The Quest for 7: Patriots Rumors, Uncertain Future, Links 1.7.20

Morning! Welcome to The Quest for 7, where volunteer writer, Steven Viner, scours the net for seven Patriots related articles from other sites offering different points of view on the six-time champs. Paid subscribers not only get to read all seven, but they also get to check out his always fiery "Steve's Soapbox" at the end.

1. PATRIOTS' FAN WARNING: This is not for the faint of heart. The Robert Kraft of Boston Sports Journal, Greg Bedard, doesn't just fire off Tom Brady's options in New England's horrifying upcoming offseason with his column Gauging the market for free-agent Tom Brady and what might happen. He then reaches for the bazooka and blows a hole in your chest with a potential scenario for the Patriots that can only be described as Butt-Fumble-Bad. Tadd Haislop of Sporting News does his best to match Bedard with Where will Tom Brady play in 2020? Breaking down QB's free-agent options to stay, retire or leave Patriots. Can someone just sedate me until 2025?

2. God bless Ian O'Connor of ESPN for feeding us imprisoned-in-the-unknown Patriots' fans a scrap of positivity. He states his case for why Tom Brady can't leave the Patriots after this loss: Why He should stay. I still think the most likely scenario is TB12 returns to New England, (80% sure of this, Chargers 18%, another team, 1%, Retirement 1%) so it's important not to read only doom-and-gloom news. Even at 80%, the number still makes me feel like a child in a dark basement full of clowns.

3. No Alfred Hitchcock twist-ending found in this list from Brad Gagnon of The Comeback: The 10 best NFL coaches of the decade. However, what is surprising is some of the names on the list, and particularly the order after the Hoodie is dubbed #1.

4. In my Salty Tears Take of the day, Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution clearly wants to, but doesn't quite pull a Max Kellerman by proclaiming Brady is spiraling off a cliff in his column The era of Brady & Belichick has ended. (Well, hasn't it?) I'll give Mark credit. He has enough brains to not go full-Hack Kellerman. Probably from recent trauma he experienced counting the Patriots out in years past. Who's a scared little puppy?!

5. Oliver Thomas of Pats Pulpit gives us New England's very first moves to building their 2020 roster with his article Patriots retain seven on futures contracts, including Obi Melifonwu. The Patriots are ancient at safety. Devin McCourty's a free agent while our beloved Patrick Chung's a beat-up tire with little tread, sporting a contract so bad, it rivals David Price's. Read why Mr. Obi Melifonwu it the most intriguing player in the group.

6. Devon Clements of Sports Illustrated warms his stethoscope and explains the multiple ailments the GOAT was dealing with in his piece Tom Brady was dealing with an injury suffered in December. Brady is a maestro. A perfectionist. It's too bad he didn't have better protection, which may have prevented some of these mechanics-altering injuries.

7. Okay. I take full responsibility for that atrocious Julian Edelman drop on Saturday night. In a recent Quest for 7 comment section, I explained that I have Edelmen in the Hall of Fame, and not Wes Welker for the simple fact that the former has butterfly nets for hands when the playoffs start, while the latter gets T-Rex arms. (Damn you Welker for costing us Super Bowl 46! Angry face emoji.) So yes, I'm a jinx. Isaiah Houde of Patriots Wire's piece Julian Edelman thanks fans, vows to come back 'focused and hungry' in 2020, tells us how Mighty Mouse went out with class, and why he could be one of the keys to Brady's return.

STEVE'S SOAPBOX

The place where Steve gets to give his take of the day from the perspective of a Patriots fan.

Many question the Patriots' recent draft classes. With holes and Crypt-Keeper-old players at certain positions, I think the Hoodie should shuffle the deck on a couple of rookies, in turn, salvaging last year's crop of newbies and creating a winning hand. We saw what happens when your tight ends couldn't represent a pimple on Rob Gronkowski's anus, so I ask: why not have N'Keal Harry put on 10 pounds of muscle in the offseason, and Presto! ... suitable Gronk-osaurus replacement. Brady isn't comfortable with throwing to a covered receiver and having faith he will out-muscle his defender. Tom likes separation. Unfortunately, Harry is not that type of wideout. Let's see linebackers try to keep up with the kid.

Piggybacking off #5 in this article, the Patriots' safety position could use some youth, and Joejuan Williams is built like one. New England is already loaded at corner. With McCourty's possible departure, Chung another year and 50,000 miles older, and the overrated Duron "Oh look, another deflected interception to me!" Harmon manning the back-middle of the defense, new blood is needed. Belichick once converted McCourty from corner to safety, why not Joejuan? These moves may not be a jackpot, but please Bill, lay your cards down and take home a small pot.

Be on the lookout for more The Quest for 7 features, leading into what is hopefully another epic Patriots' Super Bowl run.