receiver DeSean Jackson.  The Patriots have been in search of a deep threat since the days of Randy Moss and like Revis- a player of Jackson's caliber is rare to come by on the open market.  So why not bring Jackson on board and reserve our seats for this year's Super Bowl in Glendale Arizona?  Well, simply put- it's not that easy and here is why.

First of all DeSean Jackson is in the prime of his career at 27 years of age and is a dynamic playmaker. DeSean is a free agent which means he is going to dangle himself over 31 teams in the National Football League.  Jackson was scheduled to make 15 million this season with the Eagles which frankly I don't think any receiver is worth that kind of money.  Secondly while Jackson could potentially be just what the Patriots need- unfortunately the negatives outweigh the positives.  The reports are out there that DeSean Jackson may have ties to gangs.  Now- let me say this- I don't know DeSean Jackson personally so these "reports" could be absolutely false.  With that said- the report is out there and a team that is going to be investing millions upon millions for this talented player is going to have to seriously investigate these reports to find out if it is true or not.

Keeping it in a Patriot perspective-  The Patriots are still eating dead money on the Aaron Hernandez deal and while Aaron Hernandez sits in the Bristol County jail on murder charges- the Patriots have to do their due diligence maybe now even more-so than ever and be leery and maybe even pass over players with these kinds of red flags to avoid any further negative situations that could be potentially dangerous to their ball club's reputation.

The Patriots brought back Julian Edelman who proved last season he can step up when called upon and be a productive player in their system so long as he can stay healthy.  Also Danny Amendola returns for his second season with the Pats and while he has certainly had his fair share of injuries- one can only hope that he can brush off the injury prone label and have a solid season that we saw him show in flashes at times last season.  Finally- I personally am not overly enamored with the Patriots  younger talent at the receiver position but the Patriots drafted Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce for a reason and they saw something in them to draft them where they did.  I anticipate the Patriots find out what they have in the younger guys including undrafted RFA Kenbrell Thompkins who showed up at times as well last year before moving on over them.  The Patriots also brought in former Panthers wide receiver Brandon LaFell who has some good size at 6'2 but LaFell's strengths are known to be as more of a blocker.  What I really would like to see is the Patriots bring in a big- physical target at the receiver position to compliment all of the other guys tat they currently have.  I know Edelman, Amendola, LaFell, Dobson, and Boyce are all versatile enough to line up at any receiver spot on the field but I would like to see a pure-physical-big body or field stretching type talent lined up on the perimeter of the field to give Tom Brady a different type of weapon that he has lacked for years.

This year is a very deep draft particularly at the wide receiver position.  From Sammy Watkins, to Mike Evans, to Kelvin Benjamin to Martavis Bryant to Brandon Coleman.  There is talent to be had in the draft at a fraction of what DeSean Jackson would cost on and potentially off the field.  The Patriots haven't had a whole lot of luck drafting receivers but I feel as is the Patriots should look to the draft this May and find the next star receiver of their own.  Not only do the Patriots but whatever team that takes a chance on DeSean Jackson has to ask themselves this famous quote from one of my favorite movies- The Girl Next Door- "Is the juicy worth the squeeze?"  I have a feeling we will be finding out to the answer to that sooner rather than later.

Brace Yourself - The Ron Brace Story

With the 2013 NFL season in the books and the blink of an eye- it is draft season! Reminding us that with every draft pick there are expectations high and low- for every player selected and a story that follows. I was able to catch up with former New England Patriot defensive tackle Ron Brace and chat about his journey from getting drafted by the Patriots to his departure from the team.  Let’s take a look back in time and see how Ron’s story unfolded. 

It was April 25th, 2009. Day one of the NFL Draft and the New England Patriots held back to back selections in the second round-picks 40 and 41 respectively.  At pick 40 the New England Patriots selected a gargantuan run stuffer from Boston College at 6’3 330 lbs by the name of Ron Brace.  Brace was a collegiate standout with BC Eagles team mate and Green Bay Packers first round selection -B.J. Raji.  Together they were one of the most dominant interior defensive line tandems in the nation.  At the time the Patriots and their star defensive tackle- Vince Wilfork, were still trying to close in on a long term deal and the Patriots wanted youth as well as insurance at the position.  Brace was billed to be just that and then some leading up to the draft.  Growing up locally in Springfield Mass, Brace had obviously followed the Patriots on the side and it seemed to be a perfect landing spot.  It was a story book dream come true for Ron.  The hometown kid getting drafted on day 1 of the NFL draft by his hometown team Patriots. Brace recalled being at his grandmother’s house on draft day when Patriots head Coach Bill Belichick and his assistant called to welcome him to the team and inform him they would be selecting him at pick 40.  Before training camp begun, Brace inked a 4 year deal with 2.82 million in guarantees.  Brace’s agent at the time described Ron to be “Very excited to get his deal done with the Patriots, “ while adding, “It’s a dream come true for him.” 

As good as things seemed it was unfortunately too good to be true.  Players typically drafted early have huge expectations and are expected to step in and make an immediate impact for their team.  In 2009 of Ron Brace’s rookie season, he was active for 9 games starting in 2- recording only 8 tackles. The Patriots made it to the playoffs in which Brace was inactive for their loss to the Baltimore Ravens. After an unimpressive rookie season, the reports were that Brace was injured.  With a full offseason under his belt to learn the system and get healthy- expectations were still sky high for Brace to come in and make the “year two jump” and impact the defense.  2010 was interesting for Brace where he opened the season in the starting lineup but finished the year on IR with what was reported to be an elbow injury, tallying up 5 starts on the season with 23 tackles.  Brace lost his starting spot to players like Myron Pryor and Brandon Deadrick who were drafted much lower than he was.  In 2011 Brace started the season on the PUP list and in 2012 he was released from the Patriots. 

