Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - New England Patriots Potential TRADE for DK Metcalf: Worth the High Price? George Pickens, Perhaps?

Starting point is 00:00:00 The New England Patriots want DK, but only if they can have him their way. Stick around, you're about to be locked into 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 Foxboro faithful and thank you once again for making Locked On Patriots a daily part of your New England Patriots coverage. I'm your host Mike Debate, I cover your New England Patriots for Patriots country so reach out to me and let me know what's on your mind on X at M-D-A-B can find me over where the skies are blue on blue sky

Starting point is 00:00:46 at mdabateenfl.bsky.social and of course if you're looking to show some love to Lockdown Patriots social media style please do so on our account there at LO underscore Patriots. Patriots fans, the start of the 2025 NFL business year is just days away. The period of legal tampering begins on Monday, March 10th, and then of course, officially, 12th of June, Eastern. On Wednesday, March 12th, the league year kicks off and the Patriots, well, they're expected to be among the big cash spenders, just north of $130 million to spend, thank you Miguel, a wealth of draft capital and a whole lot of rumor and innuendo surrounding this team. Every major free agent the Patriots are somehow linked to.

Starting point is 00:01:32 All the major trades out there to be made, the Patriots are listed as a potential player. When you're flush with a lot of cap space and you need help at nearly every position, yeah you're going to be involved in a lot of the off-season rumors. And that's exactly what we're going to talk about here today. Yesterday, focusing a little bit more on the free agency side, we're going to take a dip into potential trade targets. And one big one opening up on Wednesday, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver, DK Metcalf, reportedly requested a trade from the team. Could the Patriots be involved?

Starting point is 00:02:03 Should they be involved? And if it's not DK for any reason, are there other wide receivers out there that the Patriots should be keeping a sharp eye on heading into next week? And last but certainly not least, two key New England Patriots, two of the brighter spots for the Pats in 2024, finding their way back to Fox Borough for 2025. Linebacker Christian Ellis, cornerback Alex Austin. Neither will be considered a blockbuster move, but which one will pay bigger dividends in 2025? Well, we are going to answer all of that and more for you here today on the pod. And of course I say we, because joining me here today is the only man that can lead

Starting point is 00:02:41 the wisdom, the counsel and the candor we need. He is the Count of Murphy-Fistall himself. My good friend Thomas Murphy, thank you for coming to me and friendship today, Don Murph. Go, man. Thank you for having me, Michael. It's always a pleasure to be back. I'm just running on caffeine and anger right now. That's great. That's a good combination. And you know what? When we have Murph that's well caffeinated and we have him a little bit on the angry side, folks, good things happen. So you know what, let's continue to fuel that fire.

Starting point is 00:03:08 Let's dive right into this. Over the weekend, we actually heard something interesting from the Boston Herald that the New England Patriots were going to be very aggressive in trying to get Drake May a number one bona fide receiver for 2025. Well, they mentioned the name DK Metcalf of the Seattle Seahawks and they did mention in that report Doug Kyd and Andrew Callahan both issuing a joint report on Sunday morning that the Patriots were kicking the tires on DK's availability Well, it did send some rumbles through Patriots Nation Some people were getting optimistic about maybe trading for DK services

Starting point is 00:03:42 But that kicked into overdrive on Wednesday morning when DK himself reportedly requested a trade from the Seahawks. Now, I don't think there's anyone that will look at DK's skill set and look at his ability as a wide receiver and say, the Patriots couldn't use a guy like this. He is one of the tops at his position. He was a second-team All-Pro in 2020, two-time pro bowler in 2020 and in 2023, got 438 passes in his career, 6,324 receiving yards, 48 receiving touchdowns. Guy can do it all. He's got the speed, the strength, the ability, the hands. This is the type of receiver the Patriots would love to have in-house. But when you hear Thursday morning's report from the Athletics Diana Rossini that if the Seahawks are going to shop him, they'll be looking for a first and a third rounder in

