2012 New England Patriots

[Thrashen]

Strangely enough, it appears that former Ohio State linebacker, Bobby Carpenter (drafted 18[SUP]th[/SUP]overall in 2006), may finally receive an opportunity to start in New England. After getting jerked around in Dallas, Carpenter was traded to St. Louis, but was cut before the season. He was then signed by Miami, only to be cut a few weeks into the season. Then, he was signed by Detroit, where he received some playing time over the past season and a half, even scoring a touchdown on an interception return against his former team…

In April 2012, he was signed by the Patriots and is now rumored to be “running with the starting defense.â€￾ Some random observations from Patriot practices…

For all the hype that the three rookies have received, it was actually Bobby Carpenter who was running with the starters in training camp.

Link - http://www.patspulpit.com/2012/6/23/3112696/is-dane-fletcher-being-overlooked

New England Patriots LB Bobby Carpenter saw plenty of reps during offseason workouts, especially with LB Brandon Spikes (knee) absent as he recovers from injury. Carpenter can play both outside spots in a 4-3 defensive scheme. With LB Jerod Mayo entrenched as the weak-side linebacker, Carpenter will be in the mix for the strong-side job. His biggest competition will be LB Dont'a Hightower. Carpenter is expected to see plenty of playing time in coverage, regardless if he starts.

Link - http://www.kffl.com/gnews.php?id=79...r-in-mix-for-strong-side-lb-job#ixzz1zaEJSDG7

For whatever reason, Carpenter has the stigma of being “soft,â€￾ a true rarity for a white NFL linebacker. I hope he finally sticks in New England, as it would be fantastic to see their defense start three whites (Steve Gregory, Rob Ninkovich, and Carpenter), with Bequette, Fletcher, and Tarpinaian in the mix (assuming they all make the squad).

 

[FootballDad]

It's nice to see Bobby Carpenter getting back to being the player he can be. Sure, he was "jerked around" in his early years in Dallas after being drafted, but he was a shell of his former Buckeye self his last season or so wearing the star on his helmet. At Miami, he was, frankly, terrible. I would have cut him!
No sure what changed for him between his time in Miami and Detroit, but he sees to have found himself again. Hopefully, the "Belichick magic" will work for him and he can dominate once more.

 

[jaxvid]

It's nice to see Bobby Carpenter getting back to being the player he can be. Sure, he was "jerked around" in his early years in Dallas after being drafted, but he was a shell of his former Buckeye self his last season or so wearing the star on his helmet. At Miami, he was, frankly, terrible. I would have cut him!
No sure what changed for him between his time in Miami and Detroit, but he sees to have found himself again. Hopefully, the "Belichick magic" will work for him and he can dominate once more.

He played well in Detroit. If he was decended from a race of people that spent a lot of time in the sun he would have played a lot more. This is a steel for Belichick. He could do very well there.

 

[TwentyTwo]

Yeah a lot of inebriated media sheeple naturally dismiss Woodhead...a dog always returns to his vomit...BUT still some publications(& hardcore fans) realize what a dangerous; big-play weapon Woodhead with his quickness!

Here is an article written nearly two months ago...Jim Leonhard looks healthy & ready to go for camp; wonder who will sign him? He thinks the Patriots should give him a look...can you imagine Leonhard, Gregory, Edelman & Ebner in the secondary ALL at the same time?? Sharpton might be headed on a plane to see what's up! Also funny that the back-up safety's Barrett & Brown are some of the worst he has ever seen!

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...the-new-england-patriots-consider-signing-him

 

[Don Wassall]

The super-soft, easily injured Joseph Addai is washed up at 29, which is good news for Danny Woodhead. I expect Woodhead to yet again surprise the DWFs and the DWF media, who are slobbering all over the team's two young RBs with "upside," by getting more touches than expected.

Patriots released RB Joseph Addai. The Pats wound up sinking $125,000 into Addai in the form of a signing bonus and offseason workout bonus. Addai was never going to help the Patriots as a ball carrier, but the 29-year-old can still pick up the blitz and always seemed likely to at least last into August. He didn't, which can be taking as a sign that Addai's career is on life support. New England will move forward with Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, and Danny Woodhead atop the depth chart.

