Alex Barth and Brian Hines tackle the biggest stories around the Pats as Patriots training camp is set to begin, and trade rumors continue to swirl around receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
0:00 - Starting quarterback update
3:35 - Realistic win expectations
6:31 - Contract discussions overview
9:32 - Judon contract needs
12:29 - Maye vs. Jacoby Brissett
14:48 - Robinson and Caedan
20:43 - Best case scenario
22:14 - Young players' potential
25:06 - Offensive line talent
27:20 - Two tight end offense
29:32 - Coaching staff concerns
32:31 - Breakout player predictions
35:01 - Defensive expectations
37:12 - Utility player role
39:02 - Changes in defense
40:40 - Key player developments
44:33 - Marte Mapu analysis
49:34 - Safety depth issues
****************************************************
Take the guesswork out of buying NBA tickets with Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code CLNS for $20 off your first purchase. Download Gametime today. Last minute tickets. Lowest Price. Guaranteed. Terms apply.
0:00 - Starting quarterback update
3:35 - Realistic win expectations
6:31 - Contract discussions overview
9:32 - Judon contract needs
12:29 - Maye vs. Jacoby Brissett
14:48 - Robinson and Caedan
20:43 - Best case scenario
22:14 - Young players' potential
25:06 - Offensive line talent
27:20 - Two tight end offense
29:32 - Coaching staff concerns
32:31 - Breakout player predictions
35:01 - Defensive expectations
37:12 - Utility player role
39:02 - Changes in defense
40:40 - Key player developments
44:33 - Marte Mapu analysis
49:34 - Safety depth issues
****************************************************
Take the guesswork out of buying NBA tickets with Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code CLNS for $20 off your first purchase. Download Gametime today. Last minute tickets. Lowest Price. Guaranteed. Terms apply.
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SportsTranscript
00:00All right, everybody, welcome back into another live edition of the Patriots beat podcast
00:07here on the CLNS media network presented by our wonderful friends over at game time.
00:12It is Brian Heinz back as always with Alex Barth and the Patriots veterans reported to
00:19training camp tomorrow.
00:20Our first training camp practice is tomorrow on Wednesday, but Barth and I were down at
00:26Gillette Stadium today.
00:27We talked to Gerard Mayo.
00:29We talked to four players.
00:31We got into some of the, uh, some stuff that we'll be expecting during training camp and
00:36what those players are expecting.
00:37But, uh, over the weekend, we also got some news.
00:41We got some roster movement before camp here, which usually happens.
00:44We got some trade reports.
00:45So, uh, we'll start with that.
00:47We'll break some of that down and then we'll tell you what Gerard Mayo said today.
00:50And we were talking Brandon Iuke again because we got a little more details on this Brandon
00:55Iuke trade request.
00:57He did report to training camp today, which we can add.
00:59Uh, so he showed up despite requesting a trade, but, uh, we also heard from Mike Florio over
01:06the weekend from pro football talk that a number of teams tried to trade for Iuke during
01:11the draft.
01:12And one of them was the Patriots.
01:14He said they offered, uh, the 49ers a second round pick, which obviously was rejected and
01:20that they were also, you know, Florio said there were teams that were interested in paying
01:24Iuke that magic number, which was 28 million per year.
01:28So if you figure the Patriots were ready to trade a second round pick, you figure they're
01:31one of those teams that were ready to pay Brandon Iuke, uh, 28 million.
01:36So again, it obviously didn't happen.
01:38He's still in San Fran.
01:39He requested a trade, but he's at a training camp.
01:42The Patriots used the pick, you know, they moved back, they got Jalen Polk.
01:45Uh, so I, I don't know what were your just kind of reactions to that rumor.
01:50I still think we're kind of in the same boat where we're not expecting Brandon Iuke to
01:54get traded at this point.
01:55Uh, it will, it'll probably stick with the Niners, but I'd say it's encouraging that
02:01you hear that the Patriots are willing to give up draft capital.
02:03They're willing to invest resources to kind of get a top of the line wide receiver when
02:08these guys become available.
02:10Yeah.
02:11And that's the point.
02:12The story here isn't that they missed out on Brandon Iuke.
02:14I mean, I'm, I'm sure some people will, will, will make it that way.
02:19Maybe that's part of it.
02:20But to me, the story is like, this is the deal.
02:22This is the deal I've been talking about for a while now, second round pick and you
02:27give them the contract and they're ready to do it.
02:29So whether it is Iuke, whether it is somebody next spring, Terry McLaurin, DK Metcalf, like
02:38they're ready to make this deal.
02:39They are ready to put this offer out there.
02:42That is, is the offer it takes to get, you know, a top flight wide receiver.
02:46So all the discussions about, they won't pay a guy or, you know, they're, they're going
02:50to try to do it in aggregate or whatever.
02:53They've tried with Calvin Ridley, the free agency they've tried via trade with Brandon
02:58Iuke.
