Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - New England Patriots: GM Search Begins, Eliot Wolf as Frontrunner? Tom Brady Roast as Pats Reunion?

Starting point is 00:00:00 Elliot Wolfe has had one interesting offseason, but has he done enough to secure the title of general manager? Stick around, you're about to be locked into this mailbag episode of 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 and hopefully your first

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Starting point is 00:01:37 And Pats fans, it may not be Monday, but the mailbag is back in effect. Technical difficulties preventing us from coming at you yesterday, but fear not. It is mailbag pseudo Monday. It is telegraph Tuesday and who else could we dive back into the Lockdown Patriots mailbag with than the man the mailbag was created

Starting point is 00:01:56 for here on Lockdown Patriots. My good friend, the Count of Murphy, Fisto himself, the legendary Thomas Murphy. Thank you for coming to me on this mailbag Tuesday, John Murphy. Oh, happy to be here, Michael. Happy to be here. It's a shame we couldn't do it on Monday.

Starting point is 00:02:12 But, you know, the seasons change and we've moved over from mock drafts into mailbags. And we'll have a good time. We got some great questions this week. Absolutely. Our every day is once again knocking it out of the park. Some of our very favorites returning to the telegraph wire to the mailbag here on locked on Patriots kind of opting out of the mock draft season, but coming back strong with mailbags. And of course, folks, we have an every day or an all-star on both on tap for you as well. So some great questions

Starting point is 00:02:42 plucked right from the headlines of Patriots nation murph let's dive right into it with the news of the day and the patriots have begun the formal process to officially hire a head of football operations or if you want to call it a de facto general manager that's absolutely acceptable in fact the patriots may call them a general manager a title they haven't handed out in more than a quarter century, folks. CBS's Jonathan Jones-Murph, first to break the news yesterday, said that the Pats had planned to wait until after the draft, and now the wheels are in motion. And a lot of Patriots fans were a little confused by this, saying, Elliot Wolfe had a pretty good offseason so far. I thought the job was already his. Well, folks, in order to ensure compliance with the NFL's Rooney Rule, the Patriots must conduct an official search.

Starting point is 00:03:30 And that includes interviewing at least two external minority candidates in person before they make a hiring. But one of our everydayers, Ava in Rhode Island. And Ava wants to know, is Elliot Wolfe the front runner for the Pats general manager job? And Murph, that's the scuttlebutt around New England right now, essentially, that this is Elliot Wolfe's job to lose. Had a very good offseason, had a very good draft, at least according to the pundits, it's being graded very highly. When you look at this position right now, and you look at what the Patriots have to go through, would you be surprised if it was anyone but Elliot Wolfe getting this job in New England? I would, and that's probably why a lot of people are turning down this job interview.

Starting point is 00:04:11 They know that this is happening. I know Quentin Harris turned down an opportunity. He's the former Cardinals vice president. He turned it down, and I believe Trey Brown turned it down also. The scuttlebutt around the league is it's already been done, and folks out there know it. And that's probably why some people are saying no to this interview because they feel like it's a foregone conclusion.

Starting point is 00:04:43 Yeah, I'm glad that you mentioned the guys that are turning this down, especially Trey Brown. He was really, I think, linked to the Patriots job early on when we weren't sure what this search was going to look like. And look, you know, maybe this job doesn't necessarily have the appeal it once did with the Patriots still in rebuilding mode. You have to think that it's a lot more marketable now than it was just a couple of months ago back in early March. Look, the Patriots since have retained the services of guys like Kendrick Bourne, Hunter Henry, Michael Wainu, Kyle Duggar, Joshua Uche back in the fold.

Starting point is 00:05:17 And these are core guys that the New England Patriots identified. They wanted to keep them in house. They did keep them in house. Locked up Christian Barmore to a long-term extension. He's here for 2028. That was a huge move for the Patriots. Don't get me wrong. A lot of these moves Bill probably wouldn't have made.

