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EPISODE 87 - AJ Brown will be a Patriot soon.
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Transcript
Technical Mishap on StreamYard
00:00:00
Speaker
Oh, my God. All right, we're back live. That was my fault. I tried to go live, and then I realized we – We didn't know, i like everyone's cameras were still up. We didn't intend to. And so I quickly, just I X'd out of mine, not realizing that somehow it would keep the live stream open, which I guess is actually good to know as a feature that if if for StreamYard, you know, that's that's great.
00:00:29
Speaker
um But yeah, so no, we're live now. We are live. Definitely learning as you go. We are learning as we go. Yeah, we're we're live, right, Brett, right now? Yeah, we're live.
00:00:40
Speaker
um Yeah, it says live. Yeah, we're live, man. All right, cool. I thought you said we're not recording, but we're live. Yeah, I got i just honestly i got mixed up there. Yeah, learn as we
Introduction and Episode Kick-off
00:00:48
Speaker
go. So I'm going to keep this in the podcast, just FYI, just screwing around with the live stream. Anyway, guys, welcome back. It's the Savage Boston Podcast again. We figured we might as well do a quick live stream tonight just because – Yeah, this is like, i don't know, is this like the most dead zone, dead week of the year?
00:01:04
Speaker
Maybe news-wise? Oh, here we go. Someone live. Yes, we are live. Thank you, Cole Sturgill. Yeah, I mean, crazy dead week, man. I think there's just nothing happening. and so kind of all we got right
AJ Brown and New England Patriots Rumors
00:01:16
Speaker
now. And you know, what we're focused on anyway is AJ Brown, right? Because that's the, that's the topic. And that's kind of the biggest story by far. So we missed out. I'm here. I'm Scott, a host of Savage Boston Sports, Savage Boston podcast. I'm here with Snooty co-host and Brett, my co-host. And yeah, here to talk some paths, AJ Brown in this dead week. And if you're interested and obviously coming in, dropping a comment and chatting, feel free. So yeah, who wants to kick it off? Brett, kind of give me some initial thoughts here because I missed you on Tuesday because unfortunately your internet was crapping out. So what's what's going on
00:01:52
Speaker
Yeah, apologies about that. I think as many were that storm that rolled through Tuesday night, knocked down a tree in the area, put my internet pinging off a different tower and tried to go live, just complete debacle. So apologies about that. But for me, I look at it and say, yeah we're we're less than a week and a half away from a j Brown becoming a Patriot and making this thing official, official, right? And as we've talked about, when is it like...
00:02:21
Speaker
This is the full terms of the deal, and this is what it's at Because it's funny, you're starting to get, as you get closer, a little bit of like jockeying, where now all of a sudden people are saying, oh, the Jags might be interested in getting in on the A.J. Brown discussion. But...
00:02:36
Speaker
I mean, i just love that you got a guy like Schefter, who's clearly a well-connected guy, wouldn't be as adamant as he has been, basically saying, no, no, the deal's done.
00:02:48
Speaker
It's going to be for 2028 first. They're working through the final logistics. The deal's in place, and A.J. Brown's going to be a Patriot. So, I'm just looking at it saying to myself, it's just going to be such a good feeling to finally get over that hump and know that it's come to fruition because you're right. I mean, we're still in a dead zone and it's something to kind of cling on to from a future standpoint to say, when that happens, everything changes on what our dynamic looks like going into the season and how much we can do from an offensive perspective. So, yeah.
00:03:23
Speaker
T minus a
Trade Speculations and Strategies
00:03:24
Speaker
week and a half. I mean, going into a holiday weekend, it's going fly back quick. That's true, man. Yeah, Snooty, what are you coming in with today? What's your thoughts? So I actually can't believe I agree with Felger on anything, but I think the fact that, you know, everybody's speculating, oh this is how we kind of, you know, putting a name out there, trying to drum up, you know, a better offer.
00:03:45
Speaker
Logically speaking, that means there's no, you know, there's actually no real agreement having been reached at this point. um i think it's probably somewhere in the middle where there's like a general framework that's kind of more or less understood um and certainly i think both sides know where the other one stands in terms of you know what they are willing to pay and or receive um but i think this could be one of those last ditch kind of drum up a little bit more see if you can kind of squeeze an extra pick out of the patriots type of thing Because I think Ian Rappaport came out and said that, you know, the Patriots had offered a two, but it'll probably be more than that. But that doesn't necessarily mean like a one that you could mean, you know, a two plus, which ultimately I think is probably the the where the price ends up being.
00:04:32
Speaker
I'm still not sold on the twenty eighteen twenty twenty eight first, I should say. But I think it could be like a two plus like a two next year plus. i mean It's going to be interesting with the with the actual comp. So a couple of things and you know a couple interesting things. the only i feel like the only interesting things that came out today really relevant-wise dropped this morning kind of with Schefter and Rap rap Sheet.
Excitement Over New Lord of the Rings RPG
00:04:56
Speaker
um Before I go that, though, I did want to say the most important announcement I saw today or yesterday, the most important announcement
00:05:03
Speaker
was not a football announcement just saying it was the announcement that they're developing a lord of the rings massive open world rpg just want to get that out there in case anyone is interested in that just that the biggest maybe the biggest news we could have uh which uh hopefully i'll force like snooty and brett maybe to play but moving back to relevant news um yeah you know What a rap sheet this morning is kind of like people took this report some some weird ways today.
00:05:31
Speaker
He's like, oh i don't know. They haven't talked in a while. They're, you know, they they don't know what the comp is yet. And who knows, maybe they have to reboot it all. It's funny, like,
00:05:43
Speaker
from your, you know, subjectively, you can interpret it different ways. I've read the, or listened to the rap sheet comments and saying like, it's pretty much only the Patriots that are involved. He said at the end of his comments today that he'd be shocked if the Patriots didn't ultimately sign AJ Brown, he would be surprised. He just doesn't know what the compensation is. um Which again, like,
00:06:05
Speaker
Who says it has to be a one? I mean, we're all saying that we think it's going to be a one in 2028. That's what everyone's talking about. Who says it has to be a one? Like in reality, like that's what it is just because that's what's been floated out there before. Like what leverage, honestly, what leverage does Howie Roseman have?
