Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - New England Patriots: Christian Barmore Contract Extension,Joshua Uche ‘Destined to be a Patriot’

Starting point is 00:00:00 Christian Barmore is back and opposing offenses are in trouble. Stick around, you're about to be locked in to the Locked On Patriots podcast. You are Locked On Patriots, your daily New England Patriots podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Hello to all of you, Foxborough faithful, and thank you once again for making Locked On Patriots a daily part of your New England Patriots coverage. Remember, Locked On Patriots is not only a proud part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day, but we're also free and available on all platforms, including YouTube.

Starting point is 00:00:44 So smash that subscribe button, download, follow Locked On Patriots wherever you get your podcasts to ensure that you're getting the latest episode as soon as it's available. I'm your host, Mike DeBate. I cover your New England Patriots for Patriots Country of Sports Illustrated. Reach out to me. Let me know what's on your mind on X at M-D-A-B-A-T-E-N-F-L. While you're out there showing some love to Locked On Patriots social media style, follow our account there as well at L-O underscore Patriots.

Starting point is 00:01:13 And of course, today's episode, folks, is brought to you by Monopoly Go. I admit it, I have a competitive side, and it's a big fan of Monopoly Go, a mobile hit twist on classic Monopoly. So join your friends and download Monopoly Go now free on the App Store or on Google Play. And Patriots fans, a major piece of the Patriots defense is back in the fold for the foreseeable future. On Monday, the Pats and defensive tackle Christian Barmore reaching agreement on a four-year contract extension maximum value of 92 million dollars and Christian's deal includes 41.8 million in guaranteed money additional details on his contract are still forthcoming but here today to break down what

Starting point is 00:01:58 it means for the Patriots on the field is a man who knows a thing or two about defense, about protection. He is my Patriots bison, columnist extraordinaire of Patsfans.com, along with being the host of another amazing Patriots podcast, Patriots 4th and 2, alongside the great Derek Avins. He is Steve Balistrieri. Steve, thank you for joining me today, and welcome back to Locked on Patriots. Always a pleasure, my friend. And, yeah, what an interesting past few days this has been. So it's great to talk some football with you.

Starting point is 00:02:32 I'm sure, you know, we have probably stuff to talk about for four more days, but let's jump right into it, right? Absolutely. Definitely. The NFL draft now starting to shrink in the rearview mirror, but the analysis of this eight-person draft class, along with 10 undrafted rookie free agents that the Patriots have signed, will continue for days here on Locked On Patriots.

Starting point is 00:02:58 We're just scratching the surface on draft coverage. Stay locked in. You will not want to miss a single second of it. But, Steve, you're absolutely right. Where would we begin today than the news of Christian Barmore signing his four-year extension? The news broke late on Monday morning. Tip of the cap to our good friend Doug Kite of Boston Herald, who was the first to report on this. And honestly, Steve, I mean, you look at Christian Barmore being back in the Patriots' fold. I don't think there's one person in Patriots Nation right now that is looking at this and saying that this is not a good deal.

Starting point is 00:03:30 You lock up one of the top defenders that you already have on this roster, but not only that, a rising star in the NFL ranks. I love every bit of this deal. I know the 92 million is a big number. I know the 41 guaranteed is a big number. I know the $41 guaranteed is a big number. I think Christian Barmore is worth every penny of it. Oh, yeah, especially when you take into account what some of the other top defensive tackles are getting in today's game, you know, it's actually, I think, it's a pretty reasonable contract when you look at it in context, you know,

Starting point is 00:04:12 with what some of the other really good guys are getting. And we saw Barmore, you know, really come into his own last year. And even at the same time, he was battling injuries all year long right and he was still playing in every game and there was times when he was absolutely dominant but from a big picture perspective i think you have to love this move and you know um going in what you said offline smart move you know the patriots are uh they're really you know locking up their core guys for the team long term they're young guys uh josh uche uh kyle duggar well uche is it's on a prove-it deal, but Kyle Duggar, Anthony Jennings on the defense,

