Patriots Gridiron News: Trey Flowers impressing NFL coaches

New England Patriots defensive end Trey Flowers is getting a lot of love throughout the NFL as he terrorizes opposing quarterbacks.

Hey Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots, you need to pay Trey Flowers.  Because if you don’t, other teams around the NFL are willing.

After another solid performance in the team’s 31-17 victory over Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, Flowers has continued to blossom as one of those impact defensive players that makes every team better.  He has certainly made the Patriots defensive line better after being slowed by injuries to start the season.

With 32 total tackles and 2.5 sacks through Week 9, the numbers don’t indicate dominance, but it’s just he presence on the field that makes the other players around him better.  Opposing coaches have taken notice to what the fourth-year defensive playmaker brings to the table.

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One coach, who just happens to be a former edge rusher, has given his praise of Trey Flowers.  Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel lauded the blossoming star during his conference call on Wednesday.

"“Oh, man.  I loved Trey even when I went to work him out at Arkansas, and I knew when I went over there that this was a guy that Bill would target,” Vrabel said.  “Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get him when I was in Houston.  I loved his ability and really enjoyed the workout that I had with him and just loved the player then.”"

If he loved him then, he certainly loves him now.  Flowers has really emerged as the leader of the New England Patriots defense.  He is a player Belichick has come to rely on and a player who just happens to be in the last year of his rookie deal.

Needless to say, this team needs to lock this man up to an extended deal before he hits free agency because Vrabel is not the only coach noting the impact of Flowers.  But, Bill Belichick certainly knows that and also knows the value of the player he drafted.

"“He kind of knows how to play,” Belichick during his own conference call Wednesday.  “he knows how to play against the guy that’s blocking him and he knows how to play against the quarterback or the running back or whoever it is that has the ball…very instinctive guy, has a lot of versatility, really can play anywhere across the line.  He’s played every spot for us.”"

Certainly, sounds like the kind of player Belichick likes to keep around.  The only question is, will Trey Flowers stick around in New England if there is more money out there somewhere else.

Rob Gronkowski among nine players limited Wednesday

The Bye Week won’t come at a better time following the team’s Week 10 matchup against Malcolm Butler and the Tennessee Titans.

Highlighted on that list is tight end Rob Gronkowski.  The big player missed Sunday night’s game against the Green Bay Packers with back spasms and was listed as limited in the walkthrough on Wednesday.

Gronkowski’s status for game action continues to be a question mark on a week-to-week basis to the point where you have to wonder just how serious the back issue is.

Other notable players listed as limited were RB Sony Michel, WR Cordarrelle Patterson, DE John Simon, G Shaq Mason, LB Dont’a Hightower, WR Julian Edelman, TE Jacob Hollister and LS Joe Cardona.

Trent Brown was the only player who did not participate.  His absence was due to an illness.  The good news for the New England Patriots is Josh Gordon and Marcus Cannon has been removed from the list.