Tag: Conor McDermott

A Rams lineman had his playbook stolen from his car

Conor McDermott’s car was broken into recently and his iPad with the Rams’ playbook was stolen

Rams offensive lineman Conor McDermott’s car was broken into recently and one of the items stolen from him was an iPad. It just so happens that the iPad was the one the Rams gave him with the playbook and other team info on it, according to TMZ Sports.

Per the report, police are investigating the matter but no arrests have been made yet.

Fortunately, because the playbook is digital rather than an old-school paper playbook, it should be locked behind some level of security. Sean McVay can probably breathe a sigh of relief that his game plan won’t be leaked to Antonio Pierce and the Raiders.

McDermott, who’s currently on injured reserve, joined the Rams this offseason when he signed a one-year deal with the team in August. He has yet to play in a game for them this year as he continues to recover from an undisclosed injury.

Titans should sign this OT in free agency, NFL analyst says

Pro Football Network recently suggested one signing each team should make before camp and they chose a veteran offensive tackle for the Titans.

As NFL training camps are set to open at the end of the month, teams will be finalizing their offseason rosters. The Tennessee Titans are in unfamiliar territory this year with a new coaching staff and plenty of roster turnover at key positions.

Among those is the appointment of second-year player Will Levis to starting quarterback for the upcoming season after getting a taste as a rookie last year.

The Titans will need to protect him better, as he was sacked 28 times in nine games last year. The team as a whole was sacked 64 times, tying for the third-most in the league with the New York Jets.

To address their pass protection issues, the Titans made a significant move by selecting Alabama standout tackle JC Latham with the seventh overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. Latham, who spent three years with the Crimson Tide, only allowed two sacks and five quarterback hits during his college career.

Additionally, the Titans bolstered their offensive line depth through minor transactions, acquiring tackle Leroy Watson in a trade with the Cleveland Browns and signing guard Saahdiq Charles.

However, one outlet feels that more is needed prior to the start of the season. Pro Football Network’s Lorenzo Reyna suggested one free-agent signing for every team and identified offensive tackle Conor McDermott as a player the Titans should bring in.

Help and more help are needed to protect Will Levis moving forward. The towering 6’8″ veteran Conor McDermott can come in and give Tennessee breathing room in the tackle department.

McDermott was released by the New England Patriots back in April after initially signing a two-year, $3.6 million contract extension with the team in February 2023. The 31-year-old has made his way through the AFC East, spending time with the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, and the Patriots.

Throughout his career, McDermott has seen action in 55 games (17 starts), including a career-high 15 contests during the 2020 season with the Jets. With New England last year, the Nashville native saw 228 snaps in six games and made five starts and allowed two sacks.

The favorite to be the starting right tackle, Nicholas Petit-Frere, isn’t a sure thing entering his third season, and the same can be said for the other players vying for that role.

Signing McDermott would provide the Titans with experienced depth at both tackle spots, as well as another insurance policy for the right tackle job.

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Patriots release veteran OT Conor McDermott

Veteran offensive lineman Conor McDermott has been released by the Patriots

The New England Patriots released veteran offensive tackle Conor McDermott on Monday.

It’s a move that comes on the heels of the 2024 NFL draft, where the Patriots added tackle Caedan Wallace and guard Layden Robinson to the offensive line unit.

McDermott had five starts last season for the struggling Patriots offense, which was riddled with injuries in 2023. He was a part of a makeshift line that struggled all year in quarterback protection.

The rebuilding Patriots should be focusing more on youth and the future instead of aging players, particularly on the offensive line.

Mike Onwenu re-signed with the team in free agency, and the Patriots also signed former Pittsburgh Steelers tackle Chuks Okorafor. It isn’t just about rebuilding a better starting core group, but the Patriots need to replenish and improve their depth along the offensive front, period.

McDermott is just the first of more moves to come as the team continues to work on the roster ahead of the 2024 season.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick discusses offensive line injury woes

Bill Belichick commented on the offensive line struggles for the Patriots this season

The New England Patriots have had problems at the offensive line position, as injuries and inconsistent play have marred the unit throughout the year.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick offered his thoughts on how things have unfolded along the offensive front, when speaking with media members.

“That’s not the way we thought it would happen when we acquired some of the guys at the beginning of the year…but it is what it is,” said Belichick, via Patriots.com’s Evan Lazar.

The offensive line has been decimated by injuries. Calvin Anderson and Riley Reiff were free agent pickups, while Connor McDermott was re-signed this year as a free agent.

Injuries have made it difficult for the Patriots to build any form of consistency. At one point in the season, the Patriots’ entire offensive line was dealing with injuries.

This was simply a case of the Patriots rolling the dice and things not working out. It was something the usually-prepared Belichick could not foresee.

