>The New England Patriots used their first free-agent move Monday to add depth at running back. Former Washington Commanders back Antonio Gibson, 25, agreed to terms on a three-year, $11.25 million contract with the Patriots, according to a league source, that will make him the team’s No. 2 running back behind Rhamondre Stevenson. > >> Antonio Gibson can be a third-down, pass-catching back for the Patriots and occasionally spell Rhamondre Stevenson. >> >> — Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) March 11, 2024

>Patriots informed WR DeVante Parker that they are releasing him Wednesday and he now has been given permission to talk to other teams, per his agent Jimmy Gould.

> Source: The #Patriots are re-signing WR Kendrick Bourne to a 3-year, $19.5 million contract. > >Bourne’s deal carries a maximum value of $33 million and includes a $4.2 million signing bonus.

> The New England Patriots are finalizing a deal to trade quarterback Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Sunday. > >The Patriots will receive a 2024 sixth-round pick as compensation, sources told Schefter. The trade cannot be processed until the new league year begins Wednesday and Jones passes a physical.

Archive.is link: https://archive.is/2024.01.13-121045/https://theathletic.com/5199098/2024/01/13/bill-belichick-jerod-mayo-patriots-head-coach-change-details/

A quick read about the succession plan in Foxborough and the speeding up.

Just some quick thoughts from Rhamondre Stevenson on his struggles this season as we head into an extension-eligible season.

The first 3 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft are now officially set:

1. Bears
2. Commanders
3. Patriots

Archive.is link: https://archive.is/2024.01.06-063750/https://www.bostonherald.com/2024/01/04/inside-the-patriots-fall-to-rock-bottom-in-the-bill-belichick-era/

Unfortunately, another year, another Herald locker room dysfunction piece.

A quick video outlining three scenarios with Bill’s future after this abysmal season:

• Mutually part ways
• Trade Bill for picks
• Introduce a GM

According to Schultz, Kraft and Belichick are meeting next week to discuss the matter and begin figuring out next steps.

Of course, something has to change but this media circus does feel goofy. My wish is probably to keep Bill but just give him a GM. Let him just do X’s and O’s while having a harder deal maker in the GM office.

Excerpt from the article: >NFL Network first reported that Jackson won't travel for the game, citing questions about his reliability. A source told ESPN that Jackson missed curfew at the team hotel Saturday. SI.com had previously reported that Jackson was late to the hotel.

An excerpt from the article: >Telesco told the group that signing Jackson was a mistake, according to multiple team sources. He apologized for continuing to give Jackson opportunities, despite Jackson routinely showing that he wasn't as committed as the rest of the team while being one of the Chargers' highest paid players. > >Telesco called the move a "swing and a miss."

> New England Patriots coaches have stood by starting quarterback Mac Jones, supporting him despite his struggles on the field the past two weeks. With a rough start today against the Raiders, however, that could change. > >Sources say Jones is on a short leash, and a poor opening few series could potentially trigger another QB to take snaps in Las Vegas. It's just not entirely clear who would take those snaps if Jones is benched

From Surrender Index 90 via X: >NE decided to punt to NO from the NO 40 on 4th & 3 with 9:48 remaining in the 3rd while losing 0 to 24. > >With a Surrender Index of 39.71, this punt ranks at the 99.6th percentile of cowardly punts of the 2023 season, and the 98th percentile of all punts since 1999.

You probably shouldn't watch this unless you're a sicko who likes to be hurt.

>New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez's rookie season has come to an end due to the shoulder injury he suffered in Sunday's 38-3 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. > >Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Gonzalez will undergo surgery to repair a torn labrum that resulted from his dislocated shoulder. > >News of Gonzalez's injury came moments after Rapoport reported the Patriots were acquiring J.C. Jackson from the Los Angeles Chargers. > >Jackson spent the first four years of his career in New England and became a star playing in head coach Bill Belichick's defense. He was named to the All-Pro second team in his final season with the team in 2021 before signing with the Chargers as a free agent. > >Things weren't going well for Jackson in Los Angeles. He struggled mightily before being benched during a Week 6 game against the Denver Broncos. The 27-year-old was back in the lineup the following week, but suffered a ruptured patellar tendon that ended his 2022 season prematurely. > >After starting the first two games this season, Jackson was a healthy inactive in Week 3 against the Minnesota Vikings. He was active for Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders, but head coach Brandon Staley didn't use him. > >Gonzalez was selected by the Patriots with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. He was having a very promising start with 17 combined tackles, three pass breakups and one interception in four games. > >The injury occurred in the first quarter when Gonzalez tackled Cowboys running back Tony Pollard. He initially went back to the defensive huddle before going to a knee and holding his arm close to his body. > >Depending on how quickly Jackson can get acclimated back into New England's defense, he might have a chance to play at least some snaps for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints. > >Myles Bryant, who has appeared in all four games this season, could start in Gonzalez's place vs. the Saints.

> Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez dislocated his right shoulder in the team's loss to the Cowboys on Sunday, per a source. The team’s training staff popped it back into place and he remains in a sling. > > The rookie defender is scheduled to have an MRI tomorrow upon the team’s return to Foxborough to help determine the severity of the injury. > > During the first quarter of Sunday’s loss, Gonzalez made a tackle on running back Tony Pollard and landed awkwardly on his shoulder. He was looked at by team trainers in the blue medical tent, went into the locker room, and did not return to the game.

>ARLINGTON, Texas — Mac Jones will remain the Patriots’ starting quarterback moving forward, head coach Bill Belichick said Sunday after a 38-3 loss at the hands of the Cowboys. > > Jones was removed from the game late in the third quarter for backup quarterback Bailey Zappe after turning the ball over three times. One of his two interceptions plus a strip-sack were returned by the Cowboys for touchdowns. > > “I didn’t think there was any point in leaving him in the game,” Belichick said when asked why Jones was benched. > > Belichick was asked directly if Jones would start Sunday against the Saints. > > “Yeah, I just said there was no point in leaving him in the game,” Belichick responded. > > Belichick said Jones was not benched for poor performance. > > “I just said there was no point in leaving him out there, so I took him out,” Belichick said. > > Jones was 12-of-21 for 150 yards with two interceptions. Zappe was 4-of-9 for 57 yards in reserve. > > The Patriots also have quarterback Will Grier on their roster. Grier served as an emergency third quarterback on Sunday. > > The Patriots have started the season 1-3 with losses to the Eagles and Jets. They were coming off of a 15-10 win over the Jets before Sunday’s drubbing.

idk man. i'm just bummed.

From Adam Schefter on X: > Patriots’ standout pass rusher Matthew Judon suffered a lower bicep tendon tear during today’s loss in Dallas, per source. How much time he will be sidelined for still is being evaluated.

cross-posted from: https://infosec.pub/post/3158719

> Via Zack Cox on X: > > The Patriots downgraded Jonathan Jones and Cole Strange to OUT for tomorrow’s game. > > > > Third straight game Jones has missed. Strange left last week’s in the third quarter and looked very limited in practice this week. > > > > Atonio Mafi the favorite to start at LG.

cross-posted from: https://infosec.pub/post/3158601

> From Tom Pelissero via X: > > The NFL didn’t fine #Patriots QB Mac Jones for his actions in last week’s game against the #Jets, per sources. > > > > Any discipline would’ve required sufficient video evidence to support Sauce Gardner’s accusation. In this case, there wasn’t enough.

The Patriots are signing quarterback Will Grier to their active roster off the Bengals practice squad, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Grier was drafted by the Panthers in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of West Virginia, spending parts of two seasons in Carolina. He got his only NFL action as a rookie, totaling 228 passing yards with no touchdowns and four interceptions in 2019.

Carolina released Grier before the 2021 season, but the Cowboys claimed him off waivers. Grier then spent the 2021 and ’22 seasons as Dallas’s third-string quarterback, but never saw any game action.

After the Cowboys traded for Trey Lance in August, the team released Grier, who then signed with the Bengals practice squad, where he has been for the past few weeks. This also means that Cincinnati will need another quarterback along with backup Jake Browning if Joe Burrow can’t play on Monday.

The Patriots now add Grier to their team as a third stringer behind Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe. New England will face the Jets on Sunday and is also set to play the Cowboys in Dallas next week.

Player - All Questionable vs. Dolphins Injury OT Trent Brown Concussion OL Sidy Sow Concussion CB Jonathan Jones Ankle G Cole Strange Knee OL Mike Onwenu Ankle WR DeVante Parker Knee

A bit of a tangential one but I figured we all needed a lil' boost after this weekend.

