Conor Roche Articles - Page 12

The New England Patriots’ competition in the AFC East certainly got tougher this offseason. All of their division rivals made some notable adds, but, of course, no addition was bigger than the New York Jets trading for Aaron Rodgers. That move has led to many casting doubt on the Patriots this season, believing that New […]

There haven’t been many doubts about New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones‘ work ethic over his young career. The Patriots quarterback has reportedly been present at the team’s facility nearly every day this offseason. Prior to that, he was known as a workhorse at Alabama, too. In fact, Jones was so much of a grinder […]

New England Patriots receiver Kayshon Boutte was once viewed as a first-round talent, but a few things caused him to slip to the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. One of those speculated concerns was his ability, or rather, his inability, to be coached. But one former Patriot doesn’t buy those rumors. Kevin Faulk, […]

As he made the trek North from South Beach to New England, Mike Gesicki isn’t sure if he’ll be bringing one patented moves with him. The New England Patriots’ tight end was asked Thursday if he’ll still hit the griddy with his new team. “I’m not opposed to it,” Gesicki said. “Hopefully, Coach [Bill] Belichick […]

Mike Gesicki formed a bond right away with Mac Jones following his signing with the New England Patriots in March. The veteran tight end revealed that the quarterback wanted to throw with him outside the team facility at the start of the offseason program in April. But Gesicki didn’t have a place to stay yet, […]

Another legendary New England Patriots player is set to receive a red jacket. Former linebacker and current Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel has been voted by fans to be inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame, the team announced Wednesday. “It’s my pleasure to announce Mike Vrabel as this year’s selection to the Patriots Hall […]

JuJu Smith-Schuster feels like he’s back at school in his opening weeks with the New England Patriots. The veteran wide receiver shared Tuesday some of the adjustments he’s had to make at his new professional home after spending last season with the Kansas City Chiefs- and the prior five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. One […]

JuJu Smith-Schuster played with a pair of likely Hall of Fame quarterbacks for the majority of the first six seasons of his NFL career. So, entering his seventh season – and his first with the New England Patriots – Smith-Schuster’s standard for a quarterback is likely pretty high. But just a few weeks into his […]

The New England Patriots‘ decision to forgo selecting an offensive tackle with one of their 12 picks in the 2023 NFL Draft led to many who follow the team scratching their heads. It turns out they might have actually drafted one. Early in Day 3, the Patriots selected three interior offensive linemen during Rounds 4 […]

The New England Patriots added an incredibly intriguing rookie following the 2023 NFL Draft. Undrafted free agent Louisville quarterback Malik Cunningham agreed to a deal with the Patriots that reportedly came with a relatively big payday. But a position change might be in Cunningham’s NFL future. Cunningham stands at 5-foot-11 and his size typically doesn’t bode […]

The New England Patriots walked away from the 2023 NFL Draft with 12 new players on their roster. They made one pick in each of the first three rounds before having a busy Day 3, making nine selections over the final four rounds. Let’s get right to our thoughts on each pick the Patriots made […]

FOXBOROUGH – New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien has liked what he’s seen from Mac Jones so far in his meeting with him, but just like Bill Belichick, he isn’t going to name him the starting quarterback early in the offseason. In between Days 1 and 2 of the draft, O’Brien was asked how […]

The New England Patriots have had their eyes on Christian Gonzalez for a long time. Patriots director of player personnel Matt Groh was actually at one of Gonzalez’s practices at Oregon last summer, but didn’t get to meet him. However, Groh, along with Patriots West national scout Tony Kinkela, kept tabs on him throughout his […]

For weeks heading into the draft, Christian Gonzalez was widely viewed as one of the top two cornerback prospects and a likely top 10 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. But he fell on draft day – a lot further than some expected. Not only were the New England Patriots able to nab him, they […]

The New England Patriots hit a home run in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, but they still have 11 more picks (at least for now) to make. Day 2 of the draft continues Friday with Rounds 2 and 3, with New England holding a pick in each round. After drafting Oregon corner […]

The New England Patriots couldn’t have asked for a much better result with their first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Patriots selected University of Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez with the No. 17 overall pick after trading back from the No. 14 overall pick, getting a fourth-round pick in the process. Gonzalez was a consensus […]

The 2023 NFL Draft is only hours away. That means it’s time to get one last mock draft end before the chaos begins! We’re going to do a New England Patriots-centered mock draft, making picks via Pro Football Focus’ mock draft simulator as if we’re Bill Belichick mixed in with some things I think they […]

The New England Patriots‘ path to making the playoffs in 2023 just got a lot tougher. That should be the initial reaction that Patriots fans have after the New York Jets finally agreed to a deal to trade for Aaron Rodgers on Monday. The Jets likely have their best quarterback since at least Bill Belichick’s […]

Mac Jones didn’t have the best second season to his NFL career, but a former New England Patriots quarterback thinks he can turn it around. Patriots Hall of Famer Drew Bledsoe believes Jones can be the Patriots’ long-term quarterback, even if he doesn’t have the running ability of other top signal-callers. That led Bledsoe to […]

There was a bit of eye-raising news about the New England Patriots that dropped just day prior to the 2023 NFL Draft. Will Levis visited New England on the final day of top 30 visits on Wednesday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported. The Kentucky quarterback has commonly been selected in the top 10 of mock […]