00:06:22
Speaker
You know, i don't it's like both teams are like you got one dance partner and it's trying to figure out what's going to get it done. But I don't know why it couldn't be like a a second in 2028 plus something else.
00:06:33
Speaker
Like, why does it have to be that that first round pick? So I don't know. How did you guys interpret the rap sheet comments from this morning?
Patriots' Leverage in AJ Brown Trade
00:06:41
Speaker
I think the only, to answer your question, I think the only leverage that Philly has is that they don't technically need to trade Brown.
00:06:49
Speaker
But to me, like he obviously doesn't want to be there. He's, basically out at this point. Right. Especially if that, you know, report that Jim Murray had is accurate. yeah um So like, he's not going to be happy, you know, staying there and he's definitely not going to be happy.
00:07:06
Speaker
If he goes somewhere that he doesn't want to go. And he clearly by all reports, by all regards that he wants to go to the Patriots or he, at least he'd be, you know, he would want to go to come here. So that's, that's the leverage that the Patriots play back is like, Yeah, you don't need to trade them, but you kind of do. And you're doing it to get, you know, save cap space. Like that's the whole reason you're doing it. So, I mean, i think both sides kind of have something. I think it makes way too much sense overall for it to get done for it, you know, for the deal to fall through at the 11th hour. um
00:07:36
Speaker
Again, I think everybody's kind of at the point where like, yeah, it's going to happen. It's just a matter of what. I have never thought it was going to be a first-round pick. I think that's an overpay. I'll still maintain I think that's an overpay, even if they do it. um But I think a two-plus would be that fits historically with where receivers you know have gone or what they've gone for. And then I think it also fits kind of little bit more of the timeline of what the Patriots should be willing to give up for a player like that.
00:08:03
Speaker
The big thing here though is how he doesn't want to lose a deal. So i don't know how we can swing it without it being um ah first, to be honest with you. And I'm okay with the first. I actually think that's fine by me.
00:08:17
Speaker
I would only do the first. And then I think probably late round pick swap is what I'm envisioning. I would be very much against a first and anything higher than a three after that and future, future drafts. So,
00:08:32
Speaker
Ultimately, I think how he wants that first because it allows him to save face. But from a leverage standpoint, I mean, they've both pretty much just put themselves full board into the fact that this trade is going to happen. I mean, we've set up our positioning to be able to make this trade happening.
00:08:47
Speaker
Philly built their entire offseason with the idea that he was going to leave. And i just don't think there's anyone else that's willing to come in and offer the first to be able to go through it and make that.
00:09:00
Speaker
offer that's going to be able to tip the scale. so it's just going to be nice when this thing finally happens, because again, it just slot slots everyone else that we have in the wide receiver room.
00:09:11
Speaker
And then we tried to talk about a little bit on Tuesday, but like, it's going to allow us to move a guy like booty who's on the trade block again, and probably get another late round pick. Like a fifth would be great. Probably be a sixth round pick, ah but good for booty going into a contract here. gives him an opportunity because, know,
00:09:30
Speaker
He's obviously deserved it. And if you had a guy like Brown, which we all expect to be on the roster, it's a bit redundant. And then you're going to go ahead and have Dobbs in the mix. You still got to try to build up with Kyle Williams.
00:09:43
Speaker
You know, who knows what's going to happen with Hollins. mean, we're still talking, hey, what about Diggs? What could happen there? So you're going to move on a guy like Booty. I know other people talk about pop.
00:09:54
Speaker
I just think. pop gets cut, to be honest with you. Like, I just don't see the value there and trying to keep a guy like that. But from booty's perspective, like he's trying to fight for a contract. You don't want to carry a guy like that into the season, have him get reduced reps and then start to get disgruntled. So it's going to be It's going to be helpful because it slots what we need to do going forward and the ah see with the rest of the offseason as we get into OTAs.
00:10:19
Speaker
See, I kind of think like – I don't know. I kind of think they do have to trade him, to be honest. I think at this point um they're like – it's way worse there, and they're completely detached from that player. Like he's aware he's leaving. They're aware he's leaving. They don't want to keep him at this point. he His contract is too much.
00:10:39
Speaker
I don't think they want to deal with his contract money, his cap hit. Like there's, there's contractual problems if they hold on to him. um And the fact, I think honestly, like the biggest thing is like both teams want, both teams want this to happen with each other.
00:10:54
Speaker
And I think both teams, uh, both teams are ready for this to happen. Like, I think, I think the Eagles want to move on. Like, this is the one thing people are like, Oh, I don't know. They don't have to move them. Well, they kind of, they kind of do like, they want to move them. They don't want the player. The player doesn't want them. They want to move on and do something different. Like this is it's run as course for them. Like sometimes it just happens. Like,
00:11:19
Speaker
He doesn't want to He's not showing up to voluntary activities. he He has beef with the quarterback. Like he just doesn't want to be there. So, again, for me, like I think it's it's clear that the Eagles are done with the player and everyone's just being incredibly professional, which is actually should be a good thing in your eyes. The fact that A.J. Brown can maintain his professionalism. He's getting married. He's been completely quiet. Like he's not coming out. And I don't know, giving like subversive tweets or, or Instagram comments about how much Jalen hurts socks and he hates them. Like he could be doing a lot worse than he is. He's just waiting. They said here, a j literally he give us a list of teams you want to go to, which he did reportedly. He gave him five teams and the Patriots were obviously one of those teams and the other teams had ah had a chance.
00:12:09
Speaker
They had an opportunity, like I said, the Rams, for instance, right? It got close with the Rams. The the Eagles were going to get Devontae Adams and the Rams, the reporters checked out his knee and were like, you know, we just don't want to take this risk right now. So, I mean, that's kind of ah where I'm at. i don't know, you know, i don't know how you guys feel, but we feel like the Eagles at this point also just want to move on from the player?
