With arguably the greatest sports dynasty ever imploding on itself following the exit of Tom Brady in 2020, March of this year brought us an in-depth documentary series on Apple TV, aptly named The Dynasty. I recently finished watching the 10-part series and wanted to share my thoughts because I thought it presented quite an interesting point of view on the team throughout the last two decades.

No Love for Belichick

It is no secret that the future Hall of Fame coach does not have a way with words. Throughout his career, he has had a very gruff manner and rarely answers the burning questions of reporters who attend his press conferences. This series featured quite a few interview segments to get first-hand accounts of many of the events that transpired during the Patriots’ reign. Unsurprisingly, Belichick offered next to no clarification on any of his actions or decisions that people had questions about. Belichick’s failure to answer questions would normally not be cause to change your opinion of him, but I found that his lack of clarification on certain events coupled with the testimony of players and Robert Kraft (the Patriots owner), painted Belichick in a very negative light.

I felt that this documentary gave Belichick a great opportunity to explain and defend himself when asked the hard-hitting questions. People are dying to know whether or not Spygate was an attempt to cheat or an honest mistake; others are curious as to why Malcolm Butler was benched in a Super Bowl with no explanation. As the head coach, Belichick was at the forefront of these decisions, and with no context provided from him, we can only pass judgment based on what the people who were close to him said about him. Many of these accounts sound like Belichick had no love for his players, did not care about what somebody had done in the past, and put his own prejudices before the success of the team. Especially in the case of Malcolm Butler’s benching, it seems as though Belichick had a personal issue with the talented cornerback, which led to him not playing in the most important game of the season.

This documentary made me question my opinion on Bill Belichick, and I feel as though some of his accomplishments have been tainted by the content of the series. I was not expecting to have such a change of perspective when I started watching the first episode, but I think it is important to judge people on their character rather than their accomplishments. Previously, I thought Belichick was the greatest coach of all time and could do no wrong. Do I still think he is the greatest coach of all time? Absolutely. Do I think he is a good person? Now I’m not so sure.

Overall I thought this series was incredibly well-made, and it did not sugarcoat any of the more scandalous events that happened over the past two decades. I always appreciate an unbiased view, and the highs and lows of the Patriots’ dynasty were very well executed and I love the first-hand accounts of former players, coaches, and other members of the organization. The Dynasty is a must-watch for any sports fan, and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about the rise and fall of the New England Patriots.

With the start of the new league year beginning on March 13th, the last few weeks have seen an unprecedented number of player signings and trades. As soon as free agency and trading opened it felt like the entire NFL switched teams and quite frankly it is getting difficult to track who has gone where. However, it has been easy to track what the Patriots have been doing. I’ll give you a hint…a whole lot of nothing. I believe I speak for a lot of fans when I say that it is a little surprising to see a lack of big free agency signings seeing as Patriots head coach, Jerod Mayo said, “We’re ready to burn some cash.”

We have particularly been waiting to see some moves regarding the wide receiver position. The Patriots currently have one of the worst wide receiver groups in the entire NFL, and such an important position deserves some attention in the off-season. I had hoped to see the likes of Mike Evans, Calvin Ridley or Tee Higgins join the team, but the window of opportunity to secure any of those players has sadly passed. As fans, we can only hope that the draft proves more fruitful.

Free Agency Moves Thus Far

Although the Patriots have yet to make any really exciting moves, they still have signed a few receivers. Returning to the team in 2024 will be Kendrick Bourne and Jalen Reagor. Personally, I am happy to see Bourne back as he was pretty much the only productive receiver on the team last year before having his season ended by a torn ACL. In 8 games played last season, Bourne put up just over 400 yards receiving along with 4 touchdowns. Not stellar stats by any means but he certainly pulled his weight and would be a great second option if the Patriots can secure a real wide receiver 1.

Signing Jalen Reagor is a more interesting move. Last season he had just 7 receptions for 138 yards and no touchdowns (he did have a kick return touchdown). Reagor was a first-round draft pick in 2020, so he might have some untapped potential. I wouldn’t mind having Reagor around for special teams or to fill in for some situational plays, but I don’t see him taking a huge step forward next season.

