New England Patriots News 5-10 and Notes Around the AFC East
 This hasn't been an easy week for Patriots QB Tom Brady. His integrity and legacy have come under fire as a result of the conclusions of the Wells Report. (USA TODAY Images) |
Happy Mother’s Day, here are Sunday’s Patriots news notes and what’s happening around the division:
NFL Disputes Myers Report of Brady Suspension: The NFL released a statement on Saturday afternoon saying that no suspension was imminent for Tom Brady, effectively denying the NY Daily News report from NFL columnist Gary Myers. Myers wrote on Friday that he had several unnamed sources who have “a good sense of what goes on” at the NFL’s headquarters. And that Brady’s suspension would be announced early next week.
But in a very curious email to Boston.com, the NFL went out of its way to deny Myers report. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello wrote that “no decisions have been made.” Adding, “It is Gary Myers’ prediction,” Aiello said. “The headline is misleading.”
While Brady still may face suspension over the Deflate-gate fiasco, the NFL stated that they were still considering any and all possibilities. According to the Miami Herald’s Armondo Salguero,“everything is on the table”, in terms of suspensions and/or fines for Brady.
The league probably went this route to soften the backlash against what has been an absolute communications sieve the NFL Headquarters has been throughout this entire fiasco which is something the Patriots have publicly complained about. There have been numerous leaks and tips coming out of New York to the media. Nearly all of it, by the way, which furthers the league's case against the Patriots. Commissioner Roger Goodell's Headquarters has been springing more leaks than a colander under a fire hose.
Now a College Course, Deflate-gate Gathering A Life of its Own: As if everyone around the New England states haven’t heard enough of Deflate-gate, now your college students can study it…for course credit.
University of New Hampshire students can now take a course on the infamous Deflate-gate. The UNH course synopsis states that it just isn’t about Tom Brady and the Patriots, but “Instead, it is about the interplay between those footballs — along with numerous other sports things — and the legal, regulatory and journalistic systems governing sports.”
The hope here is that students read and pay close attention to the 243 page Wells Report. Because in the report are examples too numerous to count, on how NOT to do an “independent investigation”. Class dismissed.
All But Two Rookies Signed: On Friday the Patriots had announced that they had signed eight of their 11 draft picks to rookie contracts as well as at least seven undrafted rookie free agents. Others were in rookie mini-camp on a tryout basis.
On Saturday, the Patriots announced that DE Geneo Grissom has signed his rookie deal. Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post reported that the Patriots third-round draft pick from Oklahoma signed a four-year deal worth $2.891 million including a signing bonus of $581,948.
Only first round draft pick, Texas DT Malcom Brown and fifth round pick, Navy LS Joe Cardona remain unsigned. Brown wasn’t expected to be at rookie mini-camp due to school academic graduation requirements. Cardona is awaiting word if the Navy will delay or release him from his military commitment. Normally a military academy graduate owes the government, five years of service. However professional athletes may be given releases after just two years or be given light duty near their place of professional employment.
In Cardona’s case, he’s heard nothing yet, but could either be released from his commitment or given duty at the Naval Academy Prep School in RI. Part of the reasoning behind the early selection of Cardona in Round 5 had to be a message to the Secretary of the Navy that Cardona has a bona fide chance at an NFL career and wasn’t a UDFA just trying to hold on to a slot.
Players Already Hard Back at Work …and Play: This week I had the opportunity to take a charity basketball game with current and former Patriots players against an All-Star team of Grafton police officers and residents to benefit the police and fire units.
 Joe Vellano, here with a young fan at a charity basketball game, is right back at work after a shortened spring but still finding time to give back to the community. (SBalestrieri Image) |
Current Patriots Jonas Gray, Nate Ebner, Ryan Allen and Joe Vellano were there as well former players, Mark LeVoir, Patrick Pass and the Patriots color man on radio broadcasts, former QB Scott Zolak.
I spoke briefly with Vellano at halftime of the game and asked about the Patriots strength and conditioning program going on at Foxboro. “We’ve already been at it for about three weeks,” he said. “We’ve been working out pretty hard, and it is always good to see everyone back at it,” he added.
I asked Vellano if his spring was a bit short….he smiled and rolled his eyes. “Much too short, but…” he added, “there is no better reason to have a short spring, than ours.”