Criticism of NFL's Trade Rules
00:12:33
Speaker
they feel ah The one of the things I look at is, do you think the NFL is good with the fact that this has been lingering and this is because of the contract and the, basically the impact that it has on the cap after June 1st? Like, do you think this is a good thing? Because to me, i feel like the stories run its course. There's really nothing there there.
00:12:57
Speaker
And I don't think it like helps the NFL's like, people paying attention to the NFL. I know around here, like we talk about it a lot, but honestly, it's just, it's one of those things that's been dragging on and on and on that. I just look at it and say to myself, there's just nothing there that I feel like they need to come up with a way to bring in exemption here to basically say, Hey, both parties agree. We're going to go ahead and waive this. He'll wave his. And then like, we move on, you know, like I just, I look at this whole thing and I'm like, this is ridiculous, stupid process.
00:13:30
Speaker
yeah I don't know why the rules of waiting, the June 1st rule is a little odd to me. like you can You can cut someone right or release someone and designate a certain date, but you can't trade someone with a certain date designation. like I don't know. it feels like It feels like something that should have been able to happen by now.
00:13:49
Speaker
like they're They're in the 2026 year. The year started. they're They got voluntary workouts. The draft is over. like You're telling me you can't make the trade now versus June 1st? Like, I don't know. Is that not weird to you guys? There's a million rules. Like there's the, there's are still on the books, a rule about like placing funds in escrow. And it like, it' it's rooted in like way back when teams like could theoretically fold and players wouldn't get paid. um So that's when like the, you know, the rule started, you had to put certain amount of funds and in escrow for accounts and things for contracts and things like that. And yeah,
00:14:26
Speaker
you know That's technically still in the books, which is like these are multi-billion dollar like corporations at this point. like they're not They're going to cover paywall. Oh, it's super litigious too. I just think like there has to be a way where like both parties from the team's perspective agree and then the patriot the player basically was the you know has the ability to wave.
00:14:50
Speaker
And it's just part of the next CBO. the next cbo Yeah, but then you got to look at it from like a labor negotiation standpoint. If the league feels they're giving in to the players for something, they're going to want something back. And do the players care enough about this to, you know what i mean? it You're right. Like common sense, watch you should everyone should just be like, this happens so infrequently. Who cares? Just change the rule.
00:15:13
Speaker
It's stupid. But like if one side views it as giving something in, they're going to want something back. Yeah, it's just it's so so so stupid it's just so stupid. Well, didn't you notice too that like ah you know all the all the people throwing out random teams for AJ Brown, again, like I went over it on Tuesday when I had Bryson on. We talked about the Jason LaConfora comment that, I don't know, Eagles fans have been trying to say he's like going to Jacksonville and now even Schefter had to. acknowledged that today and said, and he literally in his quote said, I don't know where this is coming from. At no point has there been anything legitimate coming out of the Jacksonville Jaguars and interest for AJ Brown at no point. And not only that, they're not even on AJ Brown's list.
00:16:01
Speaker
And I know the Eagles really respect, the Eagles fans respect Howie Roseman. He's going to do a solid for A.J. Brown. Like, he's going to send him to to a team on his list.
00:16:12
Speaker
He's not just going like, oh, yeah, dude, like, sorry, i i needed 10 more draft picks higher to send you to Jacksonville. Like, he's not going to do that, honestly. Well, part of the reason he won't do that is because if a team knows it's going to get a disgruntled A.J. Brown, they're not willing to give up.
00:16:28
Speaker
Yeah. You know, top of the market value to get him right. Like we're on leg like if if he's like, yeah, I'll go to New England and he'll be motivated. Then the Patriots may look and say like, yeah, he's going to be motivated. Sure. Sure. we'll We'll pay you whatever for, you know, a guy um that's going to be motivated like that. But if you're Jacksonville, he's like, you didn't want to fucking come here. Like you you he gave five teams. He gave the Patriots, obviously the chiefs, the chargers, the bills and the Rams, the Rams are out.
00:16:58
Speaker
They don't feel good about his knee and the Rams um the ramps are are like they're out. They're out, out, right? The Bills are out. They got DJ Moore. ah The Chargers have had, i think, checked in and are out. They've had absolutely nothing. Zero smoke, nothing. The last one is the Chiefs who are having issues with Rasheed Rice. That would be the only team left on the list that I think like you could see it being a fit on paper. But again, just because I'm saying now you could see something being a fit doesn't mean the Chiefs are – doesn't mean this is like a report.
00:17:35
Speaker
Savage Boston says blah, blah, blah. You know what i mean? Like that's that's that's like what they took to Jason Lockham for a comment. They took a comment and just said, Oh, yeah, like, oh, I guess the Jags are in.
00:17:47
Speaker
Like like i said, the Jags aren't even on his list. So I think it's gotten a little silly with the random reports. like are People are just grasping, man, versus it's so widely reported with mutual interest about the Patriots.
00:18:01
Speaker
i find I find a lot of the other kind of reporting very silly at this point.
Dismissal of Vrabel Rumor
00:18:06
Speaker
Well, I would just to kind of pivot, say the same thing about anyone grasping for the Roussini-Vrabel story at this point. I mean, there's just nothing there.
00:18:15
Speaker
Like that story is basically that's dead. It's dead. Completely dead. And then you got a Farmer, who we've already talked about, like just trying to go ahead and... just totally man whore himself to the story to make sure that he gets as much clicks and attention as he can. And like he's on Beatles, Oh Beatles breathing life into this whole thing. And he's like dropping little nuggets of like, Oh, I got more scoops to come and more things that are going to be bigger than this. And,
00:18:44
Speaker
All the bullshit. And there's nothing there. And then he's like, why are they hiding? People need to have answers. i was like, no, they don't. Like, people don't give a shit. Honestly, other than, like, immediate family...
