- 3 weeks ago
WEEI Patriots reporter Justin Turpin continues his conversation with Rich, Ken, and Ted and discusses the team’s lack of roster depth, and if it is detrimental to the team to not have any starters play during the preseason.
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00:00Justin Turpin here in studio.
00:01I just saw this list.
00:02I think it was ESPN who put it out.
00:04But it was ranking the 32 teams watchability.
00:08Like just this season, like which teams are the most watchable?
00:11The ones that even if you're not a fan of, you're going to turn on and check out.
00:15Any guesses for number one that they chose?
00:17Car wreck Browns.
00:19The Rams are number two.
00:21That's a great guess.
00:22And that's going to be obviously one that everyone's going to keep an eye on.
00:25They're always been a fun team.
00:26Number three is the Detroit Lions.
00:30Always love watching the Lions.
00:32The Los Angeles Chargers.
00:34They got it number four.
00:35I think it's mostly because people want to see if Ted's right about the succubus.
00:40Attached to Justin Herbert.
00:42Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:42Well, if they're putting them that high, then probably the Chiefs won.
00:45Or is it the Patriots?
00:46No.
00:47Number one is the Chicago Bears.
00:49What?
00:50Yeah.
00:51Baddest.
00:52Dude.
00:52Dude.
00:52They think that Caleb Williams, this is going to be the year that he absolutely explodes.
00:57Mad cover things.
00:59Good call.
01:01I couldn't be with you more.
01:02But number five, your New England Patriots.
01:04All right.
01:05They said everyone knows the Patriots' strength of schedule in 2025 hugely impacted their record,
01:09but it also impacted their watchability.
01:11It wasn't particularly fun to tune into the Patriots games.
01:14They emerge as a true AFC contender across the stretch where they beat blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
01:18They said the schedule is tougher in 2026, which makes the Patriots more watchable.
01:23Their first-place schedule sets them against the Jaguars, Steelers, and Seahawks in a season-opening Super Bowl rematch.
01:29Hell yeah.
01:30They'll play the AFC West, the Chiefs, Chargers, and Broncos.
01:32That's another hell yeah.
01:33NFC North, Lions, Packers, Vikings, and Bears.
01:36Man, I'm actually legit getting excited.
01:39All great opponents.
01:40It says, with the marquee addition of A.J. Brown, they've added a top-tier receiver to meet the tougher
01:45schedule,
01:45and given all the narratives around their 2025 record and potential fraudulence,
01:51the 2026 games with the top opponents could come with some extra stakes.
01:56No question.
01:56There we go.
01:57I'd get you fired up for the season.
01:58Love it.
01:59Absolutely.
01:59No question.
02:00But I want to ask you, Justin, because you have been out there, and you just mentioned,
02:05and it actually got me a little concerned and scared about how thin some of these positions are.
02:11Does that change?
02:13Does anything you saw this preseason change your perception of how good you think this team is going to be
02:19this upcoming season?
02:19Not really, because I think we knew going into the year that they were a pretty shallow team,
02:23and they had upgrades at the premium, like the front-line starters they upgraded,
02:28but behind them it was the depth pieces that they kind of downgraded.
02:31So I think they got very lucky, and Elliott Wolfe alluded to this the other day,
02:34that they got pretty lucky with their injury and their health last year
02:38and throughout the entire season.
02:40If you go back through their starters and who missed games, there wasn't a ton.
02:42You had the two rookies at one point, Wilson and Campbell, missed time.
02:46Ramondre missed some time there.
02:47Spillane, Milton Williams.
02:48There wasn't a whole lot.
02:50And it was time kind of when they had already – they were on seven games into their 10-game
02:55Wednesday.
02:56So they had already kind of established themselves, too, when those guys got injured.
03:00They didn't get injured early in the season where it could have impacted their start more.
03:05And I also think when you're looking across the offense, when you're just looking at the skill –
03:10let's just start with the skill players.
03:11You obviously feel really good about the quarterback.
03:13You feel great about the running backs.
03:15At least I do.
03:15I think Ramondre Stevenson is very underrated.
03:17I think he was their best player, not named Drake May, at the end of last year.
03:21Really, when he came back from injury, he was phenomenal.
