Another day that resembled many, yet felt like no other. Stop me if you've heard that before in 2020.
Monday, Aug. 17 was the first day of padded practices in Foxboro for the 2020 Patriots (one of ten allowed this preseason if you're keeping track at home). But unlike years past when fans blaze in like free money is being given away behind the stadium, just for a first glimpse at veterans, rookies, free agents and coaches in action, today it was just the football people in attendance. Plus a handful of reporters. And none of us. As insignificant as it may seem to some, not getting a chance to sit in the stands, take in some practice, scream a player's name, buy a $5 bottle of water and then wrestle past a bunch of kids for the autograph of a grown man felt...well, it didn't feel right.
The storming of the Gillette gates! The screaming of Brady's name! The insane hype and hope that consumes those in attendance when they see someone in a nameless jersey make a play against a teammate in practice! None of it on Monday. And while we can't get you in, nor bring Brady back (hurts as much to type it as to read it), we can try and synthesize the hype that comes with seeing players in pads, engaging in their first lightly contested football activities. Who doesn't love overreacting to the first thing that resembles actual football that they've seen in months. And after a months-long lockdown/quarantine? These takes are coming in HOT with unwarranted excitement! From what we know, what we've read and what we saw today via some beat reporter social media, we're fully prepared to make some outlandish predictions for the upcoming season, as well as hand out some camp superlatives. All of this comes with a 100 percent guarantee of maybe being right and absolutely being celebrated when we're right, and being disavowed when incorrect or a player is cut or traded. Not like there are any preseason games to see if we're on or off. So LFG!
PLAYER MOST LIKELY TO THRILL FANS, STEAL HEADLINES AND SELL JERSEYS: Cam Newton
You mean to tell me Bill Belichick letting Cam swag out like that in NE ? ---- https://t.co/sLZLTKlMJh
— Tre'Davious White (@TakeAwayTre_)
August 17, 2020 Opponents and home fans alike are already noticing he's having fun, and Belichick is cool with it (so far). Cue the sports radio controversy machine! It's hard not to notice Cam Newton, given that he's a "specimen". And while it's no easy task to replace the GOAT, not to mention win a starting job in an unfamiliar environment while recovering from multiple injuries, it seems QB 1 is up for the challenge. Or at least wants to have fun trying. Which leads us to...
PLAYER MOST LIKELY TO PISS OFF PATS FANS AND OTHER FANS ALIKE: Cam Newton
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A post shared by WEEI (@weeisports) on Aug 17, 2020 at 12:51pm PDT
It takes a certain kind of confidence to be a quarterback in the NFL. And it takes even more confidence to be the QB replacing the best one to ever play for your franchise, not to mention the league. But it seems confidence, swag and ability are not in short supply for Newton, which is guaranteed to rub many people right, and in the process run plenty wrong. If he beats out Stidham and then goes on to win games? "I love the dancing! The smiling! The outfits! What a refreshing change!"And if he loses, or doesn't make the team? "I hate all that look-at-me stuff!" Some Foxboro Faithful may even grouse about Newton's style in the face of victory. Cam knew that coming in, and with each practice pass he comes closer to utter adoration, or good riddance (we'll call for the former).
PLAYER MOST LIKELY TO DO ENOUGH TO EARN A STARTING JOB BUT WON'T: Jarrett Stidham
Sounds like the man who was to take over for Brady is doing everything right this offseason.
"Right now, based on what I've seen, the starter would be Jarrett Stidham." – @Fred_Kirsch
— Pats Pulpit (@patspulpit)
August 17, 2020 Except be Cam Newton.
PLAYER MOST LIKELY TO CONVINCE FANS HE'LL FULFILL HIS POTENTIAL AND QUIET TALK RADIO: N'Keal Harry
N’Keal Harry 2019 Red Zone:- 84.1 Receiving Grade- 7th among WRs pic.twitter.com/hD2bpi9kuF
— PFF NE Patriots (@PFF_Patriots)
August 14, 2020 He's there. He's healthy. He's currently, by all accounts, making plays. And he has a ton of potential, not to mention draft promise to live up to. You have to imagine a fresh start, with a different QB, is just what the second year receiver needs. You know, no pressure...not that it's Belichick's reputation as a bad drafter of receivers on the line or anything.
PLAYER MOST LIKELY TO EARN "CAMP CRUSH" STATUS: Jakob Johnson
The Patriots offense thrives with a smashmouth fullback. Pats fans love a smashmouth fullback. There's a rich recent history of fullbacks making a name for themselves in Foxboro, and the recently retired James Develin is living proof all you need to do is move someone for the guy behind you with the ball to become a fan favorite. However #46 was forced to retire, and the man they signed to replace him, Danny Vitale, opted out of the 2020 season. Enter Jakob (
pronounced Yack-ub) Johnson, the former Stuttgart Scorpion (
not a typo) who stepped in last season when Develin went down, only to get hurt himself. Early reports on Jakob have been very encouraging. And when you read notes like this you can't help but think someone's gonna pick up the fans Develin left him behind real quick.
Going through notes from practice, which naturally featured a heavy emphasis on the run game (1st time in full pads), and FB Jakob Johnson's powerful lead block on rookie LB Cassh Maluia stood out as one of the notable plays.What I wrote: "Would have made James Develin proud."
