Pro Bowl Cornerback Jalen Ramsey Traded to Patriots' AFC East Rival?
MAR 12 DOLPHINS TALKING TRADE FOR JALEN RAMSEY: Multiple reports indicate the Miami Dolphins are in deep discussions to acquire Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey in a trade from the Los Angeles Rams.
There was speculation that the New England Patriots might be interest in Ramsey to update a secondary that has to cover the likes of AFC East receivers Stefon Diggs, Tyreek Hill and Garrett Wilson. In the past, Bill Belichick has been aggressive in going after premier cornerbacks such as Darrelle Revis, Stephon Gilmore and even Aqib Talib.
But now it seems likely that Ramsey is coming to the AFC East, but with the rival Dolphins.
MAR 10 BEARS TRADE AWAY NO. 1 PICK: The NFL Draft was turned upside Friday afternoon when the Chicago Bears made a deal to trade the No. 1 overall pick to the Carolina Panthers. In exchange for the pick, the Bears will receive the No. 9 pick, No. 61 pick, a first-round pick in 2024, a second-round pick in 2025 and receiver D.J. Moore.
With the pick, the Panthers are expected to draft a quarterback. The Bears could afford to move the pick because they boast quarterback Justin Fields.
The New England Patriots still own the 14th overall pick.
Six times in NFL history has a team traded up for the No. 1 overall pick: Jeff George (1990), Russell Maryland (1991), Ki-Jana Carter (1995), Orlando Pace (1997), Michael Vick (2001) and Jared Goff (2016).
MAR 9 NO ON LAMAR: We're not sure if this was ever even a "maybe'' thought, but just in case, the New England Patriots are not expected to pursue Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson this offseason, per Patriots insider Mark Daniels of MassLive.
The Patriots join an army of teams that have reportedly "leaked'' info about their disinterest in the tagged Ravens QB, as the Atlanta Falcons, Washington Commanders, Miami Dolphins and Carolina Panthers (and maybe the Las Vegas Raiders) are out.
The Patriots are instead hoping for a step-up from Mac Jones at quarterback, maybe with big help from new offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien.
MAR 8: LIL'JORDAN HUMPHREY SIGNS WITH SAINTS - From one future Hall-of-Fame coach to another, former Patriots' receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey is leaving Bill Belichick for Sean Payton. Humphrey, who had two catches and played 24 special-teams for the Pats last season, signed as a free agent with the Denver Broncos. Having entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2019, Humphrey’s best year was with the New Orleans Saints under Payton in 2021. That year he caught 13 passes for 249 yards with a pair of touchdowns.
MAR 7: FORMER PATRIOTS OL HAYDEN HOWERTON CLAIMED OFF WAIVERS BY ARIZONA CARDINALS - The Arizona Cardinals have claimed former New England Patriots reserve interior offensive lineman Hayden Howerton off waivers.
The Pats waived Howerton last Friday afternoon.
The 24-year-old originally joined the NFL as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2022, having played his college football at Southern Methodist. He made 53 starts for the Mustangs, 39 of which came at left guard. He also lined up at center for 12 of his collegiate starts, with the remaining two coming at right guard.
The 6-3, 300-pounder spent the preseason with the Tennessee Titans, before being waived at the league’s 53-man roster deadline.
Howerton then joined the Patriots’ practice squad in early November, where he resided for the remainder of the season. He had signed a futures deal with New England in early January.
The Patriots have already undergone some changes to their offensive line for 2023. Having underachieved for much of the previous season under former o-line coach Matt Patricia, the team hired ex-Oregon coach, and one-time Patriot, Adrian Klemm to the position.
The Pats also re-signed reserve swing lineman Conor McDermott in late February.
FEB. 28 JETS DRIVING A NEW CARR? - Josh Allen. Tua Tagovailoa. And, the next AFC East quarterback the Patriots must find a way stop is ... Derek Carr? While the Bills and Dolphins are set with their passers for 2023, the Jets are fed up with former first-round pick Zach Wilson and are looking to free agency. The former Las Vegas Raiders' star visited with New York last weekend and Tuesday at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis Jets' GM Joe Douglas said it went "fantastic."
“It’s hard to put an exact timetable,” Douglas said. “I think everybody would like it done sooner rather than later but everyone has their own process. When a decision is ready to be made I feel very strongly we’re going to make the right decision for the Jets.”