02:59Like this is something they're working on and they haven't gotten it done yet.
03:03And that's, you know, there's an old saying, you haven't really caught the fish till it's
03:07in the boat.
03:08So this isn't me giving them credit for doing something they haven't done.
03:13But I think we can put the, to the point being, I think we can put the discussion to bed of
03:18whether or not they're willing to do it.
03:20It does appear they're willing to do it.
03:22Now you just need to get the right scenario where they can get it across the finish line.
03:27As I've said, I think that's more realistic in the, like the spring of 2025 than it is
03:35right now, but it does seem like something that they're working on.
03:39Yep.
03:40Yeah.
03:41That's the big thing that they're willing.
03:43We saw in free agency, they were willing to pay for one of these guys, right?
03:46Like they offered Calvin Ridley a big deal and now you get the point that they might
03:50trade a pick and pay a guy.
03:52So they're willing to try to go out of their way to acquire one of those guys, but now
03:57you have to do it.
03:58You know, you missed out on Calvin Ridley, Brandon and I, you probably, again, doesn't
04:02look like he's going to get traded.
04:04So whether it's T Higgins makes it to free agency or you have to trade a pick and then
04:09sign him or DK Metcalf, we've talked a lot about like, you have to do it.
04:13But the fact that they know they're, they're in the boat where they know they have to get
04:18one of these, you know, difference makers at wide receiver Mayo said today, you know,
04:22he was kind of indirectly asked about IU because he can't comment on a guy who's, you know,
04:28under contract and another team.
04:29But someone asked them like, if a wide receiver requested a trade, would you be interested?
04:34And he said, you know, we're interested in, you know, upgrading our roster, getting the
04:37best players as possible.
04:39So it seems like they know that they still need, you know, even though they, they drafted
04:44poke there in the second round, they drafted Baker in the fourth.
04:46Like they still know they need a number one or an alpha or whatever you want to call it.
04:51And their actions have showed that they're willing to invest the resources, whether it's
04:56money draft capital or both in order to go get that guy.
05:00So I'd say, you know, it's again, you don't want to give them credit because they haven't
05:05done it, but I'd say it's a positive that it seems like they know that's an issue that
05:08they're willing to go out and try to address.
05:10Yeah.
05:11And now, again, I, I'm not going to give him credit for doing it, but it's, they're making
05:18the right moves, which is the right step.
05:21Yep.
05:22Um, I know it's still probably a next off season thing, but another receiver who's kind
05:30of got some drama going around Amari Cooper, they said he might not report to camp.
05:35I didn't see anything today.
05:36If he actually did report to camp, but you know, Cleveland, Alex, Sam Pelt, the connection
05:41there with, would that be something you'd be interested in?
05:44Maybe a different wide receiver option, uh, beyond IUC there.
05:48And again, I don't know if that would happen, you know, at this point of the, of the calendar
05:52of this football season, but, uh, maybe something, if something happens there, what would Amari
05:57Cooper be interested?
05:58Would you be interested?
05:59So I'd be interested in Amari Cooper in theory, I would actually rather do that now than later
06:06and he's not going to be worth as much.
06:07Amari Cooper's 30.
06:08Yeah.
06:09Right.
06:10He turned 30 in June and historically wide receivers drop off steeply at the age of
06:1430.
06:15He, to me would almost be the bridge guy and I got to pull up exactly what his contract
06:19is.
06:20Um, but 20 million, something like something for, I think he's in the last year of his
06:26deal.
06:27Oh, this last year was deal.
06:28So to me, like, if you just want to get a guy for Drake May now, I would go get Amari
06:32Cooper.
06:33You know, I'd trade a fourth for Amari Cooper today.
06:36Right.
06:37And you have him and he's in Van Pelt's offense again and all that.
06:41And then next year you focus on the big fish because Amari Cooper is not the big fish.
06:46Maybe you keep Cooper, maybe you extend him and maybe next year your wide receiver room
06:51is again, I'll use this one name cause I keep using it.
06:54DK Metcalf, Amari Cooper, Jalen Polk, Jayvon Baker, Pop Douglas, which pretty good, right?
07:02Pretty freaking good.
07:03I mean, I like the idea of Cooper again.
07:06I think he costs less.
07:07I think that is a move you can make an hour during camp.
07:10He's not the answer.
07:13He's not the be all end all though.
07:14And if I wouldn't try a second round pick for him, you know, next year he's 31.
07:19He's going to need new contract.
07:21Like I, I don't think he's a substitute for Brandon or DK Metcalf or T Higgins or somebody
07:27like that.
07:29There'd still be value in getting him though.
07:30It's just different.
07:31Yep.
07:33It's more of like a bandaid option where I use someone who will be here.
07:37He's a bunch of guys.
07:38Yeah.
07:39So, uh, and you know, as Coop says here in the comments, why not see what poke and Baker
07:44can do this year?
07:45That's where it kind of, I've been at for a while.
07:47Like you might as well just see what the kids can, can give you.
07:50I was like the one where I was like, okay, if you can get Brandon, I uke, you know, he's
07:5526.
07:56He's proven to be a top 10 top 12 wide receiver in the league.
07:59Like that's a different story.
08:00But I think where we're kind of at, uh, now in the calendar, it's like, okay, let's see
08:05what these, these young guys can do.
08:08And then, you know, we address this issue, big picture, uh, next off season.
08:13And, uh, someone said like, who are the top projected wide receivers next year?
08:17Uh, Travis Hunter, I think is going to play corner in the NFL, but, um, it's Luther burden
08:23from Missouri and tech McMillan from Arizona are like the two big prizes at the top there.
08:30Um, I don't, anyone like a Mecca, Uboka could be a first round pick from Ohio state, but
08:35he's more of like that slot role.
08:37So that, like, that's another thing.
08:39If poker Baker, if one of those two guys have a good year, like that could adjust the type
08:44of receiver you need next year.
08:46So, excuse me, but, uh, that could kind of change, but, uh, anything else on a uke there?
08:54Uh, just again, big picture, like good that they're willing to put these resources in,
08:59but now you just have to do it.
09:00So, uh, we'll see what happens there, but, uh, we can transition back to.
09:07Training camp.
09:08Uh, we did get some roster movements over the weekend and, uh, the Patriots placed Terrell
09:14Jennings, a UDFA running back on the PUP list, and they also, well, they placed a linebacker
09:21John Trey Hunter on the PUP list, and then they eventually cut him.
09:25Uh, so they have an open roster spot.
09:28Maybe another running back comes in here now, cause they were already, we were already
09:31talking that they were kind of slim there and then, you know, they put Terrell Jennings
09:35on the PUP list and, uh, we'll see if anyone else lands on that before tomorrow they were
09:41doing conditioning today.
09:42So, uh, you know, Kendrick Bourne, I know Mayo said he was progressing well, but, uh,
09:47Cole strange, maybe someone else lands on the PUP list, but, uh, any thoughts on those
09:53moves or what they could do with this open roster spot here as they enter camp?
09:58Yeah.
09:59I mean, they worked out a couple of players yesterday, Demetri felt and stands out to
10:02me.
10:03Uh, if you've been watching the show for a while, you know, I was a fan of his back during
10:06the 2021 draft converted wide receiver.
10:09So he's that, you know, true pass catching back.
10:11If they want somebody in that role played for Alex van Pelt in Cleveland for a couple
10:16years also has special teams experience.
10:19Getting to that running back room, especially with, um, uh, the kid from, from Florida A&M,
10:26um, going on PUP, who's the running back, the one on PUP Terrell Jennings, Terrell Jennings.
10:31Thank you.
10:32Terrell Jennings going on PUP, just adding, uh, that's a position where I think it makes
10:35sense to add some more competition.
10:37I also do wonder though, with that roster spot opening up, we've seen them in the past
10:41go through the first week or two of camp at 89 players.
10:43See what they need, see what happens.
10:47Maybe there's some veterans that are waiting to sign that once the pads come on, no, they
10:50need to get into camp, Stavon Gilmore and, and you have that spot open for them.
10:55So yeah, I, I wouldn't be surprised if they don't feel it right away, but you know, looking
11:00at the guys that worked out yesterday, Felton would make a ton of sense to me.
11:04Yep.
11:05Felton.
11:06They also brought in, uh, Gary Brightwell, who was a running back, uh, played at Arizona
11:11and then two guards and a defensive tackle.
11:14So yeah, Felton would make a ton of sense for the reasons you kind of laid out there.
11:19So yeah, like they're down, we were already talking about running back and now they're
11:23down another one.
11:24So, uh, maybe something happens there, maybe kicker or something along those lines.
11:29But, uh, Terrell Jennings on PUP, John Trae Hunter, uh, was on PUP and then let go.
11:35So open roster spot, we'll see, we'll probably log off here.
11:38Then 10 minutes later, we'll get a couple more guys on the UP list.
11:42That's how it usually tends to go, but, uh, some healthy guys, uh, Javon Baker is back.
11:48He was dealing with a thumb injury throughout the spring.
11:52You know, he was limited.
11:53He was on the bottom practice fields, uh, most of the spring.
11:56We didn't see much of him.
11:57So, uh, he is back with this thumb injury.
12:00They posted a picture of him catching a ball.
12:02So it looks like he's going to be good to go.
12:03Mayo said he was cleared and then a six round pick Marcellus dial.
12:08I don't think, do we ever find out what was wrong with him?
12:11I don't think we know, but, uh, Mayo said he was cleared as well.
12:16So they'll get dial back in the secondary.
12:19He was limited throughout the spring, uh, in Baker back, uh, as well.
12:23Baker probably, uh, the bigger story I'd say at the, at that wide receiver position,
12:27but, uh, just good to see those two guys back and cleared here as they start, uh,
12:32about to start their first training camp.
