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Indefinite New England Patriots Thread (3 Viewers)

Dews is Vrabel's "I want this position right" tough love guy.
Tennessee radio has him going to NE but what he'll coach is undecided.
Whenever it's announced, I'm sure the first sentence will make sense
 
Cleveland firing their OC and OL coach the year Vrabel is there is or isn't coincidence.
Coincidence. I think the Browns fired Van Pelt because he didn't believe in Watson and wouldn't adapt his offense to fit him. Cleveland then brought in someone to run an offense that makes Watson more comfortable...or the scapegoat. The OL coach Callahan didn't plan to leave, but asked out of his contract when Van Pelt predictably lost the power struggle- I think he saw the writing on the wall. The Browns could've said no, but Stefanski / Berry have a we want volunteers, not hostages approach, so they allowed him to follow his son to Tennessee.
 
Cleveland firing their OC and OL coach the year Vrabel is there is or isn't coincidence.
Coincidence. I think the Browns fired Van Pelt because he didn't believe in Watson and wouldn't adapt his offense to fit him. Cleveland then brought in someone to run an offense that makes Watson more comfortable...or the scapegoat. The OL coach Callahan didn't plan to leave, but asked out of his contract when Van Pelt predictably lost the power struggle- I think he saw the writing on the wall. The Browns could've said no, but Stefanski / Berry have a we want volunteers, not hostages approach, so they allowed him to follow his son to Tennessee.
They fired this year's OL coach. Callahan's replacement
 
Cleveland firing their OC and OL coach the year Vrabel is there is or isn't coincidence.
Coincidence. I think the Browns fired Van Pelt because he didn't believe in Watson and wouldn't adapt his offense to fit him. Cleveland then brought in someone to run an offense that makes Watson more comfortable...or the scapegoat. The OL coach Callahan didn't plan to leave, but asked out of his contract when Van Pelt predictably lost the power struggle- I think he saw the writing on the wall. The Browns could've said no, but Stefanski / Berry have a we want volunteers, not hostages approach, so they allowed him to follow his son to Tennessee.
They fired this year's OL coach. Callahan's replacement
Oh. Well, they were fired because Watson is the scapegoat.
 
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Vrabel saying we'll see in regards to AJB going to the Pats

I've got to think this is somewhat of a possibility.

PHI is a run first offense now with Barkley. AJB gets some shots here and there but this is a low volume passing offense. Hell, Hurts can hardly crack 125 yards passing a game. No wonder he's reading a book on the sideline.

Vrabel and Maye could be a draw for AJB. I'd think target volume will increase in NE.

If PHI flames out badly...especially if it's because some team forces them to throw...and they can't...the door could open.
 
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Vrabel saying we'll see in regards to AJB going to the Pats

I've got to think this is somewhat of a possibility.

PHI is a run first offense now with Barkley. AJB gets some shots here and there but this is a low volume passing offense. Hell, Hurts can hardly crack 125 yards passing a game. No wonder he's reading a book on the sideline.

Vrabel and Maye could be a draw for AJB. I'd think target volume will increase in NE.

If PHI flames out badly...especially if it's because some team forces them to throw...and they can't...the door could open.

Agreed...now that we are in the "just throwing things out there" part of the season we can definitely see how that could unfold although I have no clue whether $/cap hits make this unrealistic...as far as targets go if he ever came here I would think he would get an enormous share of those and won't have time to read...there seems to be some chatter that DKM could be on the block and that would be another potential alternative if their goal is to upgrade this position via veterans and not a high pick/picks of the draft.
 
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Vrabel saying we'll see in regards to AJB going to the Pats

I've got to think this is somewhat of a possibility.

PHI is a run first offense now with Barkley. AJB gets some shots here and there but this is a low volume passing offense. Hell, Hurts can hardly crack 125 yards passing a game. No wonder he's reading a book on the sideline.

Vrabel and Maye could be a draw for AJB. I'd think target volume will increase in NE.

If PHI flames out badly...especially if it's because some team forces them to throw...and they can't...the door could open.
It's always so difficult to judge passing when a RB is having a career year.
Jim Miller joked yesterday how Saquan averaged 9.8 ypc one week and if he got a playcall to pass, he'd have been like why coach why?