FOXBOROUGH – Bill O’Brien is looking to help the New England Patriots’ offense turn the page as they head into 2023. While that includes Mac Jones, who’s entering his third season after a sluggish 2022, O’Brien made it a point to mention that it’s a fresh start for everyone on the unit when he was […]

FOXBOROUGH – Jerod Mayo’s decision to remain with the New England Patriots this offseason raised eyebrows, opting to keep his role as the team’s inside linebackers coach as he pulled his name out of head coach and defensive coordinator interviews. Mayo shared some insight as to what might have changed in his role with the […]

The 2023 NFL Draft is right around the corner. As the draft is 10 days away, the New England Patriots have three clear needs entering the start of the three-day event: offensive tackle, cornerback and wide receiver. Luckily for them, there’s (at least) one prospect at each position that conceivably could be available when they’re […]

The New England Patriots are adding a player to their quarterback room. Trace McSorley agreed to a contract with the Patriots, the team announced Thursday. The terms of the deal though have yet to be disclosed. The signing of McSorley comes at an interesting time for the Patriots’ quarterback room. Mac Jones has been the […]

As rumors about Mac Jones’ future with the New England Patriots have swirled in recent weeks, the presumed starting quarterback’s backup is staying ready, just in case. Bailey Zappe is preparing to make the most of any possibility Bill Belichick presents to him this offseason and in the upcoming – even a job as the […]

One of the media members closest to New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick isn’t fully buying the report that he has shopped quarterback Mac Jones in trade talks this offseason. Mike Lombardi, who worked with Belichick on the Cleveland Browns in the early ’90s and again with the New England Patriots in 2014 and […]

The rumors surrounding Mac Jones’ future with the New England Patriots took an interesting twist on Tuesday. Bill Belichick has shopped the 2021 first-round quarterback to multiple teams in a trade this offseason, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported Tuesday. Florio didn’t share which teams had discussions with Belichick on a possible trade, but he […]

If you’re hoping the New England Patriots select a receiver with one of their top picks in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft, don’t get your hopes up too high. Even though most analysts agree the Patriots need to add talent at wide receiver, they don’t appear to be impressed by the receiving prospects in this […]

Bill Belichick surprised many people when he said that New England Patriots fans should be optimistic for the 2023 season because of “the last 25 years” on Monday. Belichick clarified his statement to The Boston Globe’s Jim McBride on Wednesday, saying that he was speaking from a fan’s perspective, which was the matter that the […]

When the New England Patriots let Jakobi Meyers walk in free agency but signed JuJu Smith-Schuster to a similar contract, many people perceived the move as a trade-off between the two players. Bill Belichick didn’t see it that way though. Speaking to reporters at the NFL owners meeting in Arizona, Belichick was stern in saying […]

A New England Patriots legend took offense to Bill Belichick saying that the previous 25 years is the reason why fans of the team should be optimistic heading into the 2023 season. Tedy Brushchi, who played linebacker for the Patriots for 13 seasons before becoming an NFL analyst on ESPN, was surprised by his former […]

The New England Patriots didn’t want inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo to leave this offseason, reportedly giving him an enticing offer to stay while teams requested to interview him for their vacant head coach and defensive coordinator jobs. They also want Mayo to remain in New England for a long time, too. Patriots owner Robert […]

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft received an interesting text message recently. Speaking to reporters at the NFL owners meeting in Arizona on Monday, Kraft shared that rapper Meek Mill texted him “three or four days ago” to tell him that Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson told Meek Mill he wants to play with the Patriots. […]

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft gave strong endorsements of the two most key figures in his organization when speaking to reporters at the NFL owners meeting on Monday. First, Kraft expressed confidence in Mac Jones following the quarterback’s rough second season, mentioning the unusual coaching situation he had around him and changes made this […]

Following an 8-9 2022 season and an offseason that hasn’t brought many big moves so far, Bill Belichick had a simple message for New England Patriots fans who might be concerned about their chances to win in 2023. “Long way to go,” Belichick told reporters at the NFL owners meeting in Arizona on Monday. “It’s […]

Bill Belichick gave another confusing comment about Mac Jones‘ future with the New England Patriots on Monday. Speaking at the NFL owners meeting, Belichick was asked if Bailey Zappe will be competing with Jones for the starting quarterback job in 2023. Belichick was non-committal. “Well, everybody will get a chance to play. We’ll play the […]

The New England Patriots have addressed some big areas of need over the first couple of weeks of free agency. They signed JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mike Gesicki to help bolster the passing attack. They revamped the offensive coaching staff following a disastrous 2022 season from that unit. They even found a way to cut costs […]

Malcolm Butler’s benching in Super Bowl LII remains such a mystery that even his New England Patriots teammates don’t know why he didn’t play in that game. Devin McCourty, who announced his retirement earlier in March, is the latest player from that Patriots team that lost to the Philadelphia Eagles that doesn’t know why Butler […]

We finally know what Joe Judge will be doing in the 2023 season. Judge will remain with the New England Patriots and work in an assistant head coach role, the Monday Morning Quarterback’s Albert Breer reported Thursday. In that role, Judge will have similar on-field duties that he held in the past, working on special […]