So what does all of this mean?  How could such a promising young player- which the team obviously felt strong enough to take with an early second round draft selection not get an opportunity to assert himself into the starting lineup?  For the first time ever-this is Ron Brace's side of the story shared exclusively with Premium Pats!

On what went wrong in New England-

"I am still looking for the answer myself.  I wasn't told much of nothing while there.  I knew after they changed Pep (Former Patriots defensive line coach Pepper Johnson) to linebackers coach I knew I wasn't going to play."

I followed up asking Ron looking back if there was anything the Patriots or he could have done a better job on during his time in New England.

“I did my job.  That's why I lasted four years there.  I asked questions but never got no real answers.  Biggest problem- no communication. I took reps with the ones and twos but never got any answers on what my job was. " 

To me this came as a bit of a surprise.  In an organization that's primary motto is "do your job" it is shocking to me to find out that as a player for the Patriots would be left confused on what his role was with the team.     

Brace undeniably frustrated, recalled how he felt during that time-

  "People thought I sucked but in reality I was held back.  It was like every time I had a good game I would be inactive."


Watching from a far it was curious to see Brace go from starting a game to being inactive every other week.    

"After I left New England I had to get surgery for a hernia in my hip I got in OTA-I played the whole season with that hernia and missed two days in camp because of it."

Brace's final season with the Patriots-

"The last season they had me on the injury report when nothing was wrong with me.  I had to read the paper one day to find out they had me on the injury report when nothing to my knowledge was bothering me.  Then after I got cut I got tested by a doctor and he said I had a hernia in the spot I had a golf ball size lump during OTAs that they didn't MRI until it was over. It's a dirty business.  I seen some messed up situations."

Brace remembered-

 "One time someone told me I smile too much. What type of shit is that?  I'm not supposed to be happy at work?  I never did anything to take the focus off the team like I said but I was treated like they had to bail me every weekend from jail."

Looking back do you wish you were drafted by a team other than the Patriots?

"Yea I do but I wouldn't have gotten the knowledge I got from there anywhere else so it was bittersweet. People (in the locker room) treated me like a human being and cared about my personal life it was crazy.  I got nothing bad to say except I was sad to leave those guys."

On how hard it was to play under Bill Belichick-

"In my experience I wouldn't say it was hard, just frustrating putting in work and getting nothing from it but money.  I didn't give a shit about the money.  Most of my checks I didn't cash until a couple months later- I just wanted to play." 

The Patriots have their own way of doing things and continue to show that it doesn't matter who you are- everyone on the roster is replaceable.

"I knew that when I first got there when they got rid of Seymour.  I saw a lot of people come and go from there."

On the contrary it is hard to argue the way the Patriots do business.  The Patriots are one of the most successful teams in the NFL over the past decade.  

On Patriot owner Robert Kraft-

 "I have to say (Robert) is one of the best men I've met.  He helped me raise $250,000 for my city after the tornado hit.  Being there allowed me to bring the Pats to Springfield, a city that needed help with its youth so for that I am really grateful."

On if Ron would play for Pepper Johnson again in Buffalo-

"I'll take a bullet for that man.  He did more for me than he knows. They are stacked over there for D-line man I checked that first but I am really now just looking for a job.  I don't feel right if I'm not working."

On playing again-

"I know I can play.  Players I went up against know I can play.  People I played with know I can play.  As far as going back, I am only going to a team who really wants me and is not wasting my time.  If someone wants a real run stopper- my agents number didn't change."

This is just one player's story.  You never know what a player is going to do in the NFL.   Unfortunately, things didn't work out the way Ron or the Patriots wanted. Ron is still young at 27 years old and is hopeful he will play again in the NFL, but the ending to his story of what really happened between the player and the New England Patriots club remains unclear. Teams hit and miss on players.  It is an inexact science and for us as fans, it is really fascinating to hear a player’s side of the story which typically isn't shared often inside New England. 

I want to take this time to thank Ron Brace for taking the time to chat with me and sharing his thoughts!  Please follow Ron and myself on Twitter @BraceYoself97 @MikeOnofrio ! Check back on PremiumPats.com for more content!

Ignore The Noise

Avoid the Noise-Story Bigger than Hernandez

This has certainly been a wild offseason for the Patriots but nothing in comparison to the tumulus couple of days for Patriots star tight end- 23 year old Aaron Hernandez.  Reports have been piling up what seems to be every minute and there have been conflicting reports and speculation running ramped across the internet.  I choose to take the high road and look at some of the facts here and not get wrapped up in the media windstorm. 

First of all this is an ongoing investigation and what people need to realize is that all of these “reports” are not clear cut facts.  Let’s stick to the facts here.  This is what we know to this point in this developing story; Aaron Hernandez is innocent until proven guilty and currently as I type this- a free man.  Aaron has not been charged with anything yet despite conflicting media reports.  The only thing that is certain is that 27 year old Semi Pro football player-Odin Lloyd has been killed.  Aaron Hernandez is being currently investigated to have a connection with the death of Odin Lloyd.  We know that the New England Patriots are keeping quiet and holding out comment as is the NFL.  That is pretty much all we know at this point.  Everything else reported is pure speculation. 

