Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Pats Cap Masterclass (Part II): Cam’s Back; Miguel Sets the Record Straight — 3/12/2021

Episode Date: March 12, 2021

The New England Patriots are retaining the services of quarterback Cam Newton, on a one-year, incentive laden contract. Host Mike D’Abate provides his thoughts on Cam’s return, and also welcomes back Miguel ‘PatsCap’ Benzan for Part II of their discussion, in which Miguel ‘sets the record straight’ on the various salary cap myths circulating both the fanbase and the media.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON20,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order.BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus.Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. You are now locked in to the Lockdown Patriots podcast. It is Friday, March 12, 2021, and he's back here on your daily home for news notes and analysis infused with the occasional opinion on your six-time Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots. Thank football and Foxborough. It is Friday, Patriots. Thank football and Foxborough.

It is Friday, Patriots Nation. And thank you for helping me close out the week in style right here on Locked On Patriots. My name is Mike DeBate, your host of the Locked On Patriots podcast, which of course is a proud part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. And folks, because it's your team every day, that means your questions, comments, and feedback are always welcomed and very much appreciated. So share that feedback, send it to the internet by reaching out to me and following me on Twitter at MDABATEFPC. And while you're out there giving the weekend nod and saying, how you doing to the Twitterverse,

please be sure to follow the Locked On Patriots account as well at LO underscore Patriots. Patriots fans, for better or for worse, the Pats have made a move at quarterback for 2021. As first reported this morning by Jim McBride of the Boston Globe, Cam Newton will be returning to New England on a one-year incentive-laden deal reportedly worth up to $14 million. And I know this is a polarizing move across the fan base. Some of the fan base is not going to be happy that Cam's coming back to the fold. A lot of you wanted to see the Patriots move on. Explore other options. Maybe a little squeamish in Cam's play after what you saw on the field in

2020. I also know that there are a lot of you out there that are really happy about this deal. Bringing Cam back on a one-year, bridge-type deal is actually a smart move for the Pats. It gives them future flexibility, and it also gives them the opportunity to bring in another quarterback which Cam might be able to mentor this season. But for those of you out there thinking this was a quick decision and that the Patriots didn't do their due diligence, well, apparently they did. According to Evan Lazar of CLNS Media, who's been a frequent guest here on Locked On Patriots, someone whose credibility I hold in the highest regard,

did advise that New England had called the San Francisco 49ers recently about the availability of former Pats quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. They were told that Jimmy wasn't available right now. They also inquired with the Las Vegas Raiders, but not for who you think, folks. Not Marcus Mariota. The Patriots apparently

inquired about quarterback Derek Carr. They were also told he was not on the trading block. With Garoppolo and Carr off the table, the Patriots looked at the other options that were out there, guys like Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jameis Winston, Mitch Trubisky, and apparently decided that bringing Cam back on a one-year deal was their best option. And if that is indeed how it played out, the Patriots made the right decision here. Cam comes back after having spent one year under Josh McDaniels and Bill Belichick.

He has the opportunity to have a full offseason of OTA, minicamp, training camp, hopefully preseason and preseason games, and we all hope a full uninterrupted 16 or maybe even 17 game season. Cam didn't have the luxury of any of those last year. No OTA, no mini camp, an abbreviated training camp, no preseason games, and he also missed two weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

That's a lot to put on a quarterback who hasn't played in this system, is trying to live up to the hype of replacing the greatest quarterback in franchise history, and also had whatever progress he was making slowed by missing time due to testing positive for COVID-19. Bottom line, folks, whether you love this move or you hate it, one thing you have to admit is it's not a catastrophic option. Is Cam Newton the ideal quarterback out there for the New England Patriots for this upcoming season?

Maybe, maybe not. The jury's still out on that. But was he the best option that they had available to them? Absolutely. Apparently, the Patriots did not feel comfortable trying to attract marquee free agents, having only Jarrett Stidham as the lone option on their quarterback depth chart. Don't forget, the legal tampering period starts on Monday, and then the league year officially kicks off on Wednesday, March 17th. The Patriots are reportedly looking to be very active in the

offseason, and word has it that they will be uncharacteristically aggressive in pursuing free agent wide receivers and maybe even a couple of tight ends. Hi Claire. But as I said to open the show today, for better or for worse, Cam Newton will be back in the fold in 2021. Now does this mean that the Patriots are done looking at quarterbacks for the offseason? I don't think that's the case at all. As a matter of fact, I think the Patriots will still look to add a quarterback, most likely through the draft, but they could dip back into free agency. That means robust competition for Jarrett Stidham, who I'm not willing to count

