The Quest for 7: Kraft speaks! Patriots players want back, Draft scouting, Links 1.23.20

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. Even though the halls of Gillette stadium are barren as players and coaches hit the golf course, Greg Bedard of Boston Sports Journal has been a busy man. After giving his take on if Eli Manning is Hall of Fame worthy, Greg gives BSJ readers exclusive insight on who impressed and who didn't out of these NFL hopefuls.

2. The Patriots were the oldest team in the league and are faced with many veterans who are no longer under contract. With that comes a lot of questions on who might be moving on to other teams or simply retiring. Mike Reiss of ESPN tells us which long-time Patriot isn't ready for AARP benefits and hopes to be back. Oliver Thomas of Pats Pulpit updates us on if this spiritual leader is hanging it up or moving on from the Patriots. Hurts to say, but personally, I'd let both go unless they are willing to take half of last year's salary. One is toward the top of the pay scale at a position that's being phased out, the other has been a good player for years, but has been paid like Ed Reed for a long time and he has never been that type of game-changer.

3. I've stated before that I love me some Colin Cowherd. His takes are well thought out and he never says anything outlandish just for ratings or pub. Ricky Doyle of NESN writes about Mr. Cowherd giving several reasons why Tom Brady will stay with the Patriots. Can we add these to the Ten Commandments? "Thou shall keep Brady."

4. Imagine a one-hit-wonder band from your childhood, rereleasing a slightly different version of the same song every year, and people just kept slapping cash on the counter for more. Kevin O'Connell of Fox Sports gives us the tired old Rob Parker who once again is talking smack about Tom Brady and somehow keeps getting called onto sports news outlets to say the same ... damn ... things. Fast forward to 2028. Rob Parker on ESPN17: "Another thing about Brady, who by the way did I mention is overrated?" Zzzzzzzz.

5. It may be 3 months away, but that won't stop us fans from digging into who could become the next great Patriot. Chris Trapasso of CBSSports likes Brady to stay and for New England to get him help in his 2020 NFL mock draft. If you have other players you're pining for, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com gives his top 50 prospects rankings from the upcoming draft. Can't we just cancel the Super Bowl and have the draft instead?

6. With Julian Edelman getting sent to his concrete and metal room with no dessert a couple weeks back, the Patriots might want to consider hiring a team bail bondsman. The Spun's Andrew Holleran wrote a piece letting us know which other Patriot was arrested for drug possession. I had been begging Belichick to move this kid to safety, where his physical build would fit perfectly and he'd help an aging position of need. Now I just hope he's on the team.

7. What might be the biggest story in the history of mankind, (well at least in the world of Stupid Steve,) Mike Chiari of Bleacher Report gives us the glorious news on what Robert Kraft's plans are for Tom Brady. Now maybe Patriots fans could finally get some sleep!

STEVE'S SOAPBOX

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

After my recent mythical 4-part (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4) Soapbox tournament between the four greatest Patriots teams of all-time to see who was the absolute best, I needed to re-peel the scab of that 2007 team. The scars are permanent, and all of the Jerry Jones plastic surgery in the world can't fix them, but I just have to. From least responsible to most:

#6. Luck: Yup. It was bad. A blizzard of flukes fell from the Phoenix desert sky. But there's luck in every game — whether equal or not — for both teams.

#5. Dean Pees: Calling a blitz that left 4'2 Ellis Hobbs in single coverage against 9'7 Plaxico Burress was just ... wow.

#4. Brady: He was enough of a veteran at that point to read the room and audible to change the situation. What was the situation?

#3. Offensive line: What was supposed to be a star-studded group of elite blockers, was turned into the Matador Ole squad. Especially Logan Mankins.

#2. Josh McDaniels: It was crystal clear from the start that the O-line didn't have it that day. the Visor never scrapped the bombs-away game plan that required time and for Brady to take seven-step drops. Every screen pass needed to be dusted off. Every dink-and-dump route brought back to life. But nope. Like Brady, McDaniels never adjusted.

#1. Asante Samuel: When you have a pass coming toward you — that's the equivalent to a beachball being underhanded lobbed — and you drop the interception that would solidify undefeated ... yes, you are most to blame. One play. One kindergarten catch. History is made.

And someone burn that 16-0 banner, then launch it to Mars, and burn it again.

Be on the lookout for more The Quest for 7 features. Want more Salty Tears and Soapbox? Click on my name above and scroll down for previous Quests!