Starting point is 00:04:32 return. And that DK, who is looking reportedly, by the way, folks, for a lucrative contract extension in the area of about 30 million annually. That's a very hefty price tag to pay for anyone's services. Albeit someone who does have an impressive resume, but as Michael Collione would say, this is the price we pay for the life we choose. My question to you, Don Murph, is given the Patriots need, given the Seahawks asking price, and also giving DK's wants an asking price, Is this a move that the Patriots

Starting point is 00:05:05 should seriously be considering? Oh hell no. The asking price is way out of line. It really is. I'm not contesting you know DK's talents or ability. It's just it's not there. You know you're nobody's gonna give that up and then sign somebody to a $30 million a year Deal with you know Possibly a hundred and fifty million of that Guaranteed that it it's it's just too much to ask in that on top of a first and a third No, it's not gonna happen and have all of you

Starting point is 00:05:48 Simply forgotten that DK Metcalf has said he doesn't want to play here. He doesn't want to be in Boston. He's angling his way for sunny skies and palm trees and he's had enough of dreary winter weather, whether it's in Seattle and it's all in rain or here and it's all in freezing rain. People keep forgetting that. DK actually came out and said he doesn't wanna be in Boston. Yeah, I think that is priority one for everyone to remember. And I had the great fortune of just recently,

Starting point is 00:06:24 meaning just moments ago, sitting down with my brethren here on the Lockdown Podcast Network for our weekly squad show. And that was the point that I brought up. He said several times here that he does not want to play in the Northeast. And the realization is that a lot of these wide outs are going to find themselves in the same position. Steve Ballesteri joined me here yesterday. We talked about Devonte Adams.

Starting point is 00:06:44 Devonte is being very vocal about the fact that he's kind of had it with playing in cold weather cities. I mean, he's played in Green Bay. He played in New York last year. I think he really loved being in Vegas. I think that controlled environment was something that was very appealing to him. And that's why I believe if Devonte is going to go anywhere without Aaron Rodgers at his side It's probably going to be somewhere in Southern, California So in that regard it may take him off the table automatically, right? but if I'm gonna play Devil's advocate for just a moment here, right because In the interest of Patriots fans that are really clamoring to try to make this happen And I know there are a lot of you out there folks and I get it I'm not disparaging anyone for that. I'd love to see DK here in New England,

Starting point is 00:07:28 catching passes from Drake May, Murph would too. I don't think there's anybody that wouldn't. But when you look at that first round asking price, you have to think that that's gonna drop. I don't believe that that's something that Seattle would stay steadfast with, unless that team that's coming in with the first rounder has a first rounder kind of to be had if you think about that.

Starting point is 00:07:51 The reason why I bring that up is because my colleague here on the Locked On podcast network, Corbin Smith, Seattle Seahawks insider, covered the Seahawks for a number of years, does phenomenal work for that franchise, has floated the Green Bay Packers as a potential landing spot. Now, in order for this deal to go through, the Seahawks would have to structure it along with the Packers, so that way Green Bay's number 23 overall is going to Seattle as part of this deal. That would be a prerequisite for Seattle to be able to do that. They're also looking for one of the Packers young receivers. I'm talking about guys like Romeo Dobbs or Dontavian W Wicks. So in that regard, I'm looking at the Patriots and I'm saying if that's the type of deal that is realistic for both sides and DK agrees to go to Green Bay thinking that they have an opportunity there to win, maybe he can deal with maybe some of the colder weather for a little while because they have a chance to win and win now, that could end up taking the Patriots right out of this as well because I don't think they can match that type of an offer. They're not going to give Seattle the number four overall pick. That's

Starting point is 00:08:54 ridiculous. And I don't think they have the young talent to pair with it. So right now, they may be at a disadvantage in terms of the package. They could even offer to Seattle to entice him away. terms of the package they could even offer to Seattle to entice him away. Yeah, no, I agree with that. You know, um, a, uh, a high second round pick and, you know, um, Kayshon Butte is not going to get this done. Or Kendrick Bourne is not going to get this done. Um, you know, could, could we send Jalen Polk back out there? Do you know?

