Patriots Sign DT Beau Allen
The Buccaneers famously poached Tom Brady from New England, and now the Patriots are striking back… kind of. SiriusXM’s Adam Caplan reports (via Twitter) that the Patriots are signing defensive tackle Beau Allen. It’s a two-year deal worth $8MM.
The 2014 seventh-rounder spent the first four seasons of his career with the Eagles, and he compiled a pair of tackles in Philly’s Super Bowl victory over (you guessed it) the Patriots.
He joined Tampa Bay prior to the 2018 campaign, and he started eight of his 14 games that season, finishing with 20 tackles. After reworking his contract last offseason to remove the third year from his deal, Allen took on a lesser role. He finished the season with 10 tackles and 0.5 sacks in 13 games.
Contract Details: Bridgewater, Panthers, Vaitai, Lions, Byrd, Patriots, Brees, Saints
The latest notes on all of the contracts being handed out around the league:
- QB Teddy Bridgewater, Panthers: signed. Bridgewater got a three-year deal worth $63MM and a whopping $40MM of that is guaranteed in the first two years, according to David Newton of ESPN.com. He got a $15MM signing bonus to take over for the start of the Matt Rhule era. Newton’s post has the full breakdown on how it’ll be paid out with various workout and roster bonuses.
- OT Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Lions: signed. Vaitai’s five-year, $50MM contract includes $20MM guaranteed which will come in the first two years of the deal, Adam Caplan of Sirius XM NFL Radio tweets. Detroit can get out of the pact after that.
- WR Damiere Byrd, Patriots: signed. Byrd’s one-year deal can be worth up to $2.5MM, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network notes in a tweet.
- QB Drew Brees, Saints: re-signed. Brees’ two-year, $50MM new deal with New Orleans includes a signing bonus of $23MM and a small base salary of only $2MM in year one, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. That structure as well as two voidable years added on for 2022-2023 help keep his 2020 cap hit very low so the Saints can spend more as they gear up for one more Super Bowl with Brees under center.
- LB Sean Lee, Cowboys: re-signed. Lee is back for one more ride on a one-year, $4.5MM deal with $2MM guaranteed. He actually could earn up to $6.5MM if he hits some playing time incentives, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com, although he writes they’re “not-likely-to-be-earned.”
- S Darian Thompson, Cowboys: re-signed. Thompson is getting a two-year deal worth $2.5MM, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets. He’s getting a $200K signing bonus and can earn an extra $250K with playing time escalators.
- WR Cody Core, Giants: re-signed. New York locked up the special teams ace who barely plays on offense, and he got paid handsomely. Core will be getting $4MM over a two-year deal, Wilson tweets. Only $1MM of it is guaranteed however.
- S Jordan Poyer, Bills: extension. The full details are in on Poyer’s new pact. Poyer had two new years added on and will now make $22.7MM over the next three years with $13MM of that being guaranteed, Wilson tweets. He also got a $3MM signing bonus. In a separate tweet, Wilson notes that Poyer has an annual $500K interception incentive he can earn.
Patriots Sign WR Damiere Byrd
There’s a whole lot of uncertainty surrounding the Patriots offense, but the team has still added a wideout. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports (via Twitter) that New England has signed receiver Damiere Byrd to a one-year deal.
The former undrafted free agent out of South Carolina spent the first four seasons of his career with the Panthers. He signed with the Cardinals for the 2019 season and had a breakout campaign, hauling in 32 receptions for 359 yards and one touchdown.
Byrd also has some experience on special teams throughout his career. He’s returned 14 kicks and 12 returns through his first five years in the league.
With Tom Brady out of the picture, it’s uncertain who will be throwing to Byrd next season. The only (somewhat) certainty is that the 27-year-old wideout will be joining fellow receivers Julian Edelman, N’Keal Harry, and Mohamed Sanu atop the New England depth chart.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/17/20
We don’t dance now; we make minor moves.
Detroit Lions
- Waived: QB Kyle Sloter
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Released: TE Geoff Swaim
New England Patriots
- Re-signed: LB Keionta Davis
Philadelphia Eagles
- Re-signed: DT Hassan Ridgeway
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Re-signed: LS Kameron Canaday
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: TE Antony Auclair
Patriots Tried To Trade For DeAndre Hopkins
Before the Cardinals swung their blockbuster deal for DeAndre Hopkins, the Patriots tried their hand with the Texans, Albert Breer of The MMQB (Twitter video link) hears. The Patriots were in on talks for the wide receiver over the past couple of weeks, but ultimately did not get a deal done.
During the talks, the Patriots might have been operating with the assumption that they’d be reunited with Tom Brady. Of course, that’s no longer the case – Brady announced on Tuesday morning that he’s leaving New England. Bill Belichick and the Patriots are of course no strangers to bringing in big name receivers, like when they traded for Randy Moss way back in 2007 or when they briefly signed Antonio Brown last season.
