Considering he was removed from the injury report Friday, Trent Brown being a healthy scratch 90 minutes before kickoff in Buffalo probably surprised many of you on the outside looking in. But internally, Brown has not only been testing the limits of the coaching staff's resolve but downright thumbing his nose at what's expected and required inside the walls at One Patriot Place. Hence, the Pats decided they'd rather roll with Vederian Lowe, who hasn't shown he's a left tackle in this league - or maybe even a right - than play the undependable Brown.
"We played the players who wanted to play," Bill Belichick said after the game without further elaboration..
Per sources, Brown's lateness - which he denied earlier this season - is a constant issue. The veteran, who's on his third team (and 2nd stop in New England) despite having top-10 tackle talent, hasn't taken to coaching and is looked upon by those in the room as an independent contractor concerned only with himself and his dollars.
The latter has also been an issue for the Pats and Brown since the spring. He believed the team would take care of him long-term - he told Sophie Weller from A to Z Sports precisely that. Instead, all they were willing to do was give him a raise of $2 million this summer in an attempt to assuage the moody big man's feelings and perhaps motivate him to play, something he didn't have much interest in during training camp (and certainly for mandatory mini-camp). That worked - for a time.
Brown played at a relatively high level for the first seven weeks of the season but suffered ankle and knee injuries during the week eight loss to Miami. He wouldn't find his way back into the lineup until week 12.
Internally, I'm told, there was belief Brown could have returned before and did not. The belief was that he was protecting himself and his future earnings in a season without the promise of a postseason. With the number of players on the roster who were playing through injuries - including those on the offensive line - needless to say, that hasn't gone over very well (and nor should it).
"A lot of us - almost all - are fighting for each other and for pride, even though the results aren't what any of us want," one player told me. "It sucks that not everyone is willing to put it out there. I hope people who sign the checks are paying attention."
Meanwhile, Bailey Zappe found himself repeatedly under siege against the Bills. That's not exactly an uncommon theme for the Pats quarterbacks this season - be it Mac Jones or Zappe - but this was - by my count - the 9th different starting offensive line combination this season. Had Brown consistently given a damn here in December, perhaps the pass protection looks a letter better. After all, he is their second-best lineman (David Andrews has not only been more consistent but, you know, plays every week), so there's a good chance.
Instead, Zappe had to put all those fancy footwork drills into effect and, even then, was sacked three times and pressured countless others. On one of those pressures, Jalen Reagor didn't read the blitz, and not only was Zappe intercepted, but Rasul Douglas took it the distance to make it 20-7 Buffalo at that point.
Following the game, David Andrews praised his teammates for playing hard and could barely muster a sentence when asked about Brown. The captain's right, with very few exceptions, but one of the biggest, both in size and actions, has been Brown. That shouldn't be lost on whoever decides who stays and goes this offseason.