I think AJB is significantly better than Smith so if this was a concept, I'd trade Smith not AJB.

He's a vocal guy but he works hard. He's nothing of a diva just likes to talk. He and Jalen seem tight and he's quite a popular guy in the locker room just like in TEN. He's like everyone's friend. I think it would be a dramatic trade if Philly did trade him.

"Glue guy" or whatever expression. He might be that guy in Philly
 
Vrabel saying we'll see in regards to AJB going to the Pats

I've got to think this is somewhat of a possibility.

PHI is a run first offense now with Barkley. AJB gets some shots here and there but this is a low volume passing offense. Hell, Hurts can hardly crack 125 yards passing a game. No wonder he's reading a book on the sideline.

Vrabel and Maye could be a draw for AJB. I'd think target volume will increase in NE.

If PHI flames out badly...especially if it's because some team forces them to throw...and they can't...the door could open.
I don't see how a trade for AJB could work this offseason. The Eagles would have to take a $61.3 million cap hit. After next year, that would drop to $20.8 million. The other thing is the way Brown's contract is written (big signing bonus, guaranteed money, option year bonuses), he would be relatively cheap. He has salaries of $1.17M and $1.3M the next two years. There are 3 additional years with big option year bonuses . . . and 4 dummy years beyond that. The point being, PHI can't eat the cap money now, and if they traded him, the acquiring team wouldn't have to pay him much. I would also expect that in this circumstance, the cost in trade assets and picks would be really high. Most contracts involve inflated contracts on remaining short-term deals at the backend of contracts. Also, if Brown is like most receivers, he will squawk about wanting a new deal . . . he already got a big chunk of change off of his current deal.
 
Unconfirmed reports that Robin Glaser is gone…not sure what she actually did or whether she was even a real person but this is a good thing if it is true.
 
Unconfirmed reports that Robin Glaser is gone…not sure what she actually did or whether she was even a real person but this is a good thing if it is true.
Her title was Executive Vice President of Football Business and Senior Advisor. She worked for the Kraft's for 17 years but only held that role after Mayo was brought on as coach. According to an online bio, she oversaw various operations for the Patriots including handling NFL relations, compliance, HR, finance, sports performance and tech deals, and the player social justice fund. She apparently earned her JD degree and an MBA from Washington University. Not sure what "gone" would mean. Maybe the Kraft's will move her to another role somewhere.
 
Vrabel saying we'll see in regards to AJB going to the Pats

I've got to think this is somewhat of a possibility.

PHI is a run first offense now with Barkley. AJB gets some shots here and there but this is a low volume passing offense. Hell, Hurts can hardly crack 125 yards passing a game. No wonder he's reading a book on the sideline.

Vrabel and Maye could be a draw for AJB. I'd think target volume will increase in NE.

If PHI flames out badly...especially if it's because some team forces them to throw...and they can't...the door could open.

Agreed...now that we are in the "just throwing things out there" part of the season we can definitely see how that could unfold although I have no clue whether $/cap hits make this unrealistic...as far as targets go if he ever came here I would think he would get an enormous share of those and won't have time to read...there seems to be some chatter that DKM could be on the block and that would be another potential alternative if their goal is to upgrade this position via veterans and not a high pick/picks of the draft.
I'm befuddled with DK this past year.

His performance was just meh. Don't get it. JSN emerged, but you'd think he'd get more action with Lockett taking a backseat. Strange season for him. His value could be a tad depressed.
 
From Bedard:

Mike Vrabel will have final say on everything. Ryan Cowden is technically under Eliot Wolf, who could stay for a while if things work out, but Vrabel and Cowden are going to have the most say on any decision. Cowden is known as a good team player, and has been in a few different systems. I read this as the Krafts, like most owners, telling Vrabel that they really like their personnel department, have them under contract, and he should try them out/give them some time before doing anything drastic. Not unusual.
 
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So glad Vrabel is here...feel like there is finally an adult in the room...below is from Giardi in BSJ...very interesting...I had been thinking about this prior to reading this and have thought about that offseason before to the 2001 season...this team could use a huge influx of solid professionals to start building the foundation and culture...the biggest difference between now and then is that roster still had players like Willie, Law, Bruschi, Johnson and Milloy so they were nowhere near the shape they are in now.