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss)
August 17, 2020 PLAYER THAT GETS THE MOST "FOOTBALL GUY" LOVE: Dalton Keene
Devin Asi Asi is drawing all the tight end praise. And Jakob Johnson seems to have the lead block (
sorry/not sorry) on starting fullback. So where does that leave the rookie TE hybrid out of Virginia Tech? Right where he belongs; all over the place. The Hokies lined Keene up just about everywhere in college; tight end, split out, RB, fullback. You name it, he did it. And Josh McDaniels has to be as will about Keene's positional flexibility and offensive utilitarianism as he is at having a QB who moves faster than dad getting out of the chair recliner after Thanksgiving dinner (
sorry, love you Brady!) But my football radar went six to midnight, if you will, when I read this comp to one of my favorite players in footbal today. If Keene can be half the hard-hitting give-it-your-all Swiss Army weapon this guy is? You'll see a lot of dudes growing Dalton mustaches come Movember.
While the tight ends work on their routes, Dalton Keene is working with Jakob Johnson and the running backs. I’m telling you guys, he’s going to become Josh McDaniels’ version of Kyle Juszczyk. pic.twitter.com/RSHT3o6knk
— keagan (@KeaganStiefel)
August 17, 2020 PLAYER FANS ARE ROOTING FOR TO TAKE ANOTHER GUY'S JOB: Damien Harris
Patriots rookie running back J.J. Taylor had a tough day. He muffed a punt and dropped a pass.Damien Harris, on the other hand, got a lot of work with Sony Michel and Lamar Miller still on the PUP list.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed)
August 17, 2020 The way Pats fans grouse about Sony Michel you'd think he ordered the quarantine, raised your taxes or personally ran Brady out of town. Fact is he's a Super Bowl who most fans believe either has yet to live up to his potential, or is what he is; a slower Laurence Maroney not worth his first round selection. The knocks on Michel are that he's injury prone and doesn't create his own lanes, needs a path cleared for him, isn't the dynamic threat out people saw at U of Georgia. Whatever the case it almost seems Pats fans are done with the third year back, and that his adequacy has created a mystique about second year RB Damien Harris, himself an SEC product. Harris didn't make the field his rookie season, but it's not like Michel was doing his best 2012 Adrian Peterson out there. And now Michel is recovering from a foot injury. And while the Pats signed FA RB Lamar Miller, he too is recovering from a major injury, so it would seem the former Bama back would have a shot to show fans what he's got, or that he's not Sony Michel. Which may be enough for fans to get behind Harris.
CAMP STAR YOU'RE IN ON NOW BUT WON'T REMEMBER BY LABOR DAY: Devin Ross
We're always here for a good practice squad to gameday roster story. And though many say the Pats are lacking in the receiver department there seems to be a logjam in front of the third year speedster. Now that I said this watch - he'll beat out Sanu and my pick for rookie WR stud, Jeff Thomas, and be the next Kenbrel Thompkins or Riley McCarron.
UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT LIKELY TO EXTEND BELICHICK'S UDFA MAKING THE 53 STREAK: Bill Murray
It's no secret the Pats need defensive line depth. And who better to somehow find a way tocome the latest undrafted free agent to make the Pats than a slightly u
ndersized yet overachieving smaller school lineman with a celebrity name, killer mustache and grinder reputation? He's a Cinderella boy...out of William & Mary, no less. Murray can seemingly do it all, or so his former coach,
1990's Pats linebacker Vincent Brown said. Stuffing the run, rushing the passer, blocking kicks; you name it, the guy with the same name as the actor most associated with quirky and cool can do it. There are just too many good movie jokes to pass up on here, not to mention raw talent. Belichick probably loves "Ghostbusters" or "Kingpin", right?
The #Patriots are signing William & Mary DT Bill Murray, source said.And before you make jokes and ask about his sense of humor, allow me to present his headshot. pic.twitter.com/nEqepYmmr5
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero)
April 26, 2020 PLAYER WHO WILL MAKE US CONTRIBUTE THE MOST O THE FAMILY SWEAR JAR: Justin Rohrwasser
Never easy for a rookie kicker. The Pats have had two QBs the past twenty seven years, and two kickers the past 25. Does he have a big leg? Sure. But Gillette is not an easy stadium to kick in, nor are we a fan base easy to please. Couple days like this and earmuffs, kids!
Justin Rohrwasser kicked a few in a live setting toward the end. Missed one wide left. Missed one wide right. Banked one in. Went 3-for-5 in that period from about 40-50ish yards.
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry)
August 17, 2020 PLAYER I'LL BE MAD THEY CUT (AND HOPEFULLY BE RE-SIGNED TO THE PRACTICE SQUAD): JJ Taylor
The undrafted free agent RB out of Arizona looks like Dion Lewis incarnate; tiny, fast, shifty, explosive, easy to lose in a crowded mall. By all accounts he's an eye-opener, and had some ups and some downs Monday. And while that's hardly enough time to make any judgment worthy of the NFL, we're not here to make sound judgments and proper scouting. We're fans! We need stars and storylines! And with over half the Pats running back room set for free agency in 2021, not to mention a pandemic at hand, if Taylor can move future depth that can scoot and scat wouldn't be such a bad thing. Who doesn't love rooting for the little guy you can lose in line for the bathroom?
