Patriots Daily

By Bruce Allen, Patriots Daily Staff

This week will see the roster cut down twice, on Tuesday to 75 and Saturday to the 53-man roster. You’ll see a few moves after that before opening day (I believe that both the Richard Seymour and Lawyer Milloy moves actually both came after the 53 man rosters were originally set.) By next Sunday, players will be eligible for the eight-man practice squad.

Working off of the excellent work done by ESPN Boston Student Assistant Mike Rodak, we came up with the following squad.

Zac Robinson

The list will not be 100% accurate, as you can be pretty sure that they will grab a few players that are released from rosters around the league, perhaps seeking an developmental outside linebacker or defensive lineman that might fall by the wayside. Keep in mind also that players released by the Patriots could also be grabbed up by other teams, either to the active roster, or to that team’s practice squad.

• QB Zac Robinson – The seventh round pick seems an obvious candidate, but could also be grabbed by another team.

• RB Thomas Clayton – It would seem logical that the team would want to keep another running back around as well.

• TE Rob Myers – With just the three tight ends on the active roster, keeping another stashed away makes sense.

• OL George Bussey – The second year lineman has been hurt this camp. He was an offseason award winner, so he might get to stick around if not placed on IR.

• OL Ted Larsen - Could make the team, but seems more likely to be a PS candidate.

• DL Kyle Love – A defensive line project.

• LB Dane Fletcher – Inside linebacker project.

• S Sergio Brown – The safety from Notre Dame has had his moments in camp. He’s a long shot to make the team, but if cut, I think the Patriots will look to retain him.

By Bruce Allen, Patriots Daily Staff

These are two guys whose situations couldn’t be more different, but both have been on my mind quite a bit this week.

First, lets talk for a minute about Logan Mankins.

Neither Mankins nor his agent are doing themselves any favors these days. After rejecting the Patriots offer earlier this summer, one that is reported to have been a seven year, $45.5 million deal ($6.5 million average). Mankins considered that a slap in the face compared to what Jahri Evans got from the Saints – a seven-year, $56.7 million deal ($8.1 million average). More than that, Mankins expressed outrage at what he felt was a betrayal and that he had been lied to by the team and ownership.

The Patriots have wisely been silent on the matter, but Mankins’ agent and friends have spoken up several times, such as to Ian Rapoport in today’s Herald.

The latest ploy appears to be Don’t think Logan needs money! He doesn’t spend money! He’s got every dime he made in his career! He has a fully paid for, sustainable farm! (How’d he do that without spending money?) He’ll sit out the season without hesitation! He’s got the money!

Yet, I thought this wasn’t about money. How about these huge offenses that the Patriots have allegedly committed against Mankins? Will they ever come out? All Rapoport alludes to is a supposed promise to pay Mankins more than Evans. But it’s not about the money! He doesn’t need the money!

Whatever. Mankins can sit out the season and hope that the new CBA makes him a free agent, but I don’t think that is likely to happen. He’s only damaging his own earning power with this stance.

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Tyrone McKenzie

Tyrone McKenzie is a guy you want to succeed. His story is well-documented by this point, you’re aware of his college career at three schools, and working nights to care for his sick mom, and the knee injury that wiped out his rookie season. We’re big fans of McKenzie because he gave Patriots Daily an exclusive interview – before he talked to the mainstream press this offseason.

McKenzie has been healthy this preseason, and has played in the two preseason games thus far, but in the eyes of many reporters covering the team, he is on the roster bubble. Most seem to be basing this on when McKenzie has come into the two games. He’s been among the latter linebackers to enter the game, even behind the immortal Eric Alexander this past week.

When making their assessments, reporters are placing a lot of emphasis on the special teams ability of players like Alexander and the versatility of a player like Thomas Williams, who has lined up at fullback a few times in camp.

I’m not fully on board with those assessments. In the Bill Belichick era, finding young players who can play inside linebacker has been a constant challenge. In the first part of the decade, it wasn’t so much an issue with Tedy Bruschi, Ted Johnson and Roman Phifer here. We knew in the back of our heads that those players were getting along in years and that replacements would be needed, but none could be found until Jerod Mayo was drafted in 2008. The media spouted the thought for several years that “Bill Belichick doesn’t drafted linebackers early” – until of course, he did. Some free agents were tried out (Monty Beisel, anyone?) and failed.

