Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Locked On Patriots - September 16, 2019: Showing Strength in South Beach

Episode Date: September 16, 2019

In the aftermath of the New England Patriots decisive 43-0 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, host Mike D’Abate breaks down the in-game action...and discusses the latest on Isaiah Wynn’s Injury, the potential kicking game woes, and the latest on Antonio Brown’s legal battle.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello to all you Foxborough faithful, and welcome to your post-game day Monday edition of Locked On Patriots, your daily home for news, notes, analysis, and the occasional opinion on your six-time Super Bowl champion, the New England Patriots. Locked On Patriots, as always, is a part of the Locked On Podcast Network. I am your host, Mike DeBate, and I cover the Patriots for FullPressCoverage.com, which is where you can always find my written work, and you can also reach out to me on Twitter as well, at M-D-A-B-A-T-E-F-P-C, and while you're at it, please be sure to follow Locked On Patriots on Twitter, at L-O underscore Patriots.

I hope that everyone had a great weekend, and all of you Pats fans out there, I'm sure you enjoyed this weekend just as much as you enjoyed last weekend. And it's a cliche that's truly overused, folks, but please indulge me. I'm going to use it again. The miracle gave way to a massacre in Miami on Sunday. And your New England Patriots ensured that this trip to South Beach was not going to end in a miraculous loss. They left nothing to chance

yesterday. There would be no stunning defeat on a last-second Dolphins pass and a double lateral this time. Instead, the Patriots dominated this contest from start to finish. Antonio Brown, he caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady in his Pat's debut. New England's highly touted defense, and boy do they look impressive, folks. They scored twice on interception returns in a two-minute span in the fourth quarter. In short, New England annihilated the Miami Dolphins 43-0 on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. And New England won for only the second time in their past seven trips to Miami. So maybe they reversed the curse a bit.

Okay, I know that's stealing a pun from the Red Sox this time, but maybe it fits. And you know what? I'll let you all be the judge of that. But when it came to the action on the field, it was all business. Sonny Michel was the first Patriot to find the argyle pattern Miami end zone on Sunday. Michel scored on a one-yard slice through Miami's poorest defensive line. And Tom Brady threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns. While his first was the second quarter strike to Brown, his second was to James White with only two minutes and 10 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. At the time,

the Pats were already holding a cruise-controlled 37-0 lead, but unlike last season, New England would keep its proverbial foot hard-pressed to the accelerator, and Brady was also credited with a rushing touchdown on a quarterback sneak in the third quarter. Now, New England's defense, they once again turned in a stout performance, and in doing so, I think they're continuing to prove that they may be the very key to the team's success in 2019. The Patriots' defense outscored the Miami offense, if you can believe that, with interception returns for touchdowns of 54 yards by Stephon Gilmore and 69 yards by Jamie Collins. The Patriots were also very effective in getting pressure on both the Miami quarterbacks. Most of the game was Ryan Fitzpatrick.

In the fourth quarter, it gave way to Josh Rosen, but the defense totaled seven sacks and four interceptions, and that defensive shutout earned the Pats the most lopsided win in the 108-game history of their series with the Dolphins. So if anyone was questioning whether or not the Patriots could win down in Miami, the defensive effort, along with the offense as well, definitely put forth a great effort both sides, and they put those questions, at least for a year, they put those questions to rest. Now, there's no denying that this was a one-sided contest in South Beach yesterday, and some are questioning why Tom Brady, for example, was playing so late into the game,

still throwing passes with two minutes left, essentially risking the chance that he may either get injured or be a risk for a cheap shot, or really not even giving way to giving some professional experience to Jarrett Stidham, who's yet to take a snap in a meaningful game, in a regular season game. This might have given him that opportunity. Some are also accusing Bill Belichick of running up the score, and we heard this in 2007, folks. It's nothing new to Patriots fans. A lot of people are getting on them today for those reasons.

But essentially, I think Jeff Howe of The Athletic made a great point right after the game. And to me, it sums up the fact that the Patriots were determined to put in a 60-minute effort all game long. And that's exactly what they did on Sunday. Bill Belichick had been harping on last year's loss in Miami all week long. He reminded the team that they only played for 59 minutes and 53 seconds last year. And of course, that alludes to the Miami miracle. But essentially, Belichick wanted 60 minutes yesterday. And you can't demand 60 minutes and then take the quarterback out in the latter part of

the game. So yeah, there are some concerns that Brady might have been open to a cheap shot or that he might have been in a a cheap shot or that he might have been in a precarious situation at times. But ultimately, Belichick made the decision and it paid off. The Patriots did put in a 60-minute effort and they improved in the process to a record of 2-0 for the first time since 2016. In this two-game span, folks, they've beaten their opponents by a combined score of 76-3.