Starting point is 00:09:23 Yeah, he had, he had a, he had a little success out in that area. Maybe they would be interested in that. You know, if they wanted to do this for a second round pick or a second next year and one of this year's thirds and say Jalen Polk, I'd be all for it. But then again, you all know how I've always felt about Jalen Polk. I'd be all for it. But then again, you all know how I've always felt about Jalen Polk. Well, I think that's one that any Patriots fan would jump on, whether they're on the Polk train or whether they're not. I think that any opportunity that you have to bring in a veteran with DK's ability and his resume, if it's a reasonable price, you do it and you do it any day of the week. And for the first time in a long while, Murph, and we've been talking about this for

Starting point is 00:10:05 the last two or three weeks, money is not an object for the Patriots right now. They can afford to sign him to a hefty contract extension if they feel he's the missing piece. I think when we talk final analysis, Murph, on DK Metcalf, at least in my opinion, and based on some of the wisdom, the counsel and the insight that you provided today, I'm willing to say that, yeah, if the deal is reasonable, I'm in for it. Right. I just don't believe that reasonable deal is gonna be on the table. Someone is either going to offer more

Starting point is 00:10:34 than what the Patriots can offer, or ultimately it's gonna be D.K. that just wants to go elsewhere. That's it. This is a move that's gonna be made by a team that needs a single piece. They need that number one wide receiver. Everything else is in place and they need that number one.

Starting point is 00:10:53 And that's what's going to happen. The Patriots have too many holes to fill, especially to give up a first round pick and a third round pick for this young man. Absolutely. It's a harsh reality sometimes. We know that it's an exciting time for Patriots fans. All of a sudden you have the draft capital, you have the money, nothing's holding you back. No. The circumstances can still present themselves that make some moves. This is just too much capital.

Starting point is 00:11:17 This is just too much capital for the Patriots to give up at this point in time considering all the needs they have on this roster. And DK's wishes, that's the icing on the cake right there. DK has to be willing to make all of this happen. He requested the trade. Seattle doesn't have to move him. They're not under an obligation to do it. If they get the offer they're looking for, they will go ahead and do it. But you've got to think that with the

Starting point is 00:11:42 goodwill that DK has built up within that organization, they're going to try to satisfy his wants and needs as well. Won't be the final say, but I think they'll try everything they can to accommodate that. So a lot working against the New England Patriots for this type of a deal. I'm not saying it's impossible, folks, just very, very difficult with all the logistics surrounding it. But Murph, that doesn't necessarily solve the Patriots problem because they still have a need for a number one wide receiver.

Starting point is 00:12:09 And I don't think that anyone on this roster that they have currently can even approach that type of skill set. They got talent, but nobody that's ready to take that mantra and take the baton and say, I'm the guy, I'm the alpha in this room. And if we're to believe Mike Vrabel, the Patriots are intent on ending this off season

Starting point is 00:12:27 with a number one option for Drake May, which means they'll do so via the draft, they'll do so via free agency, or potentially by another trade. What other wide receiver candidates are out there that could peak the Patriots' interest? Well, Murph has one that he's keeping his sharp eye on. I got a couple on my own, we're going to share those thoughts with you when this episode of the Locked On

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Starting point is 00:14:30 heavy discussion today here on the pod. Helping me to break it all down, of course, is the Green King of Sting, the monster master of disaster, my good friend Thomas Murphy of Die Hard Boston Sports Fans dot com. And Murph, in the previous segment, I don't wanna say we poured cold water over the hot hopes of all Patriots fans who were hoping that DK Metcalf would find his way here to Boston. Again, folks, we're not completely closing the door, but once again, the Patriots have a dilemma.