It’s possible that they made a push for Hopkins as part of a broader effort to entice Brady to stay. Despite the dominance of their defense New England’s offense struggled for much of last season, and the Pats were frequently criticized for not giving Brady enough weapons after the retirement of Rob Gronkowski.
It’s unclear what the Patriots were offering, although it’s possible that the Texans weren’t inclined to send him to a conference rival and would’ve preferred to send him to the NFC even if the compensation was similar or better. Texans coach/GM Bill O’Brien has been on the receiving end of a lot of flak for the startlingly small package he got from Arizona, but at least he was on the phone with multiple teams.
As for New England, Breer adds that they’re still looking at tight ends and receivers, so don’t expect them to give up on upgrading the offense. Obviously finding a new quarterback is now the top priority, but whoever it is will need an upgraded receiving corp. Julian Edelman, who has been Brady’s reliable safety blanket over the years, will turn 34 in May.
Patriots Discussing Long-Term Deal With Joe Thuney
The Patriots caught many off guard by assigning the franchise tag to offensive lineman Joe Thuney on Monday. Many (including yours truly) speculated that the tag could be step one towards a tag-and-trade scenario, but that might not be the case. The club has discussed a long-term deal with the 27-year-old, according to Albert Breer of The MMQB (Twitter link).
With that, it’s at least possible that the Patriots will lock Thuney down for the long run. Still, it’s not in the Patriots’ nature to pay top dollar for players who are on the road towards open market riches. Even though Thuney will not get to explore his options this year, he’ll enter negotiations with plenty of leverage. If he were to stay with the team on the one-year tag, he’d either be in line to go into free agency unfettered next year, or force the Patriots to bump up his pay even further with a second tag.
The Patriots have a few months to hammer out a long-term deal with Thuney and ample time to explore trade scenarios. In the meantime, they’re feverishly at work to try and replace Tom Brady, who announced his departure from the team on Tuesday morning. Soon after his announcement, owner Robert Kraft and head coach Bill Belichick issued statements to thank Brady for their many years together.
Latest On Tom Brady Leaving Patriots
Tom Brady sent shockwaves through the football world on Tuesday morning when he announced that he will be leaving the Patriots in free agency. At this moment, no one knows where Brady will land – reportedly, that includes the quarterback himself. The Buccaneers and Chargers have reportedly made strong offers to the future Hall of Famer, but, at this stage, anything is possible. 
There was “no tangible effort” by the Patriots to retain their franchise star, Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports (Twitter link) hears. In fact, there were no negotiations – the Patriots felt that the onus was on Brady to let them know what he was looking for. Brady took offense to that stance and decided to move on.
Now, owner Robert Kraft and head coach Bill Belichick will have the unenviable task of replacing him. After Brady’s announcement, they each issued statements to thank the NFL legend.
Robert Kraft:
“How do I possibly sum up the depth of my gratitude to Tom Brady for what he’s given us these past 20 years, or the sadness I feel knowing it’s ending? I love Tom like a son and I always will. He has brought so much happiness to me personally and to all of our fans. I had hoped this day would never come, but rather that Tom would end his remarkable career in a Patriots uniform after yet another Super Bowl championship. Unfortunately, the two sides were unable to reach an agreement to allow that dream to become a reality. While sad today, the overwhelming feeling I have is appreciation for his countless contributions to our team and community.
When Tom arrived in New England as an unheralded, sixth-round pick, no one could have imagined the fairytale story that would be written, the records that would be broken or the joy he would bring to an entire region. He leaves 20 years later as the winningest quarterback in NFL history with six Super Bowl victories, nine AFC titles and 17 division championships. He has been an exemplary teammate and leader. There simply will never be another Tom Brady. I now look forward to the day we can bring him back home to New England to celebrate his Patriots career, his endless achievements and his legacy as the greatest of all time. I love him very much.”
“Tom was not just a player who bought into our program. He was one of its original creators. Tom lived and perpetuated our culture. On a daily basis, he was a tone setter and a bar raiser. He won championships in three of his first four years on the field and in three of his final six seasons with us, while competing for championships in most every season in between. This is a credit to Tom’s consistency and what separates him. He didn’t just perform. He didn’t just win. He won championships over and over again.
Tom and I will always have a great relationship built on love, admiration, respect and appreciation. Tom’s success as a player and his character as a person are exceptional. Nothing about the end of Tom’s Patriots career changes how unfathomably spectacular it was. With his relentless competitiveness and longevity, he earned everyone’s adoration and will be celebrated forever. It has been a privilege to coach Tom Brady for 20 years.
Examples of Tom’s greatness are limitless, going back even before he was drafted. We witnessed how he prepared when he wasn’t playing, how he performed when he got his opportunity, what he did to continuously improve, his leadership, his mindset, the example he set, and, of course, the person he is. I am extremely grateful for what he did for our team and for me personally.