Amazing. Just absolutely amazing when you take a look at the amount of points the Patriots have put up and the few amount of points that they've allowed in these contests. It's amazing. Just to put things in perspective, I'll give you an image that could not be more opposite. The Dolphins are 0-2 for only the second time since 2012, and they've lost by a combined score of 102-10. Yikes, tough times down in Miami, and I know Patriots fans still have a lot of warmness in their heart for Brian Flores and the squad that's down there.

It's going to be a long season in Miami, no question about it. The Patriots beat up on a bad football team yesterday, but ultimately, you have to play with what's on your schedule. So the Patriots took care of business and did it in decisive fashion in Miami. Big, big win for the New England Patriots. But the news was not all great for the New England Patriots yesterday, and we'll start with some injury concerns. And that is that the Patriots battered offensive line was dealt another blow when left tackle Isaiah Wynn left in the first half with an apparent foot injury. He was immediately replaced in the game by newcomer Marshall Newhouse,

who the Pats had just signed last week. Newhouse did a pretty admirable job yesterday. He had commented after the game that he had learned maybe about 80% of the playbook, and doing that in only one week's time is pretty impressive. But keep in mind, he's still learning that playbook. He's still learning the Patriots offense. So there will be a little bit of a learning curve and he will have to be brought along at a pretty slow pace. But as for Wynn, Wynn did not return to the game and more information is expected on his health today when according to Ian Rappaport of the NFL Network, he's going to undergo an MRI to get it checked out.

Now, the severity is not yet clear, but it's speculated that it could be turf toe. Rappaport did confirm that it was a toe injury. And if it's turf toe, that can linger. Now, this is not ideal news for Wynn. Turf toe, if that's what it is determined to be, could mean a few weeks on the shelf. The good news is that he apparently did not re-injure his Achilles, and I think everybody was glad to hear that, at least, that the surgery that he had in the offseason and last year would allow him to remain on the field.

Now, Wynn has been such a bright spot for the Pats offensive line and has really impressed the coaching staff, primarily Dante Skarnecchia, and that's the man to impress, folks. He had been playing well and looked great in the season opener against the Steelers, but most of all, you just want him to be able to enjoy good health. So I join all of you in Patriots Nation of wishing the very best for Isaiah and the results of his MRI today. And always stay tuned to Locked On Patriots for the latest on this injury. We will keep you updated as soon as we know more information.

But Wynn's injury wasn't the only low light on Sunday in Miami. Another potential cause for concern is something I called a stone in the shoe in my recap on Sunday afternoon, and the pun is somewhat appropriate here, but that is Patriots kicker Steven Gostowski missed two extra points in a 48-yard field goal attempt on Sunday's game. Now, he's missed three extra points in the past two seasons, and ironically, they've actually all been in Miami. It should be noted that sweltering temperatures can often affect performance, especially for a kicker.

So before we're ready to jettison Gostowski, folks, keep that in mind. However, it will be interesting to see if Gostowski continues to struggle in the coming weeks. It should be expected that he's going to be practicing diligently alongside holder Jake Bailey, who is also the Pats rookie punter. Some have speculated maybe the holds are a little off here. If that is the case, they will definitely be working on that this week. But if Bailey is holding solid and Gostowski continues to miss kicks on a regular basis,

this could be a cause for concern for the Patriots. So right now, I'm definitely not that concerned. I think Gostowski is a true pro. I think he's going to be able to fight through this. And his mechanics look okay. So I don't think this is a situation where Pats fans have to be ready to question the kicking game. Gostowski is still very solid.

So keep that in mind as the Patriots are practicing this week. You can expect, again, Bill Belichick will be having Steven Gostowski and Jake Bailey practicing together and putting in some extra time this week without question. However, it's also something to monitor over the course of the next couple of weeks, so keep your eye on that as well. Now, as the Patriots put a bow on their game in South Beach yesterday, there was some noteworthy developments on Antonio Brown

that broke yesterday morning and will continue throughout the day today, and I will address those in a minute. But first, I just wanted to take a minute to address those of you that have been crushing it at work. That's right, I'm talking to you. Those of you who are laser-focused on beating that boss level, good for you. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't eat. DoorDash can help you get your next meal from your favorite restaurants in minutes. DoorDash connects you to your favorite restaurants in your city. Now ordering is easy. Open the DoorDash app, choose what you want to eat, and your food will be delivered to you wherever you are. There are over 340,000 restaurants

in 3,300 cities, so chances are your favorites are on the list, and you might even find a new favorite too. With door-to-door delivery in all 50 states in Canada, order from your local preferences or choose from your favorite national restaurants like Chipotle, Wendy's, Chick-fil-A, and the Cheesecake Factory. Don't worry about dinner.

