Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Eight is Enough? Opt-Outs and Possible Arrivals for 2020 New England Patriots - 8/3/2020

Episode Date: August 3, 2020

An interesting week gave way to an almost equally interesting weekend for the New England Patriots.. After WR Marquise Lee and TE Matt LaCosse opted to forgo the 2020 season, the count of Patriots opting out now stands at eight. However, three prominent Patriots captains are all in; and one might just be on the fence. Joining host Mike D’Abate is Ian Glendon of Full Press Coverage to talk the latest roster transactions in Foxboro. The duo even discuss whether a possible reunion with WR Antonio Brown could, or should, be feasible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Patriots fans, you are now locked in to the Locked On Patriots Podcast. I'm going to show you how to make a beautiful and beautiful flower. I'm going to use a small flower pot. I'm going to use a small pot Hello to all of you, Foxborough faithful. Welcome to Maybe, Maybe Not Monday here on the Lockdown Patriots Podcast, your daily home for news, notes, and analysis infused with the occasional opinion on your six-time Super Bowl champions,

the New England Patriots. Patriots Nation, thank you for joining me to kick off yet another week here on the Locked On Airwaves. My name is Mike DeBate, your host of the Locked On Patriots podcast, which of course is a proud part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. And folks, because it's your team every day, that means your questions, comments, and feedback always welcomed, greatly appreciated, and I encourage you to share that feedback anytime by reaching out to me and following me on Twitter at M-D-A-B-A-T-E-F-P-C.

And while you're out there showing some summer loving to the Twitterverse, please be sure to follow the Locked On Patriots account as well at L-O underscore Patriots. Patriots fans, it is Monday, August 3rd, 2020. Not only kicking off a new week here on the pod, but a brand new month as well. The eighth month of what has been a tumultuous year. And folks, that number eight took on a whole new significance over the weekend in Foxborough. I'll get to that in just a moment. But as you're listening to this podcast, New England Patriots players have either already reported or are currently reporting to Gillette Stadium for physicals and equipment distribution. That's right, folks, the boys are back in town. And today kicks off two weeks of strength and conditioning. And as the team reported last week, practice will begin for the New England Patriots on the field on August 12th. Based on the agreed protocols between the NFL and the NFL Players Association,

the first of 14 padded sessions in Foxborough will begin on August 17th. So some light at the end of the tunnel in terms of seeing football back on the field here, folks, within the next couple of weeks. Over the weekend, the media had the opportunity to meet with Bill Belichick on Friday afternoon, and then, of course, on Sunday afternoon to meet with the Patriots team captains. And those interactions were definitely informative, and even a little eye-opening. I've said many times here on the pod that this is going to be a training camp like no other, and having listened to Bill Belichick on Friday, and then again to the team captains yesterday, that may be an understatement. But it's not all doom and gloom,

folks. There is some positivity to come out of all of this. And here today to help me break it all down is my good friend, the padrino of positivity, Ian Glendon of Full Press Coverage. And we will discuss the Patriots' opt-outs. How the statements made by team captains yesterday to the media might provide even more insight as to what this team might look like on the field in 2020. And of course, as we always do when Ian drops by the pod, we're going to talk a little Tom Brady and even Antonio Brown, who over the weekend, folks, we learned that AB would be subject to an eight-game suspension

when and if he chooses to sign a contract. Is there even a chance that the Patriots might kick the tires on him? Well, we're going to ask Ian that question, along with putting him on the hot seat to share his favorite Tom Brady moment from his days in Foxborough. Because as you may or may not know, the GOAT himself turns 43 years old today. And in a normal year, we'd be bringing you all the details in Foxborough about a community happy birthday sing. Sometimes they even had little GOATs running around in Foxborough. It was always a happening. I, for one, do miss those days, but we we move on folks. But not before a little Tom Brady nostalgia. So sit tight. A lot to get to on

today's pod. Always my honor to share the microphone with my good buddy Ian. And I sincerely hope that you enjoy our best attempt to bring you our wisdom and counsel when it relates to your New England Patriots. But Pats fans, to open the show, I said that the number eight took on a strong significance when it came to the Pats this weekend. And I'm not just talking about the changing of the calendar. When I last took to the airwaves here on Locked On Patriots on Friday, we were still operating under the assumption that the Patriots would have 6 players opting out of the 2020 season amidst concerns over COVID-19.