12:34Yeah.
12:35And that's, that's a good sign, especially for Baker.
12:37He's, you know, you want him to get in the rhythm of things.
12:39You want him to get going and him being involved is good.
12:42Like we've seen what missing a rookie training camp can do to a wide receiver.
12:46So good news that he's back, that he's cleared it, knowing it was a thumb
12:50injury, it makes a lot more sense.
12:51You, you saw him in the spring where he would like run routes with the
12:54receivers and they just wouldn't throw him the ball.
12:56So that makes a lot more sense of good on him.
12:59He very easily could have said, you know what?
13:00I'm just, I'm hurt practice today, but he got out there.
13:04He got the mental reps in that's important.
13:06Um, and then with dial, you know, steep, steep competition.
13:09It's the cornerback room.
13:10So you, you, you miss camp.
13:11You're not going to make the team at that position.
13:13Definitely not.
13:14So he had to get back out there and it sounds like he'll be back out there.
13:17Yep.
13:18So I think that was all the news, right?
13:22I didn't miss anything there.
13:24I uke, I think that was pretty much it.
13:26Yeah.
13:27UP guys, the cut and then, uh, yeah, Baker and dial are cleared.
13:31All right.
13:32So that is up to date news there before the first practice
13:36of training camp tomorrow.
13:37We will take a very quick break here.
13:39We'll hear from our friends over at game time, and then we will, uh, get
13:43back in, talk about a little bit of what Gerard Mayo had to say
13:47down at Gillette stadium today.
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15:18Might have to update that because the Red Sox are no longer hot, but,
15:21uh, um, draw Mayo spoke, uh, this morning down at Gillette, um, hit
15:27on a few big things, quarterback position, offensive line.
15:31Uh, the first thing he had to say though, was everyone was present.
15:35There won't be any training camp holdouts.
15:38Uh, and then the obvious two we all looked at was, you know,
15:41Matthew Jude on Devon Godchild.
15:42We know those guys are interested in new car, uh, contracts and
15:46Mayo kind of made it sound like he's interested, uh, in giving those to them.
15:51He called them like, you know, impactful, special players, uh, on the defense.
15:56He said they still have a great relationship with them.
15:58He wants them to be here.
16:00Elliot Wolf wants them to be here.
16:02Uh, but they still don't have a contract adjustment.
16:06So are you expecting anything before 11, 11 AM tomorrow when we take the
16:13field for the first training camp, or is this going to kind of linger
16:18into camp and have you kind of changed your opinion on anything since,
16:23uh, we were on here last Wednesday about paying either of these guys
16:26or giving them new money on their deals.
16:29I still think Jude on, it's a guy you try to bring back.
16:31I mean, the windows closed to maximize his trade value.
16:33So whether that's, you know, I, I give him, I definitely give him
16:37the money to play this year.
16:39If I got to tackle one more year on.
16:40So be it.
16:41Um, God, Sean, I'm a little less enthusiastic about paying.
16:45He has some money on his deal.
16:47He's older.
16:48It seems like his role could get phased out of the defense.
16:52I'm not expecting much before 11 tomorrow.
16:54Cause you got to remember these guys just got back in the building and I'm
16:57sure they'll talk some about it today, but I, the, the window I use is like,
17:01are, are you on the field for the first day of pads?
17:03Are you going?
17:03Cause I think we're going to see both guys limited tomorrow and
17:06limited for the first few days.
17:07And you know what they can be?
17:09They've been in this league a long time.
17:11They, they know what they're doing.
17:13The next couple of days are essentially the football
17:15equivalent of icebreakers.
17:16So if they, if, you know, Matthew, Jude on, it's not on the field tomorrow,
17:20whatever can, can they get something done by the first day of pads?
17:23If not, that's when you kind of start to take a longer look at it and say, all
17:27right, is there something we need to know, worry about here?
17:29Should they be talking trade things like that?
17:32Yep.
17:32And Mayo said like the expectation is they'll practice if they're here, but.
17:37That probably is like more when the pads come on, right?
17:40Like they can make it kind of easy.
17:42So that's a good kind of deadline.
17:45They are, when you think that'll be Monday, they practice Wednesday,
17:48Thursday, Friday, they're off Saturday.
17:50And then they practice Sunday, Monday, Tuesday.
17:52So like Monday, Tuesday, Monday or Tuesday.
17:56Yeah.
17:57They're never really clear the exact rules.
17:59And cause I think it's like, you have to be five days in with an off day,
18:04but does today count as a day?
18:07And are they going to do it as soon as possible?
18:09Cause I think if you wait until the second day you're eligible, you get
18:12like an added padded practice or something, the rules are a mess, but
18:17early next week, I would say.
18:19Yep.
18:20Can they go, they can go pads two days in a row.
18:22Right.
18:23You can go two in a row.
18:25They rarely do, but no, they'll go two in a row.