I think in the interest of fairness, everyone hold out judgment about Hernandez until all of the facts come out instead of bashing a person for something they may or may not have even done.  This matter is being taken very seriously and while I may sound like I am defending Hernandez- I am not.  I like every Patriots fan are obviously hoping for the best for the guy however let’s remember he is implicated with an ongoing murder investigation.  Quite frankly this is much bigger than Aaron Hernandez the tight end, bigger than the New England Patriots franchise and bigger than the National Football League.  This is about justice and putting the pieces of this intricate puzzle together to find out how Mr. Odin L. Lloyd was killed.  The media can try to spin it any way they want to try to but what everyone needs to remember is that a man’s life has been selfishly taken and Massachusetts State Police are in the midst of an ongoing investigation which just so happens to include a high profile athlete such as Aaron Hernandez. 

When Tom Brady steps into a noisy stadium on fall Sunday afternoon- he keeps his composure and stays focused on the obstacles ahead of him.  We need to do the same thing in this case-Avoid the noise and try to stick to what the facts are, and the fact is a man has been brutally murdered and we don’t know who, how, or why.  I am not worried about what the Patriots starting lineup is going to be come September, I am more concerned about how and why this truly unfortunate tragedy has occurred and that justice will prevail through the end of this mess.

 

PATRIOTS FREE AGENT FOCUS: DANNYWOODHEAD

Leading up to free agency which begins March 12^th we will be taking a look at some of the Patriots own free agents and briefly discuss whether they may be back with the team or not.  Today we will be taking a look at impending Pats free agent Danny Woodhead.

Danny Woodhead-

Ever since Kevin Faulk’s departure Danny Woodhead has stepped up to the plate and been the Patriots safety valve at the running back position.  You may remember when the Patriots traded Lawrence Maroney they were able to scoop up Danny Woodhead as a free agent who was released by the Jets.  Kevin Faulk was injured and Danny stepped up to the plate and showed to be a stingy playmaker in the backfield and added a different dimension to the Patriots ground attack.  Well two years later and Woodhead went from being the guy to being a reliable third down back option for the Pats.  It seems like whenever the Patriots are in a crucial situation the Patriots have shown trust in Wooshead by putting him out there over other Patriots backs.  The Patriots backfield has made itself a much larger role over the past few seasons as the Patriots offense has traditionally been a passing unit.  The offense has had great success in the running game and the offense has been able to diversify and do a multitude of different things due to the versatility the offense brings.  Danny Woodhead may have shed some light to the Patriots brass to maybe show what it would be like with more speed in the backfield.  In 2011 the Patriots spent a second and third round pick on Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley and the rest is history.  The Patriots in 2012 has much success on the ground and Danny Woodhead became the veteran presence in the backfield despite only being in the league for four seasons.

Woodhead clearly isn’t the every down starter in the Patriots offense to this point.  The Patriots seem to like his consistency and dependability as he is a quality role player for the team.  Stevan Ridley is the starter for now and Shane Vereen showed towards the end of the season maybe he can do some of the things that Woodhead can do and potentially be even more dynamic than Woodhead.  The Patriots invested a second round pick in Shane Vereen in 2011. One has to wonder how similar the skill sets between Vereen and Woodhead really are.  Is it worth holding out a young and explosive -potential break out candidate in Vereen for Danny Woodhead?  I feel the Patriots offensive playmakers need to find a way to get more speed and youth involved.  There is no reason the Patriots can’t have both Vereen and Woodhead as both are quality players-however both skill-sets are very similar and it may hold back from adding to another position of need on the roster. 

The NFL has evolved into this pass heavy league and it will be very interesting to see how many teams will be interested in a player like Woody.  I feel a good amount of teams would be interested in having Woodhead on their roster as he is as versatile as they come. Woodhead returned kicks for the Patriots most of the season and proved to be an effective passing down back.  I would think the Patriots would be open to bringing him back on board as a veteran presence and a situational role player but it would have to be at the right price.  If other teams show interest in Danny that could drive the price tag higher than Patriots may be willing to go.  With that said I can’t imagine Danny Woodhead will be breaking the bank anywhere as there will be a plethora of running backs available in this 2013 free agent crop.

Do you feel Danny will be backwith New England?  Will the Patriots be a better football team with Danny Woodhead on the roster? Let me know in the comments section what you think! Are you for or against re-signing Danny Woodhead? Be sure to follow me on Twitter for more updates @MikeOnofrio !

TANTALIZING TARGETS: ED REED

The New England Patriots made it to the AFC Championship but are in no means a perfect team.  Every team has areas that could certainly use some improvement. With free agency looming just under a month away, Premium Pats will be taking a brief look at some of the free agents out there who may or may not be good fits for the Patriots as well as some interesting thoughts to go along. Today we are going to look at impending free agent Ed Reed.