Well, that total increased over the weekend for your New England Patriots, and it increased by increments of one for every day of the weekend. It started on Saturday morning where Jim McBride of the Boston Globe announced that wide receiver Marquise Lee was planning to opt out of the 2020 season. Lee at that point became the seventh opt-out, joining Dante Hightower, Patrick Chung, Danny Vitale, Marcus Cannon, Najee Torin, and the sentimental favorite of one Thomas, the Count of Murphy, Fisto Murphy, Brandon Bolden. And as an addendum to McBride's report, ESPN's Mike Reese further explained that Lee became a first-time father in February. As a result, his decision was made with the intent of protecting his newborn daughter,

Aaliyah, and his family. And as I've said a couple of times here on the pod, Lee faced an uphill battle to make this roster to begin with, folks. His primary competition was going to be veteran Demir Bird, who seems to have an inside track on making the roster, undrafted rookies such as Jeff Thomas and Will Hastings, even Gunnar Ryszalski. But I do feel comfortable in saying that if Lee was healthy, he would have made that decision for the Patriots coaching staff pretty tough. He has a great deal of speed, a lot of savvy at the position. I think he could have been a nice addition for what was a very team-friendly contract.

But ultimately, Lee made a choice. You absolutely respect it. And he's chosen to sit out 2020. But it wasn't over yet, folks. On Sunday, we all asked ourselves whether 8 would be enough. And I provide extra points for anyone that got that analogy. But we certainly hope 8 is enough, because yet another opt-out was reported on Sunday morning. Tight end Matt Lacoste became the 8th Patriot to forego the season. And much like his fellow teammates that made the choice, Matt cited family reasons for doing so.

His wife Jessica is pregnant and the due date falls during the 2020 season, so you can definitely understand his cause for concern. But Lacoste's decision might be a little more plant-altering for the New England Patriots than Lee's decision was. The tight end position is going to be highly scrutinized for this team. Patriots tight ends ranked last in the NFL in both receptions and targets last year. In fact, Patriots were tied with the Chicago Bears for the fewest receiving touchdowns from tight ends with only two.

You know that's not going to fly in 2019. That's why the Patriots used two valuable third round picks on tight ends in this year's draft, Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene. They're going to be called upon to have big seasons. Rounding out the depth chart, the Patriots still have incumbent Ryan Izzo and a couple of undrafted rookies in Rashad Berry and Jake Burt. But Lacoste was counted on to bring some veteran presence, some veteran leadership, and I still believe the Patriots are going to bring in a veteran at this position. At the time of the recording of this podcast, we're starting to hear rumblings that former

Tennessee Titans tight end Delaney Walker might be on the Patriots' radar. If I were you, I'd keep a sharp eye on this one, Patriots fans. Walker's no longer in his prime, there's no question about that, folks, but he could bring a great deal of experience to Foxborough. I think he could take on a mentorship role to rookies like Asiasi and Keene, similar to what Algie Crumpler was to Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski in their rookie seasons. I think we'd all agree that worked out pretty well, but there are other options at tight end out there as well.

We hear Jordan Reed's name. We also hear Charles Clay's name emerging. There's still some minor rumblings that the Patriots might be interested in trading for a guy like David Njoku. Still a lot of options out there, but I will continue to bring you the very latest on the potential fits as the week continues, and of course, when and if a signing takes place. And if the Patriots do bring in a veteran option at tight end, it no longer seems like money would be that much of a barrier, as after all the roster transactions, and this of course according to Friday's guest here on the pod, the salary cap top gun, the Pats cap himself, Miguel Benzon, both Lee's and LaCossa's decisions set the Patriots salary cap space number at

$26,045,302. And again, check out Miguel's number at Pats cap. Miguel was also very careful to note that this number is expected to increase by $9,237,499. And that is pending an expected agreement that the COVID-19 amendments to the NFL and NFLPA collective bargaining agreement indeed moves the 2020 signing bonus prorations into 2021. So again, folks, items that I'll be keeping a sharp eye on this week, I suggest you do as well.

And as more information is made available, we'll continue to bring it to you right here on Locked on Patriots. And last but certainly not least, this courtesy of Field Yates of ESPN on Sunday evening, who reported that Patriots running back Sonny Michel, wide receiver Mohamed Sanu, and linebacker Brandon King have been placed on the physically unable to perform list. Those designations were made official when they were listed on Sunday's NFL transaction wire. Now, this is something I'd keep an eye on, maybe not a sharp eye on. Not a huge surprise here, folks.

Don't forget, it was widely reported that Sonny had foot surgery in the offseason. He's still working his way back to 100% health. Mohamed Sanu seems to be a little ahead of schedule, but he's still coming off a surgical procedure of his own when it comes to repairing his high ankle sprain. Lastly, we all know that Brandon, who's a core special teamer for the Patriots, spent the entirety of the 2019 season on injury reserve after tearing his quadricep. Now, as for whether or not this leads to Sonny or Mohamed or Brandon missing any significant time for the Pats still remains to be seen.

