A lot happens when you cover the New England Patriots throughout the week.
You get at least three Jerod Mayo news conferences, a presser with the starting quarterback, multiple locker room availabilities, and access to a few practices. Some takeaways become individual stories, while other quotes and nuggets are left on the cutting room floor.
With that in mind, I’ll publish a Patriots notebook every Friday for the rest of the season. These pieces will mostly focus on top Patriots storylines and leftovers from each week but also will include a non-football thought or two — because I’m a dork who likes to talk about other stuff.
Anyway, let’s get into it.
Could Drake Maye Make First Start in Week 5 Patriots-Dolphins Game?
When Drake Maye officially lost the Patriots quarterback competition, many identified Week 5 as a potential debut slot for the No. 3 overall pick. The Patriots could shield Maye from elite defensive teams, such as the Jets and 49ers, while giving a beleaguered offensive line time to stabilize.
Plus, with New England’s Week 5 opponent, the Miami Dolphins, now in dire straits, Maye could debut at home against a soft opponent.
So, what are the actual chances of Maye starting on Oct. 6?
Well, the O-line is in even worse shape now than it was after training camp. Jacoby Brissett was the NFL’s most-pressured QB in the first three weeks, and many of the pressures resulted in brutal hits. The Patriots can’t subject Maye to that kind of punishment.
Furthermore, offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt doesn’t sound like he wants to play Maye anytime soon. After Maye played one drive in the Week 3 loss in New York, Van Pelt was asked whether the rookie would better learn by watching from the sideline or playing in a trial-by-fire situation.
“I still think it’s by watching,” Van Pelt told reporters. “I think there’s a lot to be learned yet, and that’s where I’ll stand on that.”
But does Jerod Mayo agree?
The Patriots head coach was non-committal when asked about Brissett after the Jets loss. And, though he eventually reaffirmed Brissett as the Week 4 starter, Mayo on Wednesday sounded eager to give Maye a shot.
“He’s looked good in practice, but once again, it’s just practice,” Mayo said. “You want to get a guy like that, obviously, on the football field … at this current time, we’re just not looking to add [a veteran backup quarterback].”
It’s been hard to read Mayo on this topic. He said Maye “outplayed” Brissett during training camp but also said Brissett gave the Patriots the best chance to win. Mayo reiterated that the organization is “100% behind” Brissett but also said that Maye is waiting “in the wings.”
Nevertheless, given Maye’s unique practice usage — he’s seeing 30% of the starting reps — and recent reports about the Patriots wanting to play the rookie sometime this season, it’s only a matter of time until he makes his first start.
.@AlbertBreer with the latest on the #Patriots plan for Drake Maye 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/0XkdboZOx3
— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) September 23, 2024
I think Maye would only play in Week 5 if New England somehow saw improved O-line play on Sunday but lost because of Brissett. Even then, it might take multiple Brissett duds for Mayo to make a change.
Maye’s time is coming, but I’d be surprised if it happens before Week 6.
Brian Belichick, Patriots Safety Laugh Off Mel Kiper’s Controversial Take
In case you missed it, ESPN’s Mel Kiper made headlines last week after suggesting the NFL should ban two-high safety/Cover 2 defensive formations. Kiper believes the league must do something to improve the success rate of deep passing plays.
“I grew up with the best of the National Football League — 60s, 70s, into the 80s,” Kiper said. “You’re talking about deep shots. The go-routes. … That’s what I want to see brought back to the National Football League.
” … Figure out — competition committee — somebody’s gotta figure out what that depth is, but it’s too far back right now. The NFL’s being ruined by these two-high safeties.”
.@MelKiperESPN believes two-high safeties "should be outlawed" 👀
"The NFL is being ruined by these two-high safeties." pic.twitter.com/d65PFJysIq
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) September 19, 2024
The lunacy of that take speaks for itself, but I still wanted to see how Patriots players and coaches felt about it.
“That’s crazy,” safety Jaylinn Hawkins told Pro Football Network on Wednesday. “The two-high safeties, it’s something that helps the game a lot. You can do a lot with two-high safeties. … That’s weird.”
Hawkins wasn’t buying Kiper’s rationale.
“I mean, it’s a passing league,” Hawkins said. ” … That argument, I don’t agree with that. … That would be crazy if that was a rule change.”
Safeties coach Brian Belichick couldn’t help but laugh.
“I don’t know,” Belichick said with a grin while speaking with PFN on Thursday. “I saw something come through, like saw the headline, basically. And it honestly didn’t even register much because it just seems like such a crazy thing. So I moved off it pretty quickly. … That was a wild one.”