00:18:57
Speaker
I don't think anyone really gives a shit. So it's like, why are people pushing that story up? So you're always going to get people that are going to push a story up just to try to drive it up because they're kind of zig when everyone's zagging away from the story because there's nothing there.
00:19:12
Speaker
And then they're like, well, why is no one reporting? And like they go ahead on this conspiracy theory basically. Oh, everyone must be in on it. It's like, no, the reason why they're not reporting is because there's nothing new to report. So why are they going to continue to report on Just quickly on that. So there's a lot there obviously, but I would say the story itself, the story is done. There's no more story, right? Like, like we've had the story we had. It escalated. This is why people are so interested. It escalated. There are more pictures like, oh, they are in a relationship, right? It was like more kept coming out. kept satiating the story itself and people got really, really interested.
00:19:47
Speaker
Now the story, like everything's out, like it's out, it's out there and it's a private matter now. The football stuff, nothing's going to change. He's going to be the coach. He's got his swagger back.
00:19:57
Speaker
and And the people that want it to continue are either one of two different people. There are people that um are fans of opposing teams. that want the Patriots to have a punishment. That's one. and And that's being dead serious. That's genuinely who they are. They want a consequence because it's good for their team, right? And number two is people online that have gotten tremendous engagement from this story. Tony Farmer is one of them. I believe he started at like 6,000 followers before tweeting about this story.
00:20:28
Speaker
And now he's got 16,000 and he's on, you know, Zolak and Bertrand midday. Right. And so for him, it behooves him to continue drumming and circling the wagon on this story because he's actually not covering a team. He's just beating a dead horse and hammering a story.
00:20:48
Speaker
Like that's, that's what he's doing. And just to finish with it, you know, listen, I like beetle beetle and Zola a lot. They might hear this. I have no idea. Like someone can send this stuff to him. I'm not, I'm not going to go saying shit about them.
00:21:02
Speaker
They mentioned online. They were like Oh, people already say it online. Like, why would you platform Tony farmer? Like, Yeah, that was me. Why would you? I don't know. like i and I guess I understand you platforming him because it's an incredibly dead week.
00:21:16
Speaker
That would be like if you if you said straight straight face to Beatle, if you said straight face, hey, nothing's happening. This is a way for us to drum up ratings and some intrigue.
00:21:28
Speaker
then okay, cool. Like I appreciate the truth, but don't, don't spin it. Like this is a guest we need to have on because this is the hard hitting answers and he's a real journalist. No, he's not fucking Pablo Tori.
00:21:42
Speaker
He's not someone like doing some six month study or, or in depth report or undercover reporting. Like it's a fucking guy who's claiming to be a 49ers fan who found better engagement with a Vrabel scandal.
00:21:57
Speaker
So that was my problem with with what Beatle and Zoe doing that. And I know Zoe didn't want that guy on. There's no question Zoe doesn't want to talk about that story. So it is what it is. i Listen, they can do what they want. It's their show. I like their show.
00:22:12
Speaker
But they're platforming a guy who, again, in my opinion, doesn't need to be platformed. So you guys you guys go for it. I mean, you hit it right on the head. He's a grifter.
00:22:24
Speaker
He says he's a 49ers fan, and is to prove it, he says, look at how many times I've tweeted about the forty nine ers Which is just literally all of his tweets are just him saying, no, no, I'm actually a 49ers fan. And he's like, look, I have hundreds of tweets of me about the 49ers.
00:22:40
Speaker
Yeah, just you saying you're a 49ers fan, dude. So, yeah look, he's a joke. Like, I don't know. he's one of He's like pearl clutching just to get engagement. It's ridiculous. It's over. Yeah.
00:22:52
Speaker
I lost interest in this story a long time ago, not just because I'm the Patriots fan, obviously, but ah I don't know. I just think they're the pro clutching was comical. um And I felt like,
00:23:04
Speaker
Like, oh, like, what if he, what if he won the award because of her votes? Like, yeah, there's a lot of votes and like, he won by more than one vote. So like, I don't know. I'd rather go blame the guy who, who, um, who, uh, didn't vote for May for MVP.
00:23:23
Speaker
Right. Like I'd rather go for that than for this. Um, yeah. Yeah.
Tom Brady's Return as a Broadcaster
00:23:28
Speaker
Yeah, we got a question from Alex in the comments here. How do you think Brady will be for his return as a broadcaster at Gillette? Are we going to get Patriot for Life Brady or Fox Sports Brady?
00:23:38
Speaker
There's zero question you're getting Fox Sports Brady. I don't know if you'll ever get Patriots for Life Brady ever again in any context. I don't know where you would find that person, that that Brady, especially after in the Super bowl saying he doesn't have a dog in the fight, which again, like,
00:23:56
Speaker
many, many former players genuinely took issue with. Like many of his former teammates didn't understand why he would say that, how he would say that. So no, you're going to get corporate Tom Brady and, and that's probably all you're going to get going forward, but it is what it is. So, sorry. continue to say, sorry. I was just say i'm to that point, I'm not even sure Patriot for life Tom Brady even exists. Yeah. Yeah.
00:24:24
Speaker
no i mean yeah i don't think he's i don't think he's like that i mean he isn't one one day like he was one day but and maybe maybe he'll get back there at some point but like you look at some i mean first of all he's a part owner of the fucking raiders right so like forget fox brady like he's part owner of of a different franchise like so he's not going to come back and then you don't take his pants off for the patriots doing that yeah I'm sure they'll say something. There'll be shots of the, you know, the, the um statue and all that, but,
00:24:58
Speaker
That's just not who he is. Compare how he he acts to – Teddy Bruschi openly roots for the Patriots. on Yeah. No, that's a nice that's a lifer. So does Edelman. Edelman's a lifer. like Some guys, when they get here, they just become lifers, and and that's that's the mantra. And and obviously respect it a ton, but I don't get the – you know, again, the issue is, is Brady's just too, he feels above it. Again, if you, if you truly got real Tom Brady, which I don't know who's getting real Tom Brady in his life now, but like, to me, he probably feels above it. And it's like, can't be for him to be like, I'm a patriot. Like, like that's what we do. You know, we're fans, but to him, it probably feels campy.
