Tag: patriots news

Julian Edelman welcomes TE Jonnu Smith to Patriots with Instagram post

The Patriots agreed to a 4-year deal with Jonnu Smith, and Julian Edelman seems excited about it.

Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots opened free agency with a bang on Monday when the legal tampering period began, agreeing to terms with several impact players on both sides of the ball. Their biggest splash came when they landed tight end Jonnu Smith, who spent the first four years of his career with the Titans.

Smith is an athletic and dynamic pass catcher at tight end, joining a receiving corps that lacked talent for Cam Newton last year. He’s a major upgrade at a position that contributed very little in 2020, immediately becoming one of the top targets on offense.

After news broke of Smith’s deal with the Patriots, Edelman welcomed him to New England with an Instagram post that featured the young tight end in a Pats uniform.

In his career, Smith has caught 114 passes for 1,302 yards and 16 touchdowns. Those aren’t spectacular numbers, but they’re significantly better than any tight end New England currently has on the roster.

The Patriots clearly want to gather weapons for Newton, or whoever will start at quarterback come September.

Two Georgia Bulldogs among 25 modern era semifinalists for Hall of Fame

Two former Georgia football players are among 25 modern era semifinalists for the NFL Hall of Fame.

Three Georgia Bulldogs are among the 25 semifinalists of modern-era players for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2021.

Steelers legend Hines Ward and three-time Super Bowl winner Richard Seymour are the two Dawgs who are semifinalists.

Between the two of them, they have five Super Bowl rings.

To be considered for selection to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a nominated individual must not have participated as an active player for five consecutive seasons.

Ward had an incredibly successful NFL career playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ward is currently a Hall of Fame candidate. Over fifteen seasons in Pittsburgh, Ward accumulated 1,000 career catches and over 12,000 receiving yards. Ward is the Steeler’s all-time reception, receiving touchdown and receiving yardage leader. He won two Super Bowl titles including a Super Bowl MVP award. Not too bad for a third round pick out of Georgia.

Seymour was a force to be reckoned with not just in college, but in the pros as well. The 6’6, 317 lb Seymour attended Lower Richland High School in Hopkins, South Carolina and won first-team all region honors his senior season.

Seymour played for the bulldogs from 1997 to 2000. In 41 games (25 starting), he finished his UGA career with great stats. He tallied 226 total tackles, 9.5 sacks, 25.5 tackles for loss, and 35 quarterback pressures. He was named to the All-SEC first team in 1999 and 2000 and first team All American in 2000.

Seymour was taken 6th overall in the 2001 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. He became one of the Patriots best defenders of all time and was the leader of their defense for eight seasons. He helped the Patriots win three Super Bowls and was named to five different all-pro teams. In the ladder of his NFL career, Seymour played a few seasons with the Oakland Raiders.

Randy Moss says Patriots’ offense will ‘have more fun’ with Cam Newton as QB

Hall of Famer Randy Moss believes the New England Patriots’ offense will have more fun playing with QB Cam Newton.

Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans had his sixth-straight 1,000-yard season in 2019, tying him with Hall of Famer Randy Moss for the most ever to begin a career. With Tom Brady under center for the Bucs in 2020, Evans has a great chance of taking the record for himself, and doing it with the quarterback who once threw 23 touchdowns in a single season to Moss seems like a great way to do it.

While Moss had one of the most memorable years of his career in 2007 with Brady, the year the Patriots went a perfect 16-0 in the regular season, the Hall of Fame receiver believes that the new-look Patriots, led by Cam Newton, will have more fun on the field than with Brady.

Per Moss:

“Not discrediting anything Tom accomplished because he accomplished some great things, but I think being able to have a guy like Cam Newton that can run the ball, they are able to spread guys out, and then being able to be that viable threat in the passing game that he can just tuck the ball and run. I just think what we have seen coming out of New England for the past, let’s say 20 years, there is going to be a change in New England. But I think we are going to see them have a lot more fun out there and Cam Newton is going to give them that opportunity for the fans, not just the New England Patriots fans, but the football fans around the world to really see how fun this offense can really be.”