New York is also expected to be in the running for Aaron Rodgers if the Packers decide to trade him.
FEB. 22 BOSTON RADIO HOST SUSPENDED FOR RACIST JOKE - Sports Hub 98.5 talk show host Tony Massarotti has been suspended for the rest of the week for his “insensitive” and “hurtful” comment about Black people sitting behind his co-host Mike Felger.
During a show last week on the Patriots' flagship radio station, Massorotti made the racist joke that stereotyped Black men as car thieves. According to the Boston Herald, he has since apologized on the air but also has been suspended by the station.
FEB. 22: $5 MILLION FOR SWING TACKLE - As we reported last week, the Patriots have signed swing offensive tackle Conor McDermott for 2023. Details have now emerged, and his contract is for two years and $3.6 million with playing-time incentives potentially pushing the deal to $5.1 million.
He started the final six games at right tackle last season without giving up a sack, and is obviously a favorite of new offensive line coach Adrian Klemm ... who coached him at UCLA.
Securing McDermott gives the Pats some leeway to deal with imminent offensive line free agents such as Isaiah Wynn, James Ferentz and Yodny Cajuste.
FEB 17: PATS PART WAYS WITH RAY — The New England Patriots announced they have released defensive lineman LaBryan Ray.
The 25-year-old was originally signed by New England as a rookie free agent out of Alabama in May 2022.
At 6-4, 290-pounds, Ray impressed the Pats with his size and athleticism. Having played five full seasons under Nick Saban, he was particularly adept at stuffing the run, while also recording six sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss during his time as Alabama.
He was released on Aug. 30 and signed to the practice squad on Aug. 31. Following a stellar performance during Patriots training camp and the preseason, Ray spent the early fall on the scout team, before being moved to practice squad injured reserve in late October.
Ray had signed a futures contract with New England in January.
FEB 16: COLTS CLAIM WILKERSON — Former New England Patriots receiver Kristian Wilkerson will be joining a familiar rival in 2023.
Just one day removed from his release by the Pats, Wilkerson has been claimed off waivers by the Indianapolis Colts, as confirmed on Thursday by the NFL Transaction Wire.
Since joining the Pats in 2020, Wilkerson had been a mainstay on the team’s practice squad, yet a promising young wideout prospect. The SE Missouri State product put on an impressive performance in the Pats’ 50-10 blowout of the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 17 in 2021. In his most productive game as a pro, Wilkerson logged four receptions for 42 yards and two touchdowns.
The 25-year-old put forth another solid showing during training camp in 2022. However, he suffered a head injury during a kick-coverage drill on the second day of joint practices between the Patriots and Carolina Panthers in August. Wilkerson was placed on season-ending injured reserve by the Patriots on Aug. 30.
FEB. 13 STEVAN RIDLEY ARRESTED: Former New England Patriots running back Stevan Ridley was arrested in Mississippi over the weekend.
Per initial reports, Ridley was booked late Saturday night/early Sunday morning in Natchez, on two charges. The nature of the allegations against Ridley remains unclear, at this time. Department records indicate that the 34-year-old was released from police custody on Sunday.
Ridley, a native of Natchez, was a standout at LSU, having scored 15 touchdowns in his final season with the Tigers in 2010. He was selected in the third-round by the Patriots in the 2011 NFL Draft. He spent four seasons with the team, with his most productive coming in 2012 when he rushed for 1,263 yards and 12 touchdowns. Despite having been placed on injured reserve due to a torn ACL and MCL, Ridley was a part of the Pats' 2014 championship team which defeated Seattle Seahawks 28–24 in Super Bowl XLIX.
Ridley signed with the New York Jets as a free agent in 2015. For the next three seasons, spent time with the Jets, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers.
FEB. 12 CHIEFS SUPER BOWL CHAMPS: How do you win a Super Bowl? Try a second half in which you have 24 points, 0 penalties, 0 turnovers, 0 punts, 0 sacks allowed and only one incompletion (on a throwaway). In an offensive performance the New England Patriots could only dream of, the Kansas City Chiefs outscored the Philadelphia Eagles, 38-35, to win Super Bowl LVII Sunday night in Glendale, Arizona. The Patriots, who host both teams in the 2023 regular season, scored 38 points only one time all season - when rookie Bailey Zappe quarterbacked a rout of the Cleveland Browns in Week 6.