00:25:41
Speaker
You know, he's an owner and, and he's above it. And that, and again, he, ah like his fits, he said a week ago, he said, you know, Brady gave us so much joy. It outweighs anything he could do negatively, and I agree.
00:25:54
Speaker
You know, his it really does outweigh it. But, like, it's still just silly sometimes. Saying you don't have a dog in the fight in the Super Bowl felt performative and silly and was completely unnecessary, basically. Like, why why would he even need to say that? Just be like, got pull for my – you know, you're here 20 fucking years, dude. Like, it just felt unnecessary. um Question from Brendan Walden.
00:26:20
Speaker
Go ahead. Go I was going ask a question quick and then you can address it. Y'all yall think, y'all hit us with the y'all. Do you think the Patriots might bring back Diggs now that his case is over, even if they trade for A.J. Brown? I'll let Brett, I'll let you handle that question.
00:26:36
Speaker
I think there's a legit shot. I know we talked about it when we we were going through the numbers and basically Kyle Williams was advertised as being number 18. I mean, gu going to number eight. And then he comes off it, and now he's back to number 18. And this all happened like right after the a whole thing settled. So I think there's a legitimate shot here. i don't think – I wouldn't give him more than, i don't know, 50-50 at this point. like I think it's kind of a toss-up that he could come back.
00:27:05
Speaker
But, again, I look at it and say, if you could get him in here without having to use him as much as we had to use him during the season and then give him some rest and hopefully have him – her legs for us where basically down, we have something in there. So I'd say it's a ball it's probably like 50, maybe a little more. Yeah.
00:27:29
Speaker
Um, yeah, I think there's a genuine shot. This answer myself. I think there's a genuine shot. You sign digs again. I don't think it's like an incredibly high odds. I think it's higher than it was. I think it was like 0% when Kyle Williams was switching to eight.
00:27:43
Speaker
I put it at like 15% now pretty low, but if he wants to be here and wants to take cheap money, he could be here, but he's probably going to find more money elsewhere. And that might be what he does.
00:27:56
Speaker
Let's get our question here from ah Mike Rodnick. What position do want to see the Patriots address and who's the guy you'd like to see?
Patriots' Free Agency Needs
00:28:03
Speaker
um why like in i don't know Mike, what do you mean?
00:28:06
Speaker
maybe free in what free agents still like they are obviously the draft happened. I so i still think they're light at off ball linebacker, which talked about there's, you know, they don't have enough there. And I think they're light at the edge role still. And you can maybe find somebody else there as well. So do you want to take that?
00:28:24
Speaker
He says, free Mike says free and free agency. Yeah, I'd say free agency or, you know, camp cuts, that type of thing. um at At this point, I don't think you're going to get a starter type, but you might find a development type guy who, you know, gets lost in a numbers game type of thing somewhere else.
00:28:43
Speaker
Definitely, I could see Edge. If you're going to sign a veteran, I could see it being Edge. um Someone like, I'm not saying Clowney, but someone like that who's older, right?
00:28:56
Speaker
Experienced, obviously, but and can come in and fit feel like a you know situational pass rush type role. He's obviously not an every down player at this point in his career, someone like that. But up all linebacker, like you said, it's probably their weakest point their weakest position from a depth perspective at this point.
00:29:12
Speaker
Well, there's there's still top – like if people bring up like Matt Milano at linebacker, and um I talked about on on Tuesday, and I just said like, you know hey, if he was still the same guy, wouldn't he be signed in Buffalo?
00:29:23
Speaker
You what mean? Like wouldn't he just go back to Buffalo if he still had it? That was my skepticism there. Like Bobby Wagner is a free agent. Like just not the build of who they're trying to be right now.
00:29:34
Speaker
like they want like fat They just want like smaller fast guys. That's who they want. They want fast guys. Um, nothing wrong with nothing wrong with Bobby Wagner. I think they could, they still sign an edge. Like, yeah, they, they need another edge. I don't think like you, you trust Harold Landry, as a, like a backup or starting rep edge. Like, I don't, I don't see that right now. Good for Harold. If he comes back and shows out, that'd be awesome. I just don't, I don't see it right now.
00:30:02
Speaker
Um, had a question here from d um who asks, and I like this, the other flip side of the A.J. Brown trade. How long does does it take for reality to hit that we gave up a one plus for a guy that's 29, has had bad needs and hammies, will likely want a brand new contract. Feels like we're all excited just to annoy Philly fans. This seems short-sighted. He's the wrong style receiver to expect to perform in his 30s. So, I mean, a couple of things. i a you need A.J. Brown to perform for like two to three years.
00:30:35
Speaker
You don't need him until he's 37 years old. You need, i think, high level AJ Brown at two to three years. And I think you could get that. He takes care of his body very well. He is kind of the receiver that you could do into your early thirties. He's not a burner.
00:30:49
Speaker
He's a really strong, large human who's going to block and be extremely physical and make contested catches. So why couldn't, why couldn't that guy be someone who plays well into his early thirties? You know, do you guys have an opinion on this comment?
00:31:04
Speaker
because It's because he's not that big. He's not as big as you think he is. He plays big, but if he's hampered by injuries, like how long is he going to be able to play big like that? So this is why I'm not in favor of giving up a first.
00:31:17
Speaker
Yeah. right like I think it's an overpay because of those reasons. So yeah I think that like a – You agree with the comment. More or less. I mean, i also think that that two years that he could be here, you know, would be really, really good. But I've never been of the opinion that, like, we should be selling out. There's this narrative that, like, they have to go all in, they have to push. And it's like, why? Why?
00:31:41
Speaker
May's 24. You don't have to do that right now. You don't have to. right and I know he can come along and he can really help May develop and all that. and That's true. and like you know He definitely increases the ceiling if he's healthy, like yeah but there is substantial risk there. i mean There's a reason that you know if that, reportedly, that's the reason the Rams are out and they're in a win now mode.