They might end up missing time, or it might just be a precautionary measure. Either way, folks, I wouldn't get too worried about this. Players can come off of the Pup list at any time, so I'm sure the Patriots will be doing their due diligence, keeping a sharp eye on how these guys progress during camp, and if they continue to show progress day in and day out, you can bet that they'll be taken off that list pretty quickly. But even if Sonny Michel, Mohamed Sanu, and Brandon King

are given a clean bill of health sooner rather than later, the Patriots still have a number of roster questions to sort out in the next couple of weeks. Will the leadership of their captains help them to push forward? Or might another opt-out force the Patriots' hand into making an unusual roster move? Well, these are the questions that we'll tackle next here on the Locked On Patriots podcast when I welcome in my good friend Ian Glendon of Full Press Coverage. But first, folks, as we delve into the last full month of summer, we still continue to

adjust to a new way of living. We get better and better at it each day, folks, but it's still a challenge. And one of those biggest challenges is deciding what to do at mealtime. Outdoor and indoor dining options have gotten better, but they're still not where we'd like them to be. And sometimes, folks, you're just too busy. Between never-ending laundry cycles and incoming emails, you've got plenty on your to-do list.

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enter promo code LOCKEDON. Don't forget, that's code LOCKEDON for $5 off your first order with DoorDash. Patriots fans, my guest today is a great friend to Locked On Patriots, but he's a better friend and a colleague to me. On the birthday of Tom Brady, the GOAT himself, he continues to tirelessly fight the good fight for logic when it comes to all things related to Tom and the connection that he will always have to New England. And that's why he's still here. But there is still a great deal of New England red, white, and blue in this man as well. He is the editor-in-chief of Full Press Coverage,

the host of a plethora of shows on Full Press Radio, one of which I am honored to share the microphone with him every day, Monday through Friday morning on FBC Radio Live. And he's the latest and possibly greatest member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat. He is my esteemed colleague, my best good friend, Ian Glendon joins us today. Ian, hello. La la la. You know, I was going to do my regular hello, but I mean, that introduction was, well, I mean, I think it spanned 20 minutes, but I appreciate that. That was quite the introduction. I like that. Oh, of course. You know, every time you're on the microphone with me here, my friend,

I always have to, contractually obligated folks, no, I'm only kidding. No, I say it from the heart. I mean every word of it, and you know that. And, you know, not only are you a great colleague, a great friend, but I respect your opinions to the highest level. And we've got a lot to talk about, my friend. So that makes one person. Well, you know what? All you need is one. All you need is that chance, you know?

And we're going to get to that chance in a little bit, folks. So keep that one under your hat for just a moment. But, buddy, every time you're here, really, I think every every day there really is no shortage of things to talk about in patriots nation and what started out as an interesting week last week turned into an almost equally interesting weekend the count of patriots that are opting out stands at eight at this point um three prominent captains however are in uh devvin, Devin McCourty for right now, which we believe. Um, and, uh, right now we believe that David Andrews, um, Matthew Slater, and of course,

James White have all pretty much confirmed that they're in. Um, one of those is on the fence a little bit, and that is Devin McCourty folks. We will get into that in just a moment. Uh, and just when you thought you were out he pulled you back in i'm talking about antonio brown he was back in the news as well all of that on our agenda today buddy so you know what let's get right into it we'll start with opt out of palooza that has surrounded foxborough for the last week or so dante hightower pat Patrick Chung, Brandon Bolden, Danny Vitale, Marcus Cannon, Marquise Lee, Najee Taurin, Matt Lacoste, all choosing to forego the 2020 season amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, Ian, each of these is a loss for the Patriots and some more prominent than others, but these are eight veterans and most of them, if not all of them, figured to be in the mix for a roster spot this year. Buddy, you've covered this team. We've seen the Patriots take hits and keep moving forward on more than one occasion in the past. But the Patriots still have a lot of talent on this team. And, of course, they've got Cam Newton at the helm now. Seeing that you are typically positive in your outlook,

I figured you would be the perfect person to pose this question to today. What is it about the next man up mantra that leads you to believe that the Patriots can weather the storm? Well, first, if people think that eight opt outs is a lot, Tom Brady and the Patriots went to nine Super Bowls. So it kind of puts you in perspective a little bit. I just want to throw that out there. I like that. No. Yeah. Yeah. It's good. You know, like I said, one more and they could have one player for every Super Bowl that they went to under Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. But no, look, I think everyone realizes this. And this was I can't remember if it was I believe it was Matthew Slater who kind of further proved what we believed. And that was that this organization between Robert Kraft,

