Every Tuesday on ESPNBoston.com, questions from Patriots fans are answered as part of a weekly mailbag. This week's mailbag has been posted and includes some of the following topics:
1) Should the Patriots sign WR Donte Stallworth?
2) Proposing one possible trade with Adalius Thomas.
3) Is Bill Belichick taking on too much by not naming offensive or defensive coordinators?
4) A closer look at the Patriots and their ability to develop talent.
5) Was the Saints' onside kick comparable to the Patriots' fourth-and-2 decision?
6) Leadership and inside linebacker Jerod Mayo.
1) Should the Patriots sign WR Donte Stallworth?
2) Proposing one possible trade with Adalius Thomas.
3) Is Bill Belichick taking on too much by not naming offensive or defensive coordinators?
4) A closer look at the Patriots and their ability to develop talent.
5) Was the Saints' onside kick comparable to the Patriots' fourth-and-2 decision?
6) Leadership and inside linebacker Jerod Mayo.
As noted by the San Jose Mercury News, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is on the list of celebrities scheduled to play in this week's AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
Brady will join other celebrities such as actor/comedian George Lopez, musician Huey Lewis, ESPN's Chris Berman and actor Bill Murray on the golf course. Spectator interest is reportedly greater than last year and celebrities like Brady are considered part of the reason why.
"The focus has never been on any one player," Ollie Nutt, president and CEO of the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, told the Mercury News. "People come to watch the professionals and celebrities as well as take in the natural beauty of the courses."
Brady will join other celebrities such as actor/comedian George Lopez, musician Huey Lewis, ESPN's Chris Berman and actor Bill Murray on the golf course. Spectator interest is reportedly greater than last year and celebrities like Brady are considered part of the reason why.
"The focus has never been on any one player," Ollie Nutt, president and CEO of the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, told the Mercury News. "People come to watch the professionals and celebrities as well as take in the natural beauty of the courses."
Patriots tight end Benjamin Watson was a guest on WBZ-TV's "Sports Final" program Sunday night, and he was asked about his football future. Watson is scheduled for unrestricted free agency and it sounds like he's prepared for any possibility.
"I don't know who is going to be throwing me passes next year," Watson said in the interview with Steve Burton. "Hopefully it's Tom Brady."
Watson was asked about the Patriots' locker room dynamic and touched on his impressions of what it was like in 2009.
"There was a different feel in the locker room," he said. "I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that we had a lot of new players. The past however many years, we've seemed to keep a lot of those core guys and a lot of those faces were gone this year."
The full interview can be seen here.
"I don't know who is going to be throwing me passes next year," Watson said in the interview with Steve Burton. "Hopefully it's Tom Brady."
Watson was asked about the Patriots' locker room dynamic and touched on his impressions of what it was like in 2009.
"There was a different feel in the locker room," he said. "I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that we had a lot of new players. The past however many years, we've seemed to keep a lot of those core guys and a lot of those faces were gone this year."
The full interview can be seen here.
With quarterback Tom Brady entering the final year of his Patriots contract, the sides are expected to negotiate an extension that will likely make him one of the highest paid players in the NFL. The question is when those talks will truly heat up.
The presence of a $3 million roster bonus could potentially take negotiations to a higher level.
Brady is due the roster bonus on March 5, which is the first official day of the 2010 league year.
Sometimes those roster bonuses can create an added incentive for a team to strike a deal with a player. Instead of paying the roster bonus and then later striking a lucrative extension, there is sometimes a benefit for the team to get it all done at once from an overall cash standpoint.
Brady's new deal could be anywhere from $15 million-$18 million per season, and possibly higher, so it's difficult to gauge how much a $3 million roster bonus could factor into the pace of negotiations. But it is one factor to keep in mind when considering Brady's contract situation.
The presence of a $3 million roster bonus could potentially take negotiations to a higher level.
Brady is due the roster bonus on March 5, which is the first official day of the 2010 league year.
Sometimes those roster bonuses can create an added incentive for a team to strike a deal with a player. Instead of paying the roster bonus and then later striking a lucrative extension, there is sometimes a benefit for the team to get it all done at once from an overall cash standpoint.
Brady's new deal could be anywhere from $15 million-$18 million per season, and possibly higher, so it's difficult to gauge how much a $3 million roster bonus could factor into the pace of negotiations. But it is one factor to keep in mind when considering Brady's contract situation.