18:28I think it's, you can't do more than three and four.
18:32So you couldn't go, you couldn't go four or five.
18:36I think you can go three in a row, but it has to be an off day the next day.
18:40It can't be no pad again.
18:42There it's, I mean, we're, we're, we're, I, this is for all the nonsense
18:49bureaucratic red tape that exists in the NFL rule book.
18:52And it, you know, about the salary cap being a pain in the ass and all that.
18:56There is nothing that is quite cracking the Rosetta stone.
19:01Like trying to figure out the rules for padded practices.
19:04It's insanely complex.
19:06I couldn't tell you why, but it is so.
19:11Yeah.
19:11I mean, maybe they go like Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday, no pads
19:17Monday, Tuesday pads, and then they're off Wednesday.
19:19So maybe that's how it works, but early next week they'll be in pads,
19:23at least one of those days.
19:24So that, that'll be a good kind of deadline to watch those Jude on.
19:28Uh, in God Shaw situation, see how those continue to unfold now that they're back
19:33in the building, see if they make any progress.
19:34I will say we've, I think Mike Reese had like, they've been talking to Jude on.
19:39So there's been some communication there.
19:40We haven't really heard much at all from if they've been talking to God Shaw.
19:44So, uh, it seems like my light just went out there.
19:48I don't know what happened there, but, uh, it seems like they're kind of on the
19:50same page, like Jude on seems to be the preference, right?
19:53Like you want that guy on your defense.
19:56So then maybe we'll see what happens with God shop.
19:57But, um, other things Mayo had to talk about QB one.
20:03Uh, he said, Jacoby percent is the most pro ready guy.
20:07He comes out of the spring where, uh, he was the top quarterback in the spring.
20:11Uh, he is going to open the summer as the top quarterback, but, uh, he did not rule
20:16out Drake may kind of taking advantage or earning the starting job.
20:21He said, he'll have the opportunity if he kind of comes out, uh, and, and lights it
20:25up, right?
20:26Like, and he could earn that job.
20:28And, uh, he kind of said, and whether how much you want to put into this, whether
20:33it's just, you know, speaking words, he said he was asked like, well, outside
20:37factors impact Drake maze timeline.
20:39We've talked so much about, well, you sit them down for the first month while they
20:43still figure out this offensive line.
20:45He said, Mayo said it was just kind of, he's got to outperform Jacoby.
20:49That's all he's really worried about.
20:50So, uh, are you buying that?
20:52And are you okay with this plan that they're still rolling with Jacoby
20:56entering the summer as the starter?
20:57And we're, you know, kind of taking it slow with Drake may, but if he kind of
21:02tears it up on the practice field, he can, he can still earn that spot.
21:06Yeah.
21:06Yeah.
21:07I mean, he is, I don't disagree with anything.
21:09Gerard Mayo said today, like he looked like the starter in the spring.
21:13They were operating in the spring.
21:14Like he was the starter and he should, who else would come into
21:17camp, I guess, as the starter.
21:18You're not going to have Drake may come into camp now.
21:20Can he win it in camp?
21:21Yeah.
21:23Um, and I may be more convinced now than I was before that there
21:26is a chance he can start week one.
21:28I still don't think it's going to happen, but I think there's a chance.
21:30Um, cause Mayo was really hammering home that was lost in that.
21:33I think people get excited about the headline of Gerard Mayo saying Drake
21:36may can start with one, well, it may, it was also like he has to really
21:40blow it out of the water, right?
21:41He has to really, really impress us.
21:43So I, I still think it's going to be to go over set week one, but it sounds
21:49like they're leaving the door open.
21:50Like, I don't think that was coach speak.
21:51I think that was said with conviction.
21:53So we'll see it's on Drake mays plate now to be able to go
21:57out there and take the job.
22:00Yeah.
22:01I still think he has a chance.
22:02I still think he has a chance.
22:03I just think he's that talented, but, uh, you know, we've talked
22:06a lot, like Jacoby deserves some respect too.
22:09He's not going to like roll over and just give this thing to him.
22:12But, uh, I think may can make a really, you know, good surge when he
22:16said, when Mayo said, like, if he lights it up, I just thought like of
22:19that Mack Jones practice first, the giants were like, where he just
22:23took that job from cam new and like, it's up to Drake may, if he has one
22:27or two of those practices late in the late in the summer after, you know,
22:31he has a consistent performance throughout, like he could take that.
22:34But, uh, is he going to be able to, is he going to get the blocking
22:37needed to have that kind of performance?
22:39Yeah.
22:39That's what I was going to say.
22:41Do you think it's coach speak that like the outside factors
22:45have nothing to do with this?
22:46Like it's just Jacoby verse Drake, or do you think like they, they know
22:52like if the offensive line is a real mess, we can't put Drake may back
22:55there, even if he maybe does or earn the starting job, I mean, I think
22:59if he proves that it can be a non-issue, but that's again, going above and
23:03like, if he goes out from the preseason, he's throwing dots constantly
23:06pressured, then yeah, you put him out there, but that's a massive, massive,
23:10massive ask, and I don't think it's fair to count on him to do that.