Starting point is 00:05:35 He probably would have addressed them in the draft or said, I can go and pick up somebody else for less money. I will give Elliot Wolfe and Gerard Mayo and, of course, uh, Robert Kraft, cause he's signing these checks, uh,

Starting point is 00:05:48 credit for, for doing this. A lot of this stuff, you know, I, we, we make these comments that, you know,

Starting point is 00:05:54 they're, they're Bill's guys. They might not have been Bill's guys. Cause Bill wasn't, wasn't into handing out those second and third contracts to too many people. Yeah. That's a good point. Uh, definitely saw the talent to bring these guys in, to handing out those second and third contracts to too many people. Yeah, that's a good point. Definitely saw the talent to bring these guys in,

Starting point is 00:06:10 but to keep them here long-term, there was a little bit more of a revolving door at one Patriots place during Bill's tenure than there probably will be in Elliott Wolfe's and Gerard Mayo's tenure. So, excellent point. I'm glad that you made that. I also like the moves that Elliott made in free agency. Not a ton of splashage here with the New England Patriots. There wasn't a ton of splash to be made, though. I'm sorry for interrupting you, Michael. This wasn't a great free agent class. Now, Elliott could have gone out and burned some of that cash on a lot of needle movers out there at the positions that the Patriots needed. I would have gladly seen Ezekiel Elliott back here or another running back in this room that was a little more high profile than what they did. But there wasn't a lot of splash moves to be made.

Starting point is 00:07:00 And that was my point going into the draft is the fact that left tackles don't move and they did not get one and wide receivers for the most part do not move. And they, you know, they didn't get the one I want and I don't think they got the one that they want. Yeah. I think if you listen to Jeremy Fowler's report from ESPN early Tuesday morning, the Patriots had set their sights on Xavier Leguette. I think he would have been a great fit here. I still have a lot of faith in Jalen Polk and in Javon Baker. Whether or not these guys can round into a number one is still a matter of conjecture. Can they do it, folks? Yeah, absolutely. Number one receivers can be made in the NFL if they come in, put in the proper work, and are coached properly. I think Jalen and even Javon have the talent to do it. You're just not

Starting point is 00:07:44 assured of it. I think with a guy like Xavier, I think you were and even Javon have the talent to do it. You're just not assured of it. I think with a guy like Xavier, I think you were assured of that number one status coming in. But you look at some of the lesser free agents that Elliott signed as well. I love the moves bringing in guys like KJ Osborne and Antonio Gibson. Fill a role on this team, but high character, high quality individuals as well as players. and that's going to help build locker room cohesiveness that's going to help bring back i think a little bit of that camaraderie that you missed in the locker room the last couple of years and look we mentioned the draft obviously drake may at number three general managers would love to take the reins of a club that just drafted a

Starting point is 00:08:21 potential face of your franchise so in all of that why not just go with the guy that did it all? And I think that's exactly what the Patriots are looking to do here. Wolfe definitely has the resume. He's got the pedigree as well. And let's put aside for a second the fact that he is the son of Ron Wolfe. Ron Wolfe was a Hall of Fame executive. He's carved his own niche. Elliott wants to carve a unique niche separate from his father.

Starting point is 00:08:45 And the work that he's done with the Packers, and especially with the Cleveland Browns, I think allow him the opportunity to say, hey, you know what? It's not just here that I've done it. I've done it before. I know how to build a team. The team that he's building is very Cleveland Brown-esque when it comes to the coaching staff, especially Alex Van Pelt, Ben McAdoo, Jerry Montgomery. These guys have all worked with him in Cleveland.

Starting point is 00:09:08 So this is a good opportunity, I think, for him to show what he can do. And you know what? Bottom line, Murph, when you get a pseudo vote of confidence from the owner, you know you're doing something right. Go back to the words that Robert Kraft used at the NFL annual meetings this year.

Starting point is 00:09:24 I think Elliott has good training, good pedigree. We're starting new chapters in our development. right go back to the words that robert craft used at the nfl annual meetings this year i think elliot has good training good pedigree we're starting new chapters in our development i'm really excited by what i've seen so far again they're going to evaluate after the draft see where we go from there but you have to think that elliot wolf has a major leg up on the competition here he does he does and i'm not going to say rightfully so, but I mean, the guys that are in the building right now built their alliances over the last couple of years and Elliott's brought in his type of people. So I can definitely, I can't see Bill,

Starting point is 00:10:02 I mean, Robert going in a different direction now. Yeah, absolutely. And he may end up being the first in a long while to hold the title of general manager here in New England. Maybe it's going to be head of football operations, but don't forget guys like Scott Pioli, Nick Casario, Dave Ziegler, Matt Groh, they've all held director of player personnel, which is the title that was held under Bill Belichick, who really was de facto head of football operations here in New England for the last 25 years. We'll see what the official title is for Elliott Wolfe.

