It sure sounds like the possibility of DeAndre Hopkins becoming a New England Patriot are just about nil at this point.
Just last week, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer told NBC Sports Boston the Patriots organization doesn’t anticipate trading for the star receiver, citing his practice habits, “attitude issues” and Hopkins’ turbulent relationship with new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, who traded the receiver away from Houston in 2020.
Then on Thursday, another report by ESPN’s Dan Graziano from the NFL owners meeting separately brought up the discord between Hopkins and O’Brien as a reason a trade hasn’t materialized.
“It sounds like the history between Hopkins and new Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien is an impediment to his landing in New England,” Graziano said while discussing Hopkins’ future outlook.
Guess that might put that to bed.
Breer’s message to NBC Sports Boston certainly seems like O’Brien’s side of the story as to why he shockingly traded Hopkins, one of the Texans’ two best receivers of all time, once he obtained more personnel power from the team.
Hopkins once shared, through Hall-of-Fame received Michael Irvin, that O’Brien once compared his perceived attitude issues to Aaron Hernandez, which soured their relationship almost instantly.
It seems as if at least one side of this coin -- probably O'Brien -- isn’t about to let things go. Let’s not forget that Hopkins doesn’t have a no-trade clause and therefore couldn’t block a move to New England, so the aversion would clearly seem to be coming from Foxborough (particularly O’Brien) despite the team reportedly checking in on Hopkins’ price.
As Graziano also noted, inquiring teams appear not to be interested in assuming all of Hopkins’ money and want Arizona to eat some of all of his contract, which would somewhat defeat the purpose of the Cardinals trying to trade him in the first place.
New England, which doesn’t seem to be in the mood to trade premium assets if it doesn’t have to, wasn’t likely to trade more than a Day 3 pick for Hopkins (if it did so at all) in addition to getting the Cardinals to take on some of the cost.
Now, it seems like, unless this is all one big ruse to bring the price down, the Patriots are content to leave Hopkins alone entirely.