One of the notable plays from Super Bowl XLIV was the Saints’ onside kick at the start of the second half, which is something Patriots great Gino Cappelletti could certainly appreciate as a former kicker.
“When you’re studying film on a normal kickoff, sometimes you notice players kind of peeling back a little sooner than they probably should and evidently that is something the Saints noticed to that side of the field,” Cappelletti said. “When you look at onside kicks, it’s usually the ones that are surprises that have the best chance to be effective, not the ones that are totally expected late in the game.
“Then there is the reason for the onside kick. They knew the Colts would start with the ball in the second half so they went with the theory that everyone tries to do -– keep Peyton Manning on the bench. It was 10-6 at halftime, the Colts had moved the ball, and it would have been 17-6 if they marched the field and scored like many thought they would. But the Colts ended up with just six plays in the third quarter.
“Once they recovered that onside kick and capped it with a score, it let them know they were back in the game. They were about to lose that game in the third quarter but they turned it around and played with extreme confidence.”
Cappelletti felt the onside kick was part of some terrific halftime adjustments by the Saints (e.g. attacking the middle of the field in the passing game).
As for how the Super Bowl might relate to the Patriots, Cappelletti focused on locker room dynamics.
“It looked like the Saints had the kind of year in which they had a lot of trust among each other, a lot of belief,” he said. “Sean Payton did an outstanding job coaching the team, and he deserves credit, and the players did the execution part. Players have to believe in what the coach is telling you and I don’t think that is a problem with the Patriots.
“I think the continuity and cohesion that you need among players, and having a total understanding of what each guy is doing and why he is doing it comes from being together. This team wasn’t together as much as it will be and could be. I feel like they can get there, but when you take away some of the players who are important to that -– Vrabel, Harrison, Bruschi, Seymour -– those guys had bonded. They policed themselves in the locker room and on the field. As soon as the Patriots get that back, they should be all right.”
“When you’re studying film on a normal kickoff, sometimes you notice players kind of peeling back a little sooner than they probably should and evidently that is something the Saints noticed to that side of the field,” Cappelletti said. “When you look at onside kicks, it’s usually the ones that are surprises that have the best chance to be effective, not the ones that are totally expected late in the game.
“Then there is the reason for the onside kick. They knew the Colts would start with the ball in the second half so they went with the theory that everyone tries to do -– keep Peyton Manning on the bench. It was 10-6 at halftime, the Colts had moved the ball, and it would have been 17-6 if they marched the field and scored like many thought they would. But the Colts ended up with just six plays in the third quarter.
“Once they recovered that onside kick and capped it with a score, it let them know they were back in the game. They were about to lose that game in the third quarter but they turned it around and played with extreme confidence.”
Cappelletti felt the onside kick was part of some terrific halftime adjustments by the Saints (e.g. attacking the middle of the field in the passing game).
As for how the Super Bowl might relate to the Patriots, Cappelletti focused on locker room dynamics.
“It looked like the Saints had the kind of year in which they had a lot of trust among each other, a lot of belief,” he said. “Sean Payton did an outstanding job coaching the team, and he deserves credit, and the players did the execution part. Players have to believe in what the coach is telling you and I don’t think that is a problem with the Patriots.
“I think the continuity and cohesion that you need among players, and having a total understanding of what each guy is doing and why he is doing it comes from being together. This team wasn’t together as much as it will be and could be. I feel like they can get there, but when you take away some of the players who are important to that -– Vrabel, Harrison, Bruschi, Seymour -– those guys had bonded. They policed themselves in the locker room and on the field. As soon as the Patriots get that back, they should be all right.”
Peyton Manning is a great quarterback, but what we learned tonight in Super Bowl XLIV is this: He’s no Tom Brady in the pressure moment on the game’s biggest stage.
Looking to lead the Colts back from a 24-17 fourth-quarter deficit against the Saints, Manning threw an interception that cornerback Tracy Porter returned 74 yards for a touchdown, a key play in New Orleans' 31-17 upset victory.
It was a costly mistake, the kind of miscue that Brady, in his four Super Bowl appearances, never made in the critical fourth-quarter situation.
Even in the Patriots’ Super Bowl loss to the Giants, Brady had led a fourth-quarter drive for a touchdown before the defense couldn’t hold.