Starting point is 00:10:35 But to answer your question, Ava, yes, Elliott is the frontrunner. The Patriots will do their due diligence. They will bring in candidates. They will consider them. But I think it's going to take an overwhelming candidate to come in and unseat Elliott Wolfe, and right now after the offseason and the draft that he just had, I don't see anybody doing it. So we're probably looking at a new Wolfean era in New England. Let's see what happens on the field, and let's see if they can put it all together in the moves that they've made now and trying to build that new dynasty here in New England.

Starting point is 00:11:07 Speaking of the dynasty, folks, we're going to get back to that in just a moment. As you can see on the side of your screen here, we are going to talk a little bit about that dynasty reunion in Los Angeles on Sunday night. But our good friend LJ, not only an everydayer, not only a mock draft all-star, but he's also a mailbag all-star. LJ is like an all-purpose Swiss Army knife that you can put anywhere on the locked-on Patriots pantheon, and he's going to deliver, and he's going to knock it out of the park. I think LJ had a very poignant question in a position that, Murph, you and I have been very vocal, may have been neglected a little bit by New England when it comes to free agency and when it comes to the draft.

Starting point is 00:11:46 And that is the defensive backfield. Will the Patriots look to make a move to bring a veteran in to help some of these young players they have in that backfield? Murph and I are going to discuss that and more when this episode of the Lockdown Patriots podcast continues, a proud part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. All right, game off. We got to pause here to talk more about Monopoly Go. I know what you're saying. Flag on the play. Mike, you already talked about that, but there is just so much good stuff in this game. In Monopoly Go, you can team up with friends for time tournaments

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Starting point is 00:12:57 A ton include their own unique mini-games like Digging for Treasure or a Robot pachinko machine and there's always new timed events that help you win big like massive multipliers for everything you win or rent frenzies there's always something fun to discover in monopoly go so get off the bench and go download it now free on the google play or the app store game on patriots fans thank you once again for joining us here today on Locked On Patriots. It is Mailbag Tuesday, a.k.a. Telegraph Tuesday, dubbed by my guest today. The legend himself, Thomas Murphy, joins me, bringing back the mailbag after a few weeks of amazing mock drafts. And, Murph, if we're talking mock draftss there is no way in good conscience that we cannot give a tip of the cap and a nod to the gods to our good friend LJ who continued to knock it out of

Starting point is 00:13:50 the park each and every time we asked him to submit mock drafts LJ you raise Murph's blood pressure by a few points but you always made things interesting and we love you for it right once again I think LJ has his finger on the pulse of Patriots Nation. And one position right now, Murph, that I think a lot of people are going to be looking at is the defensive backfield. Patriots didn't do a whole lot in terms of bringing in outside defensive backs, both by a free agency and the draft, that could be needle movers. Guys that could help someone like a Christian Gonzalez, who spoke with the media on Wednesday and said that his shoulder injury is now a thing in the past. He's ready to come in and show what he can do and continue from that impressive start to his rookie season that was derailed by injury. Well, LJ wants to know if the Patriots might be looking at some veteran help. Will the New England Patriots look to bring in a veteran safety or corner before training camp and he mentions

Starting point is 00:14:47 obviously Simmons and or Gilmore yeah so Murph when you look at this team when you look at the way they're they're constituted right now especially that defensive backfield what makes more sense to you a safety or a cornerback and who would you be bringing in? Cornerback. I would definitely go cornerback. I understand that everybody's like, who's our center fielder? Who's our center fielder? I still think there needs to be another person on the other side of Gonzalez. And, you know, Gilmore is past his lockdown stages, days. He's still a very, very good, uh, cornerback, but I would,

Starting point is 00:15:27 I'd really love to see Stefan Gilmore end his career here in new England. I still think he has a lot left in the bag and more importantly, a lot to teach, um, the younger guys that are still on this team, uh, you know, still on this team. Duggar and Peppers and even Joshua Bledsoe, the kid that they drafted this year, can all work in in that safety hybrid situation the way the Patriots are running it this season. But Gonzalez needs somebody else on the other side. Jonathan Jones is much more suited to the inside than I think he is to the outside. And, you know, of course, there's Sean Wade, good old buddy Isaiah Bolden.