23:14Yep.
23:15Yeah.
23:15And that could be tough to show in the practice fields when you're not
23:19getting, you know, you're not getting touched, like, and that's another
23:22thing with, with may, like his legs are such a game changer.
23:25Like he was a great scrambling quarterback.
23:27He had one of the higher efficiencies as a college scrambler.
23:32So that, that could be a big factor that we don't really get to see
23:35on the practice fields, but on the preseason games, uh, more so.
23:39So, uh, that's the quarterback position.
23:42The other kind of only position he talked about Mayo.
23:45That is, is the offensive line.
23:48Um, he kept reiterating like the best five.
23:51We're going to play the best five.
23:52We're going to play the best five.
23:54Didn't pigeonhole Mike and when new into a tackle or guard seems like
23:59they're just trying to find that best five as they were in the spring, when
24:03they started with big Mike at a right tackle, a little bit of breaking, uh,
24:08breaking news here related to something we were talking about earlier is a guy.
24:13No, according to Jordan Schultz, the Browns and star wide receiver,
24:16Mari Cooper have agreed to a restructured one-year contract guaranteeing
24:20his 20 million and adding an additional 5 million per sources Cooper
24:25entered and gives the stats.
24:26Yeah.
24:27Uh, that guy's not getting traded.
24:28Yeah, not, not, not this year.
24:30He is, he will be a Cleveland Brown in 2024.
24:33Yeah.
24:33So we can, we can throw that one out.
24:36All right.
24:37But Hey, maybe it's free agency next year and you can get them for a year, but
24:41maybe, uh, yeah, that's still, that's still a bandaid option if he's 31 years
24:45old, but all right, scratch the Mari Cooper thought from, from existence, but,
24:49uh, offensive line, uh, wasn't, you know, pigeonholing again on when new into
24:57guard or tackle, we saw him in the, the sprain open at tackle and then ended,
25:03uh, the sprain kicked inside the guard.
25:06Uh, he was also asked about trucks of core for, and he said, you know, based
25:09off his, uh, experience, he's most likely going to start at left tackle,
25:15which is what we kind of expected.
25:16So, uh, Oh, line is, is such a big question.
25:20We've talked about it so, so much over the past few months.
25:25Uh, what, what'd you think of his comments?
25:28And I don't know, do you think they should have a plan for big Mike?
25:32Or do you like that?
25:32They're like, okay, let's just kind of see if maybe Caden Wallace takes like
25:38earns a right tackle spot and then big Mike can play right guard or Nick
25:41Leverett or one of those, you know, Leighton Robinson, one of those
25:43guards forces, but big Mike outside.
25:46Would you rather have a concrete plan or do you like that?
25:49They're kind of keeping this open and maybe let it in the best five, uh,
25:52come to them and work their way out.
25:55Um, I, I, you know, it seems like the, the doors open for Michael
25:59and when we play guard, kind of like you said, they're the best five,
26:02whatever that is, whatever that's going to be, um, we'll find out in camp.
26:07Now the struggle with that is that's going to continue into the regular season.
26:15Right.
26:15I've talked about this.
26:16Like you can't necessarily get that done in camp.
26:19So the offensive line is going to be a work in progress in the regular season.
26:23As I've been saying, and at that point, we will see if, if they can
26:28keep the quarterback protected, but there's that, that group's going to be a
26:33major, there's going to be a lot of moving pieces there all summer, because
26:36you move Michael and when I went inside now, who's your starting right?
26:39Tackle.
26:40Um, he's outside.
26:41He still don't know about guard backups are going to be important.
26:43Wherever Michael and when it is, he needs to have a good backup because
26:47you're probably going to have him flip at something like he, there's a real
26:49change, he's going to flip at some point and go back to the other spot.
26:51Who's the backup left tackle.
26:53They're really locked in on Chooks core for, but I've given my thoughts on that
26:58plan and if he doesn't work out, what's plan B right.
27:02Is it Cain Wallace?
27:03But if Michael and when who's playing guard Cain Wallace has to be your
27:05starting right tackle, probably.
27:07So now you're talking about Calvin Anderson, but Darian low, or if not,
27:10in Cain Wallace is, is there, what happens when Mike owned, when
27:13who has to kick back inside?
27:15Like, are you keeping Cain Wallace at left tackle and
27:18going to the next right tackle?
27:19Are you moving Wallace out there?
27:21There's very little depth.
27:23As much as we talk about the starters being an issue, there's very little depth.
27:26So it's going to be a work in progress.
27:29I think throughout the summer and I really think into the fall and it sounds
27:33like they kind of are aware of that.
27:35Yep.
27:36I still think they'd be at their best with big Mike at right guard and then
27:42Caden Wallace at right tackle.
