Patriots 2024 schedule: Upset picks, best matchups, top storylines w/ Bob Socci | Pats Interference - video Dailymotion

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The voice of the Patriots, Bob Socci, makes his show return to break down the team's 2024 brutal schedule, including the most likely upsets and under-the-radar storylines. Later, Andrew and Bob answer your mailbag questions.  0:00: David Andrews Extension  8:12: First Quarter of the Schedule  22:34: Second Quarter of the Schedule  30:12: When will Drake Maye start?  35:24: Third Quarter of Schedule  42:10: Forth Quarter of Schedule  47:33: Mailbag  Get in on the excitement with PrizePicks, America’s No. 1 Fantasy Sports App, where you can turn your hoops knowledge into serious cash. Download the app today and use code CLNS for a first deposit match up to $100! Pick more. Pick less. It’s that Easy!   Take the guesswork out of buying NBA tickets with Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code CLNS for $20 off your first purchase. Download Gametime today. Last minute tickets. Lowest Price. Guaranteed. Terms apply.

Transcript

00:00:00 [MUSIC]

00:00:10 Okay, so last time this podcast I mentioned I wanted some fresh blood,

00:00:17 some fresh faces we brought on to Rome Battle.

00:00:19 And this week as we go once a week, we bring on a throwback.

00:00:23 One of my first guests here in this podcast a couple years ago, Bob Sose,

00:00:27 a long time radio voice of the Patriots.

00:00:29 Bob, two years ago I was sitting in a hotel in Milwaukee and you were gracious

00:00:33 enough to talk to me for like 90 minutes ahead of the Patriots 2022 schedule.

00:00:38 I don't know why you took all that time in May.

00:00:40 I was in Milwaukee to cover a basketball game.

00:00:42 I'm still covering basketball games, but

00:00:44 I'm very, very happy to have you back on two years later.

00:00:47 >> Well, I'm very happy to be with you, Andrew.

00:00:50 Cerrone is definitely fresh, he's outstanding.

00:00:53 And I'm glad you had a chance to talk with him.

00:00:55 I hope that I'm not stale as I probably was a couple of years ago when we talked

00:01:00 from Milwaukee, but yeah, and I hope that you're covering the Celtics again.

00:01:05 Through the conference finals, into the NBA finals,

00:01:10 all the way to a championship parade this year.

00:01:14 >> Well, I appreciate you.

00:01:15 For the folks who don't know, first of all, you might be 18 or younger because you

00:01:18 should have heard Bob at some point either on Super Bowl highlights,

00:01:21 if not 95 the Sports Club where he's been for more than a decade.

00:01:24 Read and hear his work there, father, husband, very thoughtful questioner,

00:01:28 Bob Sosa, even so polite as to punctuate, I think, all of your text messages.

00:01:32 I was scrolling back up for because you asked me before we started, hey,

00:01:36 can you send this link, this video link to my personal email?

00:01:39 And you missed the question mark.

00:01:41 So you followed up with a separate question mark,

00:01:43 wherein we have other guests, this rinky dink little podcast,

00:01:46 Mike Giardi, who delete all of your text messages within a day.

00:01:50 He's some sort of serial cheater or a double agent or Russian spy,

00:01:54 I don't know.

00:01:55 But anyway, proud to call you a friend.

00:01:56 Thank you again for coming on and being fool enough to join this podcast where we

00:01:59 have people like Mike Giardi on.

00:02:00 >> So I appreciate that.

00:02:01 I'm flattered by that.

00:02:02 Giardi is far too cool to use punctuation.

00:02:04 >> [LAUGH] He's too cool for a lot of things.

00:02:08 >> Mike can get by without it.

00:02:09 Some of us, you know, us nerdy types.

00:02:12 >> For sure.

00:02:12 Okay, so the plan here today is to obviously go through the Patriots schedule.

00:02:15 We are going to go what was once quarter by quarter.

00:02:19 This was a very lovely, symmetrical, even 16 game seasons,

00:02:23 four slots of four.

00:02:24 Now we have 17, and it bothers some folks of us that kind of love their even numbers

00:02:28 and their symmetry.

00:02:29 But before we get to that, and updates to watch, and the best games in certain

00:02:33 matchups, and Bob's wildcard crazy thoughts as he goes through all of these games on

00:02:37 the team playing and tries his best to reign in Scott Zolak before, during,

00:02:41 and after these games, I want to talk about David Andrews.

00:02:44 Because David Andrews got a contract extension today.

00:02:47 And on this last episode, I was asked and corrected an answer I had actually two

00:02:51 weeks ago about, okay, who's getting the next extension?

00:02:54 My original answer was, come on, no one.

00:02:55 No one's getting a Christian Barmore sized bag of Bob Soce bag contract that we have.

00:03:01 And then I corrected that saying David Andrews would imagine with my candidates.

00:03:06 It's a one year extension.

00:03:07 It's $12 million base through 2025.

00:03:09 So this is over the next two years.

00:03:11 $13 million max, but the number we should all really care about is $8 million

00:03:15 guaranteed.

00:03:16 When you saw this news break, Bob, I think we were chatting with Taequann Thornton,

00:03:20 if not, maybe Jacoby Persep.

00:03:21 I don't know if you were there for the second interview today.

00:03:23 Just your first thought, you see the tweet come across,

00:03:26 Hilde Yates tweets this, and your thought was what?

00:03:28 >> It goes back to the press conference we had with David last week,

00:03:33 when he talked about the decision to come back to the Patriots.

00:03:36 And then predating that, Andrew, an event that I did with Mark Bertrand from 98.5

00:03:42 and David for one of the station's advertisers late last season.

00:03:47 When he was asked about the prospect of coming back and

00:03:50 returning to the Patriots.

00:03:52 And although he had time left on his contract, he pointed out to the audience,

00:03:58 I don't have any guaranteed money on my contract.

00:04:01 So I'm not sure they're gonna want me back.

00:04:03 And so after seeing these contract details, you start to put things together,

00:04:08 and it makes a lot of sense.

00:04:09 I imagine that you're the reporter, you are the far better,

00:04:13 you're an outstanding reporter, by the way.

00:04:16 And I am flattered by your compliment regarding punctuation,

00:04:19 because you're also a terrific writer.

00:04:21 >> It's just a text, Bob, but thank you.

00:04:23 >> You start to connect the dots and so forth, and it makes a lot of sense to me.

00:04:27 I think David had wanted to be a Patriot.

00:04:31 I didn't think last year when the season ended that he was likely to walk away

00:04:35 from football.

00:04:35 I certainly am a big fan of his, as you know,

00:04:40 as much of a fan as a broadcaster can be of a player.

00:04:42 I think there are so many intangibles and qualities that he brings to the team.

00:04:46 And I did wonder as well, though, new offensive line coaches, new scheme,

00:04:52 he's getting up there in years.

00:04:53 Now, they did get 100% of the snaps out of him last year.

00:04:57 How long would they foresee him as being their center, particularly with all

00:05:01 the interior offensive linemen that they've drafted in recent years?

00:05:05 But I was happy to see they were able to give him this money,

00:05:08 they're able to work out this deal.

00:05:10 I think it's due, but I also think that there's probably a connection

00:05:15 between his decision to come back and the news today.

00:05:18 >> Yeah, no question about it, right?

00:05:20 I'm gonna come give you my best, he's going into his age 32 season.

00:05:24 This is the fragile stage of the rebuild, right?

00:05:26 Like the infancy, what they hope goes up to be, maybe not another dynasty, but

00:05:30 certainly a contender.

00:05:32 So these are formative years for Drake May, for

00:05:34 John Mayo as a head coach, for the changes in the program.

00:05:37 A guy like David Andrews is carrying out that culture.

00:05:40 All the buzzwords we wanna talk about, describe the Gerard Mayo and

00:05:43 the energy and the newness of it all.

00:05:45 Okay, it's great when Gerard's speaking in front of the room, but

00:05:48 as soon as he leaves, it's guys like David Andrews in the team meeting,

00:05:51 in the locker room, at practice that carry that out when coaches aren't looking.

00:05:55 So I think this is a wise move given where they are as an organization,

00:05:58 with the young quarterback, and just who he is, a seven year captain.

00:06:01 I wrote that today and was stunned.

00:06:03 He's been a captain longer than I've been on the beat.

00:06:06 And this is a guy who was drafted just in 2015,

00:06:09 which makes him the second longest tenured player on the Patriots,

00:06:13 just behind your friend, Navy alumnus Joe Cardona.

00:06:16 But it's by a day, because Joe gets signed, it might even be an hour.

00:06:19 Joe gets drafted in the fifth round of 2015, and

00:06:22 then David Andrews signs as an undrafted free agent.

00:06:24 But anyway, smart move.

00:06:26 I will tease, I have a story, a project coming up with David.

00:06:30 I don't know when, but I was happy to see this form.

00:06:33 I think it's good business, it's a fair rate, and

00:06:35 anyone on the outside should be happy.

00:06:37 >> Yeah, and just kind of quickly add to the fair rate.

00:06:41 When he signed his first extension,

00:06:43 because he signed a couple of team friendly deals.

00:06:46 Before he almost walked out the door through free agency and

00:06:50 took less from the Patriots to come back to New England.

00:06:53 He had signed a second contract as a pro, that I remember Joe Banner,

00:06:58 the former executive with the Eagles and the Browns on social media saying,

00:07:02 this is a terrible contract.

00:07:04 >> [LAUGH] >> So

00:07:06 he definitely played ball with the Patriots.

00:07:08 It's good to see the Patriots playing ball with him,

00:07:11 as you mentioned, a seven time captain.

00:07:13 >> Well, and I'm glad you brought that up,

00:07:17 because that's an important backdrop of this.

00:07:19 Where I don't know if a guy like David would give voice to details about his

00:07:23 contract like you mentioned at that event.

00:07:26 I don't have any guaranteed money.

00:07:27 Now he's not one to shy away from the truth, but he goes with the program.

00:07:31 Which for a long time was, do not talk about contracts,

00:07:34 do anything but talk about contracts publicly.

00:07:36 And there he is talking about a contract.

00:07:38 In 2021, he got that deal done, I think in the second day of free agency.

00:07:43 And what had happened was the Patriots brought back Ted Karras,

00:07:46 who had been their starting left guard at times,

00:07:48 their center when David Andrews missed, I think the 2019 season due to blood clots.

00:07:52 And said, well, we're just gonna run it back with him,

00:07:54 because you want too much money.

00:07:56 And so he came back, limped back on a four year, very, very cheap deal.

00:08:00 That last year was coming up the season.

00:08:02 But now he's staying, he's got his guarantees.

00:08:04 And will play presumably through age 33 for the New England Patriots.

00:08:08 And I think they will be better off having him here.

00:08:11 Okay, let's get to the schedule.

00:08:13 The rest of this podcast is brought to you by Game Time,

00:08:16 where if you've been listening the last couple of weeks,

00:08:17 you know they are a new sponsor.