 

[Thrashen]

Three pieces of good news from various articles on Patriots training camp concerning three different starting positions formerly occupied by blacks…

Linebacker, Bobby Carpenter…

Brady had a couple of highlight-reel hookups with wide receiver Brandon Lloyd, who reeled in two passes for long gains toward the end of practice. He beat cornerbacks Kyle Arrington and Devin McCourty, respectively, on the plays. He also underthrew a ball to Wes Welker in seven-on-sevens, and linebacker Bobby Carpenter dropped in the zone to intercept it. Carpenter, who has gotten starting-caliber reps, was burnt on the next play by Aaron Hernandez.

Safety, Steve Gregory…

Gregory spent the first six seasons of his NFL career with the Chargers. The Patriots targeted him early in free agency this offseason. Through the first three days of training camp, he's spent the majority of his time on the field playing alongside returning starter Patrick Chung.

Guard, Brian Waters…

Brian Waters (hasn't reported) -- in the near term, Connolly has played exclusively at G, leaving Koppen back in his old starting spot.

Therefore, using this training camp is an indicator; the whites featured in New England’s current starting lineup for Week #1 could be…

OFFENSE:
QB – Brady
WR – Welker
TE - Gronkowski
LT – Solder
LG – Mankins (recovery from ACL surgery, but slated to return by Week 1)
C – Koppen
RG – Connolly / Gallery
RT – Vollmer (still missing practices, but is the unquestioned starter)

Offensively, I’m assuming that Ridley will start at running back, which may or may not be the case, but he and Woodhead will likely split carries or become the 3rd down back.

DEFENSE:
LB – Carpenter
DE – Ninkovich
S – Gregory

Defensively, I’m assuming that DE Trevor Scott and LB Dane Fletcher will be heavily-rotated backups, DE Jake Bequette will not play as a rookie, Julian Edelman will no longer play cornerback (or will be reduced to a situational DB), and LB Jeff Tarpinian (assuming he makes the squad) will be a specials teams player.

That conservative estimation of 11/22 starters could make for one of the most palatable NFL teams in some 25 years.

 

[TwentyTwo]

Thanks for the updated breakdown Thrashen...Looks promising indeed!

D-Lineman Tim Bulman signed w/ Patriots...hopefully he can figure into the rotation as well...

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/07/25/report-patriots-sign-tim-bulman-milton-native-and-bc-grad/

 

[whiteathlete33]

Three pieces of good news from various articles on Patriots training camp concerning three different starting positions formerly occupied by blacks…

Linebacker, Bobby Carpenter…



Safety, Steve Gregory…



Guard, Brian Waters…



Therefore, using this training camp is an indicator; the whites featured in New England’s current starting lineup for Week #1 could be…

OFFENSE:
QB – Brady
WR – Welker
TE - Gronkowski
LT – Solder
LG – Mankins (recovery from ACL surgery, but slated to return by Week 1)
C – Koppen
RG – Connolly / Gallery
RT – Vollmer (still missing practices, but is the unquestioned starter)

Offensively, I’m assuming that Ridley will start at running back, which may or may not be the case, but he and Woodhead will likely split carries or become the 3rd down back.

DEFENSE:
LB – Carpenter
DE – Ninkovich
S – Gregory

Defensively, I’m assuming that DE Trevor Scott and LB Dane Fletcher will be heavily-rotated backups, DE Jake Bequette will not play as a rookie, Julian Edelman will no longer play cornerback (or will be reduced to a situational DB), and LB Jeff Tarpinian (assuming he makes the squad) will be a specials teams player.

That conservative estimation of 11/22 starters could make for one of the most palatable NFL teams in some 25 years.

Thrashen, Trever Scott also has a good chance of starting at left defensive end for the Patriots. He's the starter on a current depth chart I am looking at. Also, Spencer Larsen should be a starter at fullback.

 

[SchaafC]

Most Rec. Julian Edleman followed by Woodhead and Gronk Rec YDs. were in the same order.
All the kick/punt returns for the Patriots were handled by Edleman and Woodhead.
Jeff Tarpinian led the way with 6 Tks.
Jake Bequette tied with Trevor Scott with 1 Sk each. Scott also forced a fumble.
Steven Gregory tied with Pat Chung with 1 Int. each.
Unfortunately Dane Fletcher tore his ACL. Fletcher will be on IR. The injury takes away a valuable ST player that may give Nate Ebner the Rookie S a chance to make the 53.

 

[dwid]

Hopefully Vereen doesn't get his role expanded because of a mediocre rushing performance by the Saints 3rd string rushing defense. Woodhead showed that he is back into 2010 form on that screen run.