27:44Cause I mean, you get both of those guys more at their natural position.
27:48Like I would be higher on Caden Wallace if he just plays right tackle.
27:53Cause that's where he spent the last four years at, uh, at Penn state.
27:56Right.
27:56And he was a third round pick.
27:57So you, uh, so you can say maybe you can expect that guy to play, uh, right
28:01up the gate more at his natural position.
28:03So I think that would be the best, you know, the whole right
28:06side is natural position.
28:07City.
28:07So at left guard is kind of his natural position.
28:11You know, he played there at college, but he played right.
28:13Uh, last year's rookie year, but then, you know, chooks, a core four is
28:16the big question at left tackle.
28:18That's a switch and it's a guy who's kind of been a, you know, borderline
28:22like starting right tackle, uh, throughout his career.
28:26And then as you said, the depth, like it's Calvin Anderson, the left tackle,
28:30what's going to happen with all these guards, right?
28:32Like Leighton Robinson, Nick LaBrette, like still have Antonio Maffi, Jake
28:35Andrews, so, uh, there's just tons of questions on the offensive line.
28:40And, uh, we'll, we'll get like the second half of these preseason games
28:44are going to be like, very important for a ton of these guys.
28:48Like last year against the Titans, that preseason game, like they
28:51couldn't move the ball because the offensive line was just a mess.
28:54So we're going to get some important snaps for a lot of these guys
28:58because they have a lot of bodies, but, uh, can some of these guys
29:01kind of separate themselves in those preseason games, that's going
29:03to be, uh, important for them.
29:06Because again, like go back to whatever the Pat, whatever the hell
29:09the pad rules are like, they're not in pads often, uh, in camp, like
29:14contact is, is pretty limited.
29:16So, uh, those preseason games will be big for those guys, but yeah,
29:20tons of questions on the starting five, the backup five, like it's
29:25plenty, plenty to work out over the next, next few weeks there
29:29along the offensive line.
29:31Right.
29:32Yep.
29:33Uh, anything else from Mayo?
29:35Those were kind of the big things, quarterback, offensive line.
29:39Uh, everyone's present Jude on God shot included.
29:43Um, one other interesting kind of note I thought was, uh, and we've
29:49talked about there, I don't know if we talked about this on the show.
29:51I've wrote about it a few times, but, uh, they're starting
29:54practices later this year.
29:56Bill would start them at nine 30, uh, currently scheduled practices
30:00are at 11 AM and Mayo was asked about that today and he said, they're
30:05kind of, they used to have meetings at the end of the day and instead
30:08they're going to take those meetings and put them at the beginning of
30:11the day so you can kind of get in, you can correct your mistakes from
30:15the previous day, you have everything kind of fresh in mind, and then
30:17you can just hit the practice field.
30:19Uh, right after that, which I think that kind of makes more sense.
30:23I don't know, just fresh in mind, your performance and
30:25everything as, as you take the field.
30:27So, uh, instead of, you know, seeing it late in the day and then
30:30going home and maybe losing that.
30:32So I think that kind of makes some sense.
30:34John Bentley too said like you play games later in the afternoon.
30:37So they have to deal with the heat now and everything.
30:40Uh, little change there, but, uh, anything else from Mayo or, uh, we
30:46talked to David Andrews, Jacoby Brissett, Jonathan Jones, and who else?
30:52Who am I missing?
30:54Jacoby Brissett, uh, John Bentley.
30:56Yeah.
30:56So, uh, anything else from any of those guys that stood
31:00out to you or, or anything?
31:02The practice timing thing's interesting.
31:04Just.
31:05You know, later in the day, there's a conditioning element to that too.
31:08Mayo said they'd stagger the practice times.
31:10I think we're going to see, you kind of knew, I don't want to say every
31:14Patriots practice was the same under Belichick, but like, I don't know.
31:19Maybe it was me having done this long enough.
31:20Like there were three or four kinds of practices and you sort of knew within
31:24the first half hour, what you were going to get, it definitely feels like
31:28things might be more varied this year.
31:29I don't know if that's good or bad.
31:31It just, that kind of was the vibe I got today is that there's going to be
31:35more variants from practice to practice, which we also sort of saw in the spring.
31:39I'll be in a very limited sample size from the players.
31:42Not much.
31:43It's crazy that Jonathan Jones is the longest tenure
31:45defensive player on the scene.
31:47I just, I feel as if I didn't feel old enough.
31:51Did you see yesterday?
31:52The jets announced their throwbacks, which are the uniforms they wore.
31:55It was like the Mark Sanchez jerseys.
31:57And right.
31:58So I guess they're actually the sixties ones, which those were revival of,
32:01cause they have the great face mask, not the green, but like it's still, and
32:05those jets, those are the best jets uniforms with the shoulder stripes,
32:08a little patch, white helmet football on the side, but, um, John Jones being
32:13the oldest defensive player on this year, not oldest, but longest tenure
32:15defense player, and it seems crazy and still doing it and he's going to be a
32:19good player he got asked today where he's going to play, cause that's
32:21obviously been a big question.