out just yet either. I think Jarrett, with a little bit of fire under him this year, should come into camp ready to compete, whether he'll win the backup job, whether he'll win the starting job, which I think is highly unlikely, but it's possible, or whether the Patriots feel that a newly acquired draft option or a free agent option is a better fit for them in the quarterback room. Ultimately, if there's one thing Bill Belichick has proven throughout the years, is he will start the guy he feels gives him the best chance to win. Whether it's Cam, whether it's a rookie via the draft,

whether it's Jarrett Stidham, whether it's another free agent option, that's exactly what he'll do. I would say right now, Cam is in the driver's seat to be the starter in 2021, but anything and everything is possible in Foxborough. And we're only scratching the surface on our coverage of Cam Newton's return to New England, starting this coming Monday with some hashtag LockedOnMurph, and you know Murph has had some very pointed opinions on this subject in the past. I can't wait to hear what he has to say. But today, as promised, we have a second dose of a special treat for you.

In that my good friend Miguel Benzon, the Pats cap himself, is back to set the record straight. Yesterday here on the pod, Miguel not only built a roster, but he also provided an amazing masterclass on the difference between actual cap and adjusted cap. He also went into detail on how some of the Patriots moves as of late actually sets them up to have financial success in 2021. Today here on the pod, Miguel sets the record straight in a big way. For anyone who thinks that the cap is a myth or that the cap is some sort of piece of excrement, listen up to what Miguel has to say. He not only sets the record straight, but he puts all those that believe otherwise in

their place. Folks, you are not going to want to miss Miguel. He is red hot on fire today, and he will join us here on the hot seat in just a moment when the Locked On Patriots podcast continues. But first, Locked On listeners, football games might be over for the season, but the NBA, college basketball, and the NHL are all in full swing. And with Cam's decision to come back to Foxborough, you know that NFL equivalent of the hot stove is heating up as we speak.

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Follow the Locked On Today podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Patriots fans, my conversation with the Pats cap himself, the Wizard of Benz on my man Miguel was so nice. It required twice the airtime yesterday here on the Lockdown Patriots podcast. Miguel built a roster, including several players he'd like to see re-signed, a few free agents he'd like to see brought in, and he did it all by being reasonable with the cap space that the Patriots have available. Of course, at the time of our conversation, Cam Newton's return had not yet been announced, so he may mention bringing in a bridge quarterback or something

to that effect, but Miguel had pretty much come to the realization that the Patriots were most likely to bring Cam back. However, in his roster prognostication, Miguel actually predicted the future a little bit. Not only will Cam Newton be back for 2021, but the team has also announced that special team standout Justin Bethel has agreed to a multi-year pact with the Patriots. Miguel did include him in his roster building yesterday, folks, so definite kudos to Miguel for picking that one out. Today here on the pod, he is back to set the record straight. And Miguel is not mincing words when it comes to a lot of the hot takes out there that the cap is a myth or calling it a piece of

excrement. And I'm being really nice by saying that, folks. You can use whatever term you want to use for the word. Miguel is not happy about it. And today he sets the record straight. But he also dispels a lot of the other cap myths out there. So without further ado, please welcome in my guest, the Pats cap top gun, my main man, Miguel Benzon, as we continue our conversation in this Pats cap masterclass right here on the Locked On Patriots podcast. It's true across the league, and I think we're going to see a lot of that this year with first time free agents, even though this is a unusual year when it comes to the cap it's still usual in that circumstance you're going to try to get the

maximum amount that you possibly can if you're a player if you're an agent that's exactly what you want to do if you're a team like you said you built i think a very competent team i think it might be a little overstretching the imagination to think that davis might be available at 11 million dollars but at the same time i I think you've outwitted us. Maybe. Let's go 13. Let's go 13. OK.

13 is doable. I can do 13. You know what? Let me get Corey on the phone. We'll get this done. I'm kidding, folks. No, all kidding aside, I love Davis. We actually spoke about him on Wednesday here on Locked on Patriots a little bit as a potential

option for the Pats. And I love the team that you've put out there. But you know what, bud? We've arrived at that time. Your favorite time, my favorite time. One of my favorite parts of having you join me here on the pod is your ability to identify those erroneous cap reports out there. And since you've done such a great job of enlightening us about the Patriots moves lately,

the cap versus adjusted cap and really outlined I think a very good way to build this team now the floor is yours my friend in your infinite wisdom confirm or debunk some of those calorie cap myths out there set the record straight tell us what's right and tell us what's wrong you're on buddy You're on, buddy. All yours. Okay. I love this part. Okay. Let's do some easy stuff for away. All right. Keep on hearing that some players on the Patriots are free agents.