The Patriots organization under Robert Kraft, makes countless appearances in the community during both the off-season and regular season. Thursday’s event was another, but the players really enjoyed the interaction with the crowd, staying to sign autographs, take pictures and talk about the Super Bowl. Zolak speaking about the event, told me that is always a worthwhile cause.
“We all owe so much to the police, fire and first responders who put their life on the line every day for all of us. Especially in this time that we’re living in, where so much is going on a daily basis, we can’t thank them enough,” he said.
Zolak added, “And this is a great time, the people enjoy it and so do we.”
Brandon Marshall Almost a Patriot? He Says So: In an appearance on ESPN on Friday, former Bears and current Jets wide receiver says that prior to last season, he was nearly traded to New England.
“I could have played for the Patriots last year,” Marshall told the “Carmen and Jurko Show” on Friday. “There was an opportunity where there probably could have (been) a trade before the season.”
In May of last year, Marshall signed a three-year, $30 million extension, including $22.3 million in guaranteed money. But he was traded to the Jets for a fifth round draft pick this February, which the Bears turned into Penn State safety Adrian Amos. “I really thought that Chicago was going to be my home forever,” Marshall said, indicating he wanted to remain a Bear for the remainder of his career.
Now with hindsight being 20/20, it would have been interesting to consider the possibilities of having Marshall split out wide for the 2014 season for New England….
Eastbound and Down…..News from around the AFC East:
Shula Slams New England….Again: On Saturday in celebration of the Dolphins 50th season in the NFL, Miami had as their guest of honor, former Coach Don Shula. Shula wasted little time in slamming the Patriots over the recent Deflate-gate flap.
"Our record in those 50 years was always done with a lot of class, a lot of dignity, a lot of doing it the right way," Shula said. "We didn't deflate any balls."
Why a coach of back-to-back Super Bowls feels he must continually pick at New England and often Bill Belichick is a good question. Nor does it have much to do with Miami’s 50th Anniversary, but that never stopped Shula.
He was asked if he believed the Patriots' Super Bowl victory over Seattle following the AFC title game win is tainted, Shula took the bait, saying, "I think I'm going to pass on that answer." Between this and Shula's Beli-cheat statements before the Super Bowl, he's coming off as a pretty angry, disgruntled man. Both he and a certain coach that resides in upstate New York, have an insecure obsession with the Patriots and Belichick.
Dolphins Rookie WR Parker Shining Early: Our good friend Antwan Staley has been reporting on the goings on at the Dolphins Rookie Mini-camp and was giving his highest marks to WR Devante Parker and G Jamil Douglas.
Parker, according to Staley was catching everything thrown at him, including some that weren’t close to being on target. Douglas also was looking sharp in the early going. For the full run-down, click here:
Bills Ryan Will Not Muzzle Players, But McCoy’s Comments Will Ruffle Feathers:In what has become the norm, Rex Ryan is back to yapping and talking trash, and encouraging his players to do the same. Ryan stayed mum for most of 2014 with the Jets but is back to Rex being Rex.
"I'm not going to put a muzzle on any of our players," Ryan said. "We're not always going to be lined up."
But LeSean McCoy’s comments, basically accusing former coach Chip Kelly of being a racist shouldn’t play well with the team or the league. Surprisingly, it barely caused a ripple across a league far too embroiled in worrying about air pressure in footballs.
McCoy stated, that Kelly doesn’t "Like or respect star players."
McCoy then added the race card to the equation telling ESPN the Magazine that not only does Kelly dislike star players, but he doesn't like having "good, black players" around.
Ryan however stuck behind McCoy stating, “I can't even begin to tell you what happened there. I think you talk to LeSean and leave it at that." For anyone who is interested the Bills play at Philadelphia in Week 14.
Petty Impresses at Jets Rookie Camp: New Jets QB Bryce Petty was under scrutiny for the first time in the bright lights of New York and aced his first test. Granted it was a non-contact scrimmage and he was just doing the basic drop back and throw, however Petty according to reports coming out of the NY media, looked very good.
Displaying his quick release with a compact delivery, Petty was hitting all of the throws. New Jets head coach Todd Bowles however was only cautiously optimistic. "He has all the intangibles, but that word is thrown around so much," Bowles said. "It's sort of the new word for 'potential.'"
All eyes will be on Petty this Spring as he’ll look to soak up the Jets playbook quickly and push Geno Smith for the starting job.
It will be a big transition for a QB who played in a no-huddle system where the QB throws most of the time on his first read. But for now, Petty is scoring high marks….stay tuned.
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