Bill Belichick is putting zero pressure on these players to play. They're allowing them to make the decision they feel is best for their families and for themselves. And I think that goes a long way in how this team is ultimately going to perform because the guys that are going to stick around, these are the guys that are going to get the opportunity. And there's no animosity between the coaches and the players that are opting out. I mean, I think they all realize the situation and they understand it and realize this is just an unprecedented situation in the modern NFL. I mean, or in modern anything, really. So when it comes to the next man up mentality, that doesn't change. This, when it comes down to it, the circumstances

in which these players aren't playing is unique. The fact that they're not playing is not unique. These are situations that coaches, especially Bill Belichick, prepare for in every season. Because again, injuries in football, injuries can have the same effect in terms of a player being there one minute and gone the next. We've seen it. I mean, we all remember the low hit

on Rob Gronkowski in 2015. We knew right then, that was it. I'mowski in 2015. We knew right then that was it. Or I'm sorry, 2013. We knew right then he was done. And in an instant, you know, things changed. So to me, I always think that, yes, the circumstances that lead to these players being gone is unique. But at the end of the day, this is the same old Patriots

dealing with the same situations that they deal with every single season. And that's players that they count on to begin with aren't going to be there at the end of the day. And you got to adjust. And this team now can use that to their advantage because unlike in the past, you know, when a player goes down with injury, you don't all of a sudden get that that money available so there is options for the patriots when it comes to replacing these players something that's you know may not have been the case in years past if a player went down mid-season so my positivity is always going to surround bill belichick because again he's he's proven it year in and year out um this is going to be unique without tom brady but i do feel like they can still put a pretty good team together

despite the losses that they've already suffered because, again, there are options for them. So I think in a way I answered your question. I kind of went off the rails a little bit there, but I think you got the point. I don't think you went off the rails. Actually, I think you stayed on the rails. Don't sell yourself short, my friend.

You're a tremendous slouch. All right, rack that up, folks. How many times do I say that throughout the run off the rails. Actually, I think you stayed on the rails. Don't sell yourself short, my friend. You're a tremendous slouch. All right, rack that up, folks. How many times do I say that throughout the course of the week? I love the line. I can't help it. Ty Webb is secretly my hero, my friend. And, you know, I've got to take any opportunity I can to use those lines. But, no, all kidding aside, I really do.

I think you made some great points. The first point that I really want to reiterate was, first of all, yes, you are right. Matthew Slater did make those sentiments yesterday in his statement to the media. James White reiterated those as well, stating that there was no pressure from Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft, or any of the Patriots brain trust to either opt in or opt out. And we'll get into that in just a moment, because Devin McCourty had some interesting things to say yesterday that were an eye opener on those conferences. And I want to get your thoughts on that in just a bit but I think you bring it back to Bill Belichick you bring it back to Josh McDaniels you understand that this is a team that has had to overcome adversity before look there's no question about it Tom Brady is

not in that locker room to be the glue that he typically is in seasons like this. But there are moments that can change in the blink of an eye. We all remember 2008. You mentioned 2013 with Rob Gronkowski. 2008, all of a sudden, you're in the first game of the season. Bernard Pollard comes in contact with Tom Brady's lower half, and all of a sudden, it changes in the blink of an eye. It went from back-to-back undefeated seasons, possibly, to

do everything you need to do to protect Matt Castle. I think the mantra of that season actually became protect the castle. I remember them selling t-shirts, you know, protect Storm the Castle, protect this castle. That's what essentially needed to happen. So the Patriots needed to step up.

They needed to take that next man up mantra. And as long as Bill Belichick is there and the coaching staffs are in place to be able to weather those storms, they're going to be OK. And they'll be able to do that with the talent they have on this roster, whether it be Cam Newton taking snaps, whether it be Jared Stidham, regardless of how they put these guys out on the field, they're players and they're going to go out there and give you everything that they can. So I share your positivity, and I think that the Patriots are onto something here in terms of being able to weather the storm maybe better than some other teams would because of the infrastructure they have in place. But, buddy, on FPC Radio Live for the last week, we talked pretty extensively about players deciding to opt out. And with the exception of those that are only powered by a few feuding brain cells,

fans and media alike are respecting the decisions of these players to choose the best path for the families and for themselves. And yesterday, we in the media met with the Patriots team captains. And there was an eye-opening moment. There were a couple of good moments there and hearing the maturity and the class and the leadership in that Patriots locker room when it comes to these captains. But one moment in particular seemed to open the eye of mostly everybody, and that came at the mouth of Devin McCourty. Very sharp, very pointed comments toward the NFL.

And it was essentially regarding their choice or their efforts to move the opt-out deadline up even further Devin didn't mince words but he called it a joke he called it quote BS and he said that this was just an attempt to prevent other players from opting out now the McCourty twins Devin and his brother Jason have been very vocal right from the start about the challenges that this pandemic presents to players. And some had thought that they could be opt-out candidates themselves early on. That seemed to calm a bit last week as we got that initial wave of opt-outs, and then it looked like the Patriots were done, had a few more over the weekend. But yesterday's comments really ignited the speculation once again that Devin may be on the fence and maybe a little bit angry at the NFL right now.