00:08:19 And I don't say this because I like to do ad reads for fun, or

00:08:23 just because they are sponsoring.

00:08:24 Or I'm some sort of professional like Bob who can speak things into his dicks.

00:08:27 It's like Bigelow tea into the cupboards of my apartment,

00:08:30 which is a real thing because of how convincing you are and your dulcet tones.

00:08:34 He's got the Bigelow tea right now for the folks on YouTube, they can see it.

00:08:38 I say this because I use Game Time.

00:08:41 I sit outside Fenway at 404 as I did Saturday and bring a friend from out of

00:08:45 town and take him to the Red Sox game because it's the lowest price guaranteed.

00:08:51 So we are gonna talk about Patriots games that are at home.

00:08:54 I would encourage you to go to Foxborough.

00:08:56 And if you don't like ticket prices, wait, hang out.

00:08:59 If you miss the opening kickoff, fine, it's not that exciting anymore.

00:09:03 It might be more exciting actually, but I don't think it will be.

00:09:06 Use Game Time, they've been very good to us.

00:09:08 They will be good to you, lowest price guaranteed, flash sales, everything.

00:09:11 Okay, week one, you cannot wait in Foxborough because Patriots will be in

00:09:16 Cincinnati.

00:09:17 Let me rattle off the first quarter of the season.

00:09:19 We are again going to go pick our best games, our upset picks,

00:09:23 our most intriguing storyline, and then just a wild card random thought.

00:09:26 Hopefully we do these in five minutes.

00:09:28 Bob, I don't fully believe in us and getting in and

00:09:30 out in five minutes knowing you and knowing me.

00:09:32 But we're gonna give it a try.

00:09:34 At Cincinnati in the opener versus Seattle in week two.

00:09:38 At the Jets, Thursday night, their only prime time game in week three.

00:09:42 And then at San Francisco in week four after a long layout.

00:09:46 Like the rest of these games, the Patriots are gonna be underdogs.

00:09:49 They have the lowest over under win total in the league,

00:09:51 the exception of Carolina, five and a half.

00:09:53 What is the best game in your mind of those four?

00:09:57 >> The best game from a Patriots point of view is the second game against Seattle.

00:10:01 It's the home coaching debut of Gerard Mayo.

00:10:04 As someone said to me last night, texting back and forth,

00:10:08 reacting to the schedule.

00:10:10 Initially, this person said, and four, and then this person said one, three.

00:10:15 I think Seattle represents, when you look at it on the surface,

00:10:20 if you don't have skin in the game, if you're not a Patriot partial.

00:10:24 If you're not the Patriots broadcast, you might say Cincinnati with Joe Burrow,

00:10:28 presumably, the Jets with Aaron Rodgers, presumably.

00:10:32 San Francisco reigning NFC champion on the road.

00:10:35 The Patriots best chance to get a win is Seattle.

00:10:38 But I just think the circumstances of that game in Foxborough,

00:10:42 the first game as head coach for Gerard Mayo at the stadium that he called home for

00:10:47 eight seasons as a Patriots linebacker.

00:10:49 That to me is the best game for that reason alone.

00:10:53 But as well, I think it's probably the best matchup overall.

00:10:57 The Jets, it's a divisional game.

00:11:00 It's a Thursday night game.

00:11:01 So the Patriots going there in a short week,

00:11:02 which makes it additionally difficult for them.

00:11:05 Again, presuming that Rodgers is out there.

00:11:07 That should be a fun one too, but I think it's Seattle week too.

00:11:10 >> I'm with you.

00:11:12 There is so much newness, so much energy.

00:11:15 It's a home opener.

00:11:15 Even if they get blasted in week one, you go, okay, it's one out of 17.

00:11:19 All right, they're coming back home.

00:11:21 It's a lesser Seattle team.

00:11:22 This would be, I think if you were to list the four or

00:11:24 five teams you would feel most confident the Patriots could beat.

00:11:27 They're somewhere in that list.

00:11:28 I don't know, again, if I'll pick them.

00:11:30 It's so early to pick games.

00:11:32 I would discourage anyone from consuming that kind of content,

00:11:34 unless you just absolutely feel compelled to.

00:11:37 Because there's so much yet to happen.

00:11:38 Mini camp, training camp, preseason, injuries,

00:11:40 breakup players, all these things.

00:11:42 It will be the best game, because I think it will be the closest.

00:11:45 A lot of newness here with the systems offensively for the Patriots, offense and

00:11:48 defense of the Seahawks, a lot of unknowns.

00:11:51 That said, it is not my upset pick, even if I think it will be the closest game.

00:11:56 For the upset pick of this first quarter of the schedule,

00:11:58 I'm looking at week three, Bob.

00:12:00 Thursday night, a Jets team that they know,

00:12:03 a Jets team that does not know them quite as well.

00:12:06 And plays a simplistic type of defense where, okay, it's a short week.

00:12:11 Well, we know you're gonna be running a ton of quarters,

00:12:13 a good amount of cover three.

00:12:15 And let's say it's even Drake May.

00:12:16 He at that point probably would have been on the road,

00:12:18 possibly at Cincinnati playing.

00:12:20 Aaron Rodgers certainly is a question mark.

00:12:22 But I think that's a team that they can hang with for

00:12:25 all the reasons I just mentioned, not to mention just playing short rest.

00:12:29 >> Yeah, I think the other thing about Rodgers too, coming off the Achilles,

00:12:34 how is he going to be?

00:12:36 As you mentioned, there's the divisional familiarity with it.

00:12:39 The Jets do have a good defense, but it's not necessarily a complex defense.

00:12:44 The Patriots are very well schooled in what Robert Sala does schematically,

00:12:49 what those guys off the Seattle tree do.

00:12:52 You can better explain quarters coverage, cover three than I can.

00:12:57 Again, that's more your realm than mine.

00:13:01 But I think the thing that I do worry about that is going on the road,

00:13:05 even though it's a short trip, it's a Thursday night,

00:13:07 you're coming off the home opener.

00:13:09 I do believe the Patriots have a great shot.

00:13:11 Again, you're right, it's foolish to think about picking games at this stage.

00:13:16 We have no idea what the roster is gonna look like in week two,

00:13:20 let alone in week two of training camp, week two of the preseason.

00:13:24 But I do think that going to the Jets on a Thursday night,

00:13:28 Rodgers getting his first crack at the Patriots as the Jets quarterback.

00:13:33 It's a tall order, but that would be the upset pick for me as well.

00:13:37 But I do think that from the Patriots perspective,

00:13:42 they may not see that as an upset because of the reasons you laid out.

00:13:46 They know the Jets well, it's a divisional game.

00:13:48 And they're gonna go there with what they think is a very good defense,

00:13:52 maybe the best defense in the division.

00:13:54 For all the attention that the Jets defense gets, I've gotta believe that

00:13:57 the Patriots have the confidence that they have the best defense in the AFC East

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00:14:43 [BLANK_AUDIO]

00:14:46 How upset are you, if at all, that we can no longer say the Patriots have beaten

00:14:50 the Jets every single time, dating back to, and

00:14:53 there are a lot of different ways to say this.

00:14:56 My go-to is the administration that was in the White House,

00:14:58 because that gets your attention.

00:15:00 Everyone knows what it was.

00:15:01 And in December 2015, I remember Barack Obama was in office the last time,

00:15:05 until of course, the first week this past January when the Jets won.

00:15:09 But the Force Awakens, the first episode of the new sequel to Star Wars,

00:15:14 was in theaters at this time.

00:15:16 You must have said that, I don't know how many times over the years,

00:15:19 that the Patriots had just beaten the brains out of the Jets.

00:15:21 Are you as sad as I that that streak is over?

00:15:23 >> I am.

00:15:24 I used to always have to remind myself how long it had been.

00:15:29 Not necessarily going backwards to 15, but how many wins in a row?

00:15:32 Is this 12, 13, 14?

00:15:35 I think about the players that were on the field that day, and

00:15:38 the big reason why the Jets wound up winning that game in overtime after

00:15:41 the Patriots won the coin toss and kicked off to New York.

00:15:44 You'll remember that Tavon Wilson had to go out and play in the secondary.

00:15:48 And there was a pick play in Quincy and Nunnall for the Jets.

00:15:52 Right, like 50 yards, it was only a 48 yard catch and

00:15:55 run to set up the game winning touchdown to Eric Decker from Ryan Fitzpatrick.

00:16:00 You know, gray beard Ryan Fitzpatrick even then.

00:16:04 So that's how long ago it was.

00:16:07 And I kind of put an asterisk next to that win for

00:16:10 the Jets last year for a lot of obvious reasons.

00:16:13 >> Okay.

00:16:14 >> Considering the circumstances that enveloped the Patriots and

00:16:19 their head coach Bill Belichick and the state of the offense at the time,

00:16:25 whether all those things going into that game.

00:16:27 >> So like Tom Brady in 2015 at the end of that overtime loss,

00:16:32 not shaking Ryan Fitzpatrick's hands, which Ryan has made sure to let everyone

00:16:35 know he has not gotten over, you, Bob,

00:16:38 he would have not shaken the hand of Bob Washouzen.

00:16:40 The Jets play-by-play guy last January had that been a custom between the two

00:16:44 radio announcers because you said this is erroneous, I do not count this.

00:16:49 >> I don't know if Bob would have shaken my hand, Andrew, but

00:16:51 I would give Bob a hand because he is a terrific broadcaster.

00:16:53 I've enjoyed his work immensely on the Stanley Cup.

00:16:56 Let me just get that out there.

00:16:58 But us broadcasters, with a couple of exceptions,

00:17:02 we tend not to see ourselves as rivals.

00:17:07 We're all amiable colleagues up there in the booth.

00:17:12 So I don't know how Bob feels about me, but I certainly have a lot of respect for

00:17:17 him and certainly appreciate his work a lot.

00:17:19 >> I just love the spicy take you have, which you've now since buried in

00:17:22 politeness and very Bob Saucy way, which is a bummer, but I can still taste it.

00:17:27 The this wind did not count, we are still riding with the streak and

00:17:30 you will still be scrambling.

00:17:31 Is it 60, is it 70, is it 200 straight with the Patriots when they play in week

00:17:34 three on Thursday night?

00:17:35 But I'm curious, let's go on to the most intriguing storyline.

00:17:39 Again, they're at Cincinnati, home versus Seattle, at the Jets, at the Niners.

00:17:43 What's your most intriguing storyline for this, basically September?

00:17:47 >> I think the intriguing storyline is the first game for me, Cincinnati.

00:17:50 And it probably, it has less to do, in fact, I shouldn't say probably,

00:17:53 it has less to do from this point of view than with the Patriots,

00:17:57 than with Cincinnati, it's Joe Verro and Cincinnati.

00:18:01 And him returning to quarterback, this is a team that obviously has had high

00:18:05 aspirations since winning the AFC Championship a couple of years ago,

00:18:08 derailed by injury last year after the disappointment in the previous season and

00:18:12 the postseason.