Starting point is 00:14:59 And Murph, whenever I was faced with a problem when I was a young kid or a teenager or even into my early 20s, I always sought the wisdom and counsel of my father. And I was very fortunate to have a father that was always there to be able to lend that wisdom and counsel, especially when I was looking for advice on how to make my situation better. If I'm being really honest, I was kind of hoping that he'd solve the problem for me. But he didn't do that. What he'd do instead was he would ask me, What are your options? And if you really think about it, what he was asking me to do is to think about the situation and how every choice that you make in that situation is an option. Well, 9 times out of 10, that actually

Starting point is 00:15:40 did help me. I was able to structure a plan, and it helped me solve the problem or at least get to a resolution. Not the one I wanted, but a resolution, something I could live with. In that vein, oh great, Count of Murphy-Fisto, we're going to play the old sages today. And we're going to attempt to fix the Pats receiver problem. So if Seattle's asking price for DK Metcap is too high. And we deemed it in the previous segment that it was going to be too high. What are the Patriots' other options at receiver? Who out there on the market, whether it be trade,

Starting point is 00:16:12 whether it be draft, whether it be free agency, do you have your sharp eye on? And what do you believe is the best of those options out there for the Pats right now? You know, Devonte Adams is out there, Christian Kirk, Tyler Lockettats right now? You know, Devonte Adams is out there, Christian Kirk, Tyler Lockett have all been, you know, let go from their teams over the past few days.

Starting point is 00:16:30 And they all are intriguing possibilities, guys that would come in here and definitely be a number one or at least be the number one in New England. But I've got, you know, something a little different in mind right now. I want to call the Steelers. And I want to see if George Pickens is available and what exactly would take to pry him away

Starting point is 00:16:59 from the Steel City. I think Pickens would instantly come in. He's in the last year of his deal. He would come in here and of course want an extension. We know the Patriots would be able to do that and he's a guy that could come in here and be the number one. I think Pickens is an intriguing option and you wonder whether or not some of the turmoil that the Steelers have had to go through the last couple of years could be a deciding factor in allowing him to be placed on the trade market. He's not a name that you're hearing an awful lot of right now, but folks, the upside to

Starting point is 00:17:33 his game is tremendous. I like this option. So- This should have made this pick a couple of years ago in the draft. I wanted it to happen, and they didn't do it. The Patriots did not do that. And I do believe that he could be available for the right package and I do not think that this would take a

Starting point is 00:17:51 a first rounder I do not believe that it would take maybe even the Patriots second round pick this year Maybe it's certainly as I said earlier a second in in Maybe as I said earlier, a second in 2026, and maybe one of their higher first third round pick this season could probably bring Georgie Porgy into New England. And we could throw a truckload of money at him and keep him here for the foreseeable future. I like the option all the way around. And the reason why I like the option with Pickens is because you have experience and youth blended together. When you mentioned, you know, someone like a Tyler Lockett being cut loose by Seattle, obviously the Patriots would only have to deal with money. They don't have to worry about surrendering any capital to bring him in. At this point, he's a complimentary piece. He's not someone that's going to come in and add a

Starting point is 00:18:42 whole lot of on-field value or extra on-field value. Right. Yeah, I think he'd be a great presence in that locker room. Tyler is one of the true pros out there. And again, knowing Corbin as well as I have for a number of years here on the Lockdown Network and having spoken to him offline several times about some of the most professional pro athletes that he's covered over the years. Tyler Lockett is at the top of that list. He holds him in the highest regard. So yeah, he would be an instant locker room hit, but the Patriots need more than that right now. Christian Kirk, maybe he could come in and start, but you're not quite sure about the fit in the Josh McDaniel system.

Starting point is 00:19:18 A couple of more high profile wide receivers that are in the news right now that have been suggested throughout various points in the news right now that have been suggested throughout various points of the media are Philadelphia's AJ Brown and San Francisco's Brandon Iyuk. Now AJ, I don't believe is someone the Eagles are going to be eager to part with. To me there just isn't a whole lot of incentive to do this other than AJ saying, hey you know what, I've won, you know, I won a Super Bowl here. I've had great years here in Philly. I want to go and I want to play for my hometown favorite team. I want to play for my old coach. I think that's the only way it could

Starting point is 00:19:50 happen. So if he is ever going to leave Philadelphia, folks, I think New England would be on his short list of destinations. But I don't think that's going to be this year. To me, there's still too much goodwill. Philadelphia doesn't have to move him. I don't see this one happening. So even though the reports out there that A.J. Brown is viable or a potential candidate, or that, you know, the Patriots have called and reached out and asked about his availability, folks, don't let those reports fool you. Almost every major player in the NFL has received calls on their availability from numerous teams throughout the league, whether they're on the block or not. So that doesn't-

Starting point is 00:20:28 Nobody dances around the cap like Roosman. Exactly. You guys all are talking about big contracts that are due and what's it? Nobody moves the cap like he does. Nobody dances around that ballroom floor quite the way this young man does. Such a great point and how he is the master at it. He really is.