Belichick then offered a counter to Kiper’s take.
“You got 11 guys — you can use them however you want,” he said. “When it’s the last play of the game, put them in the end zone. Like, imagine if you couldn’t do that. On the last play and [the safeties] had to be 10 yards from the line of scrimmage or something.”
Belichick Opens Up on Working Without His Dad and Brother
I also asked Belichick whether it’s starting to feel normal not working without his father and brother in the building. Bill Belichick, of course, is making the rounds as one of the busiest figures in football media, while Steve is in his first season as defensive coordinator at the University of Washington.
“I think it’s just one of those … change is one of the inevitabilities of life, right? There’s really nothing you can do about it one way or the other,” Brian said. “People gotta move on. You know, I enjoy being here, obviously. I’ve talked about that a lot. Love working with these guys.
“And I’m happy that my family’s having a good time and doing what they’re doing. It’s great to be able to talk to them about stuff; it’s great for them to get exposure to these things that they’re doing and for me to hear about them, you know?”
Belichick added: “Just trying to make the most of every day — it is what it is. Things are gonna change in life.”
Christian Barmore Update
The Patriots reportedly are “bracing” for Christian Barmore to miss the entire season due to his mid-summer blood clot diagnosis. And I’d be surprised to see him play anytime before next spring.
There are reasons for optimism, however.
I wasn’t covering the team in 2019 when David Andrews missed the entire season due to blood clots in his lungs. But reporters I’ve spoken to have said that Barmore has been around the team far more often than Andrews was early that season.
That doesn’t mean that Barmore’s recovery is going any better or worse than Andrews’ was. But his presence is encouraging.
Barmore’s been in the locker room during most in-week media availabilities since the start of the campaign. And, on Monday, he was dressing and preparing as if he was about to go through some kind of workout.
I don’t know whether he actually worked out, or what that workout even would’ve looked like. Regardless, any physical activity two months removed from a blood clot diagnosis would be a positive development.
Mayo remained tight-lipped on Barmore’s progress when asked about him on Wednesday. But the Patriots head coach opened up on how Barmore is staying busy.
“Well, look, I mean, he’s going by doctors’ orders,” Mayo said. “I would also say I think it’s important for a guy like that to be in the building. One thing about the idle mind, you’re just sitting at home all the time, that’s nothing but trouble.
“For a young player like that, this is an opportunity … for him to learn about football as a whole and not just what a defensive tackle does. So, in saying that, he has projects that he’s working on, a bunch of those things, and he’s also in charge of ‘Friday Funny.’ It’s like a 30-second, one-minute clip just to get the guys laughing on Fridays.”
Who’ll Replace Ja’Whaun Bentley on 53-Man Roster?
Linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley officially landed on injured reserve Wednesday afternoon. He reportedly could miss the rest of the season due to a torn pectoral.
As of this writing, the Patriots hadn’t filled Bentley’s spot on the 53-man roster. That could change before Sunday’s kickoff with the San Francisco 49ers, but I wonder whether they’ll just roll with 52 for the weekend before filling Bentley’s spot with one of the players eligible to come off reserve lists.
Safety Marte Mapu, linebacker Sione Takitaki, and receiver Kendrick Bourne all can begin practicing next week. So can Barmore and Cole Strange, but they’re not returning anytime soon.
The Patriots also could release two players to make room for Mapu, Takitaki, and Bourne. We’ll just have to wait and see how they handle it.
DeMarcus Covington on getting back Sione Takitaki and Marte Mapu:
"If they can help us win football games, they'll be out there."
Said they signed Takitaki for a reason and liked his production in Cleveland. With Mapu, they're hoping for a Year 2 leap.
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) September 26, 2024
Oof, Jack Jones
After last Sunday’s loss to the Carolina Panthers, Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said, “Some individuals made business decisions, so we’ll make business decisions going forward as well.”
While only Pierce knows whom he was talking about, it’s a safe bet he was referring to former Patriots cornerback Jack Jones.
Check out this video:
"Some players made business decisions"pic.twitter.com/eu5suJIoOS
— JT 𝕏 (@CondorSZN) September 23, 2024
Given their concerns with cornerback depth, the Patriots could use someone of Jones’ talent on the roster. But he wasn’t a good fit during his year-plus stint in New England, and he’d be just as bad of a fit with Mayo, who’s trying to create a culture of physicality and accountability.