00:32:03
Speaker
Yeah. I kind of have a good comp. I just looked up for this trade. Brett, let me tell you this comp. You want a good comp for an AJ Brown potential trade? What do you think about the comp of Corey Dillon?
00:32:17
Speaker
Corey Dillon to the Pats in 2004. What do you think about that comp?
Comparing AJ Brown and Corey Dillon Trades
00:32:21
Speaker
And he went for a two. I mean, yeah, he went, he was an older player, right? Went for 56 overall, went for a two.
00:32:31
Speaker
which is, you know, obviously it's not going to be the 2021, but that's a future one that's similar-ish, right, value-wise. And Corey Dillon was an absolute beast mode here and won a Super Bowl and then kind of faded off, right?
00:32:45
Speaker
But, like, you had him. So I would say that trade's a success, even though you traded a two because he won the Super Bowl, right? Sorry, go for it, Brett. Well, again, like as we talked about, I'm okay with them trading at first. And I look at it and say, you take the opportunities to get a guy like AJ Brown in here when you have a young Drake May who has elevated his game quicker than we thought. And it gives you an ability to be competitive now.
00:33:13
Speaker
And that's what AJ Brown is going to be able to do. He's going to allow us to be competitive now. Cause you know, this off season was a relative arms race. As you saw, I mean, we talked about DJ Moore going to the bills, like Kansas city looking to run the ball, but we'll see what happens there.
00:33:31
Speaker
I just look at it and say, we needed to stay viable and we could do it by getting a guy like AJ Brown. Cause that keeps us in the conversation to take another shot at trying to get into the playoffs and see what happens. You know, sometimes people sit there and they think about it from a perspective where they go, Oh, you know, you need more bullets in the chamber for draft picks. Cause it's going give increase your probability of trying to get good talent.
00:33:55
Speaker
Well, the other argument is, You only get to the Super Bowl so many times and you only have opportunities when you're going to have a guy like Drake May. who's how and really accelerating his play around bunch of guys where you can start to build some good talent while also spending money because you're not in cap jail because you don't have some of these. You've basically been in a rebuild. You're just ahead of schedule. So if you're ahead of schedule, be aggressive, go out there and get a guy like AJ Brown to be viable. Give yourself a shot to get into the playoffs and then see what happens. I mean, none of us predicted that we'd be in the Superbowl, but we were in it.
00:34:33
Speaker
And yeah, we looked inept on offense, but at halftime, we were still relatively in it. I mean, you look at it and say, if you can bring a guy like AJ Brown and he can help us be a viable option, when I'd still say the AFC is gettable. Like, I don't think there's any powerhouse team that I look at and say, oh my gosh, there's not a chance in hell. Like, I look at it and say, haven't punched his chance but against anyone. And i've I've been saying for a while, I think we're still top four team in the AFC. So take your shot while you got the shots to take.
00:35:02
Speaker
Yeah, and I agree. I see the downside the downside risk there. But like even if you get two premier years, let's say, out of A.J. Brown, like I don't know. You're telling me that's not worth it? You know what I mean like I think there's there's so much there to that.
00:35:16
Speaker
um And I think, like could you win a Super Bowl? Yeah, you have a possibility. like Yeah, it's hard to fucking win. But like they're trying to build something here. And they obviously love A.J. and he can do a lot. And he's the build of the type of receiver and type of player they want on this roster right now. Quick question from someone. How long do you think until we see Gabe Ackes as a consistent starter?
00:35:38
Speaker
um I think he should get a lot of time this year, man. Like that's that's a position of need. He's also like – he's a big boy, man. Like he's a not a completely developed product, but like he's strong. He can play the position well. he you know the I go back to the fact that he benched 225 30 times.
00:35:58
Speaker
thirty times Like that's a lot for an edge, dude. That's a strong dude. 30 times it like there's a lot of edges who might be a little slimmer. go Like um even Abdul Carter elite.
00:36:10
Speaker
elite physical traits and speed, like have to bulk up a little bit. Right. So um I think you get a lot of Ackes this year, especially if, yeah again, if Harold Landry is not really the same guy, like you might have Ackes might get 60% of the reps. I don't, you know, um him and Draymond Jones are going to get a ton of the reps too. So I think Ackes, I like Ackes as a prospect.
00:36:33
Speaker
um You know, we just got to see him in camp. I mean, hey, what about this story? What if Ackis is beating up on Will Campbell in camp? How does that storyline go, huh? Huh, Snooty? I mean, like I think the chance, let me answer this in two parts to answer
Player Readiness and Development
00:36:49
Speaker
the Ackers thing. I don't think he's going to be a starter this year, but I think he will slowly start to really contribute in a meaningful way. Just because he's, he's kind of built for it at the moment. Like he doesn't have much in terms of like physical development left. Like he's, he's pretty rocked out and he's pretty ready to go. Yeah.
00:37:08
Speaker
I am – I don't think Campbell was nearly as bad as everyone likes to say he was. um He also wasn't as good as everybody says he was. Yep, Pat's pro. he's He's a believer too. You talked about Will Campbell and I summoned Pat's pro from the ether down to defend Will Campbell. I think he's going to be fine. I mean, he's got another year to develop. He's got another year to you know work on his technique and stuff like that. It's everything I've talked about. a thousand times before. I think everybody's... then to like Yeah, they people are going to talk about it.
00:37:44
Speaker
It's going to be on all the radios. Oh my God, he got beeped. Okay, he also got whooped by Minnesota last year and he wasn't nearly as bad as that the whole year.
00:37:55
Speaker
right so like he was a rookie left tackle like who had a pretty good season for a rookie and was really not much worse or or any any real or worse at all really than any of the other rookie tackles right like he was fine and that's fine that's all you're looking for at this point so um i think he's going to be fine that's my opinion but Yeah.
00:38:21
Speaker
No, I hear you. I think that's, it's going to be a big, that'll be a really big talking point of camp. Do you think, do you think Lomu gets playing time without an injury?