Starting point is 00:20:50 And he will find a way. AJ is such a fan favorite in Philadelphia that I don't think the fan base, even in their era of good feelings right now in celebrating a Super Bowl title would be that forgiving if he were to deal him away lot of the New England Patriots. So color that one highly unlikely. I still think Ayuk is unlikely as well. I know me last year may have humbled him a little bit, but at the same time,

Starting point is 00:21:14 this is a kid that had a chance to come here, chose not to. I don't see anything much changing. So either one of these guys, I'm not seeing them as viable options for New England right now. No, I agree. I agree wholeheartedly. He had the option to come here last year and kind of like backed away from it. Had nothing wanted. Maybe the addition of Drake May changes that and what he saw out of him last year. But I really don't see that happening. And I'm not really sure what the Niners would be asking for him. Bottom line, Murph, all the questions we have right now when it comes to the Patriots receiving core and their offense will be answered in short order. The league year about to begin

Starting point is 00:21:56 officially on Wednesday, but we all know that legal tampering period is going to start on Monday and a lot of names are going to be floating around. Deals are going to be dropping like flies. Our heads are going to be on a swivel because the New England Patriots are not just going to add talent. They're going to keep homegrown talent. Over the past 24 to 48 hours, they've agreed to keep two of their players in house or at least made it a little bit easier for both of them to return to New England for 2025 and maybe the foreseeable future. Or made it a tad bit more difficult to leave. Or made it a tad bit more difficult to leave. Absolutely right on that one. We're talking linebacker Christian Ellis and we're talking cornerback Alex Austin. Right.

Starting point is 00:22:37 Neither one of these moves are blockbusters, but both of these players are solid contributors and one may be poised to contribute a little more to the Pats in 2025 than the other. Or not. Murph and I are going to settle that debate when we wrap up our discussion here on the Patriots options to upgrade their 2025 roster when this episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast continues. Proud part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team, every day. Patriots fans, thank you once again for joining us here today on Locked On Patriots, breaking down the Patriots options to upgrade their 2025 roster. And Murph, in the previous segments, we've talked a little bit about the Pat's need to upgrade at wide receiver and a lot of the options out there are intriguing.

Starting point is 00:23:28 A lot of them are exciting. Very few of them are actually realistic and it hurts because I know Patriots fans are going to sit there and say, yeah, you're not thinking fourth dimensionally or you don't realize how much the Patriots need a wide out. Now, trust me, Murph and I both realize how much the Patriots need a wide out. Now, trust me, Murph and I both realize how much the Patriots need a receiver, but they also have to realize that this team has multiple needs and that not every resource that they have available

Starting point is 00:23:52 can be pushed onto the table to acquire said receivers. So in that regard, the Patriots are going to try to fill other areas of need. And some of those areas of need, they can fill with some of the guys they have in house over the course of the last couple of days. We found out that two such players are highly likely to find their way back based on their new deals that they've received.

Starting point is 00:24:14 Let's start with Wednesday afternoon's report of cornerback Alex Austin signing an extension with the Patriots. He will return for 2025. Alex is one of the bright spots last year. There weren't too many in New England in 2024, but his play has actually been something that I think Pats fans can look at and say, there's a lot to like there,

Starting point is 00:24:34 and there's still potential for him to get even better and better in this system. 6'1", 191 pounds. He did have a stent on injured reserve due to an ankle injury last year, but he started the final three weeks of his season on the opposite side of the perimeter, finished with 234 snaps on defense, 78 on special teams. This is a kid that does have the skill set to be a good cover corner. I like his fit on the perimeter. Murph, your thoughts on this, and what do you think his impact will be heading into 2025? I thought it was a nice move.