The 2024 NFL Draft

Considering the lack of blockbuster signings in free agency, it stands to reason that the Patriots will move to draft a receiver in April (I hope). The third pick in the draft is currently in the hands of the Patriots, and barring any draft pick trades, I believe that they should draft Marvin Harrison Jr., the generational talent out of Ohio State. Unfortunately, my opinion does not matter to the Patriots’ front office and it is more likely that they select a quarterback, likely either Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye.

In the event that a quarterback is selected, the Patriots also possess an early second-round pick. Reports have come out that they have spoken with Xavier Worthy out of Texas, who recently ran the fastest 40-yard dash in NFL combine history. I would be happy to see either Marvin Harrison Jr. or Xavier Worthy join the team, but Harrison is clearly the better option. The Patriots may never have the chance to secure a player of that caliber ever again, so in my opinion, they should seize the opportunity.

Today, February 20th, 2024, brought some expected, but still very sad news to the New England Patriots fan base. Our beloved Matthew Slater has retired after 16 seasons with the Patriots. Who is Matthew Slater? Well, he’s not exactly the first name casual fans of the NFL think of when they think of the Patriots. He probably is not even widely known to most die-hard NFL fans due to the nature of his role on the team. However, any Patriots fan knows that his impact over these last 16 years was immense, and he will be sorely missed (I’m still hoping they will hire him as a coach).

Small Name, Big Impact

As I mentioned before, Matthew Slater was not the most well-known player on the team by any means. Despite his relative obscurity to the casual fan, his impact as a special teams player cannot be understated. What Tom Brady is to the quarterback position is what Matthew Slater is to special teams. He is the greatest of all time. Slater’s accolades include the following:

• 10 Pro Bowl selections (NFL record)
• 5 First-Team All-Pro selections
• 3 Second-Team All-Pro selections
• 3 Super Bowl Rings
• 13-time Patriots team captain

If these accomplishments don’t land him in the Hall of Fame I don’t know what will. In case you still needed convincing that Slater is the GOAT, Bill Belichick has said that “he is the perfect player”, regarding his presence on and off the field.

Slater was originally drafted in the 5th round of the 2008 NFL draft as a Wide Receiver. Fearing he could be cut from the team early in his career, he found himself a role on the team as a coverage man on kickoffs and punts, as well as a key block in the return game. His work ethic and effort on the field made Slater stand out during the few special teams plays each game, where the field position battle is often fought. Although it is not in the stat sheet, Slater undoubtedly made countless plays that would eventually allow the Patriots to win games on their way to winning 3 Super Bowls with Slater on the roster.

One of my favorite Matthew Slater plays, however, is one that shows up in the stat sheet. That play is his singular, 46-yard reception for his career way back in 2011, off a bomb thrown by none other than Tom Brady.

Matthew Slater’s only catch of his career. (Source)

Plays such as this make you wonder if he really could have been a decent receiver in the league, but I guess we will never know. If you have the time, I encourage you to go watch some of his highlights as they can be quite entertaining, and they show the importance of the unsung heroes in the NFL. One such play is his only touchdown that he scored off of a blocked punt. I remember watching that play and thinking that no one deserved to have that moment more.

Matthew Slater represented the last of the Patriots greats. The players who won Super Bowl in epic fashion, and gave their fans something to cheer about. His retiring is truly the end of an era and as fans, we can only hope to see players of his caliber in the future. It feels like a small part of my childhood has died along with his career, but I am nonetheless grateful for all the memories of watching Matthew Slater play.

In my last post a few weeks ago I discussed the potential landing spots–or lack thereof–for Bill Belichick. It seems quite strange to be reporting this but for the first time in 24 years, Belichick will not be a head coach in the NFL. Not a single team decided to hire him, which is surprising, but I’m sure we will see him again very soon as he will likely not stay jobless for more than one season.

With the draft still a few months away some of the most intriguing headlines surrounding the NFL have been regarding new coach signings. For the Patriots, the off-season began with the swift hiring of Jerod Mayo as the new head coach, but in the last few weeks, we have also seen two other crucial coaching roles filled. Next season the Patriots will have an actual named defensive coordinator (Belichick decided not to have one last year) in DeMarcus Covington, and a new offensive coordinator in Alex Van Pelt. Whether or not these are good hires remains to be seen, but we can discuss the pros and cons at this stage in the off-season.