And that could sway his decision based on what you've seen and covering Devin for years and based on what you heard from him yesterday. Do you believe that he's seriously considering opting out? And what do you think that's going to mean for the Patriots hopes to contend in 2020. Well, I think this is something we, you know, and I use the word speculate because that's all it was speculated over the last week or so was whether or not one or both of the McCourty's would end up opting out, given, you know, obviously how they view this situation. And, of course, some of the health issues that have plagued their family recently and, you know, in the past. So, you know, it wouldn't surprise me if he does, especially if, you know, that's the thing. These players can have all the confidence in the world and what the Patriots organization is doing for them.

And I think they do. And again, this is based on the words of some of the leaders of this team. I feel like they've, you know, the team itself has done what's necessary, or at least given these players a bit of comfort knowing that if they come to the facility, that they're going to be taken care of and their health is going to be the priority. Now, you can't say that for every team and every aspect of this league because again who who trusts the nfl in anything um i you know they you know in other circumstances and we've talked about it obviously in in when it comes to nfl investigations to you know how they you know how they kind of just throw their finger up and kind of just go with what the wind, you know, how the wind's going type of mentality that doesn't change just because all

of a sudden, you know, there's this new problem being faced by, you know, the league is facing that it just means they're going to do the same type of work that they've done in the past, which has been, you know, to say the least mediocre. So I mediocre. So I'm not surprised that Devin, who is very vocal and very much respected in this league, is expressing his concerns. And look, he's not going to sit there and not act on his words. If he doesn't feel like the NFL is in good faith trying to make things the safest possible for the players, I would not be surprised if he or his brother or both of them become number nine and 10

in the Patriots opt out list. Because, you know, and I would respect the decision that he made because I trust him in his words when it comes to how he feels about what the NFL is doing. Just because, again, I've seen how they've handled many different situations in the past. And, you know, hey, they've given me no reason to have confidence in them. Yeah, I mean, ultimately, it's going to be the decision of Devin, maybe his brother, Jason. We keep lumping them in together because they host the Double Coverage podcast and they seem to have very like minded philosophies on the subject. But look, it was Devin's comments yesterday that did set off a little bit of a groundswell that, well, maybe Devin is a little more opt-to-opt-out.

Pun on words there, folks. But a little more prone to opt-out than maybe he was just a few days ago. Ultimately, it's going to be his decision. And look, you're absolutely right. It's his decision to make. With regard to the NFL, there are a lot of different spectrums. And we actually talked about this a little bit on FBC Radio Live when we host our show, my friend. There are players that believe, like Devin, that this is a situation where the NFL maybe is not doing enough or they're leading players maybe into a pathway that is uncomfortable or maybe even unsafe or unhealthy for some players.

But there are a couple of Patriots that had some good things to say about the direction that the team is headed in, specifically the team, but also the NFL, one of which was David Andrews, which I was very surprised to see that he was as gung-ho to opt in as he has been. Look, this is a guy that had blood clots in his lungs last year, didn't really have much by way of a diagnosis in terms of why they occurred. There is a risk that those could possibly come back. And if there is, at this point, you look at the problems that he's had respiratorily and

a disease that affects the respiratory system. And you have to think that's a recipe for some difficulties. But he has been very steadfast, was very pointed yesterday in his comments that he's spoken to his wife, his family, his physicians especially. And he feels good about moving forward. Another guy that I also, you know, take a lot of stock into what he says is Matthew Slater. Slater is married to a pathologist. His wife has extensive experience in the medical field. And that has to be somewhat reassuring to hear that a doctor's husband feels good about his team's infection and prevention control plan.

That's something to me that says, well, okay, maybe they are putting some measures in place. So maybe it's not completely unsafe and unhealthy. Matthew himself said yesterday when he spoke to the media, I feel good about the direction we're headed in. So for every negative folks, there is a positive. There may still be some opt-outs. If it is Devin on the field, purely from an on thethe-field standpoint, folks, that would be pretty devastating for the Patriots secondary. But again, as we talked about in the last question, it's next man up, and there really is no team that's been better at next man up. But right now, we're going to fly under the assumption that Devin McCourty

will be in Foxborough this year playing for the New England Patriots, but we know that several players are not going to be. And, Buddy, you did not think I'd welcome you to the pod today and not talk a little bit about a certain wide receiver that might again be on the Foxborough radar. We all know who we're talking about here, folks. Is there a chance that we might see A.B. back in Foxborough? This and much more with Ian Glendon of full press coverage.