Let dinner come to you with DoorDash. And right now, our listeners can get $5 off their first order of $15 or more when you download the DoorDash app and enter promo code LOCKEDON. That's $5 off your first order when you download the DoorDash app from the App Store and enter promo code LOCKEDON. Don't forget, that's promo code LOCKEDON for $5 off your first order from DoorDash. Both the Patriots' offense and defense looked solid in their win over Miami on Sunday, but one of the major areas of focus was Antonio Brown, for a lot of reasons. And

I will address those off-field issues today as well, but let's start on the field. And on Friday, my guest Mark Schofield and I did broach the topic of whether Brown should have been on the field yesterday. And arguments can be made from an ethical standpoint that maybe he shouldn't have. But let's start with the logistics from a football standpoint. And again, this is only from a pure football standpoint, folks. But on that basis, it's hard to argue against the fact that Brown earned his spot on the field on Sunday.

He practiced every day during the week. He was a real part of the game plan, and football-wise, he contributed admirably. One source said before the game that the Patriots planned to feed Brown the ball on Sunday, and they did that. Now, there was some question as to whether or not he would actually suit up for this game. On Tuesday, his former trainer had filed the civil lawsuit, which alleged three instances of sexual assault. And Mark Schofield and I on Friday had speculated about the commissioner's exempt list, actually broke some news during that show that proved that he would not be placed on the commissioner's exempt list. So all signs pointed to Antonio Brown being on the field, and he was. He was active and he made his presence felt. Now, he celebrated his touchdown by vaulting

into the first row of the Hard Rock Stadium seats, and he actually did so right in front of a fan that was wearing a Tom Brady jersey. So talk about jumping into the arms of someone that was in friendly territory. I think Brown would be the first to admit that he was very fortunate that that was the case. But he was pumped up and you could definitely see it. Of course, remember, Miami is his hometown, so probably holding a little bit more of a special place in his heart than normal. But in addition to that touchdown grab, he also made an 18-yard catch on his first play for the Patriots, establishing his presence right off the bat. He finished with 56 yards on four receptions, and that was all in the first half. And that's no

rhyme or reason to why that was the case Brown put in a full week of work with the Patriots reports are that he stayed as late as 10 p.m. or even later most days during the week he was catching passes from backup quarterback Jared Stidham he worked on his rotes he was studying the playbook put in a lot of time with Tom Brady and in something that was very similar to what we saw in Josh Gordon's debut last year the goal looked to be to get him catches early get him involved and get him some confidence in the scheme and they did that and he looked very comfortable with Tom Brady yesterday and I think it excited a lot of Patriots fans to see Brown's impact on

this offense there's no question that adding Brown, he could theoretically play outside. He could play on the slot. And he's adding to already a core that includes Julian Edelman, Josh Gordon, Philip Dorsett, Jacoby Byers, who wasn't even active yesterday, but he can make an impact. And of course, the man that the Patriots made a gunner, my main man, Gunnar Oshelski. Of course, you know my love for that meme. And they do have that offensive firepower. A. Gunner, my main man, Gunnar Oshelski. Of course, you know my love for that meme. And, you know, they do have that offensive firepower,

and I'm sure that they're going to need it because we all saw what Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs did offensively yesterday. That offense is legit, folks, and they're doing that without Tyreek Hill, which is amazing. So the old adage is that too much talent is never enough. And the Patriots are definitely going to put that to the test on offense this year. And you can easily see that even though they didn't quote unquote need Antonio Brown, I know that's a common narrative out there. They didn't really need him. What did they go after him for? Yesterday on the field, you clearly

saw why they wanted him because he does add a great deal to this offense. But off the field, his situation is just getting started, and unfortunately it just can't be ignored, and it could still have implications for the Pats. Browns accuser Brittany Taylor is slated to meet with league investigators today, according to sources, and the hope from the league is to ramp up the investigation as quickly as possible, given the time element with games happening each week. So that could have a big impact, not only on the Patriots' status on the field, but also for Antonio Brown and his legal issues. And we'll return to that subject in just a moment.

However, before I proceed with that, I just wanted to take a minute to address all of you guys out there. And ladies, you'll appreciate this too. But this is a topic that's often taboo and always commands your attention. And that is performance in the bedroom. Guys, remember the days when you were always ready to go? Well, now you can increase your performance and get that extra confidence in bed. Listen up. BlueChew.com.