Starting point is 00:25:07 You know, the Pats need that other boundary guy and he could fit the bill. Definitely with Gonzalez on the other side, he can handle anybody in the league one on one. Put a guy like Austin on the other side, give him some help over the top. And you've got a solid individual over there. Like you said, he was injured for a vast majority of the season. He missed like the first nine games. And, but was also, as you said, he came on and played really well at the end of the season.

Starting point is 00:25:39 I mean, granted, you know, the Bills came to Foxboro on bring your kid to work day. know, the Bills came to Foxborough on bring your kid to work day and but he played really well in that in that game and and and I do I think this is a solid depth move with upside. Yeah, very well said. You talk about the limited amount of snaps that he had on defense, still had nine tackles, five pass deflections. And again, he did it against the Buffalo Bills team with whom he has some familiarity. Let's not forget the Buffalo Bills

Starting point is 00:26:11 were the team that drafted Alex. He's had some of his best outings against Buffalo, but this is a kid who has very good instincts to find the ball. And that's what I love to see in a corner. It's a position that obviously I played as a young man. Don't laugh folks, that was when I was much younger much thinner and much faster But it's a position. I still love to see because old centers will look like old centers

Starting point is 00:26:33 Absolutely. So that's it see Murph can still get in there and do that I walk on the field to play cornerback First of all, they'll laugh at me and then they'll start to question my cognitive ability and now let's leave it at that All kidding aside Alex is someone I do enjoy watching because I see the potential there and I see the instincts. That's inherent in a cornerback and it makes, it makes for a guy that is always going to be improving and always going to be working. Absolutely. And speaking of good special teamers, the era of good feelings continues in New England on Thursday. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN was the first one on this, folks. Linebacker Christian Ellis finding his way back to Fox

Starting point is 00:27:09 Borough for the upcoming season. This kid's got a great story. I know we've talked about it here before. Undrafted rookie free agent out of Idaho. Started with the Vikings in 2021, played with the Philadelphia Eagles, played with the San Francisco 49ers. Then he came back and he played with the Eagles Eagles, played with the San Francisco 49ers. Then he came back and he played with the Eagles for a little bit.

Starting point is 00:27:28 Again, great instincts, strong motor, high tempo type of style, whether he's playing defense or whether he's playing on special teams. For the Patriots, he was a five unit special teamer last year. I think maybe the unsung hero of that group, Brendan Schueler, deserves all the flowers he's getting. No one's questioning that, but Christian Ellis is a star in that unit. 513 defensive snaps, 72 tackles, one and a half sacks and an interception. He also had eight special teams tackles, one forced fumble and a recovery. When it comes to a special team stud and a defender that can do it off the bench. I like this move for the Patriots as well, Bud. Yeah, so do I.

Starting point is 00:28:09 The old adage, core special teamer. Core special teamer. And like you said, Christian Ellis was probably the Patriots' best coverage linebacker last year. I don't have the numbers in front of me, unfortunately, but what he was able to do in coverage was really fantastic. And he's also solid against the run. You know something that um, you know this Patriots team was was quite a bit lacking at last year. You know not only upfront, but you know at that second level. I applaud this move. I think it was

Starting point is 00:28:43 the better of both signings. Great Knights think alike. That's exactly the question I was gonna ask you, and I'm really glad that you framed it that way, because Ellis's contributions to the New England Patriots, things that you don't see on the highlight reel, you know, blocks, you know, key positional holdings, things of that nature that don't show up on the stat sheet, are so important to the success of this team. Alex plays a little bit more of a glamour position, a little bit more of a high-profile position. So the plays that he makes as a cornerback could end up seeing the highlight reel more often than Christian Ellis. A lot of

Starting point is 00:29:19 people wondering which one of these is going to have a bigger impact. Yeah, I definitely, I can absolutely see your argument in saying that Christian Ellis will be, because where he's playing and what he's doing as a 5-unit special teamer and a key contributor at the linebacker position, and we saw that he was a contributor last year, especially when Juwan Bentley went down, he stepped in and played that role more often than not. Yeah, I think you're looking at someone that does have both the experience and the ability and the availability on the field to make a greater impact. And I think he's going to make even bigger impact under Mike Grable's system. It's going to be a much more aggressive system. You're going to see this kid blitzing a lot more than you did last year.