Starting point is 00:05:07 Barmore, Michael Owenu. I mean, these guys are all young guys, and they're all locked up for the next three to four years, and this is allowing them to build that core of the

Starting point is 00:05:24 new team. Each era has to go through that building process. And they've identified, they've recognized it, and they know who their guys are. And you just got to love it. I mean, this to me was, like you said, a very necessary, but it was also a smart signing. Very smart. The one prevailing theme, Steve, that you're hearing all throughout these signings, all the ones that you mentioned, the Kyle Duggars, the Michael O'Wayne news,

Starting point is 00:05:57 the Hunter Henry, even though technically Hunter's a little more of an elder statesman than some of those guys, at 29, he still fits the bill of a young guy, a young core guy you want to keep here in new england anthony jennings now christian barmore um you heard joshua uche and even remandre stevenson who i believe is the next in line for a big time uh payday uh maybe next in line for a contract extension he was asked about that earlier today folks at gillette stadium steve and i are going to get to that point in just a moment. But the one prevailing theme that you hear from all of these guys is, this is where I want to be. I want to be here in New England. I'm glad I'm getting the chance to stay here in New England. I think that's a big common theme with Gerard Mayo, with Elliot Wolfe, right up to the owner's box and Robert Kraft. I think they want

Starting point is 00:06:43 guys here that know the value of playing in New England. Maybe it's not the same type of value that we've had in years past where Tom Brady and Bill Belichick automatically guaranteed that you would be contending each and every year for a playoff spot or a spot in a conference championship, maybe even a Super Bowl. That's no longer the case. But what you still have is a strong level of commitment and I believe a pedigree that you can only find here in New England in certain select places throughout the NFL. It still means something to a lot of the players in that locker room. And it's great to hear guys talk about that. With Barmore, I think you're getting that and then some. This guy is absolutely happy to be back in New England. His social media posting showing that without question.

Starting point is 00:07:27 But if you're the Patriots, you're getting a guy that is absolutely dedicated to making life difficult for opposing offenses. Last year, he led the Patriots with eight and a half sacks, 16 quarterback hits, 13 tackles for loss, 64 total tackles. He forced the fumble. He broke up six passes in all 17 games. The first time in his career that he enjoyed both good health and notable productivity. It goes to show you what he can do when he's capable of using his athleticism, his prowess, and good health to his advantage. So to me, this is the guy that you want to lock up. He's a building block and a cornerstone for that defensive line for a number of years to come.

Starting point is 00:08:11 And I know the Patriots defense is in good hands now with Christian Barmore going to be anchoring it for quite some time. Absolutely. And, you know, we all like to talk about, and I'm very guilty of this myself, those edge rushers, right? Because you see it on tape and you see them flying around the corner and sacking the quarterback, but nothing helps those guys more

Starting point is 00:08:36 than the push up the middle. And Richard Seymour was that guy for a long time. I'm not saying that Barmore's there yet, but it's starting to look a little bit more and more like that every day with him. And, you know, if they get that type of guy and, you know, with him being that presence in the middle and just collapsing it from the middle, that's so important because quarterbacks can step up in the pocket. You know, if those edge rushers are coming blasting around the side,

Starting point is 00:09:12 but when the pocket gets pushed right up the middle, there's nowhere to go. And that's what he does. And, you know, he did it fantastically last year and that was without Matthew Judon being there. So now that Judon's back, Keon White has a year under his belt. Uche's back betting on himself. I mean, this defense is going to be very good this year. Yeah, I know there's an awful lot of excitement in the room, folks, when it comes to Drake May and what this quarterback room is going to look like,

Starting point is 00:09:44 what this offense is going to look like under Drake and guys like Jalen Polk and Javon Baker coming in. There's a lot of excitement there, but make no mistake about it. The key unit here is the defense, and it will continue to be, at least for the foreseeable future and for all the reasons Steve mentioned. I'm so glad that you mentioned the edge rushers, and specifically, I'm really glad that you mentioned the edge rushers and I'm specifically I'm really glad that you mentioned Matthew Judon because with Barmore back now and healthy and hopefully Judon back and healthy and we're hearing good things from Matthew he's saying all the right things he's there in Foxborough along with Christian it starts getting Patriots fans excited to maybe see some of that dynamic duo that we saw in 2021, Christian's rookie season.

