Tom Brady Addresses Josh McDaniels' Return
- Brady did not deny that he communicated with Josh McDaniels during the period after the Super Bowl when he backtracked on accepting the Colts’ HC job, the longtime Patriots quarterback said Saturday (via James Palmer of NFL.com, on Twitter). When asked if he spoke with his then-outgoing OC about potentially staying in New England instead, Brady said he “always” talks to McDaniels, who is now back for a seventh season in his second stint as Pats OC.
- A former AFC East quarterback was not planning to leave during what turned out to be his final offseason in the division. Jimmy Garoppolo was searching for Boston-area real estate last summer, Joon Lee of Bleacher Report notes. Ben Volin of the Boston Globe adds this should help put an end to speculation the Patriots were planning all along to unload their former backup quarterback. Volin writes Bill Belichick was indeed overruled about a plan to keep Garoppolo as the heir apparent — which would have induced complex math because of the current 49ers quarterback’s rookie contract expiring and Tom Brady not yet retired — before an 11th-hour trade to San Francisco.
- Brady did not deny that he communicated with Josh McDaniels during the period after the Super Bowl when he backtracked on accepting the Colts’ HC job, the longtime Patriots quarterback said Saturday (via James Palmer of NFL.com, on Twitter). When asked if he spoke with his then-outgoing OC about potentially staying in New England instead, Brady said he “always” talks to McDaniels, who is now back for a seventh season in his second stint as Pats OC.
Latest on Patriots, Rob Gronkowski
Rob Gronkowski has been the subject of frequent headlines all offseason. Whether it was trade rumors that turned out to be false, rumblings about a potential retirement, or missing a few OTA’s along with Tom Brady, Gronkowski has stayed in the news. Many speculated that Gronkowski would hold out from training camp after he made his unhappiness with his current contract clear, but that was apparently never an option. Speaking to the media today after practice, Gronkowski said he didn’t “come close to considering” a hold out (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network).
Gronkowski went to great lengths to emphasize his commitment to the team and downplay concerns about his contract, saying he was going to “keep preparing, keep showing up every day. Keep doing what I got to do.” Since Gronkowski had previously not been nearly as forceful, perhaps he’s confident a deal will get done soon. Either way, it’s one less headache for the team in what has been an unusually dramatic offseason in New England.
While it was reported back in June that a new contract for Gronkowski was “likely”, a deal still is yet to be done. It looks as if that might not change anytime soon, as a source told Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk that “nothing is imminent” between the two sides. Whenever it does happen, Gronkowski should get a significant raise on his $8MM annual salary.
Gronkowski is clearly unpaid in 2018’s market. As Florio points out, far inferior tight ends such as Trey Burton and Jimmy Graham are making as much as or more than Gronkowsi this year. Back in 2012, Gronkowski signed what was at the time the largest contract ever for a tight end. Our Zach Links recently took a look back at that deal as part of our ‘This Date In Transactions History’ series. Since then, the market for top tight ends has exploded, and Gronkowski’s contract turned into a steal for the Patriots.
Patriots Cut TE Troy Niklas
The Patriots are releasing veteran tight end Troy Niklas, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). They’ll replace him with on the roster with free agent wide receiver Paul Turner. 
A 2014 Cardinals second-round pick, Niklas has just 19 career receptions for 203 yards. Niklas has battled injuries throughout his career, twice playing in seven or fewer games in a season. He suited up for 15 last year, however. In April, he hooked on with the Pats.
Interestingly, Pro Football Focus was much fonder of his 2017 receiving skills than when he attempted to block during running plays, grading Niklas as the second-worst run-blocking tight end in football last season. PFF, though, viewed him as a much better run-blocking presence in previous years.
Without Niklas, the Patriots tight end depth chart consists of Rob Gronkowski, Dwayne Allen, Jacob Hollister, Will Tye, Ryan Izzo, and Shane Wimann.
Patriots Notes: Cannon, Bielema
- Patriots offensive tackle Marcus Cannon only appeared in seven games last season as he battled an ankle injury, but he’s “good to go” ahead of training camp, tweets Jeff Howe of The Athletic. While New England will face upheaval at the left tackle position, right tackle is spoken for by Cannon, who’s become one of the league’s best players on the right side. Cannon signed a five-year, $32.5MM extension with the Patriots in 2016, meaning he’s now under contract through the 2021 campaign.
- Former Wisconsin and Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema is now officially a member of the Patriots’ staff, reports Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (Twitter link), who adds Bielema’s official title will be “consultant to the head coach.” While it’s unclear exactly why Bielema will be doing as he advises Bill Belichick, he sounded incredibly excited about his new role when speaking to the media earlier this year.