When the lockdown Patriots podcast continues. Pat's fans. My good friend and colleague, Ian Glendon is my guest today here on lockdown Patriots. And, but Antonio Brown is back in the news. Late Friday evening news broke that he would be serving an eight-game suspension when and if he returns to the NFL.

And the news broke just in time for your appearance here on the pod. I mean, you may think we orchestrated this, but it worked out very, very well because, as you know, whenever you're here on Locked on Patriots, we are contractually obligated to talk a little bit Antonio Brown. Now, in terms of destinations, if he were to sign, now that we know what teams would be up against to sign him, we hear rumblings about Seattle. We hear rumblings about Baltimore. There are some that even still say that Tampa Bay is a potential destination, but there's

still a very large contingent of Patriots fans that keep beating the A-beat in New England drum. And now I say this with a staunchest respect for our friendship, my friend, but you are like the Lloyd Christmas of A-B rules. So you're telling me there's a chance. But seeing that the Patriots might be in the market for some offensive help. Don't forget, over the weekend, they lost a couple of potential offensive weapons. Marquise Lee at

the wide receiver position, Matt LaCosse at tight end. They're missing Brandon Bolden, missing Danny Vitale in fullback. So they may be looking for some additional offensive firepower. They might even be looking at a period where they don't have guys like Sonny Michel, maybe even Mohamed Sanu. They're starting the season on Puff, as I said, to begin the show today. They may have to miss some time. Buddy, in your infinite wisdom, could the Patriots kick the tires on AB? But the better question really is should they? Well, okay. So I will always advocate for him to be signed on this team

for two different reasons. First, when brady was still the quarterback of the team i just felt and i feel like i'm i was right it was just a perfect combination between the two i still feel like they would at the very least have probably played in the super bowl had he been on this team the whole year last year but that's neither here nor there um a little different now obviously brady's here. So I don't think there's that necessity to bring him in because of, again, what could be between those two. However, and I'll say this like I say this for the Patriots, for the Bucs, for Seattle, for the Ravens, for any team that considers signing him, he's a hall of fame wide receiver the moment he's eligible so at 31 years old you bring him in because he's talented and and is that fair you

know is that is that you know fair in life okay probably not you know maybe he gets more chances than a player that that's not as good as him I mean that's just that's just how the NFL works but if you're a team that needs help at the wide receiver position if you have a player that's not as good as him. I mean, that's just how the NFL works. But if you're a team that needs help at the wide receiver position, if you have a player that gets injured, or if you have a player, a big-time receiver, that ends up opting out, and all of a sudden you have a team that's incredibly void at that position,

all of a sudden you're like, you know what? Come week nine, you can have Antonio Brown for the latter half of the season. You sign that up. Even with an extended break, not being on the football field, and at that point it had been nearly 14 months since he played meaningful football, you still bring him in because you know he works. I mean, he's not just sitting on the sidelines,

you know, getting out of shape. I mean, he's still working out. That's not that's not the problem. He's still a talented for the Patriots in terms of what they want to do. And again, you know, maybe maybe they do see a couple injuries. Maybe Mohamed Sanu can't get, you know, get himself right. You know, again, I'm just throwing out names that are on the team, but there's always situations that can arise and and potentially could arise. Murphy's law what can happen will happen you know and so you know you never know what's going to happen in september october that may precipitate this type of signing uh and that that's not just for the patriots i

mean that's for any team that may be interested in signing him and i'd imagine there are some out there especially now that they know that he's going to miss the first eight games of the season. There's some sense of security when it comes to how you can plan for his arrival now that you know what he's going to be missing. Yeah, without question. I think from a pure logistical standpoint, when you look at just the athletic prowess that AB can bring to the table, there probably should be more suitors than he has. Just from a pure football standpoint, this is still a guy that is going to be able to come in

and do what he needs to do to adapt to a system. For all of the distraction that he brings, and believe me when I tell you, folks, there is a lot of outside distraction that Antonio Brown brings to a team. I don't think he gets enough credit for being able to come in and acclimate to a system as quickly as he did last year in New England he came into a complex offensive system that some peers of his I shouldn't say peers but some very highly touted wide receivers have come into Foxborough and just for whatever reason have not been able to put it all together. You go back to guys like Joey Galloway, Chad Otrusenko, Reggie Wayne. I

mean, players that have come in here that have had tremendous careers elsewhere, but just for some reason could not put it all together in New England. A.B. came in here and was able to take to it like a fish to water very quickly. Now, obviously, the outside distractions and all of the difficulties that he had off the field derailed that. And nobody's blaming anybody but Antonio for that without any stretch of the imagination. But this is a guy that can come in and make an impact. Now, it's been almost a full year since we've seen him on a football field in meaningful competition.