Starting point is 00:16:17 Got to get a Bolden reference in there somewhere if you know me. But no, I really do think they'll bring in some. I'd love to see them bring in both. We've got the money, go spend it, bring both these guys in. I think there is an argument for that. And I'll make that in just a moment. LJ, I think this is an excellent question. Look, there were very few, if any, in Patriots lore that hold Stephon Gilmore in the regard that Murph and I do. He's one of the more revered Patriots for a reason, a guy that always came in, did his job, did it quietly, led by example on the field, and simply was always

Starting point is 00:16:50 accountable for everything he did on the field, whether it was an incredible play or whether it was a mistake. You always got that from Stephon Gilmore. And for anybody questioning as to whether or not he can do it on the field, look at what he did for the Cowboys last year. 17 games, he appeared in all of them so he's still got the durability that you'd love to see 68 total tackles 13 pass breakups two interceptions one forced fumble those are not going to necessarily light up the stat sheet atop the league but that is an excellent resume for someone that can come in and adequately play the opposite side of the perimeter and you also go back to what he had to do last year for Dallas.

Starting point is 00:17:27 Not necessarily what he did do, but what he had to do. And that is lift up Deron Bland to a level that was going to allow him to play at or equal what Trayvon Diggs was capable of giving you. Because don't forget, coming in, Diggs was going to be the alpha corner. Stephon was going to play the elder statesman role. And Bland was going to be your guy that was going to be the alpha corner Stefan was going to play the elder statesman role and Bland was going to be your guy that was going to come in and maybe spell Gilmore every now and then Diggs goes down with an ACL injury he's out for the season Bland all of a sudden has to become a much bigger presence and he was uh breaking up 15 passes led the league with nine interceptions last

Starting point is 00:18:02 year and every time Bland has talked about how he was able to make that jump, Stephon Gilmore's name comes up. You can't thank him enough for the wisdom and the counsel and the insight that he led to him. This is a guy that elevates other players. And I think the Patriots would love to add someone of his category. So I'm in agreement with you. Personally, I would love to see him back as well. One of my favorite Patriots of all time to cover.

Starting point is 00:18:26 But I think there could be an argument for Justin Simmons as well. And look, four second team all pro selections for this guy. Two Pro Bowl nods, eight seasons with the Broncos, 604 total tackles, 30 interceptions, four and a half sacks, five forced fumbles. This kid can do it all. And he continues to play at a high level. I think one of the best center field safeties in the league. 30 years old.

Starting point is 00:18:51 And he wants to get paid. He knows that this is his, he's got years left in him, but he knows this is probably going to be his last chance to score anything big. And he's waiting and waiting until somebody goes down. Somebody gets hurt. I don't want to say offers stupid money, but, but offers, offers a good deal. You know, offers a deal that's going to keep him on, on the field, uh, for the next three or four years.

Starting point is 00:19:17 But I mean, Jonathan Jones is 32 people, you know, think about that. You know, Jonathan Jones is not 24 anymore. He's not 26 anymore. He's also 30 years old. Um, so all is not 24 anymore. He's not 26 anymore. He's also 30 years old. So all of these guys are going to need to be spelled. I think what the Patriots have done in the draft and, you know, with the single player that they picked on the defensive side in the draft is going to fit in well this year.

Starting point is 00:19:43 But bringing these two in would be, would be smart money, smart, short money. If you can get, if you can get both of these guys on a two or three year deal for maybe a little more than they're being offered out there, they might,

Starting point is 00:19:59 they, they might be enticed to come here. I would love to see both of them in a Patriots uniform. Ultimately LJ. Yeah. I think we'd love to see them both. Murph and I are leaning a little bit towards Stephon Gilmore in the cornerback position, not just because of sentimentality, but because it makes perfect sense on the field as well. And I'd love to see Gilmore and Gonzalez in the backfield in

Starting point is 00:20:17 New England. I think Patriots fans would love it too. Yeah. And there are other guys out there that you could plug in there in the center field position. Tracy Walker of Detroit is still available. Quandre D around, but Simmons is right there at the top of this list. And, um, it's, it's tough, especially when you hear that we've got money to burn stuff and there are quality guys out there that, um, that you could, could burn a little cash on and, and they could definitely do it. Absolutely. Just to ask, you know what folks? Yeah. You're, you're 100% right.

