A couple of newsy items that we'll break down, starting with the news that the Patriots have placed Josh Gordon on injured reserve and how this relates to Mohamed Sanu:
Gordon placed on injured reserve
Considering this didn't happen last week, this is a bit of a surprise. But in hindsight, it shouldn't be. With the Patriots looking for receiver help,the team obviously didn't want to appear desperate when dealing with other teams. If teams knew the Patriots didn't have Gordon, they would have upped the price knowing the Patriots needed another veteran receiver. Perhaps Bill Belichick and Nick Caserio were a little bit more honest with old friend Thomas Dimitroff and they came to a reasonable meeting point, which was New England's second-round pick, which is like the top of the third round.
But there are further issues complicating this situation. League sources affiliated with Gordon have quickly pushed back on the narrative that his knee injury precludes him from returning this season. They feel that he is close to returning to action. This goes along with what I was hearing last week, which was Gordon was on course to be a game-time decision against the Browns.
So what's going on?
Some of it could be that even before Gordon twisted his knee against the Giants, the Patriots thought he wasn't going to be physically 100 percent in any event and decided to move on now.
Gordon could also be showing some of the signs he displayed last season before he walked away from the team and was suspended.
And then there's this, from Miguel, and this is likely right on the nose: the Patriots did this to create cap space to finish the season, or just to acquire Sanu and special teams ace Justin Bethel.
https://twitter.com/patscap/status/1187117011836526593
The decision on Gordon clears up the Sanu acquisition. They needed him, even if they had to overpay for him.
Everyone talked about Sanu being a big slot and how he would help alleviate the wear and tear on Julian Edelman. He may play some slot here, but just because he played slot in Atlanta — which had Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and other speedsters — doesn't mean he would play slot in New England, where they've always preferred smaller and shiftier guys.
Sanu is now the starting X boundary receiver in my mind, and could be moved from there if N'Keal Harry proves himself. Phillip Dorsett has also played the X, including last week, but Sanu allows him to slot in his more natural No. 3 spot. Sanu has all the physical attributes the Patriots look for in a boundary receiver.
"I love him because he’s always been tough,” Devin McCourty said. “He’s been a really good receiver in the NFL, but I always say he came to Rutgers as a safety. I was a corner. I was excited. You get a big kid that can run and hit, I think he’s taken that to the offensive side, physical guy. Each time we played him, we talked about him being a bigger guy that can line up in the slot, line up outside. I’m excited just to see him go. It’s not often you get guys — I guess for me it’s happened quite a bit with my brother and now Sanu — guys you actually follow and keep up with. It’s a fun time just to have that personal relationship."
Michael Bennett may be on the way out, too
Bennett returned from his suspension and spoke to reporters. What he said sounded a lot like what he told me after the Giants game.
Among his comments:
- "I didn’t take away nothing. I got suspended, lost money and what’s there to take away from that? There’s no love lost, it’s just how it is.”
- Is he on good terms with the coaches? "You’ll have to ask them."
- "It’s always an adjustment when you’re not playing. I mean, just get used to it, but we’re winning. I think that’s the most important thing as a teammate, but as an individual, you always want to play more and make some more plays."
- Does he think he'll be traded? “That is up to them. That is up to the team and how they feel about it. I like playing here. ... It is what it is, man."