The other response from Vrabel that should speak to you came regarding free agency. Yes, the Pats have cash to burn, but just because you have it doesn't mean they'll come.

“Well, I think that we have to make it a destination. Again, I’ll tell you a story about free agency. When I got to Houston, they had natural grass in their dome, and they would wheel it out and cut it into sections. I’m like, ‘This is unique. What’s this?’ They’re like, ‘Well, we thought that the free agents would want to play on natural grass.’ I said, ‘The only thing free agents care about is green, and it’s not natural grass.

“There’s two forms of free agency. The one is trying to go out and maximize your earning potential and go for the top dollar. We see that early in free agency, the first couple of days, maybe the first week. Then after that, I try to tell players it comes down to opportunity. If you want the best opportunity to go and be able to produce and contribute, and then that’s going to lead to then the next form of free agency, where then you could take advantage of the system in a year or two or whatever you sign with us. I was one of those players coming from Pittsburgh and signing here; it was about the opportunity. It wasn’t about the dollars. That turned into being able to have those types of contracts as my career went on, production increased, and all those other things. We’re going to identify players at all different levels, and it’s a process of putting it all together.”


There's no guarantee the Pats can get the big ticket items after a four-win season - unless they're willing to pay a substantial suck tax. However, there is a real opportunity to build up the middle class of the roster, which helps raise the floor of a roster that currently resides in the basement. In many ways, it could take on a 2001 feel (they signed 21 players, including Vrabel, Bryan Cox, Mike Compton, Roman Phifer, and David Patten). Now, I'm not predicting this season to end like that one - not sure lightning strikes twice - but this roster needs a serious infusion of talent/fresh faces, and the Pats need to take advantage of that second wave.
 
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MikeReiss
Quick-hit thoughts/notes around the Patriots and NFL (who is Mike Vrabel eyeing for coordinators?; Lions DL coach Terrell Williams, viewed by some as a top DC target, available now after Saturday loss; more intrigue at OC; Matthew Judon for pick 77 etc
 
MikeReiss
Quick-hit thoughts/notes around the Patriots and NFL (who is Mike Vrabel eyeing for coordinators?; Lions DL coach Terrell Williams, viewed by some as a top DC target, available now after Saturday loss; more intrigue at OC; Matthew Judon for pick 77 etc
Williams is an older guy and so lovable. He does a great combo of like a dad vibe, wise older man, and tough love. He barks n barks at players and sometimes ya see they hug him after and ya can't help but the n good God that guy must be great. How's he do that?

I wanted him for the Titans HC spot last year. Dan Campbell was flat out giddy in his press conference that he had added Williams. I was grumpy like when has that ever happened? Look at how happy he is to have our guy? Then players raved and raved and it felt like geesh what did we do letting him walk.

I posted in a Lions thread how wonderful he was, knew I seemed a bit much, but sure enough by the summer they love him too.

Vrabel made him HC for a preseason game or two and got some good press for that but if ya reread, no one in the NFL blinked.

Many Lions writers have expected that he is Glenn's replacement. Campbell made him asst head coach as one of his titles. I have no doubt Vrabel wants him, everyone would, but idk that it'll be allowed since it's a title game.

But does he coach well? He's a DL coach. The Titans have consistently had a single gem DT and journeymen around him. He always makes the scrubs look good and lots of those hugs.

******
Chris Harris I mentioned earlier. He was an up n comer and couldn't land DC jobs. When Vrabel added him a few years ago, he was not expected to be in TEN but a year. As the DB coach they consistently were far better than expected. Denard Wilson was hired and although they cleaned house, Harris was one of the coaches he was not letting walk. They gave him a raise to stay even.

For the older guys- there was a perennial pro bowl CB named Chris Harris and another named Chris Harris that was "just good" and known for hustle. He was the other guy.

*****
I don't know if the Pats can get Williams but Harris sure seems possible since it's a promotion from DB coach to coordinator.

Denard Wilson is so impressive. The Titans have their great young guy at DC. I guess Harris has to spread his wings or whatever expression.