Goodbye Steve Belichick, Hello DeMarcus Covington

Former defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington has recently been promoted to defensive coordinator. As it stands, I have no real issues with the hire, but I am also not overly excited. Like many fans, I held out hope that Steve Belichick (Bill Belichick’s son) would stay with the team and take over as the defensive coordinator. He and Mayo have been two pivotal pieces to the success of the defense over the last few seasons and it has been reported that they mesh very well with each other. Unfortunately, Steve Belichick has just accepted an offer to coach at the University of Washington, so Jerod Mayo apparently felt that Covington was the next best option.

Covington is not a widely regarded coach at this stage in his career. He has not been around long enough for him to be considered a great hire, but there are no glaring issues with him either. He has been on the coaching staff of the Patriots since 2020 so he is familiar with the defensive system that has been successful even when the rest of the team is complete garbage. Players like Davon Godchaux have given him high praise in the past, saying “He’s so detailed–great head coach one day.” Confidence from the players is a good sign for Covington, and having a new head of the defense working with Jerod Mayo is an exciting prospect. I don’t have huge expectations, but I am interested to see what he will do.

Alex Van Pelt Takes the Reins of the Offense

For some strange reason, I have seen a lot of fans a little disappointed by the hiring of Alex Van Pelt. Why? Well, it is only my speculation but I sense it has something to do with the fact that he a veteran offensive mind and a little on the older and more traditional side. In today’s NFL, many fans like to see younger and more innovative people hired as offensive coordinators or even head coaches. Guys like Mike McDaniel of the Miami Dolphins have dreamed up some of the most electrifying offenses by changing the script of what is “normal” in play design and play calling. Alex Van Pelt does not fit that description, but personally, I’m optimistic about him.

To me, it doesn’t matter what kind of offense a team runs, it matters what the result is. Last season, even with a revolving door of quarterbacks (5 different QBs), Alex Van Pelt was able to help the Cleveland Browns to an 11-6 record, and a playoff birth. Some personnel of the Browns have come out and said that they think the only reason the front office didn’t keep him around is due to the struggles of QB Deshaun Watson, a player the Browns are spending a ridiculous amount of money on for little payoff. If Van Pelt can be an effective play-caller for the Browns, a team without an overly stacked offense, I think he can be serviceable for the Patriots, especially if they “burn some cash” in the words of Jerod Mayo.

I think that the bottom line for these hiring is that neither guy is going to be the next greatest Patriots coach, but they will both most likely do their job well. Amidst a rebuilding team, that’s all you can really ask for, and as a fan it is nice to see some different faces around and hope they can make the team better in any way.

It comes with a heavy heart that I bring the news of Bill Belichick’s departure from the New England Patriots. 24 seasons and 6 Super Bowls later, I speak for all Patriots fans when I say we are grateful for the greatest dynasty in pro sports. However, it was definitely time for good old Bill to go. A 4-13 record is not exactly something to be proud of and I think that Jerod Mayo will bring a breath of fresh air to the team. Now raises the question, what will happen to Belichick now?

Belichick’s New Team, or Not

After Bill’s departure, there has been much talk around the league about where he will go now. Surely the coach who is routinely called the greatest of all time can find a job…well maybe not. A few weeks ago when the announcement was officially made, there were two teams that seemed likely: the Chargers and the Falcons.

For the Chargers, the hiring of Bill Belichick would have just made sense. Bill’s struggles over the last few years have largely been due to the talentless roster he put together as the general manager of the team. There has never exactly been much questioning of his coaching ability, but rather his ability to evaluate players and make good draft pick and free agent signings. The Chargers have one of the most stacked rosters in the league, with star QB Justin Herbet who is entering his prime, stud WRs in Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, and a few star defensive players in Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa. The only thing the Chargers are missing is a competant head coach. Fortunately for them they got one, but it wasn’t Bill Belichick. Former Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh has just been hired by the Chargers, crossing that team off the list of potential landing spots for Bill.