00:18:13 This is a team that's had a couple of high profile veteran players who've been

00:18:18 part of their success to ascend in the conference that are openly seeking

00:18:24 a trade, at least if they're putting it out there for contract reasons.

00:18:29 It's nonetheless, it's out there.

00:18:31 And I think it's a very intriguing game from the standpoint,

00:18:34 how does Cincinnati come out and play this home opener against the Patriots?

00:18:38 Given the continuity that Cincinnati has, relatively speaking,

00:18:42 compared to New England in its first game, going down the road

00:18:46 under a new head coach with largely a new coaching staff.

00:18:50 So I'm gonna go to the last game, as you hit on the opener there of this first

00:18:55 quarter, San Francisco.

00:18:56 I wanna talk about, I wanna break down,

00:18:59 I want to write about Gerard Mayo versus Kyle Shanahan.

00:19:02 Because even if the Patriots are 0-3, as the odds would suggest,

00:19:05 here in the middle of May, which means nothing.

00:19:07 But in all likelihood, when we get to early September,

00:19:09 that's what will also be the most likely outcome.

00:19:12 You wanna get the best teams early in the season, right?

00:19:15 When things that I think there's a wider variance of outcomes before they've

00:19:19 settled in, they built their habits, established their identity,

00:19:21 all these different things that sound like cliches.

00:19:23 But are real when you talk to the guys in the locker room and

00:19:26 the coaches on the sideline.

00:19:27 San Francisco is wildly talented, both sides of the ball, better team.

00:19:30 They're at home, they should be comfortable, they should be ready.

00:19:33 But if Gerard Mayo is as impressing as he does, all of his teammates now and

00:19:38 the opposing coaches with his schemes and game plans and adjustments.

00:19:42 Show us, baby, show us in San Francisco against Christian McCaffrey and

00:19:46 Debo Samuel and Brandon Ayuk and George Kittle and Kyle Shanahan,

00:19:49 supposedly the best offensive mind in football.

00:19:51 And I wanna see what that looks like, because even if they're 0-3 and

00:19:55 they lose a close one to the Niners, that will be taken, I think,

00:19:58 as a moral victory.

00:20:00 And I think that's fair for a team that's rebuilding the rating NFC champions.

00:20:04 Excuse me.

00:20:05 All right, let's get out of here as we are well past five minutes.

00:20:08 On a wild card thought, any of this tangential to any of these games,

00:20:12 a matchup, a restaurant, a road trip, something about these four games?

00:20:16 >> In terms of the road trips,

00:20:19 we were talking about Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky.

00:20:23 Now, I was going to college in Dayton and I worked in Cincinnati during the summers

00:20:27 for the Reds and I thought Cincinnati was the greatest city in the country.

00:20:31 Now that I've gotten around to see other major league cities.

00:20:33 >> Poor sweet Bob.

00:20:34 Sweet innocent Bob, yeah.

00:20:36 >> And then there's the Jets, you go to Northern Jersey,

00:20:40 the Meadowlands, Tri-State area.

00:20:41 I'm not sure where we're going to stay yet.

00:20:44 And then there's San Francisco.

00:20:45 And so my wild card thought is I'm going to take full advantage with that

00:20:51 Saturday before the Patriots 49ers game.

00:20:53 I don't know if this qualifies as a wild card thought.

00:20:55 And maybe get to what I think is still the best baseball stadium,

00:20:59 the best baseball park that I've been to.

00:21:02 Maybe PNC Park is right there.

00:21:05 But what I still consider Pac Bell Park, Willie Mae statue out front,

00:21:10 McCovey Cove, the Giants playing home against the Cardinals on that Saturday.

00:21:15 So I don't know if this is wild at all.

00:21:18 It's probably about as far from wild as you get in San Francisco in the Bay Area.

00:21:22 But that's already on my radar.

00:21:25 But I'd also add, I think you're onto something with the Niners.

00:21:29 I think that is a game that should be really intriguing.

00:21:34 Maybe not the most intriguing to me.

00:21:36 But my wild card thought is that I think the Patriots can hang with the Niners for

00:21:41 the reasons that you described.

00:21:43 And there are some people that believe maybe the Niners gonna take a step back

00:21:45 this year, we'll see.

00:21:46 >> Yeah, I like that.

00:21:49 I will be at that game.

00:21:50 I have already checked.

00:21:50 There is a Saturday Giants Cardinals game I've never been to.

00:21:53 I think you rightfully call Pac Bell Park.

00:21:56 I've only seen it 12 years ago from the outside.

00:21:59 But I think they were preparing for cleaning up the Cheez-It Bowl.

00:22:02 So the lamest possible setup and scenario which to experience this beautiful

00:22:06 ballpark right in the water.

00:22:07 It was late December, I was in college.

00:22:09 And no one cares anymore about that, so we'll move on.

00:22:11 But I'm with you there.

00:22:12 My wild card thought would just be the tackles.

00:22:15 We're gonna be talking about the left tackle position all spring, all summer.

00:22:18 Nick Bosa's on here.

00:22:20 One of the best defensive lines in football with the Jets is on there.

00:22:23 Seattle beefed up its pass rush.

00:22:25 And then Trey Hendrickson, who's getting up there and

00:22:27 a little irritated with the front office in Cincinnati.

00:22:30 This position is gonna be stressed right away.

00:22:32 And so I'll be curious if the Patriots have to pivot when they go into the second

00:22:36 quarter, quote unquote, of their season against these teams.

00:22:39 Miami at home in week five, the Texans at home in week six,

00:22:44 at Jacksonville, quote unquote, the London game in week seven.

00:22:47 And then home again versus the Jets.

00:22:50 So three home games, one road game across the pond.

00:22:54 And this will take us through the end of October.

00:22:57 Your best game when you think about versus Miami, versus Houston,

00:23:01 quote unquote, at Jacksonville, and then home against the Jets is what?

00:23:04 >> I think Miami.

00:23:05 I think the Miami.

00:23:06 If not Houston.

00:23:08 I think the Dolphins defensively are a team that sustained some losses

00:23:15 after last year.

00:23:16 And again, you go back to the divisional familiarity

00:23:20 the Patriots will have with the Dolphins.

00:23:22 And the Pats have been right there with Miami these last couple of years.

00:23:26 If not for their own mistakes offensively or in aptitude offensively and granted.

00:23:32 It's likely gonna be Jacobi Brissett.

00:23:35 There are a lot of unknowns, including the tackles on it.

00:23:37 It's a great point that you bring up regarding the offensive line in particular

00:23:41 for the Patriots, but I think Miami's the best game.

00:23:44 >> I agree.

00:23:46 I don't think we need to explain it that.

00:23:48 The Christian Gonzalez element, right, provided he's healthy.

00:23:52 Does he shadow Tyree Kill?

00:23:54 Has he established in him that trust to that point?

00:23:56 What do they do for Hill and Waddle and Tua obviously who has given them tons of

00:24:00 problems ever since he got into the league granted with a little bit of luck and

00:24:03 health in certain games.

00:24:04 But I think it'll be the most competitive.

00:24:07 The history there gives us some meaning and the chance that if the Patriots win.

00:24:10 It's not only just you beat a team that should be a road favorite.

00:24:13 They're in your division.

00:24:14 It means a little bit more.

00:24:15 That's not my upset pick though.

00:24:17 My upset pick because again, if you're picking the Patriots to win in 2024,

00:24:21 it's probably gonna be an upset Bob is Jacksonville.

00:24:24 And that will be in London.

00:24:25 I think it's a team that's vulnerable.

00:24:28 It's a team that classically looks and is higher rated on places like Madden where

00:24:32 the talent just doesn't seem to always rise up or

00:24:35 meet the performance on the field.

00:24:37 There's something missing here with this team.

00:24:39 And I think a team like the Patriots, who I would bet at this point in the year begin

00:24:43 to outperform expectations or play outside of themselves, could easily beat

00:24:48 the Jags and what let's be honest is gonna feel a neutral psyche.

00:24:52 >> Yeah, I know, you know, Andrew, I think the Houston Texans are a team that

00:24:56 will be interesting to watch considering the season they had last year,

00:25:00 the way they surprised everybody with the rookie quarterback and a new head coach.

00:25:05 And now they're being treated like a team that's been at the top for

00:25:09 more than just one year.

00:25:11 The prime time schedule this year of television games in the NFL is treating

00:25:15 the Houston Texans of today like the Houston Texans that were perennial

00:25:20 division champions in the AFC South and

00:25:23 depending on how they start that first quarter of the season.

00:25:27 I think that's going to be for me, potential upset pick for

00:25:31 the Patriots presuming Houston comes in here as the favorite truth they should be.

00:25:35 But nonetheless, I think that's a game at home.

00:25:39 We'll see with the Patriots going up against the Houston Texans.

00:25:43 How will they handle the prosperity of the way last season went for them and

00:25:48 whatever happens early this coming season,

00:25:51 particularly if it's not as prosperous as many expect it to be.

00:25:55 >> And that's exactly leads me into my next point is that teams like the Texans,

00:25:59 I think, you know, are teams with expectations.

00:26:02 By week six, you really have to start turning things around.

00:26:06 Like I remember vividly watching because I did not travel,

00:26:09 I had a wedding this weekend for the Patriots game at Vegas, right?

00:26:12 They're coming off of those disastrous games at Dallas in New Orleans.

00:26:16 You're going to the Raiders saying, okay, that's only like a two and

00:26:18 a half point by the Raiders aren't that good.

00:26:20 You need to win now.

00:26:22 They don't.

00:26:23 And I'm writing, sell it to deadline.

00:26:25 I know it's two weeks away.

00:26:27 You're one in five.

00:26:28 It could be worse.

00:26:29 It probably should be worse based on your point differential.

00:26:31 And so if you're the Texans there, all of the pressure, the expectations, right?

00:26:35 You added in free agency, you've got some real pieces of rising quarterback.

00:26:39 If you're two and three coming into New England,

00:26:42 there's a little unusual pressure that teams mostly don't face at that point.

00:26:46 You can come back from two and four.

00:26:48 I'm not saying that'll be the start, but

00:26:49 some team with expectations is going to be in that same position.

00:26:53 Come early, mid October, that's where you would want the Texans if you're the Patriots

00:26:58 and especially at your place and I think that might play a role for what's a young team.

00:27:01 Like you said, there's not use to this stage and this spotlight.

00:27:04 My most intriguing storyline for this group, again, home versus the Dolphins versus

00:27:08 the Texans at the Jags and then versus the Jets is the team building that Nick Cacero did.

00:27:14 Sticking with the Texans, right?

00:27:15 Because everyone is going to look at that, they built the roster up first and

00:27:20 then they put in the quarterback and we were having this whole debate all offseason.

00:27:24 My guy, your guy, Tommy Curran, build up the team first, forget the quarterback,

00:27:28 trade back, trade back, trade back.