The New England Patriots secondary will be without one of its best depth players for at least the next four weeks.

Cornerback Jack Jones has been placed on injured reserve with a hamstring ailment, per NFL.com. The Patriots had already ruled him out for Sunday's season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium.

Jones injured his hamstring during Wednesday's practice and hasn't practiced since.

The 25-year-old had gun charges against him dropped on Tuesday after agreeing to a deal with prosecutors to serve one year of pre-trial probation and 48 hours of community service. Jones was arrested on June 16 at Boston's Logan International Airport after authorities said they found two guns and ammunition inside his luggage.

The Patriots selected Jones in the fourth round of the 2022 draft out of Arizona State. In 13 games last season, he posted two interceptions, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, 30 tackles and three tackles for loss.

While Jones is a pretty big loss for New England, the team still has Jonathan Jones, rookie Christian Gonzalez, Marcus Jones, Myles Bryant and Shaun Wade available at cornerback. Jalen Mills could also see time at the position, though he has spent training camp and the preseason at safety.

After being selected in the first round of the 2023 draft, Gonzalez will be a player to keep an eye on in the secondary this season

Not long after picking him up on waivers, the New England Patriots have placed quarterback Matt Corral on the left squad list after he has been absent from the past two days of practice, according to The Athletic's Jeff Howe.

Howe reported that the Patriots are still trying to determine Corral's future with the organization after he left the team without notice. The team had his absence listed as "not injury related" on the injury report for the week.

By placing Corral on the left squad list, the Patriots are able to open up a roster spot without releasing the 24-year-old signal-caller. As a result, he also isn't allowed to sign with any other team until the designation is lifted.

He is allowed to return to the Patriots at any point.

New England claimed Corral off waivers after he was waived by the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 30, a day after making the team's 53-man roster. He participated in a number of practices with the organization but was never declared as Mac Jones' full-time backup.

Instead, the Patriots signed Bailey Zappe to the 53-man roster, solidifying what the depth chart behind Jones will look like going into the season.

Corral was Carolina's third-round pick in 2022 but missed his entire rookie season with a Lisfranc injury suffered during a preseason matchup. He was a star over a four-year career at Ole Miss, throwing for 8,287 yards and 57 touchdowns.

Conor McDermott was sent to injured reserve at the 53-man roster deadline.

The New England Patriots reached an injury settlement with offensive tackle Conor McDermott on Friday, according to the NFL transaction wire.

Now a free agent, the 6-foot-8, 305-pound vested veteran will be eligible to return to the field in 2023.

McDermott, 30, had been placed on injured reserve at the league’s 53-man roster deadline in August after being limited to 27 blindside snaps in his lone preseason appearance. He projected into a swing role after agreeing to terms on a contract extension in February.

The final selection in New England’s 2017 draft class, McDermott originally arrived in the sixth round at No. 211 overall. The UCLA product was waived following his rookie training camp and subsequently claimed by the Buffalo Bills. He then circled back to Foxborough off the New York Jets’ practice squad last fall, making six consecutive starts at right tackle amid attrition.

“Thank God we have him,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said in December. “He’s done a good job. He’s been dependable and tough. He’s been out there, been durable.”

McDermott has appeared in 49 games and started a dozen during his AFC East career, adding a touchdown catch as an eligible tight end.

The Philadelphia Eagles visit Gillette Stadium on Sunday. The Week 1 kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. ET.

“I talked to Isaiah yesterday. He’s in good spirits,” Belichick said during an appearance on WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show. “Recovering, obviously, but we’ll just take it day by day. Certainly seems a lot better today than it looked like Saturday night, so that’s a good thing. It was good for him to fly back with the team, everybody seeing him. He’s got a lot of support here.”

Preseason is a good time to look for diamonds in the rough and I think this might be one of them, even if it's too early for "Malik Mania".

Any bots kicking around that can create game threads? I know there’s several others doing similar things for other sports but haven’t seen football yet.

cross-posted from: https://fanaticus.social/post/222559

> Elliott, who was released by the Dallas Cowboys on March 15 in a salary cap move, had a career-low 876 rushing yards in 2022, but he scored 12 touchdowns and remained a top short-yardage back and pass protector. That is a potential role that the Patriots, who are preparing to practice in full pads early next week with a heavy emphasis on the running game, could be looking to fill. This is Elliott's first free agent visit since he was released by the Cowboys.