Hey guys! Happy Sunday.
We have officially reached the dark ages! This is the part of the summer where we have absolutely zero football/Patriots news until July 25th, when training camp begins in Foxboro. This is undoubtedly the biggest downtime of the Patriots offseason, where we can simply look forward to the season and wonder. I'm excited to make it down to training camp this year and am hoping to be at Gillette often. I think I'm most excited for the community and collective goal that the fanbase has of getting back to winning the Super Bowl. Looking forward to seeing many of you down in Foxboro.
Gabe Jacas -
So this is interesting. This situation is becoming unusual and much messier than it should ever have been. Somewhere during the draft process or the spring, Jacas had a procedure on his knee, according to Mike Reiss this morning. We knew that Jacas was dealing with a lingering hamstring issue, but we weren't aware that he had an additional procedure. The question here is whether the Patriots knew that Jacas had this procedure, and if not, why he did not inform the team.
Reiss also reported this morning that Jacas has not been in the building because the Patriots have not offered him a good-faith assurance that if he were injured at camp, his contract would still be signed with guarantees. The Patriots are not happy with Gabe Jacas. Maybe they are not happy that this knee procedure was undisclosed, and they are certainly not happy that he is currently missing voluntary activities and mandatory minicamp.
This entire situation feels messy and could have been avoided with better communication. Potentially, Jacas thought it would hurt his draft status if he disclosed the knee procedure, so he kept it secret. The Patriots feel duped, and Jacas has yet to sign his rookie contract. He is the only second-round draft pick who has not signed his rookie deal yet. The situation should be resolved by the beginning of the season, but Jacas is already falling behind. He needs to get into the building and learn.
Kayshon Boutte -
Kayshon Boutte has picked up where he left off and looks like a wide receiver who belongs in the Patriots' room. He clearly understands the system and has looked solid throughout mandatory minicamp. Boutte has publicly stated that he wants to stay with the Patriots and loves it here. The team, however, has been shopping Kayshon for a while. They gauged interest before the NFL Draft and were unable to move him. They believe his skill set could be redundant, especially after signing Romeo Doubs and trading for AJ Brown. At this point, many fans want to keep Boutte on the Patriots, and I understand that perspective. I still think Boutte gets traded at some point as we get closer to the season. There are many teams that could benefit from adding a veteran wide receiver. The issue is the compensation, and it sounds like the Patriots wouldn't get much in return.
AJ Brown -
What else can you say? This guy brings it. Tremendous size, skill, and aura. He immediately steps into the room and commands attention. He pops on the field and demonstrates significant body control and skill for a player of his size. His knee looks fine, and as long as he doesn't suffer any other injuries, he should be able to give the Patriots at least two years of very high-level wide receiver play. He's also likely going to end up being a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Can't wait to watch this guy play in training camp this season and ultimately on Sundays this fall.
6 weeks to go!
Scott