Starting point is 00:10:25 You go back to that and you take a look at what they were in obvious passing situations. And these two, when they were working in tandem, created one amazing pair. Christian, like you said, is going to draw the attention of those opposing blockers on the offensive line. That's going to leave Matthew Judon one-on-one on the edge. And that's where he's at his best. Judon one-on-one on the edge. And that's where he's at his best. He can get after, he can pursue the quarterback, he can win those battles with his athleticism, his motor, and his speed. Matthew is hopeful to be ready for the start of

Starting point is 00:10:56 training camp after missing most of last season with that torn bicep. But if that is indeed the case, and these guys now are working in tandem together, that really is going to make life very difficult for an opposing quarterback. Oh, absolutely. And, you know, I saw there was a video clip of Judon working out, and he looks fantastic. You know, obviously it was more of a running type situation. You know, he was doing some drills where he was cutting inside and outside. But that had nothing to do with his bicep tendon.

Starting point is 00:11:31 But, you know, he just looks in phenomenal shape. You know, we'll have to see how his armor is all healed up. But he's another one I think that they should look at somewhere down the line this year before the end of the season and lock him up for another few years. Yeah, absolutely. If for no other reason than the prowess he brings on the field and the enthusiasm. Matthew Judon definitely is one of those high-energy, high-motor guys

Starting point is 00:11:59 that you love to be around, you love to play for, great in the community. Yeah, Patriots fans we definitely want it Patriots brass make that happen Mundray Stevenson Matthew Judon let's keep the band together for a good long while and build something special here in New England because I think Gerard Mayo and Elliot Wolfe are on the cusp of doing that and it leads me quite nicely into a player that we had the opportunity to speak with in the media on Tuesday, and that is Joshua Uche. And that's right, folks. He's going to go by Joshua now for an amazingly heartwarming reason.

Starting point is 00:12:31 We'll get into that in just a moment. But most importantly, we'll get into how Joshua Uche betting on himself and feeling that he's destined to be a Patriot may be a great thing for this Patriots defense, including Matthew Judon and Christian Barmore. More on the Patriots defense and also some draft talk when we get back when this episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast continues, a proud part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. All right, game off.

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Starting point is 00:14:15 Thank you, Pats fans, for joining us here today and making Locked On Patriots a daily part of your New England Patriots coverage. Joining me here today is columnist extraordinaire of Patsfans.com, Steve Valistrieri, my Patriots paisan. And in the previous segment, Steve, we talked about Christian Barmore and what his contract extension means for the Patriots defense and really the Patriots culture in the room. We hinted at this earlier about the Patriots and trying to continue to build that culture, keeping guys here in New England that

Starting point is 00:14:46 not only want to be here, but feel like they're a part of something special. And they want to build this Patriots team back into something special. Heard a lot of that coming from linebacker Joshua Uche, who spoke with the Patriots media on Tuesday and had a lot to say about his re-signing with New England. Taking less than market value, I guess is the best way for me to put it, and really betting on himself, but not just betting on himself to increase his own brand, but also to help increase the brand of the New England Patriots. First off, folks, if you notice I'm calling him Joshua and not Josh, there's a reason for that. Joshua informed us all in the media on Tuesday that he now intends to go by the name Joshua, not Josh. He said, quote, it's the name my father gave me. It's a name I'm very proud of. I'm trying to make my dad