Starting point is 00:21:06 If Elliott Wolfe or Gerard Mayo needs help, who's a better consigliere than Miguel Benzane? Give the Pats cap a call. He'll straighten it all out. He'll tell you how to do it. Financially, you can work it out. And logistically, I think Murph and I have laid out a pretty good case as to why each of these guys would be assets on the field for a team that's going to need to rely on its defense again this year. I know a lot of people are excited about the offensive additions, but you're going

Starting point is 00:21:28 to have to give that one time, folks, that this defense is going to be able to get after it right out of the gate from day one on this team, and they're going to have to in 2024. But Murph, it's all about the future in New England, but I think for one moment at the Fabulous Forum in Inglewood, California on Sunday night, Patriots fans got nostalgic, and I think it was cathartic for this fan base that needed smiles. They needed to laugh, and

Starting point is 00:21:55 I think they got that on Sunday night. The roast of Tom Brady bringing Patriots Nation back together, we're going to talk about that in just a moment when this episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast wraps up right here on the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Listen up, Locked On listeners. It's winner take all time in the NBA and NHL, and FanDuel is giving you a shot to bring

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Starting point is 00:22:58 as we wade through all of the great questions all of you everydayers on Locked On Patriots submitted. Don't forget, folks, if you're casual listeners or if you're joining us for the first time, the mailbag never closes here on Locked On Patriots. Submit your questions throughout the week because on Monday, we're going to feature your great work. And Murph, I think we'd be remiss if we got through an episode early this week without at least acknowledging the events of Sunday night. And every Patriots fan out there knows exactly what we're talking about. Tom Brady is probably

Starting point is 00:23:33 the greatest NFL legend you and I will ever see in our lifetime. He's no stranger to taking his share of tough hits. He's done it throughout the years we've seen it. But if there's one thing Sunday night taught me, and I think everyone in Patriots Nation is, pass rushers showing no mercy on the football field was nothing compared to the merciless barrage of barbs that Brady was subjected to on Sunday nights. The roast of Tom Brady in Los Angeles presented by Netflix, a three-hour event. Folks, if you haven't had a chance to check it out, definitely do so. Please don't do so in a family environment. This is not suitable for all

Starting point is 00:24:10 audiences, but bottom line, it was hilarious. And some are describing this roast, Murph, as a Patriots Dynasty reunion. We did get questions on this roast. I think the most poignant question came from our friend Ted and and chickpea mass. It always does. Murph Ted always knocks it out of the park. Whenever we need him to lend that wisdom and counsel from Pat's nation, he does it. And here is the question he wants to know,

Starting point is 00:24:40 did the roast of Tom Brady heal the wounds that the dynasty opened up? And Murphy's talking obviously about the 10 partpart Apple Plus docuseries that was not so well received by Patriots Nation for controversy uh not really focusing as much on football there are a lot of criticisms here but when you watch back and you take a look at not only the roast itself but also the reaction that it garnered do you think Ted is on to something here? Do you think this roast was more of the closure that Pat's nation needed to, I don't want to say, say goodbye to the dynasty era because no Patriots fan will ever let it go completely. Why would you think it's the closure that Patriots fans needed to accept the greatness that happened here and now move on to the next

Starting point is 00:25:21 generation? Um, I don't know. Um, if you. If you notice, Robert Kraft wasn't sitting up on stage with everybody. He was down in the audience. I took that as a sign. Bill had the best line of the entire roast, which was, you know, seriously, I'm honored to be here. The roast of Tom Brady on Netflix, not to be confused with the roast of Bill Belichick on the 10 part Apple series. Okay. That was brilliant.

Starting point is 00:25:53 I don't know who wrote that. Bill probably did himself. He's a very funny individual, but I'm not sure it did. Bill has always been okay with, uh, with most of the players. The only player that's really come at him with any vitriol was Danny Amendola. Um, who, you know, I stuck up for, for years, but you know, Bill kind of pointed out, you know, towards him in a roasty kind of way. I was going to say Bill, Bill got his shots in on Danny a little bit. So shots in there too.

