Randolph Charlotin's New England Patriots Fan Profile

A Block of Alge posted on 03/19/2010

With a gaping hole at tight end, the Patriots decided not to wait until the draft to begin addressing the problem. They signed four-time Pro Bowler Alge Crumpler from Tennessee.

Unfortunately this is a signing that sounds better than it actually is. The 32-year-old Crumpler is three years from his last Pro Bowl season in 2006. Since then his receiving yards have steadily dropped year after year. Today Crumpler is a blocking TE with receiving skills well beyond the average blocking tight end.

Crumpler takes the role of Chris Baker last year. Crumpler is a better receiver than Baker, but he won’t get many opportunities to catch passes if Baker’s 14 receptions last year is a reliable predictor.

Crumpler likely will see the ball more, but he isn’t the threat he used to be. New England still needs a receiving tight end following Ben Watson’s departure. That might come from the draft.

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Paul Kelly Interview posted on 03/16/2010

Former NHLPA executive director Paul Kelly is on to a new challenge, as he gets College Hockey Inc. off the ground and running. Thanks to the many friends he made within hockey, CHI is off to a quick start. I got an opportunity to talk to him about this new company and the direction Kelly intends on taking it:

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Can't Keep Them All posted on 03/09/2010

While the current tally for New England during free agency doesn’t include DE Julius Peppers or WR Anquan Boldin, I’d say the Pats are having a decent off-season. The only free agent they signed, LB Marques Murrell, isn’t a marquee free agent. But the Patriots had success keeping their free agents.

Of the 15 free agents, six I absolutely wanted back: LB Tully Banta-Cain, CB Leigh Bodden, RB Kevin Faulk, K Stephen Gostkowski, OG Logan Mankins, and NT Vince Wilfork. Of those six, three re-signed. And OG Stephen Neal re-signed as well, which is a bonus.

Most recently Bodden unexpectedly came back. He was wooed by Houston but ultimately returned for four years, $22.5 million. So Bodden got the payday he was searching for and remains on a playoff-caliber team, something that wasn’t guaranteed with the rising Texans.

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Quick Update posted on 03/07/2010

As soon as I turned off my laptop and turned on my tv, I learned the Patriots reached an agreement with OG Stephen Neal. While not an elite player at his position, he's been solid for the Pats for years at right guard. Now New England has to get Logan Mankins signed.

Meanwhile, in search for receiver help, Buffalo's Josh Reed is scheduled to visit Monday. He's an ideal slot receiver, but nothing more. He failed as a starter with the Bills and joining an organization like the Patriots won't provide him with more opportunities to do anything more than be a third option. But given a choice, I'd rather Reed over David Patten, whom the Patriots recently signed. No offense to what Patten did for the Pats in the past, but he's aging. I'd rather someone with more left in his career.

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Home Takes Priority posted on 03/05/2010

Most fans dream of the free agents the Patriots can sign when open season starts. Usually those dreams don’t include the team’s free agents.

On an active opening day to free agency, the Patriots decided to take care of their own instead of shopping for new arrivals. They first re-signed OLB Tully Banta-Cain and later reached an agreement with NT Vince Wilfork.

The truth is, New England doesn't have to make a splash in free agency this year. They had to keep key players from leaving the Gillette Stadium pool.

Of New England’s 14 free agents, half of them I hope re-sign with the team. By retaining Banta-Cain and Wilfork, that leaves five I hope go nowhere: CB Leigh Bodden, RB Kevin Faulk, K Stephen Gostkowski, G Logan Mankins, and G Stephen Neal. As for everyone else (DE/LB Derrick Burgess, DE Jarvis Green, P Chris Hanson, LB Pierre Woods, RB Chris Taylor, and TE Ben Waston; LB Junior Seau retired) , the Pats can do better, although I would make an exception for Green.

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