00:27:29 Well, Drake May is here and the rest of the roster, not exactly here yet.

00:27:33 So I think you will see a lot of pieces.

00:27:35 I might write one myself, paralleling, if that's a word or could be a verb,

00:27:40 please tell me and correct me if you can.

00:27:42 What Nick Cacero did in Houston, where there were a lot of other variables and

00:27:46 ownership changes and head coaching issues and Jack Easterby mucking things up,

00:27:50 versus what the Patriots have decided to do with their rebuild and

00:27:53 how they progress from here.

00:27:54 >> Yeah, I think there's also that other storyline that here's one of Bill's

00:27:59 protégés, somebody who thinks like Bill in a lot of respects,

00:28:04 talks like Bill, certainly sounds like him at the podium.

00:28:08 I was read in the Patriots organization from the time he first walked

00:28:14 into an NFL front office, went down to Houston and he did some things differently

00:28:19 than the Bill Belichick tree would have done things and some of the moves that he

00:28:24 made and some of the players that you picked maybe necessarily would not have

00:28:28 been as high on the board, I think, with the Patriots as they were for

00:28:32 Nick Cacero down in Houston.

00:28:34 But nonetheless, there is that old Belichick connection,

00:28:39 now versus the Patriots, this new era with all these Belichick connections still on

00:28:43 the coaching staff and Mayo and some of the others who were there and

00:28:47 in the front office and scouting and so forth.

00:28:49 But the new executive vice president, Elliot Wolfe, and

00:28:52 I just think that's an interesting storyline that will be part of the subplot

00:28:56 to that game as well.

00:28:58 >> All right, your wild card thought.

00:28:59 >> Well, you went with football in the first part.

00:29:02 I misconstrued that the wild card thought was supposed to be a little bit outside

00:29:06 of the football box.

00:29:07 I mean, this is not a wild card thought by any stretch, but

00:29:11 I'm glad to be going to London rather than Jacksonville.

00:29:14 I'm very excited about that.

00:29:16 >> Wow, yeah.

00:29:18 >> But to your point, okay, now you're talking about, let's go to London.

00:29:23 You're six games in going into that game.

00:29:26 And I've already seen people react to the schedule trying to identify

00:29:30 what is the space, where's the space in the schedule?

00:29:33 What's the spot?

00:29:34 Cuz the buy is too late, but there's this mini buy, but that might be too early.

00:29:38 When do the Patriots transition from Jacoby Brissett to Drake May?

00:29:42 I think you get around to week seven, week eight.

00:29:47 And if Jacoby Brissett and the Patriots offense is stagnant, and

00:29:50 if they're not competitive in games, then, well,

00:29:55 people are gonna be asking those questions, if not calling into 98.5,

00:29:58 the sports sub more angrily than ever.

00:30:01 Audrey Maz making statements demanding for that quarterback change.

00:30:04 >> That's a high bar, angrier than ever.

00:30:06 >> [LAUGH] Well, not quite to the Danny from Quincy threshold, but

00:30:11 somewhere close to it.

00:30:14 >> So if you were to bet when Drake May makes his first start,

00:30:16 what would your answer be?

00:30:17 >> My bet is probably gonna be, and I'm not a betting man, and

00:30:22 I'm the long guy that- >> You're very polite.

00:30:25 >> I'm polite, but no, we think the right way.

00:30:26 Yes, we have established this, Bob.

00:30:28 >> Okay, I think it's gonna be, I hope it's not, but I just,

00:30:33 the way these things go, they usually end up a lot earlier than teams

00:30:37 seem to want to make that move that most people expect going in.

00:30:44 I think if Drake May is ready, and the Patriots feel confident based on

00:30:49 some of the things they have said recently, then he'll get the reign sooner

00:30:54 than later, and also, again, a lot of it just depends on how

00:30:57 Jacoby Brissett plays and how this team starts.

00:31:00 But it always seems to me that despite the best laid plans of general managers,

00:31:05 coaches, and offensive coordinators, we wanna turn things over to the young

00:31:09 quarterback understudy later rather than sooner,

00:31:12 he winds up out there faster than any of us expected.

00:31:15 >> Okay, I want Spicy Bob back.

00:31:17 I want Bob who said the last Jets win does not count, it has an asterisk,

00:31:21 it's BS, and extend of BS, he would have actually sworn.

00:31:24 So give me a week, give me a number,

00:31:26 because I would pick a week, a game in this stretch.

00:31:30 And I'll tell you after you tell me.

00:31:31 >> You think he's coming back from London,

00:31:33 going to play the Jets at home?

00:31:35 Or do you think- >> Is that your guess?

00:31:35 >> My guess is if it's gonna be in this stretch,

00:31:40 then it's gonna be after Houston.

00:31:42 >> Okay, so going, Drake May makes his debut, not anywhere near family.

00:31:46 Everyone has to come out to see him in London, which, hey, it's fun.

00:31:50 >> Get him as far away from Foxborough, as far away from Foxborough as you can.

00:31:54 You're not in New England, you're in England, but you're not in New England.

00:31:57 Get him away from- >> As far away from Danny and

00:31:59 Quincy as possible, or whomever.

00:32:02 >> If it's in this stretch, cuz the last thing I wanna do, honestly,

00:32:04 is making his first start at home against the Jets.

00:32:08 Maybe bump it up to week five, I mean week six, rather, in Houston.

00:32:13 But I think it's probably somewhere, if we see him, it's somewhere in that,

00:32:19 whether it's after the Jets game or not.

00:32:23 I wouldn't be surprised if it's week nine, week ten.

00:32:26 But I think it's probably somewhere in there,

00:32:29 if we see him in that middle stretch.

00:32:33 >> Okay, so my guess is week eight.

00:32:35 And again, this is a guess in the middle of May.

00:32:37 They have not put on pads yet.

00:32:39 They will not put on pads until the last couple of days of July.

00:32:42 And then we will see the preseason, they will battle it out.

00:32:44 Jagooby Brissett has been in this offense.

00:32:46 He is a capable caretaker, and we'll leave it there.

00:32:49 The reason I say the Jets is,

00:32:50 I think seven games at that point can tell you who you are, right?

00:32:54 We're at late October, Belichick said this,

00:32:56 you know who you are at that point in the season.

00:32:58 You will know who you are with Jagooby Brissett if the Patriots want to make

00:33:01 a change, they can do that then.

00:33:03 Also because they will be seeing the Jets for a second time.

00:33:06 So this might be Drake May's first game, but he will be at home.

00:33:09 He will be against a team that he has already studied and or simulated,

00:33:12 if he's playing Aaron Rodgers on the scout team, which he might be.

00:33:15 But we'll at least know what he's getting into,

00:33:17 as opposed to on the road to team he's never seen before.

00:33:20 Again, who the hell knows?

00:33:22 We're gonna be asking this just as we did,

00:33:23 who are they taking at number three for four months moving forward?

00:33:26 And then we'll find out whenever they do make the change, if they do at all.

00:33:30 But that would be my guess right now.

00:33:31 My wild card thought goes to the other quarterback, and

00:33:33 then we'll move on to the next quarter of the schedule.

00:33:35 What kind of crazy shit has Aaron Rodgers said by now?

00:33:38 [LAUGH] Get this book in late October on Pat McAfee.

00:33:42 Is he off of ESPN?

00:33:44 Is he on ESPN more?

00:33:45 Is he like missing practices to stump for RFK Jr?

00:33:50 Okay, so the draft is behind us.

00:33:52 But that means the best is still ahead of us.

00:33:54 I'm talking playoff games, Celtics, Bruins, and

00:33:57 I'll be there covering the Celtics with the Herald.

00:33:58 We lost our guy Steve Hewitt.

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00:35:26 Weeks nine through 12, here's the schedule.

00:35:29 Still no bye week, by the way.

00:35:30 Week nine at Nashville, this is early in November.

00:35:34 Week 10 at Chicago, home versus the Rams, and

00:35:38 then at Miami, God bless, the weekend before Thanksgiving.

00:35:41 It is gonna be cool in South Florida.

00:35:42 I'm already excited to have a rental car and just kind of drive around,

00:35:45 maybe catch a heat game, go to the beach.

00:35:47 What is the best game in that stretch?

00:35:49 >> At Chicago.

00:35:51 >> Ooh.

00:35:53 >> Yeah, and I always say that because I think,

00:35:55 maybe this qualifies as the most intriguing storyline.

00:35:58 If it is Drake May at that point, Drake May, Caleb Williams,

00:36:01 the two quarterbacks in that game.

00:36:03 But Tennessee, I think, is a winnable game for the Patriots,

00:36:06 just based, again, on where the Titans are, new coaching staff, their personnel.

00:36:10 They're not going against Mike Vrabel and

00:36:14 his institutional knowledge of the Patriots.

00:36:16 It's not a team that is as good at coming off the kind of season that we saw

00:36:21 the Titans coming off of over the last couple of times the Patriots played them

00:36:25 under Vrabel.

00:36:26 To me, Chicago is just a game that really stands out as, I think,

00:36:30 the potential for the best game overall,

00:36:32 particularly if these two young quarterbacks are out there.

00:36:36 I like the Rams game, partly just because I think it's at home.

00:36:39 There's recent enough history, and I'm not even,

00:36:43 I guess I really am talking about the Super Bowl, right?

00:36:45 With McVay, I think it's a well-coached team.

00:36:48 Christian Gonzalez against either Cooper Cup or

00:36:50 Pukanukuwa is gonna be an excellent matchup.

00:36:52 Mayo's obviously gonna have to come to play.

00:36:54 Their defense has taken a lot of hits, and I think they outperformed.

00:36:57 The Rams did what they did, what their talent was last year,

00:37:00 making the playoffs and going to Detroit,

00:37:02 forcing a very close game against the Lions.

00:37:04 So I think that will be the closest.

00:37:06 My upset pick, again, all of these are upsets, would be Tennessee.

00:37:13 I just don't believe in Will Levis, and that's, I don't think, unreasonable.

00:37:18 And the Titans over under win total is only six and a half, so

00:37:21 it's one more than the Patriots.

00:37:22 I'm not going out on a limb here, but

00:37:24 if they're favored just by the standard three points at home, again,

00:37:27 the Patriots winning, still an upset.

00:37:30 >> I think upset pick is the Rams.

00:37:32 And I can see why you believe that that would be the best game.

00:37:35 I think the Rams minus Aaron Donald, the Rams with the Patriots'

00:37:42 familiarity with the McVay scheme and the success they had in 2018.

00:37:45 I know McVay was a second year head coach, I think, at the time.

00:37:49 The Patriots don't have the personnel offensively that they did in that game.

00:37:54 If it is a tight, low scoring game to finally break through with Tom Brady

00:37:58 throwing to Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski to get them downfield.

00:38:01 But I think that's the best chance for an upset for

00:38:04 the Patriots in that stretch.