Wild Bryce Baringer Stat
One silver lining for the Patriots: punter Bryce Baringer, who ranks fourth in the NFL in average punt distance (52.3) and third in net average (45.6).
As first pointed out by ESPN’s Mike Reiss, Baringer has had a punt of at least 50 yards in 20 consecutive games. That’s an impressive streak, albeit one well behind Shane Lechler’s record of 38 consecutive games.
“He’s been a weapon for us,” special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer said after Baringer excelled against the Jets.
You Need To Be Watching Julian Edelman’s Podcast
There are too many Patriots-themed podcasts for New Englanders to choose from, but Julian Edelman’s “Games with Names” production is the best. Not every episode is about the Patriots, but when Edelman does host Patriots guests, the results typically are excellent.
There’s this story from Bill O’Brien:
Matt Cassel called Bill Belichick out for having smelly feet during a meeting and Bill’s reaction is priceless 😂 pic.twitter.com/IQo2nVtUmE
— Games with Names (@gameswithnames) September 26, 2024
This clip with Josh McDaniels:
Julian Edelman did exactly what Josh McDaniels told him NOT to do before he threw his 2nd career touchdown pass.😅
McDaniels: "I looked at him and said, don't you f***ing do that (in the game)"
Edelman: "I got f***ing drilled" pic.twitter.com/iwWUKSC8yq
— Games with Names (@gameswithnames) September 6, 2024
And this nugget from Ernie Adams:
The origin of how Ernie Adams met Bill Belichick. pic.twitter.com/SA35cimLLr
— Games with Names (@gameswithnames) April 2, 2024
If nothing else, Patriots fans should watch Edelman’s episode with Matthew Slater. It’s required viewing.
Christian Gonzalez’s Pro Football Focus Grades
I thought Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald did a great job breaking down Christian Gonzalez’s underwhelming Pro Football Focus grades. Kyed used to work for PFF, so he has a good feel for how the grades work and the required context.
Gonzalez currently has the 80th-ranked coverage grade among all cornerbacks.
However, as Kyed noted, PFF primarily grades corners based on whether they’re near a point of catch or give up yards after a catch. The grade doesn’t reflect whether the defense was in zone or whether a corner succeeded in blanketing a receiver and preventing targets.
Gonzalez gave up 13 catches on 20 targets for 79 yards and one TD over the first three weeks while facing some of the NFL’s best receivers. His strong coverage caused opposing quarterbacks to look elsewhere, which doesn’t show up in the PFF coverage grade.
“I don’t really care, to be honest,” Gonzalez told Kyed when asked about his PFF ranking. “Anything on the outside of these walls doesn’t matter.”
DK Metcalf vs Christian Gonzalez in man coverage pic.twitter.com/7yE3lIz12s
— Stat Acccount (@AcccountStat) September 17, 2024
On Thursday, defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington was asked to assess Gonzalez’s performance in the first three games.
“Good,” Covington said. “He’s doing what we ask him to do. He’s stepping up to whatever challenge we ask him to do, and hopefully, he can continue to do that.
“He’s a guy that puts his head down every single day. He works, he studies, he’s in the playbooks, he studies his opponent — route combinations, route concepts. He’s everything you want as a coach.”
Will This Post-Tom Brady Trend Continue?
The Patriots on Sunday will look to avoid falling to 1-3 for the fourth consecutive season. They started 2-5 in the Cam Newton-led 2020 campaign, so bad starts have been a problem every year since Tom Brady left town.
New England won its Week 5 games in both 2022 and 2023 to avoid starting 1-4. But the Patriots slipped to 1-5 last season before upsetting the Buffalo Bills at home in Week 7.
The good news for the Patriots is they should have a winnable home game against the Dolphins in Week 5. Yet, beating the 49ers on Sunday would go a long way toward keeping this season afloat.
Creating and maintaining a winning culture is incredibly difficult in the NFL. It’s much easier to allow a snowball of suck to grow bigger every year until, one day, you’re one of the league’s biggest losers.
Kyle Dugger, Captain
While announcing Bentley would be placed on injured reserve, Mayo also revealed that safety Kyle Dugger would replace Bentley as one of the defense’s captains.
Mayo said that Dugger just missed out on being named a captain when players voted before the season.
Head Coach Jerod Mayo officially announces @KingDugg_3 as a captain. pic.twitter.com/deP1vartVn
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 25, 2024
This marks the first time Dugger has been a captain since he was drafted in 2020. The star safety isn’t as loud and boisterous as someone like Jabrill Peppers, but Dugger’s teammates and coaches believe he’s a natural leader.
