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Patriots Road Trip Raffle

Patriots Road Trip Raffle

The Kraft family and the New England Patriots Foundation are raffling off a chance to travel with the team to an away game, with all proceeds benefiting the New England Patriots Foundation. The grand prize winner will receive transportation for Two on the New England Patriots team plane, two game tickets, two pregame on-field passes, hotel accommodations & more. Trip date & game date to be mutually agreed upon by Grand Winner and Sponsor, and excludes 11/24/2022 and 12/18/2022.

Breaking Down Patriots Initial 53

So, it was a big surprise when Ray was the odd man out. In particular, the Patriots decision to roster Mitchell over Ray is a bit of a head-scratcher.

While theres a chance that Ray clears waivers we likely will find out Wednesday and returns to New Englands practice squad, its easy to envision another team, aware of his training camp success, claiming him before the deadline. By contrast, there likely wouldve been a far greater chance of Mitchell, a special teams-first lineman, clearing waivers and signing with the practice squad. Its a curious risk for the Patriots to take with a player whose pass-rushing talent appears NFL-ready.

Why, then, did Belichick go this route? Why not keep Ray and subject Roberts or Mitchell to waivers?

Honestly, we dont have a great answer, though Rays injury history mightve been a factor. A five-star recruit out of high school, Ray was an injury-prone disappointment with the Crimson Tide, appearing in just 44 of a possible 70 games. Still, the 6-foot-5, 295-pound lineman played in the final 13 games last season and looked healthy and explosive throughout his first Patriots training camp. Perhaps New England knows something we dont know or simply isnt confident that Ray can hold up in the NFL. All we can do is speculate.

All of these points will prove moot should Ray eventually sign with the Patriots practice squad. But if another team claims Ray, the decision to release him will be a legitimate second guess if it isnt already.

Report: Patriots Wide Receiver Tyquan Thornton Set To Miss 6

BOSTON — It appears as though Patriots second-round pick Tyquan Thornton could return to the team midseason after injuring his clavicle last weekend.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Saturday that Thornton had surgery on Monday to repair the injury and now has a six-to-eight week timeline for recovery.

#Patriots rookie WR Tyquan Thornton underwent surgery Monday to repair a fractured clavicle, per source. Recovery time should be 6-8 weeks from the procedure but could vary depending on healing and re-acclimation to football. 2nd round pick still set to help offense this year

Jeremy Fowler

Thornton played into the second quarter last weekend against Carolina before later being declared out.

The wideout was selected with the 50th overall pick in this year’s draft after playing for Baylor from 2018 to 2022. During his career, he had 143 receptions for 2,242 yards and 19 touchdowns.

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Courtland Sutton, WR, Denver Broncos

Sutton is such a good player, but he has been let down for much of his career by substandard quarterback play. Now he’ll play alongside Wilson, one of the very best deep throwers in the NFL. Sutton led all players in the NFL in 2021 in terms of air yards per target, as he’s among the best vertical receivers in the league. It’s a perfect match, and the reports from training camp suggest an early rapport has quickly developed. While I’m convinced both Sutton and Jeudy have a real shot at finishing as top-20 wideouts this year, I lean — slightly — toward Sutton as the best bet to lead the duo in fantasy points.

Gabriel Davis, WR, Buffalo Bills

Fantasy analysis is a blend of several factors, including numbers and instincts. The numbers for Davis prior to the playoffs last year aren’t eye-popping, but his four-touchdown performance against the Chiefs in the divisional round was a PSA that he’s ready for liftoff this season. I’ll boil it down simply: He’s a physically imposing 6-foot-2 red zone threat who plays with the quarterback I forecast as the NFL’s MVP this season. Beyond the red zone upside, Davis has a real shot to be the team’s second-highest-targeted player and has flashed throughout training camp. I’m bullish on the player and see top-15 wide receiver upside.

Kyle Van Noy Is Happy To Be Back In New England

Van Noy is back with the Patriots after a seemingly unhappy year spent playing for the Miami Dolphins. Van Noy was released after a single campaign, and it doesnt sound as if he was happy about the way things ended.

I am surprised and disappointed in their decision, Van Noy said in a statement provided to NFL Network reporter Mike Garafolo. As a captain, I gave my all to the team. I fought through a painful hip injury during the season, including spending a night in the hospital after a game. I was brought there to be a leader and I know my teammates looked up to and respected me. I am looking forward to making an impact on my next team, on and off the field.

And so is Udoka, even if he isnt necessarily breaking down the walls someone controlling Williams Twitter account thought was still standing.