00:38:05 Cuz I don't really look, I don't know if at Tennessee, at Chicago,

00:38:09 again, at this stage, the road games will say they'll be underdogs.

00:38:13 But I don't know at that point if those teams are gonna be better than

00:38:15 the Patriots.

00:38:16 But I think the Rams coming in here, that's an upset candidate for me.

00:38:20 >> Yeah, I think the Rams are just so well coached, it's hard for

00:38:22 me to see them, I mean, it's not hard for me to see them losing.

00:38:25 There's a way that happens, they're coming as far away as you possibly can to

00:38:29 Foxborough to play this game.

00:38:31 But Miami on the road, we know what the house of horrors is there.

00:38:35 Chicago is a little bit of an unknown, a lot more talent,

00:38:37 I think, than Tennessee.

00:38:39 The most intriguing storyline for me, though,

00:38:40 is something you already hit, Caleb Williams versus Drake May.

00:38:43 And I was tempted to go Bob, runner up, second place,

00:38:47 silver medal hanging around his neck.

00:38:49 Is that all the Patriots' most coveted veteran receivers in the last ten months

00:38:53 are going to be playing for the Titans.

00:38:54 DeAndre Hopkins, come on down.

00:38:56 Calvin Ridley right after him, does Elliott Wolfe say hi to them?

00:39:00 Do they go, are you sure you wanna stay here?

00:39:02 If they win, maybe we trade for you.

00:39:03 In the offseason, try to make something work.

00:39:07 Talk to Calvin Ridley's wife, not girlfriend.

00:39:10 So that's what this is for me, though.

00:39:11 The obvious part is the Caleb Williams versus Drake May,

00:39:14 because these are dynamic dudes.

00:39:15 They move around, they have cannons for arms, they create on their own, and

00:39:19 don't need a perfect situation to do so.

00:39:21 You just hope that, obviously, they stay healthy enough, because Caleb,

00:39:24 more than Drake, is in a decent situation.

00:39:27 But maybe not enough to really protect him against what should be a really good

00:39:31 Patriots defense.

00:39:32 >> Yeah, and I'll go with maybe this is kind of a wild card thought too,

00:39:36 speaking of that Bears game.

00:39:38 You mentioned earlier the comparison between the way Nick Casario built

00:39:42 the Texans and the way the Patriots are going about it.

00:39:45 Well, the Bears drafted Caleb Williams number one.

00:39:49 But they also buttressed that offense, that they bolstered it by making some moves

00:39:53 to give him some veteran help.

00:39:55 And it's a good receiving core that Chicago has,

00:39:58 especially in comparison to what Chicago had not too long ago.

00:40:02 And I think that's an interesting dynamic going into this game as well,

00:40:05 is that they immediately turned it over to their first round quarterback.

00:40:09 They also did a good job, it seems, at this stage, again, on paper.

00:40:14 In the offseason, giving him some more help to try to ease that transition for

00:40:21 him from college to the NFL.

00:40:24 >> My wild card thought is, I think the Patriots are glad these are one o'clock

00:40:29 games in Nashville, in Miami, and in Chicago.

00:40:33 Because of this stretch, it was a series of 425 games.

00:40:36 And I know they have bed check that they have to meet, obviously,

00:40:40 at certain nights.

00:40:40 But guys will sneak out, this happens at Pro Sports, Bob.

00:40:43 Those are markets, you wanna go hang out, you wanna go to the club,

00:40:45 you wanna go to the bar.

00:40:46 It's a little harder when you need to get up at 7, 7.30, have breakfast and

00:40:50 then go to the stadium.

00:40:51 Which I don't know if that makes you feel better.

00:40:53 I don't know what Zoe's up to on the road.

00:40:54 But everyone's gotta show up for work here with these road games and

00:40:57 it's at one o'clock.

00:40:58 >> And these guys are sports stars, maybe not stars, but they're athletes.

00:41:03 They're not sports writers.

00:41:04 What kind of lives do you think they lead on the road?

00:41:07 >> They could have a lot more fun than I do.

00:41:09 And we think we're having fun by going to Cardinals Giants games on Saturday

00:41:12 before a 49ers game.

00:41:13 It will absolutely not count anywhere in the MLB standings.

00:41:16 But there I am just sitting with my popcorn and Cracker Jacks.

00:41:19 >> Good point though about the one o'clock games, because I look at the schedule,

00:41:24 my first reaction when it comes to the two NFC West road trips,

00:41:28 they're not back to back.

00:41:29 It's gonna be tougher on the Patriots.

00:41:31 Well, they have both Seattle and the Rams at 10 AM, right?

00:41:36 10 AM, they don't talk.

00:41:39 Particularly, again, when you come to Seattle week two.

00:41:42 So there's not that period where you get a team like that later in the season,

00:41:45 maybe they can double up.

00:41:46 Maybe they can go out on the other coast and

00:41:50 practice there to try to get acclimated, get their body clocks on that time zone.

00:41:56 I think having those two games at one o'clock is a break for the Patriots.

00:42:01 >> Is that your wild card?

00:42:02 >> That's my wild card, it's good enough.

00:42:05 >> Excellent, yeah.

00:42:05 They're gonna need some Bigelow tea to fire up, get themselves ready.

00:42:08 >> I need something else in my Bigelow tea.

00:42:11 >> Yeah, all right, let's move on.

00:42:14 The last quarter of the season, this is actually five weeks.

00:42:18 Or it's, yeah, excuse me, five weeks.

00:42:20 And so we will have the bye.

00:42:21 Finally, December 8th, Patriots can kick back and

00:42:25 relax after they've been practicing and playing in Padsens late July.

00:42:28 They will go at Arizona in week 14.

00:42:31 Then it is, excuse me, week 15 at Buffalo, okay,

00:42:35 just before Christmas, week 16, versus the Chargers, week 17.

00:42:39 And then the calendar will turn and they will be home against the Bills again,

00:42:43 two Buffalo games in three weeks.

00:42:44 Again, the bye at Arizona, at Buffalo, versus the Chargers, versus the Bills.

00:42:50 The best game, and this is gonna be probably the most boring section we've

00:42:53 done yet, cuz they only have three opponents in four games.

00:42:56 But the best game will be what?

00:42:57 >> I think the Patriots and the Bills, regular season finale.

00:43:01 >> Okay, why is that?

00:43:04 >> Yeah, I think last game of the season for New England,

00:43:11 I don't think anybody expects the Patriots to be playing with any poosies and

00:43:15 implications on the line for them.

00:43:17 But nonetheless, first year head coach,

00:43:20 you ideally hope your team is coming together.

00:43:23 That you're at least trending upward at that point.

00:43:26 It's an opportunity to end the season on the right note.

00:43:30 Two weeks after you've played the team in Buffalo,

00:43:32 if there's any chance the Bills are gonna be complacent,

00:43:36 it's gonna be in that second game.

00:43:38 Coming in New England, particularly presuming, assuming, I should say,

00:43:43 that the Bills are going into that game where you would expect them to be,

00:43:47 as a playoff team, not having already locked up.

00:43:51 Playoff, certainly, as a team that's headed for the postseason.

00:43:56 They get the Patriots two weeks earlier,

00:43:58 the Pats gonna be coming off that road trip to Arizona.

00:44:01 So they'll figure to play as well, going to Buffalo with a short week.

00:44:05 Yeah, to me, I just think the way it lines up for the Patriots,

00:44:08 the second game against the Bills could be the right opportunity for

00:44:12 them to send a message.

00:44:14 But also to really propel themselves toward next year,

00:44:18 on that last Sunday of the regular season.

00:44:21 >> So it's not my best game, but

00:44:23 that is my upset pick for the reasons you mentioned.

00:44:25 Finishing on a strong note, I think there might be questions if the Bills at that

00:44:28 point are resting starters, right?

00:44:30 Which again, probably brings the spread down.

00:44:32 I don't know if it would swing it all the way in the favor of a team that again,

00:44:34 is expected to have the worst record in the AFC versus a possible AFC champion.

00:44:39 But at that point, I think the Patriots are at home.

00:44:42 They're familiar with the Bills, of course, that cuts both ways.

00:44:45 But they beat the Bills at home just last year.

00:44:47 And part of that, I think, was because it was earlier in the year before the Bills

00:44:50 settled in, stabilized, solidified, like the icicles that will be hanging off

00:44:54 Gillette Stadium when they kick off in the regular season finale in January 2025.

00:44:58 But my best game is at Arizona.

00:45:00 I think the rested, Marvin Harrison Jr., Kyler Murray,

00:45:03 there's just fireworks that are just waiting to be set off in that game through

00:45:07 the small opening at that stadium down in Glendale.

00:45:10 Will the Patriots bring their own fireworks?

00:45:12 I don't know, but maybe Javon Baker, this is his game, because I'm not totally sold

00:45:16 yet in what's a lot of young talent on defense with Jonathan Gannon, who again,

00:45:20 that's a coach and team that outperformed expectations last year.

00:45:23 Will they do it again?

00:45:24 I don't know.

00:45:25 Does Kyler Murray need to be pulled off of Call of Duty to remember to come play

00:45:28 the Patriots, what might be one of their easier games of the season?

00:45:31 Who knows?

00:45:32 But I'm ready to find out.

00:45:32 I think it'll be the best game.

00:45:34 What's your upset pick?

00:45:36 Is it also the last game?

00:45:37 >> I'd say the last game that builds.

00:45:39 >> Okay, easy enough.

00:45:41 >> Yeah, but I'll pick up on the intriguing storyline because I think it's a tie.

00:45:45 It's the Arizona and Chargers game,

00:45:48 more weighted with the Chargers coming in under Jim Harbaugh.

00:45:52 I think the intrigue of playing these teams,

00:45:54 we've seen in the recent past under different head coaches.

00:45:57 And you mentioned Jonathan Gannon with the Cardinals and

00:46:00 the impressions that I've had of Kyler Murray and the Cardinals team in general.

00:46:05 The last few times the Patriots have played them,

00:46:08 they didn't necessarily strike me in particular as a tough team.

00:46:12 It's a tough physically, mentally as we saw them here in Gillette in 2020.

00:46:20 And then when the Patriots played out there against them and

00:46:23 Kyler Murray got hurt and the Patriots wound up winning that game.

00:46:26 When DeAndre Hopkins put the ball on the ground and

00:46:29 Rayquan McMillan scooped it up and scored.

00:46:31 But I think Arizona's taken on a different character,

00:46:34 a different personality under Jonathan Gannon.

00:46:36 And now as you mentioned, Murray has Marvin Harrison Jr.

00:46:40 That's intriguing to me.

00:46:41 Just what's this team gonna look like against the Patriots now?

00:46:44 Is it a different Arizona Cardinals type of team than we've seen in the past?

00:46:49 But it's the Chargers mostly because of Harbaugh and

00:46:52 the personality that he will ultimately imbue in his team.

00:46:59 It's a team that's been soft.

