The Cleveland Browns have been a disaster since going 0-16 last season, but there are some bright spots. One of those bright spots was bringing in wide receiver Terrelle Pryor to add a new element to the team’s offense. He was a big factor in the Browns’ win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Pryor caught two passes for 62 yards and a touchdown on Sunday, bringing the Browns’ total offensive output to 10 points in the two games since he’s been added to the mix. That’s not a whole lot, but it’s a start. Pryor is also showing his value in the other aspects that make a football team. He’s making his presence felt as a leader on the field. He’s been talking
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In an era of record-setting contracts and high-profile free-agent signings, it seems that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and his coach Bill Belichick have mastered the art of spinning bad news into a positive. After the Patriots limped to a 9-7 record without Brady on the field in 2017, it seemed as though the team would be on the road to rebuilding, but recently Belichick has been trying to spin the team’s injuries into an opportunity to make some big free-agent signings.. Read more about patriots news and let us know what you think.
This spring, Bill Belichick spent a lot of money. However, given how outmatched the New England Patriots seemed throughout the 2020 season, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise.
Several under-the-radar players joined the Patriots this offseason, although Jonnu Smith, Hunter Henry, and Matthew Judon drew the most attention due to their top-of-the-market salaries. Unfortunately for Belichick, a free-agent signing he sounded especially enthusiastic about will not get the opportunity to demonstrate his abilities in 2021.
This season, New England’s defense will have a lot of new faces.
Buffalo Bills in Week 15 John Simon, Guy, Cowart, Bower, Bentley, Hall, and Phillips made up the starting front seven for the #Patriots.
2021: Uche, Guy, Anderson, Godcheaux, Van Noy, Hightower, Judon, Winovich, Perkins, Barmore, Jennings & more.
In the NFL, they have one of the best defenses.
30 June 2021 — Ryan Spagnoli (@Ryan Spags)
Following a season in which they boasted the league’s best scoring defense, the Patriots took a significant step back in that department in 2020. Of course, the absence of Dont’a Hightower and Pat Chung didn’t help matters. New England failed to stop the run and rush the passer due to the loss of two battle-tested veterans and a lack of overall quality in the front seven.
But don’t hold your breath for a repeat performance next season.
Despite losing Chung to retirement, the Patriots’ defense has certainly improved in recent months. Hightower’s return is clearly a huge victory, but Belichick seems to have put together a championship-caliber team by bringing in many new players through free agency.
On a four-year, $54.5 million deal, Judon moved his skills from Baltimore to New England. While acting as an on-field and locker room leader, the Pro Bowl linebacker should cause havoc off the edge.
Davon Godchaux and Henry Anderson, two run-stuffing defensive lineman, were added to Belichick’s front seven. He also re-signed Kyle Van Noy, who was released by the Miami Dolphins unexpectedly. In the 2021 NFL Draft, the Patriots selected defensive lineman Christian Barmore in the second round and edge defender Ronnie Perkins in the third round, making them younger, stronger, and quicker up front.
Bill Belichick just suffered a season-ending injury to an undervalued free-agent acquisition.
Bill Belichick, the head coach of the New England Patriots, comes onto the field before a training camp session. Getty Images/Kathryn Riley
Belichick has shown throughout the years that he can transform outcasts and forgotten guys into important contributors. And, with the danger of injury constantly lurking in the background, having good depth is crucial.
In March, Belichick signed Raekwon McMillan to a one-year deal, bolstering the team’s linebacker depth. The Dolphins selected the 2016 first-team All-Big Ten selection as a second-round choice in 2017. After missing his rookie season due to a ruptured ACL, McMillan started 28 games for the Miami Dolphins before being sold (along with a fifth-round pick) to the Las Vegas Raiders for a fourth-round pick.
Belichick and inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo, who earned two Pro Bowl appearances in eight seasons with the Patriots, provided the former Ohio State standout with the chance to study the intricacies of the position. McMillan had a strong spring and seemed capable of contributing to a Patriots defense that is looking for a long-term replacement for Hightower.
His 2021 season, on the other hand, came to an end on Saturday.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, McMillan tore his ACL during a recent workout and will not play a down this season. Losing the young linebacker is a setback for Belichick, who has gushed over McMillan in recent months and sounded genuinely thrilled by the prospect of working with a good player with untapped potential.
“Raekwon has done an excellent job. “I’ve been really pleased with his intellect and work ethic,” Belichick stated during a news conference on Monday. “Every day, he’s locked up. He puts forth a lot of effort both on and off the field. Does a fantastic job at trying to do things just right, as he’s been taught. (He) takes it all seriously and is in charge of a lot of responsibilities in there, both with the front and the coverage, as well as the linebacker adjustments by formation a lot of the time.”
Given the Patriots’ lack of depth at linebacker, losing the free-agent signee for the season is even more devastating. McMillan seemed to be on his way to earning a spot on the defense and special teams, but his ACL injury will require the Patriots to go farther down the depth chart.
Even after losing Raekwon McMillan, the Patriots should still have one of the top defenses in the NFL.
Is McMillan’s departure a setback?
Without a doubt. This year, he showed interesting potential, and he didn’t end up as the 54th overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft by chance. His second ACL injury in his career shouldn’t deter the Patriots from having a top-notch defense.
On that side of the ball, New England seems to be fully capable of dominating. Belichick put together a great group of guys, all of whom are at various phases of their careers.
Devin McCourty, a Pro Bowl safety, should continue to be a loud leader and a safety net on the back end. If the Patriots can work out a deal with Stephon Gilmore, they will have one of the league’s best cornerbacks for at least another season. J.C. Jackson, a budding star, also has plenty of incentive to produce his finest season yet. Expect the upcoming free agent to cash in if he continues to make plays on the field, so expect him to be locked and loaded all year.
The Patriots have an intriguing combination of veterans (Hightower, Judon, Van Noy, and Lawrence Guy) and young players with a lot of potential up front (Barmore, Perkins, and 2020 second-round pick Josh Uche). Finally, as long as injuries do not become a big issue, New England should be able to consistently shut down opposition attacks.
Of course, whether the Patriots can regularly score enough points to win is a question.
Bill Belichick has to find a competent starting quarterback as soon as possible.
Pro Football Reference provided all statistics. Spotrac provided all contract information.
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The New England Patriots won their sixth Super Bowl title on Sunday, and one of the reasons why is because of their offensive line. We all know that the Patriots’ offensive line is the best in the league, but for the second time in three seasons, New England’s front five has lost some of its luster. This time, the victim is former starting right guard and contract holdout Logan Mankins.. Read more about free agent centers 2021 and let us know what you think.
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