Ed Reed-

There is no doubt Ed Reed is a game changer.  Ed has done it at every level of his playing career going from a high school stand out to a National Champion with the Miami Hurricanes to being a 9x Pro Bowl record setting Super Bowl Champion.  Ed Reed’s resume is heavily decorated.  Even at his age of 34 Ed Reed still makes such an impact in the Raven’s secondary.  I find it very hard to believe the Baltimore Ravens will simply let Ed Reed walk after he just helped them win a Super Bowl.   Also you would have to factor in the fact the Baltimore Ravens are going to be without Ray Lewis next year.  The Baltimore Ravens need Ed Reed to come back and do what he does as a player and a leader.  Without Ed Reed the Raven’s will look like a completely different team next year and it certainly won’t be for the better.  With that said the Patriots secondary is abysmal. It has been abysmal for years now.  The situation is just too perfect.  Bill Belichick has coached for over 37 years now and in all of his years he has said he “hasn’t coached against anyone better in the secondary than Ed Reed.”  That right there is super telling in the respect that coach Belichick has for the player.   Also, Ed during Super Bowl weekend said he “definitely” could see himself as a Patriot and then gushed about how much he loved the way that the Patriots do things. The Patriots need an elite force in their secondary and it just so happens that Ed Reed is available as an impending free agent and would love to suit up in red white and blue?  Why isn’t this a slam dunk no brainer?  Adding Ed Reed to the Patriots would instantly sure up our secondary and come September when Ed Reed turns 35 you can bank if healthy that he will be ball hawking with the best in the league because that is the type of player Ed is.  He is elite even still at his age.  Ed’s range has declined a bit that is where he relies on his brain and instincts to come out and make the plays needed.  Reed is coming of a 6 year 44.4 million dollar contract and has been haunted with nagging injuries but there is no question when he is out on the field he is going to make plays that will impact the game.  That is more than you can say about any safety the Patriots have on their roster currently.  The problem will lie if Ed can even make it to free agency.

Coach Jim Harbaugh had preliminary discussions with Ed immediately following the Ravens Super Bowl win on the bus ride away from the stadium.  “He and I both agreed that we want him back. I want him back, and Ed wants to be back.”  The question remains will the Baltimore Ravens be able to afford paying Joe Flacco top 5 QB money as well as retaining some of their key players such as Dannell Elerby, Dennis Pitta and Paul Krueger? The Ravens are currently about 9 million under the cap.  It is a complex situation and unfortunately as quality a player as Ed is to the Ravens he isn’t going to be number one on their priority list. 

If The Ravens choose not to re-sign Ed before the start of free agency on March 12^th, then they would one be foolish but secondly the Patriots would have the chance to scoop up a once in a lifetime player for more than likely a relatively conservative – team friendly deal that will sure up their secondary with one of – if not THE greatest free safety to ever play the game. A lot can happen between now and free agency but my guess is the Ravens recognize Ed’s importance to the team and lock him up for another year or so but time will tell.  If it is too good to be true, then it probably is, but one can only hope!

Feel free to leave your thoughts and comments below in the comments section. Be sure to follow me on twitter for more updates @MikeOnofrio and stay posted for more free agent targets!

Bringing In the New Year

With the Patriots falling to the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship it got me fired up enough to get back to Pats talk since our offseason starts now!  The Patriots are now in the rear view mirror while the Super Bowl has come into focus.  There are plenty of Patriots related story lines to look at heading into this week.  On the 49ers side former Patriot Randy Moss has what could be his last crack at a Super Bowl ring. Randy made things exciting during Super Bowl media week by proclaiming himself to be the “greatest receiver to ever play.” While on the Ravens side Ed Reed said he could “definitely” see himself as a Patriot.  Ed Reed is a free agent following the Super Bowl this weekend. The Patriots have struggled in their secondary over the last handful of seasons and adding a veteran like Ed Reed who Bill Bellichick has gushed over in the past could sure up the secondary and add some veteran leadership if the stars were to align for that possibility to become a reality.  Keep it locked down to Premium Pats as things are only getting started back up!

Old New Additions

The New England Patriots suffered a significant blow to their offensive side of the ball losing star tight end Aaron Hernandez to injury.  Hernandez has been reported to have a high ankle sprain that will allow 4-6 weeks of heal time.  This is a big blow to the Patriots offense. The Patriots offense has changed since drafting Rob Gronkowski and  Aaron Hernandez .  The Patriots’ offense is based around these two tight ends.  Without Aaron Hernandez the Patriots needed to find a way to fill the void while he is healing up.

The day I found out that Dieon Branch was released I honestly couldn’t figure out why.  The Patriots had released Donte’ Stallworth and Jabaar Gaffney.  They went from having the deepest wide receiving core to having one of the thinnest.  Why would the Patriots cut one of their most reliable options at wide receiver?  Branch’s big knock is that he doesn’t have break away speed like he used to.  Well not many 33 year old receivers have break away speed.  Branch’s value was as a 3^rd-4^th option at receiver who had Tom Brady’s trust to be where he needed to be and make the catches.  Another speculation was if Branch were released and brought back any time after week one, the Patriots would not have to guarantee his contract.  Branch’s locker has remained intact this season and this move was expected however the injury to Hernandez likely sped up the process.  When interviewed and asked about it Branch mentioned how he received calls from other teams but he had to do what was in the best interest in his family.  I think the Patriots and Branch had a wink wink nod nod agreement and a Branch return to New England was imminent.  Tom Brady was asked on WEEI a week or so ago if he would like to have Branch back and he said at this point Branch is not on the roster which to me eluded to Branch also returning.  Either way Patriots Nation Branch is back and will absolutely come in aid of the loss of Hernandez .  Branch is a savvy vet who knows the Patriots offense and can step in with Tom Brady and be effective against the Ravens on Sunday. 

