FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. Open-minded approach: When receiver Phillip Dorsett entered unrestricted free agency last offseason, his first choice was to return to the Patriots and that contributed to him not visiting with other teams. As for this year?
“I would say that will probably be a little different,” said Dorsett, who is one of a handful of Patriots free agents whose status has been overshadowed by quarterback Tom Brady’s. “Last year, I had my heart set on where I wanted to go and I didn’t have an open mind. This year, I know I have to go into it with an open mind.”
That’s not to say Dorsett doesn’t view his three seasons in New England fondly, which included winning a Super Bowl championship and being widely lauded for his professionalism and team-first approach after the Patriots acquired him in a trade for quarterback
2. Weis relays his text exchange with Brady: Former Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis always had a direct, blunt way of delivering a message, and that has continued in his role as a co-host on Sirius XM NFL Radio’s “Opening Drive” program. Weis has remained close with Brady, and in response to rampant speculation on Brady’s future, he relayed the following on Thursday’s show: “I do have one bit of scoop for us. I’ve been texting with Tommy. I don’t [usually] pass along these conversations, but one thing he told me — ‘Nobody knows anything. So anyone who is telling you they know, they don’t know.’ I’m not going through any other part of the conversation [but] I followed up and he said, ‘Clean it up.’ So I’m cleaning it up.”
3. Brady’s future in the red zone: When Brady tells Weis no one knows anything, this is my translation from Brady’s viewpoint: How can anyone know anything about my future team when I don’t know myself, as there is currently no indication of the type of financial/annual commitment coach Bill Belichick is willing to make? Once Brady gets that information definitively, and knows what he is agreeing to or walking away from, then the pieces should fall into place. That’s why news that the players’ vote on the collective bargaining agreement is to be completed by March 12 is significant; it will determine the financial rules under which all teams operate and should finally force Belichick to show his hand with four days on the calendar before other teams can legally negotiate with Brady’s agents.
4. CBA from a Patriots perspective: Dorsett told me he is undecided on how he’ll vote for the CBA, and plans to study it and reach out to Patriots player representative Matthew Slater before deciding. It highlights Slater’s important role behind the scenes as a conduit to his teammates. “I’ve seen him a couple times this offseason. He talks about it, and is doing everything he can [to keep us informed],” Dorsett said. Offensive lineman Ted Karras and long-snapper Joe Cardona are alternate reps. Karras, by the way, told me he voted for the new CBA.
5. Rivers’ workout crew at Gillette: A handful of players are continuing to work out at Gillette Stadium this offseason, including fourth-year defensive end Derek Rivers, who told me the group includes veteran cornerback Jason McCourty, core special-teamer Brandon King, practice squad linebacker Terez Hall and practice squad safety Malik Gant, among others. “It’s a good group of younger guys and older guys. We get our work in, then laugh and joke with each other,” said Rivers, the 2017 third-round pick from Youngstown State who spent his rookie season and last season on injured reserve with a knee injury. “Coming off the injury, praise God, the knee feels awesome. I’m looking forward to seeing all the guys back, offseason workouts, and then camp. And we’ll see what happens from there.”
6. McCourty’s presence: The Patriots have a decision to make on cornerback Jason McCourty, who has a $500,000 option bonus on March 18 that would activate the second year of his contract. If they don’t pick it up, it would create about $4 million in salary-cap savings. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported the Patriots intend to pick up the option, which is a small price to pay when factoring in how McCourty’s A-plus leadership is important to have around young corners
A number of NFL owners hope the current collective bargaining agreement proposal doesn’t pass with the players because they believe they can negotiate a better deal with eyes on an 18-game season in the future, a league source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Saturday.
“They think they can get a better deal next year,” the source said. “They feel they gave up too much on the economics.”
The owners told commissioner Roger Goodell this at an owners meeting in New York in February, citing frustration with the players’ monetary increases and the increase to active rosters.
The owners approved the proposed CBA last month, though ESPN reported at the time that the vote was not unanimous. Three-fourths of the owners had to approve the CBA for it to be ratified.
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Players have until 11:59 p.m. ET Thursday to cast their votes on the proposed CBA via DocuSign. The CBA will pass if it receives a simple majority (50% plus one vote) of all ballots sent in. It would be in effect for the 2020 league year, with the possibility of a 17th game not being added until the 2021 season at the earliest.
If the CBA is approved, the NFL regular season could not be expanded past 17 games through the life of the deal, which would run through the 2029 season.
But a handful of owners want an 18-game season eventually, and that could come up in future negotiations if the players’ vote doesn’t pass next week.
In July, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith acknowleged that the NFL had raised the idea of an 18-game schedule in early labor negotiations but said at the time that isn’t something he sees happening.
“I don’t see an 18-game schedule — under any circumstance — being in the best interest of our players,” Smith said. “If somebody wants to make an 18-game proposal, we’ll look at it. I haven’t seen anything that makes me think that it would be good for the players.”