00:47:01 Again, I hate to use that word, but

00:47:03 they were able to beat the Patriots last year six to nothing.

00:47:07 But I'm curious, by the end of the year under Jim Harbaugh,

00:47:10 is Justin Herbert gonna be the quarterback who thrives in those pressure situations?

00:47:16 The last couple of years, him and

00:47:18 offense, despite Brandon Staley's shortcomings, didn't necessarily play well.

00:47:24 So those are the two most intriguing for me.

00:47:27 >> All right, honesty time, Bob.

00:47:29 We had someone on this podcast, a fan, doing a mail fan segment.

00:47:33 We've missed the last couple of weeks, but

00:47:34 we're gonna answer some mailbag questions here at the end.

00:47:36 And this fan came on, he's from Virginia, flew up for that Chargers game.

00:47:41 Flew up for six nothing, Bailey Zappi's first start, and you're in the booth

00:47:45 calling every single play of that miserable, bleeping game,

00:47:49 one of the worst games you've called, period, in your career, yes?

00:47:53 >> Absolutely.

00:47:54 >> Okay, good.

00:47:55 >> And probably, honestly, probably the worst game I've called since Dan Orlovsky

00:48:00 in Connecticut, you're on the podcast.

00:48:04 >> I'm on the podcast, Bob, come on.

00:48:05 >> [LAUGH] >> I don't even know what game you're

00:48:08 referring to, because Dan is by far the best quarterback to ever play at UConn.

00:48:12 >> It was Donald Brown, no, it's not a shot at Orlovsky,

00:48:15 it was a game at Navy, similar conditions.

00:48:19 Maybe toward the end of the season,

00:48:22 Navy I think had nearly beaten Notre Dame the week before.

00:48:25 And UConn came in, it was UConn's best team in years,

00:48:28 it was the first stint for Randy Edsel.

00:48:31 And UConn came in and beat Navy, shut them out, but by a lot more points.

00:48:36 So I was thinking about it last year watching that game,

00:48:38 because even in lopsided games, I have a job to do, I'm professional.

00:48:43 I try to be at least more professional on broadcast than I am necessarily

00:48:48 in this setting.

00:48:49 But that game last year was such a grinder, and

00:48:52 then the weather contributing to it.

00:48:55 And just the late in the game, and I know Bill was questioned about this,

00:49:00 you guys did a good job in press conferences after the game.

00:49:03 And then in the week thereafter, the Patriots' decisions to punt the ball,

00:49:08 it felt like a white flag game late in the contest, and it was played that way.

00:49:13 It was just an uninspiring effort, let alone performance.

00:49:18 >> Spicy Bob is back, I'm so happy.

00:49:19 >> Yes, and immediate, absolutely, that game sucked.

00:49:22 I don't like that you compared it to UConn, but you saved it.

00:49:24 >> Sorry.

00:49:25 >> Yeah, UConn's- >> I was going, UConn.

00:49:27 >> No, I know, I know, I know.

00:49:28 The game itself, just not necessarily knocking the Chargers,

00:49:32 who's over under win total, by the way.

00:49:34 Even though Ladd McConkie steps in day one as their best receiver.

00:49:37 Again, Ladd McConkie, who I like a lot as a prospect, second round pick,

00:49:42 is their best receiver, eight and a half for the Chargers in Jim Harbaugh,

00:49:45 which is a real, real surprise to me.

00:49:47 The Broncos being twice in their schedule, I'm sure it helps.

00:49:49 But look, for me, the most intriguing storyline here is,

00:49:52 can the Patriots play spoiler?

00:49:53 And that's against the Bills.

00:49:54 Again, two in their last three games, they might be sitting,

00:49:57 the Bills might, starters at the very end.

00:49:59 They're not going to be sitting starters in week 16,

00:50:01 when the Patriots paid them a visit just before Christmas, or around Christmas.

00:50:04 I can't keep all of these straight, it is before Christmas.

00:50:07 My wild card thought, though, is can we just stop scheduling games,

00:50:12 two games, against the same opponent in a three-week stretch?

00:50:15 I know it's my job.

00:50:16 Like you said, I try to be professional in these press conferences.

00:50:18 I think largely I succeed.

00:50:21 I don't, I'm so glad I have six months to think about this.

00:50:25 What are we going to ask Gerrard, and players, about the Bills,

00:50:28 and tell me about their defense, what the test is in this matchup?

00:50:31 If the game doesn't matter to the Bills, you just saw them less than two weeks ago,

00:50:35 and now you're going to go play them again, a team that you know so well and study.

00:50:37 Like fans, no way can you get that excited about seeing the same opponent,

00:50:41 that again, was two weeks earlier, playing you in their own place,

00:50:45 and then they come to visit.

00:50:46 Like, can we at least spread this out four weeks, NFL,

00:50:50 if we're going to accommodate requests for travel and timing and bye weeks?

00:50:53 And not fulfill all of them, by the way.

00:50:54 The Patriots wanted to stay out West for the Niners and Cardinals games,

00:50:57 and not because you, Bob Soce, called them a million times.

00:50:59 The league office has told me this.

00:51:02 But can we just spread this out a little bit?

00:51:06 >> Andrew, I said the same thing earlier today.

00:51:08 >> Really?

00:51:09 >> Yeah, absolutely.

00:51:10 I don't want to be redundant here.

00:51:12 Now, from a selfish standpoint, it does make the job of preparing one-spotter charts.

00:51:16 I know that's a great concern to the fan base and to you writers on the beat.

00:51:22 It does make that part of the job for me easier.

00:51:25 Just a matter of updating a few numbers, but nonetheless, I hate it.

00:51:28 We've been in this situation before, preparing for the Patriots and

00:51:31 the Jets twice in a three-week span, I think.

00:51:34 To have the schedule fall the way it does, too, I hate the fact that, okay,

00:51:39 they play the Jets twice in the first half of the season.

00:51:41 You don't see them again as a division.

00:51:43 So you don't see the Bills like last year until the end of the season.

00:51:48 Now you get them twice in three weeks.

00:51:49 I hate that part of it.

00:51:50 My wild card thought does relate to the Bills as well.

00:51:54 What happens if Buffalo doesn't fare well,

00:51:58 as well as expectations going into the season accompanying them?

00:52:03 >> Boy.

00:52:04 >> Have everybody believing.

00:52:05 Sean Bennett comes in to Foxborough week 18, game 17.

00:52:13 There's a former Patriots head coach.

00:52:15 >> There it is.

00:52:16 >> He's out of the media.

00:52:18 >> There it is.

00:52:19 >> Hey, I'm just saying.

00:52:21 I'm just- >> No, say the whole team, David,

00:52:23 right there.

00:52:24 >> Right, huh?

00:52:26 >> The Buffalo- >> To some degree,

00:52:27 I think the wild card thought is, what if the Bills, in the minds of Bill's fans,

00:52:33 in the minds of Bill's owner, Terry Pegula, are underachieving by that stage of

00:52:37 the season and aren't set up to have a successful playoff run,

00:52:42 or I don't think this is gonna happen, but wind up missing the playoffs.

00:52:47 I mean, this team has gone through some substantial changes.

00:52:50 And going into that stretch twice with the Patriots in three weeks,

00:52:58 what's it gonna be like for McDermott and the Bills at this stage for him,

00:53:04 if they're not seemingly poised to make a deep run in the postseason and

00:53:08 finally win that Super Bowl for Buffalo?

00:53:12 >> My God, I'm ashamed of my wild card thought.

00:53:14 I thought I was just fair, complaining about games.

00:53:18 You are suggesting that the Jets, in a snowy regular season finale,

00:53:23 knock out the Bill Belichick era.

00:53:25 And then the Patriots, a year later, possibly back in Foxborough, in a game

00:53:29 that is likely to have inclement weather or at least freezing temperatures,

00:53:32 play the Bills and then usher in the Bill Belichick era in Buffalo.

00:53:36 The Buffalo Bill Belichick is what you just proposed.

00:53:39 This is the spiciest thing that has been said in this podcast.

00:53:42 Spicy Bob has to be here to stay.

00:53:44 I wanna get him to be the fifth or sixth co-host on Rich Sirleaf's new show.

00:53:48 Move over Michael Hurley and Mike Giardi and everybody,

00:53:51 definitely move over Mike Giardi.

00:53:52 But that was outstanding and I had not thought of that before and

00:53:56 I'm ashamed that I didn't but I'm so glad you brought it to my attention.

00:53:58 The Buffalo Bill Belichick.

00:54:00 >> It's outrageous.

00:54:03 >> Come on, don't back away now.

00:54:05 >> Yeah, I've gotta reel this back in now.

00:54:07 [LAUGH] The genie's long gone.

00:54:10 Look, I felt this way last year and I don't know if I said this publicly, but

00:54:14 I think people look at the Cowboys as a potential destination still for Bill.

00:54:20 Cuz I think Bill is still a great coach in that kind of team.

00:54:24 And I've thought this since last year and I know I'm not alone.

00:54:28 If you're Terry Pagula, you watch the Patriots against the Bills,

00:54:33 the way you reference the Patriots win against Buffalo.

00:54:36 And you can go back to that wind and snow game in late December for

00:54:41 Matt Jones' rookie season.

00:54:43 And you're in the division, you've batted your head against his teams for

00:54:49 years and lost and finally thought you got over the hump but

00:54:52 you can't win that Super Bowl.

00:54:54 Maybe the McDermott era is winding toward an end.

00:54:59 I think he's a good coach.

00:55:00 I think he's done a tremendous job there.

00:55:02 >> Definitely.

00:55:02 >> But the expectations are what they are in Buffalo because of the success that

00:55:06 he's established.

00:55:07 But if the Bills were to fall short of that bar this season,

00:55:11 then I think the wild scenarios could be in play by week 18 of this season.

00:55:17 And maybe they're not so wild, maybe they are.

00:55:20 >> My God, I love it.

00:55:21 Okay, I gave you two more questions at the end of here.

00:55:25 They're fairly boring, and we have plenty of time to talk about that.

00:55:28 So instead, I'm gonna just bring a couple mailback questions that you have not seen

00:55:31 yet from our listeners, and then we'll get out of here.

00:55:33 How's that sound?

00:55:35 >> Okay.

00:55:36 >> Okay, really quickly, this is from Carlos.

00:55:39 This is a tricky question,

00:55:40 because I think the assumption when you hear this will be someone got fired.

00:55:44 That doesn't have to be the case, it's not gonna be my answer.

00:55:46 Which Patriots coaches or

00:55:48 coach do you predict will no longer be a part of the staff after this season?

00:55:51 It could be a position upgrade on another team, a college job.

00:55:55 And I would say to folks going, why are we firing coaches who have not stood on

00:55:59 the sideline for a single game, even though they just got here or

00:56:02 have been here and stayed over?

00:56:04 Jad Mayo said, it's his understanding, when he took the job,

00:56:08 your first staff really doesn't look a whole lot like your staff in a couple

00:56:11 years here after.

