The Quest for 7: Brady & Patriots to talk contract, All things combine, Top TE available, Links 2.26.20

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. Hop on this Quest magic carpet, and let the links transport you to the NFL combine. Greg Bedard of the Boston Sports Journal starts our journey with his Patriots Combine Roundup, Day 1: Falcons TE Austin Hooper will be a FA; Titans, Raiders coy about QB situations, Tom Brady. Lots of info on where New England's offseason plot is headed.

2. Bringing tears to this story, Nicole Yang of Boston.com shares with the world Brady's emotional message about the deaths of Kobe and Gianna Bryant. Their passing has affected many. Appreciate what time you have, and the ones you love.

3. Plot twists don't always have to come at the end of a story. Doug Kyed of NESN gives us the full list of what college prospects New England spoke with today at the combine. Smokescreens, or real interest? Dun! Dun! Dunnn!

4. Time to get to the true heart of this tale. Bernd Buchmasser of Pats Pulpit shares the action-packed news that the Patriots will meet with Brady's agent at the NFL combine later this week. Let's all hope those flashy breaking news alerts start blowing up our phones soon with the GOAT coming back!

5. With the Patriots' lack of cap space, these supporting side characters are more important than the high-priced star-studded leads. Chris Roling of Bleacher report gathers a coupon-clipping list of potential NFL free agent steals. Let's hope Grandma Belichick's coupon purse is bursting at the seams.

6. Ryan Cearfoss of GoingFor2.com didn't get the compensatory picks memo, but he gives it his best shot in his 2020 NFL mock draft. Also, Steve Smith Sr. of NFL.com gives us his nine instant impact receivers that won't cost a first-round pick.

7. In the climactic conclusion to this story, the Patriots are about to receive an extra first-round pick. Oh. Wait. ... Forgot the league only collects justice from the Patriots, but never gives them it. #JetsTamperWithRevis. Henry McKenna of Patriots Wire reports how Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians deliberately tampers with the Patriots. Damn Bruce. Just offer Brady a contract right in front of Belichick why don't you?

STEVE'S SOAPBOX

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

Part 2 of 2 series. Here's my all-time underrated Patriots team of the past 20 years. Remember, this doesn't mean these players are the best Patriot ever at their position. It just means most fans and sports media didn't give these guys enough credit or took them for granted ... in Stupid Steve's opinion of course. Here's the most overrated from yesterday.

DEFENSE:

Mike Wright, DT: Prototypical High-Motor player who felt like he made the most of his limited snaps. Lacking talent didn't lead to a lack of being in the quarterback's face.

Lawerence Guy, DT: Rivals Vince Wilfork in difficulty to move and plays big snaps for a big guy. Moves laterally along the line of scrimmage surprisingly well and you rarely see this plow truck going backward.

Trey Flowers, DE: Sack numbers say he isn't better than Chandler Jones. Patriots fans know better. Patriots' best and most consistent defender in the 2016, 2017, and 2018 playoffs, but that's hardly ever mentioned. A wall against the run, but like his numbers, that isn't sexy. Would easily be a 15 sack-a-year guy if he didn't obey gap responsibilities, but he does, which is also why he's truly great. All team, all the time.

Jarvis Green, DE: Excellent, yet barely recognized pass-rusher who could have had double-digit sacks in a standard 4-3 defense with starter snaps. Cursed with a backup role due to playing on the greatest defensive line in Patriots history.

Roman Phifer, LB: Came to the Patriots an old man, but that didn't stop him from coming 7 take-downs short of collecting three straight seasons with a hundred tackles. Big cog of the beginning part to this dynasty's defense.

Tully Banta-Cain, LB: See Mike Wright, just as an outside linebacker. Didn't let lack of ability hinder him from making an impact and carving out a decent NFL career.

Patrick Chung, FS: Never great. Never elite. Has coverage weaknesses. But your eyes tell you how important he's been during these past 5 years. A poor man's Lawyer Milloy, who was a pretty damn good player.

FS??????? No one: Why? See, Jordan Richards, Duron Harmon, Tavon Wilson, Brandon Meriweather and Eugene Wilson. James Sanders was possible, but his numbers and impact were as pale as my bald melon.

Kyle Arrington, CB: Excellent tackler for a Pip-squeak. His hard work led to a starting cornerback job for a bit, even though he only had the talent of a fringe defensive back.

Jonathan Jones, CB: Not having Malcolm Butler was the biggest reason for a porous performance by the Patriots defense in Super Bowl 52, but not having Johnathan Jones wasn't too far behind. (Belichick and Patricia's gameplan is wedged in there somewhere.) Starting to get the recognition he deserves.

Assante Samuel, CB: Will always be the #1 reason in my eyes for losing Super Bowl 42, but man was he a great corner. Patriots fans weren't too bitter when the Patriots let him walk, (probably from said Super Bowl drop) but the parade of crap corners after his departure didn't stop until Darrelle Revis came to town ... six years later.

OFFENSE:

Jacoby Brissett, QB: Was overlooked during his time in New England from the whole Jimmy Garoppolo situation, but ended up being better than anyone thought he'd be.

Dion Lewis, RB: Averaged 4.5+ yards-per-carry in three years with the Patriots and was a nice receiving threat. He hasn't worked out for Tennessee, but was a great fit in the Patriots' system. Should have paid the 5 mill a year to keep him and use the Sony Michel 1st round pick on a more important position.

Danny Woodhead, RB: Tough kid, surprisingly good running between the tackles, and made his fair share of clutch plays for the team. Too bad he wasn't able to get a ring. He deserved one.

Sebastian Vollmer, LT: I know he played mostly right tackle, but Light and Solder playing for so many years there that there isn't much of a sample. But Vollmer had 5 straight games in 2009 where Light missed time, and Vollmer didn't allow a sack and did something Light was never able to do ... man-handle Dwight Freeney. Probably should have taken over the job the following season while moving the older Light to right tackle.

Joe Andruzzi, LG/RG: His 911 story often overshadowed the fact that he was a really good player. Patriots signed him off the streets, and he carved out a nice little run for himself. Played two seasons at right guard, and one at left.

David Andrews, C: Boy did we all find out how underrated he was this year. Enough said.

Stephen Neal, RG: Like Andruzzi, his Wrestler-turned-football-player background story overshadowed the fact that he was a very good pro. In the playoffs with the bright lights on, I'd take Neal any day of the week over Logan Mankins.

Tom Ashworth, RT: You rarely noticed him, and that's always a good thing when you're an offensive lineman. Even played some left tackle in 2005 when Light went down.

Martellus Bennett, TE: Matt Lengeeeeeeel. With Gronk out for the year, this was your tight end in Super Bowl 51 if you didn't have Martellus Bennett. Marty was a big factor in that game, and we probably don't pull off the comeback without him. Was thinking Christian Fauria, but we still win in 2003 and 04 without him. We don't win in 2016 with Lengel at TE.

David Givens, WR: There was quite the uproar when we didn't keep Branch. There should have been equal uproar for not keeping Givens. He was so good in our system.

Danny Amendola, WR: Playoff Danny gets appreciated around here, but when you look at the role he played in winning Super Bowls 49 and 51, and how he almost single-handedly won Super Bowl 52, he was more crucial than we probably remember.

 

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