Jonathan Kraft Doesn't Expect Pats To Get First-Rounder Back
- Even though Patriots owner Robert Kraft has made an effort to persuade the NFL into giving back the first-round pick it took from the team as a result of the Deflategate scandal, club president Jonathan Kraft told Tom Curran of CSNNE.com that it’s a losing battle. On why the Pats haven’t sued the league in an effort to recoup the pick, Jonathan Kraft said, “It’ll take longer than the time before the draft happens and the money isn’t the issue here, the issue is getting your draft pick back and at some point you have to realize it’s not gonna happen and the best revenge will be putting the best team on the field next year and hopefully having a very successful season.”
Patriots Had Interest In Chris Johnson
- Before he re-signed with the Cardinals, running back Chris Johnson was believed to be deciding between Arizona and Miami. However, Johnson tells Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that the Patriots also had interest in him.
Pats Looking To Recover First-Round Pick
Patriots owner Robert Kraft told reporters that he wrote a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell asking him to reinstate the draft picks taken from the club as part of the Deflategate sanctions (link via ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss). Kraft’s letter, written over one month ago, also requested that Tom Brady‘s four-game suspension be nullified. 
Goodell has said that he would consider any new information brought forward and that, in turn, could lead to the Pats’ punishment being altered. As it stands, the Patriots are set to lose their 2016 first-round pick and 2017 fourth-round pick in addition to the four-game suspension of Brady plus a $1MM fine. However, a league source says that the Patriots have “zero chance” at getting their first-round choice back, according to Judy Battista of NFL.com (via Twitter).
The NFLPA and the league went head-to-head earlier this month over Brady’s four-game ban. Around the same time, we learned that the league’s polarizing commissioner earned upwards of $34MM in 2014.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Bills GM Laments Losing Chris Hogan To Pats; Ryan Wendell In Holding Pattern
In speaking to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press about defensive lineman Stefan Charles and to Tom Curran of CSNNE.com about wide receiver Chris Hogan, Buffalo general manager Doug Whaley repeated a similar refrain, suggesting that the Bills “can’t pay everybody.” The team non-tendered Charles, who was eligible for restricted free agency, allowing him to sign with the Lions as an unrestricted free agent. As for Hogan, he got an RFA tender from Buffalo, but it was a low-end tender, allowing the Patriots to sign him to an offer sheet that Whaley and the Bills couldn’t match.
“It was (difficult to let him go),” the Bills GM said of Hogan. “He’s done a great job, not only on the field as a third and fourth wide receiver (and) special teams, (but also) what he’s brought to the community. He’s a great asset to the Patriots. We’re sorry we’re gonna lose him. And add the fact that we’re gonna have to deal with him with the other end of that being (Tom) Brady, it’s a tough matchup because he’s a talented person.”
- Veteran offensive lineman Ryan Wendell remains in a holding pattern when it comes to his free agency, agent Frank Bauer tells Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. Wendell’s 2015 season ended after just two games due to a knee injury, and even if and when he returns to full health, it’s not clear whether there will be a spot on the Patriots‘ 2016 roster for him.
Nick Fairley Meeting With Patriots
Decision-makers for NFL teams are congregating in Boca Raton, Florida this week for the league’s spring owners’ meetings, but that doesn’t mean those clubs are putting their free agency pursuits on hold. According to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com (via Twitter), free agent defensive tackle Nick Fairley was on his way to the owners’ meetings this morning to meet with the Patriots.
A free agent a year ago, Fairley signed a one-year pact with the Rams, and was a rotational piece on the team’s talented defensive line in 2015, appearing in less than 40% of the defensive snaps. Although he wasn’t a full-time player and his counting stats were modest (29 tackles and 0.5 sacks), the former first-round pick graded out as a top-25 interior defender, according to Pro Football Focus.
Since he hit the open market earlier this month, Fairley has a paid a visit to the Saints and has also been linked to the Jets and Eagles, though he hasn’t formally met with those teams. Speaking to Wagoner (Twitter link), Fairley confirmed his visit to New Orleans and said that he’s still talking to the Rams as well. It sounds as if the veteran defender is letting the process play out and hasn’t eliminated any suitors from contention.
The Patriots are in the market for some help at defensive tackle after seeing Akiem Hicks and Sealver Siliga depart in free agency.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Patriots To Workout Cal TE Stephen Anderson
- Cal tight end Stephen Anderson has visits and/or workouts set up with the Patriots, Titans, Falcons, and Texans, tweets Getlin.
Does Donald Brown Signing Prevent LeGarrette Blount's Return to Patriots?
- ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss doesn’t believe the Donald Brown signing would prevent LeGarrette Blount from returning to the Patriots. Even if the team does bring back the veteran, the writer still envisions the Patriots selecting a running back in the draft.
- Before signing with the Patriots, linebacker Shea McClellin also met with the Seahawks, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
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Patriots Sign Donald Brown
SATURDAY, 8:45am: It’s a one-year deal for Brown worth $965K, reports Ben Volin of the Boston Globe (via Twitter). The deal includes an $885K salary, a $50K signing bonus, and a $30K workout bonus. His cap number is worth $680K.
The Patriots also gave the running back $300K in guaranteed money, which Volin suggests could be an indication that Brown’s going to stick around for the regular season.
FRIDAY, 1:24pm: The Patriots have formally announced their deal with Brown.
WEDNESDAY, 2:21pm: The Patriots have added a running back to their offense, according to Peter Schrager of FOX Sports, who tweets that the team has agreed to terms with veteran free agent Donald Brown.
With veterans LeGarrette Blount and Steven Jackson eligible for free agency, Brown will join a backfield that currently features James White, Dion Lewis, and Brandon Bolden, among others. While the move shouldn’t preclude a reunion with Blount, or another veteran addition, Brown will provide some insurance on the depth chart.
Brown, who turns 29 next month, had been set to enter the final season of the three-year contract he signed with the Chargers back in 2014. However, he was released by San Diego earlier in March.
Although he made a handful of starts during his two years with the Chargers, particularly when the club’s backfield was hit hard by injuries, Brown never made a significant impact. In total, he accumulated 452 rushing yards on 144 attempts (3.1 ypc), and added 299 receiving yards on 37 catches.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Patriots Promote Two Assistant Coaches
- The Patriots have named Brian Flores their linebackers coach, according to Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com (Twitter link). Flores has been a Pats employee since 2004, most recently serving as their safeties coach. Taking over Flores’ previous position will be Steve Belichick, the son of Bill Belichick, per Reiss (on Twitter). Steve Belichick was a defensive assistant with the club in his prior role.
Patriots Interested In Two Michigan Defenders
- The Bengals, Patriots and Jets sent defensive line coaches to observe Michigan D-lineman Willie Henry‘s workout on Friday, reports Tony Pauline of WalterFootball.com.
- The Patriots also met with Michigan linebacker Desmond Morgan on Friday, as did the Vikings and Lions, per Pauline.
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