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Patriots gridiron news: Johnson Bademosi embraces next man up mantra

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

FOXBORO, MA - OCTOBER 22: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Gillette Stadium on October 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA - OCTOBER 22: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Gillette Stadium on October 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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New England Patriots cornerback John Bademosi is the latest unknown player to step up for the defending Super Bowl champions.

Sterling Moore, Earthwind Moreland and some undrafted rookie free agent named Malcolm Butler.  Those are just a few players Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots have basically found off the street and have produced.

Add Johnson Bademosi to that list.

Acquired in a trade with the Detroit Lions prior to the season, Bademosi was slotted primarily as a special teams player.  However, due to injuries to both Stephon Gilmore and Eric Rowe, Bademosi has been deemed the next man up in the defensive backfield and he has responded to the call.

Following a solid performance against the New York Jets in Week 6, Bademosi again stepped up Sunday night against the Atlanta Falcons.  He allowed just three completions on four targets for 31 yards.  He has played well enough to establish his niche within the defensive backfield rotation, but will he?

When asked about the possibility of Johnson Bademosi playing a bigger role in the secondary, Belichick have a basic answer, but didn’t rule out the possibility.

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"“The guys that play the best play the most,” Belichick said during his conference call.  “The guys that don’t play as well continue to keep working until their performance either moves ahead of somebody else’s or they get an opportunity because of circumstances.  I mean, it’s pretty fundamental the way it works.  When the players get that opportunity, then it’s up to them to perform in that situation that they’re called to play on.  Depending on how the performance goes, then that will probably either lead to the less or more playing time eventually once it declares itself.  So, that’s up to each individual player”"

Basically, Belichick is saying Bademosi’s role on the team will depend on how both Gilmore and Rowe play when they do return.  If either or both players struggle, Belichick has no problem giving a player like Bademosi the opportunity he has played himself into.

Malcolm Butler gives credit to Julio Jones

Malcolm Butler was back doing Malcolm Butler things on Sunday night.  Part of that included playing tough and physical against Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones.

While Jones was mostly quiet, he did record his first touchdown reception of the season over Butler.  It was a 1-yard pass play in which the two battled for the ball.  Jones ultimately turned a Butler interception in the end zone into Atlanta’s only points of the game.

Following the game, Butler could only tip his hat to the big wide receiver via Instagram:

ESPN NFL Power Rankings

Well, well, well…guess who is back in the top position in the Week 8 ESPN power rankings?

Following three consecutive victories, including a complete team victory Sunday night, the New England Patriots have re-claimed the top spot with their 5-2 record.  The Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys round out the top 5.

Next: New England Patriots: The 10 greatest defensive players of all-time

As far as the rest of the AFC East goes, the Buffalo Bills have cracked the top 15 while the Miami Dolphins have slid up to No.20.  The New York Jets are No.27 despite their competitive play throughout the beginning of the season.

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