 

[white defensive back]

I did not see the game so I got scared to see Vereen get all of those carries compared to Woodhead's 2. I did not know he was returning kicks and had all the receptions as well. It would be nice to see Ebert get to the practice squad and then get called up mid-season.

 

[referendum]

I'm wondering what other Patriot watchers think about the Brian Waters situation. He still hasn't shown up to camp, and I wonder how long the Pats will allow him to play the black Hamlet, deciding whether his football career is to be or not to be. Assuming he is gone, that makes an all white Pats o-line much more likely, barring injury of course, which is quite possible in that many of the white Pat linemen seem to suffering from one thing or another.

 

[Thrashen]

I'm wondering what other Patriot watchers think about the Brian Waters situation. He still hasn't shown up to camp, and I wonder how long the Pats will allow him to play the black Hamlet, deciding whether his football career is to be or not to be. Assuming he is gone, that makes an all white Pats o-line much more likely, barring injury of course, which is quite possible in that many of the white Pat linemen seem to suffering from one thing or another.

Waters, who has been home in Texas since the Superbowl ended, has not only missed all of training camp and the first pre-season game, but also every team workout and every OTA.

One must keep in mind that Waters was only singed by the Patriots in early September last season after being released from the Chiefs several months prior. The only reason he became a starter, of course, is because long-time center, Dan Koppen, broke his ankle against Miami in Week 1. This injury forced right guard, Dan Connolly, to move to center. Water certainly had a good season in 2011, and I’d imagine that if he returns before opening day, he could retain his starting job.

As I mentioned before, with Waters gone (hopefully for good), New England’s opening day offensive line should consist of…

LT – Solder
LG – Mankins
C - Koppen/Wendell (still undecided)
RG Connolly
RT - Vollmer

As referendum noted, many of these starters (particularly Vollmer) have nagging injuries.

 

[Thrashen]

CBS Sports’ Nick Underhill, a writer with an intimate knowledge of New England sports, predicts the Patriots’ 53-man roster in this article, which he believes will feature 26 whites (49% of the total roster) in 2012…

QB – Brady, Hoyer, Mallett

HB/FB – Danny Woodhead

WR – Wes Welker, Julian Edelman

TE – Rob Gronkowski

OL – Logan Mankins, Sebastian Vollmer, Nate Solder, Dan Connolly, Ryan Wendell, Nick McDonald, Dan Koppen

DL – Jake Bequette, Rob Ninkovich, Trevor Scott

LB – Bobby Carpenter, Jeff Tarpinian, Niko Koutouvides, Mike Rivera

S – Steve Gregory, Nate Ebner

ST – Gostowski, Mesko, Aiken

The white cuts are likely to include: Spencer Larson, Eric Ketanni (who may not be fully white), Tyler Urban, Alex Silvestro, Jake Ballard, Jeremy Ebert, Markus Zusevics, Matt Kopa, Dustin Waldron, Tim Bullman, and Ross Ventrone.

In being familiar with the squad, I generally concur with his selections. I didn’t include Aaron Hernandez as white, but I did include LB, Mike Rivera. If Dane Fletcher hadn’t torn his ACL, he would have beaten out Mike Rivera, who would be considered fully white, if not for his last name…

CAPTION: Mike Rivera at Kansas

Of course, these 26 white players aren’t set in stone. For instance, Brian Waters could return, which could bump a white lineman like Koppen, McDonald, or Wendell. Safety Nate Ebner could be cut instead of Will Allen, Malcolm Williams, or the always-terrible Sergio Brown. Any number of injuries to white players could also occur. Conversely, the only manner in which more roster spots would open for whites would be for Marcus Cannon or Donald Thomas on the offensive line to be injured, or if the Patriots decide to only keep one less backup defensive lineman, which could permit an additional white offensive lineman to make the roster.

Steve Gregory, a starting safety, is the first white defensive back to receive playing time in New England since Shawn Mayer (a phenom DB who averaged 11 tackles per game at Penn State), some 9 years ago. After getting shafted in New England, Mayer bounced around in Atlanta and Cleveland...

CAPTION: Bellichick’s Favorite Whipping Boy

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/nfl-rapidreports/19867612/patriots-projected-roster-getting-to-53

 

[referendum]

Pats cut Gaffney, which may give Ebert a chance at the last WR position if the Pats end up with six on the roster, and he'd be the third white one. Also put Larsen on IR, however.