00:56:12 So if you had to name a coach who might be moving on for

00:56:14 whatever reason after this season, do you have any that come to mind?

00:56:16 >> I don't have a specific coach, but

00:56:22 I would say that there are, I think, two possible lines of coaches.

00:56:29 There are if Bill gets another job, or

00:56:30 if one of Bill's confidants winds up in a position to be able to influence

00:56:36 the hiring of coaches with another team in 2025.

00:56:41 Then maybe we see one of the young coaches that were under Bill,

00:56:45 maybe move on for a better opportunity, a better title.

00:56:50 If there was a title associated with the job.

00:56:53 >> Well, then let's stop here and name them, because I think there's really only

00:56:56 one, actually, let's say two coaches on staff who fit that mold.

00:57:00 >> Well, there's Brian and Mike, Brian Belichick.

00:57:05 >> Exactly, Brian Belichick and Mike Pellegrino.

00:57:07 >> And I really, I think the world of Brian, and

00:57:11 I think Mike has done a great job in his position.

00:57:13 It's not advocating, it's critiquing,

00:57:14 he said that these guys are gonna be asked to leave.

00:57:18 >> No.

00:57:18 >> Gerard Mayo, not somebody else who wants them on his staff.

00:57:21 But those would be the two most logical from Bill's line of coaches.

00:57:24 And then I think somebody like a Tom Quinn, for example,

00:57:28 the assistant special teams coach.

00:57:29 He's been around for a long time, he's coaching a lot of different people.

00:57:32 He's gonna be the assistant now to a first time special teams coach.

00:57:35 He's gonna be very valuable based on what I've heard, what I've read and

00:57:38 learned about his career in that role.

00:57:42 But again, maybe somebody that he's more closely connected to winds up.

00:57:47 Or someone like that, Andrew, who's on this staff that, I don't know if it's Bob

00:57:52 McNall or somebody else who's on this staff now as a first year hire by Gerard

00:57:56 Mayo, who might just see a better situation for himself somewhere else in 2025.

00:58:03 >> It's very fair, it's very measured, it's very well said.

00:58:06 Regular Bob is back, Spicy Bob is taking a break.

00:58:09 My answer would, the only other name to add to this, because I think Mike Pellegrino

00:58:13 and Brian Belichick pending Bill's next job.

00:58:15 And look, I think I noted that around the time of the staff changes.

00:58:19 If you think about Brian Belichick, not as a coach, but

00:58:22 just as a person who has been here since 2000, right?

00:58:26 And he's about as old as I am, I'm about to turn 33 this summer.

00:58:30 He just, his wife gave birth to their second kid.

00:58:33 They're gonna wanna stay close.

00:58:34 He's been here since before he was 10 years old, right?

00:58:37 There are roots here that are separate from his father.

00:58:39 Everything obviously centers around the Patriots organization.

00:58:42 Bill left, he's still here.

00:58:43 Steve left, he was older, he knew a life before Foxborough.

00:58:46 And it seemed more willing to advance to something beyond what his role would have

00:58:50 been here, so Brian might wanna stay.

00:58:53 But the one name outside of those two that I would say is Ben McAdoo,

00:58:56 because I think Ben is someone who probably has aspirations of being

00:58:59 an offensive coordinator again.

00:59:01 Probably not gonna be a head coach again in the NFL, but if he was,

00:59:04 it would be Drake May has a great rookie season.

00:59:07 He interviews for a job elsewhere, gets that OC job, and

00:59:10 then keeps moving up the ladder.

00:59:12 But he has to obviously do a good job here with May, and

00:59:14 he's gonna be right in there with Alex Van Pelt,

00:59:16 developing the Patriots franchise quarterback.

00:59:19 Jordan is asking, quote, when should we expect trades for

00:59:22 guys like Bailey Zappi and Juju Smith-Schuster?

00:59:24 Already kicking them out the door, Bob.

00:59:26 I definitely had no part in this.

00:59:27 I've never done a segment about this myself, in detail, the contracts and

00:59:30 the dead money and everything that would be involved.

00:59:32 Jordan guesses the end of the preseason, but he hopes sooner,

00:59:36 because he doesn't want them taking reps away from the rookie.

00:59:38 So if Bailey Zappi and Juju Smith-Schuster are traded,

00:59:42 does the end of the preseason sound fair to you?

00:59:46 Because I will share that that would be my guess and my best answer.

00:59:50 >> Yeah, I think they've made it this far.

00:59:51 I think Labor Day weekend, after the last preseason game,

00:59:55 before the regular season opener, makes the most sense.

01:00:00 To me, I think it's interesting that Bailey is still involved in the offseason,

01:00:03 working with receivers, still has a good relationship,

01:00:06 it seems, with a lot of his teammates.

01:00:07 For me, he's probably gonna wind up elsewhere.

01:00:13 I wouldn't see the Patriots carrying him through the coming season.

01:00:17 And that's not to say that I think Joe Milton is gonna have a role necessarily

01:00:21 on this team, but I think you wanna have Bailey around too.

01:00:24 What if somebody gets hurt in the preseason?

01:00:26 What if Jacoby goes down the preseason?

01:00:29 Then you're gonna need Bailey Zappi, especially if you don't think

01:00:33 Drake May is ready in week one to play the position.

01:00:37 So I think it's a valuable asset to hold on to, but

01:00:39 I think also a valuable asset to have.

01:00:42 After you know where you are at the end of the preseason, other teams are gonna be

01:00:45 looking for somebody who could be a competent pinch hit quarterback at some

01:00:51 point in time.

01:00:52 >> The point about Bailey being a valuable asset still internally,

01:00:55 not just a team who will need quarterbacks, is a good one.

01:00:58 Because again, injuries happen.

01:01:00 When I last answered this question, Nathan Rourke was still on the roster,

01:01:03 they released him.

01:01:04 Not that I ever expected Nathan Rourke to seriously factor into

01:01:07 a quarterback competition, but in my mind, could be a competent number three.

01:01:11 And the Falcons and Giants agree, cuz they both put in waiver claims on him,

01:01:14 at least among other teams.

01:01:16 Now he's gone.

01:01:17 And what I would say is Joe Milton, as much as I have expressed my love for

01:01:21 the idea of watching him throw balls 80 yards at 80 million miles an hour in

01:01:25 training camp, is no guarantee to make the roster.

01:01:28 He's a six round pick.

01:01:29 And if he bombs, as he very well could, well, then you need Bailey Zappi,

01:01:32 regardless of anyone else being healthy.

01:01:34 Because you want three quarterbacks, I think, for this team and in this room.

01:01:37 But Juju, I would say, he could even be cut by Labor Day.

01:01:40 It's just a matter of, he's just as good as Javon Baker, and

01:01:43 we're gonna roll with him, and Paul, and Bourne, and KJ Osborne, and

01:01:46 Demario Douglas.

01:01:47 There goes Juju one way or another.

01:01:49 Okay, this next question is gonna make you cringe, but

01:01:51 Brian Russell is writing it, I think, for the first time.

01:01:53 So I'm going to read it as it's written.

01:01:54 Quote, I think Mayo is a scheming backstabber,

01:01:58 having the succession clause in his contract, calling Kraft Thunder and

01:02:02 his demeanor in general.

01:02:03 Your thoughts would be appreciated.

01:02:04 Love all your work, Andrew.

01:02:06 To be clear, I'm not answering this question because the last line in that

01:02:09 question, I'm just going to say that, look, I think there is a lot of time and

01:02:15 space that certainly media, I think, we're getting more accustomed to Gerard.

01:02:19 Fans are gonna take a while to get accustomed to Gerard,

01:02:22 not only just because he's a new coach, because of the vast differences between

01:02:27 him and Bill, specifically as they pertain to the media and their public image.

01:02:31 So Gerard calling the owner Thunder a loving nickname,

01:02:34 that isn't exactly for the reasons he explained in the press conference, but

01:02:37 will go with it officially, is fine.

01:02:40 That's their relationship.

01:02:41 They put it in front of you, whoever makes you feel is not going to have a material

01:02:45 impact on wins and losses when the games start counting in September.

01:02:49 So I would just let that go.

01:02:50 As far as the succession clause, look, Tommy Kern has reported

01:02:54 that there was an understanding between Kraft and Mayo and Belichick.

01:02:57 Belichick basically had two years left.

01:02:58 His contract ran through next season.

01:03:00 So the plan was to hand the baton off.

01:03:02 After that, it's not like Bill didn't know about the clause.

01:03:06 And so Gerard was a rising coach.

01:03:08 He was the fastest rising coach from the minute he got in the building.

01:03:11 Ran a position, never had coached a year before in his life.

01:03:13 Bill handed him the keys.

01:03:14 He knew what a talented natural coach he would be.

01:03:17 He continued his rise.

01:03:19 Here he is.

01:03:20 It's unusual.

01:03:21 I don't think that no one shares your opinion,

01:03:23 specifically people probably close to Bill, that Mayo is his backstabber.

01:03:27 But I think if the president or the owner of your company said, hey,

01:03:31 you want to be in charge after the guy at the top leaves and he's about to turn 73

01:03:35 and we think you could do the job, are you saying no?

01:03:40 Because I'm not.

01:03:41 I'll start with the backstabber comment.

01:03:44 Does this person think Bill Belichick was a backstabber

01:03:46 when he was developing a relationship with the Krafts

01:03:49 while an assistant to Bill Parcells?

01:03:51 Acting with them on a level that was different than Parcells and them

01:03:57 related because of their mutual philosophy about cost and value

01:04:03 players and roster management and cap management and things of that nature?

01:04:08 I don't think so.

01:04:10 Bill was just being Bill.

01:04:11 And Jonathan or Robert at the time saw this young assistant on their staff--

01:04:15 I guess not so young assistant at that point--

01:04:18 someone that they had wanted to be the next head coach of the Patriots.

01:04:21 And they waited, obviously, to hire him until after Pete Carroll.

01:04:26 Didn't work out here.

01:04:28 Would Brian Belichick stay on board with Gerard Mayo?

01:04:31 Would Gerard have the relationship he has with Steve Belichick, who

01:04:34 did depart for the University of Washington,

01:04:37 if they thought he was a backstabber to their father?

01:04:42 I think the other thing regarding the press conference and Gerard's

01:04:46 casualness, if you will, in terms of the way

01:04:49 he related to Robert, the use of the nickname Thunder.

01:04:53 And I think what we've learned since then,

01:04:55 if we didn't know it already about Gerard and his dealings with the players,

01:04:58 listen to what the young players are saying.

01:05:00 The guys who went through the draft process who aren't even

01:05:03 Patriots, who visited with Gerard Mayo at the combine,

01:05:06 or were here on Top 30 Vistas, and talk about the way he interacted with them.

01:05:09 The way the Crom players have talked about the way

01:05:11 Gerard interacts as the head coach.