Starting point is 00:15:36 proud. And in adding a little levity, Steve, he also said that his father was one of the biggest disciplinarians he's known since Bill Belichick. So you can always count on that. Josh is extremely insightful, extraordinarily intelligent, and just a great interview. It was great to hear Josh say some of the things that he said. Very impressed by Drake May. He's looking forward to working with him. Said he's looking forward to seeing him in practice. I don't know what that means, folks. Maybe Drake should be a little concerned on that. But no, bottom line, I think Josh is looking forward to seeing him in practice. I don't know what that means, folks. Maybe Drake should be a little concerned on that, but no, bottom line, I think Josh is looking forward to building these types of relationships. Joshua definitely looking to build those relationships with the rookies. But the thing that intrigued me most by what he had to say was his reaction

Starting point is 00:16:19 to signing the $3 million contract that he signed in the offseason. A lot of people look at that deal and they say, it really didn't break the bank for the New England Patriots, that Joshua Uche probably could have gotten more on the open market. He did acknowledge that, even though with the contract, the incentives can bring him up to eight, he left some money on the table. I'll quote exactly what he had to say. He said, quote, there were some options on the table, but in my heart, I feel like I was destined to be a Patriot. Despite what I was offered, I felt like this was my calling. This is where I want to be. I don't want to be anywhere else. Steve, when you hear that type of comment from a player that re-signed on a prove-it deal,

Starting point is 00:17:02 but also a team-friendly deal. How great of a thing of that is for the New England Patriots? I remember when that story broke that he turned down, I think it was a substantial amount of money. I don't know the exact amounts, but I know it was a substantial amount of money that he turned down on, on betting on himself. And I love that for two reasons. One,

Starting point is 00:17:29 he's confident going into this year that with Jude on back, far more is, you know, now got his money, but that was before the fact, but you know, with Jude on back that, you know,

Starting point is 00:17:42 I think he believes that the defense is going to be even better in 2024. And the other thing is I remember him talking about wanting to play for Gerard Mayo. So I think that that was twofold. One, he's betting on himself because he believes that, you know, his 2022 season was, should have been what he had in 2023. And, you know, he wants to bet on himself because he wants a bigger payday. And I love that. Then plus with the Mayo factor, I think, you know, it's showing that some of these guys are really looking forward to playing for Mayo, especially on the defensive side.

Starting point is 00:18:28 And those are the things you love to hear. Guys that want to stay here, guys that want to be here, guys that want to be part of building something. Uche was one of the guys that came along after the last Super Bowl, and he never got a chance to really, you know, get a taste in that. So now when you're looking at the big picture, you know, these guys want to be here. They want to play for Mayo. They want to be a part of building something. And, you know, I think they're pretty all pretty much happy with the way the draft turned out um because i think

Starting point is 00:19:07 they realize they have a quarterback now and it's good for the veterans to get behind the rookie you know he's coming in he doesn't know anybody in the room yet and you know a guy like uche saying hey we're all looking forward to you know playing May and going to practice. That's just showing this guy a little bit of a welcome. Absolutely. Yeah. And that, I think, really shows a lot of maturity on Josh Uche, maybe a maturity beyond his years. And again, I think it also ties into what we talked about earlier and him loving the region and loving the team and wanting to succeed for the team. It's more than just wanting to succeed for yourself. You can hear that when Josh talks about staying in New England. It wasn't just about proving something to himself.

Starting point is 00:19:52 I think he wants to prove to Patriots Nation that last year was an anomaly when it came to his abilities. We've seen Josh Uche's speed, his athleticism, his system savvy became a pretty significant factor in the Patriots defense, especially in 2022. 11 and a half sacks, 27 total tackles, 14 quarterback hits, two forced fumbles, even got an AFC defensive player of the week honor in week 14 against the Arizona Cardinals. So this is clearly a guy that can get the job done and be a fearsome pass rusher in this league. Without Judon last year, I think it threw him a little bit. And I

Starting point is 00:20:31 also think that the turmoil that the Patriots were going through, threw him a little bit. And now I think you're going to see that return to the type of Josh Uche that we saw a couple of years ago. Obviously a healthy Matthew Judon is going to be a big factor in that, but Boucher really appears to be betting on his familiarity and his talent, and he wants to prove the doubters wrong. I don't think there's any question about that. He said earlier, he says, if people are trying to bet against me, I'm going to bet on myself, and I'm going to bet on my team.