 The Patriots have been flirting with signing Kellen Winslow since his surprise release from the Seahawks.  Winslow is a former Pro Bowl tight end who’s skill set is very similar to Hernandez’s.  Winslow will allow the Patriots to continue their two tight end sets and will fill the role of Aaron Hernandez in his absence.  How Winslow will pan out remains to be seen.  One would think it would be difficult for Winslow to just learn Hernandez’s role in a week so I suspect it will take some time before we see results but Winslow has speed and can still catch the ball.  Winslow was reported to be one of the best offensive weapons on the Seahawks and was abruptly cut before the season opener.  Winslow has visited the Patriots a few times and reportedly failed a physical a few weeks ago.  This time around Winslow passed and is now on the Patriots roster. 

Adding these two will surely soften the blow to the loss of Hernandez.  However the Patriots offensive woes go deeper than the loss of Hernandez.  The Patriots need a turn around offensively if they want to have a successful season.  Losing to the Arizona Cardinals isn’t a great sign for a team that was in the Super Bowl 8 months ago.

Follow me on Twitter @MikeOnofrio!

RAPID REACTION TO SURPRISE CUTS !

Well Bill Belichick and the Patriots did it again when they stunned Patriot Nation in  releasing some big names from the squad earlier today to get down to the NFL regulated 53 man roster for the 9 pm deadline.  The Patriots are known to not hold sentiment to players however some of the moves made many scratch their heads.  The Patriots are one of the most successful organizations in the NFL because they have been known to make the tough decisions when they need to.  The Patriots remind us this is a business and Bill Belichick does “What’s best for his football team.”  Let’s take a deeper look into some of the shocking cuts from today’s cut down.

Brian Hoyer- Hoyer has been the primary backup to Tom Brady since going undrafted out of Michigan State in 2009.  Hoyer was known for mostly for his short passing attack and struggled with his arm strength.  Hoyer was slightly undersized at Quarterback standing at 6’2.  Mallett was then drafted in the third round of the 2011 NFL draft and has ideal Quarterback height at 6’6.  Mallet has a much stronger arm than Hoyer and has a much better deep passing game-however, Mallett seemed to have struggled with his accuracy over the pre-season.  Bill Belichick said the #2 Quarterback race was “tight”.  Both got about equal snaps in the pre-season and both appeared to have their ups and downs.  If you asked me who would have gotten the job I would have guessed Hoyer just because he has been in the Patriots system and knows the offense.  Clearly, I was mistaken and the Pats took the more talented Mallett who is only 24 entering his second season in the NFL and is now Tom Brady’s backup.  Mallett will continue to develop and hone his skills under one of the best Quarterbacks in the NFL.  Still it is more shocking to me that the Patriots couldn’t get a deal for Hoyer.  I fully expect Hoyer to get scooped up somewhere in the next week.  I hear the Jets need a Quarterback.

Dan Koppen- I was shocked the Patriots actually brought him back in the first place earlier this offseason.  My initial thought was he was brought back to star at center so that Dan Connolly would start at guard.  While Brian Waters ponders retirement, maybe this is a sign that Waters will be back for another season moving Connolly on the inside.  Another note Waters’ locker has been intact the way he left it all summer long.  Koppen has been solid in his career with New England and has been Brady’s center since being drafted in 2003.  He is now 32 and unemployed with less than a week until the season starts. 

James Ihedigbo- I am not so surprised here.  Ihedigbo I thought was a great depth signing but he isn’t a big factor on special teams, and would only be a back-up behind Chung, Gregory, Wilson, and at this point the emerging Nate Ebner. I really think being knicked up most of training camp also wasn’t a great thing for Ihedigbo as it allowed other guys to pass him out on the depth chart.  A shame he couldn’t make it but opens the door for the younger guys.

Deion Branch- This one absolutely floored me.  I am still trying to get over this one.  Branch was just re-signed for a one year deal this past March.  I thought for sure he was as close to a lock as you could get behind Welker and Lloyd, but again I was proven wrong.  Branch isn’t what he used to be.  I totally get it but Branch has a connection with Tom Brady that I’m not sure any other player (maybe Welker) on the Patriots has.  Branch isn’t as fast as he used to be or maybe not even as talented, but Branch is a good solid wide receiver that knows the offense inside and out and is a great route runner.-couple that with the fact that Deion is one of the quarterback’s favorite and most dependable targets.  Oh, or how about the veteran leadership he brings to the locker room? I thought for sure Branch would be a quality #3 wide receiver.  If you told me Jesse Holley would make the team and Deion Branch would get cut yesterday I would have laughed in your face but it’s real.  Very real.  The Patriots went from having one of the deepest wide receiver positions in the NFL to now having what looks to be one of the more thin ones.  Maybe the Patriots don’t need to be deep at wide receiver.  The Patriots will have Welker and Branch at receiver, and Gronk and Hernandez.  The Patriots still have plenty targets so I am not worried about that.  The shock is the fact that Branch was cut and behind Lloyd and Welker there are unproven guys leaving us all with a ton of questions.  There are a few AFC East teams that are hurting for quality receivers.  It would disgust me-yet not surprise me- if Branch landed elsewhere in the AFC East.

