1 – With Tuesday afternoon’s NFL trade deadline on the immediate Halloween horizon, it’s no surprise that there has been plenty of trade talk and speculation in New England of late.
Will the Patriots (2-5) be buyers or sellers?
Well, how about likely neither.
Bill Belichick’s team is coming off its best win of the season and heads to Miami to try to build some momentum and dig out of its early-schedule hole. It’s a longshot to beat the Dolphins and probably even a longer shot to play games in December that have postseason meaning.
But that doesn’t mean Belichick – and by extension owner Robert Kraft – are going to have a sell-off.
Sure New England has a number of interesting expiring contracts – as they might be called in the NBA – in soon-to-be free agents like Kyle Dugger, Josh Uche, Mike Onwenu and others. But shipping any of those guys out of town – for what would likely be a trade return that wouldn’t exactly blow anyone’s cleats off – would be a clear step toward the so-called tanking that has always been seen as a bit of a third rail in New England.
Yes the trade deadline is just about here.
Yes Belichick has always been one of the more active participants in the midseason trade market, back in the day often adding a key piece to the Patriots’ competitive puzzle heading toward a postseason run.
But this is a different time with a different team with different short- and long-term considerations.
Maybe, as ESPN has reported, Uche is indeed a name to keep an eye on as a possible trade. And as a banged up situational pass rusher dealing him away wouldn’t necessarily wave the white flag on the floundering season.
The reality is that the Patriots aren’t really in position to be significant buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. Nothing they could or would likely add would probably do much to turn around an already disappointing season. Nothing they send packing would return the kind of asset that would likely change the franchise’s fortunes moving forward.
Trade deadline talk can be fun, really in all sports. But as we learned from the Chaim Bloom era of the Red Sox, trade deadline talk is often that and that alone…just talk.
2 – One of the more optimistic Patriots trade talk callers to the “Fitzy and Hart” program this week on WEEI proposed the possibility that New England might be able to deal away one or both of its disappointing veteran receivers at the NFL trade deadline. Unfortunately for fans and the team alike, that’s not very likely. First-year free agent addition JuJu Smith-Schuster has been one of the most disappointing players in the NFL this season with just 14 catches for 86 yards and a silly-low 6.1-yard average while also missing time to a concussion. DeVante Parker has just 14 catches for 144 yards. Neither has a touchdown through seven games. Given his production, it’s hard to imagine a team wanting to trade for Smith-Schuster’s guaranteed $7 million salary for 2024, or even next year’s $3.2 million salary guaranteed in Parker’s contract. Neither guy has produced this season. Neither guy is probably worthy of seeing the field over the likes of Kendrick Bourne or sixth-round rookie Demario Douglas. But neither guy is likely going anywhere anytime soon, at least not via trade. That’s just wishful thinking.
3 – If Smith-Schuster is the most disappointing Patriots player this fall, the most positive surprise has to be tight end Pharaoh Brown. Joining the team as a supposed third, blocking tight end after final cuts, Brown has been an impact playmaker when called upon in the passing game. He took full advantage of a schemed-up opportunity against the Jets, hitting on a 58-yard touchdown that was the key to that win. Brown has totaled five catches for 137 yards (27.4 avg.) while also serving as a key blocker. And he’s fun to see running with the football after the catch thanks in part to his 6-5, 246-pound frame as well as the unexpected nature of his contributions behind pass catchers Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki on the depth chart.
4 – A week after its best offensive line performance of the season, New England is seemingly hopeful to field the same five-man unit in Miami. Left tackle Trent Brown remained limited in practice this week with ankle and chest injuries, but left guard Cole Strange was removed from the injury report late in the week. Elsewhere up front, Conor McDermott was elevated from the practice squad in advance of the trip south to take on the Dolphins. McDermott started six games at right tackle late last season and could add tackle depth behind Mike Onwenu and Brown given that Calvin Anderson was ruled Out this week due to an illness while Vederian Lowe is dealing with an ankle issue.
5 – Prior to the season many were talking up the potential talents and contributions expected of Smith-Schuster and Parker. Others, like ESPN, were proposing that Kendrick Bourne be traded away from what the Boston Globe described as a logjam at receiver. Here, though, we made the (not-so) bold prediction that Bourne would win New England’s triple crown at receiver – lead the team in catches, yards and touchdowns – and the veteran is on pace to do just that as the midpoint of the season nears. While Bourne has come on of late with 16 catches over the last two games, he has recorded at least two catches in every game this year. At this point his paces the passing attack with 34 receptions for 370 yards and three touchdowns. There is a long season left to be played, but Bourne seems to have settled into the role as Mac Jones’ No. 1 option. So it’s probably a good thing he didn’t end up as the odd man out as so many seemed to curiously project this summer.
6 – It took the Patriots their fourth try to secure a win in a home game this season, last Sunday’s unlikely comeback victory over the Bills at Gillette Stadium. Miami, on the other hand, has won 15 of its last 17 games at Hard Rock Stadium, its best run at the venue since it opened in 1987. Miami has outscored its opposition 143-57 at home this season, wins over the Broncos, Giants and Panthers that included the 70-point outburst in defeating Denver. New England has a 17-41 record all time in Miami, including a 13-23 mark at Hard Rock with losses in its last three trips to the venue. Tua Tagovailoa also hasn’t lost to Belichick’s Patriots in his career as Miami’s starter, holding a 5-0 mark heading into Sunday’s action.
7 – Prediction Time!: For the second straight week the Patriots are a heavy underdog against a division foe, this time on the road. New England fans are well aware this Halloween week that Miami has historically been a house of horrors for the Patriots. It’s tough for any team to win there. Miami sits atop the AFC East with a 5-2 record, New England in the basement with a 2-5 mark even though a mere touchdown separated these teams in Foxborough in Week 2. The Dolphins are banged up on the offensive line, which could be a blow to their league-best rushing attack and usually pretty solid pass protection. Both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are dealing with health issues, but remain as scary a duo as any team can field with their elite speed. Hill is having a record-breaking season and could top 1,000 yards for the year on Sunday. But he’ll have to do so against a Belichick defense led by Jonathan Jones that’s very much kept him in check over the years. Mike McDaniel is putting up big numbers with his offense and earning plenty of respect around the NFL. The Patriots are feeling much better after last week’s win and maybe the best performance of Mac Jones’ career in New England. It’s safe to say New England needs to take care of the football and play as mistake-free as possible to steal this one on the road. Miami may not be hitting on all cylinders, but it is getting Jalen Ramsey back on defense. Could the Patriots pull the upset? Sure! But the prediction here is that Miami shows it’s the better team with better athletes and a better scheme right now. We’ll go with the 28-17 win for the Dolphins as NFL reality hits the Patriots yet again.
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