Patriot Games - Helping or Hurting?

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

John Rooke, GoLocalWorcester Sports Editor

Feeling a little defensive these days? Perhaps not, if you’re the New England Patriots.

Ok, that might be considered a bit of a shot at a team that did, after all, reach the Super Bowl for the 7th time in franchise history this past season. But when you consider the numbers on the defensive side of the ball – especially in yards allowed (31st, next-to-last) and in passing yards allowed (also next-to-last in the NFL), the natural assumption would be to address those shortcomings as a priority for 2012.

As you might be able to tell, the Patriots haven’t exactly burned rubber in getting to the defense, but they haven’t completely ignored it, either. Here is the list of current players recently picked up through free agency:

Free Agents - Offense: TE Daniel Fells (Denver), FB Tony Fiammetta (Dallas), OL Robert Gallery (Seattle), WR Anthony Gonzalez (Indianapolis), FB Spencer Larsen (Denver), WR Brandon Lloyd (St. Louis), WR Donte Stallworth (Washington)

Free Agents - Defense: CB Will Allen (Miami), CB Marquice Cole (NY Jets), DL Jonathan Fanene (Cincinnati), S Steve Gregory (San Diego), DE Trevor Scott (Oakland)

As you can see, defense hasn’t been completely forgotten, but it is interesting to note the addition of wide receivers on offense…even though there wasn’t much to complain about in regards to the Pats’ passing game last season. And add Chad Ochocinco to the receiver mix, who has reportedly agreed to restructure his contract for next season and cut his salary by $2 million. You certainly have competition to be a target for Tom Brady.

And here are the receivers currently in the fold, competing for five or six roster spots:

Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Deion Branch, Donte Stallworth, Chad Ochocinco, Julian Edelman, Anthony Gonzalez, Matthew Slater, Tiquan Underwood and Britt Davis. Bill Belichick said Tuesday morning “You always try to have competition at every position. We’ve always had about that many receivers going to camp - 10, 11, somewhere in there - we’ll see what the roster limit ends up being this year.” Which means, don’t rule out another addition at wide out.

But have you improved what needs improving?

Not yet. The additions of Fanene at tackle, Scott at defensive end and Gregory in the backfield are starts, but the early indications are the Patriots could look to the upcoming NFL Draft to address some of their other concerns. With Mark Anderson departing for Buffalo, and Andre Carter’s status uncertain, the pass rush should remain a priority, as should the secondary. You can also add offensive line as a need, with the potential retirement of both Matt Light and Brian Waters to be considered, as well as the reported ACL tear (that he apparently played with in the Super Bowl) for Logan Mankins.

If you’re looking for “the big move” to come out of the annual NFL meetings this week, don’t hold your breath. While Brady has apparently agreed to restructure his contract, and the team has yet to sign Welker to a long-term deal, Erik Scalavino of Patriots Football Weekly asked owner Robert Kraft about the salary cap room the team currently holds. “We want to create incremental cap room, so that we can be flexible to make the moves we have to make,” Kraft explained. “There’s still a lot that can come to the marketplace at the end, but I don’t think there’s any specific reason that people should be holding their breath for.”

“We really re-signed a couple of guys at the beginning of March, but we’re not even a month into the whole offseason team-building process,” Belichick added. “We have March. We have April. We have June, July. Training camp will start at the end of July. It’s a long process. We’ll see how it all comes together.”

Patriots Notes

The Patriots did, indeed, want to keep free agent running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who ended up signing with the Cincinnati Bengals. Kraft explained the Bengals simply offered more money than the team was willing to pay…Kraft also said that the reviews on opening and closing the regular season with divisional games were positive, and in order to keep rivalries intact, don’t be surprised to see that happen again with the scheduling…looking for the official draft slots for the Pats? The NFL released the full seven-round order Tuesday, and New England has four picks (27, 31, 48, 62) in the first two rounds, plus two more selections (93, 126) in rounds three and four. Fifth, sixth and seventh round selections have been traded away…and as if the rivalry with the New York Jets needed any more hype, Kraft thinks the pick-up of QB Tim Tebow is a great move. “I think it’s exciting, I think it’s a lot of fun,” Kraft said. “You know, the NFL is about rivalries, and I’m a big fan of Tim Tebow.”