“Great choice,” Hawkins told PFN. “He does it on a day-to-day basis. Always [sets] a good example, goes hard, leader, a good even-keeled guy, doesn’t get too high or too low. Makes plays, but has good character. Very sharp with what he does with his routine, very detailed.
“Just an overall good dude. So, for sure, he should be a captain.”
Keion White, Ice Climber
I mentioned at the top that some stories get left behind. Well, this is a can I kicked for nearly a month.
Before Week 1, Keion White spent his Labor Day Weekend traveling to Iceland where, among other things, he tried ice climbing. And, as you’ll see in the photo below, he didn’t use a belay or harness.
I talked with White about the trip shortly before the season opener. He revealed it was something he always wanted to do and finally committed after seeing a teammate try it.
“I was thinking about it, and then Anfernee [Jennings] told me about it when he went,” White said. “And I was like, ‘OK, that’s a pretty dope experience.’ And he was just talking so much about the Northern Lights and things like that, and I was like, ‘I gotta go see this.'”
You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone saying a bad thing about their trips to Iceland, which is renowned for its natural beauty. White said the country lived up to the hype.
“I’d go back, for sure, because I was only there for 36 hours,” White said. “It was just dope.”
White, who plays defensive end with a fearless intensity, confirmed he wasn’t wearing a harness. And he never got scared, which isn’t surprising considering he once rode a motor-powered paraglider — an activity called “paramotoring” — 30,000 feet above the ground in Thailand.
“At this point, I kind of do a lot of sketchy s–t,” he said with a laugh. “Between when I was in Thailand with the [paramotor] and everything like that, I’m kind of an adrenaline junkie. So, that’s my type of stuff. I just do stuff like that.”
White acknowledged climbing without a harness was mildly “sketchy” but said the rest of the experience was “pretty chill.” The second-year pro also said he didn’t have to clear the trip with Mayo.
“Everything’s cool as long as you don’t get hurt,” he said. “If you get hurt, everything’s a problem.”
White is one of the more unique personalities inside the Patriots locker room. His viral stoicism and on-field aggression do not match his off-field lifestyle. He’s one of the more fashion-conscious players on the team, and his hobbies include pickleball, real estate, and building Ikea furniture, as he recently told MassLive’s Mark Daniels.
Keion White is rocking an NFL Films “BB” sweatshirt for being named Bill Belichick’s ‘Football Guy of the Week’ on @insidetheNFL. pic.twitter.com/4MOaF5JJ5q
— Mike Kadlick (@mikekadlick) September 26, 2024
But White isn’t done satisfying his adrenaline craving. He hopes to try activities far more unnerving than ice climbing.
“Swim with sharks. Wrestle a bear,” White said, prompting a laugh from Jennings, who occupies the locker to his left.
“I really want to go skydiving, but I’m too heavy. So, when I’m done playing football, I’m gonna drop weight and go skydiving. … I’ve done indoor skydiving a couple times — but it’s not the same.”
Keys to Victory Against 49ers
I’d feel better about the Patriots’ chances if they weren’t dealing with so many injuries and coming off such an ugly performance. Until they figure things out on the offensive line, they probably shouldn’t be picked to win any game.
Nevertheless, New England probably would be 2-1 had it not allowed a late blocked field goal in the Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. This team is better than people give it credit for, although injuries on both sides of the ball have caused the floor to lower even further.
Believe it or not, there’s a path to victory against the 49ers, who’ll be without Christian McCaffrey and, potentially, Deebo Samuel Sr. and George Kittle.
On offense, it all starts with protecting Brissett.
The Patriots allowed pressures on a league-high 45.8% of dropbacks in the first three weeks, per TruMedia. Their 12.5% sack percentage is third-worst in football, and their 44 total pressures allowed are tied for sixth-most.
That sounds like a recipe for disaster against the 49ers, and it likely will be. However, San Francisco surprisingly ranks just 16th with a 34.1% pressure rate, and their eight sacks are tied for 13th. So, this unit hasn’t dominated like it’s capable of, and it’ll be playing without defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (torn triceps).
The numbers are even worse against the run.
The 49ers have the fourth-worst rush defense EPA (expected points added) at -1.65. Their rush defense success rate is 56.5%, seventh-worst in the NFL. San Francisco has allowed 4.5 yards per carry, the 11th-highest average in the league.
Thus, the Patriots could have a shot if they keep Brissett upright and shorten the game by establishing the run. It’s easier said than done, but it’s not impossible. Rhamondre Stevenson also can’t fumble for the fourth consecutive game.