Starting point is 00:26:26 So no, I don't know if this was the healing moment that a lot of people are talking about. I don't think that Bill gets the warm fuzzies from Robert in the way that he was treated, not only in the series, The Dynasty, but in the way that the organization has treated him on the way out the door. And I'm not sure that he ever will. But closure for the fans, I'm really not sure. I mean, Alex Guerrero was there in the, in, in the audience and some shots got taken at him. Um, it was a fun night, uh, for the most part. And, um, you know, the, some of the jokes with Tom, you could certainly see that, that Tom got up and got into Jeff Ross's ear and said,

Starting point is 00:27:20 no, you know, uh, that that's, that's, that's out of bounds when he was talking about Robert Kraft and the strip mall. And so Tom is okay with everyone. Tom's always okay with everybody. He's one of those guys that maintains an even strain. I don't think that Tom, except when it's on a football field, is a very confrontational individual. I think he's a live and let live kind of guy. I like Tom Brady as much as I dislike Tom Brady Sr. And everybody who knows me knows I do not like Tom Brady Sr. one bit.

Starting point is 00:28:02 He's ready to move on. The players are ready to move on. The players are ready to move on. I don't think Belichick is ready to move on when it comes to the organization and how he was treated here at the end by the people that are still in this building. Yeah. And I think you could see that. It was a little bit of an awkward moment with Kevin Hart kind of calling up Bill Belichick and calling up Robert Kraft and having them toast. Belichick clearly looked like he was having a great time when he did the toast with Gronkowski and Edelman and Brady, and that looked pretty good.

Starting point is 00:28:37 This was a little bit more awkward. What I found interesting is that Drew Bledsoe spoke with Colin Coward yesterday, a little bit of an aftermath, and did reveal that Bill and Robert had a chance to talk a little bit before this went live on TV. This wasn't something that was completely sprung on them. They both knew it was coming, and yet it still looked awkward. So I think we're on to something there. There's no question about it. But look, whether or not this was the healing moment for the principal players, Brady, Belichick, Kraft, the players, there's still probably some animosity there on all ends. I think most of it has been swept behind them by Brady and Belichick. I think you can see that these two work very well together.

Starting point is 00:29:19 I think you can also see Gronkowski, Edelman kind of letting go of some of that vitriol that maybe they had. And Drew took a lot of hits. Yeah, Drew absolutely took a lot of hits. He did. But, I mean, look at it this way, folks. Drew Bledsoe left here the highest paid player in the NFL. All right? It wasn't like he was shown the door and, you know, kicked in the teeth.

Starting point is 00:29:40 You know, he got a couple of good shots in there, too, you know, especially at Belichick's expense, you know, at least when I got fired, somebody else wanted me. Absolutely. And folks for, yeah, I'm sorry, go ahead. So, um, I just think from a player coach perspective, the fans perspective, yeah, maybe this puts a lot of that to rest, but, the the one person that that was pointed at and um and really kicked while he was down um during uh this entire um dynasty series no i don't think it's over for bill belichick and and i don't blame him one single bit yeah and it may not be and again i think it comes back to the fact that when you look at the players, the principal players involved, whether or not it was necessarily the closure moment for them, I think is largely irrelevant again see all of the key players on stage all at once, smiling and having fun. Whether or not there was some disingenuous smiling going on at times, I think is probable. And, you know, I don't think you can blame anybody for that, like you've said, but look, seeing Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft, Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Matt Light,

Starting point is 00:31:08 Rodney Harrison automatically brings back those memories of hoisting six Lombardi trophies. Now the confetti falling from the sky at the end of the night, really, I think was very poignant, very appropriate for how most of these nights ended when all of these guys were on the field at the same time. That type of magic is never going to be recreated, but watching those elements, watching those principal elements of those championship teams, I wrote about this yesterday for Patriots country. I said, it was really like nostalgic comfort food for Patriots fans. It allowed them to relive the glory days one more time. And it allowed them to put controversy aside, even if only for a night, the dynasty didn't do that. It stirred the storm a little bit more than I think it should have this type of environment allowed them to put everything

Starting point is 00:31:55 aside for one night. And I think that's the major takeaway here from this Tom Brady roast. Yeah, I agree. I agree. It was, you know, put everything together. Let's get together and have a few drinks. Nobody throws down at the end of the end of the evening over something. So, yeah, you know, the fans can take a little solace in what happened here. Sit back and enjoy it. Maybe even watch it again. So one of the best roasts that I've ever seen that didn't involve Don Rickles. We missed the late, great Don Rickles. Roastmaster extraordinaire. Respect to Jeff Ross, but he's, I mean, Don Rickles was in a class himself. Folks, if you haven't seen it, go take a look at some of the Friars Club work that he did.