For example, Jake Berg. He's not a free agent. He was in the 2020 season on the Patriots practice squad. The Patriots did not sign him to a futures deal. He is now a street free agent. The Patriots do not have any rights to him. All right? That's true for every practice squad player.

All right? If you don't sign him to a futures deal within that first week, you have a week to do it, all right, they become a street free agent. The same thing, that's what happened to Isaiah Mack. Somebody put down that he's going to be an ERFA, exclusive rights

free agent. That isn't true. He signed the contract with the Broncos. So he can't be on the Broncos roster and be a Patriots ERFA. I don't know why. I think it's the simplest thing to get that correct, but people are getting that wrong.

Pet peeve of mine is Pete Ruffer saying he's going to take $9 million to sign the draft class. They're not using the top. Because they're not taking into account the Rule of 51. Alright? Basically, teams can have 90 players on their roster. But only the salaries

of the 51 players are counting against the cap. Alright? That's how you can afford teams to have 90 players on the roster. For example, now, like on, let's just look at who's not, salaries not counting against the cap right now. I'm talking players who have a salary like $660,000, a rookie deal,

or the first year player with one credit a season making $780,000. I'm talking players like Robert Agayu, Justin Rojas, Jake Dogala, Bill Murray, Rashad Berry. All those guys, their salaries are not counting against the cap. All right? So what happens when you sign a draft pick, and the patient is going to sign nine draft picks, as if they don't make any trades, all right? So let's just say they keep the same nine they have right now, all right? When they sign the seventh round pick, all right, he's going to get a deal, all right? Only his signing bursar proration will hit the cap. So that's $15,714.

All right? His $660,000 salary won't hit the cap. It only will hit the cap if he makes the team. Okay? And you can go there for the first out of, like, five, the bottom five draft picks. All right? Because they're way below the $780,000

salary. So the players above that, like the first round pick and the second round pick, you minus their cap hit, minus the salary of the player that they take off the top 51. Someone who's going to have a salary of $780,000. For example,

if they were to sign draft Kyle Pitts at 15, his cap then would be $2 million. But he subtracted $780,000 from that, and that's what his true cap impact would be. Now let's just go back to the's circle back to the seventh round pick. All right? He makes the team, all right, at $660,000. Who's, right, who is he, he's going to take someone's spot on the roster.

It's most likely going to be someone who's making much more money. All right? So by him making the roster, the Patriots are going to cut someone probably making $2 million to $3 million salary. The Patriots are going to create cap space when they do that. All right? So that's why I think it's very misleading to say signing draft class will take up $9 million in cap space for the Patriots. All right? Because that's not true.

All right? Because, for example, let's say the seventh round draft pick doesn't make the Patriots, right? Because that's not true, all right? Because, for example, because, let's say, the seventh round traffic doesn't make the team, all right? Well, his $15,000 signing bonus will remain on the cap just because it goes from being an active money to dead money, all right? So that $660,000 never hits the cap if he never makes the team, all right? So that's my pet peeve, and I'm probably way too long on that. All right?

So the other thing was, so there was a radio show, Adams. Okay, so there was a podcast, Adam Jones and Christian Arcad, the other day. They referenced me, but somehow that cracks me up. They used my numbers to help them make their argument that the Patriot's Shalva cap is a myth. And I don't know what to say about that. them make their argument that the Patriot salary cap is a myth. Oh, my. And I don't know what to say about that. All right.

So I'll just tell you what they did. So what they did was they read pieces by Phil Perry and Tom Curran, who signed eight current Patriot free agents to deals. All right. For example, they signed Lawrence Guy to a two-year deal, two-year $10 million, so the average was five. So what they did, and I'll give them credit, both guys said that using the average is probably not the right way to do it.

I'm telling you, it's definitely the wrong way to do it, especially with the Patriots, because their first-year cap number is always lower than the second-year. They're not as a pay-as-you-go team. They tend to have front-load cash, but back-load the cap number. All right? So they sign Lawrence Guy, J.C. Jackson, Jason McCourty, James White, David Andrews,

Rose Brokhead, Cam Newton, and Damian Byrd. All right? Their average cap, their average was $38 million. All right? I said, well, if you sign those guys, there goes all the cap space, and you can't improve the team. All right? So they used my number, but either they have not read my tweets or they don't understand my tweets where I said that my cap space number included J.C. Jackson on the team already. So they overstate how much cap space they did by J.C. Jackson's number.

