FOXBORO, Mass. — New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick wasn’t burning up the phone lines Tuesday, trying to swing a deal by the NFL trade deadline of 4 p.m. ET.
Instead, with the Patriots’ Week 9 matchup with the Washington Redskins approaching, Belichick was focusing on what he does best: coach.
“I was concentrating on the Redskins,” Belichick said Wednesday. “We met (Tuesday) morning and practiced, watched film, trying to get the team ready for Washington.”
Belichick, who’s also the Patriots’ de facto general manager, said he passed the trade deadline duties on to director of player personnel Nick Caserio.
“I was working on Washington,” Belichick said. “Nick and — Nick’s really the person that would be involved more in that area. Obviously, we would talk about something, but my focus was on the Redskins. That’s what it’s been on, that’s what it is on.”
The 7-0 Patriots certainly didn’t need to make a deal at the deadline, but acquiring additional depth at cornerback and offensive tackle could have been helpful. The Patriots already made seven trades since training camp opened in late July. Wide receiver Keshawn Martin, tight end Michael Williams, linebacker Jonathan Bostic and defensive tackle Akiem Hicks remain on the Patriots’ 53-man roster from those deals.
Perhaps part of the Patriots’ decision not to add any more depth was linebacker Dane Fletcher and defensive tackle Chris Jones began practicing Tuesday for the first time since they were placed on PUP at the start of camp. The Patriots have 20 days to activate Fletcher and Jones from PUP and would need to release players to make room on the 53-man roster.
Center Bryan Stork also is eligible to return off short-term injured reserve in Week 9. Stork’s been practicing for two weeks now, and the Patriots would have to release an additional player to add Stork. The Patriots have a stacked roster, so some difficult decisions are looming for Belichick.
Thumbnail photo via Matthew Emmons/USA TODAY Sports Images