Starting point is 00:21:00 And hearing him consistently bring the conversation back to team, to me me was something that was very encouraging to hear as a Patriots media member as a fan and if you're the team you got to be standing on the sidelines hearing that and grinning from ear to ear because that's the type of guy you want in your locker room absolutely and you know I like their edge guys now that Judon's back and healthy. I mean, Judon, Uche, Anthony Jennings, Keon White. I like that. They have some depth there. And, you know, they'll be able to keep fresh legs on the field this year.

Starting point is 00:21:38 Without question. And, you know, Joshua Uche is a big part of that. And you mentioned guys like Jennings and Judon. And, you know, we're also talking about the guys in the middle, like Juwan Bentley and Jelani Tavai. The group that they've built in that linebackers core is a savvy mix of veterans and young guys that know their capabilities and are just starting to round into them.

Starting point is 00:22:00 Guys like Jennings and Uche are really just kind of coming into their own. And you really can't wait to see this team back to where it was sooner rather than later. It's not going to be an immediate process, folks. It's not going to happen overnight, but these New England Patriots will bounce back, and it's guys like Joshua Uche and guys like Christian Barmore we're going to make today because not only did joshua uche speak to the media from andre stevenson stepped to the podium and remondre ended last season on injured reserve he's coming back with a lot to prove perhaps coming back to maybe get a contract extension i think he might be the next young player the patriots have on this roster that they'd like to lock up long term but It's something that he said may have draft implications, not just on Drake May at the quarterback position, but may also have an impact on the two offensive linemen the Patriots selected in this draft. What did Ramondre say and how does it affect it?

Starting point is 00:22:57 We'll answer that question when this episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast wraps up right here on the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Patriots fans, it may be the NFL offseason, but it's playoff time in the NBA and the NHL. Baseball's in full swing, and FanDuel is your place to bet on every game. So listen up, because right now, new customers get $150 in bonus bets guaranteed. That's 150 bucks win or lose. Bet on everything from slap shots to home runs

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Starting point is 00:23:53 America's number one sportsbook. Patriots fans, thank you once again for joining us here today on LockedOn Patriots, spending part of your Tuesdayuesday here on the pod as we listen to the wisdom the counsel and the reason of our good friend steve valastrari of patsfans.com dropping by to lend that reason wisdom and counsel the way only he can and steve in the previous segments we talked about christian barmore coming back to new england

Starting point is 00:24:20 we talked about joshua uche and his desire to remain in New England and go out there on the field and play on a proven deal and essentially move forward and keep this defense where it needs to be. But if you're looking at what the Patriots intended to do in the NFL draft over the weekend, it was upgrade their offense. And whether they weaponized it or not is a question that Murph and I attempted to answer yesterday here on the pod. Well today we're not going to talk necessarily about weaponization folks. We're going to talk about whether or not the players on this roster currently the coaching staff and the new draftees can meld together in a new look Patriots offense and

Starting point is 00:25:00 the catalyst for this discussion today Steve was Ramond Stevenson, who also stepped to the dais. I don't want to say a podium anymore because it is a nice little setup. They got a Patriots dais now in Foxborough looking pretty good. Guys are sitting down. It's a little more relaxed atmosphere. And Ramondre talked very candidly about his ability to get back on the field, how much he loves Boston, how much he'd love to stick around and be a member of this team for several years to come. Not too subtle there, Steve. I think he's looking for a contract extension. He should. And I think that should be the Patriots

Starting point is 00:25:36 priority now that they've got Barmore locked up. But with something that he said that really made me think about this year's draft class, specifically guys like Drake May or Caden Wallace or Layden Robinson, also the guard that the Patriots took in the fourth round of the draft on day three. Ramondre said that Alex Van Pelt coming in has really helped to revamp this offense, meaning that the Patriots are incorporating much more outside zone than they had gap last year. Patriots were very gap heavy, gap run heavy. They're now doing a lot more outside zone. You had to see this coming because Alex Van Pelt's offense is predicated on using the run to open up play action, take deep shots down the field. With him being the enforcer now, meaning Ramondre