32:22He said forever.
32:24So we're still have to wait at least another day on that answer.
32:26But, um, no, you know, I, I thought it was interesting.
32:30Tom Curran was on NBC sports, Boston last night, and he said something along
32:37the lines of like the, and this quote stood out, obviously, cause it sounds
32:41like something our friend Mike Catholic would say the Patriots need a bunch of
32:44SpongeBob's, they need a bunch of guys that are just super eager to go and
32:47ready to work and smile on their face.
32:49Even if it's not going to be easy, whatever, like, you know, you talk to
32:53the leadership of the team today.
32:55So obviously it comes with a grain of salt, but you know, a guy like David
32:59who is not going to be here in the Patriots or the next contention.
33:02We know Jonathan Jones was in his thirties and is in a contract year.
33:05Jacoby Berset, whose replacement is in the building.
33:08Yeah.
33:08Um, these guys all seem to get where they're at and what this year
33:12is about, and that's not a given.
33:14Now it's really easy to say that on July 23rd, let's see what happens when
33:18getting into the season and they lose some games and where they're at there.
33:21But this continues to be a case of, and I said this about the coaching
33:25um, when they were hired and we talked to them for the first time, they get it.
33:30I think there's an understanding in the building of where this team is at.
33:33Now you got to act the right way.
33:37On top of that, you can't just get it and head in the right direction.
33:40You have to act accordingly, but I do think there is, I do think the people
33:46at the top, whether that be the coaches, whether that be the leadership of the
33:49players guy, I mean, the four guys we talked to today, I would assume we're
33:53all going to be captains, right?
33:54David Andrews has been a captain for a long time.
33:57John Bentley has been a captain for a long time.
33:59I has John Jones been a captain.
34:01He should be, should have been.
34:02Not only he hasn't been, I don't think it's a Julian Edelman scenario where
34:06like he should be, but he doesn't want to be, um, that was always the theory
34:10anyway with Edelman, um, and percent, you know, starting quarterback will
34:13be a captain you would think.
34:14So, um, yeah, these guys, these guys all seem like they get it.
34:20And you hope that trickles down and you hope the attitude's right.
34:22But they, they seem to be on the right, on the right page.
34:26Yep.
34:27And Mayo was even asked like what a successful season looks like today.
34:31And right.
34:32Good point.
34:33He kind of said, uh, I have the quote right here.
34:35He says, in my eyes, it's really about the foundation.
34:38Have we put together a good foundation of a combination of young and
34:41older players to really start competing?
34:43It would be great to get up here and say, we're going to win a super bowl.
34:46But once again, it's about the process.
34:48I tell you guys all the time, it's about process and
34:50progress, uh, and moving forward.
34:52So yeah, they, as you said, they all seem to kind of know where
34:56they're, where they're at right now.
34:58Like they're not the chiefs.
34:59They're not the dynasty Patriots.
35:01So like, they're not the super bowl favorites going into the year.
35:03Like this is kind of year one of this retool, rebuild, whatever
35:07you want to call it, like lay that foundation.
35:10You have some intriguing young pieces, uh, some good veterans,
35:14like they could still win some games, but, uh, just lay that foundation.
35:18Uh, what's the saying on their wall process progress, something, something.
35:24I don't know, but lay that, lay that foundation.
35:27Like this, this is like, this is what you're going to build off of, uh, moving
35:31forward and they all seem to kind of know that, which, uh, seems like
35:34they're in a good spot, but again, it's July 23rd, uh, we haven't
35:37even had a training camp practice.
35:39Uh, we'll, we'll see if that can kind of continue, even if things start to
35:42go South, uh, during the year and whatnot.
35:46Uh, any last thoughts, any, anything indeed, or we can get on
35:51to training camp day one tomorrow.
35:53Yeah.
35:54We're we're on a camp.
35:55That's where we are on to camp.
35:57If you missed any of our training camp previews, we have a defensive
36:02preview and an offensive preview, two separate episodes on the YouTube.
36:07Uh, page.
36:07So go check those out in preparation for tomorrow.
36:10We will be back, uh, tomorrow at, at some point after practice to break down day
36:16one, you can, uh, make sure you subscribe to the channel, turn on a notification.
36:21So you do know when we are going to go live.
36:23You can also follow Alex on Twitter at real Alex bar for live training camp
36:27updates and head over to 98, five, the sports hub.com to read all his Patriots
36:32written coverage from today and training camp moving forward.
36:36And same for me at I am Brian Heinz on Twitter and Pat's pulpit.com for all
36:41our written Patriots coverage over there as well.
36:44So thank you all for tuning in with us today.
36:46And we will see you tomorrow at day one of Patriots training camp.
36:50We made it.
36:51We'll see you guys there.
36:52Right.