Gronk hurt. Gronk sad.
NEPD Staff Writer: Tony Santorsa
The 2013 season for Rob Gronkowski continues to get worrisome by the week.
With reports indicating that Gronk will be requiring a fourth surgery on his forearm in the upcoming week, Mike Garafolo of USA Today is reporting that New England’s All Pro tight end might be dealing with a back problem.
Zoltan Mesko’s roster spot is far from guaranteed in 2013. (Photo: US Presswire)
NEPD Editor: Matthew Jones
New England received strong contributors across the board in 2012, but nonetheless the organization appears interested in the possibility of replacing some players with high 2012 snap counts; read on to find out who may be looking for work elsewhere in 2013.
Why did Shane Vereen get passed on the depth chart by Brandon Bolden? (Photo: US Presswire)
NEPD Staff Writer: Oliver Thomas
Alabama head football coach Nick Saban once said, “Everything that Bill Belichick does has some purpose.”
That was precisely the case when the New England Patriots selected California running back Shane Vereen at pick 56, then Louisiana State running back Stevan Ridley at pick 73 of the 2011 NFL draft.
Two years later, we now know that double-dipping at halfback was not a redundant move for New England. Both men have served a purpose. Yet thus far, one has gotten more opportunities than the other. That man has been Ridley.
NEPD Staff Writer: Oliver Thomas
The New England Patriots have agreed to terms with offensive guard Tyronne Green, as his agency –Schwartz & Feinsod – reported via Twitter on Monday. He visited Foxboro on Friday.
While the move may be written off by some as a way to fill the 90-man camp roster, it’s not quite that simple. Green’s resume alone suggests he is more than just another “camp body.”
The New England Patriots’ 2013 draft strategy was clearly influenced by Bill Belichick’s relationship with Greg Schiano. (Photo: USA Today Sports Images)
NEPD Contributor: Dan Hope
For much of the first decade of the 21st century, the New England Patriots and coach Bill Belichick were a team considered to be ahead of the curve when it came to the NFL draft.
From consistently finding diamonds in the rough who became team building blocks, to mastering the art of trading up and down the draft board for better value, the Patriots laid the foundation for three NFL championships and five Super Bowl appearances in an 11-year span.
But as the rest of the league has caught up, with teams such as the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks making brilliant offseason moves translate into on-field success, the Patriots are at risk of falling behind.
As a result of Belichick’s success at the beginning of the century, winning three Super Bowls in the first five years of the millennium, he has typically received benefit of the doubt. Belichick’s decisions are ultimately expected to be for the better — understandably given his accolades — even if they are unexpected or unconventional.
That said, it’s time to start looking past the benefit of the doubt, with the Patriots now eight years removed from their last Super Bowl title. Specifically, the decision to use three of seven draft picks on Rutgers players, coinciding with an apparently burgeoning friendship between Belichick and Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano, should raise a red flag.
Josh Boyce was a critical component of Texas Christian’s 2011 upset of Boise St. (Photo: US Presswire)
NEPD Editor: Matthew Jones
The new England Patriots spent their fourth-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, #102 overall, on Texas Christian wide receiver Josh Boyce. After the jump, take a look at some film cutups of Boyce in action against Boise St. during 2011, his sophomore season.
It will be interesting to see how New England plans to employ Armond Armstead in 2013. (Photo: US Presswire)
NEPD Editor: Matthew Jones
On Sunday morning, we took a look at New England’s potential 2014 NFL Draft needs on the offensive side of the ball, which you can read here; today, we’ll consider some of their possible areas of weakness on the defensive side of the ball, taking into account as diverse a range of possibilities as possible, including potential free agent losses, 2014 salary cap hits/savings, and player performance.
Report: Rob Gronkowski May Need Back Surgery
Major 2012 Contributors on the Roster Bubble in 2013
Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley: The Symbiotic Patriots Backfield
Patriots Sign Veteran Guard Tyronne Green
Bill Belichick’s Affinity for Greg Schiano, Rutgers Should Be Questioned
Film Room: Josh Boyce vs. Boise St. (2011)
Previewing New England’s 2014 NFL Draft Needs: Defense
Report: Felix Jones Visiting with the Patriots