For all the stories that were written over the last week about which quarterback was the best of the decade – Brady or Manning – one aspect was overlooked: How Manning would lead the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV.
If you measure a quarterback by how he responds in the pressure moments on the game’s biggest stage, the debate ended with authority tonight.
Looking to lead the Colts back from a 24-17 fourth-quarter deficit against the Saints, Manning threw an interception that cornerback Tracy Porter returned 74 yards for a touchdown, a key play in New Orleans' 31-17 upset victory.
It was a costly mistake, the kind of miscue that Brady, in his four Super Bowl appearances, never made in the critical fourth-quarter situation.
Even in the Patriots’ Super Bowl loss to the Giants, Brady had led a fourth-quarter drive for a touchdown before the defense couldn’t hold.
For all the stories that were written over the last week about which quarterback was the best of the decade – Brady or Manning – one aspect was overlooked: How Manning would lead the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV.
If you measure a quarterback by how he responds in the pressure moments on the game’s biggest stage, the debate ended with authority tonight.
Saints offseason vs. Patriots offseason
February, 7, 2010
Feb 7
7:40
PM ET
ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter writes that the NFC champion New Orleans Saints have 29 players on their roster with contracts that expire after the season. The Saints have 18 restricted free agents and 11 unrestricted free agents.
After reading the piece, the thought came to mind to compare that to the New England Patriots' situation.
Assuming there will be a season without a salary cap, the Patriots have 12 players with expiring contracts -- nine unrestricted free agents and three restricted free agents.
The number would have been higher had the Patriots not extended the contracts of six different players during the 2009 season -- Sam Aiken, Rob Ninkovich, Nick Kaczur, Eric Alexander, Dan Connolly and Mark LeVoir.
The Patriots' work on those extensions seemed specifically aimed at preparing for the uncapped season. When comparing the situation to the Saints, in terms of sheer numbers, the Patriots seem well positioned.
After reading the piece, the thought came to mind to compare that to the New England Patriots' situation.
Assuming there will be a season without a salary cap, the Patriots have 12 players with expiring contracts -- nine unrestricted free agents and three restricted free agents.
The number would have been higher had the Patriots not extended the contracts of six different players during the 2009 season -- Sam Aiken, Rob Ninkovich, Nick Kaczur, Eric Alexander, Dan Connolly and Mark LeVoir.
The Patriots' work on those extensions seemed specifically aimed at preparing for the uncapped season. When comparing the situation to the Saints, in terms of sheer numbers, the Patriots seem well positioned.
Quick-hit thoughts around the NFL and the Patriots:
1. Based on activity last week, it looks like the Patriots’ front office will have a similar structure in 2010 as it did last season. Floyd Reese will continue to be the point person for contracts, while Nick Caserio will handle more of the personnel duties.
2. Although the free-agent crop will be thinned by an uncapped season – with more than 200 players being kept off the open market – a significant number of cuts are expected around the league as teams won’t face salary cap implications in dropping high-priced players.
3. Center Dan Koppen is scheduled to earn a base salary of $2.9 million in 2010. If Patriots management deems that a bit rich, the first indication will come in mid-to-late March when Koppen is due a $500,000 roster bonus.
4. The Eagles’ hiring of Dick Jauron (senior assistant/defensive backs) and Bobby April (special teams) seemed like shrewd moves. Jauron in New England was an intriguing thought.
5. On Feb. 11, teams can start assigning the franchise tag to players. If it comes to that with the Patriots and Vince Wilfork, my feeling is that the tag wouldn’t be assigned until the last possible day (Feb. 25). It makes sense to think the sides will get back to the negotiating table in the coming weeks to try to hammer out a long-term deal, and I don't think it's out of the question that momentum could build toward that happening.
6. I’m curious to see if the Raiders will assign the franchise tag to Richard Seymour. If they don’t, they would have traded a 2011 first-round draft choice for a one-year rental who produced four sacks.
7. Wide receiver Deion Branch is scheduled to earn $5.4 million and some wonder if he could be on the outs in Seattle. If I’m the Patriots, that’s one name I continue to stay on top of as a possible addition.
8. The Bills' plans to switch to a 3-4 defense will make the AFC East a division with four teams playing that alignment. No other division in football has four 3-4 clubs.