The Patriots’ offense never hinged on Brady’s ability to run the ball, so having a guy like Newton will certainly bring a new dimension to this team that hasn’t been seen before. Whether or not that’ll translate over into the win column remains to be seen, but there’s no denying the Patriots will be fun to watch if Newton manages to win the starting job.

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Cam Newton joining the Patriots brings this QB carousel full circle

The signing of Cam Newton by the New England Patriots brought this crazy QB carousel full circle.

The New England Patriots made waves over the weekend when they signed former NFL MVP Cam Newton to be Tom Brady’s potential replacement now that the six-time Super Bowl champion has made Tampa his new home.

Newton will look to revive his career after playing in just two games last season before landing on injured reserve. Fortunately, he’ll be playing for one of the best organizations in all of sports, and for a head coach who is destined for the Hall of Fame.

Newton signing with New England also brings this crazy QB carousel full circle.

Take a look.

For what it’s worth, I think Brady will have the biggest impact next season. He has a chance to take the Bucs to the playoffs for the first time in over a decade. That’s the biggest story.

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Report: Former Georgia RB Sony Michel recovering from surgery

Per reports, former Georgia football RB Sony Michel, now with the New England Patriots, is recovering from surgery he had this offseason.

According to ESPN, former Georgia running back Sony Michel, now with the New England Patriots, is recovering from foot surgery he had in May.

It appears the surgery was nothing too serious, according to reports. Rather it was maintenance-based to alleviate some discomfort he had been experiencing.

A first round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Michel has shared the lead back role with James White. Michel has been a big part of the Patriots offense in his two seasons, and has posted back-to-back 900+ yard seasons.

Late July is when New England is scheduled to return for training camp. Michel, though, is already in Foxborough rehabbing his foot.

Tom Brady is still a Patriots fan, and for good reason

Bucs QB Tom Brady showed his former team love on Instagram after the Patriots delivered meals to families across the New England area.

The Buccaneers made the biggest splash in free agency this offseason by landing six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady. The future Hall of Famer, who ended his 20-year run with the New England Patriots in favor of spending the latter part of his career as a pirate, may call Florida home now, but he still has lots of love for the Patriots organization and New England area.

The Pats recently posted the below message on their Instagram account, showing them working to distribute meals to families across the New England area, and TB12 was right there to “like” the post and the work the team continues to do in his former home.

Brady, himself, has been working hard to give back to the Tampa community already. He and his wife, supermodel and environmentalist Gisele Bundchen, have donated meals to families in need during the coronavirus pandemic.

And, let’s not forget Jameis Winston, who despite signing with the New Orleans Saints is still working hard to make a difference in Tampa.

Good to see teams and players giving back in this difficult time.

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Tom Brady comes to Josh McDaniels’ defense on Instagram

Bucs QB Tom Brady took to Instagram today to defend his relationship with former Patriots OC Josh McDaniels.

Tom Brady left the New England Patriots this offseason after a 20-year run, and many wonder whether his relationship with Bill Belichick had finally run its course. But now recent reports seem to suggest it was Brady’s relationship with Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels that may have played a role in his decision to leave.

Per CBS Sports:

“According to Gary Myers, formerly of the New York Daily News, Brady’s ‘deteriorating relationship’ with Josh McDaniels was part of the reason why the quarterback left for Tampa Bay in free agency earlier this offseason. Myers notes that Brady was ‘worn out by Josh after all these years’ and wanted to have more input into the game plan.”

Brady was quick to come to McDaniels’ defense and condemn the report, posting the below image on his Instagram story.

I think we all owe Brady the benefit of the doubt on this one. He and McDaniels had a run of great success together in New England, culminating in Super Bowl wins and numerous winning seasons. Plus, Brady made his love for McDaniels “Instagram official.” No take backs.

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Georgia football great voted into Patriots Hall of Fame

Georgia football great Richard Seymour has been voted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame.

Former Georgia Bulldog defensive lineman Richard Seymour has been voted into the Patriots Hall of Fame. He becomes the 30th player to enter into the Pats’ Hall of Fame.

He beat out both Bill Parcels and Mike Vrabel in a fan-vote.

