The Next Shoe

Seriously, can we start the season right now?

Okay, we should have the draft first.

 

As much as the recent moves by Trader Bill have me juiced for the start of the 2016 season, there are more than a few shoes still left to drop, including the draft. For the moment, here are three other shoes to consider, in no particular order…

Blount Force Trauma

Am I the only one who hopes for one more Life is Good season with LeGarrette Blount?

The return of Dante Scarnecchia (and fullback extraordinaire James Develin), the development of second year guards Tre Jackson and Shaq Mason along with the addition of OG Jonathan Cooper and TE Martellus Bennett would seem to put New England in position to go jumbo with three XXL tight ends and pound the rock. Maybe Donald Brown is a "big enough" back. Maybe Tyler Gaffney can get out of the tub. Maybe the Pats have something in Joey Iosefa.

LG could still come back to Foxborough but I suspect he'll have to wait out the draft to see if New England finds a big back with one of those two 2nd round picks.

Making Amends

In terms of roster spots, I don't know why the Patriots wouldn't keep Danny Amendola.

In terms of ROE, well, that's another question.

Assuming the Patriots go with more 12 personnel groupings in 2016 and assuming Julian Edelman is WR1 (a pretty good assumption), who plays WR2?

Amendola? Or Amendola clone Chris Hogan?

As a backup/punt returner/insurance policy, Amendola is a bit pricey, but I suspect this is another decision that will wait till after the draft and possibly into training camp. A draft pick, a full year in the system for Keshawn Martin, or (yes, I was going to say "Aaron Dobson finally getting it" but I had to stop myself because I'm reminded that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting a different outcome) could impact Amendola's future in New England. An injury on another team might create a more favorable trade scenario that seals his fate. My best case scenario is that Amendola and the Patriots work things out but I can see why Amendola wouldn't want to rework his contract again after doing so just last year. He's 30 years old and unlikely to have a chance to recoup that money down the line. His age also argues against the Patriots offering an extra year to spread the money out.

I'll miss him.

Jimmy G's Close Up

Before he re-worked his contract, the 4-game suspension for Deflategate would've cost Tom Brady about $2,000,000. With his new deal in place, it will cost him about $200,000.

Let's just stipulate to the fact this isn't about guilt or innocence or some ill-advised attempt by the NFL to re-litigate Spygate, nor is it about the duplicity of league officials when it comes to football PSI and the integrity of the game; it's about Roger Goodell compensating for his tiny penis.

Moving on.

Speaking for those of us east of the Connecticut River, the best outcome from the circuit court of appeals would be a win for Brady and the NFLPA. Should the three-judge panel rule in favor of Goodell and the NFL, I can't predict what the players association will want to do in terms of the appeal process but it would seem Brady is ready to accept the fact that this is an unjust and godless universe presided over by the inbred children of inbred parents and he'll opt to sit out the first four games of the season.

Cue Jimmy Garoppolo.

So, I may be wearing my Patriots Goggles when I say this but I feel pretty confident New England would roll into Week 5 with a 2-2-0 record at worst with Jimmy G under center and finish up the season at 14-2-0 as Tom Brady wreaks his righteous wrath on the rest of the NFL.

Garoppolo's going to make mistakes that Brady wouldn't, that's a given, but Josh McDaniels will put game plans together that will minimize the errors and maximize his abilities. It can't hurt having Gronk, Bennett, Edelman, Dion Lewis (assuming he's fully recovered) and the rest of the options the Patriots offense can put at Jimmy G's fingertips. He hasn't had a lot of reps but it is his third year in the system. Also, he looks a little bit like a young George Clooney. That has to mean something.

I won't go 4-0-0 to start the season with Jimmy G but 3-1-0? I wouldn't be surprised.

If Week 5 is a home game, I'd like to see the Patriots start the game with Garoppolo on the field. Then, before they break the huddle, Brady runs onto the field.

Madness.