As for the defense, New England’s secondary is talented enough to limit the Niners regardless of whether Kittle and Samuel play. Gonzalez can blanket Brandon Aiyuk and Jonathan Jones can cover Jauan Jennings with safety help.
But none of that will matter if the secondary gets hung out to dry by the pass rush and the run defense.
The Patriots were solid against the run the first two weeks but cratered against the Jets. With Barmore and Bentley both likely done for the season, New England could struggle to stop some of the league’s top rushing attacks, including the 49ers.
The pass rush also must generate more consistent pressure. White has been excellent, but he accounts for half of the Patriots’ eight sacks. New England entered Week 4 with the league’s 23rd-ranked pressure rate at 29.8%.
If the Patriots are to have any chance of winning in San Francisco, they’ll need to make Brock Purdy uncomfortable and prevent the 49ers offense’ from getting into a rhythm.
Another Key: keeping the Niners out of the end zone. San Fran leads the league in yards per drive (41.9) but ranks 15th in red-zone TD rate (50%).
Non-Football Thought No. 1: ‘The Rings of Power’ Isn’t That Bad
People love to hate Amazon’s “The Rings of Power” — and I get it. “The Lord of the Rings” arguably is the greatest work of fiction ever, and Amazon’s wildly expensive series isn’t nearly as impressive or immersive as Peter Jackson’s beloved film trilogy.
The show’s writers made Galadriel unlikably annoying. They rely too heavily on nostalgic key jangling (did Sauron really have to say “precious” so many times in Episode 6?). They made the Númenórians seem dumber than orcs. The Harfoot storyline is beyond boring. Including Gandalf — if “The Stranger” really is Gandalf — is lazy and lore-breaking.
I appreciate Amazon prime giving us the constant reminders of how awful LOTRs: Rings of Power looks. It saves me from ever accidentally watching this garbage, amateurish dreck
— Jerry Thornton (@jerrythornton1) September 27, 2024
HOWEVER.
I still like this show. When it goes big, it goes really big and looks great while doing so.
The Khazad-dûm storyline is great. The portrayal of a young Elrond is spot-on. Elendil is appropriately uncompromising with his moral compass. The war scenes are well-shot and well-choreographed. The music mostly meets the standard set by Jackson’s films.
And, perhaps most impressively, the live-action depiction of a human-form Sauron somehow works. I hated the mystery-box Sauron storyline in Season 1, but Sauron’s manipulation of Celebrimbor and crafting of the rings are the best parts of Season 2. Seeing Sauron as an elf should be cringeworthy, but it isn’t.
So, lay off “The Rings of Power.” It isn’t that bad.
Non-Football Thought No. 2: The Red Sox Weren’t That Bad, Either
Red Sox fans shouldn’t be happy about Boston missing the playoffs for the third consecutive year. But approaching every season as World Series or bust is an exhausting way to live and can blind you from other things worth rooting for.
Were the Red Sox great? No, but they were decent, and they certainly were better than many of the bad-faith preseason predictions said they’d be.
If you look at this team and don’t think they’d be in the playoffs if it weren’t for long-term injuries to Triston Casas, Trevor Story, Garrett Whitlock, and Lucas Giolito, then you weren’t actually watching.
Mazz isn't happy about the Red Sox @FelgerAndMazz @mikefelger @TonyMassarotti@bigjimmurray @MaggioreKevin @IAmJamesStewart@JamesScaz @ry_beaton @kfabrizio985 pic.twitter.com/4pj3qNjMwm
— 98.5 The Sports Hub (@985TheSportsHub) September 26, 2024
The Red Sox improved across the board, actually bought at the trade deadline, were competitive into September, and established one of the best farm systems in baseball, including the development of the No. 1 prospect in the game. They also played with a ton of effort from start to finish.
However, now the standard has risen. They have the resources to make major additions during the offseason, and they’ll have no excuse not to be a playoff team in 2025.
But don’t let people gaslight you into thinking this season was a total failure. They’re lying.
Non-Football Thought No. 3: Song of the Week
I’m seeing Vampire Weekend at TD Garden on Friday night, so the pick is “Mary Boone,” the best song off the band’s latest album.
In my opinion, this is a perfect distillation of Vampire Weekend’s sound. It’s undeniably catchy, a little shaggy around the edges, and endearingly snobby. It’s the perfect Vampire Weekend song — if you’re into them.
I’ve attached the music video for the song and a video of the band performing it on “The Daily Show.”
