Short version: Pats can’t get off the field on 3rd downs in the second half.

Which is a double whammy, especially when they’re in constant need to catch up. The offense going 3-and-out so much and putting them on the field has to be wearing them down, I’d suspect that’s part of it, but it wouldn’t surprise me (just a guess, no evidence, just speculating) if they aren’t making second-half adjustments in years past either.

Swap in Jake Ingram (who wasn’t good) for Cardona (who has a long record of good snapping).

While I get your point, we did score a touchdown yesterday.

Another reporter has said the Pats never made DeVito an offer.

Volin is almost correct, but his argument seems more based on the Pats not having succession plans, rather than on “value.” The two don’t seem to coincide – seems like another article intent on slamming BB and Kraft for “not spending.” A shame, because there is legit criticism to be had here, but I don’t think Volin finds it.

Additionally, Steve Balestrieri of PatsFans.com stated in his Sunday notes that it was actually Kraft who initiated the year-to-year contract with Brady; Belichick had a three-year deal in place before Kraft overruled him.

Glad to take you up on that offer. Here’s the clip.

Skill guys on the play are Zeke, Gesicki, Henry, JuJu, and Pop.

When Blackmon gets up, Henry is moving TOWARDS him, not out of bounds. He doesn’t charge because he’s trying to contain Blackmon and prevent a big return; in fact, he helps finish the tackle. Zeke is also right at the ball carrier, and JuJu is in frame too. (Pop was lined up far left so wasn’t in position to be anywhere close.)

In the second angle of the play. Gesicki doesn’t “keep on running”; he slows down, sees that Blackmon is still down, then goes to chase him once the safety gets up.

I get that we’ve agreed Mac isn’t the guy. I get that he doesn’t give the Pats the best chance to win. But what you’ve stated just isn’t so, and there’s no evidence the team has “quit” on him.

Got me curious:

The pick was SF’s 2018 2nd (2-43). The Pats used that to move down with Detroit, getting back 2-51 and 4-117. Detroit took RB Kerryon Johnson.

New England then swapped 2-51 to Chicago for 4-105 and Chicago’s 2019 2nd (okay, now I’m worried, we all know how bad the 2019 class was). Chicago took WR Anthony Miller.

The Pats then moved up with Tampa Bay, giving up 2-63 and the newly-acquired 4-117 to select CB Duke Dawson at 2-56. Tampa took CB Carlton Davis III at 2-63 and S Jordan Whitehead at 4-117.

4-105 ended up Cleveland’s, in another trade down for 4-114 and 6-178. Cleveland took WR Antonio Callaway.

4-114 went over to Detroit for their 2019 3rd (oh boy). Detroit took DL Da’Shawn Hand.

At 6-178, the Pats took LB Christian Sam.

The next year, with the extra 2nd and 3rd:

Chicago’s 2nd wound up as 2019’s 2-56. The Pats sent that pick and 3-101 to the Rams to move up to 2-45 for CB Joejuan Williams. The Rams traded 2-56 to KC, who took WR Mecole Hardman. After further shuffling, 3-101 ended up back with the Pats, and the pick was T Yodny Cajuste.

Detroit’s 3rd was 2019’s 3-73. The Pats traded down with Chicago, getting 3-87, 5-162, and a 2020 4th for 3-73 and 6-205. Chicago took RB David Montgomery at 3-73 and CB Duke Shelley at 6-205. (This trade also cost the Pats Terry McLaurin, who went 3-76. The Pats had 3-77 and took Chase Winovich instead.)

The Pats stayed at 3-87 and took RB Damien Harris.

But 5-162 went along with 7-239 to Minnesota so the Pats could hop up to 5-159, where they took DL Byron Cowart. Minnesota took LB Cameron Smith at 5-162 and WR Dillon Mitchell at 7-239.

That Chicago 4th became 2020’s 4-125, which the Pats sent to the Jets along with 4-129 and a 2021 6th. They traded those picks to move up to 3-101 and take TE Dalton Keene. The Jets used 4-125 to take QB James Morgan, 4-129 to take T Cameron Clark, and the 6th – originally the Jets’ all along, previously sent to New England for Demaryius Thomas (RIP) – to take S/LB Hamsah Nasirildeen.

I think that’s everything? Except for Harris, a bad haul.

One moment: the timeline here doesn’t add up.

The Pats drafted Brissett in the 3rd in 2016, so his rookie contract would have expired after 2019 –i.e. in the same offseason Brady left.

Also, for peanuts? The trade was Brissett for Dorsett straight-up. And while Dorsett didn’t play much in 2017 (12 catches on 18 targets), he was fine as a third or fourth option in '18-'19 (combined 61-687-8).

Ooh, I’d forgotten about him. Thanks for the reminder - I’ll add it to the post.

As inspired by u/DeM0nFiRe (and with a thanks to the reminder from u/Impressive-Cry-9128)