I know he had that one workout, that cup of coffee type workout, but we're talking about being in practice, being in a game situation. There's going to be a lot of rust there. Whichever team takes him on is going to have to outweigh two very important questions, folks. One is, is Antonio Brown, even missing eight games, going to help us this season as we look toward a stretch run? Because don't forget, you can bring him in during training camp, and I think this might accelerate it. Why not, if you're thinking about bringing him in, come in and see what the guy has in training camp rather than let training camp go by, knowing that he's going to miss the first

eight games that he plays and then bringing him in for a tail end of the season doesn't make a whole lot of sense. This may accelerate any type of signing of teams that are anticipating this, but they're going to have to determine whether or not his prowess on the field is going to be worth an eight-game absence and whether or not that's going to be able to make sure that he's going to be able to come in and make an impact. The second impact, and really this is, I believe, the reason he won't end up coming to New England, is are all of the outside distractions simply worth it? Don't forget, there were some bridges burned on the way out of New England, and I'm not saying that Robert Kraft will not do what's best for business.

I believe he will, and I believe that Bill Belichick would, but there are some bridges that were burned. And don't forget, there's also the specter of the NFL still reserving the right to amend that type of a suspension if any type of legal investigations yield any type of additional information when it comes to some of the legal problems that Antonio's had. So I put this as very slim to none, but I don't think you can eliminate it simply because there's always that chance that Bill Belichick and the Patriots brain trust are going to do what's best for the football field. And quite honestly, they could do a lot worse football-wise

than bringing in a guy like Antonio Brown. So that's going to be interesting to see, buddy. And you know what? You and I are going to be first in line to keep a sharp eye on this situation as we start to move forward in in the season i know several of our colleagues in the media will grimace and really like just make like a a terribly uh smarmy face when you mention the name antonio brown uh and and believe that there's no shot in hell i don't believe it's a good shot but i'm not willing to go that far as to say no shot

simply because I still think there's something still there on the field with him. Buddy, lastly, I could not in good conscience bring you here without talking a little Tom Brady. Yes, folks, he's no longer our quarterback of the day, but he's still the greatest quarterback in the history of this franchise. He is still the greatest quarterback in the history of this franchise. He is still the greatest quarterback in the history of this league. I have no reservations of saying that. Turns 43 years of age today, and he's down in your neck of the woods now, down in Tampa Bay.

There might be too many to mention here, buddy, but we'll end this on a positive note, positive discussions, and I will put you on the hot seat to enlighten our listeners with your favorite Tom Brady moment from his time here in New England that will help wish the GOAT a happy birthday. Well, you know, it is, it's a tough spot. And, you know, this is something we talked about earlier and I still don't have an answer for you because you know there's just there's so many individual moments that it's hard to choose but i you know what i i i'm not gonna maybe this isn't my favorite because you know obviously you know you pick the super bowls you pick the you know the the raising of the trophies the you know uh the the speech after um oh everyone thought we we sucked and

and everything like that and you're just like you love those comments that he makes because they're always so pointed and very you know like he doesn't say a lot but when he does say things you kind of you know you perk up a little bit but i'm gonna go to a to a funner moment that didn't involve championships that didn't involve um celebrations because there's again there's so many to choose from but i always loved when he juked brian erlacher because i obviously brian erlacher is a legendary incredible linebacker for the bears for for many years and you know the reason i like it so much not only is this because we all kind of joke and have fun at you know tom brady's uh

agility and his his his kind of his movements but the way he's kind of obsessively how he's obsessed over a thousand yards rushing and and just kind of had has had fun with it especially over the latter part of his career where he's been a little bit more you know out there on social media and he's always kind of joked about his rushing ability and stuff like that so to me I feel like if I was Tom Brady like if you were to ask him some of his favorite moments I guarantee you that's probably right at the top because you remember his reaction after the fact, after he did it, he got up and looked like he just, uh, you know, ran 30 yards and juked and broke tackles when in reality, he just,

he just got lucky and made a very ugly juke move. Um, and, somehow brian or lacquer missed so so to me and and again just laughing about it it kind of it it brings it brings joy to my to my face because i i do enjoy that moment and i think he he would secretly probably put that up there as one of his favorite moments of his career um yeah in my opinion he actually does he mentions it quite often too like either on social media or in you know interviews or press conferences he'll always get that that uh that jab in there too to brian and listen a very good friend of my father's was a uh big bears fan and i remember when he made that move i got a text message from him immediately after he says hey where did tommy get those moves and i say the best do what they have to do in the moment and to me i think it's great i really do i love

that you know you brought that back into our consciousness maybe some of our listeners had forgotten that i encourage you go back and watch that bears game it was uh hilarious it was a a great moment and i still remember as a fan sitting on my couch seeing that and just going wow that was really really cool um but i love it i love it because you gave us a little bit of levity uh mine too is is more of a moment i think that a lot of people have uh you know maybe mythicized uh when it comes to uh to the patriots folklore obviously super bowl 51 to me is my favorite tom brady memory but not so much for the reasons that everybody thinks and i have tipped my hand here on locked on Patriots once or twice before on this, but it wasn't so much 34 to 28 comeback.

