Moving and Shaking

All the haters who were worried about Tim Tebow taking up a valuable roster spot that could’ve been used on another player who – though unlikely to contribute from roster spot #53 – might have upside, must be scratching their heads today as the New England roster sits at 51.

 

For a final note on Tebow, I had thought that Tebow was a lock because he was a long-term investment that would reap benefits in 2015 and because a mash up of Ryan Mallett and Tebow running the read-option would be needed in the event Tom Brady was injured. While Mallett plus Tebow would not equal Brady, the fact that opposing defensive coordinators would have to prepare for both Mallett and Tebow would’ve minimized the loss of Tom Terrific. Then a funny thing happened. Mallett started to look more confident and effective. Maybe not as good as the guy some had wishfully projected to a 1^st round pick trade scenario with the Cleveland Browns but (as I’ve noted previously) certainly better than Matt Cassel, who was good enough for 11-5-0. Mallett’s development – and a realistic assessment of Tebow’s ceiling – made the decision to release Tebow inevitable.

Too early to start worrying about the Patriots trading Brady in 2014?

Far more curious than Tebow’s release were the series of cuts made on the D-Line where the starters – Chandler Jones, Tommy Kelly, Vince Wilfork and Rob Ninkovich – are solid but depth has been a concern. Armand Armstead is on the Non-Football Injury list and could return this season but that’s then and this is now. The release of Justin Francis and Jermaine Cunningham (given how often he was playing on the inside in sub packages) with injury designations clarifies why they aren’t Patriots #52 and #53 and has some pigskin pundits and bobbleheads revisiting the release of Kyle Love and Brandon Deaderick. It may be one man’s humble opinion but I’m not so sure I’d be all that more confident if Love and Deaderick were filling out those roster spots.

Defensive tackles are a scarce commodity in the market. New England’s options will be limited to young, unproven talent and aging veterans who were released by other teams for good reasons.

We can hope the sturdy Wilfork and Kelly will remain so and that UDFA Joe Vellano and a NASCAR package featuring Jake Bequette and Michael Buchanan will be enough until Armstead is ready but… Maybe I would feel better if Kyle Love was still in Foxborough.

That is a troubling realization.

I know what you’re thinking because I’m thinking it, too. Richard Seymour is still available. The concerns regarding the relationship – or lack thereof – between Seymour and Belichick seem overblown to me. Like most things in life, Seymour’s return to the Patriots comes down to money. I’m guessing New England would place a value on Seymour similar to the Tommy Kelly deal. With the decisions to release Zoltan Mesko and Daniel Fells, the Patriots would appear to have the cap space to make such an offer to Seymour. The question is whether or not Seymour still thinks he can do better than that.

With two roster spots open, Rob Gronkowski’s return still uncertain and Zach Sudfeld’s blocking considered something less than a strength, I continue to puzzle over the release of Jake Ballard.

On the plus side, like most citizens of Patriots Nation, I see the release of Ballard and Daniel Fells, along with the fact that Gronk was not put on the PUP list as strong indicators that we’ll see Gronkowski on the field before Week 7. The question then becomes, how soon? Taking a look at the schedule, I would think the earliest Gronk sighting would be Week 3 at home against Tampa Bay. I wouldn’t mind not seeing him till Week 6 against Atlanta because I don’t want to see him come back too soon and suffer a setback. Also, better to have Gronk for the last five games than the first five games.

Of course, Ballard’s release may have a lot more to do with a diminished skill set following his return from a catastrophic knee injury and Fells, unlike Michael Hoomanawanui, may have refused to renegotiate his $1.4m salary. After his agent tests the market for 31-year old TEs whose best year was three years ago, perhaps Fells will be back at a lesser or non-guaranteed salary after Week 1.

I like Alfonzo Dennard very much when he isn’t hurt or in jail; at this point I’m much more concerned with the latter than the former. I have no idea if it’s a good or bad thing that his court date has been postponed but I’m having a hard time thinking this doesn’t end with a judgment of a parole violation and a room without a view.

Kyle Arrington is better in the slot but I think he can play outside well enough. I’m thinking optimistic thoughts about rookie Logan Ryan, too, but I can’t help but wonder if Drayton Florence can still play. Being cut by the Jaguars is certainly not a good sign. (Can Jacksonville afford to let a serviceable football player go? I don’t think so.) Finding someone better than Florence at this point seems unlikely.

Despite these concerns, the New England Patriots 2013 roster looks pretty solid. (I must admit I’ve already begun thinking about the practice squad, hoping that WR Quentin Sims and RB George Winn will pass unnoticed by 31 other NFL teams and remain with the Patriots.) In the context of the AFC East, they look like men among boys. They have the best coach, the best QB and the best offensive line and I could make the argument that their linebackers and their running backs as a group are also the best in the AFC East. The season may well turn on the development of second-year studs Chandler Jones and Don’ta Hightower, the rookie wide receivers and Aqib Talib-led secondary but if that’s the case, I’m feeling pretty good on this fine Sunday morning.