So looking back at some of the big named cuts it appears the Patriots are trying to get younger.  At each of those players’ positions they were released for younger talent.  Will it pay off? Time will tell.  How do you feel about the Patriots moves? Do you agree? Disagree? Fill up the comments section below and tell me what you think ! Stay tuned to Premium Pats as we monitor addition cuts leading up to the 9pm deadline tonight!  Follow me on Twitter @MikeOnofrio!

GIANTS-PATRIOTS OBSERVATIONS

First off let me just start by saying I live in Connecticut.  If you don’t know where Connecticut is, well then you’re a moron but Connecticut is sandwiched smack dab in between New York and Boston.  I will say a good portion of this state are primarily Giants fans which makes us Pats fans super scarce-even though I am a hair over 2 hours away from Boston.  I also come from a family that unfortunately is a bunch of rowdy Giants fans. I know it is terrible isn’t it? Before I get ahead of myself let’s rewind back a bit.

 I remember going over to my Grandma and Grandpa’s house when I was younger and I would find my Grandpa in the living room on the couch watching the Giants game.  I never was really interested in football then, but I was always amazed how my Grandfather would sit on the sofa for hours literally glued to the TV to watch guys run up and down a field. It just perplexed me. I found zero interest in it at all.  Little did I know long after the Power Rangers were canceled and wrestling would go PG and grow stale that I would fall in love with the game of football.  Not only have I fallen in love with the game of football I have fallen in love with the New England Patriots-NOT the New York Giants.  Why not the Giants you might be pondering?  Like any young kid commonly does, I liked the Patriots colors. Seems simple, but when you are young simple is what matters. When you grow up, get a job, and have to step into the real world’s constant grind- that is when things start to become complicated. If only things were always that simple. I remember watching the Patriots in Super Bowl in 1997 fall to a young Brett Favre and his Green Bay Packers.  That was enough to detour me away from football as an impatient young lad.  After that I took a 10 year hiatus from the Patriots and football until the 2007 season.  The hype of the Patriots acquiring Moss, Welker and Thomas was enough to get my interest flowing. I watched the Super Bowl every year but I simply wasn’t interested.  Of course I rooted for the Patriots but I wasn’t passionate about football.  I guess I grew up, and since that point I have been an absolute football freak.  Everyone has their addiction and the New England Patriots are mine.  I love everything about them.  I love the way they conduct themselves on and off the field. I love that I am fortunately apart of New England living in Connecticut. I love that no matter what they do the best they can to win football games.  The Patriots don’t care what your name is, if you play for them you are just a cog in the wheel.  The Patriots are one of the most successful franchises in all of sports and the Patriots exemplify what it means to be a professional, to be a leader, and to be a winner. 

Fast forward and now I anticipate great debates at any family function to take on my family and tell them why my team is the best in the NFL, however since I have gotten seriously into football, my family has had every reason to chuckle and throw it in my face why I should have been a Giants fan.

My cousin is an avid Giants fan and season ticket holder and last night I had the opportunity to go check out the Giants/Patriots pre-season game at the new Met Life Stadium in New Jersey on his behalf and generosity. So, I would like to take the time to thank him for the great time and also the chance to once again watch his team once again beat mine.  Now I know it is just the preseason and it does not count and yes most of our starters were benched but it seems that the Patriots are just completely and utterly anemic when they face the New York Giants.  The Patriots can be on their A game all season long and when they face the Giants- they pack it in.  I am convinced the Giants are the Patriots kryptonite that that is a completely different rant that I don’t think anyone wants to hear so let’s get to my observations!

GIANTS 6 – PATRIOTS 3

First off the announcer at Met Life sounded like he came out of Harry Potter’s Hogwarts with his British accent.  The guy’s voice was legendary.  I am not sure if he is the regular announcer for game day or if he was filling in but If John Rourke ever retires I would love to hear this British guy announce “That’s good for a Patriots-First Down!”  I am getting goose bumps thinking about it.

 There were a few positives I must say about the game and one of them was the Patriots second team defense.  I thought they looked pretty solid. With most of the core starters sitting on the bench I thought it really gave a lot of the younger players a chance to show what they could do and I thought they delivered in that respect.  Obviously the teams were both running very vanilla game plans but the Patriots seemed to be getting consistent pressure.  This can be said for multiple people.  I felt like the Patriots did a great job eliminating the big plays. The Giants first and second teams really struggled to get things going against the Patriots all night.

Here are a few thoughts about a few players on the defense from last night.

Jermaine Cunningham- Has he been re-born or what?! The guy has looked great in training camp and it looks like he is ready to make great strides in his third year here in New England.  Many were writing Cunningham off and had him on the bubble but I think it is clear that Cunningham has certainly locked down a roster spot and that could maybe even develop into a starting spot.  Cunningham carried over his pressures from the other pre-season games and recorded 3 tackles, 2 solo and 2 sacks.  If Cunningham can bring this to his game now I think the Patriots will have a very nice rotation on the line heading into the season with another pre-season standout- rookie Chandler Jones, as well as veterans Rob Ninkovich, and Trevor Scott.  This line could finally have the ingredients it needs after years of mixing and matching on the edge.

Mike Rivera-Who is this guy?  The Patriots need someone to step up and be able to contribute with Dane Fletcher going down for the year and this guy certainly looks like he can contribute.  Rivera recorded a game high of 11 solo tackles and 1 assisted tackle.  Rivera is only 26 and was undrafted out of Kansas.  Since 2009 he has spent time on 5 different clubs being The Bears, Titans, Packers Dolphins, and now the Pats.  The guy seemed to be all over last night, and again I won’t get too excited since it was against 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th string guys but it is certainly worth noting and pondering if the Patriots have something with the young journeyman.