9. There seems to be a growing perception that the Patriots don’t spend on players. Tom Curran, who covers the Patriots for Comcast SportsNet, presented this counter-point: Since 2005, the Patriots spent $540 million on player salaries, while the Colts spent just less than $546 million and the Jets $542 million.
10. In the end, I can’t pick against Peyton Manning and the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. I almost switched to the Saints because of Dwight Freeney’s ankle injury, but I’ll go Colts 34, Saints 24.
1. Based on activity last week, it looks like the Patriots’ front office will have a similar structure in 2010 as it did last season. Floyd Reese will continue to be the point person for contracts, while Nick Caserio will handle more of the personnel duties.
2. Although the free-agent crop will be thinned by an uncapped season – with more than 200 players being kept off the open market – a significant number of cuts are expected around the league as teams won’t face salary cap implications in dropping high-priced players.
3. Center Dan Koppen is scheduled to earn a base salary of $2.9 million in 2010. If Patriots management deems that a bit rich, the first indication will come in mid-to-late March when Koppen is due a $500,000 roster bonus.
4. The Eagles’ hiring of Dick Jauron (senior assistant/defensive backs) and Bobby April (special teams) seemed like shrewd moves. Jauron in New England was an intriguing thought.
5. On Feb. 11, teams can start assigning the franchise tag to players. If it comes to that with the Patriots and Vince Wilfork, my feeling is that the tag wouldn’t be assigned until the last possible day (Feb. 25). It makes sense to think the sides will get back to the negotiating table in the coming weeks to try to hammer out a long-term deal, and I don't think it's out of the question that momentum could build toward that happening.
6. I’m curious to see if the Raiders will assign the franchise tag to Richard Seymour. If they don’t, they would have traded a 2011 first-round draft choice for a one-year rental who produced four sacks.
7. Wide receiver Deion Branch is scheduled to earn $5.4 million and some wonder if he could be on the outs in Seattle. If I’m the Patriots, that’s one name I continue to stay on top of as a possible addition.
8. The Bills' plans to switch to a 3-4 defense will make the AFC East a division with four teams playing that alignment. No other division in football has four 3-4 clubs.
9. There seems to be a growing perception that the Patriots don’t spend on players. Tom Curran, who covers the Patriots for Comcast SportsNet, presented this counter-point: Since 2005, the Patriots spent $540 million on player salaries, while the Colts spent just less than $546 million and the Jets $542 million.
10. In the end, I can’t pick against Peyton Manning and the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. I almost switched to the Saints because of Dwight Freeney’s ankle injury, but I’ll go Colts 34, Saints 24.
Looking closer into smaller coaching staff
February, 6, 2010
Feb 6
11:10
AM ET
Why do the Patriots have so few assistant coaches when compared to the rest of the NFL?
The question is topical today after Bill Belichick's announcement that the coaching staff is essentially set for 2010 -- with 13 total coaches. There might be a few tweaks in the weeks to come (a tight ends coach still must be named; a few lower-level coaching assistants might be added), but the basis of the announcement was that there isn't anything major to come.
One thought is that the Patriots coaching staff is so small, and no official coordinators have been named, because of salary considerations.
I think that is well off the mark. I believe the Patriots' coaching payroll, despite the small numbers, ranks in the top third of the NFL.
As for the actual number of coaches, having a smaller coaching staff has been Belichick's preference since he came to New England in 2000.
Judy Battista, who covers the NFL for the New York Times, wrote a piece on the expanding size of coaching staffs on July 12, 2006. It is timely to revisit that piece to better understand why Belichick prefers a smaller coaching staff. The main reason is clarity of message.
Belichick has talked about this in the past, how when he first came into the NFL in 1975 with the Baltimore Colts, Ted Marchibroda's staff only had a handful of assistants. Coaching staffs grew as the size of rosters did over the years, but he always preferred to be as small as possible.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft has endorsed that line of thinking. In the Times piece, Kraft explained the approach by saying: "When you want to get a message through, you want accountability. It's like middle management: If you have a lot, it's hard to get through.''
The question is topical today after Bill Belichick's announcement that the coaching staff is essentially set for 2010 -- with 13 total coaches. There might be a few tweaks in the weeks to come (a tight ends coach still must be named; a few lower-level coaching assistants might be added), but the basis of the announcement was that there isn't anything major to come.