Starting point is 00:26:21 Stevenson, it's going to look a lot like the Cleveland offense that we saw the last couple of years. And because of that, I'm looking at what Ramondre is saying, and I'm also looking at the players they have on this roster. Obviously, as a quarterback, Drake May can navigate that type of offense very well. He's got the cannon to push the ball down the field. He can do a lot out of play action. It's going to require some coaching, but he has the tools and he has the skill set to be able to

Starting point is 00:26:49 do it. But it also got me thinking about the young guys that the Patriots may have along this offensive line this year, specifically Caden Wallace and Layden Robinson, who's now the guard that the Patriots have brought in. Cole Strange, we know, can play and facilitate this type of outside zone run. This is actually what he was drafted to do when the Patriots got him a couple of years ago. Remember, the Pats tried to incorporate this a couple of years ago under Bill Belichick, under the Patricia and Judge regime, and they simply didn't have the horses in the coaching room to make it happen, didn't have the players on the field to make it happen, and it fell apart. This year, Alex Van Pelt is trying to put that together.

Starting point is 00:27:30 My question to you, Steve, is when you look at the two, specifically the two linemen that the Patriots drafted, along with what they have in the room right now, are the Patriots well-suited to be able to incorporate this? That's a great question. And, you know, the bottom line is I think when they tried it a couple of years ago, the coaches weren't up to speed on it enough to drive home the teaching points and the finer points that need to be, you know, conducted in,

Starting point is 00:28:11 in the team meetings and in the film sessions to get it, to get it across to the players. I think it was more of a coaching deficiency there. And, you know, we we've beat that to death about Joe Judge and Matt Patricia. But I think that was the main reason that it didn't ever, you know, take hold. This year, they have the coaches to do that.

Starting point is 00:28:40 So if they struggle a little bit, the coaches can, you know, fine tune this thing to where it's going to work. And we have to remember this year, there's so many new moving parts on this offense defense. I think they're good. They'll pretty much stay the same because, you know, Mayo, DeMarcus Covington, they're both returning. They'll probably keep a lot of the same principles as they ran.

Starting point is 00:29:07 But offensively, it's a whole new playbook. You have two new quarterbacks coming in. Granted, Jacoby Brissett played in Cleveland, so he knows that system that they're going to teach, which is a bonus, right? Then you have all these rookies coming in, two rookie wide receivers, two rookie offensive linemen, and both of them may end up playing significant snaps. So I do think they probably looked at these guys, right,

Starting point is 00:29:38 when they were drafting them and saying they can play this kind of system. That would have to be a major, you know, factor in, in, in drafting these guys to look, we're going to run this. Can these guys do this and be successful in it? And I think the answer is yes. Absolutely. I'm so glad that you mentioned that because when you're looking at incorporate outside zone, it really falls on the guards. The guards are really very intricately involved in that along with the type of system that cole strange thrives in so if he's going to emerge into what the patriots thought he would be a couple of years ago this is the time to do it this is the

Starting point is 00:30:34 opportunity he's been waiting for to showcase his skill set and make everyone realize what he is we'll find out in short order if he's up to the challenge. If he's healthy, that is always the X factor. But if he's healthy, we're going to take a look and see what he's capable of, and I think you'll see it this year. City So, another guy on the right side that I believe can facilitate this type of offense. He was excellent against the run last year. Let's see what he can do as well. Layton Robinson is the guy that I'm looking at and I think is interesting because the Patriots spent fourth round draft capital on him. When a lot of Patriots fans were screaming that you need an offensive lineman, people