 

[bigunreal]

Even after cutting black wastes Gaffney, Stallworth and Branch, the Patriots couldn't let themselves keep 3 white WRs, so Ebert was cut. How predictable.

Now it will be interesting to see if the Patriots somehow purge more whites, or if they toy with hitting the magic number of 25 whites on the opening day roster.

 

[Don Wassall]

Bigunreal, I think you mean 27 don't you? That's how many it takes to have a majority on a 53 man roster. Mike Martz's Rams a decade ago were the last team to challenge the long-standing taboo. They were up to 26 a couple of times.

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

i don't think anyone mentioned how well the Pats' defense played in their final preseason contest ... and the performance shouldn't be overlooked.

playing against the Giants' starters for well over a half, the "marginal" players for New England (read that as all the White men) on defense did an impressive job of completely shutting down the defending Super Bowl champs. they did this "despite" having 5 or 6 White defenders on the field at all times: 1 or 2 d-linemen, 3 (and occasionally 4) linebackers, and 1 defensive back.

these White Pats certainly showed they are more than up to the task of playing at an elite level. it's a shame that in a league that claims to want the best players available, so many of them will likely be cut ...

 

[foobar75]

This is the total list of players (22) cut by the Pats today to bring down the roster from 75 to 53:

WR Deion Branch
S Sergio Brown
DL Marcus Harrison
WR Jesse Holley
QB Brian Hoyer
S James Ihedigbo
OL Matt Kopa
C Dan Koppen
LB Niko Koutouvides
S Derrick Martin
LB Jeff Tarpinian
S Malcolm Williams
FB Eric Kettani
LB Aaron Lavarias
TE Alex Silvestro
WR Kerry Taylor.
WR Jeremy Ebert
OL Derek Dennis
TE Tyler Urban
OL Dustin Waldron
OL Jeremiah Warren
OL Darrion Weems

If my math is correct, and not counting Aaron Hernandez, this leaves them with 22 Whites on the roster. That leaves 30 blacks, plus Hernandez who can be counted as mixed, to round things off.

Not sure if these figures make the Pats the whitest team in the NFL, and also, I think teams can still look at waivers and claim players over the next couple of days, so the roster as it currently stands may not be final.

Would be interested to see if any other teams at least broke the 20-man barrier. IND, TEX, GB, possibly DEN?

 

[Kaptain]

Jeff Demps, the olympic sprinter, was placed on IR by the Pats. When they signed him the internet lite up with rumors of Woodhead and/or Edelman being cut to make room for this afflete. Many DWF's still don't realize that Woodhead was clocked at nearly the same speed as Demps in the 40 and ran 10.5 100 in High School. Demps didn't qualify for the Olympics as an individual as he only ran a 10.40 this last year. Demps is also about 20 lbs lighter than Woodhead as well as being weaker and less athletic in every measure except staight line speed.

 

[Highlander]

Would be interested to see if any other teams at least broke the 20-man barrier. IND, TEX, GB, possibly DEN?

They fell two short, at 18.

 

[davidholly]

Jeff Demps, the olympic sprinter, was placed on IR by the Pats. When they signed him the internet lite up with rumors of Woodhead and/or Edelman being cut to make room for this afflete. Many DWF's still don't realize that Woodhead was clocked at nearly the same speed as Demps in the 40 and ran 10.5 100 in High School. Demps didn't qualify for the Olympics as an individual as he only ran a 10.40 this last year. Demps is also about 20 lbs lighter than Woodhead as well as being weaker and less athletic in every measure except staight line speed.

But Demps has so much upside!i!i!

 

[Don Wassall]

The Patriots just traded for WR Greg Salas from the Rams for a conditional 2015 draft pick. That could mean Ebert won't even be on the practice squad. Salas, who is mostly White with a bit of Hawaiian in him, has a lot of ability. They could be grooming him as a possible replacement for Welker, whose contract is up at the end of this season.

 

[Highlander]

Pats release LB Bobby Carpenter.

So far they've added the following players to their practice squad:

FB Eric Kettani
TE Alex Slivestro
LB Jeff Tarpinian
OL Matt Kopa
WR Sam Kirkland (black)

 

[Highlander]

Edelman Expected to Take Bigger Role in Patriots' Offense After Deion Branch's Release

http://www.nesn.com/2012/08/deion-b...-edelman-bigger-role-in-patriots-offense.html