It’s been a while since I’ve darkened the door of Gillette Stadium.
The 2024 season was only slightly less tragic than my personal life was.
And I wasn’t available for Mike Vrabel’s introductory press conference.
I do so much for you, and ask nothing in return.
The Patriots are BACK.
The beclowning of this proud franchise is a thing of the past.
At least that’s how I read it.
Nero and the Year of the Four Caesars that followed his death.
But full disclosure is never the best strategy when you’re trying to maximize your return.
What did find out is that there’s been no trade talk.
Yet:
In my experience, probably a little early for those conversations.
A lot of those happen next week as we get a little closer to the draft.
I think there’s still some preparation and some managing that goes on and the coaches reports.
It’s probably a little early for some of those conversations to happen.
–As far as taking Red Flag guys with character concerns, the Pats plan on being risk-adverse.
No matter how many strong leader types they’ve signed so far this offseason.
I mean, I think we want to be aggressive.
That’ll happen throughout player acquisition.
That’s not going to get it done.
I think [the goal is] to add as many quality players and quality people.
You want to come out of it with some starters.
–Without admitting he gets the final say, Vrabel suggested he gets the final say.
I want to thank all of them for their efforts thus far, the scouts.
I’ve always enjoyed sitting down with them, asking them questions.
I’m getting around to that between coaching and personnel.
My job, Eliot’s job and Ryan’s job is to bridge that gap.
That’s always one that I have to really focus on and ask why.
Maybe it’s a different scheme.
I just go back to Danielle Hunter, right?
I always use this example.
I watched him at LSU.
–He also strongly hinted that what we’ve all assumed is true.
There’s a lot of great qualities of a disruptive pass rusher.
Very slippery, loose, sudden player.
It was a fun tape to watch.
I think that that’s really what you start to look for, impact players.
… That’s where you weigh all the circumstances and end up making that pick.
Do I think that there are starters in this draft that left tackle?
Yes, I do.
–But however Picks 1-3 shake out, they’ll be ready.
It’s just running scenarios and what we would do based on those scenarios.
How these guys will actually turn out, no one can tell without a time machine or actual time.
Like Vrabel said, there’s lots more work to be done between now and Green Bay.
And I vow to keep grinding on my end.
But I could not be feeling better about our chances.
It’s good to be back.
