FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Quick-hit Ideas and notes around the New England Patriots and also NFL:
1. Coach Bill Belichick might have been tightlipped with reporters at the NFL’s annual owners meetings in Arizona last week, but he was especially vocal supporting the scenes on one matter that he believes would reap the match. He wants more time to work with players in the offseason, which struck a positive chord among his fellow coaches.
“I’m in complete support of the standing,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll told ESPN.com. “There is so much peace and quiet to get those guys. I think there was a time when old players were bargaining for these breaks when they thought less was even better. However, these guys [now ] love the match and would like to participate in it. And we love coaching and helping them.
“The match would only be better if we were in a position to do so, of course, if we were in experience of them more, they would be healthier as well — we can track their wellbeing. That you don’t even have to declare this. Simply provide them with the option”
After the most recent collective bargaining agreement was hit in 2011, offseason programs were reduced by five weeks.
As for the way this issue surfaced in last week’s annual meeting, it was clarified to me that the circumstance of Belichick’s remarks came as coaches, general managers and many others were briefed on the successes of their league as it enters its 100th year old. Belichick then passionately chimed in, and essentially said something like: While it is great to know good stuff, the focus should be on the way that it might be better. One of the ways to accomplish this, ” he said, was giving coaches more time with players.
“There is so many constructive things which come out of this, in terms of development of young players, so helping to really make sure these guys are learning the game and getting them ready to get their luck,” Panthers coach Ron Rivera told ESPN.com. “Keeping players in a organized setting, there are many tools we’ve got when it comes to player development, it makes much feel that the sooner we are able to have them and work with themthe greater it’ll be.”
Given Belichick’s standing as a six-time Super Bowl-winning trainer who enters his own 45th NFL season, his advocacy on the issue was well-received.
“He is one of the soothsayers. He deserves that and has got this,” Carroll said of Belichick. “He’therefore been very busy, and we all appreciate it”
2. Belichick’s leadership among coaches, and his efforts to unify them in various areas (e.g. for example paying extra time to come to a consensus on immediate playoff ), was clearly one of my own most important takeaways from being at the owners meetings. I came away thinking that while Belichick often scoffs at how the NFL does business, and it has zero interest in feeding virtually almost any bunny (e.g. he made minimal effort to be cordial to reporters at the coaches’ break fast ), his passion for football is just really as strong as ever as he moves his 45th season. “definitely. “You are not only paying attention to some Hall of Fame trainer, however you’re paying attention to history and somebody who is able to reference some things we’ve never gone .”
3. The NFL’s rule change allowing offensive and defensive pass interference penalties to be reviewed, in addition to non-calls, might possibly be a step in the perfect way to correct everything happened towards the Saints in the NFC Championship Game. For me, that’s perhaps not really a very clear and obvious foul on replay, plus it makes me wonder if the change will spark more problems than simply solutions.
NFL’s Competition Committee also confessed that the Brandin Cooks play at the conclusion of this year’s Super Bowl might have been ruled pass interference, giving the Rams the ball in 1-yard line, per origin.
4. Together with Greg Schiano’s sudden resignation from a leading role in the Patriots’ defensive coaching staff, Here’s a look at who is left/hired on that side of the ball and also their projected chief responsibility predicated on which they worked most last year:
Schiano was anticipated to engage in a major role, along with his expertise in the secondary potentially matching well with Belichick’s assist the front seven. That leaves a considerable void.
Also, there’s the question which trainer will lead the locker area, which was some thing Tedy Bruschi noted as critical because of the text that has to be made using players.
5. Belichick was in a tough spot with Rob Gronkowski, as he was respecting his distance and giving him enough time he needed/earned ahead to some decision on his own future. At the same period, Gronkowski’s uncertainty needed a trickle-down effect on Belichick’s power to build the team, which Belichick seemed to understand later unsuccessfully attempting to ditch free-agent tight end Jared Cook. Therefore it is sensible that Belichick reached outside to agent Drew Rosenhaus later meeting with Cook, wondering where things stood with Gronkowski. Since Peter King first recorded that led Rosenhaus to let Gronkowski know he needs to inform the team whenever possible. Three days after, Gronkowski phoned owner Robert Kraft to relay his retirement, and then seemed to surprise the team by dividing up the news to everybody a few hours after on Instagram.
6. Something to file away on Gronkowski potentially returning at a point in 2019: If he’s not moved off the reserve/retired set by Week 13, he can not return in any way. That rule is in place, simply, to eradicate the risk that a person can sit all season and then return only for the play offs.
7. Our Thursday meeting was raw and emotional, as it’s clear he’s still coming to grips with something taken away from him who was such a big part of his own life. The first thing Mitchell said was appreciative he was there was still interest in him and his advocacy work, even though he’s no longer playing. On account of the quality of man involved, there was no question relating to this.
8. While preceding Patriots personality coach/team development Jack Easterby was considering an opportunity with Carolina, ” I think the possibility of joining the Texans is also some thing on the radar. I really could see his presence benefiting Bill O’Brien’s Texans in a similar manner if that’s how it finally succeeds.
9a. The Patriots targeted under-the-radar free-agent safety Terrence Brooks early in free agency, inking him for a two-year, $4 million deal, and here is something I heard in the owners meetings: Belichick became especially impressed by Brooks after a Patriots-Jets match, also never forgot about him then. I wouldn’t be astonished if it was a hard fought 24-17 Patriots road win in 2017, if Brooks registered a quarterback hit tombrady in a distinct segment defensive role. In most, Brooks played 84 special teams snaps against the Patriots over the previous two seasons, and then that endeavors because his primary role. However, Belichick might also see potential to add him in certain defensive packages.
9b. Devin McCourty on Brooks:”With a brand new safety within the space, I’m sure will be amazing. We’ve got a good deal of older guys, and possibly becoming Obi [Melifonwu] this past year, some of the quirkiness and things he brought I thought was very refreshing. Therefore I’m excited about this too”
10. With the calendar set to turn to April, keep this on the radar: The NFL preseason schedule must not be too far away from getting announced (it was revealed on April 11 final year). A Patriots-Giants finale was a lock each of their past 14 years, why don’t you make it 15? And perhaps more significantly to Belichick and the Patriots, it’d always be a favorable if there was a option for joint practices with a different club. Teams make orders to the NFL, expecting to pair up with certain coaches/programs by which they have an established relationship, and now it’s only a matter of waiting to see if the orders are given.