That's blue like the color blue. Blue Chew brings you the chewable with the same FDA-approved active ingredients as the competitors, so you know they work. You can take them anytime, day or night, even on a full stomach. And since they're chewable, they work up to twice as fast as a pill, so you can always be ready whenever an opportunity arises. Sports fans love using the word explosive, and Blue Chew is certainly that and more. And it's not just for guys who can't perform. It's for any guy who wants some extra function to enhance their performance in the bedroom. Blue Chew is prescribed online and shipped straight to your door in a discreet package,

so no in-person doctor's visit, no waiting in the pharmacy, and best of all, no more awkwardness. They're made in the USA, and since Blue Chew prepares and ships direct, they're cheaper than a pharmacy. Right now, we've got a special deal for our listeners. Visit BlueChew.com and get your first shipment free when you use special promo code MLB. Just pay $5 shipping. Again, that's B-L-U-E, Chew.com, promo code MLB to try it for free. Blue Chew is the better, cheaper, faster choice, and we thank them for sponsoring this podcast. Once again, it's now been confirmed by several sources that Brown's accuser, Brittany Taylor,

is scheduled to meet with NFL representatives today. And those sources have indicated that the investigation is being fast-tracked. And if you're like me and didn't know exactly what fast-tracking an investigation or legal proceedings entails, my friend Dave Brown of the Concord Monitor put a tweet out there yesterday that I think really sums this up so well and so concisely, and that fast-tracking an investigation is really more about expediency and not accuracy. So in other words, it can lead to problems for both sides and could be considered unfair to any and all parties. Now Dave goes on to say that fast-tracking the investigation and

legal proceedings like this is really meant more to appease the public more than it is to appease the legalities of the situation. So the plaintiff and the defendant really don't benefit all that much by this. It's really more about public opinion. And it leads you to believe that maybe the NFL is looking to put this to bed sooner rather than later. And per the NFL's personal conduct policy, Brown is compelled to cooperate with the league, and one source said he will do so. But here's where it gets interesting, folks. While the NFL did not place him on the

commissioner's exempt list before today, the league also did not rule out the fact that it could happen later this week. As spelled out in the personal conduct policy, a player may be placed on the exempt list when he is criminally charged with a crime of violence or if Commissioner Roger Goodell believes a person violated the policy. Now, I know all of you Patriots fans are absolutely overjoyed to hear that this matter may be subject to Commissioner Goodell's interpretation of the policy. But for today's discussion, we'll leave the past in the past, and we'll just move forward when it comes to Brown's situation. Now, Brown was not deemed to have fulfilled those requirements. However, it should be noted that Brown and his accuser

engaged in settlement talks for months before this lawsuit was even filed. Now, those were confidential, and that helps to explain why so few people knew about it. And that includes your New England Patriots, folks. They did not know, apparently, of the coming charges against Brown prior to his signing in New England. According to a source, had the team known, owner Robert Kraft would not have signed off on the signing. But in any case, this week should be telling. Brittany Taylor was scheduled to get married over the weekend. She is speaking to the league today. But that won't be all. And in a report that was filed on Sunday by Ian Rappaport of the NFL Network, apparently there was another football player, a rookie at the time, who was in the house when Taylor alleges an incident took place, and this is according to the lawsuit documents. Per league rules,

that player will also be compelled to meet with investigators, and there still may also be additional evidence from both sides not yet to be made public. So, in the final analysis, Brown may have played yesterday, but this might be only the beginning of this story. So, as always, keep a sharp eye on the proceedings that happened today between Taylor and the league. Watch for this player to be called in and meet with investigators, and then we may find out a little bit more on exactly what Antonio Brown's playing status might be for 2019 and beyond. But for right now, he was on the field and like I said, from a football standpoint, looked pretty solid. Patriots fans are hoping they continue to see him on a weekly basis. But as always, the legal proceedings here, folks, have to take precedence. And as more information comes out,

we'll know a little bit more about this situation. But as for the Patriots, they will return to the friendly confines of Foxborough this coming Sunday as they host the New York Jets. Now, New England has won the past six meetings between these two teams, but games between the Patriots and Jets are often close games. So will this be another hotly contested AFC East divisional matchup, or will the Patriots continue their trend and put up another blowout at Gillette Stadium? Only time will tell, folks, and we will find out on Sunday. As for me, I will be back tomorrow as I continue to briefly recap Sunday's Pats-Fins matchup in South Beach, and I'll also bring you the latest Pats news on Antonio Brown, and of course the

latest on Isaiah Wynn's injury as well. And as the week progresses, I will start to look ahead to that Pats Week 3 matchup with the New York Jets in Foxborough, and I'll be joined by a few special guests along the way, so stay tuned for that. As always, make sure to join me each and every day on the Locked On Patriots podcast, and subscribe to Locked On Patriots via your favorite podcast provider. Once again, I'm Mike DeBate. I thank you so much for listening today. Have a great day and a great week, everybody.