LATEST STORIES FROM MUSKET FIRE
Patriots Position Audit: Offensive Line
Mankins future will impact what the Pats do with the offensive line. Photo from Patriots.com/Photographer Keith Nordstrom
Until the NFL and the players put aside their difference and realize how much the game means to fans, the players will be locked out and free agency is on hold. The draft will take place no matter what, but hopefully there is a new CBA before then. In the meantime...
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March 12, 2011
Discuss
NFLPA’s Statement on Decertificiation
Earlier, I shared with you NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s letter to the fans regarding the league’s position on union decertification and their last proposal to the players. To be fair and balanced, I’ll pass along the NFLPA’s official statement regarding decertificiation. If you’re not sure what this all means, NFL.com posted some FAQ’s on decertification here.
WASHINGTON...
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March 12, 2011
NFL Commissioner Goodell Sends Letter to Fans
I received a letter in my email from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell outlining the league’s stance on the players’ union decision to decertify and litigate in the courts. He also gave some details on the league’s most recent proposal to the players’ union. Below is the text of Goodell’s letter. Remember as you read it that this is only one side of the argument.
Dear NFL...
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March 12, 2011
Patriots Position Audit: Tight End
Gronkosuarus is the future at TE for the Patriots. Source: Yardbarker.com
We’ll soon find out whether there is a new CBA or a lockout on the way in the NFL. In the meantime, I’ll evaluate each position on the Patriots’ current roster and look at potential draft picks or free agents that could be brought in to improve the position or add depth. Today’s position audit...
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March 11, 2011
Patriots Position Audit: Wide Receiver
Deion Branch's return stabilized the WR corps in 2010. Source: Yardbarker.com
During the lull in news while we wait for a new CBA or potential lockout throughout the week, I’ll evaluate each position on the Patriots’ current roster and look at potential draft picks or free agents that could be brought in to improve the position or add depth. Today’s position audit...
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March 10, 2011
Patriots Position Audit: Runningback
Danny Woodhead emerged as a playmaker in 2010. Source: Yardbarker.com
During the lull in news while we wait for a new CBA or potential lockout throughout the week, I’ll evaluate each position on the Patriots’ current roster and look at potential draft picks or free agents that could be brought in to improve the position or add depth. Today’s position audit looks at the...
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March 09, 2011
Patriots Position Audit: Quarterback
Tom Brady makes QB a position of strength for the Pats. Source: bostonherald.com
During the lull in news while we wait for a new CBA or potential lockout throughout the week, I’ll evaluate each position on the Patriots’ current roster and look at potential draft picks or free agents that could be brought in to improve the position or add depth. Today’s position...
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March 07, 2011
Pats Tender Two at Second-Round Level
With the CBA about to expire, unless the negotiation deadline is extended again, and free agency possibly about to happen, the deadline for tendering restricted free agents is upon every NFL team. The Patriots made moves Thursday to retain a couple of their restricted free agents by tendering them offers at the second-round draft pick level. That means if another team signs one of...
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March 04, 2011
Stephen Neal Retires
Source: Patriots.com
Patriots right guard Stephen Neal announced his retirement yesterday, a move that was not completely unexpected. Neal had thought about retiring last offseason before signing a two-year deal with the Pats. However, he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury eight games into the season and was placed on injured reserve. Neal’s rise to a starting guard in...
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March 03, 2011
2011 Scouting Combine Report: Cornerbacks
Rounding out my NFL Scouting Combine reports is a description of the top performers for the up-and-coming cornerbacks available in the draft. I focused all the Combine reports on what I feel are the Patriots’ top 5 needs, and corner comes in at #5 on my list. You can check out the previous reports on offensive linemen here, runningback here, defensive line here, and linebacker...
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March 01, 2011
Kaczur Likely Out, Stroud In
The Patriots made a roster move this week and are likely to make another soon. Today the Patriots signed former Jaguars/Bills DT/DE Marcus Stroud. Stroud was released recently by the Bills after youth at the defensive line, a high salary, and a declining performance made him expendable. According to reports, Stroud signed a two-year deal with the Pats. I hardly think that Stroud...
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March 01, 2011
2011 Scouting Combine Report: Linebackers
As the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine unfolds, I’ll be passing along the rankings of the players that worked out as they relate to Patriots’ needs. Yesterday, I posted the top performers among the defensive linemen, some of which project to play outside linebacker in the Patriots’ 3-4. Sunday, I brought you the top performers among the runningbacks and any Patriots-related...
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March 01, 2011
2011 Scouting Combine Report: Defensive Linemen
As the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine unfolds, I’ll be passing along the rankings of the players that worked out as they relate to Patriots’ needs. Yesterday I brought you the top performers among the runningbacks and any Patriots-related news regarding the position. Saturday, I brought you the top performers among the offensive linemen. Today, the defensive linemen and linebackers...
