Bedard Columns

Bedard: Dave Ziegler staying might have averted personnel disaster for Patriots

POSTED: 2:01 PM January 12, 2021

Bill Belichick would have found a replacement — maybe even a former lieutenant brought back into the fold — and surely everyone would have said all the right things. But...

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NFL Playoffs: Ravens get revenge vs. Titans, will take on Bills; Steelers embarrassed by Browns

POSTED: 3:27 AM January 11, 2021

Some thoughts on Sunday’s slate of NFL playoff games, after we give you the schedule for next weekend: SATURDAY 4:35 p.m.: #6 Rams (11-6) at #1 Packers (13-3), FOX BetOnline.ag Line:...

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NFL Playoffs: Tom Brady, Bucs survive against Taylor Heinicke, Washington; Bills advance

POSTED: 2:41 AM January 10, 2021

Some thoughts on an interesting day of football, with three more games scheduled for Sunday: Buccaneers 31, Washington 23 • If you would have told me this morning that Tom...

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Completed Q&A: Bedard on Patriots/NFL Playoffs 01.08.21

POSTED: 4:03 PM January 7, 2021

Well, I’m sure there will be no shortage of questions on the state of the Patriots, Nick Caserio, the personnel department, Chase Winovich (podcast dropping soon that addresses it) and...

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Bedard: Lingering thoughts on Nick Caserio’s departure, Josh McDaniels’ prospects, Belichick’s pay

POSTED: 9:00 AM January 7, 2021

A few thoughts as we are about to embark on our usual end-of-season deep dive into the 2020 season and what it might portend for 2021: • Adam Schefter reported...

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Bedard: Nick Caserio appears to exit to Texans – why and what now in Patriots personnel?

POSTED: 11:37 PM January 5, 2021

After a bit of stealth maneuvering, Nick Caserio was in Houston today to interview for the Texans' general manager opening and the Houston Chronicle is reporting that "the Texans agreed...

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Bedard’s Breakdown: With more run in the season finale, an update on where Patriots youngsters stand for 2021

POSTED: 2:05 PM January 5, 2021

Enough of the pleasantries. The Patriots beat the Jets 28-14 in a game that utterly meaningless to both sides, so the motivation was personal and it was no surprise that...

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Bedard: Hopefully Bill Belichick is privately more honest about how Patriots got here than the public version

POSTED: 7:10 PM January 4, 2021

In the good times — 20 straight years worth — Bill Belichick just let the scoreboard do the talking and, boy, was it effective. But now, after a 7-9 season...

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Bedard: Patriots will have a lot of competition solving their biggest 2021 need at QB

POSTED: 9:38 PM January 3, 2021

at Gillette Stadium

FOXBOROUGH — You can get into all the hemming and hawing about Adam Schefter’s report/opinion/discussion regarding Cam Newton‘s future with the Patriots, but the sentiment was correct: Adam Schefter on...

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NFL Notebook: One last go-round for 2020 Patriots, and then an offseason like no other

POSTED: 6:56 AM January 3, 2021

And you thought last spring brought a lot of turmoil for the Patriots, with Tom Brady departing and several other free agents taking up residence elsewhere. You ain’t seen nothing...

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Completed Q&A: Bedard on Patriots/NFL 01.02.20

POSTED: 2:49 PM December 31, 2020

Well, the Patriots season we never thought would happen is limping to its conclusion. No shortage of questions about this team as they head into a huge offseason. So send...

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Bedard’s Breakdown: Bills’ rout shines light on season’s biggest disappointment – lack of individual improvement

POSTED: 10:42 AM December 31, 2020

There were a lot of things you could count on from Bill Belichick’s Patriots teams over the past two decades to the point you could set your clock by them....

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4 Plays to an L: Continued defensive mental mistakes, Cam Newton’s inexperience in scheme stand out in Bills loss

POSTED: 8:31 PM December 29, 2020

Taking a closer look at four key Patriots plays from Monday’s blowout loss to the Bills, including: – Terez Hall and Akeem Spence ending up in the wrong gap on an easy rushing...

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Bedard: Hopefully this Bills beatdown will spur Bill Belichick into another gear on personnel front

POSTED: 2:30 AM December 29, 2020

at Gillette Stadium

Offensively, defensively and, yes, even on special teams, the Bills completely dominated the Patriots. “They outplayed us across the board, outplayed us and out-coached us,” Belichick said.

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Bedard: It seems pointless to start Cam Newton vs. Bills, why won’t Belichick start Stidham?

POSTED: 9:00 AM December 28, 2020

Good luck getting an answer out of Belichick. He's gone full Jessup to the Daniel Kaffee's of the local media since the Nov. 1st loss to the Bills that was...

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NFL Notebook: What does Bill Belichick really want in the next quarterback?

POSTED: 6:00 AM December 27, 2020

Barring a re-signing and transformation by Cam Newton in the offseason, the Patriots will need a new starting quarterback. And that's unchartered territory for Belichick.

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Bedard: Where the Patriots’ offensive depth chart stands for 2021 – Who’s the next QB?

POSTED: 8:00 AM December 26, 2020

We took a look at where the Patriots’ defensive depth chart stands for 2021, after the news that Devin McCourty intends to return for another season. Might as well take...

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Bedard: With Devin McCourty likely back in the fold, resetting the 2021 Patriots defensive depth chart

POSTED: 1:28 PM December 24, 2020

Devin McCourty told WEEI on Thursday that barring an offseason change of heart, he will be back for his 12th season in New England. “I think it’s always tough when...

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Bedard: With Jedd Fisch’s departure for college, a succession plan for Josh McDaniels becomes complicated