Starting point is 00:30:04 And I think he's going to fit in really well. I thought this was a great signing and that's why I feel it was the more important. Murph, what can I say? It's always a blast, always an honor when you stop by and you lend your wisdom and counsel here on Lockdown Patriots. The way only you can, my friend, and we commend you for that and a big tip of the cap and a thanks from the bottom of my heart for everything you do. Before I let you go, the floor is yours my friend. Where can our beloved public reach out to you, interact with you and what you got marinating in Murph's kitchen over the weekend?

Starting point is 00:30:35 Well right now I got marinating in my kitchen. You know how upset I am that Joe Tooney is not back here in New England. Yes. Okay, a fourth round pick. Alright, people are being lied to out there. People are being, people are out there reporting that the Patriots called about Jotuny. The Patriots did not call about Jotuny and I'll tell you why. Because Elliot Wolfe did not want to bring back another Bill Belichick player. Okay, that did not want to happen. The Patriots made a mistake three, what was it, two, three seasons ago in letting him walk out the door. I do not believe that the

Starting point is 00:31:11 Patriots ever called. I don't think that they wanted to make this move. I think they stupidly have invested a lot of capital in the in the guard situation here in New England. Now I don't mean that it was stupid to draft these guards. I mean that that they expected too much out of these young kids at a very early stage when they were being plucked out of thin air which is the fourth round of the of the draft Joe Tooney. I said I've said many times is one of my favorite Patriots of all time He has a handful of rings would have solidified this

Starting point is 00:31:57 offensively help solidify this offensive line and allowed these Younger players these players coming back from injury to learn from somebody who is a great, you know, he's been all pro his last two years, I think, and, and just would have would have taken one more thing off of Mike Vrabel's mind going into this season, solidifying that one spot. There's another thing. Tooney is somebody who can play a myriad of positions. We saw him play left tackle this year. He can play center. It was a terrible non-move. It was a terrible non-move. It was a terrible non-move.

Starting point is 00:32:47 Bringing Joe Tooney back is when you have the cap space that you have, and seeing as how it was a fourth round pick next year that he went for, this is just another stone around the neck of Elliot Wolfe and it's just, I can't fathom why this move wasn't made unless Joe Tooney said I don't want to go back to New England. Yeah, I mean at that point you can understand it. We haven't received any confirmation either one way or another as to whether or not

Starting point is 00:33:22 Joe had any type of preference as to where he was headed. You have to think that there is still some goodwill here. I know he was treated very well out the door when it came to the fan base who still holds him in the highest regard. Patriots fans were excited yesterday when they found out that Joe was available by trade. The members of the Patriots beat that had been around such as myself that have covered Joe while he was here in a Patriots uniform that had been around such as myself that have covered Joe while he was here in a Patriots uniform and I know you as well you've covered Joe since inception right here in Foxboro. We were all excited about this. We were all thinking about the possibility

Starting point is 00:33:56 of his return. Of course that excitement was short-lived. It lasted about 20 minutes before we found out he was on his way to Chicago. But ultimately, I think you make the great point here is that the moves that the New England Patriots must make here in the next few days are not just the overt moves to be made. It's making sure that you don't leave moves on the table that should have been made. And I think this will be one of them when it comes to Tuni, his knowledge of the system, his ability to work with Josh McDaniel.

Starting point is 00:34:24 So folks, bottom line, if Murks got something to say on Joe Tuni, you want to follow system, his ability to work with Josh McDaniels. So folks, bottom line, if Merck's got something to say on Joe Tuni, you wanna follow it, you wanna absorb it, read it, you'll be entertained and informed and you can't ask for more than that. In the meantime, on behalf of my good friend, Thomas Murphy, I'm Mike Debate, reminding all of you to stay safe, to stay well,

Starting point is 00:34:41 to be the change that you wish to see in the world. Have a great day, everyone, and we'll see you back here again tomorrow on a lot on Patriots.

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