You'll be happy. No doubt. A quick Google and you'll see rave reviews at every stop for him.

He always talks pressing and contesting catches and it lands with me. I relate to it sooo much better than "sit back in a zone and execute my scheme." It's also simply more fun to watch.
 
Here's much of the text of Campbell giddy when he added Williams

Also note Aaron Glenn praises him too
It's all just ...just great coach quotes. Worked us hard, held us accountable, motivated us. I think you'll see why I was upset the Titans let him go
 
"Harris interviewed for the Bears and Jaguars’ DC jobs this year and met with the Texans and 49ers about their DC vacancies in 2023. Harris, 41, spent three seasons coaching Commanders DBs under Ron Rivera. The Titans lured him away in 2023. Harris will remain in place as Tennessee’s defensive pass-game coordinator, along with his role as cornerbacks coach. This will be Harris and DC Dennard Wilson‘s first time working together."

Older article snip.
I called him a DB coach, there's his actual titles and how he curiously didn't get the DC jobs despite a lot of praise.
 
I saw Vrabel retained the ST coach but it didn't mention asst ST coach Slater.
I haven't heard anything on him this offseason.
 
Some Chip Kelly as an OC candidate rumors starting to percolate...not sure if it is legit but I think that would get Patriot fans excited.
 
Some Chip Kelly as an OC candidate rumors starting to percolate...not sure if it is legit but I think that would get Patriot fans excited.
Always liked him even with the Eagles.

He's been around the NFL block and college as well which seems increasingly important especially with a young QB.

After watching OSU's lumbering QB run for a few yards last night, I wonder what he'd do with Maye.
 
If true I like it…I get how many wanted a new face from something like the Shanny/McVay tree and I would have been good with that…the issue with that is if they are legit they could be gone after a year and that would not be good for Maye…he needs stability…as much as McDaniels sucked as an HC he was very good as an OC…that is pretty obvious (remember he was Mac's OC when he was a rookie and played well)…and because he is not getting a third shot as a HC no matter how good Maye or the Pats offense is he isn’t going anywhere which I think is incredibly important with Maye’s development…now, I hope he realizes what he did with Brady he cannot do with Maye at this point in his development/career or for a while…also, McDaniels has wanted to work with a mobile QB and now he has a real one…I fully expect him to get the most out of his athleticism while teaching him the fundamentals…I do expect many Patriot fans to be disappointed in this but I think it is a fundamentally sound hire…good to see adults back in charge.
 
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Breer had this guy being interviewed on the day everyone seems to be leaping to McDaniels was hired.
An intelligent possible up n comer would feed Vrabel's ego and be "in his place" appropriately.
I wonder if McDaniels knows his place and can just be Vrabel's OC or would he overstep since he was a coach too and he's used to Vrabel the player.

I could imagine Vrabel uneasy because of Downing and Kelly being bad choices. McDaniels offers some considerable "we'll be fine, don't worry" vibes.

That other guy intrigued me. Maybe he's truly interviewed to be some sort of assistant in training?
 
Titans QB coach was Charles London. He supposedly did well with with Ridder and the Titans got him for Malik and Levis. Then he was with the Seahawks last year.
I liked how he talked of the workout, what they do well, what they can do better and...very straightforward and honest and easy to follow. He's not doing this when he throws so we're drilling that. Etc.

Vrabel supposedly recommended him for the Browns OC job which he did not get but that shows some of how Vrabel thinks of him. But also why didn't he make him his OC? So a bit of a twist but...I wouldn't be surprised if he's somewhere on his staff
 
Reiss has McDaniels as expected to be hired and Williams hired as the DC this morning. Schefter shared it as he does w confirmation.

See the replies from Lions fans.
Lions fans saying big loss and wish him well and whatnot over a DL coach that was there one year.
You're gonna love this guy.
 
Reiss has Ryan Crow interview request from Dolphins for DC.
Obviously unnecessary now but maybe that's an OLB to LB coach?
 