One thought is that the Patriots coaching staff is so small, and no official coordinators have been named, because of salary considerations.
I think that is well off the mark. I believe the Patriots' coaching payroll, despite the small numbers, ranks in the top third of the NFL.
As for the actual number of coaches, having a smaller coaching staff has been Belichick's preference since he came to New England in 2000.
Judy Battista, who covers the NFL for the New York Times, wrote a piece on the expanding size of coaching staffs on July 12, 2006. It is timely to revisit that piece to better understand why Belichick prefers a smaller coaching staff. The main reason is clarity of message.
Belichick has talked about this in the past, how when he first came into the NFL in 1975 with the Baltimore Colts, Ted Marchibroda's staff only had a handful of assistants. Coaching staffs grew as the size of rosters did over the years, but he always preferred to be as small as possible.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft has endorsed that line of thinking. In the Times piece, Kraft explained the approach by saying: "When you want to get a message through, you want accountability. It's like middle management: If you have a lot, it's hard to get through.''
Former Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi is in Fort Lauderdale as part of ESPN's coverage of Super Bowl XLIV. Bruschi touches on his Super memories -- the good and the bad. One memory that stands out to Bruschi is before the Patriots' Super Bowl win over the Rams.
"One of the most exhilarating experiences and NFL player has sometimes is when you hear your name, you hear your college, you hear your position when you run out of that tunnel," Bruschi said. "Multiply that by, like, a thousand and that's the Super Bowl.
"And we decided that we were going to go out as a team and put all of that aside. When we did that, and it was the first time anyone had really done that, I could feel the shock in the stadium."
"One of the most exhilarating experiences and NFL player has sometimes is when you hear your name, you hear your college, you hear your position when you run out of that tunnel," Bruschi said. "Multiply that by, like, a thousand and that's the Super Bowl.
"And we decided that we were going to go out as a team and put all of that aside. When we did that, and it was the first time anyone had really done that, I could feel the shock in the stadium."
Is this too much for Bill Belichick to handle?
That was the first question that came to mind after digesting today's news that the Patriots won't name a defensive coordinator in 2010, that the defensive staff is set, and that Belichick himself plans to be more involved with the defense.
"This is the best course for us to move forward in 2010," Belichick said.
Belichick already has a lot on his plate as a head coach, such as meeting with quarterback Tom Brady every Tuesday, or spending one on one time with running back Laurence Maroney breaking down each of his runs. Putting more on his already crowded weekly calendar seems like a risk, especially when the Patriots already have one of the smallest coaching staffs in the NFL.
While no official defensive coordinator has been named, it doesn't mean those responsibilities disappear. So the next domino to fall -- and what surely will be one of the first questions asked to Belichick -- is who will be the coach standing in front of the defense when it meets each day?
Clearly defining that chain of command will be important for players so there are no mixed messages.
As for the offense, where there is also no coordinator, Belichick's comments today were decisive in one regard -- quarterbacks coach Bill O'Brien is the leader of that part of the staff, title or not.
That was the first question that came to mind after digesting today's news that the Patriots won't name a defensive coordinator in 2010, that the defensive staff is set, and that Belichick himself plans to be more involved with the defense.
"This is the best course for us to move forward in 2010," Belichick said.
Belichick already has a lot on his plate as a head coach, such as meeting with quarterback Tom Brady every Tuesday, or spending one on one time with running back Laurence Maroney breaking down each of his runs. Putting more on his already crowded weekly calendar seems like a risk, especially when the Patriots already have one of the smallest coaching staffs in the NFL.
While no official defensive coordinator has been named, it doesn't mean those responsibilities disappear. So the next domino to fall -- and what surely will be one of the first questions asked to Belichick -- is who will be the coach standing in front of the defense when it meets each day?
Clearly defining that chain of command will be important for players so there are no mixed messages.
As for the offense, where there is also no coordinator, Belichick's comments today were decisive in one regard -- quarterbacks coach Bill O'Brien is the leader of that part of the staff, title or not.
Patriots won't name defensive coordinator
February, 5, 2010
Feb 5
4:24
PM ET
Patriots coach Bill Belichick does not plan to name a defensive coordinator in 2010 and instead will be more involved on defense to share the workload with his assistants, according to the team's official website.