Sometimes in life, it takes some time to pass before truly appreciating something or someone but that has not been the case with Tom. He is a special person and the greatest quarterback of all-time.”
Patriots Interested In Teddy Bridgewater
The Patriots have shown interest in Saints free agent Teddy Bridgewater, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). The Pats, of course, are in the market for a quarterback after Tom Brady announced that he’ll be heading elsewhere in 2020. 
[RELATED: Tom Brady Bids Farewell To Patriots]
Bridgewater has started in just six games since January of 2016, but he’s also made a complete recovery from his devastating injury. Many believe that Bridgewater can thrive if given the opportunity to start. By extension, there are also many who are questioning the Saints’ decision to move forward with Taysom Hill as the main backup and heir apparent to Drew Brees instead of the proven vet.
Last year, Bridgewater went 5-0 as the Saints’ starter, filling in for Brees while he was sidelined. His performance has made him an appealing option for lots of teams – including the Panthers – so the Pats will have their work cut out for them.
Before the injury, Bridgewater started 28 games for the Vikings from 2014-15, averaging 3,075 yards, 14 touchdowns, and ten interceptions per season. Among the 30 QBs who attempted at least 500 passes in those two seasons, Bridgewater ranked 22nd in passer rating, 25th in adjusted net yards per attempt, and 29th in touchdown percentage.
Tom Brady Bids Farewell To Patriots
Tom Brady doesn’t know where he’ll play next season, but he knows it won’t be with the Patriots. On Tuesday, the future Hall of Famer took to social media to announce that he’ll be signing elsewhere. 
“To all my teammates, coaches, executives, and staff, Coach Belichick, RKK, and the Kraft family, and the entire organization: I want to say thank you for the past twenty years of my life and the daily commitment to winning and creating a winning culture built on great values. I am grateful for all that you have taught me – I have learned from everyone.
You all have allowed me to maximize my potential and that is all a player can ever hope for. Everything we have accomplished brings me great joy and the lessons I have learned will carry on with me forever. I couldn’t be the man I am today without the relationships you have allowed me to build with you. I have benefited from all you have given me. I cherished every opportunity I had to be a part of our team, and I love you all for that.
“Our team has always set a great standard in pro sports and I know it will continue to do just that. Although my football journey will take place elsewhere, I appreciate everything that we have achieved and am grateful for your incredible TEAM accomplishments. I have been privileged to have had the opportunity to know each and every one of you, and to have the memories we’ve created together.”
There’s been talk of Brady leaving the Pats for more than a year, but many believed that the two sides would ultimately resolve their differences and come to terms on a new deal to cover the rest of his career. Ultimately, that was not the case – Brady found lots of suitors, and greener pastures, when the league’s legal tampering period opened this week.
Beyond the obvious reasons, Brady’s departure will sting the Patriots badly. Thanks to his revised deal from last summer, Brady will count $13.5MM in dead money against the Patriots’ cap – while he plays elsewhere. The Pats may be able to spread that hit out over the course of two seasons, but it’s a blow to their limited flexibility nonetheless.
Brady’s next destination remains a mystery, though the Buccaneers and Chargers have both made strong offers, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. He has not reached a handshake (elbow-bump?) deal with any clubs, either: he’s still exploring his options, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets.
The Dolphins, long rumored to be a potential suitor for Brady, did not make a major play for him, according to Rapoport. And, according to previous reports, the same goes for the Giants, Colts, Titans, and 49ers.
It’s not clear where the Patriots will go from here, but history suggests that they will not replace Brady with a similarly high-priced quarterback. By the same token, it’s hard to imagine the Pats relying on a rookie QB as their Week 1 starter. Instead, the Patriots could bypass the star signal-callers and acquire a less glitzy veteran via trade – Bengals QB Andy Dalton, perhaps.
Brady has been the Patriots’ starting quarterback for the past 19 seasons, entering the fray in 2001 after a frightening Drew Bledsoe injury. He grew from sixth-round pick to a game manager-type role in his early years to one of the most legendary players in NFL history, being tabbed for an NFL-record-tying 14 Pro Bowls.
The New England icon does not lead the quarterback pack in MVPs or All-Pro honors (three and three, respectively), but his postseason resume dwarfs his peers. And his nine Super Bowl appearances will be difficult for future passers to match. He will attempt to book a 10th big-game outing in another uniform, however.
Patriots Place Second-Round Tender On DT Adam Butler
The Patriots are making (somewhat) of a commitment to defensive tackle Adam Butler. ESPN’s Mike Reiss reports (via Twitter) that the team has placed a second-round tender on the 25-year-old.
The move ensures that if any team signs Butler to an offer sheet and the Patriots decline to match, they’d get that team’s second-round pick in return.
The former Vanderbilt standout has spent his entire three-year career with New England, and he won a Super Bowl championship during his second year in the NFL. Butler hasn’t missed a regular season game since entering the league, and he set career-highs in tackles (26) and sacks (six) last season.