So this means the Pats D is what you were used to. 3-4 base with 3-4 hybrid and a whole lot of nickel.
Sometimes the bend but don't break stuff will make you point out you're not pulling your hair out over it, you're used to this under BB
 
I've already presented my thoughts on McDaniels. Still don't think it was the best move to bring him back. Here's how he's done as an OC or HC without Brady:

2008 - 5th in yards, 8th in points (Cassel)
2009 - 15th in yards, 20th in points (Orton)
2010 - 13th in yards, 19th in points (Orton & Tebow)
2011 - 31st in yards, 32nd in points (Bradford, Feeley & Clemens)
2020 - 22nd in yards, 27th in points (Newton)
2021 - 15th in yards, 6th in points (Jones)
2022 - 12th in yards, 12th in points (Carr)
2023 - 26th in yards, 27th in points (Garoppolo and O'Connell)

The numbers with Mac are a little misleading. They scored almost 150 points in 3 games against three of the worst teams in the league. The rest of their games they averaged 22nd in yards and 19th in points. All games count and we can't cherry pick stats, but IMO, those secondary rankings were a lot more indicative of where the offense really was at the time(and has ranked post-GOAT).

The 2008 team was coming off the highest scoring point total in league history up until then. They still had a ton of productive offensive players. The offense held up decent enough, but they scored almost 180 fewer points with Cassel (playing one of the weakest schedules in the league). Ultimately, I would count that year as a strong one for McDaniels, but he had the benefit of a phenomenal supporting cast on offense.

Also noteworthy is the number of different QBs JMD has worked with outside of Brady. Maye is most likely better than the guys I just listed . . . but the current offensive talent level is most likely the worst out of any of those teams. I would have to go back and research who was on all those teams . . . but the cupboards are pretty bare on this current NE squad.
 
Forgot to mention that NE is doing what they have done in recent years in hiring people getting paid by other organizations. Vrabel still has a year left on his Titans deal, and McDaniels has 3 years left on his Raiders contract. Who knows if that factored into the team's decision-making process, but it doesn't really change the optics and narrative that ownership has been frugal and doesn't want to spend a lot of money.
 
Forgot to mention that NE is doing what they have done in recent years in hiring people getting paid by other organizations. Vrabel still has a year left on his Titans deal, and McDaniels has 3 years left on his Raiders contract. Who knows if that factored into the team's decision-making process, but it doesn't really change the optics and narrative that ownership has been frugal and doesn't want to spend a lot of money.
Felger was beating that drum late last night. He wants someone to break down who is paying what to whom.

Felger/Holley/Gasper were iffy at best on the McDaniels hire although Felger said he would be fine with it if he knew "that was Vrabel's guy" vs. the Krafts pushed him on him.

I don't know. I definitely don't like this back to the future vibe, but on the other hand, I think it could be a lot worse.

Again, I just hope he's surrounded with some smart people that have some input on the shape of things.
 
Felger was beating that drum late last night. He wants someone to break down who is paying what to whom.
As far as I know, coaching contracts almost always have offset language in them, meaning that if a coach is signed by another franchise, the team that fired that coach is only on the hook for the difference between the two contracts. In McDaniels' case, the Raiders are on the hook for $10 million a year, less whatever NE pays him. It would make no sense for the Patriots to pay him anymore than the minimum (which I believe is $400K per season). In that case, LV would pay JMD $9.6M and NE $400K for this year. Any additional amount NE pays, the Raiders would just pay less.

When I heard Vrabel on the radio last week, he was asked about the reports linking Josh to the OC position and if he was wired into that role. Vrabel had a pregnant pause and then said he's had a relationship with JMD for years, but there was a long list of candidates, and McDaniels was one of them. I did not get the sense that Vrabel really wanted Josh back. He could have answered differently citing how well Josh had done over the years, that he was a great coordinator, that he wished McDaniels would interview for the position, etc. Vrabel basically answered that JMD was on the list of candidates but offered no praise or support. IMO, not a resounding endorsement that Vrabel really wanted him. I still think McDaniels was brought in by the Kraft's as a familiar face, as a guy with experience, that was well liked within the fanbase, and was getting paid by someone else. I don't think he was Vrabel's first choice . . . I think Vrabel said he could work with him, but I don't think he jumped at the chance to have him as his OC.