Tavon Wilson/Nate Ebner- Both of these guys really looked good and although the stats don’t show it they seemed to be steady and around the ball all night.  I am continuously impressed with Ebner especially.  A former star rugby player last season and coming into the NFL as a rookie I thought it was a long shot he would be able to translate his game to football but he has been doing just that and proving me wrong.  Ebner continues to hone his skills and almost came away with an interception at one point.  Ebner plays with a hard nose and displays his tackling ability on special teams.  Ebner will make the 53 and will make an impact I think virtually wherever the Patriots line him up either on defense or special teams.  Ebner can ball.

Now, here are some thought on the offense.

Ryan Mallett/Brian Hoyer-  Both looked to really struggle last night.  I didn’t see a lot to show a ton of confidence in either but I will best sum it up like this.  Ryan Mallett I think has the raw tools to be a good solid NFL Quarterback.  Seeing him live at practice and training camp/ pre-season he has a rifle of an arm or as John Gruden has named him “Rifle Man” .  While Mallett has the prototypical size you look for in a Quarterback and throws a beautiful ball, Mallet struggles with his accuracy.  He is very inconsistent.  Brian Hoyer on the other hand knows the system better and is a bit more accurate but struggles with his deep ball. Both have issues with their consistency and it is no wonder Bill Belichick said the competition for the #2 slot behind Brady is tight.

Jeff Demps- The Patriots really got a hard look at Demps Wednesday night utilizing him all over the field.  Demps returned kicks/punts, got work at runningback, and even lined up as a receiver.  This guy is super intriguing to me factoring in both his Olympic speed and position versatility.   I loved seeing all the different possibilities Demps presents but his biggest role with the Pats will likely be in the return game.  I thought you obviously could tell he has the elite speed, I just felt like he was over thinking it.  A lot of his moves weren’t sharp, and you could tell he hasn’t played football in a while.  That rust should wear off with time and I think he could be a valuable and dangerous weapon for this team. Rumor is the Patriots might put him on IR and let him develop his skills for next season, I hope they don’t even as he sits now he is the team’s best kick returner.  There is no reason he can’t contribute this season.  The guy just won a silver medal in the Olympics! Throw him into the fire and let’s see what the kid can do for our return game!

Brandon Bolden- I am not certain how I feel about Bolden.  Bolden will make a good play and the next play he is fumbling kicks.  It is very frustrating to watch Bolden because you never know what you are going to get out of him.  I like Bolden a lot.  I feel he has great size for a back and it sets him apart from the rest of the backs on the roster however he shoots himself in the foot.  Bolden finished the night with 15 rushes for 59 yards as well as 3 receptions for 16 yards.  My gut says he makes the squad but I wouldn’t be shocked if he didn’t.  Bolden says he “left it all out on the field” and gave it “110%”.  I suppose we will find out tomorrow if coaching feels the same way.

Other notes-

Zoltan Mesko- Don’t Mess With the Zoltan!  Zoltan I thought looked great even though Weatherford showed him up with what appeared to be a 70 yard punt early in the second quarter.  Zoltan pinned the Giants back deep all night and looks to be better than ever.  Patriots fans should be excited with their punter.  As Bill Belichick says there are 3 phases of the game and the kicking game is crucial.  Mesko determines where the opposing offense will start their drive on the field.  If Mesko can pin them deep that is a huge advantage for the Patriots.

The replacement referees were absolutely dreadful.  The refs were arguing over calls and at one point in the game as I am sure most of you saw on tv, the referees took 6 minutes or so just to get the call out.  Both coaches appeared to be flustered with the refs as was Met Life which showered the ref with boos! Roger Goodell and the players association are so worried about player safety yet they refuse to come to an agreement with the refs that know what there doing.  These replacement referees are a liability to the NFL. If  Roger is smart he will do what he has to ensure the REAL refs return for the beginning of the season otherwise we are all in big trouble!

Pats-Eagles Game Notes and Observations

Last night the Patriots hosted the Eagles for their second pre season game and fell short losing 17-27. Here are a bunch of things I noted from the game.

Due to the condensed schedule the Patriots decided to bench 26 players this pre season game. The Patriots will face the Bucs this Friday and the Giants on Wednesday so it was likely a wise decision to rest the starters heading into the next game on a short week.

Obviously the big story of the game is the injury Michael Vick sustained on the first drive after being flushed out by Pats D-tackle Kyle Love, Pats DE Jermaine Cunningham layed a huge blow to the midsection of Michael Vick who left the field and did not return for the remainder of the game.  I for one have been very high on Cunningham since he was drafted.  Cunningham seems to flash when given the opportunity and has struggled to see playing time to this point.  Cunningham seemed to have bulked up this offseason and weighs in at a solid 260 at 6’3.  Cunningham certainly looks the part and last night he played it.  The Patriots tend to agree because it has been just announced on Patriots.com that they have released DE Jonathan Fanene who was projected to be a starter before the offseason started.  Apparently the Patriots also like what they see out of Cunningham to this point.

The defense as a whole looked good even missing key players such as Vince Wilfork, Jerod Mayo, Rob Ninkovich, Kyle Arrington, and Devin McCourty.  The defense last week held Drew Brees 1 for 4 last week and played well containing Philly towards the beginning of the game. The younger talent on the defense had a chance to show what it was made of and they showed a little of what they are capable of.