And then they didn't take into effect the top 51 rule. All right? So they have these eight players signed, but because the displacement players who have salaries of $780,000, all right, they overstated that by about $5 million. So they missed it by $10 million. All right? And so I was like, what? $10 million?

That gets you one superstar, two middle-class people, and maybe three or four guys in the $2 million range. All right? That's how bad that – am I saying? But they said Patriot's Shower Cap is a myth. All right? That's how bad that, I'm only saying, but they said Patriots salary cap is a myth. All right? And I was just,

so I'm like, what? I read that and I was like, okay, so they wanted, somebody asked me, somebody asked me on Twitter to talk about this and that's what I'm talking about to set the record straight.

So I'm like, I'm like thinking, this is, are you serious? They have the most, they have the, one of the teams with the most cap space in the league, and then you're going to say it's a myth. I'm like, so what are the other teams doing?

Teams who have to get under the cap, what are their cap space? If the Patriots is a myth, how do you describe the other team's cap space? And I just outlined, if you heard me, I outlined a plan where they could sign several good players. And I didn't sign the exact number of players, the same players. Like I wouldn't have signed Rex Burkhead for a $1 million deal for $3.5 million. That's, you know what I'm saying? But I think that was who, I figured it was one of those guys. I would never do that. But I signed – I think I could outline a plan, a good plan,

where you could sign some of the Patriots free agents and some outside free agents. I don't think it's a myth. And the other thing I'll say is they didn't address the ability of the Patriots to use – they didn't even mention, excuse me, how the Patriots could really lower the Patriots cap, the players' first-year cap number. Because Phil and Tom were really using short-term deals to sign players, they had a high average. Well, the Patriots could do something to sign those players and maybe push off some money for third or fourth year

when the caps are going up and they can afford to have a small dead money hit. I cannot possibly disagree more that the Patriots salary cap space is a myth. I think it's real. The Patriots can

definitely do some damage this year with the cap space they have. People have been saying we don't know yet, like, what we have seen people not tend to some of the prospective RFAs. I would expect if there's a team with low cap space and they have an RFA that the Patriots want that they could go after them, because they could structure a deal that the other team could not possibly match.

All right. So hopefully I addressed the question about I think Patrick's Patriots is definitely real. It's not a myth. I think it's funny that they used my name in the beginning of their podcast. But that happens. Like, people use me, my name, to make their point, even though I probably wouldn't agree with their point.

I'm like, that's why I ask people not to, like, if you're going to say that I said something, not to say that Miguel said it. Copy the link in where I said it. Because most of the time when people say I said something, I usually said the opposite. Because people use my name to help their narrative. When my take has been the total opposite. That happened three times in the last month. I'm like, come on.

So that was the thing I wanted. And what was the other thing I wanted to get off my chest about the cap is, okay, folks, the cap is a crap thing. Okay. And okay. I know Felga's out there saying that. And if you want to listen to him on the radio, go ahead, but don't tweet at me that cap is crap. Especially this year.

When the two Pete, the two sides know the cap, the best, the owners and the players agree to prop it up this year from 155 to 182.5, a 17% increase. Okay? Don't tell me the cap is crap. We all see players are getting cut left and right. We all hear the predictions that the NFL middle class is going to get decimated this offseason.

You know what I'm saying? Just because the cap, you can do things with the cap, like having void years and converting salaries, just because it's a soft cap doesn't mean it's crap. I think the reason that Felger says it is because he doesn't understand it. And I'll back up by that. I literally started covering the salary cap because I thought that I could do a better job of doing it, of covering the salary cap than the beat writers. And guess who?

Low and bold. And this was in 2001, all right, in 2000, 2001. And low and bold, who was the beat writer for the Patriots on the Boston Herald at that time? Felger. All right? So I'm not surprised he said it because literally his coverage of the salary cap was so bad, a fan, me, decided I could do a better job of it as a hobby

than he does it as a full-time job. Okay? So if you tweet at me the cap is crap, I'm just going to mute you. Okay? I really am. I just don't – I'm telling you, if you tweet at me the campus crap, I'm just going to mute you. Okay? I really am. I just don't, you just, I'm biased. I'll admit to being biased. But not

this year. Not when they're, not this year when they had agreed to a floor, they increased the floor. Not this year. Okay? I literally do not have any, I don't have any patience for you. Okay.