00:38:35
Speaker
No, no, I don't. I don't, I don't. It's like, there has to be an opening. Do you know what I mean? Like he, there, you can't like Campbell is the left tackle starter and Morgan Moses is the right tackle starter.
00:38:50
Speaker
he would have to Short of injury, Campbell would have to like truly implode. Yeah, I don't think it's – Truly implode. Yeah, it would have to be an incredibly bad – like an incredibly bad camp.
00:39:01
Speaker
je I'm thinking Moses. That's where I think it would happen. I think Moses is too solid. I mean, as like ah just a vet, like I think he's so tall, big, and lengthy. like He's going to give you good play if he's not hurt. and and he But the problem is like it's way more realistic that he's just going to get hurt.
00:39:23
Speaker
Like, that's that's the real thing. You know what i mean? Like, I think Campbell – – is there a scenario where Campbell gets absolutely killed in camp and goes to guard?
00:39:34
Speaker
Yeah. I think there that scenario exists. What percentage? Pretty darn low at this point. But I think that exists, that he gets trashed. But, like, dude, they want him at left tackle so bad.
00:39:46
Speaker
Vrabel would borderline do anything to keep him at left tackle. This is, like, what people don't get. It's his fucking guy, dude. He drafted him at four overall. It's his guy. He pulled the trigger on that. Like he'll do anything to keep him at left tackle.
00:40:00
Speaker
You know, what you think is the higher probability? Campbell takes a step back or takes a step forward. Uh, I think takes a step forward. I'll go optimism on that. I think he can take a step forward. I don't, especially healing from his injury.
00:40:16
Speaker
um, You know, I think he can take a step forward. I think he hopefully got a lot stronger, bulked up. It's just, again, we're back to like, he would just fit guard. His body type fits guard perfectly. That's the problem.
00:40:30
Speaker
His narrow shoulders, his mean attitude, his aggressive play style. He's a perfect fit physically for guard, but he's an elite athlete and gave you pretty decent tackle play until he got hurt.
00:40:43
Speaker
That's the reality. And that's, again, just being – I'm just trying to be completely objective. Like I'm no – I don't give a fuck. I don't have a personal vendetta against Will Campbell. Like I made some take back in the day and I need it proven out.
00:40:57
Speaker
That's not what it's like. You know, if he if he's good, awesome. If he sucks, well, we'll have him at guard when and when who eventually gets out of here at some point because it looks like they're not going to give him another contract.
00:41:10
Speaker
So – I think the other part of it is like, he's only ever played tackle his entire career. Right. So like, yes, he may be better there, but he will, um, everybody, if they can play tackle, wants to play tackle. Cause you get paid a lot more at tackle.
00:41:28
Speaker
First off, he's only ever played tackle. It's a pride thing. And it's not necessarily an easy transition to guard. It's, it's, it's different. Um, It's just different. The pass sets, everything's just different. um And if you haven't looked – you think he could be an elite guard, though?
00:41:47
Speaker
Like, you think he could be an elite guard? Yeah, I mean, probably. But I said this before they drafted him. Like, if they can get average tackle play or, a but or like, really good guard play, they're going to take average tackle play because tackle's harder to find. Yeah. john It's incredibly difficult to find.
00:42:08
Speaker
Yeah. I think there's, you know, you know, yeah, we all know what they want. They want him to pan out at left tackle. That's what they want, obviously. And that would, that would be the best for the team, you know, but the good news is because they drafted well, in my opinion with Lomu, who, again, I wasn't like in love with the player, but I wanted the position and I hope the player is good, but because they, I think they took the right premium position.
00:42:35
Speaker
You now have some flexibility. If it does fall through, there you go. There's Lomu sitting right there. you know what i mean? Like you have some serious flexibility now. And again, nobody's talking about enough about how elite Elijah Vera Tucker can be at guard.
00:42:50
Speaker
Like he's going to be a stud. And i you know, and when he was still a beast, like your line is, is a lot better, seriously, a lot better. And I'm excited to see what they do. I'm excited to see how they run the ball. I think there's going be,
00:43:04
Speaker
Very, very physical. Somebody asked on Twitter, not on here. i don't know why they didn't put a comment in here, but they said like, when does Travion overtake Ramondre as a lead running back?
00:43:16
Speaker
And I don't think it'll quite work like that. um I'll let who who wants to take that one. Snooty, Brett, who wants to take that question? I'll jump in real quick. I'll say when the man stops running into the ass of his lineman, we'll get more. of it Let's just put it that way. And we talked about last we talked about it last year. he was clearly sped up.
00:43:38
Speaker
You got to remember, he's so young. He's developing. So that should come. But essentially, that's the biggest gripe we have with him. I mean, he's super explosive. He's going to be more explosive than Ramondre. think you look at it and just say, if the man could just take a moment and just find the right gap and not run into the ass of his linemen.
00:44:03
Speaker
He would be a great player, but he just doesn't know how to figure that shit out. So it's just, pi he needs to watch like old, like, i don't know, Le'Veon Bell or something like watch them, like dance behind the line and just be patient. You know what mean?
00:44:17
Speaker
mean, I think the real answer is he's never going to overtake him. If you look back at Henderson in college and stuff, he was always best um in a shared backfield.
00:44:28
Speaker
That's why they got in – was it Judkins or whatever his name was? Like yeah once they brought him in, he really opened up because he's fresh. He's not built to be – you know, he's not going to tote the rock 30 times a game, which is not how he's built. It's not who he is. Stevenson's closer to that, but even he – you can't really do that in the NFL anymore in general.
00:44:46
Speaker
But like a smaller speedster back like Henderson is never going to be, you know, the bell cow back. It's just not going to happen. So whether it's Stevenson or Stevenson falls off and they bring someone else in, which actually talking about another place, I'd like to see them make a move. Probably running back is a spot. um You know, that's like someone's always going to be there to be a ah tag team partner with Henderson.
