Novus Ordo Pigskins

 Mock Drafts. Trade Rumors. Franchise Tags and Free Agency. Oh, my! Feints within feints within feints.

You think you know but you don't know because nobody knows.

Kyle Van Noy? Gone. 

The Calvin Ridley Fever Dream? Gone.

J.C. Jackson? Good as gone.

The good citizens of Patriots Nation knew changes were coming but it's still bittersweet. All athletes die young, I guess.

A Penny's Worth of Patriots Pigskin Thoughts…

Are you on Team Robby Anderson or Team Nelson Agholor? I have to wonder how much of a difference that one makes. (I'm still on Team D.J. Chark, anyway.) I do like the fact that Belichick is looking for opportunities to upgrade at WR, I just wonder if Anderson's first year in the New England offense would be more productive than Agholor's second year in the system.

I can't help checking out the many and various mock drafts even though (a) who the pigskin pundits and bobbleheads mock to the Patriots almost never makes any sense to me and (b) I just know Belichick is trading out of the first round this year, anyway. 

Is there a wide receiver not named N'Keal Harry that Patriots Fans aren't thirsty for? Amari Cooper, Tyler Lockett, Allen Robinson, Chris Olave, John Metchie, et al. Makes you miss the days of "Larry Fitzgerald would look good catching passes from Tom Brady," doesn't it? Wait-What? It's the same thing as "[Former Alabama WR X] would look good catching passes from Mac Jones?" Are you sure? 

One thing is certain; more changes and more bittersweet farewells are coming for the Patriots.

In other, semi-related pigskin news…

I guess all the rumors of discontent were true.

In the wake of the Russell Wilson trade to the Broncos, the Mac Jones Haters bemoaned the fact that Trader Bill failed to mortgage New England's future for a 33-year old QB who has taken an absolute beating over the course of his ten years in the league. Will he play well in Denver? He'd better. 

If you think the difference between the Patriots winning the Super Bowl was the difference between Russell Wilson and Mac Jones, let me just say please, stick to politics. 

The Green Bay Packers know the definition of insanity, don't they?

Perhaps Green Bay's management team is thinking of taking a page from the Rams playbook and is going "all in" for 2022. Aaron Rodgers is undeniably good at throwing a football. He is not undeniably good at winning playoff games. I guess losing in the playoffs is better than not getting to the playoffs at all, but is it $200MM better? 

Okay, sure. They're doing the same thing. Again. But this time it will be different.