The Atlanta Falcons were another team atop the list due to the fact that they brought Belichick in for two interviews. For a few days it seemed as if Belichick was a lock to go to the Falcons because they showed so much interest in him, but on January 25th, it was announced that former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator, Raheem Morris, would become the next head coach for the Falcons

With most head coach vacancies around the field, Bill Belichick is put in an interesting situation. In my opinion, Belichick is above being hired as a lower tier coach (offensive or defensive coordinator), but I do think he wants to break the win record before he retires. He currently sits a mere 14 wins–including playoffs–shy of Don Shula’s record of 347. I do not see Belichick just outright retiring if he does not get a head coach job, but what would he do if he doesn’t? An interesting prediction is that he would take a year off and take on a role at a television network to stay relevant as a football mind. Belichick has never been the greatest TV personality though so that could be a strange, yet intersting route to take. As of now all we can do is wait and see what happens, but it certainly is unprecedented times for coach Belichick.

It has been just over two months since my last post where I expressed zero optimism for the Patriots’ trajectory through the rest of the season. For those who don’t follow the NFL and are curious about how the rest of the season went, I will give you a few words and phrases that sum up: abysmal, tough to watch, laughable, left a bad taste in my mouth.

In my opinion, watching the season’s final weeks was described best by my mother. When I asked her why she still chooses to watch she said, “I don’t watch because I want them to win; I watch because it’s like a soap opera…you never know what will happen next.” It’s honestly difficult to dispute that sentiment. For the duration of the final four to five weeks of the season, I was rooting against the Patriots in hopes of them securing a favorable draft pick in the offseason (which they successfully clinched with the third pick in the 2024 draft). The real entertainment value in watching and following the Patriots was the drama-filled headlines that came out of New England seemingly every week. From Mac Jones’ benching in favor of the extremely mediocre Bailey Zappe to rumors of Bill Belichick being fired after the season, headline-worthy plot twists were delivered very frequently.

Ending with a very impressive 4-13 record, the Patriots unsurprisingly missed the playoffs and all I can say is “Thank God that’s over.” Now the real fun begins, the offseason, which will in all likelihood be more exciting than the actual season.

My Perfect Draft

I will discuss topics such as who I would like to see the Patriots sign in free agency and what decisions should be made regarding the coaching staff in future posts. However, considering the loss in the final game of the season last weekend to secure the third pick in the upcoming draft, it is fitting to share my vision for the perfect draft.

In the current draft order, the Chicago Bears possess the first overall pick courtesy of the trade the Carlina Panthers made last year to acquire Bryce Young, followed by the Washington Commanders and the Patriots. Contrary to popular opinion, I hope the Patriots can secure wide receiver, Marvin Harrison Jr. out of Ohio State with their first pick.

I am sick and tired of watching that abomination that is the Patriot wide receiver group and in today’s game, it seems to me that a great wide receiver can elevate a decent quarterback to borderline “elite” level. A prime example is evident in Miami with Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill. Prior to Hill’s arrival, Tua was a mediocre, maybe even below-average quarterback. Now he is often regarded as a top ten quarterback in the league, but has shown to be ineffective when Tyreek is not playing due to injury or is successfully shut down by opposing defenses.

Given the wealth of quarterback talent in this year’s draft, securing a stud receiver like Marvin Harrison Jr. could be a game-changing move for the Patriots since there are less viable receiver options than quarterback options.

The other glaring issue with the Patriots’ roster is the quarterback position. Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe are both far too flawed of players to be elevated by a great receiver to an effective level. While the Patriots lack a second first-round draft pick, I think they could–and should–explore trade options to acquire another. possibly using Bill Belichick as a bargaining chip. A promising partner for this operation would be the Los Angeles Chargers who have the fifth overall pick. With the Patriots securing this pick in my perfect world, I would have them choosing LSU’s quarterback, Jayden Daniels who was this year’s Heisman winner.

With the remaining draft picks, the Patriots must bolster the offensive line (another weak spot on the team). There are no glaring issues with the defense so I would not like to see valuable draft picks going into highly touted defensive players. The offense needs all the attention this offseason. Unfortunately, the world is not perfect and I will probably not get my wish in Marvin Harrison Jr. but one can hope. I’m just praying that next season will be slightly more enjoyable to watch.