"Titles are fine, nothing wrong with them,” Belichick said on Patriots.com, “but the most important thing is each person’s role, that we do everything we can to help the players succeed – everyone collectively getting the job done."
The Patriots and Dean Pees, who served as defensive coordinator the last four seasons, parted ways in January.
The Patriots have since hired former Patriot Corwin Brown to work with the defense. Brown will coach defensive backs along with last year's defensive backs coach, Josh Boyer. The rest of the defensive staff has remained intact.
“Corwin Brown is one of the high-class people in football," Belichick said on Patriots.com. "He was a tough, smart leader who was great to coach and those are the traits he brings to our staff. He has stepped in well with Josh Boyer, [linebackers coach] Matt Patricia, [defensive line coach] Pepper Johnson, [coaching assistant] Pat Graham and myself, and as a group we are committed to putting a competitive defense on the field. This is the best course for us to move forward in 2010.”
While there will be no official coordinator, some of those duties will still have to be split up among the defensive coaches. So that remains an important aspect to consider going forward.
On the other side of the ball, every offensive coach except for Shane Waldron (tight ends) is returning. The Patriots have yet to name a new tight ends coach at this time.
Also, the Patriots have not named an offensive coordinator at this point. If they do in the future, it would almost certainly be quarterbacks coach Bill O'Brien, who handled much of the play-calling duties in 2009 when the team went without an official coordinator. Belichick's comments today clearly positioned O'Brien as the leader of the offensive staff.
“Bill O’Brien has demonstrated excellent leadership and organizational skills in our offense,” Belichick said on Patriots.com. “He is a sharp and passionate coach."
The rest of the offensive staff for 2010 will include assistant head coach/offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia, running backs coach Ivan Fears, receivers coach Chad O'Shea and coaching assistant Brian Ferentz. It is possible that Ferentz could be promoted to tight ends coach.
"It is a good mix on that side of the ball, with Bill working with some extremely experienced coaches in Dante Scarnecchia and Ivan Fears, who have been here my entire time in New England, and some more recent additions to the staff in Chad O’Shea and Brian Ferentz," Belichick said on Patriots.com.
Special teams coach Scott O'Brien and coaching assistant Brian Flores also return.
"Titles are fine, nothing wrong with them,” Belichick said on Patriots.com, “but the most important thing is each person’s role, that we do everything we can to help the players succeed – everyone collectively getting the job done."
The Patriots and Dean Pees, who served as defensive coordinator the last four seasons, parted ways in January.
The Patriots have since hired former Patriot Corwin Brown to work with the defense. Brown will coach defensive backs along with last year's defensive backs coach, Josh Boyer. The rest of the defensive staff has remained intact.
“Corwin Brown is one of the high-class people in football," Belichick said on Patriots.com. "He was a tough, smart leader who was great to coach and those are the traits he brings to our staff. He has stepped in well with Josh Boyer, [linebackers coach] Matt Patricia, [defensive line coach] Pepper Johnson, [coaching assistant] Pat Graham and myself, and as a group we are committed to putting a competitive defense on the field. This is the best course for us to move forward in 2010.”
While there will be no official coordinator, some of those duties will still have to be split up among the defensive coaches. So that remains an important aspect to consider going forward.
On the other side of the ball, every offensive coach except for Shane Waldron (tight ends) is returning. The Patriots have yet to name a new tight ends coach at this time.
Also, the Patriots have not named an offensive coordinator at this point. If they do in the future, it would almost certainly be quarterbacks coach Bill O'Brien, who handled much of the play-calling duties in 2009 when the team went without an official coordinator. Belichick's comments today clearly positioned O'Brien as the leader of the offensive staff.
“Bill O’Brien has demonstrated excellent leadership and organizational skills in our offense,” Belichick said on Patriots.com. “He is a sharp and passionate coach."
The rest of the offensive staff for 2010 will include assistant head coach/offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia, running backs coach Ivan Fears, receivers coach Chad O'Shea and coaching assistant Brian Ferentz. It is possible that Ferentz could be promoted to tight ends coach.
"It is a good mix on that side of the ball, with Bill working with some extremely experienced coaches in Dante Scarnecchia and Ivan Fears, who have been here my entire time in New England, and some more recent additions to the staff in Chad O’Shea and Brian Ferentz," Belichick said on Patriots.com.