It’s no secret the Atlanta Falcons need pass-rush help. The numbers scream it.
Last season, the 7-9 Falcons had just 28 sacks — one of four teams to fail to reach 30 sacks along with the Lions, Seahawks and Dolphins. Over the past two seasons, the Falcons rank tied for 29th with 65 sacks, 35 fewer than the division-rival Saints had over that same time span. The Falcons rank dead last in pressure rate over the past two seasons at 22.9%. Those numbers have contributed to the Falcons allowing opponents to convert 44.3% of third downs — the fourth-worst third-down defense in the league in that time frame.
The Falcons might have solved some of their pass-rushing issues after installing Raheem Morris as defensive coordinator halfway through the season. The Falcons had just seven sacks in Weeks 1-8 — but they had 21 sacks in Weeks 9-17. Changing the complexion of the pass-rush personnel already has started with the team’s decision not to re-sign former sack champ Vic Beasley Jr., who had been extremely inconsistent since his breakout Super Bowl season.
Having Pro Bowl defensive tackle
1:34 Tedy Bruschi, Keyshawn Johnson and Dan Graziano pick the NFL teams that are in need of a pass-rush upgrade.
“Dante Fowler’s played himself, probably, into a different stratosphere,” said former agent Joel Corry, now a salary-cap and contract analyst. “Fowler had a pretty expensive one-year with the Rams. He made $13 million on a one, so he’s not going to sign $13 million on a long-term deal.”
Rather than paying perhaps $15 million-plus for the 25-year-old Fowler, the Falcons might be better off looking at an older but effective pass-rusher such as Robert Quinn, who turns 30 in May but had 11.5 sacks for the Dallas Cowboys last season. Pairing a veteran such as Quinn with another pass-rusher via the draft seems sensible, considering the team cut ties with Beasley and appears unlikely to pick up McKinley’s fifth-year option.
So what does Dimitroff think the market price will be for an impact pass-rusher?
“You know the ranges there,” Dimitroff said. “You could have a quality free agent who is shy of the double digits [less than $10 million per year]. You’re going to have a number [of players] who are going to be over double digits. There’s a wide range there, and they can still produce. I believe it’s all over the place.
“Part of your approach as an organization is to decide where you’re going to put your resources. If you think you can get somebody that can be shy of double digits and can produce for you like you would expect, then you make that move. Otherwise, you know that X Games analogy — ‘go big or go home’ — there’s some people that believe that.’’
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In terms of the draft, it’s highly doubtful the Falcons would pay the price required to move up from No. 16 to grab Ohio State’s Chase Young, who’s the best pass-rusher in the class. One general manager said that after Young, the pass-rushers he believes are worthy of consideration are Iowa’s A.J. Epenesa, LSU’s K’Lavon Chaisson, Tennessee’s Darrell Taylor, Notre Dame’s Julian Okwara and Michigan’s Josh Uche. Penn State’s Yetur Gross-Matos wasn’t on that list, although the Falcons are likely to check out the former Nittany Lion, too. Chaisson was the player ESPN’s Todd McShay had going to the Falcons in his latest mock draft. The Falcons have three picks in the first two rounds this year.
Here’s how one league executive broke down the pass-rushers outside of Ohio State’s Young.
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K’Lavon Chaisson (6-3, 254): “Very athletic. Can stand up or put his hand in the dirt. Can drop. A better version of [Vic] Beasley but more natural and more instinctive. Size is a minus.”
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A.J. Epenesa (6-5, 275): “Power rusher. Very physical. Can collapse the pocket. Plays heavy-handed and displaces the offensive lineman. Not quick twitch, latter twitch of elite edge benders, but makes up with physicality. Speed won’t be negative due to physicality. Toughness of Ryan Kerrigan.”
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Yetur Gross-Matos (6-5, 266): “Has some Michael Strahan traits. Better as a left defensive end. Has size, length and solid instincts. Has natural skills and better against the run than the pass. Needs to extend his arms better to keep offensive tackles from getting to his body.”
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Darrell Taylor (6-4, 267): “Right defensive end who can play left because of combination of strength, speed and quickness. Can also drop in space. Plays well at the line of scrimmage and can hold point of attack. Doesn’t have a glaring weakness, but right on borderline with side and length.”
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Julian Okwara (6-4, 252): “Has quickness and athletic ability, but a little raw. Kind of like the Florida State kid [Brian Burns] last year. Really good pass-rusher. Relies on athletic ability and speed. Good feel for pass rush. Needs to work on his consistent play strength. A right defensive end.”
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Josh Uche (6-1, 245): “Undersized guy with very strong hands. Going to get push on tackles with his punch and physicality. Lack of size is a concern. Does not drop well for a little guy. Better playing forward and rushing. Got average instincts playing off the ball. Nickel edge rusher. Plays heavy and strong. Surprising strength as a rusher.”