Starting point is 00:32:37 Even some of the cleaner work that he did in the Dean Martin Celebrity Roast, phenomenal. Don Rickles is a true legend, one of a kind. And so there you go it was a nice little evening but i i don't think that the hatchet has been buried on um by by all involved look if you need any evidence as to whether or not these guys still do have some lingering animosity especially on the Kraft and Belichick side. Only Tom Brady could bring this collection of players,

Starting point is 00:33:11 this collection of entertainers. Folks, it wasn't just former Patriots that were up there on the day. You're talking guys like Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart, obviously, hosting the event. Mickey Glazer, who I thought did an amazing job, really stole the show among the comedians that she was with um you know ben affleck making an appearance i mean only tom brady could bring all of these players all of these entertainers under one roof yeah and still clearly be the main event out of everybody in that room that's something that's an accomplishment i call them the common denominator among all of the franchise's greatest achievements folks it's just the fact it's the way it is every single great moment that you've led up with the new england patriots in this dynasty era includes

Starting point is 00:33:54 tom brady and i think sunday night was another uh that patriots fans will hang on the shelf it'll never replace a championship night no but i think it was also something that pats fans have wanted to see for a while uh these guys letting their hair down and really enjoying each other and ribbing one another i close with a line from sammy davis jr who said when he was roasted by dean martin and his friends he said there's nothing more honoring to a human being than being in a room of your friends who are mercilessly making fun of you he says because the day that they no longer make fun of you is the day that they no longer give a damn about you and i think a lot of people they really give a damn about tom brady especially guys like robert craft and bill belichick who may not want to be in the same room right now but they were

Starting point is 00:34:41 to honor tom brady and that says a lot about all three men and their character. It does. It really does. They're fantastic. And I can't add anything better than what you, the quote that you just gave from Sam. One of the greats of all time. And one of our greatest everydayers kind of bringing us home with some nostalgic thought. Ted, thank you so much for the great question.

Starting point is 00:35:02 Ava, thank you for your question. LJ, as always, thank you for your question. You didn't get Murph all riled up today. We want to see more of that fiery LJ. Folks, what can we say? It's always an honor and a privilege when my good friend Murph joins me here on the microphone. Today was no less, but thank you so much for dropping by and lending your wisdom and counsel. Before I let you go, please let everyone know where they can reach out to you and absorb the great work, the wisdom, and the counsel of Thomas Murphy. Yeah, you can follow me on Zitter at TeamMurph207.

Starting point is 00:35:32 You can check out my writing over there, diehardbostonsportsfans.com. Folks, I thank my good buddy Murph for joining me here today, lending the wisdom and counsel the way only he can. And once again, stay locked into locked on patriots drake may your new quarterback is being evaluated by a lot of different entities out there both local and national but we've got the expert on drake may joining us here tomorrow on locked on patriots that's right isaac shada the host of a locked on tar heels right here on the locked on podcast network going to join me talking about all

Starting point is 00:36:05 things Drake May. What kind of quarterback was he at UNC? How does his game translate to the pro game? And the biggest question on everybody's mind, does he have what it takes to start day one? We're going to talk about all that tomorrow, so if you're interested in Drake May, you are not going to want

Starting point is 00:36:21 to miss tomorrow's episode. But in the meantime, I continue to urge all of you everydayers out there, all of you casual listeners, and a special welcome to all of you first-timers here. Please stay safe and stay well, and be the change you wish to see in the world. On behalf

Starting point is 00:36:37 of the legend himself, Thomas Murphy, I'm Mike DeBate. Have a great day, everyone, and we'll see you back here again tomorrow on Locked on Patriots.

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