News item ... Aaron Rodgers told the Pat McAfee Show that it's his intention to play for the Jets. Packers just have to finalize the trade.
That doesn't really change what I was going to write, but it might just amplify the point ...
The Patriots, to this point in free agency, have been completely underwhelming.
Again ... to this point, because things can change starting at 4 p.m. today as the new league officially starts. Deals can be signed, trades can be consummated.
As of 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday, the Patriots ...
• Look like they're running it back on defense. Certainly a good defense overall, but it has struggled against better offenses and QBs. In the AFC East you now have Josh Allen, Aaron Rodgers and the Dolphins with a ton of firepower (along with a much better defense).
• Are seemingly cornering the market on middling offensive tackles with Riley Reiff, Calvin Anderson, Yodny Cajuste getting tendered amazingly, to join Conor McDermott, Andrew Stueber and, for now, Trent Brown.
• The Patriots let the one thing that consistently worked in the passing offense the past three years — even with Cam Newton — for peanuts when Jakobi Meyers left for the Las Vegas Raiders. That left them with DeVante Parker, who has durability issues, Kendrick Bourne who regressed last year without Josh McDaniels and Mick Lombardi, and Tyquan Thornton, who is a work in progress.
So the Patriots, as of this moment, are definitely worse than they were last season when they finished 8-9, albeit with a crappy offensive coaching staff that has been improved.
Our friends at FanDuel agree:
AFC East current odds
Bills +120
Jets +220
Dolphins +370
Patriots +800
Here's the thing ... I refuse to believe the Patriots are just, basically, standing pat. Mostly because the alternative is unfathomable.
What do I think is going on?
Belichick has slowly been accumulating cap space. I'm not here for a cash vs. cap argument. I'm dealing with how Belichick does things. Yes, it's certainly outdated in my opinion. The Patriots have about $22 million in cap space right now with all the moves accounted for.
But I think, with the moves they have made at offensive tackle, they are setting it up that Brown is traded out. That would net them about $10 million in cap space.
The Patriots have to have trades/signings lined up with that cap space. If they use Meyers' money and get better at the slot position — which I have been advocating for the past few years — then fine. If it's JuJu Smith-Schuster, who they are involved with, for the same money, he's better than Meyers. UPDATE: They got him for same money as Meyers.
If they add a DeAndre Hopkins or Odell Beckham or DJ Chark, they would be better at receiver than they were in recent years. And moves of that ilk can still happen.
If they sign Orlando Brown to play LT using Brown's money, they are better.
I believe things like that will happen. There are still plenty of players out there that can help this team, and they need help. They can get some help in the draft, especially at cornerback, receiver and tight end.
I don't believe the Meyers decision says anything about Mac Jones. I mean, Belichick used to screw Tom Brady and his favorite receivers (Deion Branch, Wes Welker, Julian Edelman) on a regular basis. This is what Belichick does with offense. He'd never do it on defense, especially in his late-career comfort stage, but he does on offense.
Do I rule out them making a big swing in the draft or with Lamar Jackson to upgrade at quarterback? No, I don't. I would be stunned, but I don't rule it out. No one knows what the hell Belichick is going to do, not even important people in the building.
If moves are not coming, then I don't know what the hell Belichick is doing, and you could make the argument that he's trying to get fired George Costanza-style. The only thing left for him to do is to string a Lombardi Trophy on the back of his car and do donuts in the Gillette Stadium parking lot barking shots at Robert Kraft.
I refuse to believe that Belichick is going to field a non-competitive team this season, and that's what they are right now.
I know he overrates scheme and coaching, and underrates talent. He hasn't change with the times, and undervalues quarterbacks in today's game.
But he can't think just rolling it back on defense, adding some offensive coaches, plucking a few studs in the draft is really going to make the Patriots a whole lot better.
I refuse to believe that ... but check back tomorrow.