01:05:13 No longer the assistant coach to them.

01:05:16 That's how he relates to us.

01:05:18 That's how he relates to people in the building.

01:05:20 That's who he is.

01:05:22 I don't think it's inauthentic.

01:05:23 I think that's just the way Gerard Mayo is as a person.

01:05:28 And maybe some people were taken aback by that,

01:05:30 because we're not accustomed to seeing that.

01:05:33 But I think what we're going to see more and more, maybe not in that way,

01:05:38 but we're going to see more and more relationships

01:05:40 like that between these coaches and ownership

01:05:43 and different levels of management.

01:05:45 It's not going to be the button-down approach

01:05:49 that we've become accustomed to in the sports world for so long.

01:05:53 And the other part of that for me, too, is, look, if you're Robert Kraft--

01:05:57 and I've thought this from--

01:05:58 like you, that when Gerard Mayo came into the building

01:06:01 as a coach for the first time, there was a good chance

01:06:04 he was going to continue to ascend and ultimately would be in line

01:06:07 to be a head coach at the Patriots.

01:06:10 This is a player that you saw come in as an instant leader, captain

01:06:14 second year, very bright.

01:06:16 Someone had a real interest in the business world.

01:06:18 You can relate to him on a level that's above playing of X's and O's

01:06:24 with Gerard's interest in the business world and investing

01:06:27 and some of the circles that he's interacted

01:06:29 with during his playing and post-playing career in the business world

01:06:32 and the investment world.

01:06:34 This is someone that is young, who's funny, who's got a great personality,

01:06:38 who's got charisma, magnetism on and off the field.

01:06:42 He's a former Patriot, he's a former Patriot standout.

01:06:45 He's a former-- he's a Super Bowl champion.

01:06:49 Beyond that-- and I know these guys didn't work out where they went.

01:06:52 You watched young assistant coaches that you thought

01:06:53 could be the next guy, perhaps, like Josh Daniels, Brian Flores,

01:06:58 walk out of your building.

01:06:59 And then you've seen Gerard Mayo go interview with the Philadelphia Eagles.

01:07:02 And you've seen Gerard Mayo approached by the Carolina Panthers

01:07:06 and other teams.

01:07:08 And you might say to yourself--

01:07:09 and I'm just thinking from my point of view,

01:07:11 not putting words into Robert's mouth or thought bubbles above his head,

01:07:16 I'm not going to let this guy get out of my--

01:07:18 I am not going to let him be the head coach of another team

01:07:21 if we can line this up.

01:07:23 Because Bill's in his early 70s.

01:07:25 It's winding down for him.

01:07:26 I want to have a succession plan in place.

01:07:29 And this is the guy that I've identified as the next head coach of the Patriots.

01:07:33 And I don't want to lose him.

01:07:35 Why wouldn't you take those steps to keep him in the fold a year ago?

01:07:40 That's the way I look at it.

01:07:42 Again, well said.

01:07:44 Thoughtful.

01:07:44 Very Bob Sociview.

01:07:46 I still miss Spicy Bob.

01:07:48 But I will add this, too.

01:07:50 The domino that really started the changing of the guard--

01:07:55 Mayo in his head coach, Elliott Wolfin is the GM--

01:07:58 was 4-13.

01:07:59 It was last season.

01:08:00 When this clause was put in, they had come off an 8-9 season

01:08:04 that no one expected to continue to fall and decline the way

01:08:09 that the franchise has in the losing game.

01:08:10 Again, they expected to go at least two more years together.

01:08:13 Bill did.

01:08:13 Robert did.

01:08:14 Gerard did.

01:08:15 Again, last year was just his fifth year in coaching.

01:08:18 And so the potential is there.

01:08:19 The relationship was there.

01:08:21 And it's an unusual circumstance.

01:08:23 Again, if you're off put by Gerard's demeanor--

01:08:25 and I've written about what I think are small to medium

01:08:28 mishaps publicly--

01:08:30 spilled orange juice episodes, if you will--

01:08:33 it happens.

01:08:34 They're growing pains.

01:08:35 He's going to have some.

01:08:36 So as a team, Bob's not saying he's

01:08:37 going to lead this team to the Super Bowls or winning record

01:08:40 this year, even.

01:08:41 I'm not saying that.

01:08:42 But this is our view on how things went, why they did.

01:08:45 And we're moving on.

01:08:45 All right, last question.

01:08:47 Duo Customs.

01:08:48 I don't understand the handle.

01:08:50 But the name is Duo Customs.

01:08:53 And the question is, will the Patriots

01:08:55 sign a veteran left tackle like Frazier and Donovan

01:08:57 Smith or Charles Leno?

01:08:58 I understand they want to play and develop the younger guys.

01:09:01 But let's not have a turnstile on Drake May's blindside

01:09:04 either.

01:09:05 Fair?

01:09:06 I think it's more than fair.

01:09:07 Donovan Smith is a name that certainly is out there.

01:09:11 And it's been written about a little bit of late.

01:09:14 And if your plan is to go with a guy that's a veteran,

01:09:20 but not necessarily a left tackle, and Chuka Ikorafor,

01:09:23 or if you're going to go with a projection of a guy

01:09:26 who played right tackle throughout his collegiate

01:09:28 career, to me, there's a lot of potential flaws in that plan,

01:09:33 to say the least.

01:09:34 So yeah, I think it's a very fair suggestion by that fan.

01:09:39 I agree.

01:09:40 I've said, too, not only just stressing

01:09:42 they're going to play the kids, but if you're those players,

01:09:47 you're in the back nine, whatever hole of your career.

01:09:50 You're not in any rush to go work out and lift and move

01:09:55 to Foxborough or some town that's close there to work out.

01:09:57 And then take a break over the summer

01:09:59 and then come back in for camp to run outside zone,

01:10:02 or scat protections, or max protections, or slide,

01:10:04 or whatever those schemes are going to do.

01:10:06 Because you know all of the schemes.

01:10:07 They're just called different things.

01:10:09 Because that's how offense works in the NFL.

01:10:11 So let me take my time, work it on my own,

01:10:14 count the money I've already made,

01:10:15 and then see who needs me, and maybe stoke a bidding more

01:10:17 if my agent can play things the right way versus the Patriots

01:10:20 or other tackle-needy teams.

01:10:21 Because virtually every team in the league

01:10:23 right now would take a tackle.

01:10:24 So part of the equation is not just the Patriots

01:10:27 extending an offer, which I think they should.

01:10:29 You agree.

01:10:30 But is that player willing to accept the offer?

01:10:33 How much is it?

01:10:34 And what is the leverage in all these conversations?

01:10:36 Because if a core four and/or Caden Wallace

01:10:39 really struggle in weeks one or two,

01:10:40 I have hoped and predicted that they will act on this.

01:10:43 I might be wrong.

01:10:44 They waited till end of August to panic

01:10:47 trade for Vardarian Lowe and Tyrone Wheatley Jr.

01:10:49 Last year, we saw how that went.

01:10:51 I just hope there's not a repeat of that.

01:10:54 But I think the players involved here

01:10:56 that are mentioned, Donovan Smith and Charles Leno,

01:10:57 are much better than what we saw from Vardarian Lowe

01:11:00 and didn't really see at all from Tyrone Wheatley Jr.

01:11:03 Yeah, and they're not going to have pads on these next few

01:11:05 weeks of OTAs and minicamps.

01:11:07 But maybe they'll have enough of an assessment

01:11:11 about Caden Wallace in particular

01:11:13 when it comes to footwork.

01:11:15 Is he on the same page as these other offensive linemen?

01:11:17 Is he making progress in terms of playing

01:11:20 that left spot of the line?

01:11:21 Or do we see a huge difference in how comfortable

01:11:24 he is when we rotate him in at right tackle?

01:11:28 Again, even in the walkthroughs over the course

01:11:30 of these next few weeks, does that give them

01:11:32 an assessment of him where they feel, OK, you know what?

01:11:36 We can't bank on this.

01:11:37 We've got to go out now.

01:11:39 And like you said, these veteran tacklers--

01:11:42 Leno, Smith-- they've been through a million training camp

01:11:45 practices.

01:11:47 They're in no rush to sign.

01:11:49 We saw last year--

01:11:50 I know it's running back, but Ezekiel Elliot came in.

01:11:52 He didn't miss a step as a running back

01:11:54 when he joined the Patriots and joined practices

01:11:56 in the Green Bay.

01:11:57 These guys, I'm sure, could come in here

01:11:59 as long as they're keeping themselves in shape.

01:12:01 And they haven't completely gone off

01:12:05 the wagon in terms of their nutrition and their training

01:12:09 regimen.

01:12:10 Then it makes a lot of sense that they would wait.

01:12:13 And I think for the Patriots, too,

01:12:14 it gives them a chance to have a fairer assessment

01:12:17 of these other players.

01:12:19 But considering now, just see how do they

01:12:20 do things in the spring when we ask them to do X, Y, and Z

01:12:26 without another guy taking up their reps?

01:12:29 Yeah.

01:12:29 Not to mention, they have a ton of tackles

01:12:31 on the roster right now.

01:12:32 So none of them might be as good as the two players mentioned.

01:12:34 But they intend to find out if they can develop any

01:12:36 of these players with a new offense, a new offensive line

01:12:38 coach, a new offensive coordinator.

01:12:40 And some guys like Wheatley Jr., who

01:12:42 were developmental players to begin with last year,

01:12:45 got hurt, have since shed, I think, around 15 pounds of fat

01:12:48 and are very athletic.

01:12:50 Like that dude played tight end in college.

01:12:51 I wrote a story about it last year going,

01:12:53 oh, is this a secret weapon for a dude who

01:12:55 played tight end at Stony Brook and had maybe a dozen catches?

01:12:58 Is it not a secret weapon enough?

01:12:59 But looks like a guy who could be your extra tackle

01:13:02 in six offensive line unbalanced line formations

01:13:04 and maybe just kind of leak out in the red zone

01:13:06 and catch a touchdown pass.

01:13:07 But we shall see.

01:13:08 And we will have time to see.

01:13:10 In OTAs, mini camp, first OTA practice is Monday.

01:13:13 I will have a podcast recapping that practice here.

01:13:16 Are you going to be at practice Monday?

01:13:18 I plan to.

01:13:19 Excellent.

01:13:20 All right.

01:13:20 We will see you then.

01:13:21 Hopefully, we will see Spicy Bob.

01:13:23 Then thank you to him.

01:13:24 Thank you to your measured broadcaster, Voice of the Patriots,

01:13:27 Bob Sosi.

01:13:28 Listen and read him on 98.5 The Sports Sub.

01:13:30 Thank you for being a friend.

01:13:31 Thank you for being a guest and making some time with us today.

01:13:34 Andrew, thanks for having me on.

01:13:35 Appreciate it.

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Patriots 2024 schedule: Upset picks, best matchups, top storylines w/ Bob Socci | Pats Interference

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