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Espn Projects The Patriots Will Have An Elite O

If what former Kansas City return specialist Dante Hall said is true, that Defensive and offensive linemen control the game, and real sports fans know that., then this latest projection from the self-proclaimed worldwide leader in sports should give the Patriots a fighting chance in 2022. At least as far as protecting the quarterback and trying to score the ball go.

His Thoughts On Grading The Team Based On Preseason

With the preseason schedule behind them, could Belichick give the Patriots a grade at this point?

No, preseasons preseason, Belichick explained. Preseason is about developing your team for the season and evaluating players. If you look at the play-time in our game, or any other games, I mean I dont know, I dont think Las Vegas played 30 players, I dont think Carolina there must have been 30 players that didnt play in that game thats not really what preseasons about. Preseasons about evaluating the players that you do play, and taking the practice time in joint practices or whatever you have to prepare your team for the regular season.

Where everybody is on that, well see after five, six weeks of the regular season, Belichick added. Thats when well know. I dont think preseason games are a real big indicator of what the team is or isnt, one way or the other. Thats not about us, its about the NFL.

Belichicks admission that he wont fully know how good his team is until after more than a month of regular season games sounds striking, but is probably more in line with how the team has operated for several years. As NFL reporter Albert Breer pointed out, the Patriots in the past, and since the 2011 changed the rules, would almost treat the first month of the season as an extended preseason to tinker, fix and find the right mix.

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Sports Final: Is It Time To Panic About The Patriots

BOSTON — From all accounts, it was not a very good summer for the New England Patriots. They struggled in training camp, they struggled in joint practices, and they struggled in their three preseason games.

The preseason came to a close Friday night in Las Vegas with the first-team offense putting up another lackluster performance. Mac Jones has looked uncomfortable all summer and the offense has struggled to move the football. Jones no longer has Josh McDaniels to turn to on the sidelines during his time of need, instead left with Matt Patricia and Joe Judge to help him figure things out.

It’s fair to say that there are a lot of fans and pundits that are pretty concerned about the Patriots this season. The offense was a mess all preseason and the defense has some big question marks in the secondary. Add in some uncertainty on the coaching staff, and a lot of folks are worried the Patriots are heading for another playoff-less season.

But WBZ-TV’s Steve Burton has an important message: Don’t panic.

“The Patriots will get this thing together,” Burton said on Sunday night’s Sports Final.

That drew a lot of heat from WEEI’s Christian Fauria, who vehemently disagrees with Burton. He’s panicking, and telling everyone to do the same.

But that doesn’t make Fauria feel any better about the current state of the offensive unit.

Tune in to Sports Final every Sunday night at 11:35 p.m. on WBZ-TV!

In:

Eight Things We Learned From Patriots Joint Practices With Eagles

Van Noy had a late-career emergence in 2019 with New England thanks to a tweak in his role, PFF wrote. He began his career as an off-ball linebacker before transitioning to a hybrid role, but Bill Belichick & Co. made Van Noy more of a pure edge rusher. That season, he ended up with an 84.2 PFF grade that was over 13 points higher than his previous career high. Van Noy left New England to join forces with former Patriots defensive coordinator Brian Flores in Miami, but he was asked to go back to a hybrid job.

To no surprise, his overall play declined because his coverage prowess is a shaky aspect of his game. Van Noy found his way back to the Patriots after the Dolphins released him in the offseason. As long as he is used in the same manner as he was in 2019, a bounce back should be in order.

Patriots reporter Mike Reiss followed up with reasons to be optimistic about Van Noy returning to his former self.

Van Noy has been playing opposite of big-bucks free-agent signing Matt Judon at outside linebacker, and he seems highly motivated after having his tenure with the Dolphins end much earlier than expected, after one year, Reiss wrote. I ask Kyle questions all the time, Judon said. Van Noys experience in the Patriots culture, and defensive system, has positioned him as one of the go-to guys for a front-7 that has dramatically upgraded its talent.

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His Latest On The Teams Play

As has been the case since the departure of Josh McDaniels, the teams decision regarding who will coach offense and who will call plays in 2022 was discussed.

Belichick downplayed the subplot, noting that the nature of preseason has meant play-calling hasnt been something hes been overly concerned about.

Play-calling hasnt been a problem, said Belichick. I mean, again, theres no game-planning. Were running the plays that weve been running all training camp. Preseason and game-planning for regular season games are two different worlds. Its really not comparable.

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Here’s How Many Patriots Made Espn’s Top 100 Nfl Players For 2022 Ranking

Here’s how many Patriots made ESPN’s top 100 NFL players ranking originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

NFL Network recently unveiled its annual ranking of the top 100 players in the league, and only two New England Patriots — quarterback Mac Jones and linebacker Matthew Judon — were on the list.