Special teams coach Scott O'Brien and coaching assistant Brian Flores also return.
Linebacker Eric Alexander may not be a household name to Patriots fans, but he’s been with the team in a reserve role since 2004. Because of his history with the team, Alexander has more experiences to recount when the question is asked: “What happened to the 2009 New England Patriots?
Like others, Alexander pointed to a lack of a leadership on defense.
Alexander was asked the question while visiting Radio Row at Super Bowl XLIV, where he stopped by to chat with Michael Felger and Tony Massarotti of Boston’s 98.5 The Sports Hub.
“I think when you lose guys like Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel, you lose a lot of years of leadership, a lot of years of guys who have been there and done everything you can possibly do in this game,” Alexander told Felger and Massarotti. “So I think we were lacking a bit leadership-wise on the defense.”
Alexander was asked how that lack of leadership affected the team on the field.
“There is going to come a point in every game where a team is faced with adversity, and I think in the past, the way we’ve been able to handle that adversity has put us at the top of this league,” Alexander responded.
“I don’t think this year was much different than any other year, except we didn’t handle adversity. When that fourth quarter came, when they were a few points away, or when they were in the red zone about to score, we couldn’t [answer] the bell. I think in past years we’ve been able to do that with ease. We've been able to play with the lead. We've been able to come from behind. We've been able to score when we've needed to score. Or stop a team when we needed to stop them. We just couldn't do that this year."
Like others, Alexander pointed to a lack of a leadership on defense.
Alexander was asked the question while visiting Radio Row at Super Bowl XLIV, where he stopped by to chat with Michael Felger and Tony Massarotti of Boston’s 98.5 The Sports Hub.
“I think when you lose guys like Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel, you lose a lot of years of leadership, a lot of years of guys who have been there and done everything you can possibly do in this game,” Alexander told Felger and Massarotti. “So I think we were lacking a bit leadership-wise on the defense.”
Alexander was asked how that lack of leadership affected the team on the field.
“There is going to come a point in every game where a team is faced with adversity, and I think in the past, the way we’ve been able to handle that adversity has put us at the top of this league,” Alexander responded.
“I don’t think this year was much different than any other year, except we didn’t handle adversity. When that fourth quarter came, when they were a few points away, or when they were in the red zone about to score, we couldn’t [answer] the bell. I think in past years we’ve been able to do that with ease. We've been able to play with the lead. We've been able to come from behind. We've been able to score when we've needed to score. Or stop a team when we needed to stop them. We just couldn't do that this year."
Patriots owner Robert Kraft is in Fort Lauderdale, Florida today and is in attendance for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's annual Super Bowl press conference. Kraft is heavily involved in league issues and Goodell's press conference, which began at 11:30 a.m., comes at an important time in the history of labor relations in the NFL.
With owners and players currently far apart in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, talk is heating up about a possible lockout in 2011.
Kraft is considered one of the NFL's "power brokers" among owners and thus figures to be involved, from a league perspective, in how things unfold in the months to come.
With owners and players currently far apart in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, talk is heating up about a possible lockout in 2011.
Kraft is considered one of the NFL's "power brokers" among owners and thus figures to be involved, from a league perspective, in how things unfold in the months to come.
As each day is checked off the NFL calendar, it looks more and more like Bill Belichick won't make any major additions to the Patriots coaching staff at top-level positions.
Most other teams with openings have already filled them.
A sampling of some, not all, of the recent coaching movement in top-level positions: Miami pounced on Mike Nolan as its defensive coordinator. Buffalo named George Edwards its defensive coordinator. Chicago hired Mike Martz as its offensive coordinator. The New York Giants hired Perry Fewell as defensive coordinator. Denver promoted Don Martindale to defensive coordinator. Philadelphia added former Bills head coach Dick Jauron as a senior assistant/defensive backs coach.
Meanwhile, all has been quiet in Foxboro.
The lack of a big announcement can be looked at in two different ways: 1) Belichick still hasn't found his man; 2) Belichick has decided to stay in-house and because he isn't big on titles, he might feel there is nothing to say at this time.
The feeling here is that No. 2 best explains what is happening. At this point, my opinion is that it would be a surprise if there will be a major announcement of a staff addition.