To start out the night it was second year Patriots backup QB Ryan Mallet leading the Patriots offense out on the field As Tom Brady, Wes Welker , Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez , and Brandon Lloyd were all out. The Patriots obviously already know what they have in QB Tom Brady so this was a terrific opportunity to really key in on the backup QB’s and get a look at what the Patriots have there. I found it very interesting that Mallet got the star over Hoyer but I liked it.  This was a chance to throw Mallet into the fire against Philly’s first team defense and Mallet I thought stepped up to the task in my eyes.  Mallet while not perfect by any means proved to be solid in his first start as Patriots QB going 10/20 with 105 yards and a touchdown.  Mallet showed off his arm throwing lazers.  One of which seemed to almost knock Dieon Branch over for a Patriots first down.  Mallet also threw a beautiful deep ball that could not get reeled in, but it certainly shows that Mallet has the raw physical tools to make all the throws.  The questions with Mallet are his accuracy.  A lot of his shorter passes were off target and made you scratch your head. I think inconsistency would best describe Mallet but in his second season, he certainly has room to grow and improve his game.

Another highlight of the game was Dieon Branch who played 73/74 snaps last night. Dieon bailed Mallet out plenty last night and gave him a weapon he might not have had typically. Dieon looks to have a strong hold on the number 3 receiver slot after a strong showing as well. Dieon’s routes were crisp and as always, he seemed to be in position and came away with some plays.

Stephen Gostkowski showed he still is one of the leagues best kickers as he had two 50+ yard field goals. Fantasy owners keep him in mind when drafting as New England appears to have another dynamic offense this season that will be scoring many points-as will Gostkowski.

Special teams I thought looked anemic and sloppy.  I really hope Jeff Demps can bring a spark to the return game.  I think New England will be in trouble if we have any Danny Woodhead/Donte’ Stallworth/Brandon Bolden returning kicks.  Speaking of Brandon Bolden ( who seems to be fighting for his life for a roster spot ) he had a pitiful game muffing a punt that lead to Philly’s first score of the night and had a very unimpressive night with 7 carries for 14 yards. Do the simple math folks and that’s a puny 2 yards per carry average.  I liked Bolden coming out of training camp because he is a big physical back who has a different skill set than any of the other young backs on the roster yet he isn’t helping his cause by fumbling in practice, muffing punts, and rushing for 2 yards a carry.  That slot can be taken by a more dynamic player like Jeff Demps.

Chandler Jones is going to have a phenomenal year. Mark it. The guy still has so much to learn and forces constant pressure. I am very impressed with him thus far.

On the other hand Jake Bequette has been very inconsistent. He shows he can get to the QB yet he got a costly roughing the passer penalty. The jury’s still out on him.

Another inconsistent position on the team is the tackle position. Solder is having some growing pains transitioning to left tackle.  I think Solder will do fine because both last week and this week Saints and Eagles defenders gushed about Solders talents saying he will be  “A player to be reckoned with” as Eagles Defensive End Daryll Tapp said after last night’s victory over the Pats. Looks like it will be a week to week growth with Solder so hopefully Tapp will be right.  Cannon also appeared to be shaky giving up a sack.  The Patriots better hope Sebastian Vollmer heals up for the season opener or the Pats could be in trouble with their young tackles.

Safety will be a position to really watch all season. Chung hasn’t played a full season since being drafted by New England in 2009 and is getting that injury prone tag to his name.  Chung left the game in the first half with a shoulder injury and did not return.  Chung, whose contract is up after this season needs to prove he is worth an extension and really needs to stay on the field this season for the Pats.  Last year there was a revolving door at safety and we are only halfway through the pre season and both Patrick Chung and Tavon Wilson banged up- this may not bode well for the chemistry of the Patriots secondary.

Someone who may be able to step in and play some safety is special teamer and rookie safety Nate Ebner who had himself a good game and an interception closing out the first half of the game before halftime. Ebner was on of the top rugby players last season and is still new to football but if he can continue the transition with strides like this, Belichick may have stuck gold with Nate Ebner who for the record has had 4 interceptions in 4 days in practice leading up to-and during the game last night. 

Bobby Carpenter.  Who would have thought he would even be talked about to this point? –Certainly not me.  Carpenter was a special team’s player for the Lions last season and he may be able to contribute on defense this offseason with Dane Fletcher going on IR. Although negated- Carpenter made a nice play and picked Philly’s backup Foles off and took it to the house for a pick 6. Plays like that may keep you around a bit longer. 

Sterling Moore got me a bit nervous as I got 2011 nausea watching a 3^rd down conversion of a 40 yard bomb let up to Philly star wide-out, DeSean Jackson- getting Philly in scoring position which led to a Clay Harbor touchdown. Moore also had a holding penalty early in the game.  If only he would make the clutch plays like he did against Baltimore in the AFC Championship last season.

Will Allen needs to make the most of his opportunities.  He had a gift INT which hit him square in the chest and he dropped it! At his age he should be able to come up with the plays as a veteran DB.  It’s only a matter of weeks before he is dropped from New England. I don’t think he has much left to offer at this point in his career.

Well that’s all folks! Agree? Disagree? Have anything to add? Fill the comments section and let me hear it! If I left out anything I would be glad to post it up on the site!