Latest On Patriots WR Malcolm Mitchell
Although Patriots wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell did recently undergo an operation on his knee, it was not a surgical procedure, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Instead, the operation was designed to “accelerate healing” on Mitchell’s knee, which has sidelined him for the entire 2017 season.
Mitchell is now on the trade block, although this most recent procedure — even if it wasn’t surgical in nature — figures to reduce any possible interest other clubs may have expressed. Nevertheless, Rapoport indicates New England is “poised to move on from the [Mitchell] and his health issues,” which sounds as though the Patriots are prepared to waive Mitchell if no team decides to take a flier via trade.
Even though Julian Edelman is suspended for the first four games of the 2018 campaign, the Patriots still have a busy wide receiver depth chart, with options such as Chris Hogan, Jordan Matthews, and Cordarrelle Patterson available. In his most recent look at New England’s roster, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com predicted Mitchell would not make the club’s 53-man squad, which could open a spot for Kenny Britt, Phillip Dorsett, or rookie Braxton Berrios.
Mitchell, a fourth-round pick in the 2016 draft, appeared in 14 games and made six starts during his rookie campaign, posting 32 receptions on 48 targets for 401 yards and four touchdowns. The 26-year-old was extremely efficient during the Patriots’ Super Bowl comeback in 2017, putting up six catches for 70 yards as New England defeated Atlanta.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/24/18
Today’s minor moves:
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LB Freddie Bishop
- Placed on IR: FB Nick Bawden
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Adonis Jennings
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB Frank Ginda
- Retired: LB Mike McCray
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: C J.P. Quinn
- Waived: TE Josiah Price
New England Patriots
- Signed: S Eddie Pleasant, OL Nate Theaker
- Waived/Injured: WR Cody Hollister
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released: WR Marquess Wilson
- Waied: CB Randall Goforth
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/23/18
Here are Monday’s minor moves.
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Chris Bazile
Chicago Bears
- Signed: LB Ro’Derrick Hoskins
- Waived: OL Jerami Hall
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: OL Tony Adams
- Waived/Injured: OL Sean Hickey
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR Devin Lucien
- Waived/Injured: DB David Jones
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DE Kiante Anderson
Malcolm Mitchell Undergoes Knee Procedure
Sidelined all of last season due to a knee injury, Malcolm Mitchell needed another knee procedure on Monday, Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal reports (on Twitter).
Mitchell is now a trade candidate, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, who adds (Twitter link) that this operation explains some of the Patriots’ frustration here. But this procedure figures to complicate any trade talks New England will have regarding the third-year wide receiver.
The Patriots are high on Kenny Britt‘s ability to bounce back after a dreadful showing with the Browns, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). New England also has Jordan Matthews, Cordarrelle Patterson and rookie Braxton Berrios in the mix now. And while Julian Edelman will miss a second straight September, he’s going to lead the receiving group upon return. There might not be room for Mitchell, leading Daniels to tweet that Mitchell is facing an uphill battle to make the roster while floating the idea of an injury settlement at this point (Twitter links).
Mitchell showed promise as a rookie in 2016, catching 32 passes for 401 yards and four touchdowns. He added 70 air yards in Super Bowl LI but could not build on that momentum because of the rampant knee trouble he experienced last year.
Patriots Looking To Trade Malcolm Mitchell
Malcolm Mitchell is on the trade block. The Patriots have been shopping the wide receiver this summer, sources tell Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
Mitchell has shown potential in the Patriots’ offense, including the 2016 season in which he had 32 catches. However, he has been held back by injuries and he may be on the wrong side of a numbers crunch this offseason, even when factoring in Julian Edelman’s four-game suspension.
The Patriots hope they’ll be able to turn back the clock and get bounce-back seasons out of Kenny Britt and Jordan Matthews. Beyond that, they also have Chris Hogan, Cordarrelle Patterson, Braxton Berrios, and special teams ace Matt Slater in the mix. It’s likely that they could move forward with those six WRs for Week 1, which would allow them to perhaps net a draft pick for Mitchell.
Mitchell — who missed all of the 2017 campaign with a knee injury – had 32 catches for 401 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie. Then, in the Super Bowl, Mitchell caught six passes for 70 yards as the Patriots defeated the Falcons.
Patriots Would Not Have Re-Signed Brandin Cooks
- Former Patriots receiver Brandin Cooks just inked a massive extension with the Rams, and Mike Reiss of ESPN.com says New England had a pretty good idea that Cooks, who was scheduled for unrestricted free agency at the end of the 2018 season, was going to get that kind of money given the robust state of the wide receiver market. However, the Patriots just did not value him that highly and were approaching this year as though it would be Cooks’ last in Foxborough. So, when presented with the opportunity to get a first-round pick for him this offseason, New England pounced.
- Earlier today, the Patriots signed No. 31 overall pick Sony Michel.