Obviously that's always going to be, like I said, mythic proportions here in Foxborough and rightfully so. But to me, it was seeing the emotion and the raw, the tears, and just the that he had in being able to embrace his mother, Galen, after the Super Bowl. She had been fighting cancer for the past year. For one of the few times in Tom's professional career, the next one wasn't about an additional first down. It wasn't about a key divisional victory. It wasn't even a championship at that point. It was just that he wanted to be able to celebrate his mother's honor. And the next one was really all about a chance to make

his mother proud and go over and give her a hug. To me, that's the moment that poignantly showcased any type of emotional durability that Brady has that I don't think he gets nearly enough credit for. So many people will point to his prowess on the field. And I encourage anyone that tries to take any stabs at his character to go back, look at that tape, look at the raw emotion and the joy that he has with being able to celebrate with his mom and still tell me that you think he's a bad guy. If you do, I think you're exposing yourself as a fraud

simply because at that point you can see the connection that Tom has to his family and watching his wife Giselle and his children, his father, everybody, his sisters all around. Just being able to celebrate that moment was something great to me. The motivational factors for an athlete, I think most those that are personal tend to be the most potent. We've seen Brett Favre perform at a high level shortly after his father's passing. You know, just these types of drives that that motivate athletes. We saw a human Tom Brady at that moment. And the human aspect of what he's able to do motivated him to do superhuman things on the field. And we saw that in the outcome of that Super Bowl.

So, buddy, what can i say great memories thank you very much for letting me uh wax poetically a little bit about that and also bringing the the urlacher juke back into my consciousness i'm gonna be watching that a lot today on on a loop because yeah exactly watching it on a loop uh just remembering the good old days but maybe there are some still good days to come here in Foxborough. I live in positivity, and I think that Cam Newton may be able to deliver some of those. Who knows? Maybe even Jared Stidham.

We'll see what happens on the field, folks. But this man on the other end of the microphone is a great man, a great friend. Buddy, I always appreciate your candor, your insight. Folks, you should be already. But if you're not, follow this man on Twitter at IGLEN31. Find his great work and the work of all the great writers at FullPressCoverage.com. Now available on the app on Apple, Google Play. Download the app. All the great content for Full Press Coverage, all in one neat, pretty little package that this guy's put together. You can also catch us on the airwaves

on shows like FPC Radio Live. Cheap pop there. But also catch my good buddy on shows such as the Full Press Buccaneers podcast. Also, the Big Bad Bruins podcast with Chris Blackie. Some amazing guests that they've had. Chris is a good friend of mine as well.

They put on a great show with hockey getting back into the swing of things, folks. Ian and Chris will have a lot to say on that. What can I say, buddy? Thank you for joining me today. Always an honor. Always a pleasure. The pleasure is all mine, my friend. And I'll be honored to come back whenever you want me back. Oh, you know, we will. As we march closer to the season and as training camp progresses, we'll definitely bring you on.

And we'll also bring you on from time to time throughout the season. Well, for a quick Brady check down there, because being on the Buccaneers beat, you're going to have plenty to say. So whenever we want to know about Tom and Gronk and, you know, whoever else comes out of the woodwork down in in in Tampa when it comes to former Wyndham Patriots. Exactly. We'll see exactly what happens. But thank you for joining me today. Have a great week. This was the perfect way to kick off the week, my friend.

Thanks a lot. Talk to you soon. Take care. And so, Patriots fans, we tie a bow on this maybe, maybe not Monday episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast. And as the week progresses, Locked On Patriots will continue to bring you the most comprehensive coverage possible when it comes to your New England Patriots and 2020 training camp. So to ensure that you do not miss a single episode of Locked On Patriots, follow us on

Spotify, subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, download Locked On Patriots wherever you get your podcasts. And of course, don't forget that you can always listen to us right Apple Podcasts. Download Locked On Patriots wherever you get your podcasts. And of course, don't forget that you can always listen to us right on your very own smart device. How do you do so? Very simple. Just ask it to play the latest episode of Locked On Patriots. Once again, I'm Mike DeBate. I thank Ian Glendon of Full Press Coverage for his time, his insight, and his appearance today. But most of all, I thank you so much for listening

and for staying locked in to Locked On Patriots. Stay safe, stay well, continue to be the change you wish to see in the world. Have a great day, everyone.