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Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots: Team connections

#Bills vs. #Patriots: Team connections:

The Buffalo Bills will host the New England Patriots for a matchup on Sunday afternoon in Week 17.

It’s a brand new NFL weekend with plenty on the line for both teams. But for some on the Bills (9-6) and Patriots (4-11) there is a bit more at stake than others.

That’s because multiple players or coaches for both sides are going to be playing against their former teams. That can create a little bit of extra motivation for them heading into Sunday… as expected.

With that, here’s a quick list of connections the two teams have with one another ahead of the upcoming matchup at Highmark Stadium:

Patriots downgrade two key offensive players as out vs Broncos

The Patriots offense has been dealt two more blows ahead of Sunday’s Christmas Eve game against the Broncos.

The New England Patriots announced on Saturday that tight end Hunter Henry and offensive tackle Conor McDermott have both been downgraded as out for Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos.

Those are two tough blows to a Patriots offense that is already struggling.

Henry has turned into quarterback Bailey Zappe’s most reliable receiving target, while McDermott stepped in periodically to spell Trent Brown, who has been playing through multiple injuries.

Tight ends Mike Gesicki and Pharaoh Brown will see an uptick in work with Henry out against the Broncos. Meanwhile, the team will have to lean more on Vederian Lowe and Tyrone Wheatley Jr. to help solidify the offensive tackle position.

The ability to play musical chairs on the fly has been a common theme for this oft-injured Patriots team. They’ll need to do it again successfully, if they have any hopes of pulling off a major upset at Mile High.

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Studs and duds from Patriots’ 6-0 loss to Chargers

Who were the studs and duds from the Patriots’ Week 13 shutout loss?

There was no miracle offensive resurgence with Bailey Zappe starting at quarterback for the New England Patriots in Sunday’s shutout loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

But that doesn’t mean it was all bad.

There were big plays and opportunities left on the field by the offense in the second half that ultimately led to drive killers.

It’s hard not to feel bad for the Patriots defense considering the incredible effort the unit puts in every week. But none if it matters if the offense can’t score points. Even a perfect performance by the defense wouldn’t have been enough for the Patriots to beat the Chargers.

Let’s take a look at the studs and duds from the game.

Patriots get boost on both sides of ball with key returns at Tuesday’s practice

Three players returned for the Patriots at Tuesday’s practice, including a recently released veteran offensive lineman

The New England Patriots were still shorthanded with eight players missing from Tuesday’s practice. However, they did have two major returns with wide receiver Demario Douglas and cornerback Jack Jones back on the field.

Douglas missed Week 6 after suffering a concussion in the Patriots’ loss to the Dallas Cowboys. New England’s receivers have been a major disappointment this season, but Douglas has been one of the only playmakers, along with Kendrick Bourne, that has shown the ability to create separation.

Meanwhile, Jones is being activated off injured reserve after missing the first six games of the season with a hamstring injury. Marcus Jones is still out with an injury, and Jonathan Jones missed Tuesday’s practice. With rookie first-round draft pick Christian Gonzalez also on the shelf, it could pave the way for a significant rep increase for Jack Jones.

ESPN’s Mike Reiss also reported that the Patriots have signed offensive tackle Conor McDermott to the practice squad.

Given the ongoing struggles at right tackle, McDermott’s arrival couldn’t have come at a better time for the team. He was released by the Patriots after reaching an injury settlement in September.

But now, it would appear that he’s healed and ready to contribute to a makeshift offensive line that desperately needs the help.

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5 takeaways from Day 5 of Patriots training camp practice

Here’s how Day 5 of training camp looked for the Patriots

There was a different feeling in the air on Monday with the pads coming on for the first time at New England Patriots’ training camp.

It felt like real football with the clanging and banging of shoulder pads and helmets. The offense was looking to build on some of the success they started to show on Sunday, while the defense wanted to continue making life difficult for quarterback Mac Jones and company.

The Patriots had six players in total missing in practice with Ty Montgomery, Cody Davis, Michael Onwenu, Calvin Anderson, Jake Andrews and Terez Hall being out. Matthew Judon, Trent Brown and Rhamondre Stevenson were also limited.

Here are five takeaways from Day 5 of training camp;

6 takeaways from Day 4 of Patriots training camp practice

Takeaways from Day 4 of Patriots training camp

The New England Patriots were back on the field on Sunday for their fourth  training camp practice.

There was more red zone work in this practice, but coach Bill Belichick did open things up a bit more, which seemed to help the offense.

It’s still clear that the offense struggles when the field shortens, but they showed a bit more life when there was more room to work in competitive drills.

Offensive guard Michael Onwenu, running back Ty Montgomery, offensive tackle Calvin Anderson and special teamer Cody Davis were still absent from practice. Meanwhile, rookie center/guard Jake Andrews and wideout Kayshon Boutte were the newest additions to the list.

Here are six takeaways from Day 4 of Patriots training camp: