Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Tom Brady Retires, New England Patriots Moving Forward to 2023, Key Free Agents to Retain?

Starting point is 00:00:00 the greatest to ever do it is calling it a career and this time it's for good stay tuned 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, 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 also your first listen every day. Remember, Locked On Patriots is free and available on all platforms,

Starting point is 00:00:55 including YouTube, so smash that subscribe button, download, subscribe to follow Locked On Patriots wherever you get your podcasts. And of course, folks, today's episode brought to you by Ultimate Football GM. If you've ever dreamed of becoming an NFL GM and managing your football franchise, then this game is definitely for you. To download the game, just download ultimate-gm.com or visit there and look it up on the app stores. Our listeners get a 100% free boost to their franchise when using the promo code LOCKEDON.

Starting point is 00:01:28 That's all caps in the game. Patriots fans, no, this is not a recording. No, this is not a replay of last year's show. Patriots legend Tom Brady announcing his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday via social media, capping a two-plus decade-long career considered by many to be the greatest ever enjoyed by a football player. And here today with me to break it all down is the illustrious Countess of Clas herself. Wednesdays were created for her here on Lockdown Patriots, and we continue to enjoy and be

Starting point is 00:02:02 humbled by her presence. Claire Cooper joins me today from across the pond, a columnist extraordinaire from batspropaganda.com, as well as the host of her very own podcast, A Claire Perspective. Claire, thank you for joining me on this historic episode of the Lockdown Patriots podcast. Well, thank you very much, Mike. It remains to be seen if it will be historic,

Starting point is 00:02:24 but I kind of think that, yeah, it's it remains to be seen if it will be historic but i kind of think that yeah it's it's gonna stick this time potentially he says so yeah it might actually be historic but you know let's pause a beat no argument there i mean there's no question about it look we'll we'll take a couple of jabs at uh tom brady's expense uh you know obviously last year definitely warranted that i don't think there's any question about it but 23 seasons in the nfl 20 of which came as a member of the patriots under coach bill belichick um i'm taking that 40-day flirtation with retirement out of the segment just for you know the time being uh to focus on really what we should all be focusing on today when it comes to Tom Brady and the amazing career that he's had

Starting point is 00:03:09 and a career that I don't think will ever be equaled again in professional sports. I do agree with you. I think this time it's going to stick. Tom Brady's exact quotes, I'm retiring for good. I know the process was a big deal the last time. So when I woke up this morning, I figured I'd just press record and let you guys know first. I won't be long winded.

Starting point is 00:03:31 You only get one super emotional retirement essay. And I used mine up last year. So really, thank you guys so much to every single one of you for supporting me, my family, my friends, my teammates, my competitors. I could go on forever. There's too many. Thank you guys for allowing me to live my absolute dream. I wouldn't change a thing.

Starting point is 00:03:51 Love you all. Very eloquent, very short, very to the point. And I think this time, I think Brady understood the gravity of the words that he was using. I think he understood the transaction that he's about to engage in. And I think at that point, we probably have seen the last of Tom Brady on a football field. And Claire, as you read that, as you watch the videos, I know we all have. Lifelong Patriots fan, as am I. I've never hit that. I cover the team, but I am a fan as as all of you are out there in Patriots nation um what emotions did that stir up in you anything different from what you saw last year or

Starting point is 00:04:32 just anything in general uh that uh you reflected on when it comes to Brady's career especially in New England oh yeah completely different because this time it was like phew thank goodness he's not going to Miami and we have to have him in the division. Because there was those rumours, weren't there? There was that talk of him maybe going to Miami. I know that there's still kind of speculation, some kind of ownership thing and things like that. But this kind of puts to bed him being Miami's quarterback. And to be honest with you, I mean, yes, I love Brady. I loved him as a Patriot. When he moved on, it was kind of like, okay.

Starting point is 00:05:06 I wasn't the Patriots fan that sort of, I didn't not support him, but I didn't support him, if you see what I mean. To me, he was the books quarterback. And I don't cheer for a books quarterback. And that's kind of how I saw it. And I know a lot of Patriots fans disagree with that. And I know that everybody's entitled to how they deal with it. I didn't hate on him, but I didn't love on him either I kind of got very indifferent of like okay

Starting point is 00:05:29 I very much appreciate what he gave us as Patriots fans but now he's got a Patriot so that's sort of how I dealt with it personally from a Patriots fan perspective so yeah for me the first time was like yeah I can't even when he left the Patriots was the emotional time for me when he retired I was that element of okay simply because he wasn't retiring as a Patriot so it had that slight less emotional attachment now the other thing that goes into this is don't forget I wasn't a Patriots fan I'm quite a rookie to the sport maybe I'm on an extension now actually kind of seven each years but I didn't have the 20 years I didn't have the dynasty that a lot of Patriots fans have so my emotional connections are going to be very different

Starting point is 00:06:14 anyway but yeah I'll be completely honest with you my first thought was phew he's not going to be the Fingas quarterback and then it was just like, oh, you know, he's retiring. And now it's just the kind of the inundatedness of social media, of the fact that it's been the same thing kind of over and over again. And, you know, to me, it's like, I'm glad that he got out before he had to be pushed out. Because that's the thing that always sort of concerns me watching this sport, watching the greats, because he's the thing that always sort of concerns me watching this sport watching

Starting point is 00:06:45 the greats because he is the greatest but there are other greats you know at their position that sort of thing like you know for example uh Gronk obviously so but it's when they have to leave the sport and Julian Aderman is a prime example it was unfortunate the way he left the sport because he had to leave the sport because it just broke him his knees he admits it himself he says he just you know it was just too much and he couldn't take it and that's difficult to see as a fan of the sport any team whatever to see a guy who's who's who really good to to sort of be made to leave made made to leave, has to leave. And so I think it's really good. It's a really positive thing that we can sort of sit here as NFL fans,

Starting point is 00:07:30 as Patriots fans, as football fans, to be like, he got to leave pretty much on his own terms, okay? He probably would have wanted to go out on a win, that sort of thing. But he's stacked up that much history that I don't think that really matters anymore because he's he's stacked up that much history that I don't think that really matters anymore because he's so successful in sort of everything in that kind of respect that I don't think it matters that he didn't go out on top or whatever personally in my opinion so you know the fact that he's been able to say I want to walk away I am going to walk away now is I think is is one of the biggest things I take away from that because

Starting point is 00:08:05 just because of how physical the sport is and how you just don't want to see these athletes have to give up something that they love um you know he's decided it's time and he's going to move on and part of me thinks it's great because we can celebrate him a little bit better now as Patriots fans because there's always that ickiness of celebrating him when he's in another team sort of thing and and half of the time you're watching him play and you're kind of wanting to win and then there's the half of the time that you're watching him play and you're thinking oh I can't believe you left us that kind of thing so there's there's all those little emotional back and forth and so I think now that he has retired we lose that um yes we lose getting to see him play but this year wasn't it's said, I know it's been speculated that, you know,

Starting point is 00:08:47 he wasn't fully himself or he wasn't fully enjoying it or whatever sort of pretext you want to put on it. It wasn't a year of prime Brady sort of thing. And so, yeah, I think it's it, although it's sad to not see him play anymore, it's also that element of sort of, I don't want to say relief, that's a little bit too far, but the not having to sort of worry about that he is going to injure himself and he's going to be made to leave the sport because that, you know, that just wouldn't be, it wouldn't be nice. And I know there's lots of things talking about the 80 for Brady comes out

Starting point is 00:09:20 and this, that and the other. So maybe it's just a prime time for him to sort of really move on. And it does, it leaves us sad because it's it really is the finalization of the end of the era and stuff like that but hopefully because of that it kind of gives that little bit of closure of right okay it's the end of the era let's move on as Patriots fans to build our dynasty again you know hopefully who knows what you know what's around the corner who knows if if max the guy that sort of thing but it maybe almost gives you that element of the door is now finally closed he has finally left the sport tom brady isn't in the building of

Starting point is 00:09:56 any sort whatsoever now so it's like yeah there is no he may come back sort of thing so it's just a clean slate there was Patriots 2023 is the season for the Patriots to kind of pick it all back up now again so yeah yeah I perfectly said uh perfectly said look bottom line when you look at the impact that Brady has had on the game uh I'm very confident to say that he is the greatest of all time uh and I don't hesitate with saying that. I don't think you will see what Brady's done on a football field ever accomplished again. And they're amazing players.

Starting point is 00:10:32 They're amazing players throughout this league. Two dynamic quarterbacks that we're going to watch coming up in Super Bowl 57 that really have the opportunity to write their own ticket as some of the game's elites. You know, you can throw guys like Joe Burrow, Josh Allen into that mix. The quarterback situation in the NFL right now is very strong. There's no question about it. But what I look at when it comes to Tom Brady is his dominance in the postseason. This is where I don't think Brady will ever be touched again because 35 and 13 quarterback rating of 89.8 in terms just as postseason now this is just the postseason 13,400 yards 88 passing touchdowns won seven of the 10 Super Bowls that he went to think about

Starting point is 00:11:14 that he went to 10 Super Bowls and he won seven of them earning the big games MVP five times I don't think you're going to see that ever equaled again and that to me is where tom brady stands out from the rest that's the memories i'm always going to have of him is his dominance his clutch performance when it counted uh there was nobody better in the nfl and i don't think there ever will be um so a tip of the cap and a nod to the gods for tom brady for an amazing career and on behalf of patriots nation and i think I speak for most Patriots fans, the 20 years that he spent here in New England were truly magical.

Starting point is 00:11:49 Getting a chance not only to cheer him on in the old Foxborough Stadium, in the current Gillette Stadium as a fan, I had the distinct privilege of being able to cover him as a member of the media. And I still remember walking into my first training camp covering Patriots in 2017 and seeing Tom there. I try to pride myself on not getting overly excited

Starting point is 00:12:13 over seeing some of the guys that I've grown up watching, some of the guys that I've had the opportunity to cheer on as a fan. But there's something different when Tom Brady walks in the room. It's an aura. It's just that they, it's a gift that, you know, that he just gives to everybody that had the opportunity to watch him play

Starting point is 00:12:31 or to cover him. And that's something that I'll always treasure. I'll always enjoy. And I'll always have great memories of that here in Wingland. So a great career. And there's no question about it. And Tom Brady will be missed in the NFL. He'll be missed here in New England. So a great career and there's no question about it. And Tom Brady will be missed in the NFL. He'll be missed here in New England, but I have a funny feeling that there's some sort

Starting point is 00:12:50 of New England connection still to come here, whether it be the infamous one day contract or whether or not they waive the period of him going into the Patriots Hall of Fame or something to that effect, a little special that will be done here in new england you can mark my words on that folks tom brady will not just ride off into the florida sunset here uh he's definitely uh um you know a part of new england folklore and i think we saw that last year when he came back with tampa bay that there's still a lot of fans here uh that revere him love him and uh i think the feeling is mutual within that organization whether it be Robert Kraft Bill Belichick or any of the guys that played alongside him or had the opportunity to work with him here in New England he'll continue that so folks it's New England Patriots talk though

Starting point is 00:13:37 it is Locked On Patriots here on Locked On Podcast Network and ultimately that is our responsibility to bring you in. That's exactly what we're going to do. Tom Brady has not been a Patriot for the last three years, but there are some Patriots that might be ending their tenure this year, not just because they're nearing retirement. Yes, I'm thinking of Matthew Slater and Kevin McCourty, but also because they are impending free agents.

Starting point is 00:14:04 Claire and I are going to take up the rest of the couple of segments, giving you a little clairvoyance. Claire's going to tell you exactly who she believes are the Patriots must retention. Is that a word, Claire? I don't know if must retention is a word. The must abs for the Patriots internal free agents, both on offense and on defense.

Starting point is 00:14:23 When this episode of the Lockdown Patriots internal free agents both on offense and on defense when this episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast continues. But first, folks, today's episode is brought to you by Ultimate Pro Football GM. You've heard me talk about this mobile game app, and I can't tell you how much fun I had competing against my fellow Locked On NFL hosts, Christopher Carter of Locked On Steelers. Tip of the cap. He was our Lockdown NFL champion, but much like Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots,

Starting point is 00:14:48 I'm just biding my time, folks. I'm waiting for the right time to strike. There's a lot of brumation going on in Lockdown land in New England right now, and don't worry. We will be back in the hunt. But it's your turn to compete very soon, and we'll get to that in just a minute. If you've ever dreamed of becoming an NFL GM and managing your football franchise,

Starting point is 00:15:08 your dream can come true, and you can play through the seasons. This game is definitely for you. With Ultimate Football GM, you're responsible for controlling the destiny of your own franchise by hiring the right coaches, the right coordinators, trading players, navigating your franchise through free agency. Listen up, player. That's going to be helpful for our discussion today and the draft, all the ups and downs of a season, all in a challenging and realistic game world.

Starting point is 00:15:33 Ultimate Football GM is a completely free and playable offline game, so you can play on the go, and you can play as you want when you want to. We created a locked-on league for you to compete against. That's right. Fans locked on fans all over the world can be the ultimate locked on football. GN choose the locked on league in the app to join. If you can create your football dynasty, then you'll be right there with the guys that you listen to each and every

Starting point is 00:16:01 day on the lockdown podcast network Locked On Patriots listeners. Get a 100% free boost. To their franchise. When using the promo code LOCKEDON. In the game store. That's all caps. So make sure to look for LOCKEDON. In all caps.

Starting point is 00:16:16 In the game store. Check it out today. To download the game. Just visit ultimate-gm.com. Or look it up on the app stores. That's ultimate-gm.com. Ultimate Football GM. Start or look it up on the app stores. That's ultimate-gm.com ultimate football. GM start your dynasty today. Patriots fans. Valentine's day is coming up and that means romances in the air more than

Starting point is 00:16:37 usual. And I don't need to tell all of you love birds that you've probably had your date plans on the calendar for weeks. Hopefully you have, but if you haven't, if you perfect valentine's day gift or you haven't yet well this is the opportunity for you at blue nile you can find the perfect piece of jewelry for life special moments or even create the custom engagement ring of her dreams or any of the major or any of the incredible opportunities they have for the fine jewelry that they sell over at BlueNile.com. Their simple online tool lets you choose the diamond shape, the size, the clarity, as well as the setting style.

Starting point is 00:17:15 And Blue Nile's bench jewelers will then handcraft the perfect piece for your specifications. Blue Nile's diamond price guarantee allows you to compare a competitor's diamond against one of theirs. Blue Nile can even meet or beat their price. Every order is insured. It arrives quickly in discreet packaging that won't give away what's inside. Shipping is free and so are the returns. So right now, you can save up to 50% at BlueNile.com. That's BlueNile.com for up to 50% off. BlueNile.com. That's BlueNile.com for up to 50% off. BlueNile.com.

Starting point is 00:17:49 Patriots fans, the illustrious Claire Klaasik. Claire Cooper joins me today, host of Claire Perspective, a Patriot podcast on full press coverage Patriots, and a columnist extraordinaire for PatsPropaganda.com. Claire, we were very, I want to say, reflective in our first segment, reflecting on the career of Tom Brady, taking a step back to look at the accomplishments that Brady has given to us here in New England for really two decades as the quarterback of the Patriots. But we're looking to the future, and the Patriots are looking to the future. The majority of the coaching staff right now in Las Vegas as we speak, getting ready to coach

Starting point is 00:18:30 the West squad in East-West Shrine Bowl. You've got Demarcus Covington, the defensive line coach for the Patriots, ready to take on an active prominent role as defensive coordinator for the American team in the upcoming Senior Bowl at the end of the week. So the Patriots have a sharp eye on the future, but it's not just the draft that the Patriots use to drive the future. They also look to free agency. And even though it's a little early here on Locked On Patriots to start looking at potential external free agents, we're taking an internal look. We're going to continue that reflective look we're going to reflect the current Patriots crop right now and there are several New England Patriots out there that are heading for free agency some of the more prominent names Jacoby Myers Damian Harris

Starting point is 00:19:15 Jonathan Jones Devin McCourty Matthew Slater just some of the top names that the Patriots have where the Pats have to make a decision as do these players do they want to be in New England do the Patriots want to bring them back what's the price that these guys are going to agree on and can they get a deal done so in the interest of some clairvoyance I won't ask you to read tea leaves here Claire but in the interest of some clairvoyance when you look at the offensive side of the ball we'll start on offense who do you believe is the Patriots must have who do they have to retain in order to remain competitive in this upcoming season see one of the keys in this is we now have a different offensive coordinator

Starting point is 00:19:58 than we did have so you know he probably isn't going to mix it up significantly. That's probably why he's been brought in. But he's going to have his own way and he's going to have his own opinions of some individuals. So there are going to be players that maybe us as fans look at as they click, they're really good, they've got a good relationship with Mac, that Bill O'Brien could come in and say, actually, what you see isn't what you're getting kind of thing. And it's actually when you get to be internally,

Starting point is 00:20:29 that's not really what there is. I mean, I pulled up the free agency list for this segment and I was really surprised at how long it was. I won't really off because it is significant. And one of the names that's on there that sort of i was concerned with that i think he's maybe flying under the radar now it's it depends if you want to say offense or defense because i think with the special teams it's like they're actually their own segment it's offense defense and special teams but you see you never kind of know which

Starting point is 00:21:00 which way to push the bin but long snapper joe cardona is a free agent this i did i wasn't aware of this until i looked it up uh thanks to alex bath by the way because i pulled up his list was that was the latest list i pulled up um and to find that joe cardona was on there now a lot of people don't think much of special teams a lot of people don't put any significance in kind of kickers and things like this but you know me i actually have got huge love for pundits and kickers and long snappers are in there as well because if you haven't got a good one you have a piece in the puzzle that isn't working and when you have that piece or should i say in a machine that's that's a better analogy and when you've got piece, even if it's like everybody thinks

Starting point is 00:21:46 it's this tiny little insignificant cog, that doesn't work very well. The implications on the ripple effect, as I like to say, I think I've said before, can be quite significant. Now, I'm not telling you go and get a long snapper in the first round of the draft. Please, people, don't misunderstand my exuberance for mr joke i don't know it's just the name that i was surprised was on there and thought nobody's talking about this this actually could be very important he's a good you know he's a good guy there's other names on there such as quinn or dean i didn't know he was a free agent until i

Starting point is 00:22:19 pulled this list up you know i was i was quite surprised the big names everybody's going to be talking about as you mentioned jacoby myers isaiah win and i think a lot of patriots fans are very kind of convinced that win isn't coming back and i probably agree actually i'd agree i don't know if i want him to come back however the position of tackle is so weak at the moment when it comes to Patriots that I just hope that free agency I just hope they stack stack tackle that's that's what's needed if Isaiah Wynn leaving is is necessary then that's you know that's fine he hasn't been gelling because of the moving across and things like this I get it I completely get it i completely get it it's a shame because he's a good player excuse me um so yeah as long as they address tackle isaiah when leaving i know a lot of people you know it's not significant jacobo mysies from what i understand

Starting point is 00:23:16 from social media the the only member of the new england patriots i think offense to make that top 50 free agency thing. And the Trimbleys, that kind of gives you credence to say, yes, he's a really good player. But that means he's going to demand money. And the one thing that we know that Bill doesn't work necessarily well with is people demanding a lot of money. The greatest of all time.

Starting point is 00:23:39 We've already talked about him because he's walked away from the sport. He didn't get big money. Yes, he got paid, of course, but there was always that team-friendly deal, talked about him because he's walked away from the sport he didn't get big money and i mean yes he got paid of course but there was always that team-friendly deal moving money around sort of thing bill isn't one to drop a lot of money in the lap of many people really i know the the free agency with the titans kind of pushes that away so maybe maybe we're moving into a new era maybe we're moving into a new dynasty we're moving into a new era. Maybe we're moving into a new dynasty. We're moving into a new era. And Bill Belichick will drop those dollars down and keep Jacoby Myers.

Starting point is 00:24:15 So it's one of those things that I think Patriots fans are really quite sort of torn about. Because you look at it and there's the one side of Jacoby Myers is he's a really good wide receiver. But most people will say he's not a wide receiver one and believe that the Patriots need a wide receiver one. But then he's got a good connection with Matt Jones. And the one thing that we feel that we need to nurture now is Matt Jones to erase that previous year that didn't really work under Matt Patricia and things like this and put him in a system that he's designed to work, that he has a chance.

Starting point is 00:24:46 Because it feels like they threw him in a system that maybe didn't really have a chance to work, and that's what we saw. So removing pieces such as Jacoby Myers that connect really well with Matt Jones is something that is sort of concerning. But then there's the other flip side, and people say, well, they need a wide receiver one. If they keep Jacoby Myers, then they can't afford to get the big wide receiver one if they keep jacoby myers and they can't afford to get the big wide receiver one that they need it's it's tricky and this is why it's a

Starting point is 00:25:10 sport this is why it's football this is why it is what it is you could drop a lot of money on a wide receiver which they sort of did ish when it came to nelson agalor yeah But just because you drop a lot of money on a wide receiver one, who's very good, doesn't mean you're guaranteed success. Yes, your chances of success are much higher. Of course they are. That's why the guys classed as elite and things like this. But you could let Jacoby Myers go,

Starting point is 00:25:38 spend a buttload of money on a wide receiver one, and it just doesn't really work. I mean, put into example johnny smith now i'm not saying he's like this massive elite player but he was a player that will say one of the top titans because of his athleticism he was paid a considerable amount of money and it didn't work out now i'm not putting i'm not playing the blame game of who was to blame and who wasn't whatever just look at that as a section of, well, you did this, this, this, and this,

Starting point is 00:26:07 and it didn't work. So you need to be very, very careful doing this, this, and this with your wide receiver one, letting Jacoby Myers go, and it not working. And then you've let that one wide receiver go who was working really well with Matt Jones. So when it comes to offense, it's tricky to look at the list of what there what there is and i know that miles is up there and he's going to be the hot topic until like all this free day free agency stuff is done and quite frankly he sort of should be

Starting point is 00:26:37 my personal opinion is i really like the guy i think he's really good and i had a chat with phil perry on my show a clear perspective a couple of weeks ago now and he was sort of obviously this was just his opinion I'm not saying this is I'm not guaranteeing this is fact and Phil never did himself but he seemed to think that there was a chance of maintaining Jacoby Myers and also cashing in for that wide receiver one there's ways of working things so maybe we don't necessarily need to look at jacoby myers or wide receiver one big dollars kind of thing just this this is why we're sitting here doing this and that's why they're sitting there doing their job in all no it's true and i mean and phil is right on the money and this is something that i actually wrote

Starting point is 00:27:22 about what sports illustrated last week in terms of whether or not pursuing a top flight wide receiver like a DeAndre Hopkins, obviously, who's on the market right now, or a potential free agent, which the free agent crop is not all that robust. If the Patriots want that top flight guy, they're probably going to have to pursue it either via the draft and build the future, or they're going to have to go out and trade for someone. But it doesn't necessarily preclude them from signing jacoby myers myers can command a pretty hefty deal maybe not top of the line that he'd get on the open market but something that would be a respectable deal here in new england if he's committed to long-term solution if he's

Starting point is 00:28:02 committed to playing with mac jones and wanting to continue that now the if he's committed to playing with Mac Jones and wanting to continue that. Now, the other thing, too, is to consider his fit within a Bill O'Brien system. Bill O'Brien right now is a guy that loves to utilize the slot receivers. Jacoby can be a good-sized slot receiver. We've seen him do it here in New England, but one of the hallmarks of Bill O'Brien's offense is yards after the catch Jacoby has never been a guy that's going to give you a ton of yards after the catch he'll get you a couple but he's a point of catch um you know contenders someone that will get down the field sure hands he'll he'll catch the ball if it's thrown in his direction and he can grab it

Starting point is 00:28:41 he'll go up and get it the problem is is getting yards after the catch is that something the Patriots are going to value in the offseason I still say and I've said this on I even said this when we spoke on when Patriots placed a couple of weeks ago when I joined you and Jacoby is the must-have for me on offense because of the synergy he has with Mac Jones if you're going to bring Mac Jones out of this funk you you need to give him someone he's comfortable with, he's secure with. He's got that in Hunter Henry on the tight end position, but you need it at the receiver position as well. And I think Jacoby Myers is the guy that you need to keep around. I tend to agree.

Starting point is 00:29:19 So we've solved that problem. The clairvoyance has given us all of the knowledge that we need, folks, to solve that problem. Now we're going to flip over and we're going to talk about the defensive side of the ball. And I have an inkling as to where Claire is going with this, but I'm not going to ruin her clairvoyance, folks. I'm going to let you hear the wisdom and counsel of the great Countess of

Starting point is 00:29:40 Clare's in just a moment when this episode of the Lockdown Patriots podcast continues. in just a moment when this episode of the letdown patriot podcast continues but first today's episode is brought to you by fan duel this year the only app that you need at your super bowl party is fan duel america's number one sports book download fan duel now so you can bet on super bowl 57 with a no sweat first bet You'll get up to $3,000 back in bonus bets if your first bet doesn't win. FanDuel lets you bet on everything from the money line to the point spreads

Starting point is 00:30:10 to who will score a touchdown. The FanDuel Sportsbook is safe, secure, and super easy to use. Best of all, you can get paid your winnings instantly. So join FanDuel today at fanduel.com slash locked on to claim your no-sweat first bet on Super Bowl 57. That's FanDuel.com slash LockedOn. Make every moment more with FanDuel, official sportsbook partner of the NFL.

Starting point is 00:30:41 Pats fans, if you're looking for a delicious treat, and with the big game Sunday coming up, I know you will be. You don't want all the fat and calories of some of those hefty desserts. Well, I got good news for you. Get a bowl and fill it with Built products. You've got to try a Built bar. We just got through the holidays. I know my goal is to try to eat a little healthier this year. I leave it to your good graces to determine whether or not I'm succeeding in that.

Starting point is 00:31:06 But I am trying. I will say that, folks. If you're like me and you want to eat healthier, but you don't want to compromise the taste, then, boy, I've got the thing for you. You've got to try Built. With Built, healthy is actually tasty. With Built, that makes it so good. Everything that they have, all of their great products covered in 100% real chocolate.

Starting point is 00:31:25 That's right, folks, real chocolate. That's important to remember. Then they come in unbelievably great flavors like churro, peanut butter brownie, my favorite, and, of course, coconut almond. I'm not sure how Bilt does it. We've been saying this for years, folks, but they do it. It tastes just like a candy bar while maintaining amazing macros. That's what is even better about Bilt Bar is that they're so healthy for you.

Starting point is 00:31:48 And now you don't have to wait around to get a box. For years, we've been talking about ordering Built Bars at Built.com. Well, now you can get them at your local Walmart or Sam's Club. That's right. Head to your nearest Walmart today, walk to the pharmacy section, and grab yourself a box of Built Bars. You can pick up a four bar box of cookies and cream, double

Starting point is 00:32:07 chocolate, coconut puffs. If you're close to a Sam's Club or Walmart right now, run in and get a box of their hit flavors. You can thank me later. Built.com Patriots fans, the illustrious Claire Clazzi. Claire Cooper joins me here today as she does each and every Wednesday

Starting point is 00:32:26 on the Locked On Podcast Network here on Locked On Patriots. Claire, we've talked Tom Brady. We've talked to Kobe Myers. We've talked a lot of offense, but Patriots need to play some defense if they want to stay in contention for a playoff spot. And they did that pretty well in 2022. One of the bright spots of that team was their defensive performance, and they've got a lot of the band coming back together again.

Starting point is 00:32:50 The Patriots are not losing a lot of defensive talent internally by a free agency, but they do have a couple of very notable names, especially in the secondary, that the Patriots are watching very closely. So without further ado, Claire, you're going to take us home today with some much-needed clairvoyance. When you take a look at the Patriots' defensive free agents, who's the one on this list that you say Patriots got to have them in 2023? How can you pick just one, though? I mean, I didn't manage it in the offense, really.

Starting point is 00:33:22 It's true. But it's really difficult. You've got Matthew Slater, who's like, he's just a gemstone of Patriots and nobody wants to see him leave. And there's been speculation that he's been a regular at Gillette Stadium. And so it's like, he's really not kind of, he's not helping with the rumours of if he's coming back or if he's going sort of thing.

Starting point is 00:33:43 You've got Devin McCourty out there sort of not making up his mind and you know he came off a great year he may be I know I said it he may be older and slower and I know I know I said that because I'm sort of looking for them to you know bring anything else but he really is a quite an integral part and I think if they brought him back I think I would be really secretly really quite happy the other thing I mean you've got John Jones and and as you said integral part of the defense it's been good a lot of the bands coming back together so you just hope that they can work it out too because the defense was so good so he's somebody else but those are the top names those are the names that you'll see kind of headlining when people are writing articles and stuff like that.

Starting point is 00:34:26 The names that you won't see, or maybe won't see as much are the sort of what, what you'd class as like the backup group, the likes of Carl Davis, Cody Davis, special teams, I know, but those guys are going out to free agency.

Starting point is 00:34:42 And it's like, these are, these aren't the, the sparkling sort of wow lights and these are the guys sort of maybe I'd call it behind the scenes that are building the stability you know for those really top elite players so that sort of thing concerns me that that these guys are on that list and yeah I mean Daniel Akwali he had a he's had a quite a rather good season this year so technically last year sorry apologies and it's just like you look as oh yeah but he's not going

Starting point is 00:35:13 to cost but you could probably replace him and don't forget the onus or the significance on an individual that's been in the system for a while okay so he's not the top elite player but if he's been in he's been in your team for a while he's been there he's not the top elite player, but if he's been in your team for a while, he's been there, he's been in the background, he knows the Patriots way, the value of him is going to be more than maybe just, you know, appearance. I've seen it out there. There was an argument on Twitter. I failed who was arguing, but there was an argument on Twitter,

Starting point is 00:35:41 the significance of Gibralt Preppers. Now, one individual said that they hadn't really seen much of him, whatever. And the comeback was he played 35% of the defensive snaps. Again, this is going to be one of those names that isn't sort of up there like the McCourty's and the Slater's of people saying we need to keep them, you know, we need to have them back. Don't forget your sort of, yeah, your backup group, you know, the backup singers sort of thing.

Starting point is 00:36:05 The ones that really keep the harmony when it comes to the defence. Don't just look at the spotlight sparkles in regards to Jon Jones. So I'm really sorry when it comes to defence, because they were so good technically last season. I don't think you can just isolate one individual and say if he comes back, then that's great. Yes, Devin McCourtyty I think I would love that but you all you always worry about him not it you know opening up a spot for a young guy because we know that they need to get younger sort of thing but I think you need to be aware of your backup singers as I'm now going to call them that's my thing now you need to be aware of those guys and and don't sort of cash out because you just

Starting point is 00:36:45 think oh well we you know they can kind of get whatever they need to worry about the cornerback in the draft that kind of thing the number one cornerback that i know a lot of patriots fans are are worrying about and i'm added onto the list and unfortunately here comes my my draft investigations and combine watching of cbs again really just give me some tight endings for crying out loud people. But yeah, I'm really sorry. I'm just going to sit on, you know, I'm just going to really tap out this one

Starting point is 00:37:09 or sit on the fence or whatever. I can't name one because I think for me, the building blocks of the backup singers or the defense, I think is just as significant as it is getting your all star cast at the front. Yeah, I mean, as much as I would love to say Devin McCourty is the must have and the must re-sign for this team and i really think that the patriots are going to severely

Starting point is 00:37:31 severely miss devon if he does indeed retire uh if he is the next quote-unquote domino to drop here when it comes to patriots legends and not to mention the fact that he's still playing at a high level on the field anybody that saw that finalills game that saw him be right in the right position to be able to make plays, continue to make. And then you hear about the fact that he also had to undergo offseason shoulder surgery while playing nearly 100 percent of the snaps while he was out there. Devin is a rare, rare breed. And I say that with every uh you know ounce of reverence uh for him uh one of the first guys again that had the opportunity to cover here in New England and one of those guys that lived up to the hype every single time you either spoke with him uh every

Starting point is 00:38:16 single time that you interviewed him or really every single time you watched him play on the field even if he wasn't having his best game you saw McCourty out there or even a practice a training camp practice telling people where they needed to be pointing out the nuances on the field that he felt the younger generation needed to hear that's something that is so indelible and the Patriots are going to really really miss that without any question of course we don't know if Devin has you know made that decision yet nothing is official we still live in hope he doesn't know either exactly so I mean he's still going obviously he's you know convalescing a little bit those are all things that are going to continue to be in his purview

Starting point is 00:38:54 but when it comes to Jonathan Jones that's the guy I think you really have to take a strong look at and show what this guy can do the versatility of being not just one of the fastest corners out there and be able to keep pace with some of the real speedy receivers that we've seen in this league and we're going to continue to see in this league but also someone that can play in the slot can play on the perimeter can pretty much do it all he is a swiss army knife out there in the cornerback position and i think even if the Patriots are going to go corner in the draft, which I have a sneaking suspicion, they might, at least in the earlier rounds, maybe not first round folks.

Starting point is 00:39:31 A lot of people were screaming at me. Murph is one of them right now. Offensive line. Yeah, that's where I'm going to, but I think they are going to look at the cornerback position. And if that's the case, I think they might go perimeter of the future there and maybe try to retain John Jones. So Claire, ultimately, that's the case i think they might go perimeter of the future there and maybe try to retain john jones so claire ultimately ultimately we'll see what the patriots are up to and what they're going to do but folks we're going to continue to document and we're going to continue to break it all down

Starting point is 00:39:56 right here on locked on patriots we're not going anywhere still a ton left in the week heading into first week without real football on the field i know the pro bowl was this weekend but you know the pro bowl is a pro bowl player let's face it but we've got you continuously covered here on locked on patriots and as well if you've made us your first listen make your second listen our good friends at lock on nfl the lock on nfl podcast has all the major news when it comes to the Shield. Yeah, they're going to be covering Super Bowl 57. They'll be covering Tom Brady's retirement, the Shrine Bowl, the Senior Bowl, everything you can possibly imagine.

Starting point is 00:40:32 They will cover it. And we have a lot of eyes and ears down at the Senior Bowl this year for the Lockdown Podcast Network. A lot of my great colleagues doing phenomenal work. Be sure to check out their work as well. And as always, I thank you so much for making locked on Patriots a daily part of your New England Patriots coverage and also your first listen every day on behalf of the illustrious Claire,

Starting point is 00:40:53 classy Claire Cooper of Pat's propaganda and full press coverage. Patriots on Mike debate. Stay safe. Stay well. Be the change you wish to see in the world. Have a great day, everyone.

Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Tom Brady Retires, New England Patriots Moving Forward to 2023, Key Free Agents to Retain?

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.