The New England Patriots’ silence over Vontaze Burfict’s light punishment spoke louder than words.
It’s fairly clear Patriots head coach Bill Belichick told his players to shut their mouths about the Cincinnati Bengals linebacker and his cheap shot to Martellus Bennett’s knees and stomp to LeGarrette Blount’s leg. Belichick likes to control the message coming out of Gillette Stadium, and the Patriots’ “no comment” made it obvious they were pissed about Burfict’s behavior.
It seems unlikely the Patriots and Bengals will meet again given Cincinnati’s 2-4 record, but if they do, tempers could flare.
Watch above and read below for this week’s mailbag.
@DougKyed do you put any stock in the idea that the pats need to upgrade at the “every down back” position? do they in foxborough? #MailDoug
— @itsjuststout
I believe this idea comes from the great Greg Bedard of Sports Illustrated. He said on The Sports Hub’s “Felger and Mazz” that he would like to see the Patriots upgrade the third-down back role.
I agree with Bedard that James White doesn’t offer enough as a running threat on third down, and I’ve been saying it since last season. White is averaging just 3.8 yards per carry this season, which actually is 1.3 yards per carry better than last year. White has been a decent and dependable pass-catching option, hauling in 25 passes for 212 yards with two touchdowns, but as Bedard discussed, he was wide open for both of his scores Sunday. It was a good, not great, game. He’s not special in the role, and he offers little versatility. The opposing team doesn’t need to respect the run when he’s on the field, and it’s one of the reason the Patriots’ running game has faltered lately.
There’s a role on the Patriots for White, but they need a well-rounded back to complement him and LeGarrette Blount.
Bedard said Dion Lewis either has to come back off PUP or the Patriots must look outside the organization for another option.
I obviously agree with Bedard that Lewis would give this team a boost, but I don’t think the Patriots must look outside the organization if he doesn’t return soon. They have Bishop Sankey on their practice squad, and I’d like to see what he could offer in the Patriots’ offense.
If Sankey can’t get it done, they also have Tyler Gaffney, who frequently was used as a pass-catcher this summer.
Ideally, Lewis will come back and the Patriots will be fine at running back moving forward. But if he won’t be back soon, it’s worth seeing what Sankey can do. He’s bigger and more powerful than White and D.J. Foster, and he’s an experienced pass-catcher.
It’s worth noting Sankey was a practice player of the week last week. That usually bodes well for a player.
@DougKyed Agree or disagree with BB on tablets?
— @rankjas
I’m more of a laptop and phone guy, myself.
I also think Bill Belichick eventually will have to get used to the tablets. They’re just showing stills for now, so it’s fine for Belichick to use the old-school photos. But if the NFL allows teams to begin using video on tablets, he’ll have to adapt or be left behind.
A note from Sunday’s game, when Belichick decided to give up on the tablets for good: The Wi-Fi was out in the press box for the first quarter-plus. I overheard internet was out in the entire stadium, so it’s possible the tablets weren’t working for the first quarter. I can understand why that would be annoying for a coach, because it also was very annoying for a certain Patriots beat reporter.
@DougKyed I’d love your thoughts on how much you think the personnel he’s throwing to affects his deep ball
— @capeinkc
We’re talking about Tom Brady, who’s 8 of 10 on deep passes this season.
I never was on board with the theory that Brady’s deep ball went away because he didn’t have a legit deep threat. But it certainly seems the additions of Bennett and Chris Hogan have made a major difference for Brady. The opposing team now has to defend multiple deep options, and that opens up the top of the field for at least one of them.
Perhaps Brady’s deep ball never went away? I sometimes can admit when I’m wrong.
@DougKyed #maildoug Is Roberts as good as he’s looked the last few weeks? Is he going to play a bigger role on team than McClellan or Mingo?
— @Grendel_the_Dog
What’s up, Grendel? Or should I say, ‘Sit. Shake. Good boy!’ *Hands Grendel a treat*
I think Elandon Roberts is good. He’s not as good as he looked in Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns, but he’s definitely a good, explosive linebacker who can fill in for either Dont’a Hightower or Jamie Collins in a pinch.
Roberts likely will see more time on first and second down, while Mingo will be on the field more in passing situations. Belichick alluded to this in Monday’s conference call with the media.
As for McClellin, I’m not sure what his role will be. He seems buried at linebacker behind Hightower, Collins, Roberts, Mingo and Rob Ninkovich and on the edge behind Ninkovich, Jabaal Sheard, Chris Long and Trey Flowers. Chicago Bears fans are not shocked by this news.
@DougKyed With contracts being up for Butler, Collins and Hightower…if Pats could keep only 1 player, who would it be ????
#maildoug
— @PatNation15
Hightower. But they’ll be able to keep more than one.
With the recent success of both Tight Ends, which receiver will benefit most against Pittsburgh? #MailDoug
— @JimGilhooly1957
I expect a big game from Julian Edelman. I think opposing teams start defending the deep half of the field, and they start focusing more attention on the tight ends, which should open up Edelman.
Let’s go rapid fire:
@DougKyed Candy corn, yay or nay? #MailDoug
— @pcon
Yay, but it’s only OK. I had a candy corn phase a few years ago.
@DougKyed Favorite concert you attended? Also what’s up with D Lewis any time table of his return. Laters Doug.
— @Tav2real
That’s a really tough question. Bruce Springsteen at Gillette Stadium in 2012 is up there. I saw The Gaslight Anthem at The Middle East twice in 2008. For nostalgia sake, Blink 182/New Found Glory at Suffolk Downs in 2001. Another memorable show: Paint It Black/Have Heart/Crime in Stereo/Hope Conspiracy show in Philly in 2008. I broke my nose.
On Lewis? Not sure. Still some uncertainty there.
@DougKyed sup? #MailDoug
— @June__NYC
Watching “Thursday Night Football” and the NLCS, writing my mailbag, Googling pictures of Primanti Bros. subs in preparation for my trip to Pittsburgh, occasionally petting my kitten Harambe.
@DougKyed Are you going to be Shawn Michaels again this Halloween? #MailDoug
— @Kwadare
No, but my costume last year was pretty amazing.
@DougKyed what was your dream job when you were younger
— @dawes_matt
A football and baseball player. I wanted to be Ken Griffey, Jr. and Lawyer Milloy (big Huskies fan).
This is the next-best thing.
.@DougKyed Is Aaron Rodgers better than Tom Brady?
— @rslashpatriots
This year? No.
Ever? No.
@DougKyed Do you really think Butler will be consistently matched with Brown @ Pitt, or is that too obvious? #MailDoug
— @ReadThanks
Yes.
@DougKyed who is the most underrated player on the Patriots and why? #MailDoug
— @FiftyBurger
Probably McCourty. He’s one of the best players in the NFL, and he never makes the Pro Bowl, All-Pro teams or the Top 100 players lists. That guy is really, really, really good. Great. Elite, even.
@DougKyed what did you think of the Goldberg segment on RAW?
— @AirLarsen
I thought it was kind of silly, but I’m glad a lot of people really liked it. I always was more of a WWF guy growing up. I just hope his match against Brock Lesnar is different than every other boring Brock Lesnar match. Is that too much to ask? It’s time Suplex City falls.
Thumbnail photo via Stew Milne/USA TODAY Sports images