Think on your own folks. But if you say you treat that me Capra's guy, trust me, I will, I will probably meet you and never see you again. And the friends, if you really don't test me on this, cause you might need, don't test me.

I really don't. I will do it. Can I possibly say, pay no attention to the man behind the curtain? I mean, it fits with the Wizard of Benz on type theory. It really, really does. No, I'll keep it aside. Because this is not the year.

This is definitely not the year to say it. Because you can't – if the Cap is captain, why do the two sides agree to pump it up? You don't have an answer for that. If you want to come on the show with me and Mike, if you believe that, and we're going to argue, let's do it. Okay?

We can argue about it, but let's do this in a DM. If you think, give me a good reason why you think the Capitals in a year when they propped up the floor. And why all these teams are cutting players. And why all these brothers are saying that the players, the middle class, the players who would usually get a $6 million a year contract this year

is going to probably get a $4 million a year contract. Don't say it. I just don't have any patience anymore for i really don't i'm sorry patriots fans i hope you're enjoying my conversation with miguel the pats cap himself bends on as he sets the record straight on a lot of the cat myths floating around out there but miguel is just getting warmed up in a moment, he'll continue to set the record straight and take us all into the weekend with all the financial news you need when it comes to your New England Patriots. This, when the Locked On Patriots podcast continues. Locked On listeners,

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wherever you get your podcasts. Again, I would never ever disparage anyone for opinions or for takes or anything like that. Everybody's got a job to do. Everybody knows what their agenda is and how they follow it and what their belief system is. I know you. I've known you for a good long time. I know the work that you put into this. I know the work that goes behind the scenes with NFL teams when it comes to the salary cap.

You have hit the nail right on the head. The fact that they have increased the floor, the fact that teams are releasing players and folks, we're going to continue to see it throughout the week here throughout the weekend. And as that March 17th deadline comes for the league opening of their new year, you're going to continue to see cap casualties throughout the league. I perfectly understand your frustration because I know the work that you put

behind this and to see something just thrown to the curb and for you to have your work be challenged by an opinion that may or may not be valid or whatever, however you want to go ahead and believe this, I know what you do and I know the work that you put into it. I am a firm believer that the cap is in fact not crap because of the work that you've put into it. And also because of the people that I've spoken to on this as well, that handle the cap on a national basis, that look and are students of the cap. And for everybody that essentially, for lack of a better term, my friend knows that you're the authoritative figure on this. I'm rolling with you. I always have. And I always will. And that's not knows that you're the authoritative figure on this. I'm rolling with you, and I always have, and I always will. And that's not just because you're a friend of mine. It's because I respect so much what you do.

That's why I provide you with the platform that I provide you with. And I'm honored that you choose Locked On Patriots to be that vehicle to be able to educate all Patriots fans, even some of the media, and really some of the national media. You have a following that goes beyond just Patriots fans, my friend. I'm pumping your tires and I'm selling your phrases every single day and locked on chat rooms all over the place. You're really becoming an authoritative figure on the subject, as if you weren't already, but not just in the Boston area,

all over the place. But you deserve all the accolades that I give you and then some. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I just had to get it off my chest. And I'm so glad that you did, and I'm so glad that you chose Lockdown Patriots to do it, buddy.

Folks, my good friend never disappoints. He never disappoints. Oh, my gosh. I mean, especially, I didn't get to listen to today's Wednesday, so I didn't get to listen to today's show, right? So we're couldn't do this on Wednesday afternoon, right? So I didn't get to listen to today's show yet. But I love the fact that I'm following Murph and Steve, you know what I'm saying? I didn't get to listen to today's show yet.

But so I just love those guys. All right. I love coming on the show, and I appreciate you having me on there. So folks, like I guess in the show, but just like you can follow me on Twitter at Pat's Gap. I would appreciate if you could see my pinned tweet and give a donation to my chosen charity

Hartford Habitat of Humanity. I'm falling behind on my goal. I just looked at it today. I was supposed to be my goal was to raise $138 a day. So

at this time I was supposed to have $29,000 in donations. I'm right around a little less than over $12,000. So I really appreciate some more donations on to that way. Thank you so much. Folks, I think the Patriots will be aggressive

I do think they're going to do something they haven't done in the past I'm looking forward to it I can't wait to come back on because I think what we're going to talk about next time is going to be like wow they did that I really think that's what I was going to say that's what next time is going to be like, wow, they did that? I really think that's what I was going to say.