03:23You feel good about Travion Henderson behind him.
03:25It's that third running back that you're really worried about.
03:27But hopefully you don't have to get to there.
03:28Look at the receivers with the additions of A.J. Brown.
03:31You know what he is.
03:32Romeo Dobbs.
03:32I think he's going to excel this year with more opportunity here.
03:37So I feel good about that.
03:38Hunter Henry, he is what he is.
03:39He's super consistent.
03:40One of Drake May's favorite kind of security blanket targets.
03:43So you feel really good about the skill players as well.
03:45So I don't necessarily change anything.
03:47I think, obviously, injuries occur throughout the year, and that will change in real time.
03:51But as of right now, nothing I saw throughout training camp made me really feel any different.
03:55Does anybody care that Vrabel is apparently not going to play a starter for any of the three preseason games?
04:01I don't care about it, necessarily.
04:03But I do think I will lose my right to bitch if they're not ready to go week one.
04:07You know, because they will not have played a game, a snap.
04:11It's bizarre.
04:12I really don't, just because that's kind of the trend of the league.
04:15It's the joint practices.
04:17They can provide a more controlled environment.
04:19They can still get those competitive reps in.
04:21But you don't necessarily need it.
04:23But you've got a new O-line, you've got Vera Tucker's new, you might have a new, I mean, I
04:27guess Moses will be back, A.J. Brown.
04:29Like, that rapport, I feel like you just want to have some rehearsal, some dress rehearsal.
04:34I get it.
04:34I just think everyone else is doing the same thing.
04:36And if anybody, God forbid, got hurt in a preseason game, you'd never forgive them.
04:40You'd never forgive them.
04:41So, you've got to roll the dice and know that your opponent is probably doing the same thing.
04:48Okay.
04:48And then, you know.
04:50The problem is Seattle brings back a lot more starters than you did.
04:52They do.
04:52And they're going to be ready to roll.
04:53Does the experience play into that, though?
04:54It's not like you're counting on a ton of rookies here.
04:57In fact, if you're looking at the offense, there won't be any.
04:59It's all guys that have been around the league.
05:01And you're primarily focused on the offense, I think, when you're talking about this with the playbook and whatnot.
05:05It's not like you're having all these rookies come in and be immediate impact players.
05:09Like, you have guys that have played in the league before.
05:12I don't know if there's already been an announcement, but are we seeing Deshaun tonight or Shadur?
05:16They did say they weren't playing their starters.
05:18So, they did announce that it was Deshaun Watson was their starter.
05:21So, we had a good move.
05:23Smart.
05:24Quarterback of the future.
05:25Did you guys see that part of the thought process?
05:28I saw this report.
05:28It was like Ari Merov on Twitter that they had this report that part of the thought process of starting
05:34Deshaun Watson
05:34is that they had two road games to start the year.
05:37So, if he struggled, they could make the change in week three when they return for their home opener and
05:42go to Shadur.
05:42I already took...
05:44I forget even who brought the Clevelands playing week one, but I put some Calci trade on the opponent.
05:47Because as soon as that news broke, it was like, wow, that's your eliminator pull.
05:51Take the Browns opponent.
05:53Yes, take Jacksonville and Tampa.
05:54Those aren't not necessarily both on the road.
05:57It's tough to win in Florida, as we know very well around these parts.
06:01Yes.
06:01Oh, sorry, Rich.
06:03Real quick.
06:03What did you think of Keyshawn Moody trade?
06:06The market kind of spoke to itself.
06:07I think locally, people were kind of overrating him a little bit, clearly, because he had been knowingly available since
06:13the draft
06:14and just went, obviously, this week for a late-round pick and a second-year safety.
06:19And I think that Jalen Reid, I think that is an interesting add because he's versatile, obviously, as Elliott Wolfe
06:24pointed out,
06:25that they trusted him, although he didn't play a ton in the regular season,
06:28they trusted him to start in the postseason and played significant snaps.
06:32So, I think clearly there is a player that they see there, but I don't know.
06:36You remind me of Marte Mapu a little bit.
06:38A little bit, yeah.
06:39And I just don't think safety, I think part of that was, I don't think people view safety as like
06:43a glaring need for this team,
06:45which is why when they added a safety, it was like, hmm, why safety here?