Clearly, finding talent at inside linebacker is a challenge. McKenzie appears to have talent. He also seems like a pretty smart player. I can’t swear to it, but I believe he’s been seen wearing the green dot on his helmet, indicating that he is the one receiving the defensive calls when he is in the game. I really, really don’t think that the Patriots are going to discard a player with potential at such a key position on their defense simply because some other guys can play special teams or line up at fullback.

As for why he’s coming into the games so late, I think it is a combination of things – he is still coming back from a severe knee injury, he’s being eased back into game action after not having played a real game in nearly two years, the team clearly wants to give Brandon Spikes as much playing time as feasible in the preseason to get him ramped up to be the starter on opening day, and the green dot – I think they want to have him learn the play calls, but putting him in at the end of the game perhaps makes it a bit easier to get some practice in with doing it.

I still think the Patriots will find a way to keep McKenzie on the team.

By Bruce Allen, Patriots Daily Staff

So we spent quite a bit of time doing those positional previews heading into the start of training camp, but we already need to make a few adjustments. There are several players we talked about in those previews, who are already not going to be a part of the 2010 Patriots, and some others who have their status in doubt. Let’s review.

The Patriots Need Something, Anything, From Ron Brace

G Logan Mankins – Holdout

The bombs continue to be lobbed by the Mankins camp, but they look less and less powerful and more and more desperate as the days go on. Mankins situation is not garnering the public sympathy that perhaps his agent had counted on, and unless there is an adjustment in their camp in terms of demands, it seems the Patriots are prepared to go into the season without Mankins.

LB Shawn Crable – Waived

After two years of not being able to get onto the field, the third year linebacker from Michigan apparently showed up out of shape and unable to pass the conditioning test. He was cut the day before training camp started. At the time, Bill Belichick left the door slightly open for a return for Crable if he got himself in shape. Given that the team is already thin at outside linebacker and has some guys banged up, I don’t see them giving him another shot. This third round pick is a complete washout.

WR David Patten – Retired

The likable veteran had a memorable retirement press conference, stating that he just didn’t have the love and desire that he felt he needed for the game. He was a longshot to make the roster, but he likely saw the strong performances and potential of guys like Brandon Tate and Taylor Price and saw the writing on the wall. He went out on his terms.

OL  Nick Kaczur – Injured

Projected to fill the void left by Logan Mankins’ holdout, Kaczur suffered a back injury that has kept him off the field. It seems inevitable that he will be placed on IR, but the hasn’t made it official just yet. Dan Connolly has been serviceable in the guard spot, and whether they can find another veteran guard might determine Kaczur’s fate for the season.

DL Ty Warren - on Injured Reserve

Michael Felger would like to blame Warren’s injury on the defensive lineman’s decision to finish up his college degree this offseason, marking perhaps the first time a player has been criticized in the media for doing so. Warren suffered a hip injury that requires surgery. He was placed on IR, and his loss is a big blow to the team. Gerard Warren looks to take his place in the starting lineup, but who will be on the other side of Vince Wilfork?

WR Torry Holt – on Injured Reserve

The veteran receiver was brought in as insurance against Wes Welker’s return and the development of the young receivers. With both situations looking promising, it probably wasn’t a hard choice for the team to put Holt on IR when he suffered a knee injury that needs surgery. Probably better than cutting a guy who has had the terrific career that Holt has had. Is this the end of the line? We’ll see.

The loss of Warren obviously hurts the most, as the depth at that position is challenged. Second year lineman Ron Brace just started practicing, and he needs to make a huge leap if he hopes to remain on the roster, any improvement in his play would be a positive for the position. The cutting of Crable was likely a message to other recent draftees (like Brace) that the organization isn’t going to be as patient as perhaps they were in the past with draftees. With this team needing guys who can play, there is less room for “projects.”