The Patriots have a vacancy at tight ends coach, and no official offensive or defensive coordinators. Yet in terms of total coaches on staff, they currently have one fewer than they did in 2009.
Projecting where this situation heads, there are a few thoughts that come to mind:
1) Belichick could treat the defensive coordinator vacancy like he has the offensive coordinator spot in recent years, and not name one. The key in that scenario, then, would be clearly delegating responsibilities on staff so there is no confusion or mixed message on who is running the show.
2) The Patriots went through the 2009 season without an official offensive coordinator, although quarterbacks coach Bill O'Brien had most of those responsibilities. If this follows a similar path as Josh McDaniels' rise from 2005 to 2006, O'Brien is the most likely candidate to land that title in 2010.
3) The tight ends coach, who will be the third in three years at that spot, is likely to come from within. Because that role is tied to the running game, someone with a background in blocking schemes is an ideal fit, which might give coaching assistant Brian Ferentz the inside track.
At the end of the day, if this is the direction things head, the question will be "Is this good enough?"
There was plenty of media-driven chatter at the end of the season about introducing new ideas and outside perspectives to the staff. One line of thinking is that those new ideas can be implemented by studying other teams and adopting schemes studied on film. A different line of thinking is that it helps to hire a coach from a different program to implement some of those ideas, because that coach will have the most intimate knowledge of how those ideas are adopted.
It looks more and more like the Patriots are going the in-house route.
Most other teams with openings have already filled them.
A sampling of some, not all, of the recent coaching movement in top-level positions: Miami pounced on Mike Nolan as its defensive coordinator. Buffalo named George Edwards its defensive coordinator. Chicago hired Mike Martz as its offensive coordinator. The New York Giants hired Perry Fewell as defensive coordinator. Denver promoted Don Martindale to defensive coordinator. Philadelphia added former Bills head coach Dick Jauron as a senior assistant/defensive backs coach.
Meanwhile, all has been quiet in Foxboro.
The lack of a big announcement can be looked at in two different ways: 1) Belichick still hasn't found his man; 2) Belichick has decided to stay in-house and because he isn't big on titles, he might feel there is nothing to say at this time.
The feeling here is that No. 2 best explains what is happening. At this point, my opinion is that it would be a surprise if there will be a major announcement of a staff addition.
The Patriots have a vacancy at tight ends coach, and no official offensive or defensive coordinators. Yet in terms of total coaches on staff, they currently have one fewer than they did in 2009.
Projecting where this situation heads, there are a few thoughts that come to mind:
1) Belichick could treat the defensive coordinator vacancy like he has the offensive coordinator spot in recent years, and not name one. The key in that scenario, then, would be clearly delegating responsibilities on staff so there is no confusion or mixed message on who is running the show.
2) The Patriots went through the 2009 season without an official offensive coordinator, although quarterbacks coach Bill O'Brien had most of those responsibilities. If this follows a similar path as Josh McDaniels' rise from 2005 to 2006, O'Brien is the most likely candidate to land that title in 2010.
3) The tight ends coach, who will be the third in three years at that spot, is likely to come from within. Because that role is tied to the running game, someone with a background in blocking schemes is an ideal fit, which might give coaching assistant Brian Ferentz the inside track.
At the end of the day, if this is the direction things head, the question will be "Is this good enough?"
There was plenty of media-driven chatter at the end of the season about introducing new ideas and outside perspectives to the staff. One line of thinking is that those new ideas can be implemented by studying other teams and adopting schemes studied on film. A different line of thinking is that it helps to hire a coach from a different program to implement some of those ideas, because that coach will have the most intimate knowledge of how those ideas are adopted.
It looks more and more like the Patriots are going the in-house route.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Mike Reiss
Mike Reiss first started covering the Patriots in 1997 with the team's official newspaper, Patriots Football Weekly, before moving on to the MetroWest Daily News in his hometown of Framingham. From 2005 to 2009, he covered the Patriots for The Boston Globe, while also writing on the NFL. He started his popular Patriots blog in 2004. Send any questions or comments for Mike to his mailbag. Follow him on Twitter here.
Chris Forsberg
Chris Forsberg has been reporting on the Boston sports scene since 1999. With his video camera in tow, Forsberg covered everything from Massachusetts high school sports to Boston's pro sports teams. Follow him on Twitter.