Taken with the 6th overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft by New England, Seymour played there from 2001-08, where he became one of the Patriots best defenders of all time. He helped the Patriots win three Super Bowls and was named to five different all-pro teams. Seymour closed out his career by spending a few seasons with the Oakland Raiders.

He was a forced to be reckoned with not just in college, but in the pros as well. The 6-foot-6, 317 pound Seymour attended Lower Richland High School in Hopkins, South Carolina, and won first-team all region honors his senior season.

Seymour played for Georgia from 1997 to 2000. In 41 games (25 starting), he finished his UGA career with 226 total tackles, 9.5 sacks, 25.5 tackles for loss and 35 quarterback pressures. He was named to the All-SEC first team in 1999 and 2000 and first team All American in 2000.

Seymour had made the final ballot for the Patriots Hall of Fame for three consecutive years, but was finally able break through this year. It has not happened yet, but Seymour is on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as well. He’s been a finalist for that the past two years.

Does this stat prove the Patriots will be all right without Tom Brady?

The New England Patriots are preparing for life without quarterback Tom Brady, but they may be in better shape than people think.

While the Buccaneers have their sights set on a championship this season, the New England Patriots, for the first time in decades, face the stark reality of life without quarterback Tom Brady.

The six-time Super Bowl champion bid farewell to the only team and coach he’d known his entire NFL career, opting instead to begin a new chapter in his post-40 life, taking his talents to the Sunshine State to try and bring respectability back to the Buccaneers.

And with an offense that includes Pro Bowl receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, as well as newly acquired tight end Rob Gronkowski, the Bucs could be in great shape to make a return to the postseason for the first time since 2007.

As for the Patriots, championship expectations seem like a pipe dream at the moment. While veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer signed with the Patriots this offseason, it seems the team and head coach Bill Belichick are prepared to enter the 2020 season with 2019 fourth-round pick Jarrett Stidham under center.

And while many people believe the Pats will struggle without Brady, the below stat shows they’ve had success in the past without him.

Take a look.

The Patriots famously went 11-5 in 2008 after Brady went down in Week 1 against the Chiefs with a torn ACL (though they missed the playoffs). Backup Matt Cassel, a former seventh-round pick, filled in and finished the year with 3,693 yards, 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He also rushed for 270 yards and two scores. His solid year helped him earn a hefty contract from the Chiefs the following offseason.

That’s not to say Stidham will have the same success, but it shows that the Patriots organization is built to withstand the loss of any player, even its quarterback.

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Former Brady teammate warns Bucs not to get caught ‘Brady-watching’

Former Patriots LB Tedy Bruschi had some words of wisdom (or warning) for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The NFL announced that it will release its full 17-week schedule next week, despite the uncertain future surrounding leagues around the world in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

Perhaps no NFL team is more anxious (and hopeful) for a 2020 season to start on time than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have been the major story this offseason after landing quarterback Tom Brady in free agency and then swinging a trade for retired tight end Rob Gronkowski.

Brady’s arrival in Tampa will hopefully bring with it an end to a Bucs-playoff drought that’s stretched more than a decade. The Bucs haven’t been to the playoffs since 2007 and haven’t won a postseason game since their Super Bowl XXXVII victory following the 2002 season. But having a six-time Super Bowl champion like Brady under center brings with it immediate championship expectations.

But, as former Brady teammate Tedy Bruschi warned, Bucs players will have to stop themselves from “Brady-watching.”

Bruschi, who won three Super Bowls with the Patriots and played with Brady from 2000 to 2008, spoke about the mindset some of Brady’s old New England teammates tended to fall into if they dropped a pass or gave up a touchdown late in the game.

Per Bruschi (via ESPN):

“They need to get over Brady-watching. Because they get to the sideline and all of a sudden it’s like, ‘It’s OK, Tom will bail us out.’ That’s what I call Brady-watching. I’ll be watching that early on with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, if they’re Brady-watching or if they feel themselves as a team that everything is important, and not just when that guy right there is under center and everything is gonna magically happen.”

Bruce Arians is going to have to manage expectations with this team and remind them they haven’t accomplished anything as a group. What Brady (and Gronk) did in New England has no bearing on how the Bucs will do this season.

Bucs fans are welcome to Brady-watch until they’re blue in the face. But the players? Not so much.

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