Robert F. Kennedy Jr. may have a better quarterback than the Patriots when the NFL season begins.
If you needed any more proof that “The Dynasty” has been fully relegated to the dustbin of NFL history, that’s it.
RFK’s quixotic presidential campaign appears to be leaning toward Aaron Rodgers as its vice-presidential offering. Rodgers plays quarterback for the Jets in his spare time. At least for four snaps per season.
A visit to the JFK Library in Dorchester, or the internet, offers up images of the Kennedy clan playing family football at the Hyannis Port compound. The elder RFK and his three brothers all played football at Harvard. RFK Jr. appears hell-bent on bringing a ringer to the next Kennedy soiree. That’s if his family members can forgive him for running against his Uncle Ted’s old pal Joe.
Regardless of political ambitions, the Jets are planning on having Rodgers at QB this season. Even a partly healed Rodgers shoves the Patriots deeper into the cellar of the AFC East.
And there’s good news for Jets fans. Inauguration Day falls on the Monday before the AFC Championship Game. So any ascension of A-Rod to the vice presidency won’t interfere with the Jets playoff run.
Bill Belichick State Run Media has been in “Battle of the Bulge” counterattack mode since “The Dynasty ” first dropped on Apple TV+. That series has given the Kraft family the same sheen afforded the Kennedys by the Boston Globe, CBS or Hollywood.
Their latest proof of the Hoodie’s continued genius presents itself in the number of players the Patriots have managed to retain with the second-most salary cap space available in the NFL.
The Patriots have held onto all of the so-called “key players” from last year’s atrocious 4-13 season. Yet, none of “The Holdovers” in Foxboro are Oscar-worthy. The Patriots roster stood barren as the pre-blizzard bakery aisle at Market Basket. Even day-old Wonder bread tastes good when there’s no power and nothing to eat but Skippy peanut butter and Food Club strawberry jam.
Feel free to gas up the Duck Boats for retaining OT/G Mike Onwenu, LB Anfernee Jennings, DE Josh Uche, WRs Kendrick Bourne and Jalen Reagor, and TE Hunter Henry.
But before you nominate Belichick for “NFL Executive Of The Year,” ponder this: How many of these players would have re-signed if Belichick was still running things?
And history isn’t always fair. Dan Duquette got no love from the Red Sox 20 years ago even though he established the cornerstone of the 2004 World Champion curse-busters by acquiring the likes of Pedro Martinez, Manny Ramirez, Jason Varitek and Derek Lowe.
And on the practical side, Jennings is the first Patriots’ player drafted in the top three-rounds to get a multi-year contract since Duron Harmon seven years ago.
The Patriots and Onwenu agreed to a $57 million deal with $38 million guaranteed.
The funny money value of that contract represents the fifth largest such deal in Patriots history since they broke their deal with the state of Connecticut and broke ground on Gillette Stadium.
It trails only the $65 million compact signed by Stephon Gilmore in 2017, Tom Brady’s $72 million contract from 2010, the $103 million deal made with Drew Bledsoe in 2001, and the $250 million agreement the Patriots had with Suffolk construction to build their new lighthouse, scoreboard and stadium concourse.
That Robert and Jonathan Kraft spent more money on their stadium’s most-recent upgrade than they spent on their top three player contracts all-time combined offers a reminder of where the priorities lie at One Patriot Place. Before, during, and after Belichick.
Stadium additions, scoreboards and lighthouses are all appreciating assets that add to the long-term value of Gillette Stadium, and thus, the franchise.
To paraphrase John Henry, it’s expensive to have football players, too. Especially given their limited shelf life. Nothing depreciates quicker than a new Lexus on the streets of Cambridge except an NFL running back.
The Patriots’ lighthouse will outlast whoever they choose with the No. 3 pick in April’s draft. Never mind anyone on the roster right now.
In many ways, the Patriots are building a bridge not to the future, but merely to Fenway Park.
The Patriots brought back the tail end of the “Wolfpack” in Jacoby Brissett. An all-world nice guy, Brissett has been on four different rosters since leaving the Patriots after the 2016 season. More living proof that it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.
The same team that under-appreciated Tom Brady for 20 years continues to flat-out suck at the most important position in pro sports. Tom has yet to let it go. New England’s best hope at quarterback is a rookie-to-be-named later who will be passed over twice in the NFL draft.
The Patriots replaced one of the worst QBs in the NFL with one of the worst QBs in the NFL.
Brissett’s career passer rating is 85.3. That’s lower than Mac Jones’ number of 85.8.
Attrition by subtraction.
The best quarterback the Patriots had last season is now in Jacksonville. Jones led the team in passing yards, completions, completion percentage, average yards per attempt, average yards per game, touchdowns (and interceptions) and passer rating.
Jones played in 11 games. Bailey Zappe played in 10.
The Patriots once dominated the universe of pro sports. This week, they were left chasing the tail of the Jaguars trying to sign WR Calvin Ridley, a 30-year-old WR suspended two years ago by the NFL for gambling.
Ridley landed a four-year deal with the Tennessee Titans worth $92 million, with $50 million guaranteed. Tennessee doesn’t have a state income tax or a decent/proven starting quarterback. But the Patriots whiffed again when it came to the biggest name available.
The Volunteer State does boast a dozen legal online sportsbooks, compared to the six active betting sites in the Bay State.
And the 2024 Patriots needed every edge they could get.
Bill Speros (@RealOBF and @BillSperos on X) can be reached at bsperos1@gmail.com