06:47Where you have so many other depth needs on this team, but it was clearly they weren't going to keep
06:52seven receivers,
06:53and he was the easy odd man out.
06:55And part of that, obviously, is him going to a contract year, wanting to allow him to kind of spread
07:00his wings
07:00and make the most of his opportunity.
07:02And clearly he will now in Houston with Jaden Higgins gone for the year.
07:05He had over 570 receiving yards last year, so he was a big part of what they did.
07:10And now that gives him a chance to kind of highlight what he can do in a contract year.
07:14Because this for him is make or break, you know, financially for your career.
07:17He's got every opportunity to have a huge year.
07:19He does.
07:20I mean, I think they put him in a perfect spot.
07:22As a matter of fact, when that injury happened, I was like, well, I mean, he's going to Houston.
07:25Because of the whole relationship and everything.
07:27It made so much sense.
07:28It did, it did.
07:28All right, let's go to real quick, Todd on line one.
07:31Todd, you got a take on the Christian Gonzalez situation.
07:34What's up, buddy?
07:36Yeah, it's actually Tom, and it's good to chat with you guys.
07:39Gonzo seems like a nice kid and everything, but you know what?
07:43Just make him an offer the same as Witherspoon.
07:45No more, no less.
07:46We know that Kraft and Wallet is tighter than two pieces of melted cheese, and you're only going to get
07:51so much.
07:52You know what I mean?
07:54And the other thing is, how difficult is this for Vrabel?
07:58He's got to go ahead and say, prepare with Gonzo, without Gonzo.
08:02No doubt.
08:02Yeah, I mean, no question.
08:04And that's my whole thing.
08:05It's like, he's worth at least what Devon Witherspoon got.
08:08And it sounds like, according to Adam Schefter, they're not offering that, which is crazy.
08:13But, you know, Terp, you said it best.
08:15Give him a million dollars more, and I bet you can get that deal done.
08:18He just wants more than what Witherspoon got.
08:21A little bit more.
08:22That's it.
08:22Yep, that's it.
08:23Another thought on that is, doesn't it feel like the Krafts were trying to shed that reputation of not spending?
08:29Dude, I said that.
08:30Last offseason, what they did this year with Romeo Dobbs and bringing in A.J. Brown.
08:34And now you're kind of back to square one, because everyone knew this was going to be coming down the
08:38pipeline.
08:39This was going to be top of the list of priorities this offseason, was extending Christian Gonzalez.
08:43Now we're talking about this not being done by week one?
08:46And Elliot Wolfe threw out the cash budget line.
08:49That's incredible.
08:49Was that like a misstep?
08:51Oh, yeah.
08:52I think it was a misstep.
08:53I bet you he got called into that office after.
08:56Terp, Terp, that whole, we love Christian Gonzalez.
09:00We're going to offer him the most money.
09:01I told, even at the time, I was like, this is a cover your ass move, because they know what
09:06they're offering him isn't legitimately what he deserves.
09:10And this is because it's all funny money.
09:12It's a fake money.
09:13It's not guaranteed money.
09:14And they knew it.
09:15So technically, they could say they're offering him more than anybody else, but they weren't really offering him as much.
09:21It's a dangerous game to play.
09:22You're them.
09:22Really?
09:23Yeah.
09:23With Drake May's contract on the horizon, people are so smart, much smarter now.
09:28Like, you can't fool everybody about the salary cap.
09:30For them to kind of go on the offensive or out of the gate, to me, I'm not sure that
09:36was the best decision.
09:37And then him being clear about how he doesn't want to negotiate through the media.
09:40And then Elliot Wolfe and Robert Kraft being like, yeah, he still has this deal that would make him the
09:44highest paid corner ever.
09:45I thought he's handled this perfectly.
09:47I thought his comments the other day were perfect.
09:49And I bet it was his agent who contacted Adam Schefter and was like, I'm sick of getting crapped on
09:56and everyone making me look like the bad guy.
09:58They're not even giving me what Witherspoon just got.
10:01I guarantee you that's where the leak came from to Adam Schefter.
10:04Good on him.
10:04It usually is through the agents and something like this when it's protecting his client.
10:08I would say no doubt that it's coming from the agent.
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