Starting point is 00:31:13 wanted them to use this pick on Javon Baker. Thankfully, he was there at number 110 and the Patriots could grab him too. But Robinson could be a sneaky good pick for the New England Patriots. The more I look at this, the more I'm impressed by it. And the reason being is, first of all, this kid is durable. He started 33 games over three seasons with the Aggies. I know right guard. I understand that he's probably would spell city. So in certain circumstances, maybe that's the case. But when you look at the type of rushers that he was trying to facilitate and trying to help when he was at Texas A&M, Isaiah Spiller, Devon Ackney, over a thousand rushing yards in 2021 and 2022 between the two of them, he helped facilitate that. That's something that shows that, yes, he's a developmental

Starting point is 00:31:58 prospect, but someone that I believe can come in and really help this team facilitate the run game. I think that may have been a huge factor and one of the big reasons why the Patriots wanted to wrap him up when they did. Yeah. And, you know, like a lot of people, when I first saw it, I was like, you know, they took two guards last year, you know, they're taking a third one now. But then I was thinking about it, you know, this new coaching staff, Scott Peters, You know, they're taking a third one now. But then I was thinking about it, you know, this new coaching staff, Scott Peters, you know, he's not tied to those two guys last year. Right. And, you know, with Cole Strange suffering that injury later in the year, rather than early in the year, maybe he's not going to be ready. And I started thinking about it and that, you know, Gerard Mayo,

Starting point is 00:32:47 he keeps saying it's going to be about competition. So maybe they're bringing in this guy who's very, very good in the running game, right? We know that about him. And so, you know, maybe they're not concerned that he played on the right side. And again, it'll be, hey, look, you're going to compete. We have these other two guys, and whoever competes the best

Starting point is 00:33:14 will be filling in for Cole Strange until he's ready to go. Absolutely. And again, it will be about competition. Gerard Mayo has said that several times. You hear that from a lot of the rookies and getting a chance to hear some of these draftees on their initial conference calls. They came in all saying the same thing. I'm looking forward to coming in and competing. I can't wait to compete. I can't wait to show this coaching staff what I can do. You have to think that was a big part of the top 30 visit process, the interview process.

Starting point is 00:33:45 The Patriots really scouting these guys and not only getting the best players, but the right players. I think they've struck a nice little balance here in the hall that they've brought in from Drake May right up at the top to Yaheem Bell right at the end at tight end in the last pick that they made in the seventh round. Patriots are getting guys that want to come in and showcase their talent. Yeah, maybe some of them, like a Javon Baker, have a little chip on their shoulder when it comes to showing off their talent. But Steve, you and I have used that top gun line

Starting point is 00:34:15 several times before. I like that in a pilot. I like it in a quarterback. I like it in a wide receiver. You know, show these guys what you can do and you'll be able to endear yourself not only to the fan base, but most importantly,

Starting point is 00:34:27 what you'll do is you'll give them the opportunity to see what capabilities you have. I think you're going to see a lot of surprising, rising stars here on this team this year. So, Steve, it's always an honor, always a privilege when you join me here on the microphone. Thank you so much for dropping by to lend your wisdom and counsel the way only you can, my friend. So before I let you go, please let all of our listeners know where they can reach out to you,

Starting point is 00:34:53 interact with you, and what you got going on in the land of Patsfans.com and Patriots 4th and 2 here this week. Yeah, you can find me on Twitter at SteveB7SFG. I write for PatsFans.com. Derek Havens and I did a couple of podcasts last week. You know, we did our normal one early in the week, and then we did one after the first round because, you know, we wanted to talk about the Drake May pick.

Starting point is 00:35:24 I think it was more relief than anything because both of us were looking forward to them taking May. And so that and then we did our Sunday. We broke down all of the, you know, the draft picks by in order. Tomorrow, we're going to try to squeeze one in. Schedules permitting, of course, but now we're going to be looking at the undrafted free agents. And we'll be writing

Starting point is 00:35:54 about those guys as the week goes on. I thank my good friend Steve Balistrieri. And on his behalf, I remind you all to stay safe and to stay well and to be the change you wish to see in the world. Have a great day, everyone, and we'll see you back here again tomorrow on Locked on Patriots.

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