Bedard Columns

Bedard’s Breakdown (Defense): Mike Pennel comes to play; is it too late? (Update: Apparently)

POSTED: 3:48 PM August 25, 2019

UPDATE: Mike Pennel has been informed of his release, according to Mike Reiss. Pretty much said my piece on the defense, especially the starters, after Thursday night’s game. And with...

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Bedard’s Breakdown (Offense): Jarrett Stidham provided evidence for and against him being Patriots’ lone backup QB

POSTED: 5:57 PM August 23, 2019

If Bill Belichick went with rookie quarterback Jarrett Stidham — and not Brian Hoyer — behind Tom Brady against the Panthers in order to gain more evidence as to whether...

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Bedard: The defense is now the heart and soul of these Patriots

POSTED: 3:40 AM August 23, 2019

at Gillette Stadium

This might be sacrilege to say in these parts, especially after a meaningless third preseason game, but it might be time for Tom Brady to embrace the idea of being...

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Defensive 1-on-1 totals and awards: More evidence Michael Bennett should be rush upgrade over Trey Flowers

POSTED: 3:55 PM August 22, 2019

All the reps with a dummy quarterback and legendary line coach Dante Scarnecchia standing behind the defense holding up the snap count are over — at least from public view, as the...

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Offensive 1-on-1 totals: Another outstanding camp from Joe Thuney puts focus on contract

POSTED: 2:48 PM August 21, 2019

All the reps with a dummy quarterback and legendary line coach Dante Scarnecchia standing behind the defense holding up the snap count are over — at least from public view, as the...

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Road to 53, v.19.04 – Demaryius Thomas coming off PUP makes things even tougher

POSTED: 2:43 PM August 20, 2019

Well, what do you know? It sure appears that Demaryius Thomas is off the PUP list, as he showed up to practice today in uniform. That’s ahead of schedule from...

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Bedard’s Breakdown (offense): Was Belichick trying to test Stidham with an assist from Vrabel?

POSTED: 2:44 PM August 19, 2019

I have to admit, the Patriots’ offensive film was decidedly less insightful than the defensive side once you got past Isaiah Wynn’s debut, with a heavier lean on run (32 carries,...

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Bedard’s Breakdown (defense): Subtle play shows why Chase Winovich isn’t playing like a rookie

POSTED: 5:24 PM August 18, 2019

We really didn’t set out to make this corner the Chase Winovich Show, but two games into the preseason … it is what it is. And we’re also not ready to...

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Bedard: Breaking down Isaiah Wynn’s first 18 snaps of game action at left tackle for the Patriots

POSTED: 3:16 AM August 18, 2019

Ever since Trent Brown left in free agency for Oakland, we’ve been waiting to see if Isaiah Wynn, the 2018 first-round pick, was ready to take over the job. He’s...

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NFL Notebook: Patriots 2019 training camp awards – best, worst & everything in between

POSTED: 2:36 PM August 17, 2019

The Patriots 2019 training camp is done. Fourteen practices are in the books as New England begins to set the stage in earnest for the regular season. Consider this the...

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Bedard: Belichick told him he’d get an opportunity, and now Terrence Brooks is pushing for playing time

at St. Thomas Sports Park

POSTED: 3:09 PM August 16, 2019

NASHVILLE — After previous stops with the Ravens, Eagles and Jets, safety Terrence Brooks knew pretty much from his first day with the Patriots that his new home could be different....

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Bedard: Michael Bennett, Dont’a Hightower & the Patriots already making sweet music together

at St. Thomas Sports Park

POSTED: 7:59 PM August 14, 2019

NASHVILLE — You almost felt bad for the Titans. They didn’t know. Nobody knows. At one point during Wednesday’s joint practice against the Titans, the Patriots ran one of their...

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Bedard: Why did Jakobi Meyers go undrafted, and other burning questions we’re left with as Patriots conclude Gillette training camp

POSTED: 4:39 PM August 13, 2019

at Gillette Stadium

FOXBOROUGH — The Patriots wrapped up the Gillette Stadium portion of their training camp on Tuesday with a light walkthrough. It was good to see new tight end Eric Saubert...

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Bedard: If Dont’a Hightower plays as good as he looks this season … look out

POSTED: 7:37 AM August 13, 2019

at Gillette Stadium

But if you've been out to Patriots practice this summer, the difference may be subtle but it's unmistakable: Dont'a Hightower looks good. Like really good. And if that's any indication...

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NFL Notebook: Patriots’ youth impressive, but finding roster spots for them will be tough

POSTED: 8:14 AM August 11, 2019

As we already chronicled in this space, the performance by the younger depth players on the Patriots was probably the most impressive aspect of the preseason opener. And we explained why that could...

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Bedard’s Breakdown (offense): Jarrett Stidham’s ability on little things at QB show possible bright future

POSTED: 2:15 PM August 10, 2019

As I said the other day, one of the commandments of covering the NFL is, “Thou shall not read too much into a preseason game, either positively or negatively.” You...

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Bedard’s Breakdown (defense): Chase Winovich pops in variety of ways in NFL debut

POSTED: 3:01 PM August 9, 2019

When you win your preseason opener 31-3 over the Lions, that means that a lot of young players had good performances. The Patriots certainly had that from Jakobi Meyers, N’Keal...

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Bedard: Just 1 preseason game, but Patriots showed potential for much-needed youth movement

POSTED: 5:25 AM August 9, 2019

This precursor should go before every story written about the preseason, especially the first game, even when you win 31-3 as the Patriots did against the Lions on Thursday night. So...

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Bedard: Elandon Roberts & Duron Harmon know competition for spots has only increased this year