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February 28, 2011
Q & A with the Foxboro Blog
Ricky Keeler from the Foxboro Blog recently reached out to me and asked some questions in regards to the Patriots’ offseason. Topics ranged from draft picks to free agency. To check out the Q & A, click here. The Foxboro Blog has some nice Patriots coverage, so be sure to check them out, along with Musket Fire of course!
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February 28, 2011
2011 Scouting Combine Report: Runningbacks
As the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine unfolds, I’ll be passing along the rankings of the players that worked out as they relate to Patriots’ needs. Yesterday I brought you the top performers for the offensive linemen and any Patriots-related news regarding the position. Today, the runningback, quarterbacks, and wide receivers ran through the various drills and positional workouts...
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February 28, 2011
2011 Scouting Combine Report: Offensive Linemen
As the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine unfolds, I’ll be passing along the rankings of the players that worked out as they relate to Patriots’ needs. Today, the offensive linemen, along with tight ends and specialists, got to run through the various drills and positional workouts. Offensive line is my #2 need for the Patriots, so today’s focus will be on that group. For a pretty good...
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February 26, 2011
Mankins’ Agent Still Taking a Harsh Tone with Patriots
Comcast Sports Net’s Tom E. Curran caught up with Logan Mankins’ agent, Frank Bauer, in Indianapolis at the Scouting Combine and asked him about the contract progress between the All Pro guard and the Patriots. Let’s just say that the two sides are not in negotiations at the present time. I don’t know if Bauer is talking to reporters about Mankins’ situation in a harsh...
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February 24, 2011
Patriots Team Mock Draft
FanSided’s NFLMocks.com has a Patriots mock draft posted, and the selections Jesse Bartolis makes are pretty interesting. Before getting into specific players, Jesse lists the Pats’ top needs, and some of them are a little different from what I posted a few days ago. You can check out the Patriots Mock Draft by clicking here. Here is an excerpt from the piece:
The Patriots are...
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February 24, 2011
Could Sanders or Atogwe Provide the Pats with a Safety Net?
Potential Patriots?
The Indianapolis Colts and the St. Louis Rams made headlines recently when they released players who had been stars of their respective secondaries for much of the past decade. The Colts released former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, safety Bob Sanders and the Rams released safety O.J. Atogwe, a player they had previously franchised. Since the release of these...
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February 23, 2011
Patriots Poised to Have a Big Draft
The New England Patriots find themselves in a rare and unique situation for the upcoming 2011 NFL Draft. Six of their nine draft picks (not counting any future compensatory picks) are in the first three rounds of the draft, including two in each of those critical first three rounds. In what may be an act of Providence (not the city), the depth of this year’s draft class seems to...
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February 22, 2011
Patriots Top 5 Needs
The NFL Scouting Combine is set to begin this Thursday, and Patriots fans will likely be focusing on just a few positions that could help fill in the missing pieces that prevented a 14-2 team from becoming champions. You can likely cross quarterback and tight end off of the list, unless the position is drafted in the later rounds for depth purposes. Wide receiver has been a hot topic...
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February 21, 2011
TE Hernandez Has Hip Surgery
Patriots.com/Photographer Keith Nordstrom
Appearing at a football camp run by his brother in Connecticut, TE Aaron Hernandez fielded questions about football and why he was there on crutches. Hernandez confirmed that he recently had hip surgery. The injury kept him out of the final two games of the regular season and limited his time during the playoff loss to the New York Jets....
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February 21, 2011
Jovial Belichick on Display in Hawaii
Ever the stoic coach on the sidelines and behind the microphone, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has been a guarded man to the New England faithful. Rarely does any type of personality display itself to the media or the fans. Once in a while, Belichick will throw some dry humor into his press conferences but that’s usually all we ever get to side a lighter side to the coach...
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February 19, 2011
Patriots Make More Coaching Moves
The Patriots announced more additions and movements with their coaching staff for the upcoming (is it?) 2011 season. Last week, the Patriots promoted Bill O’Brien to offensive coordinator, moved Matt Patricia from linebackers coach to safeties coach, moved defensive assistant Patrick Graham to linebackers coach, and lost strength and conditioning coach Mike Woicik to the Dallas...
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February 17, 2011
Seymour Seeing More Cash
Former Patriot Richard Seymour
Former Patriots defensive lineman Richard Seymour has been rewarded by the Oakland Raiders with a brand-new two-year, $30 million deal, according to NFL.com’s Jason LaConfora. His average of $15 million per season makes him the highest paid defensive lineman in the NFL on a per year basis. Last season, Seymour recorded 48 tackles and 5.5 sacks, which...
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February 16, 2011
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