ESPN’s new ranking predicting the top 100 players for the 2022 season was released Monday, and zero Patriots made the cut. The Patriots were one of five teams — along with the New York Jets, New York Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions — not represented.

Patriots Talk: Patriots flounder in preseason finale against Raiders | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube

A couple former Patriots players made the list, including quarterback Tom Brady , cornerback J.C. Jackson and guard Joe Thuney .

These rankings and lists are not an exact science, but they do illustrate a lack of talent, particularly high-end skill, on the Patriots roster. CBS Sports also recently released its top 100 players ranking and, again, zero Patriots were featured.

The Patriots mostly underwhelmed in the preseason, especially in last Friday’s 23-6 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders when the first-team offense struggled mightily. Jones played seven drives over the final two preseason games and the offense scored only one touchdown.

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Leonard Fournette, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Fournette finished in the top four last season in running back targets, receptions and receiving yards, numbers that figure to sustain as the lead back in a high-octane Tampa Bay offense. He was the third-highest-scoring running back prior to his injury late last season, and while his passing game value is elite, his rushing is important: He had 20 goal-to-go touches last season, 11 more than any other Buccaneer. He’s in line for another major year.

Hunter Renfrow, WR, Las Vegas Raiders

There are some things working against Renfrow this season that have mitigated the optimism after his breakout season in 2021: Davante Adams‘ arrival and Darren Waller‘s return, most notably. But there’s something I just keep coming back to that has me wanting to push Renfrow way up my rankings: he’s a stone cold baller. He’s a route-running magician who has the respect of defensive backs all over the league, and maybe the pieces around him actually lead to more favorable opportunities. Additionally, it’s my belief we’re going to see a few more teams consistently churn out three fantasy-relevant pass-catchers with offensive firepower all over the NFL.

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Is There Any Hope For The Patriots’ Offense

ESPN has shared their projections on offensive line pass and run block win rates for the 2022 season and according to their model, the New England Patriots project to have the 10th best offensive line overall in football . Writes Seth Walder of ESPN Analytics , The Patriots lost two fairly strong guards this offseason in Shaq Mason and Ted Karras — they were ninth and 11th in PBWR last season, respectively, with Karras also finishing 14th in RBWR. But the versatile Onwenu is a solid replacement, even though the model will assume Strange is below average — as it does for all rookies. Walder also projects the Pats pass blocking to be better than their run blocking, with 10th and 15th place rankings respectively for each, along a line that is in legitimate transition…like many positional groupings on the 2022 Pats.

Thats a whole lot of change for a group thats supposed to be in the upper echelon or at least top third of the leagues lines. Yet change, from scheme to personnel to coaching, seems to be the only true constant thus far for the 2022 Patriots. And with just over a month from the start of the season questions aplenty emerge for this group.

Chasen Rookie Dream: Hines Earns Patriots Roster Spot

DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne, Jakobi Meyers, and Nelson Agholor are four quality wideouts. In fact, both Parker and Agholor have 1,000-yard seasons on their resume, and Bourne and Meyers both had over 800 receiving yards last season. The problem is none of them is a true No. 1 wide receiver. It’s hard to imagine any of those four making the Pro Bowl but that doesnt mean they are not serviceable players.

The ranking details the wideouts:

Kendrick Bourne created more big plays than expected in his best season, so that’s a positive. Bourne will likely start alongside new addition DeVante Parker and Jakobi Meyers, who was a poor man’s Hunter Renfrow in 2021. Meyers was targeted at a virtually identical rate but averaged 1.7 yards per route run when Renfrow was up over 2.0. Renfrow was at that level the prior season and took a leap in 2021 to become a red zone and YAC threat the hope has to be that Meyers does the same thing in his fourth campaign.

That’s a fair assessment of the wide receiver room, especially if you consider how poor the pass catchers were just two years ago.

In just two offseasons New England has made substantial improvements. Do you remember watching Damiere Byrd and N’Keal Harry drop everything thrown their direction?

The ranking also points out that running back is their best position:

With training camp set to begin this week, we will all get a chance to see how just how good this year’s skill position groups are.

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New England Patriots Not Naming Offensive Defensive Coordinators

Ryan Clark breaks down why he believes in Bill Belichick’s offensive scheme but doubts him as a playcaller for the Patriots.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick made it official Thursday: He isn’t naming an offensive coordinator to replace Josh McDaniels.

The Patriots announced their complete coaching staff, with titles, for the first time since McDaniels departed to become Las Vegas Raiders head coach — and there’s no coordinator.

“I’m not big on titles,” Belichick said in March. “We have jobs to do. We’ll do the jobs.”

Of calling plays, he said at the time: “We won’t be calling any for a while. Don’t have any games for a while.”