That's what the conversation is going to be like. They actually did it, folks. You know what I'm saying? Well, from the circles I've been talking to this week, buddy, I think you might be on to something there. Let's definitely keep a sharp eye, folks, as I like to say, on the Patriots' wire. The next few days, it's going to be very interesting. This is going to be a fun offseason and maybe an unexpected offseason for a lot of Patriots fans. I should say one thing, one more thing.

I'm sorry, Mike. No, please. I don't think, okay, I should say this. I don't think the Patriots are going to sign any of their, a lot of their free agents to extensions before March 17th. And the reason I'll say, and the reason is because in 2021, the league year starts a new cash spending period. All right. So now they,

they had a, they were just the 17, 18, 19, 20, just finished with cash spending period. The league year to 21, 22,

23 is another, starts another one. So if you want to have the cap, any signing bonus to a player, count against a 2,021 cash spending, you have to give them a bonus after 4 p.m. March 17th. So one of the reasons I don't think you think you'll hear a lot of extensions before then is is that all right i should have said that at the beginning i apologize for that no don't apologize you got it in and i'm glad and i'm glad that you let everyone know that especially as we head toward the weekend and everybody is really chomping at the bit to find out what's going to happen during

that legal tampering period what's going to happen with the Patriots? Why aren't they doing anything? How many times are we going to see that meme, that internet meme about the stick figure poking the Patriots logo? Come on, do something. We're going to see it a lot, but you lend wisdom and counsel, buddy, and everybody gravitates toward that, and I appreciate you

educating our listeners, myself included. Sometimes I get antsy. I get very eager to either break news or to talk about that. Absolutely. Patience is key, folks. Yeah. Because one reason they want to have cash spending in the 2021 year as opposed to 2020, they have the most expensive position as a quarterback.

Right. They don't have an expensive quarterback on their roster right now. Yeah, absolutely. So, if you're going to trade Gilmore, if you're going to cut Cannon,

there's $13-16 million of cash you weren't spending. All right. So if you, so if you're planning, and I think the Patriots are planning ahead. That's why I think that any extensions of the come closer to March. I think there might be, you might hear them before March 17th, but I don't think they'd be officially in the books until at the 4 p.m. I think that'll give you a smart move on their end. We'll see what happens. I think it will be as well. Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah.

Now I got everything. I knew, Mike, I knew there was something I wanted to say, and I'm just like, oh, thank God I can remember this. Miguel, do not worry about it. We are proud to offer you the platform. And, folks, again, I could not be more honored or more humbled to have this man as my guest. I will go out on a limb personally and say that the cause, the Habitat for Humanity, that Miguel is supporting is such a noble cause. I encourage you to take a look at his pinned tweet.

Try to help him get to his goal. It is such a worthy cause. I encourage you to take a look at his pin tweet, try to help him get to his goal. It is such a worthy cause and such an amazing job that this man is doing, trying to raise funds for people to be able to achieve their dream home. I definitely commend you for that. I'm honored by your friendship for that. And I hope that you're able to reach that goal. And if our listeners here at Lockdown Patriots can play a small part in that, I would not be, I could not be more grateful.

My friend, thanks so much for joining me. Folks, again, follow Miguel at Patscap on Twitter. I say this every time. I'm going to continue to say it because I just like the way it sounds. I call him the Top Gun. He is the Top Gun. There is no plaque for the alternates. It doesn't exist because the man has no equal at what he does.

Buddy, stay safe, stay well. We look forward to having you back here on the pod very soon. And folks, keep a sharp eye on what Miguel had to say over the course of the last couple of days. I know it's going to be interesting, and I know it's going to be spot on as we head toward the beginning of the league year next week. Thanks again, Bud, and take care. Take care, Mike. God bless.

Okay, bud, we're clear. And just like that, Patriots fans, we put a bow on the week that was here on the Locked On Patriots podcast, but the best is still yet to come. An action-packed week starting Monday here on the pod as legal tampering begins and the league year officially kicks off on Wednesday, March 17th. Folks, you will not want to miss a single second of the action all week long on Locked on Patriots.

So be sure to download and subscribe to the Locked on Patriots podcast on platforms such as Radio.com, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts, just make sure that you are staying locked in to Locked on Patriots. Once again, my name is Mike DeBate. I thank Miguel the Pats Cat Benzon himself for not one, but two appearances on the pod this week. But most of all, I thank you all so much for listening

and for making Locked On Patriots a daily part of your New England Patriots coverage. Until Monday, Foxborough faithful, stay safe, stay well, always be the change you wish to see in the world. Have a great day, everyone,

and a great weekend.