00:45:11
Speaker
Yeah, it's like you need that. The classic Thunder, Lightning, blah, blah, blah. like that's the That's the most classic running back tandem you can have. And I think that's, ah yeah, that's that's, I don't know, that's clearly, I think, how they want it.
00:45:26
Speaker
but yeah this is The biggest thing I'd like to see, though, is I feel like Josh didn't do an effective job getting that man into space. like I don't feel like we did a lot of screens like we would do historically. yeah We didn't really find ways to get him out in the flat. And he can catch the ball. like He can catch the ball. He can clearly... like break ankles when he's out in space. I felt like there was just no creativity with a man of that talent that have frustrated me a lot last year where I felt like we could have done more and Josh was very basic. And I don't know if that was just a capacity of may, but from all accounts, including when you hear Josh talk about Drake may like they rave about his ability to understand the plays and you know how much he's grown from a knowledge perspective that i don't think that's the case. So,
00:46:15
Speaker
That's one of the things that gets most frustrating to me when you watch a guy like Henderson. like Get him out in space. Let him cook. Well, just to remind you, too, i mean I want to remind everybody, his numbers as a rookie, just to just put it out there, do you remember how much how many yards he ran for? Who wants to give ah give a guess here?
00:46:33
Speaker
What did he run for last year? I don't think he cracked 1,000, right? It was like nine-somethings. 9-11 for nine touchdowns. Yeah, and like five of those were explosive. 221 yards for one touchdown. But, I mean, we're talking about was third and offensive rookie of the year.
00:46:51
Speaker
But, like, when you watch him, you're like, oh, he keeps running to the back. But, like, having a guy like that still, if you if if anyone had told you before you drafted him, hey, he's going to get 900 yards rushing and nine touchdowns, you'd be like, fucking sign me up.
00:47:06
Speaker
You'd say that any time you'd take that. Would you not? No, of course. 909 touchdowns as a rookie. That's pretty fucking good. He definitely improved, you know, down the stretch, which ultimately probably kept Stevenson in, you know, good shape for the playoffs. um You just need more consistency from him, but that, that should come this If it doesn't come this year, it'll never happen. So, yeah, I'll take one more, one more question here. um What's more likely practice squad or 53 man for wide receiver, Kyle Dixon, practice is Liam DeWolf.
00:47:40
Speaker
And that's probably practice squad. And there's nothing wrong with the player. You just have like a tremendous log jam. Also a wide receiver like I don't know. i know he's gonna be the guy that everyone's gonna fall in love with at camp.
00:47:52
Speaker
Because he's he's like a tall kid who everyone everyone's gonna just love they're gonna eat this dude up. It's gonna be the new land Larison or, you know, all these guys these are fringe.
00:48:04
Speaker
These are fringe players. Like, I don't know. they they have a logjam, a wide receiver. they're Like, who do you want to take off the roster? You know, that's my question. Like, I don't know. I think people always love the,
00:48:17
Speaker
the camp story watching guys come up and, you know, I haven't even seen this kid play yet. And, and everyone's just hyping them up. Like I say, Bedard was saying, Oh, he stood out of practice. It's like, okay, well these are rookie practices.
00:48:30
Speaker
All right. Like let's, let's wait and see what that looks like when you get up against real talent. So that's why, you know, putting the pads on getting a training camp is really, uh, you know, what we need to wait and see. So, but doesn't feel good that like there, we're like, yeah, we have a log jam
Closing Remarks and Lighthearted Farewell
00:48:44
Speaker
and receiver. So like there's actual depth.
00:48:46
Speaker
I'm not saying it's like stupendous, but like, it's great you actually have depths on the roster a little bit. It's nice. It is nice. It's, they have a better room. I mean, once AJ Brown hits, I think then you're like, all right this is a real room.
00:49:00
Speaker
Um, a real decent wide receiver room with some big talented kids. And, uh, man, I love the set of putting in like Brown Dobbs and Matt Collins and like, like, I don't know, like an 11 personnel and just pounding the football.
00:49:16
Speaker
I don't know. There's gonna be a lot of flexibility you can do there. And this is just what they're going for, man. They're going for like the Derrick Henry ish offense, except having Drake may as your quarterback and, uh, you know? Yeah.
00:49:29
Speaker
Brable wants to run the rock. You can just tell by all of his moves what he wants to do. He wants to run the rock just like he did in Tennessee. He's building that for his offense. Yeah.
00:49:39
Speaker
You know, and the difference there that he had in Tennessee to now is Drake May. Like, Drake May can open it up on offense. And and that was our thing last year. we couldn't run the ball effectively when we needed to run the ball, and everyone knew we were running the ball.
00:49:54
Speaker
Like, we struggled all year to do that. And this year it's been ah another concerted effort to make sure we can run the rock. We're going to run the rock. Got to run the rock.
00:50:05
Speaker
All right, anything else i you guys want to touch on before we wrap it up?
00:50:11
Speaker
Memorial weekend sucks. Why are we always getting rain every goddamn weekend? And then the sun is going to hit us on Tuesday. Can we just talk about how the new England weather effing sucks? Oh, you know, we have talk about we have to go golfing soon.
00:50:24
Speaker
That is actually genuinely yes like it's, it's time now. I feel like no one's even been hyping it up. Everyone's too busy. I'm just like coaching little league, but like, we need to like, we gotta get, we gotta get the golf going. It's almost, it's time. It's time to get a rock in.
00:50:40
Speaker
Um, and we got to get Pat's pro up here golfing. Cause he, he said he wanted to go. So we got to take them up here. Um, but yeah. All right. Well, thanks for tuning in guys. This has been, it's probably honestly, like, I think the live streams are great, man. They're fun doing it. Fun engaging with people. A lot of views on here. And it's just nice that people still want to engage even in the absolute most dead period of the year. Probably. I can't even, i mean, June's going to be rough too.
00:51:08
Speaker
but at least you'd be like post AJ Brown, but like this is, it's, it's rough out there. So yeah, keep, keep at it guys. And we'll, we'll catch you next time. We're going to end the stream. Peace.
00:51:20
Speaker
Peace.