Lots of people are happy with the way things are coming together as far as the coaching staff goes and how that will impact the team moving forward. IMO, people are hopeful that things will improve, as it's not Mayo and the guys around him for another year. That being said, the Titans were 6-18 at the end of the Vrabel era, the Raiders went 9-16 under McDaniels, and the Pats went 8-26 the past two years. They still have a roster lacking in talent and a front office that hasn't done much to draft or bring in difference makers over a number of years. Let's see how they do building the roster . . .
 
Forgot to mention that NE is doing what they have done in recent years in hiring people getting paid by other organizations. Vrabel still has a year left on his Titans deal, and McDaniels has 3 years left on his Raiders contract. Who knows if that factored into the team's decision-making process, but it doesn't really change the optics and narrative that ownership has been frugal and doesn't want to spend a lot of money.
Felger was beating that drum late last night. He wants someone to break down who is paying what to whom.

Felger/Holley/Gasper were iffy at best on the McDaniels hire although Felger said he would be fine with it if he knew "that was Vrabel's guy" vs. the Krafts pushed him on him.

I don't know. I definitely don't like this back to the future vibe, but on the other hand, I think it could be a lot worse.

Again, I just hope he's surrounded with some smart people that have some input on the shape of things.

I refuse to believe anyone is telling Mike Vrabel who is OC is going to be...IMO McDaniel was the right hire for this job...I fully get the skepticism due to the Kraft's history, but Vrabel had his choice of a HC job and he wasn't going somewhere where he wasn't in charge...that goes against everything we know about him.
 
I refuse to believe anyone is telling Mike Vrabel who is OC is going to be...IMO McDaniel was the right hire for this job...I fully get the skepticism due to the Kraft's history, but Vrabel had his choice of a HC job and he wasn't going somewhere where he wasn't in charge...that goes against everything we know about him.
All of these gives me a sense of deja vu. NE moved on from BB to be more democratic and more collaborative. I know you don't consider Vrabel a coaching product of Bill, but his coaching style has been pretty similar. If the narrative around Vrabel is true, he tends to run things similar to how Bill did things. Some say he's even more hard-nosed and ornery than Bill was . . . and things are usually his way or the highway. The difference is, BB won 6 SB's while Vrabel hasn't. MV has been around 2 weeks and may already be having some decision-making and control issues with ownership. Again, maybe the perception of how Vrabel operates has been skewed or reporting on how things have gone with NE may not be accurate. We won't know much until we see who ends up on the roster.
 
I refuse to believe anyone is telling Mike Vrabel who is OC is going to be...IMO McDaniel was the right hire for this job...I fully get the skepticism due to the Kraft's history, but Vrabel had his choice of a HC job and he wasn't going somewhere where he wasn't in charge...that goes against everything we know about him.
All of these gives me a sense of deja vu. NE moved on from BB to be more democratic and more collaborative. I know you don't consider Vrabel a coaching product of Bill, but his coaching style has been pretty similar. If the narrative around Vrabel is true, he tends to run things similar to how Bill did things. Some say he's even more hard-nosed and ornery than Bill was . . . and things are usually his way or the highway. The difference is, BB won 6 SB's while Vrabel hasn't. MV has been around 2 weeks and may already be having some decision-making and control issues with ownership. Again, maybe the perception of how Vrabel operates has been skewed or reporting on how things have gone with NE may not be accurate. We won't know much until we see who ends up on the roster.

What are the decision-making and control issues with ownership you are referring to?
 
What are the decision-making and control issues with ownership you are referring to?
Nothing confirmed. Maybe the Kraft's pushed him to take on McDaniels. And Vrabel may have wanted his own GM / scouting team and got stuck keeping Wolf. Would those qualify?
 
What are the decision-making and control issues with ownership you are referring to?
Nothing confirmed. Maybe the Kraft's pushed him to take on McDaniels. And Vrabel may have wanted his own GM / scouting team and got stuck keeping Wolf. Would those qualify?

Well, as stated above I don't believe the McDaniel part until I see one of the legit guys like Bedard/Giardi/Curran/Breer/Perry report it (and I think you may have to add in Minnihane as he has some sources it appears)...the second part I can see to a point but everything I have read says Vrabel has the